Personal Notes: I chose some of my blogs that I loved most this year. Synopsis Lounge was born in mid-2013 and I featured some great novels and short stories including the ones I wrote this year. I didn't review any books but I'm planning to do rare reviews in 2014. I will do the same thing on movies that I will watch along the way. I'm waiting for Noah, Spider Man 2 and a lot more.
Here are the blogs that I wrote and loved:
1) From Aspiring To Published (June 01, 2013)
PERSONAL NOTES: I wrote this folks trying to reminisce the moments before I finally uploaded my first novel. From being aspiring to a published author, I looked back the days when I began writing Prince of Nepal. It took for almost a year. I began writing the first draft in September last year. (Bear with me folks, the word "I" was used a dozen times on this PERSONAL NOTES. It's too personal, that's why :-)).
It was a typical Wednesday afternoon in Dallas, Texas when I met my formatting consultant. We planned to do the uploading of my first novella Prince of Nepal in one of the Starbucks outlets nearby but ended up doing it in her house. That's the beauty of the digital world, you're not supposed to do it in one particular place.
It was a typical Wednesday afternoon in Dallas, Texas when I met my formatting consultant. We planned to do the uploading of my first novella Prince of Nepal in one of the Starbucks outlets nearby but ended up doing it in her house. That's the beauty of the digital world, you're not supposed to do it in one particular place.
We had to double check everything first. To me it was really an exciting moment. Though I was really impatient to wait for another hour, I had no options but to deal with my emotions. My formatting consultant was so accommodating. She showed her compassion while checking every single aspect of our self-publishing venture.
We ran out of time. A couple of hours had past and I had to leave the place. I was so upset learning the lessons to avoid for the uploading/launching of another one next week, the Asian Boy and of course for the upcoming novellas and short stories in the near future. My consultant had to go to a chess class in Irving. She promised me she would verify everything that night before the upload.
On my way back home, traffic was building up along US Highway 75 heading north. It added to my agony, hoping everything would be running smoothly. And I was wrong. There's a lot of things to catch up. Lots of lessons learned.
I spent the whole night worrying too much about the outcome. It took the following day before we finally uploaded Prince of Nepal on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble NOOK and Smashwords. I had to wait for hours in full excitement. When I checked my email, I saw Amazon sent a warm message of congratulating me that my novel was on sale now. Then Smashwords, then the Barnes and Noble had sent the same information. I sent a personal message to my formatting consultant thanking her for such a wonderful effort.
After confirming that my humble work was on these major e-book sellers, I closed my eyes and said a little prayer and thanked the Big Boss for the opportunity. And thanked America for the opportunity.
I knew from the very start that the journey had just begun. The ride could be bumpy ahead of me and expected to face great challenges along the way. I began collaborating with my fellow writers, aspiring and published authors in the social media long time before my first novella was launched. I learned a lot from them. Hugh Howey, Patrice Fitzgerald, John Ward and a lot more were among those people I admired most. I haven't read their work yet but idolized them for sharing their experience and thoughts of being Indie writers. As of writing this blog, yours truly is an active member to more than a dozen writing communities on Google+, and lucky enough to have thousands of people that can rely on to give my readers superb entertainment. My work is not perfect, but time, energy and passion were devoted writing it.
Hugh Howey was right when he advised his fellow Indie authors that self-publishing is a marathon. Yes, indeed. And joining a marathon is not associated with recklessness and short cuts
to attain our goals. Our endeavor is associated with compassion. A compassion that will benefit the important creatures living on earth, our valued readers.
I know, it's a long way to go.
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE proudly presents... ( Sorry folks, I'm too biased, it's all about me again...and it's not even my birthday yet.. he he!)
PRINCE OF NEPAL
By Raf Echanova
After confirming that my humble work was on these major e-book sellers, I closed my eyes and said a little prayer and thanked the Big Boss for the opportunity. And thanked America for the opportunity.
