Tag Archives: book release

January 29, 2016

The End of the Adventure.

series

So today is Sworn’s release day.

How am I feeling?

Excited. I’m more proud of this book than anything I’ve done before, and I’ve never released anything I wasn’t 100% in love with. I can’t wait for readers to see how the story ends. Those who have read it have been extremely enthusiastic about it, which makes me even more excited. Sworn is already creeping up the Amazon charts, which is pretty damned cool.

And I feel drained. Yesterday’s release party was a total blast, but eight hours at the computer does take it out of you (thank heavens for guest authors who popped in for giveaways so I could eat!). And I probably don’t have to explain why I haven’t been sleeping well for a while, with everything I’ve had to do to get ready for the release.

And proud. This has been the biggest project I’ve ever taken on, and I’ve done it without a boss or a publisher breathing down my neck. This has been my baby from start to finish, from draft to editor selection to cover design to proofreading. And I did it. Hell yes, I’m proud of my easily-distracted and procrastination-prone and self-doubting self for pulling this off.

And sad. I’ve been working with these characters for five years now, and we’ve grown a lot together. I’m not ready for this to be over. I’m going to miss them and their world.

And thankful. I say this has been my baby, but I wouldn’t be here without my critique partners, my beta readers, my editors, my cover artist, the blog friends who have shared posts and supported me…

…and the readers. I’m so overwhelmed with thankfulness for the readers. The people who buy books, read books, recommend books, review books, share books, and above all LOVE books. The people who bring characters and worlds to life in their imaginations, who carry parts of their favourite characters with them even when they story is done.

My stories would just be words without them.

And okay, I’m a little scared. I feel like I’m standing at the edge of a cliff. I have to jump into a new story (already started and going swimmingly, due out in June… with an actual outside deadline this time). And that’s fine. It’s exciting. And it’s terrifying.

But I’ll get through it. And I’m glad you guys will be here with me to see this adventure through.

And the next.

Thank you.

**Sworn purchase links available at www.katesparkes.com

(PS- thanks to everyone who has helped spread the word about the sale! The full trilogy is now available for under $10 USD, at least on retailers that don’t adjust prices upward. Not too shabby!)

sworn release pricing promo

5 Comments | tags: achievement, book release, bound trilogy, bound trilogy book three, emotions, fantasy, gratitude, indie publishing, publishing, reading, release day, self-publishing, Sworn, writing, YA, young adult | posted in books, Bound, publishing, release party, Sworn, Torn, writing

June 26, 2014

Launch Day!

By Kate Sparkes

Today is the OFFICIAL launch day for Bound!

Most of the partying is happening over on Facebook, where I’m giving away a e-books, a signed paperback prize pack, and a few other goodies. But because I like you guys, and just in case you can’t make it over there, we’re going to do an e-book giveaway JUST for you.

Party prize!

Let’s hope this works… I’ve never used Rafflecopter before.

The book is already getting great reviews, and people who are reading say they can’t put it down. I know I shouldn’t rely on external validation… but that feels pretty good!

The book and I are featured on a few blogs today, if you’d like to stop by and say hello. Colin F. Barnes asked me five rapid-fire questions that were a blast to answer. Joanne Guidoccio has my guest post on my author’s journey. And Jessica Minyard interviewed me about my writing process. All good fun– stop by and say “hello!” And there’s more to come…

Click below for the rafflecopter giveaway! I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to everyone who has already bought the book– I hope you enjoy it! For anyone who hasn’t seen it, here’s the info:

(blurb)

Welcome to Darmid, where magic is a sin, fairy tales are contraband, and the people live in fear of the Sorcerers on the other side of the mountains. Rowan Greenwood has everything she’s supposed to want from life—a good family, a bright future, and a proposal from a handsome and wealthy magic hunter. She knows she should be content with what she has. If only she could banish the idea that there’s more to life than marriage and children, or let go of the fascination with magic she’s been forced to suppress since childhood. When Rowan unknowingly saves the life of one of her people’s most feared enemies, that simple act of compassion rips her from her sheltered life and throws her into a world of magic that’s more beautiful, more seductive, and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined. Rowan might get everything she ever dreamed of—that is, if the one thing she’s always wanted doesn’t kill her first.

(purchase links)

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00L8WRXTU Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Bound-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00L8WRXTU Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/bound-51 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bound-kate-sparkes/1119859706 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id892498360

23 Comments | tags: book release, fantasy, indie, launch, publishing, YA | posted in Bound, promotion

April 13, 2014

Pleases and Thank Yous and OMG A BOOK: ROW80 goals post, round 2

By Kate Sparkes

So this goals post is a week late. I said last Sunday that I was putting it off because of my surgical thinger on Monday (UPDATE: everything is fine, general anaesthesia is creepy, painkillers are kind of fun but I’m off of them now). That was true, but it wasn’t all of it. I was waiting to get stuff back from my editor, and I wanted to make sure his evaluation wasn’t going to be KILL IT NOW WITH FIRE AND EXTREME PREJUDICE before I made goals public.

Wouldn’t want to have to retract my goals now, would I?

Anyway…

This has the potential to be a huge round for me. I’m not going to lie, I might need you all to talk me down from an 8th-floor window ledge at least once, assuming I can find a building anywhere around here with eight floors.

Why? Because this round covers April 7 to June 26, and depending on how things go… no promises just yet… I might just have a book out by the end of this round.

LIKE A BOOK AN ACTUAL BOOK I MIGHT BE HOLDING MY WORDS IN MY HANDS IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS HOLY CARP.*

Pictured: Holy Carp.

I got the edits back, and they’re exactly what I had hoped for. My guy is a master of the “sh*t sandwich” technique. No punches pulled on things that need improvement, but some of what he said was so encouraging that I fell asleep smiling the night I got and read the (20 page) critique. When I read the line notes, I spent equal amounts of time slapping my forehead over silly little mistakes and grinning like an idiot because he totally got what I was going for so much of the time.

I’ll do a post on this experience later, because it was so interesting.

The important thing is that he had ideas on how to fix problems I already knew existed, and came up with suggestions that are really going to push this thing up to a whole ‘nother level.

I’m both excited and pants-crappingly terrified. It’s… different.

So what are we looking at over the next few months? A THRILLING roller-coaster of me working on that in a most professional manner and handling all of my other plans and responsibilities with the grace and aplomb of Martha Stewart organizing a dinner party, obviously.

*snerk*

But seriously. Professionalism is this round’s goal. Distance. This isn’t my baby anymore. It’s a product, and if I have anything to say about it, it’ll be a damned good one. I know I’m insecure about a lot of things, but I’m absolutely confident about that.

So, the goals. Please note that these could change and things could get pushed back. But:

APRIL:

Edit Bound (pray for me, send happy thoughts, whatever. Please. I’m new at this.)
Write back-cover copy (SOMEBODY SAVE ME)
set up Facebook author page, change personal account name for consistency
hire proof-reader (anyone know someone cheap? I’m pretty well out of cash)
find reviewers who might be interested in YA Fantasy (again, if you know anyone, or are someone and want an ARC, see below)
put together front-matter and back-matter for the book, metadata, keywords, etc

MAY:

finish edits
send out newsletter with release date, cover reveal date, preview, and request for readers willing to review ARCs in exchange for a free copy (sign-ups here, if you’re DTR**)
Formatting (kill me now)
cover reveal here and on other blogs, if anyone wants to assist… *puppy dog eyes*
apply for ISBNs
submit to CreateSpace, order proof copy, correct all the things
Prepare for awesome-yet-smallish Facebook release party (you’re coming, right?)
Add to Goodreads, set up give-away
revisions on book 2 (we’ll call this a stretch goal)

JUNE:

Upload to Amazon, Smashwords
LAUNCH THIS THING *smashes champagne bottle on Kindle*
Release party
mood swings, morning after regret, probable IBS
Draft book three for JuNoWriMo if revisions on 2 are done. Otherwise, keep up with that and get to book 3 later.

This timeline terrifies me. I’ve been 100% sure I wanted to publish independently for almost a year, but the traditional-minded part of me is still screaming “YOU CAN’T DO IT THAT QUICKLY! SO WRONG!” I’m still amazed when I see authors post things like, “Well, finished a draft, guess I’ll release next month.”

Um… *hides under table*

Time to stop wussing out, though. This is my job now. As entrepreneurial ventures go, it’s a risky one. I just have to learn to be OK with that.

Now, before things get too crazy, I think I should take a minute to thank all of you. My WIPpeteers, my blog friends, my real-life friends who care and have encouraged me and put up with my “should-I-or-shouldn’t-I” crap, and especially those who have read my stuff… you’re all the reason I’m going ahead with this. Your love and encouragement have meant the world to me, and have given me the confidence to follow this dream. You’ve convinced me that this is a gamble that’s going to pay off (in satisfaction and experience, even if not in cash). Your advice and assistance have brought me this far. So thank you.

Anything else y’all think I should be doing to get ready?

Oh, and if you need to reach me privately about anything, my contact info is in the “About Me” tab.

—

*Not written like this. You’re welcome.

**Down to read.

26 Comments | tags: #ROW80, ARC, book release, fantasy, fear, goals, promotion, publishing, self-publishing, YA | posted in Bound, publishing, ROW80, writing

November 4, 2013

Happy Book Birthday to “Breakable” (multiple exclamation points)

By Kate Sparkes

Aimee L Salter is one of my favourite writing bloggers. She’s fun and nice, and she offers kick-ass tips on self-editing.

Know what she did? She went and released a book today!

Go, Aimee!

Check out her post here, including links to some places you can enter to win the book. I probably won’t enter, unless someone’s giving away a print copy. I already bought my e-book copy off of Amazon today, and HOLYCRAP am I excited to read it. Reviews have been excellent so far, and I know Aimee won’t drive me insane with adverbs, so there’s that. 😉

COME ON, CHRISTMAS KINDLE!

Product description from Amazon:

When seventeen-year-old Stacy looks in the mirror she can see and talk to her future self. “Older Me” has been Stacy’s secret support through the ongoing battle with their neurotic mother, relentless bullying at school, and dealing with her hopeless love for her best friend, Mark.

Then Stacy discovers Older Me is a liar.

Still reeling from that betrayal, Stacy is targeted again by her most persistent tormentor. Only this time, he’s used her own artwork to humiliate her – and threaten her last chance with Mark.

She’s reached breaking point.

Literally.

I can only imagine the excitement, fear, nausea and mind-blowing pride that must accompany releasing a book, especially to rave pre-release reviews.

Congratulations, Aimee.

Everyone else, check it out, why don’t you?

6 Comments | tags: book release, breakable | posted in books