I also have a poll up on Kofi page. My narrator should be done with the audiobook adaption of One Bite Per Night.
All the other retailers don't allow preorders, but I can do a preorder in my Kofi Shop, where you can buy books directly from me and for cheaper than the retailers! The Bite Me, Your Grace audiobook is even still on sale there!
But I'm not sure how many people will be interested. All proceeds will go towards funding the next book's audio adaptation.
I'm almost done with my story for the Hospital of Haunts anthology! That one will be out in October.
And I only have 3-4 chapters left on my coming of age horror novel, The Graveyard Girls! Writing is going slow because I am having A TON of performance anxiety.
I also got a good start on Brides of Prophecy 10. I'm hoping to release that one in October as well!
Life News:
I've had my nose on the grindstone, so I figured I'd get myself a treat.
So I got another Megadeth shirt. This one's special to me because I had drawn a huge poster of this design and had it on my bedroom door when I was 15, but my mom's boyfriend at the time liked to come home from the bar and burst into my room at 2am and start yelling at me and breaking my stuff. He tore my poster.
Years later, I had a shirt like this one, but it wore out. I painted it on my back patch for my battle vest, but kept searching for another shirt with this design.
Then Megadeth put this one out on their website and had it on a killer discount for Memorial weekend. And this one is better because it's printed all over and printed in a way that won't wear off as fast as my German bootleg one.
Next time, I'll have a book in the Stuff Your E-Reader event! You can subscribe to that promotion HERE, or just wait for my newsletter with the link to all the freebies. I also hope to have more news on Brides of Prophecy 10.
Earlier this month, author Bonnie R. Paulson and I did a talk on author branding and marketing. We did a nifty slideshow and my contribution was examples of rock and metal bands for brands that succeeded, brands that failed, and successful rebranding.
It was a lot of fun so I figured I’d share them with you.
Example of successful branding:
When I think of a successful brand, these guys are the first who come to mind… even if I’m not a fan.
KISS
fits.
Made their own “characters” with recognizable makeup and outfits.
Portrayed the message that they were rebels and you were one too for listening to them.
Had the “Kiss Army” you could sign up for, complete with membership card so you felt part of the band.
Comic books and movie appearances (The latter didn’t turn out so well.) KISS Meets Phantom of the Park was a major selection in my “Bad Movie Club.”
How this applies to authors:
Due to the prevalence of social media these days, authors are able to do more and more to brand themselves in different ways.
1.) Looks. I’m known for my top hat and goth-y clothes, George RR Martin is known for his Sea-Captain look, Stephen King is known for his HUGE glasses etc. But if you don't have a special look, there's no need to worry. It's the least important thing in our business.
2.) Genre and Style. Grace Burrowes is known for historical, Stephen King is known for horror, even though half of the stuff he writes isn’t horror, and authors who do multiple genres are known for a common theme.
Bonnie R. Paulson's stories always focus on survival. Mine always feature either damaged or eccentric characters and sometimes both… so I use the tagline “Love for the Broken and Strange.”
3.) Newsletter/ Street-team:
Just as KISS has their KISS army and Megadeth has their CyberArmy, many authors bring their best fans into their network, making them part of their career. Bonnie calls hers “Survivors.”
I call mine my “Misfits.” Though my street team is called “Brooklyn Ann’s Bookaholics” because I have a soft spot for alliteration. :D
So what happens when brands fail?
Here are a few examples.
Marilyn Manson: “Brand Misdirection”
I was a HUGE Manson fan back in the day. Hebegan with a certain sound, image, and message that touched me… and many of his early songs still hold up.
Parents HATED him and he just ate that up. After all, rock branding 101 teaches: “Make parents hate you, sell more albums.”
Unfortunately, he got too caught up in “Shock Value” and his messages and outfits seemed to be more for the sake of shock and piccing off parents than the message of the value of being yourself and not letting bullies hurt you that first drew me in the first place.
Plus, he changed his look so much in just one decade that my head spun and I gave up on listening to him.
This was the Manson I grew up on. Spooky & Sexy
When he changed to this, I was all, "okaay... at least the music's still good."
What the hell, Manson? Seriously, WTF?
Red & Silver Leopard print is SOOO I'm DONE now.
NOT GOTH!!
Eventually he went back to his classic style, but it was too late.
How this pertains to authors:
It’s perfectly fine to try new subgenres, but try to have a complete series in each. Don’t do erotic one month and then switch to YA the next. Unless you use a pen name.
Also, it is important to KNOW your voice, and know what themes/ message you intend to deliver to your audience.
All details in your work must pertain to the story. Don’t do things just for shock value, or to comply to a trend.
Metallica: Brand Betrayal
I used to be a huge Metallica fan. I even liked the Black Album even if it was slightly mellower than the previous ones. And back in 1996, when they announced the release of a new album, I was so happy!
….Until I heard it.
This was the Metallica I LOVED.
They softened their sound & CUT THEIR HAIR!
LOAD was the title of that 1996 album. It was a load of something, alright.
