Shan L. Spyker's Blog

Title Reveal

Those who have signed up for the shanspykerauthor.com blog (or digital zine as I would much more prefer to call it!), as well as those who follow my accounts on Instagram or Facebook may have seen a teaser to find the title of book two.

Now that the word has gotten out a little bit, it’s time to share it for those who follow here, or else who just happen to stumble upon this post. But I’m going to make you jump through the hoops everyone else has had to, to find it!

Here is the message that went out earlier today to subscribers:

It’s been some time since the last communication, and I hope you have been well! Although it has been quiet on the email front, on my end it’s been quite busy with life, including the mundane tasks as well as the not-so, a new path forward with endeavors on the professional and personal front, not to mention carving time and space to writing the second book.

I am currently wrapping up the first draft, and to help inspire (myself) to reach that goal I have decided to reveal the title of Kellandale Wood Book Two, and even offer you a chance to preview the first chapter!

Of course I won’t make it super simple, heh heh. You’ll have to do a bit of sleuthing first. To find the title of the book and figure out how to access the chapter sample, follow these instructions, and then you’ll be on your merry way to discovering it!

Instructions to Uncover the Title of Kellandale Wood Book Two

Start your quest on the homepage of shanspykerauthor.com

1. Scroll down and locate the single linked word in pink and click on that word.

2. This will take you to a second page. Repeat the above, clicking on the next pink linked word, and so on, until you reach the reveal of the title!

3. From there you will be prompted on how to receive the preview chapter of Kellandale Wood Book Two!

Happy adventuring!

More news to come about the next book will be forthcoming, as well as an upcoming Author Event in October 2024!

—Shan

Upcoming Author Event

I will be returning to The Learned Owl in Hudson, Ohio, stay tuned for details! The last event was great fun, and my sister and brother-in-law brought along their pup, Billings, who is now the official mascot for Kellandale Wood!

Billings, our official Pup Mascot!

New TikTok Author Account

In the meantime, I have finally (finally) at the encouragement of my social media guru daughter, opened up an author account on TikTok. It’s slim at the moment and I’m just beginning to dip my toes in that realm, but am having fun exploring as I do. One of my first posts involved pulling a copy of The Way of the River out of what appears to be a steaming soup pot (yay for fun with camera tricks!) but the book does have a little warping due to the stunt. I thought I might run a Boiled Book Giveaway on TikTok and give away the actual copy used for the TikTok video so stay tuned for info on that by following along there @shanlspy and if you are looking for an unboiled version of the book, those can be found in the Author Shop or elsewhere online!

New Review Section Created

Did you read The Way of the River? If so, and if you haven’t left a review yet in one of the many places you are able and you would like to, I have made it super easy by creating a dedicated Leave A Review form!

Note: Reviews and feedback left via the form will only appear here on this website.

If you wish to share a review elsewhere, you must share it yourself in one of the many places available—and did you know that includes Amazon even if you didn’t purchase there? You can leave a rating as long as you also include a review, even if it’s only a short few words to go along with it. Any and all reviews, ratings, and feedback are greatly appreciated!

I love hearing from young readers about The Way of the River—it makes everything I’m doing worthwhile when I hear what they have to say including what they liked, didn’t like, what they enjoyed most, what they would like to see happen in the next book, how the book may have inspired them, who their favorite characters are, and if they like to write or draw, too! Please feel free to use the Review form if you have a young reader who has read the book who wishes to share their thoughts. (For privacy concerns, a parent or guardian must acknowledge their consent for usage of the form. You may also opt your young reader in or out for any usage of content submitted or you can simply use it to pass on their feedback to me! Aliases and first names only are also allowed!).

So, if you wish to leave feedback or a review, or if you have a kiddo that would like share their review or thoughts, simply follow the link below and follow the instructions!

Chapter 19 Complete

And finally, an update on Book Two! Not all chapters are equal in terms of the difficulty experienced while writing. I have been posting via Instagram and Facebook about the progress of the second book since I started writing it, and from the outside it may look like I am having an easy time getting through them. But the reality is that the energy, motivation, and even the drive to create is never a steady stream.

There’s real life in the mix, and even when those three ingredients exist, there are also outside forces, responsibilities, worries, and stressors that consume. I’m really proud of the way this chapter finally shaped up, and I struggled a lot with where to start it and how the chapter closes.

When you’re almost half way through a tale, there is a lot to navigate, and the pressure to hold interest, build tension, and stay true to the characters begins to press down. To me it sometimes feels like the more chapters that have been completed, the heavier the load you’re carrying along into the next. But, hopefully, that eventually becomes strength that is being built up to cross the finish line with an engaging and fulfilling story at the end.

