I recently ran across a thread on Goodreads.com where new authors were discussing whether to begin self-publishing or not. I’ve weighed in on this topic from time to time since I started self-publishing initially and still self-publish one of my series, Altered Realities. (Read about What You’re Getting Yourself Into to understand why I was open to traditional publishing.) 
Today, I couldn’t resist commenting when the topic of discussion turned to agents and whether they are necessary in the modern publishing industry. On Goodreads Robert said:
I had done a ton of homework and one agent in particular seemed perfect. Everything the agent had publicly stated they liked was contained within my novel and I went out of my way to explain it in my submission letter to the agent.

Of course, I got the frustrating rejections. The rejections themselves didn’t bother me necessarily. I had steadied myself for those. What bothered me was the form letter nature of them. I really felt that the agents never even read my submission as I got “not a good fit” and “This is a subjective business” (That last part caused the smart mouth in me to say to myself, “So you admit you have terrible tastes?”)

That agent I mentioned earlier, well the agent specifically stated a strong dislike to romance novels. On the agent’s twitter feed their latest book deal after rejecting me was-you guessed it-a romance novel. A romance novel from an author that the agent had a long-standing relationship with.

This wasn’t a surprise to me, but I realized that to many people it was. Why?
Literary Agents—The Gatekeepers
For years I was under the impression that literary agents were the so-called “Gatekeepers” of the publishing industry, kind of like Gozer from Ghostbusters. You couldn’t enter the publishing world, whether through the refrigerator or the roof, without the support and representation of a literary agent.

