A New Year - New Dreams

What a way to start my year! See that picture up there? My daughter drew that for me.

Humbling for sure.

2015 was a great year. But 2016 will be better.

I plan on finishing up the Purgatory Reign Series and creating a boxed set of my Summer Luv series.

The rest of the year will be planning for a tour.

Stay tuned! There is more to come.

Blog Tour! Deviant Storm book 2 of Purgatory Reign Series

Join ME in celebrating the release of DEVIANT STORM

Bewitching Tour

Schedule Deviant Storm

by LM Preston

 
October 26 Spotlight
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
 
October 27 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
www.lisasworldofbooks.net
 
October 28 Interview
Deal Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
 
October 29 Spotlight
Zenny's Awesome Book Reviews
https://zennysawesomebookreviews.wordpress.com/
 
October 30 Guest blog
Mythical Books
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
proposed topic: Good and Evil in Paranormal Romance
 
October 30 Spotlight
Highlighted Author     
http://highlightedauthor.com
 
November 2 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping; Nana, Mommy, &; Sissy too!
http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/
 
November 3 Spotlight
Teatime and Books
http://www.teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com/
 
November 4 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
http://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
 
November 5 Spotlight
Around the World in Books – 
http://www.aroundtheworldinbooks.ca/
 
November 6 Top ten List
Roxanne’s Realm
www.roxannerhoads.com
 
November 6 Guest Blog
Fang-tastic Books
www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
 
November 9 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
 
 
LM Preston,YA SciFi Author
www.lmpreston.com
Blog: http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/
Tweet Me: http://twitter.com/LM_Preston
Facebook:http://tinyurl.com/2fev6qc
 
 
My Books
Explorer X - Alpha, The Pack, BANDITS, Purgatory Reign
Read Excerpts: The Pack, Bandits, The Pack-Retribution, 

Explorer X-Beta, Flutter Of Luv, Purgatory Reign  
 
Writing stories for and about kids that overcome the impossible...
 

DEVIANT STORM - Releases Today!

Yes, I've been quiet. Quietly working on this baby for you!

DEVIANT STORM

BOOK 2 in the PURGATORY REIGN SERIES

DEVIANT STORM: (book 2 Purgatory Reign Series) 

The battle is on. Peter Saints thought he'd killed It. But bad people never stay down. Now the jail of his enemy is weakening. Luck is running out for Peter and the girl he saved by wagering the Earth. Only now, with each second and secret revealed, his enemy gains the answers to destroy Peter and devour the world.

Amazon

Smashwords

coming soon in iTunes and Barnes & Noble

Where you can find me on the Web this Month!

Blog Hopping!

Sharing the love with DOUBLE TROUBLE LUV.

Join me in the fun.

​Schedule 

​Read Between The Lines May 11

A Little Bit of R&R May 12 (Heather) 

My World  May 13

Deborah Melanie Sugar & Spice  May 16

Dante Eternal's Virtual Bookshelf  May 22

The Book Quarry May 26

Reading Within the Lines  May 27

Harlie's Books June 1 

The Many Muses of MaryLynn June 3

Schadoh's Ramblings & Other Chaotic Mess June 7

Fabulous and Fun June 8

Between the Pages June 11

Double Trouble Luv by LM Preston - New Release!

Guess Who Had An Early Release Day!

 

Me - Me - Me

 

Introducting

Double Trouble Luv

Description:

Sorina’s life has gone downhill. Helping her family regain all they’d lost weighed heavy on her mind. However, when her mother sacrificed their rent money for a ticket to an Amusement Park, Sorina felt things were changing . And it only got better. That day she’d met Tristan, who’d asked her for one small favor, one that would change her life forever.

Double Trouble Luv is a stand alone novella, book 3 in the Summer Luv Series that include: Thundering Luv and Flutter Of Luv.

Just 99cents!

Smashwords:
Amazon:

Coming soon on other platforms

Are In Person Book Tours Still 'In'?

BOOK TOURS - Do Authors Still Do These?

