Weel it's been a rough start to the new year with lots of work and bills and the stunning realization that yes I did in fact buy that thing and yes my credit card is that high as a result... all of this of course made it into the new novel, but good god I still have the first book to get out there.  So hi!  I'm back, still staring down those deadlines that have been dogging me since December, while looking askance and in some cases pretending the non-existence of a few other commitments that I really wish I had looked at a little more carefully before agreeing to.

You guys know how it is, right? After all, we're all adults here and that credit card thing is a bit of a doozy.

I've been seeing the tremendous efforts of people like Tony Valdez out there pushing hard on his novel DAX HARRISON (you really gotta check it out because it's freaking awesome) and a lot of the other authors here on Inkshares and I've been willing myself to get involved more in the community, talk back more, give more updates. I've been a lot more active over on Wattpad and have been trying to get some of my followers to actually follow me over here to Inkshares since they like the book so much, but movement like that is hard as hell for even the most committed fans.

So this is the day I make the commitment to Inkshares since the Wattpadders aren't going anywhere and you guys here have yet to read the first book.  It's time to cycle up the Twitter and other social media engines and really push to get the word out about SO YOU MIGHT BE A VAMPIRE.

Hello readers. Well, we've soared past 600 orders, excellent! Very excited to release a new chapter of the book for you to enjoy, check that out on the project page. We are in the home stretch, and I'll be posting my screenwriting tips starting tomorrow. Hopefully you'll find them interesting and educational, and incentive to order if you haven't done so already (I see plenty of followers who haven't actually ordered yet, join in friends! We only have three more weeks left.)

As a reminder, all hardback orders come with a signed Felicia Day headshot. I couldn't be more grateful for her support for my novel. Her willingness to promote this project I've worked three years of my life on is quite wonderful. We are all lucky to have such a kind friend.

Hope you enjoy the new novel excerpt and the screenwriting tips I'll be releasing starting tomorrow. The finish line is nigh! 

Pat

So I had a professional editor read my work and give their opinion, and I didn't pay for it.

The editor at the imprint my first 2 books were published (before it closed down of course) was willing to look at 'The bully book' and make some recommendations. They are as follows:

1. Cut out the intro. I came up with a shocking intro, simply to get everyone's attention, but I did wonder if it was too much. It went like this...

'Thirty years ago I became a cunt. Sorry for the bad language so early on, but it’s the most accurate way to describe what high school does to an innocent. Fuck, I never used to swear until beginning higher education. But don’t worry, I’m no longer a…. hmmm, let’s just call it a ‘C’. I’m no longer a C, at least I hope so, and I really don’t swear much at all these days, although it did take me a while – to stop the swearing and being a C. I guess that means this story has a happy ending.

Who would’ve guessed that in little old New Zealand being a C would become a good thing, well, as long there’s a ‘G’ in front of it. Being a ‘good cunt’ is a damned fine compliment in the land of the long white cloud. I was even brought to tears at my 40th when all the lads got together and called me the best GC around.

Enough about C’s and GC’s. I’ve a great story to tell, because I wrote it, and it’s very, very funny. It will sometimes make angry or sad, but you will reflect on what sort of person you were at high school, whether that be jock, nerd, or leader of the herd. You’ll also marvel at the miracle that I was able to put more than a few sentences together, let alone a book, after the ‘education’ I received. So please forgive me if I’m not grammatically perfect, or I flow from present to past – although the only person that worries about that  is the editor. Everyone loves my story.'

2. Keep it short and make it a series. She said that a book of around 40,000 words is a good size for teenagers and young adult. 

3. Do some market research. I work in schools, and have had great reviews from the students. But sadly, publishers don't care about great reviews from your target audience - oh dear, a bit of bitterness creeping in.

She finished by saying she cannot see any reason why a publisher or agent will not take me on, especially with a proven history.

100 rejections later, here I am.