L.L. McNeil's Blog

Happy Friday, book dragons!

Gosh, it's been a WHILE since I've posted on here, and I do apologise!

Some of you may have read MORODA, my debut novel and the first book of the epic fantasy series, WORLD OF LINARIA.

This month, ISA, the fourth novel, is published! Pre-orders for first edition signed paperbacks are open until 31st August (and you get a tonne of swag when you pre-order, too!) - grab your copy now!

Although I'm in the UK, I do worldwide shipping!

You can also grab signed copies of the other Linaria books, as well as various bundle deals if you'd like more than one book!

I'm so excited that this series has grown from strength to strength and so many readers have discovered it and fallen in love!

I hope to launch a new epic fantasy series in late 2020/early 2021, so keep an eye out for even more magic and dragons!

Best wishes and happy reading,

Lauren

Super excited to announce that I've entered my debut novel, Moroda, into the superb SPFBO competition run by Mark Lawrence!

Moroda has been assigned to the "Fantasy Book Review" blogger, so stay tuned for more updates!

There are so many outstanding indie books in this competition, but my fingers are crossed!

You can check out the other 29 books in my group (and vote for your favourite!) here:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Happy reading, everyone!

Lauren

Yes! Finally!

I’m happy to announce the release date for book two in my World of Linaria epic fantasy series, Palom:

**Tuesday 31st July 2018**

Palom is available to pre-order in both eBook (through Amazon) and paperback (through my website) versions, with special pre-order pricing until launch day!


**BONUS** If you pre-order the paperback, as well as getting a special price, you’ll also receive a SNEAK PEEK of Palom! To whet your appetite, I’ll send you Chapter One for free as a PDF. This email will be sent to you within 24 hours of your pre-order being placed.

As with the Moroda paperbacks, every Palom paperback will come with a free bookmark, and you can leave a note when you order if you’d like the book signed! :)

Are you looking forward to the next leg of Linaria's story?

2017 has been quite a year. It’s been full of ups and downs, successes and failures, and I’m fortunate enough to say overall it was a good year. Certainly better than 2016!

April – well, technically 31st March – marked my passing from writer to published author. The Moroda eBook went live on Amazon on 31st March, and I responded by having a panic attack.

I remember it very clearly. People. Actual people. Strangers and friends alike would be able to finally read the novel I’d harped on about writing for years. Messages flooded in from people who’d pre-ordered it and now saw the eBook on their phones or kindles. Posts were shared on Facebook and Twitter, and congratulations sprouted throughout LinkedIn.


Not all smiles
I just felt a sense of dread. What if people thought differently of me after reading about my world and characters – something that had always been “hidden” within me? What if it was rubbish? What if people hated it? What if people “pity bought it” and didn’t actually care?

One by one, very slowly, reviews trickled in. When they came in from people who didn’t know me, who didn’t feel obliged to review, that’s when it hit me that this publishing malarkey was real. People liked the book on its own merit. They liked the cover and blurb enough to part with a few pounds and give it a read. And they enjoyed it. Actually, maybe, Moroda was a decent novel. The “biased” feedback I received from friends might actually be accurate. My confidence grew – both in myself and in my skills as a writer.

Even now, eight months on, I still get butterflies every time someone tells me they’ve bought a copy, or are reading a copy, or leave a review! Honestly those reviews are like the best chocolate ever. I can’t accurately describe how much they mean, or how much they help.


Book Reviews
Goodreads and Amazon are the two best places for book reviews. Goodreads because that’s where a large chunk of the internet reader community lives and actively posts, and Amazon because more reviews are fed into their algorithms and result in more sales. Fifty reviews is often cited as “the magic” number on Amazon, where it actually starts pushing your book to people. I’m slowly but surely inching towards that (I’m at 22 reviews on Amazon UK at the time of writing), and hope more will come through.

Goodreads is a bit more active – Moroda has 50 ratings and 31 reviews at the time of writing, but it’s a much more engaging platform and it’s easy to strike up conversations here. But both are hugely important.

If you have read Moroda and left a review, I’m eternally grateful. If you’ve left a review on either Goodreads or Amazon, could I ask a favour? Would you be able to duplicate that review on the other site, please? They are the best way readers can support authors and books (as well as purchasing their books, of course!), and they really do make my day!

If you’ve read Moroda but haven’t left a review, please could I ask you to take a minute or two and pen one? I know both Amazon and Goodreads requires you to register, and that’s a big ask. But it would allow you to go on to connect with other people in the Goodreads community – readers and authors – or leave further reviews on both platforms.



