Twitter Story - Week 2

“I didn’t think it would take that long to get home. Didn’t want to talk about it.” Jim wasn’t being quite honest; he didn’t even want to think about it. Jake raised an eyebrow.

"Were you even close?"

"Not a chance. She went for more than my entire backpay."

"Just as well. I don’t know what you were doing bidding in the first place. Why didn’t you try to buy something less life-changing, like a house?" Jake was utterly unsympathetic, and Jim scowled.

"Just sentiment, I guess. I need a drink."

~

The story updates daily at my twitter feed, under hashtag #vhfstr1.

Everything's up in the air

It is very difficult to give a blog update now, because I can't go into detail until things are signed.

The book was submitted to the connection I mentioned in a previous update, but frankly I am getting impatient. I can hold out for the best deal, or settle for getting it into print and into a position where I can capitalise on the marketing and distribution that has been on hold. The second option is getting very tempting.

My fallback option gives me review copies, distribution, a print run, set release date and pre-orders, (and options on a second book ) so to be honest I wouldn't exactly lose out.

The problem is that I want to get back to writing, not worrying about this sort of thing.

Hope you're enjoying the Twitter story!

Twitter Story - Week 1

"I lost the auction." Jim slung the kitbag down and slumped in a chair. Shaking his head, Jake stepped across and closed the door Jim had left swinging behind him.

"Just as well. What would you have done if you'd won?" he asked, and Jim stared at the floor.

"I dunno. I'd have worked something out. I hate to think of her in the hands of strangers."

"And it took you a week to tell me?" Jake sounded unimpressed.

~

The story updates daily at my twitter feed, under hashtag #vhfstr1.

Decisions, decisions

I have a decision to make. I was going to go with the other publisher I mentioned. However through trade connections they've encountered a mainstream publisher who is currently accepting submissions and may well be interested.

As they put it, if I submit and it doesn't get picked up they will still be here and wanting to publish. If it does, then a publisher who actually works in the right field can do a lot more with it.

The back-up publisher still wants certain spin-off rights to do with their field, and I'd have no problems negotiating with them on that. They would benefit if it was picked up by a large company as it's more exposure for their spin-off.

The problem? Time. It takes months for a publisher to get back with a reply, and I am seriously not sure I want to wait when I have a route to publication open.

So I now currently have review requests, ongoing promotion, distribution channels, and interest in spin-off rights - and still no confirmed publisher.

Twitter story begins

Starting today, a short story will be released through Twitter. It will run for about two months, to end near Halloween. The story will be released at the rate of one tweet per day, with a weekly roundup on Friday afternoons on this blog.

Set a couple of years before the events in Firestorm, the story covers the arrival of one of the main characters in Brooke's Vale.

To follow the story either follow me on Twitter, or look for hashtag #vhtstr1.

And the story starts

The Twitter story stars up today, under hashtag #vhfstr1. It's a short story (cut to half its original length) set some years before Firestorm.

In summary:

• One tweet per day at 12:00 GMT
• Over 80 tweets in total
• A weekly roundup on the blog
• Starting 16th August and running through to November

It's the first project of this type I have done, and it will be interesting to see how it works. I am very, very nervous, but I think that will get better once it gets to 12:00, the first tweet goes out, and nothing awful happens. My nerves do have a reason - after setting it all up, the Twitter API failed this morning. Hopefully that problem is now fixed.

Two issues that did cause a delay was whether the tweets should be numbered, and if a blog URL should be included with each. Intially I've decided to number the tweets, in case something goes wrong with the schedule. The URL is being added infrequently to the shorter tweets where it won't interfere with the story.

Fingers crossed!

Twitter terror

This is surprising.

I have books in print under pen names. I've had good and bad reviews over the years. I've worked in media and I know about rough audiences. I've been in this business for over ten years. I'm a member of the Society of Authors. My work has a fan club.

So why am I absolutely terrified at the prospect of putting one of my stories up on Twitter?

I keep sitting here, staring at the nicely set up system with all the ordered tweets, and wondering if I should simply delete the lot. Part of the problem is that to get it onto Twitter the story has suffered severe cuts from the full version. Another part is that using Twitter like this is a new format - at least for me.

On the other hand, it's been planned for months and the story has been edited and beta approved. How do you tell the difference between valid concerns and massive pre-release nerves?

And of course, the overwhelming and ever present concern that, if this doesn't go well, it will hurt Firestorm's release.

Twitter story update

So far the revised video trailer has only got good reviews. However, although I would like to release it now, I am waiting until I can add confirmed information about the book, the publisher and a definite release date. Once bitten, twice shy.

The twitter story passed its beta readers and is now undergoing a last check, while I try to work out the best way to split it up so it does not become confusing on twitter. I've also set up weekly roundups that will appear on the blog each Friday. The targeted start date is 16th August, which means it will finish around Halloween.

There are no further updates I can discuss regarding publication at this time.

Trailers and twitter

The trailer got its first revision (thank to ruadh and kia for their feedback on the proboard) and the new version is currently available through Youtube. Drop me a note if you want the link.

The twitter story is now in 82 discrete tweets with a hashtag allocated and space to retweet. I just need my betas to confirm it makes sense in the new format, and I'll start sending it out.

Other than that, there are currently discussions underway with a distributor. They were interested when it was with Bewrite, so rather typically of my wrong-way-round approach first I got a publisher before an agent, and now I have a distributor before I have a publisher!

On the publishing front things are moving along, but I can't say anything more. However if things go as planned, and in publishing they rarely do, August 20th should be a busy day.

Book trailer in final cut

I've just completed the final draft of the first 30 second book trailer, chased up the permissions and made sure all the images, sounds and software are given the correct credits. It is now up on Youtube, but don't go rushing in searching for it, since it's private. Right now I am after views and opinions, and would be grateful for feedback on it. If you would like to help and want access to it, please drop me a note or a PM on the proboards.

Any comments can be shared in the comments here, or on the proboard if you want a more active discussion.

Please don't leave comments on the video. If I have to revise it that involves deleting and reuploading, which would wipe your feedback.

Things coming up

Things coming up about Firestorm:

1) A short story to be released on twitter and through the blogs, from the suggested anthology.

2) A discussion of cover artwork.

3) An announcement about publication. I will say now I have not heard from the mainstream publisher, just so you know it's not them.

4) An announcement about pre-orders.

5) Talks about distribution are underway, and whether the book gets an overseas release or just UK.

Please remember for all of this, no contracts have been signed yet since we are still talking terms and the people on both sides want to get this right first time.