Frances Pauli's Blog, page 29
January 10, 2011
Really Bad Advice
What is the first thing you'll hear when you dive into the crazy business of trying to be a professional author? Write a great book? Get a great critique group? Stay positive and don't let rejection get you down?
Well, maybe it should be one of those things, but more and more you'll hear something about "promotion." In fact, you'll probably hear it more than once. They'll chant it like a mantra, promo promo promo. It's all about the promotion...right?
sigh.
A friend recently pointed me in the direction of an Amazon forum discussion where the readers (read that, our PRIMARY CONSUMER) were up in arms about the author promo on their discussion groups (you can read that SPAM) She was confused because everything she'd come across in author/publishing circles said PROMO in huge red letters...promo promo promo. She'd been told repeatedly to start promo-ing before the book came out...hit the ground running, etc.
The confusion was about the Hostility and Rage exhibited by the readers who were sick and tired of hearing authors pop in and say, Hey, BUYMYBOOKBUYMYBOOKBUYMYBOOKPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE.
.......
Now, I'm not a marketing genius, and I don't claim to have any answers or even any monumental sales tricks. (or sales for that matter) But it seems like a no brainer that if your PRIMARY CONSUMER is irritated, its a bad thing. Amazingly on this discussion there were authors with the audacity (stupidity) to pop in and defend their right to promo wherever the heck they darn well choose.
..................................
.................
.....????????
Seriously? Let's argue with the person who we want to woo, tell them we HAVE to irritate them because a "professional" has told us that's what we HAVE to do, and then Spam the crap out of them despite their raging and pleas for escape.
That'll get em to buy your book.
??
What is going on here? I'm stumped. I know that the industry stresses author promotion right now...I'm not sure why. Maybe because the houses can no longer afford to do it for their authors and they want to shift that responsibility over. Fine. I'll buy the adds and the bag stuffers and advertise in appropriate outlets. I'll use a facebook page (a professional one, not the one my friends are subjected to) as a bulletin board to post my news of note, reviews, releases etc.
But when these professionals recommend to every author in America that they should (rush rush promo promo) promo like their life depended on it...
I'm guessing they didn't mean for us to rush out and piss off basically everyone who might have been interested in our product. Just a guess, but you know, I think it's sound.
I'm guessing they misjudged how authors would respond. Certainly they didn't intend for us to turn into desperate used car salesmen? Don't they know how much consumers hate a hard sell? Spam? I'm sure they do.
Still, if you can believe the readers, authors are rushing forth en mass in a frantic and pathetic dash to piss off as many customers as possible.
le sigh.
Use some common sense, folks.
Interestingly enough, I read a report on a respected blog recently about effectiveness of the different promo methods when directly compared to sales figures. Guess what?
All that promo did about nothing. If you anger your market, I'd call it less than nothing.
What DID work? Awards and reviews made some spikes in sales. I love reviews. Ive noticed increased sales everywhere Ive had one--good or bad.
What works better?
You're going to hate me for this-- word of mouth.
They talk about this a lot. If we could bottle it, track it or sort it out, we'd all be rich. What in the name of heavens can generate word of mouth??
Nobody knows. Really.
If I had to guess, I'd say write a good book. Then write a better one, keep going till you hit Kick Ass.
And stop spamming your customers.
maybe?
~ Frances
Well, maybe it should be one of those things, but more and more you'll hear something about "promotion." In fact, you'll probably hear it more than once. They'll chant it like a mantra, promo promo promo. It's all about the promotion...right?
sigh.
A friend recently pointed me in the direction of an Amazon forum discussion where the readers (read that, our PRIMARY CONSUMER) were up in arms about the author promo on their discussion groups (you can read that SPAM) She was confused because everything she'd come across in author/publishing circles said PROMO in huge red letters...promo promo promo. She'd been told repeatedly to start promo-ing before the book came out...hit the ground running, etc.
The confusion was about the Hostility and Rage exhibited by the readers who were sick and tired of hearing authors pop in and say, Hey, BUYMYBOOKBUYMYBOOKBUYMYBOOKPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE.
