Ethan and I are at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival for the next six weekends. The first weekend has been great and quite inspiring. So very many fans have stopped by the booth asking when the third book FIRE OF THE FEY will be out, so I’ve been working hard to deliver.
After a certain point, of course, things are out of our hands. But, if we can get the final editing and cover art to the printers by September 15th (yes, just 8 short days), then we might just have copies in our hands for the last two weekends of the show (October 9/10 & 16/17).
That’s of course if nothing goes wrong, which something almost always does.
But I’m choosing to keep the hope alive!
Our editor is confident he can have it completed by our deadline, barring any major changes (with has me a little scared). The publisher has nearly completed the layout. The manuscript is already at the Beta Readers team. The final cover art is on its way. Copyright & LCCN, check.
SO LOOK FOR AN MID-OCTOBER RELEASE! … just the same weekend as WITCH was out last year. We hope to avoid cutting it so close next year with Power of the Zephyr. We’ve already started outlining for that, and don’t forget, we’ll be publishing short stories monthly, very soon.
Back to FIRE OF THE FEY:
I’ve just completed the first draft of the back cover copy, and I’d like your opinion.
Adventures continue for Cullen Knight and his band of misfits in this third installment of the Rowan of the Wood fantasy series. Still possessed by the wizard Rowan, Cullen settles into his new home with his sister Aidan and their Uncle Moody Marlin, but all is not well. A series of fires raging through the redwoods puts Aidan in the hot seat, as the group looks to the fire elemental for an explanation.
Maddy’s mother discovers a dark and disturbing secret, Ralph and Max are off to a rocky start, and Rex adopts a holy crusade. Meanwhile, Rowan finds some freedom and a new purpose, but little does he know that he hasn’t seen the last of his evil vampire bride, Fiana.
What do you think? Too long? Too varied?
Should it end at “for an explanation”?
We’re get to know some of the other characters better in this book, particularly Aidan, Moody, and especially Maddy, so I don’t want to leave them out of the summary.
Writing summaries suck, btw. Just fyi.
Next up is the cover art. There has been much ado on our end around the cover art, but that looks to be coming to an end. I’m confident that we’ll have a completed cover by the end of the week one way or another.
Look for a post later this week, like maybe Friday, for unveiling of the cover art.
I’m quite excited and feeling good about the possibility of this getting out on time. Keep your fingers crossed for me…
…and leave a comment about your thoughts for this back cover copy.
I’m not a big city person, generally. I love the rolling hills and trees. I love nature and scampering animals. I especially like the silence…
But New York City is something quite special. I had been there before, both times for some film work, and hated every minute of it. But during my visit to the city yesterday I realized something.
New York City is a little slice of Europe right here in the good ol’ US of A.
During my previous visits to NYC, I went with the mindset of going to a US City, which of course it is, being situated in the United States, but it really has much more of a European feel. Being there yesterday reminded me of my time spent in Paris and in London, two big cities that I absolutely adore.
Christine’s rules for visiting NYC:
1. Don’t drive in NYC. Seriously. This is the mistake I made during my last two trips to the city. In fact, after visiting there in 2005 for some film production work, I swore I would *never* return unless I had lots and lots of money and could take a cab everywhere.
But no need. You take the train, subway, or buses, European style.
I took the train in from Poughkeepsie on the Hudson Line (East). Just $29 RT for Off-Peak hours. It traveled along the beautiful Hudson River, enabling me to just ride and soak in the scenery. I even passed through Cold Spring, which nearly had me squealing in fan girl delight as I listened to my favorite Billy Joel album (Cold Spring Harbor) on the way. Fortunately for my fellow passengers, I was able to contain the squeal, but if anyone had been watching me, they would’ve seen me jump in my seat just a little and quickly take out my iPhone to tweet about it and update my Facebook status.
2. Walk around Midtown Manhattan and see all the “movie stars” along the roads like St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center. The NY Public Library (you most definitely need to go inside that glorious place) and Grand Central Station and Times Square.
3. Have lunch in Bryant Park. Totally European style cafe setting around a delightful park. It was lovely even in the rain. (Especially with a friend)
4. If at all possible, meet some friends there. A big city is always more fun to visit if you know some locals. Then you don’t feel quite so much like a geeky, slack-jawed, small-town tourist.
