Why Buy New?

Re-Post from Kristen Lamb

The Ugly Truth of Publishing & How BEST to Support Writers

Original Image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Anurag Agnihotri

Well, I figure I have one more day to drunkenly torch my platform. Sad thing is I don’t drink. I am apparently this stupid when sober :P . Actually I am writing this as a follow up for my rant from the day before yesterday, because knowledge is power.

Writers need this. Your friends and families need this. Readers need this. The more people get how this industry works, the more everyone can start working together for everyone’s benefit.

In my book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World, I go into a LOT more detail and I highly recommend you get a copy if you don’t have one. I spend the first chapters of the book explaining how the various forms of publishing work so you can make an educated decision.

All types of publishing have corresponding strengths and weaknesses and this is a decision only the writer can make. Not all writers are suited for self-publishing. Not all books are good for traditional.

And so on.

But today, dear newbies. I am going to take you on a tour behind the curtain. Also for those who are NOT newbies, feel free to pass this to family in a “Take Your Clueless Friends Who Think You Will Make a Million Dollars as Soon as You Publish To WORK Day.”

Nuts and Bolts of Publishing

Publishing is a very old business that has not updated its business model since the biggest traffic snarl in NYC involved a runaway horse carriage colliding with a drunken fish monger. In the early days of publishing in order to encourage bookstores to carry books, publishers invented what was known as the consignment model.

Publishers would guesstimate how many books would sell, send them to the merchant with the promise that, whatever did NOT sell could be returned at no cost. The merchant only had to pay for books that sold.

Hint: NO OTHER BUSINESS TODAY DOES THIS.

Can you imagine a car manufacturer sending out fleets of new cars that customers could test drive all day long. Run up mileage, spill drinks in the console, but then if they didn’t sell the dealership could say, “Nah, we’re good. Can you send us different models from another designer? We really dig that sleek crossover.”

Because often that is what happens with books. People use bookstores like a freaking library. They go into the adjacent Starbucks with a stack of books, read to their heart’s content and then leave a stack of books for the clerk to put away.

Now the spines are cracked, the pages wrinkled and no one is going to buy that book, but the bookstore isn’t out anything because they can rip the covers off and send them back. Ultimately the writer is the one who takes the hit. Kind of the publisher but really the writer as we are about to see.

Because bookstores want to provide a “browsing experience” they don’t want to rely on the new and far more efficient way of doing business, which is POD (print on demand). They like having stock to show off, which of course they do because they are not really out anything.

How Writers Are Paid

Original Image via Wikimedia Commons

Why I kind of derailed into a rant Tuesday was because there are so many things that get presented as “blessings” for writers when in fact, they are benevolently killing us. They are undermining us and making it harder and harder to make a living wage. We can’t criticize these sacred cows lest we look like jerks.

You ever wonder why people just assume that a published author is rich? That is because this used to be a profession that did rather well. Granted it was easier to be elected to congress than write for a living, but these “good ideas to sell more books” have eroded the Author Middle Class and created a Publishing Third World Economy.

You know what a marker of a third world economy is? My degree is in political economy. In a third world country wealth is concentrated at the top. There is little to NO middle class and the vast majority are working poor or poverty level.

If you peruse my blog from the other day, I mentioned the ways we are paid best (digital and new books). We get a royalty. Anything used? We make no money. But let’s explore a bit further…

Compounded Sales

Back in the days before the mega bookstore, there was a very strong Author Middle Class. This author wasn’t a gazillionaire, but he did really well writing for a living. The reason was that a smaller store like B. Dalton often carried an author’s backlist. If you are old enough to remember browsing these small stores, you might even remember that factor coloring your decision.

How I ended up hooked on any number of SERIES was that the bookstores stocked the series. I didn’t want a standalone book. If I fell in love with an author or characters, I wanted to be able to keep reading.

What this meant was that writers weren’t being paid royalties from ONE book, but many books. Even if the author didn’t write series, if the author had multiple titles, odds were pretty good that the store ordered those, so even with single titles, a browsing reader could be assured they could get more than one title from THAT author.

But there was a downside…for the reader. Books were more expensive. The store was not the size of an aircraft hangar and had no place to buy a frappucino and good luck being able to buy a figurine of a chubby cat reading Shakespeare.

The MegaStore is GREAT for READERS…and Writers of COURSE

Good luck getting good placement BABY WRITER.

So then Borders and B&N came on the scene. I still remember how they were lauded. How they were going to improve literacy because books would be so much more affordable! They were “cultural centers” and “bookish hubs”. Writers will get so much more “exposure.” Does any of that sound familiar? Refer to that @$$hat article I was ranting about.

But there was a problem. There is no free lunch. Those “deep discounts” came at a cost…to the writers. In order to discount the books the way they do, the mega stores don’t stock like the old indie bookstores unless an author is a household name guaranteed to sell.

Megastores are in the business of moving high volume. That is how they give the consumer the discount. Books, for the first time in history, had a far shorter shelf life than ever before.

Instead of books remaining in the store and giving the writer time to cultivate a fan base, the covers were ripped off and the books pulped.

As a consequence? The mid-list author (Author Middle Class) was nearly wiped out. Authors who’d made a very good living previously had to return to the regular workforce (I.e. teaching) because they no longer could live off their writing income.

I had a friend of mine who won a Nebula Award in science fiction. She went from making a regular income off ELEVEN titles, to making income off ONE title at a time.

