Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 8

Ten of My Favorite Literary Couples

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In honor of Valentine’s Day and all the gushy feelings it brings, I thought I’d share some of my favorite literary couples. As always when I write one of these lists, this is by no means exhaustive. Honestly, if I tried to remember and rank every bookish couple I love (from romance novels and beyond), I don’t think I’d ever finish!

Some of these will be classic pairings that I’m sure you give you the warm-fuzzies, too. I’ve also tried to include a few lesser-known lovers, which I hope will encourage you to dive into a brand new romance. Fear not — I’ll keep it short and sweet, so you can get back to your own sweetheart (or your cat/wine/half-eaten box of chocolates — no judgment here!).

Inman and Ada Monroe | Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

Beyond the fact that it is a beautiful classic about the Civil War, Cold Mountain sets off my long-distance romance waterworks. (My husband and I did long distance between Australia and the U.S. for two years, so I’m sucker for anything with lovers torn apart.) Despite the distance, Ada and Inman stay loyal to each other and persevere through personal hardships, all on the faith that they’ll one day reunite. Their love is truly admirable.

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Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan | The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Let me be clear: Gatsby and Daisy are horrible together, and that is exactly why I love their ill-fated romance. Gatsby is in love with the idea of Daisy (or at least who she used to be), so much so that he reinvents himself to earn her love. Daisy is in love with the idea of Gatsby, the charming boy he was and the mysterious man he’s become. But neither can love the real other. Their romance a great statement on what love should be, and makes for a dreamy ride while it lasts.

Josephine Grant and Elias Addison | A Man Above Reproach by Evelyn Pryce

In this saucy historical romance, the Duke of Lennox falls for the “Bawdy Bluestocking,” the mysterious piano player at the Sleeping Dove brothel. What I love about this book (besides the gorgeous 1830s London backdrop) is the interplay between the characters. Between witty banter, steamy scenes, and the rush of hiding from society, it’s quite the titillating tale!

Clarissa Dalloway and Sally Seton | Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

A haunting tale that was ahead of its time. With a title like Mrs. Dalloway, you’d think the romance would be between a husband and wife, but the real love story lies in the past. Thirty years ago, Clarissa Dalloway shared a kiss with her friend Sally Seton, and she still considers it the happiest moment of her life. While unable to recognize the truth behind her feelings, Clarissa provides a meaningful look into the fluid nature of sexuality and what matters most about the people we love.

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Allie Nelson and Noah Calhoun | The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Speaking of guilty pleasures, I’m ashamed to say that I own almost every Nicholas Sparks novel. But I will never be ashamed to own The Notebook. The best part of Allie and Noah’s romance is how it evolves over time. They experience the throes of young summer love, the ache of distance, the thrill of reuniting, and the depth of a lifelong partnership.

Anne Edmond and Mike Everett | Start Me Up by Nicole Michaels

This is one of my guilty pleasure contemporary romances that really speaks to my Midwestern heart. A crafty single mom and a rough-around-the-edges mechanic fall in love. Will Anne be the one to finally get Mike to commit? I bet you can guess the answer, but there’s only one to find out for sure!

Martin and John | Martin and John by Dale Peck

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a romance. In nearly every chapter, the characters of Martin and John are reimagined as different people in different scenarios. However, they are almost always shown as lovers. The entire novel works to paint a captivating and heartbreaking image of how love strengthens and collapses under the pressure of the 1980s-90s AIDS epidemic.

Dellwyn Rutt and Lord Collingwood | The Courtesan’s Avenger by Kate M. Colby

I know, lame, but I couldn’t resist including my favorite couple to write! What I enjoy about Dellwyn and Lord Collingwood’s romance is that they try so hard to fight their chemistry, and yet they can’t help but be drawn to each other. Their relationship is clear-cut behind the Rudder’s walls, but outside, they struggle to agree on what it should be. I’m glad I was able to give them a little closer in this book.

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Buffy Summers and William “Spike” Pratt | Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Joss Whedon

Spoilers ahead, because this requires self-defense. A little unconventional and complete sacrilege to those on Team Angel, but hear me out. Spike loves Buffy even as a vampire without a soul, so much so, that he’s willing to go through hell to get his soul back and be the man she deserves. When Buffy is desperate in the comics, she turns to Spike (over Angel and her friends) time and time again. I could go on (trust me, I have), but suffice to say this is the No. 1 Vampire-Human romance. You can fight me in the comments, but you’re wrong.

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

We were all waiting for this one, right? Since I probably don’t need to say anything about why Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy make for a wonderful couple, I’ll tell you a little secret. Though I admire Elizabeth’s fiery wit and headstrong nature, I’ve actually always identified more with Darcy. I do not have the talent of conversing easily with others, and my good opinion once lost is lost forever. As silly as it sounds, seeing him open himself up to love gave me hope that I could one day do the same … and hey, it worked out!

And there you have it! Now, I’m off to spend the rest of the day devouring chocolate roses (thanks, honey!), putting lovey-dovey puns into wine copy, and writing Aya Cogsmith and her Willem into swoon-worthy scenes. Feel free to share your thoughts on my list or add your own favorite couples in the comments!

Filed under: Fiction Blog, Musings & Bookish Things Tagged: buffy the vampire slayer, cold mountain, literary couples, love, lovers, relationships, romance books, romance novels, spuffy, the notebook, valentine's day

Getting in the Money Mindset: A Basic Financial Plan for New Authors

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Back when I first discussed my goal of full-time authorship (and again when I reflected on my first full year as a published author), a few readers expressed interest in learning more about my plan to become a full-time author. In short, I’ve had to realize that, if I want writing to be my job, I have to think of it like a business. This mindset shift marked a huge evolution in my writing life, and I’ve done my best to outline my thinking process in the article that follows.

