Out With The Old; In With The New

Happy New Year 2015

I'm always interested in taking stock at the end of the year. Have I accomplished what I had hoped? Did I set the bar too low or did I overreach?

My single overarching goal is to be able to support myself with writing income only. I can tell you I am a long way from that. But can I accomplish this? Someday. The publishing market continues to be wildly unpredictable. Should I sell exclusively on Amazon to participate in Kindle Unlimited? Should I find an agent? Should I hope for a contract with a New York publisher? And how do I expand my reader base? Honestly I'd rather have devoted readers than a NY contract.

All of these things are background noise to my larger vision. I want to write great books that my readers enjoy.

So for 2015 what I hope to accomplish is:

1) Publish the next two books in the Wicked Affairs series. The next two books are written and I am writing three more. I don't know when or how I will end this series. I just enjoy this world and the characters in it.

2) I am working on a two-part Dickens-like novel. The heroine is a sassy, boyish, desirable hoyden. I love her and I've never written such a character before. This book is in four parts - two parts per novel and they are very long. The first book is 95,000 words and I'm about 10,000 into Book Two.

3) I am going to look for a second publisher. While I'll continue to do some self-pubbed work, I want to try to expand my reader base through an additional respectable publisher, perhaps Samhain, Carina or another digital house. The profit isn't as great but I would like to tap into more readers.

4) I've been debating the start up of a street team. What do you think? How are the teams you are on working? Do you enjoy it or is it a burden?

5) I have several series going. Eek! I'm going to try to get a story in each series out this year. I'll be wrapping up the contemporary series Far From Home.

6) And who knows? I may even write some paranormal or young adult under a pen name. Should be an interesting year. Hope you'll come along.

A New Adventure in Publishing

I've been working on a new publishing project the past few weeks and finished it up last night. I have self-published my first short work titled The Timeless Earl.

You know me, I can't get away from historicals but this novel is a bit different. While it is Regency in essence, it also crosses genres, incorporating a little steam-punk/time travel for flavor. I think it is a bit more humorous than the historicals I generally write but includes the usual sexiness.

Lord Melvern is the first nerd I've written, but the heroine,  Millicent, is more than able to lead him in the right direction.

So where am I going with this? It is all part of a series titled Body of Knowledge. The stories will incorporate a group of scientists and intellectuals and inventors who are well ahead of their time.

Next up? The All-Seeing Eye. Isadora Chapman has the ability to read thoughts, including those of the man she loves. The man who doesn't know she exists.

The Timeless Earl is available at Amazon, Barnes/Noble and Smashwords.