Even though she was a respected and award-winning author, she had to give up writing full time (until Amazon).

***This was all until Amazon, by the way. Many of these authors who were driven to poverty actually now make more money than they ever did traditionally published and they no longer have to be pillaged by megastores. Which is why I get pissy when people act like Amazon is the devil and bookstores are so awesome.

Megastores make money with volume and offering the newest shiny. But the problem is that books often are like fine wine. I said wine, not whine ;). They need time to mature.

But the problem was that the very literary ecosystem that helped launch unknown books like The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood into legendary status…was destroyed. Traded for beadsfrappucinos. Borders and Barnes & Noble obliterated the small bookstore and took with it the earning ability of many writers.

The mega-bestsellers did VERY well. Ergo my reference to Publishing Third World. Wealth was redistributed and concentrated at the top and the middle class was eradicated.

Book Placement

If you do not have an on-line platform, then Browsing Roulette is about the best you can hope for. But those spots in a bookstore are all negotiated in a writer’s contract. Those front slots on a table are premium real estate.

Same with displays. Ironically, though, the authors with the most selling power often get the best displays (remember the volume thing). But, George R.R. Martin is probably going to sell books. The writers who need that placement the most are the least likely to get it.

This isn’t personal. It’s business.

If I came out with a novel, I am going to sell a heck of a lot less than George R.R. Martin. Well, at least five or six copies less :P .

In seriousness, though it makes sense to display your heavy hitters. Problem is then that the newer writer no one knows then better hope her last name falls at the fortuitous eye-level because she will be spine-out on a shelf.

And if the time runs out and no sale? Off with that cover and the book is pulped.

Advances

Before I became a writer I bought books everywhere. Because it was not my profession I guess I really just never put any thought into how that writer was paid. If I bought a book at a used bookstore and it was new, I assumed it was overstock. I had no idea what a remainder was (more on that in a moment).

I’d also watched movies and heard this term “advance” tossed around as if it meant money rained from the sky. In fact, as a new writer, I dreamed of all kinds of ways to spend my million dollar advance.

Advances are not free money. They are essentially a payday loan. It is money loaned to the author against the money eventually earned in royalties.

So if an author is given a $20,000 advance, he is not paid another dime until that book earns over $20,000.

Herein lies the pickle.

If an author doesn’t “earn out” the advance, odds are she will not be given another book deal. So, if you get that $20,000 and the book makes $19,700? No more deals. That’s why BIG advances seem like a good thing, but can actually wreck a career. It’s far easier to earn out a $20,000 advance than a $90,000 one.

Writers don’t have to pay back the advance, but if it doesn’t “earn out” it means the writer is not a wise investment for the publisher so the odds are not good for the author getting another book deal. Depending on the author or the book, they might get another deal. But with newer authors? Probably not. And first-time authors? Forget about an advance. Not happening unless your name is Kardashian.

This was a really big deal before the digital age because traditional publishing WAS the only game in town. So if an author didn’t make her quota? Game over.

These days, advances are pretty much a thing of the past. Any money most writers will make are going to come from US buying books from them.

Print Runs

One can tell how much confidence a publisher has in a book (author) by the print run. Low print runs mean the publisher is being conservative to hedge losses…but low print runs mean the writer doesn’t make as much. A standard print run for a new unknown author is 10,000 books. But traditional tends to limit authors to one book a year so even if an author makes $2 per book, that is $20,000 before taxes.

Yes, J.K. Rowling is a billionaire but she is not the norm.

***Btw, all of this is VERY unscientific and very broad strokes to give y’all the gist.

This isn’t BAD for the new writer because it is way easier to sell out that 10,000 and then she will get a bigger run the next book and the next as her brand grows (if she doesn’t starve in the meantime).

However, higher print runs? We are in the same deal with advances. If you don’t sell out your print run, the remaining copies are remaindered. 

There are ways writers can buy a portion of their remainders to sell by hand and they can get a far lower royalty off remaindered copies that are then sold through wholesale outlets and used bookstores.

Usually if you see a new book at a used bookstore and it looks like this (pic below)? It is a remaindered copy. That’s why yes, I get the Doctrine of First Sale and that used bookstores are not doing anything “illegal.” But don’t assume that a writer was paid a full royalty the first go. That isn’t always the case.

Image courtesy of Angela Quarles

Yes, this is a great fabulous discount for the reader, but when I see this? My heart feels heavy and sad for the author. That is why in my last post I said, YES feel free to buy used but if you can, please see if you can buy new from the author. The reason is that those sales can make the difference in that author earning out the advance, selling out a print run and getting their next book contract.

Because used bookstores do not favor self-published and indie authors. Most of their stock will be traditionally published authors so you (readers) supporting who you like with a new sale becomes far more important to that writer’s future and career.

Royalties

Traditionally published authors are often paid yearly. Sometimes quarterly. That is negotiated. It is why you have an agent. So whatever the author makes, Vinnie the Fish Agent makes sure the publisher pays, then takes 15% (pretty standard). Then the writer is subjected to self-employment taxes, but with all this “exposure” from the megastore the writer might qualify for food stamps.

So writers are paid like farmers. Let your family know that your down payment on the yacht might be delayed.

Reviews

I get that a lot of people buy used because they are on a budget. Been there so *fist bump*. You can still support writers in meaningful ways.

Even if you buy new, there is another way you can support writers you love. Write a REVIEW. A GOOD ONE.

