Ruth Kaufman's Blog, page 8
March 19, 2015
Historical Accuracy: How far should the author go?
I take research for my novels very seriously.
I own more than two hundred books on late medieval England. I've spent time in the Newberry Library, where you submit requests for up to three books at a time instead of browsing through the stacks. I've waited for interlibrary loan for that hard-to-find tome. Once I even got permission to go to the Art Institute's library to use a book on stained glass I couldn't find anywhere else. And, of course, the Internet is at my fingertips. While much of that information is too general, some is helpful, such as virtual tours of sites and cities.
The theory I've heard in writing workshops and subscribe to is that even if something isn't common during your time period, if you can find it in more than one source it's fine to use. Sometimes books disagree on how or exactly when something happened, and sometimes they'll say, "No one knows" this or that. In those instances, I'm happy to fill in the blanks to suit my story.
So it can be frustrating if readers or contest judges question information I carefully vetted and use that question or disbelief to score down my entry or say my book is historically inaccurate.
For example, Richard, Duke of York, is a secondary character in more than one of my books set before 1465. A judge once wrote, "Richard was the Duke of Gloucester." There was of course a Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but since he was born in 1452, he wasn't the powerful commander in my novel, and in any case that didn't mean there wasn't also a Richard, Duke of York.
Another secondary character has a carpet on her manor house floor. A judge wrote something to the effect that carpets didn't exist at that time. It's true they weren't common and certainly peasants didn't have them, but this woman was shown as wealthy and I described it as "new."
The challenge sometimes comes in choosing how much detail and/or explanation to use about a historical event or item. If I'm describing a gown, for example, how much is just right vs. slowing the pace? Most readers probably don't want to know that this style of gown was first popular in Burgundy and came to England in X year. Others may have an image of "medieval" clothing from movies/TV shows, etc., and not know how much fashion changed over the centuries or how some movies/TV shows may be more generic rather than specific in their costumes. Or I might mention an object some readers assume wasn't invented yet, but I chose not to use precious page time convincing them.
Finally, word choice is a huge concern. Readers may say a word pulls them out of the story because it sounds too contemporary. I often refer to a great book, English Through the Ages, and online word origin sites. Even if a phrase or word exactly conveys what I'm going after, I won't use it if it's first known use wasn't in my time period. Since no one wants to read a medieval using the exact words and spelling in documents of the time in what is known as Middle English, to my knowledge it's become an accepted convention, for example, to use contractions.
This doesn't mean I or any author will never have an error that slips by us, beta readers/and or editors. Many authors, including me, include an Author's Note saying any errors are their own or that they tried to be as accurate as possible.
May I encourage you, gentle reader, to give the author the benefit of the doubt...and consider looking up any information that strikes you as nonperiod.
I own more than two hundred books on late medieval England. I've spent time in the Newberry Library, where you submit requests for up to three books at a time instead of browsing through the stacks. I've waited for interlibrary loan for that hard-to-find tome. Once I even got permission to go to the Art Institute's library to use a book on stained glass I couldn't find anywhere else. And, of course, the Internet is at my fingertips. While much of that information is too general, some is helpful, such as virtual tours of sites and cities.
The theory I've heard in writing workshops and subscribe to is that even if something isn't common during your time period, if you can find it in more than one source it's fine to use. Sometimes books disagree on how or exactly when something happened, and sometimes they'll say, "No one knows" this or that. In those instances, I'm happy to fill in the blanks to suit my story.
So it can be frustrating if readers or contest judges question information I carefully vetted and use that question or disbelief to score down my entry or say my book is historically inaccurate.
For example, Richard, Duke of York, is a secondary character in more than one of my books set before 1465. A judge once wrote, "Richard was the Duke of Gloucester." There was of course a Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but since he was born in 1452, he wasn't the powerful commander in my novel, and in any case that didn't mean there wasn't also a Richard, Duke of York.
Another secondary character has a carpet on her manor house floor. A judge wrote something to the effect that carpets didn't exist at that time. It's true they weren't common and certainly peasants didn't have them, but this woman was shown as wealthy and I described it as "new."
