Showing posts with label giveaways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giveaways. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Angela Answers August 2014: Writing, Books, and Other Terrible Things

Last month I celebrated my five year Twitter anniversary. Seriously. Five years ago I had all the time in the world to respond to every DM, email, Facebook message, and Goodreads comment. Of course, back then no one cared. These days I tremble at the thought of my Twitter inbox, I haven't checked my Facebook messages on my author page in months, and I had, as of this morning, 13,958 unread emails.

Many of my direct messages are requests to like various Facebook pages and buy books--I delete those. I do not auto DM and I do not like receiving them--the exception is a nice thank you--no strings attached. I still don't do it, but I won't publicly shame you for it either. The non offending messages tend to come in the form of questions. Lots and lots of questions. I'd love to be able to answer ever single one of them, but I'd probably have to give up writing, and like...showering. Smelly authors are not happy people, so here today I wrote a blog of Answers to some of the most asked, and most random questions. I made the questions jumbo sized, so non-writers can easily find the questions that pertain to them and can skip the rest.



Share with your friends. Click here to ask your own question. Put Angela Answers in the subject. Otherwise it will go in the toxic waste pile with the other things I'm avoiding.


Facebook Q: Will you finish writing my book for me? I've tried, but I just can't get the ending.

Answer: While I feel humbled you would trust your book baby to me, alas, I have time for zero extra projects. Sadly, in addition to serious scheduling conflicts I can't read any non-published manuscripts from people who are not with my publisher Green Envy Press. Not because I am a snob, but because we live in a crazy world and I don't want to have to defend myself or an author who publishes with me, from someone claiming we stole book ideas from them.

There are very few exceptions to this rule, and those are only made for people I have worked with in the past. Please don't ask for an exception, those people already know who they are...I think.

Twitter Q: How do I publish a novel?

Answer: I love Twitter, and I have worked really hard at making myself approachable there. I want to have relationships on social media, and I don't just use it as an info dump. But because of that, I tend to have many people new to the business ask me very basic, see nonspecific, questions as they don't know where else to turn. I always feel really bad when I don't have time to help these people. I'll be honest, it used to annoy me. I used to huff and think, you can use Twitter why can't you use Google? But now I understand there is simply too much information to get a handle without some guidance from someone you trust. Since you are trusting me I tend to get a very warm feeling in my insides.

Deciding what publishing path is right for you is a big step. For some people the path seems to choose you. For other people the decision is not so easy. Since the person didn't specify, I don't know if they were asking for traditional or indie (self publishing). So I am going to give a very basic, quick-step guide to both.

Steps to Traditional Publishing:
Write a fantastic book>>>put it down/or have other people read it>>edit, edit, edit>>>put it down/have other people read it>>edit, edit, edit>>>research appropriate agents/ publishers>>>read their rules and requirements>>write a fantastic query letter and send with any other requirements >>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>> WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>>WAIT>>> Repeat OR GET LUCKY

Now, I could help you with your query letter, telling you which agents I think are awesome (hint they are ALL on Twitter) but let's be honest:


Steps to Indie or Self Publish:
So yeah, once upon a time I was really good at query letters and stuff like that. I once wrote a synopsis that a popular agent said was the best one they had ever read--seriously--a synopsis! I am almost embarrassed at the stuff I spent time getting good at five years ago.

I want to preface this by telling you, I do not hate and wish ill legacy publishers and the people who publish with them. I think traditional publishers and indies are perfect for each other, and I think people are starting to figure that out too. At least judging by the indie authors that are being snatched up recently.

That being said, I feel more qualified to give advice on indie publishing, because I run a publishing co-op; and that is where my success comes from. SO here you go!

Write a fantastic book>>>put it down/or have other people read it>>edit, edit, edit>>>put it down/have other people read it>>edit, edit, edit>>>acquire cover, editing, formatting, and for the LOVE OF GOD don't do this all yourself unless you know someone who is going to be really honest with you.>>Arrange marketing>>>HIT THE PUBLISH BUTTON>>market>>>WRITE ANOTHER BOOK.

Social media should probably go in there somewhere, and marketing? There is more to that than would fit in this blog post or ten others. I am actually going to publish a book marketing series for authors, the first of which, Twitter for Authors and Other Introverts, comes out later this year.

Twitter Q: When does your next book come out?

Answer: Funny question. I have had a lot of issues publishing books this year, moving cross country and mad phobias have kept me from moving forward on the next book I had planned to release. OCD has made it so I have had a hard time just skipping to the next book after that. (They are all written.) HOWEVER, I decided to move forward with the release of 23 1/2 Hours to Live, my first released NA Romance--and it is coming out later this month. More on that soon!

Goodreads Q: How many books have you sold?

Answer: What's weird is, I don't even know. I didn't start keeping good track until this year. It's in the thousands.

Twitter Q: How can I get as many Twitter followers as you?

Answer: Create good content, engage, and come up with creative ways to find new people you can relate too.

Facebook Q: How do I write books?

Answer: If you ask the roughly 5% of people who leave me absolutely scathing reviews, they would tell you I have no freaking idea and you shouldn't ask me. ;) My official answer is, one word at a time. I have been told many of my books read like poetry. For me, every syllable has a feeling attached to it, like music. Every word should be important even if it's just to cut, or burn, or strike. Every word should be the right word to make people feel, to spark something in a person one way or another way.

But if you are wanting to walk me through how to plot or come up with characters, you may as well ask me how do I bleed. I just do. Stories come to my mind completed, as they are, flaws and all.

