Sherry D. Ficklin's Blog, page 7

Being A Con Man (Or Woman)

I read a really great article last week from author Chuck Wending, author of the (amazing!) novel ZEROES all about whether, as an author, you should be going to Cons. You can read his article here, but I’m going to add my own two cents on the subject.

There are probably many fantastic, successful authors who don’t do Cons. BUT if there are, I’ve never heard of them. And that should tell you something.

Now there are three basic types of cons (conventions, for the rookies) that an author might attend.

Writer’s Conventions : Also called writer’s workshops, these cons are for honing the craft of writing and meeting other authors/editors/agents. These are fantastic for networking and for really digging in and working on your craft. I’ve never gone to one of these and not walked out the door a better writer than I was when I went in.

What it costs: They can be spendy, $50/a day on the low side to upwards of $1200 for a 3 day event on the higher end. Plus travel expenses and hotel costs.

What you get: Besides hob-nobbing with fellow authors, learning new skills, and getting info/feedback from industry pros? How about a list of folks you can blog with, share release deets with, and generally co-market with. In 2013 I joined with a class (group) of authors all releasing books in 2013 and we created a multi author blog and events, building on each other and cross-promoting. It wasn’t just fun, it was wildly successful.

Me and some of the gals from Clean Teen Publishing at Book Expo America last year.

 

2) Reader Cons or Book Cons: These are conventions where readers attend to hob-nob with authors and attend panels run by authors and usually have book signings where fans can come purchase your books. They are often genre specific (Romance themed like RT or YA themed or even Sci-fi themed) and some happen in the same city every year, and some move around.

What it costs: As an author, you normally must be selected to attend (you apply for a position) and if chosen your entry fee/badge is free. However most reader cons charge authors for signing tables/display booths. These can run as little as $50 and as much as $300 (some are much, much more, but these are fairly average numbers). Unless you are a BIG DEAL author, your room and travel are not included and you foot the bill on that yourself.

What you get: You will expand your readers by introducing yourself to new fans (who may be there to see another author, only to fall in love with you during a panel or signing), earn speaking credits (which help you to become BIG DEAL authors and help you make it through the selection process when you apply), and sell books. *You will almost NEVER sell enough books at an event to cover your costs, do don’t expect it. Making a little $ back is a bonus, but not a reason to go. The biggest reason to go is to MEET YOUR FANS. If you spend a few minutes chatting with people who already like your books, they go from fans to friends, and that means career long relationships. I have met more amazing bloggers, readers, and industry peeps who became dear friends, and they have each in their own ways, helped my build my career.

UtopYA 2015 (with the amazing Chelsea Fine at my back!)

3) Comic Cons (or theme cons): Comic Cons are hit and miss. Some rely heavily on celebrities to drive people in, leaving little room for authors, but others have wonderful author events and tracks (panels). It can be hard to be invited (again, you have to apply) and it helps if you have spec-fic novels (scifi/paranormal/etc) or a large list. Contemporary romance, for example, might not be a great seller at a Comic Con. Know your audience. Does your fan base attend events like this? If so, this one is for you.

What it costs: This varies, but it can be extremely high. Booths (and you WANT a booth to sign/sell at) can run $200 on the low end to $3000 on the high end. Why so much more than the other cons? Because generally it’s a MUCH larger event with a much larger attending audience. *Some Cons will give authors selected for panels and such a booth (usually shared) or signing table free. There’s no harm in asking. If you are a BIG DEAL the cons may cover some expenses as well (like hotels) but it depends. The sort of unwritten rule is, if they come to YOU asking you to attend, you can ask for some perks (like a hotel room covered or flight fare) but if you APPLY, you are on your own.

What you get: Not every reader attends book cons. Those tend to be ‘career readers’ who either blog or read many books a month. At Comic Cons you get a chance to expose yourself to non career readers who still might love your books. You still get the benefit of hob-nobbing with other authors and stuff, as well as the chance to maybe hit a few panels and learn from what others are doing. Plus, there’s always the chance to have fun and meet a few celebs too. You may even ask the event coordinator if they are doing gift bags for the attending celebs and see if you can donate some goodies to their bags (but it should be high quality swag or print books).

