From The Top!

We're getting closer and closer to day one of NaNoWriMo and the start of Volume Three, on which I am ready to take flight! This post itself is a sign of the times, as it will be my last blog post of the month.

I've been thinking about how to boost sales of the previous two volumes, and the best way to go about it is to take it from the top. The Book of Fire was a learning experience for me as a self-publisher. I learned that I have much to learn about the publishing business. I bought a self-publishing guide that has a timetable in it, outlining the steps for putting out a finished product.

The first step is pretty well handled by my print-on-demand service (all of the title registration, ISBN, the fun stuff), so my top step is to get more people involved in the production of my books. That includes editors, cover artists, beta readers, and people who I know own my previous books. Once I get people involved, I need to keep them in the loop.

But I think between now and then, I'll start developing a dice game to go with my series. This will be published if/when I put out a complete collection for Realms Quintessential. I have many ideas already!

Happy reading!

NaNo Countdown!

Today I want to look at three things: what will happen, what I want to happen, and what needs to happen.

First, NaNoWriMo will happen. I plan to write Volume 3: The Book of Water this year. I've been writing down ideas for characters and story twists for this November. Fun fact: should Water win NaNoWriMo, it will be the second Realms Quintessential book to win (Earth was not entered). Another fun fact: it will be my third consecutive win as an author (I lost my first NaNo in 2009, but I have been 2 for 2 since).

Next, I will talk about what I want to happen. I'm still looking for that 10th paperback sale. Once that happens, I'll get my first royalty payment EVER. I'd also like to see kindle sales start up. In both cases, the books need to be polished into the gems I know they can be.

Of course, if there are things I want to happen, there are things that need to happen. My job search has been at somewhat of a stand-still. I applied for five jobs this week, and next week I go into harassment mode. Imagine, instead of a phone on an employer's desk, I'm perched like an owl poking them repeatedly in the cheek. "Hey... Hey... Hey..." instead of hooting.

All in all, I am confident something will work in my favor. After all, I do have that red poster over my desk.

Happy Reading!

Power of 10?

The number 10 is on my mind right now, and probably for good reason. Yesterday was my fourth "Free Book Friday" and I crossed 100 (10^2) total free copies of The Book of Earth. Though I'm excited to have this exposure, it hasn't translated into much else. There are still no ratings or comments on my books. I encourage anybody who downloaded a copy to leave a rating. It will help me by showing where I need to improve as a writer.

Speaking of improvements, I may scale back on Project M, where I make a new edition of my books when they sell 1000 (10^3) copies. Seeing as The Book of Earth is over 100 distributed copies, Project M will become Project C. This way I can work on improving my books between now and NaNoWriMo.

Also, on the note of 10, I need to sell one more paperback copy of either of my books to make royalty. If you buy the 10th copy, I'll make you something out of Perler beads. Okay? Deal!

Happy Reading!

Run Program

I've been very busy with things other than my novels lately. I've been teaching myself to build websites in HTML, Javascript, and CSS. These efforts have been going more so to my professional (read: Meteorology) career. I do have some ideas in mind to host/redesign this site, but I need the funding to do that.

That's where another list item comes in: finding a job. I'm actively searching for an environmental science job, but I have not secured one thus far. Once I get one, I can look into getting a car, buying more copies of my book, and putting in a greater promotional effort.

I feel it is important to mention here that I am planning to build a corner desk in my room/office. It's going to have a separate set of drawers for my novel business. It's also going to have better wire management for more work space.

Of course, these are all just plans. I'll be able to do these once things start coming through on the job front. Until then, I am doing my run program, for which I'm running my first 5K on Thursday.

Happy Reading!

Wheels Rolling

So far, my Sunday has been going well. I weighed in this morning, and despite having the center of balance of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I lost 3.5 pounds. I also got to drive the family car for the first time. We went to the next town over and got some coffee and pastries.

I feel as though the metaphorical wheels are starting to turn for me. I had a job interview on Friday with a company that seems like a great place to work for with management that seems very accommodating. Should I get the job, I can make a budget for a car and other things I need/want. Then things will take of from there. I am very excited about my future, and I feel it's going to start soon.

However, there are some "cars" that need a push. The Book of Fire is one of them. I may take an hour a day to reformat the Kindle edition, plug Viribia into the story, tweak the grammar, all to have it back up by the middle of next month. I also have a book review to do, which should be done withing the next week.

Once I get "fueled up" I can start making some progress. *Drinks Coffee*

Happy Reading!

Putting Out the "Fire"

As you can see from the books page, The Book of Fire is currently unavailable. There are multiple reasons for this. First, it needs quite a few tweaks such as a few misplaced apostrophes a few wrong words that need fixing. Second, it needs a world name: Viribia. I introduced this world in The Book of Earth, but I need to go back to the first volume and put it in.

Finally (and most importantly) I am pitching my novel to publishers. I feel that getting my novel into an established publisher's hands will get me better access to an editor and a cover artist. Both of these will give the curb appeal I'm looking for with my novels.

If you wish to buy a copy of The Book of Earth, both formats are still available on the books page. It will be for sale until I am done tweaking Fire or until my Kindle Promotions run out for Earth, whichever happens first. Either way, that's at least a month or two away. Just more polish for my gems in the rough.

Happy Reading!

Games (Maybe?)

Lately I've been thinking of a way to give my novels a better reach. I need to find a way to connect my readers to the reading. So I am looking deeper into the subject matter of fantasy worlds and perhaps developing a game.

That's right: a game.

If I start making something, it will more than likely be a pen-and-paper-and-dice game. My books pretty much have an outline for such a thing already. I have plenty of roles already: light mages, dark mages, seamstresses, etc. etc. I would also need races. Thus far, I have humans, demons (major - no minions yet), and a cameo by a troll in The Book of Earth.

I haven't quite worked out the dynamics of the game yet, add to that not much experience playing those games. Once I think of more roles, I'll develop some benefits for picking one role over another (more Notes for soldiers, more magic points for mages, etc.). Then I'll work out a battle system.

As far as publishing this, I'll probably wait until I make a complete-saga volume of the series. That won't be for another few years at least. Just an idea to share for now.

Happy Reading!