Keyword Tags and Reviews on Amazon

Today I want to ask for a favor. But don't worry, if you do me a favor, I will return in kind. I'd like some help in marketing my Young Adult Paranormal novel, Ghost Betweens. If you could click on the title, it'll take you to the appropriate page on Amazon. If you scroll down below the reviews, you'll see a section called "Tags Customers Associate with This Product." Here's where the favor comes in. Even if you haven't read it, can you check the boxes next to the tags? And if you have read it, and if you think there are some other tags that apply, feel free to create those new ones. All of this will help customers find my book.

Another way to help me sell the book is by posting a review for it. If you've read the book, I'd be delighted if you left a review on my Ghost Betweens site on Amazon. Even if it's just two or three lines, that's quite helpful. Please leave an honest review (though, of course, I'm hoping it will be positive!). And if you don't have a copy of the book yet, I'll be releasing it for free for the Kindle starting tomorrow, June 28, until Saturday, June 30. Download a copy, give it a read, and give me a review! If you don't have a Kindle, you can turn most any device into one with a free Kindle Reader App.

At the beginning of this post, I did promise I would return the favor. If you check the tags on Ghost Betweens, in the comment section below, leave me a link to your book on Amazon, and I will gladly check the tags for you. This way, we both get that little bit extra help in marketing our books. Remember, readers like to use keywords when searching for something to read on Amazon, so this will help. And if you pick up a free copy of Ghost Betweens and leave an honest review, I will gladly read your book and leave a review. Remember, positive reviews help sell books, and I'm confident enough in my story that if you enjoy YA Paranormal books, I think you'll get a kick out of Ghost Betweens.

If you do leave a review for me on Amazon, please let me know in the comments below, message me in Twitter (@ericjkrause), or find me on Facebook (The Fictional World of Eric J. Krause). Give me the link to your book on Amazon, and when you plan on promoting it for free so I can download a copy. I'll put your book at the top of my "to-read" list and I'll leave a review for you on Amazon. All sound good? You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. We Indie Authors need to stick together, right?

Writing Prompt #106

Here is this week's speculative fiction prompt. I'm not labeling it this week, so take it whatever direction you choose. Have fun with it!

The heat and humidity begin to melt people. Literally.

Friday Flash: Behind the Glass

Behind the Glass

by Eric J. Krause

Donny didn't notice the blood spilling from his nose. He didn't realize his left eye had already begun the process of swelling shut. The three loose teeth in his mouth--one on top and two below--didn't cross his mind. All that mattered at the moment was the reflection in the mirror. No, not his, but what was behind him, beyond him.

Bronco and his cronies caught up to Donny after school in Pride Park. Donny was lab partners with Jessica Tanner in chemistry class, and Bronco figured that meant Donny and Jessica had a thing. Though it wasn't true (Donny wouldn't have said no, but the problem was Jessica wouldn't have said yes), it made perfect sense that Bronco would consider that the only explanation. After all, he couldn't spell chemistry. Heck, he probably didn't even know what letter it started with.

Bronco had a crush--a mad crush--on Jessica, and anyone he noticed getting close to her got a beat down. Now Donny found himself on that list without earning it. Jessica had already put him in the dreaded friend zone for which there was no escaping for guys like him. Did Bronco understand that? Of course not. He still didn't understand why it was called tying his shoes when all he had to do was connect the Velcro strips.

But who cared about all of that? What mattered was in the mirror. Another world. A world where Bronco couldn't get him.

Or did he just have a concussion? Maybe he was just seeing things. Maybe? Ha! No doubt about it. Medieval castles surrounded by a lush forest, his idea of heaven, didn't show up in mirrors in a public park restroom. Or any mirror, for that matter. No, Bronco and his crew added a brain bruise to the bargain.

Donny put his hand up to the glass and gasped. It gave a little, as if made of a sheet of plexiglass. He pushed again, this time harder, and his hand disappeared in a sploosh. Dare he go further? It wasn't like Bronco would stop. Donny would remain lab partners with Jessica, and Bronco would still be after him, probably with worse results next time.

