Hello all. It seems that “It’s Better This Way” is popular enough that the most consistent complaint I’ve received (basically about 90% of everyone that has read it and didn’t hate it outright) is that it was too short, and readers want more.

It’s Better This Way

So I have some okay news, possibly good news. I’ve had Cherise Kelley, a professional editor, fix all of the nagging little problems in “It’s Better This Way.” I hadn’t read the story in months, and was looking through it as I needed some information for a new story I’m working on in the same universe…and I noticed how awful the grammar, punctuation, and such were. Sure, it’s a pretty decent read as-is, but I would like to be considered a professional writer at some point, and that means having work that is as free of those problems as possible.

Keep in mind that that book was the second thing I ever published, with the first being a test short story just to learn the interface at Amazon and Smashwords. I had very little help when it came to actual editing, and fixed the book up once on 6/11/2013, even to the point I convinced Amazon to send out an email to everyone letting them know the book had an update available.

Fast forward many, many months. After receiving a glowing review from The Kindle Book Review team, comparing the story to Hugh Howey’s “Wool” (not the plot, more of that they considered it a ‘hidden gem’ that had the power to be the next “Wool”), I’ve finally realized that this story needs not only to be polished to a sparkling shine, but it also needs a brother and/or a sister.

I’ve received the edited manuscript back. As I go through it over the next few days doing a last check, I’ll of course be reading it from cover to cover. I need to, as I plan on writing two short stories in the same universe, cramming them into the back of the book, and re-releasing it (and hopefully convincing Amazon to push out an update to all 10k previous readers who were kind enough to download it). Just as a thank you to everyone who has been patient (and hasn’t thrown a burning sock full of poo through my front window).

So stay tuned, if you liked the story. Once I re-release it, I plan on finishing one other book (85% done), and then writing a proper sequel, or maybe prequel, to “It’s Better This Way.”