Leaving KDP? Oh...and a chance to make a difference.

Bacon Maple Bar from VooDoo Doughnut used solely to lure you here.

While I am not abandoning the KDP program, the time has come to make a few changes. Many articles have been written about the dearth of freebies out there. I DO NOT have a problem with using the KDP program as a tool to market my stuff. I have always felt that was the purpose of the program. I think some authors felt that it was going to translate into big number sales. I saw it as a commercial. And if you lured in some readers who actually read your book, AND THEN they liked it well enough, they would check out your other stuff.

So, if I am weaning myself from the KDP teat (nice visual, eh?), then what could I possibly do instead. The answer? 99 cent sales. Sites like eReader News Today and Pixels of Ink have had to adjust with Amazon's rules regarding portals for freebies. To make that change, they are featuring "bargain eBooks" in greater numbers and freebies in lesser. If somebody is willing to pay something...even 99 cents, then it is less likely that the book will remain unread. And if you have a good product, it will foster that reader's interest and encourage them to read MORE of your work.

Now, a few titles will remain in the program, but it just makes more sense to use the 99 cent tool. I believe that 100 downloads at the bargain price is going to net more readers than giving away 5,000 for free.

To that end, I have a couple of titles that are on the cusp of qualifying for the ENT bargain program. The requisites (besides the 99 cent price point) are a minimum of ten reviews with an average of no less than 4 stars. Eye Witness Zombie needs one review. SO, if you read it and liked it but have never gotten around to that pesky review...it would be GREATLY appreciated. And then there is the Special Edition, Dead: Steve's Story which is the compilation of the 18 chapters of Steve's story from the first three DEAD books (The Ugly Beginning, Revelations, and Fortunes & Failures) which needs two reviews.

To be clear, I do NOT canvass for positive reviews. People are more than welcome to post whatever they like. But for this instance, I am actually appealing to those of you who LIKED the work but have not gotten around to a review yet.

More doughnuts! Keep reading!!!

So, on to my next subject. Some of you may know that MDP produces one anthology a year where 100% of the generated proceeds go to charity. My editing is free, the cover art, all costs involved with production. That includes the authors. The stories that are submitted are done with the author receiving no compensation (not even a physical contributor's copy, although an ecopy is made available). We do not ask for exclusivity, in other words, the author can do whatever they like with their story...we do ask that they give us at least a mention if it goes to pub someplace else, but even that is nothing more than a request.

This upcoming New Year's Day, we would like to be able to offer "Scaring up a cure for CANCER" with every penny generated in profit being donated in a quarterly check to the V Foundation which works tirelessly to find a cure for a disease that affects so many.

Okay...but this one is going to be different. So I am canvassing for interest from some of my writer friends. This will be an "invitation only" anthology. The story must be horror, but the writer can choose what SORT...and cancer needs to be involved in some way. So, I am throwing a few writers out onto Front Street...here is the start of my wish list (in NO particular order):

1. Mark Tufo
2. John O'Brien
3. Armand Rosamilia
4. Catie Rhodes
5. Greg Carrico
6. Suzi M.
7. Stephanie Meyers
8. Chantal Boudreau
9. Michael McFarland
10. D.A. Chaney
11. Steen Langstrop
12. Heath Stallcup
13. Dana Fredsti
14. T. Fox Dunham

Now, those listed are free to shoot me an email with a polite (or not) statement declining, OR...feel free to post in the comments saying "HELL YEAH" (or an equivalent) if you are in.

Next week I will share some exciting news about an interview request that I just received. So stay tuned.

Every once in a while, I get tagged for those 7/77 things, I always intend to get to them, but by the time I whittle down my daily list, it gets pushed back and I forget.. The Liebster Award (of which I know nothing) was something that my friend Chantal Boudreau tagged me in. I couldn't resist.. Read on to find out what it’s all about.

The rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you. Thanks, Chantal

2. Post eleven random facts about yourself.

3. You answer the eleven questions asked by the person who nominated you.

4. You think of a new set of eleven questions and nominate eleven others to answer them.

—–

To start…eleven random facts about myself:

1. I played and sang in a band called "The KaQlin' Zombies".

2. A car accident at age 17 while riding with my friend Mike in his 280Z erased a part of my memory from my senior year in high school.

3. I have played football at the actual geographic North Pole.

4. If I were a woman, my "type" would be Dave Navarro and Keifer Southerland.

5. I held a 3.96 in college while obtaining my Associates, my only "B" was in calculus (I missed an "A" by 1.04%).

6. I have a son (Cody) and daughter (Ronni--my oldest) born 5 months and 2 weeks apart.

7. My favorite band of all time is KISS.

8. I keep my head shaved as a choice, I can actually grow a very full head of hair.

9. Redheads make me weak in the knees and I believe that the most "homely" of redheads is still a beauty compared to anything else (and yes...Denise knows!).

10. I played "SNoopy" in the musical "The World According to Snoopy"..

11. I have seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show over 500 times..

And now Chantal's questions for me.

1. What was your favourite childhood show? The Bugs Bunny Roadrunner Show.

2. If you could be a bird, what bird would you be and why? An owl. They can turn their heads around backwards.

3. What is the best dessert you’ve ever eaten? Carrot Cake at Claim Jumper.

4. If you could pick band line-up for your ultimate concert, who would you have open, follow and headline?

Open-The Clash; Follow-Cheap Trick; Headline--The ORIGINAL KISS lineup

5. What would you say is your favourite book outside of your preferred genres? Nathaniel Philbrick's "The Last Stand; the Story of Custer and Sitting Bull"

6. If you had to sit through the goriest of horror movies or the sappiest of chick-flicks, which would you pick? Horror.

7. Kirk or Picard? Kirk...there is no other.

8. What is your favourite board game? Risk

9. If you had your choice, quiet night at home or rowdy night out? quiet night at home.

10. What are the top three colours in your wardrobe? Black, Red, and Dark Green

11. Have you ever read anything you were expecting to dislike but to your surprise you loved it?

Yes, "Zombie Wilson Diaries" by Timothy Long

Here are my questions:

1. Favorite sporting event to play?
2. Your least flattering feature?
3. Blondes, Brunettes, or redheads (or shaved heads if I tagged a female)?
4. If you could relive one year (nothing changes, you just get to relive it) which would it be?
5. What hobby would you like to pursue but just have never "gotten around" to it?
6. Strangest dish you've ever eaten?
7. Your personal comfort food?
8. If you could choose an eye color from ALL colors, what would it be?
9. Favorite Doctor from Dr. Who?
10. Fast zombies or slow?
11. Book you wished that you wrote?

My nominees: (I realize that writers are a busy bunch, and I am just as guilty as the next guy when it comes to "getting around to it" when it comes to things like this. I do hope that a few of you will pick up the gauntlet and add to this new-age version of a chain letter.)

Suzi M.

Armand Rosamilia

Catie Rhodes

Rhonda Hopkins

Greg Carrico

S.E. Meyers

Nickie Storey-Bailey

Lori R. Lopez

Janus Gangi

Mark Tufo

John O'Brien

Look forward to all your answers!