I’m so giddy with excitement that I’m struggling to contain it. I know I should, but I can’t. I want to shout it out to the world.
Hidden Traps is now available for pre-sale.
So far, it’s listed on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. Hopefully soon, it will also be listed on Book Depository, Fishpond, and many other places that I can’t remember the name of. It really has been mind-blowing to know how far and wide the distribution network has been cast.
It’s a massive milestone to get to this point — countless hours of hard work and very little sleep — but as much as I want to, I can’t rest. Now the really hard work begins: marketing.
I have already started down the marketing road, putting various elements into place. Word is already spreading, and many have already approached me, asking to do an interview or review.
I have lined up a radio interview with one of the other shows on KLRNRadio, but that one was a given — it sort of helps that I host one of their more popular non-political shows. However, I also have lined up a vlog interview with a British writer, an interview piece by an American writer, and there is the conference that I’m presenting at in August on the topic of the book.
The topic of the book is probably helping in a big way, but isn’t that part of the whole marketing aspect — to write about something that people actually want to know.
There is still a mountain of work to do before the book’s official release on August 1st, 2017. I have to constantly remind myself to not look at the big picture, but focus on the current task. Otherwise, I’ll get so overwhelmed by it all. Just so many things to do!
(BREATHE, JUDY! BREATHE!)
So… It’s mid-June — midway through the year. Perhaps it’s time to look at the goals that I had set for myself at the beginning of the year and to see how I’m doing. (This could be a disastrous idea for my psyche, but I’m doing it anyway.)
I listed my 2017 goals in a post just before New Years. There were a few of them. So, let’s look at them one-by-one.
Finish writing, editing and PUBLISH the book on how I’ve built my writer’s platform.
DONE! Black Wolf Publications has been brought online for the venture, and ALL listings have Black Wolf Publications listed as the publisher. Just need to turn to marketing, marketing, and marketing.
Rewrite and edit (polish) Eagle Order.
I did want to see if I could have this done by the time PitchWars 2017 came around, but considering that PitchWars submissions are in the first week of August… Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I have FAR too much work to do for Hidden Traps and the conference that I’m attending in August.
I am still writing Eagle Order, and I love where the story is going. It has become part of my routine. Every Saturday has become Fiction Day, where all efforts related to Hidden Traps get put aside and I focus on Eagle Order and the world of assassins contained within. I’ve learnt about my writing process and how to set realistic writing goals. Making one of those goals public now… it’s my intention to have the draft of Eagle Order complete before Christmas this year. (I think I know what my NaNoWriMo project is for this year.)
Finish writing book 1 of the collaborative series with Ann Bell Feinstein.
Well… Like I said above, over the last six months, I’ve learnt about my writing process and how to set realistic writing goals. This one will sit on the back burner until Hidden Traps is well and truly out of the way and Eagle Order is fully drafted. Even Ann is struggling to find time. Sorry, Syrese Smalt, you’re just going to have to wait before we can really develop your writing voice.
Get my high fantasy short story published. Get my science fiction short story published.
This is a painfully slow process. I have had some great personalised rejections, but they are still rejections. It’ll get there. The two stories will eventually find their home. Thankfully, neither of them is time-sensitive.
Spread the word about Black Wolf Editorial Services and get more clients.
This is just another way of saying MARKETING. Ugh… More marketing.
Relaunch websites/blogs.
All websites/blogs were redesigned and relaunched at the beginning of the year. Now to actually do something about the marketing side of things, so they can gain traction. Ugh… Even more marketing.
If you haven’t noticed, my recent activities has shifted from editing and publishing to the current bane of my existence: marketing. It’s been a really steep learning curve, but if I can find the formula that works for me, then I’ll be able to spread the word and pass on that knowledge to others. (Why do I feel like another book is brewing?)
So… What about the personal goals?
Take a holiday somewhere with my husband — alone. (Am I allowed to campaign for Rarotonga?)
The universal energy, whatever you want to call it, has heard my pleas — sort-of. We are going to Rarotonga next year in February, but it won’t be alone. We’re going to spend a week with my husband’s family to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 70th birthday. Not quite what I had in mind, but I can make it work. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunity where my husband and I can disappear for some alone time.
Help the kids try to find some sort of common ground.
I’m facing reality as I write this. This particular goal will likely be life long. Siblings were made to fight — at least my two kids were.
Continue with the daily meditations that I started again after a 15-years break.
Umm… Well… Moving right along.
Try not to freak out when my oldest turns 16 and applies for a driver’s license in September 2017.
That’s in September. I have plenty of time to freak out later.
The goals for the remainder of the year haven’t really changed. I might have become more realistic, but things are happening and I’m finally seeing all my hard work pay off. I was never in any state of delusion: this was never going to be easy, but it will be worth it.
Meanwhile, my ToDo list is not getting any shorter. I’ll catch you all next week.
P.S. I’d love to meet you on Twitter or Facebook.
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© Copyright, Judy L Mohr 2017