Anam is out!

Anam is now available for Nook, Kindle, and on paperback. Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/Anam-Marysvale-Jared-Southwick/dp/0984788344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367091711&sr=8-1&keywords=jared+southwick

Almost Here!!!

Anam will be available April 9th. I needed a little more time to do one last round of polishing. If all you care about is the ebook, you can stop reading now and save yourself a somewhat boring story.

Personally, I don't want to get into this, but I also don't want a bunch of angry readers. Those who have physical collections deserve an explanation. My experiences may also be of value to the other authors who are reading this, and I know you're there.

The overwhelming, not even close, majority of you are ebook readers. We're talking a few hundred ebooks to one physical. Last I added things up, which was many months ago, Marysvale had well over 100,000 downloads. Based on what was downloaded just last month alone, it's significantly more now. Maybe when I get bored, I'll go though all the reports and add them up again. What about the print copies, Southwick? Well they're so small it would render it embarrassing to tell you. So, I'll just try to look cool and move along without giving you those numbers.

Here is my very condensed story. I started out with a small upstart press. Things started with a bang, but quickly fizzled. At my initiation, we parted ways. I got my rights back all to myself. So, I decided to do Alyth on my own, but tried to keep the same experience. Turns out, I really don't have distribution channels for physical books. This time, I didn't get into Costco, Barnes and Noble, etc. Because of these two experiences, I have a significantly lighter wallet and a lot of lessons learned. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely thrilled the way things are working out...for the ebooks.

In short, Anam will be ebook initially. As soon as I can figure out an on-demand printing service, you'll get paperback as an option. But why no hardbacks? Well, without drawing the story out any longer, it's about money. No, I don't even have to make money off the physical books, it's more about not wanting to lose money off them. They're really expensive to print, and you have to print a lot to make it worth it. The market for them is waning, they're hard to get into stores, and into the hands of readers. As much as I love, and I mean love, the ebook world, it bothers me not to have a complete set of hardbacks. Someday, I suspect I'll print some of Anam, but not now. Who knows, I may even wade back into the dangerous waters of agents and publishers with another story that I've been thinking about.

Don't shoot me!

I’m kind of a private guy, so I didn’t really want to write this. The only reason I’m doing so now is because I feel I owe you all an explanation; and I can’t do so without letting you into my personal life. Anam, although complete, won’t be available by the end of February. It should be ready by the end of March, most likely sooner, but for now I’m sticking with end of March.

Now, before you start the hate mail and get too distraught, let me throw myself on your mercy and understanding. I was well on my way to having Anam done and out before February, maybe even by the end of January. As I was driving down to the library to finish Anam during the first week in January, I was in a serious auto accident. No, it wasn’t my fault, thank goodness! You were wondering, weren’t you? However, it was my last day of writing before I started editing. I broke some stuff and lost the use of my left arm. I was unable to move it or really type for a few weeks. A month later, a nephew, who was just a few years younger than me, passed away. We lived together for much of our young lives. During that time, we were really more like brothers. It’s a very sobering experience to watch life support be pulled and see someone slip into the afterlife. I didn’t feel like writing during that rough week.

Up until a few days ago, there was still hope I’d make it. I’m very close, but there is still some polishing to do. And I want to get it as good as I can. So, I’m bumping it back. I hope you understand.

Best wishes,

Jared

When's the next one?

So, I’ve been getting a lot of emails about when the next book in the Marysvale series will be out. I thought they were odd because I thought I’d answered the question on my blog. Turns out I haven’t. I know, I’m totally shocked too! I guess that explains all the emails. I suppose I’m not a social media or online marketing guru.

On with it Southwick! Okay, okay, I’m getting to it. So, I don’t have a time frame. (Duck flying objects.) To be honest, six months ago I thought it would be out by now, but it turns out that writing takes time. No seriously it does. Time also has this funny characteristic of flying by. Well, I’m buckling down and starting to get back into the flow. Meaning, I open the computer put my fingers on the keyboard and stare blankly at the monitor for a while, then close everything back up.  Joking…kind of. 

Southwick you’re drifting!! Oh yes, back to the question. I’m planning and working hard to have it all done by Fall, hopefully by December, but realistically, it may be January/February. However, you never know.

Hardcover is out!!!

Alyth is finally here and at a great price. Enjoy! http://www.amazon.com/Alyth-Book-Marysvale-Jared-Southwick/dp/0984788301/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326992226&sr=8-1

Alyth is out!

Alyth is out on Amazon Kindle and on Barnes and Noble Nook.  Sorry about the rest of the e-book platforms. I’m just doing the big three this time around. Let’s be honest, the vast majority of you are Kindle readers, aren’t you? Go ahead, just admit it.

For those looking for the hardback, it will be in about 3-4 weeks, give or take. I don’t have a firm date, it’s in the cogs of printing, distributing, contract approvals etc.. I figured I could’ve held back the e-book until print was ready, or just release it now and let the print catch up. I opted to just release it. I don’t know if Barnes and Noble will be stocking it on shelves this time, same thing goes for Costco and the other small retailers. However, if you’re just terrified of this new-fangled contraption called the internet, and, as a recovering IT security analyst, I feel your paranoia. My mouse is wrapped in tinfoil as we speak. I prefer my personal information be stolen the old fashion way. Any bookstore should be able to order it for you.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Jared%20Southwick

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Jared-Southwick?keyword=Jared+Southwick&store=allproducts

Enjoy!

Jared

Odds and Ends

Just wanted to give a quick update. You can follow my blog tour here. It's pretty much just reviews about Marysvale. As you can tell, I don't update my blog often. I'm a little better with facebook. Don't even ask me about twitter. I think you all know how I feel about that. It's nothing against twitter. It's just I'm not going to post the same things in three different spots.

Okay, back on topic. Alyth is done, except editing, but the cover is finished. You can see it on the facebook link above. So when will it be released? Well, I'm hoping to have it out by October. I think that would be fun since it takes place in that time frame and there is some All Hallow's Eve stuff worked in. However, it could be as late as November. There's a lot of stuff that has to happen between now and then. If you want to be notified when I know something more solid, you can friend the Marysvale site on facebook, or sign up for an email alert on my website www.jaredsouthwick.com

I've been going to some amazing book clubs. There has been great insight from you all about Marysvale. There have been some things and meanings pointed out to me that I hadn't thought about, or noticed. Of course, I simply nod and say, "Oh yeah. I totally meant to do it that way." They are a lot of fun and I really enjoy meeting you all.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you for spreading the word. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it and how much it means to me. So, Thank You!!