Denver Comic Con 2015.

So you’re just starting out and have never been to a con before. Do you HAVE to go? NO! And don’t bankrupt yourself trying to! But if you can swing it, look for something local to you, something where you can either attend as a panelist, or just go and check it out. I went to cons as a guest for many years before I started going as an author. My first convention was a small (but hella cool) local steampunk con. I went the year before my steampunk novel released, and the next year I attended as a published author. I was a big fish in a small pond and it gave me the chance to not only meet some really amazing people, but to learn how to do a con as a professional without being thrown to the sharks. And I still go, and it’s one of the cons I sell best at!

Now, years into my career, I do several conventions each year, some local, some pretty damn far away. I do all sorts of cons, and speak/sign/teach at each of them. I’ve earned a reputation as a quality panelist and featured author. I’ve met agents, editors, and authors I admire and now call many of them friends. I’ve met fans, bloggers, readers, and celebs. Believe me when I tell you that if you decide to do a con, they really are worth every penny!

Deadpool approves of my book!

TIPS: If you want to do a con but need to keep costs down, consider these tips.

Perhaps you can share a hotel room with another attendee (I like to joke that I can fit six people in a double queen hotel room, but for real, I’ve done it. I mean, you’re hardly ever IN the room anyway).
Pack your own snacks or stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast and smuggle a few fruits back with you.
Take the train (Amtrack has some wonderful deals and it’s so much nicer than flying, if you have the time).
Split a table with another author (or two). When I’m traveling with publishing house sisters and brothers, we will often split tables to cut costs, plus then there’s someone to watch the table while you panel.
Ask for discounts on rooms. Sometimes events can get lower rates for attending authors.
Ask for green room privileges. Not all cons have them, but most do and it’s a life saver to be able to duck in between events and grab a soda and some chips. it costs them nothing and it can really help you from dropping $10 bucks on a con floor soda.

If you’re curious about an event or just need some advice on what to do, how to apply, etc, feel free to leaver me a comment below. I’m always happy to share! And if you want to chat in person, here’s my event list for 2016!  Come see me!

 2016 Events:

 

Book Signing and Launch Party
Feb. 13th 2-4 pm
Grand Junction, Co.

 

Houston Author Bash
February 20th 10am-3pm
Harmony Science Academy
Katy, Texas

 

  The Novel Experience
April 6th-10th
The Sheraton Downtown
Atlanta, Georgia

 

RT Booklovers Convention
April 12-17th
Las Vegas, Nv.
(author appearance Thursday 4/14 at 11:15 am
and signing Saturday 4/16 10:30 am – 2 pm)

 

Denver Comic Con
June 17-19
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado
 

Penned Con
Sept. 23rd-24th
St. Louis Mo.

Stolen Empire Box Set SALE

Hello Royals! I’m excited to announce that the digital box set of the Stolen Empire Series will be on a very special limited time sale on 2/2. Normally the box set, which contains all three Stolen Empire novels, runs 9.99. But on 2/2, we are dropping the price for one day only. You will be able to get Queen of Someday, Queen of Tomorrow, and Queen of Always for the bargain price of just $0.99!

Don’t miss the series dubbed a “must-read romance” by the USA Today and “An entertaining and racy read” by School Library Journal. Fans of the hit TV show REIGN will devour this scandalous glimpse into the life of one of the most vibrant women in history.

The Stolen Empire series is a decedent look at one of history’s most scandalous queens, Catherine the Great of Russia. Beginning with her humble origins and culminating with her coronation, this series offers a fanciful glimpse inside the life of the dynamic, strong young woman who won the hand of a king, the heart of a nation, and, ultimately, sacrificed her own innocence on the throne of an empire. The trials and tribulations of court life left their scars on young Sophie—the girl who would be Catherine, but she faced down every obstacle with the courage and grace of a queen.

Grab your copy here! 

In Too Deep Release Tour

It’s time to get #HACKED with the newest YA novel by
Sherry D. Ficklin.

 

One talented hacker.

One dead body.

One explosive secret.

