E.J. Wesley's Blog, page 6

BIG NA Fall Fling Book Sale & My Dragon's Game Cover Reveal

Hey, gang! Very exciting day for me as I finally get to take the wraps off the cover of my latest Moonsongs book! But first, I want to share an opportunity to snag some awesome New Adult reads on the cheap...

Several New Adult authors (me included) have teamed up to offer their titles for free or a heavily discounted price over the next few days (October 15-18, specifically).
If you're not familiar with New Adult (think "what's next" after YA and before adult) or are just looking to grow your NA library, this is definitely a can't miss event! And the fantastic thing about this sale is that it offers a wide sampling of genres within New Adult. 
You'll find paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and more!
The New Adult authors/books taking part in the Fall Fling are:
EJ Wesley
Moonsongs Anthology 1http://www.amazon.com/Moonsongs-Anthology-1-ebook/dp/B00D020MOO

Faith Sullivan

Heartbeat
http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00B4Y9296
Come What May
http://www.amazon.com/Come-What-May-Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00CZTC3PY
Take Me Now
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-Now-ebook/dp/B00DVS8ZT6
Unexpected
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-ebook/dp/B00C112I7O

Victoria Smith

The Space Between
http://www.amazon.com/The-Space-Between-ebook/dp/B00BO1AZGIThe Crimson Hunt
http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Eldaen-Light-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00A3MJO02
Holiday Fling
http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Fling-ebook/dp/B00ACRRM5M

Carrie Butler
Strength
http://www.amazon.com/Strength-Mark-of-Nexus-ebook/dp/B00EMGAS46
Lynn Rush
Frostbite
http://amzn.to/17S3I2X
Wasteland
http://amzn.to/wz4miA
Awaited
http://amzn.to/Pbfb32
Tainted
http://amzn.to/W0KqQW
Violet Midnight
http://amzn.to/SafFZY
Violet Dawn
http://amzn.to/XOBwXk
Violet Storm
http://amzn.to/1bSjwnr

Jaycee DeLorenzo

The Truths about Dating and Mating
http://www.amazon.com/Truths-about-Dating-Mating-ebook/dp/B00AAOCX2E

For more on my part, scroll to the bottom of this post!
Now for the cover reveal...
*drumroll*

Available Monday, October 22nd!
Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. She has already faced a werewolf, witches, and a troll. But nothing could prepare her for her latest confrontation...

Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4, finds Jenny out of her rural West Texas element, searching for an evil witch in an urban Houston nightclub. After attempting to help a handsome and mysterious stranger out of a jam, she finds herself on the run from a ruthless gang who are even more dangerous than they initially appear.
Forced into a twisted game of life and death, Jenny must navigate the complexity of a budding relationship, and somehow survive a night filled with unexpected horror and paranormal mystery.
Dragon's Game is approximately 14,000 words or 45 pages, and is the fourth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, speculative / urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

***I'd appreciate it if you could add Dragon's Game to your Goodreads shelf! It will 'officially' go on sale October 22nd at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. (But I won't guarantee you won't find it before then if you care to look. :)
New Adult Fall Fling Deal: And remember, for a limited time you can catch up on the entire Moonsongs series for just .99 cents (regularly $2.99)!



Moonsongs Anthology 1 (books 1, 2, & 3) is on sale October 15th - 20th at Amazon!

Secrets Of The Ash Tree: Thor Is In The House!

Very cool to be the final stop on Siv's blog tour! And as a special treat, Siv has brought the God of Thunder himself, Thor, over for a little Q & A!  


Secrets of the Ash Tree
By Siv Maria Ottem
In the realm of the gods and fairy tales the mystery of life is an endless path with many secrets to be discovered. Some secrets are like dreams, just waiting in darkness hoping to get into the light.

‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ is the story about Liv, a young woman who discovers her true nature through the unraveling of hidden secrets. Her adventures begin when she digs up a chest that was buried by her father under the old ash tree in her garden. What she finds inside the chest changes her life forever. Liv discovers one secret after another and is thrown into a world full of dangerous and strange creatures, mighty Norse warriors and perils beyond her belief. What started out as a fairy tale in her father’s journal was to become her legacy, a guide line to survival, and a map to the world she was about to enter. Each day, each mystery, each encounter will ultimately reveal her true destiny and behind the edge of a sword awaits a young god who is willing to share that destiny with her.

Available in Hardcover, softcover, kindle:

Amazon
Amazon kindle 
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads

I rap with Thor... sort of.
E.J: You're charged (Get it? Charged. Because you're the god of lightening and storms? He's frowning at me... never mind...) with protecting mankind. What's the most annoying or reckless thing a human can do to make your job difficult?

Thor: You must have noticed all the storms and extreme weather these past few years. Humans have little regard for mother earth. Pollution and the destruction of the earth’s natural resources will someday destroy this beautiful planet unless something drastic is done. Time is running out.

E.J: That's... cheerful? Let's talk happy! Your wife, the golden-haired goddess Sif, is pretty smoking hot--put the hammer down, that's not where this is going! Sheesh, you're very touchy. Anyway, I was just going to ask how you two met and what date night was like for two almighty beings?

Thor: I have known Sif most of my life but when her first husband, the giant Orvandil was killed in battle my father Odin decided that a union between the two of us would be beneficial for the earth. It was a divine marriage between myself as sky god and Sif as earth goddess. I guess you could say it was decided for me that I should settle down and bed a wife. Don’t get me wrong, I am rather fond of Sif and she is a great wife and mother. This date night you talk about, I have never heard of it. What is this date night?

