Barnes and Noble Yanks Books - Smashwords Offers Solution

Happy Thursday, everyone! Well, what an interesting month it's been, eh? Let's get to the publishing news, just in case you haven't seen it. Strap in, grab your coffee, and let's get going!

Over the last month or so, B&N has pulled several Indie erotica titles off their platform. Authors who were hybrid experienced an interesting effect when their Indie titles dropped off, but their publisher titles stayed up. What are they worried about? Well, if you caught my post from a while back that tackled the subject of what content would be allowed in books, you'll know. If you missed it, take a look here.

So, it seems the taboo topics are under fire. Namely:  Age play, bestiality, dubious consent, incest or pseudo-incest, non-consensual sexual slavery, rape for titillation, underage, snuff, scat, necrophilia.

Some of those have "never" been allowed.

Or have they?

According to the Smashwords blog, few retailers will take incest or pseudo-incest, and iBooks won't take them at all.

I beg to differ. After a quick search on B&N, I found the time-honored (even made into a movie) Flowers in the Attic series. I read that series. Not only do the children locked in the attic (the elder brother and sister) experience a coming-of-age sexual happening, but their mother slept with her uncle to conceive said children (which is why the grandmother wanted the kiddos to disappear). Sorry for the spoiler for those of you that haven't read it and had planned to.

Once I checked that out, I went over to iBooks. Guess what?

Yeah. There it is, but iBooks doesn't take books with incest in them?


By the way, it's also available on Amazon.

Doesn't it seem an awful lot like it's just Indie published books that are being targeted? Why not yank V. C. Andrews' books from those same platforms? If there's a taboo topic, she covered it. I've read several of her series, and MANY of them have incest happening across all arms of the family.

Guess what else? There are no "warnings" of sensitive material on ANY of those.

But JO! Those are referring to EROTICA titles.

Are they? Now, since the Great Blocking of Indies, if your book is erotica or not, you have to say whether you used one of those taboo topics. Yeah, even for sci-fi or paranormal.

HOW IS THAT OKAY? 

Do the publishers get to skirt all that? They do. It's obvious by what I've shown above. I'm positive there are others.

Smashwords is trying to provide a solution for Indies and restore trust with their retailers. Read about it on their latest blog post here, which is where the list of taboo topics above came from.

But, the bottom line is, Smashwords shouldn't have to. It's getting out of hand, and something needs to change.

If you publish fiction with one of the taboo topics listed above, please go update your books on Smashwords. It's now part of their ToS, and if you're caught not labeling them, you'll be banned from using them as a distributor.

*facepalm*

Can you name a trad pubbed book with one of the above topics?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Writer's Voice - On Book Banning and Failed Opportunities

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm calling out some folks for some crazy stuff that happened back in October. If you all remember, there was a huge upset with Kobo taking down a bunch of self-pubbed titles when an outcry arose over a few books that were pointed out as being completely inappropriate. Remember, these are my opinions. You have a right to your own. But grab your fiery temper and read along. See if you agree with a lot of these points. Let's get going!

Now, from what I understand, a couple of books were called out as being inappropriate and this caused a ripple of fear to spread through the publishing world.

I'm not going to judge if any book is appropriate or not in this post, but I will say that anything involving child pornography in any form is not something that should be encouraged. On the same token, I'd rather have someone reading about committing those acts than actually taking part in them. But where's the line? I'm positive I'm not the right person to draw one. If we take the books away, do those people then seek to act on their desires in other ways? As a mother, that scares the ever-loving shit out of me.

For all else, to each his or her own. Judge not lest ye be judged is something I live by.

Those business had every right to pull whatever they felt they needed to in order to protect themselves. However, here in the good old U.S. of A, we have a little thing called freedom of speech. Many men and women of our armed forces have died to give us that right (and to maintain it) throughout the years. It's not something to be sneered at. A huge shoutout to those who protect my freedoms; without which I couldn't write this blog post.

While I understand the move on the part of the businesses involved in the massive removal of self-published books, I can't help but wonder at their thought process.

Why? Because, not only did they manage to remove the offending titles (which, again, I'm not 100% sure was right or wrong), they also removed books that were and are "safe" as far as the restrictions on age go. I hobnob with authors of children's books that were taken down. Those folks were outraged (and rightly so) because they felt the bond between them and their publisher was fractured.

Trust was lost.

Booksellers that are brick and mortar have long been in a precarious position where falling sales have caused the closing of a ton of bookstores. That's not an opinion; it's a fact.

An opportunity was lost by those bookstores by watching and not saying a word.

Truth be told, Indie authors are now nervous. If their books can be pulled down without rhyme or reason, how can they be expected to keep publishing with the same companies, never knowing if their revenue stream will be cut off tomorrow?

Why oh why didn't someone jump forward (even Mark Coker of Smashwords) and reassure Indies or give them something they can put their trust in? If a brick and mortar bookstore approached me tomorrow and told me they'd carry my books (even if just digitally) with a seal of approval that guaranteed I'd never be removed from their platform, I'd jump on it. Even if it meant removal of my titles everywhere else.

I'm human. I want security.

Now, it remains to be seen what titles will be banned from booksellers. In my opinion, Smashwords was so on top of it, it's crazy. They had a system to keep age 18+ books out of the hands of kids. But Smashwords also dropped the ball when it came time to offer reassurances to their authors. Get on it already!

But the biggest loss, in my opinion, is by the brick and mortar stores. They need a healthy author/reader/customer base that keeps growing.

What do you think of the recent actions by Kobo, Amazon, and some others? Were you one of the authors? How did it impact you?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Smashwords Author Interviews

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! You all know I talk about your search rankings and Google returns a lot here on the blog. Well, today I'm talking about author interviews. Not only because Monday launches my great new series of interviews for authors attending UtopYAcon 2014, but also because I got an interesting e-mail last night from Smashwords. They're starting to allow an author to go complete an interview on the Smashwords website. Anyway, strap in and let's discuss.

