Small Business Book Self-Publishing: Sean Roach Gives His Top Tips

Small Business Book Self-Publishing: Sean Roach Gives His Top Tips
 US entrepreneur Sean Roach admits he is not the world’s best writer, but he has managed to make a career out of publishing books via online platforms such as Amazon and its eReader, Kindle.

Roach is in Australia as part of his consultancy business, which advises budding entrepreneurs how to establish themselves as self-published literary moguls.

 

Finding light in a dark place on path from loner to multimedia artist - Metro & Regional - National - General - Stock & Land

Finding light in a dark place on path from loner to multimedia artist - Metro & Regional - National - General - Stock & Land: THOMAS KUZMA was determined to escape the fate of many adults with Asperger's syndrome: he would not be lonely. He would not hide out in his lair, immersed in his obsessions. He would not give up on society even if society, it seemed, had often wanted to give up on him.

Fort Pierce teen carves niche with artwork made from wood » TCPalm.com

Fort Pierce teen carves niche with artwork made from wood » TCPalm.com: FORT PIERCE — Danny Bell comes across as an intelligent and soft-spoken 16-year-old. Unless he told you, you probably wouldn't realize that he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.

Big Plans for Future of Leg Up Farms | pennlive.com

Big Plans for Future of Leg Up Farms | pennlive.com: Like many busy mothers of three, Diana Spangler spent a lot of time driving from appointment to appointment.

But her appointments weren't often for things like soccer games, bake sales and dance classes.

Instead, with her young kids in tow, she'd commute from building to building in an effort to give two of her children the medical care they needed.

Her 15-year-old son has Asperger syndrome and ADHD. Because those conditions can affect behavior, cognition and physical abilities, his treatment has included regular physical therapy sessions.

More Money-Wasting "Opportunities" For Writers

More Money-Wasting "Opportunities" For Writers: Following on my last post about how authors can waste money on promotional strategies, here are some more cash-sucking "opportunities."

one day 'Tales of Aradia' will make it to Hollywood but my editor and I are determined to make it there on our terms. We will make it! How do I know you ask? the key to success is two things a little bit of luck and a lot of determination. Its determination that got women the vote. It will be determination that will make Aradia the best of them all.

The Herald-Sun - Young writer publishes his first novel

The Herald-Sun - Young writer publishes his first novel: At age 13, Joseph Landing Jr. told his parents that he wanted to write a novel, and after extensive research, he did just that.

Starting in January 2010, it took Landing six months and four to five pages a day to finish writing. Now, at 16, he’s self-published that novel, Tamechactee: Arrow Soul.”

With the difficulty to get published as an unknown author, especially at such a young age, Landing decided self-publishing was the way to go.

Adam is latest entry in YOPEY awards - Features - Peterborough Telegraph

Adam is latest entry in YOPEY awards - Features - Peterborough Telegraph: Peterborough teenager Adam Taylor doesn’t let Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD get in the way of helping others.

Between getting up early to see his younger brothers and sister washed, breakfasted and off to school, then making sure his dad who has multiple health issues is okay, going to school himself and helping keep the house clean, you would think Adam wouldn’t have time for more ‘good deeds’.

Teaching a Special Child. | Sevier County News

Teaching a Special Child. | Sevier County News: For "Billy", the smaller things that most children take for granted, pose a greater challenge. Billy is 5-years- old and suffers from a borderline case of Asperger’s Syndrome, a milder form of autism. The condition is a developmental disorder that makes the child extremely sensitive to light, sound and touch. He resists cuddling and becomes agitated with the smallest change in his schedule or routine.

Video interview: Heather Killough-Walden, author of 'The Phantom King' - USATODAY.com

Video interview: Heather Killough-Walden, author of 'The Phantom King' - USATODAY.com: "She skyrocketed to success with her self-published books and was approached by a literary agent who then sold her to a New York publishing house. Hear how this dynamic author puts a little of herself into every book she writes and why she isn't afraid to write about werewolves, angels or vampires — oh my!"

'via Blog this'

UTA alumna Tammara Webber makes New York Times Best Seller list with latest novel ‘Easy’

UTA alumna Tammara Webber makes New York Times Best Seller list with latest novel ‘Easy’: "She self-published Easy and had it land on the New York Times Best Seller’s list several times in June and July. But it’s the combination of the list and self-publishing that she said is why other writers are beginning to care.

Easy is a mature young-adult fiction novel about a college-aged woman exploring college life after a break-up with the boyfriend she followed to college."

'via Blog this'

What Is the Future of Publishing? - Forbes

What Is the Future of Publishing? - Forbes: "There has been a great deal of handwringing in the book publishing world for the last decade or so over what the Internet is going to do to traditional publishing.  And in the last few years, experimentation has increased, with successful authors like Seth Godin by-passing traditional publishing, new ventures like NetMinds from Tim Sanders and team, and the explosion of various kinds of self-publishing.  Amazon has become, of course, a huge presence in the book world, now paying advances just like traditional publishing, as well as trying out print-on-demand books and of course the Kindle."

'via Blog this'

Author Francis Tapon On The Benefits Of Self-Publishing - eBookNewser

Author Francis Tapon On The Benefits Of Self-Publishing - eBookNewser

Smashwords’ CEO Mark Coker on Publishing Milestones | Good E-Reader - ebook Reader and Digital Publishing News

Smashwords’ CEO Mark Coker on Publishing Milestones | Good E-Reader - ebook Reader and Digital Publishing News: "Yes, indie authors are uploading their self-published ebooks to the Smashwords catalog at the rate of millions of words each day. While that’s a heady amount of content, the popularity of the ebook distribution platform still amazes Coker after all this time."

'via Blog this'

Unlocking Kickstarter Secrets: Crowdfunding Tips and Tricks | E-Book by Mario Lurig

Unlocking Kickstarter Secrets: Crowdfunding Tips and Tricks | E-Book by Mario Lurig: "Unlocking Kickstarter Secrets is your guide to creating a successful Kickstarter or Indiegogo project. The e-book offers guidance, tips, and tricks for creating, marketing, and fulfilling your project goals.

Do you want to learn how to determine how much money to raise? What kinds of rewards attract backers? How to use pricing to your advantage? Learn these answers and more with this concise guide to crowdfunding."

'via Blog this'

Book Five!

The news so far is I am up to Chapter Twenty-One. In this book I will reveal more about Aradia's past, the history of the werewolves, and more about the Sovereign's plan.
Even better news is according to my editor Harrison R. Bradlow says he is almost done editing the second book. We are hoping to make the end of summer a double treat for our reader. I promised to finish book five by the end of the summer and so I shall. But my editor also says he maybe done by the end of August as well.
So at the end of August, you can except to see book five and the edited second volume in the Tales of Aradia series ready for purchase.

Raising Money 101: It’s a Selling Moment | TechCrunch

Raising Money 101: It’s a Selling Moment | TechCrunch:
"The recent Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman got me thinking about the differences between the pitches I hear from entrepreneurs, and why some succeed and others don’t.

Willy Loman’s character did much to lower our society’s already low opinion of sales and selling, but the fact remains that the concept, if not the actual act, of selling is a vital process in our economic system. For example, if you’re an entrepreneur looking for financing, you are selling an idea to a buyer – usually a venture capitalist like me."

Granger mom fights for son's genetic diagnosis - The-Press-News

Granger mom fights for son's genetic diagnosis - The-Press-News: GRANGER, Ind. (AP) -- To most people, 9-year-old Alex Morlan looks perfectly normal. But on the inside, the active Granger boy is special.

"My job is to prepare him in every way possible to have the best adulthood he could potentially have," said Lori Morlan, Alex's mom.

Lori has known since Alex was a baby that he was somehow different. At 6 months old, he wasn't meeting milestones like other children -- he was slow to crawl and speak. Lori said doctors dismissed problem after problem, but she knew something was wrong.

Something in her "just didn't feel right," Lori said. "I wanted to trust and believe that completely, but something in me said there has to be more."

Last year, while watching James Durbin on the popular TV show "American Idol," curiosity got the best of her. Durbin has Tourette and Asperger syndromes but still managed to stand out as an exceptional singer on season 10.

What Genius and Autism Have in Common | Healthland | TIME.com

What Genius and Autism Have in Common | Healthland | TIME.com: Child prodigies evoke awe, wonder and sometimes jealousy: how can such young children display the kinds of musical or mathematical talents that most adults will never master, even with years of dedicated practice? Lucky for these despairing types, the prevailing wisdom suggests that such comparisons are unfair — prodigies are born, not made (mostly). Practice alone isn’t going to turn out the next 6-year-old Mozart.

"Judgement of Souls"

