Ami Maxine

What I Learned by Self-Publishing: Royalties

Let’s get real about royalties. You did the majority of the work. You get very little of the money. Frustrating, I know.

If you go the ‘traditional’ publishing route (get an agent or go direct to a publisher), royalties for papaerback books (according to Authors Guild – please note that contracts can vary widely) are generally 7.5-8% of the list price (sometimes escalating to 10% after a specific number are sold). A book priced at $15.99 means a royalty of $1.20-$1.27 per printed book (and $1.60 upon escalation). For an eBook, royalties are generally 25%. An eBook priced at $9.99 means a royalty of two $2.50. (If you go through an agent, their fees come out of this portion. A typical agent fee is 15% – so your royalties for a print book would be $1.02-$1.09 and $1.36 upon escalation, as well as $2.13 for an ebook.)

If you self-publish, you will likely make the most money from your eBooks (and any print copies you can personally sell). There are many places you can publish an ebook (and each will have their own requirements, such as cover size and file type). I looked at three places – B&N Press, KDP, and IngramSpark:

	eBook Royalty %
B&N Press	70% (for books priced up to $199.99)
Amazon (priced 2.99-9.99)	70% – file delivery (ex. U.S. buyers = .15 MB, or around six cents) 35% in territories not listed here: Digital Book Prices (also if they price match with another retailer and the price falls below 2.99)
Amazon (priced .99-2.98 or 10.00 and up)	35%
Amazon KDP Select	70% (in all countries listed in above link, with the addition of Brazil, Japan, India, and Mexico) Paid per page read for Kindle Unlimited (based on size of fund based on memberships) NOTE: 90-day mandatory enrollment – automatically re-enrolled until you opt out (but can only do so at that 90-day mark); there are free marketing benefits – but you cannot sell your book or give it away for free anywhere else (including your own website)
IngramSpark	40% Ingram makes it REALLY difficult to find the royalty amount…? I saw in a couple places that it might be 50%. I can promise it’s not 70%, as is reported in several other places. When I was uploading, I considered the ebook, and the 40% stopped me in my tracks. But, of course, I can’t find where I saw that.

Royalties for an eBook priced at $9.99: 70% is $6.99; 40% is $3.99; 35% is $3.50.

As you are trying to decide where to price your book and which royalty to pick – consider this:

9.99 x 70% = 6.993 (KDP/Amazon gets 2.997)

19.99 x 35% = 6.9965 (KDP/Amazon gets 12.9935)

If you self-publish a paperback, you again have many choices of where to do this. Below is info for the same three places. Prices will vary based on the size of the book and the number of pages, as well as if the interior will have color or not. Let’s assume a 350-page book, 8×5.25, cream or white 50 lb pages, BW interior – $15.99 price point:

	Printing Cost	Author Royalty	Retail Distribution Author Royalty
B&N (has groundwood paper as an option in addition to white and cream) No fee to upload. Allows preorders – does not push to amazon.	$5.46	(Price point55%)-printing cost = Royalty $15.9955%=8.79 8.79-5.46=3.33 Royalty = $3.33	7.20 (45%) Your royalty remains at $3.33
KDP No fee to upload. Cannot have preorders on printed books.	$5.15	(Price point60%)-printing cost = Royalty $15.9960%=9.59 9.59-5.15=4.45 Royalty = $4.45	You can opt into expanded distribution (if your book qualifies), but your royalty becomes $1.25
Ingram ($49 to upload; additional fees to upload new files*) Allows preorders – does push to Amazon and other online retailers.	$6.18	People don’t buy direct from Ingram – they would purchase from a distributor. So it depends where they buy it from.	You can set different discounts for different territories.**

*IngramSpark has since stopped charging for this – but I’m leaving this here in case things change.

**You can set whether or not you allow retailers to return books, but please note that if you say no, it will reduce the likelihood they will buy copies. Also, you can set yes with two options – destroy (you are charged the wholesale cost) or mail (you are charged the wholesale cost plus two dollars to ship to you – they don’t guarantee the condition of the book). (NOTE: Retailers often require a 40% discount – this means setting your Ingram discount to 53-55% because Ingram will also take a piece of the pie.)

