Iscah's Blog, page 13
September 7, 2013
Blitzkreig Day 9
The Seventh Night ARC Blitzkreig is posted up to Chapter 27. Only 4 more to go! I'm planning to try to post the last chapter at midnight on Sun/Mon, so it'll be up for a full 24-hours. I got a lot of editing done the last couple days. In the progress of updating with slightly cleaner versions of the chapters now, so people aren't suggesting changes I've already made.
Meanwhile I'm trying to vector logos and spend a little time on cafepress. Working on "Before the Fairytale" now, and almost done with it. I need to finish up with the logos, so I can release "The Girl With No Name" is more digital formats. I was hoping to have it out this weekend, but it seems like later this week is more realistic...unless I go for lots of caffeine and no sleep tonight...at least I'm starting to get the hang of Illustrator again.
The Blitzkrieg is going fairly well. I've had almost 60 reviews, though much of that is the same readers reviewing multiple chapters. But that's very cool, getting blow by blow feedback from readers.
I need to get as much as I can done this week, because the week after I'll be getting ready for the neighborhood yardsale. We've got a lot of stuff (still).
Meanwhile I'm trying to vector logos and spend a little time on cafepress. Working on "Before the Fairytale" now, and almost done with it. I need to finish up with the logos, so I can release "The Girl With No Name" is more digital formats. I was hoping to have it out this weekend, but it seems like later this week is more realistic...unless I go for lots of caffeine and no sleep tonight...at least I'm starting to get the hang of Illustrator again.
The Blitzkrieg is going fairly well. I've had almost 60 reviews, though much of that is the same readers reviewing multiple chapters. But that's very cool, getting blow by blow feedback from readers.
I need to get as much as I can done this week, because the week after I'll be getting ready for the neighborhood yardsale. We've got a lot of stuff (still).
September 4, 2013
Blitzkreig Day 6 and Prepping "The Girl With No Name" for epub
The Seventh Night ARC Blitzkreig is posted up to Chapter 16, with 17 and 18 coming later today. Before the day is out, the girl will no longer have no name. Aside from posting chapters and editing Seventh Night, I've been prepping The Girl With No Name for its epub release. The KDP select period has ended, so I'll soon be returning some
I've gotten some lovely and helpful feedback on the preview chapters. Vladvonbounce pointed out that horses don't pant, which helped me avoid one of those annoying little inaccuracies that can pull readers out of a story. Looking over the chapter before posting has helped me spot some overused phrases and replace them with something a little better.
I think I've finished the file formatting for The Girl With No Name. I'm still in the process of vectoring the logos. The book will keep the same basic cover art, but it needs to be cleaned up a bit. I've told a few people, but this can count as an official announcement. How soon The Girl With No Name goes to print depends mainly on how long the third and fourth stories in the Before the Fairytale set end up. Horse Feathers is pushing into short novel length, but the third and fourth stories may be short story rather than novella length. The original plan had been to release the four in one volume, but the first two turned out much longer than I anticipated.
However, if I release The Girl With No Name and Horse Feather separately, I would feel obliged to make the third story at least novella length, and I'm not sure it has enough content for that. We'll see. I should have a better idea early in 2014 when I start the third serial.
I've gotten some lovely and helpful feedback on the preview chapters. Vladvonbounce pointed out that horses don't pant, which helped me avoid one of those annoying little inaccuracies that can pull readers out of a story. Looking over the chapter before posting has helped me spot some overused phrases and replace them with something a little better.
I think I've finished the file formatting for The Girl With No Name. I'm still in the process of vectoring the logos. The book will keep the same basic cover art, but it needs to be cleaned up a bit. I've told a few people, but this can count as an official announcement. How soon The Girl With No Name goes to print depends mainly on how long the third and fourth stories in the Before the Fairytale set end up. Horse Feathers is pushing into short novel length, but the third and fourth stories may be short story rather than novella length. The original plan had been to release the four in one volume, but the first two turned out much longer than I anticipated.
However, if I release The Girl With No Name and Horse Feather separately, I would feel obliged to make the third story at least novella length, and I'm not sure it has enough content for that. We'll see. I should have a better idea early in 2014 when I start the third serial.
August 31, 2013
Seventh Night ARC Blitzkrieg - Day 2
Chapter 4 just went up, and I'll be posting more later today. I've gotten a significant amount done on vectoring the Seventh Night logo...the question now is whether I want to keep the "stitching" effect around the edge of the letters. You can see it here on Deviant Art. Like everything else in the logo, vectoring should make it cleaner. I'm more concerned with how time consuming it will be.
I may need to rework the entire cover since I'd initially planned simply an ebook release, but now I'm planning a Hardback (different size/dimensions, etc). The original design I had in mind ages ago was simple an outline of a rearing winged unicorn. Maybe I'll attempt it...having trouble finding a reference for a horse from the right angle...
I may need to rework the entire cover since I'd initially planned simply an ebook release, but now I'm planning a Hardback (different size/dimensions, etc). The original design I had in mind ages ago was simple an outline of a rearing winged unicorn. Maybe I'll attempt it...having trouble finding a reference for a horse from the right angle...
August 30, 2013
Horse Feathers Chapter 23 is up!
Chapter 23 of Horse Feathers is now available to read on Fictionpress. And so are the first three chapters of Seventh Night.I'm working on editing the story and vectoring the logo in Adobe Illustrator. If you read, please leave a review. Here or on Fictionpress is fine.
