Free Book Friday Dec 9: Words for the sake of words

The first book of my science fiction trilogy is ~30k words. Book two is slightly longer.

Now, it makes sense for all three books to be about the same length. The problem is: Book three, currently in progress, is shorter. The story is done, and it’s not long enough, and I don’t like adding words for the sake of words.

My books tend to be shorter because I don’t write long detailed descriptions or back stories. Even when I read I skip over those parts.

So, now I go back to see where I can elaborate, add some dialogue tags (because there’s nothing worse—other than a crappy story—then not knowing who is talking and having to go back and assign each line to a character), and essentially write some words for . . .

. . . the sake of words.

-Leon

The story behind Free Book Friday:

I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?

Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.

Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.

Featured Author: M. Rothmus

Rothmus is a doctoral student in Europe. Originally from the Middle East, his writing fuses the political and philosophical concepts of voluntaryism, individualism, propertarianism, and free will with the futuristic elements of science fiction and post-State societies.

Influenced by the works of Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert, Vonnegut, Rand, and Moore, he writes in the political, metaphysical, and dystopian science fiction genres.

Rothmus is an anti-State and liberty memes thief, collector, and connoisseur.

Free Books

Sales/Purchase links

Dec 7
Dec 7

See previous promos here:

Discover New Authors and Free Books

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Weird Wednesday Dec. 7: Final Day (almost)

Sale ends Thursday morning


Well, my book made it to #51 in the Space Exploration category, although I’m still trying to figure out why it’s not ranking in the Sci-fi Adventure. 

Anyway, if you need any more incentive to take advantage of the sale, I’m almost finished the last and final installment, The Final View, which will be released mid-April.

(available for pre-sale)

If you have joined in the adventure with Thomas and April, then once you have finished the third book, you will get access to:

  • An interview with Thomas and April
  • A video with an original guitar piece to thank my characters for facing everything I put them though. I figured it was the least I could do.
    (How good is it? I think it’s pretty good. Tear inducing? Maybe.)

If you want to help with the final push, I’d appreciate if you could use the graphic and link above in a social media post!

My newsletter goes out on Wednesdays:

Lines by Leon Newsletter: Dec 7

.

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Music Monday Dec 5: Piano People

There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.

Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.

Maybe you will find a new favorite.

CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music

Piano in Rock and Roll. Maybe you think of Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Elton John, or Billy Joel.

Keyboards are used more often than pianos these days, but over that last few decades (or maybe a few more), there have been some groups and musicians who created a memorable song just by sitting at the piano. Here are four of my picks.

(I won’t put you through Axl Rose playing November Rain, or Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue.)

What song would you have included?

-Leon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PC3N678

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Weekend Wrap-up Dec 3: or, why you should buy my book.

I already bought your damn book.
Did you like it?
Yeah, not to shabby.
Then you can continue reading the rest of the post for entertainment purposes only.

Why you should buy my book:

  • It’s only 99 cents right now.
  • It’s a stand-alone story, so there’s no commitment if you don’t like it.
  • If you don’t like it, it was only 99 cents.
  • If you do like it, there’s two more.
  • If you finish all three, there are bonus features, and who doesn’t like bonus features?
  • I kinda cried when I wrote the last chapter of the final book.
    Really?
    Yeah, Really.
  • If you want to just give me $0.81, that’s the royalty I get, so you might as well get a book too.
  • If you want to wait and give me $2.75, that’s the royalty I get when it is full price, so you should really get a book for that extra $1.25.
  • You are supporting an independent author.
  • You need something else to read.
  • I do a little dance every time I make a sale.
    Really?
    [squints, purses lips and shakes head]

I hope I at least entertained you today.

-Leon

Music Monday Nov. 28: A Number of Bands – Did I miss any?
Weird Wednesday Nov. 30: Lookin’ out for #1 or #10 or …? – Amazon rankings
Free Book Friday Dec 2: The moment you’ve been waiting for? – Well, is it?

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Free Book Friday Dec 2: The moment you’ve been waiting for?

Maybe not the moment, but a moment, right?

With the second book of my science fiction trilogy out and the final installment to be released in April, I decided that it was time to put The View from Here on sale.

Don’t like trilogies? Don’t want to have to read the next books? Not to worry. The View from Here can be read as a stand alone story.

Oops, was that a spoiler?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PC3N678

-Leon

The story behind Free Book Friday:

I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?

Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.

Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.

Featured Author: Peter Foote

Peter got locked in a bookstore as a child and has been reading his way to freedom ever since.

His first tales developed from Dungeons & Dragons campaigns that never got played, and watching Babylon 5 on repeat. After having several dozen short stories published through various publishers, Peter has switched to longer forms of writing.

The science fiction “Consensus” novels depict one family’s struggle in the face of alien invasion, and the “Vol’kris Chronicles” are a series of standalone tales that explore humanity’s misadventures in a world ruled by insects.

$2.99

Featured Author: R.B. O’Brien

“Emotive. Romantic. Introspective. And everything in between. Poetry is what my soul bleeds when I’m not looking…”

R.B. O’Brien is the founding member of The Nu Romantics and a multi-genre author. She is best known for her romance novels, including erotic and new adult, but poetry is her first love. She has several romance novel series and poetry collections published and has no plans to stop penning the many voices that demand to be heard from inside the intricate compartments of her mind.
O’Brien holds a degree in English literature and teaches for a living. She is a professor, a logophile, a reader, a health fanatic, an animal and nature lover, a dancer, a hopeful romantic, has a profound affection for Shakespeare, and creates—EVERY CHANCE SHE GETS.
She finds beauty in the darkest of things. Loves wry humor. And her heart beats too fast.


