C.J. Sears's Blog, page 22

Deception & Sneak Preview #3

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“You live in a world of deception.” (Jeremiah 9:6)

This passage almost single-handedly inspired much of the plot for my sequel novel. It’s such a simple statement, but it echoes with finality and certainty. It’s truth.

We may not be the Israelites, but we certainly toil with suspicious leaders and criminal politicking. There’s no doubt in my mind that finding a politician whose hands are not stained with blood and greed is a nigh impossible venture. It takes a special kind of cretin, from my view, to get embroiled with the back dealings of power grabs. I don’t know if I could ever trust a man or woman in politics the way I trust my family or friends.

That’s not to say that I’m better or incapable of sin, but just that it should be acknowledged how frequently corruption consumes our elected officials. This is regardless of political party, so partisans need not feel prideful or take offense. It’s an honest appraisal of the world in which we live.

But that’s neither here nor there. What did I mean, you ask, when I said that the above quote served as a primary influence on my sequel novel? Well, I can’t be spilling the beans, so I’ll just summarize it thusly: a God-fearing man sees the world in black and white, in sin and righteousness. But for some, morality is relative, and they operate within a sea of gray. These are deceitful, dangerous men for whom the ends justify the means. The perfect villains for any work of fiction. Or reality.

Obviously, that’s not new in any sense. It’s only natural to have ambiguous antagonists turn up in storytelling. And sometimes, the protagonist has to get his or her hands dirty, has to dip them in the black oil to muddy the waters.

You’re probably thinking at this point: why is he speaking in metaphors and not giving a straight answer? Why is he deceiving us? Well, darn it, you got me.

So here’s an apology for stringing you along (and for missing yesterday). Sneak Preview #3:

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The warmth of the covers should have coaxed Wayland Zachary back to sleep, but here, now, he knew something was wrong.

For the past two months he’d woken up in a meager underground cell. An unnamed caretaker left him food every morning, usually a plate of scrambled eggs, burnt toast, and a glass of water. He supposed it was about as fulfilling as an old timey jail meal.

Zachary had no memory of how he had been captured or by whom. He guessed they’d drugged him but the why of it escaped him.

Maybe terrorists or spies? He was the editor of the Lone Oak Gazette; what classified information could a man from a hick town have to offer? None that he could recall.

No, some whacko out in the boonies must’ve taken a liking to him. His skin would make a well-moisturized coat of human leather. Morbid, but his thoughts always turned pessimistic when he was in danger. Where was Clarice Starling when you needed her?

But that wasn’t what was wrong with his current predicament. No longer was he incarcerated in a lonesome cell. The room he found himself in now was larger, decorative, and must have once belonged to a little girl—the rainbows and fluffy clouds gave it away.

He’d grown accustomed to the damp depression of the cell. This kiddie room was jarring and creepy and not at all what he expected to see when he opened his eyes. But at least he had room to maneuver.

Zachary tried the door first. Locked. Of course. He was foolish to think it wouldn’t be. Sighing, he swiveled on his feet and surveyed the room.

There were no windows to speak of, not even barred. Scattered dolls and toys littered the floor and miniature shelves. A plastic white horse rocked in the corner. The screech of its rusty spring grated on his ears. At least it wasn’t a clown. He hated clowns; they had scared the hell out of him since that Poltergeist movie.

Suppressing the memories of a younger man, Zachary continued to sweep the room with searching eyes. The wallpaper he’d noticed earlier was a bright shade of pink, but that wasn’t what caught his attention.

Splattered on the wall in black paint were two words: YOU ARE.

Remember how I told you guys back during the Kindle Scout campaign that Wayland Zachary’s account might be important? Well, now you know the truth! He’s a main character in the sequel. He’s stumbled into a rather unsettling situation, don’t you think?

Have a great week. God bless. Peace be to you.

Friendly Advice & a Milestone

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My mind is whirring with story possibilities, so I’ll keep this short like I promised.

Progress is my middle name. Well, at least it was this past week. Usually, it’s just James. It’d be kind of weird to have your actual middle name be a traceable measurement.

As of today, the thirteenth of February, I have reached roughly the 50% point of the first draft for the sequel to The Shadow Over Lone Oak. I worked diligently since last Monday to reach this point. Currently, I am about to finish the tenth chapter of the novel. One character’s point-of-view narration is almost entirely finished.

