Jessica Therrien's Blog, page 2

2018 San Diego SCWC

Over the weekend, Acorn Publishing attended the Southern California Writers' Conference in San Diego. 



You've probably already heard me rave about this event, but I love it. I'm a little biased. My business partner, Holly, and I met there nearly ten years ago. We were newbie authors with no idea what to do with ourselves or our freshly printed manuscripts. We've come a long way since then. Not only have we had our own successes at being authors, but we've created a company that helps benefit other writers. In an industry that is so negative and...well, soul-crushing...when it comes to agent rejections, publisher rejections, editorial critique, beta readers pointing out all the flaws in our work, it's nice to be a part of something that uplifts, encourages, and enables authors to get their books out into the world.

I'm excited to say that our tiny acorn of a company is growing into a mighty oak. Before the conference we were already starting to see a steady number of submissions and inquiries. Since the conference, things have been a little...explosive. We are so excited to work with all the authors we met and fell in love with at the conference! And to think, it's only FEBRUARY! 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for Acorn Publishing. Onward and upward!! Write on people.

UPCOMING EVENTS
2018
WonderConMarch 23-April 25Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim, CA
LA Times Festival of BooksApril 21 & 22USC CampusLos Angeles, CA
San Diego Festival of BooksAugust 25Liberty StationPoint Loma, CA​​​OC Children's Book FestivalOctober 1Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA

Touch of Cinnamon Release Day!

My friend, Bethany Lopez​, has a New Release today!A Touch of Cinnamon, Three Sisters Catering, book 2.
For the past year, Tasha has thrown herself into her catering business with her sisters, but she’s been keeping a secret. The hot, moody owner of Prime Beef is the man she left behind in college...the man she thought she’d never see again. He’s also the only man she’s ever loved.  For the past year, Jericho Smythe has been waging a war with himself. Does he want to know why Natasha broke his heart and left without looking back? Hell yes. But he’s paralyzed by the glimpses he’s gotten of her at Three Sisters Catering and he hasn’t been ready for a confrontation.
Neither of them are content with their lives, but so much has happened since those stolen moments in college. Can the right amount of spice remind them of the love they once shared? A Touch of Cinnamon may be all they need to give Tasha and Jericho back the richness they’ve been lacking.


AMAZON | iBooks | NOOK | KOBO | GoodReads

Don't Forget, Book 1, A Pinch of Salt, is On Sale for $0.99 for a limited time only!

Upcoming 12 Days of Author Giveaways!

Hey readers! If you'd like to partake in 12 Days of  Author Giveaways, you can join author Bethany Lopez's group on Facebook called Bethany's Bombshells. It should be super fun!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE GROUP AND TAKE PART!I may or may not be a featured author ;)

Release Day!! - CHOOSING HOPE by Holly Kammier

A broken marriage.A love affair.A lie that changes it all…Hope Sullivan has been with the same man since her freshman year of college. She knows her marriage has its cracks, but she doesn’t realize how much resentment she has buried, or chosen to blame on herself, that is until a family tragedy forces her to reevaluate her long held beliefs.When her husband isn’t there for her, Hope’s first love steps in and offers her a way out. Adrian, appears to be everything her husband isn’t.He’s sexy, strong, and fit. He listens to her, sympathizes with her, and makes her feel valued.  Best of all, Adrian lives for spending time with his kids.Hope’s affair is just the beginning. Her journey inward will require untangling her complicated past and surviving an astonishing revelation.Her lover is not who he pretends to be.She’s searching for her happily-ever-after, and no matter how painful the journey, she’ll find what she’s been looking for all along—the chance to choose Hope.A spin-off from the best-selling novel, Kingston Court.Kindle or paperback on Amazon | Nook on Barnes&Noble | Kobo★★★★★  "Choosing Hope is a harrowing story of passion and deceit, the things we do for love and the rabbit holes we tumble into chasing elusive fairy-tale endings. Dark around the edges with a shocking twist I didn't see coming, this is the kind of book you'll be passing around to your friends so you can talk about it together. Holly Kammier delivers romance, suspense, and a strong, smart heroine who turns out to be nobody's victim. Don't miss this one!" 
- KAT ROSS,BEST-SELLINGAUTHOR of THE MIDNIGHT SEA
  ★★★★★ "Contemporary family drama and dysfunction at its very best.The well-drawn, deeply authentic characters, stayed in my thoughts long after I finished the book. I highly recommend this enthralling, inspirational read, and look forward to more from this author." 
- CAROLINE MITCHELL, USA TODAY BESTSELLING THRILLER AUTHOR

