This Author’s Six Month Checkup

January 1 was (roughly) six months ago. I hate making resolutions, but I had a lot of plans for this year. Isn’t it funny how things change? My plans have morphed (in some cases, considerably), and I thought I’d tell you how it’s all shaping up. Am I celebrating? Read on to find out.

If you’re interested in the original post, you can find it here. Otherwise, I’ll give you the briefest of overviews as I continue.

Writing

• Write for Susan Stoker’s Kindle World: Not Happening
  Kindle Worlds were confusing to me. I’d written three stories and started a fourth (that’s right; FOURTH) before I figured out how to comply with all the rules. And then Amazon put an end to the program. So, despite being invited to participate, it didn’t happen. Nor will it. Susan is awesome, and she’s started her own version of KW to let authors continue to write in her world. At this time, I’m not finishing my story. But I’m still welcome to contribute whenever I’d like, so if I ever have time to get back to that story, I’ll submit it.
• Release fourth Medici Protectorate novel: Soon
  In January, my publisher hadn’t given me my release date. Now they have. Tortured Soul will be released on August 28. I will be talking about it (a lot, probably) pretty soon.
• Write for Sterling & Stone as Holly Chase: Not Happening
  Man, do I love Sterling & Stone. Talk about a company who lifts up authors! I used to say I’d never write with a pen name, but when I had the opportunity to write for their Eros (romance) imprint, I was thrilled. I was supposed to write under the name Holly Chase. And I completed a sci-fi romance novel. Even started on the second. But a series of meetings made something painfully clear—that wasn’t what I really wanted to be writing. So that series is on the back burner, and after many discussions and a lot of soul-searching, Sean Platt helped me figure out what I wanted to do. Now I’m writing for three of their imprints under different names (I’ll discuss Delilah Cross in a different post). Some of you might remember my Nightforce Security Series (an offshoot of the Medici Protectorate Series). I originally developed Nightforce for Kindle Worlds but decided to keep it for myself and started self-publishing. I’ve since pulled it down. That series is now being released through the Sterling & Stone Eros Imprint. Book one (formerly called Password and now called Hideaway) is coming out this month (more on that soon) and then once a month until the series ends. The pen name for that is Keira Beck. An introductory “cookie” called One Ugly Mug has also been completed and will release soon. It’s an introduction to the series… a little something to whet readers’ appetites for more.
• Other Projects: TBD
  I’m still not ready to commit to anything, but it looks like at least one of my personal projects might come to fruition. If it does, you’ll hear about it here first!

Marketing
Sigh. I’m still trying to figure all that out. I’ve enrolled in a course that’s supposed to help, but it’s just making me second guess everything. I am currently studying Facebook Ads, though. If I manage to take a stab at them this year, you’ll hear about the results at my year-in-review post.

Editing
That’s going pretty much as planned. I’ve taken on a few new clients, and they’re keeping me busy. I’m still willing to take on a few more, though, should the circumstances be right. You can find more information about my editing services here.

Blogging
I said I wanted to be more consistent and blog at least once a week. For the most part, I have. But I kind of feel like I’m cheating, because it’s mostly been inspiration and link posts. Moving forward, I’m going to try to do that Friday post AND one other. (I’m also laughing as I say this because I can’t imagine where I’m going to find the time.) Fiction posts probably aren’t going to happen. Story Empire and Romance University posts are going well. I’ve kept up with my commitments at those sites and expect to continue to do so.

Reading
I increased my Goodreads goal from the met number of 30 in 2017 to a target of 35 for 2018. If I don’t start including the novels I edit for clients, I’m concerned I won’t make it. Because of the increase in commitments this year (writing, editing, and blogging), I have much less free time to read for pleasure. I’m a little behind right now; I guess we’ll see how it goes.

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There it is, my six-month review. I like to think I’m not off-target so much, but rather, my targets have changed. I know, without a doubt, I’ve never written or edited more than I have in the last six months. And that’s something to celebrate!

How about you? How is your year shaping up? Hitting your targets? Changing them? Are you ahead or behind schedule? Let’s talk about it.