Little Rakasha

Hello my fellow Miscreants

Those that know me in real life know I am going through a very rough time. It has affected my blogging and I promise to be back to ‘normal’ as soon as I can. 

Last night, my daughter went and got me a rescue kitten. He is small, cute and needs me, a very good combination.  He reminded me of my other cat Buster (the one born in the wrong body). I have decided to name it Rakasha after my book, even though in truth, the adoption fees were more then my book has made. 

Last night he was on guard – watching and protecting me as I slept. At some point, he saw something evil crawling on my head. Being that he is a natural hunter, he moved into position, found his high grou

nd and leapt in and attacked. He used his kitten sized teeth and his baby claws, to tear and scratch and drive this intruder off of me.  It was three am on his first night and he saved me.

On another related note, I need to teach him the meaning of the word “Ear” and what one looks like, I would bet after last night he has the taste down. 

Results from the Convention

 Hello all,

As I announced before, I went to a horror movie convention to try to move some books.  I was not expecting much from sales, but I was hoping to learn a lot about how to work these conventions and pick up tricks I can use for the next ones.

Selling a total of 6 books in 12 hours is somewhat disappointing, but considering how little preparation I had, I will take it as a win.  Before my next appearance, I have a new ‘plan’ and its simple enough that someone should have suggested it before. But since I have never seen it, I will share with all of you 

First thing, have book stands and lights.  The co-presenter (who BTW –is the only reason I sold the 6 books I did) lent me one, it put my book out in a way that it could be seen. I also needed lights, the theater lobby we were in was dark, I used my iPhone as a source, but it was not great.  I will be picking up some small battery-powered lights, so I can illuminate my book cover next time.

Second thing – have some Candy.  A 4.00 bag of candy, put on your table, and in an appropriate container (in our case a ½ skull) people come up to get a piece, and they see the book – does that mean they buy it? Probably not but they become aware of it.  And if it’s a multi-day convention, who knows they may buy it on the second or third day.  

Third thing – have an ‘elevator pitch’ ready, be able to tell them about your book and get them interested, and do it in under a minute!  The sales I got were all because of my quick pitch about how the tiger demon is not only a flesh eater, but how her bite is addictive. The pitch intrigued enough people to buy 6 copies. 

Fourth thing, have something on your table unique.  For my next one, I want to get a tiger stripped cloth, to put down.  It will make my table unique, without being to garish, or expensive and its tied to my books theme.

Fifth thing, I am going to make a variety of ‘posters’ both from the shoot this Saturday, using the Book Cover, and also one with the quotes.  They will be 11*17 and with luck I won’t have to replace more than once a year, give or take. The idea, have something visual to grab the potential readers, and bring them to the table.

I am also going to get a plastic storage box to keep everything in, including a LCD screen (a spare I have from my other job) so I can put my book trailer on a loop if the table has power (and a power strip as well).  I will have blue painters tape, I will have duct tape (tiger stripped of course)  I will have paper clips, rubber bands and the cords needed to hook both the laptop and the IPhone to the monitor as needed. 

The last thing, I am going to set up a card table in my basement and practice setting things up – just so I can be sure I have at least a clue before next time how to do it.  The goal would be to have it to the point that I can set it up no matter how sleep deprived/hung over I am.  After all when you hang out with your fellow authors, that skill maybe far more important than you think

BTW – for those of you that enjoy my writing, or are curious about it, I have joined WattPad  (thanks to Shannon A Thompson for letting me know about it). So far I am putting my humor pieces up there.  I may start putting my horror pieces up as well, because the site allows you to block based on age. I would rather not have either year olds reading about Meth addled drug dealing bikers being eaten alive while cheering the demon on, call me old-fashioned.

Last Random Thought – if you want a copy or “Raksahsa” either the Ebook or the Physical copy – hop on over to Shannon’s blog and enter the contest  you could win one!  good luck.

 

short news

Hey all,

sorry about the lack of posts,  I have been working with some other authors and donating books to some give aways. 

if you’re not a fan or Shannon Thompson, you should be – she is doing a contest  and one of the many prizes you can win is either an ebook or a physical copy of Rakasha (my horror book)

also if you are a fan of Horror & History,  my short Ekmuu is going to be in the Horrors of History anthology – the first story! 

and for those of you lucky enough to live in Colorado – the Metro area at least,  I will be live on October 27th, signing and reading from Rakasha – at the Mutiny Book Mall at 2 Broadway. 

I also will be working the Denver Horror film festival, with a table (to sell books) and I will be at the MileHighCon  as well, doing a panel about Demons and Undead.

over all a busy month,

tack on my 17th anaversery of my thirth birthday, and my poor head is going to explode.