Hitting the Library and Donating a Book

Today, I go on another book peddling adventure.  It will have to be short because I am going to the Harold Washington Library for another purpose, but a little bird in my local library told me one of the librarians at the main branch self-publishes and has his books on the shelf.  The libraries, in fact, take independently published books.  If I have time, I am going to fill out the right paperwork and submit my book or books, if they take more than one copy to send out into the library universe.  Wish me luck!

Yesterday, I also finally dropped off my book markers at 57th Street Books.  The funny thing is, I couldn't decide whether to put one or the other side face up, so I asked the worker, and he suggested I display both.  I have to say, they look pretty awesome.

I hope to print a bigger batch with my next paycheck because I am all out.

Well, I have a few golden moments to write because I was messing around on social media and wasted time.  Today, I am actually going to take a break from writing and grade all the assignments students have posted online, so I can have Saturday to work on my long short story "Rita vs the Duende". My beta reader-friend and I are going to swap this weekend.  I will let you know how that goes!

Keep writing and experimenting with marketing!  #Resist! 

Exciting News on the Writing Front!

I have a bit of amazing news! Well, it's amazing to me and has made my week.  I got a beta reader for my upcoming book!  I haven't worked with this writer, but he is working on a similar book, YA fantasy, which is set in the East Coast.  Mine is YA Magical Realism, but we are trying to capture a similar audience.  The premise of his book is great, and I can't wait to read it.

Prior to that, I found a beta reader in another writing group, but I have not been able to reach her, probably because she is in her writing cave. 

Still, I am so excited, because we are exchanging work!  (And I am sticking to my $0 budget.)

I am also going to work with my friend Brett on the next two projects, so he can design the covers.  I have enjoyed working with Adrian, but I need to reduce the spending on books and focus on advertising and professional copy editing.

Anyway, that is freaking awesome!

On the writing front, this morning I wrote the first chapter of The Awakening (Book #3 in La Bruja del Barrio Loco).  I have to brag that it is shaping up beautifully.  But that is all I will say because I have to go craft a flier for a scholarship event.

Celebrate great moments in your writing process and career!  #Resist!

Started My Next Book: The Awakening

The beginning of this draft goes a little something like this:
Chapter 1:  The Awakening in Pittsburgh

            Alexander Cobarrubias sat against the wall of his dark apartment, cradling a near-empty bottle of Bacardi. He fidgeted with his wedding band, rotating the ring, and took another swig. It was almost 6a.m., and his phone had been vibrating for the last thirty minutes; he knew it wasn’t the hospital paging him because he had three more days of leave left. Leave, he pondered on that word, but stopped as the phone irritated him into sobriety. It was his mother, no doubt, with her sixth sense, constantly checking in on him. At one point, she had offered to stay with him, but he had refused. I’m a grown assed-man he had thought when she asked, but politely declined. She was always hovering over him, even though he was 35. Yet he worried she would tell him, and Alexander didn’t want him to see this, an empty husk of a man, an epic failure, unable to protect those he loved most. He swallowed the rest of the contents in one punishing drink, and turned off the phone.

Sounds good for a draft, right?

This morning, I'm going to take a leap of faith and grow a pair of balls.  I'm going to ask for an extra beta reader from a writing group that is more serious and active than other groups I belong to.  I don't have an editor anymore, and parted amicably, but hopefully, I will be able to find a couple of reliable people to read my work. Yes, I will quid pro quo that shit.  Ideally, I would love to trade copy editing.  That's it folks!  I'm going for it.

Yesterday, I also went to the local library and dropped off my bookmarkers.  I also found out the library does review self-published books to put on the shelf, and I am going to submit a copy of La Bruja del Barrio Loco. Now, I haven't been to the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago in a long time, so this will be a treat.  If you  have never visited, it is a wonderful library with a great kid's section.  They also have a gorgeous top floor where they host events.  Anyway, I will keep you posted on how that endeavor goes.

That is all for today, sadly, I got up at 5a.m. to write a little bit because I have to grade these amazing diagnostics.  I have such a fine group of students this semester!  I know I always think highly of my students, but this group is truly awesome.  Their writing says so.

O.K., have a fantastic writing day!  #Resist!

The Great Giveaway Results and My Next Three Projects

First of all, I want to thank everyone who downloaded their free copy of La Bruja del Barrio Loco for the big Labor Day Weekend giveaway!  For my first giveaway, I think it was a great success.  Supporters, friends, and fans downloaded (drum roll please):  23 copies! I hope to get some positive reviews, even star reviews. This Labor Day, was  was chock full of writing victories:

1. I finished The Harvest draft, my first full-length novel! 
2. I surpassed 200 followers on my Facebook author page:  Barrio Blues and Other Totally True Stories. I also got more followers on Instagram and Twitter.  Please, follow me, and I will follow you (unless you are a fascist or racist).
3. I got new followers on my Amazon author page!  (Thank you fellow writers!)
4. I received my printed bookmarkers, finally! They look A-mAzing.
5. I also connected with a number of new writers and have put them on the list to review their work.  (But, I am only doing three a month.  If you would like me to review your book, please post your author name, title, and book link in the comments.)
6. Now, I can call myself a writer and not just say it's a hobby because it's not.  I don't mean I spend hours doing this work I love and have it interfere with my obligations (because I don't and I don't have hours to spend on my craft), but I am a writer who teaches at a community college, runs her union chapter, and is a devoted mom and wife.  I am all of these with great pride, love, and joy, and I deeply cherish the precious time I do have for writing. 

So, in that vein, I am taking the advice of another writer who suggested that I set the novel aside for a while. I am doing that because I need to get into the rhythm of writing and revising.  And I have three more projects for September and beyond: (1) The Awakening (Book #3 in La Bruja del Barrio Loco Series), (2) A set of three magical realism novellas for young adults; I am 2/3 done, and (3) My short story collection Down South Where the Water Is Warm, which I need to revise.  As you can see, I have my work cut out for this month.  I will have more news as I complete my next book.

OK my friends, have a fantastic day!

Believe in your writing; believe in yourself as a writer.  #Resist! 

Chapter 21 Done! Plus, Thoughts on Marketing Experiments.

That's right!  Chapter 21 of The Harvest is done: The end of this twenty year writing saga is near! The gods are also conspiring in my favor this morning because Aaron slept until 9a.m., and instead of going to a local corn festival, we are going to stay in, watch cartoons, and go out to eat, then shop.  That means I will be able to crank out one more chapter this morning.

This morning, I also decided to boost the giveaway on my Facebook author site:  https://www.facebook.com/drmariajestrada/.  Supposedly, Facebook is going to reach over 400 people.  I will let you now how it goes.  Though, to be fair, more people are being reached, and I just posted it ten minutes ago.  One of my metric goals is to get 100 new followers by September.  I have 68 new ones so far, and yes, they are mostly other writers.  We have to stick together, right?

John Green who I've promoted before, recommended hometown reads as another venue to grow a reader base:  https://hometownreads.com/books/the-long-walk-with-paranoia-the-corrido-of-andrea-quinta.  I posted links to my Amazon books there, too.  Not the books obviously but ways of getting back to Amazon, much like Goodreads.  However, the site aims at promoting local authors, so they also link the books to local bookstores and libraries.  I'm working on that too.  It is a great cyber-project, and I hope to buy a t-shirt to promote it.  I have enjoyed looking at other local authors' books.  The funny or not so funny thing is that I can pick out with almost 100% accuracy those books that are self-published because of the covers.

Well, that's enough marketing and promoting for the day. Oh, the Labor Day Weekend giveaway is going well!  The giveaway is going through Monday.  What?  Did you miss my previous ads or blog posts?  Well, you can get La Bruja del Barrio Loco on Amazon for free.  If you like what you read, give it a short, positive review!  In the future, I plan on doing a Black Friday price reduction on printed and e-books for the week, but first, back to my novel.

Stay the course!  Even if it takes 20 years+ to finish your novel, ahem.  #Resist

Big Labor Day Giveaway of La Bruja del Barrio Loco, Saturday through Monday

That's right, I'm doing another giveaway of a second book, La Bruja del Barrio Loco!  I got one review from the last book I gave away, which is pretty good for a beta run.  If you are a friend or an avid Kindle reader, and you download my book, please give it a short review!  Psst, colleagues and friends, share the link on your Facebook walls or social media.

This morning, I also worked on another chapter of The Harvest. You can read the first chapter and part of the second because that's like 50+ pages of reading.  The novel is now at 383+ pages, and my writing goal is to finish chapter 20 this morning.

I am also going on a writing vacay with my family, which will mean free printing at the hotel!  That also means I will have a captive audience in the car, so I can read bits out loud to them.  So, pray for me that this draft gets done.  I really think I can finish it by Sunday.

This weekend I will also be reviewing a book or two.  I downloaded different books by friends and acquaintances to support them.  My favorite one I started reading, thus far, is Jukebox Loser: An Owner's Manual for Idiot Desires by Todd Heldt.  It's funny as hell, and gave me a real nostalgia for the 80's and 90's.  (I hope he does a printed version of it!)  I also have a romance I am reviewing, even though romances are not my thing.

\

Well, time to get back to chapter 20.  I'm in my zone, so I will catch you later!

Cross that finish line and curl up to a good book!  Obvi, not at the same time.  #Resist!

             

Updates on My Official Author Site

I was just posting that I have been keeping up with all of my author sites, but this one has been woefully neglected.

Still, here are the sites I update daily:

My Blog:  https://www.barrioblues.com/un-blog-de-writing-musings

Good Reads Author Site  (Follow me, and I will follow you back.)

Current Books:  https://www.barrioblues.com/books.html

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/drmariajestrada/

Amazon Author Site:  amazon.com/author/mariaestrada