The Wave of the Future: Subscription Book Services

As a big fan and user of Netflix, I got to thinking about what the new Kindle Owner's Lending Library means for readers. Will a similar program as the unlimited streaming be coming down the pipeline, only with e-books instead of video?

I read this great blog post by author David Gaughran today, which addresses mainly this topic. I'm of two minds about the whole thing, really.

As a reader, I'm excited.

I love Netflix because I get free access to movies I wouldn't have otherwise purchased. That's basically what I use it for--experimenting and finding new, cool things to watch without commiting myself to buying a new Blu Ray or, God forbid, coughing up for a movie ticket.

If I find something I truly love, OR (more likely), Netflix doesn't have it available for free streaming, then I'll buy it or rent it if I've heard it's awesome.  I still have a blu ray collection that I add to every year, so Netflix isn't cutting into my purchasing decisions just because it's free.

As a writer, I'm worried.

In the blog post I linked above, David closes with an excellent point about how we as authors want to get paid. If everything goes subscription-based, then we're basically agreeing to a flat rate, set by the retailer and can never hope to make more than that.  Right now, I get to set my own prices, and the only things determining my earning cap are a) how hard I want to work to produce more content and b) reader interest. 

There is no limit to how much I'm "allowed" to make! If I keep churning out great stories that people want to read, the potential is there to make a nice living. 

However, if my only choice is to be locked into a flat payout (or even worse, some mystery payout like Kindle Select offers), then that will seriously suck. 

I like being in control of my own destiny, and I especially like being paid properly for my hard work.

So, here's my question to you:

Would you use a subscription site as a reader, and if so, how do you think it would influence your book-purchasing habits?

This is a fascinating time to be alive :).  Only time will tell how this all shakes out.

Kindle Select: A Potential Monopoly?

It has been one hell of an interesting week with the launch of Kindle Select, a new program for indie authors where they can give Amazon 90 day exclusivity of their titles in exchange for a piece of a mysterious pie and the opportunity to promote their titles for free for up to 5 days.

I've been lurking on the forums and listening to peoples' experiences who took this plunge with both feet, and the more I watch, the more concerned I become.

I mean, obviously Amazon isn't creating this program out of the goodness of their hearts, so there must be a reason why they created such a tempting program for indie authors.

From what I've heard from folks who used their free promotions this past weekend, some benefits for Amazon have become apparent:

• Amazon doesn't let you opt out more than once! 
• When you sign up for Kindle Select, you get 72 hours to opt out and change your mind. However, if you opt out once, you don't get that same window the next time you sign up. You're in. For 90 days. PERIOD.  They also make you forfeit your opt out window if you have your book go free during that timeframe. 
• The non-compete clause means no bundles, and probably no excerpts.
• If you have a short story in their program, you have to unpublish any short story bundle or anything with an excerpt of that story from all other sites.  Doing #samplesunday on your blog? Well, you've got to erase all of that, too, or potentially forfeit any earnings.
• The "Free" game has changed.
• It used to be that when your book or story went free on Amazon, it zoomed you up in the ranks. This meant when your story went back to paid, you'd still be at whatever ranking you earned as a free book.  If you hit the Top 100 for your genre, you could get a lot of exposure, and a lot of sales.
• From friends of mine who went free this weekend, I heard of people going from the Top 20 in their genre, to falling instantly back down to their previous rank when it went paid again, down to 1 billion.  The game has changed. Amazon may have tweaked their algorithms.

All this is to say, AUTHOR BEWARE!

I had one title in this program because I got excited like everyone else, but I've since pulled it.  I don't want Amazon to get a monopoly over indie authors, and I certainly don't want to be part of a program that promises a promotional tool and delivers something else entirely.

It feels very predatory the more I learn.

What do you think?  Any experiences with Kindle Select, good or bad?

New Kindle Lending Program: Good for Indie Authors?

I got a very interesting email this morning from Kindle Direct Publishing, letting me know about a new opportunity for indie authors: Kindle Select.

Basically, they have a new program that indie authors can enroll in that will allow people with Amazon Prime memberships to "borrow" their books through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

The kicker is that for every person who borrows the book, the author gets a share of a profit pool..

From the FAQ:

__

How is my share of the Kindle Owners' Lending Library fund calculated?


Your share of the Kindle Owners' Lending Library Fund is calculated based on a share of the total number of qualified borrows of all participating KDP titles. For example, if the monthly fund amount is $500,000 and the total qualified borrows of all participating KDP titles is 100,000 in December and if your book was borrowed 1,500 times, you will earn 1.5% (1,500/100,000 = 1.5%), or $7,500 in December.

__

While I seriously doubt most of us will be making $7500 a month from this, it's still very intriguing.

Kindle Direct Publishing even went so far as to sweeten the deal by allowing authors enrolled in this program to make their book free as a promotion for 5 days during enrollment.

Now here's the rub. Nothing is perfect, right guys? ;)

Your book must be exclusive to Amazon for 90 days to participate in this program.

This means if your book is selling in any other store (Sony, iTunes, Kobo, Diesel, Barnes and Noble, etc,) you must take it down from those sites in order to be a part of this new Lending Library.

This article has a very good summary of what the program entails:
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/pressed/2011/12/08/amazon-provides-boost-for-independent-authors

Now, I'm hesitant about this because I'm selling well at the other stores. I've heard other indie authors talking this morning about pulling all of their titles from Amazon's competition, and couldn't help but ask "What happens if Amazon gets a monopoly on indie bookselling?" Will they still treat authors as well as they are now?

What happens to our 70% royalty rate once they're the only show in town?

For now, I'm going to sit back and see what happens with the folks who are putting most or all of their books into this program. There could be amazing potential for profit, but there is also a high risk when you rely on one source for all of your income.

What do you guys think?  Should indies jump on it, or hold out to see what happens next?

Back In Action!

Hi, guys!

I apologize for being gone for so long, but I'm happy to say that I'm back, baby, and quite possibly better than ever :).

I have been working diligently on some very exciting things for the past few months, and will have a BIG announcement coming up at the end of this month.  And no, I'm not going to tell you what it is because it's a surprise.  You're just going to have to wait because I'm evil like that ;).

