Shirleen Davies's Blog, page 2

Indie Authors Beware of New Vanity Press Disguised in a New Package

PublishAmerica, a vanity press that has had series public relations issues over the last nine years has spawned a new enterprise. Unfortunately for Indie Authors, under the clothing is still the same predatory beast from the past.

If you go to PublishAmerica.com, you are now directed to their new attempt to lure new authors into their turbulent offering. America Star Books, from all appearance, looks like the same vanity press that PublishAmerica has always been. This business is focused on non-American writers, yet American based authors are also welcome.

Beware before you cross that welcome mat. See the full article and check-out the American Star Books through this link.
http://www.teleread.com/self-publishing/new-publishamerica-sock-puppet-america-star-books-wants-to-pull-its-wool-over-your-eyes/

Where is Fire Mountain, home of the MacLaren family?

Big Bug, Arizona Territory Where is Fire Mountain and is it a real place?
Fire Mountain is the home of the four MacLaren brothers. It is a town in 1870s Arizona territory that resides only in my mind. Ok, that is not entirely accurate. It is based on several areas of north central Arizona that I have come to love. These areas inspire the stories of the MacLaren brothers and provide the backdrop for each book.
Tip Top, Arizona Territory. Contrary to what many believe, Arizona is not just made up of dry desert, cactus, and rattlers. Oh, don’t get me wrong; there are huge areas of desert wilderness, cactus aplenty, tumbleweeds and a good number of critters, both slithery and walking.
    What many don’t realize is that Arizona also contains vast pine forests, hidden lakes, and rugged mountains. Temperatures in this area can reach 95 in the summer, falling to 15 and below when there is snow in the winter. Most of this region retains little of the snow and avoids the high temps of southern Arizona. Overall, is it much more temperate than most imagine.
                This is where Fire Mountain can be found.
Crown King Saloon Historical settlements in this region include Congress, Big Bug, Jerome, Camp Verde, Crown King, Bumble Bee, Prescott, Chaparral, Antelope Junction, and Tip Top. Some of these are still with us today, such as the thriving city of Prescott and hilltop town of Jerome. Others are no more than an abandoned pile of Arizona history. All offer their own ghosts from the past and inspire much of the scenery in my books about the MacLaren brothers.

Let me know if you have a special place where your mind goes when you write or read. A place you'd use as a setting for you next book. 

Who is Buying Self-Published Books?��

       Who is reading your books? A recent article reminded me of the extreme importance of authors, especially indie authors, to become business people as well as writers. If you don't know who your audience is you are unlikely to promote your work to the right readers, thus losing out on a significant following and wasting valuable time.

Romance Writers of America is one good source for finding demographic data on readers. Another is Bowker, the company who provides ISBNs. Andre Cruz, at The Word, recently posted the following, useful information. 

I would appreciate any other resources you have for uncovering reader demographics. 

Who is Buying Self-Published Books?

       Who is reading your books? A recent article reminded me of the extreme importance of authors, especially indie authors, to become business people as well as writers. If you don't know who your audience is you are unlikely to promote your work to the right readers, thus losing out on a significant following and wasting valuable time.

Romance Writers of America is one good source for finding demographic data on readers. Another is Bowker, the company who provides ISBNs. Andre Cruz, at The Word, recently posted the following, useful information. 

I would appreciate any other resources you have for uncovering reader demographics. 

Faster than the Rest - 2 Day Sale on Amazon

On Sale! Two Days Only for 99 cents >>> 
Faster Than The Rest

December 6 and 7 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EEE52DI

Price returns to $2.99 on December 8.

“Headstrong, brash, confident, and complex, the MacLarens of Fire Mountain will captivate you with strong characters set in the wild and rugged western frontier.”

Handsome, ruthless, young U.S. Marshal Jamie MacLaren had lost everything—his parents, his family connections, and his childhood sweetheart—but now he’s back in Fire Mountain and ready for another chance. Just as he successfully reconnects with his family and starts to rebuild his life, he gets the unexpected and unwanted assignment of rescuing the woman who broke his heart.

      Beautiful, wealthy Victoria Wicklin chose money and power over love, but is now fighting for her life—or is she? Who has she become in the seven years since she left Fire Mountain to take up her life in San Francisco? Is she really as innocent as she says?

      Marshal MacLaren struggles to learn the truth and do his job, but the past and present lead him in different directions as his heart and brain wage battle. Is Victoria a victim or a villain? Is life offering him another chance, or just another heartbreak?

