Asylum Snippets...

Guys, I don't know if I can wait to get this one out...here's a taste, but let me give you some context: the majority of the story is told from our protagonist's (Bailey's) point of view. An intelligent young woman who was knocked off an ambitious course to doctorhood by the shocking end to a long-term relationship, Bailey still has a passion for helping those less fortunate than herself.

Which might explain the first time she saw the ghost. But it wasn't the last, not by far.

What seems like an epic adventure across the border to photograph long-abandoned Briarhurst before it is demolished turns into something very different when Bailey is entreated to stay, even after her group of friends must leave. But she's not alone in her quest to solve the mysteries of the lingering ghost children; she just happens to be the only one still living.

I've sprinkled historic newspaper articles throughout so readers are afforded a look into the history of the Briarhurst Asylum for Handicapped Children. The following is a portion of one of them, and I've stuck a bit from our Bailey in, afterward:

Chapter 8 – Article #2: Brambleton Times

BRIARHAVEN INSTITUTION: ANGRY FAMILIES UP IN ARMS AS POLICE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AND SHOCKING REVELATIONS EMERGE.

September 25, 1978

Brambleton Times

By Jenson Carter

Reeling in the wake of the announcement that Briarhaven is under official Police investigation, former residents and their families are demanding answers. And one of their questions is “Should we sue now or wait until the investigation is complete?”

Perhaps I can help.

Let me tell you first that concerned families and those residents directly impacted by the downfall and delinquency of the failing institution – and let’s keep in mind that this is an institution that has been entrusted with disabled children for three-quarters of a century – aren’t the only stakeholders reacting in outrage. The City Council has announced an investigation of its own, stating,

“We are appalled to learn that a local organization trusted with the most vulnerable of souls from around the country has not only failed to meet standards, but appears to have abused this organization’s trust in it for far too long. In solidarity with the families and friends affected, we pledge to scrutinize the situation carefully, and ensure that safeguards are put in place in the future so that no one else suffers at the hands of such neglect and outright abuse.”

Strong words, especially considering there has been little released officially. Makes you wonder if the Council has heard the rumors, too? Makes you wonder if they know more already…

Mayor Jim Barney appears genuinely shocked, but is refusing to comment on the matter until results of the investigation are official and/or charges have been laid.

And then there’s the statement put forward by Briarhaven, itself. Yes! They’ve released a statement, and though it says very little, the fact that they’ve already acknowledged the investigation is rather a surprise. Here’s what we at the Times found most relevant amidst assurances of “effective processes” and “the prioritized care and comfort of our patients,”

“While we are aware that continuing staff shortages, as well as the impact of recently loosened regulations on qualified caregivers has had some detrimental effect on our organization as a whole, we want to reassure concerned citizens that we continue to hold ourselves to high internal standards. The health and safety of our children is first and foremost in our minds at all time, by mission and mandate.”

Excuse me while I vomit into my trashcan.

Apologies to the more sensitive of my readers, but as the lead undercover investigator for this publication, and someone who spent more than two months within Briarhaven Institution, pretty words from their legal team insight more nausea than comfort. They may succeed in turning the attention of some away, but not one who’s seen what occurs on a day-to-day basis inside their secluded walls.

~~~~~~~~~

A bit from Bailey:

...I looked backward at her and saw the door open inward at the opposite end of the hall. “Shit; they’re coming!”

Moshi’s face hardened and she was suddenly zipping past me. A bare foot - pale, but dirty - stepped through the door and I let out a shocked screech.

“What?” Moshi screamed in answer.

A shot of adrenaline coursed through me. I tore my eyes from the foot as it elongated into a leg, a knee, a filthy hem of a white dress – but when I whipped my head back around, Moshi was skidding to a stop and reaching for the door and I was on track to knock her over for the second time that day. Acting instead of thinking, I veered to the left at the last second, crashing spectacularly through the section of wall that came out into the hallway. My head slammed into the opposite wall and I crumpled instantly, stars bursting before my eyes and then fading, only to bloom into explosions of pain in my neck, head and – well, everywhere, really.

“Bailey!” Moshi yelled, then was looking down at me through the ruined drywall. I worked to get my bearings, but every movement was awarded with stabs of pain behind my eyes. And my awkward position was disorienting in itself; my right leg hung through the drywall, still, and I was half on my back/half on my side at the foot of a very narrow staircase.

I groaned, then remembered our pursuer. “Where are they?” I gasped as I tried to sit, but my head protested enough to knock me back. “Shit,” I muttered, no longer caring who we’d been running from as stars filled my vision once more.

“They’re gone!” Moshi’s voice echoed up the stairs beside me and I worked to regain my vision.

Vertigo rolled over me. “Oh, God,” I moaned. “I might puke.”

“I’m calling Cal,” Moshi muttered.

I stayed as still as possible, my arm over my face to block the light. “Did you see who was following us?”

“No; I only heard them! Cal? Oh, thank God. You’re not going to believe this: we found the false wall to the attic!”

I managed a laugh.

“Bailey crashed right through it! And I think she’s got a concussion; can you come?”

A sound, small but definite, echoed down to me. I held my breath and peered around my arm. Something moved in the shadows at the top of the stairs. I sucked in a breath. “Mosh?”

Moshi was telling Cal about the footsteps that had been following us. The sound came again from above me. It sounded like footsteps, too. Just like the ones from before. But, how -?  My stomach did a sick somersault as the shadows moved again.

“Moshi? I heard the pitch of my voice and tensed. “I know who was following us,” I called out, tears filling my eyes.

“What? Just a sec, Cal.” Moshi peered through the hole in the wall. “What, honey?” Her face changed. “Oh, you’re pale.”

I pointed weakly toward the top of the stairs. “She’s up there,” I cried, tears spilling onto my cheeks. “It was her.”

~~~~~~~~

Coming soon:

Free Rose's Ghost

I am doing a little promo today to celebrate reaching 200 followers on the Rose's Ghost FB page: free Rose's Ghost eBook:

Chrysalis

Available now, on Amazon:

I hope Trey makes you fall in love with him, just like he did with me.

Self-Publishing Lesson #2: So, You Know What You've Got - Now, What Do You Want To Do With It?

CONGRATULATIONS!

You've finished your manuscript! You have something to publish!

Take a moment to revel in the joys of having a complete product in your hands, because in many cases, all the work you've put into your products is far less challenging than selling it will be. Take a moment to let that percolate, dear readers.

Take another moment. Maybe double-check your "What Do I Have?" list - make sure that if someone asks what you've written, you have an answer you're at least moderately comfortable with. Like, I've written a book of poetry, or, I write post-apocalyptic science fiction!

If you can't do that yet, put some time into it - research, talk to other authors, join online communities, READ some books within the genre you're aiming for (this is definitely a better first step, but sometimes what we've intended is different from the final product! There's no shame in revisiting your intentions and saying, Whoops! I've actually written a memoir!).

There. So, what have you got?

...

How'd that question hit ya? Good?

OK!

Moving on.

You have a book. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT?

While I was writing my first book - and long before that - I knew traditional publishing was the way to go for me.

But, guess what?

It wasn't.

If this venture has taught me anything, it's that I know nothing. And what I think I know is more complex than I ever imagined. Mountains of rejections and a healthy pile of bad decisions is a testament to my stubborn methodology, which is to learn the hard way. It was necessary for me, but it doesn't have to be for you.

Let's talk about traditional publishing. I'm sure you've heard it's an over-saturated market. You've probably also heard that getting an agent is as difficult as getting a publisher, these days. Harder, even, because many publishing houses won't even accept a query without having invited your agent to submit.

But I knew I had good stuff, so I was determined! I tried so hard, y'all, and I learned the right way to craft a query letter while I failed. I entered contests, sent my manuscripts, or parts of them, to countless contacts. I learned to write magical blurbs for my books, slowly learned to sell what I had, and even made some inroads with publishing opportunities, which I ultimately turned down.

Yep. After learning all that, the final lesson was this: traditional publishing was not for me.

Past-tense, because I'm always evaluating my opportunities. But let me finish.

Let's talk a little about self-publishing, or what I thought self-publishing was, then. I was scared! It all seemed an insurmountable barrier of tasks in planning and organization. This is NOT my forte. I write! I love to write, I love to learn how to write better, write kinder, write with the reader at the forefront of my mind.

Selling is another ballgame altogether. And without an agent or publisher, you are responsible for all tasks associated with selling your book, from formatting to editing to cover design, to print and delivery, to managing the entire promotional aspects, launch events, accounting, etc. etc. etc. Sure, you can delegate some of that, but you're still responsible for the delegation, the review, the hiring and paying, and the final product.

*Phew!*

And lemme tell ya, no matter how fast you can write (I'm pretty fast), all that stuff tends to take over at least some of the time you would've used for writing.

But I've still chosen it. Why?

- Because I'm stupid impatient, and doing it all yourself, even if you're meticulous about detail, is faster than having others do it for you.

- Because I'm particular. There's something daunting to me about letting someone else get their fingers into my art. That's my soul you're fiddling with, there! Which means that, although I have a professional editor, I chose her carefully. She's excellent because she pays very close attention to maintaining my voice throughout my work, no matter what. If she thinks a section needs to be reworked or deleted, she gives me insight, but she doesn't rewrite it. I love that. Some might not! But if you publish independently, you have control over who is doing what for you, how they're doing it, and when.

- Because I have a business background. It's a very practical degree, as are the skills that I've built while working in the jobs it got me. I know now that it's purpose isn't to find me a job so I can work for someone else; instead, I need to use what I learned to run my own business. It's not making me money yet - the initial investment when you're publishing on your own is...significant. I'm not going to lie. But I have faith this is the right path for me.

- Because in my situation, it works better for me. I have a chronic pain disease, and house-bound much of the time, which means I have time to devote to a writing career. It's the only career I have. I'm also a mom of four boy and a stepmom of two girls (yep, that's six kids ages four to twenty, folks), a wife, and need to take special care of myself. Even then, I am able to check in with my work often. And if you read the first point, you'll understand when I say that waiting for someone else to get shit done for me would be maddening right now. That said, once I'm established, I'm sure I'll want to hand the admin stuff (at least!) over to someone else, be it an agent, a publisher, or an assistant or team I hire to work directly for me. I have aspirations, kids.

- I don't need perfection. I need, first and foremost, compelling stories that are written well. I need characters people can relate to, intriguing plots and pleasurable reading experiences for everyone who is kind enough to open my books. I need one-on-one connections with my readers so I can manage feedback. I need an outlet that'll sell my books and distribute them, because I am not taking that on. I need fast. I need fans. I need someone who is willing to focus entirely on building me and my products up. And the only person I trust to do that right now is ME.

- Finally (and I'd be willing to talk about all of this further in-depth if anyone would like), I give you the ultimate determining factor in my situation: I was dismayed repeatedly when talking to publishers. The number of "partner" publishing houses and "vanity" publishers is staggering. Some of them work hard for your money, completing much of the tasks I've listed above at a fair price, and that's adequately valuable for many! But the other end of the spectrum sees money-hungry companies taking advantage of desperate creators, charging exorbitant fees and providing very little services (unless you cough up more $$). Don't get me wrong; there are still plenty of reputable publishing houses that do all of the things I grew up thinking they did: the advances, the marketing, the editing, the design and formatting. And then there are many companies that float somewhere in between those extremes,  offering some services if they like your book, but counting on you, the author, to do the majority of publicity and even some of the selling.

Remember: even stand-up businesses with author's needs in mind are businesses, and in today's world, it's getting harder and harder to partner with authors who will make them money with their craft. Did you know that before a publisher or even an agent takes you on these days, they want you to have a substantial following on social media? Even some marketing opportunities (expensive ones!) will reject your book if it doesn't have enough reviews.

Which brings me to my final word on this bit, for today: whether you're publishing traditionally or independently, you need to have a product that looks as good as the big publishers are kicking out, and BETTER than other independent writers in your genre. People are wary of buying from independents! You need to show them you're worth the risk.  How? Have an excellent product, first of all. There's absolutely NO WAY around that, and like I've already said, there's no shame in going back a step to revisit and revise. Is your book the best it can be? If you're squirming, you have work to do. After you're certain you've got the product, you need to start getting it out there. I'll get into that next time, when we talk about putting your feelers out and gaining followers.

:)

xo

Now Available: Rose's Ghost - The Trilogy

Get the complete collection in eBook or paperback now:

Self-Publishing: Lessons From One Who is Still Learning

What I wouldn't have given for a step-by-step guide when I had my first finished book in my hand and not the slightest clue where to go next. So, a year later with twelve full-length manuscripts and seven launched books, many mistakes and starting to see some success (though it's still baby steps!), I'm going to do a series of articles to help others like me. Please keep in mind that I'm still learning as I go, and there are plenty of resources out there that'll give you help with the various parts of the picture!

And with that, I'll state LESSON #1: DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Google should be your best friend and constant companion. Make contacts wherever you can, join online groups and local meetings if you can. Learn, learn, learn, and don't ever get to the point where you feel you know it all...because YOU DON'T.

*shrug*

It's a hard truth for some, but a truth nonetheless.
In some future post, I'll paste a ton of links to help you out in the research category, but not today.
Today is for the first and most fundamental of questions:

QUESTION #1: WHAT DO I HAVE?
Before you consider traditional versus independent, single or series, eBook or paperback or both, you have to have a product. Here's a good checklist to have ticked off before you get too far ahead of yourself:

1) Why are you writing? Is it to enter a contest? Submit to a magazine? Tell your story? Tell someone else's story? Is it Fiction or Non-Fiction? Do you intend to make writing your career? Based on the answers to these questions, here's another: have you done your research? Do you understand what is required?

2) Have you considered your budget? Regardless of how you'll reach your goals, there will be costs. That I can guarantee. Even if you plan on doing everything yourself, you'll need software with which to make your cover, for example. I'll do an entire post on this in the future, as well, because I hadn't a clue what costs would need to be considered in the beginning. Good stuff to know. ;)

3) Have you chosen your genre or do you understand the genre of your project?

4) Do you know your market?

5) What stage are you at where writing is concerned? Ideas, skeleton/map, partial draft, full first draft, full manuscript, full manuscript with proper formatting, grammar and spelling, full, professionally edited (we'll talk more about that crucial element later, too!) manuscript?

6) Have you had anyone read part of your manuscript? Has anyone read it in its entirety? Have you considered their input and incorporated it?

7) Have you recruited beta readers? Received feedback and incorporated it?

8) Have you considered what you require in the realm of editing? How will you acquire the editor(s) you need?

9) Where are you at where your cover is concerned? Have you decided on outsourcing or attempting it on your own? Are you drawing a blank or do you have a fully-formed idea? Or have you gone ahead and mocked it up and just need to tweak? This one's got the potential to be very time consuming for several reasons, two of which are critical: 1) Your cover quality is directly attributable to sales and 2) If you're publishing independently, you want to be aware of cover requirements/formatting required by the various platforms offered.

10) Do you have a blurb? This is another key factor in the success of your launch. Some outsource, some don't. Whatever you decide, you want to end up with a succinct but intriguing set of words to draw people in and motivate them to spend. Ideally, you'll have a very short blurb and a longer, more detailed one for the back cover. Take some time on it, save it in a safe spot - trust me; you'll come back to it many times.

There! Certainly not exhaustive, but you get the idea. At the end of this exercise, the object is to know exactly what sort of end result you'll be working with before you consider moving forward in any way. For example, I write full-length Fictional Thrillers. I have one trilogy and several other books in various stages of completion. I currently publish independently with high quality standards including professional editing and covers, and I've got a growing distribution list through which I keep in touch with my readers. I publish both eBook and paperback versions of my books on Amazon, Ingram Spark( who distribute to independent sellers and libraries) and Draft 2 Digital (who distribute to pretty much ALL online sellers).

That's what I have. What about you?

Next time, I can go deeper into a couple of the questions above or we can move on to WHAT DO I WANT TO DO WITH IT? It's perhaps the most difficult question to answer when you're just starting out, because you probably don't understand all the options available. I like to do things the hard way (like writing a book in two weeks just to learn more about self-publishing on Amazon), so I think I can help at least a little. :)

Please let me know if this is useful!

xo

I Carry My Notebook Around

Words are always playing in my mind; finding ways to describe what I see or feel. So. I like to carry a notebook around to write in. I love putting words together. It's my art.
I remember wishing I could draw, so I could stop in my meanders and capture the perfection of a flower bud or autumn leaf, but now I know that for me, words capture beauty far better than any other medium.
Do you carry your medium around?