Ellise C. Weaver's Blog, page 15

#2 in the US!

Yes, I'm very excited that The Governess is doing so well.  The USA is a larger, harder market to sell, but I'm very happy to say that Volume Two has reached #2 on all its genre rankings!  This is what it looks like on my Amazon page:

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423 Paid in Kindle Store 
#2 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre  Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Romance   #2 in  Kindle  Store > Kindle  eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Religious  Fiction > Romance #2 in  Kindle  Store > Kindle  eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre  Fiction > Romance > Inspirational > ChristianClick to see for yourself!  :)  Thanks for the amazing support, everyone! Ellise

Beta-Readers are finished...

...and this is what they're saying:

Wow -- this book is packed with action! 

You are so creative.

Lots of good scenes and narrative.

I loved it just as much as I did the first two!

Now all I have to do for Volume Three of The Governess is to finish up any editing my readers have pointed out, finish the cover changes, upload to Amazon, Lulu, and Kobo, and Voila!  Finished!  The plan is to release by Monday, July 29th!  We'll see how close to that goal we get! Those of you who have signed up to be notified when the book is released will get a personal email from me.  Also, those who've signed up for Pre-Launch Specials--look for it soon!  You'll be receiving the first five chapters of Volume Three before the rest of the world receives it!  Hip, Hip, Hooray!  If you would like to be notified when Volume Three is released and receive the Pre-Launch Special, sign up here today!  http://elliseweaver.weebly.com/coming-soon.html

#1 & #2 in India!

I noticed some sales in India this week, and decided to check on it this morning.  Low and behold, The Governess -- Volumes One & Two are at #1 & #2 in Religious & Spiritual Fiction!  Wow!  I had no idea!  Click here to see!  So cool!  Thanks, readers of India! :)

So, while I was at it, I checked out more countries.  In Italy, The Governess -- Volume One happens to be at #9 right now in Religious & Spiritual Fiction as well.  Click here to see.  Holy Cow!  Love it!  Ciao, baby!  (Hope I spelled that right...?)

Ellise~ *doing a happy dance*

Volume Three is out to Beta-Readers for final reading ...

Yes, there is still work to be done on Volume Three of The Governess, but it is coming along nicely.  My beta-readers are reading right now and will be back to me shortly with any needed changes to the content.  Yay for readers!

You have all be so amazing to comment on my website and on the online bookstores where you purchased your copies, so thank you!  It means a lot to me that you would all take the time to do so.  It also improves my chances of becoming better known out there in the millions of books available to be read by everyone.  There is such a pile to be read, isn't there!?!  So thank you for any help I've received! :) Now, onward and upward!  I'm thinking now of my future projects in The Huntington Saga series novels, that is of Pirate Bride since I've put in the first chapter of it at the end of Volume Three of The Governess.  I hope you all like it.  I've stepped out of my comfort zone on this one...way out!  For there is a ghost as well as pirates...exciting!

Here is a link to more of Pirate Bride:  http://elliseweaver.weebly.com/pirate-bride.html

I always like feedback on my projects!  ;) So get ready all you romantics out there for a new adventure with me as I we move ahead into Pirate Bride -- Book Two in The Huntington Saga series novels.  :)

Happy Reading everyone!
Ellise~

Back from Vacation...ready to roll!

I've had a lot of activity on my website since I left on vacation.  I'm back now and am trying to catch up.  :) 

Volume Three is still on schedule to be released at the end of this month.  I have had some wonderful feedback that I've added to the 'Comments' page.  I really, truly enjoy reading your comments.  Your comments encourage me that I do have a following out there.  Without this feedback, and, of course, the sales (Holy Cow!), I would wonder about my ability at all.  I think that the sales alone have encouraged me; however, the comments are a treasure trove!  So thanks! :)

I have to say that I've had one bad review on Amazon.co.uk, but I'm getting over it.  I knew, going into this that I could not, and would not, please everyone.  But I will continue to write what I love to read most.  I always try to learn something from reviews though, and all I can say is, I need to stop being quite so wordy.  Also, I don't think the person really understood that I split the book into volumes for a reason (one of her issues).  Even though I have tried to end each volume well, the TRUE ending for The Governess will not happen until the end of Volume Three.  Honestly, it even continues into Book Two and Book Four since this is a Saga.  That's what sagas are, aren't they?  But for those of you who like my style, I do pray for continued support.  It means the world to me. 

Thanks for adding to my success, everyone!  I truly appreciate it.  I wish you all the success that you desire, as well.  :)

All my best,
Ellise~

Rankings on Amazon! #1 , #2, #18, #20

I'm pretty thrilled with where my books are at on Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk right now!  Take a look!  Wow!  Who would have thought?....Pretty darn cool!

Ellise *is doing a happy dance around the room*

Yay! I made it to the first page of Religious Romance in the US!

