Wit & Travesty

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Monthly McGruder Updates: June

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monthly mcgruder updates via wit and travesty

Yes, it’s time for updates. Thanks for sticking around and checking in on us. Do give us an update on your writing life in the comments or on social media!

Writing Updates & Goals

So, it probably doesn’t come to a surprise for some of you, but if you’re still catching up, you can now buy DESTINY SEEKER: THE MESSENGER. WOO HOO! Down below you can see the blog post where I answer your biggest questions about my published debut novel.

I’m really proud that I got this far, except tbh I’m so worried about just how many typos or mistakes are in my book. As a professional editor, I feel like my craft is on the line! As long as people enjoy the story, that’ll be good enough for me. Does any other author feel this way? I’ve been feeling waves of anxiety and major imposter syndrome. I know a lot of you messaged me to remind me that this is a huge accomplishment but there’s a reason why it took me so long to get published—perfectionism and the fear of not being good enough. I think it’ll pass but I think this is pretty normal for writers no matter how much praise they get.

In regards to my Goodreads book challenge, I’ve read 23/50 books so far. Woohoo! I keep buying books and reading them, but who cares—they were delightful! I read Blood of the Empire by Christina Ochs and The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel. The latter was a gorgeously done graphic novel that you and your kids MUST read. So clever and amazing! I’m still working on getting through Scarlet for some reason. Maybe I need to read something else or something. I still have so many books to read in my new-and-not-read-yet pile, so I’ll have to see what’s piquing my interest at the moment.

What We Wrote in June

We had some great blog posts for you! To recap, just click on them below:

There wasn’t a lot of blogging; we’ve been a bit busy, huh? We’ll be having a couple of exciting blog posts and book reviews in July, so subscribe via email, subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on social media to be notified when they’re live.

What’s Coming in July?

To give you a sneak peak of what’s to come in June, here’s a quick list:

Blog posts: I’ve got politics and feminism constantly on the brain, so I’ll be drafting something related here. In the meantime, we’ll be giving Camp NaNoWriMo a try, so you might not see as much from us in blog post form.

Subscribe to the Wit & Travesty Newsletter

We’d love to invite all of you to subscribe! It’s different from getting emails every time we publish a new blog post. In our newsletter, we’ll share insider information on the publishing process, freebies, editing service discounts, tips, future book sale discounts, and more that you’ll find solely on the newsletter.

Subscribe through the pop up on the website, by dropping your email in the little prompt to your right, or go here.

That’s about it from us! We’ve been pretty busy and we know you have been, too. What have you been up to? Let us know and bask in your own glory in the comments section or via social media.

Destiny Seeker Updates—I’m Officially Published!

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DESTINY SEEKER UPDATES POST VIA WIT AND TRAVESTY

Hello, writers, editors, and readers!

Earlier this year, I told you that I was self-publishing Destiny Seeker. And if you’ve been keeping up, it’s already out! i know! It’s officially out two months early. I’m geeking out at my desk as I write this. I can’t believe it’s finally my turn!

If you’re totally confused, I’ll explain everything below. I know many of you are interested and have some questions. Whether you’ve known me forever or this is your first time finding me, here’s a bit of information on what’s going on.

Why Did You Publish Two Months Early?

So the target release date was August 3rd. The story goes: I was setting up the paperback version for pre-order; I already successfully did that for the Kindle version. The plan was to get it on pre-order then announce the pre-order option to up the hype. To my surprise, I misunderstood the process and accidentally published the novel!

Rather than retracting the novel or staying quiet until August 3rd, I decided to put the news on blast. You all deserve it, so destiny has truly struck for Destiny Seeker.

Where Can I Get a Copy?

Currently, the novel is available through Amazon. You can get the print version here and the kindle version here. I hope to have my novel available on other e-book platforms to reach as many willing readers as possible. If you have suggestions, please let me know.

I will also have a few ARC copies to give out just before the release date. This means you get a free copy of the finished book! I only ask that you leave honest reviews on Amazon and Goodreads so other readers can learn more about the book. If you’re interested in getting an ARC copy, shoot me a message via our Contact Us form or email me at whit2ney@hotmail.com. I’m looking for a few more, so don’t hesitate to ask!

There’s also the opportunity to do giveaways through Goodreads. I’d definitely love to host one of those giveaways. I’m a greedy reader who loves a free copy of just about anything, so I know how it is.

Can I Be an ARC Reader?

I bet you certainly can! I already have a short list of people who are interested in getting an Advanced Reader Copy, but I would love to give out free copies to a few more friends. If you’re interested in being an ARC reader, please use the CONTACT US page and I’ll send you the information once I’ve got a complete list of readers. Ugh, I’m so nervous to let y’all read this book, so bear with me.

UPDATE: I’ve found enough ARC readers at this time. I won’t be able to give out any more ARC copies. Thank you for understanding!

How Can I Get a Signed Copy?

There are many ways to get a signed copy and I’ll try to be as accommodating as possible. First, if you live close by, please consider making a normal purchase and then bringing the book to me or attending my upcoming book signing event. Yes, I will have a big party to celebrate the book, so please look out for that.

If you live too far away, you can do two things: you can order the book and mail it to me for the signature. I’ll mail it back when I’m done. Or, you can use a money sending app and I’ll buy the book myself, sign it and send it to you. In both of these scenarios, I will ask that you pay for shipping.

Thank you so much for supporting me and for being patient with me! I want everyone to feel like they have a special copy of my work!

