iAi Featured Partner of the month: Benjamin X. Wretlind, author of Sketches from the Spanish Mustang

Sketches from the Spanish Mustang by Benjamin X. Wretlind

This month, I am really pleased to post about this excellent book from one of my partners at independent Authors international (iAi.)

 

There are dreams of fire, blood, twisted metal and faint, dying cries carried on the wind.

The Artist sits at a table in a casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado. She is broken, alone, and she is waiting. She's waiting for redemption, waiting for a chance to prove she can really see through someone else's eyes. As she waits, she sketches those around her, those who keep secrets buried deep.

All people have secrets, and some of them are every bit as dark as the Artist's own. There is the immigrant looking for fortune and finding death along the way. There is the woman running for her life, desperate to hide in a small town that is, for its own sake, trying to live again. There is the angry man, jilted by his now dead wife, looking for revenge. There is the veteran who can't remember, the woman about to lose her mother, and the drunk who doesn't want to be what people see on the outside. There are more people, everywhere, and all of them have secrets.

Written as a series of interconnected vignettes, each person's story is both intriguing and magical. As the mystery of the woman's sketches unfolds, life unravels with it.  This is the Artist's gift--to uncover the hidden in life.  Yet gifts can be curses, and curses can be secret.

Remembering is penance.

Great Reading with the Next Big Thing Blog Hop

My Friend Scott Bury a really excellent writer, journalist and editor, and founder of the exiting new organization independent Authors international  has tagged me for The Next Big Thing blog hop. Scott was originally tagged by travel writer and blogger Autumn Birt, and I am trying help get some notoriety for several great Indie authors I know.

The idea behind the Next Big Thing is to answer a set list of questions about your work in progress, then tag five more authors to do the same thing.

So, here are my answers for My Next Big Thing:

What is the working title of your book?

Anabar's Night

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It is the third book in my series about Anabar. The first two books were Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises. Anabar is a young man who is humble and really nothing special. He does dream of leaving to see what the world is like outside his isolated valley home. Along the way he encounters adventures and adversity, and amazing success, but ultimately decides to risk thing to try to bring peace to his land.

What genre does your book fall under?

Action/Adventure for middle grade readers.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

For Anabar, Chandler Riggs from "The Walking Dead" television series. He does a great job of playing a strong character who may not fit the typical physical stereotype of a fiction hero.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When forced to defend his family agaisnt his enemy, young Anabar's biggest battle is trying to save his humanity.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Most likely, I will self-publish Anabar's Night, but I would definitely consider an offer from  traditional publisher.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I do not know yet as I am just gettng started. I typically write more in the summer, so I plan to finish it by next August.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

The Ranger's Apprentice series, except that Anabar has no magical abilities. He becomes a hero through his strenghth and determination.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to tell the story of how anyone can do something great. It does not take wealth, or royal blood, or special powers.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I think readers will enjoy seeing how Anabar struggles with maintaining his basic goodness as a person. He will have no choice but to act harshly in order to save and protect his family, and it will be difficult for him remain the same person.

Here are the authors I have tagged for The Next Big Thing blog hop:

Michelle Isenhoff
Mike Poeltl
Timothy Davis
Susanna Leonard Hill
Cheryl Carpinello

Featured iAi Partner this Month: Elise Stokes, author of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula

Read Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula and book #2 of the series, cassidy Jones and the Vulcan's Gift. Available by Elise Stokes at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers.

Introducing Independent Writers International

I have had the great privilege to join Independent Writers International, an exciting new force in publish. Please see our website to learn about our outstanding authors and  to learn about our effort to change the publishing industry.

Here is the text from our press release:

Authors’ cooperative venture changes the publishing world — again

iAi to be a symbol of quality and professionalism in publishing

A group of writers, marketers and designers unaffiliated with publishers have banded together to create their own publishing model, “Independent Authors International (iAi).”

The new organization, whose members hail from across the U.S. and around the world, aims to support and legitimize the independent author movement, and bring new voices to readers throughout the world.

“Recently developed technologies like e-readers and print-on-demand make it now possible for individual writers to publish books without the resources of a large commercial publishing enterprise,” says iAi spokesperson, Scott Bury.

“The iAi co-operative will help professional authors by bringing together the skills and services that a commercial publisher offers, while leaving the authors in control of their work, at a fraction of the cost, and with a much more responsive and personal touch.”

The iAi's goal is to help its members produce quality, professional works recognized by literary agents, publishers, booksellers, and readers. The group is a democratic, cooperative organization controlled by its members.

Membership is granted by invitation of existing members. The group vets prospective members to ensure they meet the professional writing, editing, and marketing standards of the iAi.

