Pirate Romance discussion

In this thread this is where new authors just starting out or have written a book can post here, as well as their sites to learn more about you & how you got started. Let us know of your books! promo's you have & your thoughts on writting ect..

This is Angela's book for those who wish to check it out: http://www.bookstrand.com/to-catch-a-...

Anglea what got you started on writing your own book?
Was it hard at the begining? Were there times you felt like giving up? Did you have to do alot of research?

Hi Fellow Pirate Lovers! Sorry it took me so long to get back. I have 2 yahoo accounts (the other one is angelaclaire501@yahoo.com) and sometimes forget to check this one. But when I did and saw your replies I was so excited! As to my writing, it was hard to get started because there's so much of your ego involved in it. If I could just do the writing and not worry about the sales or the acceptances, I'd be good! But I get wrapped up in it because you want people to like what you write. For instance, this book To Catch a Pirate is my third and so far the other 2 have done better in terms of sales. I don't know where all the pirate lovers are! (Cowboys seem to winning the day!) I really wanted to write a story about pirates because to me that is the ultimate romantic fantasy. My pirate (Jamie) is the ultimate sexy hero... funny, sweet and of course drop dead good looking. If I could sail away with him on his ship (The Ocean Jewel) right now, I would! I hope you give my new one a try... especially if you like pirates! You can get it at http://www.bookstrand.com/to-catch-a-...
Thanks!
Angela Claire
www.angelaclaireromance.com

Thanks for sharing Anglea! (And I would take a pirate anyday over a cowboy!)You shouldnt worry about if people like your book or not,just write what comes from within you. You are very lucky to have such a special gift,and sometimes you may get a not so nice review but you cant please everyone, just dont give up!

Thanks for the words of encouragement Sandi! And I'm thrilled you'd take a pirate over a cowboy!

Hi ladies,

I'm about to release my next book in July which features...*drumroll* pirates! lol, didn't see that coming, did you? lol.

Just to tell you a little about what I write and my goals as a writer first. I grew up reading pirate classics like Treasure Island and I read quite a few thriller writers like James Rollins. So action and adventure are a given in my stories. My goal is draw more of the action/ triller crowd into romance. I hope I've blended enough of both to satisfy any kind of reader. With that said here's the blurb to Wrong Kind of Paradise

Even the Hell’s Angel needs a guardian and English Privateer Blac Barclay is unwillingly recruited for the job in this high seas adventure.


Now Blac must choose between revenge against the British Lieutenant who’d ruined his family or keeping his word to the pirate who’d saved his life. Escorting the pirate’s daughter to her grandfather’s care becomes impossible when the little wanton steals his ship. Ordered by the Lieutenant to retrieve the woman they call the Hell’s Angel, Blac is determined to honor his word to his friend and use the wayward wanton as bait. But will his plan cost him the only woman to ever steal his heart?


When Angel De’haviland’s father is imprisoned with charges of piracy, the pirate’s daughter commandeers a British privateer’s ship and plans to kidnap a high ranking official to ransom for her father’s release. But her attempted abduction is foiled by the very captain whose ship she’d stolen, and she becomes a captive herself. Now she must trust her handsome captor to free her father as he leads her right into the Wrong Kind of Paradise.

Well it would help if I posted my website so you can see a preview of the story, huh? I must still be waking up this morning.

www.suziegrantauthor.com

Here's the direct link to Wrong Kind of Paradise:
http://www.suziegrantauthor.com/p/pir...


I am finishing up the cover details now and hope to have it released by July 5th.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day and wonderful holiday weekend.

Suzie Grant

Your books sound SO good Suzie! I see that they are only in kindle, will they be published in "book-form" in the near future? The Wrong Kind Of Paradise sounds REALLY good!! Would love to read them all! I dont own a ereader so hoping I can get them in paperback :)

Oh no, Sandi. To be honest, probably not. I am a self published author because many of the publishing houses thought my heroines were too over-the-top and the genres I'd chosen "wouldn't" sell. So I was forced to chose to write something I didn't love in order to sell to a publishing house or self publish what I do love which is pirates, cowboys and vikings... oh my lol.

I have purchased my own kindle and love it. I take it everywhere and read constantly. Much more so than I ever did with paperback books simply because it's so much easier to buy them on the Kindle.

I am still trying to get published by the traditional houses but I truly do foresee a huge change coming to the publishing industry. And honestly I'm not sure we'll see traditional publishing houses in the same light as we used to.