You can also purchase author copies from all of these places (print cost + shipping/handling/tax) and either sell them yourself or sell on consignment with local shops. Just note – the printing and shipping will come out of your 60%. (Note: For KDP, these author copies are not eligible for free Prime Shipping. Also, KDP won’t allow you to set your paperback to pre-order, so you can’t order author copies prior to your launch date.)

IngramSpark specifically has a couple things that can change the cost of printing/shipping your book:

Printing Service – you can pay a little more to get your books printed sooner. (Economy – 5 business days; Express – 2 business days; Rush – 1 business day – though it does say “usually” before each one)
Shipping (Basic – which doesn’t have tracking, and then Commercial or Residential Ground, 2^nd Day, and Next Day; if you do not own a business, you will be paying for residential, which is, of course, the most expensive; if you use basic, and the shipment is lost, you’re out of luck – and the money)
Handling Fee ($1.99 for 1-50 books; jumps to 4.99 at 51 copies; it might jump again, but I didn’t look at any shipments over sixty books)
Tax

The more books you buy, generally the better off you are (but not always – such as a jump in printing cost from twenty-five to twenty-six copies or the jump in the handling fee at fifty-one). For the prices below, I checked the Economy printing (five days, though depending on how many you buy, it’s not too much more to bump that up) and Residential Ground (which is the cheapest shipping for a residential home that still has tracking – one book with basic shipping would be 13.21, but, again, you run the risk of it getting lost and having to rebuy it). Shipping becomes more economical the more copies you get. Remember that this is for a book priced at 15.99. (Taxes and shipping should be seen as estimates as they are specific to my state/location. This is just to give a general idea.)

*Cartons hold twenty books – if you get more than that, you’ll get multiple boxes.

If you buy one carton of twenty books and sell on a 60/40 consignment:

15.99 * 60% = 9.59

9.59 – 8.16 = 1.43 royalty per book

For my own book, I found the highest royalties possible in purchasing anywhere from 1-60 books was 50 books. The upfront cost for fifty copies is a lot – in the made-up scenario from above, it would be $394.99. You can play around with Ingram’s calculator before you begin to figure out what your own costs would be (as your page count and other choices would affect the cost).

If you are interested in hardcover:

350-page book, 8.5×5.5 (note size difference), cream or white 50 lb, BW interior, dust cover – $20 price point.

	Printing Cost	Author Royalty	Retail Distribution Author Royalty
B&N (has groundwood paper as an option in addition to white and cream)	10.79	If you sell direct (meaning to a person not a bookshop): Royalty = Price point – handling fee – printing cost – shipping – estimated tax For this scenario shipped to me, the total cost would be $18.36. Shipping here becomes a LOT more economical at five copies ($5.50 for one copy vs $7 for five copies – cost would be $13.05 per book at five copies, so $6.95 royalty per book).	Minimum price allowed is 21.58, which sets your royalty at 1.08
KDP No fee to upload. Cannot have preorders on printed books.	9.70	60%	Minimum price allowed is 16.17, which would result in 0.00 royalty. $20 price point would be 2.30
IngramSpark (Again, used to have an upload cost – they have since removed it)	12.25	People don’t buy direct from Ingram – they would purchase from a distributor.	You would have to set your price above 20 to break even. $21 would get you a whopping $.19 (But, again, you can set different discounts in different territories.)

Here’s a quick look comparison of the overall/breakdown costs. Please note that shipping and tax are based on my home state and will differ depending on where you live, as well as the final size/weight of your book (I’m continuing to use the paperback dimensions noted above for these estimates). (Cost is the total cost including printing, shipping, handling, and tax.)

