Getting "Cocky"

Before I get to the crux of this Blog, I realized it's been almost a year since I posted! My class this year has been busy and challenging (in good ways) and now that they will be graduating in two weeks I will have more time to post and write!

LANE MERGE, Book 3, will hopefully be out at the end of summer. It's currently at the editor and my cover artist is on "hold" for a cover. Fingers crossed everything falls where it should...

Now, onto the cockiness.

What do you think of trademarking a word? Like "Cocky"? Here's the article I refer to. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Trademarking "Cocky"

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller...Here!

I am still here! School is finally out and I'm only working PT over the summer so I've settled down and now I can begin editing book 3 of the Lane Changes Saga. This one is called "Lane Merge" and I've had it beta read. Next step is another edit, then paying an editor then more edits! I hope to have it out before the end of the year.

However, a story about a future character in the Lane-verse grabbed my attention and in a month I wrote 60K words. (That could be one reason, other than work, that I didn't edit "Lane Merge" yet...). I have such a back log of stories with future characters I may be into my 60's by the time I get them all written, edited and possibly out in to the reading world.

I hope everyone is having a great summer. Sending positive reading vibes your way!

You can buy Lane Changes here via Amazon or here at Smashwords.
You can buy Lane Divides here via Amazon or here at Smashwords.

IWSG: I Just Published My Second Book...

IWSG is short for Insecure Writer's Support Group and is for people who write and feel insecure. Or, maybe you don't write and want to just read about how we are insecure :-) Either way, come visit their site: ISWG

I just published LANE DIVIDES, book 2 in the LANE CHANGES SAGA. I was thinking, as I was driving home from work today, that I don't have an elevator pitch for this. Then, it hit me...Lane Meyers and her family--from book 1 to book 6--is like The Kennedys. Accomplishments and Tragedies befall them but Lane and her family just keep on moving through, coming out the other end stronger than before. No one becomes President in the Lane-verse though. (Thanks to a fellow beta reader for that term).

I would love for anyone to read and review. Or read and pass it on. If you are interested, please let me know via this blog or my email: authorannajadams@gmail.com

Thank you! You can buy it for your e-reader or in paperback from Amazon or if you have a CreateSpace account from there as well.

Thanks to my wonderful cover creator I found on Fiverr who has done this cover and Book 1: LANE CHANGES. Fiverr is a great way to pay a small amount and get a great cover and other services like marketing and audio books. Check them out if you haven't and are in the market!

IWSG: It's Been Awhile; What's Going On?

I have been so busy between working, holidays and writing I forgot about posting for the Insecure Writers Support Group! Please visit them here: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

 I was feeling conflicted last summer when my editor gave me back the edits for book two in the LANE CHANGES Saga. I put it aside, then asked two betas to read it, then a friend and got some feedback that pulled me out of my funk.

So, LANE DIVIDES now has a cover and I'm in the process of tweaking and getting ready to upload to CreateSpace, Amazon etc. I am shooting for a February 24th release! A preview of the cover for Kindle:

As one beta said, "Lane has some shit to work through!" I appreciate everyone who has read my blog, posts or maybe even Lane Changes. Does anyone have any exciting news about books or any other arts they are working on??

Blurb for LANE DIVIDES: 

Lane Meyers thought her life had settled down as she entered college on a full scholarship. Her boyfriend, Rob Holland, was doing well in the Army. The girl who had terrorized Lane in high school was far away and getting the help she needed.  Also, Sam Seeley, a fellow swimmer and high school classmate seems to have found his niche in dating other girls and not pursuing Lane.

Then why did every year in college bring something more challenging for her and her friends?

Partying & Safety--F

Psychology of Love--C

Relationships with Opposite Sex--C

Communications--A

Sociology of Roommates--D

The Art of Line Drawing--D

Independent Living--A

Military Understanding--B

Looking back on her real-life report card, Lane realizes whenever a Meyers, Holland and Seeley are in the same area she can't divide her attention equally so she must make the decision of one over the other. Permanently.

IWSG: Feeling a bit...defeated

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support. 
You can visit them here .

