Update!!

I never thought I would be on the other side of this kind of subject.

Before I got accepted for Mythic Blood, I found myself seeking any and all authors for advice as to what I should do, where to go and how to promote myself. Most recently though, I found myself on the other side, where people have come to ask me for advice and what they should be doing.

It’s rather interesting, so I thought I would share this with you.

After I got picked up for publication, I began looking into advertisement. Vista Print in my option has some of the best methods of promoting your work. Banners, business cards, postcards, magnets and so much more. Keep an eye on this site and subscribe to their emails. Some times they have AWESOME deals. One such instance was a .99 sale! Granted it’s .99 for a certain item and only one of them. But you can make multiple orders, and shipping isn’t bad.

Second, make certain your book is everything it is and can be. Most recently I had invested in an editor, even though my book is already out, it had come to my attention that some errors had slipped through the cracks. It was decided with agreement from my publisher that the book was in need of a redo. That has started, and the new version will hopefully be out by March.

It’s going to be a long and interesting year. I will be going to the World Horror Convention as a published author for the first time. I cannot wait on that, as well my publisher wants to have a convention for his authors in California. And I have a long overdue visit to my artist in France. He and his family have asked me for three years to come and visit, and I have yet to make it. This year though, I hope I will!

Speaking of my artist friend, Alexandre Tuis.

He has made the cover for the second book… oh… and the second book is due out sometime this year if you can believe it! But for now, here’s a teaser of GRIMSHAW!

let me assure you, when you see the full image of him, he will take your breath away!

But for now, this is all I have to offer. I hope you enjoy the update and perhaps a future post... I really should get back into blogging.

Until then....

News update

I should have written this a LONG time ago… well at least by the end of February.

            As I had mentioned in pervious blogs, I was waiting to see if my book, Mythic Blood was going to be picked up. I had submitted to a small press publisher in the states by the name of Black Bed Sheets. Well, near the end of February… I got the response.

            Mythic Blood had been accepted and would be released this fall!

            Man, why I delayed in telling you this to my… five blog readers… oh… right… you guys are on twitter and got the news there.

            Needless to say, I have been preparing now for what will come. I have already looked into marketing ideas, I have saved up money for the next Comic con in Toronto for 2013 and have looked into personalized M&Ms for marketing purposes.

            With that in mind, my focus has turned to the second book, and yet I have found myself in a little trouble with it, mainly the lack of inspiration to write it. Although, looking over it now, I see that I may need to remove some characters and save them for another story to tell. Until I can work out the kinks and see what can be done, the story has come to me in bits and pieces. Soon though, I hope to find my inspiration and have something second novel worthy.

            Believe it or not, the third and fourth book are nearly done! I have had the third one written for a while but haven’t touched it in a few years. Perhaps it’s time to look it over… once the second book is completed.

            Until then, I shall leave the blog as it.

            That is until I can get my ass in gear and write the second book! -.-

On my mind... and there's a lot.

Sometimes you just need to vent.

            I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me feel lower than learning that a new carpet is more important than health and safety of a worker at my work place. Just recently as you may have guess, we got a new carpet! Yet with the way our stock arrives (on skids that can be hundreds of pounds on a single load) is left down at the end of the hallway when it has to be taken across to the other side of the building.

            Before, it was placed before the doorways of the room they were destined to be in, since the deliveryman had an electrical lift to do it. But since the new carpet (that apparently costs 50,000 dollars) head office wants to keep it ‘in the best condition possible for as long as possible’.

            In other words, everything had to be moved by hand down a hallway on small carts and at least twenty trips.

            My brother works hard and normally he can get this done on his own in half the time when everything is where it needs to be. But now, my own workplace is more concerned about the damn carpet that WILL be thrown up on in just a matter of time, than to have the stock placed away properly, safety and more efficiently.

Nice to know where the employees stand on the ‘food chain’ of priorities.

            We’re below the carpet.

            Well I am going to sit down and see what I can write out tonight, to be honest, I haven’t written anything in a few months. Some other things have been on my mind, but it’s about time I sit down and start writing again. Who knows, it can be my way out!

            As an update, my campaign on Indiegogo has finished, I didn’t raise any donations, but I am not the least bit upset or concerned. Sometimes it’s best to do things yourself when you really want it. Besides, perhaps it means that I shouldn’t rush it.

            Recently I have sent the novel of Mythic Blood to Black Bed Sheets for consideration to be published for their 2012 line of books for the summer. Keep your fingers crossed for me and hope for the best. I really like what they have to offer and know the people who run Black Bed Sheets. They are more than willing to lend you an ear and give their honest opinion. Here’s hoping and I will keep you posted.

