The Circle series – Carla Swafford, Author

The narrators are finished with Savage Champion and I’ve listened to the whole thing, and approved it. They are great. It gives me chills listening to my characters come to life. I hope you will check it out soon. When I get the date for release of the audio, I’ll notify you.

Red Herrings & Dangling Strings

If you read enough of my books, you will know that I love red herrings . They are, of course, to keep you guessing who the true bad guy is or who will die next. I won’t go into detail here, for most people understand their purpose.

When it comes to the dangling strings, they can show up in another book of the same series or even other series entirely. They’re not really important, just something for fans to note.

One of my favorite dangling strings was in The Circle books. Though the first book a person is mentioned to have been moved out of a cell before the heroine was placed inside another. Then in the second book, they use a name of a known dangerous man no one alive has seen. Then in the final full novel, the man shows up as a secondary character. He was to have his own book, but HarperCollins/Avon didn’t want another Circle book. Even so, he shows up in a novella I self-published, but still as a secondary character.

Not only do people show up in different books or series, but places too. I created fictional Sand County, Alabama, because the law enforcement was known to be crooked in my books (Brothers of Mayhem series). I didn’t want the local authority to become upset with me if I used a real one.

Be sure to check out the latest romances.

Thanks.

Carla

Newsletter

Author Carla Swafford: Everyone Likes Free Stuff

Posted on July 23, 2023March 18, 2024 by Carla Swafford, Author

(If you don’t see pictures, be sure to click on Display Images)

Got your attention with that subject line, didn’t I? It normally pulls me in. I promise this isn’t a gimmick.

First free item. I decided as a thank you to those who follow my website/blog or signed up for my newsletter (they are the same now), I will provide you with a free copy of ebook Kidnapped For A Day (The Circle Organization short story). Just email me at authorcarlaswafford @gmail.com and ask for a copy. Then in 48 hrs you should receive a “redemption link” from Amazon (for US recipients). If you live outside the US, let me know in your email, and I’ll arrange another way to send you a copy.

A side note: The short story was published in a book called What A Day! with other authors. So I had to write a tame story. It’s rated PG-13 instead of my usual X.

You must be on my subscriber list to receive a copy . If you received this notice via email from me, then you’re a subscriber. If you receive this from someone else or read it on my website, you are not, and if you would love a copy. Sign up for my newsletter. Click here for subscriber link.

“Really, how many women could resist snuggling up to a broad-shouldered, long-legged man with such inscrutable gray eyes?”
Kidnapped For A Day: Short Story
Carla Swafford

Second free item. In August, I will provide a free presentation called Save The Story (No Sagging Middles). If you’re a thinking about becoming a writer, or you’re a beginner or been doing it for years and want to improve your plotting or pump up the middle (or use guides to help your pantser story), then this will be perfect for you. It’s based on Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat. His original book was for screenwriting, but it applies for novels too. You can find it, plus many others geared toward novel writing, on Amazon.

If you’re wondering, I’ve provided this program to two Romance Writers of America chapters (numerous times), two public libraries, a large conference, and soon in September to the Georgia Romance Writers organization. The presentation is geared toward romance, but you can use it for any genre (thriller, sci-fi, YA, etc.).

The program will be on Zoom. If you plan to attend, be sure to do two things: (1) fill out the form here and I’ll confirm I received it, Then I’ll email you before the date with instructions on how to join the Zoom presentation. (2) In the meanwhile, sign up for a Zoom account (free) at Zoom.us and be prepared by watching the movie Pretty Woman, if you haven’t before .

When: August 26, 2023; Saturday, 12 noon on Zoom. Where: Coming to your desktop, laptop, or phone via Zoom. How long: 45 minutes plus 15 minutes of question/answer time at the end. This is open to anyone, but I do have a cap. So sign up soon.

Just a heads up. My latest books have two covers. One for ebook (Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited only), and one for paperbacks (everywhere). I’m planning to provide them in hardback too.

That’s it for now. I’ll probably have more news soon. I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards.

Carla Swafford

P.S. Remember, you can find me on the following social sites.

Book Signings, Giveaways, My Books, Reading, Writing

Love it? Review It.

Posted on July 28, 2018October 18, 2023 by Carla Swafford, Author

Heroine wants to save the man she loves, but not everyone is cut out to be a killer.

The last Bookbub I looked at was Tuesday’s. Today I caught up.

