Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

I have a website for my sci-fi/fantasy crossover series: The Wryter Chronicles @ www.TheWryterChronicles.com it also acts as sort of encyclopedia/wiki of all the places/races/aspects of the semi-futuristic Earth.

My Goodreads book profile is @Warped & Wired


I also have a tech-blog I update every so often @ www.TheBloggitonPost.com

Check them out and let me know what you think. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

http://www.pantiesupskirtdown.com

Shawn wrote: "Step into the new exciting YA fantasy world of ALLON. Read an except, explore the interactive map and watch the book trailer to meet the powerful and immortal Guardians.

http://www.allonbooks.com
..."

wow! u've got such an incredible website!

Regency Sketches - a blog dedicated to my recently released Regency-set novel "Margaret's Rematch"

http://faridamestek.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Farida. It was fun putting it together, but it requires a lot of work to keep up the want the kids want. :)

Shawn wrote: "Thanks, Farida. It was fun putting it together, but it requires a lot of work to keep up the want the kids want. :)"

I can imagine! Great job!

Hello, my name is David Gelber and I have one SF/religious themed novel that's been published. check it out at http://www.itpfuturehope.com
Also,I have several articles on a variety of topics on my blog http://heardintheor.blogspot.com
David Gelber Future Hope: Book 1 of the ITP Series

I write contemporary romance with an erotic twist. On my blog, which is the first page of my website, II've been talking about piracy issues as they apply to e-books. Mine are available through my publisher and through Amazon and Fictionwise, as e-books and paperbacks. I'm not well-known enough to have found any of mine on piracy sites, but I make very little from my writing, and hate to think that someone is thinking of me as "the man", and thinking that stealing from me is moralistically okay.
www.fionamcgier.com

Fiona, I look at it this way:

Most people would rather get the book legally.

The people who would get it off a piracy site were not planning to buy it anyway, so you're not out any more money than if they'd read it at the library. And some people who read books illegally then go out and buy the physical book they wouldn't have bought had they not already read it.

The word is getting spread. They're marketing your book for you. Since you're not famous yet, I assume your publisher isn't spending much on marketing you. This is viral marketing. If someone reads your book and tells a friend, or writes about it on his blog, he won't mention that he got it from a piracy site.

Now, I don't want anyone thinking of me as "the man," either, but neither am I going to get all upset about a few people trading e-copies of my book. (I might even be impressed that someone actually wanted to share it.) If it does show up, you can always request that the site remove it.

Julie wrote: "Fiona, I look at it this way:

Most people would rather get the book legally.

The people who would get it off a piracy site were not planning to buy it anyway, so you're not out any more money th..."

Ah, piracy. Ye olde controversy. You are correct Julie, studies have shown that people are willing to pay for content if it's good content. And ironically, pirates are among the most avid consumers who spend the most money on content. All the numbers the media industry claims they lost to piracy have been proven to be bunk. So don't worry about pirates, they aren't going to drive you out of business before you even get started.
Well, Sorry to get off topic, but this subject always interests me.

Julie wrote: "Fiona, I look at it this way:

Most people would rather get the book legally.

The people who would get it off a piracy site were not planning to buy it anyway, so you're not out any more money th..."

If you truly think that piracy doesn't hurt the author, you might want to talk to a few authors that have been ripped off. None of them are happy and I met a few who don't want to publish ebook versions of their books or share excerpts because they are afraid of piracy.
Not to mention every time you download pirated books (or music)you are engaging in a criminal act and open yourself up to prosecution.


For the author's side of the piracy issues you can check out this group here on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/30255.Authors_Without_A_Yacht_AWaY_

A. F. wrote: "Julie wrote: "Fiona, I look at it this way:

Most people would rather get the book legally.

The people who would get it off a piracy site were not planning to buy it anyway, so you're not out any..."

Excellent point, the trick is not going all nuclear paranoia like the MPAA and RIAA are. If you get too paranoid, then you don't trust sending your manuscript to agents or publishers for fear that they might steal it rather than sign a contract. As the saying goes: "If it's good enough to steal, it's good enough to buy." Granted, there are exceptions to everything and I'm sure there are plenty of unfortunate authors whose works have essentially "walked the plank" because of pirates. But living in a constant state of fear isn't living; it's existing.

