So a little thing happened today.
A Thousand Years to Wait was listed as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy category of the 2019 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest!
Someone pinch me.
Tag: debut novel
12 Books—Month 9
It’s time for another Twitter friend book review and this time it’s Roselle Lim’s Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune.
I didn’t think twice about picking up this book. It has everything I love – a romance, a little bit of magic, a girl finding her place in the world. I wouldn’t think of missing it!
What I found when I opened the pages and dove in did not disappoint. In fact, it’s such a unique story that I almost don’t want to delve into the details and give anything away…
Suffice it to say the story follows a young woman who returns home to San Francisco’s Chinatown after many years away (and a not-so-happy parting with her agoraphobic mother). She returns because her mother has passed away, and she’s plagued with sorrow and guilt at having left her mother on bad terms. She finds her community in disrepair and longs to help in a way she couldn’t have before she’d left. According to a mystic, the neighborhood will prosper if she makes three recipes to help three neighbors.
Because Natalie Tan’s recipes come from her grandmother’s magic recipe book–a book that features recipes for the tastebuds, but ingredients for the heart, her cooking contains just as much magic, repairing damaged relationships and helping love to flourish. It’s the story of a woman who finds her place in this world.
But it’s also a story of suspending disbelief, of allowing magical realism to take over. Lim’s descriptions are poetic, her writing lyrical. The book was a delightful read full of mouth-watering recipes that made me wish I had my own personal chef.
In the end, I have only one question. Who cleans Natalie’s kitchen after all that meal preparation?
The Release Day Plan
So what does one do on the day their very first book launches into the universe? Here’s a list so you can see how incredibly *unusual* today really is.
In order, I…
- Got kids up and ready for school.
- Picked up extra kid to take to school.
- Did the social media thing.
- Picked up older kid and another extra kid from 1/2 day of school.
- Cleaned multiple litter pans (we’re fostering, so it’s more than just my own cats).
- Cleaned yard of dog poop. (Exciting, right?)
- Mowed the lawn.
- Did the social media thing.
- Picked up younger kid from school.
- Took kids to dance class.
- Wrote words.
- Did the social media thing.
- Dinner. (Cooking? Not today, Satan.)
And if we’re really in the mood to celebrate this evening, we just might go for cupcakes… I’ll keep you posted.
My point? My dear friends, launch days aren’t really any different than any other day. There’s still plenty of poop to clean up and lots of words to write.
But am I celebrating anyway? Yes. Yes, I am.
9:28 p.m. update: Celebratory gourmet cupcakes were had. They were prettier before they were accidentally smashed by 13 y.o. in the car. Tasted yummy anyway.
Supporting Authors
***This post brought to you by: Anything to Procrastinate Opening my WIP***
With a book set to release in just over a week, I’ve fielded a lot of questions from friends and family, mostly along the lines of “How can we help?” or “What can we do?”
These are fantastic questions to ask any first-time author who’s seeking to build a longterm career in writing. The answers, however, are not nearly so straightforward.
So here’s a quick down and dirty list of things you can do to help an author at any stage of the game.
- (The Obvious) BUY THEIR BOOK(S).
- Buy a second copy of their book(s) to gift to a friend.
- Buy a copy to donate to a school library.
- Review their book(s) on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, BookDepository – anywhere you can think of. Reviews get books seen. Books that are seen are books that are purchased. And you don’t even have to do more than give it a few stars and say “I liked this one.” (I mean, more is better, of course, but “I liked this one.” is 100% legitimate!)
- Ask your local indie bookstore to carry their book(s). Amazon sales are good, but indie bookstores need our support now more than ever!
- Request the book from your library. Libraries rely on their patrons to request books for purchase. Ask your local library if they’ll buy a copy of your favorite author’s book(s).
- Come to local signings or meet & greets.
- Share your excitement on social media. Does this mean you have to retweet or share every post by your author friends? No. But getting in on the excitement of a new book gets others excited, too!
- Add their book to your Goodreads list.
