Just a reminder that I will be on the Coffee Time Romance Chatters eLoop tomorrow afternoon (evening) hosting Love those Vampires and Werewolves! The chat is scheduled between 3:00pm and 5:00pm EST (8:00pm - 10:00pm BST) and it will be lovely to chat.
I will discuss my debut British paranormal romance novel Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), and will run a competition to win a signed paperback copy. We can talk about why we love vampires and werewolves, and which we prefer, and I will even talk about the forthcoming Redcliffe sequel Love Kills.
Join me tomorrow (Wednesday 7th March), grab a cuppa, and we can settle down for a chat!
Vampire writer of fantasy books for adults, werewolf fiction and LGBT fantasy books. Polyamory rules in my world!
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Friday, 2 March 2012
World Book Day and my Local Library
Yesterday was World Book Day. I was going to post this article on time, but when I sat down at the computer I became engrossed in my manuscript for Love Redeems, the third book in my Redcliffe paranormal romance series. Anyway, aside from writing, I am a life-long book lover. I probably mentioned that already. It kind of goes with the territory of being an author.
On Tuesday I took my daughter to our local library for a weekly 'Rhymetime' session. This is a great little group where babies and toddlers are entertained by singing nursery rhymes and reading books. The library assistant who ran the session informed us that in honour of World Book Day, our children would each receive a voucher for a free book. Fantastic!
She then encouraged the adults to peruse a pile of books on an adjacent table. These books were wrapped in brown paper, and were not labelled. We were invited to pick up a 'mystery' book and loan it from the library as part of their World Book Day celebration. I had to check it out! So I selected a juicy looking package and took it home.
How exciting to have a mystery book! When we returned home, I put it on the table and avoided it for as long as possible to prolong the excitement of this annual event. (Yes I am a geek!) So what was this book? Take a look:
It is a contemporary thriller set on a remote Scottish island. This is a genre that I haven't read for a long time, so it will be quite a treat. Thank you, World Book Day!
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| Buy Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) today |
She then encouraged the adults to peruse a pile of books on an adjacent table. These books were wrapped in brown paper, and were not labelled. We were invited to pick up a 'mystery' book and loan it from the library as part of their World Book Day celebration. I had to check it out! So I selected a juicy looking package and took it home.
How exciting to have a mystery book! When we returned home, I put it on the table and avoided it for as long as possible to prolong the excitement of this annual event. (Yes I am a geek!) So what was this book? Take a look:
It is a contemporary thriller set on a remote Scottish island. This is a genre that I haven't read for a long time, so it will be quite a treat. Thank you, World Book Day!
Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I
will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires
do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!)
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Love those Vampires and Werewolves!
"Love those Vampires and Werewolves!" - Join me on
Wednesday March 7th for the Coffee Time Romance Chatters e-Loop, 15:00 - 17:00
EST (20:00 - 22:00 BST)
I will be hosting an e-loop chat with Coffee Time Romance to
promote my paranormal romance series 'The Redcliffe Novels.' I will run a
competition to win a signed paperback copy of my debut novel 'Love Hurts.' Join me if you love vampires and werewolves
in all their manifestations, where we can talk about our love for these
often-misunderstood creatures of the night...
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Using a Book to sell more Books
That title sounds a bit random don't you think? Don't worry, I am simply playing with words, as is my way. What I mean to say is that I recently borrowed a book from my local library, and used it to learn more about Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO. This in turn has given me a lesson in how to use my websites to sell more of my books, and to market myself, Catherine Green, as a business brand.
It is all about what we say. It always is. SEO is simply the use of popular keywords and phrases to describe your business, service, or items for sale. When you choose a domain name, a title, and an introduction for your website, think very carefully about your descriptions. Use the free web tools available to search out the most popular keywords and phrases to describe your business.
The book I borrowed is called Get Into Bed With Google: Top ranking search optimisation techniques http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905940491. I cannot recommend it enough for people just starting out in business, or sole traders like myself. It made me realise that I am a business. My name is my brand. And now, if I want to sell more books, I have to tell people about them.
Using a technique suggested in the book, I wrote down a list of keyword phrases that I would use to describe myself as an author. One of these was 'British paranormal romance writer.' I typed it into the Google search engine, and at the very top of the results list I found a link to a discussion forum on Amazon. Somebody in the UK was searching for new British paranormal romance writers. Perfect! I joined the discussion, leaving links for my book, and then I did the same for about three or four other relevant forums.
Imagine my surprise and delight when just one hour later, I received an email from one of these Amazon forums. The originator had seen my response, liked what they saw, and ordered a copy of Love Hurts on Kindle. I was elated! My time on here had truly been well spent (or rather, well-earned!). Try it for yourself. Visit the internet forums whose topics relate to the subject matter of your books. And see how your sales figures increase.
It is all about what we say. It always is. SEO is simply the use of popular keywords and phrases to describe your business, service, or items for sale. When you choose a domain name, a title, and an introduction for your website, think very carefully about your descriptions. Use the free web tools available to search out the most popular keywords and phrases to describe your business.
The book I borrowed is called Get Into Bed With Google: Top ranking search optimisation techniques http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905940491. I cannot recommend it enough for people just starting out in business, or sole traders like myself. It made me realise that I am a business. My name is my brand. And now, if I want to sell more books, I have to tell people about them.
Using a technique suggested in the book, I wrote down a list of keyword phrases that I would use to describe myself as an author. One of these was 'British paranormal romance writer.' I typed it into the Google search engine, and at the very top of the results list I found a link to a discussion forum on Amazon. Somebody in the UK was searching for new British paranormal romance writers. Perfect! I joined the discussion, leaving links for my book, and then I did the same for about three or four other relevant forums.