As a writer I have a personal policy. If I can’t say something good, I shut up. Mainly because I AM far more picky about story being a writer and an editor but also this business is brutal. If we are not supporting each other? Who will? Because our families don’t get us. Our significant others might. Our kids think we are nuts. So I only leave glowing reviews. But that is me. Writers shouldn’t eat their young.

For READERS. Reviews are more important now than ever before, especially for the indie and self-published author. The reason is that with the change in the publishing paradigm, the slush pile (unfortunately) has been dumped into the reader’s lap. There are a lot of bad books out there. But even then, that really isn’t all that big of a problem.

Want to know the bigger problem?

There are a lot of good books out there.

With the Internet and social media and the explosion of books there is SO MUCH content. This means consumers are overwhelmed with choices. Reviews help writers sell books because if readers see a book with no reviews or five reviews versus a similar title with thirty reviews? Who will they choose? Additionally writers gain access to promotional tools like Bookbub, but can ONLY do this with a minimum number of reviews.

Instead of sending me an e-mail about how much my book changed your life? Put it on Amazon and change MINE! 

Readers are essential to our success beyond just the sale. If you love our books, your promotion means a thousand times more than any ad I could pay for. Ads and marketing don’t sell books. Never did and never will. Only thing that sells books is word of mouth.

Beloved reader? You would be shocked how much regular people will pay attention to you. That review is worth your weight in gold to me for a number of reasons. Humans don’t like being first. So unless a couple of you are brave and review? My book can sit with NO reviews and it is then unlikely to sell.

Think about a shelf with ONE item. It freaks us out. There is only ONE. Is it poison? O_o

Secondly, when you review us, Amazon favors our books in the algorithms meaning more people SEE our book. More people SEE it, odds are I will sell more copies. In the on-line world YOU have the power to get US that awesome front of the store book placement. The more reviews the better the algorithm. Better algorithm, more views. More views, more sales, more sales—>we make a best-seller LIST!

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You can also use your social media because it means more than ours.

Tweet a picture of our book. Put it on Facebook. People in your network ARE noticing. Peer review and approval is paramount in the digital age. And don’t support your favorite author on Goodreads as a first choice (AMAZON reviews are better). The only people hanging out on Goodreads for the most part are other writers and book trolls.

Support us on your regular Facebook page or Instagram or Twitter. Because when you post a great new book you LOVED your regular friends see that. When they get stranded in an Urgent Care or an airport? What will they remember? THAT BOOK. They won’t be on Goodreads. Trust me.

So there is your year’s end peek behind the curtain. Sorry (again) it was so long but this is meant as a reference/guide. Readers, we love you. Honest. It is why we are so stupid to work for free so much. This is a labor of love in many ways. Writers, I hope this helps you understand your profession better and maybe even “get” why I was so ticked off the other day.

Happy New Year! I love all of you very much. So NO, your writer friend is NOT YET a millionaire, but you can help MAKE HER ONE :D.

I love hearing from you!

What are your thoughts? Feelings? Are your eyes wide open? Would you like to add anything?

I love hearing from you!

Make SURE you sign up for my upcoming classes! This is part of how I fund my plans for global domination. Purchase a class! Buy a book! OR ignore all that follows but DAMN sure buy all your books NEW or I WILL FIND YOU O_o ….

Remember to check out the new classes listed at W.A.N.A International. Your friends and family can get you something you need for Christmas. Social Media for Writers, Blogging for Writers, and Branding for Authors. 

Also, I have one craft class listed. Your Story in a Sentence—Crafting Your Log-Line. Our stories should be simple enough to tell someone what the book is about in ONE sentence. If we can’t do this, often there is a plot problem. This class is great for teaching you how to be master plotters and the first TEN SIGNUPS get their log-line shredded for free, so you will be agent ready for the coming year.

Enough of that…

I love hearing from you!

To prove it and show my love, for the month of DECEMBER, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).

For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World onAMAZON, iBooks, or Nook. 

HUNT GREATNESS

Reebok has a line by JJ Watt (defensive end for the Houston Texans football team) and as you can read above, it says, 'HUNT GREATNESS'.

Santa brought me one of those t-shirts and I love it. To me, it goes beyond hoping for greatness, or working for greatness. It means searching with stealth and determination--giving up is not an option. You WILL find it.

That's going to be my mantra for 2016. HUNT GREATNESS.

Here are a few ways I'm starting:

Reading the life-changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo. (This book will be featured in January's blog posts over on the Five Pages of Something blog).

Finishing a writing project.

Blogging over on Five Pages about the craft of writing.

Taking control of my health (thanks to my health coaches Zack and Andrea Jackson).

It's a tall order, but let's do this together! Let's Hunt Greatness!

Where will you start?

Day TWELVE! Bloodline

12 Giveaways of Christmas

I'm excited to be a part of a great group of 'clean read' authors, who have come together this Christmas season, to offer twelve days of book giveaways! Each day, until the 25th, I will be sharing another authors giveaway, as well as my own!


Be sure to enter them ALL!!!

Please click the below link to enter your chance to win a paperback copy of my young adult, scifi book, Bloodline!


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Bloodline by Tara Ellis

Giveaway ends December 30, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway.

Day ELEVEN! Featuring Angela Carling

Welcome to Day One of the Twelve Days of Giveaways!


