Archive
Kindle Sales Rankings for Lazy Day Publishing’s E-books for 4/29
Check out the updated Amazon sales rankings for Lazy Day Publishing’s books through today April 29.
After nine straight weeks in the No. 2 spot, the erotic anthology Deep in the Heat of Texas by authors Alta Hensley, Melissa Ecker and Amy LeBlanc took over the No. 1 position as Lazy Day Publishing’s top-selling book on Amazon this week. This ends the nine-week run of Hensley’s novel Tradition Love in the No. 1. spot.
Several other novels on the list also made impressive showings this week.
Liz Borino’s novel Expectations moved up seven spots to take the No. 3 spot.
In its second weeks since its release, Rae Spencer’s new novel Beyond A Proposition continued with its promising start with a No. 4 ranking.
Ava Riley’s new novel A Lifetime to Find Love stayed in the top 5 in the No. 5 spot.
Author Elaine Dyer’s novel Mindset advanced a ranking for the No. 6 position.
Melissa Ecker’s novel Pull the Trigger also moved up a spot to No. 7 on the list.
Rounding out the top 10 were George Pappas’ novel Monogamy Sucks, Amy LeBlanc’s Dark Rogue and Elaine Dyer’s Forever Summer in the No 8, 9, 10 spots, respectively.
Johnny Dragona’s novel Unlikely Love also advanced eight spots to finish No. 13.
In additional rankings, George Pappas’ novel Monogamy Sucks is the No. 12 ranked erotica e-book on Amazon Kindle while Alta Hensley’s novel Traditional Love is ranked No. 31 and Rae Spencer’s novel Beyond A Proposition is No. 34 in the erotica category. Liz Borino’s Expectations is the No. 52 ranked novel in the Gay & Lesbian category on Kindle.
Once again, this is not a definitive list as it doesn’t include e-books sales from Barnes & Noble.com and other Internet retail sites.
I intend to update these Amazon sales rankings of Lazy Day authors every week to track how our books are doing. Please feel free to share these rankings on other blogs or on your own blogs and Web sites, and on Twitter and Facebook.
You should click on the links below and buy the books from all of these talent authors. You will love their work.
GP
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AMAZON SALES RANKINGS FOR LAZY DAY PUBLISHING’S BOOKS
April 29, 2011
Sales Rankings out of more than 800,000 books in Kindle store
1. DEEP IN THE HEAT OF TEXAS, ALTA HENSLEY, MELISSA ECKER, AMY LEBLANC, #11,227 (rel 2/14/11)
2. TRADITIONAL LOVE, ALTA HENSLEY, RANKING #12,538 (released 12/1/10)
3. EXPECTATIONS, LIZ BORINO, #30,056 (rel. 12/1/10)
4. BEYOND A PROPOSITION, RAE SPENCER, 34,030 (rel. 4/20/11)
5. A LIFETIME TO FIND LOVE, AVA RILEY, #41,043 (released 4/6/11)
6. MINDSET, ELAINE DYER, #53,761 (rel 12/1/10)
7. PULL THE TRIGGER, MELISSA ECKER, #58,857 (rel. 12/1/10)
8. MONOGAMY SUCKS, GEORGE PAPPAS #84,222 (rel. 12/1/10)
9. DARK ROGUE, AMY LEBLANC, #98,042 (rel. 12/1/10)
10. FOREVER SUMMER, ELAINE DYER #104,524 (rel. 12/1/10)
11. PIETY AND MURDER, THOMAS DRINKARD, #129,863 (rel. 12/1/10)
12. STEAM QUEEN, JACK HESSEY, #144,595 (rel. 12/1/10)
13. UNLIKELY LOVE, JOHNNY DRAGONA, #187,601 (rel. 12/1/10)
14. FEED THE FIRE, MELISSSA ECKER, #191,601 (released 12/1/10)
15. MOUNT UP, MELISSA ECKER, #213,113 (rel. 12/1/10)
16. BY SUNSET, TY LANGSTON, #222,070 (rel. 12/1/10)
17. SEDUCTION OF HONEY, ASH STERLING, #261,727 (rel. 12/1/10)
18. DREW IN BLUE, J.M. KELLEY, #264,436 (rel. 12/1/10)
19. THE SILVER CAGE, MIK WILKENS, #275,568 (rel. 12/1/10)
20. A POCKETFUL OF SPELLS, ASH STERLING, #309,456 (rel. 12/1/10)
21. JERICHO’S WALLS, MICHAEL BRET HOOD, #389,141 (rel. 12/1/10)
22. DECEIT, W.C. HEWITT, #401,260 (rel. 12/1/10)
23. ON ANGELS WINGS, JACK HESSEY #458,568 (rel. 12/1/10)
* Please note that this list does not include rankings or sales from Amazon UK
List created by George Pappas, author of Monogamy Sucks
And the Winner of my Swinger’s Survival Kit is…Jennifer Lopez
As part of the Indie Book Collective’s Blog Tour de Force promotion last week, I offered a Swinger’s Survival Kit to the one reader who left the most interesting or provocative comment on my blog about my novel Monogamy Sucks, or what they would like to do with such a kit.
