...Character Happens! Ebook -- now $2.99

$2.99 Character Happens! Ebook. Today I've changed the price for the ebook version of Character Happens! The 5 Most Important--But Fleeting Virtues. You can now download the book onto your iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid, or other phone, all ereader's like: Kindle, Nook, Sony EReader, and others. Ebooks are read mostly (still), on computers. Surprising but true. That statistic may change this year with Apple predicting 5 million in sales of their new iPad tablet computer/ereader/thingy.


Why $2.99 for the book now, you ask? Well...ebooks are a fraction of the cost of a printed book. Amazon has been selling ebooks at $9.99 for some time now. And, there are many books on Amazon and other 'etailers' who have many books for free. My book is 'new' to the marketplace, as am I, a new writer. Until market tested, so to speak, the driving component bringing the product to the consumer...has to be price. Besides, many other writers whose judgment I trust have said ebook sell-through is maximized between the $2.99 to $4.99 price points.

Last week I mailed all backorders for the printed version (paperback, 202 pages). Soon I will be changing the price of the printed version to $15.95. This paperback is available only on my site at the present time. It takes several weeks for book chains like Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as independent book stores to receive the book from distribution. Should you want to order through your local book store, here is the ISBN number for them to order: 978-0-9844462-0-9. The distributor is Ingram.

Thanks to all my great friends and family for ordering my book Character Happens! To those of you who are still waiting...why? Here is a link to Smashwords, my epublisher, where you can sample 50% of the book, free. Thanks again, --gg    (please tell your 'other' family and friends about this book).

...'free' not yet, but almost.

...read much? books, that is. Here's a deal that might interest you. A promotion (yes someone is trying to sell something to you again), whereby they offer books to read, electronic books--what they call ebooks. There are thousands and thousands to choose from, many are free. Many are $.99, which is almost free. What is an ebook you say? It's a book you can get by using your computer, your BlackBerry, your iPhone, your ereader; Kindle, Nook, Sony Readers, etc., downloading them to your respective device...read and enjoy. Simple huh? Actually, it's the future.

This ebook publisher, there called epublisher's naturally, Smashwords is asking book readers to stop by and download the book(s) of their choosing. It's like an open house but your still in your chair staring into your monitor, phone or ereader. Wow!

Recently I uploaded my book to this epublisher Smashwords. I've been selling my ebook since Feb. 16th, for $9.99. At this 'ebook event,' lasting the week of March 7-13th,  my book Character Happens! will be offered for $5.00. This is a book I presold on my site for $25 with a personalization and author signature.

Ebooks cost less. They cost less because there's no paper, people doing the printing, book warehousing or expensive freight to get the book to the retailer. Those costs disappear. Consequently, people 'expect' to pay less for ebooks. Aside from what you and I think sometimes...people are not dumb. Thoughtless is another thing.

Anyway...just wanted to bring this ebook thingy to your attention. Sorry, my book has not got to 'free' yet. Unless...you are one of the 'good people' who bought a book from me last year when I offered them on a 'preorder basis.' These good people will be sent a coupon for a free Character Happens! ebook. They can download to their device or give it away to friends or family. (These chosen people can do with the free ebook as they desire. I will not dictate how they can use the free ebook--it's part of my new years' resolution, not to dictate to people...as much). Anyway, there you go. Enjoy the ebook event and BTW here's a link to my ebook.
 

                              

Writer Interview...Vanessa Leavitt

The following is first in the series of writers interviewed from my ‘Authors Tour.’ Should you have a question for the writer, please comment under this post. The writer will post their answers for everyone’s viewing within the week. Without further ado, I proudly introduce Vanessa Leavitt, thanks for doing the interview Vr....
So you’re a writer...what do you write about?
My current project is a historical fantasy called, "Shaping Fate." It starts off in plague ravaged London, 1349. William Bennett, a young chandler, is forced to make a decision; take his wife and child and flee the city in the hopes that they can outrun the scourge, or stay and take their chances.
  The instant he chooses to run, he is marked with a strange symbol and his wife and daughter fall ill. Upon their deaths, he is greeted by a foreigner, Gabriel, who tells William that he is to become one of the 'Amamri,' a group of immortals who are responsible for shaping and guiding humanity.
  As William learns more, he finds that the Amamri are in part responsible for the plague that killed his family. He is now faced with another decision; to join them or fight against them.
How long have you been writing?
I've been writing seriously for almost 10 years now.
How do you combat times when you’re uninspired?
I read or see a movie. Something to fill the creative well. Lately I've also been taking Julia Cameron's "Artist's Way" course, which has helped immensely for those times I'm feeling blocked or uninspired.
Why is your genre more important or marketable than another?
This is a good question. I don't think fantasy is necessarily more important than any other genre. As far as marketability, it's enjoying an all time high which is great. Really though, I didn't wake up one day and say, "Hey, I'm going to be a fantasy writer." When I got the idea for "Shaping Fate," it was the characters that came to me first. Then as the ideas grew, it turned into a fantasy story. I never really set out to be a fantasy writer. My first attempts at writing and a new project I'm outlining are completely non-fantasy.
What interests you about this specific genre?
What I like most about fantasy is the ability to bend the rules. Eventhough my book is set here on earth, during a very real time in history, my characters are immortals and have certain magical abilities. Granted, they still have to play by certain rules, but it's nice to be able to write a scene that could never actually happen or give people certain powers that they could never really have. I like playing the "Wouldn't it be cool if..." game.
Where can reader sample some of your writing?
I have a blog at www.vrleavitt.com and will be launching a site for "Shaping Fate" in the next year. Stay tuned!

Again, Thank You very much for taking the time and doing the interview. Readers may ask questions of the writer if they like and answers will be posted within the week. Please check back frequently. Thanks, --gg

...'Author Blog Tour' to commence March 3, 2010...

Please mark your calendar—Wednesday, March 3, 2010. This date signifies my first interview of a new writing professional, Vanessa Leavitt. Vr, as she likes to be called will answer questions about her new writing project, a historical fantasy called, “Shaping Fate.” This will be the first in a series of ‘Author Tour’s’ or interview’s of up and coming writer’s—maybe even some you might enjoy. You decide. Please stop by the Character Happens! Blog and taste the styling’s of this new and exciting writer. Thanks, --gg
(bring your inquisitiveness as the author promises to answer any questions you may have)

..."New" book trailer--professionally produced!

Please comment on this version. Leave your comments here: http://characterhappens.com/feedback.html
Thanks, --gg

...book 'trailer' (YouTube Video of Book-Draft#1)

The books text formatting is complete, now all I need is to make the cover file correct before submitting to printer. I say it like what has to be done is easy. It’s not. It’s difficult, particularly when you have to figure things out via trial-and-error. What has been a real learning experience is the creation of the books ‘trailer.’ You’re all familiar with little video snippets or movie previews—well this is the same thing, one minute long, pitching the book. I’ve used MS power-point a few times so it wasn’t totally unfamiliar creating something with this software. From there you transfer the .ppt (power-point), file to a .wav file with a different piece of software. Surprising to me was the ‘free’ conversion software stamping ‘Evaluation Copy’ on the front of the video. Should have known! There’s always a little snafu with ‘free’ software from the internet. Regardless, when I get the trailer in its final stages with script, pictures, timing, frame movement, etc., then I’ll spring for the real thing, obliterating the advertising of the software.

Take a look at this revised piece, it’s a minute long. That’s where I need to be time-wise. Also, I’ve tried to annotate the trailer with music provided by YouTube. It takes quite a while for YouTube to sync the music with the video, so keep checking back. Last time I checked, (Sun. 11:33 am ET), it was still not working with the music. Please leave any comments about the demo book trailer on my blog or on the FB page. I would enjoy hearing what you think about the video, the script, whatever. Also, for those who’ve not already ‘followed’ the books blog, here’s a link: http://characterhappens.blogspot.com/
Hey, one more thing...tell your friends about this book. Thanks, --gg

...Character Happens! nears completion...

Realizing my blog posts are mostly about ebooks, ereaders and the battle between indie publishers and big publishers...this entry will focus on the books progress and completion. That said, it’s important to note my diversion to ebooks and the state of the publishing industry, and proclaim: (1) Ebooks will overtake the printed book (unit’s maybe even sales dollars) within the next 3 to 5 years. (2) Big publishers, (the big six), will continue to deteriorate because of poor sales and authors (and readers) abandoning their relationship for better pricing (commissions and cost per book), as the industry moves further into the digital age.

  Character Happens! is almost through with editing, polishing and author anxiety over every sentence, paragraph and story structure. It’s time to move on. In a move for greater transparency I’ve included some chapter snippets for readers to ‘taste’ the flavor of the book and author writing. This is the way it’s done with 21st century marketing, letting the public sample the product prior to plunking down their money. Marketing considered—I’ve installed a gatekeeper to entrance to the snippets (your email address). Again, this is the way it’s done today relative to book-marketing. Sorry if you find this objectionable. I promise the book will cause you to think deeper about your decision choices.

  Here is a direct link to the books site page relative to the snippets. Please send me your comments regarding what you’ve read of the snippets. I learn a lot from your comments. Thank You.

  BTW, I’ve created a ‘bookplate’ for the book. Don’t know what a bookplate is?

Again, thanks for tolerating my blog posts and my tardiness in getting this book to the public. Maybe (no promises), it will be worth the wait.