I still have a ways to go, but it’s coming along, and to echo the words of a dear author friend and exemplary creative @susan.quilty (check her out if you’re looking for exciting and inventive YA novels with a sci-fi or fantasy twist), it’s these difficult chapters that are the most rewarding in the end. This one has been no exception (thank you for your words of encouragement and support, Susan, they are always so appreciated!). But I continue on, and am now entering Chapter 20, the half way point of the next installment of the Kellandale Wood series! And though it is the first draft, earlier chapters have been worked over multiple times (sometimes providing momentum when I get writers block when entering new chapters), so for some it is the second, third, and some even the fourth draft, so things are definitely moving along.

That’s the word for the day, and if you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! More to come as time allows, but for real-time updates, follow me on any of the social media outlets below!

Upcoming Author Event

I will be returning to The Learned Owl in Hudson, Ohio on Saturday, May 27, 2023 for another book signing! The last event was great fun, and my sister and brother-in-law brought along their pup, Billings, who is now the official mascot for Kellandale Wood! If you’re in the area, pop by to check out a really sweet bookshop and come say hi!

Billings, our official Pup Mascot!

New TikTok Author Account

In the meantime, I have finally (finally) at the encouragement of my social media guru daughter, opened up an author account on TikTok. It’s slim at the moment and I’m just beginning to dip my toes in that realm, but am having fun exploring as I do. One of my first posts involved pulling a copy of The Way of the River out of what appears to be a steaming soup pot (yay for fun with camera tricks!) but the book does have a little warping due to the stunt. I thought I might run a Boiled Book Giveaway on TikTok and give away the actual copy used for the TikTok video so stay tuned for info on that by following along there @shanlspy and if you are looking for an unboiled version of the book, those can be found in the Author Shop or elsewhere online!

New Review Section Created

Did you read The Way of the River? If so, and if you haven’t left a review yet in one of the many places you are able and you would like to, I have made it super easy by creating a dedicated Leave A Review form!

Note: Reviews and feedback left via the form will only appear here on this website.

If you wish to share a review elsewhere, you must share it yourself in one of the many places available—and did you know that includes Amazon even if you didn’t purchase there? You can leave a rating as long as you also include a review, even if it’s only a short few words to go along with it. Any and all reviews, ratings, and feedback are greatly appreciated!

I love hearing from young readers about The Way of the River—it makes everything I’m doing worthwhile when I hear what they have to say including what they liked, didn’t like, what they enjoyed most, what they would like to see happen in the next book, how the book may have inspired them, who their favorite characters are, and if they like to write or draw, too! Please feel free to use the Review form if you have a young reader who has read the book who wishes to share their thoughts. (For privacy concerns, a parent or guardian must acknowledge their consent for usage of the form. You may also opt your young reader in or out for any usage of content submitted or you can simply use it to pass on their feedback to me! Aliases and first names only are also allowed!).

So, if you wish to leave feedback or a review, or if you have a kiddo that would like share their review or thoughts, simply follow the link below and follow the instructions!

Chapter 19 Complete

And finally, an update on Book Two! Not all chapters are equal in terms of the difficulty experienced while writing. I have been posting via Instagram and Facebook about the progress of the second book since I started writing it, and from the outside it may look like I am having an easy time getting through them. But the reality is that the energy, motivation, and even the drive to create is never a steady stream.

There’s real life in the mix, and even when those three ingredients exist, there are also outside forces, responsibilities, worries, and stressors that consume. I’m really proud of the way this chapter finally shaped up, and I struggled a lot with where to start it and how the chapter closes.

When you’re almost half way through a tale, there is a lot to navigate, and the pressure to hold interest, build tension, and stay true to the characters begins to press down. To me it sometimes feels like the more chapters that have been completed, the heavier the load you’re carrying along into the next. But, hopefully, that eventually becomes strength that is being built up to cross the finish line with an engaging and fulfilling story at the end.

I still have a ways to go, but it’s coming along, and to echo the words of a dear author friend and exemplary creative @susan.quilty (check her out if you’re looking for exciting and inventive YA novels with a sci-fi or fantasy twist), it’s these difficult chapters that are the most rewarding in the end. This one has been no exception (thank you for your words of encouragement and support, Susan, they are always so appreciated!). But I continue on, and am now entering Chapter 20, the half way point of the next installment of the Kellandale Wood series! And though it is the first draft, earlier chapters have been worked over multiple times (sometimes providing momentum when I get writers block when entering new chapters), so for some it is the second, third, and some even the fourth draft, so things are definitely moving along.

That’s the word for the day, and if you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! More to come as time allows, but for real-time updates, follow me on any of the social media outlets below!

Happy New Year! I hope your world and year ahead is filled with much happiness, joy, and moments of awe and wonder! Thanks as always for being a newsletter subscriber and supporter! If you haven’t yet and want to, you can easily Subscribe Here (the form appears at the bottom of this page).

