Living in my Bubble World...New Release and Goodreads
Seductive Lies was released yesterday. I'm trying something I've never done. I'm giving away signed books of Seductive Lies on Goodreads.
When I joined Goodreads a couple of years ago, I wanted a place to meet other readers and authors. The premise of Goodreads is sound. It was the execution that was off base. What Goodreads allowed was an environment to develop that undermined its original intent.
I do believe in everyone's right to their opinion. Not everyone is going to like what I write. I don't like every book I have read, but this I do know. I have never left an offensive or malicious review even after discovering some of the people behind the attack on my writings. Was it tempting to retaliate with bad reviews against their books? Was it tempting to dispute all the misleading information they said about me? Of course, it was. I'm only human, but it was something my daddy told me growing up. He told me, "If you can get up every morning and look yourself in the mirror, then you're doing okay."
It wouldn't feel right for me. I don't understand the troll attacks against me, but I have tried to handle the attacks as best I can...the right way for me. I lost connections with the attacks against me. Some authors that I was in groups with distanced themselves. I was told it wasn't personal, but a 'business decision.' I haven't lost contact with all of them. I do email them occasionally. It's just in the back of my mind, I don't want to hurt them by being associated with me, either. I understand. I really do. I wouldn't want anyone to go through the year I had in 2012.
But in the same manner I lost contacts, I gained friends. Through it all, there have been some authors that have stood by me. I appreciate that...I will never forget their kindness. There is a person too- that I'm not sure whether she would want me to mention or not -that at one point was the only one I could turn to in this business for help. She told me not to interact with my troll and not to retaliate. Not that she could do much but guide me, but she listened. I want to say thank you.
I don't want to go backwards. I take everything I've gone through as a learning experience. It's life. Life isn't always fair, but life is too short to hold on to the negative. If you do, you will miss out on the good.
I love writing...I love creating stories...and I love meeting readers...and that's what I want to do on Goodreads. I also want to find some recommendations of good reads, new authors... Even though, I knew almost immediately the identity of the main troll against me, it took me awhile to make the connection to Goodreads and the Goodreads Bullies. I was disappointed in Goodreads response to my issue. I was about to write them off when Amazon bought Goodreads...then I rethought my decision.
Amazon made my career in writing possible...it's true. Without an avenue to sell my books, I doubt I would be still writing. Amazon broke open avenue for Indie writers. I sat on the edge of the business for years. I was published by small and medium publishers. Hanging on the words of the rejections of the major publishers...the last major publisher I sent a manuscript to told me in essence said I needed to show more sales. I was never going to do that with my small publisher. Being an Indie has given me that opportunity to show I can sell books.
Becoming an Indie offered me the ability to fulfill my dream of being an 'author.' Along with it, it has also brought with it responsibilities. I am trying my best to deliver high quality books. It is my intent.
As bad as 2012 was to be as an author, 2013 has given me hope.
In the summer of 2013, Book Bub picked up one of my free books, The Cry For Freedom. Even with the onslaught of negative reviews afterwards...the series really seemed to take off...for the first time since Daughter of Deceit/Seductive Secrets was in the top #50 paid on Amazon- for a blink of an eye and an assault by a group of trolls later-Embrace of the Enemy was in the top #100 of Family Saga for a time...and unbeknownst to me...I'm on some list that considers me a bestselling author on Amazon!
Do you know how I discover this? My cover artist told me. She was just completing a new cover for me...Fragmented...my first contemporary romantic suspense series where I'm going to be donating half the proceeds to either the One Fund or another charity here in Boston. Hope to have it out for Christmas. I'll tell you more about it soon...I'm excited about the project... Anyhow look at the cover—
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| Goodreads Giveaway! |
I do believe in everyone's right to their opinion. Not everyone is going to like what I write. I don't like every book I have read, but this I do know. I have never left an offensive or malicious review even after discovering some of the people behind the attack on my writings. Was it tempting to retaliate with bad reviews against their books? Was it tempting to dispute all the misleading information they said about me? Of course, it was. I'm only human, but it was something my daddy told me growing up. He told me, "If you can get up every morning and look yourself in the mirror, then you're doing okay."
