Some Updates on the Book Front

Some things have changed over here in Watcherland – most of these things won’t affect my current readers, but just in case here’s the skinny . . .

I’ve heard rumors that Watcher’s ending has changed? So do I have to buy it again?

The short answer is yes the ending has changed, but no, you don’t have to buy it again. I’ve asked Amazon to update any previous versions of the book that were purchased prior to February 2016. It does mean that you’ll probably have to re-sync your kindle for the update to take effect. If you were gifted a copy, I don’t know what Amazon’s rules are on that. This is new territory for me; however, if you have any problems at all, don’t hesitate to drop me an email and I’ll sort you out.

Is Watcher really free?

I thought long and hard about it, and given the size of Watcher and the fact that it’s been awhile since it’s been available, I decided that the best thing to do is give it away. As a relatively new indie author trying to build a fan base, I felt like it was the right choice. If you enjoyed it then please, please, pretty please with sugar on top, write a positive review. It really does make a difference!

Oh my god . . . is Protector finally available?

Yes, yes, and double yes. Watcher and Protector are both available for Kindle and iBooks. There are links all over the place to get them both.

So I binge read Watcher and Protector and I want more of The Shining Ones. When’s Betrayer out? Gimme, gimme, gimme!

I both love you and am terrified by you. Seriously, I have night sweats over this very thing. I’m not going to lie – I’m not the quickest writer on the planet. I’m not George RR Martin bad, but I can’t whack ’em out like the romance authors either.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say late summer 2016, but don’t freak out on me please if that timeline slips. Life gets in the way of my writing sometimes, but I would love to have this whole series finished this year so I can move onto my next world.

I really am going to try! Honest!

What is this short story non-sense? Are you taking time out from The Shining Ones?

Yes and no. Yes, I’m writing short stories. No I’m not taking time out from The Shining Ones.

Any author appearances this year?

Unlikely. There are a couple of cons that I’d like to go to, but I’ve got a very sick dog at home and two books to finish. So I’m mostly home-bound.

I’m interested in doing a guest blog swap/interview/Q&A, etc? How do I contact you?

Best way to get me is email me directly at shawnee@shawneesmall.com. You can also PM message via Facebook or Twitter. I’m on social media most days in one form or another.

Some Stuff About Tybee Island

Tybee island as depicted in The Shining Ones series is a real place. I love Tybee Island and it had me long before Miley Cyrus and John Mellencamp showed up.

There are some things you should know about Tybee. It’s as you’d expect a pretty small place. It’s less than 3 miles wide and it’s year around population is less than 4,000. In the peak season it probably swells to 3-4x that and it appears to be place where lots of UGAers go for spring break (unfortunately). It’s got a north-side and a south-side, well, and a middle, too, but really you’re either a North beach or South beach sort of person. I am a South Beach girl through and through if Chatham Ave, ala Adam Walker’s fictitious home, is any indicator.

Tybee is beautiful all year around, but my favorite time is winter. No mosquitoes, no tourists. Pristine beach walks on a cold winter morning in barefeet freezing with not a single soul to see you. Awe inspiring stuff. I like that I can walk pretty much anywhere on Tybee as well. I used to be a fifteen minute walk tops from Tybrissa. AJ’s was even closer. A beer on a Friday night watching the waves and open container laws. Why can’t we all have open container laws?

Anyhow other things you should know. It has a historic lighthouse that’s been re-built three times, it used to have a railway link to the mainland, and it was a significant outpost during the Civil War. BUT my favorite thing is the Tybee Bomb, of course. You can wiki it here. Part of Birdie’s personality was born out of this story so it holds a dear place in my heart.

Tybee in Watcher – True of False

It’s going to come up so I thought I’d go ahead and get some of this out of the way for those readers who really want to know. It’s like a mini-FAQ about Tybee from a Watcher viewpoint.

PADDY’S IS A REAL PLACE ON TYBEE – FALSE

(Paddy’s is based on a specific restaurant *loosely* and I really mean that. If you go there, you’ll find it, but don’t go looking for Poe or Haylee Jane. They aren’t there. Trust me.)

THE RIPTIDES ON TYBEE ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE – TRUE

Ellie’s death and other events on Tybee’s beaches could theoretically happen. There have been several instances where people have walked out onto the tidal flats during a low tide only to get stranded when the tide rushes back in. Think Mont St Michel. It’s real and it’s scary and that’s why we have the Coast Guard.

ADAM’S HOUSE IS ON CHATHAM AVE – TRUE AND FALSE

(Yes, Chatham Avenue exists and yes, there is a house on Chatham Ave that is the basis for Adam’s very cool beach house. However, the actual setting is made up. Anyone who’s ever been up Chatham knows that there’s no forest there that would hide a house. It’s pretty open, but pretty nonetheless. Sorry. You can’t buy Adam’s house.)

POESY’S TRAILER AND PENNY’S HOUSE EXISTS – TRUE

I’d rather not say where it is to protect the privacy of the people who live there. It exists enough said.

TYBEE POLICE STATION IS SMALL – TRUE

Yep. And they do actually converge somewhere for lunch most days. Or at least they used to. If you pop in to this particular restaurant, you’ll find them at their usual table.