Back to the Grind, yet Standing Still

Follow-up: So both The Ferryman: An Opus Wright Novel and The Burden of Immortality are out for final review right now. I've also received the new cover for Ferryman and am pending the initial cover for Burden. In addition, I've commissioned the drawing I want to use for my series of 9 epic fantasy books and am getting a cover done for my A Romance Novel book. In all, things are progressing well concerning book covers and reviews.

Counter to this, however, is my writing. Edits on A Romance Novel have come to a stand-still and I've all but stopped writing my newest novel Child of Need because my motivation is at an all time low. I've even contemplated a new chapter in my series of 9 books which should make things move smoother through the beginning, but don't have the energy to even begin that project. Maybe soon I'll get some of my energy back, but right now I think all the effort I've put into self-publishing is taking its toll. And though I'm happy because of it, it's been quite the drain.

Cover Drawing for Shadow Gods, epic fantasy:

GenCon is Over

So now that's it's been a few days (days of recovery) since GenCon Indianapolis, I feel it's time for me to give a bit of a summary on the entire proceedings.

First off, it was easier to man the booth than I suspected, though it would've been nice to have some company and a little of relief at times so I couldn't done some shopping, grabbed lunch, or hit the restroom from time to time. Still, the people in the booths next to me were good enough to provide some assistance, so that helped.

Second, concerning the other authors, they were great. The authors near me were fantastic people. In fact, the author across the aisle from me lives in Yelm, WA, which is all of 30 miles from my house. Most of the other authors were either local to Indianapolis, from Chicago, or from Cincinnati. Best of all, they were all very encouraging, relating their past experiences with both GenCon and other conventions they've attended. To someone willing to listen (me), it was an eye-opening montage of information. What I learned most, however, was that not a single author makes enough in sales to actually cover their costs at these things. Though I kind of already knew this, it was the confirmation I needed to know it's not just me, but all of us, who are trying to make it in a business with is now flooded due to self-publishing being so readily available.

Third, concerning the people, they were a good crowd. Unfortunately, most of the people at the convention were only there to game. After all, GenCon labels itself as the 'Best 4 Days of Gaming' which is exactly what it is. The ENTIRE convention center is dedicated toward gaming with only a small area actually used for vendors, like myself. Because of this, maybe a quarter of the people attending make it into the vendor area and maybe only 20 percent of those made it back to were the artists and authors were. This made traffic kind of light through our section, so everyone of the authors sold less than they expected. It was a bit disparaging on the first day, but each day garnered more traffic and in turn more sales. So it wasn't all bad.

Overall, it was a great event, though I'm unlikely to do it again. We'll see though.

For some other news, I've finished edits on Ferryman and will be sending it out for another review shortly. I'm also expecting edits back shortly on Burden of Immortality. And since those are both out of my hands at the moment, I'm beginning to work on editing of my romance novel (well, rewriting it is more likely the case). Anyway, things are rolling along smoothly and hopefully both Burden and Ferryman will be out by the end of September. I'll keep you informed.

Smiles....

Progress Being Made

So I've been a little bit busy lately working on several projects: self-publishing Beginnings-A Jeremiah Stone Novel through CreateSpace, editing The Ferryman-An Opus Wright Novel which should be out shortly, and rewriting The Burden of Immortality from the correct point-of-view. Considering all this, I pleased to say Beginnings is out and the editing/rewriting is complete and both those books should be out shortly. I'm very excited.

On another note, I'm preparing for GenCon Indianapolis which will occur between Aug 15-19. I have a booth there to promote my books and have shipped three boxes full out there and will have to hand-carry the rest of the stuff. Wish me luck since I think I'm doing the convention pretty much by myself. That's 40,000 people I hope to coral to my writing, though I'll be happy with just getting two thousand to come by and take a business card. I also don't want to return with books, so I hope to sell the 80+ I shipped.

Now, for a bit of The Ferryman, here's the Prelude I wrote. It's simple, concise, and leads directly into the story:

The demon Hades wants a servant. Someone who can do his bidding, yet appear independent. Someone completely unattached to him and to the world. Someone he can mold and manipulate from afar. Someone without a sense of morality, who can kill without a second thought. Someone he can develop into an angel and demon killer. Someone who believes Hades isn't as he appears.

