On this Memorial Day, take a moment to remember our military men, women and their families for all the sacrifices they make. We are the Home of the Free because of the Brave. Keep them in your hearts and minds each and every day. Help them however you can because they are the ones who keep our Nation safe.
What makes you buy the book?
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.
Events, Coupons and More!
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.
Bradley Cooper & Lots of Excitement!
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
Contest and Guest Blog with Selina McLemore
I’ve got my wonderful editor, Selina McLemore, with my friends at Danger Women Writing! Visit with us for a chance to win a $10 Gift Card, autographed copy of SINS OF THE FLESH, STRONGER THAN SIN Tote bag and an autographed copy of AZTEC GOLD.
I’m off today to run some personal errands and also to do a workshop at the wonderful Bucks County Romance Writers. I hope you all have a wonderful day and I’ll be back tomorrow.
Exciting Happenings!
As I mentioned some time ago, this is an exciting year for me! A number of new novellas, an awesome romantic suspense from Carina press, the launch of the exciting new SIN HUNTER series, vampires at Christmas and so much more! Yes, more! So what can we do to celebrate such an awesome year?
For starters you can join me for a series of incredible video chats over the course of the next few weeks. I’ll be meeting you face-to-face thanks to the wonders of technology and also sharing some of my favorite authors and friends. Come join the fun at our very first chat this Thursday as we preview THE LOST, the very first book in my new SIN HUNTER series.
I’ll be giving away a $10 gift card, a LOST T-shirt and a couple of cool reusable grocery bags so that you can help to protect the environment. You can either click here to join the chat this Thursday, May 5 at 8:30 EST 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
Guilty Pleasure Monday Mike Rowe & a huge giveaway!
We’re getting dirty today on this Guilty Pleasure Monday with none other than our favorite Dirty Jobs guy – Mike Rowe.
There’s something about those baby blues and handsomely craggy face that I find totally appealing. How about you? Thanks to Jay Villemarette for releasing this photo into the public domain.
Take a moment to visit with the Dangerous Women Writers this morning as our blog-a-thon and giveaways continue. This time we’ve got the wonderful Barbara Vey from Publisher’s Weekly with us and a huge giveaway to one lucky person we will choose from those who comment on the blog by midnight Tuesday.
How big a contest? Well one lucky reader can take home the following:
* Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant (signed)
* Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro (signed)
* Stronger than Sin by Caridad Pineiro (signed)
* ARC of The Lost by Caridad Pineiro (signed)
* Blaze Hotzone Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones (signed)
* Eternal Flame by Cynthia Eden (signed)
* I’ll be Slaying You by Cynthia Eden (signed)
* Immortal Danger by Cynthia Eden (signed)
* A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore (signed)
* Highland Surrender by Dawn Halliday (signed)
* And a “Romantic†Historical Romance Prize Basket, including the following:
-Desire Me by Robyn DeHart (signed)
-ARC of The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane
-How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries
-The Sins of Lord Easterbrook by Madeline Hunter (signed)
-A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore (signed)
-Highland Surrender by Dawn Halliday (signed)
-A Jennifer Haymore tote
-& an assortment of body butters from
Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works
How’s that for big?