My wild ride has Brought A bit of Sadness

It has been the busiest, most exciting roller coaster of a ride in the last month. The opening of Dark Dawn Creations, has taken the majority of my time the last three weeks. So much of it in fact, that sadly, the shut down of Noteworthy Releases is immanent. I've advertized in the only place I can think of for some one to take over, KDP forums, and no one has come forward.

I refuse to sell it to someone who will use it for their own advertising purposes and financial gain. Therefor, it will be closing sometime in the next few weeks. Noteworthy Releases has been like a child to me for the last six months, nurturing it and watching it grow. It is a sad day for me indeed to announce it's closure.

Finally Met My Match

I never like to admit my inadequacies. Who does right? But three weeks into Dark Dawn Creations, and I have found the one and only thing that has thrown me for a loop. What is this thing? you ask. LIGHTNING SOURCE. Never in my life had I heard of it before. Probably because in the age of print on demand and a self pub being able to produce a book for free ( if  your wise) I never ventured far into the Pay us to print your book world.

A few weeks ago I had a commission for a print cover package. Great I say, wonderful series. Absolutely a blast working on the cover. Then it comes time to do the print version, and I find out he's using Lightning source. Never heard of it before so I did some research. OH MY!! The guidelines for a cover are so strict it's insane! Now I'm not a total dip nor a stranger to composing print covers, done it three times now for my own in pdf for createspace. Down load template,  Paste parts, align, export as pdf print ready, away into the printed world you go.

Lightning Source has created a nightmare. While no stranger to CMYK or all of the other color profiles, tif PDF blah blah, I have met my match. Just reading their guidelines and rules gives me a head ache. To top it off, every mistake I make costs my client money. Yep you heard me right, Lightning source charges you for every submission. Tonight I am giving it one more go at creating a lightning source approved cover. If all goes well, you will hear me cheering at my brilliance in a few days. If not, I will bemoan the day Lightning Source set up shop and refund my clients money.

One things for sure, I will never take another Lightning Source commission again.

Writing, Features, and Covers Oh My!

I have recently launched my cover service and my oh my how it has taken off! I'm booked for the next month. Unfortunately this will take away from the next Children of Fury novel and the squeal to Hailey's, but the dust will settle soon and I can get back to writing. I actually enjoy the change of pace. Truthfully I was getting burned out. Helping others out with the bit of a gift that I apparently have is a bonus. For any one waiting for the next in the series, don't fret. They will both be out by the end of the year. : )

Reviews Gone Horribly Wrong

The KDP Forums are great for finding threads about reviewers, and authors "Behaving Badly". Yes one stars reviews smart. Three stars or more are cause for celebration, even if as an author, we find the review system a little stilted. Still there are those reviews whether bad or good, that portray your book in a way that is so off base, I have to cringe. 

Over a two day free promotion of For The Heart Of A Shifter, I received a one star review. Instead of bringing me down, I had to laugh. She was so far off base,it was comical. I have nothing against Cristian romance, I even find it refreshing at times, but this was obviously what she thought she was getting. How I'm not sure, since it isn't labeled that way, my cover is equally erotic, and my blurb makes it clear that this is a sensual book.

Needless to say, she was "shocked" by the first chapter of the book. The language as she puts it was shocking and vulgar and there was a bestiality feel. Ok Language, maybe. I'm a crude woman, my writing is crude, equally so, are most of my characters. But Bestiality? NO Way! I may write about shifters, but I don't go that far.

To make a long story short, most of the "those who bought this book also bought" preview usually sits on a few other shifter stories and the rest of my books. This morning I was perusing the book page, (Thank you to the lovely woman who vindicated the one star review), and this time I was shocked! Instead of the run of the mill books in the also bought preview, there were all kinds of erotic books in their place. I have nothing against erotica, I even consider the Bear Canyon Shifters paranormal erotica. But some of these were bad. Stuff I would never consider reading, or writing in a million years.

I've braced myself for all the lovely returns that will soon be coming my way. All because some woman  felt the need to write a bad review on a book that she should not have purchased in the first place.(Admitted to not even reading past the first chapter) For any readers out there, please use the look inside option before you buy, it's there for your benefit. 

I can only hope that in the days to come readers will be kind enough to write reviews, good or bad, on the book as it really is, an Urban Fantasy Romance.

IT'S HERE! FOR THE HEART OF A SHIFTER

Well it's done! For the Heart Of a Shifter is now live on Amazon! It seems like it's taken for ever to finally get here. The last few months have been grueling, but it has finally paid off. I think I'm going to take a break from Dawn Smith for a while and retreat into another world. No worries, Dark Fury Is still in the works, along with Serina's Promise.  In fact, Serina's Promise has the outline done and two chapters already written. Dark Fury is still in the meticulous planning stage it takes for that particular series.

