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S.J. Pajonas's Blog, page 80
July 8, 2018
Sunday Update – July 8, 2018
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
I’m back home! And I had an absolutely lovely vacation with my family in Charleston. This was our first long trip there in a while. Without school to HAVE to return to, we were able to stay a full eight days, which was decadent. We went to the beach three times, we ate a ton of great food, and we spent time together as a family. It was fabulous.
Highlights of the week include watching World Cup soccer together and talking about the teams. Dinners together at the table as a family. Finishing MATSURI AND MURDER. Plenty of reading. Plenty of beach with WARM ocean water and boogie boarding. A trip to Charleston just for my husband and me, staying at a bed and breakfast, and doing a pub crawl without the kids.
Our trip home was uneventful too, which is always nice. We were home by lunch time and the house looks great. The kids have played outside most of the day, and my husband and I got in a nap. Not bad, not bad.
Let’s let the photos of the week do all the talking…
I was really enamored with all of the big puffy clouds that you get near the shore in Charleston. They were so pretty and fluffy. I think I took a bajillion photos of them.
Here’s a photo of my children battling it out with some bumper boats. The little one totally soaked the older one. Lol.
While I was in Charleston, I met up with Sarra Cannon again to chat books and work and life, and it was so great talking to her again. She and I are of like minds about our careers and what we want out of them.
I worked on the cover to MATSURI AND MURDER. This Miso Cozy Mysteries/Daydreamer Detective Novella will be available on its own in September but it’s currently a part of the DESTINATION: MURDER box set. You want to get that!
Dogs and cats. One likes the sun, the other the shade.
Know what’s yummy? Rosemary infused popcorn.
The ocean was so warm, so wonderful while we were there. Can you believe this water temperature? It was almost bath water!
Of course, there was lots of soccer. Every day.
My husband and I stayed in this beautiful bed and breakfast, The Palmer’s Pinckney Inn, for one night as a gift from my parents. We went on a “haunted” pub crawl that evening and went out to dinner together.
Drinks from the pub crawl, the ceiling at 5 Church Charleston which is an old church and now has The Art of War scrawled across it, and the horse tours went right by our hotel because the stables were next door.
Brunch the following day was at Slightly North of Broad (SNOB). Everyone ate really well here! I had their Fried Oysters Benedict. Yum! Guys, there’s so much great eating happening in Charleston. I love that city!
And finally, here I am, back home on the couch, enjoying my afternoon tea. I’m glad to be home.
Coming up this week on the blog: another author feature, another Japan post, and possibly something else. We shall see what the week brings.
The post Sunday Update – July 8, 2018 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
July 5, 2018
Selling Direct
One of the many lovely things about being an independent author is that I make the major choices that impact my career. I choose what I want to write and publish. I get to choose the cover designers and editors I want to work with. I have the ultimate say on what I publish, when, and for how long. It’s a wonderful position to be in!
But this position means that I have to make all the tough decisions that affect me long term. So I’ve decided that it’s time to put in place the foundations I need to bring me into years five through ten and beyond. Amazon is not going to support me long term. They take away my reviews and make it harder and harder to get visibility. I’ve taken the last remaining books out of Kindle Unlimited and I don’t plan on using it again. All of the other vendors are still small and barely a blip on my income stream. I need a place that’s mine, where my readers know they can always get my books.
A few years ago, I tried selling direct and it didn’t work out for me. But that was before many of the newer companies came to play in the sandbox. That was before I learned about sales tax. Before BookFunnel. Now I finally have the tools to make all of this happen, and I will!
In the coming weeks, you’ll see me announce new offerings around here. First I plan to put all my individual books up for sale direct using PayHip for purchases (they are a vendor that takes PayPal) and BookFunnel for delivery. Then I will be selling exclusive box sets via the direct store too. I also plan on offering sales via the store with coupons, allowing me to give discounts direct that won’t be available through any other vendor.
This website is my home. It’s the place I send all of my customers, all of my traffic. It should be the place people come to buy my books directly from the source. I’m excited for this new direction with my career!
