Considering a Beta release . . .

Okay, I'm down to the annoying Finishing Touches stage of the process, but I've still got outstanding art, maps, and corrections coming in.  The book itself is more or less done, and I'm pretty confident that the changes coming will be minor, Maybe this is the wrong crowd to seriously consider me postponing release until it's "perfect", but as it stands I have a book essentially ready to publish.

I know y'all are used to me doing a beta release, and most of you have come to see my grammatical and editorial errors in an affectionate light - I'd like to think it was part of the unique charm of witnessing the growth of a fantasy world, but that could be a complete rationalization.  I've improved my craft and used two outstanding folks to improve the final quality of the prose.  It's my ultimate goal to get to the point where I release a ready-to-read book up to professional publishing standards.

Thing is, I'm a self-publisher, and while my professional aspirations are high, this format is an emerging art.  I'm willing to take advantage of the ephemeral nature of electrons to release a Beta product and correct and augment it for a hard release come July 1.  During that beta release, Enchanter would be available for sale only, at a slightly reduced price ($4.99 as opposed to $5.99) and would not be eligble for KDP Select borrowing until July 1.

That's just under two weeks of having to suffer an imperfect product.  I don't think that's unreasonable, and anyone who wants to wait for the finished result can do so.  There's also risk in that.  The book might suck, and early reviews could tank it.

So what do you think?  And just to give you something else to stare at, here's the basic plan of Minalan's new gatehouse.  It's unfinished, yet, as the final exterior hasn't been designed, but this is what the structure is planned to look like, peeking over the shoulder of Sevendor Castle.


Comments

  1. Please release it!! Not matter what nitpicks I might have, the overall rating for this series is quite high for me personally and I am positive that people going to buy this would feel the same!! Also you have a big disclaimer on this - so I think there would be very minimal negative impact, if any.

    PS: Did I say I cant wait??!!

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  2. BY THE FLAME THAT BURNITH BRIGHT, RELEASE IT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. I for one wouldnt mind different versions. Usually read your books several times (with others in between ofc) and would be great to be able to discover new details when im not in as big of a need to know what happens next

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  4. I am addicted to Spellmonger Series. Publish Enchanter now! Please... ;) Like Baen eArc version on webscription. I give five star on Amazon. I swear.

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  5. Id like a beta version but.....
    If you feel it will hurt sales then don't do it.

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  6. So if you release the beta I buy the 4.99 and when the products finished my beta version gets updated? if so I will buy the beta.

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    1. I think that you just have to delete your old copy, and re-import the copy from the Kindle store. I'll let everyone know when to do that. Honestly, it's just a few maps and corrections, but I hate to make y'all wait.

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    2. Deleting and redownloading doesn't work.

      On your dashboard for kdp, Terry is a support button (contact us, I think)
      Just send a support ticket asking Amazon to Push the updated version to the customers and we will all get the little 'an update is available for this title' thing.

      I've had to do it for my own book when the formatting went seriously screwy. Doesn't take long. Generally hear from them within a few hours, depending on the time of day you contact them.

      Ps, I would be happy with the Beta.

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    3. Found the link.
      https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A1RGGPBKDR1BPZ
      The seven days thing is their hard limit, it never takes that long.

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    4. Should also be a setting users can activate to automaticly update books, in manage content and devices i think. as long as author update properly etc ofc

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    5. Yeah, that setting works in concert with the author side of things. We do our part, and Terry does his, and it all works fine.

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    6. If you 'don't get the updated content on the user side, you can reach out to customer support there as well to ask that they push the updated books to you. I've had to do that most of the time as Auto Update has never worked for me on the iPad.

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  7. I'd happily get it now. If you mention in the description that this is the beta release and that in two weeks the final version will be out with additional maps and content then I don't see how people could complain about any errata. The series is awesome, the tale is gripping and unless you are a member of the spelling and grammar police no one will mind. So I say go for it :D

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  8. Ehh. I can pay for both version. Maps and art will have been fine, but story is essence. Even a few grammatical errors doesn't matter (but I am Polish).

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  9. I have read all the Spellmonger books published so far, at least twice. I thing it would be great to so the 'now and then' versions, if just to see some of the end development of the book. If we find any minor errors, what would be the best way to let you know?

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    Replies
    1. email them to me. I'll attend to them all in the Great Rectification, after Book 9.

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  10. So when do you think the beta will be up for sale? i just cant wait anymore! PLEASE!!!!!

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  11. I wouldn't mind if you released it as a beta.

    Thanks.

