Barbara G. Tarn's Blog, page 139
January 10, 2014
Random Friday
Art Friday AND someone’s birthday, so…
Aapko Janamdin mubaraq ho, Hrithik!
(with special thanks to Shafali, since my Hindi still sucks).
Last drawing of 2013 (this is the version with the digital background – for the original, go to DeviantART):
Here’s to a very happy birthday, Hrithik, and don’t worry, life starts at 40! 
So, it’s official I have two muses – see my first order of the year?
Probably both will arrive next week… hopefully… who knows… AHEM! Where was I! Oh, yes, Art Friday. Okay, the first drawing of 2014 wasn’t as good as the last of 2013, but well… it’s because my hairdresser hadn’t cut my bangs yet, so I couldn’t see properly! (See how good I am at finding excuses? Yes, I’m very creative…)
Took me less than 3 hours, and it shows. Meh. I’ll do better next time.
Now, since it’s Art Friday and some of you might want to learn to draw… caricatures, please note that my dear friends Shafali has published an excellent e-book on how to do it. Check Evolution of a Caricaturist on Amazon.com (or your own Amazon shop if you have any)! 
BTW, Shafali, still waiting for Birthday Boy caricature (might put a smile on his face as well), when you have time… I want to put it next to Keanu’s! Have a great weekend, everyone! 
January 8, 2014
Writer Wednesday
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth is now available on Kindle, B&N, Smashwords, DriveThruFiction and eventually Kobo and Apple. I’ve struggled with the CreateSpace template again – had to put back the italics to keep the formatting, like I did with the previous two, but now I’m waiting for the proof. I did less attempts with the cover template, since I found another way of doing it that took less tweaking (or I’m getting better at it).
What I don’t like of CreateSpace is that you can’t have a cart and buy one copy of all your books. You have to order proofs (max.5, who needs that many anyway) one by one, which means each book comes with it’s own mailing expenses. I wanted to order a final version of Star Minds Snippets, but now I’m wary, since I can’t order it along with the proof of Male Lovers. Maybe I’ll have to do a few more attempts in the CS dashboard before I become familiar with it – Lulu is definitely easier.
Anyhow – writing-wise, I’ve finished translating Star Minds in Italian, so maybe I’ll write a short story in English before starting with the Snippets translation. I have an idea wandering in my head, but I might need to solidify it more before I start writing. Da New Muse is already at work, sigh.
Writerly links of the week! :) Kris Rusch’s discoverability part 5 – here’s a few more writer’s wisdom for you:
Because, in the arts, all we have is our individuality. The minute you try to do something the same way someone else did—from composing a story to choosing a genre to marketing your work—you’ve failed.
The first rule of being an artist is to be an artist.
What you’re creating is unique, because it’s yours. Your job as an artist is to always strive to tell your stories in your way. Who cares if fat fantasy novels are selling right now? Who cares if none of your friends read romance?
Write your books.
And always work to improve.
Actually, I wanted to highlight half the post, LOL! And then you have Dave Gaughran on marketing – I’m not really enjoying it, and I’m not doing any of the things others do, except hanging out on Goodreads. Maybe I should try BookBub or ENT (or maybe not, ENT, like Fussy Librarian, wants at least 10 reviews, and none of my books has that mani – and I’m told it’s not easy to get featured on BookBub), or buy his book “Let’s get visible”! Maybe I will put a marketing plan in this year’s resolution, or maybe not. As usual, I’d rather be off writing.
How to keep your writing going for all 2014 by Dean Wesley Smith – in case you don’t have a routine yet. I do report to you guys, and I’m following idea #4 since 2012. Yep, I published approximately 25 titles per year since (although even my first year, 2011, was more than 20, even if they weren’t scheduled every two weeks like the following years). Might not all be in English, but well… still count as titles up! And no, I never show WiPs, only the completed manuscripts!
Joe Konrath’s publishing predictions for 2014 with Dean’s comments. I don’t know what will happen with the POD books – I know I’ve sold none so far, but I’ll keep offering the printed version for the longer works. I hope to get to the Oregon coast for another workshop and then there’s Loncon, where I might have a couple more panels and maybe bring a printed book or two. But that’s in 8 month, so plenty of time to think about it! By the way, if other SFF authors are going to London next August, get in touch with me and let’s talk about it!
Have a great week!
January 5, 2014
Sunday Surprise
And let’s start the new year with some writerly quotes! Here’s to a productive writing year to all the writers out there!
I love writing. I loved it for the 12 years where I didn’t sell a single thing, and I’ve loved it for the 12 years I’ve been a professional. I have all the conceits that every writer has. I think about my characters as if they’re real people. I dream about scenes. I secretly believe my stories are the best in the world. I laugh at my own jokes, cry at the emotional parts, and often dislocate my elbow patting myself on the back after a good bit of dialog or a fun twist. Being a writer does more than define me; it isn’t a job, it’s a way of life. And when I put my life out there for the world to see, I want it to be the very best that I am capable of. I want readers to enjoy it as much as I have. I want every chapter, every scene, every sentence to be deliberate, to convey exactly what I want it to convey.
- Joe Konrath
Agents and editors think they know what readers want. They don’t always know. Readers know what readers want, and they’re expressing their wants by buying books written by indie authors. Give yourself a hardy pat on the back if you’ve completed a manuscript, but the big applause goes to our devoted fans and readers. Without them, we would be nothing.
- Carol Davis Luce
“The point here is that you do not have to feel as though you are in competition with the entire world. You don’t NEED the entire world to be a successful writer. What you need is an audience—just enough of an audience, mind you—who reads your words, is changed by them and wants to come back for more.”
- Tracy Hickman
An audience can’t be goosed. The audience must be built. And then it must be nurtured. Audiences aren’t fickle. They’ll return when they see a notice of something new from one of their favorites. But if their favorites cease to produce, the audience will move onto something else.
Because you must remember one thing about any audience: its free time and its entertainment dollars are finite. So if you fail to produce work your audience loves, eventually your audience will move onto other things. It won’t abandon you: audiences are very loyal. But your audience will think you abandoned it.
- Kris Rusch
It’s hard to fault his dollars-and-cents logic. But when I start thinking along these lines, I try to take a step back and remind myself that I never got into this business for the money in the first place. I became a writer so that I could do what I wanted, and if I reach a point where my “success” as a writer keeps me from doing what I want to do, there would seem to be something seriously wrong with the turn my career has taken.
- Lawrence Block
January 2, 2014
Random Friday
Let’s call it a reading post. I found this survey on Goodreads and at first was reluctant to do it, but then I started reading an unscheduled book, so I filled it in – except for the last question where I hope it’s clear I don’t give a shit about any of those, so I just put a diagonal line of dots because they wouldn’t close the survey if I didn’t answer that.
So I’ve read one last book half last year and half this year, quite quickly because I was having so much fun. I haven’t really finished it yet, since yesterday I re-read the next title coming out soon (and even found a couple of darn typos in the only unpublished/new story), but I sure hope to finish it by Sunday!
I don’t do reviews anymore, but I hope to interview the author soon, so you’ll get to know this gal’s sense of humor that is very similar to mine (i.e. different from the rest of the world – gotta love being an outsider!). It’s labelled YA (well, the protagonist is 15), but since it’s not your usual high school story, I really enjoyed it.
Now I really should go back to my TBR list on my Kindle… I just couldn’t quit that one after downloading a sample (that’s why I won’t even start on the other sample, or it will upset my reading schedule again, haha!)! Since December is a depressing month for me, a humorous book was just what I needed (as well as a short humorous comic of my own, hehe).
I spent New Year’s Eve yawning and listening to music, because I didn’t get any sleep in the afternoon – too busy drawing and typing and whatnot – and managed to get some sleep at 1am. I’ll post the results some other time. Since I plan on doing a lot more for my graphic novel this year, I’ll have to schedule the colored pencils drawings – no more than 2 a month!
