Kiersten Fay's Blog, page 11
March 1, 2012
Amazon’s KDP Select
With an inordinate amount of trepidation, I clicked the button to enroll Demon Possession in KDP select. The trepidation was a result of the required three month, or ninety day, commitment. Once I clicked to enroll, I was informed that I have roughly three days to back out. So I guess that lessened the blow a little.
Why did I enter? Curiosity, for one. Would it hurt or help sales? For two. I recently had Demon Possession re-edited by Rainy of the Dark (who was my editor for Demon Slave), because, apparently my two previous editors had been inadequate. Now that I feel all the editing issues are resolved, I’d like more reviews that aren’t tainted. I figure, the more people who read book one, the more people who will love it, and thus review it.
Getting my book off the other sites, which is one of Amazon’s conditions, was a bit of a pain. Especially Smashwords. I had to wait two months for the books to be pulled off of all the sites they published it on. But I’m a silver lining kinda gal, and this turned out to be a good thing, because it gave me time to go through and fix all the little issues.
Amazon has done some wonderful things for authors that is quickly being taken for granted. I read blogs and forums grumbling with fears that Amazon is trying to stifle or screw indie authors, which is ridiculous. Indie authors have become a huge part of Amazon’s business model. Why would they shoot themselves in the foot? However, they are a big corporation, and profit is the bottom line. To expect otherwise would be idiocy.
They’ve provided a way for many, including me, and I’m grateful for that. I’m excited to see if Amazon’s newest endeavor will actually be a powerful tool for authors, or just a way for them to corner the market.
Amazon's KDP Select
With an inordinate amount of trepidation, I clicked the button to enroll Demon Possession in KDP select. The trepidation was a result of the required three month, or ninety day, commitment. Once I clicked to enroll, I was informed that I have roughly three days to back out. So I guess that lessened the blow a little.
Why did I enter? Curiosity, for one. Would it hurt or help sales? For two. I recently had Demon Possession re-edited by Rainy of the Dark (who was my editor for Demon Slave), because, apparently my two previous editors had been inadequate. Now that I feel all the editing issues are resolved, I'd like more reviews that aren't tainted. I figure, the more people who read book one, the more people who will love it, and thus review it.
Getting my book off the other sites, which is one of Amazon's conditions, was a bit of a pain. Especially Smashwords. I had to wait two months for the books to be pulled off of all the sites they published it on. But I'm a silver lining kinda gal, and this turned out to be a good thing, because it gave me time to go through and fix all the little issues.
Amazon has done some wonderful things for authors that is quickly being taken for granted. I read blogs and forums grumbling with fears that Amazon is trying to stifle or screw indie authors, which is ridiculous. Indie authors have become a huge part of Amazon's business model. Why would they shoot themselves in the foot? However, they are a big corporation, and profit is the bottom line. To expect otherwise would be idiocy.
They've provided a way for many, including me, and I'm grateful for that. I'm excited to see if Amazon's newest endeavor will actually be a powerful tool for authors, or just a way for them to corner the market.
January 19, 2012
#ShadowQuest Giveaway Winner Announced
Congratulations to the winner @slinkymink who will be receiving a signed copy of Demon Slave.
Thank you, everyone who participated in the giveaway.
January 16, 2012
Enter to win a signed copy of Demon Slave.
Go to the worlds section on my website and tweet about one of the worlds using the hashtag #ShadowQuest. You can tweet more than once to increase your chance of winning.
To make it easy there are pre-created tweets set up for you. Just hit the down arrow under a planet. Or you can just tweet something about the series. But remember to use the hashtag #ShadowQuest in your tweet or it won't count as an entry.
This contest will end Thursday Jan. 19th 2012 at noon PST. At that time a winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via direct message on twitter, so you must be a follower of @KierstenFay
Happy tweeting!
Kiersten Fay
December 31, 2011
What Will Become of Me in 2012?
It's time to celebrate the passing of another year, and I couldn't be more excited to embrace 2012!
The past year has been one hell of a wild ride for me. 2011 was a year of great change, taking chances, fighting fear, and leaps of faith. I have become acquainted with some of the most amazing people who I now consider friends, though I have never met them in person. I've offered help to others where I could, and accepted it for myself when it was needed.
Most of all I have been honored and humbled by the people who have enjoyed my books.
What started off as a burning need to write down a strange love story (and a simple question: Should I self-publish? The answer: Eh, what could it hurt?) has grown into a series that could, and probably will, branch off in many directions.
Not too long ago I never would have imagined I'd have one book published, let alone two! (And in the same year!) Someone pointed this out to me the other day and I literally stopped in my tracks by my own astonishment—a holy shit moment, if you will—and I couldn't stop the huge grin that overcame me.
Thanks to Those Who Are #FullOfAwesome
First, I would like to thank those of you who purchased my books. Double thanks if you took a moment to add a review, or even give a star rating. That's the kind of thing that is invaluable to a writer.
I need to thank Rainy Kaye, aka Rainy of the Dark, my editor for Demon Slave—who could not know the perfectness of her timing, and just so happened to come to me exactly when I needed her.
