Christmas Came Early for This Author!

Merry Christmas to me!!

Over five years ago I joined a little grog (group blog) Chasing Heroes! It was great! I was a nobody. . .I hadn't even finished writing my first novel. BUT the group enjoyed my guest posts and asked me to become a grog partner. It was fantastic.

That is where I met a lot of you! My readers!

On Chasing Heroes, we were supposed to blog about why we love heroes and heroines in novels. I did that, but the most posts that gained the most attention was the personal posts. And I had plenty of those. It was how I connected with you. It was how you saw that I'm just a mom, wife, and gal pal that has the same struggles as everyone else. . .only I publicized them on a blog!!

Eventually we turned the blog into The Naked Hero and let romance author take it over. I'm proud to say that it still lives on today and wow! Those girls are fun!!

A couple of years ago, me and a couple other writers wanted to jump on the epublishing bandwagon! And I mean all things epublishing. Including small publishers and self publishing. So we started The Writer's Guide To Epublishing. It quickly became popular with the world of self publishing soaring with a few thousand hits a day, and it quickly became all about self publishing and the down low. The only time The Writer's Guide To Epublishing made it close to 100 million hits was when author Lee Lopez wrote a blog on a controversial issue between writer's and a major writing organization called Romance Writer's of America.

But it wasn't reaching the readers. . .it was reaching writers and I love helping writers but I missed my reader blogs. I missed connecting with you! I left there a year ago to start my STREET TEAM and make a closer relationship with my readers!

I search all over for the right blog/grog for me. I did several guest posts, I started my own blog here to continue to help writers, but I missed that reader interaction a blog gives you.

FINALLY!! I'm happy to announce that the search is over and I found my new grog home!!

Indie Chicks Cafe!

This is an amazing group of Independent women writers that are seen as the ultimate of ultimate Indie writers that was started by author Cheryl Shireman.

Taken from the Indie Chicks Cafe website:

"Gathered by Cheryl Shireman, the Indie Chicks are a group of women writers who enjoy supporting and encouraging other women writers. We have all published in various ways – independently, with traditional publishers, or by combining both methods. No matter how published, we have one thing in common – a love of writing and an independent spirit. In our ranks, you will find much-acclaimed bestsellers and also a few writers who are just starting out. We live in various parts of the world and come from a variety of backgrounds.

Originally, we gathered together to create one anthology. The experience was so enjoyable that many of us decided to continue together to create more anthologies. We believe that together we can make a difference not only in each other’s lives, but in the world. All proceeds from the various Indie Chicks Anthologies go to charitable organizations.

We hope you will return to the Indie Chicks Café – our website where you will not only find all of our books, but where you can also find all of us hanging out and blogging about various topics close to our hearts. www.indiechickscafe.com"

Seriously....Cheryl was asking me...little ole me to join them?! My mouth dropped, I couldn't write for an entire day. I was on cloud nine and still on cloud nine!

I went through the list of authors and my heart about jumped out of my body.
There is really now way, shape or form that I was in their league! Was I???

Maybe not in my eyes, but I'm going to be me. I'm going to do what I love best. . .connect with my readers, connect with you. I'll let you know when I'm there and I hope you join me!

Until then, starting this week on the 14th I'm hosting my TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS giveaway here on this blog! You will be reading guest blogs from some of these authors as well as some of my favorite author friends PLUS enter to win the prize of the day! Some of the prizes include jewelry, gift cards, ebooks, and print books!

In the meantime, my Christmas short story, A NEW TRADITION, is free on Smashwords for all ereaders! Go grab a copy!

My granny use to say "tell me who you run around with and I will tell you who you are."
Look who I'm running around with! I think my granny would be proud! I know I am!

