Hello all!
I have news!! A few days ago, I received the copy edits for Curio Citizen! This round of edits focuses on minor grammatical errors (I use WAY too many unnecessary hyphens, haha) and making sure formatting is consistent throughout the manuscript. This stage of edits is a big step forward, as it means that the manuscript is ready to go and all that remains is the book production itself!
I reviewed the edits and also had the benefit of working with a Spanish translator to ensure the Spanish in the book is correct. I even found a translator who is from the specific Puebla region of Mexico where Carmen’s mother was from so I could include the proper dialect that Carmen would have learned in her bilingual household. It was a fun and enlightening experience, and I think it will add to the quality of the book and pay homage to the culture Carmen comes from.
When I hear more news, I will be sure to let you all know! I appreciate your care and dedication in asking me about the status of the book, and I thank you for your patience. We’re getting closer!
Best wishes,
Katherine
Well friends, it’s time to wrap up my first year as a published author. Considering Tantalus Depths only came out a bit over three months ago, we sure crammed a lot into the tail end of this year.
We began this month with GalaxyCon in Columbus, which was an absolutely magical experience from beginning to end. I met so many amazing people, and was able to introduce Tantalus Depths to a whole new audience. I’d never been to a convention before, even as an attendee, but I always knew it would be something I’d love, and I was not mistaken. I made some new friends there, learned a lot about the business end of things, got to socialize with other authors, and even had one person recognize my book from an Audible recommendation after listening to Project Hail Mary! That’s right. Someone recognized my book in the wild because an algorithm compared it to Andy Weir’s writing. You could have knocked me over with a neutrino after that one.
I’ve spent the rest of the month making plans for the new year, and let me tell you, I have some big ones. I’m going to do a LOT more conventions next year, along with some other events. I’ve already lined some of them up, so expect a proper event schedule announcement for my 2023 Book Tour very soon.
With New Years being a time for resolutions, I want to share with you my goals as an author for 2023. I’m famously bad at adhering to timelines, but I’m hoping some public accountability will help keep me on track. I have three main goals for the year; all three ambitious as well as important.
1: Get Tantalus Depths up to 50 reviews on Amazon (if y’all want to help out with that one I sure wouldn’t mind)
2: Attend at least ten promotional events (hopefully many more than that)
3: Write and submit Proteus to my publisher. Tantalus Depths took eight years from writing the first word to publication day. I don’t want Proteus to take longer than three at the most.
Those are most of my big plans for the year, but I also have a bunch of other surprises coming up. My fifth short story, Neurophage, will be coming out this year in Writing Bloc’s next anthology collection, Passageways: Mythos. I also have a guest appearance coming up on a wonderful authors’ podcast later this year, which I’ll tell you more about when it gets closer.
All in all, 2023 is looking to be a really big year, and I cannot wait to share my experiences with you all. Have a happy New Year, everyone, and get ready for a wild ride!
100 Best Indie Books of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews, "Going, Going, Gone!" is on the list! Written to be the most exciting baseball story ever, please let your baseball-loving friends know about "Going, Going, Gone!"
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/best-of/2022/indie/books/
Well, today is the day.
After years of drafts and edits, over 100 literary agent rejections, a lengthy pre-order campaign, delays related to pandemics, supply chain issues, and swarms of locusts, and a college advisor whose best advice to me was that I “pick a real career”, my debut novel, Showtime, has been released into the wild. While it’s the second one I’ve written, it’s the first one that has been published, and it’s crazy to think that something I wrote for me, that once existed only in my imagination, now belongs to…well, everyone (yes, you).
The first draft (written way back in the summer of 2017 took about 6 months to write. I remember exactly where I was when I wrote the first line—in a shoebox of an office, during a break while substitute teaching an elementary music class (which I don’t recommend, by the way)—and the feeling that the story I was waiting to tell wasn’t going to get written unless I sat down and actually wrote it. So, I did. I didn’t end up using any of the first chapter (or the second, or the third) of that first draft, but I got words on paper, and that’s what counts. Which is a long-winded way of me saying that the book has evolved a lot (re: a lot) over the past five years. There were countless rewrites and revisions, drafts and edits, late nights and weekends, and more than a few times when I wanted to hurl my laptop out the window and stuff my face with cake rather than write another damn word (I definitely did that last one, though). But giving up would’ve been easy. It also would’ve given the win to anyone who’s ever told me “no”. Plus, I’m stubborn.
So, while it has taken a lot longer than I thought it would take to get here, I’m so grateful that we’re here together. Your copies of Showtime will be arriving shortly (if not already) and, if you’re lucky, maybe you’ve even got a comfy reading chair, a roaring fireplace, and perhaps a warm beverage or two to pair it with.
Stories are unique in that they allow us to be transported, for however brief a time, into the other: other times, other places, and into the shoes of other people. They’re a blissful escape, but also a vital part of what makes us human, as integral to our lives as a heart and brain, food and water. They make us feel, make us think, and, most importantly, they build empathy in a world and time that could really use a whole lot more of it.
I hope you enjoy Showtime, and the stories of Jordan, Sam, Charity, and Matt. They’re flawed people, but I like them a whole lot. After living alone with them for so long, I’m excited for you to meet them. If their adventures make you think differently about someone or something, or act as an escape as you unwind after a rough day, or make your heart skyrocket with adrenaline—if they make you feel—then I’ve done my job.