Twenty four authors of all genres have worked together to bring you AMAZING giveaways and just in time to celebrate the big day of giving.

Today is Day One of the fun and it’s my giveaway day. Who am I, Young Adult Author Angela Carling. Here’s my bio for those of you seeing my name for the first time.

Angela Carling was raised in Palm Springs California, but lives Arizona with her husband, three kids and five felines. After years of denial she finally admitted that she is a hopeless romantic which led her to write her first Young Adult book Unbreakable Love. Since then she’s published three more books, Shackled, Becoming Bryn and The Secret Keeper. Shackled won the silver IPGA award in 2012 and has been optioned as a screenplay. She always eats the frosting off her cake and leaves the rest, and can be caught singing in public bathrooms just for the acoustics. When she’s not writing YA novels, she’s mentoring teen writers, making pizza with her family or dreaming of taking a nap, not necessarily in that order.

Now on to the fun part…here is what I am giving away. In this post I’ve given you a little information on each of my four published Young Adult books. All you have to do is look them over and choose your favorite. You even get to pick whether you want a paper or digital copy. Below, I've pasted in the blurb you'd read on the back of each book and the book's cover so that check them out as if you were browsing in a book story.

Anyone else love to spend hours combing through the book shelves?

When you’re all done, take a minute to enter to win your copy in my easy-peasy Rafflecopter giveaway and I'll contact you by email on December 26 so it'll be like extending Christmas an extra day. Meanwhile if you want to learn more about my work or read reviews you can drop by my website or Amazon.

Now, about the books...

The first book is called Becoming Bryn and it is a stand-alone tale with a ton of heart and a really hot kiss scene:)


For months, Jesse has been envious of her twin sister Bryn and even has a crush on Bryn’s gorgeous, popular boyfriend, Quinton. When Jesse awakens from a coma to learn that everyone thinks she IS Bryn, the option of actually taking over her sister’s life is beyond tempting, but there’s a downside. She’d have to give up her relationship with Ethan, her best friend and the only person she trusts. Could she actually live as Bryn for the rest of her life? And if her family and friends found out, would they ever forgive her?

Next is my award-winning, been written into a screenplay, stand-alone novel SHACKLED!

This one's sure to keep you awake reading and somehow make you believe in love at the same time.

After shy, quiet Lucy and her family move from their small hometown in Minnesota to Seattle, Washington, she is surprised when Ryan, the most popular boy at school asks her out. Soon, she is swept up in a whirlwind romance and her naïve and trusting nature allows her to fall head over heels in love with her too-good-to-be suitor. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself enraptured by the excitement of her new relationship, leaving her blinded to the warning signs of danger ahead. Can her fairy tale romance last, or will she find that her prince charming is more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Keeping things a little intense, I'll introduce The Secret Keeper. This is book one of a three book series and is all kinds of suspenseful and surprising! Also, book two In the Dying Light comes out early in the New Year so you won't have to wait long to find out what happens next.

When Seventeen year old Winter Merrill made a bargain with the mysterious Secret Keeper, she knew there were rules. The most important one, the next time you have a secret, you will not be able to tell it….even if you try.
What she didn’t know is that her next secret if not told, would destroy her life and the life of Liam, the only boy she ever loved.

Can Winter find a way out of the dark bargain that binds her tongue or will her deal with the Secret Keeper bring devastating consequences unimaginable even to her?

Finally for all you romantics, here is Unbreakable Love. This was my first published book about a guardian angel that cannot touch the one he must protect. If you like cookies, love and other sweet things you'll enjoy this tender romance.

Jennie Townsend is unlucky in love, so she is suspicious when a mysterious new student named Nate tries to gain her friendship. Despite her mistrust of the boys at school she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Nate. Nate is captivated by her too, but lives in a rule bound world as a guardian angel. His sacred task is to protect Jennie during a dangerous time in her life. However, he’s strictly forbidden to touch Jennie and falling in love is completely off limits. The more time Nate spends with Jennie, the harder the rules are to follow. Will Nate be able to save Jennie from a premature end, or will his own emotions – and Jennie's – get in the way of completing the task for which he was specifically chosen?

Well, you've seen them all. Now all you have to do is enter to win and when I email you, let me know which one you want. Thanks for stopping by and hope your holidays are filled with good things and excellent books. Good luck!

Day TEN! Christmas Socks

Myself and 23 other authors are giving away one of our books during a very special 12 days of Christmas!

From Dec 14th to Dec 25th we are all giving away a book and winners will be announced daily. The book I am giving away is my new Children's book called: Christmas socks

Macy, Ally and Ruby love Christmas. But when Mom and Dad say they need to make Christmas presents for each other Macy isn't sure if she can make something her oldest sister Ruby will love. Find it on Amazon.com.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Its open from Dec 14th to Dec 23rd. On the 23rd I will announce a winner. Go to my Facebook page to enter.

I hope you enjoy Christmas Socks as much as I did writing it! :D
GOOD LUCK!!!

Cassie has loved stories since she was little. Her love of writing started even before she could write words. She was one to be found, reading late into the night, on the school bus or before she did her homework. In middle school she determined that she liked creating her own stories as much as she liked reading them; so she decided she wanted to be an author and keeps working on making that dream come true with every story idea that bounds into her head.

Find out more about Cassie and her books at her website: www.cassiemshiels.com or visit her blog: www.cassiethewriter.blogspot.com

Day NINE: The Archer's Hollow

Merry Christmas! I’m excited to share my fantasy adventure, The Archer’s Hollow with you. All you have to do is follow my blog: http://peggyurry.blogspot.com.

