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Comment by Neil Ostroff on May 2, 2012 at 1:49pm

DEGENERATES

Brutal slayings in the quiet suburbs of Philadelphia have detective Aaron Miller on edge. Residents are readily falling victim to a cold-blooded serial killer who is absolutely vicious, torturing and murdering at random and for sport. As pressure mounts to stop this psychopath, Aaron becomes increasingly frustrated by the lack of evidence. As his own life begins to unravel, a chance encounter leads him to interview the employees of City Café. He notices the shadowy figure washing dishes in the back. What happens next places the group in grave danger and leads them into a horror that will change everything about their lives.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007FFN5LY

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007FFN5LY

Comment by Neil Ostroff on April 28, 2012 at 10:48am

Creepiest ever!

 

I love the new cover for my Kindle version of FROSTPROOF. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m slowly taking back all my rights to my paperbacks and republishing only electronically. I believe the traditional book is going the way of CD’s and I’m excited to be at the threshold of this new medium. With my seventh novel soon to be published electronically, I’ve now got more than half of my books out there for the entire world to purchase. It’s a pretty cool feeling. Once I send the new FROSTPROOF off to my editor, I’ll start getting a marketing plan together. Of course, the usual routine of placing the book on the dozens of writer’s site to which I belong will take a few days, but after that, I’m thinking of placing a few sponsorships for summer readers. I’m also going to place a few more sponsorships for DROP OUT since the book is slowly gaining steam and an audience. This brings the point as to how much money I should spend and the estimated return in sales. As I’ve said many times, the exposure these sponsorships bring outweighs the cost, but I think it’s time I concentrate on making sales. I think this new cover is powerful enough to attract interest, I’ve just got to find the right format in which to promote. My previous sponsorships for my middle-grade sci-fi yielded marginal results but my sponsorships for my adult books went really well. I need to concentrate on the adult market for a while until Kindles and Nooks become like cell phones to kids. Everyone will have one. By the way, here’s a great new FREE ebook from Smashwords about how to market. It’s got some great tips. THE SECRETS TO EBOOK PUBLISHING SUCCESS.  The book identifies the best practices of the most commercially successful Smashwords authors. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431 As always, I’m writing, writing, writing. IMAGINATION is coming along nicely and may be my best, if not most hallucinatory, novel I’ve ever written. Still anticipating a late summer completion. And look for the new Kindle edition of FROSTPROOF coming soon.

http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

Comment by Neil Ostroff on April 23, 2012 at 12:11pm

A sleeper hit

 

That’s what Kindle Daily Nation called DROP OUT. http://fireapps.blogspot.com/2012/04/drop-out-kindle-book-of-day.html But then again, I’ve posted this many times and guess what… it’s still sleeping. Though the book is my best seller out of my six novels, it still hasn’t reached the great heights I had hoped. Right now I’m a few dozens copies behind my sales goals for this month, so for the next three days I’m going to hunker down and market like a crazy man. Now that half my paid sponsorships are over I can say with confidence that they did not boost sales the way I had hoped. I’ve tried many marketing schemes over the last year and documented them throughout this blog, and I’m sad to say that not one has lived up to the potential I had hoped. Perhaps, I have my goals set too high? After all, from what I’ve read on other blogs, the fact that I sell books at all is kinda a miracle considering the amount of self-published and traditionally published books that are out there. The fact that strangers have forked out $1.99 on an unknown author like me does inspire me to continue with my craft. And as I’ve posted before, many fans have emailed me telling me how much they love my books. Since I write in several genres, I am starting to build a widespread audience base. I’m hoping this audience will create pre-buzz as I continue to write and publish more books. Speaking of which, I’m about to get in contact with my cover artist to turn FROSTPROOF into a new Kindle version. I’m also going to convert PULP next month. My KDP Select 90-day exclusivity is beginning to expire on my books so I’m excited to start marketing to Nook and all the other ereading devices out there. My newest novel IMAGINATION is going well, however I didn’t get as much written as I had wanted to when I was on vacation. I find that as I’m getting older, the all-consuming obsession to write sometimes wanes in my quest to catch a lunker fish off the dock. I’m also attempting to do some internet radio spots. Here is a list of some if anyone is also interested.

