It’s a huge milestone for me and the series!

You can read the full review on the Kirkus website.

What, what is a Kirkus Review?

The three trade publications that cover books are Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist and Kirkus Reviews. 

If you take a look at the jackets of popular mainstream books, you’ll likely see one or all three shops mentioned in the blurbs trying to convince you to buy the book.

In marketing land, that kind of endorsement is called social proof. It helps you take a chance on something new because someone else has told you it’s good.

For example, here on the right is the front matter for Leigh Bardugo’s Crooked Kingdom. As you can see, her book designer has prominently referenced feedback from both Booklist and Kirkus Reviews: 

As an indie author, getting the attention of industry players is never a sure thing.

I don’t have a publisher or agent to vouch for me in those circles.  

How do you get a Kirkus Review?

I submitted Chaos Calling for a review back in October. Participation is pay-to-play (and in USD, too, owww), but that only opens the door.

There’s no guarantee the reviewer who receives the .pdf copy you send will like the book. And their submission process is very blunt about that to manage your expectations. You also aren’t told who the reviewer is and the post is anonymous.

I waited six weeks to hear back. I did my best not to think about it during that time. Having the insanity of the holidays to prepare for made that easy.

What did the Chaos Calling Kirkus Review say?

When I got the review back on December 27, I was thrilled. They didn’t give it a Kirkus star (the highest blessing), but they did say some damn nice things.

I can’t tell you how gratifying it was to see the reviewer comment on the character development and pacing.

I worked so hard with my beta readers and editorial team to get those aspects of the book right. It feels amazing to see them singled out here as strengths of the reading experience.

Read the whole review here.

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The ebook edition of my first novel launches one week from today.

I started this project in September 2014. I remember standing in my living room, on fire with excitement about my idea and eager to share it with others.

Publishing early was extremely tempting. Since I wrote three substantial drafts on Wattpad with my phone, I had a direct pathway to readers literally at my fingertips. At times, the temptation to see what people thought was acute.

So, I resisted the impulse. Two of my advisors cautioned that nothing worth doing happens overnight, however much we wish it otherwise.

Good launches run on strong plans

I’ve worked in the tech sector for over 10 years. In that time, I’ve launched a lot of products. Good launches run on strong plans, and writing and launching a book is no different.

My work back plan for this launch has over 300 lines. I’ve currently completed about 188 of them.

From the beginning, focusing on Toronto has been central to my messaging strategy. Fantasy’s a competitive genre. I wrote Chaos Calling primarily because it was the story I wanted to read. It just makes sense to emphasize the aspects that make it somewhat unique in the contemporary/urban fantasy landscape.

As a young reader, I remember my surprise when I opened The Summer Tree, the first volume in The Fionavar Tapestry. It begins inside Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto. I’d never read a fantasy novel set in my city, though Fionavar is more of a portal story (people from here travel to the magical world where they encounter fantastical elements).

The Xenthian Cycle flips the portal dynamic around. Instead of going elsewhere, the fantastical comes to us in all our 2014 glory. The juxtaposition, combined with irrevocable changes for my characters, puts their experience alongside the Marvel or DC films.

I’m fascinated with how extraordinary circumstances can transform ordinary people. I hope you will be, too.

My goals for the final trailer for Chaos Calling

My working theory is that the seed audience for this story will come from people who live in Toronto (or Sudbury or Vancouver or elsewhere in Canada). I’m betting they’ll feel a similar delight in seeing their world enter the fantastic. My second theory is that urban audiences the world over will find echoes to their stories in the specificities of mine.

With that in mind, I hope you enjoy the final trailer for Chaos Calling. Next week can’t come fast enough.

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Why did you make a book trailer?

First, book trailers have been a necessary part of marketing new novels and series for the last decade. Video has been king ever since YouTube secured its place behind Google as the second biggest search engine on the planet.

Second, factor in the growing emphasis on video-based content in online search results and one thing was clear. Making a book trailer was going to be key piece in my marketing plan.

Fortunately, my work in marketing means I know a lot of people who are excellent videographers and producers.

Sim and I have worked together on video projects in the past. Working with them, I got someone who a) understood my vibe and b) produced something way cooler than I would have made alone.

Production Process

Chaos Calling: Book 1 of The Xenthian Cycle entered production in November 2021. When I submitted the manuscript for copy edit, Wes and I were already working on the cover. I knew a book trailer was high on my list of marketing assets.

So, I approached Sim about their availability and booked the project. Freelancers often book up months ahead, which means it’s important to plan ahead of your deadlines.

After booking Sim’s time, I wrote a creative brief. Not familiar with the term? It’s a marketing document that explains the goals, intent, deliverables and budget of a project. I sent it to Sim with a loose script, some suggestions for photography, and some music I listened to when I was writing.

I LOVE the song they picked, which we agreed was perfect during the first round of feedback. Sim gave me several other options, but this one was a clear winner. Thematically, gives just the right amount of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. (To this day, it’s one of the best action movies I’ve ever seen.) Our track has more drums than synthesizers, however, making it more 2022 than Brad Fiedel’s score.

Adjusting the photos, pacing, storytelling and graphics took two rounds of feedback.

I’m so happy with the result!

Are you a TikTok person?

No problem.

You can watch the mobile version of the Chaos Calling book trailer on my Tiktok profile. Go check it out!

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