mcahogarth

The Jaguar on "How to Review Stuff"

I often hear people say they feel weird about reviewing things they like because they don’t know what to say. This came up in the chat channel the other day, and after our discussion Maigen said, “Hey, you should write this up because it is helpful!” So here’s a brief run-down on how I review things (with examples!). You might choose to review differently…! This is just my methodology

Decide Why You’re Reviewing

This is the number one thing you have to figure...

Today is Patreon Chat Day!

Here's your invite code for the day: https://discord.gg/5zbRC5 

I'll be in and out all day, and most active between 10 AM EST and 8 PM (with some breaks in the middle for mom stuff). I'll probably do an official Q&A at 10 AM and again at 1 PM, but I expect talk to just keep going most of the day.

This invite code is good only for today, and your session should last until you log off, or until tomorrow morning when...

Short Story Download: "Brass Candy Girl"

My exclusivity period for "Brass Candy Girl" is up! Which means I can now share it outside the anthology it was published in. This story is a sequel to the short story "Elements of Freedom," which introduced the Tam-illee seismologist Carevei and is set in the Ciracaana homeworld subculture. I had always planned to write a sequel about her, but it slipped my mind until somefan said they really loved Carevei and wished they knew what happened to her. When the editor of that particular anthology t...

It's the Little Things (Literally)

One of my favorite things is marketing fluff. I love having branded packages, with address labels and stickers and inserts and what-have-you. And I love giving tiny freebies to my buyers and backers. Every time a place that makes stuff like this has a sale, I stock up on different bits of fluff, and these bits have been flocking into whatever corner of the house seemed best to them. Which inevitably meant that when I wanted to pack something, I had to go to six different parts of the house to as...

Princes' Game Series Guide: Some Things Transcend

We continue with the synopsis. This one is for Book 2 (and as you can see, my teaser illustration is... not at all done! But it's at least recognizable. Jahir's the one on the right.)

While this synopsis doesn't describe as extreme events, it's still talking about adult topics, so as always I caution you to consider that before reading! And as usual, your opinions on whether it works/is clear/helps and what can be added or changed to make it better are appreciated.

***

  ...

Fixed Metadata, Yis!

Finally all of the Dreamhealers books are showing up as being part of the same series on Amazon. I'm so glad they fixed this. <3

Business Book Introduction: Priorities, or Knowing What You Really Want

As promised, I'll be serializing the business book as I tidy it up for publication. This intro, though, is entirely new, and I felt like it was a really important topic to address. 

Read on!

***

Every time I run a business seminar or write a business column, I start with the assumption that everyone attending or reading wants to have a career in the arts field; that in basic, they’re there to learn how to treat their art like a business and make money off ...

Almost...

Eagle-eyed fans might start keeping a watch later this weekend...

Patreon Chat Day Now Available to All Patrons!

Yiiiiiiis you read that right. On Chat Day, I will distribute an invite code to all currently subscribed Patrons that will bring you to our #audiencehall channel, where you'll be able to participate all day. Your pass will be temporary, so you can't use it the rest of the month; I intend for access to the persistent chat server to require the $10 tier, as usual. But the persistent chat people don't really need a chat day! They're there all the time! And we'd love to talk with all our fellow trib...

Candle Friday

We've come again to Candle Friday!  I will be going to light one for  intentions later this afternoon. Thanks to last Candle Friday's  watchstanders: Kythryne, Petrov, Maigen, Eric, and Lyssa, along with people who might have done so anonymously. ❤️ Your help is appreciated. Feel free to share your candle photos on the community wall if you wish! I'll make sure people find them. :)

Anyway, t...

Mindiriel with Rabbit

We are slowly putting together a D&D game in the chat server, and this is my character, Mindy the derpy sorcerer. She walks into walls (like, literally, I think she has the lowest DEX score of any elf I've ever played) and she's nowhere near as smart as she is adorable (high charisma) or wise (has weirdly trenchant observations that make people go 'wat').

I didn't get very far on this one, but I like her expression, so here, have an elf!

Princes' Game Series Guide: Even the Wingless

Now we get into super spoiler material. As I promised, this synopsis gives you enough context to understand the characters, setting, and background; since this is the first book, there's a lot of context I have to give you, too, so this particular synopsis is pretty long. Like... really long.

Please heed the introductions and ratings info from the first part I posted (you can read that here if you misse...

June Book Sales and Analysis

Once again, back to reporting on numbers! And June was an odd, odd month.

First, things that affected sales: last month I started experimenting with Goodreads ads. Unfortunately I also started experimenting with Amazon ads, so now I'm not sure which ones are doing me the most good. (Fortunately neither of them are super expensive right now, so I can leave them both running.) Amazon tells me my Earthrise ad got 52 clicks since I started it at the beginning of the month; Goodreads has g...

Writing Progress! June Round-Up

Welcome to July, everyone! As usual, the beginning of the month kicks off my progress reports, both writing and sales/business. Today we get the former.

In Extremis has moved off this chart now that it's done. I've replaced it with the synopsis project for the Princes' Game series, which I'm estimating is going to come in at about 20-25K--yes, really, that long. I'll be serializing it here as I finish it, so you can see what I'm about. Both From Ruins and Coracle saw no progr...

USA Today Column

So while I was at Anthrocon this happened, which was pretty awesome! A romance author picked Hirianthial as her "book boyfriend" for a USA Today column. <3

(Also, omgosh, mentioned in the same column as J.R. Ward who could probably buy and sell my entire operation a million times over. *squeals*)

The furries (and I) are done

*drags self to airport*

Awesome Costume

Honestly you can fling a brick at a furry con and hit sixty amazing costumes but I like this one for exploding the myth that they all look like cartoon mascots. :)

View From the Convention Center Balcony

Hiking to my 10 pm to 11:30 panel, Lord help me. I'm usually in bed by 9:30! But Pittsburgh is really lovely at night. I'm not sorry to have seen it.

Fail Versus Chocolate Store

When Tango told me there was a chocolate store in downtown Pittsburgh I HAD to go. >.>

Anthrocon Dealer's Room

For values of room = "hangar deck"

Find Me At AnthroCon This Weekend

Hey, y'all! Here's a link to my Anthrocon schedule so you can come say hi! Also, for this weekend I'll be on twitter, so you can use @mcahogarth to ping me (and you'll actually get me and not my twitter manager!). I should be around by late afternoon today, so look me up. :)

Princes' Game Readers' Guide: Introduction and Ratings Info

Okay, so I'd love you guys to check me on this one, so I'm going to let you have a look at each section as I finish it. Tell me if there's something I need to add or change or clarify, please?

Obviously this is all massive spoiler material. I'm going to put enough text in front of it that you hopefully won't see it unless you click on the 'read more' thing. (Please, Patreon, give us spoiler formatting. >.>)

So, first. I don't know what to call this thing. Readers' ...

Dreamhearth Teaser

Finished! With marketing fluff.

Dreamhearth Cover

Y'all get to see it full-size before anyone else. :)

That Expansive, In-Between Projects Feeling

So I just realized that I'm done writing Dreamhearth. (No, really. That "I'm still involved with this project" feeling doesn't wear off quickly.)

Done. And it's still June. Barely June, but still.

Why is this huge, Jaguar! Because I typically schedule my writing in seasons. This is distinct from my publishing schedule; they are on concurrent tracks, but they don't necessarily map to one another. My publishing goal is at least three books a year. My writing goal is a boo...

Dreamhearth Cover Incoming

I want Jahir's boots.

Dragon Bros, Con't

Since I liked the dude from the previous page, I decided to explore his relationship with his dragon. As you can see, they're pranksters. ("He's eating my head!" "His head's so tasty, nom nom nom.")

I couldn't decide on how big I wanted the dragons to get, so I messed with that in the second sketch, where I totally blew that dragon hand Because Ink Sketching Without Pencils.

I do like swole bro's skull, though. *nods*

Dreamhearth Done

First readers, expect email early next week!

Sneak Peek: The Dreamhearth Teaser Art

Here's the finished art! Once I have the book cover ready, I'll pick a quote and add the cover and publication info in the corner, like I have with my other book teasers, and post it publicly. But you all get to enjoy the art sans marketing fluff. :D

I think it's the most accurate picture I've gotten of Jahir's face. Vasiht'h looks pretty good too! It's almost like I'm getting better with practice or something. Heh. :)

Early Warning for First Readers!

Dreamhearth will be ready for first readers next week, so if you were planning to volunteer and you want time to re-read Books 1 and 2, now is the time!