The Best Day To Release Books
When I was releasing stories through publishers, I had no control over my release dates. The publisher told me when the story was being released and I had to work with that date.
Now that I’m Indie, I have total control over my release dates.
Indie writers decide on release dates based on a variety of ways. Some writers have lucky dates (for example, the 7th of every month). Some writers have set number of days between releases. Some writers always release on a specific day on a specific week (for example, the third Wednesday of the month).
The release month for my stories is usually determined by how quickly I can write these stories. It normally takes me two months to write one of the cyborg stories. Then it takes me a month for multiple rounds of edits. That means I can release a cyborg story every three months.
The actual date in that month is determined by what I personally like as a reader. I believe a writer can never go too wrong if she/he makes decisions around what readers like and want.
I prefer that releases in my favorite niches are spaced out time-wise. Having stories from fifteen of my favorite SciFi Romance writers releasing in one week stresses me out. Which story do I read first? I want to read them all on release day. It also depresses me because I know there will be weeks with NO big SciFi Romance releases.
What I do, as an Indie writer, is look at the Hot New Releases Top 100 lists on Amazon for my categories and note when other writers are releasing. I also reach out to other writers in my niche. I’ll message Cara Bristol, for example, and ask if she’s releasing a story from her awesome cyborg series that month.
If another writer’s cyborg story is releasing in the second week, I might release my story in the third week. If twelve SciFi romances from other writers are releasing in the third week, I might release my story in the fourth week.
Sometimes I’ll move months. I had originally planned to release Chasing Mayhem in August. Then I discovered that Laurann Dohner, one of my favorite cyborg romance writers, was re-releasing her 8 story cyborg series AND releasing a brand new 9th story in August. I knew I’d be reading those stories all month. I figured other cyborg romance buddies would be doing the same thing. So I moved Chasing Mayhem’s release date to September.
As for the day of the week, I usually release stories on Tuesdays. Big publishers release their stories then because it is the ideal day for making the USA Today Bestseller List. I release my stories then because, thanks to the big publishers, that’s when many readers (including myself) expect them to be released. If the story releases early, I’m happy. If the story releases later, I usually worry that I’ve somehow missed release day.
That’s my rather bizarre method of determining release dates. (grins)
Reading buddies, is there a day you prefer stories be released on? Writing buddies, how do you decide release dates?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Writing Tips | 1 Comment »
Third Scene From Chasing Mayhem
Chasing Mayhem, the next cyborg story, is releasing on September 13th (it is available for pre-order now). This week, I’m sharing the third scene.
Read the first scene here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/08/15/first-scene-from-chasing-mayhem/
Glaring white sand blew around giant boulders of the same color. The sun shone down on them. The sky was the cloudless blue of infinite possibilities.
Imee hadn’t yet arrived. Mayhem sucked back his disappointment. They’d landed the ship an easy cyborg run away from the settlement, trying to hide their sole means of off-planet transportation in the middle of four massive rock formations.
Those precautions hadn’t worked. Kralj had somehow located them.
Mayhem glanced at Menace. Their foe was unknown and that increased the danger of the mission. Kralj accessed our systems. He knew things we didn’t share with him. He’s not a simple humanoid. Conceal your footprints and pay attention to your surroundings.
Menace dipped his head. Be as wary, my friend. The warrior jogged away from him, slowly accelerating. He might not be expecting me but he IS expecting you to be here and he knows this terrain.
The warrior disappeared from view, moving at cyborg speed through a narrow corridor of stone leading in and out of the space.
That was the only opening. If it were blocked, they could climb the rock, go over that natural barrier. They were cyborgs. Humans couldn’t scale it, not unaided.
Mayhem would keep the passageway open for Imee. He placed sensors around the ship, activating a containment field few could penetrate.
Imee was his female, the one being capable of bearing his offspring. But their genetic compatibility wouldn’t earn him her loyalty, her respect, her love. She was an unknown and could be as dangerous, as deadly as Kralj, the being she served.
Mayhem would observe her before he made her aware of his presence.
And he would have some fun with his female. He stepped heavily in the sand, walking from the containment field near the ship’s ramp to one of the rock facings. Then he concealed the rest of the footprints.
He laughed softly to himself. She’d think he had disappeared into the stone.
He slid into a shadowed crevice in one of the other rocks and waited.
