Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 12

Three Reasons to Pre-Order The Courtesan’s Avenger

Can you believe we’re just FIVE days away from the launch of The Courtesan’s Avenger? I can’t!

After working on this book for nearly a year (nine months, if you don’t count procrastination), it feels surreal that it’s finally going out into the world for everyone to read. On one hand, I’m really excited. As my second book, The Courtesan’s Avenger is (in my humble opinion) leaps and bounds ahead of The Cogsmith’s Daughter. I’ve grown so much as a writer, and I am thrilled to share the wonderful world of Desertera with you all once again.

On the other hand, releasing a sequel comes with a lot a pressure. Though The Cogsmith’s Daughter has only received little ripples of attention, most of it has been positive. What if no one likes the second book? What if it’s not as good? What if everyone hates that Aya isn’t the narrator this time? Well, there’s only one way to find out …

Pre-order your copy of The Courtesan’s Avenger today.

Why pre-order?

The book will be downloaded straight to your reading device on next Tuesday, September 20. So it’s ready to read when you are.
It gives me a little boost in the rankings on release day (aka puts one jab in the obscurity monster), but most importantly …
It comes with a SPECIAL BONUS! A 20-question interview with me, revealing info you’ll won’t find anywhere else. Like …

Will the rest of the books in the series star new protagonists?

What is your favorite scene or moment from The Courtesan’s Avenger?

Often, writers know things about their worlds or characters that are never shared in the books themselves. Can you divulge any of those tidbits?

What can readers expect from the third Desertera novel?

… and so many more that I can’t share here (thanks, spoilers!).

If these questions intrigue you, be sure to pre-order your copy BEFORE next Tuesday.

And if you’re waiting on those pesky paperbacks, don’t fret. I’ve approved them through my printing company, so it’s out of my hands now. They should be available on time. Signed copies, of course, will take longer, as they must get to me to sign before shipping to you!

Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series Tagged: author interview, author Q&A, book launch, fantasy, indie books, pre-order, preorder, science fiction, steampunk, the cogsmith's daughter, The Courtesan's Avenger

Happy Positive Thinking Day!

The origins of this holiday seem to be a bit murky. Legend has it that an entrepreneur founded it in 2003 to encourage others to overcome negative thinking. Whatever the origin, I’m always up for an excuse to celebrate and inject some positive vibes into the world – complete with cheesy images!

Too often, we creative types succumb to negative thoughts. When you consider our introspective natures and the sensitive subjects with which we work, it makes sense. We put so much of ourselves into our craft, it’s difficult not to take things personally.

Today, whether you’re reading this on Positive Thinking Day or not, I challenge you to take a negative thought and reframe it in a positive way. The thought you choose will be personal to you, but here are a few that I’ve dealt with in my writing life:

Why even write a novel? It’s going to suck.

My first novel may not be my best, but I can always improve. (Longer pep talk here.)

Everything I write is garbage.

I’m still learning as an author, but at least I’m practicing my craft!

That author writes faster/has better books/earns better reviews/makes more sales than me.

That author is doing really well. What can I learn from them to improve my own writing? (More on dealing with jealousy here.)

I’m never going to make it as an author.

Overnight success is a myth. I can make it if I work hard, establish industry relationships, and learn to market myself and my work.

I can’t write. I have writer’s block/am unmotivated/am tired/am busy.

I am taking a mental health break from my writing. I will return on [insert date] and write [insert goal]. In the meantime, I do what I must to unblock myself and I will not guilt myself. NOTE: This is not permission to procrastinate. There is a difference between caring for your health and laziness.

I have no idea what I’m doing. Any minute my readers will call me out as a fake.

Imposter syndrome is normal, and even big-name authors feel this way. As long as I’m still learning and improving, that’s all anyone can expect of me. (Here are a few mantras to beat imposter syndrome.)

I wrote one book. It was a fluke/failure.

If I wrote one book, I can write another. It will be even better, because I have grown as a writer. Next-to-no first books are break-out successes. I can become successful over time, with a respectable back list, strong writing, and smart business practices.

Still feeling negative? Here a few resources to help you out of your funk:

The Successful Author Mindset: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer’s Journey by Joanna Penn – I gave it 5 stars!