So, I received my editors notes, and another talented reader's notes, on LANE MERGE which is book two in the LANE CHANGES Saga and there is quite a bit I need to do. I stepped back from this book over the last two months, which means it'll be released a bit later than I anticipated. As the book and notes flitted through my head over the last few months, I realized I didn't have the amount of beta readers and friends reading it that I had with the first book. I asked, I went on social media and found only three people willing to read it. Between working five days a week, taking a college class and volunteering I haven't felt like tackling it to rework parts of the story line.

The bright light at the end of the tunnel?  A friend of mine graciously offered to read the third book and after each one she wanted the next...and yesterday I sent her the LAST one in the LANE CHANGES Saga...the seventh book. It was rewarding to know someone was reading it; they liked the same parts I did and even mentioned a few things that stuck out to her as the editor and one beta reader did. So, those scenes I know I really should change!

I still feel a bit defeated and promised myself any criticism wouldn't get me down, but it has derailed me for a bit. What do you do, as an author, to get back on the horse and keep working? I know writing is subjective to the reader, like a piece of artwork; not everyone is going to like it. But, the amount I need to work on is a bit daunting!

Very Good Advice Regarding Promoting Pre-Orders Of Your Books

Since I am heavily into editing LANE CHANGES via CreateSpace (I always find something small I have to fix) I took a break and "Liked" Smashwords on Facebook. A few posts down was this link on pre-orders. I realized, THIS IS ME! The second book will be out this fall and as I've been obsessing over book one, I realize I need to spread the love.

I need to buckle down and write a blurb for Book Two, LANE DIVIDES.
I found a great cover designer online and need to pick his brain about the cover for book two.
I need to go to all my media outlets and set up the info for LANE DIVIDES.

I'm excited! I have two beta readers reading LANE DIVIDES now, have contacted my editor who has time to read it so...look for Book Two in the fall. I'm hoping it'll be up by October as having two children in high school marching band will take up most of my weekends until November!

IWSG: My Book Is Out There (Runs and Hides)

Insecure Writer's Support Group is a group of writers who post their thoughts the first Wednesday of every month and try to visit at least 10 new blogs and leave comments and support for their fellow authors! You can check out the webpage here.

So, LANE CHANGES is out for the public to read, enjoy, dislike, or whatever they feel like doing with my story. What is weird is I've told certain people I don't see everyday but I haven't told my family directly (parents, sister etc) and I think it's because I am waiting for more reviews to come in. I have one five star which is amazing, but getting a better view of what others think is something I'd love to see. I've asked people to read and leave reviews but those messages on FB pages, BlogPosts, Twitter get lost because so many people post right after me. Finally, a friend on Instagram found two people who wanted to read and review and so they are.

A fellow author told me besides SMASHWORDS there is Draft2Digital who helps get your ebook out there among some other sites SMASHWORDS doesn't. So, now it's out on sites I didn't even know existed! I'm excited, hesitant, scared and happy all at once.

If you are interested in  Young Adult Romance/Mystery, then you can get it free through July from Smashwords or 99cents from the sites listed at the bottom of this post.

I also made a webpage on Wix which was extremely easy! Definitely more user friendly than Wordpress.

LANE CHANGES--back blurb:

I waited until the last two years of high school to take Spanish and am now one of only three seniors; Sam and Rob are the others. Every day we have to conjugate verbs and today, the teacher was in a rare mood.

Amar: to love

That's what I associated with Rob Holland, the newest student at Naylorville High who somehow has the power to make me blush, stammer and trip all at once.

Molestar: to annoy

That should be Sam Seeley's middle name. Since seventh grade he has annoyed me to the point where I should earn a gold medal for ignoring him.

Matar: to kill

This is what I want to do to the person putting black origami roses in my locker, writing hateful notes, rude emails and texts and throwing a rock at my bedroom window.

Nadar: to swim

My one talent. A college scholarship I desperately need. Something I never thought I wouldn't be able to do until an "accident" cuts my swim season short.

Aprender: to learn

I have a lot to learn. About Rob and how emotionally stunted a person can be. About Sam and how his life isn't better than anyone else's. About how one friend's mental illness can have lasting effects. About love. About myself...Lane Meyers.

Available from the following:

Foundry/Inktera

Scribd

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Nook

Goodreads

Kobo

iBooks: Lane Changes

Smashwords

My webpage: authorannajadams.wixsite.com/lanechanges