Are You as Exicited as I am??? Cassatorm- Taking the World by Storm

The real Alex!

I've been a huge fan of Alex J. Cavanaugh's series for years. Now comes the third book in the series hot off the presses tomorrow. Yes, I pre-ordered it and all giddy inside awaiting its arrival. Since Alex announced he was writing it and it was due for publication, I've gone back and reread the previous two books to refresh my mind of the characters. I'm expecting new excitements and twists with this new book. And knowing Alex's writing style, I won't be disappointed.

I had a chance to catch Alex in all the pre-pub flurry to ask him some questions

1) How would you feel if your books were optioned for film and was sliced and diced as World War Z?

I think I would go into hiding and take up serious drinking. Although it would be worse if the SyFy Channel got a hold of them!

2) What was your first prompt to write in the first place?

I wrote so I could read the stories I couldn’t find anywhere else.

3) You are such a multi-talented fellow, tell us about your music.

Music has always been a part of my life, but I didn’t pick up the guitar until a few years ago. Now I play in a Christian band and it’s just amazing.

 Thanks Alex for taking time to answer a nagging fan!

Now about this new book being launched

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

 

Pre-release reviews 

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse 

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

"An exciting, nail-biting read which sweeps the reader off on adventures in another galaxy."
- Nicua Shamira, Terraverum

 Watch the CassaStorm book trailer

Where to find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002

Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastorm

Book trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Umm2l0XdHc&feature=youtu.be

About the Author

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

 Stalk the author here

Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh  

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

So what are you waiting for? Oh that's right, you can't purchase it until tomorrow. (grin) So get doing those finger exercises to click your mouse faster. I'll see you in the pages in a few days.

Friday Fun~ Book- Overcoming Aversity

Hot off the presses as it were, the anthology I've been mentioning for a month. It launched March 4th so run, don't walk, to grab your very own copy! Remember the proceeds from the sales go to help Nick send his son Andrew to a Specialty College in Scotland. I can't think of a more worthwhile  cause to buy a book, can you?

Blurb:
A collection of seventy moving and uplifting original pieces - real life, flash fiction, and poetry - about battling against the odds and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The contributors include Amazon bestselling authors Alex J. Cavanaugh and Kyra Lennon, and the cream of upcoming talent.

The anthology is part of a fundraising effort to send the editor's stepson, Andrew McNaughton, to a specialist college in England. Andrew has cerebral palsy, and is a remarkable young man with a promising future. However, the free further education options offered in his own country of Scotland will not challenge him and allow him to progress. In order to access the education he deserves, Andrew will have to pay exorbitant fees, thus creating a situation of discrimination.

Help us get Andrew to college by buying a book that runs the full gamut of human emotions, ultimately leaving you inspired and glad to be alive. Whatever struggles you are going through, our sincere hope is that this book will help.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK
Smashwords:
Goodreads

Editor Bio: Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction. When not writing he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also co-running a campaign to get a dedicated specialist college built in Scotland. Visit him at http://nickwilford.blogspot.co.uk/.

Triumphant Tuesday & the Indie Author

tri·um·phant

adjective /trīˈəmfənt/ 

    1. Having won a battle or contest; victorious
    2.  Feeling or expressing jubilation after having won a victory or   mastered a difficulty
  
I know quite a few authors and writers have written "the end" on their masterpieces. They have struggled with the seemingly endless writing and editing phases of their novels. Reached the end of the process felt triumphant. Believe it or not... I do too. The sense of achievement is fantastic. It doesn't matter how many books you have out there. Each one is special.

This is me today. After the malaise of yesterday, I pushed through and finished the second book in my children's series. While it may not reach the best seller's list in fiction, Amazon #1, or any of the other distinguishing recognizable markers...it is my creation. There is an overwhelming feeling of triumph of completing a work. Is it an achievement, oh yes, it is. A mjor one!


Each and every novel or nonfiction created is a milestone. I feel victorious in a hard fought battle. The novel is formatted, illustrations complete and of acceptable DPI. You wouldn't believe this battle of back and forth. The cover is created. Now, all that is left is the publisher's mark of acceptance. Yes, even when self publishing there is big brother who has to look over your work...for me it's the CreateSpace team.

So what is this accomplishment I speak of? Let me show you. In two weeks, "mr. Goodbar Goes to the Hospital" will launch via CreateSpace and Amazon.com.

