Progress How Novel 37

 Just below 26, 000 words on Debts.

Once I finish The Dragon's Keeper (TDK) and Deadly Flames (DF), I'll get back to full time on Debts and open one of the other fics for my Writer's Block divergent. When I get Writer's Block I switch fics until I get unblocked, then go back to the main fic.  I think I'll open a Song Saga fic.  Or my Alliance fic. I plan to do them or Time-Lost next any way.

Got two more chapters to go in both TDK and DF. 

They are more novellas than novels, though.  

Working on the blurbs for both. Just so hard to do. Hook the reader enough so they want to buy. I'm just not good at that. Dragon Books hook me at the word Dragon but the storyline is what gets me to buy. However, translating that is hard for me.  

Christmas in July. It was brought up that this would be a good marketing ploy. 

I'm already using Amazon Ads for my books. Not that I'm getting sales--about one a month. But I feel like I'm at least doing something.

My hometown has a craft 'festival' every year--except last year due to Covid--called Hootin-N-Hollerin. I signed up for a booth space. I also signed up for a writing Conference in Springfield, MO next year (2022) and an author table at it.  Book Signings may be in the future as well.  It is time to spread my wings again now that we are getting out again.

I do better at In-Person Events, then online when it comes to selling.   Online is flat, not engaging enough. At in-person events you are emersed in the experience.

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Progress How Novel 36

 

Debts is still under 26,000 words.

Been working on The Dragon's Keeper (TDK). Doing a bit at a time. Trying to get it to match what I have in mind but not always getting the words right. I hate when the words won't come, though you can see it clearly in your mind.   

The cover for TDK is here. Sidereal

Took a stab at the blurb:

Rissa's been a slave since her Coming-of-Age celebration was crashed by the Denea invaders fifteen years ago when they attacked her village. She had been resigned to being one for the rest of her life until her cruel master crossed a line she didn't know she still held. Her revived anger and outrage drive her to disrupt his plans and escape. The dragon Shrine offers sanctuary. But her master and his co-conspirator won't give up their plans so easily and the dragon is being secretively mysterious. Is she leaping from one scorching fire straight into another? Would becoming the dragon's Servant save her from her present trouble or lead her to even more danger?

Would this tempt you to buy the book? 

I'm also trying to come up with a tagline/hook for TDK. Still haven't figured it out yet. Below are two of the ones I came up with this week. But I don't know if I like them enough.

She escaped a cruel master. By becoming the dragon's Servant she hoped to change her fate. But is she leaping out of the fire or straight into it?

She traded being a slave to a tyrant to being a servant to a dragon. But is she leaping out of one fire straight into another?

I also worked a bit on Deadly Flames and the first book in the Song Saga.  Did some bookbibling as well in different series. Names and such. Got lots of book ideas. Just takes me a long time to get the book down and out to publish. Six months to a year, depending on inspirations and time that I set aside to do the work. 

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Merry met and merry meet again. 

Progress How Novel 35

Debts still under 26,000 words.

Been working on The Dragon's Keeper (TDK) and Deadly Flames(DF) though. Setting up the confrontation in the next chapter for TDK and the final interrogation for DF. 

Still no blurb for either one. I'm just plain procrastinating. They really don't have to  be done until the books are finished and ready to be published. Blurbs are just plain hard to do. Hook a reader enough for them to want to know more so they will buy your book. If you don't engage them right away, you may lose their attention and they'll move on. 

The Hook. 

That's what I got to figure out. Until I do no blurb.

      Names. When I write names usually just come to me. If not I look around me and see if a name jumps out at me. But if I still can't come up with a name I grab my baby name book and flip through until I see a name I like. The name isn't set in stone though. I sometimes change 'em if it's too blatant or not blatant enough. Some names are tongue-in-cheek. Witness some of the names in Raven Manor. A werewolf with the name Canin or Lupo. And others with less obvious wolf names. 

Then there are my villains. Their names are chosen very carefully. 

How do you get your names for your characters? 

Progress How Novel 34

 Debts is still under 26, 000 words.

I've been working of course on The Dragon's Keeper and Deadly Flames. Trying to get them both done.  Next chapter is the final confrontation for TDK.  DF is leading up to the final interrogation. Both should be done by the end of this month. 

Still don't have blurbs for them. 

After I finish TDK and DF, I'll get back to full time on Debts.  

The Fallborn books, consisting of just the published The Last Dragon Kin right now, are about dragons. I have two more story ideas plus The Dragon's Keeper in the works. They are each set in different worlds where Dragons have played a major role in the past but are now not so common. However that doesn't mean they don't have a role to play anymore. It just takes a special someone to bring them forth.

 However, though there are adult situations, there is no sex in these books.  Most of the adult situations happen off-screen and in the past, but are very present emotionally.  Asexuality and other sexualities are present in my books but are not the main focus.  Strength of character is.

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Progress How Novel 33

 Book is around 25, 625 words. 

I've been working on The Dragon's Keeper (TDK) mostly, however I did do a bit on Deadly Flames (DF). Setting up the final confrontation on both, though there is different stretches between the set-up and the confrontation in each book.

Still haven't done the blurbs. I'm procrastinating. I admit it. I don't like doing them 'cause I suck at them. Of course, I don't need them done right now as the books aren't finished, but...

Here's what I got so far for TDK:

Rissa had been resigned to being a slave to the cruel Denea that had claimed her. Until he crossed a line she didn't know she still had. The dragon shrine offered sanctuary. Would becoming the dragon's Servant save her or lead her into more danger?

I know it needs to be longer. Still working on it.

This was my table set-up for my first signing. It was at a library. The books were Urban Fantasy with a vampire FBI agent and a psychic consultant. I did a few signings at local bookstores and the library. I sold more in person than online. 

I just finished applying for a booth space at my town's local festival scheduled for mid-September. They cancelled it last year because of Covid but now that the vaccine is available they're going ahead with this year's. It's a craft festival with a parade and shows so I don't expect a lot of selling for me but I plan to pass out my business cards with my blog site address.  

With things opening back up, I anticipate a large crowd. The event draws people from all over the U.S. I'm going to try to find someone crafty to share my booth to entice people to look closer. And to help watch the booth.