Suzanne Rogerson's Blog, page 77

Fantasy Reads – `Ink and Bone’

Source: Fantasy Reads – `Ink and Bone’

When I read this review I immediately wanted to buy the book and start reading. It’s jumping to the top of my to read list!

How to survive publication day.

The day of your book launch can feel like Christmas Day; the huge build up and then it’s over. Whether it’s an anti-climax or your best day ever, here’s how to make it through.

Go out and forget your phone!   –   I did this by accident, but it gave me a few hours without internet access. No looking at your blog hits, no twitter, no chance to see how many copies you have or haven’t sold, or your book’s ranking on Amazon.
Make a day of it   –   Go out for lunch or dinner (or both) and celebrate. I went out to lunch with one of my writing friend’s / beta readers and she spoilt me rotten and made me feel very special.
Plan a little celebration in advance, have something to work towards   –   I’ve had a bottle of champagne in the cupboard for almost two years. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t open it until I’d landed an agent or got published in whatever format. I’ve often looked at the bottle and wondered if it would ever get drunk, so opening it on 16/11/15 had an extra significance.
Be brave and tell people around you   –   The day arrives and your book is on sale to the public. It’s one of the most important, life changing events you’ve ever experienced,  but the rest of the world just carries on as normal. It can feel like such an anti-climax, so having people congratulate you and wish you luck is a real boost.
Ask friends to spread the word   –   If you are lucky enough, you will know people who appreciate the achievement and want to tell the world. I’m very shy about telling people what I do, so I’ve been really lucky that others have been there to help me spread the word.
Some people just don’t understand   –   It takes time, often years of dedication to produce a novel, but not everyone will understand the hard work involved. Don’t let the lack of support get you down. Focus only on the positive.
Have other projects already lined up – There is a void left when the book you’ve been working on for years is published and you can’t tinker with it anymore. I’m grateful that I’ve got several novels written in draft that need editing. I can jump straight into them rather than be faced with the terrifying prospect of starting something from scratch.
Finally, enjoy the moment!   –   It’s over too quickly, so enjoy every second. You deserve it!

Next time I’ll share the things I wish I’d done before publication day.

 

Champagne time at last!

It’s taken a long time to get to this stage and I’m taking a moment to sit back with a glass of bubbly and enjoy the fact that I am now a published author.

Tomorrow I’ll begin the search for professional reviewers, submit a short story to a competition and hopefully make some headway in my novel attempt for NaNoWriMo2015. Then there’s the neglected housework – but I think that can wait a bit longer!

Thanks to all those that have helped make this happen, and to those who have supported me and spread the word.

Visions of Zarua by Suzanne Rogerson, Released today!!

Thank you, Thomas Brooke, for allowing me to guest post on your blog today.

Source: Visions of Zarua by Suzanne Rogerson, Released today!!

Visions of Zarua – Out Now!

Download your copy now from amazon  kobo  iTunes nook smashwords

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria.

Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate. Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer. The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

10 Top Tips for New Writers.

suzannerogersonfantasyauthor:

With just over 5 hours before my first fantasy novel goes live, I thought it was the perfect chance to share what I have learnt with all those aspiring authors out there.

Originally posted on suzanne rogerson fantasy author:

I’ve been writing over 20 years, and in the build up to self-publishing my first novel I would like to share what I’ve learnt.

 1. Online courses

I’ve completed both novel writing and short stories courses. You learn as you write and having your assignments critiqued by experienced tutors helps you improve as you go along. Online course can fit around your life, which was helpful to me with two young children.

 

2. Go to writing workshops and creative writing classes.

I’ve attended several terms of adult education classes over the years, and a couple of one day workshops. Meeting like-minded people was a real turning point for me. Critiquing and editing others work helps you look at your own work more objectively. Also having others critique your work helps you develop that famous thick skin all writers need.

I’ve made writing friends from classes too. It’s so…

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Business card anyone?

My business cards are here at last, along with a little indulgence – a poster I can look at to remind myself the book is really out there. It looks pretty good, shame I can’t have them plastered on the local buses and bus stops.

I had a result with the business cards, the original order was lost and had to be reissued. Now both have turned up, so I have 500 cards and no idea how to get them into the hands of readers. I tried my local library today, but they aren’t allowed to display them. My kids have asked for signed copies… only 498 to go.

