Category: self-publishing


Aug
2017

Super Secret Shelfie

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, Romance, self-publishing, YA

I mentioned a “super secret assignment” in my last post, and okaaay, it’s not really a secret.  BUT if someone could help me with this, it would be pretty freakin’ super :).  So here’s the deal.  Last week, I was in L.A. for a few days, and one of the places I really wanted to go was the Los Angeles Public Library.  I was seriously looking forward to it!

You get why I’d be excited about this right, fellow bookworms?

Books, shelves, readers, books, card catalogs (are there still card catalogs lol?) and…I mean, seriously, all those books!!!

And I really wanted to go there for one book in particular.  If you look up the ADORKABLE paperback on Goodreads, there’s a button for “libraries.”  I happened to click on it, not expecting much.  I knew when I decided to self-publish that libraries probably wouldn’t order my book(s) just like bookstores wouldn’t stock them.  It’s one of the dreams I kind of gave up on because of the stigma attached to being self-pubbed/using Createspace etc.

But when I clicked, I got a shock!

ADORKABLE, book baby #1, was actually available at 11 libraries!!!  There were copies in Indiana, New York, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Idaho, California and Washington.  And some of them were even checked out!  Several branches of the L.A. Public Library had the book, and I was hoping to visit before I left–but alas, I never got the chance :(.

Now, I know this is a long shot, but I decided to ask anyway.  If you live near any of the libraries that carry ADORKABLE, could you do me a favor?  Could you take a picture of ADORKABLE on the library shelf and post it somewhere so I can see?  Or if you have the paperback on your shelf, would you mind taking a shelfie and posting?  I’d love to see a picture of the book in its natural habitat!

It’s kinda silly, I guess, but it was one of those author-ly dreams I just never thought would come true.  I should do a post about those sometime because they are many lol.  If you accept this super secret shelfie assignment, I’d be forever grateful.  If not, that’s totally cool, too!

I hope you all have a great weekend surrounded by amazing books <3.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Aug
2017

5000+ ADORKABLE Readers!!!

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, Goodreads, Ninja Girl, self-publishing, YA

This post could’ve also been called: OMG, when did that happen?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

But I figured it was too many question marks :).  As you can see, book baby #1 finally did it.  ADORKABLE reached 5000+ readers on Goodreads!  When I first started this journey into self-publishing, I honestly never thought this would happen.  I mean, I thought I’d be lucky to have five to 10 readers let alone this many.  I am truly floored and humbled by how many people have read ADORKABLE, and I cannot thank you all enough for the support.  Sally and Becks are out there, making their way into people’s hearts, and I am so grateful for that.

On a side note, book baby #2 isn’t doing too shabby either.  500+ people have read and rated NINJA GIRL on Goodreads which is crazy amazing.  Also, I noticed a little while ago that, although the book is actually rated 4.8 stars on Amazon (which is fan-freaking-tastic), it looks like 5 stars on the site.  Definitely not complaining about that lol!

To thank you awesome ADORKABLE and NINJA GIRL readers…it’s time for a giveaway!!!

There are several ways to enter, and the giveaway will run until August 31, 2017.  One winner will be randomly chosen, and the prize is a $25 Amazon Gift Card.  You can enter using the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Once more with feeling: THANK YOU SO MUCH, readers!  Thank you for reading the book in the first place.  Thank you for recommending it to your friends.  Thank you for being the adorkable ninja girl and guy bookworms that you are!  ADORKABLE and NINJA GIRL readers really are the best, and I appreciate you more than I can say <3.

I hope you have a wonderful week, and good luck!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Jul
2017

Be Water

categories: Adorkable, Be Yourself, doing what you love, Ninja Girl, self-publishing, YA

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I last posted!  Two freakin’ weeks…how did that even happen? 0__0

Well, I’m back readers, and I sincerely hope you are still with me!  Today, I wanted to share a video I found a long time ago when I was doing research for NINJA GIRL.  It’s totally awesome imo, and it’s Bruce Lee in a nutshell–so of course, Snow would love it :).  I do, too, and I hope you will as well.

While I’ve been editing my next book to be released and writing a new book, feeling all of the feels, doubting myself at every turn, I can honestly say I wish I was more like Bruce, more like Snow.  I try to be water.  Whenever new situations or challenges present themselves, I try to go with the flow, roll with the punches.  I don’t always succeed…but that doesn’t stop me from trying.

