The Necklace of Goddess Athena wins a silver medal

Very excited to announce today that my debut novel has just become a Readers’ Favorite silver medalist!

The award ceremony is in Miami this coming November and I shall be attending it only in my dreams (LOL!), but I can assure you that cannot mar my feeling of sheer joy!

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

As it happens, the book is discounted at the moment and the offer will last for another couple days only. So if you haven’t tried the book yet, this is your chance to read it for only 99c / 99p!

 

Visit Amazon

“A stunning masterpiece . . . so well-written that I couldn’t put it down.”
~Readers’ Favorite

“A rare gem.” ~Fantasy & Scifi Network

Visit Amazon

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

A silver medalist! #99cents for a limited time! #Greek #fantasy Share on X

 

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news and free books join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

And the winners are…

Wuhoo! The names are out of the hat and I am pleased to announce the winners of my ‘post-a-photo’ contest. For those who missed it, don’t worry, you’ll get another chance to enter a similar contest later this year.

THESE LUCKY READERS WON A TOTE BAG EACH!

ANNE BATEMAN

BEVERLY D LAUDE

VICKI HARRISON

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL. I’VE DECIDED TO GIVE A CONSOLATION PRIZE TO ALL THE OTHER ENTRANTS – AN EBOOK OF THEIR CHOICE FROM MY BACK LIST!

So! If you had posted a photo and received a confirmation from me at the time then I have your entry and you can claim your free ebook copy. Just message me or comment below and tell me: the title of the book, and if you prefer mobi or pdf. If you’ve read all my ebooks, I can give you one for a friend or family member.

Sadly, I didn’t have as many entries as I’d hoped, and this is why I decided to give consolation prizes to all the entrants to say a big thank you! I will do a similar contest later this year, hoping to get more photos so I can feature my favorites on this website as a tribute to you, my precious readers! Thank you again for entering. I cherish every single photo I’ve received!

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

The winners of Effrosyni's post-a-photo contest are... Share on X

 

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

Four Amazon bestsellers on sale

Hello bookworms! I have exciting news to share today about my writing, and I am going to be short and sweet about it. Makes no sense to waste your time here, as this is a don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it kind of deal!

Are you interested in my novels but haven’t had the chance to do it yet? Or have you wound up here while surfing for books set in Greece that you can lose yourself in? If you’re looking for vivid descriptions that can transport you to a Greek paradise effortlessly, then you’ve come to the right place. And that’s not all.

Today, you can download four of my novels for a fraction of the normal price!

The Amulet is FREE today, and you can also grab the whole Lady of the Pier trilogy for the price of a cup of coffee!

The FREE offer applies worldwide. The trilogy books are on offer only in the US and the UK.

Carpe Diem, folks! YOLO, and all that jazz. You still here?

 

Take me to Amazon, James, and don't spare the horses!

 

No time to waste, folks! The offer expires soon!

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

Unmissable! Greek summer ebook sale #ASMSG #FREE #99c Share on X

 

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

Do angels exist? Here’s what I believe…

The word ‘angel’ originates from the Greek ‘aggelos,’ which means ‘messenger.’ Many angel sightings have been recorded in the Bible; these angels appeared before the faithful to offer messages that provided assistance or hope.

Actually, angels have been recorded in the scriptures of many faiths around the world. Today, especially with the use of the Internet, it is very easy to learn more about them. People are sharing online their own testimonies, whether these involve proper angelic encounters or messages received by their angels.

They say that every one of us has a guardian angel, and I believe it firmly to be so. I have always had this intense feeling that I am being protected. In my travels as a youngster around Greece and Europe, whenever I needed assistance locals would come along out of the blue to help me out without me even asking. For example, if I needed an interpreter, to lift something heavy or if I was in danger of getting stranded somewhere.

However, one particular incident stands out because it didn’t entail the assistance of a human being and, to this day, I cannot explain it unless I put it down to an angel or two…

It happened on a wintry night in London back in the 1990s. I had just watched a marvelous show in a West End theatre and was running to the bus station to catch the last bus of the day to Hythe, Kent where I was staying at the time.

