Megg Jensen's Blog, page 17
April 4, 2011
Winner & What's Coming Next!!!!
There is a black hole in my brain where names are concerned, especially for important characters. I have so much trouble naming them and I'm thrilled people are willing to help me out!Eighteen names were suggested for the prophet. If you've read Anathema, you know who he is. If you haven't, then you should go out and buy a copy. (Links to the right.) He plays a more prominent role in Oubliette and I couldn't get away anymore without a name.
I had a hard time choosing and I narrowed it down to seven favorites. Then my eight-year-old and I had a powwow. We discussed the merits of each name and quickly narrowed it down to two names. Then she told me it was too hard and I had to choose. So I went with my gut an chose:
ZELOR
I love Zelor. Just like my character it's creepy, old-fashioned, and a little insane.
A big congrats to LunaMoth, reader and book blogger with the most gorgeous website! Definitely check it out.
So what's coming up on the blog? On Tuesdays I'm starting a new feature called Trailer Tuesday. I happen to adore book trailers and I want to share some with my readers. It won't be only indies, I'll definitely feature some traditionally published books too.
On Thursdays I'm going to make an honest attempt to blog....about something....hopefully something interesting. I'm also open to suggestions if there's anything anyone wants to hear about self-publishing, or writing, or bats (which I know a lot about too).
March 25, 2011
Contest! Name a Character in Oubliette & Win a Prize!
Back in January I held a contest to name the main character in Anathema. It went so well I've decided to do it again!
This time it's not my main character, but a character vital to the story. So vital I've been afraid of naming him.
Here's where you come in. Anyone can guess, but I want you to promote Anathema through either your FB, Twitter, or blog. Just once. You don't have to do it all the time. You can tell people to read it because it's the best book ever written, you can direct then to the contest, point them to Goodreads, whatever, as long as it mentions Anathema!!! Everyone who promotes gets one guess - that's it - so make it a good one! (Make sure you link to your post in your comment, please!!!!)
The character is the prophet who predicted Reychel's coming. He's been dead for six hundred years. His life is well-documented in his journals, but one journal is missing - the one that just might help Reychel unlock the key to understanding, and using, her gift. He's wily, cunning, and quite possibly a madman. Just a first name.
So.....wanna win something?! Of course I'll give something away!
You'll be thanked in Oubliette's acknowledgments, you'll win 5 of my Oubliette bookmarks, and you can win a second edition paperback of Anathema or you can wait and get a free copy of Oubliette (coming late spring/early summer).
The contest runs through Friday, April 1st, midnight CST. The winner will be announced on Monday, April 4th. Happy guessing! :D
Small print:
If I don't know you, please leave contact information or send me an email using the link to the right. You aren't required to follow me on Blogger, FB or Twitter, but it's always appreciated. If the same name is submitted twice, I will go with the person who suggested it first. The same name spelled differently is counted as a different entry. I also have the right not to choose a name if I don't see one I like. This contest is open only to U.S. residents.
This time it's not my main character, but a character vital to the story. So vital I've been afraid of naming him.
Here's where you come in. Anyone can guess, but I want you to promote Anathema through either your FB, Twitter, or blog. Just once. You don't have to do it all the time. You can tell people to read it because it's the best book ever written, you can direct then to the contest, point them to Goodreads, whatever, as long as it mentions Anathema!!! Everyone who promotes gets one guess - that's it - so make it a good one! (Make sure you link to your post in your comment, please!!!!)
The character is the prophet who predicted Reychel's coming. He's been dead for six hundred years. His life is well-documented in his journals, but one journal is missing - the one that just might help Reychel unlock the key to understanding, and using, her gift. He's wily, cunning, and quite possibly a madman. Just a first name.
So.....wanna win something?! Of course I'll give something away!
You'll be thanked in Oubliette's acknowledgments, you'll win 5 of my Oubliette bookmarks, and you can win a second edition paperback of Anathema or you can wait and get a free copy of Oubliette (coming late spring/early summer).
The contest runs through Friday, April 1st, midnight CST. The winner will be announced on Monday, April 4th. Happy guessing! :D
Small print:
If I don't know you, please leave contact information or send me an email using the link to the right. You aren't required to follow me on Blogger, FB or Twitter, but it's always appreciated. If the same name is submitted twice, I will go with the person who suggested it first. The same name spelled differently is counted as a different entry. I also have the right not to choose a name if I don't see one I like. This contest is open only to U.S. residents.
