Monsters and Facebook Live [New Release Incoming!]

It's been quite a while since I posted a blog, but in the meantime, I've been quite busy. The end of last year was crazy, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, traveling between NH, MD, and NY, and the fact that Josh works for a giant retail company and had to work a bajillion extra hours. Then when the new year rolled around, I went all in, head down, on my newest project, Land of Szornyek, Book 1: Tentacles and Teeth. I'm really excited about it, and I'm thrilled to finally be sharing it with you!

Watch out for monsters.

So, where to start? Usually I start with monsters, because that's pretty cool, so, here's a monster pic: 

Called a nagy. Really dangerous; avoid.

A couple of years ago I came up with this idea: what if the apocalypse were caused by the sudden and inexplicable appearance of crazy big and terrifying monsters, unlike anything humans had ever seen before? What would that look like? How would people survive? It contains all of the traditional aspects of an apocalyptic tale--mass population die-off, struggling to survive off the land, raiding cities and towns for resources, trying to rebuild despite the new challenge, etc., but with monsters. 

So I started writing. I finished the rough draft of the first book a year and a half ago, but I couldn't do anything with it because something was wrong with it, I just didn't know what. So I set it aside and continued working on my other projects (All In: A Prequel, and The Polylocus Problem) and then came back to it. Then, it hit me (like a boomerang).

Guess what the problem was. 

I had written the wrong book! I accidentally wrote Book 2 of Land of Szornyek (Called City of Dod) instead of Book 1. Oops, lol. (Fun fact: this is a common problem for me.)

So I went back to my desk and started at the actual beginning, this time finishing up Tentacles and Teeth in a surprisingly short amount of time.

But I had a new problem: it was weird. Each chapter had a new monster and its own complete story, and I wanted to do something different with it, as opposed to just releasing it like I do every other book. 

Enter Patreon. 

Patreon is a really cool new platform, designed to allow regular everyday people to become patrons of the arts. Its set up to be extremely affordable, but so that artists and authors and musicians can rely on a certain amount of money each time they create something new.

It had other benefits too. For example, during my writing process I had created myriad world-building materials--sketches of monsters, characters, and scenes; maps of the world I was building; plot maps, a guidebook of monsters for the curious, plus I was working on the audio versions. I wanted a way to share all of this with the people who were excited about the project, and Patreon offered that as well--a members only space to get access to new content, free fun stuff like drawings and whatnot, discussions about the work, and more. 

So that's what I've done.

You can check out the Patreon page here and take a look at the different levels of patronship available. 

Now, I recognize that this kind of thing isn't for everybody, so never fear. Eventually, once the entire serial has been released, I will be re-releasing it as an omnibus so that everyone else can read it as well (in the written and audio formats). That probably won't be for another year, though, so you'll have to hold your horses :)

I'm really excited.

I just want to end by saying (again) that I'm really excited about this project. Like, Josh is kind of tired of me talking about it constantly (though endlessly supportive), and I have monster drawings all over my house, and I'm even thinking of having a party about it, I'm so excited (and I'm not a party person). I really, really, really want to share an excerpt too, but I can't, because patrons get to see it first!

But keep your eyes peeled: I'll be doing a bunch more talking about it on social media; in particular, on Wednesday, May 9th at 6:00 PM EST, I will be doing a Facebook Live video (click here for link), so you can come chat me up, ask questions, and learn a bit more about the project!

Below, I've also pulled in the video I made to explain the whole Patreon thing, so check it out :)

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In The Shadow of Monsters

Happy Halloween! I'm excited to let you know about the newest anthology I'm part of, titled, In the Shadow of Monsters. There are four different short stories by four different authors. I really enjoyed collaborating with this particular group, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. 

Even better, it's free! Click below for your preferred platform: 

• Amazon
• Kobo
• Barnes and Noble
• iTunes

I hope you'll consider downloading a copy--every download helps us expand our reach and get our book out to more people. 

There will also be a hard copy available soon. 

Thanks!

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My Mom Says I'm Sneaky

I swear this is mildly relevant, but my mom likes to tell this story about me when I was probably 3 or 4: 

This isn't the same instance my mom is remembering, but, well, as you can see, this was a common activity for me.

"My favorite to remember--I was really mad at you at the time--was when you vanished, and when I found you, you were hiding under the piano as far back as you could, the furthest spot you could get from the main part of the house, very patiently coloring your face with markers. Each section was a different color. You had done a very tidy job, but I wasn't amused. So yes, you started being sneaky from a very young age. Of course, you brought it full circle when you pulled of our 60th birthday party. Nearly gave me a heart attack, but it worked."

So anyway, bring it back to today, I've been a little sneaky, distracting you all by releasing The Polylocus Problem, while simultaneously prepping and releasing a brand new title called All In: A Prequel. Yup. Because I don't have enough things to do...

Anyway, I'm super excited about this. You know why? Because it's free! For everyone! For always! 

CLICK HERE.

