One Week to Release Day! Can you feel the nerves?

We're one week away from release! Are you excited? I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm holding my breath for those new reviews to start rolling in.

Have you pre-ordered your copy yet?



Being Alpha


Newly-Minted Regional Alpha, Aeson Silverman hit the jackpot. Power, prestige, and wealth, he's got everything a wolf-shifter could ask for.
Except love.
Despite devastatingly good looks and an impressive wit, he can't seem to get Emma MacBride, the hottie doctor from an ally pack, to give him the time of day.
Unfortunately a bruised ego is only the beginning of Aeson's troubles.
Someone has been poisoning the minds of other territorial Alphas, systematically pitting neighbor against neighbor. With Ace now the new head of the Long Teeth territory, the rising storm of dissension has scented weakness and found its way into his pack, threatening everyone including the woman he's determined to make his mate.
With tempers on  a hair trigger, every choice the young Alpha makes is under scrutiny, and the last thing Ace needs is the death of another high ranking wolf to happen on his watch. The fate of his love, pack, and leadership depend on how quickly he can sniff out and neutralize the enemy hiding under his very nose.


Universal Buy Link. 


The great debate. Paper or Plastic?


As I sit down to (finally) sneak a few minutes of reading time in, my first instinct is to reach for the good old fashion paperback book. How about you: Paper or Plastic?

What am I reading right now? A Game of Thrones. Since it is GOT season on HBO , and since I do not have HBO, this is as close as I'll get to pretending I'm part of the fun. No Spoilers Please!! It is pretty fun reading, though I think the season will be over before I have a chance to finish these massive books. They are huge. And kudos to George R.R. Martin for penning these intricately detailed plots.

But, back to my original question. Paper or Plastic? As a reader, I do still love the feel of a book in hand. I have a kindle. I use my kindle mainly when travelling. I download books and have a library of books I may never get too because, lets face it, there are millions of books to read and only one lifetime to read them in. But I'll put in the old college try. As I'm sure you book lovers are doing as well. So, personal preference is and will always be print! I love the look and the smell. I love the feel of holding that book in hand. But convenience, and price usually dictate that ebooks are my primary purchase.

The driving force behind the popularity of ebooks is price. We all crave entertainment, and we all want a deal. We readers demand more and more words to feast upon, and because of that, when it comes to a decision over a $5-$10 print edition (softcover) or a $0.99-$3.99 ebook, (correct me if I'm wrong here) the decision on how to consume those words often down to the numbers. There are some cases where we collect specific editions of books because we are in love with the authors or because we are OCD about our book shelves. If I buy a book series in hardbound, for example, I must have all books in that series in hardbound. However, that said, I often have them in ebook first to read for the lower cost until I can afford to buy the alternate edition.

As an author, I understand well the fact that price and good deals are often the driving force in getting readers to take notice and even purchase our books. The added benefit of being an indie is more control over pricing and the ability to offer special sales and incentives to readers, further driving down the cost of consumable words. So, it goes without saying that I try my best to make sure you, dear reader, are made aware of any deals (from me or other authors). I want you to know the best time to pounce on a sale to feed your need for a read.


Review is not a four-letter word!


Remember those days, way back in time, when you were in school and had to do a book report?

Yeah, I was never a fan of those either.

If that's the first thing that comes to mind when I say the words Book Review, then you're probably in the great majority of people who never post them.

I get it. No one wants to have to have to spend all that time after reading a book, writing up a long summation of what they read, why they liked (or disliked it), and then assigning it a grade.
That sounds like work to me. I don't know about you, but that's my least favorite four-letter word.
Books are all about relaxation and escapism, not work!

Of course, if you're of that mindset then it makes sense why you would rather gouge out your left eye rather than write that review your author friend has been begging you for. Seriously... It's been how many weeks?

Where's the review Leboski??

All joking aside, you hear us authors telling everyone how important those reviews are for good reason. A book review is the Consumer Reports of the book world. Your voice is what helps convince or confirm the level of enjoyment a person is going to get out of reading a particular book.

But, did you also know, for the indie authors out there, those reviews also qualify or disqualify books from getting certain promotions or spaces in advertising campaigns? Books must have X number of reviews and a total average of 4.5 stars in many cases to be targeted by algorithms on some sales channels? In other cases if a book is not rated enough times they may not accept an authors request for advertising? In a marketplace that is all about visibility, being disqualified for advertising on the basis of not having enough reviews is a killer.

