Creating a Universal URL for Your Book on Amazon

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm going to show you how to create a URL that will prevent you from having to list all the sites on Amazon where your book can be bought, but will take potential buyers right to your book no matter where they live. How amazing is that?

Ready? Grab a cup of Jo and let's get going!

There are a few steps to this, so hang with me.

First, let's go get the ASIN for your e-book (if you already know how to do this, feel free to skip down).

Navigate to your book on Amazon (however you get there) and make sure you're on the Kindle version. Like so:

Now, go to the nav bar and copy the link you see there.

Paste into something like Word or Notepad so you can select a small portion of the text (I'm using Notepad here):

Select anything between .com/ and dp and delete it:

Now, select anything after / and delete that, too:

You now have the basic Amazon URL for your book. Like so:

But we want the ASIN! See that last letter and number string? This one:

Select it. That's your novel's universal ASIN. It's the same on every Amazon store. Hit Ctrl+C to copy it.

Now, go to A-FWD here. You should see this:

Go to the box marked GLOBAL ASIN. Click in it and hit Ctrl+V to paste.

Now scroll down and copy the link that's been created! You never have to post a billion links for your book if you want to reach international audiences. BOOM!

Easy peasy. You can use that link in all your marketing forevermore.

Did you know about this? Does it help?

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

Jo

Cover Reveal - The Queen

Hello and happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm bringing you all a cover reveal from the awesome Suzanna Lynn. Ready? Let's get going!

Blurb: Tensions are high. While King Ashmur lies on his deathbed, the evil Lord Cadman coerces Mirstone into declaring war on Grasmere and they’re not alone in their malevolent intensions. An evil lurks in the land that threatens to destroy everything in its wake.

While Baylin readies the Kingdom, Luana discovers a secret about her past that makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself.

All Luana and Baylin wish for is to be safe and happy together. However, constant struggles make it seem as though contentment is impossible. Trials and tribulations strain the delicate core of their relationship. Will war finally succeed in tearing the lovers apart? Will Luana and Baylin’s bond be able to withstand the hidden secrets, betrayal and warfare?

About Suzanna:
Author Suzanna Lynn is a full-time mom of three beautiful, energetic children and lives with her husband and children in a small town nestled in the deep rolling hills of Missouri.

Growing up in the Ozarks, as a child Suzanna spent her days wandered the fields and woods surrounding her home. She would imagine them to be filled with fairies, dragons, and all number of creatures.

Having not lost her childhood imagination, Suzanna has written numerous poems, songs and short stories that have won various awards. However, in 2014 she decided to stop wishing she could write a book, and made the dream a reality.

She is the author of 'The Bed Wife Chronicles' series. She also has three other books in the works.

Stalk Links:
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSuzannaLynn
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Suzanna_Lynn
Blog: http://catonthelap.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8068674.Suzanna_Lynn
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Suzanna-Lynn/e/B00KHRW98M

Ready for the cover? I know you are! Here it is!

And the full wrap!

Isn't it pretty?

What do you think? Will you be checking it out when it releases?

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

Jo

Gearing Up for 12 Days of Review Requests Event

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I'm busier than a one-armed paper hanger this week, trying to get everything in order for both NaNoWriMo and the BIG December event here on the blog. Because it's almost October, I'm opening up the signup form for participating authors (for the daily prizes).

Please note: This is not to get your books considered for purchase and review! This is ONLY if you'd like to do a giveaway during the event or support the big prize.

Without further ado, here's the form!



Are you excited? I am! This year will be AWESOME!

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

Jo

The Term "Housewife" and What We Need to Add

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I have some inner-musings about words for you all. There's your fair warning; you're about to read an opinion piece. But bear with me, and maybe (just maybe) you'll get a chuckle and your brain will churn. Ready? Grab that cup of Jo and let's get going!

Starting off with why I began down this line of thought.

This morning, I say to The Best Husband in the World, "You may have married the best housewife on the planet."
He says, "I know I did."
It made me smile. Then, it made me think about the term "housewife."

