On to a new challenge
Thank you all for the lovely words, the kind offers and prayers. It’s helped a great deal, but it looks like the forces at work have other plans for this family and we are having to say goodbye to our home. We get to see what it’s like to sleep together in two bedrooms on the floor, until we can change our circumstances. Thirteen of us.
…that also includes an aged Grandfather.
This is going to be interesting.
Some of you have asked how the book sales are going and I appreciate that question. Even received an email an hour ago from David Farland asking how the sales were going. Here’s what I told him:
Book sales are slow to none right now. People are leery of first time authors and self-published ones especially, but we continue to contact book bloggers and send out eBooks for reviews and the input/reviews we’re getting back are pretty good. Only sold a few hundred at most so far, about 100 of those being by my own hand (physical copies I bought, then resold). I’m new to this, but getting a forced education.
A bit discouraging sometimes, but I get over it and keep pushing every day. My time is coming. Just have to keep going.
The difference between me and most newbies (I’m assuming this here) is the circumstances. When we attended a writers class, Kathi and I heard a lot of ‘wouldn’t it be nice if‘…or ‘if I ever get‘…whereas I’m looking at this as ‘I will and must make this happen to feed my children’. We had a good measure of success with the comics–so I know this works. It’s not a belief or a hope…I know this stuff works. It’s a matter of time.
My challenge keeps coming back to doing this on a prayer. We saved pennies (literally) to get the 2 proof copies of Prelude. Then I sold a proof to a fan to pay for the first set of 25 books (he bought it for $135). I sold the books signed for $10 each, then bought 50 on the next round. It’s been tough and slow…but it works.
It’s also keeping us humble, but we’re learning. And hey–it DID help me buy some diapers once! LOL
So where is this all going to lead? I’m not really sure, but I’m excited to get there. I’ve spent 42 years preparing for this.
If you haven’t read Prelude to a Hero, Demoni Vankil or seen our new website, please do. Tell a friend. I think you’ll enjoy the story.
…and wish us luck!!
Read MoreWOOT! WOOT! Wanted Hero website is getting a tummy tuck!
With the next novel progressing nicely and Höbins first book about to surface, we wanted to take the main website and give it a little overdue love.
..ok, major surgery is more accurate.
WANTED:HERO started as a comic book and has progressed into so much more. Enough so, that some readers were getting confused when they came to our site. The fonts, the comic books for sale, the cartoon artwork, etc., instead of a focus on the new novels and the full impact of Wendell’s story.
So for the next few weeks we have taken down the website to make the changes we felt were long overdue. A new logo (though the smiley face will remain…and you’ll understand why once the next novel is released), a new layout to make navigation easier and what you’re looking for a snap to find.
But there’s more:
We’re building a ‘mature’ look into the site to show the progression of the story, with watercolor paintings instead of black and white sketches. We feel the new look will appeal more to the young adult readers and create a better overall experience when you come to visit us.
In addition, we are working hard to include four new aspects of the site in particular, which will expand over time:
1) A new “WantedWiki”; An online encyclopedia based on the WANTED:HERO world. If you have a name, a plant, animal, race, form of magic (or magic spell) you want to know more about or understand, we’ll be putting it in there.
This should cut down on the blog entries and speed up the surfing between pages and purchasing books…
2) A newsletter signup form; We know many have wanted this feature for some time–to be told when a new book comes out, a new review or when the games and swag would be available (soon…). The process will be simple: you can share your email with us and when we make any announcement we deem of worth to our club, we’ll email you. You don’t have to worry about the daily blasts, hammering you about every day-to-day detail.
That would bore the crud out of us…so we promise not to bore you, first.
3) A Books & More section; This is where you’ll be able to purchase our books, the original comic books and a lot more. We are working with the Evolu, the Kutollum and even the Iskari and Gnomes to bring you products DIRECTLY FROM THE WANTED:HERO WORLD!
That’s right. Products hand made by the actual characters of the books will be made available to you through our site. This doesn’t include our games, T-Shirts and other delectable secrets we will add over time.
4) BE A HERO when you buy books and certain merchandise from our main site. There’s a need for Heroes in the world and now’s your chance. When you buy certain items from us, we will use half of the proceeds for helping others.
Right now, when you purchase any copy of Prelude to a Hero, in any form…we are donating half the proceeds to a Heart Transplant family to help them in their financial struggles with day-to-day survival. You can help! Just buy a book/eBook and tell a friend…
We will be looking for ways to help those who cannot help themselves…all you have to do is buy the same books/products at the same price and tell your friends! THAT’S IT…How cool is that!?!
As always, we want to interact with you and share the world of WANTED:HERO in all its forms…especially the main story of Wendell P. Dipmier, Chuck and Dax.
…so visit http://www.wantedhero.com.
Leave us your email and tell a friend.
Jaime Buckley
Creator of WANTED:HERO
Mapping the Future
When I go shopping with Kathilynn it’s usually so we can spend time talking alone about the story and what we want to do next as a family when it comes to Wanted Hero. It’s amusing to watch some of the looks the housewives give me when I get animated in the isles of grocery stores, waving my arms around and talking about the various races or how certain families were brutally murdered and that I felt the villain who did it shouldn’t get caught (I once looked at a lady, shrugged my shoulders and whispered…“At LEAST not until book four…don’t you agree?”). People think I’m nuts and Kathi just laughs.
