S.A. Reid's Blog, page 8

Simon & Schuster Joins Forces With Author Solutions To Rip Off Writers

Simon & Schuster has launched a self-publishing operation, Archway Publishing, contracting one of the most disreputable players in the business to run the show: Author Solutions.

We’ll get to that distasteful link-up in a second, but first let’s have a look at what Simon & Schuster are offering prospective customers (i.e. writers).

Fiction packages start at $1,999 and go up to $14,999.

Gratitude

This is a tough post to write, because I have so very much to be grateful for. So here, in no order, with endless omissions, are a few of the people and things on my list:

Readers and Fans of BLUE MURDER

As some of your know, until April of this year I worked full time at a hospital. Writing novels was something I did in my spare time, and it took me much longer to deliver Lord & Lady Hetheridge book #2 than expected. I worried that readers who enjoyed Ice Blue had given up and moved on–after all, there are plenty of new mysteries released every day. But the readers hadn’t given up, and their warm embrace of Blue Murder changed my life, allowing me to write full time. Thank you so much.

Longtime Friends

Have you met my friend Rosemary O’Malley? Although I started writing stories sometime around age seven or eight, it wasn’t until I met Rosemary (age eleven) that writing became a serious endeavor. What about Mary Ellen Wofford? She’s an author of short fiction who advocated quite fiercely for my second unpublished novel, All Our Yesterdays. Through Mary Ellen’s honest critiques, I learned more from writing (and rewriting, and rewriting) that book than almost all my other mentoring experiences combined. And do you know Jenx Byron, who talks about books at Imaqulotta’s Irreverent Book Blog? I wouldn’t dream of showing a project to the world without showing her first. I can’t imagine a world without Jenx.

Amazon

Oh, Amazon. It’s impossible for me to express just how much the KDP platform has helped me. For anyone who feels like I’m playing favorites, please understand–my books are currently available everywhere I can place them, so if you own a Nook or you prefer to shop at OmniLit or whatever, I’m there for you. But no Thanksgiving list of thanks from me would be complete without mentioning Amazon specifically.

The Eclective

To my fellow indies in the Eclective: Heather Adkins, M. Edward McNally, Tara West, Shea MacLeod, Alan Nayes, RG Porter and Pj Jones — thanks so much for letting me join in!

Indie Authors

I’ve learned so much in Cheryl Bradshaw’s Facebook group Indie Writers Unite. I’ve met people who’ve taught me so much and helped me in so many ways, including (but by all means not limited to) Christine DeMaio-Rice, Greg James, Gary Alan Ruse, Mike Cooley, Red Tash, David Gaughran, Sarah Woodbury and Danielle Blanchard, also known as Elle Chardou. It’s always a master class with you folks, and I just hope to someday pay it forward.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Filed under: Blue Murder, Emma Jameson Tagged: gratitude, thanksgiving

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Published on November 22, 2012 08:38

A Peek at Page 1 of SOMETHING BLUE

Chapter One

Anthony Hetheridge, chief superintendent for New Scotland Yard and ninth baron of Wellegrave, would walk down the aisle in three weeks. The day chosen, the twenty-eighth of December, was denounced by most invitees as too soon: a mere two months after his subordinate, Detective Sergeant Kate Wakefield, accepted his proposal. Not to mention unsuitably close to Christmas! The venue, Hetheridge’s own home in Mayfair, was condemned as much too small for a guest list of over two hundred. Would the well-wishers be expected to squat in any unguarded space, such as the kitchen or washroom, or else mill about in Wellegrave House’s walled back garden?

The wedding’s designated hour, five o’clock in the evening, was equally derided. So the ceremony would begin in twilight and end in absolute darkness, except for strings of white fairy lights in the trees or some other such nonsense? Holding a wedding at the dinner hour simply wasn’t done. Was the bride, reputedly raised by wolves in the East End’s most savage corner, to blame for these bizarre social lapses? Or was Hetheridge himself, who’d recently celebrated his sixtieth birthday, showing signs of early dementia?

Although no stranger to controversy, at least not where his blue-blooded connections were concerned, the vitriol unleashed by his wedding plans surprised even Hetheridge. Around the Yard, men without a family to go home to—at least not a family they cared to spend time with—groused that Hetheridge and DS Wakefield would both “disappear” just after Boxing Day, leaving the less fortunate to sweep up.

“Right, well, what’s a little thing like murders and shootings and drugs, when true love’s on the line?” Detective Inspector Vic Jackson was overheard to complain. “We’ll just have the muddle through, boys. Rank has its privileges. As does a perfect pair of lips, hey?”

Except DI Jackson hadn’t said “lips.” And Hetheridge, catching wind of the conversation as he was surely meant to, had been forced to remind himself that seizing and pummeling a fellow detective was considered incorrect. Especially in today’s new, improved, more egalitarian New Scotland Yard…

Filed under: Emma Jameson, Lord and Lady Hetheridge Series, Something Blue Tagged: emma jameson, lord & lady hetheridge, something blue

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Published on November 21, 2012 14:17

Why I Unpublished My Self-Published Novel

Reblogged from Catherine, Caffeinated:

A couple of months ago, I quietly unpublished the only novel I’ve self-published to date, Results Not Typical.

