Lani Lenore's Blog, page 4

The Nutcracker Bleeds is Available Now!

Whew! That was a rush! For the first time, I was beginning to think that I wasn’t going to meet my deadline. I was doing another proofread even though I’d already made most of my corrections, and when I finally finished that, I had to update the file and reformat the print version. It was a bit close, but I did it! The Nutcracker Bleeds second edition is live!

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Kindle!

 

Paperback!

 

I put in the request for the book to be updated for those who have already purchased the ebook, but I haven’t heard back from that yet. When it happens, it will have to be done manually, I think. So if you’ve purchased the book before, you can either go back in and re-download or re-sync your Kindle.

So! What’s different?

[image error]Obviously, the cover is different. The description is new, and now there are adorable little mice in the chapter headings! AND they are different for each chapter!

There is no new content, but I did some editing and cleaned up the text a bit. I think it reads better now. I added a few lines and took out lines as needed, but the story is the same.

[image error]For the last few books I’ve released this year, I’ve moved away from the numbered sections I once used in my chapters. That was a good way for me to keep up with it for a while, but I’ve decided it looks neater just to have dividers within the chapters to signify the breaks in scene and pov.

In the print version, the text is still a bit small, but I had to do that in order to keep the page count reasonable. The page count makes the price of the book go up, and I wanted to make sure to keep it in a good place.

Full justified text in the print version! This is something I didn’t realize I needed until all of a sudden I did.

During my first edit, I tried to rewrite some of the sections so they would be in my usual third person limited pov, but that was not how I originally wrote it. This time, I decided that it was breaking the flow in some of the sections, so I got rid of some of the dividers and decided to keep the text omnipresent. Some of the sections now move seamlessly from one pov to the next, and even though that’s not how I usually do things anymore, I think it works for this book.

Oh! It has a commentary now! Some of you may have read most of this before if you followed the book while it was online, but the commentary just gives a bit of info on some of the characters and some of my thought processes while I was writing the book, and how it all came together. I think it’s a fun part of the book. I haven’t successfully done a commentary for any of my others works — not quite like this one.

Is that all? That might be all, but I am so proud of it now!

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Reviews and Ratings

I hate to ask, but I want you all to know how reviews and ratings help. You don’t have to say much, and sometimes you don’t have to say anything at all, but having those ratings out there for others to see is very helpful.

If you could take a moment to rate and review my books book whenever possible, that would be so helpful! Books with more reviews stand out, and anything you have to say will boost the book and make it more noticeable.

The Holidays

I hope you are all having a fantastic holiday with family and friends! (You know, if you want.) My mind kind of skipped Thanksgiving this year and went directly to Christmas after Halloween (Nutcracker helped) so now I’m definitely in the spirit! I’m ready to put my tree up finally, but I wanted to do it weeks ago. This weekend I had a nice family dinner with some close but out-of-town relatives that I don’t see often anymore, so I don’t want to take these chances for granted…no matter how much I think I just want to be at home. :p

You’ll hear from me again soon! Thanks for all your support this year!

And also, hey, The Hallowed is free right now.

The Nutcracker Bleeds: Ultimate Edition

I’ve been feeling a little stressed lately and lacking focus, so I’ve made a decision: I’m holding off on my NaNo novel until I can focus on it exclusively. When I began writing it, I realized that I didn’t have as many details as I needed, and trying to write in the midst of my major Nutcracker Bleeds edit just isn’t working out. I feel that I need to drop one in favor of the other, so that’s what I’ve decided to do. Since I’m trying to get The Nutcracker Bleeds out before Christmas, that one wins.

So, finally, I’m ready to talk about it and show it off!

[image error]London 1905—It begins when a toy-maker comes bearing a unique Christmas gift for his favorite niece, Olivia—a handsomely carved nutcracker doll.

Anne, Olivia’s young governess, believes that a girl of fourteen is much too old for toys. Olivia, however, refuses to grow up. She cares for the dolls as if they are dear friends. They speak to her. Anne merely humors the girl’s pleasures. She has never had much use for fantasy.

Yet not even Anne can deny the curse.

