Day 80: It’s Getting Real
I broke the Sunday Rule. My wife and I are both self-employed, so it’s easy for us to work pretty much all the time. We have a rule that Sundays are a no-work day for us. It ensures that we have at least one day where the work tasks are left alone and we do other things.
Well, yesterday I broke that rule. Jodie was napping, and Connor was watching Winnie the Pooh. On Saturday I had begun setting up Forever the Road at a new distributor, but hadn’t finished. So on Sunday I took about 15 minutes and worked on it a little more. Guilt-ridden, I also confessed my transgression to Jodie as soon as she woke up. I certainly don’t want to make a habit of breaking the Sunday Rule, but I’m also glad I moved that new setup along.
What can I say? It’s been a busy, busy past few days at Author HQ. There may be less than a month to go before Forever the Road launches on Sept. 8, but there’s more to do than ever. Behind the scenes I’m doing interviews, setting up distribution accounts, and rocking some new opportunities for indie authors. Here’s some of the latest…
You Can Now Pre-Order FOREVER THE ROAD at Amazon’s Kindle Store
And yes, my Kindle’s name is Yakisoba.
On Aug. 14, 2014, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing announced that indie authors now could also use Amazon’s pre-order feature. Previously open to various publishers and some big-name author/publishers, pre-order is something indie authors like me have requested for a long time. Once word came, I immediately set up pre-orders for Forever the Road, one of the first indie authors to take advantage.
So at long last, Amazon has joined the ranks of booksellers offering e-book pre-orders to all indie authors who want to take advantage (thank you, Amazon!). You can now pre-order the Forever the Road e-book edition at these stores:
P.S.: “But what about the paperback?” you ask. We’ll talk about that more tomorrow.
Autographs
Now that Forever the Road is on the Kindle Store, I could also add it to my Authorgraph service.
Authorgraph lets readers ask authors to sign their e-books. It’s pretty sweet, and I love being able to autograph not only physical copies, but digital books too.
You can now ask me to sign not only FTR, but all Rucksack Universe titles.
New Author Interview
And, on Aug. 16-17, 2014, fantasy writer A.F. Stewart posted her author interview with me, and her Book Spotlight on Forever the Road.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Q: Travel is a big part of your narratives, and you’ve had your own travel adventures. How much of what went into your books is from firsthand experience, and how much is from other research?
A: I use my boots-on-the-ground travel experiences to bring depth and verisimilitude to everything I write, while steering clear of the autobiographical. Of course, there are elements of my travels and person in my stories and characters—there’s a reason black coffee and stout beer are two of the four most important drinks in the Rucksack Universe! (Hmm. Suddenly, I’m thirsty.)
Forever the Road is set in India, in the fictional city of Agamuskara, which was founded by the first people to settle in the subcontinent. The city—and its river of the same name—is reminiscent of Varanasi with its dirty-yet-holy river, crowds, fascinating and diverse people, narrow streets, and heat.
Faddah Rucksack, one of my world’s main characters, says that “The only thing you can expect about India is that it will be itself.” And it’s true. India is a very in-your-face-with-everything-there-is-in-the-world country. It is intense, and pretty much every extreme of humanity and life co-exists there, often side by side.
I also use research to round out my knowledge or check details. However, one of the benefits of writing fiction is I can also make things up to fit the story, while also making the story fit the world. However, if I’m setting a story somewhere, I want to have traveled there too, because there are things you only learn from experience.
Check out A.F. Stewart’s full interview here »
Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Book Spotlight: Forever The Road »
Yeah, it’s been an intense few days.
Yet it still feels like we’re just getting started. Thanks for being along for the ride!
That’s the news—for now—from the Rucksack Universe, where the beer is always fresh, all the locals are friendly, and the food never makes you sick.
From the Book
“It’s my turn to save you. Move your arse. Don’t you dare let me go unavenged.”
— Forever the Road
Last Chance to Win a Book – Goodreads Giveaway Closes Aug. 20
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Forever the Road
by Anthony St. Clair
Giveaway ends August 20, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Tune in Next for…
- Tues., Aug. 19, Day 81: 20 Days Till Forever the Road; Goodreads Giveaway Closes Aug. 20
- Sat., Aug. 23, Day 85: Goodreads Giveaway Winners
100 Days to Forever
On Sept. 8, 2014, Forever the Road, the third Rucksack Universe book, will be released as an e-book and trade paperback worldwide.
During our 100 Days to Forever lead-up, you can follow all the adventure on the blog via the 100 Days to Forever category, on my email list, and at the #100DaysToForever hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest.