By the end of April 2023, I found myself mired in a profound depression. Things inside my head and heart were bad. While some of the depression was due to the 3000 mile gap separating me from the bulk of my family, a good portion was related to the business side of being a writer and self-published author.
I'll let you in on something. Once I dug deep, I discovered that one of the contributing factors to my overall state-of-being was this feeling of being disconnected from my readers.
Then, out of the blue, I received an email from a reader named Sandra that shook me to my core. She asked me to re-read my earliest fantasy books – the Magic series and the Sister Witches series – and go back to those settings and characters because she really wanted to know what was happening within the worlds and communities I’d created.
Turns out, I wanted to know, too. Which made me cry some more. Because characters - even the villainous ones - become like family members, and I'd left many of them behind.
Serendipity, one of my favorite goddesses, stepped in to offer a possible solution: the new subscription/serialization platform called Ream, where I can post stories chapter by chapter/episode by episode – AND where I can better engage with my readers. So, I joined. Set up my page and my subscription tiers. And made a plan. Here’s a partial look at what I’m up to now:
1. Create a short bio for each character, major and minor, starting with the Magic series. I'll make that list available on Ream and on my website, and readers can let me know who they want to hear more about :)
2. Revise each of the 4 MAGIC series books so that each one has a "no adult content" version where scenes of sexual intimacy take place behind closed doors. Why? Because readers have asked for that option, and up until now, I didn't have the time to make that happen. These additional versions will be available on Ream, and for purchase on my website exclusively.
3. Revise The Goddess & the Woodsman. I've never revised a book once it was published, so why now? Because my trusted "review reader" read every single review and let me know a couple of critique points were brought up consistently. So, I'm going to roll up my sleeves and go back into the manuscript with that feedback in mind.
I know it will take time and effort to grow my readership Ream, and that’s okay. I’m not going to stop writing – I’ve decided to step off the hamster wheel of write/publish/promote/write/publish/promote while giving my readers a place to savor and be involved with my stories as they are being written.
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So Coralie, how does Ream work and why should I support you on this new platform?
Ream is a paid subscription service, much like Patreon or Radish. Start by visiting my page and reading about each tier, then pick the tier that best suits your readerly needs. Once you sign up, you receive immediate access to your tier’s benefits. You also get direct access to me by commenting on the posts and asking me questions. You can also chat with other readers, even influence which characters I’ll write about next!
Calliope’s Kitchen – $5/month. I will be writing the fourth book in the series and posting 1-3 chapters every month.
Calliope’s Kitchen (no adult content) – $5/month. I will be writing the fourth book in the series and posting 1-3 chapters every month. These chapters will be free of adult content.
The Goddesses’ Lounge – $5/month. First, I will be revising The Goddess & the Woodsman and posting those chapters until the book is complete. Then, I will post chapters from other books in the series that I am currently working on.
The Goddesses’ Lounge (no adult content) – $5/month. First, I will be revising The Goddess & the Woodsman and posting those chapters until the book is complete. Then, I will post chapters from other books in the series that I am currently working on. These chapters will be free of adult content.
Immortals & Magicals – $9/month. Everything that’s in both Calliope’s Kitchen AND The Goddess’ Lounge.
Immortals & Magicals (no adult content) – $9/month. Everything that’s in both Calliope’s Kitchen AND The Goddess’ Lounge. These chapters will be free of adult content.