A few interested me, but not enough to buy. I’ve been wanting to cut back on my TBR pile. So the book has to interest me big time. Wednesday, nothing. Thursday, thought about one, but decided I’ve read too many like it and have been disappointed. Friday, interesting, but a no go.

Finally, Saturday’s has three I’m interested in. An erotic Romantic Suspense: Hero offers to pull heroine’s business out of debt if she obeys him in all ways for 30 days. Historical Romance: A Scottish warrior inherits an English earldom and an impoverished lady will teach him “proper” etiquette. Sci-Fi romance: Girl goes to war torn planet and meets two warriors.

I try to narrow my choices by looking at the full blurb on Amazon or iBooks. Sometimes it reveals the book isn’t what I really want. Maybe too heavy on history, or doesn’t really concentrate on the romance. And I’m not talking about sex. I like the one-on-one relationship building. I don’t mind a little arguing as long as it doesn’t get stupid. You know, arguing for argument sake.

Then if I’m still interested in the book, I read the sample. I can’t tell you how often I read the beginning and became SO bored. Then others are just not to my taste.

So far, I’ve bought the erotic Romantic Suspense. Passed on the Sci-Fi romance. The blurb did it. So not what I thought it would be. Maybe the author or editor messed up in telling the summary, but that’s the way it goes. Still thinking about the Historical Romance.

When it comes to To-Be-Read piles, mine is small. Around 10 e-books, and about the same in paperbacks.

I refuse to mistreat the authors who go out of their way to provide a deal that takes you years to read. When you finally read the book you bought 2-3 years ago, and it turns out to be great, and you go in search for the author, don’t be surprised if you can’t find another book from that author. Please understand. The author thought no one liked her books. You didn’t read it and review it, or tell your friends because you took so long to read it. For an author to make only $100 a year on her books isn’t enough to keep going.

And don’t get me started on selling a book that took months, if not a year to write for 99 cents. Someone told me recently that charging more than 99 cents for an e-book is horrible. She says the author doesn’t have to spend money on paper and printing. Like that’s the only reason a person reads a book. Maybe I’ll try to sell her a bunch of books with nothing printed inside. I bet she wouldn’t pay $7 dollars for each then. It’s the words inside that makes them valuable.

Think of it this way, I use a computer to write my books and often have to get a new one every two to four years. (Salesperson in the store said they aren’t made to last no more than two years. Bull crap!) When you write everyday in your spare time, they get overused and/or obsolete. My wage from a day job pays for it. Not my writing. Then I go to a writers conference to hear experts talk about how to make my manuscripts/books better, fresh, or more exciting. Again my day job helps pay for my airfare/gas, hotel, food, and the huge conference fee. Not my writing. Even if I go to a local college to take a class or two, I have to pay tuition. Not provided by my books. I giveaway book marks (readers still love them despite most read e-books), pens, t-shirts, and gift cards to readers. Day job, not writing. Let’s not even get into the costs of ads.

If I self-publish a book, there is the cover art that can range from $20 (if I do the design) to $400 (by a professional designer and you could pay even more if you want a unique design/cover). I can format the inside of the book through Draft2Digital free. Then there’s the editor. She receives $350 to $450 a book. Some editors charge a lot more. So I dare you to tell me again the book is worth less than a dollar.

You say, why do all of that? Just write a good book, they will come. Despite what the movie, Field of Dreams, make you believe, it doesn’t necessary work that way.

Even if you have a publishing house–I’ve had the biggest–behind your book advertising the hell out of it, you still need to help.

Book signings do little. They are more to stroke your ego. Actually, I say go for it. Authors need all the ego stroking they can get. It’s a rough, thankless job. Kind of like being a mom. At book signings, I’ve given away more books than I’ve sold just with the hope they will read the others.

Sure most publishers give the author books, but only one of the two large publishing houses I’ve been with gave me six. Yep. Six. And those I gave to relatives because they think you’re being cheap by not giving them a book. To cover everyone, I usually have to buy a few extra. The other publisher gave me zilch. My book was published in e-book only. I will say they provided the most advertising to readers and bloggers (that’s the one I mentioned above). Of course, the self-published copies were provided to my family at my cost. You know, I’m rich off all of those books. NOT!

As you can tell, authors deserve more for each book. No matter what, be sure to tell your family and friends about the latest book you enjoyed and write a review and share it everywhere! Thanks!