Direct sales: audiobooks

In case you missed my other announcements, I’m deep into a social media/email break/embargo while I get Conduit 1 off to my editor (aka SFG) for story editing. The first (full) draft is finished – yay! And the book is currently 100,099 words. Which is a little insane because I’m only four chapters into a smoothing pass and the editor hasn’t even weighed in!

The book/series/universe is getting slightly overhauled as I smooth it all and will be even more so when the editor makes his suggestions (which typically call for more words), so it is unlikely that I will continue posting a weekly Teaser Tuesday. I will, as always, share excerpts, but all my focus will now be on getting Conduit 1 ready for publication while I write Conduit 1.5 (selected shorts/novelettes) and brainstorm Conduit 2.

Thank you so, so much for your encouragement with this new story – new universe!! I hope to have the complete book in your hands as soon as possible (depending on the editor’s and the cover designer’s schedules). I’ll post a preorder as soon as I can guarantee publication.

And there will be art and character illustrations and other fun extras. I hope to get those all commissioned over the next month or two.

Farmers’ Market dahlias and Conduit notebooks (purple ink for Zaya!)

I still have some bookplates available, but only for a few more days. Again, other than the still pending Kickstarter fulfillment, it is unlikely I will offer autographed paperbacks for the rest of 2023. I have some fun plans for 2024 (🤞 ) but those will revolve around curated book boxes.

I will be focusing on digital/downloadable giveaways for the rest of 2023, and into 2024.

Fun! Fun!

Bookplates now available!

Updated: Sept 18, 2023

I’ve made some MCD bookplates available in my store. Whoot! Newly designed by Amanda at Eternal Geekery! This is the best way, if you collect paperbacks or even if you want one for your eReader case, to get an autograph from me. Shipping is crazy expensive from Canada (and printing is also much higher now) and bookplates are the most economical way for me to ‘sign’ your books!

Also, I apologize in advance, the printing/shipping costs were slightly higher than I anticipated so the price is slightly higher than I mentioned when I conducted my poll a couple of weeks ago. Also, I’m not offering sets of ten because that went over the 30g allowable for the lowest stamp price (it was close but I don’t want to risk it). If you want more than five, you’ll have to buy another set separately (sorry again!) so I don’t have to fuss figuring out how to combine shipping.

The letter mail rate works out to $0.92 CDN, $1.30 USA, and $2.71 INT. It should be added to your total based on your address. As long as I have that all properly sorted on my end. 😂

Click here for one bookplate: as pictured above, plus a random postcard and a sticker to prettify the envelope. $6 CDN + letter mail.

Click here for five bookplates: as pictured above, plus a random postcard and a sticker to prettify the envelope. $14 CDN + letter mail

Note: same caveats as always: please remember I’m not a store. I’ve simplified the shipping, etc, as much as possible. For example: set shipping rates, no tracking, no extra sets, no special orders. Please remember I’m trying to write as much as possible and these are just meant to be fun extras. The prices are set in Canadian currency (which means some of you are getting a great deal!) so a different charge might show up on your credit card statement. Also, I believe there is a 5.5%+ $0.30 charge for certain payment methods.

Fun! Fun!

Note: If you get a postcard you already have, another reader might be interested in swapping. I suggest starting a thread in the reader-run Facebook Group.

Note 2: If you’re missing audiobooks to complete your Adept Universe collection, you can find links to all those currently available on this blog post (scroll down).

Note 3: For USA and UK readers, all the available T-shirt designs can be found under the T-shirts and Other Deadly Merch tab (at the top of the page or click the previous link). As well as ready-to-download logos for anyone who wants to print their own merch!

If you have other Merch design requests, let me know in the comments!

Look at me being all good about promoting myself! 😂😂😂

F.A.Q: Dim Sum

An email from Barb that is currently sitting unanswered in my inbox (sorry, Barb!) has prompted this addition to my slowly growing FAQ posts. And yes, if you haven’t yet noticed over on my various social platforms, I freaking adore dim sum. I adore it so much that I wrote it into Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic (Dowser 6). (Click here to read the scene/excerpt).

Vancouver, BC has a number of great dim sum places, and the menus all differ slightly, but here are some of my and Michael’s favs.

