I can hear the gasps and see the severe expressions of disapproval from here. Before you condemn to the deepest pits of Tartarus, let’s talk about what it means for authors in this day and age to be on third party sites. Most people realize that authors make most of their money in sales. In the epublishing industry, that royalty is larger when the sales are done on the home site, aka the first party or first point of sale. A couple of my friends and I compared our last quarter statements, making sure to see how sales stacked up between epublisher and third party vendor. One thing we all noticed was a significant increase in sales through the vendors. Though we make less in royalties, the amount of sales does show that people are shopping where it’s easiest to get all their shopping needs done. Yet, when you compare the sales figures for the same books for that quarter we’ve been finding the sales are actually even if not higher for the 3^rd party vendor.

So the question is for authors—what’s really best for you and your books? How can you make sure you’re getting not only what’s best for you in terms of distribution but also in income? This is where things can be a bit sticky. The rates of what various third party vendors take as their cut can vary- some being reasonable while others can take quite a lot of money from you. The idea here is to not put all your eggs in one basket- make sure your publisher is using various methods of distribution- thus increasing your chances of getting your name and your books out to readers. What else can you do for yourself? Simple- tagging them if the third party sites allow it- and if they have Like buttons for Facebook, make sure you use them. This lets people know that your books are at certain places and can be used in those areas. This is a great way of not only showcasing yourself, but when you see the “If you like this book, then you might also like…” your name can find its way among them.

Another pro-active stance is to contact places like All Romance ebooks and see what promotion services they have that you can participate in. This will help you to not only develop a following on their site, but will also create a great working relationship with a vendor that can endorse your releases as well. If you’re an affiliate on Amazon, do a video to promote your works and let readers hear your voice. If you’re part of Barnes and Noble, go to their stores, see about doing a talk on ebooks and ebook readers. Take advantage of any and all opportunities that only print authors used to do, but put more time and effort into how to spin the new technology advantage into something others can enjoy. If people have smartphones- introduce them to the apps for Nook and Kindle. Show them how they can read your books on their phone simply and easily.

Third party vendors will continue to grow in market share when it comes to ebooks. Why? They’re the ones who had the lead when it was in print. Think about it- who did people buy their books from when books were only in print? Third party vendors. That’s right- the stores you buy books from vendors- not direct marketers. In fact, in some ways, it’s leveling out the playing field between print and epublishing. So, if print authors can make a lasting and great relationship with these vendors, so can we. More importantly, together, we can create new and exciting ways of promotion to make sure readers not only see our books, but also see our fellow authors whom we work with day in and out. Think of this as diversifying ourselves so we’re readily available to the consumer on their schedule, not just ours.

Just like we learned to work with review sites, in fact using them to help launch new series and to promote ourselves, it’s time to open up our doors to learning to use the third party vendors in the same manner. Not all of them might be willing to help in such a way, but many will provide various opportunities for marketing to readers for a small fee or even for free. Make a list of those options, compare, plan and see how to best provide yourself with those ways to build up your reader base as you continue your writing.

Third party vendors are no different than my publisher in my eyes. They still pay me- just differently. They have my books out for me to show to readers. (You want to hear squealing? You should have seen my friends at work when I showed them my books at Barnes and Noble.com on my Nook Color- I was so proud of myself!) Ebook readers are catching on, just as smart phones are also allowing people the joy of reading on the go. So take advantage of it- spread the word—BUY MY BOOK! Who knows- they just might- from whatever their favourite online store is. It doesn’t matter where they buy, just that they do.

She has a fantastic cover too! Take a look!

How does this put me for the coming week? I’m working to try to make the same or more for this week. So feel free to cheer me on, kick my butt, or send me inspiration. In fact, the male and I had date night Saturday  and we went to see Season of the Witch. I really enjoyed the movie. It really helped to push some serious creative mojo in the well and also got my mind thinking in various ways in regards to medieval times, witchcraft and how times have and haven’t changed. Really helps when it comes to the fact I write a lot of pagan themed books.