March 24, 2011
Deciphering Reviews
Since Anathema has been out for a month, reviews are beginning to trickle in. Do I read them? Of course! Any writer who tells you they don't read reviews is lying. I've had some five star reviews from family & friends. Just a couple, most of the people I know aren't into reviewing books on the web.What I'm really interested in are the reviews by people I don't know. Those are the readers I want to reach and their opinions are important to me - good or bad.
I've received a few great reviews, that for me, hit my intentions for Anathema right on the nose. It was as if I'd told them exactly what I wanted to achieve with the book and they wrote the review to reflect that. That's one aspect of writing I love - conveying a particular feeling to the reader. I want to entertain too, and if I can do both I'm thrilled.
Then I saw this morning I received a one-star review (ouch!) that lamented the speed of my book. Everything happened too fast. S/he felt I hadn't given relationships time to develop. That's fair. When I read, I want to be entertained. I want action. I want to move the story along. I have been known to skip pages in books where all characters do is wax on and on about their love for each other. Boring. Let's blow something up instead. Maybe even one of those schmoopy characters!
As a former bookseller, I always made recommendations based on what the reader loves. So, if you love long, drawn-out books with pages and pages and pages of character development, don't read Anathema. If you like a fast-paced novel with magic, romance, and mystery, then I suggest you give Anathema a try. It's that simple.
Happy reading!!!
Megg
March 23, 2011
Q & A with Andrea Brown Agent Mary Kole: Indies & Agents Can Co-Exist
It seems to me that a lot of trad & indie authors have drawn a line in the sand. Them on one side, us on the other. I think there's room for all of us in this big world of publishing, but I know a lot of people don't feel that way.
Last year, Mary Kole, an agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency thought self-publishing was a bad idea. At the time, I agreed with much of what she said. Since then I've changed my mind and when I read Mary's recent post Self-Publishing in Digital Times, where she admitted she might have been wrong, my jaw dropped.
The publishing world is evolving. Indie princess Amanda Hocking is close to a traditional deal while bestseller Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 traditional deal to self-publish. While everyone has an opinion on where the industry will land, no one really knows. I think we're all full of questions and Mary was gracious enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer some for me. I wanted to know how agents and indies can work together. Just because I chose not to pursue representation for the moment, doesn't mean I've ruled it out forever.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to read Mary's thoughtful answers.
Q. I read your post in 2010 concerning self-publishing, and at the time I agreed with most of what you said. However, my mind was changed in December while reading about L.J. Sellers and her decision to pull her work from her publisher in favor of going indie. What, or who, caused a shift in your thoughts about self-publishing?
A: The advent and popularity of ereaders and digital books really changed my mind. The problem with print self-publishing is distribution. I would see a lot of writers hoofing around with their printed books or spreading their POD links all over the place but, for the most part, failing to get distribution in brick and mortar stores or attention among e-tailers. With ebooks so readily available and so easy to make and upload, and with new lists and stores popping up to increase a writer's chance of discoverability in the marketplace, it's now possible to forget about distribution woes and get attention for your independently published book. Lists and other curator resources, like reviewers, also work toward spotlighting truly worthy independently published projects. There will still be self-published books of poor or amateurish quality, but that cliche of disgruntled writers self-publishing just because the gatekeepers have all rejected them is now fading. Now people are self-publishing with new tools and, in some cases, to take complete control of the process (and potential profits).
Q. It's my firm belief that indies and agents can co-exist, and even enhance each others careers. How do you see the agent's role evolving in regards to indies?
A: ABLA is now developing a digital business model where we're going to address just that. The truth is, a writer can now publish independently without an agent or traditional publisher. It's dishonest to lie and say that agents are necessary if you want to go the digital route. So how do we justify our existence and commission? What's the value we add? I'll be able to articulate that much more precisely once we can finally announce our digital strategy, but I'm afraid I don't want to go there prematurely. Suffice to say, it's what we all need to be thinking about if we want to stay in and on top of the game. I'm really not trying to evade the question...I just am not ready to give you the really solid answer that this question deserves.
