I hope you’ve been enjoying the early May bank holiday. We’ve spent the weekend being typically British and started on the garden with a reward afterwards of a cool glass (or two) of Pimms.
I’ve also joined up with other sci-fi and fantasy authors to offer free books and giveaways during the month of May. Are you ready to find some new authors to follow?
These books, both in fantasy and sci-fi, are available on bookcave here.
There are 18 novellas and books to choose from including my own Fantasy Short Stories.
I’ve recently been trying a few new authors this way, the free no risk option is appealing – especially after my recent BookBub ad and the credit card statement that followed! I’m well on the way to making back the money though, so I’m very happy with the result. Last week I shared more stats of the recent sale on bookbub, if you’re interested in the sale from a writer’s perspective.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your holiday if you’re lucky enough to have another day off work. I hope you have lots of reading planned.
Last week I had a BookBub deal for The Lost Sentinel. Sales were not as high as I expected, but still more than I could ever have reached alone.
If you’re thinking of BookBub as a viable marketing strategy, here are my results. Please note – this is book 1 in a completed trilogy. I reduced books 1 and 2 down to 99p each and left book 3 at full price.
I’ve sold over 500 books in April. This is a BIG deal to me! That equates to 349 new readers for The Lost Sentinel, 96 picked up book 2 at the discounted rate and 55 bought book 3 at full price. Plus a couple of other books were sold not relating to the Silent Sea Chronicles series. 11 Audiobooks were also purchased, which is a nice little bonus that I forgot about.
My pages read figure in KENP is higher than its been in a long time, and is rising every day. I hope these readers find book 1 compelling enough to move straight onto later books in the series.
I have only gained 3 new ratings on GR and no new reviews. That is a disappointment but maybe more will trickle in over time. It did only run last week so I can’t expect too much too soon.
I was excited to reach number #7 in the kindle chart in Canada, though it would have been great to reach the No. 1 bestseller slot as I did with the previous BookBub deal.
My final thoughts;
I would recommend Bookbub deals to authors if they can afford to run them, and are lucky enough to be selected (which is very hard!). I will try again when I release a new series, but only once I have several books that the readers can pick up to really make the most of the promo. Other email subscription sites like Book Barbarian seem to have run their course for The Lost Sentinel – I think the readers have all seen it before, or these email ad sites are just not as effective as they used to be.
What are your experiences with running ads like Book Barbarian and Book Cave? Do you still buy books this way? Have you run the email subscription ads and seen good results, or no real change in your sales?
Please share you thoughts on reaching new readers. Or if you’re a reader rather than an author how do you discover new books?
Yesterday I was lucky enough to bag a BookBub deal for the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
The link to the ad will still be live for a few days, and you can follow me on bookbub too. The Lost Sentinel bookbub deal. They ran with the hook line;
“On an island where those with magic are exiled, a tailor’s daughter must hide her abilities — and find the one who will help save their home. This spellbinding novel kicks off an action-packed fantasy trilogy!”
At my last check this morning I’ve sold in the US, UK, Canada and Australia
The Lost Sentinel sold 244 KENP 450
The Sentinel’s Reign Sold 73
The Sentinel’s Alliance Sold 44
Book rankings 7 in CA store for Sword and Sorcery
45 in US store for Action and Adventure fantasy.
And in the top 100 in the UK ,US and Canada.
I’ll keep you posted on the stats at the end of the month. It’s good to have a written record of how these ads perform as a way to judge whether they still have an impact. And maybe my data will help you decide if it’s worth paying the big money for ads in the future. It all depends on your goals – mine is to re-spark an interest in an older series and show off the new cover and blurb.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait to see what has happened by the end of April.
If you’d like to help, the book will be on sale until 28th April. Any shares of my posts and sales will help give the rankings a boost.
And with book 2 also at 99p, the complete series is available for under £6.00.
Thanks for reading and following my author journey. If you have any advice or wisdom to share please do. Or if you are just starting out and want to talk things through, don’t be shy in asking for help.
I’m excited to share the indie international book sale starts today and runs 11th to 13th April. There are close to 300 books in fantasy, sci-fi and horror. All these books are either free or discounted. The sale is run by Narratess and links to all the books can be found here.
Here’s a few snap shots of the books on offer.
