UPDATE!!! Free Kindle Weekend

After I unleashed my blog post I discovered something fascinating...

A LOT of people hang out at Amazon on a Sunday night.  I think most of those people scour the Best Seller Lists for free books.

Final tally as of 1 am EST...

#8 in Fiction > Humor
#53 in Fiction > Romance
Ranked #134 for ALL free ebooks
2,453 downloads!!!!!

Wow!  That was a huge jump.

Squee!!!!

"Game of Hearts" Free Kindle Weekend

This past weekend I offered the Kindle version of "Game of Hearts" for free at Amazon.  As of 5:30 pm today, the book was downloaded 1,317 times during the promotion.  The breakdown by country is...

United States (includes India) = 1,246

United Kingdom = 54

Denmark = 6

France = 5

Italy = 5

Spain = 1

Why would I offer the book for free?  Simply because I prefer people have the chance to read it and enjoy it.  Honestly, until you get an agent and a nationwide publisher willing to put their neck on the line to put your work out there, you don't make money writing.  Not this kind of writing and not the kind of money that would allow me to move to Boston and write 24/7.

Another reason is that agents and publishers watch the Best Seller lists at Amazon.  If I can move up the list and catch someone's eye, fantastic.  

So how did we do today???

As of December 7, 2012, "Game of Hearts" Kindle Edition was ranked #485,087.

And now???

This format of "Game of Hearts" is currently ranked #206 out of over one million books in the Kindle Store.

And!!!!

Ranked #9 in Fiction > Humor

I'm actually quite thrilled!!!  My book should up in the first page of a Best Seller List on Amazon.  This was a lot better than I'd even dare hope.  Will it get me noticed?  Meh.  Probably not.  But that's ok.  Over 1,300 people downloaded it.  Many of those people were other authors on Twitter who know what it's like and what I'm doing.  They probably won't read it.  Some were competing authors who were doing the same thing.  Heck, I downloaded over 20 books myself.  Including books beating me in the same category! Because we all know the competition isn't each other.  I mean, look at some of the junk out there on the store racks.  It's about catching someone's eye on a good day.  Something I've never been good at doing.  Especially where self-promotion is concerned!  Oh lord!  Pessimistic people with low self-esteem should not try to market themselves!  What a disaster!  

I never thought I'd say this...but I like Twitter.  It's a fascinating resource, if that's what you're using it for.  People don't follow me because they want to know how my day at work was, which is good because I really don't care to tell them.

So, it was a very anxiety filled weekend doing this, but it was a lot of fun.  I will probably do this again, but only after Book #2 is out.  Shooting for April 2013!!!

WANTED: COVER FOR "RED HILLS"

A few years ago I wrote a 4,000 word comedic ghost story called "Red Hills." It was chosen to be included in an anthology by one of the larger small-book presses. Unfortunately the press had to cancel their anthologies due to lack of funds, so I've decided to put it out on Amazon as a free Kindle download. It'll add something to my Author credits and honestly, I really like the story and would prefer people read it than to see it sitting on my computer as a reminder of that $40 royalty check I almost got.

Even though it won't be offered in paperback, I still need a cover for Amazon.  Anyone wanna help me with that?

Here's a description of the story...

When a live teenager decides to haunt Red Hills Cemetery, George and his two best dead friends try to exorcise her from his grave.

Here's my idea for the cover...

Does anyone wants to make me a cover just to see their name on Amazon as cover designer?? Or maybe you have a photograph of a cool cemetery gate I could photoshop? Doesn't have to have the mausoleum in it.  It's just an idea.  I don't even care if it's black & white, or color, or sepia. Or you can even come up with your own design! Maybe a tombstone with a funny old skeleton peaking out from behind. Just something better than what I drew.  If you'd like to read the story for more inspiration, let me know. I'll email you a pdf copy.

(I just noticed that it looks like my iron gate has marshmallow chicks sitting on top of it. Huh. I hate those damn things.)

Got something for me? Shoot me an email  ~ skdeal@gmail.com

Thanks, Steph

RomCon & Shelf Unbound

While researching contests and website about romance novels, which is essentially what Game of Hearts is, I've come across some neat sites.

http://www.romconinc.com/

RomCon is a contest and a review site for Romance novels and all their sub-genres.  My novel is a romantic comedy set in a mystery.  Comedy is the tone; Romance is the A Story (main plot); Mystery is the B Story (subplot).  In future books the mystery might play a bigger role, but I love playing with these characters so much and all the crazy, goofy things they do, that the comedy and relationships will probably always be the front story.

Anyway, you can go to RomCon and read reviews on Romance novels in your favorite genres - contemporary, suspense, historical, erotica, paranormal, & sci-fi/fantasy.  I go just to look at the book covers.  HAHAHAHA!  All better than mine, but I still laugh at them.  My favorite are the erotica covers.  My buddy Pam said it the best, "How many people are on that cover?  Ewwwww."

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Another great website for the avid reader is...


http://www.shelfmediagroup.com/

Shelf Unbound is strictly digital, so you can only read it online.  But it's free!  It's a great magazine for readers who are looking for reviews of something different.  Each issue is just loaded.

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I love to read, but I don't do it alot.  My mind wanders badly.  I can usually only read on vacation when there's nothing else going on.  Then that's all I want to do!  I've tried to read before bed and I fall asleep.  I know...go to bed earlier.  Lately I've been too busy.  Trying to be an author.  :)

And Home Again...

Back from vacation...physically.  Mentally, my brain is still having a great time.

The trip home added a new addition to my list of things that should die.  This time it's an entire chain of stores.

Books-A-Million.  I hate you.

I used to love that bookstore.  We stopped there on this trip to browse the clearance bins and to see what's new.  I should have guessed it was going to be a disaster when I was greeted by a big display for Fifty Shades of Grey, which is such a horribly written book that even the author said, "What do you mean people are reading it?  It's crap."  I will agree with her on that point.  I could go on for a very long time about just how awful that book is, but I'm trying to put that experience behind me.

Back to what really must be wiped from the planet.  Books-A-Million.

Drew and I decided to get an audiobook for the ride home.  I had some pirated ones in the car already, but we really wanted to listen to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  Instead of complaining about having to pay $18 for it, Drew reminded me I was circulating positive money back into the financial flow of the Universe.  Or something like that.  He was right.  So I took it up to the register.

The checkout girl, like almost all checkout personnel in stores now-a-days, asked if I was a member of their book club.  "No."  Did I want to be?  "No."  It's only $20 a year.  "Definitely not."  She proceeded to spend a good five minutes explaining all the wonderful aspects of being in their club.  "Still...no."  She then told me I qualified to receive three magazines for free for two months.  "Not interested."  I think she was disappointed in me.  At this point I put on my best "I know this is your job, but you're pissing me off" look.  Complete with stern jaw, terse smile and sympathic eyes.  It probably looked more like I was trying to hold back a fart.

After nearly ten minutes of trying to pay for my item...only my item and nothing else...we finally escaped.

Me:  Well, that was extremely annoying.
Drew:  Very.
Me:  Books-A-Million just lost another customer.
Drew:  Two, actually.
Me:  This is why I pirate media from the internet.
Drew:  I'm starting to agree.

To make matters worse, the audiobook was boring. I'm not sure if the book just doesn't translate well when read aloud but three CD's into the nine CD set and even Drew was bored.  I will grant the author Seth Grahame-Smith credit for being an excellent writer.  I just wanted to hear less about Abe's life and history, and more about vampires and hunting.  The little bit he'd gotten into by the time we stopped listening was done quickly and predictably.  It just wasn't exciting enough for the very long drive from SC to NY.  I'm looking forward to the movie though!  Very much so.

Does anyone want Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter on audiobook?  It's free.  I won't even make you join my club.