Michael DeAngelo's Blog, page 10
March 12, 2013
The Day is Nigh
Just over a month ago, I let you know that I was planning a kickstarter campaign for The Enemy Within. That time is getting ever closer. If all ends well, we should have it live by Friday of this week.
With that in mind, I'd like to invite you to preview the campaign as it stands so far:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/181624749/2003747840?token=f7380f29
The most important piece of the puzzle, the video, is still in limbo. I was under the weather last week, and could barely breathe let alone speak with a normal voice. In fact, I'm still not 100%, but I'm committed to bringing this project to life sooner rather than later.
There are also small touches that I'd like to add to the kickstarter page this week as well, such as pictures of the artwork that Rhianna has been toiling away at.
What I'd like you to do is take a look at the rewards, and make sure I'm being fair and honest. If something seems out of place, please bring it to my attention.
In the days leading ahead, this project won't be live. This is just for your perusal at the moment, but when the campaign is live, I will most likely be reaching out for your help in promoting it. I am only as strong as my network, and all of you have been wonderful every step of the way. If you could help me through this latest stride, it would mean the world to me.
Thank you!
With that in mind, I'd like to invite you to preview the campaign as it stands so far:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/181624749/2003747840?token=f7380f29
The most important piece of the puzzle, the video, is still in limbo. I was under the weather last week, and could barely breathe let alone speak with a normal voice. In fact, I'm still not 100%, but I'm committed to bringing this project to life sooner rather than later.
There are also small touches that I'd like to add to the kickstarter page this week as well, such as pictures of the artwork that Rhianna has been toiling away at.
What I'd like you to do is take a look at the rewards, and make sure I'm being fair and honest. If something seems out of place, please bring it to my attention.
In the days leading ahead, this project won't be live. This is just for your perusal at the moment, but when the campaign is live, I will most likely be reaching out for your help in promoting it. I am only as strong as my network, and all of you have been wonderful every step of the way. If you could help me through this latest stride, it would mean the world to me.
Thank you!
February 19, 2013
What Comes Next?
While the third book is coming along nicely - including the Kickstarter campaign - there are other Tellest books on the horizon that remain at the top of my priorities.
The first of those things is a Mathias-based prequel novella of sorts. I've been working on this story at a rapid pace, but it has struck me that it differs quite a lot from my typical novels. Beyond just the unfamiliar style, it jumps forward in time quickly, as opposed to the minute details that the Child of the Stars trilogy. As such, I think it's important to present the story in a different way.
While the production style of the book is going to be maintained - I'll still write it, set it aside, and have it edited - the release will be slightly different. I'm going to provide each chapter of the story in weekly updates, kind of like an online serial. If it does end up released in eBook format, it will be a free release, or potentially a bonus feature in one of the more robust novels.
Though the as yet untitled Mathias story is important to me, and to the Tellest universe as a whole, it isn't the project I'm most excited for.
The Veil of Mists is going to put a face to Kaos Kreegan's childhood. One of the things that worries me about that novel is that it's going to put me in a territory that some fans may not be happy with. While Kaos is my flagship character, he is only part of an ensemble, and that ensemble is not going to be present with him in this prequel. There will be some overlap. You'll see David Garus, Alicia, Dirk, and of course, Adelia. You won't be privy to seeing some of the other fan favorites, however. Steel Tip and Christopher are not seen in that novel, not even alluded to.
Instead, the focus is on Kaos. The Child of the Stars' biggest problem is that he was too honorable. He was too good. I'm glad that the first story that I told for Kaos was the one where he was pretty much a White Knight, because his character interactions in all the other work should be more interesting. In his youth, he's a little bit more rambunctious. He's sure of himself, even when he shouldn't be. And he's an idiot from time to time, as we're all prone to be.
Also importantly, you'll see some of the more intriguing moments of his life. You'll understand why he is called Kaos. You'll see the moment he meets the brothers Caista, or David Garus, or Alicia Mane and her father. You'll see how he happened upon the Heart of Ariyas.
Of course, this prequel story also gives me the chance to delve a little deeper into the past of other characters that he's met. The reader already knows, by the time they are done reading As Darkness Falls, that he has some history in Fostervilla. What isn't offered so casually is that he's also spent some time in Viscosa, the capital of Raleigh. He's met lifelong friends there, and he's spilled blood beside them, and it should be interesting to share these new characters with you.
After that, we take a little trip down south to the sea, where the next pentalogy (that's five new books) unfolds. We'll see some old friends and enemies, some new heroes and villains, and of course, for Steel Tip, the return to his home, Ippius. Gonna be some good times.
The first of those things is a Mathias-based prequel novella of sorts. I've been working on this story at a rapid pace, but it has struck me that it differs quite a lot from my typical novels. Beyond just the unfamiliar style, it jumps forward in time quickly, as opposed to the minute details that the Child of the Stars trilogy. As such, I think it's important to present the story in a different way.
While the production style of the book is going to be maintained - I'll still write it, set it aside, and have it edited - the release will be slightly different. I'm going to provide each chapter of the story in weekly updates, kind of like an online serial. If it does end up released in eBook format, it will be a free release, or potentially a bonus feature in one of the more robust novels.
Though the as yet untitled Mathias story is important to me, and to the Tellest universe as a whole, it isn't the project I'm most excited for.
