Katherine D. Graham's Blog, page 11

Dealing With Loss... As A Writer

I lost one of my most beloved family members this week. A family member who shaped many of the core characteristics of who I am since I was a child.

Loss of a loved one is impossibly hard in so many ways and for so many reasons. Dealing with loss... as a writer... has far more impact than I realized, though.

And while the impact is brutally painful, and the reality is that my perfectly controlled worlds will never be carried over into the plain of existence I currently inhabit, the impact of a loss on me as a writer shows me positive sides as well.

 Experiencing loss makes us human. The never-ending struggle with grief following the loss of a close loved one is exhausting, but it's one that most of us battle through. 

Some days will be better than others. 'They're in a better place,' some say, and yes, in this case I personally agree, but I'm not here to argue religion. "They're not in pain anymore," others will do their best to console, and yes, you know they're right, too. 

But where do we, Fantasy readers, often turn when societal norms seem to fail us?

If you're like me, you turn to books.

Books where characters struggle with life, death, love, loss, and more in richly-detailed glory.

Why is that?

Because the writer poured a piece of their soul into those pages. We find in their words a connection to someone else who at the very least imagines a pain similar to our own. We know someone in this world exists who understands us, who can truly imagine what it is like to be in our shoes. 

And those scenes, the ones that really mean something to us as readers, don't happen on accident. 

They are born out of the raw reality of the writer's own soul. They represent the heartaches and joys, the highest highs and soul-crushing lows of their progenitor. 

So while writing is the last thing, emotionally-speaking, that I feel like doing right now, it is, perhaps, the best thing to do. I'll take a pause, work through the emotions and the memories, and then pour those emotions into scenes which may one day be read by others seeking the same comradery and escape that I seek as I read today. 

Hold your loved ones a little tighter the next time you see them. Each day is a gift. And gifts are all the better when shared with those we love. 

Are you new to my writing/self-publishing journey? Check out my about me blog HERE

Potential Giveaway If The Vow That Twisted Fate Makes A #1 Bestseller Spot

Grab A 99 Cent Copy of The Vow That Twisted Fate Yes, you read that title correctly. We are so close to hitting a #1 spot on the Amazon bestseller list that I had decided to coordinate a separate celebration giveaway to begin next week IF The Vow That Twisted Fate e-book hits a #1 spot this weekend! 

I have dropped the e-book to only 99 cents thru the weekend (you can grab a copy HERE).

I will also be donating 100% of all profits made on TVTTF October 1st thru the 4th 2021 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (to support childhood cancer research). 

This giveaway would include: 

-1 paperback copy of The Lost Heir by Chris Gourley
-1 signed paperback copy of The Vow That Twisted Fate by Katherine D. Graham
-1 paperback copy of Wolves of Adalore by Morgan Gauthier
-1 "Dark Dimension" Candle custom-made by Novel Candle Co. based on Maedra in The Vow That Twisted Fate
-1 custom "Stele" (water elemental) by
-1 Personalized Video Message from Maxim Roy (the actress who played Jocelyn Fray in Shadowhunters)
(Maxim's Photo by Shadowhunterstv.fandom.com)

This giveaway would be valued at $150.00 (US), and would be open internationally.

I will only run this separate celebration giveaway IF we hit a #1 spot in one of my categories on Amazon (for the e-book) before 10/4/2021 (11:59 pm CST on 10/4/2021).

Ready to grab your copy? Click HERE to grab a 99 cent copy in the US, or HERE to find your international link on The Vow That Twisted Fate's book page.

**If the giveaway is run, purchasing The Vow That Twisted Fate WILL NOT increase your chances of winning the giveaway (there will not be additional entries added for doing so). IF the giveaway runs, no purchase is necessary to participate/win.**

Self-Publishing Savvy? Or Self-Publishing Struggling?

Are you self-publishing savvy? Or self-publishing struggling? Or, quite honestly, slipping back and forth between the two?

Yesterday I had the great privilege of speaking with AutoCrit Editing about not only my personal self-publishing journey with The Vow That Twisted Fate, but also about the self-publishing process overall.

There are so many different approaches to self-publishing (or "indie" publishing), that I humbly share my experiences as a fellow beginner "indie" author with the hopes that it will provide clarity for other writers in my shoes. 

While most of my blogs are brief and related to my projects and supporting other authors in the indie author community, the response from yesterday's live was too overwhelming to leave at that. 

Here are the key points that I discussed on my live with AutoCrit:

1.) Writing inspiration (in my case, a dream hijacked my 2016 NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - plans) & my mentor, Lindsey (owener of Of Ink and Pearls Publishing )

2.) The five levels of editing (developmental edit, line edit, copy edit, proofread, galley proof) + Beta Reading & Self-editing using AutoCrit.

3.) Distribution Platforms (KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, Ingram) and Formats (AudioBooks, Print, etc.) as well as formatting/cover design

4.) Timelines (from revisions to print); what I wish I'd done sooner and why

5.)  Budget (how much did it cost me to truly self-publish and what that went toward - overview)

6.) Reviews (trade reviews and reader reviews, what I did to set up review tours, and post-launch marketing)

7.) Marketing in general (*still navigating this part myself* - From pre-orders to Amazon bestseller to post-launch slow-downs) I'm embedding the full video to the left if you'd like to watch it yourself and hear everything we discussed. You can also watch the replay directly on YouTube HERE.

While yes, I do work with AutoCrit at this time, I had already completely finished The Vow That Twisted Fate (using their software) and had it ready to release before I came on board as their developmental editor. 

For that reason, I am truly grateful for the money-saving, headache-relieving role that AutoCrit played in my self-editing process.  For that reason, I am truly grateful for the money-saving, headache-relieving role that AutoCrit played in my self-editing process. 

If you have any questions at all, or comments about your own experience self-publishing, feel free to drop them in the comments; I love hearing your feedback!

If you would like to try AutoCrit's self-editing software for yourself, you can do so by signing up for their Free Forever membership HERE.

Want to read the finished version of The Vow That Twisted Fate? It is on sale for only 99 cents (e-book) or $10 (paperback) on Amazon now thru October 4th 2021, so grab your copy today HERE.