“Tales” Update and more…

It has been a little while since we posted an update of any kind. Work has been that busy between outlining the next volume in the Noble Dead Saga for 2014 (yes we work that far ahead), writing and prepping more “tales,” researching ways to streamline our e-publishing process, and, well, just daily life stuff. So time to catch up on a number of things…

Novels to come…

On top of all this, we expect to see copyeditor’s notes on S3B2: The Dog in the Dark in the near future. The cover is already in process, and when we see something ready to share, we will do so immediately.

Sometime soon, Barb will see editor’s revision notes for the first volume in her new Mist Torn Witches series (also set in the world of the Noble Dead Saga). Do not get too anxious, as the first book’s release date is still far off; it will come well after the final volume in her Vampire Memories series is released. Cover and synopsis for this book is already available at BarbHendee.org.

“Tales” to come…

We initially put out a little flurry of “tales” to start this private side project, which is more than we had originally scheduled when it began. As you can see, our general writing schedule will get busier, as it always does over Summer. We will drop back (a bit) to that original schedule of maybe one new “tale” per four weeks or so. Be aware that, as we informed our editor at Roc, we will not release any new “tales” within 30 days before and 60 days after the release of any new novel in the Noble Dead Saga.

On top of writing the saga, J.C. has to develop covers for those short stories, do the coding and compiling of the ebooks, and manage our online presence, systems, and satellite sites; that takes a bit of time. It can make him a cranky little reptile if he does not get some play time. Fortunately, Barb’s birthday (yesterday) got both of them out of the house for a bit roaming.

The next “tale” (by Barb) should be out by July 4th and is titled The Sapphire. The sequel to Karras the Kitten, titled Karras the Cat (by J.C.)  will follow sometime in late-late July to early-early August. Before the end of the year, one or both of us may look at initializing a third “tales” sequence besides “Homeward” and “Bones of the Earth”; we will wait and see, for novel length works take priority over all else.

Vendors to come…

J.C. keeps an eye on various vendors for ones that (1) initialize direct e-publishing portals and (2) have contracts acceptable to our standards. Kobo.com is working hard on this, and J.C.’s recent conversations with one of their portal representatives was very positive by his tough standards. After an initial offer from them to set us up with a standard publisher’s account, both he and the rep agreed that the coming portal would be more flexible and streamlined to our needs. So we wait and hope to see the launch of Kobo’s portal by Fall (maybe sooner); at that time, all “tales” to date will be made available for the Kobo line of ereader devices. NOTE: The Noble Dead Saga is available through Kobo.com.

Other vendors and platforms…

Google Books is unacceptable at this time, mostly do to a convoluted portal that is far more about getting free preview (or all) book content from independent authors than about functional direct to vendor e-publishing. Their e-publishing portal is actually a subsystem of their own book content preview submission system; that says something unto itself. And the Apple iBooks portal is still unacceptable by contractual as well functional standards.

Perhaps someday there will be changes in these two; J.C. will continue to monitor them from time to time. However, for both Android (Google) and iOS (Apple) ebook capable devices, users can download a free app from any ebook vendor online, so a diverse and easy access to ebooks is already available on such devices.

And the “Tales” so far…

We will try to be back more regularly when something new or interesting comes up. But in the meantime, for those who may have missed some of the previous press releases for “Tales from the world of the Noble Dead Saga”…

Homeward, I: The Game Piece
Barb Hendee
14k+ words
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Homeward, II: The Feral Path
Barb Hendee
12k+ words
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Bones of the Earth, I: Karras the Kitten
J.C. Hendee
26k+ words
Amazon
Barnes & Noble