I knew from the very start that the journey had just begun. The ride could be bumpy ahead of me and expected to face great challenges along the way. I began collaborating with my fellow writers, aspiring and published authors in the social media long time before my first novella was launched. I learned a lot from them. Hugh Howey, Patrice Fitzgerald, John Ward and a lot more were among those people I admired most. I haven't read their work yet but idolized them for sharing their experience and thoughts of being Indie writers. As of writing this blog, yours truly is an active member to more than a dozen writing communities on Google+, and lucky enough to have thousands of people that can rely on to give my readers superb entertainment. My work is not perfect, but time, energy and passion were devoted writing it.
Hugh Howey was right when he advised his fellow Indie authors that self-publishing is a marathon. Yes, indeed. And joining a marathon is not associated with recklessness and short cuts
to attain our goals. Our endeavor is associated with compassion. A compassion that will benefit the important creatures living on earth, our valued readers.
I know, it's a long way to go.
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE proudly presents... ( Sorry folks, I'm too biased, it's all about me again...and it's not even my birthday yet.. he he!)
PRINCE OF NEPAL
By Raf Echanova
Rajendra, longing to reunite with the love of his life, his destiny brings him to America where he is about to find more than what he is looking for. As all his troubles go along with him, his quest is not as simple as we might think. It's a matter of life and death. Will he survive the storm? Will he find the love of his life? Will he save his country?
Miguelito De Asis, the protagonist on forthcoming novella Asian Boy, will hit the road and gearing up to be the next darling of the New Adult Genre. The e-book cover will be released real soon.
ASIAN BOY will be on sale next week on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble NOOK and Smashwords.
2) A Few Seconds of Moral Dilemmas (July 13, 2013)
Personal Notes:
Moral or ethical dilemmas are part of our everyday life. I tried to get the exact meaning of these words and I think this one is the closest: Moral dilemmas, at the very least, involve conflicts between moral requirements. (Thanks to our modern tech of copy, paste thing, he he.)
As an unknown Indie Author with two full time jobs and struggling to pay my past and current bills, I had these few seconds of 'moral dilemma' yesterday at the workplace.
I was sent to check the room where the guest who used to stay and checked out the same day, said she left something in the safety deposit box. (I have been in the loss prevention job for almost half a decade in the hospitality industry, and three years in facility-semiconductor industry, so eight years in this field totally). When I got there, the room was cleaned up and ready to sell for the next occupants, the safety box was unlocked. I was wondering why the guest just called the hotel this late (at almost 8 pm) and notified us about it. The dispatcher never told me exactly what the guest left in her room.
Then I checked the safety deposit box and I found a bunch of hundred dollar bills wrapped with a rubber band. At first I thought it was just a few hundred dollars and twenties and other lower denominations. But when I checked, it's all in hundred dollar bills.
I would be a hypocrite if I would say I never experienced a few seconds of moral dilemma when the good angels along with Satan's chosen ones were lingering around my head and told me 'don't' while the bad ones were pushing me by saying, "yeah right, it's a chance of a lifetime. Do it! Duh?"
Something sparked on my mind and remembered my cousin's husband back home (Philippines) who's suffering from cancer, and my mom, who needs her cataract removed with some health issues associated with aging. And hey, not to mention my bills, house payments that I would need to take care. I knew $4k was a lot of money and it could pay off my bills ( I don't have any credit cards and car payments but some other obligations in the past that pushed me to work two full time jobs, whew!). I was thinking how many short stories and novellas I would easily self-publish if I would keep that money.
In fact, the room was cleaned up, the safety box was open and I had all the opportunity to say, "hey, I never found anything". End of story. I could get away with it. Easily. But no. I declared to myself I would never do it.
I'm glad the ethical dilemma only lasted for a few seconds and I decided that I would turn the money in. It doesn't belong to me. A few thousand dollars won't last that long, but honor will.
