YA Indie Carnival : Amazon–All In or Diversify?

The cutest salt & pepper shakers on the planet!

This is such a fascinating topic. I’m for DIVERSIFY.

Here’s why. Christmas before last, KDP Select was new. I jumped in. I did FABULOUS with my royalties in Dec/Jan and then in February everything tanked. I don’t know why, this was just my experience. I had no other channels to make up the shortfall and all my eggs were in the Amazon basket. This was pretty stressful for me. Amazon has blazed the trail for indie authors, so I was really all about jumping in with them and had no question that what they were proposing would be good for my sales and that KDP Select was going to be the best way to have my books find their audience. But, it didn’t turn out that way for me. Now, I have lots of author friends who worked their KDP select titles AMAZINGLY and had just the opposite experience. They did their free days and promoted them very successfully and shot to the top of their categories and then the momentum led them to carry great ratings in their categories after the free period. But, this was not the case for me. For me, the five day free downloads were big, not huge, but big. By the time the free days were over I shot to the bottom of the paid rankings and then gained a little bit of momentum in my book’s categories but not enough to keep any one of them on top for long. It was thrilling seeing the books go to the top for however short a period of time though.

IMHO, all my eggs in one basket isn’t a good idea. I mean, I wouldn’t just buy one stock for retirement, right? I wouldn’t tell my child to just have one friend. IDK, it’s kind of like that for me. And I came to this realization when I talked to a friend and AMAZING author Chanda Hahn. We were at the 4th Annual Pacific Northwest Book Festival in downtown Portland, OR and in between chats with readers and runs to Starbucks we talked about today’s topic. Chanda told me that her titles took off on iBooks. That it never got the mo’ on Amazon the way they did on iBooks. I thought that was interesting.

After 13 on Halloween & Winnemucca came off the KDP Select period I marketed them on other channels. December 2012, 30% of my sales were from channels other than Amazon. Amazon is where the most free downloads from 13 on Halloween (Shadow Series #1) take place, the second most frequent place readers download 13 on Halloween is Page Foundry, in third place was Sony. Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series #2) sold the most on Smashwords & Apple. Winnemucca sold the most on Smashwords and Barnes & Noble last month. Transfer Student sold the most on Amazon. So, Chanda got me to realize that books have their own sales energy. And while one title might do great on Amazon, another title might take off on a different channel for no particular reason. So, heck, I’m up for my stories finding their readers anyway they can. And even if I only get an occasional reader off of Apple so be it. I’ll take that sale

Every month is different but the trend for me has been that 30% of my sales have been from other channels and I’d hate to marginalize those readers. IMHO, one size doesn’t fit all. So, what’s your take? As a reader, are you happy when you can get your books anyway you want? Or, are you a loyal Amazon Prime Borrower? I’d love to know.

As an author, I do enjoy when a reviewer needs a certain kind of format and I’m able to offer it to them. It’s great to not have to sweat the exclusivity issue!

This is just my IMHO. There’s as many opinions on this as authors So, if you want to find out what the other carnis’ experience has been check them out by clicking here! Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by. I thought I’d share this pic of these salt & pepper shakers. My mom was in the hospital and my sis took dad out for a little lunch at his favorite Thai food place and there, on the table were these cuties. You know how when you’re just spent and could use a little hug. Well, that’s what I was when I saw these guys. I hope they make you feel good if you need a little hug today!

The Halloween Unicorn & a gift for you…

 

This year I’m going to be a unicorn for Halloween. I’ve never gone to a Halloween party as a mythical animal before and I thought the time was right

Are you dressing up tonight? What are you going to be?

I thought I’d give you a treat instead of a trick this Halloween. So, for today only you can go to Smashwords and use this coupon NE68Y to download a free copy of TRANSFER STUDENT, an intergalactic tale of beauty & the geek. I hope you enjoy Rhoe & Ashley’s story. What would you do, if a boy geek alien’s science fair experiment went horribly wrong and he swapped lives with you, a popular Beverly Hills surfer girl?

