E.S. Lell's Blog, page 7
February 29, 2012
Winners tomorrow!
Just a reminder that Tomorrow, Thursday, March 1st, we will be selecting folks to send free download codes for the First Key of Kalijor on iBooks!
All you have to do to get one is like/follow our FaceBook page, or if you already do, get someone else to do so and that will put you, and them, in teh running for one of the ten codes!
You can access our fan page on teh right of the screen here (or if you'r ereading this on FaceBook, then you're already here, just click 'like').
More news on other stuff, and a GalaxyFest debriefing coming this weekend, after the codes are awarded. 
February 27, 2012
Reminder…
Like the Kalijor Press Facebook page this week and on Friday your name will be in the drawing for a free download code for the First Key of Kalijor on iBooks!
No purchase necessary, and if you'd like a better chance at winning one, all you need to do is get some friends and family to like the page as well, then leave a note on the wall there, saying who you convinced to like the page. Each person you bring along, increases the odds of you getting a copy and puts them in the running as well!
That's all for now, but stay tuned and we'll get a GalaxyFest debriefing posted here soon, with plenty of new pics to check out as well!
As always, thanks for your support and encouragement. I'll get back with more soon!
End of Line…
Paul
February 24, 2012
Galaxy Fest, Hoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
Heading to Galaxy Fest for the weekend!
Please come out and see us if you have the means.
Have an awesome weekend!
End of Line…
Paul
February 21, 2012
Free copies of the First Key on iBooks!
Just a quick update.
Firstly, head on over to the Kalijor Press Facebook page and like us. There are ten free copies of The First Key of Kalijor on iBooks at stake, and we need 9 more 'likes' to get them all out the door. So get yourself, and your closest friends over there now and 'like' the page.
Secondly, Galaxy Fest is this weekend in Colorado Springs. We'll be there with the first three novels, the 2012 Con book (first appearance), and the very few remaining copies of the 2011 con book (no more to ever be printed, so if you want one, come see us). I'll also have a couple pieces of Kalijor merchandise there to show off, some art, and a few other odds and ends.
That's pretty much it for now. More news soon though.
Stay strong folks, and keep your imaginations alive!
End of line…
Paul
February 4, 2012
Plan B
Well,
I just had a great conversation with a personal hero of mine. The bad news is that the RPG license is not going to go through. There were a few concerns between our respective intellectual properties that would have made things potentially very difficult down the road, for both of us.
That said, he is an awesome guy who is doing everything he can (at leas as far as I can tell from here, anyway) for everyone he can. We chatted up the material, the plans for Kalijor's future, and a few other subjects, and in the end, though we are not doing business together, I like to think we have the beginnings of a very positive acquaintance, possibly even a friendship… One never knows what the future may hold!
So, Plan B.
Thursday evening, after another conversation with this person had brought to light some of the potential issues, I went to bed around 11 but just couldn't sleep with all the RPG uncertainty rolling around in my head. So I snapped up the ole'iPad and took to writing. By 1 I had what I think may be a serviceable RPG framework. There is still much to be done, and a ~lot~ of testing once much of that doing is done, but I think were are back on track to seeing a Kalijor RPG.
More news will follow, but rest assured, that we are still on track with the 4th key for StarFest, and I have copies of the 2012 event book already on their way to me. As well, I think I am going to spend a little bit of coin and bring a few Kalijor odds and ends to GalaxyFest to test fan interest/uptake on them. I ordered myself an iPad and iPhone case form the store for my own devices, to check the quality of the printing and products. I have to say that I think they are fine products and, even with the special printing, the costs are on par with cases that I have seen in regular retail outlets.
So, plan B is in effect, and under way. Novels are on course, and things are still looking pretty good, even if a little bit behind schedule.
I hope you are all having an awesome day/weekend, and I look forward to interacting with you all in future.
End of Line…
Paul
January 27, 2012
Quick Update
The 2012 con/event book is done.
At the printer's.
That is all.
End of line…
Paul
January 25, 2012
As January Comes to a Close…
I find myself….. Still swamped with projects!
So, it seems nothing has actually changed.
Except that I expect to finish the 2012 con book this week! Possibly by the end of the 25th. I need to give it one more read through, then I'm heading into typesetting/layout. The cover is done already, so I should be able to get a printer proof in the next ten days or so and have copies in time for GalaxyFest!
Which brings up February. GalaxyFest is on the 24th through the 26th of February, at the Antlers Hilton, in Colorado Springs. Kalijor Press will be there on Author's alley with the first three novels, Jumah's World, the 2012 con book, and the last few remaining copies of the 2011 con book (no more copies will ever be printed, so if you want one, you'd better come see us at GalaxyFest).
I don't know yet if we'll have anything for the RPG book, but we are still pressing on with production just as fast as we can! At this point, it seems doubtful that actual copies will be there for sale (doubtful being a pretty optimistic word). I still hope to be able to show off a pre-release copy and take pre-orders, but that all-important paperwork is still pending, so at this point I can't even officially announce which game system we are using. It's a bit frustrating, to tell the truth. But, people have lives, and business have needs that need to be met. I am assured that the deal is going forward, so I am going forward with that belief.
I can assure you however, that unless the deal falls through, there ~will~ be copies of the RPG for sale at StarFest in April!!
I am also looking into ways to get the RPG onto electronic readers, but preserving the layout and art asset placement is proving troublesome. I am sure I'll get it sussed out though, and get digital copies on the market at, or shortly after the time the print copies drop.
As for the Fourth Key, I am going through it again for some small issues and general stuff that can be missed without 9,871,388 passes through the text. I think we're just about ready for the final editing pass, then final revision and into layout/typesetting. This one will be an easy mark for April release.
The Fifth Key is going slowly around all of this other production. It is shaping up to be pretty epic, but I won't really get into the meaty parts until after all of these other projects start to wind down. I'm hoping by mid March ill be dividing my time between this and the polishing of the first RPG sourcebook. I'd like to have the book written and in editing by late June. We'll see, I guess…
I think that's about it for now. A couple quick reminders, and then I'm off to bed.
First, all Kalijor books in 'dead-tree' format are on sale until the end of January 2012. Simply follow any of the links to the Kalijor Press store from the book pages and fill up your cart. Enter coupon code: LULUBOOK305 at checkout and get 25% off your entire order.
Second, next Friday, February 3rd is First Friday, which means I'll be down at Galaxy Gallery (802 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO) hanging out with my cover artist, David Magoun, selling and signing books, prints and original works of art. We're upstairs, above the furniture store on the north east corner of 8th and Santa Fe. Come by and see us. Chat, hang out, and maybe take home a piece of David's amazing sci-fi/fantasy art.
Okay, I think that's about it for now, so I am going to bed!
I hope you all have an awesome day and I look forward to talking to you the next time we meet.
End of line…
Paul
January 9, 2012
January book sale, and a bit more…
So, work progresses. I am about 75% through with the revisions on the Fourth Key and should be giving it over to the editor before this weekend is over. Next up, the RPG book is well into layout and will be going to press as soon as possible. Art has been assigned, but that one crucial piece is still missing. We are proceeding as if all is in place and will land exactly where it's supposed to.
Okay, now the big news. All books from the Kalijor Press store are on sale through the end of January. Just enter the code: LULUBOOK305 at checkout and you can save 25% on your order. It's just that simple.
Sale ends January 31st, so there is some time, but the sooner you act, the less time you have to keep track of the sale.
Now, for something… more…
Notice at the menu bar at the top of the page, you'll notice a new option for Merchandise. THis link will lead you over to the brand new (and still under development) Kalijor Press merchandise store. There you will find hats, shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, and a lot more. You can link directly to it at store.kalijor.com or use the button above. Please, let me know what you think of the products, and understand that the look and feel of the store is still being worked upon.
Okay, I think that's about it for now, I need to go get some sleep so I can get this move revised and out to editing one more time. Rest well, and I hope to see you all soon.
End of Line…
Paul
January 3, 2012
Aaaand back to work!
I took a couple weeks off during the holidays there. Played some EverQuest 2, watched a couple movies, read a book or two, and ~finally~ read up on the Girl Genius web comic (can't believe I missed that one for so long *sighs*).
So, tonight, after work, I cleaned my office (except the vacuuming), filed a bunch of stuff, and did half the taxes for Kalijor Press and Aeon Training (Not too difficult since neither is making much money just now, although that will be changing presently).
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games whilst I wasn't working on books. Because I ~was~ working on book stuff still. *laughs* See how much I love you folks? I work for you even when I'm not actually working for you! *wicked grin*
So, I got the cover for the 2012 con book commissioned and just got it back form the artist this evening. It looks great, aside form a couple very minor details that I shall get ironed out this week. Now I'll get my amazing/lovely titler to do the lettering, then a final revision of the book and I can put that one together and send it to the printer. That will probably be next week some time.
Also, I assigned (and paid for) the RPG art, both cover and interior. That's somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 images, not counting some of the little things I've done that I think might be good enough to go in for some minor equipment illustrations and so forth, and I may even commission a few more pieces from another artist, just to help David out a bit and get some of the load off his shoulders. Still, it is awesome to know that the art is under way. Now, we just need that paperwork signed to make everything nice and official, then we can make an ~official~ announcement about the RPG. I still hope to have it for GalaxyFest, but we shall see. The timeline is extremely compressed now, and we still don't officially have the license yet.
Worst case scenario, I will have prototype books there and will be able to take pre-orders for the final product.
After that, I received enough of the test copies of the Fourth Key back from test readers and will begin making changes to the book based on feedback as soon as Wednesday evening. I should have it all buttoned up by the end of this weekend and in the hands of my editor for a final editing pass next week. After that, final revision and it's in the can. David has some awesome ideas for the cover. I chatted with him about it while I was there to drop off the check for the RPG art, and I think y'all are going to LOVE the cover when it's done!
The Fifth Key is still sitting at 1k words as I haven't touched it since before 'the holidays', but I will be diving back into it around editing, revision, layout, and typesetting of the fourth book, the RPG book, and the 2012 Con book, so it should be well under way by the end of January.
Just to assure you all that there is ever so much more to be had in the Kalijor universe, here is a brief glimpse of what is already going on behind the scenes, aside from what I've just talked about above:
I have ten (yes 10!) completed novels just awaiting editing and revision after the Fifth Key is in the can. If you've ever wanted to read more about Daray, Alina, Niko, Turin, Tor, Almon, Xavier, and more (oops, did I just give away some names of the players in the up-coming books? Dangit! Now I have to explain myself to management…) then your wait won't go on much beyond the Fifth Key. Daray has her origin story in 'The Aegis Protocol', while Alina has hers in 'The Turin Gambit'. After that, Daray has a trilogy of books (called Status Quo) detailing her adventures during and after the Keys of Kalijor books, and Alina has two of her own (the Solidarity series) that take place during that same time period. Then there are three more books dealing with Daray and some of her friends that she makes in Status Quo (this series called Vulpine Requiem). In addition, I have several ideas for other books with completely different characters (although I am certain some of my favorites will make a few appearances here and there), one dealing with a mysterious traveling music group who moonlight as pirates in the space-lanes of the Sol System.
In the RPG pipeline, I have the first sourcebook already written (Rathalon), and the second is a little over 50% complete (Earth and the Earth Ring Station). I have about 15 other sourcebooks in various stages of completion (including, Avian, Pandoria, Cohai, The Magic Academy, Talanor, Magic objects and Spells of Kalijor, Venus, The Venus Station, The Dregs, Mercury, Mars, The Conglomerate, and Solidarity Online). I plan to write one sourcebook for each major location in both Kalijor and the future, and I would like to stagger them (one Kalijor, then one future, then one Kalijor, etc.) through release to you, the awesome readers of these books I can't stop writing.
Also in the works is a series of graphic novels (the first script is written and will hopefully be story-boarded in time for Denver Comic Con in June, we'll see.). I suspect we'll use the Convention book stories for the graphic novels at first, but I also know that there will be much more, and harder-line stories with our favorite characters as adults that will follow those up. One can, after all, only take so much 'cute kids' stories.
So, there you have it. A quick look behind the scenes at what Kalijor Press is cooking up. For 2012 we will be releasing, the RPG, and the Fourth Key for sure. The new 2012 convention/event book will be out in time for GalaxyFest, and I would like to release ~at least~ one sourecebook for the RPG, if not two. We have nearly a dozen convention appearances planed, including, tentatively, a return to GenCon in August, and monthly appearances at the Galaxy Gallery in Denver (802 Santa Fe, studio 5, upstairs above the furniture store). I'll see about working in some signings at local book stores as well, particularly after the Fourth novel is released in April.
Whew! *pants* As I said, lots going on, even when I'm taking time off.
So, stick with us, folks. It all starts here. It all starts now.
End of Line…
Paul
December 27, 2011
eBook Sale Reminder
Heyas everyone!
I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. And to those who don't, I still hope you had an amazing weekend, whether it be Kwanza, Hanukkah, 'The Holidays', something else, or just another weekend!
As a reminder, all eCopies of the First Key of Kalijor are still on sale for just $0.99 for teh next 5 days, until December 31, 11:59:59pm! If you picked up a kindle, iPad, nook, or some other eReader or eBook capable device recently, now is the perfect time to get it kitted out with all the best science fiction available from this author!
Not much else to report just now. The Fourth Key is still on target for late April, and the RPG is still on target for late February. The cover art for the 2012 con book has been assigned.
I hope you all have a great new year, and I will talk at you then, unless something comes up that requires an announcement before then.
End of Line…
Paul
