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Another reason to buy direct from author

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/18/another-reason-to-buy-direct-from-author/

… or anywhere but the ‘River App’.

I just don’t understand Amazon’s pricing. I just found my Blood Ties (Paperback RRP AU$16.99/US$11.99) on Amazon AU for $46.55! Holy sh***! Please note I have absolutely no say in how Amazon prices my books (which they source from Ingram Spark or Draft2Digital.

For comparison, Booktopia is selling it for AU$20.56.

I know bookshops need a markup, but Amazon’s price is over twice the RRP – and I don’t see a cent more!

And the current eBook price (RRP US$1.99) is AU$4.39!

  I’ve heard similar stories from other indie authors, especially for books published this year.

All the books in my website shop have a ‘universal link‘ for online bookstores they are available to purchase. So, please, when you’re buying a book, shop around. And remember, the author doesn’t get paid any more just because the price is jacked up!

#amazon #books #buying books #competition #ebook #no control #not choice #overpricing #paperbacks #pricing #processes #where to buy

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Sherlock is a Girl's Name - Release Date

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/16/sherlock-is-a-girls-name-release-date/

We’ve got an official release date: 29 April!

Sherlock is a Girls Name is full of stories about female Sherlocks and their Watsons, through time and space and fantasy worlds. My story: The Case of the Toxic Teacake.

Cover art by @altocello

You can pre-order until 29th via clandestinepress.net (AUS) or improbablepress.com (US)

Cover art by @altocello

#announcement #anthology #aussie author #books #buy books #Clan DeStine Press #ebook #Improbable Press #links #news #paperback #release date #Sherlock Holmes #short mystery #short stories #updates #Victorian Mystery #women #women author

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Chicago Steampunk Expo news

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/14/chicago-steampunk-expo-news/

If you’re at the Chicago Steampunk Expo this weekend, you can find my (US exclusive) bookmarks at Bill Bodden’s table (along with those of many other steampunk authors! These bookmarks were designed especially for US conventions. A big shout out to Bill, who offered to take them to events he attends.

#bookmarks #books #convention #live event #steampunk #steampunk authors #steampunk event #US conventions #US event

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April Word Count: Week one

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/09/april-word-count-week-one/

Word count update for secret project and my NaNoWriMo alternatives…

#April word count #NaNoWriMo/CampNaNoWriMo #not nano #secret project #updates #word count #writing

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Tonight's Livesteam reminder

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/08/tonights-livesteam-reminder/

I’ve got a few announcements, secret project discussion, and some show and tell!

Livestream is at 5.00pm Adelaide/ACST (not daylight saving any more) and link is in pinned Patreon post, for eligible Patrons

#announcements #livechat #news #online chat #patreon reward #patron exclusives #patron first #secret project #show and tell #updates #video #youtube

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https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/07/20735/

The secret is definitely out now! Australian Discworld Conventions have announced their guest authors:

Tansy Rayner Roberts (Aussie author of fantasy, cosy mysteries, and commentaries on Discworld

Elizabeth Flux and Ben MacKenzie of Pratchat Monthly podcast.

Pat and Jan Harkin…

and me!

They posted this today on their socials:

And I’ve got a Patron Celebration Treat

To celebrate, I’m also inviting top-tier patrons (Adventurer Extraordinaires and Time Travellers) who are in Adelaide over/around 12-14th July to join me for lunch or dinner; my treat.

#adelaide event #Australian discworld #author event #author talk #convention #disworld #Nullus Anxietas #prattchat #social media

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Day 1/ Day 2 April Word Count

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/06/day-1-day-2-april-word-count/

April 1st: Day 1

Not much wording accomplished. I started new Discord channel for keeping track of my word count (invite link: https://discord.gg/pWdCtQZp ) Also updated my website: on my Works in Progress page with link invite. Made social media/Tik tok info post:

Currently looking into other forums/websites that may give same ‘follow up/accountability’ community.

Dark chocky Easter consumed: 1/2

Cups of tea: one green, one black. (no sugar, no milk)

April 2nd: Day 2

Not NaNo word count 1503 words down today. Had to stop as I started just writing notes on how to fix/rewrite in the end. I found a potential site in beta at the moment. It was recommended on an author’s blog. I won’t be doing the live sprints (writing directly into their site, even if it says it’s not kept), as I’m a bit wary of trusting sites too far atm. Apparently

you can follow my progress, and comment there. Link: https://www.mywriteclub.com/beta/writers/KarenJ/goals/secret-project-1st-draftrewrites (Patreon supporters received early access to this post.)