First, I want to make a few disclaimers:

1. I am not an accountant or financial adviser. All advice given should be taken (preferably to a professional) with a grain of salt.

2. This post is meant for authors who want to make a full-time career in independent publishing.

3. This post is written in first-person, because it is based on my own experiences and rough financial plan at this early stage in my career.

4. My situation will not be the same as yours. Therefore, my plan will not work perfectly for you, and I cannot create a custom plan for you. However, the over-arching principles should be applicable to all. To that end …

5. This post is meant to be an outline of a basic financial plan. It will not cover taxes, financial tools/software, budgeting, or how to sell books.

6. Again, I’m not an expert. Advice, resources, and other tips are welcome and appreciated!

All good? Good.

A Simple, Small, Shoulda-Had-It-Months-Ago Epiphany

If you listen to any of the major independent publishing podcasts, the authors and creative entrepreneurs featured will give you the same basic advice: know your goal. Mine is to make a full-time living from my writing.

While I’ve had this goal for years now, I’m embarrassed to say it took me a long time to realize exactly what this meant for me and Boxthorn Press (my business). I’d always looked at the big picture – one day, my book royalties will be enough to live on. That’s great, but it’s not a magical switch that will flip.

What I finally realized was that my ultimate goal of full-time authorship depended on one thing: making money. (Duh, right?) Now, I want to clarify that I’m not a greedy cash-grabber. I love writing, and I have told stories since childhood, regardless of financial gain. That being said, I want to continue to write for the rest of my life – and I’d have a heck of a lot more time to write if it were my only job. So, that’s what I’m going to make happen!

Breaking Down the Steps to Profitability

The Ultimate Goal: Book royalties must cover operating expenses (what it costs to publish, business activities, and requisite state/federal taxes), plus produce a profit (excess money to create my salary and pay personal expenses).

Step One: Invest Personal Funds

Currently, I’m covering all publishing expenses with personal funds from my day job. By keeping track of these expenses, I know how deep Boxthorn Press is in the negative. (Fun fact: on average, a small business owner in any industry can expect to spend about five years in this phase.)

Step Two: Royalties Cover Operating Expenses and Taxes

Eventually, royalties from my published books will begin to cover the cost of producing and marketing new books. At this point, all funds are re-invested in the business (in place of my personal funds). This means that the business has NOT broken even (because the excess funds have not recouped my initial investment) and it is NOT profitable (because there are no excess funds beyond expenses and debt).

Step Three: Break Even

In this stage, my total book royalties (for the length of my career) will equal my total personal investment. From this point on, the business will be profitable.

Step Four: Profitability

The royalties from book sales will exceed the operating expenses and requisite state/federal taxes, and create a true profit. Once this profit can cover my personal expenses (rent, groceries, insurance, etc.), I can make writing my sole source of income.

Defining and Calculating Profitability

How long am I willing to wait to go full-time?

Because my husband will be in graduate school for the next several years, I’m taking a VERY long-term approach to full-time authorship. As the main breadwinner, I must have a steady income to support us. Therefore, my goal is to go full-time after he finishes school. Estimation: 2025 (8 years)

What is a full-time income?

To determine this number, I must take into account living expenses (which will depend on where and how we live), my husband’s potential income, and our savings (and desired future savings). Since we plan to settle in the Midwest, my husband will be a university professor, and we should have a healthy nest egg saved, my starting salary could be low. Estimation: $20,000 (after taxes)

What are my annual operating expenses and taxes?

Expenses will vary based on regular business activities and how many books I publish. Likewise, the amount of taxes I owe will vary based on how much actual profit my business makes. Estimation: $4,000 per year

How will my profits grow each year?

A tough number to estimate. The more products I have to sell, the more potential sales I can make. As my number of books and investment in marketing increase, so will my profits. Estimation: see chart below

How do I determine when I can go full time?

At the simplest level, here’s the equation: Royalties – Expenses = Desired Salary

That’s easy to calculate for one year. However, it gets a bit messier when I take into account the years of personal investment and negative profits. Note: this chart does not include taxes, for purposes of simplicity.

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Annual Expenses: the real or estimated cost of publishing and marketing books

Annual Royalties: the real or estimated royalties received from my published books

Annual Profit: excess funds (royalties minus expenses) per year

Running Gross Profit Margin (GPM): total profits for the lifetime of the business

KEY DATES

2018: Annual profit hits zero (step two above)

2020: Gross profit margin turns positive (step three above)

2025: Annual profit exceeds $20,000 (salary goal met!)

How to Meet My Financial Goals

Short-term: Hit monthly royalty goals

Because I’m a visual person, I like to break down my larger royalty goals by both time and assets (e.g. books). For example, this year I want to make $2,000 in royalties. By time, that’s $167 per month. By assets, that’s 80 ebooks (priced at $2.99, sold at Amazon’s 70% royalty rate). I do this for all products, price points, and royalty rates.

Long-term: Follow the chart

This was the biggest “Eureka!” moment for me. If I keep my expenses at/under $4,000 a year and meet/exceed my annual profit goals (and no personal tragedies strike), I WILL make enough money to be a full-time author by 2025.

Forever: Save for the unexpected

In any aspect of life, there will be things outside of my control. Maybe Amazon will change its royalty rates. Maybe a marketing promotion will lose tons of money. Maybe I’ll get hit with crippling medical bills. That’s why I’ve allowed myself a long timeline, over-estimated expenses, and plan to build up a healthy nest egg before making the leap. I suggest you do the same.

How to Speed Up the Process

Mathematically speaking, the only ways to reach my goal faster are to A) spend less than my estimated annual expenses or B) make more than my estimated annual profit.

There are about a million tactics that could help. For example, I could higher a cheaper cover designer, play with book pricing, invest in proven marketing services, or create an additional source of income (e.g. courses or editing services). As stated in the disclaimer, this subject is outside the scope of this post.

Conclusion

The road to full-time authorship is long and difficult and different for every writer. However, the basic, over-arching plan applies to all of us.

Figure out the salary you need to live comfortably – this is your goal. Then, weigh your annual expenses vs. your annual profit until you’ve recouped any personal investment. Continue until the annual profit (after taxes) meets your desired salary. Do everything in your power to meet these numbers. Repeat every year, for as long as it takes.

Then once you’ve become a full-time author? Well, I’ll let you know when I get there …

For more information on the business and financial aspects of authorship, I recommend Business for Authors by Joanna Penn. To learn more about taxes and other legal concerns, check out The Self Publisher’s Legal Handbook by Helen Sedwick.

Filed under: Author Business & Publishing, Writing & Publishing Articles Tagged: author business plan, business, expenses, finances, financial plan, full-time author, goals, gross profit margin, independent publishing, profit, self-publishing

How Books Connect the World

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How lucky are we as bookworms today?

At any given moment, we can jump on Amazon (or another website), buy a book, and read it seconds later. Or, if you’re a paperback purist, all you have to do is wait a couple days for shipping or take a quick trip to your local bookstore or library.

That’s all it takes. In a few seconds or a few days, you can dive into a novel’s world. You can learn about a historical event or philosophical theory. You can have a connection with an author and readers whom you may never meet, from nearly every corner of the world.

[image error]As the great Stephen King wrote: “Books are a uniquely portable form of magic.”

While perusing books on Goodreads and browsing through #bookstagram accounts, I’ve found myself in awe of these communities. Readers from all around the globe have joined together to celebrate the books they love. It’s so cool to hear other people’s thoughts on books I love, or to discover a beautiful photo of a book in an exotic location.

So, you can imagine my surprise (and delight!) when my friend sent me this photo of The Cogsmith’s Daughter. Unbeknown to me, she had taken a copy on vacation to the Cayman Islands. While reading on the beach, she found this grungy old machine and snapped a photo. Awesome, right?

It got my author brain thinking: I wonder how far the Desertera series has traveled?

A quick email to my Reader List, and I now have a decent idea. The map below shows the countries where I know readers have enjoyed The Cogsmith’s Daughter and/or The Courtesan’s Avenger. (If you don’t see your home represented, let me know in the comments – I’d love to add it!)

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For a little-known (read: almost invisible) independent author with only two novels to my name, this map makes me really proud. My greatest joy (outside of writing, of course!) is connecting with other book lovers. To know that I’ve done exactly that on five out of seven continents stuns and humbles me.

I’ll definitely be referring back to this map as I continue writing the third book in the Desertera series. Writing is a solitary process, and sometimes I feel like I’m sending my words out into a void. But this map proves my inner critic wrong. My words are flying around the world – offering escape and entertainment to people everywhere (okay, a lot of places!).

If that isn’t a dream come true,  I don’t know what is.

Where do you call home? How have your favorite books connected you to new friends and fellow readers? Share in the comments!

Filed under: Fiction Blog, Musings & Bookish Things, The Desertera Series Tagged: amreading, audiobooks, books, comics, desertera, dystopian, readers, reading, steampunk, the cogsmith's daughter, The Courtesan's Avenger, world map

Month-End Update: January 2017

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If you’ve followed my fiction blog for a while, you’ll know that I share updates at the end of each calendar month. In previous years, I have recapped my writing/editing progress, the books I have read or reviewed, and any notable business activities. In 2017, I’ll include all of that, but I will be structuring the posts a little differently to help me stay focused on my New Year’s Resolutions.

January started off as a difficult month. I won’t go into it here, but I had a family emergency at the end of December, which left me (to put it lightly) tired and uninspired. To ease myself back into a working mindset, I did a little reading and focused on nonfiction early in the month. About halfway through January, I switched back to the world of fiction, and I feel like I’ve finally hit my stride with the third Desertera novel. I’m hoping for smooth sailing from here on out!

Writing & Publishing

Main goals:

Create five days a week – on track

Write Desertera #3 – on track

As I said above, I’m pleased with the progress I’m making on the novel so far. Even though only 13 days of the month were dedicated to Desertera #3, I wrote 12,798 words. When you factor in the nonfiction work I did (see below), I kept to my creation goal of averaging five days per week. It’s not the super-charged start I was hoping for, but I’m pleased with my progress and ready to take on February!

Business

Main goals:

Create freebie for Writing Newsletter – finished!

Make $2,000 from Boxthorn Press – slightly behind

Blog twice per week – on track

Maintain social media schedule – room to improve

Read 52 books this year – slightly behind

My biggest accomplishment in the business sector was writing and putting out 100 Blogging Ideas for Fiction Writers (the freebie for subscribers to my Writing Newsletter – see sidebar). I really enjoyed this task, because it helped get my creative gears spinning again, and I think it will be a useful booklet for other writers.

