JEA
  • Home
  • Horror
  • At the Drive-In
  • Wet Works Imprint
  • Hold the Line Imprint
  • Dark Horizons
  • Zombies and Vampires
  • Thrillers
  • FYI
  • Anthology Open Calls
  • Submissions
  • Blog
  • Staff
  • Media, Publicity, and Friends

Buy Some Books....

7/29/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
     We see it all. No one could make up some of what presses see. I have seen plagiarism, rude people, and unreal expectations. It becomes frustrating at times. I have enough pressure that I put on myself to deal with some things. My self imposed pressure is to sell books. No, I can't make people BUY, but it still is something we all, at JEA, take seriously. We truly want each author to sell as many books as possible. When we see sales, we get excited!
     What sells a good book? I don't know, even after all this time. There is a lot of junk out there, and maybe that prevents sales. There is a lot of good writing out, and of course, that prevents sales. But what caused sales? Is it author branding? Maybe. Is it word-of-mouth? You bet. reviews? Sometimes. It's a lot of elements. 
     When you read a book and love it, tell others. That  is all a press can ask. Let the author know. Fan letters are what fuel authors to write. If you haven't tried anything, here are a few books for fun. I can say this. Despite all of the above, we aim for good covers and some fantastic writing. IF a story isn't great to us, then we don't share it with you. Come on, make an author's day, get a book, and tell that author. It never gets old.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Try a Pete Clark book
Picture
Picture

Ida Moreno had a good life. Head Curator of the New York Public Library, lots of friends and acquaintances among her co-workers, a nice, cozy apartment close to her work and the simple company of her cat, Tansy. 
All that changes in one horrifying moment. 

Raped and murdered by someone in the middle of the night, Ida’s soul discorporates from her body at the time of death and witnesses the final moments. She’s angry, and her emotional anger ties her to the killer. It’s now up to her to figure out how to use her ‘new spirit body’ to find out who he is and bring him to justice.
Picture
0 Comments

Covering Covers...got that covered?

7/19/2014

0 Comments

 

     Each book that we present, we do so as best we can. I never get tired of seeing exciting new covers and seeing new books go into the world, knowing that someone will be thrilled.
     What is difficult to explain to many is this, and maybe it will help writers who are buying or designing their own covers. Books are shown as small images (called thumbnails) and are on white backgrounds. Those two issues make artists have to struggle. I like white covers, but because of the limitations, that can't be. Even off-white covers don't show well.
     Because a cover must look good as a small image, sometimes, we can't have all the wording on the front, and we can't overload details. If we do that, they become muddy. Fonts (the wording style) must be clear, eye-catching, but not so strange as to distract. Many great fonts have been over-used.
     In one tiny picture, an artist must capture the book's theme, interest a reader, give all valid information, but never been "busy". It's a tough balance. Some art looks wonderful until it is reduced in size.
Picture
Picture
Picture
     Let's look at these three. The first says "fresh, spooky, modern", the second says "old-fashioned, fantasy, dreamy" and the third says "scary, wild, shocking". That is what each should convey. The details are there, but are crisp and look good enlarged, but when these images are small, the colors contrast and balance. The titles can be seen.
     Sometime a cover will draw a reader to a book, but for sure, a cover can kill a sale if they book either isn't seen or looks weak. It isn't easy to have a cover that works well. An artist must decide about colors, the font, and even how large the author's name should be as compared to the title. And a cover isn't a simple copy and paste. There are layers and some parts are faded in and then shadows are added, lighting is changed, colors are altered, and a host of other changes.
Picture
This is a cover I like. Originally, there was a place (in this case a field with trees). The tent? See the bloody handprint? That was added. It doesn't show when the image is small, but it's there, and it matters. The clock. That was over 6 hours of work to hand draw (by layering textures into circles and adding numbers and the hands as separate layers) The entire thing had to be layered in. There is also a face that was put in to fit the background. All of that work was only to imply the book was about time and something that might be a part of camping. We know it isn't a happy book, but a scary one. The colors are precise: lime and purplish blue. The Font could have been white or  any color, but to have contrast, red-orange was used.
Picture
     Look at it as a thumbnail. The title shows. The face shows more, and the clock is clear. The tent falls to the background.
     Sometimes beautiful images fail as covers because they don't survive the small size. Sometimes, people want far too much wording on a cover and none can be read.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
THESE LOOK GOOD AT A SMALL SIZE.
For covers, if you can, hire a pro. No matter what, ask these questions:
  1. Are  images documented as legal to use?
  2. Is the cover the correct size and resolution?
  3. Does it look good as a thumbnail?
  4. Is the title clear?
  5. Does it engage?
  6. Does it avoid "cookie-cutter, cliche, and cutsie"?
  7. Is it commercial?
  8. Is it "less is more"?
Cover artists may follow these very well, but unless the artists understands #7, your book will suffer. That one point can ruin a cover even if all the rest are checked. With covers ranging from $100-$500...you can get all of this. Never skimp on edits or covers.
0 Comments

