Readers and Authors: Salieri to Mozart?

Ever see the movie or play Amadeus? In it, Mozart is supposedly murdered by a musician rival, Salieri who, knowing Mozart is ill, still commissions him to write a requiem. The effort required to compose this work added further strain on Mozart's already weakened body, and he dies as a result.
Far fetched, you reckon?

Maybe, maybe not.
The point I'm making is that sometimes readers, in their voracious hunger for new material to read (especially from their favourite authors), don't realise the strain they're placing on authors to complete that next book in the series, to finish their current WIP (Word in Progress) or to hurry up with that next novella, short story ....
Authors are crumbling beneath the strain, worried they'll lose their reader following if they don't feed the monster.
We, the authors, have become Mozart to our Salieris.
Now I'm not saying I don't appreciate and value my readers. Heaven knows I do, and I thank goodness for each and every one, and if I could write faster and produce more books - 2-3 per year - I would, just to satisfy my wonderful readers.
But, alas, I can't.
My ideas flow at a slower pace than some (whom I envy) and my books are larger. On average, my novels range from 114K to 95K words. Those are no small numbers. It takes me approximately 10 months to complete the first draft before it goes to my editor who then picks it apart until it's perfect. The next month I'm editing and re-editing before the manuscript is shipped off to my Beta readers whose job is to spot every typo, every blooper, every gremlin that can wreck a smooth read.
Twelve months later, taa-daa *drum roll* a new book is ready to be launched.
In the  meanwhile, I've neglected my family, postponed social engagements (some of my friends have given up talking to me, and I don't blame them), and scrimped together enough money from my meager royalties for a professional cover design, formatting, editing and proofreading just to get another book out there.
Then I take a deep breath and sit back - for at least a good half hour - at another job done.
The alcoholic drink in my hand is mandatory.
Ah! But it's not over. Now I need to spend the next three months marketing and promoting my latest release while starting on my next WIP.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I'm simply showing the reality in being an author in the digital age, and it's a pace few can maintain.
I'm hoping I can, as there are a lot more stories inside my head clamouring to get out.
So please readers, when you're inquiring about the next installment in my series, also ask me if I've had a holiday.

As for freebies .... that's for another post, and it won't be pretty.

PS BloodWish is due for release this coming Easter 😊 And if you haven't yet started this series, what are you waiting for? 😉

Available on Amazon. Just ONE CLICK HERE.

Sunday Showcase - Fantasy Author Jennifer Kenny

Today my special guest is fantasy author, Jennifer Kenny, But I'll let her do the talking.


1. What inspired you to write in your genre?

I was drawn towards fantasy elements since I was a teenager. When I say fantasy, it is more than just dragons and wizards. I consider paranormal, urban, all of those other genres that sit under the fantasy umbrella when I say I love fantasy. I live in reality, and I find it boring to read about things I could find in my real life. Coming from a place where I am entertained through fantasy, it was natural for me to want to explore this from a creative perspective. Fantasy is the world that I have always known.

The Extol Series though came about as a response to the new trend with vampire literature. I grew up on stories like Dracula, The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice and The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike. All of these books showed vampires in different ways but to me, they were always damned. They might find acceptance, but it was doomed. This is a defining feature of the vampire lore – in my opinion. Vampires cannot be the hero, and if they are, tragedy follows. I wanted to reclaim the vampire out of paranormal romance genre. And so the idea of a vampire that would never be loved even after he loved her was the first idea about Extol.

2.  If you write a series, how many books can your readers expect?

This should be an easy answer, right? My problem with this question is I am not sure exactly what is going on when it comes to how long Extol is going to be. My original idea was a short story for a university creative writing assignment. (2000 words), but then it got bigger and turned into my NaNoWriMo project for 2015 (50,000 word target), but it became evident at the 25,000 word mark that it was going to be bigger than that.

