Tuesday news!

I have two big pieces of news to announce:

1) At long, long last, Super Sargasso is now available on Amazon for the Kindle! If you prefer, you can still buy it on Smashwords in various formats as well.

2) On my editorial site, along with content and copy editing, I am now also providing ebook formatting services. Check my Services page for pricing and details.

As I mentioned last week, this month I am all wrapped up in Camp Nanowrimo. And for the first time in my Nano history, at the end of Week One, I am still on par with my word count! Of course, Camp has the very un-Nano rule that you can set your own word count for the month. Since I always crashed and burned when I was up against 50K, for this month, my goal is 30,000 words.

I also changed my game plan by going in with next to no outline. And the skeleton of the one I had before I started has already strayed multiple times from its original form, in the most unexpected and delightful ways. This month, I'm letting go and discovering the story as it comes out. And it's a great feeling!

How are you shaking things up this month?

A Good Swift Kick in the Pants

Yep, that's what I've been needing. I did a guest blog today on deadlines (will post a link to it when it goes live next week). What I've been lacking in my writing lately is urgency. I published Super Sargasso in a somewhat-timely fashion because I gave myself a deadline: it had to be available for sale by Marcon.

I used to hold myself accountable to a writing group. For various reasons, members sort of drifted from active participation in the group, which is a normal human thing that happens. But without that passionate group of writers pushing me every week, talking about what they were producing, etc., I let myself get lazy. Since Super Sargasso I've been afloat, picking around in little bits and pieces, writing guest blogs, slowly working on my next novel.

Well, no more. I've thrown two writing deadlines on myself.

1: I will have my second novel, Southpaw Junction, in fully polished glory in time for the Southeast Ohio Writers Conference. (Many thanks to my kick-ass writer friend Laura for the needed push on this one.)

2: I've just joined Columbus Creative Cooperative, and will have a reasonably polished section of my novel ready for critique in time for their July workshop.

Now I have a valuable tool in place to motivate me: public shame if I fail. So then, I should get to it.

Super Sargasso now available!

That's right, my new collection of stories, Super Sargasso, is now available to purchase at Smashwords. Links to purchase at Amazon coming soon!

And if you're at Marcon this weekend, be sure to attend my release party. I'll be reading my favorite story from the collection, Purse Dog Apocalypse. You can also purchase a signed copy of Slideways, and enter to win a free copy of Super Sargasso. Plus, free snacks and wine (wine only for those over 21, of course).

The party will take place Saturday evening, 8 to 10 p.m. More details as soon as I have them!

Super Sargasso cover!

So, here's the big news I've been holding off on. I'll be releasing my collection of offbeat horror stories, Super Sargasso, next weekend. The official launch party will take place at Marcon, so if you're attending, be sure to stop by. In addition to entering to win a free copy, I'll also be providing refreshments and reading my personal favorite story from the collection, "Purse Dog Apocalypse".

I'll post more details post-release. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the cover:

Next Big Thing

I've been tagged by author Beth Barany to post about my Next Big Thing (here's her post). So, this is what I'm working on:

What is the working title of your next book?
Super Sargasso

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
 Self-published

Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's a collection of three stories: one novelette and two shorts. Two have been previously published, and I've been wanting to put the third out there for a while now. 

What genre does your book fall under?
Supernatural horror.

How long does it take to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Hard to say! I tend to write story drafts much more quickly than novel drafts, which makes sense. So, total first-draft time for all three together would be, maybe, two months?

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
The first story, All Hope Lost, has some similarity to Charles Stross' Laundry Files books, but with a less lighthearted tone. The second story features the writings of Charles Fort, and is inspired by him. The third has more of early Stephen King vibe.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I'll go with the novellete, All Hope Lost. Janelle Monáe would make a fantastic Dana Cay.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I love reading and writing about paranormal phenomena and the Lovecraft mythos. All three stories are informed by that love.
 

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The stories pay tribute to noir fiction, pseudo-Lovecraftian creeping horror, and Charles Fort's wonder at the world's paranormal happenings.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Three stories of supernatural horror, paranormal weirdness, and pretentious dog owners: All Hope Lost, Recondite Curiosa, and Purse Dog Apocalypse.

Tag, you're it!  Next week, check out Missy Lynn Ryan for her Next Big Thing.

EDIT: Now Shelby Patrick is in on the fun, too! I'll post again next week when Missy and Shelby have their "Next Big Things" up.