One of my guilty pleasures lately has been Downton Abbey. I enjoy the characters, the setting, and the story. An element that strikes me is how the world of Downton changed with the onset of World War I. What was disrupted the most? The lifestyles of every character. There is a great leveling process that occurs with such turbulent transitions. A chauffeur aspires to marry the earl’s daughter. The earl’s daughter aspires to become a nurse. The world becomes topsy-turvy.

I think we are seeing such a major shift right now in the publishing industry and there are many scratching their heads trying to see where things are going. Here is an example.

To get published in the past, a writer did their best to polish a manuscript and then mail it carefully to an agent, customizing as best to that agent’s desires. Then the rejection letters start to arrive. The writer starts to send out more queries. Followed by more rejections. If the writing is good and the writer is persistent, this can go on for a long time (I’m thinking of Kathryn Stockett’s 60 rejection letters for ‘The Help’). Eventually, an agent accepts the manuscript and starts selling it to publishers. ROI analyses performed. Budgets risked. Debate and decide. Finally a decision is made and the author if offered a contract. Typically, not a good one. What other choice is there?

This almost happened to me.

Except I decided I didn’t want to do it that way. I did send out many query letters. The Muirwood Trilogy was looked at and rejected by many agents. I’ve saved them all to remind myself of the experience and how painful it was. So I started to share electronic versions of my books with family and friends. The feedback was positive and encouraging. Others wanted to read it as well. I started keeping a spreadsheet of who was asking to borrow copies. Then it happened. Not a publishing deal. An e-mail from Amazon’s Createspace with an invitation to self-publish through their services. I thought about it long and hard. Why not make the trilogy available all at once instead of having to wait a year in between? Why not? I took the bait. I published through Amazon and sent the free copies to friends and asked everyone to write reviews or tell a friend. The reviews started coming in. They were good. Progress was slow, but more people were starting to read my work. Feedback continued to arrive from total strangers who loved my writing.

Then WWI happened. Amazon launched the Kindle Direct Program. I remember getting that e-mail too, almost a year after the one I got from Createspace. Why not give away some copies to those who had Kindles? Why not allow it to be in the lending library? Why not? I gave it a try in January. It opened the floodgates. I gave away thousands of copies. I sold thousands of copies. The reviews kept coming in, connecting me with readers all over the country and all over the world. Students in Korea. Readers in Switzerland. Even the band SheDaisy loved it.

And then came the best e-mail of all. Another one by Amazon. An offer to be published by 47North, Amazon’s new fantasy and sci-fi imprint (www.amazon.com/47north). Third time’s the charm, I guess. My story is very different than other struggling writers. I did not send a query letter to 47North. I did not format the manuscript a certain way or use special paper. I didn’t attend writing conferences with speed dating sessions with agents or editors. Amazon looked at their database at what was selling by indy authors. They contacted me.

 Welcome to the future, Downton Abbey.

Well, I’ve officially joined the Twitterverse! (thanks to @Karenof4) My twitter account is @muirwoodwheeler. I’ll be using the hashtag #muirwoodtrilogy for my tweets, so follow along and we’ll see what happens. Recently I learned that the band SHeDAISY were fans of Muirwood and even posted a blog inspired by the books.

I’m still blown away by all the nice book reviews and e-mails from fans. I have seen Muirwood mentioned by a college student from Singapore studying in Korea. I’ve been e-mailed by fans all over the country and the world. I can’t say how much it means to me.

Last but not least – the Muirwood Trilogy is back on the iBookstore for you iPad-lovers (right now). It will only be there for the rest of April. Nook as well any day now (I’ll tweet when I find it there). In May, I will probably go back to the exclusive distribution through Kindle, so get it while you can. The Kindle Direct Program is worth it! It’s a blessing to indy writers like myself. Over 80,000 copies of my books have been distributed since January. It’s still the Top Rated (#1) children’s science fiction and fantasy book on Amazon (here)

The first posting on this blog for ‘The Wretched of Muirwood’ was made almost 6 years ago. Amazing how time flies:

http://www.jeff-wheeler.com/?p=17

As of this posting, over 30,000 people have it on their Kindles or have purchased a copy of the print version. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has posted a review on Amazon or Goodreads, sent me a Facebook message or an e-mail. I cannot tell you how much it makes my day getting the feedback. I spent many years writing these books, chapter by chapter, living in the world of Muirwood inside my own head. I’m grateful to everyone who has enjoyed the journey or who is just starting. Is there more to come in this world? Definitely. But I would like to finish another series first. I needed to take a break from that world for a little while and work on something new.

