S.C. Mitchell's Blog, page 48

Finding your people

I was watching an interesting video this morning that I'd like to share.

Here's the link:

If the above link isn't working click here.

There's a place toward the end where he tells the wonderful story of a girl that becomes a dancer. She's sent to a dancing school and is suddenly surrounded by people just like her. I could so identify with this. I love my small hometown, and have lived here all my life, but it is not the kind of place that nurtures creativity. I've been putting words on the blank page (off and on) for over thirty years, thinking writing is a lonely type of thing, done in seclusion and only brought out when you have something completed. How wrong I was.

Just last year I was invited into a wonderful writing group call Writers Voice. Like that little girl in the story above I was suddenly in a group of people like me. A place we could share parts of stories, ideas, and community.

A bit later I discovered the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Again, people like me. The members of my local branch have been so incredibly supportive, and the online community gives me a consistent source of spiritual nourishment and encouragement.

I've always felt a bit of an outcast in my home community – that guy that just didn't fit in – but when I'm with these people…I'm home.

So I guess what I'm saying here is: No matter what you are pursuing, seek out and find people like you. Believe in yourself and find the people who will believe in and support your dreams.

To all those who understand…thanks!

Steve

Coming soon

I'm getting close to the release of my second book:

There's no such thing as Werewolves – Demons Rising: Book 1

Over the past week I picked up a program called Book Cover Pro and purchased rights for the cover picture from iStockPhoto. I think the cover design is a vast improvement over the one I threw together for Swiftly Beats the Heart. I've also purchased rights for the picture I'll be using in the 2nd book of the series:

 

 

The Forsaken Templar – Demons Rising: Book 2

I am very excited about this series. The Forsaken Templar needs an extensive edit, but I hope to have it ready to publish next month. I have also got a good start on the third book in this series. You can read the descriptions of these books on my newly updated Worlds Page.

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the big release announcement,

Steve

Good things happen in threes

In writing there is the Rule of Three. It's not so much a rule as a guideline, but it works. Sometimes the rule of three carries over to the real world and today I've got three pieces of good news to pass along:

First: The print version of Swiftly Beats the Heart is now available to purchase on CreateSpace by clicking here. It will also be available soon from Amazon.com (but I make a little more if you buy it direct from CreateSpace). I know there are some of you that are unable to read the Kindle Version. I hope you will pick this up and let me know what you think.

 

Second: Yesterday I received a request for a partial of Amulet of the Fallen God from one of the literary agents I queried. Of course it's not a sure thing, but it is the first step in getting a new agent for my writing. Also, this was a well respected agency, who represent some awesome authors, with many books on the best sellers lists. I sure hope they like what they see.

 

Third: I am moving ahead on a deal that will possibly make Spanish & French translations and Audio books available for Swiftly Beats the Heart and any future self-published books.

 

There is so much happening right now, and it's all very exciting. For the first time in my life, I think, I'm really looking forward to going to work each day.

 

Until next time,

Steve

Query time

Amulet of the Fallen God is complete and extensively edited, which means it query time. I have been planning on using this novel to search for a new agent, so it is once again time to cast a wide net and see if I can get any nibbles. I'm really happy with the way the novel came out. It's 99,040 words and has a lot of action and romance. It's a fantasy with romance elements. It's not a romance because I just couldn't get Allsa and Dravious together at the end for a 'happy ever after' ending. It will probably happen in a sequel, but there was a a small roadblock at the end of the book that needed to be there for the right ending of this part of their story.

I'm very happy with the initial results for Swiftly beats the Heart. Lots of copies were downloaded during the FREE promotion, and I've also had a few sales for real money. I just received the proof for the print edition today, and I am hoping to have that available soon for those of you without the ability to read the kindle ebook version.I'm also hoping to get some reviews on Amazon and GoodReads to help create new interest. It's still amazing to me that so many people are reading my story.

There is so much to do. I am now planning on my next release. I'm going to try and release my Demon Gate series. First will come There's no such thing as Werewolves and I hope to have it ready to upload by the middle of next month sometime. That will be followed by Templars Gate and after that Demons of Dusk. I still need to finish writing the last book, and give the first two a really good edit run. Then there's covers and formatting.

It's a lot of work, but I have to admit…I've never been happier.

Until next time,

Steve

 

 

Free! Free! Free!

It's right here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077T6F06

Okay, it's no longer free, but it's still just $1.99.

