April 10, 2005
Volume 1 No. 40
ISSN 1530-5287

From the Publisher:

Intro

Welcome back! Due to the upcoming Romantic Times Conference in St. Louis April 27-May 1, e-Book Ecstasy is shorter (and later!) than normal. However, we’ve got a featured article on promotional tips by Pamela S. Thideaux, and we all need that, so give it a read. There’s also a couple of book reviews.

We’ll have a full-fledged newsletter next time around.

Contents
1. Publishing News
2. Market News
3. Featured Article
4. Book Corner
5. New Releases
Featured reviewers: Barbara M. Hodges
Featured articles: Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Publishing News
Submit your publishing news as it occurs so we can make it available to readers in the next available issue. You can e-mail news to jmusick@tigresspress.com.

Announce the release of your new book in the e-book announcements forum at Knowbetter: http://www.knowbetter.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=11 and list the title in their e-book directory: http://www.knowbetter.com/ebook/titles/add_info.asp.

Karenne over at Coffeetime Romance has created a wonderful author page and interview for Amanda McIntyre. Hop over and see what a wonderful job they do there! And, while you're there, check out Amanda's books!
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/AmandaMcIntyre.html

N. D. Hansen-Hill says: You're welcome to download my first NaNo novel free at Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/NDHansen-Hillebooks.htm

We're looking for a few good women! Scheherazade Tales Romance E-Novels is interested in acquiring manuscripts for a new romance ebook section featuring "older" heroines. If you're sick and tired of heroines on the young side of thirty, with perfect features, perfect hair, perfect Barbie-doll figures... If you're ready to see more realistic stories involving a true-to-life heroine in the prime of her life... If you can write a gripping story of passion between two mature adults seeking love and romance... Then come strut your stuff with our new line of romance ebooks called "Hot Flashes!"

Whether it's romantic suspense, paranormal, light-hearted humor, or matron-lit, we want to see stories aimed for maturing baby-boomers who still love a gripping, tender, passionate romantic tale. Sensuality from sweet to spicy, but no erotica. Minimum 40,000 words novel-length only, no novellas). Query with sample of writing or send entire manuscript by email attachment to editor@scheherazadetales.com. Scheherazade Tales Romance E-Novels, http://scheherazadetales.com. Quality, not quantity - Free excerpts online

Market Bound, the new upcoming newsletter from Author Shoppe, is seeking book release and contest information. Listings are free. We are also open for suggestions on author announcement information. Please send everything to editorial@authorshoppe.com.

Laura’s Guide to Self-publishing is a site to help others in self-publishing, as well as marketing and publicity: http://www.freewebs.com/lauraonselfpublishing.

Check out the SLF Small Press Co-operative, an organization designed to help small presses within the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres cooperate on projects and exchange useful information. For more information, send e-mail to slf-coop@speculativeliterature.org with the subject line: Small Press Co-op Application.

Tigress Press LLC is pleased to announce three new releases: Circle of Love by Soecy Gummels, author of Seeds of Hope, Stargazer’s Children by Barbara M. Hodges, Jennifer des’ Plantes, and Maggie Pucillo, and Thicker Than Water, by Cullen Bunn, Curtis Hoffmeister, Mark Worthen, and J.P. Edwards. Circle of Love is a wonderful romance about cultural differences in love; Stargazer’s Children is an anthology of two fantasy stories and a science fiction work; and Thicker Than Water is a vampire anthology by four very talented horror writers. See Browse Books and Upcoming Titles at http://www.tigresspress.com.

Check out Holly Lisle's free e-book on writing fiction, Mugging the Muse: http://www.hollylisle.com/downloads.html#mugging

Books We Love (http://www.BooksWeLove.net) is a site where readers come to find quality reading, and where authors and publishers benefit shared promotions.

Cybling is a SF, fantasy and horror chat area featuring interviews with the movers, shakers and up-and-comers in the genre: http://cybling.hypermart.net/flashz.htm

ebooklove is a new group at Yahoo Groups for discussing romance e-books: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebooklove

Ebookbase is a wholesale distributor of e-books targeted for mobile devices: http://www.ebookbase.com/

Publishing & Marketing for New Authors is a publishing and marketing email list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newauthors

Dawnstar Books! www.dawnstarbooks.com publishes Two Cents.

Book Promotion Newsletter is available at http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com.