      As Jamie and Victoria struggle to uncover past secrets and come to grips with their shared passion, another danger arises. A life-altering danger that is out of their control and threatens to destroy any chance for a shared future.

Ten Things

10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before

I admit I was naïve. I’d run a successful consulting firm for many years, and am still an owner, but I hadn’t been in the world of “creative work” before. When I decided the time was right to carve out a portion of each day to what I had wanted to do for many years, write romantic fiction, I knew the first step was research. Not on writing, but on becoming an Indie Author.

Thing #1
I spent a lot of time researching how to become traditionally published—the proper format for a query letter, the best forms of book synopsis, how to find an agent, etc. But what came out of this process was my firm belief that I wanted to start as an Indie Author. Why? (see Things 2, 3, and 4).

Thing #2
Once a book is accepted but a traditional publisher it can months, a year, to get it out. That time-frame wasn’t in my comfort zone—it simply seemed to long.

Thing #3
I would have little or no input on the book covers, or the descriptions, or the excerpts, or perhaps even the story line. This was all news to me. Having always worked in a collaborative environment, I was unsure as to whether I could make this type of transition.

Thing #4
You mean I still have to do 80% of the marketing and promotions myself? Keep in mind that at this point I did get the difference between a top-tier authors and those who fill the ranks below. Top-tiers have worked hard to reach that point and deserve every bit of additional marketing and promo help provided by the traditionals. If we’re grading on a curve, the best I thought I’d get is a D as far as promo help, even if I ever was accepted by a traditional publisher.

Taking the points above, I decided to go Indie.

Thing #5
Not only did I need a good story, but I needed to find a very good editor. I had done no prep at all on this and needed to start from scratch, on my own, with no guidance.

Thing #6
Not only did I need a good story, but I needed to find a very good cover designer. I had done no prep at all on this and needed to start from scratch, on my own, with no guidance.

Thing #7
Not only did I need a good story, but I needed to setup social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and LinkedIn—at a minimum. I had done no prep at all on this and needed to start from scratch, on my own, with no guidance.

Thing #8
Not only did I need a good story, but I needed to learn how to convert my work into mobi and ePub files so that the books would be accepted by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. I had done no prep at all on this and needed to start from scratch, on my own, with no guidance.

Thing #9
Not only did I need a good story, but I needed to learn how to convert my stories to a paperback format for submittal to Createspace or one of the other on-demand publishers. I had done no prep at all on this and needed to start from scratch, on my own, with no guidance.

Thing #10
I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to push “Publish” on the Amazon publishing site for Kindle until the time came. My finger hovered for a few seconds before I took a deep breath and hit the button.

Within minutes I realized that the work for book one was far from over and the continued work on book two was calling to me.

Now, eight months into the series with three books on Amazon, and two on Barnes & Noble and Kobo, I’ve found awesome resources for editing, cover design, book conversions, social media, book trailer preparation, web site development, and SEO. All-and-all it has been an overwhelming experience but one of the most rewarding in my life.

Comments are welcome!

Launch Day and Blog Party for “TOUGHER Than the Rest” is finally here!

Welcome! I’m very excited you’ve decided to join me as I virtually travel around the web on my blog tour for the release of Book One in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain series, TOUGHER THAN THE REST.

I understand that many of you may be tuning in while on vacation, shuttling kids to summer events, or dealing with your normal frenetic day. That means I am especially grateful to you for taking the time to check out what’s happening.

Bonus! Everyone who enters the Rafflecopter contest will also be eligible to win a fabulous drawing for prizes that include Beautiful Jewelry, $10 Amazon Gift Cards, a $30 Amazon Gift Card, and the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift card. (Note that U.S. or Canada mailing addresses must be used to receive prizes.)

We will be visiting several blog hosts today. Please feel free to post on their sites as well as on this blog. Here is a list of today’s great blog partners:
1. Reading Addiction Blog Tours 2. Dalene's Book Reviews 3. Ever After Romance 4. Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews 5. Reviews of a Book Maniac 6. My Reading Addiction - Review 7. Sapphyria's Book Blog 8. Texas Book Nook - Review 9. A Life Through Books - Review 10.RABT Reviews 11. Andi's Book Reviews 12. Zili in the Sky Reviews 13. The Book Faery Reviews 14. Periodical Gazzette 15. My Cozie Corner16. Must Read Faster 17. Katie's Notebook - Review 18. TheUnseenPromise - Interview 19. Need to Read, Got to Watch - Review 20. Leona's Reviews - Review
TOUGHER THAN THE Rest is now available on AMAZON.com and AMAZON UK

You don’t have a Kindle? No problem! You can download the free Kindle Reader HERE from Amazon and read TOUGHER THAN THE REST from your PC, Mac, IPad, or Android.

