2.99 gets Brainrush, the Sequel, and a Chance to Win a FREE Kindle Fire!

WAIT, is that right? You only pay 2.99  and you get the best-selling thriller  Brainrush by Richard Bard, plus the highly-anticipated sequel this December, PLUS a chance to win the amazing new Kindle Fire?

Yes, no tricks, this is an offer from the author Richard, who is a great friend of The Cheap.  2.99 gets you Brainrush, the sequel, absolutely free when it releases in December, and a chance at winning the amazing new Kindle Fire.  Yes, we know this is a Nook site, but really — it’s a great gadget and you could own TWO e-readers or give one away as a gift.  For 2.99 you get two incredible books.

It’s as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Click to buy Book One for 2.99

2. Send your proof of purchase to promo@richardbard.com

3. Receive an email confirmation for a free copy of Book Two PLUS entry to win a Kindle Fire!

We just received a proud e-mail from Richard this morning telling us that Brainrush is currently #7 on Amazon Kindle!  He’s been at the top of B&N as well and we’d love to see our friends put this incredible thriller there again.  Click on the cover to buy the book for 2.99 and then follow the steps above.

Running from Solace: A Guest Blog by Nakia R. Laushaul

When I was growing up books, instead of people, were my closest companions. By the time I was nine years old, I was out-reading most of the kids in my class. With an over-developed vocabulary and an under-nourished appetite, I craved something more meaningful than fairy tales, no disrespect to the Brothers Grimm.

One day, while fiddling around in the stacks of books in my school library I came across a real book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Dr. Maya Angelou. I read that book from front to back and then the other way around. If I close my eyes right now, I can imagine myself nine years old and holding that worn and borrowed copy in my hand. I can still smell the dank fragrance of old pages turning as the heart wrenching scenes of little Marguerite’s life played out in vivid detail in my mind.

From then until now I was hooked on literature. I was also hooked on writing. If Marguerite, after experiencing so much tragedy, could become a person that grew up to inspire everyone in her reach through words, then that’s exactly what I wanted to do. At nice years of age, I proclaimed, “I’m going to be a writer!” The only thing about my proclamation was that I also wanted to be president of the United States, a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a movie star and a host of other occupations that were supposed to be outside of my inner city imagination. However, as I grew into adulthood, so did my reasoning and the cold reality of the way the world operates set in.

Who would read a book that I wrote? Who am I supposed to be that I could do something so grand? I kept my writing and my giant aspirations to myself. At 21, I had my one and only child—a beautiful son, the center of my little tiny universe.

Quickly I learned that kids don’t eat dreams, they eat food. The rat race began. I traded dreams of being a prolific author for good reads and ate books for appeasement in my meantime. Little did I know that in doing so, I was perfecting my craft. I could have written this,” I exclaimed in early 2001 as I finished the book I was reading. Every once in a while I dared to give a voice to the little nine- year- old dreamer in me and said my outrageous dream out loud. That time was different. I slid a floppy disk in my drive and began to write what you know today as Running from Solace.

It was a completely different story back then and I mean completely. It had a different name and it was supposed to be—chick lit, which is what I was into at the time. See, that was God and His sense of humor. Had He let on that Running from Solace was going to end up so emotionally draining on me; I would have run from the assignment. Although I started writing the book and even let a few people read it over the years, I didn’t finish it. I still didn’t believe that I could write a book. Add fear to the equation and I was paralyzed.

I am a Tree. The title of the first poem that I wrote for my first book, The Truth As I See It: In Poetry & Prose gave me courage. When I finally decided that I could wait no longer because I was so unhappy not being an author, I published a book of poetry (with the love and support of my rafikis). I had (still do) a great full time gig. I just wanted a title on the shelf. No harm in fulfilling a dream, it was safe, right? I mean, you can’t go wrong writing poetry, can you? Perhaps people wouldn’t buy it, but they couldn’t tell me that I wasn’t a good writer, because in poetry—you can do whatever. And then I slid a one chapter excerpt of the book that I hadn’t even finished writing yet at the end, just to measure the response. And guess what happened?

