S.B. Knight's Blog, page 9

March 23, 2012

What Do You See?

UPDATE - I have been informed that it could take up to a week for the Kindle version of Born of Blood to become available. HOWEVER - you are more than encouraged to purchase your copy of Born of Blood from the MuseItUp bookstore. If you do you will receive the book in 3 formats so you can read it just about anywhere on anything. Here is the link - MuseItUp Publishing Bookstore



I will notify all of you as soon as it becomes available for the Kindle and Nook. Thank you for your support and patience.



TODAY IS THE OFFICIAL RELEASE OF MY DEBUT NOVEL BORN OF BLOOD. TODAY WE CELEBRATE. SEE BELOW AND HAVE FUN!



As many of you know I posted my cover a few days ago. In that time I have received some very interesting feedback. For example, one person asked me if there was a black shadow walking away from the basin and leaving behind bloody footsteps. This person was convinced I did. Another asked if there was black shadow walking through the fog directly under the title. The most intriguing of the feedback was the symbols. No, I'm not talking about the symbol behind the title. There are symbols hidden in the picture.





What do you see when you look at the cover? Leave me a comment of what you see and where. I plan on picking a few and making it worth your time and effort..



Also, make sure you visit me on my website http://www.sb-knight.com/ for more celebration and fun on my book release day. Also, join me on Twitter @thenewauthor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FansofSBK

Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113529126534348607451/posts



Born of Blood can be purchased from the following distributors:

MuseItUp Publishing Bookstore




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Published on March 23, 2012 05:00

March 20, 2012

First Impressions

I received it last night and wanted to share with all of you. Actually, I thought this would be the perfect time to try out something. We've discussed covers and the importance of your cover many times before. Now, I have my cover to share with you. When I developed this cover with my cover artist I had an idea in mind. I want to depict certain emotions, feelings, and thoughts. This is the very first impression a reader will make regarding your book so it has to carry the right...feel.





How do you like it? What do you think about it? What are your first impressions after seeing it? Does this cover intrigue you or grab your attention?



I'm using my cover as an example for this (although I greatly appreciate any and all feedback) but what is important is that you ask yourself these questions when you begin to design your book cover. You can even ask these questions when you browse through a bookshelf to purchase a book. Many times we look at a cover and make the decision whether or not to investigate further and decide to purchase it or not. Have you ever stopped and thought about that process? What was it about that cover that grabbed your attention? Understanding these details can only help as we write our stories and develop our covers.



Yes, Born of Blood will be released on Friday and I am very excited. Seeing the cover and knowing that the book is complete makes the whole process seem surreal and yes, a little larger than life.




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Published on March 20, 2012 14:14

March 16, 2012

Some Things Need To Change

Okay, I'm stepping up onto my soapbox for a moment. There is a place for all forms of publishing in this world - Indie (small pubs), big pubs, self-publishing...they all serve a purpose. Of these three self-publishing is consider the black sheep and rightfully so. The industry of self-publishing has done very little to fix this perception and, in fact, has gone to great lengths to confirm it. I truly believe there are strong writers out there with really good books who decide to try self-publishing for any number of reasons only to be ridiculed because of the path they're following.



A great number of companies that operate in this part of the industry are committing a major injustice to these authors and many other new authors every day. It starts with the less than efficient editing services offered then carries over to the generic cover handed out with little thought. If those two are not bad enough this next part is almost criminal. Authors pay for these "packages" and the end result is not only a poorly edited book with a lackluster cover but these authors are given a "website" in which to help market and promote their book. On the surface that may sound like a great deal but, as they say, the devil is in the details.



Why do I mention this? A friend of mine asked me for help with her site. She wanted to add a Twitter button to her website so readers can follow her on Twitter. That is a reasonable request and good idea. I go to her site and check it out. I will say it is very nice to look at but lacking in a great deal of information. For example, there are no links to Twitter, Facebook, or buy links other then the publishers bookstore. Even her 'About the Author' page is very limited with information. No, this is not a 'bash the author's site' moment because it is not her fault. She already told me that working with sites and things like this made her uncomfortable as it does many people. Anyway, I logged in to see what I could do and discovered that not only did the publisher design the site they also secured the code and widgets to prevent modification of the site. That's right, she paid for the site but she is not allowed to update, add to, or modify her own site. This is simply not right!



