Somewhere in Between by Katie Li
GENRE: YA Paranormal
Two friends find a portal to another dimension and use this “in-between place” to avoid the stress of their everyday lives. What they don’t realize is that every time they enter, they alter reality. Pseudo-punk Magnolia and underachieving gamer-geek Rom are two unlikely friends who only hang out during their walks home together after school. When they find the a portal that leads to different worlds, they use the “in-between place” as an escape from their lives in high school, then later, after college.
Their visits through the portal bring them teetering along a tight-rope of fantasy and reality, where they don't always believe what is in front of them, not even their feelings for each other.
The book is about changes—the ones that you can control, and the ones that you can’t. It’s about commitment and friendship. It’s about the stages in between where you have nothing but the unknown ahead of you.
GUEST POST - KATIE LI
Pave Your Own Path: How I Got Started In Indie Publishing (and How You Can, Too!)
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Pave Your Own Path: How I Got Started In Indie Publishing (and How You Can, Too!)
I was eight years old when I decided that I
wanted to become an author. I always enjoyed listening to the stories my
parents told at dinner parties or picture books at bedtime, but it wasn't until
I was in the third grade that I started choosing books to read on my own. When
my teacher noticed that I was quickly becoming an avid reader, she told me that
I could write my own books someday, and I was hooked.
As I got older, I started having more
interests--theatre, film, photography, an appreciation for manga and anime. I
majored in Theatre at the Boston Arts Academy, Boston's public high school for
visual and performing arts, then attended Hampshire College where I could design
my own major and explore different modes of telling stories. There were times
when I wondered if I should have taken a more focused approach to my education
and training as a writer, but by the time I graduated from college in 2007, the
world of publishing was changing drastically from how it was when I first got
the idea to become an author at age 8.
My interdisciplinary studies turned out to
be a great asset. They taught me how to pave my own path: that there was more
than one method to tell a story, and, just as important, how to creatively
adapt to different situations and take the initiative in new endeavours. These
were the ideas that I embraced as I ventured into indie publishing.
I knew that Somewhere In Between—with
its experimental typography, the subject matter, the anime tropes and nods to
alternative cultures—was going to be a tough sell for traditional publishers.
And frankly, I didn't want to sell it to traditional publishers. I wanted to
have the authority over my book—picking out the cover, working closely with my
editor and designer, and having the freedom to creatively experiment with its
promotion.
It has been almost a year since I began
this indie endeavour, and when I look back at where I have started from, it's
incredible to see everything that I have learned and overcome, the people I
have connected with, the opportunities on the horizon.
Indie publishing is not for everyone, and
it’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses when you are approaching a
new business. But if you have a creative mind, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a
story to share, the leap is entirely worth the risk.
Here are some first steps to take if you're
looking to pursue indie publishing:
Make
a Schedule
Before
you commit to a project, it's important to commit to your craft. In On
Writing, Stephen King says, “If you don't have the time to read,
then you don't have the time (or tools) to write.” Make some time in your daily
schedule for reading and writing--even if it's only one chapter before bed, or
500 words typed out during your lunch break. Your work as a writer is built on
the foundation of your consistent schedule.
Get
Online
Many
authors—whether indie or traditionally published—often admit that they are
squeamish about marketing and promotion. Unfortunately, it's a necessary part
of the job, and it's never too early to start. Even if you don't have a
polished manuscript, build yourself a simple website, pick a social media
channel, and start collecting e-mail addresses for a mailing list (Mailchimp +
Hello Bar is a simple and free way to start). This marketing trifecta is
essential to building your readership, and eventually making sales.
Find
Your Peers
Even though writing itself is a solitary
act, being a writer is actually very social. It's important to reach out and
connect with other writers and readers. Use Meet-up to find local writing
groups, hop into a twitter chat, and introduce yourself to your local
independent book seller. These folks will become your cheerleaders when you
have writers block, beta read your drafts, and will help champion your book as
you launch it into the world.
Be Yourself
Read what you love. Write what you want to
read. Don't ever feel like you aren't good enough, because there is room on the
shelf for everyone. Go with your gut as you pave your own path. If you stay
true to your self (and stick to your schedule), you'll be amazed at what you can do!
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