Judging a Book by its Cover

We all say we don't, but I have a sneaking suspicion we're not being completely honest. How do I know this? Personal experience. Of all my self-published books (seven in total), one has outsold the others by at least a five-to-one margin. The reason? In my humble opinion, it's the book cover. Consider this.
Sales for Employee Relations were slogging along at a moderate pace with the original cover I'd made for it, which was the very first cover I'd attempted after taking Photoshop classes at my local library. I played with the design and came up with a much more professional looking cover than the original, so I switched the covers out and voila! My sales skyrocketed.

So, I was looking at my sales numbers recently and was wondering why one of my other IR romances, Fading Star, was lagging behind the others. I decided a change up was in order. I removed the cover and made one that had a whole bunch more sex appeal, and guess what? Sales followed. But you be the judge. Does a better, sexier cover entice you more to one book than another? To satisfy your curiosity, I've posted both covers.

***Note: Sales figures didn't change overnight. It took a couple weeks to see the difference the new covers made***

A Bargain for the New Year

For a limited time, I am offering Game of Smoke and Mirrors at a reduced price of $.99 at all venues including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and All Romance EBooks.
This top rated book is a Recommended Read at ARe Cafe. and now at The TBR Pile! You can even win a FREE copy today at The TBR Pile!!!

Check it out for only $.99!

When Jia Mason is accused of murdering her husband, she flees the Florida police and escapes to New Hampshire. Tasked with extraditing the fugitive, lawman Zack Sizemore gets stranded with his beautiful prisoner in a blizzard. What neither counts on is their mutual attraction. Or the danger awaiting them in a remote cabin.

Free Stuff!

My good friend and awesome critique partner, Katie Reus is giving away a Kindle and all sorts of other goodies to celebrate the release of Alpha Instinct and His Secret Past. You can learn more about her giveaway HERE

Below, find all the info direct from Katie on the contest, then get started building points!


Starting January 1 - February 18, 2012 (that's less than a week away!) I'm going to be giving away fun prizes each week. Each entry will also be included for the Grand Prize drawing of a new Kindle (US only for the Kindle). Here is the list of weekly prizes:


Week 1 (1/1-1/7): $15 Amazon Gift Card or a copy of Alpha Instinct (as soon as I get my author copies), a digital copy of His Secret Past, & a digital copy of Touch Me by Callie Croix (her latest release!). Week 1 winner announced by January 15, 2012.
Week 2 (1/8-1/14): Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle Squares or a copy of Alpha Instinct & a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 2 winner announced by January 22, 2012


Week 3 (1/15-1/21): $15 Amazon gift card or a copy of Alpha Instinct & a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 3 winner announced by January 29, 2012


Week 4 (1/22-1/28): A copy of Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright + a Mark of the Vampire swag bag. This is the first book in her Mark of the Vampire series. The 3rd book releases 2/7/2012 so if you haven’t started this series here’s your chance. I’ll also be giving away a copy of Alpha Instinct and His Secret Past. Week 4 winner announced by February 5, 2012.


Week 5 (1/29-2/4): A copy of Alpha Instinct & a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 5 winner announced by February 12, 2012


Week 6 (2/5-2/11): $15 Amazon gift card or a copy of Angel of Darkness by Cynthia Eden, a copy of Alpha Instinct and a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 6 winner announced by February 19, 2012


Week 7 (2/12-2/18): Amazon’s newest Kindle (the one without the annoying splash ads, US only eligible), a print copy of Alpha Instinct and digital copies of five of my books to download to your new Kindle (Books include: Destined Mate, Killer Secrets, Dangerous Secrets, Deadly Obsession and His Secret Past). Week 7 winner announced by March 3, 2012.


To enter, please visit my website contest page here. Complete list of entry instructions (please remember to fill out the form letting me know you're entering!) and official rules are listed there. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Happy Hanukkah!