Reading Amanda...

7/17/2014

0 Comments

 
     I have taken a side about small presses (and Indie writers) vs. the Big 5, and my side is clear right? But the reasons may not be. I keep saying this and people don't get it unless they have been there. Okay. Hilary RC was paid millions in advance for her book of memoirs. The book tanked. If the Big 5 signed me,I would get nothing or a tiny advance and tank as well...because I am a nobody. Unless a celeb reads me and it goes viral, I am forgotten. (If the above happens, I may be laughed at even if I make a fortune. Go figure) Why? Guess what? All BIG book deals do not equal a good read. 
     I like some. I read S. King and a few others, but more and more, I read small press and Indie books. Why? quality. Heart. Because they are good stories that entertain me. I make enough with a small press and as an Indie to write full time. I could not eat, let alone survive long if I waited for a Big 5 to take me. Meanwhile, I entertain, disturb, and affect people.
     Below is my review of a reader with JEA Press. Her name is Amanda Lyons.
   Give her a try, or try one of the many other authors we believe in. See if you think that small press authors rock. I think you'll agree. I feel one day, we will all be reading Amanda's books and yelling for more. Take that big companies!

Maybe one of these will entertain you, Reader-Friend? Many readers have found these to be great entertainment.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Have you read Sharon's writing? She's spooky!

Oh? A novella is more your taste for .99? One of these might give you a quick read, and they are not what you might expect. Yes they are chilling, well written, and fresh. Why are they unexpected? Because they are not Big 5 authors. They are...dare I say...even better?
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

     Wendy Won't Go is available alone and with Mark Woods' bonus stories. Amanda Lyons is an unusual writer. I don't mean she looks funny (because she is very lovely), and I don't mean she does strange things. I mean she has a fresh way of writing. Her prose are strong but they are flowing and beautiful and she has a way of making the reader feel safe and as if the story is going one way. Then, Amanda pulls the rug and the story hits home. HARD. Sometimes I feel she needs a warning for her writing. She makes readers uncomfortable. She is real. She scares people because she sneaks up from behind. 
     Read her novella. Her novel is coming soon.
     I don't care for vampire novels. I say that a lot. However, let me make three points. I collaborated on Feral Hearts with Amanda, and several others to include Edward Cardillo. It is a vampire tale with BITE. Second, I like William Bove's story, Once Upon A Grave. (Reason? Because it is very different and the detail is stunning). Third, Amanda's new novel, Eyes Like Blue Fire reminds me of Interview With A Vampire, but it cuts to the quick faster, it's got more back story and heart, and it is very...unusual. There is that word again. Sorry. There is no way to explain. She will hook you, and never let you go. That is what I like. 
     Two authors and a collaboration resurrected vampires for me. Think on that. A Big 5 made me forsake the sub-genre and swear off the undead biters forever because I feared sparkles. Three books brought me back. Yeah, that's fair.
     Meanwhile, I am reading Amanda....
    
Picture
0 Comments

Susan is as Susan Does

7/2/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Purchase
Susan is the Executive Editor for JEA Press, but she earned her place. Susan arrived as a writer, but we found she was a brutally hard editor, a great artist, and a trusted friend. Her ethics and organizational abilities amazed everyone.  Susan writes, edits, designs covers, works with authors, issues contracts, acquires manuscripts, and much more.

