• About
  • Books

For the Love of Books

~ Talking about reading and writing… and the love of books!

For the Love of Books

Tag Archives: romance

Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop — My Favorite Christmas Cookies

16 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by elizaknight in Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

books, Christmas, holiday giveaways, kilts, mistletoe madness, romance

Image

I’m going to be baking a lot this week! Cookies for Santa, cookies for the Princesses classmates and teachers, cookies for the family and of course, cookies for me! I love to turn on sappy holiday movies while I bake–makes it so much more fun!

Here are a my top 5 favorite holiday cookies…

5. Peanut butter kiss cookies

4. Chocolate peppermint cookies

3. Cookie/brownie bars

2. Sugar cookies w/frosting

1. Pecan snowballs!

What are your favorites?

IImagen my holiday novella, A Kilted Christmas Wish, Darla loves pretty much anything chocolate!

Check it out…

Down on her luck with men, Darla Strider wonders if she’ll ever meet her own kilted hero. Considering she lives in present day New York City, the likelihood of that happening is nil. She’s certain only a Christmas wish could make her dreams come true. Until the day Aaron Sutherland walks into her café, and changes her whole world.

Leaving his pain in Scotland for life in the States, the last thing Aaron has in mind is hooking up with a city girl. But one look at Darla and she’s got him singing All I Want for Christmas is You…

Read it! Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Leave a comment for your chance to win an ecopy!

But there’s more!!!!

Grand Prize from the core sponsors is a $200 Best Buy Gift Certificate!

For a chance to win the grand prize and to see other authors on the tour, click HERE!

 

Self-Published Interview Series with Mary Tate Engels

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by elizaknight in Self-Published Author Interview Series

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Mary Tate Engels, romance, Self-publishing

silverEaringsHappy Monday! Welcome back to another week in the self-publishing interview series! This week’s interview is with romance writer Mary Tate Engels. Enjoy!

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS…

Thanks for inviting me, Liza. Since I’m published in both eBooks and print, I hope readers and writers will find inspiration and encouragement from my story.

  • What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)? Did you decide on eBook or print only or both?

What do you have to lose?

In a roomful of writers, editors, and agents at the RWA Conference in 2010, a prominent agent was asked about the advisability of self-pubbing eBooks. At that time, the entire conference was denying any substantial change in the industry. The room grew deathly quiet when he said, “What do you have to lose?”

I had already obtained rights to my backlist from Dell and Harlequin but wasn’t sure what to do with them and how e-pubbing would affect my career. The question struck me – what, indeed, did I have to lose? I could take my books from the out-of-print shelf to selling again. That’s win-win for me!

I had met Joe Konrath, Bob Mayer and CJ Lyons and watched what they and others did to take charge of their careers. They didn’t lose a thing by e-pubbing. Other influencers have been from Marie Force and all of the member/writers of the self-ClairesEmbraceFINALpublishing loop. They keep me informed and encouraged.

  • What went into the process? Writing, editing, cover design, formatting, etc… Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service from a someone, could you share who?

Game Change

For me, coming from the old school, agent-model, my learning curve has been huge. It started with accepting the changes in the industry, then my commitment to continue doing what I love – storytelling. So far, I’ve e-Pubbed 8 of my backlist – with 21 to go. The process began with scanning, then correcting and editing to update, then – cover designing! I studied how I want my name to appear and a few specific design elements, like the cat in my name and the zig-zags on my Southwestern books. My cover designer is http://www.digitaldonna.com and I love working with her. The other digital stuff is done by my husband and one of our techy sons.

  • What did you do to promote your work?

I feel that the best thing a writer can do is to write and produce a good book and another, so that has been my priority. I’m working on establishing my platform as a contemporary author writing about chasing dreams and finding love. I change my website landing page monthly and am considering a blog.

  • What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

DarkEmbraceFINAL-1Promotion-Promotion-Promotion!

The most difficult – promotion. Most writers will agree. The most rewarding – creating each book the way I envisioned it from cover to character arcs and fulfilling story. That’s powerful!

  • Can you list some Pros/Cons of self-publishing?

