Ryan Casey's Blog, page 6

Karl Pilkington On Writing: An Accidental Genius

I’m a huge, huge fan of Karl Pilkington.

For those who aren’t aware, Ricky Gervais’ best mate is adoringly known as “An Idiot Abroad” by the British public and beyond. He was fantastic in the Ricky Gervais Show, with Monkey News and Karl’s Diary some of his highlights, and I could pretty much listen to his ramblings all day long.

The hilarity of Karl comes from the fact that he isn’t the cleverest of chaps. He has some naive, innocent views of the world that match those of children. And he take...

Ryan Casey Winter 2014 Preview: Dead Days S4, McDone 4 & More…

Hi everyone.

Somehow, summer’s done with. Yes, my favourite season of the yearwouldjust drop by, fly past, and disappear without as much as a kiss goodbye, right? Now time for the over-romanticised autumn leaves, followed by the hell that is a snowy winter.

I’m not bitter. Promise.

Seasonal drama aside, Winter 2014 (from now to the end of the year for the sakes of this blog post) is set to be a very exciting time of the year if you’re a fan of my fiction, and a very busy time of the year if you’...

Killing Time-Killing: Ending Smartphone Addiction

I have an addiction.

It’s an addiction that I know I’m not alone in having. It’s an addiction that is clear to see at family gatherings, on public transport, even in cinemas and on nights out. It’s an addiction that can affect anyone of any age. It’s an addiction that can cause sleepless nights, headaches, broken hearts.

I’m talking about smartphone addiction.

I’m in my twenties, which means I’m living right in the midst of an information-crazy generation. I grew up with MSN and MySpace through...

Dead Days Season Three Now Available!

Hi everyone,

Great news for Dead Days fans — Season Three is now available to purchase!

Just head through one of the links below to get started with the gripping new chapter in Riley and co’s journey.

Kindle – http://smarturl.it/DeadDaysS3Kindle

Nook – http://bit.ly/1sG8YTc

iBooks -http://bit.ly/1kGtuAo

Google Play – http://bit.ly/1ox77OT

Smashwords – http://bit.ly/VmKGPJ

*Kobo readers only: thisstores take a little longer to publish. If you read on Kobo & don’t want to wait 24-48 hours, please use t...

Two Years In Publishing

I woke up this morning like I do every morning — groggy, thirsty, and wishing I could stay in bed a little longer.

Then I realised it is my second anniversary in publishing and I felt less groggy for a few seconds before rolling over and going back to sleep.

In all honesty though, today is a pretty cool day to reflect. Not to blow my own trumpet, but I can’t believe how far I’ve come in two very short years since the publication of my debut short story, Something in the Cellar. In fact, the bri...

Ebook Pricing for 2014/15: A Simple Guide

Ah, yes. That time of year again.

It goes without saying that ebook pricing is one of the most contested, debated, and downright despised topics by the majority of writer-publishers today. Do I price low to attract readers to my series? Price high to maximise income? Price somewhere in between? The questions never end, and in truth, I find myself asking them each day.

The real truth is this: there is no right or wrong ebook pricing method. Methods are all dependent on your own personal goals. W...

A Letter to Readers Regarding Kindle Unlimited

Dear Readers,

Wow, absolutely crazy day at the office/desk today. I’m sure some of you will have heard about Amazon’s new Kindle Unlimited program that just launched earlier. In case you haven’t, Kindle Unlimited is a “Netflix for Books” type service, giving readers unlimited access to a library of over 600,000 ebooks and audiobooks for a flat fee of $9.99 per month.

While this is great for readers, and good on paper for authors, there is a pitfall: Amazon require three months of Kindle exclusi...

Kindle Unlimited: Pros & Cons of a ‘Netflix for Books’

It was only a matter of time.

Since 2012, I’ve been predicting the rise of a Spotify or Netflix for eBooks. I think I said something along the lines of, “a major player will rise within the next three to four years,” but don’t quote me on that.

It seems it took less than two years for that to come into fruition.

Amazon are currently testing a new feature called Kindle Unlimited. And believe me, if it takes off, it’s going to change the world for readers and authors.

Again.

A little info on the sup...

How To Plan A Novel: A Pantser’s Guide

Yes, I’m back.

After several months away from non-fiction blogging, it had to take something really special to bring me back. And while there’s a whole host of things I could say about the current Amazon/Hachette war occurring, instead I’m going to focus on something more lasting: the craft of writing. Or more specifically, the act of planning for pantsers.

Full disclosure: up until 2011, before I got to work on my first novel, I was a pantser. As in, I never planned ahead. I loved the act of c...

Dead Days Season 3: Exclusive Preview Q&A

Note: mild spoilers to follow for people who have not read Season Two.

Dead Days is returning this August, and Season 3 promises to ramp up the tension for each of the survivors.The groups are split up, stuck in horrible situations, and emotionally damaged from the events of the Season 2 finale. Add on the fact that a new threat is lurking, and Season 3 promises to be the scariest yet. Ryan Casey (me, who’s doing as good a job as possible to speak in third person right now) gives us some persp...