I plan on releasing my 2nd book in my sci-fi series in a few months. Few might be anything from 2-6 in this case, however. It certainly needs a going over and an application of the lessons I've learned in the last year.
I was hoping it would be easier. But nooooo, I have to work for it. :)
The good news is I've got the bug not to let the bad stuff hit the market with my name on it, hopefully that's the case.
But another book is coming. Then another. And so on.. just like that hair shampoo commercial from oh so long ago. And so on, and so on, and so on....
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
Shallow Hal
I go to critique group every Sunday. Most people go to church, I sit in the temple of words known as Pike's Perk Coffee Shop and go over the words of my peers and they go over mine. We discuss how we can make ourselves better at our art, and talk about our personal lives. We're both friends and professional partners.
With that said, my critique group showed me just how shallow I am as an author yesterday. One of the stories of my fellow authors contains a woman who has lost a child in her womb and is fleeing from her life. In doing so, she puts herself in danger.
One of my compatriots said, "I understand that her reflection on the empty beach house as a reflection of the emptiness of her womb."
I'm pretty sure I did a double take.
To be fair, I don't read women's fiction except what my critique partners share with me. It's not my cup of tea, but then I'm sure they're not all fans of my sci-fi and thrillers either.
But I realized, I suppose, that I'm shallow. Empty house, empty womb? Really? I read those words and thought, at best, "Oh, the house will remind her that this is where she wanted to raise her child."
I read the words. I take them pretty literally. It's the same when I write the words. If, someday, someone is reviewing my works and says, "Here, when the spaceship is penetrated by the missile, he's talking about Sarah Dayson's vulnerability as a woman..." Bullshit. I mean, and you can quote me, that the SHIP got hit by a MISSILE. LOL!
I have not hidden any meanings. I do not consider my story to be a metaphor for some other state of human existence. I simply write the words to tell as good of a story as I can tell. Not to really educate anyone about anything, but simply to entertain.
That's called commercial fiction, in my case. I didn't pick up any life altering lessons from Indiana Jones. Or Luke Skywalker. Or even James Bond. What I was, quite frankly, was entertained. Which, as a guy, is one of my top priorities. Simply not being bored is good enough for me.
With that said, my critique group showed me just how shallow I am as an author yesterday. One of the stories of my fellow authors contains a woman who has lost a child in her womb and is fleeing from her life. In doing so, she puts herself in danger.
One of my compatriots said, "I understand that her reflection on the empty beach house as a reflection of the emptiness of her womb."
I'm pretty sure I did a double take.
To be fair, I don't read women's fiction except what my critique partners share with me. It's not my cup of tea, but then I'm sure they're not all fans of my sci-fi and thrillers either.
But I realized, I suppose, that I'm shallow. Empty house, empty womb? Really? I read those words and thought, at best, "Oh, the house will remind her that this is where she wanted to raise her child."
I read the words. I take them pretty literally. It's the same when I write the words. If, someday, someone is reviewing my works and says, "Here, when the spaceship is penetrated by the missile, he's talking about Sarah Dayson's vulnerability as a woman..." Bullshit. I mean, and you can quote me, that the SHIP got hit by a MISSILE. LOL!
I have not hidden any meanings. I do not consider my story to be a metaphor for some other state of human existence. I simply write the words to tell as good of a story as I can tell. Not to really educate anyone about anything, but simply to entertain.
That's called commercial fiction, in my case. I didn't pick up any life altering lessons from Indiana Jones. Or Luke Skywalker. Or even James Bond. What I was, quite frankly, was entertained. Which, as a guy, is one of my top priorities. Simply not being bored is good enough for me.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Been a while.
Sometimes life gets out of control. Gets a bit confusing, and we let some things drop through the cracks. That's what I've done with this blog.
I created another site that I intended to use for my blog, but that really wasn't so convenient. Apparently, for the largest part of 2014, this wasn't either.
A lot has happened in a year. We moved to the west side of Colorado Springs. Love it, we're going to move again in May and upscale our house choice a bit.
I have the first book in the Dark Seas series done. It's available on Amazon on 1/31/15. Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Anvil-Dust-Fire-Dark-Seas-ebook/dp/B00RY202VO/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_4
If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free. I'm not sure I've mentioned on here before, I'm a huge Amazon fan, so I have gone exclusive with them. The Anvil of Dust and Stars is part of Kindle Select, which means Amazon has exclusive rights. In return they do a bit better promoting me and I still get paid even if the Unlimited crowd read my book.
Book 2 is done, but I want to make just a few more editing passes through it. I also need to make a cover for it, I designed the one for Book 1 as well. I'm going to keep a similar theme.
One of my kids got moved up a grade, that's a huge deal.
That's it for now. Now that I'm published I'm going to try to pick up my blog posts again. It's easy to let things slide when you're hammering away at novels.
'Til next.
I created another site that I intended to use for my blog, but that really wasn't so convenient. Apparently, for the largest part of 2014, this wasn't either.
A lot has happened in a year. We moved to the west side of Colorado Springs. Love it, we're going to move again in May and upscale our house choice a bit.
I have the first book in the Dark Seas series done. It's available on Amazon on 1/31/15. Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Anvil-Dust-Fire-Dark-Seas-ebook/dp/B00RY202VO/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_4
If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free. I'm not sure I've mentioned on here before, I'm a huge Amazon fan, so I have gone exclusive with them. The Anvil of Dust and Stars is part of Kindle Select, which means Amazon has exclusive rights. In return they do a bit better promoting me and I still get paid even if the Unlimited crowd read my book.
Book 2 is done, but I want to make just a few more editing passes through it. I also need to make a cover for it, I designed the one for Book 1 as well. I'm going to keep a similar theme.
One of my kids got moved up a grade, that's a huge deal.
That's it for now. Now that I'm published I'm going to try to pick up my blog posts again. It's easy to let things slide when you're hammering away at novels.
'Til next.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
9 days
Nine days to go until the Pike's Peak Writer's Conference. I finished both books. Are they as polished as they can be? No, probably not. I may work on them some more in that regard. But both are written, and sitting at 76K and 79K words, books 1 and 2 respectively.
I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself for the next few days. I suppose I should get some 3x5 cards and get my pitch process down.
After all, selling the books is as important as writing them.
I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself for the next few days. I suppose I should get some 3x5 cards and get my pitch process down.
After all, selling the books is as important as writing them.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Change of plans... because plans change.
I got a few requests for my novel from agents. The answer from one of those agents led to a change in my plans.
I have turned my book into two books. I was sitting on a 105,000 word novel. The agent replied to me stating that most agents want new authors to be at 80,000 words. So I was either going to have to cut 25,000 words... or I was going to have to break some material off into another book.
I cut 30,000 words off actually, and am now, after much typing, sitting on two 75,000 word books. I wrote 45,000 words of prequel to what had originally been in one book.
So my novels are in this situation:
Book 1: Born of Dust and Fire. 74,207 words complete. I have it printed, and will do two rounds of editing between now and April 24th, the Pikes Peak Writer's Conference.
Book 2: On the Shores of a Dark Sea: 75.553 words complete. I will print it and revise it once to ensure it conforms to the story now told in book 1.
Book 3: Legacy: 20,000 words or so done. I expect it will be complete by mid-Summer.
Book 4: Child of Man: Just an idea, no words. But I know what story it needs to tell.
So I'm about 140,000 words from a complete series... unless there is a book 5, which is a possibility if the story of the Hive and the Adepts gets too big for 80K.
There are two books on the edge of completion! Thanks to the agent who told me 105K was way too much.
I can handle two published books instead of one. Now to find an agent. PPWC here I come.
On a side note, I got business cards today. They don't really say much, just a gimmick to hand out at conventions.
I have turned my book into two books. I was sitting on a 105,000 word novel. The agent replied to me stating that most agents want new authors to be at 80,000 words. So I was either going to have to cut 25,000 words... or I was going to have to break some material off into another book.
I cut 30,000 words off actually, and am now, after much typing, sitting on two 75,000 word books. I wrote 45,000 words of prequel to what had originally been in one book.
So my novels are in this situation:
Book 1: Born of Dust and Fire. 74,207 words complete. I have it printed, and will do two rounds of editing between now and April 24th, the Pikes Peak Writer's Conference.
Book 2: On the Shores of a Dark Sea: 75.553 words complete. I will print it and revise it once to ensure it conforms to the story now told in book 1.
Book 3: Legacy: 20,000 words or so done. I expect it will be complete by mid-Summer.
Book 4: Child of Man: Just an idea, no words. But I know what story it needs to tell.
So I'm about 140,000 words from a complete series... unless there is a book 5, which is a possibility if the story of the Hive and the Adepts gets too big for 80K.
There are two books on the edge of completion! Thanks to the agent who told me 105K was way too much.
I can handle two published books instead of one. Now to find an agent. PPWC here I come.
On a side note, I got business cards today. They don't really say much, just a gimmick to hand out at conventions.
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