Thank you so much to all who participated in naming the next installment of the Fairytale Assassin short story series. I got distracted by other projects, but then decided to go a different way with the naming, so I wanted to let you know that. I appreciate the support, though, and the great names you guys put out there.  I love this blog. You guys are so awesome!

Anyway, fun stuff is coming down the pipeline, so stay tuned!

I also have 10 authographed copies of the delightful trade paperback version of Legacy of the Empress that I'm currently selling :). I'm happy to autograph these any old way you'd like and may even include some bad artwork if you're lucky, so snap them up for any loved ones who love a great fantasy adventure for under the tree!  You can purchase them HERE.

How many people can say they got a book for the holiday personally autographed just for them? I think that would be pretty darn nifty, if I do say so myself.  I'm using wepay.com for the transactions, so it's easy and safe for all.

Other than that, you'll be seeing a lot more of me 'round these parts... so hold onto your butts.

Legacy of the Empress is available in PAPERBACK!

The day has come!  It's finally here, and I am practically vibrating with excitement :).

Legacy of the Empress is a FOR REALS book!  On paper!  With bindings and pages and new book smell!


To your left you will see me holding a copy of my for-realsies paperback novel, formatted with tender loving care, and looking completely and utterly awesome.

330 pages full of goodness.. in my actual hands.

I know that I've said in the past that when the day came that I held my book in my hands, that I'd get a big pile of them and swim through them like Scrooge McDuck, however... now that the day has come, I don't want to crease them with my flailing body.

They are just too pretty.

In related news, the trade paperback is available on Amazon for $10.99!  How awesome is that?

So if you love the feel of a delicious papery book in your hands, and also want a great epic fantasy read, here you go.  You're all set :).

I have my first ever book signing this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Vancouver, WA at Cover to Cover bookstore, so if you're in the area, come say "hi!"  I will be thrilled to see you :).

Thank you for letting me share this incredibly exciting moment with you, and for all of the love and support over the past couple of years.  You guys mean the world to me.  ((internet hugs!))

New Cover Art! A Paperback! A Book Tour! OH MY!

In case you've been wondering what I've been up to when I've been horridly neglecting you, here's some new and exciting news! :)

Legacy of the Empress has a Fancy Pants professional cover, and is coming out in paperback form NEXT WEEK!  That's right, ladies and gents. I'm going paper, and I'm going there hard.  The book will be a nice sized trade paperback, and will be priced at $10.99.  Woot!

Along with that awesome and most excellent news, I'm excited to say that I'm going on a booktour around the Portland Metro Area in October with some other really cool, local YA Authors.  Since Legacy straddles the line between YA and epic fantasy, they were nice enough to have me.

Here's where you can find me if you live in the area:

• Cover to Cover Bookstore on October 1st, from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• West Linn Public Library on October 7th, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
• Beaverton City Library on October 20th, from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• A Children's Place Bookstore on October 22nd at 1 p.m. - whenever they kick us out!

So, all of you Pacific Northwest Internet Friends, come say "hi!" :)  I'll be the one getting all nervous and sweaty before reading a passage from my book.

I'm so excited!  I hope I get to meet some of you face to face. How cool would that be?

Also, please tweet, facebook, or blog about these events, or even the paperback. It would be a huge help.  Thanks for all your support, guys!

Announcements Tomorrow!

Hi, guys,

As you have probably deduced, I've been one busy lady over the past couple of weeks, but tomorrow I get to announce some EXCITING things, and show you the fruits of my labor!

Woo hoo!

See you then ;).

Get out the Vote! What's YOUR Favorite Title?

Hi, guys!

Thanks for bearing with me lately on the blogging.  Life has been crazy around here, with family emergencies, work, and a flurry of visiting relations.

Now that it's fall things should be settling down, which makes it the perfect time for writing, and of course, blogging!

Now, I owe you guys a vote!

Several awesome blog followers entered my Name that E-Book Contest, submitting possible titles for the new Fairytale Assassin adventure for the chance at a free copy, a dedication in the e-book, and a $15 Amazon giftcard.

Well, it's time to vote for your favorite, my friends :).  Here are my top three picks for my tale, based on the Rumplestiltskin story:

1. Greed
2. Avarice
3. Spun Gold

So, you tell me!

What's the best name, and who is our lucky winner?  Please leave your votes in the comments, and support Kimmy and Nichole, our two finalists!

___

Above is a sneak peak at the cover for the next Fairytale Assassin story, coming soon!  Woo hooo!

Baring Your Soul

When you're writing, do you ever feel like you're baring your soul?  Or at least having one of those weird dreams where you're walking down the hall naked and the only one who knows it is you?

I do.

I was thinking about this today, and wondering why we writers don't feel shy when we write, even though we're usually a shyer bunch face to face. 

After all, when we write a scary scene, aren't we telling people what scares us?  And when we write a love scene, aren't we telling the world what turns us on?

Aren't we showing our own views on life, religion, social interaction, and even good versus evil with every story we write?

What do you guys think?  :) 

Do you think a writer bares a part of themselves when they write?  If so, are you shy about it, or do you love the freedom?

_______
Coming tomorrow:  We'll vote for my Name that E-Book Contest winner!

Sorry for My Absence!

Hi, guys,

I apologize for lying down on the job as far as blogging goes recently. Life came up, and I needed to unplug for a bit, but I promise to be back in blogging form next week :).

Don't forget to enter my NAME THAT E-BOOK contest! We have some great entries so far, and I'd love to have more names for the voting soon.  After all, there's a $15 Amazon giftcard at stake! Let's make it interesting ;).

Because it's Friday, I'll leave this post short, but to make up for it, here's a picture of one of the cutest things in the world--a baby stoat.

D'awwwww :3  Lookit that face and tell me that's not one adorable creature.  Seriously.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

10 Random Facts: I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged by author pal, Samantha Warren, in a fun blogging game where we each have to list 10 random facts, and then tag four other bloggers :).

Who am I to deny some bloggy fun times?

So, here goes!  10 random things about me that you never wanted to know but are going to read anyway:

10)  I used to fell trees with my ex-lumberjack grandpa!  We live in the Pacific Northwest, and our house was overshadowed by some creaky, terrifyingly large trees that threatened to fall on us during every storm.  So, of course, like any normal family, grandpa decided to enlist my 12 year old self to help him take them down.  To this day I remember his shouts of "run for your life!" and "watch out for the power lines!" echoing through our neighborhood of track houses.  Good times, Grandpa.  Good times.

