FAQ: Will there be a Soulkeepers movie?

On a daily basis, I receive multiple emails, wall posts, and tweets asking me if there will be a Soulkeepers movie.  Actually, they range from cheers of "MOVIE! MOVIE! MOVIE!" to demands of "You MUST make a Soulkeepers movie!" Because this question has become so frequent, I can no longer respond to inquiries on an individual basis and have decided to write a post about it.

Will there be a Soulkeepers movie? My answer is: I hope...someday.

Authors have remarkably little control over whether their work becomes a movie.  People in the film industry buy the option to make a book into a film, and then can decide whether to make the film or not. Over the last year, I've been approached by several interested parties asking about the film rights to the Soulkeepers, but as of today, no one has purchased the option.

Your next question might be, why not?

I can only speculate about why an interested party might not follow through on an inquiry. The series has sold over 100,000 copies. The books are in the top 10 in Sci Fi and Fantasy series and have held that position for most of the year. But here are some things that have crossed my mind.

• The books are cross-genre which can be difficult to market effectively and, similar to Golden Compass, is spiritual but not precisely Christian.
• The esoteric themes in the book might be a challenge for a screenwriter to capture  
• The series' steady sales aren't as flashy as immediate or NYT best sellers
• Angels and demons play a role in the story, and people are fearful that these characters have been or will be overdone in film (similar to vampires)
• I don't have literary representation... yet (I'm looking. Referrals welcome)

Of course, anyone who's read the books could easily debunk these arguments. My dream is to find the right person who will be as passionate about this story as I am. Preferably someone who has read the books and gets the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and acceptance.

I want to thank those readers who have and continue to spread the word about The Soulkeepers. If a film is optioned and eventually made, it will be because of you. For my part, I remain open to all serious inquiries. My dream is to have a better answer for you in the future, but until then, the only answer I can give you is "I hope...someday."

Cover Reveal: Soul Catcher, Book 4 in the Soulkeepers Series

It's here! I can finally share with you the cover of the fourth Soulkeepers novel, Soul Catcher.

Dane Michaels has been to Hell and back and isn't interested in repeating the experience. But as a human caught up in the Soulkeeper's world, his life isn't exactly his own. No one can explain why Dane was allowed through the gates of Eden, but it's changed everything. Now, the only one who can make him feel safe is Ethan, the telekinetic Soulkeeper with a dark past and a heart of gold.

When Malini asks Dane to be part of a mission to find the last Soulkeeper, Cheveyo, more than one team member thinks she's tempting Fate. But Malini suspects Fate has had a hand in Dane's life for some time and that he could be the key to unraveling Lucifer's latest plan of attack.

Add it on Goodreads!

About The Cover

Adam Bedore of Anjin Design creates all of the covers for The Soulkeepers Series. Book four revolves around Dane, pictured here, and introduces Cheveyo, a Hopi indian boy and the last Soulkeeper on the list Dr. Silva conjured in book 3. Cheveyo is represented by the dream catcher and adobe wall behind Dane.  Fate, also known as Fatima, plays a role in the story.  You can see her shadow hanging from the red stone in the dream catcher. (Yes, she is represented as a spider. She is a master weaver after all!) And if you think there is something up with that shadow behind Dane, you are not mistaken.  There's more to him than meets the eye.

 About The Book

Soul Catcher is slated for release in March. Much depends on how fast it makes it through editing. The manuscript is currently in development and hasn't been seen by anyone but G.P.  But for those of you interested in Dane and Ethan's relationship, you won't be disappointed. Malini and Jacob are back and you will also get a glimpse into Dr. Silva and Gideon's new life as well as the lives of the other Soulkeepers.

100,000 Copies and Counting

It's official. I've sold more than 100,000 books!

(And, in case you were wondering, that number does not include any free or nearly free downloads.)

Original Cover March 2011

If you had asked me in March of 2011 if I ever thought I would sell 100,000 books as a self-published/independent (whichever term you prefer) author, I would have said no. The first version of the Soulkeepers was written more for my personal enjoyment than as a serious business venture.  I thought my family and friends might read it. Some did; some didn't.  I was happy when I sold 100 copies and thought my head might explode when I reached 1,000.

When Weaving Destiny came out in September of 2011, I swooned when she sold 10,000, surfing on the wave of a free Soulkeepers.

Today I get to tell you that I've sold 100,000 copies.  Most of those for 2.99 or more and most sales from Weaving Destiny(Sept. 2011) and Return to Eden(March 2012). Of course, The Soulkeepers has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times for free, but I do not count those figures as sales. Grounded contributed to the goal but a problem with the book's release has meant a slow but steady start for the trilogy. (The book was delayed with an interested agent who ultimately rejected it and then a scheduled/paid for review tour never happened due to a tragedy concerning the tour coordinator.)

One interesting thing about this milestone - 30% of my sales have come from Apple (iBookstore). I see this platform as a major, up and coming ebook competitor.  As you might expect, 60% have come from Amazon, and the remaining 10% from Smashwords, Createspace, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, and Barnes & Noble.

This week, I'll be revealing the cover of the fourth book in The Soulkeepers Series: Soul Catcher. As I approach the end of my second year as a professional author, I am so thankful for all of my readers, fans and reviewers and to all of those friends and fellow authors who believed in my work early on. Also a big virtual hug to my artist, Adam of Anjin design, for the cover art.

I still pinch myself at the thought of 100,000.  What's next?

I'm not sure, but I can't wait to find out!

Where I relate to Gollum a bit too closely...

Have you seen The Hobbit yet? I have. Fabulous movie no matter what the critics say.  I'm not completely happy with Peter Jackson splitting the story into three parts but still, brilliant, remarkable film. 

Of course, unless you've been living hermit-like in a cave, you know the character of Gollum, aka Smeagol, is obsessed with the One Ring. The addictive qualities of that particular enchanted circle of gold drive him to murder, warp his appearance, and split his personality, ultimately leaving him a slave to "the precious".

I never thought I had much in common with Gollum...until this week. See, I've been working long hours lately putting out three new releases since September while simultaneously writing the fourth Soulkeepers book. (Soul Catcher is coming right along.  Cover and release date will be revealed soon.) Between writing, editing, formatting, publishing, and marketing my own work, I also read and critiqued four manuscripts for fellow writers during that period and mentored a new indie to publication. To throw another iron in the fire, one of my manuscripts was with an agent for a while and although ultimately rejected was entertained for long enough for even my jaded personality to feel hopeful. But I digress.

I've always been slightly prone to workaholic syndrome but somehow Thanksgiving and Christmas happened successfully. The kids got fed. And we planned a getaway to Hilton Head, South Carolina to ring in the New Year. Of course, I brought my laptop. I have a book to finish. So while my husband and kids did beachy, Hilton Head things, I happily holed up in our villa typing away. Only, our room didn't have a desk so I was hunched over the dining table or bent into a rather uncomfortable chair.

At some point, my back began to ache and I got up to get something--I don't remember what it was. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My back was rounded, my eyes  bugged out from hours staring at the screen, and my skin, ghostly pale. In other words, I was in stage 1 Gollum metamorphosis!

 Was I a slave to "the precious"--putting my work above all else, rotating the golden ring of my publishing career in my hands while hiding in my cave from the world? It was too close for comfort.

I closed the laptop.  I took a walk on the beach. I read an entire book for pleasure. And, the first thing I did my first morning home was text a couple of non-author friends to meet for coffee. I spent two hours visiting and then did some grocery shopping. 

This morning, a friend of mine passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was much too young and leaves behind a daughter not much older than my own. Her death was expected but somehow still tragic and, of course, reminded me of my recent Gollum-like qualities. 

Life is short.

Tonight my back is a bit straighter and there's more color in my cheeks. Also, I'm adding a picture of Gollum to my desktop.  This year he's going to remind me of what all work and no play can do to a person.