After spending years in slush piles, attending writing conferences, querying agents and large publishers, and researching online, I discovered two things: 
One—Agents often have a pretty good idea of what they want. They want something that will sell. They want a good book that appeals to readers. They sometimes will even say on their site, “I’m looking for a zombie romance with an epileptic fish from a fresh perspective,” or some other generic story arc based on what they think readers are looking for. 
Two—Most of the time agents don’t know what they’re looking for, even if they think they do. I’ve seen agents do just what Robert was talking about as a result of previous agreements with clients and fresh, unexpected ideas that catch the agent’s interest. Heck, even Twilight and Harry Potter were turned down many times.
The Role of Literary Agents:
Agents can be very good at what they do, but they primarily would like to represent the next Harry Potter. But I get the impression that predicting publishing trends and which books readers will devour is more problematic than trying to predict the weather 24 hours out. This isn’t to say meteorologists and literary agents aren’t any good at their jobs, just that in my experience… well, most of the time they’re wrong, and the process for both fields is way too subjective.
The same ambiguity can also be used to describe the expectation of query letters. Often agents state that queries must be done a certain way or they will be thrown out. However, those that are written creatively, not necessarily adhering to the “required standards,” have also reportedly intrigued agents and gotten a request for more, like this example from Steven Malk on Chuck Sambuchino’s blog.
So what does this ambiguity amount to?
So far as agents go, I tried for years to get one. Ironically, after over one hundred rejections of two books, a few personalized rejections, and even a couple statements of interest that later turned into personalized rejections, I finally sort of “got lucky” with a new agent who had just made “full agent” status. (And yes, these are the best agents to query as an unpublished author because they are more ambitious and inclined to find the diamond in the rough. However, more often than not they still will reject you.)
“Getting Lucky,” Sort of:
I’d already turned down one very small publisher that just didn’t jive with where I wanted to go, like creating e-books, marketing, and such. (For specific reasons why, see My Publishing Experience.)
In addition, I’d spoken with a well-known author whose books regularly top Amazon’s sales list; he informed me that agents simply aren’t necessary in this day and age, especially considering their cost—15 percent of everything. By this point, I’d spent months on a renewed search for an agent after years of self-publishing. Again, I was receiving rejection after rejection. I was a self-published author, meaning according to agents I could be excellent—the next Amanda Hocking, Konrath, or Scott Nicholson—or I could have written the book in a week and never spent any time fine tuning or editing it. The catch-22 was the silent understanding that only “legitimately published” authors would be considered for representation by most agents. The authors had to have a good track record. I can’t fault agents for this requirement because they personally invest their time in the author’s books; although, it does create an odd circular arrangement. 
After over 40 more rejections, this new agent who had worked under other prolific agents for years was teetering about whether to take on my novel. He was on the fence, and the book was left in limbo while he decided. Days turned into weeks, weeks to months. I sent a follow-up email, only to be told he still hadn’t decided.
Making New Publishing Opportunities:
Suffice to say that it was time to open myself to new avenues. I began researching small and midsize publishers, looking for one with marketing ambition, concepts, and a successful publishing track record. I found one I liked, Books of the Dead Press, and decided to submit my novel, A Life of Death. Within a week or two, I heard back from James Roy Daleyand was in discussions about a book deal for A Life of Death. (Surprisingly, small and midsize publishers are much more open to new authors. You still have to have a good product, though. So, one submission led to one book deal offer—quite a difference from my past experiences with the big 5 publishers and so many literary agents.)
Winding Up Without Representation: 
I immediately sent an email to the teetering agent asking if he was interested in negotiating the contract. Unfortunately, it took him a few days to respond. 
Over the next few days I’d discussed things with Books of the Dead Press and happily agreed to not just one, but a two-book deal for the A Life of Death series. Both the publisher and myself were excited, and I felt the future of the series had great potential. So believe it or not, I accepted the contract, not having heard from the agent. 
Later, the agent responded that he’d be interested in representing me and negotiating the contract. At this point I felt good about the book contract I’d accepted; so I informed the agent that the deal had been negotiated without him. In essence, his services were no longer needed. For some reason, I never heard back from him after that. (I wonder why.)
While I appreciated his initial interest, my response was completely truthful. I hadn’t meant it to be condescending. However, I can’t say I didn’t feel a little frustrated. Every author that has gone through this knows these things can be infuriating even: getting shoved to the side, rejected hundreds of times, told to wait for months at a time after the initial review period. I waited for a couple days to figure out whether I would have to negotiate the contract myself. Having heard nothing but with a book contract on the table, I took the negotiating reigns.
While this may or may not have been a good decision, only the future will tell. It isn’t to say that I won’t take on an agent in the future, but for now I see no reason. Since my series was picked up, I’ve been happy with my publisher. Books of the Dead Press have expressed an interest in book 3 of the A Life of Death collection, and I’m in the process of writing it.
What does this mean for new authors attempting to find publishers and agent representation?
I can only speak from my experiences, but the catch-22 many agents buy into of just representing authors who have a proven track record is difficult to overcome. A rare few authors with debut novels may find representation the traditional way, but from what I have seen and experienced, this is becomeing harder and harder. 
The realistic way around that circular pattern of representation vs. publication is to find a publisher. Small and mid-size publishers are probably the best to consider initially and build up your “street cred” in the publishing world. Whether you choose to go self-publishing, traditional publishing, or both like I eventually did, finding the right publisher and agent for you and your book/s is essential.You can always find an agent to represent you and other books to the big 5 publishers later. 
Just have patience and stay motivated.

 

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

A little bluebird just reminded me that the giveaway of Invisible Dawn: Book One of Altered Realities ends today. With the release of the sequel, Salvation, I wanted everyone who loves dark fantasy, vampires, corrupt black-ops government agencies, and shifting dimensions to get their e-book of the first in the series free. It’s available on Amazon and will be free even longer on Smashwords in every format for your e-readers. Get your copy today.

The book is currently in the top 100 of three different categories:
#11 in Dark Fantasy
#19 in Sci-fi Adventure
#78 in Paranormal Urban Fantasy. 

Enjoy the read with a good cup of coffee and a la-z-chair to relax in – just my recommendation.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances

With Episode 5 of A Life of Death being released this Monday through my publisher, Books of the Dead Press, I think it would be a good idea to make a push to get the first four episodes listed as free on Amazon.com. Unfortunately Amazon doesn’t allow this initially, which is why this is necessary and why I need your help. Any and all help to accomplish this would be great and should only take a moment of your time. Just click the “tell us about a lower price” link on the Amazon page, post either the Sony, Smashwords, or B&N link below in the window that pops up along with 0s for cost and shipping, and then hit submit. Once enough people have done it, Amazon should price match. It could take 4 people or 40. Amazon keeps things pretty confidential, so I don’t know. If you have a minute to do so, it would be greatly appreciated.

