First Interview!

On Saturday, April 27th, SubClubBooks will feature "Promise Me Darkness" on their website!! This includes a review, my first interview, and...(drum roll, please)...an interview with Ryder. Plus, there will be a scene from Ryder's POV! (I'll put it under "Extras" here on my website too.)

THESUBCLUBbooks

Hope to see you there!

Don't Torture Yourself

Recently, I have been asked for some self-publishing tips. I'm a newbie at this business so I'm definitely not an expert but I will share what I have and have not done, the mistakes I've made, and what I wished I could have done differently. (Maybe one day I will add a page on my website for self-publishing tips.) In the meantime, I will answer any questions someone might have about self-publishing because I know how hard it is to find that information and I am very thankful for the authors that helped me. I want to return the favor.

One thing I forgot to mention when I have answered the emails about publishing is dealing with your reviews. My policy is DO NOT READ YOUR REVIEWS. Good or bad. I've heard this from other authors so that is my new motto. The first few days after "Promise Me Darkness" was released, I read all the reviews and they were good but I knew that the bad ones were coming. Every book has had bad reviews. It is just human nature. We can't all agree on everything. What one person loves in a book, another hates. There are books that my friends love and I couldn't get through the first three chapters. It's okay. To each their own.

I do not read reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, or anywhere else. I'm too scared. I haven't developed that thick skin so many authors told me I had to have in this business. My hubby and friends tell me what the good reviews say and sometimes they tell me what the bad reviews say if they think it might be helpful for my writing. Knowing there are some bad reviews does hurt, I'll admit, but then I think of that childhood saying - "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."

So remember if you are a writer - DO NOT TORTURE YOURSELF - don't read your reviews!!

Sleep is Overrated and Coffee is the Nectar of Life

Last week was such a whirlwind week that I'm still reeling. This week has started with a BANG also. I can't believe I am saying this (oops, typing this) but I am now listed on Amazon's Best Sellers list. I'm sitting next to authors whose works I've read my whole life - Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown (cut my teeth on her earlier books), James Patterson, Dan Brown (so in love with his books), and E.L. James (the mother of all romance novels in my opinion) and so many other great writers. It's very surreal. I'm waiting for someone to wake me up from a deep, Nightquil induced sleep.

Every day, I get numerous emails/messages/posts that tell me how much my book is loved, how the writing is amazing, the characters are to die for, and how it made people laugh or cry. I want to jump up and down, cry, and laugh with happiness at the same time. I don't know if I will ever get used to hearing those wonderful compliments. I hope they never stop. I hope Ryder and Maddie's story sticks with people for a long time. I wrote the darn thing and I still feel their pain and sorrow, along with their happiness. (Oh, just wait for the second book!)

Many people have asked when the rest of Maddie and Ryder's story will be out. I've been working on it for a while now (at the same time the editing of Promise Me Darkness was going on) and I'm working on it around the clock now (hence the sleep is overrated and coffee reference). I don't have a set date yet but as soon as I do, you will be the first to know! I have to work around other people's schedules also, such as editors, beta readers, and graphic artists. But I will say that I will be cracking the whip (yes, Mr. Grey, I said whip) to get it out as soon as possible. In the meantime, Ryder is wanting to tell HIS side of the story. (He can be very demanding.) So I'll turn my website over to him at some point in the future. Also, there will be teasers of the next book and some other extras. I'm throwing around the idea of going to print so there might be signed copies to be given away too. Just started checking that out today so it's very hush, hush. Don't tell anyone. :)

I will probably say this a million times so please don't get angry with me but THANK YOU, each and every one of you. You made this happen.

Yesterday was an AMAZING day. I received so many emails from around the world that I couldn't keep up with all my replies. My Facebook stayed busy with new 'likes' and I received numerous phone calls from friends and family. I never expected my book to do so well the first day. I came very close to bypassing the 1,000 rank paid on Amazon and I sold more books in less than 24 hours than some major authors (who are now New York Times Best Sellers) sold the first month of self-publishing their first book. (I could only wish to be in that group!!) I'm not sure if it was a fluke or a one-day only thing but it was a good feeling.

I am so thankful for everyone who bought it and the wonderful, wonderful comments from people that read it in a day. Ryder and Maddie are very happy that people love their story. ;)

What Just Happened?

I'm just minding my own business when out of the blue - SMACK - I found out my book has been released early on Amazon! The truth behind that is my hubby has been handling all of my formatting, uploading, etc. Because we had read that some sites require more than a couple of days to get the book listed, we decided to start uploading early to meet my released date. We sent everything to Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and others and he put in the correct release date on those. When he uploaded to Amazon, he didn't realize that Amazon doesn't give you the option of picking a release date. (Warning to soon-to-be self-publishers.) Once you hit submit, it's out there. Ready to be bought. Now, I know that we are newbies to this whole self-publishing thing and maybe there is a way to put a date on Amazon but we couldn't figure it out (and he's a software engineer!) Ugh! What a night! But I guess it's like pulling off a bandaid - might as well get it over with. I was a nervous wreck tonight, worried how the book would do. If anyone would like it? If anyone would give me a good review? Guess only time will tell... 

But thank you to the numerous people that bought it. Thanks for taking a chance on a new author!

COVER REVEAL for "Promise Me Darkness"

By Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations

I'm in love!

I just had to take time out of writing to read Jamie McGuire's new book "Walking Disaster." Oh. My. Goodness. I am soooo in love with this book! "Walking Disaster" is the same story as Mrs. McGuire's book, "Beautiful Disaster" but from Travis's POV. The book is AMAZING. How Mrs. McGuire gets into a college boy's head, I don't know but it's perfect. Period.

I also want to say that Jamie McGuire is a truly a wonderful person. She has answered many of my questions about self-publishing and writing. Not many authors take the time to do that. She also really cares about her fans and it shows. I can't wait to read what she will come up with next!

F is for Formatting.

One and a half weeks until my release date of "Promise Me Darkness." What am I doing until then? Formatting, formatting, and some more formatting. But I gotta admit the truth - my husband is doing it all. Thank goodness too. He is formatting it all in HTML or what I call - little squiggly lines and a bunch of letters thrown together. While he is working on that, I'm touching up on my Facebook and Twitter accounts. (I'm addicted to social media!) Also, I'm setting up accounts for Amazon, etc. in order to sell. Lots of legalese to read through. Needless to say, I have a headache a lot these days. :) But it's all very exciting!

We've ran into a few glitches. Go with Smashwords or go directly to Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Ibooks, etc.? We're still not sure. There's quite a bit of negativity toward Smashwords but it does distribute to all, saving both time and effort. Decisions, decisions...

And somewhere in the middle of all this, I'm writing the sequel to Promise Me Darkness. I think I'll need a big margarita soon, ladies!