Harmony Kent's Blog, page 145
January 12, 2015
Supporting Indies: Lucky Blog Tour
Welcome back to our Lucky Blog Tour. Yesterday, I introduced the first part of my reflections on writing and marketing indie books. If you haven’t read the post, I invite you to check the schedule on the Events page at 4willspublishing and click on the previous blog stop.
Today I want to share with you my ideas on – CREATING COVERS.
You know that old saying ‘you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover’, right? Well, the thing is – most people do that. Some people do that all the time.
In my defense, let me just make it clear that I know covers can be misleading. I know a beautiful cover image does not always mean the content is to our liking. On the other hand, a plain-looking picture on t
he cover of a book may hide a treasure inside its pages.
I know all that. However, I often wonder – why not combine an excellent story and a compelling cover. Does it seem easy enough for you? Well … it’s not that simple, actually. One must have a picture they can use. I mean, the author must have taken a useful picture himself/herself to avoid facing copyright issues. If they don’t have it, they need to find an image, with good quality resolution, and appropriate dimensions, at one of the many royalty-free stock image websites available in the Internet.
Does it still sound simple? If you’re an author, you know it isn’t. If you’re a reader, let me propose an exercise. Think about a book you’ve read. Any book. Think about it’s storyline and main characters. Forget its actual cover and go online searching for an image you think portraits that storyline and those characters. How long did it take you to find it?
Great. You have your image. But, is the picture royalty-free? Is it ready to be used on the cover of your book? Do you need to edit it? Do you need to include a title and the author’s name? How do you do that? How long will it take you to finish your cover?
Phew! I’m tired already. Aren’t you? I told you it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Now, if you’re a reader, you may now have a slight idea of what we have to go through to offer you a decent-looking cover. If you’re am author and want to know more about it, I’ll tell you about my personal experience.
Editing pictures can be tricky. I’ve tried using Photoshop many times without results that satisfied me. Don’t get me wrong – it is a great program. I can’t seem to master it, though. I found an excellent website for editing images which offers user-friendly features. Mainly for those users who, like me, are leaning towards the ‘Photoshop-dumb-users’ kind. If you want to check it out, it’s called Pickmonkey. My favorite source for royalty-free stock images is Big Stock Photo because they have variety, high-resolution quality, and fair prices.
That’s all for today. folks. Tune in tomorrow, at the next stop on Lucky Blog Tour, for my musings on formatting your eBook.
Liz Gavin
Author Bio:
When Liz Gavin was in Second Grade – just a couple of years ago, really – her teacher told her mother the little girl should start a diary because she needed an outlet for her active and vivid imagination. She was a talkative child who would disrupt the class by engaging her colleagues in endless conversations. She loved telling them the stories her grandfather used to tell her.
Apparently, the teacher wasn’t a big fan of those stories, and Liz’s mother bought her a diary. She happily wrote on it for a couple of months. Unable to see the appeal of writing for her own enjoyment only, she gave up on it. She missed the audience her friends provided her in class. She went back to disturbing her dear teacher’s class.
Since then, she has become a hungry reader. She will read anything and everything she can get her hands on – from the classics to erotica. That’s how she has become a writer of erotica and romance, as well.
As a young adult, she participated in a student exchange program and lived in New Orleans for six months. She fell in love with the city and its wonderful inhabitants. NOLA will always hold a special spot in Liz Gavin’s heart. Nowadays, living in Brazil, Liz’s creativity has improved many times because it’s such a vibrant, gorgeous and sexy country.
Welcome to her world of hot Alpha males and naughty, independent women. Add a touch of the paranormal in the presence of some wicked souls and you’ll get the picture.
Book & Contact Links:
Book link on Amazon =
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MS48JO0
My blog = elessarpublishing.blogspot.com
Twitter handle = @LizGavin_author
Facebook = www.facebook.com/liz.gavin.54
Email = lizgavin@elessarbooks.com
This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com .
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#amwriting: Finding Katie, Day 4
Day Four:Today, you get a bonus. I’m showing a sneak peek to a whole page, not just the first line.
