Friday, March 8, 2013
Three Million Words Later…
It took me several teeth grinding days, but finally, the
first of my neverending pirate story is up and available on several platforms.
Smashwords, Amazon but not Nook, not yet. It's proving difficult.
Now, to tackle the print edition…
It was never wracking. My stomach hurt, my head hurt, I was
jittery.
Yes, convinced I would do something wrong and the cover
would be inverted, the text would be in Swahili (a good thing if I’d wanted
that!) and it would lock me out and not let me fix anything. The first person
to attempt download would find gibberish and make a scathing review and I’d
never sell another book…
I finally took the first steps, husband at my side and we
were ready to send to Amazon and…I didn’t have a cover the right size.
ARGH!!!!
It’s okay, my cover artist sent me a copy that next morning
and I did it.
Now, I will admit. I’m still a nervous wreck, but I’m
playing it very cool. Nonchalant almost. Unconcerned. Zen. I’m playing it zen.
Okay, I’m trying to play it zen.
All I can do is all I will do. I am not going batshit to
gain the attention of the world. I believe in my story, she’ll find her place.
And introduce the other 2.9 million words of the series in the next 7.5 years.
Four books a year…that’s all I’m going to force out of myself. Yes, I’ll continue
to court indy publishers for my other books, and New York.
How did I celebrate the release of A Caribbean Spell? I had
a massage and then I spent 15 minutes blathering with Renee Bernard on Canned
Laughter and Coffee, her radio internet show. About 30 books, 3 million words
and pirates.
I sold two books right away, on Smashwords. (And probably
made more money from those two then I did with a dozen of my indy pubbed books.
It’s tragic.)
Other self published authors tell me the first is always the
most nerve wracking. It gets easier.
I wonder.
I figure about the time I figure it out and feel calm about
it, Amazon will change how it does things. Smashwords will merge with Goodreads
and then I’ll be totally screwed.
And start over again.
I’m in this for the long run. It’s the story I always wanted
to share. A lovestory between two people which will span all 30 books. Through
thick and thin, ups and downs, and lots of saving the world.
Because that’s how I roll.
Let’s celebrate! Here is my blurb, long version…buy my book!
Read my book! Rate my book! Pat my head! I’m breaking out the good rum!
First
in an exciting new series from the author of The Kraken’s Caribbean. Blending
romance, pirates, paranormal, scifi and fantasy…it must be A Caribbean Spell!
Meet
Miranda, experienced time traveler, sexual adventurer, and do-gooder. Making
friends and finding lovers comes easy, while interfering is her specialty.
Confident, impetuous, she treasures new experiences; life is for learning and
the joy is in the journey.
Riding
the currents of time is a challenge this witch is up for. No matter where or
when she lands, she hits the ground ready, looking for whatever challenge the
universe presents. She discovered her talent, to walk between the realities of
time and space, after losing her 20th century world to a devastating
earthquake. Seeking a cause to die for, or a reason to live, she stumbles upon
the Caribbean of Jake Reynard. This new realm proves more tempting than she
counted on.
Not
to mention totally unfamiliar. Port Royal thrives, and is certainly not the
wicked city her world’s history painted it. But it does prove exciting.
Handsome pirates, magical devices, even an evil sorceress sail these seas.
Before
she faces these realities, she befriends Joanna, married to a good man whose
gentle nature wins Miranda’s allegiance. Port Royal finds her unconventional
but is still willing to embrace her differences, despite her uncouth clothing,
her lack of social skills and an uncanny ability at speaking the truth, regardless
of propriety. A beautiful setting, charming climate, this sweet world quickly
captures her loyalty. And her heart.
Once
danger rises to threaten her new friends, she takes it on. Better the perils
aimed at the city come her way since she can handle them using assorted tricks,
magical spells and the skills she’s developed in decades of travel.
Miranda
is a wounded woman. Though appearing merry and in control, the guilt of
survival drives her to take desperate chances. Going up against an evil
sorceress is right up her alley. What begins as nothing more than a simple
liaison with Reynard to keep her magical energy primed raises questions she
isn’t prepared for. Has she really found a reason to live in this freewheeling
world?
She
may be a witch who restores her magical energy through sex, a role the pirate
Reynard is delighted to fulfill, but she didn’t count on the sex to deepen into
real caring, or love, heaven help her.
Nor
did he.
Reynard
loves his life. A consummate pirate, he treasures his rum, his ship and showing
how clever he is. When acquaintances rope him into assisting in a rescue of
what sounds like a reckless woman, taken prisoner by a notoriously evil female
pirate, he agrees. Raising sail to save the world is the last thing he expects
to be caught up in. But if that is what it takes to keep the fascinating witch
he pulls from the sea, then so be it. Falling in love is not part of the plan.
He didn’t build his profitable reputation on doing good deeds and trust doesn’t
come easy.
But
trust and luck is something these two need if they are to survive and master A
Caribbean Spell.
Support your local pirate!
And drink up me hearties! Yo ho! Release week on the Revenge! Celebrate!
Celebrate!
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19 comments:
I downloaded my copy from Amazon OK .... loved the cover by the way .... Really Cool!
A true pirate would never fill the coffers of those land lubber publishing houses.
No. A true pirate would launch out onto an open sparkling sea, free as a bird to drift with the tide or catch the prevailing winds.
Maureen, your true inner pirate is loose at last.
A toast to Miranda, to pirates and to sailing free:
May yer coffers be filled.
May yer dreams become real
May yer books become revered
May the world be saved
May Miranda navigate the currents of space and time until eternity.
Hey! Cummon Lass. Me glass is empty! LOL
PS I will write a review when I've refreshed my memory of the story.
Haven't heard any Tsunami reports on the news so I'm assuming California is still intact. LOL
Congrats my girl! You did it and it will never be like this first time ever again. You broke your self-pub cherry! :)
Congratulations, Maureen! Kudos on your courage in tackling self-publishing and tons of warm wishes for super sales, ravishing reviews, and fervent fans. (I think I used my weekly quota of alliteration.)
Wow. Toasts, popping cherries, and affluent alliteration. The party is officially on!
Whoohooo!!!! I am so excited for you, Chance. It's a new book set loose upon the world, and they are going to love it. Downloading today! (Had to wait for payday. *g*)
Now, did Q just infer I am not a true pirate? Thems fightin' words! Kidding. He's totally right. Chance is the queen of the seas and we shall all bask in her glory today.
Huzzah!!! To Mo, the true pirate who sails her own seas and makes her own treasure! Sounds like you have a great plan in place; and with all the positive changes in self-publishing, I think this will be absolutely awesome! You rock!!
Egad, an empty glass? Where are my manners? Let me bring out the best of my scotch for ya, Q-man!
Thanks so much, me earliest of beta readers, I don't think the story has changed much, though some name changes were necessary. Even if there be no innocents to protect!
Now, that glass is full, I got me rum...toast!
And I been looking, fergive me, I just rose from me bed, why might a tsunami be coming me way?
Scape, they say it be easier the second time, more moaning fer pleasure, less groaning from effort?
;-)
Thanks, sunshine!
Janga, I love alliteration! I feel double blessed, baptized and...uh...banished? No, that won't work... Should have started with a different word!
There do be some freedom with setting sail on me own...I figure I'm gonna miss an editor prodding me, but I can only do what I can do! I'm working on Red Sean's Revenge, book two, today!
Thanks!
Terrio, I don't think Q meant nothin' about no one not being a pirate. (Did I just negate that into nothing?)
I did discover that one of me works is being pirated last week. Most frustrating ta see more downloads stolen then bought...but what can ya do? Maybe it brings more readers ta me in the end...
Gonna be a roaring through the worlds of publishing this year fer the Revenge! Just waiting fer Marn ta get the call next... ;-)
Ah, Cap'n! Yer makin' me cry... Ever since I crawled aboard this ship, the crew been there fer me. Wisdom and floggings alike. Long chats on the deck while the rum be quaffed...all those roasting marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers...good times!
I hope I make ya proud!
Congrats again, Mo!! :) I just downloaded and pimped on FB.
This sounds like an epic story. I can't wait to get started.
Marn - do ya think the world is ready for a 30 book series?
*snort!
Thank ya! And looking forward to hearing about you getting *that* call...
Huzzah!
I'll do the the download thing in the next few days. So exciting and I'm proud of you. I know you're going to find your audience.
Has it popped up in Goodreads yet? I like to add it to my To-read shelf, if so. (I also have an active Shelfari account, but I don't think that platform gets as much traffic as GR.)
Another self-pubbed author I know said that B&N/Nook is a pain to get into and I don't get the impression she had that many sales over there anyway.
Anyway, here's to a long and successful run. 30 books! Wowees!
Thanks MM. My call is coming. :) It's only the when and who it's coming from that's a mystery. :)
(See that, Ter?! That was convincingly confident, right?!)
Yeah, Pat, I've heard that about the Nook and may not even go there. At least not until I'm sure it's worth the hassle.
Yeah, 30 books! I really love this world...
Very good, Marn!
I'm not on the Nook. Just sayin'. LOL!
Eh, Marn...no, it's not! ;-)
Pat - It looks to me like the book is on my goodreads feed, but then again, it didn't update my blog... Waiting for the magically talented DH to get home and look over my links!
Congratulations Maureen ! I too have been spreading the word. And I have to agree with Marnee , this series really does sound Epic !!!!!!
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