Big Picture vs. Bottom Line

  • Perpetuity of my book vs. a shelf life determined by a sales force that doesn’t know me and is only looking at the bottom line.
  • Global sales vs. limited sales determined by publishing house distribution centered on their own bottom line.
  • Full control for the writing and publication of my books vs. full responsibility.  I like the control, perpetuity, and reaching readers globally. But it’s a lot of responsibility and hard work.

The reward of hearing from my readers, many in foreign countries, that my stories or characters touched them is my bottom line.

  • Can you give a rough breakdown of your sales numbers from your first month to the present?

Sales, schmells!

At last count, I’ve sold over 15,000 books and 3 times as many on Amazon as on Smashwords. Foreign sales are picking up, which I find very exciting. And I always offer a book each month for 99-cents.

  • What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

What do you have to lose?

Just this: Your reputation as writer.

Make a commitment to produce the best book possible. If you produce crap, even once, you risk losing readers. Give them a good story, entertain them, excite them, and inspire them.

  • Make sure your writing is stellar – hire an editor if necessary.
  • Craft your story the best it can be.
  • Ensure the formatting is correct so that you’re giving the reader the best quality in a book form that they’re accustomed to.

EmbraceableYouFINALREADER QUESTIONS…

  • What genre(s) do you write in? How many books do you have out? Titles?

Published in both fiction and non-fiction. Books are listed on my web site: www.marytateengels.com

I write Romantic Women’s Fiction – strong women chasing dreams and finding love.

I have 8 contemporary Western eBooks:

Speak to the Wind – currently 99 cents

A Rare Breed

Love’s Dawning

Callahan’s Gold

Rogue Diamond

Under the Desert Sky

Under the Desert moon

Coming soon: Irish Hearts trio: Claire’s Embrace, Dark Embrace, Embraceable You

Nonfiction – Southwest History:

Tales from Wide Ruins, Jean & Bill Cousins, Traders;

Corazon Contento, Sonoran Recipes & Stories from the Heart

  • What do you love about the genre(s)?

What I love to read and write: Sexy romance, strong women, inspiring characters, amazing in spite of difficulties, exploring cultural differences, kickass adventure and travel, awesome and upbeat stories.

  • Where can readers find you?

My website http://www.marytateengels.com; on www.facebook/marytateengels.com ; Amazon for Kindle; www.smashwords.com for B & N’s Nook, Apple’s iBook, Kobo and all other readers. I offer a 99-cent special each month because I want my stories to be accessible to everyone.

  • Where can readers find your books? Print/eBook?

My eBooks are all listed on my website and all major eBook distributors. My landing page is a mini-newsletter giving info about my current activities, books, and travels. Also, you can e-mail me at www.marytate_engels@yahoo.com. I love hearing from my readers and will always answer.

  • What works do you have coming out in the future?

I am so excited about these three related books, all of which will be out by March.

Claire’s Embrace, a prequel set in the 1960’s, is Three Weddings and a Funeral meets Love Actually.

Dark Embrace, set in Ireland, is Sex, Lies, and Video Tape meets The Chieftains.

Embraceable You, set in a small Maine town, is LL Bean meets Victoria’s Secret.

  • There is a rumor going around that all self-pubbed books are shoddily created. What do you say to that? 

All? No way! Some, maybe, but I believe the competition in the marketplace will take care of shoddy work.

  • What advice can you offer readers of self-pubbed books in making a decision on what to read?

Read what you like, who you like, and what resonates with you, no matter about the reviews. Just like determining whether to read a book off the shelf, go for the author who speaks to you. Or…

  • If a friend recommends an author, the book probably has merit;
  • If the author has more than one book out, chances are that author has developed experience and writing skills that rise above;
  • Many Indie authors have specials that introduce themselves to readers, so you can get a book or novella at a reduced rate.
  • Take a chance and discover a new author for yourself by reading the blurb and the author’s description of the book’s content.

Eliza, thanks for the guest spot and opportunity to talk about my passions, my books. I hope something I’ve said here inspires, encourages, and informs someone about following their dreams. Maybe it’s not writing, but art or crocheting or starting your own business. Commit, determine the process, and go for it. What do you have to lose? 

Self-Published Interview Series: Dorothy McFalls

04 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by elizaknight in Books, Self-Published Author Interview Series, Writing Tips

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dorothy McFalls, Dorothy St. James, mystery, romance, Self-published

White House Garden 2 025Welcome back to another week of the self-published interview series! This week’s author interview is with mystery and romance author, Dorothy McFalls.

