Allan Krummenacker's Blog, page 30

Some Results From My "Hobbit Birthday Party" Last Weekend...

Well, time for a little update.  Here are the results so far from my "Hobbit Birthday Party" last weekend. Total 40 free books were picked up. And so far 4 reviews have come back, which is great in my book. The fact that people went through it so fast and got back to me is terrific. I'm hoping with time, that as people get to read it and finish the book, they'll leave reviews too.
Out of the 4 reviews I've gotten 3 were 5 Stars and the last one was a 3 star, but a very pleasant one mind you. They still encouraged people to check it out so I'm not going to complain.
This first review is from Amazon.com:
5 out of 5 stars:  You'll think twice about going in the water! April 5, 2013By Michael DrakichFormat:Kindle EditionExhilerating! The story kept me tense the whole way through. I normally don't read horror as I prefer science fiction and fantasy but after receiving a copy of the novel it is my habit to always read all the way through and I'm glad I did. There is even a touch of sci-fi in the mix which pleased me. The story was creative and, at times, frightening, the good way a horror book should be. A number of sub-plots rounded out the novel but it is the main plot that is so riveting. I don't want to post any spoilers except to say the concept of the evil hidden in the river is a nice change from coming from underground. For fans of the horror genre, this is a must read.
These reviews are from Smashwords:
Review by: Cath Lawrence on April 06, 2013 :   Good ideas, well paced and well plotted, with interesting and engaging characters.But it needs a thorough editing; I felt like I was reading an unpublished draft. The common banter style made the characters tend to blur together, and really, could they not sometimes just get on with their bloody jobs instead of making with the constant sexual jokes & innuendos? And the author very badly needed to consult someone actually British for the voice of the supposedly British characters - these are teeth-gratingly bad at times. (What is Oye even supposed to mean? Oy? Oi? Aye? What kind of English are we even talking about? Seems to veer randomly cockney & posh.)I got the book free in exchange for a review; I hope this isn't so harsh as to be discouraging. There's a lot of good in it; it just needs some balancing and tweaking.(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by:  Tracy Hernandez April 03, 2013 :     As someone who got to proof read this, I must say I love it! Found a few surprises in it that were not there before! Can't wait for the next one!(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Harry Dodgson March 31, 2013 :     The Bridge is an excellent book, well written. A genre I don't usually read but, I will look out for Allen's next book.(reviewed the day of purchase)

My Review of John Wyndham's Classic "Day Of The Triffids" 4-stars

I've wanted to read this book for some time. And as I expected it was quite different from the movie from 1962. I was a little surprised to see that most of the story seemed to focus on a post-apocalyptic Earth situation, where the Triffids were just another danger. 

But I was fascinated by the behavior of the people our protagonist meets along the way. The good, the bad and the ugly do not really apply in this case. It was more the well-meaning, the determined, the foolhardy. Truly an insightful look at how people might behave and react to a world were 99% of the people have gone blind. How do you come to grips with the realization that so many people need help and you can only do so much? 

I rather liked the author's use of the 1st person narration in this story as well.  He keeps in mind that the protagonist will only know so much and thus will only be able to share that information with the reader.  For most of the book the source of the comet-light show that blinds everyone is left a mystery.  Not until the last quarter of the book do we get a plausible and shocking scenario that makes one really wonder about an accidental man-made disaster.

The story can be shocking at times, but also insightful and thought provoking. And Wyndham always allows hope to exist, which helps through the darker parts of the story. I can see why it is considered a classic.

Welcome to My "HOBBIT BIRTHDAY" Weekend...

For those unfamiliar with the concept of a "Hobbit Birthday", it is one where the birthday person gives presents to those who come to celebrate with him/her.  And that's what I'm doing here with my birthday, which is March 30th.  
I'm giving you all a chance to get a free e-copy of my novel "THE BRIDGE".  Just go the link below which will take you to Smashwords and use this coupon code: XS86Y to get a free e-book copy.  Smashwords will give you selection of different versions of the book to choose from MOBI (Kindle), Nook, Apple, EPUB, and PDF.  
****NOTE: the coupon is only good from now through midnight April 1st, so make sure you get yours as soon as possible****
And what does this birthday boy ask for in return?  Simply this, leave a review on Smashwords and/or Amazon if you don't mind.nd if you enjoyed the book, please help spread the word about it through your networks.  The biggest battle any new author faces is getting the word out about their books, so this would be a huge help. 
SO LET THE PARTY BEGIN.  Here's the Smashwords Link:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/272613

Sample Sunday...