I've had so many people who purchased the first book, "Who Stole Baby Ruth" ask when the second would be ready for purchase. Right on target for me, the date will be October 31st. For those of you who have lived under a rock, or just joined my merry family of followers...my children's "Sweet Haven Series" deals with real life issues children face. These are stories I've told my grandchildren as a way of explaining all the bad stuff in the world. All the characters are name brand candies. For example, mayor mr. Goodbar, and his daughter, Baby Ruth.

This particular book, "mr. Goodbar Goes to the Hospital" was written for a member of a hysterectomy support group who had a young child. Now, mr. Goodbar could not have a hysterectomy so it's his gall bladder.  I've raised the reading level to 4th grade and added chapters to keep with the series. I may still publish the original story for younger children. (the original was for 3-4 year old youngsters). I would have to redo the illustrations. There was a need and a niche, and I filled it with this series.

Anyhow, that's my triumphant Tuesday.

What are you triumphant about today?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Blogs, Business, and Books

I realize many of my readers do not know me from Adam other than what I blog, tweet, post, or facebook and that's okay. This is what all this stuff is about. It's a selling tool, yes, but its is a basic way of meeting new people.

In today's society it is acceptable to "meet" people, sell to potential customers, and help other people virtually. For example, did you know I spent fifteen years of my life building a rather lucrative international business and marketing consulting firm? I may have mentioned bits and pieces about it over the past few years.

If you are a member of the AOL Books and Writer's Forum, like many of my followers are, then you've seen me pop in and out over twenty years. I feel fortunate that this site has grown and survived over the year through multiple transitions when so many have fallen by the wayside. It's here if you want to pop in and meet authors and readers.

Even Blogger has changed several times since its birth.I've had several blogs over the years on various topics including being an author...like now, I have this writing blog and also a ministry blog. But like forums and social media sites, its a way to connect with people you may never actually meet.

I found a couple of interesting retweets or is it chirps on twitter yesterday. One really struck my fancy since this is my year of trying new things via the internet.

I jumped on the S.H.I.N.E blogging challenge, 100 blogs for the last 100 days of the year. To join click here. Can  you believe there is only 100 days left in 2011? The year zoomed by. Today is the start of S.H.I.N.E so this is blog #1.  A lot of interesting marketing and publishing tidbits on Julie Issac's Writing Spirit site so I invite you to take a look.

Through this site I reconnected with an old author acquaintance that I had not spoken to in a long time, Bob Mayer. He is one of my favorite military/sci fi and nonfiction authors. I met him at a writer's conference way back in 2000. In the video interview link I listened to what he had to say...like me he has now gone indie! He bought back the rights to over forty of his titles and republished them. In this I applaud him. I haven't bought back my nonfiction rights, yet.  That's my project for 2012. I've spent a year researching and testing the indie market, and my research is almost complete. No, I do not jump without looking first.

While he was promoting one of his nonfiction courses in business operation as an author. A kernel was born. Don't you just love when that happens? With my experience with business and marketing, who better to talk about the business end of being an indie author, other than Bob, than moi? Haven't I always said XYZ is a fabulous chef, mechanic, HVAC repair person, but they don't know squat about running a business? 75-80% of all new businesses fail within the first five years. It made my consulting firm grow by leaps and bounds. To help businesses start and continue on the right foot AND be an author at the same time is a match made in heaven.

Et Voila! I put together a small business pamphlet for American indie authors on the business aspects of being an indie auuthor. "The Business Author: A Practical Guide to the Business of Being a Self-Published Author." No, you say. I don't run a business...I just write books. But you sell them too. Uncle Sam wants you! He is holding out his hand with his greedy fingers twitching, saying "Gimme!" Yes, you are an author and a sole proprietor business. If you were a standard published author you would receive a 10-99 for income earned over the year from your agent or publisher and an itemtimized statement of expenses. But this covers the indie author without representation.

These are cold, hard facts. If you live in the U.S. of A, the government wants their share of your earnings. This pamphlet does not cover marketing or how to write your book. There are plenty of resources for this type of thing on the shelves and web. And almost nothing about the running and implementing the writing business. This covers the financial part of being an indie author...the taxes, the income, the deduction, and the accounting. Your responsibilites as a tax paying citizen. I always talk about the hats we wear in life. As an indie author, this is another one. I hear you groaning out there. What another one? Yep, make it the red one with the white band and blue feather.

