indie authors

SEXY in the CITY – Did you win the grand prize???

Did you attend the SEXY in the CITY Facebook Event when I did my takeover? There were many prizes up for grabs!

Black and white photo of the beautiful legs in nice stockings ov

Here are my winners:

E-copy of Twisted ~ Keri Monkman (Kindle.com address required)

E-copy of Twisted Desire & magnet – Charlene Maurice (Pick up at event.)

E-copy of Beautifully Broken ~ Karen Hrdlicka (Kindle.com address required)

GRAND PRIZE – Paperback of Twisted and swag pack – Crystal Bell (Pick up at event.)

* Please contact me to collect your prize!

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!!

It’s not too late to pre-order an autographed paperback for pick up at the Toronto Author Event!

PRE-ORDER

Hope to see you there!

What happened to Amazon?!

This post is my opinion on how the e-book market has been changing, based on my own experiences and those of my fellow authors—both new and established.

Warning: I’m going to be straight with you.

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE!

It’s no surprise that the book market has become saturated with new titles within the last few years. It seems like writing has become a contagious disease and the act of self-publishing is the antidote. Now, not only do I have to compete with the big guys—by big guys, I mean traditionally published authors with a full support staff: editors, designers, public relations, advertising, extended distribution, street teams, Goodreads groups, dedicated bloggers and other authors in the company, who all show a preference to sharing each other within their imprint, but I have to stand up against a throng of my fellow indies just to maintain my fan base.
Beautiful Lady With Abyssinian Cat

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My Two-Year Indie-versary!!!

Guess what today marks?!? It’s my two-year indie-versary!!!

I’ve been published for two whole years now. A little scary when you look at it that way, really! I didn’t throw some huge bash or anything, but I have been wanting to do something to celebrate such an accomplishment. You’re probably wondering what that means to you!

Book Collage Incl website

As a thank you to my loyal fans and followers for sticking with me, I’m offering the first book in the Destiny Series, FINDING DESTINY, FREE!!!

That’s right! 100% FREE!!! No strings attached.

PICK UP YOUR COPY ON AMAZON BY CLICKING HERE!!!

Of course, like any author, I’d love you long time if you were to enjoy the book and leave a rating/review on Goodreads, Amazon, and/or your sales channel(s) of choice! And now that Amazon has changed their policy to allow super short reviews, why wouldn’t you?!

Cute blonde lady with soft skin

For those of you super loyal fans who’ve already read, reviewed and enjoyed Finding Destiny and haven’t yet had the opportunity to purchase Beautifully Broken, Matty and Felicia’s story in the Destiny Series, I have a SPECIAL OFFER for you!!! Here’s what you have to do, if you’d like a free kindle copy of my latest book:

  1. Add my publisher blackwidowpub@gmail.com to your list of approved senders;
  2. Email them the link to your Amazon review for Finding Destiny;
  3. Request an e-copy of Beautifully Broken with a promise to read, rate and review the story within 90 days after receipt.

That’s it!! That’s all you have to do!*

If you’re extra sneaky, you can read and review Finding Destiny for free now and get the next book in the series free too by making your request!!! This offer is open to followers of this blog only! – and will expire in thirty days, so act now! 

*Black Widow Publishing reserves the right to refuse this offer to any reader for any reason, in its sole discretion.

closeup of a young business man fixing his tie while looking at

If you prefer paperbacks, I have a Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY happening right now! Enter for your chance to win!

Thanks to you all, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me make my dream a reality! ❤ ❤

7 Things You Need to Give up this year!

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I may be talking about myself and I may be talking about others…you know who you are. One thing is for sure: we could all handle giving up these seven things this year!

My biggest challenge???

Procrastination is sitting at the number one spot for a reason!

As an author, social media is my number one no noTwitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, Goodreads and now Instagram, OH MY!! Hours can fly by and I can chat with fabulous people, learn incredible things and have a good old laugh, but nothing more is had but a good time. Productivity is minimal, while my list of things to do grows infinitely.

