Jo Michaels's Blog, page 52
March 19, 2015
Beta Readers - When, How, and Why
Happy Thursday, everyone! Guess what? Tomorrow is Friday! Woot! One more day until the weekend and kicking your shoes off for some relaxation time. Hope that made you smile. Today, I'm discussing beta readers per a request by my featured author next week, Inger Iverson. Oh, yeah, you're gonna love her to pieces. Yes, you do have to wait until Monday. Enough rambling by me! Grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!
Whazza Be-ta Reed-er?
Well, to put it simply, a beta reader is someone who reads your novel and sends you feedback about characterization, plot, and structure. They'll tell you what they liked, what they didn't like, and point out any holes in your storytelling.
A good beta reader will take your great novel and make it an awesome one.
A fantastic beta reader (these people are usually paid) will make inline comments, guide you on structure, give you tips on where they feel you can draw out more emotion, and make sure they can nail the plotline by the end of the book. This kind of beta reader will make your great novel into a bestseller.
I know many authors that use more than one beta reader. Those writers feel they need more than one opinion. It's a preference thing.
How do you find a beta reader?
This question comes up more than I can mention. One of the biggest problems plaguing the Indie author community right now is theft. Sadly, it's often someone who's volunteered to be a beta reader that steals. When speaking with a few of my author friends during our coffee meeting, one of them mentioned she had a friend that send a novel to a beta reader. That person uploaded the work to Amazon and sold it as their own. That author was screwed.
It's SCARY.
So, it's really best to use people you know (and I don't mean randomly via Facebook interactions, but in real life) or trust (this level of trust usually includes a contract - with or without pay).
If you aren't passing your novel off to friends or family, USE A FLIPPING CONTRACT! Protect yourself, please! I can't stress that enough. Even if the contract is for zero dollars, sign it; that may be the only proof you have of ownership if your novel gets stolen.
Why you should use a beta reader.
Like I mentioned above, they can point out weak parts in your storytelling. Yes, you're too close to the story by the time it's written, and you're likely to think things are properly communicated when they might not be.
When someone says, "I got ABC from that." but you meant XYZ, you'll understand.
When do you need a beta reader?
You should seek out betas once your novel has been through at least two edits by your own hand, before it goes to an editor for pricing. Why? Because your word count could change dramatically between points A and B, based off feedback from your beta readers. You may change a character's name, or you could delete or add entire scenes out of necessity.
As an editor, I can say I hate when I've done a round one edit and the author adds five chapters because of beta feedback. Not only does it screw the pooch on my price (based on grade and word count), but I then have a whole section (or sections) needing a round one level edit. Round one is different from round two because the first time through takes more time nit-picking sentence structure and grammar. On a round two check, there should be minor changes to pan through. Make sense?
Can your editor be your beta reader?
YES. However, your editor should beta read and offer fixes before round one of editing begins. They should also work it into your editing contract (with dates). Usually, an editor will charge you for this service.
I've been through this exact scenario. I had an author with a book that read like a draft, and beta read it with a lower score for editing. That person still got the two rounds of edits and the proofread, but there were no major additions once we'd been through the beta read.
Not every editor offers that service. Be sure you ask if you feel it's something you may want to do.
Above all else, be sure you trust the person you're sending your novel to. At the very least, use a contract if you're not sure. CYOA - always.
Do you love your betas? Where did you find them?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Whazza Be-ta Reed-er?
Well, to put it simply, a beta reader is someone who reads your novel and sends you feedback about characterization, plot, and structure. They'll tell you what they liked, what they didn't like, and point out any holes in your storytelling.
A good beta reader will take your great novel and make it an awesome one.
A fantastic beta reader (these people are usually paid) will make inline comments, guide you on structure, give you tips on where they feel you can draw out more emotion, and make sure they can nail the plotline by the end of the book. This kind of beta reader will make your great novel into a bestseller.
I know many authors that use more than one beta reader. Those writers feel they need more than one opinion. It's a preference thing.
How do you find a beta reader?
This question comes up more than I can mention. One of the biggest problems plaguing the Indie author community right now is theft. Sadly, it's often someone who's volunteered to be a beta reader that steals. When speaking with a few of my author friends during our coffee meeting, one of them mentioned she had a friend that send a novel to a beta reader. That person uploaded the work to Amazon and sold it as their own. That author was screwed.
It's SCARY.
So, it's really best to use people you know (and I don't mean randomly via Facebook interactions, but in real life) or trust (this level of trust usually includes a contract - with or without pay).
If you aren't passing your novel off to friends or family, USE A FLIPPING CONTRACT! Protect yourself, please! I can't stress that enough. Even if the contract is for zero dollars, sign it; that may be the only proof you have of ownership if your novel gets stolen.
Why you should use a beta reader.
Like I mentioned above, they can point out weak parts in your storytelling. Yes, you're too close to the story by the time it's written, and you're likely to think things are properly communicated when they might not be.
When someone says, "I got ABC from that." but you meant XYZ, you'll understand.
When do you need a beta reader?
You should seek out betas once your novel has been through at least two edits by your own hand, before it goes to an editor for pricing. Why? Because your word count could change dramatically between points A and B, based off feedback from your beta readers. You may change a character's name, or you could delete or add entire scenes out of necessity.
As an editor, I can say I hate when I've done a round one edit and the author adds five chapters because of beta feedback. Not only does it screw the pooch on my price (based on grade and word count), but I then have a whole section (or sections) needing a round one level edit. Round one is different from round two because the first time through takes more time nit-picking sentence structure and grammar. On a round two check, there should be minor changes to pan through. Make sense?
