Michele Hauf's Blog, page 13
April 15, 2011
April 14, 2011
Rhys is back and an introduction to Trystan
I couldn't not include Rhys Hawkes in Vail's story. If you've read Seducing The Vampire
, you know Vaillant appeared at the very end. Rhys is a part of his life (but how, exactly, I won't explain; you'll have to read Forever Vampire
). Consider that it's been twenty-some years since we saw Rhys and Viviane get together (twice), so a lot has gone on in that time. You get a peek at how their relationship is now. And also Trystan shows up! I love Trystan. His own story is Forever Wild, and that will be out with Nocturne probably some time next year (but I'm still writing it). This is who inspired me for Trystan:
, you know Vaillant appeared at the very end. Rhys is a part of his life (but how, exactly, I won't explain; you'll have to read Forever Vampire). Consider that it's been twenty-some years since we saw Rhys and Viviane get together (twice), so a lot has gone on in that time. You get a peek at how their relationship is now. And also Trystan shows up! I love Trystan. His own story is Forever Wild, and that will be out with Nocturne probably some time next year (but I'm still writing it). This is who inspired me for Trystan:
April 12, 2011
As the story starts...
Meet the heroine, Lyric Santiago, in a dress fashioned of rare Faery diamonds. Here's a pic that inspired the dress...and below that is my inspiration for Lyric. (I know, weird that both are pics of women holding their chesticles, but that's not the important part.)
In one week, Vail arrives...
I'm excited for FOREVER VAMPIRE to hit bookshelves! I've got my fingers crossed that readers like Vail, my favorite hero so far. Just a few pics that inspired me...and the Maserati he drives (not very successfully). Tomorrow I'll post pics of the faery gown and Lyric!
April 9, 2011
Digital or Paper? Decisions, decisions...
So I'm doing an authorly post today because I talked about self publishing this morning at my local chapter meeting, and I still have those thoughts running through my brain. I'm not going to recap it all here, but I did want to mention I've been thinking about self publishing some of my electronic stuff in print format. I know many readers still don't have (or want) eReaders, so any books I put out only in electronic format, they can't read. I'd love to make my work as widely available as possible. Note: I have no control over the stories I write for Nocturne Bites. They are put out electronic-only, not paper, though once in a while they do show up in print anthologies, but again, we authors don't find out until a few months before publication.
Anyway, I ordered a proof of a print copy of The Sin Eater's Promise from CreateSpace because I just wanted to have a look at the quality of the product they offer. And you know what? It's excellent! (Below is the fast and dirty complete cover I did for the proof.) That said, I will not be put Sin Eater's Promise out in paper format because I'd have to price it too high to make a small profit. Around $5 for cover price, and I think I'd make less than 75 cents (just a guess on those figures after viewing the charts, but close). That's far too much a cover price for an 8000 word novella that takes less than an hour to read. I like the .99 cent price currently on the electronic version, and it seems you all like it to because you're buying it. Do you like the story? I hope so!
But, I do want to put out a full length never-before-published vampire story this fall, and I may consider going print as well as electronic for that. It's FOLLOW THE NIGHT, and is a story in my Beautiful Creatures world (actually the parents of Jane Renan, who was heroine of From The Dark). I previewed the cover here last month. But still, in trade format it's going to reach a high price, treading $10 - 12, I think. Ugg. That's so spendy. I like my books to be around $6. That's a good price for a romance novel, right? But it doesn't work that way with self publishing. You have to price it higher to cover the distributor's shipping costs, cost of paper, production, etc. And there are no mass market-size options that I can see. I ordered a 5 x 8 size of the below book, and I really like that size. Close to mass market, but not quite. But like I said, readers would have to pay more for the book I self publish as opposed to probably half that price were it published by a big NY publisher. Ah well, maybe a few fans will like to check out the print version as a sort of collector's copy? I'll keep you all updated! I have A LOT of books due this year, so I'm crossing my fingers I get a few moments here and there to work on Follow The Night to get it out by fall, but there are no promises. If it happens, it happens. :-)
Anyway, I ordered a proof of a print copy of The Sin Eater's Promise from CreateSpace because I just wanted to have a look at the quality of the product they offer. And you know what? It's excellent! (Below is the fast and dirty complete cover I did for the proof.) That said, I will not be put Sin Eater's Promise out in paper format because I'd have to price it too high to make a small profit. Around $5 for cover price, and I think I'd make less than 75 cents (just a guess on those figures after viewing the charts, but close). That's far too much a cover price for an 8000 word novella that takes less than an hour to read. I like the .99 cent price currently on the electronic version, and it seems you all like it to because you're buying it. Do you like the story? I hope so!
But, I do want to put out a full length never-before-published vampire story this fall, and I may consider going print as well as electronic for that. It's FOLLOW THE NIGHT, and is a story in my Beautiful Creatures world (actually the parents of Jane Renan, who was heroine of From The Dark). I previewed the cover here last month. But still, in trade format it's going to reach a high price, treading $10 - 12, I think. Ugg. That's so spendy. I like my books to be around $6. That's a good price for a romance novel, right? But it doesn't work that way with self publishing. You have to price it higher to cover the distributor's shipping costs, cost of paper, production, etc. And there are no mass market-size options that I can see. I ordered a 5 x 8 size of the below book, and I really like that size. Close to mass market, but not quite. But like I said, readers would have to pay more for the book I self publish as opposed to probably half that price were it published by a big NY publisher. Ah well, maybe a few fans will like to check out the print version as a sort of collector's copy? I'll keep you all updated! I have A LOT of books due this year, so I'm crossing my fingers I get a few moments here and there to work on Follow The Night to get it out by fall, but there are no promises. If it happens, it happens. :-)
April 6, 2011
I have been remiss, and have not posted an Adam pic in a ...
I have been remiss, and have not posted an Adam pic in a long time.
April 5, 2011
Harlequin sent me a little blog widget for Forever Vampir...
Harlequin sent me a little blog widget for Forever Vampire, which I've placed below the GoodReads widget. You can click on it to read the first chapter at their site, which is kind cool because it's like you're turning the pages of the actual book. (Doesn't take much to thrill me.) ;-)
April 4, 2011
Two chapters!
I just put up the first two chapters of FOREVER VAMPIRE. Go forth! Discover Vail. ;-)
April 1, 2011
Christmas in Spring
I have a novella due May 1st for a Christmas anthology due out this year, so I'm kicking it into high gear today and for the rest of the month. I have the story half written, and now need to cement in the details and goals and motivations, and all that stuff that makes me pause and have to well, think. ;-) I'm calling the story Monsters Don't Do Christmas, and as always, I gotta have pics on my desktop as I write to keep an image of hero and heroine in mind. Thought I'd whet your appetite today with the pics I'm using. The hero is a vampire and the heroine, well, I won't reveal that yet.
March 31, 2011
Romance Trading Cards part deux
If you're heading to the Romantic Times convention next week and want to find the trading cards I've made up, I'm sending along about 50 sets with debut author, Tamara Hogan, who wrote the fab TASTE ME. So track her down if you want Vaillant, Rhys and Creed cards! She also has a card for her book, so snatch that one up as well.