After some deliberation, I have awarded erotica writer Jennifer Lopez of York, PA as the winner for not only her provocative comment about my book, but also how she wrote that she would use the kit to research her own erotica novel. And she even mentioned having developed a character in her book that is the female counterpart to my novel’s protagonist. Her comment seemed to perfectly fit the spirit of my adventurous novel. 
The Swinger’s Survival kit consists of the books — the Beginner’s Guide to Swinging, the
Worst Case Scenario Guide for Dating and Sex and a Lifestyles Pleasure
Collection condoms box.
I hope the kit will aid Jennifer’s erotica writing endeavors.
Thanks to all that left such wonderful comments in support of me and my novel during the Blog Tour de Force. I really appreciate it.
GP
Interview with Staci Helling, Co-Owner of Lazy Day Publishing
Today I would like to introduce you to Staci Helling, co-owner of new digital publisher Lazy Day Publishing, that launched in December 2010 with 21 e-book titles. Just recently Lazy Day launched three more books and they are quickly establishing themselves as an indie publisher to watch with a number of their writer’s e-books selling well on Amazon Kindle and other retail sites. In December, Lazy Day Publishing launched my novel Monogamy Sucks. They have been a joy to work with and are extremely supportive and I highly recommend authors check them out.
In the following interview with Staci, we cover the inspiration and philosophy behind the forming of Lazy Day Publishing, the rise of e-books, how well their authors are selling on Amazon, and upcoming releases and the future prospects of her company and the publishing industry. Enjoy.
GP
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Let’s start at the beginning. Where did your inspiration to start Lazy Day Publishing company come from?
Mark McConnell (my business partner) and I have always been entrepreneurs looking for interesting and creative businesses. LazyDay Publishing came to us one day and we just knew it was meant to be our next business.
Had you and Mark McConnell, (co-owner of Lazy Day Publishing) always dreamed of working in the publishing business? Have you always been avid readers?
We have always dreamed of being in an up and coming business with a lot of potential. We both have always been avid readers so it was a bonus to open a business that involved something we both had a passion for.
Why now? Did you guys foresee the sudden rise in popularity in e-books and digital publishing?
That is the exact reason why. We believe that digital publishing is the future of storytelling. We loved the idea that this new technology would allow new publishers and first time authors to really get their foot in the door. We love change, and wanted to be part of it.
Who are your mentors or heroes in the publishing business? Who do you want to model your company after?
We have always been impressed with Ellora’s Cave. The idea that one woman with a dream could build an empire is pretty remarkable. We also like the business model that Carina Press as undertaken, not only focusing on digital only publishing, but broadening the genres published beyond erotica.
It has been nearly six months since Lazy Day Publishing’s launch in December 2010. As you close in on the six-month mark, have things gone as well as you expected? What has surprised and pleased you? What have you learned that you will apply for the second part of 2011 and beyond?
We are amazed at how well LazyDay Publishing is doing! We had hoped for success, but are overjoyed with the level we have seen in such a short time. We have been surprised and pleased with how well Amazon, in particular, does in sales. We really see them as leaders in third party vendors. Because of the Amazon phenomenon, our focus for 2011 and the years to come is directing our attention in maximizing our sales on that site.
We have learned a lot in these quick six months! One of which is how powerful social media is in selling books. This is something that we will continue to push with each author we sign.
We have also been surprised with the amount of submission that continue to come in. Let’s just say, that no one in the LazyDay offices will ever be without something to read!
Lazy Day Publishing is open-minded toward embracing genres such as explicit erotica that a lot of publishers shy away from. Was that your intention from the start? Will you continue to reach out to erotica writers now that a number of your authors such as Alta Hensley and Melissa Ecker have consistently sold well on Amazon’s Kindle and other retail sites?
When we created our business, we wanted to be open to all genres and open minded to whatever content came our way. This paid off with our success in the erotica novels that we have published so far. We have signed some new erotica authors to the mix and look forward to even more in the future.
What have you learned from your founding authors? It is quite an eclectic and talented group you chose to launch your company. Honestly, myself and some of my fellow authors, wondered if we’d ever be published authors. I thought I’d have to go the self-published route. Was there a common quality in each of us authors that convinced you we were worth investing time and your company’s reputation in the industry?
When we signed our founding authors, we weren’t just looking for a good manuscript. It was important, of course, but we were looking for the right author. We wanted someone who was hard working, dedicated, ambitious and a dreamer. We also wanted to bring team members to our mix. There are a lot of bitter, jaded and beat down authors out there, on various author forums, that we wanted to stay away from. We wanted to create a positive working environment and we feel we more than succeeded in doing so.
