Book Covers

Friday, January 27, 2012

Last Day To Get Loaded!


It’s Day 5 and the last day of the Indie Book Collective's Blog Tour de Force GET LOADED tour!

Did you have a blast at Sherry Roberts’ blog? We certainly did! Although we’re sad this is the last day of the your, you shouldn’t be. Each day gets you one step closer to winning a BRAND NEW Kindle!

Have you gotten all the previous clues for the Scavenger Hunt? If not, they’ll be here all weekend for you to get caught up.

Each correct answer gets you another entry into the #FREE Kindle drawing! So keep hunting!

Now let’s load up that Kindle with another awesome book!

Today’s stop is with paranormal romance author, Liz Schulte.

Her book, Secrets (Guardian Trilogy: Book 1) is a beautifully constructed masterpiece that will keep your heart pumping until the very last word.

Secrets is the story of Olivia Martin who observes life through her camera and discovers mysterious men follow her around, people close to her are dying, and her dreams are no longer her own as she falls head over heels for a perfect stranger.

Stop by Liz’s blog today to learn more about Secrets and the rest of the Guardian Triology! Comment and get an entry into our Kindle drawing and a chance to win some really cool prizes.


Here’s our lineup this week. Visit all five authors to score some incredible books!

January 23 A Hustler’s Promise by Jackie Chanel

January 24 Neiko’s Five Land Adventure by AK Taylor

January 25 ANEW by Chelsea Fine

January 26 Book of Mercy by Sherry Roberts



January 27 Secrets (Guardian Trilogy: Book 1) by Liz Schulte


Today’s Clues…

What’s the name of Liz Schulte’s first book?
What would Liz’s fortune telling alias be?
What are the two things Liz loves most about the television show Justified.
What is the main character in Secret’s name?
What is the first line of the Secrets book trailer?
Remember to keep track of the clues and email your answers at the end of the tour to blogtourdeforce@gmail.com to get additional Kindle give away entries.


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Get Loaded Day Two!



It’s Day 2 of our GET LOADED tour!

Hope you had fun yesterday at Jackie Chanel’s blog. Don’t forget to check back here every day this week for the Scavenger Hunt clues.

Each correct answer gets you another entry into the #FREE Kindle drawing!

Now it’s time to Get loaded!

Today's stop will take you on a fantasy ride with YA Fantasy author, AK Taylor.

Her debut novel, Neiko's Five Land Adventure is a spine-chilling adventure-packed tale that will have you turning page after page!

Neiko finds out that a land she thought she had only imagined is actually real and contains a legendary and otherworldly evil within it. Not only that, she becomes trapped there and must escape the world, the people within it, and the sinister evil within. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Stop by AK Taylor's blog today! Comment and get an entry into our Kindle drawing and a chance to win some really cool prizes.


Load up your Kindle with books from our dynamic authors this week:

January 23 A Hustler’s Promise by Jackie Chanel

January 24 Neiko’s Five Land Adventure by AK Taylor

January 25 ANEW by Chelsea Fine

January 26 Book of Mercy by Sherry Roberts

January 27 Secrets (Guardian Trilogy: Book 1) by Liz Schulte


Today’s Clues…

What occupation gives AK Taylor a ‘buzz’?
In the interview with UL Harper, at what age did AK Taylor begin writing Neiko’s Five Land Adventure?
What local newspaper did AK Taylor make front page news?
What book reviewer gave Neiko’s Five Land Adventure an Award for being great for kids or adults who are big kids?
For what age groups does AK Taylor write to?
Remember to keep track of the clues and email your answers at the end of the tour to blogtourdeforce@gmail.com to get additional Kindle give away entries.


Read an Indie Insider with AK Taylor here.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Blog Tour de Force - Get Loaded!




BLOG TOUR DE FORCE is back!

It’s time to Get loaded!

Amazon sold a ka-jillion Kindles this holiday season and the Indie Book Collective is going to help you fill yours up!

You’ve waited months for this, and if you didn’t get a Kindle for Christmas…here’s your chance to WIN one!

How so?

Easy! You’ll get to meet five awesome authors, dig around on their blogs, read reviews of their books…PLUS every day, you’ll get clues to win a #FREEKINDLE.

Plus, these five authors are giving away Free (there’s that word again) copies of their books and super awesome PRIZES!

Be sure to check the Indie Book Collective blog daily for info and clues beginning today!

First up is Jackie Chanel, self certified word ninja with an affliction for #RealLifeRomance.



Her new release, A Hustler’s Promise is a drama filled, action packed novel about of two street hustlers, bound together by a simple promise who take to the streets as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. The mean streets are calling as they protect their love, their family, and the promises they made to each other.

