I'm over at author Stacey Kennedy's blog today, and I'm giving away an ebook from my backlist to one commenter!
Stop by and say hi to win! http://www.staceykennedy.com/please-show-shoshanna-evers-some-love/
Oh and by the way, today's my birthday! *grins* I'm 31 years old today. It's been a good year :)
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
50,000 words in May!
Hello Fellow Writers!
I've started another blog so we can write 50K words in the month of May and keep each other accountable.
I have a special project I'm going to work on, and I really want the NaNoWriMo-type cheerleading squad of other other authors doing the same thing to push me along.
So please stop by http://May50k.blogspot.com/ and join in the fun!
I've started another blog so we can write 50K words in the month of May and keep each other accountable.
I have a special project I'm going to work on, and I really want the NaNoWriMo-type cheerleading squad of other other authors doing the same thing to push me along.
So please stop by http://May50k.blogspot.com/ and join in the fun!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Yay! My new book Chastity Belt is out now!
My new Ellora's Cave BDSM erotic romance Chastity Belt is available now!
Here's the blurb:
Georgia Hearn has found the perfect way to make easy cash—performing an interactive BDSM-flavored stage show at the exclusive Gentlemen’s Club.
When handsome GC client Jonathan Syler goes up on stage and locks her into a chastity belt, it’s all supposed to be part of the fun. But Jonathan makes it clear he won’t be unlocking her anytime soon.
Now she’s at his mercy—and has no choice but to see him again, since he holds the key to her pleasure. Literally.
Reader’s Advisory: This book contains a hot girl-on-girl tease and denial scene and some F/F/M action.
Click here for an adults-only excerpt!
Buy Chastity Belt from Ellora's Cave here. If you have a Kindle, you can get the MobiPocket format (.prc). For the Nook, get the ePub format. If you want to read on your computer, get the Adobe PDF. :)
Here's the blurb: Georgia Hearn has found the perfect way to make easy cash—performing an interactive BDSM-flavored stage show at the exclusive Gentlemen’s Club.
When handsome GC client Jonathan Syler goes up on stage and locks her into a chastity belt, it’s all supposed to be part of the fun. But Jonathan makes it clear he won’t be unlocking her anytime soon.
Now she’s at his mercy—and has no choice but to see him again, since he holds the key to her pleasure. Literally.
Reader’s Advisory: This book contains a hot girl-on-girl tease and denial scene and some F/F/M action.
Click here for an adults-only excerpt!
Buy Chastity Belt from Ellora's Cave here. If you have a Kindle, you can get the MobiPocket format (.prc). For the Nook, get the ePub format. If you want to read on your computer, get the Adobe PDF. :)
Friday, April 15, 2011
Should you Self-Publish? My New Thoughts
Hello Fellow Writers!
A couple years ago I posted on this subject and at the time my feeling was, don't self-publish if you're *only* self-publishing because no publisher will publish your books. There are so many small presses and e-publishers out there, my feeling was that if the book is good enough then *someone* somewhere would be willing to invest time and money into it by paying for an editor, cover designer and promo etcetera for you, so you aren't stuck with those costs.
Now I'm not so sure how I feel. I do think there's something to be said for being "vetted" by a publisher. There's a real feeling of accomplishment that comes with having a total stranger tell you that not only is your book worth reading, it's worth them investing time and money into the project by contracting it.
But then... I read stories about people self-publishing, selling their books for 99 cents, and making a fortune. We all know about Amanda Hocking making a million dollars (literally) on her 9 ebooks, and then getting a 2 million dollar traditional publishing deal.
Yesterday I heard about author Selena Kitt in this article here. Incidentally, I was already following her on Twitter. She made over $200K this year with her self-published ebooks. Yeah, it's only April. The year's not over yet. HOLY SH*T.
When I see things like that, and I see how expensive my books are comparatively, I wish I could choose to have a lower price point for my books. But the publishers set the price, not the author. Unless, of course, you self-publish, in which case yeah, you can do whatever the heck you want.
I understand why my publishers have to have a higher cost for my books - they have to pay everyone who helps make the book happen, and have enough left over to pay royalties to the authors and have a profit for themselves. So I'm not begrudging them making money. This is business. I understand that completely.
So I've been thinking about the possibility of self-publishing something. Specifically, an idea for a trilogy of novellas that I have. But I also wonder if I have the guts to put something out there that hasn't been given some sort of external validation by a publisher. I wonder if I can objectively look at a book I've written and say "yes, this is good enough." I'd definitely have to hire an editor and cover designer, etc.
My mind has been spinning lately with all these thoughts. What are your thoughts on the subject?
A couple years ago I posted on this subject and at the time my feeling was, don't self-publish if you're *only* self-publishing because no publisher will publish your books. There are so many small presses and e-publishers out there, my feeling was that if the book is good enough then *someone* somewhere would be willing to invest time and money into it by paying for an editor, cover designer and promo etcetera for you, so you aren't stuck with those costs.