A Life of Death: Episode 1
Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Episode-ebook/dp/B00DPXLAR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378003360&sr=1-1&keywords=a+life+of+death+kincade
Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-life-of-death-weston-kincade/1116227679?ean=2940045153089

A Life of Death: Episode 2
Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Episode-ebook/dp/B00DXYDJXK/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378003495&sr=1-2&keywords=a+life+of+death+kincade
Sony Ereader – https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/weston-kincade/a-life-of-death-2/_/R-400000000000001092796

A Life of Death: Episode 3
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Episode-ebook/dp/B00E6H6BAQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378003586&sr=1-7&keywords=a+life+of+death+kincade
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351667

A Life of Death: Episode 4
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Episode-ebook/dp/B00ET9W18W/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378003765&sr=1-5&keywords=a+life+of+death+kincade
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351727

Thanks much ahead of time!

So far as Salvation goes, book 2 of Altered Realities, I am happy to announce that Salvation will be released. I am sorry for the wait, but it will soon be over. I hope to release Salvation in the next week or two. Thanks for bearing with me.
after many helpful beta readers have given their thoughts, I am only waiting on two more. Their comments should be coming in the next couple days. Once I’ve integrated them,

So far, the response I’ve gotten is that the sequel is better than Invisible Dawn and a great continuation to the Altered Realities Story. I hope it continues to exceed expectations.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances


Today I have a very special surprise. As the Books of the Dead Press’s recently acquired books have been published, you might have noticed that I’ve been inviting the authors over for brief interviews. Well, in addition to John Taff’s The Bell Witch, which has been doing quite well, another book was released last week titled Running Home. It even topped 25thplace in the Dark Fantasy category on Amazon with its initial release. Readers seem to be loving it, so I’m glad I’m not alone in my opinion. Another surprising fact, not only is it Julie’s first published book, but the first in a trilogy. I got a chance to read Running Home and couldn’t help but be pulled in. Here’s the summary, a few comments other authors have made after reading it, followed by my review:
Death hovers around Ellie Morgan like the friend nobody wants. She doesn’t belong in snow-swept Ossipee, New Hampshire, at a black tie party––but that is where she is, and where he is: Nicholas French, the man who mystifies her with a feeling of home she’s been missing, and the impossible knowledge of her troubled soul.

Nicholas followed an abomination that is one of his own, but finds that fate has driven him to New Hampshire. He is a being of the Shinigami, a heroic vampire order that save their victims from more tragic ends. And he knows why Ellie is human repellent… why physical agony grips them when apart.

“Running Home by Julie Hutchings is set to be one of the leading debut novels of its genre.”
~ Dylan J. Morgan: best selling author of Hosts and the Blood War Trilogy

“This is like the Dark Knight of vampire books. Up there with not just Anne Rice, but Stephen King.”
~ Phil Cone, author of Paddy Nemesis

“Running Home has a dark beauty which entwines the mundane and the magical.”
~ J.C. Michael, author of Discoredia

“A fascinating take on vampires, unlike anything I’ve seen before, filled with a rich and beautiful culture. I was left simply begging for more.”
~ J. Liz Hill, author of Bound

“I can’t remember a time I’ve enjoyed a vampire novel so much. The blend of self-aware characters and unique, fresh mythology made for an engaging, addictive read. I believe I have found my new favorite urban vampire story.”
~ Frances Button, Opening Line Literary ‘Zine

“Forget about creatures that glitter, change forms, or howl under the full moon bathed in the blood of their victims. They aren’t nearly as important as the human element…and it is the human element Julie Hutchings never forgets in Running Home.”
~ Lydia Aswolf, Host of Lydia’s Literary Lowdown