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS…

  • What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)? Did you decide on ebook or print only or both?

I started out my self-publishing journey be publishing my backlist of books—those books that had once been published by a traditional publisher. What a liberating experience! I enjoyed having complete control over the covers and prices and also the ability to change the content of the books if I wanted. That feeling of being in control of my career is what made me decide to start writing books that I won’t shop to publishers but will go straight to the self-published market.

  • What went into the process? Writing, editing, cover design, formatting, etc… Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service from a someone, could you share who?

Huntress_200x300I’m lucky. The editor I worked with for the White House Gardener Mystery series, which is traditionally published by Berkley Prime Crime, works as a freelance editor. Since we already have a good working relationship, I’ll continue working with Brittiany Koren (http://www.writtendreams.com) for all my new work. Only now, I’ll be paying her. I wouldn’t try to self-publish without a good editor to stand beside me.

For my backlist books, I’ve created most of the covers myself, using images purchased from sites such as Shutterstock. If a cover doesn’t seem to grab a reader’s attention, I’m not shy in pulling it and using a new cover. Some of my books have had three or more covers since I’ve self-published them. As a self-published author I have the freedom to experiment. If something doesn’t work, I change it.

When I have purchased covers, I’ve bought them from Razzle Dazzle Stock (http://www.razzdazzstock.com/).

For formatting, I mainly do it myself. Again, I like the ability to be able to quickly make changes and upload new versions of my books. However, I have worked with a formatter to make sure what I’m doing is correct. I still find myself beating my head against the desk trying to figure out how to get the format perfect. If you want t

o avoid a headache, hire this done. There are so many changes going on in what formats work. It’s no longer as simple as uploading your Word document to a server.

  • What did you do to promote your work?

Like I did with my traditionally published works, I promote on social networks as well as send out a newsletter whenever I have a new release in the works. In addition, I work with other indie-published authors to cross-promote our work. We will all put a book for free at the same time and promote the heck out of it. This cooperation with other authors during the free promotions has boosted my sales greatly. I highly recommend it.

  • Can you list some Pros/Cons of self-publishing?

The biggest Pro of self-publishing is that I have control over the look and content of my books. If I feel like a price is too high (or too low) I can change it. Immediately. If I don’t like the cover, I can change it. If I decide the ending doesn’t work, I can change it. I love that the books are dynamic. I also love that I can offer my books at a greatly reduced price than many traditionally published books while making an equal amount, or more, in royalties.

However, self-publishing isn’t all wine and roses. There are Cons to self-publishing. I miss the feeling that I was part of a team that I got with traditional publishing. My self-published books don’t show up in bookstores. I’m only creating e-books. But even if I produced print books, I wouldn’t have the distribution channels that traditional publishers enjoy. I don’t have access to many of the reviewers that traditional publishers can send their books to. And finally, some people automatically assume that all self-published books are trash. Thankfully, that last one is becoming less of an issue as more traditionally published authors decide to try the self-published route.

  • Can you give a rough breakdown of your sales numbers from your first month to marriagelist 500X700 he present?

I currently have ten self-published ebooks available for sale. Eight of them are for sale exclusively on Kindle Select. When I first started selling, and didn’t have that many ebooks available, I sold between 50-100 ebooks a month. And I was happy. Now that I’m cross-promoting with other indie authors and offering many of my books for $0.99, I’m selling an average of 5,000 books a month. I’m extremely happy with that number!

  • What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

If it’s your first book, hire an editor who will tell you the truth. If self-publishing had been around like it is now when I’d finished my first book (it was never published), I probably would have published it myself. And that would have been a HUGE mistake. I didn’t yet know how to craft a compelling story. I still had tons to learn. So even though I loved (and still love) the book, it wasn’t publishable. I cringe when I look at it now and see the mistakes I didn’t know I was making.

Just because you finish a book, doesn’t mean you should publish it. Even now, I look long and hard at my own work, and have others look at it as well, before deciding whether or not it’s good enough to put out for sale.

When you decide that your book rocks and is ready to be published, work with other indie authors in order to cross-promote. That way you won’t be trying to gain interest and sales all on your own.