The post Selling Direct appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
July 3, 2018
Featuring SIX MILE CANYON By Kathryn Dionne
For the next two months, I’ll be featuring some of the talented authors that I’m working with for the DESTINATION: MURDER box set! Did you know that there will be a Miso Cozy novella starring Mei, Kayo, and Akiko in this box set? You should go buy a copy! It’s only 99¢ for several great cozy mysteries set around the world!
Today, I have Kathryn Dionne on the on the blog to feature her book, SIX MILE CANYON.
I asked Kathryn, “Why did you write SIX MILE CANYON?”
She replied…
I was inspired by my love of travel.
I told her that I was also inspired by my love of traveling to Japan to write about Japan as well. There’s something about being on the road, the wanderlust, that I love so much!
“. . .please let someone find me!”
Seventeen year old Savannah Swift has been plagued with reoccurring nightmares about a woman being buried alive in her car. Savannah’s father, a Baptist minister, says it’s because she watches too many scary shows on TV. But deep down Savannah knows these dreams mean something significant . . . But what?
With the help of her two best friends, Jade and Emma, Savannah discovers something remarkable about herself.
She has a gift.
But as she begins to use her special abilities, she soon realizes that not all gifts are a blessing.
Sometimes, they can be a curse.
Check out SIX MILE CANYON on…
Amazon
Find This Author Online
Want to learn more about Kathryn Dionne? You can find her online here…
Website: http://www.kathryndionne.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.dionne.9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1KathrynDionne
Don’t forget to check out the DESTINATION: MURDER box set!
MURDER NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY!
Pack your bags and buckle up! We’ve got eight exciting tales of mystery and murder, each with a twist you won’t see coming. Destination: Murder is a limited edition, cozy mystery boxed set with eight full-length, never-before-published novels.
Learn more and purchase this box set!
The post Featuring SIX MILE CANYON By Kathryn Dionne appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
July 2, 2018
July 2018 Goals
I’m on vacation! But it’s still time to set some goals. June flew right on by! Before I know it, it’ll be the end of the year.
What Happened With June’s Goals?
Finish writing new Miso Cozy Novella. This is done done done! It’s been proofread and it’s now with my second proofreader. My beta readers loved it, too, so I feel confident everyone is going to enjoy this little tale.
Publish one post per week about my trip to Japan. I almost reached this goal! I think I took one week off, but still got plenty of posts up there!
Make it through this month. I made it through and it was actually a lot easier done than said!
Continue to keep away from sweets and keep practicing intermittent fasting. So I did well with this about 80% of the time. I faltered while I was in Japan but then got back on the horse for most of the month.
More of the same: walking, reading, knitting. Walking, reading, and knitting all happened this month!
A Look Back At June
Business Goals For July
Get back to my for-fun writing project and finish it. This is the first book in the Flyght series, though I don’t have a title for the book yet. It’s at 33,000 words of the expected 56,000 I plan to write. I’m going to start by going back over what I’ve written, make some adjustments that I’ve thought of in the last few months, and update my outline. Then get back to writing!
Start selling direct. I’ve figured out how I’m going to sell direct, through PayHip which is out of the UK. They take PayPal, so this is going to be a great option for people who want to use their PayPal monies to buy books. I will be hooking it up to BookFunnel too and letting them do the delivery. To start out, I’ll be pulling all of my short stories plus FACE TIME and SUMMER HAIKUS off all vendors, and I will be selling these exclusively direct. Then I will port over all of my other books too WHILE still selling those on other vendors. Basically, I’m just leaving my sci-fi and mysteries plus the short story omnibus for sale on Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play. I’ll make decisions about what to sell direct exclusively.
Personal Goals For June
Continue to keep away from sweets and keep practicing intermittent fasting. Keeping strong on this!
More of the same: walking, reading, knitting. Once I’m home from my vacation I plan to walk and read more. I need to listen to more audiobooks and take the time to read. It does wonders for my peace of mind.
