This Week in Talia News

Hey all! Lots of reviews happening this week. I'll link to all those who reviewed my books, please check them out.

Two of my books are listed on Diesel now. Still having trouble with Apple iBooks. I think that'll be a separate post when I figure out how to fix it, in case other people need help.

All four of my books got either a 4 or 5 star review on Tracy's Treasure of Books.

If I Die Young was reviewed at Writings, Musings and Other Such Nonsense.

The Ultimate Sacrifice got another great review at C.S. Dorsey.

A 3 star - but very good - review of The Ultimate Sacrifice on The Bornean Bookworm.

I had a great sale day yesterday, Friday, I sold 5 books between 7pm and midnight on Amazon. Made up for the rest of the week being blah.

I'm up to 34,000 words on the vampire paranormal I'm writing. And the characters from The Ultimate Sacrifice were yelling for attention in my head again, so I wrote about 2000 words down so they'd be quiet a little longer :)

I wanted to mention some Facebook writer groups I belong to. Please check them out:

Indie Writers Unite!

Editing For Writers

That's it on the author front.

It's a holiday weekend. We're staying put, but we'll be swimming down here in the 95 degree weather and having a BBQ with some neighbors. The kids have two days of school left. So, they're very excited. In between swimming, shopping, church, and taking care of everybody, I hope to reach 40,o00 words on my vampire book. Wish me luck! Hope everybody has a safe and happy Memorial Day!

Writing Is For Me

Did you ever get that crazy 'is this really worth it' feeling? Sometimes I get depressed - I admit it. It's hard doing this all myself. Maybe I expect too much? I know I'm just starting out. It's only been a few months... no, it's been longer than that, in July it'll be one year since I put my first book out there for the world to read.

I do get sales. Usually about two a day. Some days I get nothing and there have been days where I have had six sales. So, it's not like I'm not getting anything. But, then I read about people selling 100 a day. It blows my mind. To sell that many every day would be awesome! How do I get to that point? I know I don't always write about easy things. I don't always write about what people want to read, but I do think that there are many people out there who would like my books if they gave them a chance. My husband has convinced me to write a paranormal and a vampire book. I'm only 30,000 words into the vampire one. I'm kind of stuck in the middle, so I figured I'd take a few days to think.

I put my books out there to a bunch of book bloggers, so far the feedback has been positive. Although, I'm trying to prepare myself for that bad review that will ultimately come. I can't please everybody. But, I'm sure when it does come, I'll pull the covers up over my head and decide never to write again... for about a minute. LOL!

I keep reminding myself that the reason I write is for me. I love these stories. I want to see them get written. I want to read them. Selling them is just a perk :) So, I will keep writing as long as characters keep yelling in my head - and hopefully someday I will see sales as high as 100 a day!

Tempest by Holly Hook

Book 1 of the Destroyers Series

Sixteen-year-old Janelle never thought the gray spiral birthmark on her arm meant anything special. That is, until she meets Gary, a boy her age with a birthmark exactly like hers. Gary’s attractive, brooding, and perfectly normal…except for the fact that he materialized out of a dangerous hurricane right in front of her. Janelle’s certain of only one thing. Gary’s mark—and hers, too—mean something, but he’s reluctant to tell her what.

At last she squeezes the truth from Gary about their markings. And the truth is utterly terrifying: Janelle and Gary are more connected to the destructive power of nature than she ever dreamed possible. And learning the truth about herself is only the start of her nightmare.

My Review:

I don't usually do book reviews because I don't have the time to write them with all the writing and reading I do. But, every now and then, you'll find one posted.

This is one of the first books I bought with my Kindle. It immediately swept me away. I'm not sure what the subcategory would be... paranormal, supernatural, or fantasy - but I could care less about what it's considered. It's YA and I LOVE YA. It was different than what has become the norm. The main character, Janelle, grabbed me and I immediately liked her. I found myself sometimes yelling at her when she was making the wrong decisions, knowing the whole time that if I was her, I'd be making those same decisions.

It was really a neat book and I don't want to spoil it, but if you have an eReader, go get it! It's only .99 cents!! There is a paperback as well.

It's a great, fast paced read!! Unique. Engaging. Hard to put down. I can't wait to see what else Ms. Hook has in store for us.

You can buy it here.

Looking For Reviewers

I'd love to have some reviews on any of my books, but especially If I Die Young or The Ultimate Sacrifice. They are both YA. Anyone interested can click on the links above to read the blurbs. They only come in eBook format. I can send a pdf or generate a coupon on Smashwords. It would be great if I could have reviewers who can do it within the next month.

Please email me at taliajager (at) att (dot) net

Thanks!!

Blurb and Cover Reveal!

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Within our world exists a much darker world only known to a select few. Some are identified as “gifted” and brought to a special institute where they develop their own unique talent and understanding of this world within our world.

It is here Kassia finds out her talent is both dangerous and difficult to control. She has the ability to inflict pain on an individual within her sight. It is only after a friend is being attacked that she realizes her talent is much more powerful when she brings death to the attackers. Little did she know that use of such a powerful talent alerted demons to her existence.

Suddenly she is on the run with her best friend, who ironically is immune to her power, and a new kid at school she was falling for. Realizing she can’t outrun the demons, she seeks the guidance of a local shaman. The shaman explains the only escape is through her own death. In order to protect her friends and institute, she sets out to do just that.

The Ultimate Sacrifice is being uploaded right now! It will soon be on Amazon and B&N for $2.99.

Fourth Book

I got some really good feedback on my fourth book, The Ultimate Sacrifice. Being my first paranormal, I've been really nervous about it. But, the people who have read it have loved it so far. I'm finishing up some edits on it and I hope to have it out this month.

The Ultimate Sacrifice Teaser

It's where you live, it's where you learn, it's where you play.

The Glendale Institute is the place to be if you're different.

Teagan's New Cover

Teagan's Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy got its new cover today!!! Thank you to Streetlight Graphics for coming through for me again!

Old cover:

New cover:

This Week in Talia News

Teagan's Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy got reviewed on David Cleinman's Works and Writings

If I Die Young sold over ten copies so we met our goal and sent the proceeds to The Children's Heart Foundation.

Teagan's Story got a new cover... see other post about that.

I started a new paranormal and am about 20,000 words in.

Writing and Facebook

Hello blog readers! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful May weekend. Of course, it might not be beautiful everywhere.

I have been concentrating on a new story idea. I'm trying to break into the paranormal world that is so "in" these days. It's been hard trying to come up with ideas for something other than normal teenage drama. But, it's fun at the same time. I look forward to doing both paranormal as well as the regular drama.

For those of you who are authors, I belong to a Facebook group for indie authors. They are a wonderful group of people. Please join us.

My weekly update will be up soon!

Ten Copies Sold!

Woohoo! We did it! In only four days, ten copies of If I Die Young were sold! The proceeds from the first ten books have been donated to The Children's Heart Foundation. Thank you all for helping. I hope this book continues to sell well and helps to spread the word about heart defects. I also hope the story touches many people.

This Week in Talia News

Some big stuff happened this week! Er... last week - I'm a little late posting this. I had to spend part of the weekend changing passwords since one of our accounts got hacked :(

So, here we go, this is what happened last week in author news:

Got spotlighted on the blog: Written In Blood

E & K Family Book Review did a review of Teagan's Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy.

Damaged: Natalie's Story has arrived on Apple! Buy it from iBooks to read it on your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad.

If I Die Young is live on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. I'm half way to my pledge!! So, the proceeds from the next 5 books that are sold are being donated to The Children's Heart Foundation!

And finally, I have a new idea brewing in my head for another paranormal type book. We'll see where it leads.

If I Die Young is LIVE and a Pledge

If I Die Young is live on Amazon and B&N!

I decided that since congenital heart defects run in my family (myself, my daughter, and many uncles and cousins - one uncle is on the heart transplant list right now), I am pledging the proceeds from the first 10 books sold to The Children's Heart Foundation. I hope the money will touch the lives of many people struggling with heart defects, especially in children.

If I Die Young

Yesterday afternoon, I uploaded If I Die Young to B&N, Amazon, and Smashwords. They are all still processing, but it's just a matter of time. I will let you all know when it becomes live!

When Caelyn Noel was diagnosed with asthma five years ago, it put a damper on things. Now, she’s sixteen and things are finally going her way. She has loving parents, the best friend ever, and the boy she has had a crush on since elementary school has finally noticed her. Then, she collapses in school one day. To her horror, she finds out her heart is failing and she must have a heart transplant to live. Caelyn struggles with her fear of dying and worries of having someone else’s heart.

If I Die Young's Setting

My third book, If I Die Young, takes place in the Denver, Colorado area. The scenery there is beautiful. I wanted a beautiful place where Caelyn could experience the season changes, where she would feel alive. One of the most beautiful flowers is the Colorado state flower - the Columbine - mentioned a couple times in the book.

Caelyn mentions the mountains and views in the book. Here's a few pictures of Estes Park from this past winter:

This is the children's hospital in Denver where Caelyn spends a lot of time:

I hope to get to the Denver area this summer for more pictures.

A New Cover for Natalie

Damaged: Natalie's Story has a new cover! Yes, I did the old one myself. No, it wasn't very good, but it got the book out there and selling. I have wanted a professional cover for this book for a long time, but just didn't have the money. And I had to convince my husband, who didn't think I needed one. When he saw what Streetlight Graphics did for The Ultimate Sacrifice, he finally understood.

The new cover is exactly what I pictured. I love the colors, the font, and the girl. She looks exactly what I would picture Natalie looking like.

Old cover:

New cover:

I'm very excited and hope to see an increase in sales!

This Week in Talia News

It's the beginning of a new month! Hello May, please bring lots of sales. My BBoS (brown bar of shame) is gone on Amazon US. Yay!! I love when that bar disappears the first day of the month.

Lots of cover news this week. I have three covers finished now. I will be revealing a new one for an old book tonight. I am very happy with Streetlight Graphics!

I also went back and edited - AGAIN - the old books. I don't think I'm ever done editing. I walked away for six months, pulled the book back up and found things wrong. Even with people editing for me, I still found mistakes! Hopefully, I fixed all of them... doubt it, but maybe most of them :) Please do not hesitate to let me know if you see mistakes in my books. I will go fix them.

My fingers are itching to write an edgy book that I started in high school - which was a LONG time ago. I actually finished the story way back then, but it's not realistic now. So, I'm taking the character names and some of the story line and completely redoing it.

Guess that's about :) Cover reveal to follow.