Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Creating more neurotic authors: Amazon's Author Rank

A screenshot of Amazon's Author Rank listings. (Amazon.com)

By Carolyn Kellogg

October 10, 2012, 10:58 a.m.

As if intending to bring back the emotional scars of not being popular in high school, Amazon has rolled out a beta version of something called Amazon Author Rank. If you are not an Amazon bestseller, you are not going to be in the top. Go on, sit over at the loser table.
There are two sides to the Amazon Author Rank. One is the public-facing one, where the 100 top-selling authors appear. The other is for authors' eyes only -- Amazon provides authors with the ability to see their own sales data in a portal called Author Central. Now the Author Rank has been added to it.
Authors have been crying out in pain on Twitter ever since.
"Thank you, Amazon, for introducing 'Amazon Author Rank'. What a depressing start to the morning that was," tweeted award-winning horror writer Michael Marshall Smith.
Young adult author Maureen Johnson wrote, "'Are you an author? Check out your Amazon Author Rank at Amazon Author Central' Or stick your hand into this woodchipper! CHOOSE NOW"
"Breaking: Amazon proposes digital author rank displays be implanted in foreheads. Lower-rankers have to call high-rankers 'sir,' or 'ma'am,'" wrote Myke Cole, author military fantasies published by Penguin.
Novelist and screenwriter Chuck Wendig joked, "My Amazon Author Rank today is: 'Trembling Wombat.'"
None of those authors are currently sitting with the popular kids in the Top 100. So far, those Top 100 rankings, which are updated every hour, seem to be somewhat fluid. Legendary science fiction author Philip K. Dick, for example, dropped a number of spots Wednesday morning, trading ranks with Todd Burpo and the co-authors of his book "Heaven is For Real."
And it's also imperfect. Wednesday morning, Dr. Seuss appeared to be ranked 56th and 64th simultaneously. Neil Gaiman also held two simultaneous spots, 84th and 88th.
The Author Sales Rank is determined solely by sales of all of an author's books on Amazon. Because this is Amazon, there are some peculiarities. For example, the person holding the first place Amazon Author Rank is not E.L. James (2nd), James Patterson (4th) or J.K. Rowling (11th). It's Sylvia Day.
Sylvia Day is an erotic novelist whose books "Reflected in You" and "Bared to You" have followed E.L. James up the bestseller charts.
By the looks of the list, it seems that the Amazon Author Rank may be based only on recent book sales through the site. Yet that's just a guess; Amazon has not yet replied to our request for further information about the Author Rank feature.
In the meantime, for those authors who are worried about their rank: Just like being popular in high school, it may not mean all that much in the real world.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Virginia Templeton has a mind of her own and she is powerful!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Interview Friday with Virginia Templeton from Madison Montgomery's Hot Sexy Romance Novels

Joining us today is Author Madison Montgomery's main character Virginia Templeton from her mini romance novel series.

EVERY MAN WANTS HER and IT’S NEVER ENOUGH are hot sexy short stories by Madison Montgomery.

EVERY MAN WANTS HER is the first book in a series of short romantic novels about Virginia Templeton and her adventures in love. Madison Montgomery likes writing strong, female characters who get what they want no matter what, and created Virginia as a prime example of that character – beautiful, smart and confident.

The second short sexy story in the series IT’S NEVER ENOUGH, has just been released. The third story STEPPING UP HER GAME will be released in six weeks .

Virginia Templeton is a Diva...a very sexy woman who uses her good looks and dirty tricks to manipulate people and situations to her advantage. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it no matter the cost or who it hurts in the process. Virginia uses men until they bore her and then tosses them out like yesterday’s fashions, or a worn out pair of shoes.

Virginia Templeton was a character from one of Madison Montgomery's screenplays and she decided to bring her out as a fabulous diva who fits perfectly into today’s Romantic Hot & Steamy Genre.

Character Interview with Virginia Templeton

VS: Virginia, you are a powerful woman who knows her way around a man’s world. What would you say has been the biggest challenge(s) for you in Every Man Wants Her and It’s Never Enough by Madison Montgomery?

Templeton: I love a challenge but as a woman, I need to stay strong. I refuse to have any man make my decisions.

VS: I noticed that when I read both your mini novels. You are a very sensual woman, Virginia and seem very comfortable in your own skin. What tips can you share with the rest of us women so we can be as comfortable as you?

Templeton: Every woman should try to remember that without women the world would be quite boring so I try not to think too much about who I am. I do what I want and hope for the best, and if it doesn’t work out, screw it …there’s always tomorrow.

VS: An interesting outlook on life and it does show in both books too. Which character in either book would you say is the hardest to deal with?

Templeton: I can take a lot so dealing with someone tough doesn’t bother me. In the books I’m in, I just move on if I don’t care for someone. I try not to dwell on anyone or anything for long periods of time. Sometimes the tough guys melt and the weak links tend to put forth quite an effort to please me and I like that!

VS: I wonder if you feel lonely at times because you don’t let yourself get attached to the other characters. Is there anything you hate about yourself that you wish author Madison Montgomery would change about you?

Templeton: Nope!

VS: WOW, you really do have strong personality as a character in a romance novel. What is the most daring thing you would be willing to try or have done in a relationship?

Templeton: To date nothing like that has ever happened. I pretty much control my own destiny.

VS: What would you say is the number one mistake most women make in their relationships?

Templeton: Trying to be like someone else…that is never a good thing.

VS: We know you love men and having them wrapped around your finger. What is the one thing you love about men and hate about men?

Templeton: I love a man who wears jeans and a crisp white shirt and if a man smells great, there’s nothing I won’t do.

I try not to think about hating men because if I do, it all goes back to my absent father and drunk stepfather.

VS: I didn’t know that about you. One might think you have “daddy” issues. In your first book, Every Man Wants Her you are trying to divorce your husband, however, you don’t totally hate him. What was it about him that made you fall in love with him in the first place?

Templeton: His money…and I didn’t love him.

VS: That’s a little cold, but okay. You also seem willing to sleep around on your husband, which character do you wish you could have a relationship with that you haven’t yet?

Templeton: I pretty much get any man I want, but I love the idea of so many men out there to choose from.

VS: It’s been very interesting getting to know you a bit better Virginia. Thank you for coming, but before I let you go, what do you hope author Madison Montgomery will write about next?

Templeton: I never get in Madison’s way. She also has her own mind and she hates me to tell her what to do…so I don’t.

The World of Ink Network will be touring author Madison Montgomery’s debut erotic romance short story collection throughout October and November 2012. These mini novels are about a powerful woman named, Virginia Templeton.

The main character of these steamy mini novels, Virginia Templeton knows other women want her life and men just plain want her, but she’ll have to play her game carefully to get everything she wants.

About the Books:

Every Man Wants Her - Virginia Templeton can turn heads in any room and get the attention of any man she wants. She’s married to a rich, powerful businessman, but she wants a divorce. She owns a luxurious condo building, complete with a dashing man to enjoy on the side, but he wants another woman. Who is the winner or is there one?

It’s Never Enough – Virginia Templeton finds sometimes what you want in life and have is never enough. This very sexy woman who uses her good looks and dirty tricks to manipulate people is out to take advantage…Beware!

You can find out more about Madison Montgomery and her erotica romance short stories during her World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/99nlnhf

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com

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