His female was in no rush to meet with him. The blazing hot sun had moved to the midpoint of the sky before she arrived.
He heard the hum of an engine in the distance. The sound faded too soon. His cautious female must have abandoned her transport far from the opening.
A scent drifted on the breeze, the most delectable aroma he’d ever experienced. Mayhem gulped mouthfuls of air, drawing her musk into his lungs. Frag. His cock was as hard as a dagger, pressing against his body armor.
No breeding, he reminded himself.
They would have an almost endless lifespan to enjoy each other physically. There wouldn’t be much else to do while they were trapped on the Homeland, protected to the point of boredom.
First, he’d enjoy himself, see the galaxy, face unknown opponents, be free.
After he’d satisfied his curiosity about his female.
Sand crunched, Imee’s tread light yet detectable. What would she look like? Mayhem craned his neck, watching the opening. Energy coursed through his circuits.
There was a glimpse of white, a brim of a head covering, the curve of fabric stretched over rounded metal. A helmet poked out of the shadows. It wasn’t very high off the ground. His female was short.
The helmet didn’t move.
Moments stretched.
The helmet shook once, twice, the action unnatural.
It moved farther out of the passageway. Sunlight reflected off the barrel of a long gun.
The helmet was a decoy, designed to determine if he’d shoot at her. Mayhem grinned. She was clever and he couldn’t resist having more fun with her.
He sprinted across the sand, darting from patch of shade to patch of shade. The helmet didn’t move, his female unaware of his approach. He snatched the headgear from its perch on top of the long gun, dropped it three strides away from the passageway, and then ran back to his crevice.
The gun withdrew. “What happened?” Imee’s sweet voice was edged with bewilderment. “Where did my helmet go?”
She peeked out of her hiding place and Mayhem sucked in his breath.
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Cover Reveal | Comments Off on Third Scene From Chasing Mayhem
Allie Ritch’s One Liners
I’m participating in Allie Ritch’s One Liners today
https://allieritch.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/fun-one-liners/
My one liner is…
“I’ve endured worse abuse from less beautiful beings.” — Chasing Mayhem
Mayhem, the cyborg hero, says this to Imee, the heroine.
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Allie Ritch’s One Liners
Through A Cyborg’s Eyes
One of the many fun things about a cyborg series is we get to see the heroines through the cyborgs’ eyes. The warriors bring their unique views of the world into the descriptions of the females they’re destined to love.
Here is a snippet from Chasing Mayhem…
She peeked out of her hiding place and Mayhem sucked in his breath.
His female was stunning, more beautiful than anyone or anything he’d ever seen. She had uniquely shaped brown eyes, her eyelids lacking the useless crease his had. Her skin was golden and glistened with a layer of sweat, her thermoregulation system not as efficient as a cyborg’s. Her hair was as straight as a thrown spear and as black as open space. A long scar carved her left cheek in two. RET56927 was inked under her right eye.
She wasn’t a cyborg. He’d be able to detect that.
But she had been the property of the Humanoid Alliance. His scan revealed one of their tracking devices in her right wrist.
Mayhem, being a cyborg, sees even the female he’ll love in terms of functionality and efficiency. Eyelid creases have no functionality so he deems Imee’s eyes better designed. When he describes her features, he compares them to things he knows—weapons and space travel.
Imee is a muscular female. She’s a Retriever, a bounty hunter for the Humanoid Alliance, and is super fit. But Mayhem still perceives her as being soft.
Why?
Because cyborgs have metal frames. They’re hard…all over (grins). A human’s form would, of course, be much softer, much more giving.
Mayhem also views Imee as being tiny, which makes sense because cyborgs are HUGE. All humans, male or female, would be smaller than they are. (I find that REALLY sexy. There’s nothing as thrilling to me as a hero who can pick up a heroine.)
Every cyborg is different and brings a unique perspective to his story. Mayhem values different traits and characteristics than Rage or Crash or Barrel (his free short story will be releasing in December).
This makes every story and every heroine’s description exciting.
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Through A Cyborg’s Eyes
Crash And Burn – Extra Emotional Depth
Lee Koven has reviewed Crash And Burn!
Woot!
Here’s a snippet…
“I adore Safyre. She’s loyal, stubborn, clever, and skilled, willing to put people ahead of herself. Her friendship is an amazing valuable, and she cares fiercely for people.”
