Guild member A.M. Roelke celebrates her first ever author interview! And the post includes a great excerpt from her upcoming debut release, The Space Station Murders:
http://rebeccaryalsrussell.com/?page_id=49
TitleTrakk.com offers further comment on the recent announcement that Kathy Tyers has signed with Marcher Lord Press:
http://titletrakkbooknews.blogspot.com/2010/08/kathy-tyers-signs-to-marcher-lord-press.html
Voting has opened on the 2010 Clive Staples Award! You must have read two of the books to participate. Go here to place your vote:
http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/2010-clive-staples-award-voting/
Brandon Barr has a bunch of news about American Midnight, co-authored with Mike Lynch: a number of interviews and reviews have appeared lately. All the links are at
http://christiansciencefiction.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-interview-radio-show-and-few-reviews.html
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
8/04/2010
7/26/2010
News for July 26th 2010
A reminder from the New Authors Fellowship:
As of Thursday, July 29, we will move into the 2nd phase of selection for our New Featured Author! If you want to be considered or know someone that does, send an email to nafblog.info@gmail.com before next Thursday! And please, help us spread the word! (more info in this post)
Janalyn Voigt has posted a blog article - Medieval Fantasy: In the Shadow of Tolkien and Lewis - "In a sense, they scrawled their signatures across an entire genre."
Your friendly neighbourhood LGG blogger Grace Bridges (yeah that's me!) is featured this week at Operation Encourage an Author, with a chance to win a copy of the new novel Legendary Space Pilgrims! Go on, get over there! http://encourageanauthor.blogspot.com/2010/07/author-spotlight-grace-bridges.html
For writers: Some valuable insights on working with editors from LGG members in the editing/publishing scene:
What not to be famous for - C.L. Dyck
The Malleable Author - C. Maggie Woychik
As of Thursday, July 29, we will move into the 2nd phase of selection for our New Featured Author! If you want to be considered or know someone that does, send an email to nafblog.info@gmail.com before next Thursday! And please, help us spread the word! (more info in this post)
Janalyn Voigt has posted a blog article - Medieval Fantasy: In the Shadow of Tolkien and Lewis - "In a sense, they scrawled their signatures across an entire genre."
Your friendly neighbourhood LGG blogger Grace Bridges (yeah that's me!) is featured this week at Operation Encourage an Author, with a chance to win a copy of the new novel Legendary Space Pilgrims! Go on, get over there! http://encourageanauthor.blogspot.com/2010/07/author-spotlight-grace-bridges.html
For writers: Some valuable insights on working with editors from LGG members in the editing/publishing scene:
What not to be famous for - C.L. Dyck
The Malleable Author - C. Maggie Woychik
4/16/2010
News for April 16th, 2010
Johne Cook says: The esteemed writing site, AuthorCulture, has had a lapse in judgment and has asked me to join their team posting periodic items on the writing blog. Their charter is 'inspiring, enlightening, and uniting writers and readers.' Today is my first post, and they asked me to say howdy. So allow myself to, uh...Well, you know.
http://authorculture.blogspot.
This from Terri Main:
Dark Side of the Moon, a cozy mystery set in a lunar colony at the end of the 21st century, has been contracted by MuseItUp Publishing. (http://museituppublishing.
"I love science fiction and I love cozies, so it was fun bringing the two of my favorite genres together," said Main. "I am also excited in that Carolyn is an openly Christian character in what is an essentially secular story and this novel was picked up by a secular publisher."
And this from Jill Williamson on To Darkness Fled:
After a long year of writing and writing and writing… the second book in my Blood of Kings trilogy is now up for sale! Thanks so much to everyone who supported me by praying, or reading my first book, or telling people about it. I had no idea when I started writing just how much hard work was involved in all this. Regardless, it has been a fun and rewarding experience.
Buy from the Marcher Lord Press Store Buy for your Amazon Kindle or iPhone, or download Kindle for the PC program (free from Amazon.com) and read the Kindle book on your computer
Or special order the through your local Barnes and Noble.
