Five Year Project

Today is the last Friday of the month, which makes it time for my post on The Five Year Project. Basically, it’s a group headed by Misha  Gericke where you make a goal and review it each month. For me, it’s to have a world class publishing company. Feel like joining us? You can sign up here.

How it’s going:  I’m not sure. It’s hard to make that transition from writer to editor. I know I’m much better at editing than I’ve ever been before. I know I can tell what’s good and what isn’t. I know I’ve had several requests from good writers who want me to publish their books. I just don’t know if I’m there yet. At this point I don’t feel like I have much more to offer than experience and advice, and I won’t sign on an author until I feel like I could actually help them. I know what it’s like to dream, and I refuse to compromise someone else’s for the sake of mine. So that’s where I am right now: not sure when ready is really ready.

How about you—have you ever been afraid to take that plunge?

The In-between Post

Welcome to my in-between post. What I mean by that is that I post weekly, but usually that's tied up with IWSG, Indie Life, and the Five Year Project. Which, if I do the math right, is only three out of four weeks, which leaves this week open. I don't do very well with open. I've never gotten into Facebook because I'm not sure people want to know that I'm going grocery shopping or heading out to the bank, but then again, when I do go on, I get absorbed in those details of my friends lives, so maybe they do. So that is my question for today: What is it that readers want to know about us? I know the answer for me as a reader; I want to know everything. If I love a writer, I can't get enough. I want to know who, I want to know when, I want to know how much. There's a connection of a soul there somehow that I don't want to end. I MUST KNOW MORE. Maybe it's the child in me, the one who had invisible friends, the one who knows that character, that one I loved, is really alive in there somewhere, in some form or another, and maybe, just maybe, I'll get a glimpse of them again.

What have you found that readers most want to know about you?

Indie Life

 

 

On the second Wednesday of each month I participate in Indi Life, a group that discusses all things related to the Indie publishing world. If you'd like to join us, you can sign up here .

 

Today, I'm going to discuss Story Cartel. Like I've said before, I tend to do soft launches on all of my books. And for me that always includes Story Cartel. Basically, they offer your book to their (large) audience in exchange for an Amazon and/or Goodreads review. While this is not a drop off you book and cross your fingers kind of thing,  it has done wonders in getting the word out there about my books. Speaking of that...I have 2084 there right now. You can link to it here 

 

 

 

Blurb: What will it take to survive as one of the last remaining humans in a world now controlled by the Nephilim? Who can Liz trust--Dan, on whom she has set all of her hopes and dreams for the last ten years, or the sullen new boy, Shem, who warns her everything she believes is a lie?

 

 

Initial Reviews:

 

Interesting Unique Tale

I think Melanie Schulz may have invented a new genre. It's 2084 end of the world. Syfy right? Yes but this is a new spin on a very old favorite. This is hard to review because I don't want to put spoilers in. It is written in first person narrative which I know some people don't like but I do if it works for the story. It definitely worked for this one.
The characters were interesting. The story not predictable. Had some twists and turns. Made me laugh when I realized what I was reading. 4 stars

 

Twists, Turns, Future or Past?

As a huge fan of Melanie Schulz I wasn't disappointed. A book set in the future with sacrifices, gods and a big difference in hierarchy as set by colors. The story is told by Liz, her views and her friendship with Dan, which is being torn apart by their different colors. She then becomes friends with Sham, who tells her of a different view to the world. Who can she trust? She learns of lies they have both been told, and ultimately makes a decision that may break her.
This is a hard book to review without sharing too many secrets. I loved the ending. The twists throughout. I started and read until morning as I couldn't put it down. Great read. 5 stars

 

I'd love for you to read 2084 for yourself and find out what you think of it. It will be on Story Cartel for another fifteen days, and then you have one week to publish your review. If you're interested in promoting your own book on Story Cartel, you can find more info here . If you do, let me know so I can support your book as well.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Mel



IWSG

It doesn't feel like it should be, but today is the first Wednesday of the month making it IWSG time. It's a time where we reveal all our insecurities in this overwhelming pursuit of that wonderful word: authorship. It is a wonderful way to offer support to one another. If you feel like joining us, you can. The sign up is here.

This month my insecurity is the biggest roadblock to my writing career. It lingers behind every corner, every phone call, every trip to the library, every dish washed and every shirt folded. It is, quite simply, distraction. Distraction is what takes my best intentions and buries them under minutes turned into hours turned into years. Distractions let dust build up on my computer. Distractions are a wasting disease that will be the death of me. Distractions have me look at the clock and say "maybe later". Distractions whisper in my ear that it doesn't really matter, does it? That's when I yell at the top of my lungs  "Yes! Yes it does!" And I dust off my computer and look at the screen and I let my fingers brush along the keys.

And I start.

FIve Year Goals/Year in Review

 

Since this is the end of the year, all those participating in the Five year project will be mixing it up a bit with a year in review as well as goals for the upcoming year. If you want to visit the rest of us, or better yet join us you can find the list here 

 

Year in Review: Last year I published four books. That blows my mind as I write that. Four books. And I love each one of them; each one is something I can be proud of. Mind you, that's also in the midst of moving. I don't expect to beat that next year as far as productivity goes, but I do hope to get better at the administrative part, which leads me to...

 

Future Goals: While I had a great year writing, the marketing aspect fell by the wayside. I did soft releases on all my books, which made sense at the time because I was so busy writing the next one. This year I plan to publish less (two, possibly three) and use that extra time to promote my books and to organize the business aspect of things.

 

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

 

*By the way, thanks for all the advice on my writing space. The new nook is wonderful, thanks to you. 

Writing Spaces

What does your writing space look like? Mine used to be in my bedroom room right next to a window that overlooked my side yard where I had my roses. Notice I said used to. That's the one thing I lost in this move was my writing space. For the time being we've made a makeshift space out in the living room. With three kids you can imagine how much I'm getting done there. So today we're going out to find a desk, a small desk to fit in the corner of my small room where I can look out at the side yard at the garden I hope to plant later this summer. Any suggestions on what I can do to make this space feel more writerly? (Is that even a word?)

By the way, Merry Christmas everyone!

An End to the Move and a Review of Erron

Good morning everyone! I hope all is well with you. We're finally getting settled in here at the Schulz house. Let me tell you, moving sucks. I don't ever plan on doing it again. I'm looking forward to getting back into the normal routine of things, which for me is writing. I took a two week break to facilitate the move and let me tell you my family is begging me to write again. I guess that's their way of saying I turn into a bit of a b***h without it. :) Anyway...I've just started on Willow, the sequel to Erron. I know I'd said that was a stand alone, but I just couldn't help myself. There's something about those characters I can't get enough of. Speaking of that... I received the most wonderful comment the other day from Huntress; that was followed by a few emails going back and forth and then finally today, with a review of Erron on a blog she shares with a group of fellow authors. You can find that review here Thank you Huntress for that awesome review!