Spreading Some Holiday Cheer

Happy holidays, everyone!

I love this time of year when everyone is smiling and wishing one another well. I get to see family and friends at parties and get-togethers. And to be honest, that is what makes Christmas wonderful. Presents are nice, and certainly the fact someone took the time to think of me and buy something is sweet, but its the person behind the gift that brings warmth to my heart. So in the spirit of giving and sharing, I've cut the price of my e-book, By Virtues' Design, to only .99 cents for the entire month of December. I hope the story sparks your imagination and encourages you to make your dreams come true.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

It'll take a day or two for Amazon to reflect that price, but you can get it now for .99 cents at Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

Quitting Cold Turkey and Sinking

I hope you've had your fill of tryptophan and gluten inducing comas. I sure have. I'm ready for the peppermint mochas, pfeffernusse, and eggnog. But I'm about ready to quit something cold turkey.

I don't mean writing or sales. I don't mean dieting. I don't even mean chocolate. What I'm talking about is quitting the excuses. I'm going to become a quitter and tell my resistance to take a hike. Instead of burning daylight on other things, I will be dedicating nine hours a day to writing. All other activities will be taking a backseat. You'd think this was a given, but it isn't. I'm learning first-hand what Kristine Rusch warned me about in The Business Rusch. She recommends not answering the phone, turning off the internet, telling family and friends they are not to disturb you during your "working hours" and close myself off from the rest of the world. Sounds easy right? Nope, it ain't. In fact, it's hard. But one thing I am really good at and that is being tenacious. Thank goodness.

And as far as sinking, that'll be the price of By Virtues' Design, which will be going on sale for the month of December. I'll be posting more about it in the coming days.

Feral Nature is coming along and I'm already coming up with some ideas on special effects for another secret After Effects project I'm working on for another author. I've also started on my book trailer as well. I'm very excited about it.

By Virtues' Design: Now Available In Paperback

I'm pleased to announce that By Virtues' Design is now available in paperback. You can purchase it through Amazon's CreateSpace store (eventually, the title will be available via Amazon's main site). You can still purchase ebook versions of the novel for your Kindle, Nook, and other devices.

As part of the paperback launch, there is a new book trailer. Be sure to watch it in 1080p (high definition).




The Judge Chronicles series trailer can be seen below.



For more information about the book and the series, along with other titles, be sure to visit www.rosabrand.com.

Things You'll Learn Reading By Virtues' Design

WARNING: Random LOLCats can lead to wheezing and hysterical laughter. 

If that didn't make you laugh, maybe this will.



And now for something completely different...

I was invited to talk a bit about my latest book, By Virtues' Design, at Killer Fiction. Here are a few things you'll learn when you read the book:

1. Girls beware! Dream men have a nasty habit of leaving their mark on you.

2. Never cross the protective ward into the land of serfdom, otherwise known as the kitchen.

3. While visiting Los Angeles, be prepared for an hour commute to the restaurant down the block.

There are three more listed in the blog post that you can read here.

World of Wordcraft: Proof Readers Are Essential

I just had to post this here, because never were truer words said--Proof readers are essential.

Kathleen Yoshida, my editor, and I recently discussed this very topic after reading a number of books written by big name authors like Nicholas Sparks, Stephen King, etc. One would think that publishing houses for these authors would be particularly careful with grammar and punctuation given the amount of money invested in these books. But, these mistakes happen often enough that I wonder what is going on. If these were indie published authors, I could accept the mistakes to a certain degree. But from big names? Um...why?

Take a read here.

Author Spotlight: Teri Thackston

I'm honored to introduce to you all the brilliant author to Border Heat, Teri Thackston. She took some time out of her busy schedule to tell me a bit about her novel. Without further adieu...

Welcome Teri

Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog. I’ve been writing stories since I learned to spell, with a serious notion from about age eleven that I wanted to become a published writer. I just love the idea of creating stories…if those stories are romantic, all the better! Of course, it took quite a while to actually become a published writer, beginning with a few short stories from the True Confessions group of magazines, then a story in Woman’s World, and finally my first novel sale to Ellora’s Cave/Blush. That first novel publication was a long time coming, but well worth the wait.

