After snagging a 2 million dollar deal, Amanda Hocking was quoted as saying “I want to be a writer,†she said. “I do not want to spend 40 hours a week handling e-mails, formatting covers, finding editors, etc. Right now, being me is a full-time corporation.†(Quote courtesy NY Times, click here for the full article).
Maybe with a two mil deal Ms. Hocking can now simply sit back and solely write , but the reality is that for the rest of us, all those things are an everyday responsibility and many of us still have full time jobs.
Which brings me to the point of today’s blog. To be a full time writer you have to sell books. If you don’t, you don’t get paid and eventually your publisher will drop you. That doesn’t mean that your not a good writer or your books aren’t good, it just means that you didn’t sell enough of them.
Why not? What makes readers buy a book? Here are a few things I can think of, but I’d love to hear from you. With a few books about to be released this year, I’d like to know that I’m focusing my efforts in the right direction.
Is it the cover?
Reviews from book bloggers?
Reviews at the online retailers?
Videos, whether chats or movie-style trailers?
Word of mouth?
Price?
Or is it something else. Inquiring minds want to know. Please leave your comments about what influences your book buying.
Today’s Guilty Pleasure Monday is a blast from the past: Tony Danza. I always loved him in WHO’S THE BOSS and TAXI.
Tony was discovered for his role in TAXI at a local boxing gymnasium, but actually went to college on wrestling scholarship. He was born in Brooklyn, but grew up on Long Island. Tony was nominated several times for the Emmy and Golden Globes and was also a People’s Choice Best Male Performer Award for WHO’S THE BOSS.
What paranormal writer doesn’t love a demon in the night doing all kinds of things with the peasantry? Check out this funny take from The Muppets on the classic STAND BY ME!
Also, congrats to Leanne, Rachel, Christine and Kym who won prizes at the live video event on Wednesday night. Thanks to all who came by. We’re working on the dates for the next video chats and I’ve lined up some fun authors to visit, like my Danger Women Writing buddies Lisa Renee Jones and Cynthia Eden. In July I’ll also have Larissa Ione visiting with me!
As much as I was planning to do a Thursday 13 today, I am without a thought this a.m. I could not even name 13 things sitting on my desk right now. Well, maybe I could but I don’t think you’d be too interested in knowing. LOL!
I want to thank everyone who dropped by the live video event last night. I had a blast talking with all of you and the marvelous Donna Grant. Donna is so much fun and it was so interesting to hear about her books and her wonderful Dark Sword series. Also got to see her wonderful trailer for UNTAMED HIGHLANDER. Can I say AWESOME?
I’ll be picking winners from the event later this a.m. and posting them tomorrow, so please drop by on Friday to see if you’ve won.
Well, maybe I can after a double dose of coffee since I was both tired and excited after our event last night. Went to bed early as I usually do because I’m normally up at 5 a.m. to head to work. So not fun.
But as I lay there I turned on the television and zapped between PAWN QUEENS and AUCTION WARS. I love seeing what they find, maybe because I’ve recently discovered that there is an adventurous treasure hunter buried deep inside of me. (Duh, I guess I should have realized that way before writing AZTEC GOLD and THE FIFTH KINGDOM, but I didn’t!)
Then I caught my first episode of EXTREME COUPONING. Whoa! A young couple got thousands of dollars of items for FREE. The nice thing was they gave everything away to local area charities.
Next was a single mom who relied on couponing to support her family. More power to her. Why not take advantage of savings, especially in these difficult times.
I used to coupon more. Once saved 75% of my grocery bill with coupons. Now I have little time for that, but I still try to predominantly buy what’s on sale and what I need. I don’t want to end up throwing away items that have reached their expiration date.
I also make sure to check the sizes and prices. 5.98 a pound chicken breasts at 50% off is no bargain. I hate when stores do that to make themselves look good, but are not really giving their customers a break.
So do you coupon? Extremely or just average?
Oh wait. I guess I did have some thoughts this morning. LOL! I hope they made sense.
I’m very excited to have with us today psychologist and medium Dr. Susan Kronick who has investigated countless ghostly encounters over the years. In her capacity as a paranormal investigator, blessed with the ability to see ghosts, Susan presents some surprising facts and words of wisdom about the spirit world you may not know.
Without further ado, here’s Susan as she discusses the ghosts amongst us!
You probably passed a ghost on the street, and didn’t even know it!
Most people don’t realize that ghosts are always walking among us! Contrary to the belief that they always appear transparent with an ethereal “Casper-like†white glow about them, a spirit can present itself however it chooses. A specter may appear solid and even be warm to the touch. The only way you may discover you had an encounter with a ghost, is if the spirit were to suddenly disappear before your eyes. If the ghost walks off into the sunset, you may remain clueless to your encounter with a supernatural being.
Sometimes what you’re seeing is NOT a real live dead guy!
This is known as a residual haunting, which does depict someone who did live at some point in the past. The image of the ghost does represent events from time gone by play repeatedly This type of haunting can represent either a replay of a person’s ordinary habits, such as seeing grandma at her usual spot in the kitchen baking cookies, or can depict a traumatic emotionally charged event. It would in fact appear similar to old movie reruns. The apparitions present in this type of haunting are telepathic or psychical induced hallucinations, not living spirits
All ghosts are NOT friendly like Casper!