So, uh...anyway... check out my website and blog: www.TheBloggitonPost.com and www.TheWryterChronicles.com

Joshua wrote: "A. F. wrote: "Julie wrote: "Fiona, I look at it this way:

Most people would rather get the book legally.

The people who would get it off a piracy site were not planning to buy it anyway, so you'..."

I don't advocate any wholesale paranoia (at least on this issue), I just don't like it when people think it isn't a big deal.
And now I'll be quiet about piracy and plug my latest blog post:
I'm hosting Kelly Harmon today and she's talking about "Writing Crutches" and sharing about her new book "Blood Soup".
Kelly Harmon Serves Up Advice And Blood Soup

Hi all,

For those who like futurism or are interested in possibilities, check this out!

http://www.firstcauseproject.com

Tell me what you think!
PW

Hi everyone! I'm a middle school language arts teacher and avid reader. Last year my students and I started a YA fiction blog - they do most of the writing and I add some reviews in every once in a while!

http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/lar...

Check it out - and I just added the Google Friend/Follower button, so please follow us. We have some Goodreads author interviews and book giveaways in the works. YA Authors - please feel free to contact me, we'd love to feature you on the blog!

Jen wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm a middle school language arts teacher and avid reader. Last year my students and I started a YA fiction blog - they do most of the writing and I add some reviews in every once in..."

hey Jen, checked out the blog (tell those kids, great job) and was going to contact you about my YA modern, sci-fi/fantasy novel Warped & Wired, but your profile is set to private. Do you have a direct contact somewhere on the blog?
Feel free to reply on this post or DM here on my goodreads profile @Joshua Caleb

Hey, Jen. I did will middle school kids all the time. In fact, I have a group of boys working on a project of how to turn my YA fantasy into a video game.

I looked at your blog and didn't see a way to contact you. So if you want to check out my blog, you can contact me. Be sure to look at the "Gallery" and watch the video to see what references the boys are using.

www.allonbooks.com

Shawn wrote: "Hey, Jen. I did will middle school kids all the time. In fact, I have a group of boys working on a project of how to turn my YA fantasy into a video game.

I looked at your blog and didn't see a wa..."

Sweet! I wish I had my own personal game developers, I'd keep them busy for years :) I actually was going to become a game dev but realized the only thing I liked about it was creating the idea/story/mechanics of the game. So I decided to write books, maybe branching off into other pursuits later.

BTW, liked your website, did you/they code it all by hand or did you use some advanced web design tool?

Thanks, Joshua. It was my husband who designed and built the website using Abode Flash and Dreamweaver.

If you looked at the Creative Family page you saw he worked on "He-Man", "Fat Albert" and spent years in animation and is now graphic design.

I'll be visiting with the boys tomorrow and should get an update on their progress. They were supposed to "premiere" it for me last week, but due to flooding here in Nashville, school was closed for a week.

Shawn wrote: "Thanks, Joshua. It was my husband who designed and built the website using Abode Flash and Dreamweaver.

If you looked at the Creative Family page you saw he worked on "He-Man", "Fat Albert" and sp..."

Ah, Flash. the ancient ways of the old if Steve jobs is to be believed.
So what kind of video game is it? I'm assuming it's for the PC.

LOL about Flash. It beats the old hand drawn and painted cells. I've done those. We had to wear white gloves to keep from smudging the cells.

As for the video game, I don't know. That's why the boys are doing it. The last time I played a video game was Pac-Mac and Space Invaders in the arcade. :) I guess that will be part of their presentation. I hope to get a copy of video proposal to put up on my blog and my YouTube channel.

Jen wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm a middle school language arts teacher and avid reader. Last year my students and I started a YA fiction blog - they do most of the writing and I add some reviews in every once in..."

Hey Jen, be sure to have your writing students enter their best work in the New Voices writing contest run by EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection)...you can access the info from:
http://newvoicesyoungwriters.com
Submissions can be sent August 1-October 20, and are judged by EPIC members, some of whom, like myself, are also certified English teachers. But all are writers/publishers/editors, etc.