9)  I met my husband through Craigslist.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Some girlfriends of mine were posting ads during college so I posted a joke one that said "Two Headed Girl Seeks Friendship, Maybe More" to see if anyone would respond.  My husband's roommate forwarded him my ad, and the rest is history.  Random, no?  Obviously, 'twas destiny.

8)  I hate fruity, sugary booze, and love whiskey straight up.  Apparently, I am a 1890s cowboy.

7)  Once I discovered Ru Paul's Drag Race on Netflix, I couldn't stop watching it.  I seriously marathoned this show.  Ru Paul presents hilarious challenges to young drag queens, says "Don't fuck it up" as encouragement, and then ends it with "Shasay.... away.." when someone is eliminated.  Tell me this isn't the best reality show of ALL TIME.

6)  I named my kitty Fawkes after the phoenix in Harry Potter :3.  He's orange.

5)  I'm a pretty good shot with a bow and arrow.

4)  On a related note, I hit my mom in the eye once with a tiny arrow from my Lord of the Rings Aragorn action figure's wee plastic bow.  Luckily, she was wearing glasses, and it deflected the blow.  I was 20 at the time.

3)  I karaoke to "Bohemian Rhapsody" without feeling shame.

2)  As soon as I get home from work, even if it's early, I change into pajamas.  Pajamas are my natural state. Right now, because it's summer, I'm in a wifebeater and boxers.  Yes.  I am a classy lady ;).

1)  One of my favorite movies is Rambo, First Blood.  I'll tell people that I love oscar winners, but I seriously love terrible 80s action movies.  Favorite genre, hands down.

So, now it's time to pick some of you!  I want to know your 10 darkest secrets.... or at least 10 random facts :).

I'm tagging:

Tere Kirkland
Abby Annis
Christine Fonseca
Michelle McLean

Let's hope they spill some juicy facts! ;)

What about you?  What's a random fact about YOU, dear followers?  I'd love to know!

Fairytale Assassin Contest: Name That E-Book!

I'm almost done with the next Fairytale Assassin adventures, but I need YOUR HELP!

 

Help me come up with a snappy, punny name for a Rumplestiltskin story!

 

The person who comes up with the best story name and leaves it in the comments here by 8/31/11 wins:

• A free copy of the new short story
• A dedication in the e-book from me
• A $15 Amazon giftcard!

For inspiration, my current Veronica Grim: Fairytale Assassin story names ARE:

Blood Don't Lie (Bluebeard)

Carnivore (Little Red Riding Hood)

Heartless (Snow White)

 

Skin Deep (WIP, Beauty and the Beast)

Leave your ideas for Rumplestilskin in the comments, by 8/31, and on September 1st, I'll open up voting for you, my lovely readers, to pick the best one! 

So, what are you waiting for? 

Thinking caps on! 

May the best name, WIN!

***
Disclaimer that my husband made me add:

I pick the top three names to be voted on to weed out trolls and stuff because The Internet is not always a fun and friendly place. Also, I have no obligation to use any name you provide. This is for funsies and should work out great, but you know. Just in case. Carry on!

Get Your Head in the Game

Do you have a mind for business?

Well, if you're a writer, I hope your answer is either "yes," or "argh, I'm learning as fast as I can!"

Sometimes when we're neck-deep in story ideas, it's easy to forget there is a second, all-important skillset we need to honing:  our business savvy.  If you never reach your readers, how are you going to make it?  How can you reach them, entice them to pick up your book, and convince them to come back? 

Figuring that out is almost as important as the writing itself.

I'm constantly working on this, because being a small business owner is definitely new to me. When I first started on this journey, I had exactly zero clue, so I started reading about book marketing. I have a few books stacked up at home on the subject, but here's the kicker. They're almost entirely obsolete now because of the market shifting toward e-books!

So, I'm learning as I go.

One thing I recently picked up is that the Fall and Winter are huge for e-books (and books in general.)  People are home from summer vacation and they are giving their family and friends e-readers for back-to-school and Christmas. 

The savvy marketer at this point thinks, what can I do to make sure I'm positioned well for this great sales quarter? How can I make sure I benefit from this season?

A few things I'm doing to prepare:

• I'm looking for new cover art for Legacy of the Empress to bring it more in line with professional TOR-esque covers so it will stand out in time for Christmas
• I'm bringing Legacy of the Empress out in paperback to reach those who don't have e-readers yet.
• I'm going to be a part of a local author event at a Beaverton library in October talking to teens about writing and selling paperbacks.
• I'm writing more stuff! (The most important part.)  I hope to have two more Veronica Grim stories as well as (hopefully) a great start on the sequel to Legacy if not the whole thing, ready to go.

What are you doing in the coming months with your writing?  Even if you're not ready to be published yet, are you preparing a business plan for the next month, quarter, or year? 

It's something to think about :).

What do you think?  Do you have a mind for business?

Insane Ways of Staying Sane

So, newsflash.

This week is stressful. 

With the stock market playing ping pong with our money as well as rumblings of the End of Days (recession-wise), I'm more than a wee bit high strung.

Of course, this means I started to get crazy nervous about the new pieces I'm currently writing. Thoughts like, "I've lost the sweet mojo! No one will ever buy one of my books ever again!" and "Maybe all of my writing is terrible, horrid crap, and no one's told me!" have been flying through my mind at break neck speeds.

I realize, however, that this is The Crazy talking and shouldn't be taken seriously.

So how the heck do you stop The Crazy and get back to work?  How do you shake off the negative voices and start feeling good about what you're doing again?

I'll tell you what I did.

I gave myself a pep talk!

This sounds dorky, but it 100% worked, and I felt great afterwards.  I addressed myself in the 3rd person (in my head), and told myself all of the things I'm proud of about my own writing and the things I've accomplished so far.  I told myself that good things were on the horizon and that I can absolutely meet the goals I've set for myself.

I told myself that I've got this covered, and psyched myself up. 

Have you ever done this?  It really helped lift my mood instantly. 

