New Directions

Catherine Dilts

It's finally feeling like summer. With the warmer weather, my attitude toward the writing and publishing life is warming up. I feel like I emerged from a cold, dry spell, although I have been writing constantly during this time.

So many authors seem to be going through small press woes. The trials and tribulations of losing small presses are hitting hard. Agents and editors retire. The market is flooded. Competition for the decreasing number of slots with the big publishing houses is stiff.

Along with many other traditionally published authors, I'm exploring self-publishing options. My first experiment is with my co-author and daughter, Merida Bass. We just released book one of a YA science fiction series. Written under the pen name Ann Belice, Frayed Dreams begins the Tapestry Tales series.

Merida's enthusiasm has given me a boost. She's also an artist. The image is of Ando the squirrel monkey perched on top of a Teens For Earth badge. She created the book cover, too. 

I did some research on self-publishing, and learned that many authors are paying large sums to have their work edited, put into the proper publishing formats, given ISBN numbers, having covers created, and on and on. The folks offering this assistance are called hybrid publishers. An article on Reedsy stated that the cost of self-publishing a book can be as much as $10,000. Or more.

There's nothing wrong with this, if you have the money to pay for services, and the understanding that you may not recoup your expenses. But we decided if we're self-pubbing, we're paying for as little as possible. Yes, the learning curve was intimidating. I might not have attempted it if my daughter didn't have the tech savvy and desire to do most of that side of it herself.

I haven't abandoned traditional publishing. I will have exciting news to announce about a short story sale, after I have the signed contract in hand. And I might consider traditional book publishing again.

Honestly though, I'm ready to see what I can do in this new world of publishing. Having complete control over my novels is appealing. With that control, will my access to market or my sales suffer? We'll see. 

I'm optimistic about new directions. 

Peonies and Pine Pollen

by Catherine Dilts

Warmer weather is finally here on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. It’s not uncommon for us to receive snow in the summer months. Hail plagues us in any month.

My gardening friends are greedily enjoying their flowers. You dare not hesitate. Stop and smell the roses! A hail storm or freak freeze could take them out without warning.

I hesitate to experiment with delicate plants. My flower beds are filled with perennials like hardy irises, Shasta daisies, hens and chicks, and day lilies. I thought peonies were difficult to grow in our climate.

Then a neighbor offered us a bucket full of roots. Her peonies had done so well, she had to thin out the plants. I didn’t know what to expect, but we stuck them in the ground with little prep or ceremony.

The peonies are thriving. I may have to do some thinning next year. Who knew that such elegant-looking flowers could grow so easily in our rough climate?

With the beauty of spring and early summer comes the pollen. For a couple weeks, yellow pine tree pollen covers everything. I’m grateful for the growing season, but it also requires taking over-the-counter meds to counteract allergies.

I’m glad we took a chance on peonies, and gave these plants space in our flower bed. Experimentation can result in unexpected rewards.

A writing experiment I’m trying involves co-authoring a YA series with my daughter. The "author" is a combination of our middle names: Ann Belice. An added twist is trying self-publishing. Two experiments at once. I might not have been so bold to test this new territory without a writing/business partner. We expect to release it this month.

The series has been a blast to develop. I began fiction writing by dabbling in science fiction. I created three regrettable attempts. Then I wandered into mystery, and stayed there quite a while. I will continue to write mysteries. They’re just too much fun to leave behind.

I hope Frayed Dreams takes root like the peonies. We have book two in the Tapestry Tales series ready to release. There will be a book three. And perhaps more. We’ll see how the experiment goes.

Later this summer, I hope to release the third book in my Rose Creek Mystery series. The Body in the Hayloft has been in limbo for months. After verifying the viability of the process with the YA novel, I’ll give Hayloft a shot as an Indy production.

And now I’ve got to go. My husband has been doing his own experiments in the kitchen. He is seeking to perfect homemade bison jerky. I’d better see if he needs a hand.