W is for Writing Amazon Bestsellers - #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “W” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016.

No surprises here. Many authors are probably going to choose writing as their “W” word. Sorry for not being more original. But, it is a good lead-in to having an Amazon Bestseller.

When my writing career started I had a story that I had developed into a screenplay. After a year and a half of work and over twenty drafts I asked my consultant what would help it sell. He told me matter-of-factly that the book would help it to sell.

I said I that I didn’t have a book. He advised me to write one. That was heartbreaking news because I wanted to get a movie produced. He shrugged his shoulders.

After I processed that idea I used the screenplay as my outline to write the book. Eighteen months later my first novel was published. That prompted another question which was posed to my editor and proofreader. I wanted to know what would help the book sell. They advised me that readers would help it, but a second and third book might help to get readers. Ouch!

So, I kept writing. By this time the characters were itching to tell another story. Now there are six novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. It wasn’t going to do me any good to have them published and converted to eBook format just to collect dust.

Book marketers were contacted. I balked at their fees. However, in the long run I decided to spend the money to advertise. The next thing I knew four of the titles reached various Amazon Bestseller lists. As an added bonus the movie scripts for Lifetime Loser and Opur’s Blade won numerous awards in Indie Film Festivals.

My stories are character-based, realistic fiction in multiple genres. Those categories include cozy mystery, sports, crime, thriller, drama, etc. Members of Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited can read my eBooks for free. Try one or two of them. I think that you’ll find that the characters are folks that you see in everyday life.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his  website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

V For Victorious in the Amazon Kindle Bestseller Battle - #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “V” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016.

It is tough out there for a writer. Not only is writing a book difficult, but developing a presence that includes readers and sales is next to impossible. So if you’re an indie author that has had a bestseller you should be elated. You’ve been victorious in an uphill struggle to get noticed.

It took me a while. My gut told me to get paid for my efforts. For years I wanted compensation for the months and months of hard work. However, those dollars are hard to come by when readers and the general public has never heard of you. Who would know if you even existed?

The book marketing people urged me to participate in the Kindle Select program. One facet of that was an opportunity to give my eBook away for free on five days. Okay, I bowed to the suggestion. I needed readers and a free offering might serve as an introductory gesture.

It looks like I chose the right marketers to help me. Four titles were offered for free in 2015. The massive amount of Kindle downloads pushed all four of them to lofty heights on the Amazon Bestseller list. Not only did impressive Overall rankings occur, but numerous Number 1 rankings occurred in many sub-genres.

When all is said and done I can say that Opur’s Blade, Pabby’s Score, Lifetime Loser, and Shari’s Shot reached impressive levels on Amazon on various Bestseller lists. Because of that they are included in promotional emails that are generated by Amazon and Kindle to customers. Now the worldwide online bookseller helps me promote!

In my book that can be regarded as a major Victory with a capital V.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his  website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Opur's Blade - Tops on Kindle #Bestseller Lists - #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “O” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016. (This is a re-post)

Opur’s Blade really took off this past summer. During a promotional period in July free downloads started early and continued at a mind numbing pace. Thousands upon thousands of readers received a complimentary copy. Number 1 rankings obviously followed in several sub-genres like Cozy Mystery, Sports Fiction, and Teen.

It was one of my favorite stories to write and I hated to give it away, but what has followed has been well worth it. The freebies introduced readers to my work and that has provided cross sales of many of my other titles.

Finally! It really happened. I’ve got the screenshots to prove it. Indie authors have their work cut out for them. It was encouraging to get the high ranking as well as the attention of Kindle, Amazon, and new readers.

What is the story about? A young teen from a modest family gets introduced to the game of golf during a summer break. His mother, Rayelene, imagines lofty heights for her son. She arranges golf lessons at the local course. The head pro notices golf talent immediately and takes Opur under his tutelage. But Opur's folks go through a messy divorce which clouds his future.

Years tick by and the young lad turns into a confident and successful golfer. His opportunity beckons after winning a qualifying tournament overseas. How does he return the favor? He asks his early mentor to be his caddie in the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. When the day arrives however, something else is mysteriously going on.

Back and forth action in a nationally televised match keeps the pages turning. What will happen and how will the story end? The reader is kept in suspense until the final pages. Give Opur's Blade a try. It has had tremendous reviews and even though it has more golf than any of my other titles it will afford a first time reader a chance to evaluate my writing style.

 

Opur's Blade is available in hard cover and paperback on Amazon and Kindle downloads of the eBook are available. Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited members can read it for free.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Shari’s Shot – No. 1 Crime #Fiction #Bestseller on FREE Kindle #AtoZChallenge

Today is the "S" Day in the A to Z Challenge - 2016.

Shari’s Shot surprised me. As I was writing it I thought that it would end up being an entertaining book. After the proofing and editing process was completed we went to work on the cover graphics. Since I had written the book a firm image of the main character was planted in my head. In an online search the right look caught my eye. We applied some interesting touches. The final product looked great. We nailed the cover.

That’s when I decided it was time to finally spend some marketing dollars to promote. The manuscript was converted to an eBook. I registered it in the Kindle Select program. The marketing service I used strongly suggested that I give it away for free to entice readers. Since their fee was paid I figured that I had better pay heed to the advice. The first giveaway day was impressive. Downloads of the eBook soared past the 5,000 level by late morning. I finally had readers!

Then a funny thing happened.

The attention that the title received brought a host of other marketing people out of the shadows. My Twitter accounts were bombarded with offers from other services promising numbers that would be more impressive. Since I had a few more giveaway dates left I thought they I would give them a chance as well. One in particular blew me away. On their day eBook downloads of Shari’s Shot topped 20,000 by lunchtime.

That was impressive enough to put the title into the Top 50 Overall on Amazon’s FREE Kindle. In the sub-category of Crime Fiction those numbers pushed it to the Number 1 position. It happened so fast that I didn’t have a chance to take a screenshot of the success. I wouldn’t make that mistake on my other titles that were promoted.

What is Shari’s Shot about? The mid-life itch hits Shari, the wife of a self-made St. Louis real estate mogul. Her affair leads to divorce proceedings. However her lover isn’t keeping a secret very well. His live-in is suspicious of his infidelities and doesn’t want to let him go. To complicate the situation Shari’s husband, Tyler Cy, doesn’t want to let her go either.

Then a boyfriend that Shari had earlier in her marriage turns up dead from a gunshot wound in a carpool parking lot while waiting to join golfing buddies.

Two detectives go to work. Shari’s country club life is not altered even though the membership is cancelled. Her spoiled disposition allows her lifestyle to continue and Tyler’s Cy’s money derails the investigation. Then a break in the case changes the scenery. There’s no need to ruin the ending. 

Feel free to read the Amazon reviews. Right now there are over 50 with a 4.2 star rating. The story is entertaining and full of twists and turns. Members of Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited can download the eBook for free. Give Shari’sShot a try!

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his  website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Realistic #Fiction – That’s What I #Amwriting - #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “R” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016. We’ll try realistic.

Every author has his or her comfort zone. Mine happens to be realistic fiction. I tip my hat to those that can write in the more exotic genres. My mind just doesn’t happen to operate that well when I have to write about a topic with which I am unfamiliar.

Maybe that’s because I’m a keen observer of real life. Daily living feeds me real characters on a regular basis. When my mind is operating in a setting that I can envision, placing the characters in situations that drive the story is relatively easy. I can see them in their regular gathering spot. I can hear their conversation. I can anticipate how they will react. And that’s my baby --- spreading that message to the reader.

Living in this day and age in time is an absolute blessing. We have so much going on in the world and with the media and the new forms of communication we get to read and experience all that life has to offer instantaneously. Fortunately I get to put a spin on those activities and add a little humor and irony and hypocrisy. By writing with a tongue-in-cheek style I can weave a tale that is a little off-center, but close enough to real life to make the reader question whether or not something like that could really happen.

With all of the “I-can’t-believe-its” that we witness on a daily basis my stories force readers to wonder if the story that they just read could actually occur or did at some point in time. Since my mind is capable of adding a twist or two a unique writing style developed. Perhaps that flair evolved from my days as a kid. I loved to read non-fiction. That led to an interest in journalism and a matter-of-fact writing style. Of course that carried on to my first book, Lifetime Loser, where I had to back fill a lot of the past in an attempt to explain the actions of the present.

At any rate, that’s the style of writing that you will get with me. The plots are structured so the reader believes that they actually could occur. The stories are rich with characters that are memorable and believable. The chapters are short and are strung together like pieces of a puzzle. I don’t tell you exactly what is going on. I force my readers to think and connect the dots. If that’s the type of material you like to read then give my writing style a try.

Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited customers can read my stories for free with a simple click. My participation in the Kindle Select program allows for their availability. A good place to start would be with the eBook bundles that I’ve put together. The pair is available on Kindle and titled - James Ross– A Young Adult Trilogy and James Ross – A Character-Based Collection. Either one would be a good place to get acquainted with my cast of recurring characters. They certainly don’t cheat life and have something going on at all times.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his  website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Quirky Characters Have Put Me On the #BESTSELLER List - #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “Q” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016.

There is no doubt about it. Creating quirky characters is my favorite part of writing. Obviously we authors have to have a plot to drive the story. However character creation and placing those personalities in a sequence of events is equally important in my opinion. It has put several of my titles on Amazon BESTSELLER lists.

A lot goes into character creation for me. Once I get the idea for a story I have to dream up a way to tell it. Once that comes to me I have to create fictitious characters that have memorable features. Giving them unique traits is where my mind goes on overdrive.

In my first book I needed to create the core characters. Since my setting is a golf clubhouse they had to add color and humor to the environment. It was fun to have them represent all walks of life and parts of the world for that matter. Fred is an opinionated blue-collar worker; Paul is an ex-military perfectionist. Paco, who came from Mexico, runs a landscaping business. Elia is the barber from Beirut. And so it goes. Captain Jer is a retired airline pilot and the witty drunk. Pork Chop never walked away from a meal. Trot is a vaudeville comedian. Doc is an elderly vet. YouWho is a transplanted businessman from Japan. They’re my regular characters and complement head pro, J Dub and the number one assistant, Julie.

In Lifetime Loser we met a manipulative, neurotic, paranoid scam artist. His associates include a sleazy lawyer, a fidgety accountant, and a slick title company executive. Top investigators include a black IRS agent and nerdy numbers technician. And the list continues. Over 130 characters in all were created for that book.

Tuey was an impoverished black man who wore a lime green skull cap in Tuey's Course. He stole the spotlight in my third book. The overgrown child was frustrated by the manipulative tactics of City Hall yet his low IQ prevented him from rectifying the situation. The Board of Aldermen consisted of a unique cast of characters, each bordering on fantasy.

Opur had a stuttering impediment in Opur’s Blade. Pabby and Shae were special needs kids in Pabby’s Score. Pamela Porter, their caretaker, had an obnoxious voice in that story. Shari was a greedy, spoiled, self-centered bitch in Shari’s Shot. However the secondary characters that only have brief moments shine as well. If they don’t have a physical limitation then their name may say a lot about what they stand for.

In order to make the characters memorable I try to give them characteristics that are either annoying or attention getting. Accents, bad habits, and physical restrictions are devices that I use.

    

At any rate I can go on and on about the characters that I see in my mind. A lot of that comes because I am a very astute observer of life. Many of them have nicknames or names that describe their standing in the world. We see my characters daily. Luckily I get an opportunity to describe them in my stories.

All of my books are available on Amazon in hard cover and paperback editions. Kindle eBook downloads are also available. Members of Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited can read the eBooks for free. Perhaps the eBook bundles would be a good place to start. James Ross - A Young Adult Trilogy and James Ross - A Character-Based Collection are in eFormat only and are packaged as 3-book bundles.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Pabby’s Score – A Kindle Overall #Bestseller #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “P” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016.

Pabby’s Score had its moment to remember in October ’15. During a free promotional period thousands of downloads pushed it into the number 2 Overall position on Kindle. Consequently the book reached the number 1 ranking in Crime Fiction, Legal Thriller, and Teen.

This story is very complex in that there are several subplots that keep the reader guessing what will happen next. The creation of several memorable characters made this a fun book to write. That cast was led by Pabby and Shae, two orphaned teenagers with special needs.

Essentially an Internet dating site fuels the desire of an unfaithful lawyer. His young, adventurous online friend skillfully manipulates his libido. In the meantime Pabby and Shae along with their handlers happen upon Prairie Winds Golf Course. The purpose of their involvement is to orientate them into life after they leave the children's home and transition into society.

As the story unfolds the lawyer calls the shots for the trust that owns the children’s home. It is operated by the wife of a prominent judge who has made countless class actions decisions that have benefited the attorney. The close connections border on civil fraud. In the meantime the same lawyer has filed an injury settlement against the golf course proprietors.

Pabby’s infectious personality makes him a favorite among the regulars in the clubhouse. He and Shae are the show stoppers. But a sudden event changes the direction of the story. A secret law society holds the trump card in a cover-up that affects all of the characters. Readers have to stay on their toes to piece together the clues. I challenge anyone to figure out the end of the story.

Give Pabby’s Score a try. There’s virtually no golf in this tale. Instead readers have a great opportunity to meet all of the characters that I’ve placed in the clubhouse. You’ll have to stay alert to figure out the main plot and the ending.

The book is available in hard cover and paperback on Amazon and eBook downloads from Kindle are available. Members of Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited can read the book for free.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Opur’s Blade – A Top Overall Kindle #Bestseller #AtoZChallenge

Today is the “O” Day in the A to Z Challenge – 2016.

Opur’s Blade really took off this past summer. During a promotional period in July free downloads started early and continued at a mind numbing pace. Thousands upon thousands of readers received a complimentary copy. Number 1 rankings obviously followed in several sub-genres like Cozy Mystery, Sports Fiction, and Teen.

It was one of my favorite stories to write and I hated to give it away, but what has followed has been well worth it. The freebies introduced readers to my work and that has provided cross sales of many of my other titles.

Finally! It really happened. I’ve got the screenshots to prove it. Indie authors have their work cut out for them. It was encouraging to get the high ranking as well as the attention of Kindle, Amazon, and new readers.

What is the story about? A young teen from a modest family gets introduced to the game of golf during a summer break. His mother, Rayelene, imagines lofty heights for her son. She arranges golf lessons at the local course. The head pro notices golf talent immediately and takes Opur under his tutelage. But Opur's folks go through a messy divorce which clouds his future.

Years tick by and the young lad turns into a confident and successful golfer. His opportunity beckons after winning a qualifying tournament overseas. How does he return the favor? He asks his early mentor to be his caddie in the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. When the day arrives however, something else is mysteriously going on.

Back and forth action in a nationally televised match keeps the pages turning. What will happen and how will the story end? The reader is kept in suspense until the final pages. Give Opur's Blade a try. It has had tremendous reviews and even though it has more golf than any of my other titles it will afford a first time reader a chance to evaluate my writing style. 

Opur's Blade is available in hard cover and paperback on Amazon and Kindle downloads of the eBook are available. Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited members can read it for free.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.

Lifetime Loser – #Crime #Mystery (How to Steal a #Golf Course) Amazon BESTSELLER #AtoZChallenge

Today is the "L" Day in the A to Z Challenge - 2016. 

My debut novel – Lifetime Loser – was a book that needed to be written. The nuances of the story had been swirling in my head long before the white-collar meltdown occurred on Wall Street. Innocent civil fraud victims exist all over the country. Could these events happen to them?

Essentially a small town con artist – Lewferd Zerrmann – commits a heinous crime. He enlists the company of a deceitful accountant, a deceptive title company executive, a dishonest attorney, and corrupt politician to cover-up his actions. Their efforts are needed to steal a golf course and concoct a scheme to bleed cash out of the business.

Two victims are recruited. One is a frail widow who gets fleeced with a forged power-of-attorney form. The other is a young golf pro who is hand-picked to open the doors on a 24/7 basis. Fifteen years pass. A host of customers, business associates, and acquaintances have to tolerate the antics of a neurotic, paranoid, manipulative control freak.

When it is time to turn over the business it seems that past actions eventually catch up to the culprit. The fraud has created questions – most particularly to the IRS. Two investigators from the Criminal Investigative Division of the agency want to understand why the tax information doesn’t stack up. A complex and time-consuming investigation commences.

Caught in the cross-hairs is the young golf pro and his older business partner. Not only have criminal offenses occurred, but the civil wrongdoing begs for justice in a different courtroom. An unpredictable ending concludes the mystery.

The book has reached lofty heights on Kindle. During a free promotional period thousands of downloads Made it soar to the #6 Overall position. Its success in sub-categories benefited as it rose to #1 in golf, #2 in Crime/Fiction and #3 in Teen.

The book is avaiable in hard cover and paperback on Amazon and Kindle eBook downloads are available. Members of Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited can read the book for free. 

Try Lifetime Loser! Beware of civil fraud. Don’t let it happen to you.

James Ross has penned several novels from the Prairie Winds Golf Course setting. The stories are character-based, cross many genres, and have become Kindle favorites. Visit his  website for detailed information, reader comments, and contact links.