Everybody wanted more! Despite the overwhelming fear in my heart and doubt pounding in my head, I cried and laughed and toiled until I finished Running from Solace. Wow, This is a MUST READ BOOK.. I mean Lord have mercy, I just could NOT put this book down.” That line was taken from a review of Running from Solace. Those first days after publishing and waiting for the reviews to come in and for someone who didn’t know me to buy the book took a terrible toll on me. I was a wondering wreck.

But finally, it began to happen and word began to spread that Running from Solace was a really good book for everyone, no matter their background. And the little piggies at Cheap e-Reads found it and have become HUGE supporters. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I feel like I’m living in a dream, but don’t you dare come wake me up because I like my new author life. I truly believe that I was born to be a writer. What was once fear has now become my fuel. I’m glad I took a chance on myself and made that first step. I would love to welcome you all to my literary journey…come read with me. I have a lifetime of stories to tell you.

Nakia R. Laushaul is a mother, a sister, a daughter, a social butterfly and a friend. In her leisure time she plays Mom-taxi for her fifteen year-old sports obsessed son. After that, she is allowed to have a few quiet moments in the evening to write. She’s the author of Running from Solace, a novel and The Truth As I See It: In Poetry & Prose. Visit her inspirational blog http://nakialaushaul.blogspot.com or website http://www.nakiarlaushaul.com to read more of her work.

October Reviews — Six More Books Worth the Money

 

The American Heiress: A Novel, by Daisy Goodwin; 12.99, B&N and Amazon

Set at the end of the 19^th century, this historical novel delves into the wealth and excesses of an Edwardian culture of privilege on both sides of the Atlantic. American heiress Cora Cash (love the name) is the bratty daughter of a flour-empire father and the mother you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. She grows up among mansions, luxuries and entitlement.  Her mother has an eye on a title for her princess as well. However, castles are not what an American girl expects them to be, and her life in aristocratic England with a self-centered, titled, husband she actually loves is pitted with conflict, drama and secrets.

If this is sounding like a second-rate romance novel, think again.  It is beautifully written, intelligent, and even witty.  Don’t give up on the American-style princess because she’s going places and becoming someone even she never dreamed possible.  A tale of strength, courage, change and resilience that is lively, entertaining, and fresh.

Amazon link:  http://tinyurl.com/4224fo4

Barnes & Noble link: http://tinyurl.com/44uzvze

 

Iron House by John Hart, 12.99, B&N and Amazon

This moving, magnificent thriller is the story of two brothers who are raised, abused, neglected, and in constant danger at the Iron House, an orphanage in the mountains of North Carolina. Michael gets out as a boy and goes to work for a powerful mob boss in New York where he becomes a kind of foster son and an assassin.  There is, of course, intense jealousy from the biological son who sets out to destroy the object of his hatred and envy after his father’s death.   He threatens the emotionally frail Julian, along with Michael’s girlfriend. It’s complex, fast-moving story of blood vengeance, family ties and regrets. Hart writes near perfect prose that moves his reader quickly through a utterly absorbing narrative you will not be able to put down.  Be prepared to become a fan of John Hart.

Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/3srvloh

Barnes & Noble link: http://tinyurl.com/3wjj4bv

 

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay; 9.99, B&N and Amazon

It’s hard to say enough good things about this stunning book.  At times, it is not an easy book to read, but the story doesn’t allow you to turn away.  This is a historical novel that tells the story of one young girl who is arrested, with her parents in the summer of 1942 by their own French police.  They are gathered up and held near Paris, in horrific dehumanizing conditions, before being sent to Auschwitz.  Intertwined with the historical account of the girl, is the story of an American journalist who discovers she lives in the apartment where the girl and her family lived and were taken. The details of the gut-wrenching story are handled without fanfare or sensationalism and are yet as horrific as if we are there.  We see the neighbors who watch as the families they know are taken away.  We smell the stench, we feel the despair.  We cheer the courage. It is a powerful book with a satisfying end.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3n4bqwk

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3smcxh5

 

The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred by Phil Cousineau; 9.99, B&N and Amazon

I picked up this book while preparing for a trip to Israel.  Cousineau writes to anyone who is searching and journeying to places that are sacred, from hometowns to temples and mountain tops.  He delves into why travelers return to certain sacred places and helps with making plans and thinking through the deeper meaning of travel.  It’s both a practical book and a meditative companion. It’s also suitable for those who understand the concept of a journey as a metaphor for life.  The book is well-written with great stories and attention to details. Not written from any particular religious point of view, but overall, a reverent treatment of spirituality and human pilgrimage.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3bn6gk8

Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3emyth2x

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe; 5.99 B&N and Amazon

Just suppose that at least one witch accused in the Salem Witch trials really had been a witch?  Mix into the story a graduate student who goes to Marblehead, Massachusetts to get her grandmother’s house ready to sell—but there in the house Connie Goodwin finds an old bible and a scroll with the name Deliverance Dane, who it turns out was tried and killed as a witch during the Salem Witch Trials, leaving behind a book of magic recipes. There’s a huge mystery of course, and Goodwin’s well-being is suddenly in question.  The flashbacks are well-done so as not to confuse readers.  This is a compelling read that will keep you fascinated right to the last page.  History, family drama, conflict are all wrapped up in a truly magical book.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/66v4bbz

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3thaz28

 

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King; 7.99 B&N and Amazon

Salem’s Lot is King’s second novel.  It is a classic horror novel.  No vampires here that anyone will fall in love with.  You’ll probably recognize a well-known scene that has reached cult status is in this book.  It’s the scene where someone is slaughtered by a gang of killer rats.  This book is a terrifying pleasure of a read jammed with the kinds of images sure to haunt you for days.  Do you miss the days when vampires were scary?  Welcome to Salem’s lot – a typical King town with dark secrets and terror hiding in the shadows of daily life.  If you think there’s no better time than being scared out of your skin—this is the book for you.  It hasn’t lost its bite, even after all these years.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3jzgf4c

Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/6lbn37g

 

Paper Dragons: Guest post by Author Marcin Wrona

I took a measuring tape to my bookshelf today. I wanted to prove a point, you see, and I needed George R.R. Martin’s help to do it. The tale of the tape: seven inches. Eighteen centimetres. One author. One incomplete series of books – paperbacks, no less.

Readers of science fiction and fantasy have marched proudly in e-readerdom’s vanguard. Sci-fi? An attraction to digital makes sense. It probably stands to reason that a genre that lives and breathes technology will appeal to the sort of reader that loves gadgets.

But what of the hobbit, the faerie, the noble manticore? The marketers are stumped. An e-reader doesn’t have that hide-bound vellum smell. It doesn’t qualify as a ‘tome’. It doesn’t look quite right by torchlight. It’s hard to flip at random to a fateful page of dark incantations.

Oh, people have tried to come up with explanations. There’s a heavy overlap between fantasy and sci-fi readers. It’s probably the World of Warcraft crowd. Maybe there’s something faintly embarrassing about mightily-thewed book-cover barbarians giving kill-eye to your fellow commuters. The truth, I’d wager, is on my shelves. Seven inches. One series, and it’s far from over.  I was merciful. I could have gone for Erikson. That stack could hide an eight-year-old. In three years, it will be taller than I am. In six, I’ll need to knock a chunk from my ceiling.

I came into fantasy by the road well traveled.

My love of history and derring-do was kindled by an apple-dicing beagle musketeer (the 1980s were a strange time, and Poland was a strange place), and I resolved then and there to swagger down the mean streets of Czluchow, feather in my cap and wooden sword in my hand. A few heroic years later, I found myself turning Scarborough’s libraries upside down in search of a way to put this newfangled ‘English’ to use. I discovered myth. Theseus led me through labyrinths. Perseus shielded me from Medusa’s gaze. I watched while Icarus fell from the heavens. I was there, man. I was there.

After the rages of Hercules, and those escapades Zeus got up to that I never quite understood, Encyclopedia Brown and Clifford the Dog seemed relics of another life. A teacher of mine took pity and led me to The Hobbit. The Hobbit is a gateway drug. We all know where it leads. I freebased Lord of the Rings twice that summer, and many more times after.

Fantasy was exciting. Fantasy was myth, again, but our libraries devoted only so much space to Hera and Isis and Manitou. The fantasy shelves were a treasure trove. They bent under the weight of thousands of books by thousands of authors. Le Guin. Kay. Martin. Howard. Every book carried the promise of another world, another hero, another sorcery.

Fantasy was big. Hundreds of pages worth of big. Thousands. The stories were massive. They spanned generation, dynasties. They told entire histories. They wove narratives from events that never happened but seemed like they could have in ages past, in the days long before reed stylus and clay tablet. They dealt in the fates of cities, countries, worlds.

