Danstaten.com went live just over a year ago. The anniversary came and went rather quietly. The year has had plenty of exciting progress, and discouragement to go with it. On the exciting side, I have launch lined up for Elenya’s Saga! Bondsword’s War, Summoner’s Song and Guardian’s Peril are finished, and all have release dates! It’s finally happening. A project that started twenty years ago and rebooted seven years ago is finally going out for the world to enjoy.

I write and illustrate for the love of the craft. As such, I treasure every second I have spent on this effort. Nothing that will or won’t happen as my work releases will change that fact. I love being able to share paperbacks that I have worked hard to craft and make beautiful. I love the color chapter headers. I am so pleased with the way the full set of nine will present on the shelf as a set with an illustration across the book spines. I love getting audiobook chapters to review and hearing the way my narrator is bringing an added dimension to the story. I love doing covers and chapter art.

With all of those reasons to be excited, it can still be really discouraging. The internet is a huge, noisy place, and I’m one tiny, quiet voice in all the clamor. Launching my preorders to crickets was definitely discouraging, albeit not surprising. I suck at marketing, and all the work with mailing lists, blogs, and outreach hasn’t done much of anything.

Perhaps I am particularly morose at the moment in part for another reason. I learned recently that my wonderful beta-reader (more of a developmental editor) is going through some extremely difficult times. I really feel for her and her family and worry that I have been a burden. It casts a lot of uncertainty on the final revisions for books 5-9. A year ago, I launched my site and believed I would publish Bondsword’s War quickly. I am unbelievably grateful that I got her pointed and effective feedback that transformed Bondsword’s War to a much better book. I hope we can continue to work together even if it slows down my release plans for the tail end of the series.

Yeah, I’m feeling a little discouraged right now, but it’s all part of the journey. Part of me thinks I shouldn’t post this kind of a blog post, but I’d rather be genuine and open about the experience. I am still crazy excited to finish Elenya’s Saga, even if it feels like it may never reach an audience beyond friends and acquaintances.