The publishing industry is changing so fast I’m having a hard time staying in the flow. In fact, if it wasn’t for David Farlands Daily Kick I’d miss a lot of what’s going on. My habit is to keep my head buried in my projects and work hard and fast until I run out of energy or pass out. I don’t pay a lot of attention to what others are doing…and it’s getting to me. So I brought the subject up to Kathi today while shopping:
Can we create a system that will help us as a family to build Wanted Hero into a successful story and support our family financially?
I know full well (as did Kathi), that our one book (Prelude) sitting there on Amazon.com isn’t going to do us much good. People like it and we’re growing interest…but we also sell it for $.99 specifically because people just don’t know who I am as a writer yet. I had a fan base with the comics–but I don’t DO the comics anymore and that group (for some reason) has not transferred over to the book…and that’s perfectly ok. It’s the way writing goes, but our goal now is to change that if we can–to create a series of books that readers not only enjoy, they go crazy over them.
Kathi has a difficult time with how big the Wanted Hero universe is. All the notes, backgrounds, intertwining lives, events, prophecies and side stories that tie into Wendell and his life. It’s literally 20 years of ideas and though not all of them are great ideas…they all end up becoming springboards TO great ideas…which in turn dramatically increases the size of the story. We simply don’t have years to come out with 2-3 books. The story needs to grow faster!
So how do we get the story out faster to the readers, so;
- readers have entertainment and don’t lose interest in the story;
- readers actually gain interest in the story and recommend it to those they know;
- the story itself is not compromised, and;
- the story is produced in rapid succession to feed readers and feed my family.
I had a few ideas that I shared with my wife, which I’d like to share. The most important thought was to create a basic system of how we literally produce the books. Not a rigid box we conform to, but guidelines, such as 40,000+ words in a few months, rather than 200,000+ words a year. Maybe 10 chapters averaging 4,000 words each. Then there could be follow up books, like Hobins field guides which aren’t required for the series…but they certainly enhance the enjoyment of them.
Then there are background stories of characters in the books, histories and obscure knowledge about the vast world that people might enjoy. All created and illustrated to enhance the readers experience.
What this came down to was having to make the decision to produce as best we can, as fast as we can, so people can enjoy as much as they can. My desire is to not only bring you a great story, but to create a universe rarely seen. I can see it in my mind and I’ve dreamed of it for decades…the real test now is to bring it to you.
Read MoreDemoni Vankil: Trapping the Devil
You know what the most challenging aspect of writing is IMO?
It’s playing both sides of the fence!
I have spent this last week plotting and outlining the conflicts of the next book in the Chronicles of a Hero series. The challenge has been trying to imprison evil in such a way that they cannot escape. Ok, we can do that. Designing the prison, the magic, the symbols and mechanics of the stars and the dynamics of the process…hiding the components so they can’t be found. Done.
…only to switch sides and plot the escape of the devil himself so he can wreak havoc on the inhabitants of Elämä.
*sigh*
It’s a challenge I love–while pulling my own hair out at times. It comes from living so close to the characters that you start to feel the pain, the anguish and the pressure of their choices. Awesome.
I know I’m on the right track when I took a break and created the voice of Mahan as he whispers to Wendell and it scared me so bad I refused to listen to it after the sun went down…
Ooooh I love this job!
Read More
Hungry Minds Must Be Fed…
Just finished ordering the review copies of Prelude to a Hero in print, due Monday morning (hope that extra $20 for shipping is actually worth it). Then Kathilynn and I can sit down, separately, and mark up the copy–make sure it’s all pretty for you and printable. Looking forward to seeing the final, physical copy!
Also had some challenges when it came to Smashwords. NOTE: make sure to follow their guide, no matter how much you’re convinced of your own cleverness…or you’ll have to do it all over. Resubmitted work, epub checked it (successfully) and now we wait once again. It’s all very annoying, but I’m glad this process is in place: making sure you get the best book possible.
So what now? Other than taking a small breath and perhaps trying to get some exercise?
It’s time to write again. The plotting, the outlining, the expansion of histories and even some game creation with Evan. He’s got an incredible idea for a card game that I’m excited about.
The focus is now upon the Chronicles of a Hero series. The first novel due this fall (2011). Kathi thinks I’m crazy, the kids think it’s cool and the readers need to have their hungry minds fed as soon as possible when it comes to the adventures of Wendell. So I’m working with speed and diligence.
Having gone through this process [writing with Kathi] was a great learning experience, and now I feel like running at full speed–following the carefully outlined course set for this story, and I hope…truly hope, that you’ll be an intimate part of that adventure.
I’m looking forward to answering questions, creating side stories to expand on your interests, creating merchandise you’d actually love to have–instead of creating ‘stuff’ and throwing it at you.
I want to have fun…with you and everyone you know.
Read MorePrinted version of Prelude to release this week.
Anyone who says being a writer is easy…should be shot and dumped in the desert.
This is intense work. Seriously.
Well, at least if you want a good book, anyway. Kathi and I have been working towards a top notch story and with the illustrations done, we now have the printed version ready for print.
What will be different than the eBook?
Read MoreMy Latest Book
