Produce, Print, Sell.

Before I say anything...I'd like you to read this article.  It's a long one, but well worth the read.

I read it a few weeks ago, while working on the final touches of my (ah-hem) JUST RELEASED self published ebook, and it struck a chord with me. I think Mr. Vinjamuri hit the nail on the head.

As you probably already know, I've been slowly bumbling along my own journey in the publishing industry, finding my way in the crazy roller-coaster world that goes beyond the act of putting words on a page. I've queried, workshopped, edited, conferenced, tweeted and networked with hundreds, if not thousands of people over the past five or so years, and I've learned a few things and made a few mistakes. And when I decided to self pub, it was a long, looooooooong agonizing decision. It makes me kind of grumpy that it had to be that way, but there are so many factors at work here...the biggest being the stereotype (perceived or otherwise) that self-published authors are cop-outs, cheats and worst-of-all...poor writers. Sue Grafton is not alone in her inflammatory comments. She has thankfully since retracted them in a nice apology statement. But there are many, many others in influential places who feel the same way.

I still want to be traditionally published. Who wouldn't want the creative and financial backing of a big publisher behind them? All of those wonderful professionals working to make my art successful? It would be like an actor with their first starring role, or a painter with their first commission. The writing jackpot, so to speak. So why risk the stereotype and self publish?

Because I want you to read my book. Because I think my book is worth sharing. And because I wanted to figure out how to do it myself.

Self-publishing TREASURE IN THE FLAME is a huge risk for me, but I'd like to believe that it's less of a risk than it used to be. We all know publishing is changing, and I'm of the camp that thinks the change is for the better.

The Oxford Dictionary definition of the verb 'to publish' is this: 1. produce a book, newspaper, etc., for public sale. 2. print something in a book or newspaper.

That's it...produce, print, sell. There's no qualification on who prints, who sells. In it's basest form, publishing actually starts with the author selling her work.

In all other art forms, as Mr. Vinjamuri so eloquently reminds us, there are no gate-keepers of creativity. No one to filter what gets sold and what doesn't. If you paint a picture, and want to sell it, you put it in the local cafe and hope someone buys it. If you produce a demo CD, there's no reason why you can't sell it at your brother's bar. In fact, some of the coolest music and art can be found in back alleys and indie shops. It's how a budding artist gets their start. Someone likes their work, they tell someone else, and so on, and so on...

Conversely, if your work sucks, no one buys it. You move on and become an accountant.

So why is the art of writing different? The proving grounds aren't in the publication process. The proving grounds are in the purchase process. In the sell, so to speak. I know that some traditional publishers out there have already figured this out, and self-publishing makes it so easy for them. The budding artist/author does the groundwork and the start-up, tests the waters, and sinks or swims. She sells her stuff, or she doesn't. No matter what the traditional publisher thinks of the actual artistic merit of the work...a sales record will speak volumes to a smart talent scout.

I've noticed that even some savvy agents have caught on to this and are using Twitter to mine for good writing. In the past week I've seen at least two tweets requesting Twitter users recommend their favorite indie writers. What a super idea! And then this morning I hear that one of my favorite self-pubbed authors (Tammara Webber) has inked a BIG book deal with Penguin UK. Coincidence? I think not. She has unknowingly been my mentor in this process. Her covers, formatting and WRITING are impeccable. She's my self-publishing hero. Good writing, smart publishing choices and sound marketing will win in the end.

So as I step out on this crazy adventure of self-publishing, I can only hope that I'll be one of those with solid writing and smart choices. It's my goal to provide written entertainment in my own unique way. It's an exciting time for self published authors...and I'm excited to say I'm one of them. The producing part is finished, the printing part is happening...and the selling? Well, that's up to you.

What are your thoughts on the evolving publishing industry? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear what you think!


Brenda

P.S. Only a few more days til TREASURE releases in paperback!

Ebook available now!

And it's official! Treasure in the Flame is now available for purchase on Amazon Kindle!

You can find it here in the US/Canada. And here in the UK. 

It's available anywhere Amazon sells ebooks though, so check it out!

Sony, Kobo, ibooks, B&N will be up as soon as they are cleared by Smashwords...and my print copy proof is enroute for final review. As soon as that's done Amazon will be selling my paperback version as well.

Thank you so much everyone for your support on this journey! And happy reading. :)

HERE IT IS!

TA-DAAAA!

Presenting the fabulous results of Streetlight Graphics cover magic! I am absolutely over-the-moon excited about this. They have done a fabulous job of taking an image and making it shine. A little bit of mystery, little bit darkness, and a whole lot of don'tchawannagobuyit? I love how we managed to stay true to the time period (the story is set in the early 1800s) and yet jazz up the picture with flame-inspired color.

Thank you so much to my father, David Corey, for the image taken at Kings Landing Historical Settlement in New Brunswick, Canada. A native New Brunswicker, I've seen this mill many, many, many times...and it serves as the main setting. Want more information about Kings Landing? Check out this link-- their brand spanking new website. Want more information about my book and when/where it will be released?  Stay tuned!

So what do you think? Like it? Let me know what you think. See the little comment box down there? Click it and type in your thoughts! I'd LOVE to hear them!

Brenda

EBOOK Cover Reveal...FRIDAY!

This week is gearing up to be absolutely fantabulous!

Firstly, I will be attending WriteOnCon for my third year in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday! If you haven't heard, WriteOnCon is a FREE (yup, FREE. I like free...) online conference for writerly peeps who write for the younger crowd--that is 18 or under. As my SKIN manuscript is YA, I've already posted a few snippets in the forums and am getting some amazing feedback. On Tuesday the conference goes live, with free live chats with agents/authors/publishing people, key note speeches, video forums... It's basically a real conference that you follow at home. That means you can sit in front of your laptop, in your pjs, drinking coffee and absorbing information without leaving your house. What's not to love?  Check it out at writeoncon.com !

But that's not all. While SKIN is out there in the big world searching for love in the traditional publishing world, TREASURE IN THE FLAME is nearing it's self publishing debut! To celebrate the awesomeness, I'll be revealing my ebook cover HERE, on Friday! How cool is that?

Do you like historical fiction? Do you like adventure? Romance? Treasure? Magic? Maybe even a zombie? Then hold on to your seat, because  TREASURE IN THE FLAME is coming soon to an e-platform near you!

Brenda

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch

Sir Baas-a-lot says hello.

Although the preps for TREASURE IN THE FLAME's self pub are in full swing, life has not stopped at the Dunne writing ranch. In the works is another YA manuscript-this time an urban fantasy set in contemporary PEI.

I loooooooove PEI. It's one of my favourite places in the world. Miles and miles of red sand beaches, lobster, rolling hills, lobster, friendly people...It's a wondeful place. (Did I mention lobster?)

I also love fantasy. When I read, I like to escape. I like to go somewhere that doesn't involve my day to day reality. But I also like real-lifeish fantasy. You know, stories that you know would never happen, but feel so real when your in them. White, mysterious unicorns instead of pink shiny unicorns farting rainbows. That sort of stuff.

So when I was thinking about what I should write for NaNoWriMo last year, I tossed the idea around of a contemporary fantasy on PEI soil.

Thirty days later, I had 50k words of what was then titled Red Sand Selkie. I've spent the last 8 months or so editing and perfecting it and voila! My newest completed manuscript SKIN is born.

Red sand, secrets...and selkies.

When Ocean O'Malley's family moves to the shores of PEI, she finds more than just beaches and a hot neighbour named Sam. Something is missing. Something she didn't even know existed. And only when she slips beneath the salty waves with Sam does she find out what that something is.

(*cue mysterious music*)

It's a fun story and it makes me want to go back to the Island and plunk myself down on a windswept red sand beach. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Stay tuned.

Brenda

Cover in progress.

The folks at Streetlight Graphics are working away at the cover for TREASURE IN THE FLAME! So exciting, but so stressful. I want it to look good. I want it to look like a novel should, not something just thrown together to slam on an epub site. And I want it to give a hint of the story, but not too much. Not an easy task! I will say that what I've seen so far is amazing. Can't wait to reveal the end result to you!

Things are happening!

Sometimes you just gotta make things happen. I've been waiting for something exciting for years, And I feel it in my gut that it's right around the corner. In the meantime, I've pushed through on a goal of mine, and (Yay!) the ball is rolling on my TREASURE IN THE FLAME manuscript! I'm soooooooooooooooo excited! (insert copious exclamation points!!!!)

I'll admit it was a hard decision to make, but I decided to self pub this manuscript, while still working toward traditional publication with two others. I need to DO SOMETHING. Move forward. Advance. Get GOING.

So what's happening right now?

1. I've sent the manuscript off for final proofreading. It should be back any day now (thanks Wendy!).

2. My cover artist is scheduled to start work on my cover THIS WEEK! (Thanks Tabatha and Streetlight Graphics!)

And after that, it's just format, upload and VOILA! Novel is ready for purchase!

Okay, I realise nothing is that easy, and it's not going to happen overnight. But it's happening. And why? Because of me. Because I wanted it to happen. How liberating is that? Sometimes in my life of giving, giving, giving-- whether it be through my work, my kids, my husband's career, or the needs of our farm-- it's hard to remember my own goals. My own dreams. They generally get swept under the rug, and that's okay, because that's the type of person I am. I LIKE to see other people succeed because I held them up.

But every once in a while, it's nice to work on something that's just me. And that's what my writing is. It's me. It's mine. And by the end of the summer, I'll have physical, palpable, hold-in-my-hand proof that my dreams can come true. I can't wait to show you.

Stay tuned! TREASURE IN THE FLAME coming soon!

Brenda