Re-releasing a book, my baby, and the reasons why
WHY GO TO ALL THE TROUBLE TO REWORK A BOOK, AFTER PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO EDITORS, PROMOTION SITES, FORMATTERS, DESIGNERS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE BUSINESS?
BECAUSE READERS ASKED FOR IT.
WILL I EVER RE-RELEASE ANOTHER BOOK IF FEEDBACK TELLS ME I SHOULD CONSIDER IT? YES, BUT THIS BOOK, SHADOW HEART, IS DONE, FINISHED, AND THAT’S IT.
First I want to say thank you to all the readers, both with positive and negative comments, who gave me constructive feedback. To have a reader actually take time out of their life to read my book is a privilege and I sincerely mean it when I say I’m grateful.
Second, when I initially wrote the series (it’s twelve novels long) I wanted to end the first in a different place than where it ended. I listened to a New York City editor, a good one, but never-the-less I should have listened to my gut about my own story’s break. She suggested I leave a dramatic cliff hanger at the end of book 1 so interest would be strong in book 2, Fire Heart.
Sounds good, right?
Holy crap, the anger that came back because I’d done that without warning about it — I heard the feedback, corrected it, ended differently (where I wanted to originally) BUT!!! I will have severe cliff hangers in all books going forward. After all, that’s how it is growing up in a family battling alcoholism. We never knew what we were going to get, and neither should readers of this series.
Third, type-o’s. Well, I think I’ve caught them all, but if not, I can live with it and so should you. It’s part of self-publishing these days, and as long as there aren’t a barrel full, it’s pretty normal. Even so, I’ve worked with 5 editors trying to catch everything. And that’s the fourth point.
Every editor has their own style, opinions, strengths and weaknesses. They each see and catch different things. So being a movie in this (not so much anymore, but I was new, after all), I know that now and will stick with one line editor and one story editor. I get that now.
Well, I think that about wraps up my reasons. Now going forward, my story is set, I’m good with my endings, and happy with the way the story progresses, even though some have told me the writing is a little “different” which some have said means poetic, others juvenile, and still others have said as if written by a teenage girl.
Yes, indeed it is written by a woman coming of age, at least from her point of view. And I want the writing to reflect all her innocence, her discovery, her anger, and discovery of being intimate and sensual. And by the way, after the first three novels, this story will definitely take a very intimate turn. Will it be with Jerry or Ryan or even another young man? Who knows.
As I sign off and begin posting once again with my thoughts and input from growing up and living every day with mental abuse, fear, abandonment, and dysfunction, the things I’ve included in the story are how it was for me. If it’s sluggish, or slow, I’m sorry you couldn’t get into it. I hope the pace is fast enough to show you and keep you involved in what having an alcoholic parent does as you form relationships of all sorts–friends, lovers, family–they’re all affected.
We form our own obsessions and addictions as children of trauma. What are they? I hope you’ll read on.
Thanks readers!
I will also begin my newsletters now, and share with you many of the cut chapters and character backgrounds that are not longer a part of the books. And for the first twenty that sign up? I will be sure and send you free ebook versions for the entire series if you’ll be part of my street team and give me your honest feedback, and … if you like it … help me spread the word.
Rock on mustangs!
JUL
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