Pepper Winters's Blog, page 32
August 27, 2014
ONE YEAR TODAY I PRESSED PUBLISH. NYT, USA TODAY, & TIMELINE
A YEAR!!!
I blinked and it’s flown by. Five books. Two signings. No sleep.
I’d planned to do a short blogpost to celebrate one year of pressing that alluring publish button. I’d planned on celebrating with a brief ‘Happy Release Birthday’ with a few giveaways and updates—that in itself would’ve been more than enough reward to look back and reflect on what the past year has meant to me and how amazed, humbled, and ecstatic I am. But the icing on this fabulous cake that has become my life was Debt Inheritance hit #84 on the USA Today and #24 on the NYT Bestseller lists. On the very same day that I pressed publish a year ago. Surreal? Yep!!!
Now, I find my small post isn’t enough to celebrate such a monumental achievement or to put into words how blown away I am. So, I’m going to do another lengthy blogpost on the writing side of it, along with the mental side that turned my world upside down and I KNOW has the same power to turn your life any which way you want it.
If you follow me, you’ll know I’m a huge advocator in visualization and positive thinking. This hasn’t changed, nor will it. EVER. Because I’ve seen results. I don’t care how it works—only that it does. By visualizing the future you want you’re more focused, driven, and less likely to get distracted.
With that said, let’s begin.
TIME LINE
15th July 2013
Tess Snow and Q Mercer jumped very rudely and abruptly into my head. I had been writing other characters but they just shoved their way in there and I couldn’t do anything else but write their tale. I’ve said before that Q was sly and mysterious the entire time I wrote that book and didn’t know him until the end and the epilogue, but it was great fun being in his head in Quintessentially Q.
Tears of Tess was my fifth novel. I’ve written Urban Fantasy and Contemporary all sitting unloved and gathering dust. But I fully believe that I had to write those books to fully grow as a storyteller. They were huge learning curves for me. For someone who flunked English class and left school at 16, I had to learn the very, very basics and I will admit I had a lot to learn.
First thing I recommend you do, if you’re wanting to publish and don’t know where to start (which I didn’t know about until 2 years into trying to write) is join QueryTracker. They have like-minded authors, all looking for Beta Readers, and to share their tips and goals. It’s scary to trust a complete stranger with your unpublished manuscript, but I know without a doubt I would never be where I am without putting my faith into one amazing author on there.
She in turn introduced me to other like-minded writers and our group grew and celebrated each success as each of us either went on to self-publish, signed deals with large houses, or diverted our attention into different genres. My advice to you is—join a networking site. Get talking. Get sharing. And leave your emotions at the door. Critique—honest critique—will hurt, this is after all your baby, but if you find someone trustworthy, then their advice is priceless. Listen.
28th August 2013
I pressed that publishing button after spending the month of July and August building up my online presence. I did nothing amazing or fancy. I opened a blog, Facebook page, and twitter. I shared teasers of my work, friended like-minded authors and readers, and slowly built up my brand. Your brand is very important to have established BEFORE you press publish. Also, if you can afford it, investing in yourself is a huge need. I spent about 1500USD pushing Tears of Tess in advertising cost. It was a gamble, but one I was willing to take.
Needless to say, Amazon decided to play chicken with me and I when pressed publish sick with nerves, they made me wait and wait and WAIT. 27 hours they made me twirl my thumbs before slowly releasing the book on all platforms. I have no idea why they took so long, but it might’ve had something to do with the warning in the blurb about non-consent. (Amazon are devils for censorship, so be careful what you put in your synopsis.)
The success that Tears of Tess had blew my mind and to this day is still my bestseller. I will never be able to thank the bloggers who friended me, or the readers who helped pimp my work. Word of Mouth was key in that book and I wish I knew how to replicate it. All I can say is be so grateful for every sale, be kind and generous, and be happy.
