Amazon rankings, a shot in the spine, and two weeks of school already?

First thing first. I am currently running a promotion: Download Future Past for FREE on Amazon Kindle today and tomorrow. The promotion began yesterday and let me tell ya, I was not expecting what happened next. I had one download when I went for school yesterday morning. By the time I went to bed last night, my downloads were well over a thousand and my rankings had me in the top ten in two different fantasy categories. I'm also sitting in the top 200 over all (*small update: I just ranked below #200- Woot!) and let me tell you, with thousands of free ebooks from Amazon every day, THAT is something I'm very proud of.


click the image to enlarge

I don't have time to sit around today and watch my rankings. I hope I hit a #1 somewhere but I can't keep tabs on it today. I have school work to do, a client edit to work on, and somewhere in there, I have to work a shift at my store.

My Shot... Heaven help me

I had a steroid injection in my spine yesterday. Those who have been keeping up with this blog because of my back pain chronicles, you've probably had an inkling this was coming. Physical therapy is wonderful and has decreased my pain level. I'm not going currently but I'm keeping up with the exercises and walking. But the pain was still there. It's coming from my discs, making my back swell and hurt, my hips, legs and feet hurt, and it's all I can do many days (especially the days I'm pulling shifts at the store) to keep from being in tears.

I had some people tell me that I'd feel like Superwoman after the shot but I didn't. There was some immediate decreased pain in my hips and legs that I noticed but the pure pain in my back was at its worst. I think I cried a little more than normal. I had this doomsday outlook, I suppose. The doc said that it might take two shots to really make a difference in my average pain level. So I was thinking about what I would do if none of it worked. There isn't much more of this pain I can take. This morning, though, there was a noticeable difference in pain. When I woke, I wasn't in pain at all which is very unusual. After an hour or so, some pain started creeping back in but I'm trying to keep in mind that it's been less than 24 hours since the shot and I'm still having to take things one step at a time. My back is swollen and I've been battling a small fever (I'm suppose to call if it gets above 100), but I'm not certain the fever has anything to do with my shot; I've been battling a bit of congestion, which most often turns into a full-fledged sinus infection within a week. I get these infections about 4 times a year usually at the start of a new school semester. It's right on time!

It is a waiting game and it doesn't help that I have to sit and do homework most of the morning then go work a shift at the store. Guess that shot will really be put to the test.

My babies are off to school

Last week, the last of my babies took off for school for the first time. I cried some on the days leading up to the big day, but since I had school myself on his first day, I was too occupied, I guess, to dwell on days gone forever. I've managed to make it since then without overwhelming sadness.

The kids are liking school, just not liking the early days (who does, right?) and are so far doing very well. My little one has adjusted far easier than I could have hoped for. I was worried because he's been in my care since day 1 but he's doing just fine and not much missing Momma when he has, "Twenty-two new friends to play with," though he couldn't tell you a single one of their names. LOL.

Thanks for reading my update. I'm about to go pour my nose into the weirdest math I've ever seen in my life. Please don't forget to go download my book while it's free!

Peace, love, and work, work, work,

Pamela

More Freebies

In keeping with the countdown to Future Past (which I am proofing the print right now, yay!), two more titles are up for free grabs.

"The Hand" continues to be one of my favorites. Inspired by a dream of a disembodied hand grabbing at me, the story started to come to life. Thanks to one of my writer friends, Theresa Wiza, providing her first-hand (no pun intended) experience in her battle with breast cancer, the story formed itself into a contemporary science fiction piece, where the main character, Cicely, is winning her war against breast cancer while also battling to save her struggling marriage. Insert a mad scientist and there is the basis for "The Hand". You can download "The Hand" from Smashwords for FREE using coupon code MR95D. Smashwords has formats that fit many different ereading devices, including reading it right online.