Are you ready?
“We head for the dining room in silence.
I got away with it.
Becky and I sit together at the table, and I keep up a stream of banter—anything to hide how I’m feelin’. I need to find something, and soon, but I really want to go on the trip tomorrow. Gawd, why do they have to make it so tough?
It’s not like I want to hurt myself, well … you know, not like, hurt hurt. Just a bit of a scratch will do it. That’s all. Just a bit of distraction, to keep me going. I don’t want to lose it like I did the other day.
Dinner is awful. It’s s’posed to be veggie lasagne, but I don’t recognise it. The unappetising mush covers my plate, and I push my fork around aimlessly.
Afterward, Amanda—the nurse in charge—takes me down to the clinic. I know what’s coming. Guess I didn’t fool Sally after all. Sure enough, she checks me all over for marks or cuts or bruises. And I mean all over. Freak.
Mel would’ve been nicer about it. Roll on Monday.
“Happy now?” I ask, all stony-faced and hard-eyed.
“Mmmm.” Is all I get from her.”
Words written so far: 19861.
©2015 Harmony Kent
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January 11, 2015
#amwriting: Finding Katie, Day 3
Last year, I let myself get too busy to write much. On new year’s day, I sat down and wrote. It felt good. 
I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed making stuff up.Anyway, except for the days I have other posts up, my aim is to post the first line of each page from my newest book, FINDING KATIE.
So,watch this space! You’ll get sneak peeks, news, and release info.
See if you can guess what the book’s about as we go along!
Day Three:
“Fast as I can, I snatch off the wires and stumble for the door.”
Day Two:
“I stop moving and hold my breath.”
Day One:
“The nurse is asleep in the chair.”
Words written so far: 17912.
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January 10, 2015
#amwriting: Finding Katie, Day 2
Last year, I let myself get too busy to write much. On new year’s day, I sat down and wrote. It felt good. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed making stuff up.Anyway, except for the days I have other posts up, my aim is to post the first line of each page from my newest book, FINDING KATIE.
So,watch this space! You’ll get sneak peeks, news, and release info.
See if you can guess what the book’s about as we go along!
Day One:
“The nurse is asleep in the chair.”
Day Two:
“I stop moving and hold my breath.”
Words written so far: 14628.
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January 9, 2015
#amwriting: Finding Katie
Last year, I let myself get too busy to write much. On new year’s day, I sat down and wrote. It felt good. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed making stuff up. Anyway, except for the days I have other posts up, my aim is to post the first line of each page from my newest book, FINDING KATIE.
So,watch this space! You’ll get sneak peeks, news, and release info.
See if you can guess what the book’s about as we go along!
Day One:
“The nurse is asleep in the chair.”
Words written so far: 12057.
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January 7, 2015
IN LOVING MEMORY & TRIBUTE TO KATHRYN C. TREAT
Kathryn C. Treat passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2014 @ 2:20 am (California time). On Friday, Dec. 19, after having a wonderful time at the Rave Reviews Book Club’s virtual Christmas party, in a virtual chat room with her fellow RRBC VIP Lounge members, Kathryn informed that she was not feeling well and that she was going to leave. Shortly thereafter, she suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and then lapsed into a coma.
Kathryn was an honorary board member of the Rave Reviews Book Club, where she served as Membership Director from Dec. 2013, until October, 2014. Kathryn is the author of “ALLERGIC TO LIFE: MY BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL, COURAGE AND HOPE.” She inspired and encouraged many with this book so if you have not had the pleasure of reading it, please head to Amazon and get your copy.
Kathryn was a dedicated member of RRBC until her passing and she was one of the most supportive members the club had…not just to one, but to all. Kathryn leaves to mourn her husband, her mother, a sister, her two daughters, a son-in-law and three grand-kids (who she adored more than life), as well as her entire RRBC family.