16th December 2013
I finished writing Quintessentially Q and released. It hit top 100 within hours of its release and I was once again blown over by the amazing readers and reviewers. But then it sank. Hard and fast. Christmas and holiday season. I thought it would be a perfect time to sell with people buying gifts and getting ready for a break from work, but it was the opposite. Everyone was super busy buying family presents and having panic attacks over dinners and parties. Sales continued to suck until early January, which, without any pushing or promotion, sales suddenly climbed high and stayed high for a few months. My advice—don’t publish over the holidays.
January 2014
Quit working on my other ‘adult jobs’ and embraced my dream to write fulltime.
7th March 2014
I finished writing Destroyed and released a week late due to the headache that book caused me. I won’t reiterate what I wrote on the nightmare of writing that book but you can see the post HERE. That was the book that, even though it almost killed me writing it, brought two things into my life which I will be forever amazed by. It hit the USA Today Bestseller list and caught the attention of Latoya Smith at Grand Central Publishing.
25th March 2014
I went to my first ever signing which was amazing, terrifying, totally wicked, and blew my mind with people wanting my autograph—ME? I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
5th April 2014
Latoya Smith at Grand Central contacted me about buying the rights to Destroyed and other works. I went into self-publishing purely so I could write the books that were in my heart, and to have a large publisher agree to let me continue to write what I loved but wanted to help place them into bookshops around the world was just jaw-dropping.
30th April 2014
I signed with Erica Silverman at Trident Media Group who held my hand during the deal made with Grand Central Publishing. I did a post on that HERE
3rd June 2014
I finished the Monsters in the Dark trilogy and published Twisted Together. It was bittersweet and rather stressful. I was lucky enough to get pre-orders through Amazon but that blessing turned into a bit of a curse as the book I thought would be about 80-90,000 words turned into 173,000 words. All done in 5 weeks. I don’t recommend that. LOL
4th July 2014
I had my second signing in Edinburgh which was incredibly amazing. I met some extraordinary people, partied with readers who I adore, and got to rub shoulders with some insanely talented authors. I went to that signing expecting a few people…30-40 max who would come and see me. So my jaw was on the floor when my line never stopped. I didn’t eat until 3.30pm. I couldn’t even go to the loo because the line never stopped. I was given gifts and so humbled I couldn’t comprehend that THIS was my life.
16th July 2014
Latoya Smith unfortunately left Grand Central but I was taken under the wing of Amy Piermont and Lauren Plude (executive editors and head of the Forever department) who have been the most amazing advocates of my work and I’m very excited to deliver the books that will be released with GCP in 2015.
18th August 2014
Released Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1) This was actually the hardest of my releases to bear, purely because the readers who loved Q really didn’t like Jethro. It really hurt to think I let them down, but I’m hoping I can turn them around with the next installments. The motto of this story—you think as a writer each release will get easier, but it’s the EXACT opposite. You have expectations to fill, characters to do justice. It only gets harder. I can honestly say my easiest release was Tears of Tess, purely because no one knew me.
28th August 2014
I’ve just been told by my agent and publisher that Debt Inheritance hit #84 on USA Today and #24 on NYT. I’m beyond amazed and so grateful. :) So that truly does wrap up a year of awesomeness and I hope it never ends. I’ll be writing for the rest of my life and hope I’ll continue to have an audience who enjoys my work.
So that’s the year summed up in a nice little bow. I can say I’ve worked harder than I’ve ever worked on anything in my life. I’ve written for 28 hours solid with no sleep, I’ve spent money on advertising that didn’t work, and almost given up on books that got me on the USA Today list. Every day I wake up and write. My eyes are suffering from staring at a screen all day, and my brain will NEVER switch off so relaxing has pretty much flown out of the window. But I wouldn’t trade a single part of it. My dream came true and I’m going to love every tough, painful, ecstatic, overwhelming, joyous moment of it.
And I only have you to thank xxxxxxxxxxxxx
What’s coming up in the future?