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| I was in a few seconds of moral dilemma thinking how $4,000 would help me self-published my upcoming novellas and short stories. |
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| $4,000 cool cash found in the workplace. |
And oh, by the way, the hotel operator told me before I finished my shift and gearing up for another eight grueling hours for my next job, that the owner of the money was on her way back to Dallas from Austin to pick up her money. Well, I could feel it, she must really be happy.
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE presents... (pretty related to what my personal notes were all about, :-)
by Julia Kent
USA Today Bestselling Author
COULD SHE REALLY FIND THE RIGHT GUY ON THE INTERNET?
"Hot, luscious piece of ass who can suck a golf ball through forty feet of garden hose seeks rippling-ab'd firefighter who has a tongue that thrums like a hummingbird and enjoys painting my toenails and eating Ben & Jerry's out of the carton while watching Mad Men."
Laura Michaels stared at the online dating site's registration screen and frowned. That's what she really wanted to write. Here was the truth:
"Needy, insecure, overweight twenty-six year old Business Analyst with three cats, a corporate job with pension and no debt seeks Mr. Impossible for way more than friendship and lots of ice cream. I'm desperate for some physical affection and oral sex with a guy who doesn't view it as some sort of favor he's granting me, and then expects to be praised like he cleaned my toilet. One night stands are better than nothing as long as you brush your teeth. So call me, maybe!"
So when hot firefighter Dylan Stanwyck responds and asks her out, it's just too good to be true. When she searches him online and learns he offers himself up for date nights in bachelor charity auctions, she wonders if she's on the right planet.
Because what could a guy like that see in a fat girl like her?
OR WOULD HE NOT BE WHO HE SEEMED?
Trawling through the online dating profiles isn't Dylan's idea of fun, but it's been more than eighteen months since their lover, Jill, died, and Dylan and his unconventional partner, ski instructor Mike Pine, need to find a new love. While their threesome situation is more complicated than a contract from 50 Shades of Grey, at least one aspect is simple: Laura Michaels, the cute, soft blond from the online dating site, seems like a good fit for at least a first date. Soft curves, gorgeous hair, eyes that light him up from the computer alone, and a profile that makes her seem smart and interesting -- he has no problems asking her out.
The problem is letting her in.
Dylan and his not-quite partner have more secrets than their unconventional romantic relationships, and this latest snafu is a mixed blessing, for both became billionaires overnight after the third in their threesome, Jill, died. With her estate finally settled and Dylan and Mike the recipient of an annual income that gives them enough to buy entire towns in the Midwest, the two were left reeling. Months after the lawyer explained their new-found fortune, Dylan still works his regular shifts at the station while Mike remains on the slopes as a ski instructor, but with a caveat; now he owns the entire resort.
But if they tell Laura everything, they risk losing a chance at a new bond...
Two problems may have one lush, ample solution as Laura meets her first billionaire on her date with Dylan, but with a stunning twist at the end...
3) Discoverability According to Hugh Howey (August 25, 2013)
Personal Notes: Folks, I will post something about 'discoverability' on every blog that I will do. I will feature the insights of the opinion leaders in our digital-e-book-publishing-Indie world. First is Hugh Howey, a successful Indie writer-author of WOOL and SILO Saga. I downloaded his novel WOOL a few weeks ago and I haven't started reading it yet. I've been reading Barry Eisler's John Rain novels for my fan fiction writing gig on Amazon Kindle Worlds.
But to tell you frankly, I devoted most of my time reading Hugh's blogs rather than reading his novels. I have been inspired by what he says about his fellow Indie authors in their quests in the world of self-publishing. Hugh is an honest, down-to-earth human being who always shares his brilliant advice in this subject.
Discoverability is the hottest word among the Indie writers and authors in the industry. Every single one of us hopes that one day our books will be discovered. I'm not a hypocrite to say, "Oh, please, I don't dream that crap, to be a best selling author someday? Oh, no, please." But you know what, I am aware enough that a lot of hard work require us to attain that dream. Tons of hard work, social media activities and many more. But the most important thing of all is for us to keep on writing.
