Sci-Fi, fantasy and speculative Indie Authors Review discussion

Hi guys, I've been so busy, absolutely manic today lol. Am up to chapter 20 in Witch, Wolf, Vamp book 2 and it's really going well. My fingers couldn't keep up with my brain today - I just love days like that! How are the rest of you? How's your week been? A

I have no idea which chapter I am on with my WIP, but at least I am a bit further on that I was the other day!

That's good Michelle, always forwards and we get there in the end. I've had a cracking day writing, have abs loved it! I do so get carried away in my weird head lol

Bit of a full on day at work and now continuing with edit number eight of my book *sigh* On the other hand I re-read the last third of it last night and I do really like the ending. So there's that :)

First things first - CONGRATS! it's finished and that is always fab! but oh the dreaded going over and over, checking and checking - headache zone! What's the book about Jules?

It is an urban fantasy/ ghost story. Here, I'll give you my pitch ;)

I Belong to the Earth

'Emily Lynette - better known as Emlynn - can sense the dead. It's never bothered her much before, at least until the accident that killed her mother and severely injured Emlynn herself. Now her dubious gift is much stronger. Being moved, by her father, to an ancient house in Yorkshire that is not only haunted but the centre of a curse is not helping. But then strange events start to occur; who is the enigmatic and savage Haze? What is his hold over Emlynn's sister, Grace? And just what is the Pattern? Emlynn must stop hiding and open herself to her gift in order to prevent the dead from claiming the rest of her family, as one by one they are drawn into re-enacting a centuries old story of jealousy, twisted love and revenge.'

If I tried to get any further into the story we'd be here all night. I wrote something surprisingly multi-layered in the end lol

Sounds good Jules, u got a timeframe for release?

Not yet. I think I want to try indie publishers with this one. I've found some with open seasons.

Wow, I was too scared to go down that route lol

Meh. The worst thing they can say is no ;)

I hadn't even planned on letting anyone read them lol! That's why I had quite a few when I finally did release them. Plus I wouldn't even know where to start looking lol. - Finished first draft of Witch, Wolf, Vamp book 2 today - yippee!

Wow! Your keyboard must be smoking with speed you type! Well done. Time to pop open a bottle of wine I think ;)
Yeah I had the whole 'but I can't let people read my stuff' thing going on. Still do to some extent but I'm getting over it. Being part of a fab writers' group really helps, I've found. Failing that a writing buddy that you exchange chapters with and critique each others work is also good. Still not big on reading my stuff aloud to people. Had to read a short story I'd written, aloud to a group of people at a writers' retreat. I was shaking like a leaf although my voice was calm so no one actually noticed lol

I have a few issues with OCD so trust/privacy is a big issue for me. I cert cldnt go to a retreat or anything like that! I barely make it to the supermarket on my own lol

Oh I do type really fast tho lol

That's a shame, Ava. The OCD not the mad typing skills. Hard to live with something like that :( I was nervous of going on the retreat but it was awesome. I like a bit of a challenge and don't suffer from OCD though! There are online groups you can join - you wouldn't have to go anywhere. They do courses and critiques too. I can recommend some groups if you like? Or do you prefer your writing to be private until you publish? Nothing wrong with that either :)

Hi Jules, it's something I've lived with for a long time and family all used to my little foibles lol. It even took me a while to join even a forum! For a while they used to call me Monk - from the tv series! One of my BIG things is the privacy malarky. I work best on my own - or I think I do - in complete and utter silence - no outside stimuli or my brain starts doing funny things and I can't focus. Once I am focused I can let my brain loose and my fingers just fly over the keys and sometimes when I read back what I've typed I think - "Wow that's now how I saw that chapter going" it's scary, exciting, jeez a host of other adjectives and I love it. I am so grateful for the internet cause if I'm part bad I can order groceries online and don't need to go out!

I should be finished by tomorrow, Stevie - fingers crossed xx

Ok guys, hows ur week been? End of the month - arrrgghh, hope everyone's sales were good this month! I did better than last month so I'm a happy bunny!

In writing terms a good month. In work terms...well I'm giving myself a big gold star for not throttling any of my colleagues! Well done on your sales, that's great :)

That's great bout the writing Jules and a glass of wine as a reward for not doing gbh!

I might need more than a glass of wine as an incentive if next week is anything like this one was lol! But thanks :)

Okay a full bottle lol. Only one tho x

Month's been okay, not a lot of writing done on current WiP, because I got swamped in paying copy towards the end of the month.

In other news, I've had pretty good sales of Price of Imperium and even some for Amadar, almost 90 all told. I also got 275 downloads from my KDP select giveaway.

Now to finish Doc Vandal. :)

That's great Dave :) nice one on the sales. Price of Imperium is on my to read list.

Thanks, I'm not sure about a sequel to that - do have one to Amadar on the drawing board - about 10K in.

What's really got me curious though is that my short story collection (only $0.99) isn't moving at all. It's fascinating to see what moves and what doesn't.

There def doesn't seem to be rhyme nor reason re sales

I have a bit of a problem as regards this group, as I'm not currently able to be as active as I'd like. I'd love to get involved in the beta reading offers, buy people's books and give reviews etc, but I've already overpromised on my time considerably. I didn't want people to think I wasn't interested in their books - there are a good few I'm already very keen to have a look at - but my time is just nonexistent these days.

I should explain a little about my circumstances. I'm a full time writer of sorts, but I don't currently earn enough to make a living, so I tend to top things up with spells of contract working. I'm in the midst of an eight month spell at present, which involves two or three days a week driving two hours each way. I'm also trying to keep several nonfiction projects ticking over, not to mention working on a project with our own Jules Anne (which I'm sure everyone here will be quite interested in). I've badly let down one or two people I'd offered to read for over the last few months, so I have determined I will no longer make promises I might not be able to deliver on. Come the end of June, I'm hoping I will be a bit less 'one way' with things!

We're probably all in the same boat lol. I don't offer beta reading as I'm not 100% confident in my ability to do that - yet. Re reviews - I've got quite a backlog of tbr books for that too, tho I am getting through them. So don't worry, I too feel a little as you do and hope to get more active as time allows.

For me, the biggest benefit of this group is simply connecting with other people in a similar position.

I love that people are interested in my writing, but I'm really here for the conversation above all. I'm here as much to make friends as anything.

Totally agree Dave, it's nice to be able to chat to folks who know how stressed we can get as well as the high a good day's writing can bring! Nobody but another writer can even begin to understand those!

There's definitely no pressure on anyone to participate more than they are able or want to. It's just good to have somewhere to hang out and chat. I don't feel that enough is don't to promote good Indie writing and so a lot of slush gets through while worthier offerings aren't perhaps given the attention they deserve. While beta reading and reviews are great it really is mostly about talking to other writers without, hopefully, some of the competitive bickering you occasionally get in writers groups...

That was the intent anyhow. And look what a great bunch of writers we've already got :)

And I think when we've done that project, Matt, you should have a bit more time as well. I had no idea it would be so popular!

oh u've peaked my interest now Jules!

It filled a need.

I'm just glad that after 13K of paying copy this week I'm finally getting into my own work, even if it is Sunday.

All will be revealed in the next couple of weeks, Ava ;)

That blows, Dave.Still as you say at least you're there now.

Oh I am really curious now!

It'll be good AK, and it'll be right up this group's street I think

I agree. Might be worth looking for ARC readers here?

Sorry, ARC?

Oh, Advance Review Copy? Right, good idea

Count me in!

I was hoping you'd say that, Ava :)

Absolute no problem Jules, am excited now!

Got 2100 good words down yesterday - on track for finishing before the end of the month.

Well done Dave. Nice going :)

And now I'm looking like it may be pushed back - I've got 18,000 paid words, plus 10 hours of paid editing to do by Weds....

So little time.

Yikes! There never does seem to be enough time does there? Not getting much actual writing done this week at all!

Me neither - but it will come. I still have you on my beta list, though. :)

I had not forgotten ;)