Angelia Sparrow's Blog, page 31
May 14, 2013
Guest Blogging
I'm at Amy Ravenal's place today, talking about Spellbound Desire, and giving away free copy. Actually, I think it's an interview with DJ....
http://ravenela.dreamwidth.org/16546.html
http://ravenela.dreamwidth.org/16546.html
May 13, 2013
Digital piracy, a poll
Cory Doctorow says that the problem for most writers isn't piracy, it's obscurity. I disagree. If 10,000 people read one of my books, but I only sell 2000 copies, that is work I am not getting paid for. That is $8000 out of my pocket, with no guarantee the readers will actually buy the next one. More likely they'll simply steal it too. My books fall into the "good enough to download, not good enough to buy" category, and I expect most other people's do too.
(I was told that a certain conference was about "giving back to the readers." My response was "I give back by continuing to write, even though they're stealing me blind on pirate sites.")
A confession: I have bought four ebooks in my life. I haven't bought a paperback in four years, new or used. Yet my library numbers in the hundreds. I download the free promotions from Amazon, from Harlequin, from All Romance. I get them from Project Gutenberg. I do not get them from torrent sites. Very seldom do I go back and buy another book by that author, no matter how much I enjoy the one I just read. I look at the to-read stack, and realize I will never get through it, so actually buying books is out of the question. Maybe it's me being tightfisted, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.
A friend of mine is doing a survey on e-book piracy and asked me to get the word out. This will be going out to Google News. I'm asking friends who are writers, especially on the ebook front, to fill it out.
1. How much has digital piracy of books hurt your sales? How do you measure the loss in revenue?
2. Do you know of any other authors who have had sales of their works hurt by digital piracy? Which authors, and do you know much they believe their sales have been hurt?
3. Do you believe that certain genres are more likely to be pirated than others?
4. Have your publishers been helpful in combating piracy? Is the industry taking steps to combat piracy?
5. What steps would you advice authors to take to prevent digital piracy?
6. What legislation are you aware of that has come up to address this? Do you believe that proposed legislation goes for enough in protecting professional writers?
7. Do you believe that free culture advocates are helpful or harmful towards professional authors? Can you give any examples demonstrating why you hold this belief?
8. Do you think digital piracy has the impact to change the model for publishing? Will digital piracy force authors to rely more on business models like kickstart as a way of making a living?
May 12, 2013
Excerpt Day: Heart's Bounty
Hi folks. We're coming up on the release of Heart's Bounty, so I thought I'd let you get a sneak peek.
This bit is pretty much work-safe.
The man on the other side of the battered door looked as out of place as the sleek metal desk and shiny chairs. He was dressed in core-world corporate fashion, a fine high-collared shirt with a narrow starsilk tabard and colorful sash that matched the stripes in his pants.
“Do come right in.” His voice was pure core too, without any trace of the local accent. Miho didn't like his smile. Too cold and narrow, and it didn't get anywhere near his eyes.
“Are you the one who posted the blue-tag job?” He held up his pocket comp with the downloaded ticket on it. His eyes swept the room, trusting nothing about it or the stranger. Working for new people always set him on edge until he got their measure.
“Yes, Cypec Incorporated. We need a certain gentleman retrieved.” The man sat behind his desk and gestured to the chair across from him. He steepled his fingers and studied Miho. The sharp blue eyes pierced right through him, pinning Miho like a bug. He was fairly certain that Mr. Cypec would have no qualms about doing exactly the same thing. He looked as if he might be the type who stuck large needles into beetles to watch them squirm.
Miho nodded and sat, one leg curled under him to keep him on its edge. “All right. Bail runner, hacker, escapee? What’s the MO?” He ran his hand through his hair once, but stopped himself from doing it twice. Playing with his long hair was a bad nervous habit and a tell. The man saw it and his smile widened, but it still wasn't even in the same sector as his eyes.
“Thief. We need him alive so the little rat can point out the holes he escaped through. Then we seal them and execute him.”
Miho held up his hands. “Look, friend. It's none of my business what you do with him when you get him back, just need to know what kind of chase we're looking at. What's your offer for my services, by the by?” The man was openly telling him they were going to kill his mark. Not a good sign. Too much information meant he had little choice but to take the job.
“It's a big galaxy, Mr. Ashar, and he has the money to hide well. We offer the standard retainer, fuel compensation and a speed bonus if you return him inside of a year.”
Miho blinked at that. “A year.” His mind spun a little. His usual marks might make for a month or two of work. More than three months of pursuit was usually inside work, held for a company man. Only the truly talented or very wealthy could evade capture for so long. “I think I may need some time to consider.” The paranoia that had served him so well told him that this job was danger itself.
The man shrugged. “Certainly. You have the card. There are others interested in the job. Consider, but not for too long.”
Miho nodded and stood. He headed for the door, not enjoying the idea of turning his back on the man. “I'll give you an answer by tomorrow.”
“Splendid.” It didn't sound splendid to Miho. In fact, it sounded as if the man didn’t give a damn if he ever showed his face again.
He made his way down the dingy hallway, hands in his pockets, staring at his feet, thinking. The man was too well dressed for this area of space. The job was too good and Miho knew he’d been told too much to walk away from it. Better to walk away if the man was willing to let him. Surely there were other blue tags available.
That job was a red tag, he could feel it. The taggers would have a field day if they knew a Corp man was running reds as blues. False tagging was a good way to get people killed. Maybe that was the point, gathering together and killing off the non-Corp hunters. There had to be an explanation.
This bit is pretty much work-safe.
The man on the other side of the battered door looked as out of place as the sleek metal desk and shiny chairs. He was dressed in core-world corporate fashion, a fine high-collared shirt with a narrow starsilk tabard and colorful sash that matched the stripes in his pants.
“Do come right in.” His voice was pure core too, without any trace of the local accent. Miho didn't like his smile. Too cold and narrow, and it didn't get anywhere near his eyes.
“Are you the one who posted the blue-tag job?” He held up his pocket comp with the downloaded ticket on it. His eyes swept the room, trusting nothing about it or the stranger. Working for new people always set him on edge until he got their measure.
“Yes, Cypec Incorporated. We need a certain gentleman retrieved.” The man sat behind his desk and gestured to the chair across from him. He steepled his fingers and studied Miho. The sharp blue eyes pierced right through him, pinning Miho like a bug. He was fairly certain that Mr. Cypec would have no qualms about doing exactly the same thing. He looked as if he might be the type who stuck large needles into beetles to watch them squirm.
Miho nodded and sat, one leg curled under him to keep him on its edge. “All right. Bail runner, hacker, escapee? What’s the MO?” He ran his hand through his hair once, but stopped himself from doing it twice. Playing with his long hair was a bad nervous habit and a tell. The man saw it and his smile widened, but it still wasn't even in the same sector as his eyes.
“Thief. We need him alive so the little rat can point out the holes he escaped through. Then we seal them and execute him.”
Miho held up his hands. “Look, friend. It's none of my business what you do with him when you get him back, just need to know what kind of chase we're looking at. What's your offer for my services, by the by?” The man was openly telling him they were going to kill his mark. Not a good sign. Too much information meant he had little choice but to take the job.
“It's a big galaxy, Mr. Ashar, and he has the money to hide well. We offer the standard retainer, fuel compensation and a speed bonus if you return him inside of a year.”
Miho blinked at that. “A year.” His mind spun a little. His usual marks might make for a month or two of work. More than three months of pursuit was usually inside work, held for a company man. Only the truly talented or very wealthy could evade capture for so long. “I think I may need some time to consider.” The paranoia that had served him so well told him that this job was danger itself.
The man shrugged. “Certainly. You have the card. There are others interested in the job. Consider, but not for too long.”
Miho nodded and stood. He headed for the door, not enjoying the idea of turning his back on the man. “I'll give you an answer by tomorrow.”
“Splendid.” It didn't sound splendid to Miho. In fact, it sounded as if the man didn’t give a damn if he ever showed his face again.
He made his way down the dingy hallway, hands in his pockets, staring at his feet, thinking. The man was too well dressed for this area of space. The job was too good and Miho knew he’d been told too much to walk away from it. Better to walk away if the man was willing to let him. Surely there were other blue tags available.
That job was a red tag, he could feel it. The taggers would have a field day if they knew a Corp man was running reds as blues. False tagging was a good way to get people killed. Maybe that was the point, gathering together and killing off the non-Corp hunters. There had to be an explanation.
May 6, 2013
Trying to get back on a schedule here
Hello, loves. Been a bit.
I'll be trying to post every Monday from here on. I just need to get my life a bit more organized.
There is much excitement happening here at the Den in May.
That space pirate anthology came out. We're giving away a copy of it at Jessewave's this week.
Number One Son, Obi-Wan Chrisobi, is graduating high school on the 17th. Seems like only a couple years ago I was packing him off to kindergarten with his padawan braid and custom made Obi-Wan lunchbox. My father is coming down for the event. My mother is undergoing another round of chemo, and too ill.
Heart's Bounty comes out in 17 days, and we're on the front page of the Coming Soon. Pre-orders are open at Ellora or on Kindle.
Until next week, darlings!
Be very good, and I may even post a picture of the Lady in the sunhat, as soon as I finish making the hat.
I'll be trying to post every Monday from here on. I just need to get my life a bit more organized.
There is much excitement happening here at the Den in May.
That space pirate anthology came out. We're giving away a copy of it at Jessewave's this week.
Number One Son, Obi-Wan Chrisobi, is graduating high school on the 17th. Seems like only a couple years ago I was packing him off to kindergarten with his padawan braid and custom made Obi-Wan lunchbox. My father is coming down for the event. My mother is undergoing another round of chemo, and too ill.