I loved the elves and the dwarves, the werewolves and the goblins, the Sparrowhawks and the Conans, the armies of tattooed cultists screaming at the moon. I loved the bleak ones, the heroic ones, the funny ones. I loved them all, and with the monomania that only a child can muster up. Other kids had dinosaurs. I knew they were really dragons.

There’s almost a full centimetre’s dip between the edges of my bookshelf and its sagging middle, and it isn’t from Ikea. Books stacked high and low, jammed in there, some vertical and some horizontal. A sort of paper Jenga, one bad pull away from toppling.

I don’t miss it. Honestly, I don’t. I thought I would. I’m usually slow on the uptake, tech-wise. It takes me five minutes to write a text on my phone. I didn’t touch The Face Book or The Twitter until this year. I ask questions like “What use is that?” and “Why wouldn’t I just…?” I always thought I’d cling to paper. Pixels are not the same. They don’t smell right. They don’t do so well with coffee stains.

Sometimes, the medium isn’t the message. I played with some e-readers. I read a few books. I was entranced. A hundred little reasons. I can carry entire libraries with me. I don’t get killing stares when I use milady’s glasses as an ad hoc bookmark. I have access to books I can’t find in stores that are, these days, more Bed, Bath and Beyond than Borders.

I realize I’m probably preaching to the choir, but I’m excited. I get it now. And my bookshelves thank me.

Marcin Wrona is a Polish-born Canadian author, a multiple immigrant, a mustachio-twirling financier, and many other things besides. He lives and works in Toronto. To learn more, please visit http://marcinwrona.ca/wordpress/

Authors on the Cheap Weekend

All weekend we will be featuring our favorite authors/books from Authors on the Cheap (our Facebook wall for authors).  When you are on Cheap e-Reads, or one of our other FB pages, be sure to take a few minutes and look over our author’s offerings that will be scattered across our walls starting Saturday morning.   You’ll find great books at great prices!  We will be adding to the listings all weekend, so come back often.  We promise something for everyone.  Be sure to look at all of our break-out walls–and don’t forget to visit the authors at Authors on the Cheap and thank them for their tremendous work.  Here’s your chance to discover new favorite authors and offer support for those authors who are already your favorites!

Love at Halloween Writing and Design Contest

Just a reminder that the deadline for entries to our Halloween Love writing and design contest is only a little over two weeks away–so let’s see some designs and short stories!!!!  Also, please take note that no prizes will be awarded without the minimal participation which has been predetermined by the Staff of the Cheap.  In other words, if we don’t receive more than a few entries, the contest will be cancelled and potential entries notified of the cancellation.  We sure hope that doesn’t happen because we have cool prizes for our winners!

 

Rarely, do we associate falling in love and Halloween, right?  Well, here at The Cheap we want to hear your tales of love at Halloween, so we are holding a writing contest.  We are also having a contest to find a cover (think book cover) to go with the story.  These are two separate contests described below.

The winner of each contest receives a $50 B&N gift card, free publication of their work and free publicity on The Cheap and all our outlets.

Our guest judges for the writing contest are Christina Hwang Dudley, Theresa Ragan, and Kimberly Menozzi. They are three experienced writers who know romance.  You can check out their work on our Authors on the Cheap Facebook wall.  We’re thrilled they have agreed to serve as judges.

Cover design entries will be judged by the staff of The Cheap for treatment of the theme, plus overall reader and market appeal.

Love at Halloween Writing Contest

1. Submit a 1,500-2000 word story about falling in love or being in love at Halloween.  It can be a story of how you met that special someone, an anniversary, a special event.  It can be “based on a true” story with a bit of drama thrown in for fun and flair.

2. We are looking for your real love story; however, we aren’t looking for a nonfiction reporting style, rather your story should be written in a traditional short story format.  It can be first person, but doesn’t have to be if that’s not your style.  It can be humorous, dramatic or inspirational–your choice.  No erotica.

3. The setting must be autumn and Halloween–be sure to include details and description but don’t let it get in the way of the story.  We’ll be looking for excellence in typical story elements: setting, plot, strong characters, and believable dialogue.

