I'm well into writing Book 4, in which Uncle Yuta Has An Adventure. After months of hauling around huge research tomes, I learned I am much less interested in litarary critiques than I am in what the authors actually had to say. I learned that even while working myself into exhaustion and illness, things I read stick and I form opinions and plots even when I don't think I'm doing anything to forward my story. I learned that there is a flow, and that I can trust my subconsious.
When I finally just sat down and started writing, I found my subconcious had been doing a lot of work while the rest of me stumbled around battling continuous and extreme fatigue.
I have a flow. And I'm going with it.
This one will be the best yet, and I'm thrilled.
Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of the series. There's now a three-book e-format box set, plus books 1, 2 and 3 in beautiful trade paperback editions. All at Amazon, e-formats at Amazon, Smashwords and all the usual outlets.
This is going to be fun!
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy
Claire Youmans is the Amazon Best-Selling author of the award-winning The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy series where magical realism collides with historical fantasy in Meiji-era Japan. There are now nine novels and two novelettes. Visit www.tokigirlandsparrowboy.com for book descriptions, history, art, language information, universal ordering links and free offers. This beautifully reviewed series is available world-wide through Apple Books, Rakutan/Kobo, B&N, Amazon and more. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Friday, September 16, 2016
A great deal is coming/Phishing with Clickbait
On September 21, The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy Three Book Omni will be Book of the Day at onlinebookclub.org. THREE WHOLE BOOKS for only $0.99. This is a HUGE deal on some great , top-reviewed, books.
If you haven't started this amazing series, now's your chance. E-book only.
Now for a rant:
I get a lot of pseudo-news in my Facebook feed. It's all about "If you don't like this..." or "DO like that" click and vote/sign. IF YOU DO, your input is not recorded unless you sign onto their spam list. So...it's all Clickbait and they are Phishing for your information so they can SPAM YOU ENDLESSLY asking for money, and tell all their little friends to do so, too. I just won't do any of those. There is recent research (Pew, I think) that says those petitions do not do a damned thing, which sounds about right, just like those "post this as your status for one hour to support (whatever.)" Those don't do a thing, not a single blinkity-blank thing. I REALLY won't do that, as I do not respond well to any kind of blackmail.
In Writer-land, everything published right now about marketing one's books is all about "build your email list/facebook page likes" so YOU can spam people endlessly. The frosting on the cake is that Facebook will only send your post to like 3 people out of 1500. You must buy ads to reach more people. Create web pages, landing pages, giveaways, etc., all to build that Magic Mailing List. Which nobody has time to read.
That's the problem I see. I love books. I love to read. I subscribe to several discount lists and have found some good authors I now follow through them. With e-books now going for up to $15 EACH (total rip-off; sometimes more than the paperback, which actually costs the publishers money, which e-books don't) I need all the discounts I can get. Those really costly ones by Big Name Authors from one of the FIVE big name publishers? I'd like to benefit the authors, but I will not buy them. I sign up on the waiting list at my wonderful public library. That aside, as a working writer, I simply don't have time to read even the lists I deliberately subscribed to. I do NOT have time for any more.
This method has overreached itself, and like any given MLM, has run out of an audience. There IS something new out there, but the time to catch it is before every single person everywhere is doing it over and over and over. If you have an idea for the Next Great New Thing, let me know. Meanwhile, I'm back in the Meiji era, writing Book 4. Remember September 21 at oninebookclub.org. for a real deal on some really good books!
If you haven't started this amazing series, now's your chance. E-book only.
Now for a rant:
I get a lot of pseudo-news in my Facebook feed. It's all about "If you don't like this..." or "DO like that" click and vote/sign. IF YOU DO, your input is not recorded unless you sign onto their spam list. So...it's all Clickbait and they are Phishing for your information so they can SPAM YOU ENDLESSLY asking for money, and tell all their little friends to do so, too. I just won't do any of those. There is recent research (Pew, I think) that says those petitions do not do a damned thing, which sounds about right, just like those "post this as your status for one hour to support (whatever.)" Those don't do a thing, not a single blinkity-blank thing. I REALLY won't do that, as I do not respond well to any kind of blackmail.
In Writer-land, everything published right now about marketing one's books is all about "build your email list/facebook page likes" so YOU can spam people endlessly. The frosting on the cake is that Facebook will only send your post to like 3 people out of 1500. You must buy ads to reach more people. Create web pages, landing pages, giveaways, etc., all to build that Magic Mailing List. Which nobody has time to read.
That's the problem I see. I love books. I love to read. I subscribe to several discount lists and have found some good authors I now follow through them. With e-books now going for up to $15 EACH (total rip-off; sometimes more than the paperback, which actually costs the publishers money, which e-books don't) I need all the discounts I can get. Those really costly ones by Big Name Authors from one of the FIVE big name publishers? I'd like to benefit the authors, but I will not buy them. I sign up on the waiting list at my wonderful public library. That aside, as a working writer, I simply don't have time to read even the lists I deliberately subscribed to. I do NOT have time for any more.
This method has overreached itself, and like any given MLM, has run out of an audience. There IS something new out there, but the time to catch it is before every single person everywhere is doing it over and over and over. If you have an idea for the Next Great New Thing, let me know. Meanwhile, I'm back in the Meiji era, writing Book 4. Remember September 21 at oninebookclub.org. for a real deal on some really good books!
Monday, September 12, 2016
Think snow! (and get a deal)
Autumn dropped in before the end of August.
Put the garden to bed, move the kayak and scooter indoors.
The cushions and umbrella go into their trunks and the cover goes on the table.
The light turns gold; the apples turn red.
Early Fallers fly from trees.
It's going to freeze.
A season of magic as earth gives up the last of this season's bounty
and settles in for a regenerative nap.
Think snow!
On September 21 ONLY, you can get all three books in The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy series, Coming Home, Chasing Dreams and Together, for ONLY $0.99 at Amazon, through the selection of the this e-bbk complilation by Onlinebookclub.org as Book of the Day!
Put the garden to bed, move the kayak and scooter indoors.
The cushions and umbrella go into their trunks and the cover goes on the table.
The light turns gold; the apples turn red.
Early Fallers fly from trees.
It's going to freeze.
A season of magic as earth gives up the last of this season's bounty
and settles in for a regenerative nap.
Think snow!
On September 21 ONLY, you can get all three books in The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy series, Coming Home, Chasing Dreams and Together, for ONLY $0.99 at Amazon, through the selection of the this e-bbk complilation by Onlinebookclub.org as Book of the Day!
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