So let's go back to this 'discoverability' word that excites Indie authors. According to Hugh, he received lots of email inquiries from Indie authors who ask how to be discovered. With such great humility, Hugh answered them with honest facts. And I know that some of you who read my blog, have already read that wonderful post he made. http://www.hughhowey.com/discoverability-and-donald-rumsfeld/
But for the sake of the Personal Notes feature of my blog, let me share you some of his thoughts that can be useful in order to be discovered. He advised that writing within a genre is a huge first step in becoming discovered. "No one is looking for you or your particular book", he said. "You are both unknown unknowns. You better write a book that's near a specific book", he added. I believed to what he said. He even challenged us to choose between the two: You can either change your name to L.E. James or you can start writing billionaire erotica. But he preferred to choose the latter which means you, as a writer has a wide choice from science fiction to romance, new adult, erotica, fantasy and crime. Hugh justified that people are looking for genre work.
In the upcoming blogs on the Personal Notes feature (he he) I would share you the word Discoverability According to Mark Coker. Mark is the founder of Smashwords, where you can find my novellas Prince of Nepal and Asian Boy. I always call him a genius because his strategies are brilliant and very useful in this competitive era of e-book self-publishing.
And for our feature of the day (or night, ha ha!) I would like to give you the synopsis of Barry Eisler's John Rain.
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE proudly presents...
A John Rain Novel: A Clean Kill in Tokyo
Barry Eisler
Previously published as Rain Fall
Name: John Rain.
Vocation: Assassin.
Specialty: Natural Causes.
Base of operations: Tokyo.
Availability: Worldwide.
Half American, half Japanese, expert in both worlds but at home in neither, John Rain is the best killer money can buy. You tell him who. You tell him where. He doesn't care about why...
Until he gets involved with Midori Kawamura, a beautiful jazz pianist--and the daughter of his latest kill.
"Eisler provides a cracklingly good yarn, well written, deftly plotted, and surprisingly appealing... Thomas Perry and Lawrence Block need not retire their hit men quite yet, but Eisler is clearly a challenger."
--Boston Globe
Includes a note from the author introducing the new edition. This is book #1 in the John Rain assassin series, though each entry is written as a standalone and you can read them in any order you like
But to tell you frankly, I devoted most of my time reading Hugh's blogs rather than reading his novels. I have been inspired by what he says about his fellow Indie authors in their quests in the world of self-publishing. Hugh is an honest, down-to-earth human being who always shares his brilliant advice in this subject.
 |
| Successful Indie Author Hugh Howey |
Discoverability is the hottest word among the Indie writers and authors in the industry. Every single one of us hopes that one day our books will be discovered. I'm not a hypocrite to say, "Oh, please, I don't dream that crap, to be a best selling author someday? Oh, no, please." But you know what, I am aware enough that a lot of hard work require us to attain that dream. Tons of hard work, social media activities and many more. But the most important thing of all is for us to keep on writing.
So let's go back to this 'discoverability' word that excites Indie authors. According to Hugh, he received lots of email inquiries from Indie authors who ask how to be discovered. With such great humility, Hugh answered them with honest facts. And I know that some of you who read my blog, have already read that wonderful post he made. http://www.hughhowey.com/discoverability-and-donald-rumsfeld/
But for the sake of the Personal Notes feature of my blog, let me share you some of his thoughts that can be useful in order to be discovered. He advised that writing within a genre is a huge first step in becoming discovered. "No one is looking for you or your particular book", he said. "You are both unknown unknowns. You better write a book that's near a specific book", he added. I believed to what he said. He even challenged us to choose between the two: You can either change your name to L.E. James or you can start writing billionaire erotica. But he preferred to choose the latter which means you, as a writer has a wide choice from science fiction to romance, new adult, erotica, fantasy and crime. Hugh justified that people are looking for genre work.
In the upcoming blogs on the Personal Notes feature (he he) I would share you the word Discoverability According to Mark Coker. Mark is the founder of Smashwords, where you can find my novellas Prince of Nepal and Asian Boy. I always call him a genius because his strategies are brilliant and very useful in this competitive era of e-book self-publishing.
