Lipstick & Bolsheviks: Teaser Two

“Where can I find you this evening and where shall we go?”

“How about we just meet wherever it is we’re going?”

Sasha turned his gaze away from her, watching as a stream of strangers passed by them. “I do suppose I should not expect you to be any less suspicious of me than you are of your own mother.” He locked his blue eyes onto her as if daring her to be blunt.

“Well Mr. Gretchenko, we did only just meet. Twentieth century woman or not, I like to be careful.”

“I imagine what you have just been through would make any woman a little less trusting of the male of the species.”

A tight smile stretched across her countenance. Her cheeks sucked in, her nostrils flared ever so slightly. He could see the flames of her fury rising just beneath the surface. “I have always been careful,” Josepha whispered, attempting to keep her voice in check. “But what can a girl do against men with guns and batons?”

“I did not mean to upset you, Miss Sutherland. I do apologize for mentioning it. It was thoughtless of me.”

Her hand did not shake as she lifted the teacup to her lips. She was flustered but in control. After a long drink of tea she slowly replaced her cup in its saucer and lifted her gaze to meet his. “You can meet me at the Old Ebbit at six.”

“On 14^th and F ?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

She rose from her chair and he quickly followed suit. “Any particular reason?”

“For what?”

“For the Old Ebbitt?”

“Is there a problem with my choice?”

“Not at all.”

“Then I will see you at six,” and with that she turned on her heel and strode away, leaving Sasha speechless and perfectly smitten. ©2012GwennWright


Wandering what's going on? Don't worry even fans of Filter and Bluestocking are most likely stumped! Or are they? :)
Read Filter, Book One of The von Strassenberg Saga on your Kindle or Nook today! The paperback is also available on Amazon. You can also check out The von Strassenberg Saga on Goodreads!
 

Short & Sweet, A New Review

This review of Filter: Book One of The von Strassenberg Saga was originally posted on goodreads.

"I received a copy of this book through Goodreads giveaway.

Buy. This. Book.
It's a great read and a fascinating story. This was my first brush with this author but it certainly won't be my last."


http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/184666678

The von Strassenberg Saga ~ 4/5 Stars

Another review on Goodreads.
"I have to admit...at one point in time I almost put this book down. The situation: Raquel, the heroine, is torn between the skinny, pasty boy and the buff, tanned boy who can't seem to keep his shirt on. Sound familiar? Thank goodness I am a bit of a stubborn reader and it takes a lot for me to abandon a book, or else I really would have missed out on a compelling story.

Told as two stories that are invariably intertwined, set in two different eras, Wright creates an engaging plot line in the present of a girl struggling to escape her impoverished situation and the love story in the past that will impact her life. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg of this collision at the close of this first installment. Be warned: we are left with more questions than answers and I was left with a profound lack of closure. 

And unlike the heroine in the series alluded to before, I find Raquel to be a strong mix of toughness, independence, intelligence, and flaw-I liked her. I can't wait to find out what becomes of her and see the unraveling of this masterful web of family dynamics that spans, literally, 100 years."
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/173899535         $2.99 for Nook --->> http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/filter-gwenn-wright/1100248778?ean=2940012882028&itm=1&usri=filter%2bgwenn%2bwright

Advice to Newbie Indie Authors

As a blanket rule I have begun only "fanning" authors that I have read and am actually a fan of on Goodreads. The readers on this sight are savvy people and they are serious about their book reviews and who they choose to fan. As an author you can lose face with them if you try marketing ploys like fanning other authors indiscriminately. You must also NEVER outright suggest they read your book. Don't even hint at it. Some of them are nice and just ignore you. Others will unfriend you and tell their friends how annoying you are. 

I know it's a big thing to spend a lot of time engaging other authors. Don't. Some time is fine, but not the majority of it. Engage potential readers. Who do you write like? Go to that author's page and friend request their fans, those people obviously already enjoy that style of writing. DO NOT solicit to these people either. Take an interest in their posts. Be sincere. Respect their intelligence. 


Secondly, a book giveaway is the best thing you can do as a new author. List a giveaway, it can be small. Five books. Blog about it, post links to your blog on twitter with the hashtag #bgrt #bookgiveaways. In two weeks my unknown book gathered 1100 entries. Be relentless, be engaging. Drink a lot of caffeine. 

