Of Book Launches, Blog Posts and Radio Interviews.

Cross posting not working.
Manual posting:
http://karencarlisle.purplefiles.net/2015/05/31/of-book-launches-blog-posts-and-radio-interviews/

Guest Blog Post: Revelry at Steampunk Coffeetime Romance and More

Greetings and welcome to the Steampunk Revelry at my guest blog post at Steampunk Coffeetime Romance and More!

Sit down, have a cup of tea and join me in an overindulgence of dark chocolate. Today we celebrate the launch of my new book, The Adventures of Viola Stewart Journal #1: Doctor Jack and Other Tales (paperback compilation) and the Doctor Jack eBook.

Start: Thursday 28th May 12 am  - Finish: midnight (US Pacific time) For Australia: Thursday 28th May at 4.30pm to Friday 29th May at 4.20pm.

Pop over and read my guest blog.
Read an excerpt from the novella, try the crossword and enter in the Rafflecopter competition for a chance to win an ebook copy of both The Adventures of Viola Stewart: Three Short Stories and The Adventures of Viola Stewart: Doctor Jack. 

  

Thanks to Steampunk Coffeetime Romance and More for asking me to join in on the fun - and leading up to my book launch on Saturday 30th May at the Steampunk Festival.

Look to the Skies

Autumn is my favourite time of the year. The garden is recovering from our scorching summer. The rains are returning, bringing with them the rich smell of wet earth. Now the writing frenzy is over, I have time to grab my camera and look to the skies to see wondrous colours, rainbows and spectacular cloud formations.

1. Rainbow/  2. Fog in the Hills/ 3. A Tidal Wave of Cloud/ 4. Autumn Leaves/ 5. A Ray of Light.

All photos (c) 2015 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.

Look to the Skies

May Tea and Tidings newsletter has flown

Welcome to my new subscribers!

If you have signed up for my newsletter, Tea & Tidings , you should be receiving your copy, soon.

If you wish to subscribe for future copies, don’t forget to sign up – Just follow THIS LINK.

May Tea and Tidings newsletter has flown

The Law of Murphy

Most of you have probably heard of Murphy’s Law:

Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Over the years I have had more than just a passing acquaintance with dear, unrelenting, Murphy. Honestly, I wish he would stop hanging around and buggering things up. Hasn’t he got any where else to be? He has plagued me most heinously over the past few months. Enough already!

Back in February, I thought I would be clever and give myself well over two months to do final rewrites and edits on my novella. Hey, it was only a novella after all. Not even half a novel length. Right?

I had a neatly packaged timetable all drawn up, leaving a month to order a proof copy of my book, do a leisurely final read through and get books posted to me a few weeks before my book launch at the end of May.

Ha!

Murphy is a right royal….

Things were chugging along. My deadline was but a blip on the future timeline. No problems. Then came the month of hell, starting with the death of Sir Terry Pratchett. I had met him twice. He was a lovely man. Who’d thought the death of such a fleeting acquaintance would rock me so much? After a few days of inactivity, I rallied enthusiasm by making the Doctor Jack book trailer. I was back on track.

The next blow came with the sudden decline in health of my beloved Tish – my Devon Rex cat. In twenty-two years, she had been my consolation through a tumultuous first marriage and subsequent divorce, the death of friends, increasing work anxiety and now a change of career. Thank goodness I have my family; they were now my support during the harrowing process of watching my dear friend spiral into ill health. The decision to put her to sleep was one of the most gut-wrenching in my life.

I still miss her – stealing choice morsels of food and demanding a lap to sit upon.

It was a week before I could attempt any constructive writing, only to be floored by (get this not one, but three things at once! For goodness sake, Murphy!) laryngitis, pharyngitis and infected sinuses! Two weeks of antibiotics and brain muddle is not exactly conducive to best critical assessment and rewrites.

My inner editor freaked out.

