Monday, February 28, 2011

Studying for publication

Well, I've been studying up a little bit, trying to nail down all the details of my publishing plan.  I already know that I will be publishing the paperbacks through Lulu.com, and that I will be releasing the books in ebook format for Kindle and Nook, possibly the Sony reader as well.  What I'm trying to pin down is the timing.  I'm considering releasing the ebook a couple of weeks before the paperback release.
For one thing, it'll take much less time to get the formatting done for the ebook.  For another, the ebook market is one I'm very interested in.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of a printed book.  The feel of the book in your hand, turning the pages, the whole tactile sensation of reading.  But there's no denying that the ebook world is a valid market.
And the most intriguing thing about ebooks is the cost.  You see, aside from the actual writing, formatting and preparation of the books, each ebook copy costs me nothing to produce.  And once it's produced, each one sold is nothing but profit.  Sure, each of the companies, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, take a percentage of the sale price.  But if I were to sell the ebooks at $2.99, my profit on each ebook sold would be exactly the same as the printed copy.  And honestly, for an unknown, unpublished author, isn't $2.99 a much more attractive price point than $20?  Not to mention, the ebook is instant gratification.  You order the book, and bam, it's on your reader.  No waiting for shipping.
Take it a step further.  If the $2.99 price point is more attractive, what about the $.99 price point?  That's right down there in impulse buy territory.
I plan to introduce the ebook at the $2.99 price point and see how it sells.  I think the most important thing for me, and for any indie author, is to get the word out about what you're doing.  Get reviews, get people talking, and get people liking your book.  That's why I'm thinking of expanding the samples I have available online.  Currently, I have a three chapter sample at the Door to Canellin website Here.  I am considering adding more to that, get people wanting to read more, entice them a little.
Anyway, I'm rambling, and this isn't exactly a well-planned blog post.  I'll just leave you with a couple of links that have given me things to think about.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com
http://amandahocking.blogspot.com

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Interest is picking up!

Interest in The Door to Canellin is growing, thanks to Kickstarter, my websites, and a grass-roots campaign to get the word out.  Still not as much buzz as I'd like, but it's a start!

The Kickstarter funding is moving along steadily.  I'm 5 days in out of 45, and 20% funded.  If you haven't made a backing pledge at Kickstarter yet, don't wait!  $18 is $1.95 off the cover price, plus I'll cover the shipping in the US!  And check out what you get at the higher levels!  $50 gets you a limited edition, signed hardcover, a signed Door to Canellin marketing poster, and your choice of the Kindle or Nook version of the book!

I'm working on getting the title logo put together, and getting a rough edit of the layout of the book.  I'm also looking into sending out advance review copies, to see if I can get some jacket quotes for the actual release!  So, if anyone knows anyone in the media who would care to review The Door to Canellin, please let me know!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Kickstarter update, health update, and final cover art!

The Kickstarter fund raising is going well, but slowly.  I really need to have a couple of every good days in there to get the ball rolling toward meeting my $1200 goal!  I've changed the top two tiers of available backing, so be sure to check out the Kickstarter page for updates, and don't forget to donate!  Remember, at the $18 level, it's essentially a discounted pre-order of the paperback book, with free shipping!

A quick health update.  I've mentioned my vision problems before, both on my website and on the Kickstarter page.  Well, I'm essentially blind in my left eye at the moment.  All I have left is a thin band of peripheral vision.  However, my doctor has come up with a treatment that may alleviate the problem, at least temporarily.  It involves an injection of a chemotherapy drug directly into my eye.  This doesn't really thrill me, but I'm hoping it will bring back at least partial vision.  I have the injection this coming Tuesday, and I should know by the end of the week whether it worked.

And an update on the ongoing process of putting The Door to Canellin together.  I got the completed artwork from Barnaby, and it is spectacular!  The cover of this book is going to look amazing!  I only hope the interiors can justify the amazing job Barnaby did on the cover!  All in all, The Door to Canellin is shaping up better than I could have possibly hoped!

Don't forget to check out my Kickstarter page.  A lot is riding on meeting that funding goal!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/301373006/help-publish-the-door-to-canellin

Monday, February 21, 2011

The website is now live, and so is the Kickstarter project!