The Governess-Volume One has made it to page one of the Top 100 Best Sellers in Religious Romance!  I'm so excited!  Wow!  I'm thrilled that my books are doing so well in this special genre.  It's special to me because it inspires me.  I've always been so grateful to other authors who write in this genre because it's what I love most to read.  Who knew that I'd be a part of that group someday...I sure didn't! :)  Click here!  Still #20, but a tougher market than the UK.  I'm still #1 & #2 there.  Woohoo! :)

Thanks everyone!

Hugs,
Ellise

#1 on Amazon.co.uk

Ten days into it's launch and The Governess-Volume Two is now #1 on the UK Amazon!  Woohoo!  That is, for Religious & Inspirational Romance.  Volume One of The Governess is #3.  :)  I'm pretty thrilled!  Click here to see!

Ellise

Author Interview with my friend and author, Lisa L Wiedmeier~

Special Guest:  Lisa L Wiedmeier I'm excited today to share with you my interview with author friend, Lisa Wiedmeier.  I first got to know Lisa on an author website called Authonomy.com where we chatted about our books and asked/answered questions about the writing process.  I thoroughly enjoyed her first book on that site and then enjoyed reading the actual finished product.  Fantastic!  But today, I'm excited to share with you so much more about her.  

Lisa is a wonderful person who loves romance novels (like me!  YAY for romance!).  Of course, she has her own writing flavor and has added a spicy twist by creating a fantasy world to take us away into.  Her first novel is called Cheyenne; her second (and sequel, to boot) is Promises; and her third, that only just came out, is Daylight.  Lisa has created some nasty creatures who fight against her leading lady, Cheyenne, and the fantastic fellows who follow her around protecting her.  Why, you ask?  Because Cheyenne is very special.  Even Cheyenne doesn't know all the answers to that question.  Like me, I think you'll enjoy Lisa's romantic stories. 

I'd like to introduce you to Lisa now... Ellise:  Hi, Lisa!  Welcome to Christian Romance with Sizzle!  This is my first interview, and I'm excited to share your work with my fans.  Could you please, tell us a little about yourself.

Lisa:  I live in Idaho with my wonderful husband, two loving sons and two yellow Labradors, Crazi Mandi and our newest addition, Taylor. I love to do just about anything as long as it involves the outdoors. Biking, hiking, camping…and watch my boys fish (I’m not so much into the slimy little creatures).

Ellise:  We're both Idaho girls!  I think that's cool!  Okay...when did you begin writing?
 
Lisa:  I began writing in May 2009…it’s crazy really. I’d never once thought about writing, I’m dyslexic; English was never my strong suit in school. I have a hard time with spelling and pronunciation… makes it fun trying to spell a word you can’t sound out. Lol. I mean, I hadn’t even picked up a book to read in over 15 years, I was too busy “doing” instead of taking time for myself.
 
It was odd, it was like everything fell into place. I read a series, which totally shocked my family because they’d never seen me pick up a book, and said, “I can do this!” and did. For me it was a sort of therapy, I was in a bad place and needed to find myself again. I’m a giver, and after 20  years of giving…I was left empty. Writing fills me, makes me happy and I want to spread my happiness with everyone else.
 
Ellise:  More power to you, Lisa!  Dyslexia can be a difficult thing for anyone, but for a writer, I think you have not only accomplished something wonderful, but challenged yourself in an amazing way.  Writing really is therapy.  I can relate to this because that's exactly what it has been for me. 

Can you describe your writing process. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants? When and where do you write?
 
Lisa:  My writing process, huh? Well, the best description would be, I fly by the seat of my pants, more or less. When I wrote the Timeless Series, I literally just sat down and started writing. I knew where each book would start and end, and then just filled in the middle. Now, with that said, I’ve had to do a lot of editing to get the books to where they are today. Book one, Cheyenne, had a fair amount of editing, Promises, book two, had it’s fair share too, but  Daylight…well, that one was a complete rewrite. Awakening, book four in the series, will also be a complete rewrite. The plot of the story stayed the same with these (thank goodness!), but because I write so differently, so much better now, I couldn’t leave them in the “draft” condition they were in for my fans to read. My editor, Sam, would have chopped me into a thousand pieces and dumped them in the deepest and darkest sea! She’s brutal, but helps me see the light!  :) 
 
As for when and where I write, to begin with I wrote the first outlines/drafts for the Timeless Series (that’s what I’m calling them now) in my bedroom. I had a nice little overstuffed chair in the corner and I’d sit there and pound out the words. Now I’ve set myself up in my office and I write there in my comfy office chair with two screens and too many distractions like facebook
and Pinterest. 
 
Ellise:  Can you tell us about your most recent release? 
 
