Indie Reads Appreciation & Giveaway-Amber Scott

Welcome to another exciting day in the Indie Reads Appreciation Week!

This week we are celebrating Independent authors.  Quite frankly, before I started this blog, I hadn’t read any books by other than the big name authors.  I was astounded by how much talent is out there.  Yesterday, you met Norah Wilson who has writen three books that I have read – Guarding Suzannah, Saving Grace and Protecting Paige.  You also found out that I am currently giving away a copy of His Elle by Jemima Valentino as well as a Gift Card for Barnes & Noble.  If you are interested in this giveaway, just leave me a comment with your e-mail address.

Today, we are going to learn about Amber Scott.  I first “met” Amber Scott when it was suggested that I review her book, Play Fling, and then participate in “Bestseller for a Day“.  I was interested!  The idea is to see if concentrated advertising through social networks can push a book significantly up the Amazon lists – in essence, make it a bestseller in the space of the day.  It was amazing to watch this book go up and up in the ratings over the space of a day.  Amber along with some other independent authors have formed the Indie Book Collective.  They are an interesting collection of hard working authors trying to get their books marketed and sold!  The next Bestseller for a Day is on Wednesday (tomorrow) and the book being marketed is Irish Moon. Really, who wouldn’t want to read a book with a cover like that?  If you want to play along with Bestseller for a Day, follow the Twitter addresses found at the bottom of this post and have fun Twittering all day! Or simply sit back and watch what happens!

I asked Amber to send me something creative for her guest post.  She certainly is creative!  Here is what she has to say!

How I Met My Muse
By Amber Scott
© 2011 by Amber Scott

Milla likes her toenails violet, her eyeliner ebony and her jeans ripped. When it comes to romance, many genres will do. Dark paranormal, Light paranormal, historical fantasy. Even erotica. And crossing genres? She’s blends them as readily as her electric blue eyeshadow.
Milla is my muse.
Interestingly enough, I only met her–officially–six months ago.
Now, how in the world could I have completed ten manuscripts, two screenplays and published six novels before even recognizing I had a muse?
As they say, denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. Basically, for the last five years, I’ve pretended I was in charge.
You see, Milla is a spontaneous and cocky little thing. She’s a pantser through and through.  I, on the other hand, am a plotter. One of my nicknames, Anal Amber, was inspired by my love for straightening, organizing and color coordinating refrigerator magnets.
How did I not acknowledge Milla though, when I’ve clearly been listening? And, more importantly, why?
I’ve heard her and followed. I wrote every varying genre, despite my perfectionist anxiety that I should just pick one. I followed my favorite ideas down each dark tunnel and found their light. Then, a month ago, as I trotted along my well planned path, polishing one work in progress for submission, drafting another in a nice succinct rhythm, Milla put her spiked heel down.
I found myself suddenly and inexplicably obsessed with an erotica series idea that had been sitting in my mental green room for years. Milla had decided. It was time. So much so that all my waking thoughts revolved around this character and premise. To the point that I couldn’t read or edit or write another thing.
So, I tried to indulge her. I jotted down some notes thinking I’d “get it out”. And get back to work! Yeah, uh, not so much. Two weeks later, I completed a novella that knocked my own socks off. Whoa. I didn’t even know writing could be like this! No, that isn’t true. I knew it could, but somehow didn’t think it would for me. It took facing—embracing—my muse and all the fear doing so conjured in my heart.
I’d heard Milla all along. I just hadn’t seen her. I hadn’t accepted her for who she is, and therefore, I suppose, me for the author I am. What a relief! Milla’s warm and generous and contagiously enthusiastic, but watch out, she’s got heels and knows how to use them. (No wonder Charles hates my shoes—another story entirely.)

Amber loves to chat with her readers!  You can find her at:

Her Blog

Twitter

Facebook

If you are interested in Twittering for Bestseller for a day follow Amber, @RachelintheOC,  @craftycmc and have fun!