Lola Taylor's Blog, page 8

Website updates 9/3

I try to do general site maintenance just as it’s needed, but I’m going to start trying to do it on a weekly basis. Unless I’m pressed for a deadline, Wednesday will officially be website/blog/social media platform maintenance day. =)

Here’s what’s been updated:

Updated writing schedule
Removed links to postponed series (Black Rose/moved to early 2015 writing schedule). This book has also been removed from all outlets, since I’m more focused on other series at the moment.
Claimed by the Alpha has been temporarily removed from stores as I finish Blood Moon Rising. I’m aiming to release the first two episodes together a week after Blood Moon Rising finishes, with the goal of releasing a new episode every 1-2 weeks.
Twitter has gone bye-bye. More on that in another post. Google+ has taken its place.
More retailers have been added to all books.
FAQ section has been filled out. Please write to me with any additional questions you may have!
Updated bio

Moving away from third party social media platforms

Social media is great for a lot of things. I tend to be drawn to the more visual platforms, like Pinterest. I have a gazillion boards over there, and I can easily lose track of time while browsing the homepage.  So Pinterest is staying and I’ll be focusing on building my series boards. (If you want to learn some of my other interests just as “Lola the person,” that’s a good place to stalk find out about me. =D)

I also like Twitter, mostly because I find out a lot of interesting industry-related things on it. From a professional standpoint, it’s cool. But from a fiction author’s standpoint, I find it a bit high maintenance to maintain. Since I’m still working a day job, I only get so many hours a week to work on writing and maintaining everything else. I’ve tried automating my Twitter messages, but it’s 1) time-consuming coming up with that many tweets; and 2) it feels fake to me. I’d rather be around to personally reply to people, and I use the apps on my phone a lot. But right now, Twitter is just too much of a hassle for me to maintain, so it’s getting cut. Sorry, Tweeps! =( Thanks if you followed me over there and/or tweeted to me. I’m still going to be using Pinterest, Facebook, Google +, and most of all, my blog.)

As I’ve said before, Google + feels a lot like Facebook, without the censoring. That’s actually one of the main reasons why I realized the only platform I can count on is something that is 100% under my control. I get Facebook–and every other social media platform–is a business. They have to make money, and ads are smart. But when they continuously reduce the ability for my readers to see the posts they’ve already opted to see, and require I pay for ads in order to “expand my reach/boost my posts” (again, to people who have already opted into my posts by liking my page) it downright pisses me off. I’m not playing this bullshit game. I know as a consumer, if I opt into a newsletter/page/etc., I want to see the content because it’s convenient. I don’t have to hunt it down. By doing what they’re doing, Facebook is making it harder for me to view what I already said I wanted to see. I have to hunt for it. And I don’t have time for that, and I doubt anyone else does either.

So you’ll be seeing a lot more from my blog. I’m still figuring out how I want to handle it, like posting schedule, contests, etc. I don’t want it to be full of garbage. I want you guys to genuinely have fun and be entertained while you’re reading through it. So it might be another week or two before I really get cracking at my blog. (Part of this is due to the mandatory overtime I’ve had to work at my day job. In this economy, I feel blessed to even have a job, and I thank God for it every day, but it has cut into my Lola time. Which puts me behind. =(

What I’d really like to do is create an app that delivers Lola fun stuff. That would be badass. I’m looking into it, but it’s still a little ways away before I’m ready to launch one. I might call on a few of you to beta test it, if you’re interested, when the time comes. =D

You’re probably wondering about Goodreads… The answer is, I know some authors are really active on there and like reviews and all, but I feel uncomfortable being there. It’s not because I’m afraid of my reviews or anything, but rather because I feel like Goodreads is very much “reader space” and not “author space.” I don’t want readers to censor their reviews in fear of me looking over their shoulders. So sorry I haven’t been very active on there (and don’t plan to be in the future). I used it all the time as a reader, but as an author, the place makes me uncomfortable.

In closing… my platforms will be changing within the next few weeks as I figure out exactly what I want to do with them. I’ve been experimenting, mostly floundering, but I do want a few places to just connect with you guys. Writing is always my number one goal, but I do realize I can’t just disappear into a hole and emerge whenever I have a book. =D Cuz that’s just rude. Writers tend to do that, though. A lot of us, from what I’m gathering, are rather reclusive. I myself am an introvert. (Sorry to disappoint those of you who were expecting me to be secretly moonlighting as a phone sex operator, like Anne Hathaway in Valentine’s Day. =D) I’m not a homebody by any means, but I do have a tendency of getting lost in my imagination and not realizing life is just kind of happening around me.