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  12. I always give you 5 stars and you can do wrong by me it seems. I don't know how many trolls you have on the amazon reviews though...if you think that it might hurt sales over all then just wait. This is your lively hood. as much as I hate waiting I will if you will be able to keep writing.

    If you have not had trolls on those reviews who hurt your sales by giving low stars for spelling, then release the KRAKEN!

    BTW awesome illustration. thank you for that!

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  13. Please release it! I love this series.

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  14. By the way Terry, it looks to me like blueprint of Gate Tower have one floor more than on the picture (but I may be wrong). I suppose that You may correcting ad infinitum. Ergo perfection is enemy of good... ;)

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    1. Isn't one of those 'floors' the battlement with the crenulations?

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    2. True... My error. I look on blueprint in straight order - parallel to right side picture - not in reversal order.

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  17. Release it. I'd love to read it tonight.

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  18. Please release it!

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  19. please release the book torturing us for another 12 days is not nice at all !!

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  20. Beta version would be fine. Release it ASAP please.

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  21. My only issue with updating existing releases is when they go and change the covers for no noiticible reason.

    I don't know if I am alone on this but I tend to use remember the covers of the books I have read and when I go looking for said book, that is what i am looking for.

    When they change covers for some marketing or what not I always end up looking and thinking "Wow, when did I get this new book that I have not read yet. . ."

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  22. Would love... just LOVE to read it tonight.

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  23. since i ignored the spellingmistakes so far ^^
    you need a quick spell(ing)-monger... get it?

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  24. and i would LOVE to have the book my saturday (working for 20min the hour and the rest is doing nothing and getting paid for it - everybody sees where this is going ^-)

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  25. Sigh... if it gets published today, I'll NEVER get any work down tomorrow (I'll be up all night reading.). :)

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  26. This is torture! Violation of Geneva Convention! ;)

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  27. Replies
    1. My wife says if I don't and pull my ass out of Sevendor after six months of writing, straight, we're gonna have a talk.

      So yeah. Pushed the button. Don't know how long it will take, but it is done.

      May Briga have mercy on this humble offering . . .

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    2. Awesome!! Thanks Terry, will go stalk amazon now.

      Hopefully you get some rest, catch up with your family and fix the transmission. I am sorry to hear about that.

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    3. Thank All Gods! :) And Author of course! :)

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    4. Terry, bump the cost of the book and buy your wife a gift from your fans! (a thank your from us for putting up with it).

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  29. how does one bug amazon to go faster and put the book online ?

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  30. I would guess that it will be up within the next 2-4 hours, based on past experience.
    Terry will likely be the last to know that it is up.

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  31. Kindle book shelf says it's "publishing'.

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    1. Terry is the gate house latterly the gate house of the future Sevendor castle(don't like the word castle). I imagine people are going to be a very worried if the gatehouse is already bigger that the current castle.

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  32. I bought your first versions of the kindle books without the maps and drawings.
    I cant get them to update no matter what, but kindle has a retrograde update feature for revisioned books. No big deal but if you could look into it y'know..
    Keep the awesome sauce coming Terry!

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  33. Replies
    1. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZYTUKVG?redirect=true&ref_=docs-os-doi_0

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    2. I got mine! My 4 day work week is over, is that perfect timing or what?

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  34. Bought it. Can't wait to start reading.

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  35. Bought mine. Can't wait to start reading it.

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  36. Ok... Finished it an hour or so ago... I think the appropriate expression is...
    "ISHI's TITS!!!"

    I need to take a day for this to soak in and then go back and re-read before I can be more coherent that that.

    What I CAN say is, the wait for Enchanter was a WARM UP to the wait for the continuation of THIS plotline.

    I mean... "ISHI's TITS!!!"

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, George. Just the reaction I was looking for.

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  37. Just finished re-reading the book. It was fantastic - and its still in Beta.

    Anyone who is complaining about the spelling errors are nitpicking. There's a few mistakes with line spacing and occasionally the wrong name is used in place of another but this is stunningly compelling work and I know any issues will be ironed out very quickly.

    A++. Gave the book 5 stars on Amazon. Can't wait for your next book. Its been such a good year for new releases from my favourite authors and a big part is thanks to Terry. The background and world building is amazing. And the potential for side stories is now as immense as those stories - such as Hawkmaiden - are entertaining.

    Big thumbs up Terry. You should be very very satisfied and pround and the work you have accomplished so far.

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  38. Just asking where are the rules on 'rushes' and a corresponding board and pieces

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  39. Sounds intriguing... guess I'll have to make my own tjough I hate sharing that across so many users.

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