Now I'm not so sure how I feel. I do think there's something to be said for being "vetted" by a publisher. There's a real feeling of accomplishment that comes with having a total stranger tell you that not only is your book worth reading, it's worth them investing time and money into the project by contracting it.
But then... I read stories about people self-publishing, selling their books for 99 cents, and making a fortune. We all know about Amanda Hocking making a million dollars (literally) on her 9 ebooks, and then getting a 2 million dollar traditional publishing deal.
Yesterday I heard about author Selena Kitt in this article here. Incidentally, I was already following her on Twitter. She made over $200K this year with her self-published ebooks. Yeah, it's only April. The year's not over yet. HOLY SH*T.
When I see things like that, and I see how expensive my books are comparatively, I wish I could choose to have a lower price point for my books. But the publishers set the price, not the author. Unless, of course, you self-publish, in which case yeah, you can do whatever the heck you want.
I understand why my publishers have to have a higher cost for my books - they have to pay everyone who helps make the book happen, and have enough left over to pay royalties to the authors and have a profit for themselves. So I'm not begrudging them making money. This is business. I understand that completely.
So I've been thinking about the possibility of self-publishing something. Specifically, an idea for a trilogy of novellas that I have. But I also wonder if I have the guts to put something out there that hasn't been given some sort of external validation by a publisher. I wonder if I can objectively look at a book I've written and say "yes, this is good enough." I'd definitely have to hire an editor and cover designer, etc.
My mind has been spinning lately with all these thoughts. What are your thoughts on the subject?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Real Answers from a Reader & Book Reviewer!
Hello Fellow Writers!
I often interview other authors, but today I thought - it's about time to interview a reader! I've tried to ask the sorts of questions that are really important to know as a writer - because why do we write if not to be read?
Marika Webber is an avid reader, a book reviewer, an aspiring writer, a mom, a wife, and a baseball/hockey/NASCAR fan. She lives and works full time in East Texas.
She also has a blog where she posts reviews of some of the books she reads. In addition, she beta-reads for several erotica authors. In short, this a woman who loves books! And any friend of books is a friend of mine :)
Shoshanna: Thanks for being here, Marika! What's your favorite genre of book to read?
Marika: I love contemporaries but I also like paranormal, romantic suspense and historicals.
Shoshanna: There are so many books out there. How do you decide which books to buy?
Marika: Actually, it really depends on my mood. I have a wishlist that I keep up with but the book really has to grab me from the get-go for me to buy it.
Shoshanna: Is there anything that you'd see that would make you pass on reading a book?
Marika: I don't particularly like fantasy, sci-fi, urban fantasy and I'm just now reading more in-depth BDSM.
Shoshanna: Do you mainly read print books or ebooks? Do you have an e-reader?
Marika: Since I got my Nook for Christmas, I'm beginning to have more ebooks but I will buy paperbacks if I want to read it right away.
Shoshanna: What makes an enticing book cover to you?
Marika: Jimmy Thomas on the cover. Seriously, the cover really isn't that important, the book itself is. A great cover is nice but....
Shoshanna: Oh yum! Absolutely, LOL!
Do you review books on the publisher's website, Goodreads, Amazon, or anywhere else? What would make you give 5 stars?
Marika: I'm a reviewer for Night Owl Reviews and The Romance Studio. I also have started reviewing books on Goodreads and on my own blog. A great book is plot, characterization, pacing and did it keep my interest. Actually, the last thing I look for in a book is sex. I know, I'm weird.
Shoshanna: Have you ever given a book a low star rating or poor review, and why?
Marika: I reviewed a book for Night Owl Reviews and while the plot and pacing were good and the hero to-die-for, the heroine didn't sit well with me. It was supposed to be a Domme-led book but I wasn't feeling it from her at all.
Shoshanna: If an author wrote in one genre and you loved her work, would you read another book she wrote even if it was in a different genre? (Say, she wrote a romance and then wrote a thriller)
Marika: I will always follow an author regardless of the genre. Now that said, sometimes, the book is good and sometimes it's not. I always give an author a chance if they have switched genres. I'm loyal to a fault.
Shoshanna: Do you ever read self-published books, or do you mainly stick to reading books by publishers you know?
Marika: I'm just now getting into self-published books, so the answer would be not really.
Shoshanna: What makes you put a book down and not finish it?
Marika: If the plot and pacing are too slow and too far out there. Plus, if I don't connect with the hero/heroine, I will put it down. Now, I have finished books that I wish I hadn't bothered to finish.
Shoshanna: What makes you stay up late to finish a story you love?
Marika: A really good romantic suspense or thriller! I'm very analytical about suspense/thriller books and I have to know what happens.