Here's the definition from Google: a married woman whose main occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework.

Okay. There are women out there who want that to be their only occupation, and it's perfectly acceptable. Please note: I'm NOT bashing housewives. I think everyone should do precisely what makes them happy. 

So, being me (slightly neurotic and curious from head to toe), I did a Google search on another term: Working Housewife.

I gasped at the results. There's no such term! My heart stopped, and I glared at my iPhone screen. Not only is every housewife on the planet a working one, their jobs are often thankless. Still, you have those women who excel at running a household and managing a career.

What I found were articles like: Perfect 50s Housewife Myth Busted. Do You Want to Have a Working Wife or a Housewife? Is it Better to Have a Working Wife or Housewife When Raising Kids?

How dare they? What the hell is the world coming to? Was there crack involved in the writing of these articles?

Because, I assure you, there is such a thing as a Working Housewife.

Then, I reconsidered (because that's what we do when we try to make sense of something nonsensical and we're about to have a stroke), and I tore apart the definition, thinking of this part separately: Main Occupation--means that's what you consider your primary job.

I pondered. I struggled. I chewed my nails. Then, I did a search for the term "working." Here's what I got: having paid employment.

Paid. So one must be paid in order to be considered working. Need I tell you how, at that point, I really got my panties in a twist? Because I did. My knickers were wound so tightly, I was positive I'd start sneezing cotton any minute.

Ho.Lee.Crap.

My blood pressure rising, my extremities tingling as the elastic tightened, I backtracked. Here's the definition of the noun: the action of doing work.

Slowly, my underwear released their restriction on my legs, and I was able to breathe again. I can guarantee every man on the planet would have kittens if their work in the yard or around the house wasn't considered work. While I still wasn't happy, I wondered if people actually considered a new term.

Now, I know a great number of women who do a great many things (from home) while taking care of their families. They manage to work from home, their houses and kids are clean, they pay all the bills, and they even manage (somehow) to cook a healthy meal most days.

Let's look at me! I do all of the above and run more than one business. I consider myself a housewife, but according to the definition, I'm not.

Because of the definition, I don't qualify. Neither do any of those other women I mentioned above.

I stand on my soapbox, teetering from one foot to the other, and hold up my sign today!

Redefine your preconceived notions!

We work. We're housewives (or housewomen). And there's nothing wrong with that. But I think we need a new definition.

Working Housewoman: a woman whose occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs,  doing housework, and working from home.

My face is back to its usual color (I think), so I leave you with a question:
If you're a working housewoman, what do you do besides family?

I hope you got a little chuckle out of my predicament, and I hope you found my new definition suitable.

How would you change it?

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

Jo

Chapter One - Emancipation

Happy Monday! Oh man, what a crazy couple of weeks this has been. Anyway, I have some awesome news for you. *grin* I was struggling with how to do this, because the blog is a public thing that I want to keep appropriate for ALL ages, and my new book isn't for those under the age of eighteen.

Yeah, there's some strong language in there. My guy is in prison. I kept it real. There's violence, too.

So, how do I let you read chapter one while keeping the blog a "safe" place for everyone?

I decided to use Wattpad as a buffer. They check the age of anyone on the site, and I was able to mark the content mature so it can be moderated appropriately.

Oh, and I'm sharing the cover today!

Win/win!

Don't forget to join the Facebook party here. If you're interested in helping out with the release day stuff, fill out this form. And if you want an ARC, fill out this one.

Without further ado, here are the details:

Title: Emancipation
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Blurb:
Tobias Butler has been sitting on death row since being sentenced for a gruesome murder in 2007. Bored out of his mind, he decided to apply to the online pen pal program in 2012. It's a pleasant distraction—nothing more, nothing less—for three years, until he's contacted by a beautiful, smart young lawyer named Jess. She's convinced he's innocent and wants to see him freed. As they organize their attack on the judicial system, he wonders how she plans to get his conviction overturned—because he's guilty, and he knows it. Jess is desperate to release him—and he's desperate to feel his hands squeeze the life out of her once she does.

