Pop-up Bookstore #kickstarter

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We've been selling books at comic cons, art festivals, and outdoor markets since 2010. It's time to embrace a new kind of bookstore, so we're building one.

Crimson Melodies Pub. is a small press that features speculative fiction with a dark or thrilling twist. Most of our heroes are flawed, and all of them will capture your attention. We've been publishing more than a book a year since 2009, ranging from dark urban fantasy to romantic suspense to historical fantasy with magical elements.

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform tailored for all sorts of creative projects. Creators offer rewards as a way to form a community and gather support for the project that they're working on. Our Kickstarter is about creating a pop-up bookstore. We're offering rewards as simple as a digital download of a short-story collection from our authors, to custom created artwork of the main characters in two of our published series. There's also bookmarks, stickers, and our entire catalog of books up for grabs.

Come find out how to get your next favorite summer read, or pick up a new favorite bookmark and stickers to decorate your tablet, phone, or e-reader. Plus you get to help make our new pop-up bookstore really come to life.

Crimson Melodies Publishing - an independent small press for speculative fiction. We sell our books both digitally and in print, and one of the ways we reach readers is by exhibiting at conventions like comic con.

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#WriterWednesday - The Emotional Journey from Inception to #Publishing (With Pictures)

I recently self-published my 18th book!! Hoooooray!!

I was thinking about the torture I seem to involuntarily, but automatically, put myself through with each publishing experience, and I thought I'd share the reality of what it really means to write and publish a book (at least, this is my reality).

Enjoy, and maybe even have a laugh or two at my expense...

1. The Bright Idea

A story idea hits me like lightening and it's a great idea--no, it's the best idea EVER and I can't wait to start writing!!

2. Blissful Creation

This is by far the best phase! I get to create people and spend time with them and make up all kinds of crazy scenarios. It truly is bliss for me!

3. What the $%^#@ did I write?

During this phase, I make the mistake of reading over what I've written, and almost invariably, it sounds like garbage to me. I want to delete it, but then I think about all of those words and how long it took me to write them and I decide to keep them... just in case.

4. The Rebound

During this phase, I regroup, reread, decide it wasn't garbage after all, and get back to writing. Usually a determination to finish the book springs up and propels me forward.

5. Completion Euphoria

I've completed the book, it's been edited, I've unleashed it  on the reading public, and am on cloud nine. I feel invincible! The book is a masterpiece! An instant bestseller!!

6. Crippling Publishing Regret

At this point, I come to full realization that my precious baby is now in the hands of readers... readers who might not like it. And then I decide that I shouldn't have done this... any of this! I shouldn't have written or published a book or worn these shoes or eaten that dip. Nothing I've done is right!!

7. Triumph

I finally receive a review, a glowing review, or a reader sends me an email or message stating how much they loved the book. The book is selling! And now, I can breathe. Maybe this whole publishing thing is worth the trouble after all!!

Can you relate to any of this journey? If so, leave me a comment!

Thanks for dropping by! Until later, be blessed!

Photos via freeimages.com

10 #Writing, #Reading, and #Publishing Goals for 2015

We're a few days into 2015, and I was thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. I have a few goals in mind, and I plan to work hard to reach them. Here they are:

© Oscar1319 | Dreamstime Stock Photos

1. To read 52 books (half fiction and half nonfiction).

2. To explore a few new genres to expand my reading experience.

3. To publish at least four books.

4. To complete the Young Adult book I began writing in 2014.

5. To write a book with a holiday theme. 

6. To write a screenplay.

7. To publish a box set (electronic).

8. To interact with readers more.

9. To discover new authors whose work I've never read before.

10. To write more and spend less time playing hooky :).

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What are your goals for this year? Leave a comment and let me know!!

#WriterWednesday - 2015 Tentative Publishing Schedule

What a blessing it is to live to see another year ushered in!! I am so excited about 2015!! Below is my tentative publishing schedule (projected publishing dates may change). I am thrilled to share more of my stories, and I can't wait to hear what my readers think about them!!

Photo by sqback via freeimages.com

• January 27, 2015 - Ain't Nobody

Blurb: With her biological clock ticking like a time bomb, Alex Weaver issues her long-time commitment-phobic boyfriend an ultimatum. Soon, things are back on track, and Alex is well on her way to her “happily ever after.” That is, until she makes a discovery that rocks her to her core. When Alex decides to take control of her future, she begins to make some life-altering decisions that set her on the path of fulfilling her goal of having a family. But will she be able to deal with the consequences?

• March 2, 2015 - Home

Blurb: A family emergency brings former rapper and current real estate mogul, Ivan Spencer, back to his long-abandoned hometown. While there, he must deal with his confused mother, his elderly, philandering father, his flaky sister, an unreliable aunt, and a face from the past who makes him question some of his past decisions. All he wants to do is to get things squared away and return to his life, but as it turns out, he must deal with his own issues first.

• July 6, 2015 - Summertime (A Novella)

Blurb: J'Nay Walker is a talented singer, driven toward success by a promise she made to her late mother. One gloomy day, on the tail of some disappointing news, tragedy strikes, threatening not only to derail her plans, but to end her life and sends her on an unlikely journey with an unlikely love.

• September 1, 2015 - September (The Christina Dandridge Story)

Blurb: Born to an interracial couple in Arkansas circa 1960, Christina Dandridge’s life was tumultuous from the start with things only growing worse as the years passed. Wrought with abuse and abandonment, Christina’s life is a journey of ups and downs and trials and triumphs. This is a companion novel to the Been So Long series, chronicling the life of Mona Lisa’s mother and setting the stage for the dysfunction that plagued the lives of both Mona-Lisa and her sister, Cleo.

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I also have a story in mind with a Christmas theme, and I would like to release another flash devotional. We shall see!!

What are your reading, writing, or publishing plans for 2015? Comment below and share!!

2014: Year in Review

2014: The Year in Review

photo by djayo via http://www.freeimages.com/

2014 is almost over. That is just mind-blowing to me!!! Well, in honor of the ushering in of a new year, I thought I'd share what I accomplished this year. Here goes!

1. Published 5 books, including my first stand-alone nonfiction title:

• Been So Long III (Whatever It Takes) Jan 27, 2014
• Locked out of Heaven (Tomeka's Story -- A Bluesday Continuation) Jul 25, 2014
• If (Wasif's Story) A Been So Long Prequel Sept 19, 2014
• Better (Your Love Is King Book 2) Oct 22, 2014
• Seven Days of Change: A Flash Devotional Dec 1, 2014

2. My books became available in the library in my hometown!!

3. Published 2 books without any prior promo but have decided that since I'm not Beyoncé, that was not a good idea for me. Catching readers off-guard at the end of the month after they'd already spent their book dollars = lower sales than anticipated. The positive was that there was no pressure to meet a set release date, but I'd rather have the sales.

4. Enrolled 2 books in KDP Select to decent, but not spectacular, results. Not sure if I'll be enrolling any more books in the program.

5. When You've Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven) hit number one during a free promo!!

6. Consigned my books with a local book store, We'll see how it goes :)

7. Was nominated for several Reading Warrior Awards by the BRAB (Building Relationships Around Books) Book Club!!!

8. Conducted a self-publishing workshop at my local library.

9. Was featured in the largest newspaper in my state as well as my hometown newspaper.

10. Was chosen to participate in my state's literary festival (in 2015).

What did you accomplish this year? Comment below and share your news!!