Gwen Gardner's Blog, page 28

Bring On Fatso, Stinky and Stretch

That's right, bring on Fatso, Stinky and Stretch!
Does anyone remember who they are?
To find out, visit me over at C.M. Brown's blog today....

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I'm also being interviewed over at Kitty Muse Book Reviews today. Please stop by and learn more about me, my series, and the next two books in the works.

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Also, the Indies 4 Hire Event starts today.
Please come join and support your local indies.
We're having an informal forum where you can ask any questions about self-publishing, cover design, formatting or editing.
AND
Don't forget the giveaway! It's easy to enter!
Want to help us tweet? Just copy and paste:

Help us celebrate and support indies Jan 21-27. Need book cover/formatting/editing? Indies 4 Hire http://tinyurl.com/cc7mwcshttp://tinyurl.com/cc7mwcz #indies4hire
An Indie helping Indies, Gwen Gardner Indie Services: editing and formatting http://indieservices.blogspot.com #indies4hire

Book Cover Diva - Because every book is first judged by its cover. #bookcovers http://bookcoverdiva.blogspot.com/#bookcovers  #indies4hire

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Indies 4 Hire Event and Ghosts

Happy Friday!





Today I wanted to tell you about an event I'm hosting with Maria Zannini. Since Maria and I both started new indie businesses we decided to team up to tell everyone about it.

The Indies 4 Hire Facebook Event starts on Monday January 21 (noon EST) - January 27th and is brought to you by.....



Indie Services

and



Book Cover Diva.
Feel free to grab our badges for your sidebar!

Got self-publishing questions? Questions about designing covers, formatting your novel, editing or proofing? This will be an informal forum-type Q & A. We'll be there to discuss or answer any questions you always wanted to know but maybe afraid to ask.

This is an indies helping indies event, where we'll share information and encouragement for those of us rogue-writers who've decided to go it alone. But - there's no need to really do it alone, because we have the support of our fellow indies!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it , is to help us in spreading the word or recommend us to your author friends - and of course, join us next week!

Join HEREAfter joining, while you're still on the FB page, click the "invite friends" button and invite your indie author friendsEnter the Rafflecopter (you're going to love the prizes...)Help us tweet (provided below) Covers+Formatting+Editing=Indies 4 Hire FB Event. Help celebrate and support the indies. http://tinyurl.com/cc7mwcs #indies4hire

Publishing can be affordable: editing, proofreading or formatting? Try Gwen Gardner, Indie Services http://indieservices.blogspot.com #indies4hireEvery book is first judged by its cover. What do you want yours to say? http://bookcoverdiva.blogspot.com Book Cover Diva  #indies4hire
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Also, I'll be over at C.M. Brown's blog on Monday, talking about - what else? - GHOSTS!
Please stop by the event and C.M's if you get a chance!

The Dragon Empire!


CP Design Who has another book coming out?

Heather McCorkle!

Check it Out!

The Dragon Empire by Heather McCorkle -- February 2013 / Compass Press


On Yacrana, dragons stand at the top of the evolutionary ladder instead of humans. Such an advanced species is not without its issues though.

There's trouble in the Dragon Empire, the kind that could start a war between dragons and the races of people. Hidden factions of dragons believe they should rule the lesser races, not simply stand aside and allow them to develop as they will. Having lived so long in peace, the Emperors turn a blind eye, many oblivious that such attitudes even exist.

Despite being only an architect class, emerald dragon, Grendar is willing to risk banishment and death to stop that which his rulers refuse to see. The hope of peace lies not within the scaled breast of a dragon however, but within the hands of a group of people. But if the hidden factions have their way, these people won’t live to fulfill such a destiny. With a reluctant seer at his side, Grendar must leave his precious Empire for the outside world to save those that will one day save his kind.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17158656-the-dragon-empire

AUTHOR BIO


Heather McCorkle

I am an author of fantasy, in all its many sub-genres. Living green, saving endangered species, helping other writers, and supporting fabulous authors are a few of my passions. I am also a volunteer for the IS Foundation which works to make the world a greener place. When I'm not volunteering, writing, or surfing my social networking sites, I can be found on the slopes, the hiking trails, or on horseback. As a native Oregonian, I enjoy the outdoors almost as much as the worlds I create on the pages. No need to travel to the Great Northwest though, you can find me here, on my blog, and Monday night's on Twitter where I co-moderate the #WritersRoad chat.