READER QUESTIONS…

  • IMG_2587 (Custom)What genre(s) do you write in? How many books do you have out? Titles?

As Dorothy McFalls, I write historical romance, contemporary romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. As Dorothy St. James, I write the White House Gardener Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime.

I have 12 books out with lucky number 13 (OAK AND DAGGER) due to be released April 2013. My goal is to write three books for the self-published market next year.

moonlight (Custom)I have recently released a paranormal historical romance, TAKEN BY MOONLIGHT, exclusively on Amazon. I have a Christmas paranormal romance, A WIZARD FOR CHRISTMAS, that should get you in the holiday spirit. And my debut novel, THE MARRIAGE LIST, has recently been put on sale for $0.99 and is heating up Amazon’s best-seller list for Regency romances. As of this writing, it’s at #5!

  • What do you love about the genre(s)?

I love tackling new challenges, which is probably why I write in so many genres. I can’t imagine being pinned down to just one genre. But I’m a die-hard romantic. So no matter what genre you read of mine, you’ll find a common theme of love conquers all. I promise you will get a happy ending.

  • Where can readers find you?

Readers can find me in several places. My website: http://www.dorothymcfalls.com. On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorothy.mcfalls. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/DorothyStJames. And on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/656571.Dorothy_McFalls.

  • Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

Print copies of my books can be found at most online bookstores. All but two of my ebooks are exclusively on Amazon. You can find them at: http://amzn.to/SK3l02

  • Are you participating in any reader contests?

Yes! I’m going to be in an upcoming Free eBook Event. As part of the event, a Kindle and a $25 gift certificate will be given away.

msfinal3 200x300February 6-7, my short cozy mystery, Birds in Paradise will be free along with ebooks by several other authors. You can find out more about the upcoming event at http://www.freepartay.com. The books that will be offered for free will be listed there a few days before the event is scheduled to begin.

  • What advice can you offer readers of self-pubbed books in making a decision on what to read?

If you’re not sure you’re going to like the book, don’t buy it. Instead, download the sample. Most ebook retailers allow readers to download a couple of chapters prior to buying it. Or if the author is offering a free book, download it. I’ve found several authors that are now auto-buys (like Tina Folsom) from downloading samples and grabbing up free ebooks.

This is a great time to be an author and a reader. Books no longer have to neatly fit into a popular genre. Many authors are now able to explore subjects that publishers didn’t know how to market or would only appeal to a niche market. No matter what you like to read, no matter how obscure, I wager you can find an author writing about it!

Self-Published Interview Series: Judi Fennell!

07 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by elizaknight in Self-Published Author Interview Series

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

erotic romance, Juni Fennell, Raven Morris, romance, Self-publishing

Judi Fennell comAfter taking a break over the holidays, the self-published interview series is back! Please join me in welcoming romance author, Judi Fennell!

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS…

  • What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)? Did you decide on ebook or print only or both?

BATB 1400I wanted my story Beauty and The Best out there for readers. The story had been in the American Title Contest sponsored by Romantic Times Magazine and had gotten a lot of exposure. It’d come close to selling to NY twice. Readers were asking for it. When it was rejected yet again because “it doesn’t fit out line” even though the editors LOVED it, I decided to put it up on my own.

  • What went into the process? Writing, editing, cover design, formatting, etc… Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service from a someone, could you share who?

Bc&Mt CVR 800I put my (very) limited budget into the thing I thought I couldn’t do well: the cover. But the rest… I’m fairly tech savvy, so I figured I could do that on my own. Turns out, not only can I do it, I am now doing it for other authors. I’m also doing covers—and yes, I do my own. A recent release, Beefcake & Cupcakes won Cover of the Month from Ind’tale Magazine, a magazine for the indie-pubbing world. I barter with other authors for editorial assistance because even though I also do editing for other authors, it’s hard to edit your own work because you are so close to it.

www.formatting4U.com is my service and my client list is growing steadily.formatting4U logo

  • What did you do to promote your work?

I’m traditionally published and have gotten a lot of great reviews for my Mermen and Genies series, so I contacted those review sites and bloggers directly. I’ve been very blessed to have a loyal following among those folks as well as my regular readers. I have an extensive email list compiled from my online contest days. And of course, I use social media.