Mood: accomplished.

Programs used: Remarkable 2/ pdf converted to Word (.docx), with rewrites and ordering done at last month’s Shut Up & Write session./ Scrivener Updating also on the MyWriteClub site.

Cups of tea: 2

Chocolate: Half a Ferrero Roche dark chocolate giant egg thing, and 1/4 dark Lindt

#first draft #novella #pondering #processes #rewrites #secret project #short story #shut up and write #word dount #writing

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Anthology News: It's official!

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/05/anthology-news-its-official/

A while ago, I wrote a short story and submitted it for an anthology – a collection of stories written by women, where Sherlock identifies as a woman. I wrote a classicly-set story (with an Aussie connection): The Case of the Toxic Teacake. Since then, I’ve been waiting to announce the news. And today is that day!

Pre-orders are now open, and I can now reveal the cover of Sherlock is a Girl’s Name, edited by Narrelle M Harris and Atlin Merrick. The anthology is to be published at the end of April, and you can pre-order (with 20% off) via Clan DeStine Press (Australia) or Improbable Press (UK).

Blurb: What would the Great Detective be like if Sherlock Holmes was a woman? In the tall tales of Sherlock is a Girl’s Name we answer this question, following Sherlock into deep space, 1990s Russian, Victorian London, contemporary USA, worlds of magic, and more.

And My story, The Case of the Toxic Teacake is one of them!

Here is the full wraparound cover reveal – showcasing each of the Sherlocks in the book. Can you guess which is mine?

Authors include: Tansy Rayner Roberts, Eugen Bacon, Sarah Tollock, Verity Burns, Dannye Chase, Kenie Lapping, JD Cadmon, Stacy Lawhoren, Katya de Becerra, Narrell M Harris, Atlin Merrick, and myself!

#announcement #anthology #Aussie aut #australian author #Clan DeStine Press #cover reveal #ebook #Holmesian mystery #Improbable Press #news #paperback #pre-order info #published #Sherlock #Sherlock Holmes #short story #updates

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2024 Events Confirmed (Updated)

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/02/2024-events-confirmed-updated/

Burton Author Market – 9th March – Free Event (was great)

Adelaide Comic & Toy Fair – 21st April

ANNOUNCEMENT – EVENT CONFIRMED! I’ve been accepted for the Artist Alley at this year’s AVCON (Adelaide). (29-30th June)

ANNOUNCEMENT – EVENT CONFIRMED! I’ve been accepted for the Artist Alley at this year’s Adelaide Oz Comic Con (1-2nd June)

Nullus Anxietas 9 –  (Aus Discworld con – Adelaide, as a guest author) – 12-14th July

Temporal Textural Talks –   (Guest author when online steampunk book club reads Doctor Jack & Other & Tales) – 19th August (Australia time) [bookclub is held live via FB on the 3rd Sunday (US time) of every month, except March and December.]

Adelaide Supanova – 2-3rd November 

#adelaide event #author talk #book club #book event #books #convention #Discworld #news #online event #pratchett #steampunk #updates

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How to follow my April WIP wordcount (not on NaNoWriMo)

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/04/01/how-to-follow-my-april-wip-wordcount-not-on-nanowrimo/

** I’m aware I’m posting on April 1st. This is not a joke

For several years now I’ve used the NaNoWriMo/Camp NaNoWriMo website to track my word count in April, July, and November. This was a useful tool to push me to write more and finish various projects. Doctor Jack, The Department of Curiosities, and both Aunt Enid books were written (at least in part) this way.

But things change.

I’ve been wresting with my conscience since I first heard of the disappointing revelations about the site. Well, wrestling isn’t the right word. There seems no doubt that not only was there a significant deficiency on the part of administrators of the site – in putting in checks for the safety of minors (and all the users of their forums) – but also in their decisions post the revelations.

[If you want the full tea on what happened in the forums, you can find a summary HERE and info on Reddit HERE.]

