Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh Turns Two--What I've Learned

Yes, believe it or not, it's been two years since I released my debut novel, the first in the Kiya Trilogy, Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh.

To celebrate, I'm hosting a party on Facebook with guest authors, giveaways, facts, edited out scenes or scenes I never included and from another character's perspective and so on. To join in, click HERE.

Two years! Wow. I've learned a lot since Kiya's release. Here are some of them:

Writing. Yes, thanks to great editors, like Mary Harris who edited all three Kiya books, as well as fantastic Critique Partner's and Beta readers, my writing has improved enormously. I'm far from perfect, but I've learned essentials like show vs tell, passive voice, improved grammar and so forth. When I dig up old manuscripts for edits, I'm surprised by the development I've gone through.

A Thick Skin. You know what they say, haters are gonna hate. At first those nasty reviewers really hurt me, and I fell for the rookie mistake of reading them. Bad idea, unless you enjoy crying and self doubt. Over time though, I learned to keep things in perspective. Bad reviews make my positive reviews look legitimate, which they are, but without bad reviews people believe the five star love is fake. So although some are just downright mean and there's no other way to say it, most reviews are positive and come from people who genuinely love the book. It's a learning curve, and I'm getting there.

Promotion Is A Beast. A necessary evil in the writing world is promoting your book. The trouble is how to balance too much or too little. I'm terrified of spamming people, so I'm probably more on the too little side. What I do tend to do is find ways to help others and join in so people are exposed to me, thus become exposed to my books. Unfortunately though, promoting often sucks my creative spirit and I long for the times when I could write raw, unadulterated stories from my heart without stressing over keeping the promoting rolling.

Being an Author can be a 24/7 Job. Once a book is live, it's live all the time. Websites don't shut down  for the night. This means sometimes I can be up late promoting a sale, or up early sharing a new release. There's no time frames for inspiration either, which is hard when you;re a mother and wife as well, both of which are also full time jobs that don't have a financial pay off. Finding time is a conscious decision, and I get a little peeved when people say to me "I'd write a book if I could find some time" like I somehow miraculously have abundant spare time between the chores, potty accidents, preschool, showering the hubby with love, doing my church duties, being pregnant and all that implies, and trying to fit in some sleep. So often my "author time" is early morning or late at night, when it's quiet enough because everyone else is sleeping.

Kiya's Release Saved Us. No joke. When Kiya first released, my husband was without work. Within a few months, we were close to losing our home because we couldn't pay the mortgage with the meager income of my part time office job. Then, the Kiya royalties started coming through and they were just enough to cover our mortgage. As time passed, we wracked up debts to get us by, so when my hubby did get a job, my royalties moved to paying off those debts. Now it goes toward prenatal bills/insurance. The Kiya Trilogy has literally saved us with the financial benefits of the extra income. I couldn't be more grateful.

So there you have it. Do you have any questions for me? Leave the in the comments and one commenter will win 2 of my ebooks of their choice.

Teaser Tuesday #1

Raided my blog archives for these. Enjoy!

Anaiah Press Feature End and #GIVEAWAY!

A huge thank you to everyone who jumped in to make this Anaiah Press feature a success. To all the authors, editors, and staff from Anaiah, a special thank you. And everyone who followed along, and especially commented, I love you! Please come back for May's feature to meet more amazing people.

Some quick stats:
Most popular Author post: Linda Brendle
Most popular Staff post: Kara Leigh Miller
Most popular post overall: Kara Leigh Miller
Countries where the most visitors came from: 
1. United States
2. Russia
3. Germany

Now, for the big event, the GIVEAWAY!!!

It's a little different this month. For all those who have commented throughout the month you have already won a prize! To enter, comment below on what you enjoyed about the feature month and what you learned. Winners are first come first served. Here are the prizes! (ebooks unless otherwise stated)

 First chapter critique by Kara Leigh Miller

First 5 pages critique by Laura Maisano

First chapter critique by Tara Creel

Query letter & first 5 pages critique by Molly Zenk

Synopsis and/or author bio critique (includes 30 minute phone / Skype session) by Ami Hendrickson

Donna L. Martin -- Either a 2000 word PB critique OR first ten pages critique of a MG/YA