As for my financial target, I made enough in royalties to match my 2016 income, but not enough to reach my $2,000 goal for 2017. This is expected, as I’ve decided to concentrate my marketing budget around the launch of the third book, which I expect to make up the bulk of my revenue for the year.

My other business goals are also in decent shape. I published an average of two blog posts per week. My social media schedule slipped a bit, but I’ve gotten back on track now. Likewise, I’m not quite reading as much as I’d hoped (it’s tough to find time while in the first draft stage with a book), but I’m still making good progress.

Books Read:

Desecration (London Psychic #1) by J.F. Penn – 4 Stars

Delirium (London Psychic #2) by J.F. Penn – 5 Stars

Book in Progress: Deviance (London Psychic #3) by J.F. Penn

Next Up: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Personal

Main Goals:

Work on positivity – hahaha

Exercise 3x per week – starting to make progress

Break a bad habit – doing surprisingly well!

I’ll keep this section brief, because as much as I enjoy sharing my life with you, there are certain things I must reserve for myself. Suffice to say, I need to refocus on my positivity and up my gym attendance from 1-2 days a week to my goal of three. However, I’ve made a lot of progress with the habit I need to break, so that’s positive!

Goals for February

Continue drafting Desertera #3 (reach 40,000 words)

Catch up on lapsing goals (especially reading and exercise)

Work on balancing writing with other responsibilities

How has 2017 treated you so far? What are your goals going into February? Share in the comments!

Filed under: Fiction Blog, Writing Updates Tagged: author, business, drafting, dystopian, entrepreneur, fantasy, goals, month-end update, monthly update, reading, resolutions, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, writing

What Writing Taught Me About Exercise

[image error]Believe it or not, I used to be a “sporty” kid. Now, I’m not saying that I had great athletic talent (far from it), but I played basketball for seven years, tried cheerleading and volleyball for two, and rode horses competitively (and for leisure) until I went to university. However, somewhere along the way I lost touch with physical activity.

“Somewhere” means age 14 to 15. It started in freshman volleyball, when my coach played favorites (I was not one) and made the rest of the team miserable. Couple that with breaking my arm while horseback riding the following summer, and I was ready to give up sports. I went from a casual athlete to a proud, non-exercising emo kid (but that’s another story).

Since graduating university, I’ve tried to get back into exercise. It’s been a difficult journey, but I think I’m finally making worthy progress again. While I doubt I’ll ever be able to do the splits or run a mile again, I hope to be reasonably fit for my age and keep my body healthy.

[image error]So, what does all of this have to do with writing? A lot, actually.

In my efforts to rejoin the world of exercise, I’ve noticed numerous parallels between my “health” journey and my “writing” journey. For more on how exercise can help your writing (aka the reverse of this post), click here. Maybe some of them will help you with your own goals, or encourage you to break out that old notebook or yoga mat (whichever you need most).

Step 1: Labeling myself

I don’t believe that you can have success as a writer until you identify as a writer or as “someone who writes.” Making this simple shift enabled me to write my first novel. This same logic applies to my exercise goals. For the longest time, I saw myself as a gym outsider because I don’t identify as an athlete anymore. When I started thinking of myself as “someone who goes to the gym,” I suddenly felt the permission to go. Silly, but important.

Step 2: Choosing my “why”

While I love writing for fun, it was never reason enough for me to finish a novel. It was only when I set a specific, short-term goal (winning National Novel Writing Month) and a long-term goal (becoming a full-time author) that I finished a book. Similarly, when I tried to exercise just because I “should,” I rarely did. Now that I have specific, health-related goals, I’m much more motivated to exercise.

Step 3: Playing the long game

Like writing, exercise is a long-term goal. In order to see any benefit, you must commit to doing it every day (or several times a week). At first, this sucks. But, after I made exercise a regular part of my weekly schedule, both going to the gym and working out while there became easier.

[image error] Step 4: Finding a partner

My friend Jonas and I hold each other accountable to our writing goals. While we work separately, we’re walking the path to full-time authorship together. Similarly, my husband and I attend the gym together. Once there, we work out in separate spaces, but we both leave feeling encouraged and confident.

Step 5: Making good use of the time

A productive writing session consists of scheduling the time, planning the scene, then writing with 100% focus and 0% self-criticism. I’ve learned to apply this same system to my gym sessions. The only exception? If I focus on working out, I feel like passing out. Instead, I listen to podcasts or people watch.

Step 6: Forgiving lapses

If you fail to write, don’t guilt yourself. Promise to do better tomorrow. Same goes for exercise.

Step 7: Tracking my progress

I keep track of my daily word counts in a spreadsheet. This helps motivate me to grow my totals and avoid a “blacked-out” day on the calendar. I’m going to apply a similar, weekly system for exercise to keep myself on track.

Step 8: Learning from others

We’ve all seen those “writers” who constantly complain about writer’s block or their misbehaving muse and never write. On the other hand, we’ve all seen those non-stop superstars who we want to emulate. You’ll find those same people at the gym. Every session, I see people come in, do five minutes on the treadmill, and leave. But then there’s Stair Master Guy. He’s a middle-aged man who has been at the gym literally EVERY time I’ve gone – always on the Stair Master, always drenched in sweat. Now that is commitment I want to emulate.

While I have a good start on my writing journey, I still have a long way to go on the road to physical fitness. However, looking at the parallels between the two gives me hope. If I can go from a grumbling, suffering, wannabe writer to a published entrepreneur with two novels, surely I can go from couch potato to routine exerciser. Neither path is easy – but then again, I heard somewhere that nothing worth doing ever is.

