Author Monday: Delle Jacobs

Today we welcome best-selling author Delle Jacobs to Author Monday. Delle is a fellow 2003 Golden Heart finalist, but that's just one of her many finals and wins. She's also the one who finally convinced me Indie publishing was the way I should go, and I will forever be grateful.

Delle Jacobs http://dellejacobs.blogspot.com

FAERIE~Coming from Montlake Romances September 2012

Not your ordinary Faerie Tale

Delle's Amazon Author Page

 PIONEERS ARE PEOPLE WHO CHOP WOOD, AREN'T THEY?

I have just spent the last three hours painstakingly writing out my story in publishing, with the thought in my head, "This is boring. It's just like every other e-published author's story. " 

And it was (with the exception that I finalled seven times in the Golden Heart and won three times). That is, of course, why computers have delete keys. And why you're not going to be reading it.

So let's just say the first eight years of my "seriously writing" career were pretty much the same as every other frustrated author. Not much success. Just enough to keep me from giving up my addiction. But unlike most, thanks to Laurie Alice Eakes, I gave in to the strange allure of e-publishing. If you know anything about the first ten years of e-publishing, you know at times it was hellatious. Even best friends felt privileged to impart to me the folly of my ways. And they were being kind, compared to what a lot of other people said. Well, you know all that. You know it's been a struggle. I did have some very successful (for ebooks) books. I even finally made the Published Authors Network (PAN) with a sale to Samhain. Exactly one month later, RWA changed the rules, though. 

But eventually I reclaimed the rights to my five original ebooks, but didn't know what to do with them. One editor told me she'd buy one of them if I'd completely re-write with lots more sex scenes. I thought about it. Didn't do it. By this time, the one thing I did know was that going with a traditional publisher was not the right thing for me.

The rest is Alexis Harrington's fault. In 2010, she persuaded me to re-work my books and put them on Kindle. The first month, with two books up, I sold 57, and I was ecstatic. I put up two more, then discovered Smashwords. Smashwords then acquired contracts with other retailers. And then, my BIG BREAK.

There I was, October 1, 2010, at the Emerald City Writers Conference, and turning in a little early. I checked my Kindle stats before crashing, expecting the usual 3-6 sales per book for the day. Something was wrong with the numbers. In order: 1847, 15, 17, 1932. Well, that was impossible. Went back and looked again, and the two high numbers had shot up another 30 or so. They were rising at 200-300 an hour! When I looked, KINDLE WAS GIVING MY BOOKS AWAY! Panic! 

I didn't know then, but soon learned, Kindle had a temporary program that gave away books of certain authors they thought were promising, but were paying the authors as if the books had sold. In those five days, FIRE DANCE and THE MUDLARK downloaded nearly 20,000 books. FIRE DANCE hit the top of the Romances list and onto the Top 100, barely topping THE MUDLARK. The rest of the month and year, sales stayed high. 

Seeing how ebook sales were advancing rapidly, and expecting the new Kindles to be a hot Christmas item, I decided my goal was to have at least one book on the Romance Best Seller list on Christmas Day. I re-priced all my books at 99 cents, and made my goal with three of my books.  Three days after Christmas, HIS MAJESTY, THE PRINCE OF TOADS started climbing the charts and remained a best seller for 4 ½ months, in the meantime pulling up the other books too. I'd forgotten what paying real income tax was like, but I sure learned that fast!

But it seems Amazon is always up to something. I thought so way back in October 2010. In the fall of 2011, an Amazon Montlake editor called me and persuaded me to submit a book that was not even finished. But what I'd seen and heard about Montlake was already impressing me. They do things very differently. So... it took a few months longer, but in February I signed a contract for three books. Two of them are FIRE DANCE and LOKI'S DAUGHTERS, which have had somewhere over 120,000 downloads each. The third is FAERIE, that first draft.  All three books will come out in September. And that's scary! And in the meantime, they're just fine with my self-publishing. 

I'm hoping to release three more books on my own, which I'm releasing in the next two months: THE PERFECT HEROINE, a Regency Historical Romance, BELOVED STRANGER, a Regency Romance novella set in the Peninsular War, and the most difficult, a new version of one of my best selling books, THE MUDLARK, ILLUSTRATED, with about 20-30 illustrations I've made using old engravings with modern photography. 

