Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Meet MJ Fredrick!

I’ve been writing for approximately a million years. I can’t remember a time when I haven’t had a notebook with me. I’ve got 12 novels and novellas published by four different publishers, and one self-published novel. I won the Epic Award in 2009 with Hot Shot and in 2011 with Breaking Daylight. This year Don’t Look Back is a nominee. I’ve been an elementary teacher for 23 years and currently teach music. I’ll be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary in January, and we have one son who watches his parents follow their dreams.

Did you ever want to quit writing? Why or why not?

I can’t even imagine that. I haven’t had much time to write this past month and I get twitchy if I don’t get the file at least opened once a day. My hero was naked on the porch for over a week while I tried to find time to write between entertaining and school activities!

No, even if I couldn’t sell any longer, I’d still have stories bouncing around in my head. I have to write them down!

What are your writing career goals? (i.e. to write 2 books a year? To hit the NY Bestsellers List? To sell 100 books a month?)

My big goal right now is to make a living writing. I’m not close, not even with as many books as I have out.
What I’m doing to achieve that goal is poking around trying to get exposure. I have blogged on Romance at Random and I’d love to get on USA Today’s new HEA blog. And of course, I’m writing more books.

Have you truly mastered grammar and sentence structure? Do you feel 100% confident about every comma in your book?

I’m not bad, but 100% confident? No! I still get hung up on lie/lay/laid, and usually just reword the sentence! You know what helped me the most? Diagramming sentences when I was in middle school. I used to be able to out-diagram anyone. Now I’ve forgotten, and we don’t teach it anymore. 

How many pages do you think you could write in one day if you had zero interruptions from 8 AM to 8 PM?

Ohhhh. Hm. My very best day ever was 22 pages during one NaNoWriMo. That was with the story flowing. So, maybe…30 or 35? I’d like to try that, actually. I’ve found that after a really good day, though, my next day’s production is awful.

How do you think (take a guess) writers like Nora Roberts write so many books in a year?

She says she treats it like a job, keeps her head down and gets it done. I’m always surprised to hear she does her own cooking. And she exercises a couple of times a day. I imagine having a routine helps. I know I’m more productive when I do have a routine—writing at a certain time, eating at a certain time, getting on the internet at a certain time. 

What would be easier for you to write, a sex scene or a murder scene?

Sex scene! I love writing them! I have only written one book without one, and while I’d like to revise that book, well, I think I’d add one.

Any advice for new writers just getting started?

Turn off the Internet! Not only does it keep you from getting words on the page, but you hear so much conflicting advice, you start second-guessing yourself. You should have a basic understanding of the market, but don’t let yourself be so bombarded with information that you freeze up and can’t write!



Blog: http://mjfredrick.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjfredrickfanpage

Twitter: @MJFredrick


Thank you, MJ!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Over 134,000 Books Sold - November Update


TOTAL BOOKS SOLD: 134,080


Totals are as of November 22, 2011 @ 10PM and do NOT include 25,000 FREE downloads
(Amazon and B&N combined Sales)


Return of the Rose - Released March 2, 2011 $2.99
Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:               298
April:                 894
May:               1,600
June:               1,475
July:                1,291
August:           2,352
September:     1,955
October:         1,527
November:         752*

Total:           12,144*

A Knight in Central Park- Released March 18, 2011 $.99
Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:              247
April:             6,071
May:              4,306
June:              2,414
July:               1,330
August:          9,812
September:    2,088
October:        1,348
November:        674*

Total:         28,290*

Taming Mad Max - Released April 25, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Comedy

April:               30
May:               182
June:               265
July:                310
August:           934
September:   1,872
October:        2,125
November:      1,663*

Total:             7,381*

Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense

May:                187
June:                261
July:                 325
August:         1,159
September:    3,363
October:        2,089
November:        811*

Total:             8,195*

Abducted - Released May 29, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense/Thriller

May:                   25
June:                 694
July:               1,708
August:        12,917
September:   39,413
October:       18,176
November:       5,137*

Total:           78,070*

*sales as of November 22, 2011 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

Don't forget to come join the November party at The Romance Reviews. Only a few days left of games and free books!