Author Links:

Website: http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4957267.Heather_McCorkle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Heather-McCorkle/211058455603533

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherMcCorkle

Friday Funnies: Folder or Not? And A News Leakage

 Thank you Debbie Ohi! I'll admit it. I am an ex-folder.
Nobody ever told me I wasn't supposed to. I always folded pages, and then as I got older, I only folded paperbacks. And as I got even older (yikes!) I stopped being a folder altogether.
Now I only use bookmarks.
Yep, I'm a bookmark addict.
How about you? Are you a folder, non-folder, ex-folder?
***** I have a bit of a news leak!
Maria Zannini and I are having a FB Eventand we'd like you to join us. Just click here:
Indies 4 Hire
January 21 - Jan 27, 2013

 Lovely Indies 4 Hire Badge by Maria Zannini
The event will be pretty low key. We're letting our friends know that we're open for business and will be on our Facebook Event Page for discussions on book cover art, editing and formatting. Have any questions? Please join us and invite your friends. We will also have a rafflecopter giveaway. I'll go into more detail next week.
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Happy Friday, everyone!
Have a good one and be safe!

Carol Kilgore: Solomon's Compass Cover Reveal

Today I'm pleased to be helping the lovely Carol Kilgore reveal the awesome cover of her newest novel, Solomon's Compass!
Description: The death of her beloved uncle, Randy Rankin, brings US Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell back to Texas to take care of his estate and find out if he really did bury his treasure. Jake Solomon’s job is to make sure Rankin’s killer doesn’t set his sights on CDR Campbell. Set along the Texas Gulf Coast, SOLOMON’S COMPASS is a story of love, loyalty, and the value of keeping a promise.
I know that most of you already know Carol, but in case you want to know a little more, here is her author bio: Carol Kilgore has always had stories and characters in her head, but she didn’t know she should write them down until about a dozen years ago. Once she started, she couldn’t stop.
Her first published short story won the Derringer Award for Best Short-Short Mystery. She continued to write short fiction for a few years and also enjoyed a small success as a freelancer before giving it all up for her true love—novels.

Carol writes a blend of mystery, suspense, and romance she calls Crime Fiction with a Kiss. Always at least one crime; always a love story. Solomon’s Compass is her second published novel.

As the wife of a Coast Guard officer, Carol has lived in locations across the U.S. She and her husband now live in a San Antonio suburb and share their home and patio with two active herding dogs that keep them free from all danger, real or imagined.

You can find Carol here:

website . blog . facebook . twitter . goodreads . amazon

From The Ashes - Cover Reveal

I'm sure I've never been more impressed by a young adult.
Jessica McKendry is beyond talented.
Check it out, the cover of her debut novel,
From The Ashes!




I'm not sure how it all went wrong.
The concept was simple.
The Trials were made to test us. They were made to challenge our strengths; our bravery.
We were supposed to come out better.
Winning the Trials would make us Superior citizens.
It would bring us honor and demonstrate our loyalty to the Imperial Alliance. I knew exactly what I wanted.
Until I met him.
There was something about him. Something dark. If only I had known the danger it would put us in.
I thought I knew the risks.
But I never imagined the price we'd pay.
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***An insightful look at the good and bad that exist within us, McKendry's debut is a high-octane adventure that pushes the imagination to the limit as it lays bare the nature of self-reliance, self-confidence, and teamwork. Playing with the concepts of dark and light and how they affect our lives in multiple forms, her novel is a complex coming of age story that encapsulates the heroine's journey from student to leader. A dark tale of love and revenge, From the Ashes is a powerful reminder to think for yourself instead of blindly following what you've been taught to believe.***


Look for From The Ashes in February 2013.
Congratulations Jessica!

Friday Funnies: Reading Addict


Thank you Debbie Ohi!

I'll admit to having done this.
And I agree, the cereal box is much more interesting.
How about you?
Do you always have to have something to read?
Happy Friday!
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Other Stuff:
There are new posts  at
 Partners in ParanormYA!
and
Run Gwen, Run!

IWSG and 2013 Goals

I hope everyone had a great holiday and have come back refreshed! My bloggy break sure did me good. Now I feel like I can come back, get organized, set some goals and get to work.

But first - today is the first day of 2013's Insecure Writer's Support Group posting. We "meet" on the first Wednesday of every month. If you're a writer and need advice, encouragement or friendship, you can sign up HERE. Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting, and extra thanks for his helpers this month, Tyrean Martinson and Jamie Gibbs. The membership list has become quite lengthy, so they're helping Alex so that everyone on the list receives a visit and support. 