As you can see The Lost Sentinel book 1 in Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy is on sale for just 99p. I also decided to put book 2, The Sentinel’s Reign, down to £1.99.
It’s worth taking a look at the website and picking up some great new reads. I can’t wait to have a browse. Let me know what books take your fancy and I might share some of my buys at the end of the sale.
I’m really excited to share the facelift book 1 in the Silent Sea Chronicles has gone through, which includes a new cover and blurb.
I’ve always loved the cover which depicts a figure walking through the astral plane, but it’s never stood out as much as the covers for books 2 and 3. I’m really pleased with the transformation. What do you think?
I especially love the look of them all together and feel the series looks like it belongs together now.
The blurb is also updated to focus on the three main storylines that run through the series.
New Blurb
The magical island of Kalaya is dying, and it falls to Tei, an exiled mystic, to save it. But with Kalaya’s corrupt Assembly attempting to eradicate magic, can Tei help the exiles restore the island’s power before it’s too late?
When her father is murdered by the Assembly’s Masked Riders, Tei flees to the hidden mountain sanctuary of Turrak. Welcomed by the exiles, she is tasked with finding the realm’s next Sentinel before the old one dies. Tei must navigate the monster-ridden Astral Plane, while being pursued by the Soul Eater, a dark entity that devours lost spirits.
As Tei risks everything to find the hidden Sentinel, a lone Assemblyman attempts to dismantle the Assembly from within and prevent its persecution of magic. While across the Silent Sea, a reluctant naval commander, who is being manipulated by telepathic visions, readies an invasion fleet, pulling all their destinies towards a devastating war for the island’s survival.
To save Kalaya, Tei must learn that true power isn’t just about wielding magic – it’s about surviving the devastating sacrifices required to protect it.
If you like multi-dimensional characters in intricate worlds, then you’ll love The Lost Sentinel – the spellbinding novel that kicks off the action-packed fantasy trilogy Silent Sea Chronicles.
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The audiobook, paperback and box set have also got their new covers.
I’ve also opted to have a slightly different blurb for the box set.
Box Set Blurb
What if the only hope of saving a magically starved island lies in the hands of an untrained mystic and an assemblyman fighting the corruption from within?
Kalaya is a magical island dying from the inside out. As the corrupt Assembly of Newington systematically outlaws magic and slaughters mystics in the streets, the island’s ancient life force withers.
When her father is murdered by the Assembly’s Masked Riders, nineteen-year-old Tei flees to the mountain sanctuary of Turrak. Thrust into the hidden world of the exiles, Tei learns her destiny is to find their missing Sentinel. But to do so, she must search the monster-ridden Astral Plane and avoid the deadly clutches of the Soul Eater who devours lost spirits.
In Newington, a farmer secretly harbouring a magically gifted child inherits his father’s seat on the Assembly. He engages in a dangerous political battle against the Assembly’s ruthless leader and attempts to stop the murders.
Across the Silent Sea, on the barren island of Stone Haven, Commander Farrell receives telepathic visions from a Kalayan contact who’s manipulating his latent magic. Desperate to save his starving people, Farrell prepares his powerful naval fleet to invade Kalaya.
All their destines are pulled towards a devastating war for the island’s survival.
With ancient prophecies, dark sorcery, and magic-hating invading forces at large, nowhere in the Silent Sea is safe. This epic fantasy series is perfect for readers who love political intrigue, perilous journeys, and heroic deeds.
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What do you think of the overall look and feel of the cover and blurbs now? Would it entice you to read the book or series? Maybe you have a suggestion you would like to share?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy of this debut by Georgia Summers.
The Blurb
Curses are made to be broken.
‘ENTHRALLING TO THE LAST PAGE’ SHELLEY PARKER-CHAN
Filled with magic, stardust, and a shockingly dark heart, this is a stunning standalone fantasy perfect for fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Starless Sea and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
For centuries, Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.
Ten years ago, Violet Everly’s mother left to break the curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.
Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods, and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel to the edges of the world to find her mother and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began . . .
My Review
This was a very enjoyable read from a debut author. The blurb drew my interest straight away and I really liked the simplistic beauty of the cover, which fits the story perfectly.
