tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30386012638150610632024-02-18T22:18:27.418-05:00Indie Publishing on the CheapOne-stop shop for the latest and greatest on indie publishing, marketing, and distribution for budget-smart indie authors and publishers, as well as some of my favorite indie books. My motto is: Keep it real--and keep it real Cheap!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-40008848668656319582012-07-18T18:37:00.003-04:002012-07-18T18:37:27.915-04:00Pay It Forward Free Publishing Seminar - Saturday July 28thIt's here! I'm going to host a free pay it forward publishing seminar for aspiring authors on July 28, 2012 from 9-11 am. I'll be discussing...<br />
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<ul>
<li>My Publishing Story </li>
<li>POD Publishing Processes </li>
<li>Traditional Publishing Processes </li>
<li>Answering YOUR questions on anything from publishing to marketing to my thoughts on the industry (if you ask). </li>
</ul>
Join me and please tweet the information and share with your author friends. I don't have time to do these often so please come prepared to get the most from this seminar that you can!<br />
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Can't wait to meet you!<br />
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Bookmark this link! http://www.anymeeting.com/KLBrady1<br />
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K.L. Brady<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-80291578180255363872012-01-18T19:01:00.001-05:002012-01-18T19:04:20.613-05:00Interested in a Free Seminar on Publishing???<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="messageBody" ft="{"type":3}">I'm thinking about doing a FREE Pay-It-Forward webinar or teleconference call for indie authors and unpublished writers who want to self publish or go the traditional route. As most know, I started out self published (on a shoestring budget) and got picked up by S&S so I have some insights on both paths.<br /></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="messageBody" ft="{"type":3}">I'd provide some tips on the business and then let you ask all the questions you want for maybe 1 - 1.5 hours.<br /></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="messageBody" ft="{"type":3}">Would anyone be interested? If I get enough responses, I'll do it. Leave a comment below if you're interested.<br /></span></span></h6>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-54934736316946708542011-08-11T09:08:00.002-04:002011-08-11T09:16:16.827-04:00Interview with E-PublishaBookCheck out my interview with E-PublishaBook. I must say I enjoyed it and the questions were very different from most interviews I've done in the past. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it.
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<br /><p dir="LTR"><strong><a href="http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/08/11/from-creating-her-own-imprint-to-the-big-6-k-l-brady/www.authorklbrady.com" target="_blank">K. L. Brady</a> is the author of “The Bum Magnet”, which won the first prize of 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Multicultural Fiction, as well as the Third Place Grand Prize Winner for Best Fiction of 2010. Currently living in D.C. with her son, working as an analyst for major government contracting firm, she is also an active real estate agent with Exit Realty by day—and writes by night (often into the wee hours of the morning).</strong></p> <p dir="LTR"><strong>Experienced with both self-publishing, creating her own imprint and being published by one of the Big6, K. L. Brady as generously agreed to take the time to enlighten us about the ins and outs of the publishing world...<a href="http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/08/11/from-creating-her-own-imprint-to-the-big-6-k-l-brady/">[more here] </a></strong></p>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-64164128871374748612011-07-11T19:16:00.000-04:002011-07-11T19:28:33.017-04:00Publishing Consulting...I just wanted to reiterate for everyone who comes in contact with this blog that it is imperative that you read the blog from beginning to end before asking questions. I created it to follow a natural progression within the indie publishing process...so the posts in the beginning will deal with things you need to know at the outset, and things you need to know at the latter part of the process fall at the end of the blog. Nine times out of ten, your question has already been answered if you just take the time to read the whole thing. This is free, certainly less than the cost of a book, and it's my gift to indie publishers, my way of paying my success forward, however little that success might be at this stage. <br /><br />This process can be daunting and confusing if you don't have a foundation. This blog was established to give you that foundation if you don't have it already. But it's no good if you don't read it. Please start from the first post and work your way down, it won't take that long and I guarantee you will learn more for free than you will taking some several hundred dollar seminar with someone else. So please take advantage of it. But please read the entire blog first. <br /><br />Thank you so much for your following. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-83519878404301949782011-07-08T22:50:00.000-04:002011-07-08T22:51:23.903-04:00Combatting the Stigma of Self Publishing - ArticleEnjoy!<br /><br />http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-young/combatting-the-stigma-of-_b_890000.htmlUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-40163618497144879142011-06-29T18:10:00.000-04:002011-06-29T18:10:15.524-04:00Are You Player Prey? 5 Ways to Break the Cycle<a href="http://www.tipsonlifeandlove.com/love-and-relationships/are-you-player-prey-5-ways-to-break-the-cycle#.TguivU9yPMc.blogger">Are You Player Prey? 5 Ways to Break the Cycle</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-72123043100815989852011-06-29T13:08:00.004-04:002011-06-29T13:14:26.221-04:00Hilarious New Relationship Blog!Hello Everyone!<br /><br />For those who might be interested, I just wanted to tell you about my new relationship blog, based on my debut novel, The Bum Magnet. It's called "Get off the Love Short Bus, SistaGirl Advice for the Lovelorn and Relationship Challenged!"<br /><br />I started some time ago but got caught up in the marketing of my novel and couldn't keep it up. This time around I've got a great new line-up of regular features and the content should be funny, real, and non-politically correct. :)<br /><br />I hope you'll follow and enjoy!<br /><br />http://thebummagnet.blogspot.com/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-5900251915175441702011-06-29T09:00:00.004-04:002011-06-29T09:19:51.008-04:00Tips & Tricks of the Trade - Author WebsitesSaw this great article on what should go on author websites that I wanted to share with the crew. I like this article in particular because she breaks it down between what published writers should have on their websites versus unpublished writers. Check it out! I think you'll find it most helpful.<br /><br />http://kortizzle.blogspot.com/2011/06/author-web-sites-basics.html<br /><br />For those of you looking to set up a website on the cheap, my suggestion is www.officelive.com. I like their service versus the freeweb service and others because there is no unwanted, distracting advertisements! And you can incorporate advanced features like a blog, paypal, and video for FREE. And did I forget to say that it's FREE!<br /><br />So set up your author website today and start building your audience!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-71117095409364400162011-06-28T16:48:00.002-04:002011-06-28T16:51:42.326-04:00Self Publishing ExpoIt's back again. The Self-Publishing Expo. I've never attended but have seen the line-up of presentations and such. Seems like it may be worthwhile to attend, even if for just the seminars. Not sure I would spend the money on exhibitor space. Here's more information from Publisher's Weekly:<br /><br /><p class="article">The third annual Self-Publishing Book Expo will take place October 22 at the Sheraton New York Hotel. The show will feature a forum for aspiring authors to pitch their book ideas to agents, editors, and publishers, as well as one-on-one manuscrpit evaluations, in which professional editors will sit down with authors to assess their work. </p><p class="article">SPBE will also feature 16 panels on topics ranging from e-books, social networking, pricing, distribution, website building, and legal aspects of self-publishing. The keynote will be given by slef-publishing veteran Dan Poynter. </p><p class="article">Admission to the exhibit hall, which will house offerings from various companies in the self-publishing field, will be free. Last year, the show drew over 450 attendees. For more information, visit selfpubbookexpo.com.</p><p class="article"><br /></p><p class="article"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-35719856762117321212011-06-27T15:50:00.007-04:002011-06-27T16:16:37.729-04:00Pimp My Blog - Indie Author SpotlightHello Everyone!<br /><br />I know it has been way too long since I've posted, but I've been crazy busy trying to finish up TWO novels before the holidays. With that said, if you've sent me your information and I haven't posted it, please send me a reminder (like our next featured author) and I'll get it up as my schedule allows.<br /><br />Without further adieu, I present Douglas Carlyle!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8kpKAyPGA5FutFMd6DRSGsGA-lyW_vmDh9Y8zO1rUcrLjMtBXTK5kxwU22txw2CpA7NfiXIidcT2tRlh5bCv7yiy6E8IUc7QCo9xAELNn5RmMHTwNmp4mZPzhbHhu_-VtzZUiaWKoSMZ/s1600/dad2083-4+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8kpKAyPGA5FutFMd6DRSGsGA-lyW_vmDh9Y8zO1rUcrLjMtBXTK5kxwU22txw2CpA7NfiXIidcT2tRlh5bCv7yiy6E8IUc7QCo9xAELNn5RmMHTwNmp4mZPzhbHhu_-VtzZUiaWKoSMZ/s200/dad2083-4+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622991595128479586" border="0" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style="">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >Tell us about your book(s).