But for now, take a stroll with Jerrod and Riley, meet some new characters, and maybe come to love some you didn't think you would. For any Nook fans out there, drop me a line if you want an epub version. I'm still floundering on select for this one and it won't be available on nook until I decide.

Finished, But Not Really

It's been awhile since I've posted anything in my rants and raves.Put simply, I've been so busy I have a hard time keeping up with my self! Note worthy releases experienced a glitch in the Google doc forms and I had emails but no names or books. I've been wading through them the last two days trying to get everyone to resend info so I can figure out who is who.

For the Heart of  a Shifter is finally done! Editing is on it's way along with beta reader input. Shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks before it's ready to be released. YAY! Crimson Fury is now on every available channel possible including Omni-lit and all romance eBooks.com. The print edition has had so many problems with formatting that I had to super nova the whole thing and start over. But even that is finally starting to come together. I'm only waiting to approve the proof after cover issues kept it from going through the last time.

All in all I'm as busy as ever, started on the sequel to Hailey's two days ago. Serina's promise. Hailey's was an either love it or hate it kind of book, I'm hoping to make more lovers than haters with Serina's. My writing skills have improved much since last year, and I now know what I didn't then, one beta reader is not and editor!

Today I feel Like an Author

   The latest work in the Children of Fury series will be done tonight. Just got my proof from create a space on the print version of Crimson Fury today. There are a few formatting mistakes that need to be addressed but it will soon be ready for sale. For some one that has grown up treasuring the printed word, to see mine in bound paper is extraordinary. I realize that print books are going out but for me, to hold it in my hands, to open it up and see the words I've written. There is no feeling I can use to describe it.

  Others may not see having your book in print as something so momentous. But for me, it is one of the greatest accomplishments in my life. Today I feel like an author. Happy joy rave done, back to writing!

Smashwords Coupon

New promo for Crimson Fury stars today! Now through May 13 if you visit smashwords and enter Coupon Code: WH37Q you can save 66% off the cover price! Smashwords supplies all available formats so there is no need to worry. Kindle, Nook and Sony are all supported as well as PDF for reading straight from your computer! Get your copy today!

Crimson Fury Expanded Market

Just so every one is aware, Crimson Fury has finished it's run with KDP Select. I have not renewed the contract and Crimson Fury went on sale at Barns And Noble today! For all of you with a Nook out there that have been dying to get your hands on it, (and I know there are a few) now you can. Enjoy!

Back In The Groove

I'm finally getting back into the zone with this book. I've been able to sit down and pound out at least five hundred words for the last three nights. Jerrod and Riley's story is finally coming to an end soon. Honestly I think is has to do with the fact that they are in London with Jade.Jade's Character stirs something inside me. She is like a living breathing extension of myself. When ever she is in the story it just flows.

Busy Bees Never Sleep

   At least it feels that way! In an effort to help others in their quest for success I have begun a new page and started featuring books. OH MY! I never thought I would get the response I did. To keep people from waiting months at a time for me to get to their book up I decided that opening a new page would be best.I can tack on a new one when ever I need to with minimal fuse and still have room for my weekly helpful articles and musings
   On the book front Jerrod and Riley are now in London and S**t is about to hit the fan. I'm having a hard time trying to remember the romance in all of this though. This is going to be a fun edit! I just hope my editor is up for the task!I hope to be done by the end of this month though. I know I've said that for two months but I'm really going to buckle down and get it done this month. I have to, it's get it done or go broke. Sales of Hailey have finally stopped, (Took it long enough) and Crimson's paltry two downloads a week isn't enough for even a proof read.
    Well all in all between kids, books and blogs I'm as busy as ever. Maybe I should think about a real job..... Okay thought about it, not in this life time!
  

Writing is the hardest part

   Smashwords finally got Hailey's down off of Sony! Yay! So why oh why can't I concentrate? I thought once the stress of paycheck woes and KDP violations was put to rest I could finally focus on For The Heart of a Shifter. Try as I might I only managed a thousand words last night. The transition of getting them from Vegas to London is going so slow. I'm going to calm myself and maybe read a bit tonight and see if a little real relaxation will help me get back on track. So maybe in a couple of days I can give you guys a report of some real progress.

WIth a sigh of relief

After three weeks of waiting I can finally say, I got paid!  A big relief has finally swept over me. Now if I could just get smashwords to hurry up and take my book down off sony I would be in my version of heaven. Maybe with one worry off my shoulders I can get back to thinking on my book. A week has passed and I've barely been able to string two paragraphs to together.

