Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Swedish For Beginners On Kindle
If you want to travel the world without the expense, you can easily do so with the book "Swedish For Beginners" by Susanne O'Leary. The Swedish born author who now lives in Ireland has received many positive reviews on this Women's Fiction book that takes the main character to various parts of the world where she has also traveled. Her books are poignant and a must read for women who are looking for good women's fiction or chick lit.
If you want to take advantage of the low Kindle price, hurry. She's doing very well and is ranked high in Kindle. If you're looking for good women's fiction that allows you to travel without having to leave your home, check it out. Swedish For Beginners
Writing The Sequel?
I wrote the sequel to my book in a month. First draft. It was easy (took me a year and a half to write the first book) because I knew the characters. I pulled some new characters in, killed off some old ones and had a lot of fun with the sequel. Instead of letting one of my male characters gradually build his role up in the book, I have him come on like gangbusters from the beginning.
So now I'm on the third draft of the sequel. Not that difficult, but the editing is a PITA. Always hated that.
The good news is that those who haven't read the first book can still read the sequel and enjoy it. It gives enough background information so the reader knows what's going on. The bad news is that I have to still edit and proofread.
I'm wondering just how long you should wait between books to release a sequel? Any authors write a sequel to their self published books? How long did you wait?
So now I'm on the third draft of the sequel. Not that difficult, but the editing is a PITA. Always hated that.
The good news is that those who haven't read the first book can still read the sequel and enjoy it. It gives enough background information so the reader knows what's going on. The bad news is that I have to still edit and proofread.
I'm wondering just how long you should wait between books to release a sequel? Any authors write a sequel to their self published books? How long did you wait?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
For Those Who Have Kindle.....
Those who have Kindle can get a HUGE DISCOUNT on the book Chasing Eliot Ness because I cut the price down to $1.99. So if you have a Kindle and were thinking of getting this book.....wait a couple of days until it's live again. It takes a few days for Amazon to make the change.
You'll enjoy the book a lot more if it costs you less money.
You'll enjoy the book a lot more if it costs you less money.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Kindle Experience
I don't know if anyone is aware that the book Chasing Eliot Ness is now available on Kindle. This gives those in other countries a chance to read the book and also discounts it (price slashed in half) for those who have this device.
Personally, I'd like to see Kindle used as a tool for school books. I don't know how many people out there have kids in college, but the cost of college books is astronomical. And it's the biggest scam going. The books are $100 each and usually can't be used the next year because they've been "revised."
Kindle would eliminate a lot of the cost for school books for not only college, but high school children. Instead of carrying a load of books around, they can use the Kindle device as it holds quite a bit of downloads. Lighter to carry, too.
While I prefer to read a tangible version of a book, when it comes to textbooks I think Kindle should be mandatory. Especially in the economic climate we have today.
Personally, I'd like to see Kindle used as a tool for school books. I don't know how many people out there have kids in college, but the cost of college books is astronomical. And it's the biggest scam going. The books are $100 each and usually can't be used the next year because they've been "revised."
Kindle would eliminate a lot of the cost for school books for not only college, but high school children. Instead of carrying a load of books around, they can use the Kindle device as it holds quite a bit of downloads. Lighter to carry, too.
While I prefer to read a tangible version of a book, when it comes to textbooks I think Kindle should be mandatory. Especially in the economic climate we have today.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Second Chances - At Bargain Rate!
Those who are not only looking for a good Western Romance but also a bargain at the same time will enjoy Second Chances by Kristie Leigh Maguire. This book is available at Amazon Kindle for only $2,99. It's a Western set romance about.....second chances.
Ever loved and lost? Then found love again? Most women know this feeling. When the guy you love stomps all over your heart. What would it be like to have him back again? And how can you really trust him if he does return?
This book is a real steal for this price - especially considering the reviews the author, who has several books under her belt in the romance category - is getting. This is well worth your while to check out!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Eden - Louise Wise - A True Artist
Louise Wise has decided to break with the romance genre with her science fiction/romance book Eden that is available at Amazon. She has several great reviews from customers who have enjoyed this book in which the lead character is trapped in strange territory.
Louise has decided to break with tradition and go for a captive romance with a science fiction slant. I know one person who will be thrilled to read it and that's my sister who loves Sci Fi AND romance!
If you are interested in learning more about Louise or her book, you should take a look. Ladies who are interested in something different when it comes to romance will enjoy Eden that is selling well on Amazon.
Louise is a true artist. Someone who wrote a book that by all accounts has something in it for everyone. Especially the ladies who want a bit of fun with a sexy hero ;)
A good story about self publishing
I spent the past year and a half writing a book. The idea came to me from a dream, grew and then I kept rewriting it until I the ideas stopped.
I wanted to publish the book so I'd have something in print. I knew it would never, ever fly as a romance. I also know stories like how John Grisham had to self publish "A Time To Kill" because he got turned down by 30 agents and 15 publishers. I don't have that type of patience. He believed in himself, though and self published even though they told him there was no market for his books.
So I self published with a POD. This is becoming more common for those who really want to write a book. The purpose of writing a book (or doing anything, for that matter, especially in art) should be to entertain. Never for money. You should do it because you want to do it and not for the money. Then it becomes a job and is no longer fun. It should be fun, creative and something that you like.
The POD was very helpful. It cost me $500 to get my book in print with a customized cover (that I designed but had to be formatted). Plus $35 to copyright it with the Library of Congress.
There are pros and cons to self publishing. The cons are obvious - it costs you money. The pros are that no one tells you that they can't market your book unless you change some things (that is, if they bother to look at your unknown, unsolicited manuscript at all).
The big problem with the self publishing is the price of the book. The POD wants a lot more money for the book and sends it Media Mail. The sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion and others will charge less. You get less in royalties as well as the site, the distributor and the POD all take a cut. You also don't get any royalties for at least 4 months.
You can send your links to the POD to pick up royalties and really screw over your family and friends who will wait 10 days for Media Mail when they can get it in 3 from Amazon for the same price.
Other cons are that you have to market your book. This is tough, even with a catchy title and an intriguing cover. The POD does not guarantee that any third party like Amazon will pick up your book. You have to market your book if you are unknown, regardless of whether you publish with a small press, large publishing house or self publish.
The pros are that you own the rights to your book. You own the rights to your artwork of your book. You OWN THE RIGHTS TO YOUR CREATIVE WORK. Many people are so desperate to get money for their work, they sell all of their rights. You can change it, play with it, make it shorter or longer, do what you want - it belongs to you. You can't do that if you sell them to someone else. They get to change them, not you.
If you self publish, know that you are not going to "strike it rich." You are not going to retire on your book, you are up against millions of others who are doing the same thing. But you can get your voice heard. You can entertain people, even if it's just a few. Even if it's just one person. Even if it's just you.
If you want to make money, write non fiction self help books or how to books and market them with affiliates on clickbank as ebooks. If you want to be a writer and entertain people, write what you want, be happy with the outcome, and self publish. You can always look for an agent - you own the rights. Anyone who writes something creative that comes out of their head should want to have as much control over their rights as possible.
Case in point:
"That sounds good, Brian, where do I sign?"
- John Lennon, signing over all the rights to the Beatles' music to Capitol Records.
Not that I'm comparing myself to John Lennon, but we never really know who the next "Beatles" are, do we? It can be one of you - any of you who self publish. They didn't know what the future held for them. Their idea of the ultimate success was "a hit record."
I wanted to publish the book so I'd have something in print. I knew it would never, ever fly as a romance. I also know stories like how John Grisham had to self publish "A Time To Kill" because he got turned down by 30 agents and 15 publishers. I don't have that type of patience. He believed in himself, though and self published even though they told him there was no market for his books.
So I self published with a POD. This is becoming more common for those who really want to write a book. The purpose of writing a book (or doing anything, for that matter, especially in art) should be to entertain. Never for money. You should do it because you want to do it and not for the money. Then it becomes a job and is no longer fun. It should be fun, creative and something that you like.
The POD was very helpful. It cost me $500 to get my book in print with a customized cover (that I designed but had to be formatted). Plus $35 to copyright it with the Library of Congress.
There are pros and cons to self publishing. The cons are obvious - it costs you money. The pros are that no one tells you that they can't market your book unless you change some things (that is, if they bother to look at your unknown, unsolicited manuscript at all).
The big problem with the self publishing is the price of the book. The POD wants a lot more money for the book and sends it Media Mail. The sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion and others will charge less. You get less in royalties as well as the site, the distributor and the POD all take a cut. You also don't get any royalties for at least 4 months.
You can send your links to the POD to pick up royalties and really screw over your family and friends who will wait 10 days for Media Mail when they can get it in 3 from Amazon for the same price.
Other cons are that you have to market your book. This is tough, even with a catchy title and an intriguing cover. The POD does not guarantee that any third party like Amazon will pick up your book. You have to market your book if you are unknown, regardless of whether you publish with a small press, large publishing house or self publish.
The pros are that you own the rights to your book. You own the rights to your artwork of your book. You OWN THE RIGHTS TO YOUR CREATIVE WORK. Many people are so desperate to get money for their work, they sell all of their rights. You can change it, play with it, make it shorter or longer, do what you want - it belongs to you. You can't do that if you sell them to someone else. They get to change them, not you.
If you self publish, know that you are not going to "strike it rich." You are not going to retire on your book, you are up against millions of others who are doing the same thing. But you can get your voice heard. You can entertain people, even if it's just a few. Even if it's just one person. Even if it's just you.
If you want to make money, write non fiction self help books or how to books and market them with affiliates on clickbank as ebooks. If you want to be a writer and entertain people, write what you want, be happy with the outcome, and self publish. You can always look for an agent - you own the rights. Anyone who writes something creative that comes out of their head should want to have as much control over their rights as possible.
Case in point:
"That sounds good, Brian, where do I sign?"
- John Lennon, signing over all the rights to the Beatles' music to Capitol Records.
Not that I'm comparing myself to John Lennon, but we never really know who the next "Beatles" are, do we? It can be one of you - any of you who self publish. They didn't know what the future held for them. Their idea of the ultimate success was "a hit record."
Glengarry Glen Ross Marketing Tactics For Books
Take A Tip From Glengarry Glen Ross When Marketing Your Book!
Ever see the movie Glengarry Glen Ross? It's an adaptation of a David Mamet play and stars Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris and Alan Arkin. There is also a guest appearance with Alec Baldwin (this is not in the play).
Want to market anything? WATCH THIS MOVIE. Do not emulate Jack Lemmon's character of Stan "The Machine" Levine. A desperate salesman who is parodied in "The Simpsons." He is desperate, comes off as pathetic (especially the scene where he goes to the house of a "lead").
Follow Al Pacino's character of Ricky Roma - the lead salesman. Watch how he gets Jonathan Pryce to buy the worthless Florida property. Very smooth. He is the top salesman in the company.
This is THE movie to watch for anyone who wants to market anything. It's also a good film as far as the cast.
Ever see the movie Glengarry Glen Ross? It's an adaptation of a David Mamet play and stars Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris and Alan Arkin. There is also a guest appearance with Alec Baldwin (this is not in the play).
Want to market anything? WATCH THIS MOVIE. Do not emulate Jack Lemmon's character of Stan "The Machine" Levine. A desperate salesman who is parodied in "The Simpsons." He is desperate, comes off as pathetic (especially the scene where he goes to the house of a "lead").
Follow Al Pacino's character of Ricky Roma - the lead salesman. Watch how he gets Jonathan Pryce to buy the worthless Florida property. Very smooth. He is the top salesman in the company.
This is THE movie to watch for anyone who wants to market anything. It's also a good film as far as the cast.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
10 Reasons Not To Read Chasing Eliot Ness
If you're too faint hearted, if you like a sweet and sappy romance....this isn't the book for you. If you're looking for the "sensitive man" type - you won't find him here.
Nor is this biography of Ness, although it's probably just as close to anything as you can get. His bio was made up by Oscar Fraley. His real biography was put together by what dead people said about him. No one really knew the real Eliot Ness.
But for those of you who want to fantasize about the 1930s and what life was like back then, this book can take you back. Those of you who want a romance and aren't sure if this is the book for you....read on!
10 Reasons Not To Read Chasing Eliot Ness
1. You want to know the ending of the book before you begin. You're afraid there might not be a HEA. You'll be happy, but you'll have a heck of a time getting there.
2. You don't understand 1930s slang. I have a guide on my Amazon page that can help you figure this out.
3. You are offended by smoking, drinking and drug use
4. You are offended by a hero who might slap a woman across the face and want to stick to those good old rules made by the RWA (remember - this book is written from the perspective of a 1930s woman - things were different and he is really sorry).
5. You like Al Capone and don't want him portrayed as anything other than the beer giving, soup kitchen opening, sweet fun guy he was
6. Forced seduction is a NO-NO! You're offended!
7. You want a sweet, self sacrificing and totally non-realistic female protagonist. You don't want a Scarlett O'Hara.
8. You only want the female protagonist to have sex with one guy - the hero.....sorry
9. You can't hold up a 574 page book because of some physical condition
10. You are easily offended by swearing and blasphemy that one of the characters uses, even to the point of dropping a couple of F bombs (not the hero).
If you're not easily offended, if you want something different, if you're tired of picking up a romance book and knowing the end before you start reading the formula (forgive me - writing) then you might like this book. If not.....well, that's just jake, too.
