Hi there! I think it’s high time to drop the pretense that I’m a mid-list author, don’t you? In point of fact, I’m just a writer, period.
As a writer, I started this blog to establish an online presence. Now, given that I should be using my blog to reach readers, here’s some things you might like to know about Sam McRae, the protagonist in my mystery series. Please click there to “like” it on Facebook, okay?
Well, let me tell you, Stephanie Ann “Sam” McRae is a tough-talking, lawyer-sleuth, and champion for the underdog. The series is set in the Maryland suburbs, between Baltimore and Washington.
While Sam doesn’t seek out danger, it occasionally finds her. Having been orphaned while young, Sam is willing to go the distance for her clients, because she knows the system from both sides. As a result, she feels an intense loyalty and sense of duty to those in need.
Now, in case you’re wondering, the Baltimore-DC suburbs where Sam works look nothing like this …
In fact, here are actual headlines from the local news:
Apartment complex for homeless planned in North Laurel. Laurel, MD has a BIG homelessness problem. And lots of prostitutes doing business along Route One. Sam could get involved in a case related to those issues. Interested?
“In the final analysis, the whole cause of world revolution hinges on the revolutionary struggles of the Asian, African and Latin American people who make up the overwhelming majority of the world’s population”
Hi there! What a weekend I had. Sheesh! Who could have predicted that my mother-in-law (who’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s) would just up and vanish on Saturday? Thank heavens the cops found her in her car on the side of I-70 in Frederick, MD. She’d run out of freaking gas. So … we had to retrieve her car on Sunday, before I could post here.
Pretend this is me, racing home from Frederick, not smiling.
I was telling my neurologist about this on the phone today. My neurologist is awesome. He actually gives a damn about me. How many people can say that about their doctors?
All my doctors are awesome, actually. I must be really lucky good at picking doctors.
I’ve also been pecking away on my novel. And working on my speech for this Saturday in Richmond. Care to see a shitty outlined preview?
Well, here it comes:
Introduce myself, explain my series, the NYTimes list, etc.
Ask how many are considering self-publishing. Ask if they’re doing it to make a million dollars. I’m not here to tell you how to do that.
Never intended to make a career as a self-published author. My first novel was published by small press in 2005, but went out of print 9 months later when the publisher went under.
Shortly before the novel went out of print, I suffered a stroke and developed a rare movement disorder called dystonia.
Despite these setbacks, I kept writing freelance and fiction.
I decided to start a blog to establish an online presence. This eventually led to my starting three other blogs.
From 2005 to 2009, I wrote or revised three more novels, short stories, while freelancing and maintaining one to four blogs.
I submitted my work to agents and small presses, and kept doing so after I decided to bring my first novel back into print through Lulu.com in 2009. That’s when I started my fifth blog, My Life on the Mid-List.
In 2009, I also held a fundraiser for dystonia, wrote my first screenplay and took a dream vacation to Italy with my husband. Having a chronic health problem has taught me that life is way more precious than money, and that I need to live and do things while I can.
Around the time I got ready to publish through Lulu, I read about publishing ebooks for Kindle on Joe Konrath’s and Lee Goldberg’s blogs. I decided to do so.
I started off pricing my ebooks at $1.59, but dropped the price to $.99 to see if it would help sales. My sales shot through the roof. Naturally, they would compared to the prices charged by publishers, which were unreasonably high. And who wouldn’t try something new, if it was cheap? I was selling myself short, in the hopes of gaining greater exposure. I knew this wasn’t a sustainable business practice, but I hoped that I could come away with something to show for it.
When the New York Times announced it was going to include indie authors on its bestseller list, I kept my prices low and hoped, despite the scoffing of someone who won’t be named. When I actually hit the list, I couldn’t believe it. The whole experience seemed surreal, yet when I contacted local papers with press releases about the news, no one cared.
Here’s what it boils down to: the only reason I made the NY Times list was that I sold a whole lot of downloads cheap for Kindle and Nook. I get 4 and 5 star reviews, so I write the best books I can. I don’t pay for reviews. But I hit the market at the right time, too.
Early this year, I took a seminar on filmmaking, in which I learned about crowdfunding. I read about how other creative projects were being funded in this manner, so I decided to try doing so with my books.
There are examples of success stories, i.e., other writers who’ve funded books or series this way.
The power of the Internet was made clear to me when I reached a reader in England through blogging.
Amazon has used the publishing business’ bad business practices against it to take over. It’s obviously trying to become the one and only publisher, i.e., the ultimate gatekeeper.
