Welcome to the “Hungary Eyes” Blog Tour with Maurice
G. Miller
First, I would like to
thank my gracious host for giving me the privilege to guest blog here on the
final stop of my weeklong tour. Also, a debt of gratitude to 4 Wills Publishing
for organizing all this. You can click here to get more info on all of the past
tour stop dates and locations. My sincere thanks to all that have joined me for
part or all of this tour. I hope you found it thoughtful and entertaining.
Please be sure to leave
comments/questions/feedback at the end of the post, they are much appreciated.
Here we are at the famous
final scene, the last stop on the blog tour. Where do I stand now and where am
I going? First a brief update on my self-publishing journey.
Navigating the Self-Publishing Storm – Dead Calm
I’ve made it through the initial waves
of the storm. Eighteen months’ worth of writing, editing, anxiety, formatting,
book cover creation, writing a blurb, self-doubt, launch promo, platform
building, and experiencing all the ups and downs that go along with being a
newbie Indie Author. In the end, with great pride, I can say that I have
succeeded in fulfilling a lifelong dream of publishing a full length novel.
Sails no longer billowing in the wind,
there is a feeling of lost control, as I set adrift on a “dead calm” sea. It is
a time for continued writing, reflection, planning, waiting for reviews and
feedback, and hoping that readers will find my work both enjoyable and
entertaining.
This tranquil condition does not mean
that work has stopped in keeping this boat running and afloat. On the contrary,
with the next storm brewing somewhere out there on the horizon, vigilance,
preparedness, and due diligence are all necessary as we look to find the most
effective ways to market, promote, and create awareness for our art.
But here, in this state, there is also
a sense of short term relief from the anxiety. A feeling that you don’t need to
be as “rushed” as you made yourself to be when you began this journey. You realize
that this voyage has just begun and the course set out for you will be long, at
times difficult, and always unpredictable.
In preparing for launch, it didn’t take
long to learn that you should not set your expectations too high, in terms of
immediate sales, for the release of your first book. I have been pretty happy
with my results so far, going in and out of the “top 100 paid” in the
“Financial Thriller” Kindle category, and in the top 300-600 of Books>
“Organized Crime” category. During some of my promos I have gone as high as #2
Top 100 Free and #13 Top 100 Paid Financial Thrillers and top #100 in Organized
Crime.
I pray every day for the reviews to
come back from those bloggers and reviewers that have sent me direct requests
for (mostly) print copies to read and review. Part of the anxiety in waiting
for these reviews is knowing that if they are favorable they may help with
gaining exposure and boosting sales. The other takeaway from reviews, which to
me as a new author is even more important, is providing a benchmark
to evaluate and hopefully improve my writing style and skills.
It can be excruciatingly difficult for
newly published authors, in a society that puts a premium on instant
gratification, to exercise patience and persistence. We are all aware of cases
where eventual bestselling books and authors lay dormant for months, or even
years, after initial release before realizing ultimate success. Hang in there…
Previews of Coming Attractions
In celebration of our
‘Grand Finale’ stop on the tour, I’d like to take this opportunity to announce
the upcoming release of the thrilling sequel to The Budapest Experiment. Book 1
of 3 in the ‘Hungary Eyes’ series, ‘Justice in the Devil’s Shadow,’ is scheduled
for release in mid-December 2015.
Looking ahead into the
sequel we find Michael, our protagonist, thinking he is on the verge of getting
out from the clutches of the Mob, instead falling deeper into its grasp. After
a test of loyalty, he is made a financial offer by the ‘Organization’ that he
can’t refuse, and eventually finds himself squeezed in a vice between the Mob
and the FBI.
As CEO of a newly financed
Mob company, a series of business transactions leads him on an adventurous ride
from the streets of Budapest to Miami and Boston. Continued to be plagued by
his conscience as he takes on this new endeavor, he wonders if there is any
justice walking in the devil’s shadow.
Be sure to check our
website for more updates as the release date gets closer.
The Budapest Experiment – Synopsis
At what price would you sell your soul...?
This captivating thriller weaves business, politics, seduction, power, and religion all into a compelling tale of international intrigue.
Set in 1991, during the dawn of the Post-Communist era in Hungary, this novel chronicles the exploits of Michael, an adventurous but struggling American entrepreneur.
During this period of tumultuous political, economic, and social change, the Russian Mob is taking advantage of the ensuing turmoil to entrench itself deeper into the business landscape of the former Soviet Bloc countries.
Navigating through the streets of Budapest, Michael immediately senses an air of mysticism and lurking danger. After a few successes and trials, a series of business dealings leads him to a consulting position with the 'Organization'.
Seduced by their women, money, and power, Michael becomes entangled in the web of Mob culture. Digging into his conscience, he encounters a spirit ravaged with feelings of guilt and betrayal, but a rapidly growing bank account serves as the means to justify his actions.
