Market My Words

On The Bright Side Official Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:01:00 +0000

OTBS Blog Tour stops so far:

Jan 16 - The OTBS inspiration with fellow Indelible, Heather McCorkle
Jan 17 - Thuy at Read Now Sleep Later - My View on Guardian Angels
Jan 18 - May Richard at Firestarbooks- Get to Know Me (The fun side)
Jan 20 - Elle Strauss- Comes in Threes, Fantasy Book Chick Author Interview
Jan 23 - Julia over at Rex Robot Reviews (Top 10 Books)
Jan 24 - Emily at Dear Teen Me - Letter to My Teen Self; Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole
Jan 25 - Julie at Tales of Many Reviews (Excerpt); Lisa Faber (guest post);
Jan 26 - Cory Putman Oakes (Tween market); Katie Cody at Curse of Bibliophile Review)
Jan 27 - KidsWriteReviews (Review)

Upcoming Blog Tour Stops

Jan 30 - Project Mayhem - All about Tweens; Megan at Read Away The Days (Mg vs Tween), Mickey Reed at I'm a Book Shark Q&A
LAUNCH DAY Jan 31 - Katie at Mundie Moms (character interview/excerpt); Hook of a Book (Interview); Realm Love Joy (OTBS Then and Now/History); Jaime Johnson (All about OTBS Characters); Me, My Shelf and I (Interview)
Feb 1 - Authors Scoop (Q&A)
Feb 2 - Brianna (interview); SupaGurl (Creating strong characters)
Feb 3 -Bookshelf Muse (dual career marketing & writing); Samantha Geesin (Designing Covers); Jessie Harrell (tween marketing)
Feb 6 - Christina at Chocolate for Inspiration (Worldbuilding); Shannon O'Donnell (Book review); Letters Inside Out (Karma guest post)
Feb 7 - Jill at Owl for Ya (Marketing MG); Bibliosaurus Rex (interview); Magna Mania Cafe (Popularity of Angels)
Feb 8 - Once Upon a Twilight (book review); Amanda Pedulla (Fav Tween Books); Claire at YA Bookie Monsters (guest post)
Feb 9 - YA Book Central (Fun), Dorothy Dreyer (book review)
Feb 10- Danyelle Leafty (The Heart of Gabby); CiCi's Theories; Lori Lee (Why Dead People in YA)
Feb 13 - Librarian Mouse (Interview)
TBD The Mixed Up Files (Indie pubbing), Readanista (Characters guest post), Jen at The Secret Life of Bibliophile (interview)

The Schizophrenic Indie Pubber

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Today I wanted to talk to you about all the roles I feel like I'm playing as an indie pubber - just to give you an idea of what you will have to do if you take this journey.

Because 1/2 of it - I never thought about. I kinda thought I would upload a book and then market it.

Writer - this one is a given :)
Editor - in order to not spend thousands of dollars - you need to be even better at editing. use your money wisely so your copyeditor is faster.
Budgeter - you could keep spending money so you have to come up with a budget and prioritize your funds (if you even have any :). But there is no way to do this free.
Cover designer - you need to know what looks good and what doesn't. Placement, fonts, and copy. Whether you pay someone or not - you need to know what concept you want and how to define quality. If you know photoshop, you are golden. Learn it if you can. It will save you time and money.
Jacket copyeditor - you need to know how to write good jacket copy.
Formatter - unless you want to pay someone to format. You will have to format in several different ways, depending on what ebook format you need (epub, mobi, pdf, paperback etc). I think I did four for Untraceable.
Researcher - you need to be able to get online and find answers to your own questions as well as find questions you should be asking yourself. There is not a detailed guide. You also need to be keeping up with the ebook/digital market.
Account manager - you need to manage all your author accounts online. Right now with paperbacks and ebook formats - I probably manage and check five different sites a day including B&N, Amazon (2 different ones for PB and ebook), Smashwords, as well as all the places Smashwords delivers to (kobo, ibooks etc) - you need to know what your book is doing and check the information.
Inventory - You need to know what you are selling and keep track for your numbers to reconcile records.
Accountant - you need to be able to figure out what you should be getting paid from each place. This requires spreadsheets and daily counts.
Lawyer - You need to follow up with pirates who are posting your book for free downloads and send letters.
Marketer - You need to know how to get the word out about your book, have the time to do it, and follow up.
Assertive without being aggressive - you need to know how to ask for blurbs and reviews and interviews without annoying people.
Social Networker - you need to keep managing all your social networks and stay out in front of people (without being obnoxious.) blogs, twitters, facebook. etc
Interviewee - you need to be able to fill out tons of requests for interviews, reviews, and more.
Advertiser - you need to know what ads you can pay for, what ads are free, and which ones are most effective. This requires looking at free sites and searching for site.
Supporter - you need to support others in their journeys. It is not all about you.
Typer - I wish I could type faster, If you are a "pecker" (keep it clean) then take lessons.
Swagger - You need to know where to go to get swag for your signings
PR rep - you need to call and set up signings or other PR related activities. You need to write and drop press releases. And contact media for articles/features/ and interviews. Create your own press kits.
Agent - if you want to get your book picked up by agents or film agents etc - you still have to send queries etc.
Problem Solver - Problems come up daily whether it is your numbers disappearing at amazon, or a blogger who forgot to post an interview, or a price discrepancy. They come up every day.
Self Believer - Indies get rejection too. And it hurts. You have to move on and find those who support you instead of chasing the ones who don't.
Thanker - you need to thank those who support you.
Multi-tasker - I shift all day long between these roles. It's exhausting.
Panicker - you gotta be able to work while you panic. Crying is allowed but your fingers must never leave the keyboard. ;)
Night owl - it is when you catch up.
Project manager - when you have cover designs and editors - you have to manage to a budget and a timeline.
Sales - you have to be out there selling without being cheesy about it.
Psychologist - i have to talk myself down off a ledge every now and then. Of course I do live in a one story so not too bad. :)

All this along with mother, friend, wife, cleaner, laundry doer, cooker, dog walker, appointment maker.

Last on the list - To find a way to only sleep 6 hours a night and not be a total bear (still working on this one)

Basically, indie pubbing is like running your own business - all by yourself. So all the things a business would do - you would do. It's Entrepreneurial Authoring.

I think that is it. But I'm too brain dead to remember.

What do you think?/ Do any of these surprise you?

If you can think of another one, please add it to the comments. :)

On The Bright Side Tour & Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Don't forget Tonight's Indelible Chat For All Writers!
Calling all writers. Go to Indelible blog tonight from 8-9 EST and simply log in at the chat window. About 20 of us will be there to answer questions about indie pubbing, book marketing, and have TONS of giveaways. Join us!

Official On The Bright Side blog tour announced tomorrow.

Until then, a few of the blog events are happening this week so give them some love too

OTBS Blog Tour stops so far this week:

Jan 16 - The OTBS inspiration with fellow Indelible, Heather McCorkle
Jan 17 - Thuy at Read Now Sleep Later - My View on Guardian Angels
Jan 18 - May Richard at Firestarbooks- Get to Know Me (The fun side)

Also, I stopped by Shannon Messenger's blog today to talk about marketing to tweens.

On The Bright Side Cover Reveal

YAY! - here is On The Bright Side's First Cover Reveal. Thanks to Story Siren for the shout out today! On The Bright Side comes out Jan 31st, 2012. Yes, I know crazy! Add it to your Goodreads.

Vania at VLC Photo did the cover again and I love it. I love here :) Checkout her blog because she is currently running a contest and winner gets a cover design!

On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future.

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.

