Move Update, KDP Select and Where to Purchase My Books

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Amazon Kindle, Apple, Author Lada Ray, BN Nook, Book: The Earth Shifter, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, E-book, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Green Desert (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel), Kobo, price drop, Siberian Tiger, Smashwords, Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure)

Hello, everyone!

I have received some questions about where I’d disappeared lately and whether my books are still a part of #KDPSelect program.

As some of you may know, very recently I have moved my residence, and I am presently settling down. I love the new house; it’s nice, yet substantially smaller than my old one. I am rather happy about that since I don’t have to waste as much time taking care of the property. Instead, I can let my creative juices flow more freely, while concentrating fully on things that matter – namely my various spiritual, creative and life projects that have been blossoming wonderfully.

Read more about that here:

Big Move and Big Plans

For a small part of my exciting plans (more coming!), check out my new page:

Feng Shui

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#Indie #Publishing Update: What’s Happening at #Kobo?

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Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Author Lada Ray, Barnes & Noble, ebooks, indie authors, Indie Publishing, Kindle, Kobo, Kobo Writing Life, Kobo.com, Nook, publishing, Smashwords

I have received this informative email from Kobo (read below) and decided to re-post it here for the benefit of all Indie authors. It appears that Kobo Writing Life -the Indie publishing arm of the company – has received bad press in the United Kingdom for allegedly not screening the books they have on sale and therefore violating their own guidelines. As a result, Kobo initiated a massive Indie book removal and inspection. If you publish with Kobo in the UK and were affected by mistake, the email below is straight out of the horse’s mouth and explains Kobo’s position.

I understand the books targeted by this removal are basically hard-core erotica and such. I must say that regardless of the type of books Kobo is presently reviewing, I for one am very happy they are actually taking an interest in addressing some of their problems, which are many. I sincerely hope they become more responsive and more responsible about their Indie publishing service soon.

Although my rant below may seem slightly off topic, but it illustrates vividly Kobo’s desire to jump on the ebook and indie publishing bandwagon, while failing to take their responsibility seriously. The only reason I’m writing this is that I sincerely hope someone at Kobo sees it and finally takes action!

And the Oscar For the Funniest Book Review Goes To…

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#freebiefriday, Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, book reviews, Books by author Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, donating book profits, E-book, free ebook, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Green Desert (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel), Kindle, Kobo, no-kill animal shelter, Siberian Tiger rescue, Smashwords, Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure), The Earth Shifter

I recently received this 4 star review for GREEN DESERT (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel) on Barnes & Noble.

fernweh428 Posted September 28, 2013

I don’t quite know what to make of this book, and I mean that in the best sense. It captures my attention and I will re-read it soon.

This review made me giggle, but it certainly was a giggle meant in the best sense! 😉

I guess I should be flattered that Green Desert captured someone’s attention and made them think. This was my intention you know. So, a funny review – yes; but I’ll take it! Perhaps my ideas and thoughts will be mainstream one day. Like with the 100 Monkeys Theory, it takes only a small percentage of people to shift to a new way of thinking – and acting (!) – in order to create a massive paradigm shift for humanity. 

Till then, I’ll keep dreaming, writing and speaking out…

As Jade Snow, the heroine of Accidental Spy Adventures, said in conclusion of Green Desert, “One day, desert will be a garden again…”

Our beautiful Earth is a garden, not a military battleground! This is the message of Green Desert, and of my other books.

From GREEN DESERT description on Amazon: “The Butterfly Effect with an unexpected twist, this short, but full of action and drama read explores how interconnected we really are in this world.” Ebook is currently available #FREE from Barnes & Noble #Nook, Amazon #Kindle, as well as from other retailers. See all buy links here!

All my books (both paperbacks and ebooks) can now be purchased from multiple sources, including Barnes&Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, Apple, etc. Profits from my book sales go to no-kill animal shelter in Upstate NY, USA: Tompkins County SPCA; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!

Click on book cover images for all buy links!

Publishing Paradigm Shift. What Is Better: Amazon KDP Select or Broad Distribution?

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Amazon, Apple, Author Lada Ray, Barnes&Noble, Big 6 Publishers, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, Free ebooks on Kindle, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Green Desert, Indie Publishing, KDP, KDP Select, KDP Select free promo, KDPS, Kobo, publishing paradigm shift, Smashwords, Sony, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter

Amazon KDP Select (KDPS) or broad distribution through multiple channels – in other words, to be or not to be. For me, it was a cause of much vacillation for the past year.

Finally, I have happily parted ways with #KDPSelect, not planning to ever return, barring some sort of massive revamping of their system. My books are back to #BN and #Smashwords, and slowly but surely they are also posting on #Kobo, #Sony and #Apple as well. I am also making both CATHARSIS and GREEN DESERT free everywhere, to celebrate this joyous occasion! See My books at a glance + buy links. A separate post is coming soon with direct links to Kobo, BN and Sony. There will be freebies too, so watch for them!

So why am I celebrating?

