Fade to Gray is permanently free on Amazon (US only).
Description:
Fade to Gray is a hilarious account of one woman's attempt to transition
to gray as easily and as quickly as possible. From the decision to let
Mother Nature be her hair colorist to the final "colorful" outcome,
follow the author as she spends many funny and agonizing hours in the
hair salon to get a "natural look". This is one coming of (old) age
story that will have you crying tears of laughter to the very last page.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
The Power of FREE
When I began this journey to become an author over a year ago, I just wanted to write. I did not give much thought to who would actually read what I wrote.
I mean, let's face it, getting people to read your writing is difficult at best. There are so many "good" authors out there that it would take thousands of years to get to all of the books that are available. Many readers do not want to give a new author a chance and summarily dismiss them and their prose.
Which led me to this thought. If I want to get readership, why not offer my books for free? With this thought, over the past year, I have only focused on marketing my e-books when I have a free promotion going on through KDP Select. KDP Select allows the author up to 5 days each 90 days for a book enrolled in the program to be listed as free, but the book must only be marketed on Amazon, not anywhere else during the 90 days.
Since my main goal when I began this venture was to write and get eyes on my writing (not to make money from it - although that would be a nice bonus), I have gone one step further. I pulled one of my e-books from KDP Select and listed it on Smashwords. This in turn placed it on Barnes and Noble, iTunes and several other markets.
Once it was available in these other markets, I asked Amazon to match the free price. Initially, I received much push back from them and after several email requests, I gave up on Amazon matching the price.
Then, I got a brilliant idea. I asked some fellow indie authors to click on the "report a lower price" icon on the Amazon page for my e-book. Within a day, I received an email from Amazon stating that my book was now permanently free on Amazon.
You are probably wondering why I put so much effort into getting the title listed for free everywhere, right? The reason is plain and simple - readership.
After my book listed as free on Amazon, it was downloaded over 200 times in the first day! From that, I received one new review. Each day, more and more readers have downloaded the book. My little e-book has been in the #1 and #2 spots for the past week in its category:
After this, something unexpected and amazing happened.
My other titles that are not free started getting purchased. This may be a fluke or just plain good luck, but I have started to garner more readers from this one simple act of offering one of my books perma-free on Amazon.
Have any of you done this as well? And what have your results been?
I am finally giving Smashwords a try and offering one of my e-book short stories as PERMANENTLY FREE.
The cover for "Fade to Gray" has been updated and minor edits have been made to the text.
Although the e-book is currently shown as .99 on Amazon, I have notified them of the free price on Smashwords. This should trigger Amazon's price match guarantee and the price should change to free on Amazon as well in a few weeks.
Please feel free to download the e-book from Smashwords and leave a review on either Smashwords or Amazon - if you are so inclined.
If you are wondering what happened after my initial attempt to "Fade to Gray" (perma-FREE on Amazon US only), then this post is specifically for you.
The last time I colored my hair was June 15, 2013.
For the first several weeks after I had missed a month of coloring, I used a temporary color to dab on the roots. This was just to tone down the bright silver of the ever-increasing stripe of gray that covered by crown.
At month three of no color touch up, I decided to fully embrace the gray and get my bangs cut short enough to where there was no color on the ends any longer. Although there was still a wide silvery gray streak at the roots of my hair, at least my bangs were all one solid salt and pepper gray tone.
During this same time-frame, I also began experimenting with pony tails, headbands, scarves and hats that would cover the ever increasing length of gray. The wide-band head bands seemed to work the best and made the harsh transition from gray to dark auburn a little less abrupt.
Nine months into this, I became accustomed to the soft salt/pepper gray that was fully framing my face. I had even had musings of getting my hair cut short just to see what the overall blend of gray would look like without any color at all on the ends.
Just a few days ago, I gathered the courage to get every bit of color completely cut off of my hair. I now have a very short, salt/pepper gray hairstyle. Jamie Lee Curtis can be rest assured that I will not be stealing the limelight from her anytime soon.
This journey has been rough at times, especially when dealing with negative comments. Some have been rude and some have been just plain stupid.