My Review:
Eliza’s story in Running Home is one of intrigue, vampires, love, hate, and destiny. Eliza, Kat, Roman, and everyone else are so real and vivid that you can’t help but feel for them, their troubles, and their growing inner turmoil. The pain and events within this story can best be described as a cursed blessing that pulls you from one line to the next, never letting go. If you are a fan of the Twilight series or Amanda Hocking’s Trylle trilogy, Running Home is right up your alley.
And so I am very happy to welcome Julie Hutchings to the party today. This is a great start to an exciting writing career for Julie and the writing pair known as the Undead Duo. They even blog at deadlyeverafter.com. I hope you enjoy our little diatribe.
WK: Thanks for joining us, Julie. That’s a great book you wrote, but the question on most people’s minds after reading Running Home is, what are you working on now?
JH: Thanks. Editing a novel called The Harpy about a girl named Charity whose terrible life and emotional turmoil evolve her into a vengeful monster with a very questionable mission. I will soon be editing The Animal as well, a novel that I needed to break up with for a little while. I finished it, and it needed some alone time before editing. And of course, I’ll be diving head first into the sequel to Running Home.
WK: Wow! Sounds like you have a variety of projects underway. Can you tell us what inspired Running Home?
JH: Sure. It was the product of having a baby. I suddenly had a capacity for fear that I never had before, just a bone-crushing horror of ever losing that child somehow made me bring my forever fear of death to life through Ellie in the novel. She has a really close connection with death, not by choice. We’re a lot alike that way.
WK: I see. I would never have guessed that was the inspiration, but it certainly makes sense. I couldn’t help but notice that this is geared similarly to another very famous collection of stories. What do the inevitable comparisons to Twilight mean to you?
JH: I have no issue with being compared to Twilight. The books are very different, and Twilight  was the first book I read on maternity leave, in that haze you find yourself in, and I fell in love with it. I loved the way this really awkward girl in a beyond ordinary life had a hidden extraordinary one where it didn’t seem possible. I wanted that feeling, but for grownups. Twilight gets a bad rap for the writing, but it’s writing that appeals to every age, across the world. The woman is living the dream! I’m not afraid to like what I like, I don’t give much of a shit who disagrees. Turns out millions of people all over the world agree with me.
WK: Good point. There is a lot to be said for reader’s preferences. In the end, they determine which books succeed or fail based on their opinions and reviews. I’m sure if every author could, they’d develop a writing routine to make every book a success. So what does your writing routine look like?
JH: When it’s not summer, when the entire world seems to implode on me, I get up for 5AM Writer’s Club on Twitter, and get a couple of child-free hours of work in then. I tend to write a bit all day, a paragraph here, a page there, and edit as I go. A couple of nights a week I go to my childhood friend Kristen Strassel’s house to write. I do listen to music, always different for each work. I try not to overwrite my first draft just to have to go back and pull a bunch of unnecessary crap later.
WK: Now that’s a bit unusual. How has having a writing partner helped you get Running Home off the ground?
JH: Kristen was the first person to ever read any of the book. She was one of the first people I told, and when she told me she had a book idea she’d been toying with, we became The Undead Duo. We committed to each other. Running Home was already finished by then, but completely handwritten, all in a hundred notebooks. Kristen encouraged me not only to transfer it to a laptop, but to query it, and go to conferences, and get on Twitter to promote it, and start Deadly Ever After with her. Without that once or twice a week commitment, and constant talking to each other about our writing, I don’t think I would have ever done with it what I have. Kristen also convinced me to quit my 10 year job to focus more on my writing. Best decision she ever helped me make.
WK: Quitting your job for writing is a difficult decisions, especially with finances on the line. I’m glad you made the leap and hope it works out for you. If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
JH: Teaching karate. It’s the other place I feel completely at home.
WK: LOL. Again, not quite what I expected. Julie, you are certainly full of surprises. What can we expect in the sequel to Running Home?
JH: Running Away brings Eliza closer to her fate, to Japan, where we meet a lot of new characters, and see a whole new side of our girl. I have the first draft done, but I want to change quite a bit of it. The last book in the trilogy is going to be Crawling Back, and I’m really looking forward to giving you something unexpected there. Nobody is really what they seem to be. I’m a jerk like that.
WK: That sounds like an exciting story and one I’d love to read more of. Keep in touch, and try to keep that little one of yours away from the Shinigami. The last thing you need is them taking note of the little tike.
So readers, if you enjoyed Twilight or Amanda Hocking’s Trylle series, you need to check out Julie Hutching’s new release, Running Home. You won’t regret it. It’s available in e-book right now at a great price.
To follow Julie Hutchings and keep in touch with her upcoming releases, here are a few methods of contacting her:

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances


Today, I have a special guest, fellow author published through Books of the Dead Press, John F.D. Taff, author of Little Deaths and the upcoming novel The Bell Witch.
WK: Welcome, John, and thanks for coming. You can put that cigar out anywhere… well, anywhere but there. Do you realize that’s a real stuffed Tasmanian Devil  you just ashed on?
JT: Sorry ’bout that. I’ll find you a new one that looks a bit less ragged next time I’m in the area.
WK: Thanks. Now, John, a common question I’ve been asked is about inspiration. It seems like something all writers have to address, so what about you? What is your inspiration for writing?
JT: Everyone.  Everything. Eveywhere. Every moment.  And that’s not a joke.
WK: Well, that’s one way to put it. You can find inspiration for stories everywhere you look, at least from my experience. Once I was even inspired by this fine-looking woman. After our business was transacted I had to—wait, that came out wrong. She was my good friend’s mother and a finely dressed estate agent. You should have seen her… Nevermind. That’s a story for another day. So, what made you write The Bell Witch?  
JT: I’ve been fascinated by The Bell Witch since I read about it in grade school.  It’s one of the best-known, well-documented poltergeist cases ever.  And most of the ghost stories I’d read as a kid were set in Ye Olde Englande.  So, that this was in America (OK, nearly 200 years ago) made it more visceral to me.  So, it’s been floating around back there in the recesses of my brain for a long, long time.
WK: I find a lot of garbage floating in the recesses of my mind at times. It takes time to sift through it all and find the gems amongst the trash. Often, it’s better to just go with what you know. Does your inspiration ever come from people you know?
JT: Absolutely.  To be a reader is to be a listener and an observer.  Characters I write are all little pieces of just about everyone I’ve ever encountered.  I think you take away pieces of people you meet.  If you’re smart, you incorporate them into your work.
WK: Well said. I couldn’t agree more. Life is chock full of people and events to draw from. While not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
JT: I read… a lot.  Mostly history—Civil War, Ancient Egypt & South America—some fantasy and scifi.  What don’t I read a lot of?  Horror.  And the reason for that, simply, is I don’t want a lot of that floating around in my brain when I sit down to write.
WK: That’s certainly understandable. Sometimes I wonder if maybe something I wrote was subconsciously pulled from another story or something I saw in passing. I would never intentionally copy someone else’s work, but you never know where some of these ideas are coming from. People sometimes say, “That sounds just like so-in-so.” It’s almost like they are accusing you of plagiarism. Thankfully, normally whoever is mentioned isn’t anyone I’ve heard of, so I haven’t had to worry about unintentionally copying someone’s idea, or at least being confronted by it. Either way, the stories would be different, but I strive to be original, as I’m sure you do, too. Speaking of famous people we like to copy (just kidding), who are your favorite authors?
JT: Peter Straub.  Hands down.  The Throat is, hands down, one of the best books I’ve ever read.  I like Jack Vance, Robert Silverberg, Roger Zelazny, Stephen R. Donaldson in fantasy and scifi.  I like travel writer Bill Bryson a lot. Tolkien, King (of course), Gaiman, Barker.
WK: I recognize a few of those and agree wholeheartedly. Now, you just finished a novel that is coming out today if I recall correctly, The Bell Witch. Do you have a celebration activity or something you like to do when you finish a novel?
JT: I sigh a sigh of relief, and then sigh again because it’s time to work on selling it.
WK: What about characters? How do you choose character names, and are they important?
JT: Character names are vastly important.  They have to sound “right.”  I spend a lot of time in picking names.  What makes me laugh these days is so many writers think their characters have to have interesting names, rather than ordinary, everyday names.  I won’t point fingers, but look at Will Smith’s character’s name in the abysmal After Earth:  Cypher Raige.  Ugh.
WK: I haven’t actually seen that one yet, but I’m a fan of Will Smith movies in general. Which movie/drama series do you love the most?
JT: I’m a big Star Trek fan, though the latest two films aren’t my favorite.  I enjoyed the remake of Battlestar Galactica.  And I am awaiting with immoderate joy the arrival of the final book in Stephen R. Donaldson’s decade’s spanning Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Last Dark.
WK: Star Trek is great. The Trouble with Tribbles was classic. You should have seen this tribble one time in band camp… just kidding. No, I wouldn’t go there. So, what genre do you enjoy writing about most and why?
JT: Here’s the thing.  I find that most of the stuff I write isn’t truly, really horror.  I mean, I have more of a Twilight Zone-vibe to my stuff.  It’s dark, sure, and creepy, and there’s an atmosphere of dread, of something wrong in my work.  But some people don’t think it’s horror.  OK with me.  It’s what I enjoy writing.  No, really, it’s not even that.  It’s what I write; what comes out of me, regardless of whether I like it or not.
WK: Well said. It isn’t like we have control over the words coming out of our mouths or through our pens. What do we look like, journalists? Creativity exists without limitations or much structure. So, speaking of structure, what’s your writing routine?  In other words, where, how, when, any strange rituals?
JT: No strange rituals, I suppose.  I am a night owl, so I don’t really get going until late afternoon.  I write mostly at night.  When I’m really going, I like some hot tea and a cigar.  Other than that, no strange rituals.
WK: Great, so no greased pigs or mud wrestling. You’re missing out on all the fun, John.  What about your room? Maybe it’s more fun. Describe the room where you write? Music or no music?
JT: I live on the banks of a very rural river.  My house sits a moderate throw from said river, and the windows of my main room open onto it.  I love the country.  I love trees.  I love wide, sweeping vistas.  I am not, so much, a fan of crowds and people and houses jammed cheek-by-jowl together.  So, my desk faces out the window.  I have a swanky laptop and a nifty 27-inch monitor so my aging eyes can actually see what I type.  I listen to music when I write, but it has to be wordless…classical or movie soundtracks, just something to make a little white noise.
WK: Exactly. Sounds just like how I write… boring with few distractions. Sounds like we’d get along just fine. Here’s a little test—rejection letters… save ’em or throw ’em out?
JT: I used to save them, amassing a rather startlingly large file folder.  But I find them mostly distracting and disheartening.  And I have a rather mawkish predilection for going back and reading and rereading them.  Does me no good.  So, now I save them in email form, just to remind me where I’ve sent stuff and where it’s been rejected.  But I don’t revisit them in any way.
WK: John, it sounds like you enjoy abusing yourself… just a little. I’ve gotten so many rejections, I know what’s in them. Half the time you wind up hoping to find a check, dollar bill, feather, chocolate, anthrax, something besides the inevitable words of rejection—even when it’s the same letter you’ve read for the eight thousandth time. Don’t do that to yourself. I’m glad you’ve drifted away from the predilection for the time being. And thanks for coming, John.
JT: Thanks for having me.
WK: Would you mind taking the stuffed Tasmanian Devil with you? He’s looking a little crispy around the edges where you’ve been snubbing that cigar?
JT: Sure, anytime.
WK: Thanks and remember folks, The Bell Witch will be out today. I got a special pre-release look at it and was blown away. The cover is incredible too. Get your copy. You won’t regret it. I’ve included my review below.
The Bell Witch Review:
by Weston Kincade
Need a good haunting? John F.D. Taff has certainly given the Bell Witch folktale new life. The Bell Witch is a superb story that grips you early, keeps you guessing, and will linger in your mind long after the last page has come and gone. As Taff says, “get a cup of tea, light up a good stogie, stoke the fire, and settle down in your easy chair.” The Bell Witch will keep your eyes blazing across each line and your heart pounding as this torturous ghost story unfolds. Don’t pass it up.