It had been snowing that day and there was ice on the roads. As I was running, all of a sudden I slipped, and then, everything switched to slow motion. I felt myself getting airborne, my body tilted sideways, my legs rising up to be almost parallel to the ground. Panic struck at my heart as I realized that I was going to fall hard and hurt myself badly.

At that point, I remember thinking with dread that not only was I not going to catch that bus home after all, but that I was probably going to spend the night in a hospital bed with a broken limb or two…
And then, something incredible happened.

Just like that, and even though my legs were parallel to the ground, somehow, I landed on my feet again! It felt like an invisible hand had just turned me upright!

Stunned, but with the urgency still at hand, I kept running. I am pleased to say I did catch that bus, but the mystery I never got to solve. Over time I’ve thought, about it many times, and the only logical explanation I can give is that my angels came to my aid that night.

That was the only time an angel came to my rescue directly. As I stated earlier, they normally help me by getting kind people to offer assistance instead.

But this doesn’t mean my angels stop there. Oh no. Often, they give me messages out of the blue. More often than not, these come on the days that I feel upset, or worried about something. This is their way to confirm their presence around me and, of course, it gives me strength every time. I am not talking about the typical white feather that you may have heard of, and which I often encounter on those days even in the sea while I swim!

My angels’ messages often come unexpectedly when I read something on my computer and have the radio or the TV playing at the same time. This is a wonderful way to get messages from your angels, by the way! The odd word will come to you from both sources at the same time, i.e. you will hear it from the radio or the TV at the exact moment you’ll be reading it on your computer or book or whatever.

But you mustn’t look for it. Just have the sound playing in the background as you read, forget about it, and see what happens in a while. It also helps if you take a moment beforehand to sit quietly to talk to your angels, present the problem, and ask them to offer guidance.

Other than the above, my angels love to communicate with me by touching my face. That said, it doesn’t feel like a touch – it’s like an electric pulse that comes and goes in a split second. I get to feel it just above my eye or high on the corner of my brow at my hairline most times, and I know it’s them. I always take a moment to say thank you when this happens.

Last, but certainly not least, my angels sometimes make small things move around the house when my attention is really required!

The first time this happened was a few years back and it really freaked me out. Yet, it was quite amazing, so I feel compelled to share this with you today:

That morning, I was working on my computer at home. Before my desk, I have a pinboard. A post-it note that I had pinned on it days earlier suddenly dropped and landed on my desk before me the right way up and the right way round. It felt like it had been put there for me to read. In this note I had written a quote (a paraphrase from Rumi), which read: “I am not a drop in the ocean. I am the ocean in a drop.”

Astounded, I read it back to myself as it lay before me, as if put there by an invisible hand, and I knew that moment it was an angelic message that spoke about inner strength. Here, I must explain that I work in a windowless room. All the windows in my house were closed at the time so this couldn’t have been caused by a draft. No music was playing either – so this wasn’t a case of sound waves causing vibrations.

A week later, my shoulder began to hurt more from an injury I had suffered recently. The pain kept increasing so I went to the doc and the diagnosis was frozen shoulder. The next five months were harrowing for me and the pain indescribable, especially at night. I slept very little during these five months. Every night ,I wandered around the house for hours like a zombie seeking a modicum of comfort as I rubbed heat-inducing cream on my shoulder and cried my eyes out.

Throughout those five months, somehow, despite the upset and the exhaustion, I didn’t miss a single day at my desk writing, blogging, and promoting my novels – even on the worst days when I could only type with one hand.

Of course, during that difficult time, the angelic message I had received kept reminding me how strong I was. I could see then in hindsight that my angels had warned me things were going to get tough so I could brace myself. I am forever grateful for that message, because it told me I wasn’t going to go through the hardship alone and that truly saw me through.

As I stated earlier, the first time something moved in front of me of its own volition it really freaked me out. Since then, my angels have communicated with me in the same manner on two other occasions – in both cases, to warn me that tough times for me or my loved ones were about to start. By now, I don’t get spooked any more when things move inexplicably; I just feel really grateful for this communication and it always fills me with awe.

These messages from my angels have inspired me to write The Amulet, a delightful romantic comedy with angels that even features the aforementioned pinboard incident.

Do you feel the presence of angels around you? How do they communicate with you? Some people see or hear them, others feel their touch, and others perceive their presence through wonderful aromas, like the scent of roses when there are none around. If you know what I’m talking about, do leave a comment and share your experience with us!

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

Do angels exist? Here's what I believe #spiritual #angels #writers Share on X

 

Special offer! Sign up below and get these books for FREE!

 

 

For my delicious Greek recipes, go here
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out my  FREE guide to south Corfu!

 

A FREE book full of insights!

 

Thrilled to share today this wonderful FREE book that brims over with pearls of wisdom from 100+ successful entrepreneurs!

Want to know how people went from $0 to having full-time success online? How they stumbled at first but finally figured it out and what their secrets are?

Then you’ll definitely want to check out this AMAZING book filled with nearly 400 pages of cutting-edge insights, advice, motivation, and more.

Did I mention it’s 100% FREE?

Seriously, if you want to learn the inside secrets from 101 online entrepreneurs that have found success–ranging from podcasters, YouTubers, authors, social media moguls, coaches, consultants, and many more, then check this out.

There’s no other book in existence quite like this. It’s super cool.

Sign up now and you’ll get it for free when it’s released on July 9…

CLICK HERE

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

A #FREE book full of insights #authors #entrepreneur Share on X

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

Greek travel: Sifnos, the sparkling gem of the Aegean

Kastro, Sifnos

Pure white like a sundrenched pebble, and full of delights waiting to be found in every corner, the Cycladic island of Sifnos has the power to capture your heart and keep it forever. Then, you simply have no choice but to return again and again, retracing your steps to the same magnificent vistas, alluring beaches of fine sand, and the quaint white-washed yards that are bound to enchant you wherever you go. The same happened to me the first time I visited this island in my early twenties, and today, even though I’ve returned there several times over the years, its pull on me remains simply irresistible.

But don’t just take my word for it: walk with me today and see the beauty of Sifnos through my eyes: I promise you will be amazed, but make no mistake:  Sifnos is neither Mykonos nor Santorini. If Greek islands were women, Sifnos wouldn’t be a cosmopolitan chick, and not much of a socialite either. Sifnos would be shy and demure, yet drop dead gorgeous, an excellent cook, highly religious, and would dabble with pottery as a hobby. Hooked? Righ-y-o! Let the journey begin!

Kamares, Sifnos

As soon as the ferry docks, you’re already in love. Kamares has a ragged beauty that renders you breathless from the ferry’s deck, before you even set foot on the island. White-washed buildings perch on dark rocky soil on the side of the hill, a quaint seafront is lined with tavernas, a golden beach of fine sand stretches beyond and, above all that, an imposing mountain with a church on its very top completes the magnificent vista. The idyllic sight makes you feel small, like you have just shrunk to nothing, which is why I can never arrive at Sifnos and escape that familiar sense of awe that always catches in my throat.

For me, Kamares is the ideal place to stay on Sifnos. You can swim straight after breakfast, then have a leisurely walk around the shops. Shops, tavernas and bars will be just a stone’s throw away from your room. And even a beautiful pottery lab or two to browse through. Don’t miss the chance to visit at least one of many pottery workshops all over the island – seeing it’s an old tradition here and the artifacts are exquisite.

Rent a car or scooter, or take a bus or taxi, and explore the rest of the island from Kamares.

The island capital, Apollonia, takes its name from God Apollo and I find it suitable seeing that Apollo is the God of light and this town is simply dazzling! Apollonia is a pleasure to lose yourself in. Its whitewashed lanes and quaint edifices shine in the sunlight. The splashes of vibrant color, mainly from window shutters and flowers in the yards will find you using your camera fervently.

A short visit to the beautiful, whitewashed Monastery of Panayia Chrysopigi is a must as you drive from the capital towards the beach of Platis Yalos. Legend has it that when the Saracen pirates attempted to invade it, the Virgin Mary made a massive chunk of rock under their feet break away and plummet into the sea, taking them down with it.