Let us remember Kathryn and honor her memory by always being kind to one another and by always offering our support to another. It’s what she did. It’s how she lived. It’s who she was. In honor, many blogs across the world are memorializing Kathryn today with the same post that you see here. If Kathryn touched your life in anyway, please share your memories and comments below. As everyone who knew Kathryn may not yet know of her home-going, we ask that you also share this page on all your social media forums.
We have erected a memorial page on the Rave Reviews Book Club site that will remain. Please stop by to leave your comments and memories of Kathryn as well, so that her family will get a sense of just how loved she was by so many. There you will also find more information on Kathryn and how RRBC has planned to continually honor her in other ways.
THANK YOU!
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January 4, 2015
Concordant Vibrancy! It’s here!
Welcome!
Today we are happy to present you with the cover of
“Concordant Vibrancy: Unity, An All Authors Anthology“
Before we show you the cover, lets tell you a little bit about Concordant Vibrancy.
Blurb:
All Authors Publishing House, a subsidiary of All Authors Publications & Promotions, is pleased to present its first short story anthology, Concordant Vibrancy .
Concordant Vibrancy represents the interweaving of unity and uniqueness through the eyes of eleven incredible writers. Through the array of genres, all of these talents share a phenomenal love of writing which aims to leave imprints in the reader’s imagination.
Short stories in this collection:
“Butterfly Mask” by Nicola McDonagh
“Messarii’s Blood Hunt” by D. John Watson
“Seven Days” by Harmony Kent
“Touch Me” by Andrea Houtsch
“… and we” by Adonis Mann
“Til Death Do Us Part” by A. Lopez, Jr.
“Coalesce” by Da’Kharta Rising
“Her A to Z” by C. Desert Rose
“Lester’s Release” by Synful Desire
“The Authentic Snap” by Queen of Spades
“Alma’s Unsung Angel” by Y. Correa
It was important to portray both the unification and individuality of each author as well as the theme of this anthology on its cover. In the introduction of Concordant Vibrancy, Y. Correa, the creator of All Authors P&P explains it this way, “… like leaves on a tree, we are all connected. Mother Earth, the best example of unity mankind has.”
Without further ado, we present you with the cover of Concordant Vibrancy created by All Authors Graphic Design.
Now available for Pre-Order at:
http://www.amazon.com/Concordant-Vibrancy-Authors-Publishing-House-ebook/dp/B00RNKYHZE
Amazon.com
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December 13, 2014
Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author …
Welcome, Rochelle Carter!
3 Steps to Market Your Book 10 Times Better Than Before
Today, there are authors of every stripe, from those in time-honored fiction and non-fiction categories to business people and professionals who’ve learned that writing a quality book is essential to building their brand.
In 2012, Americans self-published more than 391,000 books, according to market research giant Bowker. That’s a 400 percent increase since 2007. Also in 2012, traditional publishers released nearly 302,000 titles for a whopping total of nearly 700,000 new books. In one year! With the glut of new books being released each year, promoting just one can feel like a mission impossible.
But just as publishing has democratized, so has getting publicity. Yes, we still have gatekeepers – editors, producers, etc. – guarding access to traditional media, and yes, it’s still important to get their attention. But now we have social media to help us do that. With hard work, the right message and some marketing savvy, anyone can potentially build a following large enough for those gatekeepers and their audiences to take notice.
Looking for media attention for your book? Here are three steps to market your book better than before:
Establish an online presence and following – ideally long before you’ve written your book. In the old days, authors crisscrossed the country, their car trunks weighed down with books. They arranged book signings at shops and events in an exhausting effort to get in front of as many potential readers as possible. While some authors still do this, it’s a big investment that doesn’t offer much in return unless you have a recognizable name. Establishing an online presence with a high-quality website and regular postings on social media is a much more efficient and effective way of connecting with potential readers/buyers.
Build a platform that will create a built-in audience for your book. Whether you’re a business leader with a book or a fiction author, it’s essential that you regularly provide fresh, engaging content to an audience. This is how you build a platform which, as the name suggests, puts you on a stage so others – including the media – can see you. Many writers do this by penning a blog on their website. Some writers host an Internet radio show; professionals using their book as a marketing tool may pay a radio station for a weekly time slot. If you live in a community with public access television, you can even host your own TV show.