Available on Amazon.com.

 

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances

It was a nice surprise to find this morning that Episode 2 of A Life of Death has been released on Sony and Barnes and Noble for free. Now it’s time to get Amazon to price match them. If you could take a minute to help, I’d be extremely grateful. There is a “tell us about a lower price” link on the Amazon book page.

Episode 2 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Episode-ebook/dp/B00DXYDJXK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375716043&sr=8-2&keywords=a+life+of+death+kincade

Just click the link, post either the Sony or B&N link below in the window that pops up along with 0s for cost and shipping, then hit submit and once enough people have done it, Amazon should price match. It could take 4 people or 40. Amazon keeps things pretty confidential, so I don’t know, but if you have a minute to do so, it would be greatly appreciated.

Episode 2 at B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-life-of-death-weston-kincade/1116227680?ean=2940045153096

Episode 2 on Sony: https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/weston-kincade/a-life-of-death-2/_/R-400000000000001092796

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances

I am happy to announce that Episode 3 of A Life of Death was released last night on Amazon.com through my publisher Books of the Dead Press. In this episode:

Skeletons from the past are haunting more than just Alex—esteemed adults within the community and even teachers. Alex is confronted with the true tests of life, but can he find the courage to stand up for those in need, including his stepfamily? There is more at stake than bruised ribs and broken bones, and Alex may have to pay the price.

