Ellie Potts's Blog, page 46

Self publishing part 2

You have the edit done, and you have the format looking good. What next? Well you can send it off to beta readers. Beta readers are usually easy to come across. The purpose of beta readers is to catch things you or your editor didn’t catch. Now you can do this between edits if you would like to. So why you have the beta’s reading. You can now focus on the cover. Now, some people work on the cover before. Whatever groove you find works for you works. Some can be DIY, you can buy a pre-made or you can pay extra to have a one of the kind made for you.

We are taught to never judge a book by a cover. But we know we all do it. You are looking for that sexy cover, that cover that pops and screams-READ ME!! As a writer you want the best for your book. You want people to see your cover and go: ooohhh what is that? I think creating covers is almost the hardest part of self publishing, at least for me. You want your cover to pop, but you want your cover to show your story as well. Erotic, romance, paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, horror, thriller, ect. You want to show something of the story.

For Blood Witch, which is a paranormal romance, I saw Leslie and Nathan, but in black in white, with Leslie’s eyes silver, a feature of her being a blood witch. I wanted some blood on her arm, as the only color other then the title because it fit. Dakota Trace who created most of my covers takes my ideas and created great covers for me. From Space Rebels, The Unicorn & The Serpent, Blood Witch and my newest Awaken the Elements, she has managed to make my vision come through.

You can find a great number of cover designers through online searches.

Here are a few links that might be useful:

http://fantasiafrogdesigns.wordpress.com

http://telltalebookcovers.weebly.com

http://dusktildawndesigns.com

http://www.coragraphics.it/premade.html

http://www.ebookindiecovers.com

For those who want to DIY you have to use stock images. A cheap place to find some is:

http://www.123rf.com

And like always you can always contact indie writers and ask where their covers were made. You can find info usually in the copyright page of the book too.

Next post I will talk about the ISBNs, Copyrights, and publishing.

Self publishing part 1

I think they tell you that self-publishing is hard so you will not do it. Actually it is pretty easy. First off once you think you are done with your book (Which you probably are not); look into finding yourself an editor. There are a lot of freelance editors who do good work for decent prices. But don’t just jump in, looking around, send emails, ask questions. Sometimes there are editors that just will not work for you. You can find editors/editor service easy by searching Google, or other online searches. You can also find them on Facebook. You can also email a self published writer and asked who they use, most wouldn’t mind answering some questions.

You have now a finished book, your book has been with the editor, and you are pretty damn happy with how it turned out. The next step is to make sure it is formatted properly. Here are some tips:

No tabs, tabs are the devil, don’t use them. To get those nice paragraphs (make sure all tabs are erased) go to paragraph-> special -> First line -> you want to make it a 0.3 to 0.5. Sometimes 0.5 might be too much.

No Space between lines or paragraphs. If you do the line thing and upload it onto kindle, it will look messy. Trust me I’ve seen it.

Use a general easy font times new roman works fine, and keep it roughly around 12 points. Ebook readers can actually change the font size for readers.

Make sure everything is consistent. Chapter headings are the same size, breaks **** are the same number (This one I’m bad at), numbers are either number or written out.

The next post will be on Book .

400 lb gorilla by D C Farmer Book Trailer Blitz

 

Title: the 400 lb. gorilla

Author: D C Farmer

Series: The Hipposync Archives

Genre: Contemporary, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Spence City

Release Date: June 24 2014

Edition/Formats it will be available in: eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis:

Matt Danmor thinks he’s lucky. Not many people survive a near death accident with nothing more than a bout of amnesia, a touch of clumsiness and the conviction that the technician who did the MRI had grey skin and hooves. Still, it takes time to recover from trauma like that, especially when the girl who was in the accident with you disappears into thin air. Especially when the shrinks keep telling you she’s just a figment of your imagination.  So when the girl turns up months later looking ravishing, and wanting to carry on where they left off, Matt’s troubled life starts looking up.  But he hasn’t bargained for the baggage that comes with Silvy, like the fact she isn’t really an English language student, or even a girl. Underneath her traffic stopping exterior is something else altogether, something involving raving fanatics bent on human sacrifice, dimensionally challenged baked bean tins, a vulture with a penchant for profanity, and a security agent  for the Dept of Fimmigration (that’s Fae immigration for those of you not in the know) called Kylah with the most amazing gold-flecked eyes.

