Rebecca F Kenney
@RebeccaFKenney1
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Author of spicy romance, BEAUTIFUL VILLAIN (Gatsby retelling, 2024, Sourcebooks Casablanca) rep'd by @evascalzo of Speilburg Lit. she/her
Upstate SC
Joined October 2018
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Hi! I write spicy fantasy romance & retellings with morally gray characters. You can expect high heat, humor, dark themes, found families, trauma, & happy endings. If you're new to my books, you might want to start with one of these...
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I sold 1000 books this month.
In July 2021 I sold 9 books.
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People have faults/make mistakes.
FICTIONAL CHARACTERS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE FAULTS & MAKE MISTAKES. I'm sick of people expecting characters to behave perfectly in every scenario. They're allowed to mess up badly, be mean/selfish, hurt their friends, then grow, learn, make amends.
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Do not, I repeat do NOT come at me with this "you're being ableist if you're against AI art" sh-t. I support using certain editing tools, of course! That's WAY different than the actual theft of art styles & pieces from creatives. There are affordable, legal covers out there.
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Indie authors: I know commissioning artists is expensive, but I'm seeing some readers state that they won't touch books from authors who use AI cover or character art. Other readers don't care, but honestly, WE should care as fellow creatives to these artists. 1/2
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Really good news! Amazon is going to prevent returns on ebooks read past 10%!!!! A win for authors!!
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I hesitate to say this but I will since I was making almost ZERO this time last year. Maybe it will encourage someone.
I'm now making a living wage from my writing. Like if my husband lost his job, we could manage. Been that way for 5 months and I still can't believe it.
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Update: The publisher refuses to change the cover and I have now been blocked by this author. After she claimed to care about AI covers being an ethical issue. Listen, authors, if you are going to publicly use AI art on your covers, you should be able to discuss it publicly.
Please add CamCatBooks to the list of publishers who knowingly use AI art for their covers.
(The author was not aware the image was AI, so please do not harass them.) I requested clarification from the publisher in DMs and this was the response. (Continued)
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If I find out you're using AI to brainstorm or write any part of your book for you, I will neither read your work nor support you as an author. Creatives should be actually creating. Do the work, use your imagination, develop your craft, your style.
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Please add CamCatBooks to the list of publishers who knowingly use AI art for their covers.
(The author was not aware the image was AI, so please do not harass them.) I requested clarification from the publisher in DMs and this was the response. (Continued)
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I've quit boosting certain authors who are using a lot of AI art. We all have to figure out where to draw the lines, which can be tough. I used AI for a short while, but quit when I realized it harms artists. There are moral gray areas in marketing, but I draw the line there.
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@KimKardashian
They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. --The Great Gatsby
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As of today, A Court of Sugar and Spice has sold 6,881 copies and had 3,507,664 page reads in Kindle Unlimited. It has earned me over $30k in royalties.
This is the unhinged, just-for-fun Nutcracker romance I wrote in 4 weeks. I had no beta readers.
Make of that what you will.
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I did it. I finished writing and editing my book.
It's 100,072 words.
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THE NEWS. Some of you remember me pitching & tweeting about my "Gatsby with vampires" story many months ago... well, I've got a 3-book deal with
@SourcebooksCasa
!! 😭 I'm beyond excited to see this decadent, diverse version of Gatsby on shelves early next year!
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You know when a male character shows the female character how to hold something or do something? You know that trope? What's the sexiest non-sexual thing he can teach her? Also drop a gif of a scene like this if you want
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We are moving to a new house in 2 days and the only reason we can do this is my self-published romantasy novels. It's nothing huge... a modest upgrade from our townhouse, but I am excited. And proud. And grateful.
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I can't believed this is happening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MY FIRST EVER ORANGE BANNER!!!!
Isn't she beautiful???
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Agent rejections-- my process.
-An agent email! (hyperventilates)
-Oh... oh no. (heart sinks)
-At least she was sweet/kind about it.
-I suck. I will never write again. (tears)
-...
-No, you know what? I will keep going. I WILL be traditionally published someday!
#amquerying
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It's my birthday!
I was born the day after Christmas in Beirut, Lebanon.
Spent most of my life in Quebec and Ontario.
Currently living and writing in South Carolina and I love it!
Looking forward to a day of shopping and finally seeing the new Star Wars movie!
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70,200K.
Guys I am so excited and terrified to finish this novel.
Please drop me encouraging GIFs if you have a second.
Or tell me something about your WIP! I love reading excerpts/lines.
❤️
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if you have a cover for your book and you hate it, show it to me and I'll make you a different one in 15 minutes. You like it, you keep it. No c0st.