Click this link to be taken to the interview page:
Smashwords Author Interviews

You'll notice you can answer up to ten questions (either pre-written or write your own) and give 5k character responses (~ 600 words) for each. I wonder if Smashwords considered that we're authors and 5k characters is a drop in the bucket for us? Did they consider that if we use 600 words for each answer, the resulting interview would be 6k words long?

I'm not too keen on asking myself interview questions, but I may try it out. I don't want to come off as cheesy, and that's one of the things keeping me from pressing the start button on the bottom of the page. The other is time. Those authors with agents or publishers kinda have a leg up on Indies here because those authors have someone to ask the questions for them. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Here are some of the prefabricated questions:

• What are you working on next?
• Who are your favorite authors?
• What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
• When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
• How do you discover the ebooks you read?
• Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
• What is your writing process?
• How has Smashwords contributed to your success?

After all, without Indie authors, Smashwords would never have taken off the way it did.

While they're great for getting my book in the hands of certain retailers (iBooks, for one), I haven't made as much there as I have on Amazon. It's starting to feel like a waste of my time (their meatgrinder requires special formatting). With all the new things Amazon keeps coming out with to support their digital and print media (have you heard of Kindle Matchbook?), I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You all know I'm one for boosting your exposure any way you can. But I'm also very outspoken about wasting time. This one is leaving me scratching my head. After all, I already have a bio page on Smashwords.

It's never been about the profit for me, don't get me wrong. I'm talking about getting my books into the hands of readers that could possibly enjoy my stories. My royalties are a gauge of how well that's working.

As an aside, Smashwords also just released their Series Manager tool. I took the two seconds to put The Abigale Chronicles in, but if it had taken any longer than that, I'm not sure I would've bothered. Amazon has exclusive rights to the Mystic series so, unless I decide to drop them from Select in the future, I don't see it helping much.

Whatever you decide, there are the links for ya!

Don't forget to come on back Monday to meet M.R. Polish, the first author up for an interview in my UtopYAcon 2014 Unofficial Author Interview series! You'll also have a chance to grab a copy of one of her books. Check out the graphics!

If you're planning to help us out with promotion, feel free to grab the buttons above. These are the ones that must be used because they contain the correct verbiage.

What are your thoughts on all the changes Smashwords is making?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

3D Characters

Good Wednesday, people of the blogosphere! I'm revisiting an old favorite of mine: character creation. So, sit back and buckle up, grab your coffee and your notebook, and get prepared to join me on this short journey.

How long is your book? That's the first question you must ask yourself. If your book is part of a series, how much do you want to reveal in book one? That's question two.

Every character has a past, present, and future (unless you kill them off, you cad!). They all have a set of core beliefs and an intrinsic nature. These things should be decided upon before you ever put down the first word.

I cannot stress enough how important a character bio is. It will give you a document to reference when gauging how a character will react when placed into a specific situation where they have a decision to make. For example: If your character is very humble, they won't brag on their accomplishments in a group setting, take praise well, or be comfortable in a situation where they're the center of attention.

But a decision must be made on how to convey these values to the reader and if/when to tell the reader where the values were instilled in the first place. In a series, don't reveal everything about the character from the first book. Leave some to work in later. In your character bio, be sure and mark through what you have and haven't told in the story.

You do need to make your character 3D though. Show their emotions, living conditions, and perhaps even give a little background information. But those moments of reveal should come from things that occur during the story. Have a reason for showing the reader the past.

If you do the above, your characters will be loveable, connectable, and three-dimensional.

If you're writing Historical Fiction, you already have a good idea of how your character will behave. When I wrote Yassa, I knew Genghis Khan was very strict, believed in God, and was loyal beyond all else. I used his loyalty against him when I made him react to his wife's relationship with Jamuka. It provided tension that couldn't have come from any other source. His inner struggle was severe because of what he did.

If you'd like to get an idea of how powerful characterization is, I've put Yassa on sale for the month of October. It's priced at $2.99. You can pick up a copy on Smashwords, Amazon, or B&N for this price (Amazon will update sometime today, Kobo, iBooks, and others will update throughout the month). Go pick up a copy and have a read. Then pop on over and tell me what you thought.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Come Join the Party!

Okay, folks, in celebration of my books publishing, I'd like to invite you all to a party! It's a party online that will take place right here on my blog! I'm getting a decent number of hits here per day and an astonishing number per month. I'd like to share the wealth!

Next week, I'm willing to promote your new book or your blog topic right here on my blog. If you've written a review and would like to see it posted here, send me a message via FaceBook. While I would love to slap my personal e-mail address down here to make it easier, we all know about spam-bots and the irritating way they seek and spam. Yuck!

So, if you're interested in some free self-promotion, message me.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of one of my books in the meantime! :)

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Biting and Chewing

We write like we eat: plan the book (idea), write an outline, write chapter-by-chapter, plan the meal, cook the meal, eat the meal bite-by-bite.

We can't really get to the last part unless we do the first two parts. Even if we eat a lot of fast food, we still have to decide where to go and what to order. You can't skip parts.

Seasonings are the feelings and settings you put into your book. I could write a lovely few lines like this:

I walked to the fridge and pulled out hot dogs. I popped one into the microwave and heated it for a minute, then added ketchup and sat down to eat. When I was done, I cleaned my place and headed to get out of my pajamas so I could go to the store.

You get the idea of what I'm doing but I certainly seem like I'm a zombie and have zero emotion, right? Let's try again:

I felt hunger pangs for the first time since the incident occurred so I shuffled over to the old fridge that looked like something from 1972 (much like the kitchen it was in) and jerked the door open to peer inside. I scanned the contents and let out a heavy sigh before I settled on hot dogs. I slammed them down on the counter and slit open the package with a knife from the block nearby. Digging out one of the dogs, I grabbed a paper towel and wrapped it up like a caterpillar in a cocoon before popping it into the microwave and pressing the button that would get me thirty seconds of nuke time.

While the appliance whirred, I stuffed the remaining hot dogs into a bag, zipped it closed, and reached for a paper plate. Tears filled my eyes again as I thought about what happened and my head screamed How could this happen to me? Haven't I endured enough? I got a less-than-satisfying ding, opened the microwave, and grabbed my breakfast. After I plopped it on the plate, I stuffed the leftovers back into the fridge and grabbed the ketchup. I squirted a squiggly line next to my dog and popped the bottle back into the still open fridge; slamming the door.

