Jason T. Graves's Blog: A Grave(s) Reflection, page 2

Good Giveaway, But It's Over :(

My first ever Goodreads giveaway is over, and I'm pleased to see that 954 people joined up for a chance to win a free copy of my novel. The winner was Gail Ward, who will soon be receiving a personalized and signed paperback edition of Blood Roses. Congratulations Gail!

I will continue to hold giveaways in anticipation of the release of Morning Stars, the sequel to Blood Roses, so keep a look out for those. Also, the paperback and e-book editions are available on Amazon: http://goo.gl/YwkKA and will soon be available on Barnes and Noble[Edit 4-18-2013 Blood Roses on Barnes and Noble for Nook: http://goo.gl/p3dnV ].

As always, signed paperbacks and limited edition hardbacks are available by contacting sales@jasontgraves.com

All of my social media links and blogs can be found at my website: jasontgraves.com

Also, I am holding another giveaway for my novella (only open to US residents [sorry... postage]): http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

THANK YOU to everyone who expressed interest in Blood Roses!

Cheers!
Jason

Indie Author Giveaway!

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Featuring these Goodreads authors...

Surviving The Slump

So you've written a novel. That's quite an accomplishment. People you tell express surprise and ask questions about it. One of the worst: "Is it any good?" One of the best: "Are you going to write a sequel?" You smile, you chat, you talk it up, because you believe in your book and you want people to read it and enjoy it. Then the rush is over and you face the prospect of The Slump: the period when your initial surge of sales tapers off or stops altogether. Perhaps you never experienced the Slump, but I've talked to many writers who have, and some even survived it - intact and willing to talk about it.

What to do in those long dark days when your Tweets and blog posts and encouraging comments result in book sales statements that refuse to separate from the zero mark? What to do when cannot get reviews of your work? What to do when the 'Buzz' dies? What, indeed.

First, don't give up. Unless you suck at writing and are unwilling to learn how to write better, you should stick out the dry season. I have been in dry seasons, but they do pass--keep the faith.

Second, don't be obnoxious. Blaming others for your lack of readers is not helpful. Suggesting that the wrong type of people are reading your stuff (ergo, your slow sales/low reviews) is not helpful. Continue to engage in social media in a positive way... give your potential readers some reason to think of you and your past readers some reason to keep thinking of you. (This does not mean spam your Twitter followers with sixty per hour entreats to buy your book).

Third, keep writing! This is the most valuable piece of information that I hear from established authors, which is why I saved it for last. Every time I've been morose or angry that my books are languishing, I take that emotional energy and go WRITE. Guess what my characters are like when their creator feels high emotions? Do they plod or pop? They more than pop, they go BANG! Think about how it feels to write an emotionally REAL scene... REMEMBER it, LIVE it and write from that place again and again. Because someday, so they tell me, enough people will read your stuff and like it. Like it so much that they'll jump up and talk about it and keep talking about it, along with their friends, and so on and so on--one positive comment at a time--building that roadway to your success.

First Editions, While They Last

Even after editing and proof-reading by several pairs of eyes, mistakes will still occur in any book, and mine is no exception. The initial print run (first edition) contained several mistakes that were fixed and incorporated into the second edition, which is the book that is now available from Amazon, both in e-book and paperback form, and in the hardback. However...

I had 76 first edition paperback copies of Blood Roses printed, and aside from a handful that were printed via Amazon before the conversion, that is all. There will be no more first editions. Ever.

Think collector's item :)

I have 25 signed first edition paperbacks available for sale. Once these are gone, they're gone. If you would like one, e-mail me: jason@jasontgraves.com $14.95 + S&H.

Also, I have one first edition with slight shipping damage (pinch on upper corners of the book with a few bent pages) that I have discounted to $10 + S&H. First request gets it.

On Being A Funnier Writer

The best writing advice I ever received was to write something--every day if possible--to achieve the mythical 10,000 hour mark. I am pretty sure that I am nowhere near 10k hours of hammering the keys, but I did have a sudden spark of geekery earlier tonight in which I took an ever-so-serious story idea and spun it on its head, turning it into a comedy idea... which I like.

Understand, I write serious stuff most of the time. Every once in a while I will throw a humorous nugget into the mix, but my stuff is normally mostly drama, conversation, or exposition. Rewind an hour or so, and I'm looking at this serious 25-word sentence that I wrote a few days ago and BOOM! it hits me that this is black comedy, ripe for the picking...

I now have 300 words and a title, and I like this story; I like it a lot :)

Music, the Muse, and WIP

Music is a fairly integral part of my creative process, and this past week was no exception. On Tuesday, I was digging through psyambient music choices and discovered Shpongle, who are, simply, crazy good to listen to while writing. Others to whom I was listening this week were Hol Baumann and, of course, Mind.In.A.Box.

Here's a sample of the WIP (Morning Stars) I was writing this week, as I enjoyed this music:

“Your lovely wife has arranged a gift for you, young man, a most precious gift,” the stocky man said, turning back into the room. “Sit, for heaven’s sake!”
He stepped over to an oversized chair and lowered himself onto it, while Jerzy and Marlena tentatively perched on the edges of two armless chairs.
“I am a magus. I wield the mysteries of the universe, and I understand that there is some jealousy on your part, Master Jerzy, regarding those of us, your wife included, who wield such power?”
“Well, no… is that wh—”
“Of course you are and of course it is,” the man said slyly. “It is a terrible thing to be so normal, when your wife is so exceptional.”
Jerzy’s face darkened and he stood. “I won’t sit here and—”
“Do sit down, Papagei. It is unbecoming to act a fool, and… I can see that you are no fool,” the man said and his eyes flicked to Marlena.
“What I propose,” he continued, “is to simply unblock the magic within you, much as your wife’s family had theirs unblocked at some point in the past. Vampires are, after all, inherently magic creatures, you know. What I will do is simply therapeutic… nothing monumental as your lovely wife felt might be required. I can do much for you, vampire, something I could not say for a mundane human.”

Copyright © 2013 Jason T. Graves, all rights reserved