Charlie Bray's Blog, page 18
March 17, 2013
TOP 10 INDIE BOOKS March 17th 2013
Hello and welcome to a brand new weekly feature on INDIETRIBE, featuring the 10 most popular books on our site this week.
This is based on the number of click throughs from INDIETRIBE to Amazon in the last week. Whilst this is not evidence of sales, it is certainly evidence of a level of interest, so the 10 authors should be justly proud that their books are being noticed.
I suppose the best way of aiming for this Top 10 list is to make sure readers keep tripping over your book in our Book Store, Showcase, Review series, News Flashes and Blogroll etc. Give your book the best chance you can.
To buy these books now, either click on the FRONT COVER to buy from Amazon.com or the TITLE to buy from Amazon.co.uk
Anyway, with no further ado, please welcome this week’s Top 10
1 THE AFFAIRS OF HARRIET WALTERS by C.M.Spencer
2 THE ANGEL WHO FELL TO EARTH by Barbara Villemez
3 INCONCLUSIVE DEATH by Carol Carroll
4 DEAR CROSSING by Marjorie Doering
5 THE GREAT PROMISE by Frederick L. Coxon
6 SOLITARY DESIRE by Kim Defforge
7 JAZZ BABY by Beem Weeks
8 THE AWAKENING by Angela Graff
9 BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD by S. Rose
10 CHASE TINKER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC by Malia Ann Haberman
So congratulations to the books and authors in this week’s Top 10. Can’t wait to see the chart next Sunday.
Until then…Happy Reading, Charlie
March 16, 2013
6 Simple Ways to Sell Your Self-published Book
Bruised and bloodied by my futile attempts to find a publisher, and encouraged by the new innovation, ePublishing, I set to and wrote my first novel.
I finished it, was enormously proud of it, uploaded it to Amazon, and there it sat…and sat…and sat.
My bubble had burst. I felt as bruised and bloodied as when I was constantly being rejected by publishers. This time I was being rejected by readers!
But was I? Not really. The problem was, they didn’t even know about my book.
It had landed on a slush pile of self-published eBooks on the floor of the Amazon kindle site. Just as my manuscripts had landed on a slush pile of similar artefacts on the floors of several publishing houses.
In the midst of my deepest gloom, I got to thinking of the advice given to me by a wise old friend years ago.
“Keep it simple,” he said. “Take every problem back to basics.”
So I did. I started by having a conversation with myself. Trust me, they can’t touch you for it.
“Why is my book not selling?” I asked myself.
“Because it’s not being marketed and promoted properly.”
“Why is it not being marketed and promoted properly?”
“Because it sits within a massive list on Amazon, and it doesn’t get in anybody’s way.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t get in anybody’s way?”
“Well, nobody, absolutely nobody, stumbles across it.”
“So what’s the answer, then?”
“Simple, make sure readers keep tripping over it.”
“And, how do you do that?”
“I’ve absolutely no idea.”
Some conversation that was. It got me absolutely nowhere.
But, heeding my old mentor’s advice, I applied my mind to how to make sure potential readers kept tripping over my precious book.
And then the simple answers came. First a trickle, then a torrent. I wrote them down as they came to me. All simple, all straight forward, all blindingly obvious:
1. Showcase your book,
2. Showcase your blog/website
3. Give an author interview
4. Get your book reviewed
5. Spread news about you and your book
6. Get your book into an exclusive Indie book store
Six glorious solutions. Oh joy of joys. This time next year Rodders, we’ll be millionaires!
“But wait a minute!” I shouted, starting a conversation with myself again, “How can I put all these things in action and tie them all in together quickly and at minimal cost.”
“I don’t know,” I replied, “Haven’t a clue.”
So, again in despair, I started to think simplistically, and embarked upon a ‘What-if’’ scenario.
“What if somebody set up a blog just for Indie authors, Indie readers and Indie books?”
“What if they offered all these six solutions to authors at minimal cost?”
“What if they attracted thousands of readers to the site to ensure there was always a captive audience in attendance for Indie books?”
That would do it, I thought. Trouble is, I wasn’t aware of such a blog.
So I created one.