Imagine my surprise and delight when just one hour later, I received an email from one of these Amazon forums. The originator had seen my response, liked what they saw, and ordered a copy of Love Hurts on Kindle. I was elated! My time on here had truly been well spent (or rather, well-earned!). Try it for yourself. Visit the internet forums whose topics relate to the subject matter of your books. And see how your sales figures increase.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Advice for New Writers
I would like to recommend a website for writers who are looking for a community that will offer feedback and support for their work. Write and Share is a UK based website that has grown at an incredible rate during the last twelve months. I have been with them from the start, and I can't actually remember how it was that I connected with the owner, Naomi Chance. All I know is that she is a wonderfully supportive and enthusiastic writer who shares her passion with others.
I have become very closely affiliated with Write and Share, and now offer my own writers' advice corner. Here is the link: http://www.writeandshare.co.uk/category/author-catherine-greens-advice-corner/ Under my personal account I have posted some short stories and extracts of my novels, which you can read and review as you wish. This is the same for all members of the site. I encourage you to look at my writers' advice articles, especially if you are an amateur who is seeking guidance, or an Indie author simply learning more about your craft. I write from personal experience, and am confident in what I share.
I have become very closely affiliated with Write and Share, and now offer my own writers' advice corner. Here is the link: http://www.writeandshare.co.uk/category/author-catherine-greens-advice-corner/ Under my personal account I have posted some short stories and extracts of my novels, which you can read and review as you wish. This is the same for all members of the site. I encourage you to look at my writers' advice articles, especially if you are an amateur who is seeking guidance, or an Indie author simply learning more about your craft. I write from personal experience, and am confident in what I share.
Friday, 10 February 2012
Love Hurts on Valentines Day
I have to say I apologise for the title of my post, but you must forgive me! Actually, I understand love shouldn't hurt on Valentines Day. In fact it should be a beautiful celebration of our love for each other, whether we are in long-term comfortable relationships, or shorter developing ones. I am simply offering a view of Valentines Day from the perspective of my paranormal romance novel Love Hurts.
Personally I am not celebrating Valentines Day this year. My husband and me are very busy at the moment developing our careers and raising a family, and we simply cannot afford an extravagent celebration. We barely have time to see each other these days. I am not sad about it, and our relationship is strong and secure. We accept that there are many years ahead for us to enjoy Valentines celebrations in romantic and indulgent ways.
I wonder how my characters in Love Hurts will celebrate Valentines Day? Without giving too much away, my protagonist Jessica Stone is an independent woman struggling to acknowledge that she has fallen in love. Jack Mason has his own reasons for not wanting or needing a relationship, but finds himself falling for Jessica against his will. As the old saying goes, we cannot help who we fall in love with. It happens, and we deal with it.
Back to the subject of Valentines Day. At present I am writing the third book in this opening trilogy for the Redcliffe series. It will not cover Valentines Day, because all the events happen at the end of summer, between August and October specifically. Perhaps I will write a short story about Jack and Jessica's Valentines Day. It would certainly be an interesting exercise. There would be some tension with the local werewolves who are inadvertantly involved, not to mention another vampire who keeps drawing Jessica's attention. That is all I will say for now. I do not want to spoil your enjoyment of Love Hurts.
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Personally I am not celebrating Valentines Day this year. My husband and me are very busy at the moment developing our careers and raising a family, and we simply cannot afford an extravagent celebration. We barely have time to see each other these days. I am not sad about it, and our relationship is strong and secure. We accept that there are many years ahead for us to enjoy Valentines celebrations in romantic and indulgent ways.
I wonder how my characters in Love Hurts will celebrate Valentines Day? Without giving too much away, my protagonist Jessica Stone is an independent woman struggling to acknowledge that she has fallen in love. Jack Mason has his own reasons for not wanting or needing a relationship, but finds himself falling for Jessica against his will. As the old saying goes, we cannot help who we fall in love with. It happens, and we deal with it.
Back to the subject of Valentines Day. At present I am writing the third book in this opening trilogy for the Redcliffe series. It will not cover Valentines Day, because all the events happen at the end of summer, between August and October specifically. Perhaps I will write a short story about Jack and Jessica's Valentines Day. It would certainly be an interesting exercise. There would be some tension with the local werewolves who are inadvertantly involved, not to mention another vampire who keeps drawing Jessica's attention. That is all I will say for now. I do not want to spoil your enjoyment of Love Hurts.
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Monday, 6 February 2012
Free Kindle Horror Novel - Highway to Hell
Today I would like to recommend an excellent new horror story written by my author friend Alex Laybourne. Highway to Hell is a contemporary horror which follows the adventures of a group of people during the last hours of their lives, and their subsequent descent into Hell as they are tested, tortured and turned out into the afterlife.
I found it a very disturbing read but very gripping, and it will be free to purchase from Tuesday 7th February until Thursday 9th February. Get a copy, and I am sure you will love it! The sequel is due out later this year, which is good news because Highway to Hell ends on a massive cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see the outcome.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005H93KEM#reader_B005H93KEM
I found it a very disturbing read but very gripping, and it will be free to purchase from Tuesday 7th February until Thursday 9th February. Get a copy, and I am sure you will love it! The sequel is due out later this year, which is good news because Highway to Hell ends on a massive cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see the outcome.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005H93KEM#reader_B005H93KEM
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