Nor is this biography of Ness, although it's probably just as close to anything as you can get. His bio was made up by Oscar Fraley. His real biography was put together by what dead people said about him. No one really knew the real Eliot Ness.
But for those of you who want to fantasize about the 1930s and what life was like back then, this book can take you back. Those of you who want a romance and aren't sure if this is the book for you....read on!
10 Reasons Not To Read Chasing Eliot Ness
1. You want to know the ending of the book before you begin. You're afraid there might not be a HEA. You'll be happy, but you'll have a heck of a time getting there.
2. You don't understand 1930s slang. I have a guide on my Amazon page that can help you figure this out.
3. You are offended by smoking, drinking and drug use
4. You are offended by a hero who might slap a woman across the face and want to stick to those good old rules made by the RWA (remember - this book is written from the perspective of a 1930s woman - things were different and he is really sorry).
5. You like Al Capone and don't want him portrayed as anything other than the beer giving, soup kitchen opening, sweet fun guy he was
6. Forced seduction is a NO-NO! You're offended!
7. You want a sweet, self sacrificing and totally non-realistic female protagonist. You don't want a Scarlett O'Hara.
8. You only want the female protagonist to have sex with one guy - the hero.....sorry
9. You can't hold up a 574 page book because of some physical condition
10. You are easily offended by swearing and blasphemy that one of the characters uses, even to the point of dropping a couple of F bombs (not the hero).
If you're not easily offended, if you want something different, if you're tired of picking up a romance book and knowing the end before you start reading the formula (forgive me - writing) then you might like this book. If not.....well, that's just jake, too.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Chasing Eliot Ness By Michelle Regan
I wrote Chasing Eliot Ness to give Eliot Ness a bit of romance to his character. He's been portrayed on screen several times, most notably by Robert Stack in the television series The Untouchables. Also by Kevin Costner in the Brian DePalma Film "The Untouchables." Costner had him as a family man devoted to his wife and two fictional children.
Stack was more accurate. You never saw his wife or his son. Unfortunately, both of the depictions are inaccurate, according to any biography you read regarding Eliot Ness. The closest you will come to actually discovering anything about the real man is Paul Heimel's book that consists of interviews of a few people who actually knew Ness. By the time he wrote this book, the three wives Eliot Ness had were dead.
Eliot Ness failed to mention his first two marriages to Oscar Fraley, who wrote The Untouchables. Fraley had no idea that Ness was married twice before when he published the book. No one really knew the "real" Eliot Ness.
Many have put him into fiction, usually as a crimesolver. But what about his way with women? Why did he get divorced so many times?
According to the biographer, Heimel, he was pretty much a chick magnet. Not a bad looking guy and had women falling all over themselves for him. The ink wasn't dry on his two divorces before he married again. He liked women....but was never home.
So I made decided to get into his sex life and see what exactly made this guy tick when it came to women. Eliot Ness has demons. Eliot Ness has a strong sex drive. Eliot Ness is the romantic anti-hero in the book Chasing Eliot Ness.
This is not a romance book for everyone, although it does have quite a romantic slant to it. It features a lot of Chicago history, real places, real events and many real people. I mixed them in with fictional people and took liberties with some of the timelines. But not with the first divorce Eliot Ness had from his wife Edna.
This is a far cry from the geeky Eliot Ness in The Young Indiana Jones. According to his biographer, who took his information from the few alive in the late 1990s who actually knew the man, he was quite the catch in high school and college. Six feet tall (tall for a man in that era) with gray blue eyes and light brown hair.
Women liked this guy. Really liked him, even as he got older. I found this intriguing and wrote the book. It's available on Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble, Tower, Booksamillion and a few other places.
Those who want to see my take on Eliot Ness and also want a taste of Chicago History should take a look.
WARNING - The book is fiction. The book is written from the perspective of a woman with whom Ness has an affair. It is NOT for everyone, especially those who are looking for the typical romance. Also, it is written from a 1930's perspective. The female protagonist is has very few choices and is limited in her options. Those looking for a modern woman can forget it - this girl talks, behaves and thinks like a woman from the 1930s.
You can find a slang guide on my Amazon Author page to help you out. Lots of slang from the era is used. The female protagonist is NOT very nice. She manipulates Eliot Ness. He manipulates her. The male "hero" is a gangster.
You can find out more by visiting www.chasingeliotness.com. I plan to continue to update the blog with reviews as well as thoughts about the book from readers. Everyone who read this book got a different perspective. But everyone who read it did so in a week (574 pages - not an easy feat) so I take that as a compliment, even if not everyone liked all of the characters.
More to come.....
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