A word of warning: Wandering around here in beachwear/shorts is fine but if you plan to go indoors to see the miraculous, ancient icon of the Virgin Mary, have a long skirt handy (for women) or long trousers (for men) as well as a shirt/top that covers your shoulders, otherwise you won’t be allowed entry. This is a strict rule observed in monasteries all over Greece, sometimes in churches too.

If you drive to Platis Yalos afterwards, it will start to reward you for your preference before you even get there – the stunning vista of the bay as you approach will take your breath away. Take your time to enjoy the beach. It has everything you need. Sparkling waters, fine sand, a good selection of tavernas and even more pottery on display if you feel up to it. Regarding the food: the meals you will sample in Sifnos will be exquisite no matter where you go. This is no surprise seeing that the very first famous Greek chef came from this island. His name was Tselemendes and his book, the first comprehensive cookery book that was ever published in Greece, became such a hit when it came out in the 1930s that, to this day, the word ‘tselemendes’ remains a synonym in Greek for ‘cookery book’.

Make sure to visit Kastro in the late afternoon and stay till the sunset as this can be a stunning spectacle from here. Besides, the light at this hour is ideal for taking photographs and, believe me, when you get there you’ll want to use a camera!

Kastro is a fortified cluster of ancient houses that takes you back in time and enchants you with every step you take. It was built high above the sea with walls and archways so the locals could fight off the Saracen pirates back in the day (9th century A.D.)

Make sure to scroll down to the bottom to watch a short video of me showing you around Kastro!

 

Below Kastro, at sea level, the whitewashed church of The Seven Martyrs (Epta Martyron) with its sky-blue dome is perched on the dark rock, a jewel to behold from above. A quaint stone stairway winds itself down to it, the view from the top so enchanting it always makes my heart stop.

 

Sea view from Artemonas, Sifnos at the old windmill (the site is now a tourist resort)

At a close distance From Kastro, you will find the village of Artemonas. Drive uphill to the old windmill (O Mylos tou Spitha). The view from up here is just as spectacular.

If you have several days to explore, other beautiful beaches worth visiting beside Platis Yalos are Faros and Heronissos and the one at Kastro.

I’ve already mentioned the pottery, which is a traditional profession on the island. If you visit any pottery workshops you’ll probably feel compelled to get a little souvenir. Go for a tiny quaint vase with a lid, or a proper cooking pot, if only for making the fabulous chickpea soup the Sifnos way (Revithada). It is a notorious dish in Greece, not just for being extremely tasty, but also for the unusual way in which it is cooked: The people of Sifnos make it in wood ovens, cooking the meal overnight in a ceramic pot that’s been sealed with dough around its lid. Of course, urban housewives all over Greece make it in their ovens in a similar way, baking it for about 3-4 hours only – and it does get the consistency right.

Other than pottery, there are many other types of local produce you can buy, such as: local cheeses, sweets & pastries, organic thyme honey, capers, wine, herbs, handmade jewellery, and hand-woven blankets and rugs that are made on traditional looms. 

Sifnos is a small island, which means a stay of 3-4 days is enough to adequately explore all the places of interest mentioned here. Wander around, as far and wide as you wish, and you will be rewarded with enchanting beauty in every corner. For one, everywhere you look, the hedges glint under the sunlight thanks to a stone from the local quarries used heavily for building purposes here. It is this endearing sight of the sparkling stone that has caused me to pick the name ‘Asimi’ (silver) for the fictitious Sifnos village where I set my supernatural romantic comedy, The Amulet.

Katie has a guardian angel… she just doesn’t know it. Plus, she’s falling for him.

Check it out on Amazon US  UK

Another endearing sight around the island of Sifnos involves the traditional pigeon houses that are stunning to behold and can be found everywhere, sometimes standing on their own in the middle of fields. See here for more info:

http://www.wondergreece.gr/v1/en/Regions/Sifnos/Culture/Monuments_sights/2872-Pigeon_Houses

Before you go: Watch the below short video and let my hubby, Andy, and me show you around Kastro (well, down one lane mostly, but it’s a super-pretty one!)

