Jeffrey Zweig II's Blog, page 9
January 31, 2012
First review for The End Begins: The Nine!
Hello all!
Sorry I'm posting this a few days behind, but I just wanted to let you know that I recently got my first review on Amazon and Goodreads. It's a five star, and I am humbled that Gwen liked my work as much as she did.
Read what she had to say here on Amazon.
Sorry I'm posting this a few days behind, but I just wanted to let you know that I recently got my first review on Amazon and Goodreads. It's a five star, and I am humbled that Gwen liked my work as much as she did.
Read what she had to say here on Amazon.
January 27, 2012
Interview on website A Few Words
I was recently interviewed for a bloggers website about my book. Her name is Gwen Perkins, a fellow author who runs her own site with interviews, reviews, and such.
She had some challenging questions to answer, and I think I rose to her challenge like a pro. But don't take my word for it, Check out the interview now!
She had some challenging questions to answer, and I think I rose to her challenge like a pro. But don't take my word for it, Check out the interview now!
January 22, 2012
Rising Vol. 2 -- Interium -- Elliot's POV -- Two days Later
"I'm glad Sofia is not here to see this Elliot." The man with greying hair and goatee said as he stood in the doorway to his two story home. It stood on the corner of a tree laden intersection of the wooded neighborhood. This was her Uncles House, Nathan Rogers.
He was a policeman at the time of our downfall. Now he was a pretty high ranking officer of the police force. I wish I had thought it out a a little more before arriving at his doorstep.
"Please, if you would just listen to what I'm saying." Elliot said.
"I don't want to hear it. You're lying."
"Why would I lie? What do I gain from it?"
"I was there, Elliot, when you, Sofia, and those other kids knocked around those teenagers. One of those kids had his hand crippled because of you."
"It was self defense."
"Self defense or not, you're a dangerous person. And I aim to make sure you two are never together again."
"Can't you think a minute here and realize I'm trying to save her from something dangerous! Can you not see that I'm trying to save her from what I caused?"
"What you tone boy." He said gruffly. "I will not take lip from you."
"Am I the only one here who doesn't want Sofia dead in a ditch!"
Nathan punched me. I spun and hit the pavement of the walkway face first. When got up, and the man was only inches from me with a clenched fist.
"You shut your mouth! I've heard enough! Come near Sofia again and I'll arrest you. I'll find something, anything! I don't care! You hear me?"
He was a policeman at the time of our downfall. Now he was a pretty high ranking officer of the police force. I wish I had thought it out a a little more before arriving at his doorstep.
"Please, if you would just listen to what I'm saying." Elliot said.
"I don't want to hear it. You're lying."
"Why would I lie? What do I gain from it?"
"I was there, Elliot, when you, Sofia, and those other kids knocked around those teenagers. One of those kids had his hand crippled because of you."
"It was self defense."
"Self defense or not, you're a dangerous person. And I aim to make sure you two are never together again."
"Can't you think a minute here and realize I'm trying to save her from something dangerous! Can you not see that I'm trying to save her from what I caused?"
"What you tone boy." He said gruffly. "I will not take lip from you."
"Am I the only one here who doesn't want Sofia dead in a ditch!"
Nathan punched me. I spun and hit the pavement of the walkway face first. When got up, and the man was only inches from me with a clenched fist.
"You shut your mouth! I've heard enough! Come near Sofia again and I'll arrest you. I'll find something, anything! I don't care! You hear me?"
January 19, 2012
Rising Vol. 2 Issue 3
The next evening, Elliot cautiously arrived to the library with book bag in tow. He watched his surroundings as he slipped into the alley. There was Sofia, waiting for him as night crept in.
"How did your uncle let you out this late?" asked Elliot.
"It's the weekend. He thinks I'm sleeping over at a friends house." said Sofia
"What friends?"
"Never mind. Here's the riot gear. Give it a try. Your shirt is in there too. Turn around so I can change."
Elliot opens the garbage bag and pulls out black shin guards, padded gauntlets, and a vest.
"A vest?" he asked as he pulled of his civilian clothes for his hero gear.
"the vest is for paint ball but I figure it was better than nothing in case you get hit or something."
Slowly Elliot strapped on the riot gear over his clothes, but left the vest and shirt for last. He looked over the new patch, a clothed fist in white. It was handmade.
"What is with the fist?"
"I thought it was better than a letter. Think of it as a power symbol or something. The Gauntlet!"
"Thanks Sofia." He said as he strapped the vest to his chest then slipped the hoodie on over it.
"Are you decent?" He asked.
"Yeah. Check it out."
He turns back and find her in her new uniform, a tight purple spandex accented by a mask in black biker boots and fashioned goggles.
Elliot was slack jawed.
"Do you like what you see?"
"What?"
"I think it's hip. and I can wear it underclothes really well. Not bulky or loose. Efficient, I think is the word I'm looking for. The Rose is ready. How about you, Gauntlet?"
Elliot smiled as he slipped on the shades.
"Do you have a plan?" asked Elliot.
"A plan? I thought you had one?"
Rose scoffs, and thinks,
"Okay, but it's kinda more of a trap.
****
Elliot's feet rammed the concrete as he gave chase by two criminals. Two bullet heads, with the masks and everything. They were doing some kind of deal in an alley they had scoped out for an hour. It was surprisingly easy to find them, Elliot thought, but he didn't have much time to ask before they saw him spying on them and they gave chase to teach him a lesson.
Boy were they in for a surprise.
Elliot turned the corner into an alley, it was a dead end. He put his back to the wall as they entered, smirks were visible on their faces as they approached. They had a pipe and a knife between them. Elliot wasn't bothered by their taunts as they came in. He was trying not to hold back the smile for what was about to happen next.
The pipe-man was walking ahead first, leaving the knife-man a few steps behind.
That's when Sofia popped out of the stack of garbage cans and bag with a baseball bat, swinging fast and cracked the bullet head gang member across the face.
The pipe-man turned to witness Sofia raise the bat high and come down on their partner's neck and cracked their head two times before she had her attention on the pipe-man.
Distracted, Elliot took advantage and kicked in their knee, bringing them down to their knees. He swung back, but Elliot managed to avoid the swing, grab their arm and chop their neck. She pulled his arm away, and Sofia met his armed, bare hand with the bat. I could hear the bones gives way, and he finally dropped the pipe.
"Looks like we got ourselves a winner." Rose said as she pulled off their specially made Bullet Head mask and thew it on the ground.
"Where is your hideout?" Gauntlet asked with criminal under his boot.
"Stupid kids."
Rose cracked from the impact of the bat on the concrete, near the arm that had the broken hand. "Say that again, I dare you. One more time - answer the question or your brains are all over the pavement."
He doesn't talk, she raises the bat, but Gauntlet blocks her swing.
"Enough Rose." She had to pull away from his strong-man grip.
"So what now?" She asked Gauntlet with an angry tone.
"Is this the point you tell me to tell my boss you're coming for him?" The Bullet Head said with a laugh.
"Tell him what you want, that you were beat up by "Kids"." Gauntlet said. "That'll look good for ya."
Then they left him, with his broken hand, to think about that.
***
Back at the library on the outskirts of the city, Elliot and Sofia were back in their civilian clothing.
"El, I don't think this is going to work."
"What do you mean?"
"You can't be light on criminals."
"Rose, I doubt what you did to him was considered light." he had to pause a moment. "Were you really going to kill him? Were you!?" But she wouldn't answer him, "And if we did get the location, what then? Just walk there, knock on their door and say "Hey, we here to end your criminal career?" They'd likely shoot us to death!"
"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you're not cut out for this." Sofia said as she violently stuffed her bag with her uniform.
"What are you saying?"
"You're a liability, Elliot. I can't trust you unless you have my back."
"I do Sofia! That's why I am here. I have to look out for you! If something happens."
