S.B. Sebrick's Blog, page 5
May 11, 2015
Half-Way Point
I just hit the half-way point on my third post-apocalyptic novel, The Final Strain. The second one, The Counter Strain, is still being kicked around by the beta readers. So, I'm hoping to have the full trilogy in some stage of publication (beta reader, editing or formatting) by the end of the month. The covers to the next two novels are all set (one less thing to worry about). Now I just have to finish revising them. Good times :)
May 5, 2015
Great Sci-Fi Premise
I came across this great sci-fi post where the writer presents humans as the 'scary aliens'. Hollywood usually portrays humanity as the weaker species on the intergalactic totem pole (less technologically advanced, lack of huge fangs, etc), but this writer came up with all sorts of human facts that could scare the pants off the average intergalactic out-of-towner.
Enjoy
!
April 23, 2015
'Death's Edge' Hits the Shelves
The first of my backlisted novels, 'Death's Edge', has just hit electronic and paperback shelves. This is my first step into the post-apocalyptic genre, with a handful of others on their way. Don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list so you can be the first to hear about the next project to hit the shelves.Here's a blurb from 'Death's Edge', enjoy :)
Everyone in my village is crazy. They whisper behind my back about a brother I've never had. How can they all remember a boy who I know never existed? Sure, my nightmares are a little too vivid. The sight of blood terrifies me, but lots of people can't stand gore. There's nothing wrong with me. I'm totally sane. That's what I believed, at least.
Until the night of the earthquake.
Until I saw that broken corpse lying in the rubble.
Until I met him.
Click here to buy your own copy!
April 5, 2015
Progress Report
Just to keep you all in the loop. 'Death's Edge' is coming along nicely. The novel is in its final draft. Once I stop banging my head against the proverbial chalkboard over the cover, it will be a hop, skip and a jump away from publication.
'Splintered Loyalties' is also just around the corner. In its case, the cover is already done and I'm just waiting on my mentor and editor to finish picking it apart. My fingers are crossed, but hopefully I'll be able to get both titles out this month.
It's gonna be fun!
'Splintered Loyalties' is also just around the corner. In its case, the cover is already done and I'm just waiting on my mentor and editor to finish picking it apart. My fingers are crossed, but hopefully I'll be able to get both titles out this month.
It's gonna be fun!
March 25, 2015
'Death's Edge' Conundrum
I'm working on the description of 'Death's Edge', my post-apocalyptic thriller. There are two major players in the novel and I'm trying to figure out which one presents the most appealing blurb for readers (this is what would go on the back of the paperback copies). I'm experimenting with putting them in the first person perspective.
What do you guys think?
Number One (from the female character, Cass', perspective):
"Everyone in my village is crazy. They whisper behind my back about a brother I've never had. How can they all remember a boy who I know never existed? Sure, my nightmares are a little too vivid. The sight of blood terrifies me, but lots of people can't stand the stuff. There's nothing wrong with me. I'm totally sane. That's what I believed, at least.
Until the night of the earthquake.
Until I saw that broken corpse lying in the rubble.
Until I met him. "
Number Two (from the male character, Mikael's, perspective).
"They hailed the akkandi plant as a marvel of genetic engineering. A cure for world hunger. In a way, they were right. There's so few of us left now, we're much easier to feed. If the akkandi spores don't change us first.
I feel it working in me. I see its effects on my sister. It turns our fingernails into claws and our teeth into fangs. It amplifies our hunger. They say the mind is the last thing to go. I can feel my identity slipping away.
We've got to get beyond the Edge, where the plant can't reach us. But I can feel it wearing away at our minds. We're running out of time. Whoever turns first will likely eat the other. I'm ashamed to say it, but I hope it's me."
What do you guys think?
Number One (from the female character, Cass', perspective):
"Everyone in my village is crazy. They whisper behind my back about a brother I've never had. How can they all remember a boy who I know never existed? Sure, my nightmares are a little too vivid. The sight of blood terrifies me, but lots of people can't stand the stuff. There's nothing wrong with me. I'm totally sane. That's what I believed, at least.
Until the night of the earthquake.
Until I saw that broken corpse lying in the rubble.
Until I met him. "
Number Two (from the male character, Mikael's, perspective).
"They hailed the akkandi plant as a marvel of genetic engineering. A cure for world hunger. In a way, they were right. There's so few of us left now, we're much easier to feed. If the akkandi spores don't change us first.
I feel it working in me. I see its effects on my sister. It turns our fingernails into claws and our teeth into fangs. It amplifies our hunger. They say the mind is the last thing to go. I can feel my identity slipping away.
We've got to get beyond the Edge, where the plant can't reach us. But I can feel it wearing away at our minds. We're running out of time. Whoever turns first will likely eat the other. I'm ashamed to say it, but I hope it's me."
March 21, 2015
Quote of the Week
"Be strong, but not rude.
Be kind, but not weak.
Be bold, but not bully.
Be humble, but not timid.
Be proud, but not arrogant."
I really like this quote by Jim Rohn, titled 'The Challenge of Leadership'. When I first read it, out of context, I thought of it as the ideal person. If my boss was more like this, I'd be much more excited to show up for work each morning!
Be kind, but not weak.
Be bold, but not bully.
Be humble, but not timid.
Be proud, but not arrogant."
I really like this quote by Jim Rohn, titled 'The Challenge of Leadership'. When I first read it, out of context, I thought of it as the ideal person. If my boss was more like this, I'd be much more excited to show up for work each morning!
March 20, 2015
New 'Free Stuff' Up for Download.
This week, I'm offering 'Outcast of the Flame' for free. Download a copy from my Free Stuff page. Here's the description, below. Feel free to check it out.'For Baden, surviving his exile in the Ravager-plagued deserts means always traveling alone. But to ease the torturous memories of his past and the nightmare's they bring, he must break that one rule.
In a desperate attempt to find peace of mind, he rushes to save captured travelers bound for a life of slavery. But will the calm he finds be the sweet sigh of success, or the sudden silence of a shallow grave?'
March 16, 2015
A Writer's Moment
So, this weekend I was driving up to my cousin's house to visit their family. Since it's nearly a four hour drive, I figured I'd be productive and bring a tape recorder. During my trip I verbally brainstormed the descriptions for a handful of upcoming titles. Some where inspired, others were less so (you want to find the perfect balance between informative and mysterious).
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of working on the description for a title I had just finished revising, only to realize, in a bolt of inspiration, that the title wasn't actually done yet. Plot twists took root in my brain and spat out a number of wonderful changes. While I'm happy with the end result, starting off my weekend with another 2-3 days of revising for a novel I'd already 'finished', was not what I expected for my little road trip!
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of working on the description for a title I had just finished revising, only to realize, in a bolt of inspiration, that the title wasn't actually done yet. Plot twists took root in my brain and spat out a number of wonderful changes. While I'm happy with the end result, starting off my weekend with another 2-3 days of revising for a novel I'd already 'finished', was not what I expected for my little road trip!
March 12, 2015
Quote of the Week - Jimmy Dean
This week, I found I really liked the following quote from Jimmy Dean, "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can always adjust my sails to reach my destination."
Since I tend to see things through the 'writer's' lens, this quote raises some very interesting ideas. I've always heard, throughout my life, how fiction writing is a great hobby, but a poor career choice. Yet, every time I look inwards, a fiction writer keeps staring back at me. This quote reminds me of the truly great authors I've had the pleasure of meeting, talented artists and even more talented businessmen that somehow over come the odds and make it work regardless - they adjust their sails. That's the kind writer I aspire to be, the kind that has so many 'irons in the fire' that as the market or the world changes, he can adjust accordingly and take charge.
Here's hoping that I can figure that out sooner, rather than later, my fingers are crossed!
Since I tend to see things through the 'writer's' lens, this quote raises some very interesting ideas. I've always heard, throughout my life, how fiction writing is a great hobby, but a poor career choice. Yet, every time I look inwards, a fiction writer keeps staring back at me. This quote reminds me of the truly great authors I've had the pleasure of meeting, talented artists and even more talented businessmen that somehow over come the odds and make it work regardless - they adjust their sails. That's the kind writer I aspire to be, the kind that has so many 'irons in the fire' that as the market or the world changes, he can adjust accordingly and take charge.
Here's hoping that I can figure that out sooner, rather than later, my fingers are crossed!
March 10, 2015
The Backlist
This month, I'm focusing on resurrecting three novels I left behind a couple years ago and finished the first draft of 'Splintered Loyalties'. I just sent the rough draft for 'Death's Edge' to my small army of beta readers. It's my first stab into the post-apocalyptic genre. If it's received well I'll probably do at least two more in that series.
This week, I'm turning my attentions to two other novels that will probably turn into a trilogy. I published the first, 'Trevian's Redemption' a couple years ago under a different pen name but decided to revise it and add a second novel onto the series. It's a apocalyptic zombie adventure. Last Friday I sat down with my art buddy and roughed the plans for their new covers. Should be a lot of fun to get into, once I've got the stories worked out. Have a great day everyone!
This week, I'm turning my attentions to two other novels that will probably turn into a trilogy. I published the first, 'Trevian's Redemption' a couple years ago under a different pen name but decided to revise it and add a second novel onto the series. It's a apocalyptic zombie adventure. Last Friday I sat down with my art buddy and roughed the plans for their new covers. Should be a lot of fun to get into, once I've got the stories worked out. Have a great day everyone!