The Veil of Mists is going to put a face to Kaos Kreegan's childhood. One of the things that worries me about that novel is that it's going to put me in a territory that some fans may not be happy with. While Kaos is my flagship character, he is only part of an ensemble, and that ensemble is not going to be present with him in this prequel. There will be some overlap. You'll see David Garus, Alicia, Dirk, and of course, Adelia. You won't be privy to seeing some of the other fan favorites, however. Steel Tip and Christopher are not seen in that novel, not even alluded to.
Instead, the focus is on Kaos. The Child of the Stars' biggest problem is that he was too honorable. He was too good. I'm glad that the first story that I told for Kaos was the one where he was pretty much a White Knight, because his character interactions in all the other work should be more interesting. In his youth, he's a little bit more rambunctious. He's sure of himself, even when he shouldn't be. And he's an idiot from time to time, as we're all prone to be.
Also importantly, you'll see some of the more intriguing moments of his life. You'll understand why he is called Kaos. You'll see the moment he meets the brothers Caista, or David Garus, or Alicia Mane and her father. You'll see how he happened upon the Heart of Ariyas.
Of course, this prequel story also gives me the chance to delve a little deeper into the past of other characters that he's met. The reader already knows, by the time they are done reading As Darkness Falls, that he has some history in Fostervilla. What isn't offered so casually is that he's also spent some time in Viscosa, the capital of Raleigh. He's met lifelong friends there, and he's spilled blood beside them, and it should be interesting to share these new characters with you.
After that, we take a little trip down south to the sea, where the next pentalogy (that's five new books) unfolds. We'll see some old friends and enemies, some new heroes and villains, and of course, for Steel Tip, the return to his home, Ippius. Gonna be some good times.
February 11, 2013
Kickstarter Incoming
Though the Enemy Within has been firmly planted in a desk somewhere for the last few weeks, I cannot possibly pretend that it hasn't been on my mind.
I'd like to officially announce that I'll be running a Kickstarter campaign for the third book beginning in March. I'm asking for pledges to help offset my administrative and editing costs, which should be around the tune of $2000.
I haven't even gone live with this Kickstarter yet, and I can tell you, it's one of the most intensive projects I've ever worked on. With the books, I have the freedom to work at my own pace. I probably could have finished The Enemy Within in a year or less, but the stress of that might have hindered the quality. I have an ultimate deadline for Kickstarter, and not all the pieces are in place yet. Once it is up, every day is going to be painfully busy. If people are going to be pledging to me, I am going to make a pledge to them to stay in contact throughout the entire process. From the opening day of the Kickstarter campaign to the last day of reward fulfillment (and beyond), I'll be available. It'll be over a month of constant updates, accounting and advertising, but I'm cautiously optomistic that it'll work out.
I'd like to give you a sneak peek at the rewards that I'm considering.
Obviously, some of the pledge rewards are the products themselves. I'll have various types of the books available to acquire, some which will be unique to the Kickstarter. For instance, there will be a limited run, numbered hardcover edition of each of the first three books of the Tellest series. You'll also be able to get autographed copies of the work I've put my heart into. Plus, exclusive first looks at some of the not-so-distant happenings in Tellest.
Then, there will the swag that you could end up getting, including custom bookmarks, buttons and magnets.
I'll be working with Rhianna to bring you some awesome art, including charcoal prints and special Tarot cards featuring the characters.
For some of the higher pledges, I've got some really cool rewards lined up, including dedicated short stories and artwork for characters that you inspire.
I'm very interested in this Kickstarter campaign, and cannot wait to see where it ends up, but I also have to keep in mind, not everything is in place just yet. I still have to record the campaign video, for instance. Like I said earlier, though, I'm cautiously optomistic that everything will fall into place. Hopefully I can balance the heavy workload of editing the book and administrating the campaign. If not, it'll just be another learning experience.
I'd like to officially announce that I'll be running a Kickstarter campaign for the third book beginning in March. I'm asking for pledges to help offset my administrative and editing costs, which should be around the tune of $2000.
I haven't even gone live with this Kickstarter yet, and I can tell you, it's one of the most intensive projects I've ever worked on. With the books, I have the freedom to work at my own pace. I probably could have finished The Enemy Within in a year or less, but the stress of that might have hindered the quality. I have an ultimate deadline for Kickstarter, and not all the pieces are in place yet. Once it is up, every day is going to be painfully busy. If people are going to be pledging to me, I am going to make a pledge to them to stay in contact throughout the entire process. From the opening day of the Kickstarter campaign to the last day of reward fulfillment (and beyond), I'll be available. It'll be over a month of constant updates, accounting and advertising, but I'm cautiously optomistic that it'll work out.
I'd like to give you a sneak peek at the rewards that I'm considering.
Obviously, some of the pledge rewards are the products themselves. I'll have various types of the books available to acquire, some which will be unique to the Kickstarter. For instance, there will be a limited run, numbered hardcover edition of each of the first three books of the Tellest series. You'll also be able to get autographed copies of the work I've put my heart into. Plus, exclusive first looks at some of the not-so-distant happenings in Tellest.
Then, there will the swag that you could end up getting, including custom bookmarks, buttons and magnets.
I'll be working with Rhianna to bring you some awesome art, including charcoal prints and special Tarot cards featuring the characters.
For some of the higher pledges, I've got some really cool rewards lined up, including dedicated short stories and artwork for characters that you inspire.
