Samantha Combs's Blog, page 9
February 3, 2013
Do You Have the Moxie to Self-Publish?
My friend, the author Diana Nixon, is blog-touring for the month of February and I was one of the lucky blog sites she has chosen to visit. Today, she is talking about the guts and glory of self-publishing, a topic that is near and dear to my indie heart. Please enjoy her thoughts....I sure did.
Day 3. Hard work of self-publishing by Diana Nixon
First of all, I should say that self-publishing isn’t easy. Unlike traditionally published authors, we have to solve all the problems we face on our own. We don’t have agents (though I know that some self-published authors do have them), we need to find editors, cover designers, choose which publisher is better, find the ways to promote our books and find financial support to spread them all over the world.
The biggest problem I faced while publishing my books was my residence. I live in Belarus and publish my books via Createspace that’s a US company. It complicates matters significantly. For example, when someone asks me to sing a book, he or she needs to send me a copy (or I order it myself) and pay for shipping that not every reader can afford. When I order books for signing, it costs less, because I’m the author and I have a discount. The only thing that disappoints me about Createspace is that they don’t give any free copies for the authors who use their services. We have to pay even for the copies that are not approved yet! I think at least one should have been free:)
Finding a good editor is the main thing everyone should pay attention to. I had the imprudence to publish my first book without proofreading it properly. Thank God, one of my first readers volunteered to help me with the text to make it look better:) I’m not a native speaker, though I write my books in English, I need an editor to edit them for me. I found one on Goodreads that is a great forum for readers and writers. If you need any advice or help with your work, you can always find it there.
I did the first covers for my books myself. I still do them, but I’ve found a cover designer who creates colorful covers for my books’ Gift editions that are signed digitally and are created especially for those readers who would like to get signed copies.
When the manuscript is ready and proofread you need to promote your book. And here starts the most interesting part:) Most new authors don’t know what to start with. I suggest starting with creating an official page. Once I wrote a post about my experience in self-publishing where I listed the methods of promotion I used myself. You can find it here: http://diananixon.webs.com/apps/blog/show/20914886-my-experience-in-self-publishing
I created my author pages everywhere I could: on Goodreads, Shelfari, Facebook, Amazon, Lulu. I post about my every step in getting my books ready to be published. I create events and invite my friend to celebrate my new cover or book releases, and I’m sure that commutation is the key to every self-published author’s success:) The more we spread news about our books, the more readers we will find.
One of the biggest advantages of using Createspace services it that now they sell books in the UK and Europe. Kindle editions are also available in Canada, Brazil, India and Japan. If you know people who can translate your books, or if you can do it yourself, you will find audience everywhere!
I don’t know if I would be able to work with a publishing house, because despite all the difficulties we face self-publishing our books, we control the whole process of publishing and it’s always hard to lose control over the situation and let someone else decide what to do with your works:)
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them. If I can help you with anything, I always will:)
Thanks everyone for following my Book tour and a special thanks to Samantha for hosting it!:)
No worries, Diana. I was so happy to have you on the bloggy. Be sure and check out Diana's hot new release, the Love Lines series and please stop by all the other blogs as well. It's a great tour!
Schedule for the Blog Tour
February 1st– Amina Black’s blog http://www.aminablack.com/February 2nd – Into my world of reading and writing http://beefranklin.blogspot.com/February 3rd – Samantha Combs writes http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com/February 4th– Rătăcitori în lumea cărţilor http://bookaholic29.blogspot.ro/2013/01/recenzie-68- moarte-subita-de-jk-rowling.html#uds-search-resultsFebruary 5th– Book Nerds across America http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/February 6th– A blog of the author Jason Ellis http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fauthorjellis.wix.com%2Fhollysilverstone%2Fapps%2Fblog&h=vAQFU5xN February 7th – Valsul Fluturilor http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvalsulfluturilor.blogspot.ro%2F&h=vAQFU5xNCFebruary 8th– Curling up with a good book http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/?m=0February 9th– Me. Just me http://bestfriends4ever-group.blogspot.com/February 10th– Amina Black’s blog http://www.aminablack.com/February 11th– The Cover Contessa http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/February 12th– The Book Town http://thebooktown.blogspot.roFebruary 13th– The Book Mystress http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebookmystress.blogspot.com%2F&h=WAQEdQAB5February 14th– Aripi pentru a visa http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fspatiulmeupersonal.blogspot.ro%2F&h=WAQEdQAB5February 15th– I’m wide awake and I love books http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fi-am-wide-awake.blogspot.com%2F&h=_AQEl8zRgFebruary 16th– Nic’s Nominations http://nicsnominations.blogspot.com/February 17th– Books and their Wordly realm http://booksandtheirwordlyrealm.blogspot.com/February 18th– The Indie Bookshelf http://theindiebookshelf.blogspot.com/February 19th– Self publish or die book blog http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.selfpublishordie.com%2F&h=iAQEYtrb5February 20th– As you wish book blog http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fasyouwishreviews.blogspot.com%2F&h=mAQFzv8AUFebruary 21st– Fantasy World www.fantasy-link.blogspot.roFebruary 22nd– Bibliophile Mystery http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/February 23rd– Lady Amber’s Reviews http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fambersupernaturalandya.blogspot.com%2F&h=mAQFzv8AUFebruary 24th– A Blue Million Books http://abluemillionbooks.blogspot.com/February 25th– Bianca M. Calin’s book blog http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbianca2b.wordpress.com%2F&h=mAQFzv8AU
Day 3. Hard work of self-publishing by Diana Nixon
First of all, I should say that self-publishing isn’t easy. Unlike traditionally published authors, we have to solve all the problems we face on our own. We don’t have agents (though I know that some self-published authors do have them), we need to find editors, cover designers, choose which publisher is better, find the ways to promote our books and find financial support to spread them all over the world.
The biggest problem I faced while publishing my books was my residence. I live in Belarus and publish my books via Createspace that’s a US company. It complicates matters significantly. For example, when someone asks me to sing a book, he or she needs to send me a copy (or I order it myself) and pay for shipping that not every reader can afford. When I order books for signing, it costs less, because I’m the author and I have a discount. The only thing that disappoints me about Createspace is that they don’t give any free copies for the authors who use their services. We have to pay even for the copies that are not approved yet! I think at least one should have been free:)
Finding a good editor is the main thing everyone should pay attention to. I had the imprudence to publish my first book without proofreading it properly. Thank God, one of my first readers volunteered to help me with the text to make it look better:) I’m not a native speaker, though I write my books in English, I need an editor to edit them for me. I found one on Goodreads that is a great forum for readers and writers. If you need any advice or help with your work, you can always find it there.
I did the first covers for my books myself. I still do them, but I’ve found a cover designer who creates colorful covers for my books’ Gift editions that are signed digitally and are created especially for those readers who would like to get signed copies.
When the manuscript is ready and proofread you need to promote your book. And here starts the most interesting part:) Most new authors don’t know what to start with. I suggest starting with creating an official page. Once I wrote a post about my experience in self-publishing where I listed the methods of promotion I used myself. You can find it here: http://diananixon.webs.com/apps/blog/show/20914886-my-experience-in-self-publishing
I created my author pages everywhere I could: on Goodreads, Shelfari, Facebook, Amazon, Lulu. I post about my every step in getting my books ready to be published. I create events and invite my friend to celebrate my new cover or book releases, and I’m sure that commutation is the key to every self-published author’s success:) The more we spread news about our books, the more readers we will find.
One of the biggest advantages of using Createspace services it that now they sell books in the UK and Europe. Kindle editions are also available in Canada, Brazil, India and Japan. If you know people who can translate your books, or if you can do it yourself, you will find audience everywhere!
I don’t know if I would be able to work with a publishing house, because despite all the difficulties we face self-publishing our books, we control the whole process of publishing and it’s always hard to lose control over the situation and let someone else decide what to do with your works:)
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them. If I can help you with anything, I always will:)
Thanks everyone for following my Book tour and a special thanks to Samantha for hosting it!:)
No worries, Diana. I was so happy to have you on the bloggy. Be sure and check out Diana's hot new release, the Love Lines series and please stop by all the other blogs as well. It's a great tour!