Big News!  The website is live and available to the public!  Check it out here!  It's chock full of information about The Gatehouse series, The Door to Canellin in particular, info about the author, and much more!
http://sites.google.com/site/doortocanellin

In related, and possibly bigger news, the Kickstarter project page is live!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/301373006/help-publish-the-door-to-canellin

For those of you unfamiliar with Kickstarter.com, it is a site for artistic and creative projects of all types to look for financial backers.  The arts have a long history of being funded by patrons, and Kickstarter seems to be trying to bring back that cooperative, patron-sponsored feeling, on a crowd sourced level.  People launch their projects on Kickstarter, asking for backing.  If their backing goal is met, they receive the funding.  If it isn't met, they receive nothing.  Backers' accounts are not charged until the end of the project period, and are not charged at all if the project's funding goal is not met.  There are rewards and incentives for backers and creators alike.

My Kickstarter page offers what I think are some great, fun incentives for backing The Door to Canellin:
$5 - a PDF copy of The Door to Canellin
$10 - Your choice of the Kindle or Nook version, plus a PDF copy
$18 - a paperback copy of The Door To Canellin, cheaper than the projected cover price, with free shipping!
$25 - a paperback copy of The Door to Canellin and your choice of the Kindle or Nook version
$50 - a limited edition, signed, hardcover copy of The Door to Canellin, the Kindle or Nook version, and a signed marketing poster
$100 - same as $50, plus two paperback copies and a signed, laser printed copy of the original Door to Canellin manuscript
$500 and $1000 - too much, and too crazy, to list here!  Go to my Kickstarter project page to check it out!

Even if you don't back my project, I hope you'll check out my project page, and the other great projects on Kickstarter.com.  There are a many worthwhile projects there, and each one is deserving of backing.

Thanks, and check back again for updates!

The new (temporary) website is up!

The new, temporary home for all the info you ever wanted to know about The Door to Canellin is up and ready to go, but I'm not ready to make it public yet.  I know, tease and don't deliver, right?  Well, I've posted some artwork on the page, some preliminary images from the cover artist, Barnaby Bagenda.  However, since the final artwork is not yet completed, I don't feel comfortable opening up the page for general viewing until I have his permission.  I expect to have his OK within the next day or two.

But as a teaser for what you'll find on the site, here's a list:
About the Author page - A little bit of info about me, and what this whole endeavor is all about.
About The Door to Canellin - a brief synopsis of The Door to Canellin, and my plans for the Gatehouse series.
Sequels - information about two of the sequels, The Door to Justice and The Door to Fear.
Announcements and Updates - Announcements about the project's progress and status
Images - images relating to The Door to Canellin
Kickstarter - a link to information about the Kickstarter project and how you can help make this project a success!  The Kickstarter project should go live shortly after the homepage does.
3-chapter sample of The Door to Canellin - just what it says, the first 3 chapters in PDF format!

As you can see, there's a lot of information on the page, and it should be available within the next couple of days!  I hope to see you there!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Kickstarter

Thanks for stopping by!  Many of you are probably here thanks to my Kickstarter page.  If so, have a look around and check my other links for more information on The Door to Canellin, and the Gatehouse series of books by E.H. Jones.  Below, you will find a brief synopsis of The Door to Canellin (with all the spoilery bits removed), and in future blog posts, what you really want to see: sample chapters!

The Door to Canellin is the story of Wes, a troubled youngster who can't seem to find his way in life, whether it's school, his home life, or dealing with friends.  Wes tends to be short-sighted when it comes to taking care of his responsibilities, preferring to spend his time playing video games, reading, or wandering the forest behind his grandparents' house.  By the middle of the last semester of his Sophomore year, it's beginning to look like he may have to repeat several classes, holding him back from graduating on time.  Wes' father, Ryan, is at his wits' end, and the final straw comes when Wes is suspended from school for fighting with the school bully.

But when Wes discovers a house in the woods that wasn't there before, he finds himself yanked out of his own world and launched into one filled with magic, monsters, and danger.  The only way home is through the doorway back to the Gatehouse, which happens to be in the lair of an evil dragon bent on destroying all human life.

Little does Wes know that his father has followed him to Cannellin, and is on a quest of his own... to find his wayward son and return him safely home!  What happens next is a thrilling tale of adventure, betrayal, and growth as Wes learns that to live is to strive, and his father learns that sometimes you have to trust those you love to do what is right.

Be sure to check out my Kickstarter page, if you haven't already!  You have the power to help make The Door to Canellin a reality!