Take our Zenobia Survey:

Before you read Russ Wallace's book Zenobia - Birth of a Legend had you ever heard about Zenobia?

I have found that most people never have and are shocked to learn Zenobia- Birth of a Legend is based on a true historical figure. 

On our blog please take the survey and let us know.

In our pursuit to know Zenobia better we've found very few articles about her life. They all vary a little but most all agree on her intelligence, strength, and beauty.

Here are a few quotes from articles on Zenobia. Enjoy! We hope, like us, your desire to learn more about this extraordinary woman grows and her story will be well-known by everyone.  

 

http://royalwomen.tripod.com/id16.html
"Zenobia was prepared for her role as queen. She was fluent in many languages, like Cleopatra: Greek, Latin, Egyptian, and Amharic. She was a beauty, also like Cleopatra. It is said that her voice was very harmonious, that her teeth were pearly white, that her eyes and hair were very dark, and she had manly strength."

"She had a great sense of humor. One tale goes that when Zenobia was to judge a trial about a merchant who overcharged his customers, she brought the merchant into an arena. Thinking he was going to be attacked by a beast, Zenobia let the cage open and out popped a chicken."

http://www.otto-graph.com/samples/4/zenobia.html

"Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, was brave, intelligent, level headed, practical and chocked full of sheer, raw, devil-may-care attitude...a beautiful, courageous woman, a personification of all women's values and possibilities."

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196205/queen.zenobia.htm

"Brave as Diana and beautiful as Venus men called her; known for her wisdom, too, for had not Longinus, the philosopher, the "walking university," come out of Athens to instruct her and make her worthy of any throne? Did she not know Greek, Egyptian, Aramaic and a little Latin? She had compiled a history as well, and was versed in Plato and Homer."  

*This article appeared on pages 12-13 of the May 1962 print edition of Saudi Aramco World.Volume 13, Number 5

14-day-kindle-book-launch-how-to-get-more-eyes-on-my-book-by-dave-eaton

I took this class at the ANWA writers conference, it was very informative giving a step by step on how to do a Kindle eBook launch. Dave Eaton is a marketing consultant for small businesses, online marketing, and social media marketing.  

Zenobia – Birth of a Legend is available to read on Kindle eBook. Learn about Zenobia the Syrian desert girl who is destined to became queen, conquer Egypt, and challenge Rome. 

http://www.amazon.com/Zenobia-Birth-Legend-World-ebook/dp/B005YF5MZE/ref=pd_rhf_pe_p_t_3_YHCJ

1. Enroll in KDP Select – https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/KDPSelect

Why?  Amazon Promotes your book, Participate in the “Lenders Library” fund, Royalties are 70% beginning at a $2.99 retail price

2. Select 5-Day Free Promotion to begin on a Saturday 14 days in the future

3. Get at least 5 purchaser’s reviews from different locations/states

4. Notify Friends and Family of upcoming promotion. Tell them to spread the word

5. Join Forums in your Genre and “Freebie Forums ahead of time (contributing to the conversations, adding value) Once established post notification of your free promotion.

6. Join Facebook Pages in your Genre and “Freebie” Fan Pages. Once established post notification of your free promotion

7. Join the following Free Kindle Pages: http://pixelofink.com ; http://ereadernewstoday.com ;http://freedigitalreads.com.  Notify these sites at least 7 days prior to your Promotion

DO NOT submit unless you have at least 5 or more 4 and 5 star Reviews

8. Post Ads in Ezines 10 days prior to promotion

a. Search for “Free” and “cheap” ezine advertizing

b. Try this resource: http://www.ezinead.net/

c. Search Google for “Free Newsletters”

9. Buy Facebook Ads

a. Direct your visitors to your Facebook Fan Page – Cost is Cheap

b. Show ads to “Fans” of Books or Authors in your Genre

c. Choose the demographic of your audience

d. Set a daily budget or set a maximum spend

10. Remind Friends and Family a couple of days before launch of promo through all means of communication

a. Email, text, facebook, twitter…

11. Send Press Releases on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of your Free promotion

a. Submit Press Release for distribution to http://webwire.com

12. After Free promotion, keep your price low until you are at the top of your category.

• Start at $.99
• Raise to $2.99 after you reach the top of your category
• Ultimate price should be between $2.99 and $4.99.

Why Kindle?

-          Amazon has the largest buyer database

-          They are always looking for more stuff to sell

-          millions of credit cards on file

-          Every year they double in size

-          They pay royalties up to 70% (making more money is always good.)

-          billions of kindle devices (including phone apps)

-          Instant global delivery

-          Instant publishing

-          Amazon promotes your book

-          Kindle out sells printed book 2 to 1 on Amazon

-          Kindle ranks higher on Google

If you give Kindle an exclusive on your book you will get more benefits.  Dave suggests going a 90 exclusive to start out and then you can cancel the exclusive with amazon and add your eBook with other providers like Smash words.

Why do the exclusive? (KDP Select)

-          Free promotional program

-          Lenders library fund

-          Promotes your book in multiple places

5 fundamentals that must be in place before starting the kindle book launch:

1. A good cover  (Get a graphic artist)
2. Proper formatting
3. Well written description
4. Complete the Author Central Page*
5. Write a biography – make it unique (3^rd person)

*Author Central page you can have your blog automatically posted. Your twitter feeds posted. You can have events and upcoming book launches available. Any photos or videos can be on your Author Central page.

