I was lucky to score an interview with British thriller writer J.D. Weston, author of the Best Selling Stone Cold thriller series! To read the interview and learn more about J.D. Weston, just go to the interview on the interview page of this site.
Also, check out Weston’s upcoming release, Black Blood, The Frankie Black Files!
If you enjoy the interview and want to learn more about Mr. Weston, click here to go to his author website.
Sort of. I’m used to hitting the button on KDP’s Author Dashboard and in 72 hours Amazon is ready to sell your latest Kindle or paperback.
The same isn’t true with Audiobook distribution. It can take up to 45 days for all 43 audiobook retailers to have a new title listed and for sale.
How do you promote the launch of a title when it’s spread out over 45 days and guess who is usually the last retailer to go live with your new audiobook? Amazon.
As I type Friends in Low Places – Audiobook edition, is available from:
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!
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.
Episode V: Incident on Damascus II of the Capital City Characters series will be available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle Unlimited on June 23rd, 2020.
Episode V tells the back story of Father Nathan starting with his life as a soldier of fortune and ending with his arrival on Beta Prime in Capital City.
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.
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.
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.
Sarah Says Enter One Contest or Two!
The Big Contest!
Grand Prize: Only one to be awarded.
2nd Place: Two prizes to be awarded.
Third Place: Three prizes to be awarded.
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:
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:
Deadline for entering: June 19th, 2020
Winner Announced: June 23rd, 2020
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.
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.
Author Brian Meeks was kind enough to agree to a short interview. You’ll find the interview posted on the interview page. Click Here to read more.
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!
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.
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