Thea Atkinson's Blog, page 31

Guest Blogger for Feb: Mel Comley

Details very soon.

Anomaly on sale 25% off

Check out the Sample Sunday tab for details. In conccert with Smashwords and Samle sunday and twitter. Check it out.

BOGO extended

Yesterday was sample sunday on twitter where writers and readers search the hashtag #samplesunday to grab up samples of writing out there available on the net. Writers leave a short sample on their blogs for readers to check out.

I added a BOGO to mine yesterday. Anyone who purchased Anomaly and emailed me a purchase receipt got a free smashwords coupon for One Insular Tahiti. Both novels are 4 stars and above on Amazon, and 5 stars and 4.8 on goodreads. I thought it might add some spice to the reader experience. If ya liked it, ya bought it, and then ya got a reward. Isn't that fun?

So in the spirit of things, i figured i'd extend it till the end of the week. the Anomaly purchase can be amazon, BN, Diesel, or SMashwords. Just email theaexcerpts (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get it out to you!

I love giving things away.

OH, and the rate me some contest will go up (late, i know) this afternoon, so check it out for some blurbs to vote on and comment for a chance to win an ebook.

New Pic up on Ogle me Some. Garrett Mason

click over to the Ogle me some tab and feel free to comment on my awesome snap taking skills. I'm not just another pretty face, ya know

And the Jan winner is…

Trevor's Songby Susan Helene Gottfried

This novel had 56% of the votes. Priced at 2.99, it's going out to Ricki. congrats! And thanks to all who voted.

Blurb 1 was Flaming Dove by Daniel Arenson

Blurb 3 was Impeding Justice by Mel Comley

Thanks all for voting. A new taste will be up when another brave author is willing to submit.

Discuss Me Some for Jan: Susan Helene Gottfried

First up will be Susan Helene Gottfried author of Trevor's Song

(after a few days, this post will move solely tot he discuss me some tab)

Before we get going with this guest blog post, please join me in thanking Thea for allowing me to be here with you today. Come to think of it, I ought to thank you faithful readers for sharing Thea with me; we've gotten to know each other over the past month or so, which might mean I've been stealing her away from you.

I'm not even entirely certain how Thea and I met. I suspect it was because of a thread at a book-related discussion board, where you were supposed to post your Facebook fan pages and everyone else would come by and Like it. In return, you had to Like everyone else in the thread.

You know: it's one of those things you sign up for with your focus squarely on upping your own numbers. You may or may not go through the motions of liking everyone else, even though you've said you would. Personally, I suppressed my omnipresent need to misbehave and … liked the whole list of folk. And then started talking to them, too. I bet there are authors out there wondering who the heck I am and what I want.

One of those people was surely Thea. She posted a need for authors, and I jumped on it. I don't like to walk away from easy promotion, you see, and what Thea was offering was better than easy. It was easy and good.

Rate Me Some, it's called. I hope you've seen it 'cause I'm totally on board with this new promotional tool.

The genius lies in the method. Thea lists a book's back cover copy and asks you to vote for the one you'd like to read. There's no cover art, no author's name, no nothing. It's just words.

I can't tell you exactly why I love this idea so much that I keep Tweeting about it. Truthfully, it's got nothing to do with my book, Trevor's Song, being one of the January titles. (I'm only telling you this because it's the end of the month and voting's about to close.)

I like that it's unique — I don't think anyone else is doing this sort of fun promo. I also like how we all get to be literary agents or editors, making a choice about a book based on what a book ought to be based on: the ideas making it up and the words we authors choose to express those ideas. There's something pure in the lack of packaging, and in such a confusing, convoluted world (not to mention the twists and turns of the publishing world), this purity is refreshing. I mean, if you're a writer, haven't YOU ever said, "If I were an agent or editor, I'd have never picked this?" Or "How could they have overlooked it???"

Here's your chance, gang. And in the meantime, it gives three authors every month some exposure, and exposure's always a good thing. It's new. It's different. And it's something we can ALL play with, whether or not our books are included.

So c'mon. Join me. Tell me what you like about it — or what you think Thea ought to change. She's here, keeping an eye on me to make sure I behave. Maybe she'll even listen to you.

One Insular Tahiti featured at Spalding's Racket

Great lil indie author spot. Check it out. Spalding's Racket

Guest blogger Susan Gottfried set for Jan 31

Pithy and irreverant and just plain fun, novelist Susan Helene Gottfried will be guesting here at gonzoink and at Thea's page in the discussions tab Jan 31.

Check out her website and her novel, Trevor's song on Amazon and then come join in the fun.

Guests are invited every two weeks as a trial. Just slip on over to the discuss me some tab. If you want to be involved, slip on over to discuss me some.

guest bloggers coming soon to gonzoink

That's right. Just like the Facebook page over at Thea's writing page, Gonzoink will give some writers a chance to open a yak session with readers and writers.

So. What do you need to know?

They are biweekly
You are invited to comment
They will happen in both spots
That's it.

If you're an author and want to know how to get involved, check out the Discuss me some link

Blah to Huzzah?

I'm thinking of changing the name of the taste test contest. I think Rate Me Some is a bit too blah. Can you think of a huzzah name: Maybe Win Me Some? Taste Me Some?

What do you think? What would make you trip on over there, vote, and leave a comment so you could win? Huh? tell me. I can take it