Q: I think your last answer is more than fair. Do you think agents will become more open to handling subsidiary rights (audio, foreign language, film/TV) for indie authors, while letting them maintain their print and ebook rights?
A: Yes. That's how Amanda Hocking got her agent in the first place. I feel like this is one thing that agents can do really well in a more indie-friendly publishing culture, which seems like it will be upon us by this time next year. It's interesting to note, though, that as the news broke that bestselling traditionally published author Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 print deal from St. Martin's, Amanda Hocking was generating a seven figure auction for print books! There's obviously flexibility in going from print to indie and vice versa. But so far, it's also good to note that only big name authors, whether they got their big name from print or indie, are generating the kinds of advances and royalties that are making headlines. It's a very different picture for the average author, whether traditionally or independently published.
Q: Are you concerned the larger publishing companies will shun agents who have clients uninterested in selling U.S. print and ebook rights?
A: I think it would be problematic with US publishers, but not necessarily foreign publishers. A publisher wants your print rights. More and more, they want your digital rights, too. But some publishers work with (again, established, in most cases) authors who have strong digital plans. For example, I believe Cory Doctrow kept his own digital rights and also copyrights under a Creative Commons license so that his fans can remix and interpret his text. So his print publisher, Tor, was cool with that but...again...he's well-known and has the leverage to negotiate that. This type of arrangement may become more common in the near future.
Q: You mentioned in your recent blog post that marketing is tricky for indies. How is their marketing different from a mid-list traditionally published author who isn't receiving publicity support from their publisher?
A: One thing that publishers do really well is the sell into bookstores and schools/libraries on your behalf. Their sales people connect with buyers for these businesses and institutions so while a midlist author (who usually doesn't get a big publicity push from their publisher) is online and trying to market themselves, the publisher is working behind the scenes to sell them through to retailers. An indie author will have to connect and network not only with readers but also with people who will give them opportunities to sell books, do appearances, visit schools (for children's books). It's an additional layer and audience that will need its own marketing message from indie authors.
Thank you so much, Mary, for stopping by and answering these questions. I think blog posts like this will become more and more common in the next year or two as everyone considers their place in modern publishing.
I know my friends and I at DarkSide Publishing will continue to strive to release quality ebooks for readers. Will we all remain there forever? Will any of us get agents? What paths will we follow? No one knows, but I think in a publishing world where indies, agents, and publishers work together we can't go wrong.
Last year, Mary Kole, an agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency thought self-publishing was a bad idea. At the time, I agreed with much of what she said. Since then I've changed my mind and when I read Mary's recent post Self-Publishing in Digital Times, where she admitted she might have been wrong, my jaw dropped.
The publishing world is evolving. Indie princess Amanda Hocking is close to a traditional deal while bestseller Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 traditional deal to self-publish. While everyone has an opinion on where the industry will land, no one really knows. I think we're all full of questions and Mary was gracious enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer some for me. I wanted to know how agents and indies can work together. Just because I chose not to pursue representation for the moment, doesn't mean I've ruled it out forever.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to read Mary's thoughtful answers.
Q. I read your post in 2010 concerning self-publishing, and at the time I agreed with most of what you said. However, my mind was changed in December while reading about L.J. Sellers and her decision to pull her work from her publisher in favor of going indie. What, or who, caused a shift in your thoughts about self-publishing?
A: The advent and popularity of ereaders and digital books really changed my mind. The problem with print self-publishing is distribution. I would see a lot of writers hoofing around with their printed books or spreading their POD links all over the place but, for the most part, failing to get distribution in brick and mortar stores or attention among e-tailers. With ebooks so readily available and so easy to make and upload, and with new lists and stores popping up to increase a writer's chance of discoverability in the marketplace, it's now possible to forget about distribution woes and get attention for your independently published book. Lists and other curator resources, like reviewers, also work toward spotlighting truly worthy independently published projects. There will still be self-published books of poor or amateurish quality, but that cliche of disgruntled writers self-publishing just because the gatekeepers have all rejected them is now fading. Now people are self-publishing with new tools and, in some cases, to take complete control of the process (and potential profits).
Q. It's my firm belief that indies and agents can co-exist, and even enhance each others careers. How do you see the agent's role evolving in regards to indies?
