Not All Pirates are Sexy by Dominique Eastwick

Dear Pirate sites and those using them,

 I am not flattered you are downloading my stolen books for free. I do not get a great big advance and I count every penny my book sales give me. You would not steal a paperback off the shelf so why do you think it's okay to steal my pdf.

 

 I have spent all morning requesting my books be removed from your sites, and yes my time is precious. And now the count is over 10000 of my books being downloaded for free. And don't tell me those people wouldn't have paid anyway. If they didn't want to pay for the book they shouldn't have stolen it. And if they can afford the computer, nook, kindle they need to read it on they can afford the 2.99 if cost to buy my book.

 

Let me say this LOUD AND CLEAR. Downloading eBooks from pirating sites is stealing. They are not a lending library, you get to keep the books forever if you choose. If you want to check out my books then ask your local library to get them for their eBook program, it’s available to them. Library's pay the authors for their books. They are legit, pirating sites are not. If you think I make a lot of ...money doing this I do not. Do I want people to read my books yes but pirating doesn't help my book it hurts it. Do not buy into the hype that this is okay, or LEGAL it is NOT. This is theft plain and simple. Pirate sites do not own my books, I do and I have NOT given them the right to use my books in any way... If you can't afford my book ask me if I have free copies to give you. DO NOT STEAL THEM.

 

Let’s Debunk the Hype.

 

Downloading free media is a victimless crime.~~~ FALSE.  When you down load a movie it’s the little people who lose out, because the big company’s cut them first. It’s the painters the costumers the props people. People who make little to nothing anyway.  When I sell a book I make between 35% and 50% depending on the publisher of what the Publisher makes. That means that once Amazon and Nook take their cut I get sometimes 10 cents on the dollar.

 

I should be honored that so many people are downloading my book~~~FALSE. Would you be honored if someone came into your house and stole from you? Theft is theft weather it’s a piece of Bubblegum or a camera.
 

It shouldn’t bother you because they wouldn’t have bought it anyway~~~FALSE Really that’s the best you can come up with. 9000 copies of Tony’s Haven were downloaded in one weekend. I should feel happy that 9000 people would prefer to steal it then pay 3.99 for it. So I am not planning on ever buying a Porsche, I am not going to steal one just to make this statement ok.

 

Authors make tons in advances~~~ FALSE  Some a very few make big advances and guess what they make no more money until that advance number has been met. And other authors get as little as $10 for an advance. But the vast majority live in hope of a royalty check. That royalty check pays for the extras we can’t afford otherwise, sports, music and oh those things like electricity. A great many authors are just happy to see $10 dollar royalty checks every month or so.


Amazon gives it away for free what's the big deal~~~ The big deal is that Amazon gives it away if I as the author say they can. Not because they choose too.

 

AUTHOR my helpful hints

Now that I have addressed the pirate sites this is my advice to Authors. You may not agree with them all but here it goes…

 

·         Expect it to happen. When it does you will be ready to deal with it. It’s a sad fact of the business. I don’t have to like it but I except that it will happen and I will have to deal with it. Expect the worse hope for the best.

·         Deal with it.

·         Getting unduly emotional. (Yes I have cried but I am learning) It’s up on the site. Take a breathe and relax, now calmly find out where to send the DMCA take down notice. Be calm, be professional and follow what they ask for.

·         REMEMBER THE PART ABOUT EMOTIONAL? Some sites are search engines only if you type the title in it will come up with a place to download it. Guess what if you type in anything it will come up with where to down load it even “oaihjefpoaihewfoaiwjfe[444kk” So your book might not be there make sure before you stress out.

·         Did I mention professional. Always be professional even when dealing with scum. Two authors sent in DMCA letters on the same day. The professional one came down 24 hours later the other one took weeks. Coincidence? Who knows.

·         Keep a DMCA letter in your Docs file makes this an easier email to send when you have it already written. If you need a copy of one please leave me an email address in the comments and I will send you my sample.

·         Believing it won’t matter another one will just pop up tomorrow. Probably but let’s make it as hard as possible for them to get your work for free and some pirate sites are share sites and once you ask for your name to be taken down some will block it from appearing again.

·         Be vigilant.

·         Make sure the site is a Pirate site and not a site your publisher is actually sending too. A sure fire way to piss off your publisher and the third part retail sites are to send a DMCA when your book really is supposed to be there.

·         NEVER ever give them your phone number even if they ask for it to remove a book.

·         THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER EVER blast on social media where you just found a book. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT promote these sites in any way shape or form.

To find out more about DMCA http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

 

 Thank you to all those who have spent the 3.99 my most expensive book costs. And to those who buy books, music and movies legally. You are appreciated more then you know.

