Talents Series by Ray McCarthy

[Ray McCarthy]

Coming soon to Smashwords and Amazon as eBooks (DRM free) at $2.99 and with also paper editions at $15 plus postage (free eBook download included). Will also be sold direct here:

Ray McCarthy – Corvids Press

Release dates are provisional. First one is 18th April 2016.

Covers and Blurbs likely to change.
Actually if I don't get a "heads up" on my blurb from critics this week, I may delay the launch. I may put the Blurb on Chrons before I upload it.

There is a working Contact Form.

No risk in buying #1 of trilogy and never getting the other two, as they are already written.
There will be link I hope on Amazon and Smashwords, I hope, to suggest corrections. If there is sufficient "issues" to warrant an update, existing purchasers will get free updated ebook. If someone manages to contribute a lot of valid changes, then they get the next book free.

It's sort of crowdfunding, as I plan to use income from first book to have paid editing/proofing on the next book as it has been a horrific job doing final revision/proof (over 500 corrections, not line edits and severe pain.). "The Apprentice Talent" first draft was in June 2014, using some writing from 1995, which in retrospect, I should have started from scratch.

I'm holding out to get a Traditional publisher for all the Fantasy Titles. My "Amazon Guru" agreed that the "Talent Universe" SF doesn't fit into publisher categories for SF, hence the decision to Self Publish it.

I may also "publish" on Apple iBooks if I can figure out iBooks and get access to iStuff* and they don't want globs of money up front.

[* My two friends with Macs have changed to Windows!]

 

[Wruter]

When you self publish on Smashwords books are also automatically distributed to Apple iBooks and a bunch of other vendors.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

self publish on Smashwords books are also automatically distributed

I knew that, but didn't realise it included iBooks.
That's one less thing to worry over. Thanks.

 

[J Riff]

Yay Ray. Had no idea you had so much stuff out there. *)

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Well, I want to really thank all the people that gave me good advice and encouragement. Many of them on this forum.

 

[J Riff]

A right helpful lot they/we are indeed. )

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Fly leaf page / inside of cover etc.
It's just readable on HD Kobo, it may not work too well on an older lower resolution Kindle, the newer models should be OK, I'll check later on my wife's 2015 PaperWhite and on an older Kindle.

The covers need a bit more work ... The photo is wrong for "The Master's Talent", Maisie should have dragons on her clothing and a Master's cap, with mainly blue, some orange, brown border and gold tassel I think. The dress on my wife's mannequin (used for photos of the stuff she makes) is actually green, but photo edited using colour and hue tools to blue and orange (colours indicate the kind of 'Talent'). The first cover ("The Apprentice's" Talent") is Maisie opening her apartment door to the aliens.


I'm working on the dreaded blurb for "The Apprentice's" Talent".

I'll self publish the fantasy too if I don't have any bites on the fantasy stuff from traditional publishers by the winter. My readers think the SF is better, but it's much less commercial as it doesn't really fit into any common SF category. The fantasy is all quite conventional. The "Restoring the Talismans" is conventional fictional mediaeval fantasy world and a 'Hero Quest'. The 'Otherworld' stories are roughly contemporary 'Portal Travel' Celtic themed fantasy. The 'Otherworlds' have a mix of mediaeval to industrial culture and technology (in same towns etc), or in some cases more advanced than our world.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

A "Blurb" for "The Apprentice’s Talent"

Mei Zhen Kelly is a 23 year old computer programmer from Belfast working in Dublin for nearly three years. She’s talented and very dedicated to her work. People think she’ll go far, now that she’s had her second major promotion. Only her Chinese mother called her Mei Zhen, her official name. Her parents died while she was at university and now everyone calls her Maisie. Wrapped up in her personal issues, she doesn’t pay a huge amount of attention to the news of the alien starship appearing at the edge of the Solar system.

The UN and world governments are confused. While it’s wonderful that the aliens hope to explain how the interstellar ‘Jump Drive’ works, they aren’t even going to orbit. They want to send a team to talk to an unspecified European woman and leave. Some other group will do a proper ‘First contact’ now that they know Earth exists.

The aliens want Maisie to attend a special college about 80,000 light years away. However very little is really explained till she arrives. Unexpectedly the Arch Chancellor wants her to help solve a mystery.

 

[Nick B]

Congratulations on getting all this out Ray, I'll definitely take a look.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Since the Pre-release is from Midnight, I put 17th April on Smashwords.

The ePub I made isn't Apple compatible (!). So I uploaded an MS Doc version. The first 12% seems to be available now as free sample.

ISBN: 9781310866012
Title: The Apprentice's Talent
Author: Ray McCarthy
Publisher: Smashwords, Inc.

Buy at Smashwords from midnight 17th April (in your country).

I'm now off to figure Amazon, though I had a "tour".

My promises:

• You get free updates of any corrected / updated versions (eBook only, but paper versions get free eBook and eBook updates)
• No DRM
• No orphans. I won't release any book in a series unless they are all written to at least full draft.

