NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo.  However you feel about the contest, a lot of writing gets done during the month of November.  Common and Wildfire were both written as NaNo novels, but heavily edited and published long after their respective Novembers. Amazon is flooded with NaNo novels between mid-November and late December.  Some novels are fantastic and others less so.

As you may have guessed, my grand plan to have Rarity published by now has not been successful.  I wanted it done by September 30 and published by Halloween to avoid the NaNo flood on Amazon.  Well.... It's going to be part of the flood, I hope.  The battle scene is still plaguing me, but I may have made some headway on it tonight.  I hope. I hope. NaNo is good for setting and keeping to goals.  While I'm not an official contestant this go-around, I'm trying to be consistent again.

Thank you for your patience, as always.

paperback price changes

Createspace is how indie authors like me can offer you guys print books.  They print on demand one book at a time, instead of in lots. Createspace has always been affiliated with Amazon, but they were separate entities. In the next few months, they are merging.  This doesn't mean too much to me, but it will affect you guys.  KDP, which does the e-publishing for Amazon, currently has a paperback creating tool. Its pricing is different than Createspace's. Because of the merger, they are using only KDP's paperback pricing system. KDP's paperbacks are more expensive than Createspace's. So you will see a price increase on some, but not all, of my books if you buy them in paperback. Most of my books are also available on bn.com and other platforms. Because of the increase in printing costs, the prices will increase there too.

Just wanted you to know :)

Another quick sneak peek

Unedited, but copyrighted :)

They circled each other for a few moments, and Glenn struck out again.  Lora slipped on some loose gravel and lost her footing. Glenn advanced on her as she tried to right herself, but she got tangled in her skirts.  She swore as she went down hard on her shield arm.  Bringing her sword up as quickly a she could, she barely blocked Glenn’s next strike.  She was glad she’d trusted her instincts that he wouldn’t yield to her injury even though this was a friendly fight. When he came at her again, she rolled over to the side and struck out with her magic.

Progress!

Writer's block has been defeated for now. Rarity is about 1/3 completed.  I have a very ambitious goal for the date I want to be finished with it. I'm not sharing that goal with you guys because I'm afraid to jinx it!

Thanks to those of you who have supported my work.  I'm honored to have touched your lives. I appreciate each and every one of you. I've seen an increase in my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, so whatever you guys are doing has been working!


Back to work...

Rarity teaser

This is a first draft and unedited. It is still copyrighted to me. Enjoy!



“Stop coddling me!” Lora shouted at Peter. “It’s been over a year since Dain stabbed me! You and Louis are the worst!”

Peter winced, but he didn’t advance against her.  “I can’t,” he admitted as he guarded himself against Lora’s offensive quarterstaff maneuver. “I know it doesn’t do either one of us any good, but—Ow!” He dropped his mace and shook his hand. “You broke my fingers!”

Lora shrugged but maintained her positioning. “Go to the healer. I need a partner who’ll actually fight me.” When he picked up his mace with his opposite hand, he glared at her, so she stuck out her tongue at him.

When Peter stomped off toward the healers, Lora lowered her quarterstaff and carefully moved toward Lord Nestor. She cleared her throat and waited to be acknowledged.

“Do you need the healers, Miss Lorana?” Lord Nestor asked. He sounded grouchy. He was always grouchy when he was watching sparring.

She shook her head and he raised an eyebrow. “I broke Peter’s fingers,” she explained. “Or his hand. Or something. He went to the healers, so I need a new partner.”

Lord Nestor snorted. “I think that’s the first time in five years you’ve sent someone to the infirmary. Apropos that it’s Peter,” he said with a chuckle.  “Jane!” he shouted.

Jane of Long Lake trotted over. “Yes, Lord Nestor?” Jane nodded to Lora. They were acquaintances, but didn’t socialize often, as they had closer groups of friends.

“You sent Salvator to the infirmary. Lora, here, sent Peter there. You’re partners for the rest of the lesson. Carry on.” He paused. “Christopher, you’re not meant to stab with the mace except as a last resort!”

;)

writer's block

It's awful, and I'm so motivated to write and get Rarity out to you all that my frustration is probably making it worse. Lora is going on a journey downriver from Glimmen to Azure Shores. I need to get her there. All I can think about are mosquitoes, and it's driving me CRAZY! All of the passengers are suffering........................ And that's it for the chapter.  It just won't come! And I'm the type of person who writes linearly, so skipping ahead makes me very, very nervous.

I'm flying out of town tonight for the weekend. Hopefully the change of scenery will help. Again, since I just got back into town from LA on Thursday. Sigh.  Where's my emoji that's crying so hard that its tears are just streaming down its little face???

Reviews missing!

My book reviews on Amazon have been disappearing! I'm down from 1 to 0 for Earthquake, 12 to 9 on Wildfire, and 43 to 41 on Common. Please leave a review if you have read any or all of the books. Indy authors like me rely on reviews to get the word out. Many people look at the number of reviews before they decide they're even going to read the book blurb, let alone buy or download it. Since I'm relatively unknown, I don't have the 1000+ reviews like Sarah J. Maas or even 500+ like Jaymin Eve that attract readers, so please help me out! 😊

The article is live!

As many of you know, I was approached for a photo in the online magazine, Voyage Phoenix. That picture came out last month in their page on "The Influencers." They asked me to do an article, which is pretty darn exciting.  Here is the URL!

http://voyagephoenix.com/interview/life-work-andrea-irving

Thank you so much!

