Recently in writing Category

The book will also be accompanied by a new series of posts, which will bring a new online  inspirational haiku every week, for as long as we remain in recession.  you know, for those who don't even have five bucks, and/or a toilet.  

"Cluck: Murder Most Fowl" is ranked #2, just under " The Stand" on Amazon UnSpun. How long will this last?  Who knows, but I'm savoring my number two position under "The Stand" while it lasts.  The Stand is one of the first horror novels that I ever read, and it has been re-read on occasion since.  There's no need to go into an in-depth review, because everyone knows The Stand already, and even if you didn't like it (i.e., you're a mutant or a communist or both), you have to respect the importance of this novel. Cluck, which is also important to me (because I wrote it) is now second to The Stand in a reader-ranked list titled "Favorite Horror Novels."

Interestingly, Stephen King has a copy of my book (most likely in a tube of tin with a plastic liner, lid, and hands-free sanitary foot pedal).  I managed to get it to him through a friend who is "once removed" from the successful Maine writer, and was well-warned that it was likely to be ignored.  You never know, though ... maybe he'll read it, endorse it, and allow me to keep my position of honor for a while longer.  It could happen.  Regardless, this is making me very happy because even if it is some beta-system-statistical anomaly, my book is right there!  I mean, The Stand?  I am having a moment.

... (moment passing) ...

Okay, so now that the moment has passed and I've had a cup of coffee, I realize that this really is a statistical anomaly.  UnSpun is a user-driven site run by Amazon.com, and it's still in beta.  I'm not sure how the rankings are determined, but it's got nothing to do with sales.  There's no scientific data to back that up other than: The Stand has sold zillions of copies, and Cluck has not.  

Either it's an anomaly to be proud of, or I'll be getting larger royalty checks ... only time will tell.  For now I'm going to continue to revel in my limited (beta) glory.  At least until someone else posts a favorite horror novel that is ranked somewhere in between mine and Mr. King's.  Or, you could go to Amazon UnSpun and vote for Cluck ... after all, it's Penultimate.  

To date, Cluck has won three awards:

(*Cluck was a finalist in this award ... apparently you get to count 'finalists' and 'runner ups' as wins. The world is strange).

The book has also earned glowing independent reviews from the following legitimate review sources:

It's also received eight reviews on amazon, with an average rating of 5 stars.  Now, here's my beef: of those eight reviews, only TWO of them are from friends and family.  The problem is, that everyone assumes that the first ten reviews are from your friends and family, and they summarily ignore them.  So ... I'm asking for reviews, please.  I know a lot of people have read Cluck, loved it, written me about it, told their friends about it, and are helping to build a miniature fan base of zombie-chicken-lovers.  Thank you, I really appreciate that.  In fact, it's what convinced me to write a sequel (which I originally said I would never do).  It is also because of you that I can prove Rachel Donadio of the NY Times Book Review wrong by selling more than a  few hundred copies of my independently published book ... though just barely.

To put an even finer point on it: it is very hard to get "real" book reviews when you are independently published.  If you think that the NY Times Book Review is the only "real" source (many do), then it is impossible.  How do we, the indies, do it?  We beg for reviews from our readers.  On amazon.  Please? You can't see me, but I'm on my knees.

Are you a fan?  Please post a review.  Are you friends and/or family?  If so, please consider posting your obligatory 5-star reviews, because until you do people will ignore the real ones. Didn't like Cluck?  Well, I suppose even you should post a review (despite your evident lack of perspective and/or taste).  Haven't read Cluck yet?  Well here's the link: Buy it. Love it. Review it.  (please?)

There's some great stuff in the middle, including some astute observations of what's not good in the book.  I'm big enough* to recognize my own flaws, and appreciate the criticism.  You can read all about them here.  The end of the review finishes nicely with a recommendation to buy my book, which I always think is nice.  Hint!

All I can say is, "wow."  I'm honored.  This is the point where I try to thank everyone who helped, and the TV people have to turn up the music to get me off the stage, because I start blathering.

"Eric D. Knapp's "Cluck: Murder Most Fowl" is one of the best books we've reviewed so far on Odyssey Reviews. This tongue-in-cheek (or beak) work of brilliance will surely make you laugh. The writing is on par with the likes of Terry Pratchett. The story is brilliant, the writing unbelievably good"

This was my first trip to a BEA show, and I was not prepared.  Now, I've worked many a high-tech trade event that were of similar size, with similarly large and pushy crowds.  What I didn't expect was a fundamental reversal of capitalism: I expected people to be selling me books; instead, they were giving them to me! Free!  Greed quickly sedated shock, and I started to accept some of the better titles offered (expect reviews).  Six books turned into eight, then ten ... my muscles began to carry that slow constant burn that means "stop or you will regret this."  My awesome, bright purple Bailey Works Bag helped, but not enough as the bag stretched to accommodate book after book after book ... My spine has compressed and I am now 2" shorter, and I may always walk with a limp.

