R.J. Madigan's Blog, page 2

Q&A with David Delaney, Author of ‘The Vanishing.’

I am very excited to host this author question and answer with the immensely talented David Delaney.  If you love a good thriller as much as I do then I suggest you grab a copy of his new book ‘The Vanishing,’ from Amazon now!  Read on to learn more about David and his work…

Q1) Why did you start writing?

I started writing because I wanted to do something creative. I couldn’t act, sing, dance and my visual art skills are non existent also. This led me to writing. I wrote in school as many of us do and loved reading horror and thriller so naturally I thought I could write a best seller. It wasn’t to be. So after reading Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ and Johnny, Sean and Dave’s ‘Write, Publish, Repeat’ I thought why not try write as a part-time hobby/dream job thingy. From short stories to my first novel I’m here now hoping to transfer from the life of a Registered Nurse to the life of  Full Time Author.

2) Sounds like we have a lot in common.  I can’t sing, dance or act, either and have pretty poor visual skills too.  If you could meet any author alive or dead who would it be and why?

Oscar Wilde.

Now I know it’s biased because he’s Irish too but when you read into his life and his struggles, it makes for a very great man. I’d love to get inside his head as to his thought processes with writing ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ a masterpiece in my eyes. Also check out this link here to see the statue of him in Dublin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde#/media/File:Merrion_Square_-_Oscar_Wilde_04.jpg) and tell this man it wouldn’t be fantastic to sit and share a meal and a pint with him.

3) I don’t think you are being biased at all.  As the saying goes ‘England gave Ireland the English language but Ireland sure as hell gave her the literature.’  You only need to visit the writers museum in Dublin see the truth in this statement.  Also my dad’s from Ireland so I’m a little biased myself.  If you could only ask your chosen writer one question what would it be?

Stephen King and the question would be ‘How do you keep such focus to become so prolific?’

4) I know I get depressed when I look at the sheer amount of work Stephen King has managed to produce in one lifetime.  When you are not reading or writing what do you enjoy doing?

I run (not as much as I should) and it keeps my mind fresh. I also love eating out so the occasional run comes in handy to drop those extra calories I consume. Food writing is something I’ve thought about playing with in the back of my mind once I get the fiction off the ground.

5) How has your current or previous day job informed your writing?

I meet hundreds of people as a nurse. Some amazing people drop into my life and you learn from every one. Every person I meet helps me grow as a writer and as a person. Writing is personal and you inject some of yourself into each story. It’s the people I meet that shape who I am so when I write.

6) Sounds like the ideal job to really learn what makes people tick.  Your new book is called ‘The Vanishing.’  Tell us a bit about the story.

The story deals with loss. Initially we are introduced to a father and daughter who have lost their wife and mother. After this we are introduced to Dean and Frank, two Sydney homicide detectives who through injury and retirement stop working together leaving Dean alone for the first time in his career as a detective. Dean with the help of two other detectives tries to solve two recent murders and a disappearance. As the look further into each case the waters become more and more murky with a more sinister motive hiding beneath it all.

7) Sounds intriguing.  What kind of guy is your protagonist Detective Dean Cornell?

He’s a good man but flawed. He can lack confidence in his ability but strives to get the job done. Dean will protect the weak and the one’s he loves unquestionably. I’d like to think he knows when and when not to cross the line.

8) What are your least and most favourite parts of the writing process?

My favourite part is first draft. Creating something from nothing but a few outlines and my own imagination is really exciting. Sometimes is works while other times it falls flat on its face. I have the beginnings of many manuscripts to prove it.

My least favourite is editing, especially third draft and beyond. I’ve read the novel many times by now and grow to really love the characters and story so cutting what doesn’t work gets harder and harder. This is where killing your darlings really happens.

9) I always find talking to other writers about their writing process fascinating.  I am the exact opposite   I find the first draft very anxiety provoking, whereas I love editing.  Marketing is a difficult and frustrating part of the self publishing process.  What has worked for you so far and what tips would you give to a new author with regards to marketing?

Twitter marketing just hasn’t worked at all. I don’t understand how anybody can make it work as it feel like everybody is screaming in a room simultaneously. What has worked for me is newsletter based marketing. E Readers New Today was very successful for me. It took my book from 149,000 on Amazon to 1,100 and placed The Vanishing at number 2 in the Kidnapping Thriller and Murder categories. Gone Girl was number one so I was completely blown away that I was even sharing a screen with such a book (definitely the highlight of my writing journey so far).

I have a bknights and buck books promotion coming up on the 30th of March and 22nd of April respectively. I’m really looking forward to see what they do for sales.

The other way I’ve promoted my work is by promoting other writers work. I keep in touch with some very talented writers and by reading and promoting their work they in return do the same for me. The idea of co-opetition is a great concept and one that really works.

10) Congratulations!  Getting your book on the same page as a bestseller like Gone Girl is a real achievement and thank you for sharing some great marketing tips.  What’s next for you?  Can we expect a sequel to ‘The Vanishing?’  Or are you planning on writing something entirely new?

Definitely the second of the Detective Dean Cornell series. I’m planning on a late June, early July release with a third book by the end of the year.

As far as a new series, I’ve a few things I want to try and might play around with them late this year or early next year… time will tell (o:

Where can we find you on the internet?

Website: www.davidjdelaney.net
Blog: www.writerbabble.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidjdelaney1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006986359031
Google +: http://google.com/+DavidJDelaney
Email: davidj@davidjdelaney.net




If you enjoyed the Q&A with David here is the link to the Q&A David hosted a few weeks ago with me on ‘The Sword of Air’  http://swordofair.net/2015/03/24/qa-with-r-j-madigan-author-of-the-sword-of-air/ .

#The Sword of Air Official Sneak Preview 4!

Check out the latest sneak preview of The Sword of Air by R.J. Madigan.  A book unlike anything you have ever experienced before.  Featuring stunning photography, HD video, cinematic sound track and 3D modelling.

 

Download The Sword of Air today by clicking on the link to the iBooks store below.

 

 

Q&A with R.J. Madigan, Author of The Sword of Air

R J Madigan:

Thank you to talented author David Delaney for playing host to an author question and answer with myself on his awesome blog. If you are looking for a gripping new thriller then I suggest you grab a copy of his new book ‘The Vanishing,’ now!

Originally posted on Writer Babble:

This is the first time I’ve played host to another author and I couldn’t be happier to host the fantastic author that is R.J. Madigan. R.J. has written the wonderful title ‘The Sword of Air’. This is an Epic Fantasy set in medieval Ireland and if any of you don’t already know that’s my home country (o;

So, be sure to read through the question and answers, watch the beautiful trailer and sneak peak YouTube links (they are really good) and be sure to buy yourself a copy of R.J’s book from your nearest Apple product

Q1) Why did you decide to write?

A1) As a child I pretty much read anything I could get my hands on. But I wasn’t the kind of kid who told stories or wrote them down. Writing came a lot later for me, several years after I finished university. I joined a creative writing…

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Guest Post | Multi Touch Technology and the Future of Ebooks by R.J. Madigan

R J Madigan:

Thank you so much to talented author Ali Isaac for hosting this guest post on The Sword of Air. If you are as fascinated by Irish mythology as much as I am then I suggest you check out Ali’s blog asap!

Originally posted on aliisaacstoryteller:

‘The Sword of Air,’ – Using Punk Publishing and iBook to stand out in a crowded market place.

Authors are publishing new YA Fantasy titles every day and it is getting harder and harder to stand out in such a crowded market place. This is why I decided to publish ‘The Sword of Air,’ my first novel as an iBook. With world building creative options like music, HD video, 3D modelling and photography to colour my world I was able to create a book unlike anything else on the market.

We are on the edge of a paradigm change in the way people consume their stories. Sales of printed books are falling every year and the sale of ebooks are rising. I believe this change is even more evident with children and young people today. Kids are brought up with broadband wireless and touchscreen technology. It’s not just that they…

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Celebrate St Patricks Day with The Sword of Air by R.J. Madigan.

I know a lot of readers have been frustrated that they can not access ‘The Sword of Air’ because it’s only available to read on an iPad or Mac.  So to celebrate St Patrick’s Day I have uploaded chapter one to Wattpad so that more people can enjoy the story.

 

 

Click on the link above to read chapter one of ‘The Sword of Air now.’ 

I will be uploading short extracts from the Sword of Air to Wattpad each week with the second instalment being published this coming Saturday.

 

However if you can’t wait that long or are desperate to experience the story with all it’s incredible multi-touch features-HD video, cinematic soundtrack, breathtaking photography and 3 D modelling then you can download now from the iBooks store by clicking on the link below.

 

Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all!

R.J. Madigan.

 

 

 

 

Guest Post: Multi-touch iBooks and ‘The Sword of Air’ by R.J. Madigan

R J Madigan:

Thank you to the wonderful Susan at ‘Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing for hosting a guest feature on ‘The Sword of Air.’ Read it here! Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all!

Originally posted on Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing:

I was so intrigued by R.J. Madigan’s experimentation with new innovations in iBook formatting that I requested a Guest Post about the subject for my own blog as I believe this will be of interest to many of my readers, as well.

The Sword of Air – Punk publishing at it’s best, pushing the medium

to create something new

Visibility is the indie author’s enemy and with new titles being published every day it is getting harder and harder to stand out in such a crowded market place. This is why I decided to publish my first Young Adult Fantasy novel The Sword of Air as an iBook. With world-building creative options like music HD video, 3D modelling and photography to colour my story I was able to create a book unlike anything else on the market.

View the book trailer here.

Sales of printed books are falling every…

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#5 STAR Review For ‘The Sword of Air.’

5 STAR REVIEW GOODREADS! From awesome book vlogger Little Library. View it here.

Download ‘The Sword of Air’ by R.J. Madigan now from

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-sword-of-air/id954619981?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Follow at http://www.swordofair.net

Sword of Air Official #3 Sneak Preview!

SWORD OF AIR Official #3 Sneak Preview

First look at the End Movie for Chapter 3!!!

Download it now on Apple iBooks!: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-sword-of-air/id954619981?mt=11

Each Chapter in the book has a unique end movie. Get the book on ibooks to see them all!

Follow The Sword of Air at http://www.swordofair.net

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sword-of-Air/855233981196248?ref=hl

Guest Post: Multi-touch iBooks, by R.J. Madigan

R J Madigan:

Thank you to to the immensely talented Nicholas C. Rossis for hosting this guest post on The Sword of Air.

Originally posted on Nicholas C. Rossis:

This is a guest post by R.J. Madigan. Rae has written The Sword of Air, a very well-written fantasy book, to judge by this excellent excerpt on Ali Isaac’s blog.

What’s more unusual, though, is that she published the book on iBooks as a Multi-Touch iBook.

This is a technique that crosses the boundaries between books and movies, to create a unique experience. As I had never heard of it, I asked her to give us a presentation. How’s The Sword of Air different from any other book?

Let’s hear Rae explain it all for us.

Multi-touch iBooks: Changing the way people consume stories

When I was a child I read my way through the 1,000 pages of the Lord of the Rings with only my imagination, one or two illustrations and Tolkien’s writing to make it real.  Today kids want more.  Pharrel Williams said it best, ‘Kids…

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The Friday Fiction featuring R.J.Madigan

R J Madigan:

A big thank you to Ali for featuring The Sword of Air on Friday Fiction this week. You can read a excerpt from chapter three of The Sword of Air right here!

Originally posted on aliisaacstoryteller:

Extract from The Sword of Air.

The moon was like a cold sun and the stars stopped their navigating. Twilight fell through stained glass, casting the great hall in pale reds. The sword of air shone like an ancient candle. I opened the glass case and ran two fingers along the precious steel. I lingered over the point, then pushed down hard. Blood trickled from my fingers like spilt wine. I felt nothing. The sound of boots clicking against the stone floor echoed along the corridor. I snapped the cabinet shut and massaged the blood into my skin. The metal door clanged open and Lorcan entered. I drew a deep breath through my nose and sat on the emerald throne.

‘Your majesty.’ He growled, bowing before me. His reptilian eyes narrowed and cast a shadow across his blunt nose and mouth. The thick scales of his skin were scared from…

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