Hopefully, one day I will be in print or I will be able to afford to self publish in print form as well as digital. I just honestly wasn't willing to compromise on my writing because I really love a strong heroine in a historical setting because there were always exceptions to the rule and I just can't see myself writing paranormals or regencies. I love to read them every once in a while but my heart will always lie with historical adventures.

I tell you what... I have a western short story available called For the Sake of Sin. It's only about 15k words or so. Really short and easy to read on the pc. If you'll send me your email address to suzie grant author at gmail dot com suziegrantauthor@gmail.com I'll send it to you for free so you can sample my writing on the pc. And maybe one day one of these crazy publishers will pick me up and take me on. Maybe then I can send you a print copy. Until then I'll be a digital author =( I'm so sorry.

It took me a long time to come to this decision to self publish digitally and I had to ask myself what do I want more...to be in print and be considered "a real author?" or to bring my kind of stories to readers no matter the format? Self publishing is a lot more work for me, the author, but definitely worth it when I get one to two great fans who love my writing as it is. You know what I mean? It's nice to have someone who loves an adventure the way I do. And so that was that.

LOL I've written more here than I have in my new project all day. Which tells me I need to get back to work before I have to hit the real life job tomorrow. You ladies take care and thanks Sandi for checking out my work! Makes me feel like a "real author!" lol.

Suzie Grant

I know Im going to eventually have to go down this road..as 1) books are getting way too $$$ 2) running out of room! We dont have the "kindle" here in Canada, we have something "like" it called a "Koboreader" but you can only buy their books..and truth told...I dont like the selection. I could buy a kindle from the US, but it would cost me for the "excange rate" plus we dont get any ebooks books free. Im still shopping around, till I find whats right for me..in the meantime III just have to read my "dead tree"books! So is it easier or harder to get your book out there & selling when its not in print? In a bookstore would more women see it? Do you have to do all your own advertising? Is it more costly doing yourself? Even though I dont have a ereader..I have a "ebooks to consider" shelf so when I do get one..your two books are there for me! :)

I'm currently considering posting to Smashwords which includes the Kobo but I haven't done it yet. It's a very complicated program from what I understand and I keep putting it off lol.

So far selling digitally has been easier to market imho because even the publishers only market through the internet now. But I've just started and honestly made very little money. Again, that wasn't the deciding factor for me anyway. I love to write and even if I don't make anything off of this, I can't see myself doing anything else. I do all the marketing, creating the covers and I hire a freelance editor so that I make sure there are no mistakes in my books. I want to give my readers the absolute best product I can.
But I realize without having an entire team to do these things for me, it's much more difficult and takes entirely too much time out of my writing period. Plus being a mom of three boys I have all the other mommy things and a full time to contend with, so what little time I do get I try to devote it all to my writing. I'm certain it would be much easier to go with the big publishers and have their marketing team to back me up -- so yes, I can see it getting more sales inside a book store. I am currently finishing up a Viking story that I am going to try to get published with Avon or Kensington. We'll see how that goes. I spend about an hour a day marketing, advertising and sending out review requests. I try not to let it interfere too much with my home life because my boys are the most important thing. But it does tend to be a daily affair.
It's cost me a little money to go this route but I'm hoping one day it'll pay off. While uploading it to Amazon and B&N was free, I've had to pay for the pictures to make my covers, any advertising is paid for by me and I've had to gift a few copies to get some reviews. It's well worth the money. I have a critique partner who writes regency romance and she uploaded her stories in the same month I did, and she's making quite a bit of money. I'm really happy for her but again my genre isn't quite as popular at the moment. There are a few of us out there but it's finding them that seems to be the issue. Either way, no matter how long it takes me, I plan to make this my full time career. One day! Until then, I'll continue to carve out any time I can for it and hope for the best. There's truly nothing better in the world then finding other readers who love a good adventure like I do.
LOL sorry to bore you all to tears but I seem to be pretty talkative today. It's probably because I am procrastinating on my writing. It's one of those days when my characters are telling me they don't feel like playing.
Thanks so much for the chat and the interest in my stories, Sandi. It's been a wonderful distraction for me lol. Whatever you choose to do (as far as ereaders go), I know you'll love how truly easy and fun it is to read on one. I also love how clean my night stand stays lol. Take care!

Suzie Grant

Wow Suzie..didnt realize how much is put into this! Not an easy thing when your raising kids at the same time either..(been there..done that)and working was all I had to do..cant picture throwing in being an author & writing! How do you clear away all the stuff around you & get into your "writing mode?" that itself must be hard to do! I will look forward to reading your books weather they are in ebook(just got to get going on that!) or in print..:)

Hi ladies, I just thought I'd pass on that I've finally released the final copy of my new cover to The Wrong Kind of Paradise coming out in July.