★★★★★ "In her riveting follow-up to Kingston Court, Holly Kammier's Choosing Hope once again takes us behind the façade of a perfect life to a crumbling core where the choices we make turn us into our own worst enemies - - or challenge us to rise above our inner conflicts to become our own saviors in this life affirming, passionate adventure that is anything but predictable." 
- MATTHEW J. PALLAMARY,AWARD WINNING AUTHOR of LAND WITHOUT EVIL, and SPIRIT MATTERS     ★★★★★ "When it comes to love, one of the toughest things any of us can do is to follow our heart, even when to follow it means to upset the delicate balance of the life we've known. There's only one thing harder: admitting that your choice was the wrong one. Disastrously wrong. Choosing Hope is the gripping novel that will resonate with anyone who has chosen passion over safety, or wondered what it would be like to make that choice. Well-paced, deeply relatable, and wise in the ways of the human heart, Holly Kammier's page-turner is one you won't just not want to put down - it's one you'll talk about and share."
-HUGO SHWYZER,CONTRIBUTOR to JEZEBEL, THE ATLANTIC, SALON, and CO-AUTHOR of BEAUTY, DISRUPTED: A MEMOIR, A BIGORAPHY OF SUPERMODEL CARRÉ OTTIS

MY PUBLISHING JOURNEY: Author Holly Kammier

Have you ever wondered how authors get their start?
How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?

This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there:  How did your book become a book?

Visit the full catalogue of "My Publishing Journey" interviews HERE.


Today's Featured Author
Holly Kammier
www.hkammier.com
Author of KINGSTON COURT & CHOOSING HOPE


AGENTS
Do you have an agent? No.
How many queries did you send?None.
If you don't have an agent, is it by choice? I decided to go straight to hybrid publishing rather than shop around for an agent and then stand idle as my agent shopped my manuscript to traditional publishing houses.  

HYBRID PUBLISHING
Why did you choose hybrid publishing? First and foremost, I didn’t want to wait the minimum of two years it would take to see my book brought to market through a traditional publishing house. From everything I have read, heard, and experienced, the chances of a non-traditionally published novelist getting her manuscript picked up by a big five publishing house and then having  that publishing house making her book one of their priorities for marketing and endorsements, was slim at best.
I wouldn’t accept a book deal from a smaller traditional publishing house because I don’t believe they could do a better job of editing and marketing my book than I can. I also didn’t want to waste months or possibly years waiting for a big deal that wasn’t even remotely a guarantee.
Besides that, even if I did get picked up by one of the big 5, my manuscript would have gone through changes at the hands of an agent and the publishing house. Choosing Hope would have been subject to modifications I may or may not have felt comfortable with, and I would have lost a large percentage of my work’s profits.

I just didn’t see enough value in waiting, making changes I may or may not feel comfortable with, and giving up the rights to my work. Choosing Hope is deeply personal to me. Three highly experienced, professional content editors, edited Choosing Hope, and I felt confident in the quality of my writing. I knew what I wanted for the cover design. Publishing my work on my terms was my best option.  
What do you like about your publisher?I have all the control. I don't have to give a cut of my earnings to a publisher and/or agent. I still get the support and guidance from a team of professionals.
Did your publisher produce a hardcover of your book or just paperback?I have the option to do both. I plan on doing a hardcover and paperback for Choosing Hope.
Did your publisher create an audiobook for you? This is a also an available format, and yes, I plan on doing an audio book for Choosing Hope as well.
MARKETING
What marketing tactics worked for you? With my first novel, Kingston Court, Bookbub, Facebook, and Book Festivals ended up selling the majority of my books. I plan to use all three marketing tools with Choosing Hope in addition to signing up with an experienced online book touring company several larger review services that offer readers the opportunity to read Choosing Hope for free in exchange for a book review.  
ADVICE
What lessons have you learned? Any advice for those about to go down your path?
I learned so many lessons along the way, that my writing bestie, Jessica Therrien, and I, formed a hybrid-publishing company last year to guide other writers along a successful publication journey, and offer their work alongside our award-winning, bestselling authors, through our imprint, Acorn Publishing. I’m so proud of our collective and the quality work we are putting out into the market. 