Lisa:  Daylight, book three in the Timeless Series, is my most recent release. Whereas book one, Cheyenne, and book two, Promises required major editing, with Daylight I had to refocus and recreate the story. Now mind you the plot more or less stayed the same, but the circumstances/drama/characters were all amped up to an 11. :)  So far, out of all the books, I have to say, Daylight, is my best work/favorite book yet of the Timeless Series. I really grew as a
writer along with my character, Cheyenne. We both had to overcome and learn that life is full of mistakes, you’re always learning and growing, no matter how hard the situation/circumstances are. 
 
I’m an emotional writer, so I pour myself into my work and it shows in my writings. When my character cries, I cry. When she’s depressed, I’m down, when she’s happy, I’m happy…it really sucks sometimes. Lol.

Ellise:  We really do feel our work.  :)  How did you get the idea for the books?

Lisa:  The idea for the Timeless Series came from two rings. Yup, that’s right, two rings that I’d purchased from Kohl’s, two rings that said if you look deeper there’s a story here.

Ellise:  Of all your characters, which one is your favorite?  And why?

Lisa:  I’d have to say this is the hardest question yet! I love all my characters, so choosing just one, well, it’s a bit of a challenge. I guess if I had to choose, it’d be Cheyenne. Why you ask? Because Cheyenne, as a character, grows and changes the most throughout the series, she faces challenges that would bury the weaker person in their own misery, but yet she always seems to make it through. She’s not perfect, she makes loads of mistakes along the way, but yet she still never gives up. She fights for what she believes in regardless of what others may think. She stands tall and sucks it up when she has to…she becomes the person she never thought she’d be. 

Ellise:  What was the most challenging aspect of writing your books?

Lisa:  Characters!!! With so many characters showing up in the books, it’s somewhat challenging to make sure they’re all unique and special. Another challenge is making sure I don’t mess up from one book to another as they’re all in the series. I have to make sure all the facts/events add up and of course at the end of the series there is a final wrap up. It’s all fun and games till I screw up an event/fact and someone picks it out! lol

Ellise:  Which authors have inspired your writing?

Lisa:  I’ve read a number of authors, but I have to say my favorites are Stephanie Laurens and Karen Moning. They write romance and I love just about anything romance. I love how both writers can take a simple encounter and create an entire love story from thin air. When I’m feeling a bit challenged, I’ll pick up one of their books and do some reading. Karen Moning’s Highlander Series is probably my all time favorite.

Ellise:  What projects are you currently working on?

Lisa:  At the moment I’m working on adding to my novella, Fated. Fated will follow the story line for each of the Timeless books, Cheyenne, Promises, Daylight and Awakening. This fall I’m hoping to release the portion for Promises, where it follows the point’s of view from other characters in the series. 

Ellise:  What advice would you offer to new or aspiring authors?

Lisa:  Write. Write. Write. The hardest and most challenging aspect of writing is getting your thoughts and ideas down on paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect, believe me, mine are far from perfect with the first draft, it just needs to be written down. The development comes later.
 
The second piece of advice I’d give is Never Give Up! I received over 60+ rejections from agents, and still trudged on. It’s not easy being an Indie author, it’s loads of hard work, but if you have a dream, you have to learn to fight for it.

Third, always take criticism with a smile on your face. It’s hard, some critics are just plain mean, but if you can look past their words and see the face value, sometimes (not always) they’re right. You can learn and grow so much from reviews, not just the good ones, but the bad ones too.

The final advice I’d give is that when you’re ready to release your work to the mass public, do it right. Pay for a professional cover, pay for a good copy editor (and no your best friend won’t do) and create a professional looking blog/webpage/facebook fan page. Set yourself apart from the crowd and the fans will come. 

Ellise:  Thank you so much, Lisa, for stopping by and telling us about yourself and your novels.  I have to say that it has been a privilege for me to get to know you and to watch you grow as  a writer and see you succeeding in a wonderful, new writing career.  Good luck with all your hopes and dreams!

For those of you interested in finding out more about Lisa and her Timeless Series Novels, please click on the following links: Amazon Website Blog Facebook Pinterest Goodreads Google+ Read the first three chapters of Cheyenne by clicking here!

Thanks, Lisa! :)

Final Edits for The Governess-Volume Three began today!

Yes, I can hardly believe it myself.  After working so hard, for so long on The Governess, the final chapters are being prepared for release this month of July 2013.  I'm so excited! 

Many of you have been requesting information on when it will be completed.  I'm setting a goal for Volume Three to be released by the end of July; however, if I finish sooner, I'll let you know on this Web Blog, my BlogSpot, and for those of you who've signed up on my 'Coming Soon!' page here on this website, you will personally get an email from me when it is released.  

Thank you for all of your encouraging words.  You, my readers, have made ALL the difference.  Without feedback from you, I would truly still be wondering if my story was any good at all.  So thank you for helping see that I can tell a good love story.  :)  

With a full heart,
Ellise