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I am a typical self published author in speculative fiction (sci fi, fantasy and horror), and like many of us, have been frustrated by the state of the genre market these days. One of the big trends in the genre is the move to self publishing and small press - but being a self pub author is a lonely existence, with communications, information, and vital resources being hard to find. So I decided to create this literary trust to promote and support self pubs and small presses.
This Blog is actually part of the larger effort carried on through our web site:
There you will find a wealth of links, technical articles, activities and more - all focussed on helping the self pub and small press author. In addition to the web site, we undertake a growing array of convention activities which will be explained in more detail.
If you are a self published or small press author (especially if you are a wannabe), or if you simply enjoy good original spec fi, you will find a warm welcome and a wealth of support (and tea and sympathy) on our web site. So please drop by to get acquainted.
And as always, keep pounding that keyboard!
Bob Boyd
- Mood:
pleased
- Mood: pleased
"I'll stick with real books. At least then if I drop it I can still read it."
Hmmm...
- Mood:bemused
Plans are now under way for a Party at Westercon (July, SeaTac, Wa) and Orycon (November, Portland, Or). Based on experience, these should be a lot nicer and more effective. Other writer-centric event ideas are now being explored.
The other big item was getting The Great CreateSpace Screw Up resolved, which cost me nearly two months of original writing. Sigh.
I also used the occasion to add several new topics to the web site, and do some upkeep in general, with several more articles still to go.
Against this, my personal writing for the year looks to top out at 100,000 words due to the time lost. Now that the worst is past, I am pushing on 'MacKenna: Confrontation', with 57 K in the pot. This looks good for Orycon, as planned. It feels good to get back to writing again!
Enough for now. Keep on scribbling!
Til next,
- Mood: optimistic
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lizzyshannon, from way down south in Portland, Oregon. Welcome, Lizzy! - Mood: pleased
The new upgrade will focus heavily on production and marketing articles. One interesting addition is our first (hopefully) guest article: a topic on Magic Realism by fellow sufferer Bruce B. Taylor (of white top hat and tails renown, for those in the region). With the explosive growth of genres, cross-genres, sub-genres, kinda-sorta-genres, etc., a brief outline of just what the heck they are should be a useful addition.
In other doings, it looks like an Open Book Party at Westercon (SeaTac, Wa, early July) is in the offing due to the enthusiasm of the Con Chair and staff. We're still working on details, but this ought to be a winner. There were a lot of useful lessons from the first Party at Norwescon, and the Westercon Party should be More, Bigger, Better, and Faster.
In that regard, self pub and small press authors here in the Pacific Northwest should contact me if you want to take part. Never too early to get there before the rush.
It looks like my personal writing will take a hit this year due to the two months lost to The Great CreateSpace Screwup. My ballpark estimate right now is about 100,000 words for the year. However, there is plenty of time to finish 'MacKenna: Confrontation' - the second MacKenna novel which is scheduled out for Orycon, in November.
All told, we're trundling along in fine fashion - for now. As always, we shall see.
Til next,
- Mood: pleased
The CD idea proved popular, especially when I mentioned that they offer a $10+ savings over the paperback from Amazon. (And I still make roughly the net I would through an Amazon sale.)
There were several calls for Audio Book versions, so I am going to Press ahead on that (although it will likely be next year before they come out).
Interestingly, several people expressed a preference for the Trade Paperback versions, so it appears we shouldn't write off the heavyweight editions just yet. I am thinking to take 2-3 of each to Westercon, along with the CD versions.
The Open Book Party went smoothly, and a good time was had by all. We had six registered authors, plus three more who heard about us in the con program guide, and drifted in to see what was happening.
Down sides included the room being a bit too crowded, and the absence of used paperbacks to donate to Senior Centers. This, and the walk-in authors, highlights a chronic problem of communication within the literary community. We all need to work on that. And our one hour time slot flew by far too quickly.
All in all, the Party went fairly well, and methods to improve it are pretty straightforward. This was something of an experiment, and I think the format should be nailed down by next time.
Speaking of which, I had the pleasure to speak with the Chairperson of Westercon, who is most enthusiastic about the Party concept. She suggested that we take over the ConSuite for a couple of hours one evening, which will resolve the space and logistics issues nicely. I had though not to offer a Party at Westercon due to the short lead time, but if this works out, we might after all. I am following up, and will report shortly.
Assorted tidbittery - I was surprised (and cautiously pleased) to have several people mention that they had already heard of me, and have seen some of my work. It seems I am developing a reputation. Hmmm...
I put out the book collection box on my table at Merchants, and despite the communications lag at the Party, I collected a dozen books from the Merchanting public. Folks like the idea, so we will put more emphasis on that in the future.
We also collected a dozen books at the Party for the Con auction - well done, gang!
On that - I also received several books for review, as planned, including an epic monster fantasy. I plan to review and post for all of them, but it will likely take a while.
Other matters: I still have to finish straightening out The Great CreateSpace Screwup. That, and some essential updates to the web site, will likely take the rest of the month, so it looks like my count for the year won't top out much above 100,000 words. Sigh.
Well, enough for now. I will include several updates in the next few weeks as I untangle the aftermath of Norwescon, so stay tuned and keep scribbling!
Bob :-}>
- Mood:accomplished
Progress this last month has pretty much been a matter of running as fast as I can just to get back to where I started. The monumental screwup at CreateSpace is only partly undone, with four books reposted. The other two are readable (the type blocks are off center), so don't hesitate if you want a copy.
I still have to redo the ePub download versions - the PDF downloads are mostly taken care of as I can use the print format material to generate PDFs - so that will take this next month to get finished. The ePubs are readable, since they don't rely on CreateSpace.
In other publishing screwup news, I am starting to think seriously about dropping the Kindle versions, as I am still getting reports that they don't work on all Kindle platforms (even though created with official Kindle software), and since most e-readers now take ePub. Nothing firm on that yet.
But there is good news. Really.
'Diplomacy's Stepchild' is up and running in all formats both from Amazon (print) and download (from the web site). These are all in the revised format, so they are copacetic in all regards.
The Open Book Party at Norwescon is all set to go, and looks like it will be a winner. I have decided that there isn't enough lead time to organize a Party for Westercon (here in SeaTac, Wa in early July), so the target now is for Orycon (Portland) in November. This will give us time to assess the first Party, deal with any hangups, and put together a proper organization for Orycon.
This coming month will be taken up by Norwescon (both the Party and merchanting), and by completing the repairs to the existing works. From there, likely late in the month, I can get back to original writing with 'MacKenna 2'. I went through some of the material on that last night, and I like what I have thus far. It will feel good to get back to original creative writing!
I am also going to start serious networking efforts, something I have put off until now since I am not familiar with all that. In general, aside from short term damage control, I hope to expand the promotional and networking effort to branch out into a truly national phenomenon.
As always, we shall see.
Til next,
- Mood:
annoyed
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alicebentley from right upstairs in Seen-it-all, Washington. Welcome, Alice!- Mood: happy
Progress anyway: my goals between now and Norwescon are to finish reworking the last two novels, get 'D2' up in ePub and Kindle (it is presently available in print from Amazon, and PDF from the web site), and iron out the last Party tidbits.
From there, we go back to work on 'MacKenna, Confrontation', now 56,000 words along. It'll feel good to get back to original writing again! I'm only about 29,000 words down for the year right now.
Sigh.
Til next
- Mood:busy
