March and Madness, Promise Paen, and Future Books

This month passed as a blur of spinning kicks and late-night writing sessions, the sudden cancellation of a book contract, selling other author's books by day, travel to Boston (my largest sales account is just outside of "Beantown"), and too much hot caf. (more on the caffeine addicts survival guide below) 

Nathaniel earned his Blue Belt in Taekwondo and the award for best poomsae (form). 
​
More about Nate: 

1. Code Name: Gator (because he likes alligators)
2. Middle guy of three sons 
3. Favorite kick: spinning roundhouse 
4. Family comedian (I need to create a gif of Nate's "shifty-eyes") 
5. Has never met a sport he doesn't like (except for gator wrestling - we watched a guy wrestle a gator in Florida and agreed that he was an idiot) 

​Unexpectedly, my German publisher decided to exercise the "Kill Clause." That makes for a great title (it's mine - you may NOT have it). But, KC's don't work out so well for author royalties. Okay, so Unverwüstlich underperformed. It happens. Publishing is a tough business. That said, publishers have teeny tiny attention spans and even shorter time horizons. Publishing the translation of a book in September (in paper only), in a market where no one yet knows me, without publishing the e-book simultaneously, only to kill it five months later, seems ill-thought. Well, Auf Wiedersehen! Now I have the German rights back, which means I can sell them again. Time to make more schnitzel! 

Many of you have asked about future books. Thank you for your enthusiasm and support. You're a small cadre of Promise Paen evangelists...or literary shocktroopers. I thank God for you. The plan for now is as follows: 

• INDOMITABLE releases in April in paperback.  Time to triple efforts to sell more of it and the first book, UNBREAKABLE 
• I have Promise Paen #3 (UNCOMPROMISED) and #4 (NOT-YET-TITLED) plotted and waiting. (a 12-page script of each novel is in the can, and I've started writing #3) Neither is under contract, yet. Tor has passed for now. As sales compound, more doors will open. The self-publishing route is a possibility. But, I'd rather re-sign with a publisher and farm out the editing/design/marketing/publicity/distribution/sales to someone else. "Know thyself," comes to mind. I am not a one-man publishing maven. Considering the reviews and acclaim so far for the books, I have faith that opportunities will come in due time. Do it, defer it, or delegate it. My two cents: in publishing, whenever possible, do the later of the three (and get paid for it)​

Picture Books? Yes, picture books. I'm developing two different series of books for young readers ages 0 - 5. The first series is of a religious nature. THE TINY BIBLE TALES feature Bible heroes in their littlest form. Three stories are written and five are under development. (more on those soonish)  The second series focuses upon our solar system. I don't have a perfect series name, but "PLANETS" will do for now. Written with Dr. Deborah Bauers (mom), SUN AND MOON and RED AND BLUE (Earth and Mars) are done and being shopped.  

As for more Science Fiction, yes, absolutely. SF is in my soul. Admittedly, the timing of the next novel is a bit up in the ether. I've made peace with W.C.'s production schedule. He may not write a novel a year. Some author's do. Some author's don't. With a busy, full-time job in publishing, and three young boys who need present, quantity time, I've had to reset my goals and expectations. Frankly, I'm happier for it.  

Now, as promised, the caffeine addict's survival guide: 

• Antacids must always be at-the-ready
• Drink water between cups of brew to stave off headaches and dehydration (happens fast in the Rockies - my home is at an elevation of 7000 feet) 
• Drink caf on a full stomach 
• Abstain after 7PM (even decaf will FUBAR your sleep schedule 
• Avoid caf like the plague before workouts 

Blessings, 

- W. C.