Shuffling to the two-person table that was situated under the naked bulb in my sparse dining room made me feel like all my energy was suddenly being drained from my body. I sat down and ate my meal while fat tears rolled down my face and plopped into my already-watery ketchup. Sighing, I stood and took my small mess to the over-full trash can before heading to change out of my pajamas for the first time in a week so I could go to the store.

Now, even though you have no idea why I feel the way I feel, you have more emotional response than with the first section, right? You know something is troubling the poor soul that's being spoken about, right? Would you read on to find out what's wrong?

I'm building suspense to my plight by letting you into my thoughts and emotions before telling you what's going on. It's a useful trick to pickup and also useful to see the opposite way and realize how you can pare down and remove emotion and scenery. All I did was add a few spices to your meal.

If you haven't picked one up yet, go get a copy of one of my books. There's something for everyone there!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Why?

I have announced the release of my book, The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book and I'm sitting on pins and needles hoping that someone, somewhere gets some use out of the darned thing. This is the simple answer to why I wrote it. Let me explain further for those of you that don't understand what the book is about. I'll start with the ToC page...

Section One – Branding Yourself
Choosing an Identity
Creating a Logo (or having one created for you)
Color Scheme Dos and Don’ts
Consistency is Queen – Because Kings are controlled by Queens!

Section Two – Formatting Your Manuscript
Dos and Don’ts when Writing Your Book
Quick Tips for Better Legibility
Building Your Save System
Different Formats for Different Platforms

Section Three – Building a Digital Cover
Size IS Important!
Images
Font Choices – Why does it Matter?
Using Layers

Section Four – Final Checks
Uploading and Proofing

Section Five – Business Considerations
Choosing your distributor(s)
Places to Sell and Market Your Book

Section Six – If Your Book is a Print Version
Your Book’s Guts
Orphans and Widows
Pesky Page Numbers
Running Headers
Cover Considerations
Explaining Bleed and Safety
Conversion to CMYK for print
Math Involved

As you can see, I cover a lot of things in the book related to design and personal branding. Both of these considerations are important, so I give you tips and tricks to put into action that will help you along the way. I use all of my own advice and the print version of The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book is not telling you, but showing you how things look when properly formatted according to the guide.

I had a couple of indie authors look over the ToC and had The Best Boyfriend in the World look over the content (he's not an author and I thought that was best because I wanted someone totally unfamiliar with the whole process). What you see is the result.

I have my own personal brand and am working on a personal logo that I can display here on my blog and on every copyright page for every one of my books. Why? Because consistency is queen. I already use the same font and put my name in the same position on every book, but I need more.

I wrote the book because I saw with my own eyes how many indie authors were struggling with cover design and formatting their print and digital versions. I listened to complaints coming out of the mouths of designers who thought only to criticize the quality of print work emerging from indie authors but not bothering to do anything to help them besides venting on YouTube videos or on blogs.

My personal horn-tooting: I hold a degree in graphic design and graduated at the top of my class (Summa Cum Laude), something that is rarely done in that program. I tutored Graphic Design, English, and Calculus. I won the right to design the commencement cover at my school. The president loved it so much, he used it a second time this year. I got many kudos from my business professors for thinking outside the box and understanding the need for branding. I led creative thinking groups in my composition classes. I taught classes for a number of my professors throughout college when they were absent for one reason or another.

But I'm not so pompous as to put down those that know less than I do about things I went to school for.

I listened to those videos and got angry at the designers spouting their ideals about a utopian society where every indie author has gone to design school and produces a perfect product every time. What do they say? Pay me and I'll help you. But not peanuts or pocket change because they don't want to bother taking the time to put together a guide, they just want to yell at indies for not having $400+ dollars to pay them to do the work. That's part of what drove my price of $2.99.

$2.99 is something the mother who is struggling to write her book and raise her kids alone can afford. $2.99 is what we can find in the cushions of our couch. $2.99 is what the guy with the limited budget and the need for a quality product can afford. $2.99 also says I care about my work and value the information I'm selling to you.

For $2.99 we can change the way indie authors look to the world. We can give the big publishing houses less to criticize us over without breaking the bank or going into hock.

I'd be willing to bet those designers who talk about indie titles sucking eggs in a print version can't write a novel. Most of the designers in my classes could barely write a brief. It's easy to criticize others when you hold a skillset they don't. Just remember, they have skillsets of their own, just in different areas.

Instead of allowing your prejudices to take over and calling out people for not doing things the "proper" way, think of how you might be able to improve the lives of those people. By doing so, you may improve your own life as a bonus. I know the more indie authors that read and follow my book, the more beautiful print versions and beautiful covers I'll have to look at. I will no longer sit and stress wondering how I can help; because I did.

Here's a peek at the cover for my book, The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book

I don't want you to look like the poor lady on the cover there. It lessens productivity when you bang your head or sit slouched in a chair doing nothing but being stressed. Go get the book today and know that I built this book for you and me.

Here are the links:

Kindle version - free for prime users, $2.99 for everyone else. There will be NO free promotions for this one except over on Goodreads, where I'll giveaway two copies of the printed version to two lucky winners.
Paperback version - $6.99. Again, NO free promotions except on Goodreads. Check back here for the link that will appear in the sidebar sometime this week.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The F-Word

Today's post is brought to you by the letter F. F is one of those letters that dwells at the beginning of some of the most vulgar and some of the nicest words. Let's take a tour of F-words, shall we?

Fun. We all love to have fun. Fields of flowers are brought to mind when I think of having fun. Frolicking through them, flying through on a four-wheeler, and feeling perfectly at ease are all resons behind me loving that particular setting.

Did you see what I did there? Moving on...

Fancy. When we put on our fabulous frocks, we feel fancy (and look fantastic, too). I'm reminded of friends and foes gathered together at feasts I attended. Furthermore, I'm reminded of fur wraps and fedoras when I think of the word fancy.