Praises for On The Bright Side

"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series, soon to be a TV series with 20th Century Fox.

Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read!
-Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.”
- Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!"
- Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)

Teen Book Scene Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Untraceable - Official "Teen Book Scene" Blog Tour

Thanks to Kari and Corrine over at Teen Book Scene for doing a wonderful job in creating a great tour for Untraceable. Go here to check out the stops!

Monday, January 16: Stacy M at Urban Fantasy Investigations(Teenage Garage Sale)
Tuesday, January 17: Heidi at The Readiacs (Review)
Wednesday, January 18: Kristen T at Seeing Night Reviews (Author Interview)
Thursday, January 19: Faye at Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm(Review)
Friday, January 20: Corinne at Lost for Words (Character This or That: Grace)

Monday, January 23: Melissa at Me, My Shelf and I (Book Picks)
Tuesday, January 24: Lili at Chica Reader (Cover Post)
Wednesday, January 25: Stacy M at Urban Fantasy Investigations (Review)
Thursday, January 26: Faye at Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm (Music Post)
Friday, January 27: Julia at Rex Robot Reviews (Author This or That List)

Monday, January 30: Heidi at The Readiacs (When I’m Not Writing)
Tuesday, January 31: Kristen T at Seeing Night Reviews (Review)
Wednesday, February 1: Ivy at Ivy Reads (Author Interview)
Thursday, February 2: Lili at Chica Reader (Review)
Friday, February 3: Christie at The Fiction Enthusiast (Character This or That: Mo)

Indelible Events - Blogger and Writer chats

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Indelible Events (Blogger and Writers)

As some of you know, a group 25 indie authors called the Indelibles launched this week with a Kindle Fire giveaway. The lucky winner was Chris Fenimore.

Now, we have two more exciting events coming this week:

BOOK BLOGGERS

(*this means bloggers who review children's books on their blogs)

If you are a book blogger only - we are having a special appreciation chat to discuss what we all love - books. The Indelibles will also be giving away a slew of books.

Tuesday, Jan 17th from 8-9 pm EST on Coverit.com (Chat deets will be sent out Monday. It will only be sent out to the bloggers who fill out the INVITE FORM form with a Yes or maybe. So you need to email me for the INVITE if you want to attend.)

Leave me a comment or email me at shelli@srjohannes.com and I can add you to the invite. (BOOK BLOGGERS ONLY)

ALL WRITERS

Don't worry writers - we would NEVER forget about you. :) We are also having a special writer chat where the Indelibles will chat about indie pubbing, writing, book marketing, and more. Once again, the Indelibles will be giving away a slew of books.

Jan 18th, Wed right before #yalitchat from 8-9 EST. Chat deets will be posted on Tuesday on each Indelible's blog and the main site.

We hope to see you there!

Bookanistas and Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Winners of my Indelible Giveaways - chosen by random.org
Note : the kindle fire winner will be announced on The Indelible blog

Untraceable (ebook) Helen Hartman
Untraceable (PB) - Jessirae
Amazon gift card 10$ - Diana
Shiver (HB) - Ashley Ziemer
Beautiful creatures (HB) - Beastly Blogger
Beautiful chaos (HB) - Kaylee Hamblin
Tempetuous (HB) - Cubbiesgirl
The Lying Game (HB) - Lisa Ard
SpiritBound (HB) - cvelazquez
Splendor (HB) - Melora

Winners of my Untraceable blogger appreciation (my way of thanking those who signed up to help in my blog tour and reviews)

1) a free book giveaway for your blog - DL Hammon
2) a 1 hour consultation with me about marketing or anything else Shannon ODonnell
3) a $10 Amazon card. - Mai Lee

Winners of Untraceable PreParty Buzz

1) One $10 Amazon card - Sheri Larsen
2) A stack of YA or MG books (you can choose) - Meredeth
3) A 1 hour consulting session with me for free (can be on writing, indie pubbing, marketing, etc) - Kate Hawkings
4) Query critique or one hour consultation (MG or YA) - Christina Farley

all winners email me at shelli@srjohannes.com for details and with an address

Bookanistas

Check out the Bookanista Posts today!

Christine Fonseca introduces some fabulous reads for 2012

Stasia Ward Kehoe takes a shine to A MILLION SUNS and UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Veronica Rossi adores EVERNEATH

Debra Driza is in a frenzy over LARKSTORM with giveaway!

Katy Upperman sings the praises of BEFORE I DIE

Shannon Messenger delves into DOUBLE with an arc giveaway

Indelibles - Join our Kindle Fire Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The Indelibles are a group of 25 fun, fierce,

and fabulous indie authors who have banded together to support each other and the indie community.

In celebration of our official launch, we are giving away a KINDLE FIRE! (yes, I know we are a whole bunch of kewl!)

If you’d like to start at the beginning of the INDELIBLES ON FIRE GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP, then please start here for the details and rules.

====================

Yesterday, I talked about why I pulled this group of fun, fierce, and fabulous indie authors together. Simple. They supported me when I felt alone. When I was down and out. As soon as I announced Untraceable was coming out, a lot of these authors reached out to me and helped me figure out my way. Some, I met along the way and had an instant connection.

Today, we celebrate our launch with a Kindle Fire Contest, chats, and giveaways.

Kindle Fire Contest
This contest starts at 12:01 AM tonight, early Mon morning) and ends 12:01 AM EST (early Thurs morning). The winner will be posted here on this blog next Monday.

You have to do a couple things:

1) You have to follow the Indelible blog, twitter, and Facebook. (not so bad right?)

2) You have to get the SECRET PHRASE by getting the KEYWORD off each of our blogs. The first keyword is on the Indelible Post today. The keywords are easy to find. They are in bold at the bottom of every post. (we wouldn't make it too hard :)

3) Then, you fill out the form on The Indelible page and submit your entry.

For an extra entry - tweet about the contest!

Indelible Blog Hop

If you are already mid-hop, then welcome to your next stop! (If this is your first stop, please start here for the details and rules.)

The secret word and the next link to the next stop are at the end of this post.

Don’t forget to make a note of the keyword at the end of every blog post - the words spell out a phrase you will need to enter on the Indelible form.

Other Events

We are be having a “blogger” chat on Tues, Jan 17th from 8-9 EST.
We are also having a chat for all you writers/authors chat next Wed, Jan 18th from 8-9 EST to answer questions about self/indie pubbing along with some great giveaways.
Watch the Indelible blog Thursday or Friday for more details on the blogger and writer chat.

My Giveaway

I am giving away over 10 prizes: an Amazon gift card, an ebook and paperback of Untraceable, and a stack of YA books and arcs.

Sign up for my newsletter, twitter, and follow my author FB
Comment on this post that you did.
I will enter you based on your comment. This is on the honor system.

Note: Only followers of my blog can win. You must be in the US for any shipping of books; But, international readers can enter for the ebooks and Amazon gift card.

Blog Hop Word: AND

Next Stop in The Blog Hop is Cory

Have fun! :)

My Indelible Story

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

As some of you know, I decided to independently publish Untraceable last September - at a time when I was at my lowest point in my writing career. A time when a lot of people gave up on me. A time when I felt I had failed and had no writing future.

As I started embarking on the indie process, I found out more about the Indie community, (a community I didn't even know existed). I slowly began to realize how many wonderful, committed, and talented authors there were out there - doing what I was doing. Trying to find a way in an industry that we all loved.

And most of all, the indie authors embraced me completely - they were so helpful and supportive and they did not hesitate to take me under their wing and help me.

At a time when I felt so alone.

