This means that if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read them ALL for free!
The Emi Lost & Found series? Free to read in KU, or buy the whole series for under $12.
The Choisie series? Free to read in KU, or buy the whole series for under $16.
All of the brothers’ books? Free to read in KU, or buy all five for under $17.
And don’t forget about Number Seven and Hollandtown Extras! They’re in the program, too!
Find them all on Amazon!
Love Like We Do (side a) is FREE Monday, October 31, and Tuesday, November 1. FREE. It’s never been free before, and it will probably never be free again.
Love Like We Do (side a)
Exclusively on Kindle
Love Like We Do is a coming-of-age, coming-out story of two teenage boys. If you’ve seen all the recent chatter about In the Wake of Wanting–or if you’ve read it–Love Like We Do (side a) features the first glimpse of Trey Holland as a young adult. Here, he is sixteen and one of two narrators on the periphery of this love story, relating what it’s like when he discovers that not only are his two best friends gay, but they’re in love with one another.
The second narrator is Jon Scott, the older brother of Max Rosser. It’s a shock when Jon finds out his youngest brother is gay, but he is fully supportive and works hard to bridge the gap widening in his family due to his mother’s overzealous spirituality and Max’s homosexuality.
When Max’s boyfriend, Callen McNare, disappears, it prompts a nationwide search and weeks of self-discovery for Max, his family and his friends.
Once you’ve finished Side A, you’ll want to read Side B, which allows Max and Callen to tell the story from their points of view. The series is eye-opening, heartbreaking and life-affirming.
Love Like We Do (side b)
Exclusively on Kindle
#loveislove
I inadvertently put Contessa on sale yesterday–for free. I didn’t know it until I checked my stats, and it showed I had over a hundred free downloads. I thought about putting it back at its regular price, but then I decided I’d just let it be. Contessa‘s one of my favorites, and I want more people to read it. (Sadly, I know that most people don’t read the free books they download, which is why I’m not going to do free books anymore after this, but that’s another post for another day.) Anyway! How about a snippet from Contessa to go with this sweet little graphic? It’s one of my favorite Jon/Livvy kisses in the book. Enjoy!
“Hey, Ray!” Jon’s uncle comes out from behind the bar to give him a hug.
“Happy birthday and congratulations! Ivy League, man! I can’t believe it. Your dad would have been so proud of you.”
“Yeah,” Jon says. “I think so.”
“I know so. He’s smiling down on you right now, and he’d be buying you this drink if he were here. Derrick, I need three tequila shots down here,” Ray says to a younger bartender. “The best we’ve got.”
“Okay, boss,” he answers.
“Uncle Ray, this is my girlfriend, Olivia.”
“It’s a little dark for sunglasses, honey,” he says with a warm smile.
“She lives in those, Ray. I just don’t argue anymore,” Jon speaks up for me.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell him.
“I need to check your IDs,” he says quietly. “Just for show, but in case someone’s watching.”
“Sure,” Jon says after taking a deep breath.
“I don’t want anything to drink,” I say quickly.
“Honey, I gotta ID anyone who comes in here.”
“Uncle Ray, just… it’s fine, Liv. He’s not going to say anything.”
I glare at Jon, but he can’t see my eyes through the sunglasses. I think about walking out of the bar, but he truly is happier than I’ve seen him, and I don’t want to be the one to spoil it. I pull my wallet out of my bag and give the bartender my ID card. He flashes a light on it to see it clearly. He studies mine for a few seconds, and then looks up at Jon. “Well, look at you. Ivy League and high-society.”
“Whatever,” Jon says, taking my ID back from his uncle quickly.
“Livvy Holland,” he says to me. “Your daddy know you’re here?”
“Absolutely not,” Jon answers again. “Mum’s the word. I just want her here to celebrate with me.”
“Got it,” Ray says. “Is this your first time in a bar, Livvy?”
“Yes,” I say with a small smile.
He picks up the three shots at the bar and hands one to Jon and one to me.
“Well, welcome. And congrats, Jonny. Good job, all around.”
“Thanks,” Jon says. “This is for you, Dad,” he adds, looking up toward the ceiling, caught up in the moment. The guys set their glasses down on the bar first before shooting them. I take a taste, cringing at the flavor.