The Influence, while admittedly not my favorite, is still my baby. This story began its first twinkle as I was talking to a coworker one night many years ago. She was telling me about her granddaughter's tendency to talk to a rock out in her yard. I'd always wanted to write a classic "good vs evil" tale and an idea about this special little girl sent to our world finally had her basis. Inspired by my own raising with my four sisters, this book took a turn of it's own. It isn't just a contemporary sci-fi read, it is a tale of two sisters learning the right, wrong, and grays of this world and holding together in spite of it.  You can download The Influence from Smashwords for FREE using coupon code LA67F. Smashwords has formats that fit many different ereading devices, including reading it right online.

These coupons expire July 26, 2013 so go download your copies!

Peace, love, and happy reading,

Pamela

FREE Downloads and reduced pricing

As the countdown to the release of Future Past begins, we went through my titles and reduced the prices on both "The Hand" and The Influence. "The Hand" is now 99 cents and the ebook version of The Influence, my debut novel, has been reduced to $1.99. *Please note that it will probably take a few hours to a few days for Amazon to reflect this price change.

In addition, now begins the free promo for two other titles.

"Into Pieces" began as a writing prompt flash contest on a writer's forum. The contest challenged writers to create another version of a well known fairy tale or nursery rhyme. I chose "Humpty Dumpty" and the story evolved from there. I won the contest but asked the moderators to remove the actual story from the board when I realized I was on to something. I rewrote the tale, submitted it to an anthology and it was accepted. A year later, when the anthology never came to fruition, I withdrew the story and published it myself.

You can download "Into Pieces" from Smashwords for FREE using coupon code BA24D. Smashwords has formats that fit many different ereading devices, including reading it right online.

"The Crazy Ole' Bird Lady" is one of those short stories that began as a dream. Though it is an unusual story, I can safely say it isn't of the "Kubla Khan" variety. (Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a writer of the Romantic period, wrote this odd poem after he woke from an opium induced slumber, having dreamed the imagery of the poem.) In any case, in my completely normal dream-state, I dreamed about being holed up with a bunch of other people as we hid from monstrous bird creatures. (I swear I wasn't tripping on anything!) I knew when I woke that it would make a great story and my editor called it, "Classic horror."

You can download "The Crazy Ole' Bird Lady" from Smashwords for FREE using coupon code QD74B. Smashwords has formats that fit many different ereading devices, including reading it right online.

These coupons expire on July 15, 2013 so go download your copy today!

Only a few more weeks until the release of Future Past! Oh crap, I got a lot to do!

Peace, love, and FREEBIES!

Pamela

So begins the freebies

As the summer kicks off, I find myself working on a client edit and the final edits of Future Past. And as I go over my editor's suggested changes, I find myself just as excited about the story as I was when I typed the first word in March of 2010.

In a couple of weeks, I'll begin the promotions leading up to the Future Past release date. For now, I'm going to give a bit of background on the stories I already have for free in my library.

"The Jump" is a simple story yet one that holds a lot of meaning for me. It was my first published story. I was on top of the world when I received my payment of a contributor copy of the lit mag it was published in. It was 13 or 14 years ago and I can't remember what the thought process was that led to the story, but I remember thinking about how I would feel if I was near the end of my life, how I might respond if faced with such a difficult decision. This ebook is FREE on all sites. Click here to read an excerpt and find out where you can get your copy.

 



"An Unusual Cupid" has been an unusual success and is probably one of the most sappy things I've ever written and probably the most downloaded with close to 4,000 downloads since its release. Mostly good reviews lace its product pages with the biggest complaint being that it is too short. Some have even expressed a desire for me to turn it into a novel. So what led to this unusual love story? I wanted to write a short and sweet, free Valentine story for my readers. I enjoy writing paranormal tales and occasionally, I am a bit of a romantic, so this story combined the two in a way that even I didn't see coming. Click here to read an excerpt and find out where you can get your free copy.



