News from Alterra! (From Archer with love...)

[mom2karen]

I prefer line spacing instead of indenting.  I think it makes it easier to track when I'm using smaller fonts.

[R. M. Reed]

All three volumes are on my Kindle. The pricing was a bit odd, .99 each for 1 and 3, 2.99 for 2. Still not much.
They are in a queue behind another series by a Kindleboarder and several other books, so I don't know when I will get to them.

[Archer]

'Mom'--I agree, that's why I started with that format. 

R. Reed: The pricing system makes more sense than it appears to at first. Each book has been introduced at 0.99; Fire-heart went 'off sale' after a month, Ravenshade was supposed to, but I just haven't had the heart to raise the price yet. Elfhunter will always be inexpensive, because it's the first one and I wanted to make it painless to try the trilogy.When I finally get around to it, Ravenshade will be the same price as Fire-heart.

They will wait patiently until you are ready to (hopefully)enjoy them. Remember--they are YA/adult crossover. 

I LOVE the title character's name in your novel!

[Ann in Arlington]

Since you're asking about format preferences/oopses (more or less) . . . . . I have just gotten to the chapter about Gaelen's initial meeting with Ri Elethan (sp?). . . .there are a couple of places in that chapter where he uses a word and theres an asterisk (*).  I assume in the printed book that the * takes you to the bottom of the page where the word/phrase is translated.  In the Kindle book, it just put the * and translation between two random lines of text. . . .it was a bit confusing, and if I hadn't been reading in the DX it might not even have been on the same page. . . . .

Anyway, if you want to know more. . .send me a PM and I'll try to find the exact locations. . .

[geoffthomas]

Just out of curiosity, why are the books labeled YA?

Is is because you limit the graphic violence.
And you do not include detailed sex scenes.
And you do not use 4 letter words?

I think most books would benefit from the author restraining himself/herself in these three areas.

I can get the point of each from "intimation".
I am grown up and can easily guess what the author suggests.

If one is writing erotica or downright porn, then these subjects are correct.
But for general writing I really do not understand the current trend to put this stuff in every book.

So I like your work.

(this small tirade does not mean that I do not like the three items above - everything in it's place says I).

Just sayin.....

[Archer]

Anne:  Yes, there are 2 footnotes in Elfhunter. The Kindle doesn't like them. Sorry for the confusion.  That and the larger-than-life scene break 'glyphs' in Ravenshade were the two irreconcilable glitches. Fire-heart has a few which ARE fixable (if I can get my techie-hubs to fix 'em!)

I really appreciate this assistance...there may be problems as yet unknown to me.

Geoff:
They are YA/adult crossovers because of those three things, yes. Also, about half my readership (or more!) is in the 12-20 age bracket, with not a few nine-eleven year olds thrown in. YA readers love them (to my great joy). They were written for adults, as I believe fantasy can survive without (ahem!) 'sax and violins', but since the YA crowd has embraced them, I realize they have a much broader niche of readership than I expected.
(a hushed 'hoorah' lest the Fates change their minds)

[Archer]

I have never understood the urge some writers feel to put a single chapter of smut (a polite word for it) in the middle of an otherwise PG-rated novel. They must not realize how that single chapter limits the scope of appropriate readership.
Initially there was a bit more 'spice' in the EH trilogy, but I decided to tone it down so that I could look the parents of a ten-year-old in the eye and say 'It's okay.'

One reviewer commented that Gaelen and Orogond never progress beyond a cuddle. Hmmm...methinks the wild innuendo hath eluded him. I'm with Geoff: my adult imagination is perfectly capable of running wild given a bit of suggestion. I don't always feel it necessary to have it all spelled out for me (in fact, I kinda like the wanderings of my imagination). I do believe it's the trend to include at least one sex scene in every book, movie, etc., and that's okay. Unnecessary, but okay.

 

(As with Geoff, I also enjoy a foray into the gritty, earthy, and biologically accurate...in its proper place.)

[Archer]

Okay, so by now most of you have seen the famous 'Elfmobile', right?