I would also like to thank Candice Bundy @giggilles, who is a pleasure to chat with on twitter and is my #WineWhore buddy.
Another twitter friend, Miya Chanda @belle1509, who has given me great advice on my gnome infestation.
And last, but not least, Jeannie aka @leutopian who has been an amazing help to me.
So What Now?
Well, assuming that the world doesn't come to an end…again, I will continue to write to the best of my ability and publish fanciful, crazy, and passionate love stores. What else would I do? 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
December 24, 2011
Conforming: Romance Book Covers
It is generally known that most romance novels, even self-published, utilize a buff male frame, or a couple in a heated embrace, for their all-important cover image. I've gone the opposite direction with my first series and I continually wonder if going against the grain is a good idea, or even makes good business sense.
Contemplating The Change:
I've been contemplating romance book covers for a long time now—wondering if I need to update my covers to be sexier or leave them as is. I've received plenty of advice both ways. Some folks like the covers as is, and I do too. They're not bad looking as far as covers go. But some comment that there's not enough inference to the romance and sexual content of the story, and I have to concede that that is a valid argument.
Branding and Consistency:
I'm not a marketing expert, but I understand branding and the need for consistency, so if I were to change one book, I would need to change them all. That means the ebook covers as well as the physical book covers. Ebooks are easy to change. However, the trade books are costly and time consuming to update. If I did change the covers it would most likely be for good. So I really, really need to think it through.
As far as other books, I appreciate some of the covers that depict hot sexy guys on them, but then, there are those that I really don't like. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, it's just personal taste, and I'm sure, or rather, it is inevitable that something I don't necessarily like someone else will positively love. I'll just have to pay more attention to which ones I like and why.
What's in store:
I'm currently working on book 3 of my Shadow Quest series, and there is another book in the works that will be a spin-off series. I've decided that the spin-off series will be in e-format only—at least until enough people complain—so I might just stick with what I've already created for Shadow Quest and then play around with sexy covers with my next series and see how it goes.
Conforming to Romance Book Covers
It is generally known that most romance novels, even self-published, utilize a buff male frame or a couple in a heated embrace for their all-important cover image. I've gone the opposite direction with my first series and I continually wonder if going against the grain is a good idea, or even makes good business sense.
Contemplating The Change:
I've been contemplating romance book covers for a long time now—wondering if I need to update my covers to be sexier or leave them as is. I've received plenty of advice both ways. Some folks like the covers as is, and I do too. They're not bad looking as far as covers go. But some comment that there's not enough inference to the romance and sexual content of the story, and I have to concede that that is a valid argument.
Branding and Consistency:
I'm not a marketing expert, but I understand branding and the need for consistency, so if I were to change one book, I would need to change them all. That means the ebook covers as well as the physical book covers. Ebooks are easy to change. However, the trade books are costly and time consuming to update. So, what that means is, if I did change the covers it would most likely be for good. So I really, really need to think it through.
As far as other books, I appreciate some of the covers that depict hot sexy guys on them, but then, there are those that I really don't like. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, it's just personal taste, and I'm sure, or rather, it is inevitable that something I don't necessarily like someone else will positively love. I'll just have to pay more attention to which ones I like and why.
What's in store:
I'm currently working on book 3 of my Shadow Quest series, and there is another book in the works that will be a spin-off series. I've decided that the spin-off series will be in e-format only—at least until enough people complain—so I might just stick with what I've already created for Shadow Quest and then play around with sexy covers with my next series and see how it goes.
November 3, 2011
Enter to Win a Free Ebook Copy of Demon Slave
Hosted by Rainy of the Dark: A.K.A. Blogger Extraordinaire
Enter Here to Win: http://www.rainyofthedark.com/category/giveaways/
- Just leave a comment at the above link as your first entrance into the giveaway.
- To enter multiple time and increase your changes of winning, complete any or all of the optional additional entrance requirements, and leave a comment for EACH one. This is extremely important as each comment is one entry.
Ends Nov 28
Happy posting and good luck!
October 22, 2011
DEMON SLAVE AVAILABLE NOW!
Finally, announcing the release of Demon Slave in all the ebook platforms! If you're a paperback lover, don't beat me up, the paperback version should be available in the next few weeks. I'll be posting on Twitter and Facebook when it is.
A Favor, If You Please…
Word of mouth is important for any book, more so for a self-published book. If you have read Demon Possession and enjoyed it, or if you enjoy reading Demon Slave, please spread the word. Post a review, tweet, tell your Goodreads group or book club about it. Anything would be wonderful.
Get your copy of Demon Slave: Amazon, B&N, Smashwords
Follow me on Twitter @KierstenFay and on Facebook
September 20, 2011
Win A Copy Of Demon Possession
Enter to win a free ebook copy of Demon Possession
Giveaway hosted by Vanessa at www.BoekiesBookReviews.com
Enter Here: Gimme! Gimme!
Thank you, Vanessa, for hosting this giveaway and for the fantastic review of Demon Possession.
My favorite part of Vanessa's review (Because I've been there): "I couldn't put this book down and when I had to go to work all I could think about is how I couldn't wait to come home and finish it."