Steve

Adventures in Self-Publishing

Well it's done. Swiftly Beats the Heart is now available on kindle from Amazon. For some reason the wrong cover is showing, but I'm not concerned. It took me three attempts at publishing it and this was the original cover I uploaded, so I'm hoping it fixes itself over time. The right cover displays when you look inside. Click here for a link to it.

But wait until tomorrow to order it and it will be Free!!!

More big news:

While waiting for the kindle version to publish I started playing around with Createspace. It turned out to be incredibly easy to navigate so I will also have a print version of Swiftly Beats the Heart available soon as well, for anyone wanting to read the book who doesn't have the ability to read the kindle version, or just likes to hold a real book in their hands. I just ordered the proof of the book and it should be in my hands on Wednesday. It's hard to imagine, and I am so looking forward to it.

I'll let you all know when it's available.

Exciting times,

Steve

Testing the waters by jumping in on the deep end.

I'm a member of two awesome writing groups – Writers Voice, associated with the Wisconsin Writers Association, and the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (Wausau Chapter). I can't express enough how much these two groups have helped me and my writing.

Recently we've had a lot of discussion in both groups about self-publishing. Now, I've always planned to try and go the traditional route with my writing – get an agent and let them handle sales and whatnot so I can just 'write.' But I have been wondering lately if maybe I'm not missing the boat on this new dynamic in publishing. So, after an interesting discussion at my Wednesday evening Writers Voice meeting (Thanks Sherrill) I decided to look into Kindle Direct Publishing.

After playing around with it for less than a day I was suddenly at the point of…Wow, I could do this!! So I did it.

I am happy to announce that Swiftly Beats the Heart (formerly titled Cheetah and Zoom) will soon be available for purchase on Amazon.com. It's still 'under review' and though they say this should only take 12 hours it has taken much longer than that. I will post a link here as soon as it goes up. I plan on doing the kdp select thing and put it up for free for 5 days, just as soon as I figure out how to do that.

Yeah, the cover is not the greatest, I made it in MS Draw, but I think it works well enough for a first attempt. I feel the story is solid and a lot of fun, so I hope you'll pick it up and let me know what you think.

I still do plan on looking for a new agent, and pursuing the traditional route to publishing, but even us old guys need to keep our eyes on the future and for me, yesterday was a step in that direction.

Until next time,

Steve

Star Trek vs. Star Wars

Star Trek vs. Star Wars

 

I'm spending a lot of time in space lately, working on two novels at the same time (not something I would recommend) that both take place in the future. These two stories, however, take place in two very different futures.

Hearts in Orbit is my new romance which takes place in a bright future, where people live for the most part in harmony and technology is used to benefit the human race. A beneficent galactic government guards and protects, provides education and stimulates opportunity for the people of the Federated Planets. There's no hunger or need. I see this as my 'Star Trek' world. It's that utopian future so many of the early science fiction writers embraced. Threats to the galaxy's peace come from external sources (alien cultures, asteroids, viruses, etc.). For the most part, people have found a way to work out their problems and live in peace with each other. Well, except for Mari and Rigel (my H/H) who will have a bit of internal conflict on their way to falling in love.

Destany: Cloud Fist is a dystopian space opera I'm playing around with. Think of it as Battlestar Galactica meets Hunger Games. It's a dark galaxy with various human factions fighting over limited resources. Greed, fear and self preservation motivate the action. The conflict comes from within. People against people. Beliefs against beliefs. This is my 'Star Wars' world, and this is NOT a romance. Michael has to struggle just to survive in a galaxy full of conflict. If you're looking for happy ever after, look elsewhere.

I love Star Trek and Star Wars. These two epic science fiction franchises are both inspirational in their own ways. I think that Star Wars tends to give us a sense of who we are, while Star Trek gives us a vision of where we want to go. Getting there, of course, will make for some fun storytelling, and I plan to revisit both of these worlds in my future writing, but most especially the dark world of Destany: Cloud Fist.

Political forces thrown into an epic fight for the heart and soul of the human race is a great backdrop for drama and storytelling. I have to admit, I am many times drawn to the 'dark side' in my writing. In my last novel, Amulet of the Fallen God, I discovered just how much fun it was to write from the viewpoint of my villains. Good and Evil are rarely absolutes and it was as much fun to find the humanity in my villains as it was to find the shortcomings in my heroes.

That said, I consider myself an optimist. While I will continue to write about dark, decaying worlds (Star Wars) I still think it's possible for us to achieve a much brighter (Star Trek) future.

Until next time,

Steve