I’ll get back to the self publishing and marketing related posts next week, but I wanted to share a quick what-am-I-working-on update for the readers today.
Yesterday, I finished the first draft of Patterns in the Dark, the fourth installment in the Dragon Blood series (now with an actual dragon!). It needs some tinkering, so I’m not sure yet when I’ll send it to beta readers, but I’m definitely planning to get it published before Christmas.
Today is November 1st, and after some waffling, I decided to sign up for NaNoWriMo again this year. (If you’re doing it too and need a writing buddy, I’m here.)
I’m going to work on the first Nuria novel, Warrior Mage, that stars the hero from my Swords & Salt novellas and also brings in Dak from Republic as a major character. A few other characters from the EE series might pop in for cameos too (look for Akstyr in this first one). I’m planning to do about six books in this series and have the first three sketched out. It will probably be my major project for 2015.
Somewhere in the not-too-distant future, I plan to write the last Flash Gold novella and the fifth Dragon Blood book as well to wrap up those series, at least for the time being. I’ll look at doing a third Rust & Relics novel next summer, most likely with trouble popping up in Phoenix this time. Look out Scottsdale. 😉
As if all of this weren’t enough, I’m writing books under a pen name now too. I published the first two in October and have one more in the hopper to come out in November. Right now, I’m not going public with the name, so I can talk about promotional things that are working (or not working) for new authors, since people often tell me how much it sucks if you’re just getting started today… (more later, but the pen name books, which were released in the middle of the month, have made $500 so far, not including whatever comes in for KU borrows later).
For those who might like to cross over to the new genre with me, I am planning to go public with the name around Christmas.
If you’re looking for something new to read right now, Torrent is in another 99-cent urban fantasy bundle, so you can check out a number of new novels for about 9 cents a book. Heroes: Urban Fantasy and Superheros Bundle #2.
For secondary world fantasy fans, Encrypted is also in a small bundle (also 99 cents) that was put together quickly for an Apple promotion last month. It’s also available on Amazon.
That’s all the news I have for now. Have a great November!
Woot! Can’t wait to find out what your pen name is. Was wondering if/when you would share . . . 😉
Oh, yes. I suck at keeping secrets. It won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but I imagine some people will be interested.
You never have to tell us the new name if you don’t want to, but if you can teach us newbies how to make $500 a month, it would change some of our lives.
Having started following you for the awesome tips on self publishing(working on my first book) I have been meaning to pick up a book of yours. The torrent deal is to good to pass up. I get to check out a ton of new authors and finally dig into one of yours. I just purchased it now and I’ll be reading Torrent first.
Thanks for checking it out, Bradford. 🙂
Hopefully you’ll post a few tips about what’s worked BEFORE you announce the name. Being as Christmas is coming up and all, it would ever so helpful to have a few things to try before the big day.
I have a new series starting up very soon, so I look forward to what you’ve learned as a “new” author. 🙂
Yes, I’ll definitely be blogging about it soon. Thanks!
“published before Christmas” is the best combination of words I’ve heard in a REALLY LONG TIME! But then “fifth Dragon Blood book” comes in at a close second. Second only because ideally I want the series to last forever 😛
Haha, thanks, Alex. I might keep playing in the DB world in the future, but Book 5 ends the current story arc, so could be a stopping place for a while. 😉
so with the namowrimo – can we read along as you write? been to the website seen you have written over 8000 words in a day :-0 – but can we see them?
lol, I was actually promising (threatening) to stick the chapters up on Wattpad and do that. I’m not sure how rewarding wading through a rough draft would be though. 😛
ok I was hoping it be something like what IlonaAndrews is doing with the book she is writing online posting a chapter every week- but I guess with just a month time that doesn’t work. Thanks anyway for answering.
I’ll certainly be interested in your pen name experiment, although I feel it’s hopelessly flawed.
You have a lot more experience than many beginning self-publishers.
You have more money for covers and editing than many do.
Not sure if you’re using your regular ARCs, but you could.
All of those things really tip it.