I got the idea for "Sample Sunday" from one of my fellow authors, namely Scarlet Black.  She is the author of "Wisdom Of Evil", "Salem Moon" 1 and 2, "The Last Gift" and most recently "E-Vamp" which is taking the European market by storm.   I strongly recommend checking her out on Amazon folks, you won't be disappointed.
Anyway, today I decided to give you all a brief glimpse into a scene in "THE BRIDGE".  I thought it might be nice to show you some of what goes on during one of my lead characters psychic visions.  Once you've read it, remember the book is available for all e-readers and in print.   You can find all these versions  at my new webpage: http://allankrummenacker.wix.com/allan-krummenacker.  Just click on the one you want and the link will take you to where you need to go for it.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this snippet:
     Alex, blissfully unaware of all that had taken place, boarded a train at Grand Central station, eager to go home.  He had been in the city all day and was glad to be leaving.  He had met with clients, visited contractors, and then checked on a couple of jobs his office was overseeing.   Then he’d met up with his sister and her husband for lunch.     And as usual Sharon was in top form, going on about how tired he looked and that he needed to spend more time back on Long Island.  Maybe go to the beach.  Of course he could bring Veronica, but she’d heard that too much sun was bad for older skin, and so on and so forth.     Now, he was comfortably settled in a seat on the train and allowed himself to lean back and relaxed.  The gentle swaying and clicking sound of the wheels were soothing, almost hypnotic.  His eyes slowly lowered and he fell asleep…
     … and once again found himself in the strange hallway with the four doors waiting for him.  How had he gotten up here?     Up here?  Yes, this was an upper story that was rarely used anymore.  A thin layer of dust covering the carpet was testimony to that fact. No one had been up here in some time.   Brushing aside a cobweb he went over to the nearest door and tried the handle, it was unlocked.  Suddenly it swung inwards, revealing a bedroom furnished in Colonial style. Though he was no expert, he was sure the furnishings were originals, not modern copies.  And unlike the hallway, everything in here was immaculately clean and well cared for.  There was some clothing laid out on the bed which indicated this room belonged to a woman.     Instinct told him not to enter, so he decided to make his way towards the next room. As soon as he turned away, the door behind him slammed shut.  Then the unmistakable sound of keys in a lock could be heard.  Looking back, he saw the door was now bolted shut and thought he heard movement inside.  Looking down at the lighted crack at the bottom of the door, he spotted the shadow of feet pacing back and forth from the other side of the barrier.  He quickly went over to the other doors and saw no light or shadows coming from them.      Coming back to the locked door he found wooden slats now covered the portal.  At first he felt panic for the owner of those shadowy footsteps, but then he realized the room was now empty.  He could sense no one within.    From behind him came the sound of creaking.  Turning he saw the door opposite this one slowly opening.    He took one final look at the barred doorway and found it was now bricked up.  And half of the brickwork was already covered by dark paneling that matched the rest of the corridor.There was nothing more he could do here.  And the room behind him waited patiently.  Taking a deep breath, he turned and headed over to the room across the hallway.  He didn’t bother looking back, knowing that any sign a room had been there would be gone.
     On the old stone bridge over the stream, a woman stood silent and motionless.  In her arms she cradled what appeared to be a small bundle.  Her eyes were fixed on the line of tall trees surrounding the rear half of the great mansion.  Their many branches practically obscured the entire third floor.    Nearby, at the foot of the bridge a man wearing a white wolf skin knelt.  His head was bowed as he chanted in a tongue not heard in centuries...

I Have a Vlog Over On YouTube...

For those who didn't already know, I have a Vlog over on YouTube.  Now I know I've gained more readers over time, especially since I last posted any videos here.  And those I believe were from Christmas here in Marina California.
Normally my videos are all about writing and its many aspects:  settings, plot, character development, getting ideas, finding inspiration, dealing with writer's block, publishing on Createspace and Smashwords, etc.
Here is the latest video I posted a few weeks ago.  You may want to check it out or go to my YouTube channel to check out some of the other videos I've made.  I tried making this last one a bit more amusing, but without going overboard and ruining the main point I was trying to make in the video of how to make a mistake into a plus.
Enjoy.

The Last Five 1st Edition Copies of "THE BRIDGE" Left For Sale At This Time

I'm down to my last five 1st edition copies of my novel "THE BRIDGE".  

Now, there may be more available in six months from now, but don't count on it. Last week I placed 9 of these first edition copies in two local bookstores. If they don't sell there, I'll be making whatever is left of them available for purchase here. I'm hoping I'll get cleaned out and asked to bring in more copies (those will be 2nd edition ones).

So if anyone is interested in getting a personalized/signed 1st edition please let me know. I don't know how much longer these will last. Price $15.00, plus $3.00 shipping and handling here in the U. S. Outside of the U. S. will cost more.

REMEMBER: These are the copies that still have some errors in them, but not enough to really interrupt the story or your enjoyment.

Review of K. C. Blake's "Vampire's Rule"

Vampires Rule by K.C. Blake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


His name is Jack, his nickname is "Jackpot" and with good reason. Killed by a werewolf, but changed at the last moment by vampires he is spared from death. Then by a freak chance, he becomes mortal once more after an encounter with another werewolf. Now he's not completely human, vampire or werewolf... he's something more.

