Change of Plans...

For the next twenty-six weeks, I will be busy with the blog tour set up for the Indie Chicks Anthology. Yep, there are twenty-five of us and we will be promoting our book quite strongly because all proceeds go to breast cancer research and the Susan G. Komen foundation (http://ww5.komen.org/ for more information).

I did plan to release Death Wish: Book I with a lot of fanfare and even had a Kickstarter project going but I cancelled it and when I received the finished novel back from my editor, Felicia Sullivan (http://indie-editor.webs.com/ for more info), I decided to release it. The book is ready and no use waiting for Black Friday which may or may not be a good day, depending upon the world economy, people's dwindling budgets, et cetera. I thought I might as well get my project out there now because I could capitalize on a tremendous opportunity being in the women's anthology gives me.

Please let me say right off the bat, I would have done this anthology for free (and we all did because the profits go to something greater than ourselves and more than that, breast cancer can affect any woman at any age so it makes me quite proud to say I am part of this). I released Death Wish early because I didn't really want to include Forever 27 in the anthology but since DW was still being edited and I hadn't slated to premiere it until the 25th of this month, I couldn't.

I am a bit embarrassed admitting to this but I think Death Wish is a real representation of my writing ability where as The Beautiful People series isn't. Why? Editing. Felicia took a story which was good but rough and polished it like a diamond. I can't sing this woman's praises high enough. She gets me and my writing style and that is very important as an author. I was so pleased, I asked her to re-edit The Beautiful People series in its entirety. We have that project scheduled for early next year so I will re-release The Beautiful People: Part One in March of 2012 and The Beautiful People: Part Two in April of 2012.

I will release the last book in the series, Birthdays, Funerals & The Premiere, before the end of the month but at this point, I feel like I owe it to my fans (however few there are out there) to present complete work and let's face it people, a book ain't complete if it hasn't been professionally edited.

I am not the first indie author to admit to this and I won't be the last. Part of the complaint with indie work is that it is childish, sophomoric and error-ridden. This hurts my feelings because I think about my own work and the people who have paid good money to be entertained and how I have let them down because the work might have entertained but they didn't get their money's worth.

Because I feel very strongly about this, anyone who has purchased The Beautiful People or any part of the series can just feel free to email me at mzdanibee007@gmail.com. Let me know and I will give you a *free* copy of the series when it is re-released. If you bought any of part one or if you were one of the few who bought the series as it continued, just email me and no questions asked, you are guaranteed an error-free and re-edited copy of my work when it is released.

Why am I doing this? Well, you never get a second chance to make a first impression but money is hard to come by and everyone deserves to get their money's worth. As you can see for what I am charging for Death Wish, I feel like I am presenting an edited and quality product so I have priced accordingly (and I won''t be the only indie author to follow suit). Can you find error-free indies for $2.99? Of course you can. You can even find error-free indies at 99 cents. I don't judge other indie authors because it's not my style. My new pricing, however, reflects what you get and if you aren't satisfied, just let me know and we'll see how to make it right.

I believe in karma and good energy. I want to believe what I put out in the universe (all that positive energy) comes back to me. Life is too short to nickel and dime every situation. This is the best way I know how to make a living as an author with a clear conscience. It's not about doing something because it's good or right, it's about doing something because I couldn't not do it and call myself a serious professional in my craft.

Happy reading everyone and next week, the beautiful and fabulous Shea MacLeod will be making an appearance on my blog as one of my "write or die" indie chicks... until then, smile and it will be returned to you. ;-)