The Life of an Indie Author
Not many people may realize how trying being an indie author can be. You have a story you want to share with the world. In order to do so you have to write it first. Afterwards its edit, edit, edit! Then comes the real fun part. Formatting. You might think that you have that already set up as you write the story. You are part right depending on how you plan on publishing. If you are submitting it to only one venue such as Kindle, they require one format. However if you want it available at different places as an ebook and in print then you will find yourself with multiple copies, each with a different format saved to your files. This is very time consuming, but necessary if you want to share your story with as many readers as possible. This week Doris and I were faced with yet another format to have our books transcribed into. Unlike the others this version is for POD. New cover, new format plus expenses like ISBN numbers are just a small part of the adventure. After we have the books in our hands we’ll have to find readers to sell to which will involve conventions, book signs at stores and other places all so we can try to at least break even. Despite the challenges, I doubt I would give up writing. It’s a start to making a dream come true. Little by little, one day it will.
New Update!
Today A Tail to Remember has revealed the start of the date. Will Tucker and Kallie be met by bliss or disaster?
Next week, a new chapter to Spark of Vengeance.
Wishing a Happy Mother’s Day!
To all our readers, writers, friends, and fans who are mothers; have a special day!
For myself today is yet another writing session. I hope to have formatting completed for the print version of Frozen Reflection completed in the next few days so it can be sent off to be printed. I will probably also post updated versions for the ebook version. Nothing major, just fixing minor errors. You can still get your own copies of the ebook at these locations: Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction, Amazon for the Kindle, and Barnes and Noble for the Nook.
Today’s Update
A new chapter to Spark of Vengeance has been added. Where we last left off, Havort had been poisoned by the ash from the village fire. Jesali raced off in hopes of finding help despite the fact that everyone had turned against the Keepers. Find out if she will succeed or will Havort meet his untimely demise!
Next week will be another chapter of A Tail to Remember. Tucker and Kallie will going on their first date. Will they they be met with fortune or disaster?
Shadows of the Mind
So far we have received many excellent short stories for our horror anthology. We would love to receive more. Submissions are still open! Please visit our Submissions page for more details. Deadline is August 1st or until submissions is closed.
Out of Sync
If you haven’t noticed we’ve been having difficulty syncing with Facebook. We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you be patient as we try to figure out how to fix the problem (one of our website aps is no longer supporting Facebook updates yet never alerted us to this).
Just a Quick Update
So far the second book for The Crystal Garden Saga is coming along well. I’m shooting to having it published via ebook by my birthday this year. As long as I don’t hit any walls too hard, I should achieve that goal!
Today is a new chapter for A Tail to Remember. This chapter has broken the record for the longest chapter for this story with a total of four pages! I hope you enjoy it. Next week with be a new one for Spark of Vengeance.
DID Update!
The third novella for Doris’s dark Fantasy series, Descent into Darkness has been published today! Be sure to visit her page for more details!
Writing Up A Storm!
I love it when the words just flow like water from a decorative fountain, falling freely yet fast, barely giving you enough time to catch your breath as you struggle to keep up. That has been the way my writing sessions have been lately, especially for Frozen Reflection’s sequel. As long as I don’t slam into a wall while I’m running, I should hopefully be able to achieve my goal of completing the story before the end of the year!
What’s even better is that stories for the others series are working themselves out as well. For a few of the ones shared with Tricia however, we’ll have to smooth out some of the details due to changes in plot, characters, and history. It shouldn’t be too hard to hammer out. We already have the notes, the accurate ones just need to be compiled together with whatever updates we have made. Once we have that sorted out, hopefully those stories will flow as freely as the others.
Spark of A New Chapter
Chapter 6 has been posted for Spark of Vengeance. This chapter took a rather unexpected turn. I look forward to seeing the outcome in future chapters.
Next week Kallie will have to endure her torture session, I mean Adele’s help in getting her ready for her date with Tucker. Just what exactly does Adele have in store for her? Check out the story next Sunday to find out!