Have a great July everybody!
The post July 2018 Goals appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
Sunday Update – July 1, 2018
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
I’m running a day behind this week because I’m on vacation! We’ll see if I get the Monthly Goals post up today or tomorrow. 
June 29, 2018
CRASH LAND ON KURAI Is Now 99c Through July 5th!
Have you been thinking about picking up the first book of the Hikoboshi Series? Well, guess what? CRASH LAND ON KURAI is on sale now for only 99¢! I submitted it to Kobo to be a part of their Independence Day Sale, and they said yes, so I decided to discount it everywhere for the holiday week/end. And at 99¢, you be saving $4. I think that’s a pretty good deal! The sale will be over at midnight on July 4th on Kobo, but I’ll keep the discounted price everywhere else until the evening of July 5th. Go get it!
Yumi Minamoto has the shortest fuse on the ship.
She’s just whipped a bully and been confined to quarters, but she’s not staying there. A disgraced journalist trying to clear her name, her job is to document the mission to the Hikoboshi system, and she’s determined to get it right, despite all the trouble she causes. But when unknown vessels fire on their ship, and Yumi’s life pod crash lands on a dying moon, she’s separated from her family and friends, and her mission falls to pieces. Now she must navigate the unfamiliar and deadly terrain, deal with a society she doesn’t understand, and try to stay alive until rescue comes… if it ever does.
CRASH LAND ON KURAI is the first book in the Hikoboshi Series, an action adventure, space opera series that explores the worlds settled by the Japanese who fled Earth a century ago. Culture, history, technology, and swords clash in a fast-paced future society on the brink of war.
Check out CRASH LAND ON KURAI on…
Amazon iBooks Nook Kobo Google Play Books2Read
I hope you pick up and enjoy CRASH LAND ON KURAI today!
The post CRASH LAND ON KURAI Is Now 99c Through July 5th! appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
June 28, 2018
The Nomura Samurai Estate – Traveling In Japan Series 2018
It was a rainy day in Kanazawa when I decided to head over to the Nagamachi district and check out the Nomura Samurai Estate (House). I had heard that this house was not to be missed, so even though it was pouring, I got on the bus and made the trek out there. I took the Left Loop bus from Kanazawa Station to Korinbo and walked down into the neighborhood.
Though I’m sure all of Kanazawa is pretty on a sunny day, I really enjoyed walking around there in the rain. The cobblestone streets take on a glittering sheen and the colors of flowers seem to brighten when everything around them is dark and wet with rain.
I was really charmed by the old buildings and canals and wondered who had walked along them over the past several hundred years. I love that the area had been preserved, and people still take good care of it.
But I was on my way to the Nomura Samurai Estate, so I kept on walking. I wanted to see this house that belonged to the Nomura family, a family of samurai who served the ruling Maeda family in Kanazawa in the 16th century.
If you may remember, I used the Maeda family name in my Nogiku Series! Yes, they were a ruling family way back in the day. This house belonged to the Nomura family all the way through the end of the Edo Period at the end of the 19th century. It changed hands a few times, but it’s now owned by the city of Kanazawa.
Its garden was listed in 2003 by the Journal of Japanese Gardening as one of the three top gardens in Japan so people come from all over to see it. I spent a good amount of time sitting on the wooden porch, just breathing in the lush smells and listening to the rain fall.
If I ever need to find peace again, I know where to look in my memories. I’ll find it here, in the gardens of the Nomura House.
Inside the house, I fell in love with the tatami mats, sliding wood doors, and beautiful screens that divided up rooms.
The quiet opulence of these rooms makes you appreciate the excellent craftsmanship of the time when the house was built.
In a separate area of the house, you can view the Nomura’s samurai swords and other artifacts left behind.
But really, I just wanted to wander the house and look at the garden over and over.
You can wander the house with me! I took some video while I was there, a little walking tour of this beautiful estate. Be sure to put on your headphones and listen to the quiet rain of the garden. Something about this house, and this day, kept people from talking, so the video is a true treasure. I hope you enjoy it.
