Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Insecure Writers Support Group and Big News! Plus Indiestructible Anthology Now Available, Norse Gods Blogfest, Ninja News, and Battle of Bands Results

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

My awesome co-hosts today are Chemist Ken, SL Hennessy, Michelle Wallace, and Joylene Nowell Butler. Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

And today is the official two year anniversary of the IWSG!

First, a big thanks to everyone involved – you guys are the reason for its success. You encourage those who need it and offer uplifting support. You are a blessing to the group and to me. I never anticipated such success. I wouldn’t trade this group for anything in the world.

And because the IWSG means so much to me, I want to secure its future as a safe place for writers. A place where writers at any stage can find hope, support, and answers.

Coming next month – the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website!


I’ve set up the blog with a domain name and secured an awesome team of admins to help run it - Joy Campbell, Michelle Wallace, Joylene Nowell Butler Susan Gourley/Kelley, L. Diane Wolfe, and Lynda Young.

The site will be a center of support for writers, with tips, encouragement, support, and links. My goal isn’t for the site to be just a database – I want it to be THE database of writing databases, with links to places like Elizabeth’s Writer’s Knowledge Database, Query Tracker, and WriteOnCon, plus tons of other links and listings of resources. It will also feature a weekly informative post or two, plus house the main list for the IWSG.

We are aiming for an October launch and the team will be working hard to put it together to benefit YOU.

And you can help us – email me any sites or resources that benefit writers so we can include them on the IWSG site.

Oh, and my insecurity this month? I’m trying to put all of this together AND my book comes out in two weeks!! Heading for Epic Ninja Meltdown…

Indiestructible Now Available!

I am excited to announce the release of Indiestructible and want to thank Jessica Bell for letting me be a part of this anthology! (And visit her site for a list of cool prizes to win.)

Need motivation and inspiration to self-publish or sign that contract with an interested small press? Have you done all the research you can, but still feel ambivalent about the idea? Indiestructible: Inspiring Stories from the Publishing Jungle brings you the experiences of 29 indie and small publisher authors—their passions, their insights, their successes—to help you make the leap into indie publishing.

This is not a how-to guide. This is the best of the indie tradition of experienced authors paying forward what they’ve learned, giving you information to help you on your journey. The personal essays in this book will leave you itching to get your work into the hands of readers and experience, first-hand, all the rewards indie publishing has to offer.

Not only is this anthology packed full of interesting and unique information, 100% of proceeds will be donated to buildOn.org. a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

Buy it now for just 99 cents at Amazon

ISBN 13: 9780987593108, Publisher: Vine Leaves Press, Compiled and Edited: Jessica Bell
Contributing authors: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Angela Brown, Anne R. Allen, Briane Pagel, C.S. Lakin, Ciara Knight, Cindy M. Hogan, D. Robert Pease, Dawn Ius, Emily White, Greg Metcalf, Jadie Jones, Jessica Bell, Karen Bass, Karen Walker, Kristie Cook, Laura Diamond, Laura Pauling, Laurel Garver, Leigh Talbert Moore, Lori Robinson, Melissa Foster, Michael Offutt, Michelle Davidson Argyle, Rick Daley, Roz Morris, S.R. Johannes, Stephen Tremp, and Susan Kaye Quinn


Ninja News

Crystal Collier’s debut novel, Moonless, will be released November 13, 2013 by Raybourne Publishing. If you can help her with her cover release or blog tour, go HERE.

Cassie Mae is hosting the Nerd Blog Hop September 24-26 in celebration of her upcoming release, How to Date a Nerd. The Nerd prize pack includes nerdy t-shirts, candy, How to Date a Nerd keychains and buttons, as well as a signed copy of How to Date a Nerd. See her site for details. 

Carrie Butler has opened Forward Authority | Design Services. Wish you much success, Carrie!

Tomorrow is the release of A Shot in the Light, an Apocalypse Conspiracy Tale by Hart Johnson. There will be approximately ten episodes and Good Reads has a sneak peak posted. To celebrate, she’s hosting a blogfest tomorrow – see her site for details.

Thanks to those of you who signed up for CassaStorm’s Taking the World by Storm release party. (If you haven’t, there is a cool prize package involved!) The information will go out to everyone around September 12-13.

You can add it to Goodreads HERE and vote for it on Goodread’s Can’t Wait Sci Fi Fantasty of 2013 list. 

Battle of the Band Results

Hosted by Farawayeyes and Stephen T. McCarthy, last week I pitted KC and the Sunshine Band against White Zombie with I’m Your Boogeyman.

It was closer than I thought it would be, but White Zombie won by one vote. You guys rock!

Norse Gods Birthday Bash

On October 9, I am hosting Siv Maria Ottem on her birthday and joining her in celebrating her new book, Secrets of the Ash Tree, with a blogfest – The Norse Gods Blogfest.

Post about your favorite Norse God and be creative. Siv will be giving away a signed copy of her book to whomever actively parties the most on this day. Special points if you visit her NEW WEB PAGE and like her Facebook Author page. She’s even offering an autographed print of this Freya illustration, created by her daughter.

Sign up below:



What's your insecurity today? Ready for an IWSG website, packed with information? (Send me links to cool sites!) Picking up Indiestructible? Excited about the news? Who else wants to help Siv celebrate her birthday with a Norse God? Come on ladies - your chance to blog about Thor!

And back to my regular M-W-F schedule now, so see you Friday.

225 comments:

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Clare said...

Congratulations on hitting the two year mark with IWSG. I love reading the posts, they're so inspiring.

