Season 1, Episode 16: Idea Ping Pong

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4dp36-1b0df25

Sometimes ideas don’t come in a predictable order. I went back and forth between the two projects, getting stuck on one then bouncing over to the other and back again. This episode is also a little chaotic and I detail when ideas came to me and how those spawned other thoughts and even in some cases helped me figured out some series plot points in the karmic project. It’s a bit all over the place.

For more info on my other projects, visit https://delshereespinner.com/

Theme music is by Monplaisir.

Season 1, Episode 15: Solidifying the Karmic World

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-rgy93-1b03219

I made more progress on the karmic story, both in getting some writing done and figuring out a little bit more about how this world works and how it has shaped Beatrix. As I figure out more about the worlds and how they interact, it’s making it easier to really delve into the characters. That still means rewriting and going back to earlier chapters to fix things and add depth, but I feel like I’m really starting to get a better sense of the characters and story.

For more info on me and my writing and various other projects, visit https://delshereespinner.com/

Theme music for the show comes from Monplaisir.

Season 1, Episode 14: Karmic Progress

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-8busz-1af9f41

Finally, some writing mojo seems to be happening for me! I wrote, rewrote, moved around, and touched up details in chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the karmic story. A lot of the rewriting and shifting had to do with trying to avoid infodumping and static scenes that weren’t accomplishing multiple goals as I needed them to do. I’m sure they’ll still need more work later, but I talk about how I attempted to make sure chapters were providing information, characterization, worldbuilding, and just being fun and interesting for readers.

Season 1, Episode 12: Last of the Introductions

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-c52d4-1a9a131

I finally catch up on what I wrote over the last while, which is fitting because these chapters wrap up the story elements and sides of the character Penelope that serve as introductions for the reader. I got stuck here, mainly because this is where I really need to start delving into the meat of the story. Reviewing and talking out this section helped me pin down a few ways to move forward, which I’ll talk about next time.

#WickedRevenge: It’s DONE!

Wicked fans have been waiting a while…a long while…for the final installment of the Someone Wicked This Way Comes Series.

WickedRevenge Title.jpg

Book 3 (Wicked Glory) was supposed to be the last book. There was too much to fit everything in, wrap up all the questions, and not give readers whiplash.

So, a book 4 was needed. Unfortunately, so was the time to write it. Not only was 2015 super busy, I overloaded my writing schedule and got behind on just about everything. Add it the fact that I always go into panic mode about finishing a series, and there’s a reason this book is coming out more than a year and a half after book 3.

SORRY!

Wicked Revenge is going into editing mode, but I’ll have it up for pre-order while that’s happening…which will be soon. But just in case you’re having Ketchup withdrawals, here’s a peek a what’s coming up in the fourth and FINAL (for real this time) installment of this wicked series.

And in advance, yes I know I’m so mean for sharing this excerpt, but I had to…

~*~

“Van,” he says slowly, “we need to go, now.”

“What?” I ask a split second before the glass of both passenger side windows explodes.

Wicked Revenge GOLD FRONT Lunging for Ketchup, I drag him down to the wheel wells and throw my body on top of him. Bullets continue to slam into the car, jerking it back and forth as I bite back a terrified scream. Heat sears across my shoulder, and at least one bullet is lodged in my left thigh. It’s only seconds, maybe five, but it feels like a lifetime before the report of gunfire stops and squealing tires replaces it.

As soon as it does, I lift myself off Ketchup and ask, “Are you okay? Ketchup?”

I’m stuck trying to get out from under the steering wheel when a strange choking noise freezes me. Warm fluid bursts against my forearm and suddenly I can’t breathe. “Ketchup? Ketchup? Answer me!” Panicked scrambling gets me out from under the steering wheel and I reach for his half-turned body. Terror and my own pain kept me from recognizing anything else until I saw the blood seeping from his chest.

Tears blur my vision as I start babbling, “No, no, no, no,” over and over again. His pains overwhelms me and my hunger screams at me to lap it up, but I can’t. This is my fault. My doing. I knew how dangerous it was to leave without protection. I didn’t care when I sped away from the house, didn’t put his safety above my own delusional self-importance.

Find out what happens next in Wicked Revenge!!!

Find the rest of the series HERE

#Giveaway Time! #ezlizacarlislemystery

I’m trying out the new giveaway feature with Amazon that now allows ebooks to be offered up as prizes, so here goes!

Pop over to Amazon and enter to win an ebook copy of TROUBLE MAGNET the first book in the Eliza Carlisle Mystery series.

Eliza Carlisle has the unwanted talent of attracting trouble, in all its forms. That couldn’t be truer than when she moves into the most bizarre apartment building on the planet. Weekly required dinners with the landlord and assigned chores are bad enough, but the rules don’t end there. Top most on the list of requirements is NO physical violence against the others residents.

There have been issues.

In the past.

The young manager, Sonya, claims that hasn’t been a problem recently, but Eliza comes home from her first day of culinary school to find a dead resident, her next door neighbor looking good for the crime, and a cop that seems more interested in harassing her than solving the case.

All Eliza wanted was to escape her past and start over, completely anonymous in a big city. That’s not going to be so easy when the killer thinks she’s made off with a valuable piece of evidence everyone is trying to get their hands on. The ultimatum that she turn it over to save her own life creates a small problem. Eliza has no idea what the killer wants, or where the mysterious object might be.