Here’s a big HALLOWEEN hug for my good friends that I met just a year ago, and now they’re all such good friends. Nothing like a haunted tour of Savannah, Ga! Here’s some more info on the Paranormal Plumes tour last Halloween.

The Plumes head out on the town for a scare at The Sorrel-Weed House

Terrifying Halloween Teaser

Here’s this week’s terrifying teaser. I’m thrilled to highlight another Central California Coast author, Linda Covella. Here’s a little bit from her  very sweet story, A Jack O’ Lantern for Pop-Pop:

Eddy studied his Jack O’Lantern. Something wasn’t right. Something was missing.

He searched the house and found Pop-Pop lying on the living room recliner—upside down. “It’s good for the circulation,” Pop-Pop said.

His chin looked like his forehead. His mouth looked like a Cyclops’ eyeball. His eyes and eyebrows looked like two mouths with bristly beards. Poking out of each ear was a wiry tuft of hair.

That was it! That was what Eddy’s Jack O’Lantern needed.

Read the rest here!

Have you carved your pumpkin yet?

Happy Halloween! Get your spook on blog hop

Welcome to Get your Spook On, where you’ll find over a dozen spine-chilling stories of the supernatural to put you in the Halloween mood.

Hop through all ten blogs to read the spooky questions our authors have answered. Answer the questions yourself to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Amazon and one of four chapter critiques offered by a few of our amazing authors. Each question you answer will be worth one entry, so you can earn a total of ten chances by answering every question. To get additional entries, tweet the following or paste it to your Facebook status (and comment below to let us know you’ve done so):

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Get your spook on! Ten authors share their scary stories and give out #Halloween treats. http://bit.ly/S3UE13

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The deadline to enter is 6:00 PM EDT on October 31st. Check back here on November 2nd to see a list of winners.p>

Now for my creep-a-riffic question:

Question: What demons, real or imagined, does your character have to face?

Lisa Nowak: Alex’s biggest demon is that he’s afraid he’s worthless, like his father says, or even worse, that he’s just as violent as his dad.

Heather McCorkle:The demons of self-loathing, mistrust, and prejudice.

Lisa Ard: My main character, Anne Parson, must find the courage to seek what she needs – a family.

Marla Bowie LePley: In my published book, my MCs have to face how crazy people become when faced with their own mortality and when presented with life suddenly devoid of any rules. In my WIP, my MC has to face the ghost of her deceased mother, life long rejection and addiction.

Magan Vernon: In the first book, Alex has to face racism like she never thought possible. The anti human kind. In book 2, Alex has to decide if she wants a future without Ace, in New York, or continue on with their relationship. In book 3…well…marriage equality is a big issue

Stacey Wallace Benefiel: Flora has to face her past in order to become a hero in the present. Going from drunken party girl to leader of a rebellion takes some guts. Literally, her enemies are no less than the Gods of the entire planet.

Laura Elliot’s character, Drew: The hardest thing I’ve had to do in five hundred years is to be honest with Roxie and tell her about the shadows––our alter egos who want nothing more that to become human. Shadows are the kinds of demons that make us say things we don’t mean or do things that aren’t like us, things we can’t explain. We do things and don’t even know the reason why. We look different and become inexplicable, at times. The second demon I faced was the look in Roxie’s eyes when she realized she’s the only one who can save the world from the shadow onslaught. It was the demon of loss. Soon I’d lose her to the shadows.

Ali Cross: Well, Desi is a Demon, so if it’s bad, she’s probably faced it. She’s probably had dinner with it.

Laura Marshall: Clara’s demon is wondering if the man she loves actually has feeling for her as well or if they’re just travel companions.

Cindy Hogan: Her own self-doubt. Being labeled and bullied her whole life makes it hard to become amazing.

Don’t forget to answer this question in the comments below for an additional chance to win.

