Hello, 2012!
Let us evaluate the progress made in 2011.
My work was downloaded well over 20000 times thanks to the blessing that is an amazon freebie. I was in the top 20 free titles for a few days. That was awesome. I did sell some books too, which us equally awesome.
I have released no new work since February 2011. Boo.
But I finished writing two books, which are currently in editing. Yay!
I learned to make book trailers, first in PowerPoint, then in Flash. And I made great strides (in my world) in web page design by deviating from the Microsoft Live Builder. Yay, DreamWeaver!
I started a book blog – http://www.JourneyReader.com which is returning from holiday hiatus in the next hour or so. Through that, I met a lot of very nice authors.
I feel like I’m leaving something important out. Hmmmm…oh well, moving on.
Lair of the White Wyrm will be released in either February or March. Cover art reveal for that will be tomorrow.
Devil in the Branch will be a summer release if all goes as planned.
Goals for 2012 - Write another book or two, be better about marketing and soliciting reviews and other similar kinds of exposure. I think that's it. I would like to get a book on a library shelf. I planned to do that last year but then chickened out.
Oh yes, I will probably get a print book storefront running on either lulu or createspace. My print book sales on amazon are abysmal, so I probably won't bother making them available there. We'll see, though. I'm good at changing my mind.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
guess what
I got an xbox for Christmas! woo! It was courtesy of the husband and actually intended for all of us, but I got.to install the present, therefore it is mine.
The boy (8 yrs old) was quite impressed with my tennis skills. I have spent a fair amount of time playing tennis on the Wii. The experience was similar. Even though it was a kinect game, I held a controller in my hand because, well, it’s tennis. Youre supposed to hold a racket.
Aforementioned boy is freakishly good at darts, I mean like bullseyes pretty much whenever he feels like getting them. Is there a Tiger Woods of professional darts? I mean like young, promising Tiger, not old, skeezy Tiger. I'm thinking of putting my boy to work. It’s high time he started pulling his weight.
The girl (14) keeps beating me at fitness games, except for a wallbreaker activity. We both like Dance Central 2, which sometimes makes me feel uncoordinated and sort of lame, but at least the music is totally awesome.
Do not love the camera all the time. It insists on taking many pictures, all of which are unflattering. I look slightly large and not very sexy with my hands over my head and my pale belly hanging out from beneath my shirt. The girl agrees the camera is unflattering. The husband has indicated the camera is accurate. He will not be missed when the zombies come and I use him as bait.
Husband has not played the xbox much at all. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe he's afraid I'm right about the camera.
The boy (8 yrs old) was quite impressed with my tennis skills. I have spent a fair amount of time playing tennis on the Wii. The experience was similar. Even though it was a kinect game, I held a controller in my hand because, well, it’s tennis. Youre supposed to hold a racket.
Aforementioned boy is freakishly good at darts, I mean like bullseyes pretty much whenever he feels like getting them. Is there a Tiger Woods of professional darts? I mean like young, promising Tiger, not old, skeezy Tiger. I'm thinking of putting my boy to work. It’s high time he started pulling his weight.
The girl (14) keeps beating me at fitness games, except for a wallbreaker activity. We both like Dance Central 2, which sometimes makes me feel uncoordinated and sort of lame, but at least the music is totally awesome.
Do not love the camera all the time. It insists on taking many pictures, all of which are unflattering. I look slightly large and not very sexy with my hands over my head and my pale belly hanging out from beneath my shirt. The girl agrees the camera is unflattering. The husband has indicated the camera is accurate. He will not be missed when the zombies come and I use him as bait.
Husband has not played the xbox much at all. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe he's afraid I'm right about the camera.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
progress.
I wrote some words. I know I said I wouldn't write anything until I got at least one book out, but my notes were just sitting there looking at me all pitiful-like with puppy eyes. It's not a start of the next book though, not really, so all will be fine. I won't start and stop in the middle again. I promise I learned my lesson.
