David Brian's Blog, page 4

The weekend starts on Friday: So why not do me for a Dollar!

I've never really been one for the hard sell, and that's probably to my detriment. However, I thought this was something worth mentioning.

From Friday October 3rd, through Sunday October 5th, 2014, all of my Kindle titles will be available for a dollar or less, including Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria (currently #1 Best Seller in its category, Amazon UK), and The Cthulhu Child (currently #1 Best Seller in its category, Amazon UK).

So, if you fancy dipping your toes into the dark pool of horror, then why not check me out on Amazon.
Come visit.
Have a browse of my titles, and consider Taking a Walk into Darkness.

http://www.amazon.com/David-Brian/e/B...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Brian/e...

Thanks for reading. And have a great weekend!

The Cthulhu Child: Goodreads giveaway!

Hi, folks. Well, it's certainly taken awhile (a lot longer than it should have to be fair), but i've finally gotten round to putting up a couple of signed copies of The Cthulhu Child.

The Goodreads giveaway will run up until September 09.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

The ebook has proven to be very popular, so be sure to get your name in the hat for a chance to own this collection of unusual tales.

Ps: I currently have a glitch on my website, so I've been unable to post a direct link from there to the draw. So, please, if you know anyone who may be interested in entering this giveaway, then kindly do me a solid and spread the word!
Many thanks!

David

Kindle Unlimited: There's a lot to be considered

Following the launch of Kindle Unlimited,
I had intended to sit down and write a piece on Amazon's latest (let's nail down this monopoly) venture.

After all, KU possibly represents the most important change to the Indie market since the launch of the Kindle. And it is also a potentially massive boon for keen readers, too.

There is a lot for authors, and readers to consider.

But to be honest, I'm as conflicted as every other author I've spoken with. A total monopoly, by anyone, is unlikely ever to be a good thing. But financially it could - possibly - be a good thing for Indie authors.
Especially as the Big Five are currently steering well clear.

Below I've linked to an article by the excellent David Gaughran. As you would expect from the talented Mr Gaughran, it is as thought provoking as it is insightful.

Regardless of whether you are an author, or an avid reader, you should take the time to read this piece:http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/20...

Stories of Duskland: Feature on my writing.

Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria was recently the subject of an interesting article on the Stories of Duskland blog.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Isis Sousa, the founder of the blog, for taking an interest in my writing, and also the works of other indie authors.

For those interested in taking a look, then you'll need to scroll down the page of the blog. The article is dated June 8th, 2014.

The link is posted below:

http://storiesofduskland.tumblr.com/


Isis Sousa is a woman with many talents. She is already recognized as a gifted artist, and has now turned her hand to writing. Her first novel, The Night of Elisa, is a tale of Gothic romance and a thirst for justice, which crosses the boundaries of two worlds.
You can check out Stories of Duskland, and her other work here:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Don't forget to come visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-...




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So what's wrong with writing genre fiction?

Just before we get started, some news: I have finally gotten round to putting a page on Facebook. The plan is to keep it updated regularly, and with as many interesting snippets as I can.
So, if you are on Facebook, then feel free to come and say 'hello!'
I could sure use the likes.:)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-...

Right, let's get started. I was participant in a somewhat heated conversation at the weekend, and it threw up some rather interesting points of view.

I was at a bar-bq, enjoying the onset of an early English summer (a rarity to be cherished). The conversation originated around the book Draculas (Crouch, Konrath, Strand, and F. Paul Wilson), and then descended into a frenzied attack aimed at all indie authors.

Thankfully, I love a row. Especially when my opponent is a clown (no offense is meant towards any real clowns, especially those sexy female ones!)

Anyhow, I only recently finished reading Draculas, and was talking to a young lady who is currently partway through the book.

Our conversation was overheard (eavesdropped you might say) by a gentleman who, until recently, lectured at a prominent university, and who only joined our discussion because he thought we were talking about Stoker's Dracula.

You'll just have to try and picture his contempt for our enjoyment at reading, as he put it, "this 'pulp' novel". Strong words indeed, and even more so considering that up until this point he hadn't even read any of it!

