Friday, June 20, 2014

Hi everybody,
I thought I give an update on progress. I know many of you are wondering when the final installment of The Godling Chronicles will be released, and I'm sorry it has been taking so long. But I promise I'm working hard to get it out as soon as possible. 
I wanted you all to know that my wonderful agent has returned from NY with great news. Thanks to you, there is much interest within the NY publishing community in my upcoming series, The Dragonborn Saga. That being the case I am currently working on both Book Six and Book One simultaneously. But don't worry. I am not letting the workload hinder my efforts. I will definitely be releasing The Godling Chronicles : The Reborn King (Book Six) this Summer.
Thanks again for your patience. I hope you enjoy reading the final installment as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I love you all.

Brian D. Anderson

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Get Started

Often I've been asked what I did to build a fan-base and get the attention of the reading public. For a long time I didn't really have the answer. And though I still haven't figured it all out, after the past two years, I am beginning to narrow it down.

First-COVER!!! And not just any old cover made at your PC from cheap stock art or a picture your husband or wife came up with. If you want attention, this is the first thing people will see. If your cover screams "amateur", the reader will assume you are one of those people who doesn't bother with editing, proofing, or beta reading. They imagine themselves sifting through page after page of double words, misspellings, plot holes, and grammatical errors. A professional cover tells the reader that you care about your work and that you might be worth taking a chance on.

Second-Editing-Once you have your cover, you need a good editor. I don't mean a over-priced proofer. I mean a real editor. And so you know - a real editor costs real money. Your English teacher at your old high school is NOT an editor. An editor is an editor. And be certain you understand the type of editing you need. I recommend two. A developmental editor and a line editor. This can get pricey. But then you must ask yourself if your work is worth the expense. Especially if you intend to publish and sell to the public.

Third-Proofing. Editing is not proofing. Proofing is proofing. Use at least three GOOD proofers. Pay them! If you don't, you'll get what you pay for. 

Fourth-Send your book to five beta readers. Be sure they read books in your genre. That may seem to go without saying. But I've read several critiques from beta readers that began with "I don't normally read in this genre." Once you get your feedback, look to see if three betas agree about the same issue. If so, you should take it seriously. If not, still pay attention, but you may decide to ignore the advice.

Now you're ready to begin. Yes. You've only just begun. But you will certainly be off to a good start.