Meet My Publisher

I'm so excited to announce that The Man Test will be the first title published under the new collaborative publisher, Elephantine Publishing.

That's not all . . . I'm also a co-owner of this new publisher. It was magical the way it started. I LOVE publishing. I mean, I'm CRAZY about it. When I decided to take my destiny in my own hands and publish my first novel, I knew I wanted to create an actual publisher.  However, I didn't think I could do anything with it until much later in my life.

Then, my friends and fellow authors, Sara Panek and Heather Hildenbrand, decided to partner with me and start the company. Since then it has been an incredible whirlwind. It's amazing the synergy the three of us have together. Everything seemed to be aligned. In fact, when we got our LLC agreement notarized, there was a card holder on the front desk with little elephant heads on each end. A clear sign it was meant to be.

Elephantine is open for business! Learn more below and don't forget to buy the first Elephantine novel, The Man Test, on March 25th.

The Elephantine Story 

While sharing marketing tips and discussing cover art, independent authors Amanda Aksel, Heather Hildenbrand, and Sara Panek all came to the same conclusion; wouldn’t it be great if there was a publishing house that offered all the resources of traditional publishing, while still allowing the creative freedom of independent publishing? They set out to create their vision, and Elephantine Publishing was born.

Elephantine is a collaborative publisher. Our goal is to partner with you to turn your love of writing into a successful career for years to come. We work side by side with our authors through every step of the publishing process to create a unique and professional title to share with the world. Using strategic marketing, we provide our authors with industry tools and resources to build readership and grow sales.

Our aim is simple. We seek to provide access to all stories worth telling, whether or not the words fit into a neatly labeled box. Words that resonate in your bones. Stories you’ll never forget.

Connect with Elephantine Publishing at www.elephantinepublishing.com 

Twitter: @ElephantinePub

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elephantinepublishing

The Man Test- Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Get Your Copy of The Man Test on March 25th

&

Enter The Giveaway Below!

The Man Test by Amanda Aksel

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Publisher: Elephantine Publishing

Cover Design: Jessica Rose Goldner Bowman

Marin Johns is San Francisco’s Pollyanna couples therapist. She’s months away from wedded bliss when she discovers her fiancé is having an affair. After nursing her broken heart with Kleenex and break-up songs, she adopts a new brand of thinking when she uncovers a tell-all book that proves all men are liars and cheaters who will do and say anything so they’re not found out. No exceptions.

In an attempt to convince her friends of her newfound truth, she begins a fictitious relationship with James, a do-gooder from Montana. Marin seeks any means necessary to catch him cheating from hiring a PI to enlisting the help of a fidelity tester. Will her new "boyfriend" beat the statistic or will Marin regret the satisfaction of being right?

To learn more visit: www.amandaaksel.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaaksel
Twitter: @amandaaksel 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make Money. Change The World.

Eric Michael Pearson Photography

To Do List
1. Make Money
2. Change The World

In one way or another, if you're a driven professional who cares about others, then this list is likely the subtext of your usual "to do lists". This wonderful slogan comes from my new OBSESSION Marie Forleo.

Hope you don't mind, but you're going to get the full story of how this amazing woman has helped my life and my business in just a few days.

So, I'm crazy about this new quinoa salad recipe I discovered at Elizabeth Rider's site. Us non-dairy pescatarians have to find our flavors somewhere. It's delicious! (see below for the recipe link)

ANYWAY . . . I was browsing her site, and I stumbled on a page where she was talking about B- School and how if you're an entrepreneur you HAVE TO GO TO B-School (B stands for Business). I thought it was something Elizabeth offered, but it brought me to a site for guess who? Marie Forleo!!

I put in my name and email, and before I knew it I had watched 90 minutes worth of amazing information. Marie's story really resonated with me because she started off on the NYSE, and even though she had a nice future ahead of her, she decided she wanted to do something more creative that could help others. She experimented with diverse work until she came into coaching. Now she's making money and changing the world.

Why do I relate to her story?  I currently work as a financial advisor, but my dream is to write my stories and get them into the hands of the women who want and need them. Not to mention helping other authors learn the biz and live their dream of being a full-time author.

When I finished the videos I was so inspired, and I wanted to go to B-School. Then I discovered she had a scholarship program, which I applied for by making my first youtube video ever! You can check it out below.

Between gettin' shit done, I've been glued to MarieTV. Marie's videos are funny, entertaining, and full of wisdom for your business and your life! I've been so inspired and learned a ton, so I wanted to share my top five take aways so far.