E.J: Can't be easy following in the shoes of a giant in the romance department, am-I-right? 

*E.J. holds up hand for high five*

*Thor stares at E.J.* 

Right... You cruise around in a chariot pulled by goats I hear. Other than trying to stink your enemies to death, why goats and not some sweet winged horses or something? Is it a weird Norse masculinity statement I'm not getting, or do you just REALLY love goats? 

Hey, I'm not judging, I've got a beagle and once owned some ducks. To each their own!

Thor: The answer to that is simple! These are special goats that can be resurrected. I find that since I am out in the wild where food can be scarce so much of the time, traveling with my meal is convenient. Goat is delicious and I have a rather huge appetite!

E.J: *clears throat and arches eyebrows* 

No, that's not creepy at all... Boxers, briefs, or are you a wool leggings kind of guy? :)

Thor: Boxer’s…Briefs? What are these things, some kind of special armor? As you can see I have come in peace today…Should I have worn armor? Bring me this bearer of my wife’s name, it is she who has written this book Secrets of the Ash Tree, is it not? I pray she has the wits to bring me something for my thirst!

E.J.: Can we have a little man-to-god chat here? Might not kill you to "loosen" up a bit. Just sayin'...

Tell you what, why don't we kick it over to Siv to bring this thing home, shall we?

Siv: What’s the matter with you Wesley? You should know to offer this honored guest some ale and a bite to eat. Lucky for you I come prepared with some nice venison and bread, as well as a keg of ale. It is a pleasure to see you again Thor. Please eat and drink while we talk.

Thor: A lady after my own heart indeed!

*Tears off a chunk of bread and piles on a slab of meat with his greedy hands. Then chases the food down with a huge mug of ale, and gives out a large belch before continuing the process over again.*

E.J.: *Shakes head.* 

Where are my manners? Didn't realize we were running a bed and breakfast for irritable and slovenly gods around here...

Siv: Last year we met and you got into a heated argument with Loki over his portrayal in the moving picture called Thor. There is a new Thor moving picture coming to the big screen soon. Will you have the chance to see this film and what do you think of the man who plays you in these moving pictures?

Thor: *Wipes his mouth with the palm of his hand and grunts.* 

We have a hall of mirrors in Asgard where it is possible to see these moving pictures you speak of. The first movie about me was amusing although they made me out to be just another pretty boy with stupid thoughts of love. I hope this time they show me as a true warrior and make me more dirty. The pretty boy was too clean and not tough enough! They better not make Loki some kind of hero in this next film!

E.J.: Seriously, who hates on
Siv: They based this movie on comic books, which is why the characters do not remain true to the stories told from volumes of Norse mythology. If you could choose to make changes to the characters what kind of changes would you make?

Thor: Well for one thing, I would get my wife back and at home where she belongs… Also, her hair is not black! Her hair was restored again by the dwarves after Loki cut it off. Also, Heimdall is the shining god. He is pale like the moon, not black! Another thing…We do not fly all over the place and we are not from another planet!

Siv: Do you think that I did a fair job of describing you and the other gods in my book Secrets of the Ash Tree?

E.J.: Siv, you sure you really want an honest answer from Mr. I'm-Really-Into-My-Wife's-Hair? *grumbles* 

Thor: *Gives Siv a hearty slap on the back, and lifts his mug of ale.* 

Well done!

E.J.: There you have it! Be sure to check out Secrets of the Ash Tree. I's Thor approved, and he seems like the particular sort, so that's a ringing endorsement in my book!

And be sure to head over to Siv's blog and enter for a chance to win some awesome Norwegian chocolates and other goodies!  

Indie Life - Steps To Indie Publishing - Outsourcing Pt. 3 of 3

Hey, gang! Time for another Indie Life post. What is Indie Life? Essentially, it's a growing list of independent authors and publishing professionals who aim to support each other through the sharing of information and insight.

We do this by posting on the second Wednesday of each month in an organized blog hop. If you think you'd like to take part, click the Indie Life button above.

Today I'm wrapping up my series on the basic steps to getting your book published independently. 

In the first installment, I talked about the 6 essential tasks before you (writing, editing, cover, formatting, distribution, and marketing). 

In the second post, I gave some tips and information on how and why to outsource--or hire out--each of the first three steps. Well, except for writing--if you need a ghostwriter, they're out there, but I honestly have no clue about that.

In this final post, we'll take a look at the final three steps: formatting, distribution, and marketing. So let's get to it!



Step 4 - Formatting

Why you should hire it out - Okay, you've got that manuscript polished to a shiny, chrome-like level. It's time to slap it up on Amazon and watch the downloads stream in!

