The Sizzling Summer Giveaway is Coming! #signup

Guess what? Guess what?!

The Sizzling Summer Giveaway, hosted by YA Bound, is coming your way! This massive, multi-author giveaway has 50 participating authors, and I'm one of them! Woohoo!

So what's up for grabs? Oh, nothin' but two Kindle Fires loaded with YA, NA, and Adult titles (like those below). Pretty awesome, right? I think so!

The giveaway runs from July 22nd- July 27th, but you don't have to wait until then to get in on the action. You can sign up here to host the giveaway on your blog. Participating authors will provide a guest post and the Rafflecopter for you. All you have to do is post it.

Easy peasy. :)

Go! Sign up! Hurry!

xoxo,

Ayden

 

PS: GO BLACKHAWKS! 

Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Books-a-Million

Marketing for Authors: Observations from the Trenches

Hello, lovelies,

Now that I've officially signed with Curiosity Quills Press for FALL – The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book Two, I've found myself thinking a lot about marketing.

What works? What doesn't? What should I plan for? What happens naturally? And does marketing even really matter?

I think most indie authors would answer that last question with a definitive and emphatic "Yes". Marketing matters. It matters a lot whether you're signed with one of the Big 5, a small press, are self-published, have written fifteen books, or have just published your first.

How will anyone find your books if you don't tell them that they're out there?

Typically speaking, any author who assumes most of their readers will stumble upon their books and then shout them from the rooftops is in for a rude awakening. Readers have hundreds of choices put in front of them each day. Unless yours really speaks to them, without marketing, chances are your book isn't going to make it in front of most potential readers.

Hence the necessity of marketing.

But figuring that out is the easy part.

Figuring out HOW to market your novel is a horse of a different color. And this is where most of us tend to stumble, trip, and/or fall flat on our faces.

Marketing options can be daunting. But, and this is a big but, that doesn't mean hiring someone to do it for you is the best option either. Sure, marketing is tough and takes time. But expensive, ineffective marketing accomplishes next to nothing. It's a waste of time, energy, and resources. And authors don't have enough of any of the three to waste them unnecessarily.

Every day, I see site after site offering their marketing services to indie authors. I cringe when I see authors jumping on board because that approach to marketing isn't revolutionary, and for most of those I see . . . it's not very helpful either.

Here's why:

Your average reader doesn't care what a marketing company or website has to say about your book.

They care what reviewers and fellow readers say. They care about the connection they've made with you or your characters. That once a day tweet buried amongst once a day tweets for fifty other novels isn't making waves for most authors because a majority of readers ignore said tweets the same way they ignore those incessant "Read My Book" tweets from you.

Posting the same message over and over in the same venue isn't effective marketing. Neither is listing the book on a website with a thousand other titles from indie authors. If you're lucky, these efforts will bring a few readers your way, but most indie authors only make an average of 600.00 or so a year. Why spend half of your marketing budget on a plan that's only going to bring you a handful of readers when you can spend the same amount or less on more effective marketing? You want to stand out from the crowd, not get lost in a sea of tweets or posts or lists!

This weekend, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I already know about marketing, what I don't know, what I'm already doing, and what I need to do more effectively. At the urging of my publisher, I started writing down everything I already do  and everything I plan to do in the form of a marketing plan.

Turns out . . . I already do a whole lot more in the form of marketing than I thought I did. And so do most authors I know because the most effective marketing you can do is the marketing you may already be doing.

Do you already talk to managers of bookstores about getting your books onto shelves? Good. Next time you go in, take along a letter, your book, reviews from readers, and what you do (or plan to do) to continue marketing for the manager or owner to review.

Do you already tell your readers about where they can buy your books? Good. Next time someone asks, remind your readers to request your books at their favorite bookstore, and give them the ISBN to take along with them. Even big chain stores will stock a book with enough requests.

Do you let your library know about your books when they come out? Cool. Next time you stop in to visit the research section, bring a copy of your novel alongside a request to host a reading or an event at the library. Offer to bring the snacks. Paper the town with flyers about the event. Send the notice to the papers, the news and radio stations, and any city event calendars.

Have you talked to a school, a civic club, or a book or literary club about your books? No? Send them a postcard announcing the release of your next book. Or send them a copy of your book. Heck, send them a letter offering to speak at their next meeting.

Did a book reviewer choose your book to review? Awesome. Keep a running list! When your next title comes out, send out a letter (or the ARC) and invite them to review it. Keep it simple and polite. You don't want to tick off a reviewer with demands or drama.

Do you already connect with other authors? Ask them if you can guest post on their blog, and offer to return the favor. Keep your post relevant to their readers while tying it into your brand.

Host contests. Chat with your readers online instead of bombarding them with those "Read My Book" posts. Write a blog about something in your life, some experience you had while writing, or heck, even your favorite book.

In short, talk to others about your book, why it's relevant, and why they should be reading it. Bolster these tried and true efforts with fun campaigns and blitzes. That's right. HAVE FUN with marketing. Try something new. Spend time reaching out to your secondary audience in addition to your primary audience. Ask your readers to write reviews. Offer a promotion.

 

Equally as important... write down what you're already doing or what you plan to do so you're always prepared. Believe me, marketing is NOT a panster-friendly area. Having a road map in front of you will make your life a lot easier in the long run because you'll know what you're doing, what you haven't done, what works for you, and what doesn't with one quick review. Include where you want to be and how you plan to get there. If you have a publisher find out what their plan is for your book(s), and make sure your plan fills in the gaps.

 

Finally, if you do opt to use a marketing/book tour service, know what you're getting before you send the money. Make sure your service is going to do more than tweet your book alongside a thousand other books or cram your book into a list alongside every other book they've ever tweeted. Ask them to see a sample marketing plan or list of sites that have participated in previous tours. If they can't provide you one or refuse to, chances are you're better off saving your money for something that readers will notice. Like swag. Readers respond to free or fun stuff a lot better than they do tweets or listings you could do yourself, for free.

At least those are my observations from the trenches.

 

xoxo,

Ayden

*Note: Not all marketing services are built the same. Always opt for a service that offers an array of wrap-around benefits and services. They do exist!

Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Books-a-Million

Beautiful Nothing: #Poetry of the Ragnarok Prophesies - #teasertuesday

Hello, lovelies,

 

For as long as I can remember, I've written poetry. I've published many of those poems over the years, including a book full of them, but despite the relevancy of some, none of those pieces have found their way to this blog yet. But FALL is currently with the B.E.E., it's Teaser Tuesday, and I think it's about dang time I remedy the lack of poetry.

 

So today, your teaser is a poem. Yay, right?

 

The poem is entitled Beautiful Nothing, and is a companion to Ari and Dace's story.

 

Beautiful Nothing

 

The world is shrouded
in the puffy almost-stillness
that speaks in
resounding whispers
of mysteries
that lie just beyond vision.

 

Bared and bowed branches droop
beyond the gossamer blanket
that softens all edges into ethereal beauty
and subdues even the restless
into closing eyes and listening
for the gentle eddies
and careful hums
that reach beyond the seen

 

and caress the edges of that realm
where dreams dance
like sugarplum faeries
and melodies play
oh so faintly
you only think you hear
the lyrical notes
that murmur so invitingly
in your ear.

 

They cause you to sway
as you stand
on the other side of that silent wonder
that rose up
and descended down
to cushion light
in webs so delicate
you're scared to reach out
and let your fingers close around
that magical nothing
which cocoons and shelters you
from the harshness
of living

 

for fear that when your hand
clenches and closes
the scene will fold in upon itself
and shatter into pieces so fine
heaven will weep and rail
at the loss of such peaceful silence

 

and you will have to live
always

with the memory
that you tried to hold forever
in the palm of your hand
only to realize that
forever was already gone
and you were the only one to blame.

 

***

 

So, how does that relate to Ari and Dace, you ask?

 

My original plan for Ari and Dace's story was for it to be one book, with Part One (FADE) connected to a poem entitled CRY, and Part Two (FALL) to this poem, and so on and so forth with FLAME, FEAR, and FOREVER. I realized about halfway into Part One (FADE) that their story was too long for one book, so I scrapped that plan and left out the poems that went along with the stories. They've been sitting in a dusty corner with a stack of notes ever since. When I pulled those notes to work on FLAME this weekend, the poems fell out, and I thought "Hmm... Maybe I should share these." And, well, there you have it.

I'll post the others a little later on. :)

 

xoxo,

Ayden


Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Books-a-Million

Old Enough: Part Four #newadult #romance

I'm late with this again, lovelies. I'm sorry. Between horrid storms, cover art things, and a house full of visitors, I completely forgot Friday was "the" day. Eek! Please to be forgiving me. I'll share my cookies. They're from Subway, and they're freaking delicious.

Seriously though, this is the final part of the story. *sniff sniff*

OLD ENOUGH: PART FOUR

By the time I gathered my things and left the diner, Kieran had vanished into the night. My heart broke a little further, but I refused to cry this time.