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I'm thrilled to announce that I'm now represented by the amazing
@evascalzo
of Speilburg Literary Agency! Eva has such a great vision for my vampire Gatsby retelling, & I can't wait to move forward with it, as well as with future projects!
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My 6yo daughter: Villains are the best part of fairytales.
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I want a thread of beautiful men. Just their faces.
Maybe their shoulders. Let's keep it classy.😜
So... indulge me please. 😉😆 Starting things off with this gorgeousness.
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Okay, name a fantasy book with a female lead character who isn't
a warrior/assassin/hunter
a princess
a high school student
or a librarian/scribe.
(And trust me I love all the badass chicks, princesses, teen protagonists, & bookworms. I'm just trying to shake up my TBR.)
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I'm not seeing my people! 😭😭 Writers, artists, creatives... if you see this, comment a favorite line from a song.
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Rough week but someone messaged me today that she has read 3 of my books this week and loved them. Which is just wonderful. 🥰🥰🥰
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Sometimes I go on Amazon and I shop around for random obscure books to read. So if you're an
#indieauthor
, tell me about your novel! I'll add it to the list!
#Readers
, shop here for
#Indiecember
and you might find a little-known gem of a book!
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It's my 12th anniversary. My husband is 6'4", handsome, with the most brilliant blue eyes & the biggest heart.
He has flaws. So do I. We've had some very rough spots.
He was my first boyfriend, first kiss, first everything. He's the love of my life.
Yes, I'm a hopeless romantic.
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As an author you have to be prepared for someone to say your writing is so stupid and juvenile and just the worst, and then someone else to say that your writing is amazing, just right for their brain, spectacular, and you somehow have to manage both of those and be chill
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It's my birthday!!
This year has been the best of my life in many ways. I'm so grateful for the good things that have happened! For my birthday, I'm asking that you buy (or borrow through KU) one indie author's book. Authors, add your book info in the comments!
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What's a movie that always makes you feel better? Like without fail, you know you're going to smile every time you watch it?
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You know how love interests always smell like sandalwood and rain, or cedar and darkness, or cinnamon and heartbreak?
What do you smell like? Let predictive text tell you.
I smell like [romance] and [arrow keys].
😂
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@kuangrf
Those smart boys... they can be so dumb. 😂 My husband is a tech/computer genius but in daily life all bets are off lol. So glad you were there for him! 😉
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Do you have an author website? I'd love to check it out, both to see your body of work and to get ideas for my own website. Drop the link here, or link to your Amazon author page or your blog.
#amwriting
#WritingCommunity
#writerslife
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I'm not seeing enough of the people I enjoy on this bird app!! Please interact if you see this!!
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Who else is staying up way too late just to get some alone time?
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The way a proofreader took my M dashes out and then said, " this doesn't make sense now"
Yeah because ellipses CAN'T DO THE SAME JOB🤣
You leave my M dashes alone
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So now it's "discouraging" and "mean-spirited" to tell writers they might need to practice their craft more?
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Not judging anyone for their path. But I didn't have it in me to wait several years to be agented and just SIT on all my ideas and the books I wanted to write. No way. That's why I self-published. And I'm so glad I did. ❤️
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I'm a huge advocate for zero homework. Kids need time to do extracurriculars, pursue hobbies & have time with their families. They should be able to do all their learning during those hours at school. Thankfully our middle school has little homework & the elem school has none.
My eldest son leaves for school at 7.30am and returns at 4.30pm, he has piano, guitar, scouts, computer games, drawing and composing that he enjoys in his down time and I value all of that over homework, so sometimes it doesn’t get done… is she talking to me?
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Tell me something you love about the book you're writing right now.
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After yesterday's post someone asked me to train them how to use TikTok & I thought others might like some tips too. No comments about how you despise the platform or why these won't work for you. This for those who are interested. Otherwise, scroll on.
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Snagging this idea:
Post the first lines of your book and I'll tell you if I'm hooked or suggest a few tweaks if I'm not.
(only participate if you don't mind some gentle feedback--and remember it's all subjective)
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In July of 2019 I sold 21 books and had 1,202 KU page reads.
This July so far I've sold 1,524 books and had 3,878,185 KU page reads.
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If you're an author/reader and I haven't followed you back, drop me a gif! I want to be moots!
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What makes a villain truly terrifying?
(Not the hot kind of villain, the really awful, bone-chilling kind)
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#truthbomb
time.
-Not everyone will like your
#writing
. That's OK.
-
#selfpublishing
takes TIME and WORK.
-Trad publishing takes TIME and WORK.
-You'll have days when you're crushed, & days when you're flying. This is normal.
The ones who don't give up are those who succeed.
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Again, begging readers NOT to tag an author in a negative review of a book.
We are fragile.
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This thread. If you're using AI to write or brainstorm for you, I won't read your books. You're taking shortcuts instead of working your creative muscles like the rest of us. Just... no.
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Person: "So what do you do?"
"I'm a writer."
P: "Oh, what do you write?"
"Uuhhhhhh...just like fantasy...stuff that's not real but kinda cool because monsters...romance but not just romance...I'm writer. I be writer...word good. You books my read should sfrdfhjknjngvh..."
P: 😐
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It's easy to become discouraged as a writer. Today, let's focus on what we love about our craft.
What is your favorite thing about writing or your
#writerslife
?
#amwriting
#WritingCommunity
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Full disclosure (well, partial disclosure) I'm making way, way more as a hybrid/selfpub author than I would as a traditional-only author. My indie sales and KU reads on Amazon this month crossed from 'yay!!' into 😱😱🤩🤩🤩🥳🥳🥳 territory. Which is something I never expected.
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Other authors are not your competition. But they can be your companions!
Did some have a similar idea? Great! Promote each other, share audiences, because readers who like your book might also enjoy the other person's story!
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What makes being a writer worth it to you?
Cause let's face it...
It gets really tough at times.
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As of last month, 'Captive of the Pirate King' has made 5 figures for me, all by itself. Which is equal to a decent advance.
Not bad for a little indie romance!
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And it just keeps getting better... worse... they're standing by the "artist" who is just someone entering prompt words into the AI machine until it scrapes together pieces of other art and spits out a halfway usable image
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I can finally scream about this piece of exciting news! (and yes, there's more news to come)
The "Dark Rulers" series and the "Pandemic Monsters" trilogy are coming to audiobook!!!!
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I...I just got a response to a query from 2019...
A rejection...
Thank you but I already signed with an agent 😂😂😂
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Please don't give up.
Last year I was lucky to see 30 pages read of my books on a good day.
And now...
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To anyone who says Kindle Unlimited isn't worth it and doesn't compensate authors well...
I see your objection, and I raise you 422,163 pages of my books read this month and the resulting royalties, which are most definitely Worth It.
Also may I urge you to PROMOTE ON TIKTOK.
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The first 2 images are the initial question/conversation, in which they sidestepped admission of AI use. Then I showed them the AI image and screenshot as above... clearly NOT "very different from the originals." They responded with the third message.
Make of that what you will.
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That goalpost I was striving for?
Reached it today.
50 people have pre-ordered my dark mermaid fantasy, & I'm so grateful. I know it seems small to some & big to others, but to me every pre-order is achingly meaningful because I've been told so many times this book has no place.
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I debated posting this. But hey, what the hell.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ON TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING.
"Patience," they say. "Stick it out. Be endlessly, ridiculously patient. Wait for months, years on the off chance that you MIGHT be one of the Chosen Few.
Buckle up besties. 1/?
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You should only write a book if you like...
Alternating waves of confidence & self-doubt
Hours of scribbling/typing
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Eye strain
Characters babbling in your head
Ideas striking whenever you try to drive or shower
Unrealized delusions of grandeur
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My grandmother passed away.
She was 94. She had her faults but she was a really important person in my life.
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Make me want to read your book in one sentence.
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Hey
@atmospherepress
, care to comment on the condescending tone, manipulative language, and blatant misrepresentation in this excerpt from your materials?
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What's a fictional character death you're never going to recover from?
What's a fictional character death you're never going to recover from?
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Hot take: too much 'showing' can slow down the plot. Like stop showing me every damm thing your characters eat/drink, every conversation & every sleep/wake moment... for the love of my precious time just TELL me, just summarize it and let's move on to the next interesting bit.
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Ok I need an editor for my selfpub books who will
1. Not mess with my style
2. Catch typos, grammar/punctuation, logic errors/echo words/inconsistencies ONLY
3. Leave my em-dashes the hell alone
4. Reasonably priced
5. Loves spicy fantasy romance
Is that too much to ask? 😭😭
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How many ideas do you have waiting to be written?
Answer with a gif.
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I tried out MidJourney myself... some of you probably remember that. But then I listened to artists, and I learned, and I changed. You can do the same. Choose to find a reliable source for covers that doesn't involve so many ethical questions.
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In April of 2020 I had zero book sales and 8,311 KU page reads.
In April of 2024 I sold 4,983 books and had 3,608,406 KU page reads.
Four years.
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Let's get morbid for a second.
What song do you want at your funeral?
I know you've thought about it.
I want "The Whole of the Moon" at mine...
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The official copies of my first traditionally published book arrived. I'm crying.
They are so beautiful. The gloss on the leaves and frame, the sprayed edges, the interior art!!
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A reader snapped this photo of my book in a BARNES & NOBLE!!!!!!! ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
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2000 words a day for 40 days will get you a book of 80k.
Or write 1000 words a day for 80 days (not quite 3 months). 1k is an hour or two of writing. You probably watch TV or browse socials that long every day. Write instead. Not saying you have to, but that's how we do it.
How on earth are you lot drafting a full WIP in 1-3 months?
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#Pitmad
is over. Whew!
Thoughts:
-THANK YOU for the AMAZING support!!! I was blown away.
-This
#WritingCommunity
has such incredible talent.
-Who says it's all been done before? I saw lots of fresh, amazing ideas.
-I had minimal success, but it's all good!
-Keep querying!
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I know I cheer for self-publishing a lot,
but friends,
sometimes it is so exhausting to be the One responsible for All of the Things.
Drop me a gif if you feel this.
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Y'all wanna hear how I signed with my agent? I'm gonna tell you.
Here we go.
I queried a couple novels before this one. One wasn't ready--I know that now. Another was ready (and actually got an offer right around the same time as the mermaid book); might revisit it someday. 1/6
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Did you hear the one about the author (not me) whose income went from $52 last month to $17,000 this month because of one TikTok video that went viral?
Simple video. And she's been on there a while.
You just never know. And that's the fun part.
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I can't stay quiet about this any more.
I will probably regret posting this. I know it's a hot-button issue...but...
Y'all it's "sneak peek."
Not sneak peak or sneek peek. Peek is a secret glimpse, not the peak of a mountain. And 'sneek' just isn't a word.
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By purchasing indie books through Amazon or reading them in Kindle Unlimited, you ARE supporting REAL people, not just a faceless corporation. You're literally helping me pay the mortgage, put food on the table, buy gas. I love you for it. Thank you.
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School is now closed until the end of April in SC.
I just...
I understand why, but--
I had big projects I wanted to finish between now and summer break.
Now I will be working from home AND homeschooling AND writing.
No hate, please. The stress is real for parents right now.
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Twitter is weird. I still don't understand it. Sometimes my most random tweets get all the attention, while the ones I compose carefully are lost in the void.
Why, Twitter? Why?
Maybe it's not Twitter that's weird or illogical-- maybe, just maybe, it's PEOPLE.
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A timeline:
5/17/2021: I leave my 1st agent. During our phone call, she spitefully says my Gatsby retelling is "not my best work."
6/30/21 an editor Tweets a mswl that fits the Gatsby book. We converse briefly on twitter. Later I email & she asks for the full manuscript.
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Real talk: years ago I used to think selfpub authors were those not good enough for trad pub. I'm ashamed of that viewpoint now, because I've SEEN first-hand the incredible talent, creativity, perseverance, and genius in the indie/self-pub author community. You all ROCK.
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I am struggling with severe self-doubt lately. I know several other writers who are as well. I don't have a solution, just... I see you, and I'm right there with you.
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It's here!!! The day I've wanted since I was tiny Rebecca scribbling mermaid stories. 😭 I'm so proud and happy to share this delicious modern retelling of the Great Gatsby (with vampires) with all of you! If you have the book or you see it today, please tag me!
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Soo... are you guys gonna hate me if I post book sales numbers for this year? 😅 Does that encourage you, or the opposite? And keep in mind a couple years ago my sales were practically nonexistent. Still, I don't want to bring anyone down.
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Full MS request.
I know it doesn't mean representation... but boy is it encouraging.
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I don't want to write the Great American Novel.
Whatever the heck that is...it sounds incredibly boring.
I'll just be over here writing about tattooed male witches & savage swarms of mermaids & bird people & teenagers who are sometimes mythical monsters.
You?
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I think I'm a little traumatized from the querying/sub process these past 2.5 years? Is that a thing? Like I can hardly bear the idea of pitching in
#sffpit
tomorrow and seeing my pitch just... flop... I feel really fragile about it. Kudos to all you brave people!! I'll RT you.
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Me, has an idea: Isn't this so different and amazing and unique???
Husband: Cool, that reminds me of this [movie/TV series/novel]!
Me: ...no, but this part is different...
Him: Oh, I see. Like [other show/movie/book]?
Me: I hate you.
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When you're reading a book,
and you don't want to stop,
and you keep telling yourself "One more chapter,"
and you're grinning like crazy over certain scenes...
...and then you remember...
"Yeah, this is my own book,
and I'm supposed to be editing it."
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