</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><br />The book I released in December is titled, <i style="">In Search of the Fuller Brush Man. </i>It is mainstream fiction/family saga. In print, it is 446 pages in trade paperback. I self-published using Createspa</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >ce and the end result is outstanding. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >The e-book is also available for Kindle, but not Nook. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >The back cover reads:<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >Sean Marcum is driven to find the meaning of his mother's swan song. The last words she wrote in her journal were, "Fuller Brush Man". She always communicated life's most important lessons via riddles, and he is convinced this is her finale. Sadly, Sean was never good at solving riddles, and his quest turns into an obsession, nearly costing him his marriage, and his life.<br /><br />Sean's </span></i></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZie8R9jlEjINNhGoof8RURceNcEczrf6E7uI3hEy06jjdVB-lqQAjIA7feeH3AcYSu8dyidfwvG_XIwDkivyBKF6bRmSQjBB0xOvGIbpm8NHIQEoG8fh9JMKbtkJVKEgSJRmSgv3wJfch/s1600/Bookcover+thumbnail.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZie8R9jlEjINNhGoof8RURceNcEczrf6E7uI3hEy06jjdVB-lqQAjIA7feeH3AcYSu8dyidfwvG_XIwDkivyBKF6bRmSQjBB0xOvGIbpm8NHIQEoG8fh9JMKbtkJVKEgSJRmSgv3wJfch/s200/Bookcover+thumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622991717449155362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >high school sweetheart, Kim, had a special bond with his mother. She was also a master at riddles. The one-time lovers have been married to others for more than 30 years. Kim's marriage has been picture perfect, Sean's not so much. Upon Kim's death from breast cancer, Sean receives a memoir she penned celebrating their failed relationship. Her book, The Road to Monticello, contains the secret to a long, happy relationship for which Sean so desperately searches. It is a lesson all of us should take to heart.</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" > </span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >“My log line is: Two Women, Both Dead, Save Sean Marcum.” The book is very personal and somewhat biographical. To understand this, one must read my author’s note…</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";" >My mother died of pancreatic cancer on March 12, 1987. She kept a journal. In it, her last written words really were Fuller Brush Man. As far as I am concerned, I know what she was talking about.</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";" >I was fortunate to have had a relationship with a truly wonderful woman during high school and my first years of college. She died of breast cancer on June 30, 2010. Though we parted ways many years ago, I can’t help but think of how she, along with my mother, perhaps unknowingly, helped shape me to be the decent man, father, and husband that I am today. She married a better man than me, and raised a lovely family. Their life together will be a lesson of love in and of itself for all time.</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";" >I will never be able to thank these two women enough. And I can never again embrace them. But as a tribute to them, I hope all who read this book come to understand, as I have, the beauty of a long-term relationship.</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >My first novel, <i style="">Boundaries, </i>ended up being well over 200K words. I will rework it to make it smaller, or turn it into a trilogy in 2012.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >This autumn, I will release my next novel, <i style="">Vinegarone.</i> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >I will refer readers to my website for more information about these two upcoming novels.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><br />2. How did you go about getting your book published?<br /><br />Labor, sweat, tears, and more of the same. I was highly motivated to write the book. I had just finished my first novel. It remains to be published, but I learned a great deal about writing, and publishing. As for <i style="">FBM, </i>I knew the plot, theme, beginning, and end of the book. I completed the manuscript in about three months. Then, I spent about ten months editing, and trying to get an agent interested. I sent out query letter after query letter—all for naught. I attended workshops and conferences with agents. I had many tell me to send them material. Nothing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >Along the way, I entered the novel in the 2010 ABNA contest and was a quarterfinalist. I also entered the novel in contests with the Houston Writers Guild, and Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society. The novel did very well. Createspace sent me an email informing me of their product, and advising me I could get a free copy of the novel. When I held my completed novel in my hands, that was all it took. I have no regrets having self-pub’d.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=""> </span>3. Tell us about your <span class="yshortcuts">marketing strategies</span>. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >I have a website, </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.dbcarlyle.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >www.dbcarlyle.com</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >, and I participate in many, many indie author threads. I have contacted several newspapers that in turn published articles about me and the book. The book is presently sold in eight stores, and I am expanding my ‘local’ reach to include San Antonio, Houston, and Austin. The book also is for sale in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, which is one of the primary settings for the book. The other is the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest. I am trying hard to get into the greater Chicago market. That will be my focus after this March when I hope to complete my efforts in Texas (where I live).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >The Kindle version of the book is selling, but not briskly. I have sold more paper copies than e-books. I look forward to when the e-book version picks up momentum.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >I don’t use Facebook or Twitter. I am one of those grumpy, old hold-outs. I barely have enough time to market the book in my current manner. I don’t want to add more to my plate. I’m sure we could debate this subject vigorously, but you have to sit with me and have a drink to have such a debate.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >I am also doing what I can to have my book reviewed, and to have people like you interview me. Here we are!<br /><br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >Never give up. Believe in yourself. And, be yourself. You do have to work hard to make your book look professional. You have to sweat the details. Commas, scene breaks, points-of-view, character development, consistency, spelling, punctuation. You have to get these correct if you want to compete. The first time you publish junk, that’s all you will be known for. Readers aren’t very forgiving, and the internet will transmit opinions—good and bad—around the world in a split second.<br /><br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are. :)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >I don’t read a lot. In the past year, I have read books by Kit Frazier, Sandra Brown, and Paulette Jiles. Kit is from Austin, and a member of the Writers’ League of Texas. Her books are outstanding. I just happened to borrow a Sandra Brown book, and I found it very good. As for the narrative fiction by Paulette, she lives in my town, and has conducted some workshops. I like narrative fiction, though that’s not what I write.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >I want to read good books by indie authors. I have spotted some on the indie threads. For me, being a NYT best seller is a kiss of death. I have been so disappointed by so many ‘great’ books. They are all hype, and no better than some of the indie novels that are available.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >This past weekend, I bought <i style="">Blind by Choice,</i> by Suchada Kailey. My first novel takes place partly in Thailand. Her book will help me portray my setting more accurately.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >Today, I chose <i style="">Virtual Strangers </i>by Suzanne O’Leary and Ola Zaltin to be my next read. Since I read so little, I choose very carefully.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><br /></p>For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.dbcarlyle.com/" target="_blank">www.dbcarlyle.com</a><br /><br />If you would like your work featured on the Pimp My Blog Indie Author Spotlight please send your responses to the following questions, as well as a jpeg of your book(s) and/or author photos to karla (at) klbradywrites (dot) com. Remember your responses should be geared toward both spotlighting your own work and helping others.<br /><br /><br />1. Tell us about your book(s).<br /><br /><br />2. How did you go about getting your book published?<br /><br /><br />3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.<br /><br /><br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?<br /><br /><br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-13623919435553732262011-06-22T09:08:00.002-04:002011-06-22T09:33:12.077-04:00Support the Fundraising Auction for Author L.A. Banks!I got the opportunity to meet the prolific, NY Times Bestselling author, L. A. Banks, at the Maryland Writer's Conference in April. She gave a presentation on becoming a bestseller. She was down-to-earth, funny, and let me tell you, she kept it REAL about the industry and how you can become a successful bestseller.<br /><br />You want to know the secret? Work your ass off.<br /><br />There's the secret. Hone your craft and write like there's no tomorrow. When you finish one book, don't rest on your laurels. Get out there and start the next.