Books I like and helpful tips for fellow indie authors.
My 4.6-star epic fantasy Mirrors & Mist, Book II of The Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy, is free on Amazon and Crimson & Cream, Book I of the Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy, is free at Smashwords with this code: ZU23J.
The 4.6-star epic fantasy Mirrors & Mist, Book II of The Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy, is free on Amazon and Crimson & Cream, Book I of the Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy, is free at Smashwords with this code: ZU23J.
In February, I spent $20 for a Goodreads ad for my epic fantasy ebook Crimson & Cream. To place an ad, Goodreads charges you for an initial set amount (a minimum of $10) and each click your ad receives deducts the cost per click (CPC) from your total amount paid. For example, if you spent $10 to start your campaign, and set your CPC to $1, you would get charged $1 for each click, up to ten, when your $10 would be depleted and your ad would stop running. You can set the amount you pay per click, although the instructions indicate the more you pay per click, the higher priority your add receives in placement. If you don't receive any clicks on your ad, Goodreads will refund your money upon request.
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With a title like Girl on the Moon, one would expect some space travel for the protagonist Conn Garrow, and the reader is not disappointed. Apart from the titular clues, this near-future sci-fi adventure is full of surprises. Jack McDonald Burnett's page-turner is a thoroughly enjoyable, imaginative, wild-ride of a story. I'm looking forward to more.
With a title like Girl on the Moon, one would expect some space travel for the protagonist Conn Garrow, and the reader is not disappointed. Apart from the titular clues, this near-future sci-fi adventure is full of surprises. Jack McDonald Burnett's page-turner is a thoroughly enjoyable, imaginative, wild-ride of a story. I'm looking forward to more.
I've posted about the online editing tool Pro Writing Aid (PWA) previously, and compared it to similar products. As you may recall, I found their free editing tools an excellent resource, comparable to some for-pay services. Here's an update on the latest from PWA:
http://cmskiera.blogspot.com/2016/03/pro-writing-aid-update.html#.VvRWOuJsND8
A Book of Fire & Shade: A Trilogy of Fated Love by Snow is a deep and complex fantasy that revolves around two star-crossed souls and the universal fates that ebb and flow through their seemingly doomed romance. Although their relationship features as the main plot of the story, the rich and semi-familiar fantasy world of the Sphere provides a textured setting for this timeless tale of love lost and found, and lost again. In this world, the spiritual Practitioners are outcasts from the religious Chancel. From this conflict sprout the seeds of deception, betrayal, and the ultimate struggle for magical supremacy.
Powerful. Poignant. Dark, gut-wrenching, and traumatic. Cold Comfort is a tense, riveting page-turner that will haunt you long after you set it down.
I dissect the less-than-awesome results of my November Kindle Countdown Deal for Mirrors & Mist. Is a KDP Select Giveaway a more effective promotion? You tell me.
I can't say enough about Joe Abercrombie's storytelling skills. I love how his characters struggle with their flaws, fighting--but usually failing--to overcome their inherent weaknesses. Red Country reminds me a bit of an Elmore Leonard western, with an enigmatic troupe trudging through the wilderness in search of their elusive goals. Red County also features a satisfying return of a favorite Abercrombie character, although I won't spoil it with any hints, this book is as gripping as any. Action-packed, witty, sarcastic, relevant, poignant, and fun, Red Country is fantastic.
Johnny Don't March by Timothy Hurley is a compelling journey into the mind of a contemporary conflicted warrior. Nelson O'Brien struggles with family pressure and inner demons after shocking his loved ones with a decision he later regrets. Mr. Hurley brings the sights, smells, sounds, and culture of New York as the main backdrop for the complex story (along with Afghanistan). Touching, timely, and thought-provoking, Johnny Don't March is a fascinating page-turner.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, although I must admit I fit the target demographic nicely. Being a nerdy video game player who was a teen in the 80s made this futuristic, sci-fi adventure a trip down nostalgia lane for me. Set in an Idiocracy-like future where the best part of life is spent online, Ready Player One is a page-turning adventure for the cyber-age.
Joe Abercrombie just keeps getting better. While this tale differs in that the story is told through the point of view of a single protagonist, the witty dialogue, steamrolling conflict, plot twists, colorful characters, and surprises abound in the marvelous page turner.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, although I must admit I fit the target demographic nicely. Being a nerdy video game player who was a teen in the 80s made this futuristic, sci-fi adventure a trip down nostalgia lane for me. Set in an Idiocracy-like future where the best part of life is spent online, Ready Player One is a page-turning adventure for the cyber-age.
Joe Abercrombie just keeps getting better. While this tale differs in that the story is told through the point of view of a single protagonist, the witty dialogue, steamrolling conflict, plot twists, colorful characters, and surprises abound in the marvelous page turner.
"When you're in hell," murmured Yarvi, "only a devil can point the way out."
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