A First Date with a "New to Me" Author?

Comic panel by Amanda Wood. I believe it originally pertained to a mad scientist, but it just as easily applies to first dates, as far as I can tell.

Welcome, Blog Hoppers! If you are here this weekend, you are either (1) a regular (hi, guys!), or (2) coming from the Rebel Reasoning blog hop in honour of Rebel Ink Press's second birthday. 

Hello, one and all!

If you're a regular, you may or may not be aware that Rebel Ink is holding a pretty nifty weekend-long celebration. If you're here as a hopper, that might mean I am a New To You Author!

The theme for this blog hop is "Disastrous First Dates." Well, since we're all friends now, I can admit that I've never had a disastrous first date. Or a date, really. "How can that be?" you might ask. Well, I don't know if it's a generational thing, or just because I'm weird, but I've never actually done the dating thing. I know what dates are, according to TV, but the process never interested me.

So, unless TV has steered me wrong (and, come on, when has TV ever steered anyone wrong?), they go something like this:

You mope around about how gorgeous Dylan (or whatever his name) is, and agonize about WILL HE EVER ASK ME OUT? And, finally, joy oh bliss, he does! Then, the Big Night arrives. You get all dolled up, wondering what to dress for (mini golf, a movie, or brunch in Paris - who knows!?!), and trying not to seem too eager. And then, with a strum of violins, there he is, with his perfectly mussed bedhead with freshly frosted tips. How dreamy! He takes you to that new bistro, and you proudly show him off to the envious girls sitting with lesser mortals around you. You consume very little, pretending that, as a lady person, you never, ever eat. He chats about lacrosse, and you hang on every word. He mumbles something massively ill-informed about the election, and, of course you agree (who cares if your SAT scores are bigger than his waist size? He's too cute to correct!). Then comes the end of the formal non-eating part, and it's time to go. Oh dear! He's forgotten his wallet! Oh well, you have extra money, and anyone can forget something, right? Besides, expecting the man to pay is antiquated. Still pretty into him, you leave the bistro. On the drive home, you're anxious. Will he kiss you? Should you kiss him? Outside your home, he leans towards you - the moment has arrived! Closer, closer, closer... And he plucks a pin out of your hair and starts to pick his teeth with it as he responds to a text on his cell phone.

And... you ditch him and go get yourself a damn sandwich.

Okay, so maybe that's not how dates go, but I still can't say I feel deprived.

Anyway, back to the blog hop. When I discovered I was (clearly) ill-prepared to discuss this topic, I did panic a moment. What would I write? I briefly considered faking a first date disaster, but that didn't seem quite ethical. Instead, I thought to write about something I do know well - reading.

The topic got me thinking. Taking the plunge with a "new author" is a lot like a first date. 

When you take a chance on a new date, you take a risk by spending out a little, either on a meal or a new piece of clothing. This is similar to trying a new author. Judging by the cover and description, you decide the price might be worth it. Maybe you're lucky, and a good friend recommended the author (or date, even), so you start out a little eager.

Could this be The One? The GoodReads dreamboat you've longed for?

In the best case scenario, your friend did know your tastes, and you're off to the races. That money you paid out was no great loss, because hours later you're curled up in bed with the best [novel] you've ever had.

It's love at first sample!

Worst case scenario is not so nice. You take a look, you roll your dice, and... The characterization is shallow, the editing brutal, and the politics are rather iffy. The book drops you off early with a cold shoulder, or, worse, gets a flat half way to no where, and you never arrive to the destination at all. You never take that friend's recommendation again.

You've had a lousy First (Book) Date.

Ouch.

I understand. I know there's a lot of anxiety involved in leaving your tried and true crowd of writerly folk and going off with some handsome looking piece of fluff you met online. There are a lot of come-hither covers on Amazon, and you never know when all you're going to get is a handsome face.

