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Skyla Dawn Cameron

My characters kill people so I don't have to.

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Oct 22 2018

“When’s That Book Coming?” Fall 2018 Edition

My head is still spinning from last week’s release. Not that I particularly did anything–I don’t promote, I don’t tour, and some pre-set Facebook and mailing list posts did my “advertising”.

But it was stressful nonetheless. The book was so much work, I was unable to even think about it without the urge to revise or find things to tinker. Early reception has been good so far, thankfully. Once a book is out in the world, I pretty much never look at it again–I am my first and primary reader, and I reread my own books over and over again for pleasure (and to still revise) for years before they’re published. But once they’re out the door, they’re no longer “mine” and I almost never look back unless it’s for some small continuity in sequels I’m writing.

To that end, there’s probably also a bit of mourning for me combined with the release–a period of grief that it’s officially gone from me. I both don’t miss and do miss this book; revising it over and over for so long probably created pathways and connections in my brain like any other regular habit, and now I’m a little lost without it.

Thank you to everyone for your support during this one. From my good friends who cheered me on to the readers gobbling it up and recommending it to others…the worst thing upon release is silence, and readers reaching out to me to express their fondness for the series has been both a relief and heartening.

Now, onto the fall State of the Union!

What’s New

Unless you’re living under a rock…Emperor’s Tomb released last week.

That’s it for the rest of the year, except the monthly stuff released at Patreon.

What’s Upcoming

Stuff and things in 2019! There will be a little something hopefully around February that I’ll announce in January.

Shiva’s Bow, aka Livi 4, IS coming in 2019. I want it to release in close succession with the fifth book, though–you will thank me for it when you read it–but I’m still writing that book and I need a bit of a Livi break.

If you ordered the paperback, you got the semi-official jacket copy for Shiva’s Bow to give you an idea of what it’s about. There have been two previews at Patreon, posted last year, and the book is currently awaiting another revision from me.

There are other projects coming next year that I’ve previewed for Patreon and will talk about next update when I have more written. I’m hoping to launch a new series I can alternate with Livi books.

What I’m Working On

A few small projects–Emperor’s Tomb was 131K words, which is a massive thing to write, revise, and keep track of. I’m taking a break with some shorter things for a bit. 2-3 short stories and a short Livi novella (that ties up some loose ends from the last book).

I’m hoping around December to dive right into Livi 5 (untitled). I’m about 17K into it so far. That one is a huge leap forward in the mythology of the series, and sets Livi down an entirely new road, so I’m quite excited about it–I’m just pretty burned out right now and letting it simmer a bit more.

I still have Solomon’s Seal from West’s POV I’m serializing at Patreon–that’ll finish sometime next year, I think.

 

So this was a lot of hand-wavey “I promise I still have stuff coming!”, I just don’t want to set dates/announce things until I’m fairly certain. Check back in January when I’ve rested up–I should have details for you then!

Written by Skyla Dawn Cameron · Categorized: blog · Tagged: state of the union

Oct 16 2018

Livi Talbot is back!

The hunt for immortality is on!

CAT BURGLARY. TOMB RAIDING. TREASURE HUNTING. ALL PART OF THE GAME.

At the end of a well-earned vacation, Livi Talbot is ready for more work. She just didn’t expect “work” to be a call from a friend suffering a small case of blackmail. One short Australian heist later, a simple retrieval becomes a tangle of sacred mountains, dangerous tombs, a fellow treasure hunter’s disturbing hotness, murderous sea monsters, and life-threatening danger.

Most of her usual team is AWOL, she’s now reluctant allies with her enemies, and a jail cell at best—or a bounty on her head at worst—awaits her if she puts a toe out of line. The prize for success is immortality itself, but Livi will settle for just getting out—and returning to her beloved daughter—alive…

 

Kindle US | Kindle UK | Kindle CA | Kobo | Nook | iBookstore | Smashwords | GooglePlay | Payhip | Print

 

ICYMI, here’s this book’s soundtrack. And remember, if you preordered or buy this week, I want to send you a postcard from Livi! Details here.

I’m pretty stressed and going to be offline getting some work done before I drink. A lot.

Written by Skyla Dawn Cameron · Categorized: blog · Tagged: livi talbot, new release

Oct 14 2018

Soundtrack Sunday – EMPEROR’S TOMB Edition

Two days! AAAHH! Still giving away postcards for preorders.

October 16, 2018

Stevie Wonder – “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”
The book both opens and closes to this one.

Coldplay – “Fix You”
As mentioned in the FB countdown, this is Emperor’s Tomb book theme. Lyrically it covers pretty much all of the characters on this journey.

Billie Myers – “Kiss the Rain”
There are two chapters back to back, one with a brief phone call and the other with a concluding text; the section was named after this song.

Mozart – “Lacrimosa”
Someone has a breakdown and shoots someone else in the head, and this was the song for those scenes.

Bon Jovi – “Bed of Roses (acoustic)”
Right, so…I have a new character who makes me listen to a lot of rock ballads. And plays them. Sorry not sorry.

Bon Jovi – “Always (acoustic)”
See?

Aerosmith – “Crazy (acoustic)“
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this is sort of Iluka’s song for Livi in the series, even if not really in this book.

Fisher – “You”
Livi’s song while watching her daughter sleep.
And you//You make me run//And you//You make me want to live

Chris Cornell – “Nothing Compares 2 U”
There was almost some accidental kissing to this song and I got super annoyed. You’ll be able to tell by the chapter called “Nothing Compares”.

Junkie XL – “The Devil’s Sea“
SEA MONSTER.

Kathleen Battle – “Lovers”
Stella & Marlee.
Your voice still echoes in my heart//You are my true love

Amy Lee – “Speak to Me”
A new character Stella is driven by being haunted–haunted by hope, haunted by grief–and sustained by irrational belief. The glimpses I get of her head, this is often what I hear.
I can’t let go//You’re every part of me//The space between is just a dream//You will never be alone

The Civil Wars – “Poison & Wine”
There’s a chapter named after this song.
You only know what I want you to//I know everything you don’t want me to

Shane Alexander – “Shipwrecked”
This one wasn’t actually during any shipwrecks, but after a sea monster battle Livi is curled up in her dark cabin watching old videos (chapter title “A Ghost”) and this was the song.
Can you hear me? Is someone there//Am I losing my mind, am I losing my mind?//Am I all alone, won’t you rescue me?//Talking to myself, staring at the sea

Jack Wall – “Jade Empire Theme”
Jade Empire was one of my favourite games (every time Bioware fans eagerly await a new Dragon Age game, I sadly sit in the corner thinking about Jade Empire). This is the island-appears-from-the-mist music, and any moments that are wonder/splendor instead of terror.

Junkie XL – “Figure in the Night”
In the forest/battle the forest guardians.

Mika – “Any Other World”
I tried to live alone but lonely is so lonely, alone//So human as I am, I had to give up my defenses//So I smiled and tried to mean it to let myself let go

Colin O’Malley, Troels Folmann – “Arctic Sea – Guardians of Helheim”
The fortress/the tomb.

Hans Zimmer, Junkie XL – “Is She With You?”
There’s a pretty epic battle in the tomb that I loved writing (you’ll be able to tell when reading it), and I even threw in the line “He’s with me” as a reference.

Hurts – “Somebody to Die For”
I think it’s pretty West.
I could drag you from the ocean//I could pull you from the fire//And when you’re standing in the shadows//I could open up the sky//And I could give you my devotion//Until the end of time

Audra Day – “Rise Up”
There’s a high level of action toward the climax and I was as exhausted as the characters by the end of it. When Livi falls to her knees on the beach and reaches safety, this was the song.
When the silence isn’t quiet//And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe//And I know you feel like dying//But I promise we’ll take the world to its feet

OneRepublic – “Heaven (acoustic)”
It could fit with Livi, yeah, but I’ve always heard this from West’s POV.
When the room don’t like us//I’ll be at your table//Yeah I’ll be sitting next to you//And when the world ain’t righteous//It’s raining Cain and Abels//I’ll be trying to dance with you and Everyone they say that we don’t work//But I could swear this is heaven yeah//Everyday I know that this might hurt but I don’t care//This is heaven yeah

Mozella – “Can’t Stop”
Pretty much Livi’s perspective on West at this point.
And I’ll be yours, just give me time//Give me time

Written by Skyla Dawn Cameron · Categorized: blog · Tagged: livi talbot, soundtrack sunday

Oct 08 2018

One Week!

The new Livi adventure releases one week from tomorrow! I’m doing a countdown on my Facebook page with daily facts about the new book–the writing, the mythology, and whatever else I can come up with.

You have until 10/20 to get me your address for your postcard if you preorder or buy the week of release.

I’m at the point where the book is 100% done and I am just tinkering every few hours with a word here or comma there in a scene, or rereading something for the millionth time just to reassure myself it makes sense, and it’s stupid and I will probably have to be told to leave it the fuck alone, but I’m terrified I’ve missed something and everyone’s going to then tell me about it and tell me how much it sucks and I suck and and and–

I feel doubly stupid because this is a lesson I tell other writers all the time: yes, you will miss something. Yes, someone might tell you about it. Yes, someone somewhere will be right offended about a couple of typos in a 132K-word book (dear god, I hope at this point it’s only a couple). Yes, it’s entirely possibly everyone’s going to absolutely hate it (although the odds of that are admittedly fairly slim).

So?

This beast of a book was a hell of an achievement for me, nothing is ever 100% perfect, and the fact that I did 7.5 drafts and two other sets of eyes went over everything–sometimes multiple times–indicates I have thrown everything I possibly have into the novel. If everyone’s gonna hate it, changing a word or two now isn’t going to fix that.

If these sorts of anxieties get the best of you too, just remember I’ve written like forty-something novels, dozens of novellas and shorts, and released, I dunno, like thirty or forty(?) things over the years. It happens to everyone. There’s no excuse for sloppy work, but if you can look and see how much you’ve put into a project, and YOU know, personally, it’s the best you can make it…be afraid, but do it anyway. At this point, the only thing fretting over it is accomplishing is making me lose time on other projects, and fuck THAT.

Written by Skyla Dawn Cameron · Categorized: blog

Sep 18 2018

One Month to Go

The countdown is on to the next Livi Talbot adventure: Emperor’s Tomb releases four weeks from today.

A reminder that if you pre-order or buy the week of release (print or ebook), you can forward the receipt/screenshot/etc (blank out personal info as needed) to me with your address and I’ll send you a personalized postcard from Livi late October (open international). I’ve tested out the email address a few times and it should work for forwarding, but I’ll reply with confirmation–if you don’t hear back from me, try again!

Preorder: Kindle US | Kindle UK | Kindle CA | Kobo | Nook | iBookstore | Smashwords

I’m planning a final proofread of this beast of a book early October. I have a couple of tweaks to do–there are a few lines that are bothering me, but I’m trying to give myself a bit more distance before I go back and tinker. I think I’ll need a bit of a break from Livi & co afterward, although the fifth book is in progress, the fourth is in revisions, and there’s a short novella in the works, I am exhausted. I don’t love the characters/world any less, I just need a vacation from it and come back refreshed.

There is still the Patreon postcard story in progress, and Solomon’s Seal from West’s POV for the West Is Best Club, but a few hours a month is vastly different from every waking moment being spent re-revising nearly 130K words for the bazillionth time.

Thankfully I have no shortage of things to work on, and maybe I’ll have news about something later in the year.

Speaking of vacation, I’m on my yearly week of holidays for my birthday. Nothing exciting except avoiding contact with humans, gaming (NEW TOMB RAIDER), bingeing Netflix, and doing big cleaning/purging projects. Saturday night is my birthday part–Google Hangout since most of my friends are in different timezones–and that’s about it. I’ll be back to work next Monday if the giant pile of laundry I’m tackling doesn’t kill me first.

Written by Skyla Dawn Cameron · Categorized: blog · Tagged: livi talbot, preorder

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MEET SKYLA DAWN

Writer of horror, mysteries/thrillers, and urban fantasy.
Fifth-generation crazy cat lady. Bitchy feminist.
So tired all the goddamn time.

My characters kill people so I don’t have to.

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