Taking a Long Breath

I have found my attention being pulled in several directions and it was time for me to pull back from social media.  While I never stopped working on my manuscripts or completely stopped communication online, I decided that it was time for a much needed break.  For me, that meant not posting as much.  When I did that, I found that I had more time to just relax and recharge and write.  I am slowly drifting back to social media and posting, but I loved the quiet time I experienced when I shut off the internet that I may just spend more days in solitude, trying to get as much work as possible done.

I've been working hard on my manuscripts, one being Wicked Voices.  My editor already finished editing the first third and had no complaints about the plot, so I am moving forward on that.  The other manuscript that I am working on needed a few changes and I am almost done with those changes.  Overall, this time has been spent productively, despite the rest periods in between.

I have joined Blab Reads and will be posting on there.  I really want to see what the YA audience likes and would be interested in reading, testing out new material perhaps.  Join me on there if you can.

I am going to post Scattered onto Smashwords to make it available to a wider audience.  Amazon didn't thrill me with advertising/promotion it as it is meant to when one is exclusively selling on there.  I am also thinking of writing a story exclusively for Channillo.com in the future, but that may be a few months away since I am working on two manuscripts right now.

Thank you for hanging in there with me.  More quality work is on its way.

Progress Report

Hello!

I am happy to report that I have roughly eight chapters to write for Malcontent.  The projected word count exceeded my expectations.  The final book might end up 5,000-10,000 more words than I originally thought.  This book will mark the end of the Restraint Trilogy and conclude a journey that began for me when I dreamed with these characters a little more than 16 years ago.  It is both a sad and happy event.

I know that many people are interested in knowing details of Wicked Love.  Wicked Love will pick up exactly where Wicked Magic left off.  In Wicked Magic, Willow was the main protagonist, but Nalin will take the lead in Wicked Love since he must first remember his lost love and then rescue her like all good heroes do.  I want to have it out by mid-2014, but if I can have it done sooner, then I will release it earlier.

As soon as I am done with Malcontent, I will begin work on Wicked Love without delay.  In fact, I am pretty eager to get started.  There are a lot of great ideas I have that I can't wait to get started on.

I have written a yearly novelette for 2014 entitled The Collector.  Look for it in January 2014 in Smashwords first and then in other online bookstores.

To all those who left reviews and recommended by books to friends, thank you for helping me reach those who wouldn't have otherwise come to know my work.

Halfway through Malcontent

Hello, everyone.

I just wanted to update everyone on my progress.  I am currently in the middle of writing Malcontent which I have projected will be about thirty chapters and about 60,000 words. I am finishing up chapter twelve right now, and I have reached the 58% mark, meaning I have written over 30,000 words.  So, I am expecting the novel to run long.

Although it is a horror trilogy, at the root of Malcontent is the love story between William Carter and Louise May Reynolds.  I hope to make a believable love story in the midst of the thrilling world of those who are familiars.

I am writing away and hoping to release this novel in record time so that I can start Wicked Love.  I can't wait to start focusing on another novel featuring Willow and Nalin.

Thank you to everyone that has left great reviews.  I assure you that I have read them.

Please look for me and add me as a friend on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Until the next time...

Updated Website

Hi, everyone!

I updated the short stories tab of my website. I added cover art and blurbs for The Collector, Scattered, and Shattered. I finished writing The Collector, but I submitted it to a literary magazine for consideration, and one of the stipulations is that it must be previously unpublished. So, I cannot release it to the public as of yet. I am currently writing Scattered which I will also submit for consideration for another literary magazine.

Shattered is the next short I am going to write, and that one will be released to the public as a free download. I don't have an exact release date. It really depends on how fast I can write. These are not the only shorts I have in mind, but these are the first ones I am writing.

I have to also make video trailers, because it is something I like to do for all of my works. They may not be added to the website for another month or so, because my focus will be on my shorts and Malcontent. I am going to try to get more done this year than last year. That should have been my New Year's Resolution!

Remember to leave reviews for all the works you have read, and join me on facebook and twitter!

Q/A Behavior Within Social Networks

Q: What is appropriate for an author to talk about on twitter/facebook?

A: I am writing this post, because I was disgusted by the way certain authors acted on social media websites. While these types are a minority, I felt it necessary to discuss this topic.

Like many of you, I follow various authors on Twitter and Facebook. I tend to add anyone who is aspiring to be a published author like myself. Most indie author's fall into that category.

When I was on one of these websites, I witness authors asking followers for money, ranting about how miserable their life is, and begging followers to purchase their ebooks while threatening to quit writing.

It could be my pride, but I would never beg my twitter followers to donate money. I don't think it is appropriate. If they donate that money, they don't know if it is really going to your writing business or anything else you may want to spend it on. I don't ever ask for money! If one wants to buy my book, that is fine. That is why I write, but to ask for handouts seems wrong to me. Don't do it! And don't get angry when people aren't willing to donate either!

I want to be clear about this. While it is okay to post a friendly reminder that your book is available, it is important to conduct yourself with class. I don't expect to be bombarded with a hundred messages to download your ebook. Nor do I want to follow someone that only tweets that. Tweet about your life. Be positive and inspirational. Let the fans get to know you. No one would read a book without either sampling the author's work, hearing rave reviews, or getting to know them as a person of authority within the field.

For authors, your books are your business, and you are the image of your business. There is never a time when cursing is acceptable! Cursing at fellow authors and fans who are trying to help you is contradictory to your focus. One is never truly an expert in your chosen field. The point is we keep learning as we go on, and the best way to learn is from someone who has been there. Listen to your fellow authors!

Now in the case where a fan is asking for your work for free, it is not correct to unfollow them or write unsavory things. Just remind them that your work is available at all online outlets for the price which is set. If you have shorts available online, remind them of those. Unless someone is nasty, there is never a time when threatening to unfollow people is appropriate!

Remember that once something is on the web, it is there forever. Conduct yourself with some decorum.