Saturday, December 27, 2014

just map it

Like I said yesterday, I am probably going to start writing Betrayals on Monday.


I did finish mapping out a physical map of my 12 Worlds Universe for if and when I write in that world again. Again, "Worlds" is a relative term for 12 actual systems. Planets and outposts exist within each system. Waiting took place on Artemis Space Station which is in the Core along with Earth.


Anyway, I had fun putting it together. I'm working on aspects over the next days and weeks as well. Plus, I'm looking at some other setups for other writing projects as well.


I'm just mapping it.

Friday, December 26, 2014

The Sabbath

No writing on Betrayals today. I'm looking to start up on Episode 6 of Where are our Children on Monday.


Back to the Job today.


I have, however, been working on the backstory of my next project (to be named later)


I'm getting a lot done that arena.


Wish me luck.


And enjoy the rest of the Sabbath.   

Thursday, December 25, 2014

A Wonderful Day Indeed

Nothing much to add to my title today.


Merry Xmas to all.


Oh yea, I'm watching the Dark Knight Returns. This is the animated version of Frank Miller's classic from the 1980's.


OMG it's wonderful.


I could only WISH to write a tale this good.


It is a wonderful day indeed. 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

No Christmas Messages and I Mean it

Well we are almost there.


Yep, the most wonderful day of the year is upon us.


And I refuse to give any kind of Christmas message. I mean it. I'm not the type. And you guys don't know my at any personal level to get anything out of it from my anyway.


I mean Christmas messages are so dull and corny.


I won't go there.


I won't.


I'll just give thanks for all the standard things: Family, health, a better than average roof over my head, friends, and stuff like that.


From a business point I can point to five more published works than last year. I can say that I have 2 audio books and 5 trade paperbacks out as well.


I'm thankful for Where are our Children. I'm thankful that it helped me get back into writing. I'm thankful for all those have enjoyed reading it. I'm thankful for my other works being rekindled because of this work being out there.


I'm thankful I'm over half way done with this project.


I'm thankful that I have ideas for other projects on the horizon.


Merry Christmas to each and every one of you who support me by downloading my stuff and reading this blog or my tweets.


I'm thankful that I didn't deliver the standard Christmas Message.


And I mean that.



Tuesday, December 23, 2014

in the Public Domain

I got Zero Hour uploaded to Amazon today. That means that the trade paperback will be ready on Amazon's site for ordering.


Now with that completed the latest in the Where are our Children should be available at most outlets. It took a bit to get it there, but it's there. Enjoy.


Well, now that I'm over half way through this series, I'm looking forward some.


Real briefly, I've had some interest of what is available in the public domain.


The reason being, is that a series or two that could make some interesting use of. I've got some more investigating to do. I'm just in the preliminary stages of a couple of projects, but I'm excited.


And when I get excited...watch out. (smile)


From a short story point of view, these series could last years.


You stay tuned.


I'll watch the public domain.


Let's see what we could get done together.       

Monday, December 22, 2014

Having a Google Day

I repeat myself a lot here so here we again.


I can't compare my downloads to anyone else because I can't view what is going on with anyone else's books. I only have the standards of previous downloads to go. And by comparison of first downloading, Zero Hour is a success especially considering that it debuted on a Sunday, which has been a slow reading day over at Smashwords.


Either someone, somewhere, likes this series or they are faking it very well. (smile)


Again thanks for the support and downloads.


I've got the latest episode uploaded at Kobo as well and I'm going to try to get Google Play/Books done as well today.


I haven't talked much about Google since I started publishing over there but I think I should start changing that fact. My books do far better than they do at ITunes (especially fiction). It is also neat that you get to see the countries that are doing the downloading as well. Good stuff to be sure.


Anyway, I feel great for a lot of reasons: Got a power nap after work last night which was my best this weekend. Zero Hour did very well in the 24 hours or so that it has been up. And I did some brainstorming a two or three series that I believe could be successful as either short tales of fiction or novels, we'll see.


Anyway, I'm out of here for today.


Have a Google of a day.    

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Wait Times

Happy Sunday


I hope everyone is having a wonderful, safe holiday.


I hope I can contribute to the fun.


The Zero Hour is up at Smashwords.


No wait times.


Go download it when you like.


Enjoy. 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Liars never win

And winners never lie. Or something to that affect.

Anyway, i got about 75% of my formatting done but life and lack of time got in the way.

I thought that i would finish today but did not.

Dang.

Again, winners never lie and liars never win.

Check back tomorrow. I should have the rest of the formatting done.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Tomorrow is a day away

The final edit for the Zero Hour is done.


I still have a few things to do before I began my work week so I won't rush the formatting.


I will do the formatting tomorrow afternoon after I get up.


Saturday is traditionally a slow download day, I expect it to be especially slow considering this Saturday being one of the biggest shopping days of the holiday season.


But I'm going to think of my readers. If there is one or even two of you out there who can't wait to get a copy of this puppy on Smashwords as soon as you can-- then I owe it to you to provide it.


Remember, tomorrow is only a day away.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Dooooval

My terrible jags got it done 2 night. 

As far as my writing, i'm about 80 percent done with the zero hour.

I had a ton of out of the house stuff ro do b4 i return 2 work tomorrow night.

But i still got most of my writing done. I will finish this chapter done 2 night and start final edits and formatting after a long sleep 2 night.

Anyway, lets hear one for me.

And one for the big cats from jax

Dooooooovall

Seven Whole Days

I'm reminded of the Tony Braxton song when I post tonight.


I haven't posted in seven whole days.


I haven't WRITTEN in seven whole days.


I said that I wouldn't post here or on Twitter until I wrote again.


Well, I hopped back on the horse tonight. I finished to whole chapters.


And despite a very busy schedule tomorrow, I expect to finish this draft of Zero Hour tomorrow. I will edit and upload by Friday.


I'm not perfect. If u don't believe that then ask my wife or mom, they will be more than happy to tell you. (smile)


I'm scared that all of this is for nothing.


I'm afraid that the critical voice is going to eventually win.


That voice that keeps telling me that my writings are garbage. Or that no one will read it...or those who read it will hate it. Or that I'm going to never make money from this. Or that I'm to tired too do this, or too old to start now, or that I can't wait three years or five years for readers to manifest themselves...


Believe me folks, I could go on with that last paragraph the rest of the night.


Seven whole days.


I 'm here. I won't make promises. But I am here.


Talk to you tomorrow.   

Thursday, December 11, 2014

When Insanity greets Insanity

Real quick:


Last night I told u guys that I officially went over the half way point of the Where are our Children Serial.


During one of the scenes in Zero Hour, a major character ask a group of other characters how do you answer insanity?


Ultimately, the answer would be that you answer insanity...with MORE insanity.


If you thought the first half of this serial has some insane moments...


...you ain't seen nothing yet.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Upon Official Review

I'm there.


No...no...no, not there. Not yet, at least. I haven't finished the Where are our Children Serial yet. I'm not even finished with the 5th episode which will be called Zero Hour.


I am officially at the half way point of the serial.


And without the polish to this section still to come, I'm at over 164,000 words. And if I'm doing my math correctly, that would put me over 328,000 total for the serial at this pace.


I'm done speculating how long this will be by then. The final word count will be what it is.


I have been thinking once again about doing a single volume for Amazon. But WOW what a weekend or so it would take to format that monster.


Anyway, upon further review, guys, we're halfway there.


Hold on to hope.


I most certainty will.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Why ask Why

I try to never talk about specific downloads or sales here. I think it's tacky. But I will tell you that today was the most downloads that one of my titles (Past Prologue) has ever received, to my knowledge, in one day.


To day that I was astounded would be a huge understatement. The title has been out for 8 days. I wish I could bottle up the reason this happened and open it anytime I wish but I can't. And again they are downloads and not sales. I could only dream of having a day like this one in sales.


Anyway, thank u all who helped make this such a historic day for me. I hope I enjoy Where are our Children's continuing storyline. I'm on my way to work on Zero Hour within the hour.


Sometimes you have just take good fortune when it comes.


Why ask why?

Monday, December 8, 2014

short n sweet

nothing much to report today.


I'm pushing just past the half way point, though 2 releases before Christmas seems unlikely.


Come back tomorrow.



Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Half's and the Half's nots

I got through work last night relatively unscathed. I have almost 24 whole hours off before I start my final 5 day stretch before some well deserved time off. Wish me Luck.


I managed to get a lot of thinking and planning done last night. I'm very close to making an announcement about permanent plans in my writing future after Children is done. I think I'll sleep on it and let it spin around in my head a little longer. I want to be crystal clear in my own mind before I announce it.


I spent considerable time on twitter in the past 24 hours. I'll be honest...I haven't had a lot of personal or professional use for it. That changed over the past day. I plan to spend more time over there, especially for Nest Egg Publishing. I will continue mostly writing talk on this blog and my thoughts on everything else in the world over there. We all make professional errors in judgment. I think ignoring the power of Twitter has been one of mine.


Well, I'm off for a power nap. Busy, busy, busy when I get up. I have a date with my terrible Jags. Xavier's chapter is on the agenda today and then its off to work and play on Twitter.


