Hi there! I had a great time at Malice Domestic, even though I wasn’t officially there. I hung around a lot with my author buddies Karen Cantwell and Kim Hon Kurth-Gray, who isn’t on Twitter as far as I can tell. Kim, please become a tweep, okay?
I also got to talk to the very funny Jeff Cohen. What a guy!
I even had the chance to exchange words with the most awesome Parnell Hall. Yay!
And I even finally had a chance to meet Lee Goldberg, who was nice enough to reply quickly to my email years and years ago, which he had totally forgotten about (of course), but which helped me immensely. And it blew me away, because we’d never met and I figured he was busy, but he took the time to offer his advice about the television business. And thank God he did, because it saved me a possible costly error or two. And loads of time and aggravation. All because I knew what I didn’t know, and I knew he did, if that makes sense. To a lawyer and librarian, it does.
Lee and I ended up talking about Amazon and bookstores, of course. And Lee started saying things that sounded like the things I was saying way back when. And I said, “Exactly! I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I self-published.” But then when I got into the whole monopoly question, Lee wasn’t as concerned. I kept wondering why, but I listened to his thoughts.
I believe he may have said that Apple was doing fine, but something was gnawing at me.
So later this subject came up with Karen and Kim. And when I mentioned my concerns about Amazon, Karen said, “Well, all companies want to be big.” And it reminded me of what I’d posted before, but I’d explained in another post that things had changed.
Later, I realized I never brought up the Wired Magazine article. That article made all the difference.
As a consumer, author or whatever, that article should scare the shit out of you. :-O
But that’s just my opinion.
Anyway, I’m really glad I finally got to meet Lee Goldberg and thank him personally for the favor he didn’t even know he did me. But he does now, because we met and we had a great time. At least, I did.
When you get to actually meet someone, it’s totally different than just friending them on Facebook or tweeting them on Twitter.
So, I can say with total honesty that Lee Goldberg is truly a mensch.
With all that, here’s what I read in today’s papers:
UPDATE: I nearly forgot to remind you that the .99 Blue Light special on my books is over at the end of this month, which is in two days! So act fast, because the price will be going up really soon.
And, I am still offering them through Amazon, if you insist. And Amazon UK.
My latest novel is RIPTIDE, which will be coming out in print soon.
Sometimes I’m so happy, I forget to promote my own books. #iamfoolish Ha ha ha …
UPDATE 2: I was totally remiss in not mentioning that I ran into a great writer friend and an awesome author Jack Bludis, who is now on Twitter and who you (yes, you reading this here blog) should follow. Please.
BTW, it’s Duke Ellington’s birthday. Duke Ellington was from Washington, DC, of course. Isn’t that awesome?
So … in celebration, here’s a great tune (one of my favorites) by Ellington. (via Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar)
UPDATE 3: Oh, for Pete’s sake! I finally got to meet Jenny Milchman, too. She’s so awesome.
And that’s just a figure of speech, okay?
Plus I ran across Marcia Talley, but she’s in my writers group, so I see her constantly every month, except when she isn’t there or I’m not there or neither of us is there.
But I’m most remiss in not mentioning Marcia, because she’s a Sisters in Crime member and invited me to appear on this panel, which was so awesome.
And this is why conferences are still awesome. Really! Assuming you don’t slip in a bathtub or fall down an escalator. Or have any other horrible shit happen to you. Ha ha ha …
What is it about writers? Many moons ago, I started this blog as an author’s take-off on Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. This was my first post. If you read that, you can see that I offer the concept with almost an air of apology … like I’m simply not worthy of invoking Kathy Griffin’s name, but please hear me out, okay? Please.
That’s how much writers devalue themselves. We’re simply not worthy. Yet, we’re expected to market and promote ourselves. And that’s what this blog was for. I wanted to show people how hard authors worked in order to achieve what they did and market my books, and do it with humor.
While I’m at it, I also want to mention that I’m going to Malice Domestic. I’m not registered, but I’ll be hanging out at the bar. I’m going to stalk look for Lee Goldberg and meet him and somehow convince him so he can see that I’m a really decent person not totally insane.