  • What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

The hardest part is the same thing it is for traditionally publishing: time. There’s never enough. Easiest? Throwing off the “will my editor, publisher, marketing team, buyer” like this? Now I write directly to the readers and it’s great to see they have the same sense of humor that I do.

  • Can you list some Pros/Cons of self-publishing?

Pros – ability to focus on the story. To write what I want without worrying if I’ll get another contract if my sales don’t hit benchmarks. The ability to respond to reader requests. So many readers want the rest of the Tritone series and since my publisher elected not to go with them, I’ll be putting out Marianna and Pearl’s stories (as soon as I get the chance to write them). Another pro is the money. Monthly and in many cases more than I make traditionally.

Cons – Setting up the network of people to help you. But once you have it set up, it’s there and it’s awesome.

  • How long have your book(s) been out? How long between books if you have multiple sales—and if you have multiples did you see a bump in sales with subsequent publication?

I put my first indie-pubbed title up in April. I want to get the second and third in that series up, but another series called to me, the BeefCake, Inc. series about male strippers (coincidentally, it came to me before I heard about the movie Magic Mike, but I totally capitalized on that wave), so I wrote the first two of that and have Tanner’s story in the works. I’ve definitely seen a bump in sales as the second book came out. I also have a series of erotic short novellas under the name Raven Morris and those sales have definitely accelerated as subsequent books came out.

  • Can you give a rough breakdown of your sales numbers from your first month to the present? 

I started out nominally and while I’m not making gangbusters, sales have increased exponentially.

  • What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

Don’t shirk on the important stuff. Hire out what you can’t do. Covers are EXTREMELY important, but so is the blurb and especially the story. Work on your writing, hire an editor, and make that story the best it can be. Readers who fall in love with your work will buy whatever you write as long as the quality is there. Don’t skimp on quality.

READER QUESTIONS…

  • What genre(s) do you write in? How many books do you have out? Titles?

As Judi Fennell

A. Paranormal romantic comedy

  • Tritone series: In Over Her Head, Wild Blue Under, Catch of a Lifetime
  • Bottled Magic Series: I Dream of Genies, Genie Knows Best, Magic Gone Wild
  • Once-Upon-A-Time Romance Series: Beauty and The Best, If The Shoe Fits*, Fairest Of Them All*

*coming soon

Maxed FINALB. Romantic Comedy:

  • BeefCake, Inc. Series: Beefcake & Cupcakes, Beefcake & Mistakes, and Beefcake & Retakes (hopefully in December)
  • Manley Maid series: coming 2014 from Berkley

As Raven Morris

Erotic Novellas

  • Tied With A Bow:

JACKED, MAXED, ROCKED, MARKED, DICKED, TYED

  • An anthology with Olivia Cunning, Cari Quinn, Cherrie Lynn, and Stephanie Julian:

A Very Naughty Xmas, coming Thanksgiving 2012

  • What do you love about the genre(s)?

Jacked FINAL COVERI love writing. I love telling stories. I love being able to put my silly one-liners out that make me giggle and hearing other people giggle. I love that little “pit” in your stomach feeling you get when you meet someone special. So often that dissipates through the years, but writing about it with new characters lets you revisit it time and again.

  • Where can readers find you?

www.JudiFennell.com

www.formatting4U.com

www.facebook/JudiFennell

  • Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

All of my books, both traditional and indie-pubbed, are available in both digital versions and print.

Amazon / ITunes / Barnes and Noble / Kobo / Smashwords / All Romance Ebooks

  • What works do you have coming out in the future?

The upcoming Christmas anthology as Raven Morris, then hopefully the next BeefCake, Inc. book, but I’m also editing my time travel, Through The Leaded Glass, per reader requests to get that up.

  • Are you participating in any reader contests?

At the moment, no.

  • There is a rumor going around that all self-pubbed books are shoddily created. What do you say to that?

I say that if you don’t put the work into it that a publisher puts behind the books they publish then you’re perpetuating that image. Perception is 9/10ths reality – do the work to make your product the most professional/best product it can be.

  • What advice can you offer readers of self-pubbed books in making a decision on what to read?

