5-Star Book Review by Stephanie D.

"The Sound and the Echoes" by Dew Pellucid is an extravagantly illustrated and expertly constructed fantasy tale for older children and young adults. The idea behind it is both simple and so original. Our world is echoed by another. We each have our own living echo, and they are totally dependent on us in that when we die, they die. In the Echo world, the fate sealers and fortune tellers need the Prince's Sound to die so that the Echo Prince dies too. But the Prince's Sound, William, doesn’t know he has a royal Echo and he most certainly doesn’t want to be killed. He is thus unwittingly dragged into an adventure in a magical realm where, helped and hindered along the way by an intriguing cast of characters, he needs to solve riddles and overcome challenges to return the Echo Prince to the throne and release the glittering Echo realm from its cruel tyranny. He also makes his own family very happy in the process.

The author says that the inspiration for his story came from Plato with his belief that there is a place where “the true essence of things existed”. It is an intriguing and totally successful inspiration for a story. And not only can he have good ideas, but Pellucid can write. He keeps the reader completely hooked from start to finish. He creates a magical, tense atmosphere that envelopes you. Friendship, loyalty and strength of character shine very brightly in this book. Will is quite a hero - bright, brave and loyal, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. He is an amazing youngster. And also amazing is the artwork by Andy Simmons. It is fabulous in every sense of the word. This author and artist make an indisputably top quality team.

Reviewed by Stephanie D. for Readers Favorite

5 Star Review from History Fan Book Blog

A big thank you to Claire for the wonderful reader review of The Sound and the Echoes! "This book had me gripped right from the start. The author has hit upon a topic that i have not even considered before and made it sound realistic. Although a fantasy story...." read more on Claire's book blog, History Fan.

Free Print Book Giveaway

Thanks to all the story-lovers who joined The sound and the Echoes on Facebook!

When I reach 100 likes on Facebook, I'll have a random drawing for 2 free signed softcover books. When I reach 250, I'll hold a drawing for 4 signed paperbacks. And for 1000 (yay!) I'll have a massive celebration, with 5 signed hardcovers and 5 signed paperbacks.

I hope you'll help me reach my Fortunerific goal by telling your friends all about The Sound and the Echoes!

A chilling thank-you from your Echo friend.



Go to my facebook page!

How the High Concept Light Bulb Lit Up My Pillow

When I tell people about the concept behind the Sound and the Echoes, almost everyone responds with the same word: "Intriguing".

And that, of course, makes me smile.

The next question they ask is, "How on earth did you come up with that?" (Some people just jump to the conclusion that I'm so creative, which shows some creativity on their part).

But, actually, this wasn't really about being creative but about insomnia. Yes, lying awake in bed with your mind wondering in bizarre ways all through the night.

So, this is the story of how the idea behind The Sound and the Echoes germinated (oddly) one fateful night.

Unable to sleep, I tried to think of something somber. Perhaps I'd bore myself to sleep. I started thinking about the Greek philosopher, Plato. I wondered about his Realm of the Forms, a place where the true essence of things existed. You see, we are just reflections of that perfect place, or so Plato thought (which is forgivable, given that he was only a Sound).

Very soon, I started wondering about the implications of denigrating one world above another. And that's how the idea of a reflection world was born, one in which Echoes have to die when their Sound dies (as if they are inferior).

So what would that world be like, I asked myself (forgetting all about trying to sleep). Well, see-through, of course. And cold, because we're warm blooded up here. And glittering and beautiful, because it would be fun to visit.

And so I kept on imagining through the night....

Author Interview and Book Giveaway

Visit the stunning bookblog, I Am A Reader, Not a Writer for a fun interview with author, Dew Pellucid.


The old Echo can be quite amusing when he puts his mind to it.

And be sure to enter the free book giveaway: 1 e-book and 1 print book are up for grabs before 8/30/2012.

The Sound and the Echoes Press Release

Paperback Edition of The Sound and the Echoes

My high concept YA fantasy is now available in paperback on Amazon. So how did I publish in print without laying out any money upfront?

I used the Amazon company, CreateSpace. I edited the manuscript myself, including the cover, which kept the publication process free. The only thing I spent money on was buying a print proof at the end (for a few dollars), to ensure that the book looks as it should.

The process is simple and user friendly; although there were a few bumps in the road. I'll write a tutorial post for other authors who wish to publish a print edition in the next few days.

Cheers,

Dew

 

How to Get Published on Kindle

  My experience getting published on Kindle: A How-to Guide

I've been surfing book blogs all week, looking for reviewers for my new release: The Sound and the Echoes.

There are so many passionate story lovers out there. And in many cases, a passionate reader nurses the dream of creating a fictional world one day.

My advice, from bitter experience, is to read a great deal first. Of course, it's a cliche, but only because it's a truth universally acknowledged (if I might borrow from Jane Austen).