Over that time, I met 25 wonderful indie authors who I admired and connected with. I reached out to them and formed a support group where we all could benefit from each other's experience. Since last fall, we have banned together to support each other - through the long and often difficult process of indie pubbing - as well as help support other indie authors we meet along the way.

Well tomorrow - we launch that group - the Indelibles! The 25 authors included are listed on the side of the blog and they each have wonderful books to share with you (Books Page).

Launch Party Events

To celebrate the launching of this group, we are having a PAR-TEE!! :)

We are hosting a Kindle Fire giveaway this week.
We are doing a Blog Hop with tons of giveaways from each Indelible on each blog.
We are hosting a special Blogger chat this Wed 1/11 from 8-9 PM EST to discuss writing and books.
And we invite all of you to a special Writer Chat next Wed 1/18 from 8-9 EST to discuss any indie pubbing questions as well as offer more giveaways. (More deets announced Thursday).

Hope to see you there tomorrow! :)

IndieView: Susan Bischoff (Talent Chronicles)

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:35:00 +0000

Today, Susan Bischoff stops by to talk about her indie experience:

Tell us about yourself

I’m just a girl who wants superhero romance! Is that so much to ask? Why must it always be a tragedy? Why does Angel walk away? Why did Wonder Woman go back home after the end of season 1 and WWII, then come back, work with Steve Trevor’s grandson, and still not hook up? Seriously! And let’s not even talk about Superman Returns, okay? Let’s. Just. Not.

Tell us about your Talented series

The Talent Chronicles is about teens with supernatural abilities in a world where those abilities are illegal. These are kids trying to figure out who they are, while at the same time trying to hide it to avoid arrest by a government agency. The series also has strong romantic elements--because that's what I like. So far, the series has been about a seventeen year old girl named Joss, who has been raised by a very protective dad who has discouraged her from making friends in order to keep her ability a secret. When a new girl at school decides to befriend her, and won't take no for an answer, Joss's world is opened up to new experiences, friends, a boyfriend--and a whole lot of trouble.

How did you get started on your self pubbed journey?

I had become frustrated with the negativity surrounding traditional publishing, to an extent that it didn't seem worth pursuing any longer, and I put writing aside entirely to concentrate on other creative pursuits. When I learned about ebook publishing from some writer friends, it seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. I jumped in and went back to work.

What advice do you have for authors looking at self-pubbing?

Take your time and understand that it's probably going to take time to get where you want to be. Even most traditionally published authors support themselves in another line of work until they have several books published. So don't be upset when you can't buy a new house in the first year. Seems obvious, but somehow a lot of people seem to focus on a few uber-successful outliers and fail to realize there are outliers in any field. And also on the subject of taking time, take time to make sure you're putting out the best work you can. Find someone who will actually tell you what you need to know about your work instead of what they think you want to hear. There's nothing more valuable than a good critique.

What is next for you?

Right now I'm working on the third Talent Chronicles novel, Heroes Under Siege. Not sure when that's going to be ready.

What is your favorite word? What is your least favorite word?

My favorite word is enchanting.

Least favorite is a bit harder and what comes to mind is the word challenge used when it's really a problem.

What are your new years resolutions for 2012?

I call those New Year's Intentions--to take a bit of the pressure off. This year's Intentions include--but are not limited to--keeping my sink clear of dishes, writing more regularly and working on discipline rather than sporadic inspiration, spending more time with real life people, doing more with my daughter, keeping off the weight I've lost, and I have quite the list of decluttering Intentions.

You can follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog

You can also purchase Talent Chronicles (Hush Money) at Amazon or B&N

Bookanistas - January Releases and Discover of the Witches GIveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:49:00 +0000

Updates

On the Bright Side Cover Reveal is Jan 18th. Vania at VLC_Photo shot it again and it will be adorable! The ebook releasing on Jan 31st. Paperback will follow in late Feb. If you are interested in being part of the blog tour for tween funny angel book. Please let me know here! :) I have to say reaching tweens is a huge challenge so I'm not sure how this will go but we will see.

I am a part of a new group called Indelibles - a group on 25 indie authors who are fun, fierce and fab. We launch on Monday and are having a contest for a Kindle Fire as well as a Blog hop with giveaway at over 15 blogs! Come back Monday and join us. There will also be a chat (yes and giveaways with us) for any writer who wants to learn more about indie pubbing on Wed Jan 18th from 8-9 est. Right before yalitchat. Hope to see you there! You can follow our group blog and twitter to get started on the Kindle Fire Giveaway.

Today's Giveaway - I have a new copy of Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Comment on this post and I will draw a name to win the new paperback. :)

Bookanista - Awesome Jan Releases!

There are some great books coming out this month:

Fracture by Megan Miranda - Jan 17th

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine
-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - Jan 3rd! This week

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis - Jan 10th! (sequel to Across The Universe)

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

The Boy Project by Kami Kinard - (it just came out Monday!) (Middle Grade)

For anyone who's ever felt that boys were a different species....

Wildly creative seventh grader Kara McAllister just had her best idea yet. She's going to take notes on all of the boys in her grade (and a few elsewhere) in order to answer a seemingly simple question: How can she get a boyfriend?

But Kara's project turns out to be a lot more complicated than she imagined. Soon there are secrets, lies, and an embarrassing incident in the boy's bathroom. Plus, Kara has to deal with mean girls, her slightly spacey BFF, and some surprising uses for duct tape. Still, if Kara's research leads her to the right boy, everything may just be worth it. . . .

Full of charts and graphs, heart and humor, this hilarious debut will resonate with tweens everywhere.

What about you? Any new releases you are excited about?

Check out other Bookanista posts:

Elana Johnson offers musings on her Bookanista moments

Jessi Kirby

Stasia Ward Kehoe delights in FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB

Nikki Katz is crazy for ASHFALL

Debra Driza adores ANGEL FALL

Lila Roecker shouts for joy over SHATTER ME.

2012 Indie Book Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Did you find a new Kindle, Nook, or iPad under the Christmas tree? Browse the 2012 Indie Book Fair and find a new ebook to break in that reader!

These great new books were released Nov 2011-Feb 2012 by Indie authors, priced right so that taking a chance on a new author doesn’t have to break your wallet. (Check out a previous Internet Book Fair for other great Indie finds.)

Head over to Susan Quinn's Blog for some steals and deals
including young adult fiction and anthologies.

Happy New year - 2011 recap and 2012 preview

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:18:00 +0000

Hey guys - Happy New year!

First I want to thank everyone for all the support this year. wow 2011 was such a roller coaster ride - some ups and some downs.

I started the year with chronic vertigo, in acquisitions, down in book rejection, parted with my wonderful agent, gave up on writing, decided to put out Untraceable, then ended the year with wonderful new blogger friends (all of you), no vertigo, and wonderful sales for Untraceable (the book everyone told me would not sell). All backed by my wonderful family and friends who never wavered on their support for me and who were all healthy and happy.

Honestly? I could cry just talking about it all.

As promised, I wanted to update you on my sales since you all have taken this journey with me. I owe a lot of Untraceable's to you guys - all my blogger buddies who have supported me so openly and actively. So, as I promised I will share personal details. Let me say this is very hard for me to post b/c 1) I have no idea what is good or bad in this industry. I just know I'm doing beyond what I expected for me so that is all I can do. 2) I might be totally embarrassing myself if they aren't that great. and 3) what if everyone assumed or thought i would sell more? Oh well, this is great for me so I am focusing on that. Esp considering last year this time, I had sold none :)

So are you ready for my numbers??

Today - I am ranking #75 in children action and adventure and at about 1,500 in overall ebooks. Very good for someone small time like me.