- I really wanted to make this list a nice even 10, but I can’t think of a 10th item, so how about text or email or call your author friends and tell them how excited you are in order to keep them from jumping out of their skin with nerves?
Every one of these actions can help launch an author’s career, and at the very least, you’ll put a smile on an author’s face. So on behalf of authors everywhere, thank you to everyone who tackles any of the items on this list!
You can purchase A Thousand Years to Wait now. For a list of retailers, click HERE.
The Little Things
Hey, readers! Be forewarned. I’m about to get really honest.
Books are hard.
They’re hard to write, hard to edit, hard to pitch, and hard to release into the world. Did I revise my book so it’s the best it can be? Did I revise so much that I lost the essence? Am I ready? Am I marketing my work enough? Too much? Pushing too hard? Annoying all the people who know me? Annoying the people who don’t?
It’s really difficult to be in a mental space that simultaneously tells me I’m doing too much and not nearly enough all at once. And when things get overwhelming, it’s the most unexpected gesture that makes a difference.
I received an email the other day that quite nearly took my breath away. What was in it, you ask? Was it from an agent wanting to represent my work? Was it Hollywood banging on my door for a movie deal? Was it Publisher’s Clearing House telling me I wouldn’t ever have to work again?
No.
No.
And no.
It was…a request. A request from someone who doesn’t know me, has never met me, hasn’t yet read my book, but wants a signed copy of it and asked if I would be doing signings. And so, Shannon, if you happen to read this, know you made my day, my week, and maybe even my month.
This debut author says to you, “Thank you.”
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
While you’re here: Have you added A Thousand Years to Wait to your Goodreads list yet?
Preorder Giveaway for A Thousand Years to Wait!
—- THE PREORDER GIVEAWAY IS FINISHED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PLACED THEIR ORDERS & PARTICIPATED!—- LRS 3/12/19
So much fun stuff going on in my author’s universe! What’s next? You can preorder the ebook or paperback of A Thousand Years to Wait. And guess what? I’ll even make it more interesting…
If you’re one of the first 15 preorders to 1) send a screenshot of your purchase to WritingUpStorms(at)gmail(dot)com, 2) follow my author account on Facebook or Twitter (either one!), and 3) share my post (FB) or tweet (Twitter) about preorders, I’ll send you a one-of-a-kind talisman necklace just like Reina’s!
Talisman necklace!
Where to preorder? Click here.
A Thousand Years to Wait Cover Reveal
It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here!
One of the most highly anticipated moments in any author’s journey is getting to see their cover art. My story is no different. I’ve been anxiously awaiting this beauty for months and I am not disappointed.
So without further ado, I present to you…my cover.
Like what you see? Me, too! I love, love, love it! A huge THANK YOU to my cover artist, Jess Bieber!
Now, squeal with me! Eeeeeeiiiiieeee! Stay tuned for info on when you can preorder a copy and promotional giveaways. I’ve got tons of fun stuff coming up soon.
The BIG Announcement
A few months ago, I posted about two very exciting things. The first, I elaborated in my post—I got to see my name in print in the byline of an article on the front page. The second? Well, I kept the second a secret. But it’s been long enough and I’m ready to share. Without further ado, I give you…
…my release date.
My debut Young Adult Fantasy titled A THOUSAND YEARS TO WAIT is scheduled for publication in April. That’s right. On April 30th, 2019, you’ll be able to purchase a copy of my book.
And now we squeal. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkk!
Can you die from holding in good news? Asking for a friend. #ItsMe #Imthefriend pic.twitter.com/BXgjWgHqFn
— L. Ryan Storms (@LRyan_Storms) October 30, 2018
Stay tuned for additional teasers, including reviews, excerpts, and cover art in the coming months!
Summary for A THOUSAND YEARS TO WAIT
Prophecies are meant to unfold on their own—they can’t be forced into fruition. Or can they? When a war-torn kingdom is on the cusp of falling to a usurping general, a young healer who doesn’t believe in magic is called upon to help a prophecy transpire. She must embrace the magic…or lose the ones she loves.
L. Ryan Storms 