Category Archives: News

Super Version 2.Oh

Super version 2.0 is now available. It’s now stronger than a locomotive–or Super version 1.0, anyway.

What changed?

Super Version 2.0 - Arca Book 1 by Karen Diem — The cover image is unchanged, too.

Superficial things, if you’ll pardon the pun. In response to review comments, Super went to a new editor to tighten grammar, exterminate typos (hopefully), and clarify a couple points to make it easier to follow the action and transitions. Plot, characters, fandom references, pacing, and general irreverence remain the same. To accomplish this, length has increased by a thousand words.

Do I need an update?

If you do not yet own the book or purchased it after the update, you will automatically receive the new version after you buy it. Most sites had the new file as of August 13, 2016. Smashwords and 24 Symbols had it as of August 14, 2016.

If you purchased Super version 1.0, I encourage you to update to the new version of the book. It is optional, but the edits were done to improve the reader experience…

How do I update my book?

That depends. Who did you buy it from and what’s your ereader? Here’s brief instructions on how to update:

For most retailers, remove (Kobo, Smashwords, etc.) or archive (Nook) the old copy on your ereader, then download a new one from your retailer.
Amazon – If you have the auto update option turned on, it will update for you. Otherwise, log on Amazon. Go to Manage your Content and Devices, scroll down to Super, and click Update Available. Click Update. If you don’t see this option, you can try the deletion and re-download method.
iBooks (Apple) – Asks you when you open the book or app if you want to update. Go, Apple!

If I missed a retailer, let me know in the comments or via email and I’ll add them to the list.

Now is the winter of our maintenance

This is apparently the time for my provider to do website server maintenance, since they updated email last month. Sorry for the inconvenience, all. While they say the site may be down for “up to twenty minutes,” we can assume it could be longer. I certainly hope not.

Mangled Shakespeare talking about server maintenance — Mangled Shakespearian quote, at least one required for any authorial website

In case people are terrible at time zone conversions (like me), the possible outage window is listed in a few different time zones below:

PDT (Los Angeles) August 10 from 11 PM to August 11, 1 AM
EDT (New York) 2-4 AM August 11
CEST (Berlin) 8-10 AM August 11
AEST (Sydney) 4-6 PM August 11

Just in August 2016. 😉 I’d prefer outages not be an annual event.

On the bright side, hopefully the maintenance will decrease the chances of the site crashing or people coming here to find malware, hate text, and/or bot spawn.

My next post will announce some actual writing news.

Universal Truth and Email Servers

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a server in need of a good update, must be in want of some downtime.

On July 19 through July 20, 2016, my website provider will be doing server maintenance. Said work “may” create a “temporary inability” to send or receive email from 7 PM to 2 AM EST. This means newsletter signups, emails, and the contact form may not work within that time period. Additionally, email may be wonky afterwards until I fix it.

Yay, Technology picture

Should you fail to receive a reply to any of the listed methods within a day or two, consider trying again, or leaving a comment on any page of my site. All comments require my approval to appear on the site, so nobody will see your note and email but me. Normally, this is how I weed out spam, but it’s one way to get a note to me. Social media works too. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Sale on Superhero Books, Including Super

Karen Diem at a book sale A bunch of superhero authors (and a book recommendation site) are having a big sale to promote the genre and reward our readers! And you get to benefit from it. Not only is my Super 99 cents USD, but several others are also on 99 cents or free from May 18 to 20. You can see all the books on sale here (https://genrereader.com/2016/05/18/superhero-fiction-sale/) after 3 am EST.

If you’ve already purchased Super, thank you, and I hope you enjoy it! Perhaps another book in the sale will appeal to you? I may do some shopping myself.

Future Sales

This is the only price drop I have planned until Human (Arca Book 2) comes out or closer to Christmas. Maybe not even at Christmas. I have stockings to fill, after all. The price break should last until Sunday afternoon or evening (US time zone).

Then again, Amazon will do what Amazon will do. Who knows? Super wasn’t meant to be 99 cents until May 18, but Amazon decided to drop the price a bit faster than anticipated. They may drag their feet on increasing the price again.

