Samhain treat: Bound by a Ban-sidhe

On Samhain, the veil between the realms of the living and the dead is at its thinnest.

No feast, treats, or costumes for Dusana. She’s stuck watching over the village’s flock alone again, like she’s done a thousand times before. Her quiet night is shattered when she must defend the herd from three huge wolves who turn out to be something much more frightening: three gorgeous shifters. The shifters are under the spell of a fearsome ban-sidhe, and Dusana is eager to help them. But what can a simple shepherdess do against a ban-sidhe on a night that her foul magic will be at its strongest?

ONLY 99c!

This treat of a read is now available from my pen name. It's fantasy with a few marvelous twists and a layer of romance.

I had such fun writing it as I played with the ancient legends of the ban-sidhe and Samhain. I'm also curious to see who can figure out the twists before they're sprung!

We Know The Truth, Do You? - Area 51 anthology

Don't bother with the raid. Stay home and learn all about it from the comfort of your own home.

What's in Area 51? Is the government hiding aliens? Elvis? Maybe the set of the Apollo moon landing? Do you know?

We do.

Join this multi-genre group as they explore the hidden recesses of Area 51, which up to now have only been whispered conspiracies. Don't bother with the raid. Stay home, read these awesome stories, and learn all you need to know.

The truth is just a page-flip away.

All proceeds will go to US Veterans.

Website

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New covers, website, and lessons learned #writerslife

First new cover!

Fearless finally has a cover it deserves! Though I'm already itching to make another. I'm telling myself to wait until next year. I need to get some writing done!

The book got a little boost in downloads when I changed the cover on Amazon, but it has settled back into its normal rank. It does all right. It always has downloads every month, but does it convince readers to buy my other books? I don't think so.

Writer Lesson #1: Times have changed. Free books do not lead to sales of your other books.

The TOTEM series!

I LOVE these new covers for the TOTEM series. I spent much more time on them than I anticipated, but it was worth it. The covers are much more urban fantasy than the previous ones.

There have been no bumps up in sales when I changed the covers and the keywords on Amazon. Yet I haven't done any promoting either.

Writer Lesson #2: A great cover and a fantastic story aren't going to sell books. Promotion is key. If you have the means, buy ads.

Feeling quirky!

For the Sasquatch Susies trilogy, I was inspired by my cozy mystery friends. I love their simple and fun covers. These were easy to make and I really love them. I'm going to do up new covers in this style for my other erotica titles. But next year. Need to write.

Writer Lesson #3: Write first. All the other author business can come later.

I've also been fussing around with my website. I left the hosting company and that was a mess. They'd been perfectly fine until I expressed my desire to leave and take my domain name with me. I finally managed to get my domain name from them and registered it with another host. It was half as cheap, and I was feeling good. Then I discovered that if I want to actually use my domain name with my new host, I'm going to have pay more for it. They didn't say this upfront. I had to go digging for it. And the price to use my domain name with them was much more than my former host.

I'm not paying that much money just to attach my domain name to a site. BUT my domain is registered with them, and I can't change that fact for 60 days. I can't even get a refund.

So I've currently moved to a free site on Wix. It will likely be my permanent site from here on out. I like the way it's designed, and it's easy to use. I'm also going to stay here on Blogger for a while. I need to get around to catching up with everyone!

Two lessons learned here.

Writer Lesson #4: Always read the fine print, even when you have to dig for it or ask. Ask for the details even if you don't think there is anything else to know.

Writer Lesson #5: I surveyed several author friends, and many feel that readers don't go to author websites anymore. It isn't essential to have your own site these days. (Don't waste money on your own domain name!) Usually only writers check out other writers' websites. Being present on social media is important, but an Amazon page or a Facebook page is enough as a home base.

It's been a while, but I'm writing again. It's a short Samhain story for my pen name, but at least it's something!

What lessons have you learned lately that you would like to share?

Fantasy and PNR Summer Book Fair

Over 100 authors are participating in this awesome promo!

FREE books and book samples from every sub-genre of Fantasy and PNR. This includes my edgy paranormal, The 13th Floor Complete Collection.

Fill up your e-reader and enjoy the last days of summer with wonderful stories!

Click on the image above or here!

Garden of Ravens is unleashed!

A collection of dark poetry that journeys through folklore, twisted tales, mental breakdowns, and depression.

We hide in shadows

We wither under layers

Sunlight is for beautiful people

Darkness is for us

Store Links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Ravens-Krystal-Jane-Ruin-ebook/dp/B07T1T563Z/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/garden-of-ravens-krystal-jane-ruin/1131936714

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Krystal_Jane_Ruin_Garden_of_Ravens?id=JDabDwAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/garden-of-ravens

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1466734954

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46028426-garden-of-ravens

Bio:

Krystal is a writer of paranormal and supernatural fiction residing in the Tennessee Valley. When she’s not writing, she can be found sipping matcha frappucinos and searching for unicorns in the wild.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/planetkrystal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystalsquared/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKteMnsm90Muk_QQK2qWNjQ

Back to Business #writerslife

After a very busy summer, school is back in session, and I have my writing time back. Woot!

Not that I've done any writing. Very little happened in front of the computer this past season. It's put me even farther behind schedule, but it has also give me a lot of time to think.