I can’t say much as I’m still waiting permission from Grand Central to release the titles and details of the two books being published with them. However, I have more Indebted to deliver, two motorcycle club books with an alpha male called Arthur Killian who I hope you’ll love as much as I do, and then a few different projects from my usual darkness called Forbidden Flaws and Ribbon. (They’ll be Grey Romance with an emphasis on sexy)
Dates, links, and covers will all be shared soon.
Before I head back into my writing cave, I want to say another big, HUGE, thank you for following my career and enjoying my work. I hope you all have an incredible day and that your dreams come true.
Xxx
Pepper
August 17, 2014
***DEBT INHERITANCE IS LIVE***
It’s Release Day!
My fifth book in under a year. It’s been a roller coaster of highs and lows and fears, but an absolute incredible dream come true, and can’t wait to celebrate the release of Debt Inheritance with you!
!!DEBT INHERITANCE IS LIVE!!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Debt-Inheritance-Indebted-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00MSYVHE4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/debt-inheritance-pepper-winters/1120021635?ean=9781501487392&itm=1&usri=9781501487392
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/debt-inheritance
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id904155090
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/466137
If you would like a paperback you can buy them from here. They’re priced at $9.99:
Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4916528
Or you’d like a signed, personalized copy with swag they’re $29.50 and can be ordered here: http://pepperwinters.com/purchase-tears-of-tess-signed-paperbacks/
There is a Facebook Group Read where you can join like-minded readers and chat, question, and interact while reading here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1511645192400372/
I’m also running a campaign which is a bit like a flash mob where at exactly 0930 on the 21st August the news that Debt Inheritance is live will be posted online. I would love it if you could be part of it by participating here: https://www.thunderclap.it/my/overview?locale=en
If you’d like to keep up to date with news, teasers, and other things please join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/307722962716716/
Thank you so much to everyone who shared, tweeted, and left a review on Amazon. I can’t thank you enough for your amazing support and generosity.
Hope you all enjoy Jethro and Nila!
August 14, 2014
DEBT INHERITANCE SIGNED PAPERBACKS
** DEBT INHERITANCE RELEASES IN THREE DAYS **
Debt Inheritance Signed Paperbacks are available to be ordered. It will take 10 days to reach me and another 10 or so days to reach you if ordered today. Price includes the book, and shipping (I’m so sorry about the cost again, bloody daylight robbery postal service)
if you want a copy best to put an order in soon as I’ve only printed a limited number at this stage, or wait to see me at a signing soon!
DEBT INHERITANCE (INDEBTED #1)
Debt Inheritance Signed Paperbacks come with extra signed swag and the price includes postage internationally.
Please make sure to add your email and address when ordering. And make a note if a different name is to be personalized on the book.
UK & USA:
Australia:
Thanks so much!!!
August 10, 2014
DEBT INHERITANCE RELEASES IN 7 DAYS
The countdown is on for Debt Inheritance to hit kindles and reading devices.
Hope you all enjoy!
Indebted #1 is available for pre-order from these sites:
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/Search/Que...
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id90...
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
July 29, 2014
DEBT INHERITANCE iTUNE PREORDER & GROUP READ
I have some exciting news.
iTunes pre-order for Debt Inheritance has just gone live. You can purchase for 0.99 from here:
I’ll let you know when other sites go live.
Also, I mentioned that I would be doing something different with the release of Indebted #1 and have started a Group Read on both Facebook and Goodreads. If you’d like to join like-minded individuals to read, discuss, and interact while enjoying the Indebted Series, please join below:
Thank you so much!
Also, in other news. The Destroyed hoodie, tank, and t-shirt campaign will end soon. So if you want one, now is the time to order.