Indie Chicks Roster (Past** and Present)

Anna Elliott
**Anne R. Allen
Barbara Silkstone
Beth Elisa Harris
Carol Davis Luce
Cheryl Bradshaw
Cheryl Shireman
**Christine DeMaio-Rice
**Christine White Kersey
Christy Hayes
Consuelo Saah Baehr
**Dani Amore
**Danielle Blanchard
Dea Lenihan
Donna Fasano
Elizabeth Ann West
Faith Helen Mortimer
Georgina Young Ellis
Gerry McCullough
Heather Adkins
**Julia Crane
Karin Cox
Katherine Owen
Kimberly Gould
Lia Fairchild
Lin Welch
Lizzy Ford
LK Gardner-Griffe
Louise Voss
**Mel Comley
Melissa Smith
Michele Scott
Michelle Muto
Patrice Fitzgerald
Peg Brantley
Penelope Crowe
**Prue Batten
Sarah Woodbury
**Shea MacLeod
Sibel Hodge
**Suzanne Tyrpak
**Talia Jager
Terri Giuliano Long
Traci Hohenstein"

Kobo Is Coming To Play On the Big Playground

Last week my novel, Splitsville.com came in 2nd in two categories in The Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the humor and mystery categories! The awards ceremony was at The Book Expo of America in New York City. The best of the best attend this conference and that means all ereader professionals.

I was PUMPED! I got two medals, two linen certificates. . .but the excitement didn't last long. GUESS WHAT MADE ME MORE CRAZY....

KOBO!

Have you heard of it or just seen it at Smashwords??

Here is what I knew about Kobo before last week: I upload my books to Smashwords and put it in the extended distribution hoping someone from Canada would buy my books on their Kobo. The soccer mom in Canada carries their Kobos with them everywhere!

Yes, I've sold a few hundred on Kobo, but that is it! So I look at Smashwords as an extra bonus if I sell a couple hundred a month.

BUT Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, put a fire in my step! At the Book Expo of America, he announced a new program for self published authors, KOBO WRITING LIFE!

“Strong eReader growth is projected by IDC for the European market; with sales increasing over 400% to 9.6-million devices expected in market by 2015. We expect Kobo’s trajectory for international growth and user adoption to quickly meet and exceed market projections.” ~Michael Serbinis


Here is the low-down and how I understand it to be:


1. They are going to allow you to promote your book at free at any time with out any restrictions on an exclusive agreements. I think this will give Amazon's KDP select program a run for it's money. According to the KDP select authors I've talked to, they wanted to enroll in the program so they could take advantage of the FREE DAYS. 


(When I was in the KDP select program, I did NOT take advantage of the free days....I'm not a big believer in the free way....)


2. The royalty is 10% higher than most international markets! PLUS!


3. Kobo Director Cuts.
Now this is so cool!! 
This allows the author to put notes in the book or provide commentary to the reader, making the reader/author relationship grow AND it will be integrated with the Facebook timeline! AND you know that I LOVE to give back to my readers. 


Now....this might be similar to the Kindle Fire where you can go in and have a conversation with your readers....more on this in July after I have my first official, planned, Kindle Fire discussion:)


4. Sales!
They have grown 280%! And don't you want a piece of that percentage? I DO!


This means that I will no longer have to wait for Smashwords, which takes weeks, to get my books into the Kobo reader's hand. ONE problem! It won't be launching for a couple of weeks at the earliest. They are hoping to get it out there by the end of JUNE! 


Do you upload to Smashwords? If so, will you take advantage of this opportunity with KOBO? What are your thoughts?

If you like my blog and get something out of it......


Today is the day that I ask a favor of you ♥ Please, please post the status below on your Facebook status and/or Tweet the tweet below about A CHARMING CRIME! Today we promote, tomorrow we party and I give away prizes every 20 minutes to YOU!! Let's work hard and spread the word:) I can't wait to see A CHARMING CRIME IN ALL OF THE NEW FEEDS :)) 

Let me know you did one or the other and you are entered into the GRAND PRIZE GIVE AWAY TOMORROW!!! (STREET TOTE FILLED WITH GOODIES, $25 VISA GIFT CARD, AND MORE!) 

Status: Tonya Kappes' new mystery novel, A CHARMING CRIME, is now available on Kindle, Nook, and Print! A must read!! http://amzn.to/KrAbOg

TWEET: @tonyakappes11 new #mystery novel, A CHARMING CRIME, is now available on #Kindle, #Nook, and Print! A must read!!http://amzn.to/KrAbOg