Happy 2013!

Well, a new year is here and that means it’s a time of new things as well! I’d like to thank each and every visitor to this site for your support, even if it’s your first time clicking through my blog :) I wish you all a very healthy, happy 2013!

Now, on to the news…

My baby boy HAS arrived and is quite the little charmer. He’s about 3 1/2 months old now, already smiling and laughing at us. My daughter, who’s nearing in on 3 years old, is completely smitten. In fact, they totally love each other already and it just makes my heart swell to see them interact. I can’t wait until he’s big enough to play with her, and I suspect that they both can’t wait for that day either!

In terms of my writing, things have been slow. I’m sorry to say that having a new baby, beginning a new degree program (I’m working toward an MFA so I can teach writing classes when these little kids are both in school), and just general “life” stuff, not much writing has been getting done around here. In the meantime, I hope you’ve all had a chance to get caught up on the four books I rapid-fire published from 2011-2012. If you haven’t, I’m giving some time to catch up to me!

In any event, there WILL be news soon of new writing endeavors. I’m crafting a sequel to LOVE REGIFTED (by popular demand) so you’ll all have a chance to visit with Jay & Ava one more time. In fact, I’m thinking of creating a whole LOVE series, which will fill in the gap between LOVE REGIFTED and LOVE UNLISTED, and then continue the story forward. Don’t get too excited now, but that means Grace & Colin will also be back for more adventures (as well as Kimmy & Patrick, Mackenzie, Ben, Bernsie & George, and even Gabe!)

There are also some other ideas kicking around in my head, competing for my attention. I’m still finishing up THIRTY OR BUST, which will make it’s debut as soon as possible. Beyond that, I’m developing a real tearjerker of a women’s fiction novel entitled THE GIVEN HEART, a four-book series about four sisters called GARDEN VARIETY, as well as an as-yet-untitled paranormal series. Oh yeah, there’s also a collection of urban fairy tale short stories I’m working on editing right now…

Yes, 2013 has me all over the map! And I couldn’t be more excited.

Stay tuned for more updates and I promise (really, I do) to write as FAST as these little fingers can type!

 

Still Here…

Yes, I’m still here. And yes, I’m still a writer. Although my personal life is busy enough to make it difficult to find any writing time these days, I promise I’ll be back soon. We are currently preparing and awaiting the birth of our second child, a little boy we can’t wait to meet! As soon as things go back to normal around here, I’ll be diving back into my fiction writing head first.

Please stay tuned for more information and updates later this fall!

And in the meantime, I hope you’ve been enjoying the four titles I do have published already :)

- SH

It’s Finally Here!

If you haven’t had your eye on my Facebook author page during this last week, then you still haven’t heard the big news… SOCIALLY AWKWARD IS NOW AVAILABLE!

I know… that’s exciting, right?  One more book to stuff into your beach bag before the summer is over! Hooray!

So how do you get your hands on a copy?

That’s the easy part… Just click on one of these links.

So what’s it about?

Jennifer Smith spends most of her time wishing she had a more exciting name, lived a more exciting life, or that she could just become someone else for a while. With her sister Claire’s help, Jennifer channels her life’s desires into the perfect graduate research program: a fake Facebook identity that allows her to “study” the world’s reaction to perceived beauty. Making up a new name, designing a new personality, and doctoring a photo or two seems like the perfect plan; how could it possibly backfire? Especially if it helps her get the attention of a long-time school crush…

Lost in her new-found “popularity” as Olivia Saunders, Jennifer’s real life starts to slip out of her grasp piece by piece. Before long, she finds herself caught in a love square–where one of the four corners is an imaginary person. While Olivia’s life has all the glitz, glamor, and guys she could ever have wanted, Jennifer has to decide if she can walk away and learn how to be okay living life as herself.

 

I had a lot of fun dreaming up the possibilities of a fake Facebook profile while writing this book. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to pretend to be someone else, you might want to read this before you create your own virtual alter ego… just saying.  So order your copy today and start reading!

Big News, Deals & Prizes Galore

Hi there!

