• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Philippa Ballantine - Author

Award-winning Author of fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk

  • About
    • Contact Page
  • Works
    • The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
    • Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven
    • Serial Fiction
    • The Books of the Order
    • The Chronicles of Art
    • The Shifted World
    • Anthologies and Stand Alones
    • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • My Patreon
  • Pip’s Shop
  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Blog

Professional writer: Day 1

Today is indeed the first day of the rest of my life- well hopefully.

I said good-bye to the library world yesterday. It was tough because I have spent 13 years in the corporate library world working with some fabulous people. I had a wonderful morning tea, talked a lot, then packed up my things, hugged my now ex-workmates, and headed off into the world. A professional writer.

Today is all about packing bags, and getting the house ready for my brother. Yes, once again I am hitting America, with meetings, a convention, and plenty of time with friends. It’s a good way to start. I took my two Siberians to the cattery and was rewarded with two of the grumpiest cat stares.

Then I came home to this… my first professional narration work. Another string to my bow, and I am very excited. So I present to you the erotic science fiction audio…

Spaceport Security by Shelby Morgen

A dark corner of a seedy bar on the edge of nowhere. A woman who’s seen too much. A man who moves through the shadows with the grace of a cat.

She’s on his tail, and he’s determined to find out why. Once he might have been flattered to have her checking out his ass. Now he knows women are dangerous. And far, far too expensive.

But Commander Kala Decoltéir always gets her man, and she wants the space pirate they call Dancer — no matter who — or what — he is. This time, Dancer has no escape.

If you want to support what I do, here’s a chance. If erotica’s not your thing, don’t worry, there are other ways to do it- and more opportunities to come.

Baby birds revealed

About a month ago I asked you about paying for podcast fiction. It might not have been a perfect survey, but it has certainly given me some ideas going forward.

Here are the results

1. I would find this method for generating revenue from podcast fiction acceptable

Short sponsored advertised 96.55%
Small payment per episode 37.93%
I would never pay for a podcast 3.45%

People could choose more than one option here

2. Considering sponsored advertising in a podcast- how long would be too long?

Anything under a minute 65.17%
Under 30 seconds 34.83%

3. Considering paying for a podcast- what is the maximum you would pay?

49c per episode 39.39%
99c 36.90%
I would never pay! 23.81%

4. Would you buy a copy of the book to support the author if they are giving you free podcasts?

Definitely 47.73%
Possibly 47.73%
It’s not part of the contract 4.55%

5. If I was going to pay for podcast fiction I would most likely pay for the following genres

Anything as long as it’s good 69.41%
Science fiction 18.82%
Fantasy 8.24%
Erotica 3.53%

6. If I was paying for podcast fiction I most likely prefer

Serialized novel 77.65%
Custom made stories 11.76%
Short stories 10.59%

Diversity is king

If I haven’t said it explicitly I’ll say it here: I have officially handed in my notice at the corporate library. I will be a freewheeling writer and podcaster for the next 8 months or so at least. If things go well this may be a permanent lifestyle change, if not… well I will go back to the library world- which has always been a happy and comfortable environment for me.

A lot of things have led to this choice, but chief among them is how many opportunities and challenges I’ve had flying at my head. I don’t want to miss out on any of them, and it had got to the stage where I was doing as much as I could, while still working at a day job- even only a four day a week one. I knew that with more thing looming ahead I was simply not going to be able to manage both.

I want Geist to succeed, and I want to grab as many of these chances as I can. So I had to make a scary choice- and like the baby bird I keep mentioning I knew that I had to choose to jump.

I am sure some people are thinking I am all kinds of crazy doing this, so I feel like I should explain and clarify my position on doing it. I think I can make it work. I think I can make it work with diversity.

Geist is a book I am committed too- one I love and want to do well, but it is not the sole star I am hitching my wagon too. I am exploring all avenues to generate income. Right now, writing novels alone will not support me. (Especially with Geist about five months away from hitting the bookshelves)

So here’s the plan. Diversity in all things. It’s the whole don’t put your eggs in one basket parable.

Writing

I have Geist and the sequel Spectre coming out with Ace books.

I have also just sent over the final edits on for this anthology. I hope to do more work like this; for anthologies and blogs. I love writing non-fiction because it means I can use my librarian fu as well as my writing fu. If you have a paying gig then contact me pip@pjballantine.com

Audio

I will be bringing out a variety of content from my Erotica a la Carte table; high quality versions of the stories on CD and a print books.

I have just signed a contract to narrate a novella with a producer of audio content. This is the start of what I hope will be a decent revenue stream for me. If you have audio requirements that an experienced voice talent with a kiwi accent could fill, then please I am open to offers. (again pip@pjballantine.com)

All info and samples are here

So yes, times are hard, and writers have be more flexible and more diversified than ever before, however there is still opportunity out there.

Buckle up baby-bird– it’s time to fly!

Citizen writer

Every now and then I like to do a roundup of where I’ve been on the net.

View from Valhalla– keep an eye on this blog- Odin is doing a series of these ‘How I Do It’ from all kinds of podcast authors. I look forward to reading answers from others.

Great Hites – the prompt ‘Nature’s Wrath’. Jeffrey Hite has a great writing podcast- where prompts are presented, stories are written and votes are taken. It was my pleasure to be a guest host.

Don’t forget I will be at Balticon at the end of May signing books, doing panels and helping at the DragonMoon Press booth.

And if you want to keep more up to date I have a Group Page on Facebook. Once a month a do a round up of my writing life there.

A dream made real

Writing is hard- make not bones about that. There’s the long hours, the editing, the rejections.. it’s not something that is for the faint of heart. Yet it can also be tremendously rewarding. Then those are those moments which shine.

Geist_500Today I had one of those moments. It came when I opened an email from my editor at Ace. It is the cover for Geist coming out with Ace in October/November this year.

To say I was happy was an understatement. Not only has the artist Jason Chan done a wonderful job. Here is Sorcha just as I imagined her – and the little details are perfectly correct- right down to her eye colour.

And there is the Rossin (who is so much more than a big ole pussy cat) the right size and shape. Also the description and the font are just wonderful.

Covers are always a dice roll, because rarely do authors get to have any input. I have heard some horror stories, but the folks at Ace and Jason have done me and Geist proud.

If you would like to pre-order Geist then the link is available under Store on this site. It is an affliate link, so gives me a few extra pennies when you purchase.

As I have intimated; from May this year writing and voicework will be my sole means of income. That may seem somewhat crazy, but it has reached the point where I need to concentrate on writing and marketing- making the most of the opportunities that have been given to me.

Bard on your internet radio dial

Erotica a la carte has been lots of fun on Radio Dentata– and so it was lovely to be approached by Sean Owens of IRFT Celtic Radio about bringing Chasing the Bard to their station.

My celtic roots run deep with ancestors both Scottish and Irish. My two trips to Scotland were some of the most wonderful experiences- I felt a deep sense of home that left me in tears when I had to go.

Chasing the Bard fits nicely into their schedule and hopefully will bring some new listeners to the podcast.

So tune in for the Bard on 7th of March

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Primary Sidebar