As my little world turns

   Everything I have done in the last year has either been to write a book or to promote a book. Now that I have put all my eggs into one proverbial basket I'm looking at my ship sinking. I was notified a few days ago by KDP that my book Hailey's Coyote was never removed form Sony Ebooks store as I requested. This means that I am in violation of my contract with KDP.

   The sad part is that If I can't get this problem fixed, I lose everything I have worked for. They can and will with hold my KDP Select borrows earnings, they can and will ask me for compensation towards money already paid out, and they can and most likely will not let me publish with KDP any more.

   In coming to terms with the fact that Smashwords won't even answer my emails, I have taken a much more unorthodox method to removing Hailey's from Sony. I have uploaded a whole new file in the form of a short poem. I have uploaded a brand new cover, and am giving it away for free. I can't change the ISBN but hopefully it will work. I'm not sure what else to do. What makes it really bad was I took the book down three weeks before I ever signed on to KDP Select. I am really tired of companies thinking they can screw with us because we are self published. If a publishing house pulled books they would be gone before the end of the week.

  All this worry, not getting paid because of stupid little glitches, yep that's right. Still waiting to see December royalties. Smashwords and Sony and KDP doom. I haven't put even a few sentences into Heart of  a Shifter. I can't think. I'm really starting to rethink my plan of self publishing. Maybe I would be better off waiting for a bureaucrat to tell me I'm good enough.

MMM.. A Little Closer To The Sweet Spot

  It's almost time for me to wrap up For the heart of a shifter. This last month has been a series of ups and downs, disappointment with a little bit of joy to take the edge off. I hope that this novella will bring more readers into the Children Of Fury world and get them to take a chance on Jade. I'm sure they won't be disappointed if they do, it's just getting them there that seems to be the hard part. Getting ready to say goodbye to a couple of great characters always gets me a little bummed but I think I have decided to reprise their roles in Dark Fury.
  

Moving On

   I've decided to put the advice of a friend to use and move on. Finishing the current novella is more important than dwelling on the sales reports. Hopefully with enough good books out there people will be more likely to discover me. I've done that, read a book from an author I have never heard of before, Liked it and then promptly went out and bought everything they had ever written.
  So with renewed vigor I pounded out five thousand words last night. It may not sound like much but after the month I've been having it is triple what I'd been doing in a week. It's like the words just flowed from my fingertips. I love it when I get in the zone! I won't make the March 22 release date that I had been hoping for, but if I have more nights like that I'm sure it wont be too far off.
   Much love blogger friends
Dawn

Could Barely Even Give It Away

  So I have come to the sad conclusion that Crimson Fury will be going no where. Countless hours and more money than I should have spent on a book that has great reviews, but wont sell. Free day yesterday was a flop just over three hundred downloads. And the sale I managed to make today was offset by a refund! Probably some cheap wanker that thought it was still free.I said it to a friend last night and I'll say it again, maybe I should go back to writing trash and forget that I ever wrote a real book. Trash sells, real books don't.

Not In Any Way Shape Or Form

   This has been the most disappointing few days of my life. Hundreds of dollars spent to revamp my book and I still got bupkiss. I've sold one, count them on one little finger, one book of Crimson Fury. Granted I raised my price by two dollars, but I would have thought at least with the new cover it would have attracted a little more attention by now. I'm still going through with the free promo, so those of you who were waiting for that don't worry.All I can do is finish up For The Heart Of A Shifter now and hope it draws some attention Crimson's way. I'm wallowing, I;ll admit it. Wallowing in my own pit of self depreciation.

Crimson Fury is done and live on amazon!

  My wonderful team and I, yep that's right I have a team now, have gotten Crimson Fury ready for it's re-release in just a few weeks. A feet that even my editor didn't think would happen. She was sure we wouldn't make my March first release date. But we did and I am so excited to see how it does. For all my blogger friends I have a heads up, the new version of Crimson Fury will be free March fifth in celebration of it's re release. Get it if you haven't already, because of editing costs and cover art I have raised the price. So if you're looking for a free one here is your chance.
 Much love,
Dawn

Half way point

Well I officially passed the half way point of For The Heart Of A Shifter last night. Riley and Jerrod are finally getting along, because they have too! PIC isn't far behind and Happy has refused to save their butts. (Jade isn't happy with Happy about that one!) AH well I'm sure they can figure it out together. If they don't kill each other first!

Got my cover samples today

  I'm so excited!Indie Designz Just sent the cover samples to me and wow! It's nice to finally see Jade and Ethan brought to life! She really did a great job of personifying the characters and the feel of Crimson Fury. I can't wait to see it in final draft. I'm so glad I found this artist. I think we will have a good long lasting relationship. Indie Designz will definitely be my go to for cover art from now on! Just a few more weeks and Crimson Fury will be ready for re-release. I'm really thinking about doing a free day to celebrate!

It is Done.

Today not only did I commission the cover for Crimson Fury but I have sent it in to the editor as well. I'll tell you what blogger friends, it's a scary thing indeed. It's almost like giving your child over to a stranger to watch for the day. My palms are sweaty, my stomach is in knots, I almost started to hyperventilate!Crimson Fury is my pride and joy. A year of my life went into the making of that book.
  My mother and friends keep telling me to have faith, that the stranger isn't an axe murderer and just might turn out to be Mister Rodgers. I sure hope so. Switching topics mid thought, For The Heart of a Shifter has gotten it's cover done today. I'm hoping to be done in time to have a release date of March 22,2012. We shall see. It's slow going at the moment last night for some reason the dialogue was killing me. I couldn't seem to make the two MC's play nice. He was an ass, she was a bitch. So I quit for the night hoping they would get along better today.
  Well off to continue the Children of Fury saga. May Crimson Fury come out just the way I hope it does, and Riley and Jerrod learn to be nice to each other!
  Much Love,
Dawn

Hailey's has finally died

  Well it had a good two month run but Hailey's Coyote has finally bit the big one it seems. After a slow but steady first half of the month, Sales have completely halted. Haven't sold a single one in days. My only hope now is that I can get Crimson Fury in to edit and cover soon. The Heart of A Shifter should be finished by late next week too.This Is where it gets tricky, I have more money going out in a single month than I have coming in. Spending money to make money and all that. Sigh I just hope that once it's been fixed Crimson takes off, because I am invested in Jade's world now and she is my only hope. I bet she'd call me a pussy and tell me to man up!

Finally a novella I can sink my teeth into

Well blogger friends, after many failed attempts I have finally found a novella I can stay attached to writing. It will complement the Children Of Fury series, tentatively titled The heart of a shifter. I plan on bringing in a few minor characters from Crimson and fleshing them out a bit before their bigger roles in the sequel. While the MC's will be new to the series they might reprise their roles in the next book as well. I'm working on a rough concept for Dark Crimson so I can add them in if I find a place for them. I can only hope that the novella will do well until I can finally get Crimson Fury fixed. Gonna need that money to further the Fury series. No more unedited text or crappy covers for Jade. Well back to writing.
 Much Love,
Dawn

Note worthy release

Well a fellow author friend of mine has just released a book that is so worth mentioning! Adasia Released  by Damien Darby is now on Amazon and Smash words. He has come a long way as an author and it is his very first in the Urban Fantasy genre. Brilliant new take on the same old same old. Hope you guys get the chance to check it out.

Returning books that are under 200KB

Maybe it's just me, but I honestly think you should not be able to return a novella on Amazon. I think it's really unethical to buy a book that you can read in like an hour and then turn around and return it. Take Hailey's for example. It is less than 150 "pages" long. It has bad reviews up as well as good. The blurb and tags explain what the book is about. If you choose to buy it any way, then that is on you. Seven days to return a book? Book stores would look at you like you were crazy if you read a book then a couple of days later turned around and returned it. They would know you read it, creases on the cover would tell all. But yet because it is digital that gives people the right to return it just because they didn't like it?
  How many books has some one bought that they didn't like? I've bought many. Even from Amazon that I regretted spending my money on. But I bought it. My foul. Why would I turn around and ask for my money back? The world has come down to people who wouldn't know honesty if it slapped them in the face.
   I might be wrong,and there are plenty of people who accidentally down load a book they didn't want. Not likely if you ask me. Just saying. That coupled with the fact that if it's free a book can get hundreds of downloads in a day. But once it's back up for money (a whopping 99 cents) it falls off the radar.
   So this post definitely falls under one of my rants. It's something that has bugged me for a while though. Does any one out there disagree? Talk to me people ! 

Finally finished chapter two.

After much writers block and wandering mind I have finally finished chapter two of the new book. I think it is the lack of response to Crimson that has my mind tied up in knots. I can't seem to focus on the new until I have resolved the issues with the old. Only a few more weeks and I will have the money to put Crimson through it's professional make over. I can't wait. It will be a giant weight lifted off my shoulders. Until then I guess I will just continue to trudge through the new one and do some serious editing later. The thoughts are there, they just aren't coming out the way I need them to.
   Much Love Blogger friends,
  Dawn

In this Place.... Dawn Smith Books

This is the place where you will find what used to be on my main page. Everything about my daily aspirations, inspirations and frustrations can now be found here. It is this page that will be updated on an almost daily basis. If you are new to my site, I hope you find some helpful information here. As always I would love to hear from you and will answer each and every comment that I receive.
   Much Love,
    Dawn