Recently, I've enjoyed both sides of this. The weekend before last, I inhaled yet another book by one of my old favourites, Debbie Macomber. I wouldn't say we're going steady, but we see each other a lot. I like picking up one of her books, because I know there's always a 90% chance that that book-date will be a good one. Yet, sometimes you want some adventure, right? You want that thrilling first date with someone new! So, shortly after that, I tried one from a totally-new-to-me writer, Jean Brashear. It was an exceptional evening. I spent the whole night in a tight ball with a box of Kleenex, reading into the wee hours of the morning, despite having things to do the next day. (You readers will know that these are signs of a successful book encounter. But I'm guessing if you spend a whole night on a date-date with a box of Kleenex, that might not be such a good sign, FYI.)

I admit, there have been New to Me authors (who shall remain nameless here) who stuck me with the bill, and a few who had me calling a cab home halfway through. Alas! However, I can honestly say I've had more "surprisingly good" first (book) dates than not, and New to Me Authors are the spice of the romance-lover's book habit. And, just think, there are so many more left to discover! (Some of them right here in this blog hop!)

So, there you go. My "first date" analogy.

My advice: When it comes to books, do yourself a favour and date around!

Please be sure to visit the other bloggers in the hop - I am sure they're have a lot more authentic first date stories than I. Unless one of them dated a dreamy guy named Dylan. In which case, best not to mention my post to them, okay?

Happy second anniversary, 

Rebel Ink Press!

And don't forget - all Rebel Ink Press titles are 25% off at AllRomanceEbooks, so you've got plenty of chances to find your New to Me Author!

All illustrations courtesy of Rebel Ink Press or artist Amanda Wood.

Happy (Upcoming) Birthday, Rebel Ink!

This weekend, Rebel Ink Press turns two years old! 

Come celebrate with RIP and the Rebel authors. There's a Facebook "Meet the Writers" event on Friday (by invite only, so if you'd like an invite let me know!), and a blog hop all weekend long, starting at Rebel Reasoning. I'm pretty sure there will be excerpts and prizes all over!

Best of all, Rebel titles will be 25% off this weekend long AllRomanceEbooks!

(Including my own five Rebel titles, I hope!)

 

And don't forget the Writing Contest Rebel is running - deadline is August 25th!

Happy Birthday, Rebel Ink!

My Opinions on Lending, Borrowing and Piracy

I know you've all been dying to hear my feelings on the matter, so in light of all the discussion on several of my author boards in recent weeks, I've decided to post a little note on the topic of "piracy" and "sharing" and "lending" and "ebook libraries," etc. Okay, so maybe you haven't been dying to know, but you're going to hear, anyway, 'K?

I should preface this whole discussion by saying that my opinions in no way reflect those of my publishers. They protect copyright, and I appreciate them for it, and I try to follow their policies as closely as I can, since I signed a contract with them and I wish to honour that relationship. Thus, anything I write here does not trump my agreements or change the publishers' desire/actions to protect their investments.

Having said that, I personally go back and forth on the subject.

I admit, I'm torn. I get the sense from others that I should possibly be outraged, like so many of my colleagues, when my books get read for free. I understand this feeling, I really do. When I see one of my books circulating for free, I sigh a little with disappointment. On one hand, it's kind of nice (as a new, little author) that people want to read my book, but it's disappointing that they'd rather not pay for it.

I get paid very little for my work, as it is. This is not my "day job," and I don't live in luxury. In fact, I teach on contract, and I struggle a lot of the time to keep the roof over my kid's head and food on the table, just like everyone. I don't write books for the money, but it would be nice if I got some bread out of publishing them. So, while it's great that people are reading (which really is a dream come true in its own right), it's also discouraging to see free copies going around when I make so little money for creating them.

Don't get me wrong here. In light of being perpetually broke, I also understand that it's hard to afford books at times. I sympathize, believe me. This is likely what saves me from "outrage" and keeps me in the "exhausted sigh" range. It's just not an easy time for anyone right now.

Now, piracy is a different issue from lending. Lending sites don't carry the files; they just match-make lenders with borrowers. Piracy sites hold the file and feed it out endlessly, which is a harsher sort of bummer.

Lending books is a time-honoured tradition, so it's harder to be annoyed by that. I've borrowed paperbacks from people, and I've lent some, so the word "lending" is difficult for me to cry over.

In fact, as a newish author, lending has a nice ring to it. There's a major part of me that thinks how wonderful it would be for someone to turn to their friend with one of my books and say, "Hey, take this - you'll like it!" That's the kind of "marketing" money can't buy, and is worth much more than its weight in gold.