Why this was a bad call:
In the mid 90’s, Alternative music was all the rage, so Metallica wanted to capitalize on that. And it did work in a way. All of a sudden the preppy kids at my school started listening to them.
However, the fan base they’d built for the past 15 years were horrified by the change and quit listening to them.
And then the new fans they gained abandoned them for the next new thing.
How this pertains to authors:
Always remember. Your fans are your fans for a reason. Don’t let them down to chase what’s popular.
If we want to do a drastic change, we can utilize pseudonyms.
Thankfully, after Metallica’s betrayal, another favorite band stayed true. Which brings me to the next subject.
Brand Consistency: MEGADETH
I want to give them all big hugs and play with their hair!
Fun fact: Dave Mustaine of Megadeth was one of the original founders of Metallica, but he was fired and instead of giving up, he formed one of the greatest thrash metal bands ever.
As you can see with the before and after, Megadeth kept their look. They also kept the basic core principles of their sound, though with moderate changes to keep from going stale.
And that's why we see them here at the Grammy's. THEY didn't cut their hair!!
How this pertains to authors:
Because although one should adapt to the times to avoid being redundant and remain relevant, you still need to maintain the voice your fans know and love you for.
Successful Rebranding: PANTERA
Did you know that Pantera started out as a hair metal band? Many don’t because they were unnoticeable among tons of other hair bands. And a terrible album cover.
Before:
It's like Cinderella and Motley Crue had babies together.
And let’s take a moment to see this awful album cover.
Looks like something a kid in middle school in the 80's drew on the back of his homework folder.
AFTER: They eventually replaced their generic 80’s singer and created a sound that was so different, people sat up and said, “WOW! Who ARE these guys?”
They're metal enough that the lead singer can have short hair. :D
Much better album art.
Seriously, listen to the difference!
Skip to 0:49 to get past the 80's sound effects
Oh, yesss!! Now this I can head-bang to!!
How this pertains to authors: Sometimes maybe you’re not in the right subgenre. Many authors do this because they feel pressured to follow the trends.
Authors who’ve done this: Jessica Bird wrote historical romance, then became a queen of Urban Fantasy with the BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD. Kinley MacGregor became Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of THE DARK HUNTERS. I hope this was helpful, or at least entertaining advice!! Want more rock stars in your life? Check out my heavy metal romance, KISSING VICIOUS!!!
As I'm wrapping up revisions on my heavy metal romance, temporarily titled, HIS ROADIE, I have sexy rock stars on the brain. And though the hero of my current project more resembles 90's Trent Reznor (more on him another time), I couldn't help looking back at my previous post on what makes a sexy hero and realizing how much the leading man of my favorite band, Megadeth qualifies.
So here's a list and demonstration of what makes Dave Mustaine yummy.
1.) His hair.
Okay, I think that image is supposed to be a joke, but it's so true. That man has magnificent hair.
I mean look at it!!!
Seriously, LOOK AT IT!!!
I wish I could plunge my hands in those luscious locks.
Yes, I have a hair fetish. :) Anyway, moving on.
2.) He has passion, drive and determination.
For the non-metal-heads out there, Dave helped start a band you may have heard of called Metallica. He was the lead guitarist and wrote most of the music for their debut album, "Kill em All" as well as a significant chunk of "Ride the Lightning"
Anyway, due to multiple misunderstandings, (Btw, contrary to internet memes, James kicked Dave's dog, not the other way around) some warranted, others not, Dave was kicked out of Metallica and handed a bus ticket from New York to LA.
Instead of quitting, he started Megadeth, a band that has rivaled and ultimately surpassed Metallica since its creation in 1983. Both bands are now in the exalted "Big Four" in thrash metal. If you knew of all the first and only time members of famous bands that dropped into obscurity, you shall have an inkling of the magnitude of such an accomplishment.
And both have mended fences and are friends again.
Awwwww!
3.) He is extremely talented.
Dave Mustaine is one of the best guitarists in the world. Holy mother of metalness, he employs the most epic blend of shredding thrash, blues, jazz and classical riffs that I am overcome with awe.
He also holds black belts in Karate and Taekwondo.
So he LITERALLY kicks ass.
He's a brilliant lyricist who has a point: Example: "Luck deserted me and the truth beat out my brains. Men rise from steppingstones of themselves from higher things. I've stepped over lots of bodies on my way..." (From Youthanasia). I aced a short story citing the lyrics from that song.
And I believe he's a brilliant vocalist. Many disagree, including Dave himself. He never intended to sing. He only wanted to play guitar, but he has such passion, mischief, rage, and individuality in his voice.
Holy Wars gives me chills while Sweating Bullets just fills me with maniacal glee. (It takes awhile before you realize he's actually singing about something serious.)
4.) He's intelligent.
I love how he went on CNN to explain this album cover
The guy expected Dave to be a complete dumbass and was flummoxed when Dave explained everything more clearly than any CNN report. The only metal artist to beat him at that is Dee Snider from Twisted Sister. He turned the senate on its head here!
He also wrote the best memoir I've ever read...probably because he was smart enough to work with a good editor.
