"Stelladaur: Finding Tir Na Nog" Launched Today!

A number of people have asked me, "What happens on Launch Day?" Basically, it's the official day that "Stelladaur: Finding Tir Na Nog" is available to the world!  Other than lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with my sister, a walk on the beach, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to my door, it was a workday as usual.  There is, after all, much to be done for the opening of The Stelladaur Academy later in the month.

Many people have asked numerous questions about where the book can be purchased.  Here's a brief Q/A review to clear up a few things:

Q:  Where can I purchase the book?
A:  On my author website at www.stelladaur.com
      1.  PB and HC through Amazon
      2.  PB and HC through Danforth Book Distributors (DBD)
      3.  Ebooks through Amazon for Kindle
      4.  Ebook with KOBO (Glitch on the site....my web designer has not fixed the link yet...should have it up on Monday.  But here it is if you want to order KOBO now: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=%22Stelladaur%3A+Finding+Tir+Na+Nog%22
      5.  PDF through Gumroad

Q:  Can I go directly to Amazon, DBD, KOBO or Gumroad?
A:  Yes.

Q:  What is Gumroad?
A:  A purchasing hub for artists and authors to sell their creative works without giving 70-80% of the profits to Amazon, BN and other wholesalers.  For the same retail price of the paperback, you receive a READ-ONLY PDF of the novel to download to your computer.  Not quite the same as a Kindle or KOBO or PUBIT, but still works.  Plus, $1.00 for each sale of a PDF goes directly to The Stelladaur Academy for scholarships for youth!!

Q:  How much does the author make on the book?
A:  As an Indie Publisher and debut novelist, it's been a bit of a rude awakening to realize how very little authors make on their books.  As a matter of fact, after paying Amazon (or other wholesalers), or the bookstore who buys it at 55% off retail, printing, shipping, and distributor costs....well, the truth is...NOTHING!  All my costs are set by the industry.  The profit margin comes in when the demand for the book warrants a larger print run.  Larger quantity print run means less cost per book for the publisher....which gets me back to one of the reasons I chose to Indie Publish through "Fireglass Publishing".

Q:  Can I purchase books from the author?
A:  Yes.  Email me directly at info@fireglasspublishing.com.  Books directly from Fireglass Publishing are signed by the author. :)

Q:  Why does Amazon not have the updated cover on the site?  And why does it say, "books will ship in 1-2 months?"
A:  Amazon has ordered books from my distributor (DBD) but they have not received them in their warehouse yet.  Once the warehouse receives the shipment of consignment books (to fill orders as they come in), their system will automatically update the cover image and replace the availability to say, "Available NOW!"  Should be by this time next week.

Q:  Why is Barnes and Noble, and their PUBIT Ebook not offered on your site, or at BN.com?
A:  It will be.  Their account processing for authors takes longer.  Should be available online with BN next week.

Q:  Will the PB and HC be available in local or chain stores?
A:  Retailers order books from distributors when enough customers ask for the book.  If you want the book in stores, ask the store to carry it!  The book is listed with all wholesalers and any brick-and-mortar book store will be able to order it for their customers.  Typically, the book will arrive to them in 1-3 days.  My publicist has pitched Barnes and Noble to carry the book but since I am a first-time author and indie-publisher, they likely will not carry it on the shelf until there is a demand.

How's that for "Publishing 101"?  I hope it helps to answer your questions about where to find the book.  Please feel free to email me at fiction@slwhyte.com anytime.

Thank you so much for joining me on the 29 Day Count Down, and for all your support and encouragement.

I hope you enjoy reading "Stelladaur: Finding Tir Na Nog".

Final Day Before Launch! The Dress Rehearsal

As a vocalist and live theatre performer, I've survived countless dress rehearsals.  Typically they don't go well.  Lighting issues, missing props, forgotten lines, technical glitches, production challenges and a myriad of unexpected obstacles. Yet inevitably a not-so-great dress rehearsal is a sure sign for a fabulous opening night.  If this is a metaphor for an author's final day before the launch of her debut novel, then I'm ready for tomorrow!  Today was a terrible day.  Disappointments, delays, and discouraging news.  But that's the publishing business and the realities of launching a debut novel.  That's life sometimes.  But the show must go on and so will the book launch!  Lights....camera...action! Tomorrow I bring you "Stelladaur: Finding Tir Na Nog"!
 

2 Days till Launch!

I've been working almost around the clock to get everything in place for the book and academy launch in two days.  Actually, since it's past midnight, this post is technically going out with only ONE DAY till Launch!  But I'll post again later in the day.  Yes, I'm excited!  But I'm more exhausted!  As author-publisher-publicist-and president-and-founder of an online educational company, I have discovered that writing the book is by far the easiest part.  Oh, to have time to finish Book Two of The Stelladaur Series: Fading Heart!  Just thinking about it feels like a mini vacation.  Alas, the only thing that will come close to a vacation right now is going to bed before 2:00 a.m... and so I shall.  Right now.  No more work.  Not this yesterday.