Stories and More
Happy Earth Day! Today so far has been a good day. I managed to get through some chapters to different stories I’ve been working on including the second book in The Crystal Garden Saga. I’m also setting up some big plans writing wise for the future. We have received some awesome short stories for our horror anthology Shadows of the Mind. Thank you to everyone that has submitted so far. Deadline is August 1st 2012 so we are still accepting submissions. So if you have a short horror story up your sleeve please visit our Submissions Page for more information on how to get published in our anthology! To those of you who have already submitted, we’ll be sending out emails soon regarding if your story has been accepted along with a contract. Please follow the directions and contact us if you have any questions.
New Chapter Posted…
Today we have chapter 13 for A Tail to Remember. Will the number 13 turn Tucker’s luck around or will his misfortunes continue to escalate?
New week will be a new chapter to Spark of Vengeance. Will Jesali and her group find any useful evidence, or will they find themselves having to fight off countless attacks before they can even set one foot into the town? Find out next week!
As A Reminder…
The first book of my Young Adult Novel series, The Crystal Garden Saga, Frozen Reflection is now available for purchase at Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction, on Amazon for the Kindle, at Barnes and Noble for the Nook and finally at the iBookstore (although it doesn’t seem to have been posted on their site yet). Please click on the links to purchase your copy today!
Achievements Rock!
No, I’m not talking about the achievements you can earn while playing games on the XBox 360 although those are awesome too. I’m referring to accomplishing things that have either been difficult to finish or even start. The goals that you set but every once in a while something gets in the way making it nearly impossible to start/finish. However once you actually get through it, you feel this incredible rush that only makes you want to shout to the world that you did it! That kind of achievement. In my case, I had been stuck on the sequel to Frozen Reflection; Quaking Tower. With Frozen Reflection I got to know the characters pretty quickly. Bianca pretty much appeared in my mind jumping up and down screaming, “I’m here! Write my story! I’m ready!” Alphonse however was more difficult. I thought I knew him well to start, but discovered there was more to his personality that I previous expected. In fact I wanted to kick him a few times for his attitude. (If you have not read the story and want to know what I’m talking about; go HERE or HERE to buy the ebook! It’s only $4.99!)
Quaking Tower however is a different story, literally. Until now, I didn’t really understand what was going on with my lead male. Because the circumstance for this story is rather different compared to its predecessor I had a bit of difficulty finding the right tone for the setting as well as deciding what aspects I wanted to stay true to and which ones I wanted to twist around. I’m also trying to keep the personalities separate from Bianca and Alphonse. They’re two different characters and should be treated as such. I seem to have a better idea of who they are as well as how to start the story. Where it goes, I don’t know. I’m excited to find out what will be happening next though. Until then, I’m enjoying the journey.
The Tale Continues…
Chapter 5 has been posted for Spark of Vengeance. The Keepers struggle with an important decision. Will they let fear take control?
Next Week…
In A Tail to Remember, Tucker, still reeling over the day’s events discovers that his aggravation has only just begun. Will he still go on the arranged date or escape to Alaska? Find out next time!
Happy Easter! Happy Update!
I’m currently watching my chinchilla, Zidane literally eat his Easter basket. It’s a cute sight! He started on some of the bundles of sticks, then tried two of the different flavored cookies and is now chomping on the basket itself. It’s actually his first Easter with us. I’ve been trying to celebrate holidays with him the best I can which usually consists of chin-friendly chews like organic dried baby rose petals and a vine heart for Valentine’s Day and green colored chews like loofah and bamboo finger traps for St. Patrick’s Day. He’ll probably get a bunch of finger traps for Independence Day since when he chews on them it resembles confetti. Needless to say he’s having a good day despite his poor behavior yesterday (he knocked his food bowl upside down). I teased him about the Easter bunny not bringing anything because he was a bad chinny. Of course he didn’t take me seriously. I’ll be in an Easter parade in Saint Augustine, FL later this day before spending time with family for the holidays. Happily enough I got TWO Lindt bunnies this year; the only type of milk chocolate I like. It’s so smooth and creamy.