“Olivia,” Jon says as I sip it down.
“Ow, that burns,” I croak.
“That was a lot for you, baby. I’m not sure that was a good idea.”
“Well, why’d you give it to me?” I ask with a shrug. “Plus, you’re not going to get accepted into Columbia every day. So you’re right, we should celebrate. Another?”
“Not for you, Missy,” Ray says. “Two more down here, Derrick.” He and Jon do one more shot each. The younger bartender has set down a large glass of water with a lemon in it, too–next to another shot of tequila. He winks at me as he walks away. I take it quickly, while Jon isn’t looking. The liquid sloshes onto my shirt sleeve as I drink it. This one burns even more.
“Liv!” Jon says, surprised. “Where’d you get that?”
“That other guy–Derrick. He gave it to me!” I laugh. “What, was I supposed to decline it? That would have been rude!”
He groans loudly, picking up the glass of water. Jon takes a sip of it before handing it to me.
“Please, drink this now,” he says, clearly worried. “This was so not my intention. Your dad will murder me. Forget Columbia. I’ll be in jail by morning.”
“Jon,” I giggle.
“Drink,” he repeats the order, serious. “Thanks, Ray.”
“You’re welcome, kid. I’m so proud of you.” His uncle hugs him once more.
“I think we’re gonna go get a quick bite to eat,” Jon says as he watches me suck down the water. “Have you eaten?”
“No. We’re supposed to have dinner together tonight, remember?”
“I was just wondering how drunk you’re going to be before we make it to the restaurant.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“You will be.”
“It was two drinks!”
“Drink,” he instructs once more. “They were two potent drinks on an empty stomach of a tiny girl.” He pokes me in the stomach as I gulp the water down, then takes the half-empty glass from me and sets it on the bar.
“I’m not a little girl.”
“I didn’t say that, first of all. And I certainly didn’t mean it that way, Olivia.” He stares at my lips. “Don’t get all pouty. There just aren’t a lot of places that alcohol can go in there except straight into your bloodstream.”
“I. Am. Fine.” In truth, I feel a little uneven, but I like it.
“There’s a taco shop two doors down,” Jon’s uncle suggests. “Tell them you’re my nephew. They owe me.”
“Thanks.” He guides me out of the bar, and I take his hand and start walking back the way we came. “This way,” he says with a soft tug. I trip into him, feeling a little unsteady. He wraps his arms around me tightly. “I wish you hadn’t done that,” he says softly.
I look at him curiously. “You watched him hand it to me,” I argue with him.
“The first one, yeah, but you said you didn’t want anything. I thought that meant you wouldn’t drink anything.”
“I thought you wanted me to.”
“Liv, what have I told you? I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with–”
I stop him from saying anything more by kissing him with no restraint. He takes a few steps backward to get out of the middle of the sidewalk, never letting up on the grasp around my body. He picks me up and sets me down on a step so we’re standing at nearly exactly the same height. He quickly takes off my cap and sunglasses, throwing them haphazardly onto the ground behind me. His arms return to hold me, his hands move down my back, finally settling deep into the pockets of my jeans, and he pulls me into him. I whimper quietly as I hold his head next to mine, one hand playing with his ear, the other toying with the short hair at the nape of his neck. I press my fingers into his scalp.
A slight moan forms in the back of his throat as he kisses my neck, then ducks his head next to my shoulder, taking quick breaths.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I softly run my fingers through his hair.
“No,” he whispers.
“No?”
“New rule, Liv. No more tequila for you until you tell me we can go back to my apartment. Or better yet, Donna’s apartment.”
I laugh quietly to myself. “I don’t think it’s the tequila.”
“And I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.”
Contessa ©2012 Lori L. Otto
First, Turn the Page Book Blog is having a drawing on May 13th for the 3-ebook bundled Emi Lost & Found series. All you have to do is go to their page HERE and enter via email or Facebook log-in!
Secondly, Kindlehooked is giving away three of my ebooks (Not Today, But Someday; the 3-book bundled Emi Lost & Found series; and Contessa), as well as a signed paperback of Not Today, But Someday at the end of May. Go like their Facebook Page, and then go HERE to enter the Rafflecopter drawing!
