Nothing to See Here, Just Quietly Dropping a Title Reveal

Happy Thursday, friends! Today, I have decided to drop the title of my Fae-Cursed sequel. Why? I dunno, why not? As an author, I should be doing all the pre-release hype and at least teasing the title a little. Well, I’m not going to. I’m not convinced my pre-release hype has that much effect anyway. I was meandering through my Facebook memories this morning and found myself from two years ago having the exact same excitement about dropping the title of The Nameless, so I figure why not go rogue and do the same with the sequel today? There are no rules, right? And punk rock is at the heart of the Fae-Cursed story, so let’s go!

A word on the Fae-Cursed universe. The first book, The Nameless, introduces cursed twins, Lucky and Chance, who lost their real names and their mortality in early 1900s New York City to a powerful Fae monarch. They lived until present day without any interaction or interference from the Fae, but when Lucky makes a bold move only he could manage, the Otherworld takes notice of the twins. Along the way with their touring punk band and bassist named Johnny, they also meet a woman who has mysterious ties to their past. That’s when everything gets weird.

The sequel follows the twins into a new unknown, one where it seems like the whole of the Otherworld has them in its sights. Also one where powerful beings beyond the Fae have also taken notice. At least now they have a crew who knows their secret for the first time in their lives. Becka and Johnny stick by the twins’ sides as they navigate a whole new web of Fae intrigue and intricacies, war, fate, and history.

But first, a very small excerpt:

“You were looking for me,” he says in a soft and smooth tone that seems to dance along the wave caps.

I swallow the jitters that rise at the sound of him and say, “I wasn’t, actually.”

I don’t look up at him though, of course, I want to, so I don’t know what expression he’s wearing when he says, “You have been for days.”

Damn. I guess there’s no denying it to him. How does he even know?

“I didn’t want to, though.”

What a pathetic defense. I think he shifts and I know his eyes are on me. I can feel his attention deep in my bones.

“Nonetheless,” he says quietly.

That one word nearly brings my eyes up. I think that tone is amusement but I can’t say for sure. Still, I stubbornly deny him my full attention, like that will make this any easier.

My gut is full of butterflies and the tremors echo outward into my limbs. The worst part of this isn’t even that he’s right. It’s an inkling of an idea that I had earlier today. I take a long breath in hopes the shake won’t come through in the words I’m about to say.

“I have something for you, if you choose to accept. As payment.”

The Stolen releases August 16th.

A Little Teaser Because I Feel Like It

What’s up, world? Things on the outside have been … tense and unnerving. The days have been ugly, depressing, anxiety-ridden. While plenty of folks are making noise and actions, I’ve had to shove my head into work. I still have plenty of excitement for next release, though. So I’m going to share the first page of my Fae-Cursed series’s sequel.

I’m quite recently off the heels of an official editing gig. My next step? I’ll be working my way through the sequel proof copy. From there it will be fixing the file, then formatting the ebook. We’re still on track for the cover next month. And you can look for this book to release August 16th! Of course, I’ll be back here before then with updates and also preorder details. I’ve heard some authors format their ebook first, not me. It’s the last thing that will get done before release.

Anyway. I’m not feeling particular wordy today, so without delay, look at this!

Back-of-Book Content

Hello, friends! Today I’m posting with a great sense of excitement. I have received the first proof copy of my Fae-Cursed book two. We’re not quite to the title reveal and I don’t have my official cover, buuuut I thought it would be fun to share my back-of-book. It’s a great feeling to hold this proof in my hands as it will be my sixth self-published title. Also because there are several people out there who are quite excited about this release. There’s literally no better feeling than that.

I’ve actually tweaked the back content slightly since the proof was printed. Tell me what you think:

Twin brothers, Lucky and Chance, have a crew who knows their secret for the first time in their long, cursed lives. They also have something else. Formerly-latent magic has begun to awake within them and the Otherworld has taken notice. Not only the Otherworld, but forces that lie beyond the Fae and their laws of hospitality.

With an approaching war between major Courts looming above them, Lucky, Chance, Johnny, and Becka find themselves tangled in a web of history, intrigue, and fate. A new and mysterious Fae in their lives is at the heart of it, but why? In the way of webs, it all seems connected, yet the crew is left to figure out how and why they seem to be so important.

Now, there is still work to be done on my end for this release. I still have to format the ebook and actually go through the proof copy, but with a bit of time budgeting that won’t be hard to achieve on time. The cover is still a go for July. Since I had to put a release date into KDP in order to set the book up on Amazon, I can now say look for this book to drop on August 16th. I’m feeling pretty antsy to start sharing content so it’s likely I’ll at least reveal the title fairly soon, since there are no rules and I can do what I want to.