August 29, 2013
Seventh Night ARC Blitzkrieg
First off, it's August so Cafepress has to bury me under and avalanche of new products. And some of them are pretty cool: beach towels, table clothes, swim shirts, etc., but when I saw the men's shoes, these designs quickly came to mind:
So, what does have to do with Seventh Night? Well, absolutely nothing, but tonight does kick off the Seventh Night ARC Blitzkrieg.
Seventh Night is my novel which is slated for ebook/hardback release in November.
ARC stands for "Advanced Reader Copy" which means you get a sneak peak at the novel.
Blitzkrieg - (German for "Lightning War") means you better read fast because the novel will be posted quickly. Three chapters per day for ten days and the last chapter will go up September 9th. September 10th it all comes down.
Ready, set, READ!
So, what does have to do with Seventh Night? Well, absolutely nothing, but tonight does kick off the Seventh Night ARC Blitzkrieg.
Seventh Night is my novel which is slated for ebook/hardback release in November.
ARC stands for "Advanced Reader Copy" which means you get a sneak peak at the novel.
Blitzkrieg - (German for "Lightning War") means you better read fast because the novel will be posted quickly. Three chapters per day for ten days and the last chapter will go up September 9th. September 10th it all comes down.
Ready, set, READ!
August 28, 2013
Horse Feathers Chapter 22 and Seventh Night ARC Blitzkrieg
Chapter 22 for Horse Feathers went up on time Friday. I'm just slow to update. Next Friday Horse Feathers will update as usual, but I will probably take a break September 6th, since we'll be in the middle of the Seventh Night blitzkrieg.
SEVENTH NIGHT ARC Blitzkrieg August 30 - September 9th
I will be posting my novel Seventh Night starting August 30 on Fictionpress. I will post 3 Chapters per day and the last chapter on September 9th. September 10th everything will vanish. While I do have some offline duties, I will be actively editing during this time.
I'm doing this for test audience/proofreading purposes, so any kind of feedback is greatly appreciated. I have a special affection for nitpickers and grammar nazis, but I love general reactions and stray thoughts too.
There won't be any plot changes between this version and the final version, though there's always a possibility of things being clarified or restated. So you may treat this as an ARC and write a review off of Fictionpress for the story. However, do not quote anything or divulge spoilers, since text won't be fully finalized. Official reviewer copies will probably be sent out early October. Let me know if you have a review blog (or other place where you review), and I can put you on the list for a reviewer copy.
SEVENTH NIGHT ARC Blitzkrieg August 30 - September 9th
I will be posting my novel Seventh Night starting August 30 on Fictionpress. I will post 3 Chapters per day and the last chapter on September 9th. September 10th everything will vanish. While I do have some offline duties, I will be actively editing during this time.
I'm doing this for test audience/proofreading purposes, so any kind of feedback is greatly appreciated. I have a special affection for nitpickers and grammar nazis, but I love general reactions and stray thoughts too.
There won't be any plot changes between this version and the final version, though there's always a possibility of things being clarified or restated. So you may treat this as an ARC and write a review off of Fictionpress for the story. However, do not quote anything or divulge spoilers, since text won't be fully finalized. Official reviewer copies will probably be sent out early October. Let me know if you have a review blog (or other place where you review), and I can put you on the list for a reviewer copy.
August 16, 2013
Horse Feathers Chapter 21 and a Sneak Peak...
Chapter 21 is live!
And here's the Sneak Peak from a future chapter:
Do you feel spoiled?...clicking the image will take you to a larger version on Deviant Art.
(Been working out a timeline for the Seventh Night book release. Stay tuned as there may be a sneak peak of the novel in this plan...but you'll have to quick.)
Also, I'm thinking hard about trying to crowd source fund the novel's hardback release. Need to work out the details, but I'm thinking pre-sale at a reduced price... I need to work out some interesting perks. Obviously book copies and downloads are an option, but I should figure out a variety of perks for different levels of support...
And here's the Sneak Peak from a future chapter:
Do you feel spoiled?...clicking the image will take you to a larger version on Deviant Art.
(Been working out a timeline for the Seventh Night book release. Stay tuned as there may be a sneak peak of the novel in this plan...but you'll have to quick.)
Also, I'm thinking hard about trying to crowd source fund the novel's hardback release. Need to work out the details, but I'm thinking pre-sale at a reduced price... I need to work out some interesting perks. Obviously book copies and downloads are an option, but I should figure out a variety of perks for different levels of support...
August 9, 2013
Horse Feathers Chapter 20
Horse Feathers Chapter 20 is up!
And "The Girl With No Name" got a new 5-star review from Eastern Sunset Reads.
And "The Girl With No Name" got a new 5-star review from Eastern Sunset Reads.
August 2, 2013
Horse Feathers Chapter 19
Horse Feathers Chapter 19 is up!
The girl from The Girl With No Name
This is an image I'm working on from the 4th chapter of "The Girl With No Name". It's a work in progress, but I've been playing with it again since my tablet is working.
The girl from The Girl With No Name
This is an image I'm working on from the 4th chapter of "The Girl With No Name". It's a work in progress, but I've been playing with it again since my tablet is working.
July 29, 2013
First Review in Spanish!
One of my new friends in my writers group said, "You know you're talking to a good writer when they start talking about someone, and you can't tell if they're talking about a real person or a character." I hope that's true. It's nice to think of yourself as a good writer and not just crazy.
Phillip's finally past the part of his youth he's most ashamed of, and I think the story is going to come faster and be more fun to write now because he's having more fun. My goal had been to finish before the end of the month... That seems unlikely, but I'm getting closer to the end.
It was a little tough keeping the past two chapters in PG territory. Medieval life was not always kid friendly, and Phillip had to face an issue that's important for his character development. I think I found a balance, but I had to pull out of Phillip's head a bit.