*slaps mouse out of your hands* Not so fast my friends. In most cases, it's not a simple matter of just using your finished Word document.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the like use specific file types for their e-Readers. You'll need to convert your Word doc to mobi, ePub, and maybe other exotic filetypes for them to get along.
Yes, there are programs that will do it for you, but trust me on this: It isn't a "button press" process. You'll need to understand how those programs work, and you'll need to figure out how to "debug" your Word doc or you'll get sentences that look like this: 
D    og ate the      chicken. Dogloveschicken   !
And none of this speaks to formatting paper books. We'll get more into this in the distribution section, but paperback formatting requires a bit of artistic skill, or at the very least, some design esthetics. 
This isn't as big of an issue for electronic books. eReaders almost always have the ability for the reader to dictate their preferred text size, style, etc. And while you can certainly try to alter the text layout of a paperback by pressing "the buttons" (i.e., with your mind) I'm not sure you're going to get very far.
So the pressure mounts when you format a paperback, because you're pre-determining the reading experience and the reader's preferences for them. NOTE: You can DEFINITELY screw this part up.
When to find a formatter - Is formatting your own book doable? Absolutely! In fact, I know many, many, MANY indie authors who prefer to do this step for themselves. Why? Because once you've got it down, you've got it down. And that translates to saving you money in the long run.

However, it will most likely take hours if not days of your life to get it down. So consider hiring someone to do it for you if you, A) HATE tedious computer work, B) are prone to eyestrain, or C) don't have lots of time to kill.
How much is it going to set you back? Another reason to consider hiring a formatter is that it's probably the cheapest service you can hire out.
For eBook formatting, you can expect to pay between $50 and $300, usually depending upon what you're asking for and the length of the work. 
I say what you're asking for, because certain distributors (like Smashwords) have "special" or premium catalogs that require a few more hoops to jump through. You may have to pay more for those kinds of things.
Another factor is if you have a lot of images within the text. Think of maps for fantasy, graphs for non-fiction, chapter images, etc. That can cost you extra as well.
There are lots of formatters out there who will do eBooks for less than $150. 
For paperback formatting, I'd expect to pay between $150 and $500. You might even pay upwards of $1,000 if your formatter is also manipulating the images for the cover, back jacket, and spine, or if she needs to include a lot of images with in the text.


Considerations - Keep in mind that when you hire a formatter, this probably doesn't mean zero effort on your part. You'll need to inspect the files they send you back. This can take hours. As in, how-long-does-it-take-you-to-read-a-book? kind of hours.

And I HIGHLY recommend you inspect what they send you back closely.
Most formatters will stipulate how many "re-do" attempts you get. Meaning: If you inspect the file and aren't pleased with something, you can send it back to them for corrections. 
Furthermore, formatters will not proofread your manuscript for you, so if you have typos, they'll most likely go into the final version of the book. Fixing them might require re-formatting, and that WILL require more $$$ on your part if you aren't doing it yourself.


Resources - Smashwords has a handy resource for finding independent publishing professionals called Mark's List. It's particularly useful, because Smashwords does attempt to keep it up to date and vetted. You'll find lots of book formatters there. 

Also, be sure to ask your author friends, particularly if you've read their book and thought it looked nice. They might do their own formatting and be willing to help you do yours for not-much-money. 


Bottom Line - Okay, here's where I do a little hedging on you. Finding a good formatter is tricky. And I've found out the hard way that a large part of formatting is trial and error--and that costs you when you're hiring it out. 
In my one and only experience with working with a formatter, I spent more time going over their work than it would've taken me to learn how to do it myself. And it still wasn't great!
I suspect this is why so many indies decide to do it themselves. Unless you know (trust) the person doing your formatting, you're likely rolling the dice.
Unfortunately, it would take another entire post to get into how to do it yourself. So I'll leave you with this excellent overview I read recently, courtesy of our blogging author friends, M Pax and Michael Pierce. 

So my REAL bottom line is this: If this is going to be your one and only book to publish (at least as far as you know), spend some real money on hiring as professional a formatter as you can find. (Proof is often in the website I've found--if it's a mess, they probably don't have the eye for detail formatting requires.)

However, if you're in this indie game for the long haul and are going to publish several things a year, invest your energy and time in learning how to do it yourself.
Step 5 - Distribution

Why you should hire it out - It doesn't take Donald Trump to figure out that you want your book in as many retailers as possible. And there are more book slingers out there than you might think.
Amazon, KOBO, Sony, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Diesle--just to name a few. And that doesn't include the vast numbers of paper book peddlers (libraries, bookstores, etc.) If you're doing this on your own, it can take a staggering amount of time to get your book in their hands, on their terms.
Distributors take care of that for you. They'll make sure your book is ready for purchase on Apple iBooks and you won't even have to lift a finger--well, other than giving them your manuscript. 

When to find a distributor - If you're only willing or able to get your book uploaded to one or two sites on your own, you might want to consider working with a distributor. 

Also, if paper books are a big part of your plan, you'll want a distributor.  

How much is it going to set you back? This is tricky. There are different types of distributors, and each goes about getting their pound of flesh a little differently. 

Smashwords offers--alongside digital publishing on their site, which is different than being a distributor of your book--a distribution program. Basically, if you meet their premium catalog requirements, they'll get your eBook up on iBooks, Sony Bookstore, and more. In most cases, it's a 60 (author)/ 40 (Smashwords and partners) per-book-split on titles priced .99 and higher.

Then, there are services like BookBaby, who offer a buffet-style approach to book publishing and distribution. (You can literally have them do everything except the writing and marketing.) They have a one price model: You pay upfront for whatever types of services you want, (starting at $99) and keep the rest of your earnings--minus an annual $19 service fee, of course. In exchange, they make sure your book gets to a bunch of retailers. (BookBaby also does print distribution, so again, you can have them do everything.)

Lastly, there are paper book channels to think about. Amazon offers CreateSpace, which is different than Kindle Direct Publishing in that it does distribute your book (if you so choose) to sources other than Amazon. 

