We usually don't do big fanfare at the closing of each year, but 2013 was a year filled with challenges as well as great high points for us, so we are tackling a short year in review.
We won't dwell on the negative aspects of the changing landscape for indie publishers. Independent publishing is a revolving hamster wheel for most who choose to take that path. We knew the rewards and responsibilities involved with the business when we jumped in this crazy endeavor and two full years later we still vouch for it. The many personal challenges each of us faced through the year were trying and some have caused setbacks, including a huge delay in our next release, but they also taught us patience and humility. They gave us the knowledge that, if we work hard enough and put our hearts into our stories, those stories will touch our readers' so deeply, they will wait and welcome the next book into the world when the time comes.
The highlights, no matter how small they may seem to some, were cherished and celebrated openly and noisily because every small success counts (and because we enjoy surrounding ourselves with positive energy as much as possible). Here are some of them:
So, as we continue to follow the indie path into a new year, we'll use the challenges and difficulties as lessons and the successes as encouragement for what lies ahead. We hope to have many celebration-worthy moments (be it big or small) to share with our growing Countermaniac family.
Sláinte!
Chris & Cecilia
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If you've received a bookmark like the one below in a convention bag in the last 6 months and the bookmark has a printed code on the back for a free download of Countermeasure from Smashwords, please contact us directly for redemption as Countermeasure is no longer available for download through Smashwords.
I’ve been battling an enemy. It has made my writing life a horrendous mess with its suicidal attacks and annoying buzzing. Yes, I am talking about a fly. A fly.
For the past three days, I have tried gentle coaxing to make it leave and enticed it to abandon the premises by leaving doors open in a cold day. That sensible behavior has now deteriorated into murder threats and, sliding even further, it has driven me into becoming a raging lunatic waving kitchen cloths and rolled newspapers, all to no avail. The enemy remains within my home.
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Today is an important date for us. Today is the anniversary of our collaborative work—or you can say when we really started living life to the fullest. Cecilia and I met three years ago as role players. We had little experience but lots of love for our characters and determination to bring them to life as they were meant to be. We did such a good job as a team—always as a team—that it became second nature when it took a new direction toward playing our own characters.That original experience evolved into a rich and enjoyable writing collaboration where we use our role play skills to augment the show in our stories.
Today, Readers' Favorite announced their 2013 Award Contest Winners. This year they received a record number of entries and each was judged on the quality of the work. We are excited to announce that COUNTERMEASURE—Book 1 in the Countermeasure Series—is this year's GOLD LEVEL winner in the Romance-Suspense Category. Congratulations to all the winners and honorable mentions in the numerous categories within the contest.
Sláinte!
For more information on the contest and the full list of winners, visit: http://readersfavorite.com/2013-award-contest-winners.htm#cat102
Countermeasure's review on the Reader's Favorite site:
http://readersfavorite.com/book-review/7623