.......
Now, I'm not a marketing genius, and I don't claim to have any answers or even any monumental sales tricks. (or sales for that matter) But it seems like a no brainer that if your PRIMARY CONSUMER is irritated, its a bad thing. Amazingly on this discussion there were authors with the audacity (stupidity) to pop in and defend their right to promo wherever the heck they darn well choose.
..................................
.................
.....????????
Seriously? Let's argue with the person who we want to woo, tell them we HAVE to irritate them because a "professional" has told us that's what we HAVE to do, and then Spam the crap out of them despite their raging and pleas for escape.
That'll get em to buy your book.
??
What is going on here? I'm stumped. I know that the industry stresses author promotion right now...I'm not sure why. Maybe because the houses can no longer afford to do it for their authors and they want to shift that responsibility over. Fine. I'll buy the adds and the bag stuffers and advertise in appropriate outlets. I'll use a facebook page (a professional one, not the one my friends are subjected to) as a bulletin board to post my news of note, reviews, releases etc.
But when these professionals recommend to every author in America that they should (rush rush promo promo) promo like their life depended on it...
I'm guessing they didn't mean for us to rush out and piss off basically everyone who might have been interested in our product. Just a guess, but you know, I think it's sound.
I'm guessing they misjudged how authors would respond. Certainly they didn't intend for us to turn into desperate used car salesmen? Don't they know how much consumers hate a hard sell? Spam? I'm sure they do.
Still, if you can believe the readers, authors are rushing forth en mass in a frantic and pathetic dash to piss off as many customers as possible.
le sigh.
Use some common sense, folks.
Interestingly enough, I read a report on a respected blog recently about effectiveness of the different promo methods when directly compared to sales figures. Guess what?
All that promo did about nothing. If you anger your market, I'd call it less than nothing.
What DID work? Awards and reviews made some spikes in sales. I love reviews. Ive noticed increased sales everywhere Ive had one--good or bad.
What works better?
You're going to hate me for this-- word of mouth.
They talk about this a lot. If we could bottle it, track it or sort it out, we'd all be rich. What in the name of heavens can generate word of mouth??
Nobody knows. Really.
If I had to guess, I'd say write a good book. Then write a better one, keep going till you hit Kick Ass.
And stop spamming your customers.
maybe?
~ Frances
January 2, 2011
Secret Squirrel
Personally, I liked Morocco Mole...yeeeessss
Anyway. Im having an impromptu give-away.
It's a snap. Just drop a comment here anytime before Friday night at midnight and I'll put your
name in a hat. On Sat. morning I'll draw a winner for a free copy of either Lords of Oak and Holly or New Canterbury Affair.
Now, it's a secret squirrel drawing. So I'm not telling anybody else, but you are free to pass it along. . . if you like. I mean, it'll just lower your chances if everyone comments, right?
Okay, I'll wait while you decide. In the meantime what should we talk about?
On the Secret Squirrel train, lets say old school cartoons. Did you have a favorite? Many? Which animated antic do you miss the most?
I liked the Blue Falcon and Dynomut, Captain Cave man and Up and Attem Atom Ant!
~ Frances
Anyway. Im having an impromptu give-away.
It's a snap. Just drop a comment here anytime before Friday night at midnight and I'll put your
name in a hat. On Sat. morning I'll draw a winner for a free copy of either Lords of Oak and Holly or New Canterbury Affair.
Now, it's a secret squirrel drawing. So I'm not telling anybody else, but you are free to pass it along. . . if you like. I mean, it'll just lower your chances if everyone comments, right?
Okay, I'll wait while you decide. In the meantime what should we talk about?
On the Secret Squirrel train, lets say old school cartoons. Did you have a favorite? Many? Which animated antic do you miss the most?
I liked the Blue Falcon and Dynomut, Captain Cave man and Up and Attem Atom Ant!
