S.C. Mitchell's Blog, page 45
July 24, 2012
Am I really here?
I just finished up a radio interview. It was an amazing moment. Yup, it’s just my local, small market radio station, but still…I was interviewed as the author of three books. I have an appointment on Thursday with a reporter from my local newspaper. In two weeks I have a ‘meet the author’ at my local public library. Sure it’s just a small step on my journey, and nowhere near where I want to end up, but as I look back just six months ago (before I published Swiftly Beats the Heart) I find myself happy with the progress I’ve made.
I am rarely satisfied with where I am – always wishing I could write faster, publish more. There is always so much more I want to do. But I think for right now, today, I will be happy with where I am.
Until next time,
Steve
July 23, 2012
The world keeps moving
As I have aged I have noticed how much harder it is becoming to embrace new technology and ideas. It is so much easier to stay in my well-worn groove. But the world moves on, and if I am to continue on my path, I know I must occasionally exit my comfort zone and explore new areas. A year ago this blog was a big step into the unknown. Yesterday I took two large steps into new realms. The first I posted about – I tweet. I have started ‘following’ people that interest me. To my surprise, people have already started to ‘follow’ me. At the time of this posting I have 8 followers, only 2 of them are people I know. So Twitter is not so scary anymore.
My second step yesterday was to purchase a domain, and begin the process of setting up my web site. This presents a real challenge for me, and there are a number of hurdles I will need to jump before www.scmitchellauthor.com is a real thing. (www.scmitchell.com was already taken) Originally, I planned to use this blog as my website until I had made it big, then hire some company to build my web site. But this blog has limitations. I need a separate page for each book I publish, and the room to expand beyond one layer. So to that end, and with a little help from my friends, I am going to learn how to set up and administer a web site.
The world moves on. I must move on with it, or stagnate. This was brought home to me clearly yesterday after taking these two big steps. I was standing in line at the grocery store, wondering if I should have taken those two big steps. I had my groceries on the check-out counter and my credit card in hand, as an older woman stood in line in front of me writing out a check for her purchases. She had to ask the checker the date, and spent quite a bit of time writing out the check, that the checker had to then process through the cash register reader. “Why doesn’t she just use a credit card?” I wondered, and then it hit me. She couldn’t. She’d found her comfort zone and stayed there…as the world moved on.
I will get there, eventually. I’ll be holding up the line at the grocery store, waving my old, slow credit card, as the younger woman with the new body-scan-credit-tatoo-thingy waits patiently behind me just shaking her head.
So I blog, I tweet, and I’m learning to set up a web site, swimming against the current of complacency. Some day I will give up, and be carried away, unable to grasp the new concepts ahead, but not today. Not today!
Until next time,
Steve
July 22, 2012
I tweet therefore I am
Okay, I did it. I now have a Twitter account. @AuthorSMitchell is a thing (I think). Anyway, I’m still not sure how, or how much, I will be using this new tool but I’m out there in the Twittersphere. Tweet at me, follow me, all that stuff.
Also remember my Adopt a Werewolf campaign starts Thursday. I’ll probably be tweeting about it.
Until next time,
Steve
July 19, 2012
The Adopt a Werewolf campaign.
So many of you have commented to me about the joys of having a werewolf around the house, and it has warmed my heart. I’ve even heard of people passing around their werewolves just so others can know the joy of cuddling up with a vicious, fanged creature. I sent my children out into the world, and the world responded, even across the pond. (Yes, I’m talking about you, my faithful British readers.)
But there is a dark side to all this joy. Many homes are still without their very own copy of There’s no such thing as Werewolves. So many Kindles are starving for the story. But now you can help!
Spread the word: Starting next Thursday, and running through Monday, July 30, anyone with a Kindle device or Kindle app on their computer, iPad or Droid can get their own cuddly werewolf. There’s no such thing as Werewolves will be FREE for five days.
The Adopt a Werewolf campaign is on. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Shout it from the rooftops!! (okay maybe don’t go that far)
There are so many werewolves waiting to be adopted.
Look into these eyes: (.) (.)
Can you say no?