GRIT OF BERTH AND STONE (YA fantasy) by Lisa Dunn & a first 5 pages critique

Signed copy of 1000 STOLEN MOMENTS (Adult military romance) by Connie Ann Michael & swag

MOMMY'S LITTLE WORDLINGS (Picture book) by Linh Nguyen-Ng

DANGEROUS LOVE (Adult romantic suspense) by Jody Holford & Kara Leigh Miller

TESS IN BOOTS (Adult contemporary romance) by Courtney Rice Gager

AGING GRACEFULLY WITH THE 23rd PSALM (Inspirational / devotional) by Dr. Sharon King

REVENGE (Adult romantic suspense) by Paula Rose

THE LAST STORED (YA fantasy) by Sonia Poynter

BRICKS (YA contemporary) by John Davidson and swag

Ebook ARC of ALL FOR LOVE (Adult romantic suspense) by Susanne Matthews

Looking For Teasers

Send me your book teasers! I'd like to start a Teaser Tuesday series, so need all your favorite quotes! From your book, a friend's book, or your favorite author's book, as long as I have permission to post and share, I want it!
So send me your TEASERS!


As incentive, here's my dog, Addy!!! Labs rock! Hope, the malamute, passed :-( We now have another black lab mix named Toby! But Addy is definitely my dog, while Toby is the hubby's and kid's.

Anaiah Press Editor: Sean Connell

Bio: I started writing in elementary school, won my first writing prize in middle school, and sold my first piece in college. I took up editing because I enjoy it, and between the writing and the editing I’ve worked on a number of different projects, though none for AP. I also teach writing at a local university.

1.       Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press. I knew Eden Plantz through an online writer’s group, and she let me know there was an opportunity.

2.       What does your job entail?  Mostly content edits. It’s my job to look for plot holes, continuity issues, and smaller things like consistent characterization. I also fact check, when need be. Or at least ask the author to.

3.       What do you enjoy most about being an acquisitions editor?  I like working with new authors, helping them get the most out of their manuscript, and helping them become better writers in the process.

4.       What have your experiences been like working with the authors? So far, it’s been great, but so far I’ve only worked with one.

5.       What is the hardest part of being an editor? Reading the same work multiple times. It’s necessary, but it breeds a certain familiarity with the story.

6.       And what is the best part? Reading the same work multiple times, and watching the author make it better each time.

7.       What kind of manuscripts do you enjoy and are looking for, and how can an author submit to you? I’ve been hired to help get the spec fic section going, so anything that falls under those guidelines. I like to read a lot of things, in all genres, so mostly it comes down to telling a good story.

8.       Last question; If you were suddenly struck by lightning/bitten by something/exposed to toxic waste, and ended up with super powers, what would it be and why? Teleportation. Would cut down on the commute. 

Anaiah Press Acquisitions Editor: Eden Plantz

Bio: 

Eden found her love for Christian fiction as a child by raiding her family's well-stocked bookshelves. She has devoted her education and career to learning the ins and outs of writing, publishing, and marketing. She has almost a decade of marketing management and consulting experience, combined with experience as a fiction editor -- including publishing management experience. She's thrilled to use her knowledge and abilities to the greater success of Anaiah Press authors.

Follow Eden on Twitter: @edenplantz

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press.

I’ve actually been w/Anaiah Press since the beginning. Noreen Walker and I partnered to make Anaiah Press happen.

2.      What does your job entail? 

What doesn’t it entail! J I do a little bit (or in some cases a lot) in every department of Anaiah. I’m sort of a Jill of all trades. In editorial, my responsibilities include acquisitions: offering and executing contracts, maintaining my own (short) list of authors, release/deadline planning and scheduling, Assigning projects through the various departments, etc. Outside of the editorial department I act as publicist/ marketing assistant to Marketing Director Melinda Dozier; I manage our art department and sometimes handle design work (covers and trailers). On the executive/managerial side, I handle sales tracking and royalty/ payment reports. The list goes on. I tend to be a busy woman!

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an editor? 

I think my favorite part of being an editor is the authors. I love getting to know them and getting to know their work. It’s exciting being part of their publishing journey and being able to experience their excitement and enthusiasm.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

Oh, I guess I kind of jumped the gun and answered this a question early, huh? Our authors are great. We have a really supportive, enthusiastic group.