In other news, my workout time this morning revealed some book three details to me that had previously been floating around in the ether. I had originally planned on wrapping up this story in two books. I swear I tried, but the boys weren’t having it. I had no clue what I could possibly write into book three until this morning. So that’s encouraging and exciting. I’m not writing it, yet, because the boys aren’t actually talking and I’m still focused on my editing job, but the ideas are coalescing. I do have a feeling it won’t be long before Lucky grabs the mic.

Actually, all of my characters have been suspiciously quiet since they all decided we’d start new books at the same time. May was a busy month for me in real life, so the writing break hasn’t been a bad thing. Hopefully June will be a little quieter as far as that goes. While I’m at it, happy Pride to those who celebrate.

In other news, we’re getting closer to dropping another art piece into Sevina Gate novella one. Derrick has worked hard on it so far and it’s looking awesome. We are confirmed vendors for the Page & Pen Festival on October 4th at the Oviedo Mall, and we’ve made that our deadline goal to have the novella completed and ready to sell. If you’re a Floridian, you can see us there from 11am – 6pm. Yet another thing to be excited about.

I think that’s all for now. As always, check back for updates and news. Happy Saturday, friends!

Excitement is Stirring

Happy Thursday, my friends! At least I hope it is. For me, it is. Guess who ordered a proof copy of an upcoming sequel release this morning? This girl.

That’s right, my friends. I received my edits back for said sequel ahead of projected schedule, so I took some time out of editing (I did still do editing) on Tuesday and formatted the paperback. I got it all set up on KDP yesterday and hit that “request a proof” button with great pride. Now, unfortunately that doesn’t mean I will be able to publish earlier than expected, too. I can’t rush the greatness that is The Illustrated Author on my cover art, so I’m still looking at July for that. However, a ton of nerves are settled about having everything else ready for release in August. I do still need to format the ebook (cue manual indentations), but that’s all that’s left aside for promotion. Phew!

Additionally, the Black Feather Press team has marked October as a goal for Sevina Gate novella 1 – again, can’t rush art – so there’ll be another fun release not long after The Nameless sequel. We sat down for a cover discussion a couple nights ago and I’m loving the direction we’ve decided on. For this one, there IS a possibility of releasing sooner than expected if for some reason we manage to be ready ahead of schedule. I’m not trying to rush it, though, just saying it’s possible.

What else? This one I’m really excited about. I heard back from an inquiry about setting up an in-person event and am in talks about that. I don’t want to share too many details until the plan is solidified, but just know that it’s in the works and it’s local to me. I do have another application pending for an October event that will be a bit bigger and reach a bit farther away from where I live. Again, I don’t have the solid yes, yet, so I don’t want to share too many details.

One more thing that isn’t exactly news, just something I’ve been thinking about. I’ve sold books this year. I know folks have read them. Yet I see literally no change on my ratings and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. So this is just a reminder, if you enjoy an author, let them know, especially if they’re indie. We need the encouragement. Trust me. Ratings, reviews, social posts – just something in the way of a reason for said author to keep going. It really means the world.

That’s all for now, my friends. Hopefully I will have some more good news for you very soon.

On Raining and Pouring

I’m back, my friends, and with less … force than my last post. As the title suggests, it hasn’t just been raining, it has been pouring. Both literally and figuratively. Literally because yesterday we went from weather so dry my yard is crunchy to a true all-day rainy day. While we definitely needed it, that means Florida has crested the dry spring season and now it’s a downhill stormy race toward hurricane season. Wee! Also a switch in mentality from school days to summer break. That’s just around the corner.

My figurative pouring? Well, I have mentioned a few times that I’m apprenticing with my editor for future path in editing and I have my second job. I’ve been diligently working through the initial read-through (the manuscript is a beast), and I am now ready to start actual edits. That means I have been doing my best to keep my focus there and not actively work on any of my own projects. What does that mean for my characters? Hoo, queue ALL of them ALL at once.

Did I expect them to sit idly by as they had been when I was trying to write? Yes. Did they do that? Absolutely not. In the past month and a half or so that I’ve been working on my read-through around an actual job, promotion, and regular ol’ life stuff, I have failed to swat away several persistent and noisy characters. I have written the beginning of Order of Crows book 4 (5 chapters), started a whole side story for a side character within the Crows universe (1.5 chapters), the Sevina Gate 8th novella (5 chapters), and even the first chapter of Fae-Cursed book 3.