3/12/2010
News for March 12th, 2010
Three titles from Marcher Lord Press have landed on the finalist list for the EPIC Awards 2010, otherwise known as the EPPIE. You can go here to see the full list: http://www.epicauthors.com/epicwinners2010.html
Thanks to Caprice for digging up this opportunity for writers to submit short stories on the theme of extraterrestrials: http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/wrg/1635436754.html
A very new member of the Lost Genre Guild is C. Maggie Woychik, who operates Port Yonder Press, publishing fantasy among other things. Read her introduction to her publishing goals at Christian Fiction Online Magazine here: http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/buzz_corner.html
And another brand new member, Ellen C. Maze, has been interviewed about her vampire book Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider - check it out here: http://thejudging-ellenmaze.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-interview-with-ellen-plus-advice.html
Thanks to Caprice for digging up this opportunity for writers to submit short stories on the theme of extraterrestrials: http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/wrg/1635436754.html
A very new member of the Lost Genre Guild is C. Maggie Woychik, who operates Port Yonder Press, publishing fantasy among other things. Read her introduction to her publishing goals at Christian Fiction Online Magazine here: http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/buzz_corner.html
And another brand new member, Ellen C. Maze, has been interviewed about her vampire book Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider - check it out here: http://thejudging-ellenmaze.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-interview-with-ellen-plus-advice.html
2/25/2010
News for February 25th, 2010
Greg Mitchell has just signed a contract with Realms Fiction for his Christian Horror/Monster trilogy "The Coming Evil". The first book "The Strange Man" was originally self-published through Xulon Press in 2007. A new Expanded Edition of the book will be re-released through Realms Fiction later in early 2011 followed by the remaining two volumes in the trilogy. Keep updated at www.thecomingevil.com
The Christian Small Publishers' Association is holding a vote for the best books of the year. Head on over to http://www.christianpublishers.net/10votes/ and cast your vote - in the Fiction section is a spec-fic title worth supporting: Earth is Not Alone by John Knapp II (go here to see my review of it).
At the New Authors' Fellowship, Keven Newsome provides an introduction and commentary on the manuscript I Am Ocilla by Diane M. Graham, which was a winner in the Marcher Lord Press premise contest. Go here to check it out: http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/new-authors-series-i-am-ocilla/
Bryan Thomas Schmidt says: My first short story publication was an an ezine called Einstein's
Pocket Book this month. It is based on a real experiences last October and November with my wife's struggle with mental illness (she gave permission to use that) and then becomes a kind of contemporary fantasy as it moves along.
http://peafant.wordpress.com/the-maintenance-man-by-bryan-thomas-schmidt/
The Christian Small Publishers' Association is holding a vote for the best books of the year. Head on over to http://www.christianpublishers.net/10votes/ and cast your vote - in the Fiction section is a spec-fic title worth supporting: Earth is Not Alone by John Knapp II (go here to see my review of it).
At the New Authors' Fellowship, Keven Newsome provides an introduction and commentary on the manuscript I Am Ocilla by Diane M. Graham, which was a winner in the Marcher Lord Press premise contest. Go here to check it out: http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/new-authors-series-i-am-ocilla/
Bryan Thomas Schmidt says: My first short story publication was an an ezine called Einstein's
Pocket Book this month. It is based on a real experiences last October and November with my wife's struggle with mental illness (she gave permission to use that) and then becomes a kind of contemporary fantasy as it moves along.
http://peafant.wordpress.com/the-maintenance-man-by-bryan-thomas-schmidt/
1/01/2010
News for January 1st, 2010
Rick Copple says: You asked for it, you got it. As Paul Harvey would say, "And now for the
rest of the story." Here's what happens when Sisko brings an ogre home for Christmas.
http://blog.rlcopple.com/?p=177 [You can find the first part at http://blog.rlcopple.com/?p=174]
Hope everyone had a great celebration, and will have a happy new year.