Like these: “Your hair looks like crap.” More aptly, “Jamie Lee Curtis’s hair looks like crap since she got it cut so short and it is gray and of course yours would look the same if you get it cut that short ...”
“You really do not want to stop coloring your hair, you will look too old.”
“Your hair looks beautiful, I love that you have the courage to let it go like that.”
“No, it does not make you look old at all. You hardly have any wrinkles, so it just looks like you are prematurely gray.”
“I hadn’t noticed the last time I saw you, but did you do something different with your hair?”
The thing I have noticed most about all of these opinions during this transition from colored hair to gray hair is that everyone has an opinion – either a strong opinion for gray hair or a strong opinion against gray hair. There does not appear to be any middle ground on the subject.
Seriously, folks, it is just hair!
I did not think it would be such a huge topic of discussion from friends, family and strangers alike when I started this transition. But, apparently it is and it speaks volume for the shallowness of many people these days.
Today, I looked in the mirror and saw a nicely maturing woman in her late forties, on the cusp of becoming a half of a century old. I thought, I still look pretty good for my age.
Sometimes I feel older, sometimes I feel younger, but most days I feel the exact age that I am – almost fifty.
Every gray hair on my head has been earned through a lifetime of trials and tribulations, of jobs started and jobs ended, of relationships enjoyed and separated from. But, mostly they were born from plain old stress that takes its toll oneach one of us on a daily basis.
The main lesson I have learned from this past year's transformation is this:
Once I stopped worrying about my looks and about getting older, I became freer to experience life and not give much credence to what others think.
Fade to Gray is an adorable story that had me chuckling to myself. It
was all told as if in living color. Not just gray! The writing is down
to earth and inviting. I really enjoyed this sweet little escape from my
own "age" issues. There is a great message that I was delighted to
read. It's funny, real and emotional at the same time. The vulnerability
was realistic, relatable and touching. I applaud the author for writing
this for us all to enjoy.
Fear of the unknown and fear of getting and looking old exists and should be talked about more.
"Like
Edwards Scissorhands attacking a topiary tree, Laura proceeded to trim
and style my hair with a speed that scared me. When she was done, I saw
my new self in the mirror for the first time. As Laura stood in silence,
I sat in utter disbelief at the results of this four-hour experiment
and took a few minutes to take it all in."
Ms. Molteni's second short story doesn't have the poignancy that made
the tale of Half-Calf pull at your heartstrings, but it has a reality
that is both hard to beat and can be understood by everyone: That first
real notice one makes of growing older, and the ends you go to to accept
or deny it in your own way.
The winning story in the January 6 contest is “Fade to Gray” by S.A. Molteni.
January 6 Contest - Placement in Categories
At the closing time of the contest (noon PT January 12), “Fade to Gray” had 111 Facebook likes. “Visiting Russia by Way of Sante Fe” followed closely in this category with 100 likes. “Coffee Talk” earned third place in this category with 73 likes. “Shadow Dancer” had 35 and “Sailing, Anyone?” had 12 FB likes.
In the second category, the judges look at the persuasiveness of the high-quality
comments, not the number of comments. “Fade to Gray” lead in this
category. “Visiting Russia by Way of Sante Fe” placed second in this
category followed by “Sailing, Anyone?”, “Shadow Dancer” and “Coffee
Talk” were in a virtual tie for fourth place in this high-quality
comments category.
In the third category, all stories received at least one favorable
opinion by visitors from the Closing Arguments page. We show below one
passionate opinion for each story.
Coffee Talk” received this one opinion advocating the story for first place:
I like “Coffee Talk.” It was personal for
me. My girls are grown now but I still at times have to put the brake
on when unsolicited advice threatened to spill out when I think I should
intervene as their mother. It’s a learning process, my 91-year-old
mother tells me what to do sometimes, but I smile and say “yes, Mom”
because now I know better.
“Visiting Russia by Way of Sante Fe” received two opinions by visitors from the Closing Arguments page.
Here is one opinion:
All the work is good, especially “Fade to
Gray” and “Coffee Talk” which are both well-written pieces that I can
relate to and which I enjoyed reading. However, my vote goes to
“Visiting Russia by Way of Santa Fe.” This story starts out being a
simple travel piece with wonderful description that makes the reader
feel as if they are right there with her. Yet, it is more than a travel
pieces about meandering through Santa Fe. This story explores how art,
like music, can speak to us regardless of culture, time and/or language.