4. You must be 18 or older to enter.

5. Unpublished writers only.  You may not enter if you are published in any genre independently, or by traditional publishing in any form.

6.  All entries must be received by the end of the business day October 14, 2011.  The winner will be announced October 24th on NookLove, Kindled Hearts, Cheap e-Reads, Kindle on the Cheap and our blogs.  We will publish the short story as a PubIt document (with the winning cover) and make it available–FREE.  We will also issue a press release announcing the winners.

7.  Format for entries:  READ CAREFULLY, any entry not following this format will be declined and returned.  Submit a Word document, double spaced, no paragraph indentations. Pages should be numbered at the bottom of each page to the right.  Start your first page about 1/3 way down the page with your title, under it write your byline (full name, no pseudonyms).  Title and byline should be centered.  At the top of the first page include your name, address, phone number, and email.  Do not include a title page.  Email your completed story to admin@the-cheap.net.  In the subject line write:  Love at Halloween Entry.

8.  All entries are final; no edits can be made after you submit the story.

9.  The winning story will be selected through a process of evaluation by our panel of three romance authors.  The Cheap staff will compile and review their evaluations to determine the top three winners.

10. The first and second runner up entries will be posted on our blog along with the winning one at its publication.

11.  Prior to publication the story will be edited by a professional editor to prepare it for publication.  The winning story will not be edited for content.  By submitting a story you agree to the editing process and the publication of your document should it be selected as one of the top three.

12.  The cover design process is another contest–the winner of the writing contest does not participate in selecting the winning cover design.

13.  One entry per person.

14. You may not enter both the story and the cover contests.

15.  By entering, you agree to grant The Cheap and all its subsidiaries exclusive first rights to the document, to use it in advertising, and to publish the submitted document on all and any public content belonging to Cheap.

16.  By entering, you indicate that you have the right to convey publication rights and that you are the sole author of the never-published document submitted for consideration.

Love at Halloween Cover Art Contest

1. Submit a 480 x 720 pixel jpg file of your proposed cover for the winning romance story.  The theme must be romance and Halloween.  Use the title “Halloween Nookie” with a byline of Jane Smith as a working title (the winner will be asked to edit it later).  All entries must be emailed to admin@the-cheap.net and will be acknowledged.   Submissions must be received by the end of the business day on October 14, 2011.

2. One submission per contestant only.  Entries are final and may not be revised.

3. You must be 18 years of age to enter.

4.  All design elements must be original, no stock photos or clip art.

5.  You may not enter both the story and the cover contest.

6.  By entering, you agree to grant The Cheap and all its subsidiaries exclusive first rights to the image, to use it in advertising and to publish the submitted image on all and any public content belonging to Cheap.

7.  By entering, you indicate that you have the right to convey publication rights and that you are the sole designer and owner of the never-published image submitted for consideration.

8.  All images must be in good taste, no erotica or horror-genre images.

9.  All book designers are welcome to enter the contest whether they have previous experience or not.

10.  The winner will be announced October 24th on NookLove, Kindled Hearts, Cheap e-Reads, Kindle on the Cheap and our blogs.  We will publish the short story as a PubIt document (featuring the winning cover) and make it available–FREE.  We will also issue a press release announcing the winners.

Guests and Bloggers

by Mike Wood author of Alchemy

I have been blogging regularly for about a year now and out of over 80 posts only one was by a guest blogger. It’s not that I don’t like welcoming people into my “home” – it’s just that I feel like turning my blog over to a guest would have my readers thinking I was lazy, or even worse, out of ideas.  Plus, there is always that secret fear that they might like the guest more than me! But I realize now that guest bloggers offer more than an opportunity to take a day off: they allow the host to share with their follower’s people and ideas that they find interesting, while offering the blogger a built-in audience. Which is why I’m so grateful to The Cheap for opening their home to me.

But now that I’m here, I have to say, I don’t really feel like a guest. The way I see it, the guest should be entertained by the host, and not the other way around. I’m thinking my role here is more of a house sitter, entrusted by the owner to look after things while they are away. And seeing as how the little piggy has gone to market, let’s say we raid the liquor cabinet and start searching through their closets for embarrassing stuff, shall we?