Ken Pick says: "Down to Cathuria" (an episode of Adventures of Jill Noir set between "Mask of the Ferret" and "Dyads") just came out in the small-press anthology Different Worlds, Different Skins by Anthropomorphic Dreams:
http://www.anthrodreams.com/wordpress/2009/12/20/different-worlds-different-skins/
Also note that this is a FURRY anthology, Not a CHRISTIAN one. Some of the stories have PG-13 erotica.
Scott M. Sandridge says: I'll have stories in some anthologies both currently out and upcoming.
CHIMERAWORLD #6 (NEW WORLD DISORDER)
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/chimeraworld-%236/7762716
"In the near future, the world awakens to the corporate threat of the New World Order: a leaderless resistance defeats the global elite. Stories from Alex Severin, Tina Starr, Paul Pinn, Andrew Hook, Danny O'Connor, James A. Stewart, Arley Sorg, Robert Guffey, Sheri Fresonke Harper, Justin Oldham, Thomas Henry Dylan, Mitchell Warren, C. C. Parker, Jeff Drake, Tim Lieder, Aaron Polson, Scott M. Sandridge, John Walters, Peter Diseth, Kevin James Miller, Richard Marsden, J.W. Ocker and You The People."
My story, "Transhuman," is in the antho. After the defeat of the New World Order, a small community within the Free States must face a new threat from the D.C. Hive Mind–a verichipped "transhuman" supersoldier.
A word or three of warning: some stories in the above antho are not suitable for young readers (unless they're already as mentally warped as me, of course).
Also, "A Nighttime Business Arrangement" will be reprinted in DREAMS & SCREAMS, a corroborative anthology courtesy of: House of Horror, Silver Blade, Static Movement, Lame Goat Press, Aurora Wolf, and Liquid Imagination.
The story is set in my PANKEA world. Yavar is sent to "negotiate" a deal with a troublesome noble. (Publication TBA)
And last but not least, "The God-King," a story set in ancient Sumeria, in my CHRONICLES OF CAIN & LILITH world (which I'm still in the process of developing), will appear in the upcoming anthology (with illustrations!) THE FOUR HORSEMEN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CONQUEST, WAR, FAMINE, AND DEATH. (publication TBA)
Enjoy! (As soon as they're out, in the case of two of them).
rest of the story." Here's what happens when Sisko brings an ogre home for Christmas.
http://blog.rlcopple.com/?p=
Hope everyone had a great celebration, and will have a happy new year.
Ken Pick says: "Down to Cathuria" (an episode of Adventures of Jill Noir set between "Mask of the Ferret" and "Dyads") just came out in the small-press anthology Different Worlds, Different Skins by Anthropomorphic Dreams:
http://www.anthrodreams.com/
Also note that this is a FURRY anthology, Not a CHRISTIAN one. Some of the stories have PG-13 erotica.
Scott M. Sandridge says: I'll have stories in some anthologies both currently out and upcoming.
CHIMERAWORLD #6 (NEW WORLD DISORDER)
http://www.lulu.com/content/
"In the near future, the world awakens to the corporate threat of the New World Order: a leaderless resistance defeats the global elite. Stories from Alex Severin, Tina Starr, Paul Pinn, Andrew Hook, Danny O'Connor, James A. Stewart, Arley Sorg, Robert Guffey, Sheri Fresonke Harper, Justin Oldham, Thomas Henry Dylan, Mitchell Warren, C. C. Parker, Jeff Drake, Tim Lieder, Aaron Polson, Scott M. Sandridge, John Walters, Peter Diseth, Kevin James Miller, Richard Marsden, J.W. Ocker and You The People."
My story, "Transhuman," is in the antho. After the defeat of the New World Order, a small community within the Free States must face a new threat from the D.C. Hive Mind–a verichipped "transhuman" supersoldier.
A word or three of warning: some stories in the above antho are not suitable for young readers (unless they're already as mentally warped as me, of course).
