Tag: publishing adventure

Scorpio Market Tomorrow!

I’ll be at the Wisconsin Masonic Center in downtown Madison from noon until 4! In addition to plenty of cool writers, artists, and craftspeople, there will be some fundraising raffles and sales for Palestine. Be aware: this is a fully masked event, so don’t forget your mask. Here’s more information.

It’s been a hell of a week, but Journey to the Water has reached 121,618 words, and I’m about to start on Eske’s last voyage (Chapter LXIII in the serial version, chapter XXIX in the rewrite). I have four more chapters (three chapters and one interlude) to go. Wish me luck!

Quick Journey Update

117,345 words, 194 pages–though the page count will change once it’s formatted for the book. I’ve finished four interludes (of five) and 27 chapters (of about 31-32, depending on how closely I end up sticking to my outline. Sometimes chapters get a little too long and I need to split them up). Thank you so much for being patient with me! I am getting there.

My next arc is going to be The Empty Tower (chapter LXI in the serial version), and then we’re on to the last voyage.

(Edited to check my math)

Milwaukee ParaCon (+quick Journey update)

I completely forgot about an event! Brooke and I will be heading to the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference on Saturday, October 19. This will take place at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center in downtown Milwaukee, and opens at 10AM. Thanks to American Ghost Walks, tickets are free, but you do have to register. You can do that and find more information on their website here.

In other news, I’m plugging along on Journey to the Water. I’m about the start the arc that begins with Chapter LIV: The Ring-Fort (though it will be chapter XXIV in the new draft). I like this arc, but I wasn’t happy with how it turned out in the serial version, so I’m looking forward to making it better. I think right now we’re looking at a mid- to late-November release. I should be able to finish this draft by the end of the month, and after that comes formatting, designing the cover, and a few minor revisions (there’s still one arc I’m not pleased with). I appreciate your patience!

Journey to the Water Update, plus some other things

Pages: 152 Words 92,362

I’d say I’m close to three-quarters of the way through my rewrites. I appreciate your patience as I’m working to get them done! I know it’s taken me forever and a half to come up with a release date, but I should be able to give you one soon.

I’ll be absent from the blog and my social media for a week, as I’m going on vacation. I will return Monday, October 7, and get back to regular posting as well as finishing this book.

The Figuratively Speaking Mermaid Tarot Kickstarter has reached ALL its stretch goals! There are still a couple of days left to back: it will close at the end of the day (midnight) on Monday, September 30. Thank you so much to everyone who has pledged so far and made this beautiful project a reality.

The newsletter will be going out tomorrow at noon my time (CDT), so if you haven’t yet and would like to, put your email address in the box at this link to sign up. You’ll then need to check your inbox for a confirmation.

I’ll see you on October 7. Until then, take care!

Some more notes on editing

This rant is brought to you by some writers in the fantasy book groups I’m in complaining that editing is too expensive, so they just…don’t do it? I neither recall their names nor wish to share them even if I did, so this is just sort of a general rant.

Editing is hard. Editing your own work is harder. As writers, we all have to learn how to do it, whether it’s to keep our manuscripts out of the slush pile, give our editors fewer headaches, or avoid annoying our beloved readers.

Continue reading “Some more notes on editing” →

Year in Review, Part the Second

This year has been rough, and I’m ready to put it behind me. Let’s focus on the positive:

  • I went to FOUR markets this year and met a lot of cool people!
  • The Book of the New Moon Door is finally published! As of this writing, it has sold 34 copies, most of them preorders.
  • Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea sold an additional 49 copies this year, which brings the total number of copies sold to 146. Two of them were purchased in Germany!
  • I worked on Journey to the Water and The Well Below the Valley, though I had to put both on hiatus while I finished New Moon Door.
  • Our garden did very well! I was happy to share some photos after planting.
  • I also released a short story, “The Howler.”

I had to put a lot of my other goals from last year on hold, but I hope to pick back up next year:

  • I want to finish, edit, and publish Journey to the Water.
  • I will revisit the script for The Well Below the Valley and start making it into something that might actually, eventually, be good, and hopefully finish it as well.
  • Over the next month or so, I’ll be rolling out some changes to my Patreon and Ko-fi, to better reward people who want to support me directly.
  • I’ll return to The Tarot of the Gates and work out a timeline for its eventual completion. I haven’t decided if it will involve serial chapters or if I’ll keep it under wraps. It’s also a collaboration with an artist, so her schedule and availability will have an impact.
  • I’ll be going to more markets and events, so be sure to stay tuned for those!
  • I want to do some video content (Twitch or YouTube) and have more nonfiction posts here, like discussion questions, talking about writing, that sort of thing. Maybe some more short stories, as well.
  • I might not get to a new manuscript this year (other than Journey to the Water), but my long-term goal is to be a hybrid author with both independent and traditionally-published books.
  • More garden pictures!

I’m more grateful than words can say for you, reader. You make all this worthwhile. May the new year bring you peace and happiness.

Today’s the Day! The Book of the New Moon Door is now available!

Amazon (paperback & ebook)

Barnes & Noble (paperback & ebook)

Kobo (ebook only)

Apple Books (ebook only)

A very special thanks to everyone who preordered, and to everyone who reads it now! I’m so excited for you to finally get your hands on this book.

If you haven’t read the back-of-the-book blurb, it’s right here for you below the cut:

Continue reading “Today’s the Day! The Book of the New Moon Door is now available!” →

Song of the Week

Kate Bush, “The Morning Fog”

Good morning!

The Book of the New Moon Door releases this Friday! I’ll have all the retail links for you then. If you preordered a copy, they are supposed to arrive at my house tomorrow. I’ll be heading to the post office today to get some Priority Mail envelopes to put them in, and the wrapping paper, sealing wax, bookmarks, and stickers are already here. Gods willing and the weather holds, I should be sending them out on Wednesday!

No new chapters this week. Journey to the Water should start up again next week with a new chapter on Patreon, and then I’ll be back to a regular posting schedule. All the previous chapters are under the Stories tab above (under the Menu if you’re on mobile), if you need to catch up. Thank you for being patient while I was focusing on getting New Moon Door done.

Here’s a tool from the Friends Committee on National Legislation to write Congress asking for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. I’ve sent a letter, and I hope you will too.

As always, thanks for being here. Stop by again later this week for more updates as we get closer to release day!

One week until The Book of the New Moon Door!

The book will be available in paperback and ebook from whatever online retailer you prefer on Friday, December 15.

Also, preorders have left the printer! They’re on their way to me, so I can sign and wrap them. I’ll update you when I have an estimated arrival date. Once they’re here, I should get them finished and back into the mail within 24 hours.

Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to release day!

Song of the Week

Delta Rae, “The Beast”

Good afternoon!

Preorders for The Book of the New Moon Door are officially closed! I’ve ordered the books from the printer, and hopefully I’ll have some more news about that soon. The book officially releases December 15, when it will be available from all the major online retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, probably others too).

The last two chapters of the serial version of New Moon Door will be up here on the blog on Wednesday. I’ll be working on getting Journey to the Water running again, so expect to see new chapters in the next couple of weeks. I’m hoping to publish Journey next year, so I’d better get on that.

Tell President Biden to redouble his efforts to renew the ceasefire in Gaza. Win Without War is hoping to collect 10,000 signatures today.

Thanks for all you do! Have an excellent week.