Book Writing Voodoo

While I've been researching ways to promote and sell the book I've already written I've seen a lot of blog posts and articles recommending that you as an author have several books out a once. This sounds like a great idea. It gives your readers a few options and it gives you an opportunity to let your readers sample some of your other works in order to sell more books. I get it, I really do. 
But....
I cannot find anywhere on the internet exactly what kind of voodoo, hoodoo, hinky-jinky, black magic, devil spell authors are using to crank out books in such a hurry! 

I've been working on my second book since right after I put the first one out in January. I'm not even half-way through the book. My characters do not seem to want to cooperate with the story line or I would be farther along than I am. I've been writing (almost) every day and I still have so much left to do before I can actually finish this story. And I've also been trying to write a prequel to The Letters, partly to draw more attention to the book and because I've had several people ask me about the characters in that book. It started out well but has kind of fizzled out so it's on a shelf right now just waiting for me to pick it back up. 
I did all of that whining to say that....

Just kidding. You guys already knew that. 

I do wonder, though, how writers can bust out five complete novels in the blink of an eye. How does that happen? And I know that some people have actually worked on those cluster of stories for a really long time and just decided to release them all at the same time but I'm talking about those writers who are publishing a new book every one to two months. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET? I really need to know what the secret is for slinging out stories like this. It's not even for the marketing aspect of it for me at this point. I'm genuinely curious to know how one does something like this. Is there a formula or something I'm missing? I need someone to enlighten me on this so that I can see if I am capable of it as well because right now I'm pretty much in Limbo while my characters are just screwing with me. 

Do you have a special formula for cranking out book after book? Or are you struggling to get your next project out like I am? Do you know the voodoo spell? 

The Letters Playlist

My playlist for The Letters 
These are some of the songs I listened to while I wrote the book and some of the songs that I would use in the soundtrack if it were to ever be made into a movie. Some of these songs I listened to while writing and then some just make me thing of the characters or the story. 


What do you think of my playlist? Do you like any of these songs? If you've read The Letters do you think they fit with the story? 

The Letters Blog Tour Sign Ups!! March 8th - 30th - Review Opportunities & Giveaways!

I am looking for bloggers interested in helping me promote my book with a blog tour! The tour is planned for March 8th - 30th. This will include review opportunities. I will send you a review copy in the eBook format of your choice. Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways, and Promos are also available. 

The Letters  Ella Drayton  Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Romance  Brodie Barrett is a widowed mother of a 10 year old girl and a homicide detective for the Birmingham Police Department. Everything seems fine in her world until her ex-fiance, Keaton Maddox walks back into her life. She's ready to start a new life with Keaton but he's also got a pregnant girlfriend working at his restaurant. Things at work start heating up for Brodie when someone decides to send her love letters at work. These aren't your ordinary love letters, though! These letters leave clues for Brodie to find bodies of her admirer's victims. Who could be sending these letters and why do they want Brodie to find the bodies?

31 Days of Better Blogging: Day 20 - Reader Survey + Get The Letters for $0.99!!

Today you are supposed to create a survey for your readers. As a blogger, feedback is very important. I like to know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong that way I can continue to grow my blog in a positive way. If everyone hates my layout, I would want to know so that I can change it to something more user friendly. 
As a thank you for filling out my survey, you will receive a coupon code to get my book The Letters for $0.99 from Smashwords in the format you wish. I will send you the code as soon as I receive your e-mail address from the survey. 

Thank you for supporting this blog! 

31 Days of Better Blogging: Day 19 - Change It Up + Link Up & Giveaway!!

Today's challenge is to change things up on your blog. I was fully committed to seeing this challenge through by changing up stuff with my blog layout BUT there are a lot of things going on at home right now that have needed my attention A LOT more and I've let things slip away from me. Let's just say that sometimes motherhood is very hard. 

Anywho.... As a last minute decision I decided to do a link up for anyone who is a disorganized blogger, frazzled mother, of if you're giving away an all expenses paid vacation!!  Link up your most neglected post so it can get some love! 

I'm always giving away a free ebook copy of my new book, The Letters!!

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Review Opportunity: The Letters by Ella Drayton (That's me!)

I finally finished it. My book is done. It's published. And now I need reviewers!! 
Brodie Barrett is a widowed mother of a 10 year old girl and a homicide detective for the Birmingham Police Department. Everything seems fine in her world until her ex-fiance, Keaton Maddox walks back into her life. She's ready to start a new life with Keaton but he's also got a pregnant girlfriend working at his restaurant. Things at work start heating up for Brodie when someone decides to send her love letters at work. These aren't your ordinary love letters, though! These letters leave clues for Brodie to find bodies of her admirer's victims. Who could be sending these letters and why do they want Brodie to find the bodies?
If this sounds like the type of story you would be interested in or if you believe in supporting indie writers, signup and review my book! I'd love for you to review the book on your blog but it isn't necessary. I will be happy with a review on Amazon and/or GoodReads. Even if you end up hating this book, I would still love to have your review. (Just be respectful, please.)  Hopefully, you won't hate it, though! :) 
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