Dawn Pendleton's Blog
January 3, 2015
Here's the thing...
After spending the last week reading my fellow authors end of the year posts and blogs, I feel like I need to address the fact that this business is optional. No one is holding us hostage to write and publish and aim to make some money. In fact, I know several authors who have gone back to work (or are considering it) because it's not what it used to be.
While I understand the hardship (see my last blog post for verification), I'm against all the coddling. Like every industry, the book world is changing. Part of that change is that in the last two years, the number of books available via online retailers has tripled. Let me say that again: BOOKS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
Wondering why your book sales have dropped? Look no further. While we're all supportive and friendly and all that shit, we're still small businesses, which means we're all in competition. Maybe it's not an all out sprint race (it's more like a freaking marathon that never ends), but the competition is there, in our faces every day.
I'm sure this will piss some people off, but I'm beyond caring. (No one is surprised by that)
So, in true #DawnPendleton fashion, I'm adding to this post some of the things I've heard my peers, bloggers, and readers say about the book world this past year. And I'm going to tell you all why it's a bunch of shit.
:) "It is what it is." I'm not quite sure why, but this phrase just rubs me the wrong way. It doesn't matter who says it, or why; I am just over this saying. In the book world, especially, I hear a lot of people say it, whether in regards to sales, rankings, or even plagiarism.
When did we become so submissive?
I don't want to be part of a world that we all roll over to. Newsflash: we're better than that. Instead of accepting what is, I say we band together to change it.
"I'm not in it for the money." Shut your mouth, you lying whore. I say that with love, but COME ON! I understand that not everyone makes money writing and publishing books. But are the people who say this actually trying to make me believe that if one of the Big Five publishers called them and offered $100s of thousands of dollars for their book(s), they wouldn't take it? I don't believe it.
I'm not in any way implying that people ONLY write for money, but it does play a part in what we do, whether it's part-time or our only source of income. If you truly didn't care about money, all your books would be free or you'd be publishing them on WattPad.
In some way or another, we're all in it for the money.
"I don't know how to sell more books." If there were some sort of secret formula that magically made all our books best sellers, don't you think everyone would be doing that shit?
Instead of harboring a bad attitude about poor sales, be proactive. Talk to a PR consultant (or someone with a marketing degree), or even your peers about how to boost sales.
Many bigger-name authors (by which I mean best-selling) have written a multitude of blog posts about tips to increase sales and driving readers to your books. If you need new ideas, brainstorm. And if you brainstorm in a group, all the better. Some things work for some people. If something isn't working, try something different!
"My book should sell well, blurbed it." Bitch, please.
If all it took was a blurb, everyone would be on a list.
"I don't have the money to spend on promotion because I'm not making any money." This is called cyclic thinking and it's dumb. DUMB. Stop thinking that you're going to magically start making money if you don't invest any money.
Aside from the fact that we pay for editng, cover design, formatting, and any other book-publishing stuff, marketing is a beast.
Think about it this way: A start-up small business out in the real world (one with no digital products or delivery), has all the initial costs to set-up, obtaining and shelving product, promotion to get people through the door, plus payroll (OR they work a million hours a week themselves and still don't cut a paycheck). Most small businesses don't last a full year. And those that do are frugal. The ones that do well, even without a lot of sales, are the ones that have a lot of capital. Be prepared to fund your business for the first five years. And I'm not talking about KickStarter or one of the funding sites - when you start your self-publishing business, you should have enough money to last you at least a year, which means you should be able to fully fund 4-8 books without any royalties. If you can't, then I don't want to hear about you not making any money.
My husband says it all the time: you gotta have money to make money. And it's true.
For the record, my husband also funded the first six months of my writing career (editing, covers, formatting) until I started making money. Even now, there's a minimum amount that I need to make in order for me to continue doing this full-time. "I read that popular book and it's no good - why is everyone buying it?"
If you aren't adding "it just wasn't right for me" to the end of it, you're in the wrong. You may not like certain books, or approve of them, but who made you (or me) judge and jury of who deserves to hit a list or get a big publishing deal? That's right, you have no authority to say a word. Maybe your books would sell better if you kept yourself out of other people's businesses.
PS - There's a difference between disliking a book and assuming judgment over how much they sell.
In short, I'm a bitch. If you read any part of this post and thought who the fuck does she think she is? Well, then maybe you ought to take a good, hard look at yourself. No one is perfect, no one has all the answers, and no one makes it overnight without a shit-ton of hard work. Even best-selling authors started at the bottom at some point in their lives (I believe it was Colleen Hoover who said recently that she and her family lived in a mobile home when she started publishing). Just because you're struggling doesn't mean you're the only one. Instead of griping about it, do something.
