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?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
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.
- Finish proofing galley for the print edition of The Dreamer Gambit.
- Final touches on short story entry for Writers of the Future
- Submit new novel to publisher after a last going-over on the manuscript.
- Start work on sequel to The Dreamer Gambit.
Friday, August 12, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
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?
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?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Not All Hearts and Flowers
Yeah, I know. "The Dreamer Gambit" is sold on a couple of romance-heavy e-book websites. But there's more going on than a love story.
Car chase? Got one. Shootouts? A couple.
And a few more things: the FBI, a ruthless criminal, wannabe terrorists, computer geeks, feuding business moguls, a big explosion, conniving women, fight scenes, a dream sequence, comic relief (I hope) and of course, a love scene or two.
At the core is the puzzle, and as I believe I have posted earlier, I try to play fair. The clues are there in the early chapters, and while I hope readers don't figure it out before my detective does, what I do hope for is that when all is revealed at the end, a reader will smack his or her forehead with a "Duh! I should've seen it!"
I also hope this might encourage the non-romance readers out there to give "The Dreamer Gambit" another look.
Car chase? Got one. Shootouts? A couple.
And a few more things: the FBI, a ruthless criminal, wannabe terrorists, computer geeks, feuding business moguls, a big explosion, conniving women, fight scenes, a dream sequence, comic relief (I hope) and of course, a love scene or two.
At the core is the puzzle, and as I believe I have posted earlier, I try to play fair. The clues are there in the early chapters, and while I hope readers don't figure it out before my detective does, what I do hope for is that when all is revealed at the end, a reader will smack his or her forehead with a "Duh! I should've seen it!"
I also hope this might encourage the non-romance readers out there to give "The Dreamer Gambit" another look.
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Writer Between Projects
Well, "The Dreamer Gambit" is out there. It's even sold a couple of copies. Problem: what's next?
The between projects stage is always a tough one, especially now since I must still juggle a full-time job and organizing a new house. Even without the extra demands on my time, I still need to write, but the problem comes in deciding what to write.
I have been polishing an older manuscript--sort of a chick-lit adventure with a dose of humor--but it's at a "resting" point now. I find that I need to step back from a work for a time so I can look at it with fresh eyes.
Although I've published a book, I'm still eligible for the Writers of the Future Contest and have two ideas for that. I started one but wasn't sure where I wanted it to go. Then I started a second one which might go better.
A friend who was reading "The Dreamer Gambit" asked about a sequel. I actually have plans for a sequel, have had them for some time, but I wanted to wait to see if anyone out there might actually be interested in one. (Issue of writer's angst, always wondering if anyone will actually like what I write.)
I have also have a number of other older manuscripts in need of polishing to various degrees:
My first book, science fiction, in need of serious rewrite to incorporate all I have learned from my publishing experiences.
Book 2, a thriller with sci-fi overtones, sort of in the Dean Koontz vein.
Book 3 was "The Dreamer Gambit."
Book 4, a mystery-thriller with political themes which has seen more rewrites already than I care to remember, but perhaps it is gradually coming into its own. It made the rounds through any number of agent queries and even got into the hands of some publishers, but alas, no deal.
Book 5, a sort of cozy mystery wrapped up in earth-based religion.
Book 6, a sequel to Book 4, never completed. Why work on a sequel when you can't sell the original?
Book 7, sequel to "The Dreamer Gambit." See note above on Book 6.
Book 8, currently "on vacation" as mentioned in the third paragraph.
Book 9, thriller about an epidemic with a bit of a snipe at the insurance and drug industries.
So I have no shortage of material, just a problem deciding which one to work on.
Of course, the final overriding factor is which story "needs to get out." When the tale suddenly falls into place in my head, it demands being put into print (electronically speaking). Does that amount to following my muse? I never saw myself as having a muse.
The fact that I can choose whatever I want does not make the decision any easier. Maybe I could actually use a muse.
The between projects stage is always a tough one, especially now since I must still juggle a full-time job and organizing a new house. Even without the extra demands on my time, I still need to write, but the problem comes in deciding what to write.
I have been polishing an older manuscript--sort of a chick-lit adventure with a dose of humor--but it's at a "resting" point now. I find that I need to step back from a work for a time so I can look at it with fresh eyes.
Although I've published a book, I'm still eligible for the Writers of the Future Contest and have two ideas for that. I started one but wasn't sure where I wanted it to go. Then I started a second one which might go better.
A friend who was reading "The Dreamer Gambit" asked about a sequel. I actually have plans for a sequel, have had them for some time, but I wanted to wait to see if anyone out there might actually be interested in one. (Issue of writer's angst, always wondering if anyone will actually like what I write.)
I have also have a number of other older manuscripts in need of polishing to various degrees:
My first book, science fiction, in need of serious rewrite to incorporate all I have learned from my publishing experiences.
Book 2, a thriller with sci-fi overtones, sort of in the Dean Koontz vein.
Book 3 was "The Dreamer Gambit."
Book 4, a mystery-thriller with political themes which has seen more rewrites already than I care to remember, but perhaps it is gradually coming into its own. It made the rounds through any number of agent queries and even got into the hands of some publishers, but alas, no deal.
Book 5, a sort of cozy mystery wrapped up in earth-based religion.
Book 6, a sequel to Book 4, never completed. Why work on a sequel when you can't sell the original?
Book 7, sequel to "The Dreamer Gambit." See note above on Book 6.
Book 8, currently "on vacation" as mentioned in the third paragraph.
Book 9, thriller about an epidemic with a bit of a snipe at the insurance and drug industries.
So I have no shortage of material, just a problem deciding which one to work on.
Of course, the final overriding factor is which story "needs to get out." When the tale suddenly falls into place in my head, it demands being put into print (electronically speaking). Does that amount to following my muse? I never saw myself as having a muse.
The fact that I can choose whatever I want does not make the decision any easier. Maybe I could actually use a muse.
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