Annie Nicholas's Blog, page 7

Angler Update

   Bait and Catch are now available in boxset form at all retailers. Book 1 and 2.   
  Hunting Colby will be available in print on Amazon starting March 23rd.
  Due to my family being plagued by the flu and scarlet fever all winter I missed deadlines for Release. The date for publication will be postponed until Fall. Sorry.    Stay tuned next month! Prima is releasing April 22nd.  Sugar and Daedalus return. There will be a special contest for newsletter subscribers.  

Blurbing

 

A blurb is also the bcc, back cover copy, on the back of paper books. It’s what the reader uses to help to decide if they are going to buy the book since it gives a small summary of the story.
This was the bane of my existence for the longest time. I had to summarize a book in 200 words and make it interesting. Could it get any harder? 
One of the first things I learned was I needed distance from the book. The worst thing I could do to myself was write my manuscript then try to do the blurb. I was too close to the story. I couldn’t see the forest and was trying to describe each tree.
#1 Take a break from the book. A few days maybe? I usually write my blurb while my manuscript is out on its beta reader rounds.  Before I read the critics, I write the blurb from what I remember of the story because what is important will stand out.
So, I’d try to shrink this great story into a few thoughts but there is so much conflict my blurb would read like an essay. I had to make it more to the point.
#2 This is where your GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) comes in. Usually the blurb is a paragraph about the heroine’s GMC, the next of the hero’s GMC, and the last what they must overcome to be together.
Okay, I got the blurb to a shorter format, say 200-300 words, but it reads like a medical text. I could hear potential readers snoring already. A blurb is your sales pitch. “You wanna buy me and read this story!” How do I do this? Should I take an advertising class?
#3 I forgot where I read this but someone suggested I study the backs of movie DVDs. They have minimal space to grab a person’s attention. Then someone (Geez, I suck at remembering good advisors!) I think on Divas, told me to write my blurbs as if I’d just seen the best movie EVER and I was telling my best friend about it.
 
Example:
(Let’s see if I can do this under pressure.)
“An eight year old boy’s toys come to life whenever any human isn’t around to see them. It’s the boy’s birthday and his favorite toy, a cowboy, organizes a mission to see what the presents are. The cowboy’s worst nightmare is realized when the boy receives a space ranger as a gift. He’s worried he’ll be replaced.  
The space ranger doesn’t realize he’s a toy and thinks he’s crash landed on an alien planet. The other toys play along with him and help to build his spaceship, which is really his box.
Both the cowboy and the space ranger end up falling out of a window and have to learn to depend on each other for survival.”
 
There, very basic.  Notice I didn’t tell my ‘friend’ the ending because she’d kick my ass, right? You have Woody’s GMC, Buzz’s GMC, and the conflict that brings them together. (Not in a romantic way.) For some reason I’m always using cartoons for my examples.  It’s not perfect but a great place to start before nitpicking at it. AND 110 words long. Plenty of space to expand if need be.
 

New Website

I completely revamped my website. It's user friendly and easy to navigate.


www.annienicholas.com


This month I am running a giveaway on facebook for a 10$ gift certificate for either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Winner's choice.


Hope your winter has been mild.

It's 40 degrees here in Vermont and I'm hoping it's a sign for an early spring.

Koishi Release Day!

It's release day and you know what that means!

Blog tour with lot of giveaways.

Here's my schedule:

Feb. 4 - Words of Wisdom
             Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind
             Kelsey's Book Corner

Feb. 5 - Night Owl
             Graves Tells
             Simply Infatuated

Feb. 6 - Keeping Up With The Rheinlander's

Feb. 7 - Romance Book Junkies

Feb. 8 - Crazy Four Books

Feb. 9 - Monique Morgan
             Reading Between the Wines

Feb. 10 -  Reader Girls Laurie, Meg, and Cathy
                Happy Tails and Tales

Feb. 13 - Mama Knows Books
               Babbling About Books

Feb. 14 - Reginamayross's Blog

Feb. 15 - Provocative Pages

Welcome to the ROMANCE MADNESS HOP.Yes, I am a writer, BU...

Welcome to the ROMANCE MADNESS HOP.

Yes, I am a writer, BUT, like most writers, I did begin as being a reader. I never reviewed professionally but I do write reviews on Goodreads for book I love. My personal philosophy comes from what my mother ground into me as a child. If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. So if I didn't like a book, I don't review it. I'd rather recommend books I liked anyways. It's much more fun. There's nothing like a good exchange of information of books. Most authors I follow have come from my friends suggesting I read them.

Word of mouth is power. Never forget that.

Because I love books so it's hard to pick just one, so I decide to showcase my favorite SERIES.

The Dragon Kin by G.A. Aiken


This is a fantasy romance series about a dragon family who don't have any pretext of human morals. They are as dragony as dragon can get. Do I need to say more? GO READ NOW. Is that better?

I gave all these books 4-5 stars, which in all honesty I don't always do, even though my Goodreads list states that. See note above about not giving bad reviews. (Though you might see a few 1-3 stars. I'm not perfect. It just means the book pissed me off enough to get beyond my good judgment.)

I did give The Dragon who Loved Me a three star. The author got distracted by an old character in that book and lost interest in the romance couple in my opinion. If she hadn't redeemed herself in How to Drive a Dragon Crazy I wouldn't be writing this blog.

The next book, To Kiss a Dragon, releases on Oct. 2013 and I'm waiting anxiously for it.


Annie Nicholas
www.annienicholas.com



RELEASES FEB. 4TH

Never make a deal with a dragon.
Sandra’s sister is dying. All the doctors agree that nothing more can be done, but she can’t give up hope. After using all her resources searching for a cure, a little bird whispers in Sandra’s ear about secret worlds, Gates, and the Keepers who protect them. A dragon Gatekeeper, who hoards magical treasure within his volcano home in Japan, can possibly hold an item to cure her sister.
Gates choose their Keepers and Koishi thinks his did an excellent job in picking him. Not many dare to cross and none who try survive.  However, one tiny human female with either the courage of an army or the intelligence of a gnat has arrived on the island asking for him. Curious and not wanting to disappoint, he waits for the locals to steer her to his human ‘servant’, which is him in his man form.
Let the games begin…
CONTENT WARNING: Goblins, mayhem, and sushi await you with hot dragon sex and Koishi’s odd sense of humor.


Leave a comment on this blog to enter to win any ebook already released by me. This contest and hop will remain open until the 29th of Jan. The winner will announced and contacted after that date. Please leave an e-mail addy where I can contact you if you win in your comment.




Click the above picture to move to the next blog!

New Cover!

  Here's the next Vanguards book cover!  Releasing this Spring. 

Marco Polo!

January 9, 1324, Marco Polo slipped the bonds of this world and drifted into history. He explored Asia, established trade routes with China, and launched a summer game loved by millions.
 
To celebrate his life and his game, we are launching Marco Polo day on Twitter. The rules are simple. Follow the players listed below from your Twitter account. When one of them yells MARCO you hit reply and @ them with “POLO”. First to respond will win an ebook. If you’re not following, you can’t win.

For example, on Jan. 9 on my twitter feed I'll randomly announce Marco. If you see it reply @annienicholas Polo. The first responder will win.

Nena Clements
Lexie Donovan
Hailey Edwards
Keri Ford/Charley Colins
Nina S. Gooden
Inez Kelley
Cassidy Kingston
Voirey Linger
Annie Nicholas
CM Torrens
 
Authors interested in participating should reply on this page. include your name and a link to your Twitter page. ( http://twitter.com/yourname)

It's Finally Available

Guess what releases today!  (I love this cover! This is so Gwen and Colby.)  
Once she catches her prey, God help him.
Almost a year ago Gwen had met her mate in the fury of battle. Like most shifters, they knew upon contact. Unlike others, Colby hadn’t stuck around to bond. Never one to surrender, Gwen had left her pack to find out exactly what sent him running. Hopping from country to country, she chased him until she lost his scent.
Not willing to return home with her tail between her legs, she takes a job guarding the newest member of the Nosferatu clan in New York City where she discovers fresh traces of her mate. Hope returns and she takes up the hunt once more.
A slayer’s job is never done and Colby is hunting the vampire who kidnapped a member of his team, but every turn he takes keeps leading him back to the one person he’s been trying to avoid. Gwen.
 I'm not doing a blog tour with this book. It's just too busy with the holiday season so I'm running three contests this week.  You'll have three chances to win. I will pick one from each of these.

1. Leave a comment on my blog with your e-mail address
2. Comment on my Facebook fanpage on Hunting Colby release announcement (I'll message the winner)
3. Tweet a comment with the hashtag #HuntingColby (I'll @ tweet the winner)

Happy Holidays everyone.

Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop

Welcome to my Mistletoe party. Here is your bouquet.



Here's some bubbly.


Remember, what happens at my Mistletoe party stays at my party. ;-)   The other guests have arrived. Please introduce yourself and use your bouquet. Watch out they have their own as well...









HUNTING COLBY Book 2.5 of The Angler series

 

Blurb:


Once she catches her prey, God help him.
Almost a year ago Gwen had met her mate in the fury of battle. Like most shifters, they knew upon contact. Unlike others, Colby hadn’t stuck around to bond. Never one to surrender, Gwen had left her pack to find out exactly what sent him running. Hopping from country to country, she chased him until she lost his scent.
Not willing to return home with her tail between her legs, she takes a job guarding the newest member of the Nosferatu clan in New York City where she discovers fresh traces of her mate. Hope returns and she takes up the hunt once more.
A slayer’s job is never done and Colby is hunting the vampire who kidnapped a member of his team, but every turn he takes keeps leading him back to the one person he’s been trying to avoid. Gwen.

CONTEST:

Everyone wins an ecopy of BAIT book one of The Angler series. Available for free at all retailers.
Amazon
Nook


ALSO  leave a comment (maybe who you kissed) and someone will win a copy of Hunting Colby.





To Enter For Grand Prize or Find List Hop Link click HERE

Coming Soon!

Releasing this month!! Stay tuned for when...     
Once she catches her prey, God help him.

Almost a year ago Gwen had met her mate in the fury of battle. Like most shifters, they knew upon contact. Unlike others, Colby hadn’t stuck around to bond. Never one to surrender, Gwen had left her pack to find out exactly what sent him running. Hopping from country to country, she chased him until she lost his scent. Not willing to return home with her tail between her legs, she takes a job guarding the newest member of the Nosferatu clan in New York City where she discovers fresh traces of her mate. Hope returns and she takes up the hunt once more. A slayer’s job is never done and Colby is hunting the vampire who kidnapped a member of his team, but every turn he takes keeps leading him back to the one person he’s been trying to avoid. Gwen.