When X's chapter is done it will officially mark passing the half way point of the serial.


Wow.


The half's and half's nots.           

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Giving the Devil his Due

Another day, another chapter done somehow...someway.


This is the most 'physically tired I've been in some time. I've worked the better part of 7 days in a row with 6 more still to go. Most of these hours have been at night so I've been trying to sleep during the day. This is the last night though, before I switch to days Monday. (Yea)


Real quick: I talk a lot on this blog about Where are our Children. I've got to give some props to my second and third creations Fumblerooski and The Gospel According to John. These sports articles are doing fabulous on ITunes in terms of downloads. Fumblerooski moved all the way up to number 3 in the football category and in the top 5 for sports all together.


I think they've really been on a run because the true playoff is forming as I write this and you read it. I'm proud of every word I write. But as I publish more, I think it easy to put older works on the back burner and talk exclusively about new stuff. The nature of the beast sometimes.


Anyway, thanks to the downloaders of all my writings.


But Fumblerooski deserved a moment of special recognition for what its accomplished. 


Sometimes you have to give the Devil its due.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Falling for Anything

I'm trying to make it through a difficult work schedule and get my writing in. I managed to get most of the second chapter of Zero Hour done. I will try to work on the third today but that will be a supreme challenge.


Let me share some very early observations about where Zero Hour is at this stage and where I am as a writer of it at this stage as well.


Thomas delivers his findings that he promised Mayor Ernestine Johnson that he would. I employed a writing device that I've rarely seen used that you guys will notice when you read it. I think it's affective.


Those who have read Past Prologue noticed a little device that occurred between Angel's/Seth's back to back chapters concerning Denise Prince. This was planned all along. These two chapters are happening at the same time. Again, I think it works. I hoped you did as well.


Finally, Louis Keaton opens Zero Hour. I will say this. If you guys read my Smashwords interview you'll see that I state that Louis is a difficult character for me to right because of all that is going on with the guy. This chapter was THE MOST DIFFICULT section that I've written in my entire life. I'm not talking from a grammar or setting or anything like that. The content was disturbing even to me. But I can tell any of you who have written fiction before that you learn things about characters that you didn't know when you created them. I learned a lot about Keaton. He makes more sense to me that he ever did before. But I had to get him (and me) through some disturbing scenes to get there. I'm better now. I think the Where are our Children serial has more depth because of it. I'm leaving all of the content in. It is not gratuitous. It is not taboo. It is disturbing. Some won't like it and won't finish the series  because of it. I get it. I respect that. I respect you. Give it a shot though. I think that you will see what I see as you move on in the series the importance of this scene playing out in full the way that it did. 


You have to stand for something in this world...or you'll fall for anything.    

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Only Sleep When You Are Dead

Another busy day.


I'm mostly dealing with the Job and my schedule there. I will try to fit the next chapter of Zero Hour in at some point today but sleep and outside business had to be taken care of first.


Good news on most if not all fronts on Past Prologue: It made it through the meatgrinder at Smashwords and is on the way to all of the subsidiaries of that distributor so look for it over the next few hours and day where you have found all the others. The trade paper back edition is ready as well and as much as I like the cover edition for the first three, I especially like this one. My plan is to have Past Prologue, Zero Hour and Betrayal use this similar template and then use a third template for the final three volumes of the series. Look for them.


In speaking of Past Prologue, I am off as soon as I leave his blog to post if over at Google Books. After a slow start, downloads have really picked up of my works over there. So if you like that  outlet for your downloading, I have a prescience on that site as well.


Well, let me go try to get this stuff done before I am off for the bill payer once again.


Maybe, I'll get some sleep this week.


Yet, then again, maybe I'll only sleep when I'm dead. (smile)       

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Escalation

I am REALLY pressed for time today so I won't keep you guys.


I was able to get the first chapter of Zero Hour done today. I'm pretty happy with it though I missed one pretty critical passage that I'll need to insert a little later.


Let's just say that this chapter causes a major escalation in hostilities.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Christmas Time is Here

I have been VERY busy over the past 24 hours. In the time that I've returned to writing and publishing, I'm learning that these upload days are like this.


I never get tired of saying this and I'm hopeful that you guys never get tired of hearing it: Thank you all for your downloads during this time. Yesterday was the busiest day that I've seen generated on the Smashwords website since I started publishing over there. I truly hope that some of you return to there and other downloading spots to purchase my writings when I move on to that stage after this serial is completed. But again thank you for the downloads and the love you've shown my writing.


I published to Kobo and my trade paperback edition should be ready at Amazon outlets over the next 12 to 24 hours. 


Oh yea, I did make a sale on Amazon the other day of Fumblerooski. Again thank you to whoever made that purchase.


I truly want to get back to writing tomorrow but that will be tough. I have work, sleep, and business outside of the house tomorrow. It's going to be tough. But I want to start on my goal of two more published episodes before Christmas.


Ah, Christmas time is here and hopefully so is more of my writing.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Sometimes the Past is now Present

I worked all morning formatting Past Prologue and I can officially announce that it is DONE.




The free download should now be ready at Smashwords.


Amazon's $0.99 copy should be ready by the end of the day. Remember folks, if enough of you price match, Amazon will drop that price.


I will likely format for Kobo, Google Play/Books and Createspace tomorrow.


The rest of you of use outlets associated with the Smashwords family will have to wait another day or so.


A few notes about the episode itself:
I was surprised when I saw a 35,000 word document staring back at me. It didn't feel nearly that big as I was writing it. I know I went through that terrible period when I didn't know whether I would complete it or not, but once I started up again it felt like the story came right back to me.


In the humble opinion of the guy who wrote it, Episode 4 feels like my most competent work yet. It doesn't have a signature moment the way Deliverance had Serena's (spoiler space) daring escape or Rapture's (more spoiler space) liberation of Carver in it, but I think I portray my characters best in this book. They as well as the world they live in never have felt more real to me.


Anyway, I hope that you readers out there enjoy it. With no unforeseen delays I expect to have Episodes 5 and 6 up before Christmas. I wanted to have this entire project done by the first of the year but that is asking the near impossible.


For now, enjoy Past Prologue.


The Past is now Present.     

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Mind over Matter

I am almost through editing Past Prologue.


The upload will start early tomorrow.


I will post it the information here when I'm done.


It's just a simple thing as mind over matter.


Since I don't have much mind nothing much else matters. 

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Never Felt Like This Before

I'm not going to keep u guys long tonight. I Just finished working the bill paying job and I'm off to do a chapter before bed.


Again, Past Prologue has a likely upload date of Monday. Look for it.


I don't know where the big uptick in page views has come from since Thanksgiving Day, but welcome to my blog. I appreciate each and EVERY one of you. As some of the others who hang around here know, I try to keep the discussion to current and future projects. I'm not truly into the social networking scene. For me at least, I think that should go on elsewhere.


In speaking of future projects...


I'm this close (put your finger and your thumb as close together without touching close) to finalize where I'm going after the Where are our Children Serial is done.


It's going to be a doozy if I say so myself.


More details as we draw nearer to the end of this serial.


It is safe to say that I haven't felt this good about my writing and publishing since I sat down and started 411 a month in a half ago.


Yea, it feels good to say it.


I never felt like this before.  

Friday, November 28, 2014

busy busy busy

I'm working on the 8th of the 10 chapters of Past Prologue.
I'm going to get started soon before I collapse.


I have a REDICULOUS schedule ahead of me over the next two weeks outside of the house.


Somehow...someway...I've got to continue writing. 


Busy, busy, busy...stay tuned.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Sometimes HE works in mysterious ways

Once again Happy Thanksgiving to all of you looking in from the US and the standard hello for everyone else in the world.


I'm not going to get religious on you this morning. I won't. I won't mainly because I am nowhere near where I need to be with HIM. But I will say this: I was feeling about as low as I could feel about writing and publishing over the past seven days or so. Those of you who tune into my blog regularly know about my struggles with overcoming what writers term as the Critical Voice. This voice tells you that what you are writing is crap as you put it down. It tells you that no one will read it once you publish it. It tells you that if they did they didn't like it. And it never fails to tell you that you are wasting your and everyone else's time.  


I've been locked in a battle with it my entire adult life. I've let it steal years of productivity from me. And even after I made a small come back with the publishing of the first three episodes of Where are our Children-it jumped on me big time last week.


I managed to get a chapter done yesterday.


I think what I saw this morning though was far more important.


So far, Children only seemed to me to be getting downloads at Smashwords only. My two sports articles continue to do well at I tunes. In fact they get nearly double digit downloads over there everyday. People are right down the middle on whether they agree with me in my assessments on each subject but that is okay. My only point is to present my argument well. Those downloads tell me that I did that much right.


Children, on the other hand, has done nothing on I Tunes. maybe that will change. Ultimately, fiction is my first love. It is eventually what I am banking on for long term success. There are non fiction projects ahead but fiction will either make what I do here, or break what I do here. I don't have anything selling on Amazon, Google Play wasn't showing downloads and Kobo is in the single digits in downloads period since I started publishing there last month.


But like I said in an earlier passage, I think I saw something this morning that was very important to me.


I looked at my profile at Goodreads. That's nothing new. I look at it and all my other info across the net daily. But HE led me to look as an item I had never noticed before when I looked at the site from my phone.


Anyone who has been to the author's sections there will notice that if any of their work has been recommended that the data for that book is there next to all your other stuff. Well, all six of my writings are there. I always knew that. I always appreciated that fact. What I didn't see is HOW MANY times they've been recommended. The children series is getting nearly 2 recommends a day since their publication. Rapture has more recommendation than it does downloads on Smashwords. I wondered how that was possible.


I have to remember that Smashwords is a global distributor. My (and everyone else who publishes there) stuff is going globally. It is in libraries and at sites that I have never heard of. My trade paperback editions (especially of my first three works) is also selling SOMEWHERE.


Boy, did I need this. I really needed the assurance that someone...somewhere is reading my stuff. It means so much to me and I thank you all.


I know if I'm completely past my crisis but I feel a lot better.


So much better that I'm off to complete another chapter of Past Prologue when I'm done here.


Like I said at the beginning: I'm not going to get religious on you this morning. I won't. I won't mainly because I am nowhere near where I need to be with HIM. But I will say this: I was feeling about as low as I could feel about writing and publishing over the past seven days or so.


Sometimes He does work in mysterious ways.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Crisis of Confidence and Character

Hey guys.


I missed a posting for the first time since I've been back. Some out there may be happy about that. (grin)


I told myself that I would not post to this blog again until I wrote something. Well, I did just that. I  finished another chapter of Past Prologue today. I hadn't written in five days or so. I am truly going through a crisis of confidence and character.


My downloads are really down at Smashwords. I published to Google Books the other day and either are getting no response there are I am not understanding how to upload their stats reports. I really haven't been the same writer since Rapture debuted with NO sales during the 24 to 30 hours I had it up.


I'm going through what a lot of writers do at this point. We expect huge returns when we haven't put in a lot of investment at this point. I'm human, guys. Be patient. Stay with me.


I'm pressing forward. I'm trying to remember that I'm doing something very special. If I don't sell one book or nothing is downloaded that has my name on it, I am doing something very special.


Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I hope that each and EVERY one of you has a wonderful, safe and prosperous holiday. I'm going to try and do so very well.


And then I'm going to continue to battle this crisis of confidence and character.


And press on and write another chapter.    

Monday, November 24, 2014

A Brave New World

Wow.


I was pleasantly surprised how well the uploading process to Goggle Books went. All 6 of my works are there for a free download. I'm interested in how well my stuff will do over there.


I'm also anxious to see how Children did at I Books after I moved it from category to another.


Once again it looks as if Life and the Job will stop any progress I wanted to make in getting restarted on Past Prologue. I absolutely have to sleep to make during the day to make it through my nights at work.


Maybe I'll try some editing of the chapters I do have complete.


A brave new world maybe lies ahead. I just wish I could get some things out of my way. 

Sunday, November 23, 2014

A Not so Sad Sunday

A couple of constants retained their status quo on this rainy Sunday.


My Jags continue to stink and I haven't added any new words to Past Prologue.


I do, however, see sunlight on the horizon on the latter part. I do expect to return to new writing tomorrow.


I did get some things done on the publishing front.


I got all 6 books uploaded to Google Play/Books. The problem is (as of this writing) I don't know if I did it successfully or not. The process wasn't as difficult or as time consuming as I thought It would be. I had some advantages over some other folks that may have had issues with it: Smashwords is a bitch to upload to when you first start this. That forces you to have more patients for anything else you try to tackle. I looked around a bit and got help from others who had struggled with Google before I got there so that aided me as well. I use d my epub of each book from Smashwords as well for my content upload. Again, I will have to wait to see if it worked, but that helped with this process.


The whole point of this exercise was to get my books into as many reader's hands as I can. As this point I have made the decision to be READ. And Google Books was too big an outlet to continue to ignore.


In speaking of being read...I changed my settings for Where are Our Children. I want to test a theory of mine when it comes to the I Book store. My fiction as done NOTHING there. And I do mean nothing. The two sports themed books do VERY well. They have double digit downloads nearly every day, especially on weekdays. I wanted to try something to give my serial novel a boost there. I believe, I certainty could be wrong, but I believe it is more about lack of visibility than anything else. I'm trying to change that and have little to lose. My fiction does VERY well at Smashwords. I would like to see at least some of this translate to I Books as well.


I'll check back with you guys tomorrow hopefully with good news on both the writing and publishing front.


But today was a not so bad Sunday after all.      

Saturday, November 22, 2014

The most versatile of us

Im posting from my phone so bare with. Still nothing new written though i will get vack 2 it 2morrow or mon. 

At least im showing some versatality. Check in 2 morrow.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Weekend Warrior

I return to work 2night and that is both good and bad.


The good...well, it's work. That means I am drawing a paycheck and taking care of the family.


The bad...well, it's work. That means elevated stress levels and aggravation.


Also good, I come up with boat loads of ideas when I'm there. Maybe I'll come up with something to get me out of the rut I'm in right now.


Also bad...well, see line 3.


Anyway, I have been investigating Google Books. I'm curious. I may try to upload my present collection into it this weekend to see if I can get past it's interface.


I guess I'll be a weekend warrior.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Better than nothing at all

A late posting is better than nothing at all.


I did not get anything done today as I am in a rut.


I did look at google books as a means another means of distribution but I am reading horror stories about their uploading system. I read it makes Smashwords meat grinder look like child's play.


I have nothing else much to add.


A late, small posting is better than nothing at all.   

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Truth Will Set You Free

I'm halfway through Past Prologue now. I have another chapter to fit in sometimes before the end of the day and I'll be over half way through this episode.


Today, I'll talk about Truth. Truth comes in a lot of forms. I'll tell you the truth about where I am. I'm pleased at how many of you have downloaded all of my writings, and particularly satisfied with the project that I am working on right now. I must admit that it hasn't been the same since Saturday when I didn't draw any sales for Rapture after the previous two episodes had done so well on downloads. I talked about that in full in a rant the other day so I won't repeat all of it here.


I think I am suffering from a bit a fatigue as well. I've put in nearly 4000 words a day since I started back writing on Oct 11th. That is a pace that would put me near 1.5 million words a day in a calendar year. I don't want to continue at this pace. I can't continue at this pace. 


Like I said countless times before, Where are Our children was NEVER meant to be presented to the reader in this fashion. It's coming out of me. I've decided to let it come as it may. Past Prologue has been difficult, partly because the newness as worn off, partly because of what happened Saturday, and partly because of the pace I've been writing at.


I'm going to be fine. I think. For one thing, I can tell you that if you have enjoyed this story so far, then the coming episodes will knock your socks off. Past prologue doesn't have the dramatic moment like the Peacekeepers liberation of Carver like Rapture does or Serena's miraculous escape through downtown Atlanta as Deliverance does, but there are a ton of details and plot that you must not miss.


All that changes with episode 5 which will be titled Zero Hour. I get excited thinking about it. And I think that excitement will help regenerate me moving forward.


That is the truth of it precious reader.


And the truth will set you free.          

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Until We Meet Again

I finished two more chapters of Past Prologue today. I feel like I'm rolling along as I will pass the half way point of this episode by this time tomorrow. Hopefully, I will pass the half way point to this project by the end of next week as well.


In indirectly speaking of numbers, I went over the 132,000 word mark today. Wow. To think when I plotted this thing originally, my concern was NOT having enough material to complete a novel. Go figures.


The downloads of Rapture and all the Where are Our Children are coming fast and furious on Smashwords. Rapture still hasn't made it outside to other distributors as of yet. I guess the meatgrinder is backed up. I'll check in a minute and hope that it has gotten through. I don't expect any formatting issues but one never knows until it this episode's turn to try and get through.


I actually got my first download from someone on I Tunes yesterday. My fiction had done little to nothing over there so I am happy to see it. My non fiction football stuff does VERY well over there and although the reviews aren't as high as I like to see...it is wonderful to see so many people downloading them. I'm talking numbers in the thousands of downloads. I just want everybody to remember that I am expressing an OPINION in those articles. I hope that readers can appreciate my argument. I'm not asking for everyone to AGREE with me. (Though that would be nice)


Again, for you Amazon folks, make sure you price match so that all of my writings are free over on Amazon.com as well. I would love to see my stuff move up their rankings as well.


Anyway, I'm done for today. I've been enjoying my time off with my writing and putting some final touches on my short fiction that I hope to return to after Children is done.


Thanks for your attention guys, until we meet again...    

Monday, November 17, 2014

Stay Warm

I'm over my whining stage ( and the few of you who endured it are happy as well.


I got the first two chapters of Past is Prologue done. Early on I feel that this book won't be as meaty as the first three. If u guys will remember all the way back to my October post, I felt that as we approached the middle chapters the word count would come down. I still believe this.


Well, it is on to two tomorrow. It is supposed to be cold here at the house over the next couple days so that is even MORE incentive to stay inside and work on getting this next episode in your hands.


Stay tuned and Stay warm...
 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

A new Direction

Well it is actually, A new direction.


For all that can't stand long winded fluff just read the next passage and then check back in tomorrow.


I have decided that ALL my writings will be listed as FREE until I make another announcement someday down the road. (If that's all you short patient people can stand then that is all that u need to know I will speak with you tomorrow.)


For all the rest who stayed around


here this.


I knew that starting up would be slow. Gaining readership. Gaining sales. Gaining notoriety (if that is ever possible) would be a slow process. I was cool with that. Really. Until the first 24 hours I saw Rapture up with not one sale. Not one. It hurt. It did. I've spent 8 and 12 hour days on this series so far. I've given up practically everything outside of family, work and eating since Oct 11th. I've put up over 118,000 words and drummed up readership worldwide. I've regenerated readership in my other works that have been up nearly 3 years now.


Yet, not one sale.


A well known author I follow online continually tells perspective writers what a process this is. And it is. It takes most Years to put a foothold into the business. I don't want to take years. I wish I were more patient. I wish I had more courage. I wish I had more will power and time. I wish.


I work hard at the real Job. There is a lot of stress there. That doesn't make me special. All of you who are in the American workforce suffer through the same things I do. You work too many hours, with too few co workers, for too little pay, with Corporate always looking for ways to line their pockets while trying to eliminate you.


I've been blesses/cursed to work at the same place for the better part of 24 years. I will continue to work there until they say that I can no longer clock in, whether that is by death, retirement or they shut us down.


What writing has done for me is that it gave me peace during the hours that I wrote. I don't think about that place. I don't think about the family issues that all the rest of you have as well. I don't think about anything but writing and publishing.
And that was a GOOD feeling.


But having projects sitting on the shelf with big fat zeroes sitting next to them adds to the stress that I already feel.


So I had a decision to make. 1 stop writing altogether. 2 continue along the course I had laid out. 3. and the one I've decided to pursue, is to continue to write but leave the fun in it by not looking it as another source of income for me and my family. I do alright. I'm very BLESSED to be doing alright.


I have a pension coming. I have 401 k coming. Both hopefully will be there when it is time for me to retire. I'm not going to add MORE stress by waiting on the zeroes to change to sells.


So after a hurtful day yesterday and a reevaluate one today, I'm still here. I'm different. My innocence is gone, but I'm still here.


So tomorrow it is back to Where are Our Children. I hope if you've read one or all three so far that you are enjoying it. I'm enjoying putting it out there. Past Prologue is on the way. All the others are on the way.


You good folks didn't need to be subjected to this whining. Thanks for listening (reading) 


An old direction is new, a new direction is an old one.


Carry on, Gary, Carry on.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Quitting

I'm taking a day off after a maddening 24 to 48 hour session of editing and publishing.


Everything is up for purchasing except for the trade paperback of Rapture that should be up soon.


I'll admit that it is a stiff test of my resolve not to see more action of the latest installment of Where are Our Children.


It's one thing to understand that it is going to be a long process gaining readership and experiencing it after putting in so many hours and words into this latest work.


But quitters never win and winners never quit


I guess I'll quit another day.      

Friday, November 14, 2014

Three IS company after all

It's done.


Rapture will be up within hours on all of your favorite e-book sites. It clocks in at almost 40,000 words. Like I've said, the story is pouring out of me. I love that. I hate that. I love it because it had been a long time coming. I've talked about writing, researched about writing, set up writing templates...did everything but freaking writing. Well, I've done over 115,000 words in about 33 days.


I hate it because the size of this tale limits what I can do with it. One epic volume would be an epic BITCH to format. (Gary, the language) Well it's the truth. And like I said before the story itself does not work as a trilogy as I strongly considered publishing to Amazon. So here we are. Episode 3 is done and I fully expect to have Past Prologue done by this time next week.


Once again to you Amazon folks, welcome to the party. ALL your volumes will be $.99 per Amazon policy. If enough of you price match the price on the first two will fall to free. Part of me wants to see that happen because I'm likely to get higher rankings in the store because of it. The publisher half says get any and all sales that you can Now. So we'll see.


Anyway, I'm leaving here to publish it to Smashwords first. It should be available within the hour and at a fair price for what you've gotten so far.


Amazon's copy, as well as the first two in series, should be up anywhere from an hour to 12 hours from now.


I will probably publish the trade paperback version tomorrow.


Three IS company after all.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

If all else fails...

I stole some hours and edited 7 chapters today. It's late and I'll just deal with editing 2 more chapters tonight and then do the 2nd draft of the final one tomorrow. There will be a final polished edit of that one and then let all the publishing begin.


I have three to publish to Amazon and Rapture to Smashwords.


Remember Rapture is the first episode that will sold for $.99.


I'm almost there guys, stay with me.


If all else fails look for it Saturday.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Black Friday

Whew!!! It took 2 and a half writing sessions but I finished the next to last chapter in Rapture. I hope (and that is a big hop) that I can wrap up Episode 3 within the next 24 hours.


And then we are at Black Friday.


No...no...not THAT Black Friday. You're getting ahead of yourself folks. (smile)


My version of Black Friday features the single most releases by me in one day. Part of my BIG announcement is that 411-Deliverance and now Rapture will be published to Amazon on Friday. I wanted to REALLY do Amazon's version as a trilogy but the pacing just does not work as such. Novels should have a distinct opening, middle and conclusion. And you must have a clear conclusion even if you're doing the trilogy and I couldn't promise that.


I am still debating the one complete and uncut edition although it would be a MONSTER. I'm nearing 110,000 words and I am only a 3rd of the way through this tale.


So, I will publish the 9 episodes over there as well. Amazon does not allow you to put anything on its site as free unless you are in KDP. Anyone who has downloaded Where are our Children already and saw my interview on Smashwords  should know that my word stands as it is. Episodes 1,2,4,5,7, and 8 will remain free. 3,6,and 9 will sell for $.99. 


Amazon's versions will all be $.99. If you guys know how you can price match and Amazon will reduce the free ones on other sites to free on theirs as well. 


I also will be publishing the print version or Rapture as well Friday on Createspace. 


And of course, Rapture will sell on Samshwords and its family of distributors for $.99 as well.


Wish me luck, guys, I have a TON of writing and publishing to due in the next 48 hours. ( I try never to call it work. Work is what I have to do in the morning at 7am sharp.)


Black Friday is on the way...

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Amazon is coming

I finished Seth's chapter last night. I'm technically taking today off and will work on ( and hopefully) finish the next chapter before work in the morning.


If not I will work on it after the Job is done tomorrow night.


Thursday morning I will attempt to do the last chapter of Rapture edit and format Friday with the release to e book  distributors still to be determined. I'll make my mind up about some major things in the next 24 hrs so look for announcements here first.


Here is hint however.


Amazon is coming...and sooner than expected.  

Monday, November 10, 2014

A New Era

I finished Seth's only chapter in Rapture minutes ago. I made some suttee changes from the original draft that I think enhance both of the party's who dominate the scene.


Two more full chapters to go, a strong edit, and then postings Friday.


I'm going to find some way to get those audiobook codes out to people that want them. So far no one has taken advantage of it.


My fault not theirs.


A new era and a potential announcement tomorrow. I'm going to sleep on it one more night.


Till tomorrow... 

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Telling Secrets Day 3

I had a VERY successful day yesterday.


Rapture on track for a release by next weekend. Smashword copies of the first two are going well, I will check Barnes and Noble this morning. Neither have moved a copy at Kobo and ITunes. If that trend continues I will serve the audience that I have at Smashwords by NOT doing a preorder and getting an actual download in these people's hands as soon as I can.


Two more chapters and my pitiful Jags are on tap today.


In speaking of Barnes and Noble, I visited a local store for the first time in months yesterday evening. And it reminded me why I fell in love with books and reading and writing in the first place. It also reminded me how much time I've wasted NOT writing. But that is the past. This is the present and future.


Here is the audiobook download information for those interested in a FREE copy of either Waiting or Fumblerooski at audible.com. Remember the FIRST person to use either code gets the free stuff. I hope someone out there is taking advantage of this. I think it's a good deal. (smile) Remember, all I ask for in return is a fair review of the product. Reviews help products rise in status in the store. A rise in activity in the store allows me a chance to find producers for newer works. And a round and round we go.


Waiting:   7TTC82QQC5GJD             Fumblerooski:    HRL9TZJKPLCA2
  1. Go to my book's page on Audible.com: [INSERT YOUR BOOK'S LINK]
  2. Add the audiobook to your cart.
  3. Create a new Audible.com account or log in.
  4. Enter the promo code and click "Redeem" on the cart page.
  5. To change the price from full price to $0.00, click the box next to "1 Credit" and click the "update" button to apply the credit to your purchase.
  6. Complete checkout, and start listening to the free copy of the book.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Telling Secrets Day 2

Wow.


