After what seems like a very long time working on The Fallen, Trials, and Beyond all at the same time, I’ve finally managed to cross the first two items off my list. They are both DONE! Now, I can focus again on the creative side… story writing!
Don’t get me wrong – editing is fun for me, as well, since it makes a good story better, but editing Trials was extremely tough and lengthy. I had to take it from a patchwork of styles (because I had edited it at different times over a number of years) down to one coherent style. Others will be the judge of how I did, but that was the intent. I also needed to develop characters and toss extraneous bits to the curb. There are literally dozens of pages that are now sitting in the “removed from manuscript” folder, but the book is actually longer than the original because of all of the supplemental material.
Thanks, again, to my editor, Deborah, who pointed out the key flaws in this story and to the cover artist, Laura, who did such an amazing job on the cover art that I felt really motivated to make sure what was inside was just as good. Hopefully, it will be worth the effort.
As far as being able to commercially purchase my books, I’m still intent on self-publishing, and I’m waiting until some checks clear to purchase the necessary number of ISBN’s to make that happen. Then, hopefully, I’ll be able to offer hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions of every title. I’m most excited about the e-book, since that has the lowest price, and try as it might, print-on-demand publishing is NOT going to ever create books that are as cheap as what mainstream publishers can produce. However, mainstream publishers sit behind a wall of literary agents who are struggling to keep up with the massive volumes of query letters and a marketplace that is changing way too quickly. My goal for having things available is for the Christmas season, this year. Who knows if I’ll sell anything, but it’s a goal to shoot for!
For those of you who have read the books and enjoy them, thank you. I look forward to more! Take care and God Bless!
JTL