I was fortunate enough to have several friends living in NYC, so it was a wonderful whirlwind day. The top picture of me by the Public Library lion was taken by my burner friend Glenn Sapadin. I unfortunately forgot to actually get a picture of him or with him, so I’ll have to go back to the city very soon in order to do just that.
I also met with my friend Liz, fellow Animal Rights activist, who I met through some mutual French friends. We had a lovely time catching up and comparing college teaching notes, as we both do that now. And we *almost* went to the top of the Empire State Building, but, hello $20! Still I would’ve done it, but there wasn’t enough time before I took my train.
Most of the day was spent with my delightful literary agent Louise Fury and the fabulous author Leanna Renee Hieber of the Strangely Beautiful fame. (You can read my reviews of her great books here and here.) … you need to buy her books. I really mean it.
I left the city last evening and took the train back to Poughkeepsie. Although exhausted from the exciting day, I still had another hour and a half drive through the Catskills back to my hotel in Windham. I collapsed into a dreamless sleep only to wake up wanting to go right back there and do it all over again. As I was excitedly telling Ethan (currently in KS) all about my day trip to the Big Apple, he asked, “Are you trying to lay the groundwork for convincing me to move there?”
Over the years, I’ve been to school a whole helluva lot. Seriously. Half my life has been spent in a classroom as a student, a teacher, or a professor.
For the past three years, I’ve had the great pleasure of teaching Composition II at Austin Community College. Due to my time at ACC, I now get three tuition vouchers per fiscal year, so I’m starting with Cultural Anthropology this Fall and moving into Physics and Mathematics next Spring. I never took these types of courses when I was in college. My MA is in English Literature, and I did everything I could to avoid Math and Science classes back then. But now I’m up for the challenge and very excited to be taking college courses again.
That is… until I tried to get my textbooks.
OMG! $160 for ONE TEXTBOOK?
You’ve got to be fricken kidding me.
It has been a good ten years since I’ve taken a college course and a lot of things have changed. Do you know, for example, that you can now RENT textbooks?! What a wonderful idea! Textbooks are also available in eBook formats, although…
I tried the new Barnes & Noble Nook Study program on my computer, and it caused nothing but troubles. First, I had to upgrade my operating system to X10.6 (Snow Leopard) just to run the program. That upgrade cost me the use of my printer (no driver for Snow Leopard) and an afternoon of frustration to the point I nearly threw my MacBook Pro out the window. . . not to mention the $30 for the upgrade.
Next, it seems one can only rent eBooks on the thing, but they do offer a 7 day free trial. However, every time I tried to open my free trial textbook, the program crashed.
Every. Single. Time.
Needless to say, I deleted Nook Study from my computer and decided to just rent the textbook from Barnes & Noble, which by the way, was actually cheaper than renting the eBook on Nook Study.
Finally, once I confirmed those were actually the books I needed for the course, the shipping cost had doubled overnight. Still, I ordered the books, paying a few dollars more for 1-3 business day shipping (I have to get them sent to Ohio, as I’ll be on the road during my distance learning class).
Done, right?
Wrong.
I get the confirmation email only to see that it won’t ship until SEPTEMBER 2nd!
Really? I’m paying for 1-3 day shipping for a class that begins on August 23rd, and my rented textbooks won’t ship until nearly two weeks after the class starts?
Cancel.
Screw B&N.
Is this what my students have to go through every semester? Geesh!
With some help from a Facebook friend, I was turned on to a textbook rental place called CHEGG.com. And they fricken rock.
Affordable. Fast shipping (I’ll get it by the 19th). Helping students earn $$ for college in their Champion Program. PLUS…
They plant a tree for every textbook rented.
So fricken cool.
I saved over $100, and I’m hooked. I’m telling my students about Chegg.com.
Rent your textbooks this semester. Save time & $! **Use this PROMO CODE (CC132789) to save an extra 5%!**
I adore Billy Joel. His first two albums are the ones I know the best, and when listening to this song today, I felt I truly understood it for the first time.