Now that summer is upon us (and the hubby is almost done teaching for the year), things are rocking and rolling in the world of fiction over at my house. This is good news for you because it means more to read (obviously), but it also means I’m feeling generous and ready to start giving away prizes soon! Not to mention that I’m kicking off a month-long celebration in July — it’s my one-year publishing anniversary!!

That said, I’ve got some exciting announcements you ought to be aware of… And if you follow my Facebook page, you already know about some of them.(If you don’t, click on it and follow me already… you could be missing out!)  So here’s what you need to know:

1. SIGNED BOOK SALE! Need to get your hands on any of my first three novels? I’m selling signed copies of A Previous Engagement, Love Regifted, and Love Unlisted for only $5 each! Send Paypal payment to stephaniehaddad@yahoo.com (include your shipping address) for $5.00 for each book you’d like and flat-rate shipping of $2.00!

2. PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK! For the first time EVER, I’m taking advance orders for my new release, Socially Awkward, due out July 15. Visit the Socially Awkward page to easily order your paperback or eBook copies via Paypal. It’s safe, secure, and takes no time at all! And, you’re guaranteed to get your hands on my book before ANYONE ELSE! What’s not to love?

3. ENTER THE SUPER MEGA PRIZE RAFFLE! Want to win something super awesome for the summer time? Pre-order your copy of Socially Awkward (see #2) and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing for a Summer Goodies Beach Bag! Your bag includes everything you need for a day of hot, steamy reading by the water… and then some! Pictures & details coming soon, but I promise you’re gonna want this prize!

4. FREE BOOK RAFFLE! Post a review of ANY ONE of my books at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, or iTunes between now and July 31.  Email me (stephaniehaddad @ yahoo .com) with a link to your review. That’s it… you’re entered into the drawing! Five lucky winners will receive a free signed paperback copy of one of my books (winner’s choice) or (if they have them all already), my as-yet-to-be-named fifth title coming this fall! So start reviewing (and don’t forget to email me!)

I bet you’re psyched for summertime NOW, aren’t you?

Happy reading! And good luck with all of these great contests!

xoxo

Stephanie

Going AWOL

Hey folks,

I’m back! Thanks to all of you new followers and commenters who’ve been checking out my website! It’s nice to see some new “faces” in the mix around here :)

I apologize for the “hiatus” I seem to have taken. But I do have some good news to report… from a personal standpoint, anyway. I’ve been very busy moving into the new house my husband and I bought last month (our first!) and also pretty occupied growing the new addition to our family (our second!) who has yet to be determined as a boy or girl. So becoming new parents again and moving has pretty much eaten up our free time.

In other news, more along the lines of what may interest my readers, we’re still on track to get you that next book! Please stay tuned (and bear with me) as June draws nearer. “Socially Awkward” will go to print as planned! Check back here for details!

All the best,

Stephanie

My Busy Week: A Recap

Wow… This week has been a little bit of insane. If you’re a friend of mine of Facebook, then you’ve seen the flash-flood of statuses, posts, and other information there. If not, here’s what you missed…

My New Blog Project!
In an effort to focus my new commitment to living a healthy lifestyle, replete with healthy foods and yoga practices, I’ve begun a new blog: My Life in Yoga Pants. So far, my posts are mostly reflective in nature, but soon, I’m hoping to include healthy recipes, yoga poses, techniques, and fun pictures to entertain you. I hope you’ll subscribe to keep an eye on my progress!

My New Freedom!
After a little bit of a time lapse issue, A Previous Engagement: A Novel has now become free at Amazon for the Kindle. In about 72 hours, I seem to have exploded onto the scene over there at Amazon, logging an impressive 8,845 downloads. In a month and a half, I haven’t yet hit 6000 downloads from Smashwords, so I guess Amazon is where it’s at! I’ve landed onto the Top 100 Free Downloads list (sitewide) at #32. It’s hard not to be damn proud of that.

My New Business Endeavor!
On impulse–yes, I do that sometimes–I decided to throw my hat back into the ring of at-home beauty sales. I miss it, I truly do. So, you can now shop my beauty and fashion boutique at my Mark Store online. This is a sub-brand of Avon, but the products are great and very, very affordable! I love their makeup, so I’m hoping to share it with others through this new business endeavor. Don’t worry; it’s not going to replace writing. Ever.