NEWSFLASH: Download ‘The Great Promise’ for free this weekend
This page is available for all INDIETRIBE members to tell the world their news.
IF YOU’RE NOT A MEMBER YET, JOIN NOW
The Great Promise by Frederick L. Coxon is a primary source, a history, and a personal quest.
The author’s grandfather was called to the colors to serve in the Royal Field Artillery.
He was among the first British soldiers to land in France at the start of The Great War, and he fought in every major engagement until being gassed in 1915.
The journal covers his first year at the front almost day by day. His reports, observations, emotional asides, musings, and even occasional jokes lure the reader into a fascinating, detailed, and very human time capsule.
The author is promoting his book from March 15th through the 18th on Amazon Kindle with free downloads. This is a great opportunity to read an amazing true story.
Available from Amazon.com by clicking on the front cover above, and from Amazon.co.uk by clicking this link.
March 14, 2013
CHARLIE BRAY’S BOOK REVIEWS Six of the Best
A very warm welcome to Indie Book Reviews. If you wish to buy any of these books, click on the front cover to buy from Amazon.com or the link following the description to buy from Amazon.co.uk
If you would like your book reviewed and published on these pages, click here now and join INDIETRIBE GOLD. You will then be entitled to a book review, author interview and guest blog
MOONGLOW AVENUE by Gary Pettigrew
For most youngsters, a secret street where you can visit privately after dark and live your dreams, seems like Utopia.
Yes I know there are streets like that for adults, but I don’t want to get into that.
Moonglow Avenue is a true adventure playground for imaginative juveniles. Vampires, witches, werewolves, you’ll find them all there in the light of the moon’s glow.
The trouble starts when inhabitants, for whatever reason, wander off into the real world. That is when the bona fide Moonglow people have to spring into action. They have to get the wanderer back, whilst protecting the identity of the street. Difficult when it’s a young werewolf.
This rescue mission is the catalyst that brings out the cast of this book for 8 to 12 year olds. Ryan, Nicole, Jasmine and Billy soon develop into fully rounded, well developed characters, who quickly gain the readers’ attention. Ryan displays true leadership qualities, whilst Jasmine possesses certain powers, which she has not really got much of a handle on. The other two don’t simply blend into the background, they are prepared to stand up and be counted.
A wonderful idea for a mystical adventure, which came to Gary Pettigrew whilst taking his dog a walk. He found himself in an eerie street that he didn’t immediately recognise and Moonglow Avenue was born.
The novel lends itself to a series and Gary has lost no time. Volume two, The Trustkeepers of Moonglow is already out, with a third one on the way.
A very enjoyable read which should sell well within its genre.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
FALSTAFF’S BIG GAMBLE by Hank Quense
There may well be quite a few amongst us who find Shakespeare a little heavy going. Oh, go on admit it, you know you do.
Well don’t worry. Hank Quense has changed all that. Well he’s changed quite a bit actually. If Shakespeare is looking down, he ain’t gonna like it. But I’ll bet my mortgage you’re gonna love it.
Othello and Hamlet are reset in Gundarland. For Gundarland think Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.
They’re all there. Elves, dwarves, trolls and humans. Hamlet is a Dwarven Prince, Othello is a Dark Elf, and Falstaff is…well actually, he’s a conman who is directing his dubious skills at the richer element of Gundarland.
No-0ne should buy this book expecting to take it seriously, and really that’s the whole point. It opens its doors to those that are either frightened of or averse to a bit of Shakespeare. I’m reminded of the scene in ‘Life of Brian’ when a band of chaps nailed to a bunch of crosses, launched into a humorous rendition of ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’.
And the reader should look on this bright side of Shakespeare. Not intended to deride Shakespeare, not intended to better him, simply intended to borrow a couple of characters and make them different…very different.
A brief look at the new Falstaff – ‘Falstaff dismounted from his black charger, the result of a midnight transaction while the charger’s previous owner slept.’
A pleasant romp through a rather strange land inhabited by even stranger characters, and a few names you may recognise – from your volumes of Shakespeare.
Go on, treat yourself.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
DEAR CROSSING by Marjorie Swift Doering
Officer Ray Schiller is a necessary evil as far as his force is concerned. They can’t live with him and they can’t manage without him.