Excuse the evident sunburn on my back – it’s owed to the long bike rides I had on the island that time sans suntan lotion! Yeah, I know. Live and learn 😛

FOR MORE INFO ON SIFNOS, VISIT THIS EXCELLENT TRAVEL SITE FOR GREECE: https://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/cyclades.htm#Sifnos

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

#Sifnos The sparkling gem of the Aegean #Greek #travel Share on X

 

Special offer! Sign up below and get these books for FREE!

 

 

For my delicious Greek recipes, go here
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out my  FREE guide to south Corfu!

Author, participate in a huge event and get paid!

 

Thrilled to spread the word today about a huge event that I am participating in and, for the first time ever, expecting to be paid for my time and trouble. You, what? I hear you say. You see, this is not your average authors event. As you may have heard in my recent post FREE AUTHOR RESOURCES AND A NEW MINDSET FOR SUCCESS (and if you haven’t, I strongly recommend you check it out), I have recently got into affiliate marketing. I made that decision as part of my plan to grow my budding (and struggling) business in a dedicated manner from now on. As I’m excited to try this new angle, I feel compelled to write and tell you all about it. And I am excited, because:

a) The prospect of expanding my business with a new source of income for little work feels like a bonus, whether it trickles or flows for a while!

b) I have been following the person behind this event for almost a year now – that’s Matt Stone (AKA Buck Flogging) and I believe in him. I know he knows his onions. The fact he earns 6 figures per month is a proof of that, if anything. His past events have been huge successes so I know this one will be too. My decision to join forces with him when he invited me to was both an honor and a no brainer.

Matt Stone is the mastermind behind BuckBooks, ArchangelInk, Digital Freedom Academy and many other successful sites, including the one I recently signed up with as an affiliate, which is QuitN6 (Quit your job in 6 months). The site is dedicated to teaching online entrepreneurs everything they need to know so they can build their business from scratch, then grow their mailing list so they can start earning some serious $$$. But don’t let the sound of $$$ set off any scammer alerts in your head. I can assure you that Matt’s methods involve nothing but hard work and dedication, as well as a burning desire to help others succeed.

 

But I digress. Back to the specific event. As you can see, it involves a freebie. This is the incentive for the online entrepreneurs (authors included, of course!) to sign up to Matt’s mailing list.

Matt has got an army of dedicated affiliates ready to spread the word about the book.

So what is the incentive for me to sign up as an affiliate too, I hear you say?

Simple.

Matt will pitch a paid product to the new subscribers in July, and every affiliate will be earning a commission for purchases made by the people they’d brought to the landing page. The traffic each affiliate brings will have been tracked automatically.

As I said, this is new to me and I am very excited. Seeing that I don’t have many entrepreneurs but mostly fiction readers on my mailing list, I cannot blast out an announcement about the event via my newsletter. So instead, just before the event starts I will blog it here, then tweet the living daylights out of it to get entrepreneurs to sign up during the four days that the event will run (June 26-29). This is all I will have to do. Then I’ll sit back and wait for July when hopefully I will be receiving a nice little sum that I wouldn’t have earned otherwise.

Here’s the truth: Over and over again, I have been working my butt off doing promo for days, and 9 out of 10 my ROI is negative. And this leaves me feeling bummed every time. But not this time. Even if a single $ comes in for half an hour’s work to join forces with an entrepreneur as phenomenal as Matt Stone I’ll be sitting pretty.

So there you go. This entails zero cost, half an hour’s work, if that, and you’ll be in with a chance to win Paypal cash without any risk involved. I am sure you will agree this is a non brainer.

Consider this post my cordial invitation to you to sign up as an affiliate today. Added bonus: As an affiliate, you will be able to email the author directly and get a copy of the book for your own reading pleasure too!

If you choose not to go down the affiliate marketing route, you can still get your hands on the freebie.  I have read it and it has some gems in it, especially towards the end! To get your copy, just sign up for Matt’s mailing list when the event is live.

