Lea Carter's Blog, page 3
September 9, 2013
Finalist!!
The September 1st result is...Silver Majesty made it to the Finalist level of the Young Adult category in the KBR Best Indie Book Award competition! (Say that five times fast!)
I'm going to try to add the badge they sent me to Silver Majesty's Goodreads page. Wish me luck!
http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/20...
And cross your fingers. I'm not in it for the prize money, but I would still like to win. :-D
I'm going to try to add the badge they sent me to Silver Majesty's Goodreads page. Wish me luck!
http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/20...
And cross your fingers. I'm not in it for the prize money, but I would still like to win. :-D
On competition...
While I'm waiting for the next tier of the Kindle Book Review competition (Sept. 1st), I'm probably going to do a lot of thinking aloud (aka blogging) on the subject. ;-)
One of the first things I realized after the initial exhileration wore off is how very different the book titles are. Just in Young Adult alone, for example: "A Kettle of Fish," "Ghost Hand," "Playing the Genetic Lottery," "There Must Be Horses," and "Watch Me Disappear." Fifty titles. Fifty stories that most likely have little or nothing in common as far as storyline.
And I find myself thinking how very grateful I am for my years of submitting stories to the Crowder Quill. I might say that I have more to lose in this competition, so yes, my heart beats a little faster...but the ground rules are the same. Once I've pressed that button to "submit," that's all I can do. So I'll wait. I'll try not to think about it. I'll blog about it (and try not to think about it). lol... I may or may not make paper chains so I can count down to it like I would to Christmas or some other life-altering event.
I will definitely regret, though, that I don't have the time and resources to read each of the other 49 semi-finalists' stories. My only solution is a bit risky. If the author has chosen to allow Kindle browsers to "take a look" I should be able to at least read the first chapter! That will be very similar to what the reviewers did to select these books out of the hundreds of submissions. Those that I have time to check into I will blog about here and on http://leasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
What can I say? I'm slightly masochistic! ;-)
One of the first things I realized after the initial exhileration wore off is how very different the book titles are. Just in Young Adult alone, for example: "A Kettle of Fish," "Ghost Hand," "Playing the Genetic Lottery," "There Must Be Horses," and "Watch Me Disappear." Fifty titles. Fifty stories that most likely have little or nothing in common as far as storyline.
And I find myself thinking how very grateful I am for my years of submitting stories to the Crowder Quill. I might say that I have more to lose in this competition, so yes, my heart beats a little faster...but the ground rules are the same. Once I've pressed that button to "submit," that's all I can do. So I'll wait. I'll try not to think about it. I'll blog about it (and try not to think about it). lol... I may or may not make paper chains so I can count down to it like I would to Christmas or some other life-altering event.
I will definitely regret, though, that I don't have the time and resources to read each of the other 49 semi-finalists' stories. My only solution is a bit risky. If the author has chosen to allow Kindle browsers to "take a look" I should be able to at least read the first chapter! That will be very similar to what the reviewers did to select these books out of the hundreds of submissions. Those that I have time to check into I will blog about here and on http://leasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
What can I say? I'm slightly masochistic! ;-)
July 22, 2013
Self-publishing: Who? When? Why?
As an indie author gets further into the business, s/he is bound to realize that there are even more options than s/he originally thought.
For example, the selling platform (Who?). Amazon, Smashwords, private author webpages, a few major book stores, and several independent webpages.
But when an author discovers this and when s/he is ready to take the step of spreading their work between multiple sales platforms (oh, the paperwork!) can be two completely different things.
At that point, however briefly, the author begins to ask: Why? If that author is like me, they begin to do research. Lots of research. They suspiciously check the dates on internet articles that praise one platform or method over another, knowing that an article written in 2009 or even 2011 is woefully outdated.
As the information swirls around in the author's head, the heavy stuff settles to the bottom like gold in a miner's pan. Bravely the indie author steps forward into their own untamed wilderness, filled with potential faux pas, newbie mistakes, and an overall wild time.
For example, the selling platform (Who?). Amazon, Smashwords, private author webpages, a few major book stores, and several independent webpages.
But when an author discovers this and when s/he is ready to take the step of spreading their work between multiple sales platforms (oh, the paperwork!) can be two completely different things.
At that point, however briefly, the author begins to ask: Why? If that author is like me, they begin to do research. Lots of research. They suspiciously check the dates on internet articles that praise one platform or method over another, knowing that an article written in 2009 or even 2011 is woefully outdated.
As the information swirls around in the author's head, the heavy stuff settles to the bottom like gold in a miner's pan. Bravely the indie author steps forward into their own untamed wilderness, filled with potential faux pas, newbie mistakes, and an overall wild time.
July 20, 2013
Celebrating Silver Verity's upcoming launch!
Start your visit to Fairydom with the first two stories free! It's an unusual flight of fantasy, for Rebecca's an ordinary girl - with wings and a crown. ;-) Encounter rebels, pirates, and masked balls as Rebecca's life goes/grows from theory to practical application!
Silver Princess and Silver Majesty are available today and tomorrow for free downloads to celebrate the release of Silver Verity (on July 24th)!
www.amazon.com/author/leacarter
Silver Princess and Silver Majesty are available today and tomorrow for free downloads to celebrate the release of Silver Verity (on July 24th)!
www.amazon.com/author/leacarter
July 11, 2013
Book formatting (print)
I'm a long way from holding a copy in my hands, but I am working on getting my books out in print through the POD company Lightning Source. As I edge my way towards it (lots of other things going on, too) I find myself asking if the instructions on formatting the inside of the book have everything I need to know. They're very simple and I have a hard time believing it's that easy. (lol) Also, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a good, free book formatting program? I don't want to submit a book innards file to them and then have to completely redo/resubmit it. Basically, it's a LOT cheaper to get it right the first time! Thanks for your help. :-)
July 10, 2013
Special Request for Reviews!
