Jo Robinson's Blog, page 43
March 12, 2015
No More Smashwords for Me
I���m typing this using one eye only, so if there are any typos, please direct your ire towards the massive bug that connected with my eyeball at speed this week, scratched said eyeball, and gave said eyeball one of those rotten burning infections that means a constantly runny nose and tears also. It���s my favourite eyeball too. This one doesn���t seem to work as well as the injured party, and looking at the computer screen is painful too. Anyway. This is the actual bug – I got a picture before I realised that he had an agenda, and still thought he was cute.
So far I���m very happy to say that Echoes of Narcissus isn���t available on any of the free download troll sites, and right now whether I���m right or wrong, I���m convinced that this is because I haven���t published it on Smashwords. I���ve unpublished my other books there now, and as soon as they���re taken down from all the other platforms that they distribute to, I���m going to enrol them into Amazon Kindle Select. I won���t ever be using the free days option for any books other than short stories or the first in a series, but at least they���ll be available for KU downloads. For the foreseeable future I���ll be sticking with only Amazon and Createspace. I might go with Lightning Source at some later point, but that won���t affect the book���s KU status.
This probably won���t happen for a couple of months though, because I���ve been reading loads and loads of posts around and about, from authors struggling to get their books unpublished on the premium sites that Smashwords distributes them to. It seems that it takes upwards of seven weeks, even though they���re taken down pretty fast from Smashwords itself, and sometimes back and forth emails before they���re removed everywhere and eligible for AKS. That in itself would make me wary of publishing with them again. As an Indie I like to think that I have total control of where my books are sold at any given time. I know that the damage is already done with the pirating of my books that were there, but from now on they���re not going to be legally downloadable in any format other than from Amazon or my own sites, and I���ll be very careful about who I send copies to in formats other than Mobi as email attachments.
Now I���m going to try zoom through as much of blogland as I can with this eyeball ��� which is now also sending out many tears.
How to Create Downloadable Links to Give Away Books from your Newsletter Sign Up
Originally posted on Most Indie authors at some point on their journeys will set up a newsletter to send to their readers. This is a great way to connect in a personal way, announce events, giveaways, or new books. You can sign up with Mailchimp for free, and it���s very user friendly. Sending out a newsletter is like having your own mini magazine. You can share anything you like. I write in multiple genres, so mine is easy to come up with content. Even if you only write in one particular genre you can still share your opinions, information you find interesting, as well as personal things about yourself and your interests. And of course ��� your books. A great way to get readers to subscribe is to offer them a freebie. As an author that���s easy ��� give them a book. You can either write a short story specifically to give away���
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March 8, 2015
Saturday Round Up – A colourful palate of talented writers, artists and musicians.
Here’s a round up of some fabulous posts from Sally this week. For those of you who would like to bask in the glow of her Five Star Treatment, have a look below at submission guidelines. It really is a wonderful place to be.
Originally posted on Smorgasbord - Variety is the spice of life:
It seems like only yesterday that I was wishing everybody Happy New Year and it was the depths of winter bright but very cold. Today the warmth is back in the mountain and I have had the luxury of real Vitamin D therapy the last couple of days. Not too much but enough to give me a glow.. Either that or I have overdone the homemade after tan lotion!
We are welcoming first time guests to the house next week which we are looking forward to. We have been a bit like hermits whilst getting the house prepared for sale so it will be great to have fresh sets of eyes to highlight areas that still need TLC. Like book editing you need external input as you get too familiar with your own home and tend to ignore the little character flaws.
My thanks to some lovely guests and contributors���
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Originally posted on 
International Women’s Day – Sunday March 8th – #MakeItHappen
Originally posted on Smorgasbord - Variety is the spice of life:
International Women���s Day is observed all around the world in many cultures. Its aim is to celebrate the achievements of women in every society and also to highlight areas where greater equality for women is required.
I am extremely lucky in both my personal relationships and in my career that I have been treated with respect and equality which allowed me a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop into positions of influence. But for millions of women in certain parts of the world this level of equality is non-existent or very challenging to achieve.
One of the themes of this year���s International Women���s Day is #MakeItHappen. The purpose to encourage the effective action for advancing and recognising women.
