Skip to content

And Suddenly, a Book Release: Namesake

  • by

I know I’m supposed to do something grandiose for a book release, but my anxiety is already through the roof. So, I’ve pulled the trigger and I’m moving on. Namesake is now available on Amazon.com.

This is your courtesy notice, haha.

Namesake book release

The Book Release Saga: What Took So Long?

One of the many issues that I battled last year involved determining where my writing was going and whether it was time to throw in the towel and move on. I love to write, but I’m not a responsible author.

(See the above casual book release for a reference point to that statement.)

The publishing world is flooded with hard-working people who seem to have clear goals and ambitions. I.e., the exact opposite of me. It’s easy, on reading their experiences or advice, to feel like I have no clue what I’m doing, that I’m only pretending, that I don’t belong in this industry, that I’m doing everything wrong, and that everything is futile anyway.

And when that happens, my anxiety disorder flares and claws its way up my throat from my stomach, and I unplug from life for a couple of days. NBD.

In late April, I went to lunch with a dear friend, Tamara Passey, who graciously discussed her first-hand experience as an indie author. During our conversation, she asked me what my goals were.

And I confessed that I didn’t have any, other than to write really, ridiculously well. (I’m working on it, guys. I totally am.)

Among other encouragements, Tamara gave me permission to make temporal goals. And she provided me with the framework for how to set up an imprint.

So I did.

And that’s what took so long.

Eulalia Skye Press

Eulalia Skye logoYou might notice, going forward, this handy little sigil in or on my books. I may or may not start switching titles over. I may or may not open those titles up for wider distribution.

I may or may not commit to half a dozen things, but here’s what I have done:

  1. I registered an imprint. It took me about a month and a ton of brainstorming to settle on a name. I love that it is oddly quirky and that it plays with fantasy elements while still having a sense of grounded-ness to it. Somehow, random as “Eulalia Skye” is, it fits my writing.
  2. I bought a block of ISBNs. This commits me to this industry for a few years yet, mostly because it wasn’t a block of 10. With seven books out, I’d blow through those without batting an eyelash. (Yes, I have 100 ISBNs. I’ve used 2 so far for Namesake. Only 98 more to go. Breathe, Kate.)
  3. I registered with the Library of Congress. Namesake has an LCCN. It’s listed on the print-edition copyright page and everything.

There have been a million other tiny processes and procedures. Each has been a personal battle, because in many ways I feel like I’m stepping down a path blindfolded.

But I’m doing what I can to move forward. One… terrifying… step… at a time. And, theoretically, the next book shouldn’t take nearly as long on the publishing side.

(Theoretically. Ha.)

Last Hurrah

If you’ve read this far, thank you. I have been blessed by so many who have given encouragement when they didn’t even realize I needed it. (And many of whom may not have known they were giving it.)

You guys are awesome and inspirational. When I grow up, I wanna be like you.

19 thoughts on “And Suddenly, a Book Release: Namesake”

  1. “And suddenly” was probably the only way you were going to get this thing published. There been way too much tension. Sooo glad you made it and seemingly all in one piece. Way to go!

  2. Seriously, this is why it takes me two-four weeks to get properly back into writing at the end of completing a book. Because there’s just SO MUCH TO DO and it buries me so that I can’t breathe.

    At the moment I’m buried under library requests, sickness, and the need to update every one of my ebook files, plus a multitude of small nothings that add up to a huge something.

    느낌 아니까! (aka, “bro, I know the feeling”)

    1. I am so excited to read this! (Thanks to the lovely W.R. for the FB notice that you Beyonce’d this – #slaygirl – You guys are friendship goals, ps, in addition to writer goals.) Literally not doing work I had planned so I can read it tonight instead 🙂

      Also, I have mad Impostor Syndrome at my work, like, 95% of the time. And, in my extremely inexpert opinion (but I have read, probably literally thousands or even tens of thousands books in my 30 years, so that has to count for something) you are a freaking master and if I could ever write like you, I would be beyond proud of myself and pleased. One likely worthless opinion that likely will be no comfort when anxiety rears but there it is anyway.

      I’d try to refine what I wrote to be less OMGIMSUCHAFAN-y and more mature and intelligent (and less hashtag-y) BUT I got a book I’m super excited to read waiting for me and that wins every time. <3

      1. I love that “Beyonce” is now a verb, and that she has made releasing things on the fly acceptable. I’d’ve done it this way anyway, but its nice to have legit precedence.

        And your opinion is in no way worthless. Thank you so much for the high compliments and encouragement. I will try to live up to them!

