S.D. Smith's Blog, page 35

We’ve had a great response to our Money-Saving Mom $1 deal, seeing over 1,000 folks sign up for my newsletter and get the audiobook for next-to-nothing.

But as Science has decreed, all huge sales must come to an abrupt and senseless end. And so, my fellow Humanians, this is the last day we’re offering this.

Therefore, act fast if you desire to get in on this goodness.

Because come November 3rd…

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Y1K = Yes, 1,000

Last week I asked you to help me let people know about our $1 deal on The Green Ember audiobook, offered in cahoots with the legendary Money Saving Mom. I told you I wanted to reach 1,000 new readers through this deal. Well, it happened! Thank you!

I’m delighted to share that we now have well over 1,000 new subscribers to my update: Blast to Smithereens, and most of those folks got the audiobook deal.

I’m very grateful to all of you who shared this deal with your friends! And I want to thank Crystal (aka Money Saving Mom), for being so cool and generous in sharing this offer with her amazing readers. That was fun. 

And From Our “Astonishing News” Desk

The books continue to sell well, surprising us over and over again. I keep thinking we’re going to run out of new readers, but somehow more keep finding these books.

In fact, this week we’re going back to the printers to order our 6th print run of The Green Ember in ten months! (And we’re going to order a whole mucho lotta books this time.) That is bananas. Bananas! Our initial goal was to sell through the first 2,000 we ordered in 18 months, and I had my doubts about that. To be given the incredible gift of being welcomed into so many homes, so many children’s lives, is an unbelievable honor.

Free Black Star

While many readers have found The Green Ember, (its prequel) Black Star is doing okay for a little guy. We are offering it for free on Kindle for one last day today. (We’ve had over 10,000 people download it in the last couple of days so far!) Get your copy and share it with your friends. 

Print Bundle

You can still get The Green Ember hard cover along with the Black Star paperback for only $20. (The hard cover of Ember alone is usually more than that.)

Ember Sequel

I’m working very hard on Book 2 (The Green Ember sequel). We are still aiming for a Spring release, which sounds like the right time to launch something new into the world.

Boing > Boring

Again, thank you so very much for being part of this story, for joining us on this zany journey. Thank you for praying for us, rooting for us, for helping us along. This has been a team effort and it always will be. I know there will be more ups and downs, but this has been really special so far. 

It’s every author’s dream to connect with an audience of readers he loves, respects, and wants to serve. You are making that dream come true for me. I’m astonished. I’m grateful. I’m glad.

Cheers!

Smiths. Blown away. 

The Black Star of Kingston is FREE right now on Kindle. But only for today and tomorrow. (It was also free yesterday, reaching as high as #31 overall for free books on Kindle.)

I’d be very grateful of you’d consider sharing this news with your friends. Cheers!

If you’re not sure how to do that, then here’s some easy updates to copy and paste into Twitter and/or Facebook.

Twitter

Facebook

The Black Star of Kingston is FREE right now on Kindle–for a short time! This prequel to The Green Ember is full of adventure, peril, and of course…  ‪‪#‎RabbitsWithSwords‬

http://amzn.to/1XsBggt

And while I’m asking for things… If you’ve read and enjoyed it, would you pop over to Amazon and give Black Star a review? 

Thank you!

ALSO…for just a little while longer, you can still get The Green Ember audiobook for one single dollar.  Get that HERE. I’ll update you on our progress toward getting it to 1,000 new readers/listeners tomorrow.

In cahoots with the legendary Money Saving Mom, we are sharing an incredible deal. I’d love your help getting the word out.

For a short time, you can get The Green Ember audiobook–all eight hours of adventure–for one measly, single, solitary dollar. 

Would you share this with your friends? If you have trouble thinking of something, you can copy and paste this:

Twitter

Want an exciting 8hr kids adventure #audiobook for $1? #TheGreenEmber #RabbitsWithSwords  http://bit.ly/1MFWxAc

Facebook

Want 8 hours of exciting, audiobook adventure for only ONE DOLLAR?