Utilize the Look Inside feature on Amazon or the Sampling feature on other sites. Word of mouth is usually the biggest way people find new authors. I’d say to give a new author a chance. You had to give the first book of any of your favorite authors a chance and there are a lot of new authors who are just as great as the authors you’re used to reading. Who knows, you might discover a whole new world…

Judi Fennell has had her nose in a book and her head in some celestial realm all her life, including those early years when her mom would exhort her to “get outside!” instead of watching Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie on television. So she did—right into Dad’s hammock with her Nancy Drew books. These days she’s more likely to have her nose in her laptop and her head (and the rest of her) at a favorite writing spot, but she’s still reading either her latest manuscript or friends’ books. A PRISM Award and Golden Leaf Award winner, Judi is the author of the Mer series: In Over Her Head, Wild Blue Under, and Catch of a Lifetime; the Bottled Magic series: I Dream of Genies, Genie Knows Best, and Magic Gone Wild; the Once-Upon-A-Time Romance series featuring: Beauty and The Best, If The Shoe Fits, and Fairest of Them All; and the BeefCake, Inc. series, beginning with Beefcake & Cupcakes..

Check out her website at www.JudiFennell.com for excerpts, deleted scenes, reviews, and contests, as well as the chance to discover a whole new world!
 
Connect online at:
Twitter.com/JudiFennell
Facebook.com/JudiFennell

Self-Published Interview Series — Ginny Baird

10 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by elizaknight in Self-Published Author Interview Series, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Ginny Baird, romance, Self-publishing

Rosa_Pearls_Larger_281160352_std (1)Today’s self-published interview is with Ginny Baird!

Ginny Baird has published novels in print and online and received screenplay options from Hollywood for her family and romantic comedy scripts. Her fiction has been published in the US, Australia, Brazil, Denmark and Norway, and translated into several languages. She is an award-winning writer and the bestselling author of several romantic comedies, including novellas in her new HOLIDAY BRIDES SERIES. Enjoy!

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS…

  • What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)? Did you decide on ebook or print only or both?

A big deciding factor for me in going indie involved timing. When you submit through the traditional route, it can take weeks (often months) to hear back on a simple query letter, more weeks (or months) to hear back on a partial, and sometimes up to two years (!) to get word on a complete manuscript. Then, there can be a year or more in editing and production time after that. Since I write contemporary romance, I wanted it to remain such, and not become outdated by the time it was published. J After experimenting with my first indie title, I realized that all that time wasted in a submissions queue might be better spent actually getting my book to readers – and earning money! And the money has been just as good – if not better – than when I was traditionally published.

santa-fe-e-readerI began by first offering my novels as ebooks in just a few platforms, then expanded to multiple platforms and started producing them as trade paperbacks as well. So far, it’s been a very rewarding experience for me.

  • What went into the process? Writing, editing, cover design, formatting, etc… Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service from a someone, could you share who?

Oh my goodness, the learning curve for me has been huge. Since I began indie publishing nearly a year ago, I’ve packed so much new information into my brain, at times I’ve told my husband I feared my head might explode. I started with a manuscript I’d had for some time and which had actually been accepted by a New York publisher before they decided to close that romance line and go in a different direction. That novel was The Sometime Bride, so I believed it had chops as a story. It just needed to find its market.

matador-e-reader-copyWhen writer friends began sharing indie publishing successes, I decided to do a “trial run” with The Sometime Bride. Very quickly, I realized I needed to hire a professional editor. Oh yes, and a cover artist. And, not so incidentally, learn how to format a file so it could upload easily to the principal sites. I was blessed to garner recommendations from other writers and build a solid team quickly, including two excellent editors and an absolutely wonderful cover artist — all of whom have extremely prompt turnaround. In order to present the most professional product, I understood I’d need to pay for these services, but thought it would behoove me to learn how to format myself. That was important because it gave me greater flexibility in updating book files. If I wanted to add new sample chapters or book links into the back of an existing novel, I could do it myself whenever the need arose… without having to wait in more lines for someone else to do that, and charge per each change besides.

the christmas catch print copyWhen learning to format files for ebooks, I downloaded the free Smashwords guide and immediately wanted to crawl under a table. No way can I do all that, I cried. But fellow writers encouraged me, and eventually I crawled out from under that table and took everything one step at a time. But then I learned, files that work well in some places, don’t necessarily upload at others. Every outlet has its own requirements, including those for Print on Demand. Learning to navigate all that really has been challenging for me. But, I’m proud to say I’ve done it, and don’t have to rely on anyone else – for ebook formatting at least.