For the last six years, Siri has sought a way to fulfill a vow made during the last hours of her beloved mother's life. Faced with an unwanted betrothal, she knows any chance to honor her mother's request is dwindling. Risking her life to escape the arranged marriage, she unwittingly triggers an ancient elven curse. Death and destruction will begin with the rise of the next full moon. The only recourse is restoring an ancient talisman to the elves. But pleas to return it go unanswered. Siri's journey plunges her into a land of mystical creatures, some terrifying, some fascinating. As she begins to lose her heart to one very handsome Master Archer, his valley spirals toward irreversible ruin. Siri begins to wonder if she holds the key and how one lowly human could ever make a difference in a strange land of myth and magic.


About me: I'm a small town girl who loves the city and the ocean (and the mountains as long as I don't have to camp or hike). I credit the lack of television in my parents' home for my love of reading and my imagination. I credit the guy who hangs the moon for my belief in romance and true love. Along with him, five wonderful kids, extended family, and great friends keep my life exciting.

Day EIGHT! Demon's Heart

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!

This Christmas, I’m pleased to give away a signed copy of my YA fantasy novel Demon’s Heart (Sweetwater Books). Enter here for your chance to win—and get it read before the sequel comes out March 2016!

***

Rustav is carrying a dangerous secret—one his uncle won’t hesitate to kill for. Now on the run, Rustav has only two options: turn and fight his uncle and the bloodthirsty demons of the island, or flee into the unknown and face the mysterious dangers of the forest. Forced to choose between following his destiny and saving his life, Rustav soon discovers that his only hope of surviving lies in the mysteries of his past . . . Get lost in this fantasy filled with a daring combination of action, adventure, and a hint of romance.

***

Praise for Demon's Heart

“A talented writer can convince a reader that fantasy is real; a gifted author makes it look easy from the opening scene. This was Emily Hall Bates’s novel Demon’s Heart! It’s a creative story that simply doesn’t stop. Intense action sequences, along with a brave and selfless hero, make this book highly addictive. Every reader who loves original, powerful fantasy will be absorbed in this compelling read.” —Rachel McClellan, Amazon best-selling author of the Fractured Light series and Confessions of a Cereal Mother

“Bates’s style is striking and sophisticated. Her mastery of storytelling grabbed me from the beginning and still hasn’t let go! Demon’s Heart is a fantastic new fantasy that will appeal to fans of author R. K. Ryals and Rothfuss’s very popular King Killer Chronicles.” —Hannah Clark, author of Uncovering Cobbogoth “Demon’s Heart takes the reader on a colorful adventure through lands of peasants and kings, soldiers and demons. Rustav’s tragic past and his solemn destiny make his journey one of poignant self-discovery.” —Adrienne Quintana, author of Eruption “Bates has created a world rich in history and originality—a perfect backdrop for an epic romance.” —R. C. Hancock, author of An Uncommon Blue

***

About the Author

Emily lives with her husband, 2 daughters, and a goblin that sleeps in a cupboard. She can usually be found reading voraciously, writing madly, crocheting sporadically, or eating chocolate behind the fridge so she doesn’t have to share. Visit her Twitter, Facebook, and website for more news and excessive love of words and books. And don't forget to check out the rest of our 12 Giveaways of Christmas!

Day SEVEN! The Firethorn Crown

12 Days of Giveaways

The Firethorn Crown (Firethorn Chronicles 1)
by Lea Doué


Princess Lily, the eldest of twelve sisters and heir to a mighty kingdom, desperately seeks a break from her mother's matchmaking. Tradition forbids marriage with the man Lily loves, so she would rather rule alone than marry someone who's only after the crown. Fleeing an overzealous suitor, Lily stumbles into a secret underground kingdom where she and her sisters encounter a mysterious sorcerer-prince and become entangled in a curse that threatens the safety of her family and her people. Lily can free them, but the price for freedom may be more than she's willing to pay.

About the Author: A native of south Georgia, Lea currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her husband, their two boys, a rescue greyhound, and a cat. But, sadly, no dragons. Homeschooling and writing take up most of her time, but she also enjoys directing a small puppet team at her church. The Firethorn Crown, a re-imagining of Grimm's “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” is the first novel in the Firethorn Chronicles, a series inspired by fairy tales and other stories.
- - -
What can I say—I love fairy tales! Enter to win a paperback or Kindle copy (winner's choice) of The Firethorn Crown! A Rafflecopter Giveaway.


The winner will be contacted on December 26. In the meantime, you can learn more about me or the Firethorn Chronicles here:

Website
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter


Merry Christmas and good luck

Day SIX! Phoenix Element, Mages of Vane

During the Twelve Giveaways of Christmas, you will have a chance to win the second book in the Phoenix Element series, Mages of Vane. This giveaway will take place over at Amazon, so be sure to bookmark this page (http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Element-Mages-Vane-2/dp/1516842235/) in preparation of the giveaway. Best of luck!

If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, Mages of Vane (http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Element-Mages-Jennifer-Kibble-ebook/dp/B014E2Y44W/) is free to read on your kindle. Want a physical copy? Use coupon code 68K4VN9J to get $4.00 off from Createspace (https://www.createspace.com/5669886)!

