Thursday, December 11, 2014

Get Charged! 2 ways to win!

Charged, Book 2 in the Grounded trilogy, releases Tuesday, December 16th!

Learn more about Charged:

http://bit.ly/Chargedkindle

http://bit.ly/Chargedibooks

http://bit.ly/Chargedkobo

http://bit.ly/Chargedplay

http://bit.ly/Chargednook1

What better way to celebrate the story of a simple Amish girl genetically engineered to be electrokinetic by her dystopian overlords than with a power bank!


I am giving away a bunch of these 2200 mAH power banks. Just charge this up and throw it in your pocket or purse, and you have emergency power for your cell phone or other electronic device.


There are two ways to enter (and you can do both if you want):

1) Enter via my Facebook page. All you have to do is enter your email (which is how I will contact you if you win*) via this link. Charged Giveaway I'll be giving away 10 chargers this way.

2) Sign up for my monthly newsletter. Those fans who sign up and stay signed up for my newsletter will automatically be entered for a monthly giveaway every month of 2015. Winners will be announced within a section of my newsletter each month, so you do have to open it to win. I will be giving away a SECOND BATCH OF 10 to ten random newsletter subscribers, five in the December issue and five more in the January issue. *

*As always, winners are responsible for checking their email and responding within fifteen days or they forfeit their prize.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Deals and Reels! (Don't miss this)

Are you ready for Thanksgiving!  I'm thankful for you stopping by my blog. Here are three quick things you need to know.


1. IBOOKS EXCLUSIVE!
Do you have an Apple device?  The ENTIRE Soulkeepers series is available for just $4.99 for a VERY limited time.  This is an #iBooks exclusive and this box set is regularly $14.99. That's $10 off!! There is no place else you can get these six books for this price, and I'm so thankful to the people at #iBooks for helping me offer this to my #iBooks fans.

Get it HERE!


2. GET GROUNDED!
Have you read Grounded? As a special Black Friday deal for my fans, I'm offering this book for 99 cents for a limited time.  This is the perfect time to get and read it in preparation for Charged, Book 2 which is releasing December 22! 

Get it on:

3. CAST YOUR VOTE
The Soulkeepers is now available on the If list. Click here to support the Soulkeepers movie and vote for your fantasy cast. 

Blessings to you and yours!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Grounded is BACK!

Grounded, Book 1 of The Grounded Trilogy available now!

Faith kept her plain. Science made her complicated.

Book 1 in the Grounded Trilogy


Seventeen year old Lydia Troyer is far from concerned with science or politics. Growing up behind a concrete wall in the exiled community of Hemlock Hollow, life hasn't changed much since her Amish ancestors came to America. She milks her cow by hand, makes fresh bread every morning, and hopes to be courted by a boy she’s known since childhood. 

But when Lydia's father has a stroke and is rushed to the outside world for medical treatment, Lydia poses as an Englisher and leaves Hemlock Hollow. An ordinary light switch thrusts her into a new world where energy is a coveted commodity and revelations about her personal history have life threatening consequences.



Get your copy of the book readers call a unique, suspenseful, edge of your seat read!



IF YOU PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED THE BOOK:  

1. For most retailers, it's as simple as pressing the update or cloud button to get the new version. You will know you have the new version because the new cover will appear on your device and "Second edition: November 2014" will appear on the copyright page.

2. Amazon: There is a glitch at Amazon and files are not always being overlaid properly. Please contact Amazon to have the new file pushed to you.

FAQ

Do I need to read book 1 again to understand Charged, book 2? How much has changed?

The second edition of Grounded is approximately 20,000 words longer and contains new details and chapters about The Green Republic and The Liberty Party.  While the overall story arc is the same, the first version was written as a stand alone while the second was written as the basis of the trilogy.  So, while you may understand book 2 after reading the original version of book 1, some details have changed and will not match up exactly.

When will Charged, Book 2 come out?

Charged is already available for pre-order on Amazon, Apple, and Kobo.  The book is complete and in the editing process.  It will be released on December 22.  Wired, Book 3 (final book in the trilogy) is in development with an expected release date of June 2015.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Limited Time: Weaving Destiny Sale 99 Cents!


For the first and probably last time ever, I've put Weaving Destiny (Book 2 of The Soulkeepers Series) on sale via Bookbub! If you've downloaded the first book but haven't read it yet, or read it but were waiting to get book 2, now is your chance.  After August 8th, the book goes back up to $2.99.

Get yours via bookbub by clicking here.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

For Writers: Createspace AND Lightning Source- What-what?

Recently, I switched my paperback distribution to go through Createspace for distribution to Amazon and Lightning Source for distribution everywhere else.  I didn't come up with this idea on my own.  As a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (Alli), I'd heard this was the recommended way to go, but to be honest, I didn't fully understand the benefits until I took the plunge. Now that I have, I'm getting lots of questions about the move. Here's what you should know.

First, this post applies to self-published authors who:

  1. Use their own ISBNs or want to use their own ISBNs
  2. Regularly sell paperbacks at venues other than Amazon
  3. Have a few hundred dollars in capital to invest in the move
  4. Don't change their paperbacks often

If these three things don't apply to you, stop reading and go directly to Createspace. Createspace is by far the cheapest and most user friendly way to deliver POD to your customers.

As the owner of Carpe Luna publishing, I started with using Createspace only but soon was selling enough via expanded distribution to notice the disparity in royalties between Createspace to Amazon and Createspace to all other channels.  To illustrate, let's take a book priced at $12.99, 340 pages, Black and white with Cream interior.  Here's the royalty breakdown at Createspace.


Now, the line I want you to focus on is "Expanded Distribution". This author is earning only a quarter for every sale ANYWHERE other than Amazon. And-- here's the part that really opened my eyes--when anyone orders a paperback through another retailer, like say Barnes and Noble, that order is going through Createspace to Lightning Source to be fulfilled. Plus, because I wanted my paperbacks published with my own ISBNs because I am my own publishing company, Createspace would limit my choices for expanded distribution. Eventually,  going directly through Lightning Source had more appeal to me.

Lightning Source distributes everywhere that is included in Creatspace expanded distribution. Let's see the royalty model for Lightning Source for the same book. Same specifications but LS gives you one additional benefit, you can change your discount. Here, I've calculated using the minimum discount of 20%, but you can select up to 55%.


So, we've gone from earning a quarter per book to $5 per book, or even at the full 55% discount 50 cents per book.  (When I switched over, I chose 35% which made my royalties about the same as selling on Amazon).

Publishing through Lightning Source isn't free.  It's $75 set-up cost per title and $30 if you order a physical proof. ( I'm comfortable using their digital proofer).  In addition, any time you make a change to the cover or interior, it's going to cost you $40, so make sure your books are in a semi-permenant state before publishing.  But here's an over-simplified break even:

(LS Profit) (Sales)  = $105
5(X) = $105
X= 21

At the minimum discount, you will break even if you sell around 21 books of each title (Or more or less depending on your price, discount, pages, and if you get a physical proof). After 23 books, your profits will have exceeded what you might have earned using Createspace during that period of time.  For me, thats doable, so this made sense. In addition, I don't plan to touch my interiors or covers for at least a year.

Why not just use LS?  Createspace is faster to Amazon and free.  It's a good way to go with newer titles that you know you are going to change.  Plus, you can use the same ISBN in both places as long as you have never used that ISBN before for expanded distribution.

When you upload to Createspace, simply do not select the expanded distribution channel.

Some things you should remember about Lightning Source:
  1. You must apply and be approved as a publisher
  2. You must purchase and use your own ISBNs
  3. Don't make mistakes because changing things will cost you
  4. The user interface isn't as easy to use as Createspace and so you may want to find a friend to help you through the first go round.
  5. The cover and interior requirements are slightly different, so I recommend using a professional designer and formatter if you go this direction. An LS format will work at Createspace but not necessarily the other way around. Color requirements on the covers are slightly different and LS paper is slightly thicker, so you will need a separate version of the cover from your artist.
  6. Make certain you select "Non returnable" during setup to create a true POD 
Again, not for everyone, but I'm glad I made the switch! 


Saturday, June 28, 2014

Order Your Soulkeepers T-shirt Here

Hello Soulkeepers!

SORRY, SOLD OUT! 

By popular demand, I'm selling the rest of my inventory of this awesome Soulkeepers t-shirt. Complete the form below for your chance to get one. While supplies last. Once these are gone, this design will be retired.




Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Soulkeepers Optioned for Film!

"The Soulkeepers should be a movie!" you said. "I want to see it on the big screen," you said.  My lovely readers, an exciting first step has occurred toward this goal. I'll be working with Aaron Magnani of Water Bear Productions. Read more about it here:

The Hollywood Reporter
Aaron Magnani has picked up the rights to G.P. Ching's paranormal book series. Soulkeepers, a paranormal YA series, has been optioned for the big screen by producer Aaron Magnani. Read more...
The Wrap
Producer Aaron Magnani has optioned the screen rights to author G.P. Ching's popular young adult book series “The Soulkeepers,” TheWrap has learned.

In the six-book series, Heaven and Hell wage a war for human souls. A teenager named Jacob becomes an unlikely hero as he realizes he has the genetic predisposition to be a Soulkeeper — a gifted warrior with the power to protect humans from fallen angels. The only problem is that he's a hot-headed vandal and a skeptic. It'll take a beautiful neighbor who's more than what she seems to teach him the truth about faith, loyalty, love and redemption. Read more...

Fashion Times
"Soulkeepers," the popular paranormal book series by G.P. Ching, is getting the big screen treatment, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Producer Aaron Magnani has picked up the rights for the series, which spans six books currently in print.
The "Soulkeepers" series was launched in June 2011 with the first book. The series' sixth book, "The Last Soulkeeper," hit shelves on March 2014. Read More...
Now please go back to your books after saying a short fan-directed prayer that things move forward in our favor!

Love you guys,


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The Last Soulkeeper by GP Ching, Available Now!

The Last Soulkeeper went live last night, everywhere, debuting at #28 of all books in the iBookstore. Thank you to those readers who have already snatched it up.  If you haven't got your copy yet, all of the buy links are available in the pre-made tweet below. And, as always, sharing and reviews are much appreciated.



The Last Soulkeeper, Available Now! Kindle http://amzn.to/1jB7qSx Nook http://bit.ly/1glGOGk iBooks http://bit.ly/1glH08A Kobo http://bit.ly/OQEhJB

Remember, the $2.99 introductory price only lasts until April 6th!

Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway. Some cool stuff in this prize pack.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, March 21, 2014

The Last Soulkeeper Giveaway!

The Last Soulkeeper, the sixth book in the best selling Soulkeepers Series, will be available March 25th at a special introductory price of $2.99 ($3.99 after April 6th!)

I'm celebrating by giving away ten of these prize packs I had to wrestle from the clutches of my family members. If you win, you will receive a Soulkeepers T-shirt, sunglasses, pen, set of collectible bookmarks, and an autographed paperback of a previously published title!


Enter to win between March 21st and April 6th!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Excuse My Dust

Helloooo! Is there an echo in here? Are those crickets I'm hearing?

I have not blogged in ages. In fact, I believe my last post was in December. Please excuse the cobwebs and dust bunnies. 

Without going into too much detail, my hiatus from blogging had a lot to do with some personal drama, a long term illness in my family and the death of a friend. I've spent way too much time in hospitals this year. But I'm back, and I hope to brush this blog off because I have some things to share with you.

The Last Soulkeeper is coming March 25th!



The end is near.

Just when the Soulkeepers think they’ve established a foothold in the war between Heaven and Hell, the playing field shifts. Enraged by Cord’s disappearance, Lucifer replaces his right-hand man with the Wicked Brethren, three Watchers so formidable even their own kind fears them.

The Soulkeepers struggle to survive in an increasingly deadly world while continuing to defend human souls. How far will they go when saving the world means sacrificing their most precious team member?



You can add The Last Soulkeeper on  Goodreads

The Last Soulkeeper will be the last book in The Soulkeepers Series, and I'll be celebrating with some fabulous giveaways. Stay tuned for more on that as March 25th draws near as well as links to preorder the book when it becomes available.

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