5.      What is the hardest part of being an editor?

Probably the fact that it’s so hard to stop working. There’s always something to be done, and it’s so easy to take the work “home” with me at the end of the day. I’ve been known to answer emails in the middle of the night because I woke up to get a drink or something and saw my email notification flashing on my phone. I have to make a conscious effort to stop working and go to bed at night. Otherwise, I would never sleep.

6.      And what is the best part?

Well, I’ve always been an avid reader, so I’m going to have to say the best part is all the stories. I get to bury my nose in good books and it’s considered work.

7.      Last question; If you could bring any book/movie/TV show to life, what would it be and why?

Honestly, the book I’d choose would be a recent Anaiah Press YA release title Grit of Berth and Stone by Lisa Dunn. It is pretty much exactly what I envisioned for Anaiah’s YA imprint when the company was still a series of ideas pinned to our drawing board. The main character, Grit, is sort of a reluctant heroine and the way Lisa showed the stakes and developed her characters kept me hooked more than any book since I read The Chronicles of Narnia when I was seven. 

Anaiah Press Senior Editor: Giovanni Valentino

 Giovanni Francesco Valentino has struggled at the art of writing for four decades against many demons like self-doubt, chronic depression, OCD and severe dyslexia. He has written a few memoir pieces about his life struggles going undiagnosed for more the half his life. He hopes one day to be a famous published science fiction and fantasy author. He is glad to report that at this point in his life, he is happy. All of the credit for that goes to his wonderful wife, Carol Ann, who is the perfect spouse a full 82% of the time.

He is an editor for the Anaiah Press Presence Line. Presence features Adult genre fiction, with a focus on speculative fiction: thriller/ suspense, science fiction, supernatural, dystopian, etc.

He also produces a upcoming humorous anthology series, Alternate Hilarities.

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press.

I just showed up at the office one day with my own nameplate and took a desk. I find that if you act like you belong there, sometimes people just believe you. J

Also, I know Kara Leigh Miller. We have been friends and critiquing partners for years. We’ve worked on editing projects together before like the Alternate Hilarities and Romanic Ruckus Anthologies for Strange Musings Press. So when there was an opening in the Presence line at Anaiah, Kara thought of me.

2.      What does your job entail? 

I mostly make coffee and stop the photocopy machine from attacking people. You should see it. It’s huge. J

And I read the submissions from new authors for the Presence line or any other line if it has a speculative element to it. If I like them, I make a case for why I think Anaiah should take them and I send them up the line to Kara or other managing editors to review. If I don’t, I send out rejections directly to the authors.

I also do content editing with authors we have taken on. Content edits are where the editor goes through your novel and finds all the potholes in the road. This issue range from large things, like pacing or character building, to smaller ones, like keeping track of details like how many front that buildings has or which event happened first.

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an acquisitions editor? 

The power it gives me over other people. Mwahahaha. J

Moreover, I like working with authors. As an author myself, I know what we have to go through to get published. I try to send a little feedback even if I’m rejecting the piece. Sometimes, your story isn’t a good fit for the publisher but you could still fix a few things. I’m happy to make a few notes and even recommend a better place to submit.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

I think the honest answer to that would get me in trouble. J

No really, I have had many good experiences with my authors. Most of them are smart, open-minded people who understand the value of the feedback an editor can give. My favorite type of author is not the ones that just do everything I tell them do but ones that can convince me, in a professional way mind you, of how their way works.  The editing process is very give and take and it works well as long as there is respect on both sides.

5.      What is the hardest part of being an acquisitions editor?

All that reading. I don’t know about you but I prefer TV. J

Also, I hate getting submissions that obviously do not fit. We are a Christian press. You’re story doesn’t have to talk about God on every page, we pride ourselves on considering any type of faith based work. Still, The Devil can’t be your lead character or the church your main villain.

6.      And what is the best part?

Free donuts at the office and fighting the photocopy machine from time to time. J

My true joy is finding that perfect story and helping a fellow writer become a published author.

7.      What kind of manuscripts do you enjoy and are looking for, and how can an author submit to you?

I’d love for authors to submit bestselling novels that require no editing at all. J

In general, I’m looking for adult genre fiction, with a focus on speculative fiction: thriller/ suspense, science fiction, supernatural, dystopian, fantasy. Unlike other Anaiah lines, Presence is light on romance, and heavy on the spiritual/ emotional warfare.