Mages of Vane is the second book from the Phoenix Element series. Anya has now made her home at the Vane Magic School on the planet of Zerron. She is honing her abilities, and learning about auras. Behind the scenes, the Order of Blood is working to take down Vane. The mages must hold the magic school or the threat to the known galaxy will be that much greater.

Day FIVE! Raft 9 of The Peninsula Series

 (Episode 1)

The 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways is here! Yippee!

Two dozen authors are giving away goodies. Each day one of the authors will be featured and I’ll be sharing about their giveaways on social media.

I’m going to be the featured author on the 18th December, but you can access my giveaway for the whole 12 days leading up to Christmas.

This is an exclusive giveaway. You won’t find it anywhere else.

I’m giving you a book! FOR FREE! Merry Christmas!There’s always Plan B…

One hundred years from now accomplished aerospace engineer, Sara Ahmed, and the crew of Raft 9 are forced to flee from impending nuclear holocaust to the Peninsula, a space station waiting just beyond the moon. Chased by the blast, with no means of communication, and unsure of what the future holds, their launch seems doomed to fail.

Will they escape in time?

This first episode in The Peninsula series will have you perched on the edge of your seat.

See for yourself why advance readers are saying of Raft 9:
“I felt like I was racing along with the characters to hurry and get off the planet!”
“Can’t wait to find out what happens next”
“Exciting!”

Warning!This face-paced, action-packed story will leave you wanting more… but you’re in luck! Episode Two is coming soon.

Day FOUR! Dream Series

The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, by far, and I’m happy to be joining with several other fantastic authors for an event we’re calling the Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway! 

If you’ve read any of my Dream Series novels, you know that several of them are set around Christmas (DREAM STUDENT, DREAM CHILD, WAKING DREAM and DREAM HOME, to be exact). Christmas gifts, obviously, play an important role in the stories, and I’d like to share a gift with all of you. 
I’ve got two neat prizes to give away: a signed paperback copy of one of my novels (winner’s choice), and a USB flash drive with ALL the books preloaded on it. All you have to do for a chance to win is CLICK HERE and enter your name and email address. And just for doing that, I’ll also send you one free Dream Series ebook or audiobook of your choice. You really can’t beat that! 

And in case you’re new to the books, here’s the basic idea in a nutshell: what if you could see everyone else’s dreams?

DREAM STUDENT answer that question as we follow Sara, a young woman who has the ability to do just that. Over the ten books of the Dream Series, we see Sara wrestle with this gift (or curse!) and try to balance it with all the other responsibilities in her life. There’s romance, suspense, humor and plenty of heart, and i think you’ll really enjoy the books! 


Here are all the authors invoiced – be sure to check them all out for the fantastic giveaways! 

December 14: Britney Mills & Tamara Passey 
December 15: Jason Zandri & Melanie Mason 
December 16: Nicole Zoltack & Ava Mallory 
December 17: Writing Dreams (you’re here now!) &, KJ Traynor 
December 18: AJ Harred & Rachel Skatvold 
December 19: Jennifer Kibble & Kari Trumbo 
December 20: Lea Doue & Brenda Anderson 
December 21: Emily Bates & Stacy Monson 
December 22: Peggy Urry & Anna Del C. Dye 
December 23: Cassie Sheils & Valerie Ipson 
December 24: Angela Carling & Frances Hoelsema 
December 25: Tara Ellis & Marianne Sciucco

Day THREE! Love before Honor

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Nicole Zoltack here. I'm so glad to have this chance to talk to you, readers. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love the sense of hope and peace it brings, the family togetherness, and, of course, giving.

But I'll get back to the giving in a moment.

First, I wanted to talk to you about two of romances, both Christmas romances.

LOVE BEFORE HONOR

A medieval knight. A Regency lady. The magical Christmas that brings them together.

It's only 99 cents!

MISTLETOE, MARRIAGE, & MAYHEM

In this collection of novellas, the Bluestocking Belles bring you seven runaway Regency brides resisting and romancing their holiday heroes under the mistletoe. Whether scampering away or dashing toward their destinies, avoiding a rogue or chasing after a scoundrel, these ladies and their gentlemen leave miles of mayhem behind them on the slippery road to a happy-ever-after. 

***All proceeds benefit the Malala Fund.*** 

Again, only 99 cents!


And now, back to the giveaway!

I'm giving away a print copy of BLACK HELLEBORE. It's the first book in a trilogy, the Heroes of Falledge. Hey, even superheroes need love too, right? 

Note from Peggy: I cannot get the Rafflecopter link to work, so go to Nicole's beautiful blog and enter! You will definitely want to after you read the book description: 

Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While fleeing Falledge, he spies a shady man sneaking into the laboratory. Nicholas chases after him and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, only Nicholas is not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.

Julianna Paige, his girlfriend's twin and deputy of Falledge, struggles to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and start to truly live again.

Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now a super villain is bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any super villain.

See? Doesn't that sound intriguing? So go to Nicole's blog and enter!

Day TWO! by Jason Zandri

As part of my involvement in the Twelve Giveaways of Christmas Blog Tour I am doing a couple of things. 

I am, of course, posting my own post and promoting all the others and I am also doing a Rafflecopter giveaway. That is what this post is. 

Each day, I am going to kick off with this same summary information (that you've just read) and then I am going to cross post the links to the blogs on the tour. 

I am going to ask each of the readers to my blog and everyone I hit across my social networks, to follow the links to the other blog posts. Catch the writings and the spirit of the season. 

