this time, it's personal 🤭
Hello,
Welcome back to the May edition of my newsletter! No promos this time, but read on as I get a little more personal…
Why Do I Write?
I recently started working with a career coach, which has been interesting. She asked me why I started my side business to self-publish my books, and why I write in the first place. My immediate response was “Well, I love writing.” Duh.
She challenged me to introspect further and think about what kind of impact I want to have. I struggled with the question for a while but eventually remembered what it felt like when I started discovering sci-fi and fantasy as a kid.
My dad used to travel a lot for work, and everywhere he went, he would stop by the airport bookstore. We had a huge bookshelf in our basement, and my dad filled it with every book he brought home, creating a massive in-home library of sci-fi and fantasy (my dad’s preferred genres). As a kid who hated sports and being forced to play outside, I made it my mission to read through the lot of them. Every time I picked up a new book, I was carried away into fabulous and exciting new worlds. Nothing made me happier.
I realized that my real, underlying motive for writing and publishing today is actually to create similar experiences for my readers. I’m interested in lots of genres, but the unifying theme is always being transported to a world unlike the normal, every-day place where I spend the rest of my life.
Does that sum up how you feel about reading too?
Sleepless in Toronto
I had the opportunity to participate in the very first Toronto Independent Author Conference in Toronto last weekend. I had such a blast, learning about the business and meeting other indies. To my delight, even the top-earning veterans among them were extremely approachable and fun!
I may have ended up in an improvised pub crawl, walking up and down Yonge street and drinking until the wee hours. But I’ll deny it…
More Reviews! More!!1!
I know I keep asking, but the importance of reviews on all the different retail platforms and other sites are so, so important. This is especially true for newer authors, like me. If you haven’t already, please take the time to post one or preferably more (always honest) reviews, anywhere and everywhere!
What’s Next?
I mentioned last time that I’ve completed first drafts of The Apollo Cup (sci-fi short story) and Contested Souls: Danse Macabre Book One (urban fantasy novel). I’m still deep in editing, but I’m planning to send drafts to my beta reading team ASAP, for feedback. If you’re interested, join the team!
After that, I’m debating where to go next. There are a lot of exciting possibilities! Maybe you can help me decide?
For more context, let me break down the options I’ve listed in the survey below:
The Kiynan Chronicles Book 4. This would take us back to Varice (largely ignored in book 3) to catch up with Edvard Quickeye and Safyre Sharptooth (remember them from book 2?). Edvard has to contend with rising tensions between rapidly advancing technology (steampunk stuff from Spire) versus magic spreading everywhere after the events of book 3.
Danse Macabre Book 2. Since I haven’t released book 1, let’s start there! The setting is Montreal in 2003. The premise is that supernatural forces intervene in human affairs to win particular souls to their respective sides whenever targeted humans end up in a personal crisis. Kind of like DC Comics' Constantine, but focused on drama and philosophy rather than action and violence. Book 2 would see one or both human main characters from book 1 team up with one of the neutral supernaturals (also from book 1) to track down a supernatural who has been broken the rules.
Science Fiction. A whole new series, set in the distant future, about an ambassador from Earth who uses unconventional methods to resolve difficult situations with alien governments. The setting would be cyberpunk meets Star Trek/Mass Effect.
LitRPG Fantasy/SciFi. These are subgenres that are new to me, but after recently discovering them, I’m brimming with various ideas I’d love to explore. Are you a fan of LitRPG?
Cozy Fantasy/SciFi. Similarly, I have only just discovered these. Do you like stories with lower stakes?
I liked your "why do I write" section. My reasons are also a type of escapism. I write a lot of romance, and I often include trauma recovery. I like stories where people are loved and cared for, and I like stories where we get to see that everything is okay in the end, and that's what I want to share with my readers too. They're a nice, soothing balm. 😊
When we summered up in Northeast Maine, I loved going to one of the four houses on the lake that was an easy walk from our cabins - and visiting Marge & Stan. They had a book nook with a padded bench and bookcases on three sides - and a wall of books in the other room. I was told I could read anything I wanted - and oh, I did!