Xenolith: Contemporary Fantasy - Page 8

ASparrow · 01-31-2010, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

A. Sparrow,

Thanks for posting this! Not only for the free read, but tipping me off to smashwords, which I didn't know anything about.

You can find find great stuff on Smashwords, including a couple of former best-selling authors (i.e. Anne Frasier). I really like Patrick Whittaker's writing too, not so much for the content but his style is really elegant.

If you would like a place to see sneak previews of indie work under development, try: http://authonomy.com You can't download anything, but its a great place to discover new writing that may soon end up available on Smashwords or Amazon. It's where I post work that's not quite ready for primetime.

stephanievoid · 02-02-2010, 09:25 PM

That's really great! I hope it leads to a book contract or something cool like that!

How did you promote it to get that many downloads?

Stephanie
[promotion delete - MODERATOR]

kc5cychris · 02-02-2010, 10:28 PM

Congratulations! was an excellent read looking forward to the next one.

ASparrow · 02-03-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanievoid

That's really great! I hope it leads to a book contract or something cool like that!

How did you promote it to get that many downloads?

Stephanie
Author of Life and Times of a Minion e-book
stephanievoid.com

Most of the promotion was done right here, but I found that giving away free copies on LibraryThing.com was almost as effective in getting a crowd of readers involved. It was a mixed blessing though, as they tend to be a lot harsher critics over there. But all critique is good. It makes our writing stronger.

I'm over 1,400 samples, and 700 full downloads now.

ASparrow · 02-03-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc5cychris

Congratulations! was an excellent read looking forward to the next one.

It's gettin' there. Every chapter of the next book has already been written, but I'm taking great pains with the revisions. I've cut away the fat and added some meat here in there, and getting it into shape a paragraph at a time. There is one major anachronism/redundancy that needs to be solved and one action scene that needs to be totally re-choreographed. Also, one new character seems to run out of relevancy halfway through. I may have to kill off the poor bloke if he doesn't quit standing around with his hands in his pockets! But other than these points, it will be ready for line-editing. A release is in sight if not imminent.

I expect another totally different novel to follow before the year is up. This one's been done a while, just needs a bunch of cutting and re-writing. It was 185k words and I've gotten it down to 166k and shrinking.

ASparrow · 02-03-2010, 04:26 PM

Yup. Still free.

I hope my constant posting isn't annoying people. If so, let me know, and I'll retire these threads.

ASparrow · 02-05-2010, 07:48 PM

When has it ever not been free?

ASparrow · 02-08-2010, 05:17 PM

Update on "Peregrin." It's still not ready for prime time. I've printed it out and hauled it with me to London, where it is rapidly accumulating red ink. I expect major revisions to commence upon my return.

But the first book, Xenolith, will remain free indefinitely.

I have no interest in falsely creating a sense of value in the readers by forcing them to pay. I don't believe in such subterfuge. I have found great value in free works and am not so easily fooled by the lack of a price tag. Free does not always equal rubbish (except, perhaps in this case!).

weedfreak · 02-09-2010, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASparrow

Free does not always equal rubbish (except, perhaps in this case!).

While free does quite often equate with rubbish Xenolith is definitely not in that category, it was the best book I read last year (out of about 200 reads.)

It can also, sadly, be said that a price tag on a book does not automatically make it a good read.

ASparrow · 02-10-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weedfreak

While free does quite often equate with rubbish Xenolith is definitely not in that category, it was the best book I read last year (out of about 200 reads.)

It can also, sadly, be said that a price tag on a book does not automatically make it a good read.

Thanks! I tend to self-deprecate a little too much. Makes for good quality control.

SimonSays · 02-11-2010, 03:07 PM

Thank you for the coupon code for your book. Just downloaded and and can't wait to read it

ASparrow · 02-12-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonSays

Thank you for the coupon code for your book. Just downloaded and and can't wait to read it

Hope you like it. Some do. Others tell me it's not "amazing," but it's not "horrible." I agree.

I'd love to hear about anything that bothered or bored you about this book. I'm striving to do better with the sequel.

ASparrow · 02-13-2010, 09:03 PM

This was done on some very crude equipment, namely: an ipod nano, a Belkin microphone and a Canon A80 point and shoot camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXkd53qYtO0

Software: Audacity and Windows Movie Maker

jaxx6166 · 02-13-2010, 10:12 PM

Not bad considering your limited resources

I just never really understand the use for a book trailer thru the internet? Do you have it embedded in various places for marketing or just post on youtube?

Falbe Publishing · 02-13-2010, 10:30 PM

Good job. I gave you a 4 star at YouTube.

02-02-2010, 09:25 PM	#107
stephanievoid Indie Author Posts: 15 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Boston Device: Kindle	That's really great! I hope it leads to a book contract or something cool like that! How did you promote it to get that many downloads? Stephanie [promotion delete - MODERATOR] Last edited by Dr. Drib; 01-26-2012 at 12:24 PM.

02-13-2010, 09:03 PM	#118
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	First attempt at a book trailer This was done on some very crude equipment, namely: an ipod nano, a Belkin microphone and a Canon A80 point and shoot camera. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXkd53qYtO0 Software: Audacity and Windows Movie Maker Last edited by ASparrow; 02-14-2010 at 09:16 AM.

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02-02-2010, 10:28 PM	#108
kc5cychris Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 497152 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Georgia, USA Device: PRS-600, PRS-900	Congratulations! was an excellent read looking forward to the next one.

02-03-2010, 04:26 PM	#111
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Yup. Still free. I hope my constant posting isn't annoying people. If so, let me know, and I'll retire these threads.

02-05-2010, 07:48 PM	#112
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	When has it ever not been free?

02-08-2010, 05:17 PM	#113
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Update on "Peregrin." It's still not ready for prime time. I've printed it out and hauled it with me to London, where it is rapidly accumulating red ink. I expect major revisions to commence upon my return. But the first book, Xenolith, will remain free indefinitely. I have no interest in falsely creating a sense of value in the readers by forcing them to pay. I don't believe in such subterfuge. I have found great value in free works and am not so easily fooled by the lack of a price tag. Free does not always equal rubbish (except, perhaps in this case!).

02-11-2010, 03:07 PM	#116
SimonSays No wire hangers, ever! Posts: 183 Karma: 540 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: O-hi-o Device: Sony PRS-300	Thank you for the coupon code for your book. Just downloaded and and can't wait to read it

02-13-2010, 10:12 PM	#119
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Not bad considering your limited resources I just never really understand the use for a book trailer thru the internet? Do you have it embedded in various places for marketing or just post on youtube?

02-13-2010, 10:30 PM	#120
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	Good job. I gave you a 4 star at YouTube.