Blazing a Trail with Detours in Time…Maybe? Check out this Kindle Countdown

Doesn’t every author want to picture themselves taking the reading world by storm, blazing a trail toward notoriety and fame, imagining his/her name (or title) being emblazoned in lights?  Do we all have what it takes to battle to get there?  I don’t know, because as I envelope myself in the comfort of this world of words and my imagination, I at times imagine myself sequestered like Emily Dickinson, closing the door to fame or popularity and retreating with my delicious words that will never fail to please me.   Oh, they’re not always pleasant words, but at least I created them.   Yet, I so long to share my words with others.  I want them to be read.

At any rate, it has been a good week for reviews of Detours in Time.  There have been three more reviews that are four star and five star reviews.  The latest is by a book blogger, a 5 * review, and can be found at  https://literarytitan.com/2017/07/19/detours-in-time/

I value my writing and the work I put into it, however, I am all for the promotional opportunities that are offered by Amazon.  Detours in Time is on  Kindle Countdown until 7/25 for just 1.99 in the U.S.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0711ZW6XF and also in the U.K. for a comparable discount, http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0711ZW6XF.  I urge you to get your own copy today!

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Upcoming sci-fi release available on pre-order!

  Book cover by Kat Mellon.

Detours in Time, my upcoming sci-fi novel of time travel and the ethical dilemmas it entails, will be published on June 16th!  It is now available for pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0711ZW6XF   Please go and check out the book description.  Perhaps it will intrigue you and urge you to pre-order or follow my Amazon author site for reminders of the publication date and notice of other future publications.

Disclaimer:  This is the first time I have registered a book for pre-order.  If you are experienced with this and have any suggestions, I welcome your comments and advice!  The indie author community is very supportive, and I for one am very thankful.

X is for Xenophobia. #AtoZChallenge #amwriting

No, this is not a preachy post on how we should all appreciate other cultures (though we should).  It is my understanding that xenophobia goes much deeper than culture shock and seems to be the resistance to adjusting to the fact that not everyone is like oneself.  Some don’t know the difference.  I am in the process of writing and editing that includes the culture shock one might experience if they went several years into the future.  One character seems to be close-minded about it.  Is she a xenophobic?  I am not an expert, but I had an interesting time creating the culture-shock in my most recent fiction story.   The book comes out in mid-June.  Here is some back story:

If you could take the ultimate escape, where would you go?  In November of 2015, I envisioned just that.  I would go to the future.  Things were a little rough in my family at the time, and I’d often take walks with the dog at night, staring up into the sky at the stars and wondering if I’d be able to visit them in any way other than imagination.  People in my online writer’s groups were going on and on about NANOWRIMO.  I thought about it, and decided I’d start typing a time travel story, but on my own timeline.  From this experience, I do kind of think writing saves my sanity.

At the end of November, I’d typed 30,000 words and had no idea how I’d end the story.  I just started imagining and typing and provided myself the escape I needed.  In January 2016, I took a James Patterson Master Writing class.  Man, I love his accent.  At any rate, I finished the novel by the end of January with approximately 66,000 words.  In the summer of 2016, I gave the manuscript a preliminary edit and had my mother, my first beta reader, give it a read-through.

I’ve recently paid someone to edit it and have had a book cover made.  By mid-June,  I hope to have this sci-fi novel published and available!   If it sounds interesting, please follow me on Amazon at  http://amzn.to/1t3BYGU and sign up for my author newsletter at http://t.co/Gj6d3CXMZq if you’d like to get a free 20-page sci-short story for download.

Way to throw in author promo., I suppose.  I guess I just really wanted to talk about the book.  Happy reading and writing, fellow bloggers!

*I’ve joined the April A to Z Blogger’s Challenge!  Each day this month, I will write something based on the next letter in the alphabet.  It’s been fun so far, yet it has really given me a chance to pause for reflection as well.

Want to know more about the A-Z blog challenge?  Visit http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

The Author’s Trail Part Deux #indiewriter

  Made for Me by Pamela Schloesser Canepa.