So am I telling you anyone can make a living (or a killing) by self-publishing? No. Not everyone should even try, and trying is no guarantee either. But here are some things you should consider- no, do- if you want to self-publish.

1. HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOKS. If you know they're good, and ready to be published, believe in them, and in you. 

2. HAVE PATIENCE. It's too easy to give up. For most authors, it takes awhile. And things cycle, just like in traditional publishing. Maybe a lot faster.

3. HAVE THE BEST BOOK POSSIBLE. Don't submit any book that is just "good enough", because it isn't. You're in a huge competition, and readers will happily drop you and go to an author they feel they can trust more.

4. DO NOT SKIMP ON THE EXPENSIVE PARTS.

Make sure it's very well edited

Perfectly formatted

Has the very best cover you can afford. Your cover is the first page of your book. If readers aren't intrigued enough to look, they aren't going to ever get to the blurb, much less the story. 

5. PUT lots of time into promotion. Online is most effective. But while you're at it, 

6. DON'T SPAM YOUR FRIENDS. DON'T SPAM ANYONE! They will not buy your book, or any future book if you do. Learn what works. Be courteous. Share equally on social media. Give as well as you get.

7. WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, SUCK IT UP AND FIX IT. It's ultimately your responsibility if the formatting on your book gets messed up after you uploaded a perfect copy.  Check for it. Encourage your readers to report any errors or problems to you.

8. DON'T BE AFRAID to try something different. The internet and ebooks readers have been uncommonly kind to authors who have given them something unique to read.

9. HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF. Oh, I said that? Well, not often enough. Let me say it again. And again...

Silver Linings

For this Author Monday we welcome Priscilla Kissinger, three time Golden Heart finalist and an author to watch. Welcome Priscilla!

Many many moons ago I finaled for the first time in the RWA Golden Heart® contest and was blessed to become part of a fabulous group of ladies known as the Wet Noodle Posse. I was much younger, much wetter behind the ears and not sure of how to make the most of my flash of success in the writing industry.


Several years later I finaled again, and became a member of the Pixies, another supportive group of ladies. But life had other priorities for me, and writing was once again set aside for other obligations.


Flash forward to 2012…my life is again in transition, but for the past 2 years I’ve been able to focus more on my writing. Make it more of a priority. And truth be told, my writing, my writing friends, my newfound commitment to my craft….well, they’ve all helped to keep me focused on the positives life can offer rather than the negative aspects I’m wading through.


So when the call came from RWA board member and fellow Wet Noodle Posse member Terry McLaughlin (http://www.terrymclaughlin.com/) letting me know my latest manuscript was a 2012 Golden Heart ® finalist (http://www.rwa.org/cs/2012_rita_and_gh_finalists#GHCSR), I heard the gates of heaven clang open and a choir of angels began to sing “Hallelujah!”


Okay, not really. I was substitute teaching at a local junior high so it was actually the lunch bell ringing and a pack of adolescents jabbering away in the hall. But in my imagination, it was all heaven and angels. :)


So while I struggled to contain my giddiness, inside the butterflies zoomed in my chest, my heart sped up its pace, and my body literally shivered with excitement.


Many of us toil for years and years with little validation for our efforts. Writing is a solitary endeavor. Well, it can be unless you take the time to make connections with fellow authors. So you join groups like RWA, attend your local chapter meetings, travel to conferences… all so you can meet other people like you—those who speak to invisible characters like they’re real, create their own imaginary worlds, and speak the same romance lingo consisting of terms like GMC, point of view, and Big Black Moments.


Being a Golden Heart ® finalist for the third time is a blessing. And for me, it couldn’t have come at a better moment. A time when I needed to hear that my efforts haven’t been in vain. That if I keep on plugging away, my day in the sun will come.


Maybe I’m slogging through a difficult time right now in some areas, but there’s a silver lining around my world if I look close enough and pay attention, and that’s all I’ve got to focus on.


How about you? Any silver linings you care to share? Any light at the end of the tunnel moments that have pulled you through trying times?


The world of romance writing is all about happily ever afters. And some times, it’s all about the happily for right nows.


That’s what we have to celebrate. Well, that’s what I’m celebrating anyway. Care to join me?


Thanks for sharing your story, Priscilla. I admire your determination and wish you the best of luck in the final round!


