9.27.2012

Summer of Indie, Last Call with Robert Stanek


Summer of Indie is coming to a close. It’s been a long run… and a lot of hours to put together, keep running, and spread the word to help make it a success.

For authors who are featured, I hope the event helped introduce your work to new readers and your fellow authors as well. Awareness of an author and his or her books is important and it can help your long-term sales and success. Getting to know fellow indie authors is just as important. It’s a big world out there. There are many authors who may have similar interests to your own and it’s good to get to know them, even if only through their work and these pages.

For readers who have visited (and will visit) these pages, I thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed the features presented throughout Summer of Indie and I know you’ve checked out some of the many books presented because I’ve seen the results. On average about 175 people tuned in each day and overall the event has brought in about 16,000 page views so far. That kind of success makes all the hard work worth it.

For me Summer of Indie was a dream—a dream I brought to life as another way to help other authors and introduce readers to new authors, new books, and new ideas. I think the time spent was well worth it. Best of all, these pages and features will remain available and they can help introduce readers to the authors and books featured here for a long time to come.

Reading this, you may wonder what’s ahead. To that, I say stay tuned. There's much ahead including some Best Of Summer of Indie Picks, Guest Posts and I hope eventually, posts from my next book on writing: Enduring Writing (tentative title). Think of it as a follow up to my book Effective Writing, the little book read by more readers than I ever imagined possible since it was first released in audio so many years ago. It's not Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, but like that other diminutive book it has legs. I hope Enduring Writing will have legs too.


In the mean time, continue to dream and while you're dreaming dream BIG. I know I am, and I know Buster is too because so many readers have read or listened to his adventures. Who knew stories about a little bug and his friends would garner so much interest and start to become so beloved. Just goes to show you that anything's possible when you dream BIG.

Finally, whether this is your first visit to Go Indie - Read Indies or you've been following Summer of Indie from the beginning, I hope you'll pick up some of the books by the many authors featured here. Who knows, maybe you'll also pick up a few books by that Robert Stanek guy too. 

Buster sure hope's so, and he's off exploring the Solar System just in case...



Thank you for reading! Please bookmark Go Indie - Read Indies and check back in the days, weeks, and months ahead.


-- Robert Stanek

9.22.2012

A Summer of Indie Curtain Call!

I’m Robert Stanek and I’m your host here at Go Indie - Read Indies. You know you're in the right place in life when you wake up every day with a smile on your face. You know you're in the right place as a writer when that smile is because you're eager to get to the keyboard, eager to get the thoughts racing through your mind down on paper.

That eagerness to capture thoughts on paper has carried me through many days, many years, and many books. As a writer, that eagerness has made the blank page a friend rather than a foe. That blank page can be your friend too--if you let it. And if you let it, you can fill it with everything that's inside you, everything that you can wonder about, everything that you can dream about, and everything that you can imagine.

Over these past many weeks, I've featured the books of many authors who weren't afraid of that blank page either--or maybe they were but they figured out how to turn that fear into something magical, if only for a time. That magical thing being a filled page, a page of letters and words. Words that dance and sing. Words that make your heart swoon or soar. Words that make your thoughts chase the heavens or scatter to the winds. Words that make your very breath catch, slow or race.

As Summer of Indie nears the end, I want to thank those who have supported the event faithfully, for it was their support that inspired me this summer, and their strength, as much as anything else, that made Summer of Indie possible.
 
Summer of Indie was a journey as much as anything else. A chance to learn about new authors and new books, and perhaps discover new favorites. Whether this is your first or hundredth visit to the Read Indies blog, I hope you'll now take a moment to read through posts you may have missed, bookmark your favorites so you can find them again, and make a few reading lists.

I hope your list will include some of my books as well, and I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to my works.

My day job is as a tech writer, a job I've been doing full-time since 1996. You can learn more about my William Stanek books at http://www.williamstanek.com/. Windows 8 Pocket Consultant is one of my latest tech books.
 
 
Before I wrote tech books, I was in the military and I wrote a true account of my war-time service in a book called Stormjammers: The Extraordinary Story of Electronic Warfare in the Gulf War. The book isn't as popular as No Easy Day, but I'd like to think it just as vividly depicts the sacrifices of the men and women I served with in the Gulf War. Learn more about this book at http://stanek.reagentpress.com/.