And for our feature of the day (or night, ha ha!) I would like to give you the synopsis of Barry Eisler's John Rain.
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE proudly presents...
A John Rain Novel: A Clean Kill in Tokyo
Barry Eisler
Previously published as Rain Fall
Name: John Rain.
Vocation: Assassin.
Specialty: Natural Causes.
Base of operations: Tokyo.
Availability: Worldwide.
Half American, half Japanese, expert in both worlds but at home in neither, John Rain is the best killer money can buy. You tell him who. You tell him where. He doesn't care about why...
Until he gets involved with Midori Kawamura, a beautiful jazz pianist--and the daughter of his latest kill.
"Eisler provides a cracklingly good yarn, well written, deftly plotted, and surprisingly appealing... Thomas Perry and Lawrence Block need not retire their hit men quite yet, but Eisler is clearly a challenger."
--Boston Globe
Includes a note from the author introducing the new edition. This is book #1 in the John Rain assassin series, though each entry is written as a standalone and you can read them in any order you like
4) Discoverability According to Mark Coker (September 06, 2013)
Personal Notes: After sharing Hugh Howey's thoughts about the word discoverability, let me give you Mark Coker's. I was reading a blog from Musetracks sharing Mark's advice to Indie authors. It is amazing the founder of Smashwords seems to be unstoppable creating new ideas on how to get readers' attention in favor of my fellow Indie authors who hope someday their book will be discovered.
Here are the 15 Best Practices the Indie authors must apply in order to get discovered. There is no guaranty, so to speak, that you'll be successful if you practice what he says. These are purely guidance on how to reach readers.
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| An E-book authored by Mark Coker |
1) Write a fantastic book.
2) Create a great cover. I agree, you'll be judged by readers with your e-book cover.
3) A no-brainer, but warrants repeating. Write another super awesome book.
4) Give some books away for free. By doing this, you eliminate the financial risk new readers face.
5) Patience, it's a virtue.
6) Maximize availability. (May be the best words for this: Don't get the KDP Select deal?)
7) Build a platform. It simply means you engage with readers using social media tools, wisely.
8) Architect for "virality". "Spread the germ." Mark points out about the virtue of "word-of-mouth" as the most powerful way to discoverability.
9) Unit volume is a lever of success. He said "Every book sale has two benefits: money and new readers.
10)Don't worry about piracy. Obscurity is the bigger risk.
11)Take advantage of Pre-orders.
12)Practice partnership and positivity. The great example he said is if you discover something that works well, share it with others.
13)Collaborate with fellow authors. This is important,too. So you better think of Googling out writers' communities. I, myself is a member of a dozen of writers' communities on Google+.
14)Think globally. When you're an Indie author, you must think globally.
15)You are running a business. Business requires a profit. Never borrow money to publish a book.
Well folks, to get full access of this source, just click the link below. Or you can download his e-book for free.
http://musetracks.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/best-practices-for-ebook-publishing-with-mark-coker-of-smashwords/
I will continue to devote my succeeding blogs (Personal Notes) about discoverability. But of course, I would like to bring you this Barry Eisler's John Rain novel Redemption Games.
Synopsis Lounge presents...
Redemption Games (A John Rain Novel)
Barry Eisler
Previously published as Killing Rain and One Last Kill
After nearly dying while taking out a target in Hong Kong, Rain has a new employer, the Mossad, which wants him to fix a "problem" in Manila. He also has a new partner, Dox, whose good-ol'-boy persona masks a sniper as deadly as Rain himself. And he has a new hope: that by using his talents in the service of something good, he might atone for all the lives he has taken. But when Rain's conscience causes him to botch the Manila hit, he finds out the next problem the Mossad wants fixed is himself. Is Delilah, his Mossad lover, coming to help him? Or was she sent to finish him off?