Here are some ideas for you to consider, when it comes to promoting your book (AKA, this is FREE advice I've gathered over the past two years): ~Retailers - put your books on all retailers instead of just one exclusively (like Amazon). You might not get thousands of sales, but those ten sales a month could mean the difference between mac n' cheese or steak for dinner one night.
~Create and use a newsletter (I use MailChimp)
~Chapter Swaps (ask your peers to do a chapter swap at the back of a book and make sure to include buy links)
~Blog - a lot of readers like to hear honesty from their favorite authors instead of just promotion. Blog occasionally about nonsensical stuff.
~Utilize social media, but don't get bogged down - a lot of times, we spend too much time on social media and that's when procrastination comes in.
~Change something. I'm talking price, covers, story tags, anything that will draw more attention and keep your book in front of new readers.
~Use BookBub. Seriously, BookBub can make quite a difference in your sales, especially if you're doing a sale. I've done a free ad and a $0.99 sale ad and my results varied, but I still made back the money I spent on my ad, plus, my books are now on the Kindles of more people than who had it before. #winning
~Free books. I'm on the fence with this. I've used it in the past and it spurred an amazing amount of sales to the second book (first in a series free)... But lately, I've seen a decline in the carry over sales. So... I recommend trying it to see what it does, but if you don't start seeing transferring sales, I'd stop. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read this long ass blog post. Hopefully, you learned something. If you were angered by something, GOOD. Maybe the next time you go to say some of the things listed here, you'll think, "How can I change it?"
Love you all.
Dawnie P
While I understand the hardship (see my last blog post for verification), I'm against all the coddling. Like every industry, the book world is changing. Part of that change is that in the last two years, the number of books available via online retailers has tripled. Let me say that again: BOOKS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
Wondering why your book sales have dropped? Look no further. While we're all supportive and friendly and all that shit, we're still small businesses, which means we're all in competition. Maybe it's not an all out sprint race (it's more like a freaking marathon that never ends), but the competition is there, in our faces every day.
I'm sure this will piss some people off, but I'm beyond caring. (No one is surprised by that)
So, in true #DawnPendleton fashion, I'm adding to this post some of the things I've heard my peers, bloggers, and readers say about the book world this past year. And I'm going to tell you all why it's a bunch of shit.
:) "It is what it is." I'm not quite sure why, but this phrase just rubs me the wrong way. It doesn't matter who says it, or why; I am just over this saying. In the book world, especially, I hear a lot of people say it, whether in regards to sales, rankings, or even plagiarism.
When did we become so submissive?
I don't want to be part of a world that we all roll over to. Newsflash: we're better than that. Instead of accepting what is, I say we band together to change it.
"I'm not in it for the money." Shut your mouth, you lying whore. I say that with love, but COME ON! I understand that not everyone makes money writing and publishing books. But are the people who say this actually trying to make me believe that if one of the Big Five publishers called them and offered $100s of thousands of dollars for their book(s), they wouldn't take it? I don't believe it.
I'm not in any way implying that people ONLY write for money, but it does play a part in what we do, whether it's part-time or our only source of income. If you truly didn't care about money, all your books would be free or you'd be publishing them on WattPad.
In some way or another, we're all in it for the money.
"I don't know how to sell more books." If there were some sort of secret formula that magically made all our books best sellers, don't you think everyone would be doing that shit?
Instead of harboring a bad attitude about poor sales, be proactive. Talk to a PR consultant (or someone with a marketing degree), or even your peers about how to boost sales.
Many bigger-name authors (by which I mean best-selling) have written a multitude of blog posts about tips to increase sales and driving readers to your books. If you need new ideas, brainstorm. And if you brainstorm in a group, all the better. Some things work for some people. If something isn't working, try something different!
"My book should sell well, blurbed it." Bitch, please.
If all it took was a blurb, everyone would be on a list.
"I don't have the money to spend on promotion because I'm not making any money." This is called cyclic thinking and it's dumb. DUMB. Stop thinking that you're going to magically start making money if you don't invest any money.
Aside from the fact that we pay for editng, cover design, formatting, and any other book-publishing stuff, marketing is a beast.
Think about it this way: A start-up small business out in the real world (one with no digital products or delivery), has all the initial costs to set-up, obtaining and shelving product, promotion to get people through the door, plus payroll (OR they work a million hours a week themselves and still don't cut a paycheck). Most small businesses don't last a full year. And those that do are frugal. The ones that do well, even without a lot of sales, are the ones that have a lot of capital. Be prepared to fund your business for the first five years. And I'm not talking about KickStarter or one of the funding sites - when you start your self-publishing business, you should have enough money to last you at least a year, which means you should be able to fully fund 4-8 books without any royalties. If you can't, then I don't want to hear about you not making any money.