I'll throw my hat ... er ... website in the ring : ) Mother-Earth Series

Joshua wrote: "Jen wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm a middle school language arts teacher and avid reader. Last year my students and I started a YA fiction blog - they do most of the writing and I add some reviews in e..."

Hi Joshua - thanks for letting me know, I changed my profile so you should be able to send me a message through Goodreads! If not, you can contact me at [email protected]

Let's talk about Warped & Wired!

Greg wrote: "I have a new website, for a new book, and it's so new no one has visited it yet. Be the first! I would love some feedback, esp on the sample first Chapter - B6.

Thanks!
Greg Dawe
Author of Theta..."

Link?

I have both an author website, http://www.sueannbowling.com and a blog, http://homecomingbook.wordpress.com/
The blog has highly varied content, not all of which refers to the book--the latest post is on insulin pumps, and the next will be on some of the problems I've had with formatting in Word.

Greg wrote: "I have a new website,...

Hmm...the title is misspelled, right above the book. Beyond that, I like it.

I throw my author website out here, what with the new book and all . . . http://sallygunning.com

Midnight Omen Deja vu
Marti Melville

Historical Fiction, Paranormal Romance

I am the author of a book on Advaita Vedanta philosophy, The Circle of Fire - The Metaphysics of Yoga published by North Atlantic Books and distributed by Random House.


Please look up my website www.thecircleoffire.com if you are interested in the book.

Very nice website!

Shawn wrote: "Step into the new exciting YA fantasy world of ALLON. Read an except, explore the interactive map and watch the book trailer to meet the powerful and immortal Guardians.

http://www.allonbooks.com
..."

Here's my little corner of the web.

http://www.Gooberella.com

My book, Angel in a Fur Coat, is for ages 7-11 and anyone who has ever shared love with a dog.

What if dogs really are angels...angels in fur coats.

My website: http://www.laurarittenhouse.com/

It's got a section called "Reluctant Marketer" where I recently posted some ideas about getting your book out there, including how to make use of some of the things Amazon offers writers. Check it out if you get the chance and let me know what you think.

. . . a bold, provacative story of epic proportions told in the first person.   You're immediately drawn into the intimacy of each of several diverse and colorful character's lives and have no wish to leave until you've discovered just what it is each one has to reveal.   Read it and see for yourself what becomes known once you step out on A TERRACE ON THE TOWER OF BABEL  www.nelswrites.com

My book is finally for sale! BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale I am offering SIGNED copies and a bookmark with every book purchase for a limited time through my website. I am also interested in getting children involved in writing. I have new activities every month.

http://www.CrystalMarcos.com

My site, Books 'n Writers has a variety of information, including site directories about writing and books.
I also talk books (among other things) on my blog Mental Geysers.
I have a blog here at Goodreads, too, and my own books are featured at my main Web site.

Kae wrote: "My site, Books 'n Writers has a variety of information, including site directories about writing and books.
I also talk books (among other things) on my blog Mental Geysers.
I have a blog here at ..."

Great sites - thanks!

Instead of having one author website that talks about all of my books, I prefer to have a blog for author updates and then separate websites for each of my books/series so that the site can be graphically designed around the feel of each of their books. I'm a designer too and always design my own websites (for my books and for our various design businesses) with my wife.

The website for The Book and the novella that followed it (Propaganda from the desk of Martin Trust) is:
www.dontreadthebook.com

The website for The Time Chronicles of Emily Porterfield is:
www.thetimechronicles.com

My author blog is:
http://mcliffordauthor.blogspot.com/

Hope you enjoy visiting them -- I definitely enjoyed making them!
M. Clifford

Hello everyone. My name is Deborah Pettis.
My website is : http://deborahpettis.org
My blog link is:
http://www.livingundertheinfluenceblo...
Please feel free to check it out and become a part of it.

Website: Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (a teen love story)

Facebook Page: Life, Liberty, and Pursuit

Hi. I'm Karen Wojcik Berner, and I write general fiction/women's fiction.

My website is http://www.karenberner.com. My blog is http://karenwojcikberner.blogspot.com. And my Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Whisp....

K.D. Brogdon

Five-Star FLEECING

My website is: www.maurastone.com and the book's Fan page on Facebook is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/White-L...

Julie wrote: "Fiona, I look at it this way:

Most people would rather get the book legally.

The people who would get it off a piracy site were not planning to buy it anyway, so you're not out any more money th..."

Piracy; Free marketing? I will will have to ponder that. You probably have an excellent point. Some people out there have no scruples about thieving. When I owned a small business, I lost money on shop lifting. The stupid remarks were, "Well, so what? You have insurance ,don't you? Every body shop lifts at the big stores too." Well, my customers never knew that while I paid my bills, I could never pay myself a salary.Isn't this the same thing?
In the libray, the book is ony purchased once. Hopefully to be enjoyed by many readers who will talk about your book. Malika

I am offering BOTH of my books via eBook for FREE through July!

Self Convictions (FREE! for a limited time only)
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Self Consciousness (FREE! for a limited time only)
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...


More details on my website:

My site is http://rjhamilton.webs.com/

Best wishes and take care!

Sincerely,
R.J. Hamilton

Hi,
we've had this debate before, giving away free samples is one thing, we all do it one way or another in attempts to get our work noticed. Pirated copies are a different ball game, put bluntly it is common theft, just as much as driving your car off, 'to see if you liked it' before buying a similar one yourself. The only place for a thief is behind bars! end of story. The Arabs have a way of dealing with persistant thieves, they chop their hands off! A bit over the top, most certainly! but it works, but then they sentance adulterous wives to death by stoning, just the woman, funny that, I thought it took two to tango. May be copying them isn't such a good idea, but a spell behind bars is, or should be the consequence for stealing, book or anything else. Try walking out of a book shop without paying! I don't think the excuse, 'I was only going to see if i liked it first' will wash.
I've had my rant, chuck theives in the slammer!!!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]

I'm offering my latest book in my Reyes Family Romances series as a free read, to test the theory that it will interest readers in the rest of my books. Jury is still out...we'll see.
Here's the link to my Smashwords author profile: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
Here's the link to my book page, where you can download the book: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
I will keep fellow authors apprised if this gives me a bump in sales or not.

Hi,
Re 'giving copies away' It is something we all do,[I think:] I know I do, granted I target these 'gifts', mostly to people who will give me their honest opinions, warts and all, that is how we learn. Limited give aways, if carefully used are a valid marketing tool as long as it is not overdone.
Mass give aways can give the impression of the author not valueing their work, or of desperation. It is all a matter of keeping a sense of proportion, and this will be different in every case.
We had a bit of a barney on here a while back about 'the buck a book'.
It turned out the person who had a go at me for disagreeing and was making such a big thing about her 'buck a book' being the top selling book in her genre was infact talking about what was in essence a pamphlet and at 'a buck a book' was sbout 4X as dear per word as my current 108,000word thriller at about 7 dollars for the ebook. Which illustrates my point about keeping things in proportion.
If you believe your book is worth the recommended price then go for it, by all means give a few copies to people who will say what they honestly think and a free chapter or two is usually a good thing, getting people to read a book from an author they don't know, maybe never heard of is no easy task, it is a problem many of us are trying to crack.
I'd better shut up and get some sleep, if this heat will let me sleep, as I have got to be up in 4 and a bit hours to drive 200 miles for the launch of my latest book.
The things we do to sell our books!!!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]

Me again, I overlooked one important point in Fiona's post. In this instance it may well be a valid marketing tool as it is one of a series, it could well trigger interest in the other books in the series. It still needs watching so it doesn't get out of control. But I certainly wish you well Fiona, there may be a logic to what you are trying, I hope your courage is rewarded and wish you every success.
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]

Hi all,

My website and blog for the Darkly Series is http://www.tarrantsmith.webs.com

I have a second blog site: http://conarymor.livejournal.com/

Thanks,
Tarrant Smith