From Aspiring Author to Published

PERSONAL NOTES: I wrote this folks trying to reminisce the moments before I finally uploaded my first novel. From being aspiring to a published author, I looked back the days when I began writing Prince of Nepal. It took for almost a year. I began writing the first draft in September last year. (Bear with me folks, the word "I" was used a dozen times on this PERSONAL NOTES. It's too personal, that's why :-)).

It was a typical Wednesday afternoon in Dallas, Texas when I met my formatting consultant. We planned to do the uploading of my first novella Prince of Nepal in one of the Starbucks outlets nearby but ended up doing it in her house. That's the beauty of the digital world, you're not supposed to do it in one particular place.

We had to double check everything first. To me it was really an exciting moment. Though I was really impatient to wait for another hour, I had no options but  to deal with my emotions. My formatting consultant was so accommodating. She showed her compassion while checking every single aspect of our self-publishing venture. 

We ran out of time. A couple of hours had past and I had to leave the place. I was so upset learning the lessons to avoid for the uploading/launching of another one next week, the Asian Boy and of course for the upcoming novellas and short stories in the near future. My consultant had to go to a chess class in Irving. She promised me she would verify everything that night before the upload.

On my way back home, traffic was building up along US Highway 75 heading north. It added to my agony, hoping everything would be running smoothly. And I was wrong. There's a lot of things to catch up. Lots of lessons learned.

I spent the whole night worrying too much about the outcome. It took the following day before we finally uploaded Prince of Nepal on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble NOOK and Smashwords. I had to wait for hours in full excitement. When I checked my email, I saw Amazon sent a warm message of congratulating me that my novel was on sale now. Then Smashwords, then the Barnes and Noble had sent the same information. I sent a personal message to my formatting consultant thanking her for such a wonderful effort.

After confirming that my humble work was on these major e-book sellers, I closed my eyes and said a little prayer and thanked the Big Boss for the opportunity. And thanked America for the opportunity.

I knew from the very start that the journey had just begun. The ride could be bumpy ahead of me and expected to face great challenges along the way. I began collaborating with my fellow writers, aspiring and published authors in the social media long time before my first novella was launched. I learned a lot from them. Hugh Howey, Patrice Fitzgerald, John Ward and a lot more were among those people I admired most. I haven't read their work yet but idolized them for sharing their experience and thoughts of being Indie writers. As of writing this blog, yours truly is an active member to more than a dozen writing communities on Google+, and lucky enough to have thousands of people that can rely on to give my readers superb entertainment. My work is not perfect, but time, energy and passion were devoted writing it. 

Hugh Howey was right when he advised his fellow Indie authors that self-publishing is a marathon. Yes, indeed. And joining a marathon is not associated with recklessness and short cuts 
to attain our goals. Our endeavor is associated with compassion. A compassion that will benefit the important creatures living on earth, our valued readers.

I know, it's a long way to go.


SYNOPSIS LOUNGE proudly presents... ( Sorry folks, I'm too biased, it's all about me again...and it's not even my birthday yet.. he he!)

PRINCE OF NEPAL
By Raf Echanova

Ever since Rajendra Kumar Shah consulted a Jyotishi from New Delhi, India, he was amazed by what the old man told him. He begins a chaotic journey dealing with the ghosts of his past. Now that he inherits the presidency from his late father, a vicious and power hungry member of his inner circle plots against him.

Rajendra, longing to reunite with the love of his life, his destiny brings him to America where he is about to find more than what he is looking for. As all his troubles go along with him, his quest is not as simple as we might think. It's a matter of life and death. Will he survive the storm? Will he find the love of his life? Will he save his country?

Miguelito De Asis, the protagonist on forthcoming novella Asian Boy, will hit the road and gearing up to be the next darling of the New Adult Genre. The e-book cover will be released real soon.

His titillating adventure will bring us to his chaotic world. A young widow, a feisty fashionista and a girl next door will share their wits in order to be with him.

ASIAN BOY will be on sale next week on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble NOOK and Smashwords.