Blogomancer

Bone Shop in Print

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:11:28 GMT

By popular demand: The print version of Bone Shop is available at Lulu.com. Just in time for the holidays! It will appear at Amazon.com, etc. eventually, though I understand it'll take 6 to 8 weeks to show up there. In the meantime, you can buy it at Lulu.

It's a bit pricy, which is a shame, but the high per-unit costs for Print on Demand publishing, combined with the profit margin required by online retailers, makes the high price a necessity. If you buy it from Amazon, I'll make under 90 cents per copy; I'll make rather more from Lulu, so I don't object if you buy it there. Unfortunately, it's a requirement that items sold via the Lulu Marketplace be sold at the same price (or higher) than the other online retailers, so I can't offer it any cheaper. But, hey, you can always read the whole thing for free. The print version is the same pocket-sized paperback as the other books in the series, so it'll sit next to them nicely on the shelf. And I think it came out quite well. The cover's below.

Here's the cover. (I may do variant covers, if I feel sufficiently motivated.)

Bone Shop on the Kindle

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:59:02 GMT

Bone Shop is available for the Kindle. So everyone who asked me to do that -- go buy it!

Bone Shop: Part Eighteen

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:53:03 GMT

The final chapter.

Chapter 18

In which endings, of a sort, are attained.

Chapter 18 notes: Trivia and authorial blather

Bone Shop Part Seventeen

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:50:15 GMT

The penultimate chapter!

Chapter 17

In which Marla faces a monster, loses things and finds things, and runs for office.

Plus the usual notes and such.

The End is Nigh

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:27:25 GMT

Yesterday I had an awesome writing day. Did about 1500 words of freelance reviewing, and then -- in a couple of sessions at the keyboard -- another 8,000 words on Bone Shop...

And I finished the thing. It turned out to be a short novel, about 65,000 words long total. I'll post the final two chapters, one on Monday the 19th, the last on Monday the 26th. I felt rather wrung out when it was done, but I'm happy with it. I've been waiting to write some of those final scenes since I first started writing Bone Shop. And I fulfilled my goal of writing a story that takes Marla from a teenage runaway to the new chief sorcerer of Felport. It's a period in Marla's life I may return to for short fiction -- there are lots of cool stories from those years I didn't have time or space to tell in this format.

But anyway: it's my 12th finished novel! And my sixth published novel. The rest are either trunk books (my first four) or else currently on submission to publishers. Though I feel strange saying this book was "published" when I did the whole thing myself. Then again, the book has paid as well as a sale to a small press would have, so I'm not complaining. Thanks to everyone who's supported the book with publicity or donations. And if you've been holding off on donating, well, there are only two weeks left!

There are plans to do a downloadable audiobook version (details are pending, I'll let y'all know), and I'm thinking of putting together a print version, as many people have said they'd like to have it on the shelf. I can do the interior layout and publish it via Lulu.com or something, but I'm a bit stumped when it comes to cover art. I can't afford to pay an artist like the amazing Dan Dos Santos (who did the Bantam covers), which is a shame. Really, I can't afford to pay anybody. So it may be a simple typographic cover, or something with weird public domain art... I dunno. I'll think about it. I'll try to have it ready by Christmas.

Now that Bone Shop is done... what am I going to do with all my free time?

Guess I'll write some short stories.

Bone Shop Part Sixteen

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:09:13 GMT

Chapter 16

In which Marla goes swimming, takes flight, and investigates a murder.

Plus the usual notes and such.

Bone Shop Part Fifteen

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:41:15 GMT

Chapter 15

In which Marla faces a killer, loses some flesh and bone, and finds hope.

Plus the usual notes and such.

Bone Shop Part Fourteen

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:09:51 GMT

Chapter 14

In which our heroine encounters blood, guts, and obligations.

Plus the usual notes and such.

Bone Shop Part Thirteen

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:55:44 GMT

Chapter 13

In which a god is summoned, love is professed, and lives are snuffed out.

Plus the usual notes and such.

Bone Shop Part Twelve

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:23:59 GMT

Chapter 12

In which Marla leaves the nest, and Artie's old obsession returns.

Plus the usual notes and such.

Bone Shop Part Eleven

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:05:17 GMT

Chapter 11 of Bone Shop is here!

In which Marla -- and there's no nice way to put this -- rips off a little boy's jaw.

Plus the usual notes and such.

Bone Shop Part Ten

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:17:07 GMT

Chapter 10 of Bone Shop is here!

People leave, and time passes, and Marla finds a cloak. Plus the usual notes on process and behind the scenes musings.

Bone Shop Part Nine

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:46:10 GMT

Chapter 9 of Bone Shop is here!

A sorcerers' council, a meeting between rivals, broken promises, and things that claim to be angels. Plus the usual notes on process and behind the scenes musings.

Bone Shop Part Eight

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:06:04 GMT

Chapter 8 of Bone Shop is live!
Dirty soliloquies, girl talk, and the hint of larger things to come. Plus the usual notes on process and behind the scenes musings.

Bone Shop Part Seven

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:19:48 GMT

Chapter 7 of Bone Shop is live!

This is my favorite chapter yet. Fighting and sex and milestones and promises. Plus the usual notes on process and behind the scenes whingeing.

Bone Shop Part Six

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:51:46 GMT

The sixth chapter of my serial novella Bone Shop is online now! Plus some notes on the chapter, which would've been more extensive if I hadn't been writing them late late last night.

Read, enjoy, and donate if you can spare it.

Bone Shop: Chapter Five

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:35:42 GMT

If this is Monday, then that must mean...

Chapter Five of Bone Shop is live!

In which Marla learns about penis thieves, phantom limbs, and how some things are better for insects than people.

I also posted Chapter 5 notes, but they contain spoilers for this chapter, so read it after.

And, as always, if you like what you read, tell your friends, and if you've got the money, tip your writer.

Bad News

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:46:30 GMT

Got the bad news this morning that my publisher won't be doing more books in my Marla Mason series. Crappy economy plus okay-but-not-great sales made them decide to end the series.

I'm pretty depressed.

I don't blame them; from a numbers point of view, they did what they had to. Times are tough. And, hey, I got to write four books in this series -- more than many writers get. (Sorry about the cliffhangerish ending in Spell Games, though, which was meant to set up for the next book... I wrote it when a fifth book seemed much more likely!)

We will, of course, see if other publishers are interested in picking up the series, though that's always a dicey proposition. I may end up writing the book anyway and self-publishing or doing a fundable thing or a serial publication or something. I don't know. I'm gonna give myself a few days to be depressed, then I'll figure things out as various options exhaust themselves.

If nothing else, I'll just write some other novel. It's what I do.

In the meantime, there's still Bone Shop, my serial prequel novella about Marla. And if nothing else I'll keep writing short stories about her, because she's fun, and I love her, even though she's prickly and short-tempered and sometimes kinda mean. I hope you'll all keep reading about her too.

And because life is weird, I sold a story this morning to a top-tier market where I've never had work appear before, so at least I got some good news today to offset the bad.

Bone Shop: Chapter Four

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:03:37 GMT

Chatper 4 of Bone Shop is live! As this week's author notes (best read after the chapter itself) reveal, I almost failed to get this update ready in time because life intervened. Strenuously. But, it's here, and I'm quite happy with it. Hope you all like it too!

And if you have complaints for the management or enthusiastic praises or cockeyed conspiracy theories, feel free to air them on the new Bone Shop forum.

Bone Shop: Chapter Three

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:27:57 GMT

Chapter 3 of Bone Shop is live! Marla gets a knife, and does some stabbing, and meets some people who will be very important to her.

I also have author notes, as usual, for anybody who wants to see how the sausage is made.

Thanks to all who've donated and promoted the novella. It's a big help.

Bone Shop: Chapter Two

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:31:30 GMT

Chapter 2 of Bone Shop is live! I'm fond of this chapter. It has magic and violence and nudity.

I also have some author notes, for those who wish a glimpse behind the curtain.

Thanks again to all who've donated so far and spread the word. You're making a huge difference in the life of my family.

Bone Shop: Chapter One

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:20 GMT

The first part of my reader-supported novella Bone Shop is online today: Chapter One: In which Marla converses with a pyromaniac, commits some minor crimes, and hears a curious proposition.