I started my writing journey in 1986 when I penned Keeper Martin's Tale, the first Ruin Mist book and my first full-length novel. As an instant, indie bestseller, Keeper Martin's Tale shook trees and rattled cages when it debuted in print in 2002--and it's still shaking trees and rattling cages today. Journey to Ruin Mist by visiting http://www.ruinmistmovie.com/.












Another project I worked on for many years before publication is the tale of a big, little place called Bugville. Originally, I wrote the Bugville stories for my children who delighted in them so much they urged me to publish them for other children to enjoy. Buster's story begins with Visit Dad & Mom At Work, but I think it's more appropriate to share with you one of the the more recent stories. It's called Have a Spooktacular Halloween and it features Buster's friend Lass.

Journey to Bugville by visiting http://www.bugvillecritters.com/








If you decide to read my books, and I hope you do, one thing I hope you take with you afterward is the sense that anything's possible. You can dream. You can achieve dreams. All those years ago when I began writing, I had no idea where my dream would take me and yet I dared to dream because I believed the impossible was entirely possible. And, it is.


-- Robert Stanek

9.20.2012

Summer of Indie with Robert Stanek

I’m Robert Stanek and I’m your host here at Go Indie - Read Indies. I’ve been writing professionally for many years and will celebrate the publication of my 150th book next year. That’s a lot of books, a lot of years, and a lot of readers.

Summer of Indie kicked off in grand style with a party on April 28. More than 35 indie authors turned out for the event.

Beginning in June and continuing throughout the summer, Summer of Indie featured indie authors and their books. Nearly 100 indie authors were featured in all, along with their many, many books. In fact, as many featured authors had written several books, hundreds of books were introduced and talked about.
How far indies have come in so few years. How many naysayers are eating eggs. Back in 2001 when my first indie book was released as an ebook serial there were very few indie books and even fewer indie success stories. I'd like to think I helped change that when my Ruin Mist books quickly became top sellers on Amazon. Like the little engine that could, the Ruin Mist books are the little books that could.
Year after year the books have had steadily increasing readership. Interest from movie production companies has come and gone. New editions and new books have been introduced. A graphic novel and comics are out. I work now on a script that may some day be the first Ruin Mist movie (or it may not). Who knows for sure what the future may bring...
I thought 2002 was a banner year when print sales soared beyond my wildest expectations and I was living with a smile on my face. I thought that year would never be topped, never be achieved again. Until I brought Ruin Mist to audio in 2005 and the books catapulted to #1 on Audible for FOURTEEN consecutive weeks and then stayed on the Kids & YA Top 10 for the next THREE YEARS.
 
When that massive run ended, I thought, "Oh man, this is the end of the ride, but what a ride it's been." Then sales rocketed again and I had my best few years ever as a writer. That was nirvana. That was magical.
By 2011 I thought for sure the ride was over. That this was it for Ruin Mist, but it wasn't so. The 12 months from Oct 11 to Sep 12 has brought more new readers to the world of Ruin Mist than any other 12-month period. Ever... Who knew books published so many years ago could still have best years ahead of them.

My point being, you never know. That first or next book you write may be the one. Then again it might not, but you never know until you put yourself out there.
I had no idea nearly a million people would read the Ruin Mist books over the past 11 years. But they have...
I don't know if a million more will read the books in the next 11 years. But they may...
And if this inspires you... Hit a few out of the park for me and tell the world Robert Stanek sent you.
Thanks for reading!
 
Got an indie success story to share, send it in and I'll share it right here at Go Indie - Read Indies.
-- Robert Stanek
 

9.19.2012

Summer of Indie Talks With Donna Burgess


Readers who enjoy post-apocalyptical or zombie-survival stories will want to check out Solstice, by Donna Burgess. Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of a world plunged into darkness.

 
 
 
 
Solstice:
 

THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

On the eve of winter Solstice, a massive flash envelopes the Earth and then there is nothing. The sun no longer shines and civilization is plunged into unending darkness. Those exposed to the mysterious flash have changed—they have become bloodthirsty, cunning, and determined to devour anyone who is not infected.

They are Ragers.

In Sweden, uneasy travelers Tomas an architect, his young son, Christopher, and university student Melanie, hear a broken broadcast. There is hope. Something called Sanctuary waits, but it is thousands of miles away, somewhere on the shores of the British Isles.

Meanwhile, in a London supermarket, Stu, a high school English teacher from the States finds himself stranded along with a handful of students on a senior trip. Outside, hoards of hungry Ragers await, ready to tear them limb from limb. Their only hope is to find Sanctuary.

Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of the World.


 
Image of Donna BurgessDonna Burgess lives with her husband, daughter, son, many cats and one goofy Golden Retriever in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. When she is not writing, she can be found on herlongboard, behind a good book. She is the president of E-Volve Books. In addition to her writing work, she also runs No Trees Harmed, a website devoted to the promotion of digitally-published independent authors.

You can find Donna Burgess online at:



and on Twitter @horrorgirldonna

9.18.2012

Summer of Indie Hangs With C.J. Urban


If you're looking for a mystery or thriller with a romantic twist, be sure to check out Diary of a Dead Girl, by author C.J. Urban. The first book in the Julie Townsend Series, Diary of a Dead Girl, follows the suspenseful sequence of events that occur when the heroine, Julie, seeks a change of pace in a new town after her parents' death.

 
 
Diary of a Dead Girl

Diary of a Dead GirlJulie Townsend’s world is turned upside down after her parents’ tragic death. Now sole guardian of her younger brother at only twenty-three, and desperate for a change, she takes an offer too good to refuse—a house to live in for free in a small town.

Things take a dangerous turn when she discovers a diary full of secrets concerning her cousin’s murder. When Julie begins to investigate, she realizes she’s in too deep—and may soon be the next victim.




 
Summer of Indie asked author C.J. Urban to tell us more about herself so that readers could get to know her better. We asked her about her personal life, as well what inspired her to become an author:

Image of C.J. Urban"I've lived in Orange County my whole life, and I love it. Knowing both the beach and Big Bear are a hop, skip, and a jump away is pretty amazing. I've always loved writing, and I plan to continue until I can no longer type. I have an adorable miniature Pomeranian named Mocha. She keeps me company on those nights (or early mornings) that I'm up typing away trying not to lose sudden bursts of inspiration. I'm also a huge coffee-lover and find it's one of the best ways to bring people together. I graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology from Cal State Fullerton and loved earning the degree. My goal is to be a full-time writer, and I'm working my hardest to make that dream a reality."

 
 
You can find author C.J. Urban online at:



Website (Author Blog is also hosted here): www.cjurban.com

 

9.13.2012

Summer of Indie Meets Tom Hobbs


Our next guest author, Tom Hobbs, is an independent author who also runs the website www.kindlemojo.com, which promotes independent authors. He recently has released three novels, all of which are novelized versions of screenplays he has written by the same titles. Summer of Indie talked with Tom Hobbs about his novels, The Blue Goose, Trauma Junkie, and Twilight on the Amber Cliffs.

The Blue Goose:

A USAF Security Forces Novel.

In 1981 the hostages in Iran had been released, the Russians were the bad guys, Reagan was the commander and chief, and the DM to Dollar exchange rate was peaking at an all time high since World War II.

The Blue Goose

 

The free world was in turmoil, and needed someone
to secure it. At least according to the Lieutenant.

Spicher Air Force Base was located in a rural
section of Central Germany known as the Eiffel
Mountains. It was up to Sergeant Anthony Harris
and the rest of the USAF Security Policemen assigned to the 44th Squadron, Delta Flight to make sure that the world stayed free, or that at least their small corner of it did.

“Gentlemen, war is hell, even in peacetime.”

The Lieutenant had actually once said that to the
flight during guardmount, and he meant it.

 

Trauma Junkie:

What happens when a suicidal paramedic falls in love with an ambulance-chasing reporter?
Brian is going through a rough patch in his life. His wife, Amber, has divorced him and is remarrying a rich wall streethedge fund manager. His boss hates him, his partner tolerates him, and he likes to stand on the ledge ten stories up, bottle in hand.
Four years ago his infant son passed away in his crib sending his life into a tail spin.
All he has left is saving lives, and saving them on his terms. That's not enough.
Enter Brooklyn, a fiery red headed stringer, who works the overnight selling video and stills to the New York media and she's had a long standing crush on Brian.
She's out to prove that a paramedic isn't the only one who can save a life.

Twilight on the Amber Cliffs


Twilight on the Amber Cliffs

 

Brandon is a small town cowboy turned New York City reporter. Hope never left the small town. 25 years ago they fell in love in high school. Only one problem, she was the daughter of the Mormon Bishop and he the outsider who happened to be Catholic... and in 1977 rural Utah that mattered . In 2006 he is returning to Utah for the funeral of his best friend - who married Hope.


