C Gockel Writes

I’ll be releasing my next book in Kindle Unlimited

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I want to release Soul Marked at 99¢, it’s the first book in a brand new series, and I want to make it as affordable as possible.

Soul Marked: After the Fire Book 1It’s almost time to release Soul Marked, the first book in my After the Fire paranormal romance series. The After the Fire books take place in the I Bring the Fire Universe, and there will be cameos from familiar characters, but they’ll all be complete standalones, with no previous knowledge of I Bring the Fire or the other After the Fire books required.

After the Fire will be filled with the same mix of action, adventure, and “sci-fantasy” that I Bring the Fire and Archangel Project fans have come to expect, but they are paranormal romances, so they’ll have a bit more romance, and each book will end with a Happily Ever After for the characters featured. Like I Bring the Fire and Archangel there will be adult themes, but there will be no onscreen sexy times.

At 99¢ I can reliably count on 200 sales at release from my fans on Amazon, and about 40 sales combined on all other vendors. Even if I was to price at $2.99 that wouldn’t be enough to recoup the $1500 I have invested in editing, covers, and promotions for Soul Marked. That’s assuming I’d sell 240 books in a new series the first month at a higher price point, a huge assumption!

So I need NEW fans. By releasing at 99¢ and remaining there for a few days I hope to rank higher and get more visibility. The visibility should attract enough Kindle Unlimited subscribers to help me recoup costs within the first few months. (Hopefully by Christmas!)

Because a condition of Kindle Unlimited is exclusivity, I will not be releasing the ebooks immediately to all vendors (paperbacks will be available everywhere.)

I have been agonizing for months over this decision. I’d really like to sell my book wide and release immediately to OverDrive–the library lending system and the only way all my books are truly “free.” At the same time, I have to make business decisions based on what is best for my family, and I need to break even as quickly as possible.

If you are not a Kindle owner Kindle does offer a FREE app for smartphones, tablets, and PCs. It can be downloaded onto the new Samsung Nooks as well. I have used this app on my late and very ancient iPhone (retired just this year–an iPhone 4! The app worked terrific!) And I use it now on my new Samsung Galaxy phone.

Which leaves Kobo readers … There are ways to convert Kindle MOBI files to ePubs with Calibre. I also know that some Kindle Unlimited authors offer ePubs to fans that prove they’ve purchased on Amazon. I’m looking into the feasibility of this–primarily trying to determine if it will break Amazon’s Terms of Service. I will get back to you!

For those of you who won’t get the novel on your preferred reader, I hope the 99¢ introductory rate is at least a small consolation–I hope a story you love is a bigger consolation. (Fingers crossed.) I may at some point release wide, I just to have to see where the series stands in a year or so, see what read-thru is like, and what the demand would be on other vendors. Decisions like this are some of the worst in self-publishing, and I thank you for your understanding.

Orphans in the Black (a new home for Murphy’s Star)

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Get it FREE as part of Kindle Unlimited at Amazon U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia

A few years ago I wrote a short story called Murphy’s Star. It’s about a scientist traveling to a distant planet who picks up an alien *koffs* passenger during cryosleep.

Murphy’s Star launched my career. But lately, it has fallen into obscurity. I decided to give it a new home. I wanted the new home to have awesome stories that my fans who’d read Murphy’s would love. So, Orphans in the Black was born. This is a collection with a ton of heart. There is plenty of adventure, but the really big battles are internal. There are authors I know some of you love already: Lindsay Buroker, Christine Pope, M.R. Forbes, and others. There are also lesser known authors I think you’ll fall in love with.

I loved putting this collection together. I’m sure you’ll love it too. This collection is available for 99¢ for a limited time and is FREE in Kindle Unlimited.

The Imp Series Box Set ~ by Debra Dunbar

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Imp Series 1-3 In the writing world there is, let us say, a difference of opinion on the merits of “genre fiction.” There are a lot of people for whom there is “literature”, which is deep and meaningful … and their is entertaining fluff, aka, genre fiction, which is not.

I call BS.