If you have to find a sacred book in order to redeem your parents, find and kill Max, the person responsible for their punishment. The same man that broke your heart and turned your perfect world upside down and try to keep the mortal man you now love safe from this vindictive Vampire’s sword, then you should read Rachel’s story. JUDGMENT OF SOULS is a Gothic horror in which a naïve pureblood Vampire is tossed into the mortal world. Rachel meets Daniel, a nightclub owner and his group of friends and after Daniel’s best friend is murdered by Max, becomes embroiled in the search for an ancient Vampire artifact. Rachel tries to fight off her feelings for Daniel, even siding with her Vampire friend Arun to think again about Daniel’s involvement, but he’s her love and she’s going to protect him, no matter what. Author bio: I live in Cardiff with my partner and three little mad dogs and I work for a well-known TV broadcasting company. I love living in Cardiff because, for all its modernisation, there are still remnants of an old Victorian city. I love writing and base my stories in Cardiff because it has such character. When I can, I go out to the coast and take photographs, mind you, we have a lovely castle in the city centre and a fairytale one just on the outskirts, so when I feel I can’t write anything, I take a ramble to those locations and it clears my head. I suppose it was inevitable that some day I would write a novel. My teachers at school used to limit me to no more than ten pages.  When I left school, I wrote short stories for magazines, and it paid my way through college. I am Gothic; I love the fashion, the architecture and the music. The club in my novel is real. When I was writing book one, I got all my club material and clientele from here, I wouldn’t have finished that section without it.   My first full length novel is called Judgement of Souls: The Kiss at Dawn. It’s the last story in a trilogy. I am currently writing story two, the prequel, and after that will be the very first book in the series. I’ve written short stories for magazines, one about a woman who after an accident is given blood and then starts to see grisly murders in her dreams and the other is about a fake psychic which is now available for download. I also have a romantic story that has being re-written, and will be available in the next few weeks. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Judgement-of-Souls-ebook/dp/B006QFPHJC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328965289&sr=8-1 I also have a Facebook page:    Q: Tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer? A: I live in Cardiff. For all its modernisation, there are still remnants of old Victorian Cardiff. I love the castle in the centre of the city and the fact that you have the sea on one side and the mountains on the other side of Cardiff. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I’ve always loved to write. My teachers at school used to limit me to no more than ten pages. I wrote short stories for magazines, it paid my way through college. Q: What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres? A: Supernatural stories, they are fun and you can let your imagination run riot. I wrote a romantic story once as a screenplay. I might re-write it as a novel one day, I liked the story.   Q: What have you had published to-date? Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? A: My first novel Judgement of Souls has just been published as an eBook by www.bookstogonow.com and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. I love Rachel, my main character – she’s strong and independent, but I do admit to having a soft spot for Daniel, the club owner. I had a few short stories published in a few women’s magazines some years ago. I didn’t keep copies of the magazines but I do have the stories saved. I re-wrote one of them recently and sent it to BTGN as a short story.   Q: Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them? A: Lots and lots. Before I met Jenni at Bookstogonow, I sent the novel off to several agents in the UK and US. Rejection is all part of the profession, it’s tough each time you get a letter, but you have to put up with it because one day, you’ll get accepted. What isn’t easy is getting a rejection from a publisher who couldn’t be bothered to write you a letter back, just scribbled no thanks at the bottom of your letter! That’s harsh.   Q: Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions and do you think they help with a writer’s success? A: They do inspire confidence. I did come runner-up in a script writing competition, but nothing came from it. But at least I’d been noticed!   Q: Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success? A: I don’t have an agent; I am signed up at an eBook agency which is just as good. Agents do promote your work which means you don’t have to. I’ve just realised how tough it is to promote your story, there are a lot of new writers out there! Trouble is that agents are a bit selective right now so new writers don’t get a look in which is a shame. I remember reading that JK Rowlings was rejected time and time again. I bet those agents are kicking themselves now eh?   Q: Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you have any plan to write any eBook-only stories? And do you read eBooks? A: Yes my novel is available, but only as an eBook. For now I’m happy with that, it reaches a lot more people and eBooks are the way forward. That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t love to see my story as a paperback some day, but for now I’m happy with this. I didn’t have much to do with the epublishing process, I left the whole process to BTGN, they knew what to do and I thought I just might mess it up. I did a lot of editing before we agreed with the finished product, I deleted almost ten thousand words, but the story flows so much better and I couldn’t be happier. I do read eBooks. The last one I read was Journey in Time by Chris Karlsen. I’ve just downloaded the next story in the series. Q: How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’? A: I’m designing a website which should be ready soon. I needed to have one that people could link to my book with and once it’s done, I’m going to start making a book promo. I’m not used to promoting myself so it’s difficult, but I work for a marketing department and I’ve picked up a few tips.   Q: Do you write under a pseudonym? Do you think they make a difference to an author’s profile? A: No, I write under my own name. For now that is. I think to each its own, if the writer wants to work under a different name then that’s fine, confusing at times, but up to them.   Q: If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s? A: Well I have to admit that I did have pictures of who I would love as my leads to help me write them better. For Max I used Jared Leto, something about his eyes that just matched how I imagined Max’s are perfectly. For Rachel, perhaps someone who looks a little like Juliet Landau, I saw a picture she posted on my Facebook page and she looked different to the character she played in Buffy. And Daniel, well I used Aidan Turner. The people I write about at the club are actual people! The club is real, albeit named different, it has a credit at the start of the book, take a look. I used these actors to help me get a perspective on my characters, but I haven’t a clue to who I would really use. I’ve not thought of my novel going that far. But now you mention it….   