Lilly Rayman's Blog

Buzz Page Case Study

I love the thrill that comes from writing a book, of getting it edited. Then I love the formatting, making it look gorgeous and the cover art that wraps it all up in sexiness. I even enjoy the feedback that comes from the readers that love my books with every review that is left.I've never been much of a marketer. I find it hard to actually promote myself.So, I'm left with the issue of how do I find those readers to enjoy the work I have spent so much time on?I've previously ran preorders with Amazon KDP, the greatest success I ever had was 15 preorders, and that was my first use of the option. I put An Unexpected Revelation: Book Two of The Unexpected Trilogy up for preorder last year, I was bummed to only gain 4 preorders. Sales have done better for the title since, but only just.I was given the opportunity to join a mini course on Buzz Pages with Zero Alchemy. I pulled up my shirt sleeves and gave it my all. What harm could it do to try something a little different to promote my final in my Unexpected Trilogy?Using the Buzz Page information from Rebecca Hamilton of Zero Alchemy I decided I would give preorders another chance and run with it for An Unexpected Hellhound: Book Three of The Unexpected Trilogy. I also made the decision that I would set my preorder up for 99c - a sale price against it's actual selling price of $4.99.I then had to promote my buzz page - yet somehow it was easier to share on blogger posts and in reader groups that I had awesome giveaways for everyone to enter.I had a very limited budget. So, I kept myself to sharing on social media, and setting up a few newsletter swaps to promote my buzz page.I found I had a HUGE increase of preorders, as you can see just here.Yet I was running giveaways - and the numbers of entries for the giveaways on the Buzz Page, they didn't actually tally up to the preorders.So, what else made the difference?I also used a couple of paid newsletter promotions for An Unexpected Mating: Prequel to The Unexpected Trilogy - a perma free title, which generated some big downloads - or promotions of An Unexpected Bonding: Book One of The Unexpected Trilogy. It's hard to judge whether the money invested in those promotions has been returned, because downloads of a FREE book don't generate sales straight away - although I did find there were a boost in sales of the rest of my series on the days of the free promos.I used five different newsletter promotion services, and found varying results in all five of these services. Since they all ran pretty close together, it was a little harder to define which service had the best success - although I have narrowed it down to two newsletter services that I will use again, Book Rebel and Fussy Librarian.

Expect the Unexpected!

Cinematic magic? Free Books? Giveaways? I've got it all!The final book of the Unexpected Trilogy, An Unexpected Hellhound is finally available for preorder, and until it's released you can get it for only 99c - a saving of $4!To celebrate its release I commissioned Jessica from The Magic Quill to add a little bit of cinematic magic to the series. I'm in love all over again! Check out the series now at mybook.to/AnUnexpectedTrilogyLooking for some giveaways or free books to celebrate? Head over to my website page with all the details!

The Mystic Order of Withlings

The Bow of Hart Saga is set in the world of Denaria with its own history, people-groups, religions and history. Part of the back-drop for the first book of the series, The Bow of Destiny, is the history of the mystic order of Withlings. This religious order worships their deity, Eloch, by learning to spiritually abide in his presence. Their catch-phrase, "What is needed is given," best describes the outlook of Withlings; they can only serve as Eloch provides.While this premise seems limiting, it isn't for Withlings who are capable of performing astounding miracles and speaking prophesies. Often, they will not speak of anything or act unless they determine from their mystic discipline that it is Eloch's will for them to do so. It is the basis of their lives that they best serve by learning total obedience. However, this does not make them infallible as they are just as apt as anyone to misunderstand the meaning of their actions and prophesies. Only the wisest of Withlings have learned to withhold their speculations regarding any action taken or events experienced.At the time in which The Bow of Hart Saga is set, there are few Withlings left in Denaria so that few people have even met one in generations. Tales are remembered from past centuries of these once well-known servants of Eloch, but few know much of them anymore except for the longer-lived people-groups such as elves and dwarves who still revere Withlings.One of the main characters from The Bow of Hart Saga is the Withling, Hastra. Part of Hastra's story is told in the short story, What Is Needed, which explains the events surrounding the demise of the Withlings. Interested readers are invited to read What Is Needed as well as the other prequel short story, Trading Knives.The Bow of Destiny takes up the story of the Withlings amid much mystery and magic, focusing upon the young ranger of Auguron named Athson. This ranger is drawn into a quest involving a Withling prophecy about a mythic bow. Fantasy readers are welcome to join the hunt for the Bow of Hart by accompanying Athson on his adventure.An Arrow Against the Wind continues the quest for Athson as he must determine the best course he should take in matters regarding his past and present, including the shared wisdom of Withlings. But Athson's distrust of Withlings and his familial past create a set of challenging choices which he determines to navigate on his own, almost heedless of consequences.Once The White Arrow begins, Athson is faced with a new choice regarding Withlings, one which will seal his destiny. The march to the final confrontation leads Athson on a far different path than he anticipated and a far different answer to the questions of his past, his relationship with the Bow of Hart and the prophesied White Arrow.Find The White Arrow at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B074813RMB

What Happens In Journey?

Carl wakes up naked and confused on a deserted beach, his last memories of being abducted by aliens. As he slowly begins to explore his new surroundings, he is greeted by a strangely dressed woman who offers to lead him to her village. He agrees, hoping the village has a means for him to contact home.But the village is not what he expected. The people live in primitive conditions, without electricity and certainly not anyway to contact the outside world. In fact, most of the people in the village were not born on Earth. The woman, Tanya, informs him she is the Witchdoctor’s daughter and that the peninsula they live on is all there is. They can never leave with an impassable desert blocking a land escape and sea monsters blocking the water.But Carl is different than the rest of the villagers. The aliens, unlike the other abductees, left him with his memory of Earth fully intact. He is determined to journey to the mainland and find a way to return home. His second task is to win the heart of Tanya, who is forbidden to have a man in her life.To see Journey on Amazon please click here.

Enter The Human Race

The Superhuman Race was conceived close to 3 decades ago back in 1986. It was supposed to be a comic book story. An artist was hired and panels were drafted. I procrastinated, not sure on the concept and the artist moved on. It later evolved into a book with a journalistic style, I wrote a couple of chapters this way and I loved it. But I wasn’t too sure if I wanted this format. So I stopped.At one time I considered hiring a ghostwriter to write the book, for me getting the story out was my satisfaction. I would become a story creator, writing the outline with the ghostwriter writing the book, it didn’t pan out.For a while, I put the book on the back burner. With priorities in life coming into play, I concentrated on working 2 full-time jobs for years. Exhausted, my creativity couldn’t come out, I was too tired to think. I only worked, slept and ate for years.My creative juices always in the background, they came back even with the exhaustion I felt. The cause for this; there were books being published with a hint of my story. I knew I needed to put this out before my ideas became a general thought to the rest of writers.Not satisfied with my story and where it was going, my wife suggested I put the theme of the story in the future. With my interest in all things future, it felt like a perfect fit. Thus the Superhuman Race was born into the future.I had initially 3 stories separate from each other, created way back in 1986, fusing them together only made sense. At the time, there weren’t a lot of multiple story arcs in a novel. I thought this would be different and began writing my outline. Then came GOT (Game of Thrones) and other books and I felt I was on the right track with the book as far as multiple story arcs.But now, it came for me writing the book. I am an impatient person and doing a book that would have taken a year to a couple of years to finish, was just too daunting a task and frustrating. So why not with my love of comics and soap operas and television serials, why not make the book into a novella, with cliffhangers or one-shot character stories and make them all in the same world (Universe). In other words make a comic book format novella, numbered and set in a comic book form with prose.Writing the first book took only a month, getting it ready for publication took over 6 months. My research on getting my novella out was more in how to get it published. And which was the best route to get it published? I did not want to go the traditional route; which was finding an agent, waiting to get accepted, then more time waiting to get published (years) plus, I wanted complete control of my product idea.Which is where I am now; The Superhuman Race is the beginning of a series that will be ongoing and my hope entertaining. I’ve enjoyed writing the characters and I hope you will enjoy reading them.Enter the Superhuman Race is the first book in a continuing Novella series set one-step into the future. It’s a quick read with about 25k-35k words, give or take, with the next book out every 2-3 months, maybe sooner.It deals with humanities struggle against a one world government with advancements in technology as the backdrop. Including humans chipped, cloned and enhanced on physical abilities through natural or artificial means. This is not a dystopian story, but a story on what happens when humanity reaches the threshold of technology in the future. Does humanity change for the better? That is the question.It’s the Superhuman Race the next evolution against the Human Race who have become oppressed in this future timeline; A very possible path that can take place if we’re not careful.

The Dim Zone

How far is too far?Mercenary Yul Vrean is hired by billionaire CEO Mathias of Cybercore to bring back alien samples from a remote planet in the Dim Zone. It’s a region rife with murderous space pirates and slavers, the warlike Zikri and Mentera.This alien technothriller is full of deadly space battles, extreme action, bio-mechanical fusion, killer aliens, a touch of the bizarre and fantastic… it will certainly intrigue fans of Alien, Predator and The Matrix.In a race for mechnobot technology, genius Sigmund Hresh has engineered a prototype for what may be the holy grail of AI. The uses of such technology vary from the sinister to the saintly. Yul and his space thugs may be the only link preventing the next galactic war and saving the human colonies from hostile aliens.The Making of The Dim Zone...The booktrack audio component was based on many space classics with similar textures to Alien Covenant and Life. I created composite alien effects from mixes of digital samples and animals, using pitch effects and warping. All in all, an eerie backdrop to the alien planet Xeses, and later, the corridors inside the starship Orb of the Zikri hunters.Enjoy The Dim Zone, the next book in The Timelost series:Booktrack (free): Amazon:

Saving Paludis

Over one hundred and forty light years from Earth, Paludis sits in the Pisces constellation, on the frontier of human exploration. It is verdant and beautiful – a world to be treasured. It has also been scarred by wars of colonization.In the year AD 3989, human invaders control the planet and have done so for hundreds of years. Paludis is the planet's Earth name; the indigenous population, reptilian in nature, call their home Musk.The Muskans are now restricted to a remote peninsula in the north-east of the main continent. The humans have taught the aliens their language and some of their ways, but the Muskans prefer the traditions of their ancestors. Or do they?So what can go wrong? Well, quite a lot actually.Mankind maintains a tentative footprint on this world, surviving on the proceeds of bauxite mining, with most living a hand-to-mouth existence. But when scientists from Paludis share a technological breakthrough with the Earth authorities, peace swiftly escalates to conflict.Stefan Lattanzis never expected Paludis to become a battlefield, nor Earth for that matter. To try and save his home world, Stefan must team with two strangers, a botanist, Clare Cavanna, and mysterious seer Serpentine. As embattled factions vie for control of the universe, the trio must trust in each other to keep the new technology from ripping time and space apart. ‘Saving Paludis’ is not just an interstellar war novel. It reflects human nature in all its extremes: hate, jealousy, control, love and sacrifice. And what about the aliens – do they share these traits? In some ways yes, in others no. They are, after all, alien. But retribution is high on their agenda; an overwhelming desire to regain their planet. Quite how they attempt to do that must remain a secret! If you like futuristic technology, alien political intrigue, and high-octane, paranormal action, then you’ll love this electrifying interstellar adventure!I invite you to enter deep space, use the Einstein-Rosen bridges, and touch down on Paludis. Join Stefan and his friends to help save their world. You’ll love it!Find ‘Saving Paludis’ at: For more on Clayton Graham and his books, visit his website and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also join him on Goodreads.

Political Dirty Trick, A Crystal Moore Suspense, Book #3

Crystal’s good friend, Ron Drake, is a shoo-in to win the gubernatorial race in Texas. Two volunteers in the opposition camp(George and Ginnie) believe their candidate’s only chance is a political dirty trick that will sink his numbers in the polls. They construct an elaborate hoax and with a source in the D.A.’s office, leak fake news to the media.The dirty trick is successful and Drake’s numbers plummet. But things go wrong and a man is killed. Ginnie is determined not to get caught for the man’s death, and to cover it up, another man is killed.Crystal sets out to find who is leaking the unfair information. She has no idea the murders are connected to the fake news. But as she begins to gather clues, Ginnie decided no one is looking for her or George - except Crystal. To Ginnie, Crystal must be eliminated and she makes several attempts on Crystal’s life.Drake’s once invincible lead evaporates and on election day, he comes in second. But the election isn’t over. The attempts on Crystal’s life aren’t either. Drake may lose the election. And Crystal may lose her life.Political Dirty Trick is the third of the Crystal Moore Suspense Series, but it can be a standalone read. Nothing from the previous books in the series is needed to fully enjoy this book.Senior Reviewer D. Donovan of Midwest Book Reviews said, "Powerful in its characterization, plot, and narrative interactions,　Political Dirty Trick　is the item of choice for thriller readers who like their stories steeped in realistic scenarios and possibilities."Thriller writer William Doonan said, "It’s tight, it moves along at a nice clip, the characters are engaging, and the tension is real. It reads like a fast-paced James Patterson cliffhanger."It is available in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats from Amazon at or from IngramSpark.

A Graveyard Visible

There's a graveyard visible from Caleb's bedroom window, and it grows a little bigger every day. He sees funerals there each evening, but nobody's dying. He investigates, he measures. Misha, the strange girl who lives there with her grandfather, takes an unwanted interest in Caleb, and he can't shake her off. But he's sure those peculiar mourners, the same ones at each graveside every time, are forcing her into rituals against her will. He finds himself deep in a world of the dead, and it may be too late to climb back out.This is a shivery story that takes a fresh look at a very familiar location - the graveyard. No mere zombies or vampires here. These revenants are being ripped from their final resting place, and all will be punished.We meet Caleb, thirteen and still reeling from the death of his mother. He deals with this grief alone - his father is shut off in a world of work, and his grandfather is sinking rapidly into dementia. Misha, outcast by the other kids, could be his last chance at a friend - how far will he go for a shot at friendship? She is not easy for him to deal with. Misha has no love for a world that has labelled her as victim. Caleb, then, is in for a big shock when he expects her help in saving the town. These kids, already struggling to find their place in the world, will be tested to their limits as the horrors escalate... PRAISE FOR A GRAVEYARD VISIBLEOUT NOW on Amazon, and any online book store you can think of :)myBook.to/AGraveyardVisible

Tangled Ends Release Tour

TITLE: TANGLED ENDS by Taylor Dawn GENRE: Contemporary Romantic SuspenseLiam McDermott of the DEA had one job. Bring the infamous hacker, Kat McCormick to the FBI field office in Biloxi Mississippi. With her secure in handcuffs, Liam finds himself running from the people who want her dead. He must protect her no matter what, but can’t resist the temptation of the pink haired tech wizard. Lives are on the line as he races the clock to help bring down one of the biggest human and drug trafficking rings in the United States. Can he slay his attraction to Kat long enough to get the job done? Or will he end up in an even more tangled web than before? Kat McCormick has spent her life hiding behind strings of binary code and screen names. Her hacking ability is second to none but soon she finds herself stumbling across information that puts her at the top of someone’s hit list. As she dodges bullets, Kat fights the brewing attraction to the Agent in charge of keeping her safe. Can she open up her heart and mind to help bring down the bad guys, or will she tuck tail and run like she’s done most of her life? Follow Kat and Liam as they try to unravel the truth in the fifth and final book in the Magnolia Series by Taylor Dawn.EXCERPT“I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG,” Kat McCormick screamed as the handcuffs constricted around her slim wrists. The grating click of the metal resonated through her entire body as the ramifications of her crimes slammed into her. She had been careful in staying under the radar in the past couple years but now, she found herself with her face pressed against the dusty hood of a DEA agent’s car. Hacking used to be a way to make quick cash but now, it could have her on the hook for murder. “You’re full of more shit than a Thanksgiving turkey.” Liam snickered. If she thought she was getting off that easily, she had lost her damn mind. “We traced your IP address which was linked to the framing of Agent Remington Archer of the FBI. I don’t know what world you live in, but setting up someone to take the fall for murder isn’t cool.” He added. “Anyone can piggyback off my IP address. There’s no way you can prove it was me.” She jerked around as he led her to the passenger seat of his new Camaro. “Then I guess you’ll have to sit in lockup until we can prove it, huh?” “You’re a dick. Scratch that. You’re a dick that ate another dick and then threw it up.” “Your insults don’t phase me, Miss McCormick,” he laughed as he opened the car door. “Think you can sit in the front seat and behave yourself?” “Bite me,” she sassed with a venomous look on her smooth face. “I’ll take that as a maybe.” He helped her into the seat, grabbed the seatbelt and pulled it across her. “If you touch my tits, I’m filing a harassment suit against you.” Placing his face just an inch or so away from hers, he said, “If I intentionally or accidentally touch your breasts, Miss McCormick, I have no doubt that you’d like it.” He smiled. “Are you trying to make a pass at me while I’m handcuffed?” “Nope, just stating facts.” “Whatever. Even if you were the last man on this earth, I would never be desperate enough to go near you.” “Really?” Liam raised an eyebrow. “Yep,” she countered.“Well, judging by your hard nipples, I’d say you’re lying.” She glanced down at the front of her shirt, then back to his face. “That has nothing to do with you.”“Keep telling yourself that, Sweet Pea.” Liam stood upright. Shutting the door, he then rounded the hood of the sports car and stood at the driver’s door with his phone in hand. Hitting the speed dial, he waited for an answer on the other end. “Agent Archer,” the man on the other end said. “Hey, it’s Liam McDermott from the DEA. I have Kat McCormick in custody, I’ll be dropping her off in about an hour.” “We’ll be ready.” He hung up, opened his door and slid behind the wheel. Liam had been keeping tabs on Kat for the past two years. Her genius level hacking skills had landed her in an interrogation room more than once but somehow, she walked away scot-free every damn time. This time, however, he had her, lock stock and barrel. The pink haired hacker was taken down with the help of Caden Madden, one of the best hackers on the entire planet. He also happened to be the younger brother of Agent Ryan Madden of the FBI. McCormick was on the hook for aiding deceased, human and drug trafficking kingpin, Alastair Bordeaux. She was apparently his go-to gal when he needed something done having to do with computers. According to her bank account, he’d paid her well too. Liam hoped the computer techs would be able to pull valuable information off the numerous computers that were seized at Kat’s hideout. With Alastair Bordeaux dead, the focus was shifted to his partner in crime, Dmitry. They still had yet to uncover the last name for the other man which made it difficult to track him down. The human trafficking industry was growing by leaps and bounds in the United States. Cities that were near major ports seemed to be the central hub for that kind of criminal activity. Liam had originally been investigating the influx of heroin in Biloxi Mississippi, with it leading to the discovery of the human trafficking trade. He now worked side by side with the FBI field office to help bring down the culprits. Bodies were piling up and someone had to put a stop to it. Girls as young as thirteen were bought and sold to wealthy individuals and most ended up dead when they’d served their purpose. Kat was in deep shit for the part she played and Liam wanted to see her put behind bars for the rest of her natural born life.Amazon ✯ Books2ReadAdditional BooksMy Review5 STARS of awesomeness!I was lucky enough to snag a Advanced Reader Copy, and experience my first taste of Taylor Dawn's writing. I can tell you, I was not disappointed! Taylor wove a story that has you flipping pages as fast as your eyes can absorb the words, you mind paints the picture she creates. The characters are rich and vibrant and you can't help but hate and love them. This is the last book in a five book series, yet it can be read as a standalone, although I do believe that some character development may take place in earlier books of the series. I would be more than happy to read the rest of the series to discover more of the characters, and delve into this unique world developed by Taylor Dawn.