Do I recommend seeing the movie? Yes, if you want to see some cool CGI, some battle scenes, and something that will make you think. No, if you don’t like to spend money and if you know a lot about the medieval times and how the Church viewed witchcraft and women in general. There are a couple of surprises I won’t spoil for you as they really helped to move and develop the plot along, let’s just say– they do really well with some of the red herrings. Oh yeah, Nicholas Cage looks verra nice in the movie and the young Kay looks very roguish himself! *grins*

I prepare this holiday season with a heavy heart because things haven’t gone as I wanted them. But I’ve realized the past couple of days that it doesn’t mean I can’t make things better as I go. I can. I just have to believe in myself and those who love me to do so. I’ve been making some jewelry for those I love and I’ve been working hard on getting some other things finished as well. It’s not been easy trying to get things done with all the extra medication and tiredness I’ve been experiencing the past month. I’ve not said anything to those who know me, but I agree with my specialist– my lupus is active again. I should be getting my test results shortly– okay, right now, and yeah, we’re right. It means some prednisone time on top of other stuff, but I’m hoping I’ll be feeling better over the next month or so.

Right now, I’ve got my slow cooker pork veggie soup cooking. It’s fun, easy and colourful. It’s also good for you and really healthy as well. I’m debating on thickening it up once it’s done, but maybe I will. So how do you make this delicious treat?

Pork Loin and Veggie Slow Cooker Soup

1 pork loin, about 2lbs. diced if not frozen, or cut into chunks if frozen

1 box chicken stock

5 stalks of celery, deleaved, cleaned and diced into bite size pieces

10 baby carrots, diced

3 small white potatoes, diced and parboiled in boiling water for 10 minutes

1 small onion, peeled and diced

1 can diced tomatoes

2 ancient red peppers, deribbed, deseeded, and diced

1 tbsp chicken soup base

2 cups water

2 tbsp blueberry promengranate red wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic, diced finely

Mrs. Dash, Garlic powder, basil, Italian seasoning mix, and salt (amounts to taste)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In slow cooker, layer all the veggies in first. Then mix thoroughly with the stock, soup base, red wine vinegar and seasonings. Add in the pork and cook on high for 4 hours. An hour before serving, add in the 2 cups of water and shred pork to bite size pieces if you’ve not done it in the beginning. Add more seasonings like salt and pepper to taste at the table.

So come and join me!

Synopsis:

When Baby meets Harley, sparks fly and not all of them good.  The man wants her bike for Pete’s sake and has a jealous streak a mile wide.

There’s no way Baby can run a motorcycle shop on her own, not without some serious backing and the mysterious Doc seems the likely candidate.  Just what is Baby doing to earn the backing of the mystery man?

Follow the noise of rejoicing! Yes, I am too. Granted I’m in edits for it and for Love Beyond Time. It took a major act of change to really get me grooving with both sets of edits now. I’m feeling better and at the same time, I’m feeling like I’m coming home at last. It’s not easy, oh gods, it’s so not easy. But at the same time, I’m at that point where I’m able to move myself forward now– see what I want to do and how to go about it. Which means one thing majorly– I’m getting into the writing habit because I’ve got to edit. LOL

The other happy thing is that by doing this, I’ve made myself happy. Really. I’m feeling so relieved and at the same time, happy to offer readers something they’ve never seen before from me. Part of me wonders what you’ll think, part of me hopes you’ll like it. Part of me wonders if this means that I can write contemporary on occasion. But happiness abounds regardless.

I sit here right now, looking at pictures of my mom, who died of lung cancer two years ago. She was my muse and my cheerleader in my writing- someone who has been missing majorly in my life. When I got the news that I went from zero to a step below uterine cancer- I desperately wanted my mom. She would’ve laughed at me, said something pithy and told me to get on with things. Knowing that she hadn’t taken care of her health like she should have hurt me more than I can say. Not having her here when I had my close call with cancer– knowing that had I waited- I would have had it- just closed me down emotionally. My male’s sister is fighting against breast cancer and doing awesome, just finishing her last chemo treatment before surgery and being a serious inspiration.

I faced myself this week. Faced how much losing my mom hurt my writing and hurt me privately. We shared a love of reading romances and mysteries. She indulged my book slut habits growing up and she taught me how to read fast and to get not just the theme of a story, but the deeper meaning of it for myself. I miss her all the more with this close call and with needing her to kick my ass on my writing.

