I'm very excited to announce that Nessa: A Breeders Story will release Tuesday, February 5th. The genesis of this story began when I polled readers in December and asked which character they'd like to see more of. Surprisingly, many of you said Nessa Vandewater, Clay's mother and surprise twist at the end of book one. From there, Nessa's story grew and I have to say I am pleased with how it turned out. I hope you'll like it too and it will tide you over as I pound out Breeders 2. The novelette will only be 99 cents, so it will be affordable to die hard fans and new readers alike. Here's the pitch to wet your whistle. 


Eighteen-year-old Nessa knows what it’s like to be an endangered species. Grown up in a dying world where nine out of ten babies are born male, she survives by trusting no one. When Marlin, the nineteen-year-old gunslinger with the sky-blue eyes, kills the man who has been keeping her enslaved, Nessa decides this handsome stranger might be her meal ticket. What she doesn’t realize is love is still possible, even in their decimated world. When Nessa discovers she’s pregnant with Marlin’s child, her difficult life now teeters on a knife’s edge. Can she bear to bring a child into their shattered world? Better yet, can Marlin keep them safe from those that hunt Nessa?

A companion story to The Breeders, this prequel novelette (34 pages or 10,000 words) explores the origins of two important characters and gives a deeper look into their background. It contains minor spoilers to the novel and is intended for mature teens and adults.

What's hotter than Alabama quarter back AJ McCarron's girlfriend? Winning a free signed copy The Breeders. Okay, maybe not, but I have to hope that some day these puppies will be worth something. Just think if you were currently in the possession of a first edition signed copy of Stephen King's IT or No Country for Old Men. Am I comparing myself to those great writers? Nah. Do I have hopes? Heck yes, I do. Enter to win below. 

Starting today, I am offering free first page only content editing for fiction writers. 

"What?" you say. "It can't be true. No one gives anything out for free."

It's true. There's no such thing as a free lunch. (Except when you're hanging out at the back of a Chinese restaurant on garbage day, but I digress.) Although my altruistic side can shine through on occasion,  I'm really just trying to entice you to notice me and maybe buy my book The Breeders, a ya dystopian adventure. However, you are not required to do either of those things to get a free first page critique. All you have to do is like me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Then send me a message via one of those channels. I will reply back with my email where you can send your bright and shiny first page for perusal. I promise to be kind but fair in offering suggestions and advice on the strengths and weaknesses of your first page. How can you lose? After all, it's free.

* Please limit one per customer.
** Please allow seven to ten days for response. 
*** I was just kidding about eating out of a dumpster on garbage day. It's probably not sanitary.  

The end of the year is usually a time for reflection and I've done my share. This has been an extremely exciting and enlightening year and I thought I'd take a moment to share some of my (however small) insights into what I've learned in the biz so far. 

As you may know, I self-published my debut novel The Breeders this summer. I did this with no small amount of trepidation. What if no one bought it? What if lots of people bought it, hated it and pulled out the pitch forks? My mind spun the horrible disasters wheel and feared where it'd land. (On a side note, I'd really like a horrible disasters wheel).  Six months later, the results have been overwhelmingly positive (grammatical errors aside).  Below is a short list of reasons why I think it is smart to self-publish even if you are seeking out a traditional deal. 

Benefit One: Putting your book for sale forces you to act like a "real" author.
I've been writing novels for five years. Few people knew it. I did it in quiet moments, alone in my bedroom or at a cafe. I didn't talk about my writing. Heaven forbid I'd get caught in one of those conversations where someone asks what I'm writing and I awkwardly mumble the plot before I can segue-way into, "What's new with you?" 

Then I put my book up for sale. 

Now practically everyone I know is aware I'm a writer and most of them have read the book (gasp). I can no longer hide. But, that's okay. I have to learn to talk intelligently about my book. I have to lift my head and say, "Yes, I'm a writer," when asked. And I've learned it's not nearly as horrifying as I thought. 

Benefit Two: Learn to market, baby. 
At least one million posts have already been written about the writer's role in marketing. We must do it all. Some pre-published authors are already marketing, but if they have nothing to sell, it's difficult. You can blog, Facebook (is this a verb?) and Tweet, but it's hard when there's little to say.  Now that my book is for sale, I've taken social media seriously. There's nothing more motivating than having fans find you on Facebook or Twitter. You're building a fan base and, yeah, you're going to need one of those. 

Benefit Three: Money!
Right now I'm making money. Yes, right now. It's not a lot. I can't quit my day job, but I am making some dough which, if my math serves me right, is more than none. There have been indie authors that have made hundreds of thousands of dollars and then went on to sign and for an even bigger deal. In my mind more money is better than less money. Why not make money while you wait?

Benefit Four: Agents will still represent you if you self-publish.
There was a time when agents wouldn't touch you with a ten foot greased up fishing pole if you self-published. That time is dead. Many indie authors are finding agents after they self-publish. Sure, sales numbers give you clout, but a good book is a good book. Don't think because you put your book on Amazon, you've closed doors.

Benefit Five: Hearing from fans.  
This is by far the best reason. I love hearing from fans. It makes every moment spent alone in my bedroom writing while my friends are out seeing movies or frolicking through the gales worth it. To hear from someone that they loved my book or that it resonated with them is priceless. This reason alone makes self-publishing worth it.


Well, there you have it: my take on self-publishing. The first six months have been eye-opening and exciting. I can't wait to see what the next will bring. I'd love to hear your opinions on the subject below.