MCD’s Dim Sum Must Haves:

Steamed prawn dumplings
Streamed scallop dumplings (hard to get/find these days?)
Pan-fried shrimp and chive or green onion dumplings (some have pork!)
Deep fried squid
Deep fried garlic shrimp spring rolls
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) in garlic (it’s normally served with oyster sauce)
Sauce: a touch of soy sauce

Michael’s Dim Sum picks:

Sticky Rice Wrap (often with pork, scallop, and shrimp)
Pan-fried Taro Root Cake
BBQ pork pastry
Anything new of the menu that looks tasty (MJH is always will to try everything once).
Sauces: mustard and/or hot sauce (add a touch to a dumpling, etc).

Other traditional picks (not necessarily personal favs but options) (Also MCD doesn’t eat pork):

Rice rolls (all different kinds. A little ‘starchy’ but MCD will order prawns or scallops)
Baked BBQ Pork Buns
Pork/shrimp Shu Mai (dumplings)
Veggie Dumplings
Bean Curd rolls (usually they have pork, but I’ll order if I can find a veggie or seafood option).

What have I missed? What are your go-to dim sum dishes?

To bookplate or not to bookplate

I just spent way, way too much time trying to post this poll over in my reader-run Facebook group, just to never have it show up. Sigh. Anyway! Reposting it here instead. – MCD

***

Wow! MCD posting a poll?! How unusual??!! 😂

I’ve finally hired a new graphic designer/PA (Amanda from Eternal Geekery)(Whoot!) and the first thing she is working on for me (us?) is a new bookplate design – an author bookplate, not a series-specific bookplate.

So, therefore, I’ll be ordering more bookplates (yes, finally). I vaguely remember (sorry) that some of you wanted more bookplates? But it’s also possible I’ve scratched that itch with the recent giveaways?! Anyway! If you would vote below, then I’ll know if I need to order more or less. Thank you!

I think I usually charge approx. $1 a bookplate, plus a random postcard (so the bookplates don’t get damaged in the mail). I use the letter mail rate for shipping.

Voting below does NOT obligate you to purchase. I’m just looking for raw total numbers.

Direct Sales: Dowser 4, 5, and 6 audiobooks

You can now grab the second trilogy of Dowser Series audiobooks directly through MCD (via BookFunnel), narrated by Erin Moon. YAY!

I’ve also listed ALL the audiobooks available directly from me at the bottom of this post. And if you missed why I’m implementing direct sales with audiobooks, please read this blog post.

Dowser Series audiobooks (via MCD):

Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic (Dowser 4), narrated by Erin Moon. Length 8.04. $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 4 DIRECT FROM MCD

Maps, Artifacts, and Other Arcane Magic (Dowser 5), narrated by Erin Moon. Length 8.26. $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 5 DIRECT FROM MCD

Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic (Dowser 6), narrated by Erin Moon. Length 10.50. $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 6 DIRECT FROM MCD

All available audiobooks via MCD

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1)

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2)

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic (Dowser 3)

I See Me (Oracle 1)

I See You (Oracle 2)

I See Us (Oracle 3)

Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1)

Tangled Echoes (Reconstructionist 2)

Unleashing Echoes (Reconstructionist 3)

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0)

Demons & DNA (Amplifier 1)

Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2)

Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3)

Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4)

Instincts and Impostors (Amplifier 5)

Recon Misson: Bee (Amplifier 5.5)

Endings and Empathy (Amplifier 6)

Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0)

Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1)

Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2)

Coming soon:

Dowser 7, 8, and 9 – October 2023

MCD’s Coconut Macaroons, etc

[Updated July 23, 8:41 am – added missing cooking times to recipe]

I just had virtual coffee (via the SFWA auction I mentioned some time ago, like a month ago? Who knows? What is time??) with Anetia and Barb (my two other readers were MIA 😰), and for fun, I typed up the recipe of the treat I was eating during our chat. I thought I’d share the recipe here as well (also as kind of an apology for being a bit ‘sensitive’ over on Facebook yesterday).

How’s that for a lot of brackets stuffed into one paragraph??!! (Do you think I can manage a few more?) 😜

Without further ado, here are my treats this weekend:

Pictured: chocolate coconut macaroons and coconut almond macaroons.

