Swinging by for a quick update…

February 9th, 2012

While I may have been quiet lately… so much has been going on. Preparing Discovery for release as well as re-releasing Skinnydipping, newly edited and with bonus content. My plan is to have both out and available in eBook form by February 28th.

Covers for Discovery, Legacy and the new cover for Skinnydipping have all been finalized.

The playlist Greg and Katie came up with is on the Amazon widget to the right as is other music used in the series.  Love how technology allows you to share and stay connected!

Interesting excerpts from the 2011 survey of romance readers conducted by the Romance Writers of America

January 13th, 2012
  • Women make up 91 percent of romance book buyers, and men make up 9 percent.
  • The U.S. romance book buyer is most likely to be aged between 30 and 54 years.
  • Romance book buyers are highly represented in the South.
  • The weighted mean income of the romance print-only buyer is $58,000, compared to $70,000 for the romance e-book buyer.
  • Slightly more than half of survey respondents live with a spouse or significant other.
  • Impulse buys account for nearly a third of all sales. But eBook readers are less impulsive.
  • The top overall decision factor in buying a romance is the story (46 percent), with the author following at 23 percent.
  • Thirty-one percent of romance buyers report that “most” of their books are newly released titles by an author.
  • Readers are more interested in visiting an author’s website than following him/her on Twitter.
  • B&N is used 4% more than Amazon to purchase books, with the two of them accounting for 52% of the market.
  • Purchase influences are COMPLETELY different for traditional vs eBook readers… see the survey…
  • EBook pricing: fair price is $6.13, the lowest price for a “quality” book: $2.99.

All in all an insightful survey…

To read the full survey click here.

Discovery update

January 9th, 2012

Working through my final changes on the Discovery manuscript, but got inspired this weekend and created the cover, still a few changes to be made (like the swirl watermarks going bye bye…). What do you think???

Emerald City Writers Conference

October 31st, 2011

This past weekend I attended the ECWC – had a blast. Met some amazing women and was blown away by Keynote speakers Diana Love (author), SherriLyn Kenyon (author) and Sarah Wendell (author and blogger at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books). Each one of them inspired and encouraged.

At Saturday evenings Masquerade Ball we had a blast. Here I am with a few friends.

Discovery is finished, and today I sent it off to five Editors or Agents that requested it during our pitches this weekend.

Have a few things going but writing Legacy – Book Three of the Destiny series once I finish a current project.

Finding that I’m doing a bit more updating on Facebook and on Twitter Like/Follow me there for more regular updates.

 

In anticipation…

September 5th, 2011

working on the final edits of Discovery – Book 2 of the Destiny Series. To celebrate the Kindle version of Skinnydipping is on sale at Amazon. Spread the news!

Here’s the link:

The votes are in…

July 10th, 2011


With your help I was able to narrow down the head shots from my photo shoot to 5 pics, and from there, I’ve posted my favorite as my profile pic on Facebook. If you haven’t gone over and “Liked” DaniJo Avia on Facebook, do so while you take a gander – there’s no time like the present! OK… the above is my SECOND favorite shot.

In other news, Discovery has received it’s final edit by me and is now in the hands of the Reader Editors that won the Reader Editor contest – thanks again to everyone who entered! Once they are done with it, I plan to have Discovery in the hands of an Editor then published by Mid September. And in the meantime… I’m writing Legacy.

Realized yesterday that I needed to put together a timeline by year to keep the major events of Erin, Katie and Louise’s lives in order. That one tweaked my brain, hard to go from right brain to left brain at the tap of a key…

Enjoy the summer weather, or winter for those of you not in the Northern Hemisphere. Great book reading time!

A picture tells a story in a thousand words…

June 24th, 2011

A couple of days ago I took part in an exercise that brings this parable into a new light… but that a story for a different day…

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to have headshots taken with Caroline Irwin of Caroline’s Creative Images (www.carolinescreativeimages.com). Love the pictures – they were taken on a magical day and when I look at them, I sense that she captured the spirit of the day.

However, it’s said that we are the worst judges when it comes to pictures of ourselves. And I find that I am no exception to that adage. So, I need your help. Please open this link and select your favorite FIVE headshots, then send me an email to Dani@DaniJoavia.com and let me know which ones you like. I’ll compile everyone’s favorites and then share them with you.

http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf39c899ef5d

The password is jesusislove

I’ll be using these photos in all the marketing efforts for promotion of The Destiny Series and my writing as DaniJo Avia. And by the way… if you have not liked DaniJo Avia or Skinnydipping, or the Destiny Series or the upcoming Discovery, Book 2 of the Destiny Series on Facebook, now is the time. Please consider this a personal, engraved invitation.

And finally, in keeping with today’s photography theme. I received a new picture form a reader.  His comment was that Skinnydipping was “Shocking!”.  See for yourself:

Skinnydipping can be shocking!

It’s never to late to send me a picture of where you are reading Skinnydipping (send it to Dani@DaniJoavia.com), or to post a review on Amazon.

Enjoy the day, enjoy a good read in the sun.

Happy May day!

May 1st, 2011

Happy May Day!

It’s been awhile since I’ve updated my blog, but never fear, I’ve been working on the editing of Discovery, studying storytelling and how to weave a story that  spans more than one book, and series for that matter, learning about sailing and coming up with new foods and menus to be found in Discovery and Legacy. This entire process has been engaging and stretching in so many ways. But… all that aside… Spring seems to have, finally, arrived in Seattle. Today there are clear skys and a beautiful gentle sun crossing the clear blue. So, I’m making it a point to stop in and wish you a Happy May Day. And as I couldn’t leave a tussie of flowers on your doorknob, please enjoy the poppies I’m sending with my love.

Welcome Spring!

March 23rd, 2011

I love the Spring. I love the light, I love sitting in the sun and creating and I love the sounds of the birds and the sense of unfolding life all around. The picture above is of my reading corner, in the sun, with my Skinnydipping and Discovery editing/reading on my lapdesk.

It seems as if Fall and Winter have flown by, I find it hard to believe that it’s March already… The Skinnydipping Reader Editor contest closed on March 15th – thank you to everyone who entered and to those who wanted to but let me know they didn’t have the time. The reader editors have been selected and notified.

I’ve just finished rereading Skinnydipping, don’t even ask how many times I’ve read it. You’d think that I would remember all the little details – the reason I picked it up again was because I forgot how a scene I’m about to write in Legacy was introduced in Skinnydipping and Discovery… so, back to reading I went… As I read, I was reminded of what precipitated a scene, what I wanted to share, what story I wanted to tell, and once again, I enjoyed the read.

I’m currently in my own editing process for Discovery… and enjoying Greg and Katie’s story, and writing Frank and Louise’ stories in Legacy. Next week, a wonderful friend and her husband have offered to talk with me more about sailing and living on a sailboat – important if I am to understand Frank better. At the same time, I’m still studying the Romance genre, and specifically those authors I’ve run across whose storytelling and the mastery of their craft intrigues me.

So that’s a quick update for you. Remember to send me your Skinnydipping pictures – a picture of where you are reading Skinnydipping. I’ll be adding them to the DaniJo Avia Facebook page.

Enjoy this new season. May you find your own little corner in the sun!

What do you do with spoiled milk? A contest for the readers of Skinnydipping…

March 1st, 2011

No, not a spilled milk recipe, but my lunch this week...

Doing a quick Google search, I found recipes for scones, mac and cheese, pancakes, cakes, yogurt, cottage cheeses, gingerbread, sour cream filling for a cake, pizza, casseroles and oh so much more.

So what does sour milk have to do with writing? Easy.

When I published Skinnydipping, I knew it wasn’t perfect. And, knowing myself, I chose not to be caught up in making it perfect, and believe me, that monster was rearing it’s ugly head as I edited the book and created the cover design. Part of my experience in writing Skinnydipping was the lesson Erin learned – to let go of all that has held you back and step into the future.

Several people have kindly told me about the mistakes in Skinnydipping, and offered their services for the next book. So, I decided to make a contest out of it. Here’s what I have in mind:

If you would like to be a part of the editing team for Discovery, Book Two of the Destiny Series, simply send me an email, to this address: Dani@DaniJoAvia.com, with your name, phone number and the number of errors you found.

Here’s where it gets tricky. The three people that send me the highest number of errors will win. In the case of the exact number of errors begin submitted by more than three people, the date stamp of the email will determine our three Discovery editors. Those three will be required to send me their copy of Skinnydipping, WITH THE ERRORS HIGHLIGHTED. In return, they will receive an advanced readers copy of Discovery to read and highlight the errors and then return, and a new, fresh and autographed copy of Skinnydipping, and an autographed copy of Discovery when it is published.

So, are you ready? This contest runs March 1-15th, I know, short window, but Discovery is ready for editing!