An Actual Bookstore Shelf!

Saturday, on my birthday, I was tagged on Facebook in this image. I have to say - my heart did a little flip when I saw it. Pretty much the best birthday present an "author" could ask for.

I put author in quotes because, I admit, I don't really feel like an author. I've questioned myself repeatedly on when can I honestly say that I am an author.

How many ebooks do I need to sell?

How many paperbacks?

Do I need to find a publisher so I can say that I'm an author?

Can I say that I am an author at any point when I'm self-publishing?

I still don't have the answers to these questions. I've even Googled it and I still don't know (and some of those articles are MEAN about self-published writers!).

So, for now, I'll just keep using "author" in quotes until I feel that I have earned the title.

Right now, I think that might be a while.

Missing Books + Nervous First Time Author = PANIC!

Well, I WAS panicking at least. Things are looking up now, though.

The first order of books for my WONDERFUL local readers was supposed to be delivered no later than Saturday, July 19th... I've been just as excited as the list of people I have waiting for those books. It is not every day you get to see your hard work repeated over and over and ready to be handed out to so many ready and eager to read it.

Then, the mailman came and went without placing a large box on my porch.

I immediately went back to my limited tracking information. Yes - it was originally going by UPS, then to be handed off to and delivered by USPS. I call UPS and of course their response is "we have electronic confirmation we delivered the package to USPS"... Um... OK... so where is my package?!?

I emailed my printer/publisher... they said they would look into it and get back to me in 24-48 hours. WHAT? I can't wait that long! Don't they understand I have eager readers waiting for this book?!? Of course I know they are doing all they can to help me out, and technically it isn't their fault, so I keep my cool even as I'm super disappointed.

This morning I get my email response - they FOUND it - my package is on it's way once again to my doorstep!

PHEW!

So, although delayed by a week, I will have my first round of books between the 25th and the 28th. Much later than I had hoped - but just glad they will make it. :)

Book Review on Tifani Clark's Blog

Slowly but surely I'm getting there. When I first started out on this journey I was a little worried I was making the right choices. I know that to sell books, you have to get people to review the books... it was kinda looking like a catch-22.

I hated to ask for reviews - I mean - if you didn't like it enough to review it then SHOULD I ask? But then I saw people posting that they DID like it... so I asked... but I know too, that it makes some people nervous to review anything. I understand - putting anything out on the internet for everyone to read can be nerve wracking... oh yeah - I COMPLETELY get that LOL

So, that is why I'm pretty excited to see my book actually reviewed by someone that doesn't feel obligated to do so! (and I do get to review her book in return!)

If you are interested in checking it out - Read It Here

And, be watching for my review on Tifani's new book in a couple of weeks. I'm about half way through it and I'm seriously enjoying the read so far.

So Many Exciting Things!

Well - as you all should know (if you read my short little blogs at all), Nowhere I Know has been featured in two newspapers in two weeks. This week is even on the front page! Pretty exciting stuff for a self-published author...

Then, yesterday, I was contacted by a local bookstore. They would like to have me for a book signing! Now, that excited me completely... and then they said they wanted to wait a month so they could give me publicity... WOW! Never had anyone want to have publicity for me before.

Now today, I was contacted by a fellow author about being a part of her blog tour! I'm pretty new to this whole blogging thing - but it sounds like fun... And, I get to read her book - a total WIN-WIN! So be watching for that review soon. I've already started and it is looking like a keeper :)

I kinda feel like a kid in a candy store right now! So many great things happening I don't even know where to look first...

Thanks so much for all of the support from everyone... you are all so wonderful and I feel so blessed to have this kind of backing for a self-published book.

Finally Available on Nook Again!

Revisions made and updates finished. After dealing with the runaround that sometimes happens, I'm very relieved to say that Nowhere I Know is available on Nook once again.

If you are interested in purchasing - Check it out Here

Article in the Caldwell Messenger

Two newspapers in TWO weeks! Pretty exciting stuff! I can't believe how supportive everyone is. Makes a girl feel pretty good. :)
Here is a couple of pix of the fabulous article written up about Nowhere I Know -

Oyster Books

Nowhere I Know is now available on Oyster Books!

Check it out here -
Nowhere I Know

Happening So Fast!

Very excited to be able to say that Nowhere I Know was accepted into Smashwords Premium Catalog. Smashwords will be releasing the ebook to up to 14 different ebook retailers.

I am also working on a book video trailer for Nowhere I Know with KO Media Team. Another exciting step!

So many wonderful opportunities are happening so fast! What a great adventure this has turned into!

Article in the Wellington Daily News

Pretty excited about this! It is a great article in this weeks paper -

Smashwords

I'm excited to say that I have officially taken this next step in the publishing of my book. As of this morning, Nowhere I Know is up for sale on the Smashwords website. I'm anxiously awaiting to see if I will be included in their Premium Catalog. If accepted, they will distribute my book to 9 different platforms for purchase!

These include - Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Overdrive, Flipkart, plus several more!

I it is in "pending review" status and from what I have found, it will take up to a week for approval/dismissal. So, yes - I'll be walking around with butterflies in my stomach for the next 5-7 days. :)

In Print

WOW, that seemed to happen fast! But, yes, book #1 of the Nowhere Series is now in print over at LuLu.com. At this point I'm only offering paperback - I didn't figure many people, if any, are going to want to pay $30+ for a hardback of an unknown author. And that is OK. Maybe in the future that is something I can look into. I hope so anyway.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of my book, you can check it out here - Buy Nowhere I Know It is still available on Nook and Kindle as well. I'm also working on expanding the platforms it is on. More on that later ;)