Find Marika on the web!
www.facebook.com/marika.weber2
www.twitter.com/marika67
www.goodreads.com/briansmom
http://harliebooks.blogspot.com
I often interview other authors, but today I thought - it's about time to interview a reader! I've tried to ask the sorts of questions that are really important to know as a writer - because why do we write if not to be read?
Marika Webber is an avid reader, a book reviewer, an aspiring writer, a mom, a wife, and a baseball/hockey/NASCAR fan. She lives and works full time in East Texas.
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| Marika's Avatar :) |
Shoshanna: Thanks for being here, Marika! What's your favorite genre of book to read?
Marika: I love contemporaries but I also like paranormal, romantic suspense and historicals.
Shoshanna: There are so many books out there. How do you decide which books to buy?
Marika: Actually, it really depends on my mood. I have a wishlist that I keep up with but the book really has to grab me from the get-go for me to buy it.
Shoshanna: Is there anything that you'd see that would make you pass on reading a book?
Marika: I don't particularly like fantasy, sci-fi, urban fantasy and I'm just now reading more in-depth BDSM.
Shoshanna: Do you mainly read print books or ebooks? Do you have an e-reader?
Marika: Since I got my Nook for Christmas, I'm beginning to have more ebooks but I will buy paperbacks if I want to read it right away.
Shoshanna: What makes an enticing book cover to you?
Marika: Jimmy Thomas on the cover. Seriously, the cover really isn't that important, the book itself is. A great cover is nice but....
Shoshanna: Oh yum! Absolutely, LOL!
Do you review books on the publisher's website, Goodreads, Amazon, or anywhere else? What would make you give 5 stars?
Marika: I'm a reviewer for Night Owl Reviews and The Romance Studio. I also have started reviewing books on Goodreads and on my own blog. A great book is plot, characterization, pacing and did it keep my interest. Actually, the last thing I look for in a book is sex. I know, I'm weird.
Shoshanna: Have you ever given a book a low star rating or poor review, and why?
Marika: I reviewed a book for Night Owl Reviews and while the plot and pacing were good and the hero to-die-for, the heroine didn't sit well with me. It was supposed to be a Domme-led book but I wasn't feeling it from her at all.
Shoshanna: If an author wrote in one genre and you loved her work, would you read another book she wrote even if it was in a different genre? (Say, she wrote a romance and then wrote a thriller)
Marika: I will always follow an author regardless of the genre. Now that said, sometimes, the book is good and sometimes it's not. I always give an author a chance if they have switched genres. I'm loyal to a fault.
Shoshanna: Do you ever read self-published books, or do you mainly stick to reading books by publishers you know?
Marika: I'm just now getting into self-published books, so the answer would be not really.
Shoshanna: What makes you put a book down and not finish it?
Marika: If the plot and pacing are too slow and too far out there. Plus, if I don't connect with the hero/heroine, I will put it down. Now, I have finished books that I wish I hadn't bothered to finish.
Shoshanna: What makes you stay up late to finish a story you love?
Marika: A really good romantic suspense or thriller! I'm very analytical about suspense/thriller books and I have to know what happens.
Find Marika on the web!
www.facebook.com/marika.weber2
www.twitter.com/marika67
www.goodreads.com/briansmom
http://harliebooks.blogspot.com
Friday, April 1, 2011
Editing Two Books at Once
Hello Fellow Writers!
Sorry I've been MIA for a while - I've been blogging all over the place to spread the word about my latest Ellora's Cave book, Hollywood Spank, and right now I'm editing two books at once.
Yeah.
On the same day I got back edits for Taste of Candy, a short ebook with The Wild Rose Press, and edits for my upcoming book Chastity Belt with Ellora's Cave.
I'm not complaining - this is my idea of the perfect problem to have :) I'm just a busy bee now, that's all.
I also have an idea for a full length paranormal romance that I'd like to flesh out into an outline and then take a couple months off to write it.
My husband pointed out that taking a couple months off writing to write a book doesn't make sense. To me it does, though, because I've never written paranormal before, so I'm viewing it as an experiment that might not pan out and lead to a contract.
I better get going on those edits!
Sorry I've been MIA for a while - I've been blogging all over the place to spread the word about my latest Ellora's Cave book, Hollywood Spank, and right now I'm editing two books at once.Yeah.
On the same day I got back edits for Taste of Candy, a short ebook with The Wild Rose Press, and edits for my upcoming book Chastity Belt with Ellora's Cave.
I'm not complaining - this is my idea of the perfect problem to have :) I'm just a busy bee now, that's all.
I also have an idea for a full length paranormal romance that I'd like to flesh out into an outline and then take a couple months off to write it.
My husband pointed out that taking a couple months off writing to write a book doesn't make sense. To me it does, though, because I've never written paranormal before, so I'm viewing it as an experiment that might not pan out and lead to a contract.
I better get going on those edits!
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