Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Closets, on Sale! For $2.99!
My ebook for children, Closets, will be on sale today on the SynergEbooks website for only $2.99. Wow, what a bargain! I'm tempted to go get one myself.
So what are all of you waiting for? Rush off to SynergEbooks to buy a riveting tale of two boys who fight back against the monsters who come from their closets. Go on. Make an author happy.
Pretty-pleeeeezzze?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Ad Astra Done for Another Year
But I'm already paid up for 2012, so rest assured I'll be back!
As always, I had a terrific amount of fun. I made new friends, met many old ones, and talked to other professionals in the field. In reference to the latter, I received some good advice and came away from the convention feeling better about my writing career than I have in ages.
My panel personality still needs work. I'm not as good as others at breaking into conversations, and when I do I fear I'm coming off as a bit of a goof. This might be my anxiety talking, but I can't help but wonder what people are thinking of me. What I really want, then, is to be more relaxed when I'm on panel. And it wouldn't hurt to be better prepared. Something to keep in mind for Anime North and Polaris.
As usual, I promoted the living heck out of myself. I handed out fliers and sold many books: 3 copies of Section K, and 8 copies of Evil? and Epoch. My friend Mike Bryant, author of Shaolin Rock Star, shared the table with me and did a nice bit of business himself. Sadly he became quite ill and had to stay home on the Sunday, so please join me in wishing him better health.
I'm always a little sad at the end of these conventions. They are such an important part of my life, and I only have so much time to spend with everybody. There are more conventions coming, and I'm already preparing for them.
As always, I had a terrific amount of fun. I made new friends, met many old ones, and talked to other professionals in the field. In reference to the latter, I received some good advice and came away from the convention feeling better about my writing career than I have in ages.
My panel personality still needs work. I'm not as good as others at breaking into conversations, and when I do I fear I'm coming off as a bit of a goof. This might be my anxiety talking, but I can't help but wonder what people are thinking of me. What I really want, then, is to be more relaxed when I'm on panel. And it wouldn't hurt to be better prepared. Something to keep in mind for Anime North and Polaris.
As usual, I promoted the living heck out of myself. I handed out fliers and sold many books: 3 copies of Section K, and 8 copies of Evil? and Epoch. My friend Mike Bryant, author of Shaolin Rock Star, shared the table with me and did a nice bit of business himself. Sadly he became quite ill and had to stay home on the Sunday, so please join me in wishing him better health.
I'm always a little sad at the end of these conventions. They are such an important part of my life, and I only have so much time to spend with everybody. There are more conventions coming, and I'm already preparing for them.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Ad Astra Coming Up!
Toronto's annual science fiction convention is coming! I will once again be there to sell and promote myself and my stuff, and good times are assured.
For one thing, I will be sharing a table with my good friend Mike Bryant. He's a multi-talented man who writes very funny stories when he's not busy being lead guitar for his rock band, Nanochrist. He and I have collaborated on some interesting projects in the past, so hanging out with him for the con will be fun.
Also, this year I was asked by Ad Astra's programming people to come as a professional panelist! For me, that is quite an honour. So far I am signed up for four panels - I'm hoping to do a few more, if possible.
Between now and then, I have some flyers to make. I still need to get the word out about my books, especially since The Cupid War comes out in August!
For one thing, I will be sharing a table with my good friend Mike Bryant. He's a multi-talented man who writes very funny stories when he's not busy being lead guitar for his rock band, Nanochrist. He and I have collaborated on some interesting projects in the past, so hanging out with him for the con will be fun.
Also, this year I was asked by Ad Astra's programming people to come as a professional panelist! For me, that is quite an honour. So far I am signed up for four panels - I'm hoping to do a few more, if possible.
Between now and then, I have some flyers to make. I still need to get the word out about my books, especially since The Cupid War comes out in August!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Progress, Or Pothole?
My trouble with picking a suitable novel project would seem to be over. I've started work on something I call I, Suicide, a spin-off from The Cupid War. It's about a girl who becomes a supernatural entity responsible for creating dark feelings in the living. It will be a first-person POV, and in spite of the dark content I'm hoping to make it as funny as Epoch or Evil.
All that sounds well and good, but it doesn't mean I'm out of the post-project woods yet. I still have to see if this project will take off, so to speak. I've already taken one crack at it, an effort I then proceeded to crumple up and throw out. It wasn't working. I've started again, and like the new version a bit more, so I'll probably go a couple of chapters to see how excited I get.
