Using #PurpleBiz to Sell Books

Today I have the honour of being the featured small business by Purple Dog on Twitter. Their extensive network of followers will RT messages about me, Spooky Mrs Green, which in turn will translate into more book sales as people begin to discover the genius that is my work. Well, that is the theory! I am very thrilled to have been chosen today, although I did work hard to obtain my position as well.

I would also like to mention LF Designs who made the cool personalised web badge. Check them out for more merchandise for yourself and your business. If you are interested in trying alternative social networking methods for your own business, be it books, multimedia or anything else, check out the hashtag #PurpleBiz on Twitter. See you there!

A Very Happy Book Launch

Last weekend saw the official launch of my fourth novel, The Darkness of Love. I didn’t have a big party, mainly because I never found time to organize it. Actually I am quite a novice in the world of book marketing, and I have no budget to cover the costs of professional PR. Everything I do is based on my own observations and what I have learned through experience and from my peers on social networks. I also glean lots of advice and information from my monthly Writing Magazine.

Anyway, the event took place in my local café, Drinks and Bites at 35. I am very grateful to the owners, Holly and Gemma, for very kindly offering me some space and time in order to promote my books. We all share the same vision for getting  out in the community together, but my priority at the moment has to be providing for my family and doing what I can to supplement my husband’s income. Ah, the joys of money!

I was very pleased to see some old friends who managed to come and visit, and I appreciate the support of everyone that came to see me. I know some people were unable to attend but I received lots of supportive messages, and it all helps. Being a writer can be a very lonely existence, even when I am surrounded by demanding children. Sometimes I just need someone to recognise me for my talent, not for my genetic legacy. I know there are lots of mothers out there who are nodding in agreement right now.

Well, the event was a success. I sold some books, I talked to some people, I gave out leaflets advertising my websites and my work. Now it is the waiting game as I watch my readership  grow, which in turn leads to more royalties. It is not all about the money of course. I love writing. I love sharing my books with the world. I am very proud of my achievements regardless of whether I receive international acclaim for my efforts. But ultimately we live in a world that is ruled by the need for money. If I have more money, I can spend it on the small business’ around me, and that will keep the economy moving. We have to see the bigger picture, and we must support each other where we can.

#NaNoWriMo – Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. In honour of National Novel Writing Month 2013, today I share an excerpt from my ‘winning’ manuscript of NaNoWriMo 2011. Here is a snippet from Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel):

“Jessica, please, I want to help you,” Jack said from the stairwell where he stood in shadow, “You are not weak.  Please talk to me.”
Carrying my glass over to the table, I gulped the cold water and put my glass down, then turned to him.  He was naked, and his body seemed to glow in the darkness, tormenting and tempting me at the same time.  This was not a man.  This was a vampire.  I am in love with a vampire.  Because of him I was almost killed, and now I am scarred for life, both physically and mentally.  Because of him my life will never be the same again, and yet still I can’t leave him.  And now, to top it off, I am having erotic dreams about his identical twin brother, a man who has made it clear he wants to sleep with me.  What kind of a soap opera is my life right now?
“Jack, it’s late, or early, whatever, and I need to sleep,” I said moodily, “And I can’t sleep, because I keep having these stupid, ridiculous dreams.”
“What dreams?” Jack asked gently.
I swallowed, thinking about my words.  I felt anger now, and frustration, but at least the tears were gone.  I took a deep breath.  If I didn’t tell him he wouldn’t leave me alone.
“I keep dreaming about Danny,” I said, heart pounding.

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!

Written In Blood: A Snappy Supernatural Tale of Forbidden Lust in Vi...

Written In Blood: A Snappy Supernatural Tale of Forbidden Lust in Vi...: Today's Spooktacular Spotlight Author is Catherine Green She's brought us some lovely vampires to chat about today.  L...