Any advice for those about to go down your path?
Three things: Edit, edit, and edit some more. A picture is worth a thousand words and in the case of book covers, a great picture is worth thousands of sales. Lastly, develop and implement a strong marketing campaign well in advance of your book release, and make sure you continue marketing your book long after its release.
Publisher Details:
Publisher Name: Acorn Publishing
Website: www.AcornPublishingLLC.com
Is an agent required to submit: No
Are they accepting all genres: Yes



AVAILABLE 10-15-17

A broken marriage.
A love affair.
A lie that changes it all…

Hope Rains Sullivan is living the dream—a successful husband, two beautiful young boys, and a charming home in Northern California. She should be happy. She almost convinced herself she was, until Adrian came along.

Adrian, appears to be everything her husband isn’t. He works with his hands, and is even willing to use them in a fight. He’s sexy, strong and fit, with warm brown skin that alludes to his Spanish background. Best of all, he lives for spending time with his kids. Feeling alone in her marriage, Adrian offers her a way out.

Hope’s affair is just the beginning. Her journey inward will require untangling her complicated past and surviving an astonishing revelation. Her lover is not who he pretends to be. 

She’s searching for her happily-ever-after, and no matter how painful the journey, she’ll find what she’s been looking for all along—the chance to choose Hope.


AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

MY PUBLISHING JOURNEY: Author Jennifer Anne Davis

Have you ever wondered how authors get their start?
How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?

This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there:  How did your book become a book?

Visit the full catalogue of "My Publishing Journey" interviews HERE.
Today's Featured Author
Jennifer Anne Davis

www.jenniferannedavis.com
Author of THE TRUE REIGN SERIES & REIGN OF SECRETS


AGENTS
I started this route. I sent out hundreds of query letters. I had a lot of interest that ultimately ended in rejections. When I look back, I realize I didn’t know what I was doing at the time.

PUBLISHING
After a ton of rejections from agents, I queried publishers and I had a lot of success. For my first book, I went with a small publisher. We had the same vision for the book and I clicked with the people I’d be working with. I’m glad I went this route as it allowed me to understand the world of publishing.
For my second book, I knew I needed a bigger publisher who was more marketing savvy. I queried a series and was picked up by a newer publisher. Their books had fantastic covers, they publish a lot of books quickly, and they were eager to get my books into the hands of readers. This was the best decision I ever made. I really learned the ins and outs of publishing and I sold a ton of books.
I decided for my next series, I wanted a bigger publisher. I queried, found a publisher that looked fantastic. Great covers, great rankings, in stores, etc. They appeared perfect. I signed a three book series with this publisher and it was the worst decision I ever made. I am not allowed to say anything about this publisher. However, my advice is to ALWAYS talk to other authors at that publishing house. Ask them how editing went, if they’re being paid, if they’re happy there. I was so caught up in what this publisher could do for me, that I never bothered to speak to other authors there. If I had done that, I may not have signed with them.
After that awful experience, I decided to self-publish my next book. I was originally going to sign with the publisher I liked. However, after a lot of thought and consideration, I realized they couldn’t do anything for me that I couldn’t do for myself. I think a lot of new authors think the publisher will be out there pushing your book for you. And the truth is, the author is the one doing most, if not all, of the work. Since I had a following, I knew I could self-publish and do it well.  

MARKETING

I hire a cover artist, formatter, and editor. I don’t skimp on these elements. If I want my books to compete with other traditionally published books, I want to make sure my book looks/sounds/feels like traditionally published books. I publish via IngramSpark which allows me to publish in paperback and hardback. I upload all ebooks myself in order to maintain higher royalty amounts. I have opened my own publishing house that I publish under. I also have audiobooks through ACX. I love self-publishing. I find that a lot of the errors I have encountered with publishers (book not being for sale on the right day, wrong files being uploaded, wrong price, etc.) are no longer issues I have to deal with.

ADVICE

Don’t be afraid to self-publish. And know the first book is always the hardest to sell. The best thing you can do is to keep writing. Once you have a few books out in the world, marketing becomes a lot easier. Don’t give up! There are a lot of author communities out there (on FB etc) that offer support. Join these groups, help one another out, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Within these pages lie kingdoms with castles and princes who fall in love with fair maidens, but make no mistake-this is no fairytale.

