Posts Tagged With: community

Author Blog-in Day 1: Post Your Own Book!

The Disenchanted Pet

By Kate Policani

Short synopsis:

Far into the future, the Earth is ruled by the ShaZha, a hyper-intelligent race of alien beings who are plagued by the violence and volatility of the human race. Supposedly intending to repair the broken societies and polluted planet, they have found the Human problem to be much more complex than they ever imagined. Zarah is a Prodigy, an obedient human, with a caring ShaZha master. Zarah wants to prove all her master’s hopes that humans can be civilized and responsible. When she is lost by her master and exposed to the other side of humanity, she must confront the possibility she might be not a valued citizen, but a pet.

I am currently writing my next book called The Stray, a second book set in the ShaZha Earth. It isn’t a sequel, but the story connects with The Disenchanted Pet

Buy The Disenchanted Pet on Amazon (Kindle and Paperback. Kindle copy free with Amazon Prime)

To buy multiple ebook formats, go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93067

To buy the paperback, click here: https://www.createspace.com/3657962

For great reviews:

http://tahlianewland.com/2011/12/23/review-the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

http://mainemuse.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

http://nadiariell.com/2012/01/18/a-book-review-for-the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

http://www.speculativefaith.com/authors/kate-policani/

Long Synopsis:

The Disenchanted Pet is ashort Science Fiction novel that takes place in the popular “post-apocalyptic Earth” setting,  exploreing the unique problems with the Human Race and how to “fix” it.

Zarah is a young, optimistic girl, entering into the exciting world of adulthood with an idealistic perspective. But Zarah lives in the a future where Humanity is ruled by an alien race occupying Earth in order to rehabilitate and repair the planet and its people.

Reality intrudes on Zarah’s unspoiled outlook when she is attacked and separated from her SaSa, an alien guardian who is like a parent to her. Trapped within the Feral Facility, pregnant and separated from her home and new husband, she learns all the mistakes about the reality she believed in. She sees that the “Ferals”, who who aren’t serviceable within  the ShaZha’s plans, are not necessarily the monsters her Prodigy society has portrayed them to be.

Suffering through the harsh truth about her world and the errors in her ideals, she must face a future without the assurances upon which she always relied.

The Disenchanted Pet appeals to Science Fiction lovers as well as readers who have never explored the genre before. It explores the disillusionment of growing up and the harsh realities of adulthood, but with aliens.

Cover Art by Heidi Barnett and Erik Sederstrom warpfrenzy@msn.com

Categories: Author Blog-in | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kickstarter Success!

My kickstarter project is funded! It just goes to show you that there are some awesome people out there. It was saved at the last minute by a few kind folks.

I learned a bit about Kickstarter and how it works, and I think that a hallmark to success is selling your vision with the audience in a compelling way. It isn’t enough to just state your objectives and offer nice incentives. That is good, but what sells people is your own passion for what you want to accomplish. I’m going to focus on this next time I do a kickstarter.

 

Categories: Book Launch, Resources | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Versatile Blogger Award

Versatile Blogger Award 2012

What a great way to start 2012!

This award is given to bloggers, by bloggers (another reason I love the blogging community).

Now for the details, here’s how it works:

  • If you are nominated, thank the award giver and link back to them in your blog post
  • Share seven things about yourself
  • Pass this award along to recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading (some say to 15 some say to less than that.. I did 15).
  • Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award and post the award picture

I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Kate (such a cool name!) at  http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/post-about-handing-out-versatile-blogger-awards/

and earlier by J.M. McDowell during the Christmas rush http://jmmcdowell.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/thank-you-the-versatile-blogger-award/

Thank you to Kate and J. M. for the award! I really appreciate it!

Seven things about me:

1. This is my first official public blog! I never had anything else to blog about so I never bothered before. I posted one for my own amusement but never tagged anything or connected with anyone really. I was really missing out!

2. If you asked me before 2007 if I would become a writer I would have said “no.”

3. I enjoy using my writers’ vocabulary in everyday conversation and it sometimes gets me strange looks, but usually people just think I’m smart (or a smarty-pants).