It was released just about a year after I was born. Turns out this song was born out of a suicide note when Billy attempted suicide in 1970. I can’t imagine a world where he succeeded. A world without Piano Man. An Innocent Man. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Angry Young Man. And so many more that have touched my soul over the years, and continue to do so. Mine and millions of others…
I’ve been livin’ for the moment
But I just can’t have my way
And I’m afraid to go to sleep
‘Cause tomorrow is today
People tell me life is sweeter
But I don’t hear what they say
Nothing comes to change my life
So tomorrow is today
I don’t care to know the hour
‘Cause it’s passing anyway
I don’t have to see tomorrow
‘Cause I saw it yesterday
So I listen for an answer
But the feeling seems to stay
And what’s the use of always dreaming
If tomorrow is today
Still I’m waiting for the morning
But it feels so far away
And you don’t need the love I’m giving
So tomorrow is today
Oh, my. Goin’ to the river
Gonna take a ride and the Lord will deliver me
Made my bed, now I’m gonna lie in it
If you don’t come, I’m sure gonna die in it
Too late. Too much given
I’ve seen a lot of life and I’m damn sick of livin’ it
I keep hopin’ that you will pass my way
And some day if your dreams are leavin’ you
I’ll still believe in you
I don’t care to know the hour
‘Cause it’s passing anyway
I don’t have to see tomorrow
‘Cause I saw it yesterday
Though I’m living and I’m singing
And although my hands still play
Soon enough it will all be over
‘Cause tomorrow is today
Often times at our events, I get asked this same question (usually by tweens) when they find out I’m an author.
They ask, “Are you rich?”
I have to really, really try not to laugh at that question. Really. Really. Try.
Sure, it’s the kids who actually ask, but I don’t doubt that many, many people assume that we are rich. Adults just know that it’s not polite to ask someone about those things.
Still, this question is quite telling, it shows that a good portion of the public think that being an author = rich. Mansions. Movies. Chateau in France. Etc.
Another one that gets me: “You should get them to make a movie of your book.”
Hmmm. Great idea. Why didn’t I think of that?
Or: “You should go on Oprah.”
Yep. Got her on speed dial, how could that have slipped my mind?
Because when people think of authors, people think of *famous* authors like Stephen King, J. K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, James Patterson, etc.
Even I, just a short year ago, believed that if we could hit the much coveted New York Times Best Seller list, that we’d be doing okay.
For those of you who follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter, you know that Ethan and I now have a New York Literary Agent!
Yeah us!
Her name is Louise Fury with the L. Perkins Agency, and she’s all kinds of awesome. I’ve started working on a YA Steampunk Romance that she’ll be shopping around later this year.
Now that we have an agent, we have a better chance of being published by a NY Big Boy. That means, when she sells it, an advance and better distribution! Still, even with that coveted 6-figure advance, we’ll be far from “rich.”
Just think: say we get a $100,000 advance, $85,000 of which we get to keep (15% to Louise), it’s likely the only money we will ever see from that book because “an advance” means an advance against royalties. Big Boy Publishers offer between 5-7% in royalties. Let’s take that large end at 7% on a moderately listed YA paperback novel of $8.99. That’s $.63 a book, meaning the book would have to sell nearly 160,000 copies *just to break even* on the advance. The average books sells 500 copies. We’ve sold 5,000 copies over the last 18 months in the Rowan series, which is about what a midlist author sells, even with a NY Big Boy.
If it takes me a year to write a book, that’s 85k a year. Not bad, by any means, even for me and Ethan both.
But then let’s take into account the five years it’s taken us to get there without being paid any advances. That $85k/yr has just been averaged into $17K/yr for our first sale. Hopefully thereafter, I can be writing a book a year and making about $85/k every year for a single book. Still $100K is a huge advance. Most advances are more like $10-30K.
And that doesn’t factor in that authors have to use *their own money* for publicity. The publisher doesn’t help with that unless you are Stephanie Meyer or one of those other big names.
Seriously.
And this is all best case scenario with a NY Big Boy. Being with an independent publisher, we get a higher % on book sales, but have a more limited distribution. We rarely make anything that we haven’t hand sold at an event. And over the past 18 months, we’re consistently spending more than we’re making on travel, fees, marketing, and just living.
I wouldn’t be turning down even a $30,000 advance at this point.
If you’re thinking about becoming an author so you can be rich? Think again.
You’ll spend less money, have far less stress, and have just about the same odds by playing the lottery. In fact, I’m thinking more and more about that strategy.
Some experts have said that the Kindle and other eBook readers will resurrect the Short Story.
Here’s hoping…
I teach Composition II: Analyzing Short Fiction at Austin Community College. I love short stories, but I haven’t written one in years. Mostly because, as every publishing professional will tell you, there is no market for short stories. Rather, there is a very limited market for short stories… a handful of magazines and even fewer anthologies.