He believes he’s found that person in Shawn Patrick, a man who has just recently lost his sense of life. However, as the episode plays out, Hades knows he’s wrong. Shawn Patrick isn't the perfect candidate. In fact, he’s found someone better. Someone…younger.

Behind Schedule

So I'm a little bit behind schedule on publishing my next two books. I realize I set my goal a little too ambitiously, but I didn't know editing was going to take quite so long. Because of that, Beginnings and The Ferryman will be out a couple months late, but still by mid-August (I hope). The good news is the books are better because of the additional time spent re-reading and re-editing. In addition, the book after these two, The Burden of Immortality, should be coming out early. I just completed my second edit of the book and am about to send it off for another review. Excited to see some things come together more quickly than I thought.

For those of you who have read Jeremiah Stone, Limbus, and Azazel (all part of the Jeremiah Stone trilogy), be glad to know Beginnings and The Ferryman are both prequels, though The Ferryman concerns the character Opus Wright and its quite the page turner. As for The Burden of Immortality, its a stand alone novel that will have you guessing until the end. Here's a taste of each:

Beginnings: Skirting the law while skipping between Ivy League schools in search of himself, Jeremiah finally finds someone who accepts him for who he truly is. This love, however, is short-lived as his latest interlude raises more than just the police’s curiosity. Within weeks, he’s on the run again with only one safe option to turn too, but can he manage to endure his choice while surviving the initiation process or will he lose himself within the folds of the mafia with powerful enemies on all sides. His life hangs in the balance as both friends and enemies weigh their options against a quick profit. In a last ditch play, he returns to the one person who might love him in return. The only question he has is will she accept where his choices have led him while knowing the danger he’s in or will she turn away like so many others. More importantly, can he live with himself if he puts her in danger? Unfortunately, it’s not his decision as external forces converge around him in an explosive confrontation.

The Ferryman: Brian Dalton thought he was going to survive his genius with only a resentful childhood, but when his parents are murdered in front of him, his life takes an odd change for the worse. Now, obsessed with Death, Brian is pulled into the CIA who’s more than willing to use his abilities to their advantage in a massive mole hunt. Brian, however, has other plans as he uses his mental prowess and new-found skills to commit a string of murders against his own personal enemies. But no one’s perfect, Brian realizes as he taunts an up-and-coming FBI agent’s morals who starts to close the noose around the killings. Disappearing under his CIA cover, Opus Wright, Brian temporarily escapes as his superiors are pulled into the mix while he struggles to stay one step ahead of everyone in a game he’s still learning. With his plans on the verge of backfiring, he wonders if his fascination with Death will prove to be his savior or his downfall.

The Burden of Immortality: Drazan Cvetko hates his life. He was meant for better than this, but pulling himself out of the gutter isn't easy. This all changes when his father dies and an old acquaintance delivers to him his father’s encrypted journal. Yet, despising everything the journal means to him, Drazan begins to painstakingly unmask his father’s latest archaeological discovery. Unfortunately, it’s not the only journal of his fathers out there and other people, people far beyond his understanding of wealth and power, want what’s contained within the scribbled pages. So, fighting his better judgment, Drazan launches himself into the middle of something he can’t begin to comprehend for the sake of what; a chance at immortality. Is it enough to risk his life for? Maybe the better question is what does he have to give up to acquire it?

Moods

If you've been keeping up with my blog then you know I've been editing Burden (my last completed project). The edits have been rough, but now the story has become readable. Moreover, the man character begins to show his personality, his drive, and it all has to do with conveying the mood he's in. Whether is fear or elation, dread or hate; he's now recognizing his motivation, something he hasn't done before. Because of that, he's filling out as a person you my endear to or come to sympathize with. By the end, I hope you understand his choice and, under his circumstances, make the same choice yourself. It's a stretch, but living the person's life, feeling the person's loves and hates, and understanding his moods only enables you to become a step closer to being that person. That's the difference I'm making now in my edits.

Now for something different:

I’m sad you’re so far away from my heart,

I can’t begin to count the days we've been apart.

Joy has left me as worry starts to take its toll,

Filling this aching deep within my lonely soul.

Will you remember me, will I lighten your step,

Or will I just banish what little we have left?

Now I begin to count the days we've been apart,

And I’m sad you’re so far away from my heart.