My husband says it all the time: you gotta have money to make money. And it's true.
For the record, my husband also funded the first six months of my writing career (editing, covers, formatting) until I started making money. Even now, there's a minimum amount that I need to make in order for me to continue doing this full-time. "I read that popular book and it's no good - why is everyone buying it?"
If you aren't adding "it just wasn't right for me" to the end of it, you're in the wrong. You may not like certain books, or approve of them, but who made you (or me) judge and jury of who deserves to hit a list or get a big publishing deal? That's right, you have no authority to say a word. Maybe your books would sell better if you kept yourself out of other people's businesses.
PS - There's a difference between disliking a book and assuming judgment over how much they sell.
In short, I'm a bitch. If you read any part of this post and thought who the fuck does she think she is? Well, then maybe you ought to take a good, hard look at yourself. No one is perfect, no one has all the answers, and no one makes it overnight without a shit-ton of hard work. Even best-selling authors started at the bottom at some point in their lives (I believe it was Colleen Hoover who said recently that she and her family lived in a mobile home when she started publishing). Just because you're struggling doesn't mean you're the only one. Instead of griping about it, do something.
Here are some ideas for you to consider, when it comes to promoting your book (AKA, this is FREE advice I've gathered over the past two years): ~Retailers - put your books on all retailers instead of just one exclusively (like Amazon). You might not get thousands of sales, but those ten sales a month could mean the difference between mac n' cheese or steak for dinner one night.
~Create and use a newsletter (I use MailChimp)
~Chapter Swaps (ask your peers to do a chapter swap at the back of a book and make sure to include buy links)
~Blog - a lot of readers like to hear honesty from their favorite authors instead of just promotion. Blog occasionally about nonsensical stuff.
~Utilize social media, but don't get bogged down - a lot of times, we spend too much time on social media and that's when procrastination comes in.
~Change something. I'm talking price, covers, story tags, anything that will draw more attention and keep your book in front of new readers.
~Use BookBub. Seriously, BookBub can make quite a difference in your sales, especially if you're doing a sale. I've done a free ad and a $0.99 sale ad and my results varied, but I still made back the money I spent on my ad, plus, my books are now on the Kindles of more people than who had it before. #winning
~Free books. I'm on the fence with this. I've used it in the past and it spurred an amazing amount of sales to the second book (first in a series free)... But lately, I've seen a decline in the carry over sales. So... I recommend trying it to see what it does, but if you don't start seeing transferring sales, I'd stop. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read this long ass blog post. Hopefully, you learned something. If you were angered by something, GOOD. Maybe the next time you go to say some of the things listed here, you'll think, "How can I change it?"
Love you all.
Dawnie P
December 23, 2014
There are eight days left until 2015...
On any given day, there's something to rant about. For me, anyway... I see and hear things that make me cringe, but I've laid low the past few months, keeping most of my opinions to myself. The reason? I'm tired of it all.
My last rant cost me a lot of people I truly thought were friends and don't even get me started on my shitty summer. But 2015 is right around the corner, and because I don't necessarily like to shy away from the truth, I need a change. I haven't decided exactly what it is, but I wont survive another year like this one. I published four novels and nine novellas, lost friends, but most importantly, I think I lost a piece of myself.
I'm not the same person I was in April 2013 when I published my first novel. In some ways, that's a good thing, but in a lot of other ways, not so much. I haven't been able to write much for almost two months. I've been blocked, or whatever you want to call it. And it's more than just the holidays holding me back...
I won't quit, I'll tell you all that right now. And I'm not looking for attention to make me feel better. Consequently, if you finish reading this post, don't buy my books as a means to cheer me up. The truth is, it's hard out there right now, and it's not looking up for someone like me who hasn't hit a list or gotten a traditional deal. I'm struggling.
Since August, when my hubby asks me what my end of the month paycheck is going to be, I have had to tell him that it's the lowest paycheck to date - that means it's gotten lower and lower with each passing month, until the end of this month, when I can barely even call it a paycheck. Considering I made a full-time income last year, this year has been awful.
And it's not even just the finances. Reviews are harder to get, blog tours are harder to get blogs to post... the whole industry is just... ugh! I don't know how to fix it, or change it, I just needed to get things out. This started as a Facebook post, but it's entirely too long for that.
It is my sincere hope that 2015 gets better. I don't need to hit a list or get a traditional pub deal, but it would be nice to get a pay increase. And maybe not have to struggle quite so hard next year.
PS- This post is sort of all over the place, and I'm sorry for it, but my mind is weird this morning.
My last rant cost me a lot of people I truly thought were friends and don't even get me started on my shitty summer. But 2015 is right around the corner, and because I don't necessarily like to shy away from the truth, I need a change. I haven't decided exactly what it is, but I wont survive another year like this one. I published four novels and nine novellas, lost friends, but most importantly, I think I lost a piece of myself.
I'm not the same person I was in April 2013 when I published my first novel. In some ways, that's a good thing, but in a lot of other ways, not so much. I haven't been able to write much for almost two months. I've been blocked, or whatever you want to call it. And it's more than just the holidays holding me back...
I won't quit, I'll tell you all that right now. And I'm not looking for attention to make me feel better. Consequently, if you finish reading this post, don't buy my books as a means to cheer me up. The truth is, it's hard out there right now, and it's not looking up for someone like me who hasn't hit a list or gotten a traditional deal. I'm struggling.
Since August, when my hubby asks me what my end of the month paycheck is going to be, I have had to tell him that it's the lowest paycheck to date - that means it's gotten lower and lower with each passing month, until the end of this month, when I can barely even call it a paycheck. Considering I made a full-time income last year, this year has been awful.
And it's not even just the finances. Reviews are harder to get, blog tours are harder to get blogs to post... the whole industry is just... ugh! I don't know how to fix it, or change it, I just needed to get things out. This started as a Facebook post, but it's entirely too long for that.
It is my sincere hope that 2015 gets better. I don't need to hit a list or get a traditional pub deal, but it would be nice to get a pay increase. And maybe not have to struggle quite so hard next year.
PS- This post is sort of all over the place, and I'm sorry for it, but my mind is weird this morning.
November 14, 2014
My Thoughts on Marketing...
As indie authors, we're plagued with thoughts of how to market our books. From blogs to social media and promoted posts, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Of course, these things take time and money, two things indie authors often find themselves in severe lack of. Many indies work regular full-time jobs in addition to writing their books, and most of those have families to care for. And it's hard to spend money on promotions when you aren't making very much to begin with. It's an endless cycle of feeling inadequate.
I read the other day that 10% of your time should be spent on marketing. If you divide that out into a weekly basis, it averages to just over 16 hours a week. That's a part-time job in itself! Not to mention all the writing we have to do and real life stuff, as well. But it's not so much to dedicate when you look at the results.
I have found that the more time I put in to marketing a book, the better results I get (usually). There are cases where that's untrue, but you never know until you try.
We've seen a decrease in participants for blog tours over the last year, bloggers not posting after they've signed up, or not signing up at all unless you're a "BIG NAME." I know how frustrating it is. I'm no where near big name status, and my salary for 2014 is about 68% of what I made last year. It's never fun to get a pay decrease when you're actually working more than you have previously. Don't let that get you down, though!
Authors across the board are seeing a decrease in sales and/or rankings. Thanks to new algorithms on Amazon, rankings are a joke and people must sell ridiculous amounts of books to make lists like New York Times. The number of sales required to make those lists have increased exponentially in the last year. Many of us are struggling.
So while there are an infinite number of ways to market your book, don't lose faith and don't give up. Something out there will work for you!
I read the other day that 10% of your time should be spent on marketing. If you divide that out into a weekly basis, it averages to just over 16 hours a week. That's a part-time job in itself! Not to mention all the writing we have to do and real life stuff, as well. But it's not so much to dedicate when you look at the results.
I have found that the more time I put in to marketing a book, the better results I get (usually). There are cases where that's untrue, but you never know until you try.
We've seen a decrease in participants for blog tours over the last year, bloggers not posting after they've signed up, or not signing up at all unless you're a "BIG NAME." I know how frustrating it is. I'm no where near big name status, and my salary for 2014 is about 68% of what I made last year. It's never fun to get a pay decrease when you're actually working more than you have previously. Don't let that get you down, though!
Authors across the board are seeing a decrease in sales and/or rankings. Thanks to new algorithms on Amazon, rankings are a joke and people must sell ridiculous amounts of books to make lists like New York Times. The number of sales required to make those lists have increased exponentially in the last year. Many of us are struggling.
So while there are an infinite number of ways to market your book, don't lose faith and don't give up. Something out there will work for you!
October 17, 2014
Fight Like A Girl Cover Reveal
Fight Like A Girl
Cover Reveal
Title: Fight Like A Girl
Author: Dawn Pendleton
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Release Date: 10/30/2014
MMA is no place for a girl - unless that girl is Max Brady. Growing up around the ring as the daughter of a famous fighter, she finally takes her place in the MMA world after her father’s mysterious disappearance. Deciding to fight was the easy part - she never imagined finding a good trainer would be her biggest obstacle.
Kingston Lawrence was a rising star in the MMA world, until a knee injury forced him to the other side of the fight. He thought three rounds in the ring was hard, but nothing compares to the battle of training and taming Max. Her sexy body makes up for her sarcastic mouth, and it isn’t long before he wants to be more than just her trainer.
