Our books are not free!

The biggest event on facebook, I’ve seen in a while! and it starts soon!

https://www.facebook.com/events/206705409792190/

Sorry facebook for the double tap. Well worth it I think. 🙂

I’ve had the best time since we launched TSK’s second book in December, with a really well laid out plan of attack and some well-placed blogs and adds, we’re doing okay, sales and KU reads are really steady! and I’m proud of that.

But in the launch I did what most authors do, I had giveaway prizes. I love and will always love doing things for others if they REALLY want them, but I gave away between 2 events over 16 audiobooks, out of those prize winners only 6 actually have claimed their books.

These books cost a tonne of money to produce, and each gift costs around $20 or £20 (we’re almost even in cash value)

So I gave away £200 worth of goods, that no one really wanted.

So when a facebook friend decided enough was enough and she shared her idea on this event, I fully supported her, and I’m very proud of the gathering that is involved with this event.

Writing is not easy, it’s fun… sure.

It can be highly stressful too.

It is expensive.

To compete in the real world we have to pay out for many things.

Editing,

Cover art…

Proofing.

Marketing.

Our time is worth something.

Yet, all the time, artists and not just in the writing world are berated and asked for stuff for free.

My other qualm was before my book launch in December I took part in a big event for a $100 amazon gift card. We gathered email addresses for our mailing lists, which was fab.

However in January and up to date, because I gave my email address in, I’ve had over 350 emails, with authors GIVING books away for free 😦

I am very saddened by this, and it has to stop.

We are worth it!

Our time is worth it. You as a reader want hour after hour of entertainment, right?

But you won’t pay more than 2.99 ?

What’s that coffee cost you there, that you’re drinking? how much is that barista on per hour?

Yeah, you get my point, right?

I love my readers, and I love my fans, the comments and notes I get all over social media make my day, but I have to eat, I have to put a roof over my head.

Hugs to you all, and I really, really hope you guys will support this fab event.

I’ve got spending money tonight! So I’m going to buy some amazing books from some of these fabulous authors!

 

AudioBook Review – Synthetic Uprising

This being the start of a very A.I kinda week, was a great book to kick it off. 🙂
Synthetic Uprising | [C. Mielczarski]

 

“Interesting”

I received this book without obligation from the narrator.

What I enjoyed about this book was the get in late scenario, there was no messing about with this storyline and it was very easy to follow and unfolded really well. The plot revolved around some great 3d characters who each had so much depth and backstory that it affected the outcome of the book and really made you feel for them. Great job on the suspense and mystery surrounding this story. I did think maybe it could have been longer, because I enjoyed it a lot, and I hope that this isn’t going to be the only book with these characters, it seems there’s so much scope that it would be a shame if so. The world building and ideas in here support most A.I stories, that I’ve had the pleasure of reading or listening to, yet it didn’t seem over-worked or contrived.

The narrator has a great tone to his voice for this genre, deep and gritty, which suited the MC and I found myself getting lost within the world. The different character voices were unique enough that I didn’t need tags to know who was doing the talking, great job.

I look forward to more from both writer and narrator, thank you for letting me listen in.

Author – New Release – Something Blue

Get ready for the fab release of Kristy Nicholle’s ‘Something Blue’ 🙂

SOMETHING BLUE HD ECOVER.jpg
Would you marry the perfect stranger? Pre-Order Something Blue Now for the special pre-order price of only 99c!

