Skyla Dawn Cameron

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

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“When’s That Book Coming?” Summer 2017 Edition

Summer state of the union! Read on for what released, what’s upcoming, and what I’m working on.

 

What’s New

Hauntings: Two Tales of the Paranormal released June 27. This is a pair of novellas by me and Dina James, and my contribution is a Livi novella, Ashford’s Ghost, which takes place after Odin’s Spear and dovetails into the third novel.

Four months ago, Livi successfully killed the afreet who abducted her family and tried to murder her. Then she took over his villa and made it her base of operations/home, as any respectable treasure hunter in need of better digs is wont to do. But this house is haunted, and she’s starting to think the ancient murderer she used the Seal of Solomon to destroy might not be entirely dead after all. Isolated in the house by a violent snowstorm, Livi is trapped with a dark force gathering strength by the hour, threatening not only the safety of her family but possibly her very sanity.

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

It was serialized for Patreon supporters in the months before release.

West Is Best

New on Patreon is also the West Is Best Club for members supporting at $10+ every month.

Part of that reward tier involved a second monthly snippet, which I sometimes have trouble fulfilling, but I have tons of West POV stuff both lying on my harddrive and that I write for fun.

The writers I’ve read who have success with Patreon suggest keeping it focused on things you already do: previews of what you’re already writing, behind the scenes looks at writing/revising, etc, and West POV stories certainly fall under that.

I’m starting with…

What I’m Working On

West Is Best Club is getting, for starters, a West prequel novella (will be a novel by the time revisions are done, though) called Tiger’s Memory. It’s about his first solo assignment for his agency, his first girlfriend, and how things go terribly wrong for him on both counts.

I’ve been working on it for a few weeks now and have added over 20K words already, still on the first act. It was originally a 27K novella just for me to get so background stuff figured out, but I’m delving deeper now, developing it a bit more, and I’m having a lot of fun.

There are no plans to sell it any time soon. I am, as always, exceptionally good at writing shit I will never get paid for, but for the first time in a while I’m having a blast writing. West and I get along very well–it took nearing the end of the first draft of Solomon’s Seal for him to start revealing anything to me, but now he never shuts up and I am a cat lady, so we have a good writer-character relationship.

Livi #3 was set aside briefly as it’s just giving me so many headaches. I had to rearrange a few scenes and try to figure out what’s been bothering me with it. I strongly suspect this is going to be one of those books that needs heavy revision, and perhaps more sets of eyes than I’m used to; I tend to get by with excellent beta-reading and copyediting, but this one’s really, really rough. I hate this book. I will finish it eventually, but in the meantime I loathe it.

It will not be out by the end of the year as I’d hoped; I’d rather delay books than put out something subpar. This means a big gap between releases, which is going to hit my pocketbook. I guess the question will be whether I hate Livi #3 more than Wolfe and if I’d rather jump into revising it, or what else I can consider releasing. I don’t think my heart can take a Demons of Oblivion short story or novella (fun fact: Oblivion crushed me too!). I have a (very) dark YA paranormal series with four of five books complete but I’d like the fifth done before launching it because, well, I know it sucks to wait and wait and wait for a final book in a series.

Some Patreon Thoughts

To be honest, doing a few things exclusive for Patreon (like Prey and Resist) makes me feel badly at times for the loyal readers I know can’t afford monthly support. I support a couple of things on Patreon myself at the lowest offered reward tiers as I don’t have the $$$ every month to support everything I’d like to, capped at about $5 a month, and that means missing out on some work by favourite writers at this time.

But I can’t sustain myself on book sales alone, and I’ve always been fortunate in having a few readers able and willing to give more beyond buying books. If I’ve learned anything over the years of asking for (and accepting) financial help, it’s that some people like to be patrons and one can reciprocate in other ways–for me, by sharing the stories I love. I’ve also learned that I have to be willing to do whatever it takes to survive in the arts so, well, here we are. Many friends and family chip in a few bucks a month as well–Aunt Judy was originally my very first supporter.

If you can’t kick in monthly, that’s totally okay!

If you have the spare pennies and would like to, there are lots of fun things you can get starting at a toonie a month. With my first of the month snippet, I’m including writing-related essays now, and at higher levels there’s swag, signed books, and soon I’ll be doing behind the scenes looks at the writing of stories.

What’s Upcoming

Only confirmed thing atm is Ashford’s Ghost as a single release probably late fall, no ETA yet. All Patrons of Snark will be getting a long-ish Livi Christmas story about her first Christmas in the villa, set after Odin’s Spear, the first of December (that one I might offer on Payhip for 99c afterward).

