My Books – Page 29 – Carla Swafford, Author

Worth Repeating

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Carla Swafford, Author

A few months ago, I mentioned on Facebook five ways to say thank you to the authors that write the books you love. I thought it worth repeating here.

5) Purchase the book new from a reputable bookseller.
4) Be sure to hit LIKE and rate it wherever it’s sold on line (see #5).
3) Sign up for the author’s newsletter (if she has one). Publishers love knowing the author has fans interested enough in her early/special announcements.
2) Become a fan: Follow, tweet, and LIKE and comment occasionally. (Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and her blog.) We love hearing from you.
1) TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN ABOUT THE BOOK(S)!

Then we can thank you in return by writing MORE BOOKS!

My Books, Odd Observation

TBR Should Be TFB

Posted on August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 by Carla Swafford, Author

That is Tragically Forgotten Books. I’ve wondered how many To Be Read piles out there have my books waiting for the owner to pick up and read.

For myself, I have over thirty . . . I think. Truthfully, I haven’t counted them, and I would probably be horrified by the number. A few months ago, I went through my pile and pulled every book that didn’t set me on fire to read it. Then I dropped them off at my day job, and let everyone pick out the books they wanted to place in their TBR pile.

Otherwise, I would be staring at the books and feeling guilty. I know the authors are hoping by giving away their books that they would get a new fan or two. If I let the books sit and not read them or give them away, I’m preventing that author from becoming successful. I know. No guarantee, but it’s a given it won’t happen at all if I don’t do something.

This year, I’m determined to read a TBR book between each one I purchase. So I’ve gone through five or so. That’s not many for the year to be almost over, but whenever I’m at home with extra time, I write. Reading is what I do when I’m burned out from writing and need a change.

The moral to this story is, if you have a large TBR pile, and some are more than a year old, it’s time to pass them on. Those authors will appreciate it.

Circle of Defiance, excerpt

A Taste of A Book

Posted on August 13, 2013August 13, 2013 by Carla Swafford, Author

I’ve been thinking about about placing some excerpts of my books on Goodreads, but a few things came to mind. A few years ago, Sherrilyn Kenyon told me not to use the first chapter as an excerpt because people will open the book and think they’ve read it.

That is so true. If I want to make sure I haven’t already read a book, I always read the first few paragraphs. I wonder how many books I placed back on the shelf for that reason?

But, of course, the first scene is what I posted when I gave readers a taste of my fourth book in The Circle series. Hopefully you won’t forget and think you’ve already bought the book when I self-publish it next year. And the same is true about the first three books that are already available (published through Avon Red, HarperCollins) wherever books are sold on line.

*Excerpts* *Amazon* *B&N* *ARe* *BAM*

Anyway, my questions today are, do you prefer the first scene or chapter? Or do you like to see a scene or chapter from further into the book? Maybe in the middle of a turning point (e.g., an emotional scene)?

And do you like a page or two, or more like ten to fifteen to read?

Circle of Danger, excerpt

CIRCLE OF DANGER Tidbit

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Carla Swafford, Author

One hand raised to hold them back, she asked, “Let me get this straight. The drug will cause me to have a driving need for sex at any time and any place? You’ve got to be kidding.” ~~ Marie receiving bad news in CIRCLE OF DANGER

Available in paperback and e-format.

Click here to buy on AMAZON

Click here to buy on BARNES & NOBLE

Click here to buy on ALL ROMANCE E-BOOKS

Circle of Deception, My Books

Special Price $1.99

Posted on April 24, 2013May 14, 2014 by Carla Swafford, Author

CIRCLE OF DECEPTION is only $1.99 in e-format until the middle of May. Be sure to check it out at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks, etc.

Here’s a little “sound bite” from CIRCLE OF DECEPTION:

“Hell’s Purifier.” Abby shook her head. “I hate it when people call inanimate objects names like that. It romanticizes it. Where do people come up with that crap?”

[Carla: Who moi?]