***

Do you guys use social media? If so, which platforms? I ask because I need to be where you are–and not worry about the ones where you aren’t.

 

 

 

 

Betrayal is out!

Phew! It’s finally out! Sorry it took so long to release it. This book ended up taking me longer to polish than I thought it would. I’ll be talking about the challenges of writing this book over on my blog on Sunday.

If you want to read it, here are retail links:

Amazon || Amazon CA || Amazon UK || Amazon AU || Apple || Page Foundry || Smashwords

I’m still waiting on it to go live at Barnes & Noble. For some reason, it seems to be taking a lot longer than usual.

Also, I’ve decided to hold off on releasing the second episode of Claimed by the Alpha, and the first episode has been removed from stores. I thought I could juggle a 45+ hours a week day job and write two series at once, which was, big surprise, impossible. Since I’m already halfway through the series, I’m going to finish Blood Moon Rising first and then write through Claimed by the Alpha. I’ll be releasing the first two episodes together upon the sixth and final book in Blood Moon Rising.

So sorry about Claimed, but the good news is, you’ll be getting a lot of books to read in October. =D

 

Thank you all again for your support! It means a lot to a humble writer like me.

–Lola

 

Giveaway alert + news

End of the Hiatus

You may or may not have noticed I haven’t been around much this past month. It’s because I took a class to help me be a better authorprenuer. While I learned a lot and am glad I did it, it did put me behind schedule, so I’ve been scrambling to get caught up. That’s the main reason I haven’t been around.

Now that I’m close to getting caught up, I thought we’d celebrate with a…

Facebook Giveaway!

I have some pretty Betrayal bookmarks to give away now that my swag finally got here, so hop over to Facebook if you get a chance and enter! It’s time sensitive, so be quick!

Blog

It’s finally live! I’ll be doing a lot of fun stuff on it like character and author interviews, freebie chapters, exclusive short stories, contests, giveaways, behind-the-scenes peeks at how I create books and get my ideas, and much more. You can follow it to get updates if you wish. Blogging is something I’ve always enjoyed doing, and I’m eager to dive right into it. You can find it here.

Google+

I’m starting to creep back into it. To me, it feels a lot like Facebook, and I’ll probably be posting the same content on each. So if you’re already following my page on Facebook, you don’t necessarily have to follow me on Google+ (though you’re more than welcome to!).

Book Releases Quickie Update

Many of you have asked me where Betrayal and Claimed by the Alpha Ep. 2 are. The answer is–they’re coming soon. I promise. In fact, I’ll be releasing them together. Betrayal is longer than the books before it, and since I had a break between books to take my class, I’m being super-careful about fact-checking everything. (Because, as I learned the hard way, getting a proofreader/fact checker doesn’t always mean they’ll catch everything.) I’m going to be posting more chapters from Betrayal on my blog (in fact, all chapter posts will go there from now on), as well as a chapter from Claimed 2. So stalk that if you’d like. =)

Hope this answers some questions, and thanks again for reading my books!

Betrayal Release

I hate to say it, but it’s going to be delayed. I’ve been scrambling to get it ready by the end of the month, but between getting sick and working mucho overtime at the day job due to the company laying off a ton of people, the time just wasn’t there this month. This is why I don’t like posting release dates, even broad ones. Since most of my time goes to the day job through the week and my schedule shifts quite a bit, I don’t always know what time I’ll have available. So to avoid disappointing you guys further, I won’t be announcing anymore release dates for a while, at least not until I get to go full-time (which I’m hoping will be next year *keeps fingers crossed*).

I’ll post another full chapter soon, and I promise it won’t be too much longer before book 3 is finally out. I don’t want to release subpar work, and this book is longer than the others. Please bear with me a little longer, and thank you for your patience.

xoxo Lola

New Release: Claimed by the Alpha Episode 1

Yay! I finally have a new book out! =) Still waiting on some links to go live. I’ll update the series page when I have them.

***

Claimed by the Alpha is a six-part serial that will be released in multiple volumes of approximately 20,000 words each, roughly every two to three weeks apart. These episodes do not standalone, and there will be cliffhangers. If you do not like reading in installments, an omnibus edition will be released in August when the series is complete. You can sign up for the new release newsletter for notifications of new releases.