Super Release! Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Super by Karen Diem - Arca Book 1 In case you missed the obnoxious shilling on Twitter, the Facebook post, or the newsletter announcement, today we celebrate the Super release as well as the famous win of Mexican underdogs against overwhelming forces. For those contemplating following me on Twitter, on May 6 I will return to my usual tweet habits.

About Super

Adrenaline junkie and almost-respectable accountant Zita Garcia wouldn’t know a superhero from some dude in his pajamas. As a result, the second-to-last thing she expected was to wake from a spontaneous coma, quarantined, and with super powers she has to hide from everyone, including her family. Now Zita must master her new abilities while dodging kidnappers, evading government inquiries, and finding her missing brother.

The only thing weirder would have been if the blind date preceding the coma had gone well.

Super is the first in the Arca superhero urban fantasy series, and as a movie, would be rated “R” for immoderate language, lame sexual innuendo, and comic book violence. It is approximately 110,700 words, which comes out to about 450 pages in a standard paperback book.

Super Release Availability

Super is currently available on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, and Barnes & Noble. Other retailers carrying ebooks may have them too in the next few days. To avoid boring people to tears, I’ve only listed the most popular places. If you’d prefer, you can read the first chapter before purchasing.

Website Overhaul

Plan for a website overhaul in the next week or two! It’s almost all about the art, baby!

The cover artist should email some banners and the cover image for Super later this week. I will be updating the website to use the new images where appropriate. Since I can’t resist tweaking things, the Books page will be updated with the new cover and receive a slight reorganization to put things in chronological story order.
Another artist has created an adorable avatar (no, it’s not the cat) for me. If you’ve been hanging out with me on social media, that will be updated as soon as they finish and send it. They’ve also created a drawing of Zita and a drawing of Arca. Newsletter subscribers will get first looks at the Zita and Arca pictures before I post them on Pinterest.

Fun Fact: Subscribers also get exclusive access to Washout, an Arca short story. Have you signed up yet?

Social media sites, where appropriate, will be getting new banners and/or avatars too, once the art is available. Facebook and Twitter will definitely get both; most other sites just use an avatar.
The website overhaul will include a new links page, probably as a subheading under the About link. This page will allow others to find and hire the fine artists involved. In the future, I will add links to other vendors who deserve recommendations.

In less exciting news than a website overhaul, the sample first chapter has been updated to reflect copy editing changes. No real content changes occurred.

Super – Free First Chapter Announcement

This is the official free first chapter announcement for Super. In case you’ve forgotten what that is, here’s the blurb again. For your reading delectation, read the first chapter here!

What’s in the sample?

This sample is the complete, almost-final version of the first chapter of Super, and weighs in at approximately 4,700 words. Should any typos or grammatical problems occur between now and the release date (May 5, I’m looking at you!), those will be fixed in the final version posted at online retailers.

Simply, it introduces Zita Garcia, a bit about her world, and a touch of trouble to start things off right.

How long is Super anyway?

The novel itself is approximately 110,000 words. Samples at online retailers may be longer than this one.

Why the free first chapter announcement hubbub?

I’m excitable that way. Plus, how would you know about it if I didn’t tell you?

What goes well with chocolate bunnies and jelly beans?

Main character Zita Garcia would say “pretty much anything.” If you guessed the first chapter of Super, you’re right! Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it. If you don’t celebrate it, you can still enjoy the sample.

First Subscriber Freebie

I just finished the draft version of the first newsletter subscriber short story. The first subscriber freebie is a quick read, only around 4,000 words, but fun. I’m going to send it to a beta reader, do a round of edits, and hopefully have it ready to send out next week.

In the meantime, here’s a puppy! Aww.

Cute chocolate lab puppy — Adorable, and probably needs a walk.

Beta Readers Rule!

All of my beta readers have their comments in, so time for an editing frenzy! Death to typos! Give me better writing, or give me …better writing! My beta readers rule!

More seriously, thank you, guys. Super is going to be much better with the feedback.

Beta Readers Are Awesome

I don’t have very many beta readers… but when I do, they are awesome! My beta readers are awesome, in case you missed that point.

They got the latest draft of Super last week. So far, one has completed reading and handed in all their comments, a second will be giving their comments tomorrow, and the third has started and will be done soon.The comments they’ve made so far – and all of them have said a few things – have been invaluable.

So things are steaming along on schedule! Many thanks to my brave beta readers!