4. I am aware that I use way too many exclamation marks!!!!! It is a secondary affliction to my addiction to writing fiction!!!

5. I’ve been married for almost 16 years and I got married when I was 20. Yet somehow, I’m still 29….

6. My name was supposed to be just “Katie” but Mom was under anesthetic and Dad wrote “Katherine.”

7. I have been to Hawaii and St. Barths, both for work, and I prefer Hawaii.

Here are the 15 bloggers who deserve this award–they are sort-of in order of discovery.  You should follow them all and read and/or comment on their most excellent posts!

1. http://christianfantasyforwomen.com/

2. http://newenglandmuse.wordpress.com/

3. http://womenthrillerwriters.com/ also blogging at http://pamelahegarty.com

4. http://jeanewatier.wordpress.com/

5. http://alannahmurphy.co.uk/

6. http://sarahwinters.wordpress.com/

7. http://themonstrumchronicles.wordpress.com/

8. http://www.jaclynsmusings.com/

9. http://rebeccaberto.wordpress.com/

10. http://maggiepublishing.wordpress.com/

11. http://rosysophia.wordpress.com/ also blogging at http://rosasophia.com/

12. http://pigletinapoke.com/

13. http://cameliamironskiba.wordpress.com/

14. http://jaydesummers.wordpress.com/

15. http://bindo.wordpress.com/

 

Categories: Awards | Tags: , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Trailer Idea Contest for The Lustre

I’ve been puzzling over ideas for a trailer for The Lustre and I’m having trouble coming up with something. So here’s what I’ll do. Post your ideas as a reply to this post or to the book page, based on the synopsis and excerpt. I will make the best one into my trailer and the person who posted it will get a free ebook and print copy of The Lustre as soon as it comes out!
If you don’t have an idea but like one you see on the replies, reply your support of your favorite. I’ll count your replies in my decision.

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BookBlogs

I’ve been accepted in to http://bookblogs.ning.com/ and I’m just starting to learn what it’s about. There is a great format for requesting book reviews. You can post your book info and reviewers can comb through it themselves and contact you. We’ll see if this produces any results. Otherwise, bookblogs seems like a Facebook for readers and writers to share about books. It isn’t as upscale as Goodreads but it seems to be less complicated. You also have to request membership and be accepted, rather than just sign up and go. My acceptance took 2 days to go through.

Categories: Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More Advice That Is Priceless and Free

Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords and owner of Dovetail Public Relations has a free ebook on marketing for self-published authors. Surprisingly, it is called Smashwords Book Marketing Guide. Go figure!

Definitely, this is an excellent read  full of meaty, juice information for po’ little authors like me.  http://www.smashwords.com/books/download/305/1/latest/0/0/smashwords-book-marketing-guide.pdf

He pointed out an important fact: Your webpage shows up in searches based on its links to other sites and other sites’ links to it, as well as how many people travel there. One big goal is to increase traffic and therefore increase visibility in an exponential way.

Here is my new list of things to do after reading his guide:

  1. Update my email signature to include my web addresses (His reasoning is that we all send lots of emails and replies and should use that to our advantage. He suggests your blog site, any sites where your book is sold, and a webpage if you have one.)
  2. Add the community pages I use to include my web addresses
  3. Updste myTtwitter profile to include my web addresses
  4. Update my Smashwords profile to include my Twitter address (There is a special list on Smashwords of Twitter users with increased visibility)
  5. Write a press release (Scary!)
  6. Participate in HARO (Help a Reporter Online) with my particular expertise (Aliens in the future…yeah…)
  7. Hold a limited coupon promotion on one or more sites: on Smashwords (garnered 200 buys in his example), on the blog, on http://kindleboards.com, or other promotion sites.
  8. Include the promotion on these sites (good links!) www.freeonlinenovels.com , http://online-novels.blogspot.com , www.getfreebooks.com , http://blog.booksontheknob.org , http://ereader.freebies.blogspot.com , www.bookbarista.com

Thank you, Mark for your fabulous advice, since I can’t use your promotion services! I’m passing it on because marketing tips to authors (poor) should be free!

Oh. Now I have to DO all these. Gah!

Categories: Resources, Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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