Current Insecurities (yeah, they change from month to month, hence the need for an ongoing support group!)
I'm going to make this a short list, as my goals are intended to help me with my insecurities:
Marketing myself (I cringe at this, feeling like I'm begging for attention and screaming, "It's all about me! Everybody look at me!" How can I be a wallflower, when I'm screaming me, me, me!?)Writing ability (Even though I've written a book, I still feel insecure about my writing ability. I could be better). Indie Services (My new business. Who do I think I am and what makes me think I can do this?)2013 GoalsI think that with more experience, I can soothe some of my insecurities/fears. I know I am the only person that can do this for me. I have to do it myself. Good thing I'm in the habit of taking the bull by the horns, even if I'm not a very good bullfighter. So - here's the plan:Schedule. Come up with a work schedule that includes everything I need/want to do, to include: writing, editing, new business and networking (blogging, Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, Pinterest, etc.). I spend too much time online and need to curb mywandering and loitering habit. This will be done by next week. Editing. Finish editing my second novel, A Guilty Ghost Surprised. Complete by March 1st.Writing. Write/edit a novella as part of my Indigo Eady paranormal mystery series. Before June. Write a first draft of the third book in the Indigo Eady paranormal mystery series. By December. Reviews. Ask for them. *cringing*Market my formatting/editing business as well as myself. *really cringing now* This will do for a start.
Any advice?
How do you fit everything in to your schedule?   What are your plans/goals?

Last Post and A Christmas Carol

Today will be my last post of the year. My next post will be on January 2, 2013, when the Insecure Writers Support Group meets again.

I hope you all have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season.

As a point of interest, Givin' Up The Ghost takes place in a modern day medieval village called Sabrina Shores. Sabrina Shores is modeled after the town of Shrewsbury in England, where George C. Scott's version of A Christmas Carol was filmed. If you read Givin' Up The Ghost, you might enjoy the photographs of what Sabrina Shores looks like HERE.

And now, I'll leave you with my favorite quote from Charles Dickens', A Christmas Carol:

“And how did little Tim behave?” asked Mrs Cratchit, when she had rallied Bob on his credulity and Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart’s content.


“As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
"God bless us, every one!"
~Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Promoting: Amazon, GoodReads and PIP Newsletter

Amazon
You might recognize some of the books on this list as belonging to authors you know. That's because some of us YA indie authors teamed up to do an event. Check it out!

Best Sellers in Fantasy Series
Top 100 Free
December 15, 2012


1. Forged by Greed (The Forged Series)
Angela Orlowski-Peart
4.4 out of 5 stars (25)
Auto-delivered wirelessly
Free











2. Ruby Blue (The Ruby Blue Series)Julie Cassar
4.8 out of 5 stars (104)
Auto-delivered wirelessly
Free









3. Wicked Sense (The Singularity Series, #1)
Fabio Bueno 4.5 out of 5 stars (31) Auto-delivered wirelessly Free









4. Neverlove (Shadow Jumpers)

Angela Brown
4.9 out of 5 stars (8)
Auto-delivered wirelessly
Free










5. The Soulkeepers (The Soulkeepers Series)
G. P. Ching
4.3 out of 5 stars (290)
Auto-delivered wirelessly
Free








 6. Givin' Up The Ghost (An Indigo Eady Paranormal Mystery)

Gwen Gardner
4.7 out of 5 stars (3)
Auto-delivered wirelessly
Free












Turns out, giving your book away for free pushes it further up the list, however fleeting.

Here are some of the deets for Givin' Up The Ghost:

Downloads

US 1093
UK    66
DE    15
ES      1
CA     2

    1177 Total downloads for 12/14 - 12/15.

This was a definite improvement over the Black Friday freebie when I had 679 downloads for two days. But the Gifts Aren't Only From Santa event was a bit more high profile, and it helps when you've teamed up and are promoting each others books as well.

I have to say it - I suck at promoting. I find it really hard to promote / push / pimp myself. I'd be the vacuum cleaner saleswoman at your door saying, "You don't want to buy this vacuum, do you?" Honestly, I'm better behind the scenes. Give me something to organize and lists to make and things to check off. You know, books to write, that sort of thing.


But I have seen a direct correlation between those who are really good at promoting themselves and sales.

So what happened after the promotion?

The day after the promotion, on 12/16 , I went down to #281,289 in the Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store.

On 12/17 , I sold 2 ebooks and my ranking went back up to 79,162 in the Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store.

And now I'm back up to 148,236. Probably more by now. But I had started out over 400,000.

I'm thinking none of the numbers makes sense, but hopting that the giveaways get my book more exposure.


GoodReads
I had a giveaway on GoodReads of two autographed prints books. It's really fun to watch the number of people entering to win my book go up everyday. (They want my book!!! WooHoo!!!). It's over now, and here are the details:

Entered to Win: 969
Added to TBR:   499


PIP Newsletter
Coming in 2013
Because Angela Brown and I don't have enough to do
(Sarcasm? Why no, what makes you think that?), we're starting a
Partners in ParanormYA newsletter.

You can sign up using the link in my sidebar to find out the
latest news and other awesome stuff we're up to.

If you enjoyed our blog tour, you'll enjoy our newsletter! 

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How do you feel about promoting?
How much is too much?