Hello! I’ve been away from the blog for a couple of months, and I’m happy to be back with news. Maybe too much news, but first a paragraph about lessons learned.

As most of you know, I’ve released, and am still releasing books through publishers, and I have no plans of stopping that in the immediate future. But I realized some time ago that it would be a good idea to self-publish some books alongside those. And lo! I have done it. In the process I learned that it is both easier than I expected, and more challenging. Most recently I released two holiday novellas. The first in November, an improved version (not a changed story, but some improvements in the book creation) of Falling Snow on Snow: Seattle, Music, Snow, Love, I re-released on Amazon, released “wide” through another book distribution site, and released in audiobook format. Mostly, I did the wide release for the sake of experience, although it has been rewarding. The biggest lesson was to allow a lot more lead time before release date. Amazon is pretty quick, to release books for the wider market much slower, and to release the audiobook, allow months. The production went pretty fast and pretty smooth, but the red-tape ate up almost two months. I also released a brand new novella, Saving Darknight, but I knew it was last minute, so I decided to stick with Amazon. It all went pretty smoothly, until I realized that in my rush I’d released the book without the final corrections. So… I had to do it again. In the meantime, some people got the book with the errors and I feel bad. Moral of the story for me, start earlier, don’t rush. Even if I love my new story and want everybody to have a chance at it during the holidays. 🙂

Falling Snow on Snow on Amazon
Saving Darknight on Amazon

Note to my readers: if anybody picked up the book while it was free (lots of people did) and found a disturbing number of errors, I’m sorry. I’m told that when I corrected the file through Amazon, you should be able to get the corrected copy. Here’s how to get the updated file. (I’ve tested this in the Android app. Interestingly, my device isn’t on wi-fi, but connected through data, and it worked.)
From Amazon Help:
Did you buy a copy of your eBook and want to see updates?
You should get automatic updates if 1) your device is connected to wireless internet (Wi-Fi), and 2) you turn on automatic book updates. To turn on automatic book updates:
*Go to Manage Your Content and Devices.
*Click the Preferences tab.
*Scroll to Automatic Book Update.
*Choose On.
If your book doesn’t update automatically, *contact us. You won’t need to buy the book again, but you might lose notes or highlights.
If none of this works, let me know!

Saving Darknight is free to read on KU, and will be for a while, and for both the ebook purchases, I’ve knocked the prices down in my “Hang on to that Holiday Glow” sale. Audible and Amazon also have the audiobook title marked down 15%. So… yeah. It’s still the holidays at my house, because I need some merry and bright this year. I’m hanging on, and invite you to do the same. 🙂

Because everything always happens at once, Book 7 of the Vasquez Inc series, A Shot in Darkness is coming up quickly. Available for preorder on Amazon now, available to download from Changeling Press on 1/14, and available to download from Amazon and other major online retailers on 1/22. (The working title of this book was A Shot in Scotland, which is where most of the action for Brian and Jackie this time. When you read the book, you’ll see why I thought A Shot in Darkness was a better title.

Amazon Preorder Link

On a related note, ARCs are available now for A Shot in Darkness; review copies can still be available on Saving Darknight; and I have codes available for you to claim a review copy of the Falling Snow on Snow: Seattle, Music, Snow, Love audiobook. Interested in being part of my ARC team for all or some of my books? I still have room! Contact me at louwrites@rainbow-gate.com.

Time is short today, so this is sort of a “down and dirty” update. I’ll be back soon with more news and updates. Meanwhile thank you for reading, and if you’d like to keep up on news, specials, extras, my newsletter comes out about once a month. You can sign up here:
Sylvre Linings Newsletter

Best wishes to all of you for good health, good times, and good books in 2021!