Life will never be the same

It’s been 6-7 years since I typed the first words to Heart of Annihilation. That’s right, more than half a decade of work and expectations. Sort of like being pregnant for an insanely long time….but I digress…

Every year that has gone by has brought me closer to my goal. Every revision, query letter, rejection, revision, contract, failed contract, new contract, edit, and final revision has brought me to the doorstep where I can finally deliver my baby.

Fine….let’s just run with the pregnancy metaphor, shall we?

Coming up to the birth of your child a thousand thoughts and emotions encircle you. Will others love this child I’ve created? Will she be good, interesting, wonderful, exciting and worthy of love? What does the future hold for this her?

Words cannot describe the thrill it will be for me to hold this little creation of mine in just over a week. Perhaps no one will adore Heart of Annihilation as much as I do, but my sincere hope is that these characters that have grown over the years will become as dear to you as they are to me. I hope that you will enjoy their journey, weep at their misfortune and failures and bask in their success as I have done. I hope that you will take them into your heart and want to share them with others.

Because honestly, folks, 6-7 years of pregnancy deserves acknowledgement. It actually deserves a freakin’ standing ovation....but I suppose simply reading the book or leaving a review will suffice. 

Welcome to the world, Heart of Annihilation! It’s going to be a fantastic run!

Guest Post by Angela Hartley: Seven Gates, seven Books.

Today I have Angela Hartley here, telling us about her newly released novel Copper Descent and her writing journey.

Seven Gates, Seven Books

When I first began my career, I was a novice who believed I controlled my work. I thought I’d write happy children’s books, and everything would be hearts and rainbows. I never set out to write horror, but the genre chose me. Whenever I’d sit down to write, it turned ugly. The worst aspect of humanity would fill my pages with terrible nightmares.

I wondered if there was something fundamentally wrong with me. I also noticed a pattern emerging. The same dark figure appeared in each piece, and he was always the driving force behind the mayhem. 

The granddaddy of all antagonists was in my head and I wanted to lay him to rest once and for all, which meant I either needed to find an exorcist or create someone who was just as powerful to take him on (Don’t worry too much about my mental health. All writers do this. It’s just that few would actually admit it out loud).

My first novel, Copper Descent really started out as an exploration of the monster, and his weaknesses. I say monster, not man, because even in the beginning I knew he wasn’t human. Sinclair Devereux didn’t actually announce himself as being Lucifer though until his story landed on paper, but once he started talking he wouldn’t stop, and my single novel suddenly became a seven book project.

Yes, seven books, the first three following different sets of characters that all come together in the fourth. The interesting part is I decided this before I even began my research. I knew my heroine carried an amulet that was also a key, but a key to what, I didn’t know. Around this time I stumbled upon the book of Enoch. What a stroke of plot hole luck!

Reading Ezekiel wasn’t the easiest of tasks. When he would go into his tangents of knowledge causing death, all I could think was he’s out of his mind! But I kept going because the man also knew more than any person of his time should have. He spoke of the gateways to heaven, seven by land and four by sea. The people of this age weren’t even aware that the earth was round, let alone be conscious of how many continents and oceans existed, yet this crazy old man somehow documented exactly that.

This premise was a perfect building block for what I’d already created. I coupled this concept with Paradise Lost as well as legends and folklore from around the world, and found I had a unique twist on an old story. Each book is represented by a metal—a different gate to open and aspect of human nature to overcome. Lucifer goes through his own evolution, and eventually returns to the angel city. The journey is equally heart-wrenching and rewarding, and I hope it will inspire all to look deeper.

Angela Hartley, Author of The Sentient Chronicles

Angela Hartley spent much of her childhood being shuffled from house to house with only a book for companionship. The magic she found in the written word saved her in many ways, transporting her into worlds far more enjoyable than the one she resided in. Literature became a passion and the idea of writing carried her through years of uncertainty.

After high school, she met and married her own Prince Charming. They rode off into the sunset in his blue Toyota and a whole new world full of hope and happiness opened up. He claimed they could move mountains together, and they did.

While facing the painful realization that sometimes there are no tomorrows following her father’s tragic death in 2005, she decided it was time to follow her dreams. With the love and support of her family, she dove into another world, full of procreating angels and demon rock stars.

 Her debut new adult horror novel, Copper Descent will be released on Amazon May 2014. Angela currently resides in Midway, Utah with her three children and husband.

www.angelahartley.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Hartley/267442633281341

Publisher: www.foxhollowpublications.com

The tale of Sinauf was a secret nineteen-year-old Nina Douglas’ ancestors kept hidden for eighteen generations. But the truth has been brought into light.

The dark god of legend is real.

Caught in an ancient war still raging strong in the modern world, Nina is confronted with Sinauf—the embodiment of all she fears and desires. Like a moth drawn to a deadly flame, Nina must resist the seductive charm of a beautiful monster, or prepare to lose everything she holds dear.

Temptation has a name, and he is coming for her.

What is that Author thinking....?

The expression you get when your friend asks you how you feel about your publisher changing the title of your book right as she snaps the photo.

When you're gearing up for a book launch a lot of things go through your head.  And I mean a LOT!

You are so excited that you gush at every opportunity. Sometimes this annoys people. I mean, why can't this soon-to-be-published author talk about anything but their book? Well let me lay it out for you, hopefully so you can stop being annoyed. Since, really, the last thing I want to do is annoy anyone.

Years have gone by since I opened that word document and put the first word on the page. And they were rough years. Forget about the health problems in 2011, or the challenges of getting a special needs kid diagnosed, or any of the other brilliant, bland and memorable happenings of life over those years. Let's just discuss this silly book that I can't seem to stop talking about.

Imagine the cycle of writing, editing, revising, learning, rewriting and then doing all over again with only the small hope that this story and characters I had grown to love would ever be loved by anyone else. Imagine the excitement of thinking my humble manuscript was ready to send to agents and editors. Then the mountains of rejections that sent me back to step one. The thrill of my first contract. The devastation of years wasted on a publishing house. Of having my dreams of publication crushed when I had to leave. Then imagine, miracle of all miracles, the fruits of my relentless labors being realized with a shiny new publishing contract and a book about to make it to the shelves in just a couple of months.

Blood, sweat and tears went into this manuscript. Demons grown from the years of toil, heartache, passion, disability and love have made their way onto the pages of this little book of mine.

So I hope you will forgive me over the next couple of months when my excitement over every tiny bit of the publishing process overflows onto your newfeeds or in your ear when I'm anywhere in the vicinity. The realization of a dream is a moment that I'm unable to keep to myself.

And isn't a creation born from one's soul something to celebrate?

Cover Reveal

Without further ado, the title and cover to my forthcoming novel.

Covers are tricky things. We're told from childhood not to judge a book by its cover...but we do. So when WiDo said they were ready to commission by cover I spent a good two weeks fretting. And praying. And worrying some more. How can one image capture the depth of the story I've put my heart and soul into for over five years?

In fact I'd worked myself up so much that when the email finally came in with the glorious attachment I'd been anticipating, I simply couldn't look. I ran to find my husband and made him look while I covered my eyes. When he said, "I think you'll like it," I braved a glance and then couldn't look away. I mean, isn't it glorious?! And beautifully accurate. With so much awesome sci-fi-ness, and promises of a thrilling read.

What does this cover promise you as a reader? (You are also welcome to gush as well. I won't mind.)

Observations from LTUE

So there was this one time when I blogged frequently... then I got a publishing contract...

Well, it's true. Way back when I was hunting for my second unicorn (aka publishing contract #2) I blogged a lot more. I had all sorts of things to say about writing, and life, and editing, and life, and publishing, and life. Then I was hit with the cold hard reality of publishing: Work.

A lot of it. Interspaced with periods and waiting. A lot of waiting. The perfect time to keep up on my blog. Or my TV shows. Or my reading. Or my housework. Or my many, many many projects (you can read all about this particular passion here.)

So that's what I did (all except the blogging part for which you will forgive me because I'm here now, aren't I?) Until I went to my first writing conference in, like, forever.

Last week (or was it the week before), my writing group and I attended Life the Universe and Everything (LTUE). We went all out. We booked a room in the same hotel as the conference, showed up early, went to as many classes as possible until our brains wanted to explode, and even stayed for the Gala Banquet.

This was our one and only 'from author to fan-girl' moment of the weekend. Once Upon A Keyboard (minus Meghan who couldn't make it (sniff)) at the Gala Banquet. Mistcloaks made by Callie and photo taken with their creator Brandon Sanderson. (For understanding as to why this is so cool please go hither and read his Mistborn trilogy this instant. You won't regret it.)

LTUE proved to be a wealth of information. My purpose there was a little more complex than the last writing conference I'd gone to. At that time (LDS Storymakers 2010), I wanted to know everything there was to know about the craft of writing. This time, so many years later, I was pleased to discover that a lot of the information I garnered from the different panels on writing were things I already knew. Hallelujah, I've grown as a writer.

That isn't to say I didn't leave there without a jam-packed brain, but just full of information of another sort. This time around I wanted to know more about marketing, and what attracted readers to an author's books. The answer surprised me.

Marketing a book these days is done in a large part online. People read your cover blurb, see your gorgeous cover, read the reviews and make an assessment as to whether or not they want to read your book. However, when it comes to face to face conversation with potential readers, the rules change significantly.

During the panels, no matter what the topic, I found myself studying the panelists themselves. Were they smart, engaging, funny, humble, enlightening? Or were they narcissists who cared only about talking about their book, their characters and themselves?

Since the conference I have bought several books by authors on the panels and my decision for picking up which one of the many, many, many, many novels written by the presenting panelists was clear cut. I picked up the books by the smartest, friendliest, most knowledgable authors I met. I did not pick up a single book that had been pitched during a panel. I didn't even look at an author's novel if they couldn't interest me while speaking. I mean, if they can't interest me with their verbal words, I'm worried they won't be able to with their written ones either.

I know we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but the truth is we do. And that goes for their personal cover as well. When the conference was over, I took my very limited book-buying funds and put them behind authors whom I thought would give me the most entertaining book. I figured their real-life voice couldn't be that different from their writing voice, and so far I have discovered that is true.

To all the writing introverts out there who are fantastic authors but may have a hard time putting that across in person, I'm so sorry. There are so many books flooding the marketplace these days that an author can no longer afford to write in solitude and hope their written words speak for themselves. You can, of course, still have a successful writing career but your battle will be uphill. An author needs the entire package. Even authors whose books I've read and enjoyed, if I meet them in person and am turned off by their personality or attitude, I am unlikely to pick up another of their books.

Take what you want from my nonsensical ramblings. These are just my personal observations of what I learned during LTUE. This is by no means all I learned there. I learned that I love reading and writing horror (lightbulb moment). I learned a ton about the craft that I had never before considered and honed some that I thought I already understood. I learned that I can meet and speak to new people without finding myself rocking in a dark corner an hour later hoping they'll all go away.  I can't even put all I learned into one blog post.

So tell me, what do you expect/like from an author when you meet him/her?

News From the R.A.G.E. Publishing Front

People are always surprised when I announce I have a book coming out but that not for 9-12 months. "Really?!" They say. "Haven't you finished writing it yet?"

I have to laugh and other authors will get the humor. What a non-writer, authorly type doesn't understand is that finishing the actual writing of the book is just the beginning.

Let's go back 5-6 years ago when I "finished" writing R.A.G.E.  Yes, really, that far in the past the book was finished, complete. I'd written THE END and was excited to let people read it. Way back then I didn't even yet understand the massive venture I was setting myself on.

So, okay, I finished writing my book. Then what took another 5-6 years to get it to this nearly-published point? Editing. Yes, that pesky little word that seems like a side note to the exciting world of writing. And yet without it these shiny books we pick up in the store would barely make sense. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who writes crappy first drafts that need lots of editing.

Not that editing should take half a decade to accomplish, but since R.A.G.E. was my first novel and thereby my training novel, I also had to go through a massive education about everything from commas and adverbs to query letters and submissions.

Well, fine, having to learn the industry is one thing, but what about now? I have a publisher, I have a nice edited manuscript, why then is it still about 9-12 months before this "completed" book can be held in your excited, little hands?

Editing......again.......and again......until it's freakin' perfect.........

........well, that and the cover design, formatting, requests for blurbs, printing, and lots and lots of marketing. Suddenly that small 9-12 month window to get all my ducks in a row to give my book baby the best chance of success seems almost miniscule. I only have 9-12 months?!?!

For those of you having to anxiously wait your way through my months of hard work, let me tell you what's happening with R.A.G.E. right now.

Nothing. At least not in my house. R.A.G.E. is in the hands of my very capable editor who is picking through it as we speak with a bloody-red pen. Eeeek!

Not to worry, I know she only wants to best for my precious book baby. The good news is, she contacted me the other day and said that my book was, "too good. LOL," meaning that since it's been edited to the brink of death so many times before, she was struggling to find any developmental errors and she just wanted to go straight to line editing. Love!

And yet, while R.A.G.E. sits in edits, I still sit at home on my computer, sometimes working on marketing, budgeting and all those other non-creative, soul-sucking activities that an author needs to do these days to make a go of it, and sometimes pulling out book 2 and 3 in my 12th Dimension series. That is much more fun. See, even 2-3 years before these books will ever see print, they are already well under way. Book 2 is "finished" and book 3 is under heavy construction.

Take a look at that wonderful book you're plowing delightfully through right now, yes the one on your bedside table that you can't put down and will have finished within a day or two. That world and those characters that you've grown to love are a result of the toil and love an author put YEARS into, not for the money but because they wanted to tell you a story that you will think about for years to come.

That is the magic of a book.