I'm very interested in this Kickstarter campaign, and cannot wait to see where it ends up, but I also have to keep in mind, not everything is in place just yet. I still have to record the campaign video, for instance. Like I said earlier, though, I'm cautiously optomistic that everything will fall into place. Hopefully I can balance the heavy workload of editing the book and administrating the campaign. If not, it'll just be another learning experience.
January 28, 2013
Fully Typed; Keyboard on Fire
Going into the last part of The Enemy Within, I knew that I was running on a short deadline. February is my month off (for the novel, not the series), and then I'll pick everything back up in March. I was also well aware that this Thursday and Friday, I'd be unavailable.
Last week, I worked as diligently as I was able to. I managed to hastily type 131 pages over the course of six days, and brought the unofficial total of pages to 503 (compared to Bindings' 268 pages and Darkness' 306). There is most likely going be a small amount of material removed when I do the final sweat of the novel in March, so it may not be over 500, but you also have to keep in mind, when I do my typing, it's typically on the 8.5x11 paper. When the book releases in paperback, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it ends up hovering close to 750 pages. This novel is massive, which explains the long wait in getting it to market.
I remember starting The Enemy Within in September of 2010. I had just finished typing As Darkness Falls, and likely had it in the hands of my editor already. With every intention of leaving Tellest to the side for a moment or two of respite, I headed down to Florida for a vacation. Hot off the heels of the second book though, I couldn't think of putting the series down. I wrote at least a chapter of the third book on my vacation, and that zeal has been with me since those first few words.
The Enemy Within has a few missteps that I still need to work out. It suffers from one of the same problems the first book did, but with very little reason. An unnecessary treasure hunt leads to an artifact that would have simply been lost to the main character a few chapters after he acquired it. I knew that the segment was a mistake before I finished it, and the treasure was never mentioned after that. All I have to do now is take off the tourniquet and actually treat the wound.
Other than that, I think this is probably the best book I've written. The characters that readers have grown accustomed to are introduced again almost immediately. The lore and backstories for individual people is as strong as ever. The action sequences and set pieces are energetic and intriguing. And also, the new characters that are introduced have interesting stories and strains. The Enemy Within comes together as my most impressive work thus far, and I can't wait to show it to everyone. Once the final edits are done, I'll begin putting together some excerpts. Until then, just be patient a little while longer. May is closer than you know!
Last week, I worked as diligently as I was able to. I managed to hastily type 131 pages over the course of six days, and brought the unofficial total of pages to 503 (compared to Bindings' 268 pages and Darkness' 306). There is most likely going be a small amount of material removed when I do the final sweat of the novel in March, so it may not be over 500, but you also have to keep in mind, when I do my typing, it's typically on the 8.5x11 paper. When the book releases in paperback, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it ends up hovering close to 750 pages. This novel is massive, which explains the long wait in getting it to market.
I remember starting The Enemy Within in September of 2010. I had just finished typing As Darkness Falls, and likely had it in the hands of my editor already. With every intention of leaving Tellest to the side for a moment or two of respite, I headed down to Florida for a vacation. Hot off the heels of the second book though, I couldn't think of putting the series down. I wrote at least a chapter of the third book on my vacation, and that zeal has been with me since those first few words.
The Enemy Within has a few missteps that I still need to work out. It suffers from one of the same problems the first book did, but with very little reason. An unnecessary treasure hunt leads to an artifact that would have simply been lost to the main character a few chapters after he acquired it. I knew that the segment was a mistake before I finished it, and the treasure was never mentioned after that. All I have to do now is take off the tourniquet and actually treat the wound.
Other than that, I think this is probably the best book I've written. The characters that readers have grown accustomed to are introduced again almost immediately. The lore and backstories for individual people is as strong as ever. The action sequences and set pieces are energetic and intriguing. And also, the new characters that are introduced have interesting stories and strains. The Enemy Within comes together as my most impressive work thus far, and I can't wait to show it to everyone. Once the final edits are done, I'll begin putting together some excerpts. Until then, just be patient a little while longer. May is closer than you know!
January 15, 2013
The Dragon is Slain!
I already mentioned this on facebook, but it's been some time since I had any big details to reveal here.
The Enemy Within, the third book in the series, has been completed, after much delay. I originally thought I was going to be able to have it on virtual shelves last year, but it looks like we're still on track for a May 2013 release. This massive conclusion to the Child of the Stars trilogy clocks in at 518 pages - so far. As some know, my writing is ridiculously tiny. When the book is completely typed, I wouldn't be surprised if it hit around the 550-600 page range.
So what's next for the third book in the series, and Tellest in general?
Well, I've got to get it typed up. By January 31st. That means that between now and then, I have to type about 6 pages per day. I felt bad not blogging for the last two weeks, but I'm likely going to do that again.
In February, I need to make The Enemy Within the farthest thing from my mind. I want to have as objective a view as I can when I go to make my reviews and edits. To try and distance myself, I'm going to be focusing on getting the paperback version of As Darkness Falls prepped at CreateSpace.
In March, I will begin making my preliminary changes to The Enemy Within, with intentions of getting it in my editor's hands by the beginning of April. I'll also be doing something a little different. With the trilogy complete, I am going to turn to KickStarter to try and get the third book's administrative costs funded. There will be a bunch of swag available to people who want it, as well as other rewards, as is the norm for KickStarter projects. I really believe in the community there, and I think it's also a great way to get some attention for Tellest.
At the end of May, it'll be The Bindings of Fate's second year anniversary. I'd like to get The Enemy Within released around then, in honor of that.