Pick correct categories for your book. Shop for books in your genre and choose 2 categories from your competition.

Check out Russ Wallace’s Author Central Page. Like our page at http://www.amazon.com/Russ-Wallace/e/B005ZY4FES/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1363671833&sr=1-1

Russ Wallace is the author of Zenobia- Birth of a Legend 

Why should I give my book away for free? A download is a download. The value of word of mouth marketing is priceless.

Great Reviews of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend

"If Russ's first book is any indication of the planned series, this first-book author should move quickly up the best seller's list and remain there for years to come." 

"Zenobia - beautiful, intelligent, and powerful. And she was real. Russ Wallace's Zenobia - Birth of a Legend, Book 1, is a rich coming-of-age saga based on true events that transport you back in time to the desert of ancient Syria, 250 CE. It chronicles what is known of the Syrian queen's youth, wrapped in imaginative tales of the vibrant life she might have led. To protect her life, Zenobia's gender was hidden until her ninth year. She understood the need for deception, but once exposed, the dynamic girl persuaded their male-dominated tribe to fulfill her dream, training her to become a cunning warrior. The new twist of discovery in Zenobia's life offered the best of both worlds, creating a budding womanly warrior few men could resist.
I love reading historical novels and this one is particularly interesting. Having traveled through the Middle East, which was once part of Zenobia's landscape, I easily visualized the ancient events Wallace depicts. Aptly blending fact and fiction is a tricky art, but he cleverly mixes education, history, political and religious theories, action and adventure, with a young girls emotional discoveries.
Zenobia's allure will attract more than today's young adults who will identify with the girl, though they are millennial apart. Her thirst for knowledge and penchant for righteousness, and Wallace's historical acumen in satisfying them, will be a magnet for political aficionados and military tacticians. Like for me, she will resonate too, with women who admire the empowerment Zenobia embodies as she battles injustices.
Well-written and imaginative, fast-paced and exciting, this is a book that will fascinate and charm. I not only identify with Zenobia's passion and staunch support of equality, but enjoy the personality Wallace infused into this exceptional ruler. With every page you will marvel at the intricate details of thought expressed by his characters, and wonder with him at how little we have learned as a society, through the ages. '
Woven in the fascinating narrative of Zenobia, Russ Wallace features the humanity of history - and sometimes lack of it - acquainting us with a remarkable time in ancient cultures. Much like today, country borders and even whole countries appeared and disappeared in the earth's "blink of an eye." And as now, world-changing events were largely due to the dynamic politics and warring strategies of those who ruled the most powerful countries - Zenobia was such a leader. Book 1 is a great beginning." - LinDee Rochelle - owner of  http://www.penchantforpenning.com/ ; Founded and administered Women Writers of the Desert, a metro Phoenix organization for nearly five years, which transformed into an online resource to benefit women on a broader scale and renamed Women Writers Worldwide. http://www.womenwritersworldwide.com/

Free book giveaway ends tonight at midnight PST!

Don't miss your chance to win a free copy of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend. It's simple to enter, click on link below. On Joyce's blog and book review of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend, write a comment and your email address. http://jdp-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/author-interview-and-giveaway-zenobia.html

As Zenobia would say, "A bag of scorpions if you don't win!" 

Joyce DiPastena is Author of LOYALTY'S WEB, ILLUMINATIONS OF THE HEART, 

and DANGEROUS FAVOR. She fell in love with the Middle Ages when she first read Thomas B. Costain's THE CONQUERING FAMILY in high school. Joyce is a graduate of University of Arizona with a degree specializing in medieval history. 

For more ways to win a copy of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend go to www.facebook.com/geodepress and like our Facebook page for a chance to win a free book. Or more information about the exciting new historical series please visit our website:  http://geodepress.com/zenobia-birth-of-a-legend/ 

Congratulations! ZENOBIA- Birth of a Legend placed Bronze in the Historical Fiction

The 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards

The results of the 16^th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards, honoring the year’s best independently published titles, are available and we are pleased that Zenobia – Birth of a Legend placed Bronze in the Historical Fiction.

“Congratulations and sincere thanks to over 2,400 independent authors and publishers who participated in our 16th annual, 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards contest. This year's entry totals are the biggest ever, with 4,813 print book entries, 390 e-book entries, and an average category size of 50.  The largest category was Memoir, with 213 entries; the smallest was Classical Studies, with just 8 entries. IPPY medals go to entrants from 44 U.S. states plus D.C., 7 Canadian provinces, and 10 countries overseas.

Here are the results of this year's awards, starting with the gold, silver and bronze medalists in our 74 National categories, followed by the Regional category medalists, our Outstanding Books of the Year, and for the first time, E-Book categories.

Congratulations to all on your great work!”

IndependentPublisherBookAwardsResults

Historical Fiction
Gold: The Darcys: The Ruling Passion, by Linda Berdoll (Well There It Is Publishing)
Silver: Gates of Eden, by Charles Degelman (Harvard Square Editions)

Scimitar,by Robin Raybould (Tetrabiblion Books)

Bronze: Zenobia: Birth of a Legend, by Russ Wallace (Geode Press)

Line by Line, by Barbara Hacha (MediaMix Productions)