Greetings,
I've been tackling some changes and new challenges in my author endeavor lately and I figure it's time to make an 'official' announcement regarding it.
I have recently re-released my Weather Casters series as independent ebooks and am in the process of doing the same with the paperback editions and both versions of Ambulatory Cadavers. I'm not ditching my lovely publisher, but they are sadly phasing out of publishing and have very kindly released all of my rights back to me, along with all the formatting and covers, which is why I chose to simply republish immediately, rather than taking the opportunity to re-brand and re-release completely. I have other fish to fry but want to keep my back catalog up and running. Little Bird has been wonderfully supportive and I will always cherish the family of authors I'm now a part of. We're still doing this together. We've got each others' backs.
So, as this new indie route opens up, I'm going to attempt to be more diligent with my newsletter. Yes, I know how that went last time...but there's always tomorrow, and I'm exciting to see what tomorrow brings. I have new books in the works, and although I'm not sure if I will go indie with all of them, or try and land a traditional publisher, I want to share that journey with you.
Yes, you guessed it, this is a newsletter sign-up push. I want my subscribers to be the first to read about new releases (maybe the first to read them, even) and whatever else tomorrow may bring. I also want it to be a subscription of exclusive content. I've written a short (horror?) fairytale that will be in the first issue of my new newsletter, along with some exclusive illustrations. I don't want to spam you with sales, I want to give you gifts. And alert you to sales, of course, but good must come with some evil. I want to reward the faithful few, who will actually sign up for this. If you love my writing, I am eternally grateful, and I love you. So. Sign-up, because I want to show you my gratitude. A writer isn't much without a reader.
Disclaimer: my newsletter will probably not be on any kind of schedule. It will be like me: random and slow. But that means less dings in your inbox and hopefully quality rather than quantity.
Sincerely,
McCallum J. Morgan
Showing posts with label author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Saturday, September 2, 2017
I Was A Horrifying Zombie (Sandemonium 2017)
So, a week later, I finally get around to writing about Sandemonium. It was August 26, so, sorry if you missed it, because it was a blast.
What is Sandemonium? It is a small, local, friendly, and fantastic fandom convention in Sandpoint, Idaho, a convenient 45 minutes from where I live. The atmosphere is warm and the vendors are always great. From local authors to artists, game-makers to librarians, they've got something to fascinate. This year, the table behind me was Board2Death a game development company with their own role-playing card game (they had their artist there, who had done all the art for the cards). And there was Sack Lunch Comics and Little Vampires
I experienced pretty good sales, I thought, for such a small event. I got my picture taken with Darth Vader!
And there was an author reading, in which I participated (read from Ambulatory Cadavers). I also got to meet Kevin Penelerick, with whom I've been acquainted online, ever since he helped me find networking opportunities after Ambulatory Cadavers was released (he also writes zombie fiction under another name). He read his children's book, Guppy Butter, which is a horrifyingly delightful tale of tragedy and fish. Seriously twisted (I loved it).
And there was the cosplay contest. Since I won the amateur department last year, and I sewed my entire costume (sans tights and shoes), I had to enter the professional department, against two fabulous D&D characters.
All of the costumes were really fun and fantastic! From the pirates to the Skyrim character to the soldiers and Pacman.
The moral of the story? Cons are fun. Although I did miss out on the panels. They had panels on cosplay and writing and self publishing and gaming. Not much boffering this year, but hey. Also, violin covers of rock songs seemed to be the main soundtrack. In my formal Regency get-up, I wanted to dance, but sadly refrained.
The best part, really, is talking to readers, potential and returning. When you're sitting at a table labeled 'author,' people will walk up to you and start talking about their own writing, and that is the best thing. There's a little pressure, of course, because I want my success to inspire others. And, I guess it must, without my even having to say anything. Otherwise no-one would stop and tell me that they write, read me their excerpts, and discuss the creative process. It's encouraging and I do my best to be encouraging. I want them to get what I get out of our conversations: inspiration to keep going, to keep writing, and keep connecting.
Writing brings people together, and that, I think, is the true moral of the story.
p.s. I wore that make-up all day. Couldn't itch my nose for fear of ruining it.