I mentioned the buy link for a reason too. She paid for a publishing package and on top of that the company is also taking a percentage of each purchase. You know they are. I consider this to be double dipping.



If self -publishing companies and the authors that venture down this road want to step out of the shadows and the bad reputation surrounding self-publishing these practices must change. Authors need to be very careful when dealing with self-publishing companies and really study these "packages" before purchasing them. If anything, make sure you have full access to your website and understand how they set it up. Even if my friend had access to her site I'm not confident she could modify it because of the complex nature of the code structure. Authors deserve better than this. Be careful out there.



Stepping down from my soapbox.




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Published on March 16, 2012 14:33

March 1, 2012

Author, Writer Tag ....You're It!

One of my brilliant fellow MuseItUp Authors, Barbara Bockman, tagged me on her blog to join in a blogging game. It did and now I'm passing the game along to you. See below for the rest...go ahead, you know you want to.







I answered the questions and I hope you will also play.



Rules/questioned copied are in bold.



The Tag rules:

1. You must post the rules!

2. Answer the questions.

3. Tag eleven people and link to them.

4. Let them know you've tagged them.





Questions to answer:

If you could live in a fictional world, where would that be? Middle Earth! Hang on, the four lands of Shannara would be a nice place too.



Do you read in noisy or quiet places? I read in the living room, kitchen, bathroom (a lot), and anywhere really. It really doesn't bother me if there is noise in the background or dead silence. If I'm in the book I'm there.



What was the first book you ever read? That was a long time ago. I really enjoyed mystery stories when I was a kid. Before that I read the Berenstain Bears. 



If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hands down, the Bible.



Favourite author? Good grief, this could be a long list. Terry Brooks, Tolkien, Jordan, Feist...to name a few.



Do reviews influence your choice of reads? Not really, no. I listen to what others are saying but it really comes down to my feelings about the title and back page write up.



Fiction or Non fiction? Fiction.



Have you ever met your favourite author? Alas, I have not....maybe one day.



Audio books or Paperbacks? I like paperback but eBooks have moved up to second place now.



Classic or Modern Novels? Both. I prefer Fantasy but let's be honest, Poe, Hemingway, and Shakespeare delivered some really great work.



Book Groups or Solitary Reading? Solitary. Although I do enjoy discussing books with my wife.



People to tag? Ah!

Join only if you think you could use this excursion in your life. And let me know if you do.



Clifton Hill

Icy Sedgwick

Eric (working My Muse)

Bryan Thomas Schmidt

80s Queen (Yes, you know who you are!)



Don't forget YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED . I hope to hear from you soon with the link to your posting.



If your name isn't on the list, and you want to play, join in and send me your link.



Thanks, Barbara, for tagging me and letting me play along.




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Published on March 01, 2012 14:46

February 26, 2012

The Reviews Are Coming In!

I will admit that after all the hard work we, as writers, put in to getting our ideas to stories along with the great effort of finding a publisher or agent it is a major relief when you receive positive feedback. I recently received two reviews for my debut novel Born of Blood and I had to share them here with all of you.





"Born of Blood is a keenly-crafted thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page is turned, the last word eagerly consumed. SB Knight knows how to keep the blood pounding and the suspense building. And just when you think you know everything... Step aside Stephen King and Dean Koontz, there's a new kid in town and his destination is keeper shelves everywhere. Let's hope Born of Blood is just the tip of Knight's creative iceberg!" ~ Rebecca Sinclair, Bestselling Author

_______________________________________________________



"If the topic of supernatural and mysterious has always intrigued and fascinated you, Born of Blood is the book for you. Surprising revelations, well-written characters, pulse-pounding suspense will make you want to keep turning page after page. SB Knight did a magnificent job with the plot of the novel and the imaginative and eloquent use of language that made the characters and the world around them three-dimensional at its best." ~ CA Milson - Film writer, producer, and author




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Published on February 26, 2012 11:10

February 17, 2012

Ramblings and Thoughts

 My mind is torn. I have more than one topic idea colliding in the proverbial 'grey matter' between my ears. I suppose this is understandable all things considered. At first I was going to write about - show not tell but maybe there are times when you can tell a little to gain a lot. Of course that is a really long title but you get the idea of the post. Then I thought, maybe I should write about how being an author has changed my views of the writing world but heck, that subject has been done a number of times. Not as much as show don't tell but enough to know that we can wait a little longer for that post.



It has been a long week. As in the closer I got to Friday the longer the week felt. Even now I feel like I'm on the weekly roller-coaster even though the work day was over almost two hours ago. Alas, this has nothing to do with this post either. It is just another thought in an ocean of thoughts. What news do I have for you? I moving ever so closer to finishing my third novel. I'm working hard to get it done and submitted before my first novel comes out. I feel like I will need the spare time to really get the promotional wheels turning. My sequel to Born of Blood will be coming out in October so that means shortly after Born of Blood releases I will be working with my editors again. I really do look forward to that. I have some really good editors. I can't wait to share my cover with all of you. I know I've said this before but one day soon it will be here. My cover artist is working as hard as he can right now and, unfortunately for me, he has more than one cover to complete.



I had a very entertaining and informative conversation with my publisher. Actually, she started the discussion on Facebook. I grabbed it and posted it on Google+. The responses were numerous and detailed. The topic of this discussion was - why don't more readers get their books from the publisher's bookstore? I think what surprised me most with the comments was the fact that many did know you could purchase books from the publisher. There were other comments about convenience, and ease of download. I can understand and agree with all of those. What truly struck me was that many agreed, if the publisher promote the bookstore more and made it known what the bookstore has to offer than more readers would shop there. Again, this made a lot of sense but it also pointed out a simple mistake that many make. You can't assume that people will see something or read about something just because you have a link on your site. No, you have to talk about, draw attention to it, and share why it is important to, in this case, shop at the publisher's bookstore. The number one reason being that the author gets a larger percentage of the sale if the book is purchased from the publisher's bookstore. Let me be the first to thank you for shopping at the MuseItUp bookstore. If you've never been there I hope you will check it out.



Of course this also brought up the point - what does the reader get out of this. The great thing about my publisher is that she is always thinking about the reader. She has a long list of contest, sales, giveaways and other promotions to satisfy just about any reader. Why am I talking about the bookstore so much? It happens to be one of the bigger thoughts swimming around the ocean of thoughts in my head.



This has been a long week but the weekend is here. If your like me and you've had a long week take the time to relax and rest. Make sure you find a reason to smile. That's important. These days you may have to look real hard but smiles are cheap and pay big dividends. If you're someplace warm, go outside and enjoy it. If you're someplace cold, wrap up with a book, movie, or a computer to write and enjoy the opportunity.



Be well and see you next time.




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Published on February 17, 2012 16:09

February 13, 2012

A Fantastic Ride Into SciFi Fantasy

High adventure, drama, romance, Science Fiction Technology, good versus evil, rebellion...The Worker Prince has it all and more.



Davi Rhii, Boralian prince, lived a charmed life; however, his first military assignment after graduating provided an eye opening experience. His morals, values, and beliefs are challenged as he witnesses the mistreatment of the slaves serving the Boralian society. But the Prince has a secret that he discovers over time. He was originally born as a member of the enslaved society only to be secretly adopted by the Boralian royalty. Now Davi is making a stand against this mistreatment but that puts him at odds with his uncle Xaliver,High Lord Councillor of the Boralian Alliance. As he fights back he becomes the enemy of the alliance. But he is not alone. A rebellion is building. Will it be enough to save the slaves? Can Davi come to terms with his true heritage?



Author Bryan Thomas Schmidt delivers a tale of great adventure with strong plot and a powerful story. His originality mixes well with the familiar ideals we have come to love from stories in this genre. Schmidt's characters are not only believable but easy to relate to. You will find yourself rooting for Davi and the rebels. With each page the tension grows as strategy, war, and conflict collide with the desire and need for freedom. I recommend The Worker Prince for fantasy and SciFi readers but also for those who enjoy a great adventure.



To learn more about this author and his book(s), check out his site HERE.