Speaking of which…I have to go finish preparing my post for my Beautifully Broken cover reveal next Saturday! 😉

Which of the above are you guilty of? Come on, don’t be shy. 🙂

Tickle Torcher

A Twist of Fate is the third and final book in The Twisted Trilogy.  Add it to your Goodreads shelves today!!  In the meantime, here’s a taste of Edwin’s tickle torcher.tickle torcher

Book 1: http://viewBook.at/Twisted

Book 2: http://viewBook.at/TwistTurn

Book 3: http://viewBook.at/Fate

A Twist of Fate Teaser – Woo Woo

***18+ Only PLEASE***


Edwin is back…

I OPENED MY EYES and stretched my arms out over my head, drawing in a long breath to relieve myself from my alarming dream, which I faintly recalled but desperately wanted to remember. I could hear running water and figured Edwin was in the shower. For that I was grateful. He had been the object of my dream that had left me breathless and overwhelmed with a fresh lack of clarity.

I squeezed my shut and strained to remember the dream that had felt so real only moments earlier. Bits and pieces started to come back to me in vivid colour.

Tropical waves crashed the white sand shore, the bright sunshine warming my skin while the fresh morning air teased through my hair. There were endless views of tree-covered mountains, ridiculously grand rocks and crystal blue waters. All that was fine and great, but what tripped me up was that Edwin was there with me. We were isolated on a secluded island and I was completely happy.

I wore nothing but flowered bikini bottoms. Edwin wore fitted, white swim trunks, that contrasted against his dark, tanned flesh. He pulled me into his arms and so tenderly kissed my exposed neck and chest. His hands gently cupped and caressed my breasts, leaving me aching with a need so deep I could feel it in my bones.

Every touch scorched my senses and I wasn’t hiding my attraction to him, running my fingers through his hair and digging my nails into his back as our kiss became more heated and necessary. Edwin lowered me onto a large, white lounger with an overhang that blocked our half-naked bodies from the harsh morning sunrays. (more…)

Dear IRS – Does applying for an ITIN really have to be this hard?

This is a Canadian Indie Author’s journey to getting an Individual Tax Identification Number (“ITIN”)… to stop the IRS from taking 30% of my book sales, when there’s a treaty that says they should get 0%!!
FIRST: I must tell you that if you’re planning on self-publishing soon, you should make your application to the IRS immediately!! I waited until after I hit the publish button with Amazon for my debut novel, Twisted, and quickly learned that, though an ITIN isn’t required, Amazon withholds 30% of your sales and remits it to the IRS.

I was surprised to sell 1,000 books within the first month of publishing, so needless to say I became more than a little disappointed to hand my money over to the IRS. There is a treaty between Canada and the United States that grants 0% withholding, but that isn’t effective and applied to your KDP account unless you file your W-8BEN with Amazon. You need an ITIN before you can file that form.
Here’s my gift to new self-published authors across Canada.

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Indie Author’s Dream ~ Book Cover By Design

If you are looking for a cover designer, look no further!! I discovered Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design through Facebook and was amazed by what I found.

Twist & Turn by Christa Simpson. Book 2 in The Twisted Trilogy. Cover Designer: Kellie Dennis of Book Cover By Design

Twist & Turn by Christa Simpson. Book 2 in The Twisted Trilogy. Cover Designer: Kellie Dennis of Book Cover By Design

Don’t suffer like I did, gawking at countless pre-made covers that were just missing the mark. Go check out her website now!!

http://www.bookcoverbydesign.co.uk (more…)

Ladies, meet Cameron Clarke!!!

Twist & Turn by Christa Simpson

Twist & Turn by Christa Simpson

Reality slammed me flat in the face when I noticed a client lingering by the empty reception desk. The man was facing away from me and yet he still managed to exude such confidence. The way his short, dark blonde hair was spiked in a sophisticated disarray was incredibly attractive. Then there was the way he stood with his hands casually tucked in the pockets of his expensive, black suit.

I knew I had to approach him.

 “Hi. Can I help you with something?” I blurted, looking forward to setting eyes on that face of his, hopeful that it would be as intriguing as the rest of the package.

He spun around to face me and attacked me with his gorgeous features. I could not believe my eyeballs. His eyebrows hung low over his squinted sunset-shaped eyes. If eyes could smile, then his were beaming at me. Excitement flooded my chest with the instant realization that Taylor, the receptionist, was nowhere to be found.

When he caught my captivated stare, he glanced down momentarily, then wrinkled his sexy forehead, raising his eyebrows and giving me a better look into those gorgeous crystal eyes. Oh. My. God. If possible, this man just got cuter. (more…)