July 28, 2014
INDEBTED SERIES INFORMATION & OTHER QUESTIONS
I’ve been asked a few times the following questions regarding the INDEBTED SERIES:
1. How big will each book be?
2. How many will there be?
3. How often will they be released?
4. Are they stand alone or cliffhanger?
I’m here to answer those along with the other questions I’ve been asked lately:
1. When is Last Shadow being released?
2. When is Sins of Silver being released?
3. Do you have a list of your future releases?
4. When will Je suis a toi be released?
I’ll start with DEBT INHERITANCE (Book one of Indebted)
This is a Dark Romance Series. Yes, I realize some readers love series as they’re shorter, published quicker than most, and more often than not cheaper than a full book. I also realize that some people don’t like them as they’re shorter and not a complete book. The reason why I’m doing Indebted this way isn’t because of money or because it’s a common trend at the moment, but because I have too many commitments to the new publisher I just signed with, other promised work, and signing appearances to write this as a Trilogy (because that would be the size of it if I waited to release in larger books.)
1. How big will each book be?
Tears of Tess was 107,000 words, Quintessentially Q was 117,000 words, and Twisted Together was 173,000 words. That’s a total of: 397,000 words. The Indebted Series will be this size, if not longer, but published slightly differently. This is so I can bring a new book to you more often while I also work on my other commitments.
Each book will be 50,000 words or more so a BOOK size, not novella. Each one will follow Jethro and Nila as their story is involved, full of twists, and not able to told quickly. I aim to give you darkness and temptation and a vintage feel to a modern story.
2. How many will there be?
I’m not sure how many books there will be at this stage. If I stick with the guideline of Tess and Q’s length of story, I’m guessing six to seven.
Price wise the first book will be priced at 0.99. It will FOREVER be priced at 0.99.
3. How often will they be released?
I’m hoping every 8-10 weeks (this is conservative and I’ll do my best to shorten this depending on my other commitments.)
4. Are they stand alone or cliffhanger?
Yes, they will probably end on a cliffhanger as you’ll have to wait to hear more from the characters, however each book follows a single debt that will be concluded in that one volume.
If you have any other questions, just let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them.
In other Indebted news there will be a release day party on the 18th August 2014 and you can join in HERE
There is a signed paperback giveaway going on at Goodreads. You can enter HERE
There will also be an Indebted Book Club set up on Facebook and Goodreads to buddy read and discuss while reading. I’ll be posting those links very soon.
Right, moving onto the next questions:
1. When is Last Shadow being released?
This is hard to answer as it was in talks with a publisher but has since been paused for now. I can’t commit to a release date as I’m over committed at this stage and don’t want to disappoint you. I can say it won’t be 2014, though. And I apologise for the delay but hope you’ll forgive me with delivering other titles.
2. When is Sins of Silver being released?
This one I have some very exciting news. Upon reflection, Chantal Fernando and I agreed we are too different in our writing styles to do a collaboration. She has recently written her own MC series called Dragon’s Lair and available now on Amazon. As the concept for Sins of Silver was mine (and she wasn’t too keen on doing a dark, dark book, she has kindly let me write this book on my own.) I love her to death and know that she’ll be very successful in her new MC series. Because Sins of Silver was a title for the joint project, it’s unfair of either of us to use it as a single author. So, I’ve renamed the book and will be able to release that VERY soon. I’m very excited to advise that this book has been signed by Grand Central (along with a sequel set in the same world) and will be releasing Feb 2015. The moment I’m allowed to release the cover, the title, and pre-order links, I’ll be splashing them everywhere.
So to simplify my long answer, yes the book is coming under a different name and more information is coming very soon.
3. Do you have a list of your future releases?
Not officially but I’ll do one now:
Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1): 18th August 2014
Ruin & Rule (prequel to the MC book I’m releasing with Grand Central) Early November in a box set with some amazing biker authors
First Debt (Indebted #2): October 2014
Untitled MC book coming from Grand Central: Feb 2015 (in ebook and in bookstores around USA, Canada, and England)
I can’t go much further than that as things change and I don’t have all the details from the publisher yet with regards to firm dates. Destroyed will also be re-released very soon along with hitting bookshops nationwide. (look out for a sale when GC takes control on the title)
4. When will Je suis a toi be released?
Q and Tess’s story will come, but I have a lot of books to write between now and November (I have to deliver the draft of the MC book to Grand Central on the 2nd of November) so I’ll be flat out completing that commitment, however I’ll do my best to deliver before Christmas along with releasing the Monsters in the Dark boxset with the extra bonus of the novella in time for the holidays.