  • Can you give a rough breakdown of your sales numbers from your first month to the present?

the holiday bride printI was just adding this all up the other night, and realized that – in my first eleven months as an indie author — my ebooks have seen nearly 200,000 downloads. Now that would be phenomenal if they’d all been sales, but the truth is, as a newbie in the indie world trying to make a name for myself, I’ve done a lot of free promotions. I’ve also participated in the Kindle Lending Library, so while those downloads don’t qualify as “sales” they did earn me money. Overall, I earned enough in revenues my first few months to encourage me to quit my day job in public school teaching. Earnings are not quite up to my full-time teaching salary (on a consistent, month-to-month basis), but the trajectory looks good that I’ll get there soon and, hopefully, eventually surpass that.

  • What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

Don’t be a cheapie. Pay to hire a professional editor. You need to have a second set of eyes on your work. I mean, beyond your critique partners, mother, husband or friend. Also, take very great care with your cover art.  A picture is worth a thousand words, and your cover is the very first impression a reader gets of you and your story. Remember, you’re not just creating an image, you’re crafting a brand. And that brand is what readers will come back to, once they’ve learned they can trust it.

The wonderful thing about going indie is you can learn as you go. If you make a mistake or have cover art that’s not perfect, for instance, you’re free to change what doesn’t work. Don’t be afraid to change! Don’t be afraid to grow and learn new things. Experiment with pricing and marketing strategies to learn what works for you. It’s a brave new world out there in publishing, but the cool thing is we all have the opportunity to be a part of it.

READER QUESTIONS…

  • What genre(s) do you write in? How many books do you have out? Titles?

gemini-nook-copyI write short contemporary romantic comedies, and romantic comedy novellas. To date, I have seven books out, with book number eight on the horizon and due for publication any day now. My stand-alone titles are: The Sometime Bride, Real Romance, Real Romance and The Sometime Bride (Gemini Edition), Santa Fe Fortune, and How to Marry a Matador. There are also three books in my Holiday Brides Christmas novella series: The Christmas Catch, The Holiday Bride and Mistletoe in Maine (coming soon!).

  • What do you love about the genre(s)?

I love stories that can just as easily make me cry as make me laugh. And that’s what I aspire to write: sweet, emotional romance, with a dash of humor thrown in!

  • Where can readers find you?

My books are available for sale at many outlets online. Details on all my stories and links to various formats can be found at my website http://www.ginnybairdromance.com. I’m also on Twitter @GinnyBaird, have a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ginnybairdromance and keep up a blog The Story Behind the Story at Goodreads.

  • Are you participating in any reader contests?

I’ve done Giveaways of my paperback books at Goodreads and The Romance Reviews, and am sure to participate in other opportunities in the future.

  • There is a rumor going around that all self-pubbed books are shoddily created. What do you say to that, and how should readers of self-published books decide what to read?

mistletoe in maine print onlyWell, I suppose there may be some shoddily created self-pubbed books out there, but certainly not all of them are. There are plenty of dedicated indie writers who take pride in their work and care in crafting professional products.  And very many of them are becoming hugely successful. I believe, if a reader is judicious in choosing, he/she can find excellent indie work. Ask for recommendations from friends, read reviews (enough of them to get a balanced picture), but most importantly, read that free sample and decide for yourself! Is this is a story I’d enjoy? Does this writer pull me in? Does the writing appear clean and professional without repeated typographical errors serving as distractions? In the end, it’s about finding that special story that can sweep you away and make you forget your everyday worries for while. Next time you’re looking for that great escape, take a chance on an indie writer. He or she may very well surprise you!

Self-Published Interview — Marie Force!

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by elizaknight in Self-Published Author Interview Series

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Indie published, Marie Force, romance, Self-published

Welcome back to the second week of the self-published interview series! Today’s special guest self-published author is Marie Force! A special thank you to Ms. Force for appearing here today. I am a total fan and she is an inspiration to authors.

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS…

  • What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)? Did you decide on ebook or print only or both?

I had books already written and readers asking for more. When I had the opportunity to get my books to readers, I took it.

  • What went into the process? Writing, editing, cover design, formatting, etc… Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service from a someone, could you share who?

All of the above. I’m a stickler for a professionally published product, which includes first-rate covers and editing.  I don’t use a service for ebook production, but I do run one. The Formatting Fairies are all about making it easy for authors to get their work to readers.

  • What did you do to promote your work?

Facebook, Twitter, blog, website, email. All the usual avenues.

  • What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

Figuring out the various retailer requirements, metadata, etc. was challenging. The easiest part of self-publishing is posting the books. Most of the retail sites make it really easy.

  • Can you list some Pros/Cons of self-publishing?

Pros include control over every aspect of the process and the ability to give readers what they want. My readers requested a follow on story to my book Marking Time, which I plan to give them because a lot of them want it. I like being able to do that. Cons? I haven’t found any.

  • How long have your book(s) been out? How long between books if you have multiple sales—and if you have multiples did you see a bump in sales with subsequent publication?

My first self-published book was released in November of 2010. I had one out almost every month last year and two more this year, so far.  New releases always result in a bump in sales.

  • Can you give a rough breakdown of your sales numbers from your first month to the present?

Overall, I’ve sold more than 300,000 since November of 2010. The first month was fewer than 100. March of 2012 was 60,000, which was an incredibly good month.

  • What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

Be professional, run your career as a business. Take it seriously. Respect your readers by not skipping any of the important steps, such as editing. Quality is job one.

READER QUESTIONS…

  • What genre(s) do you write in? How many books do you have out? Titles?

I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I have twenty books currently available, which are listed here: http://www.mariesullivanforce.com/books.php

  • What do you love about the genre(s)?

I love everything about writing romance, especially the guarantee of a happy ending.

  • Where can readers find you?

Online at www.mariesullivanforce.com

Blog: http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor

Twitter: @MarieForce

  • Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, All Romance eBooks, Smashwords.

  • What works do you have coming out in the future?

Season for Love, Book 6 in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series in June

Fatal Attack, Book 6 in the Fatal Series, release date currently unknown

  • Are you participating in any reader contests?

Not at this time.

  • There is a rumor going around that all self-pubbed books are shoddily created. What do you say to that?

I can personally attest that not all self-pubbed ebooks are shoddily created. Anyone who says they “all” are isn’t tuned into what’s really going on.

  • What advice can you offer readers of self-pubbed books in making a decision on what to read?

Pay attention to reader reviews. Readers know quality when they see it. They also know crap and aren’t afraid to say so.

Eliza Tweets :-)

  • A *HUGE* thank you to everyone who purchased, shared and reviewed, THE LAIRD'S PRIZE!! You all have made the launch… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 5 hours ago
  • @AmyImpellizzeri @TallPoppyWriter Thank you ❤️❤️❤️ 21 hours ago
  • @AnnGarvin_ @TallPoppyWriter Thank you ❤️❤️❤️ 21 hours ago
Follow @ElizaKnight

Out now!

Available now!

Available now from Amazon and B&N

Available now from Amazon and B&N!

Out now!

Out Now!

Self-Published Interview Series

  • Anna Markland
  • Bella Andre
  • Cara Marsi
  • Christina Tretreault
  • Courtney Milan
  • Eliza Knight
  • Eliza's Update
  • Ginny Baird
  • Jennifer Bray-Weber
  • Jennifer Jakes
  • Judi Fennell
  • Marie Force
  • Merry Farmer
  • Michele Stegman
  • Nancy Lee Badger
  • Nicole North
  • Sherri Chianti
  • Terry Spear
  • Vonda Sinclair

Recent Posts

  • Destination: Love
  • Multi-Author Collaboration
  • The Curse of the Saggy Middle
  • Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop — My Favorite Christmas Cookies
  • Not Ready to Let Go…

What's Eliza Talking About?

Annabelle Weston A Writer's Life Books contemporary romance Contest Erotic Romance Health Tips and Recipes Historical Romance Love Men of the Sea Random Fun Romance Self-Published Self-Published Author Interview Series Six Sentence Sunday Stolen Bride series Uncategorized Writing Tips

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 86 other subscribers

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • For the Love of Books
    • Join 86 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • For the Love of Books
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...