So, here is where things stand.

Volume one in the Storm Cloud series is essentially finished. I’m letting it sit for the moment for a few reasons. Firstly, I need to do a once over through the manuscript for typographical errors, punctuation, and whatnot. Also need to fix a small item or two – terminology, clarification of a few vagaries – that sort of thing. I have found that because I have gone over and over the text so many times, I know in my head what I want it to say, and therefore as I’m reading it, my mind inserts the proper text, even though there may be an error actually on the page. experience has taught me that if I gain a little distance from it, I am able to see these issues more clearly. Also, this will be the LAST go through. Any problems that I miss are going to go out in front of the world. I’ve got to get this part right. The second reason for the delay in release I will cover below.

The Cover. Ugh. I’m not happy with what I’ve got so far. (The rough idea is currently viewable under the “Books” tab on the website.) As of right now, I’m solely responsible for every aspect so far. The concept, the layout, the font, and most troublesome – the illustration. I like the idea of keeping it simple and iconic, but the illustration just doesn’t… feel right. It feels a little cold. A little empty. I’ve got an idea for an alternative but nothing worth talking about currently. Stand by.

The free stuff I promised you. Right now, subscribers to my newsletter will get a sample from the opening section of Storm Clouds Rise. It’s in PDF form, but I have been toying about with the Kindle editor and I can do a file format for your kindle if needed. BUT. I am writing a novella currently (clocking in at 36K words – probably land just over 40K). It’s a prequel bit for one of the characters in the primary narrative. I intend to make that the free gift that newsletter subscribers will get as a reward for your interest, but as of yet, it’s not ready to go. I will still send it out as a freebie to any and all existing subscribers once it is finished, so there is no reason to delay signing up for the lovely newsletter.

The final reason I’m holding back the primary novel is marketing. I have been doing some sniffing about, and I am led to believe the following with regard to Amazon publishing. There is a very large number of titles being published via Amazon’s Kindle Direct program. As a result, a new novel from a first time author will have a hard time gaining any level of distinction amongst such a crowded field. One of the way that Amazon determines which books to suggest to its customers is by using an algorithm that factors in sales. Not just total sales figures but more so change in numbers over time. So, if a book sells a lot over a very short period of time, it will get the attention of the algorithm before another book that sells just as many copies (or more) over a longer period of time. So the goal is to build an audience – either by mailing list, or social media followers – to the point that once you have a number of people anxiously awaiting the release of the book, when you finally release it, it sells a lot at once, and the algorithm kicks in and (hopefully) the sales begin to snowball from there.

So, follow me on Instagram. Sign up for my newsletter, read the sample and tell your friends. The sooner I can build a fair following, the sooner this book can hit the ground and you can read the whole thing. It’s a win-win.

Thank you for your time.

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