First Choice Not Last Resort AND a Reader Appreciation Giveaway

How ever other people feel about Indie publishing these days, for me it simply came down to this: publishing GODSPEED myself was my first choice, not the choice of last resort.

I've spent years writing, honing my craft, telling stories.

I've spent the past few years reading everything imaginable about the industry, beginning back in 2010 with agent blogs (the good, the bad, and the nasty) and progressing from there. I've listened to many bloggers talk about their experiences with querying and rejection and I had my own short-lived run with the process before I realized it was not for me (very short- yet not without hope and that's all I'm going to say about that today).

Thing is, I realized through all my trials of health and emotions the past few years that I knew what I wanted when it came to my writing, and that was to get it out there, the way I intended it to be.

So in the end I guess you'd have to say that the thing that appealed to me the most about Indie publishing was that control. Over not only the story but the cover art, the title, everything.

I wanted the work to stand or fall on its own as my work, not as something drilled down by a committee with focus groups taken into consideration.

I didn't try to take a 'short-cut'. I'm not lazy. In fact anyone who has gone the Indie route will tell you that to see it through you can't possibly be lazy. And to do it right, you can't do it alone.

You need a professional copy editor. I don't care that they cost money, most things in life worth having cost money. Save up for it. I did.

Same with a cover artist. Hire a professional.

Craft your story to the absolute best of your ability, then edit it some more. Do all you can to make it the best it could ever possibly be.

Then whatever route you go with the book, print or ebook only, Amazon or Barnes and Noble (or both)...you will know you chose the right path for you, and in the end that is, I think, where the deepest satisfaction comes from in all of this.

We can't control how many people buy or read our books.

We can't control what they think of them when they do or what they say in the reviews.

We can only control what we put into the process, and then know that whatever route we've taken, legacy, small press, or Indie, that we've gone the way we were meant to. I am grateful to know that I have.

NOW, on to the giveaway!

I am at this moment awaiting a Fed Ex truck which has a nice sized box of print copies of GODSPEED riding around in it. Trust me when I tell you they are be-yoo-tiful. 




And as you know, if you've looked them up online they aren't cheap.

So.

I want to give a few of these bad boys away, but not just randomly to people who may or may not like the book at all and then it just ends up being a pretty paper weight or worse- leveling a coffee table somewhere *shudder*.

So after putting much thought into this, here is how it will work:

I will hold a reader appreciation drawing and give away THREE copies of GODSPEED in print but here's the catch: to qualify to enter you must read the book.

You heard me right: You must already have bought the ebook, read and enjoyed it to enter this contest.

I want these babies going to good homes where they will be loved: so here are the details.

You email me at fireworksflowers at g mail dot com and either 1. take a pic of the book on your Kindle/computer/other device and send it to me or 2. send me your favorite quote from the book that comes after chapter five and provide the location of that quote (so that no one can sneaky quote from the Amazon sample.) Tell me in a couple sentences why you loved the book so much you want it in print.

Then you will be entered into the drawing for a chance to win one of three print copies of the book. Note: this contest is only open to those in the contiguous 48 US states (sorry).

BONUS!

IF you have read the book, enjoyed it, AND left a review and/or star rating at Amazon and/or Goodreads, you will additionally be entered into a drawing to also win this piece of GODSPEED inspired art:

I call it a clockwork flower, and one lucky winner will receive it in addition to their copy of GODSPEED.

Blogging, Tweeting, or otherwise passing along the idea that the book exists and you enjoyed it can earn you additional entries into the artwork drawing if you show me where such plugs are posted.

So- to recap: to enter you must:

1. Buy the ebook, read it, and (hopefully) love it.  (all purchases of the ebook to date qualify.)

2. Show me that you've bought, read, and love it.

3. By doing so you are entered in random drawing to win a print copy, which I will sign for you if you like.

4. If you also do something (or things) to promote the book you can increase your chances of winning not only the book but the fabulous one of a kind piece of GODSPEED inspired art, created by yours truly.

So there you go! You must act fast: the contest closes June 1 2012 at 12 midnight EST.  GOOD LUCK!