Category Archives: Announcements

Coming Soon! More Lessons Learned in the process!

In 2008 I published my first book. It was a non-fiction title and to my surprise it sold well. Well enough to become an Amazon Best Seller. My third non-fiction book not only became another Amazon Best Seller, it generated enough revenue to pay for a new roof, replacement of our HVAC system, and some fun money left over. All of which was from one month’s sales!

Years later, I decided to try my hand at the fiction game. I’d had a brief flirtation with success in non-fiction and learned a tremendous amount about the publishing game, both traditional and indie. It had been a steep learning curve made bearable by the fact I didn’t need to master my knowledge of my subject matter.

Surely the learning curve to sell fiction wouldn’t be that difficult?

Like most things in my life, the instant I make a grand assumption I set my self up for a humiliating reality check. The learning curve has been steeper, more challenging, and financially more uncertain. I knew I would at earn back at least my costs with each of my 20 non-fiction titles.

While I learned the fiction game, my non-fiction revenue could underwrite my new enterprise. At the same time my youngest daughter was still a competitive gymnast, would soon be a freshman in college, and a host of other ongoing expenses.

While I misjudged the degree of the challenge I faced, and I’m glad I had some success under my belt writing non-fiction first or I would have quit long ago, I’m glad I took the leap.

Recently, I committed myself to yet another learning curve in the publishing world. My first audiobook will be available soon!

Friends In Low Places Audiobook

I selected to have the first episode of the Capital City Characters series of novellas, Friends in Low Places, as my first venture into audiobooks.

There is considerable expense for an indie author to have a print work, paper of digital, converted into an audiobook. Like it or not, being an author means you are an entrepreneur as well and there is financial risk in everything you do.

Friends in Low Places was a good choice. It is only 18 chapters long, tells the back story of a popular secondary character in my Sullivan thriller series, and is the first in a series. If sales warrant it, I plan to have Dolls, Dames, and Danger converted next with each title eventually becoming available as an audiobook.

Audiobooks are growing in market share. One of the things I learned in my venture into non-fiction was being an early adopter of converting my titles to ebooks meant I had little competition in my niche. I estimate that fact alone is why I have the roof over my head as I type.

The revenue generated from audiobook sales is earmarked to pay for the next title in line to be converted. My goal is to have every title in my backlist made available in audiobook form and if possible, for each new release to be available in digital, audio, and print versions upon release.

If you enjoy my stories and you like audiobooks, please support the effort. Friends in Low Places is reasonable priced! It will sell for $5.95 upon release.

Availability of The next Two Episodes of Capital City Characters

Episodes III and IV of the Capital City Characters series of novellas are now available to ordered or pre-ordered from Amazon. Episode III: The Young Detective tells the backstory of Sully’s male protege, Detective Josephson at the same time he pursues his first serial killer.

The Young Detective

Episode IV: The Girl Who Wasn’t There tells the long awaited story of the origins of the mysterious Sarah and how her path came to cross that of Inspector Sullivan. The Girl Who Wasn’t There is the first of author K.C. Sivils stories to be illustrated. Artist Sadie Rose du Vigneaud helped bring Sarah’s story to life.

The Girl Who Wasn't There

Episode V: Incident on Damascus II will be released on Amazon on June 23rd, 2020 and is available now for pre-order. Episode V examines the life of Father Nathan during his days as a mercenary.

Episode V: Incident on Damascus II

Sarah Says – Enter Her Contest! Win a Signed Copy of The Girl Who Wasn’t There!

Sarah Says Enter One Contest or Two!

The Big Contest!

Grand Prize:
  Only one to be awarded.

  • Signed paperback copy of The Girl Who Wasn’t There. Singed by both the author and illustrator.
  • Signed 11×17 print of an illustration from The Girl Who Wasn’t There by the illustrator Sadie du Vigneaud.
  • Signed paperback copy of Incident on Damascus II.

2nd Place: Two prizes to be awarded.