# of copies	IngramSpark*	KDP/Amazon	B&N Press
1	Cost: 16.89 Shipping+: 9.69 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 0.88 Cost per: 16.89 Royalty per: -0.90	Cost: 9.22 Ship/Hand**: 3.59 Tax: .48 Cost per: 9.22 Royalty per: 6.77	Cost: 14.06 Shipping: 5.5 Handling: 1 Tax: .73 Cost per: 14.06 Royalty per: 1.93
5	Cost: 46.51 Shipping: 12.49 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 2.42 Cost per: 9.30 Royalty per: 6.69	Cost: 33.45 Ship/Hand: 5.95 Tax: 1.75 Cost per: 6.69 Royalty per: 9.3	Cost: 45 Shipping: 7.5 Handling: 1 Tax: 2.35 Cost per: 9 Royalty per: 6.99
10	Cost: 83.55 Shipping: 15.99 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 4.36 Cost per: 8.36 Royalty per: 7.64	Cost: 62.70 Ship/Hand: 8 Tax: 3.2 Cost per: 6.27 Royalty per: 9.72	Cost: 83.66 Shipping: 10 Handling: 1 Tax: 4.36 Cost per: 8.37 Royalty per: 7.62
20	Cost: 156.55 Shipping: 21.99 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 8.16 Cost per: 7.83 Royalty per: 8.16	Cost: 122.40 Ship/Hand: 13 Tax: 9.87 Cost per: 6.12 Royalty per: 9.87	Cost: 162.05 Shipping: 15 Handling: 2 Tax: 8.45 Cost per: 8.10 Royalty per: 7.89
30	Cost: 230.08 Shipping: 28.49 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 11.99 Cost per: 7.67 Royalty per: 8.32	Cost: 181.80 Ship/Hand: 18 Tax: 9.93 Cost per: 6.06 Royalty per: 9.93	Cost: 240.43 Shipping: 20 Handling: 3 Tax: 12.53 Cost per: 8.01 Royalty per: 7.98
40	Cost: 303.62 Shipping: 34.99 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 15.83 Cost per: 7.59 Royalty per: 8.40	Cost: 241.4 Ship/Hand: 23 Tax: 12.40 Cost per: 6.035 Royalty per: 9.955	Cost: 318.82 Shipping: 25 Handling: 4 Tax: 16.62 Cost per: 7.97 Royalty per: 8.02
50	Cost: 374.51 Shipping: 38.99 Handling: 0.00 Tax: 19.52 Cost per: 7.49 Royalty per: 8.50	Cost: 296 Ship/Hand: 23 Tax: 15.50 Cost per: 5.92 Royalty per: 10.07	Cost: 397.21 Shipping: 30 Handling: 5 Tax: 20.71 Cost per: 7.94 Royalty per: 8.05

*For IngramSpark, I chose the Economy Printing and Residential Ground. Prices will go up with quicker printing/shipping. I don’t recommend using basic shipping as there is no tracking number, and you’ll be out of luck if the package(s) goes missing.
**KDP lists their shipping and handling as one number rather than broken out separately like the other two. Also, remember that most indie bookshops aren’t going to buy from KDP/Amazon.

+ On July 7, a week after making this post, IngramSpark sent out on email that they were ‘simplifying’ their shipping costs (so if you read this post prior to that, your eyes are not deceiving you – the numbers have changed). They also got rid of handling fees.

Standard Shipping
UPS Ground Commercial and Residential
Shipments are trackable
No handling fee
$8.99 per order PLUS

$0.70 per book, up to 15 books
$0.65 per book, 16-49 books
$0.60 per book, 50 or more books

Basic Shipping
Media Mail or comparable, delivered by USPS
Shipments are not trackable and are not insured
No handling fee

2.99 per order PLUS $0.50 per book, up to 25 books

I typically order 50 copies at a time (due to previous handling fee jump, the cost per book jumped at 51). These new prices mean that if I were to buy 50 copies, my total cost went down $28.61, and my royalty per book went up $.57.

What I Learned by Self-Publishing: Printing Options

When I first decided to self-publish, I did research to see what might fit my needs – and I landed on KDP to start (whatever I read initially told me I could set the paperback to pre-order, but I later learned this is not the case). Which brings me to my first note:

Can you set your book to preorder?	eBook	Print
B&N Press	Yes	Yes
KDP (Amazon)	Yes	No*
IngramSpark**	Yes	Yes

*This also means you cannot get advance author copies.
**Ingram will push out to other platforms, including Amazon. It might take a couple days.