If you subscribe to BookBub, you’ll get the news shortly… but the e-book prequel to Emi Lost & Found – Not Today, But Someday – is free today! You can get it for any of your devices by clicking below!
If you’re unsure of the reading order of my Emi Lost & Found series, this is what I recommend:
Now, I used to recommend reading the prequel at the end. It was written after all the others had been published for more than a year, and it does reveal things about Nate and Emi that enhances the story. But I’ve been hearing from more and more readers who’ve read the Emi Lost & Found series in the right (fictional) chronological order, and they tell me that the bond created between these two starring characters helped them to understand their actions in the first full-length novel of the series. I like that. 🙂
Don’t know what all this is about? Here are the descriptions of Not Today, But Someday and Lost and Found:
Not Today, But Someday
In December of 1994, when she was a junior in high school, Emi Hennigan discovered her father’s infidelity. Forced to transfer schools mid-year, she wasn’t trying to make new friends. In that same month, sophomore Nate Wilson’s girlfriend broke up with him. Searching for someone to fill the void left by his first love, he meets Emi in his art class.
Nate knows he wants Emi from the moment he sees her. Emi knows she needs Nate after one night together. A life-long friendship is born, and a pact is made to ensure that nothing will come between them.
Lost and Found
This is the beginning of an atypical romance.
When artist Nate Wilson falls in love, he falls hard. The problem is, he’s only been in love once, and the girl of his affections is his best friend, Emi Hennigan. In high school, the two bonded over painful breakups, and swore off a relationship to save their friendship. Thirteen years later, Nate has had more than his share of emotionally-unfulfilling, sexual relationships with beautiful women to distract himself from his true romantic feelings.
When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity takes Nate away from his friend and his comfortable lifestyle, he is forced to reflect on the distinct void that Emi’s absence leaves in his life. To Nate’s surprise, Emi has a similar experience; but as the friends embark upon their journey toward happiness together, destiny reveals other plans for Emi.
These questions are answered:
Q. Where can I download any/all of your books for free?
Q. What age-range is recommended for Contessa, and why?
Q. What genre is the Emi Lost & Found series?
Q. What happens at the end of Lost and Found?
Q. Why should I read on? I’m devastated after X, Y, or Z!
Q. Are you doing any book signings this year?
Tuesday night (1/22), Three Chicks and Their Books will have a drawing to see who wins the entire Emi Lost & Found series for their e-reader! The winner will receive Lost and Found, Time Stands Still, Never Look Back AND the prequel, Not Today, But Someday for FREE!
How do you win? Click on the image below and find the post that looks just like it on their Facebook page. Leave a comment and LIKE their page, and voila! You’re entered!
They’ll announce the winner on Tuesday at 7PM E.S.T.
I read Master of the Universe (which was the original title of Fifty Shades of Grey when it was still Twilight fan fiction). Not all of it, but what appears to be the first two books in the Fifty Shades trilogy. I have an ethical problem with pulling fan fiction for profit, but that’s not what I’m here to discuss today.
My books have been included on a “what to read after Fifty Shades of Grey” list, and another reader suggested I recommend my series again to those who have read Fifty. Anytime someone recommends my books for whatever reason, I’m grateful, but I want to be clear: Emi Lost & Found is not the next Fifty Shades of Grey. Do I believe that my series is good enough to garner mainstream attention? Yes. Is it taboo? Nope. Will it surprise you? Yes.
Instead of saying all the things my books aren’t (there’s no BDSM and wouldn’t be classified as erotica, for instance), I’ll tell you what you will find in the series.
So, are you ready to give Emi Lost & Found a try? Most of the sites have previews, so you can read a short bit first, or hey! NOT TODAY, BUT SOMEDAY, the prequel in the series is FREE!
As many of you know, I’ve spent the last six-ish months experimenting with Amazon’s Kindle Select program, which forced me to offer my ebooks exclusively through them in order to be able to run some special promotions. I’d say the last two months have shown me that the program has certainly helped me increase sales. Not by hundreds, but the difference is noticeable.