"Exhilarating... Eisler unspools a plot full of warring secret government connections, cool spy paraphernalia, and vivid martial-arts sequences."
--Entertainment Weekly
PERSONAL NOTES : I will release soon my first ever fan fiction short story on Kindle Worlds under John Rain Canon; John Rain: Rampage in Manila... I will do my best to release this month.
I will continue to devote my succeeding blogs (Personal Notes) about discoverability. But of course, I would like to bring you this Barry Eisler's John Rain novel Redemption Games.
Synopsis Lounge presents...
Redemption Games (A John Rain Novel)
Barry Eisler
Previously published as Killing Rain and One Last Kill
After nearly dying while taking out a target in Hong Kong, Rain has a new employer, the Mossad, which wants him to fix a "problem" in Manila. He also has a new partner, Dox, whose good-ol'-boy persona masks a sniper as deadly as Rain himself. And he has a new hope: that by using his talents in the service of something good, he might atone for all the lives he has taken. But when Rain's conscience causes him to botch the Manila hit, he finds out the next problem the Mossad wants fixed is himself. Is Delilah, his Mossad lover, coming to help him? Or was she sent to finish him off?
"Exhilarating... Eisler unspools a plot full of warring secret government connections, cool spy paraphernalia, and vivid martial-arts sequences."
--Entertainment Weekly
PERSONAL NOTES : I will release soon my first ever fan fiction short story on Kindle Worlds under John Rain Canon; John Rain: Rampage in Manila... I will do my best to release this month.
5) Smashwords Interview Works September 7, 2013)
Personal Notes: I just released the topic of Discoverability According to Marc Coker and again, here's another brilliant idea from Mark, the founder of Smashwords: Author Interview. I woke up one day and I got this blog from Marc introducing his Author Interview opportunity that he and his team designed for Indie authors.
At first, I was hesitant to do it, knowing that I don't have much to share. But when I read the questions, I was really encouraged to do it. I published the interview a couple of weeks ago and as of today, I got more than two hundred views. It's a huge number to me. And I truly thank everyone.
Thank you for checking this interview: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/RafEchanova
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE Presents...
A John Rain Novel: Winner Take All
By Barry Eisler
John Rain has disappeared to Brazil to escape the killing business and the enemies encircling him in Japan. But the CIA isn't willing to lose its premier "natural causes" contract killer, and they force Rain to take on a high-risk assignment: eliminate a ruthless arms dealer operating in Southeast Asia.
The upside? Financial, of course, along with the ongoing chimera of moral redemption. But first, Rain will have to survive the downside: a second assassin zeroing in on the target; the target's consort, an alluring and dangerous woman with an agenda of her own; the possibility that the entire mission is nothing but an elaborate setup. From the gorgeous beaches of Rio to the glitzy casinos of Macau to the gritty back streets of Hong Kong and Kowloon, Rain becomes a reluctant player in an international game far deadlier and more insidious than any he has encountered before.
"In his superb thriller series featuring charismatic Japanese-American assassin John Rain, author Barry Eisler serves up steamy foreign locales, stunning action and enough high-tech weaponry to make for an A-plus boys-and-their-toys read."
--New York Daily News
Personal Notes: Watch out for my upcoming fan fiction short story John Rain: Rampage in Manila. It will be released this month. Here's the sample e-book cover, but not the final one yet:
A seven digit deal to get a prominent Manila politician killed is at stake. Rain, at first thought it was an easy deal. But his failed attempt to assassinate his target in San Francisco proved that this mission is not an easy one.
I'm on the final draft now and my editor awaits for the manuscript. My associate in Manila is on his mission taking the best shots for the final e-book cover.
Asian Boy: Half brother's Revenge is on the way with one erotic thriller A Dangerous Fling.
At first, I was hesitant to do it, knowing that I don't have much to share. But when I read the questions, I was really encouraged to do it. I published the interview a couple of weeks ago and as of today, I got more than two hundred views. It's a huge number to me. And I truly thank everyone.