I finished the Xavier chapter that I spoke to you guys about yesterday. It is the longest chapter in the entire story so far at 33 manuscript pages. It did a lot of what I asked it to do. It gave a lot of backdrop to how A House in Chains and the Circle and the Peacekeepers work. It had tension. It had characterization and I'm hopeful that it did what is necessary for its inclusion in the book and story: It explained a lot about the past and foreshadowed the future.


I don't want to get all soapy and teary eyed today. But they say that every thing we do has a time and place. I was exhausted yesterday after my biological clock did its 180 shifting from night to days like I explained yesterday. Then to turn around and write nearly 3000 words is something I wouldn't have been mature enough to do 20 years ago. Physically it would have been far easier on me, but mentally I wouldn't have had the will to do it.


Like I said, wow.




Anyway, I am on to hopefully 2 chapters today and 2 chapters tomorrow.
We'll see.


Here are the codes for day 2.
Remember the these codes are good for ONE user each:

Waiting: 9J4QBFNQKD6MJ


Fumblerooski: GSENQDGQ2QD5J


  1. Go to my book's page on Audible.com: [INSERT YOUR BOOK'S LINK]
  2. Add the audiobook to your cart.
  3. Create a new Audible.com account or log in.
  4. Enter the promo code and click "Redeem" on the cart page.
  5. To change the price from full price to $0.00, click the box next to "1 Credit" and click the "update" button to apply the credit to your purchase.
  6. Complete checkout, and start listening to the free copy of the book.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Telling Secrets Day 1

Let's get right to it shall we:


For the rest of you guys it's TGIF or Happy Friday and don't get me wrong cause I'm glad I made it to this day as well, but it's also a day I transition from working nights to being part of the everyday else crowd. It isn't easy. No matter how much I sleep it doesn't feel like I've rested until I crash again tonight.


It also didn't help that I got a little distracted with some internet hopping this morning after work that set me back sleep wise as well. But I got over those feelings of guilt pretty quick. I've worked the hours to take care of me and mine for another week. I also, as of yesterday, went over 80,000 words total of Where are Our Children. And even though this is mostly second draft stuff and not completely fresh material, I've done this amount of writing in about 26 days. Again, nothing to sneeze at.


In speaking of Children and Rapture specifically, I'm about half way through Xavier's lone entry in this episode. I really felt the pace had picked up and the word count go down in the first two chapters in this book but Xavier's is a HUGE chapter. It has a ton of support characters as we finally have the Circle together on screen for the first time. There is a lot of backstory in this chapter. There is some plotting and foreshadowing as well. And why I am enjoying writing it, I've been about as nervous as any chapter I've put together so far.


The reason...I guess I want to be as clear as I can getting these characters and their relationships to each other and the organization across to the reader. One of my (many) faults, especially as a young writer, was my ability to tell this stuff to the reader. I understand it. I created it. But it is useless if you the reader doesn't give it. So when I originally plotted this thing 5 years ago, I wanted time and space within the plot to tell and expand on these very 2 unique groups and the two people that lead them.


I think (I hope) that Serena and Pandora came across your page or E reader as real as I could make them during her and Thomas Pepper's chapters in Deliverance. I don't want to kill the pace. I don't want to dull the story. But knowing the why that these people and these two organizations are doing the things they are is important to me.

Fast forward to the present. I feel that this Xavier chapter is the last chance to understand his and his associates side in this cold war. The pace picks up again after this chapter concludes. Their are plots shifting and characters transitioning to other parts of the overall novel. I only got a snapshot of this during the creation of its outline. I saw it better  when I wrote the first draft. I am very confident of the directions I'm heading into with this version.


Lastly, for the nest few days I will post these 10 codes that I've mentioned here before for ANY of you who wish to order a FREE copy of either Waiting or Fumblerooski from Audible. com. Once again there is no catch. But you MUST register with the site before you can download the book(s). All I ask is that after you listen to either that you give a fair review of the product. Ultimately, my goal as a publisher is to have EACH and EVERY word I write published in a three available formats: E books, trade paperback, and audio. The first is the easiest, the second takes a little more time and effort but the last is where I need help from outsiders to accomplish. Everyone is in this business to make money. The big book chains. The everyday guys and gals who write either full time or when Life offers the opportunity. And the fine folks that produce these audio book productions fall into that category as well. I've only met a handful of them online and worked specifically with two but the experience was wonderful. Yet, the only way I'm going to get ALL of my coming work to this market is generating interest from what is already there. The more sales I get on existing products, the easier it will be for me to put new stuff up and have a producer take on a project. 411 and Deliverance are waiting to find a producer as I write this. And rather they do or not, the remaining 7 books in Children WILL go up as well.


Anyway here are the first two codes and the instructions that was emailed to me.
Remember, the clock is ticking to me offering free items. The Writer in me wants to be read and enjoyed. The Publisher in me says that's wonderful, but we need to start seeing some revenue from the time and effort we are putting in this.


Anyway, here it goes:


Waiting: 9MMCRNR7ERPBB    Fumblerooski: 4Y92KGZ39M8EY


Remember the FIRST person who puts in the code gets the free copy. As you guys know, I post at different times during the day depending on my work and writing schedules.


Alright, here are the instructions.


I'm telling secrets here...
  1. Go to my book's page on Audible.com: [INSERT YOUR BOOK'S LINK]
  2. Add the audiobook to your cart.
  3. Create a new Audible.com account or log in.
  4. Enter the promo code and click "Redeem" on the cart page.
  5. To change the price from full price to $0.00, click the box next to "1 Credit" and click the "update" button to apply the credit to your purchase.
  6. Complete checkout, and start listening to the free copy of the book.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Linking Tired

I'll keep it real short today.


Remember when I gave you guys the comparison of formatting to playing video games?


Well the same thing goes for linking my Amazon available stuff to this blog.


But it was well worth it.


Sometimes technology can be wonderful, sometimes technology can be a pain in the a$$


I'm off to the Job.


I'm so linking tired...  

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

I wish

I feel good.


I got back at the writing aspect of writing and publishing, after a couple of days of putting my energy and time towards the latter. Chris opens up Rapture with a lunch meeting with his ex wife Denise, and they discuss Erica's disappearance amongst other things. I'm comfortable with the writing after taking a couple of days off.


On the publishing front, 411 and Deliverance are officially for sale in the Createspace store through amazon. I anyone would like to have a physical copy that is the place to go. Amazon itself, Barnes and Nobel online and other outlets should have it anywhere from a day from now until a couple of weeks now.


No excuses but all of this is a learning experience for me as well. Somebody out there has ordered a copy or two of my first 3 postings over there. I wish I could have them back. I wish I had used the 6x9 treatment look that these Serial Episodes are going to get.


I wish.


I also have both of these works up trying to find a producer for audiobook production of these episodes as well. I'm an optimistic person by nature, but I see this being a challenge in the making. You are talking 9 books with probably 36 to40 hours of finished recorded material.


I wish I could find a producer.


I wish I could make these books come alive in this media outlet as well.

I wish.



Tuesday, November 4, 2014

A Publisher's Job is Never Done

I've been busy, but not so much with Rapture, the 3rd installment of Where are our Children.


I've taken care quite a bit of the publishing aspect of what I do including putting up the Deliverance and 411 up on Createspace as a trade paperback. I'll check back there to see if it ready for purchases when I'm done here. It took a minute. Since I went to the standard 6 by 9 look, there was a little learning curve I went through to get it done.


I'll say this about formatting for any of you who haven't done it before. Formatting is like a great video game meaning it is loads of fun while being frustrating as heck. When it goes well, it's wonderful but when you are struggling with it you want to toss your computer across the room. Between what I did last night and putting deliverance up as an e-book Sunday night, I must have spent 6 or 7 hours with the process. That doesn't include moving my stuff around from one distributor to another  this morning.


It is all well and good though. I learned a lot. And with the publishing schedule I'm putting together for the future the frequency that I do this won't cause these gaps in memory and repetition it takes to get it done.


Ah, yes I looked at my outline for Children and it just doesn't work as a trilogy. I wanted it to. I really did. Novels have a specific starting, middle, and ending that knowledgeable readers expect. You should also provide a sense of closure for each book no matter if it is trilogy or a series of novels. I couldn't pull that off with Children being presented that way. The publisher of me wanted to give it a try especially because of all the reasons I mentioned to you guys yesterday. In the entrainment world we are taught to think in three's. And it would have been nice to have 3 revenue streams up at Amazon than 1. Also, the sheer size of this book is going to scare some folks off no matter how much of a bargain the reader thinks the price is. But in the end, the writer said no. I can get away with the odd pacing in spots that these Episodes provide, because they are exactly that--episodes.


So Amazon readers can expect one big (and I mean big) Complete and uncut edition soon after the 9th and final episode Whirlwind appears on Smashwords. 


Anyway, I'm off to check on those files at Createspace. Someone...somewhere is buying a few copies of my work that is over there. I don't know where but thank you all the same.


Alright, off I go, a publisher's job is never done. (smile)

Monday, November 3, 2014

On the Way

Just some reminders.


