Break Time is Over!

So, things have been a little quiet on my end.

Truth be told: I needed a vacation after my vacation. I took a mental holiday from writing for a while. For non-writers, it might be a little hard to imagine writing as stressful. What can be the big deal? Just sit at a keyboard and write. It's not rocket science. Unless, of course, you're writing about rocket science.

But when you're indy published like me, there's a constant battle between creativity and productivity/self-promoting. How do you find time for both? When do you know which is more important? I see fellow indy writers churning out book after book and rocketing to the top of the charts while I work at a comparative snail's pace. Book Bub ads get handed out like candy to others when I just get vaguely-worded rejection emails. Adding to this crisis were a few unpleasant encounters with troll-ish Amazon reviews and poor reception to Allies and Enemies: Rogues.

It made me question if I had what it takes to be a "real" writer and left me in a head space that wasn't a very nice place to be.

I had to take a step back and decide what kind of writer I wanted to be. Is my goal really to churn out a book a month like some of "book factory"? Where do I want to focus my time and energy... writing or promoting?

In the end, I know I'd be happier just writing. Maybe I'll sell a few less books, but the ones that I do sell will be better constructed, polished stories of which I can be proud.

Allies and Enemies will continue. I'm working on a revised plot for book 3, Allies and Enemies: Exiles. It might end up being uber-long... which I hope isn't a bad thing.

Allies and Enemies: Rogues - Now available in print!

What makes owning an ebook you love even more awesome?

Owning the print version, of course!

For those of the more "traditional" mindset, the printed paperback edition of Allies and Enemies: Rogues is now available on Amazon (via CreateSpace). The cost is a smidge higher than the print version of Fallen. You are getting more awesome (ie extra pages).

Click here to order the print edition.

My very own series page!

Check out the awesomeness. Allies and Enemies has it's own series page now. Cool.

Serious Reading Reviews Allies and Enemies: Fallen

Here's a lovely review of book one to celebrate the recent release of book two, Rogues:
http://seriousreading.com/book-reviews/science-fiction/4370-allies-and-enemies-fallen-book-review.html 

Decoder ring? Secret handshake?

So got an email this morning. You're looking at one of the newest members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America! Yay! Is there a decoder ring? A secret handshake? I dunno, but I'm dying to find out. (I'm pretty sure that I'd be the worst possible member of a secret society. I'd end up blabbing to someone.) But this is SO cool!

Allies and Enemies: Rogues - Up on Amazon

Allies and Enemies: Rogues is now available on Amazon. It features the beautiful work done by artist, Alex Winkler. He really knocked this out of the park! 

Cover art for Allies and Enemies: Rogues!

I'm so excited to share this! The cover art for book 2, Allies and Enemies: Rogues is done.
Here's a sneak peak at a little bit of it. Cool, right? Alex Winkler did such a great job. Can't wait to reveal the whole thing.

Dropzone!

So, you remember the very talented Alex Winkler, the guy that classed up Allies and Enemies: Fallen with his fantastic cover art? (He's working on the cover art for book 2 right now.)

Check out the link to this totally awesome game he's been working on over at Sparky Pants:
https://en.dropzone.gameforge.com/landing/?kid=4-a5l02-17502-1604-01238185 

Did you get your free download?

So, feeling generous here and a little guilty. Guilty because the release of the second book in the Allies and Enemies series, Rogues will be delayed a week or two. Nothing I can do about that. Blame the CDC folks and their lack of an effective flu vaccine.

To make up for it, I'm using one of those 5 free days I get on Amazon. Sweet, right? (To be honest, I was just curious to see what it would do.) But hey. Win-win, right?

Wow. If only that ranking were for paid sales!

Enjoy!

George McFly and my interview with E Books India

Check out my recent interview with E Books India.

Witness me! I was on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast!

Ever wonder... "Is this author really as spasctic in real life as I imagine her to be?"
*shrug/sigh* "I guess I'll never know."

Your wait is over, friend. Last night the very nice, patient, indulgent and understanding team over at Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast (say that three times fast) had me on as their guest. They attempted to pick my brain [ha! joke's on them] about the success I've had with the first book in the Allies and Enemies series, Fallen.

Here's the link:
http://www.marketingsff.com/blurbs-kindle-unlimited-and-military-sf/

Off to the editor

Allies and Enemies: Rogues is off to my impossibly nice editor. Fingers crossed for the next step. In the meanwhile I turn my attention back to the ignored FB endeavor of setting up a separate page for Allies and Enemies. If anyone out there can help me with that, there's a free ebook waiting for you.

Allies and Enemies: Rogues Update

So, big news! Today I just sent off my first draft of book 2 in the Allies and Enemies series to my beta readers (and other persons that aren't aware they're beta readers). My lovely, lovely editor stands ready to dive in to the big messy word doc I plan on sending her on February 29th. Artist Alex is sketching away furiously at the cover art. With a little luck and minimal interruption by household pets (I'm looking at you, Khaleesi), dare I say there might be an ebook available by end of March?

But, wait! There's more...

I've been approached by Sci Fi Publishing about producing an audio version of Allies and Enemies: Fallen. So that's a distinct possibility. Fingers crossed!

And the Winners are...

Three people I've never met before.

The Goodreads giveaway for signed copies for the paperback version of Allies and Enemies: Fallen finished yesterday. Three very nice folks that don't know what they're getting themselves into will be getting their books soon in the mail. My suggestion to them is that this book-like item can also be used as a coaster and is excellent at killing spiders and other appropriately sized forms of insect life. It's also hefty enough to throw at people that talk on cell phones in the movies.

Congrats to the winners and thanks to everyone who joined the giveaway!

This weekeend I'm at a con where Scalzi is an author GOH. I'll be attending his panels, making faces at him behind his back and muttering sarcastic comments under my breath in response to anything he says during panels.

Here's something else that makes me happy:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017ZEYBG2