Good Reads

As many of you know, from time to time I like to post books I've read. They're not reviews per se, but rather throwing out some good reads you might be interested in. I have to admit I've been a bit naughty and have been reading instead of writing, but I really needed the downtime. And for those that enjoy getting good deals on Kindle books, check out bookbub.com. Its a free service and everyday I get an email announcing great book deals (based on my reading preferences) from both traditional and indie authors.

So what have I read recently?

An Innocent Client by Scott Pratt

It'd been awhile since I'd read a good lawyer/courtroom drama and I am so glad I picked this one up! I really enjoyed Scott Pratt's writing style and if you're a fan of John Grisham, you might just want to read it! So glad I "discovered" Pratt's series now rather than sooner (there's already four in the series and I don't have to wait). 

The Girl Who Would Be King by Kelly Thompson

OMG! This was such a surprise read! I can't believe I stumbled upon it. If you're a fan of super heroes, kiss ass heroines, a villain you can (almost) love, this book is for you! Great storytelling, great, characters, just overall awesome sauce!! 

Blood Calling by Joshua Grover-David Patterson

I never grow tired of vampire books and I totally loved this new series by Patterson. It's a fresh new take on vamps and I totally enjoyed it. I even picked up book two (Misfits) in the series. Please (if you're reading this JGDP) put out book three already!! Blood Calling is currently FREE on Amazon. 

Gone by Christine Kersey

If you've read my books, you know I love a good parallel universe story. Totally loved the premise: an alternate reality where the government controls your weight. I know right? Half-way through reading, I got the munchies and was so thankful we're allowed to eat all the fat we want! Can't wait for book two!! Gone is currently FREE on Amazon

The Afterlife Series by Willow Rose

I haven't read many books about sprits or angels, so I don't know if I'm a good judge of this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Afterlife Series. I was totally engrossed with the story and it took me two days to read all four books in the series (I purchased the fourth book separately). 

Perception by Lee Strauss

I have to admit, it took me days to get past the first chapter, but once I did, I couldn't put this book down. It had an interesting concept (genetically altered persons or GAPs) and it's a great read if you like YA sci-fi. 

Your Legacy as an Indie

It's the second Wednesday of the month and even though the day is half-way done and over with, I thought I should still do my post for Indie Life today.

I've been thinking a lot about my own mortality lately (I know, morbid, right?), as well as the longevity of my books. What happens when I'm gone? Will my books continue to sell since I'm self-published, or will my business close shop, so to speak? What happens to my royalties? 

I decided that as an indie author, it is worth considering, as I don't have a big 10 publisher, lawyer, or agent to take care of these things if something were ever to happen to me. I mean, it's not like the notion is unheard of. When V.C. Andrews passed away, her family decided to hire a ghost writer to complete her unfinished stories, with the royalties going back into the Andrew's estate. And what about Stieg Larsson, whose Millennium Series became published after his death, with his estate and royalties going to his father and brother (which supposedly was not in his will and was against his wishes). 

So how do we, as indie authors protect ourselves from a situation like Larsson's? 

For starters, I plan to jot all my account information (Amazon, B&N, iTunes, etc.) and passwords and save them in a safe place, either in a lock box at home or safety security box at the bank. That way, my husband (or whoever is named in my will upon my death) can have access everything and can continue (or not) to keep my books published and keep the royalties rolling in. 

What about my books and or unfinished manuscripts? I'm thankful I've already been using Dropbox as a back-up for all my work. This information, as well as my computer log-in info will be stored along with all my book account info. 

Whether you're an author or not, it should always be a good idea to keep all your personal info and banking passwords in one place (safely secured, of course), to make things easier in the event something happens. We never think anything will ever happen to us and often make excuses for not putting our personal affairs in order until it's too late. 

What have you done to protect your legacy after you've gone?