Extol of Agnatic Dreams comes in at 120,000 words. While developing the story and brainstorming with a beta reader, she asked me what happened next. I told her that was the end, and she pointed out that out was only the beginning. And so Extol of Eildon Fallacy came into being. (current WIP and sitting at 30,000 words). I thought Fallacy would be the end, but as I am writing, I can see that it isn’t. There will be a third book – currently unnamed – and I am ok with that because trilogies work well.

While talking with friends, though, there are many branches I could explore if I felt like it. The past of Braykith, the family lines, The War… so I really cannot say just how big the Extol series will be. I can confirm that it will be at least three books in Evangeline’s story.

3. Are there any books or authors you admire?

Ultimately I respect any author who writes the story they want to write, and not the one that will get sold. I enjoy Stephan’s work (from the 80’s – 90’s mostly), but it is his work ethic and the understanding of the craft that I admire the most about him. 

However, it was meeting George R. R. Martin that changed my life as an author. I kept reading about how discipline writers are, and I just struggled with that some days. George is just like me. A terrible procrastinator who writes with inspiration. It was mind blowing to me that authors could work in ways against the obvious.

Side note: one of my favourite books is Armageddon Rag by George R. R. Martin. Yeah, who knew the guy who wrote Game of Thrones didn’t always write high scale fantasy. I recommend it to everyone.

4. If you had to choose a playlist for any of your books, what would it be?

I have assigned songs for my characters to help me get into the right mood when I am writing them. Right now, Little Mix Secret Love Song is dedicated to Evangeline and Thomas. Glais has Underneath by Adam Lambert as his anthem. If you want to know the main personal story for my three leads, those two songs tell you everything.

5. What do you find the most challenging thing about being an author?

Continued self-acceptance and love. I think any person who pursues a creative field needs to be a little bit of a narcissist. Art, music, literature… all of these things ask for a piece of your soul that you must share with the world, and you want people to sit up and take notice of it.

Part of putting your work out into the world is receiving criticism. After a little while, that negative feedback is going to wear a person out. It is just human nature. If you tell someone they have no talent; even the most self-believing person will start to believe it. Remembering the reason why you wanted to write in the first place is a hard thing to retain, and will be the only thing that keeps you sane.

6. Tell us about your publishing experience. Did you always intend to be traditionally published or indie published?

I think, deep down, all authors want to be traditionally published. Until we get to a place in society where self-publishing is at the same level as traditional publishing, then we will keep having this debate over what is better.

I want the contract so people take me seriously as an author. If I could tell people that Random House published my book (and paid me $15,000 for the privilege) then maybe people might stop thinking that this is just a hobby.

I like self-publishing because I can tell the story that I want in the way I like it. To me, it is important that my brand is honest, and right now I am not sure it would stay that way after the publishers were done with me.

I recently did a one-day course about ‘how to get published’. You can read my blog about it here: http://www.jrkauthor.com/#!Faber-Writing-Academy-Getting-Published-course/c1qtt/578c45980cf256540e9cc132 It was interesting to hear about the process, even though I am still not sure if it is for me. 

I am a firm believer in trying things before you hate them, so I am currently working on a separate book that will be fit for sending to traditional publishers. (Publishers won’t touch anything connected to a self-published book because you have already flooded the market). Maybe it will sell, maybe I will learn how harsh traditional publishers are, or maybe I will realise that there is some merit in traditional publishing.

As Earl to an up-and-coming province, Barret Dilston had difficult decisions to make. Fortunately for him, the decision to give his daughter to a King of mythical power and devious connections to the occult was not one of them. Evangeline was due to wed the future King of Braykith when she was four years old. 

Now a young woman, Evangeline is learning that not everything about her marriage is as it seems. King Quintus refuses to accept her professional manner. His son, and her future husband Glais, barely speaks a kind word to her, and sadly there is no sight of the must talked of Braykith dragon. At first glances, the Kingdom of Braykith is no different to any other. 

Just as she believes she can relax, Evangeline discovers the secret of the royal family that fails when compared to the legends she had been raised on. After the years of training to become a Queen, Evangeline had never been prepared for the truth that lies buried within the lore of the Kingdom. The royal lineage survives on a blood lust, exclusive to the male heirs to the throne. 

Surviving Braykith is not for the faint of heart. 

Book Extract

“You know nothing of what I need.” It seemed Glais had found humour in this moment and not the allure Evangeline was aiming for. Everything about this moment proved that she did indeed knew nothing about his needs as he had pointed out. Also that there was more to flirtation and sex than Evangeline ever imaged was possible.

“It is true that I am innocent…” her thoughts tapered away at his scoffed at her admission. It was enough to turn her cheeks red from his apparent disbelief that it be true. “We have been engaged since we were children. Of course, I am pure when I come to you.” She could not believe that Glais did not think it was so and was suddenly ready to defend her honour against a man who clearly had none of his own. Evangeline managed to raise her face in defiance but she could not meet his gaze. Emptiness sat there in his pupils and Glais would drag her in until she felt breathless and ill. “I belong to you. Take it from me, and no other. I will not fear whatever it is you feel needs to be hidden.”

Evangeline had caught his interest finally. She could tell from the newly controlled posture, the seemingly natural stance gone from his body as Glais regarded her for perhaps the first time as someone worthy of his time. His father had been telling him since her arrival that Evangeline could be trusted just as Kyleigh was trustworthy, but he had never believed his father's insistence until this moment. Glais stood at attention without even realising it, trying to find some logical reason to reject her once more. It should be simple enough for him to force her from this room and back to the other party guests with no story to tell. He would do this for her own life, even if Evangeline did not believe it. He did all of this to keep her alive. The less she knew, the safer she would be.

Evangeline dared a peek at his eyes and instantly she was breathless and had to look away. This was not the first time she would come to wonder if he liked her as a person. Could Evangeline ever be someone he thought of or was Evangeline simply someone to tolerate because both of their families needed this marriage to work? She felt him move, her breath caught in her throat as she feared, and also willed, his hands on her body. Instead, Glais reached for her hand which had stayed behind his neck, plucked it from its perch and steadied Evangeline on her feet.

“Return to the party,” Glais commanded.

Get it here - Amazon 

Until next time, happy reading 😊

Trials of a Newbie Author

Writing a book is comparatively easy compared to all the work that comes after. If someone had told me that three years ago, I would have said they were nuts! But, it's all true.
You've got a great story; it's down on paper - or on the hard drive - and you can't wait to inflict share it with the rest of the world. Now, comes the editing part and the - seemingly - endless string of corrections. I'm convinced I have dyslexic fingers! Then again, from a total of 119,000 words, having only 87 typos isn't too bad, I suppose.
Since I turned down the services of a traditional publisher in favour of indie publishing, I went to CreateSpace to format my manuscript into a paperback, and do the kindle conversion for me. I know the facility is there for me to do it all myself, but my knowing my techno-skills - or lack of - I thought it safest - less hair pulling and screaming all round - to let the professionals do it instead.
CS only allows 50 free corrections, and since I've got slightly more than that (I hang my head in shame) and it'll take approximately 4 weeks (and extra bucks, but it's still less than if I was to send them a spanking, brand new manuscript ) for these to go through.

The editing, correcting, re-structuring and polishing my manuscript took longer than actually writing it in the first place. And that's good, as it means my debut novel, Bloodgifted, will not be released until it's ready, and can proudly take its place alongside the best of traditionally published books - although these days it's sometimes hard to tell. The lines between traditionally published and indie published books is blurring. I've seen just as many badly written and edited books with the former as with the latter.

So, how far have I come? Hopefully, in the next two months, Bloodgifted, Book 1 in The Dantonville Legacy, will be released, and the next in the series, Bloodpledge, will be out in 2014.

I'd love to hear from other newbie writers. What has been your writing experience? And if you had the choice, which would you rather choose - traditional or indie?