…………………………………
Congratulations! Your book Silver Line is now available for sale in iReader.
IReader Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen, specializes in the development of mobile software and wireless entertainment technology. Per their website, “IReader’s vision is to become the most outstanding mobile reading brand.”
From the perspective of an independent author and publisher, having global representation is outstanding.
Enjoy the opening of Silver Line here.
……………………………………..
Happy Holidays to all.
Here are direct links to online stores so you can easily order.
…………………………………
While we didn’t win a Silver or Gold in IBPA’s Annual Benjamin Franklin Award for General Fiction, we were thrilled with the assessment of ABSENT in the 2020 competition. First, a huge thank you to the 160 judges who reviewed close to 1,800 entries. Each entry was read by at least three judges, and as a result, we received feedback from one Design judge and two Editorial judges.
METHODOLOGY
Entries were judged on a scale of “Perfect” (10 out of 10) to (2 out of 10), “Poor.” Happily, ABSENT consistently ranked “Above Average” (6 out of 10) to “Very Good” (9 out of 10) with perfect scores for Appropriateness and General/Essentials from the Editorial judges.
DESIGN
The Design judge had an astute eye and noted we had not listed the Publisher’s name — our own little venture — (Sudbury Publishing Group) on the cover, although we did have the icon and name (very small) on the spine. We will most likely do that in the future.
The Design judge also flagged a few details that strayed from industry standards, though he/she commented: “The little symbols used to separate sections of text work well… You’ve avoided widows and orphans… The Afterword & Attributions section is well-done.” We appreciate those observations, because a lot of work went into these elements. While the Design judge ranked the cover appearance and layout “Significantly Above Average,” he/she did flag — which we know — a lack of obviousness with regard to genre and ‘what the story is about.’ Because the content crosses genres, we were going for an obscure/hopefully tantalizing presentation, but perhaps we should have provided more clues.
As the author, I was particular pleased that “Writing” was ranked “Significantly Above Average” (7 out of 10) to “Very Good” (9 out of 10), but interestingly, the two Editorial judges reflected how readers are different in their motivation and perception.
The more effusive judge wrote: “WOW! This is quite a book… the changes in (Carter’s) experiences are notable, fascinating, and thrilling!… you did a fabulous job writing this story and exploring this unusual trait (synesthesia)… awesome twist at the end” — assessing it with an “Above Average” rating.
The other Editorial judge, who was more restrained wrote: “Appealing cover with a good title… interesting plot… treatment of time travel and previous personas is quite attractive” — but gave it a higher, overall assessment (“Very good,” 9 out of 10). All judges said they enjoyed it, so that was a ‘plus.’
In summary, we couldn’t ask for a more thoughtful and supportive response. Truth is, I waffle about contests. Part of me says, “What do I need to prove?” but the other part says, “I love affirmation from my peers.” Most importantly, I’ve learned that thorough feedback can be more valuable than the prize itself. Feedback provides context, encouragement, and concrete ways to improve.
………………………………………..
All Sutherland Series ebooks future titles. are currently on sale at $2.99 each.
***
NOVEMBER 2019 — We are delighted that Tory Roof, has been selected as a Finalist in Literary Fiction in the 2019 INPE Book Awards, presented by the Independent Publishers of New England. Winners were announced at the annual conference on November 2nd, following judging by librarians and publishing industry professionals. It’s an honor to be included among so many accomplished authors and regional publishers. The Sutherland Series is produced by our own little company, Sudbury Publishing Group.
Sudbury Publishing Group had great fun at the Colonial Muster at Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA. We met the friendliest, most interesting people — and even sold some books. The theme was perfect for talking about Tory Roof, as was the season.
January 2019 — Although Tory Roof is primarily sold online in paperback and ebook format, we’re pleased to announce that the book is now available in print at the Sudbury Antique Exchange in Sudbury, MA — our first retail outlet. This is an elegant shop housed in a vintage building, not unlike the setting of the story. Here, proprietor Jeanie Quirk, shows the book at her counter. The shop is open Fridays, Saturdays, and by appointment at 236 Concord Road.
March 2019 — Tory Roof is now also available at the Wayland Depot, in Wayland, MA — a non-profit enterprise whose proceeds benefit community organizations. The store is located in a charming, historically-documented, railroad station, just north of the Rt. 20/Rt. 27 intersection light. A unique selection of original work by local artisans (and authors) is on display there.
7/30/19
Just wanted to take a moment to thank those people who have posted reader reviews of Tory Roof. I know it takes time and does not come easily to everyone, so I really appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness.
Would love to get some for Silver Line.
For professional reviewers, please note that through Publish Drive, my digital distributor, I can easily provide links to review copies (ebooks) on Apple Books and Google Play Books. These are protected copies, available for download for 28 days, that cannot be forwarded or copied beyond the intended recipient.
Or contact me with your credentials to receive a review copy in a different format.
