BearMountainBooks blog, free stories and reviews

[BearMountainBooks]

Just for fun, I'll be talking about my latest work in progress (WIP) on the blog this week. I don't usually do this because sometimes a book never comes to fruition, but in this case, I started working covers early and I need help naming a dog, so I'm doing a series of posts on writerly topics.

Come on over and join the fun if you are so inclined:

www.BearMountainBooks.com

[BearMountainBooks]

As you may recall from the last post, I'm working on Sedona, Book 4. As part of that effort, I'm looking for people to review Sedona Book 1 on Amazon. From what I am told of the algorithms, when a book reaches 100 reviews, it can be helped by the Amazon algos (ie shown to more readers). I haven't worked hard at getting reviews (read: Not tried at all) but apparently it is becoming even more important, not less. Some ad sites won't even let me take out an ad unless I get 100 reviews!

So if any of you are interested in a review copy, let me know. I can send it in Kindle format or epub. You are not required to do a good review. If you hate the book and can't finish it, you don't even have to do a review at all (I was a reviewer for a large site a while back. I don't expect anyone to read though something that just isn't their thing.)

FWIW, I have heard that getting that same magic number over at goodreads helps authors too. If you have favorite authors--help them out. Leave a star ranking at Goodreads or a short review (reviews count more--even a few words, apparently) and consider leaving a review at Amazon.

I'd also like to thank those of you who left reviews and rankings very recently at Kobo when they started accepting reviews/rankings. I have no idea if they use those stars or reviews to promote visibility, but it certainly made my day to see that people stopped by and left a thought or a star.

Thank you!

[BearMountainBooks]

The blurb for Executive Dirt, the fourth in the Sedona O'Hala series:

Sedona happily turns down Steve Huntington’s latest undercover project when Mark gets her a fantastic job testing advanced cell phones. But if the dead body of her coworker is any indication, the new job may not prove to be any safer than Huntington’s covert assignments.

Sedona finds herself knee-deep in dirt and tangled in clues that unravel faster than the baby bib she is supposed to be sewing for her niece. Her parents are in town to visit the new baby, and Mark has decided it’s time for Sedona to meet his mother. Can she somehow endure family interferences and stay alive long enough to solve the case?

[BearMountainBooks]

I'll probably be posting this later at the blog, but I know mobilereaders are a varied bunch and so I'm more likely to get someone who can use this offer on here. Essentially, Kobo has asked me to do a referral--HOWEVER, they are looking for someone who wants to open a new account and answer a few questions about whether they have a kobo reader or read on a tablet. If the person I refer completes the survey and opens a new account (I think. Details are sketchy here) they are offering a gift card to both the new account and myself. Now, I have been using kobo and buying books there for quite some time. I have a kindle, so I convert the books. If you don't have a kobo reader, you'd need to know how to convert or read on a tablet and download Kobo's reader app. Here's the offer I received and about all I know about it:

Do you have any friends or family that currently do not use Kobo, but would be open to try it and share their experience with us?

If so, please email with your name, and details of how your friend or family member would use our services (e.g. through the app, an eReader, or the website etc.) – then we’ll get in touch with more details.

We’ll be asking them to trial our service and partake in a series of questions around their experience. For your help, we will offer a reward if chosen to participate – a Kobo gift card for both you and the person you’ve referred to take part!

I don't know if this is worth anyone's time. I've done a few of these types of things with other companies and generally I've been pleased with the "reward." Kobo, unlike other companies, has not stated how much the gift card will be. Or when they will follow up, how many questions there might be, etc.

At any rate--send me a PM if you are interested and don't already have a kobo account and have been thinking of trying one. We can give it a go.

[BearMountainBooks]

New ranch "experience" up on the blog. (There is a send to kindle button at the top of the post if you want to read it on your kindle). I'll eventually move it to the free section of the store. The story is the second post down or so.


www.BearMountainBooks.com

[BearMountainBooks]

Executive Dirt is in beta and is also available for pre-order at Smashwords. The date for release is currently listed as Aug 12. I wanted to post here to let everyone know that this date is not set in stone and may shift by up to a week. The advantage of pre-order is that anyone ordering early pays 2.99. After the release, the book will be $4.99. The price increase goes through at different times on different sites (I can't control the timing very well. Some of it depends on when I am able to list the pre-order on other sites.)

If you haven't picked up your free copy of Executive Affairs (two short stories) you might want to grab it and read it before the release. There's some minor background in the shorts that are interesting events leading up to Executive Dirt. Neither short has to be read to enjoy Executive Dirt, but since Affairs is free, it makes sense to grab it!