Keep in mind that I have been thinking that there’s no need to push any of those stories at the time being. Crows book 3 hasn’t even seen an editor yet. Fae-Cursed book 2 is with the editor now. We are still working on the art treatment for Sevina Gate novella 1. This is the first time I have two books on deck at the same time for publication that aren’t second editions. I’m good, right? Apparently not.

My characters, like children, simply couldn’t stand being ignored. Of course, I caved. Now I’m sitting next to a stack of notebooks and they’re all staring at me as I refocus on editing. I can give one solid piece of writing advice, if you’re having writer’s block or your characters are being difficult, ignore the hell out of them. Seriously.

In other news, I did receive an estimation from my awesome editor that The Nameless sequel should be ready to send back to me somewhere around the end of the month. That’s exciting for me. I’m still on schedule to release in … wow, not that many months from now. I’m still looking toward August but I haven’t picked an official date. Once we get closer to that date, check back here for some excerpts and features and all the fun stuff that goes into release.

That’s all for now, my friends. I’m still working on figuring out a next in-person event, as well, but for now, I’ll be here with updates and, as always, all my books are available on Amazon for paperback and Kindle. Cheers!

Trigger Warning

This is a rant. Buckle up.

So yesterday I got a random follow on Instagram. There was a mutual so I figured why not play the social media game and I followed back. Last night, I got a message. “You are just such an attractive woman.”

Someone come get your brother, for he is lost.

I don’t post anything that could remotely be considered thirsty. I barely post anything with my own face attached. I’m over here promoting five self-published books and a bare modicum of self-made success. My unfollowed friend, what audacity allows you to waltz into my DMs with such confidence? Stranger-man, has this worked for you in the past? What other depressed and attention-hungry females have you sought that gives you some affirmation that this sort of behavior is alright? You could have caught me at a better time of the month, but … you didn’t. You stepped into the war zone.

Mostly, it’s sad to me that I have to point out how this sort of action is creepy, entitled, and a little too bold. It’s not flattering. And it’s certainly not the sort of decision that warrants a positive response. Am I overreacting? Maybe. Possibly because I’m already powering through an extreme amount of pain caused by my own body. Trust me, random internet guy, if you were here with me, you probably wouldn’t be saying that, because now I am also angry. I work too hard to be reduced to “such an attractive woman” by someone who has never met me, someone who is obviously playing an angle for some sort of gain.

Guys, do I really need to say this is inappropriate and gross? Really, at this point in human existence, we’re still here? A word of advice to anyone who condones preying on folks online: No.

I think that’s all for now. I’m still riled but I’ve said my piece. I’ll move on now – to the multiple stories I’m writing, to the work of someone else that I’m editing, to the business I’m a part of, and the community who loves me.

Thursday Thoughts

Happy Beltane, everyone! We’ve made another trip around the Maypole, for better or worse. Despite the overwhelming way things seem contrary, I think it’s better for me. How am I celebrating? I just raised the prices on all my ebooks.

Why would I do that, one might ask. Well, here’s a very honest answer to that question. No one is buying them anyway. Why not? Now, don’t take this as a pessimistic answer. It’s simply a change in mind set. Past me was quite beaten down by seeing post after comment after another person complaining about indie ebook pricing. It’s less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks and yet somehow too much to ask for a few bucks for a WHOLE BOOK that took months to write, money to edit, and a load of digital tears to promote. Indies are too proud, etc. We SHOULD BE proud.

After edging myself into two in-person events last month, that was the lesson I took away. I should be proud. I should NOT demean myself by offering a digital copy of my hard-earned words for a damn dollar just because some folks don’t think indie ebooks qualify as actual whole books. I’ve had complete strangers stand at my table and offer me their twenty-dollar bill to take away a physical copy of my stories without any provocation other than the cover and the back content. So to the haters and the complainers about indie ebook pricing, just go to Starbucks.

Online marketing and the social media grind has begun to feel like a great scam to me. People are making money off of teaching other people how to make money online. Yeah, okay, and what do I get out of all that? A community of people who … are trying to do the same exact thing. Okay. Cool? I think I’ll just devote that same energy into making some real connections with live people. Does that cost money? Sure. Does it also sell books? Yes.

In other words, I have given myself a sense of validation by raising my ebook prices. What difference will it make in the long run? Who knows, but do I feel better? Hell yes, I do. Meanwhile, I’m on the lookout for my next vending opportunity. Chin up, indies and aspiring authors. It may take a while, but eventually you’ll get to a point where you’re not begging people to read, you’re giving them that chance. Much love, my friends.