A wealthy, attractive Society wife is murdered, leaving behind a list of suspects as long as your arm.
The character of each suspect is revealed in detail, and as a result of the skill applied by the undoubted wordsmith, Marjorie Swift Doering, the reader feels very much involved in the story.
There are many twists and turns in this absorbing mystery and Schiller is kept fully occupied whilst battling his own demons.
As with all good murder mysteries, the ending is unpredictable and there is plenty to keep you fully absorbed along the journey.
I think we’re witnessing the birth of a brand new series hero in Ray Schiller and he’ll soon amass an army of fans.
They’ll be delighted to know that the next two volumes are in the pipeline.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
THE ANGEL WHO FELL TO EARTH by Barbara Villemez
This story focuses on the ongoing battle between the forces of Darkness and Light.
Light takes the form of Saraquel, an angel, who transforms into human form and literally lands on earth with a bump. She sets out to study human emotions and resides in the home of a retired rabbi, who owns a valuable, ancient book.
Dark takes the form of Feldman, a historian, who has been on earth for an eternity. He would kill for the valuable, ancient book.
Cue the rabbi’s death and a confrontation between Saraquel and Feldman, darkness versus light.
A lovely little story with a satisfying twist at the end.
The idea for the story popped into Barbara Villemez’s head one day. She started writing and the characters took over and wrote the rest of the story. Barbara kept the story on the right tracks by researching Jewish traditions, angels and the book of Enoch.
I found this to be a delightful book and would recommend it, even to those that don’t believe there are fairies at the bottom of their garden.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
THE AFFAIRS OF HARRIET WALTERS by C.M. Spencer
This is an old fashioned romance set in Regency times. The slower pace of this period in history is very comforting and given a choice between getting lost in its pages or returning to our own frenetic world, I found the decision a no-brainer. I stuck with the book.
Harriet Walters lives a restricted life. She is restricted by her plain appearance, lack of funds, no real prospects and the limitations imposed upon women in that period of time.
She makes the most of a bad lot and we soon get to know and care about Harriet. Bit by bit she builds her independence and begins to feel a real spirit of adventure. This spirit is given wings by an unexpected windfall and she hi-tails it to London, at a Regency pace, of course.
And so she embarks upon her journey of discovery, and the reader is privileged to share her experiences.
I found this to be a very well written book with fully rounded characters, and I was easily able to get lost in it. A pleasant respite from the pressures and schedules of real life
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
THE AWAKENING by Angella Graff
The Awakening is quite a challenging book. There is nothing shallow about Angella Graff’s detective story with a supernatural twist.
On this side of life, that is the side most people acknowledge as normal, stands Detective Ben Stanford. He has to deal with health problems and career difficulties. He has no truck with the supernatural.
On the other side, we have immortals and ancient gods.
Even though Detective Ben doesn’t believe in such things he finds himself investigating them, courtesy of his sister who has become involved with a man called Mark, an immortal with biblical connections. He requests Mark’s help in finding his missing friend, Judas Iscariot.
This plunges the thoroughly grounded Ben into a world of broken theology, ancient religions and Greek gods. He now faces the biggest job he has ever faced in the name of the law – preventing a global disaster.
Told you it was a challenging book. But it’s not just challenging. It’s an extremely well written book with strong characters and very effective dialogue.
Make the effort and read it. You will be rewarded.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
I hope you enjoyed reading my six reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them. I look forward to publishing more reviews soon. Meanwhile… Happy reading, Charlie.
March 10, 2013
INDIETRIBE Goes The Extra Mile For Self-Published Authors
INDIETRIBE exists to support and promote self-published authors. From the minute you’ve finished your final draft we’re there to make sure your book succeeds. Here are just some of the ways we can help:
WE WILL UPLOAD YOUR BOOK TO AMAZON FOR YOU
WE WILL SHOWCASE ALL YOUR BOOKS TO THOUSANDS OF READERS
WE WILL SHOWCASE YOUR BLOG/WEBSITE
WE WILL SELL ALL YOUR BOOKS FROM OUR BOOK STORE
WE WILL INTERVIEW YOU LIVE ON INDIETRIBE
WE WILL LINK WITH YOUR BLOG/WEBSITE
All these services are available to you as an INDIETRIBE member, some free of charge, some carrying a nominal fee to cover costs.
