The final editing pass is complete on the newest book, The Light at the End of the World. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, and I have high hopes for it. It will be "going live" through my website, Amazon.com and Lulu.com, with print-on-demand services available via CreateSpace.com.
I hope that you enjoy it, Crickets, if you happen to read it. I usually don't care for my work after I've finished it (writers - we're more insecure than actors, if you can believe that) but this one I still like, and I've read it now four times. Four! At this point with all of my other work, I was ready to turn the books and stories (and poems) into kindling. This one I want to send out into the world with a Bionic Woman lunch box and a kiss on the forehead.
I hope you read it. I hope you like it. If you like it, I hope you tell your friends.
Now on to the next one...
Friday, January 20, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Oh, dear.
I have been threatened.
My loving sister/webmistress/editor and all-around good egg just threatened me with a spear-shaking if I don't get to work on Catherine's Wheel.
I am nothing if not obedient. ;) Whatzit was sort of stalling, anyway. ;)
My loving sister/webmistress/editor and all-around good egg just threatened me with a spear-shaking if I don't get to work on Catherine's Wheel.
I am nothing if not obedient. ;) Whatzit was sort of stalling, anyway. ;)
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Forward, march!
Today I registered the ISBN number for The Light at the End of the World, a/k/a LEW. We're one step closer to releasing this one into the wild.
As soon as it's live on my site, Lulu, Amazon and wherever else we can get it hosted, like Smashwords and iTunes (yes, iTunes sells books now, too), I'll let everybody know.
Meanwhile, I've decided to submit all of my titles to CreateSpace so that people can print hard copies on demand. I just need to get my act together and add spines and backs to the covers (calling Spirit_Dust!). Hopefully, before summer you can hold in your hands actual printed book-looking copies of the mess that I write.
:)
Also, I noticed that there are now 6 Crickets in the room. Welcome!
As soon as it's live on my site, Lulu, Amazon and wherever else we can get it hosted, like Smashwords and iTunes (yes, iTunes sells books now, too), I'll let everybody know.
Meanwhile, I've decided to submit all of my titles to CreateSpace so that people can print hard copies on demand. I just need to get my act together and add spines and backs to the covers (calling Spirit_Dust!). Hopefully, before summer you can hold in your hands actual printed book-looking copies of the mess that I write.
:)
Also, I noticed that there are now 6 Crickets in the room. Welcome!
Monday, January 2, 2012
eBook pricing
I've recently (and belatedly) started using my Twitter account to interact with other writers and publishing industry types, and in the course of these interactions, I've seen that the majority of ebooks at Amazon.com (where my ebooks live) are priced at $2.99. Many, as indicated in this piece in the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/ebooks-cheap-price_n_1160383.html?ref=books), are being offered for only $0.99 as an attempt to inspire more sales through impulse buying. I've had my ebooks set at a selling price of $10.00 since they first came out. There have been some sales, but I can't help but wonder if maybe I'm pricing myself out of business.
It's so difficult to try to operate as an independent author, especially when you're self-publishing. It's more commonplace these days, so the earlier stigma attached to self publishing is waning (excuse me while I offer a moment of thanks to all good deities). It's also devilishly hard to drum up any sort of buzz when there is absolutely zero marketing machinery supporting the work.
I'm doing a lot of reading and a lot of research that, quite honestly, I should have done long before now. At least I'm looking, though, so tardy or not, maybe I can still get points for the effort. I don't have any answers, and I'm just as lost as I was when I took my first step in this direction.
I will never get rich as an author. I'm fine with that. I just would really like to have someone read my words. As I say in my intro message on my website, a writer is no good without readers. I'm happy that some people have chosen to take a chance on my books, and I only hope that they've found that the product was worth the investment.
I'm learning. I'm writing. I'm still breathing, which means that there's still hope for positive changes and growth. I'm hoping that as 2012 goes on, I'll gain a little wisdom along the way.
I guess I'm just ruminating. I really should get to work on that 300-word pitch I need to finish. (God, but I hate writing pitches. Anybody out there want to pitch LEW for me? I'll pay in cookies.)
It's so difficult to try to operate as an independent author, especially when you're self-publishing. It's more commonplace these days, so the earlier stigma attached to self publishing is waning (excuse me while I offer a moment of thanks to all good deities). It's also devilishly hard to drum up any sort of buzz when there is absolutely zero marketing machinery supporting the work.
I'm doing a lot of reading and a lot of research that, quite honestly, I should have done long before now. At least I'm looking, though, so tardy or not, maybe I can still get points for the effort. I don't have any answers, and I'm just as lost as I was when I took my first step in this direction.
I will never get rich as an author. I'm fine with that. I just would really like to have someone read my words. As I say in my intro message on my website, a writer is no good without readers. I'm happy that some people have chosen to take a chance on my books, and I only hope that they've found that the product was worth the investment.
I'm learning. I'm writing. I'm still breathing, which means that there's still hope for positive changes and growth. I'm hoping that as 2012 goes on, I'll gain a little wisdom along the way.
I guess I'm just ruminating. I really should get to work on that 300-word pitch I need to finish. (God, but I hate writing pitches. Anybody out there want to pitch LEW for me? I'll pay in cookies.)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year
Well, Crickets, we made it through another one. 2011 had its share of ups and downs, triumphs and heartaches, and all of the usual good and bad of life. I hope that each of you have come through to find yourselves in a better state than you were in on 12/31/10.
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