I returned to Chatham the next afternoon, emotionally wrung out and devastated all over again. For two weeks I sat around, trying to sort things out in my mind, but coming no closer to a resolution. I was angry, so angry at him for not waiting, for not even trying. I wanted to forgive him but I didn't know how. Mostly though, I wanted him to fight. I wanted him to ignore everything I'd yelled at him and come for me.

Three days later, I'd given up.

I was sitting on the porch swing, staring into space when Amy and Jonathan pulled up in her new Infinity. The car was the biggest car she'd ever driven, but still flashy. Jon sat in the passenger seat, glowering, while Amy spoke to him, waving her hands in the air. She looked pale.

He shrugged her off and hopped from the car before stomping in my direction.

"Did he ever touch you?" he demanded, crossing his arms over his broad chest as he pounded up the three steps to the porch. He glared down at me.

"What?" I blinked up at him.

"Did he ever touch you?" he asked again, his expression absolutely livid.

"Jonathan, what's this about?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"He's talking about my cousin," Amy answered for him, climbing the porch steps more slowly than Jon had. "Kieran stopped by Mom's today to inform us that he called off his wedding. Apparently," she paused dramatically, "he's been in love with you for years – two and a half to be exact – and couldn't marry Emma."

"He . . . . Oh," I finally said, not sure what else to say.

"Oh?" Jon asked. "Oh?"

Amy and I both cringed when his voice rose in volume.

"All you have to say is oh?"

"What do you want me to say, Jon?" I pushed my hair back off of my face and looked up at him, too tired to fight with him.

"Son of a bitch," he growled, his face turning purple. "You're in love with him!"

"And?" I demanded.

"He's too old for you, Lil!"

"I'm almost nineteen years old. Kieran is only twenty-two!"

It was amazing how insignificant those three and a half years sounded now compared to how hopeless it'd seemed at sixteen and twenty or seventeen and twenty-one. Even with the newly time-rendered insignificance of those numbers, being with him still felt as hopeless as ever though. More so, even.

"And he's been in love with you since you were sixteen!" Jon shot back. "I'm going to kill him."

"Don't you dare touch him," I growled, jumping to my feet. "Kieran never once touched me, Jonathan. He got engaged to someone else and didn't even tell me! He didn't ask how I felt or what I wanted. He just made the decision for me. And he didn't even tell me he was in love with me until two weeks ago!" With that, the tears I hadn't shed since that night at the diner burst forth again.

I flung myself back down on the porch swing and sobbed.

No one said a word while I cried.

Eventually, the swing shifted and then Jon pulled me into his arms. "Please don't cry," he said. "I won't kill him, I promise! Just don't cry."

"I don't know what to do," I cried anyway. "I waited for him for so long and then he got engaged to someone else and now . . . ." I sobbed again.

"Shh," Jonathan said, patting my back.

"I love him."

"Obviously," he sighed, sounding resigned.

I don't know how long we sat there, but it felt like I cried for hours while Jon tried to soothe me and Amy did God only knew what. Eventually though, the tears subsided.

I curled against my brother's chest like a little kid, my face buried in his neck. I'd soaked his shirt with my tears. I was too embarrassed by my outburst to open my eyes and face him or Amy, so we just continued to sit there, my head buried in Jonathan's shoulder while he patted my back in an attempt at comfort.

Neither of them said much.

I was grateful for their silence because I had no clue how to answer the questions they were sure to have.

When a car pulled up and stopped on the road, the door opening and then closing, I sighed, knowing time was up and I had to start talking sooner or later. If the neighbors were home from work, we'd already been out here a lot longer than I'd known, and Mom would be home soon.

"How could he just decide to tie himself to someone else if he loved me, Jon? Am I really so awful he'd rather be with anyone but me?" I asked, my voice cracking again.

My brother didn't respond. Kieran did. "Lily, no-"

Kieran.

My heart somersaulted, not sure if it wanted to sing because he was here or shatter again. I buried my face deeper into my brother's chest, scared to look at Kieran.

"Loving you has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I was an idiot for not waiting for you, for not giving you a choice. I didn't know what to do," he whispered, his voice full of heat and apology. "I felt like you could do so much better than me, and I was so fucking scared you'd see that too and tell me I was a sick bastard for wanting you. And God, Lily, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

I shouldn't have been able to cry again so soon, but tears leaked from my eyes. I pushed myself up from Jon's chest and swiped at my face. Kieran sat on his knees in front of me, with Amy standing behind him, her hands on his shoulders. His eyes were red, full of sorrow. Amy had tears in her eyes, too.

"Kieran . . . ." His name came out as little more than a whisper, but God, he looked so wrecked on his knees before me. I couldn't stand it.