Thanks again for your support, everyone. I hope the book(s) have been enjoyable all the way through as they seemed to be at the beginning. :-)
It isn't the writing alone that takes so long, it's trying up all of the loose ends! I guess you might call it a yarn-hydra. Tie off two loose ends and get four more! lol, no it's not quite that bad. I just have a lot to learn still. Which is why I'm here.
I'd like to do a promotional free period with Silver Princess (#1) and Silver Majesty (#2) on Amazon, in preparation for releasing Silver Verity (#3), but all of my research indicates that having more reviews yields more downloads (even for free stuff, lol). That being said, I'd really appreciate it if those of you who have read either Silver Princess or Silver Majesty (but haven't reviewed them) would please take a few minutes to review them on Amazon (since that's my sales platform). Any and all Goodreads reviews are also (sincerely) appreciated!
Thank you in advance, it really does make a difference.
:-)
Links to their respective Amazon pages can be found here: http://leasbookshelf.blogspot.com/p/b...
Thank you, Lea Carter
It isn't the writing alone that takes so long, it's trying up all of the loose ends! I guess you might call it a yarn-hydra. Tie off two loose ends and get four more! lol, no it's not quite that bad. I just have a lot to learn still. Which is why I'm here.
I'd like to do a promotional free period with Silver Princess (#1) and Silver Majesty (#2) on Amazon, in preparation for releasing Silver Verity (#3), but all of my research indicates that having more reviews yields more downloads (even for free stuff, lol). That being said, I'd really appreciate it if those of you who have read either Silver Princess or Silver Majesty (but haven't reviewed them) would please take a few minutes to review them on Amazon (since that's my sales platform). Any and all Goodreads reviews are also (sincerely) appreciated!
Thank you in advance, it really does make a difference.
:-)
Links to their respective Amazon pages can be found here: http://leasbookshelf.blogspot.com/p/b...
Thank you, Lea Carter
July 8, 2013
Semi-Finalist!! (Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Book Awards)
Excited? I should say so! If I weren't sitting down I'd be doing backflips! And since I don't know how to do backflips, it's probably a good thing I'm sitting down.
On September 1st, we will learn who the Top-5 Category Finalists are. Let's see, that's...55 days away. Oh my. That seems like a very long time!
My book, Silver Majesty, is listed under the Young Adult category at: http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/20...
Celebratory comments are welcome! ;-)
On September 1st, we will learn who the Top-5 Category Finalists are. Let's see, that's...55 days away. Oh my. That seems like a very long time!
My book, Silver Majesty, is listed under the Young Adult category at: http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/20...
Celebratory comments are welcome! ;-)
July 2, 2013
Third time's the charm!
Silver Verity will be out soon, and it should tie up the loose ends I've left throughout Princess Rebecca's story so far.
I'm currently working on taking the Silver Sagas story in a new direction. It's still set in Fairydom, of course, but it's no longer restricted to just Rebecca's story. Therefore, I'm having a marvelous time getting to know Prince Cambrian, second son of the Sky Fairy King.
Hoping to have Silver Verity available for your enjoyment in the next couple of weeks!
I'm currently working on taking the Silver Sagas story in a new direction. It's still set in Fairydom, of course, but it's no longer restricted to just Rebecca's story. Therefore, I'm having a marvelous time getting to know Prince Cambrian, second son of the Sky Fairy King.
Hoping to have Silver Verity available for your enjoyment in the next couple of weeks!
April 26, 2013
My first interview!
will be posted tomorrow (5/27) at http://www.astorybookworld.blogspot.com/ Reviews will also be posted of Silver Majesty. So, yes, I'm excited. Nervous? lol, I'm trying not to think about it too much. I have to go to work today and act natural! ;-) Have a great day everyone!
April 25, 2013
POD - Taking the Plunge (or "I wish I had a helmet!")
Well, I can't stall much longer. I've been looking into Lightning Source, Inc., (LSI) for over six months. Then I finally realized that I know someone who is a retired lawyer! (Yay!) So in exchange for a homemade meal, he reviewed the contracts AND explained them to me (that last being the more challenging part of the deal).
Gulp... Sounds like LSI is a reputable, established company that will take my titles as far in the printed-book world as I can make the market take them. What am I afraid of, then? lol, I'm sort of the like the firecracker who's not sure if they're a roman candle (filled with multiple bursts of color that will delight audiences everywhere) or a dud. I suppose that's it, really. Still, I am learning that there are some risks worth taking. LSI does represent a significant monetary investment (for me - keep in mind, I think spending $11 for jeans is barely reasonable). But it might easily be worth it.
So. In a couple of days, once a thing or two have sorted themselves out, I will sign a contract with LSI. ("I WISH I HAD A HELMET!")
I hereby state firmly that I will not let my vivid imagination conjure up an air castle that will let me fall more than ten feet should it eventually dissolve.
*POD stands for Print on Demand.
Gulp... Sounds like LSI is a reputable, established company that will take my titles as far in the printed-book world as I can make the market take them. What am I afraid of, then? lol, I'm sort of the like the firecracker who's not sure if they're a roman candle (filled with multiple bursts of color that will delight audiences everywhere) or a dud. I suppose that's it, really. Still, I am learning that there are some risks worth taking. LSI does represent a significant monetary investment (for me - keep in mind, I think spending $11 for jeans is barely reasonable). But it might easily be worth it.
So. In a couple of days, once a thing or two have sorted themselves out, I will sign a contract with LSI. ("I WISH I HAD A HELMET!")
I hereby state firmly that I will not let my vivid imagination conjure up an air castle that will let me fall more than ten feet should it eventually dissolve.
*POD stands for Print on Demand.