Once a successful doctor of medicine, DC Farmer now works two days a week for the NHS and, thanks to the wonders of Krudian physics, the other nine days a week for Hipposync Enterprises as a scribe. His role in documenting the work of the Fimmigration Service (as in Fae immigration), has led to the realization that the world needs to know. Moreover, if he doesn’t tell someone soon he is going to burst. Within these pages you will find actual accounts of the splendid work of the Fimmigration Service, beginning with The 400 lb Gorilla–a sample of which is also on this site, and which will soon be published in its totality by Spence City books, once appropriate clearance from the ‘authorities’ has been obtained.

DC Farmer is alive and well in darkest West Wales, UK.

Places to find D C Farmer

Facebook

Page
Goodreads
Twitter

 

Website

Places to find the 400 lb gorilla
Amazon

UK
Amazon

US
Barnes

and Noble
Book Depository

YouTube

 

S.H. Roddey aka Siobhan Kinkade (Devil’s Daughter Cover Reveal!!)

When Ellie first approached me about a “Year After” post, I sort of panicked. Both on a literary and personal level, the last year has been a painful mess, to say the least. It’s been in the last week that things have really started to turn around. ConCarolinas in Charlotte was a surprising success (I sold more books there than I ever have at a public event), and just last night I got the green light on another project near and dear to my heart. But I’ll get to that in a minute.

As for the things I had with No Boundaries Press, there wasn’t much but I’ve done pretty well picking up the pieces.

Huntress, the erotic short as Siobhan Kinkade, has found a new home (and a smexy new cover) with Nicole and the lovely people at Mocha Memoirs Press. I still love that story.

Haunted, my paranormal horror short/novella is also with MMP, and it got a pretty facelift too. This story still scares the crap out of me, guys. I don’t like rereading it simply because I have to turn all the lights on in the house afterward. I wish I was lying about that too.

Rock N’ Roll Angel, the splatterpunk erotic horror piece in the one and only anthology NBP ever released, found a new home in the midst of a few other strange little stories. Selah Janel and I put our heads together and created Lost in the Shadows, a collection of 42 bits of short fiction scattered across the speculative fiction spectrum. It’s our foray into the world of self publishing.

I also sold several short stories. Wolfy was accepted into John Hartness’ The Big Bad Anthology of Evil, Black Ice went into James R. Tuck’s Thunder on the Battlefielddual anthology, Look What the Cat Dragged In found a home in Scott Sandridge’s Hero’s Best Friend anthology, and Skippin’ Stones is slated to be released in Big Bad 2 later this year.

Oh, I’ve also started picking up commission work for cover art, and I’m a host on The Star Chamber Show, a BlogTalk Radio show showcasing indie authors and the things they write.

Now for the big one…

Anyone who knows me probably knows the story behind Devil’s Daughter, the short story I wrote as a means of coping with my father’s death in 2012. Everyone probably also knows that it was caught in the NBP crossfire. I got my rights back and it languished for awhile, dangling in the digital in-between while I negotiated a different book contract for something else.

That something else, it turns out, is a seven-book contract with Seventh Star Press. That’s right, kids… The Soul Collectors series has a home! I learned last night that Devil’s Daughter will once again be available for purchase on June 11th. The first novel, Armageddon Rising, is scheduled for a summer release this year. Take a look…isn’t it pretty?

So that’s that. I’m happier, healthier, and much more productive than I was a year ago. Oh, and I’m at all of these places if you want to come find me:

Website | Blog | Facebook | S.H. Roddey FB page | Twitter

Siobhan’s Blog | Siobhan’s FB Page | Siobhan’s Twitter

Publisher looking…

Some advice I wanted to share on those looking for a publisher:

Do your homework. Research the company. Research the owners. The internet is an awesome tool to do searches on people.
Writers Beware is a handy tool.
If it sounds too good it probably is. There are certain things you notice. Always read over things, do not be afraid to ask questions. There is a great group of independent writers out there who will answer questions.
Always read through your contracts finely. If it doesn’t look professional don’t sign. If there is early termination clauses question these.

Once you get accepted there are other things you need to keep an eye out. Don’t let a publisher bully you. A good publisher should be able to answer your questions fairly. Yes they are busy so it might be a couple days before your question is answered. Your publisher should not threaten you if you have concerns either.