It reminds us that we need to pause and really pay attention to the
people and things around. It shows how one chance moment can become the
highlight of a trip and possible change a person’s view (or the people
herself). It shows the intimacy that women often share, even if only
strangers having a short conversation and reflection. This isn’t just a
travel piece but a story on human nature, the need to reach out and
experience life, the need to understand ourselves and others. And all
this in only 994 words!
“Shadow Dancer” received two opinions from the Closing Arguments page. Here is the opinion of one visitor:
Debby Forte’s writing had me in tears. I
visualize the “lone dancer” Debby writes about and I see a “one-way
bridge.” Time stands still and a man dances. The author and the dancer
connect together. It’s only for a moment, without any spoken words, but
there is a heartfelt communication between the two. One lone dancer is
weeping. Compassion fills my heart as I read the authors words. I see a
rainbow over a one-way bridge. It was not raining in the author’s story
but both she, and the dancer, seem to have been through a storm. I read a
message in this story. If we can dance through the tears that fall in
our lives, we can find an orchestra. Debby Forte is an excellent writer.
“Sailing, Anyone?” received several opinions advocating the story for first place. Here is one opinion:
I believe the story “Sailing” by Helen
Ostermann should win. The author’s willingness to try new things was
refreshing, as was her ability to discuss her fears and difficulties
with the boat. I also enjoyed her sense of humor.
“Fade to Gray” received much support by visitors from the Closing
Arguments page. Here is one passionate opinion that helped clinch the
first-place position in this category:
Maybe because I’m of an age when the
“signs” are all beginning to point to “Exit,” but “Fade to Gray”
really touched me. I’ve been coloring my hair for as long as I can
remember, always fighting those dark roots. And then, almost overnight
it seemed, they were no longer dark. There were, at first, only glints
of silver here and there — easily plucked out and discarded. But now,
I’d be bald if I plucked out every silver strand that has ruthlessly
taken over my hair follicles. I admire the author’s carefully chosen
prose as she weighs her decision, and applaud her ultimate bravery in
facing the inevitable head-on (no pun intended). This piece was full of
humor and insight. In it, I recognized myself and all women who struggle
in a society that worships at the feet of youth. It made me laugh at my
own vanity, as I picked up the phone to make a hair color appointment.
“Fade to Gray” earned first place in the Closing Arguments
category. “Sailing, Anyone?”, “Shadow Dancer” and “Visiting Russia by
Way of Sante Fe” tied for second place. “Coffee Talk” came in third
place in this category.
Conclusion
Despite the competition from other worthy opponents, “Fade to Gray”
placed first in all three categories and wins the first $100 contest for
2014.
We hope all the writers in the contest are pleased with the many
encouraging comments received by the readers. The stories are now on our
Archives page. Thank you to our visitors for their great comments.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Win a FREE $10 Amazon e-Card
Going to start the new year off right with another chance to win a $10 Amazon e-card.
Below are the instructions - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
ONE lucky winner will be selected from all FB likes and comments at the following link:
1) Read the short story at the above link. (Laugh at it, too - it is funny!) 2) After the last sentence of the story, there is a FB like and comment section. 3) Enter a maximum of 1 FB like and 1 comment in the appropriate sections at the above link. 4) You can also just FB like on the icon under the story if you choose not to enter a comment and still have one entry into the drawing.
5) Once done on the Midlife Collage link above, come back here and comment with "Done" or something to that effect in the comment below on this post. 6) One winner will be chosen on 1/13/2014.
I am pleased to announce that my latest short story has been accepted into a very special quarterly contest at Midlife Collage.
Please take a moment to read the story Fade to Gray and comment on it. If you have a Facebook account, a FB like would also be appreciated.
If you believe my story should win the contest, please comment in the Closing Arguments section of the contest. Winning entries must have at least one comment in the Closing Arguments section in order to be considered as eligible to win the contest.
Thank you all for the support. I really do appreciate it :-)
