It has been a long year and it's almost over. While I look
forward to 2018 and whatever it may bring, I also like to reflect on this past year.
My work: On June 9, I released "Fettering Shadows" . And, I released a revamped version of "Contrary Measures" on October 1.
Promotions:
I've been working on (and will continue) to promote the books in M.O.D Epic Saga. Look for more "What's it about?" posts on my blog.
WIPs:
I am close to finishing the first draft of "The Relic: A Savvy Macavoy Story" which is a sequel to one of the fan-favs "Smashed: A Savvy Macavoy Story". I have also started working on the second draft of the first book in my new spin-off series "The Markums" and it's called "Home Sweet Sars Springs."
Indie Authors:
This year I put a lot of thought and effort into what I could do to help support other Indie Authors. I have been writing since I was a kid, but I didn't write my first full-length novel "Unwritten Life" until December of 2004. Since then I have been a POD (Print-On-Demand) author and an Indie Author (we used to call it self-published). Technology has changed and I thought I could use my blog to help promote other authors. I ran three contests this year, July was Indie Author Appreciation Month, October was NYS Local Author Showcase, and in November I ran a voting contest for the top 20 Indie Book Titles of 2017.
I added an "Indie Author" page to my blog, where for 2.00 US dollars, the author can have their name added to the list and linked to their website or social media site (2.00 per single listing.) I also added "Indie Books" Page, where for 5.00 US Dollars per title, authors can add their book title, book cover, simple synopsis and buy link to the page.
July's Indie Author Appreciation: The following authors were showcased in the Indie Author Appreciation Month: Beth Aldrich, Bianca Chambers Carter, Chantelle Atkins, Eden Royce, Eden Summers, Elizabeth Antonucci, Janice J. Richardson, Judy Alter, Kate Rigby, Kyra Robinov, Libi Astaire, Linda Lee Williams, M.C.V Egan, Mehreen Ahmed, Rachael Tamayo, Rachelle Ayala, Sherry Ostroff, C.F. Rabbiosi, Davyne DeSye, Jason E. Rolfe, Marilyn Meredith, Rachelle Ayala, Simon Cleary, and Erica Graham.
NYS Local Author Showcase: The following authors were showcases in October for the NYS Local Author showcase: Janet Garber, Kyra Robinov, and Melanie Nowak.
The Top 20 Best Indie Books of 2017 nominees were:
A Few Minor Adjustments: A Memoir of Healing, Barbra Streisand on the couch, BEYOND THE VALE, Bittersweet, Bound, Church of legend, Crazy Love, El Sendero, Fighting for Fall, Finding pandora: the complete collection, Finding Solace, Grandma, Me and Tree, Hidden Lives Anthology, His Bride From The Sea, Imperfect Mermaid, Legacy, Nova, Obsessed with the Kill: Abdul Uncut, Passion and Penance, Red Winter, Sand, Sea and Stone, Secret Need, Sweet Discovery, The Beast Within, The Book of Roland, The F*cking Widow: Crimerotics, The Future is Built on Ashes, The Head Hunter book 1: Zombified, The Journey to Authorship, The Littlest Cowboy, The Lucky One, The Minotaur Hunt, The One Who Eats Monsters, The Pacifist, The Passing of the Night, The Spider's Web, The Tannis Project, Trees of Rebels, Unveiled, Wild Side, Wired Hard with write-in votes for The Battle Cry and the Berserker, Witch Queen's War, Fire's Song, A Time to Fall, An Amorous Dance, Storm Front, A Life Before, Murder at the Playgroup, Echoes in the Storm, Blood is Thicker, Path of Stone, The Other Side, Warlock for Hire, Rage, Unchained, and Lucifer's Game.
The winners were:
BEYOND THE VALE, Bound, Bittersweet, Finding Solace, Sand, Sea and Stone, Fighting for Fall, Finding pandora: the complete collection, Church of legend, Trees of Rebels, A Few Minor Adjustments: A Memoir of Healing, The Journey to Authorship, Crazy Love, Nova, The Passing of the Night, Hidden Lives Anthology, Grandma, Me and Tree, The Lucky One, Secret Need, Wired Hard and Wild Side.
Collaboration:
This year, I also had the privilege to be a apart of an internet Radio show. "The Writer's Edge with McKensie Stewart" started as a guest interview, and then it became something more. I am on her show every second Friday of the month at 4 - 6 PM EDT. It's on the Fishbowl Radio Network, and be accessed online at http://fbrn.us/shows/the-writers-edge/ or via the "tune-in" app downloaded to your computer or smartphone.
Coming up for next year:
New releases (to be announced), new WIP, Indie Poet Appreciation month (to be announced), Indie Author appreciation month (to be announced), continual collaboration with McKensie Stewart, and continual help and assistance to Indie Authors for promotion and reviews.