Pre-orders open for The Muse

Well, here we are. Today I've set up the pre-order facility over at the Splashdown Books homepage, (preview at left) along with a dedicated page for each new release. The addition of shopping cart buttons drives in the fact that this is for real - and very soon, there's going to be real books to show for it. To reward those who buy before release date, we're going to offer a special electronic bonus as incentive. Fred's working on that right now.

In fact, Fred has been nothing but patient as I've gotten more and more frantic this week. Maybe he can't tell from halfway around the world. You see, I'm headed away on another two-month trek (blame that travelbug) and there's been a lot of stuff we needed to get done before that. I'm glad to say it's pretty much all done and in the can. What remains can be done from underway, or rather, en route in the back country of France.

It's been a busy week, all right - but I've loved every minute of it. Seriously, there's nothing I like better than to publish books and sink my teeth into marketing projects. Says she, the career-hopper. Heh.

Here's a video blog I just recorded today, including a bunch of stuff on Splashdown and upcoming projects. Talk to you later!

Best-Laid Plans

Had a nice weekend visiting with my middle son, who is at college in Chicago. Didn’t get any writing done, as is usually the case on these trips, but I put in a lot of think time regarding my writing plans for this fall.

‘Tis the season for NaNoWriMo, the novel-writing extravaganza that launched my first novel, The Muse, and which I intended to devote this year to another book-length project. It’s held annually during November, but that coincides with the release of The Muse, and I’ll be busy then with interviews, blog tours, and other promotional activities.

I discussed this problem with Grace, and she suggested bumping the NaNo writing up a month or two, which sounded like a good idea. The main benefit of doing it at the customary time is the mass networking/cheerleading/commiserating with the many other participants, but I didn’t participate in much of that last time, so I don’t think it’s a huge downside, though connecting with more local writers is one of my objectives for this year. I’ll just have to do that another way.

So, Plan B is now to write on the NaNo schedule (around 2000 words/day, every day) from 13 September to 13 October, which coincides with a work trip to Florida. I’m working day shift this time, so evenings will be free, leaving me little else to do but sit in my hotel room (or Starbuck’s, or on the beach) and write–an ideal situation.

The next problem is deciding which project to write, since I now have two–a science-fiction action/adventure story I’ve been outlining on-and-off all summer, and a sequel to The Muse, for which the idea just hit me a few weeks ago. I’m probably more prepared to start writing the sci-fi story, but a follow-up to my first novel, particularly if it gets a good response, needs to follow quickly, while the characters and their “universe” are fresh in the readers’ minds and in my own.

What to do? Both stories will be fun to write, and I have good reasons for writing either one. I could also try to do both of them. I’ve got another work trip from about 16 October to 7 November, so there’s room for another big push. The only problem with that is I don’t know how much juice I’ll have left in my batteries after putting out a max effort on one novel-length story. There’s also the possibility that whichever story I write first may turn out to be significantly longer than I expect. I may need the extra time to complete it.

Okay, decision time. I’ll plan to work on both stories in the two big blocks of writing time coming up. I’ll start with the sci-fi story, since I’ve laid most of the groundwork already, and that will also give me some more time to get initial feedback on The Muse before starting a sequel that might not happen.

As I did last year, I’ll blog a diary of my experience writing the stories as I go along. I’ll be returning last year’s diary to public access after The Muse debuts in November.

(crossposted from http://frederation.wordpress.com)

Reality Check

I got my proof copy of The Muse in the mail a couple of days ago, and the impact of actually having the book in my hands, in very nearly its final form, was remarkable. Suddenly, this nebulous concept of "my book" had mass, and color, and texture.

Even re-reading the story was a different experience. There were still a couple of annoying typos to correct, but what really struck me was a few passages that seemed fine in the electronic copy felt like they needed adjustment in the printed copy. Some words didn't seem to resonate the way they should. Something about leafing through the story page-by-page was different from scrolling through it on a monitor.

The physicality of the book also ended all the comfortable convenience of treating it as something abstract. There it was, and from that point on, I was responsible for marketing it and answerable for what was between the covers. It's one thing to say, "Oh, I'm writing a book," or even, "I wrote a book that's going to be published one of these days," and quite another to have the thing sitting on your coffee table, demanding attention from everyone who passes by, with your name emblazoned across it in big, spooky letters forever identifying you as the one who made it happen.

It's daunting. It's like bringing a child into the world, hoping on the one hand that it will thrive and prosper, while at the same time praying it doesn't become a delinquent and wreak havoc on everyone and everything it touches.

Anyhow, The Muse is still on track to arrive in November. Get ready, world, here it comes!