<br /><br />I learned so much from her that day... and chatting with her after her presentation was over was such a THRILL. I had to pinch myself when I walked into a Target the next day and saw my book sitting on a shelf next to hers. It was such a surreal moment in my life. One that I will never forget.<br /><br />Well, she's very ill right now, suffering from stage IV cancer. Her medical bills are mounting and she needs help. <br /><br />Many authors, writers and literary agents have pulled together to host a fundraising auction on her behalf, similar to the Brenda Novak auction I support each year. They are offering a WIDE range of services and goods, such as manuscript reviews, literary agent consultations, query letter reviews, etc. etc. etc. Not only that, but you can bid on a chance to be in Zane's next books, boxes and boxes of young adult, romance and other adult books from publishers and a host of other goodies. There's even an all expense (or most expense) paid trip to the writer's conference in New Orleans. <br /><br />And for the two individuals from this blog who win the highest priced items, I will give you a free consultation on your choice of ONE the following: <br /><br /><ul><li style="font-weight: bold;">Review and provide detailed comments, line edits, and suggestions on your query letter</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">A review and line edit of your first five chapters of your work in progress,<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Provide consultation and detailed suggestions on your self publishing business or marketing plan, OR<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Provide you with a sneak peak copy of The Bum Magnet sequel, Got a Right to Be Wrong! (unedited) </span><br /></li></ul>To participate in the auction, please visit: http://www.labanksauction.org/<br /><br />Auction ends in 10 days. Send the information about the item you won and price you paid to karla (at) Klbradywrites (dot) com and I'll pick the top two bidders.<br /><br />Best of luck and please support this great cause.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-30311855636239149682011-04-20T05:55:00.010-04:002011-04-20T08:39:04.372-04:00Ask K.L. on VYOU!So you may notice a little addition to the top of my blog. I just set up a Vyou account which allows anyone to submit questions to me about the writing process, indie publishing, how to get published, advice about a publishing strategy, books I've published, books you've published, how to find an agent, who are my favorite authors, what I ate for dinner last night...and are the men in The Bum Magnet based on real people??? Hmmm...if you want to know the answer, here's your chance to ask. Forget that pesky comment box, just ask here! Eventually it'll be added to the Simon & Schuster page but you can get started right now and you can ask anonymously if you so choose! :) So, what question can I answer for you today?<br /><br />Thanks for letting me know about the glitch...<a href="http://vyou.com/klbrady">Here's the link </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-32490985256788216892011-04-07T16:33:00.005-04:002011-04-07T16:43:28.007-04:00Pimp My Blog -- Cheap Indie Author Spotlight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVOGSFuaqMlBffGF00UArtK_rGqp40e2-JRFOVcag3186472f3qTgPFZSnqaQQYP0GdMtfFvF7jW_qe2s_1hJsyecEIC5zTU5BhMVKaf_X49pPSP5UJCXz0h6zN57kT2ELMeVnhn2_H5C/s1600/51I1MT7XkSL._SL500_AA266_PIkin3%252CBottomRight%252C-27%252C34_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVOGSFuaqMlBffGF00UArtK_rGqp40e2-JRFOVcag3186472f3qTgPFZSnqaQQYP0GdMtfFvF7jW_qe2s_1hJsyecEIC5zTU5BhMVKaf_X49pPSP5UJCXz0h6zN57kT2ELMeVnhn2_H5C/s200/51I1MT7XkSL._SL500_AA266_PIkin3%252CBottomRight%252C-27%252C34_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592943415073480562" border="0" /></a><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, okay. Enough about me me me. Let's get back to talking about you you you! Next up on the spotlight is Kristina Meister who would like to share her publishing journey with us. Welcome Kristina!<br /><br /><br />1. Tell us about your book(s).</span></span><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">As an author, my interests vary. I write lots of different types of things and in many different styles, but if I am forced to pin my work to a specific theme, I would have to say I am a memeticist. I heart philosophy in a big way. I trace ideas, how they propagate, and how to hack them, countermand, them, etc. What questions can I ask to force a person to reevaluate how they've always seen the world? There's a rational explanation for everything, but by no means does rational mean boring or stuffy. Sometimes rational means just as crazy as crazy.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">My latest series takes Buddhist and Hindu mythology, links it with similar western myths of monsters and miracles, mayhem and messiahs in a sort of "universal monster apocalypse" story. "Craving" (available on all ebook sites) and the sequel "The One We Feed" trace the evolution of the character Lilith from normal woman, to the second Buddha, to a friendlier, more sarcastic and stylish version of Kali-ma, the Hindu Goddess of destruction and change. The books take advantage of the fact that the same things that frighten one culture, seem to frighten EVERY culture, indicating that perhaps something more sinister and pervasive is happening in the universe. Or it could just be us.</span></span><br /><br /><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">2. How did you go about getting your book published?</span></span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">As you might have guessed, my books are rather experimental. They read kind of like the Matrix trilogy crossed with Siddhartha, and consequently, there's quite a bit of resistance in the publishing world to take a chance on something that is good, but may not sell. So, my agent, Laurie McLean of Larson-Pomada Literary agency, and I have embarked on our own social networking experiment. The publishing industry is changing, and the universality of information will soon make its filtering for "what is commercial" obsolete. To that aim, we are attempting to self-publish and promote. Laurie said something very appropriate when we began this endeavor, "I used to see e-publishing and standard publishing as two divergent paths, but the more I research, the more I see them as the parallel braces of a ladder, and at any point, you can cross from one side to the other, if you want."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.</span></span><br /><br /><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Currently, we are in the early phases, but our overall idea includes guest blogging, contributing to different information oriented sites, and overall having a huge internet presence. It involves a lot of work, but it can be done. I will take advantage of Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and other sites to host online competitions, and attempt, at every stage, to stay in the open.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?</span></span><br /><br />Don't get discouraged. Whenever you hear "No", go back to the work and critically examine it. View each "no" as a challenge to improve upon your art. If you truly and objectively believe there is no room for improvement, then forge ahead - the person you've approached is obviously not the representative for you. Keep writing, keep reading, keep improving. Insulate yourself from negativity and do what you love.</span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">5. What are you reading?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I just finished the fourth installment of the Casa Dracula series by my friend Marta Acosta, "Haunted Honeymoon", and enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm also rereading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, and just cracked the cover on Julie Kagawa's "The Iron King"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />Kristina Meister<br />www.kristinameister.com<br /><br /><br />Thank you, Kristina. Next up on the spotlight is Brian Drake!<br /><br />For those who don't know. I'm hosting a Kindle Giveaway to commemorate Pub Day for The Bum Magnet. Please check out my Facebook Fan Page (on the right)!<br /><br />2nd Annual Amazon Kindle 3G Giveaway<br />Plus a $25 Kindle Gift Certificate<br />Total Retail Value: $214<br /><br />30 Days to Enter, 30 Chances to Win!<br /><br />Here's How:<br /><br />Step 1: Each morning during the contest period, I'll post one trivia question based on The Bum Magnet on my Facebook FanPage.<br /><br />Step 2: Email your answer to KindleGiveAway@authorklbrady.com Only one entry per day, per person.<br /><br />Step 3: You can enter as many days as you want. The more questions you answer, the better your chances of winning.<br /><br />The contest runs from March 29, 2011 to April 29, 2011<br />Winner Chosen in a Random Drawing.<br />The winner will be announced on April 30, 2011.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-30655897520129169032011-04-03T06:56:00.002-04:002011-04-03T07:21:51.450-04:00The Business of Self-Publishing - Maryland Writer's ConferenceYesterday, I gave a seminar on self publishing at the Maryland Writer's Conference. Of course most of the information I provided can be found right here, but it's always great to engage people and answer questions. I had a really gracious audience which made the experience that much more enjoyable.<br /><br />As promised, here is the full-size slide presentation. <a href="http://www.easy-share.com/1914508132/The%20Business%20of%20Self-Publishing2.pdf#">Click Here.</a><br /><br />Thanks! We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-12565443624139698582011-03-30T04:07:00.005-04:002011-03-30T04:42:43.512-04:00The Bum Magnet - Back on the Market!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKx5_gQ7MMZzORKUjJEZAtwoubNykhI5e3iG3MEXBxCgHGwjdIcb7qnvQo0_WWO9gCZpurA6ICW8o5BFV5CQR2kRtsw2D5CkFER3OudCalT7Jp-Ig0k0HUsBLu8IcGGgDTcmByjQk4lWN/s1600/IMG-20110329-00001.jpg"><br /></a>In case anyone wonders where I've been over the past few weeks. I'm gonna give you a quick update. And Pimp My Blog will return TOMORROW! So stay tuned for the next indie author spotlight.