New Cover Update, Calling Vicki

This is going to be quick post about changes for my book and the reason why.

Covers sell Ebooks as much as the content. I like my existing cover, but it was thought that a more intense ebook cover would do better. This in the end is about getting people to read Calling Vicki my
first Suspense novel. 

Soon I will do a post on how to choice a quality cover. Right now I would like for your guys to take a look at the new cover for Calling Vicki and let me know what you think. 

Thank you for visiting and if you like the new cover please take a moment to Pin the new cover on Pinterest.

Calling Vicki, About Outlining

Calling Vicki, About Outlining

When sitting down to write a novel the first time writer usually does just that. They sit down and let the story flow. Many of the world’s greatest writers have gone their entire careers without ever having used an outline while there are writers like James Patterson who swear by them.

 Your jobs is to figure out what works best for you. I have never outlined any of my novels, but since Calling Vicki is part of a series of novels I had to do a basic outline of the next two books. I did this because along the way there must be seeds planted that will grow into events and revelations further down the road. In the case of Victoria Winters her past is where most of the revelations are to spring from. The plot of the second book in the series is mostly about things that happened during Vicki’s time after her military service while she worked for the state department. Also the second book is my chance to give readers an understanding of how the characters of Riddle and Jackie got together and decided to form their partnership as assassins.




 The outline can be a very useful tool in the hands of a writer willing to follow it. The outline keeps you focused. The outline takes away the pressure to come up with an ending for your novel. You have an ending. The ending is in the outline. You get to work out the plot holes before they form. The outline allows you to write faster. The outline also allows you to work with another writer on your project. You cannot collaborate on a novel without outlining the duties of each writer involved.

How do you write an outline?

 

 There is no absolute answer to this. Some writers type up a chapter by chapter and scene by scene breakdown, while others do it with a notebook. I write down the major events to come and work my way toward them without the restrictions of a formal outline.

 You will find what works best for you over time. I wish you the best of luck. Now please take a moment to like this post on Stumbleupon and maybe add me to your google plus. Marketing a book is a tough job and it cannot be done without help. Social media is a huge tool in the toolbox of the modern fiction writer. It allows us to reach thousands of possible customers. Today, by pushing a button you help me to expand the reach of this blog by a multiple of ten.

Note, there are seven days left in my FREE book giveaway. You can geta copy of Calling Vicki at smashwords by clicking here.

Thank you for visiting. Have a great day. 

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Calling Vicki, Promoting your Book

(At the End of this Post, there is a Free Copy of the Novel offer.)

The promotion of an ebook or actual paperback novel is not an easy thing. Writers who are employed by publishing houses do not have to engage in the moment by moment promotion that those of use who are self published must do.

The self published author must over time become the master or mistress of his or her own trade. If you are going to earn a living at this then you are going to have to learn how to market your work and the sooner, the better. What I mean by sooner is before your novel is released to the general public. “I am a writer. I do not know a thing about selling.”You say. “If you do not wish to be a starving artist then I suggest that you learn.”I say. Being a self published writer offers you’re the freedom to place any and all of your work before the public. It also forces you to become a business person. Your business is writing. You have probably learned early on in the process that you should write every day. Now you must learn to market your work every day. As you learn how to blog about your work and to use social media to promote it you will become a better manager of your time. Twenty to forty minutes a day will be enough to get the word out about your work.




 What every you can do to promote the presence and availability of your book is a positive action. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Google plus and so many other social media outlets are important in getting the word out. Also once your book is out there reviews are very important and that takes me to an offer that I am willing to make. If you are willing to review my novel on Amazon or goodreads or B&N or any of the other sites where it is available then I am offering a free copy to the first twenty readers of this who respond by sending an email to cannon1275@gmail.com with the mail heading Copy for Review. That is a free copy of the full novel, Calling Vicki, in exchange for a review. 

 Thank you visiting my blog. Good luck with your work and please take a moment to add me to your google plus.

Calling Vicki, The first Month

Although sales of my first novel Calling Vicki have gone as expected for the first month I have to admit that in the back of my mind I was hoping for blockbuster numbers. Getting the word out about the existence of my suspense novel has not been easy. I used this blog along with some paid advertisement to spread the word, but since this is my first full length work of fiction I have to sell people not only on my book, but on my ability to write it. 

With this blog I have tried and will continue to share with you all that went into the crafting of my novel. I would like to thank you guys for visiting the site and sharing this post on stumbleupon. 

Today I will offer some trial and error information I picked up during the last month. 

 First, I believe that Wattpad is good for some types of fiction. If I wrote teen romance or horror then it would be the perfect place to share my work. It does okay for my Fantasy short fiction, but for a thriller or suspense novel it is hard to find an audience there. 

Second, Facebook. I have built a facebook page for the novel and posted there, but so far it had not gotten much attention. I believe that facebook requires a great deal of attention to work and maybe after I use my facebook ads the visitors will increase. 

  

 Third, Competitions. In business I knew that I was always competing, but with the novel I thought at first that there was enough attention for everyone to go around. That is not true. You can write a great novel and it could go unnoticed for years. My favorite novel of all time is a Ray Bradbury book and that book took over a decade to catch on with readers.

 Forth, Take Marketing seriously. I spent five as a successful internet marketer. Selling the work of others paid the bills, but when it comes to selling my own work I have been a bit shy. That is the one major change I am going to make for the next thirty days. Marketing this novel at every venue and in every possible way is going to be raised to a new level. Writing is only a small part of earning a living. Writing is the most important part, but marketing has to come a close second.

Fifth, Reviews. Books that have reviews are more respected than those that do not. I have never taken review seriously, but it seems that millions of readers do. I am going to give away a few copies on smashwords to see if I can get some reviews there. 

Thank you for visiting. Please take a moment to read a chapter of the book and to share this post on stumbleupon. 

Final note, there is a half price promotion on the book at smashwords right now. Please take a moment to check it out.

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