Make sure to check out the Summer Book Blast Sale. Go out and support some indie authors all while reaping the benefits of some amazing summer reads!
https://www.facebook.com/events/599508860066751/?ref=3
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
Starting this Friday, 5/27/2013, I will begin posting my short story prequel See How She Socializes. This story will give you a look into my favorite characters before the full story comes out later this summer. I am so excited to be spending time with them again. I hope that you all will love them as much as I do.
More important news. I have a cover designer. Woot Woot. Moments after I finished my post yesterday, I made my decision. The lovely Syd Gil will be producing my cover art and I am just beside myself with excitement. I keep doing a happy dance.
More important news. The book has officially left my hands and gone to my editor. Let's hope she does not get too flustered with my grammatical errors.
I am just over the moon and beside myself with everything that is going on. I feel like it is all happening so fast and I am caught up in a whirlwind. I told the husband last night that I sort of feel like an imposter. I feel like calling myself an author is just wrong. It puts me in the company of so many great minds. He then informed me that I had written a book and therefore I was an author so shut up. He does a great job of keeping my angst to a minimum. (Sainthood people, the man deserves it.)
Alas, I am off to work on the prequel before my tiny person wakes up and once more rules supreme. I will then have to abandon the story in favor of being a fire breathing dragon.
xoxoxo,
Michelle
Check out my awesome cover designer's site.
http://www.sydgill.com/
More important news. I have a cover designer. Woot Woot. Moments after I finished my post yesterday, I made my decision. The lovely Syd Gil will be producing my cover art and I am just beside myself with excitement. I keep doing a happy dance.
More important news. The book has officially left my hands and gone to my editor. Let's hope she does not get too flustered with my grammatical errors.
I am just over the moon and beside myself with everything that is going on. I feel like it is all happening so fast and I am caught up in a whirlwind. I told the husband last night that I sort of feel like an imposter. I feel like calling myself an author is just wrong. It puts me in the company of so many great minds. He then informed me that I had written a book and therefore I was an author so shut up. He does a great job of keeping my angst to a minimum. (Sainthood people, the man deserves it.)
Alas, I am off to work on the prequel before my tiny person wakes up and once more rules supreme. I will then have to abandon the story in favor of being a fire breathing dragon.
xoxoxo,
Michelle
Check out my awesome cover designer's site.
http://www.sydgill.com/
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
THE JOURNEY... IT IS A BUMPY ONE
So, as all of you know I am on this journey of trying to publish my very first book. If you are an indie author, then you know this task is far more daunting than you might think. These are the things I had no idea I would need when I set out to publish my book.
So if you are out there writing a story, do what I did. Keep on ignorantly plugging away at the story. Because I am sure that if I had seen all of this halfway through writing, I would have thrown my hands up and quit. I spend an inordinate amount of time shaking my head going "What Next?" I am lost in the sauce most of the time. Luckily I have access to some amazing people that are willing to help me when I get stuck.
xoxo
Michelle (Drowning in the Details)
If you want to check out my editor's site you can do so here:
http://neeleybratcherediting.com/Home_Page.html
- An Editor- It never crossed my mind. I thought that I would for sure be able to catch all of my own mistakes. After doing my hard edit and then going back through I realized... not so much. This lady needs some help. I think as an author I get so wrapped up in my story that I can skim over the grammatical infractions. So, I have hired and editor. WooHoo! That one was serendipitous, because she showed up in one of my book clubs saying she edited for Indie Authors. I said, "I will take one please."
- A Cover Artist- This one was far more daunting. There are literally hundreds if not thousands out there. I don't know how many pages I scrolled through before finding even two that I liked. Right now I am in talks with two different artists trying to decide which one to move forward with. Both have done covers for some of my favorite authors. (This makes me all fan girl inside just thinking about it.) The moral of this story, if you want a good cover, you are gonna have to pay. Seeing as I am a member of the judge a book by its cover club, I think it is a worthwhile investment. (I know, I shouldn't, but I am an incredibly visual person.)
- ISBN Numbers- Smashwords provides these if you publish through their site. But, say, you want to print your book. Those suckers go for a pretty penny. $125 for one. This is me with the dollar signs rolling in my eyes. It all adds up.
- Copyrighting- This one I am still working out the logistics on. I know that I can write copyright language in the front of my book and it would be considered legal. I am just paranoid enough that I would not sleep at night. I would always wonder, "Is it really enough?" So I think that I will end up getting an official copyright.
- Taxes- I have no clue about this one yet. Like, what is considered a tax write off for authors? Would buying a new laptop constitute as a business expense... because if it is, I am outta here to the nearest Best Buy. Still have no clue about this one, so if I find out I will let ya'll know.