I flung myself off the swing into his embrace.

"It hurt so bad," I said as he wrapped his arms around me and then pulled me onto his lap.

He buried his face in my hair and exhaled sharply.

"I waited for you for so long, Kieran. For so long, and then you chose someone else. It hurt so much I couldn't breathe."

"I didn't choose her, Lily," he whispered into my hair, holding onto me as if I were the only thing keeping him from falling apart. "There hasn't been another choice for me since I met you. Don't you see that, baby? You've been the only one I've been able to see since you tripped in the kitchen. I love you. Beyond all reason, I love you. Let me show you. Please let me show you."

I was terrified that my heart would be broken again, but as he pleaded with me on his knees before my brother and his cousin, I knew I was more terrified of him walking away for good this time. Everything in me cowered from that possibility, begging and pleading with me to just let him try.

How could I not?

He took my face between his hands and looked me in the eye. A little of the heartache that had consumed me for so long eased. It eased further when he whispered that he loved me and only me. And when he finally gave me that kiss I'd been wanting for two and a half years, right there on his knees before me, my heart rejoiced.

His lips were so soft against mine, so gentle and electric. I could taste the salt of our tears as his tongue swept inside of my mouth. It was beautiful, so much more poignant than any kiss ever could have been at sixteen, and so much more real than it would have been at seventeen.

Kieran and I have been together since, and every first we've experienced in the years since that long awaited kiss have been worth every tear I shed that day and all those that came before. It was not an easy road for either of us, but looking back now, I can say with absolutely certainty that some things are worth it.

For me, eighteen and Kieran were those things. They still are.

And every time he looks at me, cool green eyes filled with love, I know he feels exactly the same.

His stomach twisting and flipping.

His heart racing.

Tingles everywhere.

This morning, he woke me with his fingertips against my cheek. "How old are you, Lily?" he asked, staring down at me when I opened my eyes.

"Old enough," I whispered.

The smile that spread across his face was radiant.

"Kiss me, baby," he breathed, brushing his lips across my cheek.

I kissed him.

           Happily, I kissed him.

* * *

 

And there you have it. I hope you've all enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

PS: Hop on over to Lisa Collicutt's blog today for the cover reveal of The Serendipitous Curse of Solomon Brandt by the lovely Lisa and Aidan James.

 

xoxo,

Ayden

 



Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Books-a-Million

The Weekend that Almost Wasn't: My Nightmare at O'Hare

Last week, this girl:

Me

got on a plane to go see this girl:

Lis, my FLL.

We drank lots of wine

and ate lots of delicious food

like this awesome cheesecake.

We watched movies

like this

and otherwise had a wonderful time.

But first... I had to get there, and so began the worst experience I've ever had traveling.

I never fly American Airlines, but I'm all about saving money, so I decided to fly with them since they were cheaper this time around. Bad, bad, horribly bad idea.

My flight out of Arkansas was scheduled to leave at 2:30pm. At 2:40pm, we were all still standing around, waiting to go. Everything still said we were leaving on time, even the gate attendant. Turns out... not so much. They "forgot" to let us know our flight was delayed over an hour.

Ay yi yi.

We finally got on board about 4:10pm, and I thought, "That wasn't so bad!"

Pfft. After puttering around on the tarmac for half an hour while they tried to decide whether or not to cancel our flight, we finally took off to Chicago. 10 minutes before landing, the flight attendant told those of us with a connecting flight which gates we were leaving from and our new flight times, because apparently all AA flights in and out of Chicago had been delayed.

We land.. and spend another 45 minutes cruising around the tarmac in the plane while the Captain tries to figure out which gate they want us at. We finally rush off the plane to our next gates... only to be told, "Oh, that flight was cancelled. But here's a voucher for a discounted hotel rate, and if you call this number, they'll get you booked on a flight out tomorrow."

I call the number provided and beg and plead for a flight out that night to no avail. They book me on a flight at 1:20 the next afternoon and tell me it's a "guaranteed flight".

So, I panic. I've never gone anywhere by myself for reasons no important here. And here I am, stuck in Chicago O'Hare with no clue where this hotel is, how to get there, or how to even find the dang airport exit. I call my husband freaking out.

He and my dad finally get me calmed down and on my way to the shuttle... and then I find out the hotel they gave me the voucher for is already completely booked.

So far, this is not going well at all. I'm freaking out again, and swearing I'm never ever going anywhere by myself again... like ever. My husband gets me sorted out with a new hotel and lets me know the shuttle is coming to get me. I wait for half an hour or so, and then hop on the shuttle. I have no bags, no clue where the 'eff I am or if this hotel is in a safe area, but it's nearly midnight by this point and I just want to sleep.