Read the full review here: http://www.leekoven.com/2016/08/17/book-review-crash-and-burn-by-cynthia-sax/
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Crash And Burn – Extra Emotional Depth
Second Scene From Chasing Mayhem
Chasing Mayhem, the next cyborg story, is releasing on September 13th (it is available for pre-order now). Last week, I shared the first scene. This week, I’m sharing the second.
Read the first scene here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/08/15/first-scene-from-chasing-mayhem/
“Stay by your ship. I’ll send a being to escort you to our gates.”
“I volunteer for that duty, Kralj.” A female joined the conversation, her voice stroking over Mayhem’s balls and hardening his cock.
He straightened in his seat, his circuits humming with awareness, his stomach twisting with dread. There was only one being who’d have that impact on him.
Mayhem stifled a curse. He wasn’t ready to meet his female, not yet.
“You want him, Imee?” the male, Kralj, asked. “You don’t know what he is.”
“They’re targets. That’s all I need to know,” the female, Imee, murmured at auditory levels no human could overhear. Mayhem wasn’t human, however. He heard every word. “They escaped the Humanoid Alliance. They’re flying one of their ships. The Humanoid Alliance will want the males back and will reward me handsomely for that.”
“I haven’t given you permission to retrieve him.” Kralj made no attempt to hide his communications.
“Them,” she corrected. “And you will.” Her confidence made Mayhem smile. She was a strong female, accustomed to getting her own way.
The male made a non-committal noise. “Imee will meet you at your ship, warriors. I recommend that both of you remain there.”
The communication line closed.
Mayhem and Menace looked at each other.
“We’re not remaining here.” Menace was the first to speak. “We’ll climb over the walls, enter the settlement unannounced, search the grounds, and leave before that Kralj being realizes we’ve been there.”
“Two warriors aren’t required for the search.” Once they were within close proximity, a cyborg could sense another cyborg’s presence. “One of us should stay with the ship and ensure Imee, our escort, doesn’t salvage it for parts.”
Mayhem wouldn’t breed with his female, not yet, not until he’d had a few more adventures, explored a few more planets.
But he wanted to meet her, wanted to see if the rest of her was as appealing as her voice, as her take-no-prisoners attitude.
“I’m not sitting around the ship, playing guard duty.” Menace snorted. “Searching the settlement was my idea.”
“You had the idea but do you have the skills to complete the mission?” Mayhem argued out of habit. He wasn’t interested in the search-the-settlement assignment. Imee was his mission. He grasped the container of semi-permanent stain set on the console, the material cool against his fingers. “Scaling the walls unseen requires stealth.”
“Frag you.” His friend’s eyes glittered with humor. “My stealth abilities equal yours and I have the higher kill rate.”
“Because I gave you that last kill on Tau Ceti.” Mayhem dipped two fingers into the container and dragged his fingertips across each of his cheekbones, enjoying the primitiveness of the marking.
“You missed that last kill. You didn’t give me anything.”
“I’m giving you this.” He tossed Menace the container. “Cover your model number.”
“Which was, again, my idea.” The warrior did as he was ordered. The black marks on each of his cheeks made him appear as savage as the beings they’d soon interact with.
“You chatter about so many ideas. One of them is bound to be good.” Mayhem teased his friend.
“I had two good ideas this planet rotation alone.”
“Isn’t that your record?”
“Ha.” Menace rolled his eyes. “As usual, you’re focusing on the wrong issue. I can complete the search mission. There’s zero doubt about that. The more critical question is, ‘Can you safeguard our ship from the female?’” His voice lilted with humor. “She sounds formidable.”
She sounded sexy as all frag. Mayhem stood, eager to see the female named Imee. “She could be formidable.” He ran his hands over his weapons, ensuring his daggers remained in his body sheaths and his guns were in his holsters. “Unlike a certain arrogant ass, I don’t underestimate the enemy.”
“Unlike a certain arrogant ass with a higher kill rate and numerous great ideas, you must have meant to say.” His friend laughed. “Try not to get yourself shot this time.”
“Is that reminder for yourself?” Mayhem swaggered toward the exit. “Because if I recall correctly and, being a cyborg, I always recall correctly, you were the last warrior to get himself shot.”
“I was stunned.” The warrior followed him.
“Still counts.”
“I didn’t think Death would pull the trigger.”
Death had tried to stop them from following him, the stubborn male. Like they’d allow him to have all the fun. “You should have known he would. I would stun you any opportunity I could.”
“Which is why you’re exiting the ship first.”
“I’m exiting first because I’m the superior warrior.” A blast of hot, dry air hit Mayhem’s face as he left the confines of the ship. His systems immediately adjusted to the change in conditions. He’d battled opponents in brighter lit, hotter terrain. The Humanoid Alliance often sent cyborgs into battlefields humans refused to fight in.
“You’re the superior warrior?” Menace scoffed. “Are your processors malfunctioning?”
They must be. I’m communicating with you. He switched the conversation to their private transmission line and scanned the area around them.
It was devoid of lifeforms.
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Coming Soon | Comments Off on Second Scene From Chasing Mayhem
5 Things This Writer Learned From The Summer Olympics
I’m not the most sporty person in the world. (sheepish grin) I prefer to write about action, not participate in it. But I’ve been watching the Summer Olympics with great interest.
And it has taught me a few things about writing.
1) We’re Truly Competing Against Ourselves
Yes, every athlete at the Olympics would love to medal. Everyone would like to be the best in the world. But many athletes realize they’re not yet ready. They’re unlikely to beat top athletes like Usain Bolt and Simone Biles at these Olympics. These up and coming athletes merely wish to do their personal best.
There are 15 slots on the New York Times Bestseller List for eBooks every week. Every year, only one book wins a Romance Writers Of America Rita in each category. These goals might be unreasonable for newer writers but we CAN do our personal best. We can write the best story we’ve ever written. We can reach the most readers we’ve ever reached.
How do we do this? We learn from other writers, which leads me to the next point…
2) Improvement Is Contagious
Many athletes will have personal bests at the Olympics. Why? Because they’re competing against the best in the world. This not only pushes them to try harder but they also learn from other athletes.
We see this in Romanceland. A writer will release an innovative story, perhaps it is a unique twist on a tried-and-true premise or has a different tone or is simply an exceptionally well-written tale. This will prompt other writers to do the same, to try harder, to think differently.
There are some wonderful cyborg romances being written right now. This pushes me to bring my A game to every story, to give readers the best stories possible.
I LOVE this. It is exciting for the niche and exciting for me as a writer.
Of course, not every new writing project will be successful.
3) Things Go Wrong
An athlete could be the world champion, could be the best in the world, have the best preparation, the best trainer, the best gear, and not even medal at the Olympics. Things could go wrong on the day they compete.
I’ve experienced the same thing with the writing. I can write the best book of my life, have a wonderful marketing plan, a great cover and blurb, and then, on release day, something happens to stop readers from enjoying my book. Maybe a man with the same first name as my hero does something very, very bad. Maybe booksellers go on yet another anti-erotic romance crusade and delist the book. Maybe another writing buddy releases a book with the exact same premise the week before (this happens).
When things go wrong, athletes dust themselves off and concentrate on the next competition, the next opportunity. We should do the same. Focus on the next book.
Ignore the haters, because…
4) EVERYONE Is Criticized
Olympic athletes are some of the fittest people in the world. They’re the top amateur contestants in their fields. Yet some of them were brutally criticized for their appearances and for their performances, often by people who didn’t know shit about them or their sports.
This might seem like a negative but I found it truly freeing. If the best in the world are harshly criticized, of course, we, mere mortals, are going to be harshly criticized also. And if we’re all going to be harshly criticized, why do we give a flying fuck about criticism? Why are we even listening to these comments?
Focus on other things and…
5) Have Fun
All Olympic athletes work hard. They usually have some sort of athletic gift or natural talent for their sport. But this doesn’t guarantee success. The majority of Olympic athletes will never win an Olympic medal. They’ll never make a dollar from their beloved sport. However, they ALL can have fun. They ALL can enjoy the Olympic experience.
Success, however we define it, isn’t guaranteed for writers either. We can have talent and work really hard and still never find our readerships. But we CAN find joy in our writing. We can have fun. We can enjoy the twists and turns, the ups and downs, in this unpredictable, wildly exciting journey. That is absolutely doable.
