You probably aren’t wondering that, but I’m going to tell you anyway!
Unless I get complaints/suggestions, you’re lookin’ at the cover 
Patrick: A prequel is finished in its rough draft form. Rather than the 50,000 word Novella I had in mind, Patrick clocks in at around 101,000 words. Some of those might get trimmed, but even so it’s going to be a full length novel. For those who have no idea what that means, it’s roughly the same length as Ties of Blood. Not only is it longer than it was supposed to be, but it is darker – lots darker. I knew it would be sad, but I had no idea how much *&^% poor Patrick went through. I’ll be interested to see who lies it and who doesn’t.
Anyway, the first two beta readers have it in their grubby hands – well, er, on their computers, and then it is off to the next round. (I’ve had one volunteer so far. Who else is brave enough?) I hope to have it through beta stages by the end of September and finish my last edits in October, which means it should be published by Halloween. Yay!
snazzy symbol
While Patrick is floating through beta readers, I’ll spend September finishing book 5: Heart of the Raven. I hope to send it to betas in October and have it back by mid November to do all the last rewrites and final rounds of editing. If all goes well it should be published in December or January. (this means I won’t be around much in September)
(You may notice that the collection covers lack my usual artwork. Call it an experiment. I have a bet going about it, and we’ll see who wins.)
Meanwhile, in September I will release two Amaranthine Special Edition collections. Book one will feature Shades of Gray & Legacy of Ghosts, while book 2 will have Ties of Blood & Ashes of Deceit. Both will have bonus content.
“Did you say bonus content?”
Yes, I did. Why should DVDs have all the fun? With that in mind, book one has The Lost Chapters from Legacy of Ghosts, a Character Art Gallery/Bios, the special short How to Silence a Human (written for Love in the Kitchen: Flash Fiction & Recipes collection) and links to downloadable content (three wallpapers and a print yourself bookmarker set). Book two has The Amaranthine Character Interviews, the Executioner Character Gallery/Bios, The Legend of Lilith short and links to downloadable content (two bookmarker sets and three more wallpapers).
The question is:
What bonus content do YOU want to see?
Is there some other piece of randomness that I’ve generated over the years that you’d like to have in one, tidy place? Or is there something new you think it needs? As always, looking forward to your feedback!
Roger
/ August 30, 2012I do so love your covers. Do you have either the first, or a random chapter of the next novel in all preceding ones? That’s something I’m thinking of doing.
Joleene Naylor
/ August 31, 2012That’s a good idea Roger! i don’t usually do that as I haven;t got the next book done when I first publish, but you know, now that i do I could add it in…
Roger
/ August 31, 2012I like the idea because everyone can say the next one is ready. But if you can prove it, there’s always more chance of them coming back, or waiting for a few months.
sharonstogner
/ August 30, 2012I like the Patrick cover! how come there is no beta in my mailbox?
Joleene Naylor
/ August 31, 2012Well, the first beta readers are really my mom and brother. I just tried to make them sound cooler :p Consider yourself conscripted!
Juli Hoffman
/ September 2, 2012I was wondering the same thing as Sharon! Too funny! Yeah, family gets first dibs.
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012Their job is to catch all the typos that make me look like a second grader, LOL!
Renee Wickiser
/ August 30, 2012I’d love to be brave enough to be a Beta reader!
. I’m so excited for the books to come out. Loved everyone of them and can’t wait for these two to get released.
Joleene Naylor
/ August 31, 2012Thanks, Renee! Send me an email at Joleene@JoleeneNaylor.com
Ruth Ann Nordin
/ August 30, 2012Wow! You’re doing Patrick’s book! Yay! Even if it is sad and dark (and will probably make me cry), I’m interested to finding out what lead up to the first book in your series.
You have some great extra ideas for those books. It’s amazing how much you can add. All I can think of is what you already have in there: extra scenes. If I ever pulled a series together, I think I’d go with extra scenes, interviews with characters, and maybe bios. I don’t know how to do most of the stuff you do. You amaze me.
Joleene Naylor
/ August 31, 2012I kept thinking of you as I was writing it, as you were the only one to stand up for poor Patrick for a long time
I got soppy eyed in a couple of scenes. My main trouble was *knowing* how it was going to end 
He–hee, it’s a prolific love of blogging that has led to all this extra stuff
DM Yates
/ August 31, 2012Wow, I love these covers. And I’m excited about them having extras in. What a great idea. I can’t wait to see what ‘extras’ there are. I also can’t wait to read Patrick’s story. I love your works! Of course, I volunteer to beta read.
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012If Chris EVER gets done with it then it will be in your inbox for sure! Thanks so much!!
amy owen
/ August 31, 2012Love the cover!! I’d be happy to be a beta reader if you need more
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012check your email :p
Juli Hoffman
/ September 2, 2012Cover looks great. Bonus material… Hmm… I might have to mull this over and get back to ya.
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012Thanks! Steve suggested author interview stuff but I don’t know if people care about the author so much as the story. I admit I never do but then maybe I am not the right kind of fan…
Sue
/ September 2, 2012I actually relaxed iwth some writing today. So? I can try and do a beta read…. I have another who I’ll be doing it for
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012ugh is wordpress will ever let me actually reply! (may be windsream to be fair.)
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012oh nice. that’s the comment that finally goes through.
If you’re sure you’ve got time then be happy to have you
Thanks! 
Reena Jacobs
/ September 3, 2012I love the new covers. They’re not as unique as your usual style. Your usual style I can cruise through books and say, “That’s a Naylor book.” On the other hand, the new style is beautiful. They have very traditional looks to them. It’s like an editor of a big name house went to the marketing department and said, “Look. My hottest writer just finished her latest masterpiece. Make her shine.” The new look is definitely something I’d expect to sit alongside the big names.
Joleene Naylor
/ September 3, 2012heh-heh, that’s exactly what the bet is over – author branding on covers vs general genre branding. I’m going to be interested to see the results. We figure that though it is “special” edition all the “bonus” material is actually free elsewhere so should not make a major impact past a handful of people. I just love experiments. Oh, and bets…. (this is why I don’t go to casinos :p)