Here is the original first paragaph of the first draft of Wretched of Muirwood (before I had settled on some of the names):

Since the rains had lasted late that winter, Sowa slept beneath a trestle table in the kitchen on a scratchy wool blanket. She slept under the table because she didn’t want anyone stepping on her if they snuck in to steal the heel of a loaf or take a lick of butter. Most of the monks of Avenyon abbey would have probably raided the buttery instead for a quick sip of ale, but the kitchen was probably the next best place to snatch something forbidden, like some leftover bacon or corncakes or one of Pasqua’s fritter buns crammed with cherries. Pasqua’s desserts were the best.

My next project, Druidecht, is shaping up nicely. Hope to be finished with it this summer and will be asking for some help from advance readers who are interested.

My life took an interesting turn the last few weeks. By the end of December, I had a few hundred readers enjoying Muirwood and my other books. As of this writing, the number is about 12,000. More people have started on Muirwood in the last week than all of last year combined. The reviews on Amazon and Goodreads have been amazing.

What happened?

It started with an e-mail from Amazon in December with an offer. Provide the Kindle store an exclusive right to distribute the e-book version of my books and in return, be able to start marketing it through their store. I thought I would give it a try. In two days, I had over 10,000 readers. By the end of the week, it was 11,000. Readers are telling other readers. The snowball is beginning to grow. For a few days, The Wretched of Muirwood ranked in the top 20 sales at Amazon for children’s fantasy books, right up there with Percy Jackson. Just seeing my book in the same list was a treat (the best day was Friday that week, when it hit #13 for just a little while).

Something is happening in the publishing world. It has the same feeling that happened back when the iPod started to transform the music industry. Two recent articles in the New York Times help explain it better. Both are long but worth reading:

“The Bookstore’s Last Stand” 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/business/barnes-noble-taking-on-amazon-in-the-fight-of-its-life.html?_r=1&partner=yahoofinance&pagewanted=print

“Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/technology/amazon-rewrites-the-rules-of-book-publishing.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

The ability to download e-book versions of books has hit the tipping point. I have experienced it first-hand myself the last few weeks. But there is something I don’t quite get. While watching Muirwood in the top rankings of Amazon, I noticed that the e-book versions of the Percy Jackson books were selling for as much as the print versions. I already own the print versions of Percy Jackson. I also got a Kindle Fire for Christmas. Now I have to make a choice when I purchase a book. Digital or print version. But why not both? 

Is it right to charge the same price for an e-book version?

Let me explain. When a publisher prints a book, there are a number of costs involved in its physical creation, not accounting for the editors, graphic artists, proof-readers, etc. The paper and ink aren’t free. There are expensive machines that cut and glue. Books must be stored in warehouses. They must be shipped in boxes, incurring the cost of cardboard and a transportation company. If books aren’t sold, they must eventually be returned (more shipping and cardboard) and eventually, sadly, destroyed if they cannot find a reader willing to pay for them. There are economies of scale in printing large volumes, but if they do not sell, it creates a big expense to dispose. And publishers do not know which books will sell and which won’t. They have to assume the risk. So all of these costs, the seen and unseen, need to be factored into the price of a book. Add a little profit to be shared amongst the bookseller, the publisher, the agent, and the author, and you have a price selected to sell the book.

An e-book does not have the same costs. It is stored on a server. It is shipped digitally. There are no costs to destroy surplus copies, because there are no surplus copies. If a customer returns their copy of Wretched of Muirwood, it gets deleted from their Kindle. Snap, just like that. The transportation costs are already paid for by the customer (who pays for internet service in the home). So why charge the same amount for an e-book version as a physical copy when the cost structures are so different?

Apple figured this out with the iPod. Charge a single price, 99-cents. That has changed, of course, but it is still very inexpensive to buy a single song you like, instead of the entire album. It lowers the risk of owning a song. Books should follow the same model. A buck or two for a new book. Buying an entire trilogy for $5. I have seen working at Intel that the lower the price of computers have fallen, the more computers are sold. A few years ago, a decent laptop cost $2000. Now the latest, fastest one is less than $1000 and they get cheaper every year. Because they get cheaper every year, people in countries with lower incomes can now afford them, opening up the market even wider.

To me, the math is pretty simple. I would rather have a million readers from all around the world than a limited audience in a local market. I would like to have e-book versions of all the books I love. But I don’t have to buy them twice if they cost the same. If I want a print version for my bookshelf, that’s my choice. But the price of the e-book version should be drastically lower than the print version. I personally want as many readers as I can get. So if selling my books for 99 cents helps me sell 1,000,000 instead of only 10,000, it is worth it. The volume makes up for it. All the Kindles, Nooks, iPads and digital devices are revolutionizing the publishing industry.

