MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 38
February 11, 2012
Presales end in less than 16 hours
The Kickstarter ends tomorrow morning, and with it, presales. Yep, this is your last chance to get in on the presale.
Once it's done then I can start assembling the acknowledgments and get the final manuscript out to those who bought the right to read it in its unformatted state. I should have that ready to distribute early next week. I usually have typo notes back from the presalers in a week or two at the most, and then I can format the ebook and get it out to the rest of you--and start the serialization. The paperback should follow in about a month to six weeks depending on the typographer, cartographer and cover artist.
THIS IS IT, PEOPLE! BOOK TWO IS ALMOST HERE!
February 9, 2012
So, this happened...
I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I'll do something. You guys are awesome, amazing, astounding, and all those other A words. (Why do I not have a "kiss" smiley? this will have to do: 
)
February 8, 2012
Three days left to raise $250 at Kickstarter--and you don't need Paypal to do it!
The Kickstarter is about $250 shy of $5,000 now, with only three days and two naming packages left--one naming package purchase would put us over $5,000. You get a ton of stuff plus a book two character named after you or someone you love. I don't know what I'm going to do for everyone if we get to $5,000, but I'll do something. I thought about a video of me belly dancing but realize that's an anti-incentive. 
I'll do...something. Suggestions welcome.
Taslin, here on the site, said she hadn't become a backer because she has trouble with Paypal and that's all I take here on the site. But then she realized Kickstarter only takes credit cards via Amazon Payments, so no Paypal involvement at all! She became a backer. If Paypal's been stopping you, now you can get in on the awesome. The $30 reward package contains $50 worth of stuff (and it gets better as it goes), so you might wanna do that.
February 7, 2012
Only four days left to get in on the Kickstarter!
The Kickstarter is within range of $5,000. That's well over 300% funded. It's not likely to hit $5,000 in the four days left, but it's possible! Two naming packages remain. The average backer's giving $30 or so, and this is what they're getting for the money:
--Books one and two in ebook form ($10)
--High-res digital copy of the world map, drawn by Robert Altbauer ($5)
--Choice of one of ten of the original high-res character studies by Alice Fox ($5)
--The complete audiobook of book one ($20)
--Whithorse, a brought-up-to-canon collection of short stories set during Temmin's childhood ($2.95)
--The raw manuscript within hours of my dotting the last "i", and acknowledgment in the book (priceless!)
So that's nearly $50 worth of stuff for $30! Add another $30 and you get all that plus an autographed book 2 and a printed copy of the world map. That's $80 worth of stuff for $60! And it gets more awesome the higher up the rewards packages get.
There's enough coming from this that for once I'll get something from it. This is gonna be my present to myself, in burgundy. It'll double as the dress I want for the 10th anniversary of my first heart attack in April.
Four more days, folks, and that's it. You won't get me blathering on about this any more, and you'll have to pay retail for all the awesome extras. Everyone who's backed me so far: I LOVE YOU MADLY!
January 31, 2012
You guys! We're over $4,000 at Kickstarter!
I can't believe this! When I launched the Kickstarter on the 13th I figured it would take the full 30 days to make it to the target of $1,500. It was the bare minimum I needed to finish the book up, and in retrospect it wasn't enough; as usual I forgot to factor in taxes because I'm one of those fuzzy-headed creative types.
So imagine my shock when today we crossed the $4,000 mark, with 11 days left in the fundraiser.
I'm running out of adjectives for this.
Thank you. I hope the book lives up to your expectations, folks. I'm almost done, like it goes to the betas for a final check-through in about two hours.
January 24, 2012
A new project: Team-written fantasy
I just agreed to something that should be pretty damn fun for the writers as well as the readers. I'm collaborating with four other fantasy writers to produce a series of novels in a shared universe. We're creating the universe right now and as details become available I'll share them with you. For now, here are my collaborators:
Charlotte English, author of the Draykon series
Joseph Robert Lewis, author of the Halcyon series
January 22, 2012
And now the fun begins
I got the book 2 manuscript back from Annetta Ribken and now comes the fun part, by which I mean the part where Mei forgets to eat and sleep and tortures herself. Oh wait, that's any time I'm writing.
ANYWAY, just a quick update. This thing is getting close. I'm shooting--praying--for late February for the ebook/return of the serialization, and April for the paperback. We'll see. I literally haven't opened the file yet. I'm terrified...
Update: I've read through Netta's notes. Really not that many. I'm going to (try to) take my time, since I have it; my deadline is when the Kickstarter finishes, right around Valentine's Day. The trick is always not tinkering too much.
January 20, 2012
Kickstarter update: Holy Hannah!
There are still 22 days left on the Kickstarter, and the total stands at $3,552 as of this writing. That's 236% more than I asked for, and I'm really happy because what I asked for was so bare bones I would still have been out of pocket for part of the book's productions (if you include the audiobook for book one especially). This is insane and wonderful and I'm verklempt and grateful like you wouldn't believe.