Paperbacks
While the eBook went live at the beginning of April, in May, I took delivery of my paperbacks. My initial print run was for 150 copies. The excitement of tracking the shipment on the van and finally seeing them all in their glory was overwhelming. Most people who’d said they wanted a copy of my book wanted it in paperback, so I spent that evening going through and signing those who’d asked for it, and shipping all my paperbacks out to those early buyers.

Having stock of paperbacks printed for a debut author is typically advised against. I don’t have an audience yet, I don’t have any guarantee they’ll sell, and it’s an incredibly high outlay of money. But I was adamant I wanted stock rather than using a print-on-demand (POD) service like Createpsace or Ingramspark. It meant I could keep a lot more control over the details and finish of the book (I could choose exact paper thickness, colour, overall size, and details such as embossing on the cover), I could self-distribute them and avoid paying a distributor’s fee, and I could take them to conventions.

(Not sure if you have a first or second edition print? First editions contain a number of typos that slipped through and my old website in the front matter [theartoftellingstories[dot]com], and second editions are more cleaned up with my current llmcneil author website in the front matter).



Conventions
By far the most fun I’ve had this year is going to conventions. I’ve been to three now, and I’ve had an amazing time at every one. Plenty of nerves, of course, but at the end of the day, I’ve been exhausted and in awe at the incredible community that makes up SFF. From the other writers and readers, to people who roleplay, play tabletop games, are artists and illustrators, cosplyers, other vendors, and everyone else that makes this “genre” such a wonderful, warm place.

I dipped my toe in conventions at Exeter Comic Con in October this year (see my review of the event here), and have since signed up to loads more! I went to London Gaming Market in November, and recently, Dragonmeet in December. My aim is to attend at least one convention a month in 2018, preferably two. The biggest convention by far will be London Film and Comic Con, which is in July, and runs for three days. I have an Events page where you can see all conventions I’ll be attending!

I sold out of stock at Exeter (which meant all my first edition prints had gone!), but thankfully I’d done another order of paperbacks, which I’m now about a quarter of the way through selling...

To read the rest of this blog post, please visit: my website!

I'm delighted to announce my novel has been shortlisted for the Best Indie Books 2017 awards!

Moroda made it in the top 100 on its own merit, but now voting has opened to get books into the top 50. If you could please take a moment to vote for Moroda, I'd be so grateful.

http://www.readfree.ly/50-best-indie-...

Since publishing Moroda in spring this year, it has grown from strength to strength. I've been overwhelmed at the sales, support, and fan base, and this will only continue as the sequel is published in April 2018.

Voting closes on 4 December. Thank you so much for your support!

I've finally gotten around to uploading the remaining five books in my World of Linaria series so they all appear on Goodreads!

You can now add the sequels to your Goodreads shelves and be kept up to date with news and information as it is released!

World of Linaria Series

Also, I'm delighted to announce the first steps have been taken to turn Moroda into an audiobook! Auditions are coming through on ACX, and I hope to select a narrator by Friday 3rd November. I'm so excited that Moroda will be brought to life this way, and I'll update you once the narrator has been chosen, as well as updates along the way.

Expect Moroda to be available in audiobook in early 2018!

There is quite the eclectic cast of characters in my debut novel, epic fantasy, Moroda! Although the titular character is the protagonist, her supporting cast is varied, each with their own dreams and desires.

Meet four of them below!



Eryn is Moroda’s younger sister. She is practical, resourceful, and logical, and is the one who keeps the two grounded. She sees the world with a critical eye and will never rush headfirst into anything she hasn’t first calculated. Her analytical mind often holds Moroda’s dreams back, but as she is five years younger than Moroda, she often concedes to her elder’s preferences.

Despite the occasional bickering, the two are closer than ever following the tragic death of their father, and Eryn has kept the pair from falling into complete ruin. She has the business mind of their father and wishes to continue his trade, though the two have met with little success.

Though Eryn is largely more sensible, she is prone to occasional emotional outburst when frustration or fear boils over. She cares about nothing so strongly as her sister, and will remain by her side no matter their situation.





Kohl is an Arillian, a race of winged people who can create lightning and have control over the wind. Despite his haggard appearance, Kohl is well-spoken, though he speaks rarely, and has immense power. He has dark, umber-brown coloured wings, and can also harness the power of ice, resulting in blizzards and vicious storms.

Kohl works as a dragon hunter, and has a deep knowledge of the beasts revered as gods throughout Linaria, though he says surprising little on them or on himself. He is currently in exile from his own people, but it does not stop others from mistrusting him.

Many believe him to be in league with the Arillian threat, and their rogue leader, Aciel, though he denies such conspiration.






Moroda is the titular protagonist of book one in the World of Linaria series. A twenty-five year old woman from Corhaven capital city, Niversai, Moroda was a Goldstone until the passing of her father and loss of much of the family money.

She has lived a relatively sheltered life with her every need met, and is naïve about much of her world and the people in it. She is incredibly trusting of others and avoids conflict wherever possible, and yet she also has an incredible inner strength and intelligence that helps her see the good in almost any situation.

She is filled with a deep wonder of her world now she has been thrust into it, but does not always understand the danger. With a desire to do the right thing, to learn about her companions and the dragons of her world, Moroda is desperate to prevent war from sweeping across Linaria.





Sapora is a Varkain, one of the most hated races of all Linaria. Grey-skinned creatures with the ability to shapeshift into snakes, the Varkain are rarely seen above ground, and shunned when they are. The Varkain have a centuries-long rivalry with their brother race, the Ittallan, and their history is littered with battles and conquering.

Calm and collected, Sapora’s temper rarely flares. It is in fact his cool temperament that makes people so wary of him; and he boasts an arrogance befitting any of the social elite.

Sapora believes himself above all and often treats others with contempt. There is very little that he fears, and he delights in scaring those who fear or annoy him. He travels alone, defending himself with his fangs and claws, and using his twin scimitars only in desperate situations. He hungers for blood and power in equal measure, and often succeeds in getting what he wants through manipulation of those around him.




All artwork by Trevor Smith Art and Art of Monztre: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorSmithArt/
https://www.facebook.com/artofmonztre/

There is quite the eclectic cast of characters in my debut novel, epic fantasy, Moroda! Although the titular character is the protagonist, her supporting cast is varied, each with their own dreams and desires.

Meet four of them below!



Amarah is an airship captain and self-proclaimed sky pirate who cares for little other than herself. She does not believe in paying taxes, or giving up hard earned gold to simply boost the wealth of those in power.

She moved to Corhaven in her early teens, and moved from town to town trying to gather enough money until she acquired her airship, Khanna.

Amarah knows of the immeasurable value of the dragon jewels, and is on the hunt to claim her own – not for the power it could bring her, but for the riches. She wants nothing more than to fly the skies of Linaria, free from anyone or anything holding her back; and Amarah will stop at nothing to get what she wants.




Born into a trading family in the heart of Taban Yul, Ahnarik is no stranger to the hustle and bustle of city life, fast-paced trading, nor quickly building rapports with strangers to sell. He has a silver tongue and a speedy outlook, and it was no shock when his transformation took the form of a falcon.

With a quick wit to match his physical speed, he often manages to persuade his customers to pay more than they normally would for his intricate silver works. Ahnarik started in jewellery and decorative ornaments, but now adds glorious silver inlays and finery to Palom’s weapons and armour, and the two have quite a signature shop.

Though free-spirited, he is quick to rise to a challenge, and Ahnarik often relies on Palom to cool him down whenever negotiations go sour. The two are like brothers, and will follow each other to the end.





Morgen is a young man of twenty-two who joined the Imperial Guard in the hopes of becoming rich and famous. Though he was promoted to officer within his first year due to his skill with a blade, life following orders isn't exactly what it seems. He joins the others following the dragon’s attack on the city of Niversai, and it does not take long to realise he is quite out of his depth!

The youngest of six sons, Morgen soon left the small town to seek his fortune at the capital. Strong for his age, Morgen managed to hold his own against a group of squires serving under knights at the castle, and he was soon taken under the wing of their captain.

Coming from a poor family, Morgen had no quick route of moving up other than sheer hard work and determination. He dislikes the way Corhaven is being run and does not always agree with Imperial orders, much to his and his colleague's chagrin.




Palom is a blacksmith and member of an ancient race who can change into their “true” forms - his is a tiger. Proud and stalwart, Palom is a beast of a man, towering at almost seven foot tall, and has an incredible strength which he uses to protect those he cares for.

Originally from the town of Feoras Sol in Val Sharis, Palom spent much of his youth mining as it was by far the easiest and quickest way of earning a living. He lost his brother in an unfortunate mining accident, and decided to seek a new trade. Using the ore and metal he had obtained, he headed towards the larger Taban Yul to seek out an apprenticeship in blacksmithing.

Palom blames himself for not being strong enough to save his brother, and when he came of age, his guilt manifested itself in his transformation into that which would give him the power he desperately needed; a tiger.


All artwork by Trevor Smith Art: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorSmithArt/

Super excited to be embarking on a two week roadtrip across Europe! Heading out tonight! It's scary and awesome to think in twelve hours I'll be on the train!

With the alps as my backdrop, I'm sure the writing muse will be fully replenished and recharged, so I can crack on with my sequel (and some spin-off short stories) on my return!

I apologise in advance for any delayed replies to comments and questions!