What did you learn from the Summer Olympics?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Writing Tips | 1 Comment »
First Scene From Chasing Mayhem
Chasing Mayhem, the next cyborg story, is releasing on September 13th (it is available for pre-order now) and I’ll be sharing the first chapter over the next few weeks.
Mayhem was free.
Since the planet rotation he had been manufactured, he’d been forced to follow other beings’ commands, to adhere to an order he found unnatural. He had finally escaped the Humanoid Alliance’s cruel control, and he planned to create chaos.
He planned to create it on the small planet of Carinae E.
With Menace’s assistance, he guided the ship they’d stolen downward. White sand swirled below them, eddies of grit pinging against the metal underbody. Carinae E was unmonitored, sparsely populated, and thrillingly uncivilized.
Anything could happen.
“We should have buzzed the settlement’s watchtower.” Excitement coursed through his circuits. “That would have gotten Death’s attention.”
“Death might not have landed on Carinae E.” Menace, his friend and partner in this latest escapade, resembled him in many ways. He had the same dark-brown hair, dark-brown eyes, tanned skin. His model number was inked on his cheek and he wore the Humanoid-Alliance-issued black body armor. They were both highly trained warriors.
But they weren’t clones. There were differences between them, slight but significant. Menace’s hair was cropped short. It wasn’t as spiky and wild as Mayhem’s was.
He also didn’t share Mayhem’s appreciation for the randomness of the universe.
“Death’s female is human.” Mayhem shrugged. “He has to stop somewhere and replenish the nourishment bars she requires.”
Cyborgs could utilize the input tubes built into their ships, inserting those energy and nourishment feeds into their wrist interfaces. Humans didn’t have that capability.
“He should have returned to the Homeland,” Menace grumbled.
Most cyborgs who had found their females returned to the Homeland or other cyborg-controlled space, to the many rules and restrictions there. Females compatible with cyborgs were rare, a fluke of genetics tying a warrior to one particular female. Those ‘lucky’ enough to find their females protected them, and the best place to do that was on the Homeland.
Mayhem had no desire to ever voyage to the Homeland and he had no interest in finding his female. He enjoyed being free, having no responsibilities.
Assisting Death with protecting his female wasn’t truly a responsibility. It was merely an excuse to join him on his adventure.
Death was one of the best warriors in the galaxy. He could protect one small human female.
“He could have returned to the Homeland. We don’t know.” Mayhem loved the uncertainty of their mission. Yes, Death’s ship had been tracked to this sector and yes, Carinae E was the only planet in the sector containing life, but the cyborg and his female could have already left, moving to the next planet, the next unknown.
It was a big glorious galaxy filled with unexplored terrain and unfamiliar beings.
“If this piece-of-debris ship could distinguish cyborgs from humanoids, we’d know if he was here.” Menace smacked the console with his palm. “Our search would be over in mere moments.”
They could scan the settlement without landing on the surface.
“What would be the fun in that?” The floor shuddered under Mayhem’s booted feet as the ship touched down. He cut the engines and removed his hands from the control panel. “While searching, we can mix with the locals. Some are bound to be violent and–”
“All beings within the Refuge are under my protection.” A voice crackled over the ship’s communications system. “There’s no killing without my authorization.”
Mayhem stared at the distorted image appearing on the main viewscreen. He had planned to make a comment about killing, a task cyborgs were designed to do, a task many of them thoroughly enjoyed.
Who is he and how did he access our ship’s systems? Menace asked using their private transmission line. We blocked all incoming communications.
They were cyborgs, half organic, half machine. No being should be able to break that block.
Mayhem tried to unscramble the image and was unable to. That was another testament to the male’s skills.
“Your friend and his female aren’t in the settlement,” the unknown male informed him, using the universal language. “But you’re welcome to search it, providing you follow our rules.”
Frag that. Mayhem was done with following rules. “How do you know who we’re looking for?”
Had Death and his female been captured by the Carinae? Is that how the male knew about them?
Death was one of their best warriors but there were rumors of genetic enhancements and cloning on Carinae E. It was possible to modify a humanoid until his or her skills in battle rivaled a cyborg’s.
“I know everything.” The male’s tone was arrogant.
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Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Coming Soon | 1 Comment »
Breathing Vapor – 5 stars!
Woot! Cara’s Book Boudoir has reviewed Breathing Vapor and she likes it!
