Marilyn Vix's Blog, page 16

Writing New Year’s Resolutions for 2017

[image error]I’ve been struggling with a lot of disappoints this year. I lost my main day job career due to health problems, and those health problems are still affecting me. I’ve been trying to get my writing off the ground into a second career, and sometimes I feel like I’m spinning in circles. But I’ve always found New Year’s Resolutions have helped me in the past, like when I said I’d buy a condo. I had done so by August of that year. So, here we go.

1) Work on creating speaking opportunities at writing conferences.

2) Create social media/publicity workshops for conferences.

3) Start on-line school to support writers with social media/publicity and eventually writing.

4) Self-publish two finished manuscripts.

5) Write every day in some way for at least one hour: blog/drafting or editing.

That helped to write out the list. Sometimes I get so much buzzing in my mind, it helps to straighten it out. I’ve got tons of writing projects and even audiobooks I’m going to be working on, but this is the bulk of what I want to do next year.

All Romance Ebooks (ARe) Closes Site

[image error]So, the big talk on the internet today, at least with romance writers, has been the closure of the All Romance Ebooks (ARe) website. This morning, a message went up on the site that says:

“It is with a great sadness that we announce the closing of All Romance eBooks, LLC. For the first year since opening in 2006, we will be posting a loss. Despite efforts to maintain and grow our market share, sales and profits have declined. The financial forecast for 2017 isn’t hopeful. We’ve accepted that there is not a viable path forward.

All Romance has always been a labor of love. Over the years we’ve developed wonderful relationships with the vendors we’ve worked with, the publishers whose content it’s been our pleasure to sell, the authors who supported us, and the customers who it’s been our honor to serve. On midnight, December 31 our sites will go dark. Between now and then, we encourage consumers finalize any transactions, download purchases, and back up libraries.

If you directly publish content for sale through our platform or All Romance has acted as your publisher via our Publishing in Partnership program, you should be in receipt of an email from us with additional information. If not, please contact us at info@allromanceebooks.com.”

So, I got an email this morning basically telling me that my royalties for Q4 1016 will be paid $0.10 on the dollar earned. The website is basically trying to avoid bankruptcy fees and is hoping all the authors will help out in this. The email also states that answers to the email to settle accounts and money owed will take priority of answering questions about the whole closing of the site.

It’s sending shock waves through the romance writing community. Speculation of why it is closing down is running rampant. Authors that were published by them will only get their rights reverted back to them, and that is all. In the world of self-publishing and dealing with small presses, this is something to be on the look out for. Who you decide to publish with and how it’s done can matter down the road.

ARe also had been sending me info on promos for Boxing Day and even an email to advertise in 2017, adding a comment that space was filling fast. I have since been really budgeting my money for ads and using mostly Facebook and doing my own promotions. So, I really wasn’t interested in those offers, especially since my books hadn’t really been doing all that well over the last year. Basically, ARe owes me $0.59 or $0.05 if I claim it under the terms they’ve sent me.

What is a take away from this? Watch who you publish with, and really investigate who you self-publish with. Of course, ARe has been considered a very good website in the past. So, this seems a little unexpected. But speculation does center around how it couldn’t keep up with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program and that the website wasn’t being kept updated with the newest technology. But who is to say what really happened.

I’m about to release my first full novel, Everything For Love, exclusive to Amazon and Kindle Unlimited for the first three months. I’m going to see how it does, and have it go wide if it warrants it later. We’ll have to see. I want to try to see if it does well, but after seeing something like this happen, I’m not hesitant much anymore. It seems like a sound way to release my book to my readers. With the way the ebook industry changes on a dime, this new turn of events could be the start of a new phase, Amazon taking on a bigger share of ereaders.

Here is the link to All Romance Ebooks. It will only work until December 31, 2016.

It will go dark at midnight Jan. 1, 2017.

Personally, this is kind of a horrible thing to do to writers, but business is business. It’s sad to see a place that specialized in romance ebooks go. Good-bye ARe! It’s been nice knowing ya!

UPDATE: Romance Writers of America has blogged about this as well. They basically think it stinks for the website to be open until Dec. 31 selling books, but will pay royalties up through Dec. 27, and $0.10 on the dollar if you settle.

Here is the link to the blog post:

https://www.rwa.org/p/bl/et/blogid=20&blogaid=1721

Plus, here is the email sent to publishers that I got this morning. After reading different blogs and other opinions, I decided it should be posted, to let retailers or publishers or anyone else that thinks that scaring authors and asking them to sell them selves short is an option, think again.

“To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great sadness I announce that we are winding down the operations of All Romance eBooks, LLC. For the first year since opening in 2006, we will be posting a loss. The financial forecast for 2017 isn’t hopeful and we’ve accepted that there is not a viable path forward.
We are grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you. On midnight, December 31, our sites will go dark and your content will cease to be available for sale through our platforms. This includes any content you are having us distribute to Apple. If you wish to inactivate your content sooner, you can do so by logging into your publisher portal.