I've also indulged my love for afterwords and authorial blather, including some author notes on the chapter. There's a link at the bottom of the page linked above, if you're interested in such things.

Please read, and enjoy (I hope), and spread the word. The response and support from readers and the SF/F community has been really heartening so far.

Bone Shop: A Reader-Supported Novella

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:22:59 GMT

As I mentioned yesterday, my wife was laid off this week, and while we both hope she finds a new job soon (and that I sell some more novels, as far as that goes), we're in sudden need of money now. I could have just straight-out asked for financial help -- and for those who've offered that, thanks, it's appreciated -- but I'm a writer, and if there's one thing I have in ample quantity, it's stories to tell.

Specifically a story I've been wanting to write for a while, but couldn't find the right market for: a longish piece about the early adventures of my series character Marla Mason.

Bone Shop is a serialized, donation-funded urban fantasy novella, available for anyone to read for free. New chapters will go up every Monday. The Bone Shop website is here, though there's not a lot there at the moment. I'll post the first chapter on June 29.

Marla Mason is the chief sorcerer of Felport, a woman who's tangled with gods and monsters and come out on top (if a bit damaged in the process). But she wasn't always a formidable engine of brute force and pragmatism; she started out alone, in a strange city, without allies or any more power than the average teenage runaway on the street. Marla was always willing to do anything necessary to survive, and it didn't take long for her to stumble into a world of magic, danger... and even the occasional moment of grace.

Bone Shop tells the story of Marla's evolution from runaway to sorcerer's apprentice to mercenary magician and beyond. Fans of the urban fantasy series that began with Blood Engines will find surprising secrets revealed about Marla's past, and new readers can meet the character from the very beginning.

Your donations will help keep a roof over our heads, and pay our son's medical bills (he has congenital glaucoma, and requires regular visits with specialists to keep his eyesight from deteriorating). We appreciate whatever you can give. And I hope you enjoy the story!

Bad News and Crazy Ideas

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:16:49 GMT

My wife was laid off from her job yesterday. She's looking for a new one, and for freelance work. She's been a catalog and website copywriter, and a buyer, for the past eight years; she also has office manager/admin experience, and can write pretty much any kind of copy. If anybody knows of good paying gigs, drop me a note. Ideally in the SF Bay Area, for go-into-an-office jobs, though we'd be willing to entertain suitably juicy options farther afield. We have enough savings to get us through a couple of months, but if something doesn't turn up by then, things will get extremely difficult.

Many people have suggested I do a direct-appeal-to-the-people sort of thing. I'm considering it. I've been toying with the idea of writing a Marla Mason prequel novella/short novel, about her early days as a sorcerer. Would any of you be interested in a donation-driven serial approach, with me posting a chapter a week free online, and soliciting whatever people want to pay? And possibly selling a hard copy/e-book through Lulu.com or something when it's done?

Keeping a roof over our heads is priority #1. Keeping up with our 19-month-old son's medical bills is priority #2, since he has an ongoing chronic medical condition that requires examinations under anesthesia by a specialist, and occasionally surgery, at least a couple of times a year. Not to mention the constellation of pre- and post-operation visits. So I'm exploring my financial options. Comment or e-mail to let me know if you'd be willing to contribute to such a thing. If there seems to be interest, it could be a good option for me -- I've been eager to write this story, anyway. It would be weird and heartbreaking and full of punching.

Status Update

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:18:23 GMT

Many people have asked if there are going to be more books in the Marla Mason series, so here's a status update:

I still don't know.

I got word from my new editor last week that she's still interested in doing more, which is promising. I also got word that Blood Engines went back to press for a fifth printing last week, which is also promising. And the giveaway of book one is having an effect, or so it seems to me, based on the tenfold increase in fan mail I've received since the promotion started. So there are reasons to be hopeful.

Oh, and the awesome actress/writer/awesome person Felicia Day loved Poison Sleep, which does not help me sell more books to my publisher, but does make me happy.

We're waiting to see how sales look for book four (so go buy a copy of Spell Games and improve the numbers!), and to hear from the corporate masters about whether the book giveaway spurred sales a little or a lot. Things are still uncertain, and it could still be months before I know for sure. I'll let you all know the outcome when I do, and thanks for the support!