I'm taking time off of reading other works in an effort to finish my final draft edit of Purgus. I really had hoped to publish by Thanksgiving, when I would be back in Illinois and could share it with all the people I know from my high school days. It doesn't look like that is going to happen, though, as it still needs to spend some quality time with my editor. Expect a release date somewhere mid December.
I've had a very exciting couple of weeks, and I have at times felt like the cart had lost it's wheels and was running amok. We've had a busy schedule on the home front as well as a lot happening for intoxic. Self publishing has been an interesting experiment because there is nobody guiding me, really, on what to expect and what happens next. Other writers have been very helpful, where they knew the ropes, but I blazed new trails with going audio. I was determined to get my book into audio format, which none of my fellow self published writer friends had as yet done. I worked with ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) and found the perfect narrator and she has spent the past six weeks giving voice to Alison's journey. intoxic was released in audio format to AUDIBLE, AMAZON, and ITUNES on Friday November 4, 2016. I don't think I could be any more excited.
I've set it up with AudioBook Boom, a weekly newsletter, that allows listeners to hear a book at a discounted price. All in hopes of spreading the word. Ken Follet wrote, in the forward to his epic novel, Pillars of the Earth, and I paraphrase, that after he wrote Pillars and the numbers didn't instantly show that audiences were picking it up, he thought maybe he had been wrong and that it wasn't a seriously great book. Over time, though, as readers came to it and talked about it, it started to show consistent sales over a long period of time. He said that he realized then that Pillars was a "word of mouth" book. It is a book that stays with you, a book that you tell your frineds about, a book that maybe you'll want to read more than once. I certainly don't think my little book is on par with Mr. Follett's Pillars of the Earth, but I do believe that intoxic is a word of mouth book as well.
If you've read intoxic, please spread the word. On November 8, 2016, intoxic will be available through extended distribution through SMASHWORDS.COM. This will make it available for ereaders of all types, not just Kindle. If you have a Nook or Kobo or if you want it in PDF or available in an online reader, then this format is for you. Tell your friends, put reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Nobles, Book a Million, and anywhere else they will let you ut a review. Listen to the audio edition and share your thoughts. Include intoxic in your Book Club line up for 2017, it has a lot in it for really great discussions. I've loved being part of the discussions I've been envited to and would be happy to do more of that, via Skype or in person if possible. It has meant so much that people have been touched by my book, and I can't wait to share the continuation of Alison's journey, Purgus, with you in December.