It's free upfront if you design the layout of the book materials and upload the files yourself. Or, you can have them design your paper book for a fee. Then, they'll send it to wherever you specify for a royalty fee per book sold (you'll get to keep about 30% of whatever the title is selling for). They'll also charge you for every paper book you order, but it's heavily discounted from the sticker price the consumer sees. 

Another popular distributor is Lightning Source. You send them a file or print book for them to scan into their system, then they'll get your book out to the various distribution channels. Unlike CreateSpace, they do offer services other than POD (print on demand... think: the difference between creating each book as it is ordered Vs creating a print run with several volumes).



Considerations - They all have different terms, so make sure you familiarize yourself with them. In every case, you're going to be sharing your hard-earned book earnings with these people for a long while, so do some homework, and use the best service for you. 


Resources - This is a reoccurring theme here, and it's very telling of why we do this Indie Life thing--ask your author friends! Listen to their experiences using different distribution options, and try to find people who are shooting for something similar in terms of what you want for your book. 

CreateSpace might just be the perfect, hassle-free option you're looking for if most of your marketing time is going to be spent online. However, if you want to get your book in as many indie bookstores and libraries as possible, there might be better options.

I'd also recommend talking with the people at those bookstores and libraries who are responsible for ordering books directly. They'll let you know who is easiest for them to work with, which is important if that's where you want your book to be sold.


Bottom Line - This is the sink or swim point for many authors, and lots of them just go with the first distributor whose terms they can actually understand and meet. I'd encourage you to really talk to other independent authors and at least try to make an educated guess based upon what YOUR goals for YOUR book are. 
Step 6 - Marketing

Why you should hire it out - You've got the Facebook and are on the Twitters, what more do you need to be able to let the world know your baby is kicking and screaming in a store near them?

More, like, lots more. Marketing goes beyond a blog tour. It goes beyond a thriving Twitter account and a great book. There are many layers to creating awareness of you and your work, and the time you can sink into it is quite literally infinite. 

So, if you want to spend more of your time writing, and less of it typing Facebook updates, and your idea of branding is running around and zapping people with a hot iron, it might be time to hire it out.

When to get help with marketing - The marketing gurus out there (see - not me) will tell you that marketing for your book begins long before the book is even finished. 

You'll create a brand--an identity--for you as an author and a person by being present on social media and other public outlets. It's through the (hopefully) rose-hughed lenses of that brand that readers will begin to see you. 

You can most certainly do this organically just by being yourself on your blogs, etc. Talk about the things you like to read, watch, and listen to. Talk about your work generically and preferably not ad nauseam. Support other writers/authors, and so on.

However, this takes a LOT of time (usually years) and persistence before it builds into anything quantifiable in terms of 'presence'.

And maybe you've been writing in secret and, like a cat hiding in a box, are just waiting for the right time to jump out at us. If so, you'll need some help with getting noticed right away.

Or, perhaps you're really good at a couple of things (like blogging and Facebook), but you're really non-existant on other major platforms like Twitter. It might be a good idea to get some help to better cover your bases.

How much is it going to set you back? Again, your mileage may vary here. Do you just want a blog tour to help with your latest release? That'll be in the $100 - $300 range depending upon how long the tour goes and what the tour planner is expected to do. 

If you just need someone to build you a website, that will cost from the low hundreds to the thousands depending upon the fanciness you desire and the amount of time it takes a designer to build it. (And don't forget the hosting fees, which are usually nominal, but can add up over time. This is why a lot of authors default to using free blogs, etc.)

But maybe you need the whole "PR team" treatment. Someone to create your brand, teach you how to tweet, set up interviews, help you build that website, etc. That will set you back hundreds or, more probably, thousands of dollars. 



Considerations - Most of us will be willing and able to take on some of the marketing burden ourselves. So the decision then becomes more of identifying what you suck at, what you dislike doing, and what you're unwilling to invest your time into doing.

If you have some web design chops, consider building your own website through free sites like Weebly. It's pretty user friendly, and you can get a polished site up relatively quickly. Plus, it'll save you big time $$$. 

If you enjoy blogging and have a large following, you might be able to do your own blog tours. You might also find the time you spend organizing and carrying them out to be not agonizing (I refuse to call it enjoyable...).

But be honest about what you can do to a quasi-professional level Vs what you'll just be dabbling at. As the saying goes, you get one shot at making a good first impression, so make it count.


Resources - I mentioned Weebly above as a resource for building a website. 

Here's a good article with a big picture look at the keys to a successful virtual book tour. Here's a somewhat recent breakdown/comparison of some popular blog tour companies and their service/fee structure. 

Here's a list of 7 essential online book marketing tips I found useful.



Bottom Line - Again, I can't emphasize word of mouth enough. Talk to other writers you respect and trust before forking over your money. I found my blog tour planner that way, and I haven't regretted that expenditure for a second. 

Also, don't let me give you the impression that blog tours and website are all that goes into marketing. For big picture idea, check out this list of 10 winning marketing strategies.

***

Well, that's it! (I think... *phew*) I know this was a long post and series, but I'm hoping others will find it useful. I've intentionally tried to make it broad and "plain speak" to allow readers to wade into the world indie publishing as opposed to being thrown in headfirst. This was not intended to be an immersive guide to self-publishing.

(There are lots of people out there who know way more about it than I do. But I can tell you from the perspective of an everyday Joe, which is what I attempted to do.)

As I mentioned from the outset, quality matters. It's so very important to your longterm success and goals as an author to do these steps the best that you can each and every time. The worst possible outcome is for someone to not read your words because you've neglected a few simple details. 

Below is the link list I offered previously. If you provide some of the services I've covered in this series (cover design, formatting, etc.), please add your information below and I'll keep it posted on this blog.

~EJW~

The Ghosts of Aquinnah

Hey, gang! So thrilled to share news and a cover of another awesome upcoming release today! I'm actually doubly excited, because not only does this book come from my good blogging-writing friend, Julie Flanders, but the cover and blurb were done by one of my other dear blogging-multitalented friends, Michael Di Gesu.

Want to congratulate them both on doing a bang up job, and say I'm really looking forward to adding Ghosts to my library this December.


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A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.

Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick. 
By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.
Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.
She shakes her head. 

For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul. 

Why? ...
Who is she? ...
Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry. 
What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?
Hannah finds out. 
But, it’s not at all what she expects ...
Hannah unravels a century old murder.


Julie Flanders is a novelist and freelance writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a life-long love affair with the ocean and has spent more summer vacations than she can count on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. When not writing, Julie can be found reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and watching too much television. She is an animal lover and shares her home with her dog and cat.
Find Julie at:
Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads
The Ghosts of Aquinnah will be released by Ink Smith Publishing on December 5, 2013

Partners In ParanormYA... Call Out The Neighbors, It's A FEUD!

Hey, gang! I've got a fantastic post lined up for you today featuring the characters from two new, not-to-be-missed book releases in paranormal YA.

Regulars on my blog will be very acquainted with Gwen Gardner and Angela Brown as I've featured their shenanigans on the Open Vein before. But if you aren't familiar, you should know these two authors are hilarious and talented to boot.

So sit back and enjoy a little "ParanomYA Feud" with the characters of A Guilty Ghost Surprised and They Fall Down. 


*cue the Family Feud intro music*

Welcome to today’s True/False edition of ParanormYA Feud!I’m your special host, Wayne Brady of Let’s Make a Deal, NOT to be confused with a certain They All Fall Down character - looking at you, Q – who likes to make deals to sell your soul to the devil.*cue infamous Wayne Brady smile, infectious laughter and audience applause while Q nods and blows kisses all around*Let’s move on to our contestants. We have Team AGGS, A Guilty Ghost Surprised, and Team TAFD, They All Fall Down. Abby and Indigo, come on up for the first question.*cue audience applause*Wayne: Look at this. We’ve got ourselves a girl in red cloak and another in red face. It’s okay, Indigo, no need to worry. It’s just a game.Abby: Tell that to Q.Wayne: Um, uh…well now, let’s all do our best to uh, survive, with our, uh, souls intact. First question: The Blind Badger is a pub.Indigo *smacks the buzzer*: True?*Her team calls out cheers of “Good answer!”*Wayne: You are…correct! Point for Team AGGS. Next up, we have Samaya for Team TAFD and Franny for Team AGGS.*cue audience applause and several loud whistles for Samaya’s wardrobe…or rather, how much is lacking since her chest is hardly hidden by her barely-there-piece-of-fabric-for-a-shirt*Wayne *clears his throat*:  Okay. Here’s the question ladies, ghost, uh, ma’am, uh, never mind: The Soul Collector is a warm, caring being to be worshipped.Samaya *smacks the buzzer*: Of course that’s true.Wayne: I’m sorry, but that is incorrect.Samaya: It’s what!?!*The lights click off. The audience gasps.*Wayne:  No worries everyone. Just a technical difficulty. We’ll be right back. Wait, who is touching my butt?You never know what fun can be had with the cast of A Guilty Ghost Surprised and

About A Guilty Ghost Surprised: Indigo Eady and gang are back with a feather and a Chance setting off another twisting-turning investigation to bring a cold case, and loved ones, closure at last.Amazonand Barnes & Noble


About They All Fall Down: Free of their duties as Cleanser and Harvestor, Abby and Basil try to move on with their lives. But some secrets remain. And what is done in the dark won’t be good when it comes to light.Amazonand Barnes & Noble
About Partners in ParanormYA: Gwen Gardnerand Angela Brown - YA paranormal authors embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Share with us as we take the Indie journey to bring our works to the world. Buckle up! There'll be mystery, mayhem, action and emotional roller coasters...oh, and a few things that go bump in the night. Hauntings are scary but we love interaction: Angela’s author FB page| Gwen’s author FB pageTweet Angela | Tweet GwenAngela’s blog | Gwen’s blogAnd don’t forget about the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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IWSG - Failure To Launch

Hey, gang! Time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. (Yes, holy poop it's October already...) It's our monthly tribute to wallowing in self-pity and doubt, or what most of us refer to as: writing. 

Actually, it's usually a bit more positive than all that as we try to lift each other out of the pitfalls that plague a life devoted to creating. If you think you'd like to join or learn more about our band of merry misfits, click the pic below.

IWSG - Failure To Launch

Why do we fail? Sometimes a very difficult and complex question to answer. 

A wise woman (my mother) once told me that we only truly fail at the things we never attempt. That logic yields an equally powerful and simple answer to the previous difficult and complex question: Success is in the trying, not the accomplishing. 