It would be a great story to write, and I could say even more about mood disorders than I did in Cupid War. Lots of good reasons to write this book. The real question, however, is how much to I want to see this story finished? I wish I knew right away, the way I did with Epoch and Evil. My own mood disorder has been getting in the way far too often in the last couple of years. I'm way behind on my editing, and all my projects take twice as long.
I need to get better, and soon. This is, after all, my career.
All that sounds well and good, but it doesn't mean I'm out of the post-project woods yet. I still have to see if this project will take off, so to speak. I've already taken one crack at it, an effort I then proceeded to crumple up and throw out. It wasn't working. I've started again, and like the new version a bit more, so I'll probably go a couple of chapters to see how excited I get.
It would be a great story to write, and I could say even more about mood disorders than I did in Cupid War. Lots of good reasons to write this book. The real question, however, is how much to I want to see this story finished? I wish I knew right away, the way I did with Epoch and Evil. My own mood disorder has been getting in the way far too often in the last couple of years. I'm way behind on my editing, and all my projects take twice as long.
I need to get better, and soon. This is, after all, my career.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Still Searching...
Still no breakthrough on the new project front. I have a few ideas, but I'm not ready to commit. Whatever I choose, however, will likely be a sequel.
I have lots of good ideas for a follow-up to Epoch. I even have a title: After. I also have some plans for an Evil? sequel (tentative title: More Evil), and I have two chapters written. The trouble is, I don't know if my publisher will want a second volume for either book. Nobody at the company has asked for one. I don't want to go to the trouble of writing either book only to have them turn it down. I've already been there and been burned with the sequel to Attack of the Intergalactic Soul Hunters.
I have a good idea for a sequel to The Cupid War, but that book isn't even out yet. I don't know if readers will respond to that one as well as they did to my previous books. I am, however, seriously considering a spin-off, with new characters in the same universe. This idea is currently at the top of my list.
I have a few non-sequel ideas, too. So far, though, none of them have emerged as a winner. There has to be some pull, some excitement about it that gets me to the page. I need a story I can't wait to tell, one I can feel slightly naughty about for writing it at work.
I hope I find that idea sooner rather than later. I get so bored without something to work on.
I have lots of good ideas for a follow-up to Epoch. I even have a title: After. I also have some plans for an Evil? sequel (tentative title: More Evil), and I have two chapters written. The trouble is, I don't know if my publisher will want a second volume for either book. Nobody at the company has asked for one. I don't want to go to the trouble of writing either book only to have them turn it down. I've already been there and been burned with the sequel to Attack of the Intergalactic Soul Hunters.
I have a good idea for a sequel to The Cupid War, but that book isn't even out yet. I don't know if readers will respond to that one as well as they did to my previous books. I am, however, seriously considering a spin-off, with new characters in the same universe. This idea is currently at the top of my list.
I have a few non-sequel ideas, too. So far, though, none of them have emerged as a winner. There has to be some pull, some excitement about it that gets me to the page. I need a story I can't wait to tell, one I can feel slightly naughty about for writing it at work.
I hope I find that idea sooner rather than later. I get so bored without something to work on.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Book Done, Now What?
It's been a few days now since I finished the first draft of my latest novel, Rytis Maxwell and the Wer-Pigeons of Ottawa. I'm glad to have it done, but I also feel kind of adrift. I'm into that dreaded period between novels, when I don't quite know what to do with myself. Longtime readers of this blog will remember me saying similar things at the conclusion of other projects.
What should my next project be? Something light and funny, or dark and serious? Or dark and funny?
Should I go for a first person POV, like I did with Evil?, or third person, as I did with the upcoming Cupid War?
What do I want to write? What topic is drawing me in? What kind of characters, plots, settings do I want in my next book? I've still got plenty to say about religion, metaphysics, bullies, abuse of power, and the supernatural. Just to name a few.
I hope I come up with something soon. I need something fun to do at work. Doing surveys over and over loses its appeal very quickly, but having a project to work on really helps pass the time in-between calls.
Until I find a great story idea, I'm going to be booored.
What should my next project be? Something light and funny, or dark and serious? Or dark and funny?
Should I go for a first person POV, like I did with Evil?, or third person, as I did with the upcoming Cupid War?
What do I want to write? What topic is drawing me in? What kind of characters, plots, settings do I want in my next book? I've still got plenty to say about religion, metaphysics, bullies, abuse of power, and the supernatural. Just to name a few.
I hope I come up with something soon. I need something fun to do at work. Doing surveys over and over loses its appeal very quickly, but having a project to work on really helps pass the time in-between calls.
Until I find a great story idea, I'm going to be booored.
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