The Flight of the Phoenix – RSA print run pre-orders open!
Wow! What a lovely feeling when everyone is pulling together! My authors are super excited about this project.
In July this year, we will be releasing The Flight of the Phoenix on Amazon (both ebook and print on demand) and we will hold a local book launch!
Mark the 25th of July on your calender if you live in (or around) Gauteng and we’ll see you there!
Please note that pre-order prices will be cheapest (25% less than the normal price). At the book launch itself, it will be 20% less than the normal price. The final pricing is still being calculated.
I’ve been keeping this under wraps but, despite my many misgivings, it looks like Flight of the Phoenix will be making its appearance in the next two months!
What is this now?
Flight of the Phoenix is an anthology of fantasy, sci-fi and horror short stories written by seven different South African authors.
Though anthology is aimed at teens to young adults, I have tried hard to get all my writers to provide stories that was wide-audience compatible (i.e. if you are not a teen or young adult, the stories are still enjoyable – like Harry Potter). It has been long in the making but it’s finally looking like we’re moving ahead!
Where did I find all these authors?
I actually started off with 15 writers last year when I decided to jump in head first and compile an anthology. They all seemed keen…but, as time passed, about half of them fell out claiming life interfered, they didn’t have any ideas at the moment, work was eating their time, they weren’t willing to adapt according to feedback received… You know, the standard stuff. At least, one of the writers said “No” because she was busy writing on another story that was taking a lot of time.
Sooo, when’s it out?
Depending on whether my fellow writers are keen on doing hard copy as well, the release date will be either beginning of April (if it’s to be an ebook only) or June (if we’re doing print too) this year. Why the hold-up if we do print? Well, I’d prefer bringing out all the formats at once, rather than it appearing in drips and drabs. And…I happen to be expecting the arrival of my second child midway through April…I can promise you: Nothing will be happening in my life other than keeping my family alive for a month after his arrival.
Updates on progress to follow soon!
As a fairly unknown author (don’t worry, I will make it big – no way I’m pulling out of my life dream), I often sit with questions and doubts… If you write, you will know them intimately.
There are many more. They haunt me everywhere I go.
Luckily, I have found like-minded people. One of these i
s Richard T. Wheeler, an absolutely invaluable asset to my writer self. Richard has a passion for fellow writers. He loves helping writers find their way. He loves sharing what he has learned in his relentless quest to learn the three big things in writing: craft, organisation and marketing.
I highly recommend checking out his website for fiction writers: Dauntless Writing. He’s adding content as often as he can and it’s all about the stuff independent writers need and want to know.
I am sure you have noticed that I haven’t been blogging. I’ve noticed too. 😦
No, I haven’t quit chasing my dream. It’s just been put on hold by life. No, not the usual drivel about being busy or having to take a job and having no time. Something that will sound even more mundane. I’ve been occupied every moment of the day with my super curious toddler. What about when she sleeps, you ask? Well, I’ve been passing out every moment she does. I’m pregnant again and her new brother/sister (we don’t know yet) is putting me through my paces again. Exhaustion, nausea (mostly just feeling queasy all day and night), abdominal discomfort. Fun! *cough cough*
My plans:
I am very serious about writing and living my dream. I will not give it up. But I am realistic and my children are a priority to me. So, please hold on.
*thick Terminator accent* “I’ll be baaaack!”
I did mention, did I not, that the authors of STORM were interviewed on the day of the book signing?
Les and Vic were an absolute treat on the day. Funny as always and all kinds of entertaining while us authors were trembling with excitement, fear, nerves, happiness and a whole mish mash of other emotions.
After joking around so much that I wasn’t sure we’d get around to the interview, the mikes were put on and we started recording.
I must admit, I feel like I didn’t say half the stuff I meant to say. I think I come across as bland to say the least. When I got asked how I got started…I think I was planning a ten-minute tangent, but I enigmatically got cut short. What have I learned? As an author, I get to be over the top and weird. Also, don’t pause between thoughts as you would in a normal conversation – if you stop for a moment, your interviewer will move on. Next time, I will most assuredly relax and just enjoy the whole process. (And yes, there will be a next time. *gleaming grin*)
So, with no further ado, please feel free to go check it all out!
You can find Release the Geek on their website, Facebook and Twitter (@GXPza).
I’d never been to a book launch before, so, this was a first for me. I really had no idea what to expect, except that I knew it wouldn’t be one of those super commercial deals. We arranged the whole thing ourselves. We booked the venue, we got catering and did the sales ourselves.
I must say, though, it was ridiculous amounts of fun (and bliss) to sign hordes of books. I stood for pictures with friends and family. I introduced new fans to the other authors. The whole lot of us sat for an interview that I will soon link for you to listen to. Much to my dismay, I never got around to saying some of the more exciting stuff I had planned… But, more on that another day.
The most exciting news? I actually made money! And, yes, that’s after deducting all the printing and launch costs! *does a happy dance* Sure, I won’t be able to live off it, but I can put it down for the next endeavour!
