Finished Reading “Mine” and Progressing Slowly

I have my good days and bad days. Today is leaning toward a bad day. Only because it’s laundry day and moving around and lifting stuff aggravates my chest (or rather, the area inside where they shoved in a camera for surgery). My incisions are healing fine. They don’t hurt. Not itching as much, either. But this one spot on my chest… yeah, that can hurt when I overdo it. And apparently it doesn’t take much for me to overdo it. Healing in that one spot is really progressing slowly.

I really hate the after effects of surgery.

But I do have some good news. I’m another step closer to publishing Ghostly Protector. I finally finished with the fixes and it’s back with my editor to re-read, making sure I, 1) fixed it okay and 2) didn’t screw something else up. When I get it back from her, then it’s off to my copy editor (actually, my daughter) to clean it up. I’ve decided not to put it up for a pre-order. Once it’s all finished and formatted and ready to go, I’ll just put it up for sale. I can’t judge when the book will be done, so instead of picking a date way far into the future, I’d rather have it available when it’s actually ready. I think my readers will appreciate that more, anyway.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 6

Dates read: February 11-23, 2024
Title: Mine
Year of publication: 2024
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense
Series: The Lair of the Wolven #3
# of Pages: 478
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: Lydia knows time is running out. Daniel’s terminal diagnosis has doomed her to grief, and she just wants to spend as much time as she can with him. When his doctor goes missing, however, their secret lab’s location is compromised and suddenly she is at war with an enemy she doesn’t understand.
    As a former black ops soldier, Daniel is very familiar with the danger they’re in, and he’s determined to keep his beautiful wolven safe. This means he must turn to his former boss—and relying on a sympath for anything is a worst-case scenario on a good day. But what choice does he have?
    With Daniel’s sixth sense telling him there’s more to the kidnapping, he and Lydia must work with their allies to defend the underground facility. Little do they know that the sympath has something even more valuable offer them…but at what cost?
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Nice ending to this trilogy. It took me awhile to read it but not because it was bad. I just had a lot of stuff going on. Today just seemed like a good day to finish it, since it’s laundry day and I need to rest between loads.

So… do you pre-order books? I rarely do (only if the book seller is offering some kind of sale or deal to pre-order the book). It’s not like I read the book as soon as I buy it (if only!), but then I guess I’m not the typical reader. In fact, I’m finally getting to my Dean Koontz collection. It’s been awhile since I read one of his books, but it certainly hasn’t stopped me from buying them. I got six of them to read (and I think I still have one in my B&N wish list).

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Publishing Decisions

What do you do when a series isn’t selling? I have six books in my vampire series. The latest was released on April 1 to lackluster sales. I started advertising on Amazon (took a class in April that showed me how to create low bid ads). Sales have increased on book 1 (yay!), but unfortunately I’m spending more than I’m bringing in. It’s not a huge loss ($20-30/month), but not exactly the profit I had hoped for.

I was told that my series is probably perfect for Kindle Unlimited (vampire romance does well there, I guess). But I would make less per book based on what they pay for pages read vs the royalties I get on the selling price. Of course, I have to SELL the books, right?

I’m really wondering whether I should even bother writing more books in this series. If I decide to stop, then it might not matter if they’re sold wide. Right? Luckily, this isn’t a decision I need to make anytime soon. And I may wait at least until the last book has been out a year. If my advertising loss becomes too pricy, I can always stop the ads. Right now I’m still acting on hope. Hope that the series takes off. Thing is, it takes time to get recognized. And I have to advertise to get recognized.

This publishing business sure can be frustrating.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #28

Dates read: July 12-19
Title: Cut and Run
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Lucy Kincaid #16
# of Pages: 432
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book:. FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid is dead-set on solving a cold case—even if the original investigators stonewall her every step of the way. A violent storm has uncovered the remains of a family that authorities assumed fled the country years ago to avoid prosecution. But the boy of the youngest Albright son never turned up. If the child is dead, why wasn’t his body found with his parents? If he’s alive, where has he been…and what does he know? Now Lucy and her partner Nate must reconstruct an old crime to find a missing child in the present day.
    Meanwhile, investigative reporter Maxine Revere is called to San Antonio. A confessed killer of a young woman named Victoria has recanted his statement, which opens the door to a whole new world of secrets and betrayal. Max hires Sean Rogan, Lucy’s husband and seasoned PI, to help. The discovery that Victoria might be connected to the Albright family leads Max, Sean, and Lucy to the darkest corridors of corporate crime. But how can they untangle their complex web to find justice for the victims…and the killer in their midst?
My thoughts: This series is beyond being romantic suspense (but it is how Lucy and Sean started). Doesn’t matter much to me, though. I enjoy these characters so much.

It’s probably a good thing I stalled on writing the 7^th book in the vampire series. But I really need to work on something new (besides revising the next ghost book). Yesterday I might have gotten an idea for another ghost book. But I really need to get book 3 in the ghost series done and published. Apparently my ghost series is selling better than my vampire series. See? There’s still hope I’ll make a profit at this gig!

So... What are you reading? Anything good?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Moving to IngramSpark

I used to use CreateSpace for my paperback books. Well, I guess I’m STILL using CreateSpace, but I’m not using them for expanded distribution. Since they are in the process of moving all the books to KDP, I decided to move them to IngramSpark instead. My books may still get moved to KDP, but they won’t be on expanded distribution there.

So… if you were wondering why you haven’t seen my paperbacks at B&N, that would be why. It takes 2-6 weeks before vendors will see the book. Since I haven’t sold any paperbacks, the long lead time really wasn’t an issue for me. And now maybe since I’m with IngramSpark, other bookstores (besides B&N and Books & Co) will take a chance. Never know.

Luckily, it didn’t cost me anything to transfer the books to IngramSpark. Now, for my next book, I’ll have to pay a fee (unless I get lucky at the time and find a coupon to do it for free, and I’ve been told there are always coupons out there). Small price to pay to be seen in other bookstores (and not rely on Amazon).

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #35

Dates read: September 11-16
Title: Have You Seen Her?
Year of publication: 2004
Author: Karen Rose
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Romantic Suspense #2
# of Pages: 499
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: One by one, the girls disappear from their beds at night. Each one is pretty, with long dark hair. And each one is found brutally murdered.
    Special Agent Steven Thatcher has sworn to find the serial killer preying on this small town. As the investigation pulls him one way, his family pulls him in another. A widower haunted by loss, he now worries about his son Brad slipping away. But there’s a bright light in his life: his son’s teacher, Jenna Marshall, has reached out to help. She’s beautiful, kind, and considerate—and slowly, tentatively, she and Steven are starting to fall in love. But both have been hurt before—badly. And as the two try to find the courage to bare their souls, a murderer who has slain many looks for the real treasure he craves. He sets his traps. And waits. For Jenna…
My thoughts: Another page turner! Man, I love her books. I am definitely HOOKED.

So… Don’t you just hate messing with something you thought you’d never have to mess with again? That’s how I felt about transferring my titles to IngramSpark. Would have probably gone to just as much work after the transfer to KDP, because does anything ever go right in a transfer? I’ve found that it DOESN’T.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

This Time I'm Getting Help

When I released my first book, I knew better than to spend a lot on advertising or promotion. It was one book and the ROI would have stunk. Same with the second. But I continued to do the same for the third, fourth, and fifth. Well, now number six is coming and it’s time I changed.

It’s time I get some help.

Because surely, I need it. Plus, I now have a back list. Not a big back list, but it’s something.

So I hired Barclay Publicity to help me however they can in the month I have until release day. Danielle Barclay wasn’t sure how much she could do on short notice. Well, so far she’s doing way more than I could have done on my own.

She’s already got me on three blogs: Fresh Fiction, Just Paranormal Romance, and USA Today Happy Ever After. That’s right… USA Today!

Won’t know how much of an impact it’ll have on sales since all of these happen at the end of the month, but I’m feeling pretty confident. Certainly better than anything I’ve done on my own.

I’m excited to see what else they have in store for me.

So… Are you watching the Olympics? I love them!

Happy Friday!

Stacy

When You Can’t Sleep…

Got so busy last night uploading My Sunny Vampire to KDP, Nook, and Smashwords, that I never got around to writing up a post for this morning. Then I woke up at 3am.

No, the blog wasn’t calling me. My book was. Hubby had mentioned on Friday (yes, Friday!) that the italics hadn’t come across when he was formatting it for print. I never bothered to check the e-book.

Until 3am this morning.

Yep, no italics anywhere. Ugh!

Smashwords thankfully had already denied the book (the epub failed something), and it appears I might have been able to stop publishing it on Nook, but I can’t pull the book from KDB until it finishes processing.

What a mess. I just want to cry.

Wait, I might have done a little of that already. *sniff, sniff*

Now that I know what kept me up and I’ve done all I can do at this time, I still can’t sleep. So why not write?

I have to say, it doesn’t hurt to sleep. I’m so bound up by this bra the hospital gave me that I can sleep on my side without any pain. And I’m not taking any pain medication, either (and I hope I won’t have to—hate taking that stuff). Of course, it’s not helping that the area is starting to itch.

I know that’s a good sign that it’s healing, but man, it’s driving me nuts!

Football yesterday was pretty nasty. Don’t know what team showed up against the Jaguars, but it sure wasn’t the Steelers I know. And I had hoped the Rams could have pulled out a win against the Seahawks, but it wasn’t meant to be, I guess. L

Looking forward to being able to actually WATCH my first hockey game this season. I think the Pens are on NBC Sports on Wednesday. I might even check out the Vegas Golden Knights this week (they’re on late one day). I’ve become a fan of that team because of Fleury (I love that goalie!).

So… When you can’t sleep, what do you do? Toss and turn? Or go to another room and read or something? I might try the reading part next. I refuse to toss and turn.

Happy Monday!

Stacy

A Change in Plans

See… I complain about not having anything to blog about and then I go and have stuff to blog about. Of course, it would be nice if I wasn’t blogging about this particular thing.

I knew this would eventually happen, just not so soon, and not for Blind Temptation. I really, really love that story and feel it’s my best yet. But my publisher doesn’t want it (paranormal romance is selling slowly), which leaves me free to self-publish it.

I’m glad I have that option to consider. It certainly beats sending it out on submission. I mean, what publisher is going to want the third book of a series that started with another publisher? And it’s not as scary as it seemed last year. Still…it’s a lot more work on my part and we all know how lazy I am (haha!).

So it appears my road is changing a bit. A little bumpier with more outlying costs, but will get me to the same place. I just hope I can recoup my tolls. J

Life is an adventure. Isn’t it?

Have a great weekend.

Stacy

Pinch Me, I Think I'm Dreaming

Yesterday I was told that my publisher, Lyrical Press, is now a division of Kensington Publishing. To say I was (am) shocked is putting it mildly. I always figured I’d need an agent to be part of Kensington. Did I luck out or what?

 

And the e-book of "My Sunny Vampire" releases on Monday!

Man! 2014 is already looking great. I can almost forget about the snow and cold weather.

Almost!

We got about 3-4 inches and then the winds came and blew it all around (I hate it when it does that). Temps fell into the single digits through the night. And I hear we’re to get more snow on Sunday and even colder weather on Monday. I guess Old Man Winter is sticking around for a bit now. Brrr!

Have you been watching any of the Bowl Games? I only watched the Rose Bowl on New Year's, but had more fun watching hockey played in snow in the Winter Classic. But tonight Ohio State plays against Clemson in the Orange Bowl, so I'll definitely be watching that. Go Buckeyes!

Have a good weekend. I know I will. I’m still floating!

Stacy

 

My Dream

When I first started writing (all of two and half years ago), I didn't go into it expecting to be published, I did it to see if I could write a book. It wasn't until I wrote the book, and was told it had potential, that the niggling idea came to life. A dream of being published was born.

After polishing it and polishing it, I finally got enough nerve to submit that first book to contests. Results were mixed. I polished it some more. Then I went to the Romantic Times (RT) Convention and actually pitched it. Shortly after, I started querying agents.

Writing the query for that book opened my eyes. Some thought my book sounded like Twilight (it's not Twilight – not even an adult version of it) and I realized that maybe my book wasn't all that unique. But how was I to know? It's not like I read tons of vampire romance novels. I'd only read a few.

I've read lots more now. I still think my first book has unique aspects to it and I have numerous ideas for a series. It's just that my first book won't make a good first book in the series. Neither will my second, since it's a sequel to the first.

So I wrote a third. One that could kick-start a series. It really was my best, yet. Even the query was easy to write! And while I've had requests (and some requests are still in process), somewhere along the way the urgency to get an agent has diminished.

It's not like I've given up my search for an agent. More like I've slowed down to consider. I've heard the reasons I should continue. I've heard the reasons it's not necessary.

Self-publishing is a tempting apple, but I'm not ready to go that route. It requires a lot of work and time. Time I would rather spend writing. Maybe once I have several books under my belt, it'll be time I can spare.

There's still a part of me that wants that agent, though. Someone on my side who loves my writing. Helping me get better, helping me fulfill my dream. I don't know if that part will ever vanish completely, but I know I don't need an agent to fulfill my dream.

In the meantime, I will keep writing. And I will continue to query, because you just never know. It's like the lottery. You can't win unless you play. And while I do dream of winning the lottery (so I can quit the paying job), at least my dream of being published is a whole lot more realistic. With or without an agent.