Hope that helps and everyone had a great weekend!
Pepper
July 27, 2014
July 18, 2014
DESTROYED CLOTHING
Finally started a campaign for Destroyed Clothing. If you’d like one there are hoodies, t-shirts, and tanks up for grabs for a limited time.
Link to buy:
http://teespring.com/destroyedclothing#pid=212&cid=1025
July 15, 2014
DEBT INHERITANCE TEASER
Quick Teaser for Debt Inheritance coming 18th August.
July 11, 2014
EDINBURGH SIGNING, PHOTOS, & BOOK NEWS
Well, I’m home.
After over a month away, I’m finally back from a wonderful trip in England and Scotland. The flight back was horrendous, made worse by being sick with pneumonia, but overall the month away was FANTASTIC! I was completely blown away by the incredible event hosted by Amy, Adriane, and Teri, and couldn’t have asked for a better turn out. I went expecting to see 20-30 people wanting to see me, but was left gaping in shock when I had a steady line up ALL DAY! I couldn’t believe it and thanks to everyone who came and said hi—you rocked my entire world.
Here is a picture of me signing. :)
Not only did I get to spend some amazing time getting to know my incredible readers but I received gifts! Yes, gifts!! I NEVER expected anything of the sort so was blown away when I received necklaces, a scarf, handmade chocolates, and thoughtful cards. Seriously, I don’t recognise my life anymore.
Along with the incredible signing, I was able to spend some great time with my Grandparents who live in Staffordshire. We went sightseeing to amazing historical places like Erddig, Waddeson Manor, Hardwick Hall, and many others. I loved seeing the grandeur and wealth of that time and ideas were running crazy for future books as well as a lot of inspiration for Indebted (coming 18th August)
While we were in Hong Kong airport about to catch our plane to London I received a message from a fellow author letting me know that Twisted Together hit the USA Today list. I’d always hoped Tess and Q would hit the list so that made my year. Thank you to everyone who purchased a copy, left a review, and messaged me letting me know their thoughts of the Monsters in the Dark series.
If you didn’t know there is a Novella coming called Je suis a toi (later this year) so it isn’t a complete goodbye to Tess and Q just yet.
Goodreads
I was also amazed to see, thanks to the messages in my Goodreads account (which I always forget to check) that I’ve been granted the IndieReader Top 10 Badge for my work which is fantastic. I get to flash this awesome badge around. So thank you to everyone who nominated me!
And yet more incredible news, Tess and Q were nominated in THREE categories on Smut Book Club Awards for 2014. Thank you to everyone who nominated and if you still want to vote here is the link:
http://smutbookclub.com/vote-smut-book-awards-first-half-of-2014/
My next signing is only four months away. Who will be coming to see me in Sydney 2014? If you can make it, I believe the weekend is going to be insanely wicked, and below is the pre-order link for paperbacks from me on the day:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SI4CrLu7vS6N5weNsfcpy4HiTmiunUJcr35V-Ht47-k/viewform
While I was away, I’ve been asked a few questions on when my next releases are. Some things I can share, some things I can’t. (the joys of signing with a large publisher) but for now, here is the information I can share :):
Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1) will be released on the 18th August 2014. ARC’s will be sent out a few days before and I truly hope you enjoy this new dark hero. I’m extremely excited to introduce you to Jethro and Nila. Pre-orders aren’t available at this stage but I’ll be sharing the links the moment it goes live on all platforms.
Last Shadow: This title was under talks with a publisher and the release date has been pushed back until 2015. I’m so sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I promise to have many more books releasing before then to keep you occupied
Sins of Silver: This book is coming and more information will be announced soon but my lips are sealed for now. However there are exciting things to share about everything relating to this title.
I think that’s it for now. I’ll be quiet for the next week while I get well again from this illness and then I’ll be writing furiously but it feels great to be back and I’m dying to get to work and deliver more characters to your kindles.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Pepper
