Monday, October 6, 2014

AARON'S PICKS: MUST READ BOOKS!


Must reads for 2014


This is a special edition of my blog that I am calling: Aaron's Picks! Why you might ask? Well, because sometimes it is nice to know about books that are amazing without spending hours online reading reviews. I ill not go into much detail about each book but trust me, if it made the list... well, you be the judge.

#1. Chemicals by Erica Crockett


Erica is a personal friend so I know how much time she puts into her writing. This is her first book but she has a huge crazy series about to be unleashed so after you devour this novel you will not be left with nothing more to read. This book just came out so do yourself a favor and... get a copy.

AMAZON







#2. The Scary Tales Series by Rob E. Boley




This series will have around 6 in all and maybe more. It is a dark take on some of your favorite vary tales like Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Zombies are thrown in the mix as well. Rob is a new author like Erica but is one of the best writers Ive ever had the pleasure of reading. If you like new and out there books pick up this series. 

That Risen Snow: Book 1: AMAZON 
That Wicked Apple: Book 2: AMAZON
That Ravenous Moon: Book 3 AMAZON



#3. Hair of the corn dog by AK Turner 



If you are a parent or see a child in your future this is a great series. Not only that but it is funny... really funny. 

AMAZON








#4. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach


Nasty and funny all at the same time and you learn something about dead people.








I hope you enjoy these books just as much as I did. That is all for now. Have a great week!











Author Aaron Patterson: Blog: The Worst Book Ever.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

How To Make A Living As A Writer. Part #2 Don't Compare, Compete & Create.

Part #2: Don't Compare, Compete & Create. 


Here we go again. You are over there, I am over here…we should so hang out. But there is a problem, you have a cool car and nice hair, I on the other hand… well don't. 

Sounds silly yes. But that is what a lot of Indie authors do. They look at what some other author is doing and their personal expectations go through the roof. H.M. Ward sells over 4 million in one year, CJ Lyons kills it and Bella Andre is unstoppable. So instead of writing because we love to write, instead of putting our heads down and working the plan we get caught up in the compare game. 

#1. COMPARE:
Avoid this trap if you really want to make money as a writer. Remember when you worked a regular job? Yeah, 12 $ an hour. Now you want to make millions and work 20 hours a week? Wait…you are telling me that you want to make more than a doctor, more than most any job out there and do it from your recliner? Seriously? I bet before you began writing if I told you that you could make ANY money writing you would have been blown away. So stop comparing. You are you, they are they. 

"Be content but never satisfied." 

#2. COMPETE:
If you had to choose an author that you feel is competing with you on a head to head level. Meaning that someone could buy their book instead of yours. If you name anyone besides a big name author like Tom Clancy you are missing the mark. I know this sounds like I didn't read the first part of this post but comparing and competing are different. 

I am competing with James Patterson. My covers have to be better than his, my eBook layout and print files must blow his away. Why are you trying to out sell some other Indie? I know that this sounds bad but most of the Indie published authors don't sell and they are panicked and fighting for the scraps. Don't even play in the playground. One thing people like Hugh Howie do is they are trend setters, they make new rules. 

Here are some questions you can answer to find out if you are competing against the big boys or not. If you answer YES to any of these you could be falling short. 
1. Did you make your own book cover?
2. Do you publish with Smashwords?
3. Did you do your own eBook conversion?

And if you answer NO to the following:
4. Do you have a Newsletter?
5. Do you have live book links in the back of all your books?
6. Do you change your keywords every month?
7. Do you have your book in Audio, Print?
8. Is your book in libraries? 
9. Do you spend money promoting your book? 

"You are only limited my your own fears, and or a lack of skill."

#3. CREATE:
We are all writers and creatives but sometimes this hurts us. We feel like we have to come up with the next best idea and write a book that is so out there that people stare and wonder at how smart and creative we are. NO! Look, it has all been done and take it from me, as a publisher one of the hardest books to sell is one that is different. Amazon and other stores have keywords and categories and if your book if so different that there is no place for it you can run into a wall. 

Tell a story. That is all you have to do. Most all chick flicks are the same and have been for years. Boy meets girl, they hate each other and something happens, they fall in love but one of them lied…oh no! The other finds out, they break up and there is music and flashbacks to when things were good. Now they get back together in the end and kiss in the rain or in the street. Guess what? They still sell! Sometimes being the same but different is a good thing.

"You are not special--if more parents told the truth, we wouldn't have American Idol." 

Making a living as a writer is easy as long as you can take off the writer hat and put on the business hat.  
Hope this helps and as always… nah I'll tell you next time.


Author Aaron Patterson: Blog: The Worst Book Ever.