  • Signed paperback copy of The Girl Who Wasn’t There. Signed by both the author and illustrator.
  • Signed 11×17 print of an illustration from The Girl Who Wasn’t There by the illustrator Sadie du Vigneaud.

Third Place: Three prizes to be awarded.

  • Signed 11×17 print of an illustration from The Girl Who Wasn’t There by the illustrator Sadie du Vigneaud.

Just for entering:  It’s a surprise but you’ll like it!

Deadline for entering: June 19th, 2020

Winners Announced: June 23rd, 2020

How to Enter:

  • Take a photo of you holding up either the cover of a paperback copy of ANY of the Thomas Sullivan Thriller Universe series of books (15 total to choose from) or the digital cover displayed on your ereader device.
  • Include a short description, no more than two or three sentences why you enjoyed that particular story.
  • Attach the photo to an email, which must include the description of why you enjoyed the story, and email it to me by DEADLINE!
  • Send the e-mail to SciFiThriller@kcsivils.com with Big Contest in the subject line.
  • Only entrants who comply with all of the requirements will be considered for a prize.

Important Notice: All entries become property of The Inspector’s Report and may be used for promotional purposes.

The Little Contest

Grand Prize: It’s a surprise but I think you’ll like it!

How to Enter:

  • It’s easy! Follow me on BookBub! Here’s how:
  • Click Here
  • Take a screen shot of the post for K.C. Sivils
  • Click on Follow
  • Email that screen shot to me at SciFiThriller@kcsivils.com
  • Put Little Contest in the subject line
Follow K.C. Sivils on BookBub

Deadline for entering: June 19th, 2020

Winner Announced: June 23rd, 2020

Interview With Illustrator Sadie Rose du Vigneaud

Miss du Vigneaud was the illustrator for the interior illustrations of The Girl Who Wasn’t There, Episode IV in the Capital City Character Series.

Illustrator Sadie Rose du Vigneaud

When did it begin to become obvious you had a talent for drawing?  

I have always had an interest in art and design. I think I really began improving on my skill in middle school. I dedicated a lot of my time to drawing and painting. My art teacher noticed my interest and really helped me find new ways to create.


What made you decide to become an illustrator and graphic artist?

I have always loved storytelling and art, which is what attracted me to be an illustrator. I do not like limiting myself to one thing and I felt as if I could pursue many different paths in illustration.


In bringing the three main characters in The Girl Who Wasn’t There to life, what were the biggest challenges for you?


My biggest challenge was understanding the characters and how they would react. The three are identical clones, who often have different or limited emotional responses. Understanding how they present themselves to the world in different ways was a challenge.


If you could start over again and create all new illustrations for the story, what would you do differently?


With many artists, they find that they improve as they create. Small things like shading and positioning are what I learned through this process. If I were to go back a recreate, I would add more detail to the background settings. I have always focused on characters in my work, but I have recently found an interest in backgrounds and settings.


Can you explain the process you used to visually bring to life characters that previously had only existed in written form?


My process is fairly simple. First, I sketch out many different ideas I have. Next, I would narrow down the sketches and pick out my favorites. Most importantly, I would pose myself or friends for reference so I can better understand a scene, movement, and proportions. Understanding the scene in my own eyes is what helped me visualize it best. Finally, I bring my ideas into digital form.


In the course of creating the illustrations for The Girl Who Wasn’t There, what did you learn about being an illustrator that you previously didn’t  know?

I think something I learned is working with someone else. I have worked on group projects and assigned work, but those tend to be open-ended. Working with a writer to make their story come to life is different. You have to fully understand their vision for the illustrations.


For anyone who is interested in a career in graphic design or being an illustrator, what advice can you offer?


My advice would be to experiment. Never limit yourself to one style or medium.

To check out Miss du Vigneaud’s illustrations in The Girl Who Wasn’t There, pick up a copy! Available from Amazon in Kindle or paperback editions on May 19th, 2020.

The Price of a Lie Hits Number Three on Amazon in the Technoir Category! Let’s Make It Number One!

