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Hello everyone, and welcome back to my newsletter. There's a lot of news to report this month, so apologies if this one is a bit longer than usual! Previous newsletters and other fun extras can be found here at my website's exclusive email archive. Stick around until the end for some bonus kitty pictures! |
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Saskatchewan Book Award Ceremony and Gala
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As you may recall, I was shortlisted in two categories of the Saskatchewan Book Awards: the City of Regina Book Award and the Fiction Award. I attended the ceremony and gala last night with my mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law.
Sadly, I did not win an award this time, but it is still an honour to be shortlisted. When Shadows Fall was definitely the black sheep of the bunch as the only fantasy book among the finalists (not to mention the only self-published book!) so for it to impress the jurors enough to make top five in two categories is huge!
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Overall, I had a lovely time. It was exciting to attend such a fancy event and wonderful to celebrate Saskatchewan authors with so many fellow writers and readers. And, though I didn't win any awards, I did walk away with a pretty nifty pen to commemorate the occasion, so there's that!
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Perhaps the most encouraging part is I got to read the thoughts of the jurors for the two categories I was a finalist in. (Each category had its own set of three jurors who read the entrants and chose the finalists and winner for that category.)
Below you can read the jurors' scripted assessments of When Shadows Fall for the Fiction Award and the Regina Book Award respectively. I'm especially pleased with what the fiction jurors had to say about the book!
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Last month I mentioned needing to reformat When Shadows Fall for a special project. I had to keep it a secret until May, but now I get to share the news!
Last month, the owners of Your Paper Quest, an indie book subscription box based in the UK, reached out to ask if they could feature my book in their May subscription box. They read and vet countless indie books looking for hidden gems to send their subscribers in a specially curated box each month. I am very honoured that When Shadows Fall met with their enthusiastic approval!
When Shadows Fall was shipped along with The Bee King by Mathilda Zell in their May book box, which is themed "Always Together, Even Apart".
I was curious what the end result would be like, so I looked on YouTube to see if there were any unboxing videos and was delighted to find one! I've included the link below for anyone else who is interested. 😊
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One of the things I had to do for the subscription box was create a book-themed extra. I decided to write a poem from Ara's point-of-view. I feel this really shows us what her mindset is like at the beginning of the book and helps us appreciate just how much she's grown by the end!
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Additionally, I will be doing a video interview later this month and answering four questions for an author profile which will be posted on their website. I will be sure to include links to both of those things in next month's newsletter!
If you want to learn more about YPQ's subscription service or see the books they've selected in the past, you can check out their website below.
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I am happy to report that April has been a very productive month. I spent about 80 hours working on the second draft of book three of the Shadows of the Vale series, completing a proper outline for the book and writing over 65,000 words!
Creating a cohesive outline for the book has been very helpful, especially given that the first draft was such a messy jumble of scenes and half-developed ideas. The process went better than usual as I recently discovered Workflowy, an organizational tool that turned out to be the perfect fit for me. I've always struggled with outlining, so I'm really delighted to have finally found something that suits my needs so well!
Writing and outlining kept me busy for most of the month, but I also spent some time working on the poem for the YPQ subscription box, preparing for the SBA ceremony, and marketing When Shadows Fall for Indie April. I also got sick again... 😅
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I'm starting to feel like a broken record, but my goal for May is, yet again, to finish the second draft of book three!
I sometimes forget that though I can draft very quickly when I'm given the time to build up momentum, life always interferes in a variety of ways. Errands and chores, sickness, work, social obligations, other hobbies, and the need for rest and relaxation all eat into my writing time and energy. Though my goal for the year had me finishing this draft in 1-2 months, I don't think this was ever a realistic goal!
That being said, I really am getting closer. I have maybe 20-35k words left to write, so I am hopeful that I'll be able to finish in May; though given that I will be away for almost a week in the middle of the month, it will be a tight thing!
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Guess what? Next month, When Shadows Fall will turn one year old! 🥳
To celebrate, I'll be holding a special Q&A exclusively for my subscribers. Reply to this email with your questions, and I will answer them in the June Newsletter!
The questions can be about me, my books, my newsletters, my writing/publishing process, or anything else you want to know. Feel free to send multiple questions if you have more than one!
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I had lots of fun playing Indie April Bingo last month. I got some new indie books, read An Ocean of Others by Joshua Scott Edwards, and had lots of fun engaging with my fellow indie authors in the writing community.
Did you play Indie April Bingo? If so, I'd love to see your card and hear about some of your highlights!
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Reading: I've just started Dune: Messiah, the second book in the Dune series. I know nothing almost nothing about the sequel, so I'm excited to see how it compares to the first book!
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When Shadows Fall is a YA fantasy novel about an anxious teenager who must go on a perilous quest to save her sister. It is available on Amazon in eBook and print and in the Kindle Unlimited library.
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Afflicted with debilitating panic attacks and constant anxiety, Ara Holstenner is the last person who would ever oppose the tyrant lord who subjugates her people. But when her sister is taken by shadow creatures, Ara must defy The Lord's edicts and brave the forbidden night world to save her.
Can Ara overcome the fears that have defined her since childhood, or will she doom her sister—and herself—to a lifetime of torment?
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If you've already read When Shadows Fall, don't forget to leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. These reviews and ratings make a huge difference, and I truly appreciate every single one I get!
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Thank you for reading my longer-than-usual newsletter! If you've made it all the way to the end, you definitely deserve some kitty pictures. 😊
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Kaylee took good care of me while I was sick! |
I had some help finishing up my May newsletter... |
Bonus kitty! This is Pete the Cat, who I got to meet while dropping off copies of When Shadows Fall at the Penny University Bookstore. |
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#11 1305 23rd Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 3S4, Canada |
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