My next YA book will be different than my first two releases–completely new characters, not as fluffy (though still lots of laughs)–and I’m very nervous (see: terrified) about that.  And I actually wrote it before ADORKABLE, though it’s been through huge revisions since then.  Note to self: The writer-ly fears do not go away after you release a book.  They remain, hang around and sneak up on you when you least expect it.  I’m also organizing an event for a very good cause, a cause that I care deeply about, and so far?  I’ve only gotten one response.  Ugggggh…

And yet!  I refuse to give up.  I’m going to be water, my friends.  And it is my hope, no matter what you’re dealing with in your life, that you can be, too <3.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Apr
2017

Congratulations!

categories: doing what you love, giveaway, Goodreads, Ninja Girl, Romance, self-publishing, YA

It’s time to announce another winner :).  Thank you to everyone who entered the NINJA GIRL giveaway and helped celebrate the release of my second book!  Thank you for adding NINJA GIRL on Goodreads, visiting my Facebook page, commenting here on the blog and tweeting all the “kickass” tweets (there were a LOT of those lol!).

And without further ado, the winner is…

Sarah M.

Congratulations, Sarah!!!  Your $25 Amazon gift card is on the way.  I hope you enjoy it, and thank you so much for entering!

In case you didn’t know, NINJA GIRL is available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited, and one of my favorite things is watching the “pages read” count grow :).  If you’ve supported my second release in any way (by reading, rating, reviewing, recommending or offering a kind word), I appreciate it and you readers so so much.

I hope you’re all having a fantastic week!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Apr
2017

A Very Good Week

categories: Adorkable, Amazon, doing what you love, Ninja Girl, Romance, self-publishing, writing, YA

Book baby #2 (aka NINJA GIRL) has officially been out a week!  Woohoo!!

And it has been quite a time let me tell you :).

Someone left NINJA GIRL‘s first review–its first 5-star review–on Amazon very quickly after the book was released.  If you are the sweet soul who wrote it, I just want to say: Thank you sooooo much!  You have no idea how excited, relieved and thankful I was to see that :).

My mom got me my favorite cupcake to celebrate the book’s release.

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And because she is wonderful, she also got me a cookie (no picture, but it was yummy ;)).  Then later, this happened…

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NINJA GIRL was a #1 Hot New Release on Amazon!  Oh yeah, and this happened…

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NINJA GIRL hit #1 in Canada on Amazon in its category!!!  My jaw literally dropped when I saw this, and I thought, “Canada, you are awesome.”

Also, in the U.S., NINJA GIRL was #2…right next to ADORKABLE,which celebrated turning 1-year-old at #1 on Amazon!  Ah, I love my book babies <3 <3 <3.

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Needless to say, book-wise, it was a very good week, and I am so very thankful to everyone who made this possible <3.  Your support, your kind comments, reviews, ratings and recommendations to friends mean everything.

Thank you for reading my books–and YAY!  I can now say “books” plural lol.  NINJA GIRL is out there, you guys!  If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll give it a try :).

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Mar
2017

NINJA GIRL Release Day!

categories: Amazon, doing what you love, Ninja Girl, Release Day, Romance, self-publishing, writing, YA

ninja-girl

So today is the big day!  It’s release day for my second book baby, and for some reason, I just want to throw confetti, hand out cookies and say, “It’s a girl!” 🙂

Ahh, I really can’t believe it.

May the Force, Bruce Lee and Taylor Swift be with you, little book!

NINJA GIRL is finally out there.  Bookworms everywhere can read Ash and Snow’s story.  Oh, and I hope they do and love it!  I hope readers find a kindred spirit in tomboy/awkward/still-totally-kickass Snow.  I hope they fall hard and swoon even harder for Ash (like I did <3).  I hope everyone will embrace the girl power, the diversity, the kickassery and, of course, the laughs and the romance.

If this sounds good to you, I would love it if you would give NINJA GIRL a chance :).

Thank you so much to everyone who supported my first book–and thank you to those who asked about my next.  I hope you enjoy this second release and that it gives you all the feels.  As always, if you do read the book, please let me know!  Hearing from readers is truly one of my favorite things <3.

Happy reading (and Happy book birthday, NINJA GIRL!),

Cookie O’Gorman


Mar
2017

Pre-Order & Promotion

categories: Adorkable, Amazon, doing what you love, Kindle Countdown Deal, Ninja Girl, promotion, Romance, self-publishing, YA

I did it, guys!  NINJA GIRL is now available for pre-order!!!  What’s even better?  A few awesome people have already pre-ordered the book, and that just makes me over-the-moon ecstatic :).

