In The Author's Mind - June 14, 2024
Dear Reader,
I ran into an issue. I wanted to make the audiobook for Unlikely Kings. It should be as high a quality as the other digitally narrated books. But there's only one way I could get it. Google. The thing was, I would need to publish the ebook and audiobook on Google Books to get the files.
If I did that, the book would no longer be exclusive to my newsletter friends. Last summer, I promised not to publish the story anywhere else for a year. So, the debate raged in my mind as the exclusivity neared termination, with summer now upon me once again.
I could publish Unlikely Kings only to Google Books, get the files and publish it on no other retailer. But the exclusivity remains lost. If I publish there, I may as well publish wide and in print. I also do not see how to progress forward with the miniseries, publishing it everywhere, unless I offer it in the same grand style as the other miniseries. That means it would get its own serialized miniseries with all the extras as well.
Behind the Scenes of the Issue
I also think the exclusivity issue is a muse block. I believe it goes further than I realized. So let's back up and revisit my history with exclusivity.
Like many new self-publishing authors, I once published stories in Kindle Unlimited. I quickly grew frustrated with the restrictive nature of that program. Fearing to lose my Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing account if I mis-stepped with publishing too much of my ebook anywhere else, including social media. (I was toying with video chapters on YouTube, but the day job got in the way.)
Last year, I ran into a similar issue with the Mystic Dark miniseries. I believed the issue was the temporary exclusivity required by Kindle Vella, which created the same anxiety Kindle Unlimited once created.
Now, things look a bit differently. The exclusivity is in my store in my newsletter. As it was self imposed, it shouldn't be a problem. Other authors do things like giving away books in their newsletters to their loyal supporters. And yet here it is: Exclusivity has stifled the muse once again.
It's some sort of trauma response, but I literally could not write in this miniseries until the year had passed.
So what is a tiger to do?
I will publish the stories in the Gods of the Dream Miniseries, wide in ebook, audiobook, and print after they serialize. They will receive the same grand treatment the other miniseries receive. I must drop the exclusivity. It isn't serving me or my readers, especially if it's blocking my ability to finish writing the stories.
Instead, I will create 100% off coupons for my newsletter friends. Each time I publish a book in this miniseries, I will notify my newsletter friends, send them the link, and the coupon code. For my future supporters, I will alter the introduction newsletters to include this new method. I will simply add the new books as they are available.
This way my loyal supporters will get these ebooks for free, delivered to their inbox by Bookfunnel. And for those readers who prefer to buy from the major retailers, the stories will be available there as well. I went wide so even people who couldn't afford the books could check out the books from the library. It just makes little sense to hide some stories in the dream away from people simply because they don't want a cluttered inbox.
Unlikely Kings Preview
I wrote a proper story description. Did you want to see it? Okay, but legalese first.
Warning:
This is a work in progress and
is subject to change at any time.
Read at Your Own Risk!
Copyright 2023
All Rights Reserved.
Unlikely Kings
A Draoithe Saga Beginning
Death and Destruction and a Labor of Love
Lucifer Leiriu was the King of Devils and grievously wronged. His anguish and grief over the loss of his soul-mate made him vengeful and desperate. He hatched a plan with her twin sister to either get Airlea back and avenge her or destroy the dream to gain a reckoning against those who wronged him.
He wrote a spell using his blood and powerful chaos magic, and he set it free in the dream to wreak havoc in his quest to reunite with Airlea. For centuries, those few in the dream who knew of the Unlikely Kings believed it to be a prophecy. Some work to bring the prophecy to fruition, while others labor to ensure it never happens. Will the magic of the dream survive?
This is the translation from the ancient Dorchan of a dark chaos magic spell. Unlikely Kings is a poetic-style urban fantasy backstory for the Draoithe Saga by Ophelia Kee. If you enjoy the story behind the dominant story, this short tale is right up your alley.
Note: Part of this piece includes verse written in a rare first person account.
It’s more than a story; it’s an experience. Welcome to the dream…
Urban Fantasy with Steamy Paranormal Romance and Fated Mates 18+ HEA! NC!
***Warning: Adult Themes, Fantasy Violence, and/or Explicit Sexual Situations. Intended for a Mature Audience.
I turned the story description into a video. Check it out on YouTube. If you enjoy it, consider liking and subscribing to my channel for more. Videos and posts, like this one, will join All the Extras in the Gods of the Dream Miniseries. If you enjoy serialized fiction or just want access to all the extra stuff, please consider purchasing the miniseries. I post chapters and extras as I write, edit, and create until the miniseries ends (and sometimes even after it finishes).
Thanks for letting me vent my thoughts surrounding the Gods of the Dream miniseries and checking out the solution I came up with. I hope it's a satisfactory one. I have more work to do if I'm ever to get all the stories edited, posted and published. Until next week, please remember to be kind and leave your reviews when you read. And know that you are always welcome to the dream...
Be Careful!
Happy Reading,
Ophelia Kee
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Thank you for your support! Welcome to the dream… Sincerely, -OK
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