When one reckless night leads Farris Barnett to the dead body of a

classmate, she’s as willing as everyone else to write it off as a

suicide. That is, until cryptic messages start coming in from someone

who knows the truth, and they want Farris on the case. Putting her

hacker skills to work, she begins to unravel the life of a victim who

might just have been the guiltiest of them all.

Her personal life in

turmoil, Farris turns to the only person she can trust to help her get

to the bottom of things—a friend on the verge of becoming much more.

Together, they confront a killer with a secret not even she could have

decoded.

The biggest bombs, the ones that do the most damage, are the ones you never see coming.

Grab your copy today!

Read an excerpt from In Too Deep:

The water isn’t warm, but it’s not exactly cold either. It’s the temperature of a bathtub you’ve been sitting in for too long. For a moment, I’m too disoriented to do anything but hold my breath. Then dread sets in and I kick for the surface, breaking it for only a second before a pair of hands pushes me back under. I open my eyes, but everything is blurred, bubbles and distortion.

Adrenaline flooding my veins like fire, I thrash and kick wildly, trying to pry his hands off me. It’s my nightmare all over again. My lungs burn, convulsing with the need to draw breath. I struggle, but I can feel my body growing heavy and I’m sinking, deeper into the bright blue water. The last of my breath escapes in a rush of bubbles, rising to the surface without me. There’s a sound in my ears. It sounds like the crashing of the ocean, far away and close at the same time.

Don’t let go, a voice whispers.

I want to cry because the voice is smooth and familiar. It’s my mother’s voice.

Don’t let go.

My body shudders, convulsing as it fights to find oxygen. The hands release me, but I can’t find the strength to push to the surface. My legs are stone, pulling me toward the bottom of the pool. Finally unable to hold it back any longer, I take a breath and water fills my lungs. It’s a pain like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Even as my body rebels against the foreign substance, I slip further and further away.

Don’t let go.

In the dim, fading light, I see Cole’s face above me. I don’t even know if it’s real or just the last, desperate wishes of my mind. I’m not sure how I find the strength, but I manage to reach up, stretching my hand upward in the water.

***

Book 1 In the #HACKER series is now FREE on all platforms! So if you haven’t already, grab your free e-book today!

Book 3 in the #HACKER series releases in e-book Feb. 8th 2016. You can pre-order your copy today.

What’s in a (pen) name?

Recently there’s been a lot of buzz about what happens when two authors share a name. It’s a huge problem and, ultimately, something you need to be very aware of when you first begin building your author brand.

Just because it’s your legal name does not mean you can automatically use it as your professional name. This is one of the main reasons pen names exist.  Just because your name is Stephen King does NOT mean you can use that name on your books without serious issues. And even if your name isn’t immediately recognizable as a famous author, that doesn’t mean someone isn’t already out there using it. In this case, not to be childish, but that person has what amounts to legal dibs on the name.

So the first thing you need to do when beginning to build your author brand is to do a very thorough name search. Check Amazon, Twitter, Goodreads, Smashwords, and Google. See if anyone in the wide world is already using your name. It doesn’t matter if they write in a different genre than you, if they are publishing under that name, you shouldn’t be.

And when you can’t use your legal name for whatever reason, that stings. It hurts because that is literally who you are. It’s what your mom calls you and how all your friends know you. Not being able to see your name on your books is a hard pill to swallow, I know, but swallow you must. It will save you immeasurable headaches down the road.

If you fall into that category, consider a pen name close to your real name, use your maiden or middle name or simply pick something that you like. This is going to be your professional persona, so choose carefully. And then search again for whatever new name you’ve chosen. (Let me add that just adding an initial to the name does NOT absolve you from these legal issues. If you use Nora K. Roberts, better believe Nora Roberts will sue the skin off your back).

http://www.brainlesstales.com/2012-11...

 

So you have a name that no one else is using, what now? The first thing you do is set up your online author accounts with that name. Set up your Facebook author page, your Goodreads author page, and most importantly, your AMAZON author page. If your first book isn’t published yet, I highly recommend self publishing a novella or something on Amazon, for the sole purpose of claiming your author profile. I have a good friend who, despite having other author sites set up under her name, failed to claim her Amazon Author Account and someone using the same name swooped in and secured it. Now anytime she publishes a book, it tries to link to the OTHER author’s amazon author account. It’s a huge headache. Amazon is the only place where the date you claimed the name is visible, so if there’s ever an issue of who was using the name first, you have some proof there.

