The Rambling Post

This post is more of a “got to clear my mind” post than anything else. ��I have tried private journaling, but for some reason coming onto this public blog and getting stuff sorted out helps a lot more. ��Weird, I know. ��But it’s how things are for me, and I might as well do what works.

Going Back to Pre-orders (except on Amazon)

After going through an entire day of publishing Ruined by the Earl with multiple formats (one for Amazon, one for B&N, one for Kobo, and one for Smashwords) and having to resize my cover at one place, I realized I need to simplify my life.

I think I’ve had enough of going through all these channels independently. �� I’ll do it if I have to. ��Like if the book is supposed to be on Kobo or B&N but isn’t for some reason, I’ll go in��and upload it through that retailer. ��(This happens about 10% of the time when I publish the book through Smashwords, but most of the time, things work like they’re supposed to.)

So I made the decision to go back into pre-orders. ��It was nice to be able to publish on just Amazon and Smashwords. ��I forgot what a pain it was to do four retailers. ��I would rather spend more time writing than trying to work out all the kinks I need to in order to get the book “just right” for every channel.

I want the book to be available on the same day at Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and iBooks. ��In order to do that, I am going to upload the book to Smashwords 5-6��weeks out. ��That should be enough time for it to go up on all the sites so it’s available on the day I’ll be publishing it on Amazon.

I am not doing pre-orders to gain any traction or make extra sales, so I’m not going to worry about doing this on Amazon. ��My only goal is to have the book on the channels on the same day. ��So I won’t be posting any links until the day it’s actually available.

*The exception to this will be the books I submit to my awesome publisher, Parchment & Plume. ��I don’t have control over the distribution on those books.

I am way behind in my writing schedule.

And I’m extremely frustrated because of it. ��Words can’t describe just how frustrated I am. ��So much has been going on in my personal life. ��There’s nothing serious. ��It’s just a lot is going on, and it keeps on coming. ��I feel like I’m plugging up a hole in a dam only to realize there’s another leak. ��I finish one task and think, “Good, now I can write.” But then something else pops up, and I have to tend to it. ��So yeah, frustrated is the best word I can come up with to explain how I’m feeling.

What’s worse is that when I finally do get a chance to sit and write, my mind draws a blank, and I don’t even know what to type next. ��It usually takes me an hour to write 1,000 words. ��Now it’s like 250 words. ��The answer (as ironic as it seems) is to keep at it. ��I know it’ll get easier. ��If I take a break, it’ll actually be harder to get back to. ��The answer (for me) is to keep at it and plug away. ��This, too, shall pass. ��It’s just getting it to pass that is going to be the grueling part.

The Books I Would Like to Publish For the Rest of This Year

Now that I’m coming up toward the mid-point in the year, I can get a clearer picture of what I might be able to publish for the rest of this year. ��And since I need to sort this out (probably more than anything else), let me list that in this post.

This probably won’t be available until August. ��I know. ��It’s not as soon as I was hoping. ��I was hoping for May. ��Then I pushed it back to June. ��Then I said “this summer”.

See why I’m frustrated? ��Believe me, no one is more upset about it than I am, but I don’t want to publish an “eh” kind of book, which is what it would be if I rushed it. �� So��that means pushing it back to mid-to-late August. ��I need to give myself enough time to get it through pre-order and such, too.

This one might be out in July. ��Janet Syas Nitsick went��through two funerals in her family and today her husband is in the hospital. ��This, of course, affects��her writing.

Since this won’t be in pre-order, it should be out before The Earl’s Stolen Bride, unless something serious happens to her husband. ��We don’t know what is going on yet. ��He went in this morning. ��If you’re inclined, she could use the prayers.

This will also be with the publisher, but I’m thinking it will be a September release. ��We’ll see how things play out.

I have this planned for November.

And I have this planned for December.