Welcome back to another edition of Author's Corner. I recently returned from MileHiCon in Denver and I'm preparing for LosCon next month in Los Angeles. MileHiCon was a very pleasant experience with a hotel layed out perfectly for such an event and an enthusiastic, cheerful group of people running it. Despite competition from the World Series, there was a nice turnout. For me, it was a nice break from all of my projects and my full-time job.

The new website will be up early next year. My designer, Jason Curran, has come up with an amazing new look to incorporate Space Frontiers and Fractured Time into one site. I'm sure you'll be impressed when you see it.

I recently contracted with The Barrett Company Communications of Los Angeles to handle publicity and promotions for The Eye of Icarus. They have an outstanding track record and numerous ties to the film industry. This could benefit me with my screenplays.

I'm currently working on pre-published reviews and quotes for the back cover of The Eye of Icarus. This is something I never considered during the creation of Fractured Time, Twisted Fate and Dark Horizon. I recommend keeping this in mind if you're a writer regardless of what type of publisher you have.

One of my targets is to promote The Eye of Icarus to my friends across the ocean in the United Kingdom and Australia and possibly further. My publisher, Helm Publishing, has distributors in both areas and The Barrett Company has the ability to promote there as well. I sure wouldn't mind joining them for a pint of Guinness.

I still have to firm up my travel schedule for next year. Thus far, I've nailed down RavenCon (Richmond in April) and Concarolinas (Charlotte in June). I expect to be in a number of places so keep an eye on the schedule for appearances.

Nothing new has happened regarding my screenplays as of yet. I hear a lot of 'we're close' but it's a complex business with a lot of people involved in the decision-making process. At this time, Fractured Time seems to be very close with du Jour Entertainment/ Gypsy Films handling things at this point.

I have an interesting tip for this month that I mentioned earlier in this article. I recently learned from my publisher that I can solicit pre-published reviews and quotes from a variety of sources based on my unedited manuscript as well as from the galleys. Although there aren't many reviewers that will accept the original, there are some that are out there. This is essential if you want to include quotes from reliable sources like newspaper or magazine reviewers on the back of your cover. I'm also considering soliciting early reviews from several bookstore managers and library directors. This is another example where it pays to be creative on your own.

Copies of the original books are sent out for reviews a few months before the books release. There are a few problems with this. It becomes expensive to send out numerous copies with no guarantee they'll be reviewed. If the reviews are returned too late, then it's lost a good part of its value to the book's introduction. Of course, a late review is better than no review but help yourself where possible.

Thanks again for joining me. See you next month for another Author's Corner.

- Michael D'Ambrosio

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Visit the Author's Corner Archives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

< HOME >