She shares…
“Breathing Vapor is an amazing book that had totally captured my heart and locked me in as a Cyborg fan! Which is why I give it 5 stars!”
Read the full review here
http://www.carasbookboudoir.com/2016/08/breathing-vapor-by-cynthia-sax-review.html
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Vapor is the most advanced cyborg the Humanoid Alliance has ever developed. He’s a finely honed weapon, a warrior without parallel, half man and half machine. No lock can contain him. No being can stop him. Whatever he wants, he takes.
He wants Mira Breazeal, the Designer’s daughter.
She’s his one temptation, his sexy target. Vapor shouldn’t crave her caresses, steal her kisses, make her scream with ecstasy. The cyborgs want her dead and they would question his loyalty if he didn’t kill her. The humans would shoot him on sight if he dared to touch her.
Their love is forbidden. Their desire could be lethal. One human and one cyborg will risk everything for a moment of passion.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Vapor-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B015UN87JC/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breathing-Vapor-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B015UN87JC/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breathingvapor-1897324-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breathing-vapor-cynthia-sax/1122718203
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/breathing-vapor
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Breathing Vapor – 5 stars!
Interview With Cara Bristol
I sat down (virtually) with Cara Bristol for a short interview. Her latest release is Destiny’s Chance, a paranormal with a twist (and a spark – grins)!
Cynthia Sax: I feel the excitement around Destiny’s Chance. What, do you think, is causing this?
Cara Bristol: The way readers react to the story! I took risks in writing Destiny’s Chance. It’s “out of the box.” If readers want to read something that isn’t a same-old, same-old trope, then they should give Destiny’s Chance a try. It has received the best reviews of any book I’ve ever written. Here’s a sampling of what readers are saying:
“Absolutely amazing and very romantic. This read had me going from the moment I started reading it. I read it front to back in one night. I just couldn’t put it down.”
“The reader will quickly learn that the author has crafted a story far outside the box, and it’s fabulous.”
“Moving on so many levels.”
“This is a beautiful tale of second chances at true love that really pulled at my heartstrings quite a bit. The romance was sizzling hot with just the right amount of kink to not be too dirty, yet definitely spicy enough to make my toes curl.”
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Destiny’s Chance?
Cara Bristol: It evolved out of the idea of envy, desiring to walk in someone else’s moccasins. Did you ever want what someone had and wish you could be him or her? In Destiny’s Chance, that’s what happens. Destiny secretly loves her best friend’s boyfriend, Chance Everett. (I emphasize that Destiny never acted on her feelings, never betrayed her friend). But fate steps in. Destiny and Zoe (her friend) are in a terrible accident, Zoe is killed, and Destiny finds that her soul has taken possession of her friend’s body. Although she feels terrible about it and wishes she could bring her friend back, she realizes that in the eyes of the world, she is now Zoe and she can love Chance the way she always wanted to. Except….what Destiny’s doesn’t know is that Chance and Zoe had broken up and Chance had secretly loved Destiny. She’s expecting to pick up the relationship; Chance is thinking as soon as “Zoe” recovers, they’ll go their separate ways.
Cynthia Sax: How does Destiny’s Chance start?
Cara Bristol: The story opens with Destiny Grable waking up in the hospital. She doesn’t know yet that her soul has taken possession of her friend’s body and that in eyes of the world, she’s Zoe Richards. Zoe’s boyfriend comes to visit her, which surprises Destiny. Why would her friend’s boyfriend come to see her?
Cynthia Sax: Will Destiny’s Chance be the first story in a series?
Cara Bristol: It’s not a series, but there’s a potential for another spin-off story between Destiny’s sister Laura and Chance’s brother Roman.
Cynthia Sax: Thank you, Cara Bristol, for joining us today!
Cara Bristol’s Website: http://www.carabristol.com
*****************************************************************************
Fate gave her a chance for love. Is she brave enough to accept it?
Destiny Grable has loved Chance Everett for as long as she could remember, but he was never interested in her until a tragic act of fate grants her heart’s desire. Now Chance is all hers—body, mind, and soul. But once they’re together, she discovers he has a kinky side she never knew about. Is she ready for it? Can she handle it? And Chance isn’t the only one with a secret. If he discovers what she’s hiding, will he still want her?
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J0CU3S2
On Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01J0CU3S2
On Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01J0CU3S2
On Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01J0CU3S2
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