Deliverance is up on Smashwords again for anyone who didn't catch my late night posting. I expect it to go through to the other premium e bookstores in 24 hours or so. I don't anticipate having the issues getting through the meat grinder as I did with 411.


That is in the past now, so on to present decisions to make and I will try not to be long winded about it. Once again, Children was created, plotted and the first draft written, with all the intentions of being one novel. As I've posted before, the 1st draft clocked in at 144,000 words. I'm at over 70,000 words already with 411 and Deliverance which are the first 20 chapters of the original 90 chapter novel. Its left me with decisions to make- with the 9 E-book presentation at Smashwords the first of these decisions.


Now, I'm torn. I'm going to look at my outline (probably for the 100th time) tonight and make a judgment to whether I will make Amazon's publishing a single epic copy or a trilogy. The three book idea would make the paperback and possibly the audiobook copies easier to produce and market. I've learned (as you probably have) that when it comes to entertainment, that things come in 3's. Movies, books and even musical groups tend to be in trios. Anyway, if (and that is a BIG if) the outline tells me that I can pull this off as a trilogy, I will lean towards doing Children for Amazon this way.


The 9 book presentation is working for Smashwords. I'm going to finish what I've started there. But it is my responsibility as a publisher to explore all options. One thing I know for sure is that I will know a lot more about my direction after Rapture is completed.


In speaking of Rapture, this conversation comes in at a good time because I did mention talking about the future. I will be back at it early in the morning with the second draft of those next 10 chapters that will encompass the 3rd episode.


I won't give it all away but I think you the reader will get a lot of bang for your buck. You finally meet Chris ex wife Denise. Joseph Champion makes his first appearance on scene and he is a man who might draw a little interest from Pandora, A House in Chains, and the FBI. Dr. Seth Dupree reappears and Roxanne Sanchez makes a bigger discovery than she anticipated.


But all that is another day...and a pre order. (smile)


For now, enjoy 411 and Deliverance and anything else of mine you may come across.


Ah...in speaking of that, remember that audio books of Waiting and Fumblerooski: How the NCAA Dropped the Ball on the Coming Playoff are available for FREE on audible.com. There is NO catch to this. You email me. I email you the code. You sign up as a user over there, put in the code and get either or both audio books for free. All I ask ( And it is a request and nothing more) is that you leave a fair review on audible. com. 


Thanks everybody for your time, attention, and downloads, of course.


There is so much more on the way...       

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Up Up and Away

I really don't have time for this. (smile)


As soon as I leave you guys I'm off to format and then post Deliverance to Smashwords and many of your favorite E Book outlets.


Remember this episode is FREE so enjoy.


I'm pleased with how it turns out I hope you all feel the same.


Episode 3 is coming and it will be a pre order item and will be $.99.


One last thing 411 and my other works are still available as well. I'm extremely pleased at the life that has been breathed into Waiting as of late. We all remember our first. And Waiting was my story that I ever completed and my first professional sale.


Enough about the past tonight.


Lets move on to the future.


Up Up and Away

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Upset Special

I'm usually long winded on this blog, but time and the Job haven't allowed it over the past few post. (And I know most of you are happy about that.)  


Anyway, tonight's piece will be short as well, although most of us in the US will enjoy an extra hour of sleep tonight.


I have three of the 10 chapters completed for Deliverance with more headed for the editing stage after I speak with you guys. Roxanne's lone entry in this installment is far from perfect, but I finally worked out her history to the point of my satisfaction. I'm very pleased. Its something that has been bugging the heck out of me for 4 years.


So again, with no unexpected delays, I expect Deliverance to be delivered to Smashwords by no later than Monday so look for it early next week at your favorite e-book outlet except Amazon which will be a while longer.


Other announcements:  Both 411 and Deliverance should be ready in print format early next week.


I have decided that I will option Where are our Children in this type of format for audio books as well. Now finding a producer may be difficult, we'll see.


Alright, that is it for tonight.


Well, it turned out a little longer than I thought when I started.


I guess just the results of the Florida-Georgia game here in Duval...


It was an upset special. 

Friday, October 31, 2014

When your wrong just SAY your wrong

I'm going to have to pull out some special measures to get the polish of Deliverance done by the end of the weekend.


But I'm going to get it done.


I also will be putting 411 and Deliverance on Createspace for paperback lovers by the end of the weekend as well.


Now to where I screwed up.


I look at my key words which are fine, but I think I CATEGORIZED it wrong. Where are our Children has mystery element. It has elements of suspense. But at its heart it would better be served as Literary Fiction. Now whether it ACTUALLY IS Literary or not is up to the reader to decide.


I'm going on the site when I leave here and adjust it a little.


When your wrong, just say your wrong.  

Thursday, October 30, 2014

ain't quitin

It has been one of those days that Life get in the way.


WAY in the way.


I don't have a lot to add otherwise.


I'm gonna get through is.


I ain't quitin.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Just Call me Jimmy

It took two sessions, but I finished the next to last chapter of the second episode. My goal is to write the last one tomorrow and spend a day or two with the polish before the upload to Smashwords.


Now for some notes:


I will be going over the 70000 word mark for the entire story when I finish the final chapter. I am a bit surprised that this second volume is bigger that the first, but it is just that.


I STILL expect that number to come down over the next few episode.


I will be formatting 411 and Deliverance for Create Space on Amazon as well on the day that they go up to Smashwords.


Lastly for today, I got an email from ACX and Audiable.com about FREE downloads of my two audiobooks: Waiting and Fumblerooski how the NCAA dropped the ball on the coming playoff. They are giving away redeeming coupons so that you can go to the audible.com website and download the audiobook for FREE saving you 6 bucks. I'm going to leave my email on here and the FIRST of you who would like the codes for one or both books are welcome to them. The only thing that I ask (I said ask not demand) is that you leave a fair review of both story and production. This kind of thing means a lot to me and the two producers who worked to bring the books to life.


My email is gsapp14145@gmail.com.


I will take request until all the FREE coupons are gone are the offer runs out. I honestly just glanced at the email today while I was on the Job. So I really need to read up on it a more. Don't be shy hit me with an email and I'll get those cards out to you as soon as I get back to this computer.


Just call me Jimmy, I'll take what they give me.   

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

gone streakin

Unless something happens that I am not expecting, my writing streak will be broken today.


I've got too many Life things to attend to that are too important to ignore. But I will be back at it in the morning trying everything I can to bet Episode 2 in readers hands by the weekend.


Oh yea, 411: Episode 1 of Where are our Children is up in the ITunes store.


I hope you all enjoy it.


In the meantime, tomorrow I will gone streakin again.

Monday, October 27, 2014

The Greatest Oppurtunity of All

I got a little sleep today, so I'll try not to be so grouchy in my post. (smile)


I have very little good news today. But I thought I would start with it first. I finished Thomas' chapter this afternoon, which means I have two more to go before the second draft of Deliverance: Episode 2 of Where are our Children is ready to be polished, formatted, and uploaded.


Right now this episode is looking to be a little bigger than 411 was. I'm on pace for 270000 words for the entire finished project, though I expect that number to go down as I move along. I know, I have said that before. Thanks 4 reminding me. (smile)


I've made a couple of executive decisions. I will make each one of these Episodes a trade paperback through Createspace. I don't think they are going to print something in one volume that is approaching 300000 words.


The audio book and Amazon editions will be in one volume that I will call: Where are our Children: Complete and uncut.


Now on to the NOT so good. Life is trying to get in the way. I managed to write for the 16th consecutive day today and I hope that streak continues. But if anyone of you has ever worked nights, you know how difficult the transition is when you reach that first day off is. Well, add to it that I have a serious appointment to deal with tomorrow afternoon and have to start a stretch of 5 straight 12 hour days after that. My bank account will look good next week. I probably won't. ( Insert your own private joke here, folks.)


Finally, the good folks at Smashwords did email me back saying that Apple and ITunes had some glitches late last week. 411 is still not up. I missed an entire weekend of potential readership over there at the second largest audience for eBooks in the world.  


Technology can be wonderful, technology can be a pain in the a$$.


Anyway, at least I'm showing some growth. I 'm showing some maturity in my writing. In the past I would have used a setback like this as an excuse to quit. I'm not doing that (yea for me!!). I'm still writing. I'm still publishing.


I'm using these challenges and setbacks as if they were the greatest opportunity of all.


Because they are just that.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

The Good, The bad, And the ugly

I'm still tired.


I told you guys yesterday that today would test my streak of 15 days consecutively writing. It would mark the first time in my 45 years that I put pen to pad, (or fingers to keyboard) as it may. Well the good is that the streak is alive. I actually pounded out over 3000 words in just over 3 hours.


Alright, the bad news is that I didn't finish Thomas second entry in Deliverance.  The chapter is a lot bigger than it appears on my Kindle. Anyway, there is a ton of important talk in this section that when this thing is released, that I think you guys will enjoy. I'm enjoying writing it, though I admit to being a little fatigued.


In other Bad news, 411 still hasn't appeared on I Tunes. I stopped long enough so send a polite email to the good folks about it. I would think it would be there. These things happen. Technology is can wonderful. Technology can be a pain in the a$$.


Last not on that front, the downloads are coming very well at B&N.


Finally, the ugly, well that has to be my Jags. (yuck)
Maybe, just maybe, that will get change some day soon.


You can always count on the good, the bad, and the ugly to so just that.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Battle Hardened

I'm tired.


Sleepy.


That first night of graveyard is always tough and I aint 25 anymore. (smile)


I still got up and completed another chapter. In fact, including the first draft of this novel, this is the most consecutive days of writing I've done in my entire life. I'm going to stop a sec and acknowledge that achievement.


Alright, the acknowledgment is over. Time goes back tonight, which I will be working a 13 hour shift tonight and have my pitiful Jags to tune into tomorrow. This presents a clear and present danger to my streak, but I'm going to get it done...somehow.


411 is online at most retailers, although I Tunes still didn't have it up the last time I checked this morning. I hope that it is by this writing. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing how it does over there. 


Anyway, back this war of attrition with this serial tomorrow. It's going to be my biggest challenge so far, but I am battle hardened. 

Friday, October 24, 2014

Short and Sweet

I'm going to promise to keep this posting short and sweet. Here it goes...
 
Since I last posted, I've finished Serena and Xavier's latest chapters. This story is expanding beyond anything I would have ever imagined and I'm enjoying watching where the chips are falling.


I have four more chapters to go on Deliverance, they will all need a final polish and formatting before they are uploaded.


I am returning to work tonight, so Life as I call it will get in the way little. No more 8 or 12 hour sessions on the serial for awhile. But I am holding myself to at least a chapter s day, which will put the upload in the middle of next week if I don't hit any hiccups.


Alright, I did it, I kept  the posting short and sweet today. I only I could do this with this story...

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Long Winded

I'm posting early today because Life is going to get in the way of my writing a little today. I finished Xavier's 2nd chapter a few minutes ago and somehow...someway will get another Serena chapter done before bed tonight.


I'll say this: I'm done fighting myself about the word count. The last two chapters rivaled some of the earlier chapters that many of you have in your hands right now. It was A LOT of backstory to these character that is important as the main story moves forward. many readers may disagree with me and that's fine. But this isn't padding on my part. Remember, 6 of these 9 episodes are listed as FREE. and with the other three going for only $.99 a piece there isn't a lot of royalty in this for me even if this serial sells like crazy. (smile)


Anyway, everyone across all outlets should have the new covers and back matter in my first three works as they all went through the meatgrinder successfully yesterday. I made another round of modifications on 411 yesterday and I'm cautiously optimistic that everyone out there (Other than Amazon Kindle Exclusive folks) will have a copy burning their fingers by this weekend if they wish.


I CAN by so long winded at times...   

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Technical difficulties

I don't usually post to the blog until after I'm completed with whatever I'm trying to accomplish for the day but I'll make an exception today. (smile)




I competed 2nd drafts of two chapters and have plans to do one more after completing this blogging. Theses are the first two chapters of Deliverance: Episode 2 of 9 of the Where are our Children (Serial) but chapter 11 and 12 respectively in the original novel. Other than you guys who go to Smashwords for your fiction, you don't have an earthly idea what I'm talking about since a couple of technical difficulties but I'll touch on these in a paragraph or two down. For now let's focus on how the writing itself is coming.




Just like I suspected, the word count is coming down. 411clocked in at over 35,000 words. I don't suspect any of the remaining 8 books to finish over 15000 words each but we will see. I also predicted the first Roxanne chapter to be a bitch...and well it is just that. There is an important back story in there, that I never quite made clear to myself the first time around and I'm paying a price for it now. Anyway, I just wanted to get it out of my head and unto the paper, which I did this morning. I'll work on it some more tonight because it has to be right before I publish this 2nd episode.


I faced a similar issue with Seth's back story but I have most his issues worked out. I hinted at it but I didn't reveal it (as you readers can tell) if you've already yet, since his first chapter was already running long anyway. It's coming. Be patient.    


I finished Thomas second chapter as it went relatively smooth but will need touching up.


I got a Serena chapter to start and finish after I'm done here.


Oh yea, back the technical difficulties. I got a little (lot) frustrated with technical stuff yesterday. There is an issue over amazon and its family of publishing houses that I have to attend to this afternoon. Although I am happy how well all of my new covers for my first three books came out over there. I did them as well for the Smashwords family but I had other glitches occur on me with the uploads, so gain everything is delayed going out to the major retailers. A very small error cost me on 411 that I fixed and I'm hoping folks outside of the main page get to start downloading it as soon as today. I'm curious at what the numbers will look like. Again, it is by FAR been my most successful publication so far. Again, I thank each and EVERY reader. I hope you enjoy it.


Alright it is back to it, and I'm hoping technical difficulties don't keep my writing away from you.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

One Last Look Back

I decided to take a full day off from writing for a couple reasons.


I was mentally and physically drained after that marathon yesterday of editing and formatting. I hadn't published anything in over a year, so Smashword's standards lead to some head scratching if you haven't done it in a while.


Actually, that leads me to my second topic first. I felt so positive about the formatting that I reformatted and put added new covers to my three previous works: Waiting, Fumblerooski, and The Gospel According to John. All three have a table of contents, superior formatting than the versions that came before them, and new back matter that mentions all my present and near future releases.


Look, I understand that these 3 works have made zero dollars for me since they were published. They are my first 3 babies however. I love them. And they also serve as a means to introduce readers to my newer work coming up in Where are our Children and beyond.


Now, onto that present and near future I was talking about. I won't get into specific numbers but 411: Episode 1 of Where are Our Children has had more downloads in its first 12 hours than my previous 3 works combined. I thank EACH and EVERY reader. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.


Smashwords is the only outlet it is available at the moment of this writing but that should change rapidly over the next few hours and days.


Remember, a fair review is always helpful and appreciated by any Indie Author.


On to the future, but the one last look back was nice...    

Monday, October 20, 2014

Signed, Sealed, Deilvered, it's Yours.

What a day.


I spent a total of 12 hours editing and formatting 411: The first episode of The Where our are Children Series.


I'm exhausted!!!


I'm very excited!!!


A note to readers, as I've stated before, Episodes 1,2,4,5,7, and 8 will be available at Smashwords and your other favorite retailers (besides Amazon) for free. Episodes 3,6, and 9 will sell for $.99 a piece.


The Smashwords version is ready for download today. I am confident that ITunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo will have their versions before the weekend.


Again, the Amazon version will be ready almost the same day as the release of Whirlwind: The 9th and final episode on Smashwords.


More release news: Fumblerooski, How the NCAA fumbled the ball on the coming playoff is available as an audio book on Audible.com. It should be ready in day on Amazon and ITunes. I suspect my Twelve Worlds Novelette should be ready on all three formats in day as well. On the audio front as well, I am strongly considering offering The Gospel According to John: How Elway saved us from Tebow, his media cronies and an insufferable fan base as well. I will make that decision by this weekend.


A couple of final notes before I sign off for today, my first three works will probably go off line for a few hours while I resubmit the back matter showing my newest and upcoming releases. (I have to market where I can. (smile) ) 


A special thank you goes to Miss  Corrine Elletson Kilgore. I haven't published to Smashwords in over a year and I wouldn't have got through the meatgrinder without your videos on YouTube. Thank you. 


I will be back hard at writing ( I never want to refer to this as working) Deliverance: Episode 2 either tomorrow or Wednesday.  I don't anticipate any of the remaining Episodes to be as nearly as long as the 35,000 word monster available to you guys right now.


Anyway, at least I have a few things out there for you guys to enjoy. It's signed, sealed, delivered...It YOURS.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Manic Monday

411, the first episode of The Where are our Children Serial Novel is done.


Well, kind of.


The second draft clocked in at over 34,000 words for 10 chapters.  That's nearly 350,000 word total, epic fantasy like numbers for a completed novel. Again, I don't see the finished product finishing nearly that high, but I'm not going try to condense it. The words are flowing as I had intended them to. This is what I want. And I'm having a ball doing it. That's something that I NEVER thought I would say about writing again. 


Anyone, Monday is going to be CRAZY. I'm going into polish mode, waxing this draft until I can make it shine, then try and format it and then make it fit through Smashword's meatgrinder tomorrow night.


Wish me luck...I'm going to need it.


In the meantime, I  designed the covers for the first 10 stories that I like to bill as Short Tales of Fiction, with a 5 volume cover and a 10 volume cover. 12 releases all together in this first wave. Each short tale will appear as a stand alone story, then it will appear again in within a 5 story volume, and one final time in a 10 story volume. I'll explain more about all of this series as we get closer to it's release. This series begins immediately after A House of Chains is completed.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Telling Secrets

Another early posting, after a marathon 4 hour writing session that netted me over 4000 words in Xavier's first chapter. I can't tell you that it is my best chapter, ultimately that is up to you, the reader to decide, but it flowed out of me easier than anything I've rewritten so far. One reason, I gather is that I could tell that I had reached a certain comfort level by this time around the first time I wrote the first draft.






