First--good news: over at Amazon.com my book has a cover (go ahead, take a peek if you want. I'll wait.).
Done so soon? Cool. ;-) So, there are two ways to describe this winter from where I am: Brrr and shiver.
With that in mind, let's give away a copy of Maggie Stiefvater's werewolf novel (first in her Wolves of Mercy Falls series) SHIVER. I'm going to let this contest run until Thursday at 7am. It'll be international. I'll roll the dice and announce a winner by 8:30am Thursday morning. So, all you need to do to enter is leave a comment about why you'd like to win SHIVER.
Simple enough, right? Hope you're staying safe and warm!
~Shannon
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Blog Award, Blog Award!
Yesterday Casse won Alyson Noel's 2nd novel in her Immortals Series (BLUE MOON) and on Tuesday we'll do some more contest stuff--maybe "Warm Up with a Werewolf?" I *do* have a copy of SHIVER to give away... BWA-HA-HA! And if you like memorable kissing scenes, Shiver's been nominated more than once for The Smoochies. ;-)
But for now... This blog was awarded the "Honest Scrap" award from the lovely gals over at Sisters in Scribe. From what I've gathered, this means I have to tell you 10 honest things (mainly about me, maybe about the book?) and then I need to nominate a blog or two to pass it on to. So first, my swag. :-)
1.) Shannon Delany is my second pseudonym at this point and was chosen by my publisher from a list I submitted after it was obvious the original pseudonym would make people's brains hurt.
2.) I *totally* have a fixation with names (and yes, that's sorta a hint about some stuff in the 13 to Life series).
3.) I live on a nearly 30 acre farm where we tap our maple trees for sap and syrup and raise heritage livestock (like Highland cattle, Muscovy ducks and Jacob sheep).
4.) Many of our sheep have 4 horns. Honest. They're what are called polycerates. <--You may need to know that someday. For your blog. Or the SATs. Honest. ;-)
5.) My formal education (elementary, secondary and 5--yes, 5 years of college) have all influenced this series in some way or other, so don't tell me you'll never use what you learn in school--you may someday be quite surprised. ;-)
6.) I absolutely love fancy coffee, good hearty bread and chocolate. They do not necessarily return my feelings.
7.) Baking is a way I relieve stress.
8.) I procrastinate when I'm freaked. And no, that doesn't reduce the rate of freak-out going on. So don't procrastinate. At least not now--maybe later. ;-)
9.) I am a "glass is more than half-full" type of person and see even difficult challenges as things to learn from. And poke with a sharp stick.
10.) I love people (often more from a distance than up close as I find our species amazingly fascinating to watch). Yes. When I can I go to a busy mall on Black Friday just to watch. I've overheard and seen intriguing things that have worked into stories as a result.
Now, there are a TON of blogs deserving of this award, but I'm going to pass it on to The Textnovel Divas (because if you're looking for honesty--oh, boy, is it there) and Girl Meets Word (an awesome blog for writers by Jess Rosen).
Have a great weekend--I'll be back on Tuesday with a contest again (and maybe something interesting before that).
~Shannon
PS--For the curious, Amazon still doesn't have me linked for pre-orders. That makes this day 7. On the seventh day even God gave it a rest, Amazon. Seriously. ;-)
But for now... This blog was awarded the "Honest Scrap" award from the lovely gals over at Sisters in Scribe. From what I've gathered, this means I have to tell you 10 honest things (mainly about me, maybe about the book?) and then I need to nominate a blog or two to pass it on to. So first, my swag. :-)
1.) Shannon Delany is my second pseudonym at this point and was chosen by my publisher from a list I submitted after it was obvious the original pseudonym would make people's brains hurt.
2.) I *totally* have a fixation with names (and yes, that's sorta a hint about some stuff in the 13 to Life series).
3.) I live on a nearly 30 acre farm where we tap our maple trees for sap and syrup and raise heritage livestock (like Highland cattle, Muscovy ducks and Jacob sheep).
