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Eye For Her is officially available worldwide. Thanks to everyone that has supported me on this incredible journey and most importantly YOU, my valued reader. I hope that you enjoy reading Eye For Her and that we can share many moments like this again in the future.
]]>It was an emotional rollercoaster writing this one, a journey through the darkest places in the human mind but it was unforgettable nonetheless and I hope you guys enjoy it. There is nothing in the world than can make you feel better as an author than receiving a positive review.
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It was an emotional rollercoaster writing this one, a journey through the darkest places in the human mind but it was unforgettable nonetheless and I hope you guys enjoy it. There is nothing in the world than can make you feel better as an author than receiving a positive review.
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One deadline, I'm certainly not going to miss is the release of my new novel called Eye For Her, it's coming on the 4th of July, 2020. Yes, we're just a few weeks away, and thanks to you guys, and I'm talking to everybody who has read my work or planning on reading it, you've made my dream a reality.
I would describe Eye for Her as a mix of Gone Girl and Shutter Island, possibly fight club. I'm talking about genre here, as this book is utterly unique and nothing like I've read or written before. Anyways more details to come in the coming days, weeks, and release day. Please share, support, notify, scream, jump, contact me, and anything that might help on launch day.
]]>One deadline, I'm certainly not going to miss is the release of my new novel called Eye For Her, it's coming on the 4th of July, 2020. Yes, we're just a few weeks away, and thanks to you guys, and I'm talking to everybody who has read my work or planning on reading it, you've made my dream a reality.
I would describe Eye for Her as a mix of Gone Girl and Shutter Island, possibly fight club. I'm talking about genre here, as this book is utterly unique and nothing like I've read or written before. Anyways more details to come in the coming days, weeks, and release day. Please share, support, notify, scream, jump, contact me, and anything that might help on launch day.
]]>Firstly a short update - The release of my new book Eye For Her will be slightly delayed by a few months due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
It has been a while since my last blog post, been pressed with work and running the rat race. I guess one of the upsides, if there are any, during the Coronavirus pandemic is that it gives you some time to pause and reflect. To lift your head up for some air and rethink what's important...and to write a long-overdue blog post :).
I think that the world needed a breather, and no doubt grounded airplanes and reduced production will certainly help climate change, it is just unfortunate that it took a deadly virus to get everybody to pause for a moment. When I wrote The Voss Coin, it touched on a global doomsday scenario through the collapse/change of the financial system. I think that when the virus does eventually blow over and the world is left to pick up the pieces, this will be humanity's biggest challenge yet.
I hope to speak to you guys again soon in better times and with the announcement of the release of my new book.
Stay safe, follow instructions and always show solidarity.
A.B. Alexander
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A.B. Alexander
]]>I wanted to share with you guys some excerpts from these reviews, it's every writer's dream to have their story appreciated.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"Enthralling from start to finish." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"A wild, dark, sexual and thrilling ride." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Caution, once you read page one, you won't stop." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"One of the most gripping ingenious books I have read." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Conspiracy theory or real? Just fiction or actually possible? This story has something for everyone! My only regret for this book is that I already finished it!" ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"It just has that "it factor" that makes a psychological thriller such fun to devour." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Voss Coin is one awesome psychological thriller." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"This needs to be made into a cinematic version. I'll buy a ticket now Hollywood!" ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Please feel free to reach out and follow my Author Profile pages:
A.B. Alexander Amazon Author Profile
A.B. Alexander Goodreads Author Profile
Looking forward to your comments and reviews. Thank you for your incredible support.
"A good story never truly ends, it stays with you for the rest of your life."
A.B. Alexander
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This compelling novel by Bosnian Author Asja Bakić explores unique an strange universes, where every character is faced with making sense of their existence. It delves into the modern challenges and aspirations that accompany knowledge, power and freedom. This book was translated to English by Jennifer Zoble and is written in a sarcastic prose with great humour, creating a thoroughly enjoyable read.
This is another suspenseful novel that blurs the lines of reality. Four neighbours in the serene area of Clearing, Oregon - find their lives in upheaval when they discover parallel versions of themselves in alternate reality. This novel is brilliantly written mind bender that will drive you deep into the midst of self discovery and the analysis of all the possible versions of yourself that may exist. Kate Hope Day has woven a masterpiece of a novel and it's an absolute must read.
Wolf Pack (A Joe Pickett Novel book 19)
Joe Pickett is back and it's with a bang. This time he is up against four cold blooded assassins that operate on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and are known as the wolf pack. While the bodies keep adding up in Joe's area, he is faced with the most dangerous situation he's ever had to handle. For fans of the New York times best selling author, C.J. Box, this novel is another enjoyable and solid addition to the Joe Pickett series.
Have an awesome week and happy reading.
"Read. Feel. Expand your mind."
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The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
Another thriller coming from the Swedish author's stable, seems like there is a new title every week. The Swedes definitely know how to spin a gripping novel together and this international best seller is right up there with one of the best historical thrillers in many years. It is set in eighteenth century Stockholm and will delve you deep into the dark streets, crimes and personal sacrifices of this time. The precise period is Autumn of 1793, so get ready to travel back in time in this intricately constructed historical thriller.
This book depicts the tragic wildfires that burned through North Carolina in October 2017 that resulted in 44 fatalities and with almost 9000 structures and homes destroyed. The author Brian Fies was among the victims of the this tragic event and lost virtually all his possessions. He created The Fire Story shortly after the tragic events and posted it online. Unsurprisingly, the webcomic instantly went viral. He has now expanded the original webcomic to include accounts of other members of the community. This is a moving, honest account of this tragic wildfire.
Deaf Republic: Poems by Ilya Kaminsky
Ilya Kaminsky's highly anticipated Deaf Republic touches on the atrocities occurring in our modern age and how the collective stands by idly. The story follows the individual lives of townspeople engulfed by public violence in an occupied country. This is an artistic masterpiece by a highly talented Russian writer. In 2009, poems from Ilya Kaminsky's manuscript, Deaf Republic, were awarded Poetry magazine's Levinson Prize. If you're a fan of poetry, well....you already can't wait for this one to be released...and if you're not a fan of poetry, you're about to become one.
]]>Vacuum in The Dark by Jen Beagin
This exhilarating novel is written by Jen Beagin, the award winning author of Pretend I'm Dead. It tells the story of Mona, a 26 year old house cleaner that moves to Taos, New Mexico. Mona gets personal with many of her clients (including a disturbing affair) which spirals her into an emotional journey of self discovery. She must reconcile with her troublesome past to settle on the future. This novel can be hysterically funny and morbidly upsetting at times, so have plenty of tissues on hand.
Ann Leckie is New York Times bestselling author debuting in the fantasy genre with the The Raven Tower. She captivates the imagination by intertwining the fate of divine beings and men into an intricately crafted showpiece. Let your imagination run wild with this showstopper and it's not just for the lovers of fantasy.
After She's Gone by Camille Grebe
Another Swedish crime novel that will make your nail clippers redundant. There have been many Swedish authors that have written enthralling thrillers and Camilla Grebe's After She's Gone only strengthens the appeal of Swedish works. The story is of a murder of a little girl in small Swedish town over 10 years ago. A psychological profiler and an investigator are sent to the town to find out what happened. The profiler suffers memory lapses and is required to jot down details in the diary in order to avoid losing her job. So when the body of the little girl is found together with a shoe of the profiler, her diary holds the clues. This is another brilliantly mysterious Nordic crime novel and I wouldn't be surprised it's also adapted to the big screen.
I hope you enjoy the books of the week and will keep you guys updated on the upcoming best reads every Sunday. Sign up for my newsletter to receive the weekly top three picks directly to your inbox.
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The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in Age of Terror and Trump by Andrew G. McCabe.
Maybe surprising is an over statement, the public's growing distrust of President Trump is no secret and any memoir that's going to spill the beans about Trump is always going to be welcomed with open arms. The book is written by former FBI deputy director Andrew G. McCabe. He served the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 22 years with distinction but with just 26 hours left to his retirement he was fired from his position. If you had any doubts why - Trump celebrated on Twitter: "Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy."
Leading up to the U.S election, any book which is going to shed light on the President's dealings or professional relationships is going to garner tremendous interest. The Threat is currently bestselling based Amazon's pre-orders, which is impressive to say the least. However, it's official release is dated for the 19th February, so lets see how long it will be able to maintain this coveted spot. I doubt it will stay there for long since the author does pussyfoot around many issues and according to a review by the Washington Post, the author notes that he would like to “say much more” about his firing and questions of his candor toward other bureau officials, but that he is restrained from doing so because he is pursuing a lawsuit. Maybe would have been better that he waited until after the lawsuit and we would have received a proper TELL ALL rather than another tip lipped frustrating memoir by a former government official - too many of these floating around already.
]]>Don't get put off by the title, this is not a memoir about President Trump. This is a fictional novel about a post nuclear war world and the surprising and often humorous discoveries of a journalist on assignment at the end of the world. Within the remnants of the internet she finds references to a mysterious figure known only as Birdcrash, that will shape the future. Makes for a compelling read.
In The Dark: A Novel (A DI Adam Fawley Novel) by Cara Hunter
This is the second book in the series and another intriguing mystery for detective inspector Adam Fawley. A woman and a child are found locked in the basement of the house of an elderly man in a quiet neighbourhood. He claims he has no knowledge of what happened and the woman is unable to speak, but there's something strange about the little boy from the basement. DI Fawley must uncover the truth, which is shocking to the core. In the style of Cara Hunter, this is poised to be a gut wrenching mystery that will leave you with significantly shorter fingernails.
Where Oblivion Lives by T. Frohock
It should a great read for anybody that enjoys historical dark fantasy. It is set in 1932, in Spain and Germany, bringing to life a battle by supernatural forces to save mankind right in parallel with humanity. This novel is based on T. Frohocks world of novellas collected in Los Nefilim. So be prepared for some eerily intense fiction.
Enjoy this weeks top reads and stay tuned for more coming next week. Please leave a comment, contact me or send me an email if you would like to be added to my weekly newsletter and receive updates of all the best books newly released directly to your inbox, every week!
Thanks for reading.
]]>The type of military strategy discussed in The Art of War is applicable to every industry. In our modern world, with the ever increasing population, the competition is getting hotter all the time. Whatever industry you're in, you're competing against someone for success and recognition. I wouldn't go as far as to call your competition the enemy but in terms of The Art Of War this analogy fits rather perfectly. Sun Tzu describes that best sort of victory as being one that can be achieved without fighting. If somebody stand's in your way, reach your objective peacefully and do the maximum to avoid conflict and escalating tensions.
If you want to keep progressing in life you've got to be one step ahead of the competition (your so- called "enemy") always. It's not just about seeking success, sometimes you need to just protect your position. If you not going forwards then you going backwards These excerpts by Sun Tzu are priceless gems of wisdom, that can keep you ahead of the game.
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and fight a hundred battles without danger."
"Know yourself but not your enemy, and win one battle but lose another."
Whether you're in business, sports, entertainment, technology, etc. - you need to know exactly what you're up against and what it's going to take for you to make it. The beauty of it all is that Sun Tzu observed that war should be the option of last resort. Just like in life, all too often, conflicts are unavoidable. If you have no choice and must wage your war, this excerpt from the Art of War sums it up:
"Given the nature of war, speed is essential."
The Art of War is complete with strategies and concepts that will keep you ahead of your competition and ensure that your battles are won. From becoming a better manager and ensuring that you and your team see eye to eye, to adjusting to "irregular warfare" and dealing with dynamic conditions and strategy - that is so often the case in our fast moving reality. The book is full of direct parallels that you can draw to your personal life. This is why I believe that it's a must read for everyone. It's actually the art of life not the art of war.
You can pick a copy of The Art of War by Sun Tzu from Amazon. It's available in all formats, including audiobook and kindle version.
My upcoming Novel The Voss Coin, draws on a lot of these lessons to combine a gripping account of defeating the enemy of the worst kind through irregular strategy and well timed strikes.
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1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and narrated by Cassandra Campbell.
The bio of this book doesn't do it justice. Gives off the impression that it's going to be a slow read. I can assure you, this is anything but slow. It's a thriller that both surprises and intrigues at exactly the right moments. The narration is smooth to the ears like a well played cello.
2. Becoming by Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama and narrated by the First lady herself.
So you guys have seen the book everywhere, you couldn't have missed it unless you've been living on some deserted island. What makes this audiobook version extra special is that it is narrated by the former FLOTUS herself. Listening to the author tell her own story in her voice feels that much more powerful and inspiring. Get ready to be moved in a way that the written text cannot, even though the print version was special.
3. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
This story is definitely a lot more crazy than what you'd expect. One of those reads that sucks you in through a compelling account of greed at it's best. Seems that human nature keeps on a certain repetitive cycle that yields a new scam of the century every ten years for billions of dollars. Instead of becoming the new Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Holmes has earned a new ominous title and it makes for a brilliant read and dare I say, just as good a listen in the audiobook version. It's also narrated by the author and hearing him portray this deeply researched story is an eye opener.
I'd say happy reading everyone but I think happy listening would be more appropriate.
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1. Becoming - By Michelle Obama
A gripping and inspiring Memoir by the former first Lady of the United States, now more more commonly referred to as FLOTUS. I'm sure you guys have seen this novel on bookshelves everywhere.
2. Bad Blood: Secretes and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - By John Carreyrou
A brilliant account of the rise and fall of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes. This is the corporate story of the century, which is brilliantly exposed and retold by John Carreyrou. This book is also being adapted to the big screen, with Jennifer Lawrence reportedly to play the role of Elizabeth Holmes. When this hits the big screen, it's going to be the subject of office & coffee shop talk all over. As a reader you owe yourself to be in the loop and enjoy this one.
3. The Reckoning - By John Grisham
A decorated world war two veteran shoots and kills a pastor in a Mississippi Church for an unknown reason and he is willing to take his deadly secret to the grave. You can never go wrong with John Grisham, another awesome read.
4. Out of the Dark - By Gregg Hurwitz
This is the fourth edition of the orphan X series. It is being lauded as the thriller of the year and is certainly worth your time.
5. An Anonymous Girl - By Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Jessica's life unravels when she signs up for Dr. Shields psychology study. An unsettling tale that digs deep into the flawed human nature. An exciting tale told by two authors and that will leave you shocked by the final twist.
All these titles are available as an audiobook through Amazon, Audible or iTunes.
I'm sure you guys are going to enjoy this list, it makes for some intriguing reading.
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Thanks to professional narrators and producers using high end studios, the audiobook content being created is top quality. As a reader you have a selection of over 250,000 titles available through Audible, Amazon, iTunes. This will only keep growing as publishers and independent authors take note of this fast growing industry. Expect to see most if not all of your favourite titles available as an audiobook within the next 24 months.
What about independent writer's, is it a worthwhile investment?
If you're book is relatively short, 20,000- 30,000 words, and is selling 10 or more copies per day, then it's a no brainer. You're missing out on a nice chunk of income. Your investment should recoup itself within 3-4 months. If you're book is a full length novel and sales are struggling, then this is where it becomes a tough call. The main route to producing a quality audiobook is through an amazon subsidiary called ACX. You're facing costs anywhere between $3000-$5000, which is pretty steep, or a seemingly unfair royalty split. Another factor to consider is that some books read well but don't sound good narrated and vice a versa. That could be both an advantage or a disadvantage, making this decision even a tougher one. However with the audiobook industry growing at rocket pace, you're likely going to see production costs come down drastically. In the future, all books produced will have an audiobook version - that's no doubt. The question you need to ask yourself now, is whether you go for it and potentially stand to gain on a booming market where demand far exceeds supply or wait for costs to come down.
It seems that entering early could the be same scenario as catching the beginning of the Kindle and e-book wave. If you believe in your book and YOU DO because you wrote it, spread it across as many platforms as possible if you can afford the investment. That's my two cents, let's see how my own journey goes. Everyone is a prophet in hindsight.
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Let's discuss the most applicable example to writer's, self-publishing. There're over 1 million books self published in a calendar year and less than 1% of these works sell more than 1000 copies. Writing a book is a tough, time consuming project, that requires unwavering dedication and utter belief. There are a lot of easier ways to make money. You look at the stats and the average author makes $500 per year on sales. That's going to deter most people from even starting or completing their project. The START is what STOPS most people. So how can I beat the stats?
Obviously releasing a quality product and giving your best is the basics. However, this goes much further in my opinion. You have to live with the belief and understanding that the stats don't apply to you. You're above the stats. They apply to everybody else BUT not to you and I'm not talking about wishy-washy belief. You have to reprogram your mind with that belief. The moment you live with a vision of success, you'll rise much further than you ever wished or imagined. Your commitment and performance will be unrivalled. You know why this works? Since statistically 99% of people don't think that way. They're the so-called "realists". They live with the "what you see is what you get" from life attitude. They are bound to join the global failure statistics. Therefore, if you think "out of the stats," the success rates will not be applicable to you and your chances of making it soar through the roof. Instead of being 1 in a million, just be the one. There is no one-in-a-million for you. There IS JUST YOU.
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I haven't mentioned anything new to you guys up until now, the advantages of blockchain have been heavily written about and discussed in the media. It was also the basis for the first and highly controversial cryptocurrency Bitcoin. What's the most surprising about all this, is that nobody know's who is the inventor? I repeat, NOBODY. The inventor of Bitcoin calls himself Satoshi Nakomoto and that's it. No other details about the person are known. Now, in today's highly media orientated and digital world that is no small feat. I would go as far as saying that this is JUST as impressive as inventing the technology itself. The other question you have to ask yourself, is why the secrecy? Why not take credit for such a groundbreaking innovation that's reshaping our world?
Even if we say that Satoshi was/is a libertarian, seeking a financial Utopia - today there is no longer a justifiable reason to remain secretive. Bitcoin was dubbed the biggest economic bubble in history and the largest social experiment ever. We can now safely say, it was a failure. It will be never be a mainstream currency since it's purpose was to circumvent our traditional payment system not work from within it. That was never going to happen.
Is there is a dark and sinister secret regarding the Founder or the purpose of the technology?
My novel The Voss Coin is a prelude to the future, where our entire financial system becomes blockchain dependent and a cryptocurrency replaces traditional money. You are thrust deep into the secret nature surrounding cryptocurrency and it's foundations. It's a mind altering journey of sex, greed, danger and self discovery. You never know, it may just take a successful fictional novel to draw Mr. Satoshi out into the limelight. Any great innovator deserves to be recognised.
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Drop the pretences and embrace the temporary. There are few things in life we can control. Only our mindset and choices are controllable. Never be afraid of a fresh start and be willing to take a few risks to step out of this illusion. People chase their dreams and success like they are going to live forever. Putting themselves through the hard daily grind above all. Feeding themselves the mantra of I will achieve success or my dream and I'll be happy. But, hold on, stop and ask yourself , is what I'm doing now making me happy now? If it is, then without a doubt you're living well today and have an even brighter future ahead of you. People are ingrained with the belief of No Pain, No Gain but if you're not enjoying the pain the gain isn't worth it. We spend most of our lives working and unfortunately in our modern world there is often an association between working and pain. That's a very miserable existence. Seek the job that captivates you, what is fun for you and chase it like your life depends on it -because it does. The start is what stops most people, don't let it stop you
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If you're not a professional graphic designer definitely veer away from trying to make one yourself because your hard work deserves better. People actually do judge a book by it's cover, so you afford to screw up this step. I think the two main factors people judge a book by, is the cover and the reviews (covered reviews extensively in previous blog post). You have to get both of them right.
The concept of the cover of The Voss Coin was to convey the code behind this revolutionary digital currency but also hinting at a futuristic and dangerous reality. The cover should trigger within you a feeling of suspense and curiosity leading to the novel itself, which is an unforgettable journey of suspense, action, greed and sex. The book lightly touches on the points of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency but in a self explanatory manner. You definitely don't need any technical experience to understand it. It's an edge of your seat thriller, not a digital asset guide book. Get ready for the journey of a lifetime. At this stage, I would love to hear your thoughts regarding the cover.
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Most countries legally forbid the procedure of euthanasia. The main argument against it being that a person may feel pressured or obliged to go ahead with life termination in order to stop being a burden to their family. Whether it be, financial or physical care. Therefore, laws have been implemented to protect the sick and vulnerable from being exploited, since all life is considered sacred. They say that the law is blind but in this case it cannot be. It's a complete injustice to the people that are faced with this horrid dilemma. Each case needs to be investigated and presented before a judge and jury, exactly like for a murder case. There is a person's life at stake here, so society needs to step up and stop the laissez faire attitude. People in this situation will continue to seek private authorization to get the procedure done in legal jurisdictions and there will be lives lost that maybe should have been preserved. That is unacceptable. I don't believe any taxpayer in his right mind would be against his country creating the legal framework to deal with such cases. There is also a religious aspect to this argument but I am solely discussing the legal implications here. The law is not based on religion. This is very difficult topic to discuss and I'm neither knowledgeable enough or understand the legal framework behind the current law. I merely sharing my humble opinion on an issue that I feel strongly about but am grappling to understand.
Returning back to my novel. Kevin Voss does make a choice but I will leave you guys to be the judge of whether you think it was the morally correct one.
Thank you for reading.
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"No, there must be a way. I will find it." - Kevin Voss
Uncovering the truth is worse than not knowing at all. If you don't know, you harbour hopes of things returning back to normal. Getting your life back, regaining a sense of normality and routine. The truth has shattered many hopes and dreams but most of us still prefer to know it. Kevin is no different. The enemy is of the worst kind. The type that can erase your memory and that of your loved one's for eternity and no one will bat an eyelid.
"I will do this for Lucy and the boys, that's all that matters" - Kevin Voss
He would not sacrifice his family for the greater good. Although, their scheme was equivalent to a financial atomic bomb and the world was going to pay an unprecedented price, he had no choice. His fate was sealed and millions of people would feel the ripple effect. Hunted by everyone, there were no good guys he could turn too. Justice was waiting and nobody could survive. Isolated, afraid and running on survival instincts, he gathers himself like a wounded warrior.
"Stay alive! As long as I'm alive I will find a way." - Kevin Voss
He had a weapon that very few have, his mind. A new kind of war was coming.
Thanks for reading, just a small brief about my upcoming novel The Voss Coin. More to come.
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Always approach your writing from a readers perspective. As a reader you know exactly what makes a good story. You have definitely read more than a couple of epic books in your genre otherwise you would have never been drawn to writing and telling your own story. No matter what your niche is, from action heroes to refugee camp bio's, there is a format to the flow that makes the story enticing. At every stage ask yourself the hard question of whether you find your own material still compelling. You don't need to mimic any particular flow or format but keep re-reading every section you write and be honest with yourself whether you find it an enjoyable read, particularly after you have left your manuscript alone for a few weeks. You may have started well, but the middle or end could be stale or vice a versa. In any case, these are factors that beta readers and your editor will be more than happy to point out. My suggestion is that you ask yourself the hard questions before you even get the editorial feedback. The journey from manuscript until showtime is a long one, ensure that you do your maximum to wear a reader's glasses and not the emotionally attached writer's ones.
Thanks for reading and we are all waiting for your incredible Story to come to life. Bring it on!
]]>The top priority when your book is finally published is to garner reviews and hope they will mostly be 5 star. If you can do this process right, you have decent shot at getting some sales rolling. The Amazon KDP Select program enables you to list your book on a free promotion for 5 days. It will also be part of the Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library. This can be a great way to initially get some reviews. The only drawback to this program is that your book must be sold exclusively through Amazon for a period of 90 days. Considering that they are the biggest self publishing platform, you've got nothing to lose.
Until your book is published, get reading and post some 5 star reviews for other authors. To pay it back is awesome.
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Hype, is the equivalent of a social media post gone viral. Your written work get's sensationalized and word spreads quicker than wildfire. The reason I say sensationalized because their is a lot of Hyped up books out there, that weren't that great in my opinion and that's putting it lightly. A lie travels around the world before truth can step out the front door. The moment you've got Hype surrounding your novel, it's a runaway train that ain't stopping.
Sounds cool, how can I get some Hype?
Unfortunately, everything is about commercial potential and monetization. How sellable is your concept and material? Will it speak to wider audience?
Let's say that you answer yes to both of the above. I think that the only way you have a realistic shot at garnering Fifty Shades style hype is by getting one of the big five publishers to sign you on. That's the core of the Hype, the initial and powerful group, that controls our reading material. If they are excited about your work, Hype is going to travel fast. At the end of the day, we flock like sheep to check what's all the Hype about. Whether that's good or bad, I will leave you guys to decide on that one.
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The reason why governments primarily place their efforts in driving the economy is because a healthy economy gives people freedom. A sound economic environment provides people with choices. This is something the government can control, whereas if they invest in mental health support and recreation it is not guaranteed that it's citizen's will be happy. At the end of the day, happiness is a choice. If you have freedom, you have choices and that is the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, the majority of us take freedom for granted and therefore do not make the right choices.
Freedom = Choices = Potential Happiness
The Voss Coin is a story of liberation and survival. Freedom is everything, happiness is a choice like many other. Make the right one.
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Obviously there are the exceptions, the lucky few whose work get's noticed above the noise and is picked up by a traditional publishing house or goes viral within self publishing platforms. However, we are talking here about a handful within a million or more people. Even if you are relying in being picked up by a traditional publishing house, they will still expect you to promote your own work online.
Since the majority, if not all of us, have to do both. Let's discuss what media channels are an absolute must to drive interest and sales for your novel.
Author Website (An Absolute must - Shopify or Wix)
Blog (Post daily)
Buzzfeed (Post regularly)
Reditt (Post Regularly)
Pinterest (Post Regularly)
This is a pretty exhaustive list and obviously not all. No wonder many writer's get swept away by the digital media tidal wave. This is a double edged sword, because on the one hand you can get much more global exposure than in the past. On the flip side, the quality of writing will definitely suffer and we get swamped with commercialized junk.
Look on the bright side, if you manage to succeed in any of these digital marketing mediums, then the world is your oyster. You will succeed in any business, not just writing.
Thanks for reading.
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