I mention this in the Acknowledgements, but it’s worth repeating: while writing the book was a solidary endeavor, it literally would not be in your hands (or on its way into your hands) without the unwavering support, enthusiasm, excitement (and more than a dash of saintly patience) of my family, friends, co-workers, and complete strangers who offered me their time, eyes, and hard-earned dollars. Thank you for your support of my writing, your confidence and trust, and for coming together to support books.
I’ll only ask for one more thing: after you finish the book, would you please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads? Early reviews generate buzz, and buzz is vital to an author’s securing of another book deal. I’ve got another one written and ready for you (it’s called Monsters, and boy is it a doozy), and I’d love for it to make it into your hands as well.
But for now, let’s read. I’ve got a story I want to share with you.
Ricky Ruszin
12/6/2022
Hello, hello!
This coming Thursday (Dec 8th) Eudaimonia will have been out in the world (officially) for a whole month!
Thank you so much to all of the folks who came out to our little launch party on Nov 12th. Truly, it was such a nice bow to top this whole experience.
And THANK YOU for all of your nice text messages, comments, and reviews! I am beyond pleased with the feedback that I have gotten from those of you who have read Eudaimonia. The fear, the worry, the white-knuckle anxiety of putting a piece of yourself in the world for everyone to judge seems like a recipe for insanity. (She spent five years on this?! *disdainful incredulity*) The only hope after it is out there is simply not to humiliate yourself. Based on early reviews, I think I have averted utter humiliation. *whew*
For those of you that have already read Eudaimonia would you please consider rating/reviewing it on Goodreads & Amazon? (It really gives Mr. Godwin something to look forward to, as he checks these sites daily.)
Thank you, again, to all the folks who have already read and reviewed Eudaimonia. Reviews help. There are more books coming out than people can possibly read. For those of you who haven’t read it yet, do not worry. I am a very slow reader and have piles of books around my house that "I’m meaning to get to." Whenever you get to Eudaimonia is a perfect time. I appreciate that it is even in your world sitting on a shelf or an e-reader somewhere.
Also, please keep Eudaimonia in mind as you are looking for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts. Books are always an excellent gift :)
Since this project is concluding with Inkshares, I’ll be moving away from this platform for updates. In the coming weeks, you should see a test newsletter from "hello@meghangodwinauthor.com". I am not a fan of spam or writing useless copy, so I assure you this will be an "as-needed" update email. Of course, you are welcome to unsubscribe at any time.
I hope your holidays are merry and bright.
Thank you,
Meghan Godwin
7 days. 1 week from TODAY is the official publication date for Eudaimonia.
E-books are out. I know the Kindle download was a little funny, so at the end of this email, I have a little trick.
Paperbacks are on their way (in fact, some of you have already received them).
For any questions, issues, or problems email: hello@inkshares.com
Our book, The Man from Mittelwerk, launched in early September and hopefully you have received your eBook or printed copy by now.
If not, please check your email and spam folders for email from hello@inkshares.com. You can also log in to your Inkshares.com account, go to your Profile page and click on the Account button in the top right corner to verify your shipping address. If it’s wrong or if you never filled it out, please send an email to hello@inkshares.com to let them know. (Or hit me up if you’d prefer to listen to the book on Audible instead.)
It was great to attend the BoucherCon mystery writers (and readers!) conference in Minneapolis. I was on a panel session and got to spend some time with a few of my favorite authors including Scott Von Doviak, Rick Mofina, William Kent Krueger and others. If you haven’t Scott Von Doviak’s novel Charlesgate Confidential, check it out! It’s one of the best books Hard Case Crime has published.
This is likely the last email I’ll send from Inkshares. There will be occasional updates over at the official site www.mzurlocker.com as we have news on translated French and German editions as well as new short stories Mike and I are working.
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement. I’m proud of the book and I hope that you enjoy it. If you can post a review on Amazon or Audible, that is very helpful. Feel free to shoot me email letting me know anything you liked (or disliked!) about the book. But don’t hit reply -- send it to Zurlocker@hotmail.com!
--Zack
PS. Here’s a photo of me hanging out with Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Shutter Island) at BoucherCon.
Well, folks, the time is nigh!
I have heard from a reliable little birdie that the e-books for Eudaimonia will be pushed out about two weeks ahead of the publication date. For those of you not counting, that could be as soon as Tuesday 10/25! It sounds like the print books will be shipped the first week of November.
So, make sure your mailing and email addresses are updated!
Sign in to Inkshares, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen, and select "Shipping Address" from the dropdown menu. You can email the fine folks at: hello@Inkshares.com if you have any questions.
Your pal,
Meghan Godwin
Greetings, adventurers.
I come to you today with perhaps the most exciting promise of treasure of all: an update.
Much like the feeling one has when dropping their child off at a new babysitter for the first time, I write to you with hope and apprehension today. Because Mushroom and Anchovy’s most recent manuscript has been sent off to Inkshares to undergo copyediting.
I’m not sure what this expressly means for our timeline, but the facts we have right now are thus:
1. Mushroom and Anchovy is currently sent in for copyediting.
2. This has never happened before.
We can, by means of logic and reason, now deduce thusly: the ball is finally rolling to get these books into your hands.
It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so excited to finally be able to share this wacky tale with you all!
I’ll contact you again when I have more news. But, for now, please know that the book is in progress. My biggest wish now is for it to be worthy of such a wait. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding!
In the meantime, I’m going to be looking into getting us a new artist and cover!
May your travels be fraught with wonder and just enough peril to keep them interesting,
K. M. Cooper