The ebook lending sites are not quite that, though. There, it's strangers lending and borrowing, without the personal recommendations and shared enthusiasm. I still hope it can lead to new "fans," but it's hard to say. Somehow, it just seems different than a couple of sisters swapping paperbacks, but I think I need some more time to figure out how I feel about it.

For now, I guess the word around the block is that ereaders and distributors allow for this, so it's not illegal. So, for the time being, we kind of have to grin and bear it no matter how we feel, and hope for the best. For me, the best outcome is that people borrow one or two, enjoy my work, recommend me or buy my other books. That wouldn't be so bad, come to think of it.

(I should note that I have very little actual knowledge of how lending works, but I'm pretty sure it's not the end of the world. From what I gather, only certain Kindle books are available (which might actually work in the "little" author's favour, if the Big Pubs opt out), and only for 14 days at a time. I've heard B&N only allows ONE lend-out per purchase, EVER, so if that's true I don't think that's much of a threat. (I don't know for sure how many times you can do it with Kindle books, since I've seen different answers.) But, as I say, I don't have hard knowledge, so who knows? My gut says, though, Amazon would be all over lending sites and forums if they were a major drain on profits.)

(ETA: I have since discovered that Kindle books can also only be shared once.)

However, as an aside, I must say I'm not keen on the word "library" for actual file share sites. Libraries pay premium prices for their books and materials, and often buy multiple copies and eventually replace worn ones. Ebook files don't wear out, so it's a different kettle of fish. Eventually, someone could wait around and read my entire opus without anyone paying a dime, theoretically, if ARCs if my books are the root source. (This would be my not-so-good outcome, obviously.)

That's a bit alarming, the speed and eternity of it all. This is where file sharing squicks in a way paperback lending doesn't, I guess.

But I have to admit, while the poverty-stricken me would like the royalties, I cannot come down on the anti-lending side. Would everyone who "borrows" (or straight-up pirates) my book buy it, otherwise? Likely not. But does that put a rosy ring around file sharing? I honesty don't know.

I see good; I see bad. It's how I generally roll.

There is one final thing in all this that weighs on me, though. I know I can't be the only writer who's considered quitting due to the sometimes-low compensation in this business. (Most small pub and self-pub authors don't get advances, so we depend on royalties, which is a crap shoot.) I will always write, since I love it, but I struggle often with whether publishing is worth it. There are better paying second jobs, that's for sure. Or, I could finally get some sleep with my "spare time." Does diminishing the already meager pay-outs for authors discourage productivity? I'm not sure, but it's something I worry about. Yes, I know libraries and friend-sharing has always been with us, and books kept being made, but I wonder if file sharing could be what will drive the genie back in the bottle on indies and small publishers. Sure, there are less gate keepers in publishing today, or at least more gates available, but maybe the pirates will be what knocks "little" authors out of the ring instead. Will the burnout rate keep climbing?

The "everything online should be free" trend is something to consider over the coming years, in my opinion. It's not the whole issue-enchilada, but it's something to think about.

So, after all that rambling and prevarication, what am I left with? I'd love it if people bought my books, but I'm not foaming at the mouth over the whole thing, especially the lending. It might well have some benefits, even if it's frustrating when sales aren't great as it is.

I'm actually kind of okay with people wanting to "borrow" one of my books to see if they might like the others, to be honest. A little flattered, even. But, I would like it if that borrow led to a purchase at some point, I admit, or some other form of reciprocity. Thus, maybe this is my best wish: If you read one of my books for free, and I won't ask how, and liked it, maybe you could leave a review some place. That way, I still get something good out of it. That would lessen my indecision, I think.

In the meantime, I guess my only conclusion is that things happen as they happen. I'll just keep on writing, and not worrying about sales, or sharing. Out of my years of experience on this earth, the only piece of advice I've ever come across that really sticks is this: "Keep on trucking."

In other words: Keep calm and continue writing (and reading), folks.

And, regardless of how you come across my books, I do hope you enjoy them. In the end, that might be the only profit I can really hope for, and the only one that lasts.

My First Anniversary as a Published Author!

Today, October 11, marks one year since my very first title, my paranormal erotic short Waking Kara, was uploaded to Amazon.

This is a convenient way to mark my career milestones - I could have chosen the day I submitted my first novel, or the day it was contracted. But, the significance of seeing my book go live on Amazon is something that will always stick with me. Slapping that cover up on Facebook, and seeing the first sale... These are things I won't ever forget.

So, looking back, how has it gone?

Well, I'm not rolling in money. No big NYC suit has come to scoop me up. I'm not rich, famous, or powerful. But, I've made royalties in the triple-digits, and I have small, but steady, sales (until the recent slump). Waking Kara, for example, has sold well over a hundred copies, internationally. I've published six titles now, with more on the way, and have received some very nice reviews, and no horrible ones. I've learned so very much, and made many good friends. My reputation isn't wide spread, but I think it's solid. Best of all, I have heard from a few readers who've enjoyed reading what I wrote - and there is no price tag that competes with that.

Would I like to be richer, more famous and/or more powerful by next year? Sure, I guess. But, one thing I know - I still want to be writing a year from now. And that's a good reflection on how I've enjoyed my experience.

Thanks to Wild Horse Press, who first took a chance on me, and to Wicked Nights, Decadent Publishing and Rebel Ink, who have added to my career in too many ways to mention.

And thanks to all of you!

It's been a good year. Here's to another!

*
ETA: How perfect is this? Waking Kara got a review on GR and a blog today. Wonderful timing.

Strings Attached for only $3 at Coffee Time Romance: Sale Ends This Weekend!

How do you relate to a man who doesn’t want you to?

Josie Sergeant has learned one thing by carving out her living from the wilds of the Canadian north: perseverance, optimism and the willingness to do what has to be done can overcome even the harshest of obstacles. Life has taught Theo Sabich, a fellow rancher from Australia, that optimism is a fool’s hope.

When their beloved siblings’ impetuous marriage plans pit Josie and Theo against one another to defend their families, they find more than they bargain for. And when they start seeing each other as more than enemies, they face their greatest challenge – finding the courage to reach out for happiness.

Under the northern lights, their attraction ignites beyond their control… The trouble is a one-time “no strings attached” release of passion is easier said than done when love is hanging by a thread.

Just a little reminder for those of you wishing to save a few bucks on my new full length contemporary romance, Strings Attached, Coffee Time Romance has it as a July sales item, and I believe the sale ends this weekend.

Available in PDF and other formats, it is convertible to Kindle via Caliber. 

Strings Attached: 50% Off for a Limited Time

I just did a search to see whether my new contemporary romance novel Strings Attached had gone up on B&N (it has) and Coffee Time Romance (ditto), and discovered, much to my excitement, that the book is Wild Horse Press' Monthly Special at CTR this month!

So, if you want to try Strings Attached at $3 instead of $5.99, HERE'S your chance!

(This is a limited time offer, and I have no control over Coffee Time Romance, and, therefore, no ability to guarantee how long this sale will last, etc. I merely noticed it in my searches. Offer is subject to change without notice, etc.)

"Romantic Literature"???

I was checking the sales links for my new release, which I do daily like a little dirt farmer looking for sprouts - I love seeing the "customers who bought this also bought..." features, and hoping for comments, etc.

Anyway, one little thing is bugging me. On one of my seller sites, my publisher uploaded it with the category "romantic literature" - this, it seems, is a different category than just full-on romance. It's listed as "drama" "contemporary" "romantic literature."

Now, I looked at the other books in the category. While they look good, they all seem quite serious. I wonder if this category might scare people away - do people really want to read 55k of something that sounds so serious? I have never pretended to produce "literature" - just romantic escapism, really.

A part of me wishes to take this as a compliment, as it kind of denotes quality... But if people wanted to read "romantic literature," wouldn't they just hit Jane Austen again?

My book is having an identity crisis - or, maybe, I am.

Comments?

SALE at All Romance Ebooks! TODAY ONLY!

Hey, folks! I just got an exciting email from ARE - They are having a 50% rebate sale TODAY ONLY! They are also celebrating their birthday with a fabulous contest.

You can find two of my books there - HALF OFF!

Today only.