A: ABLA is now developing a digital business model where we're going to address just that. The truth is, a writer can now publish independently without an agent or traditional publisher. It's dishonest to lie and say that agents are necessary if you want to go the digital route. So how do we justify our existence and commission? What's the value we add? I'll be able to articulate that much more precisely once we can finally announce our digital strategy, but I'm afraid I don't want to go there prematurely. Suffice to say, it's what we all need to be thinking about if we want to stay in and on top of the game. I'm really not trying to evade the question...I just am not ready to give you the really solid answer that this question deserves.
Q: I think your last answer is more than fair. Do you think agents will become more open to handling subsidiary rights (audio, foreign language, film/TV) for indie authors, while letting them maintain their print and ebook rights?
A: Yes. That's how Amanda Hocking got her agent in the first place. I feel like this is one thing that agents can do really well in a more indie-friendly publishing culture, which seems like it will be upon us by this time next year. It's interesting to note, though, that as the news broke that bestselling traditionally published author Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 print deal from St. Martin's, Amanda Hocking was generating a seven figure auction for print books! There's obviously flexibility in going from print to indie and vice versa. But so far, it's also good to note that only big name authors, whether they got their big name from print or indie, are generating the kinds of advances and royalties that are making headlines. It's a very different picture for the average author, whether traditionally or independently published.
Q: Are you concerned the larger publishing companies will shun agents who have clients uninterested in selling U.S. print and ebook rights?
A: I think it would be problematic with US publishers, but not necessarily foreign publishers. A publisher wants your print rights. More and more, they want your digital rights, too. But some publishers work with (again, established, in most cases) authors who have strong digital plans. For example, I believe Cory Doctrow kept his own digital rights and also copyrights under a Creative Commons license so that his fans can remix and interpret his text. So his print publisher, Tor, was cool with that but...again...he's well-known and has the leverage to negotiate that. This type of arrangement may become more common in the near future.
Q: You mentioned in your recent blog post that marketing is tricky for indies. How is their marketing different from a mid-list traditionally published author who isn't receiving publicity support from their publisher?
A: One thing that publishers do really well is the sell into bookstores and schools/libraries on your behalf. Their sales people connect with buyers for these businesses and institutions so while a midlist author (who usually doesn't get a big publicity push from their publisher) is online and trying to market themselves, the publisher is working behind the scenes to sell them through to retailers. An indie author will have to connect and network not only with readers but also with people who will give them opportunities to sell books, do appearances, visit schools (for children's books). It's an additional layer and audience that will need its own marketing message from indie authors.
Thank you so much, Mary, for stopping by and answering these questions. I think blog posts like this will become more and more common in the next year or two as everyone considers their place in modern publishing.
I know my friends and I at DarkSide Publishing will continue to strive to release quality ebooks for readers. Will we all remain there forever? Will any of us get agents? What paths will we follow? No one knows, but I think in a publishing world where indies, agents, and publishers work together we can't go wrong.
March 22, 2011
Announcing Trailer Tuesday & A Few Random Comments
Let's start out with business before fun.
Yesterday it was announced that NYT bestselling author Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 legacy publishing contract. The same day we all found out Amanda Hocking is currently in negotiations for a traditional publishing contract.
Why the switchovers? Is the grass greener on both sides? Both have (supposedly) made millions, but both are turning to a new venture. Any thoughts?
Also, I'm starting a new feature on my blog in April. On Tuesdays, I'll be featuring book trailers. I love watching them and I hope you will too!!!!
If you're an author (indie or trad) and you'd like your book trailer featured on my blog, drop me an email at meggjensen@gmail.com.
Send me your:
Book Title
Name
Genre
Link to a You Tube book trailer
Yesterday it was announced that NYT bestselling author Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 legacy publishing contract. The same day we all found out Amanda Hocking is currently in negotiations for a traditional publishing contract.
Why the switchovers? Is the grass greener on both sides? Both have (supposedly) made millions, but both are turning to a new venture. Any thoughts?
Also, I'm starting a new feature on my blog in April. On Tuesdays, I'll be featuring book trailers. I love watching them and I hope you will too!!!!
If you're an author (indie or trad) and you'd like your book trailer featured on my blog, drop me an email at meggjensen@gmail.com.