That was an Amazon link. You can also grab it on iTunes, B&N, and Kobo. 

Your next question will be: why?

Cover! <3

Yes, well, good question. Chief Executive Producer (ie Josh) and I have been working on a new, larger, better, marketing and branding initiative for me, myself, and my books. This is Step 1. All In will forever and ever be free (until the great almighty Amazon decides otherwise, of course) so that you and your friends and your friends' friends and your friends' friends' friends can easily take a dip into the Sagittan Chronicles universe. It's a short (novella) intro to the characters, the world, and my writing style. If you like it, then guess what? There's a whole series of books for you to keep working your way through. If you don't? No worries--you (and your friends' friends and your friends' friends' friends, et al) didn't waste a penny.

So, here's where I'm at now: downloads.

First, please download the book. You don't have to read it (though it's great, so you should). Just download it. It'll help the Amazon (and iTunes/Kobo/Nook) algorithms reach out to more and more people. 

My goal is to have 10,000 downloads of All In by the end of the year (Dec 31). If that happens, I will draw all over my face again (as an adult) with markers (not makeup!), but on video so you can watch. No mirror, just markers. I'll think about it ahead of time too, so I can plan something epic. If you'd like to see this happen, share with your friends, friends' friends, and friends' friends' friends and get them to download a copy too. At the time of writing, I have 57 downloads on Amazon (and 4 on the other platforms). 

Aside from downloading your own copy and sharing, the other thing you can do is leave a review. As soon as I have 5 reviews, I can start doing some other marketing activities to help reach that 10,000 downloads goal. 

So there you have it, friends, friends' friends, and friends' friends' friends. 

These are the voyages of the star ship Ariele. Her mission: to get lots of downloads of the book All In over the next several months; to boldly go where no book has gone before! (Yes, I stole that--did you see a new Star Trek series has started [yay!] but it's only on CBS's streaming service [aw :( ].) Click here to download the book on Amazon.

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The Globe [The Sagittan Chronicles Universe]

The Globe is an organization in The Sagittan Chronicles that manages and monitors all Doors and Door travel. It is closely tied to the government (like airports!) and houses a few government offices (which is why some characters think of it as the Globe Government building) but it is technically a privately operated business. 

Its main offices are located in downtown Pomegranate City. The building is tall, and looks essentially like a ball on a stick. 

See? I drew a picture. It's kind of old, and a little wrinkly. Not the building--the picture. 

The Globe houses the universally famous Vrata Soba, or Door Room. The Door Room is home to hundreds of Doors, each of which leads to a different location; some go to other areas on Sagitta, others lead to planets all across the universe. 

The Globe Center also boasts a variety of other interesting things: an interplanetary zoo, an observatory, laboratories for all different types of research, storage for dangerous items, a medical center for employees and guests, and of course a bajillion offices, conference rooms, classrooms, and the like.  

The Globe is run and operated by Dr. Ailani Bey, and her assistant Garret Addario. Operations are split into Research and Interplanetary Relations. Director of Research is Lars Drake, and the Director of Interplanetary Relations is Tom.

In the Research division, there are a variety of departments:

• Planet Building
• Medical Technology
• Space Travel
• Door Technology
• Energy
• Communication
• Information Systems
• Archaeology
• Etc. (this is so I can add as many as I want as I write more books :P )

In the Interplanetary Relations division, there are fewer departments, but more employees in each department: 

• Domestic Relations, including Interdepartmental Relations, Permits and Licensing, Finance, and HR
• Interplanetary, including Immigration, Commerce, Ambassadors, and Peacekeepers.

Let me introduce you to some of the most important people in the Globe. You will meet them again when you read The Polylocus Problem.