The challenge sometimes comes in choosing how much detail and/or explanation to use about a historical event or item. If I'm describing a gown, for example, how much is just right vs. slowing the pace? Most readers probably don't want to know that this style of gown was first popular in Burgundy and came to England in X year. Others may have an image of "medieval" clothing from movies/TV shows, etc., and not know how much fashion changed over the centuries or how some movies/TV shows may be more generic rather than specific in their costumes. Or I might mention an object some readers assume wasn't invented yet, but I chose not to use precious page time convincing them.
Finally, word choice is a huge concern. Readers may say a word pulls them out of the story because it sounds too contemporary. I often refer to a great book, English Through the Ages, and online word origin sites. Even if a phrase or word exactly conveys what I'm going after, I won't use it if it's first known use wasn't in my time period. Since no one wants to read a medieval using the exact words and spelling in documents of the time in what is known as Middle English, to my knowledge it's become an accepted convention, for example, to use contractions.
This doesn't mean I or any author will never have an error that slips by us, beta readers/and or editors. Many authors, including me, include an Author's Note saying any errors are their own or that they tried to be as accurate as possible.
May I encourage you, gentle reader, to give the author the benefit of the doubt...and consider looking up any information that strikes you as nonperiod.
March 12, 2015
Successful book releases: what works?
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Follow Your Heart
by Ruth Kaufman
Giveaway ends April 12, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win
Thanks to the Internet and social media, an author's options for preparing for a book release are overwhelming. Giveaways on Goodreads and other sites, reviews, blog posts on your own site and guesting on others, newsletters, posts on Facebook and Twitter and other sites like Instagram and Pinterest, which I haven't used (yet?). What could you do with a press release? Not to mention online ads on reader sites, Facebook, etc.
There's no magic formula for how much time and money spent promoting a release leads to more sales. Should you hire a PR/social media person? Figure it out yourself? What's the value of preorders?
I keep hearing that good books sell more books, so the best way to market your current release is your next. And that readers love "free," such as a free chapter. I still believe getting your name and cover(s) out there, and as often as you can without being annoying, is also essential.
This probably stems from my days in media research when I gave reach and frequency presentations to advertising professionals. How many people, preferably in your target audience, are aware of your product, and how many times do they need to hear about it in order to buy? Back in the day, I recall that optimal frequency was 7. But there are so many more media/device options now, and so many more ads we're bombarded with on any given day. What works for you as a reader may not work for your readers.
My experience so far shows the importance of:
a) having a great, memorable cover. Recently a fellow chorister saw half of my bookmark sticking out of another chorister's pocket and remembered reading an article about it in The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin over two weeks earlier...that she didn't realize was also about me.
b) getting your cover and information out there as often as you can, even in publications that may not seem like your target market
c) making positive connections in person and online with as many people as you can.
d) top notch writing and story
e) personal recommendations, thanks to a) - d).
What works for you as an author, or prompts you to buy a book as a reader?
March 5, 2015
What sells books: social media, ads, blogs, reviews?
I've done quite a bit of reading about what helps to sells books beyond writing great books.Unfortunately, there's no one size fits all. No panacea. What works for you as an author, or what inspires you to buy a book as a reader?
For me, so far:
Fortunately, both versions of AT HIS COMMAND have received great 5 star reviews. "If a book lingers in my mind for more than 2 weeks, I say it's a keeper!" for the Historical Romance Version, and "All the good stuff with none of the bedroom stuff," for the Inspirational Version. I have a great review opportunity lined up for my April 14 release, FOLLOW YOUR HEART (currently on preorder for only $1.99, if you're so inclined). Fingers crossed it and the AHC review I'm awaiting from Publishers Weekly will be good!
Goodreads giveaways have been great. They seem to take on a life of their own as more people enter to win and add my book(s) to their shelves. I hope some convert to sales. My current giveaway is below, and is garnering more interest than the first one I did for ACH. More interesting blurb? Cover? Same readers who entered for AHC?