TOTALLY didn't jibe with Yoda's "Do or do not. There is no try." by the way. But I like to think of my mother as a Real World Jedi, so I'll side with her on this one. :-)

I've found the advice has played out as almost universally true in my life. I really only view missed opportunities due to inaction or indecision on my  part as failures. When I've decided to get in the game and play--outcome be damned--I almost always feel as if I've won something.

That's not to say I'm a raging success at everything I do. 

Sometimes I win by falling on my face and learning the limits of what I can and can't do...

Sometimes I win by screwing up so much I eventually learn the right way of doing things by default (see also - writing)...

Sometimes I win by feeling just inadequate enough to keep trying until I'm proficient...

Sometimes I win--like a kid touching a hot stove--by simply knowing and understanding more about the world than when I started...

While those aren't the stuff of workplace motivational posters, they're markers of growth in my book. And not standing still, trying, is all I'm usually after.


I bring all of this up for IWSG today, because I think in writing in particular, we're sometimes so terrified by lofty ideas of success and failure that we neglect to even start. 

Maybe we don't want to go up to the starting line because we aren't sure exactly where the finish line is. Maybe the other runners are more accomplished and we feel we won't stand a chance. Maybe we're worried that everyone will have gone home and not notice when we do finally finish the race.

There are so many reasons to not start, and I can't tell you how much success you'll have if you do go for it. But I can promise you, you will fail if you never try.

If you knew you could only measure success by the effort you gave in the attempt, what would you try?

And speaking of trying and being bold, a good writer-blogger friend, Nick Wilford, started up his own editing business this week. Nick is extremely dedicated to the writing craft, and I can say from previous interactions on a project, he's a joy to work with. So I'm sure he'll do great things with his business. If you're interested in learning more about his services, jump HERE.

~EJW~   

Steps To Indie Publishing - Outsourcing Pt. 2 of 3 - Editing & Covers

Hey, gang! You might recall a couple of weeks ago I covered the basic steps to Indie publishing (a mostly serious list). As a refresher, I basically listed a bunch of things like editing, covers, formatting, etc. that lead up to you getting your book published. 

At the end of that post, I made a case for considering hiring someone to do those things for you. 

As promised, here is part two (of three... sorry, there's a lot of information to cover!) wherein we'll take a look at the first three steps I listed previously (writing, editing, and covers) checking out the basic why, when, how much, and what of outsourcing those publishing tasks.

I'd also like to remind everyone of our mantra: Quality matters!

I know a lot of you in the audience are actually hiring out as editors and cover artists, so in an attempt to do a little love connecting, I'm providing a link list for you to let people know about what you do and where to find you.

ALSO, if you want to learn more about Indie publishing and outsourcing, I highly recommend you stop by our special 1 hour early (8 PM Eastern) #NALitChat tonight on Twitter. 

We'll be chatting live on air (we do an audio show along with tweets, so if you're not into tweeting you can just listen) with Kate Tilton who works with Bibliocrunch--a one-stop-shop website that connects Indies with editors, artists, distributors and more. 

You can join the conversation (or just follow it) on Twitter using the #NALitChat hashtag. Should be a lot of fun with tons of information shared.

Keeping in mind this is based off of my experiences and research, that the cost estimates are intentionally broad, and that your mileage may vary, let's get to it!


Step 1 - Writing
As I mentioned before, I'm going to assume you actually want/like to write and aren't going to hire a ghostwriter to do it for you. Furthermore, I know nothing about ghostwriting, so we'll move right along...
Step 2 - Editing
Why you should hire it out - Okay, the distinction needs to be made up front: Professional editing is different than having beta readers and critique partners. You need those, too! But a professional editor is the next step. This person will be paid (and handsomely--we'll get to that) to scour your manuscript and make that sucker sparkle. 

They don't get to pull the "my kids are insane demons", "the cat vomited on my computer", "OMG Walking Dead just started again!" excuses a beta gets to use. Why? Because they are on the clock, and their business reputation is at stake--just like yours. It's a magical relationship, really.
Can you have a tight manuscript without paying an independent editor to look at your work? Maybe. But can you guarantee that your critique partner wasn't distracted by life and possibly their own manuscript when they looked over yours? No. Furthermore, can you hold them accountable if they were? No. Free is free, and you don't get to bitch about it if they miss your comma splices and word spamming.
When to find an editor - The first thing to understand about editing is that there are different types and levels of editing. If your betas are ninjas and your critique partners omniscient, you might just need some proof/line editing (think typos, homonym screw-ups, etc.) or copy editing (think style, form, and presentation of the text). 

But let's just say your mom is your only/best beta reader and loves everything you do. THEN you might want to find someone to do some developmental editing (think BIG picture stuff like plotting, pacing, and character development) for you.
So, the type of help you need will dictate when you need to seek an editor out. If you've got a fairly raw draft, you'll want to find a developmental editor earlier on in the project. However, if you've got something pretty polished on your hands, you might wait until you're closer to the publishing point for a little more focused help.
In either case, keep in mind that editing takes time, and reputable editors book up sometimes a year in advance. But before you go all ants-in-pants on me, remember that quality matters. Good things are worth waiting for.