What? That’s no way for a guest to behave? You actually want me to uphold the integrity of the blog and talk about books? Where’s the fun in that? Wouldn’t you rather see what they’ve got hiding under their socks in the top drawer? Or what’s on this unmarked videotape? No? Wow, you people really are dedicated readers!

Fine, let’s talk about books. Or better yet, sticking with the theme, let’s talk about how books are like guests, since when you think about it, they actually have a lot in common. For example, a good book, like a good guest, can keep you up all night with their wonderful stories, while bad ones have you counting down the pages and minutes as you pray for a quick end.

Anticipating the next release from your favorite author is very similar to looking forward to the arrival of a long-lost friend. Unfortunately sometimes they show up on your doorstep bearing little resemblance to what you loved about the original. Or worse, leave you with the feeling that they’re only there because they want your money.

Good books and good guests don’t overstay their welcome.  They know when to wrap things up and leave, while somehow leaving you wanting more. Bad ones just go on and on and on *cough* “The Last Symbol” *cough* – leaving you wondering why you invited them in in the first place.

And while a good book might spend a lot of time in your bathroom, good guests don’t!  Bad guests, on the other hand, are in there forever, washing their hands with your decorative soaps and peeking in your medicine cabinet to see what kind of pills you’re on. And then maybe even helping themselves to a few!

Bad guests are Type A’s, while bad books have typo’s (and bad guest bloggers make bad puns!). Good guests show up with a bottle of wine, while bad ones make you want to put a cork in them! Good books leave lasting impressions on your soul, while bad guests leave permanent stains on your sofa. Good books and good guests both have strong characters, while the bad ones have weak spines.  Good books get downloaded, while bad guests just get loaded and bring you down. Good book = Kindle. Bad guest = Kin dull!

Okay, I better go before I overstay my welcome. I probably should mention that I do have a book out there. It’s called Alchemy, and is basically a coming of age story set on Cape Cod in the early 80’s. It’s been a top rated book on Amazon for over a year, with 40+ 5-star ratings; so it should make for a good guest if you like nostalgic humor with a hint of mystery. Plus, it’s only $2.99.  What do you have to lose? And I guarantee it won’t peek in your medicine cabinet! If only bad guests could be deleted from our memories the way bad books can be removed from our e-readers.

Mike Wood is a middle school teacher by day, husband/father by night, and author by accident. His first novel, Alchemy, was mostly written while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon (which is a cool injury when it happens on a football field, but not so cool when it occurs while dancing at an outdoor concert!) That injury, and a somewhat serendipitous meeting with best-selling author AJ Jacobs, inspired him to start pursuing his secret dream of being a writer.

Feel the Rush–How a Debut Thriller Rushes to the Top

Feel The Rush- How a Debut Thriller Rushes to the Top

Guest Blog by Richard Bard

Two months ago my debut thriller Brainrush was sitting in a drawer. A few weeks later it was ranked #315 overall on Amazon and #18 on the Action/Adventure bestseller list. Without the Kindle, Nook, and other e-readers that would have been impossible. So how did it happen? Let me start with some background. I finished Book-1 of the series 18-months ago. It wasn’t ready to publish yet—I needed advance reader feedback first. So I uploaded it to Authonomy.com (a Harper Collins site) and received hundreds of comments that helped strengthen the manuscript. The book garnered a lot attention and in a few months it climbed to the #1 slot on the site (out of 9,000 books). I also entered it into the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards contest. Brainrush made the semi-finals and as an award the book received a formal review by Publishers Weekly. The review was outstanding. I was thrilled.

I landed an agent, signed a film option and started work on Book-2. But traditional publishers still weren’t pounding on the door. Weeks rolled into months and the 2011 entry period for the ABNA opened up. I entered again, made the semi-finals and was awarded a second review by Publishers Weekly. This time they called it “a terrifically entertaining thriller.” Wow! My agent and I agreed it was time to get the book in the hands of the public, even if it meant going it alone. We figured that within the 12-15 months that a traditional publisher would require to publish Book-1, we could release the first three books in the series. Of course “going it alone” meant a lot more than simply uploading a book. It meant coming up with a campaign to support the launch. After all, not advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark; you know what you’re doing, but nobody else does… Everyone says social networking is a must. I can’t disagree—but I have to admit to some frustration over how time consuming it can be. I’m on Twitter and Facebook. I’ve blogged a few times and even received some nice feedback.

