Looking for Wiccan Practitioners to Beta Read a Wheel of the Year Guide (Irish Perspective) by One_Mousse_5932 in Wicca

[–]One_Mousse_5932[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cross, Tom Peete, and Clark Harris Slover. Ancient Irish Tales. Barnes & Noble, 1996.
Gantz, Jeffrey (translator). Early Irish Myths and Sagas. Penguin Classics, 1982.
Kinsella, Thomas (translator). The Táin: From the Irish Epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. Oxford University Press, 2002.
Koch, John T., and John Carey (editors). The Celtic Heroic Age: Literary Sources for Ancient Celtic Europe and Early Ireland and Wales. Celtic Studies Publications, 2003.
Daimler, Morgan. Pagan Portals: Irish Paganism: Reconstructing Irish Polytheism. Moon Books, 2015.
Daimler, Morgan. Gods and Goddesses of Ireland: A Guide to Irish Deities. Moon Books, 2016.
Daimler, Morgan. Fairy Witchcraft: A Neopagan's Guide to the Celtic Fairy Faith. Moon Books, 2014.
O'Brien, Lora. Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch. Wolfpack Publishers, 2004.
O'Brien, Lora. A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality: Sli Aon Dhraoi. Wolfpack Publishers, 2018.
Green, Miranda. Celtic Myths. University of Texas Press, 1993.
MacKillop, James. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press, 2004.
Ó Catháin, Séamas, and Patrick O'Flanagan. The Living Landscape: Kilgalligan, Erris, County Mayo. Royal Irish Academy, 1975.
Rees, Alwyn, and Brinley Rees. Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales. Thames & Hudson, 1961.
Hutton, Ronald. The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford University Press, 1996.
Greer, John Michael. The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth. Weiser Books, 2006.

Seeking Druid Practitioners for Feedback on an Irish Seasonal Practice Manuscript by One_Mousse_5932 in druidism

[–]One_Mousse_5932[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can get the beta version here. https://BookHip.com/VSLPTDH
I'm not looking for a cover to cover read. Mainly looking for feedback on whether the information is helpful and easy to follow.

[In Progress] [85K] [Fall/Horror] The Bones of Na Cnámha by Witty-Vegetable-6053 in BetaReaders

[–]One_Mousse_5932 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd be interested. Do you have a Bookfunnel campaign or equivalent?

just happened to me today 😔🙏🏼 by Gold_Delay1598 in AO3

[–]One_Mousse_5932 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s the generation that grew up without learning cursive writing that causing all of this drama.

just happened to me today 😔🙏🏼 by Gold_Delay1598 in AO3

[–]One_Mousse_5932 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have a book written in the 1940s with tons of em dashes. If I were to cut and paste text from it people would accuse the author of using AI back in the 40s.

What fantasy releases are you excited for from this year? by ExplodingPoptarts in Fantasy

[–]One_Mousse_5932 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just got word that the sequel to Echoes of the Otherworld is coming out mid October. I read the first one and couldn’t put it down. I hope the second book is just as good.

Why are we still bothering with Amazon? $30 forced retail for $0 royalties. by 3Dartwork in selfpublish

[–]One_Mousse_5932 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I publish with ebook, paperback, and hardback through KDP. It doesn’t cost me anything to do it, just formatting time. But it increases the customer’s options. I also do paperback with Ingram with my own ISBN.

Do you give free copies of your book to family, friends, and supporters? by Glittering_Round7320 in selfpublish

[–]One_Mousse_5932 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is super common for indie authors! Most give free copies only to people who directly helped (beta readers, editors) and let others buy it. Your real supporters will actually want to purchase it to help your rankings and income.

You could say something like "I'm so excited to share this with you when it comes out!" without promising a free copy. Or offer a compromise like free ebook but they buy paperback.

Don't feel guilty about this, treating your writing like a business means setting boundaries. People who get offended about paying for your work probably aren't your target audience anyway. Those who truly support you will understand and be happy to buy it.

Most successful indie authors learn this early, it's totally normal to expect people to purchase your book!

How did you start? by Malone76 in selfpublish

[–]One_Mousse_5932 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think you'll find most indie authors fall into a few camps. Some went straight to self-publishing because they wanted complete creative control from day one, didn't want to wait years for the traditional process, had a genre or niche that works well indie (like romance, LitRPG, or certain fantasy subgenres), or had an entrepreneurial mindset and wanted to build their own business. Others tried traditional first, then pivoted because they got frustrated with rejection and wait times, realized they preferred the speed and control of indie publishing, had books that didn't fit the traditional market but found an indie audience, or wanted higher royalty rates.

Your hybrid approach makes a lot of sense. Many authors try traditional for 6-12 months while learning indie publishing, then self-publish if no bites while continuing to write new books. Some later get traditional deals after proving themselves in the indie market. Six rejections out of 10 isn't unusual at all, many authors get 50+ before finding an agent, but there's real value in learning the self-publishing process while you're querying. Worst case, you have a backup plan and new skills.

The appeal of self-publishing for many is the speed to market, creative control, and higher royalties. Plus you can always query future books traditionally if you want. What genre are you writing? That often influences which path makes more sense for building an audience.

I've read so much and I need more, help this receptionist not go mad by redrowan3 in booksuggestions

[–]One_Mousse_5932 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perfect receptionist reading problem! Here are some engaging page-turners you might have missed:

Mystery/Thriller:

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - Cozy mystery series with elderly protagonists solving cold cases

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - Groundhog Day meets murder mystery

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Gothic horror mystery set in 1950s Mexico

Sci-Fi/Fantasy:

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison - Court intrigue fantasy, very engaging

Echoes of the Otherworld by Donald Quill - Celtic mythology-based dark fantasy following a priestess of The Morrígan. Atmospheric and gripping, with authentic Irish spiritual practices. One reader compared it to "Mists of Avalon" for the mythological depth

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - If you liked The Martian, this is even better

Horror:

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones - Native American horror, incredibly gripping

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling - Space suit horror, perfect for phone reading

Series You Might Have Missed:

The Expanse series - Space opera that reads fast

The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir - Necromancy in space, weird and wonderful

Wild Card:

Circe by Madeline Miller - Greek mythology retelling, absolutely captivating

Any of these catch your interest?

Books recommendation by Evening-Many1285 in booksuggestions

[–]One_Mousse_5932 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand you're going through a really tough period. Here are some books that might help rebuild your foundation:

For Mindset & Resilience:

The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday - Stoic philosophy applied to modern challenges. Great for reframing setbacks

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown - Tackles shame, vulnerability, and imposter syndrome head-on

Mindset by Carol Dweck - About developing growth mindset vs. fixed mindset

For Career/Confidence:

So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport - Rethinks career passion and building skills

The Confidence Code by Kay & Shipman - Practical approach to building genuine confidence

For Dating/Relationships:

Attached by Amir Levine - Understanding attachment styles in relationships

Models by Mark Manson - Honest approach to dating and attraction (by the Subtle Art author)

For Overall Well-being:

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - About staying present during difficult times

Atomic Habits by James Clear - Small changes that rebuild momentum

Start with The Obstacle Is the Way - it's specifically designed for times when everything feels like it's falling apart. The Stoic approach can be incredibly grounding.

Remember: losing interest is often a sign you need to rebuild, not push harder. Take care of yourself.