I will be blogging about it near the time so this will serve as a reminder for you. See, I got you covered either way 😉

However,  if you have a strong point to use to your advantage, I hope you will choose to participate as an affiliate. When I say strong point I mean either or both of these things:

a) A mailing list that contains only indie authors or entrepreneurs of any niche

b) A large Twitter following so you can blast the message out continuously. As I said, this is my only option and I got nothing to lose to try it!

CLICK HERE NOW TO SIGN UP AS AN AFFILIATE FOR THE EVENT

 

PLEASE NOTE!

Upon signing up, you will receive the link to your affiliate dashboard and your sign on details. When you get to your dashboard, make sure to change the tab to the FREE IBI BOOK. This page will show your affiliate links for the specific event. One is for the landing page you will be promoting, the other is to refer other affiliates to the event (the way I am doing now to spread the word!). These two links are unique to each person as you realize, so make sure to use your own and not mine, otherwise you’ll be giving me your precious commission and that won’t do 😉

Before I go: If you are an author, you may want to sign up to my mailing list just for indies, HERE. Every time I publish a post for authors I email it to this list. There are other benefits to sign up and you can find out all the details on the same page. Believe me, you do not want to miss a thing!

CLICK HERE NOW TO SIGN UP AS AN AFFILIATE FOR THE EVENT

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

Author, participate in a huge event and get paid! #authors #ASMSG #marketing Share on X

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

&nb

Book review: The Embroiderer by Kathryn Gauci

I love historical fiction set in Greece and Asia Minor, and this book was not just a fine specimen in my opinion, but one of the best and most memorable books I’ve ever read in this genre. If you loved ‘Birds Without Wings’ by Louis de Bernières, this is unmissable! I was amazed by the intricate detail in the author’s descriptions of all different eras and places. I can only imagine the kind of thorough research this feat must have taken. The story was both compelling and enchanting, and I particularly enjoyed the parts in Smyrna and Constantinople. The atrocities of war chilled my blood and the drama the main characters were constantly faced with was heart-wrenching. By the end of the book I felt overwhelmed by the journey and also felt that I’d been given a wonderful gift: the chance to experience in vivid detail life in Constantinople and Smyrna during precious times for Hellenism that came to pass long before I was born. It was therefore enthralling for me to experience all that so vividly. For example, I could almost feel the sea spray on my face as the characters walked along the Smyrna seafront! This is a truly unforgettable book and I urge all lovers of historical fiction to read it. Gauci’s story still stays with me vividly, and it’s been over a week since I finished it. Well done, to this amazing author with a uniquely lyrical style. I can’t wait to read her next book!

 

My rating

5-stars

A lyrical, enthralling journey in Greek history

 

Do you enjoy historical fiction set in Greece or Asia Minor? Trust me, you do not want to miss this gem of a book!

VISIT AMAZON  US   UK

 

The paperback is also available in Greek! Visit the site of Okeanos Publications, HERE

 

 

Read my interview with Kathryn on this blog and find out all about her amazing artistic skills!

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

An enthralling journey in Greek history @KathrynGauci #ASMSG #IAN1 Share on X

 

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

Everything you need to know about AMS campaigns

Thrilled to post this awesome tip for authors today! Those who follow my blog have often heard me rave here about Dave Chesson aka The Kindlepreneur for his indispensable blog and his out-of-the-box thinking.

Dave has created a fantastic tool for authors called KDP Rocket (update: relaunched in 2019 with the name “PUBLISHER ROCKET” and new great features!) The app has worked wonders for my keyword research, increasing remarkably my books’ visibility in Amazon searches. Now, Dave has gone and done it again by creating a 100% FREE online course where he reveals to authors a step-by-step guide to master AMS campaigns!

Any indie author worth his salt knows that AMS campaigns are currently the best way to increase book sales on Amazon. But if you’re anything like me you’ve been trying again and again to make money with these campaigns to no avail. “Yeah, why is that?” I hear you say.

This is simply because the hidden knowledge bestselling authors have been applying to make money on Amazon have been evading the rest of us.

Well, that was then… and this is NOW!

Last week I followed Dave’s FREE course which took me 2-3 hours to do, but don’t let that put you off! I did it effortlessly, and in my own time, as the course allows you to stop and pick up another time from where you’ve left off.