3 Days till Launch: My Alphabet for Authors

Sometimes it’s a good idea to look at old things in a new way.  Nothing in my Alphabet for Authors is new information but hopefully it will spark your creative juices.


A - Affirm aloud: “I am a writer!”
There’s a fine line between affirming who you are and what you do.  This affirmation comes when you   clearly know and feel the difference between the two. Then, when you say, “I am a writer” the ego is out of the way.

B - Browse your local bookstore.
There’s nothing quite like perusing the aisles of a bookstore.  I especially love small, independent bookstores—the kind with creaky wooden floors, bookshelves that fold open to reveal hidden storage spaces, and comfy over-stuffed chairs.

C - Create something new today.
Creativity is only limited by one’s imagination.  Excellent writers understand the importance of creativity in everything they do.

D - Delete at least one sentence from each page of your manuscript.
This simple exercise is a powerful way to begin editing.  Read each sentence with the following questions in mind:  Does this sentence move the story along?  Is it vital to the scene?  Does it have a definite purpose?  If the answer is ‘no’ to any of these questions, strike the sentence.
   
E – Embrace Editing and do it AGAIN!
Embracing the editing process means you open your eyes, heart and mind wide to recognize how unpolished your manuscript may be.  My first novel was edited dozens and dozens of times.

F - Finish a chapter.
No matter what, just get it done!  Then work on making the ending of each chapter, and the beginning of the next chapter, seamless yet purposeful.

G - Give yourself permission to write.
Put everything else on hold and do what you love to do.  Say ‘no’ to the endless list of other demands, both self-imposed and otherwise. C’mon…you know want to!

H – Hook 
Make sure your one sentence elevator pitch grabs the attention of anyone who hears it.  The jacket blurb (short synopsis printed on the back of your book) absolutely must pull the reader in.  Writing a pitch, blurb and synopsis requires many revisions to get it just right.

I -  Imagination and Intrigue Invite Interesting characters.
All interesting characters have a certain quality that makes them believably intriguing.  Interview your characters; spend time with them.  When you listen, they’ll tell you all kinds of things.

J - Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents: check it out.
     http://jeffherman.com

K - Keep at it!
Authors in today’s market must be resilient, dedicated, and just keep at it.  The best antidote for the tough times is to write.  Write.  Write.  Write.
     
L - Literary Marketplace: Subscribe today.
The world’s largest and most complete database of the book publishing industry.
      http://literarymarketplace.com
     
M - Memorize your pitch…then practice it.
Here’s the rundown on mastering your pitch.  Write it.  Rewrite it. Rewrite it.  Rewrite it. Memorize    it. Practice it until it doesn’t sound like you’re reciting it from memory.  Practice. Practice.  Practice.  Above all else, remember to relax, breathe, and if at all possible, smile when introducing yourself to an agent. Remember, they are people, too.
     
N - News: Read online newspapers.
Reading about what’s going on in your local community, the country, and the world, provides an endless source of character and plot ideas.  Certainly there are other ways to gather ideas for stories, but don’t discount the news—besides, someday your novel may be the next big headline!

O - Open a favorite book you haven't read in years and read it again.
There’s nothing quite like rereading one of your favorites.  It’s sort of like biting into fine chocolate.  Delectably yummy!

P - Publisher's Weekly: subscribe today.
This online publication provides valuable information on international news related to the book publishing and book selling industries.  www.publishersweekly.com

Q - Query
After you’ve researched, written, edited, and submitted, remember this:  A perfect query letter does NOT equal representation!  There are far too many factors in the equation.  Don’t let the word “query” cause you unnecessary grief or angst.  Accept the fact that it’s just part of the process.

R - Respect your agent's and editor's time...respect your own time.
Don’t be needy, clingy or demanding of your agent or editor.  Do be professional, patient and respectful.  Set boundaries in your life and relationships so others respect your writing time, and so they don’t become needy, clingy or demanding of you.

S - Synopsis: Condense it.
A synopsis is a brief summary.  ‘Brief’ means concise, succinct, or with few words.  ‘Summary’ means comprehensive.  Hence, when you write a synopsis for your novel use as few words as possible and only as comprehensive as is necessary.  A synopsis in a query letter should only be one paragraph, unless an agent’s submission guidelines specifies otherwise.

T - Trust your inner voice.
Write from your heart.  Edit from your head.  Not an easy thing to do.  Creativity is the language of our own inner voice.  It’s not a language you can learn from a blog post, in a class, or from anyone else.  You’re the teacher and the creator.  Once you know that, then you’ll trust your inner voice and live from your heart.  The writing will come from that place.
     
