Cutlass Trilogy

Monday, September 30, 2013

ANNOUNCEMENT!


I have an announcement.... :D

After much thought and consideration, I have decided to self-publish my novel, Cutlass. I am ecstatic. I have been planning the stages of my impending book release and with each new idea, I become even more motivated. I absolutely cannot wait until my book is available to everyone.

I would like to say that my decision to self-publish rests on the fact that, first, I really do enjoy getting to have a say in EVERYTHING that goes into my book, and second, I am a little...impatient. I feel as though I have been very idle in my attempts to have my work seen. This decision puts and end to that. My query stats weren't actually that bad. I queried 20 agents had had 2 partial requests and 2 full requests. In the end, I've decided that I will move forward with my publishing date and whatever happens, happens.

I have so many of you awesome bloggers to thank for ALL my resources. You have no idea how all of YOUR insight and resources directed me into feeling so absolutely comfortable with this decision.

Here are some people I would just like to thank real fast:

Mina Lobo - Thank you for editor suggestion on your blog, Jena! She had my book back to me in THREE days with AMAZING feedback!
Micalea Smeltzer - Thank you for the wonderful cover artist!

Regina - Thanks for BEING an amazing cover artist!
Sam - Thank you for you amazing video skills! I know the book trailer you put together is going to be amazing and unique.
Barbara Kloss - Thank you for your excellent encouragement and help with all my self-pubbing questions. Also, thank you for your suggestions on editors and future formatting help!


I have a list of things I have to do which include: 

  • Finishing up edits and sending to betas 
  • Another proofread from the editor 
  • Revealing my cover
  • Revealing my book trailer
  • Deciding who to query for reviews before and after my book release
  • Deciding who to query for a blog tour
  • Buy my own ISBNs (I want to, essentially, create my own publishing company)
  • Figuring out formatting for createspace
  • After I figure out formatting and see the proof, attempt to create ARCs
  • Making shirts and other SWAG
  • Planning my release party!

I have had so much fun creating my marketing plan (luckily, I have a marketing class that's been super helpful!), and researching all of this info about publishing. I really want my book to be high-quality and look and read much like a traditionally published book. 

So, without and further rambling, I give you some very important dates:

December 18, 2013 - cover reveal
January 15, 2014 - book trailer reveal
April 23, 2014 - release day!!


Yes, April 23rd is my birthday! Lol. I figured why not give myself the greatest thing I have wanted for 10 years, which is sharing my characters and worlds with readers?

For my cover reveal I will post a linky list for anyone interested in helping me reveal my cover to the world! That will come around November. Then, in December, I will post another linky list for those of you interested in revealing the book trailer. For the actual release day, I will begin a blog tour from April 23-May 5. I will probably give away books, swag and whatever else I can come up with to thrust into your hands. I am so very excited about this, and I hope you guys are, too! If you wanna know more about my book, you can read the "CUTLASS" tab at the top of my page, or go to my website: HERE.

So, who's self-published and who's not? What are some of your favorite self-published books? Do you run away from a book when you hear the word self-published?

49 comments:

  1. Well done on making a decision! All the best on preparing for the release. :-)

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  2. Congrats! I've also decided to self publish my next project, which is a novella, and am excited about it. Good luck on your upcoming release!

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    1. Thank you, A.J.!! Good luck with your novella! I'm sure it will be awesome!

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  3. Whew! Well those dates look spiffy. I'm glad you're giving yourself enough time to get all your horses in a line. It can be an overwhelming beast if you don't have enough clearance. I'm excited for you, Ashley!

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    1. Thank you, Crystal! It can be, but I'm so happy I gave myself a few months to get it all in order. Plus, I have to remember I am a grad student, LOL.

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    2. For sure! Hey, I'm booked clear out to February for book promotion (Writerly Wednesdays), so shoot me a message when you've got your release tour figured out. I totally want to be involved. ;)

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  4. Congrats on making the decision. It's a ton of work coming your way, but I'm sure you can handle it. As for if I run when I see something is self pubbed, I don't run. Sometimes you can really tell that a piece has never been through an editor, but I doubt that'll be your problem considering your pretty decent query stats.