1. Everything is Figureoutable 
          - So what if you haven't done it before, you can and WILL figure it out.

2. It's not about what you know or sell, its how you position and package it. 
          - I don't know exactly how to implement this into my business, but I'm hoping B-School will     show me.

3. ( In a Jersey Accent) If you're tawkin to everybody, you're tawkin to nobody. 
          -Narrow your audience, customer, or market to a very specific niche. You become the expert and grow in your success.

4. If you don't want to schedule it, you probably don't want to do it. 
         -If it's important don't wait, do it NOW . . .okay that was from an earlier blog, but at least put it on the calendar.

 5.The world needs that special gift that only you have. (My favorite)
          - No additional commentary needed.

If you're looking to grow your business or within your industry, please check out Marie Forleo. You'll be glad you did.

Learn more about Marie Forleo here and click here to join B-school. 

Yummy Quinoa Salad Recipe  from Elizabeth Rider

The Man Test Cover Shoot

"Give me lips. Give me sexy. Give me SCANDAL!" These were the directions given to the star during the photo shoot of my new book cover. Did I mention the star was a martini glass?

That's right The Man Test will be officially released on March 25th! The cover reveal is just around the corner so stay tuned.

If you're asking yourself why I bothered to get professional shots of a martini glass for my cover when there are so many stock photos with similar concepts, the answer is because it's ORIGINAL.

I worked with Jessica Rose Goldner-Bowman, an incredibly talented graphic artist, on this cover concept. Jessica is the designer of my branding, and I was thrilled when she agreed to design my cover. The concept not only had to work for this book, but it had to translate to my future book covers. After all, The Man Test is the first in a four part series. After brainstorming the perfect concept, we finally agreed to keep it simple, but make it fun.

You might think shooting pictures of a still martini glass would be a quick task, but the prep and shoot lasted over two hours! I love working with Jessica because she pays attention to every detail, and she's diligent about delivering a stellar product. We shot inside, outside, olives on the left, and olives on the right. The lipstick mark alone took a good twenty minutes to get it just right. I'll save the rest for the cover reveal in a few weeks.

 I want to say a big THANK YOU to Jessica. You are amazing to work with, and I'm so excited to share The Man Test cover with the world.

Don't forget to stay tuned for the final cover. I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

More on the Cover Artist:
Jessica Rose Goldner-Bowman

Jessica is a Panamanian native born in Australia who now calls Virginia Beach, VA home and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She believes that a well-executed idea has the power to change the world and is passionate about using design to mobilize change.

As a solution seeker, idea junkie and creative machine, her innovative mojo always runs parallel to market research and results. Jessica is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned dual degrees in visual design and communication.

EXPERTISE:

Creative Thinking, Graphic Design, Marketing Strategy, Copywriting, Photography, Illustration & Printing.

To learn more about Jessica Rose Goldner-Bowman and her beautiful designs visit: http://jessicarosecreative.com  

A Risk Worth Taking with Heather Hildenbrand

A Risk Worth Taking is a new adult love story that takes place in a farm town known as Grayson County. Summer Stafford forfeits her boyfriend and a life in the city to come back home to help her father. When she meets the new farmhand, Ford O'Neal, her neatly controlled world begins to spin out.

With a cast of lovable  characters, A Risk Worth Taking proves that a family is what you make it. This story is told by both Summer and Ford and makes for a steamy read. Sparks fly between the two and they're constantly drawn together like magnets. Ford's stay is only temporary, which is initially convenient until the sparks catch fire and Summer and Ford are forced to contemplate their future from different ends of the spectrum.

I loved this story because one, it made me cry, and two, for it's beautiful articulation of the human heart. The joy and pain that comes from loving another person is prevalent in all of Summer's relationships in this story.

Heather Hildenbrand is not only an awesome author, but an awesome woman. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to do an interview with her, because I truly enjoyed this book.


Amanda: You're known for your YA Paranormal Romance novels. What prompted you to explore the contemporary New Adult genre?

Heather: I wanted to try something outside of my comfort zone and I had this story idea in my head that just wouldn't quit. The writers out there will understand that part: My story just wouldn't shut up. And even though I was terrified to do it, it was a story that needed "sex."

Amanda: Summer and Ford have a deep love for each other. What makes their story so unique?

Heather: It's not so unique and that's the thing. I may have invented certain details to help make it different but when you boil it down, their fears and hopes and dreams are relatable and that's the point. I wanted to create characters who felt what we feel, who had to choose between things that we do in our lives.