Send me your:
Book Title
Name
Genre
Link to a You Tube book trailer
March 16, 2011
Last Chance for 1st Edition Paperback & First Chance for a Bookmark!
When I published Anathema, I did my best to make sure it was as well-edited as it could be. I honestly believed there was not even one tiny mistake. Four people independently reviewed my manuscript and we were all confident we'd caught everything. I held my breath and hit publish, certain it was ready.I was wrong.
The hubby found a typo - though instead of thought.
Then my fellow DarkSide author, Angela Carlie found another.
So did my nearly 90-year-old grandpa - firsts instead of fists.
Being the perfectionist I am, I couldn't let it go.
On April 1st, I'm releasing a 2nd edition paperback of Anathema. The typos are corrected and it's changing a bit in the interior (not the cover - it's staying its perfectly awesome self).
From the original 50 paperbacks I ordered, I have less than ten left. I want to sell them. Why buy a book with typos? Well, on the off-chance I become famous (haha!) this 1st edition may someday be worth a TON of money. It's an $11 investment, folks. That's it. (Well, you have to add shipping too.)And, anyone who orders one of these 1st edition paperbacks directly from me will also get a bookmark for Oubliette. You know you want one of those!!!!!
So if you want to order a paperback, send me an email at meggjensen@gmail.com and we'll get the sale worked out. First come, first served.
March 14, 2011
Contest Winner & My Sales - You Might Be Surprised....
First, I want to thank everyone who entered the contest, everyone who helped spread the word about Anathema, and everyone who purchased a copy. You've all helped in making my dreams come true.
Now let's choose our winner! Two of my entrants tied for the closest guess to the number of books I sold from February 10th through March 11th. To keep things fair, my spastic miniature schnauzer, Ace, will choose the winner!
CONGRATS ERIN, our Grand Prize Winner - Kindle or Nook or $150 gift card & a free copy of Anathema!
1st Runner-Up, Terah wins $25 gift card and a free copy of Anathema
2nd Runner-Up, Tony wins a DarkSide prize pack!
Wait! I announced the winners - but NOT the winning number. Yeah, this is where things get interesting.
If you've been following me on Facebook, you know I made the Barnes & Noble Teen ebook bestseller list. I cracked the top 100:
See my book at #98, just above Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver at #99? This was March 8th.
And here I am at #96, just above Lauren Kate's Fallen on March 11th
March 12th, #93.
You must be thinking ... OMG, Megg has sold hundreds, even thousands of books in her first month to hit that list!
You're wrong. Here are my totals:
February 10th - 28th: 62 ebooks; 20 paperbacks
March 1st - 11th: 55 ebooks; 15 paperbacks
Grand total: 152
90 of those ebooks were sold through Barnes& Noble. 90. I sold 90 and hit the bestseller list.
I have no idea how they calculate placement on the list. My colleague at DarkSide Publishing, Karly Kirkpatrick, has sold hundreds more than me since she debuted in November. She's on the list, for sure, but she hasn't cracked the top 100. So why have I?
The consensus is that it has something to do with how quickly my books sold and that I had a few days with pretty high numbers of sales.
This also tells me the teen ebook market is WIDE OPEN. If I can achieve this on my first book in a month, imagine what you can do!
Am I disappointed with my sales? Hell NO! I'm thrilled someone other than my mom bought my book. I'm thrilled people are enjoying Anathema. I'm thrilled strangers have found it and embraced it. Isn't that what every writer wants? And let's remember, this is only the beginning. I have the two other books in my Cloud Prophet trilogy dropping this year. In addition to that I have multiple completed novels begging me for final edits so they too can see the light of day. People who've read my upcoming books have remarked that my writing is better, the plots are tighter, and the issues I deal with go much deeper. And then there's my contemporary YA novel about a ninja-fighting teenage girl. But that's a story for another post....
Now, do me a HUGE favor and head over to G.P. Ching's blog to read the first chapter of her novel The Soulkeepers. I promise, you'll be begging for more!!!
Now let's choose our winner! Two of my entrants tied for the closest guess to the number of books I sold from February 10th through March 11th. To keep things fair, my spastic miniature schnauzer, Ace, will choose the winner!
