2018 In Review, 2019 In Theory

I’m baaaaaaack!

What’s it been? Like, 18 months since my last blog post? Well, I guess no one can say I don’t put work first!

Anyway, I felt like it would be a good idea to recap how things have gone and where they’re going. How did 2018 go, and what’s in store for 2019? 

I wanted to start by going over how this last year went. A lot happened, both on the surface and behind the scenes. But for now, we’ll start with what you guys got to see.

Speaking chronologically, the first thing that came along was Hi-Host’s amazing DenCom art in February! We worked for months together on the group shot of everyone, and I have to say I’m still thrilled with the finished product!

Next up, of course, is the audiobook of Michael Ridding that came out in April. Chris Abell did an amazing job capturing the spirit of the novel and giving each character their own highly distinct voice that many narrators don’t have the passion to give. This past summer, I relistened to the audiobook over the course of several flights and bus rides, and I have to say I still love it. I haven’t met many authors who can come back to their work, let alone their first book, and still love it. But so far, that’s been the case for me, and the audiobook is a prime example of why.

If you haven’t listened to it already, click on the picture to head to the Audible page and download it for FREE with a 30-day trial.

After the audiobook hit shelves, I took time to vend at several events, including the Massillon Library Spring Local Author Fair in April, Charity’s Market at Springhill Historic Home in June, and a book sale at Dorrie’s Booktique in September organized by The Write Stuff, an authors’ group I joined earlier in the year (more on them in a bit).

Then, in late October, the new Michael Ridding cover was unveiled! Admittedly, this is more of a proof of concept we’re testing out to see if this look works, so before DenCom 2 hits digital and physical shelves, it may go through one more iteration. But so far, it’s had a positive response. I’ve already seen higher sales and reads thanks to the rebranding. What do you guys think of it?

Last but not least, the Massillon Library Fall Local Author Fair in November, where I read an excerpt from Michael Ridding! The video is now up on Facebook, but here’s a link for those who haven’t seen it.

Ok, now let’s go behind the scenes, shall we?

Well, for those who don’t know, 2017 was a rough year for me. I ended up taking an ill-fated job right around the time professional edits of a novel meant for 2018 crashed and burned. Admittedly, this was all my fault. That project, which I’ve referred to as “The Pink Bow Book” (not the real title) was an experiment I wasn’t ready for, and my work on Michael blinded me to several major issues that meant the draft at the time was beyond saving. This was a devastating blow, one that led me not to pursue a rewrite until I had a better grasp of the craft. I’ve taken roughly a year and a half off from that book to weigh the pros and cons of a heavy rewrite, and I definitely think the book will be getting one. I’ve got some ideas burning a hole in my pocket, so to speak, but I want to finish some other projects first, namely DenCom 2 and a stand-alone novel.

So, all that to say after Michael Ridding came out, 2017 was pretty unproductive. In truth, I spent the second half of the year doing less than a month’s worth of work, and when that job finally ended last December, I hit the ground running.

Within the first 5 months of 2018, I’d finished 5 drafts: I wrapped up DenCom 2, finished and re-wrote the stand-alone novel, re-drafted the collab with Faryl, and finished an original novella. That was honestly the most productive I’ve ever been. I took every day far more seriously than ever. I treated writing like any other job. I kept deadlines, met and exceeded word count goals, and most importantly, I respected the opportunity I had to do this. Not everyone is allowed to write full time, and while I hesitate to call myself a “full-time writer”, I take my work seriously, and in those first five months, it really showed.

Another change I made in my writing life was joining the Write Stuff Authors’ Group, a club of local authors who invited me to join in late 2017, but I didn’t have the time until early this year. I now look forward to our monthly get-togethers and round-table dinners more than almost anything else I scribble on my calendar. It’s been a great year for the group as a whole, and it’s been amazing to see the improvement in my own work and everyone else’s. It was a boost I didn’t know I needed and one I would encourage any writer at any stage to pursue.

Then, this summer, I took a month off to vacation in Hawaii, Palm Springs, and Denver. It was a rest I definitely needed, and it was one that prepared me for the second half of the year. Not to mention getting married to the woman of my dreams on Maui left me in a good mood.

But anyway, I got back knowing I was not going to have another 5-draft half of the year. DenCom 2 needed my attention, and there was no way that the 500+ page manuscript would leave me with much creative time for anything else. 2 drafts later, I was able to sign off on it just before Thanksgiving, and after a proofread, it’s now off with the editor who plans to begin working on it in January.

So, in short, 2018 has been a busy year, and there are still a few things in there I can’t talk about yet. So with all that said, what are we looking at in 2019?

Well, I’m hoping we’ll be looking at at least 1 new book, that being DenCom 2. If the editor and I can get it worked out before summer, there is a good chance we can have it out before the end of the year. But that being said, there is still the matter of proofreading, copyedits, and more that could take us into the next year. So best case scenario, DenCom 2 will be out Fall 2019. But that’s not a promise, just a proposal.

I’m also hoping that my stand-alone novel will see an editorial review early in summer, so we can look at a 2020 release for that book. Again, that’s just the plan; there’s nothing set in stone that says it’ll happen.

Also, on a personal note, I plan to go back to school in fall if all works out. This will likely take priority over the writing career for some time, but I don’t know to what degree. So just keep that in mind if this time next year, DenCom 2 is still MIA.

Lastly, I will be forward and say that there are several projects I can’t talk about yet. Nothing earth-shattering, but a few cool things that should finally manifest next year.

I think that’s all I’ve got for now. 2018 was a fantastic year, and 2019 is shaping up to be even better. Thanks again to everyone who’s supported Michael Ridding so far. I can’t wait to bring you more DenCom very soon!

-S.T. Hoover

P.S. If you read down this far, then you’re one of the first to know that the Kindle edition of Michael Ridding will be FREE on Christmas Day! Check in the morning, or wait for my posts on Facebook and Twitter!