Tori

My Self-Publishing Story is Part of a New Book

I just got my pre-release copy of New Paradigm Ahead: Success at Any Age by Norm Bour. My story is on pages 81-85. Much more exposure than I expected. He not only took the interview and made it into a story, he did research on RWA and the romance industry and gives numbers in a very positive light. I’m excited to be a part of this project. http://www.boomersuccessguide.com

Superstition is RT Magazine Top Pick!

Got exciting news today. Superstition got a Top Pick from Romantic Times magazine for June, and 4 1/2 stars. Woo-Hoo!

Blame it on Texas Sequel

Finally hit the halfway mark on the sequel to Blame it on Texas. The rest should go a bit faster now that the plot is rolling, Carol and Jake have gotten over dancing around each other, and the bad guy in the story is ramping up his troublemaking. Look for it in May. I'm going with Once in a Blue Moon for the title. And though the story isn't finished yet, the awesome Ade Ratna has finished the cover.

Good News!

Beginning next week, I’ll have some very special authors visiting the blog to talk about their Golden Heart final, their publishing journeys, the RT convention, and anything else they think is important at the time. Stay tuned. Should be interesting and fun. And you never know, there might even be prizes.

Tori Scott on the Web

Here's where you can find me this week on the web:

Tory Johnson's Spark and Hustle: http://sparkandhustle.com/daring-doers/pam-payne-author-tori-scott/

Have you seen Tory on Good Morning America? If you're not familiar with Spark and Hustle and you're a woman who owns or wants to own your own business, you should check out sparkandhustle.com and subscribe to her newsletter.

Joyln Palliata's blog: http://jolynpalliata.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/tori-scott-naked-in-time-square/

I'm visiting Jolyn's blog to talk about writer insecurities. Think authors must be brimming with supreme confidence? Think again. Even big name authors are afraid each book will be their last, that this one will bomb and they'll be publicly humiliated. Comment for a chance to win a copy of Blame it on Texas.

Easter Sunday I'll be blogging at www.justromaticsuspense.com. When I set up the blog post, I didn't realize it was the Easter Sunday edition, so I'll probably be all alone over there unless you want to come visit.

Next week I'll be the featured author at http://www.kindleromanceauthors.com/. Stop by on April 11th and say hi.

And also on April 11, I'll be on the brand new Authors of Main Street blog. I'll be a regular on the second Wednesday of every month. http://authorsofmainstreet.wordpress.com. You should stop by and comment every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, because we'll be giving away some awesome prizes.

You can find my Amazon author page at amazon.com/author/toriscott, with links to each of my books and a bio. Or you can connect with me on Twitter @ToriScott or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tori-Scott/242425259118042. You can email me at toriscott@gmail.com.

I look forward to getting to know all of you a bit better.

I hope everyone has a great holiday with friends and family.

Tori

In addition to writing, I have a passion for photography. To me, the two arts are related. They help me to show how I view the world. In writing, it's through my characters. In photography, it's through the lens. I'm a lot better at writing than I am at photography, but fortunately I don't have to pay the bills with my pictures.

This weekend my husband and I took a trip to Ennis, Texas to take pictures of the bluebonnets. I learned it's incredibly hard to capture the true beauty and color of Texas' State Flower. The bluebonnet is to Texas what the four-leaf clover is to Ireland and we're incredibly proud and protective of it.

What better start to the new week than a couple of my favorite photos from the weekend? Do you have a hobby that helps you to relax or spurs creativity in other areas?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today, millions of Irish (and non-Irish) people celebrate St. Patrick's day. St. Patrick was kidnapped from from Britain and brought to Ireland as a 16 year old slave. He later escaped, but returned to bring Christianity to the Irish people. While St. Patrick's day was originally a religious celebration, here in the US it is a day for parades, parties, and drinking green beer.

Though I can claim an Irish heritage, thanks to my grandfather, I'm not a fan of beer, corned beef, or cabbage. I'm also not a fan of crowds, so I'll be celebrating St. Paddy's day with a bit of shopping and game night with the family. And we'll do it Texas-style, with bbq beef and an as yet undecided dessert. I'm sure, though, that before the night is through I'll be wearing green and singing an Irish tune or two.

How about you? How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

New Cover for Lone Star Justice

Lone Star Justice has a new look, one that I hope better conveys the suspense elements of the story. Thank you to Ade Ratna for the great cover!