4.) Many of our sheep have 4 horns. Honest. They're what are called polycerates. <--You may need to know that someday. For your blog. Or the SATs. Honest. ;-)
5.) My formal education (elementary, secondary and 5--yes, 5 years of college) have all influenced this series in some way or other, so don't tell me you'll never use what you learn in school--you may someday be quite surprised. ;-)
6.) I absolutely love fancy coffee, good hearty bread and chocolate. They do not necessarily return my feelings.
7.) Baking is a way I relieve stress.
8.) I procrastinate when I'm freaked. And no, that doesn't reduce the rate of freak-out going on. So don't procrastinate. At least not now--maybe later. ;-)
9.) I am a "glass is more than half-full" type of person and see even difficult challenges as things to learn from. And poke with a sharp stick.
10.) I love people (often more from a distance than up close as I find our species amazingly fascinating to watch). Yes. When I can I go to a busy mall on Black Friday just to watch. I've overheard and seen intriguing things that have worked into stories as a result.
Now, there are a TON of blogs deserving of this award, but I'm going to pass it on to The Textnovel Divas (because if you're looking for honesty--oh, boy, is it there) and Girl Meets Word (an awesome blog for writers by Jess Rosen).
Have a great weekend--I'll be back on Tuesday with a contest again (and maybe something interesting before that).
~Shannon
PS--For the curious, Amazon still doesn't have me linked for pre-orders. That makes this day 7. On the seventh day even God gave it a rest, Amazon. Seriously. ;-)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day 6 of the Macmillan vs Amazon Standoff = Day 2 of My Contest!
My book's still not back up for pre-order at Amazon.con . Whatever. The good news is:
Barbara E. is our first contest winner and gets PC Cast's novel MARKED. Barbara, e-me at info AT shannondelany DOT com with your physical address. :-) And since Barbara hails from the lovely state of Florida, this means this next contest is STILL open to international winners. (Yep, the husband read the blog and understands shipping but is letting me go at least one round internationally ;-)
Today, let's give away another book by a Macmillan author I adore. Let's give away BLUE MOON by Alyson Noel. Alyson's also a sweetheart and her editor LOVES her and adores the skill with which she writes. BLUE MOON is the second novel in the Immortals series (if I can figure out where EVERMORE got to I'll give it away later this month, too).
So, if you want to read BLUE MOON (or try a book by this particular NYT bestselling author) here's your chance. Although it's the second in the series, Alyson does a great job catching you up. You want teen angst? Want immortals without fangs? Want love that lasts beyond a single lifetime and is tested? This is a book for you! Tell me why you want to win and tomorrow we'll roll the dice and choose a winner around 8-ish. So comment before 7am EST tomorrow morning to enter for this trade paperback.
Good luck!
~Shannon
Barbara E. is our first contest winner and gets PC Cast's novel MARKED. Barbara, e-me at info AT shannondelany DOT com with your physical address. :-) And since Barbara hails from the lovely state of Florida, this means this next contest is STILL open to international winners. (Yep, the husband read the blog and understands shipping but is letting me go at least one round internationally ;-)
Today, let's give away another book by a Macmillan author I adore. Let's give away BLUE MOON by Alyson Noel. Alyson's also a sweetheart and her editor LOVES her and adores the skill with which she writes. BLUE MOON is the second novel in the Immortals series (if I can figure out where EVERMORE got to I'll give it away later this month, too).
So, if you want to read BLUE MOON (or try a book by this particular NYT bestselling author) here's your chance. Although it's the second in the series, Alyson does a great job catching you up. You want teen angst? Want immortals without fangs? Want love that lasts beyond a single lifetime and is tested? This is a book for you! Tell me why you want to win and tomorrow we'll roll the dice and choose a winner around 8-ish. So comment before 7am EST tomorrow morning to enter for this trade paperback.
Good luck!
~Shannon
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 5 of the Amazon vs. Macmillan Standoff--No, You Can't BUY Our Books So I'll Give Some Away
So. I'm beginning to believe we've been had, dear chums. Whereas it took Amazon only a day (at most) to remove the buy buttons (and pre-order buttons) it's currently 5:52 am on the east coast and I've checked a few fellow Macmillan authors Amazon pages (and my own) and nobody's paperbacks appear to be available yet.