But if you have written something wonderful and want to see it published, here's what you should know about the process of publishing on Kindle.

The Kindle publishing experience is composed of nine steps:

1. Formatting your manuscript for Kindle devices.

2. Obtaining a Kindle book cover.

3. Copyrighting your manuscript.

4. Obtaining an ISBN.

5. Writing a catchy book description.

6. Deciding on royalty and pricing.

7. Publishing on Kindle.

8. Deciding if KDP Select is right for you.

9. Promoting your Kindle book.

Formatting Your Manuscript

Publishing on Kindle requires that you format your manuscript for all Kindle devices (Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle DX, Kindle for iPhone, Kindle for iPad). Luckily it's an easy process. Download a free copy of Building Your Book for Kindle (after registering for a free Amazon account). If you opt to download the book to the cloud, you'll be able to read it on your computer. Follow the step-by-step tutorial. It's easy and fun.

Tip: If your published kindle book will contain images, I recommend sizing them to resolution: 144 pixels, size: 6x4.5. Be aware that there is no way to remove the white borders from around images displayed on Kindle (black and white).

Obtaining a Kindle Book Cover

The most important aspect of publishing on Amazon Kindle is the question of your book cover. You can obtain a free cover from Amazon (the tutorial will show you how). But books for Kindle must have a beautiful cover to catch the eye of potential buyers.

After extensive research, I decided to hire a professional artist overseas (as US artists were far more expensive). Here's an example of my Kindle book cover, which you can compare to a free Kindle book cover. As you can see, publishing on Kindle might be free, but if you opt for a free cover your book is likely to be ignored by visitors to Amazon.

Copyrighting Your Manuscript

In the United States, you are already covered under the copyright law, whether you copyright your book before publishing on Kindle or not. However, since the cost of copyrighting your manuscript with the Library of Congress is minimal, I would advise it. Visit the Electronic Copyright Office and follow the step-by-step process. You can pay the $35 fee by credit card.

It took two months for my copyright proof to arrive by mail. But I didn't have to wait for it before going ahead with publishing on Kindle, since the claim number of my application was, in fact, my copyright number.

Obtaining an ISBN for Your Kindle E-book

When you publish on Kindle you must first be in possession of an ISBN (and also a bar code if you'll be publishing paperback editions as well). You can order an ISBN (and bar code) for your Kindle books online. I believe that Kindle offers a free ISBN for e-books as well as paperback. You'll be asked to enter or upload the following information: a copy of the e-book and cover, a description, pricing, rights and your contact information. Obtaining an ISBN costs money (how much depends on what you buy) and is not connected with Amazon.

Writing a Catchy Book Description

After the cover, the description of your Kindle book is the most important factor when it comes to the success of your book on Amazon. Check out other books for Kindle and find inspiration for your own book blurb. Check out my book description, or look for your favorite books here on Goodreads. You can also look for for kindle books with high review ratings, in high numbers.

Deciding on Royalty and Pricing for Your Kindle E-book

Before publishing on Kindle I ran searches on Amazon for similar books to mine. Reviewing my competition gave me the opportunity to price my book advantageously. Since many books for Kindle are free or cost $0.99, I couldn't price my book at $9.99, as it might be in a traditional store.

This said, you can always go back at any time and alter the price of your Kindle book, even after publication.

Regarding royalties from Amazon on your Kindle book sales, there are two options: 70% or 30%, and both are easily explained in the publishing form, where you'll be asked to make a choice.

Publishing on Kindle

After all your hard work, publishing on Kindle takes just a few minutes. Log on to Amazon's publishing tool, which consists of two pages. There you'll be asked to enter the ISBN, book title, whether it is part of a series and the book description. In addition, you'll need to upload your manuscript (mine had illustrations embedded in it, as instructed in the tutorial), as well as your Kindle book cover. Finally, you'll be able to choose your preferred royalty and pricing.

Before you click the "Publish" button, you'll have to decide if to enroll in Amazon KDP Select.

Deciding If KDP Select Is Right for Your Kindle Book

Publishing on Kindle is officially known as KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). As part of the publishing process I decided to check the box that opted me into the KDP Select program. In this way, I granted Amazon Kindle 90 days exclusivity on selling e-versions of my book.

In return, Amazon included a copy of my book in their library, and I would get a portion of the proceeds associated with the library's activity. In addition, Amazon offered me a free 5 day promotion of my book on their sites. I decided on the dates, and my book was offered to readers for free, resulting in a little over 300 downloads.

Promoting Your Kindle Book

After publishing on Kindle I set to promoting my book in the following ways:

1. I visited Amazon's Author Central, where I registered for free, creating an author page on Amazon. There I provided an enticing bio and listed my book website.

2. Using the illustrations in my book, I put together an enchanting book website . I used Expression Web (here's my tutorial for building your own website). You can also create your own blog with Word Press (which is free and relatively easy).