But everybody does those things and there are a zillion new books out there and only so many eyes. I wanted to come up with an original way make my book stand out, something nobody had done before. I believed in Brainrush. So figured if I could just make it “discoverable” then readers would spread the word. A lot of folks recommend offering the book for free. But I struggled with that approach. I felt as though it might diminish the value of the book in the long run. So instead of dropping the price to zero I decided it would be better to give gifts to anyone who paid the $2.99 cover price. I checked around. Nobody had ever done anything like that before. Good—it was an opportunity to stand out from the crowd. As far as the gift choice—from a reader’s POV what could be better than a selection from the bestseller list? So I got permission from three top bestselling authors—CJ Lyons, Michael Prescott, and Rick Murcer—and started gifting their books under a special promotion called “Feel the Rush! Buy-1 Get-2 Free”. (The promotion has since been expanded to include over a dozen top-rated books—several of them on the NYT Bestseller list.) Readers loved it.

Brainrush sales jumped and people started talking about it. Best of all, many of them emailed me after reading the book—and the response was positive. In fact, as of September 12th it received 44 (out of 52) 5-Star reviews, making it the #16 “Top Ranked” Mystery & Thriller on Amazon. Many readers said they couldn’t put it down—including celebrity singer/songwriter David Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash, who later gave a shout-out for the book at a major concert. Now that was a brain-rush! To be honest I’m totally blown away by the enthusiasm from readers. Sure, I talk a good game about “believing” in my book, but a hidden part of me is astounded every time a reader is moved by Jake’s story. What an incredible feeling for a new author. So what does all this mean for you?

Maybe you curiosity has been tickled enough to take a look at the current selection of free books. It’s an impressive offering, I promise. And if you’re one of those readers looking for a new author that’s committed to producing original stories with lots of twists and turns, then perhaps you’ll give Brainrush a chance. The “Feel the Rush!” promotion can be found here: http://www.richardbard.com/promo. While you’re there, you might enjoy a peek at the home-made book trailer on my Home page. I had to scramble to put it together as a place-holder when the traditional trailer was delayed. It features little kids. The one on the typewriter is me. Even if you decide the promotion is not for you, you’ll get a chuckle from the video. Happy reading!

 About the Author: As a young pilot in the Air Force, Richard Bard learned he had only months to live. Thirty six years later he’s still going strong. In Brainrush he adds drama and adventure to his personal experiences in what Publishers Weekly describes as “an inventive and compelling hybrid of science fiction, adventure and political thriller that is terrifically entertaining.” Extended Bio: As a young Air Force pilot, Richard was diagnosed with cancer and learned that he had only a few months to live. But he beat the odds. He earned a management degree from the University of Notre Dame and after leaving the Air Force he ran three successful companies involving advanced security products and hi-tech displays used by US embassies and government facilities worldwide. He was an active member of the California Crime Prevention Officer’s Association and has been published with cover stories in Security magazine and ASIS Security Management magazine. Cancer killed Richard Bard’s career as a USAF pilot. But it didn’t kill him. Thirty-six years later he’s still going strong. Now he writes about second chances in the Brainrush thriller series. When asked what he hopes to achieve as a writer, he said, “The dream for me is to be walking through an airport and notice someone with her head buried in the book. Many readers have said they found it impossible to put down. For me, that’s the ultimate compliment.” Bard currently resides with his wonderful wife in Redondo Beach, California, where he remains in excellent health. Book Two of the series is scheduled for release in December, 2011.

Authors4TheCure- Donating Book Proceeds to Breast Cancer Research

Authors4TheCure

Donating Book Proceeds To Breast Cancer Research

Eleven authors have banded together to support breast cancer research with their writing. Authors4theCure, which includes award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors, as well as two breast cancer survivors, is donating proceeds from the sale of their paranormal anthology, Entangled, to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

BCRF-funded research has helped save lives and improved the quality of care and rate of survival for tens of thousands of breast cancer patients in the past decade. Their research has revealed that the “cure” is a mosaic made up of as many approaches to diagnosing, treating, preventing and surviving as there are different types of breast cancer. The anthology is also a mosaic made up of many stories donated for this worthwhile cause.

