When are you Considered a Best-Selling Author?

It's a legitimate question. I have been published since May 2011. I was lucky my first release TIMELESS HEART (Evernight Pub) did fairly well, even cracked the top 100 in a category at Amazon.com.

Have I done it since at Amazon.com? Nope.

So with one release under my belt, I didn't feel I had the gravitas to go around and brag I was a best-selling author. To me at that time, best-selling meant making those big boy lists, like the New York Times and USA Today.

Besides, I cracked the top 100 on Amazon for little more than 36 hours, if that. Didn't seem like a long enough time to brag. So I didn't.

A few releases later, I visited a fellow author's blog and I saw she had all her books listed and the achievements listed directly under it. So I did the same. Check HERE under MY BOOKS. (I made the publisher best seller graphics myself!) I no longer believe 'best-selling' means the big boy lists alone.

Once I started listing them, I realized nearly every one of my releases (but not all) reached some sort of best-selling list. Whether it was at the publisher's website or third party site, or category lists within those sites, I really did have best sellers.

Now, does this mean I sold a ton of ebooks? Nope. Some of these lists you really don't have to sell a lot to get on. Especially if your book falls under a lesser known sub-genre. Getting a silver star at ARe (All Romance) is easier to get in Romantic Suspense or Historical Other than in the huge, honking Contemporary category.  Does that lessen the thrill of getting one of these stars slapped on your forehead? Hell no! Brag! 
.One release, My Vampire Cover Model, (Decadent Pub) hit the top 30 for MF at Bookstrand. First time I ever did that. It was on the list for over three weeks and reached #12. It was #1 overall for all Deacdent Pub titles at Bookstrand for a couple of weeks.

I was recently told best-selling stars at All Romance mean nothing, at least to this particular author. Whatever floats your boat. All I know is there are a ton of authors out there that would love to have a silver-star at ARe no matter what category. Its a validation and it means something to me. I don't feel smug about this, I feel proud. These little achievements are just that...achievements.

It has taken me 18 months to get to that place in my head where I feel comfortable enough to call myself 'a best-selling author'. Some never feel comfortable, others embrace it after one book hitting any best-selling list. Everyone is different. Were you on a list? Even if it was a few hours or a few days or weeks, blow your own horn! Display it at your site!

Hey, Ma! I'm a best-selling author! ;D

RELEASE DAY! The Governess and the Beast fr Decadent Publishing! #scarredhero #historical

YAY! Official release day for The Governess and the Beast from Decadent Publishing and Book 2 in the Blind Cupid series.

Get it at Decadent Publishing
Get it at Amazon
Get it from All Romance
Get it at Bookstrand
Get it at Barnes and Noble

Can I say how wonderful it is to have your book be released at ALL major third party sites on the same day? Thank you, Decadent Pub!

Book 1 is the short story from The Edge line, called THE BLIND CUPID  Check it HERE:

The Governess and the Beast now available at All Romance! #scarredhero #historical

The Governess and the Beast By: Karyn Gerrard | Other books by Karyn Gerrard Published By: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC ISBN # 9781613335352 Word Count: 21000 Heat Index      Available in: Epub, HTML, Microsoft Reader, Adobe Acrobat, Mobipocket (.prc) Read More

About the book

Hiding secrets and a past she longs to forget, Hortense Jennings answers an ad for a governess and embarks on an adventure she did not expect.

Concealed in a gothic, crumbling manor on the edge of a North Sea cliff, Baron Simon Wolstenholme is hiding from life. Horribly scarred from battle wounds, he lives up to his name “The Beast of Stonecliff” in both appearance and attitude until he realizes how lonely he has become.

Simon propositions Hortense for a singular night of passion. Raging weather and storms of anger clash between a lonely man and a distrustful woman to reveal secret desires in an emotional crescendo. Can the Governess and the Beast find calm amid the storm and admit their true feelings, or will pride destroy the fairy tale before it begins?

An excerpt from the book

“Do you have courage, Miss Jennings?”

The question confused her for a moment. “I suppose as much as the next person....”

