Dragonfly14's Blog

Still Pondering Uri

dragonfly14 — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:35:36 +0000

From The Dengu Odyssey—
The spirit god, carved from a single rock, produced awe in everyone who gazed upon it… As beautiful as the stone was, the beast it depicted was grotesque. It had a body of a man, with a long, snake-like tail. It’s giant arms rested on huge columns, and the long, sinewy fingers ended in great claws. However, the face was what made Uri shudder. A fierce animal face. Lips drawn back, exposing sharp teeth, a beak-like nose with gleamng eyes all across the top..Everyone was silent. Uri looked around, and noticed Kee stood close to his left. The Bast tribe had surrounded them from behind… Uri looked directly at Master Tau. “I will not bow to anything on this world. It did not create me or you. You have created it.” .. Uri bowed his head, looked at the ground and prepared himself for swift action, his death, torture, or something just as horrible.

I choose to self pubish for several reasons. First, being over seventy years old, I do not have the time to play footsie with the publishing houses. It could take many years to find one that will read your book, then you go back and forth with their ideas of how it should be changed. This can take many months for a new writer. If you are fortunate to find an editor that likes what you have written it goes before a board before being accepted. It has to be unanimous. If not you have spent months, maybe years getting to this point and now you have to start all over. The second reasons is, I don’t want to give up my rights to the story. I realize they are “first rights” still you lose any control after that. Many authors who have established themselves don’t have to jump through all the hoops, but if you are not established, or famous, or a relative of someone important, for sure, you will. By not giving up my rights I can approve of the cover illustration and everything printed outside and inside the book. Of course I am the one to find avenues to publicize, and let the public know the book is available. This is hard and difficult to begin. I believe if you really want to let it be known you have a great book you must find someone to help you get out the news. This of course costs money. I imagine you are saying. “But a publisher will give you quite a bit of money up front and find publicize for you. Yes and no. You still must find ways to get you book in the public eye. Also if you don’t sell enough books to cover the money you got up front, within a time frame, you have to pay it back. Then you will receive your first rights back. I’m not sure of the statistics, but I would be willing to bet less than 5% or less of authors make enough money off their books to support themselves. Myself, I have no illusions that I will become rich or make a living writing. I do need to make enough to cover my expenses. I am attempting to make a point with my stories and reach people with a message. The teen population is the audience I would like to reach. I can do this through the parents and grandparents. So far in less than six months I have sold just about 100 copies of my book, Mark of the Tattoo. That is without any help, although my publisher, Eagle Wings Publishing has helped. They are establishing themselves and soon will have set up internet outreaches. I believe when all three of the Uri Chronical stories are out, and finished there will be a great surge of sales. I am satisfied with the way I have published my novels. I would like to stand on the highest building in the world and shout to everyone alive , These stories and books are wonderful. Fun to read and still have a deeper meaning everyone can grasp. They have meat in them. Aventure, suspense, and twists. Isn’t that what everyone loves to read about? And yes, even simple romance. If you care to talk to me about self publishing, or my books I would be happy to speak with you. Cheryl Castro

dragonfly14 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:44:00 +0000

I have now finished the sequel to Mark of the Tattoo. It is The Dengu Odyssey. It is in the final editing and I hope will be in print and for sale this summer.

dragonfly14 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:50:19 +0000

This is the end of an exterordinary year for me. I published my first book and turned 70 years old. Looking forward to the next year 2010, the second book in The Uri Chronicles, The Dengu Odyssey. Uri is plunged into new adventures, and dangers while he tries to make sense of the war between good and evil. This takes him into the evil Bast territory where he not only comes up against pagan beliefs, but finds good people among evil ones. Please read Mark of the Tattoo (available on Amazon.com) before delving into The Dengu Odyssey. Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Cheryl Castro

dragonfly14 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:40:28 +0000

dragonfly14 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:24 +0000

It has been a month since my novel, Mark of the Tattoo, has been published. Many friends and family have brought and read it, and I have receive good feedback.
Being what the writing community calls, a self-published writer, has brought certain difficulties. After the local community has been saturated, the next step is radio interviews and regional publicity. I am looking to my publisher, Eagle Wings Publishing, to help me with that. Yes, even though I have a publisher, I am considered “self published.” Because I pay to help me publish it.
There is a snobbery in the writing community towards us. Probably because anyone can publish anything they write, good or bad.
My publisher picks and chooses those they feel have something worth while, and is well written before they accept you as customers or clients.
It is hard breaking into the business, and having your book advertised or talked about on radio, TV, or newspapers. National reviews are essential, and that is in the next phase of “things to do.”

Pondering Uri

dragonfly14 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:53:36 +0000

Who is Uri? Where did he come from? While attending a writing class one of the books we read was James Scott Bell’s “Plot and Structure”. One of the exercises was a challenge. Uri was born because of a challenge. To find out what it was, visit this site in a few days.
The the book “Plot and Structure” James Scott Bell suggested to write in a genre never attempted before. So I choose fantasy.
A boy named Uri came to my mind. He lives on a planet within our galaxy. He sees two moons in the night sky. Uri wants to be a great hunter. He hunts the desert worm called a Wona. It is about four feet long, scaly and elusive. The meat of the Wona is considered a delicacy among his tribe, the Pinola Tribe.
Something happens that changes his life, and his destiny.
Next visit I will post an excerpt from the book. Mark of the Tatto. It should be published and available in a few weeks.
It is now available on Amazon.com and on kingdomkeysbooks.wordpress.com