This, however, seems to be changing.
Amazon’s Amazing Kindle (I’m a huge fan, as I have one myself and rarely read anything in any other format since I’ve gotten it) and other such eReaders might just be breathing fresh life into the Short Story.
Amazon has over 18,000 short stories available for the Kindle under Fiction>Short Stories.
Coming quite soon, there will be short stories available on the Kindle from Ethan, yours truly, and our BMP colleague O. M. Grey. Ethan and I have been talking about publishing the “Adventures of Fiana” and perhaps even one for Rowan in short story format for $0.99 each. Upon completion of the series, we would then make it available as an anthology.
If you haven’t yet gotten your Kindle – now is a great time. A brand new generation for a lower-than-ever price!
Tomorrow, I’ll be starting to write a new non-Rowan YA Steampunk series. I need a name for my female (17-yr-old) vampire-hunting protagonist. Let me know your thoughts on the following.
In the comments, feel free to suggest others and TITLES… need a good title.
That’s for sure!
Please share this poll with your reader friends on FB, Twitter, and everywhere else! I’m staring to write it tomorrow!
This month on my Book Addict post, I interviewed Paranormal Romance author Jo Lynne Valerie about her new book Phoenix Rising.
Here is a taste:
Phoenix Rising is a love story, at it’s core. It’s also a story about how the unseen paranormal world can touch our lives in unexpected and beautiful ways.
My heroine Holly is a successful artist in her forties, resigned to her life as the forever single, eccentric auntie. She’s given up on love, a decision made long ago after suffering a horrific trauma involving a child. As a result, Holly experiences recurring nightmares about that trauma. And that’s how readers meet Holly at the open of the story, on the cuff of one of her bad dreams.
However, Holly’s life is about to take a drastic turn, one that puts her on a crash course with destiny. A one Mary Sinclair, best-selling celebrity novelist, hires Holly to paint illustrations for a forthcoming book. It’s an incredible boon for Holly; the job offers high exposure and a fabulous compensation package! Talented as she is, Holly proceeds to paint all the character portraits requested, but hits a snag when it comes to painting the hero. After taking a break to alleviate artists’ block, Holly’s muse returns and she paints all day and night, producing a stunning vision of a handsome man.
Holly has completed her job for Mary Sinclair, and she assumes it’s over. In reality, things are just beginning! Two days later, Holly attends an art gallery show where she is introduced to her niece’s boyfriend and his father. Imagine Holly’s incredible shock when she discovers the boy’s father is the spitting image of the hero/man she painted!
His name is David… he is a single father and wolf biologist. What’s more, David connects to Holly immediately… and passionately. They find themselves having dinner the very next night, and that’s just the beginning of a whirlwind romance that takes them on vacation to experience the Winter Solstice in New Mexico, land of ancient shamanic spirituality. Behind the scenes, supernatural energies are converging to put Holly in the right place, with the right people, so she can solve the mystery of her recurring nightmare, along with the question of exactly why she painted David before ever meeting him.
Readers have written in reviews and in feedback to me personally, that the ending is something they never saw coming. That makes me happy – a surprise ending is a good thing!
Okay. So every now and again I get a whirlwind of inspiration to try something new. Such happened about a week ago when, thanks to the example of Marc Gunn, I decided I’d like to plan a trip to Scotland focusing on the history and mythology in our fantasy series Rowan of the Wood.
Before I spend a great deal of time, energy, and money, I’d like to see if there is a general interest among our fans, friends, and followers to accompany us on this journey.
I’ve put together a *very* preliminary itinerary… this is so very subject to change, as I haven’t gathered any prices for the hotels/areas or even seen if they have availability.
Day 1: Edinburgh
Day trip down to Rosslyn Chapel. Filled with Green Men. Also featured in The Davinci Code.
Evening in Edinburgh
Day 2: Isle of Mull
Drive to the Isle of Mull (approx. 4 hours + ferry ride)
(here we might also look into stopping in Argyll on the way…LOADS of pictish sites there)
Check into Hotel (either on Mull or at the Argyll Hotel on Iona)
Free Afternoon/Evening
Day 3: Isle of Mill/Iona
Visit the Loch Buie Stone Cirle, Mull Where Rowan and Fiana were wed/tragically separated.
Visit Iona Abbey. Built in honor of St. Columba, the converter of the picts and mentioned in the books.
