Terry Odell's Blog, page 54

Some More Friday Fun

I’ve been busy this week going over my three Triple-D Ranch books in preparation for writing a fourth, so it’s time for some more fun. Hope there’s a smile in here for you.

 

 

 

Now available for Preorder. Trusting Uncertainty, Book 10 in the Blackthorne, Inc. series.
You can’t go back and fix the past. Moving on means moving forward.

The post Some More Friday Fun appeared first on Terry Odell.

Meanwhile, Back on the Ranch

Meanwhile, Back on the Ranch

First, if you haven’t seen my simple system for keeping track of character names, I’m sharing it over at today.

Trusting Uncertainty is now in the hands of my editor. I took a couple days off, but I need to be working on something—even knowing it’ll be set aside when I get the edits back—or I’m no fun to be around. I thought about a short story or two, but I really don’t like that format. I’ve decided my next project will be another Triple-D Ranch nove...

BookBub Featured Deal Followup

BookBub Featured Deal Followup

Last week, I shared my results from a BookBub featured deal for my first Blackthorne, Inc. box set which includes the first three novels in the series. Results were good, and more than paid for the ad. But another goal when deciding to pay BookBub’s steep price point was that it wasn’t going to be a one day wonder.

It’s now been a little over a week since the featured deal, and I have more data to look at.

I let the 99 cent price run for a week, starting four days ...

More Friday Fun

I’ve been busy working through Trusting Uncertainty to get it ready for my editor, and updating my website. Did you know you can preorder the ebook? Links on the book page.

Meanwhile, here’s a change of pace.

 

 

 

Have a good weekend.

The post More Friday Fun appeared first on Terry Odell.

The Next Steps for Trusting Uncertainty

The Next Steps for Trusting Uncertainty

After reading the manuscript for Trusting Uncertainty in hard copy, it’s time to fool my brain and give it one more pass, this time by making it as close to a ‘book’ as I can get it. To do this, I use Draft2Digital’s conversion software and convert the file to an epub so I can sideload it onto my ereader. As I read, I make brief notes that I’ll deal with later. There are the inevitable typos, but I’m also looking at flow and continuity. My usual practice i...

BookBub and Best Sellers

BookBub and Best Sellers

I was fortunate to get a BookBub Featured Deal for my Blackthorne, Inc. Novels, Volume 1 last Friday. As far as advertising channels go, BookBub is still the 500 pound gorilla. Their deals are pricey, and hard to get. I’ve been turned down repeatedly, and my rationalization is that I’m saving a lot of money with each rejection.

But this time, they accepted my submission. There are all sorts of theories as to what criteria they use, but one of them, I think, is a good pri...

Audio, Bargains, Character Descriptions, and More

A potpourri today.

First, I’m excited that the audiobook format of Deadly Options has another new outlet–Authors Direct. As a matter of fact, so do most of my audiobooks. We’re still working on refining my website with links on the book pages, but you can see them all here.

To celebrate, I’m offering Authors Direct codes for Finding Sarah and Deadly Secrets. To get yours, just use the contact form in the nav bar and in the message section, tell me which one you’d like. I’ll email you the link.

N...

More Reader Hiccups

More Reader Hiccups

Last time I talked about hiccups, speed bumps, and roadblocks, and the topic dealt with profanity, which could be any of the three depending on the reader. Today, it’s more about the hiccups. Things that pull readers out of the story momentarily, but probably won’t make them give up the book. Or the author.

I’m talking about experiences readers—and characters—bring to the book.

One example. I was privileged to beta read a book for a best-selling author. Aside from feeling gr...

Hiccups, Speed Bumps, and Roadblocks.

Hiccups, Speed Bumps, and Roadblocks.
When reading a book, there are all sorts of things that can pull a reader out of the story. I call them hiccups, speed bumps, and roadblocks. Trying to avoid them is virtually impossible, because readers bring their own experiences, preferences and peeves to a story.

Hiccups are those little things that give a reader a moment’s pause, but they’ll keep reading.
Speed bumps make a reader stop and think. They might disagree with what they’ve read based on what ...

Working Beyond the Book

Working Beyond the Book
I’ve finished the first draft of the manuscript, and it needs to sit for a while so I can read it with fresh eyes. What am I doing while it marinates?

I’ve been working on a tag line for the book, brainstorming with one of my critique partners. Granted, she’s only read a little more than half the book at this point, but she’s good about telling me if something resonates or not.

After some back-and-forthing, it became apparent that we had different ideas about the heroine...