Hi!  I've missed you.  Sorry it has taken me so long to write a new blog.  My crazy life has gotten surreal (people are starting to know who I am, can you believe it? Yeah, me either—it's insane). 

Let me bring you up to speed on what I've been doing since Indebted was released on Kindle.  I was formatting the file to upload to Smashwords.com so that I could have them act as my aggregator to publish Indebted on Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Sony, etc.  But...I have since been reconsidering that option.  I have two reasons for not uploading the Indebted file to Smashwords: 

The first is because Smashwords still hasn't been successful in uploading Intuition to Barnes and Noble or Apple.  It's been over 2 months.  That is totally unacceptable.  I pointed this out to them and they admitted it was an error on their part, but they still haven't fixed it. 

The second reason is that Smashwords doesn't have DRM (digital rights management) available for my books.  That means it is easy for pirates to take my work and sell it on their websites.  Don't get me wrong; I don't mind as much if you read it for free—I want to get my work into libraries and other places where it is accessible.  I allow you to freely share your books with one another on Kindle (I have the option not to do that, but I think it's cool to share it with your friends).  I do mind, however,  if you have to pay for it on a pirate site, get a really inferior product that you can't even return, and then they keep all the profits.  It seems a little unfair to me.

So now I have to figure out how to protect my digital books when they're not sold on Amazon.com (because Amazon is the man and does it for me on their site.   Thank you, Amazon, for being completely awesome like that).  Anyway, that is a problem I'm trying to solve.  (I know Nook people; I feel your pain!  This is bad news!  I'm sorry!  Go ahead and vent your frustration here.  You are entitled.  I want to work directly with B&N for you so that you can get it.  I will figure it out.  Apple iPad/iPhone people: there is a free app for Kindle that you can download so that you can buy my eBooks directly from Amazon for your Apple devices, so I'll figure out Apple after B&N.)  Kobo and Sony e-reader people, we might be in trouble.  I don't know how to protect my content on your sites.  I'll research that as well. 

Also, I'm working on Incendiary.  I really liked keeping all of you updated on the progress of Indebted.  It gave you insight into where I was in the publishing process and it gave me an avenue to "talk" about it with people who get it and who want to know about my books and publishing in general (because you are a rare species I've only found on the internet).  It was also really cathartic, like having a journal that talks back and gives advice.  It was priceless, so I'm doing it again.  (See that new page at the top of my blog that says, "Incendiary Updates?" Yeah, that's it.) 

I have to say now that I haven't answered anyone on this blog in a couple of weeks.  I know! I completely suck!  I'll definitely work on that going forward.  I really want to try to respond to everyone because you are important to me.  (You guys are growing in number, which I love, but I'm a little afraid I'll neglect you—we'll see how it goes.)

Okay, so like before, feel free to ask me about publishing, or my books/ the characters, or you can tell me about the music you love.  I read it all, even if I haven't responded due to the insanity that is my life.  So here we go, I'm about to post my first Incendiary blog.  Check it out! :)  Thank you!

 
 
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Indebted, the third book of the Premonition Series, is now available on Amazon.com.  Go grab your copy today!!! Thank you!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Indebted-The-Premonition-Series-ebook/dp/B007XJGAMI/ref=sr_1_5?i

 
 
In honor of the release of INDEBTED, the third book in the Premonition Series, I'm giving away three FREE signed copies of INESCAPABLE, the first book in the series.  Click on the button below to ENTER to WIN!  This is an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!   Winners will be chosen at random by Goodreads.com on May 1, 2012.  GOOD LUCK! I HOPE YOU WIN!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol

Inescapable

by Amy A. Bartol

Giveaway ends May 01, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win
 
 
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Indebted is now available in paperback on Amazon.com.  The Kindle version should follow in 2-3 weeks.  I will update this as soon as the eBook is released.  Thank you for your kindness and support during the publishing of Indebted.  I hope you enjoy the story!  Here is a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Indebted-The-Premonition-Series-Volume/dp/147000870X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1334610543&sr=8-4

 
 
The cover is finally IN! The first draft of the print book should ship to me next week.  I will approve it and then it will be turned over to Amazon.com so that they can build the site for it.  When I approve the print book, I will immediately start the Kindle conversion process.  This process typically takes 2-3 week to complete. (It took 2 1/2 weeks for Intuition.)  I will keep you updated on the status of everything.  I really appreciate how incredibly AWESOME you all have been to me during this process.  I feel really blessed to have readers like you!  Thank you. 
 
 
I'm super excited to announce that the cover for Indebted is in! I can't wait for you to see it.  As a thank you to Celeste Harrington of The Book Hookup for and amazing interview she did with me (see interview here: http://thebookhookup.com/2012/04/03/interview-with-amy-a-bartol/ ),  I'm letting her reveal the cover of Indebted today on her website:  http://thebookhookup.com.  I'll post Indebted's cover here tomorrow.

You will also find that Celeste is giving away a FREE signed copy of INESCAPABLE on her website.  This is an international giveaway so GO NOW and enter to WIN! GOOD LUCK! http://thebookhookup.com/2012/04/03/giveaway-signed-copy-of-inescapable-by-amy-a-bartol-international/.
 