Author Talk - http://www.maldene.com

Bookmark - http://bookmarkradio.com/

Julia Widdop’s Blog TV - http://www.blogtv.com/people/juliawiddop

Bookworm - http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1856/book-worm

Author Spotlight - http://www.chattininmanhattan.com/contact-us/become-a-guest

Various Listings - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writing

Launch Publicity - http://www.launchpublicity.com/

The Authors Show – http://theauthorsshow.com

Authors Radio - http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/astorytotell/

Authors On Air - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/authorsonair/onair/all_genres

Sound Authors - http://www.soundauthors.com/

Author Talk Radio - http://toginet.com/podcasts/authortalk

 

I’m still not getting any new sales from the U.K. which is extremely strange because last month I had almost half of my sales from there. I’m hoping it’s a glitch in KDP’s system and not a reflection of times to come.

http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

Comment by Neil Ostroff on April 20, 2012 at 11:04am

Vacation realization

 

Back from vacation and had a great time. Too bad taking a vacation from writing and marketing didn’t do for my sales what it did for my soul (raise it to a higher level). As I mentioned before, it’s amazing how quickly your literary presence drops off when you’re not posting and promoting your books every day. While in the Florida Keys, I watched my blog hits drop like lead balloons and my book sales drop to November levels. Especially, in the U.K. which for me, sales this month have been dismal. I think one solution for next time to maintaining a presence is to pre-write blog posts and marketing promotions for the length of time I’d be away. It’s not that I don’t write on vacation, it’s just that I don’t like to market when I’m on vacation. The scenery and location of south Florida inspire me to no end and I’ve written some of my best stuff propped on a wicker chair staring out across the emerald waters. But when it comes to the business side, it just doesn’t stir when I’m relaxed. As a result, I’ve fallen a little bit behind in my sales goals this month. I must get motivated! I’ve still got ten days until May and now that I’m back, it’s time to blitz again starting with getting FROSTPROOF on KDP and having control of the royalties. And then a full out marketing explosion for DROP OUT which continues as my top seller.

http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

Comment by Neil Ostroff on April 14, 2012 at 1:17pm

Allow me to tease

 

Those who follow my blog and my other posts on the numerous writer’s sites that I belong to, know that I am on vacation. So, instead of boring you with details of the fried Grouper sandwich I had for lunch and the long, saltwater swim I took after (waiting thirty minutes of course), I’m going to post a long sample of my current best selling book, DROP OUT. I’ve received more than a hundred emails from people telling me how much the book affected them and their views on the meaning of life. So, without taking up any more of your time with introductions, I give you DROP OUT.

http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

Comment by Neil Ostroff on April 12, 2012 at 12:45pm

Enjoying the moment

 

At this very moment, I am sitting on a veranda in Summerland Key Florida staring out at a vast expanse of glacial-clear, maroon-colored, water while whispering palm fronds provides the backdrop to seagull cries, and yet I cannot write. Well, that’s not exactly true because I am writing this, but I can’t seem to concentrate on my current novel. Perhaps, I’m too relaxed? Too contented? With the knowledge that my books are selling, I no longer feel that intense pressure to create for hours on end. As I get older, I find myself enjoying life more instead of sealing myself in a room even while on vacation. I paid my dues in my twenties when eight to ten hours a day would be devoted to my books. I paid my dues when I’d say no to friends and parties because I HAD to finish my latest novel. I paid my dues when every spare minute of my time was spent querying agents and researching markets. I spent fifteen years of my life totally focused and concentrating on making it as an author… and now it’s time to relax and enjoy. Instead of working on IMAGINATION (my latest) this morning I am going to the beach to take a long walk, and then I’m going to do some fishing. Of course, I’m not totally ditching my grassroots authorship, I’ve got two hours this afternoon devoted to writing. That’s enough for today.

Okay, back to business. The KND kids author spotlight did yield sales of SILENT INVASION but not the amount I was expecting for such a big promotion. It goes back to my theory that kids aren’t buying up books on Kindle the way adults do. DROP OUT is still by far my best seller with sales already nearing triple digits for this month. All my books have sales so far, but I’m still falling short in the U.K. by a large percentage. I’m not sure if KDP isn’t posting sales or if there is a glitch. It just seems strange that sales were soaring across the pond and now they’ve dropped to almost nothing. When I get back from vacation I’m going to concentrate on turning it around. I’ve also noticed my blog hits are falling a bit as I’ve not been doing much promotion while I’m down here in south Florida. I will say the new electronic marketplace moves at a lightning-speed pace and just a few days away from the computer can mean losing the interest of thousands of people. The hardest part for me is trying not to think about that and enjoying the moment. I know, I know, I sound like a whining baby, but I’m just so obsessed about my writing career.

http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

Comment by stephen black on April 11, 2012 at 10:32am

All Book Merah titles are free Kindle downloads today. Like this one.