Flippant. Freaking full of themselves is what flippant people are. Fiery flashes of force are flung from their mouths before they realize they are fighting futilely.

Friendly. Of all the F-words, I like friendly the most. When we're feeling forlorn, we can strike up a feud with a well known friend and engage in fulfilling conversation. Our friends don't fight back, they fill our hearts with banter that leaves us feeling empowered and understanding that our future is in good hands.

Okay, that was a lot of F-words. But you can see just how wide the range is. I left off one four letter F-word because you all know it and the extent of its vulgarity. No need to hash it out here (though that might be interesting one day). I hope you all begin to take note of F-words and realize that not all of them are dreaded.

Another little note for all you fiends out there. Oh my... I can't stop, can I?

The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two is FREE at Amazon tomorrow and Sunday. If you want a good read for the weekend, go get a copy. If you haven't read book one, there are a couple of ways to get one of those as well: Buy one at Amazon (just $1.99!) or purchase Yassa at Smashwords (there's a code in the back for a free copy!).

I'm also launching the giveaway on Goodreads on Monday. Come back here for the linky!

Now, I'd like to hear from all of you! What's your favorite F-word? Remember the rules of my blog now and keep it clean and friendly!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Indie Author's Guide

Yesterday I wrote almost five thousand words. Drivel, unimaginative, lonely words. Why? Because I'm writing a non-fiction book. It's title is: The Indie Author's Guide to Building a Great E-Book.

Why am I writing this book? Because I've realized there's a huge need for it. Can you find a lot of the information online and in textbooks? Possibly. But I give you links for that. Consider it a book that brings all you need to create a dynamite e-book together in one place.

So, why would someone buy this book? Because of section six. I am a graphic designer and if you want to know how to create a print version of your book, I walk you through step by step. I also teach you how to avoid common pitfalls in the publishing process.

Okay, but I have no desire to create a printed version of my book, Jo! Maybe not today, but possibly tomorrow. I give you advice on how to build your book cover today so you won't be sorry tomorrow.

I give you some great marketing and branding ideas, and a collection of useful links with a number of reviews on each publishing platform. You've seen a taste of what kind of information you'll get in the book here on my blog. If you missed those posts, click here, here, here, or here to pay them a visit.

It's going to take me a few weeks to finish the book but it will be a wealth of information for any indie author. Even the most inexperienced of people will be able to build a fantastic e-book by following along with me.

Keep your eyes here for news on release dates and those great Abigale giveaways!

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Fetters for the Fourth

Today, I am chained to my desk. Tonight, I am chained to my desk. I will prepare my non-fiction book for publication and write one volume of the Mystic series by the end of this month. My fetters grow ever heavier.

Some people take the 4th of July off, but a writer's work is never done. Some days I wish my book sales would pick up and give me a reason to keep writing. But then I remember, I don't write to make money (that would be an exercise in futility). I write because I have stories to tell and I want people to read them.

When someone says my book had a strong impact on them, I have been paid. I'm the richest person in the world when I make someone else smile or stop and think. That is why I write and it keeps me going every day. Well, that and The Best Boyfriend in the World.

I'm honestly the luckiest person on the planet. I have him, five great kids, a great mom, a wonderful little dog, and my virtual besties. I'm able to do what I love every day. I couldn't ask for more.

But I do sometimes. I admit it. I wish I could think my books into existence, I wish I didn't wear my heart on my sleeve, and I wish for peace in my soul. But, I think if any of those things truly changed, I would not be able to write. I type and think about what happens next, feel very deeply everything that is said to me, and have chaos in my soul (making me a tortured artist). Escape in my words is all that keeps me sane.

You writers know how I feel.

Happy 4th of July, everyone.

Don't forget to watch my blog for the announcement of the first couple of FREE days for The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two. I won't post it anywhere else. Let's see how many of you are excited about it.

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Interview with Crystal Lee Author of Canopy

Today, I bring you author Crystal Lee; the lady behind Canopy.

Author of historical fiction, romance, and her science fiction series, Canopy. Also working on some non-fiction works on organic gardening in Arizona and an informative book on breastfeeding after breast cancer. All coming soon...

1.) Tell us a little about yourself. How did you start writing? 

I grew up with a dad that wrote screenplays constantly on an old clunky typewriter. I never, ever wanted to be a writer even though I was pretty good at it. But about 2 years ago I was struggling with some personal problems I couldn’t talk to a lot of people about, and I found writing cathartic. It started out as Twilight Fan Fiction, and after I entered The Writer’s Coffee Shop original romance contest in September of 2011 and won with what is now my 2^nd story in my Canopy series, I started taking my writing seriously. It was time to publish…

2.) Do you have any other interests? 

Yes, a ton. I am an avid organic gardener and in Phoenix, Arizona that’s kind of unique since our climate is soooo hostile. I teach classes on organic gardening locally at Honeyville Farms. I’m publishing my first book on organic gardening basics next month and plan to write 2 more on the same subject geared toward our short seasons. I’m also a registered International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and have been a La Leche League leader for over a decade. I plan to write on the subject of breastfeeding after breast cancer down the road as well. I also used to be a Bradley natural childbirth instructor (also for almost a decade) and plan to write about unassisted birthing at home. A lot of my passions bleed over into my writing whether I want them to or not. They’re ingrained in me. I love helping mothers succeed with having the kind of labor, birth, and breastfeeding experience they want to have.

I also love to read and cook. Although since I started writing we’ve been having much less preparation-wise time consuming meals on the table. :D

3.) On your blog, you have a post about your Christianity. Does your religion have any bearing on your writing? 

Yes, it does. It’s not done on purpose. I actually try to keep religion out of my writing along with my convictions on childbirthing and breastfeeding but they just won’t stay out of every story. Some of them it’s easier than others, but it happens. It’s part of my passion once again, finds its way in there. I never intended Canopy to involve religion at all, but it took root and wouldn’t let up. As writers, we write about what we know. Only I like to tweak what I know and ask thought provoking questions and then present an entirely unique perspective on an answer or possibly on another question (sometimes it gets me in trouble). I, however, do not share what my religion is because I don’t think it has any bearing. I want my work to speak to anybody that reads it regardless of religious beliefs or even with an atheistic view point. I respect all opinions on religion. That’s one of the things I love about science fiction—it breaches those gaps and speaks to people on a basic level.

