Rebelious rules by Kristina Gallo

Let me introduce an awesome author Angelo Schenna, whose stories are proof that love still exists. As a child, A. A dreamed of being a cardiac surgeon. Later, Schenna realized that this was not what he wanted. Writing has always been his greatest pleasure. When he doesn't write action, adventure, horror stories, or anything else, he reads everything. Schenna admires all the writers he comes across and enjoys talking about books and magazines. A.A loves meeting new people, discovering new places and he also likes traveling along with his partner and family. Join A. A Schenna's newsletter at https://www.aaschenna.com/newsletter Website http://www.aaschenna.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/A.ASchenna/ Twitter https://twitter.com/aschenna Follow Thoughts in the Air Blog https://www.aaschenna.com/blog https://www.amazon.com/A.-A.-Schenna/e/B00PY4Q4QQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share My review for  The Stranger: I was reading a beautiful story. It is between drama a

When you are an indie author, it is like everything is against you. Amazon rules, trolls who write negative reviews, expensive editing, and readers' ignorance. Many people started to write and gave up, because of a lack of motivation. How to motivate yourself when there are big chances that you will never sell more than five books in a month? 5 reasons that motivated me are next: Show that you can to those who underestimated you. I was in the situation when I experienced how is to be without support, surrounded by people who disliked me. My keyboard was my only friend. Expel your traumas . If you feel that there is a secret inside of you, embarrassing or hard to tell, you can write. Make a story with fictional characters, play with their destinies and you will feel illuminated. You have an audience. Look at your ratings, reviews. First time I got reviews I was very happy. Wow, someone read my books. It might not be the audience I dreamed about, but a group of people read my books

Today I am featuring an awesome author Martin J. Best. His stories about ghost hunting captured my interest. A short biography: Born in 1965, Martin J. Best is a native of Torquay, on the UK's English Riviera, where he grew up in an actively haunted house. He has had a varied work life, including many years running his own mobile disco business, and is now fulfilling a life-long dream to write full-time. When not working, he enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, ghost hunting, and walking/trail running with his dogs Shadow and Raven – a Northern Inuit and a Groenendael.   Much of the action in Martin’s character-driven paranormal stories are set in and around his hometown, the use of genuine locations giving his meticulous world building an unpretentious authenticity. The Moth Trap - https://1books2read.com/u/b5QLak A Step Aside – https://books2read.com/u/4AxNPK The Novice Ghost Hunter - https://books2read.com/u/47X827 Ghost Hunter I: A Matter of Faith - https://books2re

If you are an indie author, you will do everything alone. Writing a book is an easier part. You will do promotion, editing, marketing, choosing cover creators, and your editor for a final manuscript. Indie authors are aware of this so they do the best they can to look professional.  There are some exceptions, those are people who are just starting or they are naturally egoistic so they think everyone will listen to their demands. What kind of mistakes do indie authors do in approaching their audience? Send private messages to unknown people.  Tag unknown people with their book links. They post above-pinned tweets of other authors their book links. They post under other authors' links their book links. Underestimate other authors, trying to make laugh at their work. Selling a book means you need to find a market. If you are lecturing others, you will not be popular. If you try to use others, it will come back to you. Here are three tricks that some indie authors use: Fake promise. I

Today I am featuring fantasy author Josephine Wrightson. Living in North Devon, in a beautiful rural cottage with her family. Hubby and two girls, there is much inspiration all around her. The rolling green hills and forests, but she is doubly lucky to have beautiful beaches and the tumultuous coastline near too. So many tales to tell, and plenty of inspiration all around her. Josephine has been writing for more years than she cares to admit to. Having started in her early 20’s, and before then reading so much. Anything and everything. However, as with many of us, life got in the way and encouragement was lacking, so her ambition got shelved, or more to the point packed into a case. After a strange couple of years, with the help and encouragement of a great husband and children, who Josephine admits to being her very own ‘hero ‘ decided to pick it up again, with a renewed vigor and determination. As life is very often too short. So being an indie publisher became her goal. And this

Let's sell the book. This is the dream of every indie author. Until now, you learned already about difficulties, and how to sell the book. One of the important things is collaboration between authors and readers. Also, authors should respect other authors. When I started writing, for four years, I had some experiences with other authors. I asked for opinions and got lessons. Sure, I did not like it. When the author asks for a review, he expects the review. You can always politely refuse and said you don't have time to read, or you don't want to leave a review because you don't like the book. Some authors are crossing the limits, by giving lectures. For example: "Oh, do you have an editor? I would read a book, but I would recommend you some editors, or I will edit this for a suitable fee." "Do you think you are ready to publish it? I have a book, let's take a look, and read it, so you can learn something from me. " When someone lectures you, he br

Many authors will give their books for free for the purpose of promotion.  Their expectations are: Many KENP readers, because the book is free. Many reviews, because the book is free. With many ratings, the book is free. Reality is not so dazzling. People will grab a free book, but many will not read this. Some of them will give bad ratings or bad reviews, and the minority will give a read. When you see something free, your first thought might be: well, this is not worthy it. If this is a quality, it will be priced. Giving your book free might give a wrong impression : This is an author I never heard about. This is a low budget. This is a trashy read. When you give your book for free, it should be targeting the audience.  You expect a reader's circle, so the blurb must be well described, the cover must be professional and the story must be edited. Also, if you have more books, let other books have a price.  You are offering a free book but as a representative pattern of your work.