U - Understand why you write and you will better understand yourself.
I write so the unexpected magical things in life come alive.  In myself.  In my life.  On the page.  It’s that simple.  Why do you write?  

V - Viewpoint: Reread or rewrite your manuscript from a different viewpoint.
Point of View isn’t just about who is telling the story.  It’s also about considering each of your characters’ viewpoints—their emotions, feelings, responses, etc.—in such a way that you actually write their story from their own point of view.  Know your characters better than anyone else does.

W - Writer's Conference: Research options and sign up for one today.
I go to a writer’s conferences with an open mind, ready to absorb information and learn about craft, industry and myself.    

X - eXpect results equal to your efforts, skill, determination, talent, and perseverance.
One of the keys to success as an author is to make sure your expectations are high enough to continually reach outside your comfort zone, but realistic in relation to your present strengths and weaknesses.  When it comes right down to it, you have to make it happen. So expect your best. Then trust it’s enough.

Y - YES! The word you will be shouting the day your book is published!

Z - Zany: Do something silly every day!
If you feel like you’re in a rut, you are.  Get up and do something out of the ordinary.  This creates positive energy.  Writer’s block comes from blocked creativity, which comes from blocked, or negative energy.  Be Z-A-N-Y and Zap Away Negative Yuck!

4 Days till Launch! - Giftedness in Youth

Typically the term “giftedness” is used to describe one having a special talent or ability, or having exceptionally high intelligence.  Another definition is having or showing natural talent or aptitude.  At first glance, we tend to associate giftedness with outstanding academic abilities, or prodigy-level musicians and artists.  However, if we look more closely at the definitions, giftedness encompasses much more and is likely a quality found in most children, and some adults.

If an individual has a particular talent, he or she has a specific ability to do something, which perhaps someone else may not: sing, dance, paint, design, write, perform in sports, etc.  Or a person may excel in a specific subject at school, like math or science, which may then qualify him or her to participate in a “gifted and talented program”.  Similarly, aptitude refers to either a person’s capability to do something, or his or her intelligence.  One’s capability can be an innate or acquired capacity. 

For example, many children are capable of learning basic math skills at a young age, but children with an innate aptitude for math would likely be able to calculate sums in their head, understand or create their own story problems, and grasp more complex number concepts long before they reach kindergarten. 

My oldest son is gifted in this way.  At age four he understood and could complete hand-written long division problems.  He also introduced me to the Fibonacci sequence!  I think he first heard about it on a PBS special.  I must admit, when he asked me to explain the Fibonacci sequence to him, I simply said, “The fibbo-what?”

“You know, Mom, the numbers you add together to get the next number.”  I remember just staring at him and shrugging my shoulders, but he continued.  “It’s like adding zero plus one to equal one.  Then one plus one equals two.  Then two plus one equals three.”  He lost me long before 21 + 34 = 55.  I had no idea how he could calculate those numbers, much less repeat the word Fibonacci!  Some 25 years later, I have to do a Google search on the Fibonacci sequence to remind myself what it is, and to acquire the capacity to calculate it.  But not my son, his aptitude for math is innate.

Since aptitude also refers to intelligence, we must also explore that word, if we are to truly understand giftedness in children.  The dictionary defines intelligence as an aptitude for grasping truths, relationships, facts and meanings; or discernment.  It’s interesting that this series of words is used to describe intelligence when we consider that to discern something we perceive by sight, sense or intellect.  Perceiving something tangible by sight is explainable, but what if the thing a child perceives is a formless truth?  What if a child simply knows something inside him self or her self but doesn’t know how to explain it, or even what it means?  Using his or her innate intelligence how is this talent, ability, aptitude, or capacity to perceive validated?  Most often, it is not.

Innate intuitiveness, often coupled with an acute ability for imagination, is a type of giftedness most people are born with.  Even when still in the womb, babies can easily perceive or sense the mother’s emotions and feelings. A baby that does not yet have the ability to communicate with words can simply perceive or sense something is amiss, and he or she will respond accordingly by fussing, crying or tensing up.  Parents or teachers sometimes say a child is so smart that “nothing gets past the child.”  This likely has more to do with innate discernment—or the gift of intuitiveness—than it does with I.Q. 

Unfortunately, somewhere between infancy and adolescence, most children let go of intuitiveness because our society does not place value on this ability.  Imagination is traded for visible, tangible facts.  Insight and discernment are discarded for more acceptable forms of achievement.  Thus, highly intuitive and sensitive young people can easily get lost among the crowd of the academically driven and rewarded mainstream.

