It's hard to believe a year has already passed since Author Squared went live and a lot has happened. I figured a quick recap of everything that's been accomplished and share some goals we are planning to do in our second year.
Author Squared went live! In the making of Author Squared two concerns came to mind in the making of this website. Which I'm sure are apparent after I point them out.
1) Not enough to look at.
Creating this site I really didn't know what I had to present or share. What is there to make? This is why I also added 4 distant corners to be found with extra secrets and bonus' that aren't exactly difficult to find.
2) I didn't want it to be stagnant.
I'm sure you've noticed there's something occasionally changes on the website. Slowly getting updates, improvements, or pages getting expanded details. Most notably the Author Corner, Quick Stories, Catalogue, and Bookstore. I wanted something new to appear frequently. I wanted someone to pop in and for there to be something new to look at. I am even prepared to have the footer, "book excerpts" changed when the time is right.
This is also why I'm working on Quick Stories and trying to release one a month. It has been a little tricky with the expectation of upcoming releases it's hard to time Quick Stories with book releases and other important Quick Story topics that have to be covered.
Let's look at what's happened since the website went live.
Book Launch and republishing
The first thing to happen was Allergies Bite's Eat At Your Own Risk book launch party, July 13/2022 Marking our first ever book launch and first book for Author Squared. There isn't much more to say about it that hasn't been covered from a prior Quick Story or the Barrhead Leader. You can check out the Barrhead Leader here.
Shortly after our cookbook's improved re-release in coil bound Author Squared re-published Centered Adventure. Something that was really caught us off guard with both books was the improved quality. Since then we have been in the process of getting our entire collection under the Author Squared name and Printed by Ion Print Solutions in Edmonton Alberta.
We have also recently re-released Edit Away and The Silent Reality under the new name but that's not all.
Central Base
The one issue I had is I was never really confident with the question where can I purchase copies from?
Apart from our market table, I really wasn't sure. I know that they could be purchased anywhere from Amazon, eBay, Chapters, Barns and Nobel, and really anywhere you can find books or sell stuff. It really left me stumped as I didn't have a good answer apart from Trafford's Bookstore website but with it's accessibility everywhere was Trafford the best suggestion? Now I have a more central place with the website and the Books being orderable from the Printer itself I have a direct answer to that question now AND it's local! Arguably it does come at the expense of not being mainstream platforms like Amazon and Chapters bookstores. It's a step that we may look closer at in the future.
The Extra Steps
On top of republishing this had challenged me to format my own work which really isn't that difficult or as intimidating for the most part. Laying out the pictures, and text was something that stressed me out before I even attempted to do it. But it wasn't only that there was editing proof reading, acquiring your own ISBN numbers and bar codes, and Beta readers. In 2019 all of this seemed like an impossible task but I just buckled down and learnt what needed to be done.
The proof is in Author Squared's first original release Spy Over There. First time formatting, acquiring codes and numbers, laying out the copyright page, beta reader feed back, copyediting, and digitally adjusting the cover lighting, Upon it's release it's been a success with lots of positive responses. It's hard to believe all this has been in the last 12 months.
Book Shorts
One of the most perplexing mediums I'm on is YouTube. A few thoughts have crossed my mind over the years but little has been made in that time. I don't feel like the right person to share general writing advice or hosting interviews with other authors which has crossed my mind. But I have come up with a temporary use on top of the usual book talk I do with Pascha. An idea came to mind early this year doing Book Shorts. Short footnote descriptions of each book that we have made.
Allergies Bite But Taste Good
In January we officially made our Allergies Bite website public making it our main base for our Food Substations. We are working on making it simple to navigate and to choose of the most general food sensitivities. Along with the opening of the website we also just celebrated our 10th anniversary of our YouTube Channel's creation
What's coming next?
There is a lot to expect as we go into our second year. I have some laidback Quick Stories in the future that I think you will enjoy but also some fun future events, and engaging stories. Some books I expect and hope to finish in by next year this time are;
Missing Pieces (Adoption themed Picture book)
Reversed Life (About not fitting in Picture book)
Story Stumped (Writers Block Picture book)
Carnivore Cookbook
Under The Shield (My first YA Chapter book)
Bonus Story (Extra story to go along with Under The Shield)
Page Break (Going through a Shopping Mall with the reader Picture book)
Driftwood (Things not going the way we expected picture book)
Republish the remaining 16 titles that are with Trafford
A possible special project if I have time.
Thank you for your time
Chance Hansen
Keep Smiling
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