My latest book, Border Heat, is a thriller with romantic elements, inspired by the illegal drug trade along the Texas border that our country has been enduring lately. I also pulled in the element of wildfires that have so decimated Texas—and other parts of the South—during this year’s terrible drought.

Murderous drug runners, a wildfire in the Texas desert and the President's runaway daughter…Game Warden Shannon Walker didn't sign up for any of this. Add the arrival of Tucker Daye—a sexy Secret Service Agent that Shannon used to date—unexpected betrayal and a desperate escape into the desert, and the border becomes hotter than Shannon can handle.

Here’s a short excerpt from the book

She strode right up to him and, with one hand on her hip, she jabbed the index finger of her other hand into his breastbone. “Let’s get one thing straight, Tucker Daye. I am in charge of this facility and this Wildlife Management Area. You and those other spies are welcome to help me and Sgt. Sanchez guard the prisoner, but we call the shots. Got it?”

Tucker lifted one eyebrow and resisted the impulse to push her finger away. Actually, his stronger impulse was to wrap his free hand around her wrist and haul her up close for a searing kiss on those pretty pink lips. They were entirely too tight for his taste and a long wet kiss would soften them up. He knew that about her, too.

But with the memory of Loretta apparently still fresh in Shannon’s mind, the odds on a long, wet kiss were about as low as his odds of riding a rocket to the moon. Not that it mattered. He’d made his choice on that score last February.

Besides that there were two teenage girls eavesdropping on their conversation. So instead of reacting the way he wanted, he relaxed his body and smiled at Shannon. “We’re not spies, sweetheart. We’re Secret Service agents. And I think we might know a little more about handling this situation than a couple of game wardens do.”

Her lips thinned more. “For your information, sweetheart, Texas game wardens probably receive more rigorous law enforcement training than you do.” The tip of her index finger pressed harder into his chest. “While you and your friends are here, you’ll do what I tell you.”

He cocked his head to once side. “I’ve missed you, Shannon,” he murmured, aware that the two teens had grown almost stone still. He lowered his voice a bit more. “Don’t tell me you haven’t missed me, too.”

BORDER HEAT is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Smashwords.com. 

I hang out at my website www.terithackston.com as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Now Available: By Virtues' Design

By Virtues' Design, 1st book in The Judge Chronicles

Enter a world where wizards battle against necromantic forces in a fight to save mankind from total annihilation. Where a mighty ruler leads his people against the hordes that would weaken the Empire, even as his council plots his ruin from within. Where one woman can change the very fabric of time and space into something beyond imagining. Enter this world where nothing will ever be the same.


Read an excerpt here now.

Summary

A civil engineer meets a magic-wielding emperor from another world in her dreams and not only discovers that he is real, but that he stands at the center of a plot by a necromantic sociopath that threatens to destroy him and her sanity.

Synopsis
The Empire will fall. Jacob Murak, Emperor of Alinia and keeper of all magic, knows this and there is little he can do but watch and wait. There seems no hope for his people as they are systematically killed in a war meant to weaken his resolve as much as it is to weaken his forces. This is made worse by the magic he must use to fight the enemy, which traps him under the weight of guilt that leaves women battered and him bitter. The twinkling angels in the night sky do not weep for him. They have witnessed his shame. As punishment they send him one of their own, a woman from another world who knows no magic except the inventions she weaves in her mind. This beautiful engineer isn’t afraid to explore his nightmares and face the demon within him. This only deepens his sadness, even as it intensifies his desire for her. He must have her, but the cost will be great.