S. D. Smith’s beloved rabbit adventure, The Green Ember, is only $1 for the moment. Get your download now!

http://bit.ly/1MFWxAc

I’m so grateful for Crystal Paine’s (MSM) willingness to share our story and this bargain with her ginormous audience. She is great! (By the way, she has a new book, Money-Making Mom, aimed at equipping entrepreneurial moms.)

This audiobook is usually sold on Audible for about $20 and on our site it’s discounted to around $10. So why are we discounting it by approximately 7,000 percent? (Note: I’m not a Mathematician.) Because I want the story to reach a bunch of new readers/listeners.

How much of a bunch? 1,000 human beings and/or families.

In order to get the download for this downLOW price, you have to sign up for my newsletter. So it’s not all about the Washingtons for me, it’s about making a connection with readers/listeners that I hope continues into the future. A future where more stories live.

After talking–and more importantly listening–to a very wise friend this past weekend, I’m more determined than ever to be bold and focused in sharing my work with readers. I don’t believe my books are anything like perfect, but I do believe in these stories. I back the books, flaws and all.

I believe the call on my life right now is to get focused, to become an arrow in the arms of God, aimed at one small part of the darkness.

I’m writing this in the Forge. A bluejay is bouncing outside my window in front of an ambling caravan of deer. Squirrels range through the trees behind and the leaf-strewn trampoline sits there pouting, waiting for children to liven up its otherwise sedentary life. I have so much to be grateful for. God has been profoundly kind to me, even amid challenging and painful times.

Life is hard for all of us. It is a riddle and a ride, a war and a wonder. But there is joy to be had, beauty to be enjoyed, and good fellows for the grand fight. I don’t want to paper over pain, to leave you with an attractive illusion of the writer’s life to deceive you. But I do want to be positive, because my life is anchored in real hope.

“We do not want joy and anger to neutralize each other and produce a surly contentment; we want a fiercer delight and a fiercer discontent. We have to feel the universe at once as an ogre’s castle, to be stormed, and yet as our own cottage, to which we can return to at evening.” G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

So to ward off my woeful wonderings, I produce the following broadside of gratitude. Be careful, lest ye be struck.

Five Things I’m Profoundly Thankful For

—

My Family

I have a very supportive wife who has been an amazing partner in this adventure. Gina works incredibly hard and has been with me all along the ups and downs of the writing (and every other part of) life. She’s what so many creative people long for, a person who is positive, encouraging, long-suffering, and supportive. She is the best. Also, she’s gorgeous. My kids! Oh, man. Our kids have been little encouragement machines. Their enthusiasm has been a constant joy. Also, they are the first audience and they were the first ones to say, “I love this!” They keep saying it and I keep needing to hear it.

My Publisher

Many people think I’m self-published, but that’s at best only barely true. I do not do cover design. I do not typeset my manuscripts. I do not have any idea how to get my books an ISBN or on Amazon. I don’t set up free promotional days. I don’t do title pages. I don’t do a thousand other things. I write books. I share/promote my books. That’s what you do when you have a publisher. That’s what I have in Andrew Mackay. He is a phenom. Diversely talented in a plethora of non-sports areas (burn!), this guy can do just about anything. Technology? He knows it better than almost anyone you know, I guarantee. Publishing? Can do anything and has been doing everything in the industry for over 10 years. Seriously, this guy can do it all. He’s incredible and it amazes me that some huge publisher, or some other business, hasn’t offered him a six-figure salary to run stuff for them. Because he. Can. Do. Everything. Also, he’s a great guy and a fantastic partner. He’s an advocate. He’s an encourager. He’s focused and positive. We’ve been on lots of trips together and he is all about just setting me up for success. He doesn’t often get noticed and he’s fine with that. But I notice. I see him. This guy is a star. I don’t know anyone who has anything like the same mix of soft and hard skills. A very sweet and gentle guy who can outwork the next ten guys and make a stormy, complicated operation go as smooth as the kiddie pool. Anyone would be fortunate to work for, with, or near this guy. I’m super grateful for Andrew Mackay.

