Libraries

I did this on canva.com.

I just finished using it in some of the FB groups to drum up some KU business. Catch up time. I'm half way finished with Deadly Flames so it will be out soon.

My bookshelves are kind of bare since I got rid of a lot of my books when I was living in the other place and when I moved. I didn't want to clutter the new place up right away with my ragged old books. I had had a lot of my books for a long time and they were showing the wear so I decided I'd get new(er) version of the books when I could.

I also don't have much books on writing. I have to get them from the used bookstores and they don't always have good selections. There are two writer's handbooks and one old writer's market on the shelve. plus a dictionary and the name book. Also there is my story idea journals and my own books.I also have two years worth of Writer's Digest magazines.  Recently I got Mystery Writer's Handbook by the MWA to add to my collection.

A lot of my reading about writing had been library books. There are a lot of good books out there, but when you lose your library privileges you cut down on what you can get. So back to the used bookstores.

I love used bookstores. I love books.

When I go to used bookstores I can spend hours just wandering around. It's even better if I can actually buy something! :)

But I do sometimes just go to a used bookstore to be surrounded by books. To smell them. I probably will never have a house with a library so this is the closest I can come. The public library is nice but it just doesn't smell or feel the same as a used bookstore or personal library does. Too many people and too new of a smell and look.

At flea markets the stalls with books keep me longer.  A yard sale with boxes of books also keeps my attention longer.

Books are just my thing. I can't get enough of them. Sometimes I go on reading binges and hardly pay attention to the outside world.  Writing sometimes does that to me too. I get so wrapped up that I ignore everything but the words in front of me.

I would love to own a used bookstore. I don't know if I'd be able to sell the books though. I'd be like selling my own kids. Which come to think of it, if they were like my cousins I might. :) 

Marketing &zilch

Last couple of days I've been marketing Earth Reader on facebook.

It's been free. I set it up to celebrate the release of Mortal Voice. I wanted to make sure everyone had the chance to read my first book. It had taken me years to get it done and I'm proud of it. Though there are changes I would make, little ones. I think we all have that when we publish a book and look at it later.

I got that book signing set up for May 5th too.

Over eighty-two people took advantage of the promotion so far. That's the most I've ever had. I hope some of them do reviews.

Should I say 'good' reviews?  :)

I wouldn't mind them getting the other books in the series as well.

Marketing or advertising is hard work, let me tell you. I went through twelve to fifteen facebook groups, putting up a 'flyer'.  And I'm going to do it all over again with Mortal Voice once I get a 'flyer' done on canva.com or I'll just do a link like I've been doing the last two days. It's a little easier that way.

This is one of the 'flyers' I made on canva.com when MV first came out. Grabs your attention doesn't it?

Or maybe just the link and preview from Amazon. It's hard to decide what and how you want to market when you are limited by finances. For right now I'm limited to facebook as I got zero dinaroes.

 Well, and the signing.

Book signings are good ways to at least get your name out there. I plan to hand out a lot of my business cards. With the popularity of ebooks, I might get some of the customers to order online even it they don't want to buy a hard copy right then.  And I'm having my second book Fire Walker free for that weekend on Kindle.

Enticement.

Toby is also having a book at this signing. Only 2 left. I had them made at UPS store. If you want one bring a small bag of Meow mix cat food. Toby has no use for money but he sure loves his cat food. :)

Work & "free time"

There's no such thing as "free time".

When you're not working at work, you're working at home. Cleaning, making dinner, laundry and running errands take up much of this so called "free time".  How can you call that "Free"?

I'm working a minimum at my work because it is stressful due to being short-handed all the time. And they haven't hired anyone and are unlikely to do so. So I have more time at home than most. But that doesn't mean I don't work.

Writing is work.  Don't let anyone tell you different.

Before you start you have research. No matter what type of book you are writing there is always research. That research goes into a book bible that you use as reference. 

Then there's the writing itself. Unless you're a magical wordsmith, the words won't just flow straight from your mind to the page. You will spend hours in front of a computer, getting carpal tunnel syndrome, and eye-strain headaches, trying to get it just right. Once the book is finished there's still work to do.

Meanwhile there's household chores to do. They don't magically go away cause you're working on the 'Great American Novel'.

"Free time" is like discretionary income: a fantasy that normal people want to have

Reminder

I'm having a book signing on Cinco de Mayo and here's the link to the newsletter from ABC books.

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I should have my new book out and ready. 

Mortal Voice is the first of a trio of books. I only have three planned but one never knows what the future holds. So I'm going to leave the third book open-ended.

So a spoiler of a sort!

I will have only a few of my older books at the book signing. I usually don't keep a lot on hand most of the time because I'm limited in storage space. But I should have a lot of the new book.

So come see me the 5th of May at ABC Books...