Monday, April 9, 2012

Back to Work


Vacation OVER.

To celebrate the release of my first novel in both digital and print versions, I gave myself a little bit of time off. Sure, that’s the opposite of what you’re supposed to do when you release a book… you’re supposed to hit the ground running, doing marketing, guest posts, interviews, endless tweets, and general book-pimping. But all that stuff is bothersome.  

So I’ve just been lazy for a while. My wife and I are speeding through Naruto Shippuden on Hulu, and I’ve been eating lots of potato chips and French onion dip. Well, today begins a divided and re-doubled effort. So, like Naruto, I hope to master the art of the Shadow Clone Jutsu… ‘cause I’m probably going to need about three or four of me to get everything done.

This week I’ll be sending out Press Releases (yep… just now) and hope to set up some book signings at a few different locales. I’ve also begun putting together my experiences into a presentation regarding the road to self-publication and, specifically, the pros and cons of the Amazon KDP program. 

I’ve made a few harrying strikes at book 2, and it stands at about 5 or 6 chapters currently with a full outline on the side, but tonight begins the full-scale carpet-bombing, SEED strike team invading, flagship orbital striking, lemon-soaked paper-cutting, TPK’ing, all-out hissy-slapping attack that will drive me through the completion of the first draft. So if you see me anywhere (outside of work) and I’m not writing, feel free to give me an atomic wedgie, a purple-nurple, AND a wet-willie and tell me to get back to work. 

Truth be told, I haven’t been completely idle in the past few weeks. I’ve nearly completed the design for the 144: Champions of Hope strategy game board. I hope to post pictures of it here in a few weeks. I’ve been tweaking the rules to make the game a little more fast-paced and dynamic, and I hope to have a legitimate art plan put together by this summer.

Until then, buy my book, or if you already have, review it (the more stars the merrier), or tell your friends about it (works way better than any marketing I could do anyway), or shoot me a comment like, “Hey, keep it up. I’m looking forward to what’s next,” or “How’s work on book 2 coming? I can’t wait to read it,” or “Keep at it. Don’t get discouraged,” or “Does this look like a boil to you? It itches,” or “Here, I got you this replica Infinity Gauntlet just because I think you’re swell.”