Continuing A Prolific Summer

"The scariest moment is always just before you start." - Stephen King

Here we go.

Open Submissions at Winter Goose

Are you a writer in search of a publishing home? Got a manuscript you've been working on, burning away the long hours of the night in hopes of finding it some pairs of loving hands that'll help you get it out to the world? Perhaps you've got a novel-in-progress stuffed away in a drawer waiting for some inspiration to finally return and finish it? If so, I have some great news for you:

My publisher, Winter Goose Publishing, will be holding an open submission period from the beginning of the day on August 1st till the end of the day August 15. All of the details on submissions and this upcoming open submission period can be found at their site.

Having published two books (with a third on the way in October) with WGP, I can attest that they've been nothing short of wonderful to work with - extremely professional with terrific communication; they're all about making sure - through the hard work that is editing and design - that their authors and readers are happy with the final product. Authors also aren't treated like authors; they're treated as family.

So finish up those manuscripts or dust 'em off, fellow writers, and good luck!

Full Details on AN UNEXPECTED VISIT

Three short months from now, in October, my third book, An Unexpected Visit, will be available in both e-book and print formats.

What makes Visit different from my previous releases is that this one isn't a novel. It's novella length - about half as long as Seeing and The Painted Lady.

Because I don't want to short anyone, I've included some "special features" - nine additional micro stories to make up for the...length. Full details below.

From my publisher, Winter Goose Publishing:

Look for the upcoming novella, An Unexpected Visit, by Joseph Falank, author of the hit YA fiction novel Seeing, and the adult fiction novel The Painted Lady, later this year.

There are fates worse than death.

In his early thirties, Noah Adams writes of the turning point in his life: a long weekend spent in the company of his estranged father, Scott, a Special Forces soldier who had been gone two years. During their stay in a remote farmhouse out in the Pennsylvania countryside, Noah recalls encountering both bizarre behaviors and horrifying truths.

It is this visit that has shaped the man, husband, and father he has become. For better and for worse.

Along with the titular novella, which headlines the book, the nine additional micro stories are as follows:

• The Morning After, and Answering The Call - The first two stories I ever had published; they were originally included in issues of RiverLit magazine (which, unfortunately, has since gone on indefinite hiatus).
• Confessions, and At Sundown - Two never-before-published micro stories selected just for this release.
• The Tales Of The Painted Lady series - Last summer, in the lead-up to The Painted Lady's release, I wrote a series of five stories that were from the point-of-view of different characters from the book, taking place right before the events of the novel. The stories are titled: Moving Dad, For Rent, Anniversary, At All Costs, and From Downstairs.

1st Book Trailer: "Inspiration"

An Unexpected Visit - Book Trailer # 1: Inspiration

For each book I want to try something different when it comes to the aspect of marketing. To say having to put on my businessman hat is one that doesn't fit too comfortably is pretty much on point. I'm no marketer. I know the message of my book to sell to readers to get them interested, it's finding the right angle and approach that doesn't tread on becoming overbearing, annoying, and/or off-putting. It's quite the puzzle to solve while trying to remain original and not produce carbon copies of what other authors do to market their books. And in this day where advertisements can be found everywhere, and salespeople are as pushy as ever, my stance is one of remaining low key whenever possible.

With Seeing I filmed a live-action book trailer. With The Painted Lady I did a modest video book teaser and wrote a series of independent micro-stories from different points of view that led into the beginning of the novel, which were posted weekly on this blog and on my site (www.josephfalank.com).

This time, for An Unexpected Visit, I decided to go back to creating a book trailer, but the substance of the trailer is different.

My hope this time is to do a series of book trailers (if possible) that touch on specifics not only involved with the book itself in final form but everything that went into its creation. For instance, in the first trailer, titled "Inspiration," I decided to narrate what gave me the idea for the story and what my intention was while writing it as you get glimpses of the work-in-progress. Maybe you'll find it interesting, or maybe you won't. That's the gamble I'm betting on, so we'll see.

Deciding to narrate wasn't a comfortable bed to sleep in (I don't like hearing my own voice), but I do like the final product of the trailer. Hopefully you will too.

Already A Productive Summer

I love my (ten-month) day job. I do. I swear it.

But this is summer. I get to spend all hours of the day with my daughter (when she's not visiting her grandparents so I can get duties accomplished around the house. Ha. Duties.). I can't mow when it's just her and I, and some of my summer projects include cleaners and paint, which she can't be around. Today it was cleaning the garage. Way too many sharp things surely to call her attention. Other than that, it's her and I - what's been self-dubbed Maddie/Daddy Summer, Part 2. Pictures to pop up on my Facebook if we're friends over there.

Summer also sees my awesome wife with a much lighter schedule, which means less for her to bring home and more time for us. Cue drinks out on the back porch at sunset and yelling at the television during America's Got Talent.

Summer is also the best writing time for me. Maddie naps between ninety minutes and two hours (sometimes more, and sometimes just shy of ninety), which gives me plenty of time to do what I do. 

It's only been two days into my summer vacation and already I've finished the first draft on a novel roughly to be out three years from now (I speak as if that's a long time from now, but, certainly, the time will fly), and I've just begun the second draft of a book that I'm planning to put out in 2018. Where'd all the inspiration come from?

Well, months ago I decided not to work myself into a stressful exhaustion by taking a year off from having a book on the calendar. By determining not to have a book release in 2017 it really took the pressure off, and opened up my timeline, letting the next story come freely and without worry. I could just write. When it's done, then I'll think about release dates and the like. As of now I have two novels out with a third (a novella and story collection) in the editor's hands that'll come out in October.

As for the remaining seventy-four days of vacation left, I look forward to more of the same, plus losing track of what day it is.

Happy Wednesday!

#WIPjoy Month

If you've been following my Twitter (@JosephFalank) and/or Facebook lately, you may have noticed a few posts tagged with the hashtag #WIPjoy. Wondering what that's been about?

I didn't know this was a thing until I saw a writer friend participating, but June is designated as a "WIPjoy" month, where writers take to Twitter to discuss their WIPs (work-in-progress) through means of daily challenges. For example, today is June 6 and today's challenge was to name the character in your current work that you share a flaw with.

My answer:

The #WIPjoy challenge was created by author Bethany A. Jennings (@simmeringmind) with the purpose of writers connecting and supporting each other, and also to keep up enthusiasm for the current project being worked on.

With any hope, I'll finish my WIP this month.

Here is a graphic of the month's challenges:

And here are my Twitter posts for June 1 - 5 with my answers to each day's challenge:

6/1: Tell about your WIP:

6/2: Introduce your protagonist:

6/3: Share a line showing atmosphere:

6/4: Share a line showing emotion:

6/5: The character you relate to most:

Stay tuned this month to my Twitter and Facebook to learn more about this future novel.

Cover Reveal: An Unexpected Visit

Winter Goose Publishing has put out the following release for my upcoming novella, An Unexpected Visit, on their website, along with the first look at the gorgeous cover - an original painting by an amazing artist, Christopher Wright (www.clwright.com):

Look for the upcoming novella, An Unexpected Visit, by Joseph Falank, author of the hit YA fiction novel Seeing, and the adult fiction novel The Painted Lady, later this year.

There are fates worse than death.

In his early thirties, Noah Adams writes of the turning point in his life: a long weekend spent in the company of his estranged father, Scott, a Special Forces soldier who had been gone two years. During their stay in a remote farmhouse out in the Pennsylvania countryside, Noah recalls encountering both bizarre behaviors and horrifying truths.

It is this visit that has shaped the man, husband, and father he has become. For better and for worse.