Bikers, Buyers and Books. Oh My!

A couple of days ago, I received a message on my Facebook page from an unlikely reader.  The self-described "old bearded biker" wanted to let me know how much he enjoyed Special Offers.  Definitely far afield from my usual reader demo-graphic.  Nevertheless, this guy really enjoyed the book.  And he liked it enough to plunk down more bucks for the sequel, Special Rewards.  I asked if he could post a review on Amazon, and he did.  When he finished Special Rewards (the next day, in fact),  he left another 5-star review:

"I'm an old bearded biker who is not usually into reading romance novels. With that said, M.L.Ryan's books are not the usual romance novels. She blends romance, fantasy, and humor, (With a light touch of SF) into a funny/sexy tale that I could not put down. I enjoyed both Special Rewards and her first book, Special Offers so much that I read them each cover to cover in one sitting. I love a book that keeps you guessing the whole way through, and Ms. Ryan's books do that admirably. I came across these books by accident (was looking for Amazon special offers/discounts), and I'm very glad that I did. OK Ms. Ryan, get cracking on the next one!"

In the days since he posted, the sales for Special Offers have increased significantly.  I have no definitive information that his reviews have made the difference, but I am clinging to the idea that all the new buyers are biker dudes!  I'm hoping this means a whole new group of people will hear about my books.  And maybe the word will spread to some other under appreciated bunch of readers, like Daughters of the American Revolution members who also enjoy paranormal fantasy or firefighters who get hot reading about a girl who can blow things up.  Hey, the possibilities are endless.

This is a perfect example of how leaving a review can make a difference to us fledgling indie authors.  We all secretly hope that one day, some influential someone - you, know, like the book editor for the New York Times - will be randomly searching for a new read and come across our tome.  Of course, they will be entranced with our masterpiece and write an article urging everyone to buy this little gem.  A delusional scenario?  Probably.  But that's kind of what happened with my biker.  I'm not saying his influence will be equivalent to that of a NYT book editor, but he is someone unexpected that feels passionate enough about what he just read to actually message an author to let her know. 

So remember - if you like it, review it!  And authors like to hear from readers.  It makes us feel as though someone (other than our loved ones who have to say nice things whether they mean it or not) appreciates all the hard work.  

The Next Big Thing!

Welcome to the NEXT BIG THING Blog Hop!

What is a blog hop?  It’s a way for readers to discover new authors. I hope you'll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy. On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information about me and one of my books along with links to five other authors you can explore.

My gratitude to fellow author, Adrienne deWolfe, for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following links to learn more about Adrienne and her books.

Her Next Big Thing: http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/blog-hop-for-authors/2013/01/

Her Website: http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com

Her books: http://ebookdiscovery.com/AdrienneDeWolfe.html 

In this blog hop, my fellow authors and I, in our respective blogs, have answered 10 questions about our current book or work-in-progress. We've also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write--the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make.

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!

1. What is the  title of your book?  The title is Special Offers, the first book in the Coursodon DImension Series

2. Where did the idea come from for the series?  I had just purchased my full-priced Kindle when I saw Amazon was selling less expensive versions that came with “special offers.”  I thought what if the Kindles were cheaper because they came with some fiendish spirit?  Originally, I imagined something like a havoc - wreaking poltergeist, but that quickly changed into the annoying, yet ingratiating Sebastian Kess.  

The first book - Special Offers - introduces Hailey Parrish, a 30 year-old divorcee who milks chinchilla for a living and hadn't had a date in three years.  She only wanted an eBook reader because her collection of paperbacks threatened to take over her small living space.  Little did she know that the "special offers" that prompted her purchase included much more than just a reduced price in exchange for a few ads.  The device came pre-loaded with the essence of Sebastian Kess, an erudite womanizer with magical abilities from a parallel dimension. When she inadvertently releases him and he inhabits her body, she finally has a man inside her, just not in the way she imagined.  Hailey must come to grips with the existence of Coursodon, the parallel dimension, and the realization that magical non-humans walk the world all while dealing with Sebastian's annoying banter in her head.  Her predicament also introduces her to another supernatural, the handsome could-be-the-man-of-her-dreams Alex Sunderland.  The action moves from Hailey's hometown of Tucson, Arizona to New Hampshire and across Europe as she and Alex try to return Sebastian to his own body while staying one step ahead of the criminals that want to keep him right where he is.

3.  What is the genre of your book?  It’s Urban Fantasy/Paranormal with some romance and an occasional steamy scene or two.  I think it’s a little difficult to place the series completely in a specific genre—it has aspects of the paranormal, fantasy and a lot of humor.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  Yikes!  That’s tough. I think every reader should determine what characters look like based on their own imagination and I am a little hesitant to influence anyone with my ideas.  However, if I had to pick actors to bring the characters to life on the big screen I’d choose Mila Kunis for Hailey, Alexander Skarsgard for Alex and John Stamos for Sebastian.  But none of them are exactly what I picture for the characters.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your series?  It’s about a woman who is possessed by a supernatural being from another dimension who was previously trapped in her Kindle eBook reader.

6. Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?  All my books are self-published.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  Each book has taken about six months from start to finish.  Unfortunately, I have to split my writing time with my day job, so it takes longer than it might if I could focus only on the writing.  I try to write something, even if it is just a paragraph, every day.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  People have compared my work to Rose Pressey’s, probably because of the humor.  But I don’t think there are any books quite like this series.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?  I've always made up stories and I finally decided to free up some space in my brain by letting some of them out and writing them down.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  This is the best review quote I've ever received:

"Do you enjoy romance with a paranormal twist with a splash of humor that will make you snort Pepsi out of your nose if you take a drink at the wrong moment? Then this book is for you."