Well, yesterday it nearly caused a major wreck in Bloomington when some folks decided they just HAD to take pictures with their cellphone cameras while driving beside it at 45mph. A car stopped in front of them and they nearly rear-ended it!

Hmmm...wonder if I would have been charged as an accessory?
(If so, can I be charged as a tasteful genuine leather handbag and matching gloves?)

[DeoreDX]

I've been looking for a new long fantasy series to read.  I've got a 17 hour flight to India in 2 weeks and since I just dropped a wad of cabbage on my new Kindle this looks like it will hit the spot and not break the bank   

[Archer]

Ooh! Ooh! One of the items on my 'bucket list' is for a person on an International flight to choose Elfhunter to read!

Don't you just LOVE inexpensive books on Kindle?
And don't you LOVE being able to decide what to charge for them?
 

[Archer]

For the holidays, I have decided to keep the price of Ravenshade ridiculously low at 99 cents, since we're all spending quite enough right now.
Elfhunter will also remain at 99 cents.
After Christmas I will be raising the price of RS to 2.99.

(Anyone who has read Elfhunter, please feel free to recommend that it be put on the 'free or under $1' list...please?)

 (shy smile)

[Ricky Sides]

I went to the thread to do just that, but it's there already. And there's a reference to a sequel.

Have a great day,
Ricky

[Archer]

Hmmm...so it is...I could swear it wasn't before.
(Must be me aulde failin' eyesight!)

Thanks, Ricky...you're a sweetie. Incidentally, I notice a GOOD review on your book page today.
That's good news! 

[Ricky Sides]

Yes it was good to see someone out there who isn't calling for me to fall on a sword. 

And you're more than welcome.

sincerely,
Ricky

[mom2karen]

Archer, I just got my DTB copy of Elfhunter autographed for my nephew, and it's wonderful.  I can't wait to give it to him.

I love my kindle, but there is something about a heavy book with a very cool cover that can't be beat.  Thanks a ton!

[Archer]

Avec plaisir, mon ami!
And...no spider is safe from C.S. Marks' door-stoppers!
Mwahahaha!

EDIT: You will let me know if he likes it, won't you? 

[nicuknitter]

Just curious as to why you don't have the cover (link) to the third book in you siggy?  I came to get the third and was surprised not to see it.

[Archer]

Ahem!
Because I'm an idiot, and can'tfigure out how to get it on there.

(It's true! I am.)

I would like to, though...the Ravenshade cover is one of my favorites.

[geoffthomas]

My, my.
The ElfHunter trilogy is going to be at this ridiculously low price through the Holidays!

Woo Hoo!!

Does that mean just until the day after Christmas?
Or the day after New Years?

Either way anyone that does not take advantage of this bargain just doesn't want to read books.

Just sayin......

[Darned Wizze]

Either way anyone that does not take advantage of this bargain just doesn't want to read books.

Especially these books, they are fantastic!  Roughly halfway through #2 and it keeps getting better.

[Archer]

Okay, so I'm an idiot! HOW did you get the link to the Ravenshade cover on there?
 

[Darned Wizze]

If I had to guess, I believe you have it correct in your signature.  Unfortunately, using the Kindleboards referral code in the link (for all 3) caused you to go over the 750 char limit for the signature.  You can evidence this by seeing some of the code below the links that you currently have, the code for the link is not complete.

To get all three (with the Kindleboards referral link still attached to each) I would suggest saving the images you use on your site, and making sure the path to them is as short as possible (the path to the image on Amazon is rather lengthy). 

PM me if you need any assistance with it.

[Archer]

Yes...STILL on sale for those new Kindlers (as well as the veterans) out there.
The entire trilogy for less than 5 dollars--Elfhunter and Ravenshade 99 cents, Fire-heart 2.99!

[Emily King]

Well, we've bought all 3 books on kindle now.  

[Steph H]

Talked me into it too...I've had the first one for awhile in my ever-growing TBR 'stack', but I went ahead and added the other two today as well to be sure I didn't miss the pricing special on book 3.  Merry Christmas to me.