So if you are out there writing a story, do what I did. Keep on ignorantly plugging away at the story. Because I am sure that if I had seen all of this halfway through writing, I would have thrown my hands up and quit. I spend an inordinate amount of time shaking my head going "What Next?" I am lost in the sauce most of the time. Luckily I have access to some amazing people that are willing to help me when I get stuck.
xoxo
Michelle (Drowning in the Details)
If you want to check out my editor's site you can do so here:
http://neeleybratcherediting.com/Home_Page.html
Monday, May 20, 2013
New Adventures Bring Emotional Upheaval
I have embarked on this journey called writing. About two years ago I started a story. It did not really go anywhere for a while. I could not find direction and alas I left the first twenty pages to rest. All the while the characters chattered away in the back of my mind.
Fast forward to a year later. My husband was deployed to Afghanistan with his computer. The same computer which held my story. I now realize the stupidity of not having a back up copy. Thank God the computer and the husband both made it home in one piece. So a year ago, I was sitting around minding my own business when I was practically struck by lightning. I am sure anyone close to me saw the bulb over my head light up. I had figured out where to go with my story.
I started writing down a few notes so that I would not lose my thoughts. Then my husband came home and I was all wrapped up in familial bliss and the story was once more forgotten. Two months ago the characters would be silenced no more. They raged inside my head for a release. The more I fought it, the less sleep I got. So I caved. I said to myself "Self, even if this story sucks, we are going to write it."
So that is what I did. Two months ago I dedicated all of my free time to writing. I sat down and poured everything I had into the story. I did not sleep much. I was more emotionally unstable than ever. (Which if you know me says a lot.) I drove my husband insane talking about characters and crying over their problems. If I got stuck I would badger him into helping me get unstuck. I am thankful that I married a saint.
Fast forward to now. I have finished my story. It was a labor of love and after reading over it I can say that it is something I am incredibly proud of. I intended for it to be a single book. Alas the characters, they won't leave me alone. So now I am in the process of figuring out the whole editing process, hiring a cover artist, and just trying not to be lost in the sauce all while the characters chatter in my head.
I had no idea how much went into writing a book before I started this process. What this process has left me with is an unyielding respect for authors. I am so blessed to have the help of fellow indie authors and a bunch of book-a-holics to guide and encourage me on my way. This journey is just beginning and I can't wait to see where it might take me.
I look forward to you joining me!
<3,
Michelle
P.S. A big thanks to these ladies for all of their help. They are both brilliant, so please go and check them out!
Belinda Boring The Queen of Swoon
http://www.belindaboring.com/
Lacey Weatherford The Queen of Hearts
http://www.laceyweatherfordbooks.com/
Fast forward to a year later. My husband was deployed to Afghanistan with his computer. The same computer which held my story. I now realize the stupidity of not having a back up copy. Thank God the computer and the husband both made it home in one piece. So a year ago, I was sitting around minding my own business when I was practically struck by lightning. I am sure anyone close to me saw the bulb over my head light up. I had figured out where to go with my story.
I started writing down a few notes so that I would not lose my thoughts. Then my husband came home and I was all wrapped up in familial bliss and the story was once more forgotten. Two months ago the characters would be silenced no more. They raged inside my head for a release. The more I fought it, the less sleep I got. So I caved. I said to myself "Self, even if this story sucks, we are going to write it."
So that is what I did. Two months ago I dedicated all of my free time to writing. I sat down and poured everything I had into the story. I did not sleep much. I was more emotionally unstable than ever. (Which if you know me says a lot.) I drove my husband insane talking about characters and crying over their problems. If I got stuck I would badger him into helping me get unstuck. I am thankful that I married a saint.
Fast forward to now. I have finished my story. It was a labor of love and after reading over it I can say that it is something I am incredibly proud of. I intended for it to be a single book. Alas the characters, they won't leave me alone. So now I am in the process of figuring out the whole editing process, hiring a cover artist, and just trying not to be lost in the sauce all while the characters chatter in my head.
I had no idea how much went into writing a book before I started this process. What this process has left me with is an unyielding respect for authors. I am so blessed to have the help of fellow indie authors and a bunch of book-a-holics to guide and encourage me on my way. This journey is just beginning and I can't wait to see where it might take me.
I look forward to you joining me!
<3,
Michelle
P.S. A big thanks to these ladies for all of their help. They are both brilliant, so please go and check them out!
Belinda Boring The Queen of Swoon
http://www.belindaboring.com/
Lacey Weatherford The Queen of Hearts
http://www.laceyweatherfordbooks.com/
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