Here’s some non-specific, juicy details about the project so far (non-spoiler):

Death Count: 4
Kiss Count: At least a dozen. Gets kind of saucy.
Number of POVs: 6 (with perhaps 1 additional POV to come)
Times that Lone Oak has been referenced: Too many to count. Seriously. This novel is basically “Side B” to TSOL’s “Side A” in terms of how it contextualizes the events of the first book.

Overall, while I can see revisions on the horizon, I’m happy with how the book continues to flow. I was worried that a sequel might be more troublesome for me to handle, but so far I may actually enjoy writing it more than the first. I’m trying not to jinx it.

No sneak preview this week. I’ll let you in on a little secret (that’s not so secret to anyone paying attention): they’ll be distributed every two or three weeks. Probably three. This way, I don’t spoil anything crucial to the plot while drip-feeding you teasers. I want to lure you fishes in—not cook you for dinner!

If you’re a writer, I think the best advice I can give for keeping up a solid pace is to draw from whatever sources you can. Movies, television, video games, other books, life, nature, belief; all of these are great institutions from which to gain inspiration. Your craft is yours, whatever you do, but you are not a lone soldier on a vast battlefield. Lean on your comrades and they will never let you down.

Whether you’re a first-timer or stuck on novel #93, this just works. If I’m struggling with a scene or a chapter, I check out other media or ask my friends/family for input. Remember that there’s nothing new under the sun and you will always find something or someone who can help you achieve that which seems improbable or impossible in your writing. It’s already been done, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it better or, at least, differently.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this update and the tiny piece I had to share. Have a great Monday. God bless.

Dreams, Delusions, & Sneak Preview #2

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Dreams and delusions. What’s the difference? A delusion is a misunderstanding brought about either by sickness or trickery. A dream, on the other hand, is an enigma that proceeds from your subconscious. It can reflect your fears, your embarrassments, or your desires. Your sins. Most of the time, dreams seem to be a composite of images that your mind struggles to reconcile while you sleep. All scientific conjecture aside, I doubt any human being will ever crack the code behind the true meaning or significance of dreaming.

Part of the reason I find the main character of my novel(s) so appealing is the idea of how a dream can drive you to success or failure. If you misinterpret your dream, you’re bound to make mistakes and screw something up. It becomes a delusion, a story you tell yourself to make everything better. That’s what made Llewyn Finch’s journey in The Shadow Over Lone Oak so fascinating to me as an author and a reader.

For the sequel, I’m trotting down a new avenue of storytelling. How do I redefine a character when he can no longer rely on one of his so-called talents? I’m not going to spoil what happened to change Llewyn’s “gift” so you’ll still have to read my first novel to find out. But the question remains: who is Llewyn if not a man of dreams and delusions?

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Enter Kasey Alexander.

A shapely figure leaned against a pillar behind his car. Darkness permeated the garage, obscuring features, but he recognized that voice even without seeing her face.

“Kasey?”

She stepped out of the shadows, her blonde hair hanging loose around her shoulders. She was dressed in a maroon-colored pantsuit and impractical high heels. Last time he saw her, what little she wore would’ve made a stripper blush.

“So, Mr. Dreams and Premonitions can recall the past after all.”

He hadn’t had a dream or a so-called premonition since that night in Lone Oak. Only nightmares. But what did she know? The two of them hadn’t spoken in five years.

“You were following me? Why?” He didn’t mean to sound so suspicious, but recent circumstances had him questioning nearly everyone’s intentions.

“Why, you almost sound like you have something to hide,” she said, sauntering toward him. “But that can’t be; the Llewyn I remember didn’t have time for a private life. Or life, for that matter.”

Ouch. Kasey Alexander always had a way of driving the stake right into his heart.

You’ll have to wait for the sequel’s release to know the whole story, but suffice it to say that Llewyn’s past is more muddled than TSOL lets on. I hope you enjoyed this (short) sneak peak. It won’t be the last.

As for progress: two more chapters have been completed, for a total of six. I’m aiming to finish at least one chapter per day now. At that rate, I’ll have the first draft completed before the end of the month.

These blog posts will likely continue to run a bit on the small side as I work on the novel. The end result will be worth the trouble. I promise.