Sales Update

I quit posting my sales stats because, supposedly, Amazon doesn't let us do that (according to their TOS). However, I can tell you this much. My sales at B&N are up 500% over where they were in November, and my Amazon income is up 600% over November. January was my best month, numbers wise, but February is the best so far paycheck wise. Sales were down the last two weeks of February. I don't know if that's due to all the Amazon Select books available free, or people are busy doing taxes...no clue. I hope things pick back up in March. I'd like to see my Satisfaction books back at the top of the lists. I was selling 15,000 a month of those in Dec and January, but they've dropped off to around 3000 a month. Right now I'm concentrating my promotion efforts on Blame it on Texas and Lone Star Justice while they're still in Select, because I've opted not to renew their inclusion in Select after March 9. I don't like Amazon's inflexible "thou shalt not while in Select" policies.

Watch for the Romantic Times ad for Superstition coming out in the June edition. It will be handed out at the RT convention and available in bookstores.

Tori

News, Reviews, and Opinions

In new news, I'm working on the sequel to Blame it on Texas. No tentative publication date yet because the writing is going slowly. There's been a lot going on at home, Spring is in the air, drawing my attention to the outdoors, I've started a serious diet and exercise program, and promotion takes up way too much of my time. Seriously. I'm thinking about hiring a publicist to take care of that stuff.

I have a half-dozen ideas tugging at my brain, saying "write me! write me!" And I want to. But have to finish this one first, then write the sequel to Superstition. I think I'm going to title it Legend. Then I want to write another series of shorts and I have the idea for it, just not titles or time yet.

I'm really ready to hit the road to take wildflower pictures. Texas should be awash in bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, azaleas, crimson clover, sage and so many other flowers soon. We'll probably try taking the dog with us this time, since he's on twice-a-day medications. That could be interesting. He obeys fine as long as he's inside. Outside, he thinks he's the master of his universe.

I've had several new reviews lately, most of which fill me with happiness. I did have one where the reviewer thought I should have done more research since she, a New Yorker, obviously knew more about Texas than I (a native Texan, born and bred) did. Was good for a chuckle or two.

As for opinions, I have many. Most aren't fit for publication since I'm not always politically correct, but the strongest one I have right now has to do with pirates and plagiarists. Look, I worked twelve years to write these books. They are MINE! If you want to sell a book, write your own. If you want to give some away free, WRITE YOUR OWN! I have to pay bills, taxes, insurance, medical bills, buy groceries, and buy a new car solely with the proceeds from my writing. I have no interest in supporting your household as well.

Literary thieves should be subject to prosecution and prison time like any other thief. That's my opinion.

Until next time, I wish you Spring!

Tori

New Twitter name

The other author who went by Tori Scott has changed her name, so @ToriScott became available. I'm no longer @ToriScott2. I do follow most people back--unless their profile shows x-rated video as their passion or their tweets are profanity-filled. Come follow!

And we have a winner...

I'm totally in love with the new cover. Can't wait until it's updated on Amazon! Thank you so much, Ade Ratna!

An "Amazing Read" from Maldivian Book Reviewer for Finally Satisfied

4 1/2 Stars Click the link above to read the review.

New 5 Star Review for Superstition

From Davia at Romance Novel Junkies

This book has a little bit of everything: adventure, romance, shapeshifter etc.... action packed from beginning to end!! All the characters are strong and play an important role in the story..... The ladies are tough and the men are rough! I loved the romantic tension between many of the characters. An enjoyable read!

I applaud Tori Scott for her excellent writing style that has grown a lot.

Story: Good
Intimacy: Sweet
Enjoyment: Good

New Release! Finally Satisfied

Finally Satisfied is the third and final novella in the Satisfaction series.
25,000 words

Angel Kensington has never gotten over giving her baby up for adoption sixteen years ago. She's spent the time since then fighting panic attacks, hiding from her feelings, and isolating herself into a well-regimented existence. She has no room in her life for changes, complications, or men.

Mitch Turner presents a definite challenge for Angel. He's the wrong man for her, even if she wanted a man in her life. Why won't he just leave her alone?

Mitch has felt responsible for what his family did to Angel. They'd treated her like trash, left her to flounder with no hope of keeping her baby. He'd offered to marry her back then, but she'd not only turned him down flat, she'd avoided him ever since.

But now Cara and Gray are getting married and Angel is the maid of honor and Mitch is the best man. Angel can't avoid Mitch any longer, and she can no longer avoid facing her past. But are Mitch's feelings for Angel real, or are they just guilt over something he couldn't fix?