Also, "A Nighttime Business Arrangement" will be reprinted in DREAMS & SCREAMS, a corroborative anthology courtesy of: House of Horror, Silver Blade, Static Movement, Lame Goat Press, Aurora Wolf, and Liquid Imagination.
The story is set in my PANKEA world. Yavar is sent to "negotiate" a deal with a troublesome noble. (Publication TBA)
And last but not least, "The God-King," a story set in ancient Sumeria, in my CHRONICLES OF CAIN & LILITH world (which I'm still in the process of developing), will appear in the upcoming anthology (with illustrations!) THE FOUR HORSEMEN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CONQUEST, WAR, FAMINE, AND DEATH. (publication TBA)
Enjoy! (As soon as they're out, in the case of two of them).
7/02/2009
Update from Marcher Lord Press
| Jeff Gerke says: I'm excited to report that the second release list of MLP titles has officially earned out (publishing lingo for "broken even"). After only two months, the second list is in the black. I was been thrilled that the first list had earned out in only four months. The second did it in two months. What's in store for the third list? Speaking of the third list, I now have the first book for list #3 under contract. You're going to love this thing. Think Asimov meets Muhammad in space. ;-) Marcher Lord Press was mentioned in a national publication in June. The sales event went beautifully (despite the hacking of my site). And my fiction craft book continues to wow readers. Read on to find out more. Publisher |
The Second List Breaks Even
Led by strong independent sales of The Dark Man, the author's massive marketing genius and great Amazon sales of By Darkness Hid, and strong promotional efforts for Starfire, the second release list from Marcher Lord Press has earned out. In only two months.
Not all the books have independently hit the tipping point, but put together the combined sales of all three have definitely pushed us over the top. That means I can look forward to list 3 in full confidence that it can go forward as planned. When you're a small press, you live season to season. If season 1 does well, you can do a season 2. Now our season 2 has done well so we can do a season 3.
It shows the extreme importance of you, the loyal fan. Continue supporting Marcher Lord Press as you have and MLP can continue. Thank you for what you do!
Last month's sales promotion was a great success. It was fun hearing the reactions from people who got to discover the "The Istaka Passage," the 10,500-word-long set of scenes that was actually a subplot originally written for Hero, Second Class.
I've got one book for list 3 already under contract. Hopefully in August I'll be able to talk about all three books I will (he said by faith) by then have under contract.
Finally, Marcher Lord Press and our title By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson was mentioned in USA Today in June! How cool is that? That's great exposure for lil' ol' us! Check out the article.
6/24/2009
News for June 24th, 2009
Here's a really interesting interview with Karina Fabian about her publisher, Swimming Kangaroo, and the ins and outs of self-marketing, with a bunch of fascinating facts and useful links:
http://chrischatreviews.blogspot.com/2009/06/swimming-kangaroos-karina-fabian.html
And this week marks the CSFF blog tour for Tom Pawlik's "Vanish" - go to http://csffblogtour.com/?p=377 for a list of participating bloggers.
http://chrischatreviews.blogspot.com/2009/06/swimming-kangaroos-karina-fabian.html
And this week marks the CSFF blog tour for Tom Pawlik's "Vanish" - go to http://csffblogtour.com/?p=377 for a list of participating bloggers.
5/25/2009
News for May 25th, 2009
Cynthia MacKinnon says:If anyone here is thinking of self-publishing, or venturing into the business of setting up a small press, I guest authored 4 posts at The Finishers blog with some basic tips and resources, that you may be interested in.
New Release: Dark Reflection - By Daniel Clarence Cobb
A Christian high-fantasy "trilogy"
When Princess Angel finds a mirror in a haunted castle, her dark reflection comes to life. Her simple life shatters - she must find the missing pieces. Unless she puts it back together in time, she’ll fade away forever. Facing Shadow the Witch, she becomes her own worst enemy.
Will she be able to defeat the dark side of her soul that she can’t control? Until her heart is broken, it will never be whole! It’s up to a brave prince (named Paladin) and a white unicorn (named Starlight) to slay the Dragon King, who kidnapped her. Now she has to dream the darkness away, or she’ll be trapped in a nightmarish reality turned upside-down. With the fate of her world hanging by a thread, she gets caught in a web of confusion. Can he save her before it’s too late?
New Release: Dark Reflection - By Daniel Clarence CobbA Christian high-fantasy "trilogy"
When Princess Angel finds a mirror in a haunted castle, her dark reflection comes to life. Her simple life shatters - she must find the missing pieces. Unless she puts it back together in time, she’ll fade away forever. Facing Shadow the Witch, she becomes her own worst enemy.
Will she be able to defeat the dark side of her soul that she can’t control? Until her heart is broken, it will never be whole! It’s up to a brave prince (named Paladin) and a white unicorn (named Starlight) to slay the Dragon King, who kidnapped her. Now she has to dream the darkness away, or she’ll be trapped in a nightmarish reality turned upside-down. With the fate of her world hanging by a thread, she gets caught in a web of confusion. Can he save her before it’s too late?
4/15/2009
Writers' Toolkit
In a change of pace for this blog, I've devoted this whole post to useful links for writers. Please let me know if there's anything you think should be added! You might want to bookmark this page and come back often, because I'll keep adding cool stuff as I find it.
The Single Most Helpful Site:
Write or Die - Effective seat glue and production incentive!
Reading - Free Fiction Downloads
List of free sci-fi download sites - 21 different listings
Science Fiction Bookshelf - Project Gutenberg classics
Feedbooks - A universal e-reading platform compatible with all mobile devices where you can download thousands of free e-books, publish and share your own content
Suvudu Free Book Library - Complete sci-fi and fantasy novels
Writing Craft Tips
Tip of the Week at WhereTheMapEnds.com - by Jeff Gerke - highly recommended!
The Finishers Writing Tips - by Frank Creed and friends
Creative Calisthenics - A Workout for the Writer's Imagination, by Terri Main
POV Boot Camp - by Andrea Graham
AdvancedFictionWriting.com - home of the Snowflake Method
Amy Deardon's Story Structure
"Confident writers believe in persistence. Delusional writers believe in talent." - The Newbie's Guide to Publishing
Ten Mistakes Writers Don’t See (But Can Easily Fix When They Do)
The 32 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases
It's All Just A Draft - Free online writing guide by sci-fi author Tobias Buckell
Alicia Rasley' Writers' Corner - Large archive of articles on writing
Plotstorming - Cheryl Wyatt's Quick Plotting Guide
Twenty Classic Romantic Conflicts by Lyn Cote
Revision Checklist by agent Nathan Bransford
Resources
Top 10 List of Top 10 Lists for Writers - Lists of useful blogs, checklists, tips and more
The 10 Best Books for Writers
Text to Speech: Hear what you are writing
33 Articles on How To Write A Book
Query Fail: How Not To Land An Agent
DIY
Facts about Print On Demand - vs. Publish on demand
The difference between self-publishing and print on demand - Writers Digest
Facts about Promo Book Blurbs - Publishers Weekly
30 Free Programs for Web Page and Graphic Design
The World's Biggest Post About Photoshop - Textures, tutorials, patterns, brushes and other resources (e.g. for web design or book cover design)
Social Networking
The QuickStudy Guide to Social Networking
Social Networking Sites for Authors
Shoutlife.com Authors
Bookbuzzr - embed an interactive book preview on any site
10 Ways to build your blog community with Twitter
Top 10 Things New People to Twitter Should Know
How to Make a Custom Twitter Background
How to make your video go viral (Warning, some PG language)
Marketing
Karina Fabian's Virtual Blog Tour Primer
Terri Main's Marketing for Writers
15 DIY Tools to Promote your Book
Why slow selling is a good start for a book
Hard-Core Tactics for Authors Developing Audience - A list of lists for marketing tips
PROMO DAY - A yearly all-day event for writers to promote their latest book releases and discuss topics related to writing.
Why Offer Free E-Books? Sci-fi author Cory Doctorow speaks out for Creative Commons as a marketing strategy.
How to get free advertising on Google
How to Get Your Name in the News
Instructions for Influencers by Deb Raney - Send your supporters here to find what they can do.
Writing an Effective Book Review by Terri Main
Easy Book Reviewing by Grace Bridges
Making Book Trailers
www.animoto.com - Makes an animated slideshow out of your pics and music
www.xtranormal.com - Pick cartoon characters and text-to-speech will generate a scene.
E-Zines and other places to submit short stories
Ray Gun Revival - Space opera and golden age science fiction
Mindflights - A Magazine of the Speculative - Sci-fi and fantasy
Wayfarer's Journal - Science Fiction with a difference
Laser and Sword - Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adventure/Action Hero serial fiction.
Residential Aliens - Speculative Fiction from the Seven Stars
Digital Dragon magazine - Sci-fi and fantasy
Ethereal Tales - UK-based fantasy zine
Fun & Funky
Seventh Sanctum Story Generator - Quick, fun and zany writing prompts
911 Writers Block - Help in dire situations
Brain Rules - How to make your brain run better
Gender Genie - Find out if your POV character sounds male or female
Fantasy Character Generator - A thorough process for creating unique characters
Autocrit Editing Wizard - A bot that highlights some common writing errors
Internet Anagram Server - Input your name, your book title or character name!
The 100 Most Beautiful Words in English
Business Advice
5 Sure-fire Ways To Know If Your Business Will Work Or Not
Website Shopping Cart Setup Etiquette
The Single Most Helpful Site:
Write or Die - Effective seat glue and production incentive!
Reading - Free Fiction Downloads
List of free sci-fi download sites - 21 different listings
Science Fiction Bookshelf - Project Gutenberg classics
Feedbooks - A universal e-reading platform compatible with all mobile devices where you can download thousands of free e-books, publish and share your own content
Suvudu Free Book Library - Complete sci-fi and fantasy novels
Writing Craft Tips
Tip of the Week at WhereTheMapEnds.com - by Jeff Gerke - highly recommended!
The Finishers Writing Tips - by Frank Creed and friends
Creative Calisthenics - A Workout for the Writer's Imagination, by Terri Main
POV Boot Camp - by Andrea Graham
AdvancedFictionWriting.com - home of the Snowflake Method
Amy Deardon's Story Structure
"Confident writers believe in persistence. Delusional writers believe in talent." - The Newbie's Guide to Publishing
Ten Mistakes Writers Don’t See (But Can Easily Fix When They Do)
The 32 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases
It's All Just A Draft - Free online writing guide by sci-fi author Tobias Buckell
Alicia Rasley' Writers' Corner - Large archive of articles on writing
Plotstorming - Cheryl Wyatt's Quick Plotting Guide
Twenty Classic Romantic Conflicts by Lyn Cote
Revision Checklist by agent Nathan Bransford
Resources
Top 10 List of Top 10 Lists for Writers - Lists of useful blogs, checklists, tips and more
The 10 Best Books for Writers
Text to Speech: Hear what you are writing
33 Articles on How To Write A Book
Query Fail: How Not To Land An Agent
DIY
Facts about Print On Demand - vs. Publish on demand
The difference between self-publishing and print on demand - Writers Digest
Facts about Promo Book Blurbs - Publishers Weekly
30 Free Programs for Web Page and Graphic Design
The World's Biggest Post About Photoshop - Textures, tutorials, patterns, brushes and other resources (e.g. for web design or book cover design)
Social Networking
The QuickStudy Guide to Social Networking
Social Networking Sites for Authors
Shoutlife.com Authors
Bookbuzzr - embed an interactive book preview on any site
10 Ways to build your blog community with Twitter
Top 10 Things New People to Twitter Should Know
How to Make a Custom Twitter Background
How to make your video go viral (Warning, some PG language)
Marketing
Karina Fabian's Virtual Blog Tour Primer
Terri Main's Marketing for Writers
15 DIY Tools to Promote your Book
Why slow selling is a good start for a book
Hard-Core Tactics for Authors Developing Audience - A list of lists for marketing tips
PROMO DAY - A yearly all-day event for writers to promote their latest book releases and discuss topics related to writing.