Now that we're all here, let’s get this party started! Looking forward to chatting with you and responding to your comments. Click to enlarge for a better view. The jewelry prizes available in the Rafflecopter below. a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY BOOK LAUNCH AND BLOG PARTY!!!

Wow!  It’s finally time to open the corral and launch book one of the MacLarens of Fire Mountain series.

Please join me to celebrate the August 1 release of Tougher than the Rest on Amazon.

The party will happen right here and run all day.

Highlights include:
Participation of wonderful, well-known book blogs
Free e-copies of the book to those who comment on my blog and leave their email
PRIZES - Amazon gift cards (U.S. and Canada addresses only)
PRIZES - Beautiful custom made  jewelry (U.S. and Canada addresses only)



Come along for the ride! 

Win some wonderful prizes (see below). Get a free e-copy of the book. Comment on the other blogs sites.

Really looking forward to meeting you on Launch Day!

Confirmed Plotanster - What are You?

I’ve read many posts regarding writers being labeled as either a Panster or a Plotter, and it got me thinking, what am I? What if I’m both? Is there truly a right way and a wrong way to approach book writing?

By nature I am a planner, which would leave most who know me to say I’m a plotter. But, to my surprise, I find I’m not when it comes to writing. I get ideas for a story, think them through over a few weeks then forge ahead without an outline. Ideas for plot changes and new characters seem to flow the more I write, and it’s a comfortable spot for me­–––to a point. I find within the first three chapters that I am preparing a listing of characters and how they connect to others. Then I start jotting down plot twists for future chapters and organizing the flow, but only in a very rough fashion. So, does that make me a panster with a little bit of plotter thrown in?

Don’t get me wrong, I believe those who are expert at story structure have an edge over writers who only panster it. There is a great deal to be said for plotting out the story, chapter by chapter, before putting a word on paper. Plotters often find spreadsheets, maps, and formal writing tools helpful when organizing all the pieces for each chapter. This approach and the tools used help the author focus and the author knows what is needed each day when they roll out of bed. There’s a game plan. At the same time, is this approach simply too rigid for some writers? I think, yes.

For many writers it is simply best to start writing. There are times when this method can open up creative themes that may have been lost when using a more formal approach to structure. Formalizing structure can stress some authors, create writer’s block, and delay the process of putting ideas on paper. Maybe it is best to just start, then utilize some structural elements as the creative process to starts to unwind.

I don’t have an answer, but after noodling this subject, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am a Plotanster – I plot sometimes and pants at other times. There’s just no way around it for me. What about you?

I’d love your feedback and to learn if you believe you are one or the other, or both.

Giving Away Advance Copies of TOUGHER THAN THE REST

You read right. No gimmicks, just a plain, old fashioned freebie.

I’m giving away five digital advance copies (maybe more depending on demand) of my new book, TOUGHER than the REST, book one in my historical western romance series, MacLarens of Fire Mountain.

All you have to do to receive your advance copy is be one of the first five to reply to this post with your name and email address but July 12—I’ll do the rest.

In return, I’d greatly appreciate a review on Amazon or Goodreads (or both) by August 1, which is the release date. Of course, also posting on your own blog would be wonderful, too.

Want a little more information about the book? Here you go.

Niall MacLaren is determined to turn his ranch into the biggest cattle dynasty in the Arizona Territory. The widower will do whatever he must to obtain the political and financial support he needs, even marry a woman he does not love. Nothing will stand in his way.

Katherine is well-bred, educated, and seeks a life away from her cloistered existence in the East. Landing the teaching job in California provides her with the opportunity she seeks. Most importantly, and unlike many of her peers, she will not need a husband to achieve her goals.

When an accident brings them together, mutual desire takes root, threatening to dismantle their carefully laid plans and destroy their dreams. Can either of them afford to be distracted by the passion that unites them—especially when one of them may belong to another? 

Would love to hear from you. This book is western historical romance.  Do you enjoy this genre?