I Want the Prize

 Now I can make a full story about how this started, but instead I'll get to the point.

Friday is my birthday. I had received  a special gift yesterday, and what was so special about that gift was that it came with a free gift as well. I made the choice to use that extra gift as a give a way prize!

Now, if you are wanting this prize, then here's what you have to do:

1. Go to https://www.audible.com/acx-promo 2. Redeem the audiobook by using one of these codes: E98EZUGGSEWJ5 ER6L86UL66Y9R HCESN98RE2ANU 3. Email shiverandfears.gmail.com and let us know you've read the book 4. Be present for the next live video 9-18-2024 at 9 PM 5. Answer 3 questions about the book

Now, if there is anything that I'm leaving out in this information, let me know. Because it's simple to me.

The book you have to read is Shiver and Fears: Rules of Horror. Now the only suggestion I have for you (If you tried a code and it didn't work, ) is to just purchase the audiobook. Hopefully, you can answer the three questions that will be received this coming Wednesday on the live video. So be sure to be there.

Now, I will say this. If every person who tries to answer the question does not get all three correct, then the give a way will continue. Want to know what this prize is? Go to YouTube!

What to Look Forward to

 We are nearly in the middle of the month of July. What has this author been up to? Well for you true Shiver and Fears fans, you know the Bookaversary is Saturday... no, not this Saturday. Usually we host a get-together for the fans and give away prizes, but this year we're hosting a private party.

Me and the chosen guests will be a part of a potluck picnic. How can you be involved in the Bookaversary this year? Well, we always have free audiobooks to giveaway, get your hand on one and post about it. Don't forget to use the #shiverandfears. You may not know this, but every now and then, we look for hashtag posts from you we want to share your attention with everyone.

Before I forget, I do want to remind everyone about the new audiobook being worked for publishing. This is an AJ Hard original of course, but it's a part of the Magical Times series. For anyone who might be interested in fantasy fiction instead of thrillers.

But anyway, a lot has been going on, the new book, "There's a Ghost in My Film" is still being worked on, while as we are still giving away special audiobooks to those who want one. The library system is adding another Shiver and Fears book to the shelf.

Yep, there's a lot going on this summer, and you probably a part of it too. In fact!

Here: A5ZRNKD9WH2X6 That is a code for you to use at  https://www.audible.com/acx-promo for an audio copy of The Ghost of Future Me. This a one-time use code. I have more if you ever want another one! But keep in contact for any more news from Shiver and Fears. 

First Thing's First

I mentioned before that I have a few plans to start the new year. The first thing that is coming up is the MLK Parade coming in a couple of weeks.
This will be a difficult task since finding a partner will be a part of the challenge My partner Rane has been a big help for the past 3 years, and hope he continues. But who will pass around the candy to the kids? or hold the sign? of help go live? I surely don't know. It's still a working progress.
Another event I want you to know about is the book signing in the spring. I've chatted with a few people and come to the idea that selling the stickers at the book signing is not such a good idea. Meanwhile, we agree that the cups should be presented.
Those items are still involved with the Shiver and Fears fundraiser, as we still continue passing around the news. This book signing will be hosted in Edmond at the Best of Books store. The plan is to sell multiple books instead of the original one.
For sure we will have to visit that store and have a chat for an idea, for that was the location of the first bookstore signing Shiver and Fears ever attended.

I won't reveal any more plans set for the future, instead, I want to announce that Shiver and Fears has not one, but TWO new games for you to try!

Our first game is called Boo's Book Hunt, it was on a link, but now it is embedded to our site instead. The object of the game is to collect as many books as possible WITHOUT getting hit by the witch's spell (Don't Mock a Witch) and the evil rabbit (The Unlucky Charm) It's not an easy-to-play game. It's kind of flawed in some ways, but hopefully it's still fun to play.

The 2nd game is called Avoid the Thief. I just made it today. Now, when you play, you think that Blade is the bad guy, carrying a load of money, but it's not true. Blade is trying to send the money back to the bank. 

WHy?

Because Monster Ghost is the one who has taken the money and wants to stop Blade from returning it. You have to hop over Monster Ghost by clicking your left-side mouse, if you don't Monster Ghost will take the money and run off. What a drag!

Go to shiverandfears.com and try out both these games and tell me which one is best! Meanwhile, I hope to see you at one of the events Shiver and Fears has this new year. So, chill out and see you soon!