~ Frances
January 1, 2011
Running Start
Well, I hit the ground running in 2011. Granted, it was completely by accident, but hey, I'll take it. :-)
First, the night before New Year's Eve, I found out that Lords of Oak and Holly had hit Kindle. Always a good thing, and the reason I keep an eye on my Amazon Author Central page. Those sub releases sneak up on me. I suppose that's forgivable, but when an outright release sneaks up on me, well, I should be flogged.
So guess what happened next? You got it. I was cruising around on New Year's Eve and blammo! My upcoming release is releasing before my very eyes. Somewhere along the way, communications could be improved, BUT...good news just the same.
And, again cruising around on New Year's Eve (I'm such a party animal, you see?) I discovered an awesome review for Dimensional Shift at The Romance Review.
So my announcements list as follows. . . ;-)
New Canterbury Affair
NEW RELEASE
Lords of Oak and Holly
available on Kindle
First, the night before New Year's Eve, I found out that Lords of Oak and Holly had hit Kindle. Always a good thing, and the reason I keep an eye on my Amazon Author Central page. Those sub releases sneak up on me. I suppose that's forgivable, but when an outright release sneaks up on me, well, I should be flogged.
So guess what happened next? You got it. I was cruising around on New Year's Eve and blammo! My upcoming release is releasing before my very eyes. Somewhere along the way, communications could be improved, BUT...good news just the same.
And, again cruising around on New Year's Eve (I'm such a party animal, you see?) I discovered an awesome review for Dimensional Shift at The Romance Review.
So my announcements list as follows. . . ;-)
New Canterbury Affair
NEW RELEASE
Lords of Oak and Holly
available on Kindle
and a cool review for The Dimensional Shift.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
~Frances
December 20, 2010
A Dash of Seasoning
I seem to be running a bit behind as far as the blog is concerned.
Let me tell you, this year Nano just about killed me. It didn't do any good for my fitness level either. Can you still call it "stubborn belly fat" if it migrates to your arms and face?
Anyway...
:-)
The trilogy is finished, the holiday books are released and the next three are in edits. Phew. Anthologies and 'zine stories are spattered throughout the next year and I am one pooped author. Pooped.
On a fun note, I had the pleasure of taking my very first novel (first written, not first through this process) into edits last week. It was ghastly. Not the process, mind you, the novel was ghastly. It was. I almost cried. I lied about the fun part.
I got to thinking as I gaped in horror at the words I, apparently, wrote while under the influence of....stupid, and I started counting years since I wrote the bloody thing. Ooops. Has it really been that long? Now what?
Thank god for good editors. Mind you, they're not all good. But this one book, this one that needs by far the most TLC (read that shredding) happened to hit the jackpot of editorial delight. Phew. I have no doubt that between our two critical eyes (okay four) we can beat, knead and abuse the manuscript into publishable shape. . . I hope. Really.
Cross your fingers for me, okay? I mean, the story is still good. I love the characters, I love this book. I love the trilogy (though I seriously hope the writing gets better as we go!) and I want it to succeed. At the moment, however, I love it like a very ugly child...and I'm considering paying for it's plastic surgery. You know?
I'm a bad parent. :-)
Wish me luck,
Frances
Let me tell you, this year Nano just about killed me. It didn't do any good for my fitness level either. Can you still call it "stubborn belly fat" if it migrates to your arms and face?
Anyway...
:-)
The trilogy is finished, the holiday books are released and the next three are in edits. Phew. Anthologies and 'zine stories are spattered throughout the next year and I am one pooped author. Pooped.
On a fun note, I had the pleasure of taking my very first novel (first written, not first through this process) into edits last week. It was ghastly. Not the process, mind you, the novel was ghastly. It was. I almost cried. I lied about the fun part.
I got to thinking as I gaped in horror at the words I, apparently, wrote while under the influence of....stupid, and I started counting years since I wrote the bloody thing. Ooops. Has it really been that long? Now what?
Thank god for good editors. Mind you, they're not all good. But this one book, this one that needs by far the most TLC (read that shredding) happened to hit the jackpot of editorial delight. Phew. I have no doubt that between our two critical eyes (okay four) we can beat, knead and abuse the manuscript into publishable shape. . . I hope. Really.