If you want more awesome…

ADORKABLE will be available for just $0.99 for the next week!  Yes, that’s right; it’s time for a Kindle Countdown Deal!  I’m really hoping that the promotion will drive more traffic to the upcoming release of NINJA GIRL and make this kickass YA romance more visible.  For whatever reason–fear, nervousness, self-doubt, take your pick–I’ve been reticent about promoting this release.  And it makes me so frustrated will myself.  Ugh.

This is one time when I wish I was less introverted and more scream-it-from-the-rootops-I-LOVE-THIS-BOOK extroverted.  I love Ash.  I love Snow.  I love my second book baby, and I really hope readers will embrace and love it, too <3.

I hope you all have a great week–and I can’t believe NINJA GIRL comes out this Thursday!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Mar
2017

NINJA GIRL Giveaway!

categories: doing what you love, fun, giveaway, Goodreads, Ninja Girl, promotion, Romance, self-publishing, writing, YA, YA Bound Book Tours

Okay, so a lot of things have happened in the past few days.

Several people helped with the cover reveal of NINJA GIRL last week, and I just gotta say: YOU ALL ROCK!  Thank you so much for your support!  I received some awesome book mail from my Hungarian publisher–which really brightened up my Saturday. <3  I reached my goal of 70 people adding NINJA GIRL to Goodreads pre-release (which is sweeet :)).  And I set up the giveaway below–because of course, we had to have a giveaway to mark the awesome/kickass/splendiferous occasion of NINJA GIRL‘s upcoming release March 30, 2017.

And yes, I have always wanted to use the word “splendiferous” in a sentence.  This seemed like the right time :).

The NINJA GIRL Giveaway will run from March 23 until April 13, and the winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!  There are several ways to enter, and that means tons of chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, I’m off to try and add NINJA GIRL on Amazon, hoping for no hiccups and that the process goes smoothly.  I wish you all the best of luck with the giveaway, and I really hope you’ll check out NINJA GIRL when it comes out next Thursday!!! Ahh, can’t believe it’s so close!

Hope you have a great week!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Mar
2017

NINJA GIRL cover reveal

categories: Adorkable, cover love, doing what you love, Goodreads, Ninja Girl, Romance, self-publishing, writing, YA

Hi everyone!  It’s time for the cover reveal of my YA romance NINJA GIRL :).  It was so much fun to create, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out.  Seriously, I love it!!!  I worked with Stephanie Mooney again, and she did a fantastic job!  Ahhh, I can’t wait to finally share it!

Okay, deep breath…and thank you for being patient while I breathe lol.

Here is…

…your first look…

…at the cover…

…for NINJA GIRL :).

ninja-girl

Gah…just…doesn’t it make your eyes smile?

The colors, the fence, the too-cool-for-school “lean” the models have going on ;).  One of my most favorite parts is how it relates to ADORKABLE but still has its own vibe.  They’d look great side by side…sigh.  Here’s the link if you’d like to add NINJA GIRL on Goodreads <3.

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Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Mar
2017

Nerds and Ninjas

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, Goodreads, Ninja Girl, Romance, self-publishing, writing, YA

The wait is over!  I uploaded the summary to Ash’s book :).  You can finally read what NINJA GIRL, my second soon-to-be-published YA romance, is all about.  I hope you like what you see, and I really hope the book summary makes you want to read Ash’s story–even new readers who haven’t met Ash yet…sigh <3.  And Snow–you finally know her name!  Yayyy!!!  She is seriously cool, you guys.

I did mention that I have a thing for “nerds and ninjas,” right?

Well, here is the proof!

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Snow and Ash will have alternating chapters in which we get a sneak peek into their thoughts and emotions.  Pretty cool, right?  I hope so anyway lol!  Also, a quick disclaimer: NINJA GIRL does contain more cursing than ADORKABLE.  If the book were a movie, it would still be rated PG-13, but I just wanted to make sure you are aware.

BUT I do hope you will give this book a chance and that it makes you laugh out loud :).  I hope that you fall in love with Ash and Snow just as hard as you did with Becks and Sally.  I saw the finished cover today, and I absolutely love it, can’t wait for the reveal!

Here is a link if you’d like to add NINJA GIRL to your Goodreads TBR pile.

Annnd it feels awesome to be able to say that!  Hope your week is going well!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman