Wednesday, May 4, 2016

#IWSG: The anthology is here - Parallels: Felix Was Here #specfic #althistory

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other IWSG participants. This month's co-hosts are Stephen Tremp, Stephanie Faris, Susan Gourley/Kelley, Bish Denham, Fundy Blue, M.J. Fifield, and Loni Townsend.
My insecurity and excitement revolve around the release of Parallels: Felix Was Here. No matter how many stories I have out, I always have release week jitters.

Do you get nervous when you release a new story?

Enter the realm of parallel universes! 

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever? 

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

Purchase the anthology at Amazon, iTunes, KoboNook, and Smashwords.
Add to your Goodreads list.
Follow the blog.

My story in the anthology is "Folds in Life and Death." In 2001, the Curse of Tippecanoe strikes again. This story is set within the world of To the Future series, which I plan to start writing in the next few months.

I'm sure many bloggers are trying to recover from the craziness that is April. I participated in the A-Z Challenge on the Parallels anthology blog, and it was a lot of fun, although I didn't get around to nearly as many blogs as I'd hoped.

I finished another edit of Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5) and sent it to my next critique partner. This year I've written 24 of 41 chapters in Destined. I am almost finished writing "A Soul to Protect," a Soul Reaper short story. I've made progress on my outline for A Soul to Reap (Soul Reaper #1), but I didn't touch A Soul to Kill edits, although I have decided to rewrite it in first person instead of third.

My May goals include:
  • Write 30 minutes a day in one project (Destined).
  • Write 15 minutes a day in a secondary project ("A Soul to Protect" | A Soul to Reap).
  • Rewrite A Soul to Kill. I'd like to complete at least half of this before the end of May.
  • Edit "On Day 168" for the forthcoming UR anthology Ghosts of Fire.
  • Outline A Soul to Reap.
What are your goals for this month?

2016 Current Stats: 117,811 words written and 766 pages edited

Two years ago in May, I published my first novel Reborn (The Fate Challenges #1). Although the rest of the series won't be out until 2017 (most likely), I have decided to run a sale. For this month, Reborn is only 99c, and you can purchase it on Amazon.com, Other Amazon Retailers, Google Play, iTunes, Kobo, Nook, OmniLit, and Smashwords.

40 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't think any of us visited as many blogs as we would've liked.
That's a cool little ad you made for the book and your story!

Nicola said...

Great goals, Cherie. Thoroughly enjoying your stories in Once Upon A Nightmare. Have to take it one at a time though, so I don't have nightmares :) Brilliant writing!!!! Looking foward to reading the anthology. Have a great month.

Crystal Collier said...

I actually don't get too nervous about an anthology. My own novels though? There's no one else to help shoulder the burden or take the spotlight off me. I can rave all day about the other authors in an anthology. =)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on your story in the anthology. And wow on your word counts! You are so productive.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Relax - it's already getting great reviews online.

Book release accomplished, two books to format for review copies, and one soon to return from the editor and back to the author. And another to go to the editor. Plus my own book to write. Okay, that almost scares me.

M.J. Fifield said...

Well, I had release jitters the one time I actually released something, but I imagine I'll certainly have them again and again.

Congrats on the anthology. It sounds like a great group of authors.

And best of luck with your May goals!!

Tamara Narayan said...

I'm not that nervous, and it must be because I am just one of ten authors on this project. The stories are so varied and all interesting that readers should find several (if not all) enjoyable.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congratulations Cherie. I don't get too nervous about an anthology, but when my book is about to be released I am a bit anxious.

Gwen Gardner said...

You sure are getting a lot done, Cherie! Well done! I'm so excited you won a spot in the anthology. You go girl!

emaginette said...

My plan is to finish my contest entry so I can get it beta read. It sounds simpler than it is though. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Charity Bradford said...

Awesome on being in the anthology! I love that you posted your goals. I used to do that and this was a good reminder that I need to start doing it again to stay focused. Hope everything goes well for you.

cleemckenzie said...

Great ad, Cherie! And I'm sure if we publish a thousand books, 1001 will still have us chewing our nails with insecurity.

Christine Rains said...

Yay for Parallels! I get nervous with every single story released. I don't think that will change. :)

farawayeyes said...

Wow, you have some lofty goals and some fantastic accomplishments behind and ahead of you. congrats on Parallels, I must get a copy soon.

Working hard to get myself back into the world of writing and not simply blogging.

Anonymous said...

I still get release week jitters and I doubt I'll ever stop. It's just so nerve wracking. What if this is the book that proves I'm really a fraud? Imposter syndrome anyone?

Nas said...

Congrats on your story in the anthology! Awesome!

Unknown said...

I've had ok and great experiences being in an anthology - hope it's awesome for you.
Tweeted.

Juneta key said...

Congrats on the release of a new story. I loved reading Parallels, already left my review. All the stories were great.

Happy IWSG Day,
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

Julie Flanders said...

So excited for you guys with this anthology. I know it will be a big success. Congratulations!

The Cynical Sailor said...

I've got a copy of the anthology and looking forward to reading it! I'm a big sci-fi fan and I'm sure I'll enjoy it very much.

Sounds like you've had a very productive April and some great goals for the coming month.

Yolanda Renée said...

Love the paper frogs, now I'm off to write my post for the blog tour that's due May 7th!
So cool!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Good luck on your goals for this month! A-to-Z month is not one for getting things accomplished, but hopefully May is a good one for getting everything done.

Unknown said...

Your anthology story sounds intriguing! Great image! Will be reading the collection this weekend. Good luck with your writing endeavors!

The Discovery of Dragons and Parallels

M Pax said...

I loved Reborn! Can't wait to read your paper frogs story. I'm betting it's awesome.

You inspire me every month with your consistent progress. One of these days I will join you.

Stephen Tremp said...

We host Asian exchange students for short stints through the years. About a dozen per year in all. We'll have to surprise them with frog origami.

May 2016 IWSG Co-Host
May the 4th Be With You
Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Blogs

DMS said...

I have only released one book, and one story in an anthology so far- but I was nervous and excited when they were released to the world!
~Jess

Olga Godim said...

Great accomplishments all around, Cherie. Keep going.

Michelle Wallace said...

Your story is AMAZING!
And I love the advert and quote you created...really cool.
Congrats on everything. You are so focused. Such an inspiration.
Writer In Transit

H. R. Sinclair said...

I like your strategies/writing plan. I'm going to adopt it (except plug in my WIPs :) ).

Romance Reader said...

Great accomplishments! So exciting!

New Release Books said...

Great that you are part of the anthology! Exciting!

Loni Townsend said...

I like the ways your goals account for more than one project. I think I might have to give that a try. I often find myself distracted by one idea or another.

Woot on the anthology!

alexia said...

Congrats on the release of the anthology! I signed up for somebody's Thunderclap for it. Hope it's going well.

Your word count is impressive as usual!

Anonymous said...

Awesome monthly goals and congrats on the anthology. I have a copy and will read it soon.

Unknown said...

Great goals and I LOVE the frog picture/ad. That would make me click for sure.

Mark said...

Those are great goals, Cherie! You've got a lot to be proud of:)

Romance Reader said...

Great goals, Cherie. And congratulations on the anthology!

Dawn Simon said...

Congrats on the anthology, and good luck on your May writing goals!

Tabatha Morrow said...

What a fascinating premise for a story! I have to read this.

Heather R. Holden said...

Release week jitters are the worst. I always feel something similar whenever I share new art and comics, and yeah, it's far from fun. I'm sure your nerves will be for nothing, though, since "Folds in Life and Death" sounds great!

And wow, I'm amazed by all the writing projects you're juggling right now. Best of luck with all of them!