Here's the link and hope you like it!

http://www.suziegrantauthor.com/p/pir...

Suzie Grant

Thanks Suzie! I love the cover! Oh I wish it was in print..Boo-Hoo :(

Thanks Sandi, I made it myself and this is my first attempt at a cover on my own lol. I'm glad it turned out all right. If you download the free Kindle application for pc from Amazon I'll send you a free copy. Just send me your email. I don't expect to release until sometime next week though.

Hope you ladies are having a great week and I'll check in soon,

Suzie Grant

Thanks Suzie will do! :)

Ladies, I am giving away a free copy of my next release The Wrong Kind of Paradise to one lucky commenter today on the Lady Scribes. I'm also revealing some of the research that went into the story if you love ships then stop by! Hope to see some of you there!

http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/2011/...

Suzie Grant
www.suziegrantauthor.com

Very nice Suzie! I really enjoyed reading about the research that has gone into your book..looking forward to reading! best of luck on release day! :)

Thanks so much Sandi! And thanks for stopping by!

Suzie Grant

Hi ladies, after being buried under edits for almost a month, Wrong Kind of Paradise is now available on Amazon. Still waiting on B&N though. Hopefully it will show up in the next few days. And Sandi I am working on making them available through Smashwords soon. So bear with me.

Here's the link for Amazon: Hey everyone, I know I've been MIA but I've been buried under edits. My new release a swashbuckling adventure called Wrong Kind of Paradise is now available!! I'm so excited for this book because I really feel like I found my voice in this one. Would anyone mind giving me some tags and likes, please! I think I've caught up on IG's list but I'm going back to make sure I didn't miss anyone! Thanks everyone! Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Kind-Para...

That's so great Suzie! Congrats & I wish the best of success with your new book! As soon as you have it for the "kobo ereader" let me know I will be the first to buy! :)

Thanks Sandi, will do!

Hi everyone, or should that be 'ahoy!'
Just want to let you know about my brand new pirate books, published this month:
An Ill Wind and
Dead Reckoning
which both feature my strong, impulsive & downright pigheaded heroine Gabriella Berryngton.
'An Ill Wind' is a novella and introduces us to Gabriella on the day she is sold into marriage – aged 14. She leaves her home in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1683 terrified, yet full of hope for a better future in the Caribbean.

Her hopes are soon crushed as she gets to know her father-in-law – a tyrant to match her own father – and her husband, who is cold and distant. Her only friend is her slave, Klara, but she is also tormented by her masters and Gabriella’s new life descends into horror and abuse until finally someone snaps, with terrible consequences for those left behind.

I have 3 copies of the book to give away - keep checking the Giveaways section of the site to try for your copy!

Gabriella's story is continued in the full-length 'Dead Reckoning':
'Leo is born in Spanish Panama in 1659. When he is 12 years old he witnesses the violent rape and murder of his mother by three of the Caribbean’s most feared pirates: Tarr, Blake and Hornigold, and swears revenge at all costs.
Gabriella is trapped in an abusive marriage to a ruthless Dutch slave trader, who is in business with the same English cut-throats. She risks all to escape with her life.
Follow their exciting story as they face threat and challenge on the Caribbean Seas and pursue their quest of revenge; a quest that leads to a terrifying conclusion. But whose head is in the noose?'

Dead Reckoning was long-listed in the 2011 Mslexia Novel Competition.

Both books are available from Amazon in paperback and for Kindle, and you can read excerpts from both in the 'notes' section of my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LionheartPub...
I'd love your feedback and comments :)

Good luck with An Ill Wind's Giveaway! (It should be listed within the next couple of days)

K A (Karen) Perkins x

ps: Amazon link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/K-A-Perkins/e... for both books,
thank you Kx

Both books sound so good Karen!!! III be checking out the giveaway! Will you ever have your books on Kobo?
I dont have a kindle..actually prefer PB so Im hoping your book will come to Canada as Amazon US/UK is way to expensive for shipping plus exchange:(
So tell me without giving away to much...does the "lady-pirate" theme come into play in book 1 or 2?
Will there be a 3rd? Im really looking forward to getting my hands on these,as they sound like there is lots of adventure going on and I like pigheaded heroine characters and lady pirate ones at that! I look forward to seeing the reviews as well,and wish you much luck!

I will also add your books to our bookshelf! :)

Lovely, thank you Sandi! :D

I'm not on Kobo yet - it is on my to do list & I'll let you know when it's there.
Thank you for flagging up the lack of availability in Canada - I was not aware and will look into it further.

