Not a Bad Start

Week two of 2023, and we’re getting back into the swing of things. Getting up for school isn’t as much as a slog, and the 30 day yoga challenge is going nicely. And the words are flowing, although I have learned my lesson — do not save all of the sex scenes up to write them later, because then… you have to write them later, which takes FOREVER because writing sex may be fun, but it’s also SLOW.

The White Raven: Morrigan’s Wrath
(The White Raven Duology, Book 2)

I’m working my way back toward a sustainable schedule, which means that writing and editing happens during the week, research happens whenever, and administrative stuff happens on the weekends (unless it’s something I can’t put off.) So I did inventory this past weekend to count the books that I have on hand.

Anyone want to buy some books? Signed and personalized!

Funny story about that website. I was discussing doing sales through your own website and not through a third-party site (in this case, Etsy), and I mentioned that I use the Square API through my website which helps with inventory. And I gave them the link I just posted above, and went to look at the site myself.

And that’s when I noticed I’ve been using an outdated graphic for months. Out of all the covers on the old graphic, only a couple were current! And I use that graphic on the website, and on my newsletter, and on my Facebook page and… lots of places! So now there’s a nice, new, current graphic in all the places.

Next up for administrative stuff? Taxes. Once the royalty reports come in, that is.

The edits on The Chronicles of John Zebedee are coming along nicely. I could wish that the cover art revisions were going better, but… it can’t all be lightning in a bottle. I’m using the same designers who worked on the amazing covers for Heir to the Firstborn, so I was expecting something amazing for Chronicles of John Zebedee. What I got was something that read strongly as space western. Then more space western. After the third space western, I had to be clear that I’m not writing space cowboys. Not this time, anyway. The next two covers were western, hold the space. And the one I got today was… well, I’m not sure what it was, but it was not fantasy or romance. The book doesn’t come out until March. I have time. But this is getting frustrating. I can’t run ads without a cover, because I can’t set up the preorder until I have a cover image. Well, I could, but changing out the “cover coming soon!” graphic is a pain in the fundament. I have a couple of books on Goodreads that the default cover is the Cover Coming Soon graphic, and I can’t get them changed to the actual cover. (I change it, and GR changes it back!)

I found out this weekend that I wasn’t chosen as a program participant for Boskone this year, which I’m fine with. More applicants than places to put them, which I understand. I had a lot of fun last year, and we’ll see if I can get invited back another year. I’ve booked my room for ICFA, so that’s the next place I’ll be. Possibly running around doing tech again, because that was fun last year. And I haven’t yet heard when the applications open for Necronomicon, but I do want to go back. We shall see what comes of the wanting.

Catch you all next week!