There were a few things I noticed with NBP. One was that the publisher could careless about formatting. That should have been one of my red flags which I ignored. I would think a publisher would want the books they put out under their name to look as nice and neat as they could make them.

Being cautious is a good thing. Your book deserves good treatment. Find the right home for it, just like searching for a good babysitter or dogsitter. You want the best for your family, your book is your baby too.

For those reading who are published with publishers what advice would you give new writers?

Up next I will talk a little about self publishing and some helpful links.

Jennifer Brown

If the past year has taught me anything, it’s that everything can change before you know it. At this time last year, I was promoting two ebooks with No Boundaries Press before they closed only paying perhaps a quarter of their authors.

Surprisingly and thankfully it didn’t take me long to bounce back. I submitted my re-tooled suspense series to Nevermore Press, and was picked up again, the first book being released in November.

Since then, I have released two other books in The Edge of Springwood series, had my first author event, and just signed new contracts and have approved my first two books to be uploaded as paperbacks to Ingram’s Distribution. Nevermore Press is currently compiling lists to have our books available for purchase, several bookstores, grocery stores and even the military are part of the growing list they will be approaching.

I can honestly say this is the first Summer I have looked forward to in a long time. I am finally starting to feel like a real author after years of struggling. Nevermore Press is the third publisher I have taken this storyline through, and as they say a third time is charm. It is certainly starting to look that way.

Want to stay up to date with news as it happens? Check out my website www.jenniferbrownauthor.weebly.com. You can sign up for my newsletter, download a preview of The Edge of Springwood series, view trailers, as well as check out links to follow me on other websites.

Jennifer’s books:

The Barnes family has seen tragedy, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to face.

Tragedy forced Jacob Barnes to step in at the age of 22, and raise his younger brother and sister. Years later, as the Barnes family is finally on the verge of recovery the past comes back to haunt them.

It’s election time in Springwood, and Jacob is a candidate for Mayor. Having proved himself as a successful business man, Jacob feels he is ready to take on Springwood and tackle the city’s many issues. Little does he know the extent of the issues he is about to face.

When it becomes apparent someone is out to sabotage Jacob’s campaign, Jacob begins to realize the past is far from behind him and his family. Two murders reveal dark secrets in the Barnes family, as they come to terms with a harsh reality.

Twisted Revenge (The Edge of Springwood)

Everyone has secrets…some are just darker than others.

Dr. Brent Parker is well known for his success rate with patients, and once he gets wind of Jocelyn Barnes’s story he extends an invitation to her to appear on his reality show, Dr. Brent. As the Barnes prepare for their lives to be even more publicized with the arrival of the Dr. Brent crew, jury selection begins in Jocelyn’s trial.

When a dead body found in Mercy Park draws a visit from the Barnes’ long estranged Aunt Liz, and their cousin Danielle, matters get complicated. As Jocelyn welcomes reconnecting with her cousin, other memories resurface that lead to devastating results.

As dark secrets are revealed, twisted links to the past arise and taunt the Barnes family as they deal with yet another deadly reality.

Dark Connections (The Edge of Springwood)

Happy June!

I hope your weather is being nice to you. Welcome to sunny California where is is scorching and its not even fully summer yet! Updates Seeing Stars my contemporary romance is pretty much done. Release date has been pushed to July 8th. I will be having a cover reveal for it next Monday. Blood Father is in the works tentative release is the end of July beginning  of August. Playing with Magic will be released mid-August to end of August. I plan on being very busy this summer.

This month I have some important friends stopping in. About a year ago me and a bunch of others who were contracted by a independent publisher had the misfortune of being suckered. The owner had pretty much ripped off everyone for a full year. She took advantage of us some very naive to this publishing thing. And when we asked about things she would get mad and say it was against our contracts. I have a link to the full story here: http://www.ericapike.com/2013/09/when-authors-steal-from-authors.html?zx=b88ff1e4eabce4b8

But we are not going to dwell on the negative. This situation made each of us stronger and more knowledgeable. Some have self published, while others have got picked up with other better publishers. So you will get good news. So stay tuned.

Awaken the Elements is now available at All Romance, Smashwords and Barnes and Nobel

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-awakentheelements-1420221-349.html

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/408129

Barnes & Noble link coming soon.

Already out on Amazon: 

Awaken the Elements (Elemental Trilogy)

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awaken-the-elements-ellie-potts/1118631151?ean=9781495960925

Sunday Snippet Coming Soon Seeing Stars!

“Ah yes, my extra is here!” Christian came walking over to them. He had on nice jeans and a blue button down shirt. “Follow me.” He started zigzagging through the crowd  to a large chair surrounded by people who looked bored.

“You sit here,” he said, “and Alisa sits on your lap back to the camera.”

“What?” she said brows pulled together.

“You’ll be fine. No lines. So you straddle his lap.” He looked at Logan. “Sit down and get comfy.”

Logan sat down.

“I really think maybe someone else should do this.”

“It will be another extra. And I want him to know this person on his lap.”

“Come on Alisa, your back will be to the camera,” Logan said.

Alisa looked from Logan to Christian and Logan again. She heaved a sigh, knowing she was not going to get out of it.

“Fine,” she said and straddled his lap.

Logan’s hands snaked down to her hold her hips.

“Yes,” Christian said. “So, when I walk through the first time you guys will be like this.”

“First time?” Alisa said.

“Yes. I will walk through with a few friends chatting. We will pause about here.” He took a few steps to the left and stopped. “I want everyone to be chatting, laughing, and flirting. It’s a party so do what you would do.”

“Now the second time I walk through, I will stop by you and ask—‘Have you seen Darla?’ and you are going to look from Alisa to me and say—‘No, don’t you see I am busy?’”

“Easy enough,” Logan said.

Christian clapped his hands. “Good. Okay, let’s get this started.” He left the room.

“I am nervous,” Alisa whispered.

“It’s okay. You’ll be fine.”

“Action!” Screamed Christian from the other room. Alisa peeked around at the other people who suddenly came alive.

“I can get used to this,” Logan whispered.

She looked at him. “I bet.”

He smiled as his eyes went to the opening of the other room. “I am going to flirt with you. You don’t have to do much just follow my lead.”

Christian and some others walked in talking loud. Logan reached out taking some of her hair in his hand.

“Focus on me. Not them.”

“Got it,” she whispered.

She watched as he took in her face, and his face got soft and those hazel eyes were warm and caring. He leaned forward slowly, and brushed his lips against hers. He smelled so good, and even though she was surrounded by strangers she liked this position too. Being close to him. Any anger she had against him had evaporated.

He leaned in and nipped at her neck, making her give a small giggle as she wiggled on his lap. Which as she did it knew it was a bad move. She could feel him grow hard through the jeans.

“CUT!” Christian shouted.

“You drive me mad,” Logan whispered.

“Sorry,” she said feeling that it was necessary to apologize.

A few minutes later Christian walked into the room. “That was great. I don’t have to redo it, perfect. Now on this one, Alisa, remove your shirt.”

“Christian, I don’t think that is necessary,” Logan said frowning at his friend and his hands pulled her closer to his body.

“The party has been going for some time. Everyone will be drunk and getting crazy.” That explained why people were leaving and new people were coming in. Some had makeup smears, and disheveled clothing.

“Alisa has to take off her shirt. The scene asks for the same girl to be topless on your lap.”

“Maybe you should have mentioned that before. She is not an actor or extra. She is not used to this,” Logan said.

“We can do the other scene again with another girl on your lap if you would like.”

Logan looked at her.

She thought of watching another girl on his lap topless. “I’ll do it.”

“See, she’s a team player!” he said.

“You sure? Because I can just have him redo this.”

“I’m okay,” she said nodding.

“So, shirt off.”

“Everyone give her a moment and turn around,” Logan said closing his eyes. She looked around and saw everyone had turned away and quickly pulled her shirt off, pulling it over the front of her covering herself.

“Okay,” Alyssa said.

“Nice tattoo!” Christian said.

Alisa made a face as Logan tried to look around her and see for himself. “It is stick figure zombies,” she whispered, “A birthday present.”

Christian came over to them. “So the shirt is going to have to go. You can’t be holding onto it. You have to look like you are getting into the mood.”

“Press into me,” Logan said sitting a little straighter. She did.

“Yes,” Christian said pulling the shirt from between them. “Hands around his neck or on his shoulders. Have fun with it. By the way, nice bra.”