It wouldn't feel right for me. I don't understand the troll attacks against me, but I have tried to handle the attacks as best I can...the right way for me. I lost connections with the attacks against me. Some authors that I was in groups with distanced themselves. I was told it wasn't personal, but a 'business decision.' I haven't lost contact with all of them. I do email them occasionally. It's just in the back of my mind, I don't want to hurt them by being associated with me, either. I understand. I really do. I wouldn't want anyone to go through the year I had in 2012.
But in the same manner I lost contacts, I gained friends. Through it all, there have been some authors that have stood by me. I appreciate that...I will never forget their kindness. There is a person too- that I'm not sure whether she would want me to mention or not -that at one point was the only one I could turn to in this business for help. She told me not to interact with my troll and not to retaliate. Not that she could do much but guide me, but she listened. I want to say thank you.
I don't want to go backwards. I take everything I've gone through as a learning experience. It's life. Life isn't always fair, but life is too short to hold on to the negative. If you do, you will miss out on the good.
I love writing...I love creating stories...and I love meeting readers...and that's what I want to do on Goodreads. I also want to find some recommendations of good reads, new authors... Even though, I knew almost immediately the identity of the main troll against me, it took me awhile to make the connection to Goodreads and the Goodreads Bullies. I was disappointed in Goodreads response to my issue. I was about to write them off when Amazon bought Goodreads...then I rethought my decision.
Amazon made my career in writing possible...it's true. Without an avenue to sell my books, I doubt I would be still writing. Amazon broke open avenue for Indie writers. I sat on the edge of the business for years. I was published by small and medium publishers. Hanging on the words of the rejections of the major publishers...the last major publisher I sent a manuscript to told me in essence said I needed to show more sales. I was never going to do that with my small publisher. Being an Indie has given me that opportunity to show I can sell books.
Becoming an Indie offered me the ability to fulfill my dream of being an 'author.' Along with it, it has also brought with it responsibilities. I am trying my best to deliver high quality books. It is my intent.
As bad as 2012 was to be as an author, 2013 has given me hope.
In the summer of 2013, Book Bub picked up one of my free books, The Cry For Freedom. Even with the onslaught of negative reviews afterwards...the series really seemed to take off...for the first time since Daughter of Deceit/Seductive Secrets was in the top #50 paid on Amazon- for a blink of an eye and an assault by a group of trolls later-Embrace of the Enemy was in the top #100 of Family Saga for a time...and unbeknownst to me...I'm on some list that considers me a bestselling author on Amazon!
Do you know how I discover this? My cover artist told me. She was just completing a new cover for me...Fragmented...my first contemporary romantic suspense series where I'm going to be donating half the proceeds to either the One Fund or another charity here in Boston. Hope to have it out for Christmas. I'll tell you more about it soon...I'm excited about the project... Anyhow look at the cover—
Besides the great job Erin Dameron-Hill did once again on the cover, notice something— Bestselling Author.
After 2012, it is something I never thought I would see. I can't tell you how humbled I am and appreciative. There are moments when you just have to stand back and soak in the moment. I am still not where I want to be...but that moment told me that I just need to keep doing what I love —writing.
It also told me that the road I chose to go was the right one. The high road is difficult to take, but it's much easier to live with the decision. I'm not out of the woods. My stalker is still out there...but I hope in time she won't be able to the damage she has done in the past.
The Cry For Freedom has been revised for a third time...I'm expecting Embrace of the Enemy back at anytime on its third revision and Seductive Lies has been released!
I'm still giving away signed copies of Broken Legacy this week...but know I am on...believe it or not... Goodreads giving away copies of Seductive Lies.
Have a good one!
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