Now, rightly or wrongly, my young companion encouraged him to read the Amazon sample pages for Draculas. This turned out to have been a bad move as it just reinforced his 'hack' assessment.

His vitriol was then turned on me: I have 'no idea of the true aspects of literary talent' (Yep. No idea what that means.), and I 'swim in the same cesspool as the rest of the indie hacks'.

But here's the thing: My educated friend was completely missing the point. Yes there is plenty of dross in the indie market. But there is also a sizable portion of mind-numbing-crap churned out by the literati lauded, writing elite.

I don't consider myself a writer of highbrow literature, and I'm guessing neither do Konrath, Crouch etc.
What we are, what we aim to be, is storytellers. And if some highbrow chump wants to class us as 'pulp hacks' then so be it.

Do you ever actually look at the New York Times Book Review? Do you check out the Booker Prize nominated books? I doubt the majority of readers could give two hoots about these lists.

Sure, they offer visibility. But they also tend to offer a certain type of read.

I believe there is a real pool of talent swimming, undiscovered in this vast indie ocean. They may not have the style of a Gunter Grass, or that ilk. But is that such a bad thing?
I don't want to spend umpteen paragraphs reading about Aunt Molly's attempts at baking the perfect shortbread. Or the intricacies involved in adjusting the length of cousin Sally's petticoats.

Halfway down the first page I need to be interested enough that I want to know more. By the third page I want to be captured, hook, line and sinker.
I want to be entertained!

Draculas is a rip-roaring, tour de force in vampire entertainment. If you are looking for a novel full of literary depth, then this ain't the book for you. But if you are willing to be grabbed by the short and curlys, and dragged, kicking and screaming along a ride of blood soaked terror, then this is the kiddy! It's precisely as the authors intended.
High octane!
Fun!Fun!Fun!

I was forced to verbally bitch slap the nutty professor, and before he skulked off he told me that he intended to write a novel of his own, but he hadn't as yet been able to find the time.
He's been retired eighteen months. I wonder, how does he suppose the rest of us manage?

A writer friend, who has achieved far greater success than I, and who also works as a journalist, tells me that as a junior intern he was taught to work towards the four W's: who, what, when, where.
As an author it becomes the five W's: Why - the 'why' being an essential addition.

It's okay to keep your readers guessing, but avoid confusing them. Each page should be either thought provoking or action packed.
Better still, both.
Anything that makes the reader want to carry on turning the pages.

And try to keep your segues smooth. There is nothing worse than having to back-read in order to figure out what the hell just happened.

Thanks for reading. See you on Facebook!:)

Thanks, Guys (and Girls).

Yes, I know, we've discussed before how success, and any measuring of it, is only ever relative to a given situation.

Nevertheless, I'd just like to take a moment to thank all of my Goodreads friends for their advice and support. A special mention for Jason Parent (What Hides Within), and Gregor Xane (Six Dead Spots). Their comments have proven to be a valuable critique.The Cthulhu Child

A month ago I posted about The Cthulhu Child which, after some alterations to both cover and content, had climbed to No.2 in the Amazon UK horror anthologies chart.

I have since had a tough few weeks. Computer/internet issues have largely prevented me from having any online presence, and as all indies will know, if you ain't visible, you ain't selling!

Imagine my surprise then: Last night I clicked on to Amazon UK, and lo and behold:

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #3,988 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Books > Literature & Fiction > Anthologies & Literature Collections > Horror
#2 in Books > Fiction > Horror > Anthologies
#8 in Kindle Store > Books > Literature & Fiction > Horror > Short Stories

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cthulhu-C...

Yep. All relative. But, after what has been a tough month, it has put a smile back on my face.

To everyone on Goodreads, thank you. I really do appreciate your support.

The Cthulhu Child: Riding high on Amazon Kindle (UK) - and now available for a dollar until April 25th.

At the time of writing this post, the revised edition of The Cthulhu Child is proving to be a popular Kindle read on Amazon's UK site:

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #4,380 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#2 in Books > Fiction > Horror > Anthologies
#20 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Anthologies
#25 in Books > Fiction > Anthologies

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cthulhu-C...

