Michelle M. Pillow's Blog, page 63

FAQ: Why don’t you just narrate your own audio books?

FAQ: Why don’t you just narrate your own audio books?

A: I prefer to work with trained voice professionals, I lack the sound equipment, and you would get an entire book of my peanut gallery comments and digressions. Trust me, my readers deserve professional reads.

FAQ: Why it’s important to leave good reviews:

FAQ: Why it’s important to leave good reviews:

I know a lot of readers don’t know how important leaving a review can be, but a lot of vendor sites use that in their algorithms to determine what people see. The more popular the book, the more it’s seen, the more potential sales for the author, the bigger chance they’ll keep writing that series/genre.

I have a problem. Admittedly, it’s not a problem many will feel sorry for me for.

I have a problem. Admittedly, it’s not a problem many will feel sorry for me for.

When readers email me and want more of a certain genre or series, I want to say yes to them. Then I start trying to figure out how I can fit more of an old series into a packed schedule when I know I shouldn’t. I do listen to reader requests and consider them, because I fully understand that without readers, I don’t have a job. And, sales numbers are one very important way I (and my publishers) can listen to readers. So, if you like something, please spread the word, leave a review, AND email me (this last one cause I love hearing from you and it makes me smile).

How I decide what to write next: Bestsellers have to come first, then new stuff so I’ll have a job next year, then if there’s time older books. In the middle of this is administration duties for not only my writing career, but Raven Books, marketing and promotions, research, and a personal life.

It’s not that I don’t want to give you all the books you want, it’s there is only one of me and the men in black won’t let me clone. Apparently, too many Michelles would cause a pasta shortage in Italy…I don’t know, there were charts and stuff but I didn’t really listen past the word Pasta.

gnomes

Sometimes when I see a forest, I think, ‘This place needs more garden gnomes.’

I believe in a lot of cases, you get what you put out.

I believe in a lot of cases, you get what you put out.

Some people put so much energy into being negative and mean, and trying to get other people to act that way, too. I admit, I have my bitchy ranty days where I wish things were going better and I can be competitive, but I would never ask my readers to start a slam campaign on my behalf or attack another author’s work simply because they were my competition. IMO, that’s just bad form and that is not how I want others to treat me. Please think before you act, or encourage others to act–is this how you want to be treated in return?

Instead, here are positive ways I ask my readers to help:

Ok, I’ll beg. I’ll beg so hard it’s embarrassing, because I do need your help as an author.

1. spread the word about my books and tell people why you love them

2. leave honest reviews where you bought the book (reviews are a HUGE BIGGIE, they don’t have to be long or sound like they’re written by a English professor-just be you.)

3. Word of Mouth: vlog, blog, post, like, share, tweet, plus, link, omg please yes, etc etc

Heck, even simply sending an email that says, “hi, love your work, ok bye” can be a huge pick me up to an author.

Know I appreciate you, readers, I really do.

Which Dragon Lord Prince is your destined mate?

Which Dragon Lord Prince is your destined mate?

http://www.youthink.com/quiz.cfm?action=go_detail&sub_action=take&obj_id=41910

RAWR! Working… :)

Ok, time to ninja kick this day into starting! Let’s rawk this word count! RAWR!

…crap, the ether is standing right behind me isn’t it? knocking on wood now…

Deadlines and Phone Calls

Did I sleepily do a phone survey once and not remember? Cause wow. They won’t stop calling–politics, Nielsen ratings. I would like to apologize in advance for yelling “Dragon Lords!” as I answer the phone and hang up.

My faves are the “Hi, this is so and so, are you at least 18?” Those calls sound like the start of a very bad pick up line.

I want to bring a super fan over and have them answer for me. So they can lecture as to WHY I need to be writing…and how Alek should have picked them instead.

Doesn’t the whole wide world know I have deadlines? (lol)

Dragon Lords Worlds

Post by Michelle Pillow.

Poor Manfriend

Ok, ladies… So I had a bad dream where the manfriend did something asinine. I have every right to punish him for that today and make him make it up to me, right? I mean, that is how that works, right?

LOL