There are no victimless crimes and we authors are feeling the crimes every day.

 

About Dominique

Dominique Eastwick is an award winning, bestselling author. She lives in NC with her Hubby two boys, lazy cat and crazy lab. She started the Aspiring Romance author group in 2002 as a way to support other authors in the goals to finding their dreams.

Blog www.dominiqueEastwick.com

FB https://www.facebook.com/dominique.Eastwick
 

Casting Call for Aspiring Romance Writers



 

Calling All Aspiring Romance Writers! 

 

Are you currently writing your first romantic novel?

Are you pouring your heart and soul into ever word?

Is the world you are creating dramatically different than the one you live in?

Do you hope your characters capture the hearts and imagination of millions of readers?

 

If yes, then we want to hear from you.

 

An award winning New York City production company is currently developing a new unscripted television series focused on the life of several aspiring romance writers. This series will show the highs and lows of penning your first novel, while showing the contrast between everyday life and the characters coming alive on the pages.

 

This is a nationwide search. If you are interested please email, a little blurb about yourself and your personal writing style to  Romancewriterwanted@gmail.com

 

Looking forward to hearing from EVERYONE  soon!

 

Permission to forward Granted

The Starting line of Promotions by Dominique Eastwick

Okay for those who don't know where to start maybe this will help!

Here is my friendly check list...

• Blog/Website (is it user friendly? Is it up to date with all your book covers)

IS YOUR NAME ON THE FRONT HEADER OF YOUR BLOG?

You have no idea how many people don't have their author name as their Header. It is by far the MOST IMPORTANT

thing to have on your blog...Hands down.

Okay that said moving on...



1. Is there a contact me area for readers to email you with questions? This can also be your about me page.

2. Is there a page to talk about WIP readers love to know what you are working on?

3. Is there a button to have people follow your blog by email? A link to follow you on twitter/FB ect-- make it one click easy!

4. Is there a page with all your books? If you only have one then start with a page for just that book. Blurb, excerpt (only after line edits are done please), cover, and any reviews you might have gotten.

5. Do you have too many graphics? Music playing in the back ground? Think about removing those. (nothing gets me off a site quicker then music in the background)

6. Do you have a Press Kit. Check out this site to see an amazing one http://www.sloanparker.com/press.htm

7. **** Do you have cover art on the main page somewhere, like in one of the side columns. Please this is your best marketing tool. USE IT (people will come back to you blog and go what was that book she was talking about, if you make them search through archives of old blogs you will probably lose a sale.)***

• Facebook/Twitter/Tumbler use the one you are most comfortable with.

1. Do you have a FB profile page that people can tag?

2. Do you post about fun things not related to writing or your book?

3. Are you # properly on twitter?

4. Do you engage other readers, authors, people?

5. Do you have your Cover art in a COVER ART album on your FB page. With Links on where to by it?

.

• Do you have your blog/website links on the above?

1.      If the reader has to search for your website they won't. Make sure links are in the about you on Facebook and in your profile on Twitter.

• Have you starting looking at places that will host you when your book comes out?

1. Make sure to look outside the authors find a few places that will host you. Give away a book, do an interview. You love your book this is when it’s okay to brag and sell. You are excited we get it. We want to be excited for you.

2. Do Character interviews READERS love those.

• Have you asked for help?

Other authors are almost always willing to help and remember when you help others they are more willing to help you.

.

• Have you set up a google alert on your Pen Name and book title?

To do so go here http://www.google.com/alerts?hl=en

• Is your Profile up to date on Amazon?

You can't set up an Author page on Amazon until your book comes out. But once its live please set one up. Studies show that people are more likely to buy again from authors with pictures on their author page. https://authorcentral.amazon.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://authorcentral.amazon.com/

 .

Hope this helps, I am always happy to work with new authors and look at Blogs just email me and ask.

Dominique Eastwick

http://dominiqueeastwick.blogspot.com/

http://thewiccanhaus.blogspot.com/

Dominique is a multi-published award winning author. She is the creator of the Wiccan Haus series. When not writing you can find Dominique behind the lens of her camera.

 KILLING LUCAS

What doesn't kill us makes you stronger. But is their love strong enough?

Lucas Sherman wanted one thing in life. Never to set eyes on his ex-fiancé Kiloran O’Connor again. But no one said life was fair. Now with a stalker hunting both of them Lucas is forced to put his distrust and hatred to the side to keep them both alive.

Kiloran only ever wanted to keep Lucas safe. But no matter how hard she tries danger seems to be a step behind them. Now creating a public front can she break through the wall Lucas has erected around his heart? Those same walls she helped cement.

Can true love conquer and forgive all or will it kill them both?

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All Romance Ebooks

Bookstrand

MUSA PUBLISHING



Author Know Thy People by Sloane Taylor

I am thrilled to have here today an author I have a great deal of respect for, she is both talented and has a great sense of what a readers likes. So with out further ado Sloane take it away...

Hi, Everyone! 

Thank you, Aspiring Romance Writers, for allowing me to come out and share an important aspect of writing. And a huge thanks to all you members who take the time to read my suggestions.

Let’s get to it and talk about characterization and why it’s important to a well-written novel.

Please know characterization is not about the fool at your last holiday party everyone laughed at then dissected on the drive home. It’s the life of your hero, heroine, and all secondary characters beyond their height, weight, and eye color that brings them to the start of your book. Without characterization, you have no history to support your leads actions and reactions in any situation.

Now let’s get started on the road to create impressive and memorable characters.

Let’s do a cast call.

Starring Roles:
Johnny the Hero
Liz the Heroine

Supporting Cast:
Fred – Johnny’s best friend
Pam – Liz’s best friend
Marge – Johnny’s mother

Walk-Ons:
Taxi Driver
Waiter
Hairdresser

Of the above group, the only roles needing a characterization are the stars and supporting cast. The Walk-Ons are too minor to worry about.

My mentor, Chicago crime writer Beth Anderson, spent many a long night explaining why writing a characterization before you start a book is important. Since we don’t have forever here, I’ll crunch it down.

The writer must know the history of their characters. Their past events are what make them be the people they are today. It is what has driven them to be honest, strong, or steal. You won’t know why your hero runs into the burning building to save the heroine if you don’t understand his history.

So how do you so this? Very easy, but time consuming. Don’t fudge on this. It’s too important to writing a novel that will impress an editor.

The stars need an extensive characterization. Following is the process:

1 - Park yourself at your computer. Each characterization will take several hours so relax and enjoy.

2 - Choose one of the lead characters.

3 - Imagine you are that person. We’ll use Johnny for the example.

4 - Just type. Bang out his life starting at boyhood. Write in his voice. It’s amazing how your phrases will alter as he ages. Bring him up to the starting point of your novel and not a day later. Include every detail no matter how unimportant it may seem. Let your mind run on and you will be Johnny, living the high points of his youth and the lows and what drove him to the man where your story begins. You’re in Johnny’s point of view. Did he pee his pants in third grade? What really happened? What did he see, smell, and feel inside?

Don’t worry about punctuation, grammar, or spelling. Just type. No one else will ever read your work.

Do this with your heroine as well.

You have finally finished your stars. It’s time to begin on your supporting cast. They’ll take much less time since they aren’t nearly as important. You don’t have to start in their childhood. Type up a brief bio, something similar to an obituary of a famous person.
I took Beth’s method one step farther to help me drop the back-story into my novel. Please remember, editors and readers HATE back-story written like a litany and shoved down their throats.

Below are the four easy steps:

1 – Print out each characters history.

2 – List all the highpoints on a separate sheet of paper. The order doesn’t matter.

3 - As you write your novel drop in a line or two of back-story at the appropriate time to enrich the action of your character. Do this as a memory, a comparison, or a single line of dialogue.

4 – Cross off the lines used and write next to them which page you’ve inserted it.
This method will help you build stronger characters with real motivation your reader and editor will love.



Please feel free to email your questions, comments and opinions to sloanetaylor @ Comcast.net (no spaces) with ARW in the subject line. I’ll get back with you in seconds because my leash doesn’t let me get far from my computer. 

Thanks for letting me bend your ear. I hope I’ve helped a bit in your success.
Happy Writing!

Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
www.sloanetaylor.com
Facebook

 

Never mix business with pleasure, unless pleasure is your business.
Photojournalist Emily Peters gives herself the perfect birthday gift - a weekend in Paris. Her excitement builds when she hits the scene of the exclusive S&G Club. Exposing the truth behind their private pleasure chambers and the elite who frequent them will be the diamond in her career crown. At least Em thinks so until she’s tied up in knots by the Devil himself.
British restaurateur Nicholas Caine visits Paris to check on his S&G Club investment and to sample its many benefits. Nick’s not on the hunt until he encounters a tiger that pretends to be a kitten. There’s no doubt she’ll satisfactorily flex her claws given the right incentive.
What starts as a prime photo opportunity evolves into a weekend of erotic fantasies as Nick awakens Emily’s dark passions.

- Now Available at Musa Publishing.

Originally posted to ARW at this link
http://aspiringromancewriters.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5225070-author-know-thy-people-by-sloane-taylor

Welcome to the New Aspiring Romance Writers Blog.

Due to the difficulty in posting on our webs site we have moved the Blog here. Welcome and we will be reposting older blogs again. :)

The Website is still active here.