As a result of this (relative) success I have decided to crash the price until Friday, 25th April - just a dollar, folks!
Hopefully this will inspire some sales across the other Amazon platforms, as well as maintaining its popularity on the UK site.

The Cthulhu Child sets out to demonstrate the diversity of the term 'horror', and takes an unorthodox approach towards delivering the horrific.

You want to be the best that you can be? Then be willing to accept constructive criticism! The Cthulhu Child: Revised edition (addition).

In June of 2013 I published a small eBook called The Cthulhu Child. I wanted to put together a collection ofThe Cthulhu Child stories aimed at demonstrating the diversity of the term 'Horror'.

The book has received a number of positive reviews, both on Goodreads and Amazon. And, as writers, we all appreciate an expression of kind words for something we have spent long hours creating.

So, why then the update? Simple really. I have received a couple of reviews that, whilst generally positive, have nonetheless questioned the placement of two stories in the book. Jason Parent (What Hides Within), and Gregor Xane (Six Dead Spots), both commented on the placing back to back of stories which touched on similar themes.
It was a fair criticism.

Furthermore, these two authors have decent writing 'chops'. It made sense for me to take their comments on board.

Now I'll be honest here: When I first put the book together I considered the same 'placement issue'. And I thought that by going with the running order I had, I was being clever.
Obviously not!

I set out to go Double Bubble (as we'd say around my neck of the woods). This is to say, by placing these stories so close together, I thought I might prevent the reader from seeing the approaching 'punchline' in story two.
I got that wrong, aye?

So, generally positive reviews, although they come with a 'But'.
What then to do?

Now, let me be honest again, and tell you that I'm very much my own person. I can on occasion be quite opinionated (allegedly).
But I am also prepared to listen when given good advice.
Especially if it helps improve my writing technique.

I decided to re-open the file on The Cthulhu Child. Surgery was required.
At first I considered rearranging the layout, changing the running order of the stories. But in the end I opted to go even further. Two additional stories, and with added content at the end of the book.
'More Bang for your Buck', so to speak.

Now, I am nowhere near to being prolific. In fact I have the writing pace of a slug on Temazepam. But I have persevered, forcing myself to spend the last week putting together a couple of unsettling little additions to the horrors of The Cthulhu Child.

Of course my efforts could yet backfire. Up until now the book has received mainly positive feedback. Readers liked the stories.

I'll certainly be keeping my fingers crossed (and probably my toes too) that people continue to enjoy the updated edition.

Either way, I feel it was right to take on board the opinions offered. I strive to be the best I can be. And to do this I must respect the opinions of those who matter most, and this, of course, is the opinion of the readers.


Footnote: At the time of writing it is only the Kindle version that contains the updated content. Other formats: Kobo, Nook etc. will be updated over the next few weeks.
If you use one of these other formats please feel free to message me for further information as regards updating.

Peace.

Footnote: A paperback version of The Cthulhu Child is also now available from Amazon.
The Cthulhu Child

Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria - (cover tweak) Giveaway!

Following alterations to the cover imaging; I am giving away two copies of Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria.

The winners of the Goodreads Giveaway, February 24th - March 7th, will each receive a *signed* and *personalized* copy of the Gothic vampire mystery.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

When vampires and werewolves clash, there can be no winners!

Best of luck to all who enter!

David

Back Behind The Bus Stop: An Update.

As some of you will know, on January 28th, there was a fundraising evening at Behind The Bus Stop in Northampton.

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/new...

The evening was to raise money for Michael White, a Northampton man struggling with the debilitating effects of Multiple Sclerosis.

The fundraiser was the first event in an ongoing campaign aimed at raising £5000 for an electronic ankle cuff, which will assist Michael's walking.

I am pleased to say that events on the night, which included a raffle and auction, succeeded in raising £1,530: And the paying in of further PROMISED donations has now raised this figure to just short of £3000!

A marvelous effort! And a big thank you goes out to all of the wonderful people who have assisted Michael's cause!