Showing posts with label self publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self publishing. Show all posts

Friday, August 24, 2012

Two Ends of the Pen: Interview with Melissa Ohnoutka

Just in case you wanted to read more about my publishing journey. :)


Two Ends of the Pen: Interview with Melissa Ohnoutka: Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Target of Betrayal : Kathleen Landon thought her life would finally get b...

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Lots of Great Links to Share

Websites for Independent Authors



This is just a list I've made for myself and wanted to share. Check them out and use what you like. :)
Good Luck!!
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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Dare to Dream and Make it Happen!!

Good Morning!

As I was running around getting the kids ready for school, I was trying to figure out how to manage my time better as I listened to the radio. Boy did this song hit home! With every dream, there is a price. That price is what you are willing to give, be it time, sweat or tears, to achieve it.  "Dare to Dream" and then get out there and make it happen!!

Excerpt from Lyrics of the song: "How Bad Do You Want It" - Tim McGraw


People always ask me
"Son what does it take
To reach out and touch your dreams?"

To them I always say

Are you hungry?
Are you thirsty?
Is it a fire that burns you up inside?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?


How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line


I get to make my living
Doing what I love
Every night I give my heart and soul
Sometimes that ain't enough
But brother, if you're like me
Looking down that road


Be careful of that wild wind, son
Sometimes it don't let go
Can you feel it?Can you taste it?
Can you hear it knocking at your door?


How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?


How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line


There's always a price you pay no matter what you do
If you're gonna climb that mountain to the top
It always comes down to


How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?


How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line



For me, the price is going to be getting up earlier or going to bed later and kicking procrastination in the pants whenever it shows its ugly head. Whatever it takes to get those words down on the paper, I must do. Can you say more caffeine! LOL  Just thought I'd share. :) Off to write now!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Target of Betrayal - Live

Finally after months and months of edits and more edits, Target of Betrayal is alive, a mean available as an e-book. LOL Still waiting on the print version, but it shouldn't be much longer.

I'm excited, exhausted and relieved. So hubby ask me today, now that it is finished, what I plan to do with all my free time. Imagine his surprise when I smiled and told him "Now I can focus fully on my new NaNo story." I was almost jumping up and down. He's like, you're writing another one? Yep. It's official. He thinks I'm crazy. :)

Even with all the extra hassles of getting Target up and running, the NaNo story is coming along quite nicely so far. But then, for me, the first few days are always the easiest. Those last ones are down right brutal!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement through these trying months! I appreciate you all so much!

Amazon  



Good luck to all my fellow NaNo'ers!!! Write, Write, Write!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Links

My final run through is done and off to the editor on the next book, Target of Betrayal. Whew...I didn't think I'd ever get to the end on this one. It's a great feeling.:) I'm now working on the final edits for the cover and having way too much fun. LOL I promise to share soon!

Until then here are a few of the links I've come across this past week.


Amazon Algorithm Exposed - Very interesting


Another great resource for saving your sanity during the formatting process. :)
http://www.cjs-easy-as-pie.com/

Kristen Lamb's Blog -
Three Keys to a Successful Author Platform - All This and a Bag of Chips (Love her Blog titles!)

The Writer's Guide to E-Publishing -
What's So Special About Indie by Scott Nicholson - Worth a read. :)

And don't forget about the Northwest Houston Lone Star Writer's Conference coming this October 15, 2011!
It's not too late to register!!!     Northwest Houston RWA



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Links

Summer break, kids, and back to school really put a kink in my plans to have the next book out by the end of summer.  Two chapters to go and then I'll do one last read through and it's off to the editor. Whew! Better late than never, right? LOL

Taking a few mintues to share some really valuable resources. :)

Google Calendar - A must to keep track of all life's little distractions.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6186026_can-calendar-onto-computer-desktop_.html


 Self Publishing a Book -25 things you need to know:   http://reviews.cnet.com/self-publishing/

 7 Ways to Write a Great Book Review - Now this is a great way to help support your favorite authors. Fan mail and great reviews help us know we are on the right track and doing our job. Entertaining the reader.

How about using Skype to sell your books!  The Savvy Book Marketer 

Want a challenge? Try writing 10,000 words in one day. :) It's doable. Honest!
http://www.murderati.com/blog/2011/8/4/10000-words-in-one-day-no-wayway.html


And a few must-read Ebooks regarding Indie Epublishing to help you find your way.


1. The Indie Journey: Secrets to Writing Success by Scott Nicholson

2. How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months! by John Locke

3. How I Sold 200,000 E-Books, A Guide for the Self-Published Author by H.P. Mallory

4. Let’s Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should by David Gaughran


Okay, back to work for me! Enjoy your day and remember to Dream Big! :)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Links

Good morning! 

Someone please tell me why summer is flying by.  I know it's hot and we need rain, but I'd still like to make some more summer memories with the kids. LOL I'm not a fan of those early school mornings.

Let's switch subjects.  Maybe if I don't think about it time will stand still for at least a few minutes.  :) 

On to a  few interesting links I found.

Kristen Lamb's Blog - Highly recommend this blog.  There is always great information on just about anything you can think of. 

Today it's Cover Art:
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/creating-cover-art-down-dirty-tips/

I love creating covers.  Maybe a little too much. LOL  I should be writing, right? :)  The best advice I can offer is to study covers from your favorite books.  What's the background look like?  How big is the font?  Where is everything placed? 

The most important thing to remember is to use legal photos.  You can find free ones, but it's tricky and then there is always a slim chance they aren't as free as you thought.  Do your research first!  Before you design the best cover in the world and then find out you can't use it.  It will save your sanity!

Still fighting with Smashwords over formatting?

Smashwords Formatting For the Lazy Part 1


And for inspiration!

Forbes.com top 10 highest paid authors for 2010:

James Patterson,
Stephenie Meyer,
Stephen King,
Danielle Steel,
Ken Follett,
Dean Koontz,
Janet Evanovitch,
John Grisham,
Nicholas Sparks,
and JK Rowling.

Know what they all have in common? They write alot of books! :)

Now I for one like that fact.  Why?  It's obtainable.  All I need to do is sit down and write.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Links

Talk about Wacky! This picture says it all! LOL

We Love to Travel!
 These links are a bit all over the place.  Story of my life these days. LOL  Hope you find something you like and can use. :)

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that My Short Story Prequel -Shattered Souls of Innocence is due to release real soon! I must warn you though.  It's a teaser for the novel Target of Betrayal. What does that mean exactly?  Well, if I've done my job right, you'll be itching to read this next book.  LOL

Now to the links!

Niche-Marketing - Be Creative when thinking about who your readers are.

http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2010/07/26/boost-your-book-sales-with-the-magic-of-niche-marketing/

How about a Video Blog (Thanks to Marie for sharing this link!)
This is Not for me, but I love watching them. :)

http://desktopvideo.about.com/od/videoblogging/ht/howtovlog

Tip Sheets -Best Kept Publicity Secret?

Self Publishing Coach.com

So you are wondering about true sales numbers?  Great post by Victorine Lieske.

http://victorinewrites.blogspot.com/2011/03/sales-growth-over-time.html

How to Publish an Ebook for Multiple Platforms

The Savvy Book Marketer


How to Get Your Book Mentioned in a Newspaper - Lots of great suggestions here!

This was very interesting!  Marketing Methods that DON'T work.

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/06/book-marketing-methods-that-dont-work.html

Friday, June 10, 2011

My Guest - Suzan Harden!

I have a guest today! One of the great things about writing is getting to meet so many wonderful authors along the way.  Suzan's been working hard and now has two books released.  I've got my copies and can't wait to start reading!  Welcome Suzan! 



It’s a scary proposition to start your own business. Even scarier in today’s economy. And scariest of all? A business in arts and entertainment, one of the most unstable fields you can enter. But that’s exactly what I did in April. I started my own publishing company, Angry Sheep Publishing.

I have to give full credit for the sheep analogy to my online friend, Angela Benedetti. Angie writes for Torquere Press, an e-publisher specializing in LGBT romance. One day we were both bemoaning the current either-print-or-digital-only tug-of-war in publishing. She mentioned that it didn’t matter who she spoke with on which side of the debate. She was always accused of following the other side’s herd. And dammit, she wasn’t a sheep. She could think for herself.

I agree with Angie’s general philosophy—not every type of publishing is right for every writer and a story should be available in as many formats as possible. I also believe there’s room for everyone at the table. It didn’t help that I was getting the either-you’re-with-us-or you’re-against-attitude from some of my other writer friends as well. So after I vented to my husband later that night, he suggested I change the name of my blog from ‘Wild, Wicked & Wacky’ to ‘The Angry Sheep.’

Well, I didn’t change the name of my blog, but Angry Sheep Publishing was born.

Taking the indie publishing route has been scary, yes. I’m fully responsible for content, covers, editing and marketing. But also it’s also exhilarating. I’ve stretched myself further artistically than I thought possible.

Should every writer self-publish? Honestly, that’s up to each writer. I’m not going to lie. It’s damn hard work. But then I look at the cover for Blood Magick, the one my husband and I did all by ourselves, and I get a thrill that I made this e-book possible.

And someday, hopefully soon, I’ll have a print version of Blood Magick available as well.

***

Blood Magick is the first novel of Bloodlines, an urban fantasy series.

Blurb

It’s not the family you’re born to. It’s the Family you join.

Blood

Caesar Augustine has survived on it for millennia, but his friend Natasha believed she was close to a cure for vampirism. When she dies and her lab notes disappear, Caesar’s only chance to walk in sunlight again is finding her granddaughter Bebe, the one witch Natasha would trust with her research. But getting Bebe to trust him is another matter altogether.

Magick

Dr. Bebe Zachary has feared and mistrusted vampires for seventeen years, since the night she witnessed two of the bloodsuckers brutally murder her parents. When Caesar Augustine comes to her with an insane story that her grandmother’s death was no accident, the last thing she wants to do is believe him. Except her cousins have challenged Bebe for leadership of their coven, somebody definitely wants her dead too, and Caesar is the only the person standing between her and the grave.

Blood Magick is currently available through the following retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

XinXii

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Wacky Tips

Sorry I dropped the ball.  No Wacky Wednesday Tips to share this week.  I've actually been working! Really hard too! LOL 

Be sure to check back on Friday! Suzan Harden will be stopping by the blog to share her experience with self publishing.  She's on a roll.  Two books out and still more to come!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Links

It's official!  I'm now dedicating Wednesdays for Link Sharing! 

Since I can't stop myself from bouncing around the web and clicking on all the wonderful information links, I'm going to at least be productive while I procrastinate and share my finds with you. :)

It's a win, win situation as far as I can see.

Please feel free to share your favorites with me as well.  Who knows, if it's one I find really valuable there might even be a prize waiting for you.  Be sure I can contact you though, or at least check back and see if your name is in the winners box. 

I don't know how many times I've tried to give something away and then can't contact the winner. :(

So, without further rambling from me, here is what I've found this past week!  Some really cool gems!


WHERE TO -

Legally purchase photos:

http://www.dreamstime.com/

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/

http://www.istockphoto.com/

http://www.gettyimages.com/

Legally purchase music: 

http://www.shockwave-sound.com/index.html 


MobiPocket Ebook Creator

 CJs Easy As Pie Kindle Tutorials

How About a BOOK Trailer

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2011/05/12-easy-steps-to-the-making-of-a-book-trailer/

No Returns!  I had no idea I could do this!

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/

Gift Cards for YOUR Ebook!
Way Too cool! :)  Talk about possibilities!!

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=4154


Looking for a Great Contest for that manuscript?

Last Day for $5.00 Early Bird Discount!!
Northwest Houston RWA Lone Star Writing Contest
Enter Here!

$15.00 for members of NWHRWA
$20.00 for non-members

But hurry! Discount ends May 25!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Sharing Secrets with Tess St. John

Good morning all!

Today I'm visiting my good friend Tess St. John!

She's an amazing writer with her very own new release out this month.  "Second Chances" is a wonderful historical romance full of great characters and emotional twists.  I highly recommend picking this one up!

Stop by her blog , say hello and see what's up next! :)

Second Chances -- Out Now
Chances Are Series -- Book One



Lady Emma Easton’s elopement to an elderly earl shields her from an abusive father, until her husband’s death leaves her vulnerable once again. When she learns her father is scheming to marry her off to a brutal man, only one man can protect her—the earl’s trusted friend, Viscount Drake.

After losing his wife, Lord Harold Drake vowed never to marry again. But his heart warms to the young widow he’s promised to protect. Emma’s love frees him from the darkness that’s consumed him. But now Drake must protect her from her father’s evil whims, or face losing her forever.

BUY E-book:
 Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Have a Wonderful Weekend!
And don't forget to make time to READ! :)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Wild, Wicked & Wacky

Yep, that's where you can find me today! LOL

Wild, Wicked & Wacky

Stop in and see why you need to rest a bit after your book goes live.  The "What's Next" will have you running in circles if you don't have a game plan.  How do I know this?  It's my reality.  But, I'm working on a plan.  Really I am.  One that will give me the time I need to write, design covers, format, market and still keep my sanity. :)

All suggestions WELCOME!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Focus Please and More Dr. Pepper!

Good morning!

Procrastinating big time. Should be doing edits and working on the short story I've decided I must do to tie my books together nice and neat.  I sure wish I could actually see what was going on up there in my  head.  I wonder if it looks like my office.  Stuff must be scattered everywhere! LOL

As I've zipped about the Internet from blogs to websites, I found several interesting things and thought I'd share. :)


Need pictures for your blogs?  Not so fast!  Are you sure about the copyrights?

http://joconquerobstacles.com/2011/04/14/are-you-breaking-the-law-but-don%e2%80%99t-know-it/


This site is amazing!  So much information about publishing all in one spot!

Your Self Publishing Coach!


And just because this entertains me again and again.

J.A. Konrath


New to Publishing and Marketing?

Be sure to check out these spots:

Kindleboards.com
Nookboards.com
Mobilreads.com
Bookbuzzr.com
Google Books

Now back to work for me!

Wishing everyone a Wonderful Day!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Aftermath


Okay, so you've written a novel.  Spent months, if not years, working on edits and polishing your baby till it's nice and sparkling clean.  Even gone the extra mile and learned all the different formatting required to publish your masterpiece and design a great cover.  It's out there and you're so excited.  But now what?

Marketing.  Getting that book out into the world where readers will notice and want to read it is a hard and time consuming task.  Even if you've gone the traditional publishing route, alot of the marketing will be left up to you.  Unless you are a best selling author, not much time and energy will be spent on your book.  So what do you do?

Here are a few tips I've come across.  All books are different.  Some will work, some won't.  You just have to dig your heals in and give it all you've got.  It won't happen over night, but if you spend some time everyday working on new avenues for getting noticed it will happen.

Press Release Sites

https://www.pr.com/
http://www.prlog.org/pub/account.html
http://www.pressking.com/user/new
http://www.free-press-release.com/
http://www.clickpress.com
http://www.1888pressrelease.com/
http://www.24-7pressreleases.com/
http://www.express-press-release.net/
http://www.free-press-release-center.info/
http://www.PressMethod.com
http://www.Newswiretoday.com

Sites for Book Reviews

A Romance Review
All About Romance
Angies Romance Reviews
Cataromance Reviews
Coffee Time Romance
Contemporary Romance Writers
Dear Author
EHarlequin
Joyfully Reviewed
Love Romances More
Marilyn's Romance Reviews
Pink Heart Society Reviews
Reader to Reader
Reviews - Once Upon a Romance
Romance by the Blog
Romance Junkies
Romance Reader at Heart
Romance Reviews
Romancing the Blog
Romantic Times
Sheikh Book Reviews
Simply Romance Reviews
Smart Bitches Trashy Books
The Literary Times
The Romance Reader
The Romance Reader Connection

Extras
 
* Postcards with Book Cover and description of book to pass out when you are out and about. Also a great way to give someone an autographed souvenir for purchasing your e-book.
* Book marks with same info - Hey, I still use them. LOL
* Pens, Business cards, Magnets, etc. (easy to accidentally leave behind ;)
 
Networking & Blogging
 
Set up a blog where you can have links to purchase your books and share bits about your life or writing.  It's free.  And it's a great way to connect with your readers.  Then branch out to other bloggers.  Now I'm not talking about visiting blogs for the sole purpose of plugging your book.  Not cool.  Search the web for things you really enjoy.  Follow the blogs.  Comment on the posts.  People really do make the extra effort to click and see who you are. :)

Set Up Author's Page

* Amazon.com - (Don't forget the UK!  You have to set it up on both)
* Amazon.co.uk  https://www.amazon.co.uk/
* Goodreads
* Shelfari

 
I'm still brain storming and although it hurts sometimes (LOL) it's paying off.
 
Best of luck!  And if you have any ideas you'd like to share, I would love to hear them!  I'll even send a FREE print copy of my book for the best new idea! :) 

Friday, March 25, 2011

Interesting Thoughts

Found this to be very interesting and had to share.  
 
Selling to Traditional Publishing May Not Give YOU the Safety and Security Your Looking for in Your Writing Career.

Hmmm....

Check it out.  I'd love to hear more thoughts on this. :)

Dean Wesley Smith
http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=3665

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

So Why Human Trafficking?

With the release of my new book "Faithful Deceptions", I've had several people ask me why I chose to focus on human trafficking. 

Well, it all started with a miniseries on Lifetime back in 2005 called "Human Trafficking, staring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.  It's a mind boggling story.  I was in the middle of finishing another manuscript, but after watching this movie my muse jumped up and said, "Out of my way, sister!"

I sat down to write a brief outline of the thoughts bouncing in my head and the next thing I knew I couldn't stop.  Six months later, Faithful Deceptions was finished.  The rough draft anyway.  I've actually been working on the edits and revisions for this manuscript off and on since 2007.  After my first RWA conference in Dallas, I let it sit for awhile and finished the story I was working on to begin with.  Then switched to writing a middle grade book and Young Adult for a change of pace.  At least I thought that was why back then.  Now I'm thinking it had alot more to do with how the story and the human trafficking affected something deep inside me.  The research has always been a fun part of the writing for me.  Not so much with this story.  The things I read and learned were almost too much to bear.  And I had two young daughters at the time.  It really shook me up.

Maybe this subject is something I need to bring more out in the open.  Human Trafficking is not a crime that only happens in foreign countries like so many of us think.  I was one of those people.  Then I found out  how many cases actually take place right here in the United States.  The Walmart in my home town is actually a stopping point for those coming in from Mexico on their way into the U.S. with these young girls. Horrified isn't even strong enough a word for how this makes me feel.  I could sit back and thank the good Lord above that I have no real life experiences to draw on.  But I feel like there's more I should do to bring this out in the open.

This horrifying reality will be woven through my next several books.  And I think I'm the one most surprised by this sudden realization.  Funny how a story can grasp hold and not let go.  How it can dig so deep within you there's no escape, no alternative but to see it through.  Heavy sigh.  Another reason I love to write?  The possibilities, shocking truths and breathtaking journeys one's imagination can take you through.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Only Time Will Tell

It's been one hectic journey since the day I decided to take the next step in my writing career.  Talk about ups and downs.  I now understand why we go to school when we're young.  This tired brain of mine just refuses to learn like it used to.  Who was it that said, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'?  I'm beginning to think they were right on target with that!  This was one giant learning curve.  I know just enough about html codes to get myself in major trouble.  Let me put it this way.  Until my dear younger brother, who is the computer genius, told me otherwise, I thought html was an abbreviation for hotmail.  Go ahead.  Laugh.  He still does. :)

All this excited gibber to say:  If I've done everything right, (crossing everything I got) you should be able to find your copy of "Faithful Deceptions" both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as an ebook.  The print copy is still in the works, but I should have that worked out by the middle of March. Again with the fingers crossed.

Wow!  I can barely stand the excitement of knowing someone can actually pick up my book and read it.  What a wonderful feeling and totally scary thought all wrapped up into one.

Only time will tell what the outcome will be.

Thanks for all the support and encourement!  I could never have taken my dream this far without all the great writers and friends I've made along the way.  You guys ROCK!

Links to make it easy:

AMAZON - For Kindle

BARNES & NOBLE - For Nook

Off to do some more happy dancing! LOL

Monday, January 31, 2011

Falling Into Place

Don't you just love it when everything starts falling into place?  This has been one long, wild and harry journey and I'm so thankful for all the wonderful friends I've made along the way.  Even though we writers are a solitary bunch for the most part, this struggle is one we should never try to do alone.   

So thank you.  For your encouragement, your laughs, your willingness to listen even when things weren't going so well.  It means the world to me.

I wanted to wait a little closer to the release date, which may be moved up if things keep going this well, but I couldn't do it.  Not sure if this thrills me or terrifies me more.  The few people I've shared this with have been eagerly supportive about my decision to self-publish.  And here I feared I would be met with a list of why not's and nay sayers galore.  What does this tell me?  I guess I must be doing the right thing. LOL  There has been a giant weight lifted from my shoulders and it's the most wonderful feeling. Now if the darn butterflies would just quit attacking my insides, I'd be able to enjoy all this wonderful excitement. :)

A sneak peek at my cover. 




Shhhh....It's not quite ready yet and I'd hate to disappoint the masses. LOL  One can dream, right?

For those interested, here's a great link about self-publishing and Terri Reid's success. 
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-post-by-terri-reid.html