Q: Did you have any say in the title / covers of your book(s)? How important do you think they are? A: Very important. I loved the cover the moment I saw it. I did have another idea but I think that will fit nicely in book two. I chose the title myself and didn’t want it changed. Funnily enough each book will be called Judgement of Souls. But it will have a smaller title after it… The next is called Judgement of Souls: The Call of the Righteous.   Q: What are you working on at the moment / next? Do you manage to write every day? A: I’m writing book two of the Judgement of Souls trilogy. I’d like to write everyday but it’s not always possible, I have a full-time job so I try and fit writing in when I can. I carry a Dictaphone so that if I get ideas I can record them for later. Q: What is your opinion of writer’s block? Do you ever suffer from it? A: Sometimes you do get to a point when there’s too much in your head and nothing makes sense. I listen to music - that inspires me with some ideas. And if not, I leave everything alone for at least a week and then re-read what I’ve already written, it helps.   Q: Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it? A: I plot step by step. Each page has a sub-line of what is meant to go on that page and then I just write that section when I think about it. I have the beginning written in the next novel, then a few blank pages, then more writing etc etc. I even have what I’d like for the end! Q: Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable? A: I form my characters on people I see almost everyday, but with a twist. The names, well I try not to make them too romantic and unbelievable, I like names that are old but still used today. But I have made up a few.   Q: Do you write any non-fiction, poetry or short stories? A: Fiction. Most short stories are around seven thousand words long; I’ve written that in just the intro to the next novel. But I will be doing a few shorts very soon.   Q: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed? A: I edit constantly. It’s a real pain because I never think its good enough and I think the reason it takes me longer to finish the book. I should just write and let the editor do her job.   Q: Do you have to do much research? A: Oh yes. I like to use real places so I need to know exactly where they are. And as I write about supernatural beings, I like to get their history correct. In Book 2 there’s a chapter set in Malta. My best friend has just moved over there, so I went over and took a look around. I even joined a Facebook group that told me which streets were around in the 16th century so it now sounds very authentic.   Q: Some writers like quiet, others the noise of a coffee shop etc., do you listen to music or have noise around you when you write or do you need silence? A: I write better at home and usually at night. I have the TV on or I listen to music, I need background noise.   Q: What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person? A: I write in the third person. Mind you, sometimes I get it mixed up so my editor corrects me. Q: Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day? A: I have at least ten stories that are still buried in my PC for another day. Some will be written again and sent to BTGN in time. Q: What’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you? A: How hard it is. It’s not just sitting down and writing. I had a hard hitting editor who returned my first draft and made it look like a bloodbath! It was a surprise. But the end result is something you can’t possible imagine, you’ve brought these people to life and you control their lives. I love it. And I think the worse is having that great idea and by the time you get to write it down, forgetting it! And marketing. I’ve never contacted so many people, websites and groups since the book became LIVE on the 27th December 2011.   Q: What do you like to read? A: Anything supernatural. It has to grip me in the first few pages, my time is precious and I don’t like to waste it, I’m picky about what I read. If you write about a certain object and take five pages to describe it, I’ll just close the book and not pick it up again.   Q: If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or invite three people, hiding the takeaway containers)? A: I would definitely invite Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. Can you imagine what kind of conversation we would have around the table? I’d be frightened to go to sleep that night I can tell you. But I bet I’d get a great story from it all. I love seafood and pasta, so perhaps that and maybe some Sushi.   Q: Is there a word, phrase or quote you like? A: It’s a wrap. And perhaps, that was your final edit! I did write a funny section in Judgement of Souls. I howled because I thought it was funny – but my editor decided it didn’t suit the mood and cut the section out!   Q: What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies or party tricks? :) A: I love taking pictures. When I’m not doing that I also have three dogs and playtime is a twenty-four hour job. They can play fetch all day! Q: Are there any writing-related websites and/or books that you find useful? (please include links where you can) A: I’ve bought so many books about writing. The best test is just to write because each book has a different opinion on what to do. I gave up reading them after a while –I just wrote. If you intend to go down the traditional book publishing/agent route, then I would recommend The Artist and Writers Yearbook, if you need to look for Agents etc that’s your book. Q: Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them? A: I’m a Facebook addict. I’ve targeted every Gothic / Vampire / Writers page on there, plus a few external Vampire / Gothic websites that would be interested in the genre. I’m going to look up a few Romantic websites and see if they’re interested in doing a Vampire Romance review. I’ve signed on to Twitter (@felicm60) but haven’t come to grips with it yet. I’m following around 107 people on it and I have around 40 followers. I will get around to doing a lot more on it soon, but right now I’m a Facebooker!   Q: What do you think the future holds for a writer? A: I believe we’ll be more popular, we always need new stories. I believe eBooks will soon take a bigger market that traditional publishing.   Q: Where can we find out about you and your work? A: At the moment you can contact me via www.bookstogonow.com I’m in the middle of having a website made for me and I’m getting a Book Promo done.   Q: Why did you decide to write a trilogy and not a stand-alone novel? A: It wasn't my idea at the start.  But as I got further into the story I realised that readers may want some background knowledge of my characters.  So I think book two will reflect the time from Rachel leaving the safety of the vampire colony up until the start of the already written book 3, that should span over 300 years.   Then I will go back further, to the lives of her parents, the Crusades, how her parents met, finding the Book of Cain, the birth of Rachel and then Max's arrival, stealing the Book and Rachel’s parents being banished.  Q: Is there anything else you’d like to mention? A: This is a series of 3 books. I started at the end. There isn’t anyone who will be able to tell me why I did that. When these three are finished, I’d like to write some shorter stories about Daniel and Rachel and maybe their quest to find supernatural occult items and somehow tie them in to working for The Righteous. That should be interesting! Q: What was the easiest part of writing Judgement of Souls? A: The club sections, because I already attend a club that is very similar. I just went along and observed everyone and got the atmosphere I needed to portray it in the novel.   