I started on the DVD pile as well, and watched English Vinglish. A lovely and touching story of (mis)communication also with loved ones. And it has New York. And for those of you (mostly Westerners) who hate item songs and Bollywood numbers, there’s none. Just songs like in a Hollywood movie. So it’s recommended all over the world – especially to non-native English speakers!
My English is good, but sometimes I also got stuck (either because jet-lagged or otherwise tired) with people who kept repeating the same words that I didn’t understand, so I knew what Shashi was going through. I love those multi-language movies (like Babel) and I’m glad the “love interest” was French, since there were no subtitles for the French lines. And for once they weren’t talking in two different languages and made sense, since they didn’t understand each other. But like a friend says, sometimes just listening to the sounds and tone of voice gives out much of the meaning without understanding the words.
Have a wonderful weekend – a long one in Italy, since Jan.6 is National Holiday, yay!
January 1, 2014
Writer Wednesday
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Did you celebrate much? I didn’t – I don’t care! I’ve managed to sit and do some scheduling for the new year during the Holidays, though, so here’s a tentative calendar of writing and publishing by yours truly.
Write: 2 B.G. Hope titles (the third body switch + 1 M/M romance). 4 Amazons anthologies (Silvery Earth, the first is almost complete. It’s mostly short stories and some novellas). Star Minds Next Generation (looking forward to tell you about Shan-leo and Dadina in their teens and beyond!).
June will be drawing month when I’ll do at least one chapter of S.K.Y.B.A.N.D. and letter Fleur de Lys 3-4-5. I hope to have them all out by the end of the year (S.K.Y.B.A.N.D. 14 & 15 and Fleur de Lys 3-4-5). There will also be a collection of vignettes and humoristic comics that I’ve done now (well, the last bit – the first being from 1998, so really “15 years of creative barbwire”).
Publish: I have only the first six months at this time, the rest is still quite foggy. I’m planning one POD a month until June, 1 with CreateSpace (because it’s an English title), 1 with DriveThruComics (because it’s a comic, and another might come through in the second half of the year if I manage to finish S.K.Y.B.A.N.D. – that would be Omnibus 3), and 4 with Lulu since it’s Italian titles and mailing expenses are cheaper from Lulu (sorry, Mighty Zon, but you still serve America more than the rest of the world!).
First title of the year will be “Male Lovers of Silvery Earth” out really soon, so stay tuned. Then I’ll have some Italian titles (translations of Star Minds, mostly…) and the next English title will be those “15 years” sometimes in February. Amazon Spring should come out in April, with the others coming in June, September and December. The Next Generation will be out at the end of the year.
Phew! Those new year’s resolutions are tough! Now I should learn to add better tags to the posts, so those stupid ads will have something really in common with the post. I don’t want to upgrade to the add-less WP yet. Besides spam comments (and visits) went down after I decided to close the comments on posts older than 30 days – so I guess all those visits were just spam bots. Sigh.
Dec.2013 was the lowest in a whole year…
I won’t share the WordPress year in blogging because in spite of having more than doubled the total visits this year, the images shared are better forgotten (like the OLD cover of Ciaran&Harith that should disappear from the internet… it’s not even in my images archive anymore! Where or why did they choose it anyway?!)…
Closing with the usual writerly links… David Farland’s be original. Kris Rusch’s discoverability (kinda) and check the link in the comments about the bundle of sticks. Finally, Mark Coker’s predictions for 2014 – I especially like the last one, although my plans in that department are still a little fuzzy. But I want to write more new stories and less rewriting/translations!
Back to brainstorming the latest popcorn kitten… Here’s to a great 2014 for everyone! Cheers!
December 29, 2013
Surprise Sunday
And it’s the last words of wisdom or writers on writing of the year. Here’s to a wonderful 2014, with more writerly quotes and tips from writers!
Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he’ll eventually make some kind of career for himself as a writer
- Ray Bradbury
I should think it extremely improbable than anyone ever wrote simply for money. What makes a writer is that he likes writing. Naturally, when he has written something, he wants to get as much for it as he can, but that is a very different thing from writing for money.
- P.G.Wodehouse
Any writer who puts food on the table with their writing is successful. It doesn’t matter if it is a box of mac and cheese, or caviar and champagne. Taking your career into your own hands, giving it your best shot, striving to do better… that’s the American Dream, baby.
Bestsellers? Fuck bestsellers.
Don’t let me, the NYT Times, or the pinheads in legacy publishing make you feel inadequate because you aren’t a millionaire yet.
You are part of a revolution that is going to change how the entire world reads.
Your ebooks will continue to earn money, forever.
Be proud. You are a success.
– Joe Konrath
In the interest of being controversial, let me restate my feeling about digital publishing: Authors produce the product. Readers consume the product. Everyone else: Lead, Follow or Get The Hell Out of the Way.
- Bob Meyer
1. Keep writing. Writing is my sanctuary from the stresses of the day. Writing is where my thoughts play out on the page. Writing is an act of creation, where worlds form, where characters play and live. Writing keeps me sane.
2. Do what you can do. No one can really ask more than that of anyone. If I can’t write for a day or a week, I shouldn’t feel guilty about it. If all I can manage is ten minutes a day, then I better be ready when that ten minutes comes.
– Stephannie Beman
December 27, 2013
Random Friday
I wanted to do a “year in review” for books and movies, but I don’t think I have much to say about movies, since I went to the cinema once (well, twice, but it was to watch the same movie) and I still haven’t started the DVD pile I got in London (and I even added to it with Xmas presents and other buys, sigh). So I’ll just make a reading year in review, since I deleted my Goodreads Reading Challenge sometimes at the beginning of the year (or at least in the first half), but I still think it’s worth to point which were my favorite books of 2013.
I’ve read 28 ebooks, 5 PODs and 5 manuscripts (+ my own manuscripts: 2 novel-length, 5 novellas and 5 shorts). Of the manuscripts, 2 have been published, 1 is the beta-reading I did for some Wyrd Words authors and 2 more, haven’t heard from the authors, so dunno if they’re out or not.
In order of reading, this is a list of the 5stars I have virtually given this year – anything lower won’t be listed!
Ashes of Deceit (Amaranthine #5) – Joleene Naylor (that’s one of the titles I beta-read, so I haven’t read the final version, but I enjoy the series, so I know it can only get better when Jo decides to put it out there, LOL!)
Wickedly Charming – Kristine Grayson (hilarious POD that I bought way back in 2011 when I went to the Oregon Coast). Will have to check more of this series!
Monarch by Michelle D Argyle (I waited for a long time because I feared it wouldn’t me my cup of tea. It was. I should trust my author friends more, even when they switch genres!)
Be my alien by M.A. Church (short and hot M/M erotica – if that’s your cup of tea, that is)
The lost gateway by Josephine L. Brooks (another author of Tim Flanagan’s Kindle SFF event last July – still have a few to read from that day)
1984 by George Orwell (yeah, I’m catching up with the classics… and we are living 1984, so it was creepy and cool at the same time) especially coupled with (non-fiction) Tales from the Time-loop by David Icke (who often refers to it)!
And the other title that I beta-read is Body Check by D.H.Hendrickson, out now on Amazon. If you’re a sports and romance buff, go get it now!
Following last year’s similar post, here’s the hopes of reading for 2014. This is currently my TBR list:
10 POD books (including Game of Thrones that I bought in London at least 2 years ago, and will probably never get to it because it’s a door-stopper!)
almost 40 books to read on my Kindle (including 13 non-fiction and 12 classics)
almost 40 books on my Smashwords library (a.k.a. wishlist)
25 books on my Goodreads “want-to-read” shelves (and no, they don’t overlap with Smashwords, I add there the books that are not available on SW)
My goal for 2014 is to at least finish what’s still to read on my Kindle, especially the fiction titles. Half the non-fiction and half the classics would be a good count too. So that’s about 25 books. I can do it!
By the way, I just got a special offer: FREE steampubk short stories! Haven’t read them yet, but if you want, go grab them!
