13 free e-books by 13 authors on Friday the 13th of April.A dozen authors and I have joined together for a huge promo event for our Kindle Select books. We are offering e-books free on Friday, April 13. You will probably run into some of our ads or articles on the web or in a newspaper from now until the 13th.We are mystery and romance writers, some of which have been published by Dutton, Dell, Avon, MIra, and St Martin's. I am pleased and honored to be included with them for this event. Kindlers can download all 13 if they wish. Mark your calendars and bookmark the link. Tell your friends. Several books will also be free on the 14th, in case anyone be celebrating other events on Friday.The link to an Amazon page listing all the books is: http://amzn.to/GUnuf1I have offered "Willowtree" free on previous occasions and have had over a thousand downloads, a lot for me, but not for better known writers. So, this will be some good exposure. I hope folks will take advantage of this offer to find some new authors they like. Like, Stacy Juba, a very talented and versatile writer. She has written adult mysteries and romance novels, as well as young adult and children's books. Stacy has spearheaded this 13-13 promotion. We other 12 admire both her writing and promotional skills.
13 free books.This is no April Fools joke.Good luck on April 1, and especially on the 13th.
I am incorporating my real life interactions with javelinas in the new Bruce DelReno mystery. I found a piece I wrote to my Mom two years ago, which explained my experience with the pests since she had never seen any.
THE JAVALINA (have-a-leena)STORY.
For a time after we moved to Arizona, we were always on the lookout for wildlife that we didn't see in New England. You know, coyotes, roadrunners, lizards, bald eagles, scorpions, armadillos, rattle snakes, and of course, javalinas. We have seen, through the years, all of these animals; even mule deer, gray fox, quail, buzzards, king snakes, jackrabbits, and Canadians [for Mom's benefit, an inside joke]. We are still thrilled when we see a family of quail. Or a mule deer, or even a coyote. We were always excited to see javalina on the golf course or in the street.
Javalinas are not boars or related to pigs. They are peccarys, but they still stink. They usually don't bother people; just look at you and ignore you. But, if provoked will defend themselves and their young. A man in Sedona was attacked this month. Recently a gang of them have visited our property often in their nightly rounds. We planted pansies in several large pots placed along the walk to the front door. We found the plants pulled up, eaten and dirt all over the walk. We replanted. Same story. After a couple of weeks we planted portulaca, small succulents with rose-like blossoms that do well in the summer heat. Same story. Boy, the javalina really like the portulaca blossoms, stems and roots. We planted again. I know, insanity, expecting a different result.
This time we were up at 10 PM when they arrived. Lights on and shouting finally scared them off. Next night we left windows open so our dog, Ceile could hear and smell them. They arrived at midnight. Not after the flowers though. In the back yard eating birdseed off the ground under the bird feeder. This was time for Tiger Woods/Nolan Ryan action. We got a bunch of golf balls and started throwing at the critters. This happened twice at midnight, and once at two AM. We're sure they set their clocks for when we're not expecting them. Dratted varmits. We only hit two with golfballs, but the balls landing in the area scattered them. Usually 2 or 3 were at the birdseed. Turn on the light, shout, they turn and look at you. Throw a ball, they scatter about 20 feet behind the bush, then walk back looking at you. We put cayenne pepper around the flower pots. Also mothballs in and around the pots. We installed a motion detector to turn lights on. We got a power squirt gun. Put a little amonia in the water and squirt the damn things. They don't like that, but I didn't get close enough for the stream to reach very often.
One night there were 6 adults (40 to 75 lbs) and two little babies the size of a cat in the front yard. They were gone before we could throw the third golfball. Two nights in a row now....no intrusion.
Fingers are crossed; but cayenne and mothballs are in place. Golfballs, lights and squirt gun are by the door.
KDP Select:
I enrolled the e-book version of Willowtree in Amazon’s KDP Select on March 1 for 90
days. That means I had to remove it from other sites it is offered for sale. There are pros and cons of doing this, which is why I studied other authors views and experiences with KDP Select before deciding on this 90 day experiment.
For those who do not know what it is, KDP Select is, briefly, a program for Kindle Prime members to get many e-books from the kindle library free, or at reduced cost. It also allows members to borrow books from others. A pool of funds from the program is split monthly among participating authors with sales.
Since my book is in the not-best-seller catagory, I am using this as a publicity campaign, getting the title at least visible to the thousands of Prime members. Prime members can get it free right now.
Smashwords:
I had to remove Willowtree from Smashwords because of the exclusivity of KDP Select, one of the cons. I love Smashwords, and have actually sold more e-books there than at Amazon. Perhaps the biggest reason for Amazon requiring the book be their exclusive, is the competition from Smashwords. Smash is not taking it lying down, they have recently announced that their books will be listed at Baker and Taylor, which is a big step forward.
That allows their e-books to be available through blio, an e-reading app packed with
many new computers and devices. Also e-books will find their way into libraries much easier through B&T.
Smashwords is also holding a “Read An E-book Week(3/11-3/17).” Authors may enroll
their books, discounted, for some good exposure and possible sales.
I love Smashwords and, barring stupendous results in KDP Select, will return to the fold.
Was There A Book Signing?
My book signing last week was bitter sweet.
A success, thanks to Hooked On Books and Larry, the store owner, and to dear old friends and some new friends who ventured in.
A disappointment, only by the lack of support by the local print media. There are two
local papers that print two editions each in Cottonwood and Sedona. My press release, sans photo, appeared in only one of the four. All information was submitted as they requested and before their deadlines. I know other writers and artists who have experienced similar indifference. I realize there are limitations to acceptance, available space, and other factors, so a paper cannot print every submission they receive. However, there are not a great number of local authors, and very few with recent publications or events. I regard this as a slight to the literary community of our town, more than simply a decision to ignore me.
I frequent our town’s library; it is always very busy, filled with readers. I hope they are not denied learning of future books or accomplishments of their neighbors because newspaper space was taken up by “more important” things..
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