Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 277
May 14, 2015
May 12, 2015
Still with the iUniverse…
Whenever I get an e-mail from iUniverse, it always makes my day. As my initial commitment to them started in February 2007 and I have been too lazy to switch the publication of the physical copies of my book over to Createspace since then, the communication in the past 5 years has been limited and random at best. When they do contact me, I can always be assured it will make me smile cringe. And before you even inquire, yes, they are always offering some ‘service’ or another that will cost me money.
Let’s get started! From my helpful Marketing Consultant (I’ve had at least 10 contacts over the years), here’s what iUniverse can do for me:
I am sending you an email so we can create a marketing plan that sets your expectations. I will begin in asking you questions so I can properly determine what you want and what is suitable for your book.
• What do you want to achieve with this book?
Well, Mary, can I call you Mary? I’m going to stop you right there. Given my books have been with you for YEARS, if I don’t know what I want to achieve with my novels by now, I’m not sure I can consider myself an author. Furthermore, if I didn’t know what I wanted to achieve from the moment I published my books, then what would the point of writing all these words be? Sure, I have a range of goals, which range from specific numbers to pie-in-the-sky achievements, but no, iUniverse, I don’t need your help.
• Who is your target audience?
Your mom. In all honesty, this is something an author should know at the start of writing, or at least by the time the book is published. For example, my YA stuff would be best for 13-17 American young women. Room 702 would be best for a female demographic, ages 24-50, but I wouldn’t rule out men enjoying the novel as well.
• How would you like your book to be marketed? Is it via Internet, Book Trailers, Book Reviews, Press Release, Newspaper & Magazine Ads, Book Signings or Library Shows, T.V. commercials, Hollywood, Reader’s Digest, In-flight magazine, Literary Agent, Bookstores, Libraries?
I would like many of these options, iUniverse. All of them are available to me with a little bit of research and some extra money, but thanks for offering.
Delete.
May 10, 2015
Book Review: The Iron Duke
In the mood to up my genre research reading in the realm of Steampunk, I reviewed my ‘to read’ list and ran across this book by Meljean Brook. ��‘Why the hell not?’ I asked myself and settled in.�� Turns out, the novel was everything I had been looking for – excellent��world building, a unique take on steampunk, a heroine with depth and a scorching romance. ��Where Ms. Brook really excels is her use of integrating technological elements – highlighting concerns for my current manuscript and the utter lack of these details.
Yes to Book #1, not sure about the rest of the series.
After finishing, I realized I had previously downloaded the third book in the series (Riveted, which, incidentally has a much better cover than some rando’s abs not that I’m complaining) and started reading it.�� Unfortunately, there is a good reason I stopped reading the first time around.�� For all the great elements of the first book, the third book seems to be lacking any similarities and I’m still trying to figure out why.�� For whatever percentage of the book I have made it through, I don’t particularly care about the protagonist or her issues.�� I will most likely struggle to finish, if anything
Have you ever read one book by an author and LOVED it, only to be disappointed by another book in the series?
Ode to an iPhone 4.
The thing about your smartphone is utterly ubiquitous it is in your life.�� My iPhone 4 made its arrival two days into my tenure in Qatar (November 2011 – in a surprisingly easy visit to Qtel).�� From there, it has been part of many important moments in my life: my 10 year wedding anniversary in Vegas, my sister’s wedding and countless trips to destinations around the world.�� It was the repository for notes and ideas and quotes I wanted to use.�� It held some truly random songs (close to four years and I never got around to uploading my full music collection).�� I could scroll through and see pictures of my beloved Brendan.�� Every night, I turned on Sleep Cycle and my favorite white noise app.�� When I was without my Kindle, I would read books from the tiny screen.�� And, for reasons unknown, I managed not to lose the damn thing (across continents and drunken nights in taxis), but left other objects (goodbye Beats) behind.
And now, as it slowly died (I was having to press buttons a lot to make things work), I made the decision to upgrade to the iPhone 6, of which I am a proud new owner.
Where will this phone go?�� What moments in my life will my new phone be around for?�� Here’s hoping for another four years together!
Farewell, friend.�� We had a good run.
May 9, 2015
Line of the day.
Not that I actually accomplished anything this weekend… #again
April 30, 2015
Characters in real life.
The curious thing about being an author is walking around with a bunch of characters in your head – sometimes they are active, other times passive.�� Lucy Karate was the first character who was my own (and not, a canon character who belonged to someone else).�� Like many first time novelists, she was a bit of a self insert.�� Physically, we have the same characteristics, and she represents who I wish I had been during high school.�� Every once in awhile, through some form of media or another, I’ve come across such a perfect representation of one of my characters, and this was such a week.�� I’m doing a terrible job explaining the concept, but there’s something very strange about coming face to face with someone who previously only existed in your imagination.
Hello Lucy.
April 27, 2015
Having one of those days…
Where I hate my book and am making no significant progress.�� The edit feels forever and the story seems flat and boring.
Puppy as accurate representation of feelings.
Dame Judi Dench tells it like it is.
