Michael Embry's Blog, page 27

Personal E-Book Promotion

I'm always looking for new ways to promote my novels.

I've used websites for promotions, reviews, and giveaways; traditional (and perhaps old-fashioned) approaches such as postcards and bookmarks; and other ways such as posting links and images to emails and other correspondence. (By the way, I still believe word of mouth is the best way to promote).


I'm going to try something new, at least for me. Through this post I will offer seven digital copies of my novels, since that's how many I've written since 1999.  I've already done a print giveaway on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. 

If you're interested in reading one of my novels, all you have to do is reply to my email at michael.embry@gmail.com with "Contest" in the subject line and the following information the body:


I need your email so I can send the novel to you through Amazon.com as a gift. I will let you pick the novel of your choice -- The Touch, A Long Highway, Foolish Is The Heart, A Confidential Man, Shooting Star, The Bully List, or Old Ways and New Days. You can go to my website or visit Amazon to read a synopsis of the novels. I would recommend going to my author page since all the books are listed there. Your name, location and selection. When the contest is finished, I will update this post with the winners, e.g., John D., Yakima, Wash., Old Ways and New Days.  I won't use your last name or your email. Promise!So how will I decide the seven winners? That's easy. The first seven who respond will receive a novel of their choice.There are no catches or surprises to this contest. I would appreciate a rating and/or review, but it's not necessary. I know some folks don't like to write reviews. Maybe word of mouth?I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck!
Until the next time....

Amazon E-Book Promotion

I'm always looking for new ways to promote my novels.

I've used websites for promotions, reviews, and giveaways; traditional (and perhaps old-fashioned) approaches such as postcards and bookmarks; and other ways such as posting links and images to emails and other correspondence. (By the way, I still believe word of mouth is the best way to promote).


I'm going to try something new, at least for me. Through this post I will offer seven digital copies of my novels, since that's how many I've written since 1999.  I've already done a print giveaway on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. 

If you're interested in reading one of my novels, all you have to do is reply to my email at michael.embry@gmail.com with "Contest" in the subject line and the following information the body:


I need your email so I can send the novel to you through Amazon.com as a gift. I will let you pick the novel of your choice -- The Touch, A Long Highway, Foolish Is The Heart, A Confidential Man, Shooting Star, The Bully List, or Old Ways and New Days. You can go to my website or visit Amazon to read a synopsis of the novels. I would recommend going to my author page since all the books are listed there. Your name, location and selection. When the contest is finished, I will update this post with the winners, e.g., John D., Yakima, Wash., Old Ways and New Days.  I won't use your last name or your email. Promise!So how will I decide the seven winners? That's easy. The first seven who respond will receive a novel of their choice.There are no catches or surprises to this contest. I would appreciate a rating and/or review, but it's not necessary. I know some folks don't like to write reviews. Maybe word of mouth?I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck!
Until the next time....

Amazon Kindle Book Promotion

I'm always looking for new ways to promote my novels.

I've used websites for promotions, reviews, and giveaways; traditional (and perhaps old-fashioned) approaches such as postcards and bookmarks; and other ways such as posting links and images to emails and other correspondence. (By the way, I still believe word of mouth is the best way to promote).


I'm going to try something new, at least for me. Through this post I will offer seven digital copies of my novels, since that's how many I've written since 1999.  I've already done a print giveaway on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. 

If you're interested in reading one of my novels, all you have to do is reply to my email at michael.embry@gmail.com with "Contest" in the subject line and the following information the body:


I need your email so I can send the novel to you through Amazon.com as a gift. I will let you pick the novel of your choice -- The Touch, A Long Highway, Foolish Is The Heart, A Confidential Man, Shooting Star, The Bully List, or Old Ways and New Days. You can go to my website or visit Amazon to read a synopsis of the novels. I would recommend going to my author page since all the books are listed there. Your name, location and selection. When the contest is finished, I will update this post with the winners, e.g., John D., Yakima, Wash., Old Ways and New Days.  I won't use your last name or your email. Promise!So how will I decide the seven winners? That's easy. The first seven who respond will receive a novel of their choice.There are no catches or surprises to this contest. I would appreciate a rating and/or review, but it's not necessary. I know some folks don't like to write reviews. Maybe word of mouth?I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck!
Until the next time....

Manuscript Reset

As mentioned in a previous post, I'm working on a sequel to "Old Ways and New Days." 
I've written about 20,000 words, so that's a good start. But then I hit a snag. I haven't written any words for a couple weeks as I've contemplated the direction I want the story to take. 
While I haven't been writing, I've been researching some subject matter for the story. I've been one who advocates a stream-of-consciousness approach to writing the first draft, then going back and fixing the problems in the rewrites. 
This time I prefer to get any obstacles out of the way before hitting the keyboard in the storytelling. And I'm ready now.
I'm getting back to the manuscript after completing this post, and will write every day -- unless there are some unforeseen circumstances -- until I'm finished with the first draft. 
Not to make any excuses (does a writer ever make excuses?), but I've also be occupied with other things as well in this new year. Those distractions have been minimized as I'm about to move on.
And I still plan to work on a few more short stories in the coming months as well. 
So that's where I'm at on Jan. 26th. Now to get back to the manuscript.
Until the next time...

