Category Archives: General

Apr16

Standing At The Finish Line

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Runners at a Sydney Marathon at the finish line.

Runners at a Sydney Marathon at the finish line.

Sydney, July 2012. I’m standing in one of my favorite places as a tourist. My husband and I are visiting for our second trip, and we are lucky enough to come across a local marathon with the finish line in The Rocks, an area of Sydney, Australia. Looking around, I take a picture of the runners transfixed by their moment of triumph. I almost can’t pull away. I’m sucked into the moment.

But I’m not a runner. If anything, I’d have to walk a marathon. But I have the fullest respect for these people that take on a challenge such as this. Plus, I have friends back home that would appreciate seeing a marathon in Sydney. It’s for these friends, mostly work colleagues back in the United States, that I post pictures on Facebook of the event. I know they would enjoy watching these runners cross the finish line.

The Finish Line of the race spotted in the Rocks, Sydney.

The Finish Line of the race spotted in the Rocks, Sydney.

Today, April 15, 2013, in Boston. Two bombs are set off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I’m at a loss for words. I think of the people harmlessly watching the event, cheering on the runners that are still finishing after over 4 hours. I don’t think I can possibly imagine the rest. It’s too horrific.

But I know more has happened then this tragic event. Every time something like this happens, something is lost. The freedom to stand near the finish line of a race, or a sports event, at a concert, could this fear be passed on? Should fear take the place of the pure joy of experiencing? No. I will not be terrorized from the inside.

Security may change at events. Airports have proven this worldwide. But I do not feel that, even though my heart aches for the people in Boston, this harmful event will stop the freedom of people enjoying the simple act of experiencing the triumph of others. I will continue to sightsee, stand in a crowd, and cheer the winning or losing team. There is one person that said something that keeps repeating in my mind today. It was said by Anne Frank.

“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” -Anne Frank

Apr10

Why is Self-Publishing Working?

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IndieLife7There is a revolution going on in publishing right now. Self-publishing is taking off in different directions. At the forefront of this revolution are the innovative authors that share their ideas, articles, and experiences at a certain writing board that is popular for the Bohemians of this revolution. The writing board, KBoards.com, known before as Kindleboards.com, is a gathering place for a lot of the cutting edge Indie authors with ebooks listed on Amazon.com. Many problems are solved, innovations discussed, and ideas abound in a modern day Bohemian life search for getting ones book out and noticed. Four years ago, another self published author directed me to this board to get advice. And it has been a blessing in disguise. I am grateful for this writing board’s help and attention, and I’d like to share some of the advice I’ve found there, and how I’ve made self-publishing work for me.

As usual, there are voices always out there trying to share experiences of self-publishing. One such voice has been humbly sharing all of his processes including his recent signing with Simon & Schuster. His name is Hugh Howey. His book, Wool, is currently on the new release table at Barnes and Noble. His book, Wool(Omnibus edition) was voted runner up in the 2012 Goodreads Book of the Year for the Best Sci-Fiction category. Basically, he started with a good book and self-published. In the end, he’s kept his digital rights pioneering a new frontier for all authors. But then I digress. This is what happened this last week.

Hugh, being tired of seeing such negative comments about self-published authors, presented an article to Salon.com using the Kboard.com thread to research his article, Self Publishing is the Future-And Great for Writers. Basically, he wanted to point out that there are people out there making a living at self-publishing, mostly what would be considered mid-list authors. His basic point was that there are people making a living, or paying the basics such as rent, bills, and other critical things that help you launch as a writer.

There were the normal, negative comments. But there was a surprising amount of support from other self-published authors. Really, it proved to me that there is an underground community, a sense of realness and artist survival shared by many. There were many other stories shared, or even just income per month, on the success of being an Indie Author. It made me think; you just can’t sit around and wait at the drugstore counter to be discovered like everyone else. You have to go out and make self-publishing work for you.

Why is it working for many of us? It has to do with the royalty percentage. Ebooks are still relatively new. Most royalty percentage for self-published companies are 50-60%. My current publisher, Trafford Publishing, gives 50% of the ebook net sales. I have no agent to share this percentage. My average sales is about 10 ebooks a month. Now, this is not terribly impressive compared to some of the other numbers I’ve seen. I also know that children’s ebooks sales are slowly growing. Plus, I am selling books. This is better than collecting dust on a shelf. Most of the 5-6 figures of income of self-publishing authors are Romance and Mystery. Throw in sometimes Sci-Fi, and it is working for many people. It is working better than some people can imagine.

