Chris M. Arnone's Blog, page 2

It Takes As Long As It Take

This kills me a little. As much as I would love to publish Forgotten Things right this very second, it's just not ready.

I was hoping it would be done, like, completely done and out by beginning to mid-April. Well, it's April 2 and it's still with beta readers. There is at least one hefty edit that will need to take place. I also need to give my cover designer enough time to read the book and do her thing.

So, I'm doing my best Blizzard Entertainment impersonation and telling you all, it'll be done when it's done! Fingers crossed, maybe I'll get to launch my IndieGogo before an event at the Arts Asylum on April 19. If not, I'll be reading a short story there instead of an excerpt.

Thanks for reading and hanging in there with me!

Writing Again

Forgotten Things is now in the hands of my beta readers. Beau, Lara, Laura, Bob, and Keith: you all are my heroes. I hope you enjoy the book!

While I'm waiting on a few more art quotes to come in, I've started writing my next book. Yeah, never at a loss for ideas. I actually had three radically different story ideas I was kicking around, but I decided to go with the one that was running through my head the most.

There are a metric ass-ton of logistics involved with getting this one off the ground and no, I won't tell you what it's about. Not yet.

If you're going to be in Kansas City on April 6, come by the Uptown Arts Bar at 9:30 for Kansas City Cabaret's monthly show: Spectacular, Spectacular! Why, you ask? Because I will be there as emcee, kilt and all.

Oh yeah. Be there.

Betas and Art

Well, my manuscript is in the hands of 80% of my beta readers. No complaints about the files, which means:

Holy shit. People are reading Forgotten Things right now.

Yeah. Here's hoping it doesn't suck. Pretty sure I edited a large portion of the suck out of it and here's hoping they find the rest of it.

Other than that, I've been talking with artists to get that cover art underway. Once I have at least a rough sketch, it will be IndieGogo time.

Good times.

Alpha: done. Time for beta.

That's right, Christy (my awesome fiance and alpha reader) is done with alpha reading. She has a few notes I have to look over and implement, then it's off to the beta readers.

What does that mean for the rest of you? It means we're that much closer to the publication of Forgotten Things. I'm working on getting some cover art, then it'll be off to the races creating an IndieGogo while the beta reading takes place.

Who's got two thumbs and is pretty damn excited? This bearded guy.

Out of the way, life!

I tell you what; life just loves to get in the way of writing, editing, and internet promotion.

Been crazy busy at work. I had an interview for a better position this morning, then I've been knee-deep in learning Adobe LiveCycle by building a form one of our customers’ needs. Learn by doing!

So that's cut into my time with Twitter and Goodreads promoting the up-and-coming book. Then the heater went on the fritz and Christy had an exceptionally bad day at work yesterday. These have slowed down alpha reading.

But we soldier on! Thanks to all of you who've already added Forgotten Things to your lists. Tell your friends!

Officially a Goodreads Author

This suddenly makes it all feel real. I have Twitter, Tumblr, a Facebook fan page, all that stuff. So do a lot of people. I'm writing a book, too. But somehow, having Goodreads approve my author page brings it all home.

So what's the status, you ask?

My first novel, Forgotten Things, is currently in its final stages with my alpha reader (my fiance). Once that's done, it will go to my five beta readers. While in beta, I'll be launching an Indiegogo to fund a limited physical print run, as well as some marketing stuff for the book. It will also be available for all eReaders when the physical version becomes available.

In the meantime, tell your friends to become fans and add Forgotten Things to your "To Read" lists.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!