Publishing Updates

Almost ready to send galley corrections to publisher for print edition of "The Dreamer Gambit". Barnes & Noble is already offering preorders on the paperbacks. Release is scheduled for January, 2012.

Thanks to a tip found on the blog of Arline Chase from Write Words, I have added an author page to my book on Amazon. Will it drive more people to this blog and the other sites? I hope so.

The short story for Writers of the Future contest is pretty much ready, but I'm going to have my hubby read it. He's been a very good judge so far on my other stories as to which ones were the best. I also need a second set of eyes on it to make sure everything is as clear on the page as it is in my head. He doesn't mind reading short stories, but novels are a whole nuther thang.

My http://www.goodreads.com/ ad has been getting clicks, which is most gratifying. Don't know if those clicks actually relate to hard sales, but when it comes to self-promoting a novel, you take any avenue you can. Also got the first edition of the "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" newsletter from Love Is Murder on which I am in the Author Spotlight section. Both of these ads are of the paid-for variety, so I really hope they create some sales. That's what the book business is all about, eh?

Directionless No More

A previous post titled The Writer Between Projects summarized a dilemma about what to work on next. Now it's good to have worked that out and to have a plan.

1. Finish proofing galley for the print edition of The Dreamer Gambit.
2. Final touches on short story entry for Writers of the Future
3. Submit new novel to publisher after a last going-over on the manuscript.
4. Start work on sequel to The Dreamer Gambit.

On a personal note, another earlier post was a tribute to our dear cat Lizzie who passed away a couple of months ago. At the end of the piece, I wrote that we would be visiting another animal shelter to adopt another kitty or two. Well, we did it. Misty and Mira became our newest family members on August 19. They are sisters, litter mates, and they needed to go as a bonded pair. They are awesome! Full of energy and joy and loving affection. They took over the house the night we brought them home, and they captured our hearts. Misty is mostly gray with a cute white moustache and white tips on her paws; she's the shy one but learning to lose that shyness in a hurry. Mira is pitch black, our "stealth kitty," the bold explorer. They're 17 months old and quite a handful. Misty is fascinated by the computer; wants to sit in my lap and watch the little arrow move around the screen. Mira likes TV. A friend gave us a clock which has two cats painted on it and the legend "Happiness Is A Home With Cats." How utterly true.

Making Strides

It's been a pretty good day on the writing front.

Finished the first draft of my next Writers of the Future Contest entry. Can I wow the judges and get to the Finalist category this time? I think this one has a chance as its premise is something I've never seen done before. Of course, I don't read everything.

This afternoon, I received the signed contract for the print edition of  "The Dreamer Gambit". More details as they become available.

I also received an e-mail response from the organizers of the Love Is Murder 2012 Mystery Conference. I am going to have an ad for my book appear in the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang newsletter for the next few months. I still need to get more details about how I can market my book while at the conference. This'll be so much more fun than pitching to agents (although their Pitch-A-Palooza is a great way to get the ear of literary agents who are usually swamped with submissions).

Now, the question becomes will I sell enough copies of "The Dreamer Gambit" to disqualify myself from the contest? Or will I get free PR from any sort of standing in the contest to help sell more books?

Or am I getting a little too big for my britches here? To paraphrase a famous quote, gotta remember to keep both feet on the ground when events get your head in the clouds.

Goodreads, continued

I'm now officially an author on http://www.goodreads.com/. I'm still fleshing things out a bit, but slowly to make sure I do it right. It has the potential to drive some more visitors here as this page will be linked to it as well. Soon (hopefully) I'll be advertising there too.

Check Out Goodreads

Just signed up for www.goodreads.com. I'm on there as a Reader for now but have started the wheels turning to be one of their authors too. Part of joining Goodreads is creating your book list, and so far I have added 10 of my favorites with more to come.

Once I acquire Author status, other members will be able to review my book. This is important because my publisher has asked me to start getting some reviews together for when "The Dreamer Gambit" goes into print. That's right: real hold-it-in-your-hands books. Can't wait to get started.

Still working on an entry for Writers of the Future contest, fourth quarter. As posted earlier, I had two stories in the works and have been flip-flopping between them. Now I think I've homed in on just one because the idea seems more unique and fresh. Then again, there are really only three plots in fiction, right?