OK I have 2 prizes I HAVE GOT to mail out this weekend, (I'm sorry) so I am going to have an awesome and short giveaway. For what? Well it's kind of a surprise! I am going to take a Flat Rate Box and shove it full of everything I need to survive the weekend. Minus food...maybe. I am willing to send it to anywhere in the US and it's territories, bases, etc.



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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Angela Kulig gives stuff away, talks about herself in the third person. 4k Twitter Follower Giveaway!



If you are one of the people who often reads my blog, you are aware of far too many personal details about me--including the fact I often speak about myself in the third person.

Angela would like to say thank you.

When I started twitter and had <100 followers for PRACTICALLY FOREVER I never thought I'd see one thousand, or two thousand, or 3250 which is where I was this morning. BUT as I am never happy with anything I do, that just isn't good enough. So I am going to have a Twitter follower drive to hurry on up to 4k! It's not that far really. I'm giving away at least a $40 e-giftcard no matter where I end up, but if I reach 5k I will make it $50 and if I reach 6k I will make it $60 and so on and so forth.

I am also giving away a SURPRISE! Prize pack that with multiply with the number of entries. This might include books, swag, and other awesomeness.

Basically, you should enter and then tell everyone you know!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Saints & Sinners GIVEAWAY by Geeky Blogger's Book Blog! CLOSED Winner: SPAV


DUDE! I get to do this AWESOME AMAZING TOTALLY EPIC GIVEAWAY by Felicia @ Geeky Blogger's Book Blog!

Check out the blog here: http://geekybloggersbookblog.com

CONGRATS TO SPAV Who has her pic of the Dark Hunter Series

Enter to win ONE of the Dark Hunter Series!
















Run over to the Geeky Bloggers & Comment Here to win!
              

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Saints & Sinners Weekend!

You know what you should be doing right now? Grabbing a lawn chair, and heading over to the http://www.bookish-brunette.com/ because you will want to be there all weekend.  It's going to be like camping out on Thanksgiving and waiting for Black Friday. Only a million times better because Saints & Sinners will be in a state of constant giveaways! No money spent, and no need to worry over being pepper sprayed by some crazy broad at the Walmart.

What is Saint's & Sinners you ask? Besides what will likely be the best giveaways to hit the blogosphere this year--we discuss the most important people in the books we love.

That's right, the smoking hot dudes!

Now some of the awesomeness will be spilling on to my blog this weekend as well, you will just have to check back often and stayed glued to Twitter to find out. I will also be adding links to all the content over at BB's to the bottom of this post.


The Men of the Iron Seas! Guest Post & Giveaway from The Unread Reader
Patch or Jace? {I vote Jace}
The Dark, Dargerous and Hella Sexy Mr. Barrons. by The Book Nympho AND Giveaway!
Abbi Glines talks about Beau from THE VINCENT BOYS gives stuff away! {I LOVE ABBI}
Angeline Kace's FAV Sinners... and EPIC Giveaway!
Saints & Sinners Giveaway from Misfit Salon
Archeron from Smash Attack Reads
Lucas and Derek from Born at Midnight by Pages of Forbidden Love
Exiled by MR Merrick {HOORAY FOR MATT!}
Giveaway: Asylum (The Causal Enchantment Series, #2) by KA Tucker
Jen @ In the Closet With a Bibliophile (bonus for including James Marsden)
S.M. Reine as Seth from Six Moon Summer    





Oh yeah, and Skeleton Lake is ON SALE for just .99 at Amazon to add to the weekend long FUN

Saturday, November 19, 2011

While the Cat's Away WEEKEND Long Twitter Event

Yes, a whole weekend of giveaways! But you are going to have to tweet to win. Up for grabs are 4 Skeleton Lake ebooks. For Nook, Kindle, or whatever ereader you covet. It's easy to win! Simply chat using the hash tag #thecatsaway in honor of this mouse playing while her publisher is away.

Already have Skeleton Lake? No problem! You can still win. Your options are 1. To gift the book to someone else--simply tell me who you'd like it to go to when you contact me (you will need their email address) or 2. Tell me you'd like to win Pigments of My Imagination instead, and receive your ebook in the beginning of December!

AND!

If you recall, I said I had some big personal deadlines this weekend. My goal is to finish my super secret project by 11:59 Sunday night. If I make it someone chatting with us on Twitter will receive an autographed paperback copy of Skeleton Lake and an copy of Pigments of My Imagination when it comes out in paperback in December!  Sort of a one now one later kind of thing.

Get chatting people! I love my readers, and I want to give things away.

I will be drawing random chatters at noon and 9pm both days! See you there! (All times are PDT)

Don't forget, you can still enter to win Shatter Me, Crossed, and The Pledge in my awesome Nov release giveaway. Click Here for directions.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Read THIS Before You Do Anything Else

Just some super quick notes!
1) Sara, who owns and mostly operates the publisher I am on, Red Iris Books, is away. So I can do whatever I want. Including being lazy and giving away a ton of ebooks. Not really... about the lazy part anyway. This weekend I have a serious personal writing deadline, so I will be giving away several kindle/nook copies of SKELETON LAKE at will. Please invite all of your friends that haven't read it. All the giveaways will happen on Twitter but I will be blogging times so check it out!

2) Don't forget about the AMAZING contest where you can win 3 hardback copies of some of the best November releases here:
Sweet November Release Prize Pack including: Shatter Me, The Pledge, & Crossed.

3) Did you know in the ebook version of SKELETON LAKE there is a Pigments of My Imagination excerpt? You should read it, because next week I will be asking questions about it, and giving away awesome Pigments prizes!