Working Toward a Launch

 

[Working on paperback and digital books; source]

We've been working through the final edits on Doomimals Book 1: Cockadoodle-DOOM for kids 8-12. Meanwhile, I'm working with a writer's group on getting feedback for book 4.  Book 2 just needs a polish, while I'm still working through the feedback on book 3. I'm also working on polishing illustrations and text for Ax the Narrator's first and award-winning chapter book, The Misadventures of the Just Us Chickens. 

[Amazon-source]

We're also studying up on how to market, from creating a brand and logo to preparing to launch and advertise series on KDP (Amazon) publishing.  Once we get the first book ready to launch the first month, we'll be working toward launching a second book the very next month.  We have enough material we're working on that we could have one book for you every month for the near future. We'll also be working on future books as well.  

[An Illustration from Cockadoodle-DOOM]

We have my books divided into essentially "seasons," like in a television show, where there are individual stories but also an overarching plotline for each set of nine books, building toward a climactic battle at the end.  Think of something between Percy Jackson and Animorphs. Why is it set up in sets of nine?  It's because I have three protagonists, each taking turns narrating books.  Book one is from the point of view of Davis, a 12-year-old slacker nerd, and turns "Chicken Little" into a madcap adventure.  Book 2, Cat-a-clysm, is "Three Little Kittens" in adventure form from the point of view of Davis's twin sister, Kitt, a popular girl who finds Davis embarrassing.  The third, Goatastrophe, is from their shy, animal-loving cousin's perspective and is based on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."  

[An illustration from Just Us Chickens.]

Meanwhile, Ax the Narrator's main set of books is a spinoff of my books and is about a team of super chickens who would save the world, if only they can stop tripping all over their own feathers.  It's a set of crazy, silly adventures in the vein of Captain Underpants and is primarily for those 7-12 but can also be enjoyed by an older audience. 

[Writing launch soon--source]

We're very close to getting ready to launch.  Once I'm done with the final editing, cover design, and formatting, I'll start releasing the date on which you can get your copy of the first book.  

Pieces Coming Together

[Navigating toward success: source]

We were able to get into Mark Dawson's class, the one that trains you to become successfully self-published.  We're clearing our slate of other critical items, so we can start it soon.  The one piece I could never figure out for myself, even after several other classes, was how to market on the road to self-publication.  Apparently, this plus some books on the topic will start opening doors and making things clear. This is something anyone can do, even you.  It's not a cheap class, but it will be worth it in the end. 

[Cover Design-source]

Another step we'll be pursuing, likely this week, is finding a cover designer on Fiverr.  Yesterday, I picked up an audiobook on the strength of its cover and because it was for the same target audience.  Two things (other than boredom) came out of it: 1. an exciting, professional cover can bring the audience, especially on a website like Amazon; 2. doing my own audiobooks won't be outside the realm of possibility because I can read in a much more expressive way that that actor.  I don't know that I'll have time for all of them, but I can get it started and then maybe pay someone to do the rest. Getting someone to do it won't be cheap, but if the book starts making sales, it may pay for itself.  And my boy has crazy, fun voices already practiced for his audiobooks.  

[The journey begins-source]

I'm sure setting up toward successful self-publication will be time-consuming, but in the end, knowing how to do it will be one of the most important skills we can acquire.  And as we figure this out as a family, I'll share my path to success, so you can both try it yourself and learn when and how to acquire our books. It will be an adventure for all of us.  

A New Strategy

[Typewriter/publisher-source]

Up until the end of 2021, I was sure our path to publication would be a hybrid publisher I picked out a couple of years.  I can write.  I can edit.  I have illustrated our books.  I can do all but a cover that will really sell our books and, of course, effectively market.  That is where this hybrid publisher was to come in.  All I had to do was submit a chunk of money upfront and send in about 150,000 words of semi-finalized print, and that hybrid publisher would prep everything for publication.  That sounded like a great plan because I didn't know how to market.  I've taken classes, and I've tried to execute the strategies those classes taught.  And the few things I've thrown into Amazonland hit like a drop in the bucket and disappeared in the crowd, including a preliminary Doomimals short story. 

[A new path-source]

Then, my genius son and co-creator of our multiple series got the chance to do a job shadow with an established self-published author, A.M. Luzzader, author of the Middle-Grade Mermaid series, who showed me a path, the path she took to success with self-publication.  She showed me it could be done, that she and several people she knows found a pathway to success with self-publication.  When I understand more about it, I will publish what I learn.  For now, it's simply a list of names, titles, and suggestions.  

[Investing in the future-source]

Luzzader suggested I take that same chunk of money I was going to throw at a hybrid publisher for one book and turn it into a wealth of knowledge that could lead my whole family down a path to successful self-publication.  This could lead to at least moderate success for Doomimals, Just Us Chickens, Key Lime Python, The Radiant Army vs Us (the working title for a series for older youth that we haven't started yet), and a whole pile of other projects including some about which my husband and other child have been dreaming.  