The conspiracy theorist in me (hey, I write werewolves) wonders if the fact the only contact Amazon's had with the outside world (through a note on an Amazon forum signed only by the "Amazon Kindle Team") was a way to distract us. To make us think the standoff was over so we would shut up and take our punishment and finally cave.
The sweetheart in me (yep, I get to have a variety pack of personalities on this one ;-) hopes to God the conspiracy theorist is wrong and that the Amazon employee stuck fixing this mess has simply misplaced his/her thumbs (thereby slowing the process).
BUT. Since I don't know what's going on in the head of Mr. Bezo (and I doubt his stockholders do either, judging by stock's drop yesterday) I'm going to run a contest. BWA-HA-HA!
Can't BUY Alyson Noel's BLUE MOON in paperback at Amazon? Who cares. I'll give it to you for free. Can't BUY PC Cast's MARKED, CHOSEN, UNTAMED or BETRAYED? Who cares. I'm giving them away.*
Let's start with PC Cast's MARKED (the first in the very popular House of Night series). You want vamps? We've got your vamps. You want alternative lifestyles, teen angst, and alternate religions in an underground society struggling against its own internal problems? Check, check, check, check!
So, what do you have to do? Just leave a comment saying why you'd LOVE to win MARKED here by 7am EST tomorrow and tomorrow morning at 8am I'll roll the dice and announce a winner (I'll mail books Friday or Saturday).
So let's have some fun and give away some prizes regardless of Amazon.con.
*Please note, I was going to do this contest this month anyhow, but my starting lineup was going to be different. This, somehow, makes it even a little more enjoyable.
~Shannon
The conspiracy theorist in me (hey, I write werewolves) wonders if the fact the only contact Amazon's had with the outside world (through a note on an Amazon forum signed only by the "Amazon Kindle Team") was a way to distract us. To make us think the standoff was over so we would shut up and take our punishment and finally cave.
The sweetheart in me (yep, I get to have a variety pack of personalities on this one ;-) hopes to God the conspiracy theorist is wrong and that the Amazon employee stuck fixing this mess has simply misplaced his/her thumbs (thereby slowing the process).
BUT. Since I don't know what's going on in the head of Mr. Bezo (and I doubt his stockholders do either, judging by stock's drop yesterday) I'm going to run a contest. BWA-HA-HA!
Can't BUY Alyson Noel's BLUE MOON in paperback at Amazon? Who cares. I'll give it to you for free. Can't BUY PC Cast's MARKED, CHOSEN, UNTAMED or BETRAYED? Who cares. I'm giving them away.*
Let's start with PC Cast's MARKED (the first in the very popular House of Night series). You want vamps? We've got your vamps. You want alternative lifestyles, teen angst, and alternate religions in an underground society struggling against its own internal problems? Check, check, check, check!
So, what do you have to do? Just leave a comment saying why you'd LOVE to win MARKED here by 7am EST tomorrow and tomorrow morning at 8am I'll roll the dice and announce a winner (I'll mail books Friday or Saturday).
So let's have some fun and give away some prizes regardless of Amazon.con.
*Please note, I was going to do this contest this month anyhow, but my starting lineup was going to be different. This, somehow, makes it even a little more enjoyable.
~Shannon
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Amazon Relents! *happy dance*
Here's the update... Amazon has relented in the scuffle with Macmillan. I'm SO very happy. Now customers can decide with their spending dollars whether or not they like the prices in the model.
Yaaaay!
Okay, I gotta get back to work. :-) Take care!
~Shannon
Yaaaay!
Okay, I gotta get back to work. :-) Take care!
~Shannon
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Who's In the Dog House? Amazon vs. Macmillan
I try to keep you all aware of things on my journey to publication as I experience them myself (or shortly after). This morning my husband checked the news online and said, "Amazon's pulled all the Macmillan books. You can't pre-order 13 to Life there any more."
I was stunned. After most of a day spent following and investigating, I'm still stunned.
Before I go further, I need to remind you all that I am a Macmillan author. And although my debut novel (the first in my debut series) comes out in June, it was (until yesterday) available for pre-order from Amazon.com. Knowing this, you may take my words with a grain of salt, but I truly hope you heed them.