If you’re ever in Kanazawa, definitely do not miss this wonderful estate!
The post The Nomura Samurai Estate – Traveling In Japan Series 2018 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
June 26, 2018
Featuring A TINY COLLIERVILLE MURDER By Abby L. Vandiver
For the next two months, I’ll be featuring some of the talented authors that I’m working with for the DESTINATION: MURDER box set! Did you know that there will be a Miso Cozy novella starring Mei, Kayo, and Akiko in this box set? You should go buy a copy! It’s only 99¢ for several great cozy mysteries set around the world!
Today, I have Abby L. Vandiver on the on the blog to feature her book, A TINY COLLIERVILLE MURDER.
I asked Abby, “Why did you write A TINY COLLIERVILLE MURDER?”
She replied…
I wanted to write a book that featured my hometown – Cleveland. That’s why I wrote this book.
I also wrote one of my books, SUMMER HAIKUS, so that I could feature my university, Michigan State University, and my hometown, Grosse Ile. It was fun to write, and I’m sure Abby had just as much fun including her own hometown in this murder mystery.
There’s nothing tiny about murder!
Watch Tiny House on HGTV? Well, some of those miniature abodes are built on the Carter Ranch in Collierville, Tennessee, or so Nixie Culpepper has just been told, and she thinks they are just the cutest things! But her excitement is short lived when, not long after she lands at the ranch, she gets embroiled in a murder!
Nixie, a polyglot and black belt martial artist, is also addicted to designer wear. And while she can protect herself, and her little furry mixed-breed, Alfie, from danger, her credit cards are always being assaulted. She’s got a Japanese paternal grandmother who wants to be a YouTube star, and a Yugoslavian maternal grandfather who not only thinks he’s royalty, but loves Elvis, has an arsenal of corny jokes, and corresponds with Nixie regularly on FaceTime. But the murder of Big Willie Carter puts a halt to everything, and it’s up to Nixie to find out whodunit if she wants to leave Collierville and get back home to Connors Grove, New York with her brand new tiny house.
Check out A TINY COLLIERVILLE MURDER on…
Amazon
Find This Author Online
Want to learn more about Abby L. Vandiver? You can find her online here…
Website: http://www.abbyvandiver.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorabbyl.vandiver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbbyVandiver
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbylvandiver/
Don’t forget to check out the DESTINATION: MURDER box set!
MURDER NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY!
Pack your bags and buckle up! We’ve got eight exciting tales of mystery and murder, each with a twist you won’t see coming. Destination: Murder is a limited edition, cozy mystery boxed set with eight full-length, never-before-published novels.
Learn more and purchase this box set!
The post Featuring A TINY COLLIERVILLE MURDER By Abby L. Vandiver appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
June 24, 2018
Sunday Update – June 24, 2018
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
This was the last week of school for my kids! They had half days on both Monday and Tuesday, and then they were done. Tuesday, on the last day of school, I went to my youngest’s classroom to help with the final day craft and say goodbye to everyone I wouldn’t see over the summer. It was a nice way to end the year.
On Wednesday, we had our first full day at the pool! We got there right when it opened, had lunch there, and spent the whole day swimming and relaxing. Thursday, my youngest started her half day of camp and continued on Friday, then both days we went to the pool in the afternoon after lunch. Not a bad way to end the week.
In writing news, I finished writing MATSURI AND MURDER! So that’s done. Revisions start this week and, for the first time ever, I’ll be doing copy edits while the book is with beta readers. I’m on a tight deadline for this one, but I don’t want to cut too close and worry the box set organizer. I’ll get it done. It was a fun book to write. I like the length and the way the story turned out!
I took the weekend off from work. Yesterday, the weather was kind of crappy so I took the kids to the local bookstore and we spent a good amount of money on books for the summer to read. Today, we went to Long Island to visit family. It was a lot of time in the car, but we’re home now and it’s almost time for my popcorn dinner.
What else happened this week?