So, take it from me. Whether you want to write a book, run a mile, or achieve some other dream, you can do it. The going is slow and difficult and not always fun, but you will get there with patience, commitment, and a positive attitude.

What writing lessons have proved useful in other areas of your life? What non-writing activities have taught you to be a better writer? Share in the comments.

Filed under: Writing & Publishing Articles Tagged: author, exercise, goals, gym life, habits, indie author, motivation, self-publishing, writer life, writing, writing advice, writing tips

Step Into My Office (Or, Where I Write)

[image error]As a reader, I love learning more about how my favorite books were written. Fun facts like how J.K. Rowling wrote the initial idea for Harry Potter on a napkin, or how Ernest Hemingway only wrote while standing (in a pair of oversized loafers, to be precise) always intrigue me.

I’ve shared by original inspiration for the Desertera series before (you can read about it here), but I realized I rarely talk about how or where I write. Admittedly, my “office” isn’t glamorous, but it’s gotten the job done twice now (14 times if you count my nonfiction projects).

[image error]Some writers swear by the coffee shop – the white noise, the social pressure to look busy, the caffeine! – while others can’t imagine writing in public. I used to be in the second group. In fact, when given the option, I’ll always choose to write in the solitude of my office (aka the spare bedroom my husband also works in), wearing my cozy sheep robe, with a steaming up of chai tea (made with almond milk, of course) resting on my Kansas coaster.

On the weekends, I get my way and can write in my private little haven. But you know what? Most of the time, I can barely drag myself to the keyboard. Between the adorable meows of my feline son Thomas, and the seductive “buh-uh” of Netflix (don’t look at me like that – you know the sound!), and the pathetic reality of the empty refrigerator, there are about a hundred distractions that keep me saying, “I’ll write later.”

Sometimes I do. Other times I don’t. It’s always a gamble, and the voice in my head has a fantastic poker face.

Luckily for my readers and my sanity, the weekdays arrive again. Every morning, I pack my trusty laptop in my bag. (Disclaimer: I’m obligated to mention that it was a birthday present from my husband and I love it.) Then, I head to the train station, find my favorite seat in the “quiet car,” and write for the entire ride to work – and again, on the way home.

If you ask me, I’ll tell you that I hate writing on the train. Bumpy spots in the tracks make me commit unforgivable typos, the doors let in chilly breezes, and the other passengers take up more than their fair share of seat space (Can’t they see I’m writing, here?). But remember, inner me can’t be trusted.

[image error]When it comes down to it, I actually love writing on the train. The quiet car provides that crucial white noise – you wouldn’t believe how easily you learn to tune out conductors and announcements. The other passengers, while not always respectful of my space, provide that awful social pressure. (After all, I can’t have my laptop out like some kind of professional and not work.) And, I have to admit, I get a burst of satisfaction whenever I catch the person next to me reading over my shoulder … especially when they have a kind smile on their face!

And yes, I have written steamy scenes on the train. And yes, making eye contact with strangers when I do is hella awkward.

But the best part of writing on the train? It alleviates my writerly guilt. Like when you curl up with a book and ignore your family or friends, writing is a solitary craft. I hate spending evenings or weekends locked away in my study when I could be spending them with my husband or our friends. As long as I can get a seat on the train, I can easily write 1,000 words during my commute. So, when I get home, it’s all about enjoying dinner and each other’s company (and yes, Netflix).

As I said, it’s not the most glamorous office, but it gets the job done. Hopefully, I’ll be able to prove that to you again in a few months!

Do you have any fun facts about the writing of your favorite books? Where do you feel most creative or productive? Any other questions for me? Share in the comments!

Filed under: Fiction Blog, Musings & Bookish Things Tagged: books, commute, fantasy, fiction, habits, indie author, inspiration, motivation, musing, office, routine, science fiction, steampunks, train, writing, writing space

How to Get a Great Cover Design for Your Self-Published Book

Readers do judge books by their covers, and your cover is your #1 marketing tool. For new independent authors, acquiring a book cover is a thrilling, but daunting, task. Once your book has a cover, it looks like a “real” book. The cover is something tangible you can show your friends and family — I know for me, my book cover reveal was the moment when my loved ones realized I had actually written a novel.

So, how do you find a talented and affordable cover designer? And when you do find one, how do you ensure that you end up with a great design? I’ll cover (pun recognized, but not intended) all of that in this article.

First, I want to clarify my position on self-designed covers: unless you’re a skilled graphic designer or have ZERO budget to spend, designing your own book cover is an unwise decision. Self-publishing doesn’t mean that you do everything yourself. It means commissioning other professionals to do what you cannot. You wouldn’t try to fix your car’s transmission without any mechanical knowledge, right?

[image error]Select Your Strategy

In independent publishing, there are two ways authors approach book cover design.

1. Save Now, Upgrade Later

Authors on a budget will often get the cheapest cover they can afford, with the intention of upgrading it once the book starts to make money. This saves you upfront, but could harm sales by giving readers an unprofessional impression. This is what I have done with my nonfiction booklets (examples left and below).

2. Spend Now, Save Later

Authors who can (or want) to get the best cover available will do so from the very beginning. They will spend more and therefore lose money on their book upfront. The idea is that the professional cover will pay for itself over time and be the best marketing tool for the book. This is what I do with my fiction novels (examples below).