4.) Your Canopy books are romance novels that are based in science fiction. Do you have worries that some people will be put off by the sci-fi aspect? 

No, not really because the science fiction is in the background, the white noise behind the plot. It has an impact on the characters and the plot, but it’s not the main focus. I was writing a romance story and thought of the science fiction as the backdrop or setting. They could have been on a boat about to be devoured by a massive shark, and I still would have been writing a romance, not an action/adventure or science fiction story. But I classify it as science fiction because there are times that romances get a bad rap and get thrown in with harlequins. I have no problem with harlequin romance, but that’s not what I write. I like to think of it like the Oscars where the comedies get snubbed and aren’t taken seriously. I want this story to be taken seriously, so I put it under the category of science fiction instead of romance. I think it also gives it a little more definition so people know what to expect.

5.) I have to ask! Where did the idea of inhaling BUGS come from?

 Ha! I have a warped mind, and I’m always asking ‘what if’ questions. In the summers here in Phoenix it’s very hot (a lot of days at 110° or higher) and when it’s that blazing bake-your-skin-off hot, the only bugs besides wasps you see are usually clouds of white gnats floating along in your backyard. I remember one day looking out my back window and thinking, “if I walked right into them out in the sunlight I wouldn’t see them and could possibly breathe them in.” It grossed me out, but it also intrigued me to think about what could happen if they survived that. Would they latch onto my lungs for survival? And if they did, what would happen to me? Would I change? And the process went on and on and on and on. Then it turned into the vision of a mother dying in a hospital room and releasing those gnats into the air. Would the daughter breathe them in for her mother if she had rejected inhaling them all along based on her own principals? Would she do it to win her mother’s respect or love if that’s what all of society was doing and her mother wanted her to? The ending of book 2 was born. And I was a little more twisted than before. That was 19 years ago, and it hasn’t stopped. :P

6.) What have been the biggest challenges you've faced thus far in your writing career? 

Family opposing me. I showed one of my family members the first chapter to book 4 (the steamiest of all my books in that series) and they were appalled at what I wrote. We exchanged some heated emails and finally I gave up with them, realizing they were never going to like what I write so I stopped worrying about it.

Other issues have been gaining weight from writing so much and being too stationary. I’m normally a fairly active person but I get obsessive with my writing and have trouble stopping at times. I also struggle with having a messy house. I’m a fairly neat person.

The biggest issue though is worrying about possible backlash from the people I associate with the most that have no idea how I really think. They will be surprised at how passionate and steamy my stuff is. The people that know me best have always known I’m a very intense individual but there are some that might reject me. I’m okay with it now, but for awhile it kept me from wanting to publish. I’ve been ostracized before merely because of my childbirthing, breastfeeding and parenting choices. I survived that and can survive this too.

7.) Do you have any advice for a new author who wants to go the indie route

  Do your homework like mad. Don’t rush in. I’ve seen people do that; they go ahead and publish and have no idea how to market it or how to get an audience. You can publish any time you are ready, so why not do it right from the start? Also, develop a thick skin. People are going to love your stuff, but there will also be those that either don’t get it or hate it with a passion. That’s okay. I always think to myself that I want a reaction and the stronger the better. It means I hit a nerve somewhere, and when a nerve is hit it can mean there is truth to what I’ve said. Some people don’t want to hear the truth, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop telling it or pushing. My goal as a writer is to have an impact on the reader’s emotions. If I did that, then I succeeded (and hopefully they will love it rather than come after me with pitch forks).

8.) Do you have any other books in the works? 

Oh, you’re gonna be sorry you asked that. Here’s what I’ve got and will be publishing for the next 3 years (most of these are halfway done):

• 2 gardening books (1 for summer and 1 for winter)
• Currently writing the 6^th book in the Canopy series (should be the final book)
• Breastfeeding after Breast Cancer
• Birth Your Way (this is a 6 week class I developed and taught myself. I’m turning it into a how-to manual)
• A romance series called Swim, Tadpole, Swim (with a much older woman and younger man)
• Scrapping Tin (a science fiction romance story involving robots and genetic manipulations)
• Slick as Ides (a science fiction romance)
• Shroag 50 (a time travel science fiction romance, may turn into a short series)
• Hart Coursing: a series on Henry VIII (already wrote the 1^st book and plan to write 2 more. Told entirely in POV and we get to see how he was actually a victim in a lot of what happened in his reign. I have a very unique perspective on him.)
• Time of Salt (a science fiction apocalypse story of hidden identities and cults)
• And right now I’ve been completely absorbed and obsessed with a very steamy series I’m writing for myself alone. I’ll never publish it because frankly, it’s too darn erotic and nobody I know would ever be able to read it. Call it my own little self indulgence. 

 You can find Canopy at all major e-book sellers today!

Summary:

As Earth’s pollution problems increase in the year 2042, Jash Lepitt has decisions to make. Does he take the responsible route, fusing by inhaling DOOGS: specialized alien species of gnats that will genetically enhance him? Or does he remain flawed; be discriminated against by a society rewarding fused people? Desperate to win over Lissy Darrish, he questions it because she’s a Danat—a purist opposed to changing the body. In addition to her convictions, she’s also falling in love with a Danat, Tryst Navar. Devoting his time to protecting her from Tryst is harder than it seems for Jash. Tryst witnessed a friend of his being attacked by aggressive DOOGS while on the job building houses in the treetops. What will happen when all three of them become involved in the secrecy of the canopy’s DOOGS? And will Lissy risk being with Jash when being intimate can possibly contaminate her? 

Don't forget, The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two releases tomorrow in print and for Kindle! If you haven't read book one, go get your copy today!

Well, that's it for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON! 


Jo

Book Sales

Today's prompt from the Author Blog Challenge:

If your goal is to sell books, you must view your book as a business. In what ways do you treat your book as a business? Where could you improve? What resources could you leverage to improve your book business?