There are some advantages to self-publishing my book. In 2007, I published my first book, The Lost Secret of Fairies. In 2009, I published the second book in the series, The Lost Secret of the Green Man. As the third book, The Lost Secret of Dragonfire, releases this spring, all my previous books are available on the virtual shelf. Readers can go back and buy the earlier books at a listing price of $1.99 or $2.99. But that leads to the next point.

Being successful also depends on your selling price of the book. I saw indie author experiments with pricing influence the price of books. I tried my own with my Amazon Price Matching Experiment last year, and posted on my blog about it. In October 2012, Amazon had a settlement with the US State Attorney to reimburse customers for price fixing with three different publishers. Prices were no longer fixed at $9.99 for ebooks.

In fact, the price points started to drop, you guessed it, to $0.99 to $3.99. In April 2012, Mike Coker did a post on his blog showing what price points worked on his website, Smashwords.com, $0.99 and $3.99. He had all the Indie Author data of experimentation to back him up. That’s when others started to listen. Data is starting to show self-publishing can work. It’s not hard to connect the dots that self-publishing is not only working, but having it’s data and experiences used by other publishers.

Being tuned into all of this uprising is like a front row seat to some of the biggest change happening in publishing. Those of us who have nothing to loose, no overhead, and no corporate structure to answer to can try new things on a whim. I tried the Amazon price matching idea and watched my first book, The Lost Secret of Fairies, be downloaded for free over 9,000 times to build a whole new reader base. Three months later, Amazon switched to two separate buying lists so free downloads wouldn’t top their best seller lists. But it worked for me, because I was an indie author that had control of my pricing and distribution. This is a whole new concept for authors, and exciting to be at the forefront.

To add to this, I know where my ebooks have sold. I can log on and see how many sales I’ve had in the US, UK, and Canada. I’ve even had a few books sell in Japan. This is using listings for Kindle Direct Publishing and Smashwords.com. Smashwords distributes to Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and several other ebook retailers. These are just the ones that I use. Other avenues are available too.

In a way, I’ve been trying to make self-publishing work for me. My new book, The Lost Secret of Dragonfire, took three years to write. I spent the last year editing with a fabulous freelance editor named Shelley Holloway. I’ve hired an artist, Rich Wallace, to do the cover and inside illustrations for the last three books. In the end, I learned it really doesn’t matter to your reader how your book gets to them, but that it does. Whether your book is self published or traditionally published, a reader will want your book if they like it. So, the most important thing is to write a good book. That is what any successful author does. Write a good book that people will want. If your book is good and available, people will want it, no matter how it is published.

**This post is part of the monthly
“Indie Life” posts linked on the Indelibles Blog.

dragonfiretbnailjpgTiffany Turner is a self-published author the children’s fantasy adventure series called The Crystal Keeper Chronicles. Her current release, The Lost Secret of Dragonfire, is the third book in the series. She has been an elementary teacher in California for 16 years.

Mar6

Read an Ebook Week March 3-9 on Smashwords

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Available at Smashwords for 50% this week in celebration of "Read an Ebook Week".

Available at Smashwords for 50% off this week in celebration of “Read an Ebook Week”.

It’s that time of year again. No, not for wearing green, but to head over to Smashwords and pick up those free and hugely discounted ebooks. This is probably the biggest promo that Smashwords does all year round, and it is a great tradition to be a part of. If you are a children’s author and have your books distributed on Smashwords, please leave a comment of where your book can be found. If you’re a fan of ebooks, or just want to see what they are all about, check out the many deals going on this week.

Smashwords has several formats that you can download for an ebook. If you want to pick up some bargains in children’s ebooks, Smashwords is the place to shop this week.

Plus, I’ve just received an official release date for my third book. The Lost Secret of Dragonfire is due for release in May this year. So, both books in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles are 50% in support of Ebook Week. Pick up the first two books in the series at an extra discount, and you’ll be ready for the third book in May.

Happy “Read an Ebook Week”. It’s a great way to celebrate literature in the digital age.

*The Lost Secret of Fairies and The Lost Secret of the Green Man are available this week only at Smashwords for 50% off.

Feb11

A Special Way to Say “I Love You”

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I Love You! by Calee M. Lee

I Love You! by Calee M. Lee

When searching for the perfect Valentine’s Gift for your child, try sharing your love over and over again through a unique picture book. I Love You! by Calee M. Lee is a wonderful way to tell your youngster those special words for Valentine’s Day. The book is unique in that it repeats all the different ways love can be expressed. From a secret pillow fort to a birthday crown, the pages flow through kid friendly events to share over and over.