Maria can’t believe she’s fallen in love with a man she met in her dreams. Dream men are supposed to stay where they belong, in her head. She is a civil engineer, not a woman prone to flights of fancy, but there is something peculiar about these dreams, something a little too real. Then again maybe her mother is right. Maybe this dream man is just her subconscious trying to help her heal from the wounds of a nasty divorce. But things start to happen—marks appear on her body, the car keys go missing, and then there is a visitor who says he knows about the dreams and where to find her otherworldly lover. Could this be real? Dare she believe? It will take a miracle to be with Jacob, not to mention a whole lot of magic.

NOW AVAILABLE AT ONLINE RETAILERS
Order By Virtues' Design: Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook) or Smashwords (All). Paperback copies will go on sale November 1st, 2011.

Additional information on this and other titles can always be found on my website here. 

Time To Make The Switch?

Today, on Amazon's front page, is a letter from the Founder, Jeff Bezos. "There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less," Bezos states. "Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp." He goes on to introduce their new Kindle products at a much lower price, including one for $79.

Many people who once refused to go to a device for their literature have slowly come around. My husband has made the switch, despite his persistent assertions to the contrary. Not only did he take over my Sony eReader, which is now collecting dust due to software issues (don't even getting me started on that!), he has taken over my Nook Color. It is the same one he bought for me for my "everything" gift (e.g., Christmas, birthday, anniversary, Valentines, just because, etc.). Gotta love men who buys their girl a gadget only to abscond with it. I LOVE YOU, CLINT!

I'm so excited about this, because it means more people will be exposed to other literature not found at your local B&N or big box super-store. Some have argued that these other ebooks do not have the same quality writing/edits one would get from a legacy published novel (a novel published through one of the big houses from New York). That is actually a fallacy. First off, you will find READERS, not critics, providing feedback on titles to help you, the customer, decide whether to buy the book or not. Also, many of these books are priced way below those found at "brick and mortar" storefronts. I suggest giving a few of these author's a try, including Jennifer Bray-Weber's romance novel involving pirates, Blood and Treasure, and Tea Trelawny's vampire-biker paranormal romance/erotic novel, Start Your Engines. There are a lot of other authors I could feature here, all of whom are equally talented writers, but it would get overwhelming and my little digits would require vats of Bengay. Not pretty.

In conclusion, there are many reasons to make the switch to an e-reader. Amazon has just made it a little easier for us by coming out with products at fantastic prices.

RM Brand Self Help Series

Book Trailers (Part 2): The Script

Now that you’ve written the book, got your artist working on the cover, you want to create a book trailer. Rather than go into the “why” part, I’m just going to dive right in.

A book trailer ought to entice your audience to read your book. Much like a movie trailer, you want to focus only on the main characters and plot.

Watch Movie Trailers

Although there are a few good book trailers out there, movie trailers still do a better job of enticing people into theatres. And since your aim is to hook readers to buy your book, this is one place to start. Go to your favorite movie trailers website (I use http://trailers.apple.com/) and start watching trailers to stories similar to yours or that have similar themes. While you’re watching them, look for how text is presented or words were used, jot down a few notes as you go (remember, you can always stop or repeated video as you go).  Afterwards, make a list of movies you love and watch their trailers (you can Google the movie title and find the trailer that way). Again, jot down what you liked most from that trailer. While you’re doing all of this, keep your skill set in mind. Don’t expect to do feature film if you’re not even familiar with PowerPoint. If you like specific special effects, you will most likely find a how-to on the web if you take the time to search for it. I mostly used Video Copilot’s tutorials for most of my effects. Since I am writing this for individuals with experience in After Effects or similar software, I won’t go into what you need to learn as it has a very high learning curve. As I’ve mentioned before, I suggest you head over to Andrew Kramer’s website here to learn more if you are interested.

Warning: Do not be tempted to start buying images yet! First work out the script, then buy the images. Otherwise you will waste money on images, sounds or movie segments you won’t use. In a later post I will tell you where to find images at a reasonable price, along with music, audio and video segments.

1. Dialogue or Twists

It helps to narrow down pieces of dialogue or twists in the story that can either be added as text, sound bites and/or images during the trailer.  