My New Book Trailer!
I finally made a book trailer. Or, rather my dear friend/roommate/girlfriend of my brother-in-law Katelyn Tustin made me a book trailer. Hey, I found the pictures. But anyway, watch it, like it, share it, do whatever it is you do with these things. I’m hoping this trailer will help me draw in a new 10,000 readers. Who knows? In the works right now, a “Love Unlisted: A Novel” book trailer. Stay tuned!

It’s been a pretty incredible week for me here, I hope yours has been just as eventful! Already can’t wait to see what next week has in store.

My First Author Reading!

I’m excited to announce my first reading appearance! I’ve done a couple of book signings and author mingling events, but this will be my first experience reading on a stage! Woohoo!

I hope you’ll come and join me on February 17, 2012, at the Hovey Players in Waltham, MA!  I’ll be signing/selling copies of A Previous Engagement, Love Unlisted, and (drumroll) Love Regifted!!! Not sure what I’ll be reading from yet, but it will be lots of fun, I promise!

I’ll also be joined by Jessie Olson, author of An Ever Fixed Mark!

For more information, visit our event’s Facebook page. You can reserve tickets ($5 each) by emailing Nicole@hoveyplayers.com.

Hope to see you there!

Friday the Thirteenth: A Book Giveaway!

It’s Friday the 13th, everyone. If that doesn’t bother you, even a little bit, good for you.  Unfortunately, I was raised in far too superstitious a household to get past this date without at a least a moment’s fear. Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky? Why am I afraid of a date that comes up every once in a while, just like any other date? What’s the big deal?

In Love Unlisted, my main character Grace is afraid of a lot of things, including the number 13 (a condition called triskaidekapthehobia.) She’s especially afraid of Friday the 13th (a condition called friggatriskaidekaphobia. Seriously.), but at least she’s got a good reason. Okay, a few good reasons. That day really is unlucky for her. Coincidence? Maybe. But she’s not willing to start poking around to find out why.

However, I am, and so I did a little research on what makes Friday the Thirteenth such a terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad kind of day. No one’s really sure where this came from, specifically, although the superstitions around the number 13 seem to come from (surprise!) Christianity. Twelve is considered a whole and perfect number (12 Tribes of Israel, 12 apostles, etc.) and 13 is unbalanced, therefore unlucky.

One theory points to the history of the Knights Templar as the first cause of fear surrounding Friday the 13th. On October 13, 1307, the French Templars were rounded up and imprisoned to later be tried and put to death. That would do it, I bet. But other than that, nothing.

In my own personal life, unlike my character Grace, I can’t point to any specific incident and say, “That’s why I hate this date…” I guess I must’ve just inherited my fear of a date, a product of my environment. I know why I hate things like heights, spiders, and enclosed spaces (all legitimate fears, mind you), but I have no idea why today’s date is scary.

Well, that’s a good thing, right?

So what about you? Are your nerves on edge when you see Friday the 13th on your calendar? What else are you irrationally afraid of?  Share your thoughts with me in the comments section (please include your email address) for a chance to win a FREE e-book of Love Unlisted. Maybe reading about Grace’s fears will make you feel better about your own… Maybe.

Come back next Friday to see if you’ve won!

 

 

Breaking My Own Mold

I’ve been writing romance novels for the past couple of years, and I have to admit there’s a certain kind of rhythm to the process. Not that every romance novel is the same, or anything, it’s just that the act of writing them seems to follow a certain kind of pattern. Four novels in, I’ve got a routine down by now.

Before I wrote these novels, when I first “officially” tried my hand at fiction, I began by building up a reserve of short stories. Some of these were entered in contests, some were published in free magazines, but all of them eventually sat gathering cyber dust. It’s been a while since I’ve written a short story, but they’ve always held a fond place in my heart. For this reason, I decided to dust them off and put them into a collection.