Market News:
Before submitting to any publisher or publication on this list, see the company’s website for more specific and current information.

Linden Bay Romance, an electronic publishing company, is launching its first line of novels and short stories June 2005. The company is currently seeking submissions in the following genres: Paranormal/Fantasy, Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, and Suspense/Drama. Submissions guidelines can be found at http://www.lindenbayromance.com/.

Baen Books now accepts electronic submissions. Prefers 100k-300k word novels: http://www.baen.com/

Black Medina is an online literary magazine. Open to submissions: http://www.blackmedina.net/

Bobbing Around, Dr. Bob Rich's newsletter, is accepting short articles, announcements and brags: http://mudsmith.net/bobbing.html.

Dragonfly Publishing, Inc. is currently seeking 50,000-90,000 word SF/F and SF romance novels: http://www.dragonflypubs.com/dfp/subs.html.

Moonlight Publishing is open to submissions. Send query letter only: http://www.moonlight-publishing.co.uk/.

Mundania Press is open to submissions in SF/F, mystery, horror, romance, paranormal and erotica: http://www.mundania.com/submissions.html.

Runestone Publishing LLC is open to submissions in the following genres: SF/F, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense and thriller: http://www.runestonepublishing.com/.

Romantic Interludes - http://rominterludes.com – a website for readers and writers – is currently seeking reviewers and article writers. At this time, we are unable to offer monetary compensation. What we can offer are advanced copies of books and the opportunity to possibly get a quote in the reviewed book when it is published. This in turn will give the reviewer invaluable exposure. We are also looking for authors who would like to get extra promotion as we offer at least a dozen ways to promote an author and 95% of them are FREE!

Twilight Times Books opens to submissions June 15.  Especially interested in professionally written SF/F, literary and mainstream novels as well as literate non-fiction: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/subs.html.

Grace Abraham Publishing - Non-fiction:
Do you have a compelling story to tell? Do you have the solution to a problem plaguing moms, dads, families or children? Are you a survivor who wants to share a tale of hope? If you have a non-fiction, book-length manuscript you'd like Grace Abraham Publishing to consider publishing, please send us a proposal. Manuscript must be completed. Multiple submissions are okay provided you inform us of that at time of submission.

Please answer the following questions in your proposal (besides word count, synopsis, chapter headings, etc.): Is there enough interest to provide an audience large enough to justify our publishing your book? Is there enough material to justify a book on this topic? What's different or better about your book than similar books on the market? What qualifies you to write this book? How do you plan to market and promote this book?

Grace Abraham Publishing is currently a royalty-paying publisher of works for sale in electronic format and trade paperback. Audio format is also under consideration. Books will be first published in electronic format. Other formats will be determined for each book on an individual basis.

Please do not send full manuscript unless requested.

Dark-N-Stormies, fiction imprint of Grace Abraham Publishing is currently seeking book-length fiction in the mystery/suspense, psychological thriller, cozy mystery, romantic suspense and procedural mystery categories. If you have a completed manuscript you would like Dark-N-Stormies to consider, please send a cover letter, synopsis, and first two chapters only via snail mail (with SASE) to the address listed on our website (http://www.graceabraham.com ) or via e-mail (posted in the body of your message - attachments will NOT be opened) to gd830@hotmail.com.

Mathews Books is open for submissions. Their goal? To fulfill dreams, one author at a time. Check them out at http://www.mathewsbooks.net.

Tina Adams of Fiction Promotions (http://www.fictionpromotions.com) has introduced a website for fans of fantasy. It’s the Fantasy Author Yellow Pages (http://www.fantasyauthoryellowpages.com), where readers can search out their favorite fantasy authors on the web. If you add a small graphic to your author website, Ms. Adams will post a premium listing for you on the site, complete with author photo and a 35-word ad! Listings are live for one year. For more information, and to get listed, visit http://www.fantasyauthoryellowpages.com.

WritersBreak.com
Check out www.WritersBreak.com, the web site and ezine for fiction and creative non-fiction writers: http://www.writersbreak.com

On May 18, 2005, the updated version of Mariard Volume 1 The Gifting, by Australian author Christine Jones will be re-released. Purchase a book on that date from Amazon or other bookstores, then return to the official CJBooks website (http://www.cjbooks.net), for bonus gifts for readers and writers. Not only will you have purchased a unique fantasy book, but for only 48 hours we are giving you so much more for free, our treat! We will also reveal a chat location on the web. Yes, you will be able to join Christine on line at designated times. Mariard Volume 1 The Gifting will be available May 18, 2005 in paperback, hard cover and e-book format. ISNB number-0595329837 Hard cover - 0595667228 PDF EISBN – 0595777708.

