Sara Brookes's Blog, page 21

Decadent Publishing has bundled all four of the Sypricon Masters short stories into one great collection for a great discounted price (its FREE if you’re an Amazon Prime member).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD9AAKW

Over the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some fabulous ladies that I get to hang out with a few times a year during book conventions. I’ve even been fortunate enough to find some kindred spirits that are just as much into the same kind of geeky things that I am. So, I’ve created Silver Phoenix Labs, a bi-monthly feature where we get to talk about those things. Video games, online RPG, latest tech devices, comic books, movies – whatever floats our boat.

If you have a topic you’ve like to see discussed or have a post you’d like to submit to Silver Phoenix Labs, just drop me a line!

~*~

Women in combat.

It’s a hot topic right now with the American military redefining jobs for women. And, believe it or not, this hot topic relates to video games. That’d never happen, right? Typically, in real-world military shooter games (like Call of Duty, for instance), women have always taken a supporting role. But with the face of the military changing with the ban on women in combat being lifted, does that mean realistic shoot games will, or even should, follow suit by placing women in a leading role?

There have been a lot of messages flying around in my inbox lately about QR codes. Don’t know what they are? A QR Code is a 2D barcode that can hold up to 4,000 alphanumeric characters, giving you the ability to store a lot of information in a tiny space. Whoa! That’s a lot of geek speak. Okay, to simplify in layman’s terms, a QR Code (for this purpose) is an instant link to a website. It can be put virtually anywhere. As a warning, today’s post is a bit image heavy since I’m giving examples.

This is one of my Ragged Edge cover flats. See that little funky square in the bottom right hand corner? That’s a QR code. Someone with a smartphone could come along, pick up one of these cover flats, scan the QR code with their QR Reader (we’ll get to that in a second) and they’ll be instantly taken to a website where they can purchase the book. Pretty awesome, huh? Bet you want one of your own, don’t you? Well, I’m here to show you how in a few easy steps.

I’m going to use Twitter as my example, but anything you want to link to can be used.

Copy the webpage address from the address bar and pull up a QR Code Generator. I use qrstuff.com. It’s free, but for a subscription fee, you can super customize your QR Code with colors, graphics, etc. The free version serves the need perfectly, though, and what I use.

As you can see on the left of the image, you select the type of link you’re providing. Select your choice, then simply paste your link into the content section. Hit enter and viola! You’ve got yourself a code (mine downloads automatically, but if yours doesn’t, the code generates on the right side of your screen.

Congrats! You’ve got yourself a QR Code.

So, now I bet you’re wondering how do you use it? First, slap it anywhere you want. for this example, I’ve just pulled it up on my computer screen. If you have a smartphone with a camera, you’ll need to download a QR Reader in order to “read” the code. I use QR Droid, which is a free application (I really, really like that word, BTW – FREE!) that works wonderfully.

I just pull up the app on my phone, aim it at my computer screen where the code is displayed and the app takes the picture for me. All I have to do it point the phone and wait for the confirmation beep.

And there it is! The mobile version of my Twitter page. Ain’t it pretty? Hopefully this short little instruction will help you start creating QR codes of your own. How about on your business card?

The Romance Studio is giving away a paperback copy of Natural Lust today!

http://theromancestudio.com/bad_form.php

I thought I’d start a new feature here called Technobabble Tuesday. Namely a way to share some of my knowledge about some of the technical aspects that come along with being an author. Today I’m going to talk about cleaning up clunky-looking Amazon links. While my aim is toward books, it can be applied to anything for sale on their site. Which, let’s face it, is just about anything. LOL

In my dealings around the internet, I see a lot of authors posting links to their book for sale on Amazon. For example, I did a basic search for “Chasing Sin Sara Brookes” and this is what it returned in the address bar:

http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Sin-ebo...

Functionality wise, it works, there’s nothing wrong with it. But the code string is…not pretty. As someone familiar with website code, I cringe at the thought of using something that looks that way. Or maybe I’m just anal about it (not out of the question). If someone else takes the link and posts it elsewhere just as it is, it can be clunky looking. In reality, all that you really need for a link to the book is a few bits in the early part of the information. For example, everything in red in the link below can be deleted.

http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Sin-ebo...

And you’re left with a code that looks like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Y6B0UC

IMHO, that’s a much cleaner link to provide to other and to use for your own promotional purposes.

For the last Six Sentence Sunday, I thought I would post one of my very first Six Sentence Sunday posts. From back on September 27, 2009, way before there was any sort of organization and even participants. These sentences below are completely unedited, but ultimately, did end up being edited by my lovely editor, Tracey West, for my second published book, a hot little urban fantasy romance novel called Blood Fever.

Many thanks to everyone who made SSS such a resounding success for the past two years!

The black painted my soul; coating it with a thick layer of despair that light wouldn’t be able to penetrate no matter how bright it was. It frightened me that I could so easily slip back into the inky depths that I had spent years dragging myself out of. That it could still find me so quickly.

What I had seen in his eyes for a brief second had frightened me. Vampires were ruthless creatures, often taking what they sought simply by force. The thought that he could get what he wanted with just a look floored me.

For those new to this, the rules are simple:

1) pick a project – a current Work in Progress, contracted work or even something readers can buy if you’re published

2) pick six sentences

3) post ‘em on Sunday

See? Easy. Want to play? See the site for information on how to do just that:http://sixsunday.com

If you have a Twitter account, you can add the hashtag #sixsunday to your tweets when you tweet a link to your Six Sentence Sunday post. If you’re a writer (regardless of published/unpublished status) come join us!

Looking for some super hot fantasy erotic romance? My dear friend Liia Ann White’s novella, Dark Waters, released today from Evernight Publishing.

Buy Links

Evernight Publishing || Amazon

Randor is a Fae assassin. As the most feared military officer in the Faery Realm, he only got out by striking a deal with the late King to become an assassin for hire. Something he was only able to do because of his place as adopted family member. When he’s ordered to kidnap the Unseelie Faery Princess and deliver her to the Seelie Queen, he doesn’t think twice, until he sees his target. Adora. Unseelie Princess. Most beautiful being in existence and feared witch warrior and his soul mate. Disobeying orders is something he’s never done before. But when he brings her into the Human Realm; his home, he has no regrets. Until his Elvish friend, Kiel, disapproves and an unexpected attack raises questions about his loyalties. The only way that could have happened was if Kiel tipped off the Queen’s witch, Maleficent.

Adora was fearless, powerful and intensely unhappy. Until she was kidnapped by a mysterious stranger, who happens to be her half human, half Seelie soul mate. After being attacked, Adora, fearing she’d lose Randor, admits her feelings for her soul mate. The two of them just need to find a way they can survive together – away from the feuding kingdoms. Entering the Seelie castle, under a pretense of needing the witch’s help to bind Adora’s immense power, they ask for Maleficent, whom they plan to eliminate so she can no longer track them.

When all hell breaks loose, they’re involved in a fight including the witch, Kiel and the Queen. A fight that not all of them will survive.

With Six Sentence Sunday winding down, I thought I’d share a few sentences from one of my favorite short stories, Slow Break. Denton is in the middle of carrying out a punishment for his submissive, Jack. He’s standing back, watching another submissive bind Jack. Apparently, it’s quite the show.

“He hasn’t earned the touch of a Dom yet, so the sub does all the work. Trust your instincts. He’s magnificent and I have no doubt we’re in for a hell of a show. On a more serious note, I’m glad to see he’s come back to you. Will you be joining him later?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

For those new to this, the rules are simple:

1) pick a project – a current Work in Progress, contracted work or even something readers can buy if you’re published

2) pick six sentences

3) post ‘em on Sunday

See? Easy. Want to play? See the site for information on how to do just that:http://sixsunday.com

If you have a Twitter account, you can add the hashtag #sixsunday to your tweets when you tweet a link to your Six Sentence Sunday post. If you’re a writer (regardless of published/unpublished status) come join us!

I’m starting to get things together for The Romantic Times Booklover’s Convention that I will be attending in early May and signing at both the eBook Expo on Thursday & the Book Fair on Saturday. Along with some super special promo that I’ll be participating in with the gang from Java Karma during the convention, I’m starting to assemble my own personal promotion. The first of which are some bookmarks for Ragged Edge and Natural Lust.

The images below are the front and back side by side just for display purposes. If you’d like a set, give me a shout!

Tomorrow is the last day for the Reclaiming the Edge tour, so I thought I’d share a little today. Enjoy!

His eyes had gone dark, unfocused and hazy as if he’d slipped into topspace.

It was a rare moment to see Dalton so unguarded. Seeing him in this kind of state indicated he’d been under a lot of pressure as well. As her and Cade’s Dom, she knew he felt responsible whenever they were down for the count. And lately she’d experienced several TKOs.

This was a perfect way to show her gratitude for his love, care, and attention.

For those new to this, the rules are simple:

1) pick a project – a current Work in Progress, contracted work or even something readers can buy if you’re published

2) pick six sentences

3) post ‘em on Sunday

See? Easy. Want to play? See the site for information on how to do just that:http://sixsunday.com

If you have a Twitter account, you can add the hashtag #sixsunday to your tweets when you tweet a link to your Six Sentence Sunday post. If you’re a writer (regardless of published/unpublished status) come join us!