Anyway, after I complete this blog and some other publishing things, I'm probably putting the computer down for the rest of the day and kick my feet up and watch so college football during the day and some hockey tonight. I think I've earned the break.






I've redone my interview on Smashwords for anyone who would like to venture over there for a peek. I talk a lot about this novel. I even give some insights about some of the characters.




I'm gonna try and upload a picture of the cover for 411, the first episode in the Where are our Children Serial so you guys can get a look see. I tried it yesterday but the computer kept freezing up. I don't know whether it was my computer or blogger. So no promises...




But get a look at the interview. I tell a little bit about the process over there.






And I share a few secrets...

Friday, October 17, 2014

Keep on Moving on

I posting a bit early today, with a day off from work, I'm doing some things a little different than my last few working days.




Anyway, I noticed I didn't post my word count the other day and I'm going to stop that for a bit. Again, the first draft of this novel is already completed. I'm adding new prose in spots, and taking it away in others. It is running long right now, though Chris' first chapter is the first one I've done a second draft on that felt close to a 'normal' chapter size.



Word count is going to be important to me moving forward, but I will post the WHY to that later on. It's a doozy. One project at a time, though. After hitting a rough patch in Seth's first chapter, I really felt back on track writing Chris POV.



Oh Yea, I guess its time to explain this Chris chapter...Angel chapter stuff...


George R R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy book series is the best prose I've ever read. Period.  One of the things that causes of very complex story to flow easier is how Martin titles his chapters after is Point of View (POV) characters. He says he adapted the template from one of his favorite writers Jack Vance as I adopted it from Martin.



I'm not trying to be Martin. I will NEVER be that good. But the POV approach to storytelling works well for me in telling Where are our Children. I hope it works well for readers as well.




Barring some unforeseen setback I can see the first episode of this 9 part arc published  to Smashwords late Monday. I haven't put anything through their meatgrinder in a while so I can't honestly speak to how long after that it starts to appear at retailers.  



I feel good today.




I keep on moving on...

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The Price of Success

The Where are our Children Serial Novel will be priced this way: Episodes 1,2,4,5,7 and 8 will be available for free, while the remaining parts 3,6, and the finale number 9 will be priced at $.99 a piece. That's $2.99 (if I'm figuring my math correctly-- and that is a big if) for the entire story which I think more than fair.


I've given my first three works: Waiting ( A Twelve Worlds Novelette), Fumblerooski, and The Gospel According to John for free on over outlet except Amazon, which doesn't allow it, all for over a year now. It's old news that I never thought I would write again. So it didn't bother me to leave these titles that way. I wanted to be read and I have. I want to have compensation for being read. So these titles will remain at their current pricing for the foreseeable future. But it is time to grow this thing. So all titles published will be priced at least at  $.99. I hope to have a lot to offer over the next few weeks, months and years.


In speaking of those older titles: All three are available in paperback editions through Amazon and Createspace and are priced at $5.99 each. Waiting and Fumblerooski should be for sale as audiobooks any day now. And I leaning towards having The Gospel According to John produced as well, even though I'm sure it won't have even an hour's running time.


Here's my current scheduled pricing template:


Short Tales of Fiction $.99
A bundle of five stories $2.99
A bundle of ten stories $3.99
Where are our Children (Novel Version) $2.99
Createpace Editons of a bundle of ten stories: TBD
Audiobook Editions of a bundle of ten stories: TBD
Where are our Children (Createspace) TBD
Where are our Children (Audiobook) TBD


I'll announce each and every release and reminder of price here, on twitter, and my Facebook page.


There is a price to pay for success.


I'm reaching for it.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Createspace and Audiobook

Before I get to the third and final part of my "Big" announcement about what happened to me last night. I got in around 800 words which puts me over 20000 for the rewrite so far. But for the first time since I restarted my writing (remember my blog entry on the 11th) I really hit what I've come to call my Wall of Criticism. Anyone who has done anything creative knows what I mean: This is stupid, do you know how many people try and fail at his, know one is ever going to buy what you are selling.


Well, I fought through it. I still have the last have of Seth's first chapter to finish then it will be Chris' first chapter. I'm going to do some more errands, finalize some covers for the Smashwords serial edition, and hit the sack. I'll get up before work and do actual writing in the morning, with some luck in that regards.


As for the final part of the announcement, I will publish what I'm going to title:  the Where are our Children Complete and Uncut on Createspace (print on demand for anybody who doesn't know) and the audiobook version which will be available through Amazon, Audible. com, and ITunes.


This final version will feature the Smashwords entry plus the epigraphs that I've created throughout the book. With the project split up during the serial they felt like they were causing a disconnect and in the Amazon version they don't fir either because that entry will reader fast the first version. The final version will present this novel as I've always intended it to be presented.


By the way, if you don't know what an epigraph is look up authors like Karen Traviss or Frank Hebertts' Dune series. Nobody in the business uses these fascinating way of sneaking information, plot and suspense in better than these two.


Fiction Words: 800
Covers Designed: 11

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Amazon

Part 2of my announcement is that in an addition to the Serial Smashwords  version, there will be an Amazon Exclusive Addition. This version will be a single, leaner version than the previous edition. I know for sure that it will start in a different place but will conclude in the same spot.


Again, it is important to ME to tell this tale initially as it came to me four years ago. There is nothing wrong with this tale told this way. The serial offers me a chance to expand it without worrying about pace. It also allows a meaty enough download for a reader to feel that he got enough for his time.   The amazon version will drive the same plot in a more streamlined manner. Some of the back stories will be omitted, for the sake of pace.    


One more part to this announcement tomorrow.


Fiction Words: 2400 est
Covers Made: 0

Monday, October 13, 2014

Serial novel

After I thought about it overnight, I decided the big announcement should be broken up into 3parts over three days.


BIG ANNOUCEMENT #1 I is that Where are our Children will be a Serial Novel for Smashwords and their family of retailers. It will be told in 9 parts with the first episode being published early next week.


Why you may ask?


Well, when I wrote the original first draft it clocked in at over 144,000 words. Whoa, I said.  5 chapters into the 2nd draft of this puppy and I logged over 16500 words already. If I'm doing my math right, I'm at 3300 a chapter meaning my 90 chapter book will finish somewhere underneath 300000 words.


Again, Whoa.


First, I know that won't happen because I knew these initial had a lot of set up in them. The more I look back at this thing, the more I realize it's a pretty dense plot. Yet, straight forward enough. There are no more chapters in the novel bigger than those I've already rewritten. I know this. So this average per chapter will start to fall somewhere soon.


Anyway, I promised myself that I would finish this thing. The second promise I made to myself is that I would let go. And letting it go means writing this thing as its coming to me.  And I have let go...to a point.


Tune in tomorrow for the 2nd part of this big announcement. I've got more to say on this...


Rewritten Fiction: Approx 3600 words.
Covers Designed: 1
 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Serial

The "lite" version of my birthday celebration went well. What I mean by that is that my bride and I took a trip last month, our first (and hopefully) venture of the country. So with her birthday in August we kind of wrapped both of the events and expenses around that trip to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. So we just went and saw Denzel Washington's latest flick and had an inexpensive lunch and came back to the house around 4:30 pm with a smile on both our faces.


I had full intentions of doing some work: Setting up a tumblr, facebook, twitter and other social networking outlets as well as looking over the State of Florida's mandates about running a small business but never got around to it as I started writing right away. Back to that in a minute. As far as the social networking goes, I've decided that I need a presence on each platform but I'm going to spend very little time there. The idea is to blog daily here, copy and paste, and link it to the other sites. My chances at success with plan are about an average number of sales against a high volume of production. That's it. It's that simple. It's that challenging. My storytelling ability and production abilities will ultimately decide how successful this venture truly is. More specifics on this on a later date, (smile)


Like I said, I started writing at 4:30 pm and if you take a few potty and stretching breaks I'd put up 7677 words by the time a dropped into bed at 2am. I only WISH that was a typo. Again, these are not original words. This is this novel's second draft. But I've never written that much prose in a single day in my life.


The bad news is...if there is EVER bad news with that kind of production, is that I only finished Serena's first chapter, which is the novel's third chapter if you count the Prologue (which I do.) Then Thomas first chapter engulfed the remainder of that 7000 plus word count. Yikes!


When I originally wrote the first draft 4 years ago, I felt these early chapters ran long. I will say that I see very little fluff in them. This novel had a lot of plot. Whether that plot pushes the story, you the ready will have to decide.


Anyway, when I started this project up again, I promised myself I would let the chips fall where they may, or I my critical voice would interfere, I would never finish it, and I would set it aside forever. I don't want to do that.


I've been long winded again. I'm going to work on the first Angel chapter today. I don't expect 7000 words but who knows? I'm going to stop the writing aspect long enough to watch my beloved but pitiful Jaguars while setting up those social sites as I scream and yell at my TV, then back to writing as much as I can stand before I return to the Job tomorrow.


Note: A major announcement is coming tomorrow.
Stay tuned.


Fiction Words Produced: 7677
Where are our Children to date: 12874
No Covers Made