Not in a Tizzy, but Dizzy Busy!

I have lots of things to share with you, so bear with me. Since I’m one of many self-published authors, and I’ve learned many things along the way, I decided to create my own imprint with the hope of bringing on others. My imprint is called Baer Books Press. Below is the home page.

I’m very excited about the imprint because it brings me a step closer to connecting with other authors. Baer Books Press isn’t just about putting our name on books. It’s a place to help one another, and offer services to inexperience writers, or writers who would like to become a small family of published authors. There are plenty of publishing companies out there willing to help, but the difference between us and others is we’re not looking to claim the works of other authors. We want our authors to have faith in us and their writing, and to know they can count on all the published authors of Baer Books Press for support. Time will only tell if Baer Books Press is a success or failure, but I can’t do either unless I try. If you get a chance, please stop on by Baer Books Press. 

The next thing I did was republish my books under my imprint. I had no idea how much time I would need to put into reformatting the paperback, redoing the cover, recreating the eBooks, and then making sure I have the appropriate link changes on the website, along with other places. 

A Second Edition of Sipping a Mix of Verse is now available. This edition has an introduction to Net Switch at the end.

Here is what some have said about Sipping a Mix of Verse.

"Denise Baer offers the reader a delicious bitter sweet offering of poetry bonbons." by John David Lionel Brooke

"Poetry fan or not, you will enjoy this great treasure!!” by June E. Kramin

A Second Paperback Edition of Net Switch is now available. This edition has an introduction to Fogged Up Fairy Tale at the end. Also, the Second Edition of the eBook has a lower price of $4.99. There are a few glitches on Amazon regarding this edition and I'm hoping it will be rectified soon.

Here is what some have said about Net Switch.

"This book made me blush, hold my breathe, gasp out loud and kept me guessing to the very end. I highly recommend this book and advise you to hang on to your seat because you are in for one crazy ride!" by Hometown Reader

"The deceptively simple ways Denise twisted things was truly brilliant. Denise Baer has unleashed a truly scary book here, yet you'll find no ghosts or goblins." by Lynxie

“This is a rather well written novel that will keep you guessing right to the end. It is rare for a book to catch me by surprise and this one managed to do so. A must read!” E. Fontenelle

Another thing I did was fix up my author website - Author Denise Baer. Und Ich bin immer noch Deutsch lernen.

Oh! One more thing. Be on the lookout for Fogged Up Fairy Tale scheduled for publication in Summer 2014.

Thrilled to Build and Fulfilled,

Bea

Fogged Up Fairy Tale

I know I’ve been sleeping on the blog, but I have to tell you that it’s because I’m writing. As I mentioned before, I’ve been working on a women’s fiction/chick-lit book, and it’s in the revision stages.

BUT, I finally came up with a title and created the front cover. My current novel is called Fogged Up Fairy Tale and below is the cover.  

I am excited about this book because it is very different from Net Switch, and that alone challenged me. Fogged Up Fairy Tale is slated for publication in the Summer of 2014. If you get a chance, please stop on by my author website, http://www.authordenisebaer.com/, and browse around to check out the changes.

Chick-Lit and Sarcasm,

Bea

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

I’ve recently read a disturbing discussion on Goodreads. It seems some readers/reviewers are taking advantage of the ‘glimpse of a book’ opportunity—a growing trend with Amazon reviews. Some people are reviewing books based off the 10% downloaded sample or from the “Look Inside”. The discussion on Goodreads states that a few one-star reviews acknowledge their review is based off the sample. If this is true, it affects the overall star rating.

According to the person who started the discussion, she stated that during a 20-minute browse session on Amazon, she came across five books that received a one-star based off the sample. I spent about 15 minutes and didn’t find any.

If this is truly a trend, and it continues, some of these so-called sample reviewers might not even reveal it’s from the sample. I think it’s horrible that people might want to boost their review stats on Amazon, or people are cheap enough to read samples of books instead of purchasing them. To take the time to give a poor star rating and review of a book you hadn’t read is shameful. Amazon shouldn’t even be allowing such reviews. Reviews are important for all products, especially for Indie Authors who are trying to build an audience.

Have you heard about this new trend? Would you report an Amazon review if you saw it was based off a sample?

Opportunity and Robbery,

Bea

Ode to a Gift

This is another poem from my poetry eBook, Sipping a Mix of Verse. Ode – a poem praising a person, place or thing—my one and only Ode.

Ode to a Gift

1.

My lungs grow still, air slowly vacuumed up,
a distilled lightness caused by droopy eyes.
The power to rest my heart is found in a cup
or a sharpened edge, closer to my demise;
It’s not for want to carry this to the end,
sorrow leading towards the rocky cliff
where the docile surrender to a cold call.
Monotone voice crackles, deafens words that blend,
taste the bitterness which makes my body stiff.
Raise my head to heaven, begging before I crawl.

2.

The peril of this news drips and burns like acid
words searing skin, throws me against the wall.
A silent movie of memories plays in a placid
room made to steal unhappiness and enthrall;
Draws me up to ease this unrequested burden
where death is planning an early impromptu trip,
consumed by thoughts of leaving before arrival.
My stagger leads me to a full bottle of bourbon
to forget about reality and let fantasy slip
in knowing this is the last chance for survival.

3.

Watch children run through meadows of color.
Intimate whispers exchanged from lover’s lips.
Senses will end from the expression of the caller
pull me away from life, ready to write my scripts;
Then laughter seeps through window panes and doors,
requires reaction to nature’s unwritten music.
Turn my head, faltering from original sins,
similar to what men do when fighting wars.
Although brought back by a warm anesthetic,
and therefore the cure for sorrow begins.

4.

Forget what might come of my withered corpse
bones chipped by disease with curdled blood.
The façade will give way as the mind warps
let this sink in, turn a cheek I know I should;
A perilous thought prevents a skilled cure
to help my pitied soul rise above such amiss.
Fortified by love, amend for future dreams.
Naked I stand before a mirror, once so pure
closed eyes and smile while I reminisce,
your presence repeats splendid themes. 

5.

Supported words blanket my swollen heart
For I vowed to ignore the dark whispers.
Perchance, quality exists for a fresh start
stand high, God’s breath - the zephyrs;
Smell renewed love from spring time dew,
Laugh at the awkwardness of dodging rain.
But remember recent events to show scars,

however today I shall read vows to renew.
Let the pain swirl around then down the drain
Lay under a sycamore tree, last wish on the stars.

6.

A steady drip echoes my darkened belief
while eyes close on an old blossomed seed.
Body drifts into the abyss, a disowned leaf
heart ripped from my chest like dead weeds;
Decayed part replaced by unfortunate donor
accept rejection is part of this thoughtful game.
Drugs will be one of my closest friends
except I can’t thank its previous owner,
who wore this heart inside his or her frame,
so duty to explore the rest, lies in my lens.

7.

Wake fresh with another’s beating past
ended quickly with enormous tragedy.
Now responsible for both to surpassed
the others with what was given as a remedy;
Question own mortality opens vault
of truth and lies of how I’ve led,
yet stranger calls from six feet under
says ignore where those declare fault.
Forget what had been done and said,
hanging on will cause murderous wonder.

8.

Beauty comes from an unexpected gift
cherish by forgetting history of errors,
and wash away all feelings of guilt.
Listen to precious advice from the bearer;
For once I’m left without a way to describe
overwhelming emotions unable to hide.
Away! This seeker left behind a prize
without interference by threat or bribe,
fills our heart with nothing but pride.
Thanks for giving; now it’s time for good-byes.

Gifts and Life,

Bea