Category Archives: The Writing World

May 28, 2012 · 5:54 am

New Ideas In E-Books

I belong to two writer’s groups. Both often represent their authors at conventions, conferences and fairs. I love to walk by and see my friends books on the table. However, that’s not the case with many other authors in the groups. Their books can’t be represented at these venues because they’re e-published only. And I will soon be one of these authors.

I know that one day I will come out in print, but the excitement of my first book makes me want to get it out there. And a convention or fair that has thousands of people walking by is a frustrating thing to be barred from.

So, I was wondering if there were any post cards, coverflats, promo-anything out there that could represent my book on such occasions. I’d like to have a code printed on the promo-item that could be bought and redeemed for my specific book. But, I couldn’t find any info about something like that in cyberspace. So I emailed my publisher about it, and boy, am I glad I did. She was interested, too.

We’ll have to wait and see if this works. There will have to be trial cases and such to see if it’s worth it. But if it does I’ll be thrilled, and I hope my other e-pubbed colleagues can join in on the events table, too!

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Filed under The Writing World

May 21, 2012 · 6:47 am

Self Promo

I remember back-in-the-day when being an author ment you hand over your book, they (the publishers) give you money, they wave their magic wand and your books would sell, sell, sell. Well, I don’t know if that world ever actually existed outside my own mind, but things just aren’t like that anymore. It seems every author needs to do self promo these days. My publisher mentioned it’s because of all the books out there now. With new publishing avenues such as self pub, vanity publishing, traditional and epub, there are just so many books of every genre out there.

So, my job as an author is to try and stand out. And let me tell you, it feels pretty overwhelming. But in the last two weeks I’ve gotten the website going, re-vamped the blog and gotten my author facebook page up. Now I just need to stand on a really tall box and shout out to passers by “Like Me!” Anyway, here’s the new page. I won’t shout at you, though. Just place this little non-intrusive link at the bottom of the post and hope you visit. Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyMartinFiction

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, The Writing World

May 13, 2012 · 3:37 am

The New Look

Thanks for stopping by. I have just a few more months, if everything stays on track, before my first book will be released. But, there are more irons in the fire, and I hope to keep the momentum going. But first I need to START things going. One of the things I need to do is get business cards printed. But, I couldn’t do that without a website. And a new email to match. Next will be the Facebook fan page 🙂 Then business cards!

Now, I have this new website, which will change as covers come out and books are released. I hope to be adding more pages soon. Until then friends, have a great weekend.

Pottermore Breaks Rules And Thrills Fans With E-Book Sharing Options

So excited to see Harry Potter come to the e-side. What took so long? Apparently I’m not the only one to think that as people flooded the market to own Harry on a variety of e-reading devices. Some of these are even unprotected, allowing the books to be shared with friends. Check it out here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/27/pottermore_n_1383696.html

This has begun wide-spread talk about opening up the scramble encryption on e-books so they can be read on multiple devices. For instance I know several Nook owners. They love their Nook, but they simply don’t have the selection Kindle has. So then they end up buying a Kindle and abandoning their Nook.

They don’t want to. But they want that juicy book that Nook didn’t have available yet.

However, if the protective scrambler is dropped people can buy from Kindle and have it sent to their Nook. So, why don’t they do this already? Piracy. The e-book behind-the-scenes-guys do this to protect against the unfair theft of e-books. I see where their coming from, and while I’d like to have people buy my upcoming book instead of borrowing it, I have to expand my thoughts. If my book was a tangible paper-bound book (hopefully) it would be available in libraries. Then it would be shared anyway.

Me? I’m all for the drop of the scrambler. It might hurt my sales, but it’s quite a hassle for e-reader owners.

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Filed under Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

March 28, 2012 · 8:14 pm

It’s The Year Of Zombies And Apocalypse Books!

I love the newest book by Bonnie Paulson. It’s smart, fast paced, and kept my heart racing until the last page. Then I wanted more. If you have a chance, check it out. http://www.amazon.com/Barely-Alive-Series-ebook/dp/B007O48SCW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332965448&sr=1-1

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Filed under Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

March 18, 2012 · 4:35 pm

I Just Signed a Contract With Pink Petal!

I have recently signed a contract with the Pink Petal family! http://pinkpetalbooks.com/home.php I love how they believe in their authors and help build them up. My first piece to be released is “Wingless,” a novella. While everything is subject to change this early in the game, I know they will turn out a quality product.

*Sigh.* Guess this means I need to step up my blog posts 🙂 Stay tuned, friends!

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

February 24, 2012 · 7:42 pm

J.K. Rowling is Back!

I’m so excited that Rowling is back with an all new story for us to escape into. She’s signed on with Little, Brown for her new adult series. They’re not saying what it’s about or when it will release. Only that it has begun. I’m so glad she’s writing again. I know if I’m not writing I don’t feel like me. I’ll be posting as I learn more. Happy Day all!

Author Websites

I love author websites, especially if they are pumped full of deleted scenes from the books I love. I stalk those websites. I read every little bit the editors cut. I just finished another 6-book series, and I still want more. After this I will be picking through the website in hopes I’ll find wonderful little tidbits of the characters I fell in love with. And if she has another series (which I’ve heard she does) then I might invest it reading that one as well.

One thing that bummed me out was when my friends got me hooked on a romance writer who had her glory days in the 80’s and 90’s. She has a minimal website. Just background info. I have a feeling she probably doesn’t have much interaction with it. As a fan, I wanted to ask a question, but there was no email or thread for her works. No comment section. No out-takes. Nothing.

I am a reader. I am a fan. And I want more. I hope one day this author will be willing to post some deleted scenes. It keeps readers like me, 20 years after the book was released, still feeling connected.

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, The Writing World

Tagged as author websites, romance writer, some deleted scenes

December 19, 2011 · 12:45 am

Titles and Fans

I was in the store the other day and passed by the book aisle, as I often do. On the front of the shelf I saw a book with the most awful title I has ever seen. I won’t tell you what it is, let’s just say I balked at it. My disgust was so great I had to know who published it. I was shocked to see it was a house that is huge, and known for their great titles. I was floored. But all that didn’t kill me as much as when I realized the book was written by my second favorite author in the whole world!

I threw it in my cart because of the author, but was embarrassed as I paid for it.

With me, I usually pick up a book based on the title and cover. But, this was my one forgiveness due to the awesomeness of the author. So if you fear the hand of the publisher messing up the title of your book, don’t worry. Your fans will have faith in you. I did, and I loved the book enough to buy another in the series. Its title is even worse than the first… But I know it will be awesome.

Yin-Yang

The yin-yang is all about balance. The Japanese are some of the healthiest people in the world, balancing out their McDonald’s to plenty of veggie plates. Many struggle for feng-shui, or balance of large to small object to a room. And almost all large cooperation offer gyms or have a morning stretching programs, usually outdoors.

We can use these examples in our writing. Does the manuscript have an array of characters? If you have a shy side character maybe toss in a boisterous one to bring up the balance. Also, make sure your lead characters are a good balance. True masculine and feminine, soft and hard are opposites. But if the female is all about power, and the male is fine being underfoot, then that’s not a tension building mix. Both have to be matched, or if one is all about physical power have the other balance it out with brains.

And what about the over all story? I have a problem with talking heads, especially on my first draft. So I need to go back and layer inner thoughts for my characters to even out the pace.

Also, what about you? Is your writing time balanced? This is something I struggle with, too. Once finished with a manuscript you should spend some time editing, then some time creating a new story. Editing uses the left brain while creating uses the right. If you are lacking a piece to edit, or you don’t have a new idea to spill out on paper then do something outside the writing world. If editing then paint or craft something. If creating then pause and play a puzzle game, like bejeweled or tetris.

Hope you have a balanced week 🙂

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Filed under Japanese Tid-Bits, The Writing World