Between June and October, I see very little happening with the Tellest series books on the release front. However, as of today, I begin working on the next project. This will be a novella that takes a deeper look at the gods. I am under the impression that this will be significantly shorter than most of my work. With that in mind, I'm hopeful to have that completed by 3rd quarter 2013. After my editor gets a crack at it, I'd like to release a discounted eBook publication that contains all three books, the novella, and perhaps some other extras as well. I think that will be a nice way to tide people over until the fourth novel in the series is released.
Before, I had said that I was working on having games as an important part of the Tellest series. This has not changed. However, the books will always be paramount, and as such, the games have slid a bit to the side. One the Enemy Within is published, I'll be able to focus a bit more on Devour again. I'm still hopeful that it will release this year.
That said, there's still plenty of work ahead for me. I'm happy to be able to report that everything is looking up, but I've got to get my nose back to the grindstone. Thanks to everyone for their support!
The Enemy Within, the third book in the series, has been completed, after much delay. I originally thought I was going to be able to have it on virtual shelves last year, but it looks like we're still on track for a May 2013 release. This massive conclusion to the Child of the Stars trilogy clocks in at 518 pages - so far. As some know, my writing is ridiculously tiny. When the book is completely typed, I wouldn't be surprised if it hit around the 550-600 page range.
So what's next for the third book in the series, and Tellest in general?
Well, I've got to get it typed up. By January 31st. That means that between now and then, I have to type about 6 pages per day. I felt bad not blogging for the last two weeks, but I'm likely going to do that again.
In February, I need to make The Enemy Within the farthest thing from my mind. I want to have as objective a view as I can when I go to make my reviews and edits. To try and distance myself, I'm going to be focusing on getting the paperback version of As Darkness Falls prepped at CreateSpace.
In March, I will begin making my preliminary changes to The Enemy Within, with intentions of getting it in my editor's hands by the beginning of April. I'll also be doing something a little different. With the trilogy complete, I am going to turn to KickStarter to try and get the third book's administrative costs funded. There will be a bunch of swag available to people who want it, as well as other rewards, as is the norm for KickStarter projects. I really believe in the community there, and I think it's also a great way to get some attention for Tellest.
At the end of May, it'll be The Bindings of Fate's second year anniversary. I'd like to get The Enemy Within released around then, in honor of that.
Between June and October, I see very little happening with the Tellest series books on the release front. However, as of today, I begin working on the next project. This will be a novella that takes a deeper look at the gods. I am under the impression that this will be significantly shorter than most of my work. With that in mind, I'm hopeful to have that completed by 3rd quarter 2013. After my editor gets a crack at it, I'd like to release a discounted eBook publication that contains all three books, the novella, and perhaps some other extras as well. I think that will be a nice way to tide people over until the fourth novel in the series is released.
Before, I had said that I was working on having games as an important part of the Tellest series. This has not changed. However, the books will always be paramount, and as such, the games have slid a bit to the side. One the Enemy Within is published, I'll be able to focus a bit more on Devour again. I'm still hopeful that it will release this year.
That said, there's still plenty of work ahead for me. I'm happy to be able to report that everything is looking up, but I've got to get my nose back to the grindstone. Thanks to everyone for their support!
December 31, 2012
Tons of Other Talent Out There
While the main purpose of this blog is to try and bring attention to my passions, it would be irresponsible of me not to mention all of the great people that I have had the privelege of rubbing shoulders with over the past several years.
Tania Elicker has made perhaps some of the biggest impacts on my love affair with sci-fi/fantasy. Her novel, The Flame Weaver, is a brilliant look into the way her imagination works. I urge anyone who enjoys the genre to peruse that book - she's one of those tortured artists that doesn't realize how adept she is at storytelling. The more people who are out there and able to convince her otherwise, the better.
If high fantasy isn't your cup of tea, you could always check out Nace Phlaux's freshman release, Coincidence. If you've ever stopped to think about life, you know how perfectly things manage to fall into place. The love of your life could be just around the corner; a statement heard loudly enough by the wrong people could completely change your destiny. Phlaux wraps his story up with a bow that could unravel with the slightest tug - it truly is an winding journey, but it is one that couldn't have unfolded any other way.
Finally, several years back, I had the opportunity to work with a guy whose real name I still don't really know. SplashKhat had a tremendous influence on the direction my stories took. Although he was in a completely different medium, it was one that I once ventured upon. As time passed, and I realized that it wasn't something I was proficient enough to pursue whole-heartedly, I always looked back at him with respect and admiration. At one point, I reached out to him on a whim, and we had almost collaborated on the final piece of his magnum opus. At present, he's doing very similar things as I: trying to develop his own video games.
There are, of course, many other people that have had a huge hand in helping me to develop into the storyteller that I am today. There are other writer's that I emulate. There are masterminds of such caliber that I could never hope to match their talent. Perhaps in one of the other blogs down the line, I'll highlight these folks. They deserve their moment in the spotlight as much as anyone.
Tania Elicker has made perhaps some of the biggest impacts on my love affair with sci-fi/fantasy. Her novel, The Flame Weaver, is a brilliant look into the way her imagination works. I urge anyone who enjoys the genre to peruse that book - she's one of those tortured artists that doesn't realize how adept she is at storytelling. The more people who are out there and able to convince her otherwise, the better.