So I was tired when I entered the theater for the ForeWord Book of The Year award ceremony.  Sadly, I did not win.  As one of four finalists, I expected I would (75% chance, right?), but I can't be disappointed.  First, even making it to the Finalist level is an honor: the BOTY's are judged rigorously. Second, a new friend and fellow author, Eddie Gresham, won the Bronze. Third, I was able to meet the second place author, Paigan Stone.  I'll be reading her book "Gabriele Caccini: The Vampire Gene - Book 1 (The Vampire Gene)" as soon as I can and posting a review here. There's no need for me to read Eddie's "Footfalls," because I've already read it - and it was fantastic (I would recommend it to any Stephen King fan). I was convinced he was going to take the Gold ... but then, I was also convinced that I would take the Silver.  So much for my supernatural powers of prognostication. Anyway,it was nice to meet Eddie (who I've traded emails with since we were both selected as finalists), and I am very happy for him.  No, not happy, proud.  Give Eddie a hand, folks, and then go buy his book. Remember: If you want to eat, fund farms; if you want to live, fund medicine; but if you want to read, fund your independent authors - we are the wave of the future!

I also can't be disappointed because I won a Bronze medal in the IPPY awards, as well as a new award for "raising the bar" in independent publishing: an "Indie Excellence" award, from Odyssey Reviews. As the saying goes, "two outta three ain't bad!"  The best part with the IPPY was the ceremony: we were called up to the front for photos, and a tall, red-gown woman placed real medals around our necks --  I felt just like Han Solo! The medal is large, heavy, and very kind to the ego.  

There will be some followup posts on some of the cooler things about the show, such as the re-emergence of "choose your own adventure" books, a new tack on potentially starting a publishing company, and of course reviews of some of the more inspiring books.   One is "All Ye Zombies," which is a corporate-zombie book.  The booth was manned by the most amazingly beautiful girl (my wife still takes first prize though!), but I was honestly drawn by the zombie title.  Another is "The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb, Life One" by L. Rifkin.  The book is independently published and beautifully produced, and illustrated by Kurt Hartman.  I was given a copy of the paperback, but the hardcovers were even more exquisite ... if I like this book I will likely pick up all of the hardcovers, for a complete nine book set (well, only the first few are available now, but eventually ...)

The new book by Eric D. Knapp has elements of horror mixed with side-splitting humor. Read a review of this fantastic supernatural comedy-thriller at DeadRooster.com

read more | digg story

Otherwise known as social networking.  You know, blogs.  This is probably the best way to spread Word of Mouth Marketing (which happens to be my favorite acronym: WOMM).  I ping blog aggregators and beg for favs, but more importantly I try to be interesting and active. I'm relatively new to the blogosphere, but I'm hoping this will build momentum over time.

 

moar funny pictures

It's hard to make compelling video trailers about a book (which, by nature, are 2-dimensional and composed of words, not moving pictures).  I've tried.  A lot.  I've made a total of four video trailers for Cluck, the most recent of which is highlighting some recent reviews. This is really an off-shoot of #1, above, but using video to enter a different class of online networking.

So we've hit text, and video ... why not audio? I'll be releasing the first episode of the Cluck Podiobook very soon.  A podiobook (podcluck? cluckcast?) is a free downloadable audiobook, distributed as a podcast.  Each chapter will be released in serial. I'm aiming at quality, entertaining book-on-tape material, in an effort to get some people interested enough to buy the book.  At the very least, they listen week by week and get the story for free, but that's okay.  A fan is a fan ... it goes back to the WOMM thing. Here's a sample clip, which is actually from somewhere in the middle of the book:

Is it too over-the-top to dress up in (mostly) fireproof armor and fight for my life, just to promote my book?  Absolutely not.  The "feathers" are reinforced scales, which will (hopefully) be strong enough to stop the 200g pyrotechnics that will be used in the upcoming Armored Combat Suit League of New England (ACSLNE) championships.  The event will be covered by the media, and if I'm wounded, the newscast of me being air-lifted to the emergency room will double as promotional footage.  Didn't I tell you that being an Indie was tough?

There's viral marketing, and then there's really viral marketing.  From a modest web site about the best zombie book ever comes a fun way to watch your corporate website shrivel up into a shambling brain-thirsty monster.  It works with most sites, is harmless, and mildly entertaining ... available on www.CluckTheBook.com, of course.

Having a blog isn't good enough, you need to feed the kids some candy. I've provided two fun widgets on my website: the 'bite-a-site' widget from #5, and a 'create-your-own-cartoon' cgi. The toon isn't as sophisticated as Dilbert mashups, but hey, I'm a writer. I only write code for the day job.

 

 

It's very hard to get reviews, as an independent.  Terms like "vanity publication" have created a stigma that shuns "non-traditionally published" authors.  Some pretty crappy self published books have added fuel to that fire.  Me? I'm lucky, I've received several very good reviews from some excellent sources.  Those sources are less well known that, say, the NY Times, but I take what I can get.  This means shelling out my meager royalties, however, in the form of review copies (plus postage). It also means more WOMMy goodness.

A self published author has few friends, but there are some organizations who are willing to give the indie a chance.  One is the Independent Publisher, and another is ForeWord Magazine.  These types of contests help to add credibility to the indie pub and its respective indie author.  Cluck has won an IP award and has been selected as a finalist in ForeWord, but that hasn't done a lot to improve book sales ... but then these awards wont be announced until the end of May.  Regardless of any immediate impact on sales, they help when pitching yourself to potential reviewers, however - and as mentioned above in #7, reviews are important.  As Godin says: all marketers are liars, so an honest review from a third party is more valuable than all the fancy websites, widgets, movies, and podio-blogtastic goodness you can muster.

Okay, so I guess I need to attract a larger readership before I can get a Hell Yeah, but at least I won an award.  Now, if you'll pardon me while I pat myself on the back ...