So... late...

I am up insanely late... it's Sunday morning and my sleep schedule is pretty much shot now, I suppose. But it was totally worth it! I just finished the trailer for the book! So the site might launch in full as early as Monday if I can get the last couple of things wrapped up I need to. I just thought it was worth making a post to commemorate the occasion.

Book 1 is Locked... and a bit of Art.

Book 1 is "locked." This is my fancy way of telling myself to quite reading it over and over and move on to other things! So yes, it's all ready to go. So why not release it tomorrow? Well, I have one more thing to attend to before then. That thing would be the book trailer. My voice artist sent a first go and it was very good. I gave some notes and am awaiting the next round of takes. I'm very excited to see how it turns out! Once that is completed to my satisfaction I can add the music and do some mixing. I still have to put the visuals together for the trailer. I've got solid ideas on what I want that to be, it's just a matter of waiting to see how the timing on the sound works out before putting it together.

And with that... all will be set! Amazing.

The plan is to launch the website officially along with the trailer very early in February. Then the reveal of the first book's title and synopsis will follow about a week later, followed by the book itself a week or so after that! And then it's all officially on.

In the meantime, I thought it'd be fun to share a "mood" drawing I did shortly before writing the book. One day I'll go into detail about the genesis of Grace & Witherbloom. But the basic idea has been percolating in one form or another since the end of 2007! Before I started to write the actual book in October of 2008, however, I wanted to get a quick visual down to get into the mood I was trying to evoke with my words. In fact, you could interpret this scene as taking place mere moments before we first meet Josiah Witherbloom and his niece Helen Grace...

Ramping Up

Well, this is a strange feeling. The time draws nearer, and I feel a bit like someone throwing a party. I'm filling up the balloons, taping up the streamers, getting the centerpieces ready and checking on the hors d' oeuvres. All in the hopes that someone will arrive! It's an interesting moment. I've been with the characters and these stories for a very long time now. So it's strange that the time is swiftly approaching that will see them released to the world. I'm not so much worried that everyone will like it. I know enough that not everyone will. I just hope enough people actually find it.

Self-publishing through Amazon feels like the right thing to do. I decided to do it about a year ago. But let's face it, it's hard to get any momentum behind a book even if you're with a major publisher. I'd like to think part of it is the quality of the book, but part of it is just good promotion and a lot of luck. So, yes, part of my fear is that I'll throw the party and no one will come.

But you know what? If such a thing were to happen, it's still going to be one hell of a party. I've ensured that by writing a book that I really, really like. I would read this book. I would enjoy this book. And I'm not exactly easily pleased. That's always been my main impulse and my main benchmark for quality. I suppose, typing that now, this could be somewhat egotistical. But I know such an approach doesn't mean everyone will like it. But I hope most do. I feel like if you do something you enjoy then you're sure to connect with some people, right?