R.A. McCandless's Blog, page 6

Happy Holidays 2019

Date Night.
Seasons greetings to all friends and family!
This was a particularly glorious year, what with all the new book covers, the new books, and the new opportunities. It feels like, for the first time, I might actually have a shot at this whole “author” thing.
Funny story—I tease my boys about everything. I especially highlight when they’re doing good things at school, music lessons, sports, etc. My middle son received some very high marks from his Spanish teacher on his language...

Del's Success by the Numbers

Not Rob's actual tree.
A couple of really nice things happened last week.
We put up the Christmas tree. My youngest had been on us for a couple days to get the tree decorated, mostly because his aunt had sent a gift to be opened “when decorating the tree.”  Less to actually get ready for the holiday, and more to make the 7-year-old shut up about it. But yeah, also the holiday thing.
Unfortunately, two of the pre-lit strings no longer light.  That said, replacement LED lights aren’t...

Amazon Best Seller

OH, CAN-AH-DAH!
My sorta-kinna pseudo PA but really my friend, Jenn Nixon, has been working with me for the past six months. I love, love, love working with her. She pointed me at Ellysian Press when I was looking for a home for THE CLOCKWORK DETECTIVE, and she’s been in charge or a lot of my day-to-day marketing stuff like newsletters and finding freebie or low-cost advertising blogs and whatnot.
She’s been pushing both my steampunk and my urban fantasy book, and while marketing is never easy,...

We Won! We Won!

In the money, BABY!
Two really big things to report this blog, so we’ll go with those:
1. Update on the cover art contest!
2. TEARS OF HEAVEN free download!
First—YOU DID IT! I asked, and you answered. COMPANY OF THE DAMNED won third place, and that was in the money! You guys gave me 513 votes—FIVE-HUNDRED—and that’s amazing. Second place was at 754 votes and first was at 763 votes. Given the level of effort to stay in the running, I’m more than pleased with the finish, and I really...

Final Round—FIGHT!

Oh Captain, my Captain.
So . . . this really is the last, last time.
Apparently, I can’t count.
There were four rounds of voting, not three.
Picard would not be amused.
So let’s try this again . . .

Hello friends and family! LAST TIME!  I promise. I need your help!
This is the FINAL ROUND of voting for the cover of COMPANY OF THE DAMNED. Voting has reset, so you can VOTE AGAIN! Only the top 3 covers can win anything. Just go to: https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/5917/.
If you want to go...

The Rules Are The Rules

A quick note to all my beautiful, talented, intelligent, and gifted friends—That DM from me

What a Convention!

Not sure who let in that guy on the left!
Daniel Arthur Smith's table was awesome!Does anyone remember Yakov Smirnoff? His catch-phrase, in mock Russian accent, was, “What a country!”
I feel the same way about the Book Fiend Reader’s Fest conventions: What a weekend!
First, it was SO FUN! This was the first conventi...weekend!

Help Del WIN With Your Votes!

She's no angel—but she needs your vote!
COMPANY OF THE DAMNED has been accepted into AllAuthor’s cover of the month contest.  
Finalists win some nice promotional packages that can help authors propel their works and keep on writing.
There are several levels...writing.

In Memoriam—Jeremy McIntosh

My friend—Jeremy McIntosh
The last time tragedy took someone I was fond of, and after the initial shock of their loss wore off, I wrote. That’s how I process my thoughts, open to the grieving, and share with others. Yesterday, I learned that an old friend from Battle Mountain—Jeremy McIntosh—passed away suddenly. Jeremy was that rare individual who seems to know everyone and be loved by everyone. His loss struck deep, not just at me, but all t...

Achievement Unlocked - Fake a Photo

Yep. Just sitting there, officer.
Not brought in a all!
There are some fantastic people who have somehow decided that I’m worthy of association.  I received this picture today from London, England’s very own Waterstone’s Books in Picadilly!
It’s a completely staged photo. As far as I know, no brick-and-mortar bookstores carry my books, but it’s such a beautiful thought. I spent hours and hours at my local Sam Weller bookstore, sitting in the fantasy section, reading the back cove...