 
 
 
 
About Tom Hobbs
 
 
Image of Tom HobbsTom Hobbs Grew up in the National Park Service living in places like the Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Mesa Verde. After High School he joined the US Air Force where he served in Wyoming, Germany, and New Mexico. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Creative Writing and Photography and went to work in film as a Director of Photography while writing screenplays on the side.

Tom moved with his wife, Robin, and their children Rush, Ari, Chris, and Nadia from San Diego to New York City just four days before 911. After that he went to work as an EMT and later on as a Paramedic. He currently works as a freelance Social Media Marketer in Brooklyn. He writes in his spare time.

Tom runs the website www.kindlemojo.com that promotes Independent Authors.

You can contact Tom Hobbs at: tom@kindlemojo.com. Comments are always welcome.

9.12.2012

Summer of Indie Sights "The Flight Of The Griffin" With C.M. Gray


Readers who enjoy YA fantasy and adventure novels will want to check out The Flight of The Griffin, by C.M. Gray. His novel follows the events that are set into motion after a burglary causes five unlikely heroes to embark on a grand quest, guided by a magical book, to stop the world from tipping into Chaos.


 
 
The Flight Of The Griffin

Cover for 'The Flight of the Griffin'Living in their old boat ‘The Griffin’ five young characters become the unlikely heroes at the end of time when a burglary sets them on the path to finish the ‘Last Great Spell’ - a spell to stop the balance of the World tipping into Chaos...

They become the Magician, Thief, Priest and Fighter when a magical book guides them upon a quest that pits them against magic, demons and ‘The Hawk,’ an evil hunter of men.

Join a race against time to find three crystal skulls that must be brought together, while all the forces of Chaos try everything to stop them!


You can purchase The Fight Of The Griffin in ebook format at:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/151395

C.M. Gray is an Englishman who has lived all over the world, but only a small part of that in England itself. He currently lives in Spain, just outside Barcelona. The Flight of The Griffin is his second book.

You can find author C.M. Gray online at:

Twitter @cgray129
Author blog http://flightofthegriffin.blogspot.com

9.11.2012

Summer of Indie Goes "From Earth To Eden" With Clayton Bye


Fans of science fiction and horror, or those who have read The Sorcerer's Key, will want to check out the latest book from author Clayton Bye: Technomage.
This dark fantasy features a unique cast of characters, and is the second installment in the From Earth To Eden series.

 
 
Technomage

TechnomagePursued by a cyborg sorcerer and the devil himself, Jack Lightfoot is forced to give up all that is human in an effort to find a way to stop the destruction of both Earth and Eden.

An epic tale of war brimming with an assortment of unique individuals--Satan as a human, a teenage corporate genius who has solved the problem of long-distance space travel, a man who lives inside the internet, a native healer who is also of the cloth, even a resurrected serial killer, TechnoMage also delves into the nature of both God and man.


Image of Clayton Bye
Clayton Bye has been writing and publishing since 1994. Owner of his own multifaceted company, Chase Enterprises, Mr. Bye is the author of 9 books, as well as 100's of reviews, and a multitude of internet short stories, poems and articles.

Editor-in-Chief of The Deepening, a well respected and oft visited review company, Mr. Bye is a voracious reader and the proud promoter of his talented reviewing team.


In December of 2011, Mr. Bye published an anthology of short stories called Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road. These are very different stories from talented authors around the world. The book was released under his new imprint Chase Enterprises Publishing. A trade paperback 312 pages long, Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road is also available in Kindle format.


You can find author Clayton Bye online at:





9.10.2012

Summer of Indie Hangs With Jess Scott


Summer of Indie's next guest author talked with us about a book of a different genre than most of the books we have featured so far. Self is a collection of short stories that focus on self-discovery and parallel the seven heavenly virtues, and is written by Jess C Scott. 
 

 
Self (Seven Heavenly Virtues Anthology)

 

seven virtuesThere are seven virtues to directly counteract the seven deadly sins:

Chastity | Temperance | Charity | Diligence | Patience | Kindness | Humility

SELF is a reflection of the journey of self-discovery and The Seven Virtues, where the only noble battle is the fight for inner personal freedom, spiritual health, goodness and growth.

Be awakened. Be empowered. Be inspired.

 
www.jessink.com/self.htm

Jess Scott is an author/artist/non-conformist who’s dedicated to writing original stories that are both meaningful and entertaining. She writes in a variety of genres including erotic fiction, urban fantasy, young adult fiction, cyberpunk, and poetry.