CATHARSIS FREE at Smashwords + Catharsis Contest: Win Unique & Cool Prizes!

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Amazon Kindle, Apple, Author Lada Ray, Catharsis, dynamic web apps, ebook formatting, flash banner app, Kobo, Legnd of the Lemurians, Nook, Reader Appreciation Promotion, Smashwords, Sony

NEW RELEASE: CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians, is FREE for a limited time on Smashwords! GRAB YOUR COPY!

PLUS: Do you want to win FREE professional formatting for your next book or a cool & valuable Flash App? Enter Catharsis Contest! 

As you all know, I have just released CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians, on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords (soon on Nook, Sony, Kobo, Apple). It is first in the new Earth Keepers Chronicles series of shorts, plus, it’s a prequel to my soon-to-be-released flagship trilogy of novels: THE EARTH SHIFTER.
I made it FREE to introduce The Earth Shifter trilogy and the Earth Keepers series (it includes an extensive excerpt: first 2 chapters from the upcoming YA fantasy thriller The Earth Shifter).

A FREE copy of Catharsis can be downloaded here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/235546

Buy links:

Amazon US  UK   DE   ES   FR   IT  Only $0.99 (UK/EURO equiv)!

Smashwords  FREE!

Lada Ray Book Store Only $0.99

Coming soon to: B&N Nook, Kobo, Sony, Apple

PLUS! To celebrate the launch and to thank my readers

I am very excited to announce 

The Smashing CATHARSIS Contest

In partnership with Mike & Maddy of Dynamic Web Design (DWD)

who have been flawlessly formatting my books

and who have generously donated their services and expertise for my contest!

Two lucky winners will receive their choice of two valuable packages:

Professional Kindle or Smashwords (pick one) formatting for your upcoming book 

OR

Custom designed Flash Banner, a very useful and cool app, which will set apart your website or blog, making it unforgettable

PLUS

each lucky winner will receive a free consultation with Dynamic Web Design’s proprietor Mike, on how to improve your website traffic and visibility!

It’s very simple to enter! All you have to do is read CATHARSIS and

1. Post a Catharsis review to earn 10 entries to win. Places to post your review include: Amazon, Smashwords & Goodreads. Also: Barnes & Noble, Kobo & Shelfari. You don’t have to post at all of these places, although I would appreciate as many places as possible. After you’ve posted your review, please send an email with links to Lada(at)LadaRay.com

and/or

2. Leave a comment on this post to earn 1 entry to win.

You can earn up to a maximum of 11 entries to win.

It’s that simple!

Winners will be announced on December 2, 2012. 

Each of the two lucky winners will receive his/her choice of:

1. Professional Kindle or Smashwords formatting for your upcoming book, PLUS free consultation on how to improve your website or blog traffic & visibility!

Mike and Maddy deliver flawless, professionally formatted ebooks/paperbacks. Ever since I started using DWD services for my Kindle, Smashwords and Create Space formatting, I stopped stressing over possible formatting errors. Having delegated this important, but tedious task to pros, I can now fully concentrate on my writing and promotional efforts.

2. Unique, custom designed Vertical Flash Banner App, which will set apart your website or blog, making it unforgettable, PLUS free consultation on how to improve your website traffic and visibility!

Every author/artist/small business owner should have a website and/or blog. It is our online business card that allows us to spread the word about our writing/art/services to people we would’ve never met otherwise. Mike & Maddy designed my website: LadaRay.com. They have also designed 2 awesome dynamic apps for my blog and website: a book carousel and a vertical flash banner.

Dynamic apps create focal points and generate additional interest for your blog or website, not to mention, they save space by carrying a ton of useful information in a compact, yet strikingly memorable presentation! For example, if you have multiple books in a series (like my Accidental Spy series) or multiple paintings/music albums/services you want to showcase, you can organize them in a flash banner, carousel or another cool dynamic app! I am very happy with my apps and I highly recommend them to you. Moreover, I intend to order more of those in the future!

Check out my Book Carousel: http://www.ladaray.com

Check out Accidental Spy Vertical Flash Banner on my blog (top right): https://ladaray.wordpress.com

The same Accidental Spy Flash Banner, but in larger size (middle of the page, in the right-hand corner): http://www.ladaray.com/accidental-spy-series1.html

You can win a custom designed Vertical Flash Banner like the one on my blog or website!

But that’s not all!

Regardless of whether you win or not, everyone who posts a review will receive 20% off Dynamic Web Design services PLUS a FREE consultation. To receive your 20% off and a free consultation, be sure to mention CATHARSIS Contest!

DWD services include ebook (Kindle, Smashwords, ebup/Nook, PDF) & paperback (Create Space) formatting, custom website design and website image face-lift, innovative web apps design, state-of-the-art search engine optimization (SEO) and internet security services. Learn more about DWD services and packages:

http://dynamicwebdesign.net84.net

Good luck and happy reading!

Yours,

Lada Ray

Learn more about CATHARSIS: description/synopsis/excerpt

Learn more about DYNAMIC WEB DESIGN