I began with the paperback. Originally, I went with 6×9 for size, but after receiving the first printed proof, I opted for 5.25×8. I HIGHLY recommend hanging out at your bookshelf (or swing by a book shop) and hold some books. Get a feel for the size – have a good idea of what you want before you begin formatting (whether you are doing the typesetting or paying someone else to – if you don’t like the size and need to redo the typesetting, it’s going to cost time and potentially money). As you are deciding on size, also consider if you want to do hardcover in addition to paperback. If that is the case, consider the same size for both so that you don’t need multiple documents to track. Be aware that not all sizes available in paperback are available for hardcover. (Last note – KDP has changed their pricing to have two categories now – and large trim sizes now cost more per page – so take the time to do the math and see what would be the best option for you!)

Because KDP won’t let you set up for preorders, be aware that if you need copies for an event leading up to or on your book’s launch date, you cannot order author copies. KDP’s printed proof has a “not for sale” banner laid over the cover. Ingram and B&N will allow you to override the sale date and order copies in advance.

As for where you choose to upload, of the three I ended up with:

Cost to upload
B&N	None
Amazon	None
IngramSpark	$49 for both ebook and print; or $49 for only print or only ebook (Though I’ll note that as of May 1, Ingram won’t be charging anymore for initial uploads. I’m leaving the original note just as an FYI in case that charge returns. There are still charges for changes made more than sixty days after uploading.)

Yes, there is a cost to upload to Ingram. However, it feels like you get something more for that money. There are more hoops to jump through – which also means more eyes on your documents. Plus, the addition of getting it pushed out to multiple platforms. I will also note that a lot of small book shops won’t buy from Amazon/KDP – so you will either need to upload to IngramSpark or order/print/sell directly yourself. (If you do both Ingram and B&N, note that you will need separate ISBNs for the paperbacks on each site.)

Each service provides a digital proof for you to look over. You can also order a printed proof (there is a charge for printing and to ship; if you are an Amazon Prime member, please note that these orders do not qualify for free shipping). Plan out far enough that you can do a couple rounds of printed proofs in case there is something wrong with the formatting or you find typos. (There was an issue with my font on the cover that only showed up with the printed proof, not the digital – so I cannot stress enough to make sure you get a printed proof!)

Comparisons:

I ended up uploading an ebook and paperback through KDP, hardcover and ebook through B&N press, and paperback through Ingram. Most of these decisions were made due to royalties (such as I opted not to do an ebook through Ingram because their royalties are much less, which I’ll get to next week), but I also considered access. (Since I didn’t do an ebook through Ingram, I ended up uploading the ebook through B&N press so that I could have an ebook listed on the B&N site.) My paperbacks are 5.25×8, and my hardcover is 5.5×8.5. I originally thought I’d do a ‘print on the cover’ hardcover, but I decided I wanted the dust jacket after all (glad I did – for some reason, getting this copy made this all finally feel real).

I opted for the matte finish on the cover, which gives it a softer feel, and black and white interior for all three. The dust jack is removable, of course, and the hardcover beneath is dark blue. There is no title on the spine or anything on the cover. With B&N Press, you can get a hardcover with a printed cover OR a dust jacket; Ingram will let you get the dust jacket and still print on the hardcover. (I went with B&N Press because you can print copies and ‘keep it private’ as opposed to listing for sale, which I was going to do originally – but then I thought, why not just post it in case anyone wants that version instead.)

Both of these have the same number of pages. The paperback on the left is from KDP and has 50lb cream-colored pages. The one on the right is from IngramSpark and has 35lb groundwood – which I prefer as it has a more ‘polished’ feel (it’s what is used for most mass-market paperbacks – of the three places I used, Ingram is the only one with this option). Because the pages are 35lb instead of 50lb, the book itself is a bit slimmer. (If you are unfamiliar, the ‘lb’ refers to the thickness of the paper. The higher the number, the thicker the page. A couple of these places also have a 70lb, but it’s uncommon to use this for a book like this – it would be more common to have if you are using color printing inside or have images.)

Illinois Becomes First State to Outlaw Banning Books

I am speechless – and so thankful:

My First Ever Book Launch Event

When I arrived at Lion’s Mouth Bookstore ahead of my event, I was stopped in my tracks before I reached the counter. Sitting in a chair near one of the shelves was a young woman – reading my book. I had to resist the urge to squeal. I instead backed away slowly so as not to disturb her and took another route to the counter. The young woman ended up not being able to stay for the event, but she did buy a copy of Wherever Would I Be.