Why Offer Free E-Books? Sci-fi author Cory Doctorow speaks out for Creative Commons as a marketing strategy.
How to get free advertising on Google
How to Get Your Name in the News
Instructions for Influencers by Deb Raney - Send your supporters here to find what they can do.
Writing an Effective Book Review by Terri Main
Easy Book Reviewing by Grace Bridges
Making Book Trailers
www.animoto.com - Makes an animated slideshow out of your pics and music
www.xtranormal.com - Pick cartoon characters and text-to-speech will generate a scene.
E-Zines and other places to submit short stories
Ray Gun Revival - Space opera and golden age science fiction
Mindflights - A Magazine of the Speculative - Sci-fi and fantasy
Wayfarer's Journal - Science Fiction with a difference
Laser and Sword - Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adventure/Action Hero serial fiction.
Residential Aliens - Speculative Fiction from the Seven Stars
Digital Dragon magazine - Sci-fi and fantasy
Ethereal Tales - UK-based fantasy zine
Fun & Funky
Seventh Sanctum Story Generator - Quick, fun and zany writing prompts
911 Writers Block - Help in dire situations
Brain Rules - How to make your brain run better
Gender Genie - Find out if your POV character sounds male or female
Fantasy Character Generator - A thorough process for creating unique characters
Autocrit Editing Wizard - A bot that highlights some common writing errors
Internet Anagram Server - Input your name, your book title or character name!
The 100 Most Beautiful Words in English
Business Advice
5 Sure-fire Ways To Know If Your Business Will Work Or Not
Website Shopping Cart Setup Etiquette
1/18/2008
Networking Your Way to Publication
I’ve been researching the business end of the publishing industry for over two years on the Web. There’s thousands of sites out there for every aspect of our business. There are a couple of ways I’ve seen people get signed for a series of novels.
My first example is reviewer Michelle Sutton. She’s reviewed every book she can get her hands on, and networked with authors. In the process, she’s learned the craft, and her first novel is due out August of this year.
My second example is a fellow I’ve never met. I’m told he’d Googled a variety of Indie Presses, using a variety of search parameters. Since the trend toward corporate outsourcing and the growth of the Web, there are more specialty niche houses than ever before. Forget the hardcopy of Writer’s Market or the Christian Writers' Market Guide—they're outdated by the time they go to press. Real-time data is where it’s at. Writer’s Market does have a subscription site, but it only lists a fraction of the Indies out there; Sally Stuart now has a blog attached to her site where she updates information as it arrives.
The major Christian houses have all been bought up by the Industry giants. As staffing and personnel change, so will market demands. In a few years, Christian and Biblical spec-fic manuscripts will finally have a real shot.
Becky Miller of the CSFF Blog Tour and A Christian Worldview of Fiction had the idea of supplementing the Christy Awards, which do not have a spec-fic category. This is a great idea, and another meaningful way we can make our presence felt by industry experts. If we can prove that there’s money to be made writing what we write, the middle-men (publishers and booksellers), will want their share of the pie. Becky has also given us Latest in Spec, a monthly newsletter about Christian speculative fiction. And, while I seem to be on the topic of Becky Miller (unintended, but everywhere I looked for Becky's links, I found more and more good stuff) . . . at the beginning of January she started a series on her blog called: Book Buzz. Definitely worth reading; she just posted part 8 today.
Remember the old adage it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. You definitely must learn the craft, and critique groups are a great tool for that. Crit a piece, then read critiques by other members to see what you missed.
I’ve got a signature quote that reads: If the pen is mightier than the sword, the Web is a writer’s whetstone. It’s a gift from the Editor-In-Chief. Use it for His glory.
Faith,
Faith,
Frank Creed
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