Jeffrey Caston's Blog, page 3
December 15, 2020
Raven novel preluded drafted
I have gotten the prelude for the first Raven novel drafted. It's about 4,500 words and if I do say so myself, it is brutal.
I am using it to introduce the novel's antagonist. Part of my goal with this was to create an antagonist who the reader absolutely loathes and fears. If I have batsh!t crazy protagonist who breaks the law by dispensing his own brand of violent justice, I felt like I needed a next level brutal protagonist. It will be interesting playing the scenes in my mind and writing them down when they finally meet in the story.
I am using it to introduce the novel's antagonist. Part of my goal with this was to create an antagonist who the reader absolutely loathes and fears. If I have batsh!t crazy protagonist who breaks the law by dispensing his own brand of violent justice, I felt like I needed a next level brutal protagonist. It will be interesting playing the scenes in my mind and writing them down when they finally meet in the story.
November 23, 2020
Started a full Raven novel
Well, I decided that I am going to put aside one of the two novels I have been working on and shift over to writing the first Ravenbrood novel. It will feature the dark, not so heroic superhero, the Raven, who protects the Puget Sound region from truly evil forces.
The Ravensbrood series will be a subset of the Horrific Northwest setting that I started with Immunity.
I've had the rough outline in my brain for a long time. I've fleshed it out a bit and I have enough to proceed with a first draft. I've started the drafting process and I intend to crank on it as quickly as I can. I'll blog on the progress every once in a while.
I look forward to releasing it soon!
The Ravensbrood series will be a subset of the Horrific Northwest setting that I started with Immunity.
I've had the rough outline in my brain for a long time. I've fleshed it out a bit and I have enough to proceed with a first draft. I've started the drafting process and I intend to crank on it as quickly as I can. I'll blog on the progress every once in a while.
I look forward to releasing it soon!
July 26, 2020
Charity Book "Writers in Lockdown" Promotion
Hello Everyone:
I wanted to tell everyone about an upcoming promotion...
So the Writers in Lockdown, a short story anthology of assembled writers' short stories has been released.
Writers in Lockdown: A collection of short stories
The point of this anthology was to show that nothing will keep us all down and how we can help each other. The stories were written during the Covid-19 lockdown that so many of contend with on a daily basis.
I contributed a short story, How the Raven Met the Angel, to this anthology. This story had earned an honorable mention in a short story contest. And I am finding out there's a lot of good stuff in this volume. I personally bought a paperback copy and it looks great. I'll forever cherish it for the cooperation and global efforts it represents.
I am told it has sold in excess of 100 copies. It is on track to meet its costs and then the royalties earned will be donated to charity. I am told we really close to getting to the charity level.
So, the editor, Faith, who worked really hard getting this put together, is going to be running a promotion on it on the 29th of July. The ebook will be 99 cents for a day.
If you want to read what the human spirit can come up with during trying times, look no further than Writers in Lockdown.
I wanted to tell everyone about an upcoming promotion...
So the Writers in Lockdown, a short story anthology of assembled writers' short stories has been released.
Writers in Lockdown: A collection of short stories
The point of this anthology was to show that nothing will keep us all down and how we can help each other. The stories were written during the Covid-19 lockdown that so many of contend with on a daily basis.
I contributed a short story, How the Raven Met the Angel, to this anthology. This story had earned an honorable mention in a short story contest. And I am finding out there's a lot of good stuff in this volume. I personally bought a paperback copy and it looks great. I'll forever cherish it for the cooperation and global efforts it represents.
I am told it has sold in excess of 100 copies. It is on track to meet its costs and then the royalties earned will be donated to charity. I am told we really close to getting to the charity level.
So, the editor, Faith, who worked really hard getting this put together, is going to be running a promotion on it on the 29th of July. The ebook will be 99 cents for a day.
If you want to read what the human spirit can come up with during trying times, look no further than Writers in Lockdown.
July 11, 2020
"How the Raven Met the Angel" earns an honorable mention in the second SIA "You Tell Us" short story contest
I'm very happy to report that my short story,
How the Raven Met the Angel
earned an Honorable Mention in the SIA "You Tell Us Short Story Contest, Part 2."
I submitted this short story and among several entries, it earned an honorable mention. I'll be releasing it soon by itself.
But...
I actually encourage anyone interested to actually check it and a bunch of new short stories out that were recently released in a new anthology Writers in Lockdown .
Writers in Lockdown: A collection of short stories
Since the contest also coincided with the coronavirus lockdown, I submitted it for publication of this book, which is available as an ebook or as a paperback. The short stories in this collection were written by fellow writers during the recent events and the lockdown. It is a non-profit book and once we pay for the production costs, the proceeds are going to be donated to a charity.
I'm really proud to have participated in the contest and the anthology, among several other really awesome stories. I have met new and interesting people and learned a lot.
I submitted this short story and among several entries, it earned an honorable mention. I'll be releasing it soon by itself.
But...
I actually encourage anyone interested to actually check it and a bunch of new short stories out that were recently released in a new anthology Writers in Lockdown .
Writers in Lockdown: A collection of short stories
Since the contest also coincided with the coronavirus lockdown, I submitted it for publication of this book, which is available as an ebook or as a paperback. The short stories in this collection were written by fellow writers during the recent events and the lockdown. It is a non-profit book and once we pay for the production costs, the proceeds are going to be donated to a charity.
I'm really proud to have participated in the contest and the anthology, among several other really awesome stories. I have met new and interesting people and learned a lot.
June 22, 2020
Release of new short story -- Food
I had a long night last busy, but it was worth it...
I finished up and released a grisly new short story, entitled Food.
Set in the far future of the Horrific Northwest after the resources and governments had finally given out, a man sits home, alone, watching old cooking shows, wishing he could have enjoyed the foods of his Puget Sound ancestors.
Spoiler alert -- It doesn't work out so well for him.
Food: A Horrific Northwest Short Story
I'd love to hear from anyone's who reads it.
Jeffrey Caston
I finished up and released a grisly new short story, entitled Food.
Set in the far future of the Horrific Northwest after the resources and governments had finally given out, a man sits home, alone, watching old cooking shows, wishing he could have enjoyed the foods of his Puget Sound ancestors.
Spoiler alert -- It doesn't work out so well for him.
Food: A Horrific Northwest Short Story
I'd love to hear from anyone's who reads it.
Jeffrey Caston
June 12, 2020
Writing Life of an Indie Author -- Part 2 -- Learning More and Loving It
I have found that creating the stories that have been bouncing around in my brain for decades now isn't enough.
Established indie authors will typically tell you the writing is the "easy" part. Well, the writing is challenging, but wow am I learning that, yeah, there is a lot of stuff to learn and deal with as an indie author that isn't necessarily part of the writer's skill set. But learning is NEVER a bad thing.
So on my journey here, when I first published Immunity, I knew the word count. I had an idea of what I thought the page count would be when it finally made it up on Amazon. But when it came up as 650 plus pages, I thought that was a bit odd.
(Okay, actually it was more like -- GASP!! Whaaaatt!!)
Next came MORE publication research and more work.
Long story short, I have, sorted out some data issues and now it is listed as 397 pages, which is what I thought it should have been all along. Same book. Same data, just a slightly different length.
Oh well, live and learn, right?
Immunity: A Novel of the Horrific Northwest
Established indie authors will typically tell you the writing is the "easy" part. Well, the writing is challenging, but wow am I learning that, yeah, there is a lot of stuff to learn and deal with as an indie author that isn't necessarily part of the writer's skill set. But learning is NEVER a bad thing.
So on my journey here, when I first published Immunity, I knew the word count. I had an idea of what I thought the page count would be when it finally made it up on Amazon. But when it came up as 650 plus pages, I thought that was a bit odd.
(Okay, actually it was more like -- GASP!! Whaaaatt!!)
Next came MORE publication research and more work.
Long story short, I have, sorted out some data issues and now it is listed as 397 pages, which is what I thought it should have been all along. Same book. Same data, just a slightly different length.
Oh well, live and learn, right?
Immunity: A Novel of the Horrific Northwest
June 2, 2020
Release of the Raven and the Eye & a few Comments About the Raven – a not so heroic superhero
I am pleased to be releasing my first Raven short story.
The Raven and the Eye
It is a standalone story in what will become my Ravensbrood series. The Ravensbrood stories will be loosely connected to the Horrific Northwest. In fact, The Raven and the Eye has a few characters from my first novel, Immunity.
In this short story, the Raven has to battle a vicious, murderous monster. But it should be okay for him. Because he’s kind of a vicious, murderous vigilante.
Which brings me to a short introduction about what the Raven is all about. The Raven is a vigilante based in the Seattle area. He’s tough. He’s resourceful. He’s brilliant with technology (he is in Seattle after all). He’s a stellar hand to hand fighter. And he’s got all kinds of cool gadgets he has at his disposal.
But here’s the thing. He’s also bats%$@ crazy. And mean. And he’s not altogether heroic. He’ll stomp on an innocent if that is what it takes to bring down the bad guys. So think of a superhero with Batman’s skillset, the Joker’s insanity, Lex Luthor’s resources, and Tony Stark’s technical genius.
So if you are a fan of superheroes, horror, or Lovecraftian beasties, this story is for you.
It’s available on Kindle and KU.
The Raven and the Eye: A Ravensbrood Short Story
The Raven and the Eye
It is a standalone story in what will become my Ravensbrood series. The Ravensbrood stories will be loosely connected to the Horrific Northwest. In fact, The Raven and the Eye has a few characters from my first novel, Immunity.
In this short story, the Raven has to battle a vicious, murderous monster. But it should be okay for him. Because he’s kind of a vicious, murderous vigilante.
Which brings me to a short introduction about what the Raven is all about. The Raven is a vigilante based in the Seattle area. He’s tough. He’s resourceful. He’s brilliant with technology (he is in Seattle after all). He’s a stellar hand to hand fighter. And he’s got all kinds of cool gadgets he has at his disposal.
But here’s the thing. He’s also bats%$@ crazy. And mean. And he’s not altogether heroic. He’ll stomp on an innocent if that is what it takes to bring down the bad guys. So think of a superhero with Batman’s skillset, the Joker’s insanity, Lex Luthor’s resources, and Tony Stark’s technical genius.
So if you are a fan of superheroes, horror, or Lovecraftian beasties, this story is for you.
It’s available on Kindle and KU.
The Raven and the Eye: A Ravensbrood Short Story
May 28, 2020
Two Upcoming Shortstories
I am close to getting two short stories published. Just needs a few little fine tuning issues and covers and I'll be ready to go.
Food is a short story set in the somewhat distant future of my Horrific Northwest setting that I introduced with Immunity. It's going to address the point to which humanity will go to explore new "cuisine." Bon Appetite. Sort of.
Then, in The Raven and the Eye I am excited to be writing a short story about the Raven, a crazed vigilante based in Seattle. This short story will be be a stand-alone story that is part of the Ravensbrood series but also ties in with characters from the Horrific Northwest. (Immunity: A Novel of the Horrific Northwest) If you love horror and Lovecraftian beasties, you'll love this one. More on this (and the Raven in general) later.
Food is a short story set in the somewhat distant future of my Horrific Northwest setting that I introduced with Immunity. It's going to address the point to which humanity will go to explore new "cuisine." Bon Appetite. Sort of.
Then, in The Raven and the Eye I am excited to be writing a short story about the Raven, a crazed vigilante based in Seattle. This short story will be be a stand-alone story that is part of the Ravensbrood series but also ties in with characters from the Horrific Northwest. (Immunity: A Novel of the Horrific Northwest) If you love horror and Lovecraftian beasties, you'll love this one. More on this (and the Raven in general) later.
April 16, 2020
The Horrific Northwest
I know some authors and readers (okay maybe a lot of authors and readers) enjoy distinct series. I'm no different.
But, well, a lot of times my brain just isn't that linear. I've dreamed up stories and characters that have lived inside my head like friend for so long. I've conceptualized certain series and certain characters as having their own distinct worlds.
But then recently I realized that a lot of them had overlapping challenges and interactions.
Enter the Horrific Northwest, the literary "stage" or multiverse I am creating with my writing. I am really excited to be giving this life.
I'm going to be writing primarily horror. And I have always loved the northwest. The Horrific Northwest is going to be a sort of over-arcing setting that many of the novels I had outlined in my head as far back as high school are going to be set in. If you're familiar with D&D, it is sort of like the various campaign settings players can use. Or more likely, people are familiar with the Marvel or the DC superhero movies. The Horrific Northwest is going to be a sort of literary equivalent to that.
I started it with my debut novel, Immunity.
Immunity sets the stage for a lot of my intended future work. It introduces some of the larger characters and organizations, such as the evil Penwall Corporation and its owner, Horace Stant. It introduces other characters, such as Colin Wohl, Susan Stewart, Jennie Ransom, and others who will also have their own series and books down the line. There will be references to events and people in other stories.
Doing it like this will allow me to write some books in a sequential series, while having other stories and books appear at different times.
For example, Susan Stewart will have adventures and endure agonies long before readers discover her as Stant's secretary in Immunity, which takes place in 2018.
The Horrific Northwest will encompass various series and standalone stories:
The series I am currently writing about people who possess amazing abilities but must face nightmarish obstacles and enemies.
The Ravensbrood -- a series of books and short stories about a Seattle vigilante who is semi-possessed by spirits. I hope to come out with a short-story, The Raven and the Eye soon.
Food, a dystopian short-story set in the future.
The Paralearth -- a sci-fi/horror mashup series featuring aliens created by an alternative world created in another dimension.
But my intent is that a reader of any book in my Horrific Northwest novels or short stories will be able to enjoy any story as a standalone novel or a series. I will write them so that you will not have to read everything if a topic or a character doesn't appeal to a reader. But overall I think people who do read the Horrific Northwest books will have a larger, richer reading experience. I think I can -- no -- I KNOW I can make this work. I just hope people will like it.
Jeffrey Caston
But, well, a lot of times my brain just isn't that linear. I've dreamed up stories and characters that have lived inside my head like friend for so long. I've conceptualized certain series and certain characters as having their own distinct worlds.
But then recently I realized that a lot of them had overlapping challenges and interactions.
Enter the Horrific Northwest, the literary "stage" or multiverse I am creating with my writing. I am really excited to be giving this life.
I'm going to be writing primarily horror. And I have always loved the northwest. The Horrific Northwest is going to be a sort of over-arcing setting that many of the novels I had outlined in my head as far back as high school are going to be set in. If you're familiar with D&D, it is sort of like the various campaign settings players can use. Or more likely, people are familiar with the Marvel or the DC superhero movies. The Horrific Northwest is going to be a sort of literary equivalent to that.
I started it with my debut novel, Immunity.
Immunity sets the stage for a lot of my intended future work. It introduces some of the larger characters and organizations, such as the evil Penwall Corporation and its owner, Horace Stant. It introduces other characters, such as Colin Wohl, Susan Stewart, Jennie Ransom, and others who will also have their own series and books down the line. There will be references to events and people in other stories.
Doing it like this will allow me to write some books in a sequential series, while having other stories and books appear at different times.
For example, Susan Stewart will have adventures and endure agonies long before readers discover her as Stant's secretary in Immunity, which takes place in 2018.
The Horrific Northwest will encompass various series and standalone stories:
The series I am currently writing about people who possess amazing abilities but must face nightmarish obstacles and enemies.
The Ravensbrood -- a series of books and short stories about a Seattle vigilante who is semi-possessed by spirits. I hope to come out with a short-story, The Raven and the Eye soon.
Food, a dystopian short-story set in the future.
The Paralearth -- a sci-fi/horror mashup series featuring aliens created by an alternative world created in another dimension.
But my intent is that a reader of any book in my Horrific Northwest novels or short stories will be able to enjoy any story as a standalone novel or a series. I will write them so that you will not have to read everything if a topic or a character doesn't appeal to a reader. But overall I think people who do read the Horrific Northwest books will have a larger, richer reading experience. I think I can -- no -- I KNOW I can make this work. I just hope people will like it.
Jeffrey Caston
Writing Life and Being Grateful to be an indie author
I have been writing and imagining stories almost as long as I can remember. Modern indie publishing has been instrumental in giving a voice to aspiring writers like me. And for that I will always be grateful.
But here's a new writing experience for me...blogging. Never done this before, so I am just looking at this as another creative opportunity to do the thing I have loved since I could form a rational sentence. (Okay, maybe some of those early sentences weren't all that rational, but I'm going to give myself the benefit of the doubt).
Enter Sarah Vinson and "Immunity"...
I had first written Sarah's story several years ago. Over the years, when I had a fresh inspiration and aspiration to bring it closer to publication, I would give it a fresh re-write, updating, improving, making it scarier. Then it would sit again, unrealized, unread, and that left me unfulfilled as a writer and my creative aspirations.
Then a co-worker (whose code-name shall henceforth be "the homie") introduced me to GR and indie authors. I read it. At first I thought it was a bit rough. It was one of the earlier indie authors and books. It had a pretty substantial number of grammatical errors and I didn't have a kindle so I paid the hefty price to get a print on demand copy. But right away I saw two things. One, that the writer had a great imagination and that with the advent of indie publishing, he could get it out there. Two, I realized, maybe, just maybe, I could finally get my own work out there. So then I took up Immunity again. And as you will see from my next blog post, Immunity became the springboard for the "Horrific Northwest" literary mutliverse I intend to create.
So a lot of late nights, patience, hard work and support of my loving wife, the homie and some GR friends (like Marie and Angel), I was FINALLY able to bring Immunity to life. Oh and coffee and alcohol played in there too.
Immunity is a story (now eerily timely) about a young woman with a perfect immune system who was also capable of psionically transmitting diseases to people.
But just as I am always grateful to be able to have writing as a creative outlet, I will be even more grateful to be able to see my stories in print thanks to indie publishing.
But here's a new writing experience for me...blogging. Never done this before, so I am just looking at this as another creative opportunity to do the thing I have loved since I could form a rational sentence. (Okay, maybe some of those early sentences weren't all that rational, but I'm going to give myself the benefit of the doubt).
Enter Sarah Vinson and "Immunity"...
I had first written Sarah's story several years ago. Over the years, when I had a fresh inspiration and aspiration to bring it closer to publication, I would give it a fresh re-write, updating, improving, making it scarier. Then it would sit again, unrealized, unread, and that left me unfulfilled as a writer and my creative aspirations.
Then a co-worker (whose code-name shall henceforth be "the homie") introduced me to GR and indie authors. I read it. At first I thought it was a bit rough. It was one of the earlier indie authors and books. It had a pretty substantial number of grammatical errors and I didn't have a kindle so I paid the hefty price to get a print on demand copy. But right away I saw two things. One, that the writer had a great imagination and that with the advent of indie publishing, he could get it out there. Two, I realized, maybe, just maybe, I could finally get my own work out there. So then I took up Immunity again. And as you will see from my next blog post, Immunity became the springboard for the "Horrific Northwest" literary mutliverse I intend to create.
So a lot of late nights, patience, hard work and support of my loving wife, the homie and some GR friends (like Marie and Angel), I was FINALLY able to bring Immunity to life. Oh and coffee and alcohol played in there too.
Immunity is a story (now eerily timely) about a young woman with a perfect immune system who was also capable of psionically transmitting diseases to people.
But just as I am always grateful to be able to have writing as a creative outlet, I will be even more grateful to be able to see my stories in print thanks to indie publishing.
