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.