Find a Designer

[image error]This is the hardest part of the cover design process. There are thousands of awesome (and not-so-awesome) designers out there. Where do you even begin? Well, here are my suggestions:

1. Set a budget

Cover design can get pricey, and you need that number set in stone before you fall in love with a design(er) you can’t afford. Consider how many books you would have to sell just to break even on the cover (let alone formatting, editing, etc.).

2. Ask around the community

Which designers do your author friends use? Does anyone in your friendship, family, or professional spheres do graphic design (a former coworker did my nonfiction booklets — for FREE)? What do members of forums or groups say?

3. Look at your favorite books

Browse Amazon (or your bookshelf) and pick out covers that fit with your genre or that appeal to you stylistically. Check the copyright page and/or acknowledgments for the designer. Some designers work for both traditional publishers and indie authors, so it’s always worth a look.

4. Search online.

That’s right: head to your favorite search engine and fire away. You’ll get flooded with options, but it’s worth doing the research: your cover is the FIRST impression readers receive of your book. Try searching for contests/awards also to find the top designers.

Choose a Designer

[image error]You’ve used the strategies above and have found a promising designer. How do you decide if this designer is right for your books? Here are things to think about:

1. Check out the portfolio

Are the covers well done? Do they catch your eye as a reader? Are there examples that fit with your genre? For example, if all the covers have bare-chested male models, this designer may not be great for your post-apocalyptic thriller.

2. Check the pricing and packages

First off, do the services fit within your budget? Second, what are you getting for your money? Does the designer only do ebooks, or can you get paperback and audiobook covers too? Do they offer any marketing materials, like banners or bookmarks?

3. Look for pre-made covers

Sometimes, designers offer pre-made covers. These are designs they’ve done for fun, or designs from other projects that were rejected. They’ll be cheaper than a custom design, but you may be limited in the revisions you can make.

4. Consider the policies

If you are unhappy, do you get a refund? If so, how much is it?

What down-payment is required? When is final payment due?

How many revisions do you get? What constitutes a revision?

How long does it take to receive a first draft? Is there a waiting list?

Do you get all the rights to the cover? Are stock image fees included in the price?

5. Read testimonials and reach out to other authors

Find out who the designer has designed for and send them an email to ask about their experiences. Most authors will be happy to share.

The Design Itself

[image error]Obviously, your cover designer should know how to bring your vision to life. But when you receive that initial draft, it’s important not to fall in love at first sight. The design may be gorgeous, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for your genre or book.

1. Does the overall design communicate the genre?

Show the design to a few people. Can they tell what genre your book is and/or the tone it conveys? If your design were on your category page for Amazon, would it look out of place?

2. Do the fonts and coloring communicate the genre?

You probably won’t want “Chiller” for your romance novel. Nor would you want a fancy cursive for your horror book. Likewise, your thriller will need dark, gritty colors, while your children’s book will need vibrant shades. There are exceptions, of course, but they’re rare.

3. Are the images fighting each other?

Make sure your cover has a single image that stands out as the star. If there is too much going on, it’s going to look muddled.

4. Speaking of the image, is it clear as a thumbnail?

On retail sites, your cover will be tiny when it appears in a search. Is the imagery still clear and eye-catching at thumbnail size?

5. Will this design style work for other books in the series?

Series covers don’t need to be exact replicas of each other, but they need to have similar elements that connect them (fonts, basic layout, etc.). If your book is the first in a series, consider whether this basic design will work for future books, too. You can see examples of my series covers in this post.

Conclusion

And there you have it! Those are my best practices for finding a designer and receiving an awesome cover design. If you have any questions about the cover design process, or have any other tips to share, please leave them in the comments!

Note: this post was first written for my Writing Newsletter subscribers. If you’d like more writing and publishing advice like this (plus my FREE 100 Blogging Ideas for Fiction Authors PDF), sign up here.

Filed under: Author Business & Publishing, Writing & Publishing Articles Tagged: book cover design, finding a cover designer, graphic design, independent publishing, indie author, indie publishing tips, self pub, self-publishing

Writing through Your Fear

Whether you’re a beginning writer or a seasoned veteran, writing can be scary. Fiction authors put out original imaginings that often hold deeper truths (or are falsely judged to reveal something about the writer). Nonfiction authors declare themselves an authority on a topic, who readers depend upon for knowledge or assistance.

When you think about it, that’s a lot of pressure (especially if you’re an independent author). It’s no wonder we writers get scared of our craft.

I’d like to tell you it gets better, that after the first novel the fear magically goes away. Maybe it does for some people. However, two novels and eleven nonfiction booklets in, I’m still nervous every time I sit down to write.

How Writing Fear Evolves Over Time

[image error]Before I had written my first fiction book, The Cogsmith’s Daughter, I feared I would never write a novel. I felt certain I would die with this ultimate goal, the one thing I felt meant to do, unaccomplished. Luckily, that didn’t happen. In fact, I went on to write a second book …

And I got even more scared. My fear evolved. I thought to myself, “What if that first book was a fluke?” and “What if everyone hates the sequel?” Now, as I write the third novel, the fear continues: “What if I grow to dislike this series? What if my readers don’t like the direction I take it? What if no one even reads it?”

Of course, my nagging thoughts aren’t limited to fiction. Every time I write nonfiction, I wonder who gave me the right to inspire or educate others (aka imposter syndrome). Who do you think you are, Kate?

When I try to market, specifically through paid advertising, it gets worse. “Why am I forcing my books on other people? What if I don’t earn back my investment? What if everyone who buys my books hates them?”

