Writer celebration thread

[CoraBuhlert]

Whether you just finished a novel or series, won NaNoWriMo, pressed "publish" for the first or fortieth time or passed a sales milestone, here is a thread to celebrate.

   

And because I started the thread, I'll begin: I finished a new novel in my space opera series today.

[Jeff Tanyard]

I finished a new novel in my space opera series today.

Congratulations.   

[Post-Crisis D]

And because I started the thread, I'll begin: I finished a new novel in my space opera series today.

I hope to one day finish the space opera novel I've been working on for far too long.

[Jeff Tanyard]

[VanessaC]

And because I started the thread, I'll begin: I finished a new novel in my space opera series today.

Congratulations!

I'll join in - I uploaded the final file for book 4 in the series last night, and it goes live on Saturday.  I wanted to just put it live as it had been on pre-order, but KDP wouldn't let me pick that box so I just shortened the pre-order by a couple of days.

Now in that weird nervous state of being relieved the book is uploaded, and terrified that readers are going to hate it (I've had lovely reviews for the previous three books, and really nervous about letting people down for this one.)

I'm giving myself a couple of days off - I need to focus on my day job! - and then it's on to book 5, the last in the series.

[Keith Ward]

Congratulations and thank you Cora. I finished a rough draft on Sunday and I'm a few thousand words into the next one. 

[Virginia McClain]

And because I started the thread, I'll begin: I finished a new novel in my space opera series today.

Congratulations!

I'll join in - I uploaded the final file for book 4 in the series last night, and it goes live on Saturday.  I wanted to just put it live as it had been on pre-order, but KDP wouldn't let me pick that box so I just shortened the pre-order by a couple of days.

Now in that weird nervous state of being relieved the book is uploaded, and terrified that readers are going to hate it (I've had lovely reviews for the previous three books, and really nervous about letting people down for this one.)

I'm giving myself a couple of days off - I need to focus on my day job! - and then it's on to book 5, the last in the series.

Congratulations to you both! I'm celebrating because Victoria Marmot and the Meddling Goddess just got its first five star review on Goodreads (after two weeks of 4,3 and 1 star reviews).

[Becca Mills]

Way to go, Cora, VanessaC, and Virginia!  

Er ... that's not an ironic-clap emoji, is it?? 

[CoraBuhlert]

Congrats to Virginia and Vanessa.

[Robin]

Congrats to everyone! 

[hjmoritzo]

Well I haven't sold anything yet :( but I just discovered one of my books has two 4 star ratings on Goodreads so I must be doing something right!

[Lysmata Debelius]

I published the final book in my "Linked Worlds" series - "The Strange".
This was the most difficult book I've ever written, simply because I could not accept that it needed to be twice as long as the previous books in the series.  It took me two years, and there were times when I couldn't imagine every reaching the end. But now I have! 

I published it a few days earlier than planned because so many people were reporting problems and delays on Amazon, and it went through without a hitch, live within the hour.

I feel SO RELIEVED.

And now I can finally get started on my new idea for a book. Something completely different. Sequels are hard to write!

[Jeff Tanyard]

Congratulations, Masha.   

[Post-Crisis D]

I've apparently been overlooking this thread so here's a round of applause for all . . .

[Lysmata Debelius]

I've apparently been overlooking this thread so here's a round of applause for all . . .

How on earth... :: squints at the quoted text:: Oh OK now I see how you do that! Awesome!

[Jeff Tanyard]

And I looked, and behold a pale llama: and his name that sat on him was Banana, and WriterSanctum followed with him.

[CoraBuhlert]

Glad that publishing your latest worked out, Masha.

 

[Post-Crisis D]

And not long after, I beheld a bolt of lightning smite the man who had mistaken a bunchie for a llama, and nothing remained of him, save for a yellow cape that floated slowly unto the ashen soil where he had once stood.

[Jeff Tanyard]

And not long after, I beheld a bolt of lightning smite the man who had mistaken a bunchie for a llama, and nothing remained of him, save for a yellow cape that floated slowly unto the ashen soil where he had once stood.

 


On a side note, I think we need a "marquee" option that goes from left-to-right, too.  That way the poor cat's not stuck always running backwards.

[EllieL]

I finished my WIP last night. Starting on my second pass of Soiled Dove now. 

[Lorri Moulton]

My Victorian novelette is above Dean Koontz in PAID short romance! 

[EllieL]

My Victorian novelette is above Dean Koontz in PAID short romance! 

Awesome!!

[Jeff Tanyard]

Way to go, Ellie and Lorri.   

[Lysmata Debelius]

Congratulations Ellie and Lorri! That must feel good.

[CoraBuhlert]

Congrats on finishing your WIP, EllieL.   

And it's always thrilling when your book ranks above a big name author, Lorri. 

Meanwhile, I started working on a novel that's been giving me massive problems again.

[spin52]

I know this is small change to some of you, but I sold 50 books on Apple this month for the first time! 
(Actually that should be 'last month' -- November.)

[Authoress]

My paperback, Sentiments, a perpetual calendar is live, I have copies to give as Christmas presents & I'm a happy bunny.

This book took longer to write than any of my other books & was more difficult towards the end than I imagined it would be.

There's a quatrain for every day of the year & I had no idea how difficult it would be to come up with the last hundred or so but I did it, 365 quatrains, yay me 

Well done everyone else here with a celebration to note. 

[CoraBuhlert]

Sentiments sounds like a cool project, Authoress.

Meanwhile, I finished a holiday novelette in my Hallowind Cove cozy fantasy series last night. 

[Lysmata Debelius]

365 quatrains! That does sound like a big project. Well done!

[Authoress]

Sentiments sounds like a cool project, Authoress.

Meanwhile, I finished a holiday novelette in my Hallowind Cove cozy fantasy series last night. 

Thank you, I'm very pleased with it, it will be useful to me but also solved some Christmas present needs for family & friends

Well done on your latest book, always a good feeling to finish a project.   

[diisha392]

Finished the first draft of my romance trilogy this afternoon

Now I get to re-read and clean it up!

[Jeff Tanyard]

Finished the first draft of my romance trilogy this afternoon

Now I get to re-read and clean it up!

Good luck!   

[ragdoll]

On Wednesday, I finished what is probably the last book under my other pen name. It was also the last in its series, so I also did a bundle. Still finishing up related web updates and product page updates for the others in the series to show the series is not complete.

Tomorrow, I get to start on my first Robin book. It will be novel length. I'm more or less a pantser. I do have some forward notes, but not enough to make me, eg, a plontser. :D

[Joseph Malik]

A Goodreads list of Hugo-eligible novels currently has The New Magic in the top 20.



I t's not remotely official, and it doesn't mean squat; I read an analogy once that I think effectively describes my odds, here, and it was something along the lines of "playing Russian Roulette with a fully-loaded revolver and surviving because it happens to jam on a winning lottery ticket that falls out of the sky."

It's still very nice, though. Some of my readers seem to think I write, like, all good and stuff.

[ragdoll]

That's wonderful, Joseeph!

[Mammasan]

And I looked, and behold a pale llama: and his name that sat on him was Banana, and WriterSanctum followed with him.

Everyone else always sees a llama, but I always see a giant green slug. I guess I should be worried. 

[PJ Post]

And I looked, and behold a pale llama: and his name that sat on him was Banana, and WriterSanctum followed with him.

This was just too f*cking funny. 

[Virginia McClain]

A Goodreads list of Hugo-eligible novels currently has The New Magic in the top 20.



I t's not remotely official, and it doesn't mean squat; I read an analogy once that I think effectively describes my odds, here, and it was something along the lines of "playing Russian Roulette with a fully-loaded revolver and surviving because it happens to jam on a winning lottery ticket that falls out of the sky."

It's still very nice, though. Some of my readers seem to think I write, like, all good and stuff.

Congrats on writing good and stuff! (No seriously, though, thats really awesome. Who cares about your chances of winning, it's freaking sweet just to be on that list. And in very fine company no less.)

Also, this---->  is clearly a banana slug. What is wrong with people? ;-)

[RappaDizzy]

Just celebrating a bit - this is day 1,460 - 4 years - of writing something every day.

And I will be just over 1,000,000 words for 2018 alone. It's been a slow ramp up since 2012 due to health problems but I'm getting there.

For those who ask I write under 2 pen names beside my own.

[VisitasKeat]

Just celebrating a bit - this is day 1,460 - 4 years - of writing something every day.

