My Journeyman Project: OF THE DARK

If you drill down through the archives, you will find the occasional mention of my series OF THE DARK, from talking about its beginnings to its eventual publication.

The ideas for OF THE DARK (fondly known to me at OTD) started when I was in High School in the 80's. What would become "God of the Dark" was the third novel I'd ever written, when I was still figuring myself out as an author.  I used it to work out everything about the craft, from how to outline, how to develop characters, and how to develop plots (which is why OTD ended up being a trilogy). It took me years.

Towards the end of university, I discovered the [then] Del Rey Online Writing Workshop, and spent many years there refining my craft. While I did work on other novels and plenty of short stories, the majority of my work ended up being on the OF THE DARK series. I went from being an apprentice author to a journeyman in skill, capable of being published (albeit short stories, etc).  I networked and got to know lots of fellow authors, many of whom have gone on to make writing careers for themselves.

While working on OTD, I worked on other projects as well. It's not good to devote so much time (aka years) on a single work. I wrote and published "As Good As Gold", "For Richer, For Poorer", "Marry Me" and "The White Feather" through The Wild Rose Press and released "Her Endearing Young Charms" as an indie project. I've got lots of other projects on the burner in various completion stages. I anticipate having at least one, and possibly three novels released in 2019.

Thanks to all my hard work on OTD, I was able to successfully and efficiently write other novels in a fraction of the time it took to get all three OTD books completed. I've managed to gain some mastery over the craft.

I attempted to get OTD published through traditional routes, but while many an agent liked my manuscript, none of them loved it enough to take it on. But I loved it and I knew others would as well, so I went indie with it.

Have you read God of the Dark? Get thee to the retail bookseller of your choice and sample the first chapter for free.


God of the Dark -  Amazon | Smashwords | Books2Read | Google Play | KoboBooks | Paperback (via Amazon)
Bride of the Dark - Amazon | Smashwords | Books2Read | Google Play | KoboBooks | Paperback (via Amazon)
House of the Dark - Amazon | Smashwords | Books2Read | Google Play | KoboBooks | Paperback (via Amazon)


While I would love for you to buy my books, if you can't or don't want to, please, by all means, ask for them at your local library (aka make them buy my books). OTD is available to libraries in both Trade paperback through IngramSpark and ebook form through OverDrive and other library distribution platforms.

Cover Reveal: God of the Dark

Several ideas were considered for the cover.  I rejected the idea of stock photos of random Fantasy chicks, because everyone does that. I considered an illustration, but again, that's what everyone does. Instead, I took inspiration from Grecian urns with their umber backgrounds and nearly B&W art. Grecian urns often depicted stories and legends.

This one looked nice:

...so I handed it over to my graphic artist and turned her loose in Photoshop.


Finally! I've got the cover for God of the Dark.

This is the print edition cover, with front and back. I love how the quakie leaves wrap around the spine.



Book up for pre-order on the following platforms:

Amazon | KoboBooks | Barnes & Noble |  Smashwords | Books2Read

and pretty much anywhere good ebooks are sold.

Otherwise, once the book is out in October, you can request it at your local library. (I encourage this, even if you acquire your own copy.)

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Her Grace wrote this series for readers to enjoy. Help share the love.

Rare Opportunity Job

Yesterday was the deadline for applications for a Rare Opportunity Job. You bet your sweet bippy I submitted my application.

A Rare Opportunity Job (sometimes called a Dream Job) is the kind of job you want to be working at, but aren't, because the opportunity to get one rarely comes up.

I'd love to be a Google Doodler. I'd love to be a score composer. But these opportunities aren't going to happen any time soon, so I've let my dreams settle into more realistic aims.

A ROJ at a library recently arose. While I'm not actively job-hunting at the moment, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to apply.

I got my first library card at age 3. We attended at least once a fortnight or so. Would have gone more often, if a library was within my underage commute distance without needing to rely on someone to drive me there. As an adult I've worked at three libraries and loved it. Currently I do part-time IT Support peripherally to a library, but it's not quite the same as working in a library itself.

Last week a Rare Opportunity Job arose at a library. What makes this the ROJ it is?

• It's in a library. After having worked straight IT for a while, I realised I'm much happier working in a library. I really want to go back.
• Location. Granted, it's a good hour away. But it's close to a daughter's school, and it's in a neighbourhood I wouldn't mind working in. Besides, long-term plans involve us moving into that area anyway. 
• Money. Sure the hourly rate is lower than what I'm making now, but as it's a full-time job, the actual amount of money that will be going into my pocket will rise. I need more money, but I also need less stress. This job will give me both.
• Work Load. Unless this job ends up being an outlier, the work load pace and stress will be less than what I'm doing now. I'm ready for a job where I'm a wheel cog and not a fire extinguisher. I'm feeling the faint edge of burnout nibbling at my heels at my current job. While my hours keep that at bay, this leaves me stuck in a corner. I could make more money if I could get more hours, but then I'd definitely burn out faster.
• Schedule. I confess I was considering going back to full-time work in 2-4 years time, now that Their Ladyships are much older and don't need their momma so much. Still, there's a few things they do that require me to be Mom. The work schedule, as posted with the job application, will allow me to continue being there for them when they need me. There's also the opportunity for the eldest to come to the library after school for some quiet study time, before going home with Mom (as long as she doesn't bother me too much and lets me get on with my work).  Only downside is that I will have to work one Sunday afternoon a month, and we've got afternoon church next year. 
• One weekday RDO (see previous). This one weekday off is a boon. This will be a block of time I can use for study and writing, plus daughter support.

"Wait," you say. "Isn't being an Author your Dream Job?"

Well, yes, dear reader, it is. However, unlike a regular 9-5 Day Job, the opportunity to succeed as an author doesn't come along as a job application that you score an interview and then a job offer and then you're in until ded or fled.

Writing's one of those things where to succeed you need Luck, Persistence, Talent (pick two; or rather, two will pick you. Only in Persistence do you have a choice).  Even if you do score a success, you're only as good as that moment of success, and you're back to the struggle. 

It's going to be several years before writing income is sufficient to replace a day job's income. Until then, I engage in that longstanding tradition of Author with a Day Job. I know more AwDJs than I do authors who make sole income from writing.

Library jobs are rare enough as it is. The last library job I applied for received over 800 applications. Eight. Hundred.  The chances I'll get called for an interview, never mind get this job are rather slim.

But those odds are better than if I'd never applied at all.

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Her Grace daydreams about going to her new library job and spends idle time working out the logistics.

You're Invited to a Book Launch

If you are in the Perth or Rockingham area, please come along.

Monday 22 Feb, 5:30pm
Rockingham Central Library (Dixon Road, Rockingham)
Bookings Essential
ph: (08) 9528 8683
email: RCLcontact@rockingham.wa.gov.au

I have candy hearts and a few e-copies of books to give away.

Library Love!!

If you love books, chances are you love a library.

I was only three years old when I got my first library card.  I belonged to the Sprague Branch, a beautiful old library in a neighborhood called Sugar House. Isn't it lovely?

From Commons.Wikimedia.org.  LarryChristensen agrees with me; it's a pretty library.

So with such an evocative library, how could I not fall in love?  (I must go back some day, just so I can tell it how much I love it.)

Since then, I've belonged to a library, no matter where in the world I've lived. I've even worked at a few.

I love having books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books and books...
...all within my grasp.  I can read until I'm sick of words. I can indulge my literary habit. I can research.  I can explore, gain knowledge, become something more than I was yesterday.

Books were my best friends growing up. A library was my retreat. Nobody bothered you in a library.

They're building a new library near where I live.  It looks nothing like the Sprague branch, but I still feel the same thrill.  I drive by it regularly and tell it hello. I've taken a few shots of it under construction. I already know some of the library staff and they share my enthusiasm. I can't wait for the new library to open!

I shall go there regularly to read, to browse, to schmooze, to write. (Wonder if we can get some NaNoWriMo action going, or maybe the occasional Author in Residence? I volunteer!)

Do you have a library you love?  What makes it so lovable? Tell me about it.

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Her Grace shall always have a soft spot in her heart for a library. Despite the invention of the Internet and eBooks, there will always be a place for Libraries in the world.

What to read next when you loved what you just read?

When I worked at the library, we'd often get readers in who said something like, "Man, I absolutely LOVE Georgette Heyer!  But now I've read all her books? Who else writes like Heyer?"

We had a loffly little reference booked called "Who Else Writes Like...?"  We could look up a favourite author and make some recommendations. Granted, we didn't need it too often, because each library staff had their areas of expertise.  But sometimes someone would throw us for a loop.

Now, Who Else Writes Like...? is online. If you didn't know that Marion Chesney is similar to Georgette Heyer, Who Else Writes Like...? might be for you.

It is a paid service if you're getting an individual membership. (They do offer a free trial.)  However, if your library has a membership, you can get access through them. Check with your local library for details.

WEWL only lists authors who have a minimum of three books published (with the exception of major prize winners), so if you're looking for a debut author, you might have to rely on the old-fashioned method of asking a mate.

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Her Grace goes through phases of adoring a certain type of storytelling and will search out authors of a similar nature.