I’m plum in the middle of my cohort production cycle for Deus Hex Machina, about to head back into rewrites once I get approval from my editor. In our discussions the illustrious Matt Harry has suggested that I rename the book. I am quite fond of the title I chose for the novel, but I am too close to the subject, so Matt suggested I survey you loverly backers and see what you think. 

Here is a link to a survey. Please hop on over and tell me which of the title options you prefer. The more responses I get the better, but I’m starting with you all because you backed the book and should more say than those that didn’t. At least that’s how I see it.

Thanks so much,

Amanda

This week has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. First, Sorcery for Beginners was placed on NetGalley to solicit reviews. For those who don’t know, NetGalley is a website that gives out books to influential reviewers and readers for free, in exchange for honest opinions. Good reviews lead to positive word of mouth, which hopefully leads to sales. 

So basically, my little word baby that I nurtured for five years and tried to raise as a decent manuscript has just been dropped in the middle of Times Square on a sweltering afternoon in July. Was I worried how people would respond to my earnest, adorably doe-eyed creation? It’s the Internet, you bet I was worried. 

But then a few hours later, less than 24 hours that the book went live on NetGalley, the Inkshares marketing department sent me this:

Amanda Scheel (Reviewer) has just reviewed Sorcery for Beginners. To add this review to the book page on NetGalley, click here: 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Full Text:
I got this ebook arc copy for free from netgalley and I must say this is absolutely amazing! Fell into the world of magic and after reading this book, I didn’t want to put it down, even when I reached the last word. Such an incredible book, any Harry Potter fan will fall in love all over again!

Links: 
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2065594383

Additional Questions:Would you purchase this book for yourself or a friend? Yes

WOW. Amanda, I can’t thank you enough. I know all the reviews won’t be this awesome, but these words mean a great deal to me. The fact that someone I don’t know enjoyed the book and finished it in ONE DAY is humbling and gratifying. As they say in E.T., I’m glad Sorcery for Beginners met you first.

Oh, and something else came in the mail yesterday:

For the first time, I held Sorcery for Beginners in my hand! My first reaction was how weighty the book is. It has heft, y’all. I think it could stop a bullet. 

We have a couple more tweaks before we send the final final version to the printer, but this thing is real. It is coming your way. And no matter what kinds of other reviews come in, we’re already bulletproof.

Big news this week. The galleys for Sorcery for Beginners have arrived!

A "galley" is a printed preview version of the book. What you see above is called an "Advance Reader Copy," or ARC. ARCs are sent to bookstores, reviewers, and libraries to build buzz and help booksellers decide if they want to stock copies. That’s why the back includes marketing information. 

If you look closely, you’ll also see an amazing blurb we got from Mike Rich, author of the forthcoming Skavenger’s Hunt, which drops in November 2017. Mike wrote the movies Finding Forrester, The Rookie, Miracle, Cars 3, and many more, so it was incredibly kind of him to take the time to read Sorcery and write such a nice blurb. In case you can’t see it, here it is in its entirety:

"Sorcery for Beginners makes me wish I had this book when I was Owen Macready’s age. The story casts a spell of its own." Thanks again Mike!

Also thanks again to Juliane, whose interior illustrations can be previewed here:

We wanted readers to feel like they really picked up a working guide to sorcery, and Juliane’s illustrations went a long way to making that possible. 

I started writing this book in 2012. Now, five years later, to see a printed version of it is a humbling and emotional experience. This was not a solo effort by any means. At least a dozen people helped it reach its final form, and hundreds more people actually paid money to preorder it. 

Now it’s real. No matter what else happens, it’s a real printed book that come October 10, will sit on the shelves of bookstores. It exists because of you. I can’t thank you enough. 

-- mh