The Muse video trailer

Hey! This is the day I've been waiting for...the unveiling of the trailer movie for The Muse, by Fred Warren.



We are also taking pre-press reviewers right now, so get in touch with me if you're keen to read and help us promote it!

Anatomy of a Book Blurb

Today we worked on the book blurb for the back cover of The Muse. As I chatted to Fred, my friend Connie came online, and because I know she's always got an idea or three up her sleeve, I dragged her into helping us out. Here is what ensued - edited for length and to avoid spoilers.

It's wonderful what an hour and three authors can do!

13:08

Grace has joined
Fred has joined

Connie has joined

Fred: Hi, Connie!

Connie: Hey Fred :)

Grace: Thanks for coming!

Connie: I love a party

13:09

Grace: Current blurb in need of pep:

Stan Marino is a writer with a problem–he can’t find the creative push he needs to fulfill his vision.
One day, the inspiration he’s been seeking finds him, and he thinks his problems are over–but they’re just beginning.
Somebody else is pulling his strings now.
Stan discovers that reality is stranger than he ever imagined, and he, his friends,
and a host of people he’s never met are locked in a life-or-death battle with a vast enemy.

Grace: So far we've agreed that the last line should be:

13:12 Stan has found his muse, but will he survive it?

13:13 I want us to see this as a piece of poetry. Not with rhyme, but with a rhythm that draws the reader in.

Connie: I like that last line :)

Connie:

13:16 Okay, I don't like the first line.

Fred: Stan Marino needs a muse. He's written himself into a corner again.

Connie: Better

Grace:Good tie in to the title.

Connie: He's written himself into a corner. Again.

13:17 Grace: Yeah!

Fred: Nice.

Connie: Better cadence

13:18 Fred: Or we could use ellipses: He's written himself into a corner...again.

Grace: Now the part about inspiration finding him.

13:19

Suddenly seized by an inspiration that invades his life (...)

Connie: What is the inspiration?

Grace: lol that is the question

13:20 Fred?

Connie: The better to help you write my dear...

(snicker)

Fred: Well, there's the inspiration he needs, and the inspiration he thinks he needs, which is the crux of the story.

13:21 Grace: We don't need to delineate those in the blurb though eh?

Fred: No

Connie: No-- but it matters with the direction you point folks in.

So they get thirsty for more.

Fred: A shot of inspiration is all he needs to finish his story.

13:22

Connie: Okay-- that's a great second line.

Grace: Aha!

13:23 Fred: Connie, where have you been these past six months??

Connie: lol

Fred: Oh, great, now I've found a muse. uh oh.

Connie: Ha!

Grace: Ditto.

Lol, etc.

Connie: Promise-- no evil personality :)

13:24 Fred: That's a relief.

Connie: Here's where a question would work well---

For line #3

Grace: As well as the question at the end? Sure, let's try it.

13:25 Connie: If you're going backcover copy.

Grace: Yep.

Connie: You'll have what-- 5? 7 lines?

Grace: Something like that. I'm flexible :)

Connie: So try a question. Then another couple of statements, then your line at the end.

13:27 Fred: A shot of inspiration is all he needs to finish his story...where is he going to find it?

Grace: Finally, it comes. But why is it taking over his life?

Fred: What Stan doesn't know is that his inspiration has found him, and it's about to take over his life.

Grace:

What Stan doesn't know: Inspiration has found him, and it's about to take over his life.

Fred: Yeah that's what I was going for.

13:33 Grace: Now something about the life or death battle

13:35 Grace: Ripped from reality, he must band with friends and strangers in a life-or-death battle with a (insert adjective) enemy.

Unpredictable maybe.

Connie: I like the ripped from reality

13:36 Grace: Does that give away too much?

Connie: Not at all-- I think you need it.

13:37 Grace: "stand" is better than "band"

13:38 Connie: Not knowing the story, I want the 'ripped from reality' to keep reading.

Fred: or, He's been ripped from his reality, thrown into a life-and-death battle with a lethal enemy.

13:39 Grace: Ripped from reality, he must stand with friends and strangers in a life-or-death battle with a powerful and unpredictable enemy.

Fred: eh, not sure if I like "lethal"

Connie: Ripped from reality is a good start to that sentence.

Brings the focus to a shift in the story

Grace: Exactly.Fred: Yeah, that grabs the imagination.

13:40

Connie: Merciless enemy

powerful enemy

Grace: Merciless. That's pretty good. What says Fred?

Fred: ooh, merciless. I like.

13:41 Grace: Ripped from reality, he must stand with friends and strangers in a life-or-death battle with a merciless enemy.

Connie: Okay-- good flow on that one.

