Becca Spence Dobias · Author · added over 2 years ago · 8 likes

Surprise! If you pre-ordered through Inkshares, check your email! You should get your ebook TODAY!

Holy crap! You can start reading! Hard copies should still be shipped out August 31.

I’m so nervous and excited and so happy for you to finally be able to read this story!

Sending this early also means you have three weeks to read as much as you can and write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or wherever! It doesn’t have to be long, or even good. It can just say "I loved it" or "It’s lame." But the more early reviews I have, the better the book will do! If you write a review, fill out this form and I’ll send you an awesome sticker for your help!

Thank you so much for all of your support!! I hope you enjoy On Home!!!!

Becca Spence Dobias · Author · added over 2 years ago · 11 likes

Hi! It’s just over a month away from launch! Eeeeeeeeee!

Inkshares has asked me to remind you all to update your addresses so that your books go to the right place. To do so, log into your Inkshares account and click on the little profile bubble on the top right side of the screen. There, you should see an option for "shipping address." Contact Inkshares support if you need any help!

I’m so excited that you’ll have books in hand soon!!! Thank you!

Becca Spence Dobias · Author · added almost 3 years ago · 8 likes

Hi friends!

Holy crap, y’all! I can officially say my first novel is coming out next month! So surreal and amazing. I cannot thank you enough for helping me get here.

I’ve been documenting the book launch process on YouTube, and if you don’t feel like watching the whole journey, you should at least watch me opening my box of print ARCs. Advanced Reader Copies go out to indie bookstores, reviewers, etc. to help build some excitement for the book. I didn’t cry, but I did get a little sappy, haha.

I’ve got a launch party planned for August 29 at the Frugal Frigate, an amazing indie bookstore here and I’ll be doing an Inlandia NaNoWriMo workshop and reading on October 7 for Riverside Arts Walk. Also planning some events for Chop Suey Bookstore in Richmond and Burdock Book Collective in Birmingham. If you can’t get to any of these, I’ll be doing some virtual events—one with Mesha Maren, author of Sugar Run and the upcoming Perpetual West, for Charis Books on September 3 and one with Alison Stine, author of Road Out of Winter and the upcoming Trashlands, for The Bureau of General Services-Queer Division on September 23 so mark your calendars! Mesha and Alison are both amazing queer Appalachian authors and I am so thrilled to get to speak with them! I’m also thinking of doing a virtual celebration on my actual launch day, August 24, so we can all say hi and maybe raise a glass together. Let me know if you’d be up for something like this!

Aside from book launch stuff, I’ve been working on my punk book, waiting patiently for the kiddos to be able to get their vaccines, and reading a ton. We’re trying to stay cool in the heat and not think about the fact that the world is handling global warming the same way it’s been handling covid and we’re probably all doomed. Anyway! Good thoughts! Books! Readings! Summer!

Thank you for everything,
Becca

Becca Spence Dobias · Author · added almost 3 years ago · 7 likes

Hi friends!
I hope you’re following my weekly book launch videos over on YouTube! If you are, most of this will be familiar to you!

I reviewed the final proofread, which was pretty stressful. I’m glad it’s done, but it’s also pretty terrifying, knowing it’s finalized. The full cover spread is really amazing and I’m so excited for you to see it soon!

If you ordered 3 or more copies, but did so in separate orders, please let me know ASAP so I can make sure your name is on the Super Readers list in the back of the book. The list I have through the site only tells me the folks who ordered the 3 pack.

I’ve been busy reading, writing, playing banjo, and slowly inching out into the new world. Hope you’re all taking good care!

Becca

Manuel Carrillo III · Reader · added almost 3 years ago

So close!!!

Becca Spence Dobias · Author · added almost 3 years ago · 12 likes

Hi friend!

Wow, I am exhausted. There were over 3000 changes suggested by the copy editor, everything from hyphens to historical accuracy checks. I got through them in four days. She then looked over the questions I had and answered them. I got through those 300ish issues in a day.