Story Songs: Lonely and Lonesome Tunes

While driving my car the other day and listening to the local oldies station (93.5 FM), Rick Nelson's "Lonesome Town" played softly through the speakers.

His voice conveyed the feelings of breaking up with someone you love (teen angst), beginning with the opening verse:


"There's a place where lovers goTo cry their troubles awayAnd they call it 'Lonesome Town"Where the broken hearts stay"



The song (No. 7 on Billboard in 1958) lingered in my mind for quite a while as I thought about other tunes I like with "lonely" and "lonesome" in the title.  So here a few I've enjoyed through the years:

One of Elvis' early hits was "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" in 1960, recorded after his discharge from the army. The song, written in 1926 by Roy Turk and Lou Handman, was a chart topper for the King.


"Are you lonesome tonight,Do you miss me tonight?Are you sorry we drifted apart?"



If any singer could express loneliness and sadness, it was Roy Orbison. His "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)," a No. 2 song for the balladeer in 1960. 


"There goes my babyThere goes my heartThey're gone foreverSo far apart"




Jackie Wilson is almost in tears (figuratively) as he belts out "Lonely Teardrops," a No. 7 song in 1958. It was also the last song Wilson performed live before collapsing on a stage in 1975, suffering a heart attack. He died nine years later.

"My heart is crying, cryingLonely teardrops,My pillow's never dry of lonely teardropsCome home, come homeJust say you will, say you will"


Singer-songwriter James Taylor reached No. 14 on the charts in 1973 with "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."


"You ain't gonna see me getting down on my kneesI'm undecided and your heart's been dividedYou've been turning my world upside down"


My all-time favorite "lonesome" song is Hank Williams Sr.'s penned "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry," a tune even Elvis said was "probably the saddest song I ever heard." It's not a song to listen to if you're really depressed because it will make you cry along with the singer.

"Did you ever see a robin weepWhen leaves begin to die?Like me, he's lost the will to liveI'm so lonesome I could cry"
My favorite version is by B.J. Thomas, which reached No. 8 on the charts in 1966.



Yes, these are songs about sadness, but they're also contemplative in expressing emotions that we all share in our lives. 

Any favorite "lonely" and "lonesome" songs?

Until the next time.... 

Write Goals for the New Year

I'm not one to make a long list of writing goals. I prefer to keep them short, simple and to the point.

So here's my short list for 2016:


Write every day, beginning today. Begin and finish the sequel to "Old Ways and New Days." I'll get back to the manuscript today and work  on it daily until it's completed. Publish another short story collection, a followup to "Laments." I've already written six stories; I hope to write six more in the coming months.Stay more focused on writing life. That means I'll have to rid myself of distractions. That can be difficult because some distractions add some spice to one's life. I suppose I'll keep a few of them, such as travel and photography. Read a minimum of two books a month. I accomplished that reading goal on Goodreads in 2015 so I know that's doable with all the other reading I do (magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc.). As most authors will attest, reading makes better writing.Try to improve my physical condition. I recently joined the Y and have been working out every other day. I believe a healthy body keeps a person mentally fit as well, and being a writer, it's important to stay sharp as possible when working on a novel.Those are my writing goals for 2016. If I can stay true to my intentions, it should be a productive year.

Until the next time....

Veni, Vidi, Sticki

I don't understand why folks get so worked up about selfie sticks. 

For the most part, people use them to include the photographer so no one is left out of a photo. What's wrong with that? Some places have banned selfie sticks out of safety concerns and requests from visitors. I'd be more concerned about concealed weapons. Maybe there will be a movement to require people to have a license to carry a selfie stick?

Yes, I know they can be dangerous (I suppose one could poke out another person's eye), but for the most part, I find them rather harmless and useful. No, I don't want to be in a mass of selfie-stick users, but I avoid large crowds for the most part so that's not much of a problem for me. 

I've seen a lot of photos of people using selfie sticks at family gatherings during the holidays. Shouldn't the holidays include everyone?

While in Europe earlier this year, I didn't see a single selfie stick in London and a few in Paris. To be honest, I had never heard of them and really didn't know what they were other than some device to take photos. But in Roma, they were all over the place, especially with street vendors hawking them at the various tourist sites.  

I think people like to use selfie sticks to show they were at famous landmarks, something they can use as proof that they were indeed at those places. A selfie stick comes in handy when you're by yourself for that once-in-a-lifetime image or when you want to be that image with another person.

I've heard arguments that it's part of our narcissistic society, with people wanting to focus on themselves rather than on the spectacle. I argue that folks simply want to be part of the scene, something they can view in future to bring back pleasant memories.