Don’t worry. I’m done sharing. (See? Even now I fear you’re judging me or growing bored!)

How to Overcome Your Writing Fears

[image error]First, if you’ve had similar feelings, know that you’re not alone. Second, know that, while your fear may never go away, you can write through your fear. How do you do that? Unfortunately, it’s one of those questions that you have to answer for yourself. But, here are some tips:

Know your enemy

You can’t fight an enemy that you can’t identify. Once you truly understand your fear, you can begin to move past it.

For example, I fear getting bad reviews, because they mean that people hate my books. But it’s not the reviews themselves I really fear. It’s rejection, judgment from others, and that I’m not as talented or intelligent as I want. At the very core of my fear is my own self-doubt. If I truly believed in myself and fostered more confidence, maybe I would be less scared of those inevitable bad reviews.

So, what do I do about it? I’m working on positive thinking to help me have confidence in the skills I currently have. More importantly, I’m continuing my education on writing craft to strengthen my abilities and grow confidence through experience.

What is it that you really fear, and how can you work through it?

Find a greater fear

Yes, bad reviews terrify me. But you know what’s worse? The idea of giving up on writing altogether.

Give this (morbid) exercise a try. Picture yourself about to die. Seriously, go all “writer” on it and set the scene as if it took place in your book. Now, with your death before you, answer what is worse.

Getting a rejection letter from an agent vs. hiding your manuscript on your hard drive

Encountering criticism from internet strangers vs. never meeting the people who love your books

Never drawing attention to yourself vs. never writing a single word

Are you really going to let fear stand in the way of what you want to do?

Drown out the negative thoughts

[image error]Most of my writing fear happens when I’m not actually writing. Those horrible words come to me when I first sit down at the keyboard, or when I’m trying to think through a troublesome scene while washing the dishes. A simple trick I’ve learned is to drown them out.

There’s lots of ways to do this. Start babbling aloud to yourself so you can’t hear yourself think. Scream “Stop! Stop! Stop!” inside your head. Turn on some music or a podcast. Try to recite the first page of your favorite novel.

I know it sounds silly, but anything you can do to stop the negative thoughts will help. Our brains love shortcuts. You see a growling dog, your brain says, “Run!” You see a pimple on your face, your brain says, “Ugly.” You go to write, your brain says, “You suck.” If you can retrain your brain to avoid negative thoughts (or even better, default to optimistic ones), you’ll also avoid the fear they bring.

Take inspiration from the experts

When all else fails, keep doing what you’re doing now — finding someone who understands and learning how they handle their own fear. Here are a few tried-and-true resources, available for free online or from your local library:

Making Fear Your Bitch by Jamie Davis — I almost didn’t write this article, because this podcast/transcript says it so much better. Seriously, that’s not insecurity talking; it’s just the truth. I’ve bookmarked it for future reference.

The Successful Author Mindset by Joanna Penn — A fantastic book. Penn shares her own fears (including excerpts from her journal), as well as addresses many other psychological issues that plague writers (e.g. perfectionism and the need for validation).

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield — Several writers swear by this as their go-to motivation book. Pressfield personifies fear as “Resistance” and covers all the ways you can and must defeat it.

You can put all of this into practice and start working through your fear today.

Take five minutes to identify the root of your fear, then imagine how your happiness would suffer if you continue to give into it. Then, drown out these thoughts with motivation and inspiration from others. And most importantly, write — even if it scares you.

Do it all again tomorrow. And the next day. As long as it takes.

Why? Because only you can tell your story. The world deserves your story, and you deserve the joy of writing it.

What fears plague you as a writer? How do you overcome your writing fears? Share your tips in the comments!

Filed under: Writing & Publishing Articles, Writing Craft & Tips Tagged: author, inspiration, Joanna Penn, motivation, self-doubt, steven pressfield, the successful author mindset, the war of art, writer, writers block, writing advice, writing fear, writing tips

Guest Post: Five Favorite Fantasy & Sci-Fi Worlds by Andrew Q. Gordon

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome author Andrew Q. Gordon to my website. He shares his five favorite fantasy and science fiction worlds. After you’ve checked them out, say hi in the comments and share your own favorite literary worlds!

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1) Middle-Earth: J.R.R. Tolkien may not have created the idea of world building in epic fantasy, but he is certainly one of the first names people think of when you say world building. I was 12 when my mother brought home the Fellowship of the Ring. I was so engaged my parents needed the jaws of life to get me away from the book. When I first read The Lord of Rings, there were no movies to taint my view of the Shire, Rivendell, Gondor, or the Misty Mountains. I had to ‘see’ those places in my mind. Decades later, I still see my vision of Middle-Earth and not Peter Jackson’s.

There is a deep history that seeps from the pages of the LOTR because Tolkien wrote an entire history for Middle-Earth before he finished the books. There is no info dump of backstory. Instead, it’s sprinkled throughout the books in a way that makes you want to get lost in this amazing world.

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Wikipedia

2) The Land: Another of my childhood favorites – Stephen R. Donaldson’s Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Although Donaldson followed the Tolkien playbook of an epic quest stretched over a trilogy, this was nothing like LOTR. There is so much to love about Donaldson’s world –the places, the beings, the people, and lore. Loric’s Krill, the Staff of Law, Berek Halfhand, the Bloodguard, Forestrals, and of course Lord Foul.

I’ll admit I wasn’t as fond of the Last Chronicles as I was of the First and Second, but Donaldson did use the last set of books to give us a more detailed look at the history of the Land. He used these pages to give depth to people and things we read about in passing in the first two books.