Alisa face heated up. She wrapped her arms around Logan’s neck and hid her face against his neck. She could smell the soap he used this morning, and the almost fruity smell of the gel he used in his hair. He smelt so good.

“Okay everything looks pretty good,” Christian said running into the other room.

“Action!” He shouted.

“Alisa,” Logan whispered making her look at him. “You ready?”

She gave a small shrug. “I guess.”

His hands moved slowly up and down her bare back. “Kiss me,” he whispered.

She moved forward and gently pushed her lips against his. He sucked on her bottom lip as she pulled away. There was a need in his eyes that she had seen before, and a sadness which made her chest tight. She wanted to erase that sadness. She kissed him again, and he kissed her back. She opened to his mouth and he hungrily dove in. The world faded and it was just them, their mouths locked against each other, her body pushed against his, the bulge, now bigger, rubbing between her legs.

He pulled away from her kiss and kissed her chin, his lips made small kisses along her jaw line. His hands were so warm against her skin. “You drive me mad,” he whispered in her ear so only she could hear him. He kissed her shoulder pausing.

“Have you seen Darla?”

“No, can’t you see I’m busy?” he said, kissing Alisa’s bare shoulder.

“Sorry,” Christian said, walking away.

“Cock blocker,” Logan whispered to Alisa making her giggle.

“CUT!” Christian shouted as Logan held Alisa protectively against him. Five minutes later, Christian walked into the room.

“This scene came out perfect. You are awesome, my man,” he said. The two fist bumped.

Tartan Deadlines by Jamie Salisbury Blog Tour

Title: Tartan Deadlines

Author: Jamie Salisbury

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self Published

Release Date: April 2014

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis:

Rae Spencer has found out all it takes is a nasty, good old fashioned divorce for family secrets and deception to come bubbling to the surface.

For Rory MacGregor, his life is an open book. He’s never had time for a serious relationship. His multi-media corporation is his mistress.

Imagine his surprise when he finds himself falling for his recent hire from America . . . his mature, attractive magazine editor, Rae Spencer. Picture her confusion as she finds herself deeply attracted to her handsome, take-charge Scottish boss.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t fight love.

Giveaway!!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54e9c4130/
Book Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books A Million

iTunes

Smashwords

Author Information

In the three short years since Jamie Salisbury began publishing her Romance stories, she has seen her books soar to #1 on Amazon. Her novella Tudor Rubato was a finalist in the 2012 RONE (Reward of Novel Excellence) award, and the cover won for Best Contemporary Cover. Now in 2014, her novel Life and Lies has been nominated for a RONE in the Erotica category. She has expanded her audience to include several now published by Secret Cravings Publishing.

Her previous career in public relations has afforded her with a treasure trove of endless story ideas.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page ~ Blog ~ Facebook Page ~ Goodreads ~ Romance Novel Center ~ Twitter ~ Website

 

Excerpt

Rae looked up from the computer screen to see a man of about forty standing in the doorway. His height was slightly below the doorframe. He was tall. Wearing blue jeans and an Irish fisherman’s sweater with a pale blue shirt underneath, his dark brown hair contrasted off the sweater. Sable brown eyes observed her. His smile only increased his handsome good looks.

“You look good sitting there.” He boomed in a loud Scottish brogue. “I’m Rory MacGregor and welcome to MacGregor Communications Mrs. Spencer.”

Rae started to get up out of her chair, but her legs felt like jelly. She finally got hold of herself, stood and met him halfway.

“It’s so good to finally meet you, Mr. MacGregor.”

He extended his hand and took Rae’s in a firm grip.

“And it’s good to meet you as well. Please call me Rory. I don’t believe in old fashioned formalities in the office.”

“Well then Rory, please…call me Rae.”

He sauntered into the office and sat down in one of the two leather and chrome chairs strategically placed in front of the glass and chrome desk.

“Very well how about if I introduce you properly to the staff? I can give you a run down on what everyone does. I know it’ll boggle your mind for a week or two but you’ll learn quickly.”

“That sounds good.” she replied, trying not to look at him too directly.

Damn Shawn! He hadn’t told her Rory MacGregor was not only a younger man he had failed to let her know how handsome a man he was. Not that she was interested. A relationship with a man was the furthest thing from Rae’s mind since all the nastiness with Duncan, the divorce…his girlfriend.