Under a Twisted Moon
Amelie hid what she was her entire life, always running from the monster inside, afraid one day it would come out unbidden and destroy everything she knew. She found herself trapped in a life with no escape, sleeping with the enemy and avoiding anything that brought her joy, 
Until the day the monster broke free. 
Amelie was thrust into a world of new dangers and challenges only to find where she truly belonged. Now if she could only do something about the enemy in her bed...

Picture
Purchase
Picture
Purchase

Picture
Susan's  cover design for Keith Milstead won an award from P& E.
Purchase
Silent Heart
Paige was alone when she saw them... Deaf from birth and separated from her twin brother, she lived alone in her silent world. When she witnessed a murder it thrust her headlong into a whirlwind she never dreamed; running for her life from dangerous men out for her death, and only a handsome stranger to help her and show her just how strong she could be along the way.
Morning Song
It was the night of the seed moon when Arrick was brought to Morna’s door bruised and bleeding. 
Living in a post apocalyptic, brutal reality, Morna has long grown used to putting her concerns aside in favor of those in need. Her past is something she'd rather forget and her future seems as if it will never be more than she's come to know, but something is coming that will change everything. In the middle of the night an injured stranger is brought to her door. He is more than he appears and soon has Morna spellbound. For the first time in her life a man has fallen in love with not only her voluptuous form, but her heart, mind, and strength that shines out like a beacon in their cold world. No matter the dangers that will unfold, Arrick plans to give Morna the life she deserves.

Picture

Purchase

Other covers  Susan has designed
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Purchase the books above

Susan is a writer and artist by day, a child and pet wrangler by night, and occasional crazy person on the weekends. She lives in a place where new hybrid cars, beat up farm trucks, and Amish horse and buggies meet in fast food parking lots for coffee.
Susan grew up in central Wisconsin, only to move to rural Ohio in adulthood. She's a country girl through and through with progressive and optimistic ideas of nation and society. A shamanic pagan by faith and major sci-fi fan she is an eclectic person and welcomes as much diversity into her life as she can to feed her fertile imagination. She lives by the motto, "Let your freak flag fly!"
In addition she has published articles on the Yahoo! Contributor Network in a wide variety of subjects such as the validity of deity in the American government and the use of easy to find herbs.


0 Comments

Pick a poison!

6/10/2014

0 Comments

 

What is your favorite genre?

Buy

Zombies?

Picture
Picture
Picture

Horror?

Picture
Picture
Picture

Supernatural?

Picture
Picture
Picture

Fantasy?

Picture
Picture
Picture
You don't think females can be bloodthirsty, chilling, creepy writers? Ha! Check these deadly women out and see how wicked they can be!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Short Story Anthologies.

Picture
Picture

2 chilling books for your pleasure

Picture
Picture
Picture
Best selling book from JEA...evil Englishman Mark Woods.

Horror deluxe. Frighting story with an award winning cover
Picture
0 Comments

J Ellington Ashton delivers chills

3/26/2014

0 Comments

 

Click a purchase button or click on image to be taken to Amazon.com


Picture
Did you know Helen of Troy had fangs?  Helen is revealed to be a huntress by night, seeking out blood-wine, and seducing men as she is cursed to be the most beautiful woman on earth. As a succubus, she not only captures hearts but has a ten year war fought for her. Her plight and thirst for blood is woven into the mythological tales. Her fury will be unleashed on both Sparta and Troy.
Buy Here

Picture
"No one writes like Jim Goforth"
Corey Somerset, Tim Hayworth and Lee Hunter have had one hell of a good night.Celebrating their friend's birthday with drunken debauchery they've wandered far out of the realms of civilization. When they encounter a band of mysterious fugitive women who call a bizarre encampment deep in the woods their residence,  the boys will come face to face with something else that dwells in an unorthodox co-existence with the girls in the wilderness.

Zombie Fun
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Good Reads....

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Hiding from his past, and seeking out a new life, a young man makes his way to Atlanta, Georgia in the early 1970s. Trying to forget his life in New York City, he attempts to blend in with the big city life of the South East. The problem is that he doesn't fit in. Being a Werecat, you can never fit in. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

The One: Children of Destiny is an epic tale of generations of bloodshed betwixt four separate races/nations. The battles are put on hold when all are thrown into an uneasy alliance caused by an outside, invading evil.