October 2019
Take advantage of special seasonal ebook pricing on Tory Roof and Silver Line. We originally reduced the price to $3.99 each to celebrate the joy of beach reading but have extended the offer to cover blustery autumn afternoons when people want to hunker down with a good book or plan their holiday gift giving.
Here are direct links to the most popular online stores.
Books! Browsing! Conversation!
The 2019 New England Authors Expo is free to the public and promises to be fun for authors, publishers, and readers alike. I’ll be participating as part of Sudbury Publishing Group, located in the main hall. Just look for the glowing lantern, and you’ll find us.
We’ll have autographed copies of Tory Roof and Silver Line on hand, along with a sign-up sheet for future communication. Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Say hello and tell us what you’re working on, what you like to read, or where you need help with your own publishing ventures.
We look forward to meeting you and celebrating the written word.
Silver Line is a fun graduation gift for a New Adult embarking on a college adventure — or for a college student wrapping up a busy year.
The story starts on a Boston campus where Jared is a journalism student and Alexa is on a poli-sci track. They accidentally discover they can revert to their former, older selves — a rugged miner and spirited dance hall girl living in an 1860s Colorado town.
Lured by the intensity of a mature relationship and the enticement of adventure, they continue to return, but in contemporary times, become consumed trying to find the missing art from the famous Gardner Museum heist. Here they meet a stalker, shady art dealers, and a homeless man who knows a lot. They finally realize that clues to the present lie in the past.
BUY NOW $9.99 paperback on Amazon. $5.99 for Kindle, Nook, iBooks. (Costs less than a car.)
April 9, 2019 — Jill C. Baker (and the Sutherland Series) will be participating in Reedsy’s Discovery Program for new and yet-to-be-discovered books. Tory Roof and Silver Line have been submitted for review consideration. In June and/or July, they will be included in the Discovery feed, at which time visitors can read a sample chapter and vote on the book. (Please do! The more upvotes we get, the better our chances for additional publicity). At that point, a link to our profile page (which I’m allowed to preview here) will go live. BTW, there is no cost to sign up for Reedsy Discovery. Would be a great way to get a jump on your summer reading selection. The site also offers many writing and publishing resources.
February 22, 2019
The Sudbury Publishing Group is pleased to debut Jill C. Baker’s Sutherland Series, available in paperback and ebook format for Kindle, Nook, Apple, and Android devices. These are works of historical fiction with a touch of paranormal to propel the plots — all of which interweave past and present, and end with a twist.
While each of these stories stands alone, they are connected by members of the Sutherland family, all of whom, enjoy a heightened sense of awareness and can traverse time.
Baker’s goal is to create an entertaining forum for guilt-free escape, giving intelligent readers permission to wonder, “What if?” She anticipates at least four books, each focused on a member of the Sutherland family. Baker is an accomplished copywriter and media marketer who has worked for publishing leaders such as Hearst and Harte-Hanks. Most recently, she was Director of Marketing for a digital publishing provider serving the magazine industry.
Her first book, Tory Roof (released October 2018) is a woman’s story – a lush account of love and adventure that challenges Sarah Sutherland’s marriage and pits logic against longing. In trying to sell a vintage home, Sarah encounters Terrence, a fiery Revolutionary War agitator posing as a Loyalist. She is drawn to him physically and emotionally. Stepping into the shoes of her former self, she becomes a resister, a writer, and a soon-to-be mother. Parallel plots unfold in the course of year, connecting contemporary New England to true events in 1765, a time when the rumblings of independence were stirring. Forced to reconcile her two realities, Sarah begins to doubt her mental stability and turns to a psychiatrist for help. She eventually learns the people around her are not as they seem and that her life is in danger. But first, she has something important to do.
Silver Line (released February 2019) picks up with Sarah’s son, Jared, who is heading to college in hopes of becoming an investigative reporter. He had always repressed his precognitive skills, thinking them an unfair advantage, but when he meets Alexa, they discover they can revert to their older, former selves — a rugged miner and beautiful dance hall girl, living in an 1860s Colorado town. Lured by the adventure and heat of a mature relationship, they continue to return – facing a flash flood, mining accident, robbery, claim jumping threat, and smallpox epidemic. In present time, Jared is consumed by the unsolved Gardner Museum heist, bent on finding the missing artwork for an article he is writing. Unintentionally, he draws Alexa into a world of stalkers, shady dealers, and street people, including a homeless man who had witnessed the heist. Determined to propose three strong theories to help solve the crime, Jared struggles to consolidate his thinking until he realizes that clues to the present lie in the past.
Learn about Absent, the third book, at jillcbakerauthor.com.
Contact: http://sudburypublishinggroup.com
Email: info@sudburypublishinggroup.com
November, 2018 — In the upcoming months, I hope to meet many of you at author gatherings and book industry events. Happy to say, I now have bookmarkers to hand out. Good way to remember how to follow me. (Hope you will…)