As I read through them, deciding which to include and which to hold off on, I began to see a pattern. Even before I was writing romances, or had ever thought about being a romance author, my stories were all commentaries on love, in one way or another. People who love each other and show it in strange ways, people who love their daily routine or the possessions they own, people who find comfort in the love of their family members. There are many types of love and they all deserve to be looked at, celebrated even.

Just because I write about men and women who fall in love and live happily ever after, that doesn’t mean I can’t see the other kinds of love out there.

And that’s how I came up with my latest e-book release: “Other Kinds of Love: A Short Story Collection.” It contains 12 stories written at different points of my life, regarding different issues. And all kinds of love, in its many (warped, deranged, endearing) forms.

If you’d like to take a peek, it’s now available via Smashwords and Amazon. Soon to be on iTunes and at Barnes & Noble online, so you’ll be able to load it up on your Nook or iPad in no time.

As always, thanks for reading. And if you do decide to give “Other Kinds of Love” a read, I hope you enjoy it.

Why Free Was For Me

If you’ve been following my announcement over the past month, you might have caught on to the fact that I’ve made my novel, A Previous Engagement, free as an ebook. (Paperbacks aren’t free, sorry…LOL). You can download it just about anywhere: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, and iTunes. It was a risky move, just giving away my work, but it was one I felt I needed to make.

See, to be totally honest, before I made that novel free to download, sales weren’t going so great for me. I’d hand-sold about 100 paperback copies (of my two titles combined) and only about 30 of the ebooks. Sure, that’s a great start for an independent self-pubbed author like myself, but I knew I could be in better shape.  After all, A Previous Engagement had been out for about five months in December and I hadn’t reached anywhere near the audience I knew I could. Ads, giveaways, and guest blogs were helping, but barely. And with a second title WAY under-performing the first after two months out, I was heading downhill. My self-publishing career was costing me more than it was earning me.

That’s when I knew it was time to take matters into my own hands.

I thought long and hard, made lots of lists, and consulted some of my friends in the Indie Author Group on Facebook. In the end, it was their advice that really got me leaning towards making one of my titles free. Many had shared their stories with me, especially how a free ebook had helped them to gain exposure, reach new readers, and ultimately, resulted in more sales of their other titles.  With two books out, I knew making one free could help me sell the other. And since I plan to publish three more novels in 2012, I hoped reaching new readership would have a domino effect on all my titles’ sales.

So I did it. On December 9, 2011, one month ago today, I made A Previous Engagement free and lowered the price of Love Unlisted to just 99-cents. That was a big jump from my asking price of $2.99 for each title. I was risking quite a bit of potential profit, but I knew from experience in retail that you’ll sell more volume at a lower price. In the end, provided you reach as many new customers as you hoped, your sales dollars will be greater when selling at the lower price. But you’re not reading this for a basic consumerism lesson, you want to know what happened…

Well, a few things happened. First of all, I hit 1000 downloads of my free title in about 9 days. Today, one month later, I’m closing in quickly on 5,000 downloads. I’m averaging about 150-200 downloads every single day, and they’re coming from all outlets, iTunes especially. Here’s some other fun facts about what a free book will do for an indie author’s reach:

  • I’ve gathered 470 ratings and about 30 reviews on iTunes for my free title.
  • And about 20 ratings for my second novel (the 99-cent one).
  • I reached the #4 spot on the top free downloads for contemporary romance novels on iTunes.
  • The was listed on several popular sites as a free title, reaching lots of new readers. Check out GetFreeEbooks.com for one example.
  • I’ve gathered almost 50 reviews on Barnes & Noble (2 for Love Unlisted so far.)
  • My sales of Love Unlisted were multiplied 10 times over. I sold 4 copies in November, compared to over 40 copies in December alone!
  • I’ve added about 20 new fans to my Facebook page!
  • My blog went from averaging 8 hits per day to averaging over 40 hits per day!

So while it’s early days still, and I have new titles to publish and promote, I have to say that the first results of this freebie experiment are all positive. Not every rating is a 5-star one, not every review is glowing, but the point is that people are reading. And when they like what they read, they’re buying my next book. I’m not going to be a millionaire any time soon, but I’m just happy my books are being read.

At the end of the day, isn’t that why we write our books anyway?

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