Though I rarely used the forums, the word count tracker provided me with a swift kick up the butt to get to writing. But I can’t support them any more, so I’m looking at alternate sites/forums. While I research alternatives, I’ve set up a specific (public) channel – #keeping-count – on my existing Discord server. And here’s your invite to join me.

I’ve also added the invite link to my Work in Progress page on my website.

I’ll likely be posting irregular word count updates to Tiktok and my website (I’m looking for a bar graph plug-in for WordPress).

#books #discord #discord channel #keeping count #NaNoWriMo #NaNoWriMo/CampNaNoWriMo #pondering #processes #secret project #short story #thinking #WIP #word count #writing

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Nullus Anxietas 9 - Australian Discworld Convention Announcement

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/30/nullus-anxietas-9-australian-discworld-convention-announcement/

I’m a long-time attendee of our Aussie Discworld Conventions. They’re held every two years and alternate between Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney. 2024 is Adelaide’s turn. I booked as soon as tickets became available.

I came to Discworld by a different route than my Dearheart. He’d always loved the books, and we have all of them on our shelves. I first came to them via a chance meeting with Sir Terry at the 1999 World Con (Science Fiction) in Melbourne. We attended the event as part of our honeymoon.

Since then, I’ve learnt more about Sir Terry’s work and his ‘quirky omniscient narrator’ style via writing courses, after which I read some of his books. (Death is my favourite character. Writing his dialogue in ALL CAPS is genius at directing my internal narrator.)

I met Sir Terry again in Sydney 2011, at the last Australian Discworld Con he attended. To my shock, I’d won the ‘raffle’ for those booking early attendence, and got to sit with him at the gala dinner. What a conversation! He was an insightful and intelligent man, and I’m honoured to have met him personally – not once, but twice. So I suppose you could say I became a fan of the author and his writing before his Discworld characters.

I’ve been invited to be a Guest Author! So I was a bit surprised (and totally excited) to be asked to be one of this year’s guest authors for Nullus Anxietas 9. (Squee!) We’re still working out the details, but I thought I’ll tell all my patrons first! I’m definitely a judge for the Masquerade. It looks like I’m also doing an author talk (or workshop)- mostly likely on world building, aimed for those who write stories or create roleplaying worlds. I’ll be on an author panel (I’m just a tad excited about who may also be on the panel – shh… spoilers) and possibly hosting a Klatch (I’m more comfortable in smaller groups). I also hope to have my books available to purchase. If you’re a Pratchett fan, you can book your ticket HERE.

Patron Celebration Treat

To celebrate, I’m also inviting top-tier patrons (Adventurer Extraordinaires and Time Travellers) who are in Adelaide over/around 12-14th July to join me for lunch or dinner; my treat.

#announcement #author talk #books #convention #convention guest #Costume #Discworld #fun #masquerade #news #Nullus Anxietas #Patreon #patreon reward #Terry Pratchett #writing

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Exclusive bookmarks at US steampunk Conventions.

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/27/exclusive-bookmarks-at-us-steampunk-conventions/

If you’re in the US and have attended a steampunk convention over the past few months, you may have seen this on a table highlighting steampunk authors:

  Thanks to fellow steampunk Bill Bodden, who  suggested I send him some bookmarks to hand out at his table as I couldn’t attend (being in Australia). These are a limited number print run, and only available at US steampunk conventions (so far at TeslaCon, Chicago Steam Expo, and Wild Wild West Con). So are collectors items!

#books #conventions #exclusive #live event #processes #steampunk #thank you #The Adventures of Viola Stewart #The Department of Curiosities #writing

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Tea & Tidings Newsletter is on it's way!

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/25/tea-tidings-newsletter-is-on-its-way-5/

I’m letting loose the flying monkeys, just in time for Easter long weekend. Subscribers will receive their Tea & Tidings newsletter on 29th (Australian time).

#Book Merch #books #Events #exclusive #flying monkeys #info #news #newsletter #subscribers #Tea & Tidings #updates #videos

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New Bookmarks for 2024

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/24/new-bookmarks-for-2024/

I’ve ordered three new bookmarks! It’s been a few years since I ordered bookmarks. I only had two series – and I ordered 1000 bookmarks. I had no idea of how many I’d need, and the more I ordered, the less they cost per item. And I’m finally running out!

