Paraphrasing a dozen or so emails:
Will there be more in Days of Swine and Roses/Silent Blade/ A Mere Formality worlds? Will there be a novel set in Days of Swine and Roses/Silent Blade/ A Mere Formality worlds? Why don’t we have a novel now?
Because we’re hard-pressed by deadlines. We’re really not short story writers. Once in a while an idea strikes, but mostly, we write novels.
You should totally sell the short stories.
:Scratches head: It’s already available for free, so I don’t know if I feel right about selling them.
What about a tip jar?
Heh, you guys are totally awesome. Thanks. But I think we’re okay. Besides, last time I had one, people started donating $50 at a time, and while I appreciate it, I have an idea of how much our work is worth and it’s not $50, I can tell you that.
Is there going to be a beta thing for Kate 5?
We have to keep a very strict schedule right now, which means that as a beta you may have to read 2,000 words a day as they’re written. It’s almost a job. While I’d like to have another beta – we have one now and she is much awesome – I don’t know if I can inflict that kind of punishment on someone. I always feel funny about asking because a lot of people who used to beta are friends and I know they may want to feel emotionally obligated to take on this load of work, when they really don’t have the time.
What is happening with Curran POVs?
I need to format it and then they will go on Smashwords as a file for download. Already have a cover of sorts. Just need to get it done.
I love the “tip jar” question as well as the answer.
One stupid question? Did you draw your wolf avatar?
You know…
The first things I look at too when reading this section are the wolf or panda avatars, to try and gauge the mood of the blog post.
They’re so cute. n_n.
I love the tip jar idea…you should do it through paypal so we can all send you a tip. When a book is so good we’re reading it more than once and coming back to it again and again then it/you both are worth a tip. Buying the book is cheaper then going to the movies, is far more entertaining, and entertains for far more hours! You deserve a reward.
I think a tip jar is a great idea. If you make people’s life better and they want to say thanks how is that wrong? Think of it this way, you books average 9 hours in audio { I know people read faster but to read out loud that is how long it takes, on adverage} So, currently 4 Kate and Edge = 45 hours of joy for what, $7 a book? That’s $35 for 45 hours of joy? And that’s if you only read them once and don’t spend any time talking or imagining. I think that is a steal.
Only 2000 words a day? That’s not bad at all. I’d be game.
Oh, heck YES! Me too! I’m a hermit. My kids are grown. I could do that standing on my head.
I have to agree with Diane, a tip jar with paypal is a great idea. However I also see your dilemma there is always the tiniest risk of alienating some readers who may be down in the slumps. I’ve been where you guys are and it’s rough. There were times I didn’t know what to do or how I was gonna do it, but sooner or later it does get better is all I can say. As for the beta thing I totally volunteer myself if you’re looking. I work one day a week so I can spend time with my boys at home, but they know: Momma likes to read. LOL. So I can’t say dont worry cuz you will anyway, but it does get better and your readers are behind you a hundred percent. Much love.
i shall flood you with rice! RICE I SAY!
:::sighs:::: i am looking forward to kate 5. if only for the slobbery grendel :::grins:::
I currently read about 350 pages a day. (Let’s just say, 4 kids, 4 drop off/pick up lines, hours in parent corrals outside dance class/on bleachers, and thank heavens for my iPhone’s ebook apps and leave it at that.)
Sign me up for free reading. I can beta. You couldn’t pay me to beta some things, but I’d be happy to pay you to beta Gordon’s grocery list.
::laughs:: I’ll definitely keep it in mind.
I don’t need no stinkin list, I totally wing it. We always have plenty of chips and soda. And doughnuts.
Sorry, but what’s smashwords? I really want to get my hands on the Curran POV when it goes up, so apparently I need to figure out what this is!
Taaa daaaa!
http://www.smashwords.com/
Thanks!
Oooooooh. Curran POVs.
Love them. Looking forward to more in the future. are we getting the silver golem one or did that fall through? Either way, love them.
I made the mistake of adding a major in history at the start of my senior year in college only 2000 words would be a joy to read. What I like most about your writing is that I need to read not skim them. If you need another reader it would be a pleasure. As an additional inducement, my younger sister is an English teacher. She proofed all my papers in high school and at college and if that fails we can run it past my husband who also finds the same delight you seem to have in selcting just the right word.
I agree with Michelle that is possible to read a tremondous amount while waiting for family. It is even easier if it an author you enjoy. Sign me up for beta reading, I need to laugh more.
I’d love to beta!!!! A tip jar is a great idea so we can give something back to our dear authors. x
But I understand if you don’t choose me because there’re so many fantastic people out there wanting to beta read too. So I’m going to whisper pick me quietly, lol.
I’d support the idea of a tip jar with much enthusiasm. If you don’t want to make it put-a button-up-on-website-official, we’ll find it somehow as long as you let us know if you’ve got Paypal set up.
Also, do you need anyone to proofread the Curran POV’s? I’d be happy to do it.
Ditto. More than happy to proofread Curran POV.
With all due respect…
You are not the best judge of what you work is worth. If someone tips you $50, it’s because a.) your work means that much to them/gave them that much enjoyment and b.) they can afford it. While the best compliment we as fans can give you is to get others to buy and read your work, sometimes it’s nice to be able to do something more direct when we’re in a position to do so.
As for paying for the POV’s, etc.–I’d gladly pay for them grouped into a single file and formatted for my Kindle (or Sony, Nook, iPad, you get the idea). It’d be nice to have them in the same format as I do your other work, and on hand at all times!
Hang in there–summer’s coming eventually, even here to the Northwest!
I totally agree with Victoria, if people couldn’t afford to tip you they simply wouldn’t do it. The tip jar is a great idea becuase people would be able to show you how much they appreciate you/your work and they’d know the money was going directly to you rather than being shared out between a ton of people. You should seriously consider it because ya could end up a gazillionaire
*rolls eyes* please ignore the sloppy spelling,my only excuse is the hangover from hell
I really don’t have much to do atm, so you could hit me anytime, I’d be grateful
Like hapalochlaena, I’d also be happy to proofread Curran POVs if you’d need someone.
Another Beta reader volunteer here. Reading 2000 words? As a person with a Phil major, history and english minor…Um that is light reading. But I understand that beta means being very, very aware of sentence structure, and beta also means keeping up with character movement…so people don’t suddenly appear in a scene when they are tied up elsewhere.
I would love to be a beta, though I am not certain of my skills. I find that when I read something, I may be thinking “isn’t she supposed to be 3 hours away?” or “what happened to the dog?”, but I just gloss over it in order to make the story work. Maybe this would change if I was reading it critically, rather than recreationally.
Anyhoo… how much would I have to pay to be a beta? I can’t afford more than $100.
I am adding my yes vote for a tip jar, and here is why.
‘Tip’ is a added bit a money for what the receiver had gotten in enjoyment from your imagination. I realize you don’t see your short stories as worth alot, but again, it’s what we get out of it.
When my father was dying, and I was the ‘home nurse’ helping him to die at home as he wanted, your stories were PRICELESS. They took me out of the sadness and grief and day to day ‘ick’ to a place where I could laugh.
Priceless.
Fifty dollars was too cheap.
That’s all!!!!???? Sign me up!! I would love the privilege of reading your work! And you can count on me to be honest, your guys deserve praise because you really give us great stuff to devour. I speed read, and the sheer fact that I don’t skim your books at all, is testament to how awesome your writing is. I don’t wast time reading crap
life’s too short to waste on junk!
“I have an idea of how much our work is worth and it’s not $50, I can tell you that.”
It may not be worth this much to you, but obviously, it’s worth that much to somebody
I like the tip jar idea!
You sell yourself far too short. But while the idea of a ‘tip jar’ is a good one, if you’re not comfortable with it, then you’re just no comfortable with it. I can respect that even if I don’t agree.
I love it when authors have free reads available, especially when they’re new to me. Having said that, I would hand over dollars for the Curran POVs. You guys are worth it.
I must say I would also hand over dollars to have all the Curran POVs together and be able to get to them whenever I want whether I am online or not. Also love all the books they just keep getting better.
Oh, I love the idea of having Curran’s POV on smashword to download and he will have his own little somewhat novella. So, does this mean we will have more Curran POVs to come?! I would DIE to have his POV on the Golem in the Games and when he rescues Kate at the end. I find reading Curran’s POVs just as exciting as reading the novel. I think it’s an ingenious idea.
I’m always so surprised at the questions you guys get from people. I would never think to ask these things. I’m just going to throw in there that I’m here if you ever need extra help with anything– promo, blog stuff, opinions, someone to laugh at your jokes, etc. — I’m here. I won’t clean up dog or cat vomit because I do that too much at my house, but otherwise, I’m open.
I don’t mind reading 2,000 words a day… heck I already do that all the time! Count me in for beta!!!
As a fan, I think a tip jar is a great idea. I bought two copies of Magic Bleeds, on two different e-readers, and didn’t think anything of it. I was supporting my fave authors, helping you on your way to the NYT list, and indirectly giving you a very small amount of money. However, I would’ve been just as happy to donate that second $7 to you directly for the amount of entertainment your blog/snippets/POVs provide.
As a wannabe author, I think a tip jar is a very strange idea. If I ever do get a book published, the idea that people might want to send me money just because I’m awesome is a concept I can’t grasp. It has no meaning to me and doesn’t fit into my view of the universe. So from that perspective, I can see why you might be weirded out by it.
This is the first time I’ve heard of beta readers, (I sporadically stop by the blog), but I am enthralled. I read on average three-five books per week and 2000 words per day is like an appetizer. If you do ever need another beta reader, (one who is relatively skilled at feedback), feel free to give me a shout.
I know there are probably thousands of offers to beta read for you, but I have to offer. My kids are grown and I don’t work. I am quite able to read more than 2,000 words a day, I assure you. I can also spell without resorting to a dictionary or spell check most of the time. And I hate typos or words misused. (Like the current trend to use than when it should be then, and vice versa.) So, maybe you were just joking about needing a beta reader, but if not…I’m your gal.