Tanya R. Simon's Blog

 

 

I was writing along happily on a part of the second book of the saga and I suddenly realized that the story was not complete. I needed to deal with all of Melusine/Mystery’s assorted youngins. So, I added a book to the series that will follow the one I am currently working on, that will establish the Lightwalker camps and The Darkdweller camps, who is there and uncover why they exist and the world is not totally in Yahweh’s post-armageddon splendor, but pretty much like it is right now. A very scary place, where bad things happen for no reason we can figure out.

This book will set up the premise and location for book four, Adraziel’s Betrayal. I am pretty excited about it and so are the kids! They get there own book!

So, this one should hit store sometime in early 2016 and Adraziel will arrive in stores later on in 2016!

Make sure to keep an eye out for them and Roodmasi Reckoning will be out just after Halloween!

Splatters and Screams,

Tanya

 

I recently had an opportunity to participate in a guest author event, things did not work out, which is probably for the best. I had no books to give away and I have no money to order them until I get paid again. I do not have swag yet, because it is expensive. I do not even have a business card, yet.

I did have someone mention to me about keeping those sorts of things on hand. Well, as a new indie author who has given away, as in free, thousands of copies of her book and still has not sold ten, money is tight. What little there is, often goes to paying for sites that will help with marketing.

My current royalty on a hardcopy of Mystery’s Choice is $3.83 USD. To order a copy for a giveaway it costs me $13.88 USD per copy. Then if I give them away, I have to pay to send them to the winner of the giveaway which can cost a bit of money as well. It costs me $10 more to buy my book than I receive when someone buys it. This is the life of an indie author. Unless, you are one of the lucky few whose books take off like wildfire, you are not doing this to get rich.

I cannot speak for other indie authors, but I am doing this because I have a need to tell stories and share the characters who live in my imagination with others, even if it is only one other. If my story can take their mind of the troubles of their everyday life and take them some place magical then I am happy.

Someday, I might actually be an author who everyone has heard of, and I will still be doing this because I have a need to tell a story. And then I will not have to worry about being able to afford to offer a giveaway or paying for marketing help or having swag printed, someone else will worry about it.

The Big Five publishing companies decided to only let those who have played before play again and made it impossible for newbies to join the club. Most stopped taking unsolicited manuscripts several years ago and I believe all require that they only be approached by a writer’s agent. Agents will only take what is currently selling in the market, which right now in the horror field means if it is not about vampires, were-somethings or a zombies it will not be paid attention to.

There are smaller publishing houses that are trying to survive in the industry and they will take manuscripts, but they usually can only afford to publish at most five books a year and unfortunately, they too are having to go with what they think they can sell a lot of copies of.

So, that leaves us with the self-publishing companies. Most are rip-offs charging hundreds of dollars and offering limited marketing and tiny royalties. They buy your baby and then you have to settle for what they paid you or they offer pennies on the dollar and you are locked into lengthy contracts. There are a few that do not ask for any money, but the cover styles are limited, they do no proofing at all and you are on your own for marketing your novel.

I used one of the last ones. They treat me decent enough, they require that if you wish to have giveaways of your digital edition of your book, you agree to sell it exclusively through them. The hardcopy is yours to do with as you please, but they will not ship to anyone except a ��purchaser or a bookstore. And you have to purchase your novel if you wish to have copies on hand.

I love the creative freedom of self-publsihing. I hate the cost, the having to market, and the expense.

I am not complaining, I just thought a glimpse into the world of the indie author would be helpful. If you are thinking of going this route to publish, well be wary, there are plenty of sharks in the waters. If you are a reader of indie authors’ books please understand why some of us cannot offer more giveaways and pester anyone who will listen about buying, mentioning, listing, telling someone about our books.

This is dedicated to every author out there who writes because they cannot imagine doing anything else, because it is as necessary as air and though a pleasurable torment, it is the only game in town.

 

Splatters and Screams,

Tanya

 

 

You would truly enjoying following me on Pinterest! I have collected tons of articles on all different aspects of the writing experience. And in my zeal to provide people with a treasure trove of information, I haven’t actually read it all myself!

I discovered that reading my pins is helpful today when I kept trying to pin things I had already pinned. Do not get me wrong, I read them when I pinned them, but in some cases that was months ago and I no longer remember what I read.

So, I have built into my schedule time to re-familiarize myself with the information there. This way I will benefit from my treasure trove of info, too!

If you have not been over, check it out:��https://www.pinterest.com/xeniarose54/

 

Splatters and Screams,

Tanya

These are the current covers. The back-of-the-book blurb is not necessarily as it will end up being, (so any information there is not a spoiler, because my muse is capricious and might not decide to head the stories in these ways), but it is wonderful to know that the covers will match and help tell the tale. I am so excited!

 

Splatters and Screams,

Tanya R. Simon

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All Rights Reserved, Tanya R. Simon, 2015

 

 

Well, as you can see the book has a new cover! This book has had all of the nightmare issues you hear about in the self-publishing field, but didn’t really think happened!

First it had a major publishing glitch which resulted in me having to offer a free giveaway to make sure ��my wonderful, loyal and patient readers got what they had paid for, a new version of this story.

Second, the electronic version of the book went into its second edition before the first one had been published, due to publishing issues.

Third, I discovered that even though this is my third title published with this publisher, the electronic gatekeepers can not manage to get my middle initial put into the listing. When I contacted them they suggested that I go back to the beginning and correct this myself. After I did this, it still did not change. I had a conniption fit and it is in progress. (I am trying not to start screaming by this point!)

Fourth, I realized that after everything I have been through trying to get the book like I want it, the cover did not match any of the other covers in the series to come. So, I had to chuck the cover that I paid money for and had to refit to go in the publishing template, so I could have a cover that matched and hung the series together.

My characters are pleased with the new cover however they would like another revision. I told them to shut up! We are arguing, so it is possible when I get around to offering them as set, there will be another revision, but not before then. I almost promise. They are pretty persistent!

Anywho, thank you so much for hanging in there with this one. I am learning and I hope that from here on out the process will be smoother and my readers will be able to just enjoy the tale, not deal with the drama behind it. Thank you!

Splatters and Screams,

Tanya

 

FREE 3/16 – 3/20 ��Amazon Kindle!

Get your copy and find out which is stronger, a mother’s love or destiny?

http://tinyurl.com/mw239g2

ATTENTION PLEASE!: IF YOU PURCHASED THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF MYSTERY’S CHOICE ��BETWEEN MARCH 6TH 2015 AND MARCH 13TH 2015 YOU HAVE THE WRONG VERSION OF THE BOOK!
Due to a publishing glitch the electronic copy of the book included the wrong file, meaning you do not have the final copy of the book. The draft you got does not have most of the changes made to the actual story of the book. The preview option will still show the incorrect copy for the next 2 weeks, but the download will be correct. If you purchased the hardcopy of the novel (paperback), I have been assured by CreateSpace, the publisher that you have received the correct edition.
To rectify this awful faux pas, I will be offering the electronic version of Mystery’s Choice free through Amazon Kindle, from March 16, 2015 to March 20, 2015. I apologize for the inconvenience of having to reload the book to your Kindle or e-reading program. I hope that the free copy will help ease any hard feelings you might have because of this.
Thank you so much for your understanding and always thank you for reading my books! Here is the link:
http://tinyurl.com/k6luqey

thehorrorlabyrinth:

 

Last Day, make sure to get your free copy! http://tinyurl.com/l8hfmob

Originally posted on The Horror Labyrinth:

WHEN: ��MARCH 6, 2015 ��� MARCH 8, 2015

WHERE: KINDLE

HOW DO I GET THERE?: ON MARCH 6TH, UNTIL 11:59 P.M. YOU FOLLOW THIS LINK: ��http://tinyurl.com/nfrvqxs

View original

thehorrorlabyrinth:

Starts today, make sure to get your free copy! http://tinyurl.com/l8hfmob

Originally posted on The Horror Labyrinth:

WHEN: ��MARCH 6, 2015 ��� MARCH 8, 2015

WHERE: KINDLE

HOW DO I GET THERE?: ON MARCH 6TH, UNTIL 11:59 P.M. YOU FOLLOW THIS LINK: ��http://tinyurl.com/nfrvqxs

View original