        1. (Thanks. The name took forever. The logo was must me puttering around in Inkscape. I’m lucky it turned out so well.)

  3. Ok, I read it, I’m pretty sure I love it, but I have SO MANY feelings about it. Also, it seemed, to me, like a different voice for you and that genuinely threw me a bit! (Is that weird? That’s probably weird.) Not just the first person instead of 3rd (which I normally find terribly distracting but it didn’t distract me at ALL – perfection) but something more than that – something I’m not quite smart enough to put my finger on at the moment. A good something. Regardless. I loved it (though the bloodthirsty part of me would not have objected to seeing Tana have a bigger part in the ending, if you know what I mean). I don’t have an intelligent comment here, honestly, I’m scrambling. I just loved it.

    1. Hooray! It is a different voice! I’m absolutely thrilled that that comes across, because I slaved over that different voice.

      Basically, I took every linguistic principle I know and put it into practice: I stripped out passive structures, existentials, and experiencer-assigning verbs as much as possible and focused on agent-assigning verbs instead. I framed the narrative to be dynamic even when dynamic things weren’t necessarily happening, and I’ve agonized ever since over whether I did it right or not. Sorry if this is all a bunch of nerd-speak gobbledygook, but THANK YOU FOR NOTICING!!!

      1. Oh good lord, I have so much to learn.

        🙂

        I wrote a weirdly long (for me) review on amazon after I commented – i don’t know if you read those (I wouldn’t/couldn’t) but I wanted to reiterate a specific part here.

        I loved most of all that Anjeni never lost herself in her power. When in a war, she struck a balance between respect for life and understanding the necessity of sacrifice that resonated with me.

        It took me a little bit to figure out how to write that, how to express the very deeply personal and validating feeling it gave me (and it’s got a whole other paragraph in the review explaining a bit further). But. I’m a vet, and so often the shows I watch and the movies I watch and the books I read show how virtuous the protagonist is by their refusal to kill unless literally no other option and that always bugged me and seemed irresponsible.

        Anyway, while processing it and writing that dumb review last night, I was near tears. I don’t cry about things *very* often and, short of a MC death, I can’t remember the last time I did while reading fantasy/YA. It just resonated with me that highly. Thank you for that. In general, just thank you for how you handled the war aspect of things.

        1. Edit ***Seemed irresponsible and cast a sort of passive judgment over people and decisions that weren’t really our own. People who were important to me and people who are important to me and even just… me.

          1000% not trying to be melodramatic. Don’t know how to write something emotional without being so, so just please use that lens when reading 🙂

          1. You put into words something I’ve felt for a long time, and beautifully so. When I was writing Namesake, there was never a question of Anjeni pulling her punches. The “noble pacifist” trope (for lack of a better name) has its place, but the degree to which it shows up in books and movies and tv *is* irresponsible. It definitely would have been irresponsible in this story.

            Thank you for your service. I stand in awe of those who have volunteered their lives to protect the freedoms we all enjoy. I’m humbled by your response to this book, and so grateful that you shared your thoughts.

          2. Yes! This! I was so pleased when Dami was making sure all the enemy spark bearers were properly dead. The ‘noble pacifist’ does have it’s place, but oh my word, it’s the thing I hate about a lot of things I’d otherwise love–KDrama, I’m lookin’ at you!

            Because sometimes you NEED justice. Sometimes you NEED judgement and consequences and the awful responsibility of making sure that just deserts are administered, no matter how awful.

            Otherwise, were the ones who died worth nothing? I love a good redemption arc, but if there are never any consequences or judgements, what is the power of a redemption arc?

    2. Pingback: Recommendations: Namesake, Misaeng (미생), and Day6 - The WR(ite) Blog

    3. Just found and read this book this morning all at once. I loved it. Loved it. I wanted more. I still want more.

      I even want Tana’s story when she goes on her own “spiritual journey”

      Okay. I admit if that happened I would hope it would be a hard book that forced her to grow up. I wouldn’t mind her falling on her ass along the way. I mean a lot. Girl deserves to struggle and work her way up to goddess status.. Probably the only way she would ever get over herself. (But really I would hope for a happy reconciliation with Jen at the end. I am so tired of the petty evil sisters trope. What is wrong with normal sisters who get along, even when they don’t get along?)

      Anyway, even if there is never any more in this universe and style I am so glad you made it through and published it. Totally worth it.

      1. Ahhhh, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

        I did leave the door open to write Tana’s story, but that’ll be a challenge because everyone pretty much hates her guts. (But actually, I like that as a starting point. So.)

        Thanks for your comment, and your encouragement. Again, so happy that you found Namesake worth your while.

    Comments are closed.