Brenda Hiatt is collecting data on independent publishing. Help her out by sharing your numbers so that we can all benefit. It's all done anonymously. Click HERE for more information.


If you are thinking about self-publishing, but don't know where to start when it comes to marketing and promotion, or even formatting, don't worry. There are so many helpful authors willing to share what they have learned. My advice to you is to join Indie Romance Ink run by Cate Rowan and Carly Carson. There are over 400 members. Many IRI members are traditionally published and have already self-published a book or two. Some members are undecided. All are welcome to join and learn.

Twice a month, I plan to share my number of books sold in hopes that these numbers might help other writers make their own decisions about self-publishing. As you can see my sales have dropped significantly. I have already reached more readers than I had first envisioned. My plan is to keep writing the best books I can and reach more and more readers as the years go by. DEAD WEIGHT, the sequel to Abducted will be released at the end of December, hopefully before Christmas.

Every writer has their own personal and unique journey. My hope is that I can inspire others out there who are working hard at their craft to NEVER GIVE UP.

Let me know if you have ANY questions at all. And to all who celebrate Turkey Day, Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Meet Trish Milburn!

I worked as a journalist before becoming a full-time author. I still do occasional freelance jobs, but I dedicate most of my time to writing books now. I’m a two-time Golden Heart winner and have published four books with Harlequin American with three more due out in the first half of 2012, two young adult books (under the name Tricia Mills) with Razorbill, and three self-published titles. I have three young adult titles coming out next year under my own name from Bell Bridge Books.




Did you ever want to quit writing? Why or why not?

Oh, heck yeah. I’ve told this story many times. I had in 2007 what I called my Summer of Buffy. I’d hit the 10-year mark for trying to get published and got really down thinking that my Golden Heart finals were the best I was ever going to do. I couldn’t make myself write and ended up lying on the couch all summer watching all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time, all five seasons of Angel and the first season of Supernatural. But something happened while I was watching all that TV. I got an idea for a young adult story and ended up writing the first draft in 17 days. It took me a while to sell that story, but Coven is the first in my trilogy coming out next year, debuting in February. It wasn’t the first story I sold, but it’s what kept me going. A year after the Summer of Buffy, I sold my first two books to Razorbill. Three months later, I sold my first two romances to Harlequin American. So I’m a big believer in perseverance now, even when it’s really, really hard to keep going.

What are your writing career goals? (i.e. to write 2 books a year? To hit the NY Bestsellers List? To sell 100 books a month?)
I think we all might have that New York Times Bestsellers List. I want to have at least three releases a year, and I’d love to eventually see at least one of my YA books turned into a movie. I plan to keep up with my three-prong business plan – books with large publishers, smaller publishers and self-publishing. I don’t like having all my eggs in one basket, and I tend to write different types of stories. I’d also love to make enough that my husband could quit his job. He’s supported me throughout the years when I wasn’t selling, and it’d be nice if he could have the free time and energy to indulge the pursuits he likes. 

Have you truly mastered grammar and sentence structure? Do you feel 100% confident about every comma in your book?
Nobody’s ever going to catch everything. No matter how many times I proof a book, there’s always going to be some little something I need to change. I think all writers experience this. That said I’m pretty confident in the cleanliness of my books. My work at newspapers and magazines helped hone my copy editing skills, and I’ve done freelance copy edit work for other authors and a local publisher.

How many pages do you think you could write in one day if you had zero interruptions from 8 AM to 8 PM?
The most I’ve ever written in a day was between 25 and 30 pages. I find that my pace is fastest when I start and declines as the day goes on and my brain tires. I do best when I write a few pages, then take a break for exercise or chores, then write some more. I’m more productive in writing spurts of about half an hour at a time.