Since we made it to $3,500, all of the bonuses have been unlocked. This is what each package gets now:
PLEDGE $5 OR MORE: Book 1 ebook as soon as the project funds and a high-resolution digital file of the world map of Tremont
PLEDGE $10 OR MORE: All the above and finished book 2 ebook
PLEDGE $30 OR MORE: All the above, your name in book 2's acknowledgments, a new collection of rewritten prequel stories called "Whithorse," the book one audiobook, a high-resolution digital file of your choice of ten character studies, and the raw manuscript with 24 hours of its finishing
PLEDGE $60 OR MORE: All the above, a printed poster of the world map, and an autographed book 2 paperback
PLEDGE $100 OR MORE: All the above, an autographed book 1 paperback and digital copies of all ten character studies
PLEDGE $250 OR MORE: (limited to 5 people--ONE LEFT): All the above, and your name "Tremontine-ized" and used for a walk-on character (author's choice; character may not reflect you personally)
PLEDGE $500 OR MORE (limited to 2 people--TWO LEFT): All the above, a 15-minute Skype chat with the author, and your name "Tremontine-ized" and used for a minor secondary character instead of a walk-on (author's choice; character may not reflect you personally)
PLEDGE $1,000 OR MORE (limited to 1 person--TAKEN if you can believe it): All the above, your name "Tremontine-ized" and used for a major secondary character in book three instead of a book two character (author's choice; character may not reflect you personally), and a 30-minute Skype chat with the author instead of a 15-minute chat.
If you've already bought a presale, you'll get the same things others at the equivalent prize levels get. If you've bought a presale and want a rewards package at Kickstarter, you can do that and when the project funds I'll refund your money from the presale. Future presales for book two will NOT contain the Kickstarter goodies.
When we do this for book three, I'll probably flip it: First at Kickstarter for big packages and then here for more modest ones--but for the same amounts as before. That gives people an incentive to Kick, I figure. I dunno, I'm just figuring these things out as I go along! I'd like to pretend I know some big secret, but I really don't.
I get the book back from Netta any day now, and then life becomes interesting again. And for those who've asked, yes, Scryer's Gulch is coming back, probably in the space between finishing the book one edit and starting recording of the book one audiobook.
January 16, 2012
So, this happened: Kickstarter money bomb (updated x2)
Update 1: I've decided on some non-tangible bonuses in the form of high-res character study art from Alice Fox's original set. The tangibles are starting to cut into money I actually need. So if you're curious, check the Kickstarter page.
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The Kickstarter is at $3,000-plus. I got money bombed this morning with a $1000 donation, a $250 donation and a bunch of smaller donations. "Smaller" being relative at present. o_O
So now all the bonuses have been unlocked; all Kickers get a high-res digital file of the world map; Kickers at $30 and above (and the $25-and-up presalers) get the audiobook of "Lovers and Beloveds" and the rewritten prequel set of stories from Temmin's childhood (tentatively titled "Whithorse Stories"); Kickers above $100 get a printed poster of the world map--I hope. That last is dependent upon printing costs. I haven't priced it out yet.
I need new bonuses. Suggestions so far:
--Bookmarks. I'm definitely doing this. They'll be exclusive artwork and available only to Kickers and presalers.
--Incense. This would have to be if we go way over where we are now. Where we are now, as awesome as it is, will mostly go toward audio gear and map printing costs. Neya's incense is white flowers--tuberose, gardenias, etc.--and something bitter like myrrh; Nerr's is resins and woods with the bitterness. Sadly (?), it would not be hallucinogenic.
Other ideas? T-shirts?
I'm not expecting to go to $4,000. Though at this rate, who knows. All of my wildest imaginings have been met and surpassed. I kinda hope I do, because as things stand the extra money is almost eaten up with audio gear, computer upgrades, freelancer fees and printing costs. Not that I'm complaining; the map really needs finishing and I really need the audio gear to do the audiobook/podcast and I really didn't have the money to do either. It'd be nice, though, to have enough left over to tip Netta (she's been there for me every step) and go out to dinner or something.
Update 2: I'm a Staff Pick today on Kickstarter! eee! I think it even got me a couple of backers. If you're still on the fence, check out all the rewards. You get hyooge piles of stuff now. If you're a presaler and want to move your backing to Kickstarter, let me know and I'll refund you when the Kickstarter funds.
So, this happened: Kickstarter money bomb (updated)
Updated: I've decided on some non-tangible bonuses in the form of high-res character study art from Alice Fox's original set. The tangibles are starting to cut into money I actually need. So if you're curious, check the Kickstarter page.
---
The Kickstarter is at $3,000-plus. I got money bombed this morning with a $1000 donation, a $250 donation and a bunch of smaller donations. "Smaller" being relative at present. o_O
So now all the bonuses have been unlocked; all Kickers get a high-res digital file of the world map; Kickers at $30 and above (and the $25-and-up presalers) get the audiobook of "Lovers and Beloveds" and the rewritten prequel set of stories from Temmin's childhood (tentatively titled "Whithorse Stories"); Kickers above $100 get a printed poster of the world map--I hope. That last is dependent upon printing costs. I haven't priced it out yet.
I need new bonuses. Suggestions so far:
--Bookmarks. I'm definitely doing this. They'll be exclusive artwork and available only to Kickers and presalers.
--Incense. This would have to be if we go way over where we are now. Where we are now, as awesome as it is, will mostly go toward audio gear and map printing costs. Neya's incense is white flowers--tuberose, gardenias, etc.--and something bitter like myrrh; Nerr's is resins and woods with the bitterness. Sadly (?), it would not be hallucinogenic.
Other ideas? T-shirts?
I'm not expecting to go to $4,000. Though at this rate, who knows. All of my wildest imaginings have been met and surpassed. I kinda hope I do, because as things stand the extra money is almost eaten up with audio gear, computer upgrades, freelancer fees and printing costs. Not that I'm complaining; the map really needs finishing and I really need the audio gear to do the audiobook/podcast and I really didn't have the money to do either. It'd be nice, though, to have enough left over to tip Netta (she's been there for me every step) and go out to dinner or something.