Where Can I Learn More About the Novel Itself?

That’s easy! You’re in the right spot. You can check out the official page on our website HERE, and you can see a fun, recent post that goes more into detail HERE. You can also check out a slew of snippets I wrote back when I participated in Weekend Writing Warriors in the Our Work section HERE.

Wait, You’re Publishing Part One—When Will You Publish Part Two?

An excellent question! To back up, I felt that my story as a whole was too long for publication at this time. As in, to turn a profit, it would be one expensive book! I don’t have any solid plans or promises at this time about when part two will be released. A good author-friend of mine told me to focus on one book at a time, and I’m honoring that advice! It’ll likely take a bit longer depending on the revision and polishing process.

We also just don’t know what life will bring this year and the next, so after a few months, I will start looking to the future and determine when you’ll read the rest of the story. I’ve picked a nasty cliff-hanger, so I know you may not feel this now, but I know you’ll be hounding me for the second part soon enough.

Where Can I Get More Updates on the Process?

I now send out regular updates via the Wit & Travesty newsletter. Please sign up if you’re interested! I try to be pretty honest with the process in case you’re curious or you’re a writer who wants a heads up on the work involved.  The newsletter will also give readers the first heads up on when they can enter various giveaways or take advantage of book discounts. You can also catch updates through this website, as I hope to share my real ups and downs with you on the publishing process. I hope this is useful for other writers who are on the fence about self publishing.

And as always, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter if that’s more your scene.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for sticking with me, celebrating with me along the way, and truly showing me love and compassion through this wild ride. Share your questions or suggestions in the comments below.

Destiny Seeker promo via wit and travesty

Monthly McGruder Updates: May

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monthly mcgruder updates via wit and travesty

Yes, it’s time for updates. Thanks for sticking around and checking in on us. Do give us an update on your writing life in the comments or on social media!

Writing Updates & Goals

I got the proof in! Two of them, actually! I got a proof with half the story and another that was totally ready for publication. Yay! Ugh, it’s so exciting. Thank you so much if you’ve expressed your joy and excitement with me. This really means a lot. I really truly FINALLY feel like an indie author! Ahhhhhhh! Now, I’m working on setting up pre-order options, marketing materials, and otherwise spreading the word!

In regards to my Goodreads book challenge, I’ve read 20/50 books so far. Woohoo! I keep buying books and reading them, but who cares—they were delightful! I read The Tea Dragon Society which definitely stole my heart it was so precious. I also read Princess of Ceshela, Be Careful What You Joust For, and a bunch of comics. Right now I’m reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer and Blood of the Empire by Christina Ochs.

What We Wrote in May

We had some great blog posts for you! To recap, just click on them below:

We’ll be having a couple of exciting blog posts and book reviews in June, so subscribe via email, subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on social media to be notified when they’re live.

What’s Coming in June?

To give you a sneak peak of what’s to come in June, here’s a quick list:

More Destiny Seeker Updates: Thanks to some outside help, I was able to tackle the book proof part of the process! Soon, I will share more information on publishing and how you can get your copy. 

Blog posts: I’d like to share more book reviews and some other writing thoughts, but I’m not sure how June will go. I also sometimes make promises in these update posts that I don’t regularly keep. So for this month, it’ll probably be up in the air. I’ll be focusing on getting y’all excited for Destiny Seeker all June and July. Also! It’s my birthday this month, which means, I should really be slowing down and celebrating me all month. Tune in to find out what happens.

Subscribe to the Wit & Travesty Newsletter

We’d love to invite all of you to subscribe! It’s different from getting emails every time we publish a new blog post. In our newsletter, we’ll share insider information on the publishing process, freebies, editing service discounts, tips, ARC reading opportunities, future book sale discounts, and more that you’ll find solely on the newsletter.

Subscribe through the pop up on the website, by dropping your email in the little prompt to your right, or go here.

That’s about it from us! We’ve been pretty busy and we know you have been, too. What have you been up to? Let us know and bask in your own glory in the comments section or via social media.

TESTIMONIALS

Whitney helped me with two short projects written for children, and she was very pleasant to work with. She has an eye for detail, helping me with small grammar errors as well as insights about adding scenes that would enhance my story. Her turnaround time was extremely quick, which I really appreciated when on a deadline!
Brittany Olsen
Whitney did a copy-edit on my third novel, Checkmate. She was a pleasure to work with, and helped me give my novel that final polish that it needed before publication. Put her on your list for editors that help your work shine!
Angelika Offenwanger
Whitney and I worked together in a writing feedback group some years ago and have remained in touch since then. From the beginning, I was struck by her absolute responsibility as an editor. Even in the capacity of a group member, not even being employed or contracted by me to edit my work, Whitney was unerringly punctual, thorough, and accurate with her feedback. Her advice is genuinely insightful and I believe the marketability of my work was noticeably increased due to her guidance. I so value her skills that I still turn to her as a resource after three years of working with her in-person have passed.
Jonathan Baker
I won a contest via Wit & Travesty in the summer of 2017. The prize was a professional edit of the first 100 pages of a WIP. My middle grade fantasy was only 90 pages, so she read the entire manuscript. She was communicative and positive about the project. Her edits markedly polished up my manuscript and were easy to understand.
Rachel Barnard
Whitney McGruder has created a vast and imaginative world in Destiny Seeker with surprises to delight the reader at every turn. Readers can settle in to devour the diverse and ingenious magic Destiny Seeker has to offer. I highly recommend it.
Jessica Frazier
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