Release Day Rafflecopter

Finally! It's finally here! I can't believe we've made it to this day. After so many issues (*cough* Amazon Pre-Orders *cough*), postponements, distractions, and roadblocks against me, the book is finished and today's the day it enters the world. Whew!

First off, I want to thank all of you for visiting today and I hope those who purchased (or will purchase) my books enjoy this newest installment of Liz Baker's life. Second... woohoo!!

As I always do on release day, it's time for a giveaway. The Rafflecopter will run from today to the end of the month. Winners will be chosen on December 1st via Random.org.

This time we're going for few goodies, but I threw in the $50 Amazon gift card. You can buy a lot of books with that amount! And just in time for the holidays, too. :D Since all the goodies are email delivered items, and I don't have to worry about postage, this giveaway is open to all residents of Planet Earth. So make sure you use a valid email address just in case your name is chosen.

(1) $50 Amazon Gift Card
(2) $5 Amazon Gift Card
(3) eBook Copies of To Kill a Demon (or any one Liz Baker book)

Okay, let's get to the giveaway. There is one entry that asks you to leave a blog comment. The question to answer is: What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?

Buy Links: Amazon -- B&N -- Smashwords -- Kobo -- Lulu

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ticked Off Tuesday

Soooooo, most of you know that the release day for To Kill a Demon is scheduled for this Friday. I'm still planning all the good stuff and hoping everything falls into place, however, I have a feeling Amazon is going to screw that up.

For over a week I've been going back and forth with Amazon about an error in the pre-order upload process. When you schedule a pre-order you have to upload a placeholder file, usually a rough draft of the book. Closer to the date of release you're required to upload the final product. I've been stuck in that spot for over a week now. There are no editing links for another upload. ACK!

I've been emailing Amazon over and over, with this morning being the most current sending. I get a response each time, but nothing substantial telling me the problem is fixed. All the while, Amazon's automated system is sending me notifications like "Your file is past due," and "Your ability to use pre-order has been suspended." Even though the Amazon techs are telling me my ability to do pre-orders will most definitely be reinstated. And this morning I got, "Your pre-order book has been canceled."

WTF!!!

My release day is Friday, but it looks like this may take longer for Amazon. Today I'm working on all the other places, getting things in order, and making sure all is as right as I can get it (nothing goes perfectly, ever).

Here are a few of the Amazon responses I've received:

"I want to inform you that this is an ongoing issue with many other book in KDP and our technical team is aware of this situation. They are working hard to fix it as soon as possible." 

"I can see that my colleague Goutham is working to solve your issue as soon as possible, I'll transfer your request of an update on this matter to him and he will contact you as soon as possible with the necessary information on this matter." 

"We are sorry that your pre-order book 'To Kill a Demon' is still stuck in publishing stage and the release date is fast approaching. I've been checking regularly with our engineers on their progress with resolving the issue. It appears the issue is more complex than expected and they're still working hard to resolve this for you."

I don't know what to say, Amazon. I'm disappointed. To all of my lovely readers: I'm so sorry. I know you've waited FOREVER for this book and this is just another delay. UGH!

If someone who pre-ordered doesn't mind, could you let me know if Amazon actually did email you saying my book was canceled? And if you do get a copy on release day, please beware that it is NOT the final manuscript. Even more UGH. I'm truly disgusted with this situation right now.

Pre-Order Now Available

We have just over a week until the release of To Kill a Demon, but if you're anything like me you're so busy that the day could come and go without you ever remembering it's release day. Eek! Sooooo, to help with that situation, pre-order on Amazon is now available. Yay!

Just pop on over to the page and click the pre-order button. On release day the book will be automatically downloaded to your Kindle or Kindle app on your phone or tablet. It'll be there waiting for you whenever you finally find the time to sit for a few minutes. Woohoo!

To Kill a Demon is available on all Amazon sites, so snag your copy today and have it waiting on you when the 21st finally arrives. :)

To Kill a Demon (Liz Baker, bk 6) -- $3.99 eBook

Release Day... Finally! To Kill a Demon (Liz Baker, bk 6)

I am so happy to announce that the big day has finally arrived. After months and months of delays, family issues, deaths, and all-around real life getting in the way, To Kill a Demon is done and getting all dressed up for the big day. Woohoo!

Release Day will be November 21st. I'll have an Amazon pre-order link up soon, and then everywhere else will be live on the big day. I'm working on a release day giveaway (like I always do), so stay tuned over the next few days for details on all that fun stuff.

Now I'll get back to the editing grindstone, but I'll leave you with the back cover blurb for To Kill a Demon (Liz Baker, bk 6).

Liz Baker has been through a lot of craziness in the last year of her life. Monsters are constantly climbing out of the woodworks and it seems that she's always the only one who can stop them. Now her closest friends are missing and all she wants to do is find them. That is, until her own demon takes over and causes nothing but trouble in every aspect of Liz's life.

Demon Dolly does everything under the sun to create chaos for Liz. Lots of one night stands with all the wrong men lead into a few illegal activities, as well as the deterioration of Liz's beloved bar, Athena's Ambrosia. Thank goodness Liz has friends in her corner who know the difference between the real Liz and her demonic impostor.

Or do they?

Will Liz be able to rid herself of the monster inside? Or will she finally give it up and fade into nothingness?

September Sucked!

Good afternoon, all you lovely blog readers. Thank you for being here. I knew you were amazing! And after the last month I've had, I certainly need some supportive peeps like you guys. <3

September started off like any other September. The kids were excited to get back to school and I was running around trying to get my house back in order from the crazy summer. And then it went downhill from there. :(

My wonderful, amazing, classy, kindhearted grandmother got sick. She started off feeling rough and coughing. She swore it was just a chest cold and nothing more. Two weeks later she was still sick and not improving so everyone convinced her to see a doctor. She did and he diagnosed her with bronchitis and sent her home with meds. Ten days later--and all the meds gone--she was still very sick, so we sent her back to the doctor. This time he says it's pneumonia, gives her more meds, and says he'd like her to go to the hospital the next week for more thorough testing. She's 77 years old and things just get her down more than the rest of us.

A few days later, four days before the scheduled hospital testing, Granny is in BAD shape. My aunt and mom do all they can to convince her to let us take her to the hospital. They even allow Granny to pack her bag and take a shower before calling the ambulance to come get her. So she goes.

Our family isn't large, but we all came together and made sure there was always someone at the hospital with her. She was there for two weeks, going downhill the entire time. Finally, she is released to go home on September 23rd. Hospice is scheduled to take care of her. She's non-responsive at this point and we all know she's just going home for her final days.

I spent all morning with her on September 24th. Her hospice nurse came and gave her a bath and changed her clothes. I sat and talked to her when no one else was around. I kissed her good-bye and told her I had to go pick the kids up from school. "I'll be back in the morning, Granny."

Three hours later my sister called me to let me know Granny had passed away, and for me to come back to her house. I was there when the hospice nurse came to pronounce her. I was there when the funeral home came to pick up her body. I was there afterward when my mom was crying.

On September 27th we laid my grandmother to rest beside her husband and son.

My grandmother was the best lady I've ever known. She loved us all and would give anything she had to help someone in need. She taught me all about canning, and shared our favorite recipes. She was an inventive woman who could turn the most minuscule things in a pantry into a full course meal. She took care of herself and many others over the years. Even just a couple of days before she passed she was telling us not to fret over her, or mess up our schedules just to sit with her. We wouldn't stop though. <3

Overall, she passed away from cancer. Melanoma that she didn't take care of spread to her lungs, liver, and up her esophagus. She decided none of us needed to know about it and she just let it take her over until the bitter end.

Sooooooo, September sucked ass around here. I apologize for not getting To Kill a Demon out into the world, and I hope my wonderful readers understand why it just wasn't as important as being there for my grandmother in her final days. I have so much to do in my writing that I feel I'll never get it all done.

I guess it's better to have too much to do than too little and become bored. Of course, I don't feel like I'll ever not have something to do. Boredom is a incomprehensible word around here.

Time to hit it!

O. M. G! School has started...finally! After three months of non-stop kids, I didn't think it would ever come. The first day of school arrive last Tuesday and I couldn't have been happier about it. And my kids were pretty thrilled, too!

I spent last week getting my house back in order, cleaning carpets, doing laundry, running errands, filling out school forms, and paying for all sorts of things to get everyone settled into the new school year. New routines were established (considering the oldest is a senior who drives herself, with only 1 class at the high school after her morning college classes, and my middle child started high school) and implemented while I watched the clock to make sure everyone got to where they needed to be in a timely manner. If everything goes as smoothly as last week went, I'll have a little more free time on my hands this year. Yay, me!

All of that means this week I can (finally!) jump back into my work routine. Summers are a bust for writing in the Silvers household. There's just too much fun stuff to do, and not enough time to do it all. But when school starts, I'm free to delve back into MY world. I'm excited to get back into Liz Baker's world and finish book 6 before she uses some of her unpredictable powers to knock my behind back into gear. Eek!

The next few weeks and months will see me finish book 6 an finally release it, and then I'll be starting on the first book in a brand new series. I've been wanting to start this new one for some time now, but I'm not one of those authors who can work on multiple books at once. Nope, I'm a one book kind of gal, so it had to wait.

So here we go! Onward and upward! I'm planning to have To Kill a Demon off to beta readers by early October ad hopefully the release date won't be far behind. And a big THANK YOU to my very patient readers. Lots of love to you all!

Life Continues to Roll On

SXC.hu: ShadowRave

Hey there, blog Peeps! I want to warn you up front that this entry may be a bit long winded. You've been warned! :)

First, let me start off by saying that yes, I am fully aware that I've missed yet another release date for To Kill a Demon (Liz Baker, bk 6). I promise it's getting there, but there's no way in hell I'll put it out into the world in less than the condition I expect it to be in. My writing time has been nonexistent; my family will always come first. Plus, my editor is having her own family issues and has been MIA lately.

Usually I try mot to ever schedule a book release, or plans of writing a book when my kids are out of school for summer break. My writing time is when they're in school. That has always worked out, but somehow this year just didn't work the way I wanted it to, and I was stuck with an unfinished novel when school let out.

UGH!

So here I am, the end of July is here and the book still isn't complete. My kids only have one month of summer break left and then I'll move forward from there. I probably only need like two more weeks to get this sucker in tip-top shape, and then send it to the editor. Then back cover blurb, and it's ready to go. It's just getting to the point where I have two weeks of uninterrupted work time to get it finished.

I like where the story has gone, and I know exactly how it will end. It's just getting the time to sit and write it all without the phone ringing or a kid screaming.

Oh, and I've been dealing with tenants, and the selling of one of my rental properties. That's stressful enough as it is. Fingers crossed the rental property sells soon and the rest of my current tenants behave themselves. :) Tim and I are tired of being landlords and are hoping to slowly bring our count down to just one rental property (his parents' house).

I've also helped my mom get her new accounting business started. I'm planning a remodel on our fifth wheel RV, and putting new flooring down and painting the inside of our own house. And if you'll stop by my other blog you'll see all the canning I've been doing this summer http://crazyhomesteading.blogspot.com/  Not to mention, my oldest daughter will be a senior in high school when school starts back, BUT she's also a dual enrollment student at the college in the next town, which starts on August 11th. She still doesn't have her own car (since she wrecked the one I bought her), so I'll either have to drive her so I won't be car-less, or I'll have to be car-less and let her drive my van. We also have to do a few more college tours, start all the college application processes (UGA opens apps on Sept. 2nd), and finally pull my hair out from all of it.

"Busy" is too minuscule a word for what I've been this summer.

Will you forgive me for being behind on the new book? I certainly hope so. I hope you'll all stick around and be there when it finally does release. Book purchases have been waaaayyyyyy down the last several months, so if you don't mind sharing the other books with your friends, family, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, etc. I'd be forever grateful. <3

Smooches to you all!

Disappointment ensues.

Credit: ralaenin
sxc.hu

Month one of summer break is quickly coming to a close. My kids are having a blast, and I'm enjoying spending time with them. We've done a few projects (thanks, Pinterest!), enjoyed shopping days, worked outside and around the house, and even did some swimming (which my massive sunburn proves). My oldest is working her part time job, and my 13 yr old is working on her 9th grade summer reading. Plus, my 13 yr old will be turning the big 1-4 in a couple of weeks, so she's trying to convince me of all sorts of gift and party ideas. LOL! All that while my poor 9 yr old is pining for her best friend, who went to visit some family out of town.

It has been a crazy month, to say the least. In between all that, I've spent numerous late nights working on To Kill a Demon. I had planned to release it on June 30th, but it doesn't look like that will be feasible. There's still a lot of work to do in this book, and my regular editor is still M.I.A. Sooooo, I'm going to push the release to July 31st and see if that will do the trick.

As an indie author, it takes a lot of time and work to get these books written, designed, and published, especially when you have a family, animals, and rental properties to take care of at the same time. Eek! I want to thank all my amazing readers for their patience, and I hope you'll enjoy book 6 when it is ready for public consumption.  :)

Have a great day!

Summer is in full swing.

As most of you know, it's summer here in Georgia. My three daughters are out of school and spending an extreme amount of time at home with me. Not that I mind. Oh, no. I actually enjoy not having to wake up at 5:30am every day in order for three girls to be ready to walk out the door by 7am (even though I do enjoy the amount of work I can get done on any given day by getting up that early).

It's only been a few weeks, so we're having fun relaxing and just being without daily obligations. My 17yr old has taken the SATs (for a second time to get a higher score), and then this week I stood on the sidelines and watched her going through her senior pictures. I wanted to cry when they put her in a cap and gown for a few shots. *Sniff, Sniff*

We still have a year of school before she graduates and runs away to college. But that doesn't stop me from sobbing inconsolably at the mere suggestion of her being gone. J/K! I'm actually helping push her out of the nest by keeping her on schedule with college applications and suggesting things she should be researching. I'm sure I'll cry when she does graduate and leave, and probably for a few days (months) after, though.

Anyway, enough about my soon-to-be exiled daughter. She's planning to be a successful doctor and I plan on her taking care of me in my old age. :D

Now for a little book updating....

I'm still working on book 6 in the Liz Baker series, To Kill a Demon. I'm pushing for that June 30th release date, but the closer I get the less I think it'll be ready by then. Hell, my editor is even out of town for a while. Eek!

So, anyway. There it is. I usually try not to write a book during the summer, but I will get this one out, one way or another. Yay for Liz Baker!  :)

To Kill a Demon Cover Reveal

This week I revealed the cover for my upcoming release, To Kill a Demon (Liz Baker, bk 6). This latest installment of Liz's world is scheduled for release in June. In case you missed the cover, here you go.

I think it turned out quite nicely. My cover designer always does a beautiful job and each time we put a new cover together she surprises me again. I give her a few paragraphs of details about the story, ideas I have for the cover, and reminders about a few points we keep consistent from cover to cover, and in no time at all she pops out something wonderful. I don't know how she does it. Love you, Kelly!!

On another note, if you're on Facebook you've probably noticed all the changes that have come about lately. The pages you like aren't showing up on your newsfeed like they used to. Sometimes I have to actually go hunting for the ones I like to read the most. Sooooo, if you're a fan of my page, would you be so kind as to stop by and click to get notifications. This will ensure you receive all of my updates in the future.

Don't know how to get notifications? Well, I'll tell you.  :D

First, go to my page at http://www.facebook.com/authorchristiesilvers
Next, hover your mouse pointer over the LIKE button, a drop down box will appear and you click on "Get Notifications."

It's just that easy. We'll stay connected and you won't miss out on the news when I have new releases, reveals, appearances, and giveaways.

I hope you have a great weekend!

20th Anniversary Giveaway

Happy April 9th! Today is probably just another Wednesday for you, but for me it marks my 20th anniversary. On the day my hubby and I married it was bright, sunny, and extremely windy! We were only 17 years old (the same age as our oldest daughter) and thought we knew it all. The difference between us and the majority of the teens who married the same time we did... We're still together 20 years later! :)

What a difference the years make. We've had lots of trials and tribulations, ups and downs, happiness and sadness, but I wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world. And we created such lovely daughters, too!

In sight of all the craziness 20 years of marriage brings, I'm welcoming all of you to celebrate with us. Check out the Rafflecopter below for numerous ways to enter the anniversary giveaway. Prizes include books, goodies, and gift cards. Entries will be taken for the next week and winners will be announced on April 17, 2014.

Prizes:

1 - Spring Goodie Box

2 - $5 Amazon Gift Cards

1 - Autographed Time for Death (Liz Baker, bk 1)

1 - Liz Baker eBook (winner's choice)

3 - Time for Death key chains

1 - Nail Polish Collection

3 - Book mark Collections

One part of the entries is for you to leave a blog comment, so I ask you this:

Name one thing that first attracted you to your mate. If you're single, name something you'd like to see in a future mate.  :)





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book 'Em 2014 was a blast!

Last weekend I attended the 2014 Book 'Em NC Authors Conference & Book Fair. This was my third year attending and I'm already signed up for next year. I had a great time.

Friday night was the author meet & greet. I meet up with old friends, and met a few new ones. I missed some authors who weren't able to make it this year, too. Overall, it was a fun evening with lots of food, drinks, and conversation.

The next morning we were up and at 'em early. The fair didn't open to the public until 9:30am, but all the authors filed in early to set up our tables, browse, and chit-chat with others. Here's a pic of my table set-up. I was supposed to share a table with my best author friend, Robin Renee Ray, but she wasn't able to make it all the way from New Mexico. Therefore, I ended up with a table to all to myself (and with 5 books to sell it was needed).

By the end of the day I had shaken so many hands, told so many people about my vampires, sold several books to new readers (and a few to old fans), and even turned down the offer of a new publisher. I was exhausted! It was a blast, but I'm always glad when it's over and I can get back home to my own bed, and back to writing the next book.

Here are a couple more pictures from the big day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, said hello, and/or purchased a Liz Baker book. I hope to see you all next year!

My self-proclaimed #1 NC fan, Geri Turner. <3

Valentine's Day Freebie

Happy Valentine's Day, all you lovely log readers! I hope you get to spend the day with the one(s) you love the most. I have dinner plans with the hubby, but I'm really hoping we can make a trip to the gun range this weekend, too. Is that too weird?

No matter. I just wanted to let you guys know that for today only Time for Death (Liz Baker, bk 1) is FREE on Smashwords. Use this code NM82G during checkout and snag your copy today.



*Smooches*

Three Weeks 'Til Book 'Em NC

For the last few years, every February I make the trek from the north Georgia mountains to a small town in North Carolina called Lumberton for a massive, ever-growing writer's conference and book fair called Book 'Em North Carolina. I have such a great time during this one day event that I always immediately agree to come back the next year.


So here we are, a mere three weeks from the big day. I can't wait! I'll be there with bells on (*Remember to buy bells*) ready to meet and greet new readers and old with handfuls of chocolates, lots of smiles and conversation, and dozens of copies of the Liz Baker series.


If you'll be anywhere near Lumberton on February 22nd please, please, please stop by and say hello. The even is free to the public. With over 75 authors, publishers, and literary agents signing books and giving panel talks, you're bound to find something of interest.


Here are all the details:


When: February 22, 2014
Where: Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC
Hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm


Check out the website for directions and hotel information, as well as a list of authors, talk schedules, and author seating. My table will be down the first hallway you come to as you pass the cash registers. But don't worry, the entire set up is one big circle. You'll come around to my table at some point.  :D

My mind is blown. Will I recover?

It has been a crazy, stressful, and cold last few weeks (months). Some days I've felt like my mind is blown and I'll never think up another good idea... or hell, remember what day it is.

Christmas was good. The kids had fun and they enjoyed their gifts. My "new" grandmother even came over for Christmas dinner, and brought me an interesting gift (I shared about it on Facebook). And then a few days later my oldest daughter turned 17 (I cried).

The kids were home from school for two weeks due to the holidays, and then right when they were supposed to start back the frigid weather moved in. School was canceled for two days and then they had a delay on the third. It was hectic, but I was glad to not have to go out in the cold.

It's not all on my kids though. They were actually more behaving during this school break than they have been in years. Tenants, income, bills, seasonal (I hate winter), and numerous other issues plague me at the moment. 

Overall, when stress hits my creativity plummets. I haven't written anything since November. It's not like I don't have books to write, because I certainly do. The 6th Liz Baker book is begging for my attention, right alongside the 1st book of a new series I'm starting, but I just shrug them off and go wallow in another episode of whatever T.V. series I'm currently enjoying.

Soooo, today I'm writing this blog. Not only to update you guys on what's going on, but also to jumpstart the writing side of my brain and to remind my fingertips what it feels like to type more than a Facebook status.

I have two more birthdays to work through (my youngest turning 9 & my own on Friday), and then it's the countdown to Book 'Em NC on February 22nd. I always look forward to seeing all the authors and readers in Lumberton, NC. This will be my third year attending and I always have a great time.

I hope you all have had a great holiday season. Now let's push into 2014 and make it a great year!