Indie Life: Planning your Own Book Launch

Indie Life is a monthly feature hosted by the fabulous Indelibles where we get to share something related to indie writing life.

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So, as an indie writer, if you're wanting to have a book launch to celebrate the release of your book, you have to organize it yourself. I've never done this! For my first two books, I've done online launches with people spreading the word all over the web for me. And that was awesome (and I plan to do it again), but this time, for the third and final book in my series, I want to do a REAL LIVE BOOK LAUNCH!

So my first question for you today is this: if you've had one for yourself, or you've attended book launches for other authors, what actually happened there? I know you sell and sign copies of your book, and give a little talk, maybe read a section of your book (hoping no one falls asleep ... #authornightmare), and possibly do some giveaways of cool freebie stuff. But is there anything else fun and unique to do?

Please help me! I want to make my first real life book launch super, duper awesome!

My second question is this: If you are a published YA author and you have ebooks, print books, bookmarks, badges, magnets, keyrings, postcards, or ANYTHING pertaining to your books that you'd like to donate for a massive giveaway, please send me an email or tell me in the comments. For my online launch I'm planning to have a massive Rafflecopter giveaway, and for my real life launch, I want to put together a great big goodie bag of stuff for one lucky winner (which means your stuff will be going into the hands of a young South African reader who will hopefully spread the reading love around with her (or his) friends!).

THANK YOU!

PS. Today The Writing Nut is hosting me for the weekly Wednesday Writer's Workspace feature. Come visit!

Cover Reveal for Sheena-kay Graham's SACRIFICE HER

Sacrifice HER 

by Sheena-kay Graham 

 Add to Goodreads: Sacrifice HER 

Coming December 2013 

When a city is at stake is the life of one sixteen-year old girl worth risking thousands? Deidra Moore goes on the run after escaping from a group of human sacrifices for Bane: God of War. She doesn't believe he exists and sees uncertainty in the scorching desert as a better alternative. But Faux City isn't finished with her and their leader Lord Brinn is ordered by Bane - through one of his maiden worshipers- to bring her back or face dire consequences. In the desert Deidra meets a wanderer named Kane and as feelings spark can they find a safe place to lead a new life before Lord Brinn and his soldiers catch up with them? Yet the question remains. Does Bane really exist and if he does what will happen if either side succeeds or fails? Told in alternating perspectives of both the runaway servant girl and the blonde strong willed leader. 

Sheena-kay Graham was never meant for a traditional job behind a desk. Her childhood career plans included becoming a ballerina, actress or someone who helped people. So naturally she decided to be a writer who writes from her bed. Yes, no desk for this Jamaican book lover. No matter if it’s reading, writing or using the computer....you get the gist. The love of the written word has always been with her leading to stories, novels, poetry and way too much fan fiction. This Christian woman can be found trolling Amazon online, in local book bookstores, watching movies on the big screen, or in her bed, or reading/writing/on the laptop...again in her bed. Mainly writes YA fiction and is ready to unleash her creativity to wow the masses.

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Cover Design: 

Image of woman with flowing hair (purchased): © Transfuchsian | Dreamstime.com

Cover Designer:  Langao @ http://fiverr.com/langao

Sign Up: THE FAERIE WAR Release Day Blitz & Book Reviews!

It's that time again!

I'm getting ready to release another book, and I can't do it without you! This one is EXTRA special because it's the end of my very first series. If you'd like to be involved, there are two ways you can be super duper awesome...

If you'd like to share this banner on your blog, please link back to this blog post at http://www.rachel-morgan.com/2013/09/sign-up-faerie-war-release-day-blitz.html

Release Day Blitz

Release day is Monday October 21st!
For anyone who wants to help spread the word, I'll send you an announcement post that you can put on your blog on release day. To make it interesting and a little less "generic", I'll be utilizing my Photshopping skills to create some scenes/characters from the novel along with teaser excerpts. I'll send different images to different blogs so that you don't all have to post the same thing :-)
If you want to take part in that (pretty please!!), sign up here ...



Book Reviews

For interviews, giveaways and guest posts, I'll be contacting bloggers directly to see who's interested, but if you'd like to post a book review during the blog tour, which is running from October 22nd to 29th, please sign up here ...

THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE!

A Change of Scenery Will Help Your Writing

This post is brought to you by the Insecure Writer's Support Group, an online group where writers can express doubts and concerns, and those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. The IWSG is celebrating it's two year anniversary today! Congratulations!

So ... change is as good as a holiday, right? That's what people say. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about taking a holiday here! I'm still talking about working. And what I want to suggest is that changing your writing space can help reinvigorate your passion and creativity for your writing.

This is where I normally write:

I love my study. It has so much SPACE, and it's filled with my favorite books, and there's a comfy armchair in the corner and warm sunlight streaming through the blinds.
BUT.
I've been writing in this study almost every day for many months now, and I'm starting to get tired of it. Everything is the SAME. Every day is the SAME. I'm starting to feel a little bit like the hermit my husband tells me I am!

On Monday I wasn't able to be at home and so, for the entire day, I had to work in an environment I wouldn't normally work in (my husband's parents' house!). I was worried I wouldn't be able to get much done, but I did more than double what I'd normally do in a day!

Yesterday I was home again, and the amount of work I was able to get done went doooown. So now I've learned. A change of scenery is what I need. And this is where I am today:

Tea on 23, a coffee shop built in an old Pietermaritzburg home.

Where do you normally write?

Where do you go when you need a change of scenery?

Cover Reveal for Konstanz Silverbow's ONLY HALF ALIVE

Konstanz Silverbow. Do you know her? She's a fun, kind-hearted, generous, positive, and all round super cool person. She's squeeed over my teasers and covers and books many times, so I am now OVERJOYED that it's my turn to squee for her -- because today is the big reveal of the cover for her very first novel!

So here goes ...

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The world's darkest creature

will be their brightest hope

While darkness haunts her, she craves the light. Christina is a demon, but she doesn't want to be. She is willing to sacrifice everything to change it. Only one person stands in her way, and he will stop at nothing to keep her the way she is.

The greatest battle of light vs dark threatens every living creature, a battle that could destroy all. And the demon in love will only have one chance to save everyone.

Title: Only Half Alive

Author: Konstanz Silverbow

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance 

Release Date: September 27, 2013

Cover Designer: Steph's Cover Design

Cover Reveal Host: LadyAmber Tours.

Add to Goodreads

Konstanz Silverbow has always been a dreamer . . . but not a writer. Being an author was something she was dragged into. But since that day, she hasn't stopped. It has become more than a hobby, it is a passion.

During the day Konstanz works, making jewelry, playing the violin, collecting dragons, and learning all she can about medieval weapons. But at night she creates made up worlds and places where those dragons come to life and the weapons are used in battle."

Young adult fantasy, paranormal with a dash of romance author, Konstanz Silverbow; Proud Creator of magical worlds, fictional creatures, ideal super heroes and sarcasm since 2007!

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