Schedule for the Blog Tour
February 1st– Amina Black’s blog http://www.aminablack.com/February 2nd – Into my world of reading and writing http://beefranklin.blogspot.com/February 3rd – Samantha Combs writes http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com/February 4th– Rătăcitori în lumea cărţilor http://bookaholic29.blogspot.ro/2013/01/recenzie-68- moarte-subita-de-jk-rowling.html#uds-search-resultsFebruary 5th– Book Nerds across America http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/February 6th– A blog of the author Jason Ellis http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fauthorjellis.wix.com%2Fhollysilverstone%2Fapps%2Fblog&h=vAQFU5xN February 7th – Valsul Fluturilor http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvalsulfluturilor.blogspot.ro%2F&h=vAQFU5xNCFebruary 8th– Curling up with a good book http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/?m=0February 9th– Me. Just me http://bestfriends4ever-group.blogspot.com/February 10th– Amina Black’s blog http://www.aminablack.com/February 11th– The Cover Contessa http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/February 12th– The Book Town http://thebooktown.blogspot.roFebruary 13th– The Book Mystress http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebookmystress.blogspot.com%2F&h=WAQEdQAB5February 14th– Aripi pentru a visa http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fspatiulmeupersonal.blogspot.ro%2F&h=WAQEdQAB5February 15th– I’m wide awake and I love books http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fi-am-wide-awake.blogspot.com%2F&h=_AQEl8zRgFebruary 16th– Nic’s Nominations http://nicsnominations.blogspot.com/February 17th– Books and their Wordly realm http://booksandtheirwordlyrealm.blogspot.com/February 18th– The Indie Bookshelf http://theindiebookshelf.blogspot.com/February 19th– Self publish or die book blog http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.selfpublishordie.com%2F&h=iAQEYtrb5February 20th– As you wish book blog http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fasyouwishreviews.blogspot.com%2F&h=mAQFzv8AUFebruary 21st– Fantasy World www.fantasy-link.blogspot.roFebruary 22nd– Bibliophile Mystery http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/February 23rd– Lady Amber’s Reviews http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fambersupernaturalandya.blogspot.com%2F&h=mAQFzv8AUFebruary 24th– A Blue Million Books http://abluemillionbooks.blogspot.com/February 25th– Bianca M. Calin’s book blog http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbianca2b.wordpress.com%2F&h=mAQFzv8AU
January 31, 2013
It Has a Porn Star as the Protag? Where Do I Sign Up?
Hey kids! I have a funny, talented new friend on facebook and when he asked me to help him promote his new book (series, saga, etc.!), I was happy to help. And when he told me the concept, I was even more in. Porno stars? Hollywood movie? Drugged out friends? Where do I sign up? No, I'm kidding, the premise is fresh and current and controversial. Sounds like the makings of a terrific series!
So, I got a great chance to learn about the books with this interview. Enjoy meeting my new friend, John Tucker.
What's your novel about?
Romancing the Fox is the story of John McKenzie, a successful screenwriter who's given the reins to produce his latest screenplay – Hell Hath No Fury. In order to give his film some Hollywood buzz, he makes the decision to hire a porn actress to co-star in his movie. After interviewing seven hand-picked women, he chooses one he thinks has the charisma and ability to make it on the silver screen. He also falls in love with her. That's when the book kicks into second gear.
In Los Angeles, she prepares for her role, slowly warms up to him, and deals with old enemies, and bitter associates. In Manhattan, he toils away on his film and struggles with the doubts of his friends, and past flames who are jealous about his budding romance with a woman they view as beneath him.
The novel has characters that will make you smile, curse, and roll your eyes. On the west coast there's a whip-wielding dominatrix, a conniving vixen who wears Catholic schoolgirl attire, and an aging veteran with familial ties to the titular Fox. On the east coast, McKenzie deals a snarky British actress who's caused 14 divorces, a flaky former swimsuit model who's not what she seems, and an ex-lover who grows increasingly unstable when McKenzie and his Fox are reunited in New York.
How did you come up with the concept?
This is my first novel. I wrote it in 2008 and had to do some massive re-tooling in order to ready it for publication. My original concept was to have a loser at love fall for a woman who physically dealt in it. She would play on his emotions and at the end, would leave him a bitter, lovelorn husk. Around chapter 11, I changed the focus and had her willing to confront her own shattered thoughts about men and give him a chance to claim her heart. After that, the novel seemed to write itself.
Did you do any research on the porn industry before you began writing?
No, I was once a porn star myself and....just kidding. :-D No, I prepped for the mindset by watching several documentaries about the industry, took notes on over a dozen interviews with adult entertainers on You Tube, and liked the Paul Anderson film Boogie Nights enough to buy it. And yes, I glanced at a few actual X-rated movies...but I didn't like it. :-)
Who's your favorite characters in the story?
John McKenzie is a borderline alcoholic who has self-confidence issues, two failed marriages, and worships women. Putting him in a situation where he falls in love with a porn-star seemed to be the thing to do. The Fox also has self worth issues, distrusts almost every man in her life, and has a short fuse. Of the secondary characters, the villains are very compelling. Trix is a conniving porn star who will do anything to get out of the industry. Megan McCoy is McKenzie's longtime Friend-With-Benefits who waits too long to snap him up for herself. She becomes the Big Bad of volume one.
Volume one? You have a sequel in mind?
I have three sequels in mind. Romancing the Fox deals with selecting the Fox, giving the reader the growing relationship she has with McKenzie, and ends on the day before they shoot the actual movie. Chasing the Fox will deal with the film, the promotional tour, and the red carpet gala. Tempting the Fox will focus two years in the future and examines Fox and McKenzie's relationship – the good and the bad. The finale, Rescuing the Fox is presently being worked on and wraps up what I'm calling The Fox Saga.
Since the novel deals with people in the adult entertainment industry, what did you do to give the reader insights into a profession generally sneered at by most people in the world?
Like in real life, some performers love their job, while others despise it and settle for the money they bring in. Shayla Sinn successfully markets herself on the internet, Debbye Taunt has a sugar daddy, and Solitude is damaged goods and fresh out of rehab when she interviews for McKenzie. They're all part of a destructive career path that hardens their heart, compels them to partake of recreational drugs, and forces them to hang out with unsavory friends and associates who lead them into the darker recesses of their life. In the novel I go into their personal lives, the movie sets, and the casting couch offices of the business owners who employ them – nothing explicit but the reader will know what's going on. While it may seem glamorous on the outside, rest assured I don't make their stories appealing. In real life, the successful ones are few and far between and many leave the industry bitter, broken, or dead.
From what you've published, you don't seem to be pigeonholed into one genre. Divisive is a dark drama full of irredeemable characters. The Little Girl You Kiss Goodnight is a YA mystery with a teenager investigating her estranged mother's murder. How would you classify Romancing the Fox and why do you branch out in different directions while most authors are complacent to stay in one?
Romancing the Fox is a Romantic/Drama with comedic elements. When I wrote it, I envisioned each chapter as being an episode of a HBO/Showtime series. Mostly drama, sprinkled with a few funny touches, and ending every chapter with a cliffhanger or a defining moment by various characters. While each of my novels have different themes, you'll see my writing style and three dimensional denizens are all appealing, nefarious, and sometimes disconcerting. As far as branching out, I think readers like to have their minds and emotions taken to assorted locales, professions, and unusual thematic elements.
When is Romancing the Fox available?
It's available Jan 29- Feb 3 on Amazon for a dollar, along with my other two novels. I also have a rollout event on Facebook Feb 1-3 that will include games, free books, and random discussions pertaining to the novel.
Ok campers, like John alluded to, he is having a huge entertaining giveaway related to the release of this book. Check out all the fun and action here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/151091075044686/And don't forget to connect with my new indie friend.
Remember, the best way to support an independent author is to BUY THEIR BOOK! :-)
So, I got a great chance to learn about the books with this interview. Enjoy meeting my new friend, John Tucker.
What's your novel about? Romancing the Fox is the story of John McKenzie, a successful screenwriter who's given the reins to produce his latest screenplay – Hell Hath No Fury. In order to give his film some Hollywood buzz, he makes the decision to hire a porn actress to co-star in his movie. After interviewing seven hand-picked women, he chooses one he thinks has the charisma and ability to make it on the silver screen. He also falls in love with her. That's when the book kicks into second gear.
In Los Angeles, she prepares for her role, slowly warms up to him, and deals with old enemies, and bitter associates. In Manhattan, he toils away on his film and struggles with the doubts of his friends, and past flames who are jealous about his budding romance with a woman they view as beneath him.
The novel has characters that will make you smile, curse, and roll your eyes. On the west coast there's a whip-wielding dominatrix, a conniving vixen who wears Catholic schoolgirl attire, and an aging veteran with familial ties to the titular Fox. On the east coast, McKenzie deals a snarky British actress who's caused 14 divorces, a flaky former swimsuit model who's not what she seems, and an ex-lover who grows increasingly unstable when McKenzie and his Fox are reunited in New York.
How did you come up with the concept?