My Amazon Author Page

Also, secure your web domain name. Mine is http://sherryficklin.com. Anyone searching for my name online sees my website pop up first in a search. That’s what you want. That helps keep other people from claiming your author name. I got my domain name from Go Daddy and I think it was $7 for the first year, $12 a year after that. Even if you aren’t going to use the domain yet, secure it NOW.

And this is a big one, you should absolutely trademark your author name. It gives you legal recourse in the event that someone else decides to usurp your name. It costs between $100-$200 (if you go through a service like Legal Zoom) but I suggest making it happen. You can read more about registering your trademark .

 

So you’ve established your brand and now someone else is using your name, what do you do?

Firstly, I recommend contacting them directly with a nicely worded letter letting them know that there’s an issue, and if you did trademark the name, making them aware of that. This only works if you catch it early, someone just starting up is more likely to be amiable to change than someone who already has a whole series published under that name.

In order to keep from being surprised, I suggest you do monthly sweeps, google searching for your name. If something crops up and it’s a blatant case of identity theft (aka a person posing as YOU online, not just using the same name) you need to report them immediately.

If you contact the person and they refuse to change their name, you really have two options. You can seek legal recourse (the Authors Guild has a legal team that can help you if you are a member),file a complaint with the trademark office (if you trademarked the name), etc, or you can change YOUR name and rebrand yourself.

Of course, there’s always the option of doing nothing, and just living with the inevitable confusion, but if you do nothing, be aware that THEY may then trademark the name and force you out of using it.

Which do you really want to do?

I’ve heard lots of authors receive some bad advice in these kinds of matters, advice like, “Don’t worry, your fans know who the real you is.” That’s not only untrue, but weakens your claim to the name by waiting. Whatever you decide to do, act quickly and decisively. Because your die hard fans might know the difference, but the majority of readers will not.

 

My friend who had her name stolen came to discover much too late that the other author using her name was publishing hardcore erotica, and that her family thought it was hers! Mortifying. And because she didn’t act quickly to stop the infringement, she ended up having to rebrand herself. She even tried keeping the pen name and simply adding her own name and “writing as” to the titles, but that did no good either. It’s been a long, frustrating road and one that becomes exponentially more difficult for those publishing with big houses.

Let me be clear, they will not protect you from this sort of thing. It’s up to you to protect yourself.

So when you’re ready to make your public appearance as an author, be sure you’ve carefully researched the name you’re using and secure those author pages, domains, and a trademark quickly. Believe it or not, you may not be the only Merryweather Anne Pennybottom on the block.

Digital Horizon Book Trailer Contest

Hello #HACKERS! I’m excited today to bring you a unique opportunity to be part of the #HACKER world! The third book in the series, Digital Horizon, will be releasing in February and we want you, the fans, to help us make the book trailer!

If you’ve never made a trailer before, it’s lots of fun and a cool, creative way to express your love for the series, world, and characters. It doesn’t matter if you use iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, or a free online site like Animoto, it doesn’t matter if your skill level is semi-pro or if you are a first time creator, this contest is for you!

Here’s the trailer for book 2 for a little inspiration.

A few things that might help:

Please make sure any images, clips, or music you use is copyright free. (Basically, you can’t use pics of celebs, popular tunes, etc. ) There are lots of cool places that have royalty free stock photography and music you can choose from. (Or, if you are super creative, you can use your own.) Just make sure that whatever you use won’t get us sued for copyright violation. Buying stock photos and clips from places like Shutterstock is fine, pulling images straight off a google image search is not. But here are a few places where you can download free stock images:

http://wptavern.com/13-sources-for-free-public-domain-and-cc0-licensed-images

Be creative. You can use the book cover, the blurb, and any other info we have provided for this book, or any books in this series. Make it unique. Make it how you see the world. Make it yours.

