I’ve blogged about it before. The book world these past few years has been turned on its ass, and not all for the good of (decent) writers. Yes, now writers with talent that were getting turned down by publishers (most great writers were turned down for years by publishers) can post their wonderful books. But that’s not really what happens; what happens is better visualized by taking a wonderfully-written piece of work and tossing it into a raging sea of shit.
I used to compare the new market to searching for a needle in a stack of needles. I now see it better. It’s like looking for a handful of needles made of pure silver buried in a moldy haystack mixed with horse and cow dung.
1) Nearly impossible to find even if you’re willing to dig in the muck.
and
2) Because 99% of searches turn up nothing but muck, no one cares to look any longer.
So what’s a writer to do? Give his book away for free and pray for word of mouth? Sell her book for something like 99 cents, so at least she might pay for an ad meant to advertise it (i.e. make it glow ever so iridescently within the pile of putrid hay)?
My own feeling is that giveaways are like garage sales: they attract hoarders. Sales are about the only way to say to readers “Hey, take a risk on me; it’s only a buck—less than a buck, technically. Give me a read and see what you think. Scares away the hoarders who don’t ever want to spend anything on anything and perhaps gives the discouraged and disgruntled a way to find decent writers without having to risk too much money on the haystack.
There’s another way, too: talk to a blogger who already knows you’re worth the risk and tell them about your new book (ESPECIALLY when it’s on sale for only 99 cents)!
Well that’s what I’m here to do today, dearest readers. Fellow author Ryan Schneider (Dick in Jane, The “GO-KIDS” series) has released his latest Sci-Fi masterpiece, Eye Candy! And for a very limited time he’ll let you scoop it up for the nearly free price of 99 pennies!
Here’s the book’s killer synopsis:
In a near-future Los Angeles of 2047, roboticist Danny Olivaw finds himself on a blind date with a beautiful robopsychologist named Candy. But the next day, strange things begin to happen. Confronted with an unbearable truth, Danny soon begins a downward spiral in search for the woman he loves. Little does he know what fate has in store for them. Brilliantly conceived and executed with delicate precision, Eye Candy is a complex, endearing tale for mature readers that’s as fast-paced and uplifting as it is fun.
Any of you that read my blog know that I don’t often plug other writers here. When I do, it’s because I believe in them. Ryan Schneider is one of those silver needles, okay? I won’t promise you you’ll love his book(s) simply because I won’t do the same for mine either. No one person can tell another person what their tastes are, what types of reads really work for them, and which don’t—but I can tell you when you won’t waste your time because a writer is GOOD and has TALENT and that’s all any of us these days can ask for, right? Look at the genre, read the synopsis, and KNOW that the guy or lady can write.
In my mind that makes a 99 cent investment on Sci-Fi Eye Candy well worth it.
Oh, and you really need to meet Ryan—he’s a cool dude:
Ryan Schneider is a husband, aspiring father, writer, and full-time novelist.
Ryan writes in many genres, including Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mainstream Fiction. He is the author of five novels, a collection of short stories, and a dozen screenplays.
Ryan earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of the Pacific, and advanced degrees in Screenwriting and Independent Producing at UCLA. He has worked as a newspaper staff writer and film critic, as well as co-host of a weekly radio show.
Ryan is also a commercially-licensed pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings. He lives in Palm Springs, CA with his wife Taliya, a Guinness World Record-holding singer/songwriter and recording artist. Taliya received a Guinness World Record in 2005 for recording her original song “Flower Child” in 15 languages. She is currently in the studio, mastering a brand new acoustic album.
Deepest and warmest thanks for your kind words, Rob. I truly appreciate your time and effort in helping me to get the word out regarding Eye Candy.
I have always believed that we know good writing when we see it, that good writing lifts us up and captures us, carries us along on a journey, and takes us to another place. You know you’re there when you forget that you’re reading. I also believe that good writing should be timeless and accessible by nearly anyone. Like you said, we can’t guarantee a reader will love our book, because art is subjective and we all have our tastes and preferences. But I really put my heart into this one. I spent a year-and-a-half writing it. I myself love the story, and I hope others will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. And I thank you for sharing it.
Ryan, you are, as I said, one of the authors on whom readers should find the books well worth taking the “unknown author plunge” (and not just at 99 cents either!). The fact that you put your heart into this one is an important one—I firmly believe that the best writing comes from our passion, heart, and soul. I hope this blog helps get this book out there to the readers, where it needs to be! 🙂
I’m with you, Rob. I’m no longer interested in garage sale giveaways. In fact, writers used to support each other buy buying each other’s books. Now everyone just waits around until the book is offered for free. People who won’t spend 99 cents on a good book by a talented author isn’t worth courting with “free.”
I’m always surprised at how little I ever hear readers (or writers) talking about book samples. I know within a few paragraphs whether I should spend money on the book, particularly when combined with other factors such as recommendations from sources I trust, reviews, price-point, genre, etc. Sample, sample, sample I yell from the mountaintop. I rarely read reviews of others’ books. I read the sample if the synopsis and genre seem right.
Rob,
Anyone should be willing to take a chance on a 99 cent book by a recommended author like Ryan. To add to the muck pile problem, I noted that when I went to the Kindle store to get Ryan’s book, I found nine books with the title “Eye Candy.” Yet another reason people can’t find specific books when they come to the Kindle store.
It’s funny, I’ve read both positive and negative arguments for titling books similarly (not that all authors, or Ryan, do/did it intentionally). I called a book LOST and received a comment that the reader thought this was some kind of sequel tied to the TV program. I never even consider that! Good point, though. Of course I would say to you—Mr. Technical—that I linked to the book 3-4 times in the blog for one-click purchasing. 😉
Stephen’s point about similar titles is a good one. When I finally got around to investigating this, I found quite a few items with the same title. But, honestly, I don’t care. My book is my book and the title is the title. It’s part of the magic of writing. Things come to us from out of the ether. Our job is to capture them as completely as possible, to serve the story first and foremost. To that end. there could be a million other books titled EYE CANDY. If it’s the title I must use, end of story. Besides, titles can’t be copyrighted.