Jessica Alter's Blog

So what have I been doing that I am not updating?

Uh, well . . .  traveling, mostly. I’m scouting locations for the third book in the Cryptid Series and am being inspired for later book location settings.

I’ve also added editor to my résumé.  I have worked on a few indie books, I’m mentoring a novice writer, and I’m trying to keep moving forward.

I Tweet. I spent a good amount of time boosting authors and have even gotten some mentorship in. I’d Facebook, but the EULA says they’d own anything...

[image error] 50% Off Through July

So there’s a July Summer/Winter Sale with Specials for July 1–31 on SmashWords. (Happy Winter to all of you in Australia and New Zealand, by the way.)

Aaaand, I am participating, so throughout July, it’s 50% off of the five titles I’ve written so far. Also, a big thank you to the many science fiction readers for setting the Cryptid Series at #2 and #3 on this particular bestseller Science Fiction list.

So, a little in-the-mirror Q & A, since I know I appear to have long f...

I’m beginning to see that knowing too much about the technical aspect of writing–the grammar and punctuation–has screwed much of my ability to read for pure pleasure. I am a nitpicker, one of those annoying people who doesn’t enjoy a story’s forest for the grammar and punctuation trees. And it’s a bad habit I hope to … Continue reading "Nitpicker"

So I have been wondering recently if I should just let go of writing altogether these past few weeks. Man and Brother had no response whatsoever (though Tigner had). Then this week, a B&N review showed up, and today, a reader tweeted about Man and Brother. That these readers were moved by the novel–well, their responses moved me. … Continue reading "The Deafening Silence Broken"

It’s really no secret that I’m a fan of Adam Dreece‘s work. So, I’d like to offer anyone who slips through here this Valentine’s Day (or any other, to be frank) a gentle nudge to make Adam Dreece’s blog part of one’s writer’s arsenal (and his books part of one’s ebook or paperback library). So, I’ve been … Continue reading "A Labor of Love: Writing Help From an Awesome Indie Author"

Despite being tired today, I’ve realized that I’ve lost something profound which may play a part in the tepid reception of Man and Brother: I wasn’t transported fully into this book when I drafted it. That . . . is not good news. Not good news at all for the future of my noveling career. … Continue reading "The Art of Traveling to Another World"

Where to start. Ugh. Where to start, indeed. Well, I have fluffed an idea which appears to be taking over for the previous intended book in the Cryptid Series. Its working title is The God Trip. It has potential, and I think I can use as a theme the Urban Dictionary definition. There’s one problem: … Continue reading "Oh, Reality . . . You’re a Bitch, Aren’t’cha?"

I am shocked. Absolutely shocked. Amazon.com – A Vengeful, Simplistic God? While I’ve been decompressing after a severe bout of IABOS (coined by indie author, C. A. Hocking)after the publication of Man and Brother, wretched things have been afoot for independent author Adam Dreece. For those who don’t know, Adam is one of my indie … Continue reading "What Happened to Author Adam Dreece Can Happen to You, Indie Author."

Am I . . . Cool? So, I got the head’s up that Altered States got a mention at Hacker News. Very awesome. Indie as fsck, by the way. (Dunno what fsck is? Google it.) Much like in writinglife, however, that post got lost in the daily grind of some pretty cool stuff. The depressing … Continue reading "Randomnerdiness, This One’s for You"

Man and Brother‘s release is definitely not thethrill ride of a launch had by my prior Cryptid Series title: ‘Til Undeath Do Us Part. It’s coming out tomorrow . . . not with a bang but with a whisper. I feel terrible, because this is a book worth extra marketing effort. It’s darker and longer … Continue reading "Thoughts on the Eve of the Release of Cryptid Series Volume 2: Man and Brother"