Why You Have to Be Your Biggest Fan – The Smarter Artist Podcast

25 Things That Will Definitely Make You Smile via Buzzfeed

40 Powerful Mantras to Help You Think Positive via Marc & Angel Hack Life

Filed under: Writing Craft & Tips Tagged: author mindset, motivation for creatives, positive thinking, positive thinking day, writers block, writing, writing mantras, writing tips

Dead Magic Cover Reveal and Pre-Order!

Speaking of awesome steampunk novels, Kara Jorgensen’s Dead Magic (the fourth book in the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series) is available for pre-order! If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend it. Gorgeous Victorian settings, clever automatons, heart-wrenching love tales, strong female characters, a dash of dark magic … and so much more!

Kara Jorgensen: History & Horror With Heart

Ta-da! Dead Magic‘s cover has been revealed! I have been chomping at the bit to show you the cover for Dead Magic (Ingenious Mechanical Devices #4). I think this my favorite cover yet.

So what is Dead Magic about? Well, it stars our young, scarred scientist, Immanuel Winter, along with his dashing boyfriend and of course, his unwilling soulmate, Emmeline Jardine, as they face the forces of darkness once again.

Immanuel wants nothing more than a peaceful life as a scientist, but his happiness is short-lived when his past demons refuse to go quietly. As body-snatching spirits attack and creatures rise from the dead, he fears his sanity is slipping. Burdened with strange new powers, he struggles to hide them from his lover for fear of losing the only person he trusts.
But the woman who shares his soul has a secret of her own. Disillusioned with her life…

View original post 119 more words

Filed under: Musings & Bookish Things, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Geeky Things Tagged: book launch, dead magic, historical fantasy, indie books, indie books be seen, ingenious mechanical devices, kara jorgensen, new release, science fiction, steampunk

Read Chapter One of The Courtesan’s Avenger

Want a preview of The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)? Click the link below to read the first chapter now.

SPOILER ALERT: This chapter contains spoilers for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1). If you have yet to read TCD, I highly recommend you do it first — it’s only $0.99 until September 20th.

Read Chapter One of The Courtesan’s Avenger now!

And remember: you can pre-order the ebook today. It comes with an exclusive Q&A with me about the novel and my plans for the rest of the Desertera series. Click here to pre-order yours.

Paperbacks will be available in two weeks.

Happy reading!

Filed under: Musings & Bookish Things, The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series Tagged: am reading, book sample, bookworm, chapter one, desertera, fantasy, indie books, science fiction, steampunk, The Courtesan's Avenger

Sick of the Presidential Election? Vote for Books!

No matter how you feel about the coming U.S. presidential election, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all earned a break. So, if you’re tired of deciding for whom to cast your vote (or simply tired of seeing all those outrageous clips on the international news), here’s something we can all get behind: books!

The inaugural Summer Indie Book Awards are on! This is a great effort to recognize deserving independently or small-press published books that are not eligible for traditional awards. To my surprise and honor, The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) has been nominated in TWO categories: Dystopian and Contemporary.

First and foremost, thank you to whoever nominated me! I really appreciate your support for the series.

Second, there are literally hundreds of books nominated, so I doubt I have a shot at winning. But hey, I’ve got to try! If you’d like to help, here are the links at which you can vote for The Cogsmith’s Daughter. HINT: These documents are super long. Hit CTRL+F and search Colby.

VOTE HERE:

Dystopian –  http://www.poll-maker.com/poll533523xe37d4b0E-22

Contemporary –  http://www.poll-maker.com/poll533535x82a34755-22 

Want to see if any of your other favorite authors were nominated? You’ll find all the categories here.

HURRY: Voting ends September 11, 2016!

And if I can ask for one more teensy favor, three of my friend Kara Jorgensen’s novels have been nominated as well! She deserves your vote, too.

Historical (The Earl of Brass and The Earl and the Artificer) – http://www.poll-maker.com/poll533529x7C28e4CB-22

Paranormal (The Winter Garden) – http://www.poll-maker.com/poll533491x44200b87-22

Have YOU been nominated? Put the info in the comments, and I’ll return the favor!

Filed under: Blog Awards, Musings & Bookish Things, The Cogsmith's Daughter, The Desertera Series Tagged: book awards, desertera, fantasy, indie books, indie books be seen, science fictionf, steampunk, summer indie book awards, the cogsmith's daughter

Five Things You Need to Know About The Courtesan’s Avenger (Pre-Order Available!)

The title of this one says it all, folks. As regular readers will know, I have a new book coming out this month: The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2). If you’ve been living under a rock (or in more interesting corners of the Internet), here are five things you need to know to get up to speed. Read them, then pre-order your copy on your favorite online retailer.

