Jade C. Jamison's Blog, page 35

Grouchy Face! >(

Why do I have a grouchy face?  Well…it’s because my antivirus said two posts on my website were “suspect,” and so it flagged my website as suspicious.  Maybe that’s why I don’t get as much traffic as I think I should?  So I deleted the two pages in question.  Both were just posts that linked to old (and expired) Rafflecopter giveaways that celebrated my Facebook growth and one of them was short and sweet and didn’t kill me to delete.  The other one, though…the sentiment was such that, even though I deleted it, I save what I said.  So…aside from the Rafflecopter link (oh, and no virus attached!  LOL), here are the words from that old post!

May 23, 2013

Are You Kidding Me?  2000 Likes???

This is absolutely crazy…and I mean that in the best way possible.  At the end of last year/beginning of this year while I was writing Bullet, I knew it was special.  But I had no freaking idea just how many people it would touch, would continue to move.  And because it resonated with so many people, I continue to be floored by its success.  I ended 2012 with fewer than 200 Likes on Facebook.  Now I have ten times that amount.  That is crazy, but I am excited.  And so, as my thanks to you, I’m holding yet another giveaway.  This time, though, I’m sharing even more entry options.  You’ll get the chance to Like and Follow some of the awesome bloggers who have helped me on this journey.  I know I’ve forgotten some of them, and I’m offering an apology in advance for that, but they all deserve my deepest thanks.  They were instrumental in my success, because they put me in the spotlight, and for that, I really will be eternally grateful.  I’m also grateful to YOU, my readers, because you have helped too.  You’ve loved it and you’ve talked about it.  You’ve hyped it.  So…this giveaway is but a token of my gratitude.  Thank you so very much!!!

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Free Short Stories – Insatiable Hunger and Will You Be My Valentine?

Happy American Independence Day, my friends!

This year, I once more contributed to the Pink Shades of Words anthology, which benefits breast cancer research.  This project is fronted by an amazing woman named Glorya Hidalgo who puts together the anthology (along with a lot of other projects) each year.  She gathers together close to twenty authors to write original material for the project.  I contributed last year (and then posted my short story here on my website later) and I contributed this year as well.  I also purchase copies of the anthology to benefit the cause.

Anyway, once the book is no longer available (and republishing rights revert back to me), the only people who can read those stories are the people who purchased the anthology.  You probably know that writers like to be read.  That is one of our main objectives!  Soooo…I am offering both these stories as a PDF download, no strings attached.  You can access them with a simple click at the bottom of this post.  One disclaimer:  18+ only.  These stories were written for a mature audience.

Consider this my gift to you for the 4th!  Here are the stories you’ll be getting (I donated two stories to the anthology this year):

Insatiable Hunger.  The story of a woman who considers herself a cougar and her willing victim.

Will You Be My Valentine?  Second-chance romance.  A woman who is running late to an interview discovers that an old crush works in the same field…and maybe they can let go of the past and try again.

I hope you enjoy them!

Click here to download the PDF file:

Insatiable Hunger and Will You Be My Valentine-Jade C Jamison

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It’s here! The BULLET Special Edition!!!

First and foremost, if you are reading this, you need to know that this edition of Bullet will be on sale for a limited time only.  I will be selling it for three months and then it will be gone forever, so if you want your copy, snatch it up now!

The first fifty orders will get a limited edition FULLY AUTOMATIC guitar pick with their book!

Here’s what you get in this special edition:

Updated cover
373 pages of awesomeness!

I Will Never be a Salesperson

I just read an article by an author who I’m sure is a lovely man but there is one thing he most definitely is, and that is a salesperson (he would not disagree with that statement, either). His article was about sales and he said that we (authors) are the best salespeople for our books. While I don’t disagree with everything he said in his article, I do have some issues with the fact that he thinks we should be selling all the time, and if we think we’ve never sold anything in our lives, we’re deluding ourselves (think of job interviews, asking someone on a date, things like that as “sales”). I do not think that I should be prepared to talk about my books every time I talk with someone, although if the opportunity naturally arises, I will. I will also not look for ways in which my book fills some “need” for someone so that I always feel compelled to “sell.”

And that, my friends, is the difference between a salesperson and a human being. A salesperson (whether likeable or not) is ALWAYS trying to sell you SOMETHING. When I sold makeup years ago (yes, you know the company), my district representative (or whatever they were called) was one of the sweetest people you could ever meet—but she always had an angle. She always had something to sell. She just had to “overcome your objections” (objections like “I don’t have the money for your makeup”).

I’m going to digress a bit, tell you a story, and then we’ll come back to the main gist of my post. When I was selling for this company, I realized that every woman (and even some men) were potential customers. That said, I saw no reason to be pushy. Most of us (I think) don’t like to be sold to. We don’t like knowing that someone is going to start shoving their products down our throats at every opportunity. I let my friends know I was selling this makeup (well, not just makeup—facial care, nail products, body products, fragrances, etc.—all beauty!), and those who wanted more information asked. I called a woman I used to work with and she hemmed and hawed and said she wanted to think about it (hosting a party). I told her “No problem,” but I knew—I sensed—that she was blowing me off. We know when that’s happening, right? Well, I told my rep about it and she told me to “give her [my friend] the benefit of the doubt”—and to keep pushing her, keep asking her until I got a definite no.

But see? That’s where I and salespeople part ways. I am into building relationships and lasting friendships. When you ignore someone else’s signals, you are not acting like a human being. You are selfishly and intentionally pushing your products (or services or whatever) on someone else who—for whatever reason—is not interested. Someone doesn’t have to say the word no to me for me to get the message. And I realized that if I kept listening to my rep’s advice, I was going to start losing friends. As it is, I’m pretty sure I damaged a couple of acquaintance relationships, and I think it comes down to trust. We trust people to be honest with us, and there is no honesty in pretending that you don’t know someone wants you to leave them the hell alone.

So, this article…it’s no secret that I’ve been scrambling like a madwoman, realizing my game has sucked all along (because I never had a plan other than to write!), but that it’s sucked even worse the past year and a half. As time goes by, more and more people publish (the number of books out there is astronomical), and so I first find myself thankful that I do have a loyal following. You’re small in numbers, but you’re there, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you are. You are why I keep writing!

But it’s hard to be heard for all the noise. Here’s the catch. When Bullet went big, the way I was “marketing” worked. It was unintentional marketing. I was simply chatting with my readers! I was spending time with them on my Facebook page, talking and enjoying their company, playing and laughing and sharing info about my upcoming book, having fun the entire time. Well, when I finally published the book in February 2013, it freaking exploded, and I know Facebook is why. What I did then worked. The problem today is that Facebook has changed up its algorithms multiple times, and even if you’re willing to pay to be seen more, it’s still a crapshoot. I’ve tried all kinds of tricks (including asking people who planned to never read me and never interacted with me on my page to stop liking my page—and, holy shit, what a backlash. Guess I should’ve seen that coming), but Facebook just doesn’t have the oomph anymore that it once did. I’ve tried all kinds of other things—changing keywords on the sites where I sell my books, buying information and products that were ultimately a waste of money, paying for advertising here and there (some places were worth the money and others were not!)—and my numbers continue to slip. But I haven’t given up and I don’t keep trying. Unfortunately, what all this marketing BS has done is cut into my writing and creative time, and that’s got to stop, because my loyal readers deserve my next book.

Bottom line—I cannot nor will I ever be a salesperson. Yes, I believe in my product. I know I write a damn good book. My books are different from a lot of what’s out there, and it’s intentional. I know I should be a bestseller again (and hope I am!), but I cannot and will not become an oily salesperson to do it. I just can’t. I’m more about relationships…and I can’t destroy them by selling people out of my life.

Peace out, friends.

***

As an afterthought, right before I clicked the publish button, I want to ask YOU.  What have you seen that works as marketing?  What do you consider pushy…or not?  I welcome any thoughts you’d like to share!

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From Rags to Riches: Our Interview with the Vagabonds

If you haven’t heard of the Vagabonds by now, I would ask where the hell you’ve been. Just two short years ago, the world was without this rock goddess band. Even though they are an international sensation, these young women—who are currently working on their second album—are barely of legal age…to marry, vote, or buy cigarettes.

We caught up with the ladies of the Vagabonds—vocalist Barbie Bennett, twin guitar threats Liz Mayer and Kyle Summers, bassist Kelly Cambridge, and drummer “Sticky” Vicki Graham—and asked them a few questions about their overnight success.

The frenetic energy in the room where the ladies sit waiting for us is undeniable. We ask them if we can get a few pictures after the interview and they agree. Then we get down to business.

What does your family think about your newfound fame?

Barbie (BB): My mom is totally supportive and even comes to some of the shows. We don’t go more than a few days without talking when we’re on the road. My mom is amazing.

What about your dad?

BB: Um…not so much. But he’s coming around.

What about the rest of you?

Kelly (KC): My family and friends think it’s so cool that they know someone famous. (Giggles.) Sorry, but I don’t feel famous.

Not at all?

KC: Nope. Not at all. It’s still so weird to see my picture in a magazine.

Vicki (VG): Yeah. Weird. As far as support, my family’s great too. They were hesitant at first, but now they’re completely behind us.

Kyle (KS): My parents too. They knew I wanted to do this. It was as important as breathing to me, so how could they say no?

As important as breathing?

KS: Hell, yeah.

Silence.

Liz? What about you?

Liz (LM): Let’s just say my family is not nearly as supportive as everyone else’s.

Hmm. Sorry. You want to talk about it?

LM: No, not really.

How’s your second album coming along?

BB: Fan-f*cking-tastic. You can tell just listening to it that we’ve really jelled as a band. We fit together well, and our sound has really matured. We can’t wait for you to hear it.

Liz, I saw you nodding. Anything you want to add?

LM: Well, just like Barbie said, our sound has jelled and progressed. What you heard on our first album is child’s play and nursery rhymes compared to this one.

What have you learned about yourselves—and each other—since becoming a band? (All five women look around the room—at each other and then back to me—as if trying to decide what they can and can’t say. I hope my sly grin coaxes them into talking.)

BB: I learned that I like modern conveniences—running water, electricity—

VG: Wireless.

BB: Yeah, wireless.

VG: Seriously, this girl can’t live without her phone.

BB: Damn right I can’t. But you couldn’t either.

VG (grins): Takes one to know one.

KC: Five girls sharing access to one shower sucks. We have already demanded better accommodations for our next tour.

LM: I play better for an audience.

VC: That’s true. She totally does.

Kyle, what about you?

KS (pause): I’ve learned that not everyone in this band takes the job as seriously as we all should.

KC: Chill out, Kyle.

BB: Not everybody has a stick up their ass.

KS: F*ck off.

BB: No, f*ck you.

KC: Can we please stop?

Uh, sorry. Seems I hit a nerve. Looking back on the whole experience, is there anything you would do differently?

VG (clears throat): Well, I guess I’m not speaking for everyone, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Wow. The places we’ve been, the people we’ve seen, the venues we’ve played. Man, oh, man. Feels like we’ve died and gone to heaven.

KC: We’ve definitely had it good.

BB (giggles): The boys we’ve kissed…ooh…

KC (rolls her eyes): Oh, yes, can’t forget the boys we’ve kissed.

VG: Or…

BB: I’ll never kiss and tell.

(Giggles all around.)

Anyone else?

Both Liz and Kyle shake their heads. Their lips are obviously sealed.

So…we’ve heard rumors, lots and lots of rumors…and you’ve hinted that they might be true. We heard you ladies got wild and crazy while you were on the road. Want to confirm the rumors? Tell some stories? Plead the fifth?

BB: I am definitely pleading the fifth!

KC: Not a word. But you know I’m the good girl, right?

VG (laughs): Nah, that’s probably Liz.

BB (serious look on her face): Define “wild and crazy.”

(Girls giggle but it’s obvious they’re not telling.)

Anything you want us to pass on to your fans?

LM: Yeah. Our next album is gonna kick ass, so be on the lookout. And we’re gonna tour twice as hard, go to twice as many venues, make twice as many videos. We’re also gonna do a live DVD on this tour. We’re doing more stuff and we’re doing a lot of different stuff, so keep an eye out for us. We’re bigger and better than ever, and we’re here for you.

A final note—there was an obvious tension among the group, even though they seemed to get along, all except for the one little blow up, but it makes us wonder—is there trouble on the horizon for this group of young women? Only time will tell. But one thing we know from decades of other musicians—sometimes tension makes for great music and even stronger ties ultimately. Let’s see how this plays out for the girls of the Vagabonds.

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Summer is the Time for Parties!

Summer is right around the corner, although I’m sure there are parts of the world where it already feels like summer has arrived.  It’s usually that way here in my neck of the woods, but this year, it has been unseasonably cool and rainy.  I’m enjoying it while it lasts!

But I didn’t start this post so I could wax poetic about the lovely weather we’re experiencing.  You can do that with your neighbor anytime. 

Getting over Writer’s Block

One of my author friends messaged me on Facebook, asking how I deal with the dreaded writer’s block. I’ve also had students (both creative writing and essay writing sorts) ask the same question. My answer is usually lame (yes, I can admit that). I personally force myself to write through those moments, and, in fact, many of you might be surprised which books I’ve written that way. That doesn’t speak at all to the books but rather to my state of mind when I wrote them, and if you’re dying of curiosity which ones I wrote when severely blocked, I’ll list them at the end of this post.

There are lots of “remedies” for writer’s block, but it comes down to forcing yourself to do something that, for some reason, you’re having difficulty doing. It could be fear, procrastination (due to fear or something else), interest in other things…but, bottom line, if you want to be a writer, you have to write. Sometimes, just putting together a schedule, setting some goals, and staying on task is enough to break through that wall. Other times, a little self-analysis will do the trick. Oftentimes, it’s knocking something loose (figuratively, mind you) inside your head to get going.

Again, probably lame answers, because they’re a little too pat. Here’s the problem: only you know why you’re blocked. You might not think you know why, but deep down you probably do. Usually, there’s a reason why you don’t want to write. I know—sounds crazy, right? But that’s often the case. So I, the writing teacher, can’t really help, because we’re opening up a huge can of worms that has little to do with actual writing. Usually, it involves motivation and things of that sort, and I’m not always the best motivator.

That said, I’ll give you a few ideas and they might help.

Force yourself to write, whether it’s one word, a sentence, a paragraph. But make yourself do it. Every day. Condition your brain, your hands, your heart to write every day. Yes, every single damn day. It’s a habit, just like any other. Make it a habit so that when your heart’s not in it or your mind’s distracted, you can do it anyway.
Force yourself to instead write something else. Maybe that big project is daunting and that’s part of why you’re afraid to tackle it, so why don’t you write a poem or an email or a short story or a song instead? See if you can write something different and then go back to the beast.
If it’s still a huge project that’s blocking you, why don’t you try writing a piece of it? Instead of picking up where you left off, find a different part to write. For example, maybe I’m writing a novel about a young woman who falls in love with a toxic musician and their journey together, but I’m stuck and having a hard time writing the scene where they first meet. Maybe jumping ahead and writing their first argument will help knock something loose and then I can go back and pick up where I left off.
Try other writing exercises. There are lots of them available online for free, but I have also been working on a book full of writing exercises that will get the creative juices flowing. I’m not sure when that will be available, so that’s no help to you right now. That said, there are hundreds of resources online. Just search for “creative writing exercises” or even “help with writer’s block.” You’ll be amazed at all the resources out there!

Best of luck. I’ve found that, for me and my students, persistence and patience is key. The main thing is to forge ahead, no matter how tough it is! And know you’re not alone—lots of us have felt the pain known as writer’s block.

Okay, as promised, books I wrote under the grip of “writer’s block”: Madversary, Rock Bottom (Bullet #2), Fake (Nicki Sosebee #9), and Seal All Exits (Tangled Web #3)

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Blurb for ON THE RUN, Book 1 in the Vagabonds Trilogy

I’ve been struggling with the blurbs for a while.  Yes, plural, as in blurbs.

In case you hadn’t picked up on it, I’ve decided that Vagabonds is going to be a trilogy.  This epic story is actually three stories in one, and it’s a natural.  And, finally, the words are flowing, so I was finally able to pen the blurb, which is, really, the most important selling point of any book.  Here’s the blurb for book one, On the Run, which should be released sometime this summer…and I’m hoping the other books will follow shortly thereafter.

What if your dream became a nightmare?

Kyle Summers enjoys a carefree childhood traveling the countryside with her parents…until she discovers the electric guitar. When she first wraps her hand around its neck, she knows she was born to play it.

When she discovers boys, she realizes she has a second passion.

But music always comes first, and when Kyle is recruited to be part of a young all-girl band, she jumps at her chance for fame and fortune. It isn’t long before Kyle discovers that all that glitters isn’t gold. Will she survive when she discovers the dark and seedy side of the music industry—or will it ruin her for good?

Here is the blurb for the trilogy…

Witness one young woman’s rise to fame past the pitfalls of sex, drugs, and easy money, through fortune and success to heartbreak and betrayal. Five girls build their band The Vagabonds from nothing but a hunger to create and quickly find that they are nothing but pawns in a larger game played by managers, agents, the press, the music industry, and all manner of unscrupulous, greedy people who want to feed on their triumphs. Friendships and lives hang in the balance. Who will survive?

And, if I’m going to have the damn books written by summer, I’d better get back to work. 

 

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New Rock Group The Vagabonds Taking the World by Storm

By now, it’s a guarantee you’ve heard at least something about The Vagabonds. Good or bad, there’s no dismissing their seeming overnight fame. Turn on the radio to any rock station, and you’re bound to hear one of their tunes at some point. Search trending topics online and you’ll see something about these notorious bad girls of rock.

Fronted by the gorgeous Barbie Bennett, The Vagabonds also consists of bassist Kelly Cambridge, drummer “Sticky Vicki” Graham, and guitarists Liz Mayer and Kyle Summers. Big all-girl bands come around every once in a while, but there’s no denying there’s something special—something different—about these five young women from Colorado.

By now, fans have heard the story about how the band got together, but behind the rainbows and glitter is a dark side that isn’t being reported. Songs like “Give it to Me, Baby” hint at the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll lifestyle behind the scenes. The girls give off a hot-to-trot image that might not be far from the truth, in spite of what their parents back home have to say in the matter.

Danielle Graham, Sticky Vicki’s mother, said, “The whole agreement with Franz [Fortman, manager, publicist, and producer of The Vagabonds] was that he would take care of them—as if he were a parent. We only agreed to let our girls pursue this dream in exchange for their safety and well-being—and the continuation of their education while they’re on the road. I have to trust that he’s taking care of my baby girl.”

While Ms. Graham’s sentiment reflects what any parent would hope for, there are hints that Fortman hasn’t held up his side of the bargain. Just last week, Bennett only made it through half a set at a venue in Florida.  From the moment she took the stage, her behavior was erratic and uncharacteristic.  She slurred her words, skipped entire sections of songs, and then went off on a three-minute rant during the show before passing out. Mayer took over vocals so the band could fulfill their promise to the fans.

When interviewed just before a show in Texas, Summers said, “We’re livin’ the dream, man. This is rock and roll.” Asked if she could confirm the rumors that the five girls were partying too much and out of control, evidenced by Bennett’s onstage collapse, Summers just laughed and excused herself.

There is no question that The Vagabonds are musically gifted, as their first album attests.  However, Bennett’s collapse is but one of many episodes both big and small that leave fans wondering if maybe The Vagabonds are far too young to be on the road. Only time will tell.

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Guitarist Kyle Summers Confirms Vagabonds Split

We sensed it on the horizon. In retrospect, it will be blamed on multiple issues, from the fact that these girls started way too young, had too controlling a producer, had too little supervision on the road (and what resulted was too much of rock and roll’s sisters sex and drugs). What won’t be disputed is that they had a hell of a run, and many fans will be devastated to learn that the split is permanent.