DOWNLOAD COCONUT MACAROON PDF

[If you have the time] Use the leftover yokes for mousse, ice cream, or lemon curd!

And I totally think Jade would whip these tasties up for Cake in Cup!!

MCD Direct Sales: Amplifier Series audiobooks

Now you can grab all the Amplifier Series audiobooks directly through MCD (via BookFunnel), including the brand new Endings and Empathy (Amplifier 6). YAY!

If you missed why I’m implementing direct sales with audiobooks, please read this blog post.

Amplifier Series audiobooks (via MCD):

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) and Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5), narrated by Tia Rider. Length 6.2 hours. $5CDN

Cover design by: Gene Mollica Studios Model: Devon Ericksen Narrator: Tia Rider

BUY AMPLIFIER 0 DIRECT FROM MCD

Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1), narrated by Tia Rider. Length 8.23 hours. $10CDN

BUY AMPLIFIER 1 DIRECT FROM MCD

Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2), narrated by Tia Rider. Length 10.21 hours. $10CDN

Cover design by: Gene Mollica Studios Models: Devon Ericksen and Jonathan Cannaux Narrator: Tia Rider

BUY AMPLIFIER 2 DIRECT FROM MCD

Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3), narrated by Tia Rider. Length 9.26 hours. $10CDN

BUY AMPLIFIER 3 DIRECT FROM MCD

Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4), including The Music Box (Amplifier 4.5) narrated by Tia Rider. Length 12.47 hours. $10CDN

BUY AMPLIFIER 4 DIRECT FROM MCD

Instincts and Impostors (Amplifier 5), narrated by Tia Rider. Length 9.13 hours. $10CDN

BUY AMPLIFIER 5 DIRECT FROM MCD

Recon Mission: Bee (Amplifier 5.5), narrated by Siiri Scott. Length 2.29 hours. $2.50CDN

BUY AMPLIFIER 5.5 DIRECT FROM MCD

Endings and Empathy (Amplifier 6), narrated by Tia Rider. Length 9.87 hours. $10CDN

BUY AMPLIFIER 6 DIRECT FROM MCD

All available audiobooks via MCD

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1)

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2)

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic (Dowser 3)

I See Me (Oracle 1)

I See You (Oracle 2)

I See Us (Oracle 3)

Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1)

Tangled Echoes (Reconstructionist 2)

Unleashing Echoes (Reconstructionist 3)

Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0)

Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1)

Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2)

Coming soon:

Dowser 4, 5, and 6 – July 2023

Dowser 7, 8, and 9 – October 2023

Admin note: automated taxes on direct sales

Just a quick note (sorry for cluttering your inbox), but I enabled ‘automated taxes’ for the direct digital products (i.e. logos and audiobooks) that I’m selling via the Made By Meghan site this morning. There is a threshold in Canada for collecting GST so I hadn’t bothered (though the Kickstarter last January is likely going to be factored into that, so I really should have been charging GST for all of 2023 – yikes). I thought there was a threshold for VAT as well, but – and I will confirm this with my accountant – apparently, that has changed and every single sale (digital goods or not) is now subject to VAT in the EU. Sigh.

The store is now set up to calculate the taxes (GST/VAT, etc) automatically based on YOUR location. It is added to the cost, so for example, an audiobook will now be $10CDN+applicable tax but clearly shown/noted in the cart. Still all Canadian currency, so the final charge on your credit card, etc, will show the price after the exchange rate is applied.

Anyway, just an FYI! I still have to sort all my end out with the accountant (and where/how I’m going to find time to keep track of it all), but I spent hours last night and this morning reading up on it and it’s pretty clear I should have been charging VAT to my EU readers right away.

Not sure this affects many of my American readers, BTW. Again, the taxes are (supposed to now be) automated based on your location. Though the flat GST rate (5%) might be applicable to all (hard for me to test since I’m in BC).

The T-shirts, etc, purchased via Amazon are a separate thing. Amazon takes care of collecting the tax on those.

Happy Monday! [I can’t wait to get back to full-time writing … hopefully, that’s still going to be possible one of these days?? 😁]