Seeing Things, Part 1: The Big Idea

Dear Blog Friends,

So here’s my big update.

I’m planning to epublish my first novel. If it goes well, I’m going to follow it with the second and third, to make a nice, neat trilogy.

This is the plan, and it’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.  Bear in mind that I’m not a coward. I’ve backpacked by myself across Poland without a guidebook, broken bricks with my hand, and hitchhiked in Japan,  I’ve played with fire (literally), I’ve ridden poorly trained horses, I’ve crashed parties at which I was the only American, I’ve tried very hard in this life to (as Weird Al Yankovic puts it) “grab life by the lips and yank as hard as [I] can.”

Epublishing my novels still scares me.  These aren’t the only novels I’ve written, but they’re my first, and they’re near and dear to my heart.  I keep thinking about everything that can go wrong, and how hard it is to undertake such a big project alone. But I’m not really alone, am I? I have you guys.

So here I am, asking for help.

I’m going to need several things. First of all, I’m going to need signal boost. Tell your friends, be they writers or readers, about this project.

Secondly, I’m going to need advice. If you’ve done this yourself, or know someone who has, please comment.  I’ll read all the comments, I promise. I won’t reply if I don’t have anything to add, but I will read them, and other people will read them.

Thirdly, I’m going to need money at some point, because I’m going to have to hire professionals to do some of the tasks.  (I’m also going to need references).

Fourth, and most importantly, I expect this to be a long journey, and I need to know that I’m not the only one who cares about this.  Some of you have read the Seabingen trilogy, and have encouraged me. Others have read my short stories and have asked to read more.

I read somewhere that what artists need to do is twofold:

1. Make something good.
2. Share it with the world.

I’m all about sharing.  For years I’ve shared my artwork, my comics, my essays, and my book reviews.  So far, my only available fiction has been my shorter pieces.  That’s going to change.  Come September 1^st,  you’re going to be able to read the first Seabingen novel SEEING THINGS, an 80,000 word urban fantasy with a tight plot, wit, a kick-ass heroine, and a noir-mystery feel.

Stick around for blog posts that talk about why I wrote this, how I got my inspiration, and how I’m going to get this first book out in the big wide world where everyone can see it.

See you Wednesday.

–Kater