On The Bright Side - Getting Ready

Only 5 more days! :)


Festivities on Tuesday so come back!


OTBS Blog Tour stops so far:

• Jan 16 - The OTBS inspiration with fellow Indelible, Heather McCorkle 
• Jan 17 - Thuy at Read Now Sleep Later - My View on Guardian Angels
• Jan 18 - May Richard at Firestarbooks- Get to Know Me (The fun side)
• Jan 20 - Elle Strauss- Comes in Threes, Fantasy Book Chick Author Interview
• Jan 23 - Julia over at Rex Robot Reviews (Top 10 Books)
• Jan 24 - Emily at Dear Teen Me - Letter to My Teen Self; Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole
• Jan 25 - Julie at Tales of Many Reviews (Excerpt); Lisa Faber (guest post); 
• Jan 26 - Cory Putman Oakes (Tween market); Readanista (Characters guest post), Katie Cody at  Curse of Bibliophile Review)
• Jan 27 - KidsWriteReviews (Review), Jan 27 - Jen at The Secret Life of Bibliophile (interview);  

Upcoming Blog Tour Stops

• Jan 30 - Project Mayhem  - All about Tweens; Megan at Read Away The Days (Mg vs Tween), Mickey Reed at I'm a Book Shark Q&A 
• LAUNCH DAY Jan 31 - Katie at Mundie Moms (character interview/excerpt);  Hook of a Book (Interview); Realm Love Joy (OTBS Then and Now/History); Jaime Johnson (All about OTBS Characters); Me, My Shelf and I (Interview)
• Feb 1 - Authors Scoop (Q&A)
• Feb 2 - Brianna (interview); SupaGurl (Creating strong characters) 
• Feb 3 -Bookshelf Muse (dual career marketing & writing);  Samantha Geesin (Designing Covers); Jessie Harrell (tween marketing)
• Feb 6 - Christina at Chocolate for Inspiration (Worldbuilding); Shannon O'Donnell (Book review); Letters Inside Out (Karma guest post)
• Feb 7 - Jill at Owl for Ya (Marketing MG); Bibliosaurus Rex (interview); Magna Mania Cafe (Popularity of Angels)
• Feb 8 - Once Upon a Twilight (book review); Amanda Pedulla (Fav Tween Books); Claire at YA Bookie Monsters (guest post)
• Feb 9 - YA Book Central (Fun), Dorothy Dreyer (book review)
• Feb 10- Danyelle Leafty (The Heart of Gabby); CiCi's Theories; Lori Lee (Why Dead People in YA)
• Feb 13 - Librarian Mouse (Interview)
• TBD The Mixed Up Files (Indie pubbing) and more....

Other posts 

• Shannon Messenger's blog today to talk about marketing to tweens.
• Stopped by Novel Novice to talk about strong girls in contemporary YA.
• Cover reveal on Story Siren's blog.

Check out the Bookanista Posts this week:

• Christine Fonseca  brings you a special Guestanista review of SPRINKLES AND SECRETS
• Shannon Messenger delights in DEAD TO YOU – with giveaway
• Beth Revis interviews TEMPEST author Julie Cross – with giveaway
• Jessi Kirby takes a shine to the SURRENDER and new POSSESSSION covers
• Stasia Ward Kehoe adores IN HONOR
• Jen Hayley gushes over THE GIRL WHO LOVED A CITY
• Veronica Rossi  is crazy for INCARNATE
• Nikki Katz marvels at A MILLION SUNS
• Gennifer Albin   is on fire over CINDER
• Tracy Banghart  is all about THE OTHER LIFE
• Jessica Love wonders at THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
• Hilary Wagner mourns over THE DEATH OF YORIK MORTWELL -- with giveaway

The Schizophrenic Indie Pubber

Today I wanted to talk to you about all the roles I feel like I'm playing as an indie pubber - just to give you an idea of what you will have to do if you take this journey.

Because 1/2 of it - I never thought about. I kinda thought I would upload a book and then market it.

1. Writer - this one is a given :)
2. Editor - in order to not spend thousands of dollars - you need to be even better at editing. use your money wisely so your copyeditor is faster.
3. Budgeter - you could keep spending money so you have to come up with a budget and prioritize your funds (if you even have any :). But there is no way to do this free.
4. Cover designer - you need to know what looks good and what doesn't. Placement, fonts, and copy. Whether you pay someone or not - you need to know what concept you want and how to define quality. If you know photoshop, you are golden. Learn it if you can. It will save you time and money.
5. Jacket copyeditor - you need to know how to write good jacket copy.
6. Formatter - unless you want to pay someone to format.  You will have to format in several different ways, depending on what ebook format you need (epub, mobi, pdf, paperback etc). I think I did four for Untraceable.
7. Researcher - you need to be able to get online and find answers to your own questions as well as find questions you should be asking yourself. There is not a detailed guide. You also need to be keeping up with the ebook/digital market.
8. Account manager - you need to manage all your author accounts online. Right now with paperbacks and ebook formats - I probably manage and check five different sites a day including B&N, Amazon (2 different ones for PB and ebook), Smashwords, as well as all the places Smashwords delivers to (kobo, ibooks etc) - you need to know what your book is doing and check the information. 
9. Inventory - You need to know what you are selling and keep track for your numbers to reconcile records.
10. Accountant - you need to be able to figure out what you should be getting paid from each place. This requires spreadsheets and daily counts.
11. Lawyer - You need to follow up with pirates who are posting your book for free downloads and send letters.
12. Marketer - You need to know how to get the word out about your book, have the time to do it, and follow up.
13. Assertive without being aggressive - you need to know how to ask for blurbs and reviews and interviews without annoying people.
14. Social Networker - you need to keep managing all your social networks and stay out in front of people (without being obnoxious.) blogs, twitters, facebook. etc
15. Interviewee - you need to be able to fill out tons of requests for interviews, reviews, and more.
16. Advertiser - you need to know what ads you can pay for, what ads are free, and which ones are most effective. This requires looking at free sites and searching for site.
17. Supporter - you need to support others in their journeys. It is not all about you.
18. Typer - I wish I could type faster, If you are a "pecker" (keep it clean) then take lessons.
19. Swagger - You need to know where to go to get swag for your signings
20. PR rep - you need to call and set up signings or other PR related activities. You need to write and drop press releases. And contact media for articles/features/ and interviews. Create your own press kits.
21. Agent - if you want to get your book picked up by agents or film agents etc - you still have to send queries etc.
22. Problem Solver - Problems come up daily whether it is your numbers disappearing at amazon, or a blogger who forgot to post an interview, or a price discrepancy. They come up every day.
23. Self Believer - Indies get rejection too. And it hurts. You have to move on and find those who support you instead of chasing the ones who don't.
24. Thanker - you need to thank those who support you.
25. Multi-tasker - I shift all day long between these roles. It's exhausting.
26. Panicker - you gotta be able to work while you panic. Crying is allowed but your fingers must never leave the keyboard. ;)
27. Night owl - it is when you catch up.
28. Project manager - when you have cover designs and editors - you have to manage to a budget and a timeline.
29. Sales - you have to be out there selling without being cheesy about it.
30. Psychologist - i have to talk myself down off a ledge every now and then. Of course I do live in a one story so not too bad. :)

All this along with mother, friend, wife, cleaner, laundry doer, cooker, dog walker, appointment maker.

Last on the list - To find a way to only sleep 6 hours a night and not be a total bear (still working on this one)

Basically, indie pubbing is like running your own business - all by yourself. So all the things a business would do - you would do. It's Entrepreneurial Authoring.

I think that is it. But I'm too brain dead to remember.

What do you think?/ Do any of these surprise you?

If you can think of another one, please add it to the comments. :)

On The Bright Side Tour & Cover Reveal

Don't forget Tonight's Indelible Chat For All Writers!
Calling all writers. Go to Indelible blog tonight from 8-9 EST and simply log in at the chat window.  About 20 of us will be there to answer questions about indie pubbing, book marketing, and have TONS of giveaways. Join us!


Official On The Bright Side blog tour announced tomorrow.

Until then, a few of the blog events are happening this week so give them some love too

OTBS Blog Tour stops so far this week:

• Jan 16 - The OTBS inspiration with fellow Indelible, Heather McCorkle 
• Jan 17 - Thuy at Read Now Sleep Later - My View on Guardian Angels
• Jan 18 - May Richard at Firestarbooks- Get to Know Me (The fun side)

Also, I stopped by Shannon Messenger's blog today to talk about marketing to tweens.

On The Bright Side Cover Reveal


YAY! - here is On The Bright Side's First Cover Reveal. Thanks to Story Siren for the shout out today! On The Bright Side comes out Jan 31st, 2012. Yes, I know crazy! Add it to your Goodreads. 

Vania at VLC Photo did the cover again and I love it. I love here :) Checkout her blog because she is currently running a contest and winner gets a cover design! 

On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future. 

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death. 

Praises for On The Bright Side


"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series, soon to be a TV series with 20th Century Fox.

Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read! 
-Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.” 
- Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!" 
- Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)

Teen Book Scene Tour

Untraceable - Official "Teen Book Scene" Blog Tour


Thanks to Kari and Corrine over at Teen Book Scene for doing a wonderful job in creating a great tour for Untraceable. Go here to check out the stops!


Monday, January 16: Stacy M at Urban Fantasy Investigations(Teenage Garage Sale)
Tuesday, January 17: Heidi at The Readiacs (Review) 
Wednesday, January 18: Kristen T at Seeing Night Reviews (Author Interview)
Thursday, January 19: Faye at Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm(Review)
Friday, January 20: Corinne at Lost for Words (Character This or That: Grace)

Monday, January 23: Melissa at Me, My Shelf and I (Book Picks)
Tuesday, January 24: Lili at Chica Reader (Cover Post)
Wednesday, January 25: Stacy M at Urban Fantasy Investigations (Review) 
Thursday, January 26: Faye at Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm (Music Post)
Friday, January 27: Julia at Rex Robot Reviews (Author This or That List) 

Monday, January 30: Heidi at The Readiacs (When I’m Not Writing)
Tuesday, January 31: Kristen T at Seeing Night Reviews (Review)
Wednesday, February 1: Ivy at Ivy Reads (Author Interview)
Thursday, February 2: Lili at Chica Reader (Review)
Friday, February 3: Christie at The Fiction Enthusiast (Character This or That: Mo)