Michelle Gordon's Blog, page 26

The I’m Here Book Tour Begins…

…on Friday!

I’m Here will be officially be available to buy on Kindle (print is coming soon!) and the rest of the Visionary Collection, with their new covers, will also be available on Kindle by this Friday.

I will be in London, for the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Earl’s Court, and I will begin giving out the free eBook cards!

As you can tell from the exclamation marks, I am quite excited by this, I must admit, I didn’t think I’d get it all done in time.

Remind me never again to try to publish four books, in print and on Kindle and orchestrate a never-tried-before world book tour/ giveaway, all at the same time!

It’s all been good fun though, and it has forced me to learn so many more new things that I can show to my Indie Author clients.

Once again, you can check out more information on the I’m Here Book Tour on the website, I’m happy to say that I have a few distributors already, but I would love lots more! So please, if you would like to get involved, then drop me an e-mail! I will be posting the first photos this weekend of the cards going out into the world! Also, a good friend of mine is in an event in Bristol this weekend, where she will be giving the cards out.

It really is happening. *does a happy dance* Time to go finish packing! Leaving for London first thing in the morning. I think I might have to surprise random kindle readers on the tube with the free eBook cards. What do you think?

 

I would like to thank my sponsors…

Michelle Gordon:

So very thankful for the amazing people who are supporting the I’m Here Book Tour!

Originally posted on I'm Here Book Tour:

… because they rock!

Without them, the I’m Here Book Tour would not be possible. They are the following awesome people:

Liz Chukwu, author of Kismet. Liz is such a beautiful soul, and is always so encouraging and supportive. When I told her my idea for the book tour, she immediately offered to help make it a reality. Thank you so much, Liz.

Without madappledesigns, the covers for my books wouldn’t be so amazing, and I am so very thankful for my awesome sister, who is the genius mad apple :)

Peace of Stone has generously sponsored the tour, and they are also going to be a distributor of the free eBooks, so with every purchase in the shop throughout June, you will be offered a free copy. Peace of Stone will also be the first to stock the print versions of the new Visionary Collection, and they…

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Would you like to be an Independent Author?

I never intended to begin a business helping authors to publish, but after publishing several of my own, and seeing authors being ripped off by companies that really didn’t have their best interests at heart, it seemed like the right thing to do. Now, since May last year, I have helped several authors, all featured on my website, to publish their work, in a manner that means they retain the copyright, all rights, and all the royalties.

As an Indie Author, I know how important it is, not only to create a professional, polished product, that is at the same standard as a traditionally published book (if not higher), but also to retain all control over the work. Though I need the help of different professionals to publish (cover designers, proofreaders etc.) it’s important to me that once I have paid for their services, that nothing more is owed. Which is exactly what I offer to authors with my services.

It’s also important to me to be not just a publishing mentor to my clients, but also a supportive friend and cheerleader. Being an Indie is pretty lonely sometimes, and the guidance and support of someone who believes in you and your work is so very valuable. At any one time, I don’t take on more than three clients, so I can ensure I have more than enough time and energy to give to each.

I also do workshops, for the Indie Author who doesn’t want the full publishing package, but needs some guidance on how to complete the process, and which companies to use so that they don’t sign away any rights to any companies.

I offer the workshops in the UK, to groups no larger than 6 (a high level of interaction is important) and I also do short talks (approx. 1 hour) on the publishing journey. So if you have a writer’s group, or you know several people who want to learn how to publish an eBook or a print book, get in touch and we can arrange something.

I have posted my brochure on The Amethyst Angel website, if you are interested, and have further questions, please do get in touch. (And if you need a brochure designing, get in touch with madappledesigns.co.uk!)

The Power to be Extraordinary

Upon hearing the sad news of Stephen Sutton‘s passing (the amazing guy behind Stephen’s Story, who raised £3.2 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust) I started thinking about how it is that people who face the biggest challenges often are the ones who are the most determined to do amazing things. I can think of so many examples of people who have shone so brightly, creating beautiful music, amazing art, and having a massive impact, despite facing incredible difficulties, hardships and illness.

When you consider that these people may be experiencing a great deal of pain, their determination and motivation to make the best of what they have is so incredibly inspirational. I was blown away by the music of Zach Sobiech, who passed away last year of cancer. Along with his friends, he composed and wrote several songs that made me cry the first few times I heard them. I have no doubt that the lives of his friends and family, and all who have heard his music, will be better for his presence.