To receive the services of the organization, members must contribute their editing, production, or marketing skills to other members.

Anabar's Run now 99 cents!

I have decided to lower the price for my middle grade novel(ebook version) Anabar's Run to 99 cents. I'm following the lead of wildly successful author Joe Konrath, who recently dropped the price of his books to 99 cents to stimulate more sales.
I am also continuing with my promise to donate one half of my 2012 sales to The Relief Bus, an organization that provides food and clothing to the homeless in New York City. Please continue to help me in this effort and spread the word through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and other online sources.
Anabar's run is an action/adventure story suited for children ages 8 - 12. It has excitement and a likable main character, Anabar, who has no magical powers, wealth, or royal blood. I want my young readers to see that anyone can be successful. In the end, my Anabar series contains a strong message of peace, which I think is important for young people to hear. You can learn more about Anabar and my second novel, Anabar Rises, at my Anabar Series Blog, an exciting, fun site for my readers.
Finally, I want to remind my readers that they can now buy Anabar's Run in paperback. This is major new development in my writing career

New Hand-Drawn Maps and Photos on My Anabar Series Blog

I have just added two hand-drawn maps and some photographs on my Anabar Series Blog. If you have never seen it, please take a look. Better yet, have a kid look at the blog. My books Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises are best suited for kids aged 8 - 12, and I designed the blog to be a safe, fun site for them to learn more about the books. So far, the blog has maps, photos, excerpts, posters, journal entries, and poetry. It is all original and add to the experience of reading Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises.

Anabar's Run Now in Paperback!

Anabar's Run is now available in paperback as well as an ebook. I used Amazon's Create Space program to convert my first novel Anabar's Run into a paperback. I am hoping readers will enjoy reading the book in this format.
Please also check out my fun Anabar Series Blog where I have lots of original features for my readers. I have new hand-drawn maps and photographs, journal entries, poems, and other details from the books. I am very proud of my blog, and feel that it is really unique.
Finally, please help me help the homeless by purchasing Anabar's Run as either a paperback or ebook. I'm donating one half of my profits from 2012 to support the Relief Bus, a wonderful organization that helps people in the New York City area. Please check out this post where I have a link to an interview with Angel, a very special friend I met in the Bronx in March.

Will Granger featured on Indie Saturday page on Randomize Me Blog

I am excited to announce that I am currently being featured on the excellent Randomize Me blog Indie Saturday page. Thanks to Hope for inviting me to talk about my books Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises. I was happy to have the chance to talk about my effort to raise support for the Relief Bus, an organization doing great things for the homeless in New York City. The blog post also includes an excerpt from Anabar's Run.

In the piece, I also talk about my short horror stories featured on my Bad Dreams from Will Granger blog.

Finally, I talk about a bit about one of the most exciting things going on in my writing career. It involves a new organization called Independent Writers International (iAi). I'll sending out a press release soon and posting a great deal of information about the organization. I really believe iAi will soon be a force in the publishing world.

Please check out my feature on the Randomize Me Blog. I hope you will be a regular visitor there and enjoy the book and music reviews and even find some freebies.

Anabar's Run Now Available on Bibliocracy.com

Thanks to the great people at Bibliocracy.com for offering Anabar's Run for sale. I am always excited when my books become available at through another ebook vendor, especially a great source like Bibliocracy.com.
Bibliocracy.com's vision is to "create a unique literary community where authors and artists can promote their work and where readers will discover new talent," and they are offering many great new books from new authors. 
They also provide word processing, cover art, and job search services. Whether you are a reader, writer or artist, you can't go wrong by checking out Bibliocracy.com

One sale this month = $1.50 for the homeless and Angel

Last month I pledged that I would donate one half of my profits for the rest of 2012 for my book Anabar's Run to the Relief Bus, an organization that operates several buses that provide food, clothing, prayers, and other support to homeless people in the New York metropolitan area.
I had one sale since then, and I really do appreciate it. I appreciate it for Angel, a man I met in new York in March. Angel is about 26 years old, and he is homeless. Several years ago, he suffered a savage beating from his brother, which left Angel with brain damage. He has trouble speaking and often repeats himself four or five times when he tries to say something. I remember talking with him when he was shivering on that wet, cold day in the Bronx, and I was struck by how happy he seemed. He was genuinely happy to be talking to other people and was thrilled when the folks on the Relief Bus gave him some soup and bread.
You might be thinking that $1.50 is not much, but I guarantee you that Angel would appreciate it.
Please consider reading Anabar's Run and help me provide a bit more food and clothing to great people like Angel.