I’ve chosen to make my work available to all readers, regardless of whether they prefer print or ebooks. Many will recommend that you sign up with Amazon’s Kindle Select Program, in order to make more money or better promote your work. I’ve chosen not to do this. My choice is to provide books for all readers, regardless of format or device they use. Signing with Kindle Select is no different than signing with a traditional publisher. The only thing that’s changed is the technology.
I believe authors need to focus on building their online platforms through the effective use of blogging and social media. They can start by wasting less time bitching talking to each other and spending more talking to readers.
Yet, the irony is that, because of the Internet, I’ve made friends in Ireland and England. I myself have sold books and made book donations around the world. Yet, I cannot overlook that Amazon has helped me get where I am today. So thank you, Amazon!
However, I’ve come to realize that I can’t depend on your largesse (sp?) forever. If I’m going to reach all readers, I must establish my own brand or platform. There are readers with Nooks, Kobos, plus Diesel, Sony and Apple products to consider.
There are only 14 days left until the deadline, Dec. 10.
Furthermore, if you’re on Facebook, please login and click the link below to vote in the Indiegogo Contest, which could win $500 for my Sam McRae Mystery Series Campaign. Vote now, if you can. It takes literally 5 seconds. Votes are due by Wednesday, but please vote now! I’m begging you. Just scroll down on the page and click the blue VOTE button. It would mean a lot, and if everyone who reads this clicks that blue button, it would surely make a difference! Click here or copy and paste the link!
What’s changed is the way they’re published and distributed.
Indie authors have been selling directly to readers long before Kindles existed. Just ask M. J. Rose. Miss Buzz, Balls & Hype.
So, real self-published authors don’t list exclusively with Amazon, because then they’re not self-published, anymore. They’re Amazon authors with no cover artist, editing, promotion or marketing support, other than Amazon’s algorithms.
And the publishing industry responds how? Slowly, of course. A little late in the game. Amazon is a huge technology company, and it’s about way more than just publishing now.
Now do you understand why I’m urging everyone to please, pretty please, whatever you do, don’t buy anything from Amazon on CyberMonday or anytime.
It’s time to choose. We all need to choose. I can’t do this alone. It’s up to you, the consumers. Are we going to let Amazon become the only retailer/bookseller/publisher/owner of the Internet/spy?
Caption this!
Big Brother loves you.
Please consider buying a Kobo or a Nook.
I’ve asked my husband for a Kobo for Christmas. Fuck Amazon.
Or consider supporting an indie author, a New York Times ebook bestselling indie author who isn’t famous, because I haven’t achieved notoriety.
You can do that by contributing to my Indiegogo campaign for the Sam McRae Mystery Series or my literacy and Sandy relief campaign. To be honest, my mystery series campaign needs all the help it can get. I’ve raised $520, and I’m trying to reach $5,000 by Dec. 10. Any RTs or other support would be greatly appreciated!
Even so, I just paid my NWU dues, because I do believe that writers are entitled to fair compensation for their work, even if they’re not famous. Which brings me to this post. Can you spot the troll?
And, before I forget and since I’ve probably pissed everyone off (except maybe Paul and Trevor and Meredith and Nina and the entire #teasercrew and Eric and David and Kathy with dystonia and Jay and Robert Best and Caren Kennedy and Louise Phillips and Tim Hallinan and Sasscer Hill and Karen McQuestion and Scott and Mary C, I hope, and Chris V and The Bloggess and my entire family and all my friends and authors that know and care about me — dammitall!!!!), if you’re on Facebook, please login and click the link below to vote in the Indiegogo Contest, which could win $500 for my Sam McRae Mystery Series Campaign. Vote now, if you can. It takes literally 5 seconds. Votes are due by Wednesday, but please vote now! I’m begging you. Just scroll down on the page and click the blue VOTE button. It would mean a lot, and if everyone who reads this clicks that blue button, it would surely make a difference! Click here or copy and paste the link!
Finally, let’s end with this horribly appropriate teaser and videos from Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar. It’s all about evolution and survival of the fittest.
But remember, soon it will be Christmas. Thank you, Paul, for posting your suggestion and this quote and video in today’s teaser.
“I felt invincible. My strength was that of a giant. God was certainly standing by me. I smashed five saloons with rocks before I ever took a hatchet.”
Radical Temperance campaigner, Carrie Nation November 25, 1846 – June 9, 1911.
PS: Before you leave a comment, please read this post. Thanks!
Hi there! We went to Ireland and the UK this summer, and while we were in Scotland, I climbed 287 steps just to say I did it and get this picture and view!
However, I really do give all readers choices. My novels are available as ebooks here now. Thank you, Eamon Moroney, for the info about Bkclb.