The order of the humorous Sedona O'Hala Mystery series:

Executive Lunch
Executive Retention
Executive Sick Days
Executive Affairs (two short stories)
Executive Dirt (available for pre-order! Release: Aug 3)

These are fast-paced cozy mysteries with a subplot of romance and humor.

[BearMountainBooks]

Executive Dirt is on target for the Aug 3 release--it's now on Goodreads so you can add it to your "To-read" list!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...executive-dirt

Updated: I will probably skip the pre-ordering because it requires 10 days advance notice. It is available for pre-order on Smashwords, Amazon and kobo. It will be live/released on Aug 3 at those retailers and also B&N and google.

It will be on sale for 2.99 for 3 to 5 days and then go to 4.99!

Amazon pre-order:

http://www.amazon.com/Executive-Dirt...t&tag=bearm-20

[Malicious browser hijacker link removed - MODERATOR]


It will be available for immediate download at the blog this week, probably Monday. July 27.

[BearMountainBooks]

In preparation for Executive Dirt being released in August, Executive Lunch is set to "Set your own price" for today at Smashwords.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/5791

This is the only retailer where it is on sale right now. During release week for Executive Dirt, Executive Lunch will probably be on sale at other retailers including the blog -- that sale price is yet to be determined as I'm working with a couple of advertisers to determine the best sale price (oddly enough it doesn't appear to be 99 cents anymore.)

Enjoy!

Executive Lunch is now also on sale on my blog for $1.99.

Executive Dirt is also on sale on the blog for $2.99.

Amazon pre-order:

http://www.amazon.com/Executive-Dirt...t&tag=bearm-20

[Malicious browser hijacker link removed - MODERATOR]



Release date of Executive Dirt: Aug 3!

[BearMountainBooks]

I've updated links and info above, but here's the scoop:

Executive Lunch is now on sale on my blog for $1.99.

Executive Dirt is also on sale on the blog for $2.99.

These are immediate downloads.

Amazon pre-order:

http://www.amazon.com/Executive-Dirt...t&tag=bearm-20

[Malicious browser hijacker link removed - MODERATOR]

Release date of Executive Dirt: Aug 3! It will also be available at Google Play and Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

The price is 2.99 for the pre-order and will change to 4.99 around Aug 5.

Enjoy!

[Difflugia]

Is it too early to ask what you're working on next?

[AnnGirdharry]

hello,
heading over to your blog for a look right now,
ann

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

Is it too early to ask what you're working on next?

LOL. Do you have any suggestions???

Ann--cool and welcome!

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

LOL. Do you have any suggestions???

If another Dragons of Wendall story find its way out, I'd love to read it. The Moon Shadow books are still on my TBR list, though, so I can't really justify being impatient!

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

If another Dragons of Wendall story find its way out, I'd love to read it. The Moon Shadow books are still on my TBR list, though, so I can't really justify being impatient!

Truthfully, it's on the list of maybes. I think I've concluded the Moon Shadow series (and if there is another book, it will go in the same direction as Ghost Shadow. BUT. There is NOTHING planned there. I consider the series done!)
I think I'm done writing the Sedona series too. But I thought that with the third book and ... that series remains my most popular so what with one thing and another, I found I had another good story to tell.

I accidentally structured Dragons of Wendal so that it could easily be an ongoing series. It was actually only going to be a short story. Then it was only going to be a one-off stand alone. Look how well that went... I've had some ideas floating around in my head that are possibilities. I really appreciate you sharing that you have an interest in a third book there--just in case!

I have been considering a new series too. I need to write another mundane mystery series because that is what sells. However, my actual idea is an urban fantasy series.

Well. At least there are options! To answer your question though, it appears that it might be a little early for me to declare what I'm working on next.

EDITED TO ADD: The print version of Executive Dirt is available for order at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Executive-Dirt...t&tag=bearm-20

The ebook version will be live first thing tomorrow at all the retailers!

[BearMountainBooks]

Well, now that Executive Dirt is available at all retailers, it's time to create a Boxed Set of the first three (Executive Lunch, Executive Retention, Executive Sick Days). (It's live!) I have no idea what readers like in a boxed set, so if you have advice, let me know. I did put in a TOC that has links to the beginning of each book and the description of each book is at the top before the book starts.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The boxed set is available at smashwords.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/566976

And kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eb...-boxed-set-1-3

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Sedona-OHala-M...t&tag=bearm-20

It's also up on SCRIBD.