First, some facts about Macmillan. They are one of less than ten major--MAJOR--NYC traditional book publishers. Many companies or imprints come beneath their company umbrella (this is true of the other NYC publishing giants, too). Macmillan includes Tor and St. Martin's Press (among others).
So, this morning the New York Times posted this.
And there's this about readers & writers being the casualties of this war.
Then there's the LA Times article.
Here's Macmillan's side.
I will sum up:
1.) Macmillan (and other big boys) have tried talking to Amazon about changing the price of ebooks (particularly when first released) to more appropriately reflect the cost of producing an ebook (even if you have a doc for the book's print file). Employees are involved and (oddly enough) employees do need to get paid for their effort.
2.) Macmillan (and others) decided that Apple (who made public its book store concept earlier this week) is offering a good venue for ebooks.
3.) Macmillan is being punished by Amazon in such a way that no Macmillan books (not ebooks OR print--hmm) are currently for sale at Amazon.com (they're listed because they have ISBNs, but you can't do anything other than peek at them--or "sign up to be notified when it becomes available"--BWA-HA-HA mailing list gold! ;-).
4.) This means pre-orders are no longer being accepted at Amazon for 13 to Life which means that pre-orders that are collected elsewhere will never go toward a sales rank on Amazon (even if/when this dispute's settled) which (in the past, at least) used to mean something. To me, as of yesterday when they stopped taking pre-orders, a sales rank on Amazon means nothing. Because the numbers are now skewed.
So. How do I feel? Disappointed.
But not at Macmillan. They are one of a number of publishers doing the same (or tremendously similar) things. It's sort of like Amazon's forcing their providers/manufacturers (remember, Amazon's a distributor) to play Russian Roulette to see who is eliminated (or made an example of) first. Unfortunately Amazon doesn't realize they keep pointing the gun at themselves, too.
And--just to say my bit on the "price gouging" some folks are suggesting Macmillan and publishing houses like them are trying to do through "raising" ebook prices...
Firstly, remember the prices will reflect a range of ebook prices (from $15-$6) related to the traditionally published book's price, release and re-release.
Secondly, you have freedom of choice as a buyer. If you don't like the price of something, you don't have to buy it, right? And if enough people don't buy it at the price a supplier wants, what happens? Yes, I know. It's Economics 101. Supply and demand. What the market will bear. You exercise your opinion--your vote--with your money.
Right now I hope lots of readers are exercising their power by buying Macmillan books at other fabulous online retailers. If you click my book cover in the margin you'll see a bunch of links for 13 to Life pre-orders.
I even need to add three more I found today because I finally felt the need to search. Thank you, Amazon. You're broadening people's horizons. :-)
~Shannon
I was stunned. After most of a day spent following and investigating, I'm still stunned.
Before I go further, I need to remind you all that I am a Macmillan author. And although my debut novel (the first in my debut series) comes out in June, it was (until yesterday) available for pre-order from Amazon.com. Knowing this, you may take my words with a grain of salt, but I truly hope you heed them.
First, some facts about Macmillan. They are one of less than ten major--MAJOR--NYC traditional book publishers. Many companies or imprints come beneath their company umbrella (this is true of the other NYC publishing giants, too). Macmillan includes Tor and St. Martin's Press (among others).
So, this morning the New York Times posted this.
And there's this about readers & writers being the casualties of this war.
Then there's the LA Times article.
Here's Macmillan's side.
I will sum up:
1.) Macmillan (and other big boys) have tried talking to Amazon about changing the price of ebooks (particularly when first released) to more appropriately reflect the cost of producing an ebook (even if you have a doc for the book's print file). Employees are involved and (oddly enough) employees do need to get paid for their effort.
2.) Macmillan (and others) decided that Apple (who made public its book store concept earlier this week) is offering a good venue for ebooks.
3.) Macmillan is being punished by Amazon in such a way that no Macmillan books (not ebooks OR print--hmm) are currently for sale at Amazon.com (they're listed because they have ISBNs, but you can't do anything other than peek at them--or "sign up to be notified when it becomes available"--BWA-HA-HA mailing list gold! ;-).