PRE-ORDER
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2jdQMiX
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2izW3Tq

 

SYNOPSIS

Valentine Morland has waited nine years to meet her scientifically determined matchmate… Now, she must marry him. #somethingblue #comingsoon#reveal #newteaser #dystopianromance #romance #valentine#myfunnyvalentine #tattoos #puzzlepieces #matchmate #blissinc #corporate#ecstasy #bliss #formulafortruelove #waiting #bookworm #booklove#bibliophile #dystopia #bookblogger #newrelease

In the city of Monopolis where happily ever after is just a scientific formula away, Valentine Morland has been waiting nine years for her day to come. Now it’s here, and she will marry the man of her dreams, a stranger to her, before being swept off to life of carefree luxury and bliss, courtesy of the Jigsaw Project. However, all is not as Valentine imagined as her new husband is quickly discovered as not the man of her dreams, but one who claims he isn’t capable of love at all. Harbouring an intense paranoia for the system, which upholds the very idealist fantasy that Valentine holds so dear, Clark threatens to throw her into a world, not of bliss, but of scary consequence where her every emotion is under scrutiny. Can it be that the scientific formula with a 99% success rate got it all wrong, or is everything in the world of Bliss Inc. more sinister than it seems?

 SOMETHING BLUE HIGH DEF PAPERBACK.jpg

 

ADD IT ON GOODREADS- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33863710-something-blue

MAILING LIST SIGNUP LINK

http://kristynicolle.us13.list-manage1.com/subscribe…

STREET TEAM: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/915014841873185/

Want to know more?
Website: www.kristynicolle.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristyNicolle/?fref=ts

The Fab Jeff Hays :) – live read

I had the great pleasure of being included again last night in Jeff’s twitch reading.

This piece was co -written with my writing partner in crime Steven Kogan,

And although I missed it, and am sad about that, it was a great reading to go back and watch.

Take a listen and just watch those faces he does when doing Gavinu’s dialogue, love it. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/118348053

click across to – 35:05 – “Tales from the Secret King: The Summit” by Dawn Chapman and Steven Kogan.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SciFanTM-Magazine-Feb…/…/B01MUD7CE

SciFanMagazineFeb4.jpg

New Release – Continue Online – Together – book 5

I had the great pleasure of meeting Stephan Morse through RRL, an online community of writers who post chapters daily/weekly. And I picked up the first in this series before Xmas,  – Review to follow although I have to say I’m enjoying it –

So today he’s released book 5! I can’t wait to get to the latter books in chatting to him I really admire his determination and commitment to his craft.

From Stephan’s website – https://frustratedego.com/ – On the whole series

The primary story with Continue Online’s universe follows Grant Legate.

The future is filled with self-driving cars, virtual realities, chore completing machines, and super fast internet connections. Yet all these technological innovations cannot prevent tragedy. Three years ago Grant Legate lost that which he loved most. His carefully built life fell apart in the wake of depression.

Now Grant spends most days working endless hours as a companion to an AI. Their mission is simple, to repair broken machines that humanity uses to visit virtual realities. Unintended hard work pays off as his boss forces Grant to take a vacation and try the latest game craze Continue Online, a fantasy world with the freedom to play any role one might choose.

Upon entry into the game, he meets the AIs who rule over this digital world and they make an offer. They’re nothing like what he expected from a video game world. Grant starts his journey into the virtual world from a very different perspective, and he is only one part of an AI agenda that will end up impacting all of humanity.

 

Continue online - book.jpg

 

Blurb  – 

Since stepping through the gateway to Continue, Grant has been many things: a dying hero, a malevolent imp, a robotic space explorer, and felon seeking redemption. Now he’s added a new role to the list—married man to a virtual woman. In his mind, nothing could be more perfect, but his newlywedded bliss is in jeopardy.

Trillium pulled the trigger on a digital Armageddon and the games have changed. Virtual people are being hunted down then deleted forever. Players’ characters are removed if they die three times. The AIs have a plan to fight back and protect their citizens by storing as much data as possible into a haven, including Xin’s.

To help secure the survival of his friends and wife, Grant will seek the secrets to salvation left behind from the game’s first heroes and programming team. Along the way, Grant reunites with old companions, sets aside past grudges, and pulls out every trick he’s ever been taught to help him in the race against digital death.

Failure means Grant will lose Xin a second time, but success may cost him even more.

I’d highly recommend checking this series out 🙂 

You can pick book 1 up here –

And follow Stephan’s facebook and twitter –

https://www.facebook.com/FrustratedEgo