Heya, Greg. Thank you for the comments! I’m sure the experience helps, but I do see people rocking it who start out today. Just wander into the Writers’ Cafe on Kboards — lots of posts from people who started publishing six months ago and who are making thousands now. This isn’t the norm by any stretch (and a lot of those people are jumping into erotica or romance or other hot genres), but I don’t think experience is required. Some people just cram and read a lot and figure out what’s what before jumping in.
How much a person has to spend on covers and editing for a first novel depends more on what their current day job and financial situation is rather than any previous publishing success, of course. I’ve seen new authors drop thousands on their first book. I’ve seen others not spend a dime and make it work. In this case, I’m paying less for these covers than I usual do. They’re just images purchased off Shutterstock rather than custom illustrations. That’s what happens to be typical in the genre (in most genres really — fantasy is a unique beast, heh).
Not sure what you mean about ARCs — advanced reader copies? I’ve got a couple of beta readers but that’s something any writer who’s been to a workshop could have. I certainly had beta readers before I published my first novel.
Anyhoo, really just doing this because a) I wanted to write something else without worrying about pleasing current readers and b) It seems like an opportunity to see what’s working right now today for promotion. (KU aside, I permafreed the first book at the same time as I released the second, so that at least still works. :P)
Can’t wait for the next Rust & Relics book (cheeky, I know, since you just released book 2!). LOVED book two, so much fun! I want to give up my day job and go relic hunting 😀
And add me to the list of people that can’t wait to find out your pen name! 😀
Thank you, Eatworm! There are some people around here in Prescott who do some serious gold panning, but the most I’ve heard of anyone making is $1100 (over 6 months). Not sure about actual relics. 😀
Hi Lindsay, just buddied you on Nano. I’m emeraldfin over there. I see your wordcount’s through the roof already — go you! Hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am.
(PS I’m another one who’s very interested in the results of your pen name experiment — hoping to release my first book around Christmas myself.)
Thank you. I’ll add you over there. Good luck with the first book launch!
Thanks, Lindsay! I just added you as a buddy as well on the NaNo site (Chris_W), and here I thought I had a good start to my NaNo weekend. Until I saw your word count, of course. 🙂
I’m not sure that I’ll be quite as interested in the other genre you’re experimenting with, but I will definitely follow along to read about your experiences under the pen name. I appreciate your advice!
Thanks, Wilson. Yea, it’s probably not fair for a full-time author do NaNo, but I’ve done it for the last few years and was starting something new anyway, so there ya go. I’ll buddy you there. 🙂
Lindsay, you sure are busy. You really outdo yourself! It’s amazing that you can be doing so many different series at the same time but still keep the writing quality at top notch. It’s really commendable! I can’t even seem to get through the one story I’m writing. Writers block is horrible, how do you defeat it?
Please keep being amazing and I can’t wait for what you have installed for us for the upcoming year.
Regards,
Sharni.
Thanks, Sharni! I used to start and abandon a lot of stuff. Outlining (or at least being solid on the ending before starting) helped me a lot, and also working through the tough middle parts and getting into the habit of finishing things. Easier said than done. 😀
I got a new e-reader for xmas 2 years ago and EE was the first book, first sci-fi/steampunk/fantasy I had ever read… I am hooked! Have loved reading all of your works… can hardly wait for more Rust & Relics and anything more that will bring in characters from the EE… love them all like great new friends… I have been saving Dragons Blood for a bit now, hoping it will show up in a bundle but I am sure I will be loading it soon. My family love to buy reader gift cards for me!! LOL
Keep up the great work!!!
A big Fan!
Hey, Patti! I’m glad you’ve been following along and enjoying the stories. I actually *am* releasing a bundle of the first three Dragon Blood books soon. Wait before picking them up. I’m going to run some sales on the set when I publish the fourth novel. 🙂
Super excited to see a book with Yanko and Dak in it, I really fell in love with Dak in Republic and Yanko is such a sweetheart. Are we going to see more of Nuria and the other countries we’ve heard about (Basilard’s home and neighbors)?
There will be a lot of Nuria and quite a bit of sea travel, too, in this series. Mangdoria and Kendor are pretty far away from Nuria (someday, I’ll have someone make a nice world map for me!), so those spots probably won’t figure in this series, but I may do more in this world eventually. 🙂