Get to the hotel and they can't find my reservation.

Eek!

Fifteen minutes later, the manager on duty finds it and apologizes profusely. They load me up with essenstials I don't have since AA made me check my bag, and get me on my way to my room. I sleep on and off, and am up and ready to head back to the airport the next morning.

At 1:00pm, we're informed our flight has been delayed an hour. Lovely.

At 1:20, the gate attendant asks for 7 volunteers to stay behind because they overbooked the flight. In exchange, they'll pay for our meals, hotel, and give us a $500 travel voucher.

At 1:45, no one has volunteered. We've all be stuck in Chicago for the last 16 hours or so. We just want to get where we're going and get the heck out of O'Hare. Not to mention, we're all having serious reservations about ever flying with AA ever again.

At 1:50, the gate attendant informs us that if 7 people don't volunteer, the "last 7 booked onto the flight will not be allowed to board". They will then "be responsible for their own hotel room and meals." I think, "Well, crap. I better go see if I'm one of the last seven."

Turns out...I am. The gate attendant informs me that I can either "volunteer now" or they will "refuse to let me board and I can sort out arrangements for my overnight stay" on my own.

I argue because I've already been told my seat on this flight is "guaranteed", and I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to spend another night of my vacation without clean clothes, in Chicago.

The gate attendant tells me the flight isn't guaranteed, and blah, blah, blah.

I have another mini-meltdown because I am so tired of O'Hare, I'm scared, and I'm alone. The husband tells me to go ahead and volunteer, but to demand they get me on a flight out that night and change my flight back to Monday instead of Sunday. I do, and they promise me I will be on the flight out at 9:50 that night, and if I call their Customer Service line, they will get my flight home bumped back a day for no charge.

I spend the next 8 hours of my vacation roaming around O'Hare. I see a monk using a payphone, help a poor elderly man who tripped and fell face first in the floor, read The Hobbit, and curse AA for being jerks. I'm so upset at this point, I just want to go home. I've spent over 24 hours in Chicago, most of them in the stupid airport, and the AA people have been horrid. No apologies. Nothing. They're rude, abrupt, and otherwise don't really seem to give a shit. The meal voucher they gave me doesn't even cover one meal at the airport (a burger and fries), so I shell out more cash.

My flight out at 9:50 is delayed, and I'm ready to scream. We FINALLY get in the air about 45 minutes late. I make it to my destination a few minutes after midnight, tired, dirty, and air sick. I still need to call the CS department and get my flight home changed, but if I have to deal with AA again, I may actually leap through the phone and begin strangling them, so I wait until I feel rational (a day later) to deal with them again... at which point Mario promises to get me "taken care of". He gives me information about my new flight out, and asks if that's acceptable. I say yes, and then he says, "And that'll be $194.00".

I tell him there is no way I am paying $194. We argue for a few minutes, I hit my bs limit, and tell him to use the stupid travel voucher they gave me. He says no, they can only use that for a new flight.

What the crap?!

I've officially had enough. I tell him where AA can stick that particular flight out because there is no 'effing way I'm ever 'effing flying with them again. Granted, it's not a particularly polite comment, but I'm furious! I've spent the first half of my vacation in an airport because they screwed up, and now they want to charge me $200 more out of pocket for something the gate attendant promised I wouldn't have to pay for?

Um... no.

I call the husband and tell him if he doesn't deal with this jackasses, I'm going to climb through the phone and start putting feet in body parts. It's ugly, y'all.

He tells me to drink wine with FLL and let him deal with it, so I do.

45 minutes later, he calls back with my new flight information. Thank god! I relax and commence with enjoying the rest of my vacation with my FLL, which was fabulous. But I'm honestly horrified at how awful the entire flight experience was. Everyone I spoke to was incredibly rude. Had even one person said, "I'm sorry," I probably wouldn't have been so upset. As of today... I still haven't heard an apology or anything remotely close to it.

So I still think AA can take that travel voucher and shove it because I will never, ever fly with them again.

When I got back, Odin and the husband met me at the airport with lots of love. And yesterday, this little guy:

Loshie

brought me this:

donut delivery!

to welcome me back.

Which leads to this: even if AA sucks, I can safely say I'm incredibly fortunate to have really amazing people in my life who look out for me, take care of me, and turn really bad situations around when nothing else does. I'm blessed, and that makes me happy.

American Airlines can still stick it though.

Never again!

What's the worst travel experience you've ever had?

 

xoxo,

Ayden

Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Books-a-Million