CONGRATS ERIN, our Grand Prize Winner - Kindle or Nook or $150 gift card & a free copy of Anathema!
1st Runner-Up, Terah wins $25 gift card and a free copy of Anathema
2nd Runner-Up, Tony wins a DarkSide prize pack!
Wait! I announced the winners - but NOT the winning number. Yeah, this is where things get interesting.
If you've been following me on Facebook, you know I made the Barnes & Noble Teen ebook bestseller list. I cracked the top 100:
See my book at #98, just above Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver at #99? This was March 8th.
And here I am at #96, just above Lauren Kate's Fallen on March 11th
March 12th, #93.You must be thinking ... OMG, Megg has sold hundreds, even thousands of books in her first month to hit that list!
You're wrong. Here are my totals:
February 10th - 28th: 62 ebooks; 20 paperbacks
March 1st - 11th: 55 ebooks; 15 paperbacks
Grand total: 152
90 of those ebooks were sold through Barnes& Noble. 90. I sold 90 and hit the bestseller list.
I have no idea how they calculate placement on the list. My colleague at DarkSide Publishing, Karly Kirkpatrick, has sold hundreds more than me since she debuted in November. She's on the list, for sure, but she hasn't cracked the top 100. So why have I?
The consensus is that it has something to do with how quickly my books sold and that I had a few days with pretty high numbers of sales.
This also tells me the teen ebook market is WIDE OPEN. If I can achieve this on my first book in a month, imagine what you can do!
Am I disappointed with my sales? Hell NO! I'm thrilled someone other than my mom bought my book. I'm thrilled people are enjoying Anathema. I'm thrilled strangers have found it and embraced it. Isn't that what every writer wants? And let's remember, this is only the beginning. I have the two other books in my Cloud Prophet trilogy dropping this year. In addition to that I have multiple completed novels begging me for final edits so they too can see the light of day. People who've read my upcoming books have remarked that my writing is better, the plots are tighter, and the issues I deal with go much deeper. And then there's my contemporary YA novel about a ninja-fighting teenage girl. But that's a story for another post....
Now, do me a HUGE favor and head over to G.P. Ching's blog to read the first chapter of her novel The Soulkeepers. I promise, you'll be begging for more!!!
February 22, 2011
Anathema Launch Contest!!!!!
You've got to be wondering, What's up with the jelly beans?You know those contests where you have to guess how many jelly beans are in a jar? Well, in honor of my release of Anathema I'm going to let you guys guess how many copies I'll sell of my book through March 11th!!!! (Hint - I've already sold 50!)
The prizes are listed below - keep reading because you'll want to win this contest!!!
You have to earn your chances to guess the total I sell.
Here's how to earn guesses: (You can pick & choose, you DO NOT have to do all of them.)
Buy a copy of Anathema (links to everywhere it's sold at the bottom of this post) - 2 guesses (must prove by emailing me a pic of you with the book or with your e-reader on Chapter Ten of Anathema - your picture may end up on my blog!!!! I cannot guarantee how fast Amazon will ship your book. If the contest is nearly over and your copy hasn't arrived, drop me an email.)
Already a follower on my FB fan page - 2 guessesNew follower on my FB fan page - 1 guessPromote & link to this contest on your Facebook page - 1 guess(if we're not FB friends, take a screenshot & email it to me or send me a friend request & tag me in the post)
Promote this contest on Twitter with a link to the contest - 1 guess(tag me, @meggjensen1, so I can see the tweet for verification)
Blog about this contest with a link to the contest - 1 guess(link to your post in your comment below)
No purchase is necessary to play. There are plenty of options above to play for free!
Add up your total and post a comment below, telling me how you earned your chances to guess & leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Don't forget to guess how many copies you think I'll sell!!! You can enter as many times as you. Want to Tweet about this every day? No problem - just leave a new comment each time. I will be checking to make sure they are valid!!!
Comment example (for those of you new to this type of contest):
Bought Kindle copy = 2 guesses (sending you my pic!)
Already FB fan = 2 guesses
Promote on FB (we're friends & you can see it) = 1 guess
5 guesses = 0; 343; 29,845; 1,243,984; 1 billion
contact: (your email address here)
Family & friends are allowed to guess because let's face it, I have no clue how many books I'll sell by March 11th. It could be one (thanks, Mom!). It could be a million. No one has an advantage over anyone else!