3) The Eternal Champion Universe. This is probably cheating because Michael Moorcock didn’t create one world for his champions (Corwin, Dorian Hawkmoon, Elric of Melnibone and others). Despite that, there is a common thread that ties them all together. Each of the heroes is a different aspect of the Eternal Champion. What makes this universe so brilliant is each champion is unique. This isn’t the same character transported across worlds. Corwin is nothing like Elric who isn’t like Dorian.

At one point, Moorcock brings the various champions together for a series and there is no confusion. Each character is distinct and defined. It is really hard to break this ‘world’ down because it is so diverse, but I remember how much I loved this author and his vision.

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Source

4) Amber: Roger Zelazny’s Amber. Amber is the one true world. Every other place is a ‘Shadow’ of Amber. The princes of Amber can move through the Shadows and create new worlds as they move. As many others will opine, the first five books in the series – commonly referred to as Corwin Cycle – were better than the second five books – the Merlin Cycle. The series also ended up feeling unfinished by Zelazny’s untimely death.

Zelazny wove many of the myths of Earth into the story arc, offering his own unique explanation on how they came to be. The Pattern, Court of Chaos, Logrus and how royalty walked the Shadows made this a must-read series.

5) Valdemar (Or for the true nerds, Velgarth): This one has a special place for me. When I picked up Mercedes Lackey’s Magic’s Pawn, the first book in The Last Herald Mage series, I had no idea Vanyel, the main character, was gay. It was high fantasy, it had magic, it was my kind of book. That Vanyel, the savior and not some throw away side character or evil maniac bent on destroying the world, made it special.

Lackey’s stories go backward and forward through her timeline. The way she seamlessly connects the dots, explains things we read about in one book by showing us the lives of new characters in other series was masterful. As with all things, there were books I enjoyed more than others, but the entire universe is magnificent. Although Valdemar is a kingdom and reads like a magical medieval nation, the Shin’a’in and Tayledras draw there heavily on Native American culture. Reading the entire library of her books you will see elements from many of Earth’s cultures and some that have no resemblance to anything we know. All in all, this is really magical world and one I could easily move to and be happy. (Assuming I got to give myself great power in the transition, of course.)

Honorable mentions: David Edding’s Belgariad Universe; Pern, by Anne McCaffery; The World of The Riddle Mater of Hed, Patricia A. McKillip; Dune, by Frank Herbert and Isaac Asimov’s vision of the Milky Way.

Author Bio

[image error]Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write. Andrew’s imagination has helped him create works of high fantasy, paranormal thrills and touch of the futuristic. To find out more about Andrew, follow him on his website or on Facebook (links below).

You can sign up for his monthly newsletter and get a copy of The Last Grand Master, Book One in the Champion of the Gods series: http://aqgsignups.getresponsepages.com

Follow Andrew:

website: www.andrewqgordon.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrewqugordon

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewQGordon

Filed under: Fiction Blog, Guest Posts, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Geeky Things Tagged: amber, andrew q gordon, books, bookworm, chronicles of thomas covenant, fantasy, fictional worlds, guest post, lord of the rings, reading, science fiction, the eternal champion of the universe, valdemar, world building

Indie Book Review: Winter of the Wolf by Christina Ochs

Winter of the Wolf by Christina Ochs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Winter of the Wolf is the fourth book in Christina Ochs’ Desolate Empire series. To be blunt, I have a lot of wonderful things to say about this book — only I can’t say any of them, for risk of spoiling the novel (and the entire series) for you.

What I can reveal is that it falls beautifully in line with the rest of the series. Winter of the Wolf is full of action, political drama, and jaw-dropping twists that literally made me shriek (and sometimes cry). Despite being a long novel (595 pages), it read incredibly quickly and left me wanting more.

And that’s all I will risk telling you.

That being said, I’m going to break from my usual, detailed review style and simply list the top five reasons you should be reading the entire Desolate Empire series.

It’s “clean” Game of Thrones. An epic fantasy world, inspired by a real-world war. Multiple kingdoms fighting for control of one empire. Political intrigue, bloody battles, dark magic, and a little romance. All in a family friendly, no cursing, fade-to-black package.
There’s a character for everyone. From the beautiful and savvy Princess Gwynneth to the brooding warrior Braedon Terris to the evil and manipulative Empress Teodora, you’ll find characters to love and love-to-hate. (Psst — sound familiar?)
You won’t be able to breathe. Between the tense political situations and the life-or-death action, the Desolate Empire series will leave you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you can breathe again, Ochs will give you another unexpected twist or a gripping cliffhanger. (For that reason, you’ll love to hate her, too. But mostly love!)
Each book gets better. Thus far, this is not one of those series with a weak link or two hiding in the middle. Every single book has been better than the last.
You can’t tell it’s self-published. As an independent author myself, I loathe to even make this point because it shouldn’t matter. However, for some readers it does. So, trust me — the writing is great, the plots are solid, and it far surpasses many traditionally published books I’ve read.

If this all sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. Do yourself a favor and buy these books today.

[image error]As always, the links throughout this review are Amazon Associate links. This means, if you buy the book, I receive a small percentage of the sale. However, you pay no more and the author receives no less. The author has not paid or incentivized me for this review — I do so purely to spread the word about a book I love.

Filed under: Book Reviews Tagged: 5 stars, amreading, book, book review, books, bookworm, epic fantasy, fantasy, fiction, five stars, historical, indie books, reading, self-publishing