During Blog Tour de Force, there’s never a dull moment at Jackie Chanel’s place. Not only is she giving away free copies of A Hustler’s Promise, but she has a FABULOUS goodie bag for one lucky person.

All you have to do is stop by and leave a comment. Plus each comment gets you an entry into our Kindle giveaway.

Wait! There’s more!

Remember we said that you get to dig around the author’s blogs…yeah, we know you’re #nosy. Nosy is a good thing because each author has provided clues here that will help you win that Kindle. Every correct answer gets you another entry into the Kindle drawing!

Don’t worry. We did the math for you. That’s 25 additional entries! All you have to do is keep track of the clues and answers and email them indiebookibc@gmail.com at the end of the tour.

Simple right? Better yet…how fun is that?

Doesn’t get much easier.

We want YOU to read great books, learn about fabulous, fresh authors, and win FREE stuff!

It’s time to GET LOADED!


Visit all of our dynamic authors as follows:

January 23 A Hustler’s Promise by Jackie Chanel

January 24 Neiko’s Five Land Adventure by AK Taylor

January 25 ANEW by Chelsea Fine

January 26 Book of Mercy by Sherry Roberts

January 27 Secrets (Guardian Trilogy: Book 1) by Liz Schulte


Today’s Clues…

What are the three languages that Jackie Chanel is fluent in?

What is the name of Jackie’s next book?

What musician inspired the story of Untitled?

Jackie did a blog interview on October 16, 2011. What was the name of the blog?

What was the subject of Jackie Collin’s tweet to Jackie Chanel?


Remember to keep track of the clues and email your answers at the end of the tour to blogtourdeforce@gmail.com to get additional Kindle give away entries.


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Indie Insider - Jonathan Gould


How long does it take you to create a book from start to finish on average?

There’s no such thing as average when it comes to writing a book, particularly as I work full time and tend to write in spurts, ie I’ll get really motivated and write a lot in a short time, then go ages without writing anything.

For example – I started writing Doodling (my first release) over 10 years ago, probably took a year to complete a first draft (even though it’s actually really short), and I’ve spent the next ten years refining it – which is a good thing as by the time I came to publish it, it was in really tight shape after some really rough early drafts.

My second release, Flidderbugs, was written over a couple of months and I was able to get it polished fairly quickly. I think that’s less about my writing improving and more about the different natures of the stories.


How many hours a day do you spend writing? Editing? Procrastinating?

Again, hard to answer. It’s really about grabbing time here and there when other things allow it. I tend not to differentiate writing and editing as editing is such a critical part of the process. Once I’ve completed a first draft, I’ll spend a lot more time on refining it than what I spent on that initial draft. And as for procrastinating, again I see that as a critical part of the process. We all do it, don’t we?


How are your book covers designed?

I was lucky to be put in touch with a really terrific designer, Lliam Amor, through contacts at work. For the two I’ve done so far, I’ve sent him written briefs and some roughly drawn ideas and he’s done amazing things with them.

Lliam is multi-talented – he’s also an actor. In fact, my latest cover is delayed because he’s in Sydney doing a TV shoot.



What do you do when you get writers block?

I think there are two strategies to beat writer’s block:

Write – just sit down and force yourself, no matter how crap the stuff is that you’re churning out
Don’t write. Take your mind right away from it and try to do other things that you really enjoy. Hopefully, you can relax and creativity can return

At various times, they’ve both worked for me.


Which narrative form and tense do you use and why?

I’m generally a third-person sort of person, particularly for my longer works (novellas and novels). In my short stories, I’ve also used first-person a bit. It really depends on the nature of the story. First person is great for really getting into the head of a person but for me, third person gives a broader scope to the story-telling.

As for tense, I’m definitely past. I’m kind of conservative and have to say I find present tense a bit pretentious (I’m not quite sure why). Although, again, having said that, I have used it for children’s stories where it does work quite well.


Where do you get your ebooks formatted?

I do it myself. I have an IT background so do not find it too tricky – especially as I now have templates I can re-use.

And I seem to have started a bit of a sideline helping out other people with their formatting.



Do you use a professional editor, critique partners, or beta readers? Briefly describe your process.

All of the above. I was studying when I wrote Doodling so was able to get a lot of feedback from teachers and classmates. Now I work at a university, so am able to find a range of readers who can offer different perspectives. Through social media, I also have met a bunch of people who I am looking to get feedback from as I write more.

