indie publishing

Claim Your Advance Copy of PLAYING BY THE RULES

December 28, 2016 by ReeseRyan

So things for me have been a little crazy. (I know I’ve been saying that all year, but it’s true. Really.) Despite another minor surgery and a few other issues, there has been a lot for me to celebrate in a year that has otherwise been sucky for so many reasons. (RIP George Michael and Carrie Fisher.) Since I inked the four book and holiday novella contract with Harlequin Kimani Romance this past spring, I’ve been offered a few additional opportunities with them. News I’ll be announcing to my VIP Readers soon.

I’ve been busy with my Pleasure Cove series with Kimani–debuting on bookstore shelves on February 21, 2017, my London-based novella series Playing by the Rules and a new short story I’ll share more about soon. However, I’m peeking my head out of my writing cave for another helping of holiday cake and to tell you that at long last, I’m delivering on my promise to give all of my VIP Readers a complimentary copy of Playing by the Rules Book 1.

Not currently a VIP Reader? No worries. Claim your free, advance copy of Playing by the Rules and join my VIP Reader list in one simple step over at instaFreebie.

Your advance copy of Playing by the Rules will be available now through January 8th, then it goes on sale at online booksellers on Tuesday, January 10th.

About Playing by the Rules

When Meredith Jane encounters her ex’s elder brother at a saucy Valentine’s Day party for singles, the last thing she expects is to spend “seven minutes in heaven” with him or to discover that he has deep feelings for her.

Hunter Westbrook adored Merrie long before his competitive younger brother asked her out. Now that Merrie’s relationship with his brother has ended, he faces the hardest decision of his life. Will he risk his relationship with his brother and jeopardize the future of their family’s luxury resort empire by pursuing the woman he loves? Or will he suffer in silence to keep peace in the family and risk losing her forever?

Merrie discovers a startling truth: She’s been with the wrong brother all along. But as one of the few women on the management team at her firm, she can ill afford to get caught up in the gossip and scandal sure to come if she chooses to be with Hunter. Nor does she wish to hurt Liam’s family or disappoint her own.

Hunter and Merrie have spent their entire lives playing by other people’s rules. In a society where perception is everything, is true love worth risking everything they’ve worked so hard for?

Claim your free advance copy of Playing by the Rules in your preferred format today.

Author News: Plotting and Planning

August 28, 2015 by ReeseRyan

Right brain planning elements. Courtesy of Teresa Robinson. — Right brain planning elements. Photo courtesy of Teresa Robinson.

Yesterday was ultra productive, thanks in part to kicking the day off with an energizing yoga sequence. I wanted to keep the momentum going today. So I began the day with that same workout. I’m focusing that burst of energy on plotting additional books in my coming Playing with Bad Boys series.

I already had the general story line and characters in mind for each of the additional books, particularly since most of them are introduced in Playing It Safe, Book 1 of the series. But today it’s time to get down deep and personal with the characters in the coming books. Like boozing it up with a new neighbor and discovering what she really thinks about everyone on the block. 😉

While I often drag my feet about plotting and creating character profiles, once I finally get started with it, it’s always fun to discover my characters’ secret motivations and the history and relationships lurking in their pasts.

Plotting the story and creating character profiles is also a point in the process where I can easily get lost, falling down the research rabbit hole. So I’m giving myself today and the rest of the weekend to focus on the plot and character profiles of one book in the series, which I’ll be telling you a little more about in my newsletter next week. After that, it’s time to get down to business fleshing out the next book in the series. And the next. Then, on the first Saturday of the month I’ll be participating in a Book-in-a-Week challenge with my local chapter of RWA.

In the midst of plotting out the rest of the books in the series, I’ll also be sharing news with VIP Readers about a change in plans for the Playing with Bad Boys series, and the special project I’ll be sharing with VIP Readers this fall. If you’re not already on my newsletter list, you can sign up using the form below.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear in the comments what you’re planning for the weekend and what tricks you use to rev up your energy and kickstart your productivity.

Have a great weekend!

Right brain planning elements. Photo courtesy of Teresa Robinson.

Get to Know Tasha L. Harrison Author of The Lust Diaries Series

August 12, 2015 by ReeseRyan

Today we get to know Tasha L. Harrison, author of The Lust Diaries series. She reveals the first book she was obsessed over, talks about life as an indie publisher, and offers insight into her unapologetic heroine of The Lust Diaries, Yves Santiago.

Tasha thank you for visiting with us. Please tell readers three things we should know about you.

I write filth. I enjoy writing filth more than anything else. I write the stories that I want to read; stories about people of color that are so difficult to find in mainstream romance.
I’m kind of a gypsy. I’ve lived a bunch of places, but I don’t really call any one place home. Home can be anywhere as long as my boys, my hubbie and my boxer pup Cassius are there.
I’m kind of an introvert (aren’t most writers?), but if you give me a beer or whiskey or chicken wings, I will become the life of the party!

Every great writer is also an avid reader. So when did you first fall in love with books? What prompted you to become a storyteller?

The first book I remember being completely obsessed about was Charlotte’s Web. I must have checked that book out no less that fifteen times. I still love that story.

I think I have always been a writer, but I first tried my hand at storytelling in middle school when I drew and wrote a comic strip for myself and my best friend at the time. They were mostly tales of boy crushes and winning the yearly talent show (which we often did. I could dance back then too 🙂 After that I wrote quite a few poems and short stories, but I didn’t begin writing seriously until my late twenties.

Tell us about the premise of The Lust Diaries and your heroine Yves Santiago?

Yves Santiago is a the kind of unapologetic woman who lives her life full out. After being in an abusive relationship, she is just learning what she wants from relationships and how to love again. The Lust Diaries is her journey to finding a love that is the right fit for her.

You’re both the author and the publisher of The Lust Diaries. What do you love most about being an indie author? What do you find most challenging?

I tried submitting my books to traditional publishers and after numerous rejections, I just found that process too soul crushing to repeat again. At the time, self-publishing was becoming more common and I figured I would try my hand at it. The learning curve is steep and things are always changing, but I wouldn’t trade being an indie author for any other form of publishing. Wearing all of the hats is overwhelming at times (especially when it comes to marketing and promotion), but honestly, I like the fact that whatever success I gain is because I did the work. I love being an authorpreneur!

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently working on Having it Both Ways which is book 3 of The Lust Diaries. I have two more novels planned in this “world” and then I plan to write a few standalones because writing a series is EXHAUSTING.

Thanks for being with us today, Tasha, and good luck with the rest of your tour.

Thanks!

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What Comes After THE END?

April 8, 2015 by ReeseRyan

As a reader, reaching the end of a good book is a bittersweet experience. I’m glad the characters have received their happy ending, or that the hero has completed his journey. yet I’m sorry to bid goodbye to the characters I’ve become so invested in.

As an author, working with a publisher, it was a great relief to type those two words: THE END. Once I finished revising and polishing book, I’d send it off to my editor and the marketing team, for them to do their magic.

But this time things are different for me. It’s the first time I’ve finished a novel that I’ll be indie publishing. There is still, of course, that moment of giddy excitement that the darned thing is finally completed. But then there was an almost immediate sense of panic because I didn’t have a pre-selected team of creatives to bring the project to fruition. There was just…me.

So I’ll admit, a slight bit of panic ensued. But there was also the heady feeling of being in complete control of my own project. I’m over at the Contemporary Romance Cafe talking about my new adventures as an indie author, and what happens after THE END. I’d love it if you pop over to the Cafe and tell me how you feel once you finally reach THE END.

PS: To be among the first to learn about the progress of my new series (including some exciting news coming later this month) and eligible for cool prizes, sign up for my mailing list in the sidebar on the right.

The End courtesy of Oliver Hammond.

Note to self: Publication is a journey, not a destination

August 5, 2014 by ReeseRyan

This month over on the Contemporary Romance Cafe the topic is: the road to publication.

I turned that thought over and over in my head and I just couldn’t come up with anything. Sure, I have my basic story of how I came to be published, but it didn’t feel like it even began to scratch the surface of the real story.

Publishing has changed dramatically in the past few years. While stories of the road to publication fit the old model of publishing, they only tell the partial story of what it’s like getting published and then staying relevant in the digital age where e-books rule supreme and publishers are consuming each other faster than Ms. Pac-Man gobbled up those darned power pellets.

While many authors are still going the traditional publishing route, there are other treks available. Small publisher. Digital-first publishers. Indie publishing.

Best of all, we aren’t obligated to take one trek or the other. Many authors have found great success going the hybrid route, whether it begins with trad publishers or as indie publishers. All of this is empowering for both authors and readers.

Yet, my basic “road to publication” story didn’t cover any of those exciting nuances.

Then, this morning, it hit me. Like happiness, publication isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.

Signing that first contract, seeing our first book in print (or online), that’s only the first step. Like reaching the first check-in point on a long-distance trek. There are many, many more peaks and valleys ahead and the geography is constantly changing.

I invite you to hop over to the Contemporary Romance Cafe where I share my journey of publication. I’d love to hear yours.

PS: The cover on display is from my first foreign language edition, Una stagione eccitante, recently released in Italy.

Ciao!