C.B.’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2015)

C.B.’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

I know I have sold books because of being on Goodreads. In fact, I know that I have sold many many books because of being here.

But, that is because I have done the work. I networked all over the place, interacted with others, put up promos in the right places, and did book giveaways (of just one copy, which works just fine btw, save your money!)

Goodreads is a great tool for connecting! You need to do the leg work though.

Ben wrote: "I just bought 10 copies of my own book and listed them for sale on eBay $5 cheaper than the other resellers to see if I can make some easy money for myself! ."

You sly boots!

Ellen wrote: "Last year when I just published my novel through CreateSpace and put it on the amazon market I was curious after a few weeks to see if it popped up on a google search. All of a sudden I was linked ..."

That isn't piracy Ellen. People do that constantly on eBay.
They sell things they don't have for a crazy price. Then, if it does sell, they buy it and send it.
You would get the royalty, but the customer would be fleeced.
Unfortunate, but not illegal.

You would be hard pressed to find a book that this isn't happening to.

I don't think the two-tone tagline works that well. It would be better suited as a single colour. perhaps as the orange? It might need an outer shadow or glow to make it legible, I think that would go a long way!

The dark area is a purple and not a true black. Not sure if it is intentional or not. On the screen it looks a bit washed out though because of this.

Just minor nitpicks really. Otherwise I think it looks pretty good.

I got that email as well, and I replied to it.

I had replied because I had recently changed my banking information, like a week before and had questions. Thinking on it now, maybe not the best idea... still.

The reply I got back had information that only Amazon would know in the first place, unless of course they got hacked, but they didn't ask me for baking information or anything in the email. It sounded pretty legit and they knew my banking information had changed recently. they even knew the amounts paid, and payments have shown up in my account. They even knew that a mistake duplicate payment had happened.

I would think as long as you don't change info over email you will be fine. You might not even need to change yours. Try customer service on the amazon site itself and find out?

The very first line (the dedication) in the very first thing I published is an Easter Egg. Everything after that is as well honestly.

I am pretty sure my writing style is called the Easter Egg style.
Seriously, I think everything ever mentioned is an Easter Egg of something.

Well, it happened.

Someone heard from someone else that I made fan art for those that had none. Someone not even in this group who has never seen this post!

Here is fan art for Calvin Westbrook for Jackpot. Arnie Walker seems to have stolen more than he can chew and has unleashed a Genie... who is also the Fonz, apparently.

It isn't even past noon yet here, but who can say no to glitter juice?!

*Raises glass*

InDesign is not 2 stars! Not by a long shot. It is magical and I love it.

InDesign takes years to learn fully.

But saying that, you can probably find a tutorial online for exactly what you want to do. If you follow that word for word you can probably fake it well enough to do it!

Maps? What are those? Consistency? Ph-shaw!

:)
Actually, I love fantasy world maps, that first page of a book that shows you all the places they will go! I loved those as a kid, and still do.

However, in my book the world is a jumbled up mess that is never explained. It is confusing, as there are deserts beside tundras, a city with a name that isn't visible on the map because it is cut off, and where things are in comparison to other places are really glazed over. The characters go where they go, they hardly ever stay long, and then it is forgotten.

In book 2 all that is said is that there are a bunch of spires on the continent that have elemental themes and a city spire in the centre.

The world is a plaything that I can edit anytime for the story, and I will never explain it, nor do I need to because nothing is set in stone...

Now, I did this on purpose. So... probably don't follow this advice! And even saying all of that... I still have a map hidden on a file in my computer that I secretly reference.

T.L. wrote: "CB; if one were to die in a glitter mine I'd at least be happy to be leaving a pretty sparkly corpse ;-o "

Live fast, die young, and leave a sparkly corpse!

S.J. wrote: "C.B. for president!!!"

Millions would die in the glitter mines... but it would be worth it. A noble sacrifice!

S.J. wrote: "Hiya,

What are your favorite snacks to munch on while writing? Right now I'm halfway through a slab of mint chocolate. I'd like to say it aids the creative process but that would be fibbing :)"

But mint helps to stabilize the brain, and chocolate has been scientifically proven to help combat run on sentences. (maybe?)

Spreadsheets are the magic that keeps fantasy worlds from imploding. Without science, the magic fails.
At least for me.

The rules of the magic, are what keep the magic alive.

Organization is vital for me when it comes to keeping track of things. In my long novels at least. In my short stories the rules are always different, but are short enough to keep track of in my head. So with those ones it is just some notes if I need them.

:)

What? really? that's amazing.

Okay I admit it. I really have thought about it. The only one I know for sure is that I want Hippolyta, the Amazonian, feminist, lesbian, easy to anger/be offended, massively chested warrior woman to be Gwendoline Christie.

If you read this Gwendoline, you would be perfect!

Rachael wrote: "Sean Bean's probably a bit old to be Alfred now..."

Whoa. Spoilers. Now we all know that Alfred dies.

J.J. wrote: "As long as they don't cast some generic underwear model and rewrite the story so the guys are unnecessarily shirtless or the gals unnecessarily sporting skimpy underwear."

Just like me... except
As long as they cast some generic underwear model and rewrite nothing so the guys are unnecessarily shirtless or the gals unnecessarily sporting skimpy underwear.

Asylum films are about as hilarious as they come! I love how random the cameos are.

I want my movie to be like that... except... not as terrible.