Next time you hear The Crazy creeping in, give it a try :).  You might be pleasantly surprised!

July's Numbers, AKA, Why I Was Crapping My Pants in July

I promised I'd share my numbers with you as I went along this crazy-go-nuts road, and that's exactly what I'm going to do :).  Woo hoo!

Okay, so first, history:

In April I had a couple of short stories up and sold 19 e-books.

In May I had the two stories, and released LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS in the last couple days of the month. I sold 30 3-books, 7 of which were Legacies.

June, I sold 125 e-books across two names (this one and my pen name.)

So, July?  How'd it go???

Welp.

I sold over 3500 e-books in July.  Two short stories sold over 1000 copies each.

I flip flopped between feeling sweaty elation and then icy cold terror. Now, I'm much calmer :). 

What a great month, though.  Let me stress, too, that I only have one full length novel:  Legacy of the Empress.  The rest are all short stories, and a 15,000 word novella under my pen name. 

People who say short stories don't sell are wrong.  This is excellent news for all of us!  Have some shorts chillin' on the harddrive?  Well, if you publish them for kindle, nook, etc, you could make money and gain a following before you finish that first novel. 

What are you waiting for?  If you enjoy writing short stories, you have nothing to lose, except maybe $10 for a stock photo.  I edit my stories and make my own e-covers for these short tales.  Go for it! :)  You may be surprised.

August has slowed down already, and I've only sold about 550 so far. Summer is notoriously slow because folks are doing yardwork and chasing rambunctuous kiddos instead of reading, so I'm working on getting new stuff written for Fall :). 

I hope to have two new Veronica Grim, Fairytale Assassin stories ready by September 1st, and then it's time to write the sequel to Legacy of the Empress.  Woo hoo!

It's GO time.

How are your own projects going?  Do you have anything on the burner now?  Tell us about it!

How Do You Define "Crap?"

There was an interesting post over at J.A. Konrath's blog recently that I wanted to get your opinion on:
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/07/be-deliberate.html

He basically theorizes that when writers are deliberate... it's impossible for them to write crap.

He also states that people who leave 1 star reviews are usually dummies who aren't truly thinking about whether they are being objective or subjective.

I have my own opinions on this, but I'd love to hear yours :).  Is it possible for a deliberate writer who understands basic form stuff like proper grammar, to write True Crap?  Are 1 star reviews objective?

What do you think?

Update Roundup!

Hi, All,

Man.  So sorry I've been neglecting you all lately!

I promise, I still love you.  It's just been one stressful/good/fun/crazy/sad/weird/funny week.  I feel like it's a been a month.  But, also in a good way?  It's like I'm in the Twilight Zone, and I ain't talking about sparkly nosferatu.

Since 7/9, bascially, I've sold 2200 books.  What??

Anyway, things are going really well, but I'm now working harder than ever getting the next installments of Veronica Grim ready to go, as well as getting ready for a sequel to Legacy of the Empress.  My alter ego has a trilogy planned. People:  It is ON!

I had a lot of highs this past week and a half, but I also got my first one star reviews. Egads! They totally happen, and I'm even sort of happy that I got that "milestone" over with ;). It's like waiting for the first rejection from an agent, or getting your period or something. It's a part of the beautiful cycle of Nature.

Okay... I admit I felt like this *just* a little bit:

But, then I read the one-star reviews from some of my favorite authors and felt a smile creeping onto my face.  Dude!  A one star means I'm like... a real author.  With books out there for people to have opinions about!

That's seriously awesome :).

Also, I got some lovely 5 stars for No Rest for the Wicked, Carnivore, and Legacy of the Empress. From Internet Strangers!  Wooo hooooo!

So there you go.  Roller coaster of happy/sad/happy and some hard workin's.

In other news, I promise to actually ship your books out, you lucky contest winners. I still don't have a couple of your addresses, so please email me forthwith to claim your treasures.

There have been lots of fascinating discussions lately in the blogosphere, so expect linkage later this week. 

In the meantime, how the hell are you all doing?  Any projects that you're working on?

I'd love to hear about them!

Terrified of Failure--Terrified of Success

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be so?"



- Marianne Williamson

Confession time, gang.

I always thought this quote was bullshit until three days ago.  Why would anyone be afraid of success?  Now... I understand it for the first time in my life.

Well, what the heck happened three days ago, you ask?  Some weird new pattern started that is now scaring the hell out of me.

Last Friday I saw an uptick in my book sales. I'd been selling a modest 3-10 a day (which for me was a great improvement over the last couple of weeks of June), and was hoping above hope that maybe I could double my sales this month and hit somewhere in the 250-300 sales range total.  Well, Friday I sold 29 books.

"What the heck, Friday? Why are you being weird," I thought.  My Fairytale Assassin short stories No Rest for the Wicked had started selling for free over at Amazon the day before, and I was super excited to see if it drove my other sales higher.  My Alter Ego also had a story go free, so yay! Double interested to see what happened.

I woke up on Saturday morning and wandered over to the computer to compulsively check my sales, per usual, and cocked my head to one side at the oddly inflated numbers before me. This has to be some sort of mistake, or perhaps Amazon is playing a cruel joke on me, a-la the pigs blood dumped on Carrie.  This cannot possibly be the correct number.

I checked my stats, then I checked my rankings, then I checked my pulse because I felt like I was having a heartattack.  I sold 207 e-books on Saturday between my two names.  Earlier that week I'd been stoked because I'd broken 7.

My heart was hammering out of my chest all day, and I realized, much to my surprise and dismay, that I was terrified out of my skull. 

This shouldn't be happening, or at least not to me. It had to be a fluke, and everything would be normal again the next day. I would go back to slow-and-steady, dreaming of a successful future that was always just out of reach. All would be as it should be.

Yesterday, I sold 215 books, and today I'm already nearing 120 with my busiest time of day ahead of me.  I've now sold 620-something books this month, and if this continues, I'll have sold 4600 by month's end. 

I feel like I'm a hampster and an eagle just spotted me from above.

I'm sweaty, and I haven't been sleeping well.  I keep waking up in the middle of the night and feeling the anxiety coursing through me.