Total sold = approximately 2,700 copies!

Smashwords - 44
B&N - 150
Amazon - 2257* (without amazon promotion 1000 copies = 1257)
paperback - 100 (as you can see this is a small percentage of my sales.

*Let me say that Amazon did run a special promotion on my book and put it for free for 2 days (while still paying me my royalty on 99 cents) and it really bumped my numbers. During that time - there were about 1000 downloads. It got my in top ranking and kept me there once price returned to normal. Since then it has been about 100 in sales a day. So in all fairness - this was not my doing. I had only sold about 600 prior to that promotion and 600 since. I have no idea why they chose me for this.

So again - if you don't count that 1,000 they got me - I only sold about 1,000 to 1,200 copies on Amazon for the month - still beyond my wildest expectations.

My Kindle Nation ad I told you about (that I purchased before my book came out for 170$) ran for 3 days the week before Christmas and was very successful. Enough to where I made back more than I put in my money. I think I sold about 150 copies that day plus it kept me in top 5,000 ebooks so if you are wondering - it is definitely worth the investment! So, I say do it.

2012 Untraceable Updates

I have several ads scheduled for Jan and Feb on pixel of ink ($170), bargain books for nook (free), frugal ereader (50$) and digital reader (free) = total of $210. My price is returning to its normal price at 3.99 this week so it will take me about 80 books to make that money back which I HOPE I can sell in Jan :)

I am on Untraceable book tour with the awesome Teen Book scene in January (yay) and with wonderful Katie at Mundie Moms the beginning of Feb. I never turn down a blog visit so feel free to email me if you would like me to visit your blog ;) (shelli@srjohannes.com)

My special edition of Untraceable - which will have the original ending - is scheduled for March.

Uncontrollable is scheduled for summer 2012. I will give you a hint. This time Grace encounters the endangered red wolves being reintroduced in North Carolina.

I am also working on a new project for late next fall.

On The Bright Side - my tween angel book is coming Jan 31st

The book is currently in copy edits.
If you have a blog that focuses on MG or tween, please sign up here :) I would be honored to visit on your blog.
The cover for the book was shot this weekend with Vania at VLC Photo - and it is amazon.
The huge cover reveal on Mon, Jan 16th. (yay!)

Indelibles Launch

I started a marketing/support group (similar to the Tenners) that consists of about 25 AMAZING Indie Authors. We will be officially launching on Monday, Jan 9th with fun giveaways. We will be having a "Blogger chat" on Jan 11th and a writer/author chat on 18th to answer questions on self and indie pubbing. So put those dates on your calendar and join us for a Q&A and giveaways. More info next Monday on 9th.

IN HIS EYES Anthology - scheduled for Feb 14th

This is a Valentine anthology from authors in the Indelibles. The anthology is a awesome collection of short stories - which are all from the POV of HOT male characters.(who can deny that??) My story will include Mo and his perspective on Grace. So check it out!

RT Convention - scheduled in April

I will be selling and signing books at the RT Convention in Chicago in April so come and see me if you live close by. :) More deets as it gets closer.

Blog Updates

I am redesigning my web site - so stay tuned.
I am also adding Tween Tuesdays where I will talk about tween books and tween marketing along with my tween book journey.
I will still be doing Bookanista posts on Thursdays and any IndieViews with Indie authors on Fridays.
Also - I will have a surprise post once every month (and you won't know when) - Blogger Appreciation Day - one day a month where I will feature a wonderful blogger who has support ed me and give away prices to you all - just to say thanks for your support.

The topics will not happen every week but these will be the daily themes. I promise I will do as much as I can. One HUGE pet peeve of mine is when authors/writers work hard to get a blog following, have bloggers help them launch a book, and then come back and say "they are too busy" to blog. THAT IS NOT ME AT ALL! So I will do as much as I possibly can to keep a special connection with all of you. No matter what is happening!

So, tell me - what are your plans for this year? Personal or writing wise? Any special events coming up for you?

Sneak Peek: On the Bright Side

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:07:00 +0000

Here is a sneak peek at the first two chapters of my tween angel book, On the Bright Side.

You can add it on Goodreads now and sign up for a free arc/blog tour here.

For more about this story's journey, go here.

Open publication - Free publishing - More angel

Cover Reveal! Kate Hawkings

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:22:00 +0000

The Sphinx Project By Kate Hawkings

Not many people can say their entire existence has been one big lab experiment: poked and prodded by scientists, genetically modified to be the best and endure the worst, subjected to daily tests and trials that would kill a normal human. All Michaela wants is her own life, to be able to go to school, flirt with boys, maybe eat ice cream now and then. So when the chance to escape finally comes, Michaela and her sister grab it, taking their friends with them.

But they weren't the only ones to find their way out of those labs. Following close behind are another breed of creature, one that doesn't know the difference between right and wrong, who exist only to feed their own hunger. The appearance of a strange boy who seems too much like them to be a coincidence makes things even more confusing. But as the world begins to literally fall apart around them, Michaela must accept his help, especially when she could lose the very thing she holds dearest: her sister.

Add it on Goodreads
Follow Kat's blog

Bookanistas: Cover Love

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:29:00 +0000

Two books standout this week:

The first is If I lie by Corrine Jackson.

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

I love black and white photos. So I like the monochrome with the splash of bright color in the title. This cover also gives me the feeling that this girl is sorry about something and sad. And for some reason, her boyfriend is turning away from her.

You can follow Cory on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook

============

The next is a relaunch of a cover for Sleepers by Megg Jensen. Now on sale for only $.99

To celebrate the re-launch of Megg's bestselling novel, SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.

Synopsis: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.

Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

This is the old one

This is the new one.

What do you think? I like the new one better. The black and blue is much more mysterious than the red and orange.

You can follow meg on her blog, Twitter or Facebook.

IndieView: Magan Vernon

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:01:00 +0000

Magan Vernon is the author of the newly released book "How to date an Alien"

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?

Today, Magan stops by to tell us about her journey down indie lane:

=====================

The story gets told many times, how I went from a contemporary romance writer to an Indie published YA author. But what most people don’t know is how Shelli’s marketing helped me along on my journey.

It was last January/February, I was just finishing up on my final edits of How to Date an Alien when Shelli ran a contest on her blog. She had people post a pitch and ‘Pay it Forward’ blog post to the people that had helped us out on our writing journey. I did both of these things and ended up getting an honorable mention on Shelli’s blog.

I didn’t get the attention from HER agent, but I did get the attention from another amazing agent who emailed me right away to say that she saw my entry and wanted to see my manuscript. I was floored. I thought ‘this is my big break!’ I sent off my query and first five pages and almost immediately she asked for a partial. Soon that partial turned into a full and I thought things couldn’t get better.

Unfortunately, that full turned into a rejection. She said she loved the story, but it just wasn’t right for her client list. I still admire this agent very much and she became my "kick in the pants" to know that my story was good and I shouldn’t give up.

So I sent out more queries. I was getting tons of requests from different agents and even interest from editors, but then the rejections started pouring in. I knew the story was good (I’d had many agents tell me that), but it just wasn’t right for what they were looking for right now or not what editors were looking for.

I wanted to give up, so I started on another science fiction story and brought in a few pages to my local RWA group. That is when I first met GP Ching. She read the first two chapters of the new story and kept saying, “You need to come to the Darkside Publishing.”

I was leary. I dreamed of the whole agent-publishing house- journey to publication. But when I got home that night I received another full rejection. I didn’t know what to think, so I talked to my husband. He looked me right in the eye and said, “You have been trying to get published for two years, what is the harm in trying a different route and submitting to Darkside? It isn’t going to hurt anything.”