Cross your fingers for me, okay? I mean, the story is still good. I love the characters, I love this book. I love the trilogy (though I seriously hope the writing gets better as we go!) and I want it to succeed. At the moment, however, I love it like a very ugly child...and I'm considering paying for it's plastic surgery. You know?
I'm a bad parent. :-)
Wish me luck,
Frances
December 7, 2010
The Undiscovered Country
Okay, I just can't let a good Star Trek angle go unused. :-) You know me.
But what I want to share with y'all today has nothing to do with the Trek. It's a gorgeous new cover for the Undiscovered anthology put out by the Hall Brothers and including the reprint of my story Alien Embrace which I am THRILLED to have available again, and in print to boot.
phew. That was long winded, eh?
Anyway, I love these guys. They rock. And no, not because they publish my stories, but because they took their love of fiction and did something awesome with it. Their website features a ton of free shorts, is putting out gorgeous (see below) anthos, and has a daily two-sentence story feature that makes me squee. I adore these. They're like twitterfic, but not quite as length restrictive.
So, go check out: http://www.hallbrosentertainment.com/
but first, have a look at this:
Is that freakin' cool or what?
But what I want to share with y'all today has nothing to do with the Trek. It's a gorgeous new cover for the Undiscovered anthology put out by the Hall Brothers and including the reprint of my story Alien Embrace which I am THRILLED to have available again, and in print to boot.
phew. That was long winded, eh?
Anyway, I love these guys. They rock. And no, not because they publish my stories, but because they took their love of fiction and did something awesome with it. Their website features a ton of free shorts, is putting out gorgeous (see below) anthos, and has a daily two-sentence story feature that makes me squee. I adore these. They're like twitterfic, but not quite as length restrictive.
So, go check out: http://www.hallbrosentertainment.com/
but first, have a look at this:
Is that freakin' cool or what?
December 4, 2010
Writing and Publishing Demystified
This guy may be the most brilliant voice in the industry.
Read his blog: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?page_id=860
all of it.
Ah grasshopper, enlightenment. :-)
Thanks to M. Baker for pointing me at him.
Read his blog: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?page_id=860
all of it.
Ah grasshopper, enlightenment. :-)
Thanks to M. Baker for pointing me at him.
December 1, 2010
Interview and Contest: Lisa Anne Vance
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing author, Lisa Anne Vance. She has a great new book coming out from Devine Destinies, and her site, Having a Great Time, Wish I Were Here, is so funny and engaging that it stole several evenings of my writing time because I couldn't tear myself away. Check it out, but clear your schedule in advance. ;-)
So Let's give Lisa a warm welcome! Thanks...
Tell us a little bit about your new book:
Lisa: 'Passing Whispers' is a paranormal romance being released by Devine Destinies on December 1, 2010. I have written one other short, sensual story, but this is my first novel. When Detective Endel Sorra is killed during a robbery, the lives of his loved ones are shattered. One year later, his wife Kate, is still filled with anger and bitterness. In a feeble attempt to move on with her life, she decides to give away all their beloved Christmas decorations. She comes across the snow globe Endel had given her on their first Christmas. Before she can smash it against the wall, he finds a way to come back to her. Over a two week period, he helps her to understand the tragedy and other misconceptions that are ruining her life. It's a tear-jerker, but it has a happy ending.
What genres do you write in and what is it about them that you find
the most attractive?
Lisa: Since my divorce eleven years ago, my primary interest is writing murder mysteries. ;-) I'm fascinated by forensic science, but I guess the story for 'Passing Whispers' caught me in a weak, romantic moment.
Are there any genres you would like to try but haven't?
Lisa: I'd like to try writing romance for more mature women. Those who thought it was too late for them to find love.
What was the most challenging part of writing this particular story?
Lisa: I used a few names in my story for which I had to get permission. 'Desperate Housewives' (you wouldn't believe how particular Disney is!), and The Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower and the song 'I'll be Home For Christmas'. It took months to get final permission.