Guess instead of waiting for a publisher to call me, I should start hoping Amazon does. So what do you think, Percy Jackson?

When I was in college at San Jose State, I took Latin classes from Marianina Olcott. That is where I learned about the Roman concept of Virtus (pronounced “where-tuus”). It was a trait that the Romans respected, but it did not mean just virtue. It included other qualities too: prudentia (prudence), iustitia (justice), temperantia (self-control), and fortitudo (courage).

As I look around in the world today, I see that these traits are no longer honored and respected as they were in the past. Maybe that is why I love reading and why I have certain favorite movies I watch over and over again. You see, in my favorite books and films, the stories that grab me are about Virtus. All right, they can be cheesy sometimes. But I love that moment in Return of the Jedi when Luke throws down his light saber and tells the Emperor he failed to turn him to the Dark Side. That despite everything that will happen to his friends and (gulp) his “sister”, he surrenders and takes the blast of Force lightning full in the chest. That is Virtus.

I’m also a huge fan of the classics for the same reason. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables grips me because Jean Valjean gives up a comfortable career, a position of respect as a mayor after struggling for years to escape his criminal past. And he gives it up because another man was accused in his place. The rest of his life is devoted to safeguarding a child he does not truly bear any responsibility for. That is Virtus.

Virtus may have been seen as a manly quality in ancient Rome, but it isn’t limited in my mind. All of my favorite characters demonstrate it. Jane Eyre leaves Edward Rochester after learning he has a wife, despite his urgent pleas for her to forsake her morals and pretend to be his. “Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?”

It is Samwise Gamgee bearing Frodo up the mountain on his back, refusing to abandon his friend. It is the Elven girl Amberle willing to give her life to save a people who hate her and the humble healer Wil Ohmsford who protects her along the journey at great personal cost.

As I have studied biographies of some of the great ones in history, I have found many examples of Virtus echoed through the ages. They are not perfect people. They are always rare.

The problem is, they are becoming even more rare. As I read many of the popular books in the genre I love, I can hardly find any trace of Virtus left. Sure, there is a spattering appearance of it now and again, but the core of the story and the general plots are thick with meaningless violence, no self-control to speak of, and heroes so flawed I am not sure I even want them to succeed.

In the world I live in, there is plenty of harsh realities. But when I want to enjoy a movie or delve into a book, I want to be inspired. I want to see someone rise to the challenges instead of submit to them. I want to see more Virtus. I want to cheer for Eliza Bennett when she realizes the man she despises the most is the one just right for her. I want Taran the Pigkeeper and Eilonwy to stay behind and heal the world of Prydain instead of sailing off to a fair country. I want to cry when Harry goes into the Forbidden Forest alone with his ghosts.

Virtus isn’t about being a super cool vampire with too much time and money on his hands. It is about trying to be someone bigger than yourself, despite the odds, falling down, getting scuffed up, and still going. Even when the one you love goes another way. Even when you fail sometimes.

That is what I like to read and watch.

And that is why I write.

Jeff Wheeler

www.jeff-wheeler.com

While we were celebrating out of town this weekend in Nevada City, we were window shopping on Broad Street and came across something that made me stop and stare. I had to buy it and told the proprietor of the store about “The Wishing Lantern” and she said she couldn’t wait to look it up on Amazon and get a copy. The walking frog, the stick, the lantern…coincidence?

We had a great Thanksgiving yesterday. Layered bacon on the turkey on the grill this year and it turned out fabulous – probably the best yet. Great time with family and lots of Phineas and Ferb. Somehow that show gets even funnier the later the hour. Go figure.

Just a reminder that the 20% discount on my books ends next week on Nov 30th. My thanks to all the readers who took the time to write a Facebook note, a review on Amazon or Goodreads, or just sent an e-mail telling me how much they enjoyed the trilogy. Here is the link again with the details. Happy Black Friday shopping folks. Keep the pepper spray at home please:

http://www.jeff-wheeler.com/?p=255

http://bookmarketingbuzz.com/2011/08/05/and-yet-another-self-publishing-ebook-success-story/

I saw this article on the internet showing how the e-book industry, led by self-published authors like myself, have really begun to shift the sands of the traditional bestseller lists. When I look at the monthly sales of e-books, it makes my jaw drop. Some of the names I have heard about (like fellow fantasy author Michael Sullivan and the uber-famous Amanda Hocking).