How do you think (take a guess) writers like Nora Roberts write so many books in a year?
They view it as a full-time job and treat it as such. If you have a regular day job where someone else pays you, you can’t say, “I don’t feel like going to work today. I think I’ll stay home and watch TV or go shopping.” Too much of that and you’re out of a job. Why would writing be any different?

What would be easier for you to write, a sex scene or a murder scene?

Hmm, would depend on the book. I’ve written both types and sometimes they flow easily, and sometimes they’re like pulling teeth.

Any advice for new writers just getting started?
Stick with it, even when the going gets tough. And never stop improving your craft. Writing is a crowded marketplace, and with the industry changing so much and so quickly the quality of the writing is really what is going to make you stand out and be successful.

Thank you, Trish! If you would like to learn more about Trish Milburn, visit the following sites:
Find Trish on Twitter: @TrishMilburn  

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

OVER 128,000 BOOKS SOLD


TOTAL BOOKS SOLD: 128,444

Totals are as of November 7, 2011 @ 10PM and do not include 25,000 FREE downloads
(Amazon and B&N combined Sales)

Return of the Rose - Released March 2, 2011 $2.99
Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:          298
April:             894
May:          1,600
June:          1,475
July:           1,291
August:      2,352
September: 1,955
October:      1,527
November:       282*
Total:          11,674*

A Knight in Central Park- Released March 18, 2011 $.99
Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:          247
April:         6,071
May:         4,306
June:          2,414
July:           1,330
August:       9,812
September:  2,088
October:      1,348
November:     244*
Total:          27,860*

Taming Mad Max - Released April 25, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Comedy

April:              30
May:              182
June:              265
July:               310
August:           934
September:  1,872
October:       2,125
November:       678*
Total:            6,396*

Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense

May:                187
June:                 261
July:                 325
August:         1,159
September:    3,363
October:       2,089
November:       296*
Total:            7,680*

Abducted - Released May 29, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense/Thriller

May:                     25
June:                   694
July:                  1,708
August:            12,917
September:      39,413
October:          18,176
November:         1,901*
Total:              74,834*

*sales as of November 7, 2011 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

I found a new site: The Kindle 3 Books. Every time they mention Abducted, my sales spike. Check it out.

Don't forget to come join the November party at The Romance Reviews

Brenda Hiatt is collecting data on independent publishing. Help her out by sharing your numbers so that we can all benefit. It's all done anonymously. Click HERE for more information.


If you are thinking about self-publishing, but don't know where to start when it comes to marketing and promotion, or even formatting, don't worry. There are so many helpful authors willing to share what they have learned. My advice to you is to join Indie Romance Ink run by Cate Rowan and Carly Carson. There are over 400 members. Many IRI members are traditionally published and have already self-published a book or two. Some members are undecided. All are welcome to join and learn.


Twice a month, I plan to share my number of books sold in hopes that these numbers might help other writers make their own decisions about self-publishing.

Every writer has their own personal and unique journey. My hope is that I can inspire others out there who are working hard at their craft to NEVER GIVE UP.


Let me know if you have ANY questions at all.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

CONTEST WINNERS!


WINNER of custom made sterling silver spider ring is...BONNIE SPARKS aka "bsparx"


 
WINNERS OF "YOUR NAME IN MY NEXT BOOK"

ARLENE "LENA" RUIZ - Happy Birthday!
DEBRA TAPHORN
CHARLEEN "CHARLEE" SYDNEY BINGAMAN

Congratulations to Lena, Debra and Charlee. Your names are being used in the follow-up book to Abducted, titled Dead Weight by T.R. Ragan. Dead Weight will be released before the end of 2011.
 
 
EVERYONE IS A WINNER!

All who entered will receive a free digital copy of DEAD WEIGHT as soon as it is released: Bonnie Sparks, Lena Ruiz, Charlee Bingaman, Brooke Nelson, Kimberly, Karissa, Debra Taphorn, and Heather Champion!

Thanks to all who participated. Look for more "name in my book" contests in the near future.