If high fantasy isn't your cup of tea, you could always check out Nace Phlaux's freshman release, Coincidence. If you've ever stopped to think about life, you know how perfectly things manage to fall into place. The love of your life could be just around the corner; a statement heard loudly enough by the wrong people could completely change your destiny. Phlaux wraps his story up with a bow that could unravel with the slightest tug - it truly is an winding journey, but it is one that couldn't have unfolded any other way.
Finally, several years back, I had the opportunity to work with a guy whose real name I still don't really know. SplashKhat had a tremendous influence on the direction my stories took. Although he was in a completely different medium, it was one that I once ventured upon. As time passed, and I realized that it wasn't something I was proficient enough to pursue whole-heartedly, I always looked back at him with respect and admiration. At one point, I reached out to him on a whim, and we had almost collaborated on the final piece of his magnum opus. At present, he's doing very similar things as I: trying to develop his own video games.
There are, of course, many other people that have had a huge hand in helping me to develop into the storyteller that I am today. There are other writer's that I emulate. There are masterminds of such caliber that I could never hope to match their talent. Perhaps in one of the other blogs down the line, I'll highlight these folks. They deserve their moment in the spotlight as much as anyone.
December 21, 2012
The Ultimate Penultimate
I'm finally feeling like I'm making some decent progress on this damn chapter. Several of the characters have taken their final bow for the trilogy (excluding the epilogue). Most of the action sequences have been taken care of, and the final chapter is structured instead for exposition and a big reveal.
This chapter is monstrous. I've said it before, but it bears repeating. The last section I was working on was Steel Tip and his troupe, and just one section ran six and a half pages. And I write incredibly small. My written pages end up being longer than typed pages. All told, this chapter is already 28 pages long, and it's still going.
When it gets to the point that I can see the end, I start to write more purposefully. There's definitely a flow to my writing, but further up the river, so to speak, my habits tend to focus more on being more relaxed. I write when it is convenient. Now, with a sense of finality, my writing sessions are more structured. I plan on sitting down and writing more often. A reality where I am finished by the end of the year is completely justified, especially in the next coming days.
For now, I have to slay this massive beast that still stands proud and strong before me. These final chapters are always a little meaty, but I've never been faced with one this enormous. It'll feel like a huge relief once I manage to put it behind me, although I'm sure a little melancholy as well. After all, this goodbye is going to be a long one. It may be years before I get to write about some of the characters again, and that is a painful realization indeed.
In the meantime, there is always the need to push on. This monster of a book is going to be done soon, and I hope that it is something that I can share with everyone.
Soon!
This chapter is monstrous. I've said it before, but it bears repeating. The last section I was working on was Steel Tip and his troupe, and just one section ran six and a half pages. And I write incredibly small. My written pages end up being longer than typed pages. All told, this chapter is already 28 pages long, and it's still going.
When it gets to the point that I can see the end, I start to write more purposefully. There's definitely a flow to my writing, but further up the river, so to speak, my habits tend to focus more on being more relaxed. I write when it is convenient. Now, with a sense of finality, my writing sessions are more structured. I plan on sitting down and writing more often. A reality where I am finished by the end of the year is completely justified, especially in the next coming days.
For now, I have to slay this massive beast that still stands proud and strong before me. These final chapters are always a little meaty, but I've never been faced with one this enormous. It'll feel like a huge relief once I manage to put it behind me, although I'm sure a little melancholy as well. After all, this goodbye is going to be a long one. It may be years before I get to write about some of the characters again, and that is a painful realization indeed.
In the meantime, there is always the need to push on. This monster of a book is going to be done soon, and I hope that it is something that I can share with everyone.
Soon!
December 17, 2012
Sales Spike!
It might be a little presumptious (I've had people return copies of my book before), and it may be only slight, but I've had the best month in... well, months, in terms of sales.
Better yet, the attach rate for the series increased as well. Typically, I get about 20% on a return readership. That is to say, if 10 people buy The Bindings of Fate, two of them will purchase As Darkness Falls. It will be very interesting to see how things go once The Enemy Within is out.
Last week, I spoke about sales strategies, and what I plan on doing regarding the first book in the trilogy. Rather than do a few days of free sales, I'm thinking of permanently lowering the price of Bindings. It's clearly my first book, and I want to get more people on board for something which is a decidely niche title. Medieval superheroes hadn't ever been done before, to my knowledge. I think some fans have envisioned the Avengers as such, but even that came out after May 2011.
Of course, as Bindings becomes more open to the public, with a cheaper price, I imagine I'm going to get hit with a massive amount of hate (or so it would seem, anyway). More people will get their hands on it, but the attach rate will probably drop.
That % is just a number. I don't really care about that. If I couldn't impress 95 out of 100 people, I'd just be incredibly happy to entertain those five other people. As of right now, it looks like I'm writing the Tellest series for 200 people. If that's the case, I salute you all, and I'll continue to write for you. Thanks for being on board thus far!
Better yet, the attach rate for the series increased as well. Typically, I get about 20% on a return readership. That is to say, if 10 people buy The Bindings of Fate, two of them will purchase As Darkness Falls. It will be very interesting to see how things go once The Enemy Within is out.
Last week, I spoke about sales strategies, and what I plan on doing regarding the first book in the trilogy. Rather than do a few days of free sales, I'm thinking of permanently lowering the price of Bindings. It's clearly my first book, and I want to get more people on board for something which is a decidely niche title. Medieval superheroes hadn't ever been done before, to my knowledge. I think some fans have envisioned the Avengers as such, but even that came out after May 2011.
