Ask the Author: Michael James Ploof
Answered Questions (9)
Michael James Ploof
Hello Sparkle,
Sorry for such a long delay, i must admit I haven't logged on in a while. Unfortunately, the Kickstarter was a bust. But I am going ahead and creating the audiobooks myself over the next few months. Whill 1 is already available on Amazon and Audible, and I am currently in the process of having Whill 2 produced. To my knowledge, they will be available in MP3.
Mike
Sorry for such a long delay, i must admit I haven't logged on in a while. Unfortunately, the Kickstarter was a bust. But I am going ahead and creating the audiobooks myself over the next few months. Whill 1 is already available on Amazon and Audible, and I am currently in the process of having Whill 2 produced. To my knowledge, they will be available in MP3.
Mike
Michael James Ploof
My children's books, The Sock Gnome Chronicles are for that age group. My Legends of Agora books are 13+ in my opinion. Compared to an average night of cable TV or today's video games they are nothing. Glad you liked the book!
Michael James Ploof
This is the million dollar question, and unfortunately there is no sure fire way to do it. When I was trying to get my first book out there I came across the best answer: Write more books! Bookbub is hands down the best book marketing site out there. If you can get them to feature you it will make a big difference. I checked out your book and noticed that you have no reviews. This is a must. Choosy bookworm might be able to help you with this. When I put my book out in the summer of 2012 I sold 30 copies in a month, then, for some reason I have yet to determine, I sold nearly a thousand the next month.
Being an indie author is hard, and there are tens of thousands of books in the Kindle graveyard. Having a stand alone book sell enough to make a living at this is nearly impossible. I highly recommend writing a series.
You will also find Kindle boards Author cafe very helpful.
Being an indie author is hard, and there are tens of thousands of books in the Kindle graveyard. Having a stand alone book sell enough to make a living at this is nearly impossible. I highly recommend writing a series.
You will also find Kindle boards Author cafe very helpful.
Michael James Ploof
My most current project, The Orion Rezner Chronicles, is inspired by Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. I love the idea of modern day wizards living amongst us. Eventually I realized that an urban fantasy with witches and wizards set in a post apocalyptic world would be awesome. I had recently gone on a trip to Boston with my family and thought that it would make a great setting. In my story, Boston is one of the last vestiges of humanity. It is protected by a giant spell shield that comes from Hancock Tower. I also wanted to inject the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin into the book, since his virtues and sayings have done so much for me personally. It wasn't long before the idea occurred to me that I would have the Ghost of Benjamin Franklin as a character. He became Orion's mentor and was the founder of the order of wizards. I was intimidated by attempting to represent Franklin through dialogue, so it occurred to me that maybe he can only speak in his own quotes, as he is a ghost anyway. It turned out to work really well. Also, Orion has a pet Chimpanzee named Dude who refuses to wear anything but superman pajamas, though he insists it means Superchimp. The book is a lot of fun, and I hope my Legends of Agora readers enjoy it as well.
Michael James Ploof
For me, waking up in the morning is enough inspiration to write. I love it. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.
Michael James Ploof
I am currently working on The Windwalker Archive Book #2 (Talon 2), which I plan on releasing this December. It is currently in the 3rd draft phase.
I am also working on a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy called The Orion Rezner Chronicles. Book #1 of that series, Afterworld, is due out on October 17th 2014. The cover for Afterworld and blurb can be seen at www.whillofagora.com. This book is also in the 3rd draft phase.
Book 2 of the Orion Rezner Chronicles is in the first draft phase and I am currently 30,000 words into that one. I hope to release it Dec 14 / Jan 15.
My tentative plans beyond that are to write The Windwalker Archive, books 3-6. At least 12 Orion Rezner books. And I will be returning to write at least 3 more Whill of Agora books that will continue where Whill 4 left off. The tentative title for the new Whill series is Whillhelm Warcrown. I am also toying with a prequel trilogy featuring the assassin Dirk Blackthorn.
*Note* This is by no means the order in which these books will come out. I tend to stagger them. For instance, I will write a Talon book, then an Orion book, and then a Whill book, rinse and repeat.
I am also working on a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy called The Orion Rezner Chronicles. Book #1 of that series, Afterworld, is due out on October 17th 2014. The cover for Afterworld and blurb can be seen at www.whillofagora.com. This book is also in the 3rd draft phase.
Book 2 of the Orion Rezner Chronicles is in the first draft phase and I am currently 30,000 words into that one. I hope to release it Dec 14 / Jan 15.
My tentative plans beyond that are to write The Windwalker Archive, books 3-6. At least 12 Orion Rezner books. And I will be returning to write at least 3 more Whill of Agora books that will continue where Whill 4 left off. The tentative title for the new Whill series is Whillhelm Warcrown. I am also toying with a prequel trilogy featuring the assassin Dirk Blackthorn.
*Note* This is by no means the order in which these books will come out. I tend to stagger them. For instance, I will write a Talon book, then an Orion book, and then a Whill book, rinse and repeat.
Michael James Ploof
My advice for aspiring writers is this. Be obsessed, be very obsessed.
Writing takes a lot of time and energy. Without proper focus the world you are creating can begin to get away from you. Do yourself a favor and create character sheets and keep very good notes. I have never been big on outlines, though I am going to attempt to outline my next novel backwards (a little experiment). I find that letting go is sometimes the best way to move forward. When writing first drafts never look back until you type THE END. Let the universe tell the story through you, rather than expecting yourself to make it up. Don't stop to edit first drafts, this will ruin the flow. I open myself up to the cosmic waves and just ride. Talon, book #1 of the Windwalker archive, for instance, came to me quickly. I wrote that 1st draft in 18 caffeine induced winter days. The second and third drafts, however, took much longer.
The best advice I ever read, back when I was trying to learn how to sell more books was this. WRITE MORE BOOKS!! If you do something every single day toward your goals, no matter if it takes 10 hours or 10 minutes, you will soon find yourself with a finished product. This goes for anything you are trying to do, not just writing.
Writing takes a lot of time and energy. Without proper focus the world you are creating can begin to get away from you. Do yourself a favor and create character sheets and keep very good notes. I have never been big on outlines, though I am going to attempt to outline my next novel backwards (a little experiment). I find that letting go is sometimes the best way to move forward. When writing first drafts never look back until you type THE END. Let the universe tell the story through you, rather than expecting yourself to make it up. Don't stop to edit first drafts, this will ruin the flow. I open myself up to the cosmic waves and just ride. Talon, book #1 of the Windwalker archive, for instance, came to me quickly. I wrote that 1st draft in 18 caffeine induced winter days. The second and third drafts, however, took much longer.
The best advice I ever read, back when I was trying to learn how to sell more books was this. WRITE MORE BOOKS!! If you do something every single day toward your goals, no matter if it takes 10 hours or 10 minutes, you will soon find yourself with a finished product. This goes for anything you are trying to do, not just writing.
Michael James Ploof
The best thing about being a writer. That is a tough one. As far as family goes, I make my own hours and don't have to miss anything because I can't get the day off. On a person note, I don't have to answer to anyone. I like that I don't get paid unless I work my tail off, but if I work my tail off I get all the spoils of my labor. Being a writer to me means freedom. I get to create new and exciting worlds. And better yet, I get to take thousands of people on an adventure. What could be better?
Michael James Ploof
I don't tend to get writer's block very often. The times when I find myself staring blankly at the screen are usually due to plot problems rather than not being able to think of anything. When this happens, I find it useful to just drop what I'm doing and work on another project until the answer comes to me cosmically.
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