Showing posts with label ebooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebooks. Show all posts

20 Feb 2014

The British author proving you can make a good living from eBooks


Whoever said you can’t make money from writing e-books, hasn’t met M A Comley.
MA, or Mel Comley, was in the first wave of writers to catch the wave of new authors who were the early adopters of the ebook phenomenon.

Some fell by the wayside of the intensely competitive flurry of wanna-be authors, but Ms Comley, armed with a gift for storytelling and a steely determination to succeed, proved to be the real deal. She knew that this was her chance to realise her dream of being an author and she wasn't going to let it pass her by.
Mel Comley

Just four years on and Ms Comley is an Amazon Kindle Top 20 and Barnes & Noble Nook Top Five bestselling author. She has just published the second book in her second thriller series, Grave Intention.

Ms Comley's first "Justice" series, featuring a feisty but fallible female detective has sold more than half a million copies since its release in 2010, reaching Amazon Kindle's Top 100 in both the UK and the US several times. Its success was mirrored on B&N Nook and on iTunes, with several in the Justice series hitting the Top 10.

Her latest, Grave Intention, is a psychological thriller that follows its predecessor, Sole Intention, released just six months ago. It has opened up a new audience to Ms Comley whose Justice series has made her a familiar name with the ever-growing eBook readership who prefer fast-paced crime novels.

The Intention series is based in the English, West Midlands city of Worcester  and features private investigator, Ellen Brazil. When Brazil is hired to find ex-banker Charles Dugan, who disappeared after his mansion burned to the ground, she quickly discovers that Dugan's penchant for high-stakes poker has earned him a circle of very dangerous acquaintances.

Ms Comley said, "Worcester is a place dear to my heart and an area I miss dearly now that I live in France. It's a different type of novel to the ones I'm used to writing and there's definitely a twist at the end that will give the reader an ahhh moment.  It's loosely based on a true story that hit the headlines in the UK a few years ago.
"I tend to base my books in places I've lived. The Justice series is based in London and Kent, the Intention series takes place around the Worcester area. A third series I've begun, Hero, is located in Manchester, so I've covered a good chunk of England!"

Before her success, Ms Comley was living with her mother in France, renovating properties and recovering from an unhappy marriage. After attending a creative writing course, she knew the direction she wanted to travel and she had the work ethic to make it happen.

"I do work hard – often 100 hour weeks and my mum, who's my biggest fan and most trustworthy critic, is always there to make sure I remember to stop and eat! At the start people said you couldn't make a good living publishing eBooks, unless you got snapped up by a traditional publisher. I've been approached several times, but I prefer the control I have over my own destiny.
"I was lucky to be in the first wave of eBook authors and have built up a loyal following – as well as a thick skin at times! And I am making a living – a very good one. It's like the old Gary Player quote: 'The harder I work, the luckier I get'."

Grave Intention is available in EBook format on all Kindle via Amazon, Kobo and B&N Nook sites.  Keep up with M A Comley at her website: http://melcomley.blogspot.fr/ and by signing up for her newsletters

To find her new book, go to your local Amazon, Nook or Kobo site and enter the book ids below:
·       Amazon ASIN: B00I9K31YK
·       NOOK ID: 2940148171904
·       Kobo: ISBN: 1230000216350




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25 Sept 2012

Online to real life - friendship made flesh

A couple of years ago, when I first published my books, I got involved in writers' groups. I 'met' some great people and among them, one writer whose books I would have read, whether or not we had connected online. Libby Fischer Hellmann writes the kind of books I read - American, female, detective/police crime novels.
Marcia Muller, Sara Paretsky, Linda Fairstein, Linda Barnes, Laura Lippman, Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwell (until recently) and even JD Robb and Janet Evanovich, I've read and loved them all.
So, when I came across Libby and her character Georgia Davies, a former Chicago cop turned PI, I was thrilled.
Even better, she has a second protagonist in earlier books, Ellie Foreman, who reminds me so much of Libby herself. Libby is a great writer and I loved her books and, as she's written quite a few, I still have more to come.
Her latest, A Bitter Veil, set in 70s Chicago and revolutionary Iran, is a departure, but the writing is just as stellar and the story engrossing.
Anyway... last week, Libby came to visit as part of her solo trip around the UK. It was so wonderful having her to stay and we visited both Jane Austen's House and Waverley Abbey, neither of which I've been to before, even though they're on my doorstep.
In Libby, I have discovered an older sister who has wisdom, common sense and a side of wickedness that I love. I have always said that when I grow up I want to be Libby Hellmann, and after this visit, I think that even more.
This evening, as I was cooking dinner, I was wishing she was still here. She helped us celebrate our 15th anniversary and as I stepped into the kitchen on the evening of our anniversary party last Saturday and saw her expertly packing away leftover food, she was not just my sister but my (far too young to really be-) mother too. 
Here's a few pics from her visit:
Libby & Jane Austen - I prefer Libby

At Waverley Abbey. Leo is on an invisible lead..