And don't assume they're too busy to help you. Always ask, because they sometimes have unexpected cancelations, etc.
How much is it going to set you back - This will likely be the most expensive thing you outsource. It's also probably the most important. Basically, if you can only spend your money in one place, put it here. 
All the marketing, fabulous covers, and glitz in the world aren't going to cover up sloppy writing. Yes, I know (Insert Horribly Written Book Title Here) sold a billion copies, but yours won't. Trust me. 
Expect to pay $250-$2,500 depending on the length of the work (most charge by the word) and the type of editing you need. Developmental tends to cost more because it takes more of the editor's time and more interaction with the author. If they are a busy and well-established editor, probably on the high side of that estimate for a novel.

Considerations - Always shop around, talk to customers, read testimonials, and carry a cross and rabbits foot with you. Then, make sure they give you a sample of what to expect from their editorial feedback, demonstrated on YOUR work. It shouldn't take more than a few pages to see if they know what they're talking about, and if you'll be able to work with them.


Resources - Check sites like Predators & Editors and popular writing forums like Absolute Write for the skinny on specific editors. And definitely ask your writing friends. Word spreads quickly in writing circles.


Bottom Line - Do your homework before giving anyone your money.

Step 3 - 
Covers
Why you should hire it out - Look, some people just don't have an eye for visual esthetics. That's cool! But when it comes to the cover of your baby, don't pretend. A rocking cover is very important to the overall package of your work, and as an Indie author it's maybe your best weapon in the fight to get noticed amidst the see of traditionally published books out there.
And be honest with yourself: If you don't have a clue what pixel count is, you have no business doing your own book covers in the digital age. 
When to hire a cover artist - This one is really up to you. Some writers like to have the cover in front of them as they draft for inspiration. Others don't want to think about a cover until the book is almost ready for the presses.
Whenever you decide to contact a cover designer, just be sure to have a reasonable grasp on the basic elements you want included in your design. Keeping in mind that most cover designers will not be reading your manuscript cover-to-cover, they're going to rely heavily on your vision and synopsis of the work.

A cover can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to complete depending upon the type of work being done and how many 'revision cycles' you go through. 
How much is it going to set you back - $75-$1,000 This will vary greatly upon the considerations listed below, and the amount of work you're requiring of the artist you're hiring. Some charge by the hour, others by the project, so be sure to ask upfront.

Also, be aware of how many feedback/revision cycles the cover artist will give you. (Usually listed in their terms.) Typically, the more you pay, the more say you're going to have. If someone is putting together a $50 cover for you from stock images that already exist, don't expect them to change the eyebrow color of the models fifteen times.

Lastly, look for bargains! New design studios are popping up every day, and the new ones sometimes offer a good discount to help build up their clientele. Ask for sample covers, and if you like what you see, give 'em a shot.

Considerations - Do you want something illustrated--an original? Do you want to use people (models) on your cover? Are stock/public images okay? All of these things will likely impact price. So keep the variables in mind. Simpler concepts usually = less money.


Again, don't assume the cover designer is going to read your novel. In fact, many do not. They rely heavily on the author to give them the details they need to convey an entire book in a single image. Not easy to do, so it's important to find a cover designer you can work with, and who can quickly share your vision for the story.



Resources - You can find tons of cover artist with a simple Google search, and you can also check this Goodreads list. Here's a nice blog post on finding and working with cover artists.


Also, many talented authors are talented cover designers as well. So ask your writerly friends! Here, here, and here are a few of mine who do covers. :)
Bottom Line - An effective, nicely designed cover doesn't have to cost a fortune, but it might take someone with a little know-how to get it done.
____

That's it for part two! Be sure to keep an eye out for the final installment where I'll talk about formatting, distributing, and marketing.

Do any of you have experiences outsourcing to publishing professionals? Any tips to share in the comments? Did I leave anything out?

Also, be sure to add your business/service title and a website to the link list below if you're providing some of the services we've talked about. You never know who might stumble across this. :)

~EJW~

Follow Fest 2013!

Hey, gang! As promised, here is my post for Follow Fest. It's basically a networking campaign for authors in attempt to connect those of us who are writing in similar genres, etc.

It's organized by blogger-writer Melissa Maygrove and there's still time to sign up (through Thursday!) if you'd like to join in.


Name: E.J. Wesley

Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction

What genres do you write? Mostly speculative, in the New Adult category. I have a YA fantasy-dystopian-thing I'm gnawing on, too. I'm also trying my hand at some contemporary stuff. :)

Are you published? Yes. The first three installments of my Moonsongs series are available now, and 4, 5, and 6 will be out before the end of the year. Or at least I'm willing to die trying to put them out by the end of the year. :)

Do you do anything in addition to writing? I do covers and a few other publishing-related things, but nothing I'm hiring out for. In my spare time I play the guitar, read comics, watch the Walking Dead, play a few video games, throw a tennis ball to my dog (lots), run, hang with my family, and generally try to stay relaxed and inspired.

Where can people connect with you?Blogs - The Open Vein - NA Alley Blog Twitter - @EJWesley - @NALitChatFacebookGoodreadsGoogle+LinkedInPinterestAmazonB&NSmashwordsNew Adult AuthorsIs there anything else you’d like us to know? I host a New Adult litterature chat on Twitter (#NAlitChat) every Thursday night (9 PM Eastern). I'm a contributor to the NA Alley Blog.

Brrrr... Is It Cold In Here?

Happy Friday, gang! I've got one final post to share with you this week. My NA Alley Blog cohort and author supreme, Lynn Rush, released her latest book, Frostbite. And the cover is gorgeous! But I first want to set the table for next week's blog shenanigans...

