April 3, 2013

Springing Ahead

The first quarter of the year is gone.  The snow has melted, and I'm checking the trees for signs of sprouting leaves (none yet).  Those jelly beans and peeps are still fresh, and that chocolate bunny's body is slowly disappearing...being eaten, literally.  The pressing question on my mind is not getting into shape for summer (although am working on this as well), but my goals for this second quarter.

Here's what I decided:

1) Early April:  Release FREE short story prequel, Lost That Lovin' Feeling (it will be a free download from my website but will cost 99 cents at other retailers), and include the first two chapters of the book it precedes, Love Will Follow.

2) Late April, possibly May:  Release Love Will Follow.

3) May or June:  Re-release A Love of Her Own (I had put this up for sale in 2011 but pulled it after two readers told me they spotted a few errors (contradicting myself, etc.)

4) Throughout the quarter:  Work on Secrets & Sins, my mainstream novel that I hope to release in the late summer or early fall.  An excerpt from this exciting book appears at the end of A Love For All Seasons, so please check it out!

I think this is do-able. A big part of setting goals is to make them attainable.  When you're an independent writer, as I am, it's important to have goals, the same as you would when under contract to a publisher, or two publishers, as I used to, or else run the risk of spending three years writing one book, or worse, never completing it at all.  Traditional publishers don't wait around for authors to finish the book; they give them a date by which it must be turned in.  Since I'm in charge I can be a little flexible...if unforeseeable circumstances prevent me from meeting my goals, as sometimes happens, it won't be the end of the world.  I had three releases the first three months of 2013, and I'm now a firm believer in the adage that the best thing a writer can do is write, for I now have 9 titles available and have seen sales rise, including those of my older titles. I only wish I'd started to do this sooner.

So if you'll excuse me, I have some writing to do!