Our founding authors exceeded our expectations in growing the reputation of Lazy Day Publishing. It was because of them, that we had such a successful launch and continue to grow. I think aspiring authors see the team environment that we have created and how supportive everyone is to each other, and they want to be part of the family.
Tell us about some of the new authors that have recently joined the Lazy Day Publishing family.
We are so proud of the new authors we have signed since our founding authors — Ava Riley, Rae Spencer, A ‘Jeeper’ Wade, Elizabeth Thorne and Becky Dennington. Each of them bring something fresh and exciting to the mix.
Our Summer and Fall line up is turning out to be just as exciting as our launch!
Do you have some new upcoming releases by your current or founding authors you can talk about?
Several of our founding authors are under contract for sequels or just additional books for the future. Liz Borino, Ash Sterling, Elaine Dyer, Alta Hensley, and Ty Langston all have second/third books coming out by the end of the summer.
We love this, because we know that we already love working with them.
Are there any new genres Lazy Day Publishing would like to add to its current list? Do you foresee more memoirs and non-fiction e-books? Possibly Chick lit or Frat lit (Tucker Max type of books)?
We would love to see more erotica that pushes the envelope. We would also love to see some more paranormal, and western romance.
We love Tucker Max…but we love an upcoming author by the name of George Pappas even better! 
Has the e-book revolution finally arrived? Where do you see the current state of the publishing industry? Do you think Lazy Day is well prepared to meet the challenges of the rapid changing industry where e-books, blog interviews and tours and social media are the driving forces?
We feel the e-book revolution is still in the infant stages, although growing at a rapid speed. I see the current publishing industry having to continue to make some drastic moves to keep up with the changes. Print will always be around, but e-books are going to become a huge presence as well.
With so much attention being paid to the e-book community, the number of books available is growing at an exponential rate. That having been said, our constant, ongoing challenge, is to make sure our books stand out from what is quickly becoming an over saturated market.
I’m not sure any company is fully prepared for what challenges are in store. There are so many unknowns of what is to come because everything is so new. Our goal is to be flexible and bend in the direction that this revolution takes us.
How has Twitter and Facebook helped your company, the publishing industry and writers overall?
Twitter and Facebook are truly a driving force in the digital book. The authors are able to create a fan base quickly with social media and we see the sales because of it.
We have also met a majority of our authors on Twitter.
Social Media allows the reader to form a connection with the author of the book they are reading. I think this gives a personal touch that makes the reader an instant fan. It’s taking a traditional book signing to a whole new and more powerful level.
You guys developed some impressive book trailers for your founding authors? How do they fit into your marketing puzzle overall and for the future?
We absolutely love our book trailers and hope to see more in the future. Ehron Von Allen is making some more music as we speak. We are also looking for any other musicians who would like to be part of our trailers.
I think book trailers are a fun and creative way to give some life to a book. Music is a very powerful tool when mixed with visuals. We have gotten positive feedback and hope to continue on with more.
Where do you see Lazy Publishing at your 1-year anniversary? What about five years from now?
Publishing is difficult business to succeed in. A large number of new publishers fail to publish a single new book after their initial launch, citing a number of reasons for failure, but failing none the less. We have succeed in continuing to put out new authors and new titles since our initial launch in December. After our launch and with our continued success, we know that we have what it takes to make it past that crucial first year.
It is so hard to predict what will be in five years, because I’m positive there will be so many changes to come that no one will be able to foresee. I can say that we plan to be deep within the changing industry and continue to publish amazing new books!
Any advice for aspiring writers from a publisher’s perspective?
You need to have a polished manuscript and cover letter. It seems that many authors assume that because publishers pay to have copy editors that they don’t have to worry about basic grammar. This is not the case. If there are too many errors, we can’t even get into the heart of the story.
I would also be very careful about how you portray yourself online. If you are negative on forums, blogs or Twitter, it could come back to haunt you. We do our research on an author before we sign them. We want to actually like who we work with.
Also what suggestions do you have for writers who want to be a part of the Lazy Day Publishing team?
Write a great story, and have a great personality. We accept no divas or arrogance. We are a team environment and plan to operate that way for the years to come.
Next…submit your manuscript to submissions@lazydaypub.com
It doesn’t Suck: Check out the Rave reviews for novel “Monogamy Sucks”
After a rocky start, my novel Monogamy Sucks is finally receiving the critical support from readers and fellow writers I had always hoped for.
My novel is a wild and frank journey into the sexual male mind and swinging lifestyle. I pull no punches and leave nothing out. I call it real life erotica or reality fiction. Finally, I feel readers are embracing the intent and vision of my novel — to explore the male sexual psyche in an honest and realistic manner and write about subjects many authors unfortunately avoid. Or as author Alta Hensley put in her excellent review of my novel — it is “Tucker Max meets Sex in the City.” That’s a pretty accurate description of my novel.
