Today I was hiking in my own back yard on a trail that provides mileage without driving. It’s keeps me in shape for carrying the camera and backpack on mountain hikes. It’s also quiet, except for birds, and the rustling of leaves and grasses. It’s rare I meet more than 1-2 people on this trail. I find hiking rejuvenating for both my spirit and mind, so when I return to my office the writing flows a little better. Nothing beats a 3-mile hike to clear out the cobwebs.
Just as I finished the 2015 fifty book reading challenge (pause for applause), I saw this post from Writerish Ramblings, Let’s Talk NaNoWriMo. I had heard a little about National Novel Writing Month last November but didn’t pay much attention. This time I did. The premiss is that you write every day starting November 1st with the goal of having 50K words written in your novel by November 30th, that translates to 1,667 words a day. Continue reading “Read 50 Books, Write 50,000 Words”
The digital copy of Deceived has been available for three months.
Good news: Sales 
are higher than I expected with the limited (word of mouth) marketing I’ve done.
Bad news: I’m a bit behind on publishing a print copy.
“What works for thee won’t work for me.” is a saying used by my characters when learning to use magic. Each person must find what works for them. The same is true for writing. Some people write in parks, libraries, restaurants, wherever.
Not 
me.
I can do minor clean up work in public, and the distractions are amusing, not irritating. Art projects and research are possible in the family room, hanging out with the family.
Publishing a novel has been a dream come true for me; however, there have been lessons learned in the process. This is not a one-stop-shop. I’m simply noting a few things I’ve learned publishing my first novel, things I haven’t already mentioned.
Make use of Beta Readers. This I did, but simply called them willing readers. Who knew they had a real job title? I made a choice to break down my “betas” into the following categories:
Continue reading “Reflections on Publishing My First Novel”
In the past I’ve posted general hints and tips as I self-publish for the first time. I thought it was time to show some of the epic fails. This slide show contains examples of a few versions of my cover art to show the progression from initial thought to final product for the book cover.
Continue reading “The Path to Book Cover Art Is Paved With Errors”
On 1/5/2015 my first full sized novel became available to purchase as a digital book. It’s a full novel under my name. There’s something empowering about a dream realized.
It’s also a little scary. This isn’t a short story published with other hopefuls. This is a novel with just my name on the cover. Love it or hate it, it’s all me.
Continue reading “Bucket List – Check Another Item Off the List”
My blog started as a way to track my process toward publishing and perhaps sharing some of what I’ve learned with other self-publishing hopefuls. Over the last few years I’ve written five novels and three short stories in the Farseen Chronicles. I didn’t share this world with anyone until I watched my daughter start an art business. Her faith and determination inspired me to share the world I created. I didn’t want to wake up in ten years and wonder ‘What if…”.
N. R. Tucker 