Local Newspaper Article

Here is a link to a local newspaper article that follows up on a story they printed about ARCHON almost exactly one year from today.  It's short, but rather exciting to read, as it really gets the idea across of what the book is about and why it is so different.  Here's the tasty link: http://www.timesleader.com/features/A_world_of_angels_and_demons_permeates_author_rsquo_s_first_book_01-29-2012.html?pageType=mobile&id=4

This is also a little off topic, but I truly, desperately wish I was here:

Don't you?

Television Interview on PA Live

PA Live, a show that airs live daily on Pennsylvania's WBRE news station, interviewed me this afternoon about ARCHON, giving me a chance to chat up my book and get people excited about the signing to follow tomorrow.  I really enjoyed this a lot! 
Check it out here at: http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=222732
A lot of people asked if I was nervous about the interview. Of course I was!
I'm just a master of disguise . . .  >_>

The Italian Edition is Here!

Newton Compton publishing house in Italy has released their translated version of Archon, re-titled The Immortal Love: The Secret Book of the Archangel.  I found it very interesting that they decided to keep the American version of the cover, but from what I can gather, the illustration has a lot of fans overseas already.  I can only hope they feel the same way about the book.

If you are curious, check it out at Newton Compton's website for Archon: http://blog.newtoncompton.com/l-amore-immortale/

And make sure to use that oh-so-handy Google translator!

The Road to Publication Part III: To Self-Publish or not to Self-Publish?

That's the big question these days, and while five years ago I would have said unequivocally to go the tradtional publishing route, there are some amazing Kindle success stories out there that are changing the game in a big way.

You might be thinking at the moment: why isn't she talking about literary agents yet?

Patience, patience.

Yeah, if you're an aspiring author expect to cultivate a whole darned lot of it.  You will also feel much like this dog when you find out you need even MORE patience for your next round of book related agonies.
Ahem . . .
Anyway, it just makes sense to talk about the all-important self-publication decision next.  Because if you do decide to take that leap, forget getting the literary agent.  (At least until your book goes "viral").

Now, let's begin with the juicy bad stuff.  There are cons to self-publishing.  First and worst of all is that anyone can do it, even people who can't spell.  This automatically means a lot of people won't pay attention to your book because you're simply self-published and, heck, they're guessing you might not be able to spell either. Two, you are responsible for all the promotion and marketing of your book, even if you become pee-poor in this process.  That's right, this can mean practically selling yourself at bookstores, libraries, the local drug store, you name it, for what might be very little reward.  Three, unless your book attracts the reading public's notice in a huge way, most major publishing houses will not give that particular novel a second glance.  Used goods, they say, turning up their nose. And then there is good ol' number four: no editor for your book.

Oh, and that can be very bad.

Also, don't rely on those wild success stories.  Count on it when I say they are one a million.  Translation: you're not getting rich anytime fast.

Now what about the pros?
Well, first of all, I mentioned above that the rise of electronic publishing has changed the game.  True, most authors at least want the prestige that goes with a major publishing house taking their book under their wing.  Also, they would very much like the promotion, marketing, cover artists, and possibility of New York Times bestsellerdom that goes with it.

However, that also means a nice-sized portion of the sales of your book go right back to the publisher in return for all their faith and hard work.

Translation? Well, surprise, you might not get rich. (In fact it would be best for you not to consider yourself in the same league of luck as J.K. Rowling or Dan Brown anytime soon.)


You just can't win, can you?

  Now, in self-publishing all proceeds from the sale of your book go to you and no one else.  This has led to some very wild, recent success stories out there on the web.  Some authors contend they are making more money self-publishing than they ever did with an honest real publishing company.  Often, this is the case when an author has a few books that never sold "collecting dust" and they just say, "Oh, the heck with it.  Let's self-publish this unpublishable piece of fiction.  What can I possibly lose?"

And the answer is, absolutely nothing.  Geez, at least someone's going to read it.

Pro Number Two: You see, the official publishing industry is having a bit of a problem right now (and I talked about it in the last two posts of this series).  Suffice to say, the more they stagnate, the more even official authors must publish the new and the innovative as a cheap e-book on Amazon.

Another pro to self-publishing is that it's effectively an option for the depressed, and those who have lost faith in the book industry in general.

So self-publish, don't self-publish?

Here's my personal take on the matter, and feel free to argue if you don't find it logical:

My advice is to go the traditional publishing route and search for a literary agent.  Can't find an agent for your novel?  No problem--look for a smaller publishing house that doesn't need agented submissions.  Can't interest them either?  Well, NOW feel free to self-publish, and in the meantime write another book that will hopefuly propel you to author stardom. 

Because it always makes sense to work from the top down.  Honest.

I Told You It Wasn't Over! Blog Tour Pitstop

Probably one of the last stops on my little blog tour, this is a companion post to My Book the Movie.  This is Writers Read, and I got a chance to briefly talk about my current interests in the world of books.  That is--when I actually get time to read.

Check it out here at: http://whatarewritersreading.blogspot.com/2012/01/sabrina-benulis.html

Bigger Blog Tour Than I Thought!

Could this be it?  I'd bet not . . . >_<

This time I took part in another great interview, and it was pretty comprehensive!  For people who have questions about my novel and what makes it different, this is once again for you.

Check the interview out here at: http://scififanletter.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-sabrina-benulis.html

There is also a great review of the book on the site as well.

Cheers!

Mini-Blog Tour Pitstop: My Book, the Movie

Had a fun opportunity to post about the grand dream of my book turning into a movie.  Maybe if I wish hard enough . . .
http://mybookthemovie.blogspot.com/2012/01/sabrina-benuliss-archon.html

In other news, I've heard rumors that Final Fantasy X (in my insignificant opinion one of the best video games ever-freaking made) is going to be re-released for the PS3 in HD.  If this new release ends up trapped in Japan, I just might rock back and forth in a corner, utterly inconsolable.

Or I might travel to Japan and drool at most of their cool merchandise I'll never have.

Wouldn't it be awesome to walk down the street like this--

--and nobody bats an eyelash?

By the way, change this girl's hair to a wig of fluffy chestnut curls and give her some gray-colored contacts and we have one of my characters from ARCHON named Sophia.

Oh, Tim Burton, where are you when I need you?

For Cover Lovers

Recently the artist who created the cover for my book very generously sent me the full illustration for display in all its gothic glory.  So for those of you in love with the cover, this is for you!!

I'm not sure how well this blog post will do it justice, but you can enlarge it at my Facebook fanpage where I also have it posted.  In its full length, the details are even better.  Now there is framing along the top, and you can really see the black mist around Angela's dress. 
Awesome!