Dave's book surprised the hell out of me. For a guy who's notorious for being arrogant and short tempered, he displayed a shocking amount of humility, heart, and modesty.
5.) He REALLY gives a damn about his fans.
Megadeth was among the first bands that embraced the internet and actually interacted with their fans. Every live show he plays it is clear that his audience is his first priority. I am going to show a clip from Megadeth's 2005 performance in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Holy crap you gotta see that crowd. And I especially get the warm fuzzies when he sings the chorus in Spanish for them. (During another song they sang in French for him.)
The joy and energy is mind blowing. And when I saw them perform in a tiny venue in Spokane during a low point in their career, that same joy and energy was there. Just WOW.
My husband's been to way more metal concerts than me and this still blows his mind.
This is why whenever I am sad, throwing on some Megadeth cheers me up.
Back in 2008, I lost my career as an automotive technician. This was a crippling event since automotive technology was my major in college, and I could never work in that field again. I felt like a failure. I felt like all the money I'd spent on tuition, tools, and books, and those stressful two years of 21 credits each semester, non-stop studying, living off Top-Ramen and nearly losing my man had been a waste.
Some miracle stopped me from crumpling into the fetal position and crying like a little kid. Instead, I went straight to The Center For New Directions at my local college. They were the ones who helped me get through college in the first place. They even helped my now husband and I stay together by offering free counseling.
They did not disappoint. They were offering a free workshop for women in transitional periods in their life.
I believe those weekly classes are a big contribution to my current successes in life and one of the techniques they taught was to find your BLISS.
Life can often be miserable, but it can be joyful as well. Often it is little things that make your life better. Those little things are your BLISS. When you're struggling with an important project, or had a bad day, or encountered a pitfall in life, your BLISS can help center you and get you back on track.
In the workshop, we had to do this and those who can should follow along. Make a list of little things, (that luxury cruise doesn't count) that never fail to cheer you up.
Here's mine:
Bundling up in a warm blanket on the couch and reading a good book...while eating Cheetos. Good books are the best thing to take you away from the world. And Cheetos just seem to go with them naturally.
Watching outrageously cheesy B-horror movies...especially with a friend who enjoys them as well. Life is too serious most of the time. A little ridiculousness can be healthy.
One of those shameless daydreams where I'm a total badass and I do something impractically awesome. Come on, we all do it! A lot of mine feature me magically being able to play guitar.
A cat's purr. It's been scientifically proven that a cat's purr triggers a release of endorphins. Couple that with soft fur and you get a happy sigh from me.
An entertaining conversation. Whether it's something crazy like "who would win in a fight between Gandalf, Yoda, and Professor Snape?" or something mundane like "Hey my husband did something dorky today." "Really, mine too!" Conversations like these give your mind a break from its troubles.
A game of darts. What can I say? It's fun to throw things. :)
Megadeth. Music has always been very important to me, and Megadeth is my favorite band. No matter how bad of a day I have, they always cheer me up. I picked this video because they're topless. :)
What is your bliss? What things pull you out of the darkness and havoc?
When we want a good love story whether in books, movies, or music, we know where to look. For movies, most can be found either in the drama or romantic comedy section. For music, every pop and country artist has a plethora or romantic songs. For books, it's easy. There's always an entire section in the bookstore called: ROMANCE!!!
But I love it when a good romance catches me by surprise and I'd love to share a few.
MOVIES:
NATURAL BORN KILLERS:
This is an incredibly violent and disturbing movie. Mickey and Mallory Knox make Bonnie and Clyde look like Sandy and Danny from GREASE. But you can't help but root for them because they were so in love! OMFG, they were soooooo. In. Love.
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
Although the main couple in this movie was far more engaging than the average Disney pairing, (OMG, they actually had a functional, logical relationship!) The big, heart-clenching subplot was with the Cajun firefly, Ray, and the love of his life, Evangaline. I dare you to watch this and not choke up.
MUSIC:
Admittedly, the heavy metal scene is not big on the "Awwww Factor" But in the hands of the best, your heart will melt even as you're still rocking out.
MEGADETH: "Promises" Megadeth does more songs about love than most, though many of the songs are tragic. This one, I think is among the most romantic
DIO:"As Long As It's Not About Love"
Metal's greatest forefather declared over and over that he didn't want to do love songs...so when I heard this I nearly fell out of my seat...then I happy-sighed for a good hour.
BOOKS:
THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH
This is one of the greatest novels ever written, in my opinion. Ken Follet puts forest child turned stonemason, Jack, and Aliena, earl's daughter turned wool merchant, through heart-wrenching suffering before they finally get to be together. If you haven't read this treasure yet, buy it NOW!
INSOMNIA by Stephen King
King is NOT the 1st thing you think of when you think of romance. And I've noticed that the few times he does have a romantic subplot, it's either bland or tragic. However he does such a wonderful job with the blooming love between widowed-old timers, Ralph and Lois, that the reader can believe the couple's first spouses approve. You can get this one HERE
What surprising places have you found a good romance? From what you can tell from my tastes, the crazier, the better.
