And the Publishing Journey Begins...

As most of you know by now, The Mengele Effect didn't garner enough Amazon customer votes to win Grand Prize.  My congrats go to D.M. Pulley and her novel, The Dead Key, for taking the top spot!  After watching the download rankings move up and down all week for each of the five Finalists, it became obvious to me The Dead Key was going to end up on top; The Mengele Effect shifted from #2, to #4, to #3, to #5, and back again, along with the others.  Based on the download rankings, I wasn't surprised at all when Amazon announced the Grand Prize Winner on 21 July.  Again, congrats to D.M., and I wish her the very best of luck.  To those of you who voted for The Mengele Effect, you have my deepest thanks and appreciation.  I can't say that enough.

Winning my particular category, as I've mentioned in previous blog posts, was quite humbling.  Why my novel was chosen over 2,000 other Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror entries is a question I can't answer; I'm certain there were better novels that were, for some reason or another, passed over.  Luck and timing were on my side this year...I believe it's simple as that.  The Mengele Effect didn't make it past the pitch stage into the Second Round for both the 2012 and 2013 ABNAs, but I didn't let that stop me.  Sure glad I didn't decide to give up!  If I would've, I'd have never gotten my ugly mug in the local paper!

So what's next for The Mengele Effect?  On 10 March 2015, it will be re-released by Amazon's Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror imprint, 47North, in both hardcopy and Kindle eBook formats.  If you wish, you can pre-order a copy HERE and it'll be delivered on 10 March.  Will it be the same book you've read before (if you've read it, that is)?  For the most part, yes, but there will be changes.  The basic storyline will remain the same, but it'll be BETTER.  I can't stress how excited I am about all of this, and this is why...

Immediately after learning The Mengele Effect had won the 2014 ABNA Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror title (which still gives me the chills, by the way), I was contacted by Jason Kirk, Editorial Director for 47North.  [That's right, I have an E-D-I-T-O-R.  How cool is that!]  Over the past week or so, we exchanged emails back and forth regarding what he and his team thought were some areas where the story could be improved--starting the process called a Developmental Edit (being a publishing newbie, I had no idea what that was).  He sent me a long email touching on five or six areas...and I almost fell out of my Comfy Recliner.  I couldn't believe what I was reading!  It was as if he and his team had reached inside my head, found the little steel lock box with the sign on it that says, "ALL THE WEAK PARTS YOU HOPE AREN'T NOTICED", and broke into it.  Absolutely amazing.  I agreed with each and every point he made, because, quite simply, I'd thought about them myself at one point or another.

So what is a Developmental Edit?  In terms of my novel, basically this:
- Plot - This particular part didn't make a whole lot of sense.  Let's change it to something a bit more believable.
- Characters - This guy got way too much "screen time", and this other character didn't get enough, and she deserves it because WE LOVE HER!  This other character was overly sexualized, diminishing her impact & making her less believable.  Let's change it.

Notice how I say "Let's", and not "You must".  I wasn't sure what to expect--other than knowing the manuscript needed some work as it had never met the eyes of a professional editor before--but I have to admit I'm extremely pleased by how Jason Kirk and his 47North team are approaching this.  Totally collaborative.  I love it.  The changes they suggested--which as I said didn't surprise me at all--will make this novel even better.

So, not only do I have an EDITOR now, I also have my very first PUBLISHING DEADLINE.  Roughly a month from now, I have to have the developmental edits completed.

No sweat.

The journey to March 10th, 2015, begins NOW, and I couldn't be happier!