The Power of Word of Mouth
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The Power of Word of Mouth
Hi Everyone,
Happy August! The summer is closing quickly, but I’m looking forward to the spooky season of fall. Overall, the month of July hasn’t been my friend. Between back issues keeping me on the couch, moving homes, and going back to work, I’ve found myself very busy and bored at the same time. I am really hoping that all the rest I’ve done for my back will help the move and get back into the classroom over this coming month.
With that being said, I have to admit that I fell behind this month on my postings. I was supposed to post Part 2 of AfterWorld last week, but that didn’t happen. I took some time off last week, no writing, no publishing business, a week away from the keyboard. It was nice to have the time. I did a lot of packing and reading, got moving more. I thought I would just quickly post part 2 and go back to my break, but it never happened. I’ll get it to you next week. Thank you for your patience!
In Writing News
I have been working hard on a spooky lake story. This will be the first serialized story original to substack and I am so excited to share it with you guys! I’ve been working off and on with this story for a while now. It’s a strange length for the traditional publishing industry, too long to be a short story, too short to be a novella. It will find its home here for you all to enjoy. This will be my one serialized piece that will be offered to all my subscribers. The next project, Marredbury, will begin the paid subscription portion of my page. I’ve been working on that one too and have enlisted the help of my awesome dad for some technology logistics that goes above my head.
In Publishing News
My work will be published in an anthology next month! This has been a fun project I started about a year ago. I’ve mentioned it before. A group of writers got together and played a D&D game to create the magical island of New Albion off the coast of New York. Once we had established the world, we all went off and wrote stories. Below is a short blurb for the series:
A Magical City that Connects Two Worlds...
Welcome to New Albion!
A magical island appears off the coast of 17th century New York, filled with immortal fae and magic. Winding alleys that end in mysterious bazaars. Coffee shops that offer not only lattes but magical tinctures and cursed scones. Sentient AI meet elven prog-rock as hackers explore the possibility of connecting two worlds...
I have four stories from four different centuries on this island. I was also invited to be a guest editor for the project, so I spent this month proofreading. It has all been a great experience that I look forward to doing again. The first volume, 1787 will be released in September!
We are looking to advanced readers to read the anthology (for free!) before the release date and provide a quick blurb or review. If you’re interested, you can let me know below.
After signing up, the team will get you a digital copy. We ask that you read (and enjoy??) the stories of New Albion in 1787 and let us know what you think. These reviews are so important to authors, especially to indie authors and small presses. Word of mouth by readers is the best way for authors to get their name and their work out there.
Sharing a post on your social media, writing a quick review, or just telling your sister or uncle about a book or story you think they might enjoy is a great way to support writers and other creators.
Not to sound cliche, but us small writers really are tiny fish in a big ocean. Every little bit helps! If you like what you read, share it and let your friends know about my work!
There’s my small soap box today. Back to publishing. If you’re not interested in being an advanced reader or maybe you enjoyed the process and want to do it again, keep an eye out for my newsletter next month about receiving advanced copies of Son of Horus, coming out Oct. 25th.
On My Bookshelf
I’ve been reading a lot this month. Part of it is for work. I’ve been moved from fourth grade to middle school social studies 😳 Yikes! So, I’ve been reading some YA historical fiction to get ready for that change. I have also been reading different serialized works (since that’s what I have been writing lately). I’m working on compiling my serialized and short fiction reading into one post in a couple months, but, in the meantime, there is one series that I have had a lot of fun reading. Each episode is fast-paced and exciting, following a shady dealer in magical goods. It reminds me of the tv show Supernatural a bit in the way that each episode stands on its own and showcases a kind of magical element. I’m almost done with season one and will be jumping into season two!
Indie Spotlight
This is a busy month. I have a feeling that from now and through fall there will be plenty of sales and opportunities for you to check out indie authors writing about the spooky and paranormal like me. The Halloween season is upon us!
First, I have a paranormal-themed giveaway. Most of these are free shorts that give you a taste of the authors’ work.
I haven’t been able to read Grave Dangers yet. It’s not out until March 2023, but is now available for preorder for 99 cents. I grabbed the collection of short stories and am looking forward to checking it out. Scary short stories have really been my thing lately. This one looks fun :)
Finally, I am putting Daughter of Isis up for sale this week along with a collection of other books by indie authors. I’ve worked with this group of authors before and I’m excited to be joining them again. This sale is a great opportunity for those who haven’t read the first book in the series yet and want to be caught up for when Son of Horus is released. You can get your copy of Daughter of Isis on sale August 6th and 7th (might even go on sale before). You’ll be hearing from me a couple more times this week to remind you. There are so many great works in this sale, you don’t want to miss out!
Have you already read Daughter of Isis? Share the sale with your friends!
I’ll reach out again in a couple days about the #IndieAugust sale. And keep an eye out for AfterWorld Part 2 next week!