Caleb J. Ross's Blog, page 68
January 14, 2012
"As a Machine and Parts: LOVING IT! So sharp, so sharp…"
As a Machine and Parts is getting some love: "As a Machine and Parts: LOVING IT! So sharp, so sharp…" -Mr. Sean P. Ferguson "Fucking insane" -Mr. Chester Pane "This book is fantastic. I think you guys are going to love it. Very inventive but it doesn't crumble under its own weight and devolve into merely clever." -Mr. Nik Korpon So, if you are easily swayed by the words of people you might not know, then rush out to get … →
January 9, 2012
99 cents, now through January 17th, Charactered Pieces and Murmurs.
All eBook versions of either Charactered Pieces or Murmurs: Gathered Stories Vol. One are only $0.99 from now through January 17th. Why January 17th? Because that is the official release date for my newest novel, I Didn't Mean to be Kevin. Just click a link below to go either directly to the Amazon Kindle store or to the Smashwords pages where other formats can be purchased (including NOOK, Sony, Kobo, iBooks, etc.) Please, spread the word if you are willing … →
January 8, 2012
Bookstores can get ebook readers into their stores. Here's how:
The slow eBook adoption of many publishers, and especially of bookstores, is not surprising. For the publishers, monetizing something like an eBook, with the lack of overhead and reduced production costs, makes justifying print book level sticker prices tough. For bookstores, well, it's pretty obvious why they wouldn't just on the eBook wagon. But there has to be a way to keep bookstores alive, right? Bookstores aren't like traditional commerce storefronts, in that they represent a mindset, a way of life, and … →
January 7, 2012
Why I Write What I Write When I Write it: The Cymbal Analogy
Picture a drum cymbal, delicately balanced upon a point, say, a pencil tip. This represents my general mental stability. Without any external force, the cymbal remains unmoving. This is me in a vacuum, a sensory deprivation chamber of sorts, without anything to shift my head in any way. But of course, I don't live in a vacuum. Instead, I live in a world constantly shifting and changing, and with those shifts, my head shifts. Writing is a way to help … →
December 29, 2011
UpgradeToEbook.Amazon.com. Exchange Print for eBooks. It could work.
It could work. An online used book selling site, that also manufactures an eReader device, such as Barnes and Noble or the Amazon Marketplace, partners with publishers to provide kickbacks on used book sales in exchange for distribution rights of eBooks. Let's call it UpgradeToEbook.Amazon.com. It would work like this: Here's an example: Let's say Bookseller_675 has a print copy of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. But he'd like to read it on his Kindle. It's not … →
December 27, 2011
December 25, 2011
December 23, 2011
As a Machine and Parts is the official January 2012 Book Club pick at LitReactor
For those of you not in the know, LitReactor is a writer-focus site spawned by the minds behind ChuckPalahniuk.net, the official Chuck Palahniuk site. The site has received some high-praise not only from the writers who've come together to make up the blood of the community, but even Huffington Post has come out to offer a few kind words. Having my new novella, As a Machine and Parts, as the January Book Club pick for LitReactor feels a bit like … →
December 17, 2011
It's official. I Didn't Mean to be Kevin releases January 17, 2012. Preorders start December 19th.
Preorder details for my new novel, I Didn't Mean to be Kevin are forthcoming. Until then, get all excited with this synopsis. Tis the season for Caleb, more Caleb, and a little bit of Jesus (if there's time).
December 14, 2011
I lost $ 75.48 on a Facebook ad campaign, and you can too! -OR- Can Facebook ads sell books? Quick answer: no. Long answer: noooooooooooooooo.
(part of my ongoing Search Engine Optimization for Authors series) Part of being a great author-marketer is knowing how to filter promotion time wastes from time worthwhiles. Some options are simple to filter. "Should I do a Goodreads.com giveaway to attract potential readers?" Yes (all it costs is the price of a few copies of a book to receive interest from hundreds of readers). "Should I rent a billboard for a month?" No (billboards offer either 1) travel-oriented products/services or … →