There were two trips out for frozen yogurt this week! No shame, no shame.
Tuesdays now mean trips to get veggies from the CSA. This week we had garlic scapes in our share.
So many deer in our yard lately.
This is my new lunch bag for the pool. I got it at Tokyo Station in Japan while I was there.
These Maya Angelou finger puppets from the bookstore were pretty adorable.
It felt great to finish this novella on time and within my word count goal.
We played UNO last night as a family. Those rounds can go on forever.
I enjoyed coffee and reading outside this morning.
And we went to a graduation party today! Yes, that’s a huge sandwich.
Coming up this week on the blog: an author feature, another look at Kanazawa, and CRASH LAND ON KURAI will be on sale later this week too.
The post Sunday Update – June 24, 2018 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
June 22, 2018
Book Chat #39 – John Scalzi, Claudia Gray, Chris Hadfield, And Carysa Locke
I’m back with another Book Chat! We’re taking a break from my regular Japan posts this week while I slip into a new summer routine, and I realized that I’ve read some books and listened to some audiobooks I haven’t shouted about in a while. Let’s get to it…
Guys, I’m really enjoying both Claudia Gray as an author and all of these Star Wars prequels! This one was especially good and bittersweet as well since I already know what happens to Leia as the war continues and she grows older. As a fellow author, I loved the plotting of this book, centered around Leia’s coming of age rituals on Alderaan, and her work as part of the Imperial Senate. This book had great bones and a great story as well.
PIRATE CONSORT by Carysa Locke
I should state right up front that I was a critique partner/beta reader for Carysa on this book. She is a dear friend and a great writer to boot. Once again, as a fellow writer, when I read her books, I see the all the scaffolding of a good story, and I don’t care, you know? Because it’s all so artfully done, and her pacing is so tight and the story is so engaging. Carysa knows how to spin a good tale! This second book in the series had more action than the first, and I liked that. It felt appropriate to Mercy’s rise in power. If this at all intrigues you and you haven’t started this series yet, DO IT NOW. The first book is FREE for a limited time.
DEFY THE WORLDS by Claudia Gray
It’s another awesome audiobook from Claudia Gray! This is Book 2 in this series and I found it just as wonderful and intriguing as the first book. The two narrators are perfect for both Noemi and Abel. And the story just carried me along and kept my attention the entire time. After finishing this and LEIA, I decided I had to check out more of Claudia’s work and I immediately went and downloaded her other time-travel series. I’m looking forward to reading that one!
I joked this morning that I may be John Scalzi’s number one fan. I think that minus one or two short stories, I’ve read/listened to everything he’s ever written, plus I read his blog too whenever he updates it. It will then come as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this book too. I love Wil Wheaton as narrator of John’s books and his dry delivery of much of the dialogue was perfection. Chris’s mom in this book left me guffawing while I was out in the park listening and walking. I’m sure I scared some geese with my laughter. I loved the mystery of this one and being back in the Lock In world. I’m already excited for more in this world!
AN ASTRONAUT’S GUIDE TO LIFE ON EARTH by Chris Hadfield
This book gave me a ton to think about (in a good way). Chris Hadfield not only gave a thorough history of his career as an astronaut but let us peek behind the curtain of NASA and their partnership with Russia to get astronauts into space. I especially enjoyed all of this thoughts on “being a zero” which is to be the person that is needed, who doesn’t get in the way and gets stuff done. Contrary to Hollywood, a good astronaut does not have a big ego that rules their career. A good astronaut does what’s required and cares about the entire system, not their own career. Other people’s lives hang in the balance for almost every decision, no matter how small. If anything, this book taught me to consider how much work goes into the ISS and keeping it going for all mankind.
This book also details Chris’s production of the Space Oddity video that became a YouTube sensation as he was floating through space. He spent around 5 months on the ISS, and he and his son tried to work out ways to humanize the experience up there. This video was one of the ones they produced. I just love it.
I really enjoyed this book, and if you’re looking for something non-fiction, I highly recommend picking it up.
What have you been reading?
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