IndieScan 11

Ironage IndieScan

One unexpected but welcome windfall of my recent public commitment to neopatronage is the number of fellow authors who have likewise embraced the concept. Launching my patron pages and my latest crowdfunding campaign has given me the chance to talk with many other authors. Once they understand the new model,…
October 11, 2023
Book Boomerang

The Book Boomerang

What goes around comes around. But somehow, the book boomers didn't see the book boomerang coming. In 2021, avid readers notably increased their reading.  However, in the first six months of 2023, print book sales in the US declined by 2.7% compared to the same period in 2022, decreasing from 363.4 million to 353.5 million.…
October 9, 20238 Comments
Book Opening

How to Open a Novel

Every writer knows that the first few pages of a novel can make or break a reader's interest. Author David Stewart's recent stream about the best novel openings ever inspired me to explore how to write an effective beginning that will hook readers from the start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxKB3WeaoE Here are some…
October 5, 2023
Burned Book Campaign Card

Burned Book Early Access

I plunged readers into a haunting world of dark magic and deep mystery with my Dragon Award-winning Soul Cycle. Now I'm revealing the secret history behind this captivating epic in its highly anticipated prequel, The Burned Book. Dark intrigue. Blood magic. Vicious Battle. Who can move a world standing on these pillars? An…
October 3, 20232 Comments
Newpub Neopatronage

Newpub: Neopatroange

The moment you try searching Amazon for a book you want to read, it becomes clear that something has gone quite wrong. Maybe it's vacant-eyed bugmen obsessed with fixing what's not broken throwing wrenches in the works. Perhaps it's cynical pens-for-hire hijacking the algorithm with payola. Or maybe it's outright…
September 28, 20234 Comments
fingers crossed

Agreement Incapable

I regret to inform you that the motley gang of linear thinking helots and malfunctioning bots infesting Amazon are at it again. And now they've gotten back around to setting beloved Mil-Sci fi authors Jason Anspach and Nick Cole in their sights. Nick broke the news on Twitter. In case…
September 25, 202320 Comments
Mousetrap Murders Banner

The Mousetrap Murders

Today's newpub showcase features a crime thriller by one of my cherished clients. And it's no stretch to tell you that I would recommend this taut mystery novel even if I hadn't edited it. See for yourself what I mean: A man wakes up in his car, unaware of how…
September 22, 2023
Neopatronage Rising

Neopatronage Rising

Innovation is a constant series of creative disruptions. When new ideas meet an established system that's no longer fit for purpose, the result is a shakeup of the order, followed by a new status quo. That's what happened over a decade ago when Amazon put a Kindle in everyone's hands,…
September 15, 20234 Comments
ah! the atmosphere

Setting the Atmosphere

Special Offer: All writing is persuasion. But knowing what approach works and when can be a challenge. Let best selling ghostwriter Joshua Lisec show you the best persuasive techniques to supercharge your writing. Check out his offer now. Writing is about more than scrawling words on a page. It's about…
September 12, 20232 Comments
Zero Wing

Make Your Time

For new writers, the challenge of finding a dedicated time to write amid the demands of everyday life can feel like navigating a maze. We all know the exhilaration of having a story to tell or an idea to convey, yet the modern world piles on commitments that seem to…
August 22, 20232 Comments