Advocates All Around

AAA for me means Advocates All Around, and I’m incredibly blessed to be surrounded by them. I open up my email, or go to my mailbox, and there’s another letter, email, message from another somebody bent on encouraging me, helping me, advocating for me and my stories in some way. I have had my share of accusers, and have had critics both subtle and sharp, but they are dwarfed by the number of allies who have become partners with us in sharing these books with kids and families all over. I’m so incredibly grateful! These folks share my books with their friends, their schools, their homeschool co-ops, their libraries, their bookstores, and with all their on-line friends. These advocates include people you may have heard of, like Sarah Mackenzie, the Champion Advocate of The Green Ember, and people you’ve probably never heard of in Indiana, California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Missouri, in (aptly-named) Reading, England, in Cape Town, South Africa, and elsewhere! I can see your faces in my mind. I’m so grateful for you. Thank you!

Story Warren

The team that offers free resources and inspiration, encouragement and illumination is a beautiful group of people. I am so grateful for them all, and for those who support what we do by sharing it with your friends. There are also many who have helped with our Inkwell conferences and who have come alongside us and helped us fulfill our mission of being Allies in Imagination to parents. Many of these teammates have been editors on my books, volunteers reading drafts and sending feedback that helps shape the final draft. I am profoundly grateful for this team. Out of the Story Warren team, I have the best editors, the best cheerleaders, and the best artist (Zach Franzen) I can imagine. This group is doing great work fighting back against the darkness in this world, offering light in lovely ways. Thank you!

Readers…YOU!

You are reading this. Whatever the reason may be, thank you! You are likely a friend, an advocate, or just a person who likes my books and wants to stay in touch with what’s happening. I am deeply honored that you’d spend time paying attention to me and my stories. Thank you. I’m spurred on by hearing that there are families out there eager to find out what happens with Picket and Heather. It’s so encouraging to hear from you, to receive letters packed with art by little hands, sweet letters from kids all over. Nothing encourages me more than hearing from kids and so thank you to all of you who have done that. I’m really overwhelmed by those gestures. As I type, all the art I’ve been sent is sitting in a pile beside me! I love it. Thank you! Some of you just read the books, maybe share them with your kids. That is wonderful. I’m so grateful to you for that.

So there’s my broadside of gratitude done and I feel better for having written it. While you listen to the song below, write something you’re thankful for in the comments!

Hey, don’t you want to thank someone for this?

This song is by my friend, Andrew Peterson, and you can find it on this incredible album: Light for Lost Boy. (I reviewed it here, BTW.)

I’m writing this in the Forge. A bluejay is bouncing outside my window in front of an ambling caravan of deer. Squirrels range through the trees behind and the leaf-strewn trampoline sits there pouting, waiting for children to liven up its otherwise sedentary life. I have so much to be grateful for. God has been profoundly kind to me, even amid challenging and painful times.

Life is hard for all of us. It is a riddle and a ride, a war and a wonder. But there is joy to be had, beauty to be enjoyed, and good fellows for the grand fight. I don’t want to paper over pain, to leave you with an attractive illusion of the writer’s life to deceive you. But I do want to be positive, because my life is anchored in real hope.

“We do not want joy and anger to neutralize each other and produce a surly contentment; we want a fiercer delight and a fiercer discontent. We have to feel the universe at once as an ogre’s castle, to be stormed, and yet as our own cottage, to which we can return to at evening.” G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

So to ward off my woeful wonderings, I produce the following broadside of gratitude. Be careful, lest ye be struck.

Five Things I’m Profoundly Thankful For

—

My Family

I have a very supportive wife who has been an amazing partner in this adventure. Gina works incredibly hard and has been with me all along the ups and downs of the writing (and every other part of) life. She’s what so many creative people long for, a person who is positive, encouraging, long-suffering, and supportive. She is the best. Also, she’s gorgeous. My kids! Oh, man. Our kids have been little encouragement machines. Their enthusiasm has been a constant joy. Also, they are the first audience and they were the first ones to say, “I love this!” They keep saying it and I keep needing to hear it.

