However… this has to be addressed. Burden of the Soul is the first book in a series four books deep. I get what readers are used to, because it’s part of why I withdrew Burden of the Soul from submission and went out on my own. Majority of the first books in series are stand alones. Then the author got a whopping advance from a publisher (to basically buy readers, not necessarily that more story existed) and in some cases the author finagled their way into a series within the first three chapters of book 2, and we all overlook that fact. We’re used to investing in Book 1, because that’s what publishers do. Publishers don’t invest in a series, generally, until book 2 brings with it a massive audience from book 1.

Fact.

The Burden series never played that way in my head, and any time I tried to rewrite the ending to appease the industry the characters retreated, angry at me. I asked them and myself a number of times, “Why?” And the only answer I ever got was, “Because life doesn’t always offer you that.”

This story has always been a series from the beginning… from the first word written. I know exactly how it ends. It’s something that plays out in my mind and dreams like a haunting. Clara, our main character, doesn’t get to have everything wrapped up in book 1 because (and this is the best I can understand it) if Clara was a real person… it wouldn’t be. It rarely is.

There’s some reviews out there asking if I ran out of ink or if I ran out of steam… Absolutely not. I stopped where the characters told me to stop for now. Some things aren’t resolved because, honestly, they won’t be until book 4… the end. Because in life majority of the closure we get is endings. So it makes me wonder, and I just texted this to my editor because it’s an interesting question…

I wonder if life offered us clean closures for a penny if it would add up to $0.99 before we die.

One of my favorite writers in all of history is Kate Chopin, specifically for her short story The Story of an Hour. If you haven’t read it, you must. Unless you are someone who needs something resolved and clear at the end. I will not spoil this short story for you, but let me say the ending is the most brilliant I have ever read of any story ever. Because it’s open. Because there’s room for interpretation. Because it gives you room to talk.

I also ask for my coffee with room for milk, so that says something about me.

There are a number of works of creative art that have taken this route with endings of late. Two come to mind immediately… The Sopranos and Lost. Both upset a number of loyal viewers because the endings weren’t delivered with a shiny bow making it all make sense and thus ending conversation beyond “Well my favorite part was..” No, they inspired conversations for those willing to start with, “What I THINK happened…”

Think. Such an interesting term.

Where does the light come from? Is it good or bad? What do you think?

So who does she choose? Devin or Dave? Who do you think?

Is she really going to save everyone or is she really there to join Rex? What do you think?

When you venture into such an endeavor as writing a book, a song, a film, or performing a play, monologue or creating a painting, sculpture, mural, etc., you know there is no pleasing everyone. All you can do is stay true to the story that’s in your mind beating at the inside of your skull to get out. But I am surprised at the number of people who are saying “I loved it until the end, I hated the end. Therefore I hated all of it.”

What I think you’re saying is you hated that the pages ran out for book 1, because the story has not ended. Granted, readers are used to a certain formula in general for what they read. My characters and therefore I am doing something different. It’s not going to be for everyone, but what I hope some walk away with is some sense of comfort that someone else out there recognizes that closure doesn’t come necessarily when it’s all tied up nicely in a bow the way we want. It comes when it comes. So we accept, and we wait. Until that moment, no matter what it is, when our only healthy choice is to accept again.

For those willing to invest in these characters and their ongoing story, I swear to you it will be joyous and heartbreaking and complicated and exciting and everything the good things in life are.

For those who wanted a clean cut, cookie cutter ending where everything is explained and wrapped up succinctly… email me your name and address. I’ll send you a personalized check for $0.99.

(Most popular search phrases for my blog)

Is there a sequel to Burden of the Soul?

Burden of the Soul sequel?

Burden of the Soul second book?

High school nerds (unrelated, but a fun tid bit)

YES. The second book in this series (thus far untitled) will be ready to hit your eager little palms later this year. There are four books total in this series definitely, or will be. Oh the BURDEN (get it?) of being one of the first to discover a great new read. But what an honor as well… each of you is helping me build this. Your feedback and reviews both inspire me and challenge me to be better.

I promise there will be more, and the story will be resolved as much as real life allows for each of us. (which means sometimes not… those the breaks, sweetheart!) But yes… there are more coming. I do know how this story ends, and one day you will too.

All in good time. But for now, thank you for sticking with me and these characters. I promise you it will be worth it.

I want to know who the first readers… my foundation for this series… if you’re proud to be one of the first readers and therefore discoverers of Burden of the Soul, comment with your name or shoot me an email at kate@abitofgrace.com with your name. Those names collected in the next few weeks will be included in the “Give thanks” section of book 2!

It’s the final full weekend of free, with one more random surprise day to come, but that likely will be unscheduled until suddenly I feel the impulse to do it (or not do it), because 10% of all profits for Burden of the Soul will go to support Alternatives for Girls in Detroit (A non-profit that helps homeless and at-risk teenage women), so we gotta get these suckers selling!

So remember to help us get this book out in as many hands as possible this weekend so that those people read it, love it and help spread the word too!

Feels good to be #1! Thank you to everyone who helped put us there, and all the people that will keep us there! There are more promo days to come, but remember… 10% of all profits will go to benefit Alternatives for Girls, a non-profit serving homeless female teens and at-risk female teens (and families!) in Detroit. That’s worth $0.99. So download today, or buy it in paperback!

Just wanted to send out a really big thank you to all of you who have supported the book and are new to the club! Remember to let us know what you think of it when you’re done. It’s a different publishing world now, resembling more of an “American Idol” structure where the readers (viewers) are the new gatekeepers that choose what works succeed, and which flop. Remember to spread the word and share reviews on the Amazon page or Goodreads page. Share the link on Facebook and let your friends know!

I can’t wait to hear what you guys think!

I needed a jolt recently to refocus, so I cancelled my cable because I really shouldn’t be watching reruns of Friends when there are more books to write. I need to be reading more and getting rid of television as an easy “check out” every evening was the first thing I thought of. Now… in one weekend alone over 12,000 Kindle copies of Burden of the Soul have been downloaded. No longer is it a question of “Can I disappoint a few hundred?” Now it’s the matter of, “I can’t disappoint thousands.”

This at at the end of a trying weekend. Break ups are tough in general, but this one is particularly difficult. Although one of the last things he said to me during the break up was, “I’m still your biggest fan.” During moments when I was discouraged enough to quit, he reminded me I had to keep going. He supported my writing and this series completely. Not only that, he changed my brake light when it was burnt out. Then the other one. He woke up first when Maddie needed to go out at 6am so I wouldn’t have to. He made me laugh… a lot. And told me I was beautiful, wonderful, amazing every chance he got. He’s a rare find… a wonderful man with a heart bigger than any doubt your past can muster.

But sometimes things don’t work out the way you want, you hope… you try everything in your will to make work. Sometimes it’s just a square peg and a round hole. We parted ways on Friday, he leaving still committed to being my biggest fan and my bones aching for him while falling to sleep. But the muses are a funny lot… in this experience I understand a character more, what is going through his mind, what happened in his past and the challenges he faces now as I write the second book.

The Muses are a funny lot… remember that.

As a new dog owner I’ve been watching a lot of The Dog Whisperer and he always says, “You get the dog you need, not the dog you want.” And it’s true, I can say confidently. Maddie has taught me a lot, but the same can be said about the Muses. You don’t necessarily get the life you want as a writer, you get the life you need in order to write.

It’s been a long road but I embrace this heart ache and I embrace this triumph having faith that I’m exactly where I need to be right now as the writer I am and will become. And I hope that my heart lessons that come through in these characters will touch a piece of your heart… and maybe teach you lessons that can be learned from example, and not through mistakes.

13,1117 downloads, and commitments.

The Burden of the Soul Kindle eBook edition will be absolutely free to download this weekend beginning tonight at midnight and ending at 11:59pm on Sunday night. If you don’t have a Kindle – it’s cool, baby! Just download the free Kindle app to your phone, tablet or computer and you’ll be set to go!

Help us get the word out and tell any and all of your friends that the next big Young Adult/New Adult literary hit is free to nab this weekend! Post it to Facebook, Tweet it, Pinterest it… messenger pigeon. Anything you can do to help us out. We want to get it into as many hands as possible to get people reading and talking.

Piracy is real and something I now have to worry about.

The post about Burden of the Soul was in a forum asking for people to upload scanned copies of books in whole or part. There were requests for a number of authors including Leigh Fallon (her first book came out not long ago and it’s already being pirated) along with authors who have been around for a while. It’s flattering any time you come across someone who wants to read your book, but it’s also a bit disturbing. It feels like a violation. Something I worked on for so long, put hours and hours into months after months for over a year… someone wants it for free, not as a gift or a prize… they just want it for free and are willing to take it, steal it and deal it.

I responded to the forum post explaining copyright and offering to lend my own copy of Burden of the Soul to prevent any uploading. I’m fully aware it’s not going to stop the threat of piracy. This person could probably turn around and still do it. (Though I hope they’ll recognize this as an act of kindness and return it with one.)