Here is a link to a video interview with Angel: You tube interview with Angel
Thanks

My short story Gladitorium Immortuous, featured in The Zombie Times!

Huge thanks go to Zombie Ed and the Terror4fun.com team for posting a feature for my short zombie story Gladitorium Immortuous in the March issue of their excellent newsletter, The Zombie Times. The feature is on page 12.

This is really exciting news because The Zombie Times is based in the UK, and I have been working hard to promote and sell my books in the UK. Gladitorium Immortuos is available on Amazon.com.UK and also in the United States.

The Zombie Times is a great looking publication, and they have everything you could ever want about Zombies from book and movie reviews to information on zombie events throughout the UK. I believe it is the best zombie resource on the Internet

Help me to help The Relief Bus provide for the homeless

Two weeks ago, I was lucky to travel with a group of students on a mission trip to New York City. During the week, we worked for three days with The Relief Bus, an organization that operates two buses providing food, clothing, and other assistance to the homeless. It was really great to see our students interacting with the guests who needed so much help.

Here is a video with some information about The Relief Bus:
 

Please check out the Relief Bus Website. They have a great staff, and they, along with their volunteers, make a positive difference in people's lives every day.

Help me to help The Relief Bus. For the rest of 2012, I will donate one half of all my sales for my book Anabar's Run to The Relief Bus. Please check out their website and consider helping this wonderful organization. I'll post weekly updates on sales and what I donate to The Relief Bus.


Thanks,


Will

Anabar's Run reviewed on top kids book blog!

Big thanks go to Erik at his excellent blog, This Kid Reviews Books for reviewing Anabar's Run.
Erik's blog is quickly becoming one of the most popular sites on the web to read honest, well written reviews of kid's books. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians should definitely check out Erik's blog.

Thanks again, Erik!

300 Followers!

I reached 300 followers on Twitter this week at @WillGranger1 so I thought this would be a good time to take a look at what I have done in the past year to create an online platform, or presence.

First, I have my three blogs: My Author Will Granger Blog that you are reading now; my Anabar Series Blog that features my books Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises; and my Bad Dreams by Will Granger Blog where I feature my short horror stories The Deadly Path, Gladitorium Immortuos, and Vampire Truths.
I admit I am a bit surprised when I see all this links, but I have found that I really enjoy all this along with my writing.

In addition to my Twitter account and blogs, I have been working to get established on other social media platforms like my Facebook site; my LinkedIn site; and my Google+ site.


I have also made some good friends online, and I add information on them later today.

173 Downloads of Anabar's Run in 2 Days and my first time on Amazon's top 100 Free Bestseller List

So far my current promotion to offer Anabar's Run for free is going very well with 173 downloads in two days for Amazon US and UK.
There is even more good news as the book has made two of Amazon's bestseller lists. It is ranked #19 on Amazon's US Kindle > Children's ebooks > Action Adventure top 100 free bestseller list. It is also ranked #17 on Amazon's UK Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Literature > Action & Adventure top 100 free bestseller list.
So what does this all mean? Well, I can say for sure that this free promotion is helping get my book some attention. That has to be a good thing. Now I hope this leads to some good reviews and then to some sales. I also hope the people who are downloading the book will want to read Anabar Rises, book #2 in my Anabar series.
For those of you who have downloaded Anabar's Run this week, thanks. This is really good news for me.
P.S. Please check out and follow my Anabar Series Blog. It is a fun site where I am continuing to tell Anabar's Story.
Peace,

Will Granger

Anabar's Run Free on Amazon until Jan 26!

Anabar's Run is now free on Amazon.com until Jan. 26! I just joined Amazon's KDP select program, and after Jan 26, the book will also be available through through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library for Amazon Prime members. So far, 41 people have downloaded Anabar's Run in the first 10 hours! Please get the book and add a review if you wish.

Also, please take a few minutes and check out my fun Anabar Series blog. I am going to continue to add new maps, photos, journal entries, songs, and other information in the coming months. Please follow the blog; I would love to hear your suggestions and ideas.
Thanks,
Will

Review and Interview for Anabar's Run on Bookworm Blather Blog

Big thanks go to Michelle Isenhoff, a blogger, writer, and teacher who writes the excellent Bookworm Blather Blog. Michelle recently wrote a great review for Anabar's Run and interviewed me for her 5-Q Interview feature on her blog.

I really appreciate her honest review of Anabar's Run. I agree with her assessment that the book is best suited for readers age 8-14, and I have starting to market the series to these younger readers I also appreciate Michelle's positive mention of my blog/website for my Anabar Series. I think it is a fun, unique site for my readers, and it is especially nice to have someone else like it.