We will be unable to remit Q4 2016 commissions in full and are proposing a settlement of 10 cents on the dollar (USD) for payments received through 27 December 2016. We also request the following conditions:
1.     That you consider this negotiated settlement to be “paid in full”.
2.     That no further legal action be taken with regards to the above referenced commissions owed.
If you are willing to accept the offered amount and the terms proposed, please hit the reply on this email keeping the history intact. Change the subject to “Publisher Settlement Acceptance” and copy/paste the acceptance statement below into your email, filling in the fields.
Upon receipt of the signed agreement, I will authorize payment of the settlement amount in full by 28 February 2016 via the method stipulated in your publisher account.
It is my sincere hope that we will be able to settle this account and avoid filing for bankruptcy, which would undoubtedly be a prolonged and costl y process.
I appreciate that you may have questions. Unfortunately, we will be operating with limited staff as we prepare for closure. We will do our best to respond to the extent possible and will do so in the order received. Our priority over the next few weeks will be processing settlement requests. At this time, there is no additional information to share.
I thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Lori James
All Romance Ebooks, LLC

Acceptance of Agreement:
I accept the terms of the attached proposed settlement on this date.

Signature:
Electronic Signature
The author’s sub mission of the information entered by selection of the submit button below shall constitute author’s signature signifying acceptance of this Agreement with the intent that it be valid for all purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000 and the laws of any other applicable jurisdiction.

Please note: This message is intended for use by the person or entity to which it is addressed. Please do not disseminate, distribute or copy. If you have received this message by error, please notify us immediately and destroy the related message. Re-disclosure without appropriate consent is prohibited.”



So there is everything in all of its splendor. I’ll be happy to let you know I didn’t send back an answer to this. I guess I’m just happy I saw the writing on the wall, and published my own books under my publishing account. I’m only losing $0.59. Though, I really feel for the other authors and publishers that worked with All Romance Ebooks. They were a really big romance book store and really brought in an income for some people. They just didn’t work out for my books and now I’m kind of happy about that they didn’t. RIP ARe! You join the many things to die in 2016.

 

Last Day: Free romance ebook gifts during Christmas Promo

This is the last day of the Christmas Gift promo. Three romance ebooks are on free discount for only one more day. One title is deeply discounted to $0.99. Today is the last day to download these deals, and then they return back to normal. Load your new ebook readers with awesome romance.

[image error]

Everything For Love planned for release end of January 2017.

I’ve included my title, Thankful In Vegas, co-authored with Lynda Belle. I hope you enjoy this frisky Vegas tale. It feels like it may be the start of more, since I’m curious to see what happens with Dex and Fran. I’ll have to get back to you on that. I’ve been working on getting my next release, Everything For Love, to release at the end of January. So, this is a free gift to wet your appetite until then.

You all have a great start to your New Year! -Marilyn

Miriam Rosenbaum

[image error]Genre: Paranormal Romance

The Marble Masquerade-Remnants of the Past (FREE)

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7ECKH9

Books To Read: https://www.books2read.com/u/bo6BQv

 

Akaria Gale

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Brief Awakenings: Awakening Series Shorts (FREE)

https://www.amazon.com/Brief-Awakenings-Awakening-Akaria-Gale-ebook/dp/B00XZS6RVU

 

Marilyn Vix and Lynda Belle

[image error]Genre: Contemporary Romance

Thankful In Vegas (FREE)

https://www.amazon.com/Thankful-Vegas-Marilyn-Vix-ebook/dp/B01MRVNVK3

 

Jessa Chase

[image error]Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Heart, My Home (Love In Madelia: Book One) ($0.99)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXXVQKM

 

 

Special Christmas Gift: Romance Deals For You!

[image error]I wanted to give a gift to my followers this year. So, I’ve rounded up some of my romance author friends to bring you the ultimate romance reader gift: FREE ROMANCE EBOOKS! Plus, $0.99 discounts for some titles are included. Enjoy paranormal to contemporary titles as a gift for yourself this year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! -Marilyn

Romance Christmas Promo Master List:

Miriam Rosenbaum

Genre: Paranormal Romance

The Marble Masquerade-Remnants of the Past (FREE)

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7ECKH9

Books To Read: https://www.books2read.com/u/bo6BQv

 

Akaria Gale

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Brief Awakenings: Awakening Series Shorts (FREE)

https://www.amazon.com/Brief-Awakenings-Awakening-Akaria-Gale-ebook/dp/B00XZS6RVU

 

Marilyn Vix and Lynda Belle

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Thankful In Vegas (FREE)

https://www.amazon.com/Thankful-Vegas-Marilyn-Vix-ebook/dp/B01MRVNVK3

 

Jessa Chase

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Heart, My Home (Love In Madelia: Book One) ($0.99)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXXVQKM

 

Everything For Love Not Chosen For Kindle Press! However, it’s Not The End!

[image error]

Everything For Love will release on January 26, 2017.

So, I’m sorry to announce Everything For Love was not chosen for Kindle Press. But this is not the end of it. This is merely the beginning, because I have a Plan B. I have pretty much self-published everything up to this point. So, I’m moving ahead with that plan. What I got from this KS campaign was the overwhelming feedback that my readers, my people, want to see this book published. So, I will not disappoint you. It is going to happen.

In fact, it is scheduled for release at the end of the month on January 26, 2017. Preorders will go up a few weeks before this date.

I want to thank everyone that nominated this novel for Kindle Press. I can actually let Kindle Scout know when it is self-published, and they will send out emails to everyone that believed in this book. So, all was not in vain. Plus, I will need an ARC team that would be willing to review before it goes on sale. Please contact me through my review copy page here. Everything For Love will come out as a Kindle Unlimited title for the first three months. So, only Kindle ARC or PDF copies will be available for now.

Just check off you’d like a review copy and type in “Everything For Love” in the comment box. I’ll put you on the list for an ARC copy when it is available.

Link to Review Copy Request Page: https://marilynvix.com/review-copy-request/

Thank you for all of the support over the last thirty days. I’m excited to finally see this project come to completion so I can work on the second book in the series. 2017 is going to be a great year!

-Marilyn

 

 

 

 

 

Last Day to Vote for Everything For Love on Kindle Scout

Kindle Scout Campaign ends Dec. 8, 2016.

This is it! Today is the last day to vote for my time travel romance, Everything For Love, on Kindle Scout. Over the last 30 days, I’ve been telling everyone, running Facebook promotions, tweeting, and in just general getting the word out about my first full length novel. I’ve been working on this story for three years, two years to write and one year of full editing. I am so proud to do a preview of it as a submission through Kindle Scout.

What’s Kindle Scout?

Kindle Scout is the Amazon submission program for their ebook press, Kindle Press. It replaced the annual “Amazon Breakout Novel” contest. Instead of publishing one book a year, Amazon now takes on continuous submissions that go through a 30 day campaign with readers that stop by the Kindle Scout website. A profile is uploaded of your manuscript (usually first two chapters), a blurb, cover, and tagline. Plus, there is a short author interview. With these enticements, readers can decide if they want to nominate your book to be published by Kindle Press.

So, today is the last day for nominations for my novel. If you like a good Time Travel Romance set in Paris 1899 and London 1914, suspense, Steampunk and a love triangle, check it out. Plus, the time machine is powered by sex. So, my heroine, Deidre, is quite a frisky girl. But I figured she’d have to be, especially since she comes from about 2160. Sex would have different society guidelines by then. But I digress. You can tell I had to do a lot of thinking about time travel and how to power her machine while writing this sci-fi romance.

HERE IS THE LINK: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/FOYZHG8OK50Y

If you so deem my novel worthy, you can also enter for a gift basket and Amazon Gift Card by posting a screen shot or mentioning you’d voted at this event on Facebook:

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/426711670836723/

Or at this website: http://authorclassifieds.com/2016/11/30/vote-everything-for-love-marilyn-vix/

I thank you for your consideration. I will be sure to follow up with results and share my whole Kindle Scout experience. Happy Holidays! -Marilyn

 

 

 

Appearance @ San Jose Library Book Fair Dec. 4, 2016

Marilyn Vix signing at the SVRWA fundraising event on Dec. 3, 2016 at Barnes and Noble Steven’s Creek in San Jose, Ca.

I’d like to thank everyone that came out yesterday to the Barnes and Noble to support my RWA local chapter. I sold all of my books but one, and met some wonderful people yesterday. Next weekend on Saturday the 10th, we’ll be having a second round with more authors. This time I’ll be helping out with the courtesy wrapping for donations for our local RWA chapter, SVRWA.

Today, I will be at the San Jose Library Book Fair held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library at San Jose State University. I’ll be speaking on the Romance/Fantasy Panel as well as signing and selling my book, Never Marry A Warlock. There will be panels on several genres including traditional versus self-publishing. The book fair will be 2pm-5pm. So if you missed the chance to get a book signed and meet me yesterday, come out to SJSU and maybe get some holiday shopping done. Nothing like literature as a gift. Panels and book fair will be on the second floor of the MLK Jr. Library.

 

Marilyn Vix Signing Books @ B & N Steven’s Creek in Silicon Valley

Today, Sat. Dec. 3, is the Barnes and Noble Fundraiser/Book Signing for my RWA chapter. I’ll be at the Steven’s Creek B & N between 12-3pm. My book reading is at 12:30pm-1pm. I’ll be there the rest of the time selling and talking about my book, Never Marry A Warlock. A giveaway of the authors’ books will be at 3pm.