<br /><br />I launched my YA Novel Worst Impressions, which is doing pretty well all things considered. I haven't had any books on the market in close to a year, so getting my sales up will take time. But the early reviews I've gotten from teen readers has me over the moon happy!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBArOCunX8ag1yCO4PpaP0uMmirXzezPSRQx7y_7iBVVBd75iHiCU-SRwTO7suk5lIEobwgAX8tX3BJ473rODzveVKTyt2_Kwi74Pz3wBxIKUCOPFuSS6IElksAAh9P8TvrGztl9BRI0CY/s1600/worstimpfinallinecolor2_copy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBArOCunX8ag1yCO4PpaP0uMmirXzezPSRQx7y_7iBVVBd75iHiCU-SRwTO7suk5lIEobwgAX8tX3BJ473rODzveVKTyt2_Kwi74Pz3wBxIKUCOPFuSS6IElksAAh9P8TvrGztl9BRI0CY/s200/worstimpfinallinecolor2_copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589782540588830802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Urban Teen Reads called it "Awesome!!!" (they added the three exclamation points) and "Amazing!" (only one there).<br /><br />And another teen reader gave the following review.<br /><br />Here's my daughters review:<br /><br />This was so funny I was laughing most of the time I read this. I finished this book in just three hours. Liz was so funny. Her mom was over protective and her dad reminded me a lot of mine. The love story had a lot of drama and boyfriend stealing, and her sisters were funny too. But what I liked most was Liz, who was a good girl that loved her sisters who she thought were more pretty than she was. I give this 5 stars out of 5, because it was just so funny.<br /><br />Her parent said: It's good for adults too! I read it with her. It's an Urban Romantic Comedy, so there's a bit of slang, but not too much.<br /><br />And then another adult said: I'd give this 4.5 stars... Things I Loved: The story is laugh out loud funny in parts. Definitely full of humor but her humor is natural and not forced. It follows the Pride & Prejudice closely but not TOO closely--which is a good thing. The author really manages to bring a few new twists to the story--especially with the mother--and even managed to add suspense when I already knew how it would end.<br /><br />Yaaaay! It's only 99 cents for a limited time on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Worst-Impressions-Novel-Jane-ebook/dp/B004RW54YY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1301472797&sr=8-1">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Worst-Impressions/K-L-Brady/e/2940012188205/?itm=1&USRI=worst+impressions+a+novel">Nook</a>, and<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/46950"> Smashwords</a>. After that, the price goes to a mere $2.99 so you can still afford it. :)<br /><br />The paperback is coming out in April. :)<br /><br /><br />The big big news is that The Bum Magnet is back on the market, but this time it's in stores Nationwide! It has even been spotted on the shelves at Walmart which I was totally not expecting! So, now you can pick it up just about anywhere. Barnes and Noble, Borders (the ones still open), Booksamillion, and Walmart. If anyone has a Target sighting let me know. If anyone sees it on the shelf, please take a picture with it and send it to me on facebook. I'll post it on my page along with a shout out for one of your books if you're an author!<br /><br />The best news is that for approximately five minutes, give or take a few seconds, The Bum Magnet made it to the bestseller list for Multicutural Romance!<br /><br />#11,506 Paid in Kindle Store (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_kinc_1" target="_blank">See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store</a>) <ul><li><style type="text/css"> .zg_hrsr { margin: 0; padding: 0; list-style-type: none; } .zg_hrsr_item { margin: 0 0 0 20px; } .zg_hrsr_rank { display: inline-block; width: 50px; text-align: right; } </style> <ul><li> #97 in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_1" target="_blank">Books</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/23/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_2" target="_blank">Romance</a> > <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/68262/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_3_last" target="_blank">Multicultural</a></b></li></ul></li></ul>I couldn't believe it. On its first day back on the market. I used to live on this list as an indie author. I never thought I'd see it again so soon. I'm so grateful for anyone who has supported it. Please spread the word and pick up a copy from your favorite local or online retailer. Sales in the first weeks are so important and I would appreciate any kind of support you want to offer. Rom-Com not your thing? Buy a copy or two and donate them to your local library. :)<br /><br />Thank so much for everything and I'll get back to Pimping Your Novels and offering more advice starting tomorrow.<br /><br />Oh...by the way. I will be giving a presentation on The Business of Self Publishing at the Maryland Writers Association Annual Conference this Saturday, April 2nd. It's a one-day event and my presentation will be one of MANY great presentations offered during the day. If you're in the DC, MD, VA area, I highly recommend you attend. You can register at the door I believe. For more information, please visit http://www.marylandwritersconference.org/<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKx5_gQ7MMZzORKUjJEZAtwoubNykhI5e3iG3MEXBxCgHGwjdIcb7qnvQo0_WWO9gCZpurA6ICW8o5BFV5CQR2kRtsw2D5CkFER3OudCalT7Jp-Ig0k0HUsBLu8IcGGgDTcmByjQk4lWN/s1600/IMG-20110329-00001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKx5_gQ7MMZzORKUjJEZAtwoubNykhI5e3iG3MEXBxCgHGwjdIcb7qnvQo0_WWO9gCZpurA6ICW8o5BFV5CQR2kRtsw2D5CkFER3OudCalT7Jp-Ig0k0HUsBLu8IcGGgDTcmByjQk4lWN/s200/IMG-20110329-00001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589787158456010466" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-5592441859299432942011-02-18T21:15:00.004-05:002011-02-18T21:25:14.799-05:00Pimp My Blog: Cheap Indie Author Spotlight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvMFK-h5n5yz36TKGuBryUcpkxmikBx_JLW-zmgmA1hZUVGcQ9Klo-e6x9BG-q4fhgkg9HWlHh826wRs6YCcnePEOFmGjxlzpkM4qKvt9wPcrrlvC1zqdcja8JTnG5Owt467rOi2m1X8Y/s1600/brayton.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvMFK-h5n5yz36TKGuBryUcpkxmikBx_JLW-zmgmA1hZUVGcQ9Klo-e6x9BG-q4fhgkg9HWlHh826wRs6YCcnePEOFmGjxlzpkM4qKvt9wPcrrlvC1zqdcja8JTnG5Owt467rOi2m1X8Y/s200/brayton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575220780911130738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hello Everyone! <br /><br />My fifteen seconds of fame on my blog are over. Time to get back to the author spotlight, so I can focus on marketing and my next project for a few days. Next on the spotlight list is Stephen Brayton who has authored what looks to be a great thriller. Welcome Stephen! <br /><br /><br /><br />1. Tell us about your book(s).<br /><br />My eBook, Night Shadows, is about a Des Moines, Iowa homicide investigator teaming up with a FBI agent to solve the series of brutal murders. While dealing with personal problems, the unlikely duo find themselves battling malevolent creatures from anther dimension. The book will be released February 15, 2011, from Echelon Press. You can check out the details at www.stephenbrayton.com.<br /><br /><br />2. How did you go about getting your book published?<br /><br />I met an editor, Mary Welk, at the 2009 Killer Nashville writers’ conference. She was actually interested in acquiring short stories for Echelon, but in our talk gave me permission to send in submissions for two novels. (By the way, the second novel, Beta, was also accepted for release in July, and recently four of my short stories were accepted.)<br /><br />3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.<br /><br />I met another author/editor at the 2010 conference and became part of her ‘posse’. Every week she seeks out various interesting blogs and websites and lets her posse members know about them. We then visit the sites, read the blogs and make comments. Social networking. Plus, I’m part of Facebook and Twitter (of course), and several mystery and author sites. I’ve also been interviewed for a paranormal radio show and have visited colleges for writers’ workshops. Plus, on my blog I do regular author interviews. Currently I’m interviewing Echelon authors, but will soon branch out to others.<br /><br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?<br /><br />Keep writing and don’t give up. Do your homework on publishing, especially small presses. Attend conferences for contacts. Edit, edit, and edit some more on your story. If you get accepted, promote fellow authors in that company.<br /><br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are. :)<br /><br />I have hundreds of books in my library waiting to be read. I really like the old Shadow and Doc Savage series. Plus Queen, Stout, and Pelecanos are on my list of upcoming authors to read.<br /><br />Thanks for the awesome post. <br /><br />The next spotlight author is Kristina Meister!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-69999517473655869662011-02-16T19:38:00.005-05:002011-02-16T20:04:25.181-05:00Self Publishing...Again!Hello Everybody,
<br />
<br />So, I bet you thought since I got picked up by a publisher that I was through with indie publishing.
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<br />Not so much.
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<br />I've always said that if I have a book that I really believe in that doesn't sell, I'm gonna put it out myself and, once again, let my audience decide if it's something that they think is a worthy read. I've had this book on submission for several months now. For the most part, all the editors said they loved the story and concept but they didn't think there was a market for another Pride and Prejudice telling. I felt different...and so do many others as I found out by happenstance today!! A <a href="http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/">teen blogger</a> who I just LOVE put the word out there on Twitter and she got quite a response...from readers...and a couple of agents and editors who requested my information. We'll see if anything comes of it.