First, let me thank everyone who purchased a copy of The Price of a Lie, pushing it up to third in the Amazon Technoir category!   I’m not making it up! Honest! See the image below for proof!

Every fiction author dreams of having a No. One Best Seller of some sort and while it’s not the New York Times Best Seller list, I would be very proud to have a No. One Amazon Best Seller in the category of Technoir!  

Why is this important?  

One, it’s good for my ego! 🙂  

Two, it’s a legitimate promotional claim for an author to be able to make that they’ve had a best seller. This in turn helps sell more books!  

What’s in it for you?  

To encourage readers to buy copies and push The Price of a Lie to No. One in Technoir, I’ve lowered the introductory price from $2.99 to .99 cents! If you’ve already purchased a copy, hold on, I’ve got a deal for you too!  

Take a screen shot of your purchase of a copy of The Price of a Lie and The Price of a Lie Promo. If you buy a copy at .99 cents, I will gift you a copy of Friends in Low Places. It will be delivered to your Kindle the day it becomes available from Amazon, March 3rd, 2020. See the screen shot below to see what I need you to e-mail me.

Take a screen shot and e-mail it to me as proof you purchased a copy of The Price of a Lie when it first went on sale. Since you had to pay more for your copy, I’ll gift you a copy of Friends in Low Places when it becomes available on March 3rd along with a surprise!  

If you don’t want to help the author out…   Let’s Make Sarah Smile!  

Sarah would love nothing better than for her story to be told to as broad an audience as possible! If you won’t buy a copy of The Price of a Lie for me, buy it for Sarah!

Capital City Characters
An angry Sarah
The Price of a Lie - on sale on Amazon

Want to help out an Author? Want to become a Beta Reader? Consider joining D.E.A.D!

Founded by Author Saundra Woffington, creator of the Wine Valley Mystery Series, D.E.A.D. – Dark, Edgy, and Dangerous – is group for authors to help each other cross promote their books and for individuals interested in become members of ARC groups or Beta Readers.

For more details, visit the Facebook page for D.E.A.D.

Coming soon! The price of a Lie and Friends in low places

In six weeks I will have two new stories in print. The first, The Price of a Lie, will be for sale on Amazon on February 4th. The second, the first in the Capital City Characters series, will be Friends In Low Places.

The Price of a Lie is the seventh installment in the Inspector Thomas Sullivan Thriller series and will see our favorite trio encounter their most challenging case yet. Those who’ve had a chance to read a preview copy have declared The Price of a Lie to be the darkest of the Sullivan series as well as the most revealing story when it comes to Sully, Sarah, and Father Nathan.

Set on a moon cursed with a dystopian society, the race to discover the answers their client hired them to find is the most difficult case yet.

The Price of a Lie will be for sale on Amazon February 4th, 2020. For those who want a Kindle edition delivered the minute The Price of a Lie goes on sale, click here to pre-order!

On March 3rd, my new spin-off series, Capital City Characters, will see the first novella in the series become available for sale. Titled Friends in Low Places, this novella provides the backstory for one of the most important characters in the Sullivan thriller series, Joe Maynard, the owner of Joe’s.

Fans of the Inspector Thomas Sullivan Thriller series will be able to learn more about the main secondary characters that play key roles in each of the Sullivan stories. Friends in Low Places kicks off the series by telling Joe’s story, without whom there would be no meeting place for Sully, Sarah, and Father Nathan. Like The Price of a Lie, Friends in Low Places is also available for pre-order on Amazon.

A Quick Shout Out to my Beta Readers for The Price of a Lie!

When a reader sits down to enjoy a good, well written story, they are seldom aware of the fact that the final, polished story is the resort of more than just the author. I want to take this opportunity to thank the following individuals whose efforts all contributed to an improved version of The Price of a Lie. A special thanks goes to Chery Deariso, Robin Ludwig, Rosemary Kenny, Heather Wamboldt, Gail Hart, Peggy Hacket, and Darcy Yarsh.