Baron Stonecliff reached behind his head, untied the knot, and unwound the scarf until he exposed his face. Utter ruin. She fought back the gasp of shock but could not prevent her physical recoil and stepped back. Mottled, puckered skin and a maze of nasty wounds, some of them burns, covered the left side. Scars crisscrossed his cheek and disappeared into his hairline. How miraculous his lips and jaw remained intact. What made the destruction harder to bear was the breathtaking masculine beauty still visible on the right. Lord Stonecliff must have been devastatingly handsome at one point. She kept her gaze steady, and she hoped, her emotions well buried. With swelling evident, she surmised his injury must have occurred in the last several months. The skin was red and raw. Would it be it sore to the touch? The scarring continued down his neck and disappeared under his collar. So, not only his face received injury.

“Have you looked your fill?” Stonecliff snapped in annoyance. “You must be able to gaze upon the horror that is my face. When I am in my own home, I do not cover it. The doctors recommended leaving my visage free to breathe in order to aid healing. Since am I told it is not as red as before, I suppose their theory has merit....”

He frowned and shrugged with slight indifference. The words were probably the most he had spoken to anyone in some time, and no doubt more than he wanted to share.

Hortense swallowed and took a step toward him. “Regardless, you are free to do as you wish in your own home. Since I did not run screaming from the room, there should be no difficulty.”

Did one corner of those full, sensuous lips quirk into an almost-smile? Oh, Lord, why was she thinking of his lips?

He bade her to sit again and took the chair opposite. Stonecliff crossed his long legs and regarded her closely.

“What I am about to say may well have you scream and run from the room. I did not bring you here to be governess to my ward. In truth, he is eleven years old and away at school. I lied. I brought you here to be—my companion.”

BLACK SCAR coming May 28th Evernight Pub Book 4 of Blackthorne Clan~

What started out as a trilogy, looks as if it will be six books. This series has respectable enough sales, but that's not the reason I decided to continue.

These hot, tortured vamps were a blast to write. I love the feeling of family and brotherhood they all have. Even though they belong to the Shadow World, they have souls. They feel things deeply and love fiercely.

I don't have a cover yet for BLACK SCAR, but it will be out May 28th! And Evernight also chose it as an Editor's Pick!

Book 4 concerns Marcus Steele, who appeared briefly in Books 2 and 3. Book 4 is all about him.

Here is the unoffical blurb:

Born a Thrope, a wolf shape shifter, Marcus Steele never imagined his life taking such a dangerous and heart wrenching turn. Newly turned into a Vampire, Marcus became the victim of an attack of The Concealment from a member of the Blackthorne Clan. Now horribly scarred, Marcus also has to deal with the changes of his new life-state. The last thing he needs is to feel the Mate Bond.

Logan MacNeil is a Faepyre and a skilled healer. She is called upon by the Clan to assist in Marcus’s recovery. His extreme youth and potent injuries call to her long buried heart. Having love and lost centuries ago, she swore she would never take a mate again. Yet Marcus has stirred emotions in her she doesn’t wish to feel.

Many obstacles stand between them. Logan has many healing powers and skills. Will they be enough to heal Marcus and his emotional and physical...Black Scar?


Working on book five and six now! Stay tuned!

COMING MAY 14TH! The Governess and the Beast from Decadent Publishing

 Coming May 14th from Decadent Publishing! Historical/BDSMlite/Erotic Romance:

BLURB:  After answering an employment ad in a London newspaper for the position of governess, Hortense Jennings embarks on an adventure she did not expect. Hortense has many secrets and a past she longs to forget.

Concealed in a gothic, crumbling manor on the edge of a North Sea cliff, Baron Simon Wolstenholme is hiding from life. Horribly scarred from battle wounds, he lives up to his name “The Beast of Stonecliff.”

Simon has a proposition for Hortense that involves a singular night of passion. Raging weather and storms of anger clash between a lonely man and a woman revealing their secret desires in an emotional crescendo. Will they be able to find calm and admit their true feelings? 
 

CONTENT ADVISORY: Bondage

 My first (but not last) scarred hero. And for those of you who can't wrap your head around a couple finding love in one night, *shrug*. In romance, anything is possible...

The Importance of Staying Quiet

Yes! I am going to talk about keeping quiet. There is an oxymoron for you.

There has been some 'stuff' going on in my romance pubbed world that has tested my trust (and sanity) the last several months in more than one place or another. No, I am not going to discuss it.

When things happen, either in your personal life or professional, we seek comfort from like-minded people, we commiserate and exchange stories and lean on each other.

I have found out that this a good thing....in face-to-face communication. On-line? Not so much.

Emotions run high and fuel rants. Accusations are made. Statements are taken out of context. Tones of comments and/or posts are misread and misunderstood.
Frankly, it has turned me off social media.

But outside of all this, I have learned (and learned it the hard way) to not go off half-cocked, make accusations, point fingers and snarl threats until you know all the facts. Common sense.

Look after your own interests. Not to sound cold, but you can't be worried about everyone else. Any communications between yourself and the party in question should be kept confidential. Stay informed and make informed decisions when you have no choice but to make it. And keep those decisions to yourself. Making grand pronouncements on-line always seem to come back and bite the person in the fleshy part we sit on. I've seen it time and again.

Also it is important to remember that nothing is private on the internet, not even in closed/secret groups.

I am posting this for my own information. To remind myself not to be overly critical, or on the other hand, overly effusive in any situation. 

And the most important thing of all~ to keep quiet.

Cheers~

UPCOMING RELEASE SPOTLIGHT: Heart of Rock fr Decadent Pub and the Seventies!

This novella was with another publisher from July 1-Nov 4. It has been taken off the market as rights were returned to me. (long, sad, story)

I added a few more scenes and submitted it to Decadent Publishing and la~a contract!

This manuscript has been given a spit and polish with a couple of more sences added during edits to make it even better.

This cover (isn't it gorgeous?) fits my hero, Irish rocker Brogan Byrne and heroine, Carly Montgomery to a tee.

I decided to set the story in 1974 because at heart, I'm nostalgic. Also, if I was going to set a story in the 70's, I wanted to do it before disco caught on in a big way *shudder*.

I will no doubt age myself, but I was a tween in 1974, so I remember a lot. Hard to believe but color TV only started making inroads in the early Seventies. By 1974 it had become the standard. Its the year we got one. I remember oohing and aahing over the Kraft commercials, the food! Also, watching Bonanza reruns...in color!
We also obtained cable TV! After a childhood of black and white TV and two Canadian channels (which did show some American programing) we now had all the channels from Bangor, Maine! Whee!
(I grew up on the East coast of Canada)

The number one song in 1974 was Kung Fu Fighting by one-hit wonder, Carl Douglas. Yep, I had the '45 record.

It was classified as Funk, but it had that annoying disco beat that soon took over the music charts. 1974 is also when ABBA hit the charts. *major shudder* However, on the upside, Canadian rock group, RUSH, hit the charts as well! Whee!

My hero Brogan, is a rocker all the way. The name of his rock group? —wait for it— Byrne N' Flame. Sorry. Couldn't resist.

I will admit I know nothing about rock stars and what happens on tour. Besides reading a few rock bios, and attending a few concerts in the latter part of the '70's, I didn't have much to draw on. Hence the beauty of writing fiction. I winged it.

Besides, this erotic romance is not about the technical ins-and-outs of the rock music world, but rather a story of boy meets girl. Girl doesn't take any guff, her tough outer shell is a protection from past hurts. Boy isn't exactly likeable a lot of the time, and carries a lot of baggage. Brogan may just have found the one woman to help him carry the load.

HEART OF ROCK coming May 2013 from Decadent Publishing!

Blurb:   Irishman Brogan Byrne is at the pinnacle of rock music success in 1974. Handsome, charismatic, with a three-octave voice, you’d think he had it all. But Byrne sinks to new depths of depravity with women, liquor, and drugs.

Carly Montgomery is an ambitious record executive offered an opportunity to be manager for the last leg of Byrne's tour. Though she's detached and tough as nails, Carly's cool facade comes under attack. Somehow Byrne manages to slip by her frosty defenses.

Brogan, for his part, is broken inside. A memory weighs on his soul and affects his actions. Is Carly the one woman to help him forget his guilt and heal his heart of rock?