Celebrating 245 Author Page Likes

To celebrate 245 likes on my Facebook Author page, I have two eBooks to give away! Just go to my author page and leave a comment on the give away post pinned to the top of the page. I’ll choose two people at random on May 7, 2019 at 5pm.

I’ll give the winners a code to use on Amazon to download Devitt to their Kindle. Simple and easy! Here’s the link to my Author Page, and good luck

https://www.facebook.com/MDStewartAuthor/

Thank you Aimee Ann at redheadedbooklover.com. You always help me get back on focus when I wonder if I’ve made a mistake in my career choice. Being an indie author takes a lot of heart and blood, sweat and tears.

Read her review of my book, My Forever Love, Crossing the Line Series Book Two and check out the rest of her blog as well! https://redheadedbooklover.com/my-forever-love-m-d-stewart/ 

I haven’t been writing on my blog, and I hate that it’s been almost a month! I’ve been really busy writing, editing and promoting my books. I’ve also been listening to my released books and making little corrections here and there and republishing them.

Bran, the second book in the Fae Shifters series came out today, and I put the first book, Devitt on sale for 0.99 until January 23rd. I hope it helps bring fans to my books. I think I have everything readers might like. A series based on romance and aliens (The Psy-Bond, Watchers and Crossing the Line Series) and a series based on romance and shifters (Fae Shifters Series).

Speaking of a the Fae Shifters, I got another stellar review from Aimee Ann at over at Red Headed Book Lovers blog! She’s amazing and I appreciate her reviews so much! I thought I’d attach the review for Devitt, https://redheadedbooklover.com/devitt-m-d-stewart/ and I hope you follow her blog if you haven’t already!

So I’m excited to have a great review from Aimee Ann for Red Headed Book Lover! She made my day and made me cry for giving such a great review on my book Double Time. I’d like for you to read it and leave a comment or question and if you’d like to follow her blog, I’m sure she’d appreciate it.

Please read it at https://redheadedbooklover.com/double-time-m-d-stewart/?fbclid=IwAR2c1Vdc_Ue3B6GIA8GldVnbSQGuZxorpg97vzbVgJUfw4z4g-Jj85zoNc8

I’ll also be releasing the second book in the series called My Forever Love on January 3rd so if you want to read up on the series, read Double Time. Each book is a HEA stand alone, but you might get to know some cross-over characters and enjoy their story.

So, I’m kind of nervous. I’ve decided to do a pre-order for my book, My Forever Love. While I’ve not had many comments, only one actually, it wasn’t a “good” comment. Apparently, they didn’t like my blurb for the book. “Poor grammar,” they said. Grammarly didn’t think so, but whatever.

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I suck at blurbs. I’d PAY someone to write them for me. Seriously. If they write good, interesting blurbs that got potential readers excited to buy my books! As it is, I just try to write what the book is about and not give away too much. It doesn’t always work though. I know this.

So, as it goes, I’m just plugging along, trying to grow tougher skin. I’m also trying to remember, not everyone likes Paranormal or Sci-Fi romance. That’s okay, I get it. I tried to be as polite to her as possible, thanking her for her critique. She jumped on me, that’s for sure. Even after I told her I was trying to be polite, she still jumped me. *sigh* I guess everyone assumes others react the same way we would. I suppose she thinks everyone is sarcastic and caustic.

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon. I hope whoever gets it, they enjoy the heck out of it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M96HMN4

Even if you don’t read their stuff

So, I have become discouraged in my writing. I love doing it, and I hope those that read my books enjoy them, but I hoped I’d be more successful by now. I knew I wouldn’t be a “best seller” yet, but I still feel like I’m struggling to get my fan base. I get it too; not everyone will like my genre or my characters, not even how I choose to portray … well all of it!

Maybe it’s the cold weather that’s making me feel discouraged. Last night, I told my husband, Goose I was about to just give up on paying for promotions. It didn’t seem to be panning out. When I started writing, I had no idea I’d have to pay for promos. I just didn’t think of it. I knew quality covers would cost me money. As with anything, first impressions are important and I wanted good covers to draw the eye. I wanted to capture a reader’s interest. 

I knew I’d need an editor (I’m so glad I have one! She’s pulled my burning mess from the fire, slapped out the flames, and helped me save a few stories) but I never considered promotions! That’s where my editor has guided me as well. She’s not just helped repair my books, she’s been a mentor and friend. 

In this world of self-publishing, anyone can write something, grab a cheap five dollar cover off some website, and put it out on the web. I’ve read a few of those books, because I love to read as well as write, and I want to try out new authors. Sadly, with some, I’ve sat there shaking my head at the mistakes. Not only grammar, but with flow and consistency. Someone is wearing a blue dress and the next sentence it’s a red shirt and blue jeans.

In one book I just finished, the male protagonist has just learned to drive that day so he can take the female main character into town for the first time, but the female is remembering him taking her to town not long ago. It’s important to have small details like that caught by an editor. At least to me! I want to put out books that when someone reads it, they aren’t distracted by details not matching up. 

But, I digress. As I stated earlier, I had told my husband that I’m about to give up. And bless him, he said “You can’t give up now!” That’s all I needed to hear. I felt better after that. I know, to me at least, I feel like I’m throwing good money after bad, just trying to get people to discover my books.

Maybe Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction Romance, and unconventional love between characters isn’t your cup of tea, but if you know someone who DOES like that sort of book, how about sending them to my Amazon Author page, http://amazon.com/author/mdstewart and let them look around?

That’s how you can help a struggling author, even if you hate to read or hate their chosen genre. Tell your friends about them, maybe someone will like what your author friend writes and they tell someone else. 

And for those who have read my stuff, please leave a review. If you can’t on Amazon, you can at Good Reads. Reviews also help undecided readers consider if they are willing to pay for a book. Especially for a new author. All my books have reviews now (thanks to BookSprout) and they average 4.5 out of 5 stars, so that makes me happy.

Help your struggling author friends by just letting others know about their endeavors. Send them an encouraging post, telling them you like this cover or heard from a friend that book is good. Whatever you feel comfortable doing. That way they don’t feel like their screaming in the wind and no one can hear them. Kind words mean a lot!