I figured if you were bold enough to self-published your book and rake in a higher royalty rate, you might also do your own taxes. It's one of those things nobody talks about and they should. This covers the basics of accounting and financing facts about running a business. Like it or not, if you sell books, you are in business and tax season is right around the corner. If you've been an indie author for over a year, you know what I'm talking about. It can be a major headache!

So what's the bottom line? This pamphlet is a free download at http://www.smashwords.com/. Get it today here. It's a short e-read at 3K. Don't be caught with your pants down April 15th.

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Let's PARTY!!!!

Is Everyone ready????

Today is the e-launch of "Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption."

Wow, I hit 1,300 views!!!
Toot the horns, throw the confetti, break out the champagne, and yell "hip, hip, hurray!" I'm celebrating the e-launch of my new novel and YOU get the free gift for stopping by my blog today to help me celebrate.

See the tab up top marked "contact?" Click it.  Fill it out and first thing  tomorrow I will be emailing you a code for a free downloadable copy of the complete novel. The code does not expire for a year so whenever you are ready go to here (www.smashwords.com) and pick up your copy. When it asks for payment type in the coupon code I'm sending you.

Is this a sweet deal or what? This is my way of thanking my readers for their support in my self-publishing effort.  If you like it leave a review so others will also find the book.  Amazon has the paperback for all you people who like to hold a book in your hand...unfortunately this free deal does not apply to the paperback.

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.

And as always, keep writing and loving the Lord.

Jane! Get Me Off This Thing!

https://www.createspace.com/3615450

This week has been like that opening scene from the Jetsons cartoon where George is walking the dog and it sees a cat. Yep, that's me old George running at top speed and really not physically going anywhere.

That's kind of like what self-publishing is like. At least to me. I did something different this time. I've got a good drool going about "Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption." I've built the anticipation factor over the social media sites to where I'm getting on average of four messages a day about when it will be released.  By the same token I'm getting buzzed about the release. I've sent out copies to reviewers and have been asked to do several interviews.    This is like my older standard publishing days, but from concept to publication has only been four months instead of eighteen months. I do miss the old days at times.

It has been formatted for paperback, Kindle and Smashwords to the point where all I have to do is push a button to release it onto the world.  The cover details are final and in place.  The lettering is now white on blood red.  Oooohhhh! Ahhhhh! I learned how to create my own covers instead of using an already formatted one.  The basic picture is still the same. I worked hard on the drawing and painting, and didn't want to give it up.  So remember to mark your calendar for the release...August 31st here on my blog.

You may have noticed the little word count counter on the right. This is for "Zombie Apocalypse:Travelers" the second book in this series of horror. The video promo of this book has outnumbered the previous two which is exciting.

Another big deal which has been done quietly is the release of my children's series of books.  A few months back I posted the drawing I had done.  I had to redraw them and raise the DPI higher so they would pop in black and white for the coloring portion of the book.  Nope this isn't available in e-format only print because it is really hard to color on an e-reader.  It is available now at Createspace . The Amazon version is due out next week.  It takes them a few days to put it on their site. 

I am busy working on a couple of projects...like that's anything new for me.  The second book in this children's series is, "mr. Goodbar Goes to the Hospital."  The illustrations and cover are complete.  The story is three quarters away from the end of the first draft.  I should have it finished by October and ready to go to press. I'm very excited about this children's series of books.  I keep making up new stories for my grandchildren and now writing them down for others. I have one new granddaughter, Savannah, who is actually a step granddaughter but I don't love her any less.  I also have a new grandson being born in December for a total of EIGHT!  WTG Grandma JAM!

I read a post by an agent who said pick a genre and stick to it.  The idea of marketing to three market segements is daunting, but doable.  It's just a lot of work which is something I've always done.  For me, it's like choosing a career.  It sounds easier than done for me...I started out as a ladies professional golfer and a nurse, and then I was a nurse and a teacher, and then an international marketing consultant and chef, and then a professor, chef, and minister...but I've always also been a writer for almost 45 years!...so I guess now, I'm a minster and an author. Life is a smorgasbord and like with any buffet you pick and choose the tastiest morsels from everything given.

Keep Writng and Loving the Lord!