While "The Apprentice Talent" is #1 of a trilogy, it's really just a progression of Maisie's life, each book is a complete story.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Amazon @ $2.99 from 18th April 2016

I think I even figured out the USA tax form

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Figured out Amazon (I think) Maybe three days before everything is sorted. The advice I got to have release date more than 10 days from when you setup pre-order etc is good!

The Apprentice's Talent (Talents Universe Book 1) eBook: Ray McCarthy: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Amazon.com: The Apprentice's Talent (Talents Universe Book 1) eBook: Ray McCarthy: Kindle Store

Amazon are paranoid about links to anywhere. THEY want to host your blog etc. I'll have to think about the Amazon "Author Central".
I'm not on the "Select" program as that gives Amazon a monopoly.

Should I put a photo of me on the book end page, my blog, Smashwords, Facebook, Amazon etc?

There is a Paypal shopping trolly on Corvids Press (it's only €2 there), you get an email, not a download. You can test it without buying. More books can be added, or a button for each book. There are shop solutions, but overkill for a few items. Psst... you can buy it NOW on Corvids Press, no need to wait till 18th. Or perhaps you are entitled to a free copy?

Next up is to sort out Createspace for paper POD (it's the only way my mum will read it!).


EDIT

My Amazon Author's page is up with a photo of my Radio Amateur shack.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Paper Version of "The Apprentice's Talent"
It will be 6" x 9" x 0.85" approximately. It has 379 pages including blanks so chapters always start on the right hand side.
ISBN-13: 978-1530933679

I've no release date as I want to get a proof copy and check it's sensible. I think madness to rely on "Digital" proof.

Provisonally
US $ 14.99 excluding any local sales taxes.
UK £ 7.99 excluding any VAT or taxes
Euro Zone € 9.75 ex VAT (not sure if German or Irish VAT is charged on sales to Ireland)

I make more money from the eBook in real terms than the paper version, but not everyone has eInk reader or PC or Tablet also some people only want to read on paper. People will have to use my contact page to get free eBook version if I can't figure how to supply free eBook at time of sale of paper copy. Some people do like both and I think you should only have to pay once.

The CreateSpace eStore (my personal page) mysteriously gives more money to me than Amazon.com (even though it's the same company!).

I'll order a proof and give it to my mum. She doesn't use computers (probably doesn't want to know her Sky box, TVs and phone are all more powerful than 1960s mainframes).

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Collected links
It's now 8 days till launch

• Special Author's page on Amazon Amazon.com: Ray McCarthy: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
• Books page on Corvids Press Ray McCarthy – Corvids Press Also has release schedule of the other titles.
• CreateSpace eStore for paper copy (maybe about 2 or 3 weeks time after eBook launch) https://www.createspace.com/6192144 (They are owned by Amazon and put the book automatically on Amazon, but I get x2 income if people buy it on CreateSpace) Later I'll create a discount code for use on CreateSpace eStore.
• Smashwords eBooks (with link to Amazon's CreateSpace) The Apprentice's Talent, an Ebook by RayMcCarthy

The so called Social Media Companies:
I have FaceBook & Twitter. I think pointless (how do you even give people links to Facebook content other than a specially set up page? Also if you don't "update" a Facebook "special" page at least once a month, it's removed ... they call it unpublished.) I'd rather write books than create FB and twitter updates. I think those sites only work for people ALREADY a celebrity?
Twitter Tweets with replies by Ray McCarthy (@RayMcCarthyUNO) on Twitter
My Facebook "Talents Universe SF" page Talent Universe

I suppose December 2016 or Feb 2017 is soon enough to decide if the titles are selling. I may self publish the fantasy too if it goes well, but while IMO and my readers not as "good" stories they fit publisher perceptions / sub genres better than my "Talent Universe" SF.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Best of luck with everything, Ray!

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Best of luck with everything

I'm no genius Marketeer like you. I do know the theory, but have neither the personality nor inclination. I think if you are indie and you are weak at marketing and strong at writing you need a marketing partner / agent rather than traditional "chase the publishers" type. I need better covers on the SF titles too. At least they aren't bland and generic. Also my marketing budget is zero euro.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm no genius Marketeer like you. I do know the theory, but have neither the personality nor inclination. I think if you are indie and you are weak at marketing and strong at writing you need a marketing partner / agent rather than traditional "chase the publishers" type. I need better covers on the SF titles too. At least they aren't bland and generic. Also my marketing budget is zero euro.

Ha! I'm no genius. I just talk a lot.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I'm no genius. I just talk a lot.

Works well for marketing.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Covers are really hard!
Physical covers much harder than eBooks.
Blurbs are hard.
A cheap "cover" is maybe €200, CreateSpace is fairly average for their charges, it's maybe €550 for a cover there.

Latest eBook covers


(Maisie opening door to Aliens)

(Maisie in College outfit without Journeyman's "stole")

Live links from Ray McCarthy – Corvids Press so should update

 

[Ray McCarthy]

An "interview" created at Smashwords by a bot process (my answers are real)