Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 283

Great reading challenge!

 

There’s a lot going on here!�� I wonder how many of these I’ll accidentally get to.

Do you have any reading expectations for next year?

Another reason I love fanfiction.

Being an author of multiple books, every day there is the chance that someone, somewhere, will crap on my work (the optimist would also say there is an equal chance that someone will love my work, and that does happen sometimes, but the majority is bad news or no news). ��I never know what kind of day it will be when I go looking for things. ��Given the overwhelming negativity towards published fiction, the world of fanfiction is such a wonderful breath of fresh air in my life. ��And before you go looking down on fanfiction, honestly, I will take the positive energy and reviews any day.��Genuine��comments cost nothing and can only make a person’s day. ��Furthermore, when reviews come from other authors you admire and respect, it makes these messages even better. ��Fanfiction gave me confidence and is still a place where I can write without being judged. ��I can post short stories or more long form adventures. ��I can cheer on others as I watch and read what they do with beloved characters. ��As I have now passed the ten year mark of writing fanfiction (!), I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

The quest for the right cover photo continues.

Sadly, the image I wanted for my cover does not have model release rights, so I’ve been searching high and low over the past month looking for a replacement.�� Most of my photo query search terms have revolved around a woman on a road trip.�� I’ve recently branched out to a woman with a map.

Enter, this image.�� Although you do not know the ins and outs of the book, the manuscript is focused on a young widow.�� I literally laughed out loud when I saw this photo, because it’s so inappropriate for my little fictional world.�� In the context of my book, the model seems to be saying, “Hey dead husband, why’d you have to go and die?�� Could you BE any less thoughtful?�� Also, I’m lost.”

You look like a nice lady.

This one was also close.

If only you were not sans pants… :(

And a final one to make me laugh.

There’s something about the facial expression of the model… Too smarmy? We cannot have a smarmy widow.

Sigh.�� Back to my search.

December Reflections: Sunset

There have been a few memorable ones this year, but I think the one that stands out the most is from October in Boracay.

 

December Reflections: Best Book of 2014

You mean besides the one I’m working on, right? ��:)

As a rather voracious reader (Kindle shows I’ve ordered 112 books in 2014), I made it through a lot of interesting books this year. ��Some were for research and others just for fun. ��I’ve enjoyed getting to know a few different authors and their series. ��However, if I had to make on recommendation of a few books you should go out and start reading immediately, they would be the following: Lost in Hotels by Mr. M Martin, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, and Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

(These books were not necessarily published in 2014, more that I read them this year).

 

December Reflections: T is for…

Er…today was actually supposed to be about leaves, but I do not much to say about leaves.�� In the Middle East, we don’t really have anything that is deciduous (words I never thought I would use on this blog).

And even more of a lazy write move, my reflection for today, ‘T is for…’ I’m going to link back to�� a post from earlier in the week.�� In 2014 (and previous years), T is always for Tumblr.�� I’m at 10,000+ followers and can’t wait to see where I grow to next!

December reflections: T is for…

Er…today was actually supposed to be about leaves, but I do not much to say about leaves.�� In the Middle East, we don’t really have anything that is deciduous (words I never thought I would use on this blog).

And even more of a lazy write move, my reflection for today, ‘T is for…’ I’m going to link back to�� a post from earlier in the week.�� In 2014 (and previous years), T is always for Tumblr.�� I’m at 10,000+ followers and can’t wait to see where I grow to next!

Facebook experiment: Ads.

As a Christmas gift to myself most years I invest some money in Facebook ads.�� It’s not an every day thing, more of an experiment – some funds just to see ‘what will this accomplish?’�� I don’t remember doing this last year (most likely I was busy moving countries, a poor excuse, I know), but I’m glad I spent money this holiday season.

In addition to my YA ad is outpacing Room 702 (no surprises there – the audience was a bit bigger), this year’s experiment has made me realize the next time I launch a book or do a free book sale on Kindle, I’m definitely going to involve some awareness on Facebook.

The thing I like best about Facebook ads is how specifically I can tailor who sees the ad.�� I’m pretty particular about my demographic and it’s easy to deliver it straight to them.�� I also have a heap of images I know will attract my audience, so it takes almost no time to create a successful ad.�� The marching ad this year is doing so well ($0.07 per click) that I’ve extended once and might do so again.

Are the clicks actually translating into book sales?�� Not specifically.�� However, as with Room 702, sometimes I’m okay with just raising awareness.�� I know, probably not the best marketing plan, but it’s still fun for me to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks (and review all the demographics and pretend to understand them).

December Reflections: Red.

Red’s a tough one.�� It’s never a color I gravitate towards – there is literally nothing in my wardrobe, nor anything in my house that is read.�� Hence, for the purposes of this post I’m going to go with magenta.�� I ‘ran’ my first Color Run in March of this year.�� Hubs and I were probably still drunk from the extended brunch the day before, but we rallied to get out and be a part of things.�� A fun race that I hope to do again in 2015 (sans the heavy drinking).

December reflections: The Best Day of 2014.

Big question for Day 3!

There were a lot of good days in 2014. ��I believe this is mainly because Hubs and I got out of Qatar and are now happily residing in Abu Dhabi. ��There are so many things here I do not take for granted and I’m very excited to see what happens in 2015.

Anyway, if I had a favorite day, I think it would be my sister’s wedding day, July 11th. ��Hubs did a brilliant job as the officiant, the weather was perfect, I got to see family who I rarely get to visit with and honestly, is there anything better than a wedding?

 

Some runners up include: memorable brunches with new friends, fancy trip to the Banyan Tree, a day at the races, and a few perfect days in Amsterdam.