Day 4: Loch Ness & Aviemore
Visit the infamous Loch Ness (about 3.5 hrs from Mull) and try to see Nessie!
Continue onto Aviemore to the Rowan Tree Hotel, where we will stay for two nights (if we can get in). It’s near The Cairngorm National Park in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Perhaps there is even a Rowan tree there!
Day 5: Aberdeen & Stonehaven
Day trip to Stonehaven (2 hr one way) – optional. Here we see the remains of Stonehaven Castle. Part of Zefferelli’s Hamlet was shot there.
See the Picardy Stone, one of the oldest Pictish stones. Carved in the 7th c… 100 years after Rowan.
Visit an Ogham stone in Brandsbut, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. One of the very few left in Scotland.
** Here is where there is a choice. Would you rather pack up and leave to a new hotel each night for Day 4/5 (staying in Inverness one day and Aberdeen the second) or stay at a centrally located hotel. It’s about the same amount of driving, maybe more to stay centrally located.**
Day 6-8: Edinburgh
After a 2.5 hr drive from the Highlands (perhaps with a stop in Perth for more history stuff), spend the rest of your vacation in Edinburgh. Lots of free time to do what you want with optional group events.
National Scottish Museum (their Early People section would cover the Celts & Picts)
Edinburgh Castle
The Edinburgh Dungeon
So much more!
Again, this is just a very preliminary sketch. The final tour might not resemble this one at all. It all depends on the feedback I get from those interested!
Other options: include some Macbeth & Harry Potter stops… other literary interest?
This is staying at the Rowan Tree Hotel or something similar in the middle with day trips to Loch Ness, Inverness, Stonehaven, and Perth… The other option is driving that route and staying in Inverness & Aberdeen at different hotels.
Preliminary quotes using a UK tour guide came back at around $2500 per person based on double occupancy, land price only. This did include meals, however.
The exchange rate from $$USD to £GBP is astronomical at nearly two USD to one GBP. Makes for an expensive trip.
I, however, am determined to get a better rate than that. The more information I have regarding what interested guests might want, the better chance I have of planning a trip that would work for all. Just while composing this blog, I found this: Edinburgh 5 Day Excursion to Mull, etc. This is already less.
CONTACT ME if you are interested and answer the following questions:
1. How much are you willing to pay (land price only) for a Rowan of the Wood themed vacation to Scotland?
2. Would you prefer a program of 5, 7, or 9 days?
3. Do you want it to include meals if possible? (Breakfast & Dinner)
4. Would you rather travel more, moving to 4 or more hotels over the 8-9 days (for example) or travel less, staying in 3 or less hotels over those days? Like perhaps staying only in the Isle of Mull and Edinburgh and taking day trips from there.
5. Would you rather see actual historical sites, even if it means more time on the road? Or would you rather see most of the historical sites in museums & go to places with gift shops and such, staying mostly in Edinburgh and either Mull/Iona or in the Highlands.
6. Do you prefer hotels or B&Bs?
7. Would you prefer April, May, or June for travel?
Please, please, please CONTACT ME if you are interested. I’ll give it until August to get emails from at least 20 interested parties (based on double occupancy) because we need at least 8 (4 couples) to come in order to make this work.
I’m not a big city person, generally. I love the rolling hills and trees. I love nature and scampering animals. I especially like the silence…
1. Don’t drive in NYC. Seriously. This is the mistake I made during my last two trips to the city. In fact, after visiting there in 2005 for some film production work, I swore I would *never* return unless I had lots and lots of money and could take a cab everywhere.
Fortunately for my fellow passengers, I was able to contain the squeal, but if anyone had been watching me, they would’ve seen me jump in my seat just a little and quickly take out my iPhone to 
4. If at all possible, meet some friends there. A big city is always more fun to visit if you know some locals. Then you don’t feel quite so much like a geeky, slack-jawed, small-town tourist. 
Most of the day was spent with my delightful literary agent 
Over the years, I’ve been to school a whole helluva lot. Seriously. Half my life has been spent in a classroom as a student, a teacher, or a professor.
I tried the new Barnes & Noble Nook Study program on my computer, and it caused nothing but troubles. First, I had to upgrade my operating system to X10.6 (Snow Leopard) just to run the program. That upgrade cost me the use of my printer (no driver for Snow Leopard) and an afternoon of frustration to the point I nearly threw my MacBook Pro out the window. . . not to mention the $30 for the upgrade.