New Today!
Chapter twelve is now available for A Tail to Remember. Kallie is still reeling over the day’s events and ends up with an unexpected surprise. I think Mittens reminds me a bit of Zidane. Especially in this chapter. Next week will be a new chapter of Spark of Vengeance.
E-Book!
Just a reminder, Frozen Reflection, book 1 of my young adult fantasy series, The Crystal Garden Saga is available as an e-book on the Kindle, through Smashwords,on Drivethrufiction, and from Lulu. It’s still currently pending for the Nook and at the iBookstore although there are several formats available through Smashwords. If you want to experience a different twist to a fairytale favorite, be sure to check out Frozen Reflections. It’s available for $4.99 at the previously mentioned vendors. Click on the names for the links.
Insert Something Witty Here
The rainy weather has sapped my mind of the ability to come up with an interesting title to this post today. Normally I don’t mind the rain, except when it results in me suffering from a migraine. I’m currently at Doris’s place typing this as she plays a creepy hidden object game from Big Fish Games entitled Shiver: The Vanishing Hitchhiker Collector’s Edition. It has freaky children’s drawings of dead people all of the place as well as other spooky stuff, especially the music. If you like spooky hidden object games this one is recommended.
On To The Real Reason for This Post
Chapter 4 has just been posted for Spark of Vengeance. The mystery over the strange fire looms over the heads of the Keepers as the townsfolk point fingers. Next week will be a new chapter for A Tail to Remember.
In Case You Missed the Previous Announcements…
Frozen Reflection, the first novel of my Young Adult Fantasy series The Crystal Garden Saga has been published on Smashwords (available on different formats), Kindle, and Lulu. It’s unfortunately still pending for the Nook and iBookstore (there was a problem with the formatting which has been fixed.) Frozen Reflection is a story of a teenaged girl who on her sixteenth birthday discovers that there may be more to dreams and reality than she first though. It’s my first full novel that was originally used for NaNoWriMo last year. Unfortunately I hit a wall and was not able to pick the story back up until over a month later. Interestingly, the story wouldn’t have worked even if I had finished on time; it ended short of 50,000 words, the minimum requirement for NaNoWriMo. Now that’s it done however I will be working to have print copies available for Ancient City Con in July. I have also started on book two which I hope to have finished before the end of the year. I’ll share more on this in the future. This by the way is not a April Fool’s Day Prank.
Happy rest of the weekend!
Coffee Is An Author’s Best Friend
I have been in dire need of caffeine this morning! For those of you who haven’t read any of my posts since before midnight eastern time last night, I have epublished my Young Adult Novel, Frozen Reflection through Lulu and Kindle. It ‘s also currently pending for the Nook and iBookstore. I will post another update once it’s been accepted through them. I am so excited to finally have the first book of my YA fantasy series available for readers. This excitement unfortunately led to a partially sleepless night due to an adrenaline rush. Coffee has been a blessing this morning, even though it’s no Coffee Roasters of Florida coffee, the most awesome coffee ever!
Below is what the cover looks like made by the talented artist, Steven Young.
In Other Story News
Chapter 11 of A Tail to Remember has been posted so be sure to check out Tucker’s encounter with his evil ex Kayla. Next week will be a new chapter to Spark of Vengeance.
My YA Novel Frozen Reflections has ePublished!
As of right now the first book of The Crystal Garden Saga has been published through Lulu.com. It is also currently pending distribution through iBookstore and the Nook .It’s going for $4.99 since it’s a full novel. I’m currently working on getting it set up through Amazon for the Kindle as well. I am so excited! I absolutely love this story! If you decide to check it out, please let me know what you think. I’d love to hear some feedback. Thank you everyone who has believed in my ability to write. This is just a part of my dream come true. As a reminder, I’ll be having the story published in paperback for Ancient City Convention in July. I’ll provide more details on that later in possibly May.
Follow Me