    Good luck!

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    1. Thank you, Rena!! I've read dozens of self-pubbed novels and loved them! Even the ones that needed an editor.

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  5. Congrats on making a decision to forge ahead. Hope it all goes well and look forward to hearing more.

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  6. Best of luck on your self-publishing endeavor, Ashley! So long as you're determined to do it the best you can, I think you'll have lots of success. :)

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    1. Thank you, E.J.!! It's so wonderful to hear that!

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  7. wow, that's awesome! I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  8. Ashley, I'm so excited for you!!! And I can't wait for all these awesome reveals... *sits on pins and needles* Be sure to tag me on twitter when this stuff all goes live and I'll let all my tweeps know about it, too. So proud of you for taking this positive step, and doing it the right way! <3

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    1. Thank you so much, Anita! You are the best! <3

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  9. Good luck with your release!

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  10. Congratulations, Ashley! It sounds like you have a solid plan!!

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    1. Thank you, Amy!! :) I sure hope so! I don't think I missed anything! haha!

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  11. Congratulations, Ashley! Like Amy said, you're on your way. I'm excited for you! I've never queried and have no intention of doing so. Tip: It's much cheaper if you buy a block of ISBN numbers at one time.

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    1. Thank you Kittie!! Yes, I planned on buying a block of 10 (because I hope to publish a book year after year, both e-book and print!).

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  12. This is so exciting! Congratulations! I definitely want to help out!

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    1. Thank you, Rachel!! That means so much!! <3 <3 I will definitely give you a heads up!!

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  13. I've never gotten to see the preparations and marketing for a self-pubbed book from day one to finish, so it'll be fun following your journey to Arpil. Congrats!

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    1. Thank you, Leandra! I'm very excited. It's very, very involved but I've HAD SO MUCH FUN! Even the research has be exciting for me!

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  14. Congratulations! :) I look forward to the cover reveal. I want to help with that. Love covers.

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    1. Thanks, Rachel! :) I'll definitely be e-mailing you!! :D

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  15. So excited to hear Cutlass is closer to being in my hands ... I mean published!! ^_^

    I'll definitely be able to do reveals! And a "maybe" that's pushing the boundaries of "possibly" for the tour as well. Certainly if I haven't drowned in publishing overload with the three I've got coming out next year.

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    1. haha! Thanks, Aldrea!! I will keep you posted!! I would love to have you along for all of it, so just let me know what you're able to take on! :)

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  16. Good for you! I hope everything goes well. It sounds like you're going to be pretty busy for the next six months.

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    1. Thanks JE!! Yes, I will be--not to mention, in March, I take comps! :o

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  17. Ashley, this is so awesome!!! What a great announcement. Congratulations, and GOOD LUCK, and I can't wait to follow along through this whole process!

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    1. Thank you, Liz!! :D I'm so excited. I know I probably should enjoy this down time, but I'm exciting for things to speed up!

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  18. Congrats. I bet it's exciting to be taking this step. I bet April will arrive very quickly!

    Self-published books don't scare me because I know there are so many good ones out there (among the bad.) I will admit that I get most of my traditionally published books through the library, but self pubbed and small press books are the ones I usually buy. (Cause you can't find them at the library)

    Good luck. Excited to see how your journey goes.

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    1. Thank you, Suzi! It probably will!! As an MLIS student, it makes me happy you get your books from the library! I'm going to see if my hometown library will stock my book, and if they will, I will try others. It's always worth a shot!

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  19. I think it's a great choice. Enjoy the ride!

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  20. Congratulations, Ashley! This is exciting news. :)

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  21. YAY! If you need help with anything, let me know :)

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  22. Amazing for you! It's great that you've been in the blogging loop for so long and know exactly what to do (unlike so many of us when we first published... well, me!). I wish you the best, but it seems you've got everything under control and all planned out, no matter what happens, and will bypass all the mistakes I've made along the way. :) Writer’s Mark

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  23. Awesome news Ashley and congratulations! You've got such an amazing resource here in the writing community to help you out. It'll be great! (:

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