That made up his mind. He pushed his arm in further and watched in awe as it disappeared. He couldn't see it on the other side, but that didn't bother him. He'd be in the castle universe soon enough, far away from Bronco. He shoved his other arm in and crawled up onto the counter, where he threw his entire body through.

*****

Donny opened his eyes and found himself in a long, dark corridor, no castle in sight. He looked back at the mirror, the back side of it, with a full view of that public restroom. On the floor, sprawled out as if dead, lay his body. He pushed against the glass to get back, but this time his hands wouldn't pass through.

He pounded against the glass, but it still wouldn't budge. He couldn't leave his body lying there helpless. He sagged against the mirror and let out a huge sigh. What else could he do? He turned and looked down the dark corridor. A bright light now shone at the other end. He started towards it.

Game of Seven

This week on Facebook, the Game of Seven writing meme made its rounds, and I had a blast participating. Here are the rules: Go to page 7 or 77 of your latest work. Read down to the seventh line and then post online the next seven lines or sentences.

I started my latest project, Dragon Dreams, on Monday, so I'm taking my 7 lines from page 7. Since it's a first draft, these lines haven't been edited in any way, so take them as you will. Dragon Dreams is the sequel to Dragon Guard, a book I have coming out next February from Hunt Press. This is a planned trilogy.

As they buckled up and pulled the shoulder restraints down, he could feel all of her concentration on him. "Fine," she said. "I don't get it, but if it's that important to you, we'll go. I'll speak the incantation. You picture Rico's realm and keep me in mind."
"Okay. Thanks, Andi. I love you."
"You better," she said, but he heard the smile in her voice. "And I'm not kidding about browsing extra-long in the jewelry and gem store."

Hope you enjoyed the (very) brief peek at my latest project!

Writing Prompt #105

Here is this week's speculative fiction prompt. I'm not labeling it this week, so take it whatever direction you choose. Have fun with it!

Days begin to run backwards.

The Blessed "Ah-Ha" moment

I'm guessing most writers are like me: when we write, we live for that "Ah-ha" moment. That time when something in our story clicks to bring the story new meaning, or make it bigger/better. You might have your own definition of your "Ah-ha" moment, but for all writers, it's a wonderful thing. Your subconscious just saved your bacon (even if you didn't realize it needed saving).

Honestly, since I plot so heavily before I even attempt my 1st draft (heck, my outline could probably be called my 1st draft), I don't get the "Ah-ha" moment all that often. I know where I'm going, and I know how I want to get there. It's simply a matter of filling in the blanks. My "Ah-ha" moments come before I really start--so that's the hook of the story; so that's how I want to end it; so that's the villain's master plan; etc. It works well for me, and when I start plotting, I can usually chug along pretty well without huge surprises.

Which makes days like today especially worthwhile. I'm almost done plotting the second book in my modern fantasy trilogy (the first one should be available sometime in the beginning of 2013 thanks to Hunt Press), and I know how it's going to end. I'm just filling in a few more blanks to get there. As I was plotting today, I started on the final climactic battle, and my blood ran cold. What the heck? I hadn't done anything I hadn't planned on. And then it dawned on me (my subconscious mind decided to finally spill the beans): a horrific event to my two main characters was about to happen. No, I told myself. That can't happen. What does it mean to the rest of this book and to book 3? And then it dawned on me: Ah-ha! It means much despair and hardship for the two main characters, plus it makes the ending to this book much more believable. Ah-ha!

I think if my subconscious hadn't spoken up, I would have still had a great, compelling ending that led well into book 3. But now I have something even better. So what I'm saying is listen to your subconscious, you muse, as some writers like to say. It'll likely take your story in a way you hadn't anticipated, but that's great. If the subconscious mind thinks it's a great idea, you should probably listen; it likely would have buried it in a corner of your mind where you never would have seen it if it wasn't any good. And just for the fun of it (I know it was great fun for me today), when this happens to you, say it out loud: Ah-ha! Happy writing, everyone!

Writing Prompt #104

Here is this week's speculative fiction prompt. I'm not labeling it this week, so take it whatever direction you choose. Have fun with it!

Terrorists create an app that instantly kills anyone who downloads it.