Thank you for checking this interview: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/RafEchanova
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE Presents...
A John Rain Novel: Winner Take All
By Barry Eisler
John Rain has disappeared to Brazil to escape the killing business and the enemies encircling him in Japan. But the CIA isn't willing to lose its premier "natural causes" contract killer, and they force Rain to take on a high-risk assignment: eliminate a ruthless arms dealer operating in Southeast Asia.
The upside? Financial, of course, along with the ongoing chimera of moral redemption. But first, Rain will have to survive the downside: a second assassin zeroing in on the target; the target's consort, an alluring and dangerous woman with an agenda of her own; the possibility that the entire mission is nothing but an elaborate setup. From the gorgeous beaches of Rio to the glitzy casinos of Macau to the gritty back streets of Hong Kong and Kowloon, Rain becomes a reluctant player in an international game far deadlier and more insidious than any he has encountered before.
"In his superb thriller series featuring charismatic Japanese-American assassin John Rain, author Barry Eisler serves up steamy foreign locales, stunning action and enough high-tech weaponry to make for an A-plus boys-and-their-toys read."
--New York Daily News
Personal Notes: Watch out for my upcoming fan fiction short story John Rain: Rampage in Manila. It will be released this month. Here's the sample e-book cover, but not the final one yet:
I'm on the final draft now and my editor awaits for the manuscript. My associate in Manila is on his mission taking the best shots for the final e-book cover.
Asian Boy: Half brother's Revenge is on the way with one erotic thriller A Dangerous Fling.
6) Discoverability According to Patrice Fitzgerald (September 23, 2013)
PERSONAL NOTES: I have this amazing interview with my Facebook friend and successful Indie Author Patrice Fitzgerald. This is not only suited for my fellow Indie writers but also to all book readers who follow their favorite author's journey. And to tell you the truth, the answers of future superstar Patrice were so great and really such a treasure to keep. I only have a couple of questions which I believe to be relevant to the sizzling word in the self-publishing universe: Discoverability.
And below, you will find Patrice Fitzgerald's fan fiction short story Daniel, on Amazon Kindle Worlds under the SILO Saga of now legendary Indie author Hugh Howey.
Here we go:
Raf Echanova: Is Fan Fiction writing (Kindle Worlds) a great way to be discovered?
And below, you will find Patrice Fitzgerald's fan fiction short story Daniel, on Amazon Kindle Worlds under the SILO Saga of now legendary Indie author Hugh Howey.
Here we go:
Raf Echanova: Is Fan Fiction writing (Kindle Worlds) a great way to be discovered?
Patrice Fitzgerald: Well, of course there are many fans writing fan fiction simply because they enjoy the source material and want to celebrate it—just for "love," and not money. With the advent of this new arrangement, though, a number of properties can now be written about and published via Amazon's Kindle Worlds to the benefit of both the original creators and the new writers… in other words, authors can charge for their fiction based in these worlds.
I do think it's a great way to be discovered. KW shines a spotlight on each book, and has its own dedicated bestseller lists, so that good writing is not lost in the crowd. It's an amazing opportunity for a writer to have his or her work noticed from the start.
R.E.: What is your advice to your fellow Indie writers/authors about this magic word "discoverability"?
P. F.: The truth is that discoverability is difficult. Endless social network efforts and even paid advertising won't necessarily get a book discovered. Writing good material, making sure you have a professional-looking cover, clean editing and formatting can't guarantee that you will get discovered. But if you don't have those things, being discovered won't help, because you'll get poor reviews and the "discovery" won't take.
So you have to create the best book that you can, both in content and form, and go on to the next one. While you are working on the next several books, you might get that lucky break… and not only will the earlier book be noticed, but you will be in a position to sell the others.
Readers want to know you're the real deal. Part of that process is creating a body of work that shows that you are serious about writing, and lets them get to know you. This is the way you develop a fan base. Conveniently, this is also the way you get better at writing. The old adage about writing a million words before you're any good, or doing your ten thousand hours of practice, as advocated in Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers, is instructive.