Steve
July 15, 2012
A review from across the pond
The whole move into publishing has been an eye-opening experience for me. That something I do, sitting here at my computer in Wisconsin, can have an effect on the other side of the planet, is mind-boggling. A few weeks ago I was checking my foreign sales and noted a jump in sales in the United Kingdom. Also, to my complete delight, there were two reviews of There no such thing as Werewolves. You can see them here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007KAE45A. Two people in England bought my book, and thought enough about it to go on Amazon and comment. To me, that is amazing. To those two wonderful people: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I’m working hard on the third, and final, book in the Demons Rising series. It’s Salina Frye and Ryan Chamberlain’s story. I hope to have it out in late August or early September. While the series will be ended, the story will continue. Demons Rising will set the stage for a new series of novels set in a very dark future and dealing with a new generation of Templars and Arcanists. Right now I have three novels planned and hope to have the first out next year sometime.
So many stories to tell…so little time. Okay, back to work!
Until next time,
Steve
July 9, 2012
Guest Blog
It was very exciting to be invited to do a guest blog at Trish Jackson’s Romance Ramble. Trish writes Romantic Suspense and has a lot of great information on her blog. You can check out my guest blog at http://romanticreviewramble.blogspot.com/2012/07/romantic-tales-set-in-fantastic-worlds.html
June 28, 2012
New interest!
Wow, where has June gone? Between the WisRWA convention, some fix-up work around the house, and getting a really good start on Knight of the Night I’ve completely ignored my blog. Okay, there was also a fabulous wine tasting trip in there somewhere as well. Still not a good excuse. (Bad author…no cookie!!!)
So here’s an update on my writing. I have a bit of new interest in my novel, Son of Thunder. In May I did a complete rewrite of the first chapter, and another edit run on it, and I feel it’s much better book now. In the past few weeks I have received full read requests from an agent and a publisher. Fingers are crossed (even a few toes). I think it’s time for another round of query emails, then it’s right back to the grindstone on the next Demons Rising novella.
I am pretty sure that Knight of the Night will be the last book in the demons rising saga, making it a trilogy. Not that the story will be completed, in fact it will just be begun. I plan that the three books will be an introduction to a very dark future world and set the stage for a series of full novels set here. The demons will have risen to power and the Templars and Arcanists will be fighting an uphill battle that will span two worlds (possibly three). My mind is bursting with possibilities that I can’t wait to get down on paper (well in the computer anyway).
And just for the heck of it, (and because it’s slipping down the page) here’s a link to the promo video for There’s no such thing as Werwolves.
Note: If you LIKE/SHARE/SUBSCRIBE the author will get his cookie!
Until next time,
Steve
June 13, 2012
Free to give away to a good home: 2 wayward superheroes
Yup, now through Sunday you can pick up a free copy of the Kindle version of Swiftly Beats the Heart. the debut novella from that hot new paranormal romance author, S. C. Mitchell. (Okay, I know it’s just me, but that sounded so good. Maybe someday…)
Anyway, if you missed it the first time round, you can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077T6F06
June 11, 2012
The hazy days of summer.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks and I realized this morning just how long it has been since i updated this blog. Sorry about that. It was nice to keep the Book Trailer front and center for the past few weeks. I have received some nice comments on it and am very happy with how it came out.
June 1st – 3rd I attended the WisRWA Write Touch Conference. It was an excellent experience. Over 90 romance writers getting together to talk writing, publishing and the romance genre. I met two other male romance writers, and felt complete acceptance from the entire group. I did my first author signing, in a room filled with other published romance authors. It was quite exciting, and I think it went well. I was also able to pitch two agents that attended the conference, and received a request for a full read of Son of Thunder. It’s a very reputable agency. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my search for a new agent is coming to a close.
Overall I came out charged up and ready to dive into the next Demons Rising novella: Knight of the night. This is the story of Salina Frye (from Werewolves) and Ryan Chamberlain (from Templar) and deals with the events following the closing of the demon gate. As the ravaged Arcanist and Templar forces seek to deal with the rising demon domination of their world, the rival groups need to put aside three thousand years of animosity and learn to work together. Expect some real fireworks.
Oh, and there’s one last thing:
FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE…
I have decided to put the Kindle version of Swiftly Beats the Heart for free starting Wednesday (6/13) and running through Sunday (6/17), so if you are new to my blog, or just missed it in February, here’s a chance to add it to your Kindle collection.
Until next time,
Steve
May 31, 2012
My first promotional video!
It just went live, and I’m very excited:
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A big thank you to my niece, Brittney Mitchell for letting me use her incredible original song, Fighting the Decree.
The video was produced by ~V~ Mitchell (my daughter) and Phyconian Productions.
Enjoy,
Steve
