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Hello, Courtney Bowen here. Reposting a former notice so that it might show up on Author Central.
Well, I'm back again, mostly to post a link to a new Kindle Scout campaign for 'The Tiger Enchantment: The Legends of Arria: Volume 5'!

The Tiger Enchantment: The Legends of Arria, Volume 5 on Kindle Scout

Yay! After all this time, I finally finished the book. It's around 311 pages long, depending. I had to move some of the material around to a later volume, which probably won't see the light of day for a while. Here's a preview of the cover (I took my name off here, just because):



I have also decided that, for a limited time, most of my books will be Kindle Select and Kindle Unlimited, which means that currently, ebook editions of my books will only be available on Amazon. I'm just doing a trial run. I might eventually return to other ebook retailers, but it will be different. I apologize for that.

So Kindle Scout campaign is ongoing until January 2nd 2016 and here's a plot synopsis:

What comes after the final battle?

After the final battle against Doomba, Basha, his friends, and family try to rally their forces to face Goga, who has taken their country’s capital. Yet when a setback devastates them, can they recover their former strength? Especially when two powerful sorceresses pit themselves against them?

And if you want to check out the first 15 pages of my new, upcoming novel in The Legends of Arria series, click the Kindle Scout link! And maybe nominate it for publication by Kindle Press if you enjoyed it? I thank you very much.

Sincerely, Courtney Bowen

New Kindle Scout campaign and Cover

Well, I'm back again, mostly to post a link to a new Kindle Scout campaign for 'The Tiger Enchantment: The Legends of Arria: Volume 5'!

The Tiger Enchantment: The Legends of Arria, Volume 5 on Kindle Scout

Yay! After all this time, I finally finished the book. It's around 311 pages long, depending. I had to move some of the material around to a later volume, which probably won't see the light of day for a while. Here's a preview of the cover (I took my name off here, just because):

Looks pretty cool, huh? I found the cover image on Fotolia, paid the extended license to get it. I must admit in the past I've had a difficult time designing covers or at least picking out a commercial-style cover. In recent years, book covers, even fantasy, have changed to a more realistic style with models more often than not. I wasn't as aware of the change or at least I was resistant to it, I must admit.

I didn't know where I could go to find the right stock images to design a cover. I certainly can't draw or use a computer illustrator/photo manipulation software to any great degree. I was also resistant to relying on a cover designer, not certain about what the result might be. So I was leaning more towards public domain free artwork that was sort of aesthetically pleasing and might match my material at least a little bit.

However, in the past month or two, I started to realize the value of a good cover photo that matches the current commercial style, even if I have been resistant to it, so...I did a search, discovered Fotolia, and here we are! Yay! I am quite satisfied with this cover photo and the other one I chose for The Smiling Stallion Inn: The Legends of Arria, Volume One. I plan on gradually changing all of my Kindle covers to the new style and, once I figure out the space requirements, I will change my print books as well.

I have also decided that, for a limited time, most of my books will be Kindle Select and Kindle Unlimited, which means that currently, ebook editions of my books will only be available on Amazon. I'm just doing a trial run. I was hoping the Marketing Services might pay off, and you can only use that for Kindle Select books. I will eventually return to Smashwords and other ebook retailers, but it will be different. I apologize for that.

So Kindle Scout campaign runs from today, December 3rd, until January 2nd 2016 and here's a plot synopsis:

What comes after the final battle?

After the final battle against Doomba, Basha, his friends, and family try to rally their forces to face Goga, who has taken their country’s capital. Yet when a setback devastates them, can they recover their former strength? Especially when two powerful sorceresses pit themselves against them?

And if you want to check out the first 15 pages of my new, upcoming novel in The Legends of Arria series, click the Kindle Scout link! And maybe nominate it for publication by Kindle Press if you enjoyed it? I thank you very much.

The Tiger Enchantment: The Legends of Arria: Volume 5 on Kindle Scout