Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

Amazon Exclusive

By

This is something I’ve been toying with for the last few months. I’ve held some reticence for the change but now stand poised to go Amazon exclusive for my eBooks to test out the model.

Why Amazon Exclusive?

I love the other retailer streams. Kobo has been an amazing retailer with tons of promotions geared toward independent authors. Their customer service is fantastic as well. Smashwords’ founder, Mark Coker, is one of the best advocates of the self-publishing industry ever and I love his passion for bringing readers what they want.

The truth of the matter is that after almost two years, Amazon makes up 97% of my readership. That can’t be ignored. So as of July 1st, the Greystone series will be part of KDP Select.

What does this mean for you?

Probably nothing. If you’ve purchased a book through another retailer it will not disappear. It will always be yours and nothing will happen to it.

For those worried about not being able to order a paperback through other channels, this change only relates to the eBook. Physical copies will always be available anywhere and everywhere.

For those Kindle lovers, the benefit is all yours. Being part of KDP Select means all my books will be in the Kindle Unlimited program. You can now borrow my books from their extensive library along will thousands of others. Tell your friends!

“But I hate Amazon! They are taking over the world!”

This was one of the issues I was concerned about when considering this move. If this relates to you, if you only buy through Kobo or Smashwords is your retailer of choice, there is a solution and one I credit author Jay Allan for giving me:

  1. Buy my book through Amazon.
  2. Send me the receipt by emailing me at lou@loupaduano.com.
  3. I will send you the format of your choice. Be it ePub or PDF. Whatever works best for you.

That way everyone wins.

The Greystone Saga Volume Two…

The launch sale ends tomorrow! Snag your copy of this digital box set at $2.99 now before it jumps to its regular price of $4.99!

Grab your copy today!

Thanks for reading!

Join the Advance Team for Pathways in the Dark

By

It’s getting to be that time again. Book Four of the Greystone series arrives in six weeks! It’s insane how these dates sneak up on me. To prepare, I’m opening the doors to my Advance Team of reviewers once again!

Why should you join?

How about a FREE copy of Pathways in the Dark? Not enough? How about chances to win prizes and gift cards not offered to anyone else?

I love my advance team. They do an amazing job of spreading the word about each release and take the time to write some fantastic reviews online about the books. I understand the commitment involved, the time necessary to read a book and figure out a way to promote it. That’s why I try to thank them as much as possible for their services.

This endeavor, these books, don’t work without reviews. It takes a village and I am hoping you’ll join today to stand with us for this next book and every other to follow.

What do I have to do?

To join, email me directly at lou@loupaduano.com

You’ll be put on the list and when Pathways is sent out you’ll be the first to receive it. Digital copies only, though, as my ability to ship paperbacks is quite limited at this point.

And then? ENJOY the book! Read it, love it, live it. At the bus stop, at the dinner table, everywhere you can think to squeeze in some reading time, DO IT!

Tell your kids about the book. Tell your doctor, the stranger sitting next to you, that crazy nerd with the Jean-Luc Picard poster in his cubicle at work. Spread the word about the series!

And when it comes to release time? Review the hell out of it. Post it on your blog, your friend’s blog, your grandmother’s blog… Oh, and on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Kobo. (Please and thank you…)

I’m not strict about it. I don’t push. I just know that without fine reviewers like you, this series won’t stick and I want people to love Soriya and Loren as much I do for a long, long time!

If you’re interested in joining the advance team, let me know today at lou@loupaduano.com.

I can’t wait to hear from you.

Thanks for reading!

Tales from Portents Advance Copies Available!

By

I’ve gone back and forth on this subject for a couple weeks now. Advance Reader Copies or ARCs have always been an integral part in getting the word out about a new release. Offering them early and allowing your tribe of readers a chance to enjoy the novel before the actual release date helps spread the word about its upcoming release and, the biggest benefit, is the influx of reviews right on release day.

At least, that was how it used to be.

Reviewers would leave a note explaining they received the book in exchange for their honest review and it was acceptable.

Advance reader copy rules have changed.

advance reader copyAll thanks to Amazon. Asking for reviews is no longer acceptable practice in their eyes. That note above is enough to get a completely legitimate review bounced from the sales page on Amazon.

And a massive influx of positive reviews for a book (or any product) is another red flag to the biggest book retailer on the planet.

Can I still give away copies of Tales from Portents? Yes, of course. It’s my book. That makes me sorta in charge of it.

Can I ask for an honest review from a reader in exchange for a free book? No. But I can hope that if you request an advance copy that it is with the intention of reviewing it so that others can find Tales and enjoy it as well.

 

Sign up for an advance reader copy today:

Even with all the headaches from Amazon I want to make this happen. Here’s how you can request your advance copy of Tales from Portents:

Contact me DIRECTLY. Either through my contact form or through a private message on social media.

In the message tell me your preferred format. (MOBI for Kindle, EPUB for Nook and iBooks, or PDF.) If print is your only option a paperback edition can be sent your way but it will be on a first come, first served basis. I only have a few copies I can mail out at this time.

After receiving your advance reader copy?

Read it. I ask that if you request one that you are able to read it in the month of February.

If you enjoyed it and would like to leave a review (YOUR CHOICE) on Amazon, Goodreads or the other major retailer sites let me know FIRST. Again, this is more to avoid incurring the wrath of Amazon’s willy-nilly policy changes than me being a complete control freak. Honest.

Tales from Portents has been a treat to put together and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. For those unable to take advantage of an advance copy don’t forget to mark your calendars for the official release. February 17th is coming up FAST.

Your help and your feedback is appreciated beyond belief.

Thanks for reading.

Signs of Portents – On Sale NOW

By

Signs of Portents is on sale now!

Today is the day!!

Wait. Didn’t I say this book was coming out on the 30th? It’s only the 22nd. Did I lose my calendar? Or my mind? (Probably the latter…)

There’s a story in there…

It’s a learning game with certain things. I have complete control over my schedule, writing, blogging, editing, etc. When it comes to distributors and how they handle things? Let’s just say I’m still figuring all that out.

I clicked a button. Createspace, an incredibly user-friendly service that I will be using in abundance for as long as I write, doesn’t do pre-orders when ready to publish. As far as I’ve seen anyway. Maybe there is a trick I am missing, some link embedded in a secret html code to be deciphered by Robert Langdon. (I don’t have Tom Hanks’ talent to find it.) I went through the proof process until the book looked perfect and I hit the approve button.

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

All of a sudden my book was on Amazon and ready to go. Not the worst news ever EXCEPT…

The Kindle version wasn’t uploaded yet. I had set that for pre-order (because you can for some reason) so it wasn’t going to ready until the 30th. Thankfully I could change it and the 22nd became THE DAY of choice for both.

For Amazon.

Everything else? I needed a little more lead time than I gave myself. Another lesson definitely learned for the next book. (coming February 2017, hint hint) For the Nook readers, the Barnes and Noble shoppers, iBooks, Kobo, local bookstores, libraries and everything else in the world? Signs of Portents is coming. SOON.

When that day arrives, as soon as word trickles down from my distributor overlords (whom I love and respect greatly) you will be the first to hear it.

So good news, bad news thing but let’s circle back to the good news since I never tire of typing it:

Signs of Portents, the first book in the Greystone series, is on sale NOW.

Get it. Read it. Love it. And REVIEW IT. (Please and thank you.)

Signs of Portents on sale NOW

 

 

BONUS DIGITAL EDITION

Anyone that purchases the paperback of Signs of Portents through Amazon is also eligible for a FREE Kindle version of the novel!! It is through their Kindle Matchbook program. I thought it was a nice bonus and a way to thank you for taking a chance on a new author. Speaking of thanks…

A Word of Thanks

It’s taken quite some time to get here. More than I would have liked and more than certain family members too. (You can read about that nightmare here.) I could not have done it without the love and support of my family and friends, always pushing me to work and to get better at creating, at writing, and everything I do.

The first cycle of the Greystone has just begun. Come along for the ride.

And thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: Links throughout this site may be affiliate links. All commission earned through these links go to Eleven Ten Publishing to produce more books for your reading pleasure.

You can view our privacy policy here.

Recent Posts