PPPPPS: All I can say is, thanks Lawrence Block. Yes, I’m a ridiculous #fangirl of the great one, who wrote the Matthew Scudder series (among others), not to mention TELLING LIES FOR FUN & PROFIT. Wow!
PPPPPPS: I assume you’ve already noticed my new policy on swear words. Deal with it.
Hi there! When I started self-publishing my books, everyone said, “It’s all about reaching the readers.” This hasn’t changed at all.
So … I was talking to my husband about this, and he said, Everyone thinks you hate Amazon. And I said, no, I don’t hate Amazon. Of course, I’m grateful to Amazon, etc.
Here’s the thing. Ford invented cars. My grandfather used to say that when he was young, there were two kinds of cars: a Ford and a Can’t Afford. Get it?
Just because Amazon invented an ereader, that doesn’t mean other companies don’t have the right to invent ereaders, too. It gives consumers more choices, doesn’t it?
And isn’t it a bit unfair for Amazon to take advantage of not having a brick-and-mortar retail presence with the cost overhead that entails, then blaming its competition for not being innovative. Wrong!
And isn’t it interesting how they’ve snookered convinced the whole publishing industry into using it’s ranking system as a means of determining sales success?
Thus, it’s up to the readers to choose. And that’s why I promote my books on Smashwords now. Because I no longer measure my success in terms of Amazon rank, but by how well my ROI is faring as a business, which is how a business should operate.
And, I am still offering them through Amazon, if you insist. And Amazon UK.
There’s the really cool cover of RIPTIDE, my latest novel in the series. Again.
I’d also like to remind you that my .99 Blue Light special runs only until the end of this month, at which point the price will go up to $2.99 probably. I think.
PPS: These videos are all from Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar. Because Rumpole reminds me of Sam, and one thing led to another. Anyway, they’re all awesome. So enjoy!
And I’m the biggest techno-idiot ever. And I’m a sort of a gimp. Ha ha ha …
So, I got the last laugh on both technology and the cosmos.
Plus, I’m also a blogger, who markets books and makes friends through the Interwebs.
So … this serves as another reminder that I’m offering my latest novel RIPTIDE from Smashwords (just click the link in the title to go to the order page) for absolutely FREE.
And there’s the awesome cover.
You can get the book for nothing at all in any format at all, including .mobi for Kindle, .epub for Nook, Apple, etc., PDF, etc.
All you have to do is use this coupon code ZX76D when you check out.
And, I am still offering them through Amazon, if you insist. And Amazon UK.
I’d also like to thank the good people of World O’ Crap again, because they have a friend in real need. (Please click on the link for the details, to find out ways to help.) A woman with health problems who is being evicted, along with her cat. And you know how I feel about cats. And bad health and misfortune. Sam McRae would … well, Sam gets hot under the collar. :-/
Have I mentioned that Scott Clevenger (who’s also a screenwriter! whoa!) at World O’Crap co-wrote a book called BETTER LIVING THROUGH BAD MOVIES? Isn’t that the most awesome title ever? I must read this book. Soon.
And there’s the really cool cover. Awesome!
Plus, I’ve been lucky enough to find an aspiring screenwriter named Steve, who has a blog called My Other Career. I’ve subscribed and it looks really cool. He’s offered his expertise on future problems with Final Draft. Isn’t that awesome? Blogging totally rocks.
Hi there! I had such an awesome weekend. #iamfoolish The weather is warm, and I’ve been taking walks with the greatest guy in the world, my husband.
I’ve also been writing. Yay! I finished revising my screenplay. Now, I just have to figure out some really sh*tty formatting issues with Final Draft. But it will all work out fine, I’m sure.
Mainly, I wanted to remind you that I’m offering my latest novel RIPTIDE from Smashwords (just click the link in the title to go to the order page) for absolutely FREE.
You can get the book for nothing at all in any format at all, including .mobi for Kindle, .epub for Nook, Apple, etc., PDF, etc.
All you have to do is use this coupon code ZX76D when you check out.
PS: Based on this, I guess it’s okay to commit murder if you’ve gotten a speeding ticket. And, hold on … the whole rest of the post amounts to a strawman argument. Just because you don’t want Amazon to be the only publisher doesn’t mean … oh, skip it!
You can get the book for nothing at all in any format at all, including .mobi for Kindle, .epub for Nook, Apple, etc., PDF, etc.