But Kingston has a secret, one that could ruin both their lives. He can train Max for a fight, but nothing can prepare them for what happens when that secret is revealed.
Fight Like A Girl Available for preorder now on AMAZON
Dawn Pendleton spends her time in Maine and anywhere warm, dragging her husband and pup wherever she goes. A lover of travel, an avid reader, and a softie at heart, Dawn writes romance novels that face the dark reality of life, which is that not everyone gets a happily ever after right away.
Get in touch with Author Dawn Pendleton
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Website
Title: Fight Like A GirlAuthor: Dawn Pendleton
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Release Date: 10/30/2014
MMA is no place for a girl - unless that girl is Max Brady. Growing up around the ring as the daughter of a famous fighter, she finally takes her place in the MMA world after her father’s mysterious disappearance. Deciding to fight was the easy part - she never imagined finding a good trainer would be her biggest obstacle.
Kingston Lawrence was a rising star in the MMA world, until a knee injury forced him to the other side of the fight. He thought three rounds in the ring was hard, but nothing compares to the battle of training and taming Max. Her sexy body makes up for her sarcastic mouth, and it isn’t long before he wants to be more than just her trainer.
But Kingston has a secret, one that could ruin both their lives. He can train Max for a fight, but nothing can prepare them for what happens when that secret is revealed.
Fight Like A Girl Available for preorder now on AMAZON
Dawn Pendleton spends her time in Maine and anywhere warm, dragging her husband and pup wherever she goes. A lover of travel, an avid reader, and a softie at heart, Dawn writes romance novels that face the dark reality of life, which is that not everyone gets a happily ever after right away.
Get in touch with Author Dawn Pendleton
Website
October 6, 2014
Monday!
If you know me at all, you know how much I adore Mondays. It's a fresh start to a new week and starting over is always refreshing. With that being said, I'm still trying to get rid of a cold that's taken over all weekend.
I wanted to write today; I even sat down and opened up the document... I didn't get much more than a few sentences down. There are just too many distractions! Plus, my head is still a bit groggy. I think I'll take a few more days off from writing and let myself heal up completely before I try to write again.
I wanted to write today; I even sat down and opened up the document... I didn't get much more than a few sentences down. There are just too many distractions! Plus, my head is still a bit groggy. I think I'll take a few more days off from writing and let myself heal up completely before I try to write again.
October 2, 2014
New Day, New Me
I was sincere in my post yesterday, but once I finished the post, something amazing happened... I remembered exactly how much I loved to blog! If someone were to scroll back to the beginning of my writing life, they would find I blogged two to three times a week, every single week! I never pushed it off because I was too busy. If anything, writing on my blog was more important than writing in my books.
So for the sake of my own sanity, I'm going to blog again. Some days the posts will be personal, and other days it'll be strictly books, but I am not going to let something I enjoy doing slip through my fingers again. I wouldn't count on too many posts to start with (I want to enjoy blogging, not feel like it's a job).
If you follow my on Instagram, you'll also see that I'm participating in a 30 day photo challenge. It's a fun little game where I make a photo post every day based on a list. It's something small, but I know I need this. I am 100% sure I need to find myself, because somewhere along the way, Dawn Pendleton's been lost/left behind.
I'm always so wrapped up in the latest trend and everyone else's drama, that I've forgotten just who the hell I am. Well no more.
I also think I'm going to participate in the #100happydays thing I've seen around on Facebook. Not because it's cool, but I need to remind myself of the good things in my life, and doing it for 100 days makes it a habit (technically, doing something for 30 days makes it a habit, but you know what I mean).
So I'll still be around on social media, I'll still be responding to messages and keeping up with everyone, but I'm also focusing on me, too.
So for the sake of my own sanity, I'm going to blog again. Some days the posts will be personal, and other days it'll be strictly books, but I am not going to let something I enjoy doing slip through my fingers again. I wouldn't count on too many posts to start with (I want to enjoy blogging, not feel like it's a job).
If you follow my on Instagram, you'll also see that I'm participating in a 30 day photo challenge. It's a fun little game where I make a photo post every day based on a list. It's something small, but I know I need this. I am 100% sure I need to find myself, because somewhere along the way, Dawn Pendleton's been lost/left behind.
I'm always so wrapped up in the latest trend and everyone else's drama, that I've forgotten just who the hell I am. Well no more.
I also think I'm going to participate in the #100happydays thing I've seen around on Facebook. Not because it's cool, but I need to remind myself of the good things in my life, and doing it for 100 days makes it a habit (technically, doing something for 30 days makes it a habit, but you know what I mean).
So I'll still be around on social media, I'll still be responding to messages and keeping up with everyone, but I'm also focusing on me, too.