You can write things that are accessible and page turners that has deeper meanings and philosophical implications with multifaceted characters readers can care about. The genre fiction I like always does that, and the Imp Series is a prime example. The series explores the relationship of Chaos and Order, through Sam, an Imp hiding out on Earth, and her relationships with Demons, Angels, Humans, and others. The author, Debra Dunbar, has a degree in English with an emphasis on Medieval Literature and Folklore, and it really comes through in the Imp series as well as her Templar books. Her Angels aren’t sweet and nice (hey, in the Bible, Angels almost always say, “Be not afraid,” which kinda hints that they might be a bit scary.) Her demons aren’t misunderstood bad boys waiting to be saved either. They are their own damned species (ha!)

The great thing about the Imp series, is that Sam, being an Imp, is funny. There are laugh out loud moments, because even when her neck is on the line, she can be distracted by things like a chicken wand … which, considering she is an Imp, makes perfect sense.

Sam can be diabolical–much more so than my Loki–but she is fiercely loyal to her friends whether human, demon, or other. Oh, and bonus, the humans aren’t helpless. When they catch on to demonic danger, they fight back with guns. Lots and lots of guns.

Each story in this set is complete, but you’ll still want to rip right through the collection, because the characters rapidly become like old friends. I started reading these and didn’t write for a whole week … so … yeah. Getting the first three in a box set is a really good deal and you’ll wind up saving a lot of money.

A New Box Set – FREE as of Posting

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Bad Magic 10 Novels with Demons, Djinn, Werewolves, Vampires, and Rogue Gods

FREE at: Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, & GooglePlay

Christine Pope and I have created a new box set! This set has Christine’s Chosen and my Wolves in it, but the rest of the titles are brand new and some have never been offered free before!

Bad magic can be so good …

These 10 full-length novels of paranormal romance and urban fantasy will keep you on the edge of your seat and up past the witching hour. Black magic, adventure, and romance … they’re all here.

Something this good can’t last forever … download this set before it’s gone!

About the Books:

Chosen by Christine Pope
When a fatal fever nearly wipes out the entire world’s population, the survivors of what became known as “the Dying” believe the worst is in the past …

Dead Rising by Debra Dunbar
Solaria Ainsworth was born a Templar, destined to take up the mantle of responsibility and duty as her family’s Order had done for hundreds of years.
Except she refuses to take her Oath of Knighthood.

Hidden Blade by Pippa DaCosta
Kicked out of the underworld and cursed to walk this Earth for all eternity, Ace Dante is not the hero New York needs, but when Egyptian gods start killing, Ace is the city’s only defense.

Wolves by C. Gockel
When Amy prays for help, Loki the Norse God of Mischief and Chaos isn’t the savior she has in mind.

Bitter Ashes by Sara C. Roethle
She’s not their long lost fairy princess, she’s their executioner. Legends of Norse Myth and Necromancy collide in this fast-paced Urban Fantasy with a dark romantic twist.

The Last Necromancer by C.J. Archer
For 5 years, Charlie has lived as a boy in the slums, but when she’s arrested, her only means of escape lies with raising the dead. Now people are hunting her for her necromancy, but only one man succeeds in capturing her: a man known as Death, as compelling as he is frightening.

Nefertiti’s Heart by A.W. Exley
1861. In a steam and mechanically powered London, feisty Cara Devon uses her dead father’s secret notebook as a guide in her pursuit of powerful ancient artifacts.

Lost Wolf by Stacy Claflin
She’s hiding a dark secret. It already killed her once.

Thunder Hunter by Rachel Medhurst
For Thor to Live, Thunder Hunter must die. For a thousand years, Thor’s power has been inside Trygger. Can he finally defeat the Fallen Ones to give it back?

Sorceress Awakening by Lisa Blackwood
When Lillian finds herself facing off against vampires, help comes from an unlikely source—the stone gargoyle who has been sleeping in her garden. In a heartbeat, her ordinary life becomes far more complicated, and if her overprotective, shape-shifting guardian is to be believed, there’s an evil demi-goddess just waiting for the chance to enslave them both.

Download FREE at: Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, & GooglePlay