She’d be proud of the weight-loss and she’d laugh at how I reacted to the news I could workout on a small basis. I’m finally at the relief stage of the close call- really truly relieved that I don’t have cancer, though the scare is still there. I kept my ovaries, so there will always be a risk for cancer in the future- something my doctor and I will monitor regularly.

Today, I have pictures of my mom on my computer desk as I try to finish my story to submit to Changeling Press’s Contest. I’m hoping by remembering my mom, her unconditional belief in my writing, and her love will help me get past this writing block I”m having. I’ve got my creativity well filled to the brim, but I need to make room since I now have a filled waiting room of stories needing to be told.

If you are a woman– get your annual Pap Smear test. Don’t put it off. Don’t skip it. Tell the doctor if you’re bleeding heavy or if you’re having other woman troubles. It could be something that can’t be easily detectable except by these things we normally don’t talk about.

If you’re a man- get your annual prostate exam. It’s not fun, but it’s important. The life you save might just be your own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Witch Sisters~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Remind me next time that our sisters ask us to do a favor for them. Next time we say no.” Said Tamara to her brunette sister, Kayla. “I cannot believe we allow them to put us in this position.”

Kayla grasped the overhead bar, swung back and forth before somersaulting over the fence. She waited patiently while Tamara followed her over the fence. Quietly she whispered, “It’s not that our sisters do not care for us. It’s just that we’re the only ones able to do this well, breaking and entering.”

Tamara shook her head, following her sister as they encroached upon the locked warehouse. “Our sisters are witches just like us. I’d don’t understand why the hell were the ones that have to do this.”

Silently the sisters made their way to the door avoiding all cameras. Pulling out a slim set of picks from her back pocket, Kayla made short work of the lock. Silently they entered the darkened warehouse, careful to keep only their witchlight as their only light source. Neither sister said a word, as they took a point working from left to right, securing the warehouse main room. Satisfied if there were no other people in the room Tamara spoke first.

“All I see are boxes. Granted some of them are filled with things I haven’t seen before, and others are filled with imported items like ivory, which is illegal, coffee beans, even paints. Why the fuck did Sirena, Kelly and Fiona want us to look into this?”

Kayla shrugged while opening a sealed box marked with “do not open.” Once the box was opened, she lifted out a couple of rolls of silk before exclaiming, “Oh fuck me sideways, we’re in deep shit, sister! We’ve got to get the fuck out of here now!” Slamming the lid of the box, Kayla backup three steps and began speaking in bastardized Latin, weaving a spell of containment around the box.

Tamara rushed to Kayla’s side, bringing forth her witch energy into her sister’s. “Do I dare ask why we’re using the containment spell upon that box? Or should I just shut the fuck up and go with the program here?” The box shuddered as if trying to break the spell. “Just what the fuck is in that box, Kayla?”

Kayla shook her head, while her fingers twisted together and apart solidifying the binding spell. “There’s a demon in there. Worse yet, each linked to water.”

Tamara muttered, “Oh shit, who the hell on earth unleashed water based demon?”

“This would be what our sisters want us to look into,” Kayla responded as she stepped forward, urging more energy into the binding spell. “I’m thinking that whoever owns this warehouse is probably responsible for the increase of demons that’ve been released into the city the past few weeks.”

“And since were the only publicly known witches who will also handle demons, our lovely sister sent us to deal with it. How fucking wonderful. Let’s fire this bitch up a bit, shall we?” Tamara began weaving heat into the containment spell. The sisters amped up their powers together, containing the demon as it wailed its protest at being bound from the mortal realm. Tamara spoke clearly, “Now that you are bound by that which you may not cross, you are sent back to the realm from which you came. May the one whom summoned you be cursed with the pain he’s caused many others. Be gone, so we speak, so it will come to be.”

“So mote it be,” Kayla intoned. With those words, the power within them grew higher, calling upon all the elements- fire, water, air, earth, and spirit—taking the demon back into the dark realm from which it was born. Finally a large popping noise signaled the close of the portal between the realms. The spell collapsed upon itself as the box disintegrated. Kayla slid back her energy as Tamara did the same. Staring at each other, they turned their gazes to where the box once resided. “This is some kind of fucked up shit, Tam. Who the hell would bring a third level water demon to Silver Spring?”

