Another episode is up and ready for your viewing pleasure! You can watch it below.
Before that, I thought I'd muse a bit on what it means to have a workflow as an author. If you're an indie publisher, I think you'll vibe to this. If you're a reader, think of it as a sneak peek into how the magic happens!
Read MoreThis morning I received an email from Amazon, with details about the dispute with Hachette. It was a call to action, asking readers and authors to write to Hachette CEO, Michael Pietsch (Michael.Pietsch@hbgusa.com) and to CC Amazon (readers-united@amazon.com), asking that Hachette accept one of Amazon's offers to remove authors from the middle of the debate. It also made the case for lowering ebook prices and increasing the royalty paid to authors. I support both of these ideas, for multiple reasons.
You can find the Amazon letter at www.readersunited.com.
I would encourage all readers and authors to read the letter and write emails of their own. This is a watershed moment in publishing. We can create something new and amazing here. So please, take action.
My email to Michael Pietsch appears below.
Read MoreIt's been a while since I did a video blog. REALLY sorry about that. Things. And stuff. And here's a new one (it's a start).
Read MoreI hope so, because it won't be long before Sawyer Jackson and the Shadow Strait hits shelves. And I want one of those shelves to be yours!
Read MoreI admit, I love my own work. And it makes me laugh. Here's one scene in particular that cracks me up to this day!
Read MoreTraditionally, I haven't been so good at accepting criticism. I get defensive, which leads to getting irritated, which leads to saying or doing things I shouldn't, which leads to the Dark Side. So the trick to my own personal growth, for a while now, has been all about avoiding the path to becoming Kev Vader, and keeping an open mind and a willing heart.
Read MoreYikes! It's been too long. Do you guys remember me?
If not, I understand. I keep meaning to write. Actually, I do write—but it's almost all in books these days! I'm chalking that up to "a good thing."
Read MoreI am stupid excited to announce that Sawyer Jackson & the Long Land will be available as an ebook on July 1, 2014!
Read MoreThere’s a lot of cool tech in science fiction, and some of it has reached “iconic” status. In my own fiction, I have some technology that I think will resonate with the reader — it’s become more or less “iconic” for me, at any rate. But as I think about it, I’m not sure there’s enough “personality” in things like the lightrail or even the Citadel tower to make them into cultural icons.
Read MoreLast Sunday, Kara and I went to see “Edge of Tomorrow,” which turned out to be an outstanding flick. And for most of the people I know, I’ll add “even though Tom Cruise was in it.” Though, c’mon … he’s actually a good actor. You’re reacting to his life crazies, right? I get that.
Read MoreI couldn't be more excited about this. Don't let the drab little period at the end of that last sentence fool you. I'm walking that thin line of using up the world's supply of exclamation points.
But awesome!
Read MoreIt’s here! Citadel: Children of Light is available RIGHT NOW on Amazon! You can buy a digital copy instantly, and the print version should be available through Amazon’s regular channel within 48 hours. In the meantime, if you just can’t wait to get your hands on a fresh, warm, delicious print copy of the book, you can buy it here: https://www.createspace.com/4806234
Read MoreI've been sitting on this for days. Partly because I wanted to get a few things in order before making an "official" announcement, but more because I can hardly believe it.
Citadel: Children of Light is DONE!
It's long overdue, and it's at the heart of so many sleepless nights for me that I can't even start to tell you. But as of this past weekend all writing and all edits are finished!
Bonus news, I have the new cover galley! In case you didn't notice it when you came in.
I've written a lot of my best work at Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. I get inspired by rows of books and gallons of coffee. When I'm winding down and feeling the drag of pushing through for another thousand words or so, I can get up and wander and pick things up and get all jazzed, and then get back to work. Assuming my seat wasn't taken while I was gone.
I love it. But I have to confess — I think I love my home office more.
Read MoreI promised my friend and fellow, Tammy McDonald, that I would create a reading list of books I thought every indie author should read. This isn't that list, but it's a fair start.
Read MoreI had a chance to chat and exchange interviews with author, artist, and poet Violette Meier.
I love doing interviews like this (ever seen my "five questions" interviews? I'll dig those out and dust them off soon). The indie author community is already strong and growing stronger, and I feel honored and privileged to be a part of it! But enough about me, let's talk about Violette Meier —
Read MoreMarketing is hard. Also, marketing is easy.
And if that makes your head hurt, it's worse knowing how absolutely true both those statements are. I'm learning, as I dig deeper into marketing my own books, that the whole system is kind of conflicted and confused from within.
Read MoreJust wanted to drop a quick note. I know I've slacked off on blog posts this week, but it's all in the name of a worthy cause! Today I am spending the entire day working on Citadel: Children of Light!
You can track my progress on the Home page. Throughout the day I'll update with the latest word count, and you can watch that little meter fill up to your heart's content!
I'm incredibly grateful to you for being patient and supportive. And I hope this will be enough to get you excited about the book. It's a hell of a story, and I really cannot wait for your to read it!
Soon, my pretties. Soon.
Read MoreSome of you know (or may have figured out) that I'm doing a deep dive into self publishing as a business platform. There's a ton to learn in this area, especially since it keeps growing when I'm not looking. I'm listing to podcasts (the guys at SelfPublishingPodcast.com are fantastic and entertaining), reading tons of books, blogs, and articles, and generally just obsessing over the business and marketing side of my writing. It helps to work in Marketing as a "day job." Lots of transfer back and forth.
Read MoreA while back I wrote about my "tools of trade" — the go-to tools I rely on to do my work. Not much has changed on that front, and all of those tools are still a delicious part of my nutritious workday. But I feel like I may have short-changed a piece of software that I've come to adore, and that I believe has some value that even the guys who make it may not consider.
Read More
![[AVAILABLE NOW!] Citadel: Children of Light is HERE!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5008748ce4b039e5965e8caa/1401627590389-M8EEVGMFF4W4AYU68NVM/Citadel+Book+3+-+FRONT-600.png)
![[NEW RELEASE] Citadel: Children of Light - Available June 1!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5008748ce4b039e5965e8caa/1400072463394-2PMS9ZVPOLBHESB1JEI5/Citadel+Book+3+-+FRONT-600.png)