I did it!  I got my self-published book, Made for Me, a sci-fi romance, on the bookshelf at a local independent bookstore!  It is pictured with the manager, well, his arm.  He said I could post the photo on Facebook, but I didn’t tell him it would be all over the web.   So I’ve cropped this one. At any rate, I thought it would get tiring just posting photos of myself with my book and I’m trying to catch various other people with it.  But, I digress.

Made for Me is now on the Local Author shelf at The Book Nook in Jacksonville, Florida, Lakewood area!  Next stop, well I’m working on that, and I need to do more research on our other indie bookstores and maybe even Barnes and Noble.  However, this is a step up and it took some nerve to market myself, make that call, and just go in there.  Yet, I did it!  The manager was very nice and friendly and explained their consignment process.  So, this is a first in many other steps I will take as an author.

The sci-fi romance, Made for Me, is also available for order at Amazon at the link https://www.amazon.com/Made-Me-Its-chemistry-isnt/dp/1520250215.  It sells for $6.99.  You get a deal if you spend $25 or more on books there so you won’t have to pay shipping costs.  That’s how I do it, anyway.

In other news, I have been able to get the video of my author presentation mentioned in a preview post.  It was taken on my mother’s phone and she doesn’t have a Youtube account.  Yet. I’m working on that!  I had to take some time and sign in to my Youtube account from her phone, load it, wait, then edit.  I was waiting for a day off and finally found the time.  Here it is if you’d like to see it and/or have about seven minutes to spare.

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The Author’s Trail #indiewriter

She breezes through town, agent by her side, dazzling us with her witty words,  leaving all spellbound with her talent and clamoring to purchase and devour her material.   That’s how the dream goes, anyhow.

Then, she is off to the next destination, a new group, new venue, ready to rock the crowd.  Wait, that would be a rock star’s job.  Well, I did tell you it was a fantasy, right?  That anyone would hail an indie author in such a way is truly the stuff of folk tales.

My author’s trail is more like a slow trek on the Oregon Trail.  Luckily I still have my day job, or someone might be starting to starve.  I should probably add that being employed full-time forces me to do a balancing act and sometimes shuffle the writing and self-promotion to the bottom of my to-do list.  😦  However, I am learning the benefits and reaping the rewards of speaking to groups about my books.

Mind you, I have only spoken to groups of people that know me personally.Once at my own church Artist’s/Talent Fair, and recently at my mother’s church, where I knew at least 80% of the audience. I had an invite to go to a high school during their Literacy Week, but a family mishap forced me to cancel.  Still, I’ll take two out of three and have faith there will be more, along with the gumption to make it happen.

First presentation ever!  April, 2016.  Amateurish, I know.  Don’t judge! 🙂

For my second presentation, the crowd consisted of people from my mother’s church who have known me since my twenties, but most haven’t yet read my book.  Why?  Some people don’t read on Kindle.  But three months ago I got my first book, Made for Me, a sci-fi romance novella, published in paperback through Amazon’s Direct Publishing program.  I also brought a few extra paperbacks to the presentation, you know, just in case.  Like magic, five people are now reading my book who haven’t before.  You may think, “Five?  Big deal.”  Every reader is a reward to me as an indie author, even if they are people that know me.  It’s one more chance at word of mouth.  Every review is another reward.  Count every small step forward as a victory.  On top of that, it was just touching to see many people that I haven’t seen in years.  I also got some great feedback about my presentation and some interesting questions were asked.  Yes, I carried an outline for my speech.  It helps. 🙂

I know my next steps, I know who I need to contact.  My next goal is to speak at public libraries.  However, I can’t tell you when.  I am working on writing and editing another book, working full-time, and parenting, and I’m sure there’s something else.  But it will happen!  I won’t put it off too long.  Sometimes I want to make it happen all at once, but it won’t.  At any rate, I may be feeling older, but I am still young.  I’m going to do this, and perhaps the plan is where it all starts?