Be Furikake. Be very Furikake.

http://www.amazon.com/Furikake-ebook/dp/B002PAQAXE/ref=sr_1

Comment by CBM Christian Book Marketing on April 10, 2012 at 11:03pm

Elizabeth Chalker has written a powerful, God inspired book that will encourage and help strengthen anyone who reads it. If you are in the midst of suffering, or struggling through intense hardships, then this book will provide solace and hope to pull you out of the darkness and into the light!

About Elizabeth and her book: The following is taken with permission from Elizabeth's website. Foreword (from Elizabeth's book)

I don't know if there is really a way for anyone to understand the depths of pain and suffering from which this work of Elizabeth's springs. As one who has witnessed this firsthand, being physically with her in the day-to-day more than anyone else, it's still unfathomable to me what she goes through. The reality of her minute-to-minute existence is far too unbelievable to wrap the mind around. Most of the writing was done in a very dark, cold room in complete silence. Much was done with the computer on Elizabeth's lap, with her typing with her eyes closed, as the light even from the computer screen was too much, too painful. All of it was done with a continual headache/migraine, as those only change in level of severity. She worked in small increments in between excruciating, unbearable physical pain and exhaustion, and moments of reprieve where the physical pain/symptoms and migraines were "bearable enough."

Most of us will never know the loneliness that she experiences or the fear as she watches uncontrollable things happen to her body each day. Even though I am with her as often as possible, and she is never out of my thoughts or my heart, most of this she suffers completely alone, except for her constant companion and angel of God, Symon.

Yet in this existence, that is impossible to call a life, she has never wavered in her faith. She has sought, screamed, challenged, asked tough questions, and been candid in her queries, and also candid in all of what she experiences. However, she has never abandoned her faith. Additionally, she has always been there to support those she loves in spite of the constant abandonment, with words of faith, encouragement, love, and wisdom, always giving beyond her strength and capabilities and often paying a huge price of increased physical pain and other symptoms for days or weeks, as her own health deteriorates.

To me, she is the epitome of what God wants for all of us. To love where there is no evidence, give when there's nothing left and believe where there is nothing left to hold onto except "the scratch marks our nails left behind."

~~~ Dr. Corey Cameron

For more information about Elizabeth and her book visit Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind Raw Faith. For those who would like to get to know Elizabeth and read more about her life-story please visit Help Elizabeth.

 

You may also find Elizabeth's book Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind Raw Faith at Amazon

 

Author Article Blasts by CBM Christian Book Marketing

Comment by Neil Ostroff on April 9, 2012 at 12:51pm

Promo machine!

 

My Kindle ebook of the week sponsorship for the kid’s corner has begun. Sales are slow however, I’m guessing because of the Easter holiday. Perhaps, they will pick up more when my author spotlight interview comes out. That’s right, I was chosen for author spotlight on Kindle Nation Daily. This is a great FREE promotion offered by Kindle for me. They will post an interview, a picture of my book SILENT INVASION, links to buy the book, and links to my blog, all for nothing. They claim the spotlight will reach more than 70,000 opt-in readers. As you can imagine, I’m very happy about that. The author spotlight will be on the site either tomorrow night or Wednesday. I’ll post it. Also, I continue to reap sales of DROP OUT from my Kindle Fire Department sponsorship and I’ve begun to show some numbers off of the select lending program for my other books. I’m almost halfway to my sales goals for the month. One other plus, most of my books on the ninety-day Kindle exclusiveness are nearly up. That means I can re-publish with Smashwords and sell to the Nook again, possibly doubling my audience. I’ll probably find a few sponsorships for the Nook and I’m dying to start getting involved in the Nook forums and discussion groups. On a slight downer-side, my sales in the U.K have dropped off significantly. By my own admission, I haven’t been paying much attention to the overseas market and it obviously shows. I’m off to the Florida Keys soon to do some serious marketing and writing. Hopefully, warm, salty breezes, the cries of wayward seagulls, and the gentle rustling of palm fronds will conjure weird tales from my IMAGINATION (first draft nearly complete).  

http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

 

Comment by Author Collective on April 9, 2012 at 11:18am

2012 Michigan Spring Book and Art Festival

Madonna University's Lyric Theater will perform selections from Broadway's "Guys and Dolls," Sunday April 15 at 3:00 p.m. This event is part of the 2012 Michigan Spring Book and Art Festival. The public is invited to this weekend of free fun and literature. Details and times are available on the schedule page. Click www.MSBF.us/madonna for information or call (313) 446-2262

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