Creepsmas and Christmas Distraction

I'm certain that as a regular reader of Shiver and Fears blogs, you have been eagerly anticipating December's blog. Typically, I update you on the latest happenings at Shiver and Fears, but this time, I completely forgot. Why did I forget? Check out my recent activities below.
As you may already know, Shiver and Fears hold an annual Scary Creepsmas Give-a-way, but this Christmas season was quite busy. I was engaged in various promotional activities during this time. Here are some of the things I did:
• I redesigned the website and completed the new book. Fans who participated in the Madlib contest months ago received a present of their stories, and our story writers received a book to create another story.
• Unfortunately, the fundraiser didn't go well, and not a single book, cup, or sticker was sold. I genuinely need feedback.
• I ran a giveaway contest on my social media platforms, offering a free audiobook to all Instagram users. I received a few entries and positive feedback, and it ran until Christmas.
Buying Gifts
Of course, I also spent some time buying gifts for my loved ones. What could be a better gift than books? Although not everyone was fortunate enough to receive a Shiver and Fears book. Here are the books I bought as presents:
• For my mother, I purchased the "Magical Times" series book in Kindle edition, which is about a future family with my two magical powerful sons with holy magic.
• For my father, I bought a charger for his digital picture frame.
• For my sister, I purchased an ice maker.
• For my nephew, I bought "How to Draw People and Animals."

He was really surprised!

• For my girlfriend, I got her the "Shiver and Fears" book series. She has been wanting to read those for a long time.

My goal for next year is to gain more subscribers on YouTube and add another book to the library. I want to expand my YouTube channel to connect with my readers and want to contribute to the library by adding another book to its collection.

But as for you, you didn't know about the giveaway, huh? Well, here's your chance if you want it:

Go to This link and type in one of these given codes I'm providing to read The Ghost of Future Me: Shiver and Fears:

2DQ3RZDPEAT6R

2JT2EXYEKCA6W

4KD9P4XJ5BLJ3

5LCG89U6HUWGU

5S75268H89QKH

That’s it for this blog post. I hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something from it. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please leave a comment below or contact me on my social media platforms. Thank you for your support and I wish you all the best for the next year. Happy reading and writing!

Is the code working?

 

QR codes are complicated. Right now, I had to create and send a new QR Code invitation to everyone. The other one was expired. Now I've sent this code to dozens of people, and only a few answered and were able to see the invitation.

The Bookaversary! Oh snap, I almost forget to mention the most important thing! We will have gift bags, but we'll only have a total of 40. So our first 40 guests will recieve a giftbag, while guest number 41 (whoever that will be) will sign the card, and enter in the drawing contest- no, not like art drawing!

Each guest who wish to enter in the give-a-way with write down their name and email. then on Bookaversary day, I'll announce the winners on Youtube, and email them to send an address to give the gift to.

Each winner (only 2 winners) will get a hand print of a Shiver and Fears book and a shirt. Woo! I'm tired just from thinking about all that. Another thing I'm working on is getting the two Monsterfied winners to show up.

With our unmasked creature be present? We'll see.

Until then, scan that code and comment if it works.

Say Podcast and Die w/ AJ Hard

 I just got finished doing an interview with Andy and Alyssa. They are the host of a podcast for Goosebumps stories. >SayPodcastandDie so where do I come fit in this? Well, not only is R. L. Stine my inspiration, but I also write horror fiction myself!

It was fun to meet Andy and Alyssa on Zoom and chatting about not only Shiver and Fears, but Goosebumps as well. How's I meet these two girls? It's a funny story, but in long story short terms: We found each other on Instagram. We were both interested in Goosebumps and liked similar posts, well when I found out they post podcasts, I had to check it out myself! 

It's fun to think there are people out there who do more with Goosebumps then just reading it, including me writing my own series, and the girls publishing podcasts about the stories. I won't give much away because I'm hoping this will lead you into checking not only my interview, but a dozen of Alyssa's and Andy's podcasts.

Right now, I'm listening to the Monster Blood 2 summary. One reason I enjoy the podcasts is because recapping details from the book I've never noticed myself makes the books more interesting. When I've read Goosebumps, I never paid so much attention to the scenery and details, but more on the plot itself, (Which might explain why I don't like many other books but R. L. Stine series) But when listening to these excellent conversationists, Andy and Alyssa, it opens my eyes more on the story.

If you enjoy Goosebumps, or even if you don't know about Goosebumps (which you should, because they're popular) these pod casters will introduce you to and give you a reason to read R. L. Stine's stories more.

My best advice is to say "CHILL OUT! and listen to 'Say Podcast and Die'"

Halloween Giveaway 100th Blog!

