AAtS - Progress and Promotion
Getting toward the end of And All the Stars' first draft - there's around four chapters still to write, which in theory will be done by the end of August. Since I've been planning a number of these scenes for quite some time, and also because there's a lot of action in the end-game chapters, this should be do-able. I write action a great deal quicker than transitional and emotional chapters, and conclusions are often more exciting to write (if only because you can see the light at the end of the tunnel).
[Of course, I'm self-sabotaging a little playing a lot of The Secret World, which is a very good MMO indeed.]
After the first draft is done it's an immediate re-read, which is good for identifying changes of tone, and of course massive great inconsistencies and loose ends you've forgotten to tie. Then beta readers, then editing rounds, copy-editing rounds, I'm sick to death of this book rounds... In theory I should make my provisional release date of 3 October.
Now that release is getting closer, one of the things I'm turning my mind to is promotion.
I have a comfortably minimalist approach to promotion (ie. it's not something I enjoy so I don't spoil my fun with it). I've had my Goodreads giveaway ticking away in the background since May, which has at least made the book a blip on some readers' radar. I ran a single ad on a blog (The Book Smugglers) where I know I gained a few readers, so that any of those readers who don't follow me have a chance to notice it. I'll run an ebook giveaway on my blog for those who do follow me!
The one thing I'm yet to decide relates to a site called NetGalley. NetGalley is a review copy distribution site used by many publishers. It is possible (but rare) for self-publishers to place a book on the site (for a fee of $399 per book), but whether that will translate to any reviews is another question altogether. It's not something I'd normally consider, but AAtS is definitely the most commercial book I'm likely to write (the female-focused adult high fantasy I usually produce is _not_ a hot genre) and so I'm at least thinking about it. [It's not that I can't cover the cost - it's that I'm a self-publisher and thus far less likely to get arc requests than the many many many other books available there.]
But, either way, it's exciting to be nearly finished on this one. I'm very much looking forward to reader reaction to my pure unmitigated authorial evil some of these plot twists.
[Of course, I'm self-sabotaging a little playing a lot of The Secret World, which is a very good MMO indeed.]
After the first draft is done it's an immediate re-read, which is good for identifying changes of tone, and of course massive great inconsistencies and loose ends you've forgotten to tie. Then beta readers, then editing rounds, copy-editing rounds, I'm sick to death of this book rounds... In theory I should make my provisional release date of 3 October.
Now that release is getting closer, one of the things I'm turning my mind to is promotion.
I have a comfortably minimalist approach to promotion (ie. it's not something I enjoy so I don't spoil my fun with it). I've had my Goodreads giveaway ticking away in the background since May, which has at least made the book a blip on some readers' radar. I ran a single ad on a blog (The Book Smugglers) where I know I gained a few readers, so that any of those readers who don't follow me have a chance to notice it. I'll run an ebook giveaway on my blog for those who do follow me!
The one thing I'm yet to decide relates to a site called NetGalley. NetGalley is a review copy distribution site used by many publishers. It is possible (but rare) for self-publishers to place a book on the site (for a fee of $399 per book), but whether that will translate to any reviews is another question altogether. It's not something I'd normally consider, but AAtS is definitely the most commercial book I'm likely to write (the female-focused adult high fantasy I usually produce is _not_ a hot genre) and so I'm at least thinking about it. [It's not that I can't cover the cost - it's that I'm a self-publisher and thus far less likely to get arc requests than the many many many other books available there.]
But, either way, it's exciting to be nearly finished on this one. I'm very much looking forward to reader reaction to my pure unmitigated authorial evil some of these plot twists.
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Emily
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Aug 17, 2012 04:59PM
I am a NetGalley member. I'd *love* to get my hands on a copy of AAtS as soon as I can, and I'd be happy to request it through them if increasing the number of people who've requested gets you more exposure.
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Thanks Emily. :) So far as I can tell NetGalley doesn't have any kind of popularity=exposure thing, but I look forward to seeing your thoughts on the book.
Ah, so it's just whether folks are looking for it or not.
And you should point the Booksmugglers at it again - especially Thea LOVES end of the world scenarios.They introduced me to Champion of the Rose and by now I've read all your ebooks ^^ (and Blue... which I wouldn't mind reading more about).
The further adventures of Ru and Blue :)It's really interesting how many readers came to me via Book Smugglers. A single reasonably positive review can go a long way if it comes from people readers trust to be honest with their opinions. I don't always like the same books as Ana and Thea, but I'm always confident they won't pretend to like a book they didn't.
Same here. I usually can't stand dystopia and a lot of the YA they review, but they've directed me at quite a few new authors nevertheless - you being one. I admit that especially with non-traditionally published authors (I count Samhain or Carina Press in with the traditional ones) and their ebooks I only taste-test and buy on the recommendation of people whose reviews I trust.
I discovered Moriah Jovan via some comments at DearAuthor.com and you via the Booksmugglers. Both of you in your very different ways have so far always kept my interest (my favourite of yours so far, I'm on the third reread right now - sparked by having just finished my first read of the Medair duology and wanting more with your voice -, is the Touchstone Trilogy).
It always buoys me up to hear that I fall into re-read territory for some. :) I was talking about the self-pub v trade pub debate on another site today (in that both options are viable and useful paths) and for all I'm so glad I self-published, taking the slow and steady path can be wearying when looking at the whole trade-launch-instantly-thousands-of-readers mode.
I can see that. Another favourite of mine, Sherwood Smith, has her backlist with Book View Cafe (which is basically a backlist/new books sf&f author cooperative), her current books with publishers like DAW and Viking and even though she hasn't hit it big yet - the best known book is probably Crown Duel - she has the best of both worlds in the way of awareness.I think your books are very cinematic for a definition of lending themselves to be the basis for a tv series or movie or anime (Sherwood Smith has that, too, she used to co-write for Jim Henson Productions, I believe) - so I'm sort of hoping someone will discover them and option you and you get better known that way (and of course I'll keep on recommending you were appropriate ^^).
AAtS is the only book I've written that I think would work as a movie. TTT would probably only work as a TV series.It's a very cool idea, but on the flip side, adaptations would probably whitewash them, which would annoy me greatly.
But it would make your name better known!