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More West on Patreon

Irrelevant to anything here, but I’ve been having fun with Inspirobot.

On Patreon for over two years (!) now, I’ve offered monthly excerpts, exclusive stories, and other goodies to my patrons on the first of every month. Two years have given me a chance to tweak things and experiment, and figure out what’s doable for offerings and what readers might like.

One thing I’ve struggled with is the second monthly update for the $10 and up people–there are signed print books, tuckerization, swag, ARCs, but what’s given me pause is trying to find another snippet when I’m having a bad month. Livi #3 has been giving me all manner of trouble, and I think nearly everything is terrible and will require extensive rewriting if not being trashed completely. And I don’t really want to share excerpts I’m not proud of and will likely cut.

So what to do?

Well, for fun this week, I’ve been writing bits of Ashford’s Ghost from West’s POV, because there’s a lot he knows that he won’t tell me until I’m in his head, and it’s usually information useful for other books. I did the same with Solomon’s Seal–I got about 12K into it, and it revealed some things I needed to know for the final truth Livi discovers from him in the epilogue for Odin’s Spear.

The trouble there is that his POV tends to be very spoilerish for future books since, well, he always knows more than Livi and the reader does about damn near everything. These are fun writing exercises for me and a couple of friends who read them, but not really stuff I can publish.

But what about Patreon, right?

When I can steal an hour here and there, I’ve been knocking away at little Patreon changes, and one of the things I’m introducing for $10+ people is the West Is Best Club. Instead of a random monthly excerpt, it’ll be West POV stuff (with everyone sworn to secrecy).

I’m starting with his prequel novella Tiger’s Memory, which I wrote early 2013 after I was done Solomon’s Seal. As it stands, it’s kind of a mess–it needs a structural overhaul, more fleshing out with additional scenes, and some pacing fixes as I’d just written a collection of scenes to give me background. A couple of friends have read it and always loved it, but it’s very spoilery for later things so I’ve just held onto it.

It was one of the last new things Aunt Judy read, though–the below tweet is in reference to it–and as she was my very first patron, I think she’d be happy if it was made available.

So…I’ll be serializing Tiger’s Memory for my mid-month updates. I’ll be rewriting chapters and adding new ones, but I’ll aim for a roughly regular posting schedule. When the novella is complete, I’ll have other West POV stories and scenes. As something new, at the $15+ level I’m going to try for chapter commentaries–audio or maybe video–as a behind the scenes look, probably interrupted by me yelling at cats.

This doesn’t change anything with regular Patrons of Snark–everyone still gets story excerpts, serialized chapters, and exclusive goodies the first of every month like always. This is just the new extra thing I’m offering.

I’m…I’m actually excited! Writing lately has involved plucking each word from my brain with tweezers and I’ve hated every moment, but spending time with my favourite manipulative feline has me giddily anticipating writing time. It’ll hopefully help me relax and I think ultimately help Livi #3 be written.

I don’t have a formal blurb for Tiger’s Memory, except to say it’s about West’s first major assignment and his first girlfriend, and how it ends very, very badly on both counts.

Up next on the blog: Sunday the soundtrack for Ashford’s Ghost will go live, Tuesday Ashford’s Ghost releases in Hauntings, and sometime next month a formal state of the union. I’ve got two big freelance projects eating up next week, then it’s all West all the time. <3

You’re welcome.

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Soundtrack Sunday – SOLOMON’S SEAL Edition

1-Solomon'sSeal-KindleThis book has been in progress since 2012, so there’s a whole amalgamation of music…

 

Gabriella Cilmi – “On a Mission“
Livi’s theme (I wrote her opening scenes to it).  I wish I could link you guys to the old Buffy vid done to this song.
If you think I’m scared, you must be tripping//Foot on gas, key in ignition//Can’t stop now ’cause I’m on a mission//I am a woman on a mission//Nothing can stop me, I’m stronger than ever

Martina Topley-Bird – “I Only Have Eyes for You“
There’s a dance scene mentioning this song–this was the version I’d listened to.

U2 – “Elevation”
Of course I was going to have songs from my Tomb Raider soundtrack.

Radiohead – “Fake Plastic Trees“
It’s not actually on this book’s soundtrack, it’s in reference to something in Livi’s backstory (a joke that’s not entirely a joke).

Graeme Revell – “Stone Monkey Battle“
It was less stone monkeys and more the early serpent-dragon battles in the caves.

Immediate Music – “Prometheus Rising”
Livi drops down the pitch to save Laurel.

Two Steps from Hell – “Mercy in Darkness“
Livi locks eyes with the tiger.

Immediate Music – “Serenata Immortale”
A Livi theme.

Peter Connelly & Martin Iveson – “Angel of Darkness (Main Theme)“

Troel Brun Folmann – “Tomb Raider: Underworld (Main Theme)“
Yes, I went through all the Tomb Raider themes I had, shut up.

Troel Brun Folmann – “Tomb Raider: Legend (Main Theme)”
ALL the Tomb Raider themes. This was actually in a lot of the Ethiopia scenes.

Troel Brun Folmann – “Tomb Raider: Anniversary (Main Theme)”
As was this.

Immediate Music – “An Epic Age“
Wrote the Livi-fights-a-dragon to this one, the chapter Drakon Rising. You can hear the moment at 1:01 where Momma Drakon opens her eye, and 2:19 when Livi…yeah, you’ll see. 😉

UnKle – “Burn My Shadow“
One of West’s themes.

Jason Graves – “Calling for Help“
In the caves.

Destiny’s Child – “Survivor“
Look, Livi basically has my running playlist.
I’m a survivor//I’m not gon’ give up//I’m not gon’ stop//I’m gon’ work harder

E.S. Posthumus – “Elba“
When Livi arrives in the villa at the end.

E.S. Posthumus – “Menouthis“
More villa battle.

Sara Barielles – “Breathe Again“
The epilogue theme.
All those words came undone and now I’m not the only one//Facing the ghosts that decide if the fire inside still burns

 

And, finally, the series’ theme for my two favourites:

OneRepublic – “Something I Need“

 

I hope you’re ready for Solomon’s Seal on Tuesday! You can pre-order everywhere books are sold.

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Then There Was That Time I Finished Frankenovel

I finally, finally, FINALLY finished a workable draft of Odin’s Spear (Livi #2).

Also known on Twitter as “Frankenovel.”

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Why? Because it was sewn together with parts. Out of order. I never write like this, ever. I write linear because writing those moments I want LATER are incentive to finish the hard slog, plus even when I know how a book is going to end (Exhumed), the entire tone can shift by the time I get there after I’ve filled in all the gaps. But this book? With this book, I was so eager to grasp a hold of ANY writing I might love, I just gave myself permission to write whatever I fucking wanted to because my words were broken and I was miserable.

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The results were disastrous, but, though it’s taken over a year (A YEAR, OMG A YEAR–I normally write a book in 2-8 weeks), the book is NOW DONE.

Of course, this is mostly due to recent MAGIC THAT HAPPENED. The magic being I wrote 23K of Shiva’s Bow in just over a week and was in HEAVEN. And I decided I really should finish the second book before continuing, so that when #3 is done, my beta will be ready for it. Odin’s Spear was fleshed out, gaps filled in, and sent to my beta before midnight last night. This draft came in at 96K. I’m hoping I’ll get a good second draft ready for my mum to read in May.

Oh god, it’s ugly. No structure, the pacing is off, there are inconsistencies, and a bunch of tertiary characters don’t have names. This is not a pretty baby. It’s misshapen and lumpy and likely no one loves it but me, but I’m trusting the beta to see the potential for beauty, like the unpopular girl in the movie who just needs a new dress and to take off her glasses for everyone to realize she’s gorgeous.

Except this girl’s gonna need a bit more work done. But she’ll get there.

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This is the twenty-sixth full-length novel I’ve finished. Which could seem odd considering how few books by comparison I have published. Why is that? Do they all suck? Rejected by everyone?

Honestly…I hoard manuscripts.

A lot of projects I really love, I like to hang onto for a while (I have four books of a five book YA series entirely complete and no one but my betas have seen them). I see new writers eagerly querying everything they write and though it’s great to find homes of all your books, the thing no one tells you about being published is how wonderful it feels BEFORE that when the book and world is just yours. I love my work being read, I love connecting with readers, but it does take a toll on me and my mental health sometimes. It’s nice being able to work on books in a series without people requesting pirated copies; it’s nice being able to write something because I WANT to rather than because I feel obligated to; it’s nice just sharing the work with people I trust. So I decided early in the new year I needed to focus on joy again for a few months and not on selling something, which means more manuscript hoarding.

My preciouses.

I hope one day you get to read these books. But for now, I’m going to pick up some celebratory pizza, savor this feeling, and take a few days off before jumping back into the third book.

Bloody hell, it’s good to feel like myself again.

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MEET SKYLA DAWN

Writer of urban fantasy, thrillers/mysteries, and horror.
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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What I’m Working On:

Writing Elis 5. Also kind of sort of writing Waverly 8.