An update on the story in #ANA2012

"Kiss Cursed Princess" by Teresa Garcia is currently at 95th place in the running for a nomination slot in the America's Next Author contest.  This week, they have started asking each of the contestants two questions for mini interviews.  It is my understanding that the questions will change each week now.

Below, I'll give the two questions asked, and how I would have liked to answer them.  The official responses had to be much much shorter, as we were only allowed 250 characters per question.  Certainly not enough to both answer and show our personalities.

Question 1

What is the best writing advice you've ever heard?

A:

It was my senior year of high school. Before English class (and before the other students had come in) I had presented one of my new poems to the instructor, Ms. Silva, for her feedback.  I was worrying about the delivery and motifs being too cliche, since I intended to have it published under the pen name I was using at the time.  She had already seen me working on a project I intended to be a series of novels in my free time.  To my surprise, she was eager to see both published, and whenever I brought a project to her for feedback, the editing suggestions were always made very kindly, she's tell me my weak points and make suggestions, then show me my strengths too.  It had gotten so that she would do it with my vocabulary sentences as well, because I would use those assignments to practice short stories as a way to keep things interesting for the both of us.  Her best advice, echoed by Ms. Akridge, another teacher that handled several subjects, was "just keep writing."

So I do.

Question 2

When you start a new story do you prepare an outline in advance or do you just jump right in?

A:

Sometimes I'll start a new story with an outline, and sometimes I won't.  If it is a novel, I generally have an idea, and things fall into place a chapter or so in... then I'll write out the chapter outline and work from there.  Rarely, I'll draft a full outline before I start, but then I generally end up rewriting several more times than usual because I'll be fighting overstructuring.  "Kiss Cursed Princess," which is what I submitted for this contest, is an example o writing without a formal outline, as is "The Little Blue Rosebud" that I published many years ago under a pen name.  My novels in the Dragon Shaman series, and Selkies' Skins, all have outlines. 

So what got submitted for the official answers?  Click here to find out.  While you're there, share my story (it's free to read) with your friends, leave your feedback, and of course vote if you like it (or if you think it stinks, there's an option for that too in the dropdown box).  Voting's weekly.

Selkie's Kickstarter Update and background image done

So, the desktop background reward for the Selkies' Skins Kickstarter is ready.  I decided, since no one had chipped in just on the $1 or $5 level, that since at $5 backers not only get their name listed as a backer, but a copy of the background, that I would make a very small size of the image available to the $1 backers, so that there will be something more substantial.

The image itself I'm keeping under wraps for now, till time to send them out.  There is a sample posted on a backer only update (and with the big old "sample" stamp over it).
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351481599/selkies-skins-a-novel-of-finding-the-self

We're at 18 days to go, and $20 left to raise before time runs out.  If we don't meet that minimum pledged on Kickstarter, no one is charged for their pledges (and I'll have to figure out other methods of covering base costs).

Possible new title

Ayam Yogi Abraxas submitted his manuscript "Ayamaya" for me to look over.  We are currently negotiating terms, but I would very much like to be the publisher he ultimately chooses. In his words:

I have deeply studied the Kabballah, (as I was instructed to within dreams) , and I have demonstrated within this work how it combines Quantum Physics, Psychology, Kundalini Shakti Chakra Yoga, Tarot, Magick, Shamanism and Taoism into a practical system for understanding and then working with reality.

Ayamaya demonstrates the unity underlying eastern and western religions, and explains many of the paradoxes of sub-atomic particle physics and psychology through dream metaphors. Practical instructions are given on how every reader may experience this state of consciousness, in order to verify the information themselves. Furthermore, they are then shown how to apply the lessons learned through lucid dreaming to the art of manifestation, using the law of attraction in reality.

He also goes into the Tarot, the journey of the Pharaoh, and alchemy, among several other things.  What I have read so far of the manuscript is fascinating. So, this is what's going on in my publishing so far that is not my own work, and is not waiting for submissions to the dragon anthology.

Kickstarter Progress

Last night I did not update here on the Kickstarter's progress for Selkies' Skins. There is $20 left to raise before I am assured of the base funds for the project. It's exciting to see how close to the mark we are coming. Eighty eight percent, with 23 days to go!

Kickstarter

Episode 26 went out last night on the archive site and the journals. We're also very near the end of section one and getting ready to launch into section two of the story. I can't tell you how excited I am at the prospect of being able to have payment to take to the editor when it's time for final revisions, and actually being able to print the manuscript out. The other books that she has edited were all done exclusively out of pocket. In fact, all of the books through THG StarDragon Publishing have been funded from my pocket, so it's very exciting to see the Kickstarter being a full Kickstart.

Selkies' Skins news

The Kickstarter for the story has 24 days to go.  So far, there is $75 pledged of the needed $170 for the BASE funding need.  If the minimum goal is met, no charges go through to anyone, and I receive no money to help fund the project.  So I'm trying not to chew my nails over this.  It is an interesting experiment to be generating funding for a project this route though.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351481599/selkies-skins-a-novel-of-finding-the-self

What makes me happiest is hearing the different reactions from those that listen or read.  It makes me very happy to hear from a young teen that he's enjoying it, looking forward to more, and what parts he finds amusing.  I like hearing from the middle aged woman in Texas that I've got a big fan and that she looks forward to getting all my works.  I like hearing that it's hitting the chords and emotions I was aiming for.  And it helps me get better when I hear about what wasn't liked, what isn't working.

But right now, I'm just having fun writing about what these selkies are up to.

I'm planning on figuring out when to sit down and work on the promised desktop background for those that pledge more than $5 to the drive.  I'm thinking it likely that I'll be livestreaming when I do the artwork, which means I'd have the focus on the computer screen instead (yay, I won't be in front of the camera... stage fright won't be so bad).

The story itself is growing quickly, which pleases me greatly.  I'm very much looking forward to having the completed manuscript that I can take to my editor and hand over to her.

Selkies' Skins' first backer!

Only a few hours in we have our first backer and are at 14% of funding.  I'm pretty excited.  Thanks Tiffee Jasso!  That's a copy of the ebook spoken for, as well as a few other things.

http://kck.st/ToLpqL

Kickstart some seal people! Official Selkies' Skins Kickstarter

Alright, time to unleash the... seals?  What does one unleash when sending selkies off on a running (swimming?) start to generate base funds?

The Kickstart lasts until 10:05 AM, December 1st, and no one is charged for their pledges until then.  The baseline I need is $170, and if the project doesn't get enough pledges, no one is charged and I get no money.  Minimum pledge is $1, so even if you've not got a lot you can still help out with getting money for manuscript printing and paying the editor to go over it.  And if you can't even spare a dollar, tell your friends about it, your family, your doctor... tell everyone.  The more people know, the better.

There are a lot of reward levels, including the ability to design a character for inclusion.

I'll be updating on the project regularly, so be sure to sign up at the page to get updates!  I'll send requests to the backers after project funding, and everyone that backs me gets mentioned on the story archive site, and in the print and ebook editions in a special section.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351481599/selkies-skins-a-novel-of-finding-the-self