And now, here are our spooktacular books!

AFTER by Marla Bowie LePley (YA dystopian)

Ger, Laney, and Jenny, three teens who have never met, live a terrifying existence after all the adults suddenly die. Each have their own story. Psychotic teenager, Roc, takes over a secluded mountain town and nurses a cruel fixation for Jenny. She may be the town’s only hope and must choose between saving herself, or saving everyone else. Ger, having already experienced tragedy, doesn’t know how to cope and is all too ready to give up. Laney, lonely and lost before the disaster, discovers unexpected love. But will it last? As Roc’s evil begins to grow, the three of them must come together and find a way to end his reign of terror.

Amazon

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Created (book 3 of the Watched series) by Cindy Hogan (YA suspense)

Ari and her friends find themselves in an independent spy school in Belgium, Bresen Academy. Test scores reveal her true abilities and the director wants to send her onto to more advanced training school immediately. She is given a two week reprieve to explore the school’s training program and hopefully make amends with both Reese and Marybeth. Despite her lack of advanced training, the director convinces Ari she would be the best fit for a mission that surfaces in Prague with a group calling themselves Division 57. Uncertain, but wanting to please, she agrees. She quickly discovers there is nothing easy about being a spy and finds her very life on the line.

Amazon ( Get book 1 here)

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Dead Heat by Lisa Nowak (YA paranormal/urban fantasy)

Alex is a machine whisperer. He can tell what’s wrong with a broken-down car with a touch. But his gift can’t save him from the brutality of his meth-addict father. For two years, Alex experienced kindness through Cole, his mentor. Now Cole’s dead, and the violence in Alex’s life is escalating.

When Cole reappears as a ghost, Alex clings to the tenuous link. Then he learns Cole might’ve sacrificed his chance to cross over. Jade, the first girl to look beyond Alex’s past, assures him Cole can reach the Other Side-if Alex escapes from his dad. But a previous terrifying attempt has convinced Alex it’s impossible. Unless he can find the courage to try, his friend may be earthbound forever.

Amazon Barnes and Noble

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Inky the Icky Black Spider by Laura Marshall (Children’s short story)

Inky, the icky black spider is on a mission this Halloween night. His mission: to gain entrance to the impenetrable Victorian Manson to procure the mouthwatering candy that is stashed away inside. He’ll use all his spider skills to obtain access to the candy holding facility. But will all his training be enough?

This Flash Fiction Halloween treat for the senses is sure to delight children of all ages.

Amazon

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Saving Halloween by Lisa Ard (middle grade/ tween paranormal)

When book-smart Anne Parson meets Halloween Spavento, she sees exactly what she wants to see — a friend. Halloween waves away trouble, magically silences school bullies and offers Anne unfailing friendship. But, when the Spavento family’s enchanting exploits are exposed, will Anne face her fears and save Halloween? A spellbinding tale of outcasts who find acceptance, a girl who discovers the true meaning of family, and characters who are not always what they seem. 2012 Kay Snow Award Winner.

Amazon

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Shadow Slayer (book 2 of the Shadow series) by Laura Elliott (middle grade/ tween paranormal)

Shadows will do anything to become human. You see their influence everyday. You say things you don’t mean or do things that aren’t like you. You look, different. Friends you’ve known forever suddenly never call.

As a freshman, Roxie just wants to fit in which is impossible because she barely runs into her friends at her huge high school. Adrianne’s disappearance and Hayden’s attention rock Roxie’s world. But nothing rocks it like the most gorgeous guy at school, Drew. And nothing is more important to Roxie than astral projecting back to Planet Popular to solve the mystery of the map. But that changes when Drew invites Roxie to homecoming. Hayden warns her that something’s wrong. Why would a guy like Drew like Roxie anyway? Drew must want something. Hayden’s right. Drew is…different. Planet Popular was just the beginning. Part of a bigger world, the Shadow World. There’s a war brewing between the world of humans and the world of shadows. When the shadow invasion begins at Roxie’s high school, she’ll not only fight for her life but the lives of her family and friends, when she discovers she’s the Shadow Slayer, the one human who can save Earth from the shadow onslaught. But, Roxie can’t even kill a spider. Oh yeah, there’s an evil English teacher, an enchanted play, a sword of Sandonian steel, a homecoming of horrors, and seven magic words too.

Amazon (Get book 1 here)

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Day of Sacrifice Omnibus by Stacey Wallace Benefiel (New Adult/Adult Urban Fantasy)

Born to die, a group of Sacrifices and their Guardian Angels band together to kill the Gods and free the world.

The Day of Sacrifice Omnibus is intended for adults due to language and sexual situations.

All six Day of Sacrifice stories together in one volume!

Amazon Barnes and Noble

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Desolate (book 2 of the Desolation series) by Ali Cross (YA paranormal romance)

Where darkness lives, all will become desolate.

It’s been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael.

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she’s injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren’t so final after all.

And this time, the power of love-for a friend, for a lover-may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within.

Amazon Barnes and Noble (Get book 1 here)

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How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon (YA science fiction)

High school senior Alex Bianchi’s estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn’t your typical military base. It’s an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they’re on the brink of intergalactic war?

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Click here to go to the next stop in the Get Your Spook on blog hop.

YA Indie Carnival––Happy Halloween: Spooky, Scary, Eerie Excerpts

This week at the carnival all the carnis are sharing their spooky, scary, eerie excerpts! Soooo…join in on the fun and share some of your spine-tingling stories too. Did you break into a cemetery as a kid and SWEAR you heard moans and groans when no one else was around? Comment with your scariest memories, and I promise I’ll make your heart race even faster if you listen to 13 ON HALLOWEEN, available now at Audible.com ($1.99 for a limited time). In 13 ON HALLOWEEN (Shadow Series #1), Roxie is afraid of her attic. With good reason. In SHADOW SLAYER (Shadow Series #2) Roxie has a lot more to be afraid of. Here’s a blood-curdling Zombie excerpt:

I turn another corner in the labyrinth. Every leaf, every twig, and even the grass changes colors. Unnatural colors. I startle at a huge rustle beside me and bite my nails.

Two disembodied arms stick out of the bush next to me. My heart beats hard against my chest. I try to wriggle out of his grip but whoeveritis clamps down on my arms making it hard for me to get any leverage.

“AAAAAHhhhhh!” I scream, writhing back and forth. I fight to free my arms but he’s already wrestled them to my sides. I can’t move. He lifts me a few inches off the ground. I kick and stare at my useless hands and spot the long nails with black nail polish that begin to dig into my skin. There’s a tattoo on each finger. All the same. Stars, I think.

“I want to suck your blood!” he says laughing, lowering me to the ground. As soon as my feet get a little traction I kick and try to run away.

“Ouch! Drew, control your woman!” One of the guys says, a familiar voice. A football player steps out of the bushes. He loosens his grip and places an arm, the size of my thigh, over my shoulders. He marches us out of the labyrinth. I twist around, searching the maze. There’s no sign of the sword, my sword.

Drew doubles over, laughing and the prankster takes my hand and places it in Drew’s. My gaze falls on the spot of fabric where Drew’s boutonniere isn’t. We’re surrounded by a bunch of homecoming zombies. Sixteen-year-old zombies. Their tuxedo coats all ripped and fake-aged with chalk or something. The black make-up around their eyes smudge into their white make up, their faces so pale they kind of glow in the moonlight.

“Zombies don’t suck blood!” Drew says between laughs.

“I know it just sounds so much better than I’d like to eat your brains,” the guy says. “Who’s this tasty morsel?”

“Roxie, this is everyone,” Drew says. In the middle of a circle of homecoming zombies, I immediately breathe easier. “Everyone, this is Roxie,” Drew gives my hand a little squeeze. I sink into his hug, floating my fingers over the spot where his boutonniere should be.

“Finally. Hey, I’m Franklin.” A large guy, the guy who had me in his grip and the size of a line backer, exactly the size of a line backer, pulls me away from Drew and buries me in a bear hug.

“That’s enough,” Drew says, taking a hand to Franklin’s shoulder, separating us.

“This is the one, huh?” another guy, smaller than the rest, says. “I’m CeCe.” He kind of scowls as he puts his hands in his pockets and rubs his chin with his shoulder. A little of his undead makeup rubs off on his brown suit coat.

“Hey,” I say. “What’s with the whole Halloween homecoming get up?” It’s all I can manage. I get super shy when I’m around people I don’t know, let alone football players who are years older than me who I barely know. Guys who just tricked me.

“She totally fell for it guys!” Another of the guys says.

“This is Randy,” Drew says, using his whole arm to point him out.

Randy makes like he’s going to run into me and dodges me at the last minute. “May I have this dance?” he says in a made-up English accent. He doesn’t wait for an answer and twirls me around then dips me and says, “I am you know… randy….” with a mischievous smile.

I turn to face Drew. “So what? All that was a joke?”

Drew gazes at the ground before he walks over and wraps me in his arms. His lips meet mine in a forceful kiss. “All of that,” he says. It’s like the best date ever, aside from the fact he made me believe I’m a Shadow Slayer and have to save the world. 

For another excerpt and for the Shadow Series playlist, dream cast and more click here.

Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series #2) is available at Amazon. 13 on Halloween (Shadow Series #1) is free at Amazon.

I dare you to check out the other spooky scary & erie excerpts from my fellow carnis! Click here for more!

 

Freaky Friday! Win a free copy of 13 on Halloween (shadow series #1) audiobook :D

One of my favorite things to do is to sit around the campfire and tell scary stories, really scary stories! Audiobooks remind me of that.

So, I’ve decided to have some fun this weekend. I need this. Here’s my problem. I have no clue what to be this Halloween.

This year, I’ve been having trouble getting into the spirit for this, one of my favorite holidays. So help me out, and enter to win a copy of 13 on Halloween audiobook! 

 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Tweet: Trick-or-Treat! Enter to win a 13 on #Halloween #audiobook by @Laurawriting. Enter today! http://wp.me/1J9jx #ya

2. Comment on this post with a link to a photo of either you dressed up on Halloween or a very cool costume that you found online.

Every comment is an entry. Every Tweet is an entry.

On Monday, October 15th I’ll pick a random winner! Because Mondays can epically suck & how fun would it be to find out you’ve won an audiobook?

I’ll go first:

Hubby and I as hippie vampires at a friend’s party in LA

Hope you have a fabulous October 13th tomorrow:D

If you want to join in the TOMORROW ONLY FUN on Facebook, like my author page and join us if you dare!

Read more about the Shadow Series here.

The Audiobook: Does your prose go to 11?

The Shadow Series Dream Cast

With the release of Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series #2) I thought I’d share my Dream Cast for the series. Read more about the series here

Here’s The Shadow Series Dream Cast:

Chloe Moretz as Roxie O’Grady :

Roxie Speak: Tarantulas- scares the heck out of people Hamsters- hops from one thing to the other without really doing anything Cats- annoys the heck out of me Owls- knows everything Zebras- thinks everything is black and white Anteater- big-nosed Dodo- fail Condors- barely survives Dodo Gauntlet- how geek brothers turn little sisters into nerds without said-sisters even knowing Peacock- a popular boy or girl Peacock Nectar- Red Bull

Ty Wood as Hayden, the boy Roxie has a crush on in 13 on Halloween:

Shadow Slayer’s Drew:

 

Lia Marie Johnston as Ally, Roxie’s best friend:

Jenna Boyd as Adrianne, Peacock Queen:

Chase Crawford as Mitch, Roxie’s oldest brother:

Jason Dolley as Brian, Roxie’s other older brother:

Drew Barrymore as Roxie’s Mom:

Seth Rogan as Roxie’s Dad:

The Shadows are coming! SHADOW SLAYER (Shadow Series #2) Teaser–Release Day tomorrow

Shadow Slayer, book 2 in The Shadow Series, Release Day is tomorrow! I thought I’d celebrate by posting a teaser here. If you haven’t read 13 on Halloween, book 1, you can get it for free on Amazon, just click here! [also available for free on iBooks] To check out trailers, playlists and other fun stuff about The Shadow Series click here. I’m adding new stuff all the time Stay tuned for a fun Shadow Slayer swag giveaway tomorrow!

Here’s a scene from the homecoming dance at Oakdale High School:

The band’s taken a break and we’re dancing slow to a song I’ve never heard before. It’s perfect for right now. My first dance at my first homecoming on Earth. I place my head on Drew’s chest and breathe easy for what seems like the very first time all night. He sighs, stroking my thumb with his. I could stay here forever. 

“Sorry about that,” Drew says.

“Old girlfriend?” I ask, straightening up just a little, leaning my head back. I catch Drew staring down at me with his golden eyes and forget all about the way he tricked me at the labyrinth. One look at him and I melt.

“Very old.”

“Am I your girlfriend?” I can’t help it. The words just leave my lips, and in the silence after, I wish I had some sort of filter. A boyfriend filter that would stop me from asking lame questions like am I your girlfriend? I can’t help but think that Adrianne would never ask a question like that. And girls that do can’t help but sound kind of psycho. I can’t believe no one has heard from Adrianne. It’s been months.

“What do you think?”

I think I might be too young to feel the way I do about Drew, but it’s been hard coming back as a younger girl after I lived a day as a seventeen-year-old high school homecoming queen in the shadow world. Some things I can’t forget. Some things I can’t change. I’m older now. Even though I don’t look like it.

Drew slides his hands over my hips then they travel up, inch-by-inch, along my ribs. He grabs a hold of my hands and unwraps them from around his neck. We stand toe-to-toe facing each other. Drew spins me in a circle. The reflections from the disco ball shower us and make it seem like we’re dancing in a dream world. He spins me again then pulls me close. I bury my head in his chest and stare at our shadows on the floor. But I only see one. Mine. 

YA Indie Carnival : How do you Pinterest? Using Pinterest for Character/Setting Inspiration

Witches Brew!

Achem…I don’t know why, I just never got into it. I remember my friend Abbi Glines (you HAVE to check out her new book WHILE IT LASTS—- O. M. G.)  talking about Pinterest in a FB post a while back and I sort of scratched my head and looked it up and that’s about as far as I got. You HAVE to check out Suzy Turner’s and T.R. Grave’s posts about Pinterest because they are WAY more savvy then me. I’m at the total newbie stage where I’m just beginning to figure out how amazingly fun this can be. Honestly, I’m more of a visual person than anything so if you are too, I think you’ll love it. Basically Suzy talks about using Pinterest to make book mood boards. I love that! I’ve totally made those out of magazine cut outs. This is just a super-cool digital way to share your inspirations for your books with readers and friends. I’m really into Halloween and I’ve started a little Halloween board. It’s a sort of mash up of food, jewelry and odd Halloween stuff I come across. I’ve also got a board called Inspiration. Not for any book in particular, but when I see the photo, a story comes alive for me. My next board is called Dreams Come True. It’s great fun and like Suzy and Ms. Grave say…TOTALLY ADDICTING….like I needed one more distraction from my edtis? Not. How do you use Pinterest? What boards do you have?

To find out more about carnis using Pinterest click here.

To find out what’s new at the carnival this week click here.

See you at the carnival next week when we post on the topic “Beat the heat”!