Jade C. Jamison's Blog, page 15
June 28, 2017
A Huge Indie Author Problem
Before indie publishing, we authors had to go through the “gatekeepers” to get published—either by appealing to an editor him or herself or to snag an agent and have them do the pitching for us. We were at the mercy of other people (sometimes lots of them) to even have a chance.
Nowadays, we can publish on our own. Some folks hire all the work out (formatting, editing, designing, marketing) and others do a lot of it on their own. Whatever the case, the gatekeepers are (mostly) gone and I don’t see that ever changing again. I love that. After years of having moderate publishing success the traditional way, I now have readers—and I can write and publish as often as I like.
I take this business seriously. I strive to deliver a quality product from the cover to the last page. My first year of publishing (Spring 2011-Spring 2012) involved a lot of learning. Some of my covers were amateur-looking and my marketing was nil. Interior formatting improved on a weekly basis. But I continued writing while learning what I needed to know.
One thing that was always above par, though, and still is: the editing. See, I’m an English nerd. Not only have I taught writing classes off and on for over ten years, I have three degrees in English. I take it very seriously. But I also know that even major publishing houses make booboos. It happens. I can forgive the occasional mistake, and I’m lenient about some of the “rules,” provided a book has its own internal consistency. And, knowing that even the pickiest grammarian can miss things, I have others pick over my books before publication too, just to make sure they’re as clean as possible. A couple of my faithful readers have gushed that it’s just another reason why they love reading my books. When I read an indie book that hasn’t been edited as well as it could have been, I find myself distracted. I think it’s the teacher in me. I want to correct the problems I see.
I don’t want to do that to you. I want you to get lost in the story I’m telling—and one of the best ways I can think of to do that is by letting you just read. Misspellings and errant grammar or erroneous word choices will not slow you down.
The good thing about indie publishing is knowing that you get to read books that, say, a decade ago you wouldn’t have had a chance to. The better news is that some of us want to make sure you don’t know the difference between our books and those from big publishing houses—and I will try keeping it that way!
What about you? How does editing affect the way you feel about a book?
June 23, 2017
Ooh… FREE Contemporary Erotic Romance Books This Summer!
I joined a summer group with BookFunnel. I’ve used their service for a long time, but now I’m joining forces with other authors to offer some free books. Mine is Bullet (so if you’re here I’m assuming you’ve already read that–and, if not, what the heck are you waiting for?)–but there are some really great books, enough to keep you reading all summer long!
Ready? Here’s that link: https://books.bookfunnel.com/contemporaryeroticromance
Oh, and if you want to hang with some of the authors and readers (and you heart Facebook), please join us here: Bookfunnel Romance Giveaway Group
Let me know which books you snag! And then you’ll have to tell me which ones were your favorites!
June 21, 2017
Mother’s Day
You’re probably wondering why I’m writing about Mother’s Day now instead of in May. (I know Mother’s Day is celebrated earlier in the year in the UK and Australia, but for some reason, we celebrate it in May here in the US). Whatever the case, June is the month for Father’s Day (last Sunday, to be exact) and so a Mother’s Day post doesn’t seem to fit, does it?
Well…some of you know that I lost my mother in March. Her illness was mercifully brief (all things considered), but I don’t know how long it will take for me to feel normal again. I don’t know that I ever will. I know that there are a few people who don’t have good relationships with their mothers (and I’m not saying mine was perfect), but that doesn’t change the fact that her passing is something I’m struggling with…and there will always be a hole in my heart. I don’t see that I will ever “get over” it. She meant too much to me for too long a time.
My sister and I are doing our best to help my dad, and he’s doing all right, but he’s alone now. He and mom would have been married fifty-two years this year. And as I’ve reflected over my life (knowing mom was nearing the end made my mind go there, constantly reliving childhood moments), I can see that everything my father did in life was for her. Yes, sure, by extension he also did things for our family, but it was all about mom. She’s gone now, so he’s struggling to find reasons to stay. I’m doing what I can to help, but I know there’s only so much I can do, especially when coping with my grief. I still have a hell of a time even talking about it. I can’t do it without having tears well up in my eyes.
The point I’m trying to make is that our mothers mean more to us than we often realize. Just the day after she was gone, I thought of so many questions I never asked her that I should have—because I’ll never have the answers now. Why, all of a sudden, did those things seem important? And, if they were, why the hell didn’t I think to ask them before?
Fortunately, we did know the end was near, and so I was able to tell her all she meant to me. Last fall, I wrote her a four-page letter (because I knew I wouldn’t be able to say all those things because emotion would choke me up) and several times I was able to tell her that I was grateful that she was my mother.
Our mothers give us life; they nurture and care for us; they prepare us for our lives outside the nest. They are such an integral part of who we are…so how do we keep living once they’re gone? That’s what I’m working on right now.