Q: Do you have any advice for other writers? A: Don't give up. If you have a story that is dying to be told, then work hard to tell it. But make sure you are doing your best work and you get an editor that can help you make the most of your manuscript. Don’t give up even though you may get rejection letters. If everyone thought like that there’d be no books, no films. Keep writing, even if its dribble! Then read, re-read and edit. Try and write a little each day. One hundred words a day is seven hundred a week, twenty-eight hundred a month and one hundred words a day is so simple! And carry a Dictaphone or a notebook and pen! More…. 1)Who are you? I live in Cardiff with my partner and three little mad dogs and I work for a well-known TV broadcasting company. I love living in Cardiff because, for all its modernisation, there are still remnants of an old Victorian city. I love writing and base my stories in Cardiff because it has such character. When I can, I go out to the coast and take photographs, mind you, we have a lovely castle in the city centre and a fairytale one just on the outskirts, so when I feel I can’t write anything, I take a ramble to those locations and it clears my head. I suppose it was inevitable that some day I would write a novel. My teachers at school used to limit me to no more than ten pages.  When I left school, I wrote short stories for magazines, and it paid my way through college. I am Gothic, I love the fashion, the architecture and the music. The club in my novel is real. When I was writing book one, I got all my club material and clientele from here, I wouldn’t have finished that section without it. 2)What have you written? My first full length novel is called Judgement of Souls: The Kiss at Dawn. It’s the last story in a trilogy. I am currently writing story two, the prequel, and after that will be the very first book in the series. I’ve written short stories for magazines, one about a fake psychic, one about a woman who after an accident is given blood and then starts to see grisly murders in her dreams. And I have a TV script, it’s a romantic story that needs a re-write, it needs to be much longer and it needs to be made into a novel. It’s on my to-do list. 
3)Why do you write? I have stories that I hope will entertain everyone. I can make up stories about anything, they swirl around in my head and I can’t get them typed quick enough. They just land in my lap and I look to the heavens and say ‘thank you very much’. 
4)Do you have a preferred genre? Anything supernatural (except Zombies). I love Vampires, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t write about something else. I don’t think I’m suited to say, romantic styles of stories. Although I did write a screenplay that was a romantic story a long time back. 
5)Are you a pantser or an plotter? Definitely a plotter. I have to make notes on each page about what will come next. I don’t always stick to it but at least I know where the story should be at that point. 6) What do you like most about writing? The adventure. You get to share the lives of the people you create. You go to strange countries, you meet dashing men and you get to make friends with them. 
7) What challenges you the most about writing? The research I do. If I’m going to write about an area of Rome for example, I need to know what is in that area. So, to avoid going to the expense of actually getting on a plane and jetting off, I read a lot of reference books and spend a lot of time on the internet. I want it to sound authentic. In my current novel, my character Max breaks into the Vatican Library so I needed to know how far away the section he needed was from where he broke in and what he would pass. I read up a lot for that. 
8)Who or what inspires you most? Other writers who have been in the same place that I am now. I’m new to all of this; all their advice is valuable because you’ll never find your way in this business without them and their help. 
9)What are your plans for the future? Once I’ve finished the trilogy I’m hoping to write short stories about my main two characters. They will be occult treasure hunters or archaeologists and will work for the organisation that features greatly in the trilogy. 
10)Do you have any suggestions for other writers? Don't give up. If you have a story that is dying to be told, then work hard to tell it. But make sure you are doing your best work and you get an editor that can help you make the most of your manuscript. Don’t give up even though you may get rejection letters. If everyone thought like that there’d be no books, no films. Keep writing, even if its dribble! Then read, re-read and edit. Try and write a little each day. One hundred words a day is seven hundred a week, twenty-eight hundred a month and one hundred words a day is so simple! And carry a Dictaphone or a notebook and pen! MORE… Please tell me about your book. I don't want to say too much, I'd much rather your readers found it out.  But to give you an idea, JUDGEMENT OF SOULS is a Gothic horror in which a naïve pure-blood Vampire is tossed into the mortal world. Rachel meets Daniel, a nightclub owner and his group of friends and after Daniel’s best friend is murdered by Max, becomes embroiled in the search for an ancient vampire book. Rachel tries to fight off her feelings for Daniel, even siding with her Vampire friend Arun to think again about Daniel’s involvement, but he’s her love and she’s going to protect him, no matter what.   When and why did you start writing? I started writing in school.   My teachers used to limit me to ten pages per essay - it killed me to have a limit.  After that I wrote short stories for magazines, it gave me a little extra while at college.  But I've always had stories rolling around in my head. I can write about anything and some days I just look up at the sky and say 'thank you very much.'    What inspires you? Other writers who have been in the same place that I am now.  I’m new to all of this; all their advice is valuable because you’ll never find your way in this business without them and their help.  Are you working on anything now? I'm working on the prequel to Judgement of Souls.   It spans over 300 years so its quite a task.  I'm doing a lot of research and I have to get the date lines right or it'll read a bit odd.   Is there anything you do NOT like about being a writer? How hard it is.  It’s not just sitting down and writing. I had a hard hitting editor who returned my first draft and made it look like a bloodbath!  It was a surprise.  But the end result is something you can’t possible imagine, you’ve brought these people to life and you control their lives. I love it. And I think the worse is having that great idea and by the time you get to write it down, forgetting it! And marketing.   I’ve never contacted so many people, websites and groups since the book became LIVE on the 27th December 2011. What do you think of the ebook revolution? I think it’s brilliant.  There are so many talented writers out there that miss out because traditional publishers won’t accept their work. I know it costs a lot of money to produce books these days, but really? Would it hurt to be a bit more flexible?  Ebooks mean no more carrying heavy loads of them on holiday, we save trees, long may it reign.   How do you see your writing career in five years? Once I’ve finished the trilogy I’m hoping to write short stories about my main two characters.  They will be occult treasure hunters or archaeologists and will work for the organisation that features greatly in the trilogy   Is there anything you will NOT write about? Zombies!  Sorry to all my Zombie friends and authors out there. I hate them! Scare me silly!  And perhaps anything biographical, I just don’t think I’d do that person any justice.  