Monday, May 19, 2014

How to make a living as a writer. Part #1 Get over yourself

Part #1: Get Over Yourself 


I am sure there re many of you out there who want to write a book, maybe you have written a few and really wish your sales were up so you could suit the old day job. I can tell you from first hand experience I know what you feel, I got it, I am with you. In all, I understand the need for validation, and a big fat check to rub in the faces of publishers and maybe even a few friends.

This last weekend I went to a school/church function for my kids and saw a lot of old friends that I had not seen in years. The one question that I got asked over and over was: "So are you still writing?" I would nod and smile and wait for the follow up question. "So, you are doing okay? You are able to make a living?"

To this I nod again and smile. So far I have made over a million dollars with my books and yet most of my family has yet to read a single book, most my friends see this as a cute hobby poor Aaron does and hopes I wake up and get a "real" job so I don't starve. I figured by now I would be taken seriously but maybe that is like the old saying: A prophet has no honor in his own country.

To date of this post I have 12 novels published, I publish for over 40 different authors and between the 2 or so publishing houses I run/own I host over 100 titles. By the end of the year 2014, I'll personally have over 20 novels to my name and be once gain on the New York Times bestseller list and a few others. I say all this to help you. There is not a day where you see an old friend and they look at you with envy instead of pity. Writing is looked at as a hobby, a thing old people do before they die. So why should they think anything else?

Deal with it. I don't really care as long as I can pay my bills and go on vacations like I want. Forget validation. Heck, even the big 6 publishers, think I am some self published loser. No matter how many times I beat them to the punch I am "lucky" a flash in the pan. Maybe in 20 years when I am still around I'll get a nod instead of a look of pity. But I ask you, does it really matter?

Do yourself a favor and get over trying to impress anyone. We live in-between our ears and no one will ever be able to live up to how you think you rate. In short, you think and I think we/I am way more important than we really are. Shall we start by getting over ourselves?

You may be asking yourself, "What does this have to do with making a living as a writer?" To which I say, "Before you can learn you must get over the person looking back at you in the mirror." We all have to see that maybe our books don't sell cuz they are crap, or maybe they have the worst cover known to man, or maybe your poor book has a author attached to it that everyone hates! Get out of your own way. Most if not all the people that come to me for marketing advice rate in their own ways. To me I look at their branding or marketing and can in 5 seconds figure out why their book is not selling, but to them it is a huge mystery.

So to start this series I want you to look in the mirror and forget all the self esteem tapes, give up trying to impress anyone and say out loud. "I have no idea what I am doing. I am an average writer. I am not as important as I think, I need help."

If you can honestly say that, and believe it, you are on your way to making a living as a writer. You my friend can one day quit your day job and live your dream. Am I being mean? Maybe… but I really want to help.

Now as my part, in honor of this journey: I Aaron Patterson have no idea what I am doing. I am an OK writer and want to one day be a great one. I am not as important as I hope to one day be, to someone, anyone! I need help. A lot!

All I have to give is what I know. What I know is what I have done. And I promise never to do something that I personally will not do myself. This is trial and error, we learn by mistakes and if you want, I'll make some mistakes for you so you can have a smoother ride.

Join me.




Author Aaron Patterson: Blog: The Worst Book Ever.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

12 Bestselling Authors one Box Set!

12 complete works by 12 of today's hottest mystery and thriller writers, including USA Today and New York Times bestselling authors. Very special price for this special edition bundle!

If you like a good thriller this is great deal and we are only selling this set for a limited time. 

A $46.65 Value (if purchased separately) - Reg. Retail: $9.99
10 full-length novels + 2 long novellas
Over 680 5-star reviews across all 12 titles!

 1 - DON'T KNOW JACK (The Hunt For Reacher Series) - Diane Capri
 2 - CRY WOLF (A Laura Cardinal Novella) - J Carson Black
 3 - NIGHT WIDOW (The Night Series) - Carol Davis Luce
 4 - GUARANTEED JUSTICE (The Justice Series) - M A Comley
 5 - STRANGER IN TOWN - Cheryl Bradshaw
 6 - BREAKING STEELE (A Sarah Steele Thriller) - Aaron Patterson & Ellie Ann
 7 - MOONLIGHT SONATA (A Dick Moonlight Thriller) - Vincent Zandri
 8 - TERMINUS - Joshua Graham
 9 - ONE DAY IN BUDAPEST - J F Penn
10 - DEAD CELEB (The Dead Celeb Series) - Michele Scott
11 - FINAL VECTOR - Allan Leverone
12 - THE GIFTS (A Jacody Ives Mystery) - Linda S Prather

You can buy yours by clicking the links below: 

TheTwelve’s Website: http://thetwelvexii.com

TheTwelve’s FaceBook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/thetwelvexii


Thanks for reading and now I need a cup of coffee!











Author Aaron Patterson: Blog: The Worst Book Ever.