PS. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It’s been a bit of a run around lately. Building onto our house means that I have no office and my toddler keeps typing “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” every time I sit down with my laptop. It also doesn’t help that she goes to bed moments before I pass out for the day myself.
If you’d like to help me get more time, feel free to buy all of my short stories off Smashwords – The Mystic, Beyond and The Gravic Exacerbation – or leave me a Bitcoin donation. Daycare would make a world of difference!
In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been…I’ve been trying to do too many things at one time, as usual. I’m trying to get ready for the South African book launch for STORM; trying to keep up with my duties as a pole instructor; keeping a watchful eye over my increasingly curious toddler; and attempting to coordinate and organize the writers participating in my fantasy/scifi/horror anthology coming out later this year – Flight of the Phoenix.
I’m sure someone else might not have been quite as overwhelmed by these time-consuming tasks, but the fact is that I am.
As with many things, you really only discover how much there is to something once you actually start doing it. And you also really only discover the less enthralling aspects once you’re in over your head. But you learn. You learn shortcuts. You learn to delegate. You learn to be realistic. You learn to deal with it.
I am now prioritizing more strongly; I have moved out a few dates and come up with solutions (having awesome friends really helps); and I intend to get off my self-pitying ass and work at it all. Because I refuse to let challenges, setbacks and (let’s face it) laziness steal my dreams from me.
I have a whole list of life lessons, if you will, that I chant at myself (and sometimes other people) to keep me going. I’ve received a lot of unhappy looks from people who still want life to be romantic and super magical, but here is my hard-learned wisdom:
There is no magical fairy who is going to make everything okay but, at the same time, the world is not out to get you. You have to make it all happen on your lonesome.
If something is worthwhile, it will take serious effort and perseverance.
And, just because you have to put in most of the effort yourself, doesn’t mean it’s less valuable or less awesome.
So, when I end up giving you a crazed look of maniacal hysteria (see picture above) because I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, just know that I plan to get through this; I plan to come out victorious; and I won’t give up without a fight.
By Grabthar’s hammer, I will prevail!!!
STORM Volume I
Volume I is amix of fantasy, science fiction, supernatural and dystopian stories where people’s lives are influenced by the occurrence of a storm: physical, moral, supernatural or magical. Set in worlds apart from our own, five authors of the Pretoria Writers’ Group give life to characters doing battle for the survival of their people, or fall over themselves in the process of trying.
What can change the nature of a man? In John’s case, it was 90 seconds. His life before was not a savory one, but now it contained a new force, a change agent, A Girl Called Storm.
The fearsome Serpent Storm that surrounds Yrthull has long kept the Myrrh from their ancestral homeland Beyond. Now, their only hope is to fulfill a prophecy that will eventually allow their people to cross the Serpent Storm and return to the fabled Halls of Gata.
In reGENESIS the scientists are sitting with their hands in their hair, because the human species is dying out. A scientist proposed the use of genetic engineering and found the solution to manipulate the fundamental code of life: the DNA helix. It worked, but there was an unexpected side-effect.
Ilgiprart and Oogithap, Electrosquids from the Fungus Asteroid are sent to earth on a dangerous mission. Their only weapon, a deadly one at that, is the storm in a teacup, As fate would have it they lose control of the weapon in their attempt to escape the farmer’s wrath, A tale of hilarious consequences.
The Icarus Curse – Shiloh realises that she holds the only blueprints that could save the planet from the brink of extinction. Does she have the courage to execute this? Who should she place her trust in, in this new dysfunctional place where nothing and no one are what they seem?
In The Gravic Exacerbation Mestrae Corvic is arguably the least liked person at the University of Yithnisia. If he can’t even convince his own apprentice that Mestrara Mikya and Mestrae Yundra’s latest projects are going to have serious repercussions, how will he convince the rest of the University’s apprentices and mestrari to heed his words of warning
STORM Volume II
Volume II is a mix of contemporary stories where people’s lives are influenced by the occurrence of a storm, physical, moral or imaginary. Set in a modern day setting, four authors of the Pretoria Writers’ Group brings real life in sometimes difficult circumstances to this anthology.
Dandelions for Mother is story about a young girl whose heart is broken when her mother dies from cancer. She is left behind in the big house with her father who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the church people, his so called family, did nothing as they suffered alone.
In Dahlias and Daisies Carla lives in a poor, gang-infested community on the Cape Flats, and dreams of one day leaving this area. Is it really possible to truly leave such a life behind or are the physical and mental shackles too deeply entrenched?
In Once Upon a Storm a new child joins Lauren’s little group for story time in the orphanage, the evening takes an unexpected turn. As the little storm in the story goes in search of courage, the children test the boundaries of their own limited existence.
In The Cutting Horizon Bryce has been drifting away from his wife of ten years. House bound as the result of a thunderstorm, the Sinclairs have to face the facts, and decide if their future should continue on the same path or separate ones?