Monday Musings and new directions

I've recently thought about where I want my writing career to be. I have several (FOUR) stories that have yet to find a publisher. Apparently it's not the writing or even the concept, but the marketing aspect I guess traditional publishers don't understand that as an e-pubbed author I've been doing my own marketing for years already!

To that end, I've decided to dig those stories out, polish them off, polish them edit-wise, and see what's what. I may go the self-publish route, I may trash the stories, not entirely certain--it depends on how they read.

But all in all, I think it's time to re-think Isabel and where I want to be.

Indie book stores

Last week I read that Jay Z and Kanye West's new album release will be exclusively on iTunes & Best Buy for 2 weeks prior to being released in other stores. The article explained how such deals hurt indie record stores.

Whatever mega-money they're getting with such a deal I hope they realize just how deeply it'll hurt small business owners.

I prefer indie stores to big names. Given the chance, I'll happily pay slighty more to support a local business rather than a multi-billion dollar retailer who can't even find me on the map. I don't shop at Best Buy any more despite their so-called greatest selection. (I'm sure the kids working there think they know it all, but the lack of training is abismal and downright embarassing. Spend a day and a little money and actually train them. Everyone will be happier for it!)

All that said, and despite my like of the Sears Appliance Center and Macy's, I don't have indie music or book stores near me! I have a B&N about 20 minutes away, so their online site is a permanent bookmark on my favorites toolbar. Gets me my music & DVDs, too.

Which brings me around to self-publishing & the indie book store. How can I help them when most of my stuff is e-book only? They don't have websites where I can download books from, nor do they have a shipping option.

I'm open to options, I'm open to any dialog on this. What are your thoughts? And indie bookstore owners, how can we help?

And don't forget Tuesday August 8, Sonya Clark is joining me here to talk about her release, Mojo Queen. Maybe you can find it at your local indie bookstore.

Shadow State and self-publishing

I've blogged about this before, the rights reversed stories I have. In the one, I want to add at least 5,000 more words to flesh out the main characters. The plot stands solid, and the romantic arc is just fine. It's the characters. Took  me 3/4 of the story to realize why I didn't like it as much as I remember liking it 3 years ago when I first wrote it. Not much character development. Going to work on that!

But Sunday I received the converted version to Shadow State. I sent it out to a company that does this because after spending less than 30 seconds just reading the formatting requirements I realized the inherent value of paying for this service. They were wonderful, very communicative and easy to work with.

What's that saying about paying a professional? Yeah, this was just such a case.

So now it's published on Smashwords and within the next 2 weeks will be on Amazon, B&N, Apple, Kobo, Sony, All Romance eBooks, Diesel and Scrollmotion, the last two I've never heard of but seem to be rather popular.

All in all, it's really exciting to see my book up for sale like this.

And don't forget Tuesday August 8, Sonya Clark is joining me here to talk about her release, Mojo Queen.

From the Grammar Divas

I subscribe to their email newsletter and in this is their latest. Thought I'd spread the good-will grammar. And I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter.

Misplaced Modifiers: How Not To Lose Your Reader

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is not placed close enough to the word it describes to be clear.

Confusing: The waitress served ice cream to everyone in bowls.

Wow! Everyone had to get in bowls in order to get their ice cream?

To fix, place the modifier as close to the words it modifies as possible.

Better: The waitress served ice cream in bowls to everyone.

Sentences like this are common in conversation. But they are imprecise. So they have no place in your fiction.

Note: misplaced modifiers can be hard to find in revision. Why? Because you, the writer, already know what you’re trying to say. Your mind “sees” what you intend to say. The reader, however, does not want to do your job.

Thursday Progress: rights reverted

The rights for my 2 stories with The Wild Rose Press have been reverted back to me. I'm pleased to have them, don't get me wrong, but I'm also sorry that two great anthologies are no longer in print as such. As a business decision, it's right for the company, but it's still sad.

Northern Roses & Southern Belles finaled in the EPIC awards this year. And while Taming of the Wolf didn't do as well award wise, it's still a great anthology.

So I'm taking my stories, In the Shadows (South Carolina 1861) and Shadow State (Germany 1933) and reformating them for self-publishing. I've downloaded the how-to and this is gonna take some time! Only because of my lack of knowledge when it comes to this types of converting and the fact that I really don't have the time anyway. I did manage to make some awesome new covers!

Hopefully within the next month all will be up and available.

Rights reverted

I've recently learned that I might be getting the rights back to a couple stories. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I'm sad to see it no longer available. But then again, if I do get the rights back, I can post it for download on Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

It's an interesting cavet to all the stories going around about self publishing.

Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.

~Frederick Wilcox