This is my first novel. I wrote it in 2008 and had to do some massive re-tooling in order to ready it for publication. My original concept was to have a loser at love fall for a woman who physically dealt in it. She would play on his emotions and at the end, would leave him a bitter, lovelorn husk. Around chapter 11, I changed the focus and had her willing to confront her own shattered thoughts about men and give him a chance to claim her heart. After that, the novel seemed to write itself.
Did you do any research on the porn industry before you began writing?
No, I was once a porn star myself and....just kidding. :-D No, I prepped for the mindset by watching several documentaries about the industry, took notes on over a dozen interviews with adult entertainers on You Tube, and liked the Paul Anderson film Boogie Nights enough to buy it. And yes, I glanced at a few actual X-rated movies...but I didn't like it. :-)
Who's your favorite characters in the story?
John McKenzie is a borderline alcoholic who has self-confidence issues, two failed marriages, and worships women. Putting him in a situation where he falls in love with a porn-star seemed to be the thing to do. The Fox also has self worth issues, distrusts almost every man in her life, and has a short fuse. Of the secondary characters, the villains are very compelling. Trix is a conniving porn star who will do anything to get out of the industry. Megan McCoy is McKenzie's longtime Friend-With-Benefits who waits too long to snap him up for herself. She becomes the Big Bad of volume one.
Volume one? You have a sequel in mind?
I have three sequels in mind. Romancing the Fox deals with selecting the Fox, giving the reader the growing relationship she has with McKenzie, and ends on the day before they shoot the actual movie. Chasing the Fox will deal with the film, the promotional tour, and the red carpet gala. Tempting the Fox will focus two years in the future and examines Fox and McKenzie's relationship – the good and the bad. The finale, Rescuing the Fox is presently being worked on and wraps up what I'm calling The Fox Saga.
Since the novel deals with people in the adult entertainment industry, what did you do to give the reader insights into a profession generally sneered at by most people in the world?
Like in real life, some performers love their job, while others despise it and settle for the money they bring in. Shayla Sinn successfully markets herself on the internet, Debbye Taunt has a sugar daddy, and Solitude is damaged goods and fresh out of rehab when she interviews for McKenzie. They're all part of a destructive career path that hardens their heart, compels them to partake of recreational drugs, and forces them to hang out with unsavory friends and associates who lead them into the darker recesses of their life. In the novel I go into their personal lives, the movie sets, and the casting couch offices of the business owners who employ them – nothing explicit but the reader will know what's going on. While it may seem glamorous on the outside, rest assured I don't make their stories appealing. In real life, the successful ones are few and far between and many leave the industry bitter, broken, or dead.
From what you've published, you don't seem to be pigeonholed into one genre. Divisive is a dark drama full of irredeemable characters. The Little Girl You Kiss Goodnight is a YA mystery with a teenager investigating her estranged mother's murder. How would you classify Romancing the Fox and why do you branch out in different directions while most authors are complacent to stay in one?
Romancing the Fox is a Romantic/Drama with comedic elements. When I wrote it, I envisioned each chapter as being an episode of a HBO/Showtime series. Mostly drama, sprinkled with a few funny touches, and ending every chapter with a cliffhanger or a defining moment by various characters. While each of my novels have different themes, you'll see my writing style and three dimensional denizens are all appealing, nefarious, and sometimes disconcerting. As far as branching out, I think readers like to have their minds and emotions taken to assorted locales, professions, and unusual thematic elements.
When is Romancing the Fox available?
It's available Jan 29- Feb 3 on Amazon for a dollar, along with my other two novels. I also have a rollout event on Facebook Feb 1-3 that will include games, free books, and random discussions pertaining to the novel.
Ok campers, like John alluded to, he is having a huge entertaining giveaway related to the release of this book. Check out all the fun and action here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/151091075044686/And don't forget to connect with my new indie friend.
Remember, the best way to support an independent author is to BUY THEIR BOOK! :-)
January 29, 2013
How to Get a 6-Book Contract
I have a wonderful bestie I met on Facebook. Lindsay Downs was a writer just getting started when I first began networking on FB. She was the first one to befriend me, then the first one to chat with me. We have been best friends ever since, pushing each other along in our writing journey, celebrating each other's successes and always being there for one another. Today, Lindsay is a best-selling regency romance author, her stories and novellas are tighter and more entertaining than ever, and it seems I am not the only one to notice.
Lindsay just announced the sale of a six-book series and a contract to match, from Secret Cravings Publishing.
I didn't even have to prod her to know there was no "magic formula" for this to happen. Lindsay has been working her craft for the past two years and working on it hard. She takes advantage of all the writing prompts, and writer's groups she can handle and endlessly edits, massages, and critiques her manuscripts. I asked Lindsay to share the journey with us to the big contract and she agreed. May I welcome my wonderful friend, the author Lindsay Downs.
From Point A to a 6 Book Contract by Lindsay Downs
A little over a year ago I joined a small group of published and unpublished writer call Tuesday Tales. Here we would write a scene based on a specific word prompt. At about this same time I was developing an idea for a new series, as yet untitled. One week the word prompt was “save”. Unlike previous books I hadn’t come up with a name for the heroine so I referred to her as Ice Queen, which became the title of the first story. As it developed I was able to come up with her name, Jessica Sales. And before you ask, don’t, it’s a long story how I found the name.
Anyways, as the weeks progressed I continued writing the book, scene by scene and all based on the word prompt for that week. Creating a book this way was/is not only different, a challenge but interesting and makes you, the writer think outside the box.
With the prompts posted in the Tuesday Tales Facebook group in advance I was able to look ahead. So in June of last year I started the next book having found the logical ending to Ice Queen and beginning to Red Queen. This book progressed in the same manner of the first.
What I did find interesting, I got a few feelers about the series from a publisher. You see, as I was creating the books, I didn’t know what to do with them, self-publish or search out a publisher. I decided to take the plunge and polished the books then wrote synopsis’ for four more books. In December I submitted the two completed books along with the story line for four more to Secret Craving Publishing. Three weeks to the day after sending them off I awoke to find a contract in my email in-box for the entire six (6) book series. Three will be released this year and the others in 2014.
I should point out, during the time I was working on the Tuesday Tales scenes for both Ice Queenand Red Queen I was also writing and editing two books in the Emily Dahill, CID series. I also broke from the contemporary genre and wrote my bestselling regency, A Christmas Surprise, released by Astraea Press in November. I also sold and went through the edits for Love and War, a trilogy of romantic war stories, which was released by Secret Cravings Publishing in December.I know this is a lot to take in but remember I’ve been writing since 2006 with my first contract in 2008 and the book was released in 2009. I’ve been working on the craft while developing my voice to create books which readers and publishers want.
The key is never to give up. Take workshops, attend conferences, read books, not on writing, for pleasure. Someday you might get an author’s dream of a multi-book contract and/or a best seller.
Blurb- A Christmas Surprise
[image error] If I hear one more debutante declare that they will never marry unless it is for love, well. I shall break my quill! And we all know what happens when I break my quill. Things become very upsetting and it isn’t long before I--- Well, that is quite another story. Let this author, this matriarch, this paragon of society guide you with her infinite wisdom. It is apparent that many of you have gotten this silly notion of love in your head, most likely from American influence, and please do not get me started on those savages. The point, young dears, is that love, is silly. Take for example Lady Aleece, poor young dear never stood a chance! Can you imagine being mauled in public? By a commoner no less? Although, rumors have been running rampant that this very delicious commoner is in fact the Marquess of Somerset, I have my doubts. For one thing, a Marquess should be more unfortunate looking which is clearly not the case with Somerset. Let this be a lesson dear readers. If you marry for love, there is a very big chance that you will end up with your heart broken, or in that wretched commoners case—kidnapped (though many believe he should have been killed for even breathing the same air as our fair lady). Dear readers, have I taught you nothing this holiday season?—Mrs. Peabody’s Society Papers.Astraea Press- http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=16090202B&N-http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-christmas-surprise-lindsay-downs/1113764953?ean=2940015942637Amazon-http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Surprise-ebook/dp/B00A3T3BM2/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352397611&sr=1-3&keywords=Lindsay+Downs
Blurb - Love and War
Simone - Returning to Occupied France in advance of the allied invasion leaves no time for love between Sergeant Brian Deveneau and Simone. War tears apart lives and love. Will they survive? [image error] Rescued - Injured Ensign Steve Henry awakens from severe wounds to the tender care of Lieutenant Suzanne Cunningham. Attraction explodes between them but will war tear them apart in the end?Angel in Green - Never expecting to find love, 1st Lieutenant Elena Roberts must put aside her feelings for 2nd Lieutenant Steve Johnson. When her hospital is overrun by North Vietnamese soldier's, she must guard not only her heart from the handsome solider, but keep him alive as well.Buy LinksAmazon- http://www.amazon.com/Love-and-War-ebook/dp/B00APO6ILQ/ref=la_B007NQAIIS_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357437048&sr=1-3B&N- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-and-war-lindsay-downs/1113987303?ean=2940016083056Secret Cravings Publishing- http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=1&products_id=466
Lindsay just announced the sale of a six-book series and a contract to match, from Secret Cravings Publishing.
I didn't even have to prod her to know there was no "magic formula" for this to happen. Lindsay has been working her craft for the past two years and working on it hard. She takes advantage of all the writing prompts, and writer's groups she can handle and endlessly edits, massages, and critiques her manuscripts. I asked Lindsay to share the journey with us to the big contract and she agreed. May I welcome my wonderful friend, the author Lindsay Downs.
From Point A to a 6 Book Contract by Lindsay Downs
A little over a year ago I joined a small group of published and unpublished writer call Tuesday Tales. Here we would write a scene based on a specific word prompt. At about this same time I was developing an idea for a new series, as yet untitled. One week the word prompt was “save”. Unlike previous books I hadn’t come up with a name for the heroine so I referred to her as Ice Queen, which became the title of the first story. As it developed I was able to come up with her name, Jessica Sales. And before you ask, don’t, it’s a long story how I found the name.
Anyways, as the weeks progressed I continued writing the book, scene by scene and all based on the word prompt for that week. Creating a book this way was/is not only different, a challenge but interesting and makes you, the writer think outside the box.
With the prompts posted in the Tuesday Tales Facebook group in advance I was able to look ahead. So in June of last year I started the next book having found the logical ending to Ice Queen and beginning to Red Queen. This book progressed in the same manner of the first.
What I did find interesting, I got a few feelers about the series from a publisher. You see, as I was creating the books, I didn’t know what to do with them, self-publish or search out a publisher. I decided to take the plunge and polished the books then wrote synopsis’ for four more books. In December I submitted the two completed books along with the story line for four more to Secret Craving Publishing. Three weeks to the day after sending them off I awoke to find a contract in my email in-box for the entire six (6) book series. Three will be released this year and the others in 2014.
I should point out, during the time I was working on the Tuesday Tales scenes for both Ice Queenand Red Queen I was also writing and editing two books in the Emily Dahill, CID series. I also broke from the contemporary genre and wrote my bestselling regency, A Christmas Surprise, released by Astraea Press in November. I also sold and went through the edits for Love and War, a trilogy of romantic war stories, which was released by Secret Cravings Publishing in December.I know this is a lot to take in but remember I’ve been writing since 2006 with my first contract in 2008 and the book was released in 2009. I’ve been working on the craft while developing my voice to create books which readers and publishers want.
The key is never to give up. Take workshops, attend conferences, read books, not on writing, for pleasure. Someday you might get an author’s dream of a multi-book contract and/or a best seller.
Blurb- A Christmas Surprise
[image error] If I hear one more debutante declare that they will never marry unless it is for love, well. I shall break my quill! And we all know what happens when I break my quill. Things become very upsetting and it isn’t long before I--- Well, that is quite another story. Let this author, this matriarch, this paragon of society guide you with her infinite wisdom. It is apparent that many of you have gotten this silly notion of love in your head, most likely from American influence, and please do not get me started on those savages. The point, young dears, is that love, is silly. Take for example Lady Aleece, poor young dear never stood a chance! Can you imagine being mauled in public? By a commoner no less? Although, rumors have been running rampant that this very delicious commoner is in fact the Marquess of Somerset, I have my doubts. For one thing, a Marquess should be more unfortunate looking which is clearly not the case with Somerset. Let this be a lesson dear readers. If you marry for love, there is a very big chance that you will end up with your heart broken, or in that wretched commoners case—kidnapped (though many believe he should have been killed for even breathing the same air as our fair lady). Dear readers, have I taught you nothing this holiday season?—Mrs. Peabody’s Society Papers.Astraea Press- http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=16090202B&N-http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-christmas-surprise-lindsay-downs/1113764953?ean=2940015942637Amazon-http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Surprise-ebook/dp/B00A3T3BM2/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352397611&sr=1-3&keywords=Lindsay+Downs
Blurb - Love and War
Simone - Returning to Occupied France in advance of the allied invasion leaves no time for love between Sergeant Brian Deveneau and Simone. War tears apart lives and love. Will they survive? [image error] Rescued - Injured Ensign Steve Henry awakens from severe wounds to the tender care of Lieutenant Suzanne Cunningham. Attraction explodes between them but will war tear them apart in the end?Angel in Green - Never expecting to find love, 1st Lieutenant Elena Roberts must put aside her feelings for 2nd Lieutenant Steve Johnson. When her hospital is overrun by North Vietnamese soldier's, she must guard not only her heart from the handsome solider, but keep him alive as well.Buy LinksAmazon- http://www.amazon.com/Love-and-War-ebook/dp/B00APO6ILQ/ref=la_B007NQAIIS_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357437048&sr=1-3B&N- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-and-war-lindsay-downs/1113987303?ean=2940016083056Secret Cravings Publishing- http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=1&products_id=466
January 13, 2013
Why Recent Publishing Changes Are Both Good and Bad for Indie Writers
Yesterday, I was fortunate to be one of the attendees at my group, the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles, and their kickoff workshop of the year, called: Kickstarting Your Writing Career. There were handouts and tons of information for the newbie and aspiring writer/author. Now, even though I don't exactly fall into that category anymore, that doesn't mean I don't still learn something about his business every single day.
The most question-provoking topic was the recent merger involving Random House and Penguin books. I am certainly no expert, but my take on the merger matched that of our presenter in the workshop; namely that there are good and bad aspects to it.
The good is easy to understand. The merging of the two superhouses means that the Big 6 has now become the Big 5 and the stranglehold the "traditional" publishing houses have on the industry seems to be dwindling. And that's good for indies. The smaller amount of brick-and-mortar houses shows us that the world is becoming more and more accepting of the independent houses, which bring the same amount of strict editing and professional guidelines as the Bigs, and are proving it by helping a growing number of indie authors find mainstream audiences.
The bad news is not as clearly evident. With the merger of the two houses, there will be fewer editors to submit work to, and fewer opportunities for indies to break into them. There will likely also be fewer large advances, greatly reduced reasonable advances and more closed ranks than ever in the trade publisher's circles. And the plot also thickens. There is an industry rumor that Harper Collins and Simon and Schuster are also considering merging.
For us indies, while the news isn't exactly encouraging, it isn't discouraging, either. The news won't change the way we write, the amount of our passion, or the level of our dedication to our stories. It won't change the way we shun the traditional route in favor of the independent one, and it will never change the way we want to retain control over our own fates.
What will change is our devotion to our own independence. For us, and slowly, for the world, being independently published is the same as being traditionally published. Just as respectful, just as credible, just as impressive. The small army of indie authors we once were, we are now numbering in the thousands. And our professional commitment to the quality of our own work is not suffering as a result.
We are hiring editors, and cover artists, and graphics designers to help us reach our vision. The driving force behind the movement has created a whole new genre of independent contractor as well. Savvy social media conductors, technologically advanced video producers, and even Facebook and Twitter experts are helping us package, market and yes, even sell our beloved creations.
As an independent author with five of my eight books published through two independent publishers, I could not be more proud of my accomplishments. And when people ask where I am published, it is with pride when I tell them Astraea Press and Musa Publishing. There are many benefits to publishing both traditionally and independently, but in my personal opinion, the rewards to publishing independently far outweigh the traditional route. I intend to go into that further in another post.
For now, if you are an aspiring writer, keep writing. And turn your sights away from the names you have always equated with book-writing. I, and a whole league of indie-authors I know, are here to tell you their reign is just about over. Follow this blog and others and you will soon learn what I mean. And in the meantime, do what you always do: write a good book.
The most question-provoking topic was the recent merger involving Random House and Penguin books. I am certainly no expert, but my take on the merger matched that of our presenter in the workshop; namely that there are good and bad aspects to it.
The good is easy to understand. The merging of the two superhouses means that the Big 6 has now become the Big 5 and the stranglehold the "traditional" publishing houses have on the industry seems to be dwindling. And that's good for indies. The smaller amount of brick-and-mortar houses shows us that the world is becoming more and more accepting of the independent houses, which bring the same amount of strict editing and professional guidelines as the Bigs, and are proving it by helping a growing number of indie authors find mainstream audiences.