The videos should be anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds long (though a little over or under is fine too) and be sure they have at least the book title and cover image somewhere in it. That’s all. The rest is up to you!

So get those creative juices flowing! You can upload your video to Youtube and submit the link, or you can submit the file to us directly. Entries should be sent to: submissions(at)cleanteenpublishing.com and be sure to put Trailer Contest in the subject line. We will have one grand prize winner who will get a $50 Amazon Giftcard and a digital box set of the first 3 novels in the #HACKER series. Two second place winners will receive special Hacker swag packs and digital box sets.

This contest is open world wide. All entries have to be received by midnight 1/15/16.

 

How To Sell E-Books

Ok, we’ve covered a LOT of author and writing related topics here, but the big one I always get is, what i call the bottom line. How do I sell my e-books?

There are a million ways to market your books and just as many ways to get your book in front of readers. But I’m about to drop my no BS best tips here for you. Uh, yeah. You’re welcome.

Also, you might want to take notes.

 

Firstly, this bit is for those of you who are about to, or who recently have, released your first book. (or, the first of a new series). And, congrats on that, BTW. I’m super happy for you. (FYI you still have to do your own laundry. No one told me that and it was hella disappointing, just sayin)

My best tip for you is this: Before you can really sell an e-book, you need to find your audience. Which is really hard when only a tiny pool of readers have ever heard of you. So my suggestion is to take the time to write a few short stories in the same world as your novel. They should be compelling, but not give anything away. If they leave off on some kind of cliffhanger leading into your novel, all the better, IMHO.

Then take those short stories and post them as free reads on Wattpad, Tumblr, or any other online reading site you can find. At the end of each story, put a call to action, something like, “Read more in the debut novel” and add a direct buy link to your book. Or “Sign up for my newsletter for more amazing reads”. You get the idea. Basically, its a way to start gaining fans, and getting your work and name recognized by readers.

Why do I suggest Wattpad and not making them Amazon freebies? Statistics. Of the people who pick up freebies (or even .99 books) on Amazon, only around 30% ever actually read them. I know, right? And when talking about short fiction, that number is even smaller. And then, those that do read tend to leave nasty reviews because of the length. Let me be clear, Amazon readers of free fiction are looking for free novel-length work and can get testy when that expectation isn’t met. (Even if you say in the listing novella or short story. Trust me on this.)

Ok, that’s great for first books, but what about you authors releasing your third or fifth novel?

Well, if you have a series that still isn’t selling, I highly suggest either making the first book in the series perma-free, or at least running a free promotion (like Amazon’s KDP Select free week.)

Now, I have heard many authors talk about devaluing their work, and there is something to be said for perceived value. That’s why I will NEVER suggest you price a book for .99. It’s a terrible plan and you still fall into that Amazon pit of people who will one-click it and then never read it. (which is especially bad now that Amazon is paying per page read).

But, having a first book free, or running a free promotion on the first book in a series is an excellent way to help boost both sales on the rest of the books in the series and to help build your overall fan base. Wait, didn’t I just say only 30% or people who grab free books on Amazon will read them? Yes, but if the number of people downloading the book free is around the 20K-30K, then even 30% of that is a hulluva boost. And if that 30% then goes and buys the next three books, well then it’s worth it.

But just making it free isn’t enough. You make it free, then run a series of ads to expose the book to readers.That’s how you go from getting a handful of downloads a day to getting a couple hundred downloads a day. It’s easy, you click the link, add your book info, and BAM. They send that info to their big fat lists of readers looking for free or discounted books. It’s like freaking magic. AND you can re-list your book like every 3 months, so if you have something perma free, you can list more than once to hit those new subscribers and anyone who missed it before!

Here are some of my favorite totally free book promotion sites:

Author Marketing Club
eBooks Habit
Free e-Books
EBook Lister
FreeBooksy
Book Deal Hunter

Ok, so what if you don’t want to give away a promotional short or a free intro novel? There are still lots of ways to promote your book, but you are looking at a bit of an investment now. Google Adwords, Facebook and Twitter ads, and buying space on review blogs, in digital magazines, and/or taking out a BookBub ad or Netgalley listing are the ones who have worked best for me. They aren’t cheap, but they are all great ways to expose readers to your books!