4.) This means pre-orders are no longer being accepted at Amazon for 13 to Life which means that pre-orders that are collected elsewhere will never go toward a sales rank on Amazon (even if/when this dispute's settled) which (in the past, at least) used to mean something. To me, as of yesterday when they stopped taking pre-orders, a sales rank on Amazon means nothing. Because the numbers are now skewed.
So. How do I feel? Disappointed.
But not at Macmillan. They are one of a number of publishers doing the same (or tremendously similar) things. It's sort of like Amazon's forcing their providers/manufacturers (remember, Amazon's a distributor) to play Russian Roulette to see who is eliminated (or made an example of) first. Unfortunately Amazon doesn't realize they keep pointing the gun at themselves, too.
And--just to say my bit on the "price gouging" some folks are suggesting Macmillan and publishing houses like them are trying to do through "raising" ebook prices...
Firstly, remember the prices will reflect a range of ebook prices (from $15-$6) related to the traditionally published book's price, release and re-release.
Secondly, you have freedom of choice as a buyer. If you don't like the price of something, you don't have to buy it, right? And if enough people don't buy it at the price a supplier wants, what happens? Yes, I know. It's Economics 101. Supply and demand. What the market will bear. You exercise your opinion--your vote--with your money.
Right now I hope lots of readers are exercising their power by buying Macmillan books at other fabulous online retailers. If you click my book cover in the margin you'll see a bunch of links for 13 to Life pre-orders.
I even need to add three more I found today because I finally felt the need to search. Thank you, Amazon. You're broadening people's horizons. :-)
~Shannon
Where You Can Buy 13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale
I'm a big believer in choice and competition. Therefore, these are the places online that you can find my debut novel, 13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale. Currently it's available for pre-order.
Take your pick. :-) Prices and shipping deals do vary. Spend your money wisely with a company whose business practices and tactics you respect.
Barnes & Noble (B&N)
Books*A*Million
Borders
Book Depository
Chapters.Indigo
Ecampus.com
It's *not* available for pre-order in the links below yet, but eventually it will probably be actively listed here:
IndieBound.org
Amazon
Take your pick. :-) Prices and shipping deals do vary. Spend your money wisely with a company whose business practices and tactics you respect.
Barnes & Noble (B&N)
Books*A*Million
Borders
Book Depository
Chapters.Indigo
Ecampus.com
It's *not* available for pre-order in the links below yet, but eventually it will probably be actively listed here:
IndieBound.org
Amazon
Friday, January 29, 2010
Single ARC Tour of 13 TO LIFE to UK Book Bloggers
My UK ARC tour of 13 to Life has started (it's been read by one reviewer and is in the hands of a second). There is only one ARC traveling the UK (and it took some work to get it there).
If you know a UK book blogger or are a UK book blogger or love a UK book blogger...lol...please let them know they can sign up for the ARC tour right now over at The Crooked Shelf. The Crooked Shelf's Carla has been instrumental in orchestrating all of this and I REALLY appreciate her efforts. We have a list of bloggers already, but I want the tour to be as inclusive as possible.
If you Twitter, you can do me a HUGE favor by reTweeting the following message:
UK ARC Tour of 13 TO LIFE debut YA novel by @Shannon_Delany ...Go, go, go! http://bit.ly/9b7kOB Werewolf-y goodness!
or...
UK book bloggers! Wanna read the 1 ARC of YA paranormal 13 TO LIFE traveling the UK? Sign up now: http://bit.ly/9b7kOB
or...
UK book reviewers! Want to read & review YA paranormal (werewolf-y goodness) debut 13 TO LIFE? Sign up: http://bit.ly/9b7kOB
I have a reserve list of bloggers beyond the signup, but I want to make sure any UK book bloggers or book reviewers who want to read this one ARC traveling the UK have the opportunity to.
Thank you, thank you, to any and all who pass along the message!
I hope you're all staying warm and that I can share some cool news with you next week... Crossing my fingers...
~Shannon
PS--My apologies to Canada and Spain (both of which have multiple people asking me to send an ARC to each of their lovely countries--and I can say lovely from experience as I've been to both). Unfortunately I'm being told I *must* keep my focus on book 1 here. Of course, my husband, family and friends are all hoping book 1 does so well that for book 2 we get access to even more ARCs, but time will tell!
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