If she can’t uncover a decades old mystery in time, surviving culinary school will be the least of her problems.

Eliza Cat Baxter.jpg

Eliza Carlisle Mystery Series Update

Before anyone asks, yes I am also working on Wicked Revenge and am hoping to have a mid-April release date, but I did have a few other deadlines to meet before then, including this one:

The Eliza Carlisle Mystery series is one I’m really excited about. The first book, TROUBLE MAGNET, will be releasing next month, and a crossover novella called THE CATALYST will also release next month as part of the Sydney Rye Kindle World.

For now…

I’d love people’s thought on the blurb for TROUBLE MAGNET, which is a humorous murder mystery. Let me know if it intrigues you, needs work, etc.

Trouble Magnet

Trouble Magnet Eliza Carlisle has the unwanted talent of attracting trouble, in all its forms. That couldn’t be truer than when she moves into the most bizarre apartment building on the planet. Weekly required dinners with the landlord and assigned chores are bad enough, but the rules don’t end there. Top most on the list of requirements is NO physical violence against the others residents.

There have been issues.

In the past.

If she can’t uncover

Let me know what you think!

Creating a Marketing Plan: Part 3

To get started on creating your marketing plan, check out Part 1 and Part 2 first. For specific release day ideas…keep reading!

Facebook Release Party

Create an “Event” on FB, then add details of where/when, who’s participating, prizes, games, etc.

Invite Friends and Readers and encourage them to invite more people.

“Who invited you?” giveaway can be a great way to encourage more invites.

Invite other authors

Share the burden and fans: Invite authors to participate or “takeover” during the party with their own games/giveaways/etc.
More games and prizes means more fun.
Other authors bring in their fans to learn about your books and your fans learn about other authors as well.

Games

“Caption this!” – Find a funny or strange picture and ask for captions. All captions earn an entry and you can either pick the best as the winner or pick at random.
Book themed i.e. Bad Date Stories for my Date Shark series, or favorite myth for my Twin Souls series
“Like My Page,” “Signup for my newsletter,” “Follow me on…” are great ways to build followers and are an easy giveaway entry form
Costume Party (post pic of costume to enter giveway)
Task oriented games, i.e. go to my website and find all the pink letters and unscramble the word.

Prizes

Ebooks, signed books, bookmarks, postcards, swag, name a character, etc. Be creative and personalize as much as you can.

Teasers

Guests may have been invited by someone else and don’t know about your book. Interest them with teasers/excerpts in the form of images and/or quotes.

Time Limit

2-3 hours is common. If you want to include more authors and cover more time zones, a longer All Day event can work well.
May want to leave games open 24 hours for international guests

Twitter Chat/Party

Create your own Hashtag #DelShereesReleaseParty

This is how people follow the discussion

Play Question and Picture based games

Replies enter them in giveaway

Retweet chain

RT enters giveaway. Use this to have a lot of people retweet information about your book.

Time Limit

1-2 hours, close giveaways at the end so it easier to track entries.

For more information on contacting media, come back next week.

To listen to the full podcast on Creating A Marketing Plan That’s Actually Doable, check out the Write. Publish. Repeat. Podcast Part 1 and Part 2.

Book Trailer: The Ghost Host

Want to know a little more about Echo Simmons and why the FBI has taken an interest in her?

Check out the new book trailer for THE GHOST HOST.

//studio.stupeflix.com/embed/rXtwD2vs5JI7/

The Ghost Host

is available now for pre-order on Kindle and available for purchase in paperback

KINDLE

PAPERBACK

http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Host-Episode-DelSheree-Gladden/dp/1517268389/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1441816008&sr=8-20&keywords=delsheree+gladden

Creating a Marketing Plan: Part 1

Creating a marketing plan that’s doable is tough.

Where do you start?

Time

How much time per day/week are you willing to put into marketing? Be realistic. If you only have an hour per week, build your plan around that. A lot can be accomplished in a small amount of time.

If you have more time, keeping a list or schedule can help you use it more efficiently. Using whatever amount of time you have in the most effective way is important.

Money

Set a firm budget for your marketing efforts and be realistic about what you can afford.

There are a lot of free marketing options, so don’t feel like you have to have a big budget. If you have a small budget, there are many author friendly marketing options that are as little as $5 and can have a good impact.

Effort

What can you do on your own and what do you need help with? No one can do everything on their own, so admit what your strengths and weaknesses are and go from there. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help when you need. Authors are great about helping each other.

Now let’s take the next step…

Who is your audience?

Who do you want to target in your marketing efforts? You need to be as specific as possible so you can narrow down your marketing pool. Targeted marketing is more effective than blanket tactics.

What avenues do you most want to pursue?

In-person, online, blogs/reviewers, social media, etc. What are you comfortable with and what types social interactions do you enjoy participating in?

If in-person events aren’t your style, focus on online marketing like Facebook parties, Twitter chats, etc. If you enjoy meeting readers face to face, school talks or bookstore book signings might be where you want to focus.

What is your goal?

Aside from hitting the NYT bestseller list 😉

Study your competition. What’s working for them? What’s not working? Look especially at creative ways other authors are marketing their books. Finding unique tactics will make your book stand out.

Marketing is tough, but making a plan that fits into your life, budget, and schedule will make it more manageable.

To listen to the full podcast on Creating A Marketing Plan That’s Actually Doable, check out the Write. Publish. Repeat. Podcast Part 1 and Part 2.