“That is the question, isn’t it?” Tamara stretched her arms overhead, her body popping the stiffened joints from using that much magick. “You know I hate it when we can’t use our magick items to put those buggers back to where they belong when we’re caught off-guard like that. This expending of energy sucks. We better hope that no one else realizes we’re here.”

Kayla sighed. “Our entrance was discovered the moment I started the spell, Tam. If we’re lucky, we might have five minutes to get out of here. Otherwise, we’re SOL.”

“Hell no we’re not shit out of luck,” Tam responded, running to the front door of the warehouse, checking to see if anyone was heading their way. “So far, so clear. You think a warlock or a demon practioner called it up?” Tamara waited until Kayla joined her. Feeling her sister’s signed touch on her right shoulder, she walked out of the warehouse. “I can’t sense anyone watching us, how about you?”

“There are sensors out there, but none sensing for witches. We’re safe so far. But we’ve got to get moving,” Kayla whispered as they headed towards the fence they had came in at. Carefully, Kayla helped Tamara up to the pole above the fence, then waited until Tam reached down to lift her up. Swinging, Kayla swung over the fence and onto the other side, landing carefully in the grass. Her sister landed at her side. “Let’s go. They’re getting ready to send out the dogs, and they aren’t your normal every day security type.”

“Hell hounds?”

“Either that or the elven hunting hounds,” Kayla answered running towards their waiting SUV. “Come on, we’re about out of time, Tam.”

“Coming!” Tam turned at the passenger side and aimed at the fence, lighting it up in elven magick. “There that should mess them up for a while.”

Both sisters buckled up as Kayla started the engine. They raced for the nearest road, careful to keep track of anyone trying to trace them. Only once they reached the outskirts of their family home, did either of them relax.

*****

“Did you see who got in here?” The tall man growled at his employee.

“No, sir. They were cloaked well. Only at the end did we get an Elven signature from the fence which sent the Hell Hounds into an almost uncontrollable frenzy.” The young man gulped as he saw the static filled footage of the main room in the warehouse. “Sir-“

The dark man snarled in anger. “I see that, Mr. Mahoney. Whoever the hell got into my warehouse managed to send back my water demon too. I want a complete workup of energy signatures and who among the paranormal set can make this happen. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir, right away sir.” The scared young man turned away from the dark skinned, dark haired man.

“Once I find out who managed to evade all my security precautions, I will make them pay for it with either their lives or offering them a chance to work for me. Perhaps they wanted to show me their skill in what they could offer me, Niro de Poncere. But there is the fact too that many of the goody-two-shoes out there don’t want to deal with the other side or the darker aspects of power.” Niro walked away from the security office, heading down to his private office where a small blackened altar stood. “When I find them, and it had to be two of them, I will offer them the chance to join me or watch me destroy everything they love- right before I take their powers for my own.”

Inhaling deeply, Niro struggled to calm his powers before they wrecked havoc on the instruments Mr. Mahoney was using to find out who his intruders were. Lighting a candle first, Niro forced his thoughts into the orderly rhythm he had learned as an infant. “Focus with light, focus on what was, and then only can you see past it.” As his control reasserted itself, he lit a second candle using a small piece of magick, invoking the god whom he chose as his patron deity, Loki. “Hear me, Loki, deceiver and bringer of chaos to those of Asgard and Midgard. I seek the knowledge of who was here and how to find them. Help me and grant me this and I shall grant you my body as your avatar once again in exchange for one night.”

“Do you think that’s enough payment considering that I’ll have to deal with other gods and goddesses to find those you seek,” said the slick voice of Loki behind the man. Niro turned to face his god, bowing slightly to the tall, lanky deity. “I hardly think that eight hours is enough to satisfy what I’ll go through to find the information you want, Niro. However, if you’re willing to let me work some of my magick around here, I think perhaps we might have a deal.”

“No, kind Loki, though I wish I could- your magick would undo every magick lock and containment within this building,” Niro replied, keeping his guard up. It never paid to undermine Loki nor his powers. But there were ways around it, if one knew enough about the desires of the gods. “However, I could offer you them as your playthings once I’ve gotten how they managed to defy my systems from them.”

