Opening New Doors When Routine is King

When I ran across this jigsaw puzzle the other day, my first reaction was - UGH.

Growing older has come with a sinister side effect I had not expected.

Routine is king.

No longer do I thrill at the thought or the doing of new things. I am instead visited by anxiety’s awful whip. And occasionally, its cousin, the deadly cat o' nine tails used on the Reptilians in Part II of The Druids of Marduk.

It affects everything, even vacationing. Which, of course, makes travel more difficult. And the ongoing fears about Covid-19 have not helped.

But my BIG UGH was related to writing, marketing, and promoting my books. Each new task is a step outside my comfort zone. And even though I love learning new things, acting on them can be a massive, anxiety-ridden undertaking.

But the hardest of all? 

Reaching out to people for help in getting my books into readers’ hands and hearts.

I dream of someone fabulous or famous (or both) reading my books, falling in love with them, and touting them to the world. But the steps to get there have eluded me, and the available paths are daunting.

But this.

This message from the universe says it all. In AA, I learned that if I keep doing that which I have always done, I will keep getting the same old, half-assed results.

It is clearly time to step up my game. Time to start doing new things. Because my old ways are not opening the doors that I seek.

What big UGHs have you stumbled across lately? What doors won't open to your old ways?

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a pre-apocalyptic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, is on preorder and will be released in late 2021. Each is (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook.

The Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is available in ebook on Amazon or by signing up here for my newsletter. The Druids of Marduk, Part II, an ebook novella, is currently on preorder to be released on or before July 17th.

Happy Anniversary + Huge SALE!

Guess what, y'all! Awen Storm celebrates its first publishing anniversary on May 26th. Time certainly has wings, doesn't it?! Even when we're all stuck at home!

To commemorate the happy occasion, I'm offering huge discounts on my ebooks for the next five days.

From today, May 20th, through Monday, May 24th, the first book, AWEN RISING, is free. Yep. You read that right. FREE. Click the link to "buy" my free ebook between 5/20 and 5/24, or click on the picture below.

Click to "Buy" Awen Rising Now

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

From Thursday, May 20th, through Wednesday, May 26th, the second book in the trilogy, AWEN STORM, is on sale for $.99. That's 4 bucks cheaper than its regular price of $4.99.

Click to Buy Awen Storm for $.99

So, for $.99, you can own both ebooks. That's a savings of 88%! If you want to buy both books for $.99 in one click, use this link or click on the picture below.

Click to Buy Both eBooks for $.99

LASTLY...

I'd like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU! Your loving support over the last eighteen months has helped many new readers find my Awen Trilogy!

Here is what you have done so far.

Since July 2019:

Awen Rising has sold over 150 copies, been downloaded 3,867 times, and had 12,343 pages read through the Kindle Unlimited program.

Since May 2020:

Awen Storm has sold over 130 copies, been downloaded 1,039 times, and had 5,601 pages read through the Kindle Unlimited program.

Am I shooting for many, many more of each? You bet I am. The deeper I get into this writing career, the more I love it. And the more ideas I have for new books!

Do you know anyone else who likes to read? If so, please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested in reading the Awen Trilogy.

That's all, rebels! I'll be back in a week or so to let you know how many new readers we gained from our Anniversary sale.

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen trilogy, a pre-apocalyptic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, arrives in late 2021. And the Awen prequel, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available on Amazon.

Paperbacks and Blurbs

While I write Part II of The Druids of Marduk - which by the way is nearly done - I'm also updating the blurb/book description of Awen Rising. Why?

I am preparing to add the paperback, along with Awen Storm, to Ingram Spark. Why?

Because Ingram Spark is the recommended book aggregator. Meaning: they will distribute my paperbacks to bookstores and libraries all over the world - for a fee.

I originally opted for Expanded Distribution with Amazon. But I ended up making something like ten cents per book. Bookstores are not likely to use Amazon, and libraries won't touch them. So getting my paperback books into Ingram Spark, however late to the party I am, will make them available in LOTS more places. 

Now to the good part. My new description. Or rather, the version I'm currently working with. I will tighten it up, change a few words here and there, etc. But this is basically it. For now.

*******AWEN RISING********

Her fiancé and career were ripped from her…

…now Emily needs a safe place to hide. 

When a long-lost Druid family offers to take her in, Emily balks at the “Must Save Earth” clause. But crappy luck reveals her to her witchy stalker, and Emily is forced to jump on the proposition despite its blatantly outrageous terms.

At their headquarters in Atlanta, Emily discovers shocking secrets: she was kidnapped by the mother who raised her on the run. Her real father and his Druid followers believe she is Earth’s only hope. And a dark, forgotten foe lurks beneath Humanity’s feet.

As the Reptilians engineer a brilliant plan to breach Earth’s unsuspecting borders, Emily desperately seeks to unleash the innate powers the Druids swear she possesses. Can the sexy druid priest, his teenage nephew, and their animal Elders tilt the odds in Emily and Earth’s favor?

If you crave compelling stories with a strong female lead, quirky sidekicks, and worthy adversaries, you will love Barré’s imaginative urban fantasy. Set in Atlanta, Georgia, Awen Rising is the first book in the Awen Trilogy. Get yours today. Or better yet, grab the whole series!

 ****************

Thanks for reading my work-in-progress description for Awen Rising. I used Bryan Cohen's formula, though the first two lines are formatted in Brian Meeks' style.  I'm quite in love with it at the moment. We shall see how I feel about it in a day of two. Now I'm off to update the front and back matter in both books in preparation for "launch" day.

Rambo - Bath Time!

See you later!

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen trilogy, a pre-apocalyptic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, arrives in Fall 2021. And the Awen prequel, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available on Amazon.