From the first page, I knew I would like the story and it didn’t disappoint. There’s plenty of intrigue at the beginning when you have to keep reading to uncover the mystery along with Violet. As she grows up and the story develops secrets are revealed, trust is broken and Violet must face up to her fate or do all in her power to change it. Her journey of discovery drags you along and the final confrontation is satisfying.
There is a certain strangeness to the world Georgia Summers has created which reminds me of Neil Gaiman.
I’m looking forward to more books by this author.
I’m especially looking forward to meeting her at my local Waterstones later this month! I’ll have to try and think of some questions for the Q&A and will hopefully post more about the night here.
You can pick up a copy of The City of Stardust on Amazon and add to your Goodreads shelf.
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Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy, heart-warming romance and short stories
During the #IndieApril book sale I could not resist picking up some new books. I haven’t read any of these authors before so I’m looking forward to checking them out. Here is a taste of what attracted me to these books…
The Traitors We Are – In a world where writing disappears when the author dies, 22-year-old Cael Oberlan watches the last gasping breaths of his best friend. He pulls a scrap of paper out of his pocket as his friend’s signature fades. Cael only wants vengeance for his friend and to create a reality where he no longer has to bow before any man. However, the nagging suspicion that his father, who started this war, hasn’t given him the whole story about his role in this conflict threatens to unravel everything he ever thought he knew about himself and the people he is fighting to free.
As nephew of the King, 24-year-old Emil Trestinsen should be a hero. He should already hear his name echoing in celebration in the streets of the capital. In a young life already full of disappointment, a lack of recognition for ridding the kingdom of “Ruinous” Lorcen Oberlan may prove to be the final push he needs to seize his destiny. He will prove his worth to his family and his nation. He will end this rebellion and take his rightful place as the next governor of the rebels.
When 18-year-old Merily Oberlan receives letters from the frontlines, and the top one is blank, she is devastated to realize one of her loved ones has died in battle. She is determined to help bring an end to this bloody war and be strong for her people, a cultural and religious minority in the kingdom of Harfal.
What started as a simple rebellion transforms into a complicated web of lies, betrayal, and difficult decisions no one should have to make. It is a race against time and death as handwriting continues to disappear, erasing the contracts and historical records necessary for peaceful negotiations.
Winds of Destruction – Ancient pacts have been broken and powers greater than anything is about to be released and threatens to swallow the world. Life wants vengeance and the Wind freedom. The Spirits will fight for their justice and only the thunderous Storm can lead them to victory.But the war her ancestors have started is too much for her to handle alone. To break the Lord of Life’s dynasty and set the Spirits free she needs help from her uncle; a long-lost war hero now wasting the remnants of his broken life in ale. Once he was the Lord of Winds, but the Wind, people whisper, cannot be killed.
Broken Sky – Dorian Valmont is the sorriest excuse for an aeronaut the crew of skyship Phoenix has ever seen.
Forced to flee his home to protect his magical inheritance from the machinations of his ambitious stepfather, awkward misfit Dorian finds himself poorly suited to the rigors of life in the sky. But when an exiled dragon finds him, injured and desperate for help, Dorian learns it’s not enough merely to run away. Dorian must learn to fight back.
Caught between forces that seek to use or destroy him, Dorian must train and adapt if he wants to survive. But if he can, he might just hold the key to restoring the world’s faltering magic — or destroying it once and for all.
Flames over Frosthelm – An Investigation Gone Awry Sometimes, your case takes a left turn. Or three or four. Marten Mingenstern and Boog Eggstrom are provisional inspectors, fresh out of Inquisitor’s Guild training and eager to prove themselves. Assigned the mundane task of tracking down stolen jewels, they instead uncover a mysterious cult set on destroying the city. After a thief explodes, they earn the enmity of a vicious noble, the Chief Inquisitor gets bought off and goes rogue, they are seized by barbarians, and they are sentenced to death at least a couple of times. In a final, frantic race with prophecy, they face ruthless fanatics, a city turned against them, and terrible forces long buried.Flames Over Frosthelm is the first novel about the Inquisitor’s Guild, the investigative arm of the government of Frosthelm, a medieval city-state where criminals thrive, nobles scheme, and dark secrets lurk. Expect intrigue, mystery, swordplay, adventure, politics, romance, and the strong bonds of friendship. And a little magic along the way. Described as Princess Bride meets CSI, this new novel is a tale of classic adventure with a healthy dose of humor.