So now the manuscript is with the typesetter, who will make it look pretty and provide us with a galley, a rough copy of the book, the digital copy of which will go to authors for blurb (the nice comments authors say about other authors’ work) and to reviewers for advanced reviews!

I’m still making weekly videos about this process, my fears, and lots of excited gushing. Check them out and subscribe to my YouTube channel!

For Camp NaNoWriMo in April, I completed a first draft of a romantic comedy about Jewish kids in a ska band. Between that and the copy edits I’m burnt out on fiction and taking a break from it for awhile. I’ll focus instead on my WV punk book, which I’ve realized needs more of a narrative thread to tie it together.

I hope you are doing well and I hope you’re vaccinated or will be soon!

All good things,Becca

Becca Spence Dobias · Author · added about 3 years ago · 7 likes

Hi Friend!

Wow…so everyone who has published before was right. After all the waiting and hard work, once you finally get the greenlight, things move quickly!My manuscript is basically ready for copy edit—my editor is going over things one more time and then we’ll send it over! We also have an amazing cover designer—Lauren Harms (check out her work here) working on cover design, and I should be seeing drafts in the next few days! I can’t wait to share a cover with you!!!

I’m also thinking about swag and have some awesome collaborations in the works with local businesses! I want to send you awesome On Home themed goodies!

In other writing news, I have a first draft of my nonfiction punk book for WVU Press printed and I’ve been marking that up, I’m drafting a fun rom-com, and I’ll be writing the content for MommaStrong challenge emails the third week in April.

I’ve started doing weekly YouTube updates about this whole book launch process, and if you’d like to see my goofy gushing more often, I’d love for you to subscribethere and share with anyone who might be interested!

On March 17th, my mom surprised me by showing up in my driveway (cue tearful hugs) and we got to spend two awesome weeks together! I’m set to get my second dose of Moderna on April 9 and two weeks later, with my RNA sufficently modified, I am looking forward to enjoying such luxuries as visiting a covid compliant restaurant and seeing friends I haven’t seen in a year outside with masks on. I hope you’re also looking forward to cautiously reconnecting with parts of the world you’ve missed. Sending lots of love and gratitude, as always.

Shannon Glover · Reader · added about 3 years ago

I’m so excited for you Becca! Having a date makes it even more real! I’m really looking forward to reading it when it comes out and I hope to support you and the release near or from far depending on COVID.

Leo Valiquette · Author · added about 3 years ago

Awesome! Great news.

Becca Spence Dobias · Author · edited about 3 years ago · 12 likes

Hi Friend!! Eeeeee! I’m so excited to send this update!

My editor and the publisher loved the updates I made to the contemporary parts of On Home and so they took it to a meeting with sales reps from the distributor. These are the people who sell the books to bookstores.

The sales reps also loved the contemporary story but had some issues with the historical parts (basically I worked too hard on these, and made them too detailed and heavy handed.) So, I’m working on toning those down a bit, which I’ll be done with by the end of March. My editor is looking over these changes as I go. Then, April 1, the book will go to copy edit!!!! In the meantime, a creative brief is going to the designer so that we can get a professional cover. The tentative release date is August 24, 2021!

Of course, this could always get pushed back depending on different factors. A good number of my friends who have published their books have had to push their dates back. BUT getting a date is a pretty huge deal! It means we have about six months to wrap up the edits, market the heck out of it, get advanced reviews, and hopefully plan a fun launch party. Y’all better wear your masks and get your vaccinations because I want you there with me! :)

I am SOOOOO grateful and excited! You’ll be reading the book we’ve been waiting so long for soon! Thank you all so much for following along on this journey. If you’ve enjoyed it, consider….doing it all again, haha. My second novel, The Book of Great and Tiny Things, is in a contest for publication that ends today. Nominating it, especially, helps its ranking.

Love, love, love,Becca