I wasn’t able to celebrate Mother’s Day this year (as a mother)—it was too painful. My kids didn’t completely understand why, but I think they got it. I hope next year I can enjoy it and by then it will be a tribute to my mother, a time to honor and remember her—because her memory will live on in my heart.
So…all I have left to say is this: Cherish your parents while you have them. If you have differences with them, set them aside. Forgive and forget. Unless you were abused or severely scarred by your parents, realize that they did the best they could (they’re human, too!) and that they love you. So love them back and appreciate them, because you won’t have them forever…and you’ll want to have good memories to look back on when they’re gone.
June 14, 2017
Reading Order of Bullet and Feverish Series (with a little Vagabonds thrown in)
Recently, I had a reader send me an email, wondering where Boiling Point fit into the Bullet universe. I wasn’t able to give her a solid answer, because, after writing Feverish, I realized Clay’s band Last Five Seconds had its own story too (and knew I had a lot more writing to do in the future). So while Feverish should be read in the Bullet series, it actually is the first book of its own series…and that series runs “parallel” to the Bullet one. Confusing? Probably. But maybe this analogy would work best. Let’s say you and your best friend in high school had a “shared story.” That is, you could write a book about your adventures together. After graduation, though, you both went to different colleges and, while you entered into the world of work right after getting your degree, your friend got married and had a baby before finishing school (or vice versa). You both now have separate stories (series, if you will) that might cross over from time to time (maybe you visit her new home, for instance), but your histories run parallel to each other, although you are now both doing entirely different things.
I hope that wasn’t too confusing. Some of you already know that the Vagabonds trilogy is also part of the overall Bullet universe, thanks to On the Rocks (book 3). So…I’m going to give you here a loose reading order but please know that, so long as you read Bullet first (or, hell, even the Vagabonds trilogy first), you’ll probably manage okay. 
June 8, 2017
Cookie Cutter Romance Books
I get it. I do. I understand why it would be comforting to know that a book is going to follow an exact formula. You know this one: Boy meets girl. Some conflict ensues but they continue to battle whatever troubles come along and, just when it seems that they might not make it, they do. Yay!
In today’s hectic world, I understand the need to get away from it all with a book. I do it, too. Books are a much better escape for me than a movie or television (although I do indulge in those from time to time as well), because, with a book, the entire story plays out in my head and heart, and I feel things more deeply when I’m reading. I’m invested in the story and the characters; if it’s a movie, I’m still a bit of an observer, distanced. Don’t get me wrong—I laugh and cry at movies too, but they don’t go as deep.
Some of you might not have been around to see it, but I was a teenager when the groundbreaking television show Miami Vice aired. There was lots about it that was fresh and different, but what I remember most was that not all episode endings were “happy.” As I recall, some of the episodes ended pretty grimly. The bad guy got away (or got away with something). The show as a whole was dark and gritty—and that’s what I loved about it. So, when my husband and I got married and realized we had both been fans of that show, he figured I wasn’t the kind of girl who needed a happy ending. That’s true, yes, but I’ve also discovered something else about myself over the years. I don’t just want a bleak, dark ending. That’s depressing. (And it’s why, even though I’ve seen parts of it, I can never watch the movie Melancholia from beginning to end.) No…what I need from a story is hope. Even though Gone With the Wind ended with Rhett leaving Scarlett, there was hope. Scarlett herself said, “Tomorrow is another day,” and that meant, to me, that she and Rhett still had a chance. There was hope. That was all I needed to feel satisfied.
As an author of over forty books (mostly romance), you would think that I devour romance stories. I do read the occasional romance, but I don’t like formula. I really don’t. I hate the feeling that I’ve read something before or that I know exactly where the story is going. And, have no fear, I have always been like that. It has nothing to do with being an author. The books I love without hesitation, the books I would read over and over again, are the ones that are different. Hugely different.
But that also makes me different as an author. I write what I want to read. I think that’s why my bestselling book Bullet has been either adored or despised by readers. It’s different. It turns your expectations upside down. It is NOT a cookie cutter romance. None of my stories are. The key ingredient in these stories is—you guessed it—hope. Maybe the stories don’t begin or end or travel along like you expect or even like you’d want, but I promise you you’ll feel the hope.
If you want formula, there’s plenty of it out there. Literally millions of romance books can be found with one simple tap of your finger. There are thousands upon thousands upon thousands that use the same old formula. I’m not knocking it. As I said at the beginning of this post, I get it. Comfort cannot be overrated and sometimes that’s what you need. You need a safe escape. But if you want different, if you’re tired of reading the same old, same old…I recommend my books. I promise they’ll be emotional, but I also hope they’ll be satisfying. After all, that’s why I began publishing in the first place—to share!
