Thursday, July 30, 2015

BookTango and SFF Marketing Podcast

I did it! Back on the 25th, I submitted my file to BookTango. Tiny internet genies are turning Allies and Enemies: Fallen into a real book as I type this. If you're not familiar with BookTango, it's a service that helps folks like me sort through the whole getting your book formatted and distributed. I'm not confident I'd be able to properly format a book for use on multiple platforms (Amazon's Kindle apparently uses something different than iBooks like ground up unicorn horn or something) so I sprang for the fee to have the doc converted.

I'm STILL waiting on the finished result (very patient person, can't you tell?).

And in other news, I've been listening to the SFF Marketing Podcast which is awesome! I can't even recall how I found it, but I'm downloading back issues and gleaning tons of useful information about how independent authors navigate the waters of self-publishing. Totally recommend it. Check them out. You won't be disappointed: http://www.marketingsff.com/ 

Monday, July 20, 2015

So THAT Happened...

Because of the interesting world of instant access to info, you, dear reader, were more likely to have learned about the decision of Kindle Press to pass over Allies and Enemies: Fallen for the Kindle Scout program before I. Good thing it wasn't something life-threatening and/or embarrassing. Right? (That's OK. I know you've got my back and would have found a way to send carrier pigeon or fleet-footed messenger to get me the news.)

I have learned a great deal through this experience with Kindle Scout. Here are a few things that I've learned or have happened during this experience:

  • I'm not cut out for this whole begging to be published by some other entity and forfeit a substantial amount of control over my book thing. I should have followed my gut and continued down the path of self-publishing as an ebook. 
  • I met some pretty nice professional writers that have offered some useful advice and support. Who knows? Maybe some of them will even stick around.
  • I've been in two musicals (with NO singing talent), given presentations in front of entire corporations, delivered two commencement addresses and do battle with the angel of death on occasion in the course of my "real" job. BUT, I am a nervous gibbering wreck about reading from my work in public.
  • I have WAY more people in my corner than I'd ever thought possible.
  • Vermont has a fairly respectable contingent of fellow geeks.
  • I signed my first autograph. (Hopefully, it won't be my last.)
So, what's next? Next, I publish this book myself. Then finish writing the second one, find a way to pay my editor. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Well... you get the idea.

But all of this would not have been possible without you! Thank you so much for your support in the temporary insanity of the Kindle Scout campaign. Keep on checking out those listings on Amazon. There are some great writers in there and they deserve your support. Continue to vote for them.

And, if you're ever in the mood to do a review of my books, I'm happy to set you up with an advance reader copy.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Get a free kindle book.

Nominate my book.
It's a pretty easy deal. Nominate my book, Allies and Enemies: Fallen, during the Kindle Scout campaign at Amazon.com. If my book gets enough nominations from readers like you and it's selected for publication as an ebook by Kindle Press, you'll receive a copy for your kindle free. All just for being awesome you and voting for my book! You can vote for other writers looking for a shot at publication as well. Who knows? You can be looking at a bunch of free kindle ebooks just for throwing in your support today.

Hurry. The end of the campaign is quickly approaching: July 18th. Vote today!


Thursday, July 2, 2015

A post within a post! Trippy!

Remember that reading I did for the VT Speculative Fiction Writer's series last Saturday? (Well, I do. That's burned into my brain for ever!) Anyway, that's where I met Michael J. Martinez, author of the thrilling and inventive Daedalus series. He very graciously offered me a guest blog to help get the word out on the Kindle Scout campaign for Allies and Enemies. Check out my guest post here:
http://michaeljmartinez.net/2015/07/02/guest-post-amy-j-murphy-on-allies-and-enemies-fallen/

Plus, don't forget to nominate my book. Click here. Already voted? Great! Tell a friend or three. You'll have done your good deed for the day. Nothing like putting some good karma in the bank.