My books plus hundreds of others - Smashwords' July SALE

FREE EBOOKS (ends July 31st )

The month of July is pretty much the best month of 2015 to find Free eBooks for Young Adults (and any other eBooks, including books under the Coming of Age genre). That's because Smashwords is holding their annual Summer / Winter sale (the winter part is for those 'down under').  

Many authors have joined this sale, so there is a great selection and it's a great opportunity to fill up your reading device.  Smashwords' eBooks are available in all formats, for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Android app for Tab or smartphone; and thousands of books are on sale at Smashwords.  But, this is a limited time offer, and it ends on July 31st, (11:59 pm, 23.59 PDT (07:00 GMT Aug 1st) so don't delay.

INTERNATIONAL - NO WORRIES ABOUT REGIONS

And one more thing... on Smashwords, there's no worry about region, or country, or location when you get these books for free.  Unlike Amazon, or Apple, or most of the others, you 'purchase' these free Smashwords books anywhere. 

Of course, I've added my 7 eBooks to this sale, so they're all free until July 31, only.

Happy Reading,

Wil

Wilson James' answer to Why I Write

My books have been called inspiring.  I'd like to think they are also empowering.  But, why do I write them?  I first wrote the words below exactly 2 years ago, and I've come back to revisit that blog post because of a piece in HuffPostBooks about why famous authors write.   

In December 2009, I wrote: "I've had in my mind that I wanted and needed to write about my writing, so now I start. It is almost a year since I first published a book, and it's been an amazing ride. It was a big decision to start to publish, but I’m glad I made the choice. I will never forget the emotion that I felt the first time I held a printed copy of a book that I wrote. Since then, I’ve worked to get a number of my other books published.

In the past year, I have felt an even more astounding range of emotions as I consider that hundreds (now over 16,000 - Dec 2011) people have taken the trouble to purchase or download my stories. I suppose that humbled, excited, nervous, scared, thrilled and apprehensive are all emotions that have crossed my mind.

I got started writing simply because I wanted to get the stories from my head to a more permanent method of storage. Ever since I was a kid, I've had a bunch of story ideas rattling around in my head, but there they stayed. I experimented with writing a bit, and slowly did more and more, but it was about three years ago that I finally started writing in earnest. Sometimes, the ideas just pour out onto the computer screen, and at other times I can go weeks without writing anything new.

However it happens, I really enjoy the writing. I like creating characters and bringing them to life on the page. More importantly, I write for myself. I like Jesse Stuart's quote, “Write something to suit yourself and many people will like it; write something to suit everybody and scarcely anyone will care for it.”

There is one other quote about writing that I like, and by Paul Theroux. “Fiction gives us a second chance that life denies us.”

Whether many people will like what I write, I don’t know, but I will continue writing what I want to write, for myself."

In April 2011, I posted these words:  "My books are about empowering youth.  

• “If my stories help young people, by giving examples of kids persevering in difficult situations, then I will be very satisfied. 
• If my stories help young people overcome their own challenges, and perhaps find some inspiration, then I will be happy. 
• If my stories help young people find the tenacity and courage to succeed in their own lives, then I will be very pleased. 
• If my stories help achieve some better understanding among friends and families, then I will consider myself fulfilled.” 

The ultimate reward for writing?  

“If even one young person finds some example in one of my books that he or she can use in their own life, then I will consider that every moment I spent writing those books was the best possible way to spend that time.”

Some of my successes in Young Adult fiction writing are:

• A FAMILY LEGACY: THE WATSON WORKS -  made it into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.  A reviewer called it "Vivid Storytelling, Well Written," and said "I want to read more."  
• PLAYING THE BASEBALL CARD - reviewed as a "Great Book, Very Inspiring" and "Seriously Good Writing," and well into the top 1% at Barnes and Noble for almost a year.

A Novel in a Month? Yes, says Huff Post: Me and NaNoWriMo

Who actually writes a Novel in a Month?  Well, according to Huff Post, I do.

So, I will now admit that I’m trying to write a Novel in a Month.  Okay, actually, I’m one of seven writers profiled on The Huffington Post about writing a 50,000 word Novel in a Month, so I guess the secret is out.