Another inspiring man, is an American called Art Berg. He was in a car accident in his 20s, and was left quadriplegic. He was told he would never do anything for himself again, and yet he went on to get married, have kids, build several successful businesses and become a motivational speaker. His book – The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer is an amazing read.

I had the honour, a couple of years ago, to work for an amazing guy called Jason, who is just a little younger than me, but relies on carers for all his physical care. Despite this, he has more enthusiasm and passion for life, and for experiencing everything he can, than anyone I know. He loves creating things, he loves going to the cinema and theatre, taking fantastic photographs and his latest love is going on cruises! He is also able to use the internet through a single button, which helps him to connect with others. He taught me a lot about determination and perseverance, and also gratitude.

I also wrote about two other inspiring men, back in 2012.

All of these incredible stories, these incredible people, lived or are still living extraordinary lives. And though I believe that everyone has within them the power to be extraordinary, it would seem that it often needs to be triggered by something life-changing. But what if we could just choose to be extraordinary? Right now? For no reason other than it’s amazing to be alive right now, and we want to create beautiful music, beautiful art or make a massive impact and help people? (Or all three!)

I would like to think that it is possible. I know there are many people already doing so, living to the fullest, making the most of all the gifts and talents they possess, and putting 150% effort into everything they do. But there are too many of us who are living as though life is something that will continue forever, and as though we have plenty of time to do what we really want, there’s no need to do it now. But what if we lived as though every day were our last? What if we gave our all to every moment? How extraordinary would our lives be then?

We all have the power to be extraordinary. Now is the time to unleash that power. Because really, now is all we have.

Book Tours and Reviews and Oracle Readings!

It really has been a busy few weeks, and things seem set to continue in that way. This is just a short update, to mention a few things that have been happening.

First of all, I had a lovely review posted by Tiffany Hathorn, who read and loved The Elphite. She also interviewed me for her blog the other week. It seems mad that many people have read and loved The Elphite, but I have so few reviews on Amazon (or anywhere) for it. I’m determined to remedy that, by doing some more marketing for it, a part of my Visionary Collection launch.

I have finally edited and posted a new Oracle Card Reading, and will post another later in the week. You can watch it below :)

And finally, in this short update, I would like to put a call out to anyone who would like to get involved in my book tour, because I have to say, I think it will be epic! You can check out all of the details on the website.

Aside from that, I am focussed on finishing I’m Here, ready for release in just a couple of weeks, and organising more publishing workshops. (Oh and watching Fringe – ever so slightly addicted to it!)

I will post another update soon!

And so it begins!

Michelle Gordon:

First post on the I’m Here Book Tour news blog – it’s now official!

Originally posted on I'm Here Book Tour:

Very excited to be writing the very first post for the I’m Here Book Tour!

Thanks to the very generous sponsorship from Liz Chukwu, (author of Kismet) I was able to order the cards for the book tour.

Just this morning, the cards arrived. (Which is crazy fast as I only ordered them on Monday! Nice one Vistaprint!)

I was quite nervous about opening the giant box (must admit I had no concept of what 5000 cards would look like) but when I saw them I was very pleased.
                 

Now I am very motivated to get the book finished so I can start sending out the cards to be distributed around the world. If you would like to get involved in any way, please click on the ‘Get Involved‘ page, to see how. I am still looking for…

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The Visionary Collection Cover Reveal!

I just can’t wait any longer to show off my shiny new covers for the Visionary Collection! Aren’t they beautiful? They were designed by the fabulous madappledesigns, and I really couldn’t be happier. I am working on the formatting at the moment, so the first three books in the collection (Heaven dot com, The Doorway to PAM and The Elphite) will be available with the new covers on Kindle and in paperback by the end of May, along with the release of my brand new novel – I’m Here.

 

 

The full covers for the print copies:

Authors Are Humans Too

I know fellow book-lovers out there will understand what I mean when I say that favourite authors can become like gods to us, and that we can put them up on pedestals, elevated high above us ordinary human-folk. And when we reach out to tell them how much their words have touched us, how much their prose has changed our lives, we are shocked and quite excited when they respond, amazed that they deemed us worthy to reply to.

But honestly, authors are humans too. It was more unusual to get a reply years ago, when snail mail was the norm, because as most authors know, finding writing time can be tough as it is, but handwriting and sending replies to fanmail would eat into that time too much. These days, when you can reply in 140 characters on Twitter, or reply to a Facebook post or a short email quite quickly, the likelihood of getting a response has increased dramatically.