The bad news is not as clearly evident. With the merger of the two houses, there will be fewer editors to submit work to, and fewer opportunities for indies to break into them. There will likely also be fewer large advances, greatly reduced reasonable advances and more closed ranks than ever in the trade publisher's circles. And the plot also thickens. There is an industry rumor that Harper Collins and Simon and Schuster are also considering merging.
For us indies, while the news isn't exactly encouraging, it isn't discouraging, either. The news won't change the way we write, the amount of our passion, or the level of our dedication to our stories. It won't change the way we shun the traditional route in favor of the independent one, and it will never change the way we want to retain control over our own fates.
What will change is our devotion to our own independence. For us, and slowly, for the world, being independently published is the same as being traditionally published. Just as respectful, just as credible, just as impressive. The small army of indie authors we once were, we are now numbering in the thousands. And our professional commitment to the quality of our own work is not suffering as a result.
We are hiring editors, and cover artists, and graphics designers to help us reach our vision. The driving force behind the movement has created a whole new genre of independent contractor as well. Savvy social media conductors, technologically advanced video producers, and even Facebook and Twitter experts are helping us package, market and yes, even sell our beloved creations.
As an independent author with five of my eight books published through two independent publishers, I could not be more proud of my accomplishments. And when people ask where I am published, it is with pride when I tell them Astraea Press and Musa Publishing. There are many benefits to publishing both traditionally and independently, but in my personal opinion, the rewards to publishing independently far outweigh the traditional route. I intend to go into that further in another post.
For now, if you are an aspiring writer, keep writing. And turn your sights away from the names you have always equated with book-writing. I, and a whole league of indie-authors I know, are here to tell you their reign is just about over. Follow this blog and others and you will soon learn what I mean. And in the meantime, do what you always do: write a good book.
January 5, 2013
Disturbing? Haunting? Helloween is reviewed by Horrornews.net
Book Review: Helloween – Author Samantha CombsPosted on 01/03/2013 by John Clements Leave a Comment or Post Review
If you were to ask me what horror is I’d probably say something about nude teens being chased by a boogeyman armed with some form of weapon who is out to give his fans (since who really cheers for the teens anyway) a show with a high death count, exaggerated gore, goose bump raising suspense, and tons of jump scares. It’s all in great fun. The killers are over the top, the teens are idiots, the situations commonplace, and you actually look forward to spilling your popcorn.What you wouldn’t hear me talk about is that form of horror that takes it just a step too far. Where you are almost disgusted, disturbed, hurt, or even haunted by what you just saw. Could you really be the type of person to enjoy that? Hint: The answer is yes. Unlike the first two of Samantha Combs’ horror anthologies which would be very much in the first kind of horror I mentioned, her latest, Helloween, is itching more towards the second. Six tales, each longer than her usual horror short story fare that makes for great nightmare inducing bedside reading, are included.“Eat at Joe’s” was by far the most unsettling. It tells the story of Reynaldo, a wannabe chef, who finds that a little blood never hurt anyone, except himself, of course. The knife descriptions do a number on me personally as I’m the wimpy squeamish type that small knife cuts are more disturbing to than full outright gashes and I had a hard time reading this one, although that didn’t stop me from doing so repeatedly. The other stories are definitely more mild, but still in the same vein of uncomfortableness.“Demon in the GPS” shows you how one fateful night Nadine finally finds a way to get her husband’s outward aggressiveness under control. In “Skin Deep”, probably my favorite tale in Helloween, Darla finds out all too well that beautiful skin comes at a frightful cost. “Imaginary Friend” shows you yet another reason why the voices in your head are best ignored.In “New Neighbors”, you find that some people will do just about anything, including things you wouldn’t do yourself, to welcome a new family to the block. And lastly “The Serial Killer’s Wife” tells the tale of Elaine, a loving wife to homicidal killer Roland. Elaine finally decides she’s sick and tired off her husband’s nightly habits and decides she’s going to do something about it. Unfortunately for Roland, she was paying a bit more attention to his doings than he realized.Helloween, although too easily finished in one sitting, made for great reading nonetheless. It definitely shows that Samantha has upped the scale as far as the chills go and that’s never a bad thing. It is definitely another great collection to go alongside Way Past Midnight, and Teeth And Talons: A Horror Anthology and all three are worth your time.I can only hope she continues this upward momentum in any forthcoming anthologies which can never come too soon.Book Review: Helloween – Author Samantha CombsAnd I can only hope reviewers and readers continue to enjoy my stories. Thanks John Clements!
January 3, 2013
New Author Annamaria Bazzi Joins the Bloggy
I've always been very gratified to help indie authors and aspiring authors on their personal road to publication. Many people were there for me when I was just starting out and their advice and suggestions and experiences have been invaluable to me. I'm thrilled that my blog has become a place where the aspiring writer can get critically needed information on how to do what it is we do....after we type the words "the end".
Therefore is is always such a pleasure for me when an indie author I know gets her first taste of publishing. My friend today on the blog is just such a person. Annamaria is likely still walking on a cloud from her first ever publication and she is just revving up. Please join me in welcoming newly-published AUTHOR, Annamaria Bazzi to the bloggy.
Hello Samantha’s readers, before I even start, I’d like to thank Samantha for having me as a guest on her wonderful blog.
I’m Annamaria Bazzi and have wanted to be a published author since the age of eight. Go figure! It took a lifetime to get here. That’s only because real life took over and I had to stop dreaming and writing to raise four daughters and one husband. No, I’m not done raising all of them, but after a twenty-some-year career as a systems analyst in computers, writing software for large corporations, I had enough of long nights, no weekends and short vacations.
I used to dream of contracts with Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, or Random House, but the big six aren’t interested in new authors anymore. Their strategies have pushed many serious writers to the Indie world. I’m proud to say I’m releasing one of the two short stories for the readers to sample before releasing my first novel, an urban fantasy.
The voyage has been very interesting and at times frustrating. The hardest part of this journey has been finding an editor that would be a perfect fit. One that would push me to my limits and help me to grow while making sure the plot has no holes, inconsistencies, no character flows, etc. it’s very important to find someone I could work with, someone that would be honest and one I could build a relationship with. It’s very important to me to publish quality—a well edited story with an interesting plot and characters the reader can relate to.
I don’t have a specific genre I write in, although the short story ‘A Simple Matter of Justice’ is a paranormal story. I had fun writing.
Here is a small blurb:Brutally murdered, Samantha discovers her life doesn’t end with her death. While in spirit form, she speaks with a wolf, which offers her a chance to bring her killer to trial…but there are strings attached. Even so, she accepts his proposal, and together they hunt the city. However, when the man responsible can’t be located, she worries the wolf’s proposal might be more than a simple matter of justice.
My daughter designed the cover for me, and it was a pleasure working with her. Thank you Amanda.
Someone once asked me if I’ve ever fallen in love with one of my characters. I think that sometimes it is impossible not to fall in love with your characters. Some have a distinct way of entrenching themselves deep in your heart and it becomes difficult to let them go when the novel is completed. I have two such characters I still can’t let go, so I’ve gone off and designed a small series around them once I completed the initial novel. I don’t think I ‘m alone in this.
A Simple Matter of Justice will be followed by another short story to give the readers a taste of my style before I release my novel, Trapped in a Nightmare, an urban fantasy.
I also enjoy writing YA fiction, and will be releasing a short story I hope they’ll enjoy.
Thank you Samantha, this was fun.
And it was fun for us to meet you as well, Annamaria. I wish you all the best in your publishing journey and all I ask is that you pay it forward for all the as-yet-unpublished authors you know.
If you would like to connect with Annamaria, she'd love to hear from you.Connect with her here:Website: http://annamariabazzi.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annamaria.bazziTwitter: @AMBazzi
Therefore is is always such a pleasure for me when an indie author I know gets her first taste of publishing. My friend today on the blog is just such a person. Annamaria is likely still walking on a cloud from her first ever publication and she is just revving up. Please join me in welcoming newly-published AUTHOR, Annamaria Bazzi to the bloggy.
Hello Samantha’s readers, before I even start, I’d like to thank Samantha for having me as a guest on her wonderful blog.
I’m Annamaria Bazzi and have wanted to be a published author since the age of eight. Go figure! It took a lifetime to get here. That’s only because real life took over and I had to stop dreaming and writing to raise four daughters and one husband. No, I’m not done raising all of them, but after a twenty-some-year career as a systems analyst in computers, writing software for large corporations, I had enough of long nights, no weekends and short vacations. I used to dream of contracts with Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, or Random House, but the big six aren’t interested in new authors anymore. Their strategies have pushed many serious writers to the Indie world. I’m proud to say I’m releasing one of the two short stories for the readers to sample before releasing my first novel, an urban fantasy.
The voyage has been very interesting and at times frustrating. The hardest part of this journey has been finding an editor that would be a perfect fit. One that would push me to my limits and help me to grow while making sure the plot has no holes, inconsistencies, no character flows, etc. it’s very important to find someone I could work with, someone that would be honest and one I could build a relationship with. It’s very important to me to publish quality—a well edited story with an interesting plot and characters the reader can relate to.
I don’t have a specific genre I write in, although the short story ‘A Simple Matter of Justice’ is a paranormal story. I had fun writing.
Here is a small blurb:Brutally murdered, Samantha discovers her life doesn’t end with her death. While in spirit form, she speaks with a wolf, which offers her a chance to bring her killer to trial…but there are strings attached. Even so, she accepts his proposal, and together they hunt the city. However, when the man responsible can’t be located, she worries the wolf’s proposal might be more than a simple matter of justice.
My daughter designed the cover for me, and it was a pleasure working with her. Thank you Amanda.
Someone once asked me if I’ve ever fallen in love with one of my characters. I think that sometimes it is impossible not to fall in love with your characters. Some have a distinct way of entrenching themselves deep in your heart and it becomes difficult to let them go when the novel is completed. I have two such characters I still can’t let go, so I’ve gone off and designed a small series around them once I completed the initial novel. I don’t think I ‘m alone in this.
A Simple Matter of Justice will be followed by another short story to give the readers a taste of my style before I release my novel, Trapped in a Nightmare, an urban fantasy.
I also enjoy writing YA fiction, and will be releasing a short story I hope they’ll enjoy.
Thank you Samantha, this was fun.
And it was fun for us to meet you as well, Annamaria. I wish you all the best in your publishing journey and all I ask is that you pay it forward for all the as-yet-unpublished authors you know.
If you would like to connect with Annamaria, she'd love to hear from you.Connect with her here:Website: http://annamariabazzi.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annamaria.bazziTwitter: @AMBazzi
January 2, 2013
Everyone Needs an Author Elf...Find Out How to Get One!
I've been facebook friends with Lisa Kessler for over a year. We have followed one another's successes and cheered each other on in our personal publishing journeys. Lisa is a wonderful writer, and a singer, and now she adds another ball to juggle: Author Elf.
I was so entranced by this subject, I asked Lisa to write a guest post for me, so I can introduce the concept and Lisa's new company correctly. So, please welcome Lisa Kessler!
Hi everyone – Thanks to Samantha for the blog spot! J
With a New Year right around the corner, this is the perfect time to talk about multi-tasking and time management, right?
I’m Lisa Kessler, and I’m a fiction writer. My first novel, Night Walker, was released in 2011, and then re-released again in mass-market paperback in 2012. My eBook novella, Night Thief also released in October of 2012. It’s been a big learning curve for me as a writer to balance all the facets of my new career path.
In school, you read the classics and picture Hemingway, Bradbury and Shelley penning their masterpieces in a dimly lit room and then the masses flow into the bookstores to read it. Simple, right?
Sadly, the reality of publishing these days isn’t nearly as simple. Readers have to be able to find you and your book. There are millions of titles out there, with more popping up on Amazon every day. You can no longer write a book and wait for readers to grab a copy.
How do readers discover you and your books?
That’s where I have found things to be tricky. What good is your book if no one ever reads it, but if all I’m doing is promoting, then I’ll never write another book. It’s a crazy cycle! As a writer, I often have a tough time juggling my calendar and my projects. It seems like I turn around and my monthly author newsletter has become bi-seasonal. Whoops!
We really need assistants to check out websites, scout for positive reviews, nudge us when it’s time for another newsletter to show readers our new book cover, etc. But most of us can’t afford the manpower.
That’s when my hubby and I came up with Author Elf. After helping a few writers with facebook release parties and twitter training, we realized that each writer has different needs, but it all starts with organization.
Writers need an elf working behind the scenes to keep us on track!
That’s where we can help. We’re setting goals with authors and building calendars with reminders. We’re also setting up Google alerts for reviews and checking websites to be sure they’re current. All the minutia that we know is important but we never find the time to take care of, that’s where your elf comes in.
You can find out more here… http://www.authorelf.com/about-us.html
So as we kick off 2013, you don’t have to work alone. We’ll be right there to lend a hand so you can have more time to write… And who doesn’t want that? J Happy New Year!
Lisa Kessler – Lisa@authorelf.comDon't be a stranger...TwitterFacebookLisa's BlogLisa's Lair website
I was so entranced by this subject, I asked Lisa to write a guest post for me, so I can introduce the concept and Lisa's new company correctly. So, please welcome Lisa Kessler!
Hi everyone – Thanks to Samantha for the blog spot! J
With a New Year right around the corner, this is the perfect time to talk about multi-tasking and time management, right?
I’m Lisa Kessler, and I’m a fiction writer. My first novel, Night Walker, was released in 2011, and then re-released again in mass-market paperback in 2012. My eBook novella, Night Thief also released in October of 2012. It’s been a big learning curve for me as a writer to balance all the facets of my new career path.In school, you read the classics and picture Hemingway, Bradbury and Shelley penning their masterpieces in a dimly lit room and then the masses flow into the bookstores to read it. Simple, right?
Sadly, the reality of publishing these days isn’t nearly as simple. Readers have to be able to find you and your book. There are millions of titles out there, with more popping up on Amazon every day. You can no longer write a book and wait for readers to grab a copy.
How do readers discover you and your books?
That’s where I have found things to be tricky. What good is your book if no one ever reads it, but if all I’m doing is promoting, then I’ll never write another book. It’s a crazy cycle! As a writer, I often have a tough time juggling my calendar and my projects. It seems like I turn around and my monthly author newsletter has become bi-seasonal. Whoops!
We really need assistants to check out websites, scout for positive reviews, nudge us when it’s time for another newsletter to show readers our new book cover, etc. But most of us can’t afford the manpower.
That’s when my hubby and I came up with Author Elf. After helping a few writers with facebook release parties and twitter training, we realized that each writer has different needs, but it all starts with organization.
Writers need an elf working behind the scenes to keep us on track!
That’s where we can help. We’re setting goals with authors and building calendars with reminders. We’re also setting up Google alerts for reviews and checking websites to be sure they’re current. All the minutia that we know is important but we never find the time to take care of, that’s where your elf comes in.
You can find out more here… http://www.authorelf.com/about-us.html
So as we kick off 2013, you don’t have to work alone. We’ll be right there to lend a hand so you can have more time to write… And who doesn’t want that? J Happy New Year!
Lisa Kessler – Lisa@authorelf.comDon't be a stranger...TwitterFacebookLisa's BlogLisa's Lair websiteDecember 31, 2012
I Wrote a Book, How Do I Get It To Sell?
I read a great post this week on a blog I follow by a fellow indie author, Derek Haines. It had such invaluable information, the same kind I try and offer on this very blog, I was compelled to contact the author and request permission to reprint the post, in its entirety, on my blog. I was thrilled when he responded immediately, giving his approval.
The information is nothing you, the new author, indie author, or aspiring author, have never heard before. It is simply presented in such a precise format and so succinctly, that in my unending quest to be a source and tool for new writers, I knew I had to share it. So, please enjoy, take heed and put into practice. And then believe this: you WILL publish AND sell in 2013!
Happy New Year!
I Wrote A Book – But It Won’t Sell.....by author Derek Haines
One of the most frequent questions I receive is from newly self published authors asking why their book isn’t selling. While there are a thousand reasons why a book doesn’t sell, there is one fact that many newly self published authors often fail to realise. The book market and the ebook market in particular is well and truly over-populated. Try to get your head around these numbers.300,000 books were published in the U.S. 2003.411,422 books were published in the U.S. in 2007.1,052,803 books were published in the U.S. 2009.Approximately 3,000,000 books were published in the U.S. in 2011.And . . . drum roll, please . . . Bowker estimates that they will issue15,000,000 ISBN numbers in 2012. (Or so Seth Godin said in an online interview.) SourceWith these statistics it’s easy to see where one new book sits. Lost in a huge crowd.The fact of the matter is that it is getting harder and harder to sell books and for a writer new to self publishing, there is going to be a lot of hard work ahead; just to get noticed. So what can you do to get some attention?Firstly, write a damn good book. This may sound simplistic, but have you had independent feedback about the quality of your book? Just because your mother likes it, this doesn’t count for anything in attracting attention or climbing bestseller lists. Yes, we all love our own books, but you really need to know if other people will love it enough to buy it.Does your title attract attention? This is the most important few words of your book, and yet I see so many poorly titled books. Give your title a lot of thought.Does your cover attract attention? Especially when viewed as a thumbnail image. This is important as this is usually the first image of your book that a potential reader sees, so you really want them to click on it. Look at you book cover as a thumbnail size image. Is it attention grabbing or a fuzzy little box?Does anyone know your name? I’m a firm believer in promoting your name as an author rather than promoting the title of your book or books. Getting known is vital, so use social media to build your name recognition. Yes, it’s slow going and hard work. But nothing is going to come easy in a crowd of fifteen million new books.Use social media intelligently. Don’t fill your social media streams with posts about the kids, the dog or details about your headache or hangover. Build a professional image of yourself and use separate accounts for your friends and relations chatting. You want to sell books not inform people about cup cakes. Build a quality Twitter and Facebook Page following and concentrate on your reputation.Be patient and don’t give up after 3 months. It takes a long time to build your profile and to write enough books to be noticed. If you are expecting instant success through self publishing, I would really suggest trying something else. It’s just not going to happen.Set realistic goals. In your first year with one or two titles, don’t expect to sell many more than one or perhaps two hundred copies. The average royalties earned by self published authors is less than $500 per year, so don’t even think about getting rich quick.Market your book. Don’t sell it. Let’s face it, you don’t like getting ‘Check out my book‘ or ‘Buy my book‘ messages, so why would anyone else react differently to you? Guide your followers to you, your books and your blog and or website. Don’t just repeatedly post your Kindle page. It drives people away from you, not towards you.Write better, and better. With each book you write, you improve. So if you truly want to be a writer who will be noticed, keep writing, improving and learning.Okay, followers: please contact Derek and join his blog. Information of this value is presented constantly on his pages. Check him out here: Derek HainesEmail: derekhaines@mac.comWeb: www.derekhaines.ch
The information is nothing you, the new author, indie author, or aspiring author, have never heard before. It is simply presented in such a precise format and so succinctly, that in my unending quest to be a source and tool for new writers, I knew I had to share it. So, please enjoy, take heed and put into practice. And then believe this: you WILL publish AND sell in 2013!
Happy New Year!
I Wrote A Book – But It Won’t Sell.....by author Derek Haines
One of the most frequent questions I receive is from newly self published authors asking why their book isn’t selling. While there are a thousand reasons why a book doesn’t sell, there is one fact that many newly self published authors often fail to realise. The book market and the ebook market in particular is well and truly over-populated. Try to get your head around these numbers.300,000 books were published in the U.S. 2003.411,422 books were published in the U.S. in 2007.1,052,803 books were published in the U.S. 2009.Approximately 3,000,000 books were published in the U.S. in 2011.And . . . drum roll, please . . . Bowker estimates that they will issue15,000,000 ISBN numbers in 2012. (Or so Seth Godin said in an online interview.) SourceWith these statistics it’s easy to see where one new book sits. Lost in a huge crowd.The fact of the matter is that it is getting harder and harder to sell books and for a writer new to self publishing, there is going to be a lot of hard work ahead; just to get noticed. So what can you do to get some attention?Firstly, write a damn good book. This may sound simplistic, but have you had independent feedback about the quality of your book? Just because your mother likes it, this doesn’t count for anything in attracting attention or climbing bestseller lists. Yes, we all love our own books, but you really need to know if other people will love it enough to buy it.Does your title attract attention? This is the most important few words of your book, and yet I see so many poorly titled books. Give your title a lot of thought.Does your cover attract attention? Especially when viewed as a thumbnail image. This is important as this is usually the first image of your book that a potential reader sees, so you really want them to click on it. Look at you book cover as a thumbnail size image. Is it attention grabbing or a fuzzy little box?Does anyone know your name? I’m a firm believer in promoting your name as an author rather than promoting the title of your book or books. Getting known is vital, so use social media to build your name recognition. Yes, it’s slow going and hard work. But nothing is going to come easy in a crowd of fifteen million new books.Use social media intelligently. Don’t fill your social media streams with posts about the kids, the dog or details about your headache or hangover. Build a professional image of yourself and use separate accounts for your friends and relations chatting. You want to sell books not inform people about cup cakes. Build a quality Twitter and Facebook Page following and concentrate on your reputation.Be patient and don’t give up after 3 months. It takes a long time to build your profile and to write enough books to be noticed. If you are expecting instant success through self publishing, I would really suggest trying something else. It’s just not going to happen.Set realistic goals. In your first year with one or two titles, don’t expect to sell many more than one or perhaps two hundred copies. The average royalties earned by self published authors is less than $500 per year, so don’t even think about getting rich quick.Market your book. Don’t sell it. Let’s face it, you don’t like getting ‘Check out my book‘ or ‘Buy my book‘ messages, so why would anyone else react differently to you? Guide your followers to you, your books and your blog and or website. Don’t just repeatedly post your Kindle page. It drives people away from you, not towards you.Write better, and better. With each book you write, you improve. So if you truly want to be a writer who will be noticed, keep writing, improving and learning.Okay, followers: please contact Derek and join his blog. Information of this value is presented constantly on his pages. Check him out here: Derek HainesEmail: derekhaines@mac.comWeb: www.derekhaines.ch
December 29, 2012
Want to Launch a Blog Tour? Have I Got a Deal For You!
My fb friend Megan McDade is the wonderful owner of the Reading Away the Days blog and an avid reader herself. One other thing she is: the Babe of the Blog Tour!
Megan will organize a blog tour for your book release, get you interviews, guest blogs and the like, and the best part? She does it all for free! Because I always want to introduce you, my friends, followers, and fellow authors, to the best services to aide in your quest toward publication and general global takeover, I am so happy Megan wrote a post to tell you all about what she does.
Launching a Blog Tour......by Megan McDade
Thanks to Samantha for inviting me over!
I am here today to tell you all about my FREE YA blog tours I offer to YA authors from all genres! I blog at http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk reading and reviewing YA books and in 2011 I organised my first ever blog tour on behalf of author Katie Johnfor her book Immortal Beloved! I really enjoyed organising and putting together the tour that when I was approached by author of The Faerie Ring,Kiki Hamilton to put together a tour for her in December of 2011 I jumped at the chance. With the success of the previous tours I decided to do them regularly and starting in January 2012 the mayhem and excitement of organising blog tours began. I have now decided to make a blog dedicated to just my blog tours called Reading Away The Days Blog Tours.
As I said before my blog tours are FREE!
Here is what I offer: *A FREE blog tour for any YA Book in any genre whether you are from a small publisher, self published, anything goes!*I can arrange a tour to last from 5-14 days*I ask that you can provide reviewers with an ebook to review and if possible be up for interviews, guest posts etc all of which can be limited to just a few.*Giveaways can be offered only if you want to
By the way, I organised a tour for Samantha herself for Waterdancer and she deemed it a success. Here is some other praise for my Reading Away The Days Tours:
Being an independent author, I only have so much time to dedicate to marketing and promotion. Megan at Reading Away the Days helped take that pressure off of my hands when she organized and hosted the blog tour for my novel, Family Magic. How fantastic! I hugely recommend her as a host. She made it fun, energetic and found me a collection of wonderful bloggers to help get the word out. I can't say enough to thank her!" Author of Family Magic, Patti Larsen
"I was very fortunate to have Megan coordinate a UK blog tour for my book, THE FAERIE RING, and she did a FANTASTIC job! Enthusiastic, professional, and an awesome marketer, you couldn’t ask for a better person to be in charge of your blog tour!" Author of The Faerie Ring, Kiki Hamilton
"Megan's kindess and professionalism made blog touring really easy. She was super-organised and fab at keeping me updated We had great fun and the tour was a super way to meet lots of lovely new bloggers and readers. I can't recommend her highly enough. " Author of Knight Trilogy, Katie John
"Megan did a fabulous job with my five day blog tour for The Keeper. I had specific requests and she made sure each one was met. I highly recommend Megan!"
Author of The Keeper , Natalie Star
"For authors seeking an excellent book tour organizer, look no further! The charming, lovely Megan at Reading Away the Days is your gal! She arranged an awesome book blog tour for my YA novel, Cicada, and I was verypleased! I got to meet so many wonderful book bloggers and readers, and her blog tours are just plain fun! Not only was the tour well-organized and fun, but I had an increase in book sales during the tour! I'd recommend Megan's book blog tours to any author! You won't be disappointed!" ~ Belle Whittington, Author of Cicada
If you would like to sign up for a tour I am taking bookings for April tours and onwards. All you have to do is head over to the blog and sign up for a tour: http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk
*P.S. If you are a YA blogger, you can sign up to be a tour host!*
Megan McDade http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com - YA review blog http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/ - FREE YA blog tours available
@Teamwolf1988
Megan will organize a blog tour for your book release, get you interviews, guest blogs and the like, and the best part? She does it all for free! Because I always want to introduce you, my friends, followers, and fellow authors, to the best services to aide in your quest toward publication and general global takeover, I am so happy Megan wrote a post to tell you all about what she does.
Launching a Blog Tour......by Megan McDade
Thanks to Samantha for inviting me over!
I am here today to tell you all about my FREE YA blog tours I offer to YA authors from all genres! I blog at http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk reading and reviewing YA books and in 2011 I organised my first ever blog tour on behalf of author Katie Johnfor her book Immortal Beloved! I really enjoyed organising and putting together the tour that when I was approached by author of The Faerie Ring,Kiki Hamilton to put together a tour for her in December of 2011 I jumped at the chance. With the success of the previous tours I decided to do them regularly and starting in January 2012 the mayhem and excitement of organising blog tours began. I have now decided to make a blog dedicated to just my blog tours called Reading Away The Days Blog Tours.
As I said before my blog tours are FREE!
Here is what I offer: *A FREE blog tour for any YA Book in any genre whether you are from a small publisher, self published, anything goes!*I can arrange a tour to last from 5-14 days*I ask that you can provide reviewers with an ebook to review and if possible be up for interviews, guest posts etc all of which can be limited to just a few.*Giveaways can be offered only if you want to
By the way, I organised a tour for Samantha herself for Waterdancer and she deemed it a success. Here is some other praise for my Reading Away The Days Tours:
Being an independent author, I only have so much time to dedicate to marketing and promotion. Megan at Reading Away the Days helped take that pressure off of my hands when she organized and hosted the blog tour for my novel, Family Magic. How fantastic! I hugely recommend her as a host. She made it fun, energetic and found me a collection of wonderful bloggers to help get the word out. I can't say enough to thank her!" Author of Family Magic, Patti Larsen
"I was very fortunate to have Megan coordinate a UK blog tour for my book, THE FAERIE RING, and she did a FANTASTIC job! Enthusiastic, professional, and an awesome marketer, you couldn’t ask for a better person to be in charge of your blog tour!" Author of The Faerie Ring, Kiki Hamilton
"Megan's kindess and professionalism made blog touring really easy. She was super-organised and fab at keeping me updated We had great fun and the tour was a super way to meet lots of lovely new bloggers and readers. I can't recommend her highly enough. " Author of Knight Trilogy, Katie John
"Megan did a fabulous job with my five day blog tour for The Keeper. I had specific requests and she made sure each one was met. I highly recommend Megan!"
Author of The Keeper , Natalie Star
"For authors seeking an excellent book tour organizer, look no further! The charming, lovely Megan at Reading Away the Days is your gal! She arranged an awesome book blog tour for my YA novel, Cicada, and I was verypleased! I got to meet so many wonderful book bloggers and readers, and her blog tours are just plain fun! Not only was the tour well-organized and fun, but I had an increase in book sales during the tour! I'd recommend Megan's book blog tours to any author! You won't be disappointed!" ~ Belle Whittington, Author of Cicada
If you would like to sign up for a tour I am taking bookings for April tours and onwards. All you have to do is head over to the blog and sign up for a tour: http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk
*P.S. If you are a YA blogger, you can sign up to be a tour host!*
Megan McDade http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com - YA review blog http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/ - FREE YA blog tours available
@Teamwolf1988
December 27, 2012
I Get My Publisher to Speak: Stephanie Taylor of Astraea Press
If you have been following this blog, you know that I am proud to be part of two nurturing and wonderful publishing families. Astraea Press is the home for my award-winning book Spellbound, as well as Ghostly and Everspell. The owner, Stephanie Taylor, was the first person to accept my manuscript and the first person to tell me I could write, at a time when not much else was going well in my life. I am indebted to her in more ways than she can ever know.
I am honored to be in her stable of authors, talented, kind and warm, all of them. Her support for projects I have that don't fit the Astraea Press vision never wavers, even if she isn't publishing them. She is just as big a cheerleader for my horror and edgier works as she is for those that her house welcomes. I am thrilled she answered my inquiry about blogging for me. I think Astraea Press is an amazing place to be, run by an amazing woman and I am excited to introduce you to her. So, friends, readers, aspiring writers, authors, and followers, please meet my publisher and my friend, Stephanie Taylor.
A Dareby Stephanie Taylorwww.astraeapress.com
Astraea began after I edited for five epublishing houses and became good friends with several of the owners from those houses. And I won’t lie. Astraea germinated because my husband and I weren’t as financially secure as we wanted to be. I didn’t know what to do, but writing had always been my passion. Thanks to some wonderful people who offered to help me get started in epublishing, Astraea was officially born in December of 2010.
In a word, I was SICK of editing erotica. I was sick of having to edit this stuff and pretend I was okay with it. That it was considered literature. I know that might ruffle some feathers but I’m just being honest. Erotica isn’t for me and I don’t feel like it’s something I could have laying around in the house and let my children see. As I researched, I realized there was a need for “sweet” publishers without the pink parts or the cursing. I wanted to be the Disney of ebooks. Still enjoy the adult relationships, but enjoy them without lying next to them in bed as they get naked. Have covers that you don’t care for your kids to see lying around. Or even have them READ.
There was two other companies that published strictly sweets, Desert Breeze Publishing and Vinspire Publishing. I had the privilege to meet the owner of Desert Breeze RT this year and she’s one amazing gal. The Vinspire owner has become a close friend of mine, too. In the coming years, I want us to ALL succeed. There’s room for all of us in the industry. I don’t want to be one of those owners who thinks my company is the only company doing anything right, or the only one putting out good books. In fact, since opening AP, I’ve discovered a HUGE amount of people who feel the same way I do and there’s a massive market for the types of books we produce. And readers are voracious. They want a good book, not a certain publisher. Check out the other two companies as well!
AP launched our first titles on February 1, 2011. We contracted our first book in 2010 as well, and I’ll forever remember thinking, “I’m going to do this. I’m really going to do this.” And you know what? We did. Not me. WE.
As the months passed by, AP was noticed. And we grew. By the end of 2011, we were a profitable company, owing no one and our editing staff grew, and we had our first USA Today bestselling author, Rachel Van Dyken. I was also fortunate enough to have a few editors work for free in the beginning and a cover artist who worked like dog and allowed me to pay her as I could. As a result, I put very little capital into my company, which helped the financial side of things tremendously when we were profitable.
On February of 2012, we celebrated our one-year anniversary. I had tons of people along the way tell me I was making a mistake. Ereading was a fad. Running a business was hard work and I couldn’t pay attention to my family or homeschool the way I planned to. I even lost a few friendships that were dear to me. But still, I was determined to at least try. Shamefully, I had tried to go to realtor school and flunked out, so I decided that wasn’t really my cup of tea. And if I failed at epublishing, then I would have my answer on that, too. ;o)
2012 was a HUGE year for Astraea. We acquired an agent, Louise Fury with L. Perkins Agency in New York and made a foreign rights deal and we also brought much of our backlist into audio. Several titles are under consideration at a huge movie production company and Astraea named our first NY Times author, Rachel Van Dyken, and another USA Today bestseller, Leah Sanders. Both are extremely talented authors and worked so hard for the title they now have. I can’t even begin to count all the #1 bestsellers we have now, either!
AP also attended its first conferences in 2012. We went to the RT convention, RomCon, and a Michigan conference. The coming year has even more in store and we look forward to meeting more authors who want to write sweet books and publish sweet romance without sacrificing sensuality or personal morals. It CAN be done and anyone who tells me it can’t hasn’t tried hard enough.
So I challenge all of you, whether you're a reader or a writer, take a chance on sweet books. TRY a sweet author or try your hand at writing one. The characters can still kiss, they can still feel things, but we keep the actual deeds to the imagination. We also don’t allow anything in our books that we wouldn’t want our children to do or say. Do we want characters to have premarital sex and make it look so wonderful that it might possibly encourage an impressionable teenager or even an adult to do it, too? Nope.
Do we want to show that drinking can take away the stress of a bad day? Nope.
Do we want to show that cursing is a good way to get a point across and insult others? Uh, no.
However, do we want to show how wonderful a relationship can be with the right person? Absolutely.Do we want to prove to readers that sensuality doesn’t always come in an erotic book? Sure.
Do we want to appeal to every audience out there? Uh, YES.
So as I always say, go ahead. Read or write a book for Astraea Press.
I dare you.