Devil’s Deal – When two angels break their deal with the Devil, he comes for the one they’re trying to protect.
16-year-old Eleonora Santos works through the summer break so she can visit her family in Italy when she graduates. With the new school year around the corner, her focus is back on homework and enjoying life with her tight group of friends. But on their first day back, she finds them fawning over two new guys in their class—Ben and Danny.
Not a day goes by before Nora’s life is turned upside down. Her best friend now hates her, and the boys seem eager to get to know her. Despite their charming efforts, she’d rather have her best friend, not a boyfriend.
When Nora discovers Ben and Danny are not who they claim to be, and their nefarious deal goes wrong, Nora is caught in the middle.
To fix their mistakes, she must face the Devil and betray herself—or pay with her life.
Silver Mage – NEW EDITION – The dragons once sacrificed everything to destroy their enemy. They failed. Now the burden of that failure falls on the man they have called to reforge what their war destroyed – the link between the races and the magic that holds the world together.
Touched by elemental Fire, Aarin is driven by his need to return the dragons to Andeira. But the dragons vanished three thousand years ago, taking their magic with them, and their ancient partnership with mankind is now no more than legend. Even the memory of the magic they shared is fading, and Aarin’s obsession has made him an outsider even to his own people.
But when he is confronted by a magic he thought long lost, he suddenly finds himself in conflict with powerful forces intent on preventing the return of the dragons at all costs. And, deadlier still, the machinations of an age-old power that would sacrifice anything to see them returned, even the life of the man they have waited thousands of years to find.
Beset on all sides, Aarin must sort friend from foe and unravel the mysteries of a past long forgotten. Because, to survive, he must first discover the secret of why the dragons left – and what they risked everything to destroy. A classic epic fantasy adventure, Silver Mage is the standalone first novel in the Long Dream sequence.
City of Masks – When a royal conspiracy topples the noble House Falco, Sofia must take up the burden of her father’s mantle and assume guardianship of his Greatmask. Yet the sentient bone mask, powerful enough to Compel those around her, will not speak, and Sofia, the first female Protector in a hundred years, is left defenceless.
Hunted by the king, she is driven from the palace and must fight for survival, alone in the cold streets of Anaskar. There, she crosses paths with Notch, a bitter mercenary with problems of his own. Accused of murder, Notch is trying to clear his name while hunted by the city’s robed assassins, the very people who are now searching for Sofia.
To take back their city and cast down the tyrant on the throne, Sofia and Notch must face the blades of Anaskar’s assassins, the rage of a mighty sea beast, and the mysterious Lupo, a man with a Greatmask of his own, who has masterminded vicious terrorist attacks on the city that spurned him.
Their struggle threatens to tear the city – and the kingdom – into shreds.
No Heart for a Thief – We are the stories we tell ourselves…even the lies.
The Thief, a great spirit, and her descendants have abused their ability to steal magic for centuries. When Kaylo starts to hear the song of other people’s magic, he must learn to hide from his people as well as the invaders. A gift or a curse, Kaylo may be able to save his people from the Gousht Empire that claimed their land with this stolen magic.
Eighteen years later, Kaylo still prays to the spirits, but not out of loyalty or love. He knows better than to rely on those selfish bastards for anything. While hiding in the forest from his foolish acts of rebellion, he encounters a girl, Tayen, being pursued by two soldiers of the empire. Against his better judgment, he risks facing the consequences of his past to intervene.
When Tayen attempts to run off seeking vengeance for her family, he offers to train her to wield her magic and a blade. If he can’t convince her to relinquish her need for vengeance and stave off the demons of his past, he’s going to get them both killed.
Spirit of the Dragon – Every dream comes at a price.
Twins Genshu Masanori and Genshu Hidekazu watched in horror as a woman was kidnapped from the annual Midsummer Festival. Delving into the case, they discover she wasn’t the first victim of the sorcerer who took her, nor will she be the last.
But fighting to rescue the woman will mean breaking ancient clan laws against warfare. By embarking on this rescue mission they will sign their lives away to the prestigious Tsukiko Academy… regardless of the rumours about the dark secrets harboured within the school grounds. Yet embracing their future as warriors is only the beginning.
As the twins unravel the sorcerer’s sinister plan, they come to the horrific revelation that if they can’t find him in time, the game of life and death he whispers about might be the last anyone ever plays…
Jump into the world of Yumihari, a land filled with spirits, dragons, monsters, and characters who wield elemental magic. If you love epic fight scenes, mystery, monsters, and mayhem you will love Spirit of the Dragon!
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I can’t wait to dive into some new fantasy worlds. How about you? Have any of these books caught your eye?
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Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy, heart-warming romance and short stories
During #indieaugust I’ve decided to keep my standalone fantasy, Visions of Zarua, at the discounted price of 99p worldwide.
What readers are saying about Visions of Zarua
‘There’s everything in this story, good v evil, romance, crime, mystery, passion & fabulous magic, all put together in a wonderful writing style.’ Amazon reviewer
‘Intriguing characters, strong structure, high stakes, memorable world. The Visions of Zarua packs a punch in delivering all of these. A superb story that fantasy readers will definitely enjoy!’ Amazon reviewer
‘…this was a thoroughly enjoyable sword and sorcery based epic fantasy. There are some great new creatures in this book and some interesting magical premise to check out and some highly relatable characters.’ Amazon reviewer
If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, now is a great time to sample my writing. Here are a few of the snippets I shared during the blog tour a few years ago…
Visions of Zarua is also available in audiobook, which will be heavily discounted if you buy the ebook first. Double bargain!
And if you’ve read Visions of Zarua and loved the characters, you can check out the prequel story in Fantasy Short Stories also only 99p on Amazon. Kalesh and a few other familiar names make an appearance.
Have a happy weekend.
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Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy and heart-warming romance
Just a quick post today to announce the publication of my fantasy short story collection in paperback.
The ebook came out in April and has received some lovely reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I decided it was time to publish a paperback so those readers who prefer that format do not miss out on the origin stories of some of the characters from my fantasy worlds.
Readers loved Garrick in Silent Sea Chronicles and I loved writing Garrick the Protector set 10 years before the start of book 1 The Lost Sentinel.
Readers never had a chance to meet Kalesh in Visions of Zarua, so again I loved being able to introduce him to the world in The Guardian.
Finally, we have War Wounds which is an introduction to some of the characters who will feature in my new series Starlight Prophecy. I can’t wait to get working on this.
I’ve updated the blurb to a more succinct version too. Let me know what you think.
A collection of stories featuring characters from Visions of Zarua, ‘Silent Sea Chronicles’ and a glimpse into the new series, ‘Starlight Prophecy’.
The Guardian
With an assassin picking off wizards one-by-one, can Kalesh keep his students off the assassin’s radar long enough for his order to stop the killer?
Garrick the Protector
In a land that persecutes magic users, Mara’s mystical abilities puts her whole family in danger. Can her cousin, Garrick, get her to safety in the Turrak Mountains before the Assembly catches up with them?
War Wounds
When months of bloody battle unleash a sixth sense buried inside Calder, all he wants is to go home to his wife. But can he pick up his old life when the powers within him have been awakened?
Each story gives readers a tantalising glimpse into the fantasy worlds created by Suzanne Rogerson.
What readers are saying about Fantasy Short Stories
‘If you’re looking for some fantasy to jump into, these bite-sized stories will give you a good taste of something new – and if you’ve read these books already, these will give you some backstory of your favourite characters.’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘…a gripping little slice of what promises to be a gripping web of plots, intrigue, and mystic arts for those who venture on to read Rogerson’s full-length works.’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘If you enjoy fantasy with a touch of magic, and some really intriguing storylines, I would highly recommend this collection of short stories.’ of fantasy stories.’ Amazon reviewer
I have some more reviews and spotlight posts to share during the blog blitz for my latest release. Here are a few stand out lines from the reviews.
Reviews in Heels – ‘…If you’re looking for some fantasy to jump into, these bite-sized stories will give you a good taste of something new – and if you’ve read these books already, these will give you some backstory of your favourite characters.’
Pooled Ink Reviews – ‘…Quick paced, flowing prose, it was a delightful dip into these characters’ stories…’
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
Suzanne Rogerson Author 