Leta Blake's Blog, page 62
January 24, 2014
Experience Marketing Serials? Help Needed, Por Favor! #writing #publishing #help
My current manuscript is quite long, over 300k words, and, as such, is far too long for the market accustomed to novels that are more like 110k at the outside. However, the good news is, that the manuscript is structured in such a way that I believe it would work well as a serialized novel. Each part would be around 38k words and I’d price them accordingly.
As I get closer to a completed product, I’m looking for some input and advice about serialization. Does anyone have experience with publishing a serial? And if so, could you offer any advice about what to do, what not to do, or pass on ideas for marketing, etc? Any input at all would be lovely and helpful!
In addition, I’m wondering if I’m overlooking an obvious way to sell subscriptions to the serial, so that someone can pay a set amount up front and receive each episode as it is put out, rather than having to count entirely on return traffic as each episode is released. I saw that Amazon has as service called Amazon Serials, but it requires pitching your idea to them, being accepted, etc, and I’m not sure I care to go that route. I’d rather do it on my own or find another service, unless someone knows something about Amazon Serials that I don’t. Surely there must be some obvious way to provide a subscription service for myself. Hopefully.
Again, any information or experience that might be shared would be wonderful. Thank you!
Gay Games and Inclusiveness #gaygames9 #lgbt #gay
Because of all the terrible things happening in Russia right now, I’ve had mixed emotions about the Olympics this year, especially on the heels of releasing Training Season, an erotic romance which features an Olympic athlete. I wanted to find a way to feel like I was making even a small difference and that’s when I read up on the Gay Games and found that they are inclusive in every way, representing the true ideals of the original Olympics. Well, so long as you were male and not a slave and yadda. Never mind, forget my comment about the original Olympics. The Gay Games are much more inclusive than they ever were!
Regardless, I’ve pledged to donate 10% of the first six months of Training Season profits to the Gay Games to support an organization that is truly inclusive and open.
Now, Training Season might not be a read for everyone. It’s a gay erotic romance with some (smokin’ hot) graphic scenes that aren’t for every reader. But, in this post-50 Shades world, many people are looking for material of this nature and if you are, then this might be a book for you. With that reference alone, one should be able to determine if the book is for them or not.If you do purchase any time from now until May the 10% of your purchase price goes to support the Gay Games!
Training Season can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Smashwords. Coming soon to iBooks.
January 23, 2014
“A book I will read over and over again.” The Romance Reviews (TRR) – Training Season #mmromance #gay
“TRAINING SEASON is a tale told with such flair and tenderness, and with such insight into the two main characters that this is a book I will read over and over again.”
“A memorable story so sweetly told that it’s a real hardship when the story ends and you realise that even though Rob and Matty have their HEA, you don’t because you want to keep on reading!”
via The Romance Reviews (TRR) – Training Season
Read more of Susan MacNicol’s gushing review of Training Season at the link above and click below to buy a copy of your own!
Training Season can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Smashwords. Coming soon to iBooks.
January 21, 2014
Separating the opinion from the person #howtointernet #protip
Separating the opinion from the person.
If you’re on the internet, the above link has some very good advice for you. If you take it to heart, it will help you avoid interpersonal issues and undue paranoia.
There’s an app to help you find Girl Scout cookies. You’re welcome | Dallas Morning News
There’s an app to help you find Girl Scout cookies. You’re welcome | Dallas Morning News.
Yes, that’s right! Bird is selling the cookies! And I’ll ship ‘em to you! Even if you live in another country and you need your Thin Mint fix! Let me know! We’ll work something out!
January 20, 2014
Fifteen Free Copies of Training Season To The First Fifteen People to Comment On This Post! #mmromance #printbook
So, weird shit happens, right? Like, for example, when I got the file for the print cover of Training Season, I checked it over really well and it was all perfect. However, later, when I was doing some formatting, it came to my attention that the cover needed slightly altered to work with CreateSpace, so requested the change from the cover artist, who was very prompt with it. Unfortunately, I didn’t check the cover as well as I should have because I thought the only change being made to the file was one of size. Still, I should have checked every aspect a lot more closely than I did because…dun, dun, dun…I didn’t realize that the back cover had a blurb that wasn’t even remotely related to Training Season. Um, oops.
So, yeah, I clicked Publish with it that way.
*headdesk*
Now I’ve got fifteen books with a blurb on the back about some woman named Elizabeth, her daughter Clare, and a dude named Nathan. Everything else about these copies is totally correct. I’ve looked at every page and the rest of the book, the front cover, etc, is absolutely accurate.
So, what to do with these fifteen screwed up copies? I guess give them away for free to anyone who’ll have ‘em!
Reply below if you’re willing to home a copy of Training Season with a back blurb that’s all wrong. LOL! The first fifteen to reply will be sent these screwed up books for free. I’ll even sign them if you like, because apparently some people want signed copies of the books? (OMG, that blows my mind!) Um, and because I’m already losing money on this endeavor, please don’t hate me for restricting this to US folks only? I just don’t think I can afford international shipping for fifteen books when I’ve already paid for the books to be printed, etc.
Consider these rare collector’s editions? Or something? OMG this is embarrassing. Hello, my name is Leta, and I’m a dumbass. But you can get a book for free because I am. Just let me know.
See? The front cover is right. Who looks at a back cover anyway? Oh, right, someone trying to decide if they want to buy the book. *headdesk* FML.
Is STRAIN for me? #mmromance #post-apocalyptic #dub-con @RiptideBooks
Is STRAIN for me? #mmromance #post-apocalyptic #dub-con @RiptideBooks.
The above link leads to a frank discussion of Amelia Gormley’s upcoming book, STRAIN. Check it out. I don’t know about you, but I’m the sort that is always going to be more interested when someone warns me that I might be too delicate for something!
January 19, 2014
“One of my favorite ‘feel good’ books ever!” Training Season Review | Live Your Life, Buy The Book #mmromance #gay
“I absolutely adored this book! Definitely one of my favourite ‘feel good’ books. Ever!! It was perfect. Just perfect!”
“Beyond the MC’s are some wonderful side characters! Sooooo many great characters!”
“The descriptive writing is so beautiful too – I hate when authors are so heavy handed and verbose that I zone out – Leta Blake got the balance just right.”
Read more of Barb’s review at Live Your Life, Buy the Book’s Site:
Training Season | Live Your Life, Buy The Book.
Training Season can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Smashwords. Coming soon to iBooks.
January 18, 2014
The Effects of Nursing on Nurses #nursing #medicine
The Effects of Nursing on Nurses.
My girl, Rio, is a nurse and she shared this on Facebook. I thought it deserved wider distribution. It’s so true and if you’ve ever had a loved one in the hospital then you realize how necessary nurses are. Also, for the record, I hear that nurses can be bought via their stomachs and you should bring them cupcakes and french fries and all kinds of yummies.
