Friday, December 31, 2010

Sudden Moves - A Young Adult Mystery

Sudden Moves published a second time

Sudden Moves is now published - a more cleaned up version as far as editing.  Outskirts Press released it this morning on their site.  It has yet to be for sale through other booksellers, but hopefully soon it will appear on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders and many other websites!  A book trailer should be coming out soon also - a teaser and a full length one!!

A look back

The year 2010 is almost history.  Here are some of my highlights of the year-

Best accomplishment - Wrote a novel
Best movie - Toy Story 3
Best song - The Sex is Good - Saving Abel
Best purchase - Publishing packages through Trafford and Outskirts Press
Best book read - Oogy, the dog only a family could love
Best tv show - Mike and Mollie
Best addition to Peoria - Fresh Market
Resolution for 2011 - lose weight!!!!

Feel free to post yours in my comment section!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Happy New Year!!!

Hope everyone has a safe New Years Eve!!  I am attempting to wear a dress that night - in the cold!  Yes, my friend Marcie requested we both wear dresses out to see our favorite Peoria local band, 8MM Amateurs.  Let's hope I can pull this off and hide the holiday pounds!!! 

In writing news, Sudden Moves (2nd publication) is still printing.  No new news as of now, and I'm not too happy with Trafford taking their time on releasing the book trailer, which I thought would have been ready by now.  It's been a month and no news from them, when I was originally told a few weeks.  Hmmmm, Trafford will not be publishing my second novel, that's for sure.

Among other news in my life, the new year is approaching which means I have year end reports (W2's, unemployment taxes, etc) due this month, plus more due around March, so writing has taken a back seat.  I will be quitting this job next Fall, because my writing is more important to me right now and I hate not being able to do the one thing I love!  It's not about writing as a job - it's about writing for the love of it!

Happy 2011!

Monday, December 20, 2010

First Novel Published: Happy Holidays!

First Novel Published: Happy Holidays!: "I want to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I have all my shopping done, as my husband is still do..."

Happy Holidays!

I want to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I have all my shopping done, as my husband is still doing his.  Work has been hectic, working our days off and some have been spending long hours inside the institution of the postal service.  It can make us very cranky!  I hope to be happier during Christmas when we bounce from house to house, visiting our family members.  As for New Years Eve, I am going to see my friend's band 8MMA - all 80's rock.  It's sad because many members will be leaving and this will be their last show.  I may end up with raccoon eyes by the end of the night.  I am holding off on my third novel until after the new year.  I have end of the year reports due on my treasury job, then I should be ready to write.  I have my book club organizer editing Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood as we speak.  So far, she has done a wonderful job!  With such a busy holiday season, writing hasn't been a big part of my life and I miss it!  Sudden Moves is ready to be released a second time and I have got to dive into my summertime mystery (no title yet).  Happy 2011 everyone!!!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

First Novel Published: Marketing Kit

First Novel Published: Marketing Kit: "I was supposed to have my bookmarks, business cards, and postcards from Trafford by now. They just now got this marketing kit sta..."

Mailing List

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter every 2 months at http://www.kellisuelandon.com/ for the insight on self publishing and my book progress.  Also, I throw in a little of what's going on in my life, hopes and dreams, all that mumbo jumbo!

Marketing Kit

I was supposed to have my bookmarks, business cards, and postcards from Trafford by now.  They just now got this marketing kit started, which doesn't sit well with me.  I am also waiting on a book trailer and email campaign.  I can just imagine how long this is going to take!  Outskirts Press is keeping in touch with me on my 2nd publication and I am very happy with the results so far.  I look forward to publishing with them in the future, instead of Trafford.   I was toying with traditional publishing, but I would have to find an agent first.  Not to mention, I am writing books so fast, it would take years for them to get off the ground with traditional publishing - if I am even considered.  I kinda like this self publishing business!  Happy reading!!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Second Publication

Some of you know, I am having Sudden Moves published twice.  I was torn between two publishers so I used both.  This second publication is from Outskirts Press and so far, I am so happy with the result!  I love the cover art so much better than the first and this one will be edited, unlike the first one.  Same story, just improved in appearance.  Hoping this one will be released by Christmas. 

I was thrilled to find out I will save alot more ordering books from Outskirts so I may use them for my second novel - Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood.  Hoping to have this one published by Spring 2011.  Sudden Moves book trailer from Trafford should be finished in two weeks.  Watch for it on You Tube and many other sites!!! 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Reality VS Talent

Everyday we see a reality show on television.  The trend now is teenage mothers.  So, do many young people have to make a big mistake in order to rise to stardom?  How did they break into tv in the tough competitive world of show business?  Furthermore, how are these people considered a "reality star"?  A star?  Come on!  I have friends out there who work hard and are very talented.  They make their own movies, self publish their own books, shoot beautiful photography and their works of art never see the light of day, yet we have teen mothers on tv (as well as other people who film their lives for television) who are living the lives most unknown talented people should be living.  Yep, they're famous.  So I ask you, what is wrong with this picture?

Monday, November 22, 2010

Newspaper Advertising

So far I have had ads in the Farmington Shopper & Elmwood Shopper.  Over the next two weeks, Sudden Moves will have ads in the Washington Times Reporter, Chillicothe Times, and Metamora Times.  I am excited, but I won't get any of these papers to see the ad.  I am thrilled they are including the book cover!  Still waiting on my bookmarks to be printed up and sent.  Not sure about a book signing yet.  Until next time - give Sudden Moves as a gift this Christmas!!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

First Novel Published: Newsletter

First Novel Published: Newsletter: "The Kelli Sue Landon newsletter has now started!! Sign up for email updates at http://www.kellisuelandon.com/. Scroll down to the bottom o..."

Newsletter

The Kelli Sue Landon newsletter has now started!!  Sign up for email updates at http://www.kellisuelandon.com/.  Scroll down to the bottom of the homepage.  You can also hear an audio clip of Sudden Moves!!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Book signings, parties, promotion

I am looking to promote Sudden Moves anywhere I can.  I have a marketing kit coming from Trafford - bookmarks, post cards, and business cards to put press kits together and send out to the news.  I will also be giving bookmarks to people who buy my book and submitting some to local libraries to give to customers.  Looking to advertise - either by running ads or putting flyers up in public places to catch someone's eye.  Any other suggestions??

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sudden Moves Published

I just had my first novel, Sudden Moves, published through Trafford Publishing.  This was something I have always wanted to do!!  The finished product looks great!  It went pretty quick, but I made the mistake of thinking their editing service was included.  It was not.  I had a long, grueling, editing process, which resulted in a few mistakes that went overlooked. 

The book is a young adult mystery/thriller, but the protagonist, Michelle Martin, gets thrown into adult circumstances when she tries to uncover the disappearance of a class member.  There's a little bit of everything - excitement, laughter, fear, family drama, violence, and even a little romance. 

I had a hard time deciding which publisher to go through, since I was originally going to choose Outskirts Press.  I decided to go for it, so I signed up for a package through them as well.  Things are moving along great and I am going to edit my manuscript even better this time around.  I have been very happy with their marketing tools, including a three minute audio clip and a sixty second trailer.  Their prices were must more reasonable than Trafford and if all goes well, Outskirts Press will be publishing my next novel, Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood.  This second publication of Sudden Moves should be out around New Years.  Happy reading!!!