While it’s important to get feedback from a range of readers as you’re developing your work, I think you need to be a bit careful not to go overboard. You need to remember it’s your story and be careful not to be distracted by too many competing voices. The trick is to find those readers who really understand what you’re trying to do and can give you the appropriate feedback to help you do it better.

Working at the university has also helped in finding professional editors.

My process is, in summary:

Get the story to a point I’m happy with – which will take at least 3 drafts and often more.
Get feedback from a bunch of different readers who can offer various perspectives
Have at least two professional editors go through to check grammar, typos, etc..


Which is the most important social media platform and why? Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Google+, LinkedIn, or any other one you use.

Probably Facebook – I’m a member of several writer’s groups and find it really useful for meeting people and learning about new opportunities.

I also find Twitter really valuable as a means for getting information out and connecting with people. You seem to have access to a broader range of people and groups but can’t connect in such an intimate way.

I have a presence on Goodreads though I don’t use it a lot. I haven’t ventured into Google+ or LinkedIn as I simply don’t have time to manage so many networks.


What are three unique web sites or blogs that you follow on a regular basis? (related to writing etc.)

Adopt an Indie – http://adoptanindie.com/
The 99c Network - http://www.99-cent-network.com/
The Indie Book Collective - http://www.indiebookcollective.com/


Is there anything else you would like to share?

Just to wish all the best to all the writers and readers out there. Enjoy.


Contact links for Jonathan Gould:

His blog: http://daglit.blogspot.com
Twitter: @jonno_go
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jonathangouldwriter

Doodling available from:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KSQVCO
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004KSQVCO
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/41101
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/doodling-jonathan-gould/1100144250

Flidderbugs available from:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005K7HKS8/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005K7HKS8/
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85538
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flidderbugs-jonathan-gould/1105609621



Friday, January 6, 2012

Bestseller For A Day - The Mancode: Exposed


January 6 is Bestseller for a Day! This is your day to save with RachelintheOC’s The Mancode: Exposed, the follow-up to her best-selling A Walk in the Snark!

Experience Rachel’s trademark humor this January 6th with Bestseller for a Day PLUS five 99 Cent Bonus Buys! And be entered to win a Kindle!

This Indie Book Collective event is designed to push indie authors to the top of the Kindle charts! Readers get great books at great prices, and authors get the promotional push to be successful. And we all know what successful authors do—they write MORE books to feed your need to read.

What are people saying about this hilarious new offering from Rachel Thompson?

“Mancode: Exposed is a scathingly funny, rapid fire and heartfelt look at guys. Author Rachel Thompson delivers a satirical piece that invokes shades of Penny Marshall and Seth MacFarlane.” ~ Casey Ryan, Host & Creator, Cutting Room Floor radio program

“I absolutely just love the work of Rachel Thompson. Not only is she an amazing person, her writing is witty, humorous, and OMG brilliant! Where the heck does she come up with this stuff?” ~ BK Walker, reviewer, bkwalkerbooks.com



Here’s more about Mancode: Exposed!

I’m over forty. I don’t have a blankie. I have vodka.

Is it possible to truly expose men?

Okay, wait.

Men, women, sex, love, stereotypes…important world topics like garages, lingerie, and um, chocolate? It’s a melting pot (okay, now you’re just getting hungry).

But more than that, it’s about all the levels in which we communicate, viewed through Thompson’s looking glass of humor and deconstructed with her special brand of snark!

She explores controversial questions like:

Can we outrun our DNA?
Will women always be slaves to our talkative nature (après sex)?
Will men never be free of the chains of emotional withholding?
Can we transfer their paper towel changing abilities from the garage to the kitchen?
This January 6, it’s your turn to grab The Mancode: Exposed for the incredibly low price of 99 cents and see for yourself why it makes readers laugh with appreciation. And don’t forget FIVE bonus buys with the chance to win a Kindle:

Pups in Teacups by Carolyn McCray

Myth of Mr. Mom by Jeremy Rodden, et. al.

Muse Food by Jess McCallum and Amber Scott

The Dee View by Dee Dee Robson

Our Indie Experience by The Indie Book Collective

Just purchase The Mancode: Exposed at the promotion price, send a friend that you know would love finding a fun, fast-paced read at an awesome price, and grab the FIVE Bonus Buys that are the perfect companion reads to this hysterically funny book! Hop over to BESTSELLER FOR A DAY on January 6 and fill out the entry form (located at the top of the right hand column) for five extra entries to win a Kindle!

Interested in participating in Bestseller For A Day as a Bonus Buy book? We’re always on the lookout for great indie books to include in our promotions! What’s required? You must be available in eBook format, be on Twitter, and have a blog. Want more info? Contact us at indiebookibc@gmail.com for more information!