But it’s not like we didn’t see it coming. The first sign that there were cracks in the band became evident when singer Barbie Bennett left two years ago, followed by drummer Sticky Vicki [Victoria Graham] (and her loss resulted in a string of unmemorable replacements). Then, of course, we heard continual rumors over the past two years of an imminent breakup that never happened…until now.

Last week, the internet was abuzz with the rumor that The Vagabonds were done for good. We’d heard that rumor more than once, so we all waited with bated breath, hoping this stirring too would blow over. But it persisted. So I caught up with Kyle Summers, the woman who has played lead guitar for the band from the beginning, and confirmed with her that, in fact, The Vagabonds are no longer together. Here’s what she had to say.

Thanks for taking a few minutes with me to answer my questions, Kyle. We’re just wanting to confirm that The Vagabonds have gone their separate ways.

KS: Yeah. Sad but true, I guess. I know our fans are devastated. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this much fan mail before—people begging me to tell them it’s not true…but it is. We just can’t work together anymore.

It’s rumored that you’d already recorded several songs for an upcoming album. Any chance that’ll see the light of day?

KS: It might. I don’t have any control over that music. It’s a pretty eclectic collection of tunes. I’m curious what all our fans would think…

So what’s next?

I can’t speak for any of my former bandmates, but I’ve been in talks with a label, and I’m going solo.

Solo? As in…you’re going to record your album?

Hell, yeah. You got a problem with that?

No. No. I didn’t mean it that way. I think we—your fans—would be thrilled to hear solo material from you.

That was kinda what I thought. Good.

What about the other ladies in the band?

Like I said…I have no idea. The only person I still talk to is Kelly [Cambridge, bassist]…and, well, she’s part of my plan.

You’ll still be working together?

That’s what I said.

Interesting. So…what do you have planned exactly?

We’re kicking around a few tunes. I guess I should warn you—my stuff’s going to be a lot harder than the fluffy stuff you heard in The Vagabonds. I kept my music light to keep the other girls happy.

Light? You’d call “Mr. Valentine” light?

(Laughs.) Well…for me. For the direction The Vagabonds wanted to go. See…the band’s sound was kind of a meshing of all of us, but mostly me and Liz [Mayer, rhythm guitar and vocals]. And Liz…well, she likes to play on the pop side.

Yeah, we’ve heard that before, but she’s also been given lots of credit for the commercial success of The Vagabonds for that very reason.

Oh…it would be easy enough to give her all the credit, but people seem to forget that the band was a collaboration. If we’d let Liz do everything she wanted to, we would have had the most generic sound you’ve ever heard. It was all of us together.

Sorry. Guess I touched a sore spot.

Damn right you did. I’m getting pretty tired of hearing how the sound of The Vagabonds was all Liz. Liz this, Liz that. Well, guess what? Liz wasn’t the only person in that goddamned band. There were five of us, and the sound was all of us, all our input. Hell, even Siege [C.J. Slavin of Death Crunch] had some influence over our sound. Liz? She was just a piece of the fuckin’ pie.

So…back to you. You hinted earlier that your music is going to be a step away from the traditional Vagabonds sound. Want to give us an idea of what we can expect?

Well…Kelly and I haven’t done any writing yet, but I’ve got a lot of shit I wrote while I was in The Vagabonds that was given a thumbs down by other band members for being too dark or too heavy. I could release an album of just that stuff. But I’ve evolved and changed too. I want to write some new stuff and see where it takes me. What you can expect? You can expect to have your socks rocked off, your ears blasted, your head crushed. I’m takin’ no prisoners.

When should we look for your album?

This split is still fresh and we’re still working out the details…and Kelly and I have just begun working together. I’m hoping you won’t have to wait too long—but we’ve got a few tough months ahead. Stay tuned—I promise not to let you down. Kyle Summers ain’t goin’ anywhere.

After concluding my interview with Ms. Summers, I did talk with the band’s manager Ben Tripp and confirmed that, in fact, the band has split for good and they likely will not reconcile. However, it is also rumored that Liz will also be releasing her own solo album, so stay tuned. The Vagabonds might be split, but they will continue to bring us music.

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