Of course, as Bindings becomes more open to the public, with a cheaper price, I imagine I'm going to get hit with a massive amount of hate (or so it would seem, anyway). More people will get their hands on it, but the attach rate will probably drop.
That % is just a number. I don't really care about that. If I couldn't impress 95 out of 100 people, I'd just be incredibly happy to entertain those five other people. As of right now, it looks like I'm writing the Tellest series for 200 people. If that's the case, I salute you all, and I'll continue to write for you. Thanks for being on board thus far!
December 11, 2012
The Culmination of Everything
It's been a while since I've posted an update, and that's because there's been very little to tell. Still, I think it's important that people know how far along the book is, and how well I am in my mind.
Things are still on track for this book to be completed at the end of the month. I have about four more sections to write in the penultimate chapter, and then one last chapter that will reveal the secrets of the universe (of Tellest). I promise to explain why people are gaining these powers, and what that means to the other powerful beings of the world.
After that, I'll type the final part out, and then put the entire thing in a drawer somewhere for a month. Then, I'll pick it back up, and do a preliminary edit on it before sending it out to someone who knows better, and can better strengthen my voice. After he's done with his red ink, I'll edit it one last time, put the final touches on it, and commission a cover to be made. In May, it will be out and ready to be in your hands (or on your desk).
I'm struggling with a couple of the details for when it is complete. This is going to be my longest book, by far, and because of that, I'm debating what I should do about the cost. When all is said and done, I've put the most work into this, and I would like to think that I should be compensated for it, so I'm thinking about raising the price compared to the last one. This one would be $4.99 as opposed to the $2.99 I've been selling the last ones at. If anyone happens upon this blog, it is most likely because you're already a fan of the books in some way, so I'll leave it to you. What do you think my book will be worth?
One of the reasons that I'm questioning myself is that it's been quite some time since I've received any kind of feedback on the books. Sales have slowed dramatically as well, so I'm getting a much smaller indication of how much people value my writing. Before, when I released As Darkness Falls, I could tell what kind of attach rate I had with my readers. You can tell that I have about a 20% rate. That is, about 1/5 of the people who read The Bindings of Fate liked it enough to purchase the sequel. That may not seem like a huge amount, but, in my view, that's splendid.
You see, I know that my first book has a sinister lull. I've talked about it before in one of my other blogs. There are a variety of people who will pick up my book, but a special niche of the audience will tolerate my journeyman flaws. Once people were able to trudge through one of the weaker moments in The Bindings of Fate (specifically between Chapters Ten and Thirteen, if you're familiar with the work), I believe they were treated to one hell of a ride.
You see, in those 20-some pages, I tried to force character development onto my protagonist. I wanted to give the audience a little more familiarity with him. Yet the whole time, it showed him as infallible and indomitable. Kaos became a man with no weakness (with the exception of spiders, of course), who was able to do in one day what eight men could not do in decades.
Of course, that was a weakness that should reflect on me, not the story. There were plenty of ways that I could have written those passages leading to the Valley of Kathka that would have made Kaos' success seem more appropriate - more realistic.
I didn't do that, of course, and it's hurt my reputation as an author in some regards. It's also helped immensely, because I've been able to identify some of my biggest flaws.
One of my lowest reviews has this to say about The Bindings of Fate:
"Here is another issue that bothered me. The main character enters a tournament. Why? For treasure. In fact, he repeatedly calls it "treasure". Not money, not gold, not anything specific. Just generic "treasure". The treasure he gets? A treasure map to go find... treasure! And he's so excited about it, he goes and finds this lost treasure that a group of eight other men could not find in their combined lifetimes. In. One. Day. The hero is stabbed through the leg with a spear? Two pages later - he's off saving the world... sprinting and leaping. The main character is perfect at everything, all the time, but he's also perfectly humble, perfectly handsome, etc. etc."
As I've said before, the realistic chances of Kaos finding anything that eight other men could not is a little beyond the realms of ridiculousness. I should have said that no one really bothered to try looking, or that they had just recently come into possession of the map that would have lead to the fabled treasure. The former is actually accurate to the story as well. With the Knights of Virtue recently developing the City of Wonders, who could blame them for not wasting time trying to find a city that may or may not exist?
And again, the main character's flawlessness is brought under the lens as well - something I've not forgotten, despite that review being written a year ago yesterday.
Another reviewer actually threw down his copy on several occasions, and couldn't even make it through the book:
Throwdown 1: Our hero won 4 gladiator battles, found a magic gauntlet in a lost city and then sleeps with the Duke's daughter ALL WITHOUT TAKING A BATH. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but the author mentions how Kaos has blood and sweat all over him and the guy changes clothes, but doesn't even splash water on his face. Ridiculous. Also worth mentioning: all of the above happened within 48-72 hours. Really? Throwdown 2: Our hero makes a deal with a necromancer that if he defeats his champion, he'll let the Duke's daughter go free. Kaos defeats the champion and now she is free. "Free to watch you die!" (insert evil cackle). This was too much cliche and I liked Twilight for the love of Pete.
Now these complaints I take odds with. I've responded to the "your character never takes a bath" comment on other forums before, and frankly, it always strikes me as a little odd. Why should I ever have to mention that the character uses a washcloth or cleans himself in any regards? It should just be implied when he's clean in the next scene. I don't ever write about any of my characters taking the time to urinate, but is that supposed to imply that they never do it? Fake spoilers ahead: the antagonist of the story actually dies of a bursting bladder.
