Isis Sousa's Blog: Tragic Books' news - Posts Tagged "kindle"

A year ago, during the summer of 2012, I wrote I wrote the first short story of a series/anthology I have conceived.

I have edited this short story over 50 times, I think! I went though it over and over again, asked for help, for opinions, feedback and constructive criticism so that I could enhance this material and publish it.

I’ve been really lucky that awesome people crossed my way during the process of this story and helped me making it much better. (Their names are in the e-book acknowledgements and I will make a special blog post talking about it later on.)

When it comes to choosing between being self-published and published by a house, I didn’t think much to choose the first option. I REALLY wanted to experiment the “freedom” of self-publishing, and literally “having it my way”.

I enrolled on the Kindle Publisher Select program, and within some hours my e-book will be available for sale.

This project is very important for me because it is the possibility of bringing the world of my “painted” characters to readers worldwide. Yes, that’s because I am not a writer, but an illustrator who is writing for pure joy, when I have the time to do so!

Carpe diem!

Ps: On the next entry, when the e-book is finally for sale, I will talk more about the story and the process.

I have written my first fiction work, a Dark Fantasy/Surreal/Paranormal short story:



“The XIIIth hour at Duskland” is an introductory short story from the illustrated anthology “Stories of Duskland”.

Sinopsis:

Leonhard is a wealthy gentleman surrounded by the most unusual and loyal friends. His life has been a hiatus for many years until the day he finds a mysterious young lady lying unconscious and hurt in the nearby woods. Pity and curious, he brings her home and does all he can to help her recovery.

A day later, by the XIIIth Hour, Leonhard and his friends discover together the horrid truth about the stranger’s past. “Elisa” and the ones she came across were never the same, once they met in the picturesque world of Duskland.

You can buy it here

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.de
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.fr
http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.es
http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.it
http://www.amazon.it/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.co.jp
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.com.br
http://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Amazon.in
http://www.amazon.in/dp/B00E7P2HVE

I am also looking for reviewers, if you’re interested, drop me a line here on GR :)

For those who like to get free Kindle e-books on Amazon, The XIIIth hour at Duskland is right now available for FREE!

It will be also for free tomorrow, 10th August!

Don't miss it!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7P2HVE

Download your free copy of The XIIIth hour at Duskland
- A Dark Fantasy short story, introduction to the upcoming anthology "Stories of Duskland".



on Kindle Store/Amazon!

Only this 24th and 25th September!

Click on this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7P2HVE

The XIIIth hour at Duskland (Stories of Duskland) - 2nd Edition - Revised now FREE @ Amazon/Kindle through price match!

http://www.amazon.com/The-XIIIth-Hour...

Have a cozy read :D

If you like to read interesting interviews, I have a brand new one for you: 8 questions and answers with Grace Draven , author of "Entreat Me" and "Master of Crows"

I also added my personal review of her latest book, Entreat Me, a re-telling of "Beauty and Beast", which also happens to be one of my favorite fairytales.

You can read it on my writer's blog: storiesofduskland.tumblr.com

Here is a book highlight about Archipelago by Mati Raine

Synopsis:
14-year old Lilly Douglas is a girl who has been sheltered from the world since the moment she was born. Gifted with avian like wings and strands of lilac hair, she never realizes how different she is. After a terrifying attack on her home, she is forced to run from everything she knew, and find shelter at a place called Charity Academy. Here students have little to worry about beyond homework and classes, and they spend most of their time learning to control their powers, embracing their identities as 'Strands': students with extraordinary abilities, united by the lilac hairs they have. But they are not alone in the world.

56 miles south-east, into the Bitterroot Wilderness, is a dark place known as Firestone Institution. Here a 16-year old boy named Cory Trask has made his home with a personality as icy as his powers. Survival driven, Cory works for a man named Dr. Kibbsty and is the leader in the pursuit of Lilly. He thinks of little beyond the orders he is given, and life is nothing more than a game: one where only the strongest survive. As their paths cross, they bring an uncertain future in their wake that will cause all these teens to question what it really means to be Strands.

Visit her blog: http://steampunksparrow.blogspot.com/

Visit Archipelago's official website to get some great extras!
http://www.thecraftycoyote.com/archip...

I would like to share my experience of indie author & illustrator, on creating my debut work, a novella born out of a short story + the feedback of amazing readers!



Above, Leonhard, one of the protagonists of “The XIIIth Hour at Duskland” (short story) and “The Night of Elisa” (illustrated novella coming soon!).

Almost 2 years ago, I was sitting out in the balcony in one of my off days and started drafting a short story which came to my mind.

That short story was “The XIIIth Hour at Duskland”. When I thought it was finished, I looked for beta readers on Goodreads and a few people were kind enough to take of their precious times and good will to Read my material and provide honest feedback.

From that precious feedback, I changed several things in the manuscript. The essence of the story was the same, but I changed something to fit to grammar rules, cut words which didn’t fit for the characters and timeframe and so on.

I even put it for sale on Kindle and Smashwords , as an experiment. I wanted to know how the self-publishing engines worked, and how would be the general feedback of the readers.

Most people thought the story had grammar issues, it meant, no matter how hard I tried to improve it in this aspect (specially, when English is NOT my primary language), it really didn’t work. Lucky me, one of my readers were also an editor, the one I am working with to this day, Clare Diston.

She edited the text, and all grammar issues were gone and the story was presentable. Still, readers were complaining they missed more explanation behind the facts (short stories focus on actions and plot, different from a novel or novella, where you have room for characterization and details).

The readers wanted to know more about the main characters, what triggered the events we read in the story and so on.
It was clear to me I needed to do something about it and listen to the “vox populi, vox dei”. So, during the last semester of 2013, I decided to turn the short story ( 8.5 k words ) into an illustrated novella ( 55 k words ).

The initial idea became a beautifully illustrated Gothic Ghost story, divided into 7 chapters, where the settings are better explored and the characters have more time to make themselves living.

All thanks to the fantastic readers and curious people who takes time to read first time author stories and provide honest, constructive feedback! I learned a lot during the process, and now I have a better, more attractive product to offer, to give back to those who helped me and new readers.

I gave a new tittle to the novella (The Night of Elisa), it is all done and edited, now I am finishing painting the concepts and illustrations and preparing the manuscript/design for the publishing market.

The big learning for me as indie author was: LOVE the people who give you 2 and 3 stars (and even 1) if they are being honest in their feedback. Because that feedback can help you take your work to the next level, learn and work on a better product for your audience! In no moment I felt down when I got low rating, on the contrary, I knew each low rating on my short story was worthy a chest of gold!

Hope this story can inspire you or at least, give you some insight!

It’s been some time since my last journal, and I have been a bit “anti-social” lately to say the least, mainly for two reasons: I had some health issues this year and had to slow down and whenever I got better I had client work to catch up with.

I have some good news to share and it is that The Night of Elisa – my fiction debut was sent today for printing approval @ Lulu.com, which means once it is approved, it will b also distributed by Amazon network! Yay! I will make a new post once the ILLUSTRATED PAPERBACK is out!

The Nigh of Elisa was also added to Smashwords.com as E-Book (non-illustrated edition) – which you can see HERE and, also sent to Amazon Kindle and is now under review. Once the Kindle version is out, I will spread the word as well!

A little back story about this book is that it started out as a sort story, over two years ago, and during the last year it became an illustrated novella (55k words).

Now, I can’t wait to have the hardcopies available – so I can send copies to the lovely BETA READERS involved in the early and later parts of the process and, of course, give a few free copies on Giveaway!

I have a Gothic Short story coming this Halloween: Eleanor's Gift. It is Victorian Gothic, like The Night of Elisa - but with more elements of Classic Gothic Horror to it.

And here is an excerpt, the story's opening.

.:Eleanor’s Gift
.:The darkness

A downpour washed the dark pointed roofs, old cobblestone roads and woods surrounding Rivercrook. The strong wind shook the plants and carried away their yellow leaves. It howled at windows and doors, scaring infants and their mothers. Lightning flashed around the town’s monuments and sculptures, distorting stone faces and casting twisted shadows.

On the old cemetery road there was not a soul to be seen, yet the shadow-play of the storm made the graves seem to dance without rhythm or grace. Soon there came a wagon, pulled by two horses running for their lives and tormented by the lashes of a mad coachman; only a mad person would dare to travel in such conditions.

Inside the wagon, in complete darkness, a lady held tightly to the bench. Her breathing was shallow, her heartbeat so strong she could feel it in her throat. The wagon rocked terribly and threw her belongings in all directions.

The wagon hurried along that road and then took an exit onto an earthy countryside bridleway, narrower than the roads across Rivercrook and much darker, as the trees grew tall on each side and formed a natural roof of branches and leaves. The only light the coachman could count upon was the faint reddish-yellow glow of his lamp. He knew they needed to make their way along the bridleway to the clearing. It wouldn’t take too long, but still he lashed the exhausted horses to run even faster.

They were almost there when the dying light flickered one last time. Now there was nothing but the darkness amidst the trees. The coachman saw the clearing when it was illuminated by lightning. Once they crossed it, it wouldn’t be long until they reached their destination, just a day or two more of harsh travel.

The terrain was uneven and soaked, making it difficult for the horses to stay on course. The storm obscured the moonlight and the frightening flashes were now resting in the clouds so the travelers could not see where they were going. The coachman was forced to slow the horses against his will. He had a calling, a duty to fulfill, and it could not wait any longer.

But the powers of nature can go with you or against you, and that night, despite having come so far – already such a great victory – nature was indeed against the struggling man. All it took was a slide of the left-hand horse to drag the other horse and the entire wagon with it, down the soft, muddy cliff that gave into the river. The horses, the coachman and the lady struggled against the darkness and the waters.
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>>Anyone who subscribe to the Tragic Books' newsletter will receive a Smashwords coupon to download a free copy in their fav format (KIndle or Epub). http://tragicbooks.blogspot.no/

>>> Anyone interested in reviewing it until Halloween , drop me a message :) And I will provide you a free e-book :)

Enjoy your autumn! ^.^