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This week The Self-Publishing Roundtable welcomes fantasy/urban Fantasy author Robert J. Crane. Robert has built a thriving publishing career with close to twenty books out across three separate series: Sanctuary, Girl in the Box, and Southern Witch.
We’ll be chatting with him about everything from his publishing schedule to his favorite marketing tips.
We’ve also got a big announcement coming after the show, so stay tuned to hear the new direction the show will be taking.
I’m all a twitter
RolandDenzel all a flitter and a flutter
BatmanErica RolandDenzel Wish I could flitter and flutter
While you’re waiting for the show to start, check out Robert Crane’s advice for writers: http://www.robertjcrane.com/p/indie-author-advice.html
writerwade BatmanErica RolandDenzel embrace it
RolandDenzel writerwade think happy thoughts 🙂
Evening all. Reading the author advice post and just grabbed the first three books in the Girl in the Box series, looks interesting.
Hi everyone! I’m here… sort of. I have to do a twitter chat from 9-10, but I’m hoping to listen in the background. I don’t want to miss the big announcement! 🙂
Starting a few minutes late…as usual.
kevinmichael3 just means I had time to hang the washing up 🙂
BatmanErica kevinmichael3 Ooh….me too 😀
Evening : )
Demelza Carlton kevinmichael3 and watch this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bnbxP6HHMY
michelleread Hi Michelle
michelleread ohai!
writerwade michelleread Hi Wade : ) How are ya?
michelleread writerwade Not sure
BatmanErica michelleread why do we not have a hundred comments already?
writerwade michelleread Ruh Roh. Why why?
Refresh your browser window.
kevinmichael3 Do it now!
How the fuck are you everyone?
Carl Sinclair I’m all paraded out, yourself?!
michelleread I was reading an ebook
https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6482663936/h79D8E06F/
kevinmichael3 I did twice!
michelleread Hey Michelle!
The announcement is that Bezos will be joining us for the after party…
BatmanErica michelleread I just spit out my cookie!!!
Carl Sinclair Good. Just finished the blog post Kevin posted earlier in the comments
michelleread Carl Sinclair Not bad.
Amazon Campfire will be held in our after party this year.
Carl Sinclair as long as it isn’t your book is available, then it’s cool 🙂
BatmanErica Carl Sinclair Boo!!!!! So mean.
Carl Sinclair is he bringing s’mores?
michelleread he’s already announced that!
TuckerAuthor Carl Sinclair I was just going to ask, but I was yelling at kids.
I’m here. I’m queer. Never fear. Lick your beard. Rub your ear. Grab a beer. Steer your rear into my rapier.
TuckerAuthor I have 70% dark chocolate 🙂
PatrickStemp michelleread Hi Patrick!!! How about those updates I’ve been sending this week. Not bad, eh?!
JayChastain Hi Jay 0.o
JayChastain 0% sober is here
5,4,3,2,1 go
BatmanErica TuckerAuthor I’ll bring the sweet tooth.
michelleread JayChastain *waves vaseline covered hands*
kevinmichael3 no blood in JayChastain’s alcohol stream o.O
kevinmichael3 JayChastain TADAAAAAAAAAAA!
Carl Sinclair Glasses!!!
GIGGLES. That Trish. Such a MINX
JayChastain sassy
kevinmichael3 hiding in the shadows like the phantom of the opera…
“Hey, no problem…………glad…..to be here..” HAHA
Wow heaps of words!
BatmanErica kevinmichael3 He’s such a tease
Taking charge of your life? PSH. CRAZY TALK!
mmmmmm fantasy. Makes me tingly
I see that Kevin once again has his cloaking device engaged…
JayChastain you should get that looked at
JayChastain Please. Tell us about other things that make you tingly.
CateMorgan Hi Cate : )
BatmanErica JayChastain I let people do that anonymously on certain website every night 😉
Cause only jlward wants to know 😛
michelleread Hiya, group!
jlward JayChastain You would like that bitch. WOULDN’T YOU?
