#Marketing for #eBooks and Kindle - #AtoZChallenge

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

Marketing: It’s something we all hate to pay for but most definitely it’s a necessary evil. If you’re an indie author like me probably the thing you despise most is giving your book away for free. You spent months writing the story. The next step is the editing and proofreading and the rewrites. You put a lot of work into developing the finished product.

Now you want to get paid!

Not so quick. It’s tough to make a buck if you don’t have readers. Chances are nobody has heard of you, let alone able to find you among the thousands of unknown authors in the world that have a product or two up for sale on Amazon.

In some ways I made that mistake. But what I did do was keep writing. When I did decide to pay for some marketing advice the unanimous suggestion was to have a presence on Amazon and Kindle. By that time I had 6 novels and a nice series going with recurring characters.

The next piece of advice was to give away the eBooks. I was distraught! All of my work was going to be given away. What a rude awakening.

I went to work to understand the various programs that are offered by Kindle Select. Countdown deals offer a reduced price that escalates during the promotional term. In another program an author can give away their title for 5 days during a commitment period. That has a lot of advantages if social media is leveraged properly. Finally, Kindle / Amazon will match competing prices if an author decides to offer their work for free on other eBook sites. That is where the Permafree option can be advantageous because the free offerings last more than the 5 allowed days when an author participates in the Kindle Select program.

I offered four of my titles for free over the course of a year. Several marketing services and free eBook services were purchased. With that paid exposure to eBook readers the thousands of downloads of my titles literally shot off the chart. My book ranking rose to the Number 1 OVERALL position on Kindle. Needless to say that Number 1 position was held in several sub-categories as well.

What did the final results mean when the promotional periods ended? It got me a ton of readers and reviews. Amazon helped to advertise my eBooks after the promotion. Sales and cross sales of my other titles followed. When Prime members and Kindle Unlimited participants read my pages royalties are earned.

It never would have happened without marketing. If you’re a writer that is serious about selling your books, then educate yourself about what is out there from a sales standpoint. Pay for some marketing and enjoy the success of being a published author.

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.

Kindle, Kindle Unlimited (KU) and Kindle Owners Lending Library (KOLL) #AtoZChallenge

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

As an indie author it has been a tough journey to get noticed. There are literally thousands of writers in that category and most have a great desire to feel some sort of presence in the book market. Kindle changed all of that for me.

Ebooks have exploded on the market the last few years. When Amazon came out with their Kindle tablet they beat the competition to the finish line. Literally millions of books were converted to eFormat to be read on a Kindle. For authors it saved publishing costs and shipping costs. Still I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon until I learned the parameters of the various programs.

I’ve spent the last 2-3 years understanding the options and have not looked back. Economically the eBook conversion makes sense for an author. Kindle Select has made it attractive for indie authors like me to get involved.

The Kindle Unlimited (KU) program is set up to benefit Amazon, readers, and writers. For $9.99 per month readers can select from over a million books to read. With a click the book can be downloaded onto a Kindle device and is available to be read in seconds. Serious readers have to enjoy that process.

The Kindle Owners Lending Library is available to all Amazon Prime members. There again the reader can select from over a million books. I won’t get into the nuances and restrictions that each program offers, but when all is said and done the choices are very reasonable for all involved.

Like many authors I initially fought giving away my titles for free. However I have found that the free offerings on Kindle have afforded me an opportunity to get thousands of readers which have led to cross sales on other books. I’m very grateful to Amazon and Kindle for providing the exposure and marketing to boost my sales. Without their help I would be like most authors – still searching for ways to get my written words read.

If you’re a reader that is a fan of the increasingly popular new eBook Bundle then feel free to try mine. Available now on Kindle are two 3-book bundles at a reduced price. They are James Ross – A Young Adult Trilogy and James Ross – A Character-Based Collection.

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.

Finish Line – A #Golf Setting For a #Cancer Victim - Great For YA #Readers #AtoZChallenge

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

Finish Line is the second book in the Prairie Winds Golf Course series and I’m using the A to Z Challenge to do a little shameless self-promoting. Some readers don’t care for the ending, but my view has always been that the journey is far more adventurous than the final words in the story.

At any rate, Curt, a co-owner of the golf course is stricken with colon cancer. His battle is personal and life-threatening. Just when he is beginning his battle he receives a call from an old girlfriend that has since remarried. Her son, Justin, who was a toddler when they dated, got into some mischief with a friend at the start of their summer vacation. Their debt was one that necessitated summer employment.