October 1, 2014
It's been a long, long time
No, really. It's literally been six months since I last made a blog post. These last few months have been a whirlwind, too.
After moving back to Maine in May, I wanted to release three full-length novels over the summer... Yeah, that didn't happen. What did happen, though, was I went to a crazy amount of events, spent gobs of money I didn't really have, and I wrote two full length books in six months. It doesn't sound glamorous, and it's not.
I lost friends, made new ones, and really tried to market my books as best I could.
A summer that was supposed to be fun and exciting and adventurous turned into a nightmare, though, forcing me to take a good, long, hard look at who I'd become. And the person I'd become wasn't someone I wanted to be.
When I started writing, I made a deal with my husband: I could continue to write full-time as long as I made the equivalent of $100 a week. On the day of my first payday, I made over $6k, which covered me for the entire year. But here's the thing - soon, I was only chasing the money. Suddenly, what I loved to do wasn't taking precedence, all that matter was my ranking, or how much money I brought in. And I hated myself for it.
I never imagined I'd get tired of writing, because, I rationalized, I wasn't doing it as a JOB, I was doing it as a hobby, as something fun and exciting. Over the last two years, though, it's become a job. I stress over release dates and price points, how best to market my books, and what the hell I'm going to do, if, like my book that released yesterday, I don't even sell enough copies to recoup the cost of the cover.
But I'm done worrying. I plan to continue writing, but not before I take some time off and remember who I was before I got caught up in the book world. It's a mess out there, with drama and arguments, authors behaving badly, and just downright mean-spirited folks whose goals are to bring others down.
In the last few days, specifically, I've come to terms with what's actually important in my life, and much to my own surprise, it's not books. Don't get me wrong - I love writing and I absolutely adore my readers, but the truth is, I've neglected the people in my life who have supported me all along. I don't have plans to stop writing, but I needed to get this out, to let the world know that I am not going keep up with this crazy author world.
Being away from social media the past few days has caused me to miss some intense author drama, and when I logged on this morning and saw it all, I laughed. Not because I think it's funny, but because I can't find it in me to care. I'm always so wrapped up in drama (my own and other author's), that I hardly get time to appreciate what I have, what I'm most grateful for in the world.
So I guess the point of this post is that you might not see me around a lot on social media anymore, but I will always write, because it cleanses my soul.
After moving back to Maine in May, I wanted to release three full-length novels over the summer... Yeah, that didn't happen. What did happen, though, was I went to a crazy amount of events, spent gobs of money I didn't really have, and I wrote two full length books in six months. It doesn't sound glamorous, and it's not.
I lost friends, made new ones, and really tried to market my books as best I could.
A summer that was supposed to be fun and exciting and adventurous turned into a nightmare, though, forcing me to take a good, long, hard look at who I'd become. And the person I'd become wasn't someone I wanted to be.
When I started writing, I made a deal with my husband: I could continue to write full-time as long as I made the equivalent of $100 a week. On the day of my first payday, I made over $6k, which covered me for the entire year. But here's the thing - soon, I was only chasing the money. Suddenly, what I loved to do wasn't taking precedence, all that matter was my ranking, or how much money I brought in. And I hated myself for it.
I never imagined I'd get tired of writing, because, I rationalized, I wasn't doing it as a JOB, I was doing it as a hobby, as something fun and exciting. Over the last two years, though, it's become a job. I stress over release dates and price points, how best to market my books, and what the hell I'm going to do, if, like my book that released yesterday, I don't even sell enough copies to recoup the cost of the cover.
But I'm done worrying. I plan to continue writing, but not before I take some time off and remember who I was before I got caught up in the book world. It's a mess out there, with drama and arguments, authors behaving badly, and just downright mean-spirited folks whose goals are to bring others down.
In the last few days, specifically, I've come to terms with what's actually important in my life, and much to my own surprise, it's not books. Don't get me wrong - I love writing and I absolutely adore my readers, but the truth is, I've neglected the people in my life who have supported me all along. I don't have plans to stop writing, but I needed to get this out, to let the world know that I am not going keep up with this crazy author world.
Being away from social media the past few days has caused me to miss some intense author drama, and when I logged on this morning and saw it all, I laughed. Not because I think it's funny, but because I can't find it in me to care. I'm always so wrapped up in drama (my own and other author's), that I hardly get time to appreciate what I have, what I'm most grateful for in the world.
So I guess the point of this post is that you might not see me around a lot on social media anymore, but I will always write, because it cleanses my soul.
March 31, 2014
Annalisa Grant's newest release!
Annalisa Grant released As I Am today, the buy links are below. This is a YA/Coming of Age book.Links (not live on B&N yet)
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ohHe5H
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1gHazlf
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1gg7qno
Cover Image is attached and the blurb is below:
“You’re not invisible. You’re invaluable.”
When Kinley Carmichael looks in the mirror, she doesn’t see her blonde-haired, blue-eyed, size 4 twin sister. She sees her dark-haired, brown-eyed, size 12 self.
Kinley and her twin sister Addison are excited to start their second summer as counselors at The Camp at Lake Hollis. All Kinley wants is to earn enough money to meet up with her mother so they travel the world as professional photographers. All Addison wants is to work on her tan, seduce a boy, and build her fashion budget. And while Kinley and Addison couldn’t be more opposite, nothing has ever stopped them from being the best of friends.
It’s an especially great summer for Kinley as the official camp photographer and Notre Dame Quarterback Cal Harper showing interest in her. But when poet Miller Conrad arrives and rejects Addison’s advances, showing more interest in Kinley, true colors will shine and the sisters’ bond will be tested.
As Kinley and Miller’s connection deepens, Kinley feels like she can truly be herself without the internal scrutiny she’s developed in the shadow of her sister. But when Kinley inadvertently uncovers a terrible secret at the camp, Miller is left facing the demons of his own reasons for coming to Lake Hollis.
What was supposed to be the greatest summer of Kinley’s life turns out to be more life-changing than she ever imagined
February 14, 2014
Marked Hearts for Valentine's Day!
Marked Hearts are 12 YA and NA authors coming together to celebrate Valentine's Day with stories of love. These are 12 separate stories centered around romance brought to you by some best selling authors: Brina Courtney, Sarah Ashley Jones, Magan Vernon, Dawn Pendleton, Amy Evans, Amber Garr, Morgan Black, Jo Briggs, Jessica Gibson, Tammy Blackwell, Sarah Makela and Michelle D. Argyle. So this Valentine's Day cuddle up with amazing book boyfriends for under a dollar. Come join the Facebook Party happening Monday February 17th!
Mallory and Luke have been joyously living out their happily ever after. With a baby on the way, they think nothing could ruin their happiness. When the baby's life is in danger, though, they've got a tough decision to make. This novella takes place after all three of the Broken Series books.
Layla Keyes is back in England. Much has changed in the five years since she moved to New York to pursue a modelling career - On the outside she appears independent, self-assured and enjoying running her own successful fashion label.
On the inside she is determined to take back what she lost five years ago when jealousy and misunderstandings allowed a so-called friend to manipulate and interfere in destroying her relationship with Evan Carter. Evan Carter has spent all that time pretending to not be affected by the loss of Layla from his life. A twist of fate brings the two back together as they are forced to share a few days alone. Can their love be rekindled despite the secrets they still have to confess to each other?
Jase Donovan always knew exactly what to expect from college: frat parties, coeds, and a spot on one of the most prestigious basketball teams in the nation. It was the life he was destined for... until his sister became the Alpha Pack's Most Wanted. Now he's playing a dangerous game of espionage and subterfuge with the most powerful Shifters and Seers in the world, and if he loses, his life won't be the only one on the line.
Talley Matthews has always been able to look on the sunshine-and-rainbows side of life, but it's getting harder and harder every day with the knowledge that one friend is on the run and another is barely clinging to life. To complicate matters even more, after being pegged as an Alpha Pack Potential, she's having to fend off advances from Shifters who want to use her to gain a little power. The attention might be nice if her heart didn't already belong to someone else. In this companion to the best-selling Timber Wolves trilogy, readers will finally discover the path Jase and Talley took to discover their love for one another. Author's Note: All We See & Seem is a novella of 30,000 words.
Wild For You is the fifth book in the Forever Wild Series. (This is a six part series with one book releasing every 3 weeks)
Things seem to be finally looking up for Valerie and Wes. Valerie finally left her job and started a new company with two of her closest work friends and if that wasn’t enough of a stress reliever, she finally decided to let her true feelings show for Wes. And when they’re reciprocated everything seems to be falling in place for the girl that once thought that she’d never get anything right.But there are secrets that Wes has been keeping from her that involve her former friends with benefits, Max Green, and when they come to the surface it could put an end to Mr. and Mrs. Wild.
This is a two book bundle! Special Valentine's Day Price!