My writing made someone snort a beverage out their nose!!

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Below you will find authors who will be joining me virtually, via blog, next Wednesday. Please be sure to bookmark their sites, and add them to your calendars for updates on their upcoming books! Happy Writing and Reading!

1. Thianna D  Author of Erotic Romance

2. Christine Steendam Romance Author

3. Amber Lea Easton  Mysteries/Thrillers

4. Andrea Goodson  Author of Romantic Suspence

5. Cygnet Brown Author of Historical Romance

Six Sentence Sunday!

This Sunday's snippet comes from Special Rewards, Book 2 of the Coursodon Dimension Series.  I cheated a little and added an extra sentence, so it's really seven sentence Sunday this time.

Here's the setup:  In the first book, Special Offers, Sebastian's soul inhabited Hailey through most of the story.  And for a short time, Alex's soul was stuck inside Angelica, another Coursodon enforcer.  In this scene, Hailey overhears Alex and Sebastian as they discuss what it was like to really experience what it is to be a woman.

~~~~****~~~~

As I eavesdropped, I heard Alex remark, “If nothing else, it gave me a new level of appreciation for what it’s like to be female.”

Sebastian nodded in agreement.  “I experienced it only second hand, but I cannot fathom how they tolerate PMS.”

“At least Hailey is relatively even-keeled to begin with.  Try going through it in the body of a temperamental maniac like Angelica.”  

Then, they both became quiet and stared blankly into space.  I decided that must be the extent of the male bonding encounter.  

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Thanks for stopping by.  Check out all the other great sixes at Six Sentence Sunday.

Six Sentence Sunday November 25

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by for another 6.  This week's snippet is from Special Rewards, Book Two of the Coursodon Dimension Series.

In the first book -- Special Offers -- Hailey was possessed by the spiritual essence a magically inclined enforcer from Coursodon, a parallel dimension.  Sebastian (or Sebastard, as she frequently calls him), had been trapped in her Kindle and was transferred into Hailey when she first used the eBook reader.  But sharing your body with a supernatural being can have its downside....

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In the end, Sebastian was returned to his own body and, much like a paranormal hostess gift, I was left with a tiny bit of his power.  So far, my only magical talent was the unsettling habit of destroying things when I got really pissed off.  The object of these grueling exercises was to make sure I didn’t accidentally blast someone into oblivion just because they cut in front of me in traffic.  Okay, I only did that once, and I didn’t zap them, just their car.  Magical prowess really brought a new level of nastiness to road rage.  If not for my new Courso friends’ abilities to alter human recollection, a bunch of unsuspecting people would be wondering why the bumper on someone’s F-150 pickup randomly exploded. 

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Thanks again for checking out my post-Black Friday 6.  While you are here, spend some time looking at some of my other posts. Then check out more Six Sentence Sunday snippets.

Six Sentence Sunday 11/11/12

Today's Six comes from Special Offers.  Hailey has become inhabited by the spiritual essence of Sebastian Kess, an arrogant womanizer from another dimension who was trapped in her Kindle. She can hear Sebastian in her head, and he isn't the type to keep quiet.  

In this snippet, Hailey wakes up aroused. While she has previously experienced erotic dreams, she's certain Sebastian is responsible for the uncharacteristic self-gratification in which she finds herself engaged. Sebastian swears he  isn't forcing her to feel herself up, and insists she is just responding to his insatiable sexual needs. Needs that haven't been met in the months he's been either stuck in the Kindle or Hailey.

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Why, pray tell, is this problematic, it’s no different than if you had an erotic dream and this way we both get the benefits.”

“Except I don’t have to deal with my fantasies once I wake up. I won’t be able to look you, uh, myself in the eye afterwards.”

“You could have sex with someone else; that would satisfy my cravings.”

“I am not going to sleep with some guy just so you can get your rocks off.”

“While I am not theoretically opposed to sexual liaisons with members of the same sex, I was thinking more along the lines of you sleeping with a woman. That friend of yours, Rachel, she would be perfect. Her breasts are sublime.”

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Thanks for stopping by.  Check out all the other authors' Six Sentences at Six Sentence Sunday.

Six Sentence Sunday November 4

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY

This is my first Six Sentence Sunday, where authors blog six sentences from one of their masterpieces.  Thanks to Thianna D. for giving me a heads up on this creative opportunity!

Today’s six comes from Special Offers, the first book in the Coursodon Dimension Series.  It’s about Hailey, a 30 year-old, chinchilla-milking book fanatic who bites the bullet and buys a Kindle when her ever-expanding collection of paperbacks threatens to take over her living space.  Unbeknownst to her, it comes pre-loaded with a magically-inclined guy from a parallel dimension and Sebastian’s spiritual essence takes up residence inside of Hailey the first time she turns on the eBook reader.  Believe me, it’s not easy sharing your body with an arrogant, opinionated womanizer, particularly when you still have some unresolved trust issues courtesy of your cheating ex-husband.

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After negotiating a payment plan with the restaurant owner - which involved allowing him to indulge his foot fetish with my pinkie toes and some flavored whipped cream - I left the place and got into my car, which was really weird, because my date drove.  There in the parking lot were dine-and-dash and the hostess, groping each other with utter abandon.  I revved up the engine, threw the car into drive and peeled out towards them.  The headlights illuminated their stunned faces as I spun the car sharply, rolled down the window and chucked a lit Molotov cocktail made from the empty wine bottle from dinner at them and sped off humming the theme to “The Lion King.”

I woke up thinking I must be making progress.  Usually in my dreams I ran them over after I set them on fire.

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Hope you enjoyed the six sentences.  As long as you’re here, check out the rest of the blog.  Happy Sunday!