Promotional Tips by Pamela S. Thideaux
© 2002 Revised 2004

I never thought I would be in a position to give advice on promoting your work. However, when my book Tempered Hearts was published (Dec. 2000 Writers Exchange E-publishing Co.) I knew my writing career had taken on a whole new range of duties. I had a choice: Sit back and wait for the sales to trickle in or get out there and pound the pavement and make the sales happen.

Not much of a choice considering that – for most new authors – personal sales many times outweigh publishers’ sales. And, since I was e-published and there was no advance to make the path a little smoother until the royalties started rolling in (do they ever really do this?) I knew I had to do some self -promoting.

So, what did I do?

Research, research, research. There are many articles out there by authors such as Susan Grant that give tips on self-promotion (check The Romance Journal’s Archives http://www.romancejournal.com). Most everything I learned, I learned from these authors, so I can’t really take full credit for the advice I give to you. But I’ll give it to you anyway. This advice can be incorporated with your own ideas whether you are e-published, self-published or even traditionally published. One thing though, if you are traditionally published, you need to start promoting before your book hits the shelves. You usually have up to one year or more between contract date and shelf date; use it! E-published and self-published authors have it the other way around. Our books are available sooner and have a longer shelf life, but that doesn’t really give us an advantage. Too many people still believe e-published or self-published isn’t REALLY published.

Anyway, my best advice to you is to contact every bookstore you can. Map out an area say 20 - 50 or even 100-mile radius of your home. Call the bookstores and see if the have a “local or regional” author section. Most of them do. Some of them will buy a few copies (3-5) of your book from you. Also, most of them are happy to schedule a book signing for you. It may be up to you to advertise this book signing, but so what? Some newspapers and/or radio stations do this as a public service announcement for free. Do a web search for Bookstores+YourState; this process may take a while, but it can work. You can narrow down your search by using key words like; Independent, Christian, Wholesale…whatever you are trying to find.

Libraries are another great way to promote your work. Talk with the "Friends of the Library" chapter in your hometown if there is one. Also, donate a book to your local library; people love this, it’s good publicity (especially if you get a newspaper to pick up the story) and it's a good way to give back to your community. Another great idea is to donate an autographed copy of your book to the library where it is set. If possible, do this in person. Many times the library will set up a book signing for you at one (or more) of the book stores in the area. This, too, may be accomplished through the "Friends of the Library" group. Also, don’t ignore the fact that many libraries have a budget to buy books and will gladly purchase those from local authors. Here’s the link for libraries in my state: http://www.state.lib.la.us/Publications/Directories/index.htm I’m sure you can find those listed in your state in a similar manner (or you can call your local library and ask how to get a listing of all the libraries in your state…they will usually give you the link).

Send out press kits to everyone you can think of and/or afford to! These can but don't necessarily have to include a copy of the book. You can send a summary or first three chapters. Always include: press release, bio, business cards, reviews (if you have them). Press kits are easy to make and relatively inexpensive; use a simple two-pocket folder with a copy of the cover on front and back and info inside. Postage may add up, but remember it’s all tax deductible! Follow up with a phone call, set up interviews if possible.

Press releases are important too. Send them to every newspaper in your state and the state where your book is set. These can sometimes be done via fax and or email. Check out http://www.usnewspaperlinks.com/ for newspapers listed by state. Send out press releases to your local publications EVERY TIME you have or participate in an event! I realized a bit too late that I’d failed at this. Every time you have a speaking engagement, start up a writers’ group, participate in a charitable event…these are newsworthy and get you publicity!

Have you created bookmarks yet? They are easy, inexpensive and a great way to promote your book - if you make them yourself. It’s not that hard either. Format your page into three columns, insert a picture of your cover, list your publisher, your website and your snail and email address on the front underneath a picture of you. On the back, put a blurb of your book. Be sure to give a short blurb or some other information on your next release (if you know what and when it is). Most bookstores will let you put bookmarks out even though they may not carry your book. Be sure to include several in your press kits, too, and again, don’t forget those libraries!

