The Printed Fox

Friday, October 2, 2015

TBA

Well...here's the thing.

My editor emailed me last week requesting a bit more time with Duchess and because I love and trust her, and she's amazing, of course I said it was okay.

I know I'm already announcing this three days after the fact (it's been a busy week), but until further notice, the release date for Duchess of War is To Be Announced.

I have no idea when my editor is going to get back to me with the final revisions. And then it'll take me a little time to go through and make the necessary fixes before I can then make it available for you on Amazon.

But I promise that as soon as I know anything, I will post it here.

I can't wait! I know that it'll be even better for the extra time in edits. My editor really is amazing and I love her to death. And I can't wait to get Duchess to you!

Another announcement, I'll be re-releasing Of Hallowed Fiends and Darkest Fortune with a new cover, new title, and new revisions later this year, as well. Most likely shortly after the release of Duchess.  Given that Duchess of War opens the morning after Hallowed Fiends' close, it would be wonderful if new readers could see what came before, as the story picks right up with no explanation of what happened the night before. I can see how this might be confusing for some.

Some have asked if I include the full version of the poem featured in Hallowed Fiends, and sadly that answer is no. They were reciting a very long poem, of epic length. While I know I could sit down and write something to satisfy that request that came in so often, I felt the focus for Duchess would best be served if it kept to the complex and evolving relationship between Anya and her Duke.

I can't wait for you to read it!











Side note: We have a lot of fun discussions on my Facebook fan page. I also sometimes use it to crowdsource future posts. So if you want to keep in the loop, or even be mentioned on TPF, make sure to give my Facebook fan page a like and follow my updates!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Hello again, my lovelies!

I know it's been forever since I've posted here. There's been a lot going on.

For those who are followers on my Facebook page, you'll know that this past year has seen a lot of personal loss, including losing my father in a tragic, sudden accident while I stood 10 feet away. It took me a long time to come back to myself after that, so I beg forgiveness for not being around.

In my effort to come back to myself, I started writing again, and picked up where I left off with what should have been a New Release last year: Duchess of War.

I'm happy to announce that Duchess will be coming exclusively to Amazon later this month!

That's right!

September 30, Duchess of War will be available for purchase exclusively for Kindle!

And all the fans on my Facebook Page had a blast with my cover reveal for it (and if you haven't Liked my Author Fan Page yet, why not???), so I will share it here for those who have missed out.

So save the date!  Sept 30, only 18 days away!





Side note: We have a lot of fun discussions on my Facebook fan page. I also sometimes use it to crowdsource future posts. So if you want to keep in the loop, or even be mentioned on TPF, make sure to give my Facebook fan page a like and follow my updates!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Reblog: Angella Graff, From the Editor's Corner

I'm reblogging this because, after I read it earlier today, I just couldn't let it pass me by without sharing it far and wide. There's just so much to this.

This comes from editor and colleague Angella Graff,  who is an amazing author and my spirit animal.

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Being in the indie market, self-published authors have one luxury most authors in the Traditional Publishing or even Small Press market don’t have.  We choose when our book is going to be released.  It’s part of the Power is in My Hands draw of that publishing market.  As an indie author myself, I love it.  I’m not bound by contract or dates, and when my book is ready to head to print, within twenty-four hours, it’s available to the public.

But it also comes with drawbacks, some of which I’ve seen in droves coming from the indie market.  I’ve seen it first hand as an editor, and as a networker to a lot of my indie friends. Publishing too soon.  I can’t tell you how many manuscripts I’ve had to reject in my editing inbox simply because the author requests an editing job done for a release date two or three weeks away.

When you’re an indie writer, the ball is in your court, one hundred percent.  That also means you’re obtaining all of your services freelance.  Book covers, editing, formatting, marketing, etc.  And all of those things are necessary to bring a professional, worth reading, book into the market.

Traditionally published books often have release dates years out and those going straight to ebook, if they’re lucky, maybe six to eight months.  There’s a reason for that, and the reason is– those necessary elements to making your book professional take time.  Freelance editors, at least the good ones, are often booked up months in advance.  My own personal queue is fully booked through June, and I’m not even accepting new authors right now.

So the very idea an indie would choose a release date just weeks away from when they begin to send out editing inquiries is beyond me.  I don’t understand what the rush is.  I know, you’ve poured your heart and soul into this book, and everyone who’s read it so far loves it, and you can’t wait to release it out into the wild.

Believe me, I know the feeling.

But good work isn’t fast, and fast work isn’t good.  Neither is cheap work, or rushed work.  If an editor tells you it’s going to take four weeks to finish your manuscript, take pride in the fact the editor is using their precious time to give your book full and absolute attention.  You need a buffer, you need time to not only apply the edits when they return, but to finish re-writes, to perfect those tiny nuances of the book before you hit that publish button.

I find a lot of indies think the editing process is finished the moment the book is back in their inbox.  They just hit accept all changes and that’s that.  If you’re doing that, you’re doing your book a massive disservice.  A lot of times when I do copy editing, I will offer content notes.  I can’t help it.  Yes, I’m being paid to look at grammar and spelling, but I’m still reading the book, and if something stands out, I will mention it.  I can tell you with certainty, I’ve never edited a book, even just a copy edit, that couldn’t use a few plot or character changes.

I realize, for some indies, this is hard to hear.  Indie authors are some of the most sensitive I’ve ever come across.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, or a harsh criticism, it’s just a fact.  I’ve had scathing emails in my inbox when, after being paid to do a full critique, the author was unhappy I didn’t find their book to be anything other than absolute perfection.

Trust me, as an author myself, I know the sting of critique.  I pass on a book which I believe to be the very best I can do, and when I get back comments telling me where I’ve failed, it hurts.  But I take it in stride, and I give myself time to make the necessary changes to my work, because despite my desire to have my first draft be absolute perfection, I know it won’t be.  I know changes are necessary.
I don’t want to rush my work out.  I want to spend days pouring over my text and making sure I am one hundred percent satisfied with what I put out into the market.

To tell you the truth, most good editors– and by good I mean editors worth hiring– won’t comply with release dates.  At least, not unrealistic ones.  I will always ask when they plan to publish, and if the answer is anything less than eight weeks (barring a previous agreement and my queue being completely empty), the answer will always be no.  Always.  Even with a manuscript assessment, I can’t fully predict how long it will take me to finish an entire book.  Without psychic powers, I also won’t be able to predict the little curve balls life throws at me, and it’s important to remember your editor is human.  Sometimes things happen, and it will delay your book.

My advice, use the fact that you have total control over your book and don’t choose a release date until your edited manuscript is in your grubby little hands.  Then give yourself several weeks of cushion to apply your edits, to go over it line-by-line.  Use those weeks to line up release promos and book tours, and build up anticipation and excitement.  Don’t rush.

In the end, you’ll thank me for this advice.

Trust me.

Side note: We have a lot of fun discussions on my Facebook fan page. I also sometimes use it to crowdsource future posts. So if you want to keep in the loop, or even be mentioned on TPF, make sure to give my Facebook fan page a like and follow my updates!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Awesome Tweets.



Side note: We have a lot of fun discussions on my Facebook fan page. I also sometimes use it to crowdsource future posts. So if you want to keep in the loop, or even be mentioned on TPF, make sure to give my Facebook fan page a like and follow my updates!

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Did I Just Get Slut Shamed?

Okay, so, on Monday afternoon I was told by one of my relatives that "since [I] write what [I] know," I obviously must have done everything in my books. The implication being that I'm either loose, a slut, or a deranged and perverted freak.

...Um...



Well, she got me. I'm here to tell you that every single act of sex, depravity, and abuse in my books is something that I have personally done or experienced because I have absolutely no imagination, nor do I have any idea what this "researching thing" is.

And while I'm coming out, before y'all get all knicker-twisty when my first paranormal comes out later this year or early 2015, you heard it here first: I have killed entire families and eaten them for breakfast. See, this one time, there was this article, and it was about a guy who totally ate this other guy's face off. I thought that was kinda cool but didn't really have that special "oomph" I was looking for, so I thought I'd just do the whole family.

Also...I'm a werewolf. I was bitten a few years ago. My name is Howls With A Yip (please don't laugh; my pack already makes fun of me for it and it makes me tuck my tail sometimes). I like long walks in the park, squeaky toys, and the feel of real Gucci leather between my teeth. My dislikes include cat shifters and peanut butter. People just laugh at me when I eat it, for some reason.

So if I forget and sniff your butt instead of giving my paw, just bear with me. My trainer says I'm doing really well, but I'm still really treat oriented.



Side note: We have a lot of fun discussions on my Facebook fan page. I also sometimes use it to crowdsource future posts. So if you want to keep in the loop, or even be mentioned on TPF, make sure to give my Facebook fan page a like and follow my updates!