            Recently I have been painting masks for some of my vampire characters, some have turned out great, others I still think I need work on. But that’s what the masks are for, to better visualize the character and personality.

            On a recent note, one has really come to light! Thank to the lead singer David Draiman of Disturbed, quite frankly, I think this character is just for him! We’ll have to wait and see how that turns out, but inspiration can come from anyone and anywhere!

            I hope that my friends and readers in the States have a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving. Here’s to you, and be careful when it comes to shopping on the black Friday deals!

            In the mean time, I have a free short story for you to read, it’s a lead up to Mythic Blood, it was once the prolog, but found it took up too much space and attention from the main story. I hope you enjoy, and comments are most welcomed.

The sample can be obtained through this link, or (believe it or not) Itunes! Click on the book section of Itunes and type in Shannon Lee or A taste of Mythic Blood. It’s free to download.

Until next time.

Taking a drastic step

            To be honest with you, I hadn’t really thought about going this far.

            Recently I started a fund raising campaign with Indiegogo for my novel.

            It’s all really strange to be asking people to donate money for my book to be released. I had relied on myself if I wanted something badly enough, that I would save up the money to do it. Like everyone else though, times got a little tight. I am not going to make this into a sob story so let’s move on shall we?

            As of late, I had learned that I could hire an editor who is renowned for vampires. They have edited many novels and are one of the most recognizable names in the genre at this time. It just that it would cost me roughly two pay cheques to get enough money to have them read over the book and then the editing that needs to be done. It’s a lot of money, but well worth it.

            Also, I am starting to save up for a new computer. An Imac desktop computer, expensive and yet they are most reliable. As well I can back up my stories onto another hard drive and can go between the one my family currently owns and the one that will be going in my room. I am in need of the peace and quite, as well, I’ve been hogging the computer at home where when it needs to be shared by 5 other people.

            Does anyone else feel the same way as I do?

            Well I am giving it a try to see if there are those who would be interested in helping me out. Sadly I don’t have much to offer them. Except for those who donate in the high numbers. The best I can do for the maximum donation is to make them a vampire in a later story, and if requested, they can be killed off in a blood manner. Apparently a lot of people have asked me this at if they are written into one of my stories, if their character could die a horrible, horrible death. Well, I do my best to keep people happy!

            I will try to post video updates on indiegogo and see if that generates more interest. I am not the best looking person to be in a video, but let’s see what I can do!

            Well, that’s all for now on this end. I shall start my test to see if I can raise the money or start working my ass off and get it myself.

            Wish me luck!

            Oh, if you are interested in the campaign, click blow to see for yourself.

     

           Indie Gogo- Bring Mythic Blood to life!

Gah, writer's block!

            I keep telling myself I am going to sit down and write, I’ll do it by golly. Yet when I get to the computer screen as if late, I draw a blank… seriously, nothing comes to mind nor can I bring myself to write out what needs to be written.

            It’s been going on for nearly two weeks now. I got over some of my old stories and add new details and take some things out. I am glad though the novels I have been looking over still got a ways to go, as of late it appears that I am forcing the story, rather than letting the reader take hold and thinking for themselves.

            Sorry, it’s been a long few days for me as of late. Still, I got to get myself to start writing something, I have to. And yet it is still the second novel that is resisting me! I know what I want to write, I just need the proper words for it.

            Damn, you think this would get easier over time?

            Well Anywho, as a distraction, I’ve set up my garden for the summer time. I am even making a smaller standing garden and it will hopefully be up by the end of the week.

            Funny story about that, and it happened today actually.

            Things had just come together for me when it came to purchasing items. One, at the supermarket, I got some red peper for the night’s dinner. Normally they are 2.99 a pound… so three guesses what I am growing this year!

            Back to the story

            I get up to the cash register and they come in marked down to 1.79!

            Awesome sauce!

            Second, I went to pick up the wood needed for the garden and new curtains for my room. My older brother is a stickler for detail and holding companies to their policies. (he could have been a damn good lawyer if that’s what he wanted to be.) He was getting the same curtains as me. Last ones in the store too. So we get up to the register and they come in at a higher price when they were on sale. So he asked them. “Do you uphold the retail law?”

            The cashier nodded her head and we saved nearly fifteen dollars on the curtains! Nice huh? Oh and I got a free board of wood too! Things were just coming up Shannon today!

            But once I got home… I still couldn’t sit down and write!