“I doubt you’d leave them their powers, Niro,” Loki chided, shaking a finger at him. “I’m not that easy to get around, darkyn childe. Remember that my lot created you and my lot can destroy you. So, I’ll make you a deal- I’ll keep one of them as mine- power intact, you get the other one to do as you wish- once I find out who they are and whom they belong to among the Pantheonic realm.”

“Agreed.” Niro had no fears of convincing Loki otherwise, he’d been doing it for years now, and still the trickster god hadn’t discovered his deceit. He couldn’t wait to see just who had invaded his territory and make them pay. Make them all pay, just like he had paid for the gods forsaken Elves had done to him all those years ago.

Which brings me to today’s topic– books I’ve read. Well, I’ve reread Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series. I needed some Jenks time and to get back into my urban fantasy roots. Then I went and devoured my Changeling Press books I bought. *giggles* I’m in love with the Bedtime Stories line. I’m happily enjoying them and can’t wait for more to come in that series. Then I am trying to desperately hold off on Flash Point by Lena Austin because that’s my reward when I”m done edits…but it’s hard to not read it. But I did finally sit down and read book 1 in the Men of O.D.I.N. series. WHOA, hold the pegasi and get me a Beserker baby! Good gods above and below, this book was fantastic! Granted, I’m a fan, but that’s not the point. The point is the book is stellar in its writing and the details in it flow so fast and yet you get it all as you’re voting hard for Jericho to succeed in not just getting Wendell to trust her, but for them both to get beyond the past. But when Allfather does his thing…*screams* OMG, I was like– I need to kick ass, right now!

I’m trying to hold out against reading Angela Knight’s latest, Dhampir, but I’m one of the AK’s slut puppies and I won’t be able to hold out much longer. *looks at pda with Dhampir already waiting to be read* Yeah….holding out is not working well on this end. It’s hard when I have new books by favourite authors and authors whom I’ve gotten a chance to talk to and know through the years. It makes it a compulsion to read their books and finish them NOW. (You have no idea on how hard it is right now to not read both Lena’s and AK’s. It’s just killing me here. Not to mention every time I load them up, I have to force myself to walk away….go do something else– like workout.)

Yet, this sick time has become a productive time for me as well. I’m training my Dragon Naturally Speaking so I can use it when the wrists begin the screaming in agony thing they’ve been doing more often than not. I’m waiting to see when I can have surgery on those bugabears so I can get better and type more. But I’m also at a point in my Marauder story where I’m able to plot out the major points of Elathan’s story. Do I have a clue on where it’s going or how it’s going to end? Not just yet, though I’ve got some lovely cinematography happening in the mind lately. Which brings me to the other part of this reading and occasional watching of movies. I’ve been lucky– I’ve been putting input into the well of creativity, which is good since my therapy has been seriously making me emotional. I had my first major panic attack on Friday– and I mean major as in I flipped out completely and utterly to where I almost wanted to go to the hospital- I was that scared and terrified without knowing why. The only things that helped were talking to some friends and reading the stories my friends wrote. Without those two things, I don’t think I’d have made it through until my male came home. I really don’t. They might not have been able to physically hold my hand– but Mina Carter, Selena Illyria, Michelle Hasker, Lizzie Lynn Lee, Lena Austin, and others held my hand figuratively until I could regain some control of my fear and until my male came back home. For that– thank you. Thank you for giving me something I couldn’t do without– a way to move my mind away from the fear to something a lot more pleasant.

Today, I’m trying to play catch up on some things– email, updating my Dragon Naturally speaking to make it more Cyn-fied, and doing my therapy homework. So, I’m on and off the computer, trying not to overdo the eye strain until I can find the right settings to help me work smarter. Plus, I hate when my fingers go cold and slightly numb, like they are right now. *sigh* But trust me– if you’re looking for books to read– go look at the latest at Changeling Press. I’ve spent a LOT of money there the past few weeks and trust me– it’s worth it. Stories that engage you, get you feeling romantic, aroused and even more importantly- let you forget the stuff that’s bothering you so you can come back to it feeling refreshed and ready to deal with it all. So…umm…..*looks at pda*….. I’ve got to go read now.