So I did it. And now four months after submitting to Darkside I have my debut novel out for the world to enjoy. I don’t regret a single step of my journey and am grateful to everyone who helped me along the way.

A tween marketing experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:22:00 +0000

History
As most of you know I wrote a funny, adventurous "tween angel series" called On The Bright Side that my agent started submitting to editors in Oct 2009. The book went to acquisitions at a couple of the Big 6 houses and I even completed a couple non-contractual revisions for editors. Unfortunately, the book STILL ended up not selling and was pulled in early 2010 for revisions.

At the time, I was devastated and had no idea stuff like that even happened in the industry. That you could go to acquisitions and do non-contractual revisions for nothing. In the end, it didn't sell - primarily because editors felt the tween market didn't really exist and my book either needed to be aged down to MG (12) or up to a low YA book (15). Even though I considered aging it up to 15, the option never panned out for me.

If you are interested in more of the deets - here are a few past interviews about On The Bright Side's journey:

Realm Love Joy did a beautiful art rendition of my character in On The Bright Side, Gabby
Beth Revis and I talked about On The Bright Side
Chuck Sambuchino asks me about my agent and On The Bright Side

Tween Market
Well lately, people have been talking lately about the tween and middle grade market saying ebooks have still not popped in that market yet.

I personally think the ebook market for middle graders and tweens is about to pop. Not only is JK Rowling launching Harry Potter ebooks with Pottermore this year; but now that ereaders are so cheap, I think tweens will be getting Kindles and Nooks this holiday season. If they do, I have found that there are not many affordable ebooks (2.99) out there for that age group.

On The Bright Side
So guess what? *waits for groans, shaking heads, and "you are crazy" chants to subside.*

Yes....I have decided to go ahead and publish my poor little tween book from 2009 on January 31st, 2012! You can even add it on Goodreads.

I plan to dive head first into the question of "are tweens online and do they have ereaders?" I know, I probably seem crazy and trust me - my husband is shaking his head at my next move.

But you know what, people thought Einstein was a little off his rocker and look what he did. Okay, bad example, but my marketing mind cannot resist the urge to investigate and poke around. And since my tween book has been edited and ready to go for a couple years... and since it is collecting dust on my shelf of "all the books I have written that ALMOST got bought but didn't", I've decided to take another chance in the indie pubbing world.

I've had SOOOO much fun putting out Untraceable and so much wonderful support from everyone that I have nothing to lose. Bright has no life left in traditional publishing since it went on submission to pretty much every BIG house there was and I personally think it's too cute to just push aside and forget. I don't know about you - but I kinda feel like my books are my kids and to turn my back on them doesn't feel quite right. It feels like I'm abandoning them just because SOMEONE else said they were not quite good enough. And that feeling sucks.

So over the next month - I'm going do some blogging not only to continue talking about the self-pubbing industry, but also to talk about "how can we can market to tweens - especially online" and "do they need their own books?" Where do they hang out? How do you reach them directly? Do they like ereaders? Can "tween" be a new market outside of middle grade? A market for those kids who have outgrown Harry Potter, but are too young for Twilight and Hunger Games.

On the Bright Side pitch
Tomorrow I will release the first chapter as a sneak peek of On The Bright Side.

On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future.

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.

If you have a TWEEN/MG blog or would be interested in signing up for a blog tour and free ARC, please complete this form for me.

What do you guys think about the tween market? Is it different than MG and YA? Does it deserve its own spot on the shelf?

DejaVu Blog Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Housekeeping Stuff

All giveaways from the Untraceable launch will go out on Monday. Sorry but it was so much, it took me a few weeks to get together. :) You know who you are.

Untraceable was listed #77 in action and adventure last night. So thanks for your continued support. If you want some extra copies - the ebook is on sale for the holiday - limited time only. It will be $.99 cents until Jan 1st and then it will return to $2.99. So how can you pass it up?? ;)

The winner of Megg Jensen's book (Anathema) and swag is Hannah Hale. send your address to shelli@srjohannes.com and it will go out with Monday's massive batch.

BIG announcement and mega giveaway on Monday - come back and see :) Let's just say it is another experiment. Also I will talk through my lessons learned in self pubbing next week too to hopefully help others on this journey. I will give you an update on sales.

Here is a marketing series I've been doing on Daphne (KT Literary's blog) part 1 (kickoff), 2 (Branding) and 3 (Platform). Next week part 4 and 5 will finish the series from branding all the way through creating a marketing plan. Stop by and let me know if you have questions!

DevaVu Blog Fest

Today I am joining in to my friend's DL Hammon's Deja Vu Blog Fest where hundreds of writers/bloggers are posting your favorite post of all time.

I had a hard time choosing. In the end, I did not choose my favorite but it was certainly the hardest for me to write in the 3 years I've been blogging. It was also the first time I had really felt a ton of support. And at the time I needed it.

=======================

Sept 2011

Yes, I'm slowly returning from the cyber dead.

And I've missed you guys. As weird as that sounds.

To be honest, I've had a few publishing world setbacks over the summer that I haven't really wanted to be honest, I've been hiding out. Embarrassed, sad, excited about new opportunities and projects, relieved, mad, frustrated, hopeful and yet totally discouraged with this industry overall.

Over the last 2 years, I've moved out of ignorant bliss into a confusing reality.

That's not to say it's bad but sometimes those realizations and changes hurt because they are not always what you want. I've realized a few things about this industry:

*not everyone good gets published

*not everyone published is good

*a great agent doesn't mean they are good for you

*as much as we love writing, it's a business and it's about money.

*It's hard to reconcile passion with money.

*Its all in the timing

* Doesn't matter who you know, its down to have a good book that hits at

the right time.

*Even though this industry feels as though it moves slow, I think it moves fast. A door that is open one month is closed the next.

*No matter what you do or how hard you work, you cant force anything.

So I guess I will come clean so I can move forward honestly and openly.

My awesome agent and I decided to part ways. To be honest, even though my agent was awesome and hardworking and communicative and fun and supportive, sometime you need a fresh perspective and something different than you did 2 years before. My writing has changed, my genre has changed, and my direction has changed. All relationships are unpredictable - some are for a reason, a season or a lifetime. This one for me was a season, although at the time we paired up - I always assumed it would be for a lifetime. Why would we part? Why would I leave? Why would we not work? What would change? Answer: we never know.

And though I adored (still do) my former agent, sometimes the person you adore and respect still may not be the right person for you. And no matter how brilliant they are or how far they get you or how much they help you grow, sometimes you can only grow so far and can't grow anymore until you let go. The last few months have been hard and confusing. I've second guessed the decision, I've wondered if moving on was a mistake, I've unfairly questioned her, and have even questioned my own writing ability.

But now that I am on the other side, its like all relationships. Remember the special love you found when you were younger, the guy who was great and cute and funny and perfect for you on paper, but for some reason, he wasn't the right one for you but you couldn't not explain why. You felt crazy to give him up but scared to stay knowing it was not long term. The one you didnt want to leave b/c you were scared you may not find another who loved you as much. And no matter how great he was or how much you so wanted him to be the long term one, you couldn't force it if your visions/future didn't align or your timing is off. And you question if you will ever love again.

Thats' how I feel now.

Know what I mean?

