Sale on Kindle Version of Try Not to Burn!

It doesn't happen very often, but Post Mortem Press has seen fit to lower the cover price of the Paranormal Thriller, Try Not to Burn, for a limited time. Grab it while supplies last!  (Technically, it's an ebook, so supplies aren't really a factor, but...well, it's fun to say, isn't it?)

Mia Darien, author of the Adelheid Series of vampire novels, says, "I’m always fascinated by unique or different depictions of Hell and Purgatory, the darker and unusual settings. Matula provides an interesting scenario, blending the spiritual, the emotional, the physical; merging past, present, future; bringing religious concepts without necessarily any specific religion, so it has a general appeal and fascination without being “preachy.”  This book brings in another thing I love: characters living in the moral grey. You know from the start that our Main Characters would not be there if they hadn’t done something to earn it, but you root for them anyways; even after you learn what they did. You’re still there with them."

Angelika Rust, writer of the mafia-inspired fantasy novel, Ratpaths, calls the book, "A very well thought-out, action-laden story. I'm truly looking forward to the sequel."

And Top 500 Amazon Reviewer Kacunnin says: "A mash-up of 'The Matrix' and Dante's 'Inferno.' I recommend TRY NOT TO BURN for fans of epic horror stories set in strange and convoluted worlds chock-full of mind-bending rules and God-driven tests of faith and character. This is a very big story, even though the focus is on three very small people. In Dante's version of Hell, he reveals that the only way to salvation is through an understanding of sin. It's the same with TRY NOT TO BURN - only through immense and harrowing trials can Brand and his friends move beyond Hell City to whatever awaits beyond." 

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest 2014

If you're an author (chances are, if you're reading a writer's blog, you at least have some latent interest in putting pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboard keys) then you've likely already heard of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, also known as the ABNA Contest.  Even if you have, though, you might be interested to know when it's all going down this year.

 Well, inquiring minds, the contest opens for submissions on Sunday, February 16, 2014. 

The contest is open to previously unpublished and self-published novels.  The grand prize winner receives a publishing contract as well as an advance of 50,000 buckaroos.  Four first prize winners will receive contracts with Amazon Publishing and an advance of 15,000 bones. (It does seem slightly odd that Amazon would pay in bones, but, you know...we're in a rough economy.)

In previous years, I believe they were open to submissions in January, but this year it seems like they've pushed it back a bit.  I wonder if this is to give people more time to polish up their NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) books?

 I remember scrambling to get a novel finished a couple years ago in the already woefully-stressful holiday season, just so I could enter the competition in January.  I ended up reaching round 2 and was given a pair of reviews in the round.  One review was absolutely glowing and uber-positive, and one was from someone with a distaste for the genre I'd written the book in.  Needless to say, the second reviewer put the kibosh on my chances of moving forward. Still, I enjoyed the overall experience, and it came at a time when that positive review really gave my sagging spirits a kick in the pants. 

Anyway,  here's a link to the full contest rules.

Good luck! 

Christmas Deal on Vampire Anthology Wrapped in Red

Two versions for the price of one.  More like "Gift-Wrapped in Red", am I right?  Anyone? 

Well, terrible pun aside, from now until Christmas, you can pick up a copy of the Amazon paperback version of Wrapped in Red (featuring 13 vampire stories, including one by yours truly), and get the Kindle version for free. 

Results from the first day of the free promotion on Amazon.

Here's a picture I snapped on my computer screen an hour or so ago. After a very, very slow start (when I woke up this morning, I still didn't have a single download in the free store, as Amazon wasn't even showing a ranking for my e-book), it seems like things have started to pick up a little bit. 

I still haven't checked the actual units that have been downloaded (I'm almost afraid to look, as I tend to obsess over numbers), but I do love the fact that my little e-book is now in the top 100 in both "Hard-boiled mystery" (#23) and in "Single author short stories" (#89).  Of course, I'm still all the way back at #4,462 overall, but this is already much better than I was expecting, considering how inauspicious my start was, and how little time I've had for promotion today. 

Upcoming Sale - Free book on Amazon

This Friday through Sunday (October 18th to the 20th), my new mystery story, Cheating Hearts & Cigarettes, will be free to pick up on Amazon.  It's regularly only 99 cents (which is almost free) so if you miss out on the sale, you can still pick it up for super cheap.  And you'll get the warm and fuzzy feeling of supporting an indie author, which is always a nice added bonus.

Oh, and if you enjoy the e-book, leaving a positive review can be a great way to spread the word, and it would be very much appreciated.