And last but not least, "Theory of a Tramp" is one of my favorites. "Theory of a Tramp" wasn't just some epiphany that came to me in the middle of a dream. (And yes, I've had those.)  I was actively using brainstorming techniques to come up with a viable story.  I used a picture prompt.  I flipped through more than a dozen pictures until one spoke to me.  (See the pic below.) Looking at the pic, you see rust.  Apparently there was some water damage.  So my brain started churning.  What could've caused such a mess?  That led to an image of an over-flowing bathtub.  What if someone had drowned in that tub?  How did they drown and why?  One thought continued to lead to another until I had the premise of the story. One reviewer remarked that the story could have been an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" to which another reviewer agreed. Click here to read an excerpt and find out where you can get your free copy.


 

In the next couple of weeks, I'll begin lowering the prices on some of my titles as well as MAKING THEM FREE (for a limited time) at some point before the release of Future Past, so stay tuned.

 

Thank you for reading. It elates me to share my work with so many people.

Email campaign #3 - "Future Past" Announcement and Enter to Win!

Drop Content Blocks Here by: Announcement: Future Past coming in early August. Pamela Caves releases first fantasy novel. For ten years, Dayel struggled to survive inside the most infamous prison in the world with no memory of who she was before or what she did to get there.  Scars over her body and rumors of mass murder indicate that she might not want to know. She can't believe she could be such a monster, despite evidence to the contrary. All she wants upon her release is to live in quiet solitude. She soon finds that others have no intention of allowing her the normalcy she desires. On her path, she makes unlikely friends, escapes assassins, and battles unimaginable foes. Her memory begins to return and with it, magic begins to manifest. Terrified that she will hurt someone with her untamed abilities, she begins the journey to unravel her past, for doing so can only ensure her future is lined with peace. But what she finds is more horrifying than she ever thought possible and everything she thought she was comes crumbling down around her.

Drop Content Blocks Here by: Now Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. Coming soon to Kobo, Diesel, Apple, Sony, and more.   by: Sixteen year-old Lenya McKay is told that both her parents were killed when their vehicle imploded. She refuses to accept it, though, and goes off in search for them with the help of new Squad 13 weapon's officer, Corporal Zhoven Spiridon. Instead, they find something they could never have suspected; enemy infiltration. Growing up takes a sudden leap when she is Zhoven's only hope for survival against an unpredictable and brutal enemy. Meanwhile, Sabina has to adjust to her new life without the use of her legs and to a new job; it's the first time in her life she's felt less than adequate.   Drop Content Blocks Here by: Countdown to Future Past Promotions by: Did you know you can already get many Pamela Caves titles for free? Titles like "The Jump", "Theory of a Tramp", and "An Unusual Cupid" are free on all sites. But the best part? All other titles in Pamela's library will be offered for free throughout the summer! Keep an eye on Pamela's blog and her Facebook page to get coupon codes for free downloads. EVERY TITLE will be FREE at some point this summer in anticipation of the release of Future Past. Also, we will be doing a drawing for a free, signed copy of Future Past, exclusive to our mailing list subscribers. Current subscribers are already entered. If you wish to subscribe to the mailing list to have a chance to win, click here and register!                         by:   by: Read Pamela's new poetry, "The Thing About Love" on her blog.

No such thing as a lazy summer.

In February, I announced the release of two books this year; one was Future Past, my first fantasy novel, and the next would be a non-fiction writing prompt book. I'm canceling the release of the prompt book for now. I'm going to reset the release for sometime next year.

The thing is, I've been extremely busy lately. Between my regular work, work at the store, and school, the only writing I've done is editing Future Past and writing the prompt book. I still have to form the map for Future Past and the cover shoot is scheduled for the second week of June. I really want to put what I have into the release of this book. Plus, I want to get back to doing what I love, which is writing fiction. I have many ideas teetering around in my brain and I'm getting antsy because I haven't written anything new since I finished "Purpose of Pain".

Scratch that: Want isn't the right word. I need to write new fiction. It seems to be the only thing that soothes me and keeps my mind at ease.