Good luck, and if you have any favorite tips or sites to share, please feel free to drop them in the comments!

And *shameless plug* if you haven’t picked up one of my books yet, I have two fantastic novels currently free on Amazon. Check them out!

Cover Reveal~ DIGITAL HORIZON (#HACKER Book 3)

The #Hacker Novels by Sherry D. Ficklin have gotten a lot of attention since the first book Playing With Fire released in October. Clean Teen Publishing also announced the release of In Too Deep at the end of November. Now, we are excited to share the official cover reveal for Digital Horizon, the third book in the #Hacker Series that will release in February 2016. Take a look at this awesome new cover and leave us a line or two with your thoughts on it. Also, if you haven’t started reading this young adult mystery series, you can start today with a free digital copy of Playing With Fire.

DIGITAL HORIZON

ADD TO GOODREADS

No spoilers here. If you wish to see the synopsis for Digital Horizon start click your mouse and start highlighting here:

One wants justice.

One wants redemption.

One just wants revenge.

Still reeling from her devastating loss, Farris is barely holding it together when she’s approached by a covert government agency. The IDC is recruiting the best hackers in the country to form a team capable of tracking down and thwarting cyber terrorists. When they make her an offer she can’t refuse—a shot at catching the people responsible for the death of her father—she’s all in. But success will mean forging new alliances, betraying the people she loves, and trusting an old enemy. If she succeeds, she might finally get the closure she needs. If she fails, the digital world will crumble at her feet, putting thousands of lives at risk and exposing the world’s most dangerous secrets.

In the dark web, where anything can be bought and sold, this talented young hacker just might have to sell her soul to get what she’s after.

The question is, who’s buying?

End highlight. Did you see the text?

PLAYING WITH FIRE IS FREE!

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / iBOOKS / KOBO / SMASHWORDS

One brilliant young hacker. One experimental government aircraft. One chance to keep it all from going up in flames.

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she’s drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet—at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering… to all out murder.

IN TOO DEEP

AMAZON / NOOK / iBOOKS / KOBO / SMASHWORDS

 

Here There Be Dragons

NEW RELEASE TODAY!

Crimson Tree Publishing is proud to present the newest release in the DRAGONS OF ETERNITY Series by Julie Wetzel. FOR THE HEART OF DRAGONS is now available in digital formats through all retailers. Grab your copy today and continue this exciting Fantasy Romance series!

AMAZON / NOOK / iBOOKS / SMASHWORDS / KOBO

Disconnection is a very serious issue for dragons that can leave them stuck in one form or another, but it’s a condition that usually comes on slowly and rarely catches anyone by surprise. No one knows this better the Kara Rose, Eternity’s leading specialist in the treatment of this condition. So when the head of Eternity demands her presence for an emergency, she can’t imagine what he could want. She is, after all, only a therapist.

As a top mage with Eternity, Noah Dove has worked with dragons for most of his life, so he is used to their odd quirks and physical needs. When a dark beauty shows up to disrupt the king’s celebrations, he agrees to go with her to keep the peace. When Noah is unable to protect the woman from the group killing dragons, he’s left with her last request—to save her dragon. It would normally be an impossible task, but with a bit of magic and some help from the dragon, Noah forms the one thing that can transfer a dragon from one person to another—a Heart Stone.

Now the dragon is loose and out of control… and the only person who can help is Kara. With Noah’s consciousness locked away beyond her reach, she must somehow find a way to soothe the dragon and connect two halves that were never a whole. The task is daunting and will push her knowledge—and personal boundaries—to their limit and beyond.

START READING BOOK ONE FOR FREE!

AMAZON / NOOK / iBOOKS / KOBO

ABOUT JULIE WETZEL:

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other.

Now a mother of a hyperactive red headed boy, what time she’s not chasing down dirty socks and unsticking toys from the ceiling is spent crafting worlds readers can get lost it. Julie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile and lover of big words. She likes hiking, frogs, interesting earrings, and a plethora of other fun things.

And with the Kindling Flames series, she is now an Internationally Best-Selling Author.

JULIE’S OTHER SERIES:

GIVEAWAYS:

Before you leave, don’t forget to check out the many giveaways going on over at Clean Teen Publishing this month. Check them out here.

IN TOO DEEP release day!

The #Hacker Novels by Sherry D. Ficklin have gotten a lot of attention since the first book Playing With Fire released last month. Clean Teen Publishing is excited to announce that now readers can dive deeper into the world of a young hacker in book two— In Too Deep. Hang on to your keyboards, because trouble is only a keystroke away. If you haven’t started reading this young adult mystery series, you can start today with a free digital copy of Playing With Fire.

START READING IN TOO DEEP:

AMAZON / NOOK / iBOOKS / KOBO / SMASHWORDS

No spoilers here. If you wish to see the synopsis for In Too Deep start click your mouse and start highlighting here:

One talented hacker.

One dead body.

One explosive secret.

When one reckless night leads Farris Barnett to the dead body of a classmate, she’s as willing as everyone else to write it off as a suicide. That is, until cryptic messages start coming in from someone who knows the truth, and they want Farris on the case. Putting her hacker skills to work, she begins to unravel the life of a victim who might just have been the guiltiest of them all.

Her personal life in turmoil, Farris turns to the only person she can trust to help her get to the bottom of things—a friend on the verge of becoming much more. Together, they confront a killer with a secret not even she could have decoded.

The biggest bombs, the ones that do the most damage, are the ones you never see coming.

End highlight. Did you see the text?

PLAYING WITH FIRE IS FREE:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / iBOOKS / KOBO / SMASHWORDS

One brilliant young hacker. One experimental government aircraft. One chance to keep it all from going up in flames.

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she’s drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet—at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering… to all out murder.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

ABOUT SHERRY D. FICKLIN:

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

Sherry is a full time writer from Colorado and the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

Sherry also writes New Adult fiction under the pen name Ranae Glass and is a contributing writer for fangirlish.com.

Cover Reveal~ Lightning Sealed

Clean Teen Publishing presents the cover reveal for LIGHTNING SEALED by Lila Felix. LIGHTNING SEALED is the second book in The Lucent Series. We know what you’re thinking… “But the first book hasn’t released yet, right?” The first novel— LIGHTNING KISSED— is scheduled to release on January 4, 2016. This new adult paranormal romance series is so good that we know readers will be begging for book two right away. It’s scheduled to release less than a month after the first novel. So without further adieu, check out the new beautiful cover crush below.

LIGHTNING SEALED COVER REVEAL:

 

Pre-Order LIGHTNING KISSED by Lila Felix

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / iBOOKS / KOBO / BOOK DEPOSITORY

Colby Evans can leap from one country to the next in a heartbeat. She can see every sunset in every time zone in the same day. She can travel across the world in a flash. She defies gravity and physics with every breath she takes. She’s tested her abilities and found them limitless.

She is the lightning. She is Lucent. And nothing can stop her.

Except him.

Theodore Ramsey isn’t supposed to be able to flash like Colby. The power of travel is passed on from mother to daughter in their people. Except once in every hundred generations.

Theo is the one.

He can flash like Colby. And it makes him a target to their enemies and to himself. His abilities change everything he knows about life and throws his future into an uncertain tangent. In fact, the only thing certain in his life is the love he feels for Colby.

Their love defies time and space and has been the only constant thing in their lives since childhood. But even their infallible love will be stretched to its limits.

She will risk her life to protect him. But he will risk everything to protect them all.

Lightning Kissed is the first book in The Lucent Series by Lila Felix.

ABOUT LILA FELIX:

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

Lila Felix is full of antics and stories. She refused to go to Kindergarten after the teacher made her take a nap on the first day. She staged her first protest in middle school. She almost flunked out of her first semester at Pepperdine University because she was enthralled with their library and frequently was locked in. Now her husband and three children have to put up with her rebel nature in Louisiana where her days are filled with cypress trees, crawfish, and of course her books and writing. She writes about the ordinary rebels who fall extraordinarily in wild, true love. For more visit www.lilafelix.com