My Publisher

Many people think I’m self-published, but that’s at best only barely true. I do not do cover design. I do not typeset my manuscripts. I do not have any idea how to get my books an ISBN or on Amazon. I don’t set up free promotional days. I don’t do title pages. I don’t do a thousand other things. I write books. I share/promote my books. That’s what you do when you have a publisher. That’s what I have in Andrew Mackay. He is a phenom. Diversely talented in a plethora of non-sports areas (burn!), this guy can do just about anything. Technology? He knows it better than almost anyone you know, I guarantee. Publishing? Can do anything and has been doing everything in the industry for over 10 years. Seriously, this guy can do it all. He’s incredible and it amazes me that some huge publisher, or some other business, hasn’t offered him a six-figure salary to run stuff for them. Because he. Can. Do. Everything. Also, he’s a great guy and a fantastic partner. He’s an advocate. He’s an encourager. He’s focused and positive. We’ve been on lots of trips together and he is all about just setting me up for success. He doesn’t often get noticed and he’s fine with that. But I notice. I see him. This guy is a star. I don’t know anyone who has anything like the same mix of soft and hard skills. A very sweet and gentle guy who can outwork the next ten guys and make a stormy, complicated operation go as smooth as the kiddie pool. Anyone would be fortunate to work for, with, or near this guy. I’m super grateful for Andrew Mackay.

Advocates All Around

AAA for me means Advocates All Around, and I’m incredibly blessed to be surrounded by them. I open up my email, or go to my mailbox, and there’s another letter, email, message from another somebody bent on encouraging me, helping me, advocating for me and my stories in some way. I have had my share of accusers, and have had critics both subtle and sharp, but they are dwarfed by the number of allies who have become partners with us in sharing these books with kids and families all over. I’m so incredibly grateful! These folks share my books with their friends, their schools, their homeschool co-ops, their libraries, their bookstores, and with all their on-line friends. These advocates include people you may have heard of, like Sarah Mackenzie, the Champion Advocate of The Green Ember, and people you’ve probably never heard of in Indiana, California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Missouri, in (aptly-named) Reading, England, in Cape Town, South Africa, and elsewhere! I can see your faces in my mind. I’m so grateful for you. Thank you!

Story Warren

The team that offers free resources and inspiration, encouragement and illumination is a beautiful group of people. I am so grateful for them all, and for those who support what we do by sharing it with your friends. There are also many who have helped with our Inkwell conferences and who have come alongside us and helped us fulfill our mission of being Allies in Imagination to parents. Many of these teammates have been editors on my books, volunteers reading drafts and sending feedback that helps shape the final draft. I am profoundly grateful for this team. Out of the Story Warren team, I have the best editors, the best cheerleaders, and the best artist (Zach Franzen) I can imagine. This group is doing great work fighting back against the darkness in this world, offering light in lovely ways. Thank you!

Readers…YOU!

You are reading this. Whatever the reason may be, thank you! You are likely a friend, an advocate, or just a person who likes my books and wants to stay in touch with what’s happening. I am deeply honored that you’d spend time paying attention to me and my stories. Thank you. I’m spurred on by hearing that there are families out there eager to find out what happens with Picket and Heather. It’s so encouraging to hear from you, to receive letters packed with art by little hands, sweet letters from kids all over. Nothing encourages me more than hearing from kids and so thank you to all of you who have done that. I’m really overwhelmed by those gestures. As I type, all the art I’ve been sent is sitting in a pile beside me! I love it. Thank you! Some of you just read the books, maybe share them with your kids. That is wonderful. I’m so grateful to you for that.

   

 





 

So there’s my broadside of gratitude done and I feel better for having written it. While you listen to the song below, write something you’re thankful for in the comments!