I know a few author peers both Indie and Trad Pub that have limited promo budgets. One of the things they've given up has been the 'In Person Book Signing Tours'.

I even stopped my road show last year and doubt I'll be able to do it this year.

THEY ARE STILL A VIABLE PROMO TOOL

The truth is, although it cost a lot to do them, and many bookstores are becoming super picky about them, there is still something about meeting your readers face to face.

THE COST CAN OUTWEIGH THE PROFIT

With the rising cost of promotional upheavel with Amazon's repositioning of the way readers 'see' or access books, finding online sources to reach readers can get costly.

I've given up the $5000 I usually budget for a yearly tour which includes travel and promotion, to a much smaller advertising and virtual tour only.

 

BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN

However, with the lack of 'In Person' marketing and selling of my MIDDLE GRADE books, I found that sales for that particular series hasn't grown much.

Therefore, next year, 2016 I am planning a book tour again. Indie Style! I've had tons of success by doing Trade Shows, Festivals, non-book stores, school and library events.

That's my aim for 2016. Also, I'm staying local. If I can't drive to it and home in a day - I can't go. Unless I'm already traveling to that location.

 

THE IN PERSON BOOK TOURS & SIGNINGs

They aren't dead, but now, more than ever the term "QUALITY" over "QUANITY" is the name of the game.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON BOOK TOURS? Yay? Nay? Do it all online?

Reader's Have Picky Taste

READERs HAVE PICKY TASTE

You ever sit and think about the types of books you read? I have, seriously considered it since getting in the publishing biz. However, prior to that, I just knew what I liked and didn't really stray too far from that.

Amazon even knew what I liked and would suggest other great books that fit in the genre, type, author, or storyline I tended to read.

Now even Netflix does that with movie selections. AMAZING!

EVALUATE WHAT YOU LIKE TO READ AND WHY? Ever do that?

I've nailed down what it is I like in each genre I read. So let's see, I dare you to do the same.

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

I really like a coming of age story about a hard to like character, who grows in some major way, and who falls in love. I personally enjoy reading YA books with love interest and fiesty girls.

HORROR BOOKS

Action, lots of it, mixed with gore and some mystery.

ROMANCE BOOKS

I love books with the main character as a virgin. The guy has to be a rogue.  I find I really dislike weak main characters that aren't in relationships becuase they can't find anyone. I like them to be popular with guys, still have a virtue, yet is just as 'gorgeous' as the leading man.

MYSTERIES

I prefer my mystery novels to have a fast paced plot, lots of action and suspense.

MY AUTHOR and PUBLISHER HAT RESPONSE TO READER's TASTE

This evaluation of type of reader selection has made me very directed in how I select reviewers of my books. Also, how to select beta readers and critique partners.

If you have a reviewer, beta reader, critique partner that doesn't like the type of character, book, setting, or genre - there is sure to be a mitchmatch in opinion and feedback.

You are rather unlikely to change a readers taste or pallet in the types of books they prefer. So don't try.

SO  - WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GOOD BOOK?

Kingsman: The Secret Service ~ Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW ALERT

THE KINGSMEN

IMDb Blurb:
A spy organization recruits an unrefined, but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

Director:
 Matthew Vaughn
Writers:
 Jane Goldman (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn (screenplay), 2 more credits »
Stars:
 Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson

MY TAKE ON IT

First off, there were a lot of cliche' type jokes here. Samuel L Jackson appeared to be a knock off version of Flava-Flav (you know the rapper). It was something I felt wasn't well done. The main character's initiation into the Kingmen seemed nice, although they did appear to be a snobby group. I probably would have enjoyed it more by seeing the kids bond.

It did remind me of snippets of an Austin Powers movie, with the underlying jokes and sliver on unecessary sexual innuedos.

However, overall - I enjoyed it. I took my 18 year old daughter and 14 year old (wish I hadn't taken her - I had to cover her eyes/ears for a few scenes I was unprepared for).

It was a fun movie, action packed, enternaining, and had some surprises. I give it 3.5 umbrellas.

C.Lee Shares her Stories

Mystery and Mayhem

Great Reads By Author

I'm a native Californian, and after living a lot of different places in the world, landed back in my native state on the edge of a redwood forest. When I'm not writing or blogging I'm hiking or practicing yoga. Then there's that half acre of garden that needs a lot of love.

Sudden Secrets(Evernight Teen 2014) is my fourth young adult novel. I wrote my first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, after reading a news article about "self-abuse" among ivy league students. My second novel, The Princess of Las Pulgas, deals with a young girl and her family. They have everything and suddenly nothing. Double Negative (Evernight Teen 2014) is a book that turned me into an advocate for literacy. 

Great Time Lock Disaster

Amazon:  Buy Here

Goodreads TBR/ Giveaway Ends 03/30 :https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24906424-the-great-time-lock-disaster

No YouTube, no smoothies, no Manga. Not ever again. Not unless Pete figures out how to reverse his bad spell and free Weasel and him from 1837 England.

Double Negative:

Amazon: BUY Here

Goodreads: TBR https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733797-double-negative

Sixteen-year-old Hutchinson McQueen is a big time loser. Trapped in a dysfunctional family, his one thought is escape, but everything he does to get away lands him in trouble. The priest and Maggie have offered him the freedom he craves. All he has to do is take it.

Sudden Secrets

Amazon: BUY HERE

Goodreads:TBR/Giveaway Ends03/01 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24155632-sudden-secrets?from_search=true

Something’s strange about the abandoned house across the street—flashes of light late at night and small flickers of movement that only someone looking for them would see. Everyone says the house is deserted, but Cleo is sure it isn’t, and she’s sure whoever is inside is watching her.

Evaluating Your Exposure

EXPOSURE

Oh my! As an author, we prefer to stay tucked away writing our stories. However, when it's time to release your book baby - getting out there to spread the word is a must.

This year I'm planning on launching two books. One a full novel and part of a series. The other is a novella (which is part of a boxed set and a print book).

WHERE?

So now it seems that the trends of internet hang outs is forever moving for the genre I write for. The Young Adult crowd always moves on to the new thing and I can't seem to catch up.

So I'm getting out there and making myself known to my market in several ways that I can afford and that's consistent.

Twitter - consistent for the younger generation
Vines - a new hopping way to get exposure
Amazon - book readers tend to hang out there alot
Goodreads - book readers hangout
Book Tours - yep, in person

Blog Tours - I just love blogs so I have to do this. Finding one that's on tumbler would be good.

WORD OF MOUTH?

Trying to get this started is a challenge. But - hey, it can happen. So I'll be trying some new things this year to get this going.


ARE YOU A READER? Where do you find out about good books?

ARE YOU AN AUTHOR? Where to you share your books?

ARE YOU A PUBLISHER? Where do you sale your book?

The Search For A Good Cover

THE SEARCH IS ON

As an author who's extremely involved in the publishing of the final product. I've been rather attached to my cover art.

I go through several months of searching out that one picture or several collages of what the book represents to me.

This is a daunting task, but so wonderful when you've landed on something that just speaks to you about the novel you've created.

This year I'm searching out three potential covers.

I think I've looked that over twenty art sites.

Do you have any tips on how to make this process easier? I haven't figured it out yet, lol!

Keep Writing When It's Unpopular

Yep, this is real talk. Nowadays those booms of authors who sought to make millions are falling off like a stack of potatoes.

But there are those of us who are 'Writing On' because the passion is way too deep to stop.

WAYS TO STAY ON YOUR OWN PATH

1. Set aside your write time daily.

2. Join a writer's group or organization that puts you in front of other writers on a weekly basis. Being around other positive influences usually gives you the motivation to continue on your path.

3. Make a schedule and goal list.

4. Post your writing goals, project list, and progress. Having it in sight reminds you to redirect to writing.

5. Participate in writerly online chats (set a time limit so you don't cut into your writing time).

6. Beta read for other authors. This also keeps you motivated and sharpens your editing skills.

LASTLY, just keep writing.