Why, you ask?  What’s my personal motivation?  Hmmm…

I really need to get moving on the second book of my Prince David series.  It's about a contemporary young prince who, with the help of a small group of boys and girls, confounds the adults around him, deals with a dysfunctional family, helps others, and gets involved in challenging and diverse adventures around the world.   The first book, Prince David, Book 1: Enter the Heir is done and being edited, and the second book of the five-book series awaits.  

I really like the characters I've created, and I've got a lot of action already planned for the remaining four books, but now I need to sort out what will be in Prince David, Book 2: High Adventure.  I've been slow to work on the planning of the series so far, and being part of this NaNoWriMo will force me to get moving on this and get it done!  I know I can do it if I just keep going and don’t get distracted.  If you want to track my word count, there’s a link on the left side of the page, or click here.

How helpful is NaNoWriMo?

First off, the long title is National Novel Writing Month. As to the usefulness of NaNoWriMo?  Apparently many writers across America and around the world want try it, and many succeed.  It’s a good way of setting out time to make the writing happen, and there is a lot of support among writers, on the NaNoWriMo site and other places such as #NaNoWriMo on Twitter.  In fact, over the last few years, many very good books have been written in a short time, according to the Huff Post story that includes me.  Some have been best sellers.  

As for me, back in 2008, before I started publishing any of my work, I tried out NaNoWriMo for the first time.  The result, after a great deal of editing and worry, is A Family Legacy: The Watson Works.  It now sits in a sales rank of the top 1% at Barnes and Noble.

Will I make it?

Will I make the 50,000 words of NaNoWriMo this year?  I'll update this blog at the end of  this month.  In the meantime, follow the progress of National Novel Writing Month at Huff Post, or my tweets, or track my word count by clicking here.

Barnes and Noble sales results are amazing!

Thousands are finding my books at Barnes and Noble.  Led by Playing the Baseball Card, with 9 reviews and 31 ratings averaging 4 stars, I can report that I am amazed, astonished, and awed by the numbers of my books reaching the hands of readers through Barnes and Noble (B&N.com).  B&N has now distributed well over 30% of all the many thousands of my books in the hands of readers.  I got my latest numbers just yesterday, and as I had one of my characters saying recently, "Wow.  Just, wow."  

Playing the Baseball Card is my top book on B&N, but A Family Legacy: The Watson Works and Playing the 'Son' Card are also doing very well.  In fact, all three of those books are well into the top 1% sales rank at B&N.  Absolutely extraordinary.  I am truly awed by these kinds of numbers, and more motivated than ever to keep on writing.


Thanks for reading,
Wil

What Can Kids Do? You'd be surprised! Just look around...

A Family Legacy: The Watson Works ........ made it into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award... with some very youthful characters.  What can kids do, anyway?  You would be surprised.  The old adage about "truth being stranger than fiction" is very true when it comes to the young characters in A Family Legacy: The Watson Works.  The characters, as young as they are, are taken from real-life young people, and they are far more capable then most people will realize.  

The adults might be surprised, but the kids won't be. If you give them half a chance, kids will astound the adults around them with what they're capable of.

One of the reactions I get from my books is something like: 'Yes, but your character is awfully young to do what you've got them doing.' That reaction is usually muted and subtle, as in: 'Well, I like the story, but...'

So, I tell those adults who have read my stories that I've based my youthful characters on real kids. Maybe kids I know today, or kids I grew up with, or, just perhaps, a tiny bit out of my own past. I also find, much more frequently than I expect, news stories about youthful characters, real ones, who are doing amazing things at young ages.

I have started to Tweet about those young people, when I spot a story that supports my point of view.

A 10-year-old who wrote a book to help other kids deal with their feelings when dealing with a personal tragedy. A 12-year-old running his own company (okay... I posted about him). A 13-year-old baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame (yes, I posted about her, too). The 13-year-old who climbed Mount Everest. 14, 15, and 16-year-olds sailing around the world. 14 and 15-year-olds who survive 50 days lost at sea drifting in an open 12-foot boat. A 16-year-old hero who risks his life to save a 10-year-old boy from a partially frozen, rapidly flowing river. The list goes on.

Ask any young person, and many of them will tell you what they could do, if only given a chance, if only the adults in their lives would let them and support them. The next question is: Do the adults support them? Or, perhaps, do the adults say something like, 'Oh, you'll have to wait to do that' or 'You really think you're ready for that?'

