X. Ho Yen's Author Newsletter (16 Jul 2022) - (volunteer requested)
Greetings Dear Subscribers to X.HoYen's Author Newsletter. Greetings Dear Supporters of Indie Art.
16 Jul 2022 (last one was sent 06 Mar 2022)
As promised, I do not inundate you with newsletters. :)
Since killing my Twitter account, I’ve set up a facebook account. It has allowed me to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances, but may potentially help me promote my writings. XHoYen Author on Facebook
I hope everyone is well! Send me a note (xhoyen@gmail.com)!
I finally got over the gamma level quality hurdle and revised the hell out of MSD again. It’s not only significantly easier to read, but the human elements are properly fleshed out and woven throughout. In earlier versions I was too minimalist about that, requiring too much of the reader. It’s still challenging, though, full of realism-based sciencey goodness and deep thoughts, but art should be challenging!
This year I’ve learned a lot about self-publishing, most importantly that I will not be using a hybrid publisher. I’ll spare you the details, but this means I will be properly self-publishing under my long-time imprint GRAND UNIFICATION MONASTERY, which is my registered company name and publishing imprint. Way back in 2005 I self-published a non-fiction book under the Grand Unification Monastery imprint. Some day I’ll reactivate that book, as it’s still on Createspace/KDP available for print-on-demand. Back then e-books weren’t so much of a thing yet, but when I reactivate this one I’ll also make an e-book version of it.
But this “final” revision of MSD has only been read by one other person. Before I call it official and begin actually self-publishing I would like to give you, dear subscriber, an opportunity to give it one final read before publication, to give a “yea or nay” on the “spit and polish” of it. A volunteer for this final read-through would NOT be volunteering to do an editorial pass, just an “is it good enough to publish?” read.
As evidence of its improved readability, it took my other final reader 2 days to read the book (admittedly she’s on leave from work). I would like this final yea/nay read by a volunteer to be completed by the end of this month. I’m holding up actual production for this independent check. Can you do this?
If this call for volunteers yields no takers by this Wednesday, 20 July, I’ll go to the facebook masses and see what comes up. Will you force me to go to the facebook masses?
When the time comes, I'll still need your help to generate pre-orders and gifting pre-orders, and getting the word out. The fact is, seeing sales generates sales.
The cost of a book is so low compared to just about any leisure activity, like going out to eat or whatnot. Please keep that in mind. :) Thanks for sticking with me during this long process.
This year I’ve read Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven”, Jeff Lyons’ “Rapid Story Development”, J.Michael Straczynski’s “Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer”, and am currently reading “Look Who’s Back” by Timur Vermes. What about you? Any recommendations?
I’m looking forward to resuming work on my new ideas. I need to get MSD off my plate and out of my mind so I’m not tempted to keep fiddling with it.
Standard stuff
Please do share my URL with fellow realism-based sci fi fans, especially anyone who enjoyed The Martian, Infomocracy, Neal Stephenson’s works, or The Expanse. I'm convinced Minimum Safe Distance would appeal to the same audience, because I wrote it for me and *I'm* in that audience.
Thanks for your support!
XHY
https://XHoYenAuthor.com
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