Using AI in the Writing Process

I remember back to ’09 when I started this blog. Unsure of how bad my stories were but deciding to learn everything I could and just publish when each story was done. Learn how to market and all other aspects of publishing while writing the next story.

Read an eBook Week 2023

I’m excited to announce that some (most) of my books will be available as part of a promotion on Smashwords to celebrate Read an eBook Week 2023! This is a chance to get some ebooks, from me or other authors, at a discount so you can get right to reading.

You will find the promo here starting on March 5, so save the link: https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos

If you wouldn’t mind taking part in promoting this celebration of Ebooks and reading, please feel free to share this promo with your friends and family. Just forward this email to anyone who would love a chance to find their next favorite book and, as the name suggests, read an ebook!

On another note, I crocheted a horse, after I finished the unicorns. You can check the unicorns out on the previous post.

This horse is not exactly the magical horse in Rider, which has 50% off for this week only.

Use the link above to check out all the discounted eBooks on Smashwords for this week only.

 

Smashwords End of Year Sale 2021

The Smashwords End of Year Sale starts on December 17th, 2021 through to January 1st, 2022.

I enrolled my first in each series ebooks in the Smashwords EOY Sale. You can find them here.

You can also discover other author’s with books on sale, via Smashwords categories here.

There’s no need to remember coupon codes. You will receive the discount automatically by adding books to your carts during the sale.

I also published two short stories this month, and they are now rolling out to all publishing distributors.

Do you read or write Epic Fantasy?

There is a Kickstarter running at the moment for a series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, called The Return of the Fey.

What is really good is for each stretch goal, there is another book to read as well as a class on writing Epic Fantasy.

As the Kickstarter has already hit the seventh stretch goal, if you participate at the lowest level of US$5.00 or more you will receive the following:

All backers will get seven books plus the new Fey Novella to read. (Actually nine books plus the Fey Novella since one of the rewards was a trilogy.)

And for writers, there are six brand new Pop-Up classes on different topics with $900 in value. And readers, if you are not a writer, you can give the writing classes to a writer friend if you like.

Check out the Kickstarter for details of the stretch goal novels and classes.

It only has 4 days to go.

What has happened to WordPress Editor?

I am a little late with my monthly blog, so I had a surprise when clicked on Posts/New Post.

Totally different layout. I searched for a button to select “Classic Editor” or just “Old Editor” but no such button or link is available. I Googled and found possible Extensions, so can look into that later. I will struggle on with this blog for now.

Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale

I am now participating in Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sale running from 1-31 July, 2020.

If you want to get one of my books, they are all 50% off except for my $0.99 short stories.

Check them out here.

And have a look at the many other authors participating in the sale.

 

Adding POD Books Via D2D

I hope you are all keeping safe during the virus rampage and writing many stories.

I have been been accepted into Draft2Digital Beta testing of uploading print books and have been working on getting my print books back up at Amazon and IngramSpark. The process is getting easier each time I upload another interior or cover file. I just have to check that the size of the cover including the spine measurements in inches also equates to the correct pixel width and height before uploading.

So far, I have my Creating Print On Demand Interiors and Covers using Scribus 1.4.1 back up on Amazon as a print book and added the link to my book page on Tift Publishing.com. Click on the image in the right hand column to go to the Tift Publishing book page.

I will check out the IngramSpark links next.

Then, I will work through my Tracker series to get the print books back up selling, and slowly work through all the back list, each afternoon leaving the mornings for writing, etc .

I also played in Photoshop creating the wings for a fairy to put on the cover of a short story I wrote months ago. Will work on the background next.

https://djmills.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/fairymergedweb.jpg

Please all take care and stay safe away from the virus. And keep writing.

 

 

Smashwords Read an Ebook Week

I have entered my ebooks in Smashwords Read An Ebook Week running from 1 – 7 March, 2020.

If you want to get 50% off one of my books, or a discount on any other Smashwords author’s ebooks, visit Smashwords.com and check out ebooks in your genre. Also if you have friends that read ebooks, pass the word there is a sale running the first week in March.

Publishing in 2020

2019 flew past while life events took most of my time, so I will welcome 2020 in the hope I get to write many more stories and have less (or no) life events happening.

I hope you all got to celebrate with family and friends and are enjoying your holidays before the new year starts.

Tracker Series Boxed Set

Tift PUblishing has now published the complete science fiction “Tracker” series by Diane J Cornwell includes RIDER, GUARD, JUDGE, MAGE and TRACKERS. Trackers concludes the adventure of Dallas and Misty’s fight to alter the council’s control of mages across Convane and neighbouring countries, with assistance from tracker horses, dragons, and magic spells.

Bonus short story SMALL MAGIC SPELLS introduces seven year old Daria Wood.

For more details and links to purchase click here. Links will be updated as they become available.

Latest Cover Reveal

I have a cover for my latest short story.

It is a fantasy based on my Tracker series, but with a new character.

I am still checking the ebook formats, but am very happy with the cover.

