K. Victoria Chase's Blog, page 4

Help An Author Out. Lend Books!

Have a kindle? Did you know you can lend your books to other eager, hungry readers? Don’t deprive the masses of great fiction. If you come across a book a friend or family member should read, just lend it to them for FREE!

Here are the 3 easy steps:

​​​​​1. Go to “Manage Your Contents and Devices” in your Amazon account
2. Click “Loan this title” in the Actions menu
3. Enter the recipient’s personal email address and press “send”

Here is Amazon’s short video about lending the ebook. The borrower doesn’t have to own a kindle. Isn’t that great?

That’s it! I hope you start lending those great books to friends you know. Help an author!

You Won’t Find Readers on Twitter

Source: http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2016/the-authors-three-step-test-for-sellability/

This is a fascinating article on how effective social media platforms are at selling your books. It touches on the psychology behind selling, and which platform best lends itself to that practice.

In my own experience, Twitter is the worst. All those tweet parties I’ve participated in, the hundreds and hundreds of tweets about other authors’ books taking over my feed (okay, that may be an exaggeration, but it sure seems like it). I’ve had to create a new Twitter account–@NatHairAuthor–to get a clear feed of what I want to read. I rarely follow authors. I don’t even post about my books. I retweet interesting peeps, update my writing/editing status, and tweet industry news.

Basically, selling can be viewed through a six-part funnel. First, potential readers are introduced to you, and are consistently made aware of books. Then through their own research, readers find social proof (word-of-mouth) about your book. Readers will reach that coveted purchase point, where a decision to buy is made, and then they are converted to paying readers.

The best site for this process: FACEBOOK

Although YouTube is better overall at conversions, FACEBOOK is king at introducing readers to you and then guiding them through the process with a highly optimized author page.

The worst site: Twitter

I’m shocked, shocked to discover you can’t really sell on Twitter. Nope. It’s great for awareness and research, but you’ll have a better chance at finding readers through LinkedIn even if you can only convert 2% to Twitter’s 4%.

Facebook’s conversion rate: 10%

If I happen to come across a tweet of a book by an author I know on Twitter (and I mean one I converse with regularly, which is only a handful), then I’ll retweet. Authors, don’t be offended if I don’t follow you. If you unfollow me because I didn’t follow you back, no worries; I’m looking to tweet about you and not your books.

It’s a great article and worth the read.

#EditTip 1: Hire an Editor

Just do it.

The other day, I was browsing the samples of a certain romance sub-genre (published by small presses). These books were garnering five-star reviews with the occasional one or two. Lower raters complained the novels were riddled with grammatical and story development issues.

They were right.

In the short samples, I read the misuse of the word “shown” for “shone,” two point-of-view shifts in a four-sentence paragraph, errant commas (which I understand since mine aren’t so great), cliché phrases (“…put her hands over her face and cried a river.”), multiple curse words in a “Christian”-labeled book, and action tags in place of dialogue tags.

At least passive voice wasn’t an issue.

One could argue that these technical details won’t detract from a reader’s experience. Others would say that the romance genre isn’t known for its literary masterpieces, and romance readers wouldn’t know what one is anyway.

Neither argument negates the necessity of producing a quality product for paying customers. I’ve been reading an increasing number of reviews where readers state they tired of seeing these same issues in books. They are reaching a breaking point over the lack of a fundamental business practice.

I know editing can be expensive. One-star reviews can be expensive too.

Hire an editor. Make your book shine. Readers expect quality and writers should give it to them.

Cover Reveal~OFF TRACK

If you follow me on Facebook, then you’ve already seen the cover for my latest romance, Off Track, A Virginia Justice Novella. Maggie and Brandon are back with new cases and a big development in their romance.

Don’t know who Brandon and Maggie are? I can’t believe it. I’ll forgive you if you read how they met here.

The novella will be out sometime in the next few weeks. Click the big yellow FOLLOW button below my picture on Amazon to be emailed once the book is released.

If you don’t hang out with me on Facebook, then you’re really missing out on talking about your favorite tv shows and couples (Rick+Michonne= #Richonne), getting workout inspiration, and the impromptu giveaways for free paperbacks!

Samhain Closing

Samhain Closing – . Romance

Source: Samhain Closing

Well, this came out last Friday. Samhain has been a major epublisher in the business for a number of years.

In November 2015, there was some press about the firing of one of their top editors over his lack of social media usage. I guess the writing was on the wall then.

Kindle Unlimited has clearly had an effect on epublishers and authors alike. Unless we can find a way to adapt to this change in publishing/marketing, more of us will close up shop.

For those authors unsure of what to do with the books once rights are returned, you could always submit them to new publishers–that accept previously published work–or you can…self-publish! No time to quit; you have fans who expect to read more from you.

Adapt and overcome.

Time to plan for a bright future.

 

An Emotional Return to the "Why" of Writing

    Over the last several years of my (fledgling) writing and publishing career, I've come across a few theories on what writers should write and why.    "Write what you love!"   "Write what readers want to read!"   "Write for the publishing trends!"   Each position has its pros and cons, and was, at one time or another, valid to me personally. Yet, I've discovered only one point truly keeps me from the emotional pitfalls that can open up unexpectedly when you're attempting to establish writing

ADOLFO Cover Reveal and Pre-Order

  I just lOVE, LOVE, LOVE the color! Here is the cover for the first book of the sequel series to The Santiago Brothers--ADOLFO.   The pre-order is live on Amazon!   Don't forget to follow me on Facebook. I asked how I should kill off a character and I'll be using reader suggestions.    Product Description (Subject to change):   Thrillingly Passionate. Wonderfully Clean. Interracial Romance Novels by K. Victoria Chase ADOLFO. Book one of the long-awaited sequel series to the bestselling

ADOLFO Sneak Peek!

I'm hard a work on the sequel series to The Santiago Brothers. First up is ADOLFO. Read a sneak peek of the first chapter over on my blog:

http://www.kvictoriachase.com/#!ADOLF...

Newsletter subscribers get full chapters and so much more! Don't forget to subscribe when visiting my website! :-)

My crockpot dinner is calling me and it's only mid-afternoon. I think I'll go eat. ;-)

ADOLFO Sneak Peek!

    Writing for the first book in the Perrera Brothers series (aka, Santiago Brothers half-siblings) is underway! My cover artist is working on a mock-up and as soon as I get the final version, I'll activate the pre-order on Amazon.    What's with the above picture? Glad you asked! Part of the setting for the novel takes place in the wild jungles of Chile. I thought this shot was beautiful; but what the characters will experience there will be anything but.   Here is a sneak peek of the first

The Perrera Brothers

    Have you read The Santiago Brothers series? If not, you should! Click the image (yes, the very large one) to buy the series for only $5.99. You'll want to know the stories of these three brothers--Rafael, Alejandro, and Ricardo--before you meet the next trio of brothers: The Perreras.   Don't forget to sign up to my mailing list to receive updates about the next release! Plus, you'll receive two free copies of my books that you can share with a friend, relative, or a complete stranger. Make