At The Stelladaur Academy, imagination and intuitiveness are recognized and honored as viable measures of giftedness.  The mission of The Stelladaur Academy is to provide an online campus where young people discover the value of imagination and intuitiveness in the pursuit of knowledge, creative renewal, and compassionate living.  The main resource for the curriculum is my young adult transformational fantasy titled “Stelladaur:Finding Tir Na Nog”.  I coined the phrase “YA Transformational Fantasy” to convey the message that a book only makes a significant difference when the one reading it does so with the intent to be that difference.  The Academy helps kids rediscover their own innate gifts and talents, as they come to understand it is they who make the difference in our world.

The Stelladuar Academy officially opens with the launch of the novel on March 1, 2013.

7 Days till Launch: Meet the Guardian of Nature

It was a sunny early spring day today and I took a much needed break from my desk to rake leaves and sticks from my flowers beds.  Alas!  I discovered crocuses and lilies in bloom!  Poor things buried under all that dead debris.  As I dug in the dirt and pulled up overgrown ground cover, I thought about Jaida, one of my favorite characters Stelladaur: Finding Tir Na Nog.  Here is a brief excerpt from Chapter 19 to introduce you to this intriguing character.

                                                           * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Reilly opened his mouth to speak but gulped for breath as a mighty gust of wind overtook them. They turned towards the wind and saw streaks of bright green—a jet stream from something that had whipped by too fast for them to see. Then another whoosh of tremendous force blew past them in long streaks of green from the other direction. From behind them, someone spoke.

“I am called Jaida.” It was a female voice, gentle and calm.

Reilly and Norah faced the creature and dropped their jaws, still surprised by the continual unexpectedness in the realms unknown to them before.

“I am the Guardian of Nature,” she said, her long hair flowing with green threads of shimmering seaweed. “It is my purpose to protect the spirit of all living things.” Fastened to uneven sections of her hair by green stems were flowers of many colors and varieties. Like strings of randomly twinkling lights, the blossoms transformed continuously into other flowers and buds. Jaida’s two arms were moss-covered branches, and her hands were multi-pointed maple leaves. Though her shoulders were bare, her upper torso was covered in iridescent green scales, which blended into the feathered lower portion of her body. Reilly could not tell whether the scales and feathers were part of her body or her clothing. Tied about her neck was a flowing cloak, a collage of green leaves, which trailed behind her like an elaborate bridal train gathered about her in a sweeping fashion on the ground. Exquisitely camouflaged throughout the cloak—yet still appearing in their natural color- ings—were small animals, birds, insects and reptiles, some poking their heads up slightly as if to see who Jaida was speaking to.

“This is Nebo,” said Jaida, nodding to a bald eagle perched on her right shoulder. The bird’s white head towered above Jaida. “He is the Guide of Wisdom, whose influence flows endlessly through all living things.” The eagle blinked slowly as he, too, nodded to Reilly and Norah.  They returned the greeting with a slight bow.

“Reilly, because you have an innate ability to listen to the spirits of other living things, your visit to Gwidon is primarily a reminder to you of what you already know within yourself,” said Jaida, her

scaly green breast rising as she spoke. “Norah, you, too, will learn from these same Spirits of Nature. They will aid you both in the healing of your souls and will offer simple treasures of delight, as you allow them. This is the purpose of Nature.”

Reilly and Norah listened carefully, glancing occasionally at the creatures peering up at them from Jaida’s cloak. Nebo continued to blink slowly and nod slightly ....

... Jaida’s own two eyes glistened like emeralds and her green fuzzy lips—reminding Reilly of a plant called Rabbit Ears that grew in his front yard—twitched at the corners.... Jaida scrunched her delicate nose until it took the form of a conch shell ... 

“Green reflects respect for life in all forms. It brings endless growth and fertility, creating perfect balance through the Spirits of Nature. When Nature’s spirit is disrupted or harmed in any way, all other forms suffer as well. Most human beings are unaware of their power to create a peaceful balance with life.” Jaida looked adoringly at the creatures nodding beneath her skirt. “Those who listen to the Spirits of Nature are more enlightened in their ability to create this balance.”

“Can you repeat that?” Norah asked. “I don’t know if I can remember all of that.”

“You need only remember the feeling. Nature will remind you of all else.” 

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

8 Days till Launch: New Cover Image for Stelladaur

Hard copy and paperback copies are now in my hands!  One week from today and they will be available for purchase!  Check out the new cover image with the titles done in embossed silver and blue foil.  I love it!!!  The image you've seen before was only for the Advance Reader Copies which were printed on a digital press and did not have this special treatment.  And because of the layering process required for embossing, the printer doesn't actually have an image of the cover, only images of the layers.  So I had to wait until I had the book in hand, and then have the book professionally photographed before it could be uploaded to any websites.  So here it is!  And wait till you see the full jacket for the paperback.  The artist, Konohiki Place is amazing!