Our GUIDE AND PRICES page explains all the services and related fees
So if you’re not yet an INDIETRIBE member JOIN NOW FOR FREE and start taking advantage of INDIETRIBE.
And if you’re already an INDIETRIBE member, make sure you’re making the most of everything we offer self-published authors.
March 8, 2013
Showcase 12: Seven More Indie Books For Your Enjoyment
Welcome to the twelfth Showcase. If you would like to buy any of these books, click on the image to buy from Amazon.com, or the link in each book’s description to buy from Amazon.co.uk
If you’d like to see your book featured, simply JOIN INDIETRIBE for free, and we’ll showcase your book for free.
BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD by Sienna Rose
The year is 1970. In a blue-collar suburb of Boston, two eleven year-old Catholic girls struggle to come of age in a culture still very much dominated by men. They watch in dismay as their fathers and priests determine the lives of the women around them. Loyalty to family and church is paramount; women and children suffer in silence rather than expose the men who do them harm. Frances Orillio is an adopted, only child; she is self-critical, anxious, and vulnerable. Maddy Malone is one of six children, and grew up in a rough housing project scrapping with the boys. Although they are strikingly different in temperament, they forge an enduring friendship on the path to becoming strong, independent women. Together they battle the tangled jungle of ignorance, racism, and homophobia that goes hand in hand with the culturally entrenched discrimination against women. Like the treacherous roads in a New England winter, the way is fraught with hidden dangers. Family secrets and lies are like the invisible black ice on a bridge: if you don’t watch out for the signs, it can be deadly.
Because she has always been concerned with those who are different and vulnerable to bullying or abuse, Sienna Rose wrote her master’s thesis on the needs of gay/lesbian/bi/trans youth in school. She works as an independent educational consultant and advocate for children with disabilities. Bridge Ices Before Road is her first novel.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
JAZZ BABY by Beem Weeks
While all Mississippi bakes in the scorching summer of 1925, a sudden orphanhood casts its icy shadow across Emily Ann “Baby” Teegarten, a pretty young teen.
Taken in by an aunt bent on ridding herself of this unexpected burden, Baby Teegarten plots her escape using the only means at her disposal: a voice that brings church ladies to righteous tears and makes angels take notice. “I’m gonna sing jazz up in New York City,” she brags to anybody who’ll listen. ’Cept that Big Apple—well, it’s an awful long way from that dry patch of earth she used to call home.
Jazz Baby just wants to sing—not fight to stay alive.
Beem Weeks is the 46-year-old indie author of several short stories, poems, essays, and the historical fiction/coming-of-age novel Jazz Baby. A divorced father of two grown children, Beem has lived in Florida and Georgia, and is currently calling Michigan home. He is currently hard at work on his second novel—though that’s a slow-go at times.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOL DROP-OUT by Patti Lavell
“Confessions of a Catholic School Dropout” is a flippant tale about growing up in a strict, Irish Catholic home. The author reveals her unusual past, including some very serious and distressing experiences, with unrestrained hilarity. Mustached nuns, botched Confessions, the sexual escapades of priests and intoxicated Irish Catholic Godparents are just a few of the things at which she irreverently pokes fun in her first book.
Born and raised on a small farm in Western, NY, Patti now lives in the Florida Keys. Her passions include writing, cooking, distance walking and laughing. Red wine and cheese are among her loves. She recently walked two-hundred miles across England with her thirteen-year-old daughter with little more than a compass. Every day is an adventure.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
CHASE TINKER’S WORLD by Malia Ann Haberman
In Chase Tinker’s world, magic, lies and secrets can be a lethal combination…
Thirteen-year-old Chase Tinker can’t understand why he has the power to move things with his mind. Besides that, his dad has been missing for over a year, causing his mom to be too upset to pay much attention to her sons, so now he’s been busted for shoplifting. As if this isn’t enough to worry about, his younger brother Andy suddenly has a weird magical ability too. Can things get any crazier?
Author of “The Chase Tinker Series” Malia loves dancing, reading, writing, sunsets, ladybugs, playing video games on her iPad, watching TV, and chocolate. She also has terrible motion sickness and hates onions. She’s always wanted to have the ability to teleport and the power to move things with her mind. She lives in the Seattle area with her four wild and crazy ferrets.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
SOLITARY DESIRE by Kim Defforge
Defforge takes us along on her journey as she narrates the life events that weave an emotional tapestry, from adolescent imagination to adult life situations. Conveying amusing candor, the author details how she came full circle, from Paris to “la vie en rose” on the French Riviera. A true story of twists and turns and the author’s courage to follow it.
Kim Defforge is a lifelong Francophile and former French teacher, with a passion for all things French. Having moved from the U.S. to the French Riviera, she now enjoys experiencing French culture, food, wine, and the simple beauty of a Mediterranean sunset – proving that dreams really can come true!
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
THE WARRIOR by Ty Patterson
Zeb Carter is almost your average Private Military Contractor.
When working for a WDE (We Don’t Exist) Agency, Zeb witnesses a gruesome crime in the Congo and tracks the perpetrators down to New York. Only to discover that not only are they protected by the FBI, but also are closely connected to a very high profile politician.
Ordered to stand down by the FBI, Zeb finds that his hunt brings those close to him in the sights of the killers.
A thriller that spans Congo and New York, The Warrior is dotted with gritty action, a central character that fuels imagination, and a supporting cast of great colorful characters.
Ty has been selling all his life. He has sold tea, exotic leather goods, industrial equipment, and now he creates characters and stories that will hopefully live long in the imaginations of his readers.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
ROARING ZEROES by Nate McIntyre
What would you do if the future you worked for slipped away as the world around you descended into madness?
Jason Carver is a member of a lost generation. Fresh out of college and buried in debt, he finds that the American Dream he’d been taught to believe in has become a cruel myth. Jobs are disappearing and families are losing their homes. For the first time in decades, the youngest generation faces the prospect of a less prosperous future than their parents had. It is an age of bailouts and “too big to fail” corporations in which the average citizen is too small to matter.
Nate McIntyre was born and raised in Southern California and currently lives in San Diego. He served six years in the Marine Corps Reserve and graduated from San Diego State University in 2008. In his free time, he reads about history, politics, current events, international affairs and attempts to sharpen his home brewing skills.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Showcase, and I look forward to publishing another one soon, with books from Joyce Shaughnessy, Sara Weldon, Christine Maria Jahn, Harold Titus, Scott Skipper, Liz Wixley, Florence Osmund and Eliza Green.
Until then, enjoy your reading, Charlie
March 7, 2013
NEWSFLASH: Watch a Book Being Written!
What a great idea!
Kelly Samarah
INDIETRIBE member, Kelly Samarah has not only arranged for you to read her new book for free, but you can read it as she’s actually writing it and chip in with your ideas.
I think this is an absolutely brilliant innovation and could not wait to spread the news.
So, let’s hear from the lady herself:
Okay people! How would you like to read a book for free, as I’m writing it? I’m blogging a book!
Here’s how it will work:
Each week on my blog I will post a new chapter, and readers not only get to read a book as I write it, but leave comments, suggestions etc.!
When the book is finished it will go through editing and then be published as an indie book.
I’m really excited about this, as all of you writers know, it’s so hard to wait to hear comments about your book! Now I can get them along the way! And you guys get to watch, and help a story come to life!
Blurb:
He’s not just anyone. He’s special, he has a purpose. That’s what his grandmother has always told him.
Cason never thought much of what his grandmother said. She had been saying it his whole life, but after sixteen years, her words are starting to take on a new meaning.
Things are…different. Not something he can name specifically. It’s a feeling, a change in himself.
Cason is about to discover what lies beneath who he really is. And when he does, it will change his world forever.
So, here are the details on the book:
Genre: YA/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Aiming for about 75,000 words
Title: No title yet!
Posting first chapter on 3/9/13
I will be posting on my blog www.kellysamarah.com and also on www.scribd.com
Hope to see you there!!
And I for one will be there, Kelly, and I reckon I’ll be joined by lots of others.
So come on INDIETRIBE members. Get tweeting and spread this interesting news!