So, what's your point of view on this? Do you think I'm exaggerating? Do you think my youthful characters are doing too much, or am I feeding back what is really happening?

I absolutely and firmly believe my youthful characters are fully capable of the feats, successes and actions that I've put into my stories. I believe it because I know it. I hope you agree. If you don't, then I welcome the challenge. Do you agree?

Wil

Who is Wilson James, author?

Who is Wilson James, author?  Here's a short version:

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and currently living on the coast in northern California. Have worked in, on, and around the water, and love to travel. I claim to be a sailor in addition to identifying myself as an author of adult and young adult fiction. 

My stories mostly target Young Adults, and describe adventures about family, loyalty, honor, tenacity and courage with various backdrops including sailing, aquatics, downhill skiing, international competition, and success at young ages, set in Europe and North America.

My books are about empowering youth.  

• “If my stories help young people, by giving examples of kids persevering in difficult situations, then I will be very satisfied. 
• If my stories help young people overcome their own challenges, and perhaps find some inspiration, then I will be happy. 
• If my stories help young people find the tenacity and courage to succeed in their own lives, then I will be very pleased. 
• If my stories help achieve some better understanding among friends and families, then I will consider myself fulfilled.” 

The ultimate reward for writing?  

“If even one young person finds some example in one of my books that he or she can use in their own life, then I will consider that every moment I spent writing those books was the best possible way to spend that time.”

Some of my successes in Young Adult fiction writing are:

• A FAMILY LEGACY: THE WATSON WORKS -  made it into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.  A reviewer called it "Vivid Storytelling, Well Written," and said "I want to read more."  
• PLAYING THE BASEBALL CARD - reviewed as a "Great Book, Very Inspiring" and "Seriously Good Writing," and well into the top 1% at Barnes and Noble.

ONE Billion Words for Smashwords - in more than 22,000 eBooks

Smashwords, the leading eBook distributor, has hit 1,000,000,000 words, in more than 22,000 eBooks by almost 10,000 authors. It was just April this year when Smashwords hit 500 million, and the speed at which the Billion word mark has been hit surprised even Smashword's founder Mark Coker, with the originally predicted date near the end of 2010.

My five... soon to be six... books are just a small part of the Smashwords numbers, but all the attention drawn to Smashwords has helped me. Thanks to Smashwords, my YA Book A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS hit the top 1% sales rank at BarnesandNoble.com, but my other titles have also done extremely well. There have been many thousands of downloads and sales of my books, and the numbers continue to increase. Look for my newest book, AIDEN'S ARRIVAL, on Smashwords, late in December.

All in all, I'm very happy with my own success, and very pleased for Smashwords!

Wil

Looking up on Barnes&Noble.com

A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS is moving up to the top 1% in sales rank at Barnes and Noble.com.

Incredible. Amazing. Awesome. Wonderful.

In other words, it's great to see that book doing so well. It almost makes me want to keep writing... in fact, I am. Stay tuned for news about a new release before the end of the year.

Wil

All summer at top 2%

It's the end of the month, and guess what? A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS has spent the summer in the top 2% sales rank at Barnes and Noble.com. Have to say I'm really happy about that. Oh; and by the way, it's still FREE in multiple eBook formats at Smashwords, where it has been on the TOP TEN page for YA fiction downloads for SIX MONTHS.

A couple of other very positive stats: Playing the Baseball Card has continued to stay in the top 2% and Playing the 'Son' Card is keeping will above the 5% mark at Barnes and Noble.com

Happy reading, Wil

Top 2% sales rank at Barnes and Noble.com - "A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS"

I was very recently pleased to see "Playing the 'Son' Card" hit the top 5% sales rank at B&N.com but this is even better; now "A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS" is well into the top 2% Sales Rank at Barnes and Noble.com.

For the last four months, "A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS" has consistently stayed in the top ten for downloads at Smashwords young adult fiction, but I am extraordinarily happy to see the latest figures from Barnes and Noble. I sincerely hope it is being enjoyed.

Wil

What would you say to your younger self - if you could?

I saw an interesting blog post by YA author Sarah Mlynowski. Her new novel, Gimme a Call, due out this week, is about a high school senior who accidentally drops her cell phone in a fountain. When she fishes it out, she discovers the only call she can make is to herself—as a high school freshman, at age 14.