Amanda: This story explores the love between two, I'll just say it, soul mates. Where did you find inspiration for such deep emotional material?

Heather: It is most definitely inspired by real life. I was fortunate enough to find someone that is so much like Ford, you might say they're the same person ;)


Amanda: There's been talk of exploring other characters in Grayson County. Are there plans for a second book?

Heather: There will be a second book, but it's not a series, so the next book will feature different main characters than the first. Maybe Casey will finally get his happy ending? 

Amanda: What do you love most about your character Summer, and why will readers love her too.

Heather: I love her emotional obstacles because they are so REAL. Her parents' divorce and then her fear of opening herself up to someone new in such a vulnerable way . . . Love is a risk, for everyone. I think readers will see their own similarities to Summer and her choices. 

Amanda: What are you working on now?

Heather: Right now, I am finishing the sequel to Imitation, my YA dystopian which I am crossing over to NA with the second installment. Can you tell I liked being outside my comfort zone?

The other thing I'm working on now is an education/coaching based company for authors called Phoenix. You get coaching and instruction as well as specific how-to answers from me about the publishing process and how the industry works so that you can be better prepared and more successful when you are ready to publish your own book. I teach everything from how to hire editors to how to market your books and build a readership that will give you FULL TIME income from writing. 

You can read more about it here: www.phoenixauthorink.com

Amanda: Wow, you can do it all. Thanks for sitting down with me, and I look forward to reading Imitation!

Read more about Heather below . . .

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She collects elephant figurines and side jobs (most recently, a stagehand at local concerts) and as a long-term goal, she can’t wait to get a pool boy, although she doesn’t have a pool.
Heather loves Mexican food and motorcycles, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.
You can find out more about her and her books at www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com
Or stalk her here:
Facebook
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
Goodreads
Newsletter

Heather is the creator of Phoenix: Author Ink, a company designed for guiding and mentoring authors through writing, self-publishing, and the business that follows. She offers coaching, mentoring, accountability, strategic planning, step-by-step instructions, checklists, and content editing for authors at all stages of their publishing career. You can visit the website at www.phoenixauthorink.com

Other titles by Heather Hildenbrand:

Dirty Blood (book 1, the Dirty Blood series)
**FREE download: Amazon  Kobo  B&N
Cold Blood (book 2, Dirty Blood series)
Amazon  Kobo  B&N
Blood Bond (book 3, Dirty Blood series)
Amazon  Kobo  B&N
Blood Rule, (book 4, Dirty Blood series)
Amazon  Kobo  B&N
Whisper
Amazon  Kobo  B&N
Across the Galaxy
Amazon  Kobo  B&N
Imitation (book 1, Clone Chronicles)
Amazon  Kobo  B&N
DreamKiller: The Complete Saga (a novella)
Amazon   Kobo   B&N

The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Julie Valerie. . . just when I thought you couldn't get any cooler you sent me this nomination for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. Wow! Thank you. Julie is an awesome women's fiction book blogger. We recently traded spaces which was a blast and this is turning out to be just as fun!

Here's the skinny on the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. . .

1. Thank the nomination giver (Julie Valerie in this case)

2. Post 7 things about yourself (who doesn't love talking about themselves?)

3. Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers of your choice and let them know they've been nominated.

4. Include the logo go the award in the post of your blog. 


I will fulfill these now. . .

Thank you Julie Valerie. It means so much that you thought of me!!

7 Things About Amanda Aksel

1. I love sleeping late on Saturday mornings, then enjoying coffee on the couch with the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy. I think that's what heaven's like.

2. I wish I could play piano and sing like Sara Bareilles. Still trying. . .

3. Emily Giffin is my favorite women's fiction author. I aspire to have a career and wardrobe like hers. 

4. My family includes an adorable little maltipoo named Lani (hawaiian for heaven).

5. I consider myself a non-dairy-pescetarian. I'm basically a vegan that eats fish. Does anyone have a better name for that? 

6. I love burgers!! My favorite is In-N-Out. I just don't eat them anymore :( 

7. The one person I hope to meet is Daisaku Ikeda.

And the blogger nominees are. . .

1. Heather Hildenbrand- True love isn't just a fantasy

2. Luxury Reading 

3. The Sirens of Suspense 

4. Chick Lit Central 

5. Miranda Dickinson

6.Chloe's Chick Lit Reviews

7. Pauline Wiles

A Conversation With Julie Valerie . . .