Here’s my thoughts on this, and I’ll try to keep it short: Piracy of any kind is wrong. I realize people assume since Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling are rich now, all writers must be! Untrue. So very, very, very untrue. I have yet to make a red cent off of my book even though copies are selling! Why? Because this all takes money and I’m doing it on my own. So when you steal my book and put it on the Web for people to read, you (as a reader) are spitting on the process. You are telling writers, “I’m never going to give a shit about you or the work you put into this… I’m entitled to this entertainment because I want it and therefore I take it.”

I’m guessing people that use piracy don’t see it like this, and don’t realize this is the message they’re sending. They see it as, “Hey, cool… a book!” However, just as publishers and authors and agents are all chirping about how the industry is changing in this digital landscape, readers need to be aware of their new role developing in this: gatekeepers. With independents gaining speed, it’s up to you to spread the word about books you like and champion them so they succeed. Champion the authors you like so they’re able to continue writing. It’s the American Idol approach to literature now, folks… and it’s all up to readers.

So what kind of reader are you going to be?

I’m a writer now because I started as a passionate reader. I believe in my gut there are those that love literature, reading and writing enough to be its champions now when it needs them the most. To pump this developing/transitioning industry with good energy… with Good Karma.

I’m never going to be able to convert everyone in the world to recognizing the negative influence and basic “wrongness” of piracy enough that they don’t act on bottom line impulses, but I can try and rally the new Gatekeepers around combating it with Good Karma. So that’s why I’m starting Karma Copies for Burden of the Soul. I’m going to start with three paperback copies. Each will be sent anywhere in the United States to start, and the person who kicks it off will be a complete stranger to me. All that I ask is that the recipient first sign the book when they are done and then pass it on to someone else they would recommend the read to. Then that person does the same. And so on… and so on… and so on.

We’ll keep track of these three Karma Copies and their journeys… like in grade school with pins in a map!

So how do we decide who the lucky three are? You tell me. If you love reading… if you LOVE Young Adult Literature… if you’re DYING to read Burden of the Soul, post on the Facebook wall, comment here, send me a Tweet, email me personally and state your case. I need to trust that you are the perfect person to start the Karma Copy’s journey in the right way and commit to passing it on.

Lets embrace this new way of doing things and pump some Good Karma into the mix! Start stating your case!

I must start by just saying WOW!!!!!  I read a lot of paranormal and urban fantasy type books, but have never read a book quite like Burden of the Soul!!

Kate Grace has created a fantastic and very well fleshed out world of Guardians and Fallen Souls, engaged in an epic battle of good versus evil.  The heroine in this story is very easy to relate to,  and is a step up from many of the annoying and whiny YA heroines I have read lately.

I for one can NOT wait for book two in this series!!!  Grab a copy of  Burden of the Soul today, and be prepared to get lost in an amazing story!!!

Gypsy Mama Logs is hosting a massive giveaway right now where readers can win books or even a Kindle Fire! Head on over there to enter for your chance to win, comment on her Burden of the Soul entry and help us continue to spread the word by sharing her review through Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

As with everything, there are two catches:

Catch #1: In order to be added to the Lineup, you must share Burden of the Soul with your friends or readers on the Web. There’s a variety of things you can share… the official Burden of the Soul book trailer, the Amazon link for Burden of the Soul in paperback or Burden of the Soul ebook (only $0.99), the Burden of the Soul Facebook Page, the Burden of the Soul Goodreads page or any post about Burden of the Soul from this blog. So many options! So so so MANY! A stipulation with this Catch is you have to let us know you posted (the whole “tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it” theory) so that we know you did. Comment here, tag @KateGraceAuthor or @ABitofGraceLLC on Twitter, repost on the Burden of the Soul Facebook wall OR email me right at kate@abitofgrace.com with your post so we can make sure you get added to the drawing.

And we’ll be using “Dueling Piano Bar” rules to this game… the more you post (the bigger the bill you throw up at the piano) the farther up the Lineup you move!

Catch #2: If you BORROW Kate’s personal digital copy of Burden of the Soul, then she wants to for sure hear what you think and she’s not above bugging you in email to get your thoughts. All of those who borrow from the Kate Grace Lending Library Lineup will be asked to submit to a quick interview via email about their reactions to the book. Good or bad, it will go up. I want to hear your honest reactions, you the readers. All interviews will be conducted through email unless you feel like chatting on the phone or Skype, in which case we can do that.

And the fine print: My digital version is a Kindle eBook so you have to have a Kindle, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Computer, …basically ANYTHING because the Kindle app is completely free. In order to receive Kate Grace’s copy for the 14-day lending period, you will have to first download the completely free app.

So… get in the Lineup… POST… TAG (notify us that you did)…READ… and SPREAD THE WORD!

Happy Posting!