Plus, you can start your holiday shopping and help out local romance writers. The fundraising code to use for purchases is: 11966165. SVRWA will get 10% of your purchase. Also includes on-line purchases except ebooks or other digital content. This code is good during our whole fundraiser dates Dec. 3-15. So, even if you can’t make it down to the book store, you can support local authors by purchasing and using the code on-line. On the second date, I’ll be helping out at the same location helping with wrapping books and presents for free in support of the group.

So come on out. I’d love to meet some of my SF Bay Area readers. We can talk romance, writing or about how to get through the Holidays. Personally, I’m going to choose making sugar cookies as my therapy. Oh, and keeping my new growing kitten out of the Christmas tree. Happy Holidays!

Event Location and Date:

Saturday Dec. 3, 2016 and Dec. 10, 2016

Barnes and Noble Book Store

3600 Steven’s Creek Blvd.

San Jose, CA 95117

12pm-3pm

 

 

 

Ebook Deals and Novel Dreams: Nominate Everything For Love on Kindle Scout

Get Some Deals For The Holidays Nov 25-28
I’m participating in a Romance book fair over the Thanksgiving Holidays. There are over 30 romance books priced between $0.99-2.99. Everything from Historical Romance to Steampunk Fantasy. Find your next book boyfriend. When you visit, you can enter the contest for a $20 Amazon Gift Card.

Link to the book fair: http://lovebooksloveautho.wixsite.com/promo/thanksgiving-book-fair

Nominate Everything For Love 

Marilyn Vix’s first full length novel is up for consideration to be published by Kindle Press, Amazon’s ebook publishing house. It is listed through Amazon’s Kindle Scout program to be voted for publication. You can stop by the website, look over blurb and first two chapters, and make a nomination to see this new novel come to life.

**If you nominate, you get a free copy of the book when it is published through Amazon.

Link to Everything For Love on Kindle Scout:

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/FOYZHG8OK50Y

A message from Marilyn:

“I’ve been working for three years on this novel. I can’t wait to share it with you. It’s a time travel romance. I had to research 19th century and early 20th century artists, and Victorian London. It was truly a labor of love. Please check out the profile for Everything For Love on Kindle Scout, and consider nominating it to be published.” -Marilyn

Happy Thanksgiving and have a great Holiday season!

KDrama Drinking Game

So, those of you that know and follow me probably have seen a lot of my posts about my interest in Korean dramas (Kdramas) and writing fanfiction for them. In fact, I had a Harlequin editor interested in my kdrama fanfiction on Wattpad too. (Of course, I’ve sent in a proposal and I’m still waiting to hear back. Cross your fingers.) But as I’ve been passing time over the last year recovering from my medical issues, I’ve become quite addicted to watching them. It was only natural I would start writing in regards to them, especially since I’ve been exploring with fan fiction. (For those that don’t know, the successful book Fifty Shades of Grey started on Wattpad as Twilight fan fiction.)

So, I was watching my current Kdrama, My Unfortunate Boyfriend, when I started thinking about how many similar tropes there are in most of the Kdramas. Besides having  a lot of romance novel structure, they tend to have some events or tropes that happen in every drama. How much fun would it be to have a list that when watching a Kdrama, you could take a drink every time you saw a trope typical for Kdramas? I thought, hmm, that’s a great idea. Thus, the Kdrama Drinking Game was born.

I’ve listed 10 different tropes that tend to happen in all the Kdramas I’ve watched so far. So, print out the list or have it set on your phone/laptop. Pour your favorite glass of wine or other tasty adult beverage, and watch your Kdrama. Every time you see one of the following 10 things happen in a scene, take a drink. Have fun!

(Note: MC=Main Character)

MC girl rides on the back of the MC boy.
Either MC falls accidentally on top of the other.
Either MC yells or gets mad at the other.
MCs are stuck together in a mysterious house, room, pit, bunker or IE> are trapped together in some way. Bonus Drink: There is a storm going on outside.
MCs have their first kiss.
MCs have any kiss.
MC male lead takes off his shirt and shows off his amazing torso. (Heck, rewind and watch again and have a double.)
MC male lead catches the MC female lead while she falls for any reason. (Fainting and tripping are the biggies. Extra drink if she falls for a reason other than these two.)
Flashback of either MC. Bonus drink: If the flashback is with both MCs together.
Either MC lead cooks for the other.

This is just the list I came up with. I’m sure there are more that can be added. If you think I missed a good one, feel free to write it into the comments section and I can add it onto the master list.

So, now that I’ve got that out of my system, time to get back to my NaNoWriMo 2016 writing. Enjoy your Kdrama! -Marilyn