From Indie to Indie

It is no big secret that I love all bookstores but local indies are very special.

What do indies offer that big bookstores don't? They add the heart to Bookland not just a face.

1) Everyone in an indie is knowledgeable about all the books and you know they loves books as much as you do.
2) The bookstore helps the community thrive and contributes to local businesses. Most local stores give back to the community it lives in.
3) The overall ambiance is different and unique in every store. Not all the same. Books stacked to the ceiling. Some in random piles. The smell of books and newspapers. Small coffee areas. It's like reading at home.
4) They provide a physical place for book discussions and book clubs within your neighborhood.
5) They read the books they order.

So yay! Indie bookstores are slowly starting to carry indie books :) It's hard because of the risk on returns and such but some are starting to sell on consignment and a few are stocking books as well.

What a great partnership! Indie to indie.

If you have a local indie close to you - go to IndieBoung.org to find out which books you can buy.

Even though you can get books through Amazon and B&N, wouldn't it be nice to order book from indies all over the US.

Here is Untraceable's link.

Here's a chance to shout out a cheer for your local bookstore. Leave a link in the comment and tell everyone your favorite indie bookstore?

Breaking News! IRDA winner :)

Guys - hold onto your hats!

OMG I just found our I won an award!

I was announced as the winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award for Young Adult!

They announced all the winners at BEA yesterday!

The judges were Kirkus Review, IndieReader, Huffington Post, editors at S&S and Harper Collins, agents at ICM and more.

Congrads to all the indie winners!

Holy crapola! I'm freakin' out/dying right now.

To think where I was this time last year parting with my agent, rejected by publishers, couldn't write, and had no hopes of a future in publishing, this is friggin' awesome!!!!!! Amaze-balls!

I get pretty stickers and a book feature on IndieReader. I also get to be included in some press announcements as well as consideration by a literary agency.

I'm not expecting anything major to come out of this.

But it is just another confirmation I am on the right path, especially at a time where I was starting to question it again.

Keep going after your dreams. No one can't stop you but yourself !

Just keep swimming....just keep swimming!

Thanks to everyone - again - for your support! It means everything.

BEA events/giveaways/contests

I'm not going to BEA (BookExpo America) but guess what - Untraceable is :)

Untraceable (along with other Indelible's books) will be at BEA! If you're there, we're on a shelf in the New Title Showcase, Booth CPQUAD1:

Click here to see map

BEA Untraceable Contest

If you tweet, FB or pin a picture of Untraceable on it's BEA shelf, you will be entered in drawing for a copy of Uncontrollable coming in Sept 2012.

Armchair BEA Sponsor
I'm also a sponsor of Armchair BEA,a huge the book blogger event for everyone who can't go but wants to be a part of it! As a sponsor, I'm giving away copies of Untraceable and my other books today in their giveaway event. Check here for a list of all the giveaways.

Armchair BEA Agenda 2012

Monday, June 4th: Introductions First!

Tuesday, June 5th: Giveaways Everywhere!

Wednesday, June 6th: Networking ... In Real Life?!

Thursday, June 7th: Beyond the Blog

Friday, June 8th: The Future of Book Blogging

My book will see you there!

Help us celebrate INDIEpendence Day!

Hey guys,

Sorry I am MIA. My kids are out of school and I've been on a week writing retreat to work on Uncontrollable. Once kids starts camp next week, I'll be back more. :)

I'm popping to tell you about a fun blog hop the Indelibles are doing to celebrate independent authors and presses.

This INDIEpendence day, the Indelibles would like to celebrate indie authors (self-published and small-press) as a whole by holding up examples of outstanding indie works. The 25 Indelible authors all believe that amazing works of fiction can be found in indie novels. By highlighting and bringing greater awareness to quality indie books, people find great books to read, indie authors get support, and we continue to change hearts and minds about the gems that can be found among self-published and small-press novels.

WIN all around!

Will you join us?

Here's how it works:

1. PICK AN INDIE BOOK: Pick an indie (self-published or small press) book that you either HAVE READ AND LOVED or WANT TO READ. 
2. WRITE A POST: On INDIEpendence day (July 2nd), write a post about that book. It can be a review, an interview with the author, or simply a post highlighting the book. In your post, be sure to include: 1) HOW you found out about the book and 2) WHY you liked it (or WHY you want to read it). Make it easy for people to sample your indie author by providing buy links as well.
3. DO A GIVEAWAY (optional): You can give away swag, or a copy of the indie book you're highlighting, or don't do a giveaway at all - it's up to you! 
4. IMPORTANT: you may NOT highlight your own novel or one of the Indelible's novels (this is a Pay It Forward event!) We think all Indelibles books are high quality and deserving of celebration, but we can do that some other time.
5. GO TO GOODREADS (optional): Add the Indie book or books you're featuring to our ever-growing INDIEpendence Day List.

Easy peasy.

For extra incentive, the Indelibles will be giving away a $10 B&N gift card (to be used on Indie books!) to a random host from the participating blogs! But the real win is a chance to pay forward your love of an indie author's work while helping your friends find a great summer read.

To sign up, go to the Indelibles web site!