KindlePeople put up free reads and now you want to make money off of their work, and naturally, copyright owners don’t get jack, and of course, copyright owners have to jump through hoops to get their work off your site, while pirates make merry…
And you get to make $$ of it?
Bad, bad manners…
FYI, folks, if I were you? I wouldn’t pay that subscription fee.
Kindle“Yes, Commander?”
“Get your ass out here, and in my quarters. You have ten minutes.” There was a few seconds of silence and then he added, “And bring Xan with you—will save me the trouble of pretending to look for him when I already know where he is.”
Syn made a face at the door and listened to the faint sound of his footfalls as he walked away. Then she turned and met Xan’s gaze. “He may decide to tear into you for being here. He’s still pissed off at me…you might end up catching some of it now.”
Xan shrugged. “I can handle it. I heard the order go out and I chose to ignore it.” He stood from the bed and grabbed his clothes. “Although I don’t have time to go to my dormer and grab anything but the clothes I wore yesterday.”
“Not an issue. If we’re lucky, all he’ll do is assign us to latrine duty for the next few days, and trust me, you don’t want to mess with clean clothes on that job rotation.”
Xan’s face twisted with disgust. “I’ll take your word on it.”
“You’re probably going to end up in trouble.” Syn sighed and flicked her hair back from her face. “I’m sorry.”
He caught her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Do not be. There is no where else I would rather be, I promise you.”
Syn felt the blood rush to her cheeks and her heart fluttered. Forcing a smile, she said, “Lets hope you don’t regret those words.”
Borders |BAMM | B & N | Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon | Powell’s
KindleHunted by the Others by Jess Haines. Read this Friday… finished the last few pages, literally, while we were walking through the fairgrounds at the Kentucky State Fair…with my husband rolling his eyes at me.
Yes…it was good. But what sucks? I thought book 2 was out already. Sigh…Pretty sure the author is new. Which also means can’t find a bunch of other stuff. Double sigh.
KindleOkay, so I’m going to DragonCon, yep. I’m going kind of last minute, but I’m going.
I will be (most likely) speaking on a few panels at the Writer’s Track (is that how we call it?) although I don’t know where/when yet. I’ll get that info, but not until I’m there.
But I know I’ve got some readers/friends who are asking about some sort of meetup, so…..what I plan on doing is posting via twitter, but I know not everybody tweets like mad the way I do…or at all. I also plan on trying to post the info via my blog, will try to set it up once I’m there on Thursday.
Hopefully that will work… O.o
Still trying to figure things out.
Kindle
Also posted at GoodReads
This was awesome-Definitely excited about the new world Jeaniene Frost has created and now I need to catch up on Shayla‘s Doomsday Brethren. I don’t think I’ve read anything by Sharie Kohler before but now I think I’m going to have to check her stuff out.
**Disclaimer…due out in October. Shayla gave me the ARC.
KindleGetting closer…just a little over a week…
And what do you intend to do when you find him? she asked herself silently.
Her belly clenched. “Is jumping him an option?” she mumbled.
“Jump who?”
Even the sound of his voice, low and smooth and deep, made her shiver. The icy knot inside dissolved, just like that. Just that easy.
Just that simple. He hadn’t even touched her.
Just the sound of his voice thawed the ice.
But the aching loneliness lingered.
Stopping in her tracks, she turned her head, following the sound of that voice. He was in the very outer edges of the camp, sitting with his back to the camp’s inner wall, with a knife in his hand. He stared at her and the heat in that one dark, dark eye was unmistakable.
Her knees threatened to give out.
Swallowing, she started towards him, placing one foot in front of the other and trying to decide if she should really do this.
Then he leaned his head back at the camp’s inner wall and a faint smile curled his lips as he stared at her. “You are utterly beautiful,” he murmured.
Oh, hell yes she wanted to do this. And not because of the compliment, although it did further serve to weaken her knees. But because when he looked at her, with that intent, probing stare, it made her feel as though all he saw was her. It made her see nothing but him.
It made her forget she was anything, anybody other than just herself. She was simply Syn…and it made her want him that much more.
Sinking to her knees beside him, she eyed the knife in his hand. He was carving something. She eyed it curiously and glanced up at him. “What are you doing?”
He brandished the bit of wood in his hand. “Trying to occupy my mind so I do not come looking for you. And you…I do not need to ask what you are doing. You are avoiding giving me an answer.” A grin curled his lips and he added, “Again.”
“Avoiding giving you what answers?”
He lowered his lashes, staring at her from under them and murmured, “You said something about jumping someone. I asked who. You haven’t answered.”
“You already know the answer,” she said slowly. She flexed her hands and then rested them on her thighs. Hopefully, it would keep her from reaching for him. Hopefully.
“So you want to jump me…what exactly does that mean? Have I not been the good little soldier boy for you, Captain?” As he asked, something glittered in his eyes.
Something wicked. Something hot.
Her heart started to race. “You know, I’ve never once felt the need to strip naked when somebody calls me Captain. Until now.”
“Are you feeling the need to strip naked?”
She bit her lip. Curled her fingers into the thick, durable fabric of her pants, gripping it desperately. “Yes.”
Borders |BAMM | B & N | Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon | Powell’s
Kindle
Thursday Tips-geared toward the newly contracted/newly published author. If you’ve got comments or Qs, feel free to leave them in comments.
Besides librarians and booksellers, another group of people you don’t want to neglect or abuse?
Bookbloggers.
This doesn’t mean going and totally schmoozing it with them. While some may be totally into that, chances are it will annoy others.
Just talk with them.
When I say talk, I don’t mean hit their blog with
Hi, I’m Shiloh Walker and I write erotic and paranormal romance, with some romantic suspense thrown in and I see that you like Lora Leigh, JR Ward and Linda Howard. Because of that, I think you should give MY work a try. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you a copy for review.
Folks…this isn’t talking. This is basically invading a blog, and most authors who use this spiel almost always do it where there’s already a conversation going on. So not only to do they intrude on an active conversation, they are doing to pimp their own work, and coincidentally, they are throwing around big names in hopes of catching interest.
Does it work? Well, you might grab a little bit of interest. But you’ll also annoy a number of readers—you’ll alienate them. If you’ve alienated them, they are less likely to try your work, whether or not they say anything at the present time.
On the other hand, if you actually just talk…well, you can build up some friendship, or at least friendly relationships and that will do you a heck of a lot more good than the bit of interest you might gather from heavy-handed promo. Because when you leave a good impression, people remember you, they talk about you and not in a—holy crap, did you see how she just totally interrupted us to pimp her shit-how rude!—sort of way
When I say TALK, I mean… TALK.
Something like…
Oh, man…. Linda Howard? I love Linda Howard. One of my favorites from her is Son of the Morning. That woman can write.
Readers tend to get aggravated when an author invades on conversations just to promo-whore her stuff. So despite what you might hear from some sources, I really don’t think it’s going to do you any favors to try that route.
Here’s an example: If you were having conversation with a friend at the bookstore and somebody suggested a book they liked, or a book they’d loved by an author you were discussing, chances are you wouldn’t mind. This might even be something you have done.
But lets say this person more or less shoves her book at you…
Oh, wow. I see you’re looking at the latest Lora Leigh. Wow. I write just like her, or so people have told me. I think you should try my stuff.
Folks, this isn’t a good sales pitch. It’s heavy-handed, it’s awkard. Some authors can work this sort of thing into a conversation. Others? Can’t. Many of the ones I see online? They can’t. They are the ones who intrude on messages boards at Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, all in the name of pimping their stuff.
When authors use this sort of tactic, it brings about…an awkwardness, we’ll say. Some people may be unsure what to say, period. Some aren’t going to say anything for fear of hurting the author’s feelings. Some just don’t like conflict. And…um, well others just might tell you off to your face. But it puts a strain on what had been a pleasant, open conversation and they can no longer freely discuss things. This isn’t going to help endear you to them, and again, despite what some people think, I really don’t believe it does a big promo boost either.
On the other hand, if you can just talk to readers and bloggers about the common ground we’ve got? Which is a love of books? That can do you a world of good. If you can be genuine. I never set out to build a huge network of bookblogger friends. I was just talking to people about books, because…well, I kind of love to talk to people about books.
I don’t really talk about mine—I feel weird talking about my books. If somebody asks questions, yeah, I’ll answer. But when I’m at a book blogger’s blog, a reader’s blog? I’m there to talk books. If I’m at another author’s blog, I’m either there as a guest… I don’t mean a guest blogger-those are different rules, I mean as in a guest in their house…or as a friend. It does us well to remember courtesy.
However, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t help get my name out. People ended up at my blog because they saw me talking at other blogs. I’ve had people tell me they bought my books just because they saw me recommending other people’s books—and no, this isn’t why I do it. If you can’t be honest when you’re out there in blogland, don’t bother because, people? Readers aren’t stupid and when you’re putting on a front, it comes through a lot more clear than people tend to realize.
Just remember that readers and bookbloggers… They are people…treat them with courtesy and respect, and they’ll give it back.
Kindle 
)
Still no cover.
Not yet.
Oh, well.
If I was artistical, I’d tried to mock up something like I think the cover should look, but I’m not artistical.
How about just the blurb and an excerpt?
Due out early summer of 2011, I believe…
UNKNOWN PAST
Something strange is happening to Nessa. Ever since she survived a near-death experience she’s not exactly who she used to be—and enjoying every minute of it. Then she’s called upon to go to battle against darkness. If only she could remember why.
UNEXPECTED LOVER
Dominic is having his own problems with memory, sanity, and hallucinations. Sent to Excelsior, the covert Hunter training facility, he senses a female presence that seems so hauntingly familiar. That’s because he and Nessa share a forgotten past.
UNSEEN EVIL
As Nessa and Dominic regain their memories, their strange mission against evil becomes clearer. And all the more dangerous because whether they should trust each other is the still the greatest unknown of all.
Excerpt…There was smoke.
And there was blood.
The air was thick with the smoke and he was going to choke on all the blood. Couldn’t breathe, but even if he didn’t have all the blood pooling in his throat, he wouldn’t have been able to take a breath.
The pain wouldn’t let him.
It stole through him, turning everything to ice.
She was crying. He could hear her. She cried and wept and pleaded with him not to leave her. But he had no choice. Death was coming, coming to rip him away from the one person who mattered.
Even though he slept, he felt the burn of tears. Felt them well up under his eyes, felt them burn their way down his cheeks. He wanted to wipe them away. Wanted to wake from this awful dream.
But he was helpless, locked in his slumber, locked in his dreams.
there ya go… short, quickie excerpt…okay, okay, here’s a little bit more…
KindleSince I was such a tease last time, I’ll do a longer post today…
“Is it this?” He reached up and touched the patch covering his eye. “More than one person has had a hard time meeting my gaze because of it. Although I would have thought you were more accustomed to those with unsightly scars.”
There was no inflection in his voice, and though the light was dim, she could see his face well enough to know there was no expression on it.
“Your scars don’t bother me at all. They aren’t unsightly—I’ve seen far, far worse. God knows, we all have our share of them.” She jerked a shoulder and said, “Some of us have scars much uglier, although many carry them on the inside.”
“Then why do you never look at me?”
Syn felt the blush once more start its slow climb up her neck, staining her cheeks, her face. “I do look at you. I am looking at you.”
“Because I’ve all but made you,” he replied, his brow arching. “Truthfully, if I wasn’t touching you, if I wasn’t asking you for a straight answer, what would you be doing?”
“Truthfully.” She tore her gaze away from him. Truthfully—she didn’t want to tell him truthfully. But what was she to do? Lie? Somehow, she suspected that unless she gave him an answer, he could wait forever.
She could break his hold and she knew he wouldn’t force it, but she felt foolish doing that.
Swallowing, she looked back up at him and said flatly, “If you weren’t touching me, if you weren’t pushing for an answer, I’d be clear on the other side of camp.” On the other side of camp. Alone. And cold. Again. Always cold. Except when you touch me. How sick was it that the highlight of her days now centered on when there was training and she could put herself in the circle with him? She’d spar him, and only him, every damn day if it wouldn’t have looked so suspicious.
“Why? Again, I ask you, have I offended you?”
“No.” She forced the word past her tight throat.
“Then if it isn’t that, if it isn’t my scars, perhaps it is just me.”
“No.” The word slipped out before she could stop it. Idiot. If she was half as interested in self-preservation as she should be, she should let him think just that. If he thought she had a personal problem with him, maybe he would leave her alone.
But I don’t know if I really want him to leave me alone. And her body already knew it didn’t want to be left alone.
“Then what is it?”
He was closer now, Syn realized. When had he moved closer? She swallowed, aware that her throat was terribly dry, that her heart was racing. Her head was spinning, too. Damn it, he smelled good.
She had to tip her head back to see him now, he stood so close. She could feel that seductive heat of his, shimmering between them. The heavy intensity that made up his being had surrounded her, slammed at her shields. Through them, she felt something she really didn’t need to feel. Not if she wanted to keep her distance.
He was every bit as aware of her as she was of him.
Every damn bit.
Her control shattered and she reached up, hooked her hand around the back of his neck and pulled his head lower. As she slanted her mouth against his, she felt his surprise—it lasted all of two seconds before he wrapped both arms around her body and hauled her close. He straightened and her feet left the ground.
Their mouths opened and she shuddered as she traced her tongue along his lower lip. Male. The heady male taste, his scent, all of it flooded her and she wrapped her other arm around his shoulders, straining to get closer.
Want.
Need.
It dominated Xan’s every thought and he was just a heartbeat away from forgetting everything—himself, where they were—a heartbeat away from forgetting everything and everybody who wasn’t Syn.
She tasted like honey and heat. Her mouth was soft under his, but there was nothing hesitant in the way she kissed him. Nothing at all nervous. She kissed him like she craved him. She kissed him like she absolutely had to do it, or die.
Off in the distance, he heard voices. Instinctively, he moved, walking blind until they were lost in the shadows between two buildings.
There, he backed her up against a wall and leaned into her.
Syn wrapped her legs around his hips and rocked against him.
Xan was utterly convinced the top of his head was going to come off if she did it again. Sliding a hand down her side, he cupped her hip and growled against her lips, “Do that again.”
Borders |BAMM | B & N | Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon | Powell’s
Kindle
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Okay, so I’ve had a lot of people commenting/emailing/DMing me about an article I had in the RWR-the magazine for RWA’ members. Basically, it was a look at the pros and cons of digital/epublishing. Because it does have it’s pros and cons.
Now I’m getting some questions about what to look for in an epublisher/digital publisher, what makes a good contract, etc, etc, etc.
I don’t think I’m any sort of expert and please don’t take this as any sort of expert advice.
But if I was shopping for a new epublisher-and I’m not, so any epublishers who might be reading this, please do not take this as an invite to leave your info. It’s not one…and pretty please, please take note that I reserve the right to redecorate/re-edit posts that come off as overly-spammy versus actually contributing to a conversation. If you want to contribute, by all means, but that means…um…discuss, not just spam my blog. (Yes, this happens, it irritates me. A Lot.)
If I was shopping for a new digital publishing…the first things I would do:
If all of this worked for me, then I’ll submit a book. If it’s accepted and a contract is offered, that doesn’t automatically mean I’m signing. Certain things will make me pause, and certain things will make me stop cold turkey.
Now one thing that doesn’t make me stop, at all, worldwide English rights–YOU WANT THIS. In my opinion, at least, this is a good thing, because one thing my digital publishers helped me do was build a world-wide fan base and those readers were waiting for my traditionally published books the day they hit the shelves. Without those digital books, they wouldn’t have even known about me.
For a more comprehensive list of things I’d look for on digital pubs, you can check this post out.
My advice to those looking to digital publishing–talk other digital authors and hang out at the forums on absolute write, that sort of thing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and remember, it’s your book.
Don’t be so excited to get it published that you end up signing a contract that doesn’t get you the best deal you can get.
I don’t believe publisher contracts are out to screw authors over, but those contracts are designed with the publisher in mind, not the author. If you know how to negotiate, or get an agent who knows the ropes, you can work out a contract that benefits both of you.
If you don’t have an agent, make sure you get a contract attorney to review it before you sign.
Get every new post delivered to your Inbox
Join other followers