Promise Me This: Sarah Ashley Jones Welcome to the South - where the tea is sweet and the accents are sweeter. This Southern way of life is all Charlie has ever known. It’s not until she loses the only person who pushed her to break free of the Southern Belle mold that she starts living the life she needs and not the life her parents forced on her. Jhett has lived on the edge for as long as he could remember - constantly teetering back and forth between being a rock star and living a normal life. His rebellious and sometimes arrogant attitude is known to get him into trouble, especially with the girls who hang on his every move. Charlie never thought that a trip to pack up her brother’s apartment would leave her feeling even more unsettled about the grainy details of her brother’s death. Her quest for information leads her straight to his old hangout and into arms of Jhett, who suspiciously knows more about her situation than he ever should. Only a few questions remain - Can you trust someone based on their word alone? And if you make a promise, how far will you go to keep it? Stealing Promises: Brina Courtney Promises are made to be kept, never stolen. But that's exactly what happened to Victoria Blane and Levi Manor. Tragedy strikes their perfect relationship leaving Victoria struggling to overcome the darkness that threatens to bury her. Brighton Hanley knows what it's like to lose someone. He knows what it's like to be haunted by things that can never change. When he meets Victoria he recognizes the pain she's trying to bury deep in her eyes. He knows she's trying to hide, but he also knows that you can't hide forever. Victoria is drawn to Brighton in ways she never expected. But is she ready to let go of the past and grab on to her future? Or will she run away from Brighton before she can be hurt again?
Kelley Carson is successful, beautiful, and celibate. But that last part certainly isn’t by choice. Seems every time Kelley meets someone who might be able to help her scratch her physical itch something always goes terribly wrong. Then she meets Lawson; a hot real estate attorney, who by the looks of him doesn’t have a problem getting ladies into bed, she desperately wants him to take her home. Will she make it through one date without totally screwing it up? Or will she go home alone again? This is Kelley’s first entry in her diary of her dating mishaps.
THE WITCH WHO CRIED WOLF - A Cry Wolf Novella New Adult Paranormal Romance
Be careful what you wish for… A potion gone wrong: Mia Brooks is a reluctant witch, with powers that she tries to hold in check. But when her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves—that she didn’t even realize existed… Hidden emotions: Ethan Parker, Mia’s brother’s best friend, is home from deployment for the holidays. Mia’s not only hiding from werewolves, she’s trying to keep her feelings for Ethan secret; it would be a disaster if he knew she’s been nursing a long-time crush… The power of love: things take a terrifying turn when Mia and Ethan are attacked by a werewolf. Ethan is amazed when Mia reveals her paranormal prowess as she tries to shield them from danger. But can she really protect them from the darkness that lurks? And how can he tell her that, for ages, he’s been denying what he really wants? Mia...
Everyone has their demons.
Before Conner Hoffman began his new life free of collecting souls for his demon father, he spent centuries fighting against his true nature. As a cambion with a conscience, guilt plagued his mind, while the sweet taste of souls satisfied more than just his incubus cravings. A chance encounter with a beautiful harpy leads Conner down a road to his inevitable fate. Hunted for his unique heritage, he’s forced to embrace his demon side in order to defeat those determined to see him destroyed. With friends masquerading as enemies, trusting his instincts may mean sacrificing part of his humanity. And that’s the very last thing Conner Hoffman wants to do.
**Catch is a novella. It should take most readers 1 or 2 hours to read.**
When eighteen-year-old Miranda chases a purse snatcher on the Las Vegas Strip, the last thing she expects is for the pursuit to turn into an extended game of hide-and-seek. All Miranda wants are the old black and white photographs buried at the bottom of her purse. They're the only things she has left of the grandmother she never knew. But how much is she willing to put on the line to save them? And is it possible she's falling in love with a thief?February 10, 2014
New Releases!
I have a lot to catch up on (I mean, I might actually be the worst blogger, ever)! First off, BFFs has re-released! The first four novellas were re-released last week, which is AMAZING! I also released a new BFFs, #5: Cruel Intentions! It's about Cheyanne, everyone's favorite redhead. I'll post all the links at the bottom of this post!
Next up, I also released Broken Valentine, which is a Broken Series novella, just n time for Valentine's Day! It features Luke & Mallory, so make sure you grab that for just $0.99!
You can get Broken Valentine on the following retailers:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Each of the remaining BFFs novellas will release on the first Friday of the month (March 7, April 4, May 2, & June 6). That will conclude Season One. Season Two will start up in the fall, and I'll have more gooey details on that later this year!
AMAZON LINKS
Liar, Liar
Knocked Up
Mall Rats
Terms of Endearment
Cruel Intentions
Next up, I also released Broken Valentine, which is a Broken Series novella, just n time for Valentine's Day! It features Luke & Mallory, so make sure you grab that for just $0.99!
You can get Broken Valentine on the following retailers:Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Each of the remaining BFFs novellas will release on the first Friday of the month (March 7, April 4, May 2, & June 6). That will conclude Season One. Season Two will start up in the fall, and I'll have more gooey details on that later this year!
AMAZON LINKS
Liar, Liar
Knocked Up
Mall Rats
Terms of Endearment
Cruel Intentions