The spirit realm has its share of unfriendly characters. Some are simply nasty earth bound spirits, who never crossed into the light. They feel cheated and resent their fate, what they consider was a premature death. Other negative entities are much more dangerous. That would include threats by demonic entities that never walked the earth in human form. They are the most maniacal, as they don’t want God’s blessing.
Not all ghosts have tales of woe!
Contrary to the popular belief that all ghosts are unhappy souls roaming the earth, many spirits choose to go into the light but return periodically to look after their loved ones, often referred to as a “protector ghost,†because of their good intentions. These spectral -guardians have been identified in at least 75% of the investigations I have done.
In closing, I quote from Dr. Karlis Osis, who had this to say about apparitions/ghosts: “To me, it is silly the way in which people are totally unprepared to handle apparition experiences. They run-even from their own mothers. This is cruel. We should prepare people for all life situations-not just driving a car or crossing the street, but having an apparition experience as well.â€
About the Author:
Susan Kronick’s background is the perfect backdrop leading up to her latest paranormal novel, Sarah, They’re Coming for You. She has a Master of Science in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and a Ph.D. in Paranormal Studies/Psychology from Union Institute and Graduate School, as well as being an adjunct psychology professor at Barry University and Palm Beach State College. A psychic and a medium, she has the gift of seeing the dead since she was a child. She also has taught parapsychology classes through the Palm Beach County School Board, as well as at Palm Beach State College. Susan has extensive experience in the area of investigations of haunting and the paranormal. She lives with her husband and her four spoiled rescue dogs in south Florida. You can visit her website at www.susankronick.webs.com. “Like†her page at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/susan-kronick/156870670886.
Live Video Event Tonight!
Don’t forget to join me and my fellow Danger Woman Writing Donna Grant for a live video event tonight, May 18 at 9 p.m. EST. We’re going to preview the trailer for THE LOST, the very first book in my new SIN HUNTER series and talk about writing paranormals, our favorite kinds of heroes and lots of other fun stuff.
I’ll be giving away a $10 gift card, an autographed copy of STRONGER THAN SIN and a couple of cool reusable grocery bags so that you can help to protect the environment. You can either click here to join this 30 minute live video event this Wednesday or click on the widget below. Feel free to share the widget with your friends and let them share in the fun and prizes. You can also tweet or share this link: http://t.wbx.me/eemp7
Thunder and lightening, everything is frightening . . .
Got soaked walking to the office this morning and now there is a wicked amount of rain, thunder and lightning going on!
I certainly hope your day is starting off better.
I’m over at my friend Ronnie’s blogspot later today. Drop by for a quick chat on blogging.
Don’t forget tomorrow is the big day for our next live video event!
Come join me and my fellow Danger Woman Writing Donna Grant for a live video event this Wednesday, May 18 at 9 p.m. EST. We’re going to preview the trailer forTHE LOST, the very first book in my new SIN HUNTER series and talk about writing paranormals, our favorite kinds of heroes and lots of other fun stuff.
I’ll be giving away a $10 gift card, an autographed copy of STRONGER THAN SIN and a couple of cool reusable grocery bags so that you can help to protect the environment. You can either click here to join this 30 minute live video event this Wednesday or click on the widget below. Feel free to share the widget with your friends and let them share in the fun and prizes. You can also tweet or share this link: http://t.wbx.me/eemp7
It’s a dreary Monday here, but we have with us today a man who is hot and humorous. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Today’s Guilty Pleasure is Bradley Cooper who is in almost everything lately. Bradley first caught my eye in ALIAS and apparently attended Villanova for a year before transferring some other school that shall not be named. LOL! I still haven’t seen THE A TEAM although it’s still on my list. Maybe over the summer weekends when I’ve got a little more time.
Hope you enjoyed today’s Guilty Pleasure!
Now for the excitement!
Contest Winner
The winner of Friday’s contest – Margaret Mallory’s THE GUARDIAN – is Sabina E. Please e-mail me your postal address so I can send out your prize.
Check out the cover for THE FIFTH KINGDOM!
Just got the cover for THE FIFTH KINGDOM, my July 11 romantic suspense release from Carina Press.
Live Video Event on May 18 with Donna Grant
Come join me and my fellow Danger Woman Writing Donna Grant for a live video event this Wednesday, May 18 at 9 p.m. EST. We’re going to preview the trailer for THE LOST, the very first book in my new SIN HUNTER series and talk about writing paranormals, our favorite kinds of heroes and lots of other fun stuff.
I’ll be giving away a $10 gift card, an autographed copy of STRONGER THAN SIN and a couple of cool reusable grocery bags so that you can help to protect the environment. You can either click here to join this 30 minute live video event this Wednesday or click on the widget below. Feel free to share the widget with your friends and let them share in the fun and prizes. You can also tweet or share this link: http://t.wbx.me/eemp7
