An exciting start to December! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Hello!

There are an exciting few days coming up for me, how about you? Today is the last day of NaNo. I've about 1500 words to go on my novel and I'm sure I can do that with my eyes shut, and they probably will be! Most of it's vomitus, but I'm really excited about the plot if not the writing. It was far too big a project for a month, as are most NaNo novels, so really the work is just beginning...Indulge me, Clarissa Draper says she always fiddles with a cover first to help focus her ideas for her current novel, so I had a quick play and whipped this up. After my previous post on debut novels I couldn't resist the tag at the bottom, lol!


E-book Boot Camp's over so I'll be sharing more later. I'm so excited about all the things I learned but there are so many decisions to make...

This Friday December 2, RomanticFridayWriters kicks off again with the first challenge of the month - response to this picture:

Everyone can have some fun! You can write prose or a poem up to 600 words in response to the picture. There needs to be some romantic element within. After you've written your entry, go to the RomanticFridayWriters website and link to your story. Any further questions, ask in comments.

The second challenge has been posted, due Friday December 16. The theme is Sparkle! What fun we can have with that one! Back to the 400 words or less limit again. After initial groaning, RFWer members have honed their flash fiction skills and enjoy the low-word limit challenge. Great for those editing skills.

So you are invited to join us for both our challenges and many more in the future.


Also on Friday December 2, Michael at ...in time is celebrating his one year blogoversary by giving away Amazon Gift Cards. He still needs 3 more followers to reach 500. Maybe you can pop over, leave a comment, follow Michael if you've not done so and win some Amazon e-money at the same time. How can you lose? Michael's site is fabulous. So many helpful posts.

There are also a lot of other blogfests coming up. I posted about them here. You can also check them in my sidebar - Madeleine's cliches and a group of bloggers got together to give us Deja Vu.

Hope the writing is going well. Don't forget you can try out excerpts of your WIPs using the RomanticFridayWriters themes. Nancy Williams is posting about critiquing today if you'd like to visit!

Free books for Kindle - as good as it gets!

If you're looking for my Insecure Writers Support Group post, it's below this one.

Have you got a Kindle? Do you download books to Kindle for PC? Well, hang around. Some good news. Through Linda Schab of On the Write Track I've recently found a great blog which I just had to tell you about. It's called Write This Way. Maybe you know it? Suzanne Hartmann doesn't just tell you about free e-books she also offers many resources for writers. The latest is on Tips for First Drafts. Great stuff.

When you have an e-reader you have a whole library of books at your fingertips no matter where you are -- in the car, at the beach, on an aeroplane, or snuggled up in bed. Well maybe not the last one. I love to snuggle up with paper books. I nod off to the sound of turning pages...

I love book-lined shelves. Toppling towers of books beside my bed. Books to lend to people. Books to throw at people, lol. There's just something about the feel of paper between my fingers. I have no urge to stroke a kindle. I prefer the scent of a hardcover to hardware. I'm a 'flat earther' in that way. That will never change unless God forbid, there's another spate of book burnings (I'm re-reading The Book Thief.) I'll always own hundreds of "real" books and will still support my local Indie bookstores which still flourish in Australia BTW. I prefer the little guy to Amazon any day but know that more and more writers are reliant on Amazon for their daily bread. Hey, some aren't even printing paper books so I have to buy e-books to support my author friends.

But I sure love my Kindle! It has its place.

The thing about a Kindle is many of the titles I've uploaded were free or just 99c or were gifted to me. Who doesn't love a bargain, especially when it comes to books! (Perusing new or second-hand booksales must be one of my favourite hobbies.) Some of the titles I've gotten for free normally sell for around $10. I'm not against spending ten smackaroos on a good book as a labourer is worthy of his hire, but if it's offered for free? No-brainer.

Recently, Hartline agented and soon-to-be-published Oak Tara author, Suzanne  Hartmann, started "Freebie Friday" on her blog. Suzanne listed a bunch of free Kindle titles currently offered on  Amazon.com. There are freebies from Janice Thompson, Jody Hedlund, and Stormie O'Martian et al. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out:  http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/2011/09/freebie-friday.html. Maybe they won't all be still available, but you'll find a few. Check out and follow Suzanne's blog Write This Way for current list. What a great resource.

You can visit the Amazon Kindle Store and search for free ebooks yourself. Simply bring up the category by price, lowest to highest. All the freebies will show up at the top.

• Do you have any other resources you can add to this?
• What freebies have you taken advantage of lately?

Insecure Writer's Support Group inaugural post. Can you help me? I don't know if I've got what it takes to get my novels published. Do you?

Well I don't believe myself to be much of a joiner, but recently I've blown that theory. I've joined the Writers Platform Building Campaign again and I couldn't resist Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group. Why on earth do we needed another group? Keep reading:


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers.

Connecting: There is a participation list on Alex's site (click link above). It also allows for comments if you have an immediate need. This is where we can help one another. Check this page whenever you visit – if you can help a fellow writer, hop over to their blog and offer assistance. Eventually I may set up lists of where people are in the process, so if you’re having querying issues, you can visit someone else who is querying or someone who signed a contract for help. Or a list of resources. Be watching for these updates!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Well it's the first Wednesday of the month so here is my inaugural post for the IWSG. Maybe I'm wrong but I think most writers are insecure - about their work, their talents, their chances of publishing - all the hoops you have to jump through, all the advice of the 'must dos' and 'must not dos'. It's enough to make anyone insecure, especially when you see these 'rules' being broken by best-selling authors all the time. Are they laughing at our insecurities?


So I'll use Alex's 'purposes' above for my post today. This is really making me think!


MY DOUBTS (which I haven't conquered yet Alex)

• Do I really have a talent for writing? Am I kidding myself? Does the world need more words, especially from me? Are the people who say they enjoy my stories just being kind? 
• My question is then - how do you know you've got what it takes to see a novel through to publication? I must be one of the world's most voracious readers and I  read some fabulous books and some very second-rate books that managed to find a publisher. Obviously there's more than talent involved...

MY FEARS (which I haven't conquered yet Alex)

• Do I have the stamina to see a novel through to publication? The articles/stories on this topic are pretty daunting. So much to do it seems like writing the novel is the easiest part. There are many edits, queries, pitches (is that the same thing?), proposals, first chapters, choosing who to approach, then if you find a contract you're often asked to practically re-write your ms. The mind boggles...

HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER TO GO PRINT, E-BOOK OR SELF PUBLISH?

• Once again there's a plethora of information on all these topics. 
• To be accepted by an established publisher as a debut novelist seems highly unlikely these days, although I know there's exceptions. All debut novelists hope to find an agent/editor not 'allergic to the smell of a new writer' as Glenys Smy said in a post once. I posted a wonderful debut novelist's success story here on Meagan Spooner . 
• There seems to be no end of Indie e-book publishers. How do you know which are reputable? There's a lot involved in finding the right fit, I'm sure, but once again I had some great success stories posted here when I hosted my Publication Party series (use my Search button to find these posts.) I'll link to possibly the most successful e-pubbed author I interviewed, Christine Bell. She's since released at least one more novel.
• Self publish? Seems many bloggers are doing this.I've already been approaching friendly bloggers with some questions. Look at Roland Yeomans - 11 self-pubbed e-books in a few months. Amazing! It seems a mountain load of work and self promotion, but is it the best way? What do you think?

So over to you, friends and mentors...can you help me? Can you answer any of my doubts and fears? Can you add to them, ha ha? PLEASE tell me what your experience has been if you're published and tell me what road to publication you're following if you've not been yet. I will be so appreciative...If you're really happy to help/advise, please click on the IWSG link in my sidebar where you'll find 100-ish insecure writers...

Can you help any of the writers below?

Electronic Publishing Bingo - would Jeffrey Archer play?

See, I'm practising doing shorter posts for A - Z Challenge, so I thought after hearing Jeffrey Archer talk about e-Publishing this morning I'd trot this out. I think it's hilarious, tongue-in-cheek and lots of fun with a grain or two of truth. Found it at  John Scalzi's Whatever.

One of the commenters could place more in the squares. David Numez added:

“Focus on building a Platform.” (whatever that means)
“Apps are more [insert ANY adjective here] than ePub”
“Apple [will/won't] hold onto their lead for long! Better [ignore/be ready for] Android Tablets”
“Tech companies don’t get the publishing industry.” and “The publishing industry doesn’t get tech.”
“The only budgets for book apps is in the marketing department”
“[insert insulting development budget] should be more than enough to develop our [insert bloated book app here]”
“Offshore development, keep ‘creative’ local” (because, you know, developers aren’t ‘creative’)

These guys aren't dissing e-publishing, just saying that it's not all wine and roses. I totally get the humour. Do you? What do you think?

Oh BTW, Jeffrey Archer (Brit who has sold over a squillion books and just flew in and out of Oz and NZ to promote his new book Only Time Will Tell), says his publisher told him that 7% of his sales were digital. His publisher also said in a few years time to expect his digital sales to be 50%. We knew that already, didn't we? Mwhmwhmwhaaa!

Little people rock! Indie Bookstores Galore.

Avid Reader, Indie Bookstore, West End, Brisbane.

Well you'd have to be living under a rock or in a cave not to have heard that a couple of the Big Bookstore chains are filing for bankruptcy. I've read a lot about it on my American friends' blogs. I'm sure Borders, Angus & Robertson et al do great stuff for authors and such in America but not in Oz where they're just selling points. The stores are fun to browse (especially Borders) but I don't usually buy from them, being rather drawn to the little guys...indie bookstores. In Oz, indie bookstores are rockin' and always have done, as we're a nation that just loves the little guy, the underdog. It's one of our most endearing quirks I think.

Did you know that in Oz, indie bookstores account for 20% of total book sales, whilst in America the indies only have 8% of market share and in the UK a pathetic 3%? (I got this hot off the press in our newspapers today!) I can well believe it as most every little town here has a bookstore or two, and you can't walk a city block without tripping over a couple. There's a quirky, alternative suburb next to the city of Brisbane - West End - I've lost count of how many indie bookstores there are over that way! I can walk across the river and browse for hours at cute little bookshops like Bent Books (above).

Why are indie stores so popular here? Probably because of the slower pace of life - we like to stop and smell the roses as they say. So that transcends into loving finding an indie bookstore or two or three where we can go and chat to an owner/sales assistant who's having trouble getting their nose out of a book behind the counter. Indie stores hook you in here because they are manned/womanned by book lovers for book lovers.

Fiona Stager who is the co-founder of Avid Reader, a drool-worthy bookstore in West End, verifies my previous comment. She says: 'It's often the service, the experience, the interaction with passionate readers and knowledgeable staff, the events program, book clubs - these are what will save independent booksellers.' (Currently Avid is hosting an art exhibition which has raised $3,000 so far for Q'ld flood victims.) 

Bill Concannon, chief executive of Mary Ryan Bookstores (where you can sup at a wonderful cafe whilst you read) says: 'We're like the village well of old where people would meet up as part of their routine.' I love that image and feel it's close to the truth. Bill said '...independents could run profitable businesses if they were prudent, gave exceptional service and interacted with customers.' He goes on to say: 'It's what the e-book will never be able to offer.' (Not that I'm not a supporter of the e-book!)

The Fair Imports Alliance slapped part of the blame for the book giants going into administration on online sales...in Oz forty to sixty percent are made to overseas companies.

I'm not smug about indie bookstores in Oz. I know times are tough for businesses as a whole, but I have high hopes for the continuance of the indie bookstore.

 Jessica Rudd, author, daughter of ex-PM Kevin Rudd (now Foreign Minister) and his wife, Theresa Rein, at an indie bookshop on the release of Jessica's first book.

Embrace e-books embrace blogland - looking for authors!

Thanks to Francine from Romancing the Blog who put me onto this new e-Romance publisher who is actively seeking authors!

New Romance E-Publisher getting set to hit the Internet Spring 2011. Taking submissions NOW!

EMBRACE!


With two heat settings . . .

UK Based - Embrace Publishing is aimed at romance readers and writers.


http://embracebooks.blogspot.com/2010/07/welcome-to-embrace-books.html



Set up by editor at Salt Publishing (Jane Holland) who also targeted HM&B as an author. Her mother being the late Charlotte Lamb of M&B fame!


http://charlottelamb.blogspot.com/


There are two imprints:


Red Velvet and After Dark

Red Velvet guidelines: 50-60K (word count)
Sexy Sophisticated Romance
Categories: Contemporary, Historical, with feisty heroines and believable Alpha males. Contemporary, historical, paranormal.
No millionaires required. British settings and characters welcome, but not essential.
Sexual content required, but should not be overly explicit.
Same sex novels are welcome.etc.


After Dark guidelines:


50-65K

Hotter romance and erotica
Open to more unusual storylines within contemporary, historical, paranormal and same sex storylines.
Must include explicit sex, which in some cases may be central to the plot.

Novellas are welcome in both lines and across all categories, up to 25K

So Guys and Dolls get your manuscripts polished and press send!

Click on the badge on the top right of my sidebar for more details on submissions.


Good Luck!

Apple to the rescue? Self-publishing debate continues...

Did you see any of the articles where Apple has invited  authors to self-publish on iPad bookstore?

We all know that getting a book deal isn’t easy and Apple is now offering an alternative to the traditional publisher. The company this week opened a new portal for independent authors to self-publish their books for the iBooks Store open to iPad (and soon iPhone) customers.

More from the article:

Apple’s iTunes Connect program has a section where authors can self-publish their work under certain formatting requirements, MacLife first reported. Basically, the books must be made in the ePub format like the rest of the offerings in the iBooks Store.

With iBooks and the iPad, Apple’s biggest target is Amazon, who hosts its popular Amazon e-book store and sells the dedicated Kindle e-reader. Amazon, too, allows authors to self-publish books through their market. Their e-book sales now outnumber their print sales.

What do you think? Would you take up Apple's offer?

Have you self-published? I'd love to hear about it...

There is an informative article on Amazon e-books here...and another here...and a great site full of info on self publishing here...Thank you Lisa Shae.