Daniel J. Hogan's Blog

Today, May 1st 2008, The Magic of Eyri is a year old.

Hard to believe it has been a year already. And what a year it has been: I've sold 115 copies of the book (that I know of to date) so far, averaging around 10 copies sold a month, been to three fan conventions (two as a guest panelist), meet a lot of great people (fans and writers alike) and over all learned a heck of a lot about publishing, writing and promotion. Here's a link to my six month recap I did back in November.

Phew.

I'll admit that I had planned to have the second MoE book ("Them Bones") finished by now, but I had a few months were I was working on short stories so I don't feel too bad about not getting it finished. I have part of the first draft started, so I'm getting there. I just have to get back on the horse, which after not working on the story since early December is a bit hard. But I'll do it. Once I get in the groove, I can't be stopped.

Recent accomplishments (in no particular order, since November, that I can think of off the top of my head):

• Attending the fan convention ConFusion, sold a couple copies and met some great people.
  
• Had a signing with Jim C. HInes (jimhines) that went very, very well. I sold 8 copies in one day, my best day ever.
  
• Appeared on the Ebling and You radio show here in Lansing.
• Wrote two short stories and submitted them by their deadlines. They didn't get bought but I was given some very positive feedback on both.
  
• Attended Penguicon, where I took part in eight events. I also sold six copies of The Magic of Eyri while there (oh yeah..I still have to do a write up about the last day of the con..oops).
• Found out a middle school student did a book report on The Magic of Eyri.

On the Horizon:

• I want to revise and expand my steampunk fable short story, Slow and Steady, and start sending that out to various mags to see if I can sell it (think of it as a steampunk Wind in the Willows). I'll do the same with my fairy tale retelling, A Queen's Tale, as well.
  
• Seriously considering serializing The Magic of Eyri on my websites with weekly installments of the chapters. This would give me a chance to run through the story again and fix a few things, and add chapter titles -- which I think would be a nice touch. However, I wouldn't keep an archive of all the chapters, so if you missed a few weeks you'd be lost. I think I'd keep the previous week up tho, that makes the most sense.
  
• Being a guest at Motor City Comic Con in a couple of weeks. I ordered a new batch of promotional cards this morning, I should get them by then (or there will be hell to pay). I already have my shipment of books and I should get my mini-pins from CafePress any day now.
  
• Attending a Career Day at a local middle school to talk about working in film/video production and writing. That'll be fun.
  
• Being on a panel about Self Publishing at the Delta Township Public Library in August, I'll certainly have plenty to say.
• Finishing the second Magic of Eyri book and shopping both around to publishers/agents.
  
• Keep writing short stories.

What a year. Hopefully the next will be just as good.