As the June 15 release of At Her Command draws closer, we're getting excited, not only about Ros and her ladies, but the men whose series helped give birth to theirs. So from now until June 15, Afterlife is FREE on all ebook platforms! In my informal poll of the readers, there was overwhelming agreement that Jon and Rachel's story is one of the best gateway books to the Knights of the Board Room series. It was the first full length of the series, for one thing, and though all the books can stand alone, this one offers a great intro to the other characters in the series, along with an especially tender core love story. Plus it has a more mature heroine (43) and a hero who proves how sexy yoga can be (grin).
The polled readers confirmed it with comments like:
"The first of yours I read, and I loved it. It turned me into a fan immediately..."
"I connected with Rachel's losses, and how she pretty much was coasting through life, trying to function. Been there myself, and resonated well."
"It's such a deeply emotional book that I still have book hangover when I read it, and I’ve probably read it a dozen times by now."
I did consider Hostile Takeover for the freebie gateway book, but one reader said it best with this comment: "BEN is sooo gulp, but you can't be using training wheels with him."
So if you haven't read Afterlife, or the Knights of the Board Room series, now's a great opportunity to do so. If you have a friend who would enjoy the K&A men, it's an excellent time to introduce them. The relevant links are below this teaser pic. You're welcome to share any of this on groups or pages where you'd like to spread the love of the KBR world!
Nook (must apply coupon code BNPJOEY100)
"How do keep your characters/storylines fresh and unique?" is a question I get asked a lot. Regardless of the book I'm writing, the answer usually comes during the second edit round.
What do I mean by that? Okay, say you ride a bus to work, and you strike up a conversation with the person next to you (yes, be that person, lol). That first conversation might be surface-level, but then you start sitting together regularly. You don't consciously notice when you evolve from acquaintances to friends, and from there to close friends, but it's one of life's little miracles when it does happen, right?
It happens because we let it happen -- we open ourselves up to connecting on a more intuitive level, listening and absorbing who that other person is, and becoming a part of their ongoing story. That's how characters become unique as well. Or at least, that's my best explanation for it this week, lol.
I can't wait for you all to meet Ros and Lawrence and get to know them the way I've had the pleasure of doing! And yes, I just finished the second edit round (beaming).
Just a reminder from last month, you can now preorder the book. Since the print version can't be offered as a preorder, it will be released a few days before June 15, so people who want that version can have it in hand as close to the release date as possible. Here are the preorder links:
No audio version in the works right now; if that changes, you all will be the first to know!
FOR REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS - if you want to participate in any of the release activities, including the blog tour, ARC giveaway, reviews, etc, you can sign up for that here.
Did you see my announcement last month? Naughty Wishes, originally released as a four-part serial, is finally available under one cover, in ebook AND print! I hope you enjoy Geoff, Chris and Sam's story, now that you can get the whole thing for the $4.99 full length ebook price, rather than four $2.99 each novellas. And yes, I promise never to do that again!
At the time Naughty Wishes (and its predecessor, Naughty Bits) was written, the NY pubs were big into the serial idea. When you write for a publisher, you try to be a team player, but an author has to recognize when something doesn't gel with her style or target readership. That four-part format grated on my creative nerves to the nth degree. I love the characters of both books, but writing their stories didn't give me nearly the same joy as I just expressed about Ros and Lawrence's story. Live and learn. I'm just sorry my readers had to suffer from that bumpy journey. Thanks for hanging in there! Here are the links to the full length book:
The Amazon link includes the Kindle AND Print version.
There is a new online bookstore, Bookshop.org, that not only donates a generous portion of its proceeds to local independent bookstores, its primary mission IS the promotion of those local bookstores. This site has been endorsed by the Author's Guild, which is a strong advocacy group on behalf of writers. Everything on it looks legit to me. So if you're currently in a situation where you can't get out to the bookstore, and/or want to do more to support your local ones, this is a place you can recommend to others or use yourself. Check them out and see what you think.
For a little change of pace this month, I did a guest blog post over at Romance Rehab. If you're unfamiliar, RR offers fun and upbeat insights into the romances we know and love. Jennifer, the lady who runs it, caught my attention with a post about love stories and characters from the Buffy/Angel and Veronica Mars TV series. In a comment I posted, I mentioned my irritation with the Willow/Tara storyline (I was total Team Oz, and felt Willow being gay was very contrived). That led to a discussion of "Gay for You" in romance fiction. She invited me to do a post on the topic. Hope you find it interesting -- your comments are always welcome.
Well, we were hoping the SASS conference would happen, but unfortunately, Virginia is not able to make the strides other states are toward re-opening their businesses and hotels. As a result, the organizers had to make the very difficult decision to cancel this year's SASS in Norfolk. However, it will be in the same great location and hotel next year, and you can register and make your hotel reservations now! Mark your calendars for July 8-11, 2021, and I can't wait to see you all!
Were you hoping to have me sign one of my books that you already have? Or buy a new signed book from me? If so, no worries - check EXTRAS in the sidebar, and find out how you can get a signed new book or a signed bookplate directly from me!
Remember, you can find me online through my website email contact link (little envelope under Follow Me on the right side of home page) or email me directly at storywitch@storywitch.com. You can also leave a question for me under my Author Profile on GoodReads. I'm on Facebook under Joey W. Hill, and you can visit the JWHMembersOnly FB fan forum group here. I'm @JoeyWHill on Twitter, and my Pinterest boards related to the books are here.
I'd also love it if you followed me on Bookbub, Amazon or both, since that helps my books get increased visibility and recommendations on the site. And in return, you get heads up about releases and sales!
DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE? Responding to my readers, and doing so in a very timely manner (within 24-48 hours), is extremely important to me. So if you have sent a communication to me in any medium - direct email, FB, GoodReads or Twitter - and have not received a response, a technical glitch has occurred. Either your communication did not get through to me, or my response did not reach you. If you suspect that's the case, use one of the alternative communication methods to send me a "Hey, Joey, I sent you a note through email (or FB, or a tweet, etc). Did you get it?" message, and we'll make sure we sort it out. I will never intentionally ignore my readers!
Thank you so much for your support of my work!
While you can subscribe to the newsletter through my website, you may find your email host isn't letting it through, thanks to broad spam-blocking mechanisms that don't separate communications you've specifically requested to receive, from those you haven't. Regrettably, there's not a lot we can do on this side if the newsletter is hitting an email filter that is bouncing it without notifying either one of us.
However, if you think this is happening to you, and you've checked your allowed lists and done everything you can think of to get the email through, here are a couple other options:
Like my FB page or follow me on Twitter. Whenever I issue a newsletter, I will post the updated link to it on both of those, to make sure it reaches the widest number of people possible. Or...
Put https://storywitch.com/newsletter/?latest as one of your Favorite links. You can click on it anytime to see if a new newsletter has been released. I try to get a new issue out during the first 7 days of every month.
If you ever get an error message with the link above, simply try another browser or type storywitch.com manually into your URL. Once on the site, hover over the "More" menu item and click on the Current Newsletter. But after that, check that your Malware is up to date and ON, scanning for potential gremlins. That's usually how they hijack you and take you to spam sites. Trust me, I know. When it happened to me, my husband fussed and pointed out I had not updated the Malware in ages, OR turned it on for daily scans! Bad, bad right-brain author...
12/15/2019 - Vampire Master - Book 16 of the Vampire Queen series
08/2019 - Naughty Bits - re-release as a self-published title in print and ebook.
07/2019 - Vampire Queen's Servant - re-release as a self-published title in print and ebook.
6/30/19 - The Problem with Witches - A Crossover novel of the Arcane Shot and Knights of the Board Room series
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
09/15/2020 - In His Arms, Book XI of the Nature of Desire series (standalone)
06/15/2020 - At Her Command, Book 1 of the Mistresses of the Board Room series
03/23/2020 - Naughty Wishes, re-release of original four serialized novellas under one cover
12/15/2019 - Vampire Master - Book 16 of the Vampire Queen series
GoodReads Blog - Whenever I have something half-way interesting to say (hopefully), I post it on my blog. Check out the latest, as well as the backlog of over 80 posts!
For my most up-to-date appearances info throughout the month, follow me on Twitter or "Like" my Author Page on Facebook - I'll keep you in the loop as things happen!
GoodReads Blog - Whenever I have something half-way interesting to say (hopefully), I post it on my blog. Check out the latest, as well as the backlog of over 80 posts!
For my most up-to-date appearances info throughout the month, follow me on Twitter or "Like" my Author Page on Facebook - I'll keep you in the loop as things happen!
SEXY AND SASSY SIGNING 2020 - July 9-12 - next year's popular reader/author event will happen in Norfolk, VA. The theme is Sinful Fairy Tales! Click on the link above to find out more. You can also join the SASS Attendee group once you've registered.
SEXY AND SASSY SIGNING 2021 - July 8-11 - next year's popular reader/author event will happen in Norfolk, VA. The theme is Sinful Fairy Tales! Click on this link to find out more. You can also join the SASS Attendee group once you've registered. Register NOW and reserve your hotel room.
Want a Kindle signature? My books are listed at the Authorgraph site, so if you'd like a "Kindlegraph", send me a request! Just go to Authorgraph.com, put Joey W. Hill in the search line, and it will pull up my books, with a "Request Authorgraph" button beneath each.
Want a signed bookplate for your print book and a bookmark? No need to be bummed about not seeing me at a book signing. Just shoot me an email at storywitch@PROTECTED with your mailing address and the title(s) of the book(s) for which you want a signature, and I'll send you personalized bookplates anytime, free of charge. And I always send it with a signed bookmark!
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE?
I am ALWAYS delighted to hear from my readers, and I never mind answering your questions. However, about 90% of the general questions I receive on email can be quickly answered on my website, www.storywitch.com. And the cool thing is you get your answer in the time it takes you to do a couple clicks, versus having to type up your question and send it to me, then wait for me to emerge from my writing cave and check my email.
A lot of authors experience this now. Because we have so much more of a presence at FB, Twitter, and the like, it's easy to forget that most authors still maintain a website where you can quickly get info. On my site, you can not only find BLURBS and FREE EXCERPTS for every book I've published, you can find SERIES ORDER, including recommendations on which ones can stand alone or need specific titles to be read first. Under the In the Works page, you'll find information about UPCOMING RELEASES and what's percolating (the popular "will you ever write a book about so-n-so" question would be answered there).
Just go to my website, storywitch.com, and enjoy your visit. It is specifically and deliberately designed not to be flashy or confusing. Just look at the drop down menus at the top for what you're seeking.
Want a SIGNED BOOKMARK? I have five beautiful bookmarks, each design representing one of my series: Knights of the Board Room, Nature of Desire, Vampire Queen, Arcane Shot, Daughters of Arianne. You can look at them here (click on the one you like for a larger view). Just shoot me an email at storywitch@storywitch.com with your mailing address and tell me which bookmark you want. I'll send you two of that design - one for you and one to share!
Want a SIGNED BOOK? Bummed because you can't make it to a signing? Just email me at storywitch@storywitch.com with 1) what book you want, 2) your mailing address, and 3) if you want me to personalize it to a particular name (Mary, Marie, Marissa, etc), or no personalization, just a signature and a cheery note. I'll shoot you an invoice and, once that's squared away, the book will be on its way to you!
Want a SIGNED BOOKPLATE? Want a bookplate for your favorite JWH book(s)? Just shoot me an email at storywitch@storywitch.com with your mailing address, the title(s) of the book(s), and I'll send you personalized bookplates anytime, free of charge. And I always send it with a signed bookmark!
Want a KINDLE SIGNATURE? My books are listed at the Authorgraph site, so if you'd like a "Kindlegraph", send me a request! Just go to Authorgraph.com, put Joey W. Hill in the search line, and it will pull up my books, with a "Request Authorgraph" button beneath each.
"I have a question."
Answer: "Have you checked my website?"
I am ALWAYS delighted to hear from my readers, and I never mind answering your questions. However, about 90% of the general questions I receive on email can be quickly answered on my website, www.storywitch.com. And the cool thing is you get your answer in the time it takes you to do a couple clicks, versus having to type up your question and send it to me, then wait for me to emerge from my writing cave and check my email.
A lot of authors experience this now. Because we have so much more of a presence at FB, Twitter, and the like, it's easy to forget that most authors still maintain a website where you can quickly get info. On my site, you can not only find BLURBS and FREE EXCERPTS for every book I've published, you can find SERIES ORDER, including recommendations on which ones can stand alone or need specific titles to be read first. Under the In the Works page, you'll find information about UPCOMING RELEASES and what's percolating (the popular "will you ever write a book about so-n-so" question would be answered there).
Just go to my website at storywitch.com, and enjoy your visit. It is specifically and deliberately designed not to be flashy or confusing. Just look at the drop down menus at the top for what you're seeking.
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE?
"I have a question." Answer: "Have you checked the author's website?"
I am ALWAYS delighted to hear from my readers, and I never mind answering your questions. However, about 90% of the general questions I receive on email can be quickly answered on my website. The cool thing is you get your answer in the time it takes you to do a couple clicks. Just look at the drop down menus at the top for what you're seeking. You'll find BUY LINKS, BLURBS and FREE EXCERPTS for every book I've published. You can also find SERIES ORDER, including recommendations on which books can stand alone or need specific titles to be read first. Under the In the Works page, you'll find information about UPCOMING RELEASES and what's percolating (the popular "will you ever write a book about so-n-so" question would be answered there).