I remember writing to one of my favourite authors as a teenager, in the earlyish days of email, and was very excited to get a reply, even though the reply consisted of a single line. It felt like I had connected, though briefly, with a mythical creature that a mere mortal like me shouldn’t have been allowed to. In recent times, I have connected with several authors on Twitter, and have ended up having conversations with some of them, who have turned out to be genuinely awesome people.

Back in January I received a message on Goodreads from a fellow book-lover and book reviewer, asking for a copy of The Elphite, because she was keen to review it. I responded quite quickly and soon sent a copy of the book. The review she has written will soon be posted, along with an interview, and the brand new cover of The Elphite! She said that she was surprised and extremely excited that I had responded to her request, and sent her the copy, because after all, I was an author, and to get a response from such a mythical, magical creature was unexpected but exciting.

I’ve said it before, but I will repeat it here – I am just a human. I’m not even an incarnated Faerie or a Starperson. Just a mere mortal. And I love hearing from my readers and from potential readers. It is what keeps me writing, keeps me connecting, keeps me creating. So reach out, send messages, all are appreciated and cherished and often printed and stuck on my walls, to motivate me to publish more books.

Sending love out to everyone who has ever sent me messages, you are all amazing. xx

 

eBook Workshop in West Wales

I will be holding a workshop in Lampeter, West Wales, on the 6th May, in which over the course of a day, I will take the participants through the process of publishing an eBook. It’s going to be a mad, jam-packed day, as there is quite a lot to cover!

For the course fee, each aspiring author will receive the day’s tuition, a comprehensive manual, and follow-up e-mail support. There are only 8 places left, so if you live in West Wales and would like to learn how to publish your own eBook, get in touch. You can e-mail me at theamethystangel@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 07910946573.

I will be holding more of these workshops in other areas of Wales and England, so if you are interested in attending one, please get in touch and let me know where you are.

Versatile Blogger Award

Last year I was nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, this year it’s the Versatile Blogger Award! I have been nominated by the wonderful Matt Campbell Nicely, who I know through doing the fabulously fun #FridayPhrases (or #FP for short) on Twitter, where you tweet poems, micro-stories etc. Thank you, Matt, I appreciate the nomination and also all of the retweets!

So, in order to pay it forward, as per the Award rules, I need to nominate 15 bloggers! So here goes:

#1. Drew Chial http://drewchialauthor.com/

#2. Miranda Adams http://journeysinwriting.com/

#3. Julie http://peaceablewriter.wordpress.com/

#4. Little Miss Money http://thepursuitofriches.com/

#5. George Hardwick http://www.georgehardwick.com/blog

#6. Kat http://www.divorcedkat.com/

#7. Oleander Plume http://oleanderplume.blogspot.co.uk/

#8. Joe Johnson http://bigjoessoapbox.com/

#9. Liz Lockwood http://lizitivity.wordpress.com/

#10. Unaware but Underlined http://unawarebutunderlined.wordpress.com/

#11. Roger Jackson http://jabe842.wordpress.com/

#12. Joanne Blaikie http://fredamoya.wordpress.com/

#13. Joanna Maciejewska http://melfka.com/en/

#14. Graham Milne http://grahamscrackers.com/

#15. Karen Soutar http://karensoutar.wordpress.com/

and one more for luck!

#16. Greg Mischio http://alterthecourse.com/

I hope you check out all the awesome blogs above!

Now, apparently I need to reveal seven things about myself, that the person who nominated doesn’t know, so here goes:

#1. I have a terrible memory, but I only need to listen to a song a couple of times, and I will know all the lyrics, and be able to sing along (although in a tuneless kind of way)

#2. I used to have pet slow worms (they’re like mini snakes) and lizards as a child . My cats would catch them, and I would look after them for a bit until they had healed, then release them again. I have a photo of me kissing one of the slow worms.

#3. I used to have a physical reaction to any kind of public speaking (bright red cheeks, stuttering, jelly knees, shaking hands) until 2012 when I used EFT to get over it. I now love speaking in public, to small and large groups. It’s usually hard to get me to shut up.

#4. I have a weird diet. I’ve always been a veggie, but I am also gluten-free, caffeine-free, mostly lactose free and very rarely drink alcohol.

#5. I have had prophetic dreams. Sometimes they are literal, and sometimes metaphorical. I dread dreaming of tornadoes.

#6. My favourite books as a child were the Sweet Valley books, by Francine Pascal. I used to dream of living in California, and always wanted a twin sister.

#7. Seven is my lucky number. Numerologically, it is my birth date number, and it is also the number for this year. It’s also Harry Potter’s Quidditch number!

Thank you again, Matt, and thank you to all the bloggers who make life more interesting. You’re all awesome. xx