In what genre do you prefer to write?  To read? I love writing anything Supernatural.  Vampires and demons, unknown realms where you can just let your mind wander through and go wild.  I’ll read the same type of stories too.   Please tell us about any ups and downs in your writing career so far. The downs are always the rejections.  before I found the agency I'm with, I wrote and emailed agents and publishers in the UK and US. When you get a reply from a publisher and its just 'no thanks' scribbled on the bottom of the letter you sent them it makes you think ;why bother' but you have to.  Do you have any suggestions to people who might be considering writing as a career? Don't give up. If you have a story that is dying to be told, then work hard to tell it. But make sure you are doing your best work and you get an editor that can help you make the most of your manuscript. Don’t give up even though you may get rejection letters.  If everyone thought like that there’d be no books, no films.  Keep writing, even if its dribble! Then read, re-read and edit.  Try and write a little each day.  One hundred words a day is seven hundred a week, twenty-eight hundred a month and one hundred words a day is so simple! And carry a Dictaphone or a notebook and pen!  Anything else you want to add? This is a series of 3 books. I started at the end. There isn’t anyone who will be able to tell me why I did that. When these three are finished, I’d like to write some shorter stories about Daniel and Rachel and maybe their quest to find supernatural occult items and somehow tie them in to working for The Righteous.  That should be interesting!   MORE… 1. Tell me about yourself and why you wanted to write about vampire books? I live in Cardiff, where my story is set, with my partner and three little mad dogs and I work for a well-known TV broadcasting company. I love living in Cardiff because, for all its modernisation, there are still remnants of an old Victorian city. Cardiff has such character. When I can, I go out to the coast and take photographs, mind you, we have a lovely castle in the city centre and a fairytale one just on the outskirts, so when I feel I can’t write anything, I take a ramble to those locations and it clears my head. I suppose it was inevitable that some day I would write a novel. My teachers at school used to limit me to no more than ten pages.  When I left school, I wrote short stories for magazines, and it paid my way through college. I am Gothic; I love the fashion, the architecture and the music. The club in my novel is real. When I was writing book one, I got all my club material and clientele from here, I wouldn’t have finished that section without it. There has always been a fascination in vampire stories and I wanted to write something different. I was fed up of the way women were portrayed as the weak female so I decided to write about a strong independent woman that was also a little vulnerable. 
2. Who is your favorite vampire? I am very partial to Lestat du Lioncourt (Interview with the Vampire/Queen of the Damned/The Vampire Lestat). He appears to be extremely arrogant but in truth, he is frightened of being alone. Saying that, he has a mist-trust of everyone - mortal and immortal - so he is in fact, his own worst enemy. 
3. What are your favorite books to read? Anything supernatural – vampires, ghosts, witches, magic. I am a huge fan of Anne Rice and Stephen King. But I tend to read the back of a book and not care who’s written it. The story is most important, one that can transport me to another existence is something that captivates me and as I have so little time these days, it has to be a special story. 4. If you use mythology in your books, what is it, why did you use it and can you tell me in about a paragraph or two about this myth? I started with the story of Lilleth because I find that the story of Lilleth has been buried and religion does not recognise her even though she is written in several other religious bibles and in ancient Hebrew Scriptures. And the myths surrounding Cain where fascinating. I’ve read several papers with regards to Cain and his possible involvement in being the first vampire – so I just combined both stories. When I began to write the passages from the Book of Cain at the start of JOS it made so much sense - but I take each story with a grain of salt. 5. What series do you write? Please describe it in one to two paragraphs? I enjoy writing Fiction and Vampires are, and always will be, my favourite genre. When I started Judgement of Souls I intended it to be a stand-alone book, but as the story progressed it took on a life of its own and it needed to have a further story – a back story as to why it all happened and who started the whole upheaval in the vampire community, so it has now become a trilogy. 
6. Are your characters based off of any vampires in pop culture? No they are totally mine; they are the voices in my head, and the people I see in my dreams. Readers are aware of anything that resembles another character and will pull you on it. I didn’t want that to happen, so I gave my characters different mannerisms that you wouldn’t normally see in modern day vampire stories. 
7. Are you books based off of any stories in pop culture?  No – I tried to stay original. My story is one that you will never have read before. It’s hard to find a different angle when so much has been done already; it took time to get to know my characters before I wrote about them so I could get them just right and get their story just right and believable. 
8. What do you see in your future for your series? My story is a trilogy. I intend to finish them all and then afterwards write about my two main characters from the first book (JOS3/Rachel and Daniel). They will be feature in a series of adventures with the two immortals helping to gather occult items from around the world. I work for television and if I can I intend to script one of the stories and submit it for perusal. 
9. What makes your series unique? I’ve read so much vampire literature that I wanted a story to be totally different - this is not your ordinary vampire story. It’s not all about blood sucking beings. It’s revenge, its romance, it’s a treasure hunt for one of the most important vampire artifacts and the winner will get the ultimate prize. I have written characters with a real history and also a common goal, mortal and immortal coming together and you live with them in their journey. It has a different perspective to any vampire story that I have ever read. 10. What is your favorite things about vampires in pop culture today? Nothing is taboo any more. We have long portrayed the vampire as a blood thirsty tyrant, but in modern day stories we can see them as elegant creatures, no longer are they hiding in dark corners but they are out to play with mortals. 11. What is your least favorite things about vampires in pop culture today? Everyone wants to be a vampire! It is tiresome to read about people role-playing with fake fangs and having blood parties. It annoys me to read on different internet groups about blood lusting when it’s not only about that. It ridicules the genre and makes them comical and it’s no wonder that when a story comes to light, it is not taken seriously. 12. Where can we find you on the internet? I don’t have a website yet – it is under construction. I have a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JudgementOfSouls3TheKissAtDawn and I have a page on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Margarita-Felices/e/B007BHDIVS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 But if anyone wants to contact me, the Facebook page is probably the best way. 
 END