The piece I worked on is going to be a fiction freebie and companion to the next book I plan to write. The title right now is Llewyn's Faith. It's sort of a prologue to the story but not actually part of the book. Llewyn is the protagonist in prologue and an antagonist in the book. That's right, chew on that bit for a minute. Flavorful, yes?
The big project this week is the wyrm cover. I decided not to use the graphic I created initially or the second graphic, both of which I do actually like. I just decided to go with a more minimalist approach. It's going to be awesome. I won't give up all the details yet because surprises are fun, but I will say there is a skull involved.
I hope to finish by this weekend but the going is slow. I'll explain why once the thing is finished.
Still waiting to get the Wyrm book back from the editor. patiently. waiting.
Grouchy Moo does not wish to be bothered.
The piece I worked on is going to be a fiction freebie and companion to the next book I plan to write. The title right now is Llewyn's Faith. It's sort of a prologue to the story but not actually part of the book. Llewyn is the protagonist in prologue and an antagonist in the book. That's right, chew on that bit for a minute. Flavorful, yes?
The big project this week is the wyrm cover. I decided not to use the graphic I created initially or the second graphic, both of which I do actually like. I just decided to go with a more minimalist approach. It's going to be awesome. I won't give up all the details yet because surprises are fun, but I will say there is a skull involved.
I hope to finish by this weekend but the going is slow. I'll explain why once the thing is finished.
Still waiting to get the Wyrm book back from the editor. patiently. waiting.
Grouchy Moo does not wish to be bothered.
Monday, December 26, 2011
movie: Captain America: The First Avenger
This weekend movie selection was Captain America.
Here’s the description from IMDB: “After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending the USA's ideals.”
The thing I loved most about this movie was the fact that it was set during World War II. That really made it unique in a sea of superhero movies. The hair and the costumes were awesome.
There was a lot of action, of course, fighting and shooting and such. One scene in particular that had us cracking up was a motorcycle chase in a forest. There were several moments that were blatantly lifted from the Star Wars movie with the Ewoks . Was it homage or a lack of imagination? You can decide if you watch the movie.
Chris Evans was super hot as Captain America. He made for nice scenery. However, I thought his character lacked personality. The most interesting thing about him was extreme selflessness. I missed the antics and ego of Tony Stark in Iron Man.
Oh, that reminds me. One of the characters, a technology guy, named Howard Stark is actually supposed to be Tony Stark’s (Iron Man) father. See how it all links up? Yes.
Also worth noting is the guy who was Mr. Smith in the Matrix movies (Hugo Weaving) plays the bad guy. Love him.
Anyway, the bottom line: fun to watch despite incredibly boring protagonist. Captain America gets a B.
Here’s the description from IMDB: “After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending the USA's ideals.”
The thing I loved most about this movie was the fact that it was set during World War II. That really made it unique in a sea of superhero movies. The hair and the costumes were awesome.
There was a lot of action, of course, fighting and shooting and such. One scene in particular that had us cracking up was a motorcycle chase in a forest. There were several moments that were blatantly lifted from the Star Wars movie with the Ewoks . Was it homage or a lack of imagination? You can decide if you watch the movie.
Chris Evans was super hot as Captain America. He made for nice scenery. However, I thought his character lacked personality. The most interesting thing about him was extreme selflessness. I missed the antics and ego of Tony Stark in Iron Man.
Oh, that reminds me. One of the characters, a technology guy, named Howard Stark is actually supposed to be Tony Stark’s (Iron Man) father. See how it all links up? Yes.
Also worth noting is the guy who was Mr. Smith in the Matrix movies (Hugo Weaving) plays the bad guy. Love him.
Anyway, the bottom line: fun to watch despite incredibly boring protagonist. Captain America gets a B.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
reading and a sunny day
Refraining from starting another book is really, really hard for me. I’m on break from AnnaBeth 2 and waiting for Wyrm to come back from the editor. I don't want another book in the mix. Three is too many for me to focus on anything properly. Not writing is like having an itch I can’t scratch.
