Book 6 in The Martinique Files is almost ready!
Nov 09, 2022 by Colette Alaine
Book 6 in The Martinique Files has been a worldwind, not due to writing it but marketing the entire series is a massive learning experience. So first, the book: it's being edited by myself and my editor. It wrote extremely well and I am thrilled with the result. It is a bit long, which is fine for reading but expensive to publish if I use a 12pt font. I switched to 11pt in Books 2 and 3 so I may do it again with Book 6 to keep the cost down of the paperback. My editor has sent me the first 200 pages and I am applying her edits but I'm also cutting out some redundancies I've found. This is helping a little with page count but it's mostly a sentence here and there because I can't cut my story.
Titling Book 6 has been an ordeal. The previous five books were very easy to title but I ran out of words that begin with the letter 'L.' I spent hours reviewing L words but I had used some of the best to describe my novels. Then I found a great word and I kept looking for another to go with it that fit Book 6. Amazingly, I located the absolute best word I could and the two together create the perfect title. I know I usually give you a heads up as to what it is but because I published Book 5 "Litigating Liaisons" mid-summer, I am still promoting it.
But...you will find out soon because I plan to do a cover reveal of Book 6 before Thanksgiving. As I said, Book 6 wrote very well but because it is longer, it takes time to properly edit and my plans for publishing have given me little time to do anything else but edit. I should have started editing sooner but now I'm in full editing mode. Editing is fairly easy, especially when I receive feedback from my editor but I also do a tremendous amount of my own editing usually before I send it to her. The problem becomes making certain that your editsdon't compromise your story. It can be difficult to remember every little thing you've written but I don't like mistakes! So after every edit, I reread the novel to find anything I've missed. This takes time.
However...at this point on November 9th, I am still poised to publish on time. My cover is finished and it is fantastic! Diane Windsor creates them and she really captures the essence of the environmental issue appearing in each book. I gave her an estimated page count and I believe it will be very close to the actual page count so that's one less headache. I still have to get an LOC number and I can't do it until I have the ISBN, which I get from Amazon when I begin set-up. I'll be doing that this week.
One thing I did not realize is how much effort Marketing the series would take. I've between 50 and 70 webinars on how to set-up Amazon ads, Audible, multiple platforms and so much more I can't even recall right now. I'll be doing all of it after I publish Book 6 but you have to take the classes when they're offered so at least all of that is done. Hopefully, you're seeing some of my Instagram and Facebook posts. They'll be many more coming. I took a few trips in locations where I've set my novels to assure accuracy and I took many pictures so you can join me on those adventures.
Sorry for the long post but I've been so busy to spend time with you on the website, I wanted to get you up to speed with my progress. For those of you who are new and read this far, I am planning a giveaway when you sign up for my email list and that is the next project for me to finish. It's almost done but I want it to be a thrilling gift for you so you'll return to the website and stay in touch with me. I think you'll love it and for all those already on my email list, you will receive the same gift via email. No one will be left out!
Please continue to like my posts on social media and my next blog will be right before I publish Book 6 unless a miracle happens and I get everything done before! Keep an eye out for social media posts about the blog!
Cheers!
Colette
Titling Book 6 has been an ordeal. The previous five books were very easy to title but I ran out of words that begin with the letter 'L.' I spent hours reviewing L words but I had used some of the best to describe my novels. Then I found a great word and I kept looking for another to go with it that fit Book 6. Amazingly, I located the absolute best word I could and the two together create the perfect title. I know I usually give you a heads up as to what it is but because I published Book 5 "Litigating Liaisons" mid-summer, I am still promoting it.
But...you will find out soon because I plan to do a cover reveal of Book 6 before Thanksgiving. As I said, Book 6 wrote very well but because it is longer, it takes time to properly edit and my plans for publishing have given me little time to do anything else but edit. I should have started editing sooner but now I'm in full editing mode. Editing is fairly easy, especially when I receive feedback from my editor but I also do a tremendous amount of my own editing usually before I send it to her. The problem becomes making certain that your editsdon't compromise your story. It can be difficult to remember every little thing you've written but I don't like mistakes! So after every edit, I reread the novel to find anything I've missed. This takes time.
However...at this point on November 9th, I am still poised to publish on time. My cover is finished and it is fantastic! Diane Windsor creates them and she really captures the essence of the environmental issue appearing in each book. I gave her an estimated page count and I believe it will be very close to the actual page count so that's one less headache. I still have to get an LOC number and I can't do it until I have the ISBN, which I get from Amazon when I begin set-up. I'll be doing that this week.
One thing I did not realize is how much effort Marketing the series would take. I've between 50 and 70 webinars on how to set-up Amazon ads, Audible, multiple platforms and so much more I can't even recall right now. I'll be doing all of it after I publish Book 6 but you have to take the classes when they're offered so at least all of that is done. Hopefully, you're seeing some of my Instagram and Facebook posts. They'll be many more coming. I took a few trips in locations where I've set my novels to assure accuracy and I took many pictures so you can join me on those adventures.
Sorry for the long post but I've been so busy to spend time with you on the website, I wanted to get you up to speed with my progress. For those of you who are new and read this far, I am planning a giveaway when you sign up for my email list and that is the next project for me to finish. It's almost done but I want it to be a thrilling gift for you so you'll return to the website and stay in touch with me. I think you'll love it and for all those already on my email list, you will receive the same gift via email. No one will be left out!
Please continue to like my posts on social media and my next blog will be right before I publish Book 6 unless a miracle happens and I get everything done before! Keep an eye out for social media posts about the blog!
Cheers!
Colette
