I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving, I did! Now, in case you're doing the Black Friday thing, here's my pitch: if you're trying to check friends/family/colleagues who are readers off your holiday list, but aren't able to get to your independent bookstore (the best choice), you can "buy one/get one free per order" of ONE MURDER MORE directly from Inkshares, which cuts the cost to $10.75 per shiny, new hardback copy! https://www.inkshares.com/projects/one-murder-more
This offer expires at Inkshares Dec 11th or when First Edition copies sell out, which could be soon... For more on the book (and me), go to www.kriscalvin.com
Correction: 6,000 out of 8 million print books on Amazon means .075% of print books available online at Amazon were selected to occupy shelf space at its first physical bookstore. (Not .00075% as previously reported.) I'm absolutely over the moon about it—thank you for your backing, your orders and your reviews that made this happen!
Amazon opened its first physical bookstore in Seattle. "The books in our store are selected based on...customer ratings, pre-orders, sales, popularity on Goodreads, and our curators’ assessments... Most have been rated 4 stars or above...many are award winners." .00075% of print books available online at Amazon made the cut. Thanks to you, there's One Murder More!
Three quick things: (1) I have a few author's copies left for those who've not yet taken me up on my offer to send a signed First Edition hardback of One Murder More as a gift to someone on your behalf! If interested, please email your request to me at kris@kriscalvin.com with the intended recipient's name and address (or their email if you prefer they get an ebook.) This is a small thank you to you for your support, and a way for me to introduce new readers to my work who might not otherwise find it. For those who already sent in your requests, your gift books are on their way (unless you asked me to hold shipping for the holidays). (2) One Murder More is a "Top Pick" for suspense at Night Owl Reviews! I was especially honored because the reviewer notes she doesn't really "care for politics". I figure if a political mystery novel can win over an apolitical reviewer, that's pretty good! https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/reviews/dawncolclasure-reviews-one-murder-more-by-kris-calvin. (3) Newly-launched anthology Tinsel & Temptation features six award-winning and critically acclaimed women authors across genres on a holiday theme. There's urban fantasy (a 2-yr old who can throw flames from her fingers), a tale of ghostly spirits set in modern NY, fast-paced historical fiction on the prairie, contemporary erotica starring a kidnapped Santa, a college student's coming of age story, and in my contribution lobbyist Maren Kane is back, attending a holiday gala at a senator's home where a murder occurs, and this time Maren is a prime suspect! Tinsel & Temptation is available now on Amazon in paperback or ebook. I hope you'll give it a try for yourself or as a holiday gift! http://www.amazon.com/Tinsel-Temptation-Eileen-Rendahl-ebook/dp/B014X2JI3A
I owe you so much! As I write the next book in the Maren Kane series, I've been thinking about concrete ways to thank you. I also remain interested in expanding my reader base and, eventually, my sales so that I can cover the cost of my writing habit, which includes attending conferences & workshops across the country to connect with other authors and to improve my craft. Recently, I traveled to mystery/thriller events in Raleigh, No Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee where I was able to read my work to audiences of readers, writers, agents and publishers. I was surprised and humbled that the most common response to my reading two pages of my work to these audiences was "wow". It has inspired me to want to do more.
To bring together the two goals, thanking you and gaining readers, I would like to offer to each of you a free signed copy of One Murder More, which upon your request will be shipped to whomever you designate. I will include a personal, handwritten note indicating that you have helped to support me as an author (as a backer or follower) and that this gift is from you. (If you prefer I send an ebook, plz let me know the recipient's email address and I will send it that way.) Perhaps there's someone with a birthday coming up, or who you've wanted to thank for something, even just for being in your life. (Those gifts may be the best.) If you would like me to delay shipping until the holidays, please indicate which holiday you're aiming for (e.g., Hanukah, Christmas). In any case, please include with your request the intended recipient's name and address, sent to me at kris@kriscalvin.com. They will NOT be added to any lists or contacted again by me or by Inkshares after the book is sent. I have a high school student to help me , so this will get done! Please note that this offer of a free signed book shipped is limited to two per backer, capped at the first 25 requests, and expires Dec 31st, as I will purchase copies myself and that's my budget/timeline :)
It makes me happy as an author to picture cheering someone's day with an unexpected gift of a signed book. I recognize it takes time, on your end, to make the request of me , but like publishing on Inkshares this effort will only work if you partner in it with me. If this seems a fit I hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks again, for everything.
Kris
I'm researching development of the audiobook of One Murder More—I have a growing waiting list for the book in that format! I'm interested in what you think with respect to the "reader" on the audible download/CD. Reading it myself or having a professional actor?
I did some acting in high school, even started out as a drama major in college. So I'm comfortable that I could do an engaging reading of my work, and an advantage is I know each sentence, the intent, emotion, etc. Plus I come cheap! I've had several people express hope that the book would be read by "the author", that they specifically look for that. Downside is I don't see myself doing voices for different characters—Polly as a Brit, Jake as a 14-yr old boy. My favorite audiobook reader is Jim Dale (Harry Potter books)— characters still sound like him, not phony, but like him as different people.
If we decide to go professional ( "we" meaning you and me, not the "royal we"...) does perceived gender matter? I know someone really good who also happens to be my brother (which I think would be cool for readers), but he has a strongly male voice. Since One Murder More is not first person—it's not Maren speaking, but rather "close 3rd person", where the reader "hears" what's happening in Maren's head—does perceived gender of the reader matter? Will the reading "ring true"/be more compelling/comfortable if read in a female-sounding voice? (I don't say "read by a male or female" since gender is increasingly a personal and fluid concept, but I do think when we hear someone speak we still mostly identify genders with certain registers/tones.)
Any and all input appreciated, would like to get this going! Thanks for everything,
Kris
ps One more thing, if you haven't ordered the One Murder More e-book as a gift for someone yet, please consider it. Still trying to build a reader-base/momentum, seem to have hit a lull. It's easy on Amazon, when you click on the right-hand side "give as a gift" Amazon walks you through it. All you need is the recipient of the gift's email address, and $4.99 per book. Each order really helps! http://www.amazon.com/One-Murder-More-Kris-Calvin-ebook/dp/B00VJQQW60/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1444661111&sr=1-1