There are a number of ways to do this from donating to specific charities, joining an organisation that works with women to enable them to begin businesses, gain an education or develop���
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…from Author, Charles E. Yallowitz… from Role Playing Games to Crafting Novels… fascinating Guest Post…
Originally posted on Seumas Gallacher:
���so many times I get flabbergasted by intriguing Guest Posts��� today my gast is flabbered by good pal, Author, Charles E. Yallowitz��� we had been discussing material for a piece here, and he asked if it was appropriate to show the comparisons between Role Playing Games (RPG) and writing novels��� I���m not a gamer, but I���m sure many of yeez Lads and Lassies have delved into the ���Dungeons and Dragons��� otherworlds��� this post is fascinating, and underlines for me how much thought we quill-scrapers pour into our own masterpieces��� enjoy:
Thank you to Seumas for inviting me to write a guest post. I thought long and hard about what to write about. Then I went out for some pizza, watched some TV, and thought up the idea during a commercial break.
I���ve been publishing my fantasy series Legends of Windemere since 2013 and many people have asked me what inspired���
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March 7, 2015
A Great Read: African Me & Satellite TV
Thank you so much to the awesome author D. Wallace Peach for this wonderful review of African Me. I’m honoured and grateful that she not only took the time to read it, but to write such a beautiful and thoughtful review. Thank you Diana!
Originally posted on Myths of the Mirror:
Many people believe that modeling a life of kindness and compassion is key to lifting��humanity��out of violence and despair. The approach suits my introverted personality, and it certainly feels safe.
Yet, I often wonder if it���s enough, and whether what���s truly required of me is to speak, write, and act for change. I worry that some will misinterpret my silence as condoning the wrongs visited upon the world. My recluse nature engages in an ongoing battle with what I believe is my responsibility as a human being.
That���s one reason why Jo Robinson���s book, African Me & Satellite TV, struck me as such a great read. It felt personal.
African Me & Satellite TV is a book with a message about injustice, responsibility,��and forgiveness.��In its pages, Robinson takes the reader on a journey through one woman���s painful��acknowledgment of��the��truth about silence, and the power of her voice that��ultimately sets her��heart��free.
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Author Jo Robinson, an interview
BIG thank you Lorraine over at Ms M’s Bookshelf for asking me such interesting questions. :)
Originally posted on Ms M's Bookshelf:
After reading Shadow People, Book 1, and African Me & Satellite TV, I decided to contact author/blogger Jo Robinson, and see if she would consent to an interview by email. ��To my delight, she not only agreed, but candidly answered all my questions. ��(Two of the questions were quoted in an earlier post where I reviewed African Me & Satellite TV.) ��Here is our complete interview for you to enjoy.
Q: ��African Me and Satellite TV is quite a departure from your science fiction work, Shadow People.�� It���s quite an amazing story and, clearly, one that is deeply felt.�� Is there something in your personal past that made you write about this subject matter?�� Is there something of yourself in your main character, Suzette?
A: ��Definitely.�� I grew up in apartheid South Africa.�� I was born in Port Elizabeth but lived in Johannesburg from the���
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Here is my interview with Clive Mullis
I’m reading Banker’s Draft right now, and it’s brilliant! If you like witty, intelligent humour – go and buy it – go on then.
Originally posted on authorsinterviews:
Name: Clive Mullis
Age: 57 going on 17
Where are you from?
A small town in Bedfordshire, UK.
A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc ��
School of Hard Knocks and the University of Life. In my old school, education was virtually an option. By some mistake I got a job as an ambulanceman and managed to convince them I knew what I was doing. I stayed doing that for thirty years before retiring. I now have a little part-time job with no stress and even less money.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
First draft of my second book is nearing completion.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
About fifteen years ago. I had finished reading my book at work and had a few hours to kill. So I thought, ���why not give it a go?���
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself���
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Five Star Treatment – The Queen’s Envoy by Lord David Prosser
I love all of his writing – he’s one of the few authors who can still make me forget the hours passing by immersed in his warmth, wit, and humour. Definitely a book to be bought here. And don’t forget the xxx HUGS xxx
Originally posted on Smorgasbord - Variety is the spice of life:
Saturday mornings it is my opportunity to select books that I would like to showcase written by fellow bloggers who keep me motivated and are so supportive of me and my work.�� Today David M. Prosser whose hugs can cheer the dullest day and who never fails to leave a positive and encouraging comment.
About the Book
This is the prequel to My Barsetshire Diary. After inheriting his Title, Lord David little realised he would also inherit a job. After all, he���d just retired. But this job was as an unofficial envoy to HMG and could he turn it down? He���s a fish out of water groping his way from situation to situation with a hint of desperation but with all the aplomb and stiff upper lip he can muster. Will he cope with all that life throws at him and all the women that seem intent on compromising him?
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