Can your editor be your beta reader?
YES. However, your editor should beta read and offer fixes before round one of editing begins. They should also work it into your editing contract (with dates). Usually, an editor will charge you for this service.
I've been through this exact scenario. I had an author with a book that read like a draft, and beta read it with a lower score for editing. That person still got the two rounds of edits and the proofread, but there were no major additions once we'd been through the beta read.
Not every editor offers that service. Be sure you ask if you feel it's something you may want to do.
Above all else, be sure you trust the person you're sending your novel to. At the very least, use a contract if you're not sure. CYOA - always.
Do you love your betas? Where did you find them?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 18, 2015
BookBub and Favorite Authors
Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm gonna talk about something I got in my e-mail yesterday that might just flip the way BookBub does things on its head. If you're ready, grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!
Are you a subscriber to BookBub? If not, why is that?
It's been said that one BookBub ad can launch you from zero to hero overnight. But they're picky about the authors/genres that get featured. I know authors who've taken this route, and they say it changed their career.
Now, it seems as though there's yet another way to get "in" if you haven't already.
I'll get to that in a moment; first, I'm gonna tell you what BookBub is if you haven't heard of it.
If you like free and discounted books that have great Amazon reviews and an author with a strong backlist of titles, BookBub delivers that to your inbox once a day.
Readers can find e-books like Prey by Michael Crichton (I've read this and it's an awesome book), for just $0.99 rather than the $9.99 it usually costs, without having to hunt those deals down or make guesses, with a free subscription. This is one of the deals I saw on the site today. You tell BookBub your favorite genres, and they tailor your e-mail to your tastes.
Authors can be included in the daily e-mail for a fee, after they submit the book and get approval by the BookBub team.
Here's the link to sign up as a reader: Join BookBub.
A team of folks at BookBub research every book submitted to see if it'll be an excellent fit for their reader base. If yes, they notify the author and the book is included in the ad. If no, they decline the offer and move to the next title on the list.
But what if an author has a huge fan following on the site? Don't you think that might just influence those folks doing the choosing one way or the other?
Now, you can follow your favorite authors on BookBub. There's a simple search and follow system (I sought out a number of Indies to see if they were on the list, and I found them with relative ease).
You see where I'm going with this, don't you?
If you're considering a BookBub ad, you might want to cinch the deal by having your fans (who are subscribers to the daily list) go add you as a favorite author. Why? Well...
Say I have a novel that's usually $3.99 on Amazon, and I want to discount it to $0.99 for three days. I've published twenty books to date and most have at least ten reviews above three stars. But another author who has the exact same deal and backlist stats also submits a book to be included in the ad.
How do the folks doing the picking make a decision between the two?
If I have two hundred people who've added me to a favorite author list, and the other submitter has only fifty, which author do you think will win that tossup?
Yeah...
So, it may behoove you to ask people to add you to their BookBub favorite authors list. Now. Before the site is flooded by others doing the same.
Did you add your favorite authors yet?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Are you a subscriber to BookBub? If not, why is that?
It's been said that one BookBub ad can launch you from zero to hero overnight. But they're picky about the authors/genres that get featured. I know authors who've taken this route, and they say it changed their career.
Now, it seems as though there's yet another way to get "in" if you haven't already.
I'll get to that in a moment; first, I'm gonna tell you what BookBub is if you haven't heard of it.
If you like free and discounted books that have great Amazon reviews and an author with a strong backlist of titles, BookBub delivers that to your inbox once a day.
Readers can find e-books like Prey by Michael Crichton (I've read this and it's an awesome book), for just $0.99 rather than the $9.99 it usually costs, without having to hunt those deals down or make guesses, with a free subscription. This is one of the deals I saw on the site today. You tell BookBub your favorite genres, and they tailor your e-mail to your tastes.
Authors can be included in the daily e-mail for a fee, after they submit the book and get approval by the BookBub team.
Here's the link to sign up as a reader: Join BookBub.
A team of folks at BookBub research every book submitted to see if it'll be an excellent fit for their reader base. If yes, they notify the author and the book is included in the ad. If no, they decline the offer and move to the next title on the list.
But what if an author has a huge fan following on the site? Don't you think that might just influence those folks doing the choosing one way or the other?
Now, you can follow your favorite authors on BookBub. There's a simple search and follow system (I sought out a number of Indies to see if they were on the list, and I found them with relative ease).
You see where I'm going with this, don't you?
If you're considering a BookBub ad, you might want to cinch the deal by having your fans (who are subscribers to the daily list) go add you as a favorite author. Why? Well...
Say I have a novel that's usually $3.99 on Amazon, and I want to discount it to $0.99 for three days. I've published twenty books to date and most have at least ten reviews above three stars. But another author who has the exact same deal and backlist stats also submits a book to be included in the ad.
How do the folks doing the picking make a decision between the two?
If I have two hundred people who've added me to a favorite author list, and the other submitter has only fifty, which author do you think will win that tossup?
Yeah...
So, it may behoove you to ask people to add you to their BookBub favorite authors list. Now. Before the site is flooded by others doing the same.
Did you add your favorite authors yet?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 17, 2015
Publisher's Weekly Calls for Information
Happy Tuesday, all you beautiful people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm gonna talk about Publisher's Weekly. If you remember, there were a couple of people who got their publishing news from this outlet. Missed that post? You can check it out here. Anywho, I'm not just gonna discuss the publication, but hone in on a specific part: the Call for Information articles. Ready? Grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!
In every digital issue of PW I get, there's a little article in the front titled: Call for Information.
What is it?
Well, it's the curators of the magazine searching for news. Last week, it was all about wanting books on how-to information for camera phones, Instagram, and books with lots of pretty digital photos in them. They also asked for goodies from publishers on upcoming inspirational titles.
Why does this matter?
You're a publisher if you're an Indie author. There might just be a chance for you to submit your own stuff and be included in this amazing publication.
This week, they're asking for books on the environment and sustainability coming out this spring, as well as health and fitness books about to hit the market.
But I have a special surprise for you! Each week, all you have to do is click this link to see what the PW editors are looking for.
Consider it my easy button gift to you. *grin*
What are you waiting for? Get on over there and check it out!
What do you think? Will you use it?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
In every digital issue of PW I get, there's a little article in the front titled: Call for Information.
What is it?
Well, it's the curators of the magazine searching for news. Last week, it was all about wanting books on how-to information for camera phones, Instagram, and books with lots of pretty digital photos in them. They also asked for goodies from publishers on upcoming inspirational titles.
Why does this matter?
You're a publisher if you're an Indie author. There might just be a chance for you to submit your own stuff and be included in this amazing publication.
This week, they're asking for books on the environment and sustainability coming out this spring, as well as health and fitness books about to hit the market.
But I have a special surprise for you! Each week, all you have to do is click this link to see what the PW editors are looking for.
Consider it my easy button gift to you. *grin*
What are you waiting for? Get on over there and check it out!
What do you think? Will you use it?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 16, 2015
Featured Author - K. C. Neal - Publication Spotlight
Happy, happy Monday, you gorgeous readers of my blog! Today, I'm bringing you more information on my featured author. A publication roundup. Since Ms. K. C. Neal strictly writes YA, I'm gonna leave that part off the genre descriptions. Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!
Title: Pyxis: The Discovery (The Pyxis series book 1)
Genre: Coming of Age Fantasy
Length (print): 238 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:
Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same nightmares. Pursued by a woman who wants to take over Corinne's mind--and has the supernatural ability to do it--Corinne discovers that her own family holds the key. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she's destined to protect this world–-and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free . . .
Title: Alight: The Peril (The Pyxis series book 2) Genre: Coming of Age Fantasy Length (print): 242 pagesBuy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:When Corinne learns who the second Guardian is, she must find a way to make peace with the last person in the world she wants to deal with. As she struggles, her nemesis unleashes an otherworldly evil, and a mysterious illness strikes Corinne s friends. Faltering under the weight of her destiny, Corinne escapes to the dream world. There, she meets Zane, who has a revelation that binds them together and alters the path of Corinne s life. She throws herself into fighting for everything she loves, but just as she s certain she will prevail, she s robbed of what she needs most.
The Pyxis Series is for readers who enjoy teen & young adult science fiction & fantasy fantasy paranormal & urban, teen & young adult science fiction & fantasy fantasy coming of age, magic magical telepathy telepathic dreams colors, teen & young adult romance paranormal & fantasy, teen & young adult romancecontemporary, teen & young adult literature & fiction action & adventure, children's ebooks science fiction fantasy & scary stories fantasy & magic.
Title: Arrival Day (Helia's Shadow Prequel - Starlight Age Series)
Genre: Sci-fi
Length (print): About 100
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99
Blurb:
When alien boy Kalo first arrived on Earth with the rest of his people, he never imagined a future with anything other than the Universal Mission. The Mission had carried them through the universe for millennia, finding and studying intelligent species, always with the end purpose of enslaving them. But lately, something unfamiliar has taken root inside Kalo—the desire to break free of the Mission and his leader, Tal-Reku. And he’s not the only one. He and the other alien rebels must learn how to be revolutionaries within a society that’s never strayed from their practices, and under an all-knowing leader who will stop at nothing to complete the Mission on Earth.
Meanwhile, Earthborn boy Gordon conducts his trades in and out of Haven so he can pay for extra medicine and food for his sick mother. He may be only 12 years old, but he knows Haven’s underground better than most grown-ups. When he gets an unusual opportunity to help a young couple start a new life outside of Haven, he learns of an underground resistance—citizens who want the seemingly-benevolent aliens gone. Intrigued, he can’t resist the pull of the organized rebellion and the dark-haired girl who’s already part of their ranks.
Title: Helia’s Shadow Part One (Starlight Age #1) Genre: Sci-Fi Length (print): 300 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:Sixteen-year-old Helia wants two things in life: to step out of her over-protective mother's shadow and become an engineer, and to stop hiding her relationship with alien boy Kalo. But the world definitely isn't ready for a human-alien romance. And worse, the human-alien partnership is crumbling. Humans are arrested without explanation. Some of them are never seen again.
When the alien leader imprisons her mother on a false charge, Helia discovers the aliens never intended to help humans at all. Now, she must join forces with alien rebels. If she succeeds, humans have a chance at survival and she has a chance at love. If she fails, the dwindling human race dies out in slavery.
When the aliens arrived, they were hailed as the saviors of a dying Earth and dwindling human race. But the aliens didn't come to help. Now, one human girl's ingenious invention and one alien boy's awakened heart are humanity's last hope...
Title: Helia’s Shadow Part Two (Starlight Age #2)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length (print): 246 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $3.20
Blurb:
Helia’s Shadow Part Two picks up right where Part One ended, with Helia trapped in a transporter on the way to the lunar prison. When she gets there, she discovers that the rumors Gordon heard were true—there are alien cannibals on the moon. It’s more horrific and dangerous than anything she ever imagined. She must survive long enough to figure out how to escape back to earth, find Kalo and the rebels, and take down Reku before he enslaves the last surviving humans.
One human girl’s ingenious invention and one alien boy’s awakened heart are humanity’s last hope . . .
Title: The Naturals: Awakening (Serial Series Complete Episode 1 Box set)Genre: Sci-Fi Length (print): 225 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:A small town full of secrets. A coming darkness. Teens with supernatural abilities. Think you know the story? Think again.
As Summer ends, the students at Silverwood High are getting ready to go back to school and resume their normal, everyday lives. Too bad "normal" is no longer an option. When these teens get their very first tastes of what destiny has in store, will they embrace that destiny... or flee from it? Will they be selfless... or ruthless? Will they master their abilities... or will their abilities master them?
This is their awakening, the first step of an epic journey. But it's only the beginning of something bigger than they could ever imagine.
The sleepy little town of Silverwood is about to wake up.
Title: Pretty Little Liars: Better off Dead (Kindle Worlds Short Story)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 25 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99
Blurb:
For years, ever since beautiful, tantalizingly evil Alison DiLaurentis disappeared and died, surviving victim-friends, Aria, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer have been traumatized by knowing, surgically precise text message revelations from Alison’s alter ego, the mysterious, vindictive “A.” In Better Off Dead, the four liars find strength in numbers, taking in a new girl, Mona – another apprehensive victim of A’s poison-text campaign. Finally they get a break when after some expert sleuthing, Spencer believes she’s discovered the source of A’s cruel power – a revelation that is guaranteed to blow the roof off Rosewood High. After one of the girls is backed into a potentially fatal corner by A’s ongoing maliciousness, Spencer begins a secret investigation that will ultimately cause all of the pretty little liars to re-examine everything they’ve been through, starting with Alison’s unexplained death.
Better Off Dead provides another dazzling climax of the Pretty Little Liars mysteries; one that is sure to find favor with the many fans of the series and People’s Choice Award-winning, ABC-TV show.
Well? Whatcha waitin' for? Go get a new read!
That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Title: Pyxis: The Discovery (The Pyxis series book 1)
Genre: Coming of Age Fantasy
Length (print): 238 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same nightmares. Pursued by a woman who wants to take over Corinne's mind--and has the supernatural ability to do it--Corinne discovers that her own family holds the key. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she's destined to protect this world–-and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free . . .
Title: Alight: The Peril (The Pyxis series book 2) Genre: Coming of Age Fantasy Length (print): 242 pagesBuy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:When Corinne learns who the second Guardian is, she must find a way to make peace with the last person in the world she wants to deal with. As she struggles, her nemesis unleashes an otherworldly evil, and a mysterious illness strikes Corinne s friends. Faltering under the weight of her destiny, Corinne escapes to the dream world. There, she meets Zane, who has a revelation that binds them together and alters the path of Corinne s life. She throws herself into fighting for everything she loves, but just as she s certain she will prevail, she s robbed of what she needs most. The Pyxis Series is for readers who enjoy teen & young adult science fiction & fantasy fantasy paranormal & urban, teen & young adult science fiction & fantasy fantasy coming of age, magic magical telepathy telepathic dreams colors, teen & young adult romance paranormal & fantasy, teen & young adult romancecontemporary, teen & young adult literature & fiction action & adventure, children's ebooks science fiction fantasy & scary stories fantasy & magic.
Title: Arrival Day (Helia's Shadow Prequel - Starlight Age Series)
Genre: Sci-fi
Length (print): About 100
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99
Blurb:When alien boy Kalo first arrived on Earth with the rest of his people, he never imagined a future with anything other than the Universal Mission. The Mission had carried them through the universe for millennia, finding and studying intelligent species, always with the end purpose of enslaving them. But lately, something unfamiliar has taken root inside Kalo—the desire to break free of the Mission and his leader, Tal-Reku. And he’s not the only one. He and the other alien rebels must learn how to be revolutionaries within a society that’s never strayed from their practices, and under an all-knowing leader who will stop at nothing to complete the Mission on Earth.
Meanwhile, Earthborn boy Gordon conducts his trades in and out of Haven so he can pay for extra medicine and food for his sick mother. He may be only 12 years old, but he knows Haven’s underground better than most grown-ups. When he gets an unusual opportunity to help a young couple start a new life outside of Haven, he learns of an underground resistance—citizens who want the seemingly-benevolent aliens gone. Intrigued, he can’t resist the pull of the organized rebellion and the dark-haired girl who’s already part of their ranks.
Title: Helia’s Shadow Part One (Starlight Age #1) Genre: Sci-Fi Length (print): 300 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:Sixteen-year-old Helia wants two things in life: to step out of her over-protective mother's shadow and become an engineer, and to stop hiding her relationship with alien boy Kalo. But the world definitely isn't ready for a human-alien romance. And worse, the human-alien partnership is crumbling. Humans are arrested without explanation. Some of them are never seen again. When the alien leader imprisons her mother on a false charge, Helia discovers the aliens never intended to help humans at all. Now, she must join forces with alien rebels. If she succeeds, humans have a chance at survival and she has a chance at love. If she fails, the dwindling human race dies out in slavery.
When the aliens arrived, they were hailed as the saviors of a dying Earth and dwindling human race. But the aliens didn't come to help. Now, one human girl's ingenious invention and one alien boy's awakened heart are humanity's last hope...
Title: Helia’s Shadow Part Two (Starlight Age #2)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length (print): 246 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $3.20
Blurb:Helia’s Shadow Part Two picks up right where Part One ended, with Helia trapped in a transporter on the way to the lunar prison. When she gets there, she discovers that the rumors Gordon heard were true—there are alien cannibals on the moon. It’s more horrific and dangerous than anything she ever imagined. She must survive long enough to figure out how to escape back to earth, find Kalo and the rebels, and take down Reku before he enslaves the last surviving humans.
One human girl’s ingenious invention and one alien boy’s awakened heart are humanity’s last hope . . .
Title: The Naturals: Awakening (Serial Series Complete Episode 1 Box set)Genre: Sci-Fi Length (print): 225 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:A small town full of secrets. A coming darkness. Teens with supernatural abilities. Think you know the story? Think again. As Summer ends, the students at Silverwood High are getting ready to go back to school and resume their normal, everyday lives. Too bad "normal" is no longer an option. When these teens get their very first tastes of what destiny has in store, will they embrace that destiny... or flee from it? Will they be selfless... or ruthless? Will they master their abilities... or will their abilities master them?
This is their awakening, the first step of an epic journey. But it's only the beginning of something bigger than they could ever imagine.
The sleepy little town of Silverwood is about to wake up.
Title: Pretty Little Liars: Better off Dead (Kindle Worlds Short Story)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 25 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99
Blurb:For years, ever since beautiful, tantalizingly evil Alison DiLaurentis disappeared and died, surviving victim-friends, Aria, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer have been traumatized by knowing, surgically precise text message revelations from Alison’s alter ego, the mysterious, vindictive “A.” In Better Off Dead, the four liars find strength in numbers, taking in a new girl, Mona – another apprehensive victim of A’s poison-text campaign. Finally they get a break when after some expert sleuthing, Spencer believes she’s discovered the source of A’s cruel power – a revelation that is guaranteed to blow the roof off Rosewood High. After one of the girls is backed into a potentially fatal corner by A’s ongoing maliciousness, Spencer begins a secret investigation that will ultimately cause all of the pretty little liars to re-examine everything they’ve been through, starting with Alison’s unexplained death.
Better Off Dead provides another dazzling climax of the Pretty Little Liars mysteries; one that is sure to find favor with the many fans of the series and People’s Choice Award-winning, ABC-TV show.
Well? Whatcha waitin' for? Go get a new read!
That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 14, 2015
Cover Reveal - Always Remembered
ALWAYS REMEMBERED(The final Never Forgotten Novel.)The third and final installment of the Never Forgotten Series by Kelly Risser will release in digital format on May 19, 2015. We have the official cover reveal here for you. Don't forget to flip over to the book page to pre-order your copy today.
ALWAYS REMEMBERED:One clue… what does it mean?Ken, the leader of the Blue Men of the Minch, has kidnapped Evan. Before they left, Evan was able to leave a package for Meara—her grandfather’s necklace wrapped in a cloth napkin with one word written in blood. Azuria. Unfortunately, Meara doesn’t understand it and neither does her dad or Kieran.When Dad and Aunt Brigid attempt to rescue Evan, Meara and Kieran begin to train the clan on how to fight and defend their home. A war is brewing, and Meara is determined their people must prepare for the battle. The training sessions are long and arduous, but the Selkies work hard to learn.Meanwhile, Evan wakes and finds himself in Belle Tresor, the home of sirens. He’s bound to his blue form, unable to transform to human, and Ken has plans to use Evan’s powers to destroy the Selkies. Thankfully, he’s not alone. He befriends a siren named Deanna and several Blue Men. Can he trust them to help him escape or do they have ulterior motives?As both sides prepare for an ultimate confrontation, the stakes are high and friendships are tested. Some will rise to be victorious. Some will be destroyed. But love and loyalty will be always remembered in this exciting conclusion to the Never Forgotten series.
Pre-Order Your Copy Today Here.
If you haven't started reading this series, we recommend you read the first novel today because it's amazing and it's free! Check out
Never Forgotten
by Kelly Risser.
What do you think? Are you gonna check it out? You should!!
If you recall, Kelly is one of the authors of Fractured Glass. What's better than a free read by an author you already love?
Go get it!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
ALWAYS REMEMBERED:One clue… what does it mean?Ken, the leader of the Blue Men of the Minch, has kidnapped Evan. Before they left, Evan was able to leave a package for Meara—her grandfather’s necklace wrapped in a cloth napkin with one word written in blood. Azuria. Unfortunately, Meara doesn’t understand it and neither does her dad or Kieran.When Dad and Aunt Brigid attempt to rescue Evan, Meara and Kieran begin to train the clan on how to fight and defend their home. A war is brewing, and Meara is determined their people must prepare for the battle. The training sessions are long and arduous, but the Selkies work hard to learn.Meanwhile, Evan wakes and finds himself in Belle Tresor, the home of sirens. He’s bound to his blue form, unable to transform to human, and Ken has plans to use Evan’s powers to destroy the Selkies. Thankfully, he’s not alone. He befriends a siren named Deanna and several Blue Men. Can he trust them to help him escape or do they have ulterior motives?As both sides prepare for an ultimate confrontation, the stakes are high and friendships are tested. Some will rise to be victorious. Some will be destroyed. But love and loyalty will be always remembered in this exciting conclusion to the Never Forgotten series. Pre-Order Your Copy Today Here.
If you haven't started reading this series, we recommend you read the first novel today because it's amazing and it's free! Check out
Never Forgotten
by Kelly Risser.What do you think? Are you gonna check it out? You should!!
If you recall, Kelly is one of the authors of Fractured Glass. What's better than a free read by an author you already love?
Go get it!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Cover Reveal - Ask Me About My Unicorn
A special thank you to Emily at Timeless Key Photography for making my beautiful banner. They are two awesome teens starting out their adventures in photography and are doing some amazing things. I have the best fans. -DelphinaComing April 2015
Loving a unicorn is easy. Yourself?... not so much. Cover By Mae I Design
Read Where It All Began
Always be yourselfThat was the last advice Scout's Grandma Nora gave her before she died. Scout has spent her life trying to be anything but, but she has a chance to start anew as she moves several states away to college. She had always thought the glowing aura she saw around some people was a childhood fancy, but when it starts coming back just as she's starting her new life, she learns there was much hidden about who she truly is.Thankfully, she has a motley crew to help her along the way: a spunky bookseller, a trustworthy pub owner, a commanding grandmother, a possible best friend, and a hot rocker boy who only has eyes for her.Bonus: “Witches, and Werewolves, and Unicorns, Oh My!” By Elizabeth Kirke: A More than Magic Series Short Story— Exclusively written for Unless You Can Be a Unicorn
Amazon B&N Apple Kobo
March 13, 2015
A Book Vacation - utopYA Con 2015 Interview with Victoria Faye
Happy Friday! Eep! It's time for the weekend, and Shana over at
A Book Vacation
has something special for you all. As you know, Friday is the day for utopYA Con 2015 posts here on the blog, and I love to give you guys peeks at what the other bloggers are doing. This week, it's all about Branding (heck yeah!) and the special workshop Victoria Faye of Whit and Ware is giving at the con. If you don't have tickets to the con yet, get them here. It's gonna be four days of fun and learning!
Don't forget to collect all four pieces of the special phrase the bloggers will have on their posts. The whole phrase will be needed when you enter to win Saturday signing space!
Want another beautiful infobit? You'll also find out the details of Whit and Ware's giveaway: Dream Like a Boss during the interview. GOGOGOGO!
Here's the schedule:
Week 1 – Jo Michaels hosts C. J. Redwine's discussion on her workshop - Query Letter
Week 2 – A Book Vacation hosts Victoria Faye's discussion on her workshop - Book Branding Blueprint
Week 3 – The Paisley Reader hosts Regina Wamba's discussion on her workshop for graphic designers and photographers
Week 4 – Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous will be talking about the special Friday night event, will have a list of Saturday signing authors, and will be giving away a spot at the signing
Why are you still here? Get over to A Book Vacation and find out more! Don't forget to snag the partial phrase while you're there!
Are you excited about this workshop? Tell me why.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Don't forget to collect all four pieces of the special phrase the bloggers will have on their posts. The whole phrase will be needed when you enter to win Saturday signing space!
Want another beautiful infobit? You'll also find out the details of Whit and Ware's giveaway: Dream Like a Boss during the interview. GOGOGOGO!
Here's the schedule:
Week 1 – Jo Michaels hosts C. J. Redwine's discussion on her workshop - Query Letter
Week 2 – A Book Vacation hosts Victoria Faye's discussion on her workshop - Book Branding Blueprint
Week 3 – The Paisley Reader hosts Regina Wamba's discussion on her workshop for graphic designers and photographers
Week 4 – Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous will be talking about the special Friday night event, will have a list of Saturday signing authors, and will be giving away a spot at the signing
Why are you still here? Get over to A Book Vacation and find out more! Don't forget to snag the partial phrase while you're there!
Are you excited about this workshop? Tell me why.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 12, 2015
Synopsis vs Blurb
Happy Thursday, beautiful readers of my blog! Today we're gonna go over a couple of words and what they mean. I'll be focusing on the words synopsis and blurb and what each means. Grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!The definitions!
Synopsis:
A brief summary or general survey of something.
An outline of the plot of a book, play, movie, or episode of a television show.
Blurb:
A short description of a book, movie, or other product written for promotional purposes and appearing on the cover of a book or in an advertisement.
When you write your query letters, most agents want a summary or synopsis that includes spoilers (the whole plot in a few lines).
However, you don't want those spoilers in the promotional material, so you use the synopsis to create a compelling blurb (which appears on the back cover of your novel), leaving out the sensitive parts.
In addition, a blurb can be a short snippet from a review that entices readers to pick up your work.
So, to break it down in layman's terms:
A synopsis is a summary that can contain spoilers.A blurb is any promotional copy that hooks readers.Does that make it easier to understand?
When you attend something like C. J. Redwine's Query Letter workshop, you'll learn to craft a compelling synopsis of your novel for your query letters. From there, your blurbs will grow wings. If you want to know a little more about the workshop, I discuss the finer points with C. J. here.
Yes, she'll have a workshop at utopYA Con 2015, but she also offers them online.
It's worth looking into for the blurb writing ability it'll surely give you. Even if you don't want an agent, selling your book is important, right?
What do you think? Were you aware of these differences?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 11, 2015
Book Giveaways in Your Inbox
Happy Wednesday, everyone! I know you all love books, right? That should be why you're checking out my blog. Today I'm gonna tell you about an awesome service INDIE Books Gone Wild offers their clients and give you a link where you can join in the fun. Get your clicking fingers ready and let's get going!
PROMOTION
Why is that such a scary word? Because Indies promote tirelessly. It's really quite a big job to promote one book, let alone two, ten, or fifteen. For that reason, writers rely on having fans; people who know and love the books these Indies write, and folks who'll seek out more once they've tasted something awesome.
(Sign up for IBGW's newsletter here.)
Think about it: Who are your favorite authors?
Betcha have a list of well-known writers alongside those Indies you love, right?
How'd you find them?
Was it through a friend's recommendation, or were you browsing a bookstore one day and happened upon a novel that captured you?
What if you could've tried that new author you grew to love with zero risk?
That's what we're offering you!
Here's the skinny:
IBGW edits and proofreads a book (or a series). Once that book (or books--if we do them all at once) gets published, we set up and run a Rafflecopter giveaway. Entry options are always to give our author a follow on some kind of social media and give IBGW a follow somewhere, somehow. IBGW purchases the books and ships or gifts them to the winner(s).
This accomplishes two things:
You get the chance to follow an author you might likeOur authors get a little publicity as we build our own audienceWe only send out e-mails when one of our authors publishes a new title we've worked on in some way, and an e-mail once a year (in January) as a recap/roundup. While we can't guarantee you'll love every genre and want to enter, or even that you'll love every story our authors produce, we can guarantee you'll find a well-edited (or well formatted, depending on the service we provided) novel. We embed the giveaway form in the e-mail, so all you have to do is click and enter!
When we edit and proofread a book, we give away two digital copies. When we format a print book, we give away one.
So, head on over to our signup form here:
MAILCHIMP
and let the delivery of awesome begin!
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Did you sign up? What kind of genres do you prefer to read?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
PROMOTION
Why is that such a scary word? Because Indies promote tirelessly. It's really quite a big job to promote one book, let alone two, ten, or fifteen. For that reason, writers rely on having fans; people who know and love the books these Indies write, and folks who'll seek out more once they've tasted something awesome.
(Sign up for IBGW's newsletter here.)
Think about it: Who are your favorite authors?
Betcha have a list of well-known writers alongside those Indies you love, right?
How'd you find them?
Was it through a friend's recommendation, or were you browsing a bookstore one day and happened upon a novel that captured you?
What if you could've tried that new author you grew to love with zero risk?
That's what we're offering you!
Here's the skinny:
IBGW edits and proofreads a book (or a series). Once that book (or books--if we do them all at once) gets published, we set up and run a Rafflecopter giveaway. Entry options are always to give our author a follow on some kind of social media and give IBGW a follow somewhere, somehow. IBGW purchases the books and ships or gifts them to the winner(s).
This accomplishes two things:
You get the chance to follow an author you might likeOur authors get a little publicity as we build our own audienceWe only send out e-mails when one of our authors publishes a new title we've worked on in some way, and an e-mail once a year (in January) as a recap/roundup. While we can't guarantee you'll love every genre and want to enter, or even that you'll love every story our authors produce, we can guarantee you'll find a well-edited (or well formatted, depending on the service we provided) novel. We embed the giveaway form in the e-mail, so all you have to do is click and enter!
When we edit and proofread a book, we give away two digital copies. When we format a print book, we give away one.
So, head on over to our signup form here:
MAILCHIMP
and let the delivery of awesome begin!
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Did you sign up? What kind of genres do you prefer to read?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
March 10, 2015
Hootsuite vs. Buffer
Happy Technology Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! As promised, today I'm talking about digital stuff that'll help you on your way to awesome. It's all about Hootsuite and Buffer, and the pros and cons of using each. So grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!
As you all may know, I wrote a post a while back on the benefits of using Buffer to schedule updates to social media. I love this feature! Sadly, I left Buffer for Hootsuite about a year ago. Let me tell you why, and what brought me back to the Buffer family as a paid subscriber. Let me start with links to the services:
BUFFER ~ HOOTSUITE
When I first began using Buffer, it was still in its infancy. While on the free version, you can connect up to four accounts and schedule something like twelve updates. That worked well for me for a little while, and it was great for someone with a blog in the beginning stages. One of my biggest issues was not being able to choose which image appeared with my posts.
So, I left Buffer for Hootsuite.
Here was this new interface that it took me a minute to learn how to use, but I felt the time spent was well worth it. Hootsuite's free account will allow you to pull feeds from your favorite social media outlets, connect up to three accounts, and schedule your stuff a few days in advance on any timeline you wish. Your number of posts are still limited, but it's comparable to Buffer's. Here's a link to their plan comparison chart.
All good, right?
Everything was perfect until...
My posts refused to go and there was nothing notifying me stuff was down. I struggled with it for over a week. Page views hit rock bottom, less than 200 per day, and I tried to be patient while wondering in the back of my head if it was only my account having issues.
So, I waited.
And I waited.
And I waited.
Then, I pulled my head out of my rear and hit up those social media platforms to ask if I was the only one experiencing issues.
Guess what? You got it. I wasn't the only one! Relief flooded me at the same time panic set in.
What was I going to do?
A moment of clarity hit me between the eyes like a glass brick.
Why don't I see if Buffer will post my updates?
