S.K. Nicholls's Blog, page 65
December 17, 2013
Mission Possible
It would be nice if Amazon allowed books you buy for independent bookstores to count toward your ratings. Ha! These were delivered today!
I have 30 paperback books that have already been sold…now I just have to brave the holiday traffic and distribute these to the stores that bought them. They are all to be paid up front, no consignments. A tiny trickle in the river that is exposure, but I am hoping to stir some local interest. I also like the idea of supporting the local independent bookstores and having them support me. We have a dozen or more such stores, so this could be interesting. I have two radio stations that I am sending copies to. They are both talk stations and review books and interview authors on Saturdays. So we will see what happens with that. Autographed copies are being sent out this week (you know who you are) but may not arrive before Christmas.
Went to the grocery store in my fuzzy slippers for the second time this week. They aren’t even pretty fuzzy slippers. Starting to feel like one of those shoppers that gets their picture passed around the internet. I am really getting too comfortable with this whole, “work at home” thing. However, I do recall showing up for my nursing job once with my scrubs on inside out.
Here are some pretty flowers from the garden today. Something to take your mind off the ice and snow for a moment.
Peace Lilies look like little sailboats on a sea of green.
I did not even know that Tiki Plants bloomed until this year.
Bird -of-Paradise is just past its peak.
Hibiscus bloom year round.
Hoping you have a good work week whether you are working at home or out and about.
Filed under: Marketing, Uncategorized Tagged: books, December blossoms, fuzzy slippers, marketing, pretty garden flowers, Red Clay and Roses, update
December 16, 2013
Book review: “Corridor of Darkness” by Patrick O’Bryon
A stellar read! Masterfully crafted and exceptionally well executed, the eloquent prose and rich descriptions easily carry the reader into a creatively imaginative world of pre-war Germany and the adventure and thrill to be discovered there. This contemporary author has created the best example of “show” not “tell” that I have seen in twenty years. (Okay, I am telling my age here.) You “see” the emotion and “feel” the tension from the words as well as develop a sense of time and place. It is not merely what the characters are doing, but how they live and act or react in their space that becomes apparent in the words.
I don’t usually open a book review with gushing lines of praise, but this one is truly exceptional. I found this book fascinating in many ways, but the inspiration for its development is particularly interesting. I don’t reprint book descriptions, but I want to take just a moment to tell you a little backstory. This is from the author’s own blog:
Leonard L. O’Bryon
“In the fall of 1929 a young New York banker came to Berlin to study finance. The collapse of Wall Street convinced him to stay and pursue a doctorate in history. While Hitler rose to power the American became a favored guest of the old aristocracy, risked his life probing the most dangerous boroughs of the city, witnessed Communist street demonstrations and Nazi rallies, instigated a duel, and pursued the rescue of Jewish friends from under the eyes of the Gestapo. He went on to spy for his country.
That seeker of adventure was Leonard L. O’Bryon, my father. Inspired by his newspaper reports and private journals, Corridor of Darkness tells the story of dashing Ryan Lemmon, on assignment in Nazi Germany for the State Department. It is now 1938, and Ryan must discover his own dark side to counter the murder, treachery, and torture threatening a former girlfriend, and allow him to escape with a secret which could change the course of history.”
The author, Patrick O’Bryon, is a self-proclaimed Europhile who knows Germany, has lived there, studied and worked there. Former academic in the field of Germanic Studies, Princeton Ph.D., interpreter and community liaison with the US Army in Germany.
The passion with which he writes is influenced by all of the above and I believe that is what separates “Corridor of Darkness” from the typical, pre-war German espionage novel. Already with the Awesome Indies Achiever’s gold Seal of Excellence, this book is destined to become a Best Seller!
Now, on to the review:
I loved this book so very much that I was compelled to read it twice. The writing style had me enraptured from beginning to end. I was so taken by it that I wanted to study the techniques employed. I thoroughly enjoy a read that encourages me to think deeply on both the writing and the story. The author has a powerful and confident writing voice. The eloquent prose serves well to set the reader into another time and place. The 20th century historical value alone makes it a worthy read, but O’Bryon gives us so much more.