I tried a few Facebook author page post boosts, which according to FB reached thousands of people (though not always as many as they said before I clicked the buy link). I didn't get as many new likes to my page as one boost estimated. I did get some clicks/interactions with another, but I can't tell if those converted to sales. I'm grateful to every friend who has shared my covers and helped get the word out. I still feel a bit lost in the Twittersphere, though I tweet once a day or so and am increasing my number of followers.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Follow Your Heart by
Ruth Kaufman
Giveaway ends April 12, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to winI'm also guest posting on blogs. Other things I'm doing:
This ad on page 4 of the March/April issue of BTS Book Reviews magazine:
And, I'm participating in The Romance Reviews' Anniversary Party with FYH. I'll reserve judgment until the party is over, but there are so many ads I wonder how many visitors will notice mine or answer the question for my giveaway.
It'd be great if each ad I ran or post I wrote resulted in a big sales boost. So far, I haven't seen that. But it takes time to build readership. The concepts of reach and frequency from my media research days still apply for building awareness and interest.
For me, so far:
Fortunately, both versions of AT HIS COMMAND have received great 5 star reviews. "If a book lingers in my mind for more than 2 weeks, I say it's a keeper!" for the Historical Romance Version, and "All the good stuff with none of the bedroom stuff," for the Inspirational Version. I have a great review opportunity lined up for my April 14 release, FOLLOW YOUR HEART (currently on preorder for only $1.99, if you're so inclined). Fingers crossed it and the AHC review I'm awaiting from Publishers Weekly will be good!
Goodreads giveaways have been great. They seem to take on a life of their own as more people enter to win and add my book(s) to their shelves. I hope some convert to sales. My current giveaway is below, and is garnering more interest than the first one I did for ACH. More interesting blurb? Cover? Same readers who entered for AHC?
I tried a few Facebook author page post boosts, which according to FB reached thousands of people (though not always as many as they said before I clicked the buy link). I didn't get as many new likes to my page as one boost estimated. I did get some clicks/interactions with another, but I can't tell if those converted to sales. I'm grateful to every friend who has shared my covers and helped get the word out. I still feel a bit lost in the Twittersphere, though I tweet once a day or so and am increasing my number of followers.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Follow Your Heart by
Ruth Kaufman
Giveaway ends April 12, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to winI'm also guest posting on blogs. Other things I'm doing:
This ad on page 4 of the March/April issue of BTS Book Reviews magazine:
And, I'm participating in The Romance Reviews' Anniversary Party with FYH. I'll reserve judgment until the party is over, but there are so many ads I wonder how many visitors will notice mine or answer the question for my giveaway.
It'd be great if each ad I ran or post I wrote resulted in a big sales boost. So far, I haven't seen that. But it takes time to build readership. The concepts of reach and frequency from my media research days still apply for building awareness and interest. February 26, 2015
FOLLOW YOUR HEART preorder: $1.99 through March
I'm excited to announce that FOLLOW YOUR HEART, the next standalone book in my Wars of the Roses Brides series, is on Amazon preorder for $1.99 for March to thank my readers.
She's a glass-painter making her way in a man's world. He's on a quest to redeem his family name and estates. When unexpected passion makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his secrets tear them apart?
The first scene popped into my head one day. As I began sharing Adrian's struggle with what he had to do to attain his goal, Joanna arrived. I hope readers love their story as much as I enyoyed writing it.
I also loved delving into research about how stained glass was made and sold in 1460 England. The techniques used to create the rich colors and and intricate designs of the windows, some of which survive, fascinated me.
I'm considering a novella or another book about the heroine's half-sister...let me know what you think!
She's a glass-painter making her way in a man's world. He's on a quest to redeem his family name and estates. When unexpected passion makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his secrets tear them apart?
The first scene popped into my head one day. As I began sharing Adrian's struggle with what he had to do to attain his goal, Joanna arrived. I hope readers love their story as much as I enyoyed writing it.
I also loved delving into research about how stained glass was made and sold in 1460 England. The techniques used to create the rich colors and and intricate designs of the windows, some of which survive, fascinated me.
I'm considering a novella or another book about the heroine's half-sister...let me know what you think!