K. C. Blake presents us with a unique blend of traditional vampires, werewolves and a bit more thrown in. It's a fast-paced tale of life, death, rebirth. Second chances that may not be all we hoped they would be. Friends and family become enemies and allies, with twists and turns sure to keep the reader on edge.

This is the first in "The Rule" series. The characters can be a little hard to like at times, but when setting the stage for a series this can be forgiven as we watch them grow and find that there is still a lot more to come from this author and these books.

Highly recommended for vampire and werewolf fans.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



View all my reviews

Getting On Bookshelves...

Okay, yesterday was a big day for me.  My novel "THE BRIDGE" is now available in two 'brick-and-mortar' bookstores.  How did I make this happen?  Are sales jumping through the roof?  Is my name out there so much that fans are demanding it be available everywhere?  Two words.... I WISH!
No, the simple truth is when you're an Indie Author (someone who has published through Createspace or other means to make a printed copy of your book), you have to do a lot of things yourself.  One of them is marketing and getting your book into stores.  Now, if you've done a good job marketing and your sales on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites are going really well, you might land up in bookstores.  Some chains look to those sites to see what's the hottest sellers going and is it available in print form.  They don't want to be left out of the loop and fall behind.  But you have to have great sales for that to happen.  But if you're just starting out and are still building your reputation, you have to do research and make inquiries to bookstores about getting your work on their shelves.
Now, one of those methods is 'consignment'.  And that's what I did with these two bookstores.  Consignment is where the bookstore will split the profit on every sale of your book, in return for letting your product be on their shelves.  Now remember, space is a premium at a bookstore.  They want things on their shelves that's going to sell and not just gather dust forever.  So consignment arrangements can take two forms.  One is a straight split 50/50 or you can be charged a fee plus a portion of the sales.  Now I encountered both types.  One store is giving me a 60/40 split in my favor, but also charged small fee.  Now to me, this was fair and reasonable since I'm also an artist.  I'm used to this kind of arrangement because it's used in some art galleries.  You're renting space inside that business and they are taking a risk in the respect that if you don't sell at all that they still get a little something for having that space occupied inside their business by work that is not generating any profit for them.  The other store, went for a straight 50/50 split with me.  
Now, in both cases, the books are going to be on their shelves for the next 6 months.  So for at least 1/2 a year, my books have a presence out there where people can see it and become intrigued.  I also took the precaution of autographing all of them to help entice prospective buyers.  Plus I also made mention that these were 1st edition, signed copies.  Again, another method of trying to entice buyers.  People are always hoping that they might have a piece of something that becomes a big thing down the road.  And 1st edition, signed copies can be worth a lot down the road if that happens.
But that's not enough.  I have to get the word out that these stores are now carrying my work to help increase the sales.  Because the more that happens, the stores will want more copies.  Plus they'll also want the work to stay on their shelves even longer and be asking about future books you have coming out.  Now, am I finished approaching bookstores and asking if they carry Indie Author books?  Absolutely not.  I'm still building my reputation.  I've covered the local area stores, now I have to spread out farther.  The next towns are on my list, and contacting friends through FB, LinkedIn, my blogs, etc. and asking them if they know of bookstores where they live that would be interested in carrying copies of my book.  When you are starting out, building the reputation and getting your work known is ALL UP TO YOU!  I know I'd rather be working on the sequels, but they are going to go nowhere without the first one building a following.  
To that end, I'm in talks with 2 radio stations for interviews.  I'm also putting together press release packages and researching where to send them to (newspapers, magazines, television stations, etc.).  Some are going to go nowhere, others will be given a chance and help get my name out there.  But I'm the one who has to take the initiative and make it happen.  And so do you.  That's how we build ourselves up and gain fans.  
Amazon and Smashwords are great starts, especially when it comes to reviews.  But you need a lot of reviews to get that reputation going.  So far I've got only 6 on Amazon, all of them 4 and 5 stars (split between the Kindle version and the Paperback version).  However, I need a lot more.  If you'd like to see some of these reviews here's the link to see what people are saying.  If you like what you're seeing and would like to help out, please share the link and help spread the word.  That's another method for letting people know you've got a book out.  Using your network of friends and asking flat out "Can you help spread the word?"  And be willing to reciprocate down the road when friends ask you to do the same for them.  Thanks again and take care all.  And keep writing.
Amazong Link:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B86DR9G

MARCH MADNESS SALE...

MARCH MADNESS HAS CAUGHT UP WITH ME! For rest of this month, I've lowered the price on e-book copies of my novel "THE BRIDGE" by 25%. You can find it at Amazon and Smashwords for the format that suits your e-reader:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B86DR9G 

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/272613

MARCH MADNESS

MARCH MADNESS HAS CAUGHT UP WITH ME! For rest of this month, I've lowered the price on e-book copies of my novel "THE BRIDGE" by 25%. You can find it at Amazon and Smashwords for the format that suits your e-reader:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B86DR9G

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...