"Lindsay Downs"

Here is the info-


--
Lindsay
Army Mysteries
Available from Astraea Press
Emily Dahill, CID Part 1
A Dog Gone Christmas
A Body in the Attic


web- www.lindsaydowns.com
blog- www.murdersandmysteries.wordpress.com
email- lindsay@lindsaydowns.com
Darkness is the Absence of Love

Back cover blurbs- Emily Dahill, CID Part 1 Final Mission-After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. Emily Dahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CID agent. Who could this new partner be? A Body in the Snow- Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determined foe. Who will survive? Right Place, Wrong Day-On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of her life. Dog on Fishing-When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimate your partner. He might surprise you. A Dog Gone Christmas When a call for paws goes out, five friends bring their collies without question to a friend’s house. They learn the collies are needed to help seven children with the grief of losing a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan. Now, with seven friends, four collie yearlings and their mother, they set out to help the children Not far away a mother hopefully leads her seven puppies to safety from a man intent on selling them for illicit purposes. By a miracle of fate the two mother collies find each other right before the man sells the puppies. That Christmas morning will be one the children will remember all their lives and they are united with the puppies. A Body in the Attic A missing soldier. A break in. A former, now soldier, model tells of an aborted assault. A passageway hiding more than years of dust and cobwebs. Rooms where there are none. The reappearance of the mysterious ‘brown-haired man’. What, if anything, ties these random facts together. With precision and dedication Emily and Dakota start to unravel some of the questions. Only when an FBI agent steps up do the facts start to merge into what appears to be a terrorist conspiracy. A body found halfway across the country is the final clue in answering all of the question, but one. Will Emily be able to save a life before it’s too late? Emily Dahill, CID Part 2 Tears- Bullied at school, Mary Todd is just about to give up when Dakota and Emily come to her rescue. Friends and Family- Dakota helps a she-wolf and her cubs while he continues to cause mischief with hilarious results Guardian- Against all odds Dakota works to protect Emily, from her boyfriend and herself The Loser- Emily and Dakota step into intrigue when a soldier can’t hit the target with any degree of consistency. Buy Links EMILY DAHILL, CID PART 1 Astraea Press Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookstrand A Dog Gone Christmas Astraea Press Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance A BODY IN THE ATTIC Astraea Press Amazon B&N Emily Dahill, CID Part Two Astraea Press Amazon B&N New bio It was from my parents that I developed a love for books. My father, a medieval scholar, collected the works of Sir Walter Scott with The Lady of the Lake, then and now my favorite. My mother collect Thomas Hardy. No comment on him. When I was in high school I use to infuriate my English teachers by wanting to write my way, not the way they taught the class. Needless to say, I didn’t quietly rebel and usually won my argument. Later when I started writing, with a focus toward being published, I remembered what I’d learned in school. All, that is, except for comma’s which I still can’t figure out. After much trial and a lot of errors I developed my own, I sincerely hope, unique style or voice. Of course, my style now includes writing parts of my books in a POV which threw my editor for a loop until she realized that a collie was the hero of the stories Blog- Murders and Mysteries Twitter- Ldowns2966 LinkedIn- Lindsay Downs Facebook/Author Page- Dakota-Hero Goodreads- Lindsay Downs

