*Na na na na na na na I’m gonna start a fight.*
Ranger’s Odyssey has been officially delayed. It will be available direct from the AuthorHouse website by 10.15.20 (Thursday). The time I was just given for Amazon and Barnes & Noble is 2-3 weeks, so it will be available in their stores by the end of the month.
I apologize for the delay. This is my first time going through the publishing process, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Then, something was entered wrong in the system, so the computer showed that I requested a hold on the account. They were waiting for me to tell them to go ahead, and I was waiting for them to do it on the date they told me. But things are moving now, and I’ve been assured that it will be available for purchase on their site within 48 hours.
Again, I will update the Ranger’s Odyssey page on the website and the Facebook page as soon as I know something.
I’m trying not to dwell on it too much, because it does upset me, so that’s where I’ll leave that for now. But I do sincerely apologize for unintentionally misleading you all.
In other news, while I was panicking about the book over the weekend, I spent 10 hours cooped up in my alcove recording an audiobook version. I have a decent recording device from my college days (we had some pretty strict regulations for our final videos from student teaching), so the audio quality is decent, but this is by no means a professional piece.
The idea is that the audiobook will be available for those who don’t have time to sit and read, instead listening to audiobooks while driving or doing chores of some kind, or for those who have trouble following the words or comprehending the text unless it’s read out loud. Some may also just find it funny or like the idea of the author reading the book to them (or their former teacher reading a book to them again).
My “helper” was very upset to be shut out of my alcove while I recorded, and the microphone is good enough to occasionally pick up her pitiful baby meows from the other side of the door. The first one is in Chapter Three. Just one sad, little meow. I think they’re adorable, and they add character to the audiobook.
That’s the thing with this audiobook. It’s not professional. My old lady voice is hilarious to me. The attempts at deep, “man” voices are even worse. But it’s entertaining. It’s a cute, little thing, and I enjoyed making it. The lightly edited audiobook will be available for purchase through my website only, and it will be up this weekend (once I’ve finished taking out the coughing … it’s been a long time since I’ve talked that long, and my voice did not like it).
Because it is just a homemade audiobook, I’m just charging the same price as the ebook ($4) so you aren’t encouraged to skip the book for the audiobook instead. But it’s $4 when the lowest full-size audiobooks are $15 and most are $25—so that should give you a comparison. I know it sounds like I’m trying to get you to not buy the audiobook, but that’s really not my intent. I just would feel bad if someone expected something Audible quality. This is not that. But I do think it’s worth $4, and it’s good for a few laughs and an effortless ride through the story. There’s a sample available on the Ranger’s Odyssey page on the website (link above).
In other other news, I did one more thing this weekend that’s book related, and that I think deserves a little recognition. It is worth noting first that the Ambergrove logo is my design, but I didn’t design the symbol for my logo. I designed it for my very first tattoo. I got it when I was 18, and I love it. I have many reasons for getting it, but I don’t really want to share my reasons for all my tattoos (I have two others—a horseshoe dreamcatcher and cat pawprints). I just want to share the new one.
All of my tattoos have a meaning, and the middle two have painful meanings. This new one is the opposite. I’ve wanted to be an author since I was 10 years old. Obstacle after obstacle stood in my way. Some I could have prevented, and some I couldn’t. However, after 15 years, and 10 years on the same series, I was finally able to do it. To say I’m an author. To see my book in stores.
Well, that was the idea anyway, when I made my appointment for yesterday.
I’ve spent so much time in Ambergrove. I love it. And I feel so accomplished knowing that these stories are all going to be told. So I wanted to get an author tattoo. Not just any author tattoo, but one that would build as the story became more complete. Yesterday, I got the base: “Ambergrove” in an amber-orange. The tales of Ambergrove in the main story consist of a series of series and a few standalones. I’ve planned out each already, and I’ve named the main characters for each series.
All the names in order have a letter in them that will help to spell out “Ambergrove.” As the final book in each series is published, I’m going to add the main character’s name to the puzzle. Mara just had to be the M, so I started with someone whose story isn’t told until way later—so we will end at the beginning. Fitting in more ways than one.
Is it silly to have this as a tattoo? Probably. Do I absolutely adore it anyway and feel proud of myself every time I look at it and realize that 10-year-old me has achieved a fantastic dream? Absolutely. Am I excited to add onto it as the years go by and see my story unfold on my skin? %@!* yes.
The past few days have not gone as they should, but what things in life do? All we can do is immortalize the triumphs and press on until the next big, magical thing happens to renew our faith in ourselves and our love of, well everything and everyone important. Some things are remembered forever. In 10 years, I won’t remember how I cried for an hour when I finally realized by book would not be out on Saturday. I won’t remember how frustrated I was to find out that the delay was due to a preventable error. I won’t remember the feeling of dread, thinking that meant no one would want to read my books because they thought I was a fraud. Or the thought that I actually was a fraud.
No, I’ll remember how readers asked me where the book was, just because they were excited to get it. I will remember how I asked my husband to bring home something chocolate, and he arrived with a variety of chocolatey, sweet, and cheesy foods (mac & cheese is my best friend). I’ll remember how I laughed recording my audiobook. I’ll remember how I remembered young me, and what she would think if she’d known what was to come.
On that note, take heart, adventurers. Ranger’s Odyssey will be available soon, and you can join Mara on her adventure. Until then, enjoy your own adventures.
Tales of Ambergrove 