Hi, I'm Ellie Keaton, new here and could do with some help :-)

[Ellie]

Hi guys

I hope I am doing this right lol. I'm Ellie Keaton. I live in the UK but am finally moving home to Dublin in August after 16 years in London. The UK has been great - allowed me to meet the man of my dreams and as a result I have three lovely kids but I have always yearned to go home. It's finally happening yipee :-)

I started writing years ago but was always too nervous to write a book. I still am lol - have only managed two short stories so far.

When my kids came along, I had to give up work so supplemented our earnings by working online writing articles and stuff. But you cannot get too excited about writing about HVAC and other household products lol

After being told loads of times that I should follow my dream, I started writing earlier this year.

Anyway I have finally published two short stories - they are based around 9/11. Why? Well like everyone else I can remember exactly what I was doing on that awful day. Working in a brokerage in London - well we weren't really working as we were glued to the TV set.

I know a lot of people who have been impacted by terrorism and therefore I felt I should give something back. So a % of the profits from my series are being donated to Tuesdayschildren.org which was set up to help kids affected by 9/11 but has evolved and helps kids (including those from Britain and Ireland) affected by terrorism.

My hubby and kids take up most of my time but when I have some free time I like to write. When I am not writing, I love to read. The Morland Dynasty series by Harrod Eagles is my all time favourite but I also like John Grisham (I prefer his earlier books) and also some Irish writers like Cathy Kelly.

As you can see I never know when to shut up so I will leave it at that for now.

Cant wait to meet you all.

Take care

Ellie

Http://www.elliekeaton.com

Links to books

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0084733Q4

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084733Q4

[Patti (baconater)]

Yay Ellie!

Welcome!

[Philip (sarah)]

Hi Ellie and welcome. Are either of your books available on Amazon?

[Ellie]

Thanks very much Patti and Philip
@Philip yes they are but I wasnt sure if posting a link was the right thing to do here. I posted it on new releases though.

[Patti (baconater)]

Yep please post links.

Your author thread is your home within the group, Ellie.

Please feel free to post absolutely anything you like in it.

[Ellie]

ooh thank you :-)

I would love some reviews so if anyone fancies reading a short story then please let me know and I would be happy to send you the book.

Thanks :-)

[Ellie]

Hi guys

Me again - just wondered if anyone had any tips on how to get some reviews for my book. I want to pulse it (give it away free on amazon next week) but in order to get the marketing plan to work, I have been told that I need at least 20 reviews. I have five :-)

Is there a thread on here (tried searching) but couldn't find one that showed what you guys did when you were starting out?

Thanks a mil

Ellie

[Patti (baconater)]

Hmmm....

I can't think of a specific thread on that topic, although it has been discussed here and there in the group many times.

A thread would be a good idea.

Why not open one with your question, Ellie?

[Ellie]

oh ok thanks Patti (again :-)

I thought it might be seen as a promotion and I don't want to upset anyone lol

Ok I will have a cup of tea and become braver :-)

[D.D. Chant]

Hi Ellie!

Well done on taking the plunge into indie publishing!!!

[Ellie]

Thanks DD - its exciting and nerve racking. For example I want to know what people think but then I don't if you get me lol

[D.D. Chant]

Ellie wrote: "Thanks DD - its exciting and nerve racking. For example I want to know what people think but then I don't if you get me lol"

Lol! Of course: a writer only wants to hear how good they are!!! ;-P

[Gentian]

OH, can i join in here to? I know i'm not an Author the only thing i can offer is if you want your own personalised theme song i can help there:):):)

[Ellie]

You are very welcome Gentian. I would love a personalised theme song - that is very very generous of you, thank you.

The whole series is going to be based on 9/11 survivors (or those that lost loved ones) and some of the proceeds are going to Tuesdayschildren.org so think a theme along those lines would be awesome.

I dont know if you like to read short stories but if you would to get an idea for the music etc then please let me know your email address and I will send the first book in series.

Thank you again :-)

[Gentian]

Ellie wrote: "You are very welcome Gentian. I would love a personalised theme song - that is very very generous of you, thank you.

The whole series is going to be based on 9/11 survivors (or those that lost lo..."

Hi Ellie, i love short story's:)
My email is gentiangentian13(at)gmail(dot)com, thanks so much.
So excited.:)
Way to go Ellie:)
Bye for now:)

[Ellie]

On its way :-)

I am heading to bed now so will be back tomorrow. Night all

[Gentian]

Ellie wrote: "On its way :-)

I am heading to bed now so will be back tomorrow. Night all"

Me too:) bye..

[Gentian]

Hi Ellie, been thinking of your theme song coming good so far but how long would it need to be?
Is it a book trailer?

[Ellie]

Yes I would love a book trailer but dont ask me how long they need to be lol- I need to find someone to do the whole video thing for me - I am so not technical

Whatever you think yourself - you have loads more experience than I do :-)

Thank you again - really looking forward to it.

I am taking my little girl to the park now so will be gone for a couple of hours - so not ignoring you if you send me a message :-)

[Gentian]

Ellie wrote: "Yes I would love a book trailer but dont ask me how long they need to be lol- I need to find someone to do the whole video thing for me - I am so not technical

Whatever you think yourself - you ha..."

If you like i can do the whole thing, you just have to tell me what kind of pictures you want.
I've put in D.D Chants book trailer for Broken City to give you a ruff idea:)
If you have already seen it sorry:)
Trailers are normally 45 seconds or a minute long:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zT9Ce...

[Ellie]

Gentian wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Yes I would love a book trailer but dont ask me how long they need to be lol- I need to find someone to do the whole video thing for me - I am so not technical

Whatever you think you..."

I love that trailer and the music is amazing. Gentian thank you for the offer but I couldnt have you do that as well. The music is more than enough

@David lol you havent seen my technical skills but I could give it a go. I have animoto so maybe I could use that.

[Gentian]

David wrote: "Apologies, first, I should have read Gentian's post in full before I opened my trap.

Can't say anthing about animoto cos I've never used it, but trtust me, I'm no techno genius."

I don't mind:):)

[Gentian]

David wrote: "I just took a look at that trailer, too, Gentian.

Spectacular, to say the least.

I can't compete. Brilliant piece of work."

Really! .... Thank you so much, thats ever so nice of you to say i'm really happy you liked it:)
Oh goodness you've made me blush!! *Woot woot*

[Ellie]

Gentian - how much do you charge for the whole video if you were to do it?

@David -lol

[Gentian]

Ellie wrote: "Gentian - how much do you charge for the whole video if you were to do it?

@David -lol"

Hi Ellie, Sorry i took so long to answer, as to charging, i don't charge but if you feel uncomfortable with that you can make a donation:):):)
Got to tell you i've started the song *Smiley face*

[Ellie]

Oh that sounds great :-) I would have to make a donation as I dont feel comfortable asking you to work for free. But the large donation will have to come when I am a best selling number one author lol

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Welcome, Ellie.

Ellie is a member of British Indie Fiction

(the idea was started on this site, Ellie).

Best of luck!

[Ellie]

Thanks very much David. I really appreciate you for including me. I didn't think I would qualify being Irish but I love being part of such a nice group of authors. :-)

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

No problem! Who's David? ;

[Ellie]

oops - was reading another forum before this one (the other UK one) and that authors name was David

My apologies (blushing like crazy now)

[D.D. Chant]

Ellie wrote: "Thanks very much David. I really appreciate you for including me. I didn't think I would qualify being Irish but I love being part of such a nice group of authors. :-)"

This is Andy!!! ;-P

[Patti (baconater)]

D.D. wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Thanks very much David. I really appreciate you for including me. I didn't think I would qualify being Irish but I love being part of such a nice group of authors. :-)"

This is And..."

Actually, he's another Darren. ;)

[Ellie]

ok guys I am totally confused lol

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Yes, it's all very confusing ;)

Maybe I should be called after one of the characters in my books? :)

[Patti (baconater)]

Ellie wrote: "ok guys I am totally confused lol"

Don't feel bad. That's my usual state. :)

[Gentian]

Ellie wrote: "Oh that sounds great :-) I would have to make a donation as I dont feel comfortable asking you to work for free. But the large donation will have to come when I am a best selling number one author lol"

Thanks Ellie, thats very kind:) Coo i'm excited:)
Right so what kind of pictures are you thinking.
Also what do you want the text in the video to say... it can be the synopsis of the book or as it's a series of book's it could be "find out what happens to the children who encounter terrorist attacks first hand," Not being an author that was really bad!
You will put it a lot better, but you know what i mean... hopefully:):) LOL
If their is something specific you want in your trailer, just tell me:)

[Jim]

I'm still Jim, but I suppose I could change my name if it helped.
Perhaps all the males on the thread could be called 'Bruce'?

[Patti (baconater)]

Or 'Dude'.

Whatcha think, dude?

[Jim]

Patti (Stir Crazy) wrote: "Or 'Dude'.

Whatcha think, dude?"

trouble is to warrant 'dude' I'd have to start wearing a baseball cap back to front and take the belt out of my trousers to they hang at half mast
My daughters would disown me.
Not only that but I don't suppose I'd be able to use words with more than six letters ;-(

[Patti (baconater)]

But, you could carry round a skateboard. Wouldn't that make it all worthwhile?

[Jim]

Patti (Stir Crazy) wrote: "But, you could carry round a skateboard. Wouldn't that make it all worthwhile?"

Actually (he says with a nasel drawl that probably means he won't add the phrase 'my good woman') I'd have you know that I ride a bicycle and see no need to revert to early bronze age technology!

;-)

Mind you, it must be said that I managed to be born in time to miss the whole skateboard thing (I've never used a skateboard or a games console ;-))

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

I was a roller skater, myself. Not those fancy ones with rubber stops on the front and with boots attached - the old metal ones with the size slider on them...missed the skateboard phase somehow...

[Patti (baconater)]

Now I've got a Melanie song stuck in my head.

As long as it doesn't turn into a combine harvester, I should be okay.

[Ellie]

Gentian wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Oh that sounds great :-) I would have to make a donation as I dont feel comfortable asking you to work for free. But the large donation will have to come when I am a best selling numb..."

emmmm not sure on pictures. The video could be used to promote the books and feature kids to support the charity but I am thinking more that the video should highlight the book.

But then do I want pictures of 9/11 on a video -I think most people have vivid enough images of that tragic day and dont need me doing pictures.

Oh I am so not creative when it comes to art and stuff. Anyone else have any ideas that I could borrow/steal lol

[Ellie]

This is so funny and sad - seemingly its been all over twitter.

http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/the-m...

[Jim]

Ellie wrote: "This is so funny and sad - seemingly its been all over twitter.

http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/the-m..."

amazing
As you say, funny AND sad.

[D.D. Chant]

Ellie wrote: "This is so funny and sad - seemingly its been all over twitter.

http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/the-m..."

Well thank you very much Mr. I'm not a self published author!!!

We spend YEARS being polite and trying to give indies a good name and in one night he destroys all our hard work!

Indie's are just managing to change the percepcion that readers have toward the self published label and then something likes this happens. How many people will read and hear about this and have their opinions of indies being rude and delusional reaffirmed??? So many people will be put of taking a risk on an indie book because of this.

Really: I could cry!!!

[Jim]

I suppose we can always tell people that we're so busy writing great stuff that we've had to subcontract the being rude and delusional to someone else, and isn't he making such a wonderful job of it

"It's a million to one chance but it might just work!"

[Pat ()]

this is very sad I have read his Dragoneers Saga and enjoyed them. What he has done is beyond belief. No one is above being polite to their fellows, no one!

[Ellie]

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "No one is above being polite to their fellows, no one!"

That is so true

But I wonder how many books he has sold since this storm hit. Fantasy isnt my thing at all but even I am tempted to see what his writing is like lol

Sad I know but not as sad as watching the Eurovision (in particular those twins representing Ireland!"