JayChastain the ones you pay? 😛
JayChastain what doesn’t make you tingly?
CateMorgan michelleread hiya!
You can get someone else to write your blurb 😛
BatmanErica JayChastain I’m too poor to pay people to love my tingly parts
Carl Sinclair Trudging on through the KU-pocalypse
He has a treadmill desk
Mimi Werebeaver has that had an impact on your sales?
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Box-Books-1-3-Untouched-ebook/dp/B00IJYII4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1411694335&sr=1-1&keywords=the+girl+in+the+box
Carl Sinclair I’ve been stalking these all week.
I loved his comment about Goodreads in his advice post on his site.
BatmanErica Can’t tell you how many epic-length elevator pitches I’ve read over the years–some three pages longer than the jacket copy! The idea is to entice folks to ask more questions–not answer them all in a single, 1200 word run on sentence!
Mimi Werebeaver CateMorgan michelleread That is a great looking beaver Mimi.
Yeah. DEEEEPER.
michelleread Excellent! Any closer to a title?
Robert is really funny!
PatrickStemp michelleread Yes it’s between Children and Descendants!
CateMorgan yeah I don’t bother getting books that tell me the plot. It’s a teaser. It’s foreplay! Don’t give me spoilers >.<
michelleread I love him a little bit.
Carl Sinclair michelleread Let’s take him to lunch and make him say stuff….can you imagine if we caffeinated him?
Carl Sinclair michelleread How rude, Sinclair. You know I’m here. YOU KNOW I CAN SEE YOU.
Trying to get Darren to join us but he said he’s currently levitating over his bed
BatmanErica He could always nap for an hour and come to the after party
JayChastain Carl Sinclair michelleread Chastain….
BatmanErica kinky
JayChastain that was my response!
BatmanErica Tell him my vodka bottle can beat up HIS vodka bottle.
BatmanErica JayChastain Of course it was
michelleread PatrickStemp Cool!
Eyeballllllllsssss
michelleread ( o ) ( o )
BatmanErica michelleread Cue Jay’s comment
95 comments? What the shit. WE SUCK TONIGHT.
So what Robert’s saying is that he PLANTS. (See what I did there? Huh? Huh?) *bows*
CateMorgan in russia vodka bottle beat him up
michelleread BatmanErica PSH. I have respect for myself, READ!
CateMorgan lol
CateMorgan NICE
CateMorgan bravo
JayChastain michelleread BatmanErica Oh! Oh no! My mistake. How presumptuous of me.
BatmanErica I’ll go one better–my vodka is IRISH.
Robert needs to write faster.
Good evening all. I love Robert’s chair.
Craft shmaft. I LIVE TO FEED THE INDIE SHIT MONSTER.
Darren Wearmouth FUCKIN DARREN WEARMOUTH!
Darren Wearmouth Mr Wearmouth. It is a good chair.
Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth That is a snazzy chair.
Darren Wearmouth Hi Darren : ) You have chosen well.
PatrickSzabo Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth JayChastain You on the sauce again, Jay?
JayChastain I think we need to write Lovecraftian illustrated books for small children together, Jay Chastain. CTHULHU SAVES (to eat later, that is).
michelleread Darren Wearmouth Hi Michelle. Nicest person in the industry 🙂
Darren Wearmouth PatrickSzabo Carl Sinclair JayChastain It’s the sixth time this cycle he has been Darren.
Darren Wearmouth michelleread Second, behind me. I’m delightful.
Darren Wearmouth michelleread I just “awwwwwwwww”ed my way right out of the chair : )
JayChastain Hahah.
I’m curious how he manages projects. Does he work only on one project/book at a time or does he juggle the different series?
TuckerAuthor Good good question.
Darren Wearmouth Hey Darren! FYI – the mic and camera are awesome.
Hah! Amazon doesn’t send out those emails anymore.
michelleread TuckerAuthor I know! I know! But I’ll let him answer it. Since, you know, it’s a question for him. 😀
Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth Clever boy.
