Thursday, March 2, 2023

Release of Audiobook of Ratchet City Tale 2

 It's been a long time coming, but I'm happy to say that the audio version of A Ratchet City Tale 2: Dee's Story has finally been released.

It seemed like I've waited forever for this one to come out. There were a few snags with ACX/Audible (and the final review took something like a month), but I'm glad to finally have it out there.

For those interested, I have promo codes that can be redeemed for free copies of the audiobook. You can snag a code at freeaudiobookcodes.com

Now that this one's done, I'll have to think about when to get started on the next audio title. It might have to sit idle for a minute, because I'm trying to finish up my next book, and I'm also debating putting something Kindle Vella. Eventually I hope to reach a point where I have audio versions of all my work. I don't know when exactly that will be, but I'm happy that I'm moving closer to that goal.


Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Audiobook Release of The Dumb Bitch

I'm very excited to report that the audiobook of The Dumb Bitch is now available!  It's something that I've been planning to do for a while, and I'm happy that I finally took the plunge.

This was my first venture into the world of audiobooks, so there was a lot to learn. That said, I enjoyed the process. It was fun creating something new and different than what I was used to.

Needless to say, hearing the book is an entirely novel experience (no pun intended).  It brings the story and characters to life in a fun new way.

Now, of course - after listening to it - I'm eager to create more audio versions of my work, so hopefully you'll see those soon.

If you haven't tried audiobooks before, here's your chance. You can now get a free 30-day trial of Audible (including a free copy of The Dumb Bitch). And if you already have Audible, you can get a promo code that can be used for a free copy of the audiobook by clicking here.  

Thanks again for all your support, and I hope you'll give the audiobook a try.





Monday, November 9, 2020

New Release: Exposure of a HomoThug

 Wow.  I had no idea it had been so long since my last post. It's amazing to think how crazy the world has gotten in such a short time. (And it may get crazier still...)

Anyway, I' thrilled to say I'm finally done with my next book, Exposure of a HomoThug, and it's currently available on Amazon.

Like my other titles, it stays keen on the subject of urban life (and love). Below is the current description:


Growing up in the hood, Micha knew there were certain unwritten rules that were sacrosanct - practically biblical commandments:

Do what you have to to get over.
Never snitch; do your time like a man.
And - above all else - never drop any hint that you might be gay. (Hell, if anybody even joked about it, you were honor-bound to break their jaw!)

Initially, Micha has no problem with any of these, but an unexpected encounter suddenly awakens something in him that he never knew existed. Feelings. Longings. Desires. Physical needs that women prove incapable of satisfying.

As Micha grapples with who and what he is, he crosses paths with Dre, a hardcore thug with a reputation for being cutthroat and ruthless - and a secret lifestyle that he'll do anything to keep hidden, including murder. Now Micah has to decide who's a friend and who's an enemy, and whether he'd prefer to live a life that's a complete lie, or risk everything to be who he is.


After taking so long, I'm obviously happy to have this one done, and I'm hoping readers will take to it like they did my other books. Thanks again to everyone for all your support.



Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Promotional Update: Free Still Works!

So, for those of you involved in indie publishing, you probably know that there was a time when free promotions - that is, giving away your book for free - was a great way to get traction.  Readers would pick up copies of the free book, and often they'd go on to read other books in the series.

These days, there seems to be an ongoing debate as to whether "free" still works as a marketing strategy.  From my perspective, based on recent results, it absolutely does!

Starting on Monday of this week, I began offering my second novel, A Ratchet City Tale 2: Dee's Story, for free.  The results were great in that the book reached the Top 100 in the Amazon Free Store and ranked #1 in multiple categories:



      Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store

Even more, the first book in the series, The Dumb Bitch, also gained in the rankings:


      Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,167 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store


The same is also true of the third book in the series, A Ratchet City Tale 3: La-La's Back!:


      Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,429 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store
Long story short, free still works!  (At least for me.)  Thanks again to all my readers for your support.





Monday, October 8, 2018

Now Available for Free: A Ratchet City Tale 2

Okay, so it's been a minute since I posted on my blog. Got busy with some things and didn't do as much on the writing front as I should have.  However, I'm back and attempting to recapture my mojo in that regard.  

https://amzn.to/2zZNCt4
I'm still working on my next book (which I hope to finish soon), but in the meantime I thought it would be worthwhile to have another book promotion.  With that in mind, I'm offering A Ratchet City Tale 2: Dee's Story, for free this week (October 8 - 12).

This one has never been part of a promotion before, so I'm hoping readers will find it compelling enough to pick up a copy and learn all about Ratchet City. I've been fortunate enough to develop a strong fan base, but I'm hoping to reach new readers who may become invested in my characters and stories.

Writing, as always, is a labor of love.  It's sometimes difficult finding the time to put words on the page, but there's always a sense of satisfaction when a book is complete - not to mention a warm fuzzy when readers post comments or reviews saying how much they like my work.

Anyway, I've gotta get back to the grind if I'm ever gonna get this next book done, but my thanks to everyone for your support thus far, and I promise to try to post - and publish! - more often.




Friday, May 26, 2017

Exceprt from "A Ratchet City Tale 3: La-La's Back"

Hi, all! It's been a minute, I know, but I've been hard at work on the third book in my Ratchet City series. I'm hoping to hit "Publish" on it in the next day or so, but in the meantime here's an excerpt:




“Have a seat. I’m Detective Collins, Shreveport Homicide.”

“Homicide,” I repeated, taking a seat in front of him. “I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no murder. I been in here for the last five years”!

“Really? Because I think you do,” he said smugly. “Ms. Deeadria Reese ring a bell? You too were like two peas in a pod before you came here.”

My jaw cracked a little. “Yeah, I know Dee. But like I said, I’ve been here the last five years. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no murder. Besides, I heard she was already locked up for killing ole girl.”

“I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about a young man by the name of Jarvis Jackson.”

Now the wheels in my head were turning. Nikki had told me about a young dude Dee stabbed because he was cheating on her. ’Bout how she had the police thinking he had beat her and his momma being the one that messed up her face.

This had to be the same dude.

Before I could speak, Detective Collins cut me off. “Ms. Harris, I understand you don’t want to be labeled as a snitch, but I promise you no one will ever know. He was fifteen when she killed him. He had his whole life ahead of him. How would you have felt if that was your little brother she put in that box?”

He was doing way too much… I said, thinking to myself.

“She’s not the person you think she is,” he continued.

I was really looking confused now, because apparently Detective Collins thought that me and Dee were still besties.

He scooted his chair a little closer. “Did you know she continued to live with your boyfriend after you were locked up?”

He said that shit like it was “a-ha” moment or something. But y'all know what? I was gone play this lil game with him.

Lights, Camera, Action.

“Detective Collins that was a long time ago.”

“There is no statute of limitation on murder, Ms. Harris,” he said, turning on the tape recorder.

I basically repeated the same story Dee had told Nikki; I added some dramatic tears and some deep breaths. “I never knew she was actually telling me the truth.” Sniffle, sniffle. “I always thought it was a story to make me think she was badder than what she claimed to be.”

Detective Collins was rubbing my hands the whole way through. “I know, I know,” he said sympathetically. “She’s very manipulative. I’ve been working this case for almost seven years. I just couldn’t let it go. I could never get enough on her to make anything stick. But now I got her!” He said like he had won a trophy. “I knew her mouth would get her in trouble one day.”

He was talking like he hated Dee, like it was more to the story than this, but that was none of my business.

“I need you to do one more thing for me”

“What’s that?” I said eyeing him suspiciously through my fake tears.

“I need you to identify on this recording who you are talking about. I’m going to have her escorted in; all you have to say is, ‘Yes this is Deeadria Reese.’ Can you do that for me?” He was so excited he looked like he was going to burst, and deep down so was I.

He signaled for Tully to bring Dee in. She looked a mess: her long hair was in a ponytail and her jumpsuit looked two sizes too big.

“Deeadrea Reese.”

She smacked her lips when she heard Detective Collins’ voice.

“Fuck you want? I’m already locked up.”

He laughed. “Yeah, you are, but not long enough. Is this the person that told you that story?”

“Yes”, I said making sure my voice was clear as crystal. “This is my best friend Deeadria Reese”

When she recognized my voice, the front of her scrubs instantly became soaked in piss.

“Who, who is that?” She began backing away.

“It’s me Dee – LaLa. I’m sorry, boo, I had to tell.”

“Tell what?” She reached up touching her dark shades.

“That you killed Jarvis on purpose because he was leaving you.”

“What, what are you talking about? I never told you…” Right then Detective Collins turned off the recorder.

“I think we have enough. I’ll be in contact with you if I need anything further, Ms. Harris”

As Officer Davis was getting ready to escort me back to my cell for the last time I asked her could I give my homegirl from the outside one last hug.

She hesitated a little but I assured her “Ma’am, this is my last night in prison. Why would I risk my freedom by doing something stupid?”

“Go ahead” she said.

I approached Dee and wrapped my arms around her; she tensed up.

I whispered in her ear, “Checkmate, bitch.”



Thursday, November 3, 2016

Finding Success with Book 2 in My Series

I mentioned it in my last post, but I thought I could expound on it a little more here: I really am addicted to checking book rankings.  I know there's nothing I can do to really do to affect them by clicking that refresh button (except for maybe prayer), but dammit, I'm hooked anyway.  That said, here's the  latest for The Dumb Bitch:


Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#32 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > African American > Women's Fiction
#33 in Books > Literature & Fiction > African American > Women's Fiction
#44 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > African American > Romance


Needless to say, there's been some slippage, I'm still very happy with how things are going.  Oddly enough, with me so hyped about how well Book 1 in the series has been doing, it's almost easy to forget that there's a Book 2 that's out:  A Ratchet City Tale 2: Dee's Story.  But when I look, there  it is, steadily climbing up the charts like The Little Engine That Could


Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,813 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)


The end result is that I now have two books in the overall Top 5000 on Amazon! It kind of blows my mind to think about it, because when I started this self-publishing journey I couldn't have imagined being this blessed. Of course, I'm a junkie now, needlessly obsessed with trying to figure out how to stay on this particular high for as long as possible.

Outside of the Almighty, I have to give thanks to my readers.  They have been so generous and encouraging with their praise that I can't help but blush. I will work hard to continue meeting their expectations - and hopefully succeed.


Pay It Forward

Also, there are many, many people - far too many to name - who continually give me a boost by retweeting my book-related tweets, sharing my Facebook posts, etc.  I am so happy for the support you've given me, and your goodwill shows the many ways in which we can all help each other achieve our goals. Thus, I will also be looking for opportunities to "Pay It Forward" (which, if you haven't seen it, is a movie with a neat - but powerful - little premise).

Thanks again to everyone for your continued support of my efforts.