Though this work is loosely based off the “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale, it’s definitely not for children. Recommended 18+ for language, fantasy violence, and frequent explicit sexual content. BBW/Werewolf/Shifter Paranormal Romance

For the past twenty-five years, all Rayla Dawson has known is pain and struggle: struggle to pay the mounting bills, pain at dealing with her alcoholic dad and abusive younger sister, and all the while losing faith it will get any better. As she fights to keep her life from falling apart, finding love is the last thing on her mind. Until she meets Sabien Black . . .

Alpha werewolf Sabien is no stranger to hard times. Cursed by his true love centuries ago, he is doomed to walk the earth in human form only during the light of a full moon. During that time, he searches for the mate he fears he may never find while trying to evade an enemy he has been at war with for the past one thousand years. He knows he must find a mate before the last petal of his blood rose falls, a flower enchanted by his true love to foretell the time of his death, or else he and his entire pack will perish.

When a coup to harm the enemy fails, the assassin gives Sabien the ultimate gift in exchange for his life—a mate, who happens to be his eldest daughter, Rayla. She’s innocent and fiery, everything Sabien desires in a woman—and everything he fears. Both Rayla and Sabien have been burned, and neither is willing to trust too easily. Yet if his pack is to survive, Sabien has to make Rayla fall in love with him, or doom them all to a fate worse than hell.

BUY THE EBOOK

Amazon || Amazon UK || Amazon CA || Amazon AU || Apple || Barnes & Noble || Kobo || All Romance Ebooks || Smashwords

Claimed by the Alpha Ep. 1 Cover Reveal + synopsis

Finally have a cover and synopsis! This episode should be out Monday or Tuesday next week. I’m excited to share it with you guys!

For the past twenty-five years, all Rayla Dawson has known is pain and struggle. Struggle to pay the mounting bills, pain at dealing with her alcoholic dad and abusive younger sister, and all the while losing faith it will get any better. As she struggles to keep her life from falling apart, finding love is the last thing on her mind. Until she meets Sabien Stone…

Alpha werewolf Sabien is no stranger to hard times. Cursed by his true love centuries ago, he is doomed to walk the earth in human form only during the light of a full moon. During that time, he searches for the mate he fears he may never find while trying to evade an enemy he has been at war with for the past one thousand years. He knows he must find a mate before the last petal of his Blood Rose falls, a flower enchanted by his true love to foretell the time of his death, or else he and his entire pack will perish.

When a coup to harm the enemy fails, the assassin gives Sabien the ultimate gift in exchange for his life—a mate, who happens to be his eldest daughter, Rayla. She’s innocent and fiery, everything he desires in a woman—and everything he fears. Both Rayla and Sabien have been burned, and neither is willing to trust too easily. Yet if his pack is to survive, Sabien has to make Rayla fall in love with him, or doom them all to a fate worse than hell.

Claimed by the Alpha is a six-part serial that will be released in multiple volumes of approximately 20,000 words each, roughly every two to three weeks apart. If you do not like reading in installments, an omnibus edition will be released in August when the series is complete. You can sign up for the new release newsletter for notifications of new releases.

Though this work is loosely based off the “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale, it’s definitely not for children. Recommended 18+ for language, fantasy violence, and frequent explicit sexual content.

*Cover designed by Lola Taylor in Photoshop CS6. Images licensed at Shutterstock.com.

Protected: Claimed by the Alpha–Chapter One

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Protected: Betrayal–Chapter One

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Read the first book for free

FEVER (BLOOD MOON RISING #1)

When the Blood Moon rises, the wolves come out to play… and find their mates.

Danica has about given up on love. In a last-ditch attempt at finding “the one,” she agrees to a blind date through an online dating service. But instead of finding roses and romance, she finds someone intent on killing her. That is, until the mysterious, brooding Gage shows up to save her….

Gage is running out of time to find a mate. If the Blood Moon sets before he can find her, he’ll lose the rank of packmaster – and the peace within the pack – he’s worked so hard to obtain. When he saves a luscious blonde in the parking lot, he has no idea she is his mate – until he Marks her with his touch.

Determined to keep her safe at any cost, Gage whisks Danica away into a hidden world full of lust, unlikely love, and treachery. Someone’s put a hit on his mate, and he’s hell-bent on finding out who, all while the Blood Moon looms closer, threatening to destroy his chances at true love forever. That is, if something – or someone – doesn’t kill the woman he’s falling for first.

Recommended 18+ for frequent, explicit sexual situations and language. Book 1 of 6. BBW Werewolf Romance

READ THE EBOOK (free read!)

Amazon || Amazon CA|| Amazon UK || Kobo || Smashwords || Barnes & Noble