If sales keep doing this, I'll be able to quit my day job and start living my dream in 2-3 months.  Yet... I'm more scared about this journey than ever before.  Why?

Because, I'm not worthy.

Sure, I've worked hard, but it's too good, so it shouldn't be happening to me.

I feel guilty.  I don't deserve this.

Why do I get to live my dream?  Why do I get to be lucky?

Why am I being given this gift?  This opportunity?


I finally get the quote.

Yesterday I told my husband my fears that I don't deserve this.  He's a rational dude, so he pointed out that I've been struggling on the journey to become a full time writer for years now.  I've been writing my entire life, and working toward getting published since easily 2005 if not earlier.  I've studied, I've honed my craft.  I've written, and written, and written.  I've put in a shit ton of hours on this dream.

Why shouldn't I get a bit of luck?  Why am I so scared of achieving my goal?

The other half of that quote spoke to me today as I was looking it up for this post:

"You are a child of God, small games do not work in this world. For those around us to feel peace, it is not example to make ourselves small. We were born to express the glory of god that lives in us. It is not in some of us, it is in all of us. While we allow our light to shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, simply our presence may liberate others."

How cool is that? :)

I felt peace reading that just now, because I want that.  I want to give others permission to dream upon seeing that I'm seeking mine out and achieving it.  I want to express God's glory in my life.

I want others to have the boldness to shine and to allow myself to do the same.

If this is my time to achieve my dream, then it will be an example to other folks out there ready to take that first step.  We CAN do this.  This is possible!

We can shine together.


... so why am I still a little freaked out? :P


What about you?  Do you fear success as much as failure?  Why or why not?

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I assigned numbers to all of the Fabulous people who entered my Launch Day Giveaway, and the free random number generator I found online has chosen FIVE lucky winners!

Seriously, though. What did people do before the Internet? Put names into a hat?  Pfft!  We're high tech now, baby!

ANYWAY, without further ado, your winners are.....

Drumroll, please....

....

................................

.......................

GRAND PRIZE WINNER:  Catwoods!!!  You've won a $25 Amazon giftcard and a copy of Legacy of the Empress.  Whooo hoooooo!

THREE RUNNERS UP:  Shalena, Sandra, and Callie!!!  You ladies win chocolate, a book by a strong heroine, and a copy of Legacy! Woot!

MISS CONGENIALITY:  Abby!  You win a copy of Legacy and of course, the title of Miss Congeniality for my contest.  You are fabulous. 

Winners, please email me at rebeccaknightbooks @ gmail (dot) com to claim your prizes! Please include your addresses, runners up, and please include which format you'd like your copy of Legacy to be in--Nook, Amazon, Smashwords, etc!  I'll hook you up.

CONGRATULATIONS to you lucky winners, and a huge THANK YOU  to everyone for making this contest so much fun and such a success :).

If you didn't win, remember, Legacy of the Empress is only .99 cents until Labor Day on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.  Gotta love Summer Sales!

AMERICA

FUCK YEAH.

Happy 4th of July, Everyone!

Now let's go drink beer and blow some stuff up.


(contest winners will be announced tomorrow)

June Sales Numbers: Knowledge is Power!

I learned something recently that baffled me.  People in other countries, or even in unions in our own country talk about their salary all the damn time.

This came as a surprise because in Corporate America, talking about your salary with other employees can be enough to get you fired.  I started to think about it, and realized the only reason it's frowned upon and forbidden is to keep people ignorant.

You won't complain about getting screwed over if you don't know in the first place, right?

Well, in the book world, it was Indie Authors shirking the taboo to talk about their sales numbers that helped me decide this was the path for me.  So, now that I have two months' worth of data, I'm going to pay it forward and share it with you guys :).

Here's how it's going so far:

April Total Sales:  19  (I had 2 short stories up for 2 weeks)
May Total Sales:  30  (I put out a short story and a novella under a pen name)
June Total Sales:  123
(Legacy went live as well as 1 short story under that name, and 2 more under my pen name)

This month I more than quadrupled last month's sales!  My jaw almost hit the floor when I passed 60 for this month, much less 120... just... wow.

Amazingly enough, the more writing I did, the more sales I had :).

So far on this journey I've made $120.37 on my e-books, $45 on freelance editing, and have spent $133.18 on 250 business cards, 7 pieces of cover art and a domain purchase.  That's $32.94 in profit.

When I make money, I've been investing it back into the business.  I am treating this like it's my small business and I'm growing it for this first year.  When I'm in the black again, I buy more cover art.  Next, I'm thinking of paying $39 to produce a paperback version of LEGACY through Amazon's POD service, CreateSpace.

So, there you go :).  If I manage to double my sales each month (versus quadrupling), I'll be at 1000 sales/month by the end of this year.

That's what I'm working toward, and I plan to put out two more short stories and AT LEAST one novella, if not a full novel by January 1st.  I will also be releasing stories under my pen name.

I hope this was helpful to some of you who are deciding which road to take with your own career.  Best of luck to you, and let me know if you have any questions I can help with, either in the comments or through email.

Here's to July!

Edit:  Almost forgot to post this excellent blog post from super successful indie author Victorine Lieske comparing sales trends.  It's very helpful for gaining some perspective on where people are in this industry.

The Power of Free

It's Summer!

And you know what that means :).  Garage sales and bargain hunting. 

I'm a total sucker for garage sales, especially for that bin full of mismatched, weird, misfit Free Stuff.  You know the one I'm talking about. The one off to one side with the huge cardboard sign next to it that says FREE, but it might as well say "Oh, Dear God, please take this Billy the Big Mouth Bass out of my life forever."

Finding free stuff is like treasure hunting, and one freebie I've recently loved hunting for is free books. Apparently, this is now a viable marketing strategy, among the Big 6 selling e-books as well as indie authors.

The difference is, this isn't a junk box--this is like you went to a fancy estate sale in the rich people neighborhood and found a box full of free fabrige eggs and fist-sized rubies.

This is the best Freebie Box ever.

From watching other people's success with making one of their books free to give readers a chance to discover them, I'm doing an experiment.

I just made NO REST FOR THE WICKED free, and I'm going to keep it that way for at least a month.

I have no idea what this will do, but I'm fascinated to see the results.  The way I see it, a few things can happen:

a)  People download No Rest for the Wicked from Smashwords for free. They dig it, and they purchase the next in the series, Carnivore.  Hooray!  I do a happy dance.

b)  No one downloads No Rest for the Wicked for free.  I feel like the shy kid with acne at the middle school dance.  I consume chocolate.

c)  Some people download it, hate it, then find me and throw rocks at my house.


I'm hoping it's option a, but we'll see!  I'll let you know how the experiement goes along the way :).

My question for you is:  How has a freebie affected you as a reader? Is it like the awesome Fantasy Garage Sale bin?  Or are you indifferent?

I Need Your Help: Which Fairytale Should I Do Next?

Calling all readers!

I need YOU to help me decide which Fairytale villain to write about next :).  You'll notice there is a poll to the right of this post ======> 

Please select a favorite Fairytale, or add one to the comments. 

As you may know, in my first short story collection, NO REST FOR THE WICKED is about a Fairytale Assassin named Veronica Grim. In this world, fairytale villains are real, and only one woman is crazy enough to hunt them down. No Rest for the Wicked had a twisted take on Bluebeard in the story "Blood Don't Lie," and my own sick version of Snow White in "Heartless."

CARNIVORE is the next story in the series, a darker version of Little Red Riding Hood.

So, I ask you, friends.... Who should Veronica Grim face next?

Take the poll and comment below, and I'll enter you to win a free copy of the next book in the series!

Thanks for your help! :)

Guest Posting on Abby Annis' Blog: Staying Motivated Against All Odds

Fellow writer and fabulous blogger, Abby Annis was kind enough to let me guest post on her blog today.  

I'm discussing how I manage to stay motivated even when the odds seem impossible.  Come on over and say "hi!"  I'll be skulking around there all day, and don't want to be lonely, standing in the corner by myself... It would be like the junior high dance all over again!  

Also, we're having a fun giveaway :).  Yay!

My question for you:  What keeps you motivated when the odds are against you?

Author Interview over at Sandra Ulbrich Almazan's Blog!

Hi, guys,

Today I'll be hanging out over at speculative fiction author Sandra Ulbrich Almazan's lovely blog!  She was kind enough to interview me, and asked a ton of great questions.  Go check it out.  There's even a picture of some of my "art"  (Note the usage of ironic "" marks.) 

Also, as a bonus, I wanted to let you know that for the rest of the summer, Legacy of the Empress is on sale for .99 cents!  This is an experiment, and I'll let you know how it goes :). 

Thanks, all!  Hope to see you over at Sandra's place.

And the Winners Are....

This weekend I celebrated reaching my 100th e-book sale and beyond, and had a mini giveaway to celebrate!

Here are the names of the five lucky winners from my commenters (drumroll, please!):

MBoyd1978

Keira Lea

Callie Kingston

M. Horton

Katherine

Please pick from my author page which e-book you'd like to receive and either leave a comment or shoot me an email, and I will hook you up!

I just put out a new Fairytale Assassin short story to continue the storyline from No Rest for the Wicked.  It's called Carnivore, and is my own twisted take on Little Red Riding Hood.  You guys can totally pick that one along with my other three--winners' choice!

Thank you all for celebrating with me :).  Remember--if you didn't win this time, there's still time to enter my Launch Day Giveaway.  It ends 6/31/11, so get those entries in soon!

100 E-Books: Achievement Unlocked!

The day has come!

I'm breaking out the e-cake and e-champagne and inviting you all to party with me!  Today, I reached my first goal of 100 E-Books Sold!  Wooooo hooooo! Next goal:  500.

To celebrate, I'm giving a FREE copy of whichever one of my e-books strikes your fancy to five random commenters. 

I'll be e-partying all weekend, so you have until Monday to win!  Comment below, and you're in it to win it.

E-Books to choose from:

Death and Other Inconveniences, which is a short ghost story about a quirky writer in the days after her death.

No Rest for the Wicked, which contains two short stories about the exploits of Veronica Grim, Fairytale Assassin.

OR, of course

Legacy of the Empress, my epic fantasy novel.


So, put a lampshade on your head, and let's celebrate!

P.S. Is there anything you're celebrating this week?  I'd love to hear about it!

The Great Indie Summer Giveaway!

Hi, All,

I'm participating in an awesome giveaway this month:  The Great Indie Summer Giveaway!  Each day, there is a new book featured, and a new chance to win one of over 100 indie books.

Check it out and enter to win not only LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS, but dozens of other fabulous books!

Good luck!

Goals, and the Art of Not Going Crazy

Well, I've been at this about 7-ish weeks, and I thought it was high time to share not only what short term goals I've set for myself, but about how this whole crazy "indie publishing" thing was really going.

I decided at the beginning, that the only way to not get overexcited or overly nervous was to set small, achievable goals for myself :).

My overall first goal was to sell 100 e-books.  I've heard several places that most people who self publish never make it to 100 sales and then quit in despair.  If I pass that 100 book mark, I'll know for sure I've beaten at least some of the odds and am doing something right.  However, if I can count all my sales on two hands, I've got problems.

My other goal after releasing Legacy of the Empress, was to sell 30 of those alone in the first month.

From haunting the Kindle Boards, I've learned that some folks only make 1 sale their first month, while others make 10-50.  I figured 30 was a good, challenging, but not overly ridiculous goal to set.  My stretch goal was 50.

So, how am I doing so far?

As of this afternoon, I've sold 90 e-books total, most of those sales coming in the past 2 weeks.  I've also sold 21 copies of Legacy in two weeks, so I'm on track to beat 30 sales.

So far I've made approximately $76.

I'll keep you updated as I go, because I want to be as transparent with this process as possible.

It was other authors sharing their numbers that led me on this path in the first place, and if I can help other writers out by sharing, then that's what I'm going to do :).

I hope this is helpful, and I can't wait to celebrate with you guys when I hit that 100 book mark!  After that, who knows?

What are your goals for your writing?  What keeps you going along the long and lonely road?

Finding Yourself as a Writer

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan amused and impressed me by being the first (and only) person to pose with a sword for entries in my Launch Day Giveaway.  You rock, Sandra!

Because of you, I decided to do the same thing. I mean, who doesn't need a picture of themselves with a sword, amirite??