I get such a rush whenever someone purchases a copy of my book – because this is the DREAM! But there’s something extra rush-worthy when it’s a complete stranger. They aren’t buying the book because they know me – they are buying it purely because they are interested in the story. 🥰

To say I was nervous about this event is an understatement. Even after having repeatedly practiced the sections I wished to read, my hands shook in the moments leading up to start. But much like Lea in the story, once we began, I was too preoccupied to be nervous. I read the passages, I answered questions – my friend Jen and a woman named Joan realized they knew each (Joan was Jen’s teacher when she lived in Green Bay). And Green Bay finally got some much needed rain (I sure do love reading when it’s raining out).

I’m so thankful to Amy at Lion’s Mouth for hosting this event – and for every single person who came and listened, whether they came because they knew me or not. I have no doubt that I will be just as nervous the next time I do this – but it helps to have one under the belt. (Though I still don’t think, even with this launch event, that it has truly sunk in that I have a book out in the world!)

And just in case anyone is worried I might be getting a big head, this is the face I had to deal with when I came home to – Shevy will for sure be keeping me down to Earth:

There are plenty more events at Lion’s Mouth this month and beyond, as well as several book clubs to check out:

What Success Means to Me

I’ll admit that as a kid, when I thought about being a writer in adulthood, I imagined I’d be living off my royalties. That was what success meant to me back then – a really great publishing deal.

The older I’ve gotten, the more that dream has changed. Would I still love to live off royalties? I mean, who wouldn’t? But the notion of that being “the success” just seems misplaced. It ignores a lot of steps in between that should absolutely be celebrated.

I still remember what it felt like when I typed “The End” on my first manuscript (All Falling Things). There was still work to be done (even now), but completing the first draft of my first book sure felt like a check in the success column. As did the contract offer from the publisher. And I’m sure once we have a launch date (we are working on final edits), that will feel like a success, too.

A couple days ago, my book Wherever Would I Be officially launched. The same day, I was meeting with my writing group, and one of them said that they hoped it would be a success, whatever that meant for me. I responded – “She’s out in the world. Check!”

Even if this book didn’t sell a single copy (though I’m thankful for all the copies purchased via Kickstarter and through the pre-order), I would consider it a success because I don’t want to negate all the work and energy and love it took just to publish it.

Another fun success? Seeing my book for sale in my local bookshop:

Also, much thanks to my writing bestie for purchasing an extra signed copy and dropping it off at this little library in Tacoma:

She’s Live!

It feels a bit strange to say I’m officially launching Wherever Would I Be in a few days given that so many copies are already in the hands of readers (some of which have already finished reading and reached out to me!). But here we are. Launch day is approaching. 🙂

You can find Lucy’s story on B&N (eBook, paperback, and hardcover), Amazon (eBook and paperback), and BookShop.org (paperback), as well as copies at Lion’s Mouth Bookstore in Green Bay. (My introverted self really needs to get out to these others shops and have a chat! But your local shop should be able to acquire a copy through Ingram – just go in and ask!)

I also received my first ever review:

This book was such a labor of love, and I’m so glad that folks are enjoying it as much as I did. I know this book won’t be for everyone, and that’s ok. At the moment, I’m just enjoying the joy. 🙂 Been loving the pictures people have sent – please keep them coming! ❤

Also really excited (and SUPER nervous) about the launch event at Lion’s Mouth Bookstore on June 10. For more information, see their Facebook event.

AI

Recently, a friend of mine was telling me about some adventures he was having with AI-powered chat and how “it’s legitimately pretty incredible.” Now, this is Cody, my friend who is UBER smart when it comes to tech, so when he says it’s incredible, it’s incredible. I told him I was both curious and terrified about this news. 😐

And then the fun began.

He started by teaching it the following:

Shevy is a dark calico cat with striking green eyes. She likes to creep around corners and stare at her mom from a distance. She also likes to scream loudly for her dinner.

He then asked me for some author names, and I offered up a few. Then we moved on to TV shows. And he, all on his own, first went Twilight, then ’90s boy band. The results vary in their humor – and there are some repeated phrases from the initial description, but it was, overall, a fun experiment. (All image text can be found through alt text for anyone using a screenreader.)