2. In The Beginning…

How do you want to begin your trailer? This is the introduction to the story. Did you want to start off with a question, a phrase, quote, or maybe a thought-provoking image that swells with a chord of music? You’re setting things up, so you want to make sure to show the audience the subject of the story. I struggled with this, so I watched a few trailers and found the one that I really liked, I Am Number Four.

3. Hit Them Where It Counts

The middle of your trailer should consist of narrative (either text or audio*) that tells the audience was is going to happen. It would be the “what is” part of the Duarte formula, with you working up towards the “would could be.” Use images, text and music to build tension towards the big finale. Remember, this is a teaser to hook the audience. So use enough information to whet their appetite without giving everything away.

*You can add audio narratives with Sonokinetic’s TrailerVoice. My next trailer for By Virtues’ Design will include it.  

4. End With A Bang

Some have suggested ending your trailer with a cliff hanger, with everything else leading up to that cliffhanger. I’ve done something similar with The Shaman’s Beacon. The theme of your story should give you some inspiration. The music at this point ought to end with a dramatic end (a drum-hit or crash or even heart beat or flat-line sound).

5. Where and When To Buy

Make sure to put a few seconds (10 ought to be enough) to display where to purchase the book. It should include a website as well. When you are ready to upload the video to YouTube of Vimeo, you can add URLs to the description as well.

6. Storyboard the Trailer

There are plenty of templates out there to help you storyboard your script. I created my own with 3x5 cards with a simple concept and related phrase. I then taped it to my hallway wall, which got no lack of commentary from my peanut gallery loving family. You don’t have to tape it to a wall, but I prefer to see it in quasi action. Hence the wall. Plus, it’s easier to picture the movie if its spread all before you.

Be prepared to write, rewrite, and get stuck. It took me forever to do my trailer because I was doing everything from scratch, including the special effects. I now buy my templates from Videohive. This lets me focus on the script and less on the special effects.

Optional: Splash

I added a splash to the beginning of my video for Red Sage Publishing, along with an introduction to the author. You don’t have to have this, but I did it as a courtesy to Red Sage Publishing.

On my next installment, I'll go over the Storyboard process, how to conceptualize an idea into a graphic, text or music. 

Other Resources on Book Trailers

http://leannareneebooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/leannas-do-it-yourself-guide-to-book.html

http://katenoble.com/blog/2011/05/how-to-make-a-book-trailer-for-5/

I Did It My Way

"Brick and mortar" bookstores have been a recent phenomenon. I remember going to “Mom and Pop” book stores to purchase novels. The shift was pretty significant when B&N came on the scene, followed by Borders. You can see how it changed our culture in You've Got Mail so eloquently (BTW, if you haven't seen that movie, get up off of that thang and see it!). Books became hip along with signature coffee. And boy do I love my Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Although these bookstores seems to have been an institution for quite some time, I remember when it wasn't and going to the library was the best way to get a lot of good books.

Now we have ebooks.

As demand grows for more and more devices for portability so has the demand for ebooks increased exponentially. The devices make it possible to carry an entire library of books in your purse. AND you can change the font size to suit your reading comfort. AND you can buy excellent novels for a fraction of the price you’d pay for a physical book. It has revolutionized the way we read everything, enough that this time it is a paradigm shift. The reason being now authors can sell their books directly to customers without the middleman. That means higher revenue for the author, but that isn’t simply because of the rate of return. That has more to do with the fact ebooks NEVER become out-of-print.

Real estate at “brick and mortar” bookstores is limited, but not so at retailers like Amazon, Smashwords and even B&N.com (through PubIt). As an author’s book list grows, so does his exposure. The more books out in publication, the greater the exposure. That’s not to say one should publish a million novels. Quality is still going to win over quantity, and that’s the truth. What makes this a perfect opportunity for an up and coming author like me is I can establish my own career free of the gatekeepers who have controlled the market for so long, allowing you, the customer, open access to any type of novel you wish to buy. We now have a freer market to publish and read literature than we ever have before. And that’s good for everybody.