Actually, my take on this is a bit different. I am the business and the books are my product. Treating my books as product makes me want to deliver the best product possible to my consumers. When I go into a store and buy something, nothing makes me angrier than getting it home and having it not meet my expectations.

My books are priced accordingly. Yassa is 90k words, I priced it at $9.99. The Abigale Chronicles - Book One is 11k words, I priced it at $1.99. My goal is to keep my novels between seventy and one hundred thousand words and hang them on that price point of $9.99. Along with keeping customers familiar with my books, it will let them know what to expect to pay for one. Every Abigale book will cost just $1.99. Mystic's small books (between twenty and forty thousand words) will likely be at the $4.99 price point with the end novel being set at $9.99.

It all falls along the same lines as branding. Consistency and recognition are key while meeting expectations of consumers. I'm building my brand for my business model with my prices.

I could improve by designating a logo for my brand and naming a publishing company. Both are things I'll be doing in the near future.

Resources is a tough cookie. I had a FaceBook account with over 400 friends (and yes, I knew them all) but I recently deleted all said friends and deactivated the account because it was riddled with junk. I couldn't keep up with my family through all the crap that was posted everywhere. I lament the loss only because it would have been a great venue for advertisement. I am working on building my FaceBook back up under my pen name but I know it'll take a LONG time. I shot myself in the foot on that one...

I am also going to try to sell my wares locally which means rubbing elbows with some of my town's booksellers. From what I understand, they are allowed to take small risks on new/local talent. I have to be like Nike and just do it. The worst they can tell me is NO, right? No is not such a dirty word.

So, while we're on the topic, The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two releases July 3rd. Go discover the mystery behind Abigale and Emmett's weird adventures. When you're done, come back here and tell me if YOU think it's real or if you think she's dreaming. :)

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

My Book is a Movie!

I'm loving the imagination prompts in the 28 Day Author Blog Challenge! For today:

If a Hollywood agent were to come knocking on your door with an offer to turn your book into a movie and told you that you could call all the shots, who would you have direct and star in it? Write the first paragraph of Roger Ebert’s review of your film.

If I got offered a movie deal, I would insist on calling the shots because I wouldn't want the story's heart and soul skewed. My message is not one of violence but of absolute love, trust, loyalty, and protection. It delves into how those three things shape someone throughout life. I would be scared that the story would be warped into one of horror and abuse. Also, my cast would need a decidedly Asian look (all but Borte). So, with that said, I present you with my choices:

Director:
Stephen Spielberg or Clint Eastwood (for obvious reasons)

Young Temujin:
Noah Ringer











Adult Temujin:
Ken Wantanabe

Young Borte:
Anna Sophia Robb











Adult Borte:
Scarlette Johansson

Jelme:
Daniel Henney









Bo'orchu:
Aaron Kwok











Kutula:
Harry Shum Jr.(You have to picture him with really long hair)








Jamuka:
Hiroyuki Sanada











Roger Ebert’s fictional review:
Law, Love, and Defense of a Family
Stories of great Mongolian warriors can step out of the familiar genre story and show us something new. They can enlighten us to a new culture and a coming-of-age tale that we aren't familiar with, while including ethical challenges said culture has inflicted. "Yassa," the best of them thus far, tells of young Genghis Khan and introduces us to the possible struggles of children in 18th Century Mongolia. He's a force to be reckoned with, certainly, but his shaping into the man he became was a direct result of both a law he wrote based upon his culture's requirements for honor and the love he had for a woman. It leads us through a boy's journey of change because of betrayal at the hands of people he loves the most.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Offical Book Signing

Another prompt from the 28 Day Author Blog Challenge:

Describe your first book signing - real or imagined.

Oh, this is gonna be fun! Please, sit back and lose yourself in my imagination...

I open my eyes an hour before my alarm goes off and spring from bed with an energy rush. I punch the air before doing a little Indian dance in a circle; much like the ones performed by my ancestors to call down rain. Not that I want rain, but a little sprinkle of magic would be nice on a day where I'll be showing my face to the world and meeting fans.

I rush through the shower then apply the usual makeup: blush, eyeliner, mascara, and a bit of lip gloss. Dressing carefully in the clothes I have chosen, I pile my hair on my head in a disorganized fashion before strapping on my favorite shoes. I realize I'm way too early so I pick up a book and read to pass the time. No good. I'm too distracted to be consumed by the story on the pages, so I rise and pace the floor. This action excites my maltchi, and he happily paces after me with a wagging tail. I lift him and give him a snuzzle for a moment, professing what a good dog he is.

I return to the bathroom to check my appearance three times over the next hour - just in case something changed from the last time I looked.

I check my phone and realize it's time to go. Grabbing my purse, I head for the door to wait on The Best Boyfriend in the World to arrive. As usual, he pulls in right on time and tells me I look beautiful before whisking me out and into his truck. He drives, I ride. And I find myself unable to stop talking. I'm nervous as hell at the prospect of meeting so many people!

We arrive at the event to find images of my books and my face plastered all over the venue. I duck my head and blush because I'm not used to so much attention and fanfare.

He turns me, lifts my chin, looks into my eyes, and says, "No looking down. You did this and I'm so proud of you."

I tear up, and he kisses my forehead before saying, "No tears. Not today."

I nod my head, blink the hot liquid back before it has a chance to run down my face, and take his hand to head inside.

There's a smarmy looking manager who greets us and leads us to a table that's covered in my books. My heart hammers in my chest. He turns to hand me a pen and gives me a look of surprise when I pull my own out of my pocket. This is the pen. Metal from top to bottom, heavy, and has been with me since day one of college; my lucky pen (GPA 3.98 lucky). I smile at the manager and he returns it with one that doesn't reach his eyes.

The Best Boyfriend in the World leads me to the other side of the table and holds my chair as I sit. He takes his place next to me and, again, I'm stricken with word vomit. My nerves are getting the best of me, but he's a sport and doesn't complain. He takes my hand to calm my brain; it works. I shut my mouth and find peace through his touch.

