Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Drumroll please. . .

In a recent blog, I noted that my novel, The Hidden Sun, will no longer be available for sale in any format--and that this news was a good thing.

I can now explain why that's a good thing.

There were a few technical issues with The Hidden Sun when it was released. Most people glazed over them, so it wasn't that big of a deal. However, while I was writing the follow up, The Waxing Moon, I referred back to my first book often and more and more the issues started bothering me.

So, I took time away from The Waxing Moon, and with the help of bestselling author Tristi Pinkston as editor, cleaned up the book. I officially dubbed it the "second edition" and started looking at different options.

My original publishing contract didn't really allow for changes like this, but I did have a clause where I could back out of the deal if certain conditions were met. I had met those, so I severed ties with them.

I really wanted this version to be out there, so I looked at doing a self publishing deal. I had started down that road, but hadn't fully committed to it yet.

And that is when something amazing happened.

On the same day I got the proof of the self published book, I got an email from my previous publisher officially stating that I was free of my contract.

Now, this is the trippy part: the very next email was from the publisher Walnut Springs Press, saying that they were interested in publishing the second edition of The Hidden Sun. Wow!

What makes this story even more freaky is that Walnut Springs Press had sent me an email the week before, but I had been having trouble with spam emails, so I cranked up the security, basically stopping anyone from sending me an email I didn't know. I realized later I could tone it down a notch, which I did, and that is when they sent a follow up email asking if I had gotten the first one.

At the time the first email was sent, I didn't have the official word that I was out of my contract, so I would have had to tell them it wasn't available at that moment, but hopefully soon. It probably wouldn't have been a deal breaker, but still, it was so nice to respond to them and say , "Yes! It's available!"

There isn't an official time set for the release of the second edition. It looks like it will be summer of this year. It is my hope that I can build an excellent relationship with these folks so that I can get The Waxing Moon out soon as well. I'm super excited to have people read that one.

Lastly, there is one more tease I can't quite share. I mentioned earlier I was given the green light to work on a dream project of mine, and I've started working on it. As I've started to develop it, I believe it is turning into something quite special, and a little more than I first envisioned. As soon as I get all the legal stuff in order, I'll share what it is about.

Until then, stay tuned for the release of the second edition of The Hidden Sun with what I hope to be some fun extras.

5 comments:

  1. That's great news, Jason. I may just have to buy myself the second edition when it comes out! Will they be publishing your sequel too? Hope so. Congrats.

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  2. Jason, that is awesome! Brigham Dist works with Tristi and Walnut Press so I can get it from them! What do I do with the remaining 1st edtions I have in my store?

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  3. As far as the first edition goes, you bought them outright, so you can still sell them. I just can't sell anymore through online channels. Think of it this way, the first editions will be "collector items". Yeah, that's it. That's the ticket.

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  4. Jason! I am SO happy for you! I really love your book, and so did my son. I can't wait to red your second edition, too! You are so blessed!

    ♥.•*¨ Elizabeth ¨*•.♥

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