Jonathan Moeller's Blog, page 190
May 21, 2018
CLOAK GAMES: SKY HAMMER book description
Am I far enough along to post the book description for CLOAK GAMES: SKY HAMMER?
Yes, yes I am. Coming the first week of June!
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All my life I’ve carried out the Elven archmage Morvilind’s dangerous missions.
But now the game has spun out of Morvilind’s control.
Because the Rebel warlord Nicholas Connor has seized the Sky Hammer nuclear doomsday weapon, and he’s going to burn Earth and rebuild human civilization in his own twisted image.
And unless I stop Nicholas, my brother and billions of other people are going to die.
-JM
May 19, 2018
Jonathan Moeller vs. Kindle Unlimited – an opposite angle!
I’ve written before about my various experiments with Kindle Unlimited, but in four years of those, I’ve never actually tried to use it as a reader.
So I did that this month.
I have to admit that for a subset of readers, KU is a very good deal. Basically, if you’re the type of reader who will read more than $9.99 worth of ebooks of a specific genre in the space of a month, then you will get your money’s worth out of KU. It’s also a good way to try new writers (though permafree books can do basically the same thing, which is why I have so many permafree books).
The various subgenres of romance are very well represented in KU. Science fiction is a close second, though. It seems like the kind of SF book best represented in KU is Military Space Girl Commands Space Navy. I suspect that a lot of thirty and fortysomething writers read Honor Harrington books back in the day, and when the Kindle came along, decided to write their own takes on the genre. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – the Military Space Girl Commands Space Navy books I’ve read so far in KU have been quite enjoyable.
So, as a writer, I find KU too much of a headache to use. (Whenever you hear about an outbreak of Internet drama among indie writers, there’s a very good chance KU is involved.) That said, if you’re the kind of reader who 1.) reads fast, 2.) reads a lot, and 3.) likes genres that are well-represented in KU, then Kindle Unlimited is definitely a good deal.
-JM
May 18, 2018
Caina vs Nadia
I had a reader wonder if the character of Nadia is basically the character of Caina set in a different environment.
Well, a writer’s own interpretation of his work is always suspect. Fiction is, after all, subjective.
But I’ve always written Caina and Nadia as very distinct personalities. I do think Caina and Nadia have some similarities but many differences, especially in temperament.
DIFFERENCES
-Caina is an introvert, but Nadia is a loner. Caina makes friends and gains loyalty way more easily than Nadia does. Nadia can be charming when she sets her mind to it, but only when she sees a good reason for it. Related to that, Caina’s default personality is more quiet and reserved, while Nadia is more prickly and belligerent.
-Caina is more cerebral than Nadia. Nadia isn’t stupid, but she has no interest in anything abstract, and her intelligence is more practical. Additionally, Nadia’s experience with Nicholas Connor has left her with an active suspicion of intellectuals. Caina would read for recreation. Nadia would only read if she needed to know something (like research for a job) or Russell nagged her to do it.
-Caina is physically stronger than Nadia and has way more experience with hand-to-hand violence. In an unarmed fight without weapons or magic, Caina would win easily.
-Caina is several inches taller. This would really annoy Nadia.
-Both are ruthless when necessary, but Nadia is willing to cut loose with less provocation than Caina is.
-Nadia has more of a temper.
-Nadia loves magic and likes being a wizard. Caina hates the arcane sciences (her world’s equivalent of magic) and it took her several years to come around to the idea, however grudgingly, that not all sorcerers were a blight on mankind who should be exterminated.
-Caina is better at holding grudges and acting on them much later when an opportunity presents itself. Nadia can be vengeful, but Caina is cold vengeful, which is more dangerous.
-Caina is a better actress than Nadia, and more skilled with non-magical disguises. Related to that, while Nadia is a good liar, Caina is a superb one. Like, Caina spent five GHOST EXILE books successfully masquerading as a male thief named Ciaran, and Nadia wouldn’t have been able to pull that off.
-Caina’s background (and many of her experiences) are more aristocratic, while Nadia’s isn’t. Like, Caina spent a lot of time spying on the elite of the Empire, and Nadia regularly disguised herself as a waitress and a janitor to rob banks for Morvilind. Basically, Caina’s background is aristocratic Nighmarian, and Nadia’s is middle-class American, and that colors both their outlooks.
-Caina is sad she can’t have children. Nadia is more or less indifferent to the idea and doesn’t think about it all that often.