We all know the power of the Internet. One of the most important things you can do as a writer (published or unpublished) is get a website. Most ISP providers offer some free space, so use it! Another way to use the Internet is to get out there and list your book every place that will let you. There are many sites designed for the sole purpose of listing new authors and new books.
Check out places like:
· firstwriter.com (http://www.firstwriter.com/)
· FaithWriters (http://www.faithwriters.com/home.php)
· The Writers Room Magazine (http://www.thewritersroommagazine.com/)
· Self-Published Writers Newsletter and Yahoo Group (great info shared here...not a lot of email)! (http://www.selfpublishedauthors.com/newsletter.html)
· Foundation Advertising (new) (http://www.freewebs.com/foundationadvertising/index.htm)

List your Website EVERYWHERE! Paying-traffic can help with free and other options; check them out! (http://www.paying-traffic.com/index.php)

Don't forget Link Exchanges with other authors, which is FREE!

REMEMBER...Amazon.com, BAMM.com...and all the other online sources. After you get listed there, check out www.dearreader.com...if they like your book, they send five pages (I think) to their "lists." The books must be available through Amazon and BAMM and it's GREAT exposure!

Also check out places like Word Museum: (http://www.wordmuseum.com/) and Bookcrazy.com, (http://www.bookcrazy.com). Places like this charge an annual fee to list but provide a lot of publicity for their members. There are also smaller promo groups such as Divas of Romance (http://www.divasofromance.com/) that offer a lot of publicity for a small monthly (or annual) fee.

Be careful, though; you can spend hours every day on the ‘Net and never reach them all! And remember, there are still hundreds or thousands or maybe even millions of people who don’t have a home computer or don’t have the Internet. Try to think of ways to reach those people.

One way to do this is to make up what I call an "envelope flyer." This is a small announcement of your book. Put it in EVERY envelope you send out of your house! I made these myself using regular white paper. On the front, I put the cover of my book, a short blurb and info on where to find it. On the back, I put a blurb listing my next release. I got four to a page. You can hand these tiny fliers out to everyone you come in contact with...bank tellers, retail clerks, etc. Also leave them at beauty shops, drug stores, libraries, /etc. Leave them with your tip when you go out to eat. Ask, "Do you like to read?" If someone says “yes,” hand them one! I made a copy on regular paper and, with my boss' permission, it accompanies every fax that goes from the office.

Begin harvesting names and addresses early! Don’t do like I did and wait until you’ve sold over 100 books to begin this process. When possible, get the name and address of EVERYONE who buys your books! Ask if they’d like to get information on future releases. If they like your book they’ll say yes!  Another way to do this is to give away a book or two (or SOMETHING) at every author event you participate in.

Go to the Dollar store in your area, pick up a pretty basket and two wine glasses (if possible, find those with stems to match the color(s) of your book covers), a couple of artificial roses or flowers, and ribbons and tissue paper for the basket (total cost probably around $5). Give this away.

Put out little forms with name, address, e-mail address on them. Include a box followed by: Check here if you DO NOT want information on my books! (if they do not check the box, they are fair game). Harvest email addresses, too. Be careful with this, but people who sign your guest book and email you for whatever reason, Internet list groups, etc. are all potential readers!

ALWAYS offer people the chance to be removed from your address book by putting a line in your e-mail telling them to reply with “please remove from address book” in the subject line, then REMOVE them! You can follow up with a final email assuring them they have been removed and will not receive future information Be sure to give them the option to contact you again. Be polite and BE NICE! One more tip about email addresses: when you do a bulk mailing to everyone in your address book, bcc everyone but your first one…this way no one can harvest your customer list, therefore protecting their privacy.

One more tip: BEFORE you start promoting your book, the best thing you can do is figure out how much you want to spend doing it. Sit down with your finances (and your spouse or significant other) and determine your promotional budget. Then figure out which ideas give you the most bang for your bucks.

There are as many ways to promote a book as there are bookstores to carry them. Use your imagination. I know you have one.... you’re a writer!

PS: For other low-cost promotional ideas visit: Earthly Charms @ http://www.earthlycharms.com/promolistings.htm.