So … after lunch, I took a walk with my husband, during which we discussed whether high school girls would refer to other students as “kids” or not. We have no kids, so I don’t know. Anyone out there know? Anyone with kids? LOL!
Then, I sat down and prepared a shitty rough outline of my speech for the Sisters in Crime, Richmond Chapter. And I still had time afterward to work on my novel and write this post. Because that’s my job, and I’m a blue collar writer, a blogger, and a happy fool.
And here’s the shitty rough outline. Read it and weep laugh or whatever.
Introduce myself, explain my series, the NYTimes list, etc.
Never intended to make a career as a self-published author. My first novel was published by small press in 2005, but went out of print 9 months later when the publisher went under.
Shortly before the novel went out of print, I suffered a stroke and developed a rare movement disorder called dystonia.
Despite these setbacks, I kept writing freelance and fiction. I submitted my work to agents and small presses, and kept doing so after I decided to bring my first novel back into print through Lulu.com.
Around the time I got ready to publish through Lulu, I read about publishing ebooks for Kindle on Joe Konrath’s and Lee Goldberg’s blogs. I decided to do so.
I started off pricing my ebooks at $1.59, but dropped the price to $.99 to see if it would help sales. My sales shot through the roof. Naturally, they would compared to the prices charged by publishers, which were unreasonably high. And who wouldn’t try something new, if it was cheap? I was selling myself short, in the hopes of gaining greater exposure. I knew this wasn’t a sustainable business practice, but I hoped that I could come away with something to show for it.
When the New York Times announced it was going to include indie authors on its bestseller list, I kept my prices low and hoped, despite the scoffing of someone who won’t be named. When I actually hit the list, I couldn’t believe it. The whole experience seemed surreal, yet when I contacted local papers with press releases about the news, no one cared.
Here’s what it boils down to: the only reason I made the NY Times list was that I sold a whole lot of downloads cheap for Kindle and Nook. I get 4 and 5 star reviews, so I write the best books I can. I don’t pay for reviews. But I hit the market at the right time, too.
Amazon has used the publishing business’ bad business practices against it to take over. It’s obviously trying to become the one and only publisher, i.e., the ultimate gatekeeper.
I assure you, the speech will go nothing like this one. There will be no tears. I’m no longer taking myself so seriously.
This blog will take a break for Thanksgiving. I’m grateful that I’m able to write and go places and do things. I have a loving husband and a funny sister and an awesome brother, and their kids are awesome. All of them. Each and every one. Please don’t make me type all the names. You know who you are.
UPDATE: Oh, crap! I forgot to mention that yesterday was World Toilet Day. Here’s a weirdlybizarrely curiously an appropriate tune for this post from Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.
And this quote:
“The principle, in building a sewer system, was of diverting the cause of the mischief to a locality where it can do no mischief.”
Hi there! The lovely lady in that tiny photo above is Jenny Milchman, who invited me to participate in The “Next Big Thing” Blog Pyramid Schemething. Well, naturally, I said yes, because I’m an idiot and a blogger.And here’s Jenny’s blog where she (or some other author she hoodwinked into doing this) does the “Next Big Thing” thing.
Okay, now my turn to answer the damn questions. Ha ha!
What is your working title of your book?
THE INVISIBLE GIRL
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The idea came to me while I was taking a shower, totally out of left field. I started hearing the voice of a 13-year-old kid telling me her story. So, when I finished in the shower, I wrote it down and it became the beginning of the book. From there, I started an outline and created a story that led up to an ending that I also wrote down, when I got the idea for the story.
What genre does your book fall under?
I have a hard time categorizing this one. Young adult suspense, I suppose.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
To be honest, I have no idea. Except one character who the protagonist keeps comparing to Justin Bieber.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Portia Maddox, the perennial new kid and an albino, is asked to spy on the boyfriend of the most popular girl at Jefferson Davis Junior High, only to learn that being a spy isn’t so easy, for a number of reasons.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
At this point, I plan to self-publish it. However, I’m also submitting it to a small press.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
About a year, more or less.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
This is the first young adult book I’ve ever tried to write. It’s not really comparable to anything I’ve written up to now. This is a coming-of-age story that includes elements of mystery and suspense. The protagonist is much younger and more vulnerable than my hardboiled mystery series character, Sam McRae, a lawyer in her late 30s who knows the score. (Please consider contributing to my crowdfunding campaign for the series. Thanks! Commercial over. )
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I’ve always enjoyed young adult novels, because I think that well-written ones appeal to readers of all ages. If the Harry Potter books proved anything, they certainly proved that. Not to mention Hunger Games and countless other books. Classic coming-of-age novels like To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Catcher in the Rye, The Bell Jar and many other really depressing and/or funny books have inspired me to write this one.