Breaking away from the overdone linear style of the tired traditional spy novel, O’Bryon employs the technique of analepsis, or flashbacks, remarkably well. I loved the way the first half of the book ebbed and flowed with rich, fully fleshed out stories inside of the story. The action was well paced. As the plot and subplots unfolded, the characters, as well as their motivations, became very clear and real to me in a pre-war German world that was beautiful, exciting and dangerous.
This book offers all of the elements of a great novel, intrigue, historical value, adventure, thrill, mystery, espionage, violence, romance, lust, and love. Ryan Lemmon is dashing, clever and daring. His nemesis is despicable. Moving from pre-war Germany to the atrocities of Nazi Germany that led to imminent war, O’Bryon revs up the pace as Lemmon races across the countryside using wit, charm, weapons, and muscle in an effort to save his friends and their families and get intelligence back to America. The pace change lends a sense of urgency that was well timed.
I would give “Corridor of Darkness” a much higher score than 5 stars were it possible, and highly recommend this book. This historical thriller will leave you breathless and wanting more. The author also sets up what is yet to come, so be sure to read the Epilogue, Afterword, and the Prologue to the much anticipated sequel, “Beacon of Vengeance”.
Filed under: Book Reviews and Books Tagged: 20th century, Beacon of Vengeance, book review, Corridor of Darkness, Espionage, Historical Thriller, Patrick O'Bryon, Spy novel
December 15, 2013
Sunday Synopsis
If you follow this blog or know me from comments, you already know that I support the indie author & traditional authors and get excited when they share a success. Last weekend I ran a successful promo which resulted in a personal triumph which I shared with you. “Red Clay and Roses” made it to three Top 100 Best Seller lists on Amazon. We also had the collective Read Tuesday event on December 10th which may have contributed to that success. The flicker of fame burns swiftly. This weekend, despite an aggressive Facebook campaign and several smaller free and affordable advertisements, I am watching the book ease back into place. At the rate it is moving I would expect it to be back in the 100,000 range in the next couple of days. So there is the trial.
Why am I sharing this? Not to sound discouraging but to say that marketing is an ongoing process with ups and downs, triumphs and trials. Shameless self-promotion is a bitch, but if you don’t do it, nobody is going to do it for you. I can hope that there will be a second wave, as the book continues to sell slowly. Exponentially speaking, that would seem probable. The sale is over and the book is back to its original price, so we will see how this goes.
Another expectation is that there may be more reviews. Many readers don’t realize how valuable these are to an author. Not in terms of selling or not selling books necessarily, but in providing useful information from the reader audience that helps the writer to develop and grow. It lets the author know what you, as a reader, are most interested in. For example, some readers prefer a minimalist style of writing and others want details. Some want action immediately and some want to be eased into a story. Not all genres are the same, and not all readers share the same palate. So readers, let us know. Post reviews!
This past week everybody was sick, except me; husband, children, and grandchildren all with ear aches, flu, sore throats, colds, and sinus problems. I don’t know how I managed to avoid it, but I did. I spent most of the week running from this pharmacy to that one, babysitting, and being the nurse.
I did manage to slice my right thumb on my Christmas present: a new set of Cutco Knives. I was paring a potato, when I realized the potatoes were brilliant red. There was no pain, not even a sting, just bright red blood. I didn’t feel a thing. For that I am grateful…I think. No stitches needed. I guess I could have lost my thumb without knowing it, so not as bad as it could have been.
We have always had our Christmas decorations up by the day after Thanksgiving until this year. I don’t yet have my tree up. I don’t even think I’ll get around to the outdoor decorations this year. We are having our Christmas this next Sunday evening and then everyone is going out of town.
The weeds and invasive vines have been ripped from The Jungle that is the back yard. The landscape fabric and mulch have been laid. Mexican heather has taken root and won’t need watering every day anymore. The view is even nicer now from the back porch. Hibiscus, angel’s trumpet, and bird-of-paradise are in full bloom.