Smashwords — Burning Bright — A book by L.A. Jones

Smashwords — Burning Bright — A book by L.A. Jones

a collection of poems I have written over the years. It also includes poems written by a friend of mine.

A Y.A. Book Deal for Mr. Fifty Shades of Grey - Entertainment - The Atlantic Wire

A Y.A. Book Deal for Mr. Fifty Shades of Grey - Entertainment - The Atlantic Wire: Fifty Shades of Grey, the erotic trilogy that's been at the top of best-seller lists for weeks and months, it's all so blurry now, even outpacing sales of Harry Potter, may change publishing forever. For one thing, there's the fact that it started as Twilight fan fiction. For two, it was self-published, only catching the eyes of publishing industry folks once it started selling digital copies like virtual hotcakes. And for three, there's that whole related licensing deal, by which fans will soon be able to buy sheets, fragrance, apparel, and any number of other Fifty Shades-branded accoutrement.

Releasing another book

Although I am still hard at work with my fifth book I figured I would give my readers a treat. In many of the self help books I have read one of the biggest advices given is show some of the stuff that got you started writing. Therefore, I have decided to release an anthology of poetry that I have written. Included will also be two other poets who are also my friends. I will include their poems and the websites where you can contact them. I will post the link where you can buy the book online. If it is possible I might make it a paperbacks

Here is the book:
It is called Burning Bright
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181437

Lohmann: VCU grad overcomes Asperger's to chase dream | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Lohmann: VCU grad overcomes Asperger's to chase dream | Richmond Times-Dispatch: Zack Budryk writes with grace and holds fast to dreams, so after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday he will pursue what he's always wanted: a career in journalism.

His journey, though, hasn't been nearly as uncomplicated as that sounds.

Why Business Needs People With Asperger's Syndrome, Attention-Deficit Disorder And Dyslexia - Business Insider

Why Business Needs People With Asperger's Syndrome, Attention-Deficit Disorder And Dyslexia - Business Insider: In 1956 William Whyte argued in his bestseller, "The Organisation Man", that companies were so in love with "well-rounded" executives that they fought a "fight against genius".

Today many suffer from the opposite prejudice. Software firms gobble up anti-social geeks. Hedge funds hoover up equally oddball quants.

Hollywood bends over backwards to accommodate the whims of creatives. And policymakers look to rule-breaking entrepreneurs to create jobs.

5 Tips for Loving Someone with Asperger’s Syndrome | World of Psychology

5 Tips for Loving Someone with Asperger’s Syndrome | World of Psychology: All romantic relationships have challenges and require some work. Being in a relationship with someone who has Asperger’s syndrome (AS) can create an additional challenge,

To Land a Publisher, an Author Prints Sample Copies for Stores - WSJ.com

To Land a Publisher, an Author Prints Sample Copies for Stores - WSJ.com: Sometimes an independent bookseller's word can help push an author's manuscript toward publication.

Author Michael Ennis submitted a draft of his novel, "The Malice of Fortune," to New York publishing houses but was rejected. He revised, edited and submitted once more but was rejected again.

Then he got a tip from his agent: Try booksellers first.

Mississauga Blog: Beware vanity press scammers

Mississauga Blog: Beware vanity press scammers: Hardly a week goes by The Mississauga News does not get a self-published book for review.
If you’re thinking of joining this throng, here’s a bit of unsolicited advice: don’t go near that keyboard. (Trust me, you’ll thank me later.)
Now, I’m not suggesting you abandon your dream of becoming the next James Patterson or John Grisham. Or that you don’t have any writing talent.
What I’m imploring is that if you want to try your hand at publishing a book then go the tried-and-true route and submit your manuscript to a traditional publishing house, not a vanity publisher.
The two are like night and day.
Traditional publishers pay you, you don’t pay them.

Family's lemonade stand squeezes for charity | The Marshfield News-Herald | marshfieldnewsherald.com

Family's lemonade stand squeezes for charity | The Marshfield News-Herald | marshfieldnewsherald.com: The proceeds of the lemonade stand aren't going for a new bike or doll, though. Haili is planning to donate any money to Project Life Saver of Portage County.

It is a program started in 2009 to help track mentally disabled people who are prone to wander. The program is coordinated with the Portage County Sheriff's Department, Stevens Point Police Department and Plover Police Department, which have equipment to track the individuals.