Day: May 9, 2012

Video Trailer: In Search of Lucy

Lucy Lang’s life is spiraling out of control. For years she sacrificed her own needs to care for her half sister and alcoholic mother, only to be abandoned by both. Now, at age 30, Lucy finds herself held back by memories and regret as she struggles to find her own purpose in life. But when her sister needs a kidney transplant, Lucy is the only one who can save her life.

With the help of new friends and a man who won’t give up on her, Lucy sets out on a journey to reunite with her sister and find the answers she so desperately needs. Can she get past her emotions and have a chance at happiness? With its colorful and endearing cast of characters, In Search of Lucy takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions from sadness and heartache to happiness and hope.

In Search of Lucy is available from Amazon.

Sneak Peek: Pascal’s Wager by Mark Jacobs

Pascal's WagerToday we have a sneak peek of author Mark Jacob’s novel, Pascal’s Wager:

Pascal Silver is an action junkie down on his luck. One of the best poker players alive, a losing streak has forced him to take work as a private detective. But when the gorgeous daughter of murdered casino owner “Houston Phil” LaPierre turns to him for help, he finds himself in over his head dealing with the cops, the mob and the enigmatic but beautiful Allegra LaPierre. Now he’ll have to pull off the biggest bluff of his life to come out on top. And even if he does, he’ll still be left with the question “Who killed Phil?” a question only he is shrewd enough to answer.

Pascal’s Wager is available for 99 cents at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Continue reading “Sneak Peek: Pascal’s Wager by Mark Jacobs”

Reggie Ridgway Announces Upcoming Release: Moon Shadow

Author Reggie Ridgway

How did I discover that I wanted to be a writer? Stephen Hise asks with a wink and a nod. Well I would have to give some credit to my elementary school 3rd grade teacher who asked all of us to write out a story. My story was good enough to win the class contest and I still have the award somewhere. It says something like this. To the biggest liar in Mrs. Blanks class. I was so proud. I didn’t go any further with this new found skill until college when again I was asked to write a story in one of my classes. I got an A. My first one. “Maybe I was on to something”, I thought and went home and began writing. Continue reading “Reggie Ridgway Announces Upcoming Release: Moon Shadow”

Quality/Control

Quality has suddenly become a buzzword in the Indie Community, whether it’s Indie books, gaming, movies, etc.

Imagine that!  (All of you should know by now that this is my personal bugaboo.)

It’s certainly become a topic on the readers forums on Amazon and elsewhere, as someone commented.  “All these freebies which we use as promo for sales seem to be creating an environment where some readers only go free because they toss it after one chapter if it’s rubbish and only pay for a “real” author.”  One response to the Indie title on one site was  “That’s good support for why attaching a label like “Indie” and trying to make it be a badge of quality might be more trouble than it’s worth. After all, eventually, the work defines the label, not the other way around.” As to that last, he’s right. The work does define the label, and for too many Indie writers that doesn’t seem to mean much. The gentleman in question added later  that there’s not much value for an author to call themselves Indie.  One author recently proposed that – lacking an editor – you should just post to the marketplace and wait for the readers to comment, then revise and repost.

That has to change or the perception that Indie writing is rubbish is one that will stick and all of our hard work will be for nothing. And the traditional publishers will be proven right, that this Wild West Indie publishing thing was just a flash in the pan, a global slush pile from which a rare few gems emerged. Continue reading “Quality/Control”