And I will be just over 1,000,000 words for 2018 alone. It's been a slow ramp up since 2012 due to health problems but I'm getting there.

For those who ask I write under 2 pen names beside my own.

Wow, that's awesome and very inspiring!

Keep up the good work!

 

[TimothyEllis]

Just launched my 24th novel, Hunter's Terminus, 2nd book in my 4th series.

It's my longest book yet at just under 106k words.

And it's the long awaited sequel to my first series ending.

 
 
 

[RappaDizzy]

Just launched my 24th novel, Hunter's Terminus, 2nd book in my 4th series.

It's my longest book yet at just under 106k words.

And it's the long awaited sequel to my first series ending.

 
 
 

Congratlations, Timothy

[VanessaC]

I love this thread!  Congratulations to everyone on their good news.

            

[CoraBuhlert]

Just launched my 24th novel, Hunter's Terminus, 2nd book in my 4th series.

It's my longest book yet at just under 106k words.

And it's the long awaited sequel to my first series ending.

 
 
 

Congrats, Timothy. let me know if you want a new release spotlight at the Speculative Fiction Showcase for Hunter's Terminus.

[lyndabelle]

Just released the last of my Highlander Bride series wide. Feels good to finally have another series out from under the Zon thumb and out in the wild. Already getting some sales. ;-) Best thing ever, gettin go out of KU.

[Virginia McClain]

Just released the last of my Highlander Bride series wide. Feels good to finally have another series out from under the Zon thumb and out in the wild. Already getting some sales. ;-) Best thing ever, gettin go out of KU.

Congrats, LyndaBelle! That's great! Going wide was a good feeling for me too.

[Lorri Moulton]

Finished my Christmas story (barely in time) and just released the first part of my spy story. 

I got a lot done during the holidays!

[Virginia McClain]

Finished my Christmas story (barely in time) and just released the first part of my spy story. 

I got a lot done during the holidays!

Nice work, Lorri! Wish I could say the same. :-) 

[Lorri Moulton]

Nice work, Lorri! Wish I could say the same. :-) 

Thank you, Virginia!

[CoraBuhlert]

Finished my Christmas story (barely in time) and just released the first part of my spy story. 

I got a lot done during the holidays!

Congrats, Lori. If you want your spy story featured at the Indie Crime Scene, let me know.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Just released the last of my Highlander Bride series wide. Feels good to finally have another series out from under the Zon thumb and out in the wild. Already getting some sales. ;-) Best thing ever, gettin go out of KU.

Finished my Christmas story (barely in time) and just released the first part of my spy story. 

I got a lot done during the holidays!

Congrats to both of you.   

[Lorri Moulton]

Congrats, Lori. If you want your spy story featured at the Indie Crime Scene, let me know.

Thank you, Cora!  That would be great.

[CoraBuhlert]

Congrats, Lori. If you want your spy story featured at the Indie Crime Scene, let me know.

Thank you, Cora!  That would be great.

Then send me the usual info (cover, blurb, buy links, excerpt).

[Maggie Ann]

I actually earned a bounty for one of my audiobooks. That was a very nice surprise.

[Scrapper78]

For reasons I cannot comprehend, on December 28th my amazon sales went from 5-10 a day to 158. I have been selling 35-50 ebooks a day ever since. I can find no reason for this jump, and instead of petering off, the numbers have been climbing steadily for a week now. On track to do 75 today.

I am just really pleased with this, but I wish I knew what happened!

[RobertLCollins]

Finished the novel I've been working on for the past couple months yesterday. It came in at 115,000 words. This is my first novel to break 100K words, and the longest novel I've written. I'm taking today to get some publishing work done. I expect to start on the new project tomorrow.

[kingdavid757]

Just released my second book this week. Historical fiction horror/thriller.  Im so excited. This is my second book, but the first one I feel I did most of the things I needed/wanted to do. Im very proud of it.  It's hard getting reviews but I have a few already and they are pretty good (don't want to link to anything here as Im just shouting and not trying to sneak in any promotion lol)

[RappaDizzy]

Congratulations to everyone on their successes and progress to this point.


Released book #4 in my Stopper series - Assassin.

Have to go - 37,000 words into my next one and brain needs more coffee.