It's the comment about the cliche that actually makes me realize that I'm not going to please everyone, and I'm alright with that.
All that said, however, let me further explain what is going on in my head as I near the end of these books. As I sat, quietly writing this morning, the creeping, nagging worry that I'm not as good a storyteller as I wish to be would ferment in my mind. The echoes of those comments, specifically the first one, still resonate within me. It has effected my confidence, and in turn has effected the speed in which I've proceeded along this last year. Everyone has doubts about their abilities, and most of mine are fostered from these admitted flaws.
In spite of that, however, I think that my writing has steadily improved since I wrote the previous two novels. In this third book, I wrote a very similar treasure hunting sequence as the ill-fated chapters 10-12 in BoF. It was because of that complaint, however, that I identified that weakness, and for that, I say thank you.
So it boils down to this:
Bad press has made me second guess myself briefly, but I'm still in the game.If anything else, the bad comments have helped to strengthen my resolve.This book is going to be a monster in length.Help me to price out this new book. Do I keep it at $2.99 or do I ask for $4.99. Do I do a early premium and then drop the price later? The price is in your hands.As more information is ready to divulge, this blog will be the place to visit for the reveal. Thanks for your support!
Things are still on track for this book to be completed at the end of the month. I have about four more sections to write in the penultimate chapter, and then one last chapter that will reveal the secrets of the universe (of Tellest). I promise to explain why people are gaining these powers, and what that means to the other powerful beings of the world.
After that, I'll type the final part out, and then put the entire thing in a drawer somewhere for a month. Then, I'll pick it back up, and do a preliminary edit on it before sending it out to someone who knows better, and can better strengthen my voice. After he's done with his red ink, I'll edit it one last time, put the final touches on it, and commission a cover to be made. In May, it will be out and ready to be in your hands (or on your desk).
I'm struggling with a couple of the details for when it is complete. This is going to be my longest book, by far, and because of that, I'm debating what I should do about the cost. When all is said and done, I've put the most work into this, and I would like to think that I should be compensated for it, so I'm thinking about raising the price compared to the last one. This one would be $4.99 as opposed to the $2.99 I've been selling the last ones at. If anyone happens upon this blog, it is most likely because you're already a fan of the books in some way, so I'll leave it to you. What do you think my book will be worth?
One of the reasons that I'm questioning myself is that it's been quite some time since I've received any kind of feedback on the books. Sales have slowed dramatically as well, so I'm getting a much smaller indication of how much people value my writing. Before, when I released As Darkness Falls, I could tell what kind of attach rate I had with my readers. You can tell that I have about a 20% rate. That is, about 1/5 of the people who read The Bindings of Fate liked it enough to purchase the sequel. That may not seem like a huge amount, but, in my view, that's splendid.
You see, I know that my first book has a sinister lull. I've talked about it before in one of my other blogs. There are a variety of people who will pick up my book, but a special niche of the audience will tolerate my journeyman flaws. Once people were able to trudge through one of the weaker moments in The Bindings of Fate (specifically between Chapters Ten and Thirteen, if you're familiar with the work), I believe they were treated to one hell of a ride.
You see, in those 20-some pages, I tried to force character development onto my protagonist. I wanted to give the audience a little more familiarity with him. Yet the whole time, it showed him as infallible and indomitable. Kaos became a man with no weakness (with the exception of spiders, of course), who was able to do in one day what eight men could not do in decades.
Of course, that was a weakness that should reflect on me, not the story. There were plenty of ways that I could have written those passages leading to the Valley of Kathka that would have made Kaos' success seem more appropriate - more realistic.
I didn't do that, of course, and it's hurt my reputation as an author in some regards. It's also helped immensely, because I've been able to identify some of my biggest flaws.
One of my lowest reviews has this to say about The Bindings of Fate:
"Here is another issue that bothered me. The main character enters a tournament. Why? For treasure. In fact, he repeatedly calls it "treasure". Not money, not gold, not anything specific. Just generic "treasure". The treasure he gets? A treasure map to go find... treasure! And he's so excited about it, he goes and finds this lost treasure that a group of eight other men could not find in their combined lifetimes. In. One. Day. The hero is stabbed through the leg with a spear? Two pages later - he's off saving the world... sprinting and leaping. The main character is perfect at everything, all the time, but he's also perfectly humble, perfectly handsome, etc. etc."
As I've said before, the realistic chances of Kaos finding anything that eight other men could not is a little beyond the realms of ridiculousness. I should have said that no one really bothered to try looking, or that they had just recently come into possession of the map that would have lead to the fabled treasure. The former is actually accurate to the story as well. With the Knights of Virtue recently developing the City of Wonders, who could blame them for not wasting time trying to find a city that may or may not exist?
And again, the main character's flawlessness is brought under the lens as well - something I've not forgotten, despite that review being written a year ago yesterday.
Another reviewer actually threw down his copy on several occasions, and couldn't even make it through the book:
Throwdown 1: Our hero won 4 gladiator battles, found a magic gauntlet in a lost city and then sleeps with the Duke's daughter ALL WITHOUT TAKING A BATH. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but the author mentions how Kaos has blood and sweat all over him and the guy changes clothes, but doesn't even splash water on his face. Ridiculous. Also worth mentioning: all of the above happened within 48-72 hours. Really? Throwdown 2: Our hero makes a deal with a necromancer that if he defeats his champion, he'll let the Duke's daughter go free. Kaos defeats the champion and now she is free. "Free to watch you die!" (insert evil cackle). This was too much cliche and I liked Twilight for the love of Pete.