Where did the idea for the story come from? Do you have a muse?
Lisa: To tell you the truth, it came to me one day while I was napping on the couch. I haven't met the man of my dreams yet.
What was the most surprising part of the publishing process for you so far?
Lisa: I had no idea how long it took to get published after a contract was signed.
Do you know what your next project will be? Share a sneak peek with us?
Lisa: My next project will be a romantic mystery. It's about a nursing supervisor who believes that one of the patients who died in her hospital was actually murdered by her husband.
Do you have a favorite wine? Chocolate? Dangerous man?
Lisa: I am happily addicted to chocolate.
Thanks so much for having me, Frances! I am running a contest to celebrate my book release. Simply sign on to YouTube.com (http://www.youtube.com/) or sign up for an account if you don't have one (it's simple, easy and free). Make a comment under my book trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Y8417ZVBE)anytime between December 1 and December 7. You get one entry for every comment you make (no limit). On December 8th one lucky winner will receive a free Kindle and a copy of 'Passing Whispers' to start off your E-Book collection.
Thanks for stopping by! Please let us know where we can find you and
your writing online:
Devine Destines (my publisher where you can purchase 'Passing Whispers' and 'Trick or Treat".
http://www.devinedestinies.com/shopdevine/
My Blog: http://theoccupant.blogspot.com/
My Web Page: http://havingagreattime.net/
November 25, 2010
Books For Turkey Day
Well, as promised All Romance Ebooks had put out the three free anthologies of contest short stories for Thanksgiving!
The link to go snag your copy is here LINK Snag Copy
and my short, Complicated Cargo can be found inside volume three.
And for a Secret Squirrel Surprise, My first Novel and one of my favorite stories, The Dimensional Shift is out TODAY as well
. :-)
See it, buy it, etc. HERE
The Dimensional Shift: Housekeeping takes on a Whole New Dimension!
And now, for some pretty pictures....
The link to go snag your copy is here LINK Snag Copy
and my short, Complicated Cargo can be found inside volume three.
And for a Secret Squirrel Surprise, My first Novel and one of my favorite stories, The Dimensional Shift is out TODAY as well
. :-) See it, buy it, etc. HERE
The Dimensional Shift: Housekeeping takes on a Whole New Dimension!
And now, for some pretty pictures....
November 22, 2010
Guest: The Killer Valentine Ball
Please join me in welcoming author, C.A. Verstraete on her book tour for: The Killer Valentine Ball!! She's stopped by today to share some great advice!
10 Tips to Better Writing
1. Start Small Big projects can sometimes be overwhelming. Break them into bite-size pieces. I'm guilty of stressing over not writing the 20 pages a week I'd planned. Setting goals smaller, say three pages a day, will get almost the same results, with less stress. And if you don't get the exact amount done, don't beat yourself up. Even one paragraph or page is one more than you had before, and 500 or so words closer to your final word count.
2. Believe in Yourself A bad review can hurt, but the pain is temporary. But that inner critic that tries to hold you back and tear down your efforts (you're a lousy writer, you'll never get anywhere, why are you wasting your time?...) can be worse. Believe in you. Think on what you've accomplished and move forward. One rejection is just that. It's not the end. Don't let rejection stalk you. Send that story or project to another publication and move on to the next one. Having at least a few stories circulating (some say 10 or 12 if you can) will prevent you from obsessing over one.
3. Learn From Others Success comes from listening to others who have already been there. Check out the experiences of other writers in your genre. Study the works of writers you admire to see how they did it. No matter how many years you've been writing, there is always something new to learn.
4. Review Yourself A little self-evaluation can be good to gauge where you are in your writing goals and progress. Be honest; don't be afraid to point out your shortcomings, but also decide on how to improve them. Maybe you've only been published in lower paying markets and are afraid to move to the next level. Pick a market you haven't written for; study the content, and work on a story to submit. Becoming a better writer doesn't mean treading water; test the waters in new markets.