For each post of mine (including this one) I am going to offer one part of the "10 Painfully Obvious Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon" posting (Credits: by Marc Chernoff, marcandangel) and my own thoughts on it. 

Today's is:

1. The average human life is relatively short. 

We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know. It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step. You expected there to be one more stair than there is, and so you find yourself off balance for a moment, before your mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is. 

LIVE your life TODAY! Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of it either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive. Be bold. Be courageous. Be scared to death, and then take the next step anyway. 

A number of things come to mind when I read this, but I suppose it's the simple thought of "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow." 

Yes, you want to make sure to take the time to save for a house, a vacation, retirement, and so forth, but no one ever lay on their deathbed saying "damn, I really wish I could have put in 100 more hours at work." 

* Take the vacation. 
* Go for a walk. 
* Buy an ice cream cone for yourself. 
* Step outside on a sunny day; soak in the rays. 
* Step outside into the rainstorm; let the water wash over you. 
* Grab an extra hour of sleep. 
* Call a loved one and just BS on the phone. 
* Go over and see them. 
* Buy a bag of dog food and bring it to the animal shelter. 
* Clear out the canned goods that are about to expire at home and donate them to a food pantry for the less fortunate. 
* Sing or dance like nobody is watching / listening. 
* If there are people around, do it anyway. 
* Play with your kids / grandkids. 
* If they are older, take them to lunch (or that ice cream cone). 
* Forgive someone for their trespass; you do not have to forget what occurred, but perhaps it's time to let part of it go. 
* Ask for forgiveness for a trespass of your own; if you are not forgiven by them, at least forgive yourself. 

I will close my thoughts by looping back on what I said prior - "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow." 

You want to do whatever you can that is timely and practical as far as working and savings so that you can have the best chance to have the same kind of life in your final years as you experienced your working adult life. 

With that I emphasize two additional 'moderation' thoughts: 

Do something 'small' tomorrow for yourself, in case it does in fact end up being your last day. 

You are never going to see an armored car follow a hearse; find a balance in what you are putting off for 'down the road' and what you could do, streamlined, next weekend.

Day ONE! #ShareChristmas by Britney Mills

Guest post by Britney Mills

I am so excited to be part of this fun book giveaway for Christmas! There are a bunch of fun authors participating and so many chances to get a great book!

I'm giving away a few copies of my book, #ShareChristmas, that I finished a few weeks ago. I love Christmas stories, the short ones that make you want to cry because of the goodness of people.

The reason I wanted to write a bunch of short Christmas stories is because there are so many different family situations that you might come across during the holiday season and I think by showing what people are going through, we can all be a little bit more sympathetic.

There are ten stories that are all fiction but based on things that have happened in my life or in other's life that I have witnessed and so hopefully you can connect with a few of them. This is a great book to add to your Christmas collection and even has a bunch of fun activities to do with your kids to keep the real meaning of Christmas in your home during this great holiday!


Plus, I'm also giving away a few more editing opportunities! Make sure to enter now at my blog WritingUnblocked!

Coming Soon...

I'm so excited to be participating in this fun event.

Starting December 14

Come back each day until Christmas for exciting author giveaways that you won't want to miss. This is a great way to find new books and authors to love, so don't miss out!

The Suspect's Daughter: COVER REVEAL!

If you have read any of my post about author Donna Hatch (or have read one of her books), you will know why I am so excited about her new book. I'm thrilled to participate in her latest book's cover reveal and I hope you are too. So, read on, my friends (and don't forget to enter the giveaway):

Donna Hatch is the award-winning author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series.” She discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8 and has been listening to those voices ever since. A sought-after workshop presenter, she juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, her six children (seven, counting her husband), and still makes time to write. Yes, writing IS an obsession. A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.

Follow Donna on her Social Media pages:

http://donnahatch.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Donna-Hatch/e/B002BMG9KK/
https://www.facebook.com/DonnaHatch.Author
https://twitter.com/donnahatch
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2072970.Donna_Hatch

Now let's take a look at the book!

Determined to help her father with his political career, Jocelyn sets aside dreams of love. When she meets the handsome and mysterious Grant Amesbury, her dreams of true love reawaken. But his secrets put her family in peril.

Grant goes undercover to capture conspirators avowed to murder the prime minister, but his only suspect is the father of a courageous lady who is growing increasingly hard to ignore. He can’t allow Jocelyn to distract him from the case, nor will he taint her with his war-darkened soul. She seems to see past the barriers surrounding his heart, which makes her all the more dangerous to his vow of remaining forever alone.

Okay here is the cover!!!!

*****

***

 * 

Follow along on the event Facebook page to enjoy all the fun of this cover reveal!

https://www.facebook.com/events/992719144135185/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm Falling Apart, I'm Falling Apart

When I was a young girl, my sister had this adorable little doll. Its body and head were connected by a cord. When you pulled it apart, it would shimmy back together while chanting, "I'm falling apart, I'm falling apart." We loved that crazy doll and even now sometimes will repeat her words.

As evidenced by my somewhat lackadaisical approach to blogging over the past couple of weeks, "I'm falling apart, I'm falling apart." The holidays are difficult. I like to keep it simple, but the people I love prefer a whirlwind of busyness that sucks up my not-so-ordered life and spews it in all directions. Even with the Accountability Partnership I'm lagging behind.