Shiver and Fears is giving away audiobooks, There are two ways to get yours:
1 go to Shiverandfears.com/news and click on 1 of 3 codes, type it in and the audiobook is yours.
or
2 go to social media (facebook) or (Instagram) and reply "Halloween"

As you can see fans are calling in for their prize, so you might want to be quick. Don't have a facebook? No Instagram? Comment "HALLOWEEN" to this blog and we'll send you a code like this: > 3ESP8KJZDPG2N and a link to type it in, and just like that, you have yourself a Shiver and Fears audiobook. But I would suggest you be quick, for 2 reasons: 1 because there's only a limit of codes to give away, and 2 because this giveaway is only lasting for a few more days.
You better be quick!

Happy Birthday AJ

Wonder where this author spent his birthday this year? He spent it at the one place he's always wanted to go, and never could! 

Every year the state fair happens on the week of my birthday, butas always happening a week after my birthday. And even though it's stillpecialtrip, it's not special enough going ON the day you were born. This year was different.

I took a few of my old friends, who brought friends of their own,togetherwe made this trip a party! Now what did we do there? Well one thing is for sure, we had to check out all these random foods. I mean they had fried gummy bears, who wouldn't want to try that?

We were checking out a few rides. We for sure had to go on the ferris wheel. I even got to see the Disney on Ice show., but being there I learned how they are able to keep everything in order, I mean 12.99 for a soda?! They are also selling cars and hottubs.

As an author there were a few fans who loved seeing me there. Hope they enjoy their picture. Meanwhile it's good to have a birthday celebration on your birthday, it just makes it more special!

AJ Hard-The Song Artist

Years ago Shiver and Fears was a book series that very little knew of. 7 years later, multiple readers from multiple states of the U.S. own a copy of a Shiver and Fears book. If a reader like yourself doesn't own one, or even if you don't know a reader with a Shiver and Fears book then that's on you! 

But this blog is about more than books, this blog is about music. That's right, music. As you might know, I preformed 'Someday' in front of a crowd in Golden, Missouri. A few weeks later that song received over 100 views on youtube, but it didn't stop there.

At this moment now, you can not only listen to 'Someday' at Youtube, but also purchase it at  amazon music as well  a few other songs written by me as well. Songs such as 'Gilded Cage', 'Good-Bye', and 'Friendship to Break' are included.

These songs, just like the books, are placed in many sites. Spotify, a downloadable site used for making playlists, have the 6 songs too. 6? You might be saying, "I'm only counting 4." Well 1 is a Christmas original called 'Who is Mrs. Claus' and the other is a karaoke of 'Someday'.

Now let's rewind, I said you may not know about Shiver and Fears, or even know someone who reads Shiver and Fears. That's your fault, and here's why. You've been reading about all the work I put into my books and my songs, but have you put any effort into sharing with your friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors? My thoughts are no.

What about you? If you really want to know more about Shiver and Fears books and any songs I've written all you have to do is ask... I'm waiting!

The Secret Behind Shiver and Fears

So what has gotten Shiver and Fears whre it is now? For future authors and writers, let me tell you now working by yourself is not the best idea. But how can I say that? I work by myself. Well, let me explain. I've spent years trying to find solutions to promote my work, truth is, I'm still not doing it right. But it could work for you.
For those who already have a story written you have a choice of createspace.com or Lulu.com. Now I'm sure there are other self publishing sites, but those are the two that sent my books at tons of book sites. If you need a cover idea you can always go to Fiverr.com and pay no less that $5 for art. After awhile you might want to chat with a few libraries and book stores and ask them to add your book to their collection. (After hounding them a lot, I got it going)
Don't stop at paperback, publish in kindle, audio, and hardback too. You want to publish in all sorts of forms to intreg all sorts of readers.acx.com is perfect for finding an audio reader and getting it published to a few sites as well.
Question is what do you do after all that? Well now you need to promote.If you're on a budget like me then you'll go to facebook.com and twitter.com any other sites that will grab people's attention. When you do this, the first people you want eyes on your book is your friends and family. (They always want you to have their support, and you always want to take it) Then the struggle is getting other people to find and gain interest. You can use a few dollars and promote on facebook, post videos on youtube.com or show off your work on any site where you customize your own. For Example:

make a meme

or a GIF

zazzle product

and there's more custom things you can make. So share those with friends and fans. But the most important thing you want to do is make business cards. Pass them out as often as possible. For me I make slow progress year after year. But I won't quit until I make it to the right level.