New cover! New cover!

Yes, I know. A lot of skeptics out there are saying we should not do our own covers. We should leave that up to PROFESSIONALS, and yada yada…

Well, guess what…I am studying web design, and have expanded my knowledge of photoshop, etc. Therefore, I feel qualified to do my own graphics and covers. I’m not trying to brag or sound arrogant. I’m just implying that some of the “thou shalt nots” apply to some of us, but not to all of us in this new publishing era. I also see nothing wrong with learning to do new things, and making improvements upon what we do…even expanding our areas of expertise.

Without any further a do,
Here is one of my NEW and IMPROVED book covers.

More on this later, but I just wanted to share. I’m quite proud of what I did here.

Wednessday Poetry: Mad Alice

~Mad Alice~
Bored with this world,
Follow the rabbit…
And escape
All rationality.

Mad is my Lover
And So Am I.
Sitting at the table
For some tea and pie…
Another party,
Another dream.
Another weird,
Off-kilter scheme.

And up is down,
Down is up…
Please dear,
Have another cup.

Race to the moon,
With the Dodo Bird,
Until it seems
Lots less absurd.

Anolugous striped, magenta cat
Smilles through the trees.
He is not always
What he seems.

The Caterpillar
Old and wise,
Will soon transform
To a butterfly.
And sail away
Through the skies.

Paint the flowers
From white to red,
Before The Queen catches…
Then off with your head.

I do not want to go
Back to the otherworld
I want to live
In wonderland.
Leaving here…
Would make me sad.
My name is Alice,
And I’m quite mad.

~K. Crumley

Giving KDP Select Another Shot

Recently I un-enrolled two of my short ebooks Carousel and The Golden Rose from KDP select. Carousel was just a trial run for the most part; and The Golden Rose I thought could benefit from it (It had…but briefly.)

However, I was not thrilled about KDP Select for the following reasons:
The whole “exclusive” thing. This means I have to take my book(s) off sale for B&N, and delete any excerpts I have on this blog and on Elfwood.com. Seems like a hindrance more than a help, and I dislike putting all my eggs in one proverbial basket.
Time limitations as far as “free.” You have 5 days of each 3 month enrollment period to make your book(s) free.
Algorithm issues. Coming off free will make your sales ranking sink like a stone. Again, a hindrance rather than a help.

These reasons (plus a few more) are why I chose to publish a free PDF of Daddy’s Little Girl here on this blog, plus making the entire short story readable on bookbuzzr widget for free. Also, I’m going to be offering it free on Goodreads. I plan on doing the same thing with A Prince Reborn.

However, I am trying to rescue Wishful Thinking from literary obscurity, especially since the sequel will be published (God Willing) by September. Not only that, I would like some more reviews.
So…after much deliberation I decided to enroll Wishful Thinking in Select. I’ve made it free this weekend, and plan on doing so on June 22nd-23rd.

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Wishful-Thinking-Daughters-Oberia-ebook/dp/B003E485E2/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1

Also, a contest and give-away will be scheduled for the 22nd free run.
I’ll post the details that week.

REALLY hoping to stir some interest in the Daughters of Oberia Series with this select/free promo run.

Would appreciate any sharing, tweeting, etc.

Thanks!

~K. Crumley

Character Connections: Tryna (a Mer-Witch)

While at work the other night, I had a brainstorm for a new character in The Corithian Saga inspired by an image I saw at dreamstime.com (I would post it here, but unfortunately the site is down today.) The picture was of a young girl with long, black hair and a mischievous smile. She was wearing a gold torc around her head, and a long, blue velvet medieval gown.

The character’s name is Tryna, and she is a mermaid. A rebellious, willful teen who is jealous and resentful of her two cousins Raphael and Celyndra.
She runs away to join a coven, “Sisterhood of the Sea.” She lived with the sea witches for nearly two years, before returning back to the castle at her uncle’s request. And, despite her rebellious attitude she uses her gifts of magic to pull through, and help the Royal Family in time of need.

That’s what I have planned so far…
I’m sure that some of these details might be tweaked, and altered…and maybe a few new ones
added.

~K. Crumley

Wednesday Poetry: Beauty & The Beast (wip)

Beauty & the Beast

Oh, what pure rose
Brought us together?
Do you love me now?

You ask of me
To stay forever.
Promises you vow…

All of the treasures
of your mystical palace.
I tread through,
Not sensing malice.

You say only
My love can free you
from this spell that
you are under.

Not knowing that
I suffer too,
If we are ever
Torn asunder.

That’s why I ask
one sacred question.
Do you love me now?

~K. Crumley, 2011
original version written 1992