These are the first three to be ordered. One reprises the image with Viola Stewart, the second has an updated image for Aunt Enid Mysteries, and the third is new to showcase my darker stories. All three have my contact details, website (and QR code), and 3D images of the appropriate book covers – and will be available at future events.

I have twomore designs, which I’ll order in the future when I’ve completed more books in each series (and the covers have been revealed).

If you look closely, the ‘villains‘ bookmark has a mistake: the Viola Stewart bookmark ended up in the corner. (This is what happens when I order online, post midnight.) Turns out there was also a printer’s error in cutting. I’ve contacted the printer (and hope they’ll reprint them and will let me remove the Viola image artefact). In the meantime, these are collectors’ items!

#aunt enid #Aunt Enid Mysteries #bookmark #books #design #Events #new merch #new stuff! #original art #Photography #processes #steampunk #The Adventures of Viola Stewart #The Department of Curiosities #villains

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A Fey Tale - Book Spotlight Compilation Video

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/21/sneak-peek-a-fey-tale-book-spotlight/

This month’s book spotlight is the second book (prequel) of The Aunt Enid Mysteries – A Fey Tale – a cosy(ish) Australian cosy murder mystery with dark humour, hidden magic, and garden gnomes that may (or may not) come to life.

Patrons received the first sneak peek of February’s compilation video earlier this month.

https://karenjcarlisle.com/books/aunt-enid-mysteries/

https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/a-fey-tale/

A Fey Tale ©2021 Karen J Carlisle Portals and Portents ©Karen J Carlisle Music: So It Begins ©Louise Byrne

March’s highlight is Mrs Hudson Investigates (Patreon supporters received a sneak peek early in the month)

#Absent Sherlock Holmes #alternate history #books #ebook #Holmesian mystery #short story #Victorian Mystery #writing

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First Author Event for 2024 - Event Wrap Up.

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/20/first-author-event-for-2024-event-wrap-up/

The Local Author Market at Burton Library (South Aust) was held last weekend. This was their first author event, and the second library author event I’ve attended in the past three months. I caught up with fellow indie authors (of varied genres) who were quite happy for me to film them. Thank you! Here’s the result – my event post for the day.

I met new readers (and got this feedback on the Saturday from one. Thank you, Julie. This made my day. And she brought me a present. More on that in the second post-event video below.)

The Salisbury Library Service staff at the Burton library were great (as usual). And we chatted about the possibilty of future author events… so watch this space. There was even a roaming coffee cart supplying free coffee and tea, and delivered them to our tables. (Nice touch.)

After-event Day one video: (the bad…) Fortunately, they also iced coffee and iced chocolate as, instead of the early autumn expected temperatures of the low twenties (degrees Celcius), Adelaide was sweltering through a heatwave (which lasted several days). At 8.00am it had already passed 30 DegC, and only got worse as we ventured down the hill to the Adelaide Plains. By the time we were packing up the car, it was 42 degrees! Ugh. I never do well in the heat; the dust sets off my allergies and asthma, and the heat triggers fibromyalgia pain and migraines. My mental health takes a beating.. I’m always a wreck for days (to a week) after.

After event Day two video: the good stuff It wasn’t all doom and gloom though. I just need to push through the post-event blurgh… and conentrate on the good stuff.

Now I just have to get through the current building project and I’ll be ready for the next event.

#adelaide event #author event #bees #book event #honey #indie authors #library #library event #live event #readers #Salisbury library #social media #tiktok #video

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Mrs Hudson Investigates - Narration on Tiktok

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2024/03/19/mrs-hudson-investigates-narration-on-tiktok/

Tiktok narrators are supporting indie authors with their recent #HumanWordsOnly. I’ve partnered with narrator Carole Anne Shaw previously, with Aunt Enid: Protector Extraordinaire. This month, as I was highlighting Mrs Hudson Investigates, she agreed to do another excerpt (her choice)

This post went live on her Tiktok feed today.

Narration by Carole Anne Shaw https://www.tiktok.com/@carolanneshaw_books # humanWordsOnly #HumanVoicesOnly

For more info on Mrs Hudson Investigates: https://karenjcarlisle.com/books/mrs-hudson-investigates/

#audio narrator #books #ebook #Holmesian mystery #human narrator #human voice only #human words only #manuscript #Mrs Hudson #Mrs Hudson Investigates #novella #short story #tiktok #tiktok event #video #writing