If you got an e-reader for Xmas, go get yourselves some of my books. If you don’t have a calendar for next year, gentle reminder I have 2 available, Keanu Reeves & Hrithik Roshan. Stay tuned for Barb’s adventures with those two (in my dreams, of course)! I’m not the best artist of the world, but the calendars will color your days!
See you next year!
December 25, 2013
Writer Wednesday
Merry Christmas! Yes, this is a scheduled post, but so are all the others, so don’t worry, I’m probably still in bed when this comes out (not because I’m asleep, but because I tend not to get out of bed before 9am, unless I have DayJob or an impending deadline! And neither are for today). As Xmas post, I’ll deal with this year’s sales – much like I did last year at some point. Get ready for the staggering numbers and wondrous amounts of money I have gathered this year!
It all started with an email dated Dec.17:
Hello,
We’d like you to know about an important update to your Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account. As of December 16, 2013, the minimum threshold amount has been removed for accounts selecting Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) as their payment method.* You will now be paid 60 days after the month your royalties are earned without needing to meet a minimum threshold amount prior to receiving payment.
You will receive an EFT payment from KDP for any royalties earned that were previously under the minimum threshold. To see if you have royalties awaiting payment, check your Royalty Reports at: http://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/reports
While there is no action necessary, you can review or update your EFT banking information by Amazon marketplace any time, by visiting the “Your Royalty Payments” section in your KDP Account at: http://kdp.amazon.com/account
Kind regards,
The Kindle Direct Publishing Team
Since, I’ve been receiving lots (well, 7) of emails from them. The last batch made me realize that I had 2 sales in 2012 I wasn’t aware of, one on Amazon.de and one on Amazon.es. And I thought I sold only on Amazon and Amazon UK (+ Amazon Italia since August)! That’s a nice Xmas present, thank you, Mighty Zon. The highest amount paid by EFT is less than 50euros, the smallest being less than 50cents (of euros). I really should have framed that Amazon check I received last April, LOL!
Anyhow, sales for 2013! Welcome Kobo Writing Life (I joined November 2012, but it started making a difference in sales only this year)! Most of my Italian sales are on Kobo. The rest is split between Smashwords and Amazon.com. A little over 100 actual sales (not downloads, I mean sales, although half of the Smashwords sales are usually 50% off during the ebook weeks – still brought in a few cents or $).
KDP 24
SW 20 with 50%off, 14 full price
Other distributors 30 (KWL 18)
I can’t access KWL dashboard (it keeps telling me that they couldn’t load my December sales) and I might have a return on Apple (does Apple allow returns? I know I had one in December on Amazon.com, but Apple?), so that’s up to mid-December. I’m not counting the gifted copies and free downloads (4 of Technological Angel during the short sale).
I published 25+ new titles again, ranging from comics/graphic novels, to short stories, novellas, anthologies and novels. I now have 65 titles in the “My Books” folder on my Kindle Keyboard. Plans for next year, again, in January – that’s actually a nice New Year post, LOL!
Last writing links of the year – Kris Rusch on discoverability part 4 because she mentions how bad writers are on TV, which reminds me of Masterpiece (where you’d never see me) and the comment by a friend who said “It’s for those writers who are also entertainers/prima donna/outgoing (i.e. definitely not me). So I’ll just stick to my writing cave, and readers will find me. I’m already shivering in anticipation and fear for the panels I’ll hopefully be on at Loncon!
I politely disagree with point 2 of David Farland’s tips on deciding what to write. If I were to write for the market, I’d never be writing. But I understand he says this for whoever wants to break into traditional publishing or is a slow writer and needs to focus on something that sells. I write what I want to read, and if I don’t sell millions of copies (although I wouldn’t mind going a little higher than a hundred spread on 60+ titles, LOL!), I’m fine. That’s why I’m indie in the first place, traditional publishers would never publish me, neither in English speaking countries nor in Italy.
One last writerly link – Michael Connelly interview. Just love the part of writing momentum. Have a Wonderful Christmas and Boxing Day or whatever it is you celebrate (if you celebrate at all)!
