Holy Blazin’ Stars, Batman! I am full of all kinds of big, exciting, awesome news!

First, I have to share this link, because he’s saying pretty much what I’ve been saying about self-publishing and the publishing industry in general. Now, if only New York would listen! Thank you, Karly, for originally sharing this with me. Karly’s YA book Into the Shadows comes out on Kindle next week, by the way. You should totally check it out!

Second…because I can’t hold it in any longer…

PROMISE WON THE ROYAL PALM LITERARY AWARD!!

That’s right! First Place in Fantasy (Published). Woot!!! I get the scoring rubric in the mail this week. I’m not sure what to think about it, though…if I should even open it. After all, the book is published, it won the award and any suggestions for improvement will just result in me getting all worried and upset about something I can’t change. On the other hand, I can use it to improve future writing. And I know I wouldn’t be able to just toss it unopened anyway… I’ll let you know if I learn anything useful.

I’ll also be sharing a recap of what I learned at the Florida Writers Conference this past weekend later this week. I attended as many marketing workshops as I could because they’re most pertinent to me right now and because a lot of the craft workshops were genre specific and didn’t apply to my writing (i.e., nonfiction, memoirs, etc.). Although I have a marketing background, you never know what you can learn from others who have been there, done that. Unfortunately, not as much as I’d hoped, but I do have a few little nuggets to share.

Third…Promise is FINALLY available at Barnes & Noble. As in, you can walk into a B&N store and request it. They’ll probably have to order it, but if they get enough requests, then maybe they’ll start stocking it on their actual shelves. It’s on sale, too! $11.51 instead of $15.99. Order here. If you’ve already read it, I’d love you forever and ever if you’d post a review on that page (and Amazon, too).

This also means Promise is finally listed correctly in Ingram’s, the big book distribution/cataloging service for major booksellers, indies, libraries, etc. So hopefully Promise will soon be available on The Book Depository for all those outside-the-US peeps who have been requesting it. (Which also means I can open up contests and giveaways internationally again! Yay!) If you’re one of those peeps and happen to see it listed, please let me know. I try not to be all maniacal about checking it several times a day, so you might see it before I do (not that you’re maniacal…you just might be there before me…you know what I’m sayin’, right? hehe).

In the last Monday Marketing, I discussed Place and this is a huge example of how Place can affect sales. If you don’t have your book available in as many places as possible, in as many formats as possible, you’re losing sales. For self-publishers, this might mean you get a smaller cut. But a smaller cut is much better than no cut at all. Don’t think of it as losing dollars. Think of it as gaining readers – who next time might buy where you do make more profit and also tell their friends who might buy where you prefer. I just don’t understand self-publishers who forgo the possibility of having their book in all the major outlets and in the indies because they’ll only make 50 cents or a dollar. Just my little marketing rant there…

Finally…Sunday is the last day for my two giveaways/contests! So far, we only have two people who have signed up for the Halloween Hop – the one where you use Tristan’s picture somewhere and somehow and post it on your blog or Facebook page. We need A LOT MORE for the Kindle prize! If you’re planning on participating but haven’t signed up yet, please go sign up. To participate: Make a video. Take a picture of you and Tristan. Draw a picture. The possibilities are limited to your creativity!Then post it on your blog or Facebook page this weekend.

We have a lot more entries for the Birthday Bash, but there are never too many! And I don’t have a “Promise in the Wild” photo yet. If you have Promise, all you have to do is take a picture of it and send it to me (for 25 entries) or post it on your blog or Facebook page (for 50 entries)…and fill out the form. EASY!! Even if it’s on your ereader, just take a picture of the cover page. Some great prizes to choose from and both winners get to be one of the first to read Purpose!

Ok, that’s all for now. As if that’s not a lot already. Whew! I can’t believe a Monday can be so great and exciting, so another bonus there. I hope your weekend went well, too.

P.S. Would you mind sharing why you haven’t signed up for the contests? Please comment below, because I’m just a little baffled here…