I have many things in store for this summer. Beyond the release of my second novel, I'm putting my short stories, which have been exclusively in digital format, into print collections by genre. I don't necessarily believe that I'll have as many print sales as digital but I will be doing several signing events starting next year and it helps to have a variety of books, I think.

In the meantime, I'll be chugging along as usual. You keep chugging along with yours.

Peace, love, and happy writing,

Pamela

Last chance for free copies of "Barrier"!

Three days only, starting today (Thursday, March 28, 2013) and lasting through Saturday (March 30, 2013), I am again offering for FREE, both Barrier titles in Kindle format. Here's how to get your free copies:

1. Click this link to go to Amazon and download a free copy of The Purpose of Pain: Will 16-year-old Lenya McKay find her presumed dead parents?

2. Email me at pamelacaves@rocketmail.com and request your free copy of Ethics vs. Duty: Will Sergeant Triana Kreeler turn over an innocent infant for execution?

It's that simple. Then you can be all caught up with Barrier thus far. I don't know when I'll be giving these away again so if you have any desire to read these at all, take advantage of this while you can.

Peace, love, and off into space,

Pamela

Two book releases later this year!

I've hinted at this before but want to officially announce the publishing of not one, but two (2!) books near the end of this year.

First up will be a non-fiction book for writers entitled:

25 Writing Prompts for All Genres

In this book, I've compiled a list of writing prompts to kick-start the Great Idea I know is tooling around in that brain of yours. These prompts are designed to use over and over again in many different ways for many different genres, making this a great book to have on hand when you feel your creativity slamming against a brick wall. It will be great for simple writing exercises, too, for when you just want to flex those muscles or for sharing in a peer writing group.

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And next (this is the one I'm most excited about!), will be the publishing of my second novel, Future Past, my first fantasy.

Future Past

For ten years, Dayel struggled to survive inside the most infamous prison in the world with no memory of who she was before or what she did to get there.  Scars over her body and rumors of mass murder indicate that she might not want to know. She can't believe she could be such a monster, despite evidence to the contrary. All she wants upon her release is to live in quiet solitude.

She soon finds that others have no intention of allowing her the normalcy she desires. On her path, she makes unlikely friends, escapes assassins, and battles unimaginable foes. Her memory begins to return and with it, magic begins to manifest. Terrified that she will hurt someone with her untamed abilities, she begins the journey to unravel her past, for doing so can only ensure her future is lined with peace. But what she finds is more horrifying than she ever thought possible and everything she thought she was comes crumbling down around her.

------------

 

So stay tuned for these releases, news, and more! You may subscribe or "Like" me on Facebook. It's going to be an exciting year!

 

Peace, love, and WOOT!

 

Pamela

Get both Barriers for FREE!

Quick update: I'm offering my newest release, Barrier: The Purpose of Pain for free, today and tomorrow (Jan. 18 & 19) only, from Amazon. Click over here and do a quick download.

(In my best infomercial voice) But wait! There's more!

While you don't need to have read Barrier: Ethics vs. Duty to enjoy Barrier: The Purpose of Pain, I realize that some may want to read the first one first. So... go download The Purpose of Pain from Amazon for free, then shoot me an email at pamelacaves@rocketmail.com and I will personally email you a copy of Ethics vs. Duty in Kindle format for free in an attachment. This offer is only good for today and tomorrow while the promotion for Barrier 2 is running.



Here is a teaser excerpt of Barrier: Duty vs. Ethics.
Here is a teaser excerpt of Barrier: The Purpose of Pain.

This is a limited time offer so if you've been wanting to read these, now is the time while both are free.

If you need other formats than Kindle, please be patient. I will run promotions on those later.

Peace, love, and happy reading!

Pamela

No new projects until after January 1.