I may go back to the program, but for now– and probably through the end of the year, at least– I’ve got the books back in the iBookstore and the Nook store in addition to the Kindle store. Check out the Where to Buy page for links!
As a special gift for your patience, Lost and Found is free right now in the iBookstore and on Smashwords. I’m working on spreading the goodwill to all the channels, but it takes some work and time to make that happen… if I can make it happen.
Thanks for your continued support!
Please excuse my while I humbly sit in shock…
First of all, thank you to all of you readers who took advantage of the free LOST AND FOUND ebook offer over the past three days. For once, I am blown away by the results. Now, the rest of this post will probably only interest other self-published authors… but feel free to read on.
I’m not a big-time book seller. The money I make from books each month could typically pay for dinner for myself at a $$-$$$ restaurant. Once. I’m obviously not quitting my day job anytime soon. I’ve had an incredibly difficult time marketing my books, and it shows. My series is quite well-reviewed (4.29 on Goodreads), but I haven’t been able to reach the masses yet. I do have some fans that are very good at recommending the books to their friends, and I’m grateful to them, but I guess the lack of a red room of pain keeps this from reaching an audience I once thought would enjoy my stories. Regardless, I don’t intend to add one to any future books.
Bygones.
So as most of you know, I’ve been participating in the KDP Select program through Amazon.com. If I sell my ebooks through them exclusively, I have the opportunity to promote them for free five times in a 90-day period. I haven’t been incredibly successful at finding the right day to offer these free ebooks, nor have I been very good at promoting the offer. Over the past five months, I’ve offered LOST AND FOUND for free ten days. I don’t remember the stats of the first five, but on the sixth time, I gave away about 450 books (on a Tuesday). I did very little to promote the offer that day, and was pleased with the results. The seventh time, I gave away the book on Labor Day, and only gave away 93 books. I had even submitted the offer to free-Kindle-promotional websites the day before, but they seemed to have no effect. I was extremely disappointed in those results.
It was after the seventh time that I decided to do a little research about other peoples’ successful campaigns. The ones that I read about with the best results were multi-day offers that were supported by advance promotion, blog tours and social media bursts. I decided to use my last three days of this 90-day period and offer the book for free three days in a row. I was hoping to give away 500 books, but dreamed of breaking the Top 100 Free Kindle books chart. I had no idea how many books that would require me to give away.
I picked Tuesday through Thursday, and planned ahead by submitting my book to a lot of websites that promote free Kindle books the weekend before the promotion began. I created a three-day Twitter campaign that tweeted every ten minutes from midnight to 9pm. Tuesday was depressing. I checked stats all day, and even half-way through Wednesday, I had only given away a little over 100 books. I sort of pouted all afternoon, even as I saw tons of my Twitter followers retweeting my tweets. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong.
After work Wednesday, feeling sorry for myself, I checked my stats. Somehow, I was up to 1300 books given away. In four hours, 1200 books had been downloaded. I was floored, and I realized I was inching closer and closer to the Top 100 Free Kindle books chart. Five hours later, I was up to 3500 books, and my book was sitting pretty in the 105th position. I thought once it hit the Top 100, even more downloads would come because it would have a lot more exposure.
When I woke up this morning, I had reached #39 on the chart with over 4000 downloads. While I suspected today would be even better than yesterday, things have slowed down considerably. Right now, with about four hours remaining, I’ve given away about 5450 books. That averages out to approximately 80 books an hour since the promotion started. Consider my mind blown.
I still don’t know what happened yesterday afternoon to bring so much attention to my book, but whatever it was, it helped me surpass my goals by quantities I couldn’t fathom before now. I know that a lot of people who download free books never get around to reading them all, but even if 1% read them, I’d be elated. That’s 54 new readers gained in three days.
Not only did people take advantage of the free offers, I also sold quite a few books, making this month my best month ever, looking strictly at royalties. In the last three days, I nearly doubled what I’d sold in the first 17 days of the month, and even though that’s still not very many books, it could pay for a few modest dinners, which is a huge success, in my mind. I’ll probably use the extra money for Christmas gifts, though.
What did I learn? Gee… a part of me still thinks it might be a fluke, but when it comes time to give away the next great book, I’ll definitely try this strategy again first.
Lori L. Otto, author 