soap opera

It’s LIVE!

It is no secret I write for my own therapy. Dealing with those experiences that caused me to grow personally, professionally, spiritually, are easier when I do so through the eyes of characters I’ve created.

“Miss Blue Skies” is a mystery, and my new serial fiction story on Kindle Vella. It draws from my years of coaching community princess candidates. (Yes, you read that right; as a social studies teacher, the cliché is true, social studies teachers coach, and I coached princess candidates.)

This mystery is set in the Snake River Valley, in the shadow of the Tetons. It is a breath-takingly beautiful place, and if the winters weren’t so harsh, it might be the place my husband and I retire to, when that day arrives for us. The people who reside there are amazing friendly, so please remember, this story is a work of fiction, and the characters are not based upon those we’ve met during our travels.

This serial also marks my first attempt at putting together the cover art. Using Adobe Express, when I’m used to the functionality of photoshop, was a challenge. Please read–buy tokens and read, so I can afford to purchase the real tool for future projects.

Please enjoy this departure from Maguire/McAllister family; and Ashton’s story will continue while I balance it with my day job as a military education counselor.

Miss Blue Skies exclusively on Kindle Vella!

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The Role of Luck (dumb or otherwise)

This post is inspired by an author’s post in one of the many Kindle Vella groups I frequent on Facebook. This author was lamenting the fact she had few reads of her newly posted serial on Amazon’s Kindle Vella platform. She said she had been told by family and friends she is a “good writer,” and was disappointed that readers had not found her serial.

“Good” is relative. As both an avid reader and writer publishing my serial fiction series on Kindle Vella, I am always amazed at what catches on and what is left relatively alone. Certainly, those authors who were already established on other platforms or had been publishing for several years have the advantage of name recognition. Many brought their readers over to Kindle Vella with them from their other endeavors. But there are some authors, new to publishing on any platform, who are drawing in readers in droves and paying their bills with their craft. (Something I aspire to.)

What sets those authors who are killing it apart from those who are not are a combination of things; chosen genre—and it appears the paranormal sells along with spicy romance, length of episodes—smaller word and token counts appear to be key to keeping the unlocks coming, promotion—some authors put out several ads a day, skill at their craft, and a good dose of luck.

I, too, have been told I am a good writer, and I’ve generated consistent reads for my “An Operator’s Daughter” series since it debuted a year ago in July. I am grateful to those who have unlocked episodes and come to know my characters—from an amazing fan who has posted reviews that touched my heart, to my immediate family, and especially to my fellow Kindle Vella authors for their support.

During the week of October 5th through 11th, 2022, Kindle Vella will allow readers with an Amazon Prime account or those who have made purchases of $50 or more to read from the Kindle Vella platform for free—up to 100 episodes each day! I would be honored if you would spend your time unlocking episodes of my series. The links are below.

Thank you for your support!

https://www.amazon.com/author/laurie_anne_brandon

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Kindle Vella titles to enjoy this summer weekend!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/summerromancevellas/x0e20sp16u

One of my favorites from this collection of Kindle Vella reads is “Parallel Worlds” by Rachel Roy. It is a great back-to-school read blending classroom reality with the fantasy world.

My first three Vellas of “An Operator’s Daughter” series are also part of this promo.

The first three episodes on Kindle Vella are always free, and if you are reader new to the platform with an Amazon account, you can claim 200 free tokens to keep reading.

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Ready for a summer romance?

Have you tried Kindle Vella? The first three episodes are free, and Amazon will give readers new to the platform 200 free (or sometimes 500 or even 1,000) tokens to keep reading.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/summerromancevellas/x0e20sp16u

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“Mrs. Maguire” is now live on Kindle Vella

The fourth part to my series, “An Operator’s Daughter” is now live on Kindle Vella.

The first three episodes are free. After that, my goal is to keep tokens per episode between six and 15 going forward with new episodes published on Sundays, Tuesday, and Fridays going forward.

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Coming Soon!

If all goes well, Part IV of “An Operator’s Daughter” will go live on Friday, August 12, 2022. Look for new episodes on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

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Hot night, can’t sleep?

Enjoy these Kindle Vella titles during those hot August nights.

On Kindle Vella, the first three episodes are always free. New to Kindle Vella, Amazon will gift you 200 free tokens to keep reading (and sometimes 500 or even a 1,000!)

https://books.bookfunnel.com/allkindlevellas/fjhk0x4p7j

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More about my characters: the CATS

Felines have been a large part of my life. Since right before my husband and I were married, we’ve been blessed to always have a tuxedo cat (or four) sharing our lives.

Our first, Horatio Roo, was somewhere between four and six weeks when he was pulled from a litter of feral kittens and throughout his life, he would nurse on my fingers or thumb as he would fall asleep at night. He didn’t see himself as a “cat” and accompanied me everywhere, including to work at a local Seattle television station some evenings.

Because our cats have brought such joy to our lives, I’ve paid tribute to their calming presence and rambunctious spirits by adding them as characters within “The Operator’s Daughter” series.

Henrik as a kitten

“Bond” is mentioned in Ashton’s mother’s journals–“a left behind” cat by a former resident of the home shared by LT Gracelynn Wright and CPT Charlotte Lewis. When Charlotte took occupancy of the base-housing bungalow, she found a bag of cat crunchies and a water fountain for him to drink from–as we have found out our kitties over the years prefer drinking from running water. (An Operator’s Daughter – part I.) “Bond” is a smoothie tuxedo, and in my mind he resembles our current kitty boy, Henrik–our “lap leopard.”

As I am drafting out episodes of “An Operator’s Daughter – part IV”, “Orion” will make an appearance as Ashton’s emotional support animal. He is a six-toed Hemingway Maine Coon – greatly resembling the tuxedo Maine Coon who shared our home until just a few years ago. Niko, who was not a polydactyl cat, was the most gentle of our kitties, the largest in size and in the capacity of his heart for us and our other cats. We miss him a great deal.

Niko as a kitten with his big sis Tilda

https://www.amazon.com/author/laurie_anne_brandonhttps://www.amazon.com/author/laurie_anne_brandon

Check our my author page on Amazon at the link above!

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More about my characters: Dustin Maguire

I am deep into writing and editing Part IV of my “An Operator’s Daughter” series and hoping to begin posting episodes within the next week (or two).

The character of Dustin Bryce Maguire, Ashton McAllister’s love interest, points out his truck to her the the evening he returns from his first mission (“An Operator’s Daughter – Part I” Episode 157). He tells her, proudly, that it’s paid for, and she gives him an appreciative smile.

Dustin’s truck is a symbol of his hard work, blood, sweat, and hidden tears overcoming his neglected youth and his fight to make it through Navy SEAL training and on to a platoon.

He drives a later model lifted Toyota Tacoma, a two-door with not-quite a backseat similar to the one pictured below.

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