It’s November already?

I’m not quite certain where the time has gone but none-the-less it went bye-bye.  Halloween was wonderful for what it was and Autumn has brought forth any reason I can think up to have pumpkin scented or flavored whoosits and whatsits.  I’ve been buried deep in the torture….I mean help….of my beta readers because I doubt I could get along without them.  The first go-round was draining enough.  This time I believe that I have a bit more confidence behind me, even if it’s not me as per se.  Although I haven’t met my goal of finishing the second book to get it out in time for Halloween, I’m shooting for a Christmas release.  No promises, but I am going to work my hardest.  In translation, I might be a little cranky from time to time since 300 plus pages isn’t something to just throw out there.

So back to it being November.  Yay, right?  It’s a month of almost everything happening at the same time.  Veteran’s Day comes first for me and is quite important as my family is deeply rooted in the military one form or another, I am certain I will touch base more as the day comes around. We have the lovely Thanksgivukkah which has cutely combined the interesting crossover of Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah/Chanukah.  I think its a great combination if you ask me.  Bring out the turkey fryers filled with oil and give plenty of thanks.  Spend time with people that you care about, or at least know that you will have a slight chance of making it out alive after being around.  Avoid the stores.  Yep, I’m one of those. I’m not about to head out into the stores to do shopping for the people I was oh-so-close to using the carving knife on hours previous.

Birthdays!!!! That’s the most important thing going on in November for me.  Why?  Because I get older.  Yay….oh wait…..yay?  I was one of those kids who had such a wonderful time fighting Thanksgiving fever and hardly ever getting a birthday wish.  I have deemed my birthday a national holiday, but I’m not quite certain the trend has taken full effect though.  Just remember, November 27th is J.S. Riddle day and we’ll be good to go.  Buy me a drink and I’ll be even happier.  This year it’s not about me, though.  I will be getting a brand new niece (cue the Price is Right music) that I am head over heels excited about.  

Let’s not forget Sir Ares.  He’s an old man, hitting the bit 11 and as his health seems to get better hit attitude remains full of sassy old man syndrome.  I swear if he were a human he’d be yelling at us to all keep it quiet because we’re making too much noise.  Speaking of old farts…I have to share the month with my father.  5 days forever between birthdays and most of the time we combined it.  But hey, I suppose our crotchety attitude toward Thanksgiving stealing our glory combined is nothing to scoff at.  We do it loud and proud. 

So that’s it.  A bunch of gibberish of me basically saying I’m alive and not to send out a search and rescue team.  Oh wait, you weren’t? 

 

For Love of Beta Readers

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Since we all know new ventures on the rise and book two is getting closer to completion (hold on, we know editing is next, that’s the pain in the butt to add extra pain me thinks) I want to thank my Beta readers.  I love them dearly with all my heart and am glad I have people looking out for me.  As the information keeps piling in I get to gather and work on those when I am at a blocked moment from writing.  That and its easier to make changes and watch a movie at the same time.  Score 1 for the hermit!!!!

With the world of traditional publishing, I have heard quite a lot.  As a person is presented an editor, you get the same process.  I’m still trying to figure out the big differences, but top notch editors and shelf space in many more physical places.  From what I’m understanding anyway, that’s even hard for them as bookstores keep closing.  So it comes back to us.  The writers.  The marketers (us, although I’m still waiting for a taker on that one), the publishers, the final editors, designers, practically the whole thing we pull out of a rabbits hat, although its better than the behind of a bunny I suppose.

The Beta readers, or even early readers after launch, are the KEY.  I mean the KEY and they need to be loved.  So give a reader a big hug when you see them.  If they’re helping in any way but giving help or writing reviews then they deserve a big hug.

Oh, and as excited as I am I may have found an interesting use for Twitter after all.  Aside from my blog heading that way, I’ve met some great fans that have become friends and heck I get to talk about my zombie, gaming, Doctor Who stuff 😀  I waved at people today.  Go me.

Social media = headache = owwwwwww.

And the early Beta starts!!!!

I’m over 50k words into the first book, and those have not been finalized so it is a draft.  Real draft ready to be molded and suggested.  I would prefer someone who read the first to be able to understand what’s going on, or you could read it for grammar issues (A rule that I suck at).  Things will be handed out in sections of course, but I wanted to get a little heads up this time.  Am I jumping the broom too soon?

email me @ jsriddle2@gmail.com – Subject Line Beta Reader interest.

Am I jumping the gun on this?  I’m new to having extra help 🙂

I love my peeps that have helped me and Ionia and Charles that have kept me going with that cattle prod of theirs.

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