Your review can literally make or break a book. You hold so much more power than you probably imagined. And we all know that,

With great power comes....


Oh yeah. I'd totally be an evil overlord if ever given enough power. But we're not talking about me here.

We're talking about you, oh mighty and benevolent guardian of the review stars. You, the wisest of all literary consumers. The power you wield is both frightening and awe-inspiring. It is for this reason we authors (*nudge nudge*) prostrate ourselves before you in the hopes you might see fit to pass judgement over our words.

Now, back to the original point I was making. Where were we? Oh yeah. Book Reports.
A review is not a book report.
Say it with me...

A Review is NOT a Book Report. 

A review answers two simple questions.

1- Did you enjoy the book?
2- Would you recommend this book to someone else?

That's it! Really!
No need to give away spoilers and twists in the plot. We authors actually hate that.
No need to tell people what the story is about. The synopses usually does a good job of that. 

You can write as little or as much as you want. You don't have to make it a laborious task, though. Posting a review takes no more than a few minutes but can make a world of difference. So, please, if you have read a book recently, consider posting a quick review.

The author will thank you! 



And now, a word from our sponsor....

Just kidding. I have no sponsors... yet. But you can watch me make a fool of myself every week on Spilling Ink.




ARCs and the waiting game. #AuthorLife


The clock is ticking. Release day will be here soon. For an author this is a terrifying time. Making sure we have done all we can on our end to present a thrilling story is our job, but until those reviews come in, we have no clue if we truly hit the mark. Editors have had their run at the manuscript. The cover art has been finalized. The formatter has created the ebook and print files. It's the calm now before the storm that becomes truly terrifying. I'm basically holding my breath now, anxiously waiting on any news about the book.

This week ARCs went out for those who signed up. For those who do not know, an ARC is an Advanced Review Copy. If you've ever seen a book out on preorder and wondered how they already have reviews for it, its because of ARCs. Those are sent to people who want to review the book before it is released so that the book shines on release day with all those glittering reviews. All those reviews help new readers who might be looking to buy.
They are super important!!! I cannot stress that enough!


I'll post the link again for you if you're still interested. I believe there are a few open spots left.
Here's that link for signup.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUIkBnzxRIEOp59VUkh6_B8BJhit7ZzcLd284Gje5AKL8KjA/viewform

If you signed up and have not received yours, please let me know. I am not sending these directly, but I will make sure all inquiries are forwarded to my awesome coordinator, Jen. We want to make this process as smooth as possible.

So now that we're in the calm before the storm, what's an author to do?

Well, for me, it means starting up a new writing project. And I'm already hard a work at that. More details on that when I have them.

So for now, it is sit back and bite my nails time until release day.
For you, there is still plenty of time to grab your preorder (so you can be the first to read it when it goes live!)

 Buy Now


And remember to send in your pre-order confirmation to 
KatieSalidas@KatieSalidas.com 
to get your free ebook reward!





And if you're looking for something to read in the mean time, may I suggest a few books from some of my friends?



 Demon Hero

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073NKVRWC/

What if your whole life has been a lie?

Cora's Hollow is under threat of social disruption. The signs are written all over the buildings and the faces of its people.

The Fae have been pushed into hiding. Fear of magic has been the strongest propaganda tool offered by the human government. Whether or not the people believe is of little importance. A divided public is the easiest public to control.

Follow the story of a Freedom Fighter, a Bartender, and a Veteran as they discover their love for one another and fight against the endemic social war with little hope to survive.






 precursor



In the war against demons, Evie’s father stands against all things supernatural, including the Surmata, a race of beings that want to coexist with humans while they wage their own war against the demonic race. Raised in the Resistance, Evie struggles to stay true to herself and not fall under her father’s brainwashing.

With everyone around her a possible spy for her father, Evie’s sole relief from camp life comes from her best friend Maximilian. When he introduces her to his friends outside of the Resistance, Evie discovers a whole new world and possibly a place to belong.


But forces inside the camp are determined to keep Evie in her place, even if it means destroying who she is.


About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.