I think to a great extent I was inspired by Karen McQuestion’s work. I’ve read two of her young adult novels, and her stories touched me deeply. I recall being reluctant to read one of her books for fear I might inadvertently copy her style, once I was able to work on my story. However, all writers have their own distinct voice when you come down to it, so it wasn’t a problem at all.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
It’s the great American novel. For kids! Just kidding. Of course.
Let’s put it this way. If you ever felt like life wasn’t fair while you were growing up, you’ll probably enjoy this book.
******
That’s it. And now I foist this off pass the baton to the only blogger decent enough to who accepted my plea request for this thingy. Bill Gagliani will post his “Next Big Thing” post on Monday (I think). There were others who said they would’ve done it, but they were already taken. The rest either simply didn’t make have the time or didn’t bother to reply to me. Thanks, guys!
And thank you, Bill, for not making me show up here empty-handed! LOL!
Message for the tagged authors and interested others:
Rules of the Next Big Thing
***Do not use this format for your post. Use this one.
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.
Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.
Be sure to line up your five people in advance. Way, way, way in advance. And be prepared to offer bribes incentives.
So, today I managed to not only make more contacts with people about the campaign, but I got in a walk and I worked on the young adult novel. Plus I finally sent chapters to my writers group. Thank heavens.
And I’ve rescheduled all my appointments, so I won’t have to scramble to get to Richmond to talk to the Sisters in Crime on Dec. 1. Yay!
I’ll quote you the weirdest most interesting intro ever:
Alison DeLuca is one of the absolute gems I’ve had the great good fortunate to hang out with on Twitter. I’ve never met her in person, but I can tell you this: Alison is an upbeat, always-pleasant-super-combination Mom, writer, and Space Mountain enthusiast. She loves haiku, her family, and her work. She’s a blogging queen, turning out great posts a couple times a week.
Ms. DeLuca has a great sense of fun, and she knows how to be a friend. Oh, and she showers and puts on make-up before she sits down to write (unlike those of us who wear sweats and go unwashed for days at a time). Not only that, Alison is generous: She’s sharing tips about what has worked for her as an author. Read on!
And I’m too gimpy rushed to wear make up while all alone at my computer, especially when I never wear it anyway. Ha ha ha … But I shower and dress in real clothes before I work.
Would you believe my husband got so disgusted with the excess campaign expenditures, the horrible campaigning tactics, the media hoopla, the voting fraud and what not, that he actually thought we ought to appoint a queen or a king here? How ironic is that? He’s the Italian and here I thought I was secretly British.
Hi there! It’s been so long since I’ve done a planned book event, that I’ve forgotten the protocol. What I’m trying to say is that the last time I did a book signing, I was in a cafe in Brentwood, England, with these chaps.
My last book signing during my “Across the Pond” book tour.
Anyway, tomorrow, I’ll be appearing (along with a whole lot of other Sisters in Crime, Chessie Chapter authors) at the Howard County Public Library (East Columbia branch), 6600 Cradlerock Way in Columbia from 1 to 3 p.m. We will talk about our books and sign them, etc.
Hi there! Our power went out on Monday evening, right before I was going to publish this post. My blogiversary post for the other blog. My first blog. Well, really, my second blog, but who’s counting, right?
So … while the power was out, I was actually cleaning my office, thinking of more contacts for my crowdsourcing campaign and doing a lot of reading.
And I’ve nearly reached the end of Leonard Rosen’s book ALL CRY CHAOS. OM-freaking-G!!!! Talk about a book that’s exciting and keeping me up until all hours. Just ask my husband, who gave me the fish eye last night/this morning at 1 AM, when I was up reading it. I know, I know … shame on me. But so many books, so little time, so gimpy. Har har …
Awesome. Now, I can add that to the 50 million many other books I must or would like to review for this blog. Nothing to it, right?
So … I did some more crowdsourcing stuff today, because I must no matter how crappy my fingers are. The first few days of the campaign are the most critical, so the more support I can get early on, the better. Indiegogo will feature campaigns that have good Gogo factors on its front page and will tweet them on Twitter, if they can get enough financial support.
And please consider making a contribution or otherwise supporting the series on Indiegogo. (Click there for details and to contribute and/or help spread the word about the campaign, please!)
BTW, I actually managed to peck out a few more words on my young adult novel. Yay!
