A Writer's Week #143: Hammering Out an Identity

 Hi all. Things are progressing as I work to get my new novella, Fire & Ice ready for publication early next year. Artist Emily Hurst Pritchett has just sent me rough sketches of the cover, the map of Dragon Home, and some choices for the chapter header. They all look really great, and I'm excited to see how the final versions turn out.

Once the book comes out, it will mark the second work I've published that is not really a part of the Deliverers Series. As I slowly move away from Eric, Stig, Kate, and Hallo. I'm trying to find my identity as an author as well. While I am still writing middle grade fiction, I can't use the Deliverers as an all-encompassing marketing blanket.

The question for me was, how to market my writing? At first, I thought it might be using White Owl Manuscripts as the flagship. I use the name as my Defacto publisher. But I decided that I needed to put my name out there more. I'd always used The Deliverers or White Owl whenever talking about my books. Those just did not seem to be satisfactory options, particularly now that I am writing other things, with maybe some even more different topics yet to come. I finally decided that I should start putting my name out there more. With that in mind, I turned to AI for an author logo. At first, I thought I'd do that just to get some ideas. However, Microsoft's Co-Pilot actually came up with something that was pretty good. Here it is:

So, for now, at least, I'll be using it to "brand" myself and my writing. Marketing my name rather than the series or my faux publishing arm will enable me to branch out for future projects. After all, I still have the beginnings of my teen fantasy, Quirk, and I keep kicking around an idea for a middle grade historical novel in revolutionary Connecticut (along the lines of My Brother Sam is Dead), in addition to a few more novellas chronicling Dragon Island Legends in the planning stages.

It still seems surreal to me that I will soon release my sixth book, and that I have ideas for four to five more. I am truly blessed to have been able to write and release what I have so far. I am beyond thankful for all of you who have been following me and reading what i put out. It inspires me to keep going. I want to give you all stories that you will enjoy.

Thank you, and I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Peace.