Meanwhile, I am very overdue with an update so there’s lots to share.

Channeling My Inner Cartophile Tendencies

As a cartophile and a former cartography student, I especially love when novels include ornate and detailed maps of fictitious worlds, so it was inevitable for me to create one, and something I looked forward to creating for The Way of the River. Not only are maps an artistic endeavor and enjoyable to look at, but from a writing standpoint, they are an incredibly helpful tool in working out locations and travel routes so that writing can be more detailed and concrete when describing characters’ movements within a story.

That said, those that follow along my Instagram account will have already seen this updated map of Eldmoor and surrounding lands. But for those of you who are subscribers to the newsletter, I thought I would share a little more about the new details and locations I have placed on the map.

A Peek into Book Two by Way of the Updated Map

As a newsletter subscriber, I wanted to go further and give you a special peek into some of the things to come in Book Two by way of the new map. If you saw the last version of the map, you may notice that there are (at this writing) three new locations added to this edition of the map. Prior prime locations that appeared on the map that are in Book One include Kellandale Manor and Kellandale Wood, as well as towns and villages of Waterbridge, Craggybog, and Cavenwell, the nearest town to Coddlefin’s Training Grounds.

New locations on this version, which you will appear in the upcoming Book Two, include the village of Dalbane (which appears in a pivotal chapter I am currently working on); the city of Ashtal—where the Wolton, O’Conor, and Meade families are working together to establish a community school in response to the recent restrictions imposed on the educational system in Eldmoor; and the port town of Lesser Swale, which is not only the route to Adrai, where Lina’s relatives on her mother’s side are from, but also one of the main receiving areas where exotic animals from around the world that have been captured by Coddlefin’s minions are brought in by sea, and trained over to his grounds up north.

Book Two Progress Report

As far as progress on Book Two, I am just finishing up an exciting (and very satisfying-to-write) Chapter 8, and heading into Chapter 9. All chapters are well-outlined, but Chapter 8 (the title of which has changed since the last Instagram post mentioning it) came with a big surprise—to me! One of the main characters decided, as I wrote, to change the course of the story by making a bold decision to do something that hadn’t occurred to me while outlining. The alteration in course of action is very in what it means for the story, and required I go back and revise some of the future chapters, but it is well worth it. I can’t wait to share it when the book is complete.

Beta / ARC Readers for Book Two

I still don’t have a release date as of yet, but what I do know and want to share now, is that I will be seeking out Beta Readers as well as ARC readers for Book Two (I will be offering limited spots for each), and offering pre-orders this time around, instead of starting with a Kickstarter Campaign like we did with the first book (which was incredibly rewarding! For those of you who took part in the campaign by backing the first printing of Book One, your support is everlasting and has helped set up the launch for Book Two…I cannot thank you enough for that!)

For those that might be interested in being either an ARC or Beta reader,, I wil share more details as time goes on in the updates in this newsletter.

Already Specially Priced Book Club Bundles Reduced through February 11th!

For those who belong to book clubs, or are considering starting one, I am offering Book Club Bundles of 3 and 5 books at a reduced bundle price, and it also includes reduced shipping! In addition, through February 11, the bundles are further discounted so if you’re interested now is a great time to grab them!

Until the next time, see you on FB and/or Instagram, where a book giveaway is taking place. All are welcome to enter, and all information and instructions can be found on this post January 2023 Book Instagram Giveaway.

—Shan

Do you know who this character is?  

And, can you guess who inspired it?

Both physical description and mannerisms from characters in The Way of the River came from a variety of sources—some real, including family, some from random observation, and others from actors, musicians, and other public figures you may know, and many purely from my own imagination—and most were sculpted from a blend of sources (not to mention a whole lot of easter eggs, both pop culture and music related, as well as personal anecdotes sprinkled throughout the story!).

I keep that information close to my heart, but a few of them I reveal with delight, including this one that carries a lot of significance to me.

I posted a visual riddle on social media yesterday to see if anyone could catch the physical similarities of one character from character sketches (and perhaps from reading the story) to a well-known member of a very well known band, one that in a not so roundabout way helped me discover one of my passions in life—writing!

Can you guess who it might be? Here’s another peek:

 

Perhaps the astute music heads among you already know.

If you haven’t guessed yet, here’s another clue:

It is the lead singer and lyricist for the band in question.

This was my first favorite band and has always remained one of them, even today. They helped shape my tastes in not just music, but opened my world up to British synth music, segueing into the 80’s alternative music, and beyond…

Do you know yet?

 

If you still haven’t guessed, I’ve left many clues how I began my journey into publishing in my bio here on the blog and bios elsewhere where copies of The Way of the River are stocked.