Here are two of my biggest supporters!  Mom’s reading my paperback, Made for Me.  Bixby has sat beside me many times as I wrote this book and others.  If you’re interested, Made for Me is available in Kindle edition or paperback at Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Made-Me-Its-chemistry-isnt/dp/1520250215  I’ll soon be working on converting the second book in the series to paperback as well.

 

 

 

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The Writer’s Journey – Guest Author, Pamela Schloesser Canepa

Kim's Musings

Indie author finally realizes a life-long dream of sharing her writing habit with the world.
Pamela Schloesser Canepa, self-published author and Earth inhabitant.

How and when you started writing: I recall writing my first short story at age 8, when we traveled from Florida to Tennessee to visit my uncle and his family. I had to entertain myself in the car, and this came in quite handy! It was shared with family, and they all encouraged me profusely. I continued writing, for class, for myself, to exercise strong emotions, etc., but much of it was shown to no one. Still, it was good for me! I was a quiet little girl, and this helped me channel my voice.

How and when you first published: I entered poetry contests and got into vanity published books. If nothing else, it felt good. In my thirties, I published stories on my Myspace blog…

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I’m being interviewed as an author on Blog Talk Radio! #ravereviewsbookclub

*This photo shows the most recent Blog Talk Radio Show, and the screen where you access the broadcast.  Use this weblink:   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub and click the ‘play’ icon toward the top of the screen (where I’m pointing). 🙂

On Saturday, 8/27, I’ll be one of the authors interviewed on Blog Talk Radio, an online talk show!  I’ll be talking about Made for Me and probably giving a mention of my sequels. It starts at 1 p.m. Eastern time, 12 noon CST, 11 Mountain time, etc.  Won’t you listen in?  Save this website:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub and put this on your calendar.  It’s a 30-minute  show, and there will be a few authors, so I may only be talking for a few minutes.  That’s a great start for me!  You can listen in on your laptop/desktop while you have lunch.   What should I wear?  Wait, that won’t matter.  It could be my p.j.s for all you know…

I’m so excited!  This came about as a result of my membership in Rave Reviews Book Club.  Have I mentioned this Writers’/Readers’ club before?  Rave Reviews Book Club requires a nominal fee once per year, and with that, you are a member!  Membership means you will get news of excellent books being published or going on sale, and as a writer, you will get to share your books and news.  Your requirement is to follow other members on Twitter, purchase 4 books by fellow members yearly and review them on Amazon, and to share/retweet fellow members’ news of their books.  In return, you will be supported with shares of your tweets and book information, you’ll have your book looked at, purchased and reviewed, and at some point, yours will be chosen as the book of the month.  This all means much more exposure, what every indie author needs.  Besides all of this, they have a blog talk radio show, a channel on Whatsapp (which I haven’t joined yet), and special programs such as the Back to School Blog party.  I haven’t partaken in every little bit, but I just wanted to show that there are so many opportunities for networking and spreading news of your book at this club.  After a few months, I have been chosen to talk for a few minutes about my book on their Blog Talk Radio show.  I’m hoping some of you will listen in!

Again, to follow the broadcast, go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub , at 12 p.m. CT (1:00 p.m. Eastern time) and listen!  The broadcast lasts about 30 minutes, and there will be other authors speaking, so please be patient, and you’ll get to hear my interview.  You can even comment on Twitter, or send in a question via Twitter using the hashtag #RRBCTagTeam245 .  Look who’s gone high-tech.  🙂

Are you interested in the policies and perks of the Rave Reviews Book Club?  Visit their site at http://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/ and if you sign up, tell them Pamela Schloesser Canepa sent you there!  Yes, they even have perks for getting new members signed up.  I seriously love being a part of this Book Club.

Sale on my published e-book, Made for Me

 

Just in time for Mother’s Day!  Starting Sun., 5/08 at 8 a.m., my self-published Kindle e-book, Made for Me, will be 1.99, (regular selling price was 2.99) for 3 days only starting Sun., 5/08 and ending Weds., 5/11 at 11 p.m. (My dad’s birthday!)  The Amazon link is http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DZ5230G/

So, why am I blogging this?  I blog this because it’s part of spreading the word, and part of my journey as a self-published writer.  It will have been 30 days since I published my sci-fi tale of love in a modern era, Made for Me, meaning that now, it is eligible for a sale.  That means advertisement.  This is advertisement that I don’t have to buy.  So why not put it on sale?  Two weeks ago I did a giveaway of my book on Amazon. I gave away two books, and two people won out of 71 who entered, bringing a good number of followers to my Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon author page.  The cost?  I paid for two e-books.  But I think it was a valuable process in getting my book out there in the public awareness and very much worth it.

