Michael Selden's Blog, page 11

I AM on schedule for release by summer

The Beta Readers have agreed to read I AM, even though it’s in a somewhat rough form. My objective is to get the manuscript to editing by April 1.

I have a couple more scenes to add, plus I am thinking of incorporating a technical appendix at the end of the book, because there are a lot of electro-optic and astronomical references in the book—not surprising since roughly half the story takes place at an astronomical observatory.

Still on track to have the book published by summer.

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The Boy Who Ran Audio Edition On Schedule

I received and reviewed a 15-minute sample of the recording for the audio book edition of The Boy Who Ran.  The completed book is due to me on March 31 and I plan to release the book shortly afterward. Lyssa Browne (of Cedar House Audio) is narrating the book.  Look for it to be available by mid April.

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I AM—Cover Image Reveal

I’ve chosen a cover image for the novel I AM.

 

I AM is a science fiction novel set just a few years from now. A comet form the Oort cloud is on a collision coarse with the Earth, and the book follows an astronomy student as she copes with tragedy in her life and watches the progress of this Earth killer.

Photo by Wendy Gedack (www.wendygedack.com)

 

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The Boy Who Ran Revisions

I’m making significant revisions to The Boy Who Ran, primarily in specific wording choices and I’m also clarifying some of the thing in the book I found confusing. I started this primarily to create an audio script version, prior to making the audio book itself, since not all written words make good audio scripts. But I saw a lot of small errors and then became aware of mistakes I’d made. Te audio version should be out in early April, and I may release a second (revised) edition of The Boy from the audio script. If so that probably won’t happen until after the audio book is out.

 

 

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Voice Artist Selected for The Boy Who Ran

After reviewing all of the audio auditions for “The Boy Who Ran”, I chose Lyssa Brown to narrate the book. From the original 30 auditions, three people were among the final group I was considering, and choosing wasn’t easy. In the end Lyssa’s interpretation was near perfect, and she hit all of the qualities with her voice and reading I was looking for.

Lyssa is part owner of Cedar House Audio Productions (based in Seattle), and her audio resume can be found on the web site for that company:

 

http://www.cedarhouseaudio.com/index.php

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Plan to create audio books of my novels

Right now, I’ve started a learning process to create an audio version of The Boy Who Ran. Since it’s only a 38,768 word book (that would be a novella for adults, but is a novel for Middle Grade), my education process should be less painful. That is, my mistakes will hurt less. I’ll use The Boy as my first effort (just as I did for publishing, although the draft of The Balance was written first). A audio version of The Balance should follow a bit later, since every production, paper, Kindle, or audio, requires an investment of both time and money on my part, and I’m just a micro-publisher.

I’m working through ACX, which is an AMAZON company exchange to match voice artists with authors. I’m often asked questions about this, such as: why don’t I record it myself. In my case, I know that my voice wouldn’t last through the whole book, and I prefer to work with professionals anyway. The same applies to editors, designers, and so forth. You get a better end product when you work with experienced pros. I know this is true and I’m all about the quality of the finished product.

This week, I’m receiving audition recordings from voice artists—often these are actors or actresses who do voiceovers, but sometimes they are teachers. I’ll be reviewing the recorded auditions (probably several times) until I feel I have a good match for this book. I may also contact the artists to ask a question or two. The demo interpretation may be close to what I want, or I may hear something in the voice or expression but want to make sure everything is a proper fit. I went through so may many revisions on The Boy to achieve exactly what I wanted, but I may not have the best notion of what works best for an audio book version.

I plan to make a decision for a first and second choice next weekend and then contact the person to see if we can work out an agreement and a schedule.

Meanwhile, I’ll work on I AM—I’ve been lazy lately—and try to get it into shape for the editing runs. I’m still hoping to release the paperback and Kindle versions of that in the late spring.

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Updated Excerpt from the upcoming book, I AM Posted

I updated the advanced-look excerpt form the upcoming Science Fiction book, I AM.

The excerpt contains the short prologue and the first interlude as well as Chapter 1.

http://michaelselden.com/i-am/

I AM is a science fiction story set in the near future.

 

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Foreword Reviews Magazine Winter 2016 Edition is out

A copy of Foreword Reviews magazine arrived yesterday in my mailbox. The blurb about THE BALANCE in the 5-Star books finally came out. Only books receiving a Clarion 5-Star rating can advertise in this section of the journal, and the quote in the ad comes from the review. Foreword Reviews is a trade magazine read by librarians and other book professionals

THE BALANCE is a Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction novel

http://michaelselden.com/the-balance/

An excerpt form the book is available on this web page

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“I AM” Update

The book, I AM, is a science fiction novel being written for a New Adult / Young Adult audience. The first draft is complete and I’m working on revisions. I’ve been playing around with different structures, voices, and tones, wanting to achieve just the right feel for the book. Naturally, I’ve also stuck as closely as is practical in a speculative fiction book with certain rules. While I will create speculative elements in a book, I usually try to make sure that the science parts are correct, and that there is a rationale for how the non-science parts work.

I AM explores events leading up to an extinction level event, caused by a massive comet from the Oort cloud, which originated from about 1 light year out. Of course the story has its own unique twists—after all cometary annihilation has been explored before. This book will be different.

I’ve posted a few items on the web page dedicated to this book, including a one-page excerpt, which I plan to update, adding the entire first chapter. To that end, I’ve asked the editor with whom I work to take a brief pass over the text.

 

Click Here for The Web Page for I AM or, if you prefer, copy this link:

http://michaelselden.com/i-am/

 

 

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Giveaway for “The Balance” on GoodReads

Sign up to win one of 7 copies of The Balance, which I’m offering through GoodReads. Click on the GoodReads widget below for details.

 

 

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway


The Balance
by Michael Selden

Giveaway ends November 30, 2015.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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