'An Ill Wind' is a short book written as an introduction to (much larger) Dead Reckoning, and whilst we meet a number of pirates within it, it's only in Dead Reckoning that Gabriella finds her own piratical tendencies. I actually wrote 'Dead Reckoning' before 'An Ill Wind', although they are set the other way round, and you can read 'Dead Reckoning' as a stand-alone, no problem.
And yes, i am currently plotting out the 3rd book in the series, and thinking about the 4th... and 5th... :)

K.A. wrote: "Lovely, thank you Sandi! :D

I'm not on Kobo yet - it is on my to do list & I'll let you know when it's there.
Thank you for flagging up the lack of availability in Canada - I was not aware and wil..."

I will look forward Karen to when you do put your books on Kobo. I get so disapointed when all these good books are on kindle only,but some do sooner or later end up on kobo.Also since amazon work hand in hand so to speak its great when amazon.ca gets these books. What happens is someone buys yours and sells it for double the price on the Canadian site..not fair:( An III Wind is sorta of a "prequel" then?
And I assume in book 3..4...ect the characters from Dead Reckoning will have their own story to tell? Or maybe it will take a different direction?:)
How did your story come about? How did your characters take shape? Do you have a favorite?

Hi, I'm working on Kobo as we speak. I know a lot of authors only think to put their books on Kindle, but there are a lot of sites out there, and it's worth doing all the formatting work so people can find them where-ever is most convenient for them. I am on Amazon as you know, but also Smashwords as that then links to Barnes and Noble, Sony etc. I'm hoping to get 'An Ill Wind' on Kobo today, and then work on 'Dead Reckoning' over the weekend - hopefully they will both uploaded by the end of next week.
And yes,it is very annoying that my books are not available direct from Amazon.ca - especially as I have published the paperbacks through Amazon's own company, but hopefully they will be there soon... I will keep checking.

As for books 3 & 4, they will still feature Gabriella, and also look at some of the other characters in more detail to explore their stories. I find the Caribbean at that time such an interesting subject - people from all over the world and all walks of life coming together. There is also another female pirate captain in 'Dead Reckoning', Carmen, and I want to explore her story in book 5... (I'm going to be busy!)
I think my favourite character has to be Gabriella - she's the one I empathise with the most, and the one who seems to have a voice in all the books. I started writing as a sort of compulsion really - I didn't know i was writing a book until I'd filled 3 notebooks! Once I got used to the idea, I then drew her and wrote lots of notes about her life and character, now she's like a 'skin' I put on when I write her (I write in the first person) - I suppose you could say she's my alter-ego, a way of giving full rein to a side of my character that is normally kept in check! That book became 'Dead Reckoning', but as it's rather large (and I really wanted to explore Gabriella's early life) I decided to write 'An Ill Wind' as a smaller introduction to the series - and, I admit, a cheaper way for people to try out a new author.
Karen x

Thanks for the info Karen :)You must really love what you do as it shows through your feelings on your book/characters,and sounds like this is going to be a great series! Thanks for sharing and let me know as soon as it hits Kobo, I look forward to reading Gabriella's story and future books:)

Thank you :) Yes, I am a little obsessed...
Dead Reckoning is there now on Kobo, and An Ill Wind should be there soon:
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Dead-R...

Thank you for your encouragement and support Sandi

Karen x

K.A. wrote: "Thank you :) Yes, I am a little obsessed...
Dead Reckoning is there now on Kobo, and An Ill Wind should be there soon:
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Dead-R......"

Thanks Karen! I just downloaded it:) And will wait for Ill Wind so I can read that one first. I look forward to reading your books and hope other "pirate-romance" lover members here will read them as well!

Wow, thank you Sandi!! I really hope you like them xx

Hi again Sandi, just to let you know, An Ill Wind is now on Kobo - and FREE for a limited period, here's the link:

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/An-Ill...

Hope you like it, Karen x

K.A. wrote: "Hi again Sandi, just to let you know, An Ill Wind is now on Kobo - and FREE for a limited period, here's the link:

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/An-Ill......"

Good thing Im up early..just caught this..thanks Karen got it! Im having trouble with my "sync" with Kobo..I have the books downloaded they just wont sync to desktop..I called them and its a tec problem they hope to resolve soon...its why I so love my PB books*sigh*

I know what you mean - technology is great, but only when it works! I must admit i prefer the feel of a PB - i only bought a Kindle to try and get my head round the ebook market, and whilst there are many advantages and I love it, i still buy a physical copy of my favourite authors.
I think An Ill Wind and Dead Reckoning PBs will be available on Amazon.ca in time - apparently it takes 6-8 weeks for new books to be available through all the sites officially rather than through 3rd parties buying and selling on at profit.
good luck with Kobo - i hope it's sorted soon
And thank you again for your support
Karen x

K wrote: "I know what you mean - technology is great, but only when it works! I must admit i prefer the feel of a PB - i only bought a Kindle to try and get my head round the ebook market, and whilst there a..."

Oh do let me know Karen ASAP when they are in PB? III keep checking amazon.ca for them.Even though I have the ereader,all my pirate romances are in PB..have a special shelf just for them..so III be adding yours!

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "K wrote: "I know what you mean - technology is great, but only when it works! I must admit i prefer the feel of a PB - i only bought a Kindle to try and get my head round the ebook market, and whil..."

Hi Sandi, I don't know when it'll be - Amazon say 6-8 weeks so it could be a while yet. I have just heard today about Book Depository Ltd, who do have both books, and are an Amazon company, and they offer free worldwide postage. You could try direct from them:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Dead-...

and

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Ill-W...

If it doesn't work ordering from Canada (as it's a .co.uk web address), you could order through my website:
http://www.lionheartgalleries.co.uk/F...
and I'll then order through them with yours as the delivery address to get the books to you without any postage.

xx

Never thought to look at bookdepository as I buy all my books from there as its free shipping to Canada!
And you just made me one happy "piratewench" I just ordered both! And as soon as they arrive I will read and review!! Thanks so much Karen:)

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Never thought to look at bookdepository as I buy all my books from there as its free shipping to Canada!
And you just made me one happy "piratewench" I just ordered both! And as soon as they arrive..."

Thank you Sandi! I think I'm going to have to include you in the acknowledgements in the next one in the series...
Your encouragement and support is very much appreciated, and i would love to hear what you think about them xx

KA wrote: "Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Never thought to look at bookdepository as I buy all my books from there as its free shipping to Canada!
And you just made me one happy "piratewench" I just order..."

Just finished reading An Ill Wind and posted my review. Nicely done Karen! I see there are two more in the series after Dead Reckoning! Looking forward to them all:)

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "KA wrote: "Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Never thought to look at bookdepository as I buy all my books from there as its free shipping to Canada!
And you just made me one happy "piratewench" I..."

Thank you so much Sandi - you've summed the book up very nicely and I really appreciate the positive comments and stars. I was nervous about publishing a novella - for the exact same reasons you mentioned, and I'm really pleased that it works. I hope you enjoy Dead Reckoning and I'd better get on with the next ones lol(they'll all be full-length btw)
Thanks again
Karen x

I read An Ill Wind from my ereader,as Im still waiting for the books,but Im glad I have the books coming as I always prefer them over the ebook format. And what is great about the "novella" it's short enough to "refresh" my memory before I read the others as I have a very short term memory these days.
I have some group reads to tackle,and have to finish my challange reads before the year ends then III dive into Dead Reckoning..books I hope should be here by then:) I hope other pirate romance lovers will read your books Karen I really enjoyed the first one:)

Thank you so much - that means a lot. The best compliments an author can receive is somebody wanting to read another of his/her books, and recommending them - you've made my day! :D

A "little birdie" told me that author Regan Walker who is a lover of pirate romances and member here as well, is currently writing a pirate romance called the Wind Raven.Check it out on her website for a wee review on it and the beautiful cover. Look forward Regan to when your book is out so keep us posted! :)

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "A "little birdie" told me that author Regan Walker who is a lover of pirate romances and member here as well, is currently writing a pirate romance called the Wind Raven.Check it out on her website..."

Very kind of you to point that out, Sandi. It will go off to my editor this month (whew!) You can see my homemade trailer here: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/nove...

This will be the 3rd book in the "Agents of the Crown" series.(so check out Regan's books 1&2) Can they be read as stand alone's Regan? Or do your characters appear in all 3 books?

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "This will be the 3rd book in the "Agents of the Crown" series.(so check out Regan's books 1&2) Can they be read as stand alone's Regan? Or do your characters appear in all 3 books?"

They overlap a bit in characters and are loosely related but the reviews say you can read them as stand alones. The short stories, too.

Hello,

A friend of mine is an aspiring author and is writing a trilogy of pirate romance novels. It is still in very early stages (will need to be professionally edited/formatted etc) but would love to get some feedback from other pirate romance enthusiasts on the first few chapters before she goes ahead and gets the first book published.

The trilogy is called The Four Islands, with the first book entitled Ezra's Song.

If you are interested, visit www.sysplace.com to read the first 4 chapters.

Many thanks!