If you have $30-40 to spend create a carefully targeted and worded Facebook Ad. Do you have a Facebook Page? You should. Not a profile, a page. You can advertise your page to drive up numbers but often times people will like your Facebook page and never buy your book. That's a waste of money. I run one ad for Barnes and Noble and the other for Amazon. Make sure to include the price, that way people already know what they'll be spending and you don't waste any clicks (it's pay per click). For targeting, again, list authors similar to you, this also helps ensure that you'll have people who are a good fit for your book clicking on your ad. 

It takes time. It's frustrating, I know. Hang in there. Don't throw your energy into things that don't work. These readers don't care if you have a zillion fans, they care if you write well. I use to do the tag my book and fanning other authors...it doesn't work. Do a giveaway, run an ad on goodreads or Facebook (which is really cheap, just make sure to set your overall spending limit AND your daily budget so your ad doesn't run off with your wallet). The best advertising is free. Word of mouth. Get those first, excited readers and you'll slowly be off and running! Blog, facebook, twitter, goodreads...link everything. And somehow find time to keep writing and revising. When you don't have the big bucks to dump into big, flashy ads that are constantly running, YOU have to be the one that is constantly running. Make sure you're spending your energy wisely. 


And do not try to hop on the coattails of other indie authors. It's rude.

Good luck.

The von Strassenberg Saga ~ Another Review

From GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11234679-filter

"Amazing! This is the best book I have read in a long time. It is one of those books that I want so badly for my friends to read, just so I can discuss the plots, twists and potential theories with someone! It is so compelling and had my heart racing the whole time! There were times that I would stop to catch my breath after an incredible plot twist! This is a remarkably brilliant debut novel that is so uniquely written that it becomes nearly impossible to put it down. I am generally one of those people that can predict the twists and turns of a plot, yet this story kept me guessing until the last few pages. What was so remarkable about the book, was that it followed two characters from different centuries simultaneously. Initially, I was hesitant to read a book intertwining two plots at once, because it could potentially become confusing. The author flawlessly mixes these two components of the book and it becomes so suspenseful and unlike anything I have ever read before. The writing felt so true to the time period and I felt so attached to the characters of both stories. In a time when readers like myself are becoming bored with the same supernatural characters fashioned in a new way, this book was such a refreshing breath of fresh air. It is actually hard for me to review this book because I don't want to give anything away! All I can say is that it is brilliantly dark, and one of the most fascinating romances I have ever read! The description in the book is so vivid that I actually felt like I was watching a movie as I was reading it. I can't wait for the next in the series! Highly recommended!"

Available for Kindle and Nook http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Filter/Wright/e/2940012975652

Also available in paperback. It's $13.99 at Amazon, that nifty little box below will take you there, but it's $10 at Barnes & Noble online. The cool thing with B&N is you can have them ship it to your nearest store, I think it saves you shipping costs...maybe. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/filter-gwenn-wright/1031095925 

So Overwhelmed, Let's Give Away Another!

I am so overwhelmed with the response to the giveaway (see sidebar --->) for Filter: Book One of The von Strassenberg Saga, that I have decided to give away 6 copies instead of 5 if we get to 1,000 entries. This will also include an Advanced Readers' Copy of BlueStocking Girl: Book 2 of The von Strassenberg Saga to all six of the winners. So, if you haven't already, enter to win! The clock is ticking. This giveaway ends in less than 36 hours! For sample chapters see earlier blog posts! 

Dealing With Ducks

There are some city folk among my kin…well honestly, we come from the city. We moved out to the sticks when I was in middle school. But even those family members who eventually followed us out to the peacefulness of the forest don’t  quite understand why I don’t mind dealing with duck doo and the bird-brained chickens. Well I do mind, sometimes. Ducks are messy and constantly draining their water supply. Keeping their living quarters tidy is a chore. Livestock takes up a lot of time, which means there is even less time for me to write and market my books. So why? Why do I put up with the ducks? Well for one thing, they don’t argue with me. I can bring them tomatoes and squash and they worship me. And, more importantly, it is all part of a grander plan. It is my husband’s dream to have a farmhouse restaurant…one of these days. So, in my “spare time” while he’s off working 15 hour days (that’s not a hyperbole), I am gardening and tending the poultry. We’re starting very small so we can learn what we’re doing. Good thing it will take us years to be ready to start up our own restaurant! We have a lot to learn.

…So I put up with duck doo to support my husband’s dream. Because I love him and have had a crush on him since I was a freshman in high school!

To support my dream you can either buy Filter as an  ebook or wishlist the paperback (should be out next week!). http://www.amazon.com/Filter-Von-Strassenberg-Saga-1/dp/1461053005/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303916462&sr=8-2

You can also find me on goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8853655-filter