March 6, 2013
NEWSFLASH: Breaking News from Indie Authors
FIRST KESTRAL NOVEL FREE DURING READ AN EBOOK WEEK
Steven Lyle Jordan will be offering the first book in the Kestral series, My Life, After Berserker, free on his website during Read an Ebook Week, March 3 – 9, 2013.
Jordan has been a supporter of Read an Ebook Week for years. “Rita Toews, Read an Ebook Week’s founder, approached me and asked me to apply my websmithing skills to improving the look of the website. I’ve been providing assistance and support ever since… though, truth be told, what I provide is nothing compared to the work Rita puts in to the site every year.”
The Kestral Voyages have captured the imagination of fans who loved the drama, excitement and fun of TV shows like Star Trek, Firefly and Babylon 5. Popular demand has inspired additional stories following the crew of the Mary, as they try to make a living, stay out of trouble, and keep their lives from getting too boring.
“The Kestral Voyages have been my most popular series to date,” Jordan added, “so I’m proud to offer a chance for everyone who hasn’t sampled the series yet to snag the opening story and begin your adventures.
“I also hope everyone will check out Read an Ebook Week, and the many ebook resources and deals they’ll find there.”
LIVING BY EAR RELEASED AS AN EBOOK
Living by Ear, Mary Rowan’s wonderful book has just been released as an eBook by Amazon and is available from Amazon.com.
This means that Amazon Prime members can actually borrow the book free of charge from the
If you’d like to spread you news, join INDIETRIBE now and send us your press release.
March 5, 2013
Author Interview: Nico Kleynhans
I recently reviewed two books by Nico Kleynhans, HOW TO IMPLEMENT DEBT MANAGEMENT THAT WORKS and
HOW TO IMPLEMENT A BUDJET THAT WORKS
Nico Kleynhans
I found both books to be mightily impressive and essential reading for those of us that sometimes find it difficult to plot a path through life’s financial pitfalls.
I wanted to find out more about what inspired the books and some of the horror stories that bring them to life.
So I talked to the man himself, Nico Kleynhans, founder of Northwood Financial Services in Cape Town, South Africa.
First I concentrated on his Debt Management book.
In the first section of your book, you retell quite a few ‘horror’ stories. Are these designed to make the reader feel better? A bit like pointing out ‘There’s always someone worse off than you’?
To many folk, debt is an issue of shame. It is not discussed, so it becomes a dirty secret that drives families into silence. That makes getting help so much harder.
I believe how we relate to money is a result of many factors, including our childhood experiences, and how others deal with money in their lives.
Because of our political history, we face a new generation which has access to debt. This was not available to the parents, so we have no clear history to guide us. Over 50% of our population currently has some form of blacklisting against their name.
It strikes me that you start to put in place processes for the reader about a third of the way through the book. By this time, the reader’s probably shrieking out for you help. Is this a deliberate ploy?
I want the reader to be aware that the problem manifests itself after some years, the solution will not be instant as a behavioral change is called for.
When you do step in, it’s like you grab the reader’s hand and don’t let go until you’ve led him down the path to debt recovery. Is that how you see it?
Today we recognize that there are people who can fall into addictive gambling and their behaviour at the casino needs to be seen as a mental/psychological condition.
I believe that behaviorists will one day conclude that some consumers who are in constant debt, have a psychological disorder and need understanding. Some consumers are trapped in destructive behavior that requires counselling,
I do need to assure them that I am available to one on one support whenever they feel overwhelmed.
Does your advice fit comfortably in every country?
I would expect to find evidence of a destructive relationship with money in every country, although my concern in this book is for South Africa and the instability which debt entrapment leads to.
Do you find lenders more or less tolerant in these globally hard times?
When banks fell on hard times, caused by their greed, they turned to Governments for help. They used this help to boost their own coffers. I do not know what percentage, if any went on debt relief for consumers.
In your experience, do people often follow your advice to the letter?
No. They fall off the wagon, get back on again and then find a medium that makes life acceptable and allows some measure of control. I tell my readers they are allowed to fall off three times, and I will still smile.
Does any client still surprise you, or have you seen it all?
Since 1987, I have been listening to creative ways of working with money. By now there is no shock value, just an awareness of how tough it can be for those who measure their humanity by their ability to spend.
It must be very satisfying knowing you’ve pulled people back from the brink?
Oh yes, I have clients who are multi millionaires, and have accumulated their wealth while on a fixed salary. One that comes to mind, started off at 65 with not even having food in her home. Her husband had spent everything she owned.
In one sentence, what would you advise a young adult who is about to assume financial responsibilities?
Give me 15% of your income for the next ten years, before you get used to spending all you earn, and I will show you how to retire early in comfort.
I then moved on to Nico’s book on Budgeting.
You open with the need to balance income and expenditure. Do you think some people plod on, blissfully unaware that they’re heading for problems?
One client came to me and complained that in spite of earning R1m per annum, he lived in rented property and in 25 years had saved nothing.
Another who was a Financial Officer at a company with a budget of R100m, was not even sure how much he earned every month.
How young should you be to start a budget ?
I think by the time you start getting pocket money, parents should start teaching about budgeting.
Which is more important, creating a budget or controlling it?
Creating a budget helps you identify wastage. Controlling it makes dreams come true.
Do you see people simply going through the motions, creating a budget, and then carrying on as normal?
Couples struggle the most. It appears that sex and money are two subjects not many couples talk about. Because of the link between money and power, often money becomes one of the tools when couples fight.
Do people sometimes see a conflict between their real budget and their tax return?
I cannot recall too many comments linking these two concepts. I certainly get comments about tax and government wastage.
Do you seek feedback from budgeters, and are they generally successful with their budgets?
I offer to have up to three conversations on skype with readers. Those that use that offer are much more likely to get on target and stay there.
Is there evidence that, by applying your budget advice, they stave off the need to buy your other book on debt control? If there is, you’re shooting yourself in the foot, aren’t you?
My first two titles deal with fixing a problem.
Those who are basket cases, should start with debt management. They would find it hard to only use the Budget book.
I am going to produce at least four more books. These will focus on wealth creation. That is the next step after getting your debt under management. The quicker readers get to this point, the happier I will be.
I found it a pleasure to interview Nico and found his honest, sincere answers most refreshing. It’s comforting to know these two books are there, and I look forward very much to his next ones.
March 4, 2013
Showcase 11: Seven Indie Books Up in Lights
Welcome to the eleventh Showcase. If you would like to buy any of these books, click on the image to buy from Amazon.com, or the link in each book’s description to buy from Amazon.co.uk
If you’d like to see your book featured, simply JOIN INDIETRIBE for free, and we’ll showcase your book for free.
BEYOND THE EYES by Rebekkah Ford
After a ghostly voice whispers a haunting message to seventeen-year-old Paige Reed, Paige’s life takes a nightmarish turn. Unwilling to tell her friends about the supernatural occurrences happening in her life, Paige feels more alone than ever–until she meets Nathan Caswell.
Nathan is not only hot, but seems to peer into Paige’s soul, evoking a magnetic energy between them that cannot be denied. But he’s no ordinary guy. He tracks dark spirits, and becomes alarmed when they set their sights on Paige.
Rebekkah Ford grew up in a family that dealt with the paranormal. Her parents’ Charles and Geri Wilhelm were the directors of the UFO Investigators League in Fairfield, Ohio, back in the 1970s. They also investigated ghost hauntings and Bigfoot sightings in addition to UFO’s. Growing up in this type of environment and having the passion for writing is what drove Rebekkah at an early age to write stories dealing with the paranormal.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
A SEALED FATE by Lisa Gordon
A Sealed Fate is a unique blend of contemporary fiction and thriller in an unusual setting and with an unusual theme at the centre – the concept of sacrificial and compensatory karma.
Valda speeds through life in a sequence of emotional car crashes until she washes up on Dubai’s shores at the feet of the mysterious Sheikh. Her clandestine relationship with the Sheikh propels her further into a murky web of deceit, and she turns to Larissa for help. As an astrologer, Larissa predicts that Valda and the Sheikh’s destinies were sealed from the moment of their first meeting; however she keeps the dire fate that she reads in the charts a secret.
An only child to a single Mum, Lisa Gordon was born and brought up in Johannesburg, South Africa. As an Astrologer Lisa was always asked by her clients to make black and white definitive predictions about their futures: this made Lisa ponder the role of fate in our lives and how much freewill we really had. Hence the plot for her philosophical thriller, ‘A Sealed Fate’ was born.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
BEING ISOBEL by Claire Coult
Tracey Smith needed an escape. Living in a council flat with her seven year old son and abusive boyfriend, her life was far from perfect. She needed a real man, someone big and strong who would worship the ground she walked on. Then she saw Shay Donovan’s photograph. He was perfect, deep tan, huge muscles, rock solid six pack and come to bed eyes. He was all the inspiration she needed to start writing her erotic novel. It started out as pure fantasy but life can be stranger than fiction and she never dreamed it could set her free.
Clair Louise Coult lives near Sheffield, England with her husband and three children. She lives on the internet and is lost without her computer, tablet and phone.
Available as a free download on Smashwords
LIVING BY EAR by Mary Rowen
Singer-songwriter Christine Daley was a Boston celebrity with a local radio hit in the 1990s, but she took a short career break to marry and have kids. Now, sixteen years later, she’s a frustrated suburban housewife, still on break. So Chris files for divorce and attempts to re-establish her own rhythms, both in music and in love. Chris is also perplexed by the radical changes in the music industry, and she doesn’t feel ready for hi-tech dating. And yet, she knows what she wants. Is there room in the mix for her?
Mary Rowen grew up in the Massachusetts Merrimack Valley and graduated from Providence College. She has worked as a teacher, writer, salesperson, and political canvasser. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, children, and cats. Living by Ear is her first novel.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
THE GIFT: Awakening by J.P. McLean
When young Emelynn Taylor accepts a mysterious gift from a strange woman on the seashore, her life alters irrevocably. Haunted by strange dreams and terrifying powers she can’t control, Emelynn returns years later to the coast of British Columbia where she vows to take command of her unruly “gift”. A near-fatal miscalculation drops her into the hands of a secret society who share the mystery; but as they steer her into unknown territory, conspiracies and hidden agendas are revealed. Will Emelynn master her dangerous gift and escape the unfolding web of perils before they take her life?
J.P. McLean lives with her husband and two wheaten terriers on the northern Gulf Islands in British Columbia, Canada. She lived in various parts of North America from Mexico and Arizona to Ontario and Alberta before settling in beautiful British Columbia. The Gift: Awakening is her debut novel. The second book of The Gift Trilogy, The Gift: Revelation will be published summer, 2013.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
VALLEY OF THRACIANS by Ellis Shuman
A Peace Corps volunteer has gone missing in Bulgaria and everyone assumes he is dead, everyone except his grandfather, who refuses to give up hope. Retired literature professor Simon Matthews launches a desperate search only to be lured into a bizarre quest to retrieve a stolen Thracian artifact—an unique object of immense value others will stop at nothing to recover.
Matthews travels through a Balkan landscape dotted with ancient tombs and fortresses, unaware that his grandson has been confined to an isolated mountain cabin, slowly recovering from a severe head injury. Nothing can be taken at face value, as the woman assisting Matthews in his quest and the nurse caring for his injured grandson may have ulterior motives in helping the two reunite. Even when Matthews succeeds in joining up with his grandson, departure from Bulgaria is only possible if the missing relic can be found.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
VERDANT SKIES by Steven Lyle Jordan
A catastrophic eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera threatens the world biosystem, and drives Earth’s desperate residents to seek refuge in any of the four satellite-cities in Earth orbit. The satellite Verdant immediately finds itself under pressure to accept a forced occupation by a population it cannot hold, and certain doom of its own survivability. But a secret group on Verdant has a plan of its own…
Steven Lyle Jordan is a futurist author from the generation nurtured during the incredible social and technological developments of the 1960s and 70s. He has written light to serious science fiction, always with an emphasis on strong characters, believable settings, intelligent drama and gripping excitement. His novels have been internationally acclaimed by readers of independent writers.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Showcase, and I look forward to publishing another one soon, with books from Sienna Rose, Brent Weeks, Patti Lavell, Malia Ann Haberman, Kim Defforge, Ty Patterson and Nate McIntyre.
Until then, enjoy your reading, Charlie