I really loved the illustrations and layout for this book. The text looks as if it is written on mini-notebook paper, and the pictures are adorable.The illustrator, Tricia Tharp, captures the whimsical charm of every kid event with cartoon style images. You’ll want to read this book over and over. It’s a great way to tuck your little one into bed this week. It’s a great Valentine’s Day gift that can be enjoyed all year long.

***** 5 Stars
Available as a paperback and ebook at Amazon.com Also available at Barnes and Noble as a paperback edition.

Dec14

To Hobbiton and Back: My Visit to the Set of Hobbiton for the movie, The Hobbit

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View of The Hobbiton as you walk onto the grounds.

View of The Hobbiton Set as you walk onto the grounds, July 3, 2011.

New Zealand is considered “The Middle Earth”. At least, that’s how I viewed the countryside as I traveled around in a camper van in July 2011. I had come half way across the world. My husband and I were visiting relatives and seeing the beautiful countryside of New Zealand. And I had convinced him to stop at the famous sheep ranch that was used as the set of Hobbiton.

I had read the Lord of the Rings Series at age 13. The Fellowship of the Ring is still my favorite book of the three. But I didn’t know that filming had started for the next two films of The Hobbit. They were filming the prequel in two parts, but all at the same time. I was in for one of the biggest surprises of my life.

Hobbiton: Movie Set and Farm Tours is near Matamata, New Zealand. It is the Alexander Family Farm that was used as the Hobbiton Set for The Lord of the Rings movies. After the original three films were made, the facings for a lot of the hobbit holes were taken down. When my husband Keith and I arrived, the set had been reconstructed again for The Hobbit. We had to sign waiver forms to not post or share pictures of our visit until Dec. 14, 2012, the release date of the movie, The Hobbit.

So, I’ve been waiting about a year and a half to share this story. It has been worth the wait. I’m happy to bring photos of my visit to celebrate the opening of the movie today.

On the day we visited, it was winter in New Zealand. The set had been closed for shooting until spring and better weather for outside shots. The farm was allowed to bring in visitors, if they signed a waiver. It was overcast most of the day, but luckily it didn’t rain. The hobbit holes had green plastic fencing around them to keep the sheep out. Plus, many holes were covered with plastic sheets to protect them from the elements. My pictures of Bag End show the plastic sheets draped over large parts of the outside.

This is the Party Tree. The swing is at the far bottom for scale.

This is the Party Tree. The swing is at the far bottom for scale.


My first picture above is when you enter the tour. This is the area where Gandalf enters the shire at the beginning of Fellowship of the Ring. The current set for The Hobbit recreated the shire so it would look as it did when Bilbo was younger. Everything has been recreated for The Hobbit. But I believe, with less hobbit holes. To the right is the Party Tree.

Samwise's House in the Lord of the Rings series.

Myself standing in front of Sam’s House.

This is Sam’s house below. All the set is build for people 5′ 2″ and shorter. That was the height limit for being a hobbit. I’m 5’4″. I miss the mark for the hobbit casting, but the set effect still works for me. I look hobbit size in the picture.

Inside of a Hobbit Hole set

Inside of a Hobbit Hole set

To the right is one of the Hobbit Holes that was open for us to see inside during the tour. You can see how when the door opens, the actor steps inside with just enough space to walk a step or two. The hillside is dug out enough to allow them to step as if entering the home, closing the door if needed. Then, they would wait until the shot is done. Sorry, all the inside shots of the hobbit holes, including Bag End, is a set on a sound stage. But I thought it was very cool to see how it was all done.

The outside of Bag End

The outside of Bag End

This is Bag End. You can most recognize it by the door to the Hobbit Hole. Here is probably where the most plastic sheets were used to cover the set. Of course, I needed my picture next to this famous Hobbit Hole.

View of the Shire from near Bag End, top of the hill.

View of the Shire from near Bag End, top of the hill.

Here is the view while standing on the path directly in front of Bag End. You can see the lake, the Party Tree, Samwise’s hobbit hole, the mill, bridge, and “The Green Dragon” pub. At this point, I felt I was in Hobbiton. You cannot see anything that reminds you of modern life. With this view, you can tell why they picked the Alexander farm to be the shire.

The Shire as a backdrop.

The Shire as a backdrop.