At the stroke of midnight, Anne is immersed in the horrific world of her unstable charge when a bite from a mouse makes her the size of a doll. She must brave a world of mangled and demented toys that have come to life. Each has his own agenda—the most unrelenting of which is the mysterious Nutcracker, who becomes Anne’s only sane ally.

There is war in the lower levels of the Ellington house between the rodents and the toys, yet Anne’s only concern is getting Olivia and herself back to their own world before they are stuck in this twisted reality forever, or worse: become subjected to the terrifying Rat King.

The Nutcracker Bleeds is a mature, unusual, and horrific retelling of the classic Nutcracker story.

Isn’t it beautiful?? And terrifying. This cover was created by Omri Koresh, who I always praise, but he really outdid himself this time. I love this image because at first glance, you see Anne and the darkness around her, but when you look more closely, you see the seven rat heads. For those who have read the book before, look! –you can see the sugar on her cheeks! And don’t worry; the back cover of the print edition is just as impressive.

I’m calling this version the Ultimate Edition — secretly though. It won’t be listed like that. Officially, it’s just the second edition, but everything about it is better. It is what it was meant to be, with an amazing new cover, new description, new interior, and with commentary. (And again, I am so sorry and so embarrassed over the copies I sold that were in poor condition. I could make a lot of excuses, but in the end, it was a lack of care on my part.) So! I have to make it better this time. And I have!

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This edition is going to be on the same Kindle book listing (since it’s a second edition. Same ASIN.). So there will be no preorder for this one. I’m still planning to have it updated for those who have already purchased it, so you don’t have to purchase it twice. You should get the new cover and everything. The paperback edition will be an all new book with a different ISBN, but it should be linked on the Amazon page.

I’ve decided to release it on November 24th (Black Friday, fitting) so it’s only a week! I haven’t decided on the price of the ebook yet. The print book is likely going to be $14.99 because of the size of the book.

I am sooo excited about this one. I think it’s going to end my year in a good way. Reading over it, I feel that everything is in place and it’s much better than it was. I still think that, overall, The Nutcracker Bleeds story is one of my best stories. I was very crestfallen at seeing all the errors in it when I went through it the first time, but I feel confident in it now.

I’ve recently found some online software called ProWritingAid, and I’m hoping that this will help me out with catching errors. I still have to sort through the text manually, but this software can help to remind me of grammar rules and to quickly spot issues. I have high hopes in using it.

The next step for me:

I’ve decided that following my recent editing issues, I’m going to take some time to review my other works and make sure that everything is the best that it can be before I try to release anything else. I hate to think that I might lose readers over a few errors and formatting issues. One thing that I am grateful for is that readers are pretty forgiving about this sort of thing (not that it’s alright) but reviews still say “Lani Lenore can write” which is the highest compliment, in my opinion. Even if a person doesn’t like the story, if they still say that I’m talented, I feel happy. :p

I’m going to spend some time sorting through my other works, and I also want to spend more time reading. I feel that I need to explore written worlds that are not my own.

So! November 24th for The Nutcracker Bleeds! And don’t forget to get your copy of The Hallowed!

The Hallowed is here! So is Nanowrimo!

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My original Gothic horror books! They look so pretty together.

Happy Halloween! Scary Stories, Creepy Houses, and Reflections on The Hallowed

Not long ago, I gave release details for my upcoming novel, The Hallowed, to prepare for publishing later this year. After reading the Gothic horror novel for the first time in a long while, one thing that I decided quickly was that it needed a bit more detail in the timeline and setting.

In my past writings, I’ve always been very vague about the setting, always seeking something fictional and fairytale-like; a hint of ‘once upon a time, in a land far away’. I’ve always been content with that, but recently I’ve felt a need to assign a time period to my stories, at least so that the reader will know that it’s a historical piece going in. Otherwise, how are they to know for certain?

It was not too difficult to decide on this for The Hallowed. I chose the Pyrenees Mountains of France, late 1700s, during the French Revolution. Though this information will play a small part in the story overall, it gives a hint of realism and an acknowledgement of the outside world beyond the story.

This got me thinking. When writing a Gothic horror piece, atmosphere is important. Which brings focus to one of the most important elements of all: the house.

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I daresay that the house (or castle, or whatever the setting might be) is as important as any character. The creepiness of the house, the secrets it offers, cannot be overlooked. These places must be precisely mapped, so that the reader feels that they, too, are wandering the hallways at the character’s back.

In The Hallowed, the house is an old chateau in the mountains, built along treacherous terrain. Despite the size of the house, the family is small and there are few servants in the place, creating a dark and quiet setting for the characters to wander about in. It creates a creepy, lonely, afraid-of-the-dark vibe. And of course, there are plenty of hidden secrets.

Perhaps it would have been nice to release The Hallowed before Halloween, in this month that everyone seems happy to focus on the creepy side of things (even those who don’t really like it), but I say that it’s fun to read scary stories all year! In fact, some of us would rather have that in a book.

While all of my fairy tales have a dark twist, I have a select few that are definitely more on the horror/gothic/weird side, which capture the essence of loneliness, despair, and terror — usually in a creepy house setting.

I like spooky houses. What can I say?

Here are a few of my books that go along with the Halloween vibe:

The People in the Rickety House — Did I ever tell you that this book was inspired by a house that one of my childhood friends lived in? It was this big historical house and seemed so open and endless to me — just old and cold and empty sometimes — but I always loved it. Sometimes it seemed like we were the only people in that house, but other times… This book is about a girl and her sister, who lose both of their parents and are sent to live with their aunt in a rickety house in the sticks. At first, Leah’s only concern is her sadness, boredom, and neglect. But then she discovers the ghost in the attic.

The Needle’s Eye — This one is about a secluded island castle instead of a house, but the idea applies. A creepy childhood story, an ominous fog, and a decaying castle (evil spirits included). Three sisters are cursed by three dead princes, and are destined to spend a night on a hidden island, snared by an old story that they are forced to relive. This one is…not for the faint of heart, but it’s mysterious and intriguing all the same. Keep the lights on.

Roses and Black Glass: A Dark Cinderella Tale — Most of my fairy tale retellings are dark fantasy, but this one leans more on the gothic horror side. In early America, our Cinderella works in a morgue. If that’s not enough, her prince is also pretty intrigued by dead bodies. A perfect match, some might say. Throw in a “fairy godmother” who might be a witch, and a prophecy that promises a body count, and you’re in for a ride that gives you everything you’d expect from a Cinderella story (evil step-family, a ball, a beautiful dress, and a glass shoe) plus a few elements that you never would have expected in this bloody good love story.

The Hallowed — Now, I know this one isn’t released yet, but you can get a head-start to reading it over on Wattpad, where I have the first few chapters posted (updated to match the published version). This one is definitely a love story, but not as you might expect. It’s about a man and woman who both have amnesia, and find themselves in a strange house with an odd family. The only link they have is to each other — and they must use that to discover who they are, what brought them to the house, and why they cannot seem to leave…until certain things happen, which may lead a reader to wonder: can they even trust each other? Also, it can be preordered on Amazon. November 7!!

(I didn’t include The Nutcracker Bleeds, because I’ll be revamping that one soon, as I mentioned in my last post, but it is also very horrific, and focuses on a house. And I love it!)

What’s your favorite scary moment in my books? (But without too many plot spoilers please!)

[image error]I’ve decided that in the midst of reading (proofing) my own works, I also needed to read something spooky for Halloween, so I’ve chosen a book called Elizabeth.

It was originally written in 1972, and recently republished. It’s about a fourteen year old girl who might be a witch (or is at least a sociopath). I really enjoy this type of psychological story where you don’t quite know if the narrator is reliable or not. It reminds me of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, another of my favorite books. I’m enjoying it!

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So not long ago, I said I would try to read/promote more indie books, and it occurs to me that I already have one to talk about! Especially for this spooky time. A while I ago, I read a book called Ripper by Nikolai Watson. I wrote a review for it over on Goodreads.

As you might guess, it’s a re-imagining of the Jack the Ripper legend. Along with Elizabeth, this one is also a psychological horror, and the best thing about this book is the voice of the narrator as you witness him slipping further into madness and after a while, aren’t even sure whether to trust him.

It’s definitely for horror-lovers, and there are a few cringe-worthy moments, but I really enjoyed reading it! Check it out and show some support for the indie community! We’re not all bad. :p

This week, I finalized The Hallowed and began reading The Nutcracker Bleeds for my second edition edit. That’s going well, but I truly hope to have the first read complete by Tuesday so that I can prepare myself for NaNo. I have a lot of notes for my new book, but I really need to sort through them and get a clear idea for what I’ll be doing when NaNo officially begins on Wednesday! My intention is to go above and beyond with this one — maybe double the word count each day and actually manage to finish this book by the end of the month. I’m not sure if that’s going to happen, but that’s my goal.

Oh hey! There is a Goodreads Giveaway listed for The Hallowed! US only. Check it out!!

And the new Nevermor covers have been updated for the print edition!

Nevermor Cover Updates, Getting Ready to Write, and COFFEE!

While working on my new Nutcracker Bleeds cover with Omri Koresh (Who is amazing. Have I said how amazing he is?) he was so kind as to update my Nevermor covers as well! The art is still the same, but the backs of the printed books have a different layout and the spine is just a little more elaborate. Eeeeee! It’s funny how I can get excited over a little gold filigree, but playing dress-up with books is fun! These are my babies. They deserve the best.

Here’s a preview:

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I haven’t updated them as of yet, but I will very soon. I’m not going to stir a lot of fanfare toward this update, but I thought I’d share it with you! I’ll update them all at once, so that if the set is ordered together, they will match.

Book Promotion, Mainstream Fiction, and Being an Introvert

I think most know that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result.

I feel that way about my publishing sometimes. I create a book, I edit and try to make it the best it can be, I make a cover, I put it together, and I release it to the world, telling only my own fans about it (for the most part). And somehow, I expect that I will sell more copies than the book I released before it. And though I seek different variations of this and wonder what else I can do to sell more books, I never reach very far because I either don’t know what to do/don’t feel comfortable doing it.

I’m a major introvert. I have a lot of trouble with anxiety, I think too much, and I’m also prone to mild manic/depressive episodes where I get super hyped for something and then I suddenly can’t bring myself to do the thing. It’s difficult for someone like me to promote herself. I’ve gotten a bit better with the social anxiety, and while it might be nice to operate locally with a book signing or something, I have other reasons for not doing that. So I stay in one spot. I latch onto what I can manage, and I tend to stick with it because reaching for other things makes me uncomfortable.

I’ve always thought there are two different kinds of writers: there is the kind that likes to get out among the people and connect with them, and there is the kind that likes to sit in a corner and hopes they get paid for what they write, but they don’t really want people to notice them.

I’m the second type. And I have to wonder: why would people notice me when I don’t want to be noticed?

Not long ago, I feel that I started going down the wrong road — for me personally. I started thinking too much about my writing in terms of what’s popular, and thinking I ought to alter what I do in order to appeal to more readers. The truth is, I’ve never wanted to be popular among the masses. I mean, doing what you love is important, but it’s also important to make money so that you can keep doing it, but I’ve never wanted to push my books off on someone who I didn’t think would enjoy them. If a reader is drawn to my book and they read and happen to like it, then YAY! Read more!! But I’m not the kind of person who wants to stand on the corner and try to make a sale to everyone who walks by.

So, the moral is that I really just need to get right with myself. I think my true fans will notice, and I will definitely notice it myself.

For my last few published books this year, I’ve tried to push myself a bit further each time. I’ve tried to market and get the word out in various forms, but I never reach very far. I’m going to do better.

I’m also reexamining my mission statement (I actually do have one): In an ocean of so many popular books that are read and forgotten, I strive to write books that stay with a reader long afterward. Those that are different. Those that encourage you to think. Those that you’ll never forget. I like to think that all of my books have a touch of something that makes them memorable, and I can’t throw that away.

In addition to The Hallowed being released in November (which I will likely mention continually until it happens) I’m pleased to say that I’m still on track with the other things I plan to do this year. 2018 is still in the future and is blacked out as far as I’m concerned. It doesn’t even exist yet, but I want to work on what I currently have going on and I think the results will be great.

For the books I’ve released this year, I’ve been starting them all on KDP, at least for the first 3 months. People seem to be reading them, but Amazon/Kindle is very unclear about how much I’m making from those reads. It’s very odd. I’ve been trying to figure out how all of that works but really, it’s sketchy at best. Of those books, I still have not moved them on to other sales channels because I haven’t decided if I should, or if I should just out them back into KDP. Has anyone else had any luck understanding all this?

In addition, I’ve reduced prices on most of my print books! I’ve realized that in my own book shopping, I have a price point I like to hit, and I always look at the number of pages I’m getting for the price. I don’t want to buy a small book for an outrageous price, so I’ve examined my own books and reduced the prices (to test). Prices now range from 5.99 to the usual 14.99. Many of my full length novels are now 10.99. I think that works better for a paperback. I know I’d be more willing to pay that price for a book.

Also, I’m just too excited to not talk about this, even though it’s early and I’m supposed to only talk about The Hallowed, but I can’t stop myself.

Soon (December probably) I’m going to release a 2nd Edition of The Nutcracker Bleeds! New edit, new description, new graphic design, new cover art, with commentary!! It looks amazing, just as it always should have looked, and I am sooooo excited! I’m not going to show it yet — no no, it’s not time yet.

I’m sitting here plotting evilly about it right now. Muahaha

I’m going to do more giveaways soon, before Christmas (yes, I know it’s still October) but I feel that I’ve had real luck getting noticed this year, so I want to keep that up. Wish me luck!

Question though… am I moving too fast? I know I’ve been putting out a lot of work recently, but I want to stay on the map.

Also, The Hallowed!

And thank you all for being here![image error]

The Hallowed Release Details and Indie Book Boxes

FINALLY The Hallowed is finished. It’s edited, it’s printed, it’s up for preorder.

Weekly Post (Attempt), The Hallowed, and Exploring New Genres

I’m trying something a bit different.

I haven’t been too current with this blog as time has passed (the blog just had its 5-year anniversary) but I want to do better. When I look back at old posts, I realize that there are long stretches of time where it seems like I’ve fallen off the face of the Earth, but the truth is I’m thinking about something/working on something all the time; I just don’t say anything until I’m ready to make a big announcement.

So! It’s high time I held myself to a standard. I’m going to (attempt to) write a post every week just to let you know what I’ve been up to — even if there isn’t much to say. Who knows? Maybe I’ll just ramble on about something I’ve been thinking about, or something I’ve been doing, reading, discovering, whatever.

I don’t talk much about my personal life, mostly because I’m probably the most boring person in the world. Other than the fact that I write, there is very little that’s interesting about me. I’m okay with that, but I’m going to attempt to be a bit more open with who I am, what I’m doing, and what I’m thinking.

Okay! Time to get started!

First off, I need to talk about The Hallowed, my next novel to be released. It’s an original gothic horror. I still haven’t chosen a release date, but I know it will be sometime in November. Whether it will be early or late in the month, I haven’t decided, because I have a couple more things I want to do this year. 1.) Release The Hallowed, and I need to get that finished up and out of my head as soon as possible, because 2.) I’m going to write (start writing) a new book in November for NaNoWriMo and I need to start (finish) planning. 3.) I want to read through The Nutcracker Bleeds again and maybe do a second edition release before Christmas. SO many things, and only 3 months left.

Plus, I kind of need to have my wisdom teeth removed, so we’ll see where THAT takes me.

The Hallowed is almost finished. I already have a cover designed and a print proof in my hands! I’m reading through it again (and may read it AGAIN) and then I believe it’ll be ready. It will likely be up for preorder soon and I can start showing it off. I like how it looks!

If you don’t know anything about The Hallowed, I’ll definitely begin to talk more about it soon. I think there is still a sample of it on Wattpad… It’s not the latest version, but I’ll update it soon.

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In other news, I’ve been exploring some new genres as far as my own reading and the possibilities of my writing. I’ve been specifically interested in Weird, Bizarro, and I hear there is one called New Weird, which is supposed to have similar content but be more poetic in the writing department. I’m not much for Satire, but I do like weirdness. I love to read/write a book where anything can happen, and as far as my own books go, those are always my favorites. I’ve also become more interested in Sci-fi lately, so maybe all of these things will wrap up together and I’ll have a book. We’ll see.

I think that’s about it for now. By next week, I hope to have reached a decision about The Hallowed‘s release date and I’ll share a bit more about that. Until then!

Project Nevermor 5 Year Anniversary!

It was five years ago that I first announced my plans for Nevermor, right here on this blog. I created the blog for just that purpose, but it has gone beyond the Nevermor trilogy, expanding to more of my works that I wrote in years past. After five years, I’m finally finishing off those works I’ve held in reserve, and I’m nearing the time when I will publish something truly new!

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I currently have 12 published works and counting. Every time I look at the growing number, I can hardly believe it. I’ve achieved a dream of mine! My books are for sale and many are in print! It’s something that only a few years ago, I never dreamed would be possible without an agent, publisher, and a lot of luck, but here I am!

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and the best is yet to come!

So what’s happening now?

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Since the release of Dark Depths in June (and Daughters of the Deep in July), I’m busy planning my next release for later this year. I mentioned earlier that it would be The Hallowed, and I’m sticking to that, though I don’t have a date yet. I’m currently on the last bit of editing, and I’m hoping for a November release date.

I’m gearing up for NaNoWriMo in November and I’m very excited about the book I’m going to write for that. I feel that I’m getting out from under the load of my past works, rediscovering myself, and I feel I’m getting back to the root of what makes my writing great. I hope to take you all on that journey with me!

Also, Jack and Jill has been given a little makeover — inside and out — and is finally available in paperback as well as on Kindle. I know I said August, but I meant September. :p

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Not only that, but I’m working on myself as well. I’m trying to be healthier, happier, and put more time into my writing. Just a couple months ago, I decided that I wanted to work less at my “day job” and put more time into writing again. Working and having a career (other than being an author) is just not something I’m interested in, and I realized I would never be happy with anything else. I’m fortunate enough to be able to do this (for now) and I plan to put more time and effort into my marketing and promotion in the near future.

Things are good! I hope things are going just as well for you.

Dark Depths Release and 2017 Plans

I know this is old news to most of you, but Dark Depths is available now in ebook and print formats on Amazon.com! Well, the news is not quite two weeks old, so maybe it’s not so old after all. :p

With that news comes more: After being unable to publish anything since September 2016, I now know what the rest of 2017 is going to look like for me. I’m pleased to say that I’m going to be busy — in a good way.

Not long ago, I was grumbling to anyone who would listen about how I haven’t been able to focus on writing and publishing since I’ve been working my current day job. Yes, I’m not a full-time writer, as I know many of us aren’t. That aside, I’m pleased to say at this point that I’m able to cut back my hours a bit and have more time for what I love most. I know that this is certainly not a reality for everyone, and I was beginning to think that it could not be one for me, but an opportunity arose and I took it. Maybe now I can get my thoughts in order.

Now enough about that. Let’s talk about the rest of the year!

Releasing Dark Depths in June brings more good news in July: the release of the Dark Depths follow-up novella Daughters of the Deep. This short book is meant to fill in a few blanks in the Dark Depths storyline and paint a more accurate picture of what Treasure’s life was like before she rescued Nathan at the beginning of Dark Depths. Daughters will be released July 18, and is available for preorder right now. While it is only up for ebook preorder, the book will also be in print, even despite its short length.

Following that, I’m going forward with 2 more projects before the end of the year. That’s right — 2 more!

August (or possibly September) is going to see a revamp of Jack and Jill. The book is getting a new cover, and it is coming to print for the first time ever! Published in 2014, Jack and Jill is currently available on Amazon, and can be read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

Beyond that, I have one more book project that I definitely want to release later this year. This one is a fan favorite and one that many people have been waiting for. If you guessed my second gothic horror, The Hallowed, you’re right! I’m already working on it, editing and trying to make decisions on portions I want to rewrite. I have not decided on a release date yet, but I’m thinking about November for this one.

So, to recap:

Daughters of the Deep — July 18

Jack and Jill — new cover and print version — August/September

The Hallowed — November/December

I’m very excited about these projects (as I always am) but perhaps more pleased with myself for making these plans. (Since I’m not good at that sometimes.) There are several other things I have in mind, and am also anxious to work on. Previously I had mentioned the likelihood of a Dark Depths audiobook, and I meant that, but for now I have no projection of when that will be available. I have a few other books that I still want to publish, and then I really need to focus on writing new material!

Things seem to be moving in the right direction now. How’s your writing year going?