Here is something for writers to keep themselves healthy…
http://mashable.com/2014/09/25/human-hamster-wheel-standing-desk/
Robert oh my word! I like him so much!
michelleread Why don’t you marry him? 😛
Carl Sinclair michelleread I think he mentioned he had a wife?! Plus also, the chair is not my favourite….so…..nah. Thanks anyway!
michelleread I thought I had your heart
JayChastain michelleread Redacted.
Darren Wearmouth Hello Darren
michelleread JayChastain :0
michelleread JayChastain This is the first time I’ve ever seen his eyes.
I wrote a story called OUT THE BOX one time…it was about my 1st sex toy
don’t worry I’m here all night
Is Robert distributed widely? And what kind of CTAs does he use/has found effective?
I love our live audience. You make me smile. Yes, even you Jay.
michelleread What Michelle said. Definitely 😀
PatrickStemp Darren Wearmouth Sweet. I love them too.
writerwade Darren Wearmouth Evening, sir.
Carl Sinclair No brakes. What could go wrong?
Everyone say it with me now: SPREADSHEETS!!
CateMorgan Great questions
I’m late for this very important! Did RJC give away all the secrets yet?
writerwade I do what I can. 🙂
JulietSpenser only 80%
CateMorgan giggity – SPREADSHEETS!
JulietSpenser Yep, you missed it, Juliet. And he signed a contract with SPRT that says this will never be replayed anywhere.
Accusing glare of the cursor?! Yeah. Mine does that too.
JulietSpenser Yes sorry every secret. It will be deleted after. one time only event
*Disclaimer: That was a lie.
PatrickSzabo JulietSpenser Oh mean!!
michelleread It’s rather like staring into Nietzsche’s abyss, innit?
My wife says I look like a drag queen. . . . . Achievement UNLOCKED.
CateMorgan michelleread *shudders*
michelleread PatrickSzabo JulietSpenser It’s part of my charm.
PatrickSzabo Nooooo! I tried to make the Flash and get here on time, but sadly there has been no accident in the lab in my backstory.
JulietSpenser PatrickSzabo You have to make the accident happen. 😀
michelleread IT BLOODY WAVES BACK. *pant pant*
CateMorgan michelleread hahahahaaa!!
Is Kevin broadcasting from a cave?
PatrickSzabo always
PatrickSzabo He always does.
PatrickSzabo kevin has been reporting from syria all week
PatrickSzabo It’s normal. We need to ship him lamps and lightbulbs for Christmas
Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo Very mysterious.
What is everyone’s sales been like over the past few months? KU impact?
rdavis PatrickSzabo They don’t have lights in REDACTED.
BatmanErica DEATH….is what I hear
JayChastain I mean personal experience, not what the voices in the head tell you >.<
BatmanErica typical summer slump plus I am late with a new release. *slaps wrist* Bad, slow author!
KBoards? I remember that place….before the dark times….
BatmanErica JayChastain Jay isn’t allowed to think for himself. We guide his every move. Please, move along.
PatrickSzabo Where is Gandalf when you need him?
PatrickSzabo before the Emperor
Carl Sinclair rdavis PatrickSzabo So is he in Dave’s basement now?
EndiWebb PatrickSzabo He’s goofing off with the elves.
I’m planning on increasing my social media presence so please connect with me on Facebook, G+ and twitter @wadefinnegan Thanks!
rdavis Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo I cannot confirm of deny that… don’t say Dave… you never know when he might show up…davidwwright
Question: Does Robert think the SFWA are out of touch?
PatrickSzabo EndiWebb *waggles eyebrows*
rdavis Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo Damn, Dave must have one heckuva big basement for all these people.
EndiWebb PatrickSzabo Awwwww yeah.
PatrickSzabo rdavis Carl Sinclair seriously watch out…. thedavidwwright
EndiWebb PatrickSzabo (I’m going to try something right here…) He took off when Helm’s Deep almost fell.
JulietSpenser EndiWebb PatrickSzabo He’s a busy dude.
kevinmichael3 I think you said a few weeks back that you had quit the day job. How is the new day job (full time writing) going?
Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo rdavis thedavidwwright I ain’t scurred.
Darren Wearmouth I was going to do a test comment to see if you’d fallen asleep……
PatrickSzabo Carl Sinclair rdavis thedavidwwright gotta say his name three times …
michelleread Darren Wearmouth I’m nearly there.
BatmanErica Everything I have in romance is down 50% since about July 1. It’s a bit sad.
BatmanErica kevinmichael3 awesome. i’ve made the indie shit monster very happy with constant tributes lately.
Darren Wearmouth michelleread That’s what she said.
kevinmichael3 is your sales income covering the income you’ve lost from the day job?
Mimi Werebeaver how is the non romance doing?
BatmanErica Mimi Werebeaver I was selling a couple urban fantasy, but then I released more books in the series which naturally killed that dead. Hahahah! But seriously. I don’t understand WTF is happening. It sucks.
Does Robert utilize BETA readers as part of his process?
I’m going to hire Carl to translate my books.
BatmanErica kevinmichael3 not yet. working on it.
mmm 4 bourbons in BD
PatrickSzabo Into australian? no worries cobber
Amazon Derangement Syndrome
kevinmichael3 I hope you do and surpass it! 🙂
JayChastain did someone say bourbon?
Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo Huzzah!
Mimi Werebeaver I haven’t released anything in months but I’ve had the best sales months I’ve ever had. Not that I’m bringing in all that much compared to others, but it’s still the best money from Amazon. I might even get my first British cheque!
Ooh I do that. I make a note on each blurb in the series saying if they aren’t sure if this book is for them then they can get book one for free 🙂
Anyone got cake? I feel like eating cake…
Anyone tried the new UK bookbub?
Heheh. Mathemagician.
BatmanErica Sounds like a good plan to me! Just finished the twitter chat… CAKE REWARD!
JayChastain Darren Wearmouth michelleread We’re not all from Texas, Jay. Please keep a reasonable level of decorum.
MelJolly I got no cake. I’ve had lunch, chocolate, biscuits (cookies) and corn chips with salsa and still have a case of the nibbles >.<
michelleread As a forensic account IRL, I’m totally stealing that. Yoink!
BatmanErica Mimi Werebeaver You’re stealing all the sales!!! LOL
BatmanErica Always room for cake
RolandDenzel JayChastain You’re my kind of lad
Mimi Werebeaver I must be 😀
Horror sells best in series. I can’t think of a genre where stand alones sell better, unless they are outliers
CateMorgan michelleread S.M. Butler is here!!!!
JayChastain That’s why Stephen King has so many series books. Oh… wait. I’m joking.
jlward JayChastain BAH. King is king. He’ll keep selling his garbage forever. 🙂
BatmanErica MelJolly No joke… just tried to go to the kitchen for a snack and instead killed a GIANT SPIDER.
WOWcraft for Sinclair
He should move to TEXAS. It’s so much safer here
should dude in a dungeon be the sequel to girl in the box?
Carl….you and your bobtail lizard, lol
Demelza Carlton call it what you want. I smelt it’s hatred.
Demelza Carlton I love love when he describes stuff
Carl Sinclair Demelza Carlton At least it didn’t try to climb up your leg.
MelJolly you had no choice. It was either you or him and he doesn’t deserve that cake!
MelJolly BatmanErica ick!
I’ve been meaning to put my stuff on the pirate sites.
Carl Sinclair Demelza Carlton Saw the picture. Looked pure evil.
Carl Sinclair Demelza Carlton it probably farted
Only in bed
I’ll miss you all!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Working on my resume. Podcast host for hire
The announcement!
O.O
Yay! More things and stuff!
Kevin is in the dark because he is ashamed
I’ll co-host Trish. Don’t worry. It’s what the fans want.
I’M BEING IGNORED. AS THE PODCAST CRASHES I AM BEING IGNORED!!!
: (
I love you guys, you’ll be missed. Thank you, Trish for keeping it going!