            I need to get out of this rut and start something else, find other activities to distract my mind and perhaps the ideas will finally come. Perhaps it’s too many characters? Or I need to do some more reading to get the old brain box working!

            Until next time…

Under the weather

            It been a long week since I have posted something here, among other things it was the long weekend here and Canada, sadly, with my job there is no such thing as a ‘long weekend’ all you look forward to is stat pay.

            Anyway, I just want to say my heart goes out to those who have been affected by the tornados in the states. My thoughts and prayers are with you always, and may this end sooner than later. I cannot imagine what one goes through when storm after storm occurs. I’ve been most fortunate that the weather here is stable. We’ve been getting a lot of rain, but I am not complaining the least bit.

            On a happier note, I wish to congratulate my fellow writer L. Anne Carrington on her success with her novels. She is very passionate about her writing and offers the reader something new and different. If you are a wrestling fan, she has a book called the Cruiserweight. I don’t know about you, but normally if you want a wrestling story, you read fan fiction or a biography of one whose profession involved a ‘square circle’. But she takes it to a different level. Check her out if you like.

L. Anne Carrington

            As for me, I’ve been sitting down and writing the second novel of my series. Not that simple as many of you many think. I have the idea that I want, and yet I cannot bring out the right words for it. Not to mention I want to make certain the story flows properly, and have a point. Hmm, I think I need to get back into some reading to find my voice again. Does anyone else have the same problem as I do? You could write any other novel right now, and yet you need the second novel in order to get to the other novels. Man, we writers are an interesting bunch huh?

            Today has been my first day off in a week some of you know and are aware. I am looking forward to a nice clear day, I am actually working on a vegetable garden! I’ve planted only a few things right now, and yet have run into a few problems. One grubs. Gah, those little buggers are really rotting my socks right now. I could get nematodes, but that’s nearly 30 dollars out of pocket. Second something (raccoons) are digging in the soil. Why? Grubs. They eat them, but they have to dig up the plants to get to them. Hey, everyone has to eat, and this is an all-natural way of ridding the grubs, just messier and a little more annoying.

            Well I think this is all I can write for now, some bad weather is heading my way as I type this to you now. I hope to have more for you later. Not to mention I am battling something, flu, cold, whatever it is. Here’s hoping it goes away soon and doesn’t affect my writing!

Until next time….

bah I missed a day... or more

            Well so much for trying to blog every day. Sorry about that. I had a long day at work just the other day.

            Strange thing though. I had the strangest dream just the other night, and yet it started at work. We have to mark down the week of the stock when it arrives, yesterday, I was writing 20 on some boxes since it was week twenty and all. When my hand began to make 6’s rather than 0. So I accidently wrote 26 on some items but was quick to correct.

            Then just the other night, I was dreaming that I walked into a strip mall. One of the stores was a hot topic, yet not the same caliber as the ones you see in the mall. Almost like a clearance outlet or a little store that was trying to be a hot topic. Anyway, I remember walking around and finding an item in a discount box. It was apparently a Criss Angel rhinestone bedazzler… you know the thing that allows you to put rhinestones in your clothing? Yeah, that thing.

            Well I picked it up and figured I had to have it. And the cost… $0.26!

            When I woke up this morning, I knew there had to be something about this number. So where do we go to see? The computer!

            I checked out the dream dictionary and found that the number 26 has various means. One mainly being that it represents Karma and the earth. I’ve been itching to do some gardening for the past little while. I got some plants that want to spread roots! But there was another meaning to it. 2+6=8 which represents nirvana. A sense of mind and awareness, I had been considering meditation, now more than ever, I really should take it up.

            I have also recently regained my creative flow, mainly for the second novel that I had been trying to force and idea for. But now, one part of the story is coming in clear as day. It’s just reworking it into the pages I have already written and the parts I did like from the original concept into the story. Not simple when you want it to flow properly. But I’ll figure it out sooner than later.

            It’s rather funny when I serve people at my place of employment. They all look forward to the long weekend and ask me if I was as well. I don’t get a long weekend. I work this week every day but Thursday. Mind you I am not complaining (for the moment) but it’s money, time and a half on Monday. But still, people are surprised that I don’t get a long weekend.

            My work place NEVER closes. Never ever, and I can vouch for that. Even during the HUGE power outage a few years back. We didn’t close, in fact, we were one of the first people to have electricity back up and running! Second, even at Christmas and all other holidays, we’re open.

            Man, it sad to say that we never close for any holiday.

            Anyway.

            I’ll be savoring today, get some writing done and whatnot before my long week before me. Wish me luck, it’s going to be nuts!