Category Archives: The Weeping Empress

It’s Read an Ebook Week!

RAEWOh man, as a reader, this is always a difficult week for me. I read a ton of ebooks, so the whole ‘read an ebook this week’ aspect of the event means nothing to me. However, tons of book sellers, publishers and authors have SALES! I end up gluttonously downloading books. I read a lot of them, so it’s not a waste. But I can guarantee I’ll spend collective hours and hours trawling the sales. The subconscious fear of missing something will keep me glued to my computer. *sigh* That I know this doesn’t really empower me to change my behaviour.

As an intrepid author, #RAEW doesn’t really mean much to me. I always throw The Weeping Empress up for free on Smashwords, but historically get very few hits. I generally believe a book gets roughly six months of promotion when it’s new and then an author risks being a spammer if they keep it up. So, TWE gets very little promotional attention. But if you’ve ever been tempted to read it, nows a great time to snag a free copy.

Blurb: buttonsize front
Chiyo Alglaeca was happy in her life. That is, until it was all taken away. Forced into notoriety, stalked by a mysterious cult, hunted by the emperor, and facing betrayal at every turn she clings to the only safety she can find: two enigmatic men and the sharp bringer of death, Salvation. The Weeping Empress explores the devastating effects of loss, the hunt for redemption, and the price of destiny. It questions the true meaning of evil and asks what monster is not also an innocent?

I’ll be on the lookout for great reads this week. If you have a recommendation or come across a notable sale feel free to drop me a comment. I’m easily swayable in such things.

It’s Read and ebook Week at Smashwords!

ladyOh Gawd, I love Smashwords, and what timing! With the introduction of Amazon’s new Affiliate rules I’ve found that the aggregate sites listing free books have started to dry up. Really, what do they expect me to do while I drink my morning coffee? Check my email? As it! For the rest of the week Smashwords has the perfect solution though, READ AN E-BOOK WEEK.

Read an Ebook Week isn’t new. It’s been around since 2004 and is part of…wait for it…yes, Read an Ebook Month (March). It even has its own website: RAEM. There are contests and tons of authors are offering books for free or at a discount. My own book, The Weeping Empress, is participating, as are a number of other authors I admire.  Here are a few worth checking out, in no particular order:

  1. Marjorie F. Baldwin
  2. Michael Cargill
  3. Valerie Zambito
  4. Jacques Antoine
  5. Kevis Hendrickson
  6. Nadia Scrieva
  7. Travis Luedke
  8. Charlotte E. English
  9. HP Mallory
  10. Nicky Charles

OK, some of them are just free to start with. I admit it. These are the ones from my own Smashwords Library, but there are sooo many more and I’ll probably add a few here and there as I come across authors I’ve read and know are worth recommending. In the mean time, if you have a book participating in the sale feel free to add a link in the comments. I’ll check them out and who know who else might.

Idea: See something you’ve read and reviewed elsewhere? Why not grab a Smashword’s copy while it’s free so you can post a review there (’cause of course you can only review a book on SM that has been ‘purchased’ on SM)? The author will love you forever…unless you wrote a horrible review, maybe not so much then. You take the bad with the good though, so…

Map of the UK made from Indie Book covers, too cool!

Rosen Trevithick, of Kindle Forum fame, has set herself the challenge of compiling a map of the UK made up entirely of Indie book covers. It’s a pretty nifty idea. Check it out here.  I was lucky enough to claim the Manchester area for The Weeping Empress, making me neighbours with the likes of Will Hadcroft, Geoff Woodland, David Elham and Katie W. Stewart. I couldn’t be in better company. Thank you Rosen for coming up with such a cool idea and seeing it through!