[Jeff Tanyard]

For reasons I cannot comprehend, on December 28th my amazon sales went from 5-10 a day to 158. I have been selling 35-50 ebooks a day ever since. I can find no reason for this jump, and instead of petering off, the numbers have been climbing steadily for a week now. On track to do 75 today.

I am just really pleased with this, but I wish I knew what happened!

Dang, man.  That's awesome.  Congratulations.   

[CoraBuhlert]

That's awesome, Scrapper. Congratulations!

Eugene Lloyd MacRae, kingdavid and Robert L. Collins and everybody else who recently published a book that fits the genre parameters, i.e. it's either science fiction, fantasy or horror on the one hand or mystery, crime fiction or thriller on the other, is welcome to contact me for a new release spotlight at the Speculative Fiction Showcase or Indie Crime Scene. 

[notthatamanda]

For reasons I cannot comprehend, on December 28th my amazon sales went from 5-10 a day to 158. I have been selling 35-50 ebooks a day ever since. I can find no reason for this jump, and instead of petering off, the numbers have been climbing steadily for a week now. On track to do 75 today.

I am just really pleased with this, but I wish I knew what happened!

Cool!  Congratulations.  Maybe some blogger mentioned you?

[RappaDizzy]

That's awesome, Scrapper. Congratulations!

Eugene Lloyd MacRae, kingdavid and Robert L. Collins and everybody else who recently published a book that fits the genre parameters, i.e. it's either science fiction, fantasy or horror on the one hand or mystery, crime fiction or thriller on the other, is welcome to contact me for a new release spotlight at the Speculative Fiction Showcase or Indie Crime Scene.

Just sent something to you Cora. Thanks for the help you give to all of us.

[RappaDizzy]

Only got up into the 80s in assassinations so far but always interesting when you can see yourself around authors you love to read: Stephen King, Barry Eisler, David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, Mark Greaney, Mark Dawson etc.

Will start dropping like a stone before long  - mine don't survive Amazon churn at this point  because I don't push the advertising 

[ragdoll]

That's a definite win, Eugene!

[Post-Crisis D]

I Guess I Should Be Happy, or Blips vs. Minimalism

Just when I was beginning to appreciate the empty sales chart for its stark minimalism, someone went and bought one of my books.  So, yay!  And, also, ugh.

Now, I need three more sales today, then three tomorrow, then two the next day and then finally one on Saturday so I'll have a shark fin moving across my sales chart.

At least the page reads chart retains its stark minimalism. 




*For clarification's sake, I am grateful for the sale.  Also, it occurs to me I should have a character named Claire Iffikashun in one of my books.

[CoraBuhlert]

Well, with Mari Kondo or whatever her name is cleaning up other people's homes, minimalism is apparently in. Though I also like the non-minimalism of a non-empty sales graph. 

Meanwhile, I wrote three short stories this months, all for an upcoming collection of short crime fiction called The Culinary Assassin about an assassin who only kills people (all of them bad) in restaurants, after sampling the food.

Tagline: I came, I ate, I shot.

[Joseph Malik]

Sold the audio rights for Dragon's Trail and The New Magic to Tantor.

[Maggie Ann]

Well, with Mari Kondo or whatever her name is cleaning up other people's homes, minimalism is apparently in. Though I also like the non-minimalism of a non-empty sales graph. 

Meanwhile, I wrote three short stories this months, all for an upcoming collection of short crime fiction called The Culinary Assassin about an assassin who only kills people (all of them bad) in restaurants, after sampling the food.

Tagline: I came, I ate, I shot.

Yes, but she folds tee shirts with the design inside and that's just wrong. The heck with minimalism!

I got accepted into my library's book fair the end of March. It will be my first one and probably my last, but I'm having fun planning the details. And I was worried about how the KDP paperbacks would look so I ordered one of each (we're only allowed three different books) and they are just fine. Whew!

[Post-Crisis D]

Yes, but she folds tee shirts with the design inside and that's just wrong. The heck with minimalism!

Well that's just crazy.  How can you be more organized if you have to unfold the shirt to see which one it is?

I mean, you don't want to wear a Star Wars t-shirt to a Star Trek convention unless you have a death wish. 

[Maggie Ann]

Yes, but she folds tee shirts with the design inside and that's just wrong. The heck with minimalism!

Well that's just crazy.  How can you be more organized if you have to unfold the shirt to see which one it is?

I mean, you don't want to wear a Star Wars t-shirt to a Star Trek convention unless you have a death wish. 

You definitely get it and that is an outstanding example. 

[notthatamanda]

Sold the audio rights for Dragon's Trail and The New Magic to Tantor.

Congratulations!

[Jeff Tanyard]

Sold the audio rights for Dragon's Trail and The New Magic to Tantor.

Congratulations, man.   

By the way... how many books is the series going to be?

[Joseph Malik]

Congratulations, man.   
By the way... how many books is the series going to be?

Five plus an eventual prequel.

That said, I've started a new series in the same world with different characters. I hope to have Book III of this series and Book I of the new series both out in 2020.

[VanessaC]

Just uploaded the final file for the fifth and last book in my first series - goes live on Saturday. Now I have the nervous wait for reader reaction! Oh, and on to the next project. 

[RobertLCollins]

Yesterday I finished the novel I'd been working on since the year started. It ended up being 110K words. Whew! It's the second book in a trilogy. The first book was the one that came in at 115K words. I'm hoping that the third book will also end up over 100K. Today I've been editing future releases. I'll do that more tomorrow and Saturday. My plan is to start on book three Monday.

[sandree]

Congratulations, everyone!

I’m about a week into the sales of my first book and I have 17 sales and an AMS ad that got one click and one sale. Of course, I think I know almost everyone who bought a book but I am grateful! Oh, and two reviews. The second one by a PhD in a English lit who wrote an in depth treatise on my genre and the book. That was from a Goodreads review pool. The other reviewer reading it now is a retired physicist. Ack - where are the regular folks who just want to read as an escape?

[Joseph Malik]

I've been tapped to be a panelist at WorldCon 77 in Dublin.

I'll also be moderating a panel on "Indie SFF Success Stories" at Emerald City Comic Con in two weeks.

[CoraBuhlert]

Congrats. I filled out that panelist form for WorldCon 77, but I haven't heard back from them yet.

[Jeff Tanyard]

I've been tapped to be a panelist at WorldCon 77 in Dublin.

I'll also be moderating a panel on "Indie SFF Success Stories" at Emerald City Comic Con in two weeks.

 

[diisha392]

I got my first international sale! I was so surprised when I saw it

[RappaDizzy]

I got my first international sale! I was so surprised when I saw it

Congratulations! Many more to come.

[Jeff Tanyard]

I just had what I'm pretty sure is my first paid sale in Amazon's India store.  I've had plenty of free downloads there, but I can't recall ever seeing any rupees in my reports.  Today, though, I had 69.34 rupees there from a sale of Caverns of Mercury.  I had to google the number to see how much that was in dollars.  (It's 99 cents.)

If you're reading this, India store purchaser, thanks for supporting my work, and I hope you enjoy the book. 

[Lick Darsey]

I'm really excited about how well my series Lick and the Invasion is performing. My book Lick and the Invasion: Books 1- 3 is the #1 new release in humorous science fiction.

I'm posting quickly because I don't think that will last very long. I'm even more surprised because I wouldn't expect to have an orange banner at the books current rank.

The first book in the series, Lick and the Invasion: The Beginning, hit number one in the humorous science fiction category for a while. That was a shock too!

[Jeff Tanyard]

I'm really excited about how well my series Lick and the Invasion is performing. My book Lick and the Invasion: Books 1- 3 is the #1 new release in humorous science fiction.

I'm posting quickly because I don't think that will last very long. I'm even more surprised because I wouldn't expect to have an orange banner at the books current rank.

The first book in the series, Lick and the Invasion: The Beginning, hit number one in the humorous science fiction category for a while. That was a shock too!

Congratulations.   

[Lick Darsey]

Thanks, Jeff!

[notthatamanda]

I'm really excited about how well my series Lick and the Invasion is performing. My book Lick and the Invasion: Books 1- 3 is the #1 new release in humorous science fiction.

I'm posting quickly because I don't think that will last very long. I'm even more surprised because I wouldn't expect to have an orange banner at the books current rank.

The first book in the series, Lick and the Invasion: The Beginning, hit number one in the humorous science fiction category for a while. That was a shock too!

Congratulations.  Enjoy your orange banner.

[Lick Darsey]

Thanks, notthatamanda!