Hello authors. I bet this is the question you ask yourself very often? What is wrong with my book and why is not selling? Why others are selling books and I can't manage it? Now is a year since I am selling my books. Croatian bank was not in the American bank system so I had to wait 3 years to get my money from Kindle. So, there are worse things than passive readers, agree? I will not lie, it is not an ideal position, and I am not Stephen King or John Grisham.  I learned a few things and I want to share them with you. The cover. What is the first thing that attracts the reader? Your book cover. If you want to buy the book in the library, I am sure you will take the one with an interesting cover. The same is with e-books, you will pick a book by the cover. Professional covers are expensive, but sure you can invest some money and find a suitable price.  The blurb. Now, you want to know what is a book about, before you buy it, isn't it? That is similar to a movie, you will read

  Jaime Hernandez is a lover of all things horror, animals, zoos, tattoos, reading, and writing. Born and raised in Ohio, she met her Texan husband online in a FB group, married him, and moved to Dallas. She has two amazing daughters and four crazy dogs. She's a proud stay-at-home mom and author. In her past life, she was the owner of a pet sitting business, but her true passion has always been writing. She's a huge fan of the zombie apocalypse genre in both books and on the big screen. Book link: URBAN GRIDLOCK: A Post Apocalyptic Zombie Survival Thriller: (Chronicles of the Undead: Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V8BBTWN/ Book Blurb: They were average people caught in a deadly time. Lifelong best friends Max and Jesse are six stories high working a construction job when the gates of Hell explode in downtown Cleveland. They bear witness to the furious beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse. Trapped in the middle of the city, the pair must fight their way back to the

Every writer wishes to sell his books. We want primary purpose, to reach an audience, readers who will buy our books. What makes difference between amateurs and professionals, is how they talk to the audience. If you hit an unknown internet user with a message "Hello! Will you review my book? I kindly ask you to read and review my story.", there is a big chance that you will get blocked. No wonder, you remind the reader of a beggar who is standing in front of your door, asking a favor.  Reviews are the main tools for sale, but how to get them? Why should someone read your book when you have millions of indie authors and books online? Why should someone buy your book when you have free books online? From my experience, how you represent yourself is the key to your sales. I have twelve books, various genres. How to - self-help books. I don't have an intention to lecture someone. I transfer my personal experience. In this way, I clean my soul from my mistakes and give you s

If you are a writer, you know what I am talking about. Some days you have an invisible obstacle in your mind, feels like a frozen stick inside and you don't know how to start. What to write and how to get out from the blockade? Writer's block could manifest in various forms: You can't start the book. You are stuck in the middle of the book. You don't know how to end the book. You are repeating yourself, this idea is already written.  How do I deal with writer's block? I use my memories from real life. I can't mistake it there, my life already told the story. I read books. I will not copy anyone, but others' books can develop the seed of an idea.  I take a break. Going out in the fresh air helps. You might meet someone who will inspire you. What motivates me?  My best writing period happens when I got angry. My words are flowing then, like someone talking to me about exactly what I should write.  Critics are the wind in my back. Let me show to assholes what I

I am scrolling through social media and notice many indie authors on Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. When you ask people are they reading books, many will say without shame they don't read. In the age of technological progress, people are so busy that they have no time to read. Hear and see, those actions have an advantage over reading. Tik Tok is based popularity on videos and teenagers will brag they don't read. If they read, they wish to read about how to make money or get famous. I made a poll on Tik Tok, 70% of people said they don't read indie authors. Based on the teenager's pattern, they probably think about how reading is a waste of time.  This makes my next question : Why write and who will read? First, you must reject the old stereotype of how the author is an old man with glasses or authoress is an old lady who is boring and not pretty.  Nowadays, authors use social media, and technology and they look great. More than ever, your appearance is impo

Many indie authors offer their books for free in the hope of getting reviews. It is a noble guest and generous, but there is no profit from this in the long term. Why? People will get a book free, and then they will not leave a review. Sometimes you can get a review if you repeat you need it, or if a person is your friend, but unknown people are not obligated to review, so in general, they will not do it. If you show your audience they can get every book for free, you show they don't need to pay for your work. It is not about money, it is about your rating. You invested in your book, cover, formatting, and editing, and now you should give a book for free? Indie books are cheap. The E-book is between 0.99 cents and 3.45 dollars, and this is small money. Kindle will take their percentage, and you can't get much. But, your product must have a price, you are not a charity. Even if this price is symbolic, still your product is marked for sale. Ask people, do they remember how much m

I f you are an indie author, you will get offers for paid reviews, sooner or later. Someone of money hunters will approach you through your inbox or in groups, offering their reviews for your books, in exchange for "small fees." Indie authors are struggling with book sales, but some reviewers are like vultures, trying to get money from authors because we need reviews as a marketing tool for our books. Some reviewers will ask 10 dollars for one review, some even more. I advise you: don't buy it. Don't accept it. Why? Paid reviews are not objective . Someone will praise your book, and you paid for it. Do you remember when you go shopping and a saleswoman praises you for how you look good in a new dress? She does it because she wants to sell a dress. So, if you paid for a review, it will be praised, because you give money. You will get 5 stars, and a person even did not read a book. Amazon will punish you . If they discover you paid for reviews, you are breaking their ru

My book "Husband For Rent" is in pre-order and it will release on 18 October. This is my book number 10 on Amazon. I am a Croatian multi-genre author. I  started with a blog and self-help books. Then I turned to romance stories with a reality check. This year I changed the direction. My role model is Agatha Christie, so I wanted to give a chance myself to write thrillers. "The Player Without Luck" is already available and got 18 USA reviews on Amazon. Husband For Rent is thriller suspense. If you love fast action, provocative dialogues, intrigue, sarcastic humor, and unpredictable events, this is a book for you. A short blurb: Viktorija is a psychologist. She is working in an office sponsored by Government and helps migrants with asylum applications. Her ex-husband Boris tries to maintain their connection after the divorce, and she wishes to be rid of him. While on her lunch break, Viktorija meets Jamal, a waiter who is a migrant from Algeria and befriends him. Jama

Every author will face a bad review for his book, sooner or later. You might have a perfect book, but there is always a reader who will think differently.  If you think that a good editor and translator will help you to change the audience's opinion, you are wrong. Your book is an investment, you paid an illustrator, editor, and beta readers, but still, this is not enough to be a bestseller. You got a bad review. What do I consider a bad review? 1 star on Amazon. 2 stars on Amazon. Receiving bad reviews doesn't mean that your book is a pile of rubbish.  The reasons for bad reviews might be different: It could be an act of revenge . Someone doesn't like you and he will spit at your book. The reader doesn't like this genre, yet he read and reviews. It could be trolling . Such people exist and mark many books with bad ratings, just to make a mess. It might be compensation. If you give an author a bad mark, he can do it for you too. Does a bad review have an influence on s

  Let me introduce an awesome British author. She is very collaborative, one of those who motivated me to write my stories and inspired me.  British Crime Author Pat McDonald lives in a rural part of the Midlands, United Kingdom. After studying for a degree in Applied Social Sciences including criminology, psychology and sociology, she had a long career as a researcher, project manager and program manager in the National Health Service and in policing. She is now a full-time novelist and writes primarily in the crime genre.  Her crime novels have been described as ‘gritty’ although she also writes humorous satire (The Penny series) and her thrillers have included the paranormal and historical W.W 1 drama with a ghostly twist.   Take a look at her books: Amazon link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pat-McDonald/e/B00R372WK4?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_tkin_p1_i0 Take a look at her pages, give a like, and follow her: Author page: https://www.facebook.com/Pat-Mcdonald-Author-5023746264843

During the lockdown, I wrote a thriller. My emotions were mixed up, and I decided to use my free time for writing.  The Player Without Luck is a story about addiction, remorse, and revenge, all in one.  What would you do if someone would try to destroy your life? How would you protect your job, spouse, and reputation? Silvija is a fatal woman. She is not an example of morals, but she has her principles. Many bad guys are around her, she entered a criminal circle. The only bright spot in her life is Alen, her devoted husband, but she doesn't appreciate him enough. She involves an affair, and that will make things complicated. Circumstances will show, what is real, and what is fake?  Would you choose a dangerous passion or stable family life? Do you afraid of risk, or do you wish to gamble with your destiny? Who is the player without luck? You can find my book on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089Q1R1D2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3

You can listen to my audio podcast and learn about my books, blog, and motives to write. My awesome host Jack Rollins made great questions and I was happy to answer and inform my potential readers.

This is YA supernatural horror story. Helena just wanted to live like an ordinary teenager. She was a victim of the wrong education system in ex Yugoslavia.  The trauma destroyed her youth but as compensation, she got the unexpected power. Just, her dreams turn into nightmares which became true. Nothing will be the same after unexpected events, things will go in an undesirable direction and she could not control it. My story is based on real events and you can find it on Amazon, an e-book, and a paperback edition. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NRZBNVC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_3RRzCb0CEVM20 From the preview: It was a curse for young people in Croatia. Even if you were only sixteen, you could find a way to get a beer. You could smoke and get laid. What was funny was you couldn’t stay late if your parents decided. So, your curfew was generally 12:00 a.m. This club would close at midnight, as the city did not issue licenses to work later, and your parents would take you home