This is a little scary, the term “public awareness.”  I pushed it aside when I published, and I have to just laugh at it.  Isn’t that what a writer wants?  If I want to be known as a writer, that’s what I need!  I do not want to be like Emily Dickinson, admired and enjoyed mostly after she is gone.  The time is now, and I am willing to work hard to earn it!

Seriously, I am not just trying to sell my book.  I decided recently, that part of this blog is going to be the sharing of my journey through self-publishing as a writer.  Soon, I’ll feel I am able to call myself an author.  It can be a little lonely to be a “self-published” writer.  But there are many out there on the same journey.  If you are just starting out, reach out, share your experience; there are many willing to share theirs, or who may learn a lot from your experience.

By the way, back to Mother’s Day:  my mom loved this story and the book it grew into.  It totally encouraged me to tell myself, yes, it’s good enough.  Yes, someone will love it.  Therefore, it is worth my effort and time to be the writer that finishes, and publishes the book, and the agent who promotes it.  I am so thankful for a mom who encourages and believes in me!

 

Working on a sequel to Made for Me! Ink…

 

 

So I decided, this time, I would do some pen and paper writing.  I’m working on a sequel to Made for Me!  Some are asking about a sequel already; others are saying, “Give your first book a chance to sell!”  I’m not sure which is the way for me; I’ll have to read more of the free e-book and the online article about self promotion for self-published authors, since I am also still self-promoting Made for Me.  Good thing I like to read, too!  By the way, if anyone has some really good tips on this self-marketing or “when to publish a sequel,” I will be most appreciative if you share!

This past week I have felt like I’ve been neglecting my blogging.  I have gotten involved in day to day life, my volunteer committee, my boyfriend’s art show tomorrow, and my day job!  But guess what, I have so many book ideas in my head right now.  I seriously could handle quitting the day job and JUST writing!  (I say that now, but my hand would get pretty tired).  Anyhow, I hope I am doing a good job at building up an author platform and setting myself up for later visibility and recognition as a writer.  It’s really a snowball…It just needs a little help to get momentum at the start, but then, it snowballs into an even bigger snowball!  Do I dare dream about becoming an avalanche like Stephen King?  It could happen, if I’m daring enough!  I wrote about a bucket list item 1-2 months ago.  I think I will always have a bucket list, because maybe my bucket keeps growing larger and larger!  That, my friends, is probably one of several things keeping me going right now.

What’s with this paper and ink?  Something about it just helped me get started sooner, but I can’t wait to get it neatly typed into the computer.  The nice part, however, of the paper and ink, is that pens are not as high maintenance as pencils, and that paper notebook is much easier to lug around from dining room table, sofa, car, to wherever because I-simply-must-have-it-in-case-I-think-of-something!  I spent far too many years doing the opposite.  I’d get a great idea, and think, yeah, I’ll remember that for when I have time to write.  Well, now I have time to write because I make the time!  I’m not gonna be the negative Nancy I was.  I will dream big.  My bucket will get bigger and bigger, because I plan to catch a lot of fish (The flying dreamy goal variety)!

Life is good, my friends.  I am dreaming, and writing.  This is truly living the dream!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promoting & Marketing. Author interview!

Through Twitter, having identified myself as a writer, I’ve received countless Tweets and follows from book promoters.  Some are free, some charge $10 to Tweet your book and post it on a newsletter, some charge $99 a month to Tweet, Facebook, give reviews, etc.  I choose one of the economical offerings, but hey, I did get to fill out an author interview!  I am posting the link, in case anyone is interested!

Pamela Schloesser Canepa