JayChastain The Ayn Rand podcast.
My soul…. my soulllllllllllllllllllll
Roland is sad
You. All. Made. A. VERY. Special. Place!!!!!!!! And we love – and I’m not just saying that because I’m nice : (
You all will be missed
Darren Wearmouth JayChastain michelleread Hey now. SOME of us live in Texas and have decorum, fuck you very much. 😛
Want afterparty? Let me know here.
kevinmichael3 Yes please!
we can keep in touch with everyone except kevin, who doesn’t exist anywhere but here! 😉
kevinmichael3 Yes please
kevinmichael3 Please!
kevinmichael3 MEEEE
kevinmichael3 yes please
So where is the after party link?
PatrickSzabo You’ll get it on G+
PatrickSzabo we need your gmail account posted here to get an invite.
kevinmichael3 Yes please.
I can’t do the after party. Husband calls. I’ll miss everyone that’s leaving the podcast!
LiviaWrites kevinmichael3 need an email address if people want invites. (assuming we don’t know you already and have come before to an after party)
rdavis Thanks so much.
Wow! That’s a huge announcement. You guys have all done a great job and I know Trish will continue to do an amazing podcast! 🙂
Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo Crap. Now I need to remember my Gmail addy.
MelJolly There is a lot of reasons, I just couldn’t spend the time anymore. Sad but true. I’ll miss doing the show and everyone who watches.
Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo PSzabo971@gmail.com
PatrickSzabo Carl Sinclair any email might work but getting the invite is sometimes tricky.
S.M. Butler Darren Wearmouth JayChastain michelleread My apologies, madam.
Carl Sinclair PatrickSzabo rdenzel@gmail.com
kevinmichael3 rdenzel@gmail.com
kevinmichael3 yes
I guess this is a bad time to tell Carl Sinclair that I’m pregnant with his child…..
Carl Sinclair MelJolly I understand. I’m sure it was a tough decision and as someone who does this kind of behind-the-scenes stuff, I know it takes up a ton of time! We’re FB pals and I’ve yet to get my pocket Carl, so I guess we’ll have to keep in touch.
Carl Sinclair LiviaWrites kevinmichael3 Sorry about that. New here. I’m LiviaHarperWrites@gmail.com. Thanks!
invites have gone out but we are full. when people leave it will send an invite out.
The Final After Party Crew (for now)
Darren Wearmouth, Erica Conroy, Jay Chastain, John Ward, Kevin Michael, Michelle Read, Robert Crane, Roland Denzel, Wade Finnegan, Carl Sinclair.
Carl Sinclair Okay I logged back in with G+
Carl Sinclair I was about to say….how’d I manage to miss out? I got in seconds after Michelle…
MelJolly Carl Sinclair Feel free to say hi any time : )
You guys rock. See you around. Trish – best of luck with your new show 🙂
LiviaWrites Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 pszabo971@gmail.com
Carl Sinclair Have a blast! Sorry I didn’t start showing up to these things sooner. 🙂 I’m about 10 minutes from turning into a pumpkin, so I’ll say g’night to all!
Noooooo! You guys can’t all leave SPRT. I can’t believe it. I know Trish will do a great job carrying the torch but I’m going to miss seeing everyone else each week. Damn.
I am so tempted to lay a guilt trip on you guys right now…
Oh, man. I’m coming in late because I had a thing tonight, but man, you guys! That’s both sad that y’all are leaving and awesome of Trish to step up like that and keep it going.
Best of luck to all of you with your writing careers… not that I won’t be stalking and harassing you in other places anyway. 🙂
melissadonovan Thanks for the support over the past year Melissa. Sad times but it had to happen.
Darren Wearmouth JayChastain michelleread You can make it up to me by recording your apology and emailing it to me. Take your time. i’ll wait here.
S.M. Butler Thanks for watching Suzan. Been a good run.
I dare you all to click on the afterparty picture and then play this song while staring at it……..!!!
http://youtu.be/gNPCI8y9avc?t=1m50s
I wondered where you were?!?!???