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<br />As for me, I'm pressing ahead until a deal is in hand. So, I'll be back on the indie boards promoting the new book and hustling with everybody else. Initially, I'm only putting on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iPAD and we'll see what happens from there.
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<br />A few print copies will be printed for author review copies (ARCs) and maybe I'll sell a few at a festival or two.
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<br />With that said, here's my new baby.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtM9ENmSAwBHvW-NkAsWkgnx0K_wQZra8mqc9FruIGvbSpqXtUJw_oo0oAGfLeBtus9zE3aM2YB_kU0HZuDJuu2ABNvGMr7cd9QNJZLX5xTnsSvqoClZJirYcbu4n_Gaziy1wl3INFxgL/s1600/worstimpfinallinecolor2_copy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtM9ENmSAwBHvW-NkAsWkgnx0K_wQZra8mqc9FruIGvbSpqXtUJw_oo0oAGfLeBtus9zE3aM2YB_kU0HZuDJuu2ABNvGMr7cd9QNJZLX5xTnsSvqoClZJirYcbu4n_Gaziy1wl3INFxgL/s200/worstimpfinallinecolor2_copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574452759942099122" border="0" /></a>
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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} span.abnanumberedcontainercontent {mso-style-name:abnanumberedcontainercontent; mso-style-unhide:no;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent">Basketball phenom Liz Bennett just wants finish high school under the radar...and without constantly defending herself against false rumors about her sexuality. With two trouble magnet kid sisters and a mother obsessed with protecting her virginity, she’s already dealing with more drama than an Emmy-winning daytime soap opera. But when two popular new guys enter her life, she’s forced from the shadows and onto center stage. </span>
<br /><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent"> </span>
<br /><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent">Trent Whitman, Liz’s hot new admirer, pursues and woos her with his silver tongue and hazel eyes. When he turns on the charm, Liz turns off all common sense. Darcell Williams, on the other hand, is a star football player who sticks his cleats in his mouth every time they meet. As far as Liz is concerned, Trent is a dream and Darcell is a devil reincarnate. </span>
<br /><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent"> </span>
<br /><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent">During the Back-to-School dance, Darcell spews an<span style="font-style: italic;"> oh-no-he-didn’t</span> insult that cements Liz's contempt. Oh yes, their feud is on and poppin'!
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent">Driven by spite and embarrassment, Liz instigates a series of misunderstandings that propel her into an inevitable confrontation with Darcell. But when a Bennett family crisis reveals Darcell’s and Trent’s true colors, will Liz’s pride prevent her from accepting each for who he really is? </span>
<br /><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent"> </span>
<br /><span class="abnanumberedcontainercontent">WORST IMPRESSIONS is a humorous and uplifting coming-of-age tale about a girl who discovers that misjudgments are a two-way street best left untraveled. Loosely based on Jane Austen’s<span style="font-style: italic;"> Pride and Prejudice</span>, this novel brings a timeless story to contemporary multicultural teens.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">With that said, I'll keep you posted on the happenings!
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Until then...Keep it real...and keep it real cheap!
<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-54547579813392279982011-02-12T11:33:00.007-05:002011-02-12T11:52:35.332-05:00Maintaining Control - RevisitedHello Everyone,<br /><br />So, I'm gonna take brief break from posting your novels to address an issue brought up by a follower.<br /><br />A young lady called me (I won't reveal her name for privacy reasons) and explained that she published through Createspace and had been trying to get her book into a bookstore. The bookseller pulled her book up online and said while he'd love to stock it, he couldn't because they book isn't returnable. Those of you who've read this blog know that while I like Createspace, I'm against using their Expanded Distribution Program for this very reason. Most authors don't really understand the ramifications of signing up with this program until it's too late.<br /><br />I cannot stress enough depending on your goals for your book, which often includes getting it shelved in bookstores--or at a minimum having book signings in bookstores--your book must be returnable. In this economic time, booksellers do not want to be stuck with a bunch of books that won't sell. If they don't sell, they want to be able to return them.<br /><br />This requires you to ask the right questions when signing up with any POD company to print your book. Three aspects that are key to getting your books in stores: Price, Returnability, and Discount. The price has to be comparable to similar books in the genre and of the same length, you must offer a reasonable discount, and your book must be returnable. Therefore, here are key questions you must always ask BEFORE signing up with a POD company.<br /><br /><ol><li>What is your standard discount to booksellers? (If it's less than 40 percent, it is unlikely but not impossible, to get your book in stores. Standard discount is 50-55 percent).</li><li>Can I set my own standard discount? <br /></li><li>Can I accept returns? (Lightning Source allows you to accept returns).<br /></li><li>If I can accept returns, does that option cost me anything? (With Lightning Source and similar PODs the option is FREE. Other company charge hundreds of dollars to allow returns. If you pay that, you're getting taken for your money). </li><li>Can I set my own book price? And does that option cost me anything?<br /></li></ol>I go into significant detail about this issue here: http://cheapindieauthor.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-is-pod-and-maintaining-control-of.html. Please check it out before you make any major decisions about publishing your book.<br /><br />I'm off the soapbox now. New indie authors will be coming up beginning again on Monday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-86977679685932965132011-02-02T09:18:00.004-05:002011-02-02T09:27:45.486-05:00Pimp My Blog: Cheap Indie Author Spotlight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzdfbE0mh2Pu4ckQRK7nKCSI5jpwlhQXUJEouay8LFYAewLi9wP1lLrHTa_0aAY7YZsRUyhayBq83_PLDxDY2lN7C-dT7wTMnDgZoD8cd_mCLWZAmrcro0amWZA-7IWCcK7si5uMr4P1K/s1600/89014056.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzdfbE0mh2Pu4ckQRK7nKCSI5jpwlhQXUJEouay8LFYAewLi9wP1lLrHTa_0aAY7YZsRUyhayBq83_PLDxDY2lN7C-dT7wTMnDgZoD8cd_mCLWZAmrcro0amWZA-7IWCcK7si5uMr4P1K/s200/89014056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569098153252641858" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hello All,<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Next on the list is mystery maven Author Wendy Gager (W.S. Gager). Please welcome her to the Cheap Indie Author spotlight. And don't forget to ask questiosns! We can learn so much from each other's experiences. T<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">1. Tell us about your book(s).<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I have two books out in the Mitch Malone Mysteries and a third scheduled for this summer. The first book, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A Case of Infatuation</span>, featured crime-beat reporter Mitch Malone. <span style="line-height: 200%;color:black;" >His rules are simple: He never lets the blood and guts he covers bother him. He always works alone. And he hates kids. Mitch breaks all three rules when he unwittingly agrees to smuggle a potential witness out of a suburban Michigan home while police investigate a mob-style-hit that's left two dead bodies. Mitch sends his intern (a real hottie, but nonetheless an interloper) to interview neighbors, hoping to throw her off, but when he finds the pint-sized survivor the killer overlooked, he decides she might be helpful. When the FBI accuses him of the murder, Mitch goes into hiding with the bombshell intern who doesn't talk and the precocious preschooler. Mitch works his contacts to regain his freedom from his roommates only to find they each hold keys to a bizarre story of disappearances, terrorists and the perfect hamburger recipe.</span></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 200%;color:black;" >My second book is <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A Case of Accidental intersection</span>. </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">Mitch Malone hates hospitals, but when a suspicious traffic accident lands a comatose victim in the ICU, he must put that aside to find the truth. The surface looks smooth but the more the crime beat reporter looks the more bodies pop up including a private detectives. Can he get to the truth before the surviving victim is murdered in her hospital bed and an elderly witness has a heart attack? Will he get his exclusive printed before he’s the next victim? <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A Case of Hometown Blues</span> is the third and Mitch returns to where he grows up and gets arrested for murdering the homecoming queen. In his quest to win a bet with the local news staff, he must get a big story but realizes his career maybe over if convicted. The police chief is his nemesis from high school and enjoys putting the screws to Mitch. Can he get his story, clear his name and get out of the town that haunts him?</span> <span style="line-height: 200%;color:black;" > </span></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">2. How did you go about getting your book published?<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My path to publishing was a bit different. I entered a contest sponsored by my publisher, Oak Tree Press. I wanted feedback on my manuscript from someone who specialized in mysteries and thought this would be a great way. Turns out I won the contest and <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A Case of Infatuation</span><span> took the Dark Oak Mystery prize in 2008 and was published in 2009. My publisher runs a mystery, romance and cop tales contest each year. Deadline to submit is this summer so brush up your manuscripts. You can see more information at <a href="http://www.oaktreebooks.com/" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.oaktreebooks.com</a>.</span><br /><br /><br />3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.</span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>This is the part that is the most difficult. I try to go to conferences and do speaking engagements to get the word out. I also have a blog, <a href="http://www.wsgager.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.wsgager.blogspot.com</a>, and a website, <a href="http://www.wsgager.com/" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.wsgager.com</a>. Every Monday on my blog Mitch Malone, my main character interviews other authors. It is a lot of fun and I have gotten good feedback so far. I also try and do a lot with facebook but all the marketing really cuts into my writing time. I'm struggling to balance that.</span><br /><br /><br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published? Start marketing yourself now. Get a author website and blog. Post things. Many publishers including my own look at your presence on the web before taking your work to the next step and offering a contract.<br /><br /><br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are. :)</span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> I just finished a book that was a compilation of mystery writers and put together by Jeffrey Deaver called <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Watchlist</span> that featured chapters by some of my favorite authors. I have a huge stack of books to be read and received a Kindle for Christmas and have now loaded that. I'm trying to read every night for at least a half hour but it is tough. Some of my favorite indy authors are Marilyn Meredith, Sunny Frazier, J. Michael Orenduff, and am waiting anxiously for Holli Castillo's new book called <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Jambalaya Justice</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span></p><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">W.S. Gager</span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Author of Humorous Whodunits</span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A Case of Infatuation</span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A Case of Accidental Intersection-Now Available</span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="http://www.wsgager.com/" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.wsgager.com</a></span></span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Purchase the book today:</span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=a+case+of+infatuation&box=A%20Case&pos=4" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=a+case+of+infatuation&box=A%20Case&pos=4</a></span></span> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Case-Infatuation-W-S-Gager/dp/1892343584/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246043800&sr=1-1" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">http://www.amazon.com/Case-Infatuation-W-S-Gager/dp/1892343584/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246043800&sr=1-1</a></span></span></span><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-41082423589569496002011-01-22T11:52:00.005-05:002011-01-22T12:10:29.270-05:00Pimp My Blog: Cheap Indie Author Spotlight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hgDbteAhqvLgMu0ghUUasUPi2X2S9XaqIu4bY42uFD7_e3Ky51e-cIf1p90fr6r327mS-bwf3mj4vfNdBoDG4UWU6d2pj2a7xyxtvmZ7klvZEClz8zRDXK2eSoM0Bisu9N58U3vgYb4x/s1600/51cKwvF%252BzOL._SL500_AA266_PIkin3%252CBottomRight%252C-16%252C34_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hgDbteAhqvLgMu0ghUUasUPi2X2S9XaqIu4bY42uFD7_e3Ky51e-cIf1p90fr6r327mS-bwf3mj4vfNdBoDG4UWU6d2pj2a7xyxtvmZ7klvZEClz8zRDXK2eSoM0Bisu9N58U3vgYb4x/s200/51cKwvF%252BzOL._SL500_AA266_PIkin3%252CBottomRight%252C-16%252C34_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565056755316078178" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Hello All,</span><span style=";font-family:";color:white;" ><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 4.8pt; line-height: 18pt;font-size:1em;" ><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >We're back.The next brave author to volunteer her book for the blog is Elizabeth Kolodziej. She's written a tempting vampire tale and would like to share it with you.She also offers some great. Please welcome Liz and feel free to ask questions or leave comments.
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<br />1. Tell us about your book(s).<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:";color:white;" ><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><i><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Vampyre Kisses</span></i></strong><strong><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" > is an enthralling story about a young woman named Faith, who was content with her life, but deep down craved more excitement. Then a mysterious man named Trent enters her life and everything changes. Surprising to Faith, Trent is a green-eyed vampire from Ireland. She is even more surprised to find out that she is a witch, and the last of her kind.</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Faith finds out that she is destined to restore her witch line and becomes more powerful as she gains confidence and knowledge, but danger lurks everywhere. Especially when unknown assailants steal the most important gems from the vampire master and werewolf royalty.</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Now surrounded by a world full of mystifying vampires and werewolves, can Faith gain enough power to help her friends and rescue the stolen gems?</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br /><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. How did you go about getting your book published?
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<br /><b>I self published my book through Eloquent Books for the paperback and published it myself through amazon, B&N, and smashwords.
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<br />3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.
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<br /><b>Well there is actually a lot going on there. I have done blog tours, guest posts, I tweet, facebook, have my own website, advertise on sites like <a href="http://vampires.com/" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">vampires.com</a> and nocturnereads. I have sent book proposals to places like B&N and Costco (B&N agreeing to buy 100 copies to put in their stores around the Delaware/Philly area), I am in the middle of trying to get up to 100 reviews of my book on amazon, goodreads, and other numerous sites. I am also trying to promote my work by submitting my short stories for anthology books. One of which I can proudly say was accepted. I try to get involved with as many book/reader conventions I can afford and get to. I have so many more ideas but some are still in the making. I am always trying to take every opportunity to talk about my book and let people know about it in any way possible.</b>
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<br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?
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<br /><b>Learn the business. There are two parts to this whole thing, the writing and the marketing/promoting. All of it is important because you can't have one without the other. I see too many authors who write a book and try self publishing it but think they don't have to tell people there book is out there. Get books on the subjects of this business and talk to EVERYONE you can about it. The writing community is such a big family, the closest and most giving I have ever seen, you can't be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. You won't meet many people that didn't have to start from the bottom and work their way up. They understand your dilemma. </b>
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<br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are. :)</span><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;font-size:1em;"> <span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>I actually read more than one book at a time. I get crazy like that. Currently, Marked by Elisabeth Naughton, Tempting Evil by Keri Arthur, and Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large;" ><3's></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large;" >Liz ^_^</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large;" ><a href="http://www.vampyrekisses.com/" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.vampyrekisses.com</a></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ejkolodziej" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.twitter.com/ejkolodziej</a></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kweenkitten" target="_blank" onclick="onClickUnsafeLink(event);">www.facebook.com/kweenkitten</a>
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<br />If you would like your book featured on Cheap Indie Author, please contact me at karla (at) klbradywrites (dot) com for details!</span></span></span>
<br /></div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-62684493960120984692011-01-15T12:49:00.002-05:002011-01-15T12:58:27.414-05:00Pimp My Blog: Cheap Indie Author SpotlightHello All,<br /><br />Next on the Cheap Indie Author Spotlight is Daniel A. Roberts, a self-published author who writes about my favorite topic... L'amor. (I think that's "love" in somebody's language. Probably mine.) Please feel free to comment or ask questions about his writing/publishing process.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrr-oAbDP95ibIy_tgyShXYqiufGNQtjqECk-WXH-8hRL6wmvOlvHHMM1AWBIq9eBfUBknIyVfTJlks2gJyYRu3cD_7xhAY1L78l8r4Xf0dO74WSbDYpVvW_Y3JP-e1qF6yUJt0RSOCsw/s1600/DAR_BOOKCOVER.jpeg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrr-oAbDP95ibIy_tgyShXYqiufGNQtjqECk-WXH-8hRL6wmvOlvHHMM1AWBIq9eBfUBknIyVfTJlks2gJyYRu3cD_7xhAY1L78l8r4Xf0dO74WSbDYpVvW_Y3JP-e1qF6yUJt0RSOCsw/s200/DAR_BOOKCOVER.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562471626312484834" border="0" /></a>1. Tell us about your book(s).<br /><div><br /></div> <div>Passion Of The Different is a Romantic Fantasy. I wrote this book to tell a fun, loving story about two different people from two different worlds, the culture shock differences and how they resolve them. It has the basic expectations of a Romance and while the book does resolve itself in a happy ending way as expected, this also leads into the upcoming sequel that's being released on 2/10/2011. I enjoy entertaining people, there's a lot to be taken from the fact I've made people smile and laugh all in the same book. Because I created a new world with a new people, my creativity was allowed to flow. There are elements of their society we won't agree on, but then, who lives in a perfect world? Dealing with those differences while doing the right thing as well as falling in love - that's a book I can have fun writing. So I did. (Attached is the thumb picture of my cover)<br /><br />2. How did you go about getting your book published?<br /><br /></div> <div>I explored so many avenues and there were so many crazy options, but I eventually found Smashwords. They give an author all the choices and control and they organize the distribution. It's a win-win situation for anybody who wants to publish an ebook. Even the comissions as better and I intend to make a living off of my writing. As an Independent Author, I'm not given a formula and told how to write my story and what limits I have. That is killing creativity in my opinion.<br /><br /><br />3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.<br /><br /></div> <div> I use Facebook and my own personal profile. That's an excellent start. I also use Twitter. I have an account with Google Adwords and Bing Adsense. I do a pay per click and I set the budget so I'm not buried in bills. My books show up on Barnes and Noble dot com and the Apple iBook store and Kobo and Diesel and other retailers, I do my best to get this out to the public through my friends as well. I also do Youtube videos promoting my book, as well as my own website at <a href="http://www.thepassiontrilogy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thepassiontrilogy.com/</a> And I use the Romance Studio as well. People who like Romance go there looking for things to read, and I try not to let them down. <br /><br /><br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?<br /><br /></div> <div>Don't be afraid to be proactive. You get back what you put into it. Talk to publishers and agents if you must, but have they yet put your excellent and best work in front of people who will be willing to pay for it? If the answer is no, consider going to Smashwords and trying them out. They have a promotion guide and it's free. Lots of good stuff in there. It's kinda cool to get a letter from an agent telling you why he can't represent you, and then you go to your email and get notified you just earned another hundred bucks in sales. His cut is in your pocket instead. It's a win-win situation for the author.<br /><br /><br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are.)<br /><br /></div> <div>Special Parent, Special Child by Tom Sullivan. I have an Autistic daughter (very low functioning) and it's good to know my wife and I aren't alone in the drama to raise a child with such a disability. </div><br /><div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Politics: <a href="http://okc912project.com/" target="_blank">http://okc912project.com/</a><br />My Fiction: <a href="http://www.thepassiontrilogy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thepassiontrilogy.com/</a><br />My Biography: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/danielroberts" target="_blank">http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/danielroberts</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-87732352461123417122011-01-12T06:30:00.008-05:002011-01-12T07:03:59.568-05:00Pimp My Blog: Cheap Indie Author SpotlightHello All,<br /><br />Looks like we've found our first brave author to take me up on my offer. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Georgia Ann Banks-Martin</span> is a poet who got her book published through a small press. Please give her a warm welcome and feel free to ask questions or comment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUi1rirEaP630YpaXk7MusuohHTmSnLZh6KlPHTUT3IFQmkFcxagmAcHh4hIQAfWbCvcAL-aDG75V2TLBecrZvwrVje3FUVXcA2wbnFfpkh4iTwpoi8m1Qdf_so8i-sADU9pXnIoeMEx3/s1600/PMB_GB2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUi1rirEaP630YpaXk7MusuohHTmSnLZh6KlPHTUT3IFQmkFcxagmAcHh4hIQAfWbCvcAL-aDG75V2TLBecrZvwrVje3FUVXcA2wbnFfpkh4iTwpoi8m1Qdf_so8i-sADU9pXnIoeMEx3/s200/PMB_GB2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561264617233459810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckkDmynEC77b4BFE-5q1FfPpHU01ulUgs09YjkaRk9G2K8iynMyA9XLWIrM5UjDMHw3gciVDD8DBvV7oLn0DRuTmcJrxxaal4yTIsOZcCqdXtsYAji1qvhta1EMXZHzCavnPxyS2A6IEs/s1600/PMP_GB1.JPG"><br /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell u</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjjA_-OjkamErYA_TDc1cgDz3hlYD4BeiusfiMcoi3Amz9B4PpiNkdBuXosEMFrzf7Z1Ws4Ym-XUMfutA5wjHOVuHYtBXtiUc6ZJBkXxiRKWItJxoTKbygBY2l3vtBoM5ftOPCwh44UtE/s1600/PMP_GB1.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjjA_-OjkamErYA_TDc1cgDz3hlYD4BeiusfiMcoi3Amz9B4PpiNkdBuXosEMFrzf7Z1Ws4Ym-XUMfutA5wjHOVuHYtBXtiUc6ZJBkXxiRKWItJxoTKbygBY2l3vtBoM5ftOPCwh44UtE/s200/PMP_GB1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561265548179223506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">s about your book(s).</span><p><span>My book, R</span><span>hapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered, is a collection of ekphrastic(art inspired)po</span><span>ems. The inspiration art represents work created by African-Americans, Americans, Europeans, and Asians. Most of the poems are of a collage nature, blending historical facts, and memoir. It is </span><span>currently ready for ordering from my publisher's(Plain View Press) webpage:<a href="http://www.plainviewpress.net/gallery2/pages/Rhapsody-For-Lessons-Learned-Or-Remembered.html" target="_blank">http://www.plainviewpress.net/gallery2/pages/Rhapsody-For-Lessons-Learned-Or-Remembered.html</a></span><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you go about getting your book published?</span></p><p>The first draft of my collection was completed as my M.F.A. thesis. While I was working toward graduation I started compiling a list of possible publishers based on ads and listings that appear on websites such as Poets and Writers, publishers I encounter at book festivals, writers conferences, books that were being published which were similar to my collection, and recommendations from friends. </p><p>When I was ready to send out my final manuscript I narrowed the list to five and followed the submission guidelines provided by the publisher.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us about your marketing strategies.</span></p><p> My marketing strategies include:</p><ul><li><span>Maintaining my author's webpage:<a href="http://georgiabanksmartin.com/" target="_blank">http://georgiabanksmartin.com</a></span></li><li><span>The creation of a Facebook Fan Page: <a href="http://artist.to/georgiaannbanks-martin" target="_blank">http://artist.to/georgiaannbanks-martin</a></span></li><li>Holding public poetry readings at poetry festivals, bookstore, libraries, colleges and universities<br /></li><li>Reading and signing books at the The Association of Writers & Writing Programs(AWP) Conference in Washington D.C. next month</li><li>Appearing on blogs and blog talk radio shows<br /></li></ul><p><br /></p><p>4.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?</span></p><ul><li>Make sure your work is well edited</li><li>Make sure you follow all agent/publisher submission requirements </li></ul><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you reading?</span></span><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Who's got next?<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >If you're an author (indie, small press, or major publisher) who would like to be featured, please contact me at karla (at) klbradywrites (dot) com. Answer the questions and provide me with your book cover(s) and author photos.<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Hope you enjoy. New content is coming up soon so don't delay!<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Visit my website at www.authorklbrady.com<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUi1rirEaP630YpaXk7MusuohHTmSnLZh6KlPHTUT3IFQmkFcxagmAcHh4hIQAfWbCvcAL-aDG75V2TLBecrZvwrVje3FUVXcA2wbnFfpkh4iTwpoi8m1Qdf_so8i-sADU9pXnIoeMEx3/s1600/PMB_GB2.JPG"><br /></a></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-79108535734623170402011-01-11T20:08:00.012-05:002011-01-11T20:39:03.937-05:00Been A While, but...Hello Everyone,<br /><br />Sorry it's been so long since I've posted but I've been just a little busy.<br /><br />First, I finished novel number three--GOT A RIGHT TO BE WRONG. It's the sequel to The Bum Magnet and I happen to love the story. Got it turned into my editor who I pray doesn't hate it, otherwise it's back to the drawing board. I made a faux book cover for inspiration only. If my editor accepts it, then I have ZERO control over the cover.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK5tiB_c6mYOHN_Ws6NEjkXS_u7Wo7mY7D23Qvw6JRIMELWgMyYwL7f8hp9pGmhGHEEvPCkQeTLxedqsVEiziy6pO6unZC7ORbL07f5IcJAb1aCMkV8AMGwMTGwfHgfbs6JTTOODtrib_/s1600/got+a+right_faux+cover.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK5tiB_c6mYOHN_Ws6NEjkXS_u7Wo7mY7D23Qvw6JRIMELWgMyYwL7f8hp9pGmhGHEEvPCkQeTLxedqsVEiziy6pO6unZC7ORbL07f5IcJAb1aCMkV8AMGwMTGwfHgfbs6JTTOODtrib_/s200/got+a+right_faux+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561100967910485106" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For those who are wondering where novel number two is, it's called MIZZ UNDERSTANDING. It's on submission right now. Been a while. It been sufficiently rejected but there are still about five hold outs. Somehow I get the feeling the remaining editors are waiting to see if THE BUM MAGNET does well when it's re-released in March. If we do not hear back from folks by next month, I'm gonna put it on Kindle as another self published venture and see how it does. My agent is in agreement. :) Another faux cover for inspiration only.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgqOCM1kLtqvndkd0ebe0AhuXxTs9nVMolOOanlUyA6hGbxpqfUPxRiLdqXEHfqYYVjhPd6xM6fEu9Yk4ms1mxJwXnQQEVCNdG8vJGAAbRUC3F2t4SIZD6Y1fPvRwGaJFbKH-NW8islKv/s1600/LIZCOVER2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgqOCM1kLtqvndkd0ebe0AhuXxTs9nVMolOOanlUyA6hGbxpqfUPxRiLdqXEHfqYYVjhPd6xM6fEu9Yk4ms1mxJwXnQQEVCNdG8vJGAAbRUC3F2t4SIZD6Y1fPvRwGaJFbKH-NW8islKv/s200/LIZCOVER2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561101573122886962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After I finished GOT A RIGHT TO BE WRONG, I totally lost my mind and decided that I wanted to become a screenwriter. Yes. Do NOT ask me what possessed me to take on that challenge but within two weeks, I adapted my novel THE BUM MAGNET into a screenplay and entered it into the <a href="http://studios.amazon.com/users/7404">Amazon Studios</a> contest. If you want a lesson on how NOT to write a screenplay, download my first screen play. Script number 4 is much better. Feel free to download, leave a review, or any activity that will let folks know my story might not be total and complete CRAP. I had to change the title so because Bum Magnet had been used already in some Australian movie with a red-headed star whose name I can't remember. So, I picked He's The One? I made a faux movie poster so I wouldn't have a blank page.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwJAeWBZrNOAQFLsNuFUVzxtcnj7eZxtTAiimfLQRnpRVlbouEusftQPOXuyq7KXYTqSAMZVRT3eYs2vvcyDrLYLHJt2uxCAFWllqr0_laEyZJ0dQ9jzMs36NTufxX4csBeO7-NJMp7bK/s1600/HES+THE+ONE+MOVIE+POSTER2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwJAeWBZrNOAQFLsNuFUVzxtcnj7eZxtTAiimfLQRnpRVlbouEusftQPOXuyq7KXYTqSAMZVRT3eYs2vvcyDrLYLHJt2uxCAFWllqr0_laEyZJ0dQ9jzMs36NTufxX4csBeO7-NJMp7bK/s200/HES+THE+ONE+MOVIE+POSTER2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561102941389930402" border="0" /></a>After I finished the screenplay, I swore I would take a long long long long break from writing so I could clear my head and get ready for novel number four. That lasted about two days. Now I'm writing a novel that I've been wanting to write for months now. Of course, I made a faux book cover...because I got stuck in the story and made a feeble attempt to inspire myself. The book is called The Bigot List and it features an African-American female FBI agent/spycatcher named J.J. McCall. How cool is that name? Came to me in a dream.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkOXA8C5q5y-I6OCnAAZ7dn6fENDJZ94OANid7zfdx0mVdIGS2PW1zuEN31cLMIW807Hu1jMLLVI-p3p7QNwEL2nHdKpsAcjYzicZvK4-ar_DLjEKvifdb8eBxwBKkgXGPI5XKAxs_OdX/s1600/The+Bigot+List.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkOXA8C5q5y-I6OCnAAZ7dn6fENDJZ94OANid7zfdx0mVdIGS2PW1zuEN31cLMIW807Hu1jMLLVI-p3p7QNwEL2nHdKpsAcjYzicZvK4-ar_DLjEKvifdb8eBxwBKkgXGPI5XKAxs_OdX/s200/The+Bigot+List.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561103808399877746" border="0" /></a><br />So, that's the update on my writing life and why I haven't posted any good stuff lately. I'm coming around to it though, so please don't give up on me.<br /><br />Because I've my busy writing schedule I've decided to Pimp My Blog for indie or any author who have books to promote. If you want me to host you on a blog tour, answer the following questions and send me one author photo and book covers only.<br /><br />1. Tell us about your book(s).<br /><br /><br />2. How did you go about getting your book published?<br /><br /><br />3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.<br /><br /><br />4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?<br /><br /><br />5. What are you reading? (I added this question to give every author the opportunity to lend to support to other authors coming up in the ranks like we are. :)<br /><br />Hit me up at karla (at) klbradywrites (dot) com if you're interested.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-32508746605485757772010-11-20T09:42:00.000-05:002010-11-20T09:42:26.452-05:00Author Interrogated (extended)<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nhy--kHNEWA?fs=1" width="425" frameborder="0" height="344"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038601263815061063.post-67911789534330612282010-11-13T08:05:00.003-05:002010-11-13T08:46:57.657-05:00Marketing Minute- Activity #2I'm back!<br /><br />You knew I would be. <br /><br />So, the last time I posted, I indicated that I was doing research on blogs who review novels in my genre so that I could set up reviews and possibly interviews and blog tour stops. Well, I sent out 10 e-mails yesterday. I got three responses and all were positive for reviewing and hosting interviews. Yep, I've got a long way to go, but it's a start. I'll send out five e-mails every day from this point forward until I've exhausted my list. Then I'll compile some more.<br /><br />How many should you sign up for? As many as you can. Remember, how blogs work. For example, Becky sets up a blog and has 50 followers. Her information appears on their blogs. Among her 50 followers are ten people who have 1000 followers. So, your information not only appears on their blogs, but also their followers blogs. This is how your book goes viral and you start to build the ever important "buzz." You can never sign up with too many. So, find as many as you can and make it a constant process.<br /><br />A few pointers for crafting your letters:<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_InsertOrderedList" title="Numbered List" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 15);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Numbered List" class="gl_list_num" border="0" /></span></span><br /><ul><li>First, make sure that you at least TRY to personalize each letter to the extent that you can. Take the time to find out the name of the person who runs the blog. This will go a long way toward building goodwill. On some blogs the information isn't always apparent or easy to find, but most blogs who regularly review books have a book review policy page and provide their contact information there.<br /></li><li>Include your book's information: Title, name of publisher (your imprint name or your name), ISBN number, format (tradepaper, hardcover), number of pages, back cover copy, and jpeg of your cover file. </li><li>Be careful of what you post online--anywhere. This not only applies to reaching out to bloggers but your career as an author. Like it or not, people will do research on you as bloggers, potential publishers, readers, etc. are bound to do. Be careful of what you post and what you say. Avoid negative interaction because it may affect whether people want to work with you. I say this because one blogger agreed to host my book and host me on a blog tour partly because I had a positive interaction with a reviewer who gave me a negative review. You never know how that stuff will play into the future, so just avoid the negative stuff altogether if you can.<br /></li></ul>Activity #2<br /><br />For today's activity, I'm going to try and compile a list of book festivals and fairs that I can or will try attend next year to begin setting up my schedule. Now, of course, festivals and fairs are tricky because you have to pay to participate. That means, you need to know if you're gonna have the budget. Even though I'm with a traditional publisher, I doubt very seriously they're gonna pay because I'm not a money-maker yet. But the point of this exercise is finding what you can and listing them on a schedule so that if your budget does allow you to attend in a particular timeframe, you will already have the information compiled if your schedule and budget should allow.<br /><br />How am I going to go about compiling my list? By leaning on an author's best friend--Google. I will Google "book fair", "book festival", "author pavilion", "book fest" along with my geographic area and see what I come up with. I'll list out fees, application deadlines, and website addresses so I can go back and find the information later. Some time down the road, I'll list the ones I can potentially attend on my website schedule.<br /><br />Be selective and don't try to book everything because you need to leave room for bookstore signings on your schedule too. This activity shouldn't take too long--maybe an hour or so. Best thing is, you only need to do it once a year if you do a thorough job the first time. And if you retain the information from year to year, then you only need to update it with new events as they are available. This is a good time of year to compile the list because the festival schedules usually start in February and run through November.<br /><br />So, what are you waiting for? Let's get to it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3