Sarah went to twitter, and asked others what they would tell their younger selves if they had a magic phone. The responses are certainly interesting, and worth a look.

I responded with: Hey, 14-year-old self... That dream? Now a book http://bit.ly/AFL-TWW about a kid who made a difference! It's dedicated to you.

The book I'm referring to is A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS (The eBook is now Free). That was my first published book, and the ideas and dreams that have followed are the inspiration for my other books. So... now you know.

Hope you read, and enjoy.

Wil

Thousands of Downloads and Sales of the Books of Wilson James

Thousands of downloads and sales of fiction titles by Wilson James. That’s an incredible statement to be able to make, and excited does not even begin to describe the emotions I feel about that reality. My five multi-format eBooks can be found at Smashwords, and are now also available for the iPad at the iBookstore. When I decided to make my books widely available less then four months ago, I could never have dreamed or imagined that they would be so well received, and I'm thrilled by that.

Two of my titles have made it to the top of the best sellers list for young adult fiction and one has made it to #1 on adult fiction in the drama genre. I’m amazed and humbled by that, and I’d like to share my work even more. Three of my titles are still FREE on Smashwords, one is ‘set-your-price,’ and I’m going to offer my #1 Best Seller FREE for a limited time. Here’s the lineup:

PLAYING THE ‘SON’ CARD – still free. (A 5-star rating, and top 15 on the most downloads list for YA fiction at Smashwords)

A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS – still free. (At #8 on the most downloads list for YA fiction at Smashwords)

PLAYING THE BASEBALL CARD – still free. (In the top 5% on most downloads list for YA fiction at Smashwords)

ROBERT’S RIDE – ‘set-your-price’ from zero to any amount. (Made it to #1 on YA Best Seller list at Smashwords after only 6 weeks)

SONS and BROTHERS in SEATTLE. (Made it to #1 on YA Best Seller list and to #1 on adult fiction (drama) Best Seller list at Smashwords. Normally $4.99, but use code GV22M and GET IT FREE until April 30^th

Hope you have a look, and

Happy Reading,

Wil

FREE e-BOOKS for "Read an eBook Week"

It’s read an eBook week (March 6^th – 13^th) and I have FREE eBooks to celebrate!

I can’t claim to have originated the idea, but I fully support the “Read an e-Book Week” sponsored by Smashwords and over 30 other e-Book publishers and retailers. While I also like the printed book, the ease-of-use of newer e-readers and reader-software for computers makes it possible to carry hundreds of books around. What’s more, there are places you can find on the web to get samples of books, so you can browse just as you would do in a book store. SMASHWORDS is one example of a site where you can sample up to 50% of books before you buy. That’s right! You can read up to half of the book before deciding to buy! It doesn’t get any better or more convenient than that.

If you don’t have a Kindle® or other e-reader, you can still find really good software for reading on a computer. My preferred choice is a product called ‘MOBIPOCKET READER.’ I use it all the time myself, and it makes my laptop turn into the same thing as an e-reader worth hundreds of dollars. This software is very easy to install and use, and with the text-flow feature, can use the full screen to display pages. You can adjust the size and type of font for reading, and the software will also convert PDF and DOC files to the correct MOBI format. If you are downloading eBooks to read, you can just download in MOBI format, the same format that Kindle® uses. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

To do my part in celebration of “Read an e-Book Week,” I will continue to offer four of my books for FREE. They are all available in multiple formats (including for Kindle®) at SMASHWORDS:

• SONS and BROTHERS in SEATTLE (enter code PX99P at checkout to get it free)
• PLAYING THE ‘SON’ CARD (my second-most popular book)
• A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS (now my most popular book)
• PLAYING THE BASEBALL CARD

My most recent book, ROBERT’S RIDE, is listed as “name your price” on Smashwords. That means you can get it for FREE, or you can elect to pay something for it. The choice is yours

So, that means 5 of my fiction titles are yours for FREE, in celebration of “Read an e-Book Week.”

I also recommend a site, FREE ONLINE NOVELS, where all of the eBooks are FREE, including mine! Of course, you can find my FREE eBooks at SMASHWORDS, and you can find all of my published print books and eBooks at LULU.com.