Heart's Bounty comes out in 17 days, and we're on the front page of the Coming Soon. Pre-orders are open at Ellora or on Kindle.
Until next week, darlings!
Be very good, and I may even post a picture of the Lady in the sunhat, as soon as I finish making the hat.
April 30, 2013
News on the pirate anthology.
It is out.
Buy link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ANTHBUTT
And I am guestblogging at Kage Alan's place today. Talking about Commander Cliff Cody, of the Space Exploration Rangers! (it seems wrong to punctuate that with anything but an exclamation point)
http://www.kagealan.com/blog/2013/out-of-the-mouths-of-the-butt-pirates-angelia-sparrow/
Buy link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ANTHBUTT
And I am guestblogging at Kage Alan's place today. Talking about Commander Cliff Cody, of the Space Exploration Rangers! (it seems wrong to punctuate that with anything but an exclamation point)
http://www.kagealan.com/blog/2013/out-of-the-mouths-of-the-butt-pirates-angelia-sparrow/
April 7, 2013
Release Date
We have a release date for Heart's Bounty!
May 24.
http://www.ellorascave.com/heart-s-bounty.html
Hunting is a young man’s game and Miho is well suited to it. He is a product of centuries of selective breeding, making him human-plus. He has a reputation for finding his quarry. But he doesn’t expect to find an older man at the Tag board, looking for work of his own.
Hevik was outlawed and banished from his homeworld, and now lives a solitary life hunting small-time criminals among the planets. A pretty boy with hair as dark as deep space makes him reconsider that lifestyle.
As the fates keep throwing them together while they pursue the same bounty, both of them discover depths about themselves, and about lust and need for each other, that makes chasing their quarry all the more dangerous.
We're very excited. This is Gabriel Belthir's first novel.
May 24.
http://www.ellorascave.com/heart-s-bounty.htmlHunting is a young man’s game and Miho is well suited to it. He is a product of centuries of selective breeding, making him human-plus. He has a reputation for finding his quarry. But he doesn’t expect to find an older man at the Tag board, looking for work of his own.
Hevik was outlawed and banished from his homeworld, and now lives a solitary life hunting small-time criminals among the planets. A pretty boy with hair as dark as deep space makes him reconsider that lifestyle.
As the fates keep throwing them together while they pursue the same bounty, both of them discover depths about themselves, and about lust and need for each other, that makes chasing their quarry all the more dangerous.
We're very excited. This is Gabriel Belthir's first novel.
March 12, 2013
Free books for FroliCon!
If you're going to FroliCon, have I got a deal for you!
We're planning to run an Eight Throne LARP, so to aid the homework, I will email you ebook copies of Nikolai and the old version of NikoChan. Leave a comment if you are going and planning to play!
Those familiar with the 'verse have a chance to play higher level characters.
The LARP is 7 PM Saturday and titled "Murder at the Pleasure Club."
We're planning to run an Eight Throne LARP, so to aid the homework, I will email you ebook copies of Nikolai and the old version of NikoChan. Leave a comment if you are going and planning to play!
Those familiar with the 'verse have a chance to play higher level characters.
The LARP is 7 PM Saturday and titled "Murder at the Pleasure Club."
March 2, 2013
End of the road
The Blog tour ends today at Storm Moon Press.
http://www.stormmoonpress.com/blog/?p=619
and
http://www.stormmoonpress.com/blog/?p=602
Don't forget to comment and thanks for riding along!
http://www.stormmoonpress.com/blog/?p=619
and
http://www.stormmoonpress.com/blog/?p=602
Don't forget to comment and thanks for riding along!
March 1, 2013
Author Beware!
All right, folks. I have done something stupid.
I signed a life of copyright contract with Ellora's Cave.
My fault. I was focused on reading the known problem clauses, and I missed section 1.
<i>
Author, on behalf of herself/himself and her/his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, exclusively grants to the Publisher during the full term of copyright and any renewals and continuations and extensions thereof, the right to print, publish, sell and license the Work throughout the world, and in any and all media and forms of expressions now known, and all subsidiary rights granted in the Subsidiary and Secondary Rights clause hereunder.
</i>
READ YOUR CONTRACTS! This is from a publisher I've been with 5 years. They made this change within the last 2.
They also reduced print royalties, and reduced the word limit in their "Right of First Refusal" clause to 7500, which means you can't even submit to many anthologies!
This is where I weigh things:
Do I want to make money or do I want creative control of my creation?
This is the ONLY place I consistently sell het.
This is the place I make the money and the sales, although it has fallen off sharply in the last four years.
I have sent this house one last piece, as I am obligated to under the First Refusal clause. After that, I think I'm quits. Even if they offer a contract, I'm going to ask that Life of Copyright be changed. Should they not, no more books. I will put this piece out through Inkstained or Amber Heat.
AUTHOR BEWARE
Blog tour
http://coleriann.com/2013/03/01/colla...
How to Collaborate without committing Axe Murder.
Don't forget to comment in order to get into the drawing!