Prompt: Write me a short story about Shevy in the style of Alice Hoffman. Shevy crept around the corner and peered at her mom from a distance, her green eyes shining in the dim light. She was a curious cat, always exploring and looking for new things to discover. As she watched her mom moving about the house, Shevy's mind began to wander. She imagined herself as a fierce hunter, stalking her prey through the tall grasses of the savannah. She pounced and clawed at invisible enemies, letting out a fierce scream as she claimed victory. But just as quickly as the fantasy had come, it was gone. Shevy realized that she was just a housecat, and her mom was just making dinner. She let out a loud meow, letting her mom know that it was time for her dinner. Her mom laughed and scooped some food into Shevy's bowl, giving her a pat on the head as she ate. Shevy purred contentedly, happy to be back in the comfort of her own home. She may not be a wild hunter, but she was loved and well-fed, and that was all that mattered.

The prompt got cropped off this one, but it was in the style of David Sedaris:

Prompt: Write me a short story about Shevy in the style of David Sedaris. Shevy was a curious cat, always creeping around corners and staring at her mom from a distance. She was a dark calico, with striking green eyes that seemed to see right into your soul. One day, Shevy's mom was trying to read a book in peace, but Shevy had other ideas. She let out a loud, demanding meow, making it clear that it was time for her dinner. Her mom sighed and got up to feed her, shaking her head at Shevy's behavior. "You're such a spoiled little thing," she said, scooping some food into Shevy's bowl. But Shevy didn't care. She ate her dinner with gusto, purring loudly as she licked her lips. She may have been a demanding cat, but she knew how to enjoy the finer things in life. After she finished eating, Shevy curled up in her favorite spot by the window and watched the world go by. She may not have been able to go outside and explore like other cats, but she was content with the life she had. She was loved, well-fed, and always entertained by the comings and goings of her human family.

Prompt: Write me a funny short story about Shevy. Shevy was a curious cat, always exploring and getting into mischief. One day, she decided to investigate the strange noises coming from the kitchen. She crept into the room, her green eyes shining in the dim light. As she approached the counter, she saw a strange creature moving about. It was small and furry, with beady eyes and a long tail. Shevy was fascinated, and she let out a loud meow to get its attention. The creature turned to face her, and Shevy was shocked to see that it was a mouse! She let out a startled scream and backed away, tripping over her own feet in her haste to escape. The mouse, meanwhile, was equally surprised. It had never seen a cat so big and clumsy before. It let out a squeak and scurried away, disappearing into a crack in the wall. Shevy was embarrassed, but she couldn't help but laugh at herself. She may have been a curious cat, but she was also a bit of a klutz. She shook her head and walked away, determined to find a more suitable adventure.

Prompt: Write me a funny scene from the show Will and Grace, but with Shevy as a side character. Make sure that Jack and Karen are also there. Shevy was lounging on the couch, watching her favorite humans, Will and Grace, bicker back and forth. She was a dark calico cat with striking green eyes, and she was always entertained by the antics of her human family. Suddenly, the door to the apartment burst open and Jack and Karen stormed in, both of them looking furious. "Will, we need to talk to you!" Jack said, his eyes blazing. "What's going on?" Will asked, looking alarmed. "It's about your cat, Shevy," Karen said, glaring at the poor feline. "She's been stealing my caviar again!" Shevy let out a loud meow and looked away, trying to act innocent. She may have had a bit of a caviar addiction, but she didn't want to get into trouble. "Shevy, is that true?" Will asked, his tone stern. Shevy hung her head and let out a low meow, admitting her guilt. "I can't believe it," Grace said, shaking her head. "Shevy, you have a problem." 'I know, I know," Shevy said, her green eyes shining with remorse. "I'II never steal caviar again, I promise." Jack and Karen huffed and stormed out of the apartment, muttering about their stolen caviar. Shevy let out a sigh and settled back down on the couch, hoping that her caviar cravings wouldn't get her into too much trouble.