What is Sandemonium? It is a small, local, friendly, and fantastic fandom convention in Sandpoint, Idaho, a convenient 45 minutes from where I live. The atmosphere is warm and the vendors are always great. From local authors to artists, game-makers to librarians, they've got something to fascinate. This year, the table behind me was Board2Death a game development company with their own role-playing card game (they had their artist there, who had done all the art for the cards). And there was Sack Lunch Comics and Little Vampires
I experienced pretty good sales, I thought, for such a small event. I got my picture taken with Darth Vader!
And there was an author reading, in which I participated (read from Ambulatory Cadavers). I also got to meet Kevin Penelerick, with whom I've been acquainted online, ever since he helped me find networking opportunities after Ambulatory Cadavers was released (he also writes zombie fiction under another name). He read his children's book, Guppy Butter, which is a horrifyingly delightful tale of tragedy and fish. Seriously twisted (I loved it).
And there was the cosplay contest. Since I won the amateur department last year, and I sewed my entire costume (sans tights and shoes), I had to enter the professional department, against two fabulous D&D characters.
All of the costumes were really fun and fantastic! From the pirates to the Skyrim character to the soldiers and Pacman.
The moral of the story? Cons are fun. Although I did miss out on the panels. They had panels on cosplay and writing and self publishing and gaming. Not much boffering this year, but hey. Also, violin covers of rock songs seemed to be the main soundtrack. In my formal Regency get-up, I wanted to dance, but sadly refrained.
The best part, really, is talking to readers, potential and returning. When you're sitting at a table labeled 'author,' people will walk up to you and start talking about their own writing, and that is the best thing. There's a little pressure, of course, because I want my success to inspire others. And, I guess it must, without my even having to say anything. Otherwise no-one would stop and tell me that they write, read me their excerpts, and discuss the creative process. It's encouraging and I do my best to be encouraging. I want them to get what I get out of our conversations: inspiration to keep going, to keep writing, and keep connecting.
Writing brings people together, and that, I think, is the true moral of the story.
p.s. I wore that make-up all day. Couldn't itch my nose for fear of ruining it.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
A Small Update and PANIC!!!
First the update:
Weather Casters Book Three: nothing official on a release date, but it is likely postponed until early 2018. SORRY. But this means more time to perfect it and design the best cover and release party ;)
My Etsy: I now have an etsy shop where I am selling prints of some of my paintings! Check it out
Things I'm doing in the next couple months: I will be at two conventions: the small Comic con in Sandpoint, Idaho that I went to last year. I had a lot of fun there and look forward to returning. Sandemonium 2017 And then, in October, I will be at the first Zombiecon hosted by Spokane Zombie Crawl at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, WA! Zombiecon
I also have myriad online appearances. Starting tomorrow at A Novel Connection on Facebook. Then I have an interview on September 4 at Audrina's Place (also Facebook).
Oh!! And the blog hop! My publisher (Little Bird Publishing House) is collaborating with two other indie presses, Firequill (of South Africa) and Blaze (of the U.S.) on a wild blog hop that promises to be fun and fantastic! I will keep you posted.
AND now the PANIC!!!
I am a very disorganized person. I hope I can keep it together through all this. I have so little time, between work and sleep to organize these things. But I will do my best. And it will be fun! The cons, of course, will be the most fun, but so will the online events. I'm just not good at hosting these things. Seat of the pants. That's how I approach them. Most things, actually.
And really, that's part of the fun.
So, tomorrow, here I come, virtually unprepared and in a state of panic. Live life on the edge.
Summer's already more than half over, but enjoy that which remains, and remember, panic is ok.
Until next time, Au revoir.
p.s. at some point, I will get back to posting stories on here.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
A Hole in the Sea Release Day Anniversary!
A year ago today!
The winners of the giveaway are listed on the rafflecopter widget in the last post. Congratulations!!! I'll be emailing you later today. If you still haven't read A Hole in the Ice, you can get it here! And if you didn't win, you can get A Hole in the Sea here.
Here is the blurb I wrote for it:
Parsifal and Balder are trapped on the arctic ice after Lady Vasille and Lord Keazund vanish into the Sea. The magical Compass shows Parsifal dire warnings of storm and mermaid. Unable to resist the hole in the ice, the two friends find themselves cast adrift on an otherworldly Sea. A Sea filled with myth and dangerous monsters. Guided by Dioktes, a strange old man of doubtful motives, they come to the Port, a floating city of wreckage ruled by a desperate rabble. Lady Vasille has designs upon the Port and upon all of the Sea. If Parsifal isn’t careful, he and his friends will be caught up in her schemes once more. But it’s hard to be careful when you’re trying to survive.
I wanted to share some special material here, but all I found was the full lyrics for Fou's Lullaby, which you can download for free! The song as recorded only uses two of the three verses I wrote (although the original, as it appears in the book, only has one verse). Here they are:
The song available for download was written (with my lyrics) and produced by Matthew McLin and performed by Skye Palmer.
And some other additional items of interest:
A guest post from last year, shortly before A Hole in the Sea was released: On Clara Gillow Clark's Blog!
And a guest post from two years ago: A post about myth on Page Burner!
I figure it's related material that my newer followers probably aren't acquainted with.
And thank you everyone who entered for humoring me with you great answers of why you like fiction. I was going to to an additional prize for my favorite, but I couldn't pick one.
So instead, just comment on this post to win a signed copy of A Hole in the Ice! (I'll put your names in my top hat and pull one out). Open until Monday (Jan 30th) (US only, please).
The winners of the giveaway are listed on the rafflecopter widget in the last post. Congratulations!!! I'll be emailing you later today. If you still haven't read A Hole in the Ice, you can get it here! And if you didn't win, you can get A Hole in the Sea here.
Here is the blurb I wrote for it:
Parsifal and Balder are trapped on the arctic ice after Lady Vasille and Lord Keazund vanish into the Sea. The magical Compass shows Parsifal dire warnings of storm and mermaid. Unable to resist the hole in the ice, the two friends find themselves cast adrift on an otherworldly Sea. A Sea filled with myth and dangerous monsters. Guided by Dioktes, a strange old man of doubtful motives, they come to the Port, a floating city of wreckage ruled by a desperate rabble. Lady Vasille has designs upon the Port and upon all of the Sea. If Parsifal isn’t careful, he and his friends will be caught up in her schemes once more. But it’s hard to be careful when you’re trying to survive.
I wanted to share some special material here, but all I found was the full lyrics for Fou's Lullaby, which you can download for free! The song as recorded only uses two of the three verses I wrote (although the original, as it appears in the book, only has one verse). Here they are:
“My dreams, my dreams die,
oh,
Their glory, bright, dies
slow,
As the winter winds blow,
They are covered o’er with
snow.
I miss them, miss them so,
Chasing them, I will row,
My boat down river’s flow,
I’ll never see them again, I
know.
Oh, my love’s gone, I’ll
never taste wine.
Yes, my love’s gone, I’ll
never hear song.
Oh, my dream’s gone, to love
now is wrong.
My dream’s gone, where art
thou, love of mine?
For
dreams, for dreams, I sigh,
To
take me now, to fly,
Where
sorrows draw not nigh,
Sadness
cannot climb so high.
I
whisper, whisper ‘why?’
So
fleet, they flicker by,
No
matter how I try,
They
slip away and won’t say, goodbye.
Oh, my love’s gone, I’ll
never taste wine.
Yes, my love’s gone, I’ll
never hear song.
Oh, my dream’s gone, to love
now is wrong.
My dream’s gone, where art
thou, love of mine?
Flowers newly blossom,
When Spring time sweetly comes,
A new dream softly hums,
And in my breast, heartstrings strum.
Whatever they may say,
I know that they won’t stay,
When autumn has its sway,
They will fade away, away, away.”
The song available for download was written (with my lyrics) and produced by Matthew McLin and performed by Skye Palmer.
 |
| Weather Casters Compass Rose--Watercolor and acrylic |
 |
| Davy Jones--Oil |
 |
| Tan Noz--Oil |
And some other additional items of interest:
A guest post from last year, shortly before A Hole in the Sea was released: On Clara Gillow Clark's Blog!
And a guest post from two years ago: A post about myth on Page Burner!
I figure it's related material that my newer followers probably aren't acquainted with.
And thank you everyone who entered for humoring me with you great answers of why you like fiction. I was going to to an additional prize for my favorite, but I couldn't pick one.
So instead, just comment on this post to win a signed copy of A Hole in the Ice! (I'll put your names in my top hat and pull one out). Open until Monday (Jan 30th) (US only, please).
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