I have read a few books, though, as I put my youngest to bed. They're mostly light reading, fun reads that you come away from with a little happy sigh.

Under the Mistletoe Collection by Heather B. Moore, Sarah M. Eden, Julie Coulter Bellon, Annette Lyon, Jennifer Griffith, and Cindy Roland Anderson (I received this in exchange for an honest review)

Cookie Girl Christmas (my personal fave) by Christene Houston

The Mariposa Hotel by Heather B. Moore, Julie Wright, and Melanie Jacobson  (I received this in exchange for an honest review)


and

Sarah M. Eden British Isles Collection by, of course, Sarah M. Eden (I received this in exchange for an honest review).







I recommend all of them.

Two Weddings and a Book I Can't Wait to Read

You already know that my daughter got married, but 11 days later, my niece got married. Crazy schedules and family in town and tons of fun and beautiful gowns and slacking on blogging. So this is going to be quick.

Four ways to get Banished from the last surviving city on earth are: 1. Cut out your emotion tracker, 2. Join a religious cult, 3. Create a rebellion against the Legislature, 4. Fall in love. Jezebel James does all four.


For the next 29 days, Kindle Scout is open for nominations of books they're considering for publication. There is one by Jane Redd (click to see how to win $100 Amazon gift card) , titled Solstice.

I cannot wait to read it.

I read the excerpt that is available and wanted to keep punching the down arrow for more when it was over. Check it out

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/19YG70FO7KJU7.

And, if you like it,  nominate it when you're done.

Turned Out So Lovely

The wedding day was amazing and so grateful to have Jamee Edwards do the photography because it is phenomenal. Here are a few pictures:

 

 

Pornography: To Write It or Not to Write It.

The American College of Pediatricians has posted an article about the Impact of Pornography on Children. The article also cites studies that show a negative impact on young adults and adults alike. No one is unaffected. Please take the time to read it, to ponder how to protect our young people, and to commit to being a force for good in what you write.

In the article, Miriam-Webster is cited as defining pornography as "the depiction of erotic behavior (sexual display in pictures or writing) that is intended to cause sexual excitement".1 

Consumption of pornography is associated with many negative emotional, psychological, and physical health outcomes.2

You can write whatever you want. But before you do, read this article. I know the lean is not toward clean or proper romances, but when we understand how pornography (written or in pictures) affects our society, maybe it's time to take a stand. Stand with me for clean literature, for novels that don't need sex to sell, and against this erosion  that is so readily available.

There is a wonderful book listed in the Resources, Good Pictures Bad Pictures by Kristen Jenson and Gayle Poyner, available that you can read with your children that gives them tools to deal with exposure to pornography. 



1 http://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/the-impact-of-pornography-on-children; "www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pornography Accessed 6/4/15"

2 http://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/the-impact-of-pornography-on-children

Advice from Author of The Book Thief

It's easy to hand out advice, to play cheerleader, to pretend I know something about the craft of writing. But what if it came from someone who had actually published a best-seller, a book made into a movie? Enter, Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, in an interview by Sarah Kinson.

His advice? 

"Don't be afraid to fail. I fail every day. I failed thousands of times writing The Book Thief, and that book now means everything to me. Of course, I have many doubts and fears about that book, too, but some of what I feel are the best ideas in it came to me when I was working away for apparently no result. Failure has been my best friend as a writer. It tests you, to see if you have what it takes to see it through."

The secret to writing according to Mr. Zusak?

"The best ideas come to you when you're sitting down, working. That's when most of the breakthroughs occur--simply by doing the work. If someone wanted to be a runner, you don't tell them to think about running, you tell them to run."

So if you're gearing up for National Novel Writing Month (affectionately referred to as NaNo or NaNoWriMo), get your outline (even if it's a very rough sketch), your meal plans, and your calendar ready. If you're not, set a goal to write every day, even if it's just 100 words. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and you have to get moving if you want to reach the finish line. 

Write On, my friends! 

Lofty Goals

"Shoot for the moon. If you miss it, you will still land among the stars." --Norman Vincent Peale

Well, here goes, I'm shooting for the moon:

BMO HARRIS PHOENIX HALF-MARATHON

Sometimes we have to set our goals so lofty that we cannot escape the work that goes into it every day. I know that if I want to run (or walk, as I am doing) a half-marathon (or even a full), that I have to commit to an exercise regimen six days a week. It's okay to miss a day here or there, but never two in a row.

Writing isn't any different. If we want to write that novel, we have to commit to writing a little bit every day. SO much easier said than done. Life gets in the way sometimes. But you know what? Every day except Sundays and the occasional day I have an early appointment, I am walking 3-4 miles. My husband goes along too, he's my walking Accountability Partner. If I'm tired or don't feel like walking, he's there, encouraging me to put my shoes on and get out the door. (I love our long walks, so it's a pretty easy persuasion).

Find an Accountability Partner for your writing. Set personal goals. Do a little every day. Make it a habit. Our writing group has a goal of 2300 words before we meet again. It's only 100 words a day (excepting Sundays). Easy peasy, right? But if I want to reach it I have to change my ways and start writing just a little every day. I'll be reporting to my APs, my group, and here on my blog. Would love to have you join me. Leave a comment and let me know what your goal is. As always, Write On my friends!

The Dress (Mid-Week Post)

Short post today, but thought I'd post the wedding dress for those who wanted to see it. (You will also see why I'm a writer not a photographer.)