As the Dust Settles

The Black Feather Press crew has another event down and my head is still spinning a little. Not in a bad way. The Merritt Square Mall Con was certainly an experience. I’m extremely grateful for the attention we received and the connections we made. Sales weren’t as good as for the book fest but I honestly expected as much because a convention inherently means the range and variety of goods offered is much more vast. So the fact that we still sold books is a win in my opinion. Many thanks to the newest owners of my titles!

Despite the set up being greatly different, the Black Feather Press team executed it in a seamless way, and despite our table being ten foot instead of the eight foot we expected, everything went well. Ten feet is a lot of table.

At both events, “The Murder Meets at Dusk” was hands down the star. I do love that fact although I’m a little sad that The Nameless crew hasn’t caught any attention yet. All in due time, I suppose. I have to be honest here, online sales have been dismal for a while and the social media grind doesn’t seem to boost them regardless of how much time I dedicate to it, so this month has been very refreshing. Was it an investment to get event ready? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Also yes.

As of right now, BFP doesn’t have a next event in line, but trust that I am working on it. Of course I’ll drop the news here when that happens. Meanwhile, I’ll be getting my nose back to the editing grindstone while swatting at noisy characters vying for my time. Derrick has made strides in streamlining his digital art process and I’m hopeful that means Sevina Gate will see its first installment actually published sooner than later. As a side note, I’ve figured out what I want to do with the cover art for the third Order of Crows book and also the title of the fourth book (titles don’t come easily to me). We’re also inching closer to the time when The Nameless sequel gets the cover treatment and that is very exciting, because that means we’re also getting closer to all the hoopla of release for the title.

That’s all the news for now. Thanks for stopping by!

When the Nerves Hit All at Once

I really thought I wasn’t going to get nervous about my second in-person book event. Wrong. So wrong. All the nerves hit me yesterday and persist today. I’m attempting to convert it into kinetic energy and make absolutely sure the Black Feather Press team is ready for the Merritt Square Mall Con tomorrow. I have no idea what to expect so I’m trying to think happy thoughts.

April has been BUSY but in the best way. We kicked it off with the book fest, my first vending experience promoting only my work. Derrick had a (non-book) event of his own that he absolutely nailed. And we’re rounding it out with a local convention. Throw in a legit editing venture on my part and noisy, insistent characters … there has been a lot to focus on. Yet I’m still looking toward the future and deciding how to keep the momentum going. I don’t have a next event scheduled … yet, but I do have a couple ideas.

What’s going on in the writing world? Well, Order of Crows book four is off to a very solid start. I’ve had some preliminary words for that book lying around for, I don’t know, some years and I’m happy to report that I’ll be using none of them. Go figure, right? It’s okay. I’ve learned to adjust accordingly when my characters go off-script and change everything. Mostly. Alright, it still throws me for a loop sometimes but I’m working on it. That being said, book three is sort of hanging out in limbo awaiting the editor and formatting process.

I recently found myself triggered by several topics that ran through my Discord server and I now find myself working on a side story set in the Crows universe that I really don’t have time to dedicate to. But, in the way of characters, Fr. Liam Miller won’t shut up, so we’re on our way to investigate some undead. Listen, it might be my bus but I’m definitely not driving.

As for the other projects I’ve mentioned, they’re still on track, too. Because life is busy, I’m still waiting on the edits for book 2 in the Fae-Cursed series. It’s still on track for release later this year. Likewise, the Sevina Gate novella series in still moving forward. I’m extra excited about that one.

Stay tuned for more news and nervous rambling. And wish us luck tomorrow!

No Rest for the Wicked

I’m a bit late on updating after my first in-person book event. It was, as far as I’m concerned, a smashing success. The book fest boasted fifty-four authors in total spread out over two locations and the sheer amount of love and attention my table got was amazing. The weather was great. Sales exceeded my expectations, although I’ll be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Black Feather Press team (Derrick, myself, and our son) nailed execution and presentation and we even evolved our setup in real time. Huge thanks to everyone who bought my books, stopped at my table to check them out, and took away cards to check me out later! The whole thing was such a confidence boost that I’m ready to do it again.

Do it again I will. I have registered for a small local convention on April 26th. Local folks can find me vending at the Merritt Square Mall Con from 10 am – 5 pm. Although this is not a book-centric event, I’m positive the con goers will be my tribe. I’m just as excited to be a part of it as I was for the book fest.

In other news, among preparations for converting my setup from a three-foot table to an eight-foot table, apprenticing with my editor, and life obligations, the Sevina Gate project is still simmering. Because we have been very busy, progress on it is slow but we are moving forward. I have made the first official art drop into the manuscript and I adore it so much. Just look at it.

That’s Niko. He looks so bothered, doesn’t he? I adore that character so much.

I think that’s about all the news for now. Check back soon. Thanks!