Maybe you noticed. Maybe you didn’t. You probably didn’t, and that’s a good thing, as I’ll explain in a minute. But I know it seems like a weird thing to do, so let me explain my reasons behind it.

The Story of…

RIP Civility

Reblogged from Author Jolea M. Harrison:

ci·vil·i·ty/səˈvilitē/

Noun:

1. Formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.

2.Polite remarks used in formal conversation.

Synonyms:

courtesy – politeness – comity – urbanity – complaisance

I was looking at a picture today on Facebook, a perfectly innocuous picture. There shouldn’t have been anything controversial about it and yet, the comments posted about said picture were vitriolic, ugly, nasty and even threatening.

Alisa Tangredi’s Blog DARK, WITH A SIDE OF DARK…

… featured me today, along with the amazing Cheryl Bradshaw and the fabulous Christine DeMaio-Rice. Check it out here!

Filed under: Blue Murder, Books, Emma Jameson Tagged: Alisa Tangredi, Cheryl Bradshaw, Christine DeMaio-Rice

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Published on November 16, 2012 12:02

Movie Mention: Wreck-It Ralph and Arthur Christmas

No real spoilers here, just a shout-out to two animated movies that most adults will enjoy as much as their kids.

Ralph at the Bad-Anon support group for video game villains.

Wreck-It Ralph is the story of, well, Ralph, a video game baddie who has been smashing things in his Donkey Kong-like world for thirty years. He performs his tasks perfectly, enabling the game’s hero, Fix-It Felix, Jr., to repair the damage and save the day. Trouble is, when the arcade closes and the game’s digital denizens retire to their homes, the citizens of Niceville want nothing to do with Ralph. He’s a pariah, expected to live in the city dump without a friend in the world. After thirty years, Ralph needs a change. So he decides to travel through the power cord nexus and jump games, hoping to distinguish himself as a good person and win some love.

Ralph and Vanellope.

As you may expect, Wreck-It Ralph is a visual treat, clever and well-thought out, full of video game in-jokes. But the best reason to see it, in my view, is the voice acting. shines as Ralph; , never a favorite of mine, did great as Vanellope, a fellow outcast. was terrific as Calhoun, a take-no-prisoners warrior, and (best known as Kenneth from 30 Rock) was perfect as Felix. Their voice work was so exceptional, the movie would have been almost as good as a standalone audio program … and that’s really saying something.

Arthur, Grandsanta and an elderly reindeer decide to take the old sleigh out of mothballs.

Arthur Christmas, released last year, is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. It comes from the British animation company Aardman, known for high quality and comic genius. (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run). It’s the story of Arthur, youngest male in the Claus dynasty and completely disregarded by the entire North Pole “machine,” as it’s become, until he learns a child was missed during his father’s yearly run. In this modern age, the sleigh has turned into a quasi-spaceship, virtually all presents are delivered by elves, and Arthur’s dad Santa is just a figurehead for an increasingly soulless operation. According to Arthur’s hyper-masculine, militaristic brother Steve, missing one child is statistically irrelevant. So bumbling Arthur, with the help of his Grandsanta, a rogue elf and an elderly reindeer, decides to deliver the forgotten present himself.

I loved Arthur Christmas. I won’t lie, I watched it because does the voice of Arthur, and of course he’s wonderful. But the other voice actors are also tremendous, including (famous here in the U.S. as Dr. House) and. Nighy’s portrayal of Grandsanta — cantankerous, conniving and possessed of some very backward notions when it comes to elves — is genius. Definitely a movie I’ll be adding to the yearly roster.

Filed under: Movies Tagged: arthur christmas, wreck-it ralph

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Published on November 12, 2012 09:32

Welcome to Faerie, Mr Darcy.

Reblogged from Shéa MacLeod, Author - Everything's Better With Dragons:

Ladies and Gents, my apologies for the late post, but things have been a bit nuts this morning. I have for you another fabulous Montlake author sharing her thoughts on romance and the paranormal. Please welcome Delle Jacobs!

Thanks for having me here, Shéa! It’s great to see you on the Montlake author list!

Delle Jacobs

I wasn’t always a lover of romance.

Vermilion Lakes Sunrise

Reblogged from Canadian Hiking Photography:

To buy prints that will be shipped to you, you can either click on the following link or on the images themselves

http://patricklatter.smugmug.com/Travel/Vermilion-Lakes-Sunrise/26365670_7qHvjq

Directions

Vermilion Lakes is a short 5 minute drive NW of Banff. Take Mount Norquay Rd from downtown towards Highway 1. Then turn left at Vermilion Lakes Drive.

Background

After nearly 4 weekends in a row of cloudy weather and missed sunrises, it finally came together this past Saturday morning.

Witch Flame is here!

Reblogged from tarawestauthor:

I’m very excited to announce the release of my novelette, Witch Flame, the prelude to my Keepers of the Stones saga. This dark romantic fantasy might not be suitable for younger teens. Get your copy on Kindle now! Nook, iTunes and Smashwords versions coming soon. Links will be posted as they become available. The book is currently .99 on Kindle. …