Book Release: Adventure on Nemesis Mountain

It's here!! My book is now available on Amazon, as an e-book!

What the story is about, in one sentence:
When nature-loving Emilio and athletic Hans get lost in the forest during a fifth grade field trip, they have no choice but to put their differences aside to survive the harsh wilderness.

This is my first novel, intended for middle grade children (eight to twelve years old). I enjoyed writing it (and revising it over and over again), and I learned so much in the process, but now it's time to let go and release it to the world! *deep breath* I feel like I'm holding out my baby for the world to see, like in The Lion King.

I would like to offer a free copy to one of my blog readers! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck!

And now a little more about the book, and about me.

Back Cover
Emilio would rather eat a slimy worm than miss the fifth grade field trip. Nemesis Mountain must be full of rare leaf specimens and bugs for his collection. Besides, he needs a break from the playground and Hans’s nonstop teasing. His excitement is squashed when he gets lost in the woods with his worst enemy.

Alone in the forest, the two boys battle to survive the harsh wilderness, facing challenges that will change their lives forever.

About the Author
I am originally from Canada but now reside in New Jersey. I have a degree in computer programming, but my life took an unexpected turn and I ended up writing stories and articles instead of computer programs. Now I use every spare minute to write children’s novels and to help other writers succeed.

My three children have been the inspiration behind many of my short stories, over forty in total. My flash fiction story, Paradoxical Neighbor, has been published by Nelson Education in a book for 10th graders, Nelson Literacy 10.

I have a certificate in copyediting, I moderate a critique group for children's writers, and I am the editor at UK Children's Publishing.

Links
Twitter: @anniemcmahon20
Blog: anniemcmahon.net
Goodreads: Annie McMahon

Click here to purchase a copy!

Book Cover Reveal and My Reasons for Self-publishing

I have decided to self-publish the MG novel I've been working on for the past few years, Adventure on Nemesis Mountain (previously called Meredith Mountain Miracle).

It's been an exciting journey, from the time I wrote the story in a short story format (2000 words) to expanding it into a very short novel with ten chapters (7000 words) to making it what it is now, a full-length middle grade novel (21,000 words), with the help of valuable feedback from my amazing online critique group, which I'll talk about in another post.

My reasons for deciding to self-publish are numerous:

1. Although I've expanded it a lot, my novel is still a bit short compared to the average MG novel. The word count for MG novels is normally 25,000 to 40,000 words (or longer for fantasy novels). I could expand it again, but I feel the story is just right the way it is now.

2. I went through the process of submitting it to agents, and I've only received form rejection letters so far. There is a lot of competition out there, especially for children's novels. I could keep submitting it and possibly find an agent, but then I would still have to revise it some more to make it perfect for publication, based on today's market. (See #3).

3. After several years of working on this novel, I feel that it's time to move on and write something new, using the new skills I've developed over the years. I knew very little about writing when I wrote this novel, and I learned a lot along the way, by revising it numerous times. Still, some parts could use more editing and a stronger voice, but there comes a time when revising it again may make it worse. It's time to let go.

4. I want to have the experience of going through the self-publishing process, so that I can help other authors with self-publishing their novels. This is a skill I can add to my list. Now I know how to format an e-book, what options are available for self-publishing, and how the whole process works. 

5. Self-publishing is such an exciting journey! I'm enjoying every step of the process. And seeing my own book on my Kindle is quite a thrill! A finished product, at last! Must I say more?

6. I want to make my book available for my friends and relatives to read, and for children who may gain something by reading my book. I wrote it for them. Who knows what impact one book can have on a child's life? I love the idea that my book will be read by children everywhere.

7. I will officially be a published author, as of August 20!!! How cool is that!!!

And now for the wonderful cover my friend Dawné Dominique made for me! She is a professional cover art designer, and the cover she made captures the essence of my story perfectly. See for yourself!

Isn't it beautiful? I can't stop smiling when I look at it. It makes the whole thing more real. My book! Getting published! *butterflies*

My novel will be available on Amazon on August 20. That's in less than two weeks from now!