Now, here are some other links of possible interest:
There’s a whole shitload of authors and others I know in New York, New Jersey and New England. I couldn’t begin to list them all, but I was glad to hear read that they were all fine, as far as I know.
I’m going to quote the weirdest most horrible awesome part of this article:
Marketing is one of the hardest parts of being a self-published author and, for many, marketing and PR is confusing and intimidating. What tactics have you seen work well?
I’ve given this a lot of thought, as my background is in marketing. A couple of years ago I wrote the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide and then The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success. My sense is that marketing is not as important as people think it is, and I say that as a marketer.
***
The best marketing that an author can do is write a super fabulous book. But authors should spend time on marketing, because there’s still benefit to be had from it. Marketing is a catalyst, but you can’t fuel the engine on catalyst alone and the ultimate fuel is the quality of the book, its ability to strike passion into the hearts of its readers so that they talk about it with their friends and their online community. Books go on to become bestsellers based on reader word of mouth. It’s a universal truth: Readers will decide what becomes a bestseller.
But marketing is important for building a platform. If you create a blog and attract hundreds or thousands of monthly readers, that builds your platform and trust with your community. And that makes your community more inclined to support you, to purchase your books and to talk about them.
The important concept here is that of the first reader. If you do something that puts your book in front of someone and gets them to purchase it, they are like a first reader and it’s how that reader reacts to your book that determines its success.
Gee, Mark. I’ve got five freaking blogs. None of them have hundreds, let alone thousands, of monthly readers. I think it takes more than writing a really great book. Sorry, chum, I have to disagree with you on this, despite your expertise as a marketer and all.
Hi there! Well, it’s Saturday, and unlike sane people I’m working instead of relaxing casually around the house. I’ve contacted as many people as I can who might have some recollection of who I am about my crowdsourcing project.
Furthermore, I’ve gone ahead and relaunched the campaign. Here’s the link. Please consider liking the series and contributing to the campaign.
Okay … so my new deadline is Dec. 10. That gives me 45 days to raise $5,000. Can I do it? Please consider making a small contribution to my noble cause Indiegogo campaign. You’ll get awesome my bestselling books in return. Print versions! Imagine!
Other than that, not much to report. Here are a few links you may like.
Here’s one so awesome, I wish I weren’t so gimpy I’m glad Tim Sunderland did the typing for me.
Well, it’s a small world, Stephen. Hopefully, we will have the chance to meet and you’ll find out I’m not actually completely nutters someday. Here’s hoping, huh?
And, of course, it was during our trip to England that I got to meet the awesome Paul Downie.
Now, I mentioned Paul on my other blog, not only because there will always be an England, but because he is a reader I connected with on that blog. And, more to the point, I’ve met Paul, and I now have both a reader and a real friend in England. That is awesome!
Before I write about the horrible Amazon Studios presentation, I must tell you that I’m retooling my Indiegogo project. I’m seeking as many “like”s as I can get for my series’ Facebook page. If I could get 50 by the end of the weekend, that would be SO awesome.
Thank you in advance!
Now … as to Amazon Studios, I went to the presentation to spy on them out of sheer curiosity, but learned nothing I didn’t already know.
The presenter showed a video of this book trailer. Not this one, but one that was much creepier, actually.
Now, you’d think, really? Not a great way to make a first impression, huh? Especially since the ballroom was freezing cold, to the point where I was looking around for Linda Blair or other possible demonically-possessed people.
Of course, the frigid temps could have been due to the fact that the ballroom was barely half full. Much to my delight surprise.
The presenter said a few words that I don’t remember, then opened the floor to questions from us, the “customers.” That surprised me a bit. I thought the market would be the customers, but it all depends on how you define it, right? Okay …
Well … to put it all in a nutshell and save myself a shitload of typing, it would seem that Amazon doesn’t really want to tell us what its plans are in TV and film, if in fact it has any. But, it is willing to pay you lots of this …
For your screenplay. They want your content, of course. They’ll bend over backwards for good content.
They’re not very clear, however, about their plans. Every answer was prefaced with the words, “Good question!” Then, not answered, really. It seems Amazon wants feedback from its customers, which could be its paying customers or its writers. That got me really confused, but then it didn’t really matter. I was only there out of curiosity.
And then the presenter said that even though Amazon is a tech company, we shouldn’t worry because human beings will review all our submissions, not robots or algorithms or whatever. And I thought …
Well, of course, human beings will review submissions. A computer can’t determine if a story is any good. And if the story outright stinks, the content may as well be worthless.
"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
I think it’s high time to drop the pretense that I’m a mid-list author, don’t you? In point of fact, I’m just a writer, period.
