Nouveau Indie Author Buzz

It's official! I've joined the proud ranks of the Indie author. With the help of a great editor, illustrator and formatter, Book I of the Whirlwomen Trilogy was published without a hitch. At present it's available on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/153216. Early next week it will be available on Amazon, Barnes&Nobles, the iBook store and several other ebook outlets. As much as I'd like to kick back and relax for a few weeks, preferably on a Caribbean island, the work goes on. Now it's marketing time as well as time to go full throttle on Book II, Flicker, which I plan to publish in October. Don't want to keep readers waiting too long.

I've learned quite a bit on this journey. One, anyone can do it. I used to hate when people said that about writing a book, but that's the fact, Jack. The thing is, not everyone will do it because it takes a lot of time and effort and there is always the chance that no one will read it. The pay sucks, too.

But the payoff is tremendous. Especially if you have a passion for the written word and a good story. I do, which is why it's on to the next one. I'll share more about the experience and specifics such as what you should expect to spend, the benefits of a good editor and more in upcoming posts.

On a side note: My book is dedicated to my Mom who passed five years ago on April 28th. She was my biggest fan. She always said I could do it and read everything I sent her and gave me notes. She was a voracious reader who turned me on to the likes of Louis L'Amour (yup, westerns), Sidney Sheldon, C.S. Lewis and many more. Thanks Mom! You were right.

Urban Legends and Other Necessary Distractions

Ten things to do to untangle from your manuscript when it is starting to become illegible:

1. Watch a British comedy such as "Little Britain," or my recent discovery, "Idiot Abroad." The latter is a completely wacky, yet wonderfully visual, comedic interpretation of a bucket list--you know, those things you want to do before you die or before your latest work kills you.

2. Stare at the vegetables in your fridge and make up urban legends they tell while wilting in the vegetable bin such as this one little celery stalks tell: If you say "Bloody Mary" three times when the fridge opens you'll end up floating in a pool of beat to a pulp tomatoes and vodka."

3. Listen to some Bon Iver and try and figure out what the hell he's saying until you realize it doesn't matter.

4. Go for a run, a hike, a walk even if it's raining.

5. Take a nap especially if it's raining.

6. Blog.

7. Post something on FB or Twitter about your UPCOMING date of publication.

8. Fantasize about working at the DMV.

9. Read something you wrote when you were 23, drunk, stoned or broken-hearted. Bonus points for all four.

10. Get back to the task at hand after proving some unsuspecting stalk of celery that the legend is true.

Excited!

Yes, I am! Excited, that is. The first book of my fantasy/occult fiction novel is just about complete, my website is coming along and I have an awesome tan from a few days in Cabo. I also just got word that a dear friend and fellow writer, Sibylla Nash, is releasing her second book "Bumped". Check it out at Bumpedthenovel.com. You can download the first three chapters for free.

Stay tuned for more good news!