• Dr. Ailani Bey: The Administrator of the Globe. She is intelligent, witty, and intimidating (to some people), and rather aloof at times. She is flexible and good at managing people of all different personalities and temperaments. She has two children, and Ph.D.s in Communications, Technological Advancement, and Interplanetary Culture. She prioritizes competence over credentials or connections, and has a hands-off management style. But she still memorizes the names of every single employee at the Globe. 
• Garrett Addario: Dr. Bey's assistant. He has a PH.D in Communications and a BA in Marketing, in addition to two off-planet degrees. He's super approachable (as compared to Dr. Bey's aloofness), and has a tendency to wear tie-dyed t-shirts to work. He knows everything about what's going on everywhere, and has an artistic temperament. He's single, in case you're looking.
• Mr. Lars Drake is the Director of Research at the Globe. He appears frequently in the series as John's direct supervisor (John doesn't really have specific department--he just kind of bounces around). Mr. Drake is aggressive and intelligent, tends to bluster and yell, but provides excellent structure for creatives and scientists. He is good at delegating. John drives him bananas but he works well with Quin. 
• Tom Draydon: Director of Interplanetary Relations at the Globe. He is even-keeled, good at staying calm in stressful situations. He is skilled at listening, and has experience in government. He prioritizes people who are willing to try to get along with others. Tom and Mr. Drake are in a monogamous long-term relationship.
• Gloria Gundervik: She is the Primary Interdepartmental Liaison. She works to smooth relationships between different departments with different goals, working on the same projects or with the same equipment.   
• Mr. Gavin Green: Head of Communications. He invented Green, Inc, the main operating system for the computers on Sagitta. He is independently wealthy but works for something to do, and for fun. He ensures that all the of the communications equipment and operations run smoothly at the Globe. 
• Melissa Williams: Head of the Finance at the Globe. She reports directly to Dr. Bey. She loves to hike and is an amateur photographer. She does it to get her head out of the numbers that she's always working with. She is married.
• Dr. Mika Rundell: Director of Technological Research, with Ph.D.s in Research and Development, Systems, and Business. She has 2 husbands and 6 children, seemingly endless energy, and is highly motivated and driven. 
• Tara Normansen: Director of Door Immigration. She caused a lot of controversy when hired because she is an actual immigrant, moved to Pomegranate City from the planet Fjord. Some people thought she would be too lenient with iimmigrants, but supporters thought she would have a unique understanding of the challenges facing those trying to immigrate.
• Dara Wellington: Chief of Commerce. Her goals are to make it as easy as possible for business owners to conduct their dealings using the Doors. She is a big fan of free market ideals, and is aggressive and opinionated. 
• Siya Felland: Head Ambassador. She is a wise, elderly woman, focused on doing the best for others. Strong, curious, and dependable, she has lived in over a dozen other cultures for a good many years, is adaptable and able to understand the challenges that other people and cultures experience. 
• Rock: Head of Security. Short, personable, and focused on getting the Globe as secure as possible. His predecessor was less than competent, so he has a big job on his hands, getting things up to par.  

The Globe is the main setting for The Polylocus Problem, and is heavily featured in the rest of the series. As you read through the books, you'll come to know these characters (and many others) much better. 

Grab copies (only $0.99 this weekend!) on Amazon: 

1. All In: A Prequel
2. The Wounded World
3. The Clock Winked
4. The Lonely Whelk
5. The Polylocus Problem

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The Polylocus Problem Ain't A Problem Because It's Done, I Finished It, Hurray

When I was 21 or 22, I sent the fourth installment of a novel draft to my mom. This was the first novel where I had made it this far--normally I petered out after the third installment. The book in question featured a woman who had stumbled upon a planet on which the people were making blood sacrifices to prevent the planet from imploding. Recognize it? I hope not, because I never finished it. Five years later, a few tiny pieces of that original rough rough rough draft made it into The Wounded World. 

Anyway, after she read it, my mom called me. But before she offered any critique or criticism, she asked me this: "What is it about this book that keeps you writing? What's different about this one?"

It took me a while, but eventually I came up with my answer. I told her, "I feel like there is something worthwhile hiding in this idea."

And thus was born the Sagittan Chronicles. 

I think about that moment a lot. If I had to define any moment in my life that was a turning point in my writing career, it was that one. The one where I thought, I have ideas worth writing down. The moment where I thought, I'm gonna write a book. 

Since then, of course, I've made a lot of mistakes. Let's review some of the relevant ones here: 

1. I published my books out of order. 
2. I published too fast, because I just wanted my first book out. 
3. I didn't get a professional cover designer and copy editor for my first book (BAD, BAD ARIELE).
4.  I spent too much time marketing and not enough time producing the best possible books I could create.

Since then, I've also done some things right: 

1. I published a second edition of my first books, including professionally designed covers and professional copy editing. 
2. I slowed down my publishing, and actually wrote a book to go between two books, so I wouldn't publish them out of order. 
3. I spent hours and hours educating myself on publishing, marketing, writing, and other stuffs. 
4. I kept trying. 

And hurray! We are here, two weeks before the launch of my next book (the in-between book), The Polylocus Problem. As part of this whole launch celebration, I will also be releasing some Sagittan Chronicles' short stories (free!), and a Prequel novella to the series. 

Yes, that's a lot of content. It's very exciting, and I'm behind on everything except the novella that's being launched. But it'll be done, I swear!

This also marks a kind of edge of the cliff for me. I currently have 3 books published, two novellas about to be published, and another four manuscripts drafted and ready for editing/publishing. As soon as I jump, I should be flying, putting out content on a regular basis. I hope you'll fly with me. 

On September 1st, please join me for an online release party! It will be held in the Indie Readers Party Room on Facebook. I will be writing funny things, hosting discussions, and doing several giveaways throughout the day. I hope you can at least drop in for a few minutes and join the fun.

If you'd like to volunteer to help with the online celebration (in exchange for a free book!), let me know, either here or on Facebook. I just need you to be available for all or most of the day on September 1st, and willing to comment, share, and like a variety of Facebook posts, to help get the word out about the launch.

Finally, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who has supported me as I move through the process of writing books, to Josh for his endless encouragement, for my mom for reading everything I've ever written, and to everyone who has ever bought a book. Thank you. <3

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