Prompt: Write me a paragraph from the book Twilight, but Shevy is the main character. Shevy crept through the forest, her green eyes shining in the dim light. She was a curious cat, always exploring and looking for new things to discover. As she moved through the trees, she could feel the presence of other creatures all around her. Shevy was a dark calico, with striking green eyes that seemed to see right into your soul. She was a creature of the night, and she reveled in the freedom that came with the darkness. As she continued on her journey, Shevy could sense that she was being watched. She stopped and turned, her eyes scanning the forest for any sign of danger. She let out a low growl, ready to defend herself if necessary. But then she saw him. A handsome black cat with piercing blue eyes, standing on the branch of a nearby tree. He was watching her, and she could feel the connection between them. It was as if they were meant to be together. Shevy felt her heart flutter, and she knew that she was falling under his spell. She was a creature of the night, and he was her perfect match. Shevy and the black cat, together forever.

At this point in our fun, he added the fact that she is a bit of a klutzy kitty (she takes after me):

Prompt: Write a short song about Shevy in the style of Backstreet Boys. Verse 1: Shevy, oh Shevy She's a dark calico cat With bright green eyes that shine She's always on the prowl Chorus: She's a klutz, she's a klutz But we love her just the same She's a klutz, she's a klutz But we wouldn't have it any other way Verse 2: She likes to meow and scream For her food and attention She's a little bit of a diva But we wouldn't have it any other way Chorus: She's a klutz, she's a klutz But we love her just the same She's a klutz, she's a klutz But we wouldn't have it any other way Bridge: She may be a bit of a troublemaker But she's always there to make us laugh Shevy, oh Shevy Our beloved feline companion Chorus: She's a klutz, she's a klutz But we love her just the same She's a klutz, she's a klutz But we wouldn't have it any other way

This is my favorite:

Prompt: Write me a scene from the TV show Ted Lasso, and include Shevy as a player on the team. Shevy was a dark calico cat with striking green eyes, and she was the star player on the AFC Richmond football team. She may have been small and furry, but she was incredibly agile and fast, and she always managed to outmaneuver her opponents on the field. As she stood on the sidelines, waiting for her turn to play, Shevy could hear her teammates cheering her on. "Come on, Shevy, show them what you've got!" they shouted, clapping and cheering. Shevy let out a loud meow, as if to say "I'm ready!" She was a curious cat, always exploring and getting into mischief, and she loved the thrill of competition. When it was finally her turn to play, Shevy sprinted onto the field, her green eyes shining with determination. She dodged and weaved through the other players, her quick reflexes allowing her to avoid any tackles or obstacles. Shevy scored a spectacular goal, and the crowd erupted in cheers. She let out a triumphant meow and ran back to her teammates, her tail held high. Ted Lasso, the coach of AFC Richmond, beamed with pride. "Great job, Shevy!" he said, giving the cat a pat on the head. "You truly are a star player." Shevy purred happily, feeling the love and admiration of her teammates and coach. She may have been just a simple housecat, but on the football field, she was a true champion.

Scent

In all of my writing classes, yes even composition, we talk about the senses. We talk about how they can enrich the writing, personalize it. We also talk about using senses that are most appropriate for the topic. For example, if I task you with writing a description of the room you are in right now, I wouldn’t expect, for example, for you to lick the carpet and tell me what it tastes like. (And if you did it on your own, as a reader, I might worry about you…)

I know that I’m a visual person. I learn best by seeing – and then by trying to replicate (kinesthetic is my second learning style). So it surprises no one that my ‘go to’ sense for writing is visual.

It wasn’t until my friend, Cody (who has beta read two of my manuscripts so far – Lucy’s story and the YA manuscript), kept commenting that he wanted to know how everything smelled that I realized I have a a sense I practically never use. After this discovery, I did ask him if he lived his life ‘nose first,’ and it turns out, he does – it wasn’t that I was describing things that demanded smell and ignoring it – it was all about how he lived his life and therefore what he expected to find in the pages. Of course, I don’t usually have this same experience – sight is generally the most used sense in writing, especially in creative writing.

For some of the instances he wanted more description of scent, I’d have to return to the locations in order to figure that out. Unfortunately, that would involve a plane ride across an ocean. (Not that I wouldn’t go back to Scotland in heartbeat…)

I’d be curious – what senses do you use most when writing? What do you look for when reading? Are there senses that you have to work extra hard to make sure you include?