I have no plans or goals for this week beyond cleaning house, getting up the tree, wrapping presents, and baking red velvet cakes from scratch, using my grandmother’s cherished recipe. Sometimes it is better to go with the flow than plan anything much.
I do have a book review for you for tomorrow, so please do come back and visit.
Have a very merry pre-holiday week!
Filed under: Sunday Synopsis Tagged: Sunday Synopsis
December 14, 2013
“Illusions of Eventide” by Sarah Cradit Now Available!
The long awaited third novel in The House of Crimson and Clover series is now available on Amazon, BN, Kobo, and Smashwords! Links for Itunes, Sony, and Diesel coming soon.
Story Overview
Nicolas Deschanel was betrayed by the only two people who matter to him. Their disloyalty stung and an overwhelming sense of loss lingers. Nicolas has lived the high life professing to not have a care in the world, and now this illusion is calling his bluff.
Determined to take control of an existence now devoid of purpose, he sojourns to his family’s holiday home on the Gulf of Mexico. Resolved more than depressed, he plans to privately say goodbye to a world which no longer needs him. Of questionable fortune, he finds a woman, Mercy, sitting alone on the shore at eventide. Nicolas is conflicted between an obligation to help, and annoyance at her intrusion.
Mercy has many layers of secrets. Deepest of all, she cannot tell this Child of Man she is thousands of years old and very powerful. In her presence, Nicolas’ own dormant powers begin to surface, triggering a sequence of events that cause both of their lives to spiral further out of control. When old friends from both sides come to help, together they all learn a painful truth: new life can only begin once you’ve set free what means the most.
What Reviewers Are Saying
“In a word… beautiful. With every new installment I get to read in this fantastic series I fall more and more in love. This is by far the best novel by Sarah I have read, and one of the best books I’ve gotten my hands on of the year.”
“Many books can leave you breathless until the book abruptly ends and you have so many unanswered questions and feel cheated. That is not the case with this book. The author takes you to the very edge, then brings you back on multiple occasions.”
“LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!! Could not put it down!!”
“This is a story about forgiveness and redemption, thickly seasoned with fantasy and paranormal. Cradit has mastered connecting the dots.”
“Cradit’s ability to weave a story filled with mythology, paranormal, and the reality of life so fluidly kept me turning page after page, thoroughly engrossed. The Illusions of Eventide is by far my Top favorite of 2013!”
“Page after page of twists and unexpected turns, running the full gamut of emotions. At times it is heartbreaking, exciting, witty, charming.”
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again, this author develops characters better than anyone else I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I simply cannot recommend this book enough.”
“Sarah did a fabulous job of painting the pictures of places, characters, events, and visions! I felt the pain, passion, love, hate, and anguish of each character!”
“I cannot wait for the next installment!”
“This series is one you won’t want to miss out on. Sarah is an amazing writing and knows how to suck her readers into the story.”
Connect with Author Sarah M. Cradit
The House of Crimson and Clover Series
St. Charles at Dusk
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B005RT0ZKE
BN: http://bit.ly/18Kzhsp
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/304600
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1hHmscx
Itunes: http://bit.ly/18u5810
Sony: http://bit.ly/18LkGUj
Diesel: http://bit.ly/1bP8SR0
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3685393
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1dXqBHS
The Storm and the Darkness
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00DS86XU2
BN: http://bit.ly/IeFNSW
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333021
Kobo: http://bit.ly/17Tb1KG
Itunes: http://bit.ly/14VDe0Z
Sony: Coming Soon
Diesel: http://bit.ly/1knwY4B
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4345896
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1bopnAM
Beyond Dusk: Anne
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00EUI53IC
BN: http://bit.ly/1aOUw14
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381449
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1chBJIH
Itunes: Coming Soon
Sony: Coming Soon
Diesel: Coming Soon
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4489254
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1daqVhF
Also Coming Soon
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Illusions of Eventide
by Sarah M. Cradit
Giveaway ends December 23, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Filed under: Book Reviews and Books Tagged: Book Launch, books, House of Crimson and Clover series, illusions of Eventide, Now Available!, Sarah Cradit
December 13, 2013
CORRIDOR OF DARKNESS WINS TOP AWARDS FOR QUALITY FICTION!
Reblogged from Patrick W. O'Bryon:
Two highly-respected professional reviewing groups dedicated to acknowledging quality independent fiction have recognized my debut espionage thriller Corridor of Darkness: A Novel of Nazi Germany with their top awards.
Awesome Indies (AIA) gives the novel its gold Seal of Excellence, with one of their three reviewers calling it a "first-rate, expertly crafted thriller," and another stating: "When the writing is powerful and immediate and characters as real and believable as these ones are, our compassion is aroused and our heart opens."
Patrick O'Bryon's "Corridor of Darkness" , a phenomenal read worthy of highest honors earns AIA recognition with the gold Seal of Excellence and Compulsion Reads' endorsement! Congratulations Patrick!
December 12, 2013
Cape Romano: Our Secret Sanctuary
We have our very own “secret sanctuary” in sunny Florida. A curious and interesting place, Cape Romano is at the southernmost tip of Ten Thousand Island (the uppermost of the mangrove islands). It is located just a few miles south of the luxury resort community of Marco Island, on the Gulf side. The sky is a lovely, brilliant blue, the sun is shining, the air is dry, and a cool breeze is blowing with temperatures in the mid to low seventies during the winter months.
Florida has both a cosmopolitan appeal in places like Jacksonville, Miami, and Orlando, as well as old world charm in places like St. Augustine, Marco Island, and Amelia Island. All of these places are wonderful in their own way, but the most wondrous places in Florida are the most obscure. Many people have come to love the beaches at Panama City, Sanibel Island, and Captiva, but there are a tiny few remaining beautiful beaches that are a bit more remote. The beach at Cape Romano is one of these places.
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Accessible only by boat or Jet Ski, Cape Romano is a quiet place for reflection in the early morning or late evening, but it does get swamped by visitors from Marco on Jet Skis by mid-day on the weekends. During the week; however, in the twilight of dawn or dusk, it is as if you have transported into a surrealistic dystopian, sci-fi, or fantasy world.
To travel to this location you will find yourself on the Tamiami trail, mentioned in many books set in Florida, otherwise known as “Alligator Alley”. The best way to approach the island is in a little flat bottom jon boat you can launch from the Goodland marina. Goodland is a sleepy little fishing village located in the midst of the mangroves at the very beginning of the Ten Thousand Islands. Their biggest boast is a visit from Donald Trump, back when he was considering installing a casino at Cape Romano. I am glad he did not choose to destroy the splendor of the sanctuary, for it surely would have.
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As you motor carefully through the shallows of the brackish waters of Gullivan Bay, the dolphins swim alongside your boat in playful pods teasing and tempting you to join in a swim as they guide you out to deeper waters. You won’t miss the Cape when you see the unique dome home that was established here by Bob Lee in 1980. You can read more about Bob, his adventurous project, and his family here. Once self-sustaining, powered by solar panels, with a 23,000 gallon fresh water cistern, the home is no longer inhabitable.
http://www.coastalbreezenews.com/2012/09/07/cape-romano-uncovered/
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Hurricane Andrew came through in 1992 and stripped about 600 feet off the beach sending most of the dome house, and a couple of other homes in the established boating community, into the sea. The Environmental Protection Agency ordered the removal of the dwelling in 2007, (which has not been done and is assessing the owner’s fines daily). Building on the sanctuary island is no longer allowed. There is a cut through the middle of the Island called Morgan’s Pass, also created by hurricane activity, where an estuary runs into a deeper pool of salt water. Fascinating sea life thrives here. Anemones, starfish, urchins and other small sea creatures abound.
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On one side of the Cape, the seashore is two feet deep in shells. On the other side, there are miles of white sand and driftwood. There are many little sandbar islands dotting the turquoise waters around the Cape that are covered with birds and are protected bird sanctuaries. They feast on the abundant shell life. The birds nest here and their calls can be deafening when they are disturbed. Most all of the sandbars for bird sanctuaries are off-limits to humans.
