State of Writing

I spent most of the last two weeks working on the business end of writing related projects. While my mailing list has been operational for a while, I trimmed over 500 names off the list for inactivity and reworked all of my workflows (basically, I made it better, cleaner, and it offers better content) all in preparation for a future ad campaign as I try to get bigger and better in 2019.

My mailing list now offers 5 free books for signing up. You can get there by clicking here.

I also got a few of my series set up in boxsets (in addition to launching my newest SF book in the Dekker’s Dozen series). Oh, and I read a lot. Couple of novels for my own enjoyment.

Hopefully, by next week I will have final edits on my current draft ready for review by the trademark holder and then I’ll know if I have good news to report. It’s over half done at the moment… and then its on to my next SF project J

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The Secret Trick to Contacting Amazon or KDP Via Telephone

It’s Christmas time, so I’m going to give away something that, in certain moments, will feel infinitely valuable: the way to contact Amazon via telephone. I had to fight a minotaur and purchase this info with a chest full of cursed Aztec gold. If a simple, 4-step method (to have you on the phone with Zon in 60 seconds) is the kind of thing you’ve been searching for, then read on!

PreOrder new Sci-fi Now!

I wanted to let you all know that the newest Dekker’s Dozen Story is available for preorder now! Get it by clicking here!

It should also be available right away via Audible as well and will drop on the 27th of December.

The Importance of Digital File Size at KDP

I recently ran across an author who was frustrated that she could not price her ebook at .99 and had reached out to ask why. After some looking around, it seems like there may have been a built-in safety tool to prevent Amazon from losing money based on their terms of service. If there’s anything that the almighty Zon hates, it’s losing money. Ultimately, it comes down to digital file size, and regardless of what anyone else says, size matters.

Review: The Terran Privateer

I finally got to my review of The Terran Privateer by Glynn Stewart which has been in my TBR pile for a few months, now. Stewart writes a number of book series, like myself, and they all have beautiful covers.

Something about the early interplay in the dynamics between characters gave me a Battlestar Galactica vibe (the new version). While Terran Pivateer’s plot isn’t exactly original, that doesn’t make it less enjoyable. The indie world has a number of great SF writers, including Stewart (and also guys like Mark Cooper, and Jay Allan)…

State of Writing

I feel like I’ve had success this week. I’m still plugging away at the audio for Through the Darque Gates of Koth (It’s really a big book) and I have revisions done for Dekker’s Dozen: Spawn of Ganymede AND  the cover is also completed. I have one more round of revisions, plus any relevant edits following the last report from a beta reader due this week.

Perhaps my biggest success, or one that feels like it, is that I finally got Kindle to release Shadows of a Superhero from ebook jail where it got stuck on some weird technicality. It’s been stuck in publishing limbo since summer. I was able to get it restored while working on my books following the Createspace/Kindle forced-merger.

More to come. I’m excited for the projects I’m working on right now!

Interview with Taran Matharu (The Summoner series)

You may or may not have heard of Taran Matharu, but if you read YA Fantasy or use Wattpad at all, you’ve probably heard his story or about his stories. He found an audience via the social networking/writing website and used it as a platform to become a NY Times and Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller! I thought he would be a great voice to hear from on this blog since he started with such independent, obscure roots and rose up to write a bestseller.

State of Writing

Dekker’s Dozen: Spawn of Ganymede is in the can… or at least it’s in the final stages (and then onto recording for audiobook and release). I’m also still editing like a madman… more of that this week.

This week, I’m hoping to complete my worldbuilding notes for my new fantasy, Ashes of Ailushurai, so I can fill in some blanks and round out some spots during the next round of edits (and then on to my next short story.

Also, I’m hoping to send out a couple lit agent queries for Fear in a Land Without Shadows.

Is KDP Rocket Worth the Investment? Guestblog by J.M. Butler

You may have seen adverts for, or heard about, KDP Rocket. You might be wondering either what it’s used for, or if it’s worth the investment? I came across a discussion in one of my online writing groups and asked J.M. Butler to give me her thoughts as a skeptical user of the marketing software…

Free Fiction Tuesday (plus, support starving artists at no cost to you!)

So, I’m back after a 1 month hiatus at my blog. Yes, I have a free book this week! But also, I wanted to tell you how you can support writers in a huge way… I use Amazon Affiliate links on all of my reviews, etc. They are neat little things that give promoters a little commission. Christmas is huge for us. If you plan to do some shopping on Amazon, would you click my below link before you do your holiday shopping (even if you’ve gotten my free book before?)