[Just Us Chickens]

In other words, within (hopefully) a month or two, I will have a strategy finalized for bringing you Cockadoodle-DOOM, the first book of Doomimals, followed by The Misadventures of the Just Us Chickens and so on, one after another.  You'll hear about it as soon as we have a formulated plan, but it should be coming soon.  Then, I can guide you along the same path.  

Pausing to Enter a Contest

[A contest about Q-source]

My writing group, League of Utah Writers, sent me information on an intriguing contest.  I thought it would be a fun thing to try.  Entries are meant to be only 1000 words or fewer, and all need to have three Q words in it.  We're right now working on gathering up drafts of unpublished pieces as well as fresh brainstorms.  I know hour chances of winning aren't that high.  I've very rarely won writing contests of any type, but as with our writing series, it's something my boy and I can work on together. 

 

[Entering a contest-source]

 I've been trying to brainstorm ideas for three weeks, since I first heard of the contest.  The due date is tomorrow, so I know I don't have a lot of time.  But I finally decided rather than to tack these words onto a story that's been sitting around for a while to start afresh, to dig into those words and try to bring the meaning out of them.  We may use some stories my boy's already written, possibly including some super chickens.  If they get published, I'll announce it.  But we'll definitely also start something new.  And that's always exciting.  I recommend trying it. 

Looking forward to a Break

[The juggle continues: source]

 With the crazy juggle that has been my life this semester, I've been thankful for every scrap of time I could use for writing. I have made some progress, but much of that was with getting feedback to improve what I've already written, as I said last time.  Over the next month, the holidays pick up, and the obstacles between me and getting the time to write start fading again. I will be able to make much faster progress and actually use that feedback.  

[The publisher question: source]

I'm hoping that I'll be done with books 3 and 4 by the end of the break, so I'll be able to explore the next steps of bringing you these books. If I can make connections and find a regular publisher, I'd love that because it's likely to get more widespread readership.  

[Talking animals: source]

However, I know chapter books and middle-grade fiction are hard to place with agents and publishers because they're considered not very profitable.  Add the variety within the lore and series and the essential aspect of talking animals, and my optimism is not high.  However, I still have the plan of a hybrid publisher who can spread word of these fun series far and wide.  One way or another, I will keep working to bring these books to you.. 

Seeking Feedback

[Feedback; source]

While I'm working on book 4, I'm also looking through some detailed feedback on book 3 I got on the book before I seriously revamped it.  Some of that feedback still applies, but I'm also getting feedback on the rewritten version.  I want to make it as polished as possible.  I'm also hoping to get another beta reader for other books in this series, and this is supposed to be a way to do it.  

[Getting published-source]

Meanwhile, I have also had the recommendation to see if I can join a national children's writers' group to make connections that may help either publish or spread the word on both Doomimals and Just Us Chickens. I would very much like as wide a readership as possible. I have a hybrid publisher standing by, but it would be nice to find a traditional publisher with a wider readership.  I just know that chapter books and middle grade fiction often are hard to traditionally publish. I've tried some already with agents and publishers.  My friend, who is actually in the publishing field, suggested that the first three books of a middle-grade fiction may be enough to get someone interested but also indicated the nature of middle grade fiction is that it is hard to get published.  

One way or another, I will bring it to a publisher soon.  It may be traditionally published, or it may be via my hybrid publisher I've mentioned.  One way or another, I hope to make it available to you soon.  

A Complicated Juggle

[Juggle-source]

I'm back around to working full-time as a transcriber and online college instructor, which means I'll be juggling work with writing.  On the bright side, I made it through the first trilogy of my series, Doomimals.  I have rewritten all three books over the summer, one per month of the summer, basically.  It's been wonderful to have time to take books that weren't bad and turn them into books you will enjoy reading.  On the not-so-bright side, things will slow down some since I have to reprioritize and have urgent items to deal with for a while.  

[An illustration from book 3 by Ghostelle.]

Last time I blogged, a month ago, I was just then puzzling over book three.  It was a book with a protagonist who was fairly weak, who was not much of an actor in her own story.  The normal world was her cousin's world and not even hers.  The climax was confusing and weak.  The whole thing needed to be rewritten.  And in the last month, I found Tessa's voice.  I found a way to start in her world, with her family, and to allow her take charge of her underworld, slowly gaining confidence through the adventure.  The climax is exciting and triumphant because I turned to my creatively genius boy to help me write it.  

Now, I'm ready to start working on book four.  It should be fairly simple because it already has a strong voice, and its events are fundamentally sound.  It mostly needs a polish. And I'm looking forward to getting it ready for you.