What the internet is doing is creating links between readers who can share their love of books with friends and total strangers. Blog sites have become the connection that helps books go viral and passing on the books that work from those that don’t.

So, in the spirit of this, I have to say that I am really enjoying Brandon Mull’s latest – Beyonders#1 “A World Without Heroes”. His Fablehaven series is one of my all-time favorites because he can pull off not only character-driven stories but plot-driven ones too. He knows how to describe things in the darkness that make your skin start to shudder in just the right way. And his sense of humor is awesome. There is great suspense and great characters in his worlds. Hence the title of my blog this week “Mulling…” (pun intended).

Whatever it is you are enjoying reading or have enjoyed reading recently, shout it out in your blog, your Facebook page, or text to a friend. Happy 11/11/11 everyone!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8306745-a-world-without-heroes

I’ve recently created some book trailers for the Muirwood series and posted them on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjWK_CyP_TQ  (book trailer: no faces – some readers want to use their own imagination for what characters looks like)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwWoSANkgcs  (book trailer: with faces – for the readers who want to know how I envision them)

 Also, I have had questions about whether there are discounts for purchasing multiple copies of my books (as gifts for friends and family or for schools to purchase). I cannot control Amazon’s pricing or discounting. However, I can now offer readers a 20% discount if they order directly from the publisher’s website (CreateSpace). I’ve tried this process myself and it works well – it can be a little confusing if you want to purchase the entire series because you have to add each book to your cart separately. This discount code will be available until November 30th.

Here is how to do it:

1.) Copy one of the links below into a new browser window – it will take you to the CreateSpace website

• Wretched of Muirwood https://www.createspace.com/3508370
• Blight of Muirwood https://www.createspace.com/3508371
• Scourge of Muirwood https://www.createspace.com/3508373
• Landmoor https://www.createspace.com/3494708
• Silverkin https://www.createspace.com/3498968

2.) Click ‘Add to Cart’

3.) Come back to this website and copy another link

4.) Click ‘Add to Cart’

5.) Repeat until you have all the titles you want and as many copies as you want

6.) On the bottom of the page there is a place that says: “If you have a discount code, enter it here”

7.) Enter the discount code: KS3MU9NL

8.) Click ‘Check Out’ and follow the instructions. It will give you the total amount at the end.

I hope this is helpful to those who want to get started early on their Xmas shopping. I still get the same royalties with this discount – it is Amazon that doesn’t get theirs.

If you know someone who might be interested in checking out my books, send these links to them where they can read some of the reviews:

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Wheeler/e/B004SBCEK6/

GoodReads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1549088.Jeff_Wheeler

Foreward Reviews: http://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-wretched-of-muirwood/

My home office smells like Muirwood apples right now. One of the great things about living in California is all of the orchards nearby. and a few weeks ago we got a huge box of pears, which the kids promptly devoured. Last week it was Fuji apples which we’ve also been enjoying. Many readers have wondered what Muirwood apples look like or taste like, so now you know. The splotchy ones are best:

 I was reading yesterday on Patrick Rothfuss’ blog about the legions of editors and proofreaders that combed through his second book (Wise Man’s Fear) and kept finding and fixing errors before being published. This is the one part of publishing my own novels that I wish I had – legions of proof-readers! Fortunately, I have several very kind and supportive readers who have offered a hand and pointed out typos and mistakes for me. I’m so grateful for the help and even the offers of help.

This month I finished another round of editing the Muirwood Trilogy (both the print books and e-book versions). If you have one of the original 50 copies – you might want to hold onto them as a collector’s item. If you’ve bought an e-book version and would like a free update with the typos fixed, just let me know and I’ll send it to you. Fixing the e-book versions is by far the easiest to do thanks to Smashwords. One site, upload the edits, and it takes about 2-5 days to propagate to all the channels. Fixing the physical books is another story. Thankfully, Createspace didn’t charge me for the edits this time. It took longer than I thought it would take and the books went off-line for a few weeks, but they are all back on Amazon again with the corrections. Of course, there will be more errors not caught – and I welcome it if you let me know where you found one so I can fix it for the next rev. That is one advantage of the digital age.

Last but not least, I was notified on August 25th that all three books in the Muirwood Trilogy received enough nominations to be considered for the 2011 Whitney Awards. Thank you for voting! There is a panel of judges who will read the nominees and then cull the list down before the final votes are cast. I’m excited just to be nominated.

Oh, and one more thing – I’m working on another Youtube video – a book trailer for Wretched. Seems like book trailers are all the rage these days. I’ll post the link when I finish it.