Thank you to my loyal readers!! You have made Earthquake number 41 on Amazon.de and number 44 on Amazon.fr!! I never knew so many people would be reading this whose first language was not English. I speak French and some Spanish, but I've never read a book for fun in French. I doubt I could get through one at all in Spanish. We also made it to number 55 on Amazon.ca! I could never have done this without you guys, and it's so exciting. Thank you again and be sure to leave an honest review if you have read any of my books.

I am hard at work on Rarity.  I got a lot done when I was out of town, and I have done more since I have been back home. Lora has grown up by a few years, so hopefully we will be getting into the good stuff as she begins her journey outside the Academy :)

Wildfire cover updated!

It takes a few hours for it to show up on amazon, but it's there.  Ampersand Book Covers did another wonderful job on it :)

I also have completed most of the steps to get the paperback version of Earthquake out. It's in the review process.  Createspace, which does some of the paperback publishing for amazon, is a little slower than Kindle Direct Publishing, so this will take a few more days. Once that is done, I'll move on to changing the print cover of Wildfire.  You will be pleased to note that there will be page numbers in this one. I've also changed Common's paperback to include them. Silly me, I forgot them when I originally published!!

Anyway, that's what's been going on.  I have the weekend to do almost nothing but write, so that's what I'll be doing. I've already gotten another thousand words down for Rarity. It's at 4000+. To put it in perspective, my other books were 60-80,000 words. Usually I put forth another 10,000 words or so while I'm supposed to be paying attention to some lectures over this weekend every year ;)

I hope you're enjoying Earthquake.  Please be sure to leave an honest and constructive review!

Uploading

Finally.

Earthquake should be available for purchase on one of the Amazon markets for $2.99 (or international equivalent) for the e-book within the next 24 hours. It usually takes just a few once I click publish, but you never know. As always, it is free with Kindle Unlimited.  I'm still getting the paperback cover done, since it requires sizing and dimensions and stuff you just don't want to know about. But that will likely be available before the end of the week.

The new cover for Wildfire is in progress, and it is equally as lovely as the Earthquake cover.  Just finishing up a few nitpicky things.

This week is my annual CME conference down in Tucson. I usually get a ton of writing done on the trip. No distractions and all that.  So hopefully I'll have a lot of Lora Fletcher written by the time I get back late Saturday night.  I already have a few thousand words written, so it's just a matter of picking up where I left off.  Shedding the contemporary and dusting off the medieval. Fun!

As always, I'll keep you posted.  Thanks again for your patience!!!

Earthquake cover!

The book is not done. It's still in the editing stages, but the cover is done! I think it's awesome. It was created by Ampersand Book Covers (www.ampersandbookcovers.com). I have also decided to use them to redo the cover for Wildfire because I like how it turned out so much.  Enjoy!

Earthquake is done!

Just finished typing "END."  I have editing to do on the second half, a read-though, and then beta reading. I'm waiting on the cover still, but... The book is done. It'll be published as soon as is humanly possible. Thank you again for your patience. My fans are the best!!

Cover

I have good news. Maybe not what you're hoping for, but good nonetheless.

I am in a huge burst of creativity right now. I've taken a short break from the neverending (I hope) flow of words to update you. I'm a few thousand words from the end of Earthquake.  Once that's done, I will proofread it and get it to my beta readers. I always edit as I go, but proofreading helps me find most of the inconsistencies and cringeworthy errors.

What's exciting? I'm getting a professionally done cover! My ambitions for Earthquake's cover were way beyond my skill level.  I found a great person who has done some lovely covers for not a ton of money. If I like what she does, I'll get Wildfire's cover updated as well. I just submitted my request to her, so I should be hearing back soon.

Things are moving!! Yay!

Then I can concentrate on Rarity, Lora Fletcher #2! I know the majority of you are here for her, and I appreciate your patience as I get out my other stuff.

Beta readers for Earthquake

I'm in the final chapters of Earthquake.  I need two volunteers to beta read for me, as my usual beta readers are pretty busy with other authors. First come, first serve.

What is a beta reader? Well, a beta reader reads a book before it is published and looks for errors and inconsistencies.  They typically take notes, either in a second document or using track changes (insert comment function). Prior to being sent to beta readers, a work should have been proofread for spelling, grammar, and usage errors, but since we're not perfect, some still slip by.  Which reminds me, I need to upload a corrected version of Common.

Anyway, a beta reader checks for plot inconsistencies, i.e. a guy is named Steve in the first 6 and last 6 chapters, but his name somehow changes to Lance for the middle 12 chapters... I've seen this and it drove me freaking nuts. Or if the name of a place suddenly changes. Or if someone's physical description is not the same throughout.

Does the story make sense? Are there unnecessary paragraphs or chapters that add nothing to the story? Are there areas that need more detail?

Most importantly, beta readers are brutally honest. If it's there, they will not gloss over it. That being said, I need harsh beta readers. I need to know what has to be changed or cut. I want everyone to enjoy the books they wait so long for. Will I make every change? No.  There's stuff in Wildfire that my beta readers hated because I felt it was integral to the story.  My most recent review on Goodreads is scathing, mostly because of the stuff I left in. But I digress. I also expect a two week or less turn-around time.

As beta readers, you get first crack at Earthquake for free.  You can still buy the final version or read it on KU if you want, since it will be slightly different.  But if you like to read, have a critical eye, and want to save your $2.99 (or other amount of non-US funds to purchase the book), please contact me ASAP.  Hopefully this will keep me on track to finish, too.

Thanks!!!

Influenza

She's a bitch. I've been down for the count for several days and anticipate several more. Stay well!!

And happy new year! ☺