My publication anniversary is here. Technically past but that’s fine, we’ll work with a generalized idea of it.
First off, let’s do inventory.
Last year about this time, I started my 12-in-12 challenge, meaning to write a book a month. Technically I have one more day to finish. I think I’m shy by one book, but my numbers keep slipping all over the place. It’s expected, but whatever, it’s close enough, right?
Published this year:
His Grace Oct. 25, 2017
Contract Gifted April 7, 2018
His Wings April 8, 2018
Fragments May 9, 2018
Isabella’s Story (boxset) Oct. 6, 2018
Seed Oct. 15, 2018
Published “next” year:
Crop Nov. 22, 2018
Harvest Dec. 31, 2018
Wraith’s Rebellion (box set) Jan. 2019
The Reaping (box set) Feb. 2019
Written this year:
Contract Claimed -NaNoWriMo appr. 89k words
Contract Sealed – Dec appr. 20k words
His Wing – Jan approx. 87k words edited and published
Contract Delivered – appr. 70k words
Crop – appr. 87k words (finished about 104k) edited and published
Harvest -appr. 90k words (finished about 108k) edited and published
The Last Prophet – appr. 90k words mild editing
Hera – July appr. 97k words beta read
Contract Gifted – appr. 25k words edited and published
Grim Port – Oct. appr. 101k words
Plotted out:
D.o.t.A. books x 4 (I cannot recall their names)
Savage Shores – m/f alien interaction on a giant paradise ship.
Contract Unspoken – m/m smutty novella of Mr. Wrightworth and an unnamed slave
Elysia – an Elders book about Elysia finding Kaz and turning her, though told from his perspective.
The Special Boy – a Coven book set in the Coffee and Blood world about the grown male witch
Grim Haven/Grim Travels – two books to fill out the Grim trilogy set in Scotland
In Planning:
Bob – (Coffee and Blood) an ‘Elders’ book, as Bob is technically an Elder, about Vampire Las Vegas. South American setting.
Ba En Ra – (Coffee and Blood) a trilogy set in the Ba En Ra family, said to be located in or around Egypt, where they lived for tens of thousands of years.
The Rebellion – (Coffee and Blood) a trilogy wrapped around the werewolves and witches and a treaty they are in the process of forming.
Bitches – (Coffee and Blood) I don’t care what the freaking wolves say, this title has to change. This is a couple of stories, or maybe a trilogy wrapped around Daisy and her adventures. I’ve given her a nudge and she might find herself in Mungo’s path. That’ll make sense later on.
Duality – (solo world) a book or series set around a world where mages need to pair off in order to access their magic.
Shade – (solo world) a series of random books of varying lengths about an immortal named Shade.
Savage Shores – this is supposed to be a series following the consequences of the book.
Alpha – a set of three smutty m/m novellas revolving around the ‘adoption’ of a new companion by an Alpha who has two already. They would then be released in a set. The series would continue on.
Something is missing. Maybe December was finishing off Contract Signed. It would take about four hours for me to find the information and then I’d get lost down the rabbit hole.
In the last year I’ve also moved, gone back to school, moved from full time to part time work, adopted a cat, got my license back… been making my own covers. I like the cover making, but I need more experience and practice before I start selling, I think. I always think that, so we’ll see how it goes.
Cover design takes hours at a desktop, though. I don’t have that time. So no arts and crafts for me.
So…
What do I want to do in the next year? What do I want to see?
I want more than five books published. I want the entire backlog edited and published. I want to keep writing as fast as I am, so one or more books written a month.
I need to set a clear goal but I think I need to think on this more. Just like I did last year, I want to set up the books for writing and editing and such on. I want it all listed out.
Right now, let’s focus on right now: Finishing the Grim trilogy. Write that sucker. I could be done in two weeks with some pushing.
Once finished the Grim trilogy, finish reading Harvest. Grab Hera and do a read, then start the plot edits then do other edits. Grab the Grim trilogy as a whole. Read it all, do plot edits. Then start actual edits on the trilogy.
Given time and how things are falling into place, I’m actually hoping to have that almost done by January 7th when I go back to school.
So, my real hope is that my next year will look like this:
January: Wraith’s Rebellion box set
February: The Reaping box set
March: Hera
April: Grim Port
May: Grim Haven
June: Grim Travels
July: Grim box set
… and then? I dunno, but that would get me four out of 7+ books. Dum, dum, dum, what do I do then? I’m definitely on a Coffee and Blood kick but they don’t draw a lot of income so far.
Except I freaking love them. You know, if you couldn’t tell. Those who read them seem to like them, which is fantastic. I just need more readers.
So… oh, D.o.t.A, I guess.
Aya DeAniege 