Scott Appleton's Blog, page 3

What the Boba Fett series is getting right!

If you have not watched Disney’s new series on Boba Fett, you really should. This is the way that storytelling should work.

The old saying is “Simpler is better,” and oh my is that true. I saw an article recently that was criticizing this new show and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because they were not getting political points for including unnecessary material. Because this story is simple, fun, and memorable. Not only that but it respects the Star Wars cannon. You can literally go through the first couple of episodes, which are all that are available right now, and you can pick out pieces of Star Wars lore that help tie that universe together.

If you have never watched the deleted scenes from the original Star Wars movie A New Hope, then go ahead and watch those! The Book of Boba Fett series borrowed a couple of those characters, which gives them beautiful continuity in that story world. This is the kind of thing that I love to see. When you take a storyworld and you continue it’s lore by respecting it’s traditions and characters, you enrich it.

Perhaps I noticed this more because I am working on two novels for my series. Not one. These books are adding to the story world and increasing its lore while respecting what has already been created. It’s so much fun to give cameo appearances by characters that readers are already familiar with and love. Or even to do cameos of characters that people hate. It’s all world building and it all enriches the story.

Q: Have you watched The Book of Boba Fett yet?

Book release! and I’m also Writing one on “The Art of The Book Signing”

The Soul of Story is finished and will publish February of this year! Also, I’m at the beginning stages writing another non-fiction titled The Art of the Book Signing. Here’s a little more info:

Coming this February THE SOUL OF STORY: A Christian Perspective on Writing Fiction that Endures for Generations
Learn to write fiction from a Christian perspective that impacts future generations.
Writers, there has been a void where this book should have been. Many books have been written on the mechanics of writing effective fiction, but story is more than its structure. Christian writers need not appeal to culture for its approval of what they write. Rather, they can guide readers through stories that encourage them to become the heroes and heroines that we need.
People need to be inspired, convicted, and encouraged by your stories… and The Soul of Story teaches you to do that fearlessly!
Paperback 160 pages $8.99
Kindle edition $2.99
Audiobook (coming soon)

FEBRUARY 2022

The Soul of Story launches a lineup of non-fiction books that I have been planning for the past decade. It deals with the spiritual ramifications of writing fiction. But the next non-fiction book will jump to practical wisdom for authors who want to sell more books:

The Art of the Book Signing comes next. Here’s a tease:

Are you frustrated that you only sold six books the last time you had a signing event? When you left the bookstore, did you leave twenty unsold copies that they will return to the distributor? If you want to build a following by selling more copies of your book to more readers, then this book is for you. I am uniquely positioned to help you because I am both an author and a successful salesman. You know what else? I hate selling! But I’ve developed a process that works because I love writing and want to get my books out to as many readers as possible.
“Authors don’t know how to sell their books. Period.” At hundreds of bookstores across the United States I heard the same complaint from numerous managers and event coordinators. What if you could go into bookstores and schools and hand-sell thousands of books? What if you could sell out the bookstores’ inventory of your books 90% of the time you hold a book signing event?
You can do it. You just need to exercise best practices.

Q: Which of these books interest you? Is there a different non-fiction subject that you would like to see me to address? Are you looking forward to my next two fantasy novels (“In Search of Dragons ” and “Neverqueen 3”)?

The Soul Of Story final cover reveal!

Have you ever wanted some writing encouragement to write the stories that matter to you, and not the ones that most publishers think will sell? Do you want to write from the heart? It’s been a common request from fans, and I’ve been wanting to write a book like this for years now, and it’s finally coming to fruition! The Soul Of Story will release February 2022… Here’s the final cover:

The Ironwing project!

Would you like to give your reaction to a new book cover? My best book ideas have not developed overnight, but over several years. The Sword of the Dragon series was one example, but I have been developing another story world that is equally epic! Ironwing will be the first novel in my steampunk fantasy series.

Here is the cover reveal! What do you think of it? ….As a bonus, here is the story premise:

Industron is a city ostensibly at peace. A few hundred years ago, the High Marshal led humanity in a war to eradicate the last dragons. He used dragons of metal and gears to kill the dragons of flesh and bone, then returned victorious to build Industron into a modern marvel. But the High Marshal has been reclusive of late, and his ministers spread rumors that he has grown insane. His inexplicably long lifespan, and the wealth he has amassed, inspires jealousy among the marshals of other distant cities. His enemies multiply amid his silence, yet some of their bodies are found hung from the high walls of their cities. Is the High Marshal behind the killings, or is someone else manipulating the cities into war?

Sword of Tears now available!

The parting gift of a dragon’s daughter, the man whom she loved, and the lord who is seeding a civil war. Salvation comes from the most unlikely place.

Book five in The Sword of the Dragon series is now available for purchase on Amazon, and will soon be available through all retailers. Follow this link to purchase: Sword of Tears (The Sword of the Dragon book 5)

The Soul of Story cover reveal

My first non-fiction book is well underway. Check out the cover below!

Sword of Tears is written!

It’s been a grueling few months of writing that has paid off with a story that I cannot wait to share. The Sword of the Dragon series (book 5) Sword of Tears is finally written. It clocked in at 130,000-words, making it significantly longer than (book 4) The Phantom’s Blade.

The next steps are largely editorial changes. I will now conduct a thorough read of the manuscript, making enhancements and modifications as I go along. Historically for me, this will add a little extra to the final word-count. When I execute the first draft of a novel, I usually leave out many details that need mention. Hair and eye color, other physical characteristics, details of places, settings, etc.

We’re on track to publish this in September.

My book for writers

After hinting for years that I would write a book for writers, I am finally taking action on it. I have been writing a non-fiction book for writers/storytellers titled Virtue in Story: How to Write Stories that Impact Generations

I was hesitant to announce this, because I have started this project several times without success over the past decade. Now the meat of this book is filling in, and I can see it pulling together as one cohesive book. I will update you all as this progresses, but realistically I think this could be published December of this year.

Hear that silence?

Have you noticed the mysterious silence on Author Appleton’s website this last six weeks?

Maybe a dragon ate him, or he fell down a well… Nah, he’s finishing writing Sword of Tears for all those eager fantasy readers. He’s between heroes and villains, and between heroines and the wenches that need to get what’s due them for their evil deeds. Traitors seem to be everywhere, but he’s out there on the field trying to rouse the best in the Hemmed Land to stand up for truth and justice. He’s exhausted, as well you can understand, but he will call on you soon to join the political upheaval and cast your weight behind Ilfedo and the sword of the dragon.

Coming September 2021

My first audiobook is now available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes

After hours of sweating away in my recording studio, the audiobook for Swords of the Six is finally published on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes! It’s pretty awesome to look at Amazon’s Swords of the Six page now and see that paperback, kindle, and audiobook editions are all available.

Please share the link with your fantasy-loving and Audible member friends! Swords of the Six on Audible.