To start over is hard when you think you are just about to make it. I've been to acquisitions so many times, I've lost count. I've done so many noncontractual revisions, I've lost a sense of my writing, and I've gotten so close, it's broken my heart more than once. To realize you can get that close to a dream so many times, to bust your ass and do everything you are supposed to do and more - and still - not make it. I never thought that was an option for me. I think I'm a giving person and a positive person and the last three months have really challenged that. It's been hard to be supportive of those making it, hard to hide my own bitterness towards the process, and hard to find the motivation and confidence to push forward.

Anyway, I miss my agent. Miss her ideas and funny jokes. I think we did great things but there comes a time that in order to move on you have to let go of something and take a chance. So here I am faced with an unknown truth and scared that maybe I've taken a wrong turn somewhere. Scared I may never realize a dream. Afraid I wont find that agent or editor who believes in me as much as I believe in myself.

As always, people bounce back but I guess I thought once you got to a certai

n point, there was nowhere to go but up. And now I realize that's not the way it always is. Sometimes, you take 3 steps forward and then 2 steps back, having faith that you have still made progress.

So for now, I'm working on a new project and starting completely over, hoping that my time has not somehow passed me by. Hoping that I get another chance to make a difference. Praying that my vision is the same vision as a higher power. Trying to have faith in a process that is so subjective and random and finicky and unpredictable.

The only things I do know for sure.

Passion + luck+ timing+ persistence is the key to publishing. But fate is the deciding factor.

I love writing and love so many people in this industry. But sometimes you can only get yourself so far before fate and serendipity take over. Timing is so important and that is something I am not in control of....ever. Hard for me to admit or imagine.

Anyway, thanks for listening. I wasn't going to say anything but to be honest, everyone talks about the good and no one ever talks about the tough parts or the sad parts or the struggles until something good happens. And I needed to come clean for me so I can reach back out again to my friends online - the ones I've abandoned in the face of hard decisions and disappointment.

So to all my beautiful online friends, I'm sorry I have not been very available and thanks for your support.

Of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts.....

For Nascar Boys: Lisa Nowak's Getting Sideways

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:34:00 +0000

Getting Sideways: Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series

Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody's making every effort to get his life back on track-writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers' license-but there's no escaping the nightmares that haunt him.

A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he'll have to live up to Race's legendary status. But that's the least of his worries, considering he doesn't have his dad's permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing's safe.

Yeah, sure. That'll be easy.

Haven't read the first book? Running Wide Open is on sale now for 99 cents.

Running Wide Open: Book 1 in the Full Throttle Series
Cody Everett has a temper as hot as the flashpoint of racing fuel, and it's landed him at his uncle's trailer, a last-chance home before military school. But how can he take the guy seriously when he calls himself Race, eats Twinkies for breakfast, and pals around with rednecks who drive in circles every Saturday night?

What Cody doesn't expect is for the arrangement to work. Or for Race to become the friend and mentor he's been looking for all his life. But just as Cody begins to settle in and get a handle on his supercharged temper, a crisis sends his life spinning out of control. Everything he's come to care about is threatened, and he has to choose between falling back on his old, familiar anger or stepping up to prove his loyalty to the only person he's ever dared to trust.

Praise for Running Wide Open:

"It doesn't matter if you are a racing fan or not, Running Wide Open will captivate you and capture your heart." - Cari J, Amazon reviewer

"The roar of engines practically explodes off the page in this compelling, heart-thumping debut. Cody Everett is a straight-shooter with attitude, smarts, and whip-cracking wit; he doesn't pull any punches, and neither does author Lisa Nowak. The collision of Cody and the world of stock car racing makes for a great story, one of the best I've read in a long time. Running Wide Open is a book not to be missed." - Christine Fletcher, author of Tallulah Falls and Ten Cents a Dance

"The racing is easy to understand and does not get in the way of a rattling good story. I still couldn't put it down on a re-read." - Elisabeth Miles, Amazon reviewer

"We race stock cars during the summer and even though this is a recommended read for Young Adults, we are seniors and enjoyed every page. We can hardly wait for the sequel to come out. MUST READING!" - Maxci Jermann, Barnes and Noble reviewer

"I say read this book, it's fun, it's beautiful, it's a very cool read that will give you a feel-good state of mind. Awesome read." - L.E.Olteano, Butterfly-o-meter Books

Author Bio:
In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are. She enjoys dark chocolate and stout beer and constantly works toward employing wei wu wei in her life, all the while realizing that the struggle itself is an oxymoron.

Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she'd use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.
Connect with Lisa online:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lisa_Nowak
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LisaNowakAuthor
Google +: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakGooglePlus
Blog: http://lisanowak.wordpress.com/
Subscribe to her newsletter for updates about coming attractions: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakNewsletter

IndieView: Megg Jensen (author of Cloud Prophet Trilogy)

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:59:00 +0000

I forgot to mention - I'm doing a new marketing series over and KTLiterary. Agent Kate Testerman asked me to sit in the next couple of weeks and provide authors some tips and tricks on how to tackle marketing. All authors - whether indie or traditional - will learn how to focus on branding, promotion, author marketing, and even how to start a marketing plan.

Yesterday was the first post in the series. Hope you find it helpful and follow along. Leave questions and I will try to answer them! :)

======================

Megg is a friend of mine and an indie published author. The final book in the trilogy, Severed, was just released.

In Severed, Reychel knows her gift of prophecy will lead to madness and now she is at her most vulnerable. The enemy army will attempt to sever her from everything she's ever known: her homeland, her friends, Mark, and her gift. Even at her weakest, she refuses to give up on her desire to end the war between the Malborn and the Serenians. Reychel would do anything, even come back from the dead, to conquer the enemy and reunite with Mark.

Megg has stopped by to share her journey...

======================

If you would have told me last year that not only would I yank my full manuscript of SLEEPERS from two agents’ consideration, but that all of my ebooks would have hit bestseller lists on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, I would have laughed in your face.

One year ago, I had my sights set on traditional publication and one of the two agents who were reading my manuscript were destined to propel me to superstardom. My friend, Karly Kirkpatrick, had tried to convince me of the benefits of epublishing, having successfully epublished her first novel, INTO THE SHADOWS. In my mind, epublishing sounded too much like self-publishing. I had visions in my head of poorly edited, ugly books that cost thousands to produce. Not me, no thank you. I was a traditional girl. My books were going to be on the octagonal display in the front of Barnes and Noble bookstores.

Since I adored Karly and didn’t want to just push off her theories, I followed some of the blogs and Internet chat boards she recommended. That’s when my eyes were opened to what was really going on. There were extraordinarily successful independent authors out there with gorgeous covers, impeccable editing, and huge sales. Some of them were easily beating sales of traditional authors and due to the royalty structure at Amazon.com, making money I could only dream about.

The week after Christmas in 2010, I sat my husband down. I told him everything Karly told me and shared what I’d learned on the web. For the past six years I had successfully run my own small business as a freelance parenting journalist (under my real name, Megg Jensen is a pen name used mainly to keep the two careers separate). The more I read about epublishing, the more it spoke to my entrepreneurial side. I could find great editors and cover designers. Everything the traditional publishers were doing, I could replicate through my already extensive network of contacts. I could do this on my own. I wanted to know if the hubby thought I was nuts.

He asked, “But will you ever see your book on a shelf at Barnes and Noble?”

I thought back to the first time I saw my name in print for a magazine article. I thought of the first time I saw my article featured on the cover of a magazine. Nothing could compare to the joy and pride. However, I also know how that feeling wore off. Within a year after landing my first article, I stopped looking at the magazines after publication. They jolt of seeing my name wore off. Deep in my heart, I knew that if my main reason for actively pursuing traditional publication would be to see my book on a book shelf then that superficial excuse would quickly lose its glamour.