However and whatever you read, I wish for you,

Happy reading,

Wil

My FREE e-Books

This weekend's blog entry is an overview of my books, but I’m featuring my free e-books. I’ve been writing for a while, but only started publishing my stories in the last year. I’ve published eight books ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 words and all available on LULU, but the four featured books listed in this Blog are all free (in multiple formats for all e-readers such as Kindle®) on SMASHWORDS.

I have listed all of them as Young Adult stories, although some may have cross-over appeal to general adventure fiction. I have kept half of them free to download, just to see what kind of response I can get. Knowing that there are plenty of authors out there with lots of competition for readers, I decided free e-books might be a way of building interest.

Happy Reading,

Wil James

PLAYING THE ‘SON’ CARD (This is my most downloaded book, and it’s Free!)

At age 9, Troy Evanson lost his father in an accident. Ever since then, he’s been steadily losing confidence in himself and his ability to make his way in the world. He’s stopped doing all the things he did with his Dad and he’s just barely hanging on. The kids at school have started to pick on him, and Troy has become the victim of bullies. He hates school, and he hates being around people. Any kind of socializing has become torture.

Now, at age 12, he has a one-time chance to change his life and start new. Will he meet the challenge, or will he remain the victim his has become? Will he be able to pull himself together and become the man that his Dad was trying to help him to be, or he forever be the lost little boy whose life ended with his father died?

Find out if this is the uplifting story we all hope for. Find out what choices Troy makes in PLAYING THE ‘SON’ CARD.

SONS and BROTHERS in SEATTLE (FREE for a limited time!)

Cameron Connors is a young father trying to deal with a mother who likes the idea of children, but otherwise appears not to like her own. Cameron has managed to get his own two young sons away from his mother, but now he needs to rescue Brendan, his younger brother. As Cameron has learned over the years, his mother can be quite two-faced, and heaven help anyone who crosses Mrs. Rachael Connors. Cameron and his mother are currently in a state of cease-fire, but that could change dramatically based on what Cameron has planned for the next few weeks in order to challenge his parents for custody of Brendan.

Will Cameron succeed in creating a new family of four, or will he lose? The stakes are high, and Cameron stands to lose custody of his own two sons if he is not careful. Follow the saga of Cameron as he struggles to do what he knows he must do, and what is right.

This book is free for a limited time only. Use e-coupon code PX99P at the Smashwords checkout.

PLAYING THE BASEBALL CARD

You are almost 14 years old. Your mother died six years ago, and you help look after your younger brother while you father works. He is a pitcher for a minor league baseball team, and he is trying to make it into the major leagues. Just when it seems that things are looking better, tragedy strikes again. Now, it’s all up to you. You have your own dreams, and you desperately care about your small family. Will you be able to make it work?

The story of Devin Robinson as the kid pitcher for the San Francisco Giants becomes well known, but what was never told is the story of Devin and Jordan’s early years. They have long since reached adult age, and they have decided that the time is now right to put the journey of their beginning part of their lives into print. This is a story for baseball fans and anyone else who wants to read about personal courage and determination.

A Family Legacy: THE WATSON WORKS

Tragedy has struck the Watson family more times than any family should have to bear and now the only thing left is the family business. It falls to Connor, the younger of the teen brothers, to try and make the tough decisions and keep things going. Can Connor deal with his profound loss and prevent a similar tragedy when he has the chance? Can he find happiness and make a new family? Join Connor is this story of adventure and courage as he tries to build on the family legacy.

"A Family Legacy: The Watson Works" is newest multiple format e-book

This free e-book is one of two new fiction titles that I have just published in multiple formats on Smashwords:

A Family Legacy: The Watson Works

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7899

"Tragedy has struck the Watson family more times than any family should have to bear and now the only thing left is the family business. It falls to Connor, the younger of the teen brothers, to try and make the tough decisions and keep things going. Can Connor deal with his profound loss and prevent a similar tragedy when he has the chance? Can he find happiness and make a new family? Join Connor in this story of adventure and courage as he tries to build on the family legacy."

These e-books and all of my others on Smashwords are currently free (don’t forget to use the coupon code PX99P for Sons and Brothers in Seattle), and you can find all of them here https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/WilsonJames

Happy Reading!

Wilson James