Apart from stalking strangers in the street, does anyone have any ideas on how to distribute them?

I’m running out of marketing jobs, now it’s just counting down the hours… Sometimes I wonder why I opted to put the book on pre-order. It’s just prolonging my angst.

Time to concentrate on the next book I think. But do I go with the Bloodlines trilogy (I’m supposed to be drafting the 3rd book throughout November), finish and edit the novel I almost completed during NaNoWriMo a couple of years ago, or develop my 5k word short story, Death Dream, into the novella it deserves to be? So many choices…

I need to learn how to let go of ‘Visions’ and focus on the next project. My characters often meditate when they are troubled or need to focus, I wonder if that would work for me.

Does anyone have any tips?

Last minute book nerves and a call for advice.

Only 4 days to go and the champagne is on ice (well it’s in the fridge).

Ready for publication day!

I’ve been waiting for this day for as long as I can remember; to actually call myself a published author. But as we draw closer to the 16th November, I have to admit to the odd night of insomnia.

My marketing strategy, or lack of one, is the main source of my concern and the reason for this post. I would like to call on the blogging community for advice, and any tried and tested methods of reaching readers.

So far the ideas I have implemented are:

A paid Ad in the Dec 2015 Mslexia magazine
A feature in the Subscriber Spotlight Writing Magazine – the issue has yet to be confirmed.
A fellow blogger, Thomas Brooke, has agreed to run a blog post on the day Visions of Zarua is released.
I’ve ordered business cards with my book’s image, blurb and website etc. These have been lost in transit and re-ordered. I know they won’t help much, but I just wanted something physical to represent the book, and they are reasonably priced, if they ever turn up.
I have set up author pages on Amazon, Smashwords and Goodreads. I have completed interviews on the sites where possible.
I’ve tried to enrol in Amazon’s Search Inside, but something has delayed my application. Another thing to chase when I get the chance.

I’ve yet to call on any book reviewers – that will be my next step.

I also read a suggestion somewhere of setting up an author page on Amazon’s other sites i.e. .com .de .fr. So that is something else to look into.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Or would anyone consider running a post about the book during the first few weeks of its release?

Thanks to those who have been sharing and spreading the word. I appreciate your efforts.

I’ll leave you with this picture, I know I’ve used it before, but I love it. And I’m sure she could do a better job at marketing than me.

Length of #fantasy fiction

suzannerogersonfantasyauthor:

Since starting NaNoWriMo2015, I’m beginning to understand the draw of writing trilogies and series.

I decided to draft book 3 of my WIP ‘Bloodlines’ to see if a third book was warranted. I had no real plan, except that a distance, long forgotten enemy was going to make an unexpected return. The characters have come to mind so easily and have given me plenty of scope to carry on their stories. I know their pasts, their motivations and how they will react so it’s been easy to conjure scenes between them. Although I concluded book 2 happily, I’ve realised there are plenty of new challenges ahead for my characters. It’s been a pleasure allowing myself to write without censor and revisiting these characters has been a joy. I’m too far off the word count to complete NaNoWriMo, but I’m glad to be taking part. I should have planned to publish my first novel in a different month. That’s something to remember for next time.

Originally posted on suzanne rogerson fantasy author:

A recent blog on fantasy-faction.com got me thinking about the length of fantasy books.

They are usually weighty tomes, which I don’t have a problem with until you start building those into trilogies and series and clocking up thousands of pages.

I believe there should be more standalone novels in fantasy. It’s always sad when a book you’ve loved comes to an end, but isn’t it good to have closure? To know that the next book you pick up will be the start a new adventure with the author. To discover new worlds and find new characters to fall in love with.

I’ve even been put off starting series because the scale of them is just too daunting (Game of Thrones as an example, though I’ve loved the TV series). As an author I’m in awe of the skills involved in holding it all together, but as a reader I…

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Visions of Zarua – 1 Week to Go!

In just 7 days my book will be released.

I’ve put the first chapter on the website for those who want a sneak peek. You can also download a sample of the first 4 chapters on the Smashwords website. Samples can be downloaded in your preferred format.

Check out the links below.

Smashwords

Chapter 1

I hope you enjoy.