Here I am at the end of the row of Bag End. It’s at the top of the hill and path. It’s amazing how the feeling of a small village is captured. The paths feel cozy.

Hobbiton8

As you come down the hill, you can get a sense of how much detail is worked into everything. The paths, the fencing, and landscaping all gives you the feel it’s being lived in. The plants are mostly real. There was some disguising of trees and reworking of some greenery. But a lot of the plants and gardens are the real thing. Jasmine grows hanging down by the door at Bag End. Even though it was winter, some of the plants have flowers on them. It was great to see it all up close.

Keith Turner standing by a Hobbit Hole on the Hobbiton Set.

Keith Turner standing by a Hobbit Hole on the Hobbiton Set.

Here is my husband, Keith, next to another one of the amazing hobbit holes. I love the attention to detail in the fencing, the roses in front of the door, and the home like effect. It is to note, he is 6’4″. He really ducked down to fit this picture.

Hobbiton10

To the right, is a Hobbit Hole that demonstrates the attention to detail on the set. I love this hobbit hole. It looks so warm and friendly. I want to move in, and sit by the fire. I love the footpath leading up.

Hobbiton11

This is the garden that the hobbits are seen working in during Fellowship of the Ring. The “Green Dragon” Pub is directly at the top of the picture in the background. I believe there are sheep or cows in the background. During a day of shooting, all the farm animals would be moved. On the day I visited, the animals were out in pasture. So, some can be seen in the previous pictures as well.

Hobbiton1

I hope you enjoyed my pictures of visiting Hobbiton. I can’t wait to see the movie, The Hobbit. Since I have visited, I’ve waited a year and a half to share these with you. Plus, there was more shooting to be done after my visit. I’m excited to see what and how everything was used in the upcoming film. Here’s to the release of the Hobbit Part 1. It’s time for a celebration under the Party Tree.

Resources:

The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook (Extended Edition) by Ian Brodie
Harper Collins Publishers, Auckland, New Zealand 2004.

Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours
Matamata, New Zealand
http://www.hobbitontours.com

Nov22

A Gift of Old School Adventure

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The Treasure of Devil’s Hole by Jody M. Mabry

What do caves, boys on adventure, and gold all have in common? They are combined into a wildly good historical adventure that is hard to put down. The Treasure at Devil’s Hole by Jody M. Mabry is a combination of a Hardy Boy’s adventure and home cooked apple pie. It’s an old school recipe for some good reading. I ate it right up.

A young boy growing up in 1945 goes on an adventure looking for treasure with his two younger brothers. There is a legend told about bandits that hid their treasure in the nearby cavern of Devil’s Hole. One afternoon, they all decide to find out if it’s true. They get more than they bargain for. A mysterious old man tries to nab them as they escape the dangers of the cave.

Bug, also known as Francis, is convinced it must be there. But having been whooped and grounded for trying to find the treasure in the first place, he must find an excuse to outwit his mother to lead another trip down into the cave. With his best friend Billy, Bug runs into more of a mystery than planned. Trapped into a conflict with the local bully, Bug must solve the riddle of the treasure as well as save the local miner that faces the ultimate punishment.

This is a great mystery adventure to get lost in for the coming Holiday break. It’s got a fast pace, keeping you gripped in the story. I couldn’t put it down. It takes place in a small town in Possum Flats, Arkansas. Mabry sprinkles real stories from his grandmother raising her rowdy boys with a mix of traditional mystery storytelling. He was inspired by stories of the “Old Dutchman Mine” as a kid, and uses the classic lost treasure plot with a lot of fun, new twists. There is a nice set up for a sequel in the ending. I am hoping for Bugs to have further adventures with his brothers. Hopefully, Mr. Mabry’s grandmother told enough tales to fill more books. I’m looking forward to them.

***** 5 Stars
The Treasure of Devil’s Hole is available in paperback and ebook at Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles.com. Plus, it is also available as an ebook at Ibooks.com, the Apple Store, and Lulu.com.

Oct28

Charming Picture Book For Trick-o-Treaters

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A Ghost Went Trick or Treating by A. J. Cosmo

There is nothing better than a good story to set the mood for Halloween. A picture ebook called “A Ghost Went Trick or Treating” is a charming story about the lessons learned on Halloween Night. If you are looking for a nonviolent, friendly and safe story for Halloween, this is a great book for your little Trick or Treater.

