The Insecure Writer's Support Group and New Publish & Promote Book

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question:
Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

That is a tough question. Between my own reading habits and reading DLP submissions, I read a lot of genres, and with my own writing, I’m working on my 4th genre.

I love stories with a little romance to them. (I also loved the movie A Little Romance – does anyone remember it?) DLP doesn’t publish romance outside of YA, but I enjoy writing stories with that element strongly present. My series has it, as does the paranormal stories I’m working on.

I also enjoy non-fiction. And writing it is even easier than fiction for me.


And I’d updated my How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now eBook last summer, but it really went through a new update and edit last month.


Plus a new cover!


So the new eBook version is live and the new print version will be available very, very soon.


Yes, I took a window of opportunity and worked on something of my own.

Buy it on Amazon / Barnes & Noble

(I got to see this book before its release and it’s really cute.)
The Missing Alphabet
A Gregory Green Adventure
By Elaine Kaye

The paper alphabet letters in Gregory Green’s classroom have gone missing, and it’s up to him and his friends to find those missing letters. They go on a hunt through the school, hoping to find them. They spot letters next to things that start with those letters, like B for Bananas in the cafeteria. But will they be able to find the entire alphabet?

The Missing Alphabet is a great story for children learning to associate letters with objects, and four activities throughout the book will further help children to get familiar with the alphabet.

EBook – Amazon / B&N / Kobo Print – Amazon


June 1st was Hickory Con, a new con to us. And despite the travel time (7 hours total) it was very successful. We also found out about a new con in Savannah, GA, and I can hang in that city any time.

We promoted all titles, but especially our most recent – Big Red sold well and Music Boxes sold out!

And speaking of Music Boxes…

Music Boxes by Tonja Drecker was named by Barnes & Noble as one of 5 Spooky New Middle Grade Books for Campfire Chills!

That’s right – in the middle of four books by the BIG FIVE publishers was Music Boxes.

And I couldn’t be more proud of Tonja and her book.


I’ll end with some fun photos from Hickory Con:

Big Red and Printing & Distribution Matters

I am thrilled to announce Dancing Lemur Press’ latest release! Compared to Heinlein and Black Mirror, this military sci-fi story takes many twists and turns on its journey. If you love action and a compelling mystery, you will love Big Red.

Big Red by Damien Larkin

We have always been here...

Traumatized by the effects of Compression travel, soldier Darren Loughlin holds the key to the fate of Earth’s Martian colonies. With his Battalion decimated, his fractured memory holds the only clues to the colony-wide communications blackout.

With time running out, Darren pieces together his year-long tour of duty with the Mars Occupation Force. Stationed in the Nazi-founded New Berlin colony, ruled by the brutal MARSCORP, he recounts his part in the vicious, genocidal war against the hostile alien natives and all who question Terran supremacy.

But as his memories return, Darren suspects he is at the centre of a plot spanning forty years. He has one last mission to carry out. And his alien enemies may be more human than he is…

Release date: May 14, 2019
$18.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 304 pages
Science Fiction - Military/Alien Contact/Alternative Historyv Print ISBN 9781939844606 / EBook ISBN 9781939844613
$4.99 EBook available in all formats

“There is drama and heartache here, insights in the light and darkness of humanity’s soul. This book makes you think.” – Phil Parker, author

“A mesmerizing mix of genres: A dash of Starship Troopers mixed teasingly with Memento, spiced with a haunting blend of Black Mirror.” - Roland Yeomans, author

“An action packed Military Science Fiction novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.” - Jamie Kramer, Books and Ladders

“This is a military sci-fi that reminded me a lot of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers.” – Lynda R. Young, author

“Every time I thought I had the story figured out Larkin threw another curveball, and I could barely keep up. It felt like the Twilight Zone or Black Mirror…” – C. D. Gallant King, author

Damien Larkin is a part-time Planning Analyst and a full-time stay-at-home father of two young children. He enjoys turning terrifying nightmares into novels and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland.

Find it at B&N / iTunes / Amazon / Kobo / Goodreads

Plus get a free Big Red MOF sticker with any direct print purchase through Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Printing and Distribution Matters

I know so many authors who are Amazon/KDP only. But at what cost?

I have been researching bookstores in the Cherokee Nation area for our fall release, Stone Man: And the Trail of Tears. Bookstore after bookstore, here is what I am encountering:

“We do not stock or sell books available exclusively through Amazon or CreateSpace.”

If you are an author who prints through KDP/CreateSpace, most bookstores won’t stock your books. Why? Amazon is their biggest competition. They want money in their pockets, not Amazon’s.

And if you think that doesn’t matter, that most of your sales are online only, consider this – going with Amazon gives you almost zero chance of your book in a bookstore or you making a bookstore appearance. Because independents (who have made a huge comeback in the past few years) aren’t the only ones – Barnes & Noble won’t buy from their competition. (Who else is left in the USA? Books-A-Million – and they won’t order anybody’s book who isn’t with the Big Five publishers anyway.)

And with Baker & Taylor, the second largest wholesaler of books, bowing out of the bookstore business to focus on libraries only, that leaves just one option – Ingram. Specifically, Ingram Spark or Lightning Source if you are a self-publisher or a small press.

Or, you find a distributor.


Who distributes your titles?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology Release and Contest Opens

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question:

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I’m posting a day early because it’s release day!

Masquerade: Oddly Suited
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Young Adult Fiction: Romance - General/Paranormal/Contemporary
Print ISBN 9781939844644 $14.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844651 $4.99

Find love at the ball…

Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual companion or a date to the ball?

Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database; articles; monthly blog posting; Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram groups; #IWSGPit, and a newsletter.

Links: Barnes & Noble / Amazon / iTunes / Kobo / Dancing Lemur Press LLC / Goodreads

The 2019 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest is now open for submissions!

Guidelines and rules:

Word count: 3500-5000

Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy

Theme:Voyagers

Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 4, 2019

How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no page numbers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your full contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group.

Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges:
Elizabeth S. Craig, author and honorary judge
Dianne K. Salerni, author
S.A. Larsen, author
Rachna Chhabria, author
Tonja Drecker, author
Lynda Dietz, editor
David Powers King, author
Lindsay Davis Auld, agent - Writers House

Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.


Our previous IWSG anthologies -
Masquerade: Oddly Suited
Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime
Hero Lost: The Mysteries of Death and Life
Parallels: Felix Was Here


Are you ready for a new anthology to read and a new contest to enter?

Literary Book Gifts Gloves

I received these Cashmere Writing Gloves from Literary Book Gifts in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve seen writing gloves before and often they are like gloves with the last inch of the fingers cut off.

These have only a hole for the thumb, which gives you more flexibility. They are also thin enough so you don’t feel all bulked up and have trouble writing or using the mouse. And they are very soft.

I am very cold natured and in the winter it’s tough to keep my hands warm. These certainly do the trick.

You can choose from 13 different colors such as heather purple, blush pink, or black.

The only downside to these gloves is the price. They are $52.00 US retail. Compared to the other items on the site, which are kinda neat, it’s a bit overpriced. However, order several items with it, and the flat rate shipping is just $5.00 to the US, which isn’t bad.

You can get your own pair here.


Do you need or have a pair of writing gloves?