KDP Select: Worth its Weight?

On January 12, 2012, in Events, Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

So I made the plunge. Took a dive. Crossed over to the Dark Side. That’s right, I am now officially an Amazon Minion. (Why do I suddenly feel like even blogging about this puts me at risk of a stern visit from a dark, robed figure with a ugly plastic mask and a half-broken breathing […]

 

15 Seconds of FAME (or “The King and I”)

On January 6, 2012, in Book Release, Famous Writers, Indie Authors, The Market, by rsguthrie

I am currently running a free promo for my new book, L O S T, the sequel to Black Beast. So I’ve been spending the day watching L O S T slowly climb up the “Free” store at Amazon (at the writing of this blog post I am 12 hours into my promotion and L […]

 

Consumer Rating Stock PLUMMETS!

On December 14, 2011, in Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

A great friend and best-selling author—Terri Giuliano Long—recently wrote a two-part piece about the “ugly truth” regarding consumer book ratings these days. You can read Part I on HuffPost here, and Part II on Indie Reader here. Suffice to say that the value of consumer scoring—particularly as it pertains to indie books—seems in many ways […]

 

Bend Me Over My Website!

On December 11, 2011, in Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

I decided this week it was high time I look at the possibility of having a professional design my author page. I know just enough CSS and HTML to be dangerous. I know, cliche. But it’s true. I have always managed my own online presence. This “management” usually consists of finding a pre-built template I […]

 

NaNoWriMo. Really?

On November 3, 2011, in Indie Authors, Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

In case you just crawled out of a cave, after spending a reasonable amount of time writing your novel, here’s a news update: It’s National Novel Writing Month. Okay, not really. Only on the Internet. And only if you are a writer. Oh, and only if you buy into the whole “Thirty Days and Nights […]

 

Horrific Halloween to Ye

On October 31, 2011, in Famous Writers, Opinion, Past Writing, The Market, by rsguthrie

I love this day. Halloween. I really should have become a writer of Horror. Pure, rattle-your-bones, make-you-look-over-your-shoulder, run-up-the-stairs-hoping-the-hand-doesn’t-snag-your-foot horror stories. My cousin, Kathy, and I used to tell scary stories to each other growing up. Campfire stories. You remember them, right? The escaped killer with the hook, stalking lovers in their cars in the dark. […]

 

Self-Serve Glory (It Ain’t Ice Cream)

On October 17, 2011, in Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

Okay, I admit it. Self-promotion makes my skin crawl. I just want to write a great book and have millions of people give it a chance. Not saying I want everyone to love my writing (although I won’t be anywhere near the Complaint Department if that ever happens). I am ready and willing to take […]

 

The Price of Blood, Sweat, and Tears

On October 7, 2011, in Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

I couldn’t stop thinking about garage sales last night. In my life I have never attended one and I have only ever staged one myself. It was a horror show. I’ve never seen such a blatant disregard for market value in my life. Okay, that’s not true. We used to walk across the San Diego […]

 

Marketing: A Wolf In Writer’s Clothing?

On September 25, 2011, in Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

I am writing my first blog entry from my iPad. Why? Well, though I really hate typing on this thing (takes me back to the “hunt and peck” days with my first IBM Selectric—if you don’t know what that is, I’m not telling), it’s all I can muster. Suffice to say I am in bed, […]

 

A Needle in a Stack of Needles

On September 6, 2011, in The Market, Writing Tips, by rsguthrie

I can’t be the only writer who feels this way. I believe in my work. I am my own worst critic, so it’s not like I lay around eating sugar sandwiches knowing the gravy train can only be a few minutes from the station. Okay, the part about sugar sandwiches, maybe—but I only eat them […]