Customers are lining up outside the store. I'm suddenly very sure they have no clue I'm there and are just the usual Saturday morning crowd. My heart sinks into my feet and melancholy threatens to overtake me. Just when I think I can stand no more, the doors are opened and people line up at my table so I can sign their books. They were for me. Wow. I've brought joy to this many people through my words! I think.

For the next three hours I'm shaking hands, cooing over babies, telling kids how important reading is, signing books with inspirational messages, and posing for pictures my boyfriend takes while sporting a huge grin. Holy crap. I love him so much! By the time it's all over, I'm in a daze.

I thank the manager and the store employees for everything and turn to my boyfriend. "I can't believe it. That was the second most amazing thing I've ever experienced. Only topped by the day I met you. Thank you for being by my side," I say.

He takes my face in his hands and says, "I never doubted you."

I smile, and we kiss.

My feet are light as air and my heart feels like it could sprout wings and soar away at any moment. Kissing my pen, I return it to my pocket with a whisper of thanks and we head home.

Well, that's all for today folks, I hope you enjoyed my tale! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Indie Ideas

Only a few days left in the Author Blog Challenge. So sad :( On to today's prompt:

What is the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received about the publishing process and/or what advice would you offer to a first-time author?

The single best piece of advice I got was from The Best Boyfriend in the World. He said, "Don't give up. Finish everything you start even if it feels like you're pulling teeth. Your book is your business. Treat it like one."

On that note, I must say he was right. I spent three months writing Yassa, three months editing, and a week getting it ready for publication (formatting). During the book's cool-off period of six weeks, I designed the cover (which people are loving - and that love gives me a happy) and wrote The Abigale Chronicles - Book One. This is the funny part: I released The Abigale Chronicles - Book One in April and Yassa in June. How's that for screwed up?

Along those same lines of thought, I am releasing The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two in just two weeks and have planned a release schedule for one book every three months. At $1.99, it's a steal and won't break the bank. Each one is a stand-alone story so you don't have to read book one to understand two or three, etc... I think it's important to keep delivering new/interesting material on a consistent basis as well as not leaving your reader hanging between books. That's another piece from treating my books like a business. If people run out of things to buy/read, they go elsewhere. If your "Going out of Business Sale" sign never comes down, people quit believing it. 

Here's my advice to a first time author: Keep your content new and fresh. Don't ever stop writing. And, for the love of all that's holy, price your books fairly. If you're a good writer, people WILL buy them! Most of all, follow The Best Boyfriend in the World's advice above. It's good advice.

Something that bugs me: People seem to be jumping on the fake mini-series bandwagon. A mini-series should have a point and each book should be self contained. A whole book broken into three parts is not a mini-series. I have heard complaints from readers that encounter this. Not a good idea. Just sell them the whole book, you know?

If you have ever enjoyed a V.C. Andrews series, you'll know what I mean about mini-series (and, NO, not the ones AFTER she died). Flowers in the Attic and Ruby were two of the best series I have ever read. I love her unexpected twists and turns (what do you mean, she married her BROTHER? UNCLE? OMG!).

My series Mystic will fall into that mini-series category (four small books with five characters coming together in one final novel) and broach some pretty sensitive topics. After all, even controversial press is still PRESS, right? It's gonna raise a ruckus, methinks. I couldn't be happier with the prospect.





Anywho... That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Social Media Mayhem

Social media prompt from the 28 Day Author Blog Challenge: 

How are you using social media to promote your book? What aspect of social media would you like to learn more about? What are your next steps?

I use buffer to post auto-tweets in promotion of my books. During the day, I tweet about my blog here and there with automatic updates going out to my FaceBook wall.

You can follow me on Twitter here or find me on FaceBook here. Follow my blog to get automatic updates when I post, too! I put out a lot of useful information for writers, designers, and writers who design. You'll usually get five posts a week unless something major happens.

I would like to know a lot more about LinkedIN - find me here. I use it but not often. I was planning to get into it a bit more after July of this year. We'll see how that goes.

What I'm really counting on is word-of-mouth advertising. I know that once a few people read my books, they'll tell others. I have deep faith in my ability to turn a tale that is interesting, fun, and educational.

Release day is July 3rd for The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two. If you haven't read book one, go get it. It's just $1.99 for the Kindle version and $5.99 for the printed version!

As promised, the cover for The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two:

Leave a little love and tell me what you think! I'm trying to use a different color scheme on each one and a little bit of a different design but I'm keeping the title elements the same for recognition purposes.

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Platform Smatform

The 28 Day Author Blog Challenge prompt for today is: 

What are the three most important things you are doing to grow your platform?

First off, if you haven't signed up yet, there's still time. Just do it. Now, on to the goodies... 

Number ONE:
I enter challenges, like the 28 Day Author Blog Challenge and I participate heavily. I take time to go through and read as many other posts as I can and leave comments. My network has grown vastly through this exercise. Never ever enter unless you plan to participate because you'll end up with guilt. I hate guilt. 

Number TWO:
I friend every follower I have on Goodreads. I want to know what you're reading, I really do. Plus, that keeps my peeps in the loop on my releases and giveaways (watch for The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two giveaway in July!). Giving two copies to Goodreads for people who desire an excellent book is my way of reaching out to people who may become fans. I sign both copies and add a little note for personalization. 

Number THREE:
Social media: I friend readers and follow writers like crazy on Facebook and Twitter. Their fans could be my fans, too! My blog is a way of growing my platform as well. I try to give useful/helpful information for indie authors and writers in general. If you look here: CLICK ME! or here: CLICK ME, TOO! I even have ways you can make your writing stronger through word usage and suggestions for building a writing bible, how to write descriptions that don't paint exact people for your reader (we have to let their imaginations do something, right?), and general, interesting stuff.

Most of all, don't spend more than an hour a day on networking. Right now, I'm doing more than that but once the challenge is over, I cut off after 9am every day. I write from 9-3. Period. We are writers, we must write. A good day shows me with 3k-4k words and my Abigale books fly from my fingers when I'm in the zone. You know what that is. Flow baby.