Fred: friends and strangers is accurate, but it's bugging meGrace: Me too, a little. I could live with it.

13:42 Connie: Another phrase that's more descriptive?

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must stand in a life-or-death battle with a merciless enemy.

Grace: A motley crew?

Connie: Just drop the phrase

13:43 Fred: I think Connie's close there.

Grace: Yeah. But I think the idea of teamwork is a very powerful one. a la Lord of the Rings book 1

Connie: strangers doesn't imply friends

or teamwork

Grace: ok so strangers is out.

13:44 Connie: Maybe that's why I don't like the phrase.

Grace: they sort of appoint him the leader. Not sure if that's any use.

Connie: AHA!

Grace: (I love it when she does that)Fred: was that a light bulb?Connie: Yes :)

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must lead...

13:45

Fred: aha!Grace: Ooo!

lead a motley crew

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must lead a (something something something) in life or death struggle with a merciless enemy.

Grace: That's it...

13:46 Fred: ragtag army? sounds like Battlestar Galactica

Connie: Motley crew is great- but may have rock group connotations here in the USA

Grace: Ok, if you say so

Fred: She's right

13:47 Grace: Ragtag army's not bad.

Connie: I like ragtag.

Fred: though they're not quite an army

Grace: But are they really ragtag? lol

Fred: ragtag band of lost souls?

13:48 Connie: Band of lost souls-- like the sound of that.

Fred: kill the ragtag

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must lead a band of lost souls in a life or death struggle against a merciless enemy.

Against is two syllables.

13:49 I think one might be better.

Fred: fight with, rather than struggle against?

13:50 Grace: how about a confrontation?

Fred: battle with

Connie: I like battle or struggle-- whichever's most accurate.

Fred: battle is more active

13:51 Grace: Okay, battle it is.

Grace: I think we're done! Thanks so much Connie!

Fred: Thanks for the help, Connie. Wonderful!

Connie: You're welcome--

That was fun!

Grace: Awesome! We'll hire you again

Connie: Lol

later taters.Fred: bye

Connie has left

13:52 Grace: So the complete masterpiece, ta da:

Stan Marino needs a muse. He’s written himself into a corner...again.

A shot of inspiration is all he needs to finish his story...where is he going to find it?

What Stan doesn't know:
Inspiration has found him, and it's about to take over his life.

Ripped from reality, he must lead a band of lost souls in a life-or-death battle with a merciless enemy.

Stan has found his muse, but will he survive it?

13:53 Fred: Ok, that's a lot more gripping than where we began.

Grace: It's the true essence of the tale.

13:54 Fred: I think it works. What do you think?

13:55 Grace: It's awesomeness!

Fred: Or, Awesome Sauce, as I heard somewhere a few days ago.

13:56 Grace: Ha!

Down to the Wire

Autumn is just around the corner, and the production schedule for The Muse is accelerating. That's a good thing. I'd probably fiddle interminably with the story if allowed to do so, but we've agreed on the final draft and the front cover design, and can now proceed to sending an electronic pre-production copy to reviewers. If all goes well, we'll gather positive comments for the back-cover blurb and/or flyleaf and generate some good buzz.

The entire editing and review process has been cordial. Grace has been very patient with me when I've dithered on some small detail or other (cover fonts, for example), and her inputs on the writing have been insightful. She catches problems that I miss, which is, of course, a very good trait in an editor.

At the moment, Grace is finishing up a nifty video trailer for the book, accompanied by Michael Rogers' haunting music. I'm experimenting with some e-book translations of the manuscript--looks like an Adobe pdf version will be a snap, and I'd like to have a Kindle version available as well, but that will take a little more work. I'm also planning blog tours and online interviews for November. Once we have hard copies available, I can start making the rounds of the local independent bookstores to see if they'll be willing to stock the book or maybe even host a signing. There are also the regional SF&F conventions to consider, but I'm thinking it might be better to work in concert with some other Lost Genre Guild writers to provide some larger-scale representation there.

Marketing..brrr. This will be a big stretch for me.

I also need to provide Grace a slightly less-scruffy picture of my ugly mug. That may require a minor miracle.

My Favourite Words #3 - Vicariously

Vicariously
Yes, I know it's an adverb. Yup, I know those are bad news. Writers ain't supposed to use them, like, ever. But it does describe one of my aims in reading, writing and publishing. "Living vicariously" is what we do when we enter into an experience not our own. That's what I want to do when I read a book; that's what I want my readers to do. Many people are unable to travel far, and a well-written book can open up entirely new experiences even for those who have seen a lot of the world. Windows to new places, unfamiliar lifestyles, cultures, characters - all of this can have an amazing influence on the life of the beholder.