Not my best pose in a bikini, but about the only one I would consider making public.
Shelling is my favorite pastime here, collecting hundreds of samples over the years.
There are certain currents at specific times of the year that bring King’s Crown and whole sand dollars washing ashore in great heaps. I hope that civilization can preserve the sanctuary, and it remains as unspoiled as possible for future generation to enjoy.
Filed under: Articles, The Grandmother Journal Tagged: bird sanctuary, Cape Romano, dome home, Florida, Florida Beaches, Goodland, Marco Island, Old World Florida, Secret Sanctuary, shelling, shells, Ten Thousand Islands, turquoise waters, unspoiled beach, Wilderness
Ad Your Book
Galleycat Has a FaceBook page where they will market for free. It has 18, 441 members.
Addicted to Ebooks has a FB page with 6752 members for $5.00
They also have a sidebar banner page, which I haven’t tried yet $15. And some free promotion for free books. I have not tried those yet.
Goodkindles has both a Large banner at $99.mo and sidebar banner at $50. mo I have not tried. The Gold promotion package was $20. one time fee and gets you the following:
GOLD PROMOTION PACKAGE - $19.95
• Your book will be listed permanently on Goodkindles and our social profiles
• It will be also featured in our daily newsletter.
• The right of bumping up your book listing back to our homepage – once, on a day of your choice (after 30 days minimum, please contact us on a day you want your book to reappear on home page). You also can edit your book details at the same time (add new free promo dates, add something to the description and so on).
• When we’ll bump up your book, we will also publish it again on our social profiles and we will inform about it again in our newsletter.
They have other packages to choose from, as well.
Also, you may have your web site entered into their catalog for free and they encourage it. At this address:
http://www.goodkindles.net/p/author-website-list.html
Linking is a requirement to get into the catalog.
And thanks to Misha Burnett I have The Fussy Librarian sending out mail subscribed customers listing that will include my book.
They don’t have a FaceBook page or list you on their website as they try to encourage people to subscribe via their mailings.
There are also dozens of FaceBook groups to advertise in daily and those require personal daily maintenance, and most do have rules about the number of posts that you can make a day. Some allow posting on certain days. Always read the instructions pinned or posted in the side bars, Many will toss you from the group quickly if rules are broken in an effort to maintain order and avoid spammers.
Filed under: Marketing Tagged: Addicted to Ebooks, Galleycat, Goodkindles, The Fussy Librarian
December 11, 2013
My Long walk to freedom (and still walking)
Reblogged from Africa far and wide:
I didn’t realize how much the Apartheid experience had kept me in its clutches until I lived in Mozambique for a number of years. I was 10 years old when they released Mandela. I am now in my mid-thirties. And still to this day, I battle on with the deeply instilled and powerful influence of the apartheid regime.
Apartheid was not just about black vs.
Not about one man, but about people and an experience with them.
December 10, 2013
Thank You from Read Tuesday
The first ever Read Tuesday (a Black Friday type of event just for book lovers on Tuesday, December 10) is quickly coming to an end. If you haven't missed it (some books may be on sale until midnight PST, if not longer), you still have a chance to catch the savings.
If it's already passed midnight Pacific Standard Time, you might want to know that Misha Burnett (author of…
Thanks to everyone! We will see you next year!
Read Tuesday is Today! December 10th
It is also now available in paperback for $10.80.
In 1992, Hannah Hamilton finds an old ledger that prompts an investigation, only to discover Untold Secrets.
An African American girl is missing since 1954. Why can there NOT be an inquiry?
Find out in “Red Clay and Roses”.
This one day only sale includes hundreds of titles, from children’s books to mature audience reads, fiction and non-fiction.
Check out the full catalog at the Read Tuesday site here: http://readtuesday.com/book-catalog/
Buy ”Red Clay and Roses” Here Today!
CLICK ON COVER to see full book description in another window!
Filed under: Marketing Tagged: "Red Clay and Roses". Read Tuesday, book catalog, books, gift ideas, marketing, promotion, readers, Sale
