Standing out in a crowd of new releases

Congratulations to giveaway winners, Vera Carter, Nancy Little, and Nichole Nace

Ahem. Standing on my soapbox, pulling out my bullhorn.

“Welcome ladies and gentlemen! I’m very excited to announce the release of my latest book, RISING MIST. This third in the “Mist” series (which each stand independently) follows social worker Max Maitland, who is trained to help people, not leave them vulnerable to evil. His unexpected and unwanted legacy bestows upon him a spirit beast—a cougar—to help protect him and his sister. Bound to his sister by their legacy, Max is frustrated at the prospect of sacrificing his own goals and dreams like his bachelor uncle before him.

Robin Chandler’s reputation as a mural artist allows her temporary escape from her native Sedona, Arizona, away from the ex-fiancé who cheated on her and where she suffered the horror of a cougar attack. After four months on the road, she’s ready to return to the desert landscape close to her heart, but meeting Max Maitland is a potent diversion.  When Max tells her his sister is fighting evil spirits, Robin questions her choices. This otherwise irresistible guy can’t really believe in the “woo-woo” can he?”

The paperback is available for sale NOW, but you can still pre-order the e-book (due out a week from Friday) for just $0.99! Hurry, before the price goes up!

Stepping down off my soapbox, putting aside my bullhorn.

Authors are finding it increasingly difficult to be heard in the commotion that has become the publishing industry. Why? Borrowing from a blog I read recently:

“The competition. As of this writing, 11,667 new romance Kindle books released in the last 30 days, or around 400 per day. There are 326,894 romance e-books to choose from. What's a newer author to do to compete in fields with so many flowers?”

 – RuthKaufman, Gainfully Unemployed

I no longer qualify as a “new author,” My first book was published in 2002, and my new release is number 8 (there was a break in time while I had to reorganize my life somewhere between books 2 and 3). I have been releasing two books a year for the last couple, while balancing a day job, but that isn’t always enough for voracious readers. Some of MY favorite authors are putting out three and four and SIX novels per year (without the interference of a “second” job). It’s hard to keep pace with the heavy hitters, and yet I’m seeing THEM struggling to hold onto their readers, even on the best-seller's list.

The industry has undergone numerous changes in the past years, with the advent of e-books and more authors choosing the independent route. As a reader, I’m finding it more difficult to select new books to read. My mailbox is inundated with newsletters hawking discounted and free e-books, and even many of those don’t appeal to me. Knowing that, how can I, as the author, lure a new reader to pick up one of my books when even discounting isn’t enough reason to pick up a book?

There are times when my fellow authors and I threaten to throw in the towel. It’s a challenge to write for an increasingly selective audience and to tap new readers who we hope will find we are their “new favorite author.” We all strive to write a quality product. We hire out professionals to improve our presentation and to check over our final products for errors. At the end of the day, we don’t do this for the money, we write because it is a part of who we are, so when sales lag or we get discouraged that people aren’t finding us, we continue with the next book. Because this is what we love to do. This is what we are passionate about.

So I hope you’ll consider my newest release, and maybe some of my backlist if you are new to my writing. And recommend me to a friend. If I’m not your “cup of tea,” I hope you’ll recommend the books that you have read and enjoyed to your friends to support my fellow authors who are also struggling in an extremely competitive environment. Make sure you spread the word and leave a review for the books you’ve read.

Normally, I do a Goodreads giveaway when I release a new book to give *new* readers a chance to test run my writing. This time, I'm trying something different. Three of the first fifteen people who Click here to enter have a chance to win a paperback version of RISING MIST at Amazon.com. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules.

Requirements for participation:

·         Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia

·         18+ years of age (or legal age)

Oh, and I hope if you are one of the lucky ones, you'll let me know what you think and leave me a review after you've read it!

Moving On

I have submitted the final files for RISING MIST! Everything's on schedule for the November 6 release date, and the first review sounds positive! One reader of the advanced reading copy is giving it high praise, saying its the best of the trilogy! Music to an author's ears, especially when book 1, MIST ON THE MEADOW, won an award.

So what's next? Well, as usual, I pulled out an oldy moldy that I just can't seem to let go of. I really like my EPITAPH story, but something still feels off. Sometimes you just have to let go. I'm entertaining ideas of writing Matt's story to continue the Northwest Suburbs series. Less perfect characters are more interesting, and Matt is certainly "less perfect." I had so much fun redeeming Cinda in RETURN TO HOFFMAN GROVE, that now I have to find a foil for Matt who will put him through his paces, like Brody did for Cinda.

Fun fact: Originally Robin (in RISING MIST) was meant to be Matt's paramour. She fits the MIST series much better, and now that she's found Max, I can't imagine her with someone like Matt!

The Space Between

My blog title today is part of #MyLifeisaMusical. What does it mean? I'm filling the space between when "this" book is (nearly) finished and continuing with the next one.

I'm reading through the proof copy of RISING MIST one more time to see what was missed on the gazillion times my editor and I have read through it already. (Something always slips through.) Until I have that one "out of mind," I hesitate to move forward on the next novel, so I'm doing those things I haven't had time for while pressing forward to get RISING MIST done. Reading. Cleaning my house. I've also been working on marketing (you all have pre-ordered a copy, right?)

Social media these days is more visually driven, so I've been working on memes (on what? DH asks me). Memes are pictures with snippets from the book (or cute captions when not book-related). Here are a couple to acquaint you with Max, the hero of my story.

And now I have to get back to the deadline at the day job...

The final countdown

That fits in with my #MyLifeisaMusical life...

I'm waiting for the final galley of RISING MIST so I can read through it for the umpteenth time and make sure everything has been addressed appropriately.This is where I tell you my newsletter is going out this afternoon - it's not too late to sign up for exclusive offers (but you have to do it NOW!).

So while I wait, I have a day job deadline to contend with, as well as some special projects requiring my attention. For that reason, my post today is brief (and boring, sorry).

I hope you'll take advantage of the low pre-order price on RISING MIST ($0.99), which will revert to the regular price ($3.99) after release.