Entangled includes ten suspense-filled paranormal stories from authors Lori Brighton, Michelle Diener, Cynthia Eden, Jennifer Estep, Misty Evans, Nancy Haddock, Liz Kreger, Dale Mayer, Michelle Miles, and Edie Ramer, plus a novella by Allison Brennan. Stacia Kane contributed the foreword and the book’s formatting and cover art were also donated to the project.

The Cheap is pleased to support the efforts of Authors4TheCure.

Why I Decided To Go Indie- Guest Blog by Christy Hayes

Why I Decided To Go Indie
By Christy Hayes

I attended the Romance Writer’s of America National Conference in Orlando, Florida in the summer of 2010. After six years of writing and with multiple manuscripts under my belt, I was attempting to secure agent representation and a traditional publishing deal. One of the seminars I attended at the conference was a mock editorial purchasing meeting where “editors” presented their books to the editorial board consisting of the publisher, the directors of marketing, sales, publicity, special sales, subrights and an editorial director. The idea behind the seminar was to give authors a peek into who and what goes into buying decisions in order to help authors become more business savvy in terms of selling their work to publishers.

Sounded like a good idea, so for two hours I sat and watched authors volunteer to present their manuscripts to the board as if they were the editor wanting the publishing house to purchase the manuscript they had read and fallen in love with. The first volunteer was a doctor who had written a medical thriller with what sounded to me like a wonderful premise, a great hook and a compelling plot. I thought her book was a shoo-in and everyone in the audience and on the board seemed to love the book. Then the strangest thing happened: the publisher piped in and said the market was saturated with medical thrillers and they couldn’t possibly buy another. They were going to pass. Huh? I don’t even read medical thrillers, but I wanted to read that book and they were going to pass?

As the next book, a silly no-plot farce the team thought had real marketing potential was “purchased” by the publishing house, a sickening sense of dread and a good dose of nausea took root in my gut. This is how books get purchased by a publisher? The seminar certainly taught me that writing a good book with a compelling plot, interesting characters and a unique hook just wasn’t good enough. But not good enough for whom?

Of all the people at the meeting, the one without a seat at the table was the reader. Readers are voracious when it comes to genres and authors they love. Readers don’t care that they have too many choices—they want to have lots of books to read. I didn’t decide to go Indie that day, but the already arduous publication mountain I was attempting to climb suddenly seemed covered with ice. And it was snowing. And I was wearing a bikini.

Take my book, Heart of Glass, as an example of what some deem good enough. Book blogger Alexis (Reflections of a Bookaholic) said, “This book is awesome because Ms. Hayes really just got everything right. The timing, interchange between the characters, and character reactions just seem right on. These characters acted the way that real people would and I loved it.” Alyssa of Hesperia Loves Books (another book blogging site) said, “This was an absolutely amazing read! You need to put down your current book, RUN to your computer & buy this spectacular story by Christy Hayes.”

Now, I’m not just tooting my horn here, but trying to emphasize that these two book bloggers with hundreds of followers (aka readers) loved a book that hardly garnered any agent or editor interest. If I’d kept this book where it had been for the last five years (on my hard drive), these two ladies would never have read it and spent a few enjoyable hours doing one of their favorite things: reading!

A well-written, professionally edited book will find a way into the hands of readers even if the market is saturated. Book bloggers, Facebook and good old-fashioned word of mouth provide venues for readers searching for their next favorite book. Now that my books are for sale and my readers are slowing increasing each month, I couldn’t be happier that this opportunity is available to me and that readers are willing to take a chance on new authors.

The most important audience for publishers should be the reader. Readers are the sole reason authors sit for hours at the computer while everyone else is asleep, or watching TV or going to lunch or doing anything else. We love letting our imagination take flight and sharing our words with the world. If just one person reads one of my books and smiles or laughs or cries or remembers to cherish a loved one or to hug their kids or to be grateful for life, well then, my work is good enough, no matter what an editorial board might think.

Christy Hayes writes romantic women’s fiction from her sunny basement office in the South. She’s the author of Angle of Incidence, Dodge the Bullet, Heart of Glass, Misconception and Shoe Strings. In addition to her hours spent in front of the computer, she’s an exercise enthusiast and cable news junkie. Christy is a devoted wife and the mother of two pre-teen children and two adorable rescue mutts.