Yet readers are expressing their affinity for my character Jake Dalmas and his emotional journey. It is more than I ever could have dreamed.
My novel is provocative, funny and well worth the trouble. If you don’t want to take my word for it, see what the reviewers are saying.
Here’s what they are saying on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/4hl5arx
In addition, a number of fellow writers LM Stull, Eden Baylee, Sammy Sutton, Susie Kline and others have raved about my book and penned intriguing reviews.
Here are links to those reviews:
L.M Stull: http://su.pr/30JRDS
Eden Baylee: http://wp.me/p1cWaE-FL
Sammy Sutton: http://sammywrites.blogspot.com/2011/04/sammys-review-of-monogamy-sucks-by.html?spref=tw
Immortality and Beyond Blog:
http://www.immortylcafe.com/2011/04/blog-tour-de-force-round-2-woot-woot.html
The Pen & Muse Blog: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2656
Susie Kline: http://bit.ly/g2Ug9L
You can also check out my page on Good Reads for additional reviews from authors Eden Baylee, Kimberly Kinrade and others.
Stephanie Overton also reviewed my book for her blog My Guilty Pleasures.
I didn’t pay them to say all these great things about my book. They support what I was trying to achieve with my novel — an honest look at sex, monogamy and relationships, and they enjoyed my raw and humorous writing style.
My book has only been out a little over five months, and I am very excited for my prospects for finding new readers. I recently participated in the Indie Book Collective’s Blog Tour de Force and I can’t recommend it enough for authors who want to connect with readers and also fellow authors and reviewers.
My novel is the #11 ranked Erotica novel on all of Amazon Kindle and my book is consistently ranked in the top 100,000 out of more 800,000 e-books on Kindle. Take a chance on my novel. You will not regret it.
GP
Take a Walk on the Wild Side of Erotica if you dare: Leave a comment today for a free copy of Monogamy Sucks
Once you’ve finished crowning the next Blog Tour de Force champion in the fierce finals showdown between authors Ann Charles and Kimberly Kinrade, stop over at my blog and take a walk on the wild side of erotica. I DARE you to leave a comment and your e-mail address to see the world through a male swinger’s eyes with a free copy of my e-book Monogamy Sucks FOR TODAY ONLY.
My novel is a wild and honest journey into the sexual male mind and
swinging lifestyle. It is sexy, funny and well worth the trouble.
If you don’t want to take my word for it see what the reviewers are saying.
One reviewer said it is “Tucker Max meets Sex in the City. That’s a pretty
accurate description as I hold nothing back.
See what they are saying on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/4hl5arx
Also fellow writers LM Stull, Eden Baylee and others have raved about my book
and wrote intriguing reviews.
Here are links to those reviews:
L.M Stull: http://su.pr/30JRDS
Eden Baylee: http://wp.me/p1cWaE-FL
Immortality and Beyond Blog:
http://www.immortylcafe.com/2011/04/blog-tour-de-force-round-2-woot-woot.html
The Pen & Muse Blog: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2656
Susie Kline: http://bit.ly/g2Ug9L
Sammy Sutton: http://sammywrites.blogspot.com/2011/04/sammys-review-of-monogamy-sucks-by.html?spref=tw
I didn’t pay them to say all these great things about my book. They
supported what I was trying to acheive with my novel — an honest look
at monogamy and relationships, and they enjoyed my raw and humorous
writing style.
Take a chance on my novel. You will not regret it.
GP
KINDLE SALES RANKINGS FOR LAZY DAY PUBLISHING’S E-BOOKS THRU 4/22
Check out the updated Amazon sales rankings for Lazy Day Publishing’s books through today April 22.
For the ninth straight week, author Alta Hensley, has maintained her remarkable run as Lazy Day Publishing’s top-selling author on Amazon Kindle in capturing the two top spots on the list with her novel Traditional Love and as part of the anthology Deep in the Heat of Texas with fellow authors Melissa Ecker and Amy LeBlanc. This is also the ninth consecutive week Deep in the Heat of Texas has taken the No. 2 spot on the list.
We have a new addition to the list this week with the release of Rae Spencer’s new novel Beyond A Proposition. Her novel is off to a fast start debuting with the No. 3 ranking.
Several other novels on the list also made impressive showings this week.
Ava Riley’s new novel A Lifetime to Find Love maintained its hold on the No. 4 spot.
George Pappas’ novel Monogamy Sucks moved up two spots to take over the No. 5 position.
Amy LeBlanc’s Dark Rogue also advanced two spots to move into the No. 6 spot.
Melissa Ecker’s novel Pull the Trigger moved four ranking to No. 8 on the list.
Author Elaine Dyer’s novel Mindset, Ty Langston’s By Sunset and Liz Borino’s novel Expectations stayed in the top 10 in the No 7, No. 9 and No. 10 spots, respectively.
