A fellow superhero author, Ian Healy, is releasing the cover and pre-release info about his forthcoming novel, Champion.

On 9/30, the cover and trailer and preorders go live officially.

Preorders links are at http://localheropress.ianthealy.com

The trailer is here: CHAMPION Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/PaYM-OWJakE

The book officially goes on sale November 25th.

Check it out.

--Kev

H.E.R.O. - Malice is nearly ready for release

I've completed my edit work on H.E.R.O. - Malice, and it's off to the copy editor and WTF readers/editors (last minute readers who have a keen eye and look for things that make them say "WTF is this?" or search for inconsistencies).

I've been tweaking the character for my cover image (and the background), and have that nearly finalized as well.  If you want to see some work-in-progress on that, check the Facebook page.  I posted numerous pics http://www.facebook.com/herobooks.

I'm short on time until Friday evening to tweak the image further (won't have enough time at my primary computer).  So at this point, I'm in a holding pattern.

What to do now?  Start working on the plotlines for the next H.E.R.O. novel!  I already have two of the core ideas for it, created by situations that occurred in H.E.R.O. - Malice.

'Til next time.

--Kev

Hopping Across The Internets Jan 21th - 28th

I've gotten together with a few of my friends to introduce you to them and them to you. These folks have entertaining & educational blogs. Note that the blog hop posts (and any giveaways) will only be active from Jan 21-28, 2013.  Here they are:

What I'm doing special for this blog hop is giving away a coupon code for H.E.R.O. - New Markets (the 2nd book in the H.E.R.O. series) to make it FREE from Jan 21 - 28th.  

The first book, H.E.R.O. - Metamorphosis, is already free on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/140093
Here's the link to H.E.R.O. - New Markets on Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/140113
The coupon code to enter at the checkout is:  SR99N   to make it free.  (Make sure to hop over and "buy" the book with the coupon code by Jan 28.  Once you "buy" it, it's yours to read and download after that date, should you choose.)
Note that Smashwords allows you to download most e-book formats, so just about any e-reader can use them.  (Or, choose to download the PDF or TXT version of the books, and read them on your phone or PC!)

By the way, ever wonder how to get .mobi (or .prc) files to a Kindle via email?  Here are details:  http://kevinrau.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-get-kindle-books-from-smashwords.html 

 Robert is an author and blogger - check out his site at www.beginingsinwriting.wordpress.com.  I accidentally forgot to list him here - go check out his blog!

 Rebecca is a great lady, and an excellent comedian. Her blog gets me to laugh and brightens my day whenever I read it. You can find her here (www.sweetmotherlover.wordpress.com) And did I mention I get to call her a friend? Feck yeah!

 Vy has a hilarious blog that features recipes commentaries on things that matter to her. Warning, don't go to Vy's blog if you're hungry: you want to go devour cupcakes after reading. Here's (http://vyvacious.com/) where to find her awesomeness.

 Lanise is a great author with a hurculean task in front of her: writing four books simultaneously. Sheesh. I'm having a hard time with one. Here's (http://laniseb.blogspot.com) her site. She has some posts about her novels and some other interesting stuff. Go look.

 Fab is another begining writer with some funny posts. Her's is the newest blog of all that is here. Go (http://thewritingbean.wordpress.com/) check her out and give some love, eh?










These folks are all taking part in the blog hop. Click around, get to know them, maybe win some prizes.  

Thanks, everyone!

'Til next time.

--Kev

How to get Kindle books from Smashwords onto your Kindle

So, you're either not in the United States, or simply want to back up the indie bookseller site Smashwords instead of Amazon.  That's cool.  But, what's the easiest method of getting that .mobi file onto your Kindle?

After you buy the book on Smashwords, you will see a list of the formats at the bottom of that book's page.  On the line that states this:
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)

you will see the Download button on the right side.  Click that, and choose to save it to your PC.  (I don't have a Mac, but it should be similar).
 Now, take a look at your Kindle.  Click the menu button, and then Settings.  On page 2 of the settings (of a normal Kindle like I have), you'll see the "Send-to-Kindle E-mail" line.  They show it as something like yourname@kindle.com.  However, if you send books there, Amazon may charge you a small "upload" fee.  Heck with that!  Instead, use yourname@free.kindle.com.  It works the same way, but you must have your Kindle connected via a wireless connection to the internet.  Most of us do at home, or in a McDonald's, anywhere with a free wireless hotspot, etc.  You just can't use 3G, if you have that model for this free transfer.

 Next, open up your email program (or Yahoo in a web browser, or Hotmail, etc.).  Create a new email, with the To address being the yourname@free.kindle.com address.  Now, click Attachment and go to your Downloads folder (or wherever you chose to download that .mobi file from Smashwords).  Type in a little subject and body (doesn't matter much what it is, I tend to put the name of the book).  Click Send.

Now, the first time you do this, Amazon will reject it, and send you an email warning you that XXXX@XXX is trying to send a book to your Kindle, and do you want to allow it.  Click their line to allow it, and then go to the Sent folder of your email and re-send that email.  In the future, you won't have to do this.

That's it!  It's an easy method to save the .mobi, and then just email it to the Kindle.  No connecting cables, dragging files around, etc.

By the way, this also works with the .prc files for Kindle (Amazon felt special, and had to use their own file extension, but they are really .mobi files with a different name).


Hope that helps!

'Till next time.

--Kev

Interview on Kay Dee Royal's Blog

I'm featured this week on Kay Dee Royal's Paranormal & Erotica Romance Musings blog.  Check it out!

We're giving away a PDF copy of H.E.R.O. - New Markets (the 2nd book in the series, as the 1st is always free) to one random person who leaves a comment at the bottom of the blog post.

Here's the link to her blog:  http://kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com/2012/12/kevin-rau-hero-series-interview-giveaway.html?zx=aa679d62d3c1c5b7



'Til next time.

--Kev

Interview with Lance, Rael and Steph by Ravencraft's Romance Realm

Kay Dee Royal at Ravencraft's Romance Realm did an interview of the three main characters of H.E.R.O. - Metamorphosis.  Here's the link:

Kevin Rau ~ Stephanie, Lance, Rael, Story-Star Interview  ~ H.E.R.O. - Metamorphosis  http://ravencraftrealm.blogspot.com/2012/11/kevin-rau-stephanie-lance-rael-story.html 

'Til next time.

--Kev

Perfection Unleashed - ebook is free 9/18-9/20/2012

I'm passing along the notice of one of the authors I've done an interview with ... Jade Kerrion.  She's put her novel up for free on Amazon for a few days.  Grab a copy while you can...

Dear Kevin,

I wanted to let you know that Perfection Unleashed is FREE from Sept 18 - Sept 20. If you'd like to grab a free copy, now would be a good time. Also, if you could get the word out to your readers so they'd grab a copy too, that would be wonderful.

Perfection Unleashed is currently ranked #42 in the Kindle Store, and #1 overall in Fantasy and in Science Fiction. :-)

You are most welcome to use the social media links from my blog which has a page about the free days: http://www.jadekerrion.com

If you would like a short link to the Amazon product page, feel free to use this: http://amzn.to/LNw995

Thanks and best regards,

~ Jade