I thought I had a pretty good handle on this writing career thing. Loose as it might be at times, I had done my research. I'm smart. But nothing is working. Why isn't it working?!

Perhaps I've been too loose. I need to be tighter with my time management and what I put my time into. I need to seriously get down to business.

First, I'm going to put time limits on what I do and stick with them. Usually when I'm on social media, time gets away from me. No more. It takes away from writing time, and as a writer, the number one thing I need to be doing is writing.

Write in the mornings and write in the afternoons. Write. (Includes revising and editing!)

I need better covers. I created a new cover for The 13th Floor Complete Collection earlier this year, and it has perked up interest in it. (Anything from zero interest is an improvement!) My next task is to make new covers for the majority of my books. Yes, I realize there are a lot of them, but it makes a difference. It will be slow going, but one by one, I can do it.

I will be fixing my social media. First, this will mean a new website. I dropped my provider and I'll be setting up on Wix. I'm working on how to keep my domain name and transfer it over. Wix is not only free, but easy to use. I use it for my pen name and love it. I may move my blog to Wix too. I like Blogger, but it would be convenient to have everything in one place. Has anyone had experience with Wix's blog? Any info would be helpful, please.

Promos do help get new eyes on your books, and I want to participate in more. Yet after years of having books for free in promos, I realize it doesn't help. It's a momentary boost in my Amazon rank, but then it goes back down after the promo is over. It doesn't nab me reviews. Readers are much more likely to leave a review if they pay for something. 99c sales are better or 50% off. That way the readers feel they're getting deals, but they're still paying.

Write. Then write some more.

That's the plan. Rule the world. You and me. Any day. I mean, uh, consolidate, strict schedule, new looks, and write.

How do you handle the business of being of a writer?

Levels of Romance - guest post by Tara Tyler

Thank you for giving me some space at your place, Christine!

Let me start by saying, Christine is a tremendous romance writer on many levels! I’m usually not a romance novel reader myself, much less romance writer, but I do love some sexual/emotional tension in a story, and Christine does a great job at bringing that intensity into her paranormal romances. She also has a talent at the deeper romantic interludes... So today, I'm discussing the many

Levels of Romance

From friendship, bro-mance, and puppy love all the way through to intense relationships and erotica, the world loves reading about love. It's so complex, intriguing, captivating, and at times, infuriating. If you can touch someone's heart with your writing, you can hook a reader for life. And you can inject love into any level of writing...

Middle Grade (PG) - Puppy Love & Crushes
Kids at this age are on the cusp of puberty. They know each other exist, but are not ready to do much about it. The thoughts are budding and attempts might be made via texts, notes, nudges, and pigtail-pulling. Does she like him? Does he like-like her? Here, the distractions and complications begin!

Young Adult (PG-13) - First Love
Some might call this the scariest time in a person's life. The first big transition in their lives--more freedom yet more responsibility, exploration, risk, less brain function as its needed for the physical transformations which also mean more raging hormones. Yikes! Then there's peer pressure and fear of rejection. Many times innocence is lost too soon. But these stories are definitely full of high-tension emotions. Still rather not see the graphic scenes, if possible please...

New Adult (R) - Love Adventures
20-somethings are insane--I remember. And everyone I talk to remembers. It's college, more involved experimentation, dating stages, games and assumptions, finding out what works and what doesn't, break-ups, cheating partners. There are emotional roller coasters when physical intimacy is involved as this age group seeks love that will last and/or decides what they want to do with their lives...

Adult (M) - Love Relationships
These books deal with the above and more, marriage, divorce, families, boredom that leads to cheating, electronic devices, etc. And the sex scenes are explicit, sometimes leaving the plot behind.

That's just my personal breakdown. Not all novels have to include sex or romance, but it definitely makes them more exciting and appealing. And not all romance novels lack a good story. I believe it's the most profitable, based on the size of the section it has in bookstores, eh?

Personally, I like "light" romance, and mostly because of Christine and Heather M. Gardner and Elizabeth Seckman. They all weave excellent stories with the added enticement of romantic entanglements. Check them out and add their books to your summer reading list!

What about you? How much romance do you enjoy in a novel?


Thanks again, Christine for letting me ramble about my thoughts on romance in writing. But more for all your help and support with my WINDY HOLLOW release!

There's a touch of romance in Beast World because with teens, they can't hide their feelings! And they're so busy with the adventure, the romance can get in the way...

WINDY HOLLOW
Beast World MG Fantasy Series, book #3
by Tara Tyler
Available NOW!

This summer, Gabe and his friends fly over the Great Sea for the wedding of the century: a dragon prince and a beautiful harpy. But Gabe can't relax on this vacation. Besides competing in rigorous wedding events, he overhears the nearby human village WINDY HOLLOW is in danger from an evil human scientist and a vengeful were-ogre experimenting on beasts. Gabe and his friends risk crossing the mountains to help, despite several warnings. 

Maybe he's going too far this time, but he's in too deep to quit. It's do or die, hopefully not die!

Paperback ~~~ Ebook

Goodreads

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her husband and one boy left in the nest. She has two series, Pop Travel (sci-fi detective thrillers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures), plus her UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She's a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife—someday she might write a book on that... Make every day an adventure!

website: Tara Tyler Talks

twitter: @taratylertalks

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