An appropriate Bible verse for today’s topic:

“For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber on their beds, He uncovers their ears at that time and terrifies them with warnings, in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress his pride. God spares his soul from the Pit, his life crossing the river of death.” (Job 33:14-18 HCSB)

Thank you for reading. The weather’s stirring out there, so stay safe. God bless.

Much Ado About Writer Conundrums

Another chapter is finished! That makes four, for those counting. I’ve planned to hit twenty on this book. Sixteen left. So far, I’ve done the prologue, chapters 1 and 2, and a middle chapter I’m calling chapter 11. It’s exciting to write new material, to say the least.

Each chapter has featured a different point of view so far, but I don’t think I’m being too ambitious doing this with my second novel. I hope. It’s early goings, so it remains to be seen if I can tie them all together organically and make their chapters feel distinct. The plot is still the same base concept I’ve had since finishing The Shadow Over Lone Oak but it may need tweaking to hit the beats I need.

One of the problems with writing a book – and especially a sequel – is not falling into a repetitive loop. You don’t want to bore your readers by recycling elements or phrases you’ve used in the past. At the same time, certain information and exposition has to be doled out so that the reader can begin to formulate where, when, how, and why events are taking place in the narrative. The difficulty is balancing show vs. tell and all that entails.

For example, let’s say you have a scene wherein a character must converse with someone not occupying the same space as them. How do you accomplish this? If it’s a telephone call, you usually just write dialogue and leave what the other person’s doing to the imagination. But what if they’re communicating via an intercom? In this instance, they’re both in the same building but still separated by geography. Is dialogue sufficient to tell the story?

Perhaps you decide to swap between points of view. You follow one character per line of dialogue, switching perspectives to give the reader a better picture. If not executed well, this confuses the reader. Okay, how about splitting the conversation? One page is Character A’s POV until a certain line. At that point, you scene change and get the rest of the conversation from Character B. Is this the better option?

Writing is as much problem-solving as it is putting pen to paper (finger to keyboard). You have to know when and where to put Character A into Plot Point B so that he can intersect with Twist C. It’s like a puzzle that only the author can both create and solve. This, I think, causes me (and others) to stumble most often when writing our work. If you can’t figure out where to set a scene, at what time, with the correct amount of action vs. dialogue, then you’re stuck. You have writer’s block. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, etc.

That’s before diving into description vs. imagination. How much of an environment should you leave to the reader’s whimsy? You want them to understand what is going on, but you don’t want to overload them with imagery to the point that the story is lost beneath purple prose.

Funnily enough, I have the opposite problem most writers have on this issue. Where others are flowery and need to condense their work, I struggle to get the image in my head to accurately translate to the page. I can visualize a scene, the characters, and what they say, but I’m often at a loss as to how to get that message across to the reader. My first drafts of a sentence or paragraph tend to be dull and stilted. It’s only after I’ve read and reread and consulted a thesaurus and worked out tiny knots that I can then come back and beam the scene in my head onto the white space of the page.

So what advice can I give other writers on this issue? No singular solution is for everyone, but for me the best thing to keep in mind is that no one sees the first draft but you. Whatever mistakes you’ve made, whatever flaccid event you’ve written, it can always be corrected. You are the author. You have all the authority and the power to enrich your language and deliver the manuscript necessary to achieve your vision of the story in your head. Never forget that you are the one in charge of writing your stories.

You can rebuild your prose. You have the technology.

Have a great day! God bless.

One Month Later & A Call to Action

My second novel is starting to take on definition and meaning. I completed another chapter this past week and the narrative is going down roads I hadn’t really expected to travel. Llewyn Finch’s life is complicated and storied—at least that’s what this new book is telling me. He’s even got an unusual middle name with its own little backstory. But you don’t get that information yet. Yeah, I’m a tease.

So, let’s get this out of the way: no sneak preview this week. Sorry if you might’ve been looking forward to another slice. I can’t promise when, but there will be more in the future, once the novel has progressed to a point where I feel comfortable sharing.

On to today’s topic: novel reactions. Specifically, I’m interested to hear what readers are saying about The Shadow Over Lone Oak. Whether it’s in the form of a review or a simple comment, I’d genuinely like to know my reader’s thoughts. As it’s been a month since the book was first published, I expect that most or many of you have either completed a significant chunk or the whole shebang.

Kyla S., who rated the novel four stars on Amazon, calls it “a well-written mix of hardboiled detective story meets the X-Files” and says that it’s “a dark, gritty read with some good (and scary) twists and turns” before concluding that she can’t wait to read more from the author.

That praise speaks for itself, but how do you feel about my novel? Was it what you expected? Did you get your money’s worth? Which character did you like best? Do you have suggestions for improvement? Are you looking forward to the sequel? Is my writing gutter trash worse than My Immortal?

I’ll humor responses to all of these questions and more. Yes, even that last one. Critique is essential to a writer’s skill set and I need it in abundance. Whatever advice, admonishment, or acclaim you can offer is greatly appreciated. You might call those the three A’s of reader response.

So, my humble fans, friends, and family, what is your opinion of my debut novel? Please leave comments in one of the following forms:

Amazon Review & Rating – Recommended for non-Facebook friends who purchased the novel because Amazon thinks that’s collusion.
Goodreads Review – Anyone who signs up for a Goodreads account can do this. It’s free.
Comments on this Blog Post or on Facebook – Anyone can do this.
Instant messaging and/or email – Anyone can do this. If you’re not a Facebook friend, my information is available under the “Contact” tab.

If your comment/review contains spoilers, I ask that you use messaging or email to discuss the book, though if it’s a detailed critique on Amazon or Goodreads it’s acceptable (even if I’d prefer not have the plot spoiled to potential buyers).

Thanks for reading and I hope to read the opinions of at least a few readers in one form or other. Peace be to you and God bless.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/CJSearsAuthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33595874-the-shadow-over-lone-oak?ac=1&from_search=true

Sneak Preview & Updates

Sneak Peak & Updates

Envisioning the plot of a sequel is no easy task. Audiences are quick to get jaded, as the expression goes, so anything that attempts to follow up an original is harshly scrutinized. I understand this well enough having been a fan of multiple franchises with both stellar and less-than exciting sequels. But I have to try. I have at least this second novel in the series within me, perhaps more if my inspiration holds. That’s a goal worth striving to meet.

I hit a milestone last night when I completed the prologue of the untitled sequel to The Shadow Over Lone Oak.  Having written a middle chapter earlier last week, I consider the book at approximately 10% completion. That may not seem like much right now, but it’s further along than I thought I’d be less than a month after publishing my debut novel.

What can I say about the sequel without spoiling it? Not much, I’m afraid. Instead, how about I show you what’s in store?

Here’s a quick look to whet your appetite:

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At the bottom, Grayson threw his arm in front of Ortiz and Cranston. He thought he’d heard a strange noise. Growling. Some kind of animal. It sounded hungry.

“What gives, Captain? I ain’t your baby mama.”

He disregarded Cranston’s remark. He’d heard the noise again. He still couldn’t decipher the nature of the animal. He’d grown up on a farm in the boonies so he knew what sounds a predator like a cougar or a wolf made. It was neither.

The creature, whatever it was, drew closer by the second. A shape began to form in the void. It was bipedal with a slight hunch. Humanoid, in fact.

“Hello?” Ortiz squeaked.

Grayson wanted to slap him. Years in combat taught him that if an opposing force didn’t immediately identify itself as a friend it was best to assume foe. He wished he’d brought his service pistol, a SIG P229.

It made wet plopping noises as it shuffled toward them. Were its feet slicked with mucus or slime? That would explain the squelching.

More of its features became clear as it emerged from the black into their view. Its body was a gray-green color and the skin leathery like an elephant’s hide. Its arms were disgustingly thin and stringy, devoid of bone or structure. The legs jointed at the knee like a human’s but the slippery feet were lined with suction cups. Like an octopus.

The face could’ve been a man’s except for the mouth. Instead of lips, its gaping orifice funneled outward into a gaping, bulbous mass. Definitely not human. The way it lurched, he was reminded of an ailing plant.

Something like an alligator hiss crossed with the howl of a jackal erupted from the freak’s cavernous hole. Ortiz and Cranston screamed and sprinted up the steps. Cowards. Grayson stood his ground.

Of course, this is still a first draft. Some aspects and language may change during the course of revision. But I hope you enjoyed a taste of what’s to come in the sequel.

The ebook edition of The Shadow Over Lone Oak is still only 99 cents. If you haven’t taken advantage of this LIMITED TIME OFFER (do all caps make you want it less or more? I have no idea), there’s still time. Remember that the offer ends on January 18 @ midnight Central Standard Time.

You may have noticed a minor change to the layout of this site’s home page. Namely, the blog itself is now front and center. While I did like the original structure and image, I figured it was best to make the blog the most direct access point of the site. I’m sure you’ve also noticed the new badge to the left of my blog posts (Kboards Featured Me) as well as the RSS feed links. These are only the beginning stages of what I hope to revamp to make this site more in line with what readers expect of a professional author’s webpage.

Now, I can’t leave you guys this post without a Bible passage. It helps me keep on the right track mentally and spiritually and I hope it does so for you as well.

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 HCSB)

#TeamMysteryThriller Day 2

Great books and your new favorite authors inside:

http://reneepawlish.com/promo/

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With over forty ebooks to choose from, this selection of discounted mysteries and thrillers is sure to delight you. For a limited time and the low price of 99 cents a piece, you can bolster your “to-be-read” list with a plethora of new titles and hidden gems. From the cozy to the crazy, the noir to the nightmare, this collection is filled to the brim with exciting authors, new and old, who are looking to get their work into the hands of voracious readers.

Included among these titles is my debut novel The Shadow Over Lone Oak. A horror thriller set in the American South, this story exemplifies the best qualities of the X-Files, Twin Peaks, and Resident Evil all rolled into one engaging, intriguing, and sometimes frightening package. Follow Llewyn Finch as he combats a cult, bootleggers, and sinister creatures to get to the bottom of a young woman’s murder. It’s been called a “dark, gritty read with some good (and scary!) twists and turns” by a reviewer on Amazon who rated it 4 Stars. FOR A LIMITED TIME (until January 18th @ midnight CST), The Shadow Over Lone Oak is only 99 cents.

But if you’re not interested in my work, the other 40+ books on display are sure to delight. Among them is the work of Renee Pawlish, author of the Reed Ferguson mystery series. I’m in the middle of reading the first of her books (This Doesn’t Happen in the Movies) and it’s a treat. I won’t spoil it though. You won’t go wrong purchasing her work or any of the ebooks featured in this LIMITED TIME PROMOTION.

If you want to help us out on twitter, remember that all you have to do is tweet #TeamMysteryThriller. Thanks and have a great day!

#TeamMysteryThriller

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The Shadow Over Lone Oak and other mystery & thriller titles are being featured in a special promotion run by Renee Pawlish, an excellent craftswoman of the aforementioned genres. All forty-eight books have been discounted to just $.99 for a limited time. Looking for chills, thrills, suspense, and (in my case) a bit of horror? Then these books are perfect for your needs. Check them out at the link.

http://reneepawlish.com/promo/

If you want to help Renee, myself, and the other authors featured in this promotion, be sure to tweet #TeamMysteryThriller to your followers on Facebook and Twitter.

Also, a personal reminder that the LIMITED TIME OFFER for my novel ends January 18 @ midnight Central Standard Time.

The Shadow Over Lone Oak is only $.99!

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FOR A LIMITED TIME: Starting today, The Shadow Over Lone Oak is available for the low price of $.99 (Kindle Edition) or $7.95 (paperback).

Click here to buy for just $.99:

THE SHADOW OVER LONE OAK

The idyllic town of Lone Oak is surrounded by mountains and forest – isolated from the outside world. When a young woman is murdered and her body displayed, the news hits the peaceful town with a devastating blow. But as Special Agent Llewyn Finch discovers, the town was always rotting underneath the surface.

Lone Oak’s sheriff is out of her depth. Between the moonshiners and the local newspaper’s antipathy toward her, Willow Donahue already had a host of problems on her plate. But a dead girl is new. It’s threatening. A cult is on her doorstep and Finch is the only one who can help her stop it – if she can learn to trust in him and his abilities.

As the investigation unfolds, the two of them come to realize that there are more important questions. Who really runs Lone Oak? Why? What is the endgame of a crippled town at the edge of civilization?

There’s a saying in Lone Oak: evil is a whisper in the wind. But this whisper is everywhere. It’s in the mines. It’s in the woods. It’s in their homes.

It’s under the skin.

If you have not yet purchased this exciting horror thriller, now is the time. This offer ENDS January 18 @ 12:00 A. M. Central Standard Time so hurry to receive your copy before it returns to its original price.