Hi, y'all. I just wanted to pop in a moment and let everyone know that I will NOT be accepting any new projects until after the first of the year. I have a lot (and I mean A LOT!) going on at the moment so I can't possibly take anything new. My apologies but I'd like to keep my sanity. The clients I already have scheduled are fine.

Update: I'm booked through February 4. Please make sure you check my website for current scheduling. Please note that if you have a project for me, I cannot guarantee you the next available spot unless you confirm it with me.

Newsletter Campaign #2 - "The Influence" and "Barrier" News

Here are the contents of the latest newsletter to hit subscribers of my mailing list. Subscribers to the official newsletter are automatically included in drawings for giveaways. To sign up and get news directly to your inbox, click here and fill in the form.

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Winner!

Announcing the winner of the newsletter sign-up giveaway! Dwight Coker from Fort Payne, Alabama was the lucky recipient of the signed, print copy of The Influence, the debut novel by Pamela Caves.

The Influence now on your favorite site!

The Influence is now available in print! You can order your copy from Amazon, CreateSpace, or order your signed copy on Pamela's website. Pamela's debut novel is also available in ebook format on your favorite site.  For Kindle owners, it is on Amazon, for Nook owners, it is on Barnes and Noble. Also on Smashwords in a variety of ebook formats. Search for The Influence on your favorite book purchasing sites!

Barrier is coming back!

Fiction Lake Publishing is gearing up for the release of the second story in Pamela's sci-fi adventure series, Barrier. The Purpose of Pain follows sixteen year-old Lenya McKay.  She is told that both her parents were killed when their vehicle imploded. She refuses to accept it, though, and goes off in search for them with the help of new Squad 13 weapon's officer, Corporal Zhoven Spiridon. Instead, they find something they could never have suspected; enemy infiltration. Growing up takes a sudden leap when she is Zhoven's only hope for survival against an unpredictable and brutal enemy.

You can contribute to the Barrier universe.

Sky Legend, SD 32's Chief Control Officer, is pregnant. But wait! Not only is she expecting, she has two buns in the oven! And Barrier fans get to decide the gender and names of these new additions.  There is currently a vote in progress on the official Barrier blog. Click here to see the announcement and vote in the poll on the sidebar to choose the gender of Sky's babies. Then email pamelacaves@rocketmail.com with as many name choices as you wish. The names Pamela chooses from the submitted pool will be written into a future Barrier story and the person/people who suggested the names will be announced on blogs and social media.

Be on the lookout for Barrier: The Purpose of Pain to be released later this year!

Last FREE days for "The Influence"

Quick update: This Thursday and Friday will be the LAST free promo days on Amazon for the electronic version of The Influence. This means that I don't know when it will be free again so if you're interested in downloading it at all, mark your calendars. That's this Thursday and Friday, June 28th and 29th.

The print version is very close to being released. Here is information on how you can pre-order if you're interested in obtaining a signed copy.

And Nook owners, it will be available on Barnes and Noble during the second week of July. Not much longer now!

I appreciate the support!

Peace, happiness, and reading,

Pamela

Have you been waiting for "The Influence" in print?

Quick announcement (again): The Influence will be out in print earlier than we had anticipated, hopefully within the next month.

So, you can either:

1. Sit back and wait to buy it from Amazon or my web store. I believe the list price will be $10.99.

OR

2. You can pre-order a SIGNED copy from me for $12.99. Simply go to my website by clicking here and click the button to purchase. Please make sure your address is correct. Your signed copy will be shipped to you as soon as they are released.

The Influence is still available for Kindle on Amazon and there will be a free promotion running this Saturday (June 2).

Peace, love, and yippee!

Pamela

Free Promo Coming Up!

Quick announcement: The Influence will be participating in a Facebook event "Free eBooks" on June 2, 2012.  This would be a great time to grab your Kindle copy of my book for free if you haven't already downloaded it.  And the best part? Other books are also listed so you can grab those as well.  Have a fantastic weekend, y'all!

Peace, love, and freebies,

Pamela