Sunday, April 29, 2012

AAD2013 Parties... and YOU!


So with 2013 planning on the horizon, and the popularity of 2012, I have decided to start early by getting feedback on things YOU, the author, might wanna do. That’s right, we are taking applications for participation in AAD 2013: Savannah Nights!

Now not everything proposed will be accepted, mostly because we don’t have the room and time for everything, but A big part of 2013 is going to be mixers/parties/events and hangouts. Why? Because the Readers have asked for them. More face time with authors in a party like atmosphere is what they want and by gum… we are going to give it to them.

So if you’re interested in throwing a part/ Event/ Mixer/ Hangout PLEASE fill this out: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE9zUmgyQmdybERGaU04YXlBSDhFTlE6MQ

Themed is AWESOME and will help with choosing. Please note, Events that are doing food and booze will get first acceptances (because we gotta hit a F&B quota) But this year we will be offering swag parties and smaller meet and greets. So any ideas you got… we wanna see um!

First tier acceptance closes on June 20th (meaning anyone accepted in that timeframe gets prime time slots) So get your proposals in! Everything considered!

S

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Addressing the issue of PA's...


So because I have heard that there’s some bitching and complaining going on about my directive for AAD that I will not deal with assistants… let me explain for the people who can’t see past their own nose.

An assistant is a LOVELY LOVELY thing. I don’t have one, against all reports to the contrary. I think they can be a great help with people who are busy in this industry, from handling fan mail to scheduling blog posts to keeping their weekly online schedule in check so they don’t miss anything. For that, an assistant is GOLD.

BUT an assistant should never, EVER deal with other authors for you. EVER. Why? Several reasons.
1.       Respect. If an author takes the time out of their busy schedule (one that is AS BUSY if not MORE BUSY then yours) you should have the decency and respect to contact them back personally.
2.      Courtesy. That’s right courtesy. If you push off someone that’s your contemporary on an underling, you are essentially saying “you are not worth my time to deal with directly.” That is bullshit. ALL authors should deal with their contemporaries personally.
3.      The telephone effect. This means that adding a 3rd party into the mix can get dicey. Information either gets mistranslated or lost, and it takes doubly long to get an answer. That is not the best way to handle communication especially when dealing with someone like me that runs a convention. Emails are NOT sent off to other people. I deal with them personally. 99% of the authors attending  deal with it personally, and things get done.
4.      Inside information. While your assistant is looking out for you, they are also looking out for themselves and MANY assistants in this industry do other things then be at an authors beck and call. So when said assistants see emails meant ONLY for authors, and contact back about said emails, throwing their own two cents in for what THEY are willing to do, it kinda defeats the purpose.
5.      Relationships. Ok so you might not wanna be friendly with me, No problem. You still have to deal with me because of the event we have going on, and you will probably see me at other functions. If I have never spoken to you personally, never had that connection, you better be damn sure that in the future I won’t consider you for anything, because all you have proven to me is that you could care less.


Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I have had a large amount of people send me to their assistants. In fact 99% of authors, including the extremely busy ones that have 4-8 deadlines this year, who are on the con circuit, who are on book tours and who have at least 3 releases coming out this year CONTACT ME PERSONALLY. They understand the value of relationships in this industry, and understand that without them, getting ahead is a no go.

Use your assistants for what you will, but leave author correspondence out of it. Hell I have several authors including the Master of Ceremonies for 2013 and an author doing parties in both 2013 and 201 that have assistants, that handle EVERYTHING for them, but I get contacted PERSONALLY by the authors, because that’s how it’s done. No one in the business over 5 years lets an assistant contact other authors for them. It smacks of disrespect and superiority. It screams “I’m better then you" and you don’t see me as an equal. Well, newsflash- I AM.

 I have recently found out that I was called an “egomaniac” for instituting this rule. I don’t think the person that said it realizes the irony of that statement. Ego is not something I personally have. So let’s say this: I am busy, just like you. While I may not have a NY contract, I do have deadlines, I have a convention I run, a wedding I’m planning, an art department I run, and my regular job as a graphic artist to worry about. Yet I still deal with ALL my email personally, especially when it has to do with authors. All I ask is the same courtesy is done for me.

It doesn’t matter how much money you sink into something, and it doesn’t matter who you think you are (or who your assistant thinks you are.) Relationships should always be forged between people you “work” with. Yes, AAD is work for everyone, especially the authors because YOU are working--- meeting readers, smoozing it up, hanging out and getting them interested in (or giving them new reasons to like ) your work. Make no mistake, that IS work. It is fun work, but it IS work. NO relationships with those people that are making that work happen means you won’t be able to work like that (at least at AAD) anymore.

Some relationships you need to forge yourself. If you don’t, you miss out on a lot that could be beneficial for you, because you decided to go a route that disconnects you from those that would include you.

You don’t have to agree with me on this, but this IS the way I feel and this IS how AAD will be handled from now on.

Thank you.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

New Release, New Promotion and New Contest!


Ahoy All!

So with the Release of Fire In His Eyes (yesterday) Audra and I have our first “New” book out in Kindle in over 2 years. While the book isn’t new per say, it is new on Kindle and that’s awesome.

So we decided to offer it for free from Friday to Tuesday on Kindle, to introduce people to our books and our world… Which is awesome for you, I mean who doesn’t like free books? Exactly!

And… We decided to start a new contest! Since the Kindlegraph thing has been started, we have been in awe of it. It’s an awesome tool and goes far to make ebooks more personal and helps to bridge the gap of reader-author. So because of this… we have come up with a contest.

Buy any of our books (or even just DL the Free book starting tomorrow) and request a kindlegraph. For ever Book you request for a kindlegraph you will get One entry in our contest. What can you win? Well…

Since it’s easy to get this done, and super fun, we figured we would do a sliding scale.

If we have between 1-35 individual entries: 25$ GC to Amazon.com

36-70 individual entries: 50$ GC to Amazon.com

71-125 individual entries: 100$ GC to Amazon.com

126- 175 individual entries: 150$ GC to Amazon.com

176- 225 individual entries: A KINDLE FIRE

Individual entries mean one kindlegraph per person counted. Multiple entries are counted as extra entries to give you better chances of winning, but only ONE (your initial Kindlegraph) is counted towards the prize given away (does that make sense?)

Now what happens if we get over 225 individual entries? Well for every 25 extra after I will add in a 25$ GC on top of the Kindle Fire… Cool right?

So… What are you waiting for?! Tell everyone, and lets get that Kindle Fire A home!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Introductions

I’m here to introduce myself to all the Authors After Dark attendees! My name is Amanda Carlson. I’m excited to announce that I will be debuting my novel, FULL BLOODED, at the conference in August. Everyone will be receiving a copy of the book, courtesy of Orbit. I’ll be signing them at the ARC event, so be sure to bring you copy by and meet me if you’re so inclined. If you can’t make it, I’ll be available after the panels as well. If you’re interested in getting a sample of my voice and characters, my novella BLOODED, releases in all digital formats tomorrow! Find early reviews up on goodreads!



BLOODED
blurb: Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem is—she's no wolf. Called a curse, a witch and the Daughter of Evil by the superstitious wolves, Jessica decides to fight for her freedom, at age nineteen, the only way she can—in the ring. When she's brutally attacked right after her fight, is it enough to finally earn her freedom off Compound, or will she be forced to endure the hatred even longer . . .

(As an extra bonus the first chapter of FULL BLOODED is included!)

A little about me: I live in Minnesota, I have three kids, a husband and one bunny. FULL BLOODED is my debut novel. I’ve been writing for over 10 years, so it’s exciting to finally make my debut. I was a columnist for a local publication and wrote non-fiction for many years, but once I found urban fantasy there was no turning back. Building a world and creating something from scratch is amazing and so much fun! This is where my heart is and where I hope to continue writing.

I’d love to hear from you. My novella blog tour begins on April 11th. For a full listing of stops and more information about me and my books, please check out my website at www.amandacarlson.com The website is getting a face lift, due to launch sometime next week. All blog tour stops will be listed then.

Thanks for tuning in! I look forward to meeting you at the conference.

AMANDA CARLSON

Author of the Jessica McClain series

BLOODED, Jessica McClain novella, available now, FULL BLOODED releases Sept. 11th, 2012, HOT BLOODED releases March, 2012, COLD BLOODED releases August, 2012




Sunday, April 1, 2012

March Featured Author Spotlight Roll-Up

Hey everyone, I hope that your March went well!  We are about four and a half months from New Orleans I am sure that you all are just as excited as I am, time is flying by!  Just in-case you missed any of the Spotlight Interviews and posts here is a recap of the highlights:


Book Faery

The Qwillery

Red Hot Books

That’s What I’m Talking About

A Little Bit Tart, A Little Bit Sweet

Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

BookWenches

Wicked Lil Pixie Reviews

Smexy Books

For What It’s Worth

Good Choice Reading

What Book is That?

Mama Kitty Reviews