New to my writing? Here are some super non-formulaic books that might get you started:
Bullet – my bestselling book (free on all sites)
Savage – yes, there are zombies…but it’s not what you think.
Got the Life – a heroine unlike one you’ve ever met (also free on all sites)
On the Run – a different kind of rock star romance
To Save Him – an unusual May-December love story
But you don’t have to just take my word for it. You can see what others have to say here.
June 5, 2017
Jade’s Book of the Month Club
Recently, I asked folks in my group a quick question just wanting to get a sense of if I should do something or not. They are a great group and their immediate feedback is always helpful. Based on their enthusiastic response, I wanted to ask everyone who follows me the same question, and it revolves around physical books. Here’s the query I posted in my group:
Inspired by a huge author, I’m considering something but want to see first if there’s any demand for it or interest in it.
I’m thinking of starting a Jade Book of the Month Club. Every month there would be a different signed paperback, some swag, and something girlie (like a necklace). It would be the same price every month and, if you didn’t want the book, you could opt out that particular month. The book wouldn’t be a surprise but the other items would be.
So, after their initial responses, I got excited and started putting together actual plans. So now it’s not a matter of if but when. I’m in the process of having my paperback covers updated, so I need to wait on that (I’m also refreshing a few interiors and even creating paperbacks out of a few books I’d neglected up till this point), but I’m thinking maybe by this fall I could have the Jade Book of the Month Club up and running.
If you want me to notify you when it’s a “thing,” you can leave your name and email address in this Google form: https://goo.gl/forms/7WULpl2ovfD15C9y2. There’s no obligation! I’ll just send you an email when the idea becomes a reality and, at that time, you’ll be able to check it out!
June 1, 2017
Romance Roundup!
I and seven of my author friends have joined forces to offer you several things:
Romance!!! Books! Hours and hours of reading! And many of these books are on sale too, so you can get them for a fraction of their normal cost.
A giveaway! Three Amazon gift cards are up for grabs–one for $50, another for $20, and the last for $10. Whatever the case, we’re sure you could put them to good use…even if it means buying more books.
May 21, 2017
Sunday Steals for May 21, 2017
Each Sunday, I’ll feature two ebooks–one free and one for 99 cents. Because Sundays are the perfect day to get lost in a book, let me help you! So, without further ado…
THE FREEBIE
Obsession
S.M. Phillips
THE 99 CENT STEAL!
House of Payne: Payne
Stacy Gail
Happy reading!
If you’re an author who’d like to have me feature your permafree or permanently 99 cent book, you can submit a request here.
May 19, 2017
Not one but TWO new releases!
Yes, I have TWO new releases to offer you this week! First, Get Rocked! In Vegas. This awesome anthology I’m part of has been tagged a bestseller by Amazon twice since its release on Tuesday. The good news is, if you haven’t picked up your copy yet, it’s still 99 cents for a few more days!
Twelve All New Stories From Rock Series You Love!
The official blurb…
GET ROCKED! In Vegas showcases USA Today, Amazon Bestselling, and Award Winning Rockstar Romance Authors as they take you on a sexy musical journey through Sin City with a group of ***ALL NEW*** stories, many featuring some of your favorite fictional rock bands!
Let these scorching bad boy rock stars melt your panties and your hearts as they burn up the stage at a fictional rock festival in one of the world’s sexiest playgrounds!
Get your copy now before it’s too late!
AMAZON – http://amzn.to/2qzxWZs
APPLE – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1205304072
NOOK – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/get-rocked-in-vegas-jenna-galicki/1125773197
KOBO – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/get-rocked-in-vegas
And…IT’S LIVE! Today is release day for Nicki Sosebee #11, Dead Bodies Everywhere. Those of you who are faithful Nicki readers have been waiting patiently for this book. And I can’t wait for you to read it!
If you didn’t pre-order it, you can get it now!!
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qxvXEA
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06Y5WPY92
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06Y5WPY92
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06Y5WPY92
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1126192317?ean=2940154265062
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1225592683
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dead-bodies-everywhere-nicki-sosebee-series-book-11
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jade_C_Jamison_Dead_Bodies_Everywhere_Nicki_Sosebe?id=JO-jDgAAQBAJ
HAPPY READING THIS WEEKEND!
May 14, 2017
Sunday Steals for May 14, 2017
Each Sunday, I’ll feature two ebooks–one free and one for 99 cents. Because Sundays are the perfect day to get lost in a book, let me help you! So, without further ado…
The Freebie
Eye of the Storms
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo
Google Play
The 99 cent steal!
Since You’ve Been Gone
Happy reading!
If you’re an author who’d like to have me feature your permafree or permanently 99 cent book, you can submit a request here.