The course presumes you’re an absolute beginner so it starts from square one by explaining AMS campaigns and how to set them up. Even if you feel you could start at a later point, I strongly advise you don’t skip the early parts. I found a pearl of wisdom or two there myself!

 

The FREE course includes mentions to Dave’s app, KDP Rocket (PUBLISHER ROCKET) simply because it is the Alpha and the Omega of indispensable tools for keyword research on Amazon; both for the 7 keywords allowed per book on the KDP bookshelf, as well as for the long list of keywords authors are allowed to add in their Amazon ads.

Please note:

You do not need KDP Rocket (PUBLISHER ROCKET) to apply Dave’s pearls of wisdom and to increase your sales with AMS campaigns. However, using the app WILL save you hours and hours of time. This is because it can and will produce hundreds of suitable keywords for your book in a matter of minutes, including the titles of the bestselling books similar to yours!

“But… it’s not allowed to use other authors’ names and books,” some of you may say. Well, did you know that the rules that apply in Amazon ad campaigns are different to those in KDP? And yes, it is allowed and advisable to use the competition as keywords in your Amazon ads!

Dave recommends to start with 5-7 basic keywords that best describe your book. They must be popular but not too competitive.

From there, with the FREE course you will be able to expand your keyword list, finding hundreds more for your Amazon ads that can attract the right readers to your product page. The course will tell you exactly where to go to Amazon to get them!

I hope you will check out Dave’s FREE course and give it the attention it well deserves! With it, I am sure you will experience firsthand all the WOW and the A-HA moments I had while taking it.

Oh! While you’re on my site, you may want to check out this page where I’ve crammed in plenty of author resources!  Something useful is waiting for you there, without a doubt 🙂

 

If you haven’t already, check out Dave Chesson’s awesome FREE course now!

Yes! I want to increase my sales!

 

 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that the admin of this site may earn affiliate fees from any resulting sales.

 

 

SPREAD THE WORD WITH A TWEET:

#Author, check out this FREE seminar for your Amazon ads! #writers #indieauthors Share on X

 

 

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email in the ‘follow this blog’ window on the right sidebar and get to see all our future posts!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here. 

Book review: The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy by Colleen Chesebro

This is not my usual cup of tea, but I knew Colleen Chesebro’s excellent work as a blogger for a couple years and was curious about her debut novel. I am glad I decided to read it! This was a wonderful fairy tale, and in terms of the protagonist’s social relations, it was also a sweet, utterly believable YA novel that really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved Abigail’s relationship with her aunt in particular – it was terribly moving in places and the author’s vivid descriptions and excellent prose made it so lifelike for me, as if it all took place before my eyes. It was all very human, very easy to relate to, what they had to go through as they got to know and trust each other, and I loved this in the story more than anything else. Abigail’s relations with the local youngsters and the horse racing were a delight to explore and, of course, I found the fairies enchanting! I expect young teenage girls will most certainly lap up the whimsical fantasy elements in this story. The antagonist is a scary villain that I believe bordered on madness. His malice balances out perfectly the sweetness and innocence that surrounds Abigail in her world, other than that. I am really surprised this is a debut novel! It’s very well-structured and told beautifully, a real feat for an emerging author. I am already looking forward to the next installment in this delightful tale! (I received a free copy and chose voluntarily to review it.)

 

My rating:

5 stars

A heart-rending, enchanting YA fantasy I couldn’t put down!

 

Do you enjoy YA fantasy? Stories of fairy visitations, or orphaned children who make a fresh start in life in a new home? Check out this delightful book, I think you’ll love it!

AMAZON  US  UK

 

TWEET TO SPREAD THE WORD:

Enchanting! #YA #fantasy by @ColleenChesebro #ASMSG Share on X

 

Did you enjoy this post? Type your email on the ‘follow this blog’ window on this page and get to see all our future posts! Our promise: Your email will stay private with us and we’ll treat it with the utmost respect!

 

Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. For our news, free books & exclusive giveaways join our newsletter! Sample Effrosyni’s work for FREE here! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.