-Caina is prone to blaming herself for things beyond her control, and has had problems with a death wish. Nadia doesn’t really have that problem, and has never had a death wish – she’s more about making the other guy die.
SIMILARITIES
-Very good at violence in general.
-Highly paranoid. An occupational hazard.
-Extremely loyal, once loyalty has been given.
-Both get really angry with violence directed towards children, though for very different reasons.
-Don’t threaten someone Caina and Nadia like. Won’t end well (see GHOST IN THE STORM and CLOAK GAMES: BLOOD CAST).
-JM
May 17, 2018
Excerpt Thursday: A KNIGHT OF THE SACRED BLADE
It’s Excerpt Thursday! Today’s excerpt is from A KNIGHT OF THE SACRED BLADE, the 2nd book in my THE TOWER OF ENDLESS WORLDS series.
I wrote this a really, really long time ago! 
May 16, 2018
Modern Magic – an urban fantasy anthology!
I am pleased to report that my CLOAK GAMES story WRAITH WOLF is included in MODERN MAGIC, a new anthology from Fantasy Bridge that includes urban fantasy stories from many other fine authors.
You can read it at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
-JM
May 13, 2018
The Indie Author Skill Stack
I recently read Scott Adams’s book HOW TO FAIL AT EVERYTHING AND STILL WIN BIG, and though it was an interesting book. One of the concepts that Mr. Adams discussed was the idea of a “skill stack.” A “skill stack” means a collection of skills that might not be all that useful on their own, but nonetheless combine into something valuable.
Last week for my Interesting Links post I read a couple of different articles about indie authors who simply burn out and wish to stop writing. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that – writing, like sriracha sauce, isn’t for everyone.) I have to admit that despite my fast pace of writing this isn’t something that has affected me – I have more ideas for books than I have time to write, and I suspect I have more in common with someone like Dean Koontz or Nora Roberts who will keep writing until death or debilitating illness.
At first I thought this was because I got my start in the Bad Old Days of traditional publishing, and indie is a pleasant walk in the park compared to tradpub. There’s nothing like historical context to provide perspective!
But then I remember the idea of the “skill stack”, and I started thinking about my particular skill stack. I think my background might have made me uniquely suited for indie publishing.
This, then, is how I think I rate in six key skills of indie publishing: Writing, Editing, Graphic Design, Technical Skill, Business Knowledge, and Persistence.
–Writing: Good. I don’t write flowery artistic prose (and I’m not interested in doing so), but I can write fast, which is more valuable.
–Editing: Adequate. I can edit my own stuff well enough, though I’ve gotten a lot better at it in the last two years.
–Graphic Design: Adequate. I can’t do a book cover as well as a professional, but I can do it well enough, and I have sold many copies of books with covers assembled by me in GIMP
–Technical Skill: Excellent. I had a background in IT long before the Kindle came along, and this has served me well. I can create and manage my own website, make my own covers if necessary, lay out my own books, both ebook and paperback, and solve any computer problems that come up myself.
–Business Knowledge: Adequate. I’m not an expert, but I know enough to keep from making serious mistakes. Besides, the four basic principles of 1.) spend WAY less than you take in, 2.) Live well below your means, 3.) pay your taxes on time, and 4.) never hire anyone for something you can do yourself will take you far.
–Persistence: Excellent. You can’t write 1.45 million words in a year without persistence, and I wrote 1.45 million new words in 2017. Given that I’ve published 21 books about Ridmark and 20 books about Caina, it is safe to say that I am indeed persistent.
Persistence is probably the most important skill in any skill stack. For persistence, like love, covers over a multitude of sins.
Obviously, Technical Skill and Persistence are valuable by themselves, but combined with other skills in which I am only adequate, they become more powerful. I think that skill stack is the reason I’m able to write so much without burning out.
I have stresses and frustrations, like anyone else, but writing usually isn’t one of them.
And if I get frustrated with writing, I go play computer games or do home repair for a while.
A weekend morning spent on home repair definitely makes me eager to go back to writing!
Interesting Links #19: Ten Years
I’ve now been writing about Ubuntu Linux for ten years (the first edition of the Guide was in 2011, but I started blogging about Ubuntu in 2008), so a lot of this week’s Interesting Links reflect on the ten year mark for various aspects of self-publishing.
-Amazon isn’t a monopoly. And to be blunt, Barnes & Noble lost the race against Amazon by shooting itself in the foot not once but repeatedly: Save Barnes & Noble! (Though if you saw the movie YOU’VE GOT MAIL, it is amusing how in 20 years the press perception of B&N has gone from Ruthless Soulless Corporation to Plucky, Beleaguered Underdog.)
-Congratulations to Smashwords on ten years! Smashwords celebrates 10-year anniversary.
-This is an interesting post reflecting on the ups and downs of publishing: Reflections On My Career As An Author.
-I have to admit that I have been impressed by the work the Romance Writers’ Association has been doing on this case: Trademark Shenanigans: Weighing In On #Cockygate.
-Good tips on avoiding burnout: Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout.
-This is a good overview of audiobook production for indie writers (I admit I don’t have any interest in producing my own audiobooks): The Dollars and Sense of Audiobooks: What Indie Publishers Need to Know.
-JM
May 12, 2018
more GHOSTS?
After my update post yesterday, a few people were alarmed that I wasn’t returning to the GHOSTS series.
Fear not! I am eager to get back to the GHOSTS after a delay of nearly a year. The next installation of GHOST NIGHT and the adventures of Caina will be sometime this autumn. I just want to finish the CLOAK GAMES series first.
And it is definitely happening. I already paid for the covers, and I don’t want to waste the money!
-JM
May 11, 2018
SEVENFOLD SWORD, CLOAK GAMES, and SILENT ORDER updates
I have a bunch of different projects underway right now, so this is where I’m at with them!
-I have started the rough draft of SEVENFOLD SWORD: SORCERESS, and I’m on Chapter 9 of 24. About 1/3 of the way through.
-Editing is underway for CLOAK GAMES: SKY HAMMER, and that’s on track to come out the first week of June.
-I’m almost done with SILENT ORDER: IMAGE HAND, and that will come out in the second half of June.
-I’ve started on SILENT ORDER #9, and I’m about 2,000 words into it. That will come out sometime in the 2nd half of 2018, though I’m not sure when yet.
-I’m 11,600 words into an Untitled Project that I will announce in June.
-JM
May 10, 2018
Excerpt Thursday: CLOAK GAMES: FROST FEVER
It’s Excerpt Thursday! This week’s excerpt is from CLOAK GAMES: FROST FEVER.
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I crossed the street and walked into the parking lot. Half of the street lamps were out, and the freeway passed over the lot, the constant rumble of traffic echoing off the massive concrete pillars. Groups of young men stood in the shadows, speaking to each other in loud voices. Homeland Security did regular sweeps through this neighborhood, and anyone not under the protection of Mr. Rojo and his bribes to the local commander would find themselves getting flogged on a Punishment Day video. A few of the men glanced my way, but I held the Mask in place, and they left me alone. No one wanted to get on Mr. Rojo’s bad side.
My battered van sat beneath one of the functioning lamps. It was a big old Royal Motors Caravanserai model, designed to hold fifteen people, painted a dull beige with 200,000 miles on the odometer, but it worked quite well when I needed to travel cross-country. I could have taken the train or the zeppelin, but that left records, and records were bad things for someone in my line of work. It was safer to drive anonymously across the country than to fly or take the train.
I unlocked the driver’s side door and climbed in, making sure to lock it behind me. I wanted to drop the Mask, close my eyes, and rest, but that would have been suicidal. Instead I glanced at the golden medallion I had taken from the dead anthrophage. I was sure there was a spell of some kind on it, but I could investigate the thing later. I tossed it into the back of the van and started the old Caravanserai. The engine rumbled to life, and I backed out and put the vehicle into drive, rolling my way down the aisles of cars.
I turned around one of the massive concrete pillars, and a surge of fear went through me.
A gaunt man walked down the center of the aisle, clad in a trim black suit, his hair close-cropped.
He looked absolutely identical to the disguised anthrophage I had killed outside the Silver Dollar. The man’s shadowed eyes met mine, and he started to change, his human guise dropping away to reveal the grotesque features of an anthrophage.
I stomped on the gas.
The anthrophage’s yellow eyes just had time to widen.
The creature hadn’t seen that coming.
The van’s bumper hit him in the waist, and I ran right over him and kept going. I felt a nasty thump, and then I spun the wheel, the tires squealing as I slid onto the street and slammed my foot onto the gas. The big van surged forward, shooting past the Silver Dollar, and a short time later I was on the freeway, driving exactly the speed limit to keep from attracting the attention of Homeland Security patrolmen. Traffic in Los Angeles is horrendous, even at one in the morning on a weeknight, but about an hour later I was out of the city, past the suburbs, and heading into the desert.
-JM