If you read and write women’s fiction (like me), one of the best places to find book recommendations is book blogs. Book bloggers have a huge influence with their reviews, and because they’re on the internet, their outreach could be global.

Julie Valerie’s Book Blog is one of my favorites, and it caused me to wonder about the woman behind the blog. So, I was thrilled when she agreed to do this interview.

Amanda: Julie, what inspired you to start a women’s fiction book blog?

Julie: I've always wanted to start a blog and knew from the beginning that I should pick a topic I was passionate about or risk losing interest, fall behind in posting, and eventually abandon my blog and its readers. Because I absolutely love reading and writing, I don't think I'll tire of it any time soon. (Like, never?) Each new book I read or write gives new material to explore on my blog. Because stories and storytelling are the lifeblood of what it means to be human, the possibilities for blog content are endless. There can never be too many book blogs.

Amanda: What’s the first women’s fiction novel you remember reading?

Julie: I remember getting permission to read a novel off my grandmother's bookshelf during a family vacation. I believe it was a Danielle Steele novel and from what I can remember the storyline featured a main character who falls in love with a patient who was disfigured in an accident. She later learns this patient is her husband, believed to have been killed in an automobile accident. It was a "clean" romance - one that was written without the slightest shade of gray (if you know what I mean) and I believe I was around 13. I couldn't put the book down and fell for the story hook, line, and sinker. It never occurred to me the patient might also be her husband until she unwrapped the bandages and their eyes met. Oh, my gosh. I cried!

Amanda: What’s your favorite book and why?

Julie: Favorite book: the Bible. Second favorite? Winnie-the-Pooh because something happened to me after reading it for the first time as an adult. I was in college, read it from cover to cover, and was so amazed by the writing and the author's ability to make stuffed animals come life, that while I was reading it and certainly after I put it down, I decided to get serious about my own writing. 

Amanda: What women’s fiction novel do you want to see on the big screen and who would play the protagonist?

Julie: Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern because I loved P.S. I Love You and I know it would be mawkish. In a good way. I love mawk. Protagonist? Hhmm ... Natalie Portman because the novel takes place over a long period of time and she can probably look youthful and mature all in the same film.

Amanda: You’re a writer too. What are you working on now?

Julie: I'm finishing a final draft on a (hopefully) funny book about the culture of overachieving moms behind the gates at Pimm's Academy, a fictional elementary school. I'm a mother of four and often marvel at the impossible tasks we take on as mothers in our work life, at home, and in the school life of our children. My book uses humor to expose truth, and flirts with satire much like the Desperate Housewives of Wisteria Lane (ABC TV Series, 2004-2012). I believe the title is going to be Pimm's Academy: It's Not About You. It's About Her. I imagine this to be book one in the Downward Spiral Notebook Series I've been developing.

Amanda: Is there a women’s fiction trend you wish would die?

Julie: No, not at all. All books and all trends in fiction have a place on the shelf so long as there are readers to read them. I'm so grateful for the recent rise in indie and small press publishing because I think readers are now able to get their hands on books that don't have to follow any "declared" publishing trends or have to first be vetted by a select group of people in New York. 

GREAT ANSWER, JULIE!!

  

Amanda: If you could commission any author, who would it be and what would you ask them to write about?

Julie: Jane Austen. I'd love to see what she'd write about and how she'd write it if she were alive today.

Amanda: What is the best thing about being a book blogger?

Julie: Hands down, the people you meet through blogging. Blogging is like a conversation held over a cup of tea (or coffee or glass of wine). You can sip and write, talking to yourself, and if all that's accomplished is your own fulfillment of having contributed in some small way to the word count in the universe, then that's enough. That's wonderful, really, truly. It has to be a personal journey, first and foremost. But then, you never know, someone might pass by, be interested in what you're sipping and saying, and decide to sit with you for awhile. And if that happens, well then, that's mighty fine, indeed!

Amanda: Thank you so much Julie Valerie for engaging in this fun conversation with me! I hope we can chat again soon. 

Check me out on Julie's Blog- www.julievalerie.com/amanda-aksel/

Please check out Julie Valerie, Book Blogger & Writer

Blog: “Julie Valerie’s Book Blog” www.julievalerie.com

Twitter @JBValerie: https://twitter.com/JBValerie

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JulieValerieAuthor 

Facebook Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/julie.valerie.165

Google+: gplus.to/JulieValerie

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15137376-julie-valerie