His father’s kingdom is on the brink of upheaval and at the center of it all is an ordinary girl who could be the key to its undoing. When faced with the ultimate choice, will he choose the girl he’s falling in love with or the kingdom he has sworn to protect?

An ordinary girl with an extraordinary past. All she wants is to be free. What she doesn’t realize is that freedom comes with a price she can’t afford to pay. She’s forced to accept the proposal of a prince she despises, even though her heart belongs to someone else . . . his brother.

Seventeen-year-old Rema lives in a brutal kingdom where travel between regions is forbidden, people are starving, and looking at someone the wrong way can mean death. Nineteen-year-old Darmik is the king’s son and Commander of the King’s Army. He spends his days roving the island, doing his father’s bidding and trying to maintain control over the people.

When a chance encounter throws Rema and Darmik together, they share an instantaneous connection, but any sort of relationship between them is strictly forbidden. Darmik’s brother, the Crown Prince, notices Darmik’s interest in Rema and, in a calculated, political move, blackmails her. Faced with an impossible choice, Rema is forced to sacrifice her heart in order to save her family.

As Rema is taken to the palace with the Crown Prince, Darmik confronts the growing rumor that a legitimate blood heir to the throne exists and is trying to overthrow Darmik’s family. In Darmik’s quest to hunt down and kill the threat, he discovers that nothing is as it seems. Locked in the king’s castle, Rema finds herself a key player in a massive power struggle. When Darmik shows up, she’s not sure if she can trust him. The line between friends, enemies, and loyalty becomes blurred. As truths are unlocked, Rema understands that she just might be the key to finding the rightful heir and restoring peace to the kingdom… if she can manage to stay alive long enough. 


AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE  | GOODREADS

YA Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt! What is that? It's basically a HUGE blog hop. You enter giveaways and collect clues for the grand prize. But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PURPLE TEAM!
                                                 SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the purple team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
THE GRAND PRIZE  FOR TEAM PURPLE IS ALL OF THESE BOOKS!


SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I am hosting Lea Nolan on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt!

Lea Nolan is a USA Today bestselling author who writes books for young adults featuring bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history. She also pens smart, witty contemporary stories for adults filled with head-swooning, heart-throbbing, sweep-you-off your feet romance.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, she loves the water far too much to live inland. With her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, she resides in Maryland where she scarfs down crab cakes and bakes ugly birthday cakes.
Visit Lea's Website!www.leahkatewrite.com

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Be careful what you search for...

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever.


AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS


~*An Excerpt From CONJURE*
I sprinkle the powder over the glowing chips. The herb mixture ignites as it hits the hot charcoal, spitting and crackling like tiny beads of gunpowder. A cloud of gray-green smoke billows up from the center of the pan.The sky darkens as the clouds shift and converge, blocking out the sun.Miss Delia thrusts Jack’s baseball cap at me. “Quick, fish out your brother’s hair and add it to the pan.”I tug the jet-black strand from the inside of the brim. It’s straight and coarse, almost like a strand of wire, and way thicker than mine. Definitely Jack’s. As I toss it onto the coals, Miss Delia grasps my hand and chants, “As dawn breaks night, and heat melts ice, turn back this curse and restore Jack’s life.”A blast of wind barrels across the backyard, whipping the rear of the house and rattling the windows. A ghostly moan surrounds the bottle tree.A flash bursts in the pan, and a fireball leaps into the air, blowing the powdered mixture all over the kitchen and us. A split second later, the flames collapse on themselves, retracting back into the pan with a loud sucking sound that smothers all the heat. Even the charcoal has stopped glowing.Miss Delia starts, then leans toward the quiet pan, holding her hand above the coals that blazed just a second ago. Her eyes are fixed in stunned confusion. I lift my hand and hold it next to hers.There’s no residual heat. It’s completely cool. Miss Delia pokes a tentative finger at a charcoal chip. It disintegrates into a heap of ash.Suddenly a loud and ferocious bark booms from outside Miss Delia’s kitchen window. Deep and gravelly, it’s almost more of a roar than a bark. The yowl repeats, brutal in its persistence, fillingmy stomach with dread. I spring off my stool and race to the window to see what’s outside.A giant black dog with long, glossy fur and electric yellow eyes stands in the middle of Miss Delia’s herb garden, howling its enormous head off. It’s at least as big as a pony, but I’m sure it’s adog.             Some kind of crazy-eyed, half-Newfoundland, half-Doberman beast.