3. To promote my Kindle book with social medias, I created a book page on Facebook and opened an account on Twitter. And to create social media buttons on my Kindle book website I used the following links: Facebook, Twitter. In addition, I opened a Hotmail account dedicated to my Kindle e-book, using my pen name, Dew Pellucid.

4. To make money on book sales generated by my Kindle book website, I joined Amazon's affiliate program. After a simple application I was approved and was able to retrieve the HTML code for a beautiful "buy on Amazon" button for my Kindle book. I will now earn 4% of each sale.

4. On Amazon's author forum I found a thread that allowed me to introduce my book to the Amazon Kindle community. I was also able to see what other authors are doing.

Publishing on Amazon Kindle has been a wonderful experience. In the past, my book would have remained in a dark desk drawer. Now, it is possible that readers will fall in love with the story as I had. Good luck with your publishing venture! Leave me a comment if you have any questions, or email me at TheSoundandTheEchoes@hotmail.com.

How to Find a Literary Agent

If you want to find a literary agent for your novel, prepare yourself for a long journey that will cause you many disappointments, but will likely improve your manuscript if you stick with it. Prepare yourself also to waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

As for my personal story, I, in the end, decided to forgo having an agent and became an indie author. I knew that my manuscript was good and ready for publication. And I wanted the readers to determine its fate; not the guardians at the gate.

This said, here's how I went about searching for a literary agent.

1. These are my two favorite sites for searching a literary agent:

1000 Literary Agents

Query Tracker

2. Create a free account and search for an agent who will fit your book; e.g.: Fiction, YA, Fantasy.

3. Keep a log of the agents you queried, with the date indicated and what you sent; e.g.: query, partial, full. 

4. In your Outlook calendar, mark a future date by which time you will follow up with the agents on partial or fulls. Do not full up on queries! And give agents at least two months.

P.S.: See my previous post on writing the query.

Query to a Literary Agent

 

The query I wrote for The Sound and the Echoes received many requests for partials and some for a full manuscript. I've had other author's ask me what my query was like. I'm by no way an expert. In fact, in the end I had enough and stopped looking for an agent. But if this helps, here's the query I used.

Tips:
1. Be sure to personalize the first paragraph to explain why you are targeting this agen.
2. And, of course, address the agent by name, as well as Mr. or Ms., making sure you know the correct gender (not every Charlie is a man, for example).
3. Find out the agent's query preference on their website.

Dear Agent,

Three years ago, you were so very gracious with your time in reviewing my manuscript and offering revision suggestions more than once. Accepting your advice, I took a break from the manuscript and read YA novels night and day before sitting to write again. Now the story has grown into a real world, filled with believable characters and a taut story line. I hope to share my vision for the story in the attached proof of concept.

The premise behind the story is unique:

Imagine that everyone around you has a mirror image living somewhere else. Your world is like a sound, which produced that other world of echoes. And in this land men are governed by a terrible law—no Echo is allowed to live after his Sound dies.

One Sound especially must die. The Prince’s Sound. The Fate Sealers and Fortune Tellers will make sure of that! Because after this Sound dies, the Echo Prince will have to die too.

Now, twelve-year-old Will Cleary is about to discover that he is the Sound the Echoes are hunting. And so begins his perilous adventure into a see-through, sparkling world, filled with spying crystal balls, an eerie fortress of castaway children, a hunt for clues in an ancient book of riddles, and a last-chance escape through a frozen gem-studded lake into a secret land that holds the key to placing the Prince on the throne and returning freedom to the Echoes.

I am a freelance writer on Yahoo! Finance among other sites. My short story, Vera Icon, won first place in Spider Thief Publication’s anthology competition. I have written The Sound and the Echoes under the pen name, Dew Pellucid.

Thank you in advance for your continued interest, time and consideration.

Best Regards,

The Sound and the Echoes

Enter a see-through world... a reflection of ours... an echo to our sounds!

The Sound and the Echoes is a high-concept, fantasy adventure for young adults, with 27 magical illustrations.

Imagine that everyone around you has a mirror image living somewhere else. Your world is like a sound, which produced that other world of echoes. And in this land men are governed by a terrible law—no Echo is allowed to live after his Sound dies.

One Sound especially must die. The Prince’s Sound. The Fate Sealers and Fortune Tellers will make sure of that! Because after this Sound dies, the Echo Prince will have to die too.

Now, twelve-year-old Will Cleary is about to discover that he is the Sound the Echoes are hunting. And so begins his perilous adventure into a see-through, sparkling world, filled with spying crystal balls, an eerie fortress of castaway children, a hunt for clues in an ancient book of riddles, and a last-chance escape through a frozen gem-studded lake into a secret land that holds the key to placing the Prince on the throne and returning freedom to the Echoes.

Learn more at http://www.thesoundandtheechoes.com.