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Published on February 13, 2012 16:38

February 8, 2012

Sex, Making Love, or Something Else

It occurs to me that sex sales but is sex necessary and if sex is necessary is it sex, making love, or something else? At some point in time during the writing of our current project we must make a tough decision - do we include sex in the story? The easy answer to this is - if it adds to the story yes but no if it is just something we want to add. The true question is in that answer. In what why should sex add to the story? This is something I have thought about recently. I have sex in my debut novel and the hint of sex in both my sequel and new project. Sex can be used to express many things within a story. Let's take a look at some:



Making Love - This is the easiest to see. If two of your characters love each other and you want to express that connection between them then what better way to do that? Making love is the tender, romantic side of sex. It is the combining of two people with deep feelings for each other and this may be the best way for them both to experience and express those feelings to the other. Scenes of making love can be used to slow the pace of the story, to further the relationship or tension between characters (both the ones making love and the other characters), and it could provide different angles in which to make your story stronger.



Sex - The gritty, dirty, nothing but physical connection between two characters. When used properly this can further develop a character for the reader. For example, if you have a character who implies that they have sex for gain or because it is fun than you would think that he/she is possibly shallow, emotionally detached, or harboring some mental/emotional issues. There is no need to go overboard with sex scenes, one or two is plenty to express a great deal about your characters (unless you are writing erotica which is a totally different topic). Here is another example, your reading a book and one of the characters is lewd toward women and pays prostitutes for their services. Immediately after reading that you developed an opinion and idea about that character...just from one sentence.



Something Else - There is a great deal that can go here but this is a PG rated post so we will look at only a few items. Just kidding, in all fairness though, though main thing that goes here is the hint of attraction. That appeal between characters that leave the readers shouting "oh my gosh kiss already" or "are they ever getting together?" This is a very powerful pull on the readers emotions. Something else fits in this category as well. Sex, love making, and something else can also be used as part of the plot or to even propel the plot forward. These acts can have major consequences associated with them that totally shifts the plot in a new direction. The best thing is, the consequences are not always immediately noticed. Time can pass before they are truly seen. Then again, some can be immediate.



I don't believe a writer should be afraid to include sex, love making, and/or something else in their manuscript. I would recommend that you think about it first and make sure it plays a part in the story like I mentioned above. All of them are more than capable of adding a rich depth to both story and character just be mindful that a little goes a long way.




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Published on February 08, 2012 08:20

February 1, 2012

Know Where Your Readers Are...

Title: Internet Marketing Made Easy

Author: Jo-Anne Vandermeulen

ISBN: 978-0-9826957-0-8

Genre: Internet Marketing

Pages: 124

Reviewed By: Brian Knight

Official Premium Promotional Services Rating:

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Your customers are on the Internet. This is how you find them.



Your product is ready for the market. It doesn't matter if it is a service, book, or invention, the job is not over when the product is released. Oh no, you still need to promote and market it. What better place to do that than the Internet?



Products need buyers, and companies need customers. The only way to get them is by promoting and marketing. This is where "Internet Marketing Made Easy" earns a special spot on your bookshelf.

So much more than a book of tips for using the Internet…"Internet Marketing Made Easy" illustrates the expertise and experience of the author in a way that will inspire and motivate you to get on the Internet and push your brand to the top of Internet searches. From establishing your voice to reaching your goals, the importance of being active is emphasized. "Internet Marketing Made Easy" is an essential tool to establishing your presence and drawing the needed attention to your product on the Internet.



Author Jo-Anne Vandermeulen has delivered again. First she guided authors through the maze of Internet promotion, now she returns with a second book that is innovative and cutting edge for Internet marketing period. Now she has put her extended knowledge and experience on paper in "Internet Marketing Made Easy." With such a powerful tool at your fingertips, there are no limits on the exposure you can generate.

Are you ready for the exposure you have worked so hard for? "Internet Marketing Made Easy" will guide your mouse clicks in the right direction. Promotional success waits within these pages.



I recommend "Internet Marketing Made Easy" to everyone with a desire or need to be seen and heard on the Internet. Whether it be for fun or business, this book is a must read. The huge marketing benefits from "Internet Marketing Made Easy" are astounding.



Join Jo-Anne over at her site for more information and other great tips. Just click HERE! 




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Published on February 01, 2012 13:34

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