However, taking this picture brought forth several questions:

1. Why do I own leather pants? Seriously? When did this happen, and why was I able to locate them so quickly?
2. My husband's chain mail is crazy heavy. Just wandering around the house in it was a workout. Medieval dudes must have been buff as hell.
3. I own way too many books. The shelves behind me are just part of a larger Book Wall, and I still have boxes of books in the garage, not to mention a pile by the bed that threatens to crush me in my sleep.  Perhaps it is time to go digital.
4. My "serious business" sword-face is more like a "I want cake" face.

Along with these questions and discoveries, I've been thinking a lot lately about where I want to go as a writer.  Indie publishing has opened up whole new worlds that I've never thought were possible, namely selling short stories and writing across multiple genres.

Lately, I've been working on two more Veronica Grim short stories so I can release Part II of No Rest for the Wicked.  I love these stories.  They are so incredibly fun to write :).  The idea is that fairy tale villains are real, and there are special agents sent to take them out.  One of these agents is Veronica Grim, and she is very good at what she does.  There are shoot outs, dwarves, and snappy one-liners, and I am loving every minute of creating these.

But this is not, how do you say, Serious Business.  This is silly and fun and dark.  Shouldn't I be writing something Meaningful and Important instead?

I was talking about this with my husband last night, and the following conversation took place:

Him:  Well, the way I see it, it's like actors in Hollywood. Some are Tom Hanks, who is great, and then some are, you know..
Me:  Daniel Day Lewis?

Him:  Exactly!  Some only make four movies and are uber dramatic.

Me:  And live in a tent for six months psyching themselves up for their Oscar role.

Him:  Right.  But not everyone has to be Daniel Day Lewis.

Me:  Yeah, or wants to.  I don't want to be Daniel Day Lewis.

Him:  Then don't be.

Me: .....  What if I turn out to be Bruce Campbell (star of Army of Darkness)

Him:  *laughs*  That would be awesome.


So, I suppose what I'm getting at is, indie publishing is allowing me to explore who I am and who I want to be as a writer.  If I want to write campy fairy tale noir, I can do that.  If I want to write horror (which I would like to try), then I can do that, too.  If I want to do a sequel to LEGACY, I can do all of it. 

I can do whatever I want.  I have control over my career. 

I can be Bruce Campbell if I'm meant to be Bruce Campbell :). 

Or maybe I'll be Christopher Walken... I haven't decided yet.


My question to you is, who are you as a writer?  Are you okay with that? 

When are you having the most FUN when you're writing?

***

Bonus question! Which hollywood actor is your writing career like?

Love for Indie Author Cole Drewes

Like I said in my earlier post today, Cole Drewes releasedhis book HOUNDS OF HEAVEN recently, and was kind enough to host my guest post on his blog.  Thanks, Cole! :D

In the spirit of paying it forward, here is a brief word from Cole about his new novel:

___


Hounds of Heaven is a science fiction novel with urban fantasy/paranormal elements. I would consider it a hybrid novel inspired by the mythology of vampire and werewolves. It’s been compared to Starship Troopers with vampires. This action-packed novel is set in a futuristic dystopian New York City inhabited by vampires and demons.

Werewolf and battle hardened resistance fighter Dom Craddock is sick of losing. Dom is a member of the resistance called HADES, a paramilitary organization made up of humans and werewolves. Hades has been on the losing side of a war that has spanned six hundred years led by the vampire regime known as The Tartarus Corporation.
Dom and his elite recon team, finally find hope while on an otherwise routine mission. What they find might help them win the war against the vampires, save the dying planet, and hopefully what’s left of humanity.
Throughout Dom’s last mission he struggles with the world he once knew, and the world he now suffers in, hoping for one day to see the sun shining on his face again. Dom must first comes to terms with his past-the same past that assisted in the genocide of mankind, and handed the planet over to the vampires. A past he wants to forget and leave behind, but the actions he set in motion all those years ago have come back to destroy the only hope at saving humanity.
Monique Snyman of the book review blog Killeraphrodite, says that Hounds of Heaven “was a rollercoaster of awesome… you won't have any fingernails left by the time the book ends. Action, romance, treachery, horror, historical references that's been changed in such a way that it's somewhat plausible... Damn it, just get the book and read it!

Below you can buy Hounds of Heaven in the following e-book formats for $0.99:
Amazon.com

Smashwords

You can read 25% of the novel for free through Smashwords.
A paperback version will be available through Amazon in about a week.


All profits made from my books sales during 5/23/2011-6/23/2011 will be donated to Red Cross to help the victims of Joplin, MO.


On a side note I am currently running a book launch contest. There will be plenty of winners and the grand prize is a signed book, various swag bag items and a new Amazon Kindle! Check out my blog for more details at www.coledrewes.com.

__

I love that Cole is donating to such a great cause for these next couple of weeks, so if he book sounds up your alley, please give it a try! :) 

That's the beauty of a lot of indie published novels.  They are so inexpensive, that it's easy to find new authors.  I haven't read Cole's novel yet, but it sounds fun as Hell (pun intended), so I'm sure I'll be picking it up in the very near future.

Guest Post at Author Cole Drewes' Blog Today!

Hi, All,


Today, I'm a guest poster over at Author Cole Drewe's blog. Go check it out :)!  I've been getting a lot of questions from writers about how I made the final leap into indie publishing Legacy, so I go into more depth about why I did it, why I think it was the best thing for me, and why I'm optimistic about my career.

Cole's book, Hounds of Heaven, just launched as well--Congratulations, Cole!

___

If you haven't entered my fabulous Launch Day Giveaway, then why haven't you? It's AWESOME! It's exactly the kind of thing you should enter.

Right now.

Go.

Do iiiiit. ;)



Here's how to get entries into the drawing for cool books, delicous chocos, and a $25 Amazon giftcard:


Be a follower of this blog: Old followers get 1 entry, and New followers get 2 entries!

Tweet about this giveaway: 1 entry per tweet (as many as you'd like)

Link this giveaway on Facebook: 1 entry per link!

Review the book on Amazon or on your blog: 5 entries!

Talk about this giveaway on your blog: 2 entries!

Tell me who your favorite Fantasy character is in the comments: 1 entry

"Like" my book on Amazon: 1 entry

Link a picture of you brandishing a sword: 3 entries! (cause seriously... that's cool)

Interview me on your blog: 5 entries!
Tell a friend about my book : 1 entry each time! (honor system, yo)


Leave your comments in the contest post with what you've done along the way, and rack up those entries! The contest runs until the end of the month.

I'm excited to see who wins!! :)

Excerpt from LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS

Happy Sunday!

Callie Kingston has an excerpt from Legacy of the Empress up on her blog if you's like to have a look :).

Enjoy!

My First Author Interview: Achievement Unlocked!

Hi, All,

Blogger and fellow writer, Callie Kingston, was kind enough to  interview me on her blog today!  Her questions are great, and I had a blast answering them :).

Please come say "Hi!"  I'll be hanging out answering any questions in the comments all day.

It's so cool to finally get to this moment:  My first author interview!  You bet your ass I'm totally printing it off and saving it in my Milestone Drawer for posterity ;).

Literary Agents: Working for You, or Against You?

I came across an interesting (and alarming) blog post today that I wanted to share with you guys:  http://kriswrites.com/2011/06/01/the-business-rusch-agents-surviving-the-transition-part-3/.

Author Kristine Kathryn Rusch breaks down her thoughts on why working with a big, corporate literary agency may be hurting writers more than helping them as the publishing world changes.

She calls out a few things that writers absolutely NEED to be aware of, such as unethical agency clauses, rights grabs, as well as conflicts of interest as more and more big agencies turn into e-publishers to keep the money flowing.

Please, if you're looking for an agent, have an agent, or had one and parted ways, check out this blog article.

What do you think?

Are agents still relavent during these changing times?

_____

Stay tuned tomorrow as I make an appearance over at author Callie Kingston's blog!  She was kind enough to interview me, and asked thought-provoking questions about my journey, the characters in Legacy of the Empress, and my thoughts on the publishing landscape.  Check it out then!  I'll be there answering questions in the comments :).

P.S. Remember to comment on my contest for a chance to WIN :)!

More Changes in the Publishing Industry

Holy paperback, Batman!

Things are still moving and shaking in the publishing industry, as a new, and fascinating, option opens up for authors.  You may remember whenI blogged about author Barry Eisler turning down a $500,000 deal with a traditional publisher to self publish his new books.  WELL, as you guys probably know, Barry just signed with a new Amazon imprint, and it seems like the terms he was offered are Kickin RAD.


Barry had another one of his lengthy e-discussions with J.A. Konrath about his decision and the hullabaloo it created HERE.  It's a long one, but it's seriously worth the read, as were the last two segments.  In fact, Joe and Barry are releasing this convo as a 30k word, 99 cent e-book so you can put your kindle in a ziplock and read the whole thing in your tub.

One of the most fascinating things about this development is that by bitching about Legacy Publishing's crappy terms for authors, Joe and Barry seemed to have egged companies like Amazon on in creating author-friendly terms like nothing we've ever seen before.

This can only create more competition and better options for writers in the long run.  In fact, someone in the comments said that they've noticed more and more agents closing for submissions and scouring Amazon for new talent.  Things have definitely turned on their heads, and I have to say.. I think it's a great thing.

As both of these guys say:  "If you're in the egg selling business, don't piss off your chickens."

What the heck do you guys think about all this?

Are you excited by the changes or hesitant?  Why do you feel the way you do?

I Love Indies! Vintage Books

Authors Lisa & Laura Roecker started something wonderful today... SHOUT OUTS to indie bookstores!

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for independent bookstores, and the gals' blogging about which ones have impacted them seemed like an incredible idea.

My area in Vancouver, WA has a wonderful indie store that I grew up with:  Vintage Books.  They are an awesome, musty old book store that sells new titles as well as used, old, and the downright strange.  I remember my parents taking me there when I was little to pick up the newest Berenstein Bears book, and most of all, I remember the big, orange kitty who would drool on me whenever I picked him up.

Isn't there something magical about a bookstore that has its own cat?

I would beg my parents to let me go back because books were my obsession, but also, I always missed the Bookstore Cat.

I went in there the other day with my husband, and, although the cat is different, it's the same old bookstore.  I love the quirkiness, the history, that comes with a neighborhood institution like that...

Please, don't ever change, Vintage Books :).  You make my hometown that much more special, and I love you for it.

Which indie stores do you love in your area?  Please share!

---

Also, don't forget to comment on my Book Launch Givaway for a chance to win!  Good luck!

LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS Launch Day Giveaway!

LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS is finally for sale in the Kindle Store, and I'm celebrating by holding my biggest contest yet!

There will be 5 total winners with one GRAND PRIZE:  A $25 Amazon Giftcard!


The next three runners-up will receive either FIRE, RAMPANT, or SOULLESS (in honor of fantasy novels with strong heroines), an e-copy of LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS, and a bar of delicious Ghirardelli chocolate.  Look at those bars sparkling at you in the photo... you know you want them!


The Grand Prize winner and last winner also get a free e-copy of LEGACY, of course :).  


So, ready to play?  Who wants to win a gift card or some great reads??


Here's how it works.  Each time you do one of the following, you get a certain number of entries.  Leave what you've done in the comments below, and I'll tally them all up when the contest ends and pick our winners!


How to get entries:

• Be a follower of this blog:  Old followers get 1 entry, and New followers get 2 entries!
• Tweet about this giveaway:  1 entry per tweet (as many as you'd like)
• Link this giveaway on Facebook:  1 entry per link!
• Review the book on Amazon or on your blog:  5 entries!
• Talk about this giveaway on your blog:  2 entries!
• Tell me who your favorite Fantasy character is in the comments:  1 entry
• "Like" my book on Amazon: 1 entry
• Link a picture of you brandishing a sword: 3 entries! (cause seriously... that's cool)
• Interview me on your blog:  5 entries!
• Tell a friend about my book : 1 entry each time! (honor system, yo)

This contest will run through 6/31 to give you time to star racking up entries!

GOOD LUCK, and thank you for celebrating this special day with me!

Also, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!  If there are any troops who read this blog, please email me, and I'll hook you up with a free copy.  Thank you for your service to this country, and God bless!