To swag or not to swag - that is the question

  What is your favorite swag?

I see authors all over Facebook giving away swag - keychains, bookmarks, and other items depicting their latest books.  Does this really help their book sales?

As the publication of my first novel, Saving Cassie, looms ever closer I have been wondering if all these items really make a difference.  Publishing on my own on a limited budget I am examining all my options.  I can see the point of having something for giveaways other than gift cards but is it worth the cost?

 So, what are your thoughts?  To swag or not to swag...

Saving Cassie Release Getting Closer

As I type those words in the same sentence, Saving Cassie and release, I can't believe I am going to put it out there for the whole world to see.

Some days I'm confidant that it will sell at least enough copies to cover the cost of the cover. Other days I'm sure it's going to be this huge flop that no one will want to read.  I had no idea last November when I started writing on a borrowed laptop that it would go this far. I was writing to see if I could write 50,000 words in a month, not realizing that it would lead to this.

Then, I started reading the story and editing.  My best friend read it and liked it.  Now I was on my way!  Did some more editing and gave copies to my mom, my sister, and another friend.  They all told me they liked it also.  Wow, I began to think that I might have a book.

First, I thought about going the traditional publishing route.  Decided that wasn't for me, with KDP and Smashwords and Createspace I could do it myself.  I found a fellow author and sent my book off for another opinion.  She really liked the story, giving me some much appreciated feedback.

Now, I have a cover and a Goodreads author page and a tentative publication goal.  I see a few people have put it on their "want to read" shelf.  Amazing!  I had no idea when this started that I would have people waiting to read it.

Now, I am on my way to publishing my first book, with multiple stories in various stages of completion.

Here's hoping you'll stick around to see my dream become a reality...



Add Saving Cassie to your Goodreads

 

Saving Cassie is now on Goodreads

Well, another step forward on my journey to publication.  I now have an author page on Goodreads and you can add Saving Cassie to your Goodreads TBR shelf.

There is still so much to do and not much time to do it - I'm hoping to have Saving Cassie ready for publication late September/early October.  This means final edits, formatting for ebook and formatting for paperback over the next six weeks.  I hope I can get all of this done on time.

Look me up on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads and follow my twisted path to publication.

Here's to Saving Cassie being a success!

Until later,

L.A. Remenicky

Cover Reveal Scheduled

I am so excited!  I cannot wait to share this gorgeous cover with you!

Cover reveal for "Saving Cassie" is scheduled for Sunday, August 4th.

Mark your calendars and come check it out!

Big News - Title and Synopsis

Wow, it's been a big day for me.  I decided on a book title, my Facebook page reached 500 Likes, and I found a cover for my book.  It feels like this book thing may actually happen!

And here it is...

Saving Cassie

Everyone has secrets.  Sometimes secrets can get you killed.

After ten years in the big city, Cassie Holt is moving back to her hometown to take over the bookstore left to her by her beloved Gram, vowing to live her life alone.  To her best friend, Sheriff James Marsten, Cassie seems to be the same girl that left Fairfield Corners to go to college but Cassie has secrets and one of those secrets could get her killed.  When one of her secrets becomes a threat to her life, James turns to his new deputy to help him keep Cassie safe. 

Deputy Logan Miller has been burned by love and is not looking to get involved with anyone anytime soon.  When he is thrown into close quarters with Cassie, the sparks begin to fly and he begins to see through the walls Cassie has built around her heart.  As the threat gets closer, can Logan protect Cassie and protect his heart? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned - cover reveal coming soon!

Inspired by Life

What inspires you?

I am inspired by everything around me, especially music.  Songs just seem to speak to me, sending my mind off on a tangent of "what if".

My first novel written during NANOWRIMO last November, "The Deputy's Destiny" (which I hope to self-publish later this year), was inspired by "Everything I Do" by Bryan Adams.  The deputy was inspired Alex O'Loughlin's blue eyes on Hawaii Five-O.

My current WIP came about when I was thinking about growing up as a red-head who wears glasses.  Suddenly my brain is thinking "what if someone wanted to be invisible" and "why would they want to be".  28k words later and I am about 3/4 of the way through my first draft of "Invisible". 

Any Nano's out there?  I'm going to try it again this year and I already have a storyline tentatively titled "Driving Jessie's Truck" inspired by "I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice.

Another WIP was inspired by a comment made by my boss about the trail on the other side of the lake by the railroad tracks.  I only have a couple of chapters written so far but I'm sure I'll get back to it someday.

So, what inspires you?

Don't Skimp on the Editing!

How many spelling or grammar errors did you find in the last book you read?  Was it an ebook or a traditional book?  How do these errors color your overall feeling about a story?

I try to look past the errors to the story itself but sometimes there are so many errors that the story gets lost.  I feel like a grammar geek, seeing all these errors out there.  Finding all those errors doesn't have to be expensive - have a friend or family member read through your story.  I found a couple of people through Facebook to read through my book and they found quite a few errors that I missed.  I am too close to my writing to edit it effectively, but I can spot errors in other author's books with no problem.



I even found a Facebook page for a free editing service.  Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well, the service has been temporarily discontinued. There was a complete lack of professionalism, I found out the service was being discontinued from a post on their page but they indicated they would complete any projects already in process.  In my opinion they should have notified their "customers" personally (through email or pm).  I have sent emails but have received no replies and the promised completion date is long past).  I guess you get what you pay for.

What is your editing story?  Did you have a good experience or a bad experience?