On Tuesday, I'll be participating in Follow Fest, a blog hop/networking event organized by our pal Melissa Maygrove. It's premise is simple, and its importance vital. We're going to share our vital FYI in a single blog post. Basically, who we are, what we write, and links to all the different places we can be found on the Web. See, simple.
As most of you know (evidenced by my involvement in the Insecure Writer's Support group, Indie Life group, NA Lit Chat, etc.), I'm a huge proponent of joining hands with other writers... but not so much for advertising and marketing. 
I can't tell you how many emails and private messages I've shared with my fellow authors and blogging friends in the last two weeks. Sometimes it's simple encouragement, like congratulating them on a new release, sometimes it's a vital exchange of information on how to do something related to this writing gig, and sometimes it's simply to say, "I'm so frustrated I want to gouge out eyeballs--and not my own!" 
The point is, being a part of the blogging-writing community is a HUGE asset to you as both a professional and as an artist. So why miss an opportunity to connect with more people? 
There's still time to sign up for the blog hop. You can do so HERE as well as check out all the details.
Outsourcing Your Publishing Tasks Pt. 2
Last week I did a post on the steps to publishing a book independently (a mostly serious list) as part of my Indie Life series. I'll share Pt 2 next week, which will be focused on where and how to find professionals to do those steps for you.
It's also a good lead into our New Adult Lit Chat for next week, when we'll have Kate Tilton (an Indie resource finding wizard who works for BiblioCrunch) on to talk about the how, what, when, and where of finding editors, cover artists, and more.
It'll be a special, 1 hour early NA Lit Chat (8 PM Eastern instead of 9 PM) with an audio panel discussion. If you're interested in joining in the discussion (or just listening) be sure to follow the #NALitChat stream next week and follow me @EJWesley or @NALitChat on Twitter.
If you've missed the audio stuff we've been doing alongside our regular Twitter discussion, I recommend checking out our YouTube stream HERE. 
Frostbite by Lynn Rush


Amanda gives a whole new meaning to cool…

Amanda Smith is sick of getting chased from town-to-town. So when she lands in tiny Trifle, Arizona, she hopes it’s her last move for a long time. Despite hating the smallness of the town, she settles in and finds a best friend, and even a boyfriend. Normality at its finest.

But for a girl who can shoot snow from her hands and lift a two-ton truck over her head like a bag of feathers—normal is not an option.

The scientists who murdered her mother come barreling into Amanda’s quiet life. She must decide if she’ll run again or stay and fight. The price of either choice might be her life or the lives of those she’s come to love…

Book Details:

Title: Frostbite (Touch of Frost Trilogy #1)
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/17S3I2X
Word count: 72,000 Release Date: 9/17/13 
Publisher: Lynn Rush, LLC 
Genre: Paranormal Romance – New Adult/Upper YA 
Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two sources – Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush – since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of Rush’s books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake, and a portion of the proceeds benefits cancer research and treatment.

Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. Originally from Minneapolis, Rush currently enjoys living in the Arizona desert with her husband of 17 years and her loveable Shetland Sheep dog. When she’s not busy writing her next trilogy, she can be found pounding the pavement, training to run her first marathon.

Lynn loves connecting with her readers: 
Catch the Rush®: www.LynnRush.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LynnRush

Other links of interest:
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Rush/e/B005G3NVBQ
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lynnrushwrites/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/f55fL

TOLD YOU THE COVER WAS RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME! Plus, it sounds like a great read. Congrats Lynn!
And to all of you fine folks, have a great weekend!
~EJW~

A Ninja Captain Plays Favorites?!

Hey, gang! As I'm sure you've noticed if you're even remotely plugged into the blogging world this week, our very own Alex Cavanaugh (AKA the Ninja Rocker, AKA the Ninja Captain, AKA the Blogging Maniac, AKA Robo-Alex...) released the third and final installment of his Sci-fi space opera series, CassaStorm.

As part of the occasion, Alex is storming the Web and answering a bunch of random questions from his blogging buddies. I've had a blast reading all of the Q&A, and am excited to finally be able to post my own.

Also, be sure to omment on Alex’s blog this week for a chance to win a Cassa mug, mousepad, magnet, and swag!

E.J.'s Question:  What are your top 3 science fiction stories (movies, TV, books, etc.) of all time? (I know this is going to kill you! bwahahahahaha)

The Captain Answers: EJ! That is so unfair. Well, I’m not going to play fair with my answer, either. (We knew you couldn't play favorites!)

Top science fiction stories of all time – Firefly/Serenity, Star Trek (all), and Stargate SG1/Atlantis. And yes, those cover television, movies, and books, as I’ve read adventures from all three.

You should have to name your favorite now…

E.J.: Fair enough! Star Wars (movies, books, & animated), Ender's Game (book), & Battle Star Galactica (2004 TV series).

Everyone else: Be sure to tell us what your favorites are in the comments!

CassaStormBy Alex J Cavanaugh

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!
A storm gathers across the galaxy…
Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.
Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

“Cavanaugh creates such an unforgettable world, and these characters will stay with you long after their story is over.”
- Cassie Mae, author of Friday Night Alibi and How to Date a Nerd

“…the racial conflicts propelled much of the plot in this story, driving home a message that's relevant to our own world and giving the book an interesting texture.”
- C. Lee. McKenzie, author of Alligators Overhead

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002

Amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastorm






Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh