The Measure of Success

Success.  I hope it's not measured by how cool and highly functional one's blog is.  If that's the case, I'm screwed:)  I can't even get my video bar up and running properly.  Grrr! 

But that's not what I want to talk about (I've done enough growling around the house about it already- I need to just let it go, let it go, let it go *exhale* ahhh).

So, I was checking my numbers this morning, as I do obsessively (and I do mean OBSESSIVELY), and I realized that I've been selling books in the UK and I had no idea.  Yay UK!!  I also finally posted my books to Barnes and Noble the day before yesterday and they're selling well there, too.  Yay Nook users!!

Sybil moment:  I think this is as good a place as any to interrupt myself and give a huge THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to each and every person out there who has bought one of my books.  I hope and pray that your days are richly blessed for supporting my work!

Now, back to the paragraph before my Sybil moment.  When I say "selling well", that is a very subjective term.  To me, a brand spankin' new author, I'm tickled to death with any sales.  My version of success is probably far different than that of, oh say, Amanda Hocking, who is probably well into the millions by now.  And I say good for her!

But it occurs to me that, after years and years of working at various jobs that I hated for one reason or another, I am now doing something that I love and I'm actually getting paid for it.  How awesome is that?  How much of a success is that in and of itself?  Huge, I tell you.  HUGE!  Now granted, my very first day of sales brought me a whopping $4.18, but that will no doubt be the sweetest $4.18 I'll ever make.  To me, knowing that someone out there is willing to pay their hard-earned money for something that I poured my heart and soul into is worth far more than just money (please see Sybil moment above).

So, I've decided that success is no longer something to be measured, it's something to be savored.  For me, I've already succeeded at what I set out to do.  Everything else--every sale, every compliment, every good review, every encouraging comment, every happy reader, every awesome person I meet-- is just the best gravy in the entire world, gravy that I've never been more thankful for (please see Sybil moment above...again).

No one else can measure your success, unless you define success by what other people say it is.  It's not, by the way.  Success is what you alone can see when you put the goals you set out to accomplish in one side of the balance, the result of your efforts in the other and the scale tips in favor of your results.  When what you've accomplished is equal to or more than your original goal, you've succeeded.  That, ladies and gentlemen, is success.  That's what you celebrate!

Interview and Giveaway

Misha at My Love Affair with Books was gracious enough to post an author interview and giveaway of The Reaping today.  Click HERE to check it out and enter to win.

Also, I feel remiss in not mentioning Japan in my most recent blog.  It's not that I'm not interested or concerned; it's more that I just don't blog all that much.  They are in my thoughts and prayers, however, as I hope they are in yours.

Sing

Does anybody else ever wake up with a "stick it" attitude?  I do.  Occasionally.  I did today.  Usually this happens the day following some kind of emotional turmoil.  I think days like these are God's way of giving me a break from my neurotic, thin-skinned self.  AND I LOVE THEM! 

It's so unusual for me to NOT care what other people think, how they feel, what they say, how they treat me.  But every now and then, I guess I just get fed up with caring and I get a day off.  A vacation from me.  And it's wonderful.

In light of this beautiful, sunny day and my (literally) carefree attitude, I'm posting "Sing" by My Chemical Romance.  Sometimes we all just need to say what we mean, to scream it out loud and let the chips fall where they may. 

So, world, I raise my glass to you.  Today, I'm singing!

Fire Sale

I guess you can't really call it a "fire sale", but that's what came to mind so I went with it.

I've dropped the prices of all my books to .99!  Seriously, how many great things can you get for less than a buck nowadays?  A cheeseburger?  Nuggets?  Chili?  A movie at RedBox?  Those are all awesome things for .99 and now my books are, too:)

Did that sound totally egotistical?  I hope not.  But I really do believe that I've written quality books, certainly for the price of .99. And I hope that you all see it that way, too. 

And let me say THANKS to all the readers who've given an unknown girl a chance and please, please, please spread the word. And BTW, I think I've decided to go with the vampire books next.  I'm going to pull a Peter Jackson and do all three at once, you know while I'm in the groove and all.  Stay tuned.  I think they're gonna be very different, very appealing and very, very cool!

Happy Monday all!

Do all authors have ADD or is it just me?

A week ago, I had my next three books lined up and ready to go.  And then, as it seems so often to do, inspiration struck.  I had a great idea for a vampire book, a TRUE vampire book, and I can't seem to get it out of my head.  The problem is that I'm almost a quarter of the way through the dystopian novel I planned and had every intention of starting on the sequel to The Reaping after that followed by a whimsical book for the younger kids.  Is it just me or do things like this happen to other writers, too?  All I can think about is this new vampire book idea.

So, then comes the question:  should I put the dystopian on hold and write the vampire novel first?  Should I finish the dystopian and put The Reaping sequel on hold and write the vampire book? Or should I try to push the vampire book to the back of my mind and do as I'd planned? 

I've never put inspiration on hold to stick to a "plan" and I feel a bit traitorous even considering it.  I mean, where would a writer be without inspiration?  And, if you've ever written a book, you know what a beautiful thing it is when you get so wrapped up in an idea, in a concept or in a character.  I almost hate to put that on the back burner, ya know?

It seems there are no answers today.  Therefore, I'm not doing any writing today. I'm only jotting down ideas and letting my thoughts run where they will.  Maybe tomorrow I'll know.  I just have the sneaking suspicion that I'll be writing a vampire novel sooner rather than later:)

But that's ok.  I'm excited to meet my newest friends and get to know them a little better, to join them in their world and help them solve their problems.  In a way, it's like a vacation.  Only it's not. 

Recently, I read a quote from Eugene Ionesco that says, "A writer never has a vacation.  For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing."  I'm convinced truer words were never spoken!  But I love it nonetheless.

The Reaping at .99, a Wiccan Freeby and Trailers up and running

Okay, so obviously I've discounted The Reaping to .99.  YAY!  I've started doing plot outlines for the sequel so I decided to drop The Reaping in preparation for the next one.  It won't be ready for a while yet, probably late April, but I've started the groundwork, so...

Secondly, Smashwords is doing a Read An EBook Week and I'm putting Wiccan in the pot for FREE!  If you want to try something that's like a paranormal romance/murder mystery blend, then check out Wiccan while it's FREE!

And lastly, I finally got both trailers up and running.  It took me forever to hear back from the songwriters, but I finally did.  I had to redo The Reaping trailer and use a song from YouTube (great song, though- I love, love, love Evanescence).  I just really liked it with the song that I picked out for it.  But, the songwriter didn't want it used for anything like that, so I had to set it to different music.  That's ok, though.  The song is great and it still sorta fits.  On the other hand, the people with A Life Divided were awesome about me using their music for the Wiccan trailer and I hope it gets them a ton of sales and attention.  It's a really, really good song.  I'm surprised I've not heard it elsewhere before.  Maybe I'll just be the trendsetter this time.  Yikes!  Watch out world:)

Anyway, having some company for the weekend.  I'm looking forward to it.  I'm gonna eat good food, watch good movies, buy good stuff and laugh A LOT!!  I'm very excited.  I need a nap already:)

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend and that the weather is beautiful.  #sunshine

Wiccan, the book I haven't mentioned yet

It's the strangest thing, but I just realized that in all the excitement over The Reaping, I forgot to mention the book that I just published last week.  It's called Wiccan.  Obviously, it's got a "witchy" element in it.  And while it's definitely a paranormal romance, it's heavier on the romantic aspect than The Reaping was.  Wiccan is totally different than The Reaping, but I really like it.  It flowed so smoothly and so quickly, I finished it in just over 2 weeks.  My husband liked this one, too, if it's any consolation to any male readers out there.

In fact, just the other day, I had to confess to my better half that I thought I'd developed a bit of a crush on Grayson, the main male character of Wiccan.  I don't know why, but he just took shape to me in a way that none of my other male leads have.  It was really bizarre.  As readers, I'd be curious to know if any of you who've read both were able to pick up on my overall fondness of Grayson.  Am I really that transparent?  Probably:)

Anyway, I just posted the book trailer for it.  I finished it the day I published the book, but I just now heard back from A Life Divided about using the music.  I know there's music on YouTube you can use, but I like to find a song that speaks to the book, not just some funky elevator music that's provided, ya know?  I pulled the trailer until I heard back, just like I did with The Reaping book trailer.  Still haven't heard back from them.  I may end up having to use another song for it, which I would hate because "Alive" totally suits the book.  *sigh*  But, we do what we must.  Because we're adults and do to anything less would be...well...not very adult.  *another sigh* I miss being a kid.

Here's the trailer.  Enjoy!!