Celebrating 

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3 Jan 2012

My romance, Sweet Seduction available in paperback

My romance novel, Sweet Seduction, a light happy read, is now available in paperback on Amazon and at other online stores (see links to your right) Here's what it's about:
Millionaire businessman, Rufus Knightly, is used to getting what he wants in life. When artisan baker Livia Rossetti turns down both his offer to finance her cake company and a chance of romance, he's determined to change her mind. Livia's lack of confidence in herself and lack of experience in love mean she's running scared from Rufus's campaign to win her round. Can she find the courage to grab his offer—and him—and convince herself it's not the recipe for disaster? If you like sweet romance...you’ll love Sweet Seduction.
I got the inspiration for Livia selling cakes at the Farmers' Market as I was then the PR for Hampshire Farmers' Markets who have some wonderful artisan bakers and cake makers - it's well worth a visit.
Livia is bruised from caring for her mother, who had Alzheimer's, for many years. She's now picking herself back up with the help of the redoubtable Lady Knightly. She's met Rufus before - the last time when she was sixteen when they shared a magical kiss under the mistletoe at the annual Christmas party at Rufus's family home, Archmont.
It's described as a modern feel-good romance and it fits the bill precisely. If you like Mills and Boon/Harlequin Cherish book, then this is for you. It's also available in ebook format for instant downloading from the sellers to your left.
If you read it and like it, why not leave a comment?
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22 Dec 2011

Women of the Year 2011 - My personal list

This year I've published two books, one fiction - a romance- and one non-fiction, aimed at helping parents get special needs help for their children.
In this endeavour, I've formed friendships both online and in person. As this is the time of year for 'best of' lists  here's one of my own, giving a big thanks to those who have inspired, steadied, encouraged and helped me.

1. Mel Comley
Mel Comley
 Mel and I first became friends when we launched our books on Authonomy in 2010. Since then I have watched her grow as a writer and been amazed by her ability at reaching out online to people, making them aware of her books. Mel lives in France and in January we were able to meet in person when she came to stay with us. We attended a writer's workshop in London together and I'm pleased to say she'll be coming over again in May for another event.
She has published a trilogy of crime novels featuring DI Lorne Simpkins as well as a number of romance and short story books.
Mel has supported me, advised me of opportunities, cheered me up when I was down and sent me the biggest box of Christmas chocs I've ever received. A special mention to her mum, Jean too, who is fab.
Find Mel here

2. Libby Fischer Hellmann
Libby Fischer Hellmann
Libby, a well-known Chicago writer, is one woman I look up to. Her writing is flawless and in the YouTube video I watched of her giving a writer talk, she exudes the sure confidence of someone who knows what she's talking about. I love her Chicago PI, Georgia Davis - a worthy successor to VI Warshawski. When I grow up, I want to be Libby Fischer Hellmann. Find out more about Libby here.





3. Linda Prather
Linda Prather
Linda is a woman of many talents - an author, psychic and paranormal investigator whose books leave an impression on you long after you have read them. Linda is kind and generous with her time and I look forward to reading more Jacody Ives mysteries in 2012 as well as her forthcoming book, Find Me.
Read more about Linda here.





4. & 5. Lia Fairchild and Valerie Maarten
Valerie Maarten
Lia Fairchild
These two woman live on opposite coasts in the US and they are promotional powerhouses. I am astounded by the number of ways they come up with to promote their books and the energy they have in going about it, despite having busy family lives. It is something I can only dream of matching. Lia is also about to become an Amazon Encore author with In Search of Lucy and has a series called A Hint of Murder. Read more about Lia here.
Val has four books out, all great reads, including the salutary tale "Into Thin Air". Find out more about Val here.

You should watch out for all these woman in 2012. They've put in serious ground work in 2011 to pursue their goals of making it big in books. I wouldn't bet against them.


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30 Oct 2010

Cheap Ebooks - look no further

If you're looking for cheap ebooks, check out http://bargainebooks.blogspot.com. The site features ebooks that are priced under $5.00 and a new books posts every 24 hours.
Authors are welcome to submit books to be included, and readers are welcome to recommend cheap finds. It doesn't matter if a book is traditionally or independently published.
The site is the brainchild of Holly A. Hook, herself an author of young adult fantasy books.
Her first Kindle book, Tempest, is available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and is the first book in the Destroyers series.
You can find lots of great reads on the site so pop over and take a look.


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