But I’ll persevere. I’m reading The Hunger Games on kindle loan from the boss lady. I like it so far. It’s different from what I usually read, which is a good thing. I might read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo next if I have time. The movie is out, and for some reason I feel compelled to read the book before I watch it. Though, I probably won’t catch it until it’s out on DVD.
If I hit the movies any time soon, it will be to see the new Sherlock Holmes.
Now as my early Christmas gift to you all, I am giving you a sunny day…desktop wallpaper, that is.
I took this picture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art garden. Click on the little picture to reach the big picture. By the way, this is the wallpaper that I am currently using on my laptop. We can match! Matchies!!!
But I’ll persevere. I’m reading The Hunger Games on kindle loan from the boss lady. I like it so far. It’s different from what I usually read, which is a good thing. I might read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo next if I have time. The movie is out, and for some reason I feel compelled to read the book before I watch it. Though, I probably won’t catch it until it’s out on DVD.
If I hit the movies any time soon, it will be to see the new Sherlock Holmes.
Now as my early Christmas gift to you all, I am giving you a sunny day…desktop wallpaper, that is.
I took this picture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art garden. Click on the little picture to reach the big picture. By the way, this is the wallpaper that I am currently using on my laptop. We can match! Matchies!!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
a couple of things
First, the title voting results were unanimously in favor of the second title option for the wyrm book. Therefore, the title will be Lair of the White Wyrm.
Second up, I finally finished a project I've been planning for a while. The Fate Binds trilogy now has its very own online home. You can find pretty much everything AnnaBeth there. I've been calling it a media page. There's probably a better word for it.
I will probably do one for every book or series from here on out unless my schedule doesn't allow or a publisher picks me up and decides they want someone else to handle it.
Implementation took a lot of hours Saturday and Sunday. I got to use my new to me version of Dreamweaver, which went pretty smoothly. It works a lot like the old Dreamweaver from Macromedia I used before.
Anyway, the link is below. As always, feedback is welcome. I probably didn’t edit some of the content as well as I should have, so if you alert me to any typos, I shall bestow upon you 20 extra bonus points for awesomeness.
http://learyan.com/Documents/fatebindsHome.html
Second up, I finally finished a project I've been planning for a while. The Fate Binds trilogy now has its very own online home. You can find pretty much everything AnnaBeth there. I've been calling it a media page. There's probably a better word for it.
I will probably do one for every book or series from here on out unless my schedule doesn't allow or a publisher picks me up and decides they want someone else to handle it.
Implementation took a lot of hours Saturday and Sunday. I got to use my new to me version of Dreamweaver, which went pretty smoothly. It works a lot like the old Dreamweaver from Macromedia I used before.
Anyway, the link is below. As always, feedback is welcome. I probably didn’t edit some of the content as well as I should have, so if you alert me to any typos, I shall bestow upon you 20 extra bonus points for awesomeness.
http://learyan.com/Documents/fatebindsHome.html
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
movie: Conan
This weekend movie selection was Conan.
I really wanted to like this movie.
But I didn’t.
The story is thus: Conan is from a tribe of Barbarian-type people. A bad guy is scouring the land for pieces of a magical mask and murders Conan’s father (played by Ron Perlman!!!!) for his piece. Conan sets out to avenge his father’s murder.
There was a lot of fighting and special effects. They were cool. Rose McGowan was all but unrecognizable in her role as the freaky, evil witch. Jason Momoa was super-hot. However, the story fell pretty flat. The character of Conan wasn't very interesting. Maybe that was part of the problem.
Conan gets a C-
I really wanted to like this movie.
But I didn’t.
The story is thus: Conan is from a tribe of Barbarian-type people. A bad guy is scouring the land for pieces of a magical mask and murders Conan’s father (played by Ron Perlman!!!!) for his piece. Conan sets out to avenge his father’s murder.
There was a lot of fighting and special effects. They were cool. Rose McGowan was all but unrecognizable in her role as the freaky, evil witch. Jason Momoa was super-hot. However, the story fell pretty flat. The character of Conan wasn't very interesting. Maybe that was part of the problem.
Conan gets a C-
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