Isobel Hart's Blog, page 3

The next one is a little different....

I'm writing a book at the moment that is a kind of romance / sci fi. It so took me over I actually stopped writing another book so I could start this one. The story was just begging to be written.

Anyway, I'm interested if any of you ever read anything other than contemporary romance, and if so what? I might need some beta readers for this one. Let me know

<3

Compromise Agreement is Live! Yay :)

Compromise Agreement

One more day to go...

Can't wait for you to read it. Released on the 6th Feb.

Compromise Agreement - Launch Date

So finally....finally the release date of Compromise Agreement is nearly here. On the 6th Feb you can get hold of it.

Here it is....

Compromise Agreement

Do me a favour and add it to your 'want to read list' if you have a moment.

Thank you :-)

Isobel

Any bloggers about?

Hiya

I want to do a cover reveal for Compromise Agreement - anyone up for it?

Please get in touch

Isobel

Freebie

Just to let you know What Goes Around Comes Around is free at the moment on iBooks, and presumably all the other routes via Smashwords - spread the word :)

From O.C Shaw to Isobel Hart

As you will see my author name has changed from O.C to Isobel. New covers should be loaded tomorrow or Thursday. New book coming very soon.

Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/isobelhartbooks

Or on twitter at @bellahartloves

Otherwise it's business as usual

Xx

Just saying

My pet peeve is when a book is discounted in one country, but not in the others. I know lots of authors don't get a say, their publishers decide, but one of the advantages of being an indie is I do. On that basis I promise when I discount it will always be everywhere. That is all. Oh, and it's my birthday today. I love birthdays :)

Shooting ourselves in the foot?

I currently have more unread books on my iPad than ever before. The vast majority were freebies - I can't seem to help myself. I see a post by one of the many bloggers I follow and I can't help but one click it. If past history is anything to go by then many of them will be excellent. It's something I've done myself with What Goes Around Comes Around. It resulted in my book being in the top ten freebie chart for romance in the UK and top 20 in the US.

The pros of this are that people get to sample a book and, if they like the author, the hope is they will buy more by said author. That's the theory.

Unfortunately there are now SO many books out there for free, or priced at $0.99, that it takes a rare book indeed - or a much beloved author - to make me buy a book these days.

When I think about the effort and investment (time, blood, sweat, tears and money) I can't help wonder if we're not selling ourselves short? Do we value the work so little we want to give it away? Very few are blessed to make enough from writing to be able to choose it as our sole profession - forced instead to fit our passion in the small windows of time life allows us. Surely we're only making it worse for ourselves by charging so little?

So who wins? Well the readers get loads of free books - but like anything in life that comes too easily I fear (and I speak now as a voracious reader) we cease to value it. Amazon et al certainly benefit - loads of traffic to their sites and no royalties to pay.

I think we may have made a rod for our own backs. I have a love hate relationship with freebies. Love having loads of books to choose from, love seeing my books flying up the freebie charts, love thinking about readers, any readers reading my books. I hate seeing work (by any author) that takes many months to create being unappreciated.

I have no solution - I imagine I'll do other promotions myself in the near future. In the meantime, if the book you are reading costs less than a cup of coffee just think about how bloody amazing that is. If you like it consider saying thank you by leaving a review.

Peace out

O.C

If it's not one thing it's another

You guys have been great. In fact the ones of you that are reading this have probably been my greatest supporters. I'm so very appreciative I can't tell you.
But I still need your help. Most of you know that independent authors like me are entirely reliant on recommendations from readers. I read something that told me 40% of my time as an author should be spent on marketing myself. I'll be honest, I'm not very good at it. I have barely any time to write in the first place (I work full time and have a family... Can you hear the violins yet?!) Add to that I'm British and we hate anything that feels like bragging - it's a recipe for disaster. Suffice to say it's a miracle I've sold any books at all!

So here's the thing - you can help me. Please leave a review (that goes for any of the books you read for any author), please like my Facebook page (O.C Shaw books) - it doesn't feel like promotion, more like chatting and I'm good at that. And finally, tell other people if you liked them - particularly any of the romance book blogger sites. I haven't set up a 'street team', I'm hoping people just might spontaneously say something. Naive huh?

Til the next time when I hope to have news about launch plans for Compromise Agreement.

Keep the faith :-)

O.C