$1.00 on Kindle

Kindle Unlimited

Nov 30

See previous promos here:

Discover New Authors and Free Books

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Weird Wednesday Nov. 30: Lookin’ out for #1 or #10 or …?

Whatever ranking you want to hit on the Amazon book charts, you have to sell a lot of books, unless …

Unless?
What if I wrote a Sci-fi Kindle eBook based on the TV show Dr. Who?
Yeah. Like there’s a category for that.
There is:

Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > TV, Movie, Video Game Adaptations > Doctor Who

If my book was in that category—which it is not—I wouldn’t have to sell a lot of books to be #1.
So, how many?
One.
You should write that one then.
Well, there are 400 already written.

Here is the breakdown of what I need to sell to be in the top ten or the #1 spot in my book categories:

 Sales to #1Sales to #10
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy33101167
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction3310233
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Adventure1394120
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > First Contact118294
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Space Exploration16624

As you can see, I would need to sell 3310 copies to reach that top spot. Now, If I sold 24, I’d be in the top 10 in the Space Exploration category.

Other than vanity and bragging rights, the higher a book is on the charts, the more chance it has to be promoted because it is making Amazon money and the one thing Amazon likes is making money.
You like making money.
Yes. Yes I do.
Then you are just like Ama—
Hey! Careful now.

Sale begins Thursday morning 5:00 PST / 8:00 GMT (US/UK markets)

Why only US and UK? Those are the only markets Amazon allows sales to be run and I know it isn’t fair. If I set a sale price of 99 cents, it should be that everywhere. But, I can lower the prices in all other countries. I dropped the price as low as I could go in Canada and Australia ($2.99 and $3.99).

If you are elsewhere and you want to buy it, email me right away and I’ll do the same in your country. It takes up to 72 hours to update.

If you see it on social media (you are following me, right?), like, RT, or share as you wish!

My newsletter goes out on Wednesdays:

Lines by Leon Newsletter: Nov 30

.

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Music Monday Nov. 28: A Number of Bands

There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.

Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.

Maybe you will find a new favorite.

CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music

In the 90s and into the 00s there seemed to be an explosion of “numbered” band names.

Blink 182, Maroon 5, Finger 11, Third Eye Blind, Three Doors Down, Sum 41, Five for Fighting, Ben Folds Five, One Direction, 21 Pilots, to name just a few.

Now, There have been earlier number name groups. Two that come to mind are The Four Tops and The Jackson 5.

Here are two of my favorites from Third Eye Blind.

Here is the second to last installment of, The View from Here:

https://linesbyleon.com/the-view-from-here-2/

-Leon

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Weekend Wrap-up Nov 26:


I wrote a post every day this week:

Free (on sale) Book Friday Nov 25: Marketing plans that work.
Thursday Thoughts: Either Or (Or, what I’ve learned after watching a World Cup game . . . oops, match)
Weird Wednesday Nov. 23: Football to Fibonacci
Tuesday Tirade: Flash Sales and Extra Punctuation
Music Monday Nov. 21: I Got Nothin’
Sunday Stuff: 300 words at a time

I also worked on The Final View every day as well.

I also miscalculated the word counts while I was serializing the first chapter of The View from Here. So, I may run out of days before the sale begins on Dec. 1.

https://linesbyleon.com/the-view-from-here-2/

Not a bad week.

-Leon

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Free (on sale) Book Friday Nov 25: Marketing plans that work.

Finally. I tried something that worked.

Don’t you hate it when you buy something and then the next day it goes on sale? Then you have to go back to the store and show the crumpled receipt you dredged from the trash, to which two things will happen:

  1. They refund the difference
  2. They make you return it (don’t give the reason as spite or anger) and repurchase.

No, that second one doesn’t happen, does it? Anyway, when I decided to put book one of my sci-fi trilogy on sale, I only thought it polite to inform my email subscribers of that fact. Then, I thought my blog readers should know. Well, I might as tell everybody, right? So I posted this:

In order to decrease the sales of my book, The View from Here, over the next 3 weeks, I’ll tell you that it will be on sale from Dec. 1-8. Can’t wait? Only $3.99 now and on KU!

Guess what? It worked! So, I can’t be disappointed. I just hope that readers are waiting.

Look at that flat line, will ya?

I also decided to serialize the short story that started it:

https://linesbyleon.com/the-view-from-here-2/

-Leon

he story behind Free Book Friday:

I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?

Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.

Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.

Free Books

Feature Author: Dean E. Wilson

USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.

He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.

Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.

Dean’s book is on sale for $0.99 until Nov 30:

See previous promos here:

Discover New Authors and Free Books

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!

Thursday Thoughts: Either Or (Or, what I’ve learned after watching a World Cup game . . . oops, match)

Either football players are either very, very good … actors?

Or,

Football players are very, very …fragile?

Here’s a [clears throat] true story [rolls eyes].

I was at the store the other day when another customer passed me in the aisle, their long coat brushing against my leg. I immediately dropped to the floor clutching my leg. Oh, the pain . . .

C’mon guys. Can you hear my eyes rolling?

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO)
C’mon, space stuff!