All you have to do is use this coupon code ZX76D when you check out.
And all you have to do to transfer the file to your device is follow these really easy instructions. Super easy, right? Even I can do it. The gimpy techno-idiot. Honest!
However, this promo runs until Sat., April 21. So act fast, because I’m only giving away so many ebooks, okay?
Just so you know, I’ve been so busy, it’s been hard to keep up with blogging here. I’m revising my screenplay, which is like brushing your teeth one tooth at a time. Any screenplay writers out there? Can you hear read me? #screenplay #amwriting
I blogged about an awesome opportunity for screenplay writers and more about publishing (ha ha ha …) here. #indies #publishing
PS: When I got home from my walk, I was thrilled to see an ARC I received in the mail of Tim Hallinan’s book THE FEAR ARTIST. Between MSM reviews and what-not, I can’t wait to sink my proverbial reader’s teeth into this book. Tim’s books are so awesome. And I love Poke Rafferty. Really!
UPDATE: To my subscribers: sorry to pepper you with updates, but this cover is way too awesome to ignore. #marketing101 #internet #blogging #shameful
Hi there! Since I’m terribly gimpy busy, I’ll get down to brass tacks. I only wanted to say write that authors can make a living off their writing. And you don’t have to be terribly wealthy or famous to do this. That isn’t even the point.
One of my favorite hardboiled mystery authors of all, Lawrence Block, believes this to be so. He’s blogged about it or words to that effect.
Thank you, Lawrence, for doing all that typing. Really! #dystonia
Now, if authors are business people and creators, then readers will seek the best value for their buck, so to speak. This is why doing promotional giveaways is good to an extent, but you can’t rely upon giveaways forever. This is so, unless you intend to take over the market like the crack dealer in the hood, who gives away product just so the customer gets hooked and has nowhere else to go when everyone else is run out of business.
So readers should beware of the crack dealers of publishing, the ones who are simply giving product away willy nilly. And authors, think. Why would a publisher pay an author to give away product that earns money on a loss leader like a fancy ereader? Ahem! The post I wrote about ROI or return on investment still holds true as ever. For publishers and authors. Hello!
So, short promotions = good business. Giving everything you make away = unsustainable business. If a business/publisher/author/whatever gives everything away all the time, red flags should go up for the consumer, i.e., the reader.
PS: Here’s something about a sustainable business program from the Columbia Business School, no less. It’s all about new entrepreneurship through sharing and collaboration. Imagine!
And on that note, let’s end things with one of my favorite Billie Holiday tunes. Because the theme of the song actually relates to my latest novel, when you think about it.
The great thing about being an indie author is that you keep control over your content. Along with control comes great responsibility. That’s why I have this blog, where I write about the business side of being a content creator and making a living off of it.
Here’s the thing. A lot of writers devalue themselves. They tend to think their writing is worthless. They often see themselves as worthless, too. I think they seek solace in drink, in the approval of others, in money, in status, in fame, etc., etc. I’d advise you not to listen to such nonsense. As writers we have our stories to offer and much more. It’s on the other blog where I’ll be writing about how much more we have to offer as writers and creators, of whatever stripe we are.
Meanwhile, I would like to clear up any confusion readers may have about how they must buy ebooks from Amazon for their Kindles. You don’t have to buy from Amazon, you know? You have a choice. Really!
You can buy perfectly good ebooks for your Kindle from Smashwords. For the same price, because Amazon won’t be undersold. Ha ha ha …
Hi, there! I wanted to let you know that Simon Swift is offering his novel BLACK SHADOWS for free today and tomorrow on Amazon and Amazon UK. I’ve reviewed the book here. I thought it was really awesome. Honest!
I also wanted to let you know about Zoe Winters’ great big Easter Egg Hunt with BIG PRIZES! There’s a Kindle Fire and a whole bunch of ebooks from various retailers, which is really awesome. Please click the link and read all about it.
Now … I don’t have cover images for all of Zoe’s books, so I could put up that nice picture of an Easter egg hunt and leave it at that. But, I don’t think so.
Not a hardboiled mystery writer. And not an Easter egg hunt put on by the author of books with titles like DARK MERCY and BLOOD LUST.
Today, I’m extremely pleased to have as my guest(s) on this blog, the author Evelyn David, who is actually two real people writing under one name. Evelyn will explain all this in the guest post on this here blog. Along with explaining about giving away free books. Isn’t that awesome?
All this is made possible by the awesomeness of technology, which is really great, don’t you think?
And the cover of this book by Evelyn David is really awesome, too. Although, I’d rather drive past a cemetery than be in one, if you get my drift.
But enough about me. Take it away, Evelyn!
The Ties that Bind
by Evelyn David
Zoned for Murder is a brand new mystery, with a fresh, exciting cast of characters and a completely different setting. But some things haven’t changed a bit with this, our third full-length novel. Marian Borden and Rhonda Dossett, the collective Evelyn David, have created all this fictional murder and mayhem without ever having met in person. We wrote this book, and all our stories, via the Internet. To read our backstory, go to our web site, http://www.evelyndavid.com
How, you ask, do we do it? Day by day, line by line would be the short answer. We talk through each scene. Sometimes it’s over the phone, although for the very first mystery we ever wrote, Murder Off the Books, we didn’t even use Mr. Bell’s old-fashioned technology. Back then, it was all done via e-mail and instant messaging. But today, whether by phone or by email, we discuss the overall concept of the mystery and begin trading ideas about characters, timeline, and action. Finally one of us will say, “I’ll start.” Each scene goes back and forth so many times that we can’t tell who authored what. We both write all the characters – including the wide variety of dogs that appear with love in all our mystery series.
So maybe it’s no surprise that in Zoned for Murder, we’ve created an internet friendship between Maggie Brooks, young widow/mother/reluctant sleuth, and Shelley, another young widow whom Maggie meets on an Internet forum. Like so many “friends” who’ve met on Facebook, My Space, and Twitter, Maggie and Shelley don’t even know each other’s last name. It’s the anonymity of the Internet that gives them the freedom to give voice to their secret fears or express outrageous opinions, and just offer unconditional support, at least in part because they don’t have to face the person the next day. What becomes clear is that it’s no less a friendship because they haven’t met in person.
Join us as we use the Internet once more to launch our latest mystery. Zoned for Murder has a killer story, compelling characters, and humor to make you laugh out loud. Here’s a quick synopsis. Former Newsweek reporter Maggie Brooks has two kids, a dead husband, a mortgage to pay, and a lot of competition when she tries to get back into the shrinking newspaper business. Landing a job with a local paper, she’s bored to tears covering bake sales and Little League games. But when a developer tries to build an outlet mall in a neighboring town, what starts out as potentially a great clip for her resume, suddenly turns dangerous and ugly. Someone will do anything to block the mall’s construction. Dirty money, nasty politics, and shady land deals abound as Maggie pursues the scoop that might jumpstart her career. When murder is added to the mix, she realizes that meeting her deadline might be the last thing she ever does. Read Maggie’s byline as she rebuilds her career, dips her toes into a shark-filled dating pool, and investigates a small New York town Zoned for Murder.
Enjoy!
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Win a Free Copy – Leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win a free download of Zoned for Murder from Smashwords (all e-book formats are available there). One winner will be picked at random. Be sure to leave a contact email in your comment or drop us an email at evelyn@evelyndavid.com so we know how to send you the 100% off coupon code for the download.
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The author of Murder Off the Books,Murder Takes the Cake, Riley Come Home, Moonlighting at the Mall and The Brianna Sullivan Mysteriese-book series, Evelyn David is the pseudonym for Marian Edelman Borden and Rhonda Dossett.
The author of Murder Off the Books,Murder Takes the Cake, Riley Come Home, Moonlighting at the Mall and The Brianna Sullivan Mysteriese-book series, Evelyn David is the pseudonym for Marian Edelman Borden and Rhonda Dossett.
"Midlist is a term in the publishing industry which refers to books which are not bestsellers but are strong enough to economically justify their publication (and likely, further purchases of future books from the same author). The vast majority of total titles published are midlist titles, though they represent a much smaller fraction of total book sales, which are dominated by bestsellers and other very popular titles. Authors who consistently publish acceptable but not bestselling books are referred to as Midlist authors." ~ Wikipedia