The next day, I emailed both of those agents. I thanked them for their time and retracted my manuscript from consideration. That, perhaps, was one of the bravest things I’ve ever done. To say my hands were shaking as I typed those emails is an understatement. One agent never responded. The other agent, the one I had wanted so badly, asked me why. She told me she wanted to represent me, but only if I switched genres. At the time, traditional fantasy was very difficult to sell. I felt I had nothing to lose, so I told her the truth. Surprisingly, she told me that I was probably making the best decision of my career. We corresponded via email for some time and she promised to keep an eye on my career.

If she was watching, she would have seen me epublish ANATHEMA in February. Not only was it a featured pick on BarnesandNoble.com for two months, it also hit multiple bestseller lists on Amazon.com. My dreams came true because I made them happen. I took my writing career and shaped it into something that has allowed me to easily outsell and outearn the typical midlist advance, at least according to agent Mandy Hubbard’s blog post in May.

I haven’t regretted my decision. Not once. I don’t know what the future holds for my career, though. I’m not against having an agent in the future. It just needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship that helps us both achieve our goals. I’m no longer that googly-eyed writer willing to worship at the altar of agents. I’d like to think of myself now as a savvy businesswoman who is open to opportunities. I’ve sold thousands of copies of my novels. I have six more YA novels in the pipeline, as well as a MG fantasy I’d really like to find time to work on. I have an international epublishing deal. I have readers and bloggers who I love to interact with on Facebook and Twitter. They’re much more than faceless readers who tossed a couple bucks my way. Many of them have become real friends.

ePublishing changed my life. No regrets - just dreams I plan to make come true in the future!

You can follow Megg at her blog, on Twitter, or Facebook

You can learn more about her books here.

Thinking of Self Pubbing? Read this

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:38:00 +0000

Guys - you have to read this post "The Seduction of Self Pubbing" if you are even considering self pubbing. It is so true and so accurate that I wanted to address it today.

As you guys know, I chose to self pub after some serious hardships with my book not making it in the traditional world after some really close calls. And I would not change that decision now for the life of me. I love where I am.

I do want to say that this road I've chosen is not all glitter and glamour.

I have had people emailing me offline saying that I've "inspired them to self pub". Not first of all - that is always wonderful to hear - I mean I never thought I could inspire anyone. But, before you decide on this path - I think you should stop, take a deep breath, and think through your options. Don't make a rash decision. Every situation is so different. I'm not saying you ( in general sense) won't or can't be successful. There are many successful self pub authors as there are traditional authors. I dont know how you define your level of success or what you are shooting for. Shoot, I'm flying by the seat of my pants too.

I'm just saying research self pubbing as you would agents and publishing houses. Take the time to check out the details because you don't hear all the nitty gritty things that we self pubbers face. I've tried to share as much as I can but there are daily bumps that I couldnt possibly remember to get into.

Here are a few things I didn't know when I got started:

The total investment. To do it right, you will spend AT LEAST $1,000 on your first book - cover, editing, fees to get it up, blah blah blah. To. Do. It. Right. Im not saying you cant do it somewhere for 50bucks. But in my mind that is not the best way. Just my opinion.
The time it takes. I started this process in September and it's ALL I'VE DONE - morning, noon and night - just to get my book out there and get it up. Man and I thought I didn't write enough before? Now I'm desperately trying to carve out an hour a day to write. The self pub marketing takes tons of time. It takes over. It's hard to sit back and pass up any opportunity to keep your name and book out in the crowd. Because when you leave, the book drops off too.
You are one man show. As a self pubber, you are standing on a corner with a harmonica, a pair of cymbals between your legs, bells on your toes, and a guitar in your hands playing your heart out. Meanwhile you are now competing against a 50 piece bands that has dancers and baton throwers and FIRE! They get more attention with one song in 10 min than you get playing songs for a week. You have no marketing team behind you to open doors, do the legwork. You get no advice. No have no credibility or pull in the marketplace. I have a solid marketing background and this process has been so challenging and exhausting for me! And even somewhat disheartening.
You don't make much money - you may if you are in it for the looooooonnnnnnggg haul. But don't think you will put out one book and BAM "Welcome to Cash-ola city". Some self pubbed ebooks rise over time - if you put out one after another. Look on amazon - most in the top 100 have several books out a year. Self pubbers count on build momentum. If you don't have a second book coming or in the works soon - you are the news of the day and can easily lose your voice to all the other much LOUDER voices out there. It's different for traditional authors b/c they have names and marketing teams behind them.
If you just want to write - this is not for you. You have to wear all hats and writing becomes 10% of your life. If you hat to interview. hate to social network. hate to make cold calls. Hate to put yourself out there. Don't feel comfortable in a marketing mindset. This is going to be extra tough.

Indie pubbing has been the right decision for me - for now. I personally have always believed in the my book (my agent did too) and I waited patiently (years) to give Untraceable every opportunity with my agent in the traditional model. By the time I made this decision, it was for me. It was an experiment to play around. But my book had NO life left in traditional pubbing - no agent would rep it because it had been seen and i couldn't sub to editors without my agent. Or who knows, I may have stayed on the traditional track.

Of course today, I am so happy I made this decisions for me. All the people I've met and all the wonderful bloggers who have supported me. That part of this process is priceless.

Just don't look outward - make a decision that is right for YOU and your book (baby). Look at your platform, your support, your journey, your goals, your writing - and decide if this path is what you want. If it is what you are ready for. If it is in your heart.

Don't do this because you are mad at traditional pubbing, or are tired of rejection ( cuz trust me you still get rejected if you self pub) or need some quick cash. Because those aren't the reasons that are going to help you.

If your book has life left, if you are getting requests, you may want to let those play out - you may want to keep going. And give your book every chance it deserves. Im not saying that self pubbing is the last chance - Im just saying that its important to think through both sides. Because there are pros and cons to each. There are hardships on both sides.

The self pub road is a tough one in different ways than traditional pubbing. It is a road I didn't see myself on a year ago. It is a road I happened to come on at a time when the decision was right for me. If my book had sold and I'd stayed with my agent, who knows where I would be. For me - self pubbing was the only place for Untraceable - my book's last opportunity to see a shelf besides my own.

It is the hard road. It is not the short cut. And don't let it entice you without researching. I spent 6 months researching self pubbing, indie pubbing, and marketing options. I just don't want people thinking it is the easy way.

It's not something to rush into.

It's something to think about.

And if you do go that route - put everything you have into it. Your blood sweat and tears, because that is the only way it is worth it in the end if you don't have the success you dreamed or expected.

And of course - I will be here to support you too :)

In the aftermath of Untraceable's launch...

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:19:00 +0000

Update: Check out this contest going on for the best cover - Untraceable vs Delerium. Go check it out! You might even be able to see Grace's boxing gloves.

First, thank you to everyone for everything- from the bottom of my heart!

I appreciate all the tweets and emails and notes last week. The support and encouragement. I was actually so overwhelmed by you all that I had to step away from my computer that day. I cried, I laughed, and I silently thanked each of you.

I promised I'd be honest with you guys on everything. But before I say anything else - I just want to say this.

I could not have done it without you guys - the bloggers and my online peeps. YOU made this book successful - not me. I could never have done this alone. YOU got the word out and YOU supported me. This community is amazing and I owe my great day to you. So thank you.

I hope my debut has shown each of you what one person can do on their own. That no matter what - DONT give up because there are many, many different paths you can take. And sometimes I know it might feel like you are on the wrong path or stumbling up the right path - but in the end - just know that we all take different routes and we all get there in different ways.