PSS: Three great books on marketing and promoting your e-books are:
101 Ways to Promote Your E-book for Free! E-book Marketing Made Easy, Over 100 Ways to Promote Your E-book Online by: Rusty Fischer (for ordering information, email Rusty at: Freelancer86@aol.com), and Promotion for Paupers by Karen Syed, a Dollar Download available through Echelon Press @ http:///www.echelonpress.com.

Pamela S. Thibodeaux is a member of the Bayou Writers Group and ACRW. Multi-published in fiction and creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as “Inspirational with an Edge!” and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Author's Website: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com. Author's Email: pthib-7@centurytel.net

Charitable Cause and a Contest
Turning a "Beautiful Dream" into a Reality is the goal of Cynthianna Appel's "Make the World Smile" Book Promotion Contest to Help Tsunami Victims and Others. According to Appel, “About the only good thing about being a destitute writer is that occasionally you think out of the box. That’s how a MAKE THE WORLD SMILE contest to help Tsunami victims and others was born.” For every copy of her novel, Beautiful Dreamer, sold within the first three months of publication, author Cynthianna Appel will donate $1 to charity. Beautiful Dreamer is available from Triskelion Publishing (http://www.triskelionpublishing.com/prod83.html). Details on both Appel’s donation commitment and the contest are available at the author's web site, http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna. A drawing for a gift basket of fun stuff related to the theme of Beautiful Dreamer will be given away.

Brother Jerome did not have a good day. While in the graveyard, on an icy morning, he trips and hits his head on Father Aloysius’ gravestone.  The other brothers do him right with a great send off and it is ironic that Brother Jerome is laid to rest in the same grave where the stone resides that set him on his way.

But in the great beyond, things continue on in the same perplexing manor, for the afterlife is not exactly how Jerome thought it would be. In fact he is quite alone to begin with before Father Aloysius comes by to apologize about it being his gravestone and all that had brought Jerome to him.

With nothing better to do he has time to reflect on the life he left behind, and the ginger-striped cat, Leo, he’d become quite fond of.  But Leo is much more then just a purring handful and he quickly begins to show Jerome the path for getting along in the afterlife.

This is a wonderful story. Miss Williams isn’t afraid to explore the big question facing all of us – just what is the afterlife? As I read her last words, I found myself smiling, reassured and hoping that her take on it is the right one.

Title: Best of All
Author: Janet Mills
ISBN: 1-59374-089-1
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Paperback Published: 2004
Rating:       4 Hearts
Sweet

Best of All starts out with a peaceful moment for its heroine Dani. Of course the reader expects everything to quickly change—and it does. For Dani is called to come to the sheriff’s office because an arrest has been made in an old murder.

From there we are taken into the past, meeting a young Dani in the throes of a first crush. A young girl so blinded by youth’s first love, she can not see the true diamond that patiently waits for her to notice that his feelings are much more then friendship.

But patience has its breaking point, and Wade has his. Graduation night brings events and decisions that change Dani and Wade’s life forever.

This is a strong story. I laughed and I cried. At times I wanted to give Dani a good shake. Get this book and be ready to enjoy a wonderful emotional ride.

The following publishers have new releases for 2005. You are sure to find a book for your reading enjoyment. Check them out and tell them you saw their listing on eBook Ecstasy.

Wings ePress Inc. (http://www.wings-press.com/)
Twilight Times Publications (http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/)
New Concepts Publishing (http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/)
Schehrazade Tales (http://www.scheherazadetales.com/)
Amber Quill Press (http://www.amberquill.com/)
Atlantic Bridge (http://www.atlanticbridge.net/)
Awe-Struck (http://www.awe-struck.net/)
Disk Us Publishing (http://www.diskuspublishing.com/)
Double Dragon Publishing (http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/)
Extasy Books (http://www.extasybooks.com/)
Embiid (http://www.embiid.net/)
Hard Shell Word Factory (http://www.hardshell.com/)
Mundania Press at (http://www.mundania.com/submissions.html)
Tigress Press, LLC (http://www.tigresspress.com/)
 
 
 

Thank you for subscribing.

Publisher ~ Janet Musick
Editor ~ Barbara M. Hodges
Distribution ~ Lida E. Quillen
E-Book Ecstasy Online: http://www.ebook-ecstasy.com/ebook-ecstasy/
Copyright © 2004-2005 Janet Musick. All rights reserved.
Founder of E-Book Ecstasy ~ Glenda D. Tudor
http://glendatudor1.tripod.com

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