New Fantasy Box Set

If you like to read about magic, horses and unicorns check out the new box set, Here Be Dragons curated by A. L. Butcher on pre-order for US$3.99.

Sales Blurb

“From fable to legend, these wondrous beasts enchant us. Healers or harmers, no one truly knows the heart and horn of the unicorn—dare you seek the answers?

A collection of tales featuring unicorns and magical horses.”

It includes Rider, the first in my fantasy Tracker series, along with 9 other wonderful stories.

Click on either image to read more about this bundle.

Want something to read over the holidays?

From now until 12th January, 2019, two of my eBooks are on sale at Smashwords. If you know someone who is looking for something to read over the holiday period, let them know or gift them one of my eBooks.

Rider, Book One in the Tracker Series, a fantasy novel, normally US$4.99 is on sale for US$0.99 at Smashwords.  Use the code AM92R at checkout to get the sale price.

Never admit to seeing ichur, the silvery residue of magic spells. Not if you want to stay under the radar of the Councillors of Convane.

Swift, a purebred tracker horse who can smell the smallest trace of ichur, can also remove the magic energy from any human or talisman.

Dallas, rider of Swift, knows how to create a spell without leaving residue, even if he is not a trained mage.

Neither Dallas or Swift admit to seeing and using the magic energy. If they did, Dallas would have his ability to see ichur removed, and Swift would be given to an approved mage by order of the council.

A new fantasy series including mages, dragons, tracker horses and more. On sale for US$0.99 until 12th January, 2019.

 

The Case of the Crop Duster Dog, a cosy mystery adventure, normally US$2.99 is on sale for US$0.99 at Smashwords. Use the code QS79W at checkout to get the sale price.

Working dogs are more than pets!

Mercy Connor, ex-Air Force cadet pilot, lives a quiet life on her cattle property west of Cunnamulla in Queensland, Australia, and takes the odd crop dusting job.

Returning from Brisbane, she picks up journalist Kenyon Smith, a stranded motorist on his way to her property. When she drives through the front gate she sees her dog Blue dead beside the track. Next moment her windscreen shatters. With Ken’s help, she deals with the attackers before she learns of her brother’s death. Suspecting the attack on her is related to her brother’s death, Mercy is determined to solve the mystery of who killed her dog and brother.

Buy The Case of the Crop Duster Dog and follow Mercy’s hunt for clues to solve this cosy mystery. On sale for US$0.99 until 12th January, 2019.

If you need help downloading and side loading to eReaders, there are instructions under the heading Reading, Sampling and Buying Books on Smashwords.

Have a relaxing holiday and a Happy New Year.

Smashwords 2018 Summer/Winter Sale

Smashwords 2018 Summer/Winter Sale starts 1 July and Tift Publishing has included most of their listed books in the sale.

Save 50% when you buy one of Diane J Cornwell’s eBooks on Smashwords using the coupon code SSW50.

Broken Series: Broken Faith, Broken Land and Broken Agreement

Tracker Series: Rider, Guard, Judge, Mage and Trackers

Sensing Danger Series: Sensing Danger, Capture and Freedom

The Case of the Crop Duster Dog

Galaxy Freight Omnibus Edition

Machani Diplomat

Jazz’s Asteroid

Divided Loyalties

And now is the time to get your copy of Creating Print On Demand Interiors & Covers Using Scribus 1.4.1 by D J Mills.

Trackers Now Published

The concluding story in my Tracker Series is now published.

I had planned for this story to be published in May or June, but better late than never.

More information and links to sites is available on the Tracker Series Tift Publishing page.

Ebook Bundles Podcast

Last post, I discussed one of my stories selected for an eBook bundle on Bundlerabbit.

Today, Joanna Penn had a podcast talk with Chuck Heintzelman, the creator of BundleRabbit. I think it is a good detailed discussion on bundling. Check it out here.

 

Also note, near the end of the talk, Chuck said if you sign up to BundleRabbit you can still get a free copy of The Author Guide to Ebook Bundling by Chuck Heintzelman. But he does not know for how long the ebook will be free on signup.

Ebook Bundles

Have you thought about participating in eBook Bundles?

BundleRabbit.com sells eBook bundles at all eBook distributors as well as on their own web site.

I have heard good things about BundleRabbit, so uploaded Rider, the first in my Tracker Series, to see how the process worked. And have been selected for an upcoming bundle.

Read an E-Book Week

I am participating in Read an E-Book Week on Smashwords from March 5, midnight to March 11, Midnight.

Tracker Series #4 Published

Mage, the fourth book in the Tracker Series has now been published as an eBook.

I had hoped to add a dragon image to the cover, but did not work with the cloudy sky in the final background. Hopefully, I can add a dragon to the next Tracker series cover. 

Planning for 2017

Looking back over 2016 plans I can say I “failed” to complete all my plans for 2016 but I did “succeed” in most of them. So a big win for me!

To end the year, I need to create the 2016 Tift Publishing Catalogue with links to published books onto Tift Publishing web site.