5. Make Goals Goals keep you from stagnating, but make them reasonable. Start with one goal, like planning to get published in a new magazine in your genre, or working on a story in a different genre or field. When that goal is accomplished, make a new goal. Keep moving forward and don't stress over how long achieving that goal may take. It isn't a race. Work at the pace you feel comfortable with.
6. Seize the Day! Swallow your fears. Some opportunities only come once. Don't be afraid to take a chance. You never know where it will lead.
7. Don't Fear Mistakes You'll make mistakes; you'll write less than stellar stories. We all have. It's one mistake. Even if you make the same mistake, it's not the end of the world. Learn from them. Every mistake only makes you stronger.
8. Don't Be a Victim Self-pity leads to depression, which leads to inactivity, self-doubt and can be a vicious spiral that robs you of your energy and happiness. No matter your circumstances, there is no reason to sit still and be unproductive. Don't make excuses, do something. There are tons of free resources available. Use the Internet and computers at the library. See if there is a niche in your community where you can volunteer or provide a service. See #5.
9. Be Happy We all can't be Rockefellers or live like them. Always thinking the grass is greener on the other side will never make you satisfied. Look closer and you'll find crabgrass and weeds there, too. Enjoy your faith, friends, family, pets, and hobbies. Shut off the computer and make time to exercise and have some fun. You'll feel better and be more productive.
10. Think Positive It takes less energy to think positive and will add more to your life and your writing.
The Killer Valentine Ball
Author: C. A. Verstraete
Cover Artist: Delilah K. Stephans
Word Count: 3,094
Pages: 15
ISBN: 978-0-9865875-6-6
Price: $0.99
Release date: September 10, 2010
Warning: Light gore
BUY LINK:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=25&category_id=3&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
Blurb:
A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser?, Jess thinks. But this is no ordinary party. The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget.
A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser?, Jess thinks. But this is no ordinary party. The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget.
Excerpt:
As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race. On the dance floor, the same three couples stood, clasped to each other. Jess stared. She swore they never moved.
The music played quietly in the background. When the shadows brightened, Jess caught a quick glimpse of one of the couples. The young man's mouth gaped open. His partner's gown glistened with streams of dark ribbons. The light flashed again and Jess gasped. Those weren't ribbons! The girl's dress shone with dark glimmers. Like-like blood, she thought. No, it can't be! She looked back at Dylan, who shook his head and urged her on.
"Light tricks," he whispered. "It's not real. It's Halloween stuff, like the movie. Don't worry."
C.A. Verstraete
Bio: I grew up with my nose always in a book, so it seemed a natural progression that I wanted to be a writer. A prophetic wish, it seems, judging from my favorite baby photo as seen on my website of me with a newspaper and a pencil behind my ear. I studied journalism and continue to do freelance writing for newspapers.
I also enjoy writing all kinds of fiction, with stories appearing in several anthologies including the recent Steampunk'd from DAW Books (coming out Nov. 2).
My kid's mystery, Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery, was #1 on Kindle for Miniatures books and was a 2009 EPPIE Award finalist for best YA/children's ebook by the Epic Foundation.
Links
Website: http://cverstraete.com/
Blog: http://candidcanine.blogspot.com/
Book page: http://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95&Itemid=82
November 18, 2010
Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together
Today on the Publishing Trove: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/publish...
I am having an all day chat with fellow authors, Jaleta Clegg and Pauline Baird Jones, about Science Fiction Romance, Romantic Science Fiction, and whatever else comes up. Feel free to stop on by and join in.
"you got romance in my sci-fi! you got sci-fi in my Romance! heyyyyyyyy"
Beam me on over there,
Frances
I am having an all day chat with fellow authors, Jaleta Clegg and Pauline Baird Jones, about Science Fiction Romance, Romantic Science Fiction, and whatever else comes up. Feel free to stop on by and join in.
"you got romance in my sci-fi! you got sci-fi in my Romance! heyyyyyyyy"
Beam me on over there,
Frances