Hey, don’t you want to thank someone for this?

This song is by my friend, Andrew Peterson, and you can find it on this incredible album: Light for Lost Boy. (I reviewed it here, BTW.)

Hey, ya’ll. Sam here. I’ve got news for you that involves major savings and possibly time travel.

This is what I know right now.

My publisher is slashing smashing murdering slaughtering lowering prices and offering the hard cover of The Green Ember, along with the paperback of The Black Star of Kingston, in a bundle for a mere $20.

Only TWENTY American Dollars. 

I don’t know why he’s doing this. Maybe he hates money. Maybe he has nefarious plots I don’t know about. He is Canadian, so that raises some suspicions right off.

What is he NOT saying about the 17.90? Is he NOT saying that if you take this great deal and get those books for such a huge-mongous bargain, that you could possibly be time-warped back to 1790?

When I reached out for a comment, he stated, “I don’t have time for this.” Hmmm….

“This is a touching book,” thought President Washington.

If the time-warp does happen, bargain shopper, be comforted that you will have something to read. And isn’t 1790 a great time to sit down with a rabbit adventure, or two? President Washington might like to join in. You can tell him you saved nearly eighteen dollar bills (featuring a certain somebody’s face) and then you could relate to him how you ended up in such a time as this.

Now, I’m not saying you should act fast and slaughter enjoy these savings because “time is running out.” But I could. Because time is literally running out.

#Sales    #Successing

I’m grateful to say that The Green Ember has accumulated a number of positive reviews from magazines, blogs,  on Amazon, and from my Mom. I’m sort of astonished at how many five-star reviews there are on Amazon. As grateful as I am for those, none can compare with the following review from Amazon UK. Yes, the United Kingdom, home to such scribes as William Shakespeare, C. S Lewis, and a few others of note. Those lands have somehow now produced the following juggernaut of literary criticism.

This is real. And it’s wonderful, Elsa Willows.

I love Arthur Alligood. He’s a good guy and his songs are amazing.

This is a newish song, not on any record. But his most recent record One Silver Needle, is excellent. Esp. “Darkness to Light.” One of my favorite songs. In the world.

Give your ears the royal treatment, get them some of King Arthur’s magical music.

Like wounded Arthur of old, there’s a tragic nobility in this music. It is haunted, with hope.

I have cemented my position as the Award-Losing Author by failing to win World Magazine’s Children’s Book of the Year. The Green Ember finished as a runner-up.

As you may or may not know, I was a finalist for the West Virginia Fiction Award several years ago…and lost. I’ve included, “award-losing author” in most of my bios ever since. Now I have more reason to. The streak goes on.

All (or most) joking aside, it’s an honor to be mentioned at all and to be a runner-up is very flattering. Don’t run-down a runner-up. That’s what I always never say.

I am totally joking–I hope you know!–about the “woe is me” stuff. My publisher and personal Canadian (everyone should have one), Andrew Mackay, reminds me all the time that we are spoiled, that the incredible response to The Green Ember is rare. There is certainly some truth to that, but I’m not so spoiled that I take this for granted. I am genuinely honored and grateful for the very kind mention.

The Penderwicks in Spring took home the hardware this year, but I plan to train really hard and win in a KO in our next bout.

(Note: I self-identify as a intellectually sophisticated and emotionally mature man.)

For realsies, here’s the very kind write up from World. And here’s the part where they mention Ember. I have read and admired Janie B. Cheaney for years, so I was honored to see this.

How can you not love the World and the things that are in the World?

Seriously, this is very nice. And I’m grateful.

Let me be clear. I do not feel like this…

I feel like this…

Or possibly this…

Yes, that’s “me” as international footballing legend Steven Gerrard. Just in my orange bib and not-bald head, reacting to World Magazine’s generous accolade with a sincere and sporting thumbs up.

If I ever do win an award, then there will be no reason to joke around. The joke will then be obvious.

Thank you, World!