Monthly Wrap Up
Fly By Summer
This summer has flown by to where I realized I never did a wrap up in July. However, everything has progressed nicely even if a couple of weeks later than I liked. So let’s dive into what my crazy summer looked like and what is happening in the last couple of weeks of it.
Book 3 - Council of Light
I finished my initial edits I always do before I launch it out to beta readers. The book is never perfect at this point because the main thing I want from my beta readers is feedback on pacing, characters and plot. I want their full good, bad, and the ugly so I can be sure my content edit works for them. Now some of them will also make line editing comments, which is fine. I never ask for that because if a majority finds a section needs work, the rewriting will require further editing. My beta readers have been outstanding with the first two books.
It is harder to get fresh eyes on the third book of a series. For one, even if mine have an element of standing alone, all that backstory will ruin what happens in the first two books. You won’t have all the details, which might pique your interest, but you know how things ended to get them to where they are now.
If you are interested and have time to complete reading and feedback by September 15th, 2024, you can apply at https://books.altheadamgaard.com/betareaderapp. This will take you to StoryOrigin where I have set up the book for the ease of beta readers who loved it last time. I love how everyone has a fresh copy where they see only their notes and comments, but I can see everything in one place. It saves time for compiling everything on my end, so rewriting and editing required after can run more smoothly.
I received the final copy of the cover this morning while writing this. I’m giving you a cover reveal teaser I made the other day so you know the color scheme.
I’ll have a sheet about the third book with me when I setup a table Labor Day Weekend at our church’s big event on Saturday where I’ll be selling signed copies of the first two. Some funds will be donated to the church.
Book Reviews
Iron Rose by Abigail O’Bryan
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast has a twist I did not expect. It led to a compelling tale because she could have been considered a beast because of her choices that hardened her. He literally is a beast, but internally, he is not. It was fun seeing how both grew as they interacted. The story stayed true to itself in who the characters were and how they changed. Nothing felt off while reading it.
Find my full review under Book Reviews or follow this link.
The Mhrann’s Mantle by E. G. Moore
This novella was nothing like I expected. It is set in a darker world, but following the character as she deals with the changes thrust upon her proved intriguing. It’s a harsher world, and she goes through a lot. I wondered who she would turn into by the end. The ending felt somewhat abrupt, but it totally made sense and was a proper spot to stop. I know this novella is related to a series by this author.
Find my full review under Book Reviews or follow this link.
The Ever Delaying Future of Serial Fiction
I had intentions of starting my next serial fiction, an action adventure with spies in space, in July. I have edited the first five chapters of the format it currently is in, but ran out of time to break it into proper episodes. It is planned, but it may not be until Council of Light is in launch mode. Editing the book, summer and coach training took more time than I expected.
Cataclysm will also see some love to help it flow better as a serial based on things I’ve learned since I put it up last year. It will mostly be headers and added buttons for tracking.
My goal is to make this blog include fun weekly reads for a serial, random short stories I create, and information about my worlds, characters, and fun behind-the-scenes things. I hope to read more again, too. I used to devour books.
Coach Training
This has been with Hope*Writers and by the end of August I’ll be certified to work with them, but able to work with writers outside the organization, as well. I wanted to do this because it takes a team to truly turn your writing into a career. I have a variety of readers, editors, helpers, teachers, cover designers, and marketing agents on my team.
This has led me to create a website so I can house my writing and coaching more formally. I’ll still have my landing page at StoryOrigin and my Substacks. I knew I would need a site eventually, so this is where a lot of my time will go while beta readers are looking at Council of Light.
Real Life
I had a week in July that I managed little since I attended RealmMakers virtually. That was fun and gives me another thing to do, peruse recordings of the classes before the end of the year. There were some I wanted to go to live, but they were in the room without that option.
A week in August turned into the great car exchange around Debbie Downer, what I called the hurricane, when it finally reached me in NY. We have a new to us car since the other was getting old even for a Toyota. We are still working to find the best option for clearing out a downed tree that Debbie left hooked on a maple tree and speared between it and our house. No structural damage or injuries occurred. However, the maple lost some back and our bank is gouged out thanks to how the water flowed around the downed tree’s root ball.
Final Words
My next Monthly Wrap Up may not occur until mid September. Enjoy the rest of your summer and if you are in the US, Labor Day Weekend. Wow, that is closer than I thought.