Picture

David McGlumphy

Picture

jea

Coming Soon

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Connor begins to realize that he can relate to the protagonists in the tall tales and his grandfather actually understands him more than anyone he knows. In the process, Connor discovers the reason for his mother’s estrangement from her father, shattering his assumptions and giving him a new appreciation for the importance of family. As Connor begins to question whether his grandpa’s tall tales are really only tales, he has a brush with one of the tale’s ghastly characters, causing him to question the direction of his life. But is it too late?
Picture
Buy Here

Fish Tales....

Buy Now
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

SUPER-natural

Susan's Books
Picture
"Haunting descriptions, exciting characters, and stories that will a reader can't forget."
Picture
Picture

First 2 of new Crime thriller series
Picture
Picture
Purchase

Picture
On the eve of his retirement, High Guard First Class Ezra Beckitt is still plagued by the memories and doubts of his last case- and something else. Something strange happened to him during his rookie year, an event that he has since written off as a dream and buried in his mind. Some things won't stay buried though- and the past has a way of coming back to haunt the present. From the low streets of Hatis City to the lofty passes of a citadel in the rock, Ezra Beckitt is about to discover that he is a part of a larger world- one that has appointed a task for him, whether he wants it or not. For all of his life Ezra has defended the law.... but now he must become an Agent of the White. And Light cannot exist without Shadow...... 
0 Comments

Books....scary, sexy, sci-fi, supernatural

11/10/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Paul Copeland
William Bove
Christopher St. John Sampayo
Sharon Higa
Lisamarie Lamb
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Fish to die for and a Vampire Novel

11/7/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Author

    J Ellington Ashton is a publishing company that always goes big. We deal with quality authors and bring excellence to reading.

    Archives

    February 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    September 2017
    June 2017
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    Adults
    After
    A J Coleman
    A J Coleman
    Alex S Johnson
    Amanda Lyons
    Awards
    Baptism
    Blood Of An Empire
    Brian Woods
    Catt Dahman
    Children
    Christina Engela
    Christopher Goose
    Christopher St. John Sampayo
    Dan Williams
    Dan Williams
    Edward P Cardillo
    Edward P Cardillo
    Erotica
    Essel Pratt
    Fantasy
    Feral Hearts
    Final Reverie
    FISH
    Fish To Die For
    Ghosts Of Glass
    Halloween
    Horror
    I Sea Monsters
    JEAPERS
    J Ellington Ashton
    J Ellington Ashton
    Jeremy Dick
    Jim Goforth
    Jim Goforth
    Joe Hill
    Josh Hilden
    Keith Milstead
    Keith Milstead
    Lisa Marie Lamb
    Lycanthroship
    Mace
    Mark Woods
    Mark Woods
    Mark Woods
    Max Booth
    Michael Fisher
    Michael Kanuchel
    Midnight Remains
    Midnight Riders
    Mystery
    Naomi Matthews
    Odd Tales Of An Old Man
    Paul Copeland
    Paul Copeland
    Pete Clark
    Pete Clark
    Piercing Undead
    Plebs
    Poetry
    Press
    Publishing
    Randy Spears
    Randy Spears
    Rejected For Content
    Richard Laymon
    Romance
    Roy C. Booth
    Roy C. Booth
    Samantha Gregory
    Sam Reese
    Sci Fi
    Sci-fi
    Scotty Schrier
    Sea Monsters
    Sea Monsters
    Sexy
    Sharon Higa
    Sharon Higa
    Silent Heart
    Stuart Drake
    Susan Simone
    Susan Simone
    Tabitha Baumander
    Texas Frightmare
    The One: Children Of Destiny
    The Pond
    Time Of Tides
    Tim Long
    T L Decay
    T L Decay
    Under A Twisted Moon
    Vampires
    Warriors
    Wendy Won't Go
    William Bove
    William Bove
    William Jeffrey Patus
    William J Patus
    Young Adult
    Zombies

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.