Ye Ol' Update

Aside from the usual business, like doing edits on each book as I come to it (I'm up to #7), trying to stay warm (we should be seeing temps in 30's and maybe a 40 here or there, but we're in singles and minuses), or doing my crocheting, I've been waiting on different things to happen for the re-release for my books. My publisher and I have decided to re-name the books--going with a single word, and omitting the word "Vampire" in front of the title. Also the cover designer had to be found. Miika has signed a cover designer for the next 8 books. I await for the cover design(s) for first book to be finalized. 

Aside from all this I've been reading a book from one of the other author's with Creativia, Dracula's Demeter, and let me tell you this is an excellent read. But I'm not yet done with it.

"My master is coming!"

"Quiet, Renfield. Why don't you go and play with your spiders!"

Sorry about that, I've got a little problem... Renfield seems to be running loose somewhere in the house. He's' one difficult guy to keep locked up and calm. Spiders have been his interest as of late, and those are far and few, let me tell you. But he has found a few juicy ones this week. Eeek.

Anyway, I'll have a proper review of this book by Doug Lamoreux, when I've finished it (in a proper way too!).

In the meantime, I want to ask/invite you all to be part of my re-release of Book One of Sabrina Strong series...

Ascension

I hope to have a giveaway of one signed copy, but I'm waiting on the cover. I don't know when this will happen and so, I'll keep you posted, but it should be pretty soon. 

My publisher, Miika of Creativia has been keeping me updated on everything. I want to say, this process is not something slapped together in a hurry. That impresses me about Creativia. This morning I got a draft copy of the first book Ascension, to consider and okay (which I did). I didn't get that with the last publisher. The title, and chapter headings are a cool font that I've never seen before. This will make the book look unique on the inside. 

The details of preparing a book to be published is enormous, and the whole thing takes time. And since there will be a physical book, more has to go into it than if it were merely an ebook, as many of you know.

So, if any of you are able to/want to help, or be a part of the re-release, and do a post for it, give me a yell (bellow in comments). I'm hoping for a release some time in March. The giveaway will be determined later.

Thank you--

"My master... he... comes!"

"Shut up, Renfield!"

Signed On

At one point I had been with a publisher, and to tell the truth, I did worry about it somewhat. It's hard to put faith in something you know little about. And when he dumped me (or quit, for a better word), it was a blessing, because I could see that he didn't treat the last book he published for me with the same expertise as the first two books.

That was a few years ago. I had to scramble and self-publish. I really wasn't set up for that, but I was able to do it, with help from my friends out there.

Yesterday, I signed on with a publisher called Creativia. Yeah, I had to do the electronic signature with my mouse. Looked terrible, but sort of looks like my signature. Then I spent 3 hours sending them my books and short stories along with synopsis for them. With my slow Internet, that's how long it took, folks!

I must say, when my good friend, Carole Gill, told me about this/her publisher, I thought: Yeah. I think I'll check them out. And was happy to see how friendly & up-front they were. I didn't feel intimidated by their contract. I mean, it was one page. My last publisher sent something that looked like a lawyer wrote (and I'm sure it was), I had to read it over a few times in order to get the gist of it. And it made me nervous. But Cretivia's was about one page long, my contract is for 3 months, not 3 years. If I'm not happy I can go back to doing what I was doing before joining up.

I want to say I have felt nothing but good about doing this. I'm relieved, actually. I also feel that this is not only the right move, but it might be the one that, well, shoots my books up to where they should have been all along. At least I hope so. We'll see.

And, also, this move to go with this publisher has made me relax again, I have gone back to work on the series--doing re-writes for #6 in series--and I feel confident again. Like I can do this. Like I don't have to worry about those little annoying things like book covers, editing (they will edit and do book covers), and placing the book into the market place, and do much of the promotions. Of course as an author, we all have to do some promoting, and looks like I'm with a great team of writers.

That's just it, I'm on the "team", have just been welcomed into the fold this morning on their facebook page by other authors at Creativia. That didn't really happen with the last publisher. I also didn't like having to write up an article and place it on his site. I felt it didn't do much for sales. I'd see that people hit on my article, but the sales weren't happening. Blogging, or hits on your blog doesn't always create sales. You might get one person who checks out your books who actually BUYS.

Oh, and speaking of which, once things begin changing over, I'll have to go and make changes--hopefully the reason we merge our account with Cretivia's account on Amazon, helps the transition and I won't have to do too much in the way of working on changing links and such. At least, I hope so, but I'll wait to see how this works.

I'll bring you up-dates as they come my way. Check Cretivia out, if you want. See what they offer and don't be shy. I find that Miika seems like a genuine person.

Now, let's see, we've just had 6" of snow down over night, and it's still coming down, my husband is out there with the plow trying to clear it all out of the park and our driveway...

I've just crocheted a new pair of leg warmers, and may try them out soon!

JB Fletcher, Mystery Writer, Solving the mystery of what Lorelei is up to

Hello, you know me as the mystery writer, Jessica Fletcher. I've dropped in on Lorelei's blog here to help solve a mystery.

Oh, my no. There's been no murder, but if there were, you know I'd solve it in a jiffy.

I'm here on behalf of my very good friend, Lorelei to help solve the mystery of what's going on around here. Oh, I know our genres are so completely different, but that makes no difference where friendship matters. And, while I am busy working on my next novel, Lorelei has been, well, on hiatus, as of late. But she's been busy looking into another--dare I spill the beans?

Yes, I dare.

Lorelei has signed on with another publisher. As you know, she had to suddenly go Indie because of that bonehead--uh, well, let's just say her last publisher up and left her and she had to pick up where he left off. She wasn't really happy with the way things went on her last book, as most of you know. What a mess that was. (chuckles)

Doing this work on her own was not turning out very well at all. She found it hard to get covers done, do the edits herself, and so forth.

So, another friend of hers told her about Creativia. She checked them out, and found that it was exactly what she was looking for. Today, she gave the go ahead on a simple contract with her first book in series, "Vampire Ascending".

From what I understand is there will be a new cover, and eventually, they will do the entire series, and then some. I think that's exciting news, don't you? Especially since she's been so very frustrated as of late. Oh, of course, none of you could have seen it, but I did. I keep in touch with her, after all.

Now, I must return to my writing. Hmmm, where did I put that hammer... or was it the screwdriver that I was thinking of using... Well, a murder has been committed, I don't want you all to think I've gone off a twist or something. Just trying to figure it all out, you know.

Ta ta for now,
Jessica Fletcher