Inserting cute teapot here, for a calming effect:

Add to this computer glitches, delays completing required forms and uploading files due to forced adherence to a specific scheduled order of things (still waiting on some items to be returned to me so I can go forward on some points. Ugh), washing machine failure, resultant emergency white good shopping trip, subsequent delivery of said washing machine, required furniture moving and major laundry floor clean up – all before the half-washed load decided to grow legs and walk.

Just breathe.

My inner editor threatened to have a panic attack.

I soldiered on, with the support of my family and the help of my writing group, who rallied to aid with editing. Four beta readers, several rewrites, including a complete character background change, four line edits, and five proof read passes later – I have my proof copy and am awaiting the first shipment of books. Patiently. I am praying Murphy is not a postal worker.

I now know how to organise the publishing side of this book gig – and what order is most (and least) time proficient. I won’t need to do all of the initial registering for US tax, accounts for payment and other legal requirements. I  have a better grasp on formatting (which was the easiest step), times taken to approve, order proof copy, re-edit (There is always mistakes you miss the first twelve times round) and what the real postage times are. Next time I give myself just over three months to sort out the final publishing. Or more.

But there is a balance in the Universe.

Earlier this month I was approached by Lynne, a fellow writer and well-known Australia steampunk blogger, for an interview about my writing. You can see the interview on her blog, Cogpunk Steamscribe.

I was also contacted by the organisers of Steampunk Coffeetime Romance and More. They had already highlighted my  my eBook of Three Short Stories and invited me to do a guest blog post, on 28th May – just in time for the launch of my paperback, Doctor Jack and Other Tales, on 30th May.

Perfect timing!

Drop by their blog on 28th May and check out my post, and another chance to win a copy of both my eBooks, Three Short Stories and Doctor Jack, (eBook due out by the end of the month).

And pray the post arrives in time.

The Law of Murphy

Doctor Jack Competition Winner.

Announcing the winner of an eBook copy of Doctor Jack:

Congratulations to William J Jackson! 

William, you should have received an email on how to collect your prize.

Doctor Jack Competition Winner.

Doctor Jack and Other Tales: Book Cover Reveal

The next few weeks are going to be awesome!

Today is the cover reveal for The Adventures of Viola Stewart Journal #1: Doctor Jack and Other Tales. A paperback compilation of both eBooks – Three Short Stories and Doctor Jack. The compilation will not be available in eBook format.

Here it is….

…

…

…

The cover was designed to look completely different to the eBooks. There will be no confusion as to which format you are viewing online.

If you prefer an eBook (or want to collect the set) the stand alone novella, Doctor Jack, should be available in the next one to two weeks. Don’t forget to enter the Doctor Jack competition. Tomorrow is the last day to enter. Just sign  up on my email list for my newsletter and be in the running to get a copy.

More on the Book launch:

30th May: Paperback booklaunch at Steampunk Festival, National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide

Available on the day:

• Paperback copies will be available to purchase (you can even get them signed!)


• Viola and Men in Grey badges to purchase


• Viola and Men in Grey mug giveaway – everyone who purchases a book on the day, goes into the draw to win a mug (two chances!)


• Also available on the day: bookmarks and Octoarm jewelry

Hope I can see you there.

Doctor Jack and Other Tales: Book Cover Reveal

I know, I know. It's Another Book Post: Book Launch Info

But it is all getting exciting!
The Adventures of Viola Stewart – Journal #1: Doctor Jack & other Tales is a paperback book, combining two ebooks – three short stories and novella. Steampunk adventures with a gaslamp flavour.

Things are falling into place, after long months of writing, rewriting, rewriting some more, editing, formatting, organising and pulling out of hair.

I can now officially announce my very first book launch – for The Adventures of Viola Stewart Journal #1: Doctor Jack and Other Tales. If you live in Adelaide, why not visit the Steampunk Festival, at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide to be held on the last weekend in May?

The book launch is at  2.00 pm, Saturday 30th May.  Books will be available to buy over the weekend for $11.99 each.  Badges and Octoarm accessories will also be on sale all day.

There will be prizes on the day: Everyone who buys a book, on the day, has a chance to win a mug.

Watch out for tweets and Facebook updates on the day. — and on twitter

Steampunk Festival entrance fee: $15/ Conc: $10/ Members and children (under 15) free.

Why not stay for the day. There are steampunk stalls, entertainment, art exhibition, train rides, photo opportunities and children activities.

Steampunk Expo – May 30-31st, 2015.

I know, I know. It's Another Book Post: Book Launch Info

Calm Before the Storm

It is done!

Doctor Jack rewrites are finished. Major background changes for two characters and ending are sorted. Fifth edit and spell check are complete. The manuscript is now ready to be proof read and checked and analysed for inconsistencies by some very particular readers (thanks to Amanda for some tips on printing out for editors). The torture begins. Will there be a slew of corrections and rewrites? I need to find a vat of dark chocolate to drown my sorrows in. (Fortunately I had organised a massage appointment to start the recovery. )

While I wait for their verdict, I am delving into formatting tutorials and hoping the estimated postal delivery times are vaguely accurate. The paperback book launch is scheduled for the 30th May. Wish me luck!

In the meantime:

• you can now find me on my Goodreads author page.


• Jack Tyler’s interview with me has also been posted on his Goodreads page.


• Final touches are being put onto the Doctor Jack and Other Tales paperback cover (soon to be revealed)

Today is mother’s day. I plan to lounge around watching Midsomer Murders and Doctor Who, be fed pancakes with maple syrup and bacon and maybe indulge in a little too much chocolate. I’ll even share some with my wonderful family. I am so blessed to have them in my life.

 

 

Calm Before the Storm

May: Doctor Jack Book Launch Month

Over the next week, I will be finishing up final polishes and furiously formatting  my novella, Doctor Jack, to ready for the book launch at the end of the month (as long as the postal service delivers on its promise).

Covers, Book Trailers, Interviews and more…

While we wait, check out more on Doctor Jack:

1. The Doctor Jack book trailer is now up on YouTube.


2. Doctor Jack‘s cover was revealed on April 19th


3. A blog bit on gaslamp: Writing in the Shadows


4. 29th April: Directory of Future Stars at writers.com interview by Jack Tyler, from Steampunk Empire: Scribbler’s Den. Learn more about the characters and inspirations to write Doctor Jack.


5. Doctor Jack ebook competition:

May Doctor Jack competition

1st – 18th May: All new subscribers to Tea & Tidings, during this time, get a chance to win an ebook copy of Doctor Jack. All you have to do is subscribe (via Mailchimp) to Tea & Tidings between May 1st-May 18th, 2015.  The Winner will be announced on 20th May (here and in the newsletter).

Stay tuned… more on Doctor Jack will be revealed this month.

May: Doctor Jack Book Launch Month

I Did A Thing - Doctor Jack Book Trailer

What I am really loving about this writing gig is that it is not just writing. I get to indulge my inner photographer and movie maker and create book covers and book trailers. Squee.

Introducing…

Book Trailer #2: The Adventures of Viola Stewart: Doctor Jack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WA5Kbb_FFQ

Book trailer #1: The Adventures of Viola Stewart: Three Short Stories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbqvp-lQ5DU

I also get to make cool costume accessories (keeping my inner costumer happy). Viola has already has two eye patches to match her gowns.

I even get to play with my nib pens and ink and draw. Last month I did a thing: I designed a badge for The Society’s Men in Grey- an ouborous mounted on a cog with an ‘S’ as the cog’s centre.  Then I made a badge into a badges.

   

Such fun!

You can buy the badges for $4 each  (includes postage in Australia)
Mugs also available at my Zazzle store.

I Did A Thing - Doctor Jack Book Trailer

Blog post delay Apologies

Today has been a day of technical failures. It finally looks like the end is in sight. My apologies to you, Dear Reader.

I will publish today’s blog post as soon as everything has been fixed.

 

 

Blog post delay Apologies