I love photography and own several cameras as well as a smart phone with a camera. I can tell you it's easier using a selfie stick for a good photo rather than trying to align your arm at the right angle and get what you want in focus. I also own a two tripods and a remote for my cameras, which also have self-timers, but most of the time it's difficult to use them for spontaneous or unplanned photos.

I've read that some folks recommend just handing your camera to someone and let them take the photo of you. But isn't that kind of an intrusion? Maybe being a nuisance to others? I admit that I've done that, usually with me also taking a picture of them with their camera. A nice trade off.

But what if you don't know anyone at the landmark? Do you take the chance of handing your camera to a stranger, and then watch them off to the races? Or what if you ask someone and they promptly tell you where to stick your camera -- and it's not on a stick.

Yes, I own a selfie stick. I purchased it after I returned from Europe. I've only used it once, just to see how it works. I plan to take it with me on trips for those occasional shots of me and my wife. I'll try not to poke anyone's eye out or crack them on top the head. Just keep your distance and you should be safe.

Any opinion on selfie sticks?

Until the next time....

Story Songs: Rock in the Christmas Season

Christmas has been the air for quite some time (since August?) so here's some holiday music by rock artists to deck your halls and jingle your bells. 


The first ones I ever recall were back in the 1950s (yes, Virginia, I am that old),  Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" in 1957 and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958. Those songs seem to open the door for other rockers to sing Christmas cheer. They've also became holiday music staples.






The great Elvis Presley recorded a classic in 1957 with "Blue Christmas," which was released again in 1964 to even more acclaim. 


In the 1960s, The Beach Boys released a Christmas album which included the bouncy "Little Saint Nick." The Ronettes got into the holiday fun with the Phil Spector-produced "Frosty the Snowman." 






From across the big pond, The Beatles found time to record "Christmas Time Is Here Again" and The Kinks sang "Father Christmas."






The Boss recorded a rockin' version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" in the 1975 and again in 1985.



The Carpenters recorded memorable holiday song with "Merry Christmas, Darling" in 1970, an annual reminder of the beauty of Karen's voice.


Paul McCartney and Wings produced a delightful tune with "Wonderful Christmastime" in 1979 that is guaranteed to lift your spirits.


I'll close out this post with two Christmas songs that focus on peace on earth. The first is The Moody Blues' "Yes I Believe."



And my favorite Christmas-inspired rock tune is John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." 



What are your favorite Christmas rockers?
Happy holidays everyone!
Until the next time...

Another Promotion

After the novel is finished and in print, the next step is promote, promote, promote.
Some authors suggest that promotion should begin before a book is published. I find it difficult to write, edit, proof the galleys and promote although I suppose I do it passively through this blog and other places.
Perhaps I'm a bit cautious about actively promoting before the release date because I know there are variables which could affect the transition of a manuscript into a novel such as editorial issues, production problems, and personal setbacks. You never know what obstacles may arise in the process.  
For "Old Ways and New Days," I've had a promotion on Goodreads soon after it's release. I've also  used Apex Reviews and Author Shout in recent weeks to spread the word about the novel on various social media sites. And, of course, various posts on my blog and Twitter tweets have been used about the book. 
My most recent is a giveaway on Amazon.com. The contest is limited to those residing in the United States. If I can find a way to offer a similar promotion for the e-version, I will do that internationally. Please share with me if you have any ideas on how to do that.  
So if you're interested in entering latest giveaway, which runs through Dec. 22, click here. 
I also learned that my publisher, Wings ePress, will be upgrading its website over the next few weeks, which should help me and their other authors. 
Promotion is an ongoing process, at least for six months after the release of a book. I try to keep it active while working on my next book (something I hope to do beginning the first of the year). 
Until the next time....

In Review of Books

I'm a reviewer. After I  go to restaurants, stay at hotels, purchase appliances, hire a contractor for home repairs, buy music, watch movies, I usually leave a review at a relevant website. 

I do it because I want to share my experiences with others. And because quite a few folks do the same, helping me make decisions on various and sundry activities. I hope I'm being helpful to others by sharing my opinions. 

I also leave book reviews at places such as Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and lesser known sites. As an author, I appreciate those who leave reviews of my books and those of others. While reviews are purely subjective, they do provide insights on books.

They also help books gain some traction with the reading public and give authors a bit more exposure. With the thousands of books and authors out there, every review helps. 

I've heard from some readers who tell me they find it difficult to write a review. I tell them to keep it short and simple -- basically why they liked or didn't like the book.  

If that proves difficult, at least leave a rating. And try to be honest. 

As a reader, I usually write a review soon after I finish a book, while it is still fresh in my mind. 

By being a reviewer, it helps me understand, as an author, that it takes a while for a review to appear after purchasing a book. In other words, a person generally doesn't buy a book and post a review the next day.  

I usually have several books that I'm reading, or about to read, and they usually take precedence over a new book, especially those I have from the library with due dates. So it may take up to a month before I begin reading a new book (I currently have four books on my list now). 

I hope you're a reader and reviewer. I know authors, booksellers, and readers appreciate the time you take express your thoughts.

Until the next time....