Some run up the path and don't even trip. Some walk slowly so they don't trip and then there are others - like me - who trained for the run, met all the right people, and tried to sprint it the fastest. Only to fall down, get back up, trip over a rock (how did that get there?) and tumble down again, get tripped by someone (you know who you are! ;) , and are pushed and stepped on. And then manage to still get on your feet and keep going.

That even through the scraped knees, sore muscles, and exhaustion - I never gave up. I kept getting up and I kept moving on. yes I cried. yes I yelled. I even cursed a few people (forgive me!) but one thing I did - was never let them convince me that my dream was over. I just redefined my dreams along the way. And last week - I took back control and made them mine again.

After all that - last week's successful debut was what I won in the end. So worth it. Because writing is never about the money or the fame. It is never about getting the biggest deal. Writing is about how I feel, my passion, what I have to say, and reaching goals for myself so I can grown. But most of all, I've made new friends over the last few months, I've seen how the industry can rally around someone, and those things have meant the most.

So - don't give up! You can do it - and when the path seems to lead to nowhere - maybe it leads someplace different and unexpected. You might have to do it on your own or with someone different but you can still do it. You might just have to step away from what you expected or thought it would be and be open to a different path and journey.

So here are some stats for my first week. I wasn't going to share them but I promised you all in the beginning of this journey that I would take you to the end with me - if you followed along. And I don't go back on my word. (I'm not sure if these # are totally final because some of the reporting lags but it's what I know so far.)

In my first week - I sold about 250 copies of Untraceable.
60 paperbacks
51 other formats
100 amazon
40 B&N

Am I a Bestseller? no. Am I rich beyond belief - uh hardly. But my little book that everyone said would go nowhere, did really good :)

Considering a few big name authors I know sold about 1,000 copies their first week, my little book did damn good and I'm proud of Untraceable.

Other wins for Untraceable

ebook debuted at #10 in Amazon's Hot new ebook releases
it made #44 in ebooks for children/action and adventure
the paperback made in the the top 100 for fiction action and adventure

And I owe it all to you guys for helping me spread the word!

The winners of the Prelaunch Party for getting the word out are:
Amanda Milner
Chery Colyer
Sheri Larsen

You may each choose from one of these prizes and email me at shelli@srjohannes.

A stack of new bestselling hardbacks (YA)
A 1 hour consulting session with me for free (can be on writing, indie pubbing, marketing, etc)
Query critique (MG or YA)

I also gave out a lot of prizes including amazon gift cards, books, and other gifts at the online launch party so congrads to all the winners.

Thank you to everyone! I hope you enjoy my book and please email me anytime.

Never give up! (Karen Hooper, author of Tangled Tides)

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:13:00 +0000

Reminders:

My special offer runs until tonight a midnight. If you already planned on purchasing Untraceable and do it today, send me the receipt and I will give you a free query critique. Just to say "thanks for your support."
Also, pop over to my blog tour to catch up on marketing and self pubbing posts.Today I will be at: Nazarea (The Author Process) and PJ Hoover (Top 10 ebook Release Tips)
Also - you still have one week to enter the Goodreads Giveaway for a free copy of my paperback. The link is on the side of my blog.

==============

Here is a guest post on "never giving up" from my friend and author, Karen Hooper who just published her first book, Tangled Tides, with Rhemalda Publishing

Shelli, thanks so much inviting me to do a guest post today. I’m a bit intimidated considering you just had an awesome launch for Untraceable. I considered blogging about a few different topics, but they all dulled in comparison to your big day.

The best I could come up with is to discuss a topic that I know is near and dear to your heart and mine:

Never give up on a project you love.

I wrote Tangled Tides a couple years ago, and I queried it widely, received lots of great feedback and compliments, but no offers of representation. I assumed that was the end of the road. No one wanted my sea creature story. So, I shelved it.

Almost a year later, I was querying a totally different project, and then an article came out in USA Today announcing that mermaids were the big summer trend in books and movies. The new Pirates of the Caribbean movie had mermaids, a few mermaid books were debuting, and, wait for it…Stephanie Meyer was writing a mermaid novel.

I feared Stephenie’s mermaid book would be out way before mine, and, most likely, so would many others. IF I went the traditional route and tried to query it again, it MIGHT get an offer of representation, then I MIGHT get an editor offer in submissions, and IF it made it through that lengthy process then MAYBE my book would be scheduled to release in 2013. Maybe even 2014—who knows. No one would ever care to find out that I wrote my mermaid story years ago. I’d never be able to convince people that I wrote my story out of pure love for the ocean and sea creatures. Readers would assume I wrote a mermaid book to follow a trend. *sad sigh*

A few friends emailed me the article saying things like, “Self-publish your mermaid story. Now is the time!” When the fourth friend emailed me the same link to the article, I took it as a sign. The universe was urging me to pull my manuscript off the shelf, and to share it with the world ASAP. That, combined with the worries mentioned above, forced me to take action.

I contacted a couple friends who had self-published and asked them where to start. One of those friends had signed with a publisher since self-publishing her first book, and she encouraged me to submit to her publisher, Rhemalda. I figured I had better odds of winning the lottery, but I submitted anyway.

A few weeks later, they offered me a book deal. Less than five months after that, my book has been released into the world. It was a chaotic ride, but a wonderful and exciting one. It was a path and result that I didn’t plan, or expect, but it worked out better than I could have ever imagined.

If I had excepted defeat, if I kept believing that an agent was my only hope of getting published, if I hadn’t loved my story enough to give it a second chance, then my life would be very different today. My story wouldn’t be out in the world. I wouldn’t be getting messages from readers saying how much they love my story and my characters. And that, my friend, is what writing stories is all about: reaching people, connecting with readers, and giving them a world, characters, or an escape that touches them in some way.

To all the aspiring authors reading this, don’t ever give up on a project you love. But also, write with love. Write what you love. The universe will take care of the rest.

Karen can be found at www.KarenAmandaHooper.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Karen_Hooper

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKaren

Her debut YA fantasy novel, Tangled Tides, can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Rhemalda.com. You can read the first few chapters for free on Amazon’s Look Inside feature.

(LINKS)

Amazon: http://amzn.com/1936850435

Rhemalda Bookstore: http://tiny.cc/BuyTangledTides

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tangled-tides-karen-amanda-hooper/1035791101?ean=9781936850433&itm=1&usri=tangled%252btides

Special Offer for Untraceable

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:17:00 +0000

If you are planning on buying my book and haven't done it yet, this weekend would be a great time. :)

If you end up getting the book (ebook or paperback) today or tomorrow - email me your receipt and I'll give you a free query or marketing critique - just to say thanks.

Bookanista Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (Shelli (srjohannes)) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:50:00 +0000

UPDATE:

Because Untraceable just hit "#10 in hot new releases" and "#20 in action & adventure" on amazon!! woot woot!) - I want to share the love.

So - everyone who commented yesterday (even if you didnt ask a question) gets a free book. All 9 of you. :)

email me at shelli@srjohannes.com - tell me if you want MG or YA and I'll give you some to choose from :)

I didnt participate this week because I have some other stuff going on... :) But here are the posts:

Lisa and Laura Roecker gush about HOW TO SAVE A LIFE

Shannon Messenger raves about CINDER--with an ARC Giveaway!

Megan Miranda spreads the love for UNTRACEABLE

Corrine Jackson falls for UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Stasia Ward Kehoe celebrates MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

Debra Driza sings the praises of EVERYBODY SEES THE ANTS

Katy Upperman gets swept away by THE SCORPIO RACES