So, I cruised on back to my old friend. What I found there is nothing short of astounding. Not only could I pay a nominal fee (Buffer charges $10 a month for an upgraded account called the Awesome Plan), but that small amount gave me access to: Connecting up to twelve social media accounts (do you really have more than that?), scheduling up to 200 posts in advance, setting up a custom posting schedule for each day, adding a team member who can also schedule posts and stuff, and pulling RSS feeds.
But that's not the best part! In addition to all of the above, I also have access to a world of easy to understand analytic data.
Hootsuite gives you that, too, but it's only available to paid subscribers, whereas Buffer's is free, and Hootsuite's fee is more than I'm willing to put out of my pocket each month. Plus, their data breakdown just isn't this slick.
Take a look at what I'm talking about:
That's just a shot of how my posts performed. But, at the top of the page, there's a little box with a dropdown menu you simply must check out:
Yeah, that's about as easy as it gets! I know exactly which posts are doing well; thereby letting me know what content my readers and followers may want more of.
Quickly! Scroll back up to the top of my blog and look on the right hand side. See that little Buffer button? Yeah, that makes it super easy for my visitors to share my content on their own Buffer. One little click.
How does this save me time?
Glad you asked! When I publish a new blog post, or want to fill my Buffer with posts I've already created, I just navigate to the page and click the share button.
I don't even have to go to the Buffer main page if I don't want to. It's the same for people visiting my blog.
By the way, both of these services have an app you can download from the app store.
Now for a couple of numbers!
With Hootsuite, I got around 1k hits on my blog per day. Not too bad...
With Buffer, I've nearly doubled that number.
You tell me which one you'd rather have.
Now, there are "purists" out there who believe if you're tweeting or posting to Facebook, you should be present. But what author do you know that has the time to devote to being online as often as it takes to be able to do things like that? You can still be personable with an auto update. Plus, you can't really get all that analytic data without something backing you up.
Do you use either of these methods? Let's discuss!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
As you all may know, I wrote a post a while back on the benefits of using Buffer to schedule updates to social media. I love this feature! Sadly, I left Buffer for Hootsuite about a year ago. Let me tell you why, and what brought me back to the Buffer family as a paid subscriber. Let me start with links to the services:
BUFFER ~ HOOTSUITE
When I first began using Buffer, it was still in its infancy. While on the free version, you can connect up to four accounts and schedule something like twelve updates. That worked well for me for a little while, and it was great for someone with a blog in the beginning stages. One of my biggest issues was not being able to choose which image appeared with my posts.
So, I left Buffer for Hootsuite.
Here was this new interface that it took me a minute to learn how to use, but I felt the time spent was well worth it. Hootsuite's free account will allow you to pull feeds from your favorite social media outlets, connect up to three accounts, and schedule your stuff a few days in advance on any timeline you wish. Your number of posts are still limited, but it's comparable to Buffer's. Here's a link to their plan comparison chart.
All good, right?
Everything was perfect until...
My posts refused to go and there was nothing notifying me stuff was down. I struggled with it for over a week. Page views hit rock bottom, less than 200 per day, and I tried to be patient while wondering in the back of my head if it was only my account having issues.
So, I waited.
And I waited.
And I waited.
Then, I pulled my head out of my rear and hit up those social media platforms to ask if I was the only one experiencing issues.
Guess what? You got it. I wasn't the only one! Relief flooded me at the same time panic set in.
What was I going to do?
A moment of clarity hit me between the eyes like a glass brick.
Why don't I see if Buffer will post my updates?
So, I cruised on back to my old friend. What I found there is nothing short of astounding. Not only could I pay a nominal fee (Buffer charges $10 a month for an upgraded account called the Awesome Plan), but that small amount gave me access to: Connecting up to twelve social media accounts (do you really have more than that?), scheduling up to 200 posts in advance, setting up a custom posting schedule for each day, adding a team member who can also schedule posts and stuff, and pulling RSS feeds.
But that's not the best part! In addition to all of the above, I also have access to a world of easy to understand analytic data.
Hootsuite gives you that, too, but it's only available to paid subscribers, whereas Buffer's is free, and Hootsuite's fee is more than I'm willing to put out of my pocket each month. Plus, their data breakdown just isn't this slick.
Take a look at what I'm talking about:
That's just a shot of how my posts performed. But, at the top of the page, there's a little box with a dropdown menu you simply must check out:
Yeah, that's about as easy as it gets! I know exactly which posts are doing well; thereby letting me know what content my readers and followers may want more of.
Quickly! Scroll back up to the top of my blog and look on the right hand side. See that little Buffer button? Yeah, that makes it super easy for my visitors to share my content on their own Buffer. One little click.
How does this save me time?
Glad you asked! When I publish a new blog post, or want to fill my Buffer with posts I've already created, I just navigate to the page and click the share button.
I don't even have to go to the Buffer main page if I don't want to. It's the same for people visiting my blog.
By the way, both of these services have an app you can download from the app store.
Now for a couple of numbers!
With Hootsuite, I got around 1k hits on my blog per day. Not too bad...
With Buffer, I've nearly doubled that number.
You tell me which one you'd rather have.
Now, there are "purists" out there who believe if you're tweeting or posting to Facebook, you should be present. But what author do you know that has the time to devote to being online as often as it takes to be able to do things like that? You can still be personable with an auto update. Plus, you can't really get all that analytic data without something backing you up.
Do you use either of these methods? Let's discuss!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