So, I'm sure you're wondering, What will I win?
I'm glad you asked!!!
GRAND PRIZE
One (1) Barnes & Noble nook. $149 WiFi b&w ereader or one (1) $139 amazon.com WiFi only Kindle - YOUR CHOICE!!!! And a free e-copy of Anathema!
(If you already own an e-reader, you can opt for one (1) $150 gift card to Barnes & Noble or amazon.com)
(International winners will receive an international amazon.com e-gift card equivalent to $150 U.S.)
First Runner-Up
$25 Barnes & Noble or amazon.com gift card and a free copy of Anathema (an e-copy or a signed paperback, your choice)
Second Runner-Up
DarkSide Publishing gift pack: a free copy of both Anathema and Into the Shadows by Karly Kirkpatrick (your choice of e-copies or signed paperbacks)
If no one hits the number on the nose, the closest person will win. In the event of a tie, I will let my daughter choose names out of a hat.
Ready? Set! GO!
(links in case you want to purchase Anathema)
Buy Anathema on Barnes&Noble - $2.99
Buy Anathema on Amazon.com, UK - £2.17
Buy Anathema on Amazon.com, ebook - $2.99
Buy Anathema on Amazon.com, paperback - $11.00 + s/h (coming soon, but you can order copies from me in the meantime)
Buy a signed & personalized paperback copy of Anathema directly from Megg - $11.00 + shipping
Enter to win a copy before February 28th at My Journey Through the Pages
Contest Ends: March 11th
Winner Announced: March 15th
Must be at least 18 years old to enter & win. Under 18? You need your parent's permission to claim the prize if you win.
February 18, 2011
For Kicks & Giggles....
Want to know what I look like, dear readers? That is my face on Nicole Kidman's body. Her Grammy 2011 dress was my favorite and my awesome friend, Chris Whigham, of the G10 Writers, put this together for me with Photoshop.Now you may be thinking that this is a total fantasy. Well, I am a natural redhead and my hair is only a few inches shorter than Nic's. (We're on a first name basis in my little fantasy here.) I am tall & thin, though I must say that her waist is impossibly small!!!! This actually could be me!!!
And here I am, on the red carpet for my book premiere. (Hey, if I'm dreaming I have her designer dress, then I can damn well dream I have a red carpet book premiere!)
I'm not totally wasting my time while impatiently waiting for my paperback to pop up on amazon.com. Today I spent a couple hours working on edits for my writing colleague, and awesome friend, G.P. Ching. Her book, The Soulkeepers, is going to be a HUGE hit. Why? Because she's an amazing writer. I'm thrilled to read her book in advance. This is my second full read of The Soulkeepers and it's even better the second time around. Y'all are going to love, love, love it.
Okay, I'm signing off for the weekend. If my paperback isn't up by Monday and my contest doesn't go live, I may scream so loud that everyone in the continental U.S. might hear me....
February 16, 2011
Not Twiddling My Thumbs - REALLY!
I have been on edge for the last two weeks. I want to officially launch my book, but there was a holdup with my paperback. Unfortunately something happened that was beyond my control and everything had to be resubmitted. I don't want to go into it or complain about any particular company, mainly because they were so good about correcting the problem. Unfortunately these things take time and here I am, eagerly awaiting my book launch.If the e-books are out, why am I waiting? I want everyone to be able to participate in my contest, and that includes people who want a paperback. There is an element of my contest that involves people who purchase a copy of my book and it's not fair to leave anyone out.
The great news is that since I unofficially launched my e-books last week, I've sold 44 copies (28 e-books and 14 paperback pre-orders). I think that's fantastic considering I've done almost nothing in the way of promotion. Heck, I'm thrilled that someone other than my mom bought a copy!
My hope is that the contest will launch Friday, but depending on the paperback's time frame, it might be Monday. Thanks so much for sticking with me - I really appreciate it!!!! I PROMISE you, this contest will be ah-may-zing!
Hint - anyone who is a fan of my Facebook page before the contest starts has a slight advantage. I want to reward everyone who's been sticking with me since the beginning. If you haven't followed me on FB yet, you can do so with the widget to the right.