Get it here on Amazon.com for $.99 until it is price matched to other sites. It is currently available for FREE on Smashwords and in coming weeks will be released on Sony, Kobo, Apple, and Barnes and Noble for free.

Episode  4 will be available in two weeks, August 12th.

So far as my Altered Realities series is concerned, I just implemented the initial beta comments for Salvation and have sent the revised edition out to the remaining participating beta readers. I hope to have it ready for release in coming weeks, but it still needs to go through my editor. I will keep you posted about the actual release date as the information becomes available.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances

 The first episode of A Life of Death in e-book just went up for free on Barnes and Noble and the Sony e-reader store. For some reason, the description is missing on the B&N store, but they should have the kinks worked out soon. If you’ve read it and would like to leave a review, please do. Reviews are always helpful to readers looking for good books. I don’t have an apple device to check, but it should be available in the iBook store soon too if not already.

My publisher decided to serialize them to get more to the reader for free and really get the word out, and I love the idea. Episode 2 is out on Amazon and will soon be available on the other sites. Episode 3 is scheduled for release on Amazon come June 29th. The other sites seem to lag behind a couple weeks, but will have it up as soon as possible.

Unfortunately neither are free yet on Amazon. If you’d like to help out and get Amazon to match the price of the other stores, there is a “tell us about a lower price” link on the Amazon book page.

Episode 1 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Episode-ebook/dp/B00DPXLAR6/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374104420&sr=1-4&keywords=a+life+of+death

Just click the link, post either the Sony or B&N link below in the window that pops up along with 0s for cost and shipping, then hit submitand once enough people have done it, Amazon should price match. It could take 4 people or 40. Amazon keeps things pretty confidential, so I don’t know, but if you have a minute to do so, it would be greatly appreciated.

Episode 1 at B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-life-of-death-weston-kincade/1116058403?ean=2940044624689

Episode 1 on Sony: https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/weston-kincade/a-life-of-death-episode-1/_/R-400000000000001082959

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances

I am very excited to announce that with the release of A Life of Death: Episode 1 through Books of the Dead Press this week, many of the other Books of the Dead authors had quite a lot to say. So if you would like to find out a bit more about the books I’ve written, upcoming publications, and other writers with a flare for the paranormal or terror, visit some of these great author’s sites:

Mark Matthews
Julie Hutchings and the Undead Duo
Bracken MacLeod
John F.D. Taff
J.C. Michael

*Addition* Another interview went up today, July 3, from a wonderful book blogger and avid reader of A Life of Death – Bryce Campbell. For more personal insights about me, video games, anime, and more, check his blog out.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances


I am very happy to announce something that I’ve had to keep secret for quite some time. It’s been an exciting process, but just now the doors to a very large surprise were thrown open. A few months back the first two books of my A Life of Deathcollection were signed by Books of the Dead Press. The novels underwent an additional edit for minutia and a complete revamp of the cover. It’s been great working with the publisher, and I look forward to the mini releases. 
Mini releases? you might be wondering. (And yes, that was a pun. Don’t shoot me for it.) Books of the Dead Press has stated that they are extremely excited about A Life of Death’s new release—so much so that the publisher is releasing the series in serialized form. To find out more, follow the publisher link above and read the release with your own eyes. 
However, the excitement doesn’t stop there. Books of the Dead Press has expressed interest in a third book in the A Life of Death series, planned for release by the end of 2013. So stop by and get your copy of Episode 1 today and tell your friends. I can’t express in words how excited I am about this new publication.

But yet again, that’s not all. In addition, I am tying up loose ends on Salvation, the sequel to Invisible Dawn in the Altered Realities series, which should finally be released in the coming weeks. So fans of Altered Realities, get ready for a high-flying ride. But beware, it could get a little bumpy. As I finish Salvation, I will be accepting volunteers as beta readers. What are beta readers? For keen-eyed readers who agree to make comments and give personal insights into the new book before the release, I will provide a special e-copy of Salvation. Just email me using the form on the side of the page, and I’ll get it right out to you as an e-mail attachment for free. I will be accepting people into my group of beta readers for a limited time, though. So contact me by Sunday, July 7th with your name and e-mail to participate.

 

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances