A.E. Jones's Blog, page 26

Prequel this!

[image error]Tomorrow FORGET ME releases. It is the first story in my Mind Sweeper flashback story trilogy I will be releasing over the next three months. The story is a prequel – it looks back at the beginning of Kyle’s journey. How did she find out about paranormal to begin with?

As a reader, I often wonder why author’s write prequels. Why go back in time after books have already been established in the series? But then I started to read some of these prequels and they were wonderful. It was interesting to peek into the past with the knowledge of what had happened in the present to these characters.

As a writer, I totally get it. It is an opportunity to explore your characters in a different way-to provide some wonderful backstory to help readers learn more about your characters’ motivations.

So that’s why she does that… No wonder she doesn’t trust easily… etc., etc.

I also have a tendency to jump around when I write my books. A chapter at the end of the book might be written at the beginning of my “writerly process”. So the fact that I wrote these flashback stories after I have already written five books in the series doesn’t surprise me at all. My brain works in mysterious-circular ways.

I hope you all are looking forward to the stories! Prequels make sense to me, and if they can make gazillions on them in the Star Wars universe, then I can’t be far off the path, right?

Or look at it this way. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to go backwards.

 

 

Forget Me Book Trailer!

Next week, the first flashback story in my Mind Sweeper universe will release (February 28th to be exact). So I thought I would celebrate with a quick book trailer. There is something so fun about bringing your book to “life” so to speak. Check out the trailer below, or by clicking HERE.

Come on, it’s 40 seconds of fun…what are you waiting for…

PREORDER:   Amazon    iTunes     Kobo    B&N

Magic Words: Free Book

As you know from my previous blog posts, I have been working on the business side of AE Jones, Author. As part of that process, I am trying to let more readers know about me and my books.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Authors are often introverts. Very true. While they love their stories and want to share them with the world, it is VERY hard to ask people to buy, buy, buy their books. While I was born with an overactive imagination, I was not born with what I call the ‘sales gene’.

Many times you will hear that a good book sells other books. And while this is very true, the important step of that equation that must be figured out is how to get the good book in the readers’ hands to begin with!

One of the ways to entice readers to try an author they haven’t read before is to offer the first book in a series at a reduced rate or even free. This gives readers the ability to try out the author to see what they think. The hope is (fingers and toes crossed) that the reader will fall in love with the series and be willing to buy the other books.

So I have finally taken the plunge into the “free pool”. Mind Sweeper, the first book in my series, is currently available for FREE on all the retail sites listed below. If you’ve been wanting to try out my series and haven’t taken your own plunge yet, please jump in and take a dip – the water is warm!

Here’s hoping that more readers find my stories. I love sharing my characters with the world.

Mind Sweeper [image error]

Mind Sweeper is about Kyle McKinley, a woman with the ability to erase memories.

Her job? Help hide the existence of supernatural. And they don’t make it easy.

This story has mystery, romance, humor, and sexy supernaturals. And in the midst of all this is a feisty heroine trying to find her way in the world.

DOWNLOAD:  AMAZON   ITUNES    B&N    KOBO

Cover Reveal in Triplicate!

Happy February, my friends! Today I am going to share with you, not one…not two…but THREE cover reveals! My three prequel or flashback short stories in my Mind Sweeper universe will be coming your way starting this month. Check them out below!

Forget Me will release on February 28th. Trust Me on March 28th and Protect Me on April 25th!

Preorder links are provided below for those of you who like to plan ahead

Read All About It

[image error]Over the past month, I have been working on the business side of writing. A necessity, but definitely not as exciting as the writing side of the business. Hopefully, by next week, I will be able to dive back into my stories.

And I’m soooo looking forward to it. The ideas have been percolating in my brain for some time now and they want to be free, free, free!

I’m hoping to dive into book three of my wedding planner series to find out what happens with…wait, I’m not going to give you any hints right now! I don’t know where things are going myself yet. And since I’m a pantser and not a plotter, things can change as I write the story.

But even if they do change, that’s part of my process and I will be writing again. And then you will be able to read all about it when book three is released!

And, of course, in the meantime you can snack on the three Mind Sweeper flashback stories that will be released over the next few months.

Stay tuned!

Forced Slowdown

[image error]Tonight (like most nights) I came home from my day job with a list of “author things” to do. There are many days where I basically turn off my work computer, commute home and then turn on my writing computer.

However, my plans were interrupted by a power outage. It was ironic, really, since I literally had just opened up my blog post to type my weekly thoughts to send out into cyber space and my world went black. With the exception of my laptop. And I thought that I would write my blog. Even though my laptop was still functional, I no longer had connection to my website since my router needs electricity to work! Duh.

So I shut off my computer and found my trusty lamp flashlight that I got from a friend for just this sort of occasion. And as the dark minutes ticked away, I realized that my list was not going to get done tonight.

But that was okay.

Sometimes I need to take a break and if I don’t come to that conclusion myself, Fate steps in for me.

So I read a book next to the lamplight for the evening and as I got ready for bed a few minutes ago, the lights finally came on with thirty minutes to spare before my Monday blog became a Tuesday one.

So here you go! It made sense to share my non-productive, but relaxing evening with you. Forced slowdown accomplished. I’ll dive into the list tomorrow. Tonight, I’m heading to bed. The lights came on just in time for me to turn them off again!

 

 

Project AE

I love to write, which as an author is a wonderful thing. But as a published author, I realized quite quickly there there is a great deal of other things that make up my author world.

In 2017 my plan is to really work at the business side of writing. And to do this, I am actually delving into my day job training. I don’t normally talk about what my 8-5 job is, and I won’t bore you too much with details. But I will tell you that one of the responsibilities I have in my day job revolves around project management. And that is something that I will definitely be utilizing this year for my books and my business.

I could come up with a long, drawn-out name to describe what I hope to accomplish, but for now, I’m going to stick with something simple: Project AE.

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I am outlining my plans and scheduling the timing to make some of these changes happen so that I get to know more readers and they get to know my books!

Writing is my joy and I want to share that. I never thought I would need a project plan to accomplish it, but I’m not afraid to think outside the box..I write paranormal after all!

Keeping it Short & Sweet

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As authors, it is often very hard to offer a straightforward, simple answer. After all, we are prone to wax poetic on any number of items, most especially our books. My novels normally range in the 85,000-95,000 range, so I am guilty of this myself!

A few months ago, I decided to visit my Mind Sweeper world again. A number of you have asked if I am “done” with Kyle and the gang. My answer to that is an emphatic HECK NO. So I started playing with ideas in my head about where I wanted to go next in this series, and I came to the conclusion – I would go backwards.

What? You are probably thinking, but too polite to voice out loud.

That’s okay. I hear your questions loud and clear. So let me explain.

I decided to write what I call flashback stories. Fun little snippets of some great firsts for Kyle. When we met Kyle in Mind Sweeper, she had already been working with Misha and Jean Luc for ten years. So I wondered…

How did she learn that paranormal exist?
How did she meet Misha and Jean Luc?
How did she fit into this new world?

And so my flashback stories were born. Over the next few months, I’ll be releasing three stories about a young Kyle McKinley thrown into a new world. These short stories are perfect with a blanket, a cup of tea (or something stronger) on a cold winter’s night. And, added bonus, you get to spend time again with Kyle and her merry band of supernatural.

So something short and sweet will be coming your way. Stay tuned for more fun info!

A Writer’s Christmas

As we head into 2017, I am reflecting back on the holiday season. I received a number of gifts that were very “writerly” in theme and goes to show how my friends and family have my back on this author journey.

My brother and sister-in-law gave me a new e-reader for both my writer and reader persona.

[image error]One of my friends bought me this bracelet. It shows the definition of the word “Write”. How cool is that? Always there, reminding me what I love to do.

 

 

 

[image error]Another friend saw this sign and felt it was a good theme for me as I head into 2017. She is my cheerleader and always tells me to think of things as an opportunity.

 

 

 

[image error]Yet another wonderful friend bought me this hand-painted plate that depicts Cleveland’s Little Italy, which is where my heroine, Kyle, lives in my Mind Sweeper Series. She wanted me to always be able to think of my stories when I looked at it.

 

 

 

 

[image error]Last, but not least, my dad gave me a mariner’s compass for my office. He gave it to me so

that I can always find “my true north” and I have to remember that when I get overwhelmed on this writer’s journey. All of my friends and family support me. I see it in their words and actions and this year, I especially saw it in their thoughtful gifts.

 

 

 

Holiday Decompression

[image error]We are heading into the last days of December as we wrap up our holiday celebrations. I spent time away from home visiting my brother and his family over the past weekend, so I apologize (once again) for the late blog. I promise to get back on my Monday blog schedule!

But now I am in the middle of winding down the holidays and the year. I call it my holiday decompression time. Not only do I stop the eating and rushing around like a crazy person, I take time to take a breath. Soon, the new year will be upon us with new plans and timetables.

But for the rest of this week I am going to breathe and clean out my closets and pantry and everything else that needs to be purged for the new year.

And once I’ve done that, it will allow me to get ready for 2017. I’ve got some interesting things in the works for you, my friends. I’ll let you in on my plans soon…

But for now, take a breath and relax. Read a good book while you’re at it. You’ve earned it!