The single best thing you can do to increase discoverability is to write another book. And then do it again. If you're a needle in a haystack, you can improve your chances by creating more needles, right?
The more art you make, the more your writing muscle gets exercised, and the greater opportunity you have to be discovered.
Patrice Fitzgerald is a writer, a singer, an attorney, a mom, a stepmom, and a wife… though not necessarily in that order. She lives in Connecticut, which has been home since 1985. You can read more about her on her blog, www.PatriceFitzgerald.com.
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| Amazon Kindle Worlds Bestselling Author Patrice Fitzgerald |
Synopsis Lounge Presents...
DANIEL
By Patrice Fitzgerald
Book Description
Daniel is sixteen now, and he can count up to one hundred. He can go all by himself up and down the two levels of the Silo between his home and his job.
Daniel knows he's not as smart as some people. But his mother told him he was smart enough to help her, so it must be true. He always believes his mother. His mother is a doctor.
He likes going to work and helping his mom. Best of all, Daniel likes it when somebody wins the lottery and a new little baby is born.
One day a little baby is born that looks like Daniel. His mother says the baby might die.
WAYWARD
Personal Notes: I am so excited to feature Patrice Fitzgerald about the "Discoverability" series that I write for my Personal Notes on Synopsis Lounge. Well, I already featured Hugh Howey and Marc Coker, the two legendary figures in the world of digital publishing.
Daniel knows he's not as smart as some people. But his mother told him he was smart enough to help her, so it must be true. He always believes his mother. His mother is a doctor.
He likes going to work and helping his mom. Best of all, Daniel likes it when somebody wins the lottery and a new little baby is born.
One day a little baby is born that looks like Daniel. His mother says the baby might die.
7) Another Hugh Howey's Brilliant Advice (September 19, 2013)
Personal Notes: I found this great article from the Publishing Perspectives and I truly admire Hugh Howey's great support to his fellow Indie authors and his consistency to what he has been preaching now and then. This is so useful and I truly believe it would help us a lot to be discovered especially the unknown authors.
I want to quote this brilliant advice from him : "There is no promotion as strong as writing the next book. None. That always comes first." Yes, it's true. Why are we devoting too much time promoting a single novella, or two? Instead, devoting your time from writing a sequel, more short stories and novellas or even writing fan fiction on Kindle Worlds would be a great idea. You can read the article on this link:
SYNOPSIS LOUNGE Presents...
WAYWARD
A Wayward Pines Thriller
By Blake Crouch
Welcome to Wayward Pines, population 461. Nestled amidst picture-perfect mountains, the idyllic town is a modern-day Eden...except for the electrified fence and razor wire, snipers scoping everything 24/7, and the relentless surveillance tracking each word and gesture.
None of the residents know how they got here. They are told where to work, how to live, and who to marry. Some believe they are dead. Others think they’re trapped in an unfathomable experiment. Everyone secretly dreams of leaving, but those who dare face a terrifying surprise.
Ethan Burke has seen the world beyond. He’s sheriff, and one of the few who knows the truth—Wayward Pines isn’t just a town. And what lies on the other side of the fence is a nightmare beyond anyone’s imagining.
Personal Notes: I am so excited to feature Patrice Fitzgerald about the "Discoverability" series that I write for my Personal Notes on Synopsis Lounge. Well, I already featured Hugh Howey and Marc Coker, the two legendary figures in the world of digital publishing.
Patrice Fitzgerald is one of the successful Indie authors who write fan fiction of Hugh Howey's Wool on Amazon Kindle Worlds under his canon. And sooner or later, I would have a chance to share her take on the subject matter. I sent an email a few days ago to my Facebook friend and she promised to give her opinion on that. I'm so excited and proud to say that Patrice is so approachable and accommodating despite her busy schedule. I have a couple of questions I asked from her and I will reveal her answers soon on SYNOPSIS LOUNGE.
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