What’s Going On
It’s been a couple of months since I’ve posted a newsletter as I dealt with all the things real life threw at me, but I’ve returned. I’ve been very busy researching marketing, and boy, am I ready to get some work done! I’ll go over that plan shortly.
First, I’d like to reintroduce myself in case you signed up for this newsletter a decade ago and need a refresher. I’m Travis (that’s a caricature of me above) and I write mostly fantasy (my first literary love), Sci-Fi, and a smattering of non-fiction. When you signed up for this newsletter you should’ve received a free book which showcased a sampler of my writing, Aetheric Elements. If you didn’t (or lost it) click here to get a copy.
In the past decade I’ve published 38 books under 5 different pen names, though my real name is my primary and most prolific. I’m proud of my kids books (Kids & Monsters Series) under my Joe Wilson pen name, though. They’re cute and educational and perfect for young readers in October!
I’ve also created eight podcasts, live-stream my writing process on Twitch.tv, and more. All these things and more are hanging out on my website, TravisSivart.com. You can follow me on various social media there (and I’d appreciate it if you’d choose your favorite and follow) and see silly observations, clever memes, cat photos, and writing updates from day to day.
My plan was to publish 12 books in 12 months in 2024. And to be clear, this is all my writing, with no AI involved at all. Well, it’s grown since I started working on the idea. I’ve been meaning to make boxed set collections and have included these in my schedule. I went through my unfinished projects and pulled a few of those from the dustbin, pulled a couple serials down from Kindle Vella, and so on. Now the total is up to 20 books in 15 months. During 2024 I’ll be releasing a book every 3 weeks.
The first was released on October 2nd, 2023 and it’s 27 Thoughts on Life Omnibus of the 27 Thoughts on Life four book series. I’ll be releasing 27 Thoughts on Being a Villain in November, and 27 Thoughts on Cigar Smoking in December. Then in January new books will be released every three weeks. So, expect more newsletters as they’re sent into the world!
Those will be followed by a Portals (Fantasy) Omnibus of books 1, 2, & 3, (Beliefs & Black Magics, Demons & Daggers, Mystics & Monoliths) and then books 5 & 6, (Towers & Trolls and Legions & Liches) and perhaps a second omnibus in the 2nd half of 2024. Book 4, Sigils & Satyrs is also available.
That will be followed by The Traveller’s Inn 4 book series (and maybe an omnibus later), The Steampunk Cycle Omnibus, The (tentatively named) Chronicles of Steam, The Savage Files (cyberpunk monster hunter in the world of Silver & Smith), Steeling for Survival (apocalyptic scifi), and then four new Silver & Smith books; Silver & Smith and the Quantum Serpent, Silver & Smith and the Lost City of Zerzura, Silver & Smith and the Grimm Grimoire (working title), and Silver & Smith and the Disc of Entropy.
Regarding Social Media Support
As I mentioned above, if you have a favorite social media, click this link and follow me on your preferred choice. If everyone likes and/or shares one post a month (and types a brief sentence or two along with it) then others will follow and boost my work that way!
That is how you can help! After self-publishing for ten years (as of August 2023) I decided I need to improve my marketing game. So, I am asking for help where people already are.
Need Beta Readers
If you have interest in beta reading any of my work, let me know. Just reply to this email and I will get it setup. The only thing you’d have to do is read a book and give me feedback about your thoughts and feelings. If you spot a missing period or a misspelling, that would help also.
Audiobook Giveaway
Do you enjoy audiobooks? I have a handful currently published and have some free download codes to send out. If you’d like a free audiobook, reply to this email and let me know and I’ll send one to you. If you review it and send me the link of the review, I’ll send you another one of your choice.
What I’m Reading
When I’m not writing, editing, or making podcasts I’m usually reading via audiobook (while doing something else). In the past few months I’ve read Dungeon Crawler Carl: A LitRPG/Gamelit Adventure by Matt Dinniman, The Tommyknockers by Stephen King, and The Fireman by Joe Hill. Enjoyed them all. The first was a fun romp that I used to just relax and grin. The other two were darker and more drawn out, as can be expected from Stephen and his son, Joe.
I’m currently enjoying Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1 by J.K. Rowling, Honor Among Thieves: Star Wars Legends: Empire and Rebellion, Book 2 by James S. A. Corey , and A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne. The first is light and easy for when I’m just relaxing, the second is for when I’m doing something else but want a little entertainment also. The third is for when I need something a little more gritty and in depth to get lost in. I really enjoy Kevin’s writing and Luke’s narration.
Cat Update & Personal Life
So our ten cats had their first cold. All of them, not a single one was spared. But most are over it, and only two or three are still trying to get over the remaining dregs of the virus. Other than that, they’re all fat and happy and purring up a storm.
On a personal note, the whole 12 in 12 in 24 thing… well, there’s more to it. I plan to lose 24 pounds between now and the end of 2024. This will be added to my workout schedule which is three or four days a week. I may even begin streaming the workouts. This should alleviate many of my health issues, and make me feel and look great to boot!
I also plan to learn the 12 bar blues on my harmonica using Tomlin Harmonica School to help me get there!
The bottom line is…I’m going all out in 2024. I’ve been doing this for ten years now and don’t even make enough to cover a utility bill each month from writing. After doing tons of research on how to be a successful self-published author (and there’s a lot of information out there) I decided I can’t do some of the things required. The part I can’t do is spend a lot of time rubbing elbows and chatting with folks online on social media and groups. I just don’t have enough social energy in me for that.
But I can quick publish many things, write a lot of things, post to my own social media about what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, and that sort of thing. I can do the work without stopping. I can be a machine when it comes to writing because I am passionate about it and love what I’m doing.
If you could help me by sharing an occasional post on social media, or clicking like, or perhaps comment once in a while…it would help immensely. If you do get a book (even the free one mentioned in the beginning of this newsletter), leave a review. Tell someone about it. Just share your thoughts about in some form. I sure would appreciate it.
Support Another Writer
Something else I’d like to let you know about is a fellow writer, Sapha Burnell. She’s and award winning published author of comparative mythology, ethics of futurist technology, cyberpunk, poetry, and mythpunk.
If you’d like another incredible author to add to your TBR (to be red) pile, check out her work on her website, and subscribe to her newsletter!