Now these complaints I take odds with. I've responded to the "your character never takes a bath" comment on other forums before, and frankly, it always strikes me as a little odd. Why should I ever have to mention that the character uses a washcloth or cleans himself in any regards? It should just be implied when he's clean in the next scene. I don't ever write about any of my characters taking the time to urinate, but is that supposed to imply that they never do it? Fake spoilers ahead: the antagonist of the story actually dies of a bursting bladder.
It's the comment about the cliche that actually makes me realize that I'm not going to please everyone, and I'm alright with that.
All that said, however, let me further explain what is going on in my head as I near the end of these books. As I sat, quietly writing this morning, the creeping, nagging worry that I'm not as good a storyteller as I wish to be would ferment in my mind. The echoes of those comments, specifically the first one, still resonate within me. It has effected my confidence, and in turn has effected the speed in which I've proceeded along this last year. Everyone has doubts about their abilities, and most of mine are fostered from these admitted flaws.
In spite of that, however, I think that my writing has steadily improved since I wrote the previous two novels. In this third book, I wrote a very similar treasure hunting sequence as the ill-fated chapters 10-12 in BoF. It was because of that complaint, however, that I identified that weakness, and for that, I say thank you.
So it boils down to this:
Bad press has made me second guess myself briefly, but I'm still in the game.If anything else, the bad comments have helped to strengthen my resolve.This book is going to be a monster in length.Help me to price out this new book. Do I keep it at $2.99 or do I ask for $4.99. Do I do a early premium and then drop the price later? The price is in your hands.As more information is ready to divulge, this blog will be the place to visit for the reveal. Thanks for your support!
November 16, 2012
String Theory
At the end of this third book, I've come to a point where I'm trying to give every character their own time to shine. There are two large focal points that are separated by hundreds of miles, and a whole hell of a lot of mountains.
In each of these locales, I have a handful of characters who have been favored greatly by the readership over the past couple of years. New abilities have been discovered, and, of course, the characters themselves have grown. Recently introduced characters have to have their place in the sun as well, however. As The Bindings of Fate suggested, fate has woven a web between everyone, and without all of their stories, the saga cannot be properly told.
There is an extra dimension to the conflicts that we see in the story, and that dimension was largely hinted at in the second book. External forces have been pushing Blacklehn and Tarson to converge on Raleigh, and despite all the trouble that Kaos Kreegan has found himself in, nothing will prepare him for his encounters in The Enemy Within.
Though Kaos has always seemed at the center of the universe in the Child of the Stars trilogy (and rightly so, given the name), there is indeed a greater scope. Everything is connected - things don't just happen without a purpose. Perhaps the gods have their hand involved in the events that have come to pass, and those that will.
To truly see where the story is going, you need to know where it has evolved from. With that in mind, I'm happy to announce that the next full-length novel I will be working on for Tellest will focus on Kaos Kreegan's childhood and his first real quest. It will be called "The Veil of Mists" and it will introduce you to characters that you may have only heard about in passing, and also show you glimpses of familiar faces that you might not have thought to see again.
Work has resumed on Devour, but I'm still very cautious about putting a firm schedule to it. My programmer has always been awesome to collaborate with, but I know that he's incredibly busy. He's been tutoring me to try and pick up some of the slack, but there is a lot of logic/math involved, and, admittedly, that's not my strength.
In any case, things are still plodding along in Tellest. Hopefully, I'll have some more meaty news for you soon. With the wrap of my book coming shortly, I intend to start the trickle of excerpts. Maybe one per month until the release!
Until then, take care, and thank you for your continued support!
In each of these locales, I have a handful of characters who have been favored greatly by the readership over the past couple of years. New abilities have been discovered, and, of course, the characters themselves have grown. Recently introduced characters have to have their place in the sun as well, however. As The Bindings of Fate suggested, fate has woven a web between everyone, and without all of their stories, the saga cannot be properly told.
There is an extra dimension to the conflicts that we see in the story, and that dimension was largely hinted at in the second book. External forces have been pushing Blacklehn and Tarson to converge on Raleigh, and despite all the trouble that Kaos Kreegan has found himself in, nothing will prepare him for his encounters in The Enemy Within.
Though Kaos has always seemed at the center of the universe in the Child of the Stars trilogy (and rightly so, given the name), there is indeed a greater scope. Everything is connected - things don't just happen without a purpose. Perhaps the gods have their hand involved in the events that have come to pass, and those that will.
To truly see where the story is going, you need to know where it has evolved from. With that in mind, I'm happy to announce that the next full-length novel I will be working on for Tellest will focus on Kaos Kreegan's childhood and his first real quest. It will be called "The Veil of Mists" and it will introduce you to characters that you may have only heard about in passing, and also show you glimpses of familiar faces that you might not have thought to see again.
Work has resumed on Devour, but I'm still very cautious about putting a firm schedule to it. My programmer has always been awesome to collaborate with, but I know that he's incredibly busy. He's been tutoring me to try and pick up some of the slack, but there is a lot of logic/math involved, and, admittedly, that's not my strength.
In any case, things are still plodding along in Tellest. Hopefully, I'll have some more meaty news for you soon. With the wrap of my book coming shortly, I intend to start the trickle of excerpts. Maybe one per month until the release!
Until then, take care, and thank you for your continued support!