Pondering his future, Michael wonders if he can balance this extreme Budapest lifestyle with his ‘ordinary’ family life back home. After padding his wallet for the past several months, would the Organization let him just walk away, or would there be consequences?
This book is intended for mature audiences.
This captivating thriller weaves business, politics, seduction, power, and religion all into a compelling tale of international intrigue.
Set in 1991, during the dawn of the Post-Communist era in Hungary, this novel chronicles the exploits of Michael, an adventurous but struggling American entrepreneur.
During this period of tumultuous political, economic, and social change, the Russian Mob is taking advantage of the ensuing turmoil to entrench itself deeper into the business landscape of the former Soviet Bloc countries.
Navigating through the streets of Budapest, Michael immediately senses an air of mysticism and lurking danger. After a few successes and trials, a series of business dealings leads him to a consulting position with the 'Organization'.
Seduced by their women, money, and power, Michael becomes entangled in the web of Mob culture. Digging into his conscience, he encounters a spirit ravaged with feelings of guilt and betrayal, but a rapidly growing bank account serves as the means to justify his actions.
Pondering his future, Michael wonders if he can balance this extreme Budapest lifestyle with his ‘ordinary’ family life back home. After padding his wallet for the past several months, would the Organization let him just walk away, or would there be consequences?
This book is intended for mature audiences.
Sign Off
Again, I would like to
thank 4 Wills Publishing for organizing and promoting the ‘Hungary Eyes’ blog
tour. Be sure to check them out if you would like to do the same. My humble
gratitude to all the kind hosts over the past week for allowing me to invade
their domains. Finally a few other kudos to those who have been so influential
in my writing career.
Goodreads Group – Support
for Indie Authors – a great resource for aspiring and emerging authors.
Rave Reviews Book Club -
#RRBC - a group of authors and readers that read, review, support, and
encourage each other.
Joanna Penn and J.A.
Konrath – pioneers and mentors to those in the self-publishing industry.
In celebration of the blog tour, the Kindle version of The
Budapest Experiment is available for download for just $.99. Just click on the
Amazon page link below.
Author Bio
Maurice has been involved in
the creative arts since his teenage years. Having worked and played in
rock/blues bands for most of his adult life, the artistic role models that he
came to admire were those authors, musicians, and philosophers that wrote the
books, poetry, lyrics, and music that touched and moved the souls of
generations. Counted among his favorites authors are J.D. Salinger, Earnest
Hemingway, Dante Alighieri, and Kahlil Gibran. Deciding to take a break from
the music career, he has rededicated his creative energies toward writing.
Then there is the "business geek" side of him. With an MBA degree, and having started several ventures, he has an obsession for creating new business ideas, digging into data analytics, and dissecting statistics. This passion for entrepreneurship is reflected prominently in his writing style.
Maurice's debut fictional novel, "The Budapest Experiment", an international thriller, was released on May 25, 2015 and is available now on Amazon.
Lots more can be found, including book info, social media contacts, and blog posts, at: http://www.mauricegmiller.com
Then there is the "business geek" side of him. With an MBA degree, and having started several ventures, he has an obsession for creating new business ideas, digging into data analytics, and dissecting statistics. This passion for entrepreneurship is reflected prominently in his writing style.
Maurice's debut fictional novel, "The Budapest Experiment", an international thriller, was released on May 25, 2015 and is available now on Amazon.
Lots more can be found, including book info, social media contacts, and blog posts, at: http://www.mauricegmiller.com
Links
Web Site:
http://www.mauricegmiller.com
Email: mauricegmiller@yahoo.com
Amazon
Page: http://smarturl.it/budapestexp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mauricegmiller
@mauricegmiller
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1DO6y6k
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ESXMYv
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ESXMYv
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MauriceGMiller/
Google +: http://bit.ly/1N1Jmdv
Maurice, this is an enjoyable tour! I so hate to see it end. Liza, thanks so much for the host! You guys are awesome! #RRBC #4WillsPub
ReplyDeleteYou made it Maurice! You finished the race. Now all you have to do is wait to pull in all the benefits of this tour. You will see a rise in your book sale. That I know for sure. Thank you Liza for hosting him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nonnie and Joy, and special thanks to Liza for hosting the final stop on the tour. As of today, TBE is at #36 Top Paid in Financial Thrillers category, and #146 in Organized Crime. During the first part of the tour I reached #1 Top Free Financial Thrillers with over 500 downloads in two days of KDPS free promo that went along with first two days of tour.
ReplyDeleteMy gratitude to Nonnie, 4 Wills Publishing, and all at RRBC for their comments and social media support.
Now it's time to finish up writing 'Justice in the Devil's Shadow', get my editor on it, tweak the book cover with Marc Estes and Snow Leopard Publishing, and then start this fun all over again.
Write On Everyone!!
Maurice
This is the last tour? I hope it went well for you Maurice. 4WillsPub does a wonderful job of promoting the members. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed having you. FYI, I'm keeping you up front for two more days with promotions.
ReplyDelete