February 19, 2015
This plate-spinning feelancer's many hats
Goodreads Book Giveaway
At His Command by Ruth Kaufman
Giveaway ends February 28, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to winIf you're new to Gainfully Unemployed, that's not a typo. I call myself a feelancer instead of a freelancer, because I rarely work for free.
Keeping all the plates spinning means wearing a lot of hats (cliches, but true). This week I've worn these hats in addition to bopping in and out of social media, promoting my Goodreads giveaway (link to enter is above), and following various online indie author groups (I've learned a lot, but there's always more to learn and things change so rapidly):
Monday:
Speaker: A romance writing group asked me to do an online workshop, so I sent some pitches. Submitted to an improv show that starts with a guest speaker.
VO talent: Commercial booking at a recording studio. Found out I'd be doing two commercials when they gave me the scripts.
Author: finished reviewing my next book and sent it to my editor.
On-camera talent: submitted for an indie feature and student film. Got an audition for the student film on Saturday (need to review my monologue).
Theatre: had the lead role in a reading of a new play.
Tuesday:
VO: submitted audition I'd recorded at home
Author: wrote back cover blurb and tag for new book. Submitted 1st book for a review.
Colleague: searched possible audio books for a friend to narrate.
Designer: Worked on website redesign...reviewed other author sites, searched for images.
PR: decided to do my first Facebook post boost.
On-camera: went to casting agency for a national commercial audition.
Wednesday:
Business: signed NDA for upcoming VO role in a military video game. Learned I'd have many more lines I'd thought.
VO & on-camera: sent a couple of VO auditions, submitted for an on-camera project
Designer: more image searching. Having difficulty finding what I see in my head despite searching a bunch of stock photo sites (which could use better search engines, IMO...too many things come up that aren't related to my search terms).
Author: asked two best-selling authors if they'd give a cover quote for #2. Both said yes. :-)
Singer: chorus rehearsal for 2 concerts of Rodgers & Hammerstein songs.
Plan for today:
Designer: Review and respond to the long email my cover designer sent with different options for my next book. Continue site redesign and review all pages of current site for updating.
Colleague: work with a friend so we both stay on track and get more done. It can be easy to get distracted/spend too much time online. And when there are so many tasks in different areas, prioritizing can be a challenge.
PR: review FB boost results.
VO: review video game scripts and estimate delivery time.
Stay warm: current temp is -6, windchill -22
At His Command by Ruth KaufmanGiveaway ends February 28, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to winIf you're new to Gainfully Unemployed, that's not a typo. I call myself a feelancer instead of a freelancer, because I rarely work for free.
Keeping all the plates spinning means wearing a lot of hats (cliches, but true). This week I've worn these hats in addition to bopping in and out of social media, promoting my Goodreads giveaway (link to enter is above), and following various online indie author groups (I've learned a lot, but there's always more to learn and things change so rapidly):
Monday:
Speaker: A romance writing group asked me to do an online workshop, so I sent some pitches. Submitted to an improv show that starts with a guest speaker.
VO talent: Commercial booking at a recording studio. Found out I'd be doing two commercials when they gave me the scripts.
Author: finished reviewing my next book and sent it to my editor.
On-camera talent: submitted for an indie feature and student film. Got an audition for the student film on Saturday (need to review my monologue).
Theatre: had the lead role in a reading of a new play.
Tuesday:
VO: submitted audition I'd recorded at home
Author: wrote back cover blurb and tag for new book. Submitted 1st book for a review.
Colleague: searched possible audio books for a friend to narrate.
Designer: Worked on website redesign...reviewed other author sites, searched for images.
PR: decided to do my first Facebook post boost.
On-camera: went to casting agency for a national commercial audition.
Wednesday:
Business: signed NDA for upcoming VO role in a military video game. Learned I'd have many more lines I'd thought.
VO & on-camera: sent a couple of VO auditions, submitted for an on-camera project
Designer: more image searching. Having difficulty finding what I see in my head despite searching a bunch of stock photo sites (which could use better search engines, IMO...too many things come up that aren't related to my search terms).
Author: asked two best-selling authors if they'd give a cover quote for #2. Both said yes. :-)
Singer: chorus rehearsal for 2 concerts of Rodgers & Hammerstein songs.
Plan for today:
Designer: Review and respond to the long email my cover designer sent with different options for my next book. Continue site redesign and review all pages of current site for updating.
Colleague: work with a friend so we both stay on track and get more done. It can be easy to get distracted/spend too much time online. And when there are so many tasks in different areas, prioritizing can be a challenge.
PR: review FB boost results.
VO: review video game scripts and estimate delivery time.
Stay warm: current temp is -6, windchill -22
February 11, 2015
Book Hooks #MFRWHooks + Brief At His Command excerpt
Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly blog hop where authors post short excerpts, hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog. It's a great opportunity to check out more authors via the link below.
Here's my excerpt from AT HIS COMMAND:
A wonderful debut sure to please lovers of romance!��� NYT & USAToday bestselling author Madeline Hunter
Having him so near was torture. A teasing, wonderful glimpse of what could never be.
���This will get us nowhere. I am not for you.��� It took all of her willpower to push free of his embrace. She ran from the hall and back to her chamber, where tears burst forth with all the force of the storm. She���d experienced the freedom of the hall only to return to her cage. Just as she had barely begun to enjoy Nicholas, only to be returned to the prospect of an unknown groom.
Could she defy her king for love? England 1453: King Henry VI sends Sir Nicholas Gray to protect the recently widowed Lady Amice Winfield from undesirable suitors. Though Nicholas intrigues her, she yearns to run Castle Rising without a man���s control.
Nicholas has no interest in marriage, but can���t deny he���s attracted to Amice. He���s surprised to finally find in Castle Rising a place he feels at home. A kiss sparks desire neither can ignore, yet serving opposing factions seeking to govern England threatens to pull them apart.
At court, the king and queen reject Amice���s pleas and choose a new husband for her, a highly-ranked lord who���ll provide connections and coin for the king���s depleted coffers that Nicholas cannot. How can she follow the king���s command when she���s a scribe for his rival? How can she marry another man when she���s falling in love with Nicholas?
Available at Amazon.com: http://amzn.com/B00QPG52A6
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to view this Linky Tools list...
February 5, 2015
Goodreads Giveaway & Romance Bandits-enter now!
I'm at Romance Bandits today talking about the Wars of the Roses and offering a bit of advice to aspiring authors. Commenters have a chance to win one of two AT HIS COMMAND e-books.
I'd heard of Goodreads of course, but hadn't joined it as a reader or spent much time there. As my release date approached, I explored it as one way to communicate with and perhaps interest more readers. Now I enjoy it as a reader, posting what I'm reading and have read and keeping up with what friends are reading. As an author, I set up my author page and answered a couple of author questions so readers can learn more about me.
I'm also doing my first Goodreads Giveaway, where readers can enter to win one of five copies of my book. It's exciting to see how many readers (it's exciting to have readers) add AHC to their reading lists and are signing up for the giveaway. If you're on Goodreads, what's your favorite aspect?
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway
At His Command by Ruth Kaufman
Giveaway ends February 28, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.Enter to win
I'd heard of Goodreads of course, but hadn't joined it as a reader or spent much time there. As my release date approached, I explored it as one way to communicate with and perhaps interest more readers. Now I enjoy it as a reader, posting what I'm reading and have read and keeping up with what friends are reading. As an author, I set up my author page and answered a couple of author questions so readers can learn more about me.
I'm also doing my first Goodreads Giveaway, where readers can enter to win one of five copies of my book. It's exciting to see how many readers (it's exciting to have readers) add AHC to their reading lists and are signing up for the giveaway. If you're on Goodreads, what's your favorite aspect?
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway
At His Command by Ruth KaufmanGiveaway ends February 28, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.Enter to win
January 29, 2015
Next steps after week 2 of At HIS COMMAND release
My books have been available for two weeks. Tracking sales and Amazon rankings is interesting (though I try not to check too many times a day). Sometimes the numbers go up for no reason I can see. I didn't take out an ad in the New York Times, nor was I aware of any significant publicity, yet one day I sold more than twice as many books as I did on my release day, when I assume relatives and friends were kindly supporting me by buying. And what makes numbers drop, or not increase on a day when I do have publicity, such as a post on what blogranks.com considers one of the most popular romance blogs, Love Romance Passion?
I paid my formatter to add both versions to iBooks because I've been reading so much about its increasing popularity, yet have sold the fewest there so far. I have difficulty navigating iTunes to view and learn about iBooks, so maybe others do, too.
I'm still seeking reviews and guest blogging opportunities. Blogging scheduled so far includes SlingWords on 2/4 and Romance Bandits on 2/5. I also have my first event as a published author on 2/4. I'm awaiting the Publishers Weekly review, and I hope a couple of others.
It's time to focus on next steps. I'm tweaking manuscript #2, set in 1455. And I need to get it to my editor soon and start in on the cover....should I feature the hero, heroine, the couple, or not have people on it? Keep the castle theme, or include something else medieval? Will I do two versions going forward? Reupload already released books after add some great reviews, and/or an excerpt of my next book? These are just a few of the decisions on this indie published author's mind. The jury is still out.
I need to make more time to pursue acting again, though I had a VO job this week, a print casting and submitted for a few projects. New plan: I'm going to divide my day in two or even three parts so I'm not deep into revising, then abruptly changing focus to submit to an audition, then switching again to follow up on a promotion opportunity. Because so many hours a day can be spent on my computer, I'll also fit in some movement breaks.
I paid my formatter to add both versions to iBooks because I've been reading so much about its increasing popularity, yet have sold the fewest there so far. I have difficulty navigating iTunes to view and learn about iBooks, so maybe others do, too.
I'm still seeking reviews and guest blogging opportunities. Blogging scheduled so far includes SlingWords on 2/4 and Romance Bandits on 2/5. I also have my first event as a published author on 2/4. I'm awaiting the Publishers Weekly review, and I hope a couple of others.
It's time to focus on next steps. I'm tweaking manuscript #2, set in 1455. And I need to get it to my editor soon and start in on the cover....should I feature the hero, heroine, the couple, or not have people on it? Keep the castle theme, or include something else medieval? Will I do two versions going forward? Reupload already released books after add some great reviews, and/or an excerpt of my next book? These are just a few of the decisions on this indie published author's mind. The jury is still out.
I need to make more time to pursue acting again, though I had a VO job this week, a print casting and submitted for a few projects. New plan: I'm going to divide my day in two or even three parts so I'm not deep into revising, then abruptly changing focus to submit to an audition, then switching again to follow up on a promotion opportunity. Because so many hours a day can be spent on my computer, I'll also fit in some movement breaks.
January 22, 2015
The Week After Release Day
My
Highlights of the first week include:
Getting an email saying that Publisher's Weekly has selected the Historical Romance Version for review (out of thousands of submissions). They also said there's a small chance the review won't be published. Assuming it is, I think it'll be in PW and on BookLife, their indie publishing site. Of course I'm hoping they say good things....Romance Writers of America asked me to write a new monthly column for their eNotes e-newsletter called Author Experiment Case Studies. I featured mine, publishing two versions of the same book, this week. I look forward to seeing what other author experiments I come across and how well they worked.The USAToday HEA Romance Unlaced blog by Madeline Hunter for which I was interviewed to feature both versions was shared on Facebook 127 times, tweeted 60 times (including a tweet to HEA's 14.6K followers), and posted 9 times on LinkedIn.Making Amazon's Hot New Releases lists with both versions in their respective categories.I guest posted on the topic "When are you done," at Seekerville, one of Writers Digest's top 100 sites for authors, and enjoyed chatting with the commenters. And I was asked to guest on another romance blog...awaiting details. Receiving my print copies in the mail. Holding the book you wrote, with your name on it in huge letters is wonderful.Amazon suggested I might like my own book.Lowlights include:Frustration trying to figure out how to upload the print versions to B&N and iBooks (which sends you to iTunes and is generally un-user friendly).Not being able to instantly satisfy those who wanted to buy my book in a store. I haven't worked on that because of the time it takes that may not yield the desired result. If I'm fortunate to get good reviews from valued sources, they might pave the way on a difficult path.Time management. I enjoy guest posting on blogs, but writing different posts for each and requesting spots can be time consuming. Chatting with commenters is a lot of fun, but the guest should check in often throughout the day, which can be distracting.What's to come? Stay tuned...
Highlights of the first week include:
Getting an email saying that Publisher's Weekly has selected the Historical Romance Version for review (out of thousands of submissions). They also said there's a small chance the review won't be published. Assuming it is, I think it'll be in PW and on BookLife, their indie publishing site. Of course I'm hoping they say good things....Romance Writers of America asked me to write a new monthly column for their eNotes e-newsletter called Author Experiment Case Studies. I featured mine, publishing two versions of the same book, this week. I look forward to seeing what other author experiments I come across and how well they worked.The USAToday HEA Romance Unlaced blog by Madeline Hunter for which I was interviewed to feature both versions was shared on Facebook 127 times, tweeted 60 times (including a tweet to HEA's 14.6K followers), and posted 9 times on LinkedIn.Making Amazon's Hot New Releases lists with both versions in their respective categories.I guest posted on the topic "When are you done," at Seekerville, one of Writers Digest's top 100 sites for authors, and enjoyed chatting with the commenters. And I was asked to guest on another romance blog...awaiting details. Receiving my print copies in the mail. Holding the book you wrote, with your name on it in huge letters is wonderful.Amazon suggested I might like my own book.Lowlights include:Frustration trying to figure out how to upload the print versions to B&N and iBooks (which sends you to iTunes and is generally un-user friendly).Not being able to instantly satisfy those who wanted to buy my book in a store. I haven't worked on that because of the time it takes that may not yield the desired result. If I'm fortunate to get good reviews from valued sources, they might pave the way on a difficult path.Time management. I enjoy guest posting on blogs, but writing different posts for each and requesting spots can be time consuming. Chatting with commenters is a lot of fun, but the guest should check in often throughout the day, which can be distracting.What's to come? Stay tuned...
January 15, 2015
AT HIS COMMAND now available in paperback & print!
There's only one first release day for every author. Back in the day, you might go to a bookstore to view your book on an actual shelf, and maybe you'd sign the stock. In these digital days of indie publishing, my release day yesterday was online.
An exciting development was my interview in USAToday's HEA Romance Unlaced blog written by bestseller Madeline Hunter, Seeking shelter from the heat? So far that's been posted to Facebook over 100 times, tweeted 56 times and posted on LinkedIn 9 times.
Supportive friends and colleagues tweeted, shared, posted and commented on Facebook, and informed me of their purchases.
I spent a lot of time on social media and email, and participated in Marketing for Romance Writers' #MFRWHooks and meet the #MFRWauthor promotion.
I refreshed my sales reports and Amazon Hot New Releases every so often, and was thrilled to watch both ebook versions climb in their respective categories throughout the day, and though they went online later in the day, the print versions showed up on the lists, too. As of this writing, AT HIS COMMAND-Historical Romance Version is #21 in Medieval Historical Romance...so close to making it to the first page. And the Inspirational Version is #39 in Historical Inspirational Romance. Will they climb higher? Stay tuned.
An exciting development was my interview in USAToday's HEA Romance Unlaced blog written by bestseller Madeline Hunter, Seeking shelter from the heat? So far that's been posted to Facebook over 100 times, tweeted 56 times and posted on LinkedIn 9 times.Supportive friends and colleagues tweeted, shared, posted and commented on Facebook, and informed me of their purchases.
I spent a lot of time on social media and email, and participated in Marketing for Romance Writers' #MFRWHooks and meet the #MFRWauthor promotion.I refreshed my sales reports and Amazon Hot New Releases every so often, and was thrilled to watch both ebook versions climb in their respective categories throughout the day, and though they went online later in the day, the print versions showed up on the lists, too. As of this writing, AT HIS COMMAND-Historical Romance Version is #21 in Medieval Historical Romance...so close to making it to the first page. And the Inspirational Version is #39 in Historical Inspirational Romance. Will they climb higher? Stay tuned.