In additional rankings, George Pappas’ novel Monogamy Sucks is the No. 14 ranked erotica novel on Amazon Kindle while Alta Hensley’s novel Traditional Love is ranked 30th in erotica. Liz Borino’s Expectations is the No. 51st ranked novel in the Gay & Lesbian genre on Kindle.
Once again, this is not a definitive list as it doesn’t include e-books sales from Barnes & Noble.com and other Internet retail sites.
I intend to update these Amazon sales rankings of Lazy Day authors every week to track how our books are doing. Please feel free to share these rankings on other blogs or on your own blogs and Web sites, and on Twitter and Facebook.
You should click on the links below and buy the books from all of these talent authors. You will love their work.
GP
***
AMAZON SALES RANKINGS FOR LAZY DAY PUBLISHING’S BOOKS
April 22, 2011
Sales Rankings out of more than 750,000 books in Kindle store
1. TRADITIONAL LOVE, ALTA HENSLEY, RANKING #8,626 (released 12/1/10)
2. DEEP IN THE HEAT OF TEXAS, ALTA HENSLEY, MELISSA ECKER, AMY LEBLANC, #10,100 (rel 2/14/11)
3. BEYOND A PROPOSITION, RAE SPENCER, 20,482 (rel. 4/20/11)
4. A LIFETIME TO FIND LOVE, AVA RILEY, #22,404 (released 4/6/11)
5. MONOGAMY SUCKS, GEORGE PAPPAS #36,606 (rel. 12/1/10)
6. DARK ROGUE, AMY LEBLANC, #36,588 (rel. 12/1/10)
7. MINDSET, ELAINE DYER, #48,498 (rel 12/1/10)
8. PULL THE TRIGGER, MELISSA ECKER, #57,990 (rel. 12/1/10)
9. BY SUNSET, TY LANGSTON, #64,332 (rel. 12/1/10)
10. EXPECTATIONS, LIZ BORINO, #73, 275 (rel. 12/1/10)
11. MOUNT UP, MELISSA ECKER, #152,524 (rel. 12/1/10)
12. FEED THE FIRE, MELISSSA ECKER, #152,841 (released 12/1/10)
13. FOREVER SUMMER, ELAINE DYER #183,972 (rel. 12/1/10)
14. STEAM QUEEN, JACK HESSEY, #192,411 (rel. 12/1/10)
15. SEDUCTION OF HONEY, ASH STERLING, #198,915 (rel. 12/1/10)
16. PIETY AND MURDER, THOMAS DRINKARD, #200,404 (rel. 12/1/10)
17. DREW IN BLUE, J.M. KELLEY, #243,151 (rel. 12/1/10)
18. THE SILVER CAGE, MIK WILKENS, #255,211 (rel. 12/1/10)
19. A POCKETFUL OF SPELLS, ASH STERLING, #276,198 (rel. 12/1/10)
20. JERICHO’S WALLS, MICHAEL BRET HOOD, #357,320 (rel. 12/1/10)
21. UNLIKELY LOVE, JOHNNY DRAGONA, #394,220 (rel. 12/1/10)
22. DECEIT, W.C. HEWITT, #395,365 (rel. 12/1/10)
23. ON ANGELS WINGS, JACK HESSEY #453,377 (rel. 12/1/10)
* Please note that this list does not include rankings or sales from Amazon UK
List created by George Pappas, author of Monogamy Sucks
Get Ready for a Snarky Authors’ Cage Match Rumble: Rachel Thompson Vs. George Pappas, A Walk in the Snark Vs. Monogamy Sucks: May the Best Snark Win
George Pappas’ novel Monogamy Sucks takes on the Mancode in Rachel Thompson’s novel A Walk in the Snark in a titanic battle of shocking, explicit humor versus funny, sarcastic wit in today’s stop of the Blog Tour de Force’s author Cage Match.
Jake Dalmas, the protagonist of my latest novel, Monogamy Sucks, defies all mancodes and he is truly the male sexual psyche unleashed in literary form. And Jake also goes out of his way NOT to understand a word of Chickspeak…
In fact, there is no mancode created that could completely explain the motivations for Jake’s quest for a more fulfilling sex life. Monogamy truly sucks for Jake, and his predicament leads him on a fascinating and at times bizarre journey into casual sex and the swinging lifestyle.
It’s a wild ride that I DARE you to embark on.
You can win a FREE e-book copy if you comment on my blog today, and you will NOT regret it.
Just check out my glowing Amazon reviews. Why would I do this? Well, this is only the start of Jake’s taboo shattering journeys.
I have two sequels planned. I dare you to not get hooked on Jake’s humorous and sexy adventures and can’t wait to read more.
Not only will you get an e-book copy of Monogamy Sucks, but those who leave the most intriguing and hot comments get entered to win a Swinger’s Survival Kit complete with the Beginner’s Guide to Swinging, the Worst Case Scenario Guide for Dating and Sex and the Lifestyles Pleasure Collection condoms box.
My fierce foe, Rachel Thompson, is the queen of snark and Chickspeak, and a deft translator of the strange behaviors and customs of the male species with her blog and novel A Walk in the Snark (containing the aforementioned Mancode.) Rachel is what the “Real Housewives of Orange County” would be if they actually possessed brilliant wit, humor and intelligence.
Rachel’s novel is hilarious, wonderfully sarcastic and touching in describing her travails as married woman with two kids trying to grapple with the ups and downs of married life and her husband’s very male way of thinking.
However, don’t skip past what she calls “the poignant alerts,” where Rachel explores the darker aspects of her relationship past. These passages contain some of the most powerful writing in her book and provide women (and men, too) tough lessons of what NOT to put up with and do in relationships and love, and provide keen insight into her life’s journey.
Please don’t skimp on those comments here or on Rachel’s site. While I love her book, I’m in cage match to win it with the most comments today.
There are three more days of the tour for you to discover hot new authors, including Kimberly Kinrade’s truthful and poignant novel Bits of You & Pieces of Me, award-winning authors Ann Charles (Nearly Departed in Deadwood) and Gary Ponzo (Touch of Deceit), and other writers to watch -- John Sunderman (Acts of the Apostles), Suzanne Adair (Paper Woman) and A.M. Harte (Hungry for You). And don’t forget our opening day Cage Match participants — authors Amber Scott (Fierce Dawn) and Cristyn West (Plain Jane). This is about leaving the most relevant comments and discovering new writers, not which book or author is the best. That being said you will love these impressive writers.
No matter who wins I am honored to be among so many talented authors, and I also get to read new talents as well. Make sure to comment on each post so you can get your free e-book.
The real winner of this battle of raw humor and funny sarcasm — Monogamy Sucks vs. A Walk in the Snark – will be the reader discovering a wealth of laughter and humorous truth by two talented writers.
George Pappas
Cool Blog Tour de Force Authors Cage Match Showdowns Video: check it out
Ten authors, five cage match showdowns….and a wealth of free bounty for you dear reader, including free e-books, a chance to win a Kindle and other prizes.
Please check out this cool Indie Book Collective video about this week’s Blog Tour de Force authors cage match showdowns.
And tomorrow my book Monogamy Sucks steps into the cage against the Queen of Snark, Rachel Thompson and A Walk in the Snark. Please comment on our blogs to win free copies of our e-books and get a chance to win a Kindle and other special prizes.
Are you going to let the Mancode and Chickspeak take me and my character Jake Dalmas down tomorrow? That would SUCK almost as bad as Monogamy.
It’s a snarky fight to the finish: The Queen of Snark vs. the King of Swing… Don’t miss it.
GP
Kindle Sales Rankings for Lazy Day Publishing’s books thru 4/15
Check out the updated Amazon sales rankings for Lazy Day Publishing’s books through today April 15.
For the eighth straight week, author Alta Hensley, has maintained her remarkable run as Lazy Day Publishing’s top-selling author on Amazon Kindle in capturing the two top spots on the list with her novel Traditional Love and as part of the anthology Deep in the Heat of Texas with fellow authors Melissa Ecker and Amy LeBlanc. This is also the eighth consecutive week Deep in the Heat of Texas has taken the No. 2 spot on the list.
Several other novels on the list also made impressive showings this week.
Liz Borino’s novel Expectations moved up six spots to move into the No. 3 position on the list.
Ava Riley’s new novel A Lifetime to Find Love continued with its promising start in taking the No. 4 spot.
Author Elaine Dyer’s novel Mindset jumped 11 rankings to move into the No. 5 position on the list.
Ty Langston’s By Sunset advanced nine spots to move into the No. 6 ranking.
George Pappas’ novel Monogamy Sucks stayed in the top 10 on the list at No. 7.
Amy LeBlanc’s Dark Rogue also remained in the Top 10 at the No. 8 position as did Thomas Drinkard’s Piety and Murder at No. 9.
Once again, this is not a definitive list as it doesn’t include e-books sales from Barnes & Noble.com and other Internet retail sites.
I intend to update these Amazon sales rankings of Lazy Day authors every week to track how our books are doing. Please feel free to share these rankings on other blogs or on your own blogs and Web sites, and on Twitter and Facebook.
You should click on the links below and buy the books from all of these talent authors. You will love their work.
GP
***
AMAZON SALES RANKINGS FOR LAZY DAY PUBLISHING’S BOOKS
April 15, 2011
Sales Rankings out of more than 750,000 books in Kindle store
1. TRADITIONAL LOVE, ALTA HENSLEY, RANKING #7,601 (released 12/1/10)
2. DEEP IN THE HEAT OF TEXAS, ALTA HENSLEY, MELISSA ECKER, AMY LEBLANC, #19,345 (released 2/14/11)
3. EXPECTATIONS, LIZ BORINO, #20,213 (rel. 12/1/10)
4. A LIFETIME TO FIND LOVE, AVA RILEY, #20,795 (released 4/6/11)
5. MINDSET, ELAINE DYER, #44,557 (rel 12/1/10)
6. BY SUNSET, TY LANGSTON, #104,270 (rel. 12/1/10)
7. MONOGAMY SUCKS, GEORGE PAPPAS #122,645 (rel. 12/1/10)
8. DARK ROGUE, AMY LEBLANC, #140,532 (rel. 12/1/10)
9. PIETY AND MURDER, THOMAS DRINKARD, #164,656 (rel. 12/1/10)
10. MOUNT UP, MELISSA ECKER, #169,928 (rel. 12/1/10)
11. FEED THE FIRE, MELISSSA ECKER, #194,824 (released 12/1/10)
12. PULL THE TRIGGER, MELISSA ECKER, #213,215 (rel. 12/1/10)
13. DREW IN BLUE, J.M. KELLEY, #217,670 (rel. 12/1/10)
14. THE SILVER CAGE, MIK WILKENS, #217,745 (rel. 12/1/10)
15. FOREVER SUMMER, ELAINE DYER #218,501 (rel. 12/1/10)
16. A POCKETFUL OF SPELLS, ASH STERLING, #241,966 (rel. 12/1/10)
17. SEDUCTION OF HONEY, ASH STERLING, #242,489 (rel. 12/1/10)
18. STEAM QUEEN, JACK HESSEY, #315,793 (rel. 12/1/10)
19. JERICHO’S WALLS, MICHAEL BRET HOOD, #322,941 (rel. 12/1/10)
20. UNLIKELY LOVE, JOHNNY DRAGONA, #357,003 (rel. 12/1/10)
21. DECEIT, W.C. HEWITT, #387,634 (rel. 12/1/10)
22. ON ANGELS WINGS, JACK HESSEY #437,445 (rel. 12/1/10)
* Please note that this list does not include rankings or sales from Amazon UK
List created by George Pappas, author of Monogamy Sucks
Interview With April Gutierrez Aka Ava Riley, author of novel “A Lifetime to Find Love”
Today I want to introduce you to April Gutierrez aka Ava Riley, Lazy Day Publishing author of new erotic romance novel A Lifetime to Find Love, which was released on April 6, 2011, In this following interview, April talks about the inspiration for her novel, her interest in photography, and her upcoming projects. Enjoy.
Tell us about your erotic romance novel “A Lifetime To Find Love.”
A Lifetime to Find Love is a sexy, steamy story about love, fate, and romance. Tessa and Cade have known each other practically their whole lives and through a turn of events, their friendship blooms into something deeper. It doesn’t come that easy for them, however, and they have to decide if they should explore this new aspect of their relationship, or continue on as they always have.
How did your novel develop?
I wish I could say I had some great revelation, but honestly, I was sitting in a study area at the college I attend and just started writing.
Were you working on this book for a long time?
This story took me about a year to write because I attend school full time and I wasn’t able to devote the time to that I would have liked.
Did it have any previous incarnations as other novels or short stories?
It did not.
Tell us a little something about yourself. You live in New Mexico with your family and are currently attending college?
I do live in New Mexico with my husband and two children; an 8-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son. I am attending the community college (this summer is my last term) and am transferring to the University of New Mexico in the fall. I am working on a double major in Creative Writing and Communication/Journalism.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I have always wanted to be a writer since I was kid, but never thought it was possible.
Did you write a lot when you were younger?
When I was younger, I wrote more poetry and short stories.
Why are you writing under the name Ava Riley?
I wish my reasoning was more exciting and erotic, but honestly Ava Riley is easier to search than April Gutierrez.
What about writing erotic stories intrigues you?
It’s mostly about being able to express the feelings a person is experiencing in the moment of passion to the readers and making them feel like they are in the heat of the moment with them. I always hate reading a love story and when it comes to the sex part, it reads “they did it.” It completely takes the reader out of the story. Plus, who doesn’t love a good hot steamy sexy scene.
Is this your first time writing in the erotica genre?
This is my first time writing this genre, but I’m looking forward to writing many more 
.
What do you think your book explores about the nature of love and sex?
That they go hand in hand. Tessa and Cade are definitely attracted to each other sexually, but when their love begins to grow, the passion between them intensifies making their sexual encounters more fulfilling.
How much are you like your character Tessa?
I think I am like her in many ways. Aside from being a photographer, I relate to her on the level of being a strong woman who knows what she wants.
How do you come up with your characters?
As with Tessa, I draw from experiences in my own life, whether they are a part of me personally or a person I’ve come across.
Are your characters composites of people you know or knew?
Yes, both. Susan, a minor character in the book, was taken from someone in my past (not the name, though) that was on the verge of irritating, but you couldn’t help laugh at her antics.
Do you think the locations depicted in your novel have an impact on the characters and your book’s overall themes?
Absolutely…the personalities of people differ depending on the places they reside. California seems more cheery and laid back than say Seattle where is rains a lot.
What was the most difficult aspect of writing your book?
Aside from finding the time to sit down and write, I would say making myself shut up and listen to what the characters have to say. As a writer, I sometimes push what I think the characters should do rather than listening to them and letting them just “do.”
Were there times you felt uncomfortable exploring the erotica scenes?
I never felt uncomfortable exploring it, but at first I felt uncomfortable reading it. Most people I know think I’m innocent….LOL.
Do you get a lot comments from people wondering if your erotic depictions are derived from your real life?
Surprisingly, YES! I’ve even had people ask if I “researched” the scenes. I’d have to say YES, my husband is a great research partner! (ooooppps…hope that’s not too much information).
How has your experience been with Lazy Day Publishing?
Fantastic. Staci (Helling, co-owner of Lazy Day Publishing) has been wonderful from the beginning and very helpful and patient.
Have you been inspired by the founding authors whose books helped launched the company in December?
Absolutely. I have to say that Melissa Ecker has been a huge help even before I knew about Lazy Day Publishing. Also, you (George) have been amazing and I can’t thank you enough for your help in promoting my work.
What have you learned from them and from your publisher?
I have learned to be more aware of my writing style. Going through edits of this novel was like having dental work done. It was painful, but in the end I benefited from the constructive critique of my writing. I think it has made me a better writer for future works.
How have social networks like Twitter changed your writing life?
Wow. Twitter has made a huge impact on my confidence level as a writer. I was able to let some people I met on Twitter early on (before I even submitted to Lazy Day) read some of my novel and their encouragement is what made me seriously consider submitting.
You are also an accomplished freelance photographer. What is it about photography that attracts you?
Ahhh, photography is a huge passion of mine. Like with writing, being able to express the emotions of the moment or the innocence of a child or the beauty of nature to the viewer is what I get joy out of. To have a parent be in awe of a photograph of their child that they will have to pass on for generations makes my heart happy.
Do you have any writing rituals?
I have to write at night when everything is quiet. Also, I have to have my hair pulled up in a ponytail. Don’t know why but it’s when I do my best writing. LOL
Have you ever had writer’s block?
Too many times to count!
What inspires you about writing?
I love watching the “people” in my head come alive in black and white. Watching their life unfold before my eyes is exciting. I get caught up in what is going on with them and it makes me want to keep writing to find out what is happening in their world.
What did you learn from the writing and publishing of your book?
I found out that I love it more than I realized I did and that it’s an amazing feeling for someone to read my work and really like it. Also, I realized I have A LOT to learn and that there are areas I can improve on. I’m looking forward to making improvements as I grow as a writer.
Are you excited to be a part of this new publishing revolution of e-books? How is it working with a new digital publisher?
I have been reading e-books for over a year now, so it is exciting to see my own book in this format. I have had a great experience with Lazy Day Publishing. Being able to submit digitally was so nice for me because of my crazy schedule.
When your book was finally published what were some of the thoughts that ran through your head?
My first thought was, “Dear God I’m a published author” then it was fear that people wouldn’t buy it or like it. Then elation that my work was finally out there.
Was it the culmination of a life-long dream?
Definitely. I started school so that I could become a writer, and to be published before finishing my degree is a major accomplishment for me.
If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?
Honestly, I wouldn’t change this first time experience. Because of the mistakes I’ve made along the way and the writing process, I’ve grown as a writer and have learned a lot not just about writing, but who I am.
Are you working on your next book or books?
The second book in this series, Sacred Surrender, is due out in June 2011. SS is Rowan’s (Tessa’s brother) story. This one is my favorite by far. What can I you tell us about it? As seen in A Lifetime to Find Love, Rowan got his heartbroken, so this one is his journey to allow himself to find love again and the girl who helps him along the way. Will Tessa and Cade have further adventures? Tessa and Cade have small parts in Sacred Surrender and possibly another book to tie the four characters together. As far as adventures…these two will have a lifetime of adventures. I am sure their lives will never be boring.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
As far as advice about writing, the most respectful thing you can do with your characters is to “listen to them and dictate for them.” You write, let them speak. As for publishing, I have been very blessed with Lazy Day Publishing in that my first submission was accepted by them. I know other authors who have received rejection letters, so I will tell you what they told me. If you believe in your work, don’t stop until someone else realizes what a masterpiece you have. There are different styles of writing, different types of authors, and different kinds of readers. So don’t give up and always improve on your writing.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
You can find me at my author’s website: www.avariley.webs.com, and at Dirty Birdies: http://dirtybirdauthors.blogspot.com/ — where along with 8 other wonderful authors we get to blog about the smut we write and the smut we love. My books are available at Amazon.com under the Kindle Store (just search my name there) and at Barnes & Noble.com.