And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Lea Nolan, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 31. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the purple team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author! https://jennykellerford.wordpress.com/Tweet #YASH

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SURPRISE FLASH SALE! Children of the Gods Boxed Set $0.99

Hi friends!I decided to do a surprise FLASH SALE! Because...Why not? Get my entire CHILDREN OF THE GODS trilogy for $0.99! Click the image below to check it out.Hugs,Jess 

CARRY ME HOME Release Day Giveaway!

Happy Book Birthday to ME! CARRY ME HOME is AVAILABLE TODAY for $0.99!


To celebrate the release of my book I am hosting a HUUUGE GIVEAWAY! The giveaway includes nearly 50 books, all from different authors. Keep scrolling for prize info and how to enter the giveaway.


~*PRIZES*~PRIZE #1 (5 winners)WINNERS of this prize will take home one of FIVE 10 Book Bundles.
*Each 10 book bundle is guaranteed to have at least 1 paperback book.



PRIZE #2A signed hardcover ofCARRY ME HOME
PRIZE #3A signed hardcover ofOPPRESSION (Children of the Gods #1)

~*HOW TO ENTER*~*AKA...the hugest RaffleCopter EVER*Support an author by subscribing to their newsletter, liking them on Facebook or following their Twitter account. You can literally follow each author and EARN UP TO 45 CHANCES TO WIN!

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MY PUBLISHING JOURNEY: Author Alex J. Cavanaugh

Have you ever wondered how authors get their start?
How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?

This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there:  How did your book become a book?

Visit the full catalogue of "My Publishing Journey" interviews HERE.


Today's Featured Author
Alex J. Cavanaugh
www.alexjcavanaugh.com
Author of THE CASSA SERIES



I never set out to be an author, but after rewriting an old story, my wife prodded me to seek publication. I queried publishers first since that was my best shot and landed one. After my first book came out, fans (and my publisher) wanted more. I ended up writing three more books and saw several of them become best sellers and award winners.
AGENTS
Do you have an agent? No.
How many queries did you send? Over twenty-five to publishers.

If you don't have an agent is it by choice?
Yes, I knew I had a better chance landing a publisher, so I didn’t even try.



PUBLISHING
How did you (or your agent) find your publisher?
I just made a list. Started big and worked my way down. I looked at other genres besides science fiction as well and that’s what helped me land my publisher.

How long did it take to find a publisher?
From the time I started querying to the day I signed a contract was somewhere around eight months.

What do you like about your publisher?
Personal attention, easy to work with, and they’re willing to let me screw up.

What do you dislike about your publisher?
They are small, so there is less marketing than with the really big publishers.

Did you or your agent hit any snags along the way, and if so how did you overcome them?
In the beginning, I didn’t have an Internet presence. I got one really quick though!

Did traditional publishing get your book(s) in Barnes & Noble or other bookstores? Yes.

Did your publisher produce a hardcover of your book or just paperback?
Just paperback.

Did your publisher create an audiobook for you?
Yes! There are audio books for all four novels and the boxed set.

MARKETING
What marketing tactics worked for you?
Blogging worked best. I tried to do different things with each book - scavenger hunt with images, one question interviews spread across hundreds of blogs - stuff like that. Just starting the Insecure Writer’s Support Group made an impact on book sales.

If you are traditionally published, what did your publisher do to market your book?
They sent out a lot of review copies, placed some ads, and did a lot of marketing with science fiction conventions.


ADVICE
Looking back would you do anything differently?
I would’ve gotten my butt online much sooner. And I would’ve started a newsletter.

What lessons have you learned? Any advice for those about to go down your path?
Be open to trying just about anything. And don’t use social media just to advertise. It’s all about connecting with others.

Can you provide contacts and/or resources?
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press, LLC http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/
Audiobook: Narrator - Michael Burnette https://www.facebook.com/michaeljburnette/

AVAILABLE NOW!


To pilot the fleet s finest ship Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard. Much to Byron s chagrin the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential. As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?


AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS