My Experience with Apple’s Cover Requirements

August 31, 2013 in General Topics

I’m going to keep my emotions out of this, and simply be as transactional as possible regarding a situation that’s arisen between myself and Apple. Call it a warning, or a heads-up, or a complaint, or what have you.

I use Draft2Digital to publish my ebooks on iTunes\iBooks, because I’m not dropping $600 or whatever on a Mac–a ridiculous requirement, by the way. Draft2Digital is amazing. I’d love to name the person involved in D2D’s camp, because they were a jewel at helping me jockey with Apple, but I’ll refrain. In any event, I want to stress that D2D had nothing to do with the problem I’m about to relate.

Anyway, my covers run me anywhere from $25-$50 a piece. I use a contractor to do them, and I think they do a fine job. It matters if I have to get them replaced. Matters a lot. Matters to the tune of expense. This is a business. Costs aren’t invisible, and can’t be shrugged off. Read the rest of this entry →

Continue the Beacon Saga with Part IV, live now!

August 30, 2013 in General Topics, Slideshow Topic

beaconIV_300pxI’m thrilled to bring you Beacon – Part IV, the latest installment in the Beacon Saga. This one’s even longer than Part III, packing in sixteen thousand words of prose for your enjoyment. I do hope you like it. If you want to skip the rest of my sales pitch, just head right here to find links to the installment on your choice of platforms (with my thanks). And if you want to use one of the “like” or “share” buttons in this post, that would help, too. Remember, if you’re sitting on the sidelines, that you can grab Part I absolutely free (where available).

Still here? Then have a gander at the blurb:

They thought they were safe. Instead, they’re targets. Part IV of the Beacon Saga.

What should have been a triumphant homecoming becomes utter chaos. Abandoned by their friends, and assaulted by unknown forces, the scouts must play a dangerous cat and mouse game through Beacon’s mysterious third layer. They will uncover many secrets. But the most shocking will be what’s happened in orbit while they’ve been gone.

A serial installment of sixteen thousand words. Part V coming soon.

And yes, Part V will be coming soon. Then VI, then VII, and however many it takes until the Saga is wrapped-up. When I make a commitment to my readers, I stick with it.

Speaking of, none of this would be possible without those of you out there that are supporting me and spreading the word about my fiction. You really do make a difference, whether it’s leaving a review where you bought the book (which helps so much), or on Goodreads, or especially recommending my work to a friend, or what have you…every little thing you do makes ripples toward the success of this series. You rock.

Well, don’t let me keep you any longer. You’ve got a book to read. And remember, too–your honest feedback helps me improve, so whether you want to leave it on one of the vendor sites, Facebook, Twitter, or just email it to me–I would be honored to have it.

Stay tuned.

Contest!

August 2, 2013 in General Topics

The other day I was talking to my friend and colleague, Susan Kaye Quinn, about our respective serials. Susan is a solid writer currently tearing up the charts with her Debt Collector series, which features a reluctant young man named Lirium (short for Delirium). Lirium has the astounding ability to harness and transfer life force from one person to another, and he does it all under the full sanction of the government.

We thought it would be fun to pit our worlds against each other: the chilling world of Susan’s Debt Collector serial against the dying universe of the Beacon Saga . You get to vote which you’d rather live in! And enter to win a free episode from each serial!
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Beacon – Part III is live!

June 14, 2013 in General Topics, Slideshow Topic

beaconIII_300pxIn the immortal words of C-3PO: “Here we go again!”

The third installment of the Beacon Saga has gone live. This puppy packs in fourteen thousand words of story.

Just go to this page, and select the buy link for the site appropriate to your device–with my thanks, of course. Here’s the blurb, just to tease you that much more:

An unlikely quartet of scouts have dodged the Shroud and crossed hostile space to a new star. But an impossible discovery–and a sudden disaster–will test them in ways they can’t imagine.

Part III of the Beacon Saga. Fourteen thousand words.

Read the rest of this entry →