Now, if you haven't read The Abigale Chronicles - Book One you better get on the ball! Book Two releases in just two weeks! Eek! Come on now, it's a short, fun read. My daughter is getting a kick out of book two; it's about cats. Not telling any more! No cover reveal today, maybe tomorrow...

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Blabbering Betties

And on to yet another post for the 28 day Author Blog Challenge...

Who did/could you ask to write a blurb for your book? Why that person/people? How did/will you go about reaching them?

I asked the best boyfriend in the world's twenty-one-year-old daughter to write a blurb for my book. She read it and wrote me some lovely ad copy. Without further ado:

"In this riveting portrayal of the emperor of the Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan, Yassa depicts the untold story of the undying love between Genghis and his wife, Borte. The novel creates speculation that who Genghis Khan had become is a result of the turmoil amongst his wife, family, and brotherhood, and the betrayal of the ones he remained devoted to until the end. The author Jo Michaels demonstrates her curiosity of the history behind Genghis Khan in this brave replica of the leader of the largest contiguous empire in history. You will find yourself laughing, crying, smiling, and sympathizing with the characters throughout the entire book. Yassa is a must read that will keep you wanting more of the bygone times that have never before been depicted like this."
  ~ Katlynn G

I asked her because she's a reader. She consumes around two books a week. If she liked it, I figured the general public would, too.

I found her via my association with her father. Her personal feelings were not put on display but she told me that when she got to the last page, she cried. SCORE! Tears mean my characters resonated with her.

When I write, resonance is my goal. I want people to take a little piece of my novel and store it in their heart forever. When you read Yassa, you'll have a perfect understanding of how I feel about my boyfriend. He's my once in a lifetime.

News: The Abigale Chronicles - Book Two is ready for release on  July 3, 2012. If you haven't read Book One yet, now's the time. Follow one of the links at the top of my blog to get yours! I'll be doing a cover reveal sometime this week. If I told you when, that wouldn't be fun! So getcher butts back here for that!

Even more news: Yassa received another FOUR STAR review yesterday! See the writeup here.

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Persnickety Publishing People

On to yet another day in the Author Blog Challenge. If you haven't signed up yet, feel free. The link is on the right. And the prompt today goes to...

Did you publish your book as a traditionally printed book, an eBook, or both? How did you come to your decision? Which company(ies) did you use for printing and distribution? How did you select them?

If anyone has been following my blog, you know I'm a self published author. I chose to use Smashwords for my first distribution of The Abigale Chronicles - Book One and by doing so, learned a lot of what to do and what not to do. I went through my experience in an earlier post. Feel free to pop over and take a gander.

Now for the juicy stuff. I did both an e-book and a traditionally printed version for my books. I used Createspace to publish the tangible versions. I learned a lot from putting The Abigale Chronicles up there as well. I'll make a blog friendly list of what to do and what not to do.

Please DO:

1. Take the time to make sure your manuscript is ready to go. Createspace takes longer to look over your stuff with a second submission. Why should they rush when you didn't bother to make sure it was perfect?
2. Use a cover designer that understands CMYK is different than RGB. Let me tell you, some greens and oranges look TERRIBLE when converted. Trust me.
3. Design your cover WITH a bleed. They trim 1/8" off every side. I went into this in an earlier post as well (link below).
4. Make sure your font is easy to read and prints well.

Please DO NOT:

1. Make changes.
2. Design your cover in RGB colorspace. Ugh.
3. Assume you know what you're doing. You don't know what a widow or an orphan is, don't try to. Seek a designer to help you format the inside of your book, please.
4. Use a tiny font (under 8pt).

I am linking to some earlier blog posts of mine that explain a lot of the above. Please go take a look. If you're using a designer, ask them if they know what kerning is and what the difference is between CMYK and RGB (CMYK is the four color process of ink printing on a press. RGB is the colorspace that is created with light - like on your computer). If they know the answers to those questions, they have been to design school.

Kerning Lesson
Printing Lesson
Color Spaces Lesson
Fonts Lesson

I chose Createspace and Smashwords by reading reviews online. I research EVERY company I do business with (so does my boyfriend) and we seek an outside opinion always. I find this to be a good way to expect the unexpected. Be prepared for the worst.

I decided to self-publish for a number of reasons:

1. I queried agents but they couldn't figure out my market so they declined.
2. I wanted control. Yes, I am a control freak (this surprises you? Really?).
3. The artist in me cringed at letting someone else decide on my design.
4. I had the time.
5. It was the best option for me.

Don't forget to enter my Goodreads giveaway for a chance at a free copy of Yassa.

Well, that's all for today, folks. Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Reader Interview

On to the next prompt in the Author Blog Challenge... 

Find someone you know, either online or in the real world, who is a true bibliophile and interview them about their reading habits. Ask questions such as: 

How many books do you buy per month?

Five 

How many do you actually read?

Five 

What do you read?

Mysteries, Romance, Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction, Thrillers, Medical Myseries, Crime Novels, Young Adult 

Where do you buy your books?

Amazon now, I used to be a book club member. 

Who is your favorite author?

Mary Higgins-Clark 

What do you like about the author?

Her storytelling style is less descriptive. She doesn’t go into what color the floors are, grass is, décor style (unless setting an era). 

How often do you attend signings/readings? What do you enjoy about them?

Never. I’m  a reclusive. 

If you could ask their favorite author any question, what would it be?

Do you do any charity work for neglected or abused children? 

Which book has most recently surprised or delighted you?

Yassa. Because it’s historical fiction and I don’t usually read them. It was thrilling and unexpected. Out of the last ten to fifteen books I’ve read, it’s my favorite. I just couldn’t put it down. 

Of everything you’ve read so far this year, what would you most recommend?

I tend to recommend things that are freshest in my mind. So, I would recommend: Yassa by Jo Michaels, Intensity and 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz, and Exclusive by Fern Michaels.

What I learned from this interview is that people who buy tangible books, read them.

While you're on my blog, go check out the review I wrote for Ashley Howland's Ghostnapped!


That's all for today, folks! I hope you enjoyed reading this one!! Until next time, WRITE ON!


Jo