Read chapter one right now FREE on Wattpad HERE.

If you like it, give it a vote!

Add to your Goodreads TBR HERE.

Come on back here and tell me what you think.

I hope you enjoy. Seriously. It's gritty.

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

Jo

The Gatekeeper's Trilogy 99 Cent Sale

Readers are calling this series, "Amazing," "Addicting," and "One of the best modern retelling of ancient myth." Kirkus Reviews wrote that it's "sure to thrill Hunger Games fans," and Midwest Book Reviews calls it "a powerful young adult fantasy."  
A teen becomes entangled with the gods of Mount Olympus when one of them, Thanatos, the god of death, wants his chance at love. He makes a deal with his father, Hades, but not all the gods want him to succeed.

Part paranormal romance and part adventure story, this trilogy follows Therese's adventures as she struggles to overcome the challenges the gods dish her in her quest to become like them. For one week only, from September 20th to September 26th, the digital box set of The Gatekeeper's Trilogy, usually $5.98, can be downloaded from any ebook retailer for 99 cents! That's three full-length novels, a total of 230,564 words, for less than a buck!  

Here are the download links:

Kindle Nook iBooks Google Play Kobo Smashword

What do you think? Gonna grab them?

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

Jo 

Teaser Tuesday - Emancipation

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I have the most exciting thing to share with you today! Only a few folks are aware that I've been working on a new novel, and I'm going to share an excerpt and a teaser right here, right now! This is a taste of what's coming. So, sit back, relax, grab a cup of Jo, and let's get going!

If you think you might like to read and review, sign up here!

Title: Emancipation
Genre: Thriller
Release date: March 2016

I'm sharing the first letter my inmate (Tobias) receives from the woman he's talking about in the teaser image below. And... GO!

Dear Toby,

I hope it’s okay that I call you that. I think it’s sweet.

My name is Jessica Phang.

I’m going to start this by saying I’m a lawyer, fresh out of school (I’ve been practicing about a year now). I have to be honest; I sought you out specifically. Details surrounding your case have given me a lot to think about over the last few years. You probably find all this confusing, but I hope to sort it out with this letter.

I found your profile on penpalaninmate.com after performing a search for you online; I was drawn immediately to you. Your photo is wonderful. I see such depth in your eyes. There’s no proper way to express how pleased I am that you signed up so I didn’t have to do more research to find your prisoner number. While I knew where you were housed, your link made the process much easier. Besides, I got to see you outside the images in your case file (which are less than flattering, I must admit).

I’m including a picture of myself with this letter. It’s not much, but I wanted you to see me. It seemed unfair that I would be able to look at you anytime I wanted, and you’d be left in the dark.

If you’re interested, I’d like to get to know you better. Your eyes don’t say “killer.” I’m an excellent judge of character, and I see a person who’s deep, caring, and has a lot of love to give if someone were there to accept it. Besides, after looking carefully at the details of your case, I’m convinced you’re innocent.

I’ll tell you a little about myself, since I feel like I know so much about you from your profile (excellent writing, by the way) and your case file. I’m 24 years old, and a criminal defense attorney in the state of Tennessee. I grew up just outside Knoxville, and I graduated from Austin East—you know, that magnet school on the upper-east side—where I studied science. I was then accepted to UT and graduated from Duncan a year ago. I’ve been in private practice as a criminal defense attorney ever since.

While attending Duncan, I ran across your case as part of an assignment. I dove right in and got to know a lot about you, and the particulars, along the way. Yes, I’ve had a number of relationships over the last few years, but I’m ready for something different. Besides, most guys I dated got tired of hearing the name Toby on my lips every five minutes as I examined your case. Not only would I love to interact with you, I think I can get your conviction overturned. I do hope you’ll write me back. My address is on the envelope.

All my love,

Jessica

Join the Facebook party for the release here! We're giving away some Amazon cash.

Now for the teaser image!

What do you think? Gotcha interested yet?

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

Jo