A mysterious ghost Trick or Treater is adopted into a group of children. Figuring he needs some help, they take him around with them. But when one of them gets into trouble, bullied by the local teens, the ghost comes to the rescue. Plus, there is a surprise twist to the plot. I’m not including spoilers. But if your child likes cute monsters, they will enjoy the surprise.

This is a great story to begin Halloween week. It can be read again and again as a lead up to the big event on the 31st. I highly recommend this for younger Trick or Treaters, but for older siblings as well. The author, A.J. Cosmo, teaches compassion in situations where sometimes, just a nice gesture can be returned in kind.

***** 5 Star Rating
Available on the Kindle only.
This is a Kindle Select book and only available on Amazon.
For your copy of “A Ghost Went Trick Or Treating” click here.

Oct14

Rebellion in Fairyland Mirrors Modern Values

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crystalpalaceII

The Crystal Palace II: Rebellion in Fairyland by Michele Hauser

Kidnapped! What would you do? Carry that idea into the kidnappers being ogres and trolls, and you’ve got an interesting problem that is the center of the second Crystal Palace book, Rebellion in Fairyland. Michelle Hauser brings modern conflicts and thinking to the medieval world of Fairyland. It’s a new take on what Fairy is all about.

An invitation arrives for the girls Karina, Katie and Nicole to return to Fairyland for the Prince’s third birthday party. But all goes terribly wrong when they find themselves at the center of a new controversy, a conflict between fairies and their servants the ogres and trolls.

Fairyland had seemed quite enchanting, until the realization that the ogres and trolls do all of the work and service for the fairies of the land. Karina, Katie and Nicole are kidnapped with the Fairy Princess Gianna, and drawn into the conflict. In order to be free, they must help solve the problem.

The ogres and trolls just want the same opportunities as the fairies. The kidnapping is a form of protest for the ogres. The girls have to try to remember their history and civics lessons to teach the medieval-thinking fairies a modern spin on how a society includes all people.

I found it interesting the way Hauser weaves modern problems into the Fairyland medieval setting. The girls become the heroes bringing enlightenment to this backwards society. Not only do they rely on themselves, but other friendly people they get to know, such as the ogres. Hauser has the King listen thoughtfully to their ideas. And of course, the new way of thinking and including the ogres and trolls as equals is the solution to the social problem. It is a great twist for a second book, reflecting our own society and world within the World of Fairy. It is good fantasy that helps teach a lesson. Great for any fifth graders studying the US constitution and the Civil War.

**** Four Star Rating. Available at Amazon.com.

Sep15

Tiffany Turner Will Read Book on Blog Radio Show

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Tomorrow, Sat. Sept. 15, Tiffany Turner will be reading the first three chapters of her first book, The Lost Secret of Fairies. Join her and call in with questions to the Blog Radio show, “It’s Story Time, Gather Round.”

The reading starts at 10am EST, 9AM CST, 8AM MST, and 7AM PST. The phone number to call with questions is: (714)242-5259. Come for the fun. Stay for the sharing.

Here is a link to the show with more information:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/2012/09/15/its-story-time-gather-round

Aug9

Smashwords Offers Library Pricing

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It continues to amaze me how new things come up for Indie Authors. Right now, it’s all about pricing. Whether to have your book priced free in a promo, or set it at price points of $0.99, $1.99, or $2.99. But fresh ground has been broken with Smashwords announcement yesterday of Library Pricing.

According to their blog, Smashwords announced their new program, Library Direct. This new program allows library’s to obtain Indie Books for their ebook check out systems. Several large library networks placed preorders from Colorado and California. It’s will help establish more available books in the ever growing ebook library systems.

Smashwords’s authors received emails about the news, letting them know they can now choose a separate price for libraries. The ability to set a price that is lower or even free for libraries is a great way to promote. Not only can libraries be supported to insure a future for books, it gives a whole new reader base to budding authors.

As with anything new, there are lots of questions. Should a book be listed for free? How will the libraries know which book to buy? How big could this reach?

All I can say is that libraries are hard to break into as a beginning author. With limited funds, libraries rely on book reviews and top seller’s list to choose purchases. Many Indie authors don’t make the NY bestseller’s list. But there is a chance for them to be on the Smashwords Best Seller’s List. And with just a few library systems starting out, I’m sure more will follow. With low priced or free books to choose from, ebook libraries will be larger than any possible brick and mortar library. The shelves would never end.

I am happy to announce that both my books will be available at a lower than retail price for this new library endeavor. It’s a great way to support the future of our library systems and reach a new readership. Plus, it makes me proud to be an Indie Author.