Before career and college, I was a zine maker starting at age 14. This band inspired the creation of my first of many, which started with a wild and rustic, pen and ink on paper with cut and paste methods, printed on an old copy machine at my grandfather’s company (which I called Grandpa Publishing). I have never stopped creating publications since the day I took out an ad in Bop! Magazine in late 1983 (yes that Bop!), which attracted 200+ domestic and international paying members all my age ($1.00 each for 5 issues to cover the cost of stamps!) to receive my clunky but heart-felt newsletters about this band.

Over the years it evolved into an alternative music zine, and in college a music and creative writing zine called Cheese Sandwich Revival (so 90’s-college-era!). I traded zines with people all over the world, and a part of the zine scene in the late ‘80’s and early 90’s during high school and college.

That later moved to blogs in adult life, including Mental Beans collaborative art and music blog (which sparked a still running global photograph project), and Sisters Dissonance, a travel/music publication run by my sister and I in the 2010’s as we covered live shows we attended through the years and the cities we explored while covering them, her behind the lens and me behind the ink pen/keyboard.

But I digress. Any ideas yet? If not, carry on! If you stick through to the end, there’s a bit of insider information about Kellandale Wood Book Two!

One last glimpse before I reveal, as well as one last anecdote about how this person came to influence my character.

 

As I began writing The Way of the River I fully immersed myself into creating character sketches. I had great fun describing the antagonist, the greedy yet handsome and charming villain who was also a spectacular showman with a golden voice. I even went so far to describe the outfit he would wear in his opening scene.

Around the same time, and by sheer coincidence I decided to watch a concert of my aforementioned oldest favorite band as I did some writing, and the lead singer stepped out for “Before the Rain” in an outfit so eerily similar to the one my character was wearing, my jaw dropped (mind you, I had never seen this concert before). Not to mention, his physical description, handsome charm, and dramatic movements were so much what I had been envisioning and writing into the scene.

 

“We welcome you on this special opening night of the season. I know who you came to see; you know who you came to see! So, without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce the man that you adore, here, in the flesh, before your very own eyes, the dazzling, the extraordinary and most amazing, the one and only Théodore Coddlefin!”

The crowd screamed madly as he swaggered into the ring accompanied by the feverish music of the circus band. He cut a striking form in his eccentric outfit—the sleeves and chest of his black suit were emblazoned with crimson-red sequins that matched the velvet big top and the ring master’s own sparkling, sequined pants. Beneath his jacket was a button-down black shirt, and on his feet he wore shiny leather boots.

He was handsome—much more handsome, and certainly more beguiling than Tillie, Elinora, or any of the others had expected. He was an older man, and though time had roughened his face a bit, he moved about with flair and energy, smiling broadly. The spotlight hit his gold-plated front tooth and it glinted brightly, giving him a wild, toothy grin. He bowed deeply then threw his arms dramatically in the air.

“Good evening folks!” he shouted, then took the megaphone from the ringmaster. “Children, my dear children. Thank you all for coming! It means so much that you would travel far and wide to pay me a visit. It will be worth it, I promise you. What you are about to see, what you are about to experience, is unsurpassed, and more amazing than your wildest dreams.”

— The Way of the River, Chapter 25: Coddlefin’s Amazing Feats & Extraordinary Traveling Menagerie Embed Block Add an embed URL or code. Learn more

So there’s the answer!

I decided on the spot to unabashedly model Theodore Coddlefin after the one and only Simon LeBon of Duran Duran. Truly, I had a diamond in mind.

Photo of Simon LeBon by Eva Rinaldi (Creative Commons licensing)

So. This is my own little overly dramatic love letter to Duran Duran, who, in their own way, influenced me in so many ways, and most importantly are a singular traceable point to setting a match to spark in me a lifelong passion and desire to write/create/design, a long, long ago.

! It is imperative to note ! Only the physicality of Coddlefin is modeled after Simon LeBon, and nothing to do with his character, personality or actions is modeled after Simon LeBon in any way.

That said, in a little spoiler for Book Two, Coddlefin has a long way to go in terms of his story and character arc, and you certainly haven’t seen the last of him yet…

As always, a big thank you to my son, Tom for collaborating with me to create the brilliant illustrations and prototypes that have brought so many of the characters from The Way of the River, as I envision them, to life!

October 2022

Here’s the latest video trailer for The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One). It features original artwork from book illustrator Thomas Spyker; a sweet little musical interlude written for the story by Pete Lambros, my father and originator of the original idea behind the Tales of Henry and the music written for it; and a few select review blurbs for the book that have come in since the books release.

It was great fun putting it all together to create this latest video for use on Instagram and Facebook! The music originally helped drive the writing, and later, in a circular maneuverer, the writing of the story began to influence new musical pieces.