 
I received a comment today that pointed out to me that I am neglecting to keep my fans up-to-date about the next book in the Premonition Series, Indebted.  Okay, hold up for a second…I have fans?  Really?  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I correspond with people on a daily basis about what I’m doing and about my books, but I guess I never considered that those people fall under the heading of “fans.”  I kind of consider them people who like books like I like books.  People like me, who when they come to the end of a story and read the “teaser chapter” in the back of that book, find themselves tugging on their boots, even though it is 10:30 at night, so they can drive over to the bookstore to get the next book in the series so they can find out what is going to happen next…

Oh…uhhh…sorry, I guess I am the bad guy in this scenario.  But, I never considered you all fans.  I think of you as really amazing people who have an interest in the stories I write.  People who I’d hang out with—maybe grab some coffee with—and then end up plotting mayhem with them…you know: true readers.

Now that I know that I have been torturing you (a fact for which I am sorry…truly) I have decided to create a new page on my website.  It’s called: Indebted: Updates! (See it up there at the top?)  From now on, I’ll try to give you at least a weekly update on the progress of Indebted. 

Let me just say now that Indebted is finished.  I am just re-reading it so that I can be absolutely sure that everything is how I want it.  (I’m really not a control freak, it’s just that when it comes to my writing, I don’t know...I feel like I owe it to you to give you the best product I can.)  I plan to turn Indebted over to my publisher in a day or two.  From there, they will format the book and create a cover.  This process took three months (each) for the last two books.  I am hoping it will take less time for Indebted.  I have learned a few things, so I’m thinking maybe the process won’t take as long.  (I am getting better at knowing what they want.)  I am hoping that it will go live on Amazon in March of 2012.  I will know more soon and I promise to be better at sharing that information in the future. 

I have fans?  That’s just crazy talk.  Who would follow me?  (You can’t hear it, but I’m laughing and a little snort just came out.)

 
 
The Kindle version of Intuition is now available on Amazon!  (Finally, right?)  Please follow this link to check it out:
http://www.amazon.com/Intuition-The-Premonition-Series-ebook/dp/B006U2OOCC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325809171&sr=8-4
I’m going to format it for Nook and iPad through Smashword in the coming days—love that "meatgrinder-formatting" program…(not looking forward to that at all).  Simultaneously, I’m going to submit Indebted (Volume 3) to my publisher.  Then, I’m going to take a nap because I’m tired. Ha, ha :)


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I don’t open my eyes so I can’t see him, but I can smell him. He thickens the air I breathe, choking me with his scent…his aroma. I shiver. I have to resist. If I’m not strong, then I will be relegated to the same fate as this predator whose sickness infects me even now. But now, I crave him and he knows that; he has been counting on my need to end the gnawing pain. How he would savor my surrender. I’m alive, but how much longer will it take until I beg him not to be?


 
 
“Should I write a book?”  That is the question, isn’t it?  It’s the one you’ve been asking yourself a lot lately—the one that keeps you up at night.  It’s the first question on your mind after you read an amazing story…or when you wake up in the morning after dreaming about a storyline…or when you meet someone who has written one.

It’s the question that most people sort of ask me when they find out that I have written a novel.  I say, “sort of,” because they don’t exactly come out and ask, “Should I write a book?”  They usually tell me that they have written something that’s still unfinished/unpublished or they tell me their ideas for a novel they want to write. 

At first, this puzzled me.  I wondered if they were asking me if I thought their idea for a story was a good one or that maybe they were seeking advice on the topic of writing in general, but I’m beginning to think that what they are really asking boils down to one simple question: “Do you think I should write a book?”

The short answer to your question is: yes, you should absolutely write a book.

I will go you one further and say, “I give you my permission to write a book.”

I am not being sarcastic or condescending.  I am giving you my permission to write a book because I, too, sought permission to write.  I needed someone to say, “Yes, you should write a book.”  (That came from my husband, Tom, after I badgered him for months by asking him if he thought I should do it.)  There is something magical in two people agreeing to a certain premise—a power in the assent. 

So, I am telling you now: yes, you should write a book.  Now go do it.

When you are finished, after you have rewritten it a thousand times, polished it, shed some tears over it, maybe you’ll come to the same conclusion that I have.  You’re a writer…and you don’t need anyone’s permission to do what you love.

Here’s the proof: 
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Intuition: The Premonition Series, Volume 2 is now available in paperback exclusively on Amazon.com!  To get a paperback copy, please follow the link to Amazon on my sidebar (see the scrolling book widget over there =>).
I’m working to format Intuition to an eBook, not only for Amazon’s Kindle, but also for Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Apple’s iPad/ iBooks.  I will announce when the eBook is available for purchase.  The ETA on the eBook for Kindle (through Amazon) is about 2 to 3 weeks (so they tell me).

Inescapable: The Premonition Series, Volume 1 is now available for download through Smashwords.com.  Follow this link to Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/115864
to download it in any of the following formats: 
Kindle (Mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)

Epub (Apple, iPad, iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)

PDF (good for reading on PC)

RTF (readable on most word processors)

LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers)

Palm Doc (PDB) (for palm reading devices)

And Plain Text downloads.

**Inescapable should be available for purchase directly on Barnes & Noble’s website and on Apple’s website within a week or so. You can get a copy now at Smashwords.com.

Let me know when your novel is ready. I'd love to read it. :)
 
 
Congratulations to the winners of the Goodreads Inescapable book giveaway!  I received a “win list” and I’ve packed the books up to ship out to you all!  For those who did not win, I’M SORRY!  I’ll have another giveaway soon so you’ll get another chance to win.