Picking Up the Pace #NaNoWriMo 2013

So, we are on day 4 of National Novel Writing Month 2013, and while I am still behind on my daily word count, I feel positive and happy that the manuscript is progressing nicely. I had not really planned out Redcliffe book 4. Well, I did make some notes last year, but then I changed the ending to Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) and that totally threw out my original story line. I had intended for Jessica Stone to be turned into a vampire during the final battle scene in Love Redeems. She didn’t (sorry if I spoiled it for you!). Therefore I now move forward into book 4 with a different version of events, and a new adventure to create.

I actually enjoy the process of free writing. This is where you sit down at your computer, or you pick up your pen, and you just write. There is no thinking ahead, no planned story map or bullet points, just write. Using this process I have already penned (well, typed) almost 4000 words and am quite pleased with what has come out. Jessica is currently experiencing the aftermath of her revelations from the Redcliffe trilogy. She made a lot of supernatural discoveries within a very short space of time, and she lost someone close. Her friendships are forever altered, she is not the same person that she was six months ago, and she is still evolving. There is a lot to learn, and a lot more to discover in the apparently sleepy Cornish seaside town of Redcliffe…

A Slow Start to #NaNoWriMo 2013

Wow, has it been a year already? What have I been doing? Oh yes, publishing two novels, birthing one baby, mothering a young family and trying to stay sane in this crazy world! Well, here we are once again at NaNoWriMo, and I am back in the writing groove. I gave up on my previous manuscript while I was still pregnant because my Muse deserted me. I am slowly coaxing her back with promises of chocolate and wine, but she is hard to please. My children have not helped the cause today. We have just returned from a short holiday in the beautiful Scottish Borders. My toddler has been tired and grumpy all day, and my baby is breastfeeding every two hours and demanding cuddles inbetween. I finally resorted to typing one-handed just so I could actually get started with NaNoWriMo! Anyway, we are here, we have started, and it's all good. Here is my synopsis so far, for Redcliffe Book 4 (as yet untitled):

Let me consult my notes... this will be book 4 in the Redcliffe series, picking up where we left off in Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel)...Jessica comes to terms with her new status as vampire slayer and her metaphysical connection to Danny and his werewolf pack. Jack and his brother struggle to accept that she never knew she was a witch. Cue power struggles between the tiger and wolf, and damaged human relationships to repair.

My Journey to Being a Published Author

Since I started actively promoting my novels in my local area, I find an increased number of people asking me how I managed to get published. For me it seems quite strange in this world of eBooks and DIY publishing. I have taken forgranted the fact that for many people, being a published author is still just a distant dream. It was my distant dream only three years ago. My, how things change!

I did not actually self publish my books. I did not have the time or the finances to enable me in that arena. I spent several months writing to agents and trying to secure support for my Redcliffe novels. I began to submit short stories to competitions. And I researched the industry to figure out what my options were. It was the short story competitions that got me my ‘big break.’

I had submitted a short werewolf story, My New Master, to a partnership published in Somerset called Mirador. The editor was compiling stories for a new anthology entitled The Mirador Fantasmagoria. She accepted my story, and then asked if I had anything else to publish. Apparently my genre and style of writing appealed to their business model. I was so excited! I sent an eager reply and an attachment of my first Redcliffe novel Love Hurts. And that was how I got published.

My editor at Mirador very kindly worked out a practical financial agreement, and she gave me some guidance and advice on my manuscript at no extra cost. She really showed an interest in my work, and she gave me such a boost that my Muse went crazy! For the next eighteen months I spent every spare moment writing and editing, and now I have my first three Redcliffe novels published, all by Mirador.

However, I could not sustain that model much longer. I have no access to what I would call ‘serious money’ that would enable me to continue publishing in this way. It is an expensive business, and we have to acknowledge that fact. Fortunately for my fourth novel I was accepted by a traditional publisher, Chances Press. I believe I found their details in the monthly Writing Magazine that I subscribe to. They published The Darkness of Love and now here we are. I am up to date, promoting all my books, and raring to go with the next project on my list.

That was my story to being a published author. Now you tell me yours…