In Kellandale Wood (Book Two) news, chapters 1-3 have been completed and I have begun working on chapter 4. As stated before, the entire book is now outlined, with room for minor additions and plot tweaks. I am also expecting the characters to pull me in unexpected directions as I write their actions and dialogue, as that is certainly happened with book one. It’s a byproduct of my own emerging writing style and an aspect that I am very passionate about. As someone who has always been intrigued by automatic writing and surrealist art, it’s my way of allowing things to be pulled from my subconscious and helps me to create characters who act true to their own individual personalities.

The title of Book Two still has yet to be revealed as I debate when to share it…but when I do, I will do it here first on this blog!

Sept 2022:

Have you heard the NEWS? Kellandale Wood Book Two {full title redacted}, the second installment, is currently in the works! While there is no release date as yet, the book is fully outlined and writing is well underway. Keep your eyes on this site, this blog, and on social media for progress, release date announcements, and more information on Book Two as we go!

Via instagram @shanlspy
September 20, 2022

Book Two update (complete with check marks!)

✅Chapter two first draft finished!

✅Additional passes made to add some finesse, detail, and working on knitting everything together before moving on.
✅Knee-deep writing chapter three.

✅World building expansion of Eldmoor and its neighboring environs also in progress.

✅Rough outline of the entire story now complete!

✅✅Kellandale alive and well in my head!

✅Creating a list complete with check boxes I can check off, and making this graphic post to motivate myself!! 😁

#amwriting #writingmiddlegradefiction #kellandalewoodbooktwo #kidlit

Via instagram @shanlspy
August 29, 2022

Again! Yesss, the first chapter had been written, but a sudden flash of inspiration how better to open Book Two surfaced, so I started over!

There will undoubtedly be rounds of editing and proofing to face yet, but still, away we go...

The book outline is also finished, and chapter two is also almost complete. It's a thrill to have the characters be so active and knocking around in my mind every day again! Once I get my head this far into Kellandale, there’s no way but keep on! ✍🏼🐕🌳🐿🐘🐉

More to come as I go!

#kidlit #middlegradebooks #middlegradefantasy #middlegradefiction #amwritingfantasy #amwriting #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #indieauthor #booktwo #kellandalewood #kellandalewoodbooktwo #kidsfantasyseries #animalrescuetales

Another month gone by in a blur! I thought I would grace your inbox with a quick follow-up to all the excitement and fun that transpired since last month’s post…

North Coast Indie Author Book Expo

My very first big author event in three words: so very enjoyable!

On Saturday, June 25 I made the trek to Elyria, Ohio to join over 50 fellow authors at the first North Coast Indie Author Book Expo event. I got to chat with interested readers, which I enjoyed very much, met several very cool and creative fellow Ohio writers, and got my feet wet lugging books and merch and using the point of sale device (first time in action)! Thanks to my wonderful family I had lots of help and support, and also big thanks go out to author/artist Wendy Fedan for all the planning and organizing that precluded a super event!

Above right: sitting at the event with my daughter and son, who helped me man the table! Mia has been my co-conspirator with marketing and sales as well as my in-house (literally) proofreader and editor, and Tom is not only the book’s cover illustrator but also artist and illustrator for the merch and additional story illustrations!

A personal aside, I am happy to report after being overly nervous about being part of a sizable event for the first time ever, that it was way more enjoyable and far less stressful than I ever imagined, so much so that I will be looking for more events to take part of in the future (something I never thought I would find myself saying), and I am so glad I, on an impulse, pressed send on the “join this event” button when I came across it. A grand life lesson is in there—perhaps I’ll do a post in the future about pushing ones’ self to doing things that seem hard but are so worth it to open doors for themselves…

American Library Association Annual Conference

Meanwhile, while I was off galivanting at the Book Expo in Elyria, across the country in Washington, DC, where the 2022 American Library Association Annual Conference was in full swing, The Way of the River joined other books from members of the Independent Book Publishers Association in Booth #1246 for our collective exhibition! IBPA is a truly amazing organization and resource for indie authors and publishers. They offer an abundance of very useful membership benefits and opportunities, not to mention the organization is run by incredibly friendly human beings. I’m truly proud to be a member!

I wasn’t able to attend in person, so I was thrilled to receive lots of photos from the event, many of which include The Way of the River and promo cards I sent over to be included in the exhibit!

All photos above courtesy of the Independent Book Publishers Association.

To see a whole gallery of images through the lens of IBPA, check out their Facebook photo album IBPA at ALA 2022.

The thought that my little book would go on to make an appearance at an ALA Conference is a bit mind boggling, and really a thrill when I think back on where this all started, me, a green, flailing and floundering newbie author (gotta start somewhere…and I still flail!), once upon a time ago.

Bookstore Events

The Learned Owl The next in-store appearance scheduled is at The Learned Owl Bookshop in Hudson, Ohio where I’ll be signing copies of The Way of the River on September 10, 2022. If you’re in the area please stop by and say hi and support a great local indie bookstore in the process!

I’m still working on another appearance which I will detail once it is confirmed. Meanwhile, I recently received an invitation from the wonderful folks at Loganberry Bookstore in Shaker Heights to join their Author Alley event this year (woot!!) and I would have accepted enthusiastically were it not for prior commitments (man! But I’m hoping for next year!) that made it impossible. However, for anyone in the area I highly recommend attending! Click here for more about the 2022 Loganberry Bookstore Author Alley event.

Update on Kellandale Wood Book Two writing progress

In a nutshell, I’m still at it and going strong! Writing and outlining is coming in big waves of days or weeks of writing fury, followed by days or weeks of rest, and back again.

Currently, I am celebrating finishing writing chapter one in its entirety, which was completed this past Monday! It’s was a bit of a twisty surprise (for me, funny how that works…) compared to how I had originally planned the opening of the book, but you know, it’s the characters that rule the story, not the author! One of the major characters has spoken, and placed themselves front and center in the opening of the book (I couldn’t stop them!), and I have to say I’m loving how it feels!

No spoilers but I will continue to share bits of what’s to come as time goes by and I cannot wait to share book two once its done.

Look out for more updates, give me a follow on social media wherever you can, and if you’ve read Book One and feel like sharing a review here using the Contact form, or elsewhere where you can leave a review, please do! Thank you as always, for your support!

If you’ve come across this post and would like to get more updates like this delivered to your inbox, be sure to subscribe to our list! We work hard to make it fun to be a subscriber!

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Happy almost summer/winter depending on where in the world you are reading this from!

The Way of the River celebrated its first birthday a few months ago (hard to believe!), and yet this little indie book continues to take me on wild and exciting adventures fifteen months on.

So much has been happening in the past month I thought I would share some of the exciting stuff that have been going on since the last communication and put it all in once place…

The Way of the River makes Kirkus Reviews “28 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering” list

Not a bad way to start off the month of June!

Follow the link to Kirkus Reviews’ 28 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering (June 2022 list) to see all the exciting books on the list (including one that might look familiar).

You can also read the full review for The Way of the River, and have an opportunity to leave comments and honest feedback about the book there if you so wish!

 

Benjamin Franklin IBPA Award results

The Way of the River was entered into this event, and while it did not earn an award, it was an honor just to be able to take part in this prestigious annual contest alongside so many amazing writers. Check out the list of the 2022 Ben Franklin Award winners! All entrants received feedback, and here are a few of the end remarks that were noted for the book:

“Wonderful world-building here and the characters pop off the page. The descriptions of nature scenes are especially strong. I feel like I am walking in the forest along with the characters.”

“The fantasy of animals communicating nonverbally is intriguing. The children’s' relationships come across as real, especially the featured friendship of Tillie and Lina.”

 

The Way of the River at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC

The Way of the River will be included in a group display at the ALA Conference June 23-28 alongside other fellow Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) member books! This is very exciting as the book will have a chance to reach children’s librarians all over the country.

Speaking of libraries…



Now on the shelves at several libraries thanks to efforts of some very interested and helpful readers!

As of this writing it is in stock in my hometown at the Ashtabula County Public Library in NE Ohio, where the book is not only on the shelves in both Ashtabula and Geneva, but also a copy was entered into the Genealogy Room because of my family roots in the city of Ashtabula.

Both paperback and ebook editions are available in all branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, Ohio.

Paperback and ebook editions are also in the Pima County Library system in the Tuscon, Arizona area.

It was a thrill to learn that The Mitchell Library, one of Europe’s largest libraries, located in Glasgow, Scotland will soon be carrying the book as well!

A special THANK YOU goes to Lori, Noona, and Anita for getting the book into these library systems!

If you wish to help out and get the book into your library system, making the book more accessible to readers in your area, please reach out or head to the Street Team page for details how to do this.

Record sales for the week of May 16th—many thanks to Lori for this!

Lori was very kind (and super busy, after contacting libraries for the book) and put the word out about The Way of the River in a Facebook group for members of our shared hometown of Ashtabula, Ohio. To my amazement, everyone stepped up in a big way! Thank you to the kind folks of Ashtabula for having my back with enthusiastic and gracious support, and for achieving the highest number of sales in one week for the book (and also the hugest number of sales in one day) on Amazon!

No matter where you live, if you wish to learn more about being a street team member and helping spread the word, check out information on joining the Street Team for the book!

Upcoming Author Events

As mentioned, this is big for me! Though a bit nerve-wracking, I found I’m also simultaneously excited to be taking part in a few Author events that are coming up! As of right now that includes:

North Coast Indie Author Book Expo Elyria, Ohio June 25. If you’re in the area, come say hi! I’ll be signing books and slinging The Way of the River merch including t-shirts, character cards, enamel pins and more at a discounted rate (prices are already reduced on the website for the event so if you can’t make it and want to take advantage of the temporarily lowered price head to the Shop now!)                             

Book Signing with Shan L. Spyker at The Learned Owl in Hudson, Ohio September 10, 2022

And another NE Ohio author event is currently in the works, so stand by for details!

Efforts to increase the number of Amazon ratings/reviews

As you may know, the total number of, or lack of reviews (no matter if they are good or even not so good) can contribute to making or breaking an indie book. I’ve recently read that only books that show 50 or more reviews on Amazon will receive any boost (bar spending large sums of money on ads) from Amazon to help make the book visible to potential readers.

Reception for The Way of the River has been very positive overall, and I am always thrilled to hear when the book’s message connects with readers. However, despite this good news, as of this writing, the book only just recently broke over 10 reviews total after a year of sales, so there is a long way to go.

Reviews and ratings, and the number of them, helps not just with sales and exposure, but when librarians and booksellers look over the book to decide if they will stock it, many of them look to Amazon for cues. One library that did decide to order copies indicated that while the book only had a handfuls of reviews and ratings on Amazon, they were intrigued enough to stock it. And happily, they did. But others may not be so convinced. If you wish to help with this read on!

If you purchased from Amazon (and have read the book) you can simply give a star rating. Quick and easy! If you purchased elsewhere, you can still rate the book on Amazon, provided you write a review, but that can be as quick as one quick sentence!

Reviews on other bookseller sites are also incredibly helpful and appreciated as well. And as always, honest feedback is the most important factor of all. If you’re ready to leave feedback, you can follow this link to the Amazon listing for The Way of the River and leave a rating and/or review now!

Progress update on [Title Redacted] Kellandale Wood Book Two

Last but not least comes news of the major inroads I made working on the next book, thanks to a burst of inspiration that hit while visiting out of town family a few weeks ago!

I was able to outline 15 chapters fully, and since then various versions of opening paragraphs for chapter one have been written and rewritten, and though it is still rough and will change as time goes on, the rest of the story’s main plot points have been worked out! Now for the big work…getting the rest of what’s in my head, outlined on paper, and eventually into a polished, exciting continuation of The Way of the River. Updates will come as time goes by. No release date has been set yet but as that changes, you’ll be the first to know!

If you stuck with me this far THANK YOU! And read on!

Giveaway Just for Subscribers!

Now for the real fun! In appreciation of subscribers to the shanspykerauthor.com e-newsletter, I will be pulling two names from the subscriber list at random at the end of the month. One winner will receive a code for a signed copy of The Way of the River, and the other a free Kindle version of the book!

If you happen to be among selected but already own a copy and wish to allow someone else to win, you can either message to opt out and I will choose someone else, or you can accept the code and simply gift it to someone you know who you think may enjoy the story.

If you’re not a subscriber, simply head to the Shan Spyker Author homepage , scroll to the bottom and add yourself and you’ll be included in the drawing!

More news as it happens, until next time…and all those other fancy newsy phrases…be good to each other!

June 2022 Edition

Happy almost summer/winter depending on where in the world you are reading this!

The Way of the River celebrated its first birthday a few months ago (hard to believe!), and yet this little indie book continues to take me on wild and exciting adventures fifteen months on.

So much has been happening in the past month I thought I would share some of the exciting stuff that have been going on since the last communication and put it all in once place…

The Way of the River makes Kirkus Reviews “28 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering” list

Not a bad way to start off the month of June!

Follow the link to Kirkus Reviews’ 28 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering (June 2022 list) to see all the exciting books on the list (including one that might look familiar).

You can also read the full review for The Way of the River, and have an opportunity to leave comments and honest feedback about the book there if you so wish!

 

Benjamin Franklin IBPA Award results

The Way of the River was entered into this event, and while it did not earn an award, it was an honor just to be able to take part in this prestigious annual contest alongside so many amazing writers. Check out the list of the 2022 Ben Franklin Award winners! All entrants received feedback, and here are a few of the end remarks that were noted for the book:

“Wonderful world-building here and the characters pop off the page. The descriptions of nature scenes are especially strong. I feel like I am walking in the forest along with the characters.”

“The fantasy of animals communicating nonverbally is intriguing. The children’s' relationships come across as real, especially the featured friendship of Tillie and Lina.”

 

The Way of the River at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC

The Way of the River will be included in a group display at the ALA Conference June 23-28 alongside other fellow Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) member books! This is very exciting as the book will have a chance to reach children’s librarians all over the country.

Speaking of libraries…

Now on the shelves at several libraries thanks to efforts of some very interested and helpful readers!

As of this writing it is in stock in my hometown at the Ashtabula County Public Library in NE Ohio, where the book is not only on the shelves in both Ashtabula and Geneva, but also a copy was entered into the Genealogy Room because of my family roots in the city of Ashtabula.

Both paperback and ebook editions are available in all branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, Ohio.

Paperback and ebook editions are also in the Pima County Library system in the Tuscon, Arizona area.

It was a thrill to learn that The Mitchell Library, one of Europe’s largest libraries, located in Glasgow, Scotland will soon be carrying the book as well!

A special THANK YOU goes to Lori, Noona, and Anita for getting the book into these library systems!

If you wish to help out and get the book into your library system, making the book more accessible to readers in your area, please reach out or head to the Street Team page for details how to do this.

Record sales for the week of May 16th—many thanks to Lori for this!

Lori was very kind (and super busy, after contacting libraries for the book) and put the word out about The Way of the River in a Facebook group for members of our shared hometown of Ashtabula, Ohio. To my amazement, everyone stepped up in a big way! Thank you to the kind folks of Ashtabula for having my back with enthusiastic and gracious support, and for achieving the highest number of sales in one week for the book (and also the hugest number of sales in one day) on Amazon!

No matter where you live, if you wish to learn more about being a street team member and helping spread the word, check out information on joining the Street Team for the book!

Upcoming Author Events

As mentioned, this is big for me! Though a bit nerve-wracking, I found I’m also simultaneously excited to be taking part in a few Author events that are coming up! As of right now that includes:

North Coast Indie Author Book Expo Elyria, Ohio June 25. If you’re in the area, come say hi! I’ll be signing books and slinging The Way of the River merch including t-shirts, character cards, enamel pins and more at a discounted rate (prices are already reduced on the website for the event so if you can’t make it and want to take advantage of the temporarily lowered price head to the Shop now!)                             

Book Signing with Shan L. Spyker at The Learned Owl in Hudson, Ohio September 10, 2022

And another NE Ohio author event is currently in the works, so stand by for details!

Efforts to increase the number of Amazon ratings/reviews

As you may know, the total number of, or lack of reviews (no matter if they are good or even not so good) can contribute to making or breaking an indie book. I’ve recently read that only books that show 50 or more reviews on Amazon will receive any boost (bar spending large sums of money on ads) from Amazon to help make the book visible to potential readers.

Reception for The Way of the River has been very positive overall, and I am always thrilled to hear when the book’s message connects with readers. However, despite this good news, as of this writing, the book only just recently broke over 10 reviews total after a year of sales, so there is a long way to go.

Reviews and ratings, and the number of them, helps not just with sales and exposure, but when librarians and booksellers look over the book to decide if they will stock it, many of them look to Amazon for cues. One library that did decide to order copies indicated that while the book only had a handfuls of reviews and ratings on Amazon, they were intrigued enough to stock it. And happily, they did. But others may not be so convinced. If you wish to help with this read on!

If you purchased from Amazon (and have read the book) you can simply give a star rating. Quick and easy! If you purchased elsewhere, you can still rate the book on Amazon, provided you write a review, but that can be as quick as one quick sentence!

Reviews on other bookseller sites are also incredibly helpful and appreciated as well. And as always, honest feedback is the most important factor of all. If you’re ready to leave feedback, you can follow this link to the Amazon listing for The Way of the River and leave a rating and/or review now!

Progress update on [Title Redacted] Kellandale Wood Book Two

Last but not least comes news of the major inroads I made working on the next book, thanks to a burst of inspiration that hit while visiting out of town family a few weeks ago!

I was able to outline 15 chapters fully, and since then various versions of opening paragraphs for chapter one have been written and rewritten, and though it is still rough and will change as time goes on, the rest of the story’s main plot points have been worked out! Now for the big work…getting the rest of what’s in my head, outlined on paper, and eventually into a polished, exciting continuation of The Way of the River. Updates will come as time goes by. No release date has been set yet but as that changes, you’ll be the first to know!

If you stuck with me this far THANK YOU! And read on!

Giveaway Just for Subscribers!

Now for the real fun! In appreciation of subscribers to the shanspykerauthor.com e-newsletter, I will be pulling two names from the subscriber list at random at the end of the month. One winner will receive a code for a signed copy of The Way of the River, and the other a free Kindle version of the book!

If you happen to be among selected but already own a copy and wish to allow someone else to win, you can either message to opt out and I will choose someone else, or you can accept the code and simply gift it to someone you know who you think may enjoy the story.

If you’re not a subscriber, simply head to the Shan Spyker Author homepage , scroll to the bottom and add yourself and you’ll be included in the drawing!

More news as it happens! Until next time…and all those other fancy newsy phrases…be good to each other!