Tina, the old girlfriend, inquired about employment for the two teens. Curt was anxious to provide the opportunity and the pair got jobs. Thus begins a summer to remember for the two impressionable teenage boys.

Not only does the duo learn that their problems pale in comparison to a man fighting cancer, but they are exposed to a group of golfing misfits that call the clubhouse their home-away-from-home. Lessons that they will carry the rest of their lives are learned from the new acquaintances that welcome them into their world.

Finish Line is available on Amazon in hard cover and paperback versions as well as on Kindle in eBook format. Experience the camaraderie. The book is recommended for adult and young adult readers.

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

Buford's Tree - Next #Fiction #Book in the Prairie Winds Golf Course Series #AToZChallenge

Buford's Tree, the 7th book in the Prairie Winds Golf Course series is currently under construction. A middle-aged high school football coach is stricken with a deadly form of cancer. The regulars at the golf course rally around one of their own. Charity, hope, and a tearful reunion deliver a lot of nostalgia to a sobering situation.

This is a difficult book for me to create. Writer’s block has firmly entrenched itself into this project. First, it was my desire to get more involved in the marketing of my books. One promotional month has become eighteen. My mind got sidetracked.

Secondly, this topic hits close to home. Not only am I a cancer survivor, but I have lost a very dear friend – perhaps my best buddy - to the disease. My goal was to write a story that was a tribute to him. However I am finding that no wording is going to replace his loss or honor his friendship. Even though the story will be fictionalized tackling the topic rekindles memories that are personal.

One of these days when my mind allows I will go like gangbusters to get this story on paper. I'll apologize to my readers for not getting a book out this year. In the meantime visit authorjamesross.com and try some of my latest efforts.

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" - About

About the Book:

For fifteen years on the outskirts of St. Louis, J. W. Schroeder (J Dub) ran a worn out golf course that sat high atop the Illinois bluffs of the Mississippi River. Then he learns that his partner had been skimming profits the entire time. But even worse, J Dub discovers that he was an unknowing participant in the swindle of an estate and that he was a victim of fraud.

J Dub is thrown into a civil justice system that is lengthy as well as costly to protect his family and correct an evil and sinister secret that had been withheld from him for years. The controlling partner, Lewferd E. Zerrmann, aligns himself with a dishonest attorney, a deceitful accountant, and a corrupt politician to derail a government investigation and an IRS audit. He survives title improprieties and outlasts an overzealous U. S. Attorney.

No one seems to be able to penetrate the isolated walls of Lew’s fortress until J Dub steps up and risks it all to fight for what is his. WHO SAID REAL LIFE WAS ANYTHING LIKE “THE GENTLEMAN’S GAME?”

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Author James Ross is one of the July Sponsors of Five Monkies Review

Author James Ross is one of the July Sponsors on Five Monkies Review.

Upcoming giveaways! Books books and more books!

Stayed Tuned for more information to come.

A Supportive Spouse Can Make All the Difference

Maintaining a successful marriage is never easy. Stress over finances causes more than its share of heated discussions around the kitchen table. Raising children brings exhaustion and long hours of worry and guilt. Heck, simply putting two distinct personalities under the same roof is enough to result in some conflict from time to time. When one or both of the participants in a marriage is involved in a high-profile or demanding profession, the dynamics of the relationship can become even more delicate. In such instances, there is usually one spouse who needs to make more sacrifices or offer a position of unquestioned support. If this dedication is absent, the marriage will be on shaky ground.

Can you imagine what it must be like to be Michelle Obama or Laura Bush? Your husband holds the most powerful position in the entire world and deals with professional and professional criticism on a daily basis. The quality time that a president gets to spend with his family certainly is limited. As First Lady, you must be ready to greet dignitaries, travel the world, and present a beautiful picture of life in the White House. Or, in a field with lesser consequences of a global nature, what about the women who are married to professional athletes? Your husband is likely travelling half of the year and consumed with training or other obligations when at home. He runs the risk of injury every time he takes to the ice, the field, or the court. He is competing in a profession in which someone younger and stronger is always waiting to take his place. A wife of an athlete must always be ready to comfort bruised bones and bruised egos.

In my first novel, Lifetime Loser, J.W. Schroeder (known as J Dub) is aspiring to become one of the next members of the PGA Tour. His pregnant wife, Marcia, stands by his side through this grueling effort and all of the life decisions that follow. I believe that Marcia’s strength and softness provide a great example of the difference that a supportive spouse can make in the life of a hopeful golfer. I hope you will read Lifetime Loser and let me know what you think of Marcia and the role that she plays in J Dub’s happiness.

Interview with Michael Ray (Nationally Syndicated Radio Show)

Congrats goes out to Author James Ross

Author James Ross has an interview scheduled on Wednesday, March 18th a 9:00 PM CST.

Please visit www.DresserAfterDark.com to find out more information and be able to listen to the interview.

Use of St. Louis as a Backdrop for My Novels

I am pleased to announce that I recently had an article published through several online directories which details why I incorporate my hometown into the novels that I write. I grew up in St. Louis and call it my home to this day. I am proud that my three books have featured both St. Louis and my passion for golf. It means a lot to me to be able to showcase this wonderful Midwestern city, as St. Louis has shaped my values and my interest in writing.

Here is an excerpt from the recently-published piece:

In St. Louis, the corporate folks have blended with the people of the land...those who make their living from agricultural pursuits. Shirts and ties mix well with jeans and boots. And, almost everyone comes together to root for the city's sports icons. Nationally recognized broadcasters, politically connected bluebloods, and scholastic geniuses have all called St. Louis their home.

Because of its proximity to the center of the country, almost everyone who has flown in a plane has had a layover in the heartland of America. Even during this briefest of visits, exposure to any personality from the "city slicker" to the "country bumpkin" is certainly possible. Regardless of who you meet in St. Louis, you can rest assured that the greeting will be warm and friendly.

Please check out the entire article, “The City of St. Louis Provides Perfect Literary Backdrop,” and share with me any reaction you may have. If you are from St. Louis, I would love to hear your memories and thoughts on our shared city. You can reach me directly at james@authorjamesross.com

When Frustrations with City Hall Lead to Violence

I am sure that, for all of us, there have been instances over which we want to scream at those guys at City Hall. Maybe your house has been zoned out of the school district for which you moved to that neighborhood in the first place. Is the City Council advocating the building of a new Wal-Mart over the very location where you like to take your morning walks? Perhaps you are just angry that the same pothole has been creating problems in front of the local grocery store for over a year now. How many of us actually get involved in the political process when confronted with these issues? I imagine that, more often than not, we keep our complaints behind the closed doors of our homes and only our unlucky family members get to hear our rants over the dinner table.

In February of last year, a tragic event occurred just outside of my hometown of St. Louis, in Kirkwood, Missouri. A gunman by the name of Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton entered City Hall and fatally shot five people while also leaving the mayor in critical condition before being killed by responding police officers. Thornton and the City Council had a long and tense history, with Thornton twice being convicted of disorderly conduct during public meetings. He believed that he was being unfairly persecuted by the government, as he had received multiple tickets for parking his commercial truck in his neighborhood. Whatever Thornton’s frustrations may have been, his violent revenge was certainly not the right solution.

In my new book, Tuey’s Course, readers will follow the fictional story of a man who finds himself in a similar situation to that of Mr. Thornton. The book addresses the racial and class divisions that are often at play in these political situations. And, as with my previous two novels, the Prairie Winds Golf Course provides the consistent backdrop and supporting cast of characters. Please click here to purchase Tuey’s Course. After you have finished the book, I hope you will contact me to let me know what you think

Strong Characters and a Golf Course are a Perfect Combination

I have enjoyed the opportunity that my three published novels have had to bring together my passion for the game of golf and the enjoyment I get out of developing really strong, memorable characters. As anyone who has spent time on a golf course knows, the storyline that often unfolds goes well beyond discovering a person’s handicap or ability to choose just the right iron for any given shot. The golf course is also a place that people go to make multimillion-dollar business deals, discuss the latest political appointments, or participate in the less-becoming pastimes of drinking excessively and avoiding whatever may be going on at home. In all three of my books, I have worked to create compelling personalities that play into some of these golfing dynamics.

When you read the trilogy of Lifetime Loser, Finish Line, and Tuey’s Course, you will be introduced to a variety of people who I hope will stick with you long after you finish the last page. There is a corrupt businessman whose world of murder, perversion, and a fascination with one particular genocidal dictator is slowly revealed. You will meet a musician displaced by the disaster of Hurricane Katrina whose reception by the regulars at the golf course may force you to examine personal discomforts or your own desire to challenge to certain stereotypes. And, there is a man of little means who takes his fight for justice to the unforgiving powers of City Hall. Introducing such characters to my readers, whether they be endearing or repulsive in their nature, is one of the most important aspects of my writing.

If you have not started your journey to Prairie Winds Golf Course through my novels, I hope that you will give them a try.

If you have read one or more of the books and have some feedback for me on any aspect of my writing, I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to contact me at jamesross@authorjamesross.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

St. Louis Author Hangs With Mark Twain

Some say that if you go back far enough in time everyone could very well be related to each other. Please don’t tell that to my “Aunt Marie.” She is now a retired schoolteacher in her late eighties. I don’t know if she would have enough time to research all of those connections.

Our family historian has been my dear “Aunt Marie.” She has spent the better part of her life researching county records, state documents, gravestones, periodicals, and anything else that is part of public knowledge. She has spent virtually her entire adult life composing the family tree. What she turned up in our gene pool was surprising to all of us that now live several generations away from our ancestors.

So as to not sound boring, I’ll simply cut to the chase. As the story goes a Colonel William Casey was born in Frederick County, Virginia in 1756. He migrated to Kentucky and had many fights with the Indians over the years as the property was being settled. Through adulthood he was appointed a county judge and served in local politics. Rumor has it that he was a mountain of a man, very kind, and the father of four daughters. This is the start of what I’ll call a mighty oak with several enduring branches.

His third daughter was named Polly. His fourth daughter was named Margaret, but nicknamed Peggy. The two branches of the tree that those two formed are what this article is about. They traveled through Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Iowa.

William Casey died in 1816 after serving in local politics in Adair County, Kentucky. He never lived to see his great grandson which had been placed on a limb of the family tree by his youngest daughter, Peggy. Born in Florida, Missouri in 1835, William Casey’s great grandson was christened Samuel L. Clemens…none other than Mark Twain.

Samuel Clemens was born roughly thirty-five miles inland from Hannibal, Missouri which was where he was raised during his younger years. Being from the Midwest it is quite believable that Casey’s youngest daughter Peggy and her siblings traveled up and down the states that were bordering the Mississippi River. Mark Twain made that tributary legendary in several of his tales.

As an added sidelight “Aunt Polly” was a recognizable character in Tom Sawyer. In all likelihood that was a name that Twain had heard his mother say often as he was growing up. To me the person identified as “Aunt Polly” would be my great, great, great, great grandmother.

At any rate the rest is history as far as Mark Twain goes. He is a legend in American folk yore as an author, philanthropist, statesman, humorist, and traveler.

I doubt that William Casey even cares that his great, great, great, great, great grandson wrote a novel after he turned fifty. That was the limb of the tree that his third daughter Polly helped to form. And I doubt if it matters that his far-removed relative grew up in modern-day St. Louis…only a driver and an eight-iron away from the Mississippi River.

But don’t tell that to my “Aunt Marie.” When she turned over all of the family tree information to me she said, “You know, Jim, you’ve done something that I’ve always dreamed about doing but never found the time.”

Naively, I asked, “What’s that?”

She said, “You wrote a book. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

Something tells me that maybe she should start with William Casey. He’s the mighty oak in this tale and she’s on one of those limbs too.

James Ross has published a series of books that use the wonderful city of St. Louis as a backdrop. Lifetime Loser (2007), Finish Line (2008) and Tuey's Course (2009) all present a colorful cast of characters that come together on the Prairie Winds Golf Course. Situated high atop the Mississippi river bluffs on the east side of St. Louis the author uses his personal knowledge of St. Louis to fully incorporate the city into the plots of his novels. Residents of and visitors to the Gateway City will appreciate the author's fine storytelling and how he highlights his home city. All three novels from James Ross can be found at Xlibris.com or through his personal web site:

Author James Ross

"Finish Line"

About the Book:

After getting caught committing a petty act of vandalism, two teenage boys land summer jobs at Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of St. Louis. Follow the adventures…

of Justin Ventimiglia and Keith Puccio as they explore a slice of life that they never knew existed. Observe the special relationship between adolescent boys, a cast of grown golfing misfits, and a young man battling the demons of cancer.

Explore the heart-wrenching relationship between an impressionable child and a pseudo Big Brother. Witness the summertime ride of the two youths in a poignant story about life and death. See them as they develop a love for the game of golf and apply those lessons to the challenges of life.

Experience the reactions of Justin and Keith to the vices of the world such as drinking, smoking, and gambling and watch how their knowledge molds their character. Take the journey with them as they battle a dysfunctional family situation, exposure to a life-threatening disease, and the vices of the world as they live a summer to remember.

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