Stine

I recently listened to an Armchair Expert podcast interview with R.L. Stine and was reminded about this piece I wrote a few years back for UntitledTown. I knew very little about Stine before the events I wrote about, but I walked away with great respect for the man. What a gift he is.

What’s In It For Me at 2019 UT? A Happy Heart

by Ami Maxine Irmen

When asked what was so great about UntitledTown 2018, my mind went straight to R.L. Stine.

I (am afraid to publically admit that I) have never read anything by R.L. Stine. You see, horror was not my thing growing up. That being said, I sure knew who he was. As a kid, my sister hated reading – the complete opposite of me. But when she stumbled upon R.L. Stine’s books, she gobbled them up. And I know she is not the only child Stine converted into a reader.

Friday, April 20, 2018, which will forever be known as R.L. Stine Day, I had the opportunity to act as venue lead all day at the Weidner Center – and I had no idea what I was in for. By the end of it, though, I felt very much like the Grinch at the end of his movie – my heart had at minimum tripled in size (though unlike the Grinch, I did not go into the day cranky and ready to ruin everyone’s fun).

There are three moments in particular that turned me into R.L. Stine’s newest fan.

An auditorium photographed from the back. The seats are all filled. It is hard to make out, but R.L. Stine is standing at a podium on stage addressing the audience.

First, I had the chance to witness bus loads of middle school children invade the Weidner Center that Friday morning (in the most organized manner I have ever seen – major kudos to the Weidner Center crew!). 1,726 children, I was informed. And the moment that R.L. Stine walked onto the stage, the crowd lost it – and I just stood there thinking, Children who love books – is there anything better?!? And the most incredible part? Stine has been helping children love the act of reading for generations.

The second moment was actually a series of moments – an hour-long series, to be exact. After his evening event (attended by 1,102 people), I was aiding in the signing line, handing off books to be signed and trying to keep things moving. Stine was incredibly kind, funny, and charming. Especially to those young fans who, in the presence of their favorite author, could barely speak above a whisper. Especially to those older fans whose hands shook as they reached for their book-turned-most-prized-possession. Especially to those fans who brought in copies of books that had been so well read (well loved) that the covers had long fallen off. (As an introvert, I just kept thinking – surely he wants a break now? Surely he’s going to cut off the line soon?)

Which brings me to the third moment. For those that paid for their prime seating and access to the priority signing line, they arrived confident that they would be walking out with a signed copy of their favorite R.L. Stine book. For those that ended up with general admission tickets, they had no such certainty – but still they piled into the signing line in the hopes that they would have a chance to say hello. When the priority line was done, Stine grabbed his pen, stood up, and then walked the remaining line – making sure that every single person who had waited left with a signed book and a smile.

Now Stine certainly doesn’t need to do these events. Had he never attended UntitledTown, had he not offered to sign books, had he chosen to cut off the signing line early – no one was going to stop buying his books or reading his work. And to me, THAT is what made the day such a wonderful experience to witness – seeing someone who so genuinely loves his work and is just as devoted to his fans as they are to him.

So what is in it for you at UntitledTown 2019? A chance to meet your favorite author. A chance to listen to writers and artists and bookmakers talk about the craft they love so very much. A chance to meet fellow readers and writers. A community. And if UntitledTown 2018 (or 2017 for that matter) is any indication, a very happy heart.

She’s on her way!

My intent for this blog post was to announce that I had packed up all the Kickstarter copies of Wherever Would I Be and sent her out into the world. However, despite some [sarcasm] really fun [/sarcasm] obstacles, I actually got her out earlier than anticipated. At the moment, all print copies are in the hands of the Kickstarter folks, and all links for eBooks have been sent out. I am still SO SO grateful for every single person who donated.

Some were hand delivered. Some books were shipped. Some took REALLY long detours (like a book that should have traveled a mere fifty miles NE from me that went all the way to Iowa and Minnesota before returning to Wisconsin and landing 50 miles SW of me… *scratches head in confusion*).

I continue to say what a learning experience this has been for me – and we’re not even done yet! Next, I get to figure out marketing…