And congratulations on the website, it sounds like a brilliant idea, and I wish you every success!

All the best for CassaStorm’s release; I hope you smash it! :D

Nicole said...

Oh the IWSG website will be a great resource for so many writers!

cleemckenzie said...

So glad you mentioned you were announcing something this month on ISWG Wed. Had to stop in and find out what.

Wow! A whole website just for our insecurities. I love it. Now I'm off to pack and take that vacay I've been promising myself. I'll check out that website first.

Susan Oloier said...

Congrats on the upcoming website. You have some great hands to help you out. No ninja meltdowns. Absolutely not allowed. Just take some deep breaths.

Anonymous said...

My insecurity today is getting back into the swing of things. I really went under the radar in August and it was wonderful. Now, back to normal.

On my way to buy Indiestructable! What a great idea for an anthology.

Karen Lange said...

The thing that has me on the edge of my seat right now is waiting for reviews. It's an interesting ride, isn't it? :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Leovi, that's good, because I'm not sure I understand...

Leigh, no worries!

Lee, we launch next month!

Karen, yes it is - and happy release day!

Thanks everyone!

Julie Dao said...

I love IWSG, but didn't participate because I am madly revising! I can't believe your book comes out so soon!

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Wonderful news about the web site. Thank you for all you do for the writing community!

Mary Montague Sikes

Unknown said...

Happy 2nd anniversary, Alex! IWSG has gone from strength to strength, and the sky is the limit. Looking forward to seeing the new site too!

Anonymous said...

That is awesome news about the website. I can't wait to see it. Happy anniversary to all IWSG'ers.

Kimberly Gabriel said...

I'm so bummed out I missed the 2yr anniversary! I had the best of intentions to post and the day got away from me. I LOVE your idea for the website. When I first started (and was insecure about where to begin) Literary Rambles made the whole process less intimidating. Their agent profiles are amazing.

No meltdowns! You're one of the most efficient people I know!! If anyone can balance so many big things in one week, it's you! Best of luck to you these next couple weeks Alex!!

Michelle Wallace said...

Sorry I'm so late here at your place Alex!
Lots of links to check out...
There is such a buzz surrounding the new website. Thanks for inviting me to be part of admin.
Your plate is so full at the moment - how on earth are you keeping it together?

Becky Fyfe said...

Love to read all that is going on for you right now! And woohoo on the new website! Sounds like a great place for writers and I will definitely share it with my friends and followers!

I just bought Indiestructible after reading about it here! I started Indie publishing for an anthology my Chapter Book Challenge (chaboocha.com) members contributed to Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales - out now in print and Kindle) and had so much fun that I am now putting together another anthology of female superheroes that 24 people contributed to (proceeds

The books are turning out so nicely that I have started to pout together my own Indie publishing company; it is mainly in place as a vehicle to help others self-publish and it's still in the beginning stages.

The Chapter Book Challenge has a Christmas anthology for kids coming out before Christmas, and there will be a Halloween anthology next year. My press company will also be taking submissions for an anthology of cats stories soon which will benefit a shelter.

I am so excited, but it's also stressful and can be frustrating (when things aren't going well) and everything in between.

Good luck with your endeavors. :)

(I got my post up a couple of hours AFTER Wednesday this month. My mind was on something else, but I loved writing my post for IWSG this month!)

jaybird said...

Totally stoked about the new website! It sounds amazing.

Please don't have a Ninja Meltdown. I'm sure everything will go just fine and in two weeks when the book comes out, you will wonder why was I ever worried? :)

Tonja said...

That's a good idea to do the web site.

Unknown said...

OMG, This website for IWSG is an amazing idea Alex! There's no stopping you! It is brilliant and you are a genius :)

Deniz Bevan said...

I got my copy of Indiestructibles!

Ooh, I've got lots of links. Will email you!

Anonymous said...

I missed this on the day, but the idea of an IWSG site sounds great.

I'm impressed by your organisational ability in keeping things flowing - I can barely remember to get my own entry written most months!

Look forward to seeing the site.

randi lee said...

I tried leaving a comment just now and it deleted itself. I swear, technology and I just don't mix! Anyway, The IWSG is a great, great thing. I'm so psyched that you're posting a website for it! You're such a devoted person, Alex. Thanks so much for all that you give back to the community!

Anonymous said...

I had no idea you created A to Z and IWSG. A marketing genius--and you'd rather write. Go figure. Can't always control the heart.

Jen said...

Alex, I just got back into town. This is WONDERFUL news! I can't wait to visit the new blog/website. It sounds amazing. Thank YOU for hosting this amazing ride for 2 years. I haven't been able to participate as much as I would have liked, but all the posts I read were truly inspirational. Looking forward to being back in the Blog-Verse full time!

Cheers! And thanks for being an inspiration to us all :)
Jen

The Happy Whisk said...

Congrats on two years :-)

Unknown said...

I've been MIA since the 1st on a whirlwind Disney/ beach vacation--just got back today and wanted to make sure I caught up on your news!! A dedicated website is a fantastic idea! Let me know if I can help in any way *I can send you some pretty potent coffee too*
Cheers!
WriterlySam

Morgan Dragonwillow said...

Dear Alex, Today is my first day here at the Insecure Writer's Support Group and I left to comments so far on some of the links in your linky. I am quite discouraged though that number 28 and 29 are not participating. I like most of you don't have time to go to links that aren't relevant (and I had to take the time to do some searching to make sure they didn't have a relevant post). Hopefully the next two I go to will have participating posts. Thanks for starting this group and congratulations on getting it to its own website.

Morgan at Playing with Words.

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