Specifically, I'm not looking for non-human leads. 

I'd prefer the heroes not use magic heavily, think The Chronicles of Narnia over Lord of the Rings. 

If your fantasy world has multiple gods in it, your story needs to be about your hero bringing the one true God to help them and it needs to be apparent very quickly.

If you have something like this, send a query letter, synopsis and the first three chapters to Giovanni.valentino@anaiahpress.com.

Please paste this into the body of the email as we do not take submissions as attachments.

If I get another virus on my work computer, they might fire me. J

8.      Last question; If you were suddenly struck by lightning/bitten by something/exposed to toxic waste, and ended up with super powers, what would it be and why?

Can I have all of them? Like all at once? J

If I’m stuck with just one, I would like the power to force people to be nice to each other. Flying would be great but I’d rather get everyone to calm the heck down and get along.

Anaiah Press Acquisitions Editor: Mollie Turbeville

BIO:

Mollie Turbeville is a freelance book editor and managing editor at Anaiah Press. She is a blogger, coffee drinker, cat wrangler, and compulsive book buyer. When she’s not reading or tweeting, she’s usually wandering around the city, eating sushi, or at the dog park with her husband and lazy hound dog. There’s nothing she loves more than a compelling story; although, a good potluck meal with friends is a close second.

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press.

Believe it or not, I found out about the opening at Anaiah Press through Twitter. Never underestimate the power of the hashtag (#editingjobs)! I learned about the Christian publishing house online and really loved the idea of aligning my passions for faith and publishing. I was welcomed to the team as a senior editor and am now a managing editor.

2.      What does your job entail?

As a managing editor, I’m responsible for overseeing daily operations of the Adventures, Home School, and Inspirations imprints. I acquire and sort through submissions from authors and literary agents. I perform developmental and content edits for contracted authors, and I maintain positive relationships with each author to ensure a beautiful, clean manuscript. I typically provide multiple passes of content edits and serve as the point of contact throughout the editorial process: touching base on cover art forms, author guides, projected release dates, corresponding deadlines, etc. Most of the magic of publishing a wonderful book is in the details and the ongoing conversations about how to engage and build readership, how to really bring out a character’s voice, or how to expand the tension and improve pacing. Honestly, my job is all about conveying these important details to the author—posing questions for them to ponder as they revise. They are the courageous ones who do the really hard work!

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an acquisitions editor? 

I love those queries that hook me right away, and I love falling in love with a premise. I always say editor-author relationships are a little like dating, and when you find that right match and you’re able to communicate and collaborate, it’s like magic. More importantly, it’s immensely satisfying to see a better product emerge through all of the hard work. I love to see authors come alive and really embrace the challenge of revising. When authors submit their manuscripts to publishers, there’s so much vulnerability—after all, the manuscript is their baby! I never forget that. It takes guts to hand over your creative projects, but it takes real courage and love to keep at it after the third or fourth round of edits and revisions. That’s what I really enjoy most: the privilege of having front row seats to an author celebrating his or her hard work and sharing it with the reading community.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

Wonderful! Truly, the biggest perk for me is helping an author’s publishing dreams come true. I’ve found that the majority of authors are eager, enthusiastic, and extremely receptive to edits and suggestions. There’s always a bit of tension when discerning what needs to change and what is simply a stylistic preference, but I’ve found that most authors are grateful for the feedback and genuinely want to make their books the best they can be. I love going back and forth with an author on a layer of character development just beneath the surface or a piece of the plot that is still in transition. Seeing that lightbulb go off for the author—and playing a small role in that process—is thrilling. Of course, I would expect a harsher reality for most author-editor relationships. I may be biased, but Anaiah authors are especially lovely to work with. J

5.      What is the hardest part of being an acquisitions editor?

Learning to improve and edit a manuscript while preserving the author’s voice and unique style. As a meticulous editor, I abide by house styles and style guides. I take consistency very seriously. It’s important to know when stylistic preferences are stifling the creative process, and how diverse readers in different genres will react to those preferences. Of course, I also dread sending out rejections. Authors often think editors wait eagerly to send a rejection letter, cackling at their computer screens with their red pens and snarky comments. Not true! Often, I will enjoy a query and see the potential in a manuscript, but ultimately know it won’t be the best fit for the publisher and vice versa.

