Hello! This is one of my tour stops during my two week book
tour for Burnt Orange by Meiah Shaun. This virtual book tour is organized by
Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs December 18-29, 2017. Follow the tour here. Book your own tour here WNL.
ASIN: B076DF8KR2
ISBN-10: 1683143728
ISBN-13: 1683143727
Genre: African American Christian Fiction
About The
Author
Meiah Shaun pens
fiction, non-fiction and plays with faith-based messages linking her personal
life experiences with spiritual life lessons. She launched A Crown of Beauty
Ministries. She's a native of Orange, Texas and currently resides in the
Dallas, Texas area. She is a graduate of LeTourneau University. Her anticipated
new release "Burnt Orange" is an inspirational coming-of-age story.
In addition to writing, she's an avid reader, a foodie, loves flowers and shoe
shopping.
About The
Book
A coming-of-age story of Erin and Erika, Texas twins in an
abusive home in a town segregated by white and black color lines, who are
wounded by the revealing of a shocking family secret and long to escape their
circumstances and erase what they have been labeled. Follow their journey in
this compelling novel filled with inspiration and triumph.
Excerpt
I enjoy viewing maps and the globes at school as it makes me
dream. I live in the largest state of Texas, along the muggy and swampy Gulf
coast. The summers are really hot and humid here. Folks call this area of
southeast Texas the Golden Triangle, where there’s a large Cajun Texan population.
In our Lapland, we have gumbo cook-offs, Cajun festivals, crawfish boils, and
zydeco radio. The part of the Golden Triangle that my family lives in is
Orange, Texas.
The year is 1991, and majority of our small town is
segregated. We have pecan and moss trees canopying the paved streets. But
somehow, the town was named Orange, like the fruit. You’ll hear some black
folks call our town the Fruit.
Occasionally, I see prints of burnt orange and yellow tints
in the late-evening hazy skyline far above me. Black birds fly high above,
embracing the sunset, while crickets chirped throughout the night. Traffic
parades through our neighborhood street every evening, with homeboys blasting
the latest rap music rumbling in their dashboards and trunks. Some of our
neighbors are to blame for most of the congested traffic. Our neighbors keep a
lot of company over at their house, but their folks never block our driveway. I
think that’s ’cause most people around here think my momma is the police ’cause
she works at the county jailhouse.
Around here, blacks and white folks work and go to school
together, but they hardly play together outside of that. There’s racial
tension, and the railroad tracks divide our town along class status and color
lines. We live on the east side of the tracks.
I’ve heard black folks complaining about how mean the white
people are here in Orange especially in nearby Vidor, which has a history of
the Klan. My folks believe some whites are mean too. They talk about how whites
work hard to keep black folks down. Daddy complains about not finding a good
job ’cause of the white man.
To me, if it’s that bad, then we all need to move away from
here! There are a million places on this earth where we can live. It’s just
that simple to me. I see myself living a new life away from here. I dream of
living in a big city with crowded streets packed with all walks of life, tall
skyscrapers, and the everyday hustle and bustle. But it’s just a dream I see
every day in my head.
“Erin and Erika, get up and do yo’ chores! Da dishes are
dirty, and fold up my clothes!” Daddy yells at the top of his lungs.
“In a minute, I wanna finish watching my show.”
Daddy stumbles over me and then steps over Erika, who is
sitting Indian style on the living room floor. He turns the television off
during the last five minutes of our program. It’s our Saturday off, and we love
to watch Teen Summit on
BET. He never wants us to enjoy ourselves at anything.
Erika jumps up and runs to the TV. As I’m standing up to my
feet, Daddy pushes Erika, and she falls into my chest.
For Information...
Trailer: https://youtu.be/WHtNd8jrxt8
Purchase Links
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burnt-orange-meiah-shaun/1127186718?ean=9781683143727
Amazon ebook: http://a.co/9y57n76
Amazon Paperback: http://a.co/3OcxrDz
Connect Socially
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeiahShaun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meiahshaun/
Website: https://www.meiahshaun.com
Meiah Shaun
12/15/2017
meiahshaun@gmail.com
Get
Started Publishing Your eBook
The alternative to publishing a paperback copy of your
book is to offer your readers an eBook copy. eBook prices are more affordable than
a paperback and hardcover. I initially wanted to publish my book only as an
eBook because of the popularity of eBooks. I published my book through Kindle
Direct Publishing. My eBook was available for purchase within twenty-four
hours. Royalties for eBooks can be paid much higher between 35% and 70%. Pricing
for eBooks are cheaper than the paperbacks and hardcover books. You may update
and change your eBook pricing at any time. Be sure to research other popular
books that are in your genre. Price your eBook at a price that you feel your
eBook is worth. Do not sell yourself short on the pricing because you are
building your net worth.
I have learned from experience that an eye-catching
book cover is crucial for eBooks. I only needed a front book cover and I didn’t
need a barcode. Your eBook cover is the first thing that customers will review
upon purchasing. You can hire a graphic designer to create your book cover. Kindle
Direct Publishing gives authors the option to create their own book cover using
the free graphics. The book title should be large and in bold font along with
the author’s name. It is important that your book cover represents your story’s
theme. Make sure that your book cover appears professional with a bold and
creative design. You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars to create an
awesome book cover.
An ISBN is required for eBooks as it is for paperbacks
and hardcover books to track your sales. ISBN can be purchased through Bowker. There
are other retailers who will use your ISBN to track sales of your eBook. An
ISBN is not required to publish an eBook through Kindle Direct Publishing. Authors
without an ISBN will be assigned a unique identification number called an ASIN.
Market your eBook on your website and use additional
social media outlets. Set up accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Build
a following of potential customers. Share with your audience your upcoming
events and provide links to purchase your eBook. Open up discussions on your
blogs to engage your readers. This will allow feedback and opinions from potential
customers.
There are many well known successful authors who have
self published their eBook. Be willing to put in hard work and time making your
eBook a success.