As a creative professional, Jess experiments with a variety of genres and styles to produce “authentic, original work. . .rather than the same old re-packaged mass-market pulp” (Bibrary.com).

In a Word Riot interview, Jess mentions that the basic message in her work is “always the same: to be unafraid to be one’s true self.”

Most of Jess’s work is fueled by an intense drive to inspire others to favor social/spiritual values over shallow values.

Jess is also the founder of www.jessINK.com, an innovative publishing company that focuses on substance over short-term success with current fads and marketing hype.


 

Summer of Indie held a short interview with Jess Scott to learn more about her as an author:

Q: Can you tell us more about your book?

A: I completed a satirical, pop culture inspired "seven deadly sins" anthology earlier in the year, which left me feeling kind of sullied by the time it was done (I titled it Bad Romance, since it links star-crossed lovers to each of the seven deadly sins). I decided to work on Self (a "seven heavenly virtues" anthology) since there are seven virtues that directly counter the deadly sins. The challenge was to create stories that kept to the themes, without getting overly preachy or predictable. I like a certain amount of 'edge' in most of my projects to keep things fresh and interesting.


Q: You mentioned that you write in many different genres. Could you tell us more about why you don't have a separate pen name for each genre?

A: Writing is both a personal and social, artistic and commercial thing for me. I like being exploratory and experimental with creative work--I figured it'd probably be less confusing "in the long run" if I just kept everything under one name. One of the genres I specialize in is erotic literature, which I've no qualms standing by because my focus has always been on psychosexual themes (instead of explicitness, which would make things more "pornographic" than "erotic"). Sophisticated eroticism is something I've always enjoyed. I've nothing to hide there in terms of literary output, so...


Q: In your book, who is your favorite character?

A: I don't really have a favorite character. They're mostly composites of pieces of me and/or people that I know (personally or in a general sense). That's my personal way of crafting relatable characters :)


Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?


A: Classic authors, indie authors, authors of relationship fiction, fantasy, mysteries, and the writers behind celebrity gossip!


Q: Do you have any advice for new writers?

A: I recently wrote a self-publishing tips checklist which new writers might find useful (in response to an aspiring indie author asking for some help).


Q: What's next for you (in your writing)?

A: I'll be working on completing the Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy (an urban fantasy featuring cyberpunk elves), and maybe a dragon trilogy after that. I own www.dragonsinn.net and would like to finally put out a solid dragon-themed project.


Q: Can you tell us three interesting facts you'd like your readers to know?

A:
1. I've a page of "favorite quotes" on my blog.
2. I've an adopted indoor/outdoor cat.
3. I'm pretty sure I was a medieval scribe in a past life.

Jess currently resides in Maine where she continues to create original stories that are both entertaining and meaningful.

You can find Jess C Scott online at her blog: www.jesscscott.wordpress.com

Her Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/jessINKbooks

Or her Twitter: www.twitter.com/jesscscott


 

9.09.2012

Summer of Indie Talks With M. J. Williams


Today Summer of Indie got the scoop on a new mystery series, written by M. J. Williams The first book, On The Road To Death's Door, follows the events that transpire after a young couple inherits an RV, only to have a dead body fall off the top of it.

 
 
 
On The Road To Death's Door

On the Road to Death's DoorEmily and Stan Remington’s maiden voyage in their newly inherited, second-hand RV goes awry when a body falls off the top of their vehicle. The retired small town police officer and her husband, a retired history professor, find themselves at the center of a murder investigation involving a politician, a corporate executive, and a hippie priest. Emily butts heads with the local sheriff as their search takes them from a backwoods cabin in Wisconsin’s scenic Door County to the Bishop’s Chancery in Madison to an abandoned island in the infamous Death’s Door Straits. 
 
 
 
 

Image of M J WilliamsOn The Road To Death's Door is set in Wisconsin, and is written by two authors who live there. M. J. Williams is the pen name of sisters-in-law Peggy Williams and Mary Joy Johnson. Mary Joy is a retired college professor and professional quilter. Peggy is an elementary school teacher and freelance writer. On the Road to Death's Door is the first in what they hope to be a successful mystery series featuring Emily and Stan Remington and their RV adventures.

 

You can find M. J. Williams online at:

Twitter: @MadCityWriter