Form strategic alliances with other authors. Don’t think of all of those other authors as the competition; rather, look at them as potential allies. Find authors who appeal to much the same audience as you and who have large followings, and join forces. Just as social media users help one another gain visibility by “liking” posts or “retweeting” tweets, you and your fellow authors can increase exposure for one another. Promote each other on social networks; guest-post on one another’s blogs, or participate on their radio and TV shows. One group that has mastered this collaborative approach is the Rave Reviews Book Club. Founded by Nonnie Jules, this is one group that truly creates a sustainable community for authors of all genres.
On the one hand, it’s wonderful that anyone with a message to share in the form of a book can now do so. Gone are the days of pinning all your dreams on some faceless editor in a New York high-rise.
But as with anything, greater accessibility leads to bigger crowds. If you want to stand out, you’ll have to plan a sustained marketing campaign. If your book is a tool to build your business brand, don’t worry so much about sales; it will pay for itself in establishing you as an authoritative expert in your industry.
If you hope to establish yourself as a fiction or non-fiction author, plan for long-term marketing even as you get to work on your next book.
Do you have any savvy marketing tips? Share them in the comments below!
Follow Rochelle online!
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Website
Amazon
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December 7, 2014
Supporting Authors: The Religion, Rage & w(R)iting Blog Tour
I awoke as usual this morning, grabbed a cup of coffee, checked my emails, and then headed on over to twitter. What a surprise waited for me! 4Wills Publishing, who have helped to promote my last two books–Elemental Earth and Polish Your Prose–have arranged a surprise 7 Day/40 Stop blog tour for me and a couple of other authors. I was stunned when I saw this!
I have to give a HUGE thank you to Nonnie Jules and the team at 4Wills Publishing for arranging this wonderful and totally unexpected event.
Not only that, but they have also made a great author/book blitz trailer:
How cool is that?
The line up of all the blog stops can be found on the events page of 4Wills Publishing.
Please help to support Yours Truly, as well as 4Wills Publishing, Nonnie Jules, Rhani D’Chae, and Shirley Slaughter by re-blogging, tweeting, and spreading around all the social media you can find.
Visit the 4Wills Publishing events page, and stop by the blogs, to learn more about these awesome authors and their equally awesome books! Not to mention tidbits and giveaways.
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November 12, 2014
Everyone Burns
♥♥♥♥
Everyone Burns
by John Dolan
This is a crime novel with a difference. It is set on the Thai island of Sammui in early 2005, and is peppered with red-herrings, wrong turns, humour, buddhist wisdom, and a highly flawed good guy. Braddock, an unregistered private investigator, is doing a good job of staying under the wire, until the local police chief pulls him in to assist in the investigation of the murder of two Europeans. And then it gets worse–the police chief asks Braddock to tail his wife, to see if she is having an affair, and–of course–she is … with Braddock! The plot thickens.
I loved this book, and it kept me guessing all the way through. There are some nice and unexpected twists, as well as loads of humour. The world building, plot, pacing, and character development are all done very well. On this basis, I would say this is a resounding five star read. However, there are too many spelling errors, missing words, and that kind of thing. So, a proofread is definitely needed. Also, the tense keeps changing from past to present, sometimes in its own section/chapter and sometimes not. I found this disconcerting. No sooner had I gotten used to the one style, when it would change to the other, and then back again. The point of view is written in the First Person and remains delightfully consistent throughout. There are some clumsy and overly long sentence constructions and a distinct lack of comma usage in introductory clauses and in general, which forces the reader to go back and re-read sentences for sense time and again. All of which ruins the flow. Having said that, there are also some brilliant lines, and this writer is a master of description ad expression.
So, despite it’s need for a further edit and proofread, it is a brilliant book and highly entertaining. It gets a strong four stars from me.
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