Writing Tips from A Beer For The Shower, CassaFire Sale Results, and Ninja News!

You are in for a treat today! We have some expert writing advice from Brandon Meyers and Bryan Pedas, the genius minds behind A Beer For The Shower. They also have a new book out, Empirical Evidence: A Novelette. It’s there first venture into science fiction and it’s free today through Wednesday, February 12 on Amazon.

Take it away, Brandon and Bryan!

Hey all, we're Brandon and Bryan from A Beer for the Shower, and as co-authors of multiple novels that have been praised by people that are not our parents, we wanted to share some of our favorite writing tips for you today.

Forget what you heard about writing with your heart and crafting what you love. That's clearly nonsense. Here's what you really need to do to reach success as a writer.

1. Don't be afraid to give up

Did you know that success means hard work? Well, trying is hard. Really hard. So if your novel doesn't sell on the first try, you should probably give up and take on something more meaningful like crochet, or start a cat collection. Bryan's currently up to 8!

Doesn't this little glimpse of paradise look better than "trying"?

2. Criticism is for the weak

If someone tells you something like, "Your novel is good but it needs work in a few spots" what they're really saying is "I hate you and I spit in your face." Also, they're probably just jealous of your infallible talent. Rather than humbly accept their criticism and better your writing skills, you should probably hire street thugs to beat them into a coma. It's only fair for them having the downright audacity to offer you their honest criticism.

3. Write to fads

Writing a truly unique story that comes from the heart is fun and all, but it's no guarantee that your book will sell. But you know what will sell? Fads. Just find whatever's popular now, write a complete ripoff with one or two minor changes, and reap in the sweet, sweet benefits of selling out!

Cheers and stay classy, guys,
Bryan and Brandon

"I hate it when authors come to schools and tell the kids write from your heart. I don't think I've ever written a single word from my heart. I write to entertain the audience." - R.L. Stein, literary genius

Ninja News

Feeling a little anti-Valentine’s? Then you need to enter Robyn’s Anti-Valentine’s Day Giveaway! She’s giving away some high quality chocolate. Visit Life By Chocolate for details.

It was another awesome posting for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Thanks to my co-hosts, Sheena-kay Graham, Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, and Mike Swift.

Don’t forget the Epic 2000 Followers Giveaway. Books for you, books for your library, t-shirts, and iTunes gift cards. Become a Google Friends Connect follower to enter.
Full details HERE. Just a few more to go!

CassaFire’s 99 Cents Promotion Results

Today, February 10, is the last day to grab my second book, CassaFire, for 99 cents on Amazon.

The sale started on February 4 and my publisher ran several ads.


The results?


Nancy Thompson caught it late Friday night while it was still rising the charts at #194! (That’s #194 out of ALL the books on Amazon!)

I caught it the following morning at #216:

I was also on several top 100 authors lists:

(Ahead of some dude name Asimov but behind some hack named Heinlein – the nerve!)

I didn’t catch it at its peak, but it was number 1, 2, or 3 in many categories, including Space Opera, and in the top ten for Science Fiction. CassaFire’s rise also bumped up sales of the other two, CassaStar and CassaStorm, placing them on several top 100 lists.

I was blown away!!!

Huge thanks to the hundreds who posted about it, sent out Tweets, mentioned it on Google+, and commented on Facebook. (I’m not even on Facebook – that is too wild!)

Mick from EBook Bargains UK caught the ad on BookBub, and since he’d seen my comments on Anne R. Allen’s blog many times, he grabbed it and added it to nine of their country listings as well. Thanks, Mick!

Once again, my heartfelt thanks. I am blessed to be a part of such an awesome community of writers and bloggers.

Final day Tweets:

“Top Gun Meets Battlestar Galactica” Alex J. Cavanaugh’s CassaFire on sale .99 http://tinyurl.com/qaz7kxr #scifi #99cents

Reminiscent of the action-driven stories of Robert A. Heinlein's early fiction - Library Journal. CassaFire only .99 http://tinyurl.com/qaz7kxr

Think Brandon and Bryan’s advice rocks? Ready to take up a cat collection? (Be sure to download their new book!) Feeling anti-Valentine’s? Enjoy last week’s IWSG? And anyone else experience great success with a book at a discounted price?

Working on my manuscript this week, so no Wednesday post. But the Ninja will be lurking…