Teresa D'Amario

Archive for the ‘Announcements’ Category

So recently Roni Loren wrote a blog about authors and their interactions with readers, and it reminded me of something that is quickly becoming my pet peeve.  It’s not so much about authors/readers, but authors/authors.

All authors have to market themselves, or nobody finds their books.  That’s the one big disadvantage of the new models used for being an author.  You write the book, You query the book, you then have someone edit the book, and then they print/publish it, and you market.  And market and market.  Otherwise nobody finds it.  It’s the joys of the internet.  It’s the pain of being an author.  No job is without it’s drawbacks, and so I guess this is the big one for the authors.  With the inception of social media, we all thought “Great, marketing is going to be easy!”  Well, it is.  And it isn’t.  There’s no way to tell if a marketing push is more effective than the last, because of the nature of social media.  But we all have our facebook, twitter, google plus and other sites.  Some of us still have the old Myspace, which was great for marketing, and less on the social aspect. 

When I started marketing, myspace was the big thing.  I spent hours and hours making the perfect profile.  I rushed to other author’s sites, and friended them, leaving comments on their profile, wishing them the best with their new releases.  These comments had a two-fold purpose.  They advertised that people knew who they were, thus their visitors enjoyed the comfort of knowing they were a good author, and at the same time, let their visitors know I existed as well. The more flashy and attractive the posting, the more visitors the post drew.  I loved it! 

Then facebook arrived on the scene.  I went kicking and screaming. I hated the interface. I couldn’t personalize it, but I could see what I wanted with ease, so it had it’s benefits.  Within a few months I had 500 friends.  It was great.  I’d spent alot of time perusing facebook, finding other authors who wrote paranormal, both NY and ebook authors, and friended them.  I even friended a few of their friends.  I was happy!

Then they came out with this limit of 5000 friends.  I didn’t expect I’d get there too fast, but figured it would be best to think ahead, so I made a fan page.  I then notified all my friends about the fan page.  That’s when I noticed something.  My friends list was ever growing, while my fan page went stagnant.  Such a  shame – because for me, the fan page is the perfect place for author/reader interaction.  But then I’m not quite sure how to get it started. 

My friends list continued to grow, quickly getting out of control.  I now have over 4000 friends and only about 1000 fans.  Now that wouldn’t bother me, except when I look at that extra 3000 people on the friends list, most of them are authors.  Ok, so I’m helping other authors, that’s kewl.  But wait… those other authors write autobiographies.  They write poetry.  They write non-fiction.    They are authors who I have nothing in common with.  Uhm, I don’t know about what you think, but do you really think those type of readers are rushing to be my friend on facebook?  Hmm, probably not.  Sure, maybe 1 in 500 of my friends might pick up a book on poetry. Maybe one in 500 might pick up an autobiography that has nothing to do with their own lives.   Who knows.  But I really have nothing to offer this group of friends who are on my lists.

People who work as architects don’t around making friends with heavy equipment operators to further their career.  I’m not liking my book to a heavy equipment operator, but at the same time you see my point. 

So my pet peeve is all about people who friend me on facebook when they think the only reason is cuz I can do something for them.  It’s not because they write the same genre.  It’s not because they read my work.  It’s not because they are true family and friends.  It’s because they think that having more friends linked to their site makes them look more important.

I’m here to tell you, that’s not the case.  It does nothing for you, and only gives you LESS room for the real friends, family and fans.

So my new year’s resolution is to slowly review all of my facebook friends, and if I unfriend you, don’t take it personally.  It’s not because I think people won’t like your work.  It’s because, well, I can’t do anything for your career.  If that’s your only reason for following me/friending me, and you’re not one of the genre’s that runs alongside mine, you’ll have to find someone else.  I love ya, I think you’re great.  But you need to find someone who can truly help you.   I’m going to have to save my 5000 slots for my true friends/relatives/fans. 

For all you romance authors, paranormal and horror authors, sci fi authors, and even non fiction paranormal and sci fi authors, there’s always a place for you at my site.  Because of course I LOVE You guys!  (not that I don’t love the poets and non fiction folks, just that it’s a different kind of love).  And of course, there’s ALWAYS room for my fans and friends to be,,, well,,,, friends.  :sideways:   :silly:

I”m doing this for my friends, family and readers.  By doing this there’s more room for them over on my facebook page to harrass me about whatever game I’m playing at the time.  But if what you want is to find out what’s up in the writing world, , the BEST place to see that is on my fan page, so head on over and “like” me there:  Fan Page.  It’s the place I TRY to make most of my announcements on first about what’s going on (Sometimes my blog gets things first, but the next spot is my fan page.)

And as for the Prince over in Eastern Europe, I guess I’ll keep you too, cuz it’s just too kewl to have a Prince for a friend.

It’s not Christmas without me sharing favorite Christmas videos or songs.  Here is my favorite Christmas Carol, with a beautiful rendition by Vanessa Williams, and with it, a beautiful light display!  I hope you all enjoy it! No matter what holiday you celebrate at this time of the year, may it bring you peace of heart. But as for me and mine, we celebrate Christmas, and therefore, we wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Come check it out at the Author Rescue Spotlight come read and let’s have some fun!

Hey, folks. Just wanted to let you know I’ll be participating in the Easter Hopping Blog hop!

What – Easter Hoppin Blog Hop Giveaways
When – 12:01 AM April 15th until 11:59 PM April 17th
Where – All around the blogging world!

These dates were chosen because we did not want to take time away from your family and other things going on Easter weekend

How this will work:

~Each blog participating is hosting a giveaway of their own. The spending maximum should be around $20, and your giveaway can be anything you would like. Books, bookmarks , swag, coffees, teas, hand made crafts, anything you would like.

~All blogs participating in the Easter Hoppin Blog Hop Giveaways will be linked up through the linky below.Then you can just copy the code from the below linky and add it to your giveaway post. All blogs will be linked together from this automatically on each blog for the Easter Hoppin Blog Hop Giveaways.

~Please keep the steps to enter your giveaway as simple as possible. The long lists of many different things followers can do to earn extra entries tends to scare people off.

~Please help spread the word. Feel free to copy this post, or write a post of your own. The more blogs participating the better! It will mean more visitors and new followers for your blog. We have created a Easter Hoppin button and have added it below for you to paste it everywhere!

~Giveaways can be open to ship anywhere you would like

~If you have any Questions please email Danielle: dhester23 AT yahoo DOT com

~Please create your Easter Hoppin Blog Hop Giveaway post before the giveaway starts. Set it to post at 12:01 AM on Friday April 15th.

Tigress by the Tail’s official release date is 1 March, but if you search the recesses of the internet, you may find it popping up early!  Yes, the re-release of Tigress by the tail is so close you can touch it!!  I’m quite excited.  I can’t wait to see what my old fans think of the changes and am so excited to get to offer this book to those who have found me within the last year!  Tigress by the Tail is the first book in the Maxey Wizard series.  wizards and shifters?  Why yes, they do go well together!  Just check it out.

And isn’t that the most awesome cover ever???  Trisha Pickett Smith did  a superb job, don’t you think?

So here’s a fun excerpt to wet your appetite.

Mine.

The word bounced through his brain. He couldn’t wait until he could be with her where he could touch her.  He needed to run his hands over every part of her body to make sure she was unhurt. His gaze dropped and rested on her lips. Such beautiful, full lips, and they called him, like everything else about her. He ached to taste her. Her eyes were dark and hungry, and she leaned toward him. He wanted to stop, to evaluate his feelings, but instinct forced his thoughts aside.

The danger surrounding them melted into a barely memorable photograph. It didn’t matter. He had to taste her or he would go mad. Sensual hunger and masculine power surged inside him with electrifying force. A fierce possessiveness ripped through his restraint, and he snapped. His hands tangled in her beautiful mane of hair, dragging her toward him. Her eyes flashed, but not in anger. In lust. When his lips crashed down on hers, the sound she emitted wasn’t of disgust or fury, but was frustration and need.

He growled into her throat, drew her up, pressing her against the cold hard wall. She didn’t fight. She didn’t push him away. Instead, her arms wrapped about his neck, her body arching into his. He devoured her, every inch he could reach. Her taste was sweet, with the tart zip he found so erotic, like the driest of wines, intoxicating and rich. The softness of her curves melted against his hardened body. A groan shoved its way out of his throat and he pushed against her to hide the tremor running through him. His hands caressed the softness of the skin hidden only by his trench coat, and when her body shuddered, he growled his approval.

Never had he hungered for any woman with such overpowering force. Her hands were driving him insane, fluttering along his chest, down his arms, and to his waist. Every touch drove him to greater heights. Like the skydiver, he knew he would fall, and fall fast, any second. Restraint was only so strong. With an effort at control, he tangled his fingers in her hair and jerked her head back. She growled in response, her eyes glazed with her own hunger. Her hands tugged him toward her.

“We have to stop,” he murmured. Something was wrong, this wasn’t like him.  Women were to be treated with gentleness and sweetness.  Or had been before this moment. Cassie ripped away his sensitive nature. With her, the urge to possess, to mark her in some primitive fashion, was overwhelming.

She nodded, but didn’t stop. She nipped his lower jaw, her fangs exposed just enough to feel the sharp jab in his skin. He growled, yanking her head back again, glaring at her mouth. So soft, and so sharp all at once. The mixture of innocence and aggression ripped the last shred of his self-restraint and his mouth crashed on hers. He gave no mercy, controlling everything about her. He released her hair only to grab her hands, to push them above her head. The trench coat dropped to the floor and she stood before him, naked, her heart and body exposed.

So if you haven’t found Tigress already through your perusal, be sure to check back at http;//teresadamario.com/Tigress.shtml on the 1st for all the links where Tigress will be available!

With so much going on – the new blog, the book releases, the marketing, the new “evil day job” and all, I missed something very important.  I don’t even know HOW I missed it.  When I had the grand opening for the blog, I promised prizes!  And a day later I announced I’d list the winners the following Monday.  Oddly enough, I DID post on Monday but never gave the list of winners! Thanks to Colleen who kept me on the straight and narrow, asking if I’d announced the winners. My first response was “sure I have.  So and so won.”  Then “oh wait, that was that other contest.  Let me go look”. LOL.  So I’m here, ready to announce the winners, and apologize on bended knee for forgetting to announce.  There were 38 responses that were not mine (I’m not eligible for my on prizes, of course.  So using randomizer I have the following inners!

Hanging Wall Calendar – TwiMom227

Desk calendar – Vicki

Copy of Lone Wolf ebook version – in pdf – INCiDeNT

So thank you so much for playing my game, and I’m SO sorry I forgot to post this!!!  I’m so glad you enjoyed the wonderful pictures of Damon.  I can’t help wondering what the model’s real name is. :)

To claim your prize, email me at desertpetiri@aol.com

Sorry I’ve been lax lately, but that’s because I’ve been busy.  Writing.  Among other things.  So what am I writing?  The third book in the Maxey Wizard series, of course.  The working title is Cougar’s Fate, and it looks like it’s going to have a few surprises for folks.  It seems the Cougar isn’t the only shifter in the book.  But of course I can’t give away my secrets, that would ruin the book!  For you and for me.

But, Cougar’s Fate isn’t all I’m working on.  Slowly but surely, Dark Succession gets closer and closer to release.  And since that is my current favorite book (with very good reason), I thought I’d share a little bit from the pages of Dark Succession.

Dark Succession - coming soon from Freya’s Bower

Nora Hunt is the daughter of former pack leader Sean Hunt and niece to Kieran Hunt.  Emotionally and physically scarred after being held captive for weeks, she’s finally ready to move on with her life.  But when she meets Ryland, she discovers not only a world of darkness and pain, but discovers Ryland may not be any better than those who held her captive all those weeks.

When Ryland Keegan steps in as Alpha of his dead brother’s pack, he inherits a pack of savage rogue wolven, as well as a legacy of violence, lies and five women held captive within the pack’s confines.

But when Ryland’s pack members start dying one at a time, he must decide if Nora is the catalyst or the killer.  Can he trust his True Mate? Or will he be relegated to a life of leading the dregs of Wolven society?

“What do you want?”  Nora was tall compared to most shewolves, at almost six feet, one inch, yet still he towered over her. He moved slowly, giving her every opportunity to run, his eyes watching her every move. Running almost seemed like a good idea. But then again, he might give chase, and she wouldn’t stand a chance. She tilted her head back to stare into his eyes. She lost her balance and was forced to step back.

“I want to know,” he leaned in, whispering, “why you were in the bar.”

“My car broke down.” His scent moved from her lungs to her blood. The mix of masculine power and leather worked like an aphrodisiac, striking with a force that nearly brought her to her knees. His heat burned against her flesh, though they were still inches apart. Nora longed to lean forward, hungry for more.

“Why did you run?” He cocked his head, curiosity shining in those glittering eyes.

She wasn’t about to tell him it was because she’d caught his scent and had found it shockingly attractive, something that had never happened to her before. “I didn’t want to infringe on another wolven’s territory.” Well, it was true. To a point.

His nostrils flared, he inched closer, his breath whispered against her ear. He rumbled low in his chest.

“I don’t believe you,” he murmured. His breath played across her skin and goose bumps rose. “I think you’re like all the rest.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“You’re like all the other shewolves who come through town, looking for an alpha to fuck, in hopes he’ll offer to mate.”

His words splashed over her like cold water. He was wrong. And she would tell him so.

Just as soon as her breath returned.

His sharp fangs grazed the side of her neck, and she fought the urge to offer tilt her head in offering.

She shook her head. “I’m not like the others.”  Small, powerless words.

His taunting, soft laugher rolled through her, her muscles turning to water.

“You want me, you know you do. You can’t hide it.” He inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring. “So what’s it to be, little rabbit? Do I fuck you and send you on your way?”

He was taunting her, pushing her, and, while she knew what he was doing, she couldn’t stop the cold flush of anger. “I’m different from the others. I don’t want you.”

“Really?”  He cocked his head and met her gaze.

Her hands drew up to his massive chest. Hard, powerful muscle lay beneath his black shirt. It was almost distracting enough to make her forget her goal. Higher and higher her palms slid.

His eyes narrowed, watching. Waiting.

“Yes, really.”  She gasped the words, took in a deep breath, and continued, her voice stronger. “Unlike those mangy bitches, I have a brain, and my brain says no.”  With her hands on his shoulders, she slammed her knee upward. He twisted to the side, and she just missed his groin. Nora drew her arm back and let loose, the sharp crack of her palm against his cheek so gratifying.

His eyes widened, and he stepped back, the dull red imprint of her hand evident on his face.