6.      And what is the best part?

Again, the best part by far is watching that transformation and seeing a better manuscript shine. Once the language is tighter, the character development is deeper, or the plot is richer, it’s like reading a completely different story. Recognizing the potential in a manuscript and seeing all of your suggestions come to fruition is the most amazing feeling.

7.      What kind of manuscripts do you enjoy and are looking for, and how can an author submit to you?

I love character-driven, coming-of-age stories rich with complex emotions and redemptive storylines. At present, we are also accepting completed manuscripts for the Adventures Home School line. We’d love to see faith-based early readers, phonics readers, workbooks, and grade-level appropriate supplemental reading books that can be integrated into regular homeschool and classroom curriculum. To submit to the Adventures Home School line, send a query letter and the first ten pages to adventureshomeschool[at]anaiahpress[dot]com. Please allow six to eight weeks for a response.

8.      Last question; If you were suddenly struck by lightning/bitten by something/exposed to toxic waste, and ended up with super powers, what would it be and why?

Oh, my. This one’s tough. I’d have to say either the ability to freeze and manipulate time—so I could slow moments down to enjoy them or get more work done during the week—or teleportation. Let’s be real; who wouldn’t want to lounge on a remote beach in Thailand for the afternoon and make it home by dinner? 

Gianna the Great

: 

Anaiah Press Author: Jennifer Novotney

                        

Jennifer Novotney is the Amazon bestselling author of Winter in the Soul. She was a 2014 recipient of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Jennifer grew up in Los Angeles, California and attended Northern Arizona University, graduating with highest honors in English. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Link: http://anaiahpress.com/JNovotney.html

Link: http://anaiahpress.com/WITS.html

1.     Tell us how you came to be an Author with Anaiah Press. 

    I first came into contact with Anaiah Press during the 2013 Pitchmas Twitter event. Surge Managing Editor Kara Leigh Miller requested my manuscript and shortly after offered me a contract.

2.     What do you enjoy most about being a AP Author? 

    

    I enjoyed being an author with Anaiah Press because of the personal attention I receive. I enjoy being a part of the publishing and marketing process, something that might not be possible if I were with a larger publisher. Working with Anaiah Press is kind of like being a part of a community or large family. Everyone is very supportive of one another.

3.     What have your experiences been like working toward being published?
    
     Publishing a book is no small endeavor. Since Winter in the Soul is my first novel, I experienced all the stages of publication for the first time. I think getting noticed, whether it be by an agent or by an editor, is the first great hurdle any author must overcome. Then comes the fun part. Getting my book ready for publication was hard work, but winning the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the young adult category really made it all worth while. It was like receiving validation for all of that hard work. I also love hearing from fans who enjoy reading Winter in the Soul.

4.     What would you have done differently?

     I don’t think there’s anything I would have done differently. My philosophy is that everything happens for a reason and I think that I was put on this path for a reason. I learned so much from my editors at Anaiah Press, which made my publication experience so valuable to me.

5.     How has your book been marketed?

     Winter in the Soul has been marketed through blog tours and with my amazing book trailer that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX5yYhX7lwQ

We’ve also done flash sales, which were very successful, and giveaways.

6.     Any advice on how to better market a book? 

     Marketing a book is just as important as the writing process for authors. Being a savvy marketer is just part of the package nowadays. My advice would be to get your name out there. There are so many books being written and published every year that the challenge becomes getting your book and your name in front of readers. Any way you can do that as an author will only benefit book sales and your career.

7.     Last question; If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, when would it be, and what would you be wearing?

     If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would travel to Europe, Paris in particular. I would love to go during the summer and I would be wearing a classic French outfit like a little black dress.

In a world divided by power and greed, seventeen-year-old Lilika harbors an intense desire to return to Winter in the Soul, the place her family left to escape the darkness that was manifesting from a coldness of the soul.

When she meets Talon, their connection is evident right from the start, and together they travel through the Black Kingdom to recover Lilika’s stolen locket. And in search of an answer to the mystery behind Winter in the Soul.

Lilika holds the key to stopping the darkness from spreading. The fate of their world lies in her hands. Will she stop the Black Kingdom before its darkness overtakes them all, or will they succumb to the darkness that is spreading across the land?