It’s a sequel!

As you’ll see in the title, The Courtesan’s Avenger is the second book in the Desertera series (aka Desertera #2). It’s the sequel to The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1), and a continuation of the story. It picks up about a month after the action of TCD, only with one major change to the storytelling …

It’s written from Dellwyn’s perspective.

For those of you who have read The Cogsmith’s Daughter, you’ll likely remember Aya’s best friend and roommate, Dellwyn. In The Courtesan’s Avenger, our witty friend takes center stage, and we join her as she solves the mystery of grotesque murder. Along the way, Dellwyn tackles her own ambitions, plays big sister to a new brothel worker, and grapples with her feelings for the dashing Lord Collingwood.

The main theme is vengeance vs. justice.

The Cogsmith’s Daughter centers on revenge. Aya’s mission is to take vengeance on King Archon for ordering the wrongful execution of her father. Dellwyn doesn’t do vengeance. In The Courtesan’s Avenger, she’s all about justice. True, lawful, legitimate justice. This is especially important as we begin to see the social and political fallout from the first book and Dellwyn’s reactions to it.

It’s a novel about friendship.

Despite living in the underbelly of Desertera, Dellwyn’s quite a popular gal. Friendship is very important to her, as her friends are her family. You’ll see how the dynamics of her relationship with Aya have changed, meet her allies and enemies at the brothel, and watch her make a few unlikely new friends. As the author, I really enjoyed tackling this topic in The Courtesan’s Avenger. After all, what really makes a true friend?

You have plenty of ways to read it!

If you’d like to read The Courtesan’s Avenger, you have several options:

Preorder the ebook NOW through your favorite online retailer. It comes with a special pre-order bonus: a Q&A with me about my writing process, my thoughts on the novel, and my future plans for the Desertera series.

Paperback lovers can grab their copy on Tuesday, September 20. And yes, signed copies will be available on my books page!

My Reader List subscribers have the option to receive advance review copies. Keep your eyes on your inboxes!

PSST … If you haven’t read The Cogsmith’s Daughter yet, now is the time. It’s on sale for $0.99 through September 20. Download your copy today.
Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series, Writing Updates Tagged: desertera, fantasy, indie books, science fiction, sequel, series, steampunk, the cogsmith's daughter, The Courtesan's Avenger, writing

Month-End Update: August 2016

August went so quickly that I almost feel like it didn’t happen. As in July, I enjoyed a much-needed break from author work toward the end of the month while I visited my family and friends in Kansas. However, my mini-vacation also left me a little behind heading into September. The next two weeks will be especially busy, as I prepare for the publication of The Courtesan’s Avenger, but I’m ready to tackle my monster to-do list. Stay tuned for more updates – there are a lot coming very soon!

Writing

Blog Posts Written – 9
Fiction Words Written – 0
# of Days I Wrote Fiction – 0
Nonfiction Prompts Written – 105 prompts (plus two rounds of front/back matter material)
# of Days I Wrote Nonfiction – 9
Outlines Written –  1 (100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts)
Days Without Writing and/or Editing – 16 (thank you, Kansas!)

Editing/Revising

Drafts Revised – Final line edits and first proofread of The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)
# of Days I Revised – 7

Reading

Books Finished

Lavender’s Blue (The Septimus Series 2.5) by A.M. Offenwanger
Checkmate (The Septimus Series 3)  by A.M. Offenwanger
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne
Angel & Faith: Season 9, Volume 1 by Christos Gage
American Gods by Neil Gaiman




Books Begun/In-Progress

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins




Books Reviewed on Blog

Checkmate (The Septimus Series 3) by A.M. Offenwanger – read review

*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.

Author Business Activities

Published  100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 8)
Final two round of line edits and proofread for The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)
E-book and paperback formatting of TCA
Cover design reveal for TCA
Announced the winner of the Desertera #2 title contest
Started listening to indie publishing podcasts again (hallelujah!)
Participated in the Self-Publishing Roundtable’s August Promotion

Goals for September

Final proofread of The Courtesan’s Avenger
Finish cover design process (now that my designer is back from vacation)
Publish The Courtesan’s Avenger
Write and publishing 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 9)

What did you accomplish in August? What goals are you working towards in September? Share below!

Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, creative writing prompts, dystopian, fantasy, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, nonfiction, revising, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, writing

54 FREE Ebooks + Amazing Amazon Giveaway

Pay attention, bookworms! You don’t want to miss this amazing event hosted by the Self-Publishing Roundtable.

Today and tomorrow, you can get 54 (yes, 54!) FREE ebooks by visiting their August Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror event page.

PLUS, they’re offering two fantastic giveaways. U.S. readers can enter to win a Kindle Fire and/or $50 Amazon gift card. And U.K. readers can enter to win a Kindle Fire and/or £25 Amazon gift card.

Best of all? It’s totally FREE. All you have to do is click this link to claim your goodies and submit your entries.

As you’ll probably notice, The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) is among the free ebooks listed. So, if you don’t have your copy yet (why not?), click here to download it from your favorite ebook retailer. If you do have a copy (because you’re awesome), then tell a friend! Who doesn’t need more (or 54) free books in their life?

Filed under: Musings & Bookish Things, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Geeky Things, The Cogsmith's Daughter Tagged: amazon, amazon gift card, ebook giveaway, fantasy, free books, giveaway, horror, kindle, sci-fi, science fiction, self-publishing roundtable

The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2) Cover Reveal

Hello, everyone! Today, I’m pleased to present the cover and book description for The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2).

A courtesan on a mission. A brothel ravished by greed. A murder to avenge.

Dellwyn Rutt loves her life as a courtesan. For years, she has enjoyed the simple pleasures and lavish gifts of her trade. Now she wants more: the title of madam.

But Madam Huxley, the brothel’s current proprietor, refuses to name a successor—a problem that is amplified by the legalization of adultery. As the new law sends lusty clients flocking to the brothel, Madam Huxley’s greed grows unchecked at the workers’ expense. Only one outsider seems to care: a self-proclaimed prophet who won’t rest until the unholy institution is abolished.

After weeks of abuse, Dellwyn desperately seeks a way to subdue Madam Huxley’s tyranny. But when another courtesan is murdered, Dellwyn must set her struggles aside and solve the crime. The only problem? All evidence points to Dellwyn’s friends… and to her.

Driven by twisting turns, peppered with witty dialog, and shadowed by unrequited love, The Courtesan’s Avenger is a cozy mystery in a steampunk fantasy world.

You can add The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2) to your Goodreads shelves today. It’ll also be available for pre-order soon, but the official launch date is Tuesday, September 20. Stay posted for more info!

Also, if you have a WordPress account, blog, or other social media, I’d appreciate a quick reblog or share! With every new reader who finds my books, I get closer to my dream of full-time authorship. Thank you for your support!

Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series Tagged: cover reveal, desertera, dystopian, fantasy, indie books, mystery, science fiction, SFF, steampunk, The Courtesan's Avenger

100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts is Out Now!

I’m pleased to announce that my August booklet is published and FREE on Amazon, now through Saturday. The genre this month is Science Fiction. Since it’s one of my chosen genres as a writer, I put a lot of pressure on myself to make these prompts genre-appropriate and inventive. Did I succeed? Well, you can let me know in a review!

Do you want to explore a new universe or create an alternate reality with your fiction? This booklet contains 100 writing prompts to help you get started.

Do you have an imaginative tale burning inside you but feel trapped by writer’s block?

Are you an established author looking for fresh, new ideas?

If you’re ready to stop staring at the blank page and start writing NOW, 100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts is the booklet for you. There’s no fluff and no wasted words – just 100 fiction prompts to get you back to what you do best: writing.

100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts is packed with character- and story-focused prompts to jumpstart your fiction. The prompts have been carefully designed to address the various motifs of science fiction stories – from calculated alien attacks to governmental conspiracies to post-apocalyptic wastelands.

Inside, you’ll find prompts related to the following subgenres:

1. Alien Invasion/First Contact

2. Alternative History

3. Cyberpunk

4. Dystopian

5. Exploration & Invention

6. Genetic Engineering

7. (Post-)Apocalyptic

8. Space Opera

9. Steampunk

10. Time Travel

Each section contains 10 thought-provoking prompts. Practice them in order, or dive right into to what inspires you most. You’ve already wasted enough energy on writer’s block. It’s time to craft your next great science fiction story.

Push the limits of reality. Download 100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts today.

Filed under: Kate's Nonfiction for Writers Tagged: creative writing prompts, fiction ideas, nonfiction, science fiction, writing advice, writing ideas, writing prompts, writing tips