Today is the first day of Hanukkah. Whatever you celebrate, may you be surrounded with love, light and good fortune! Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Win Loads of Books!

Check out the JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Christmas Giveaway HERE. ONE insanely lucky person will win all these books on the night of December 19th:

Dee J Adams – Dangerous Race

Becky Barker – Cade’s Challenge

Anne Marie Becker – Only Fear

Allison Brennan – Love Me to Death

Lorelei Confer – Deadly Revenge

Wynter Daniels – Sizzle At Sea

Lena Diaz – He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

Marcelle Dube – On Her Trail

Misty Evans – Operation Sheba

Adrienne Giordano – Risking Trust

Angela Henry – Paris Secret

Rita Henuber – Under Fire

Betsy Horvath – Hold Me

Victoria Howard – Ring Of Lies

Autumn Jordan – In The Presence Of Evil

Sylvie Kurtz – A Little Christmas Magic

Gennita Low – Hunter

Kat Martin – Tin Angel

Dana Marton – Guardian Agent

Julie Miller – The Shadow Of The Hawk

Maureen A. Miller – Endless Night

Terry Odell – When Danger Calls

Anne Patrick – Fire and Ash

Patricia Rasey – Deadly Obsession

Christy Reece – Sweet Justice

Jaime Rush – Unforgivable

Carol Stephenson – Courting Death

Carla Swafford – Circle Of Desire

Debra Webb - Obsession

Norah Wilson – Guarding Suzannah

The Most Unappealing Kiss Ever

It takes a lot to shock me. Hell, I write about kinky sex! But now I've seen the most unsexy kiss ever! I watched an episode of The Virgin Diaries  on TLC, which chronicles snipets of the lives of several people in their twenties and thirties who are still virgins for various reasons -- some by choice, some not by choice.

One of the vignettes is about a couple about to get married. The show follows the thirty-ish pair in the days leading up to their wedding. Not only have they not yet had sex, but they've never even kissed -- anyone! When the minister pronounces them husband and wife, they embark on what can only be described at eating each other's mouths. All I can say is it's totally icky. They kiss and kiss and kiss and as I watched, I was so glad I had nothing in my stomach.

Okay -- am I being a total prude, or a bitch? Watch the video and tell me what you think. The couple's first...and second...and third kiss are the most unappealing thing I've ever seen. What do you think?

The Dreaded Slump

Some people call it writer's block. I call it a slump -- that time when I seem incapable of writing anything new. I might be in the middle of a book or maybe I haven't yet begun a new one. Either way, it can be really depressing to be in that space where I can't seem to write. It happens to me and many other writers, so I have developed a few behaviors to overcome the stagnation. I hope they help anyone else out there who suffers a similar affliction.

1. Put my current WIP on ice and start something new. That something doesn't have to be an epic novel. It can be a short story or a novella. That change can often push me out of a creative rut.

2. Adjust my daily word count goal. Sometimes taking off some of the pressure can help. If my current daily goal is 2,000 words and I'm overwhelmed by the idea of writing 20, I change that daily goal down to 500 words. That little mindset switch can re-energize my creative juices and the decrease in pressure sometimes does the trick. I switch it back up once I have my mojo back. Hey, I figure 500 words is better than no words.

3. Take a breather. Sometimes I allow myself to take a little time off. Life happens. I might have company in town or just lots of things in my mind. I have to tell myself it's okay to take a vacation from the writing as long as I set the parameters of how long that break will last. I try to keep it to a max of a few days.

4. Write with friends. I occasionally go to a cafe with members of my RWA chapter to write. Sure, we spend part of the time catching up with each other, but we also get some writing done. Seeing others working can kick-start my On button.

5. Break up that daily word total into manageable blocks. I allow myself a short email break every 100 words or so. Or I do a 250 word sprint then take a break to get outside or get some chores done.

What about you? Do you sometimes get creatively blocked? Do you have any suggestions for ways out of the dreaded slump.