S.E.’s Comments (group member since Jan 16, 2013)

S.E.’s comments from the S. E. Lund - Author group.

Thanks Paris -- I look forward to your specific comments in email! I really do appreciate the time you take and your honesty -- but you know that!

I would prefer if beta readers could send specific comments to me in email just to keep spoilers completely off the board.

Thanks.

I did a comparison between the document I sent you in Feb, Paris, and the one I sent you on Friday and have made a few tweaks to the tone of both Drake and Kate. I agree with your overall comments on likability. I didn't change much, just a few comments made by both so I hope the new version is softer. I don't want either character to be unlikable so that's pretty important. So thanks!

Paris (kerbytejas) wrote: "just so you know I'm about 50% - but I have be highlighting things in the pdf - so i can show you where/what I'm talking about.

I will say that i'm not as attracted to chapers 1 & 2 as I was on th..."

I look forward to your comments Paris. The first two chapters are so important to attract a reader since those are the ones that will be shown in preview. I don't want people to be turned off by unlikable characters and poor writing...

ETA: I should say that specific comments should go to me in email, whereas general comments on overall response (liked, hated, etc) can go here. On the advice of my editor and psychologist and general advisor, I should keep specific comments in private so readers who may happen here aren't spoiled!

I look forward to hearing other reader's POV on the first two chapters and the issues you raise.

I like Elizabeth Lund, but it's hard to get noticed as a new name and I do have a readership already from my PNR series as S. E. Lund... While not everyone in PNR will want to read my CR, some may. I would have to start from scratch if I went by my full name.

So torn... as an indie writer, I need all the help I can get to get noticed.

Here are the options:



Comments? Preferences?

OK, so I am dithering on the title and author name... I have asked my graphic artist (the man of such patience) to prepare a cover with the following:

Title: The Agreement (rather than The Arrangement since there is only a short story out there with that title)
Subtitle: Can love be restrained?
Author: S. E. Lund


The other option is:

Title: Unrestrained
Subtitle: Love was never part of the agreement...
Author: S. E. Lund

The Colonel thinks I should capitalize on my existing readers and use the name that's already out there. I tend to think The Colonel is pretty smart so...

What do you think? I will post the cover art when I get it and I need more feedback...

Thanks!

Charlene wrote: "I'm realizing it was actually a bit earlier than that (pg 189). Dawn had just spoken to Lana and had left her apartment because Drake was coming over. She had been "sick" all weekend. Sooo happy at..."

YAY! Glad you enjoyed! I've already thought of a few tweaks - just a bit more backstory here and there, but I will await comments from others before I start my revision.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Charlene wrote: "Up to page 198 now, and just had to rest my eyes for a bit...I've been reading non-stop! E, you are breaking my heart with this story (actually have tears in my eyes!). I don't think I'll be able ..."

It's there! I promise!

Um, what does page 198 translate to? What major event hinted at in a non-spoilerish way are you at?

Charlene wrote: "I'm up to Chapter 6, and so far...loving the new additions. I love how you took our feedback and refined some things E. I had to put my ereader down to get some chores done, but it was difficult. ..."

YAY!

Hello!

Please post your very general non-spoilerish comments here. I ask that you keep the spoilers to private email so we don't give too much away. But of course, post general comments, especially if you enjoyed! Good buzz is great!

The novel is ready to go. So what format do people want? I can send it for Kindle or Nook or PDF...

What I need from people is this: (answer as many as you feel like but if I've let you have a read, please help out by providing feedback of some kind)

Did you finish the book?
If not, where did you lose interest?
Why did you lose interest?

IF you read the whole book:

How did the:

First page work?
First chapter?
First two chapters? (usual preview on Amazon)
First half?
End?
Too much sex? Not enough? Just right?

Did you like the novel overall?
What parts did you dislike?
What parts did you REALLY like?
Were you confused at any point? About what?
What did you think of:

Kate?
Drake?
Dawn?
Lana?
Ethan?
Elaine?

What title works best?

The Agreement
8th Avenue
Unrestrained

What author name?

S. E. Lund - capitalize on existing readership
Elizabeth Lund - better name for contemporary romance

Any help you can give is greatly appreciated!

I hope one of the books y'all read is mine! Should send the entire draft out tonight!

I'm thinking of how to get my new book publicity. What do people think about giving it away free for one day during the first week just to get it in front of people? Lots of people cruise the free list each day on Amazon. I don't have name recognition yet so that people will be waiting to read it other than those who already have read my books and know I'm writing a new one.

I can do some promotion before hand -- I'm hoping to start a week before release date with announcing its release date on Twitter and Goodreads, Facebook. Hope to have early reviews to post on Facebook and my blog to generate buzz. Maybe see how it goes the first week based on whatever promotion I do, and then give it away for 24 hours just to get it out there in front of new readers.

So, I have to start thinking about promotion for my novel. I need to choose a title, cover art, write a blurb, and have a press release. I need to find book bloggers who will review indie contemporary romance books, I need to set up a blog tour. I need people to promote it on Goodreads and with groups who have reach, like SubClub and other book blogs and groups.

Anyone who wants to help is welcome to brainstorm or help in any way you can. I can't pay you but I sure will give you a personalized signed print copy of the book when it's available.

I think readers are becoming the new curators of what sells in a more direct way through places like Goodreads. Instead of literary agents.

So, what drew you to your most recent books. Where did you hear about them? What made you decide to read them?

For me, it was Goodreads readers who brought the books to my attention. I saw them on someone's comment and clicked on them, read the blurb and downloaded a sample to my kindle and then decided to buy them based on that.

Just passed 90,000 words. Another 10,000 or so to go -- maybe by Sunday night this week. A week early. Depends on how the writing goes. I have it mapped out and just need to put in the words. My sister has read everything and thinks its good -- she says she's addicted to Drake. LOL. Hope the end is satisfying...

Charlene wrote: "I will say that I found books 3 & 4 of the Shadowlands series to be a bit repetitive, but the last 2 have had very different story lines which have kept me engaged. More of a suspense plot to these..."

It is a way to introduce readers to BDSM and I did get more of a clinical intro to it myself (studied in a grad class)...

To me, at least in fiction, story should come before anything else and the story lines of the three I've read are a bit too cookie cutter - just change the female character's name and hair color and occupation, and then the Dom's, add the club and all the rules and practices, shaken not stirred. It works though but I don't think I could read another one if it is just the same template with different superficial details...

Yes -- I give props to Cherise. Her Doms and HOT!

Super hot alpha male Dominants who have an almost psychic ability to gauge the inner workings of a woman and know how to bring out her submissive and very responsive sexual side. Who among us can resist that? They all are trying to resist becoming involved with a sub outside the lifestyle because of some personal tragedy but can't resist this new sub who challenges them in so many ways that other subs don't...

That formula works for me too, but the writing style just feels a bit too didactic and the Doms a bit too perfect. But I did read three of her books so props to her... ;)

Paris (kerbytejas) wrote: "actually is almost a stand alone book - you will see a few characters named from the previous "mountain Series" but thats all - just so you won't be surp..."

I'm torn about this series. I like some things and dislike some things.

I'm enjoying this book and have to hand it to Cherise for creating such compelling Doms. I love "My Liege". He's DAMN HOT.

However, the stories are starting to be a bit too repetitive of story structure and setting. I really don't like her subs and I can't escape the sense that she's in teacher mode in every book she writes as if these are primers on BDSM. Things seem to happen as "teaching moments" that seem a bit too obvious for me. The women are a bit repetitive too -- they all are very similar. They are all smart and strong but have a secret desire for submission that only some big strong Dom recognizes. They happen onto this secret world and they all have big boobs and are a bit curvier than might be considered attractive. They all have some man who is a bad example and who acts like a foil to the "real" Dom. There seems too many convenient things happen so we can be taught something about the lifestyle.

If I want to learn about BDSM I would prefer to read a non-fiction book and keep my fiction dramatic and with a coherent story that isn't just about proper technique and practice, the characters mere teaching devices. Is this just me? There is this pedantic or pedagogical tone to the narrative.

Maybe it's just me...