Almost Ready

Finally Satisfied is almost ready to upload. It's been sent out for editing and to a couple of beta readers, the cover is ready to go. All that's left is one final run through to correct errors, implement the changes the editor asks for, and get it formatted.

I'm almost sad to see this series end. I've enjoyed these characters and their ongoing relationships. I hope I still know how to write a full novel after this venture of writing three separate but intertwined stories.

Next up is another novella, this one a stand alone about a princess whose country is in turmoil and her family is in danger. Her father sends her to America under the protection of her long-time bodyguard. While he teaches her the basics of self-defense and evasion techniques, she teaches him that even a Princess can have an agenda.

New Review for Superstition

A page turner, can't wait for the movie of this book., January 4, 2012
5 Stars By V. Parv (Australia)

The more I read of Tori Scott's work, the easier it is to understand her meteoric rise up the ebook bestseller lists. Too many indie publishers overlook the most important element - a well written and compelling story. Even a few typos can be forgiven when the story grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go till the end, as Superstition does. It's an engrossing read with so many red, white and blue herrings that you don't know who's on whose side. It doesn't help that Team Indigo members have powers to rival the X-Men. I was particularly pleased that their civilian counterparts have skills of their own and are not afraid to use them. No, "Captain, I'm frightened" ladies here. Instead it's all, "Wham, bam, call me ma'am." I confess to being an online friend of Ms. Scott's, although nothing in that precludes me from being a fan as well. One of a rapidly growing band.

Very thoughtful review for Blame it on Texas

Format: E-book
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Logan Tanner
Heroine: Megan Flynn
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: November 24, 2011
Started On: December 25, 2011
Finished On: December 26, 2011

Blame it on Texas by Tori Scott was a great read, one that I enjoyed immensely. I was subjected to a lot of emotion as I read this novel, one I am finding out that Tori Scott is quite adept at dishing out to her readers. Toe-curling sexiness together with a lot of heartwarming characters with a hint of a secondary romance to follow, Blame it on Texas is a novel I would recommend for fans who love romances that makes you feel like you are part of the journey of the hero and heroine’s way towards happily ever after.

The fact that Logan Tanner hates going back to his hometown in West Texas is an understatement. The misplaced guilt Tanner feels about his mother’s sudden death when he was just around 12 years old still haunts him which keeps him away from a land that has no mercy in Logan’s eyes. A successful game designer and the father of a beautiful daughter whom he doesn’t get to see enough of, Logan has a lot on his mind when he is summoned by his sister Carol to take care of their father after he has a debilitating stroke.

When Logan’s daughter Katie turns up on the ranch’s doorstep with Carol’s friend Megan Flynn in tow, the feelings that courses through the rigidly controlled Logan is one that shocks him to his core. Divorce from a woman whose theatrics has soured him from commitment and relationships seems to have no place in his life when the sweet, courageous and sexy Megan steps into their lives. A connection that Logan doesn’t want or need nevertheless forms between the two and Logan doesn’t know whether to thank the Lord for sending her his way or to curse the fates because he has too many stuff to deal with at the moment.

Tragedy strikes, bringing out the best in each and everyone that is part of Logan’s hometown and in the midst of it all, Logan finds that he is not strong enough to turn away from the warmth and affection that Megan seems to shine upon his life, a woman who seems to understand the very things that he wants and needs.

Megan has her own dreams which she yearns to fulfill with everything inside of her. A veterinary practice in a small town where she would feel a sense of belonging is all that she wants from life until Logan Tanner and his daughter Katie invades her heart throwing her into the chaotic realms of love.

The reason I enjoyed Blame it on Texas so much was that Tori Scott managed to mix up all the right ingredients to give me an engrossing tale that in the end has its own message to deliver. Logan who has lost his way because of his misplaced guilt goes through a lot of hurdles to reach a place where he is ready for a happily ever after, and I loved the angst his tortured nature lent to the story.

I loved Megan. For me, she was the best thing about the story. She has all those qualities that I love about a heroine and for me she was just the right person to bring Logan out of the darkness that seems to consume him until there is not even a flicker of light left in his life. I loved the family dynamics and the small town aspect of the story that lent the story a charm of its own.

Recommended!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Rating from the sunny side of life:

Caliber Seal: GREAT READ!

Available exclusively at Amazon.com until March 9, 2012
http://amzn.com/B006DTZ0KC