"Well I relieve you of that burden."
"You're being unreasonable. Don't do this."
"I've always been on my own El, Nothing now changes that. I'm sorry." Then she grabbed her book bag and took off, leaving Elliot alone.
"How did your uncle let you out this late?" asked Elliot.
"It's the weekend. He thinks I'm sleeping over at a friends house." said Sofia
"What friends?"
"Never mind. Here's the riot gear. Give it a try. Your shirt is in there too. Turn around so I can change."
Elliot opens the garbage bag and pulls out black shin guards, padded gauntlets, and a vest.
"A vest?" he asked as he pulled of his civilian clothes for his hero gear.
"the vest is for paint ball but I figure it was better than nothing in case you get hit or something."
Slowly Elliot strapped on the riot gear over his clothes, but left the vest and shirt for last. He looked over the new patch, a clothed fist in white. It was handmade.
"What is with the fist?"
"I thought it was better than a letter. Think of it as a power symbol or something. The Gauntlet!"
"Thanks Sofia." He said as he strapped the vest to his chest then slipped the hoodie on over it.
"Are you decent?" He asked.
"Yeah. Check it out."
He turns back and find her in her new uniform, a tight purple spandex accented by a mask in black biker boots and fashioned goggles.
Elliot was slack jawed.
"Do you like what you see?"
"What?"
"I think it's hip. and I can wear it underclothes really well. Not bulky or loose. Efficient, I think is the word I'm looking for. The Rose is ready. How about you, Gauntlet?"
Elliot smiled as he slipped on the shades.
"Do you have a plan?" asked Elliot.
"A plan? I thought you had one?"
Rose scoffs, and thinks,
"Okay, but it's kinda more of a trap.
****
Elliot's feet rammed the concrete as he gave chase by two criminals. Two bullet heads, with the masks and everything. They were doing some kind of deal in an alley they had scoped out for an hour. It was surprisingly easy to find them, Elliot thought, but he didn't have much time to ask before they saw him spying on them and they gave chase to teach him a lesson.
Boy were they in for a surprise.
Elliot turned the corner into an alley, it was a dead end. He put his back to the wall as they entered, smirks were visible on their faces as they approached. They had a pipe and a knife between them. Elliot wasn't bothered by their taunts as they came in. He was trying not to hold back the smile for what was about to happen next.
The pipe-man was walking ahead first, leaving the knife-man a few steps behind.
That's when Sofia popped out of the stack of garbage cans and bag with a baseball bat, swinging fast and cracked the bullet head gang member across the face.
The pipe-man turned to witness Sofia raise the bat high and come down on their partner's neck and cracked their head two times before she had her attention on the pipe-man.
Distracted, Elliot took advantage and kicked in their knee, bringing them down to their knees. He swung back, but Elliot managed to avoid the swing, grab their arm and chop their neck. She pulled his arm away, and Sofia met his armed, bare hand with the bat. I could hear the bones gives way, and he finally dropped the pipe.
"Looks like we got ourselves a winner." Rose said as she pulled off their specially made Bullet Head mask and thew it on the ground.
"Where is your hideout?" Gauntlet asked with criminal under his boot.
"Stupid kids."
Rose cracked from the impact of the bat on the concrete, near the arm that had the broken hand. "Say that again, I dare you. One more time - answer the question or your brains are all over the pavement."
He doesn't talk, she raises the bat, but Gauntlet blocks her swing.
"Enough Rose." She had to pull away from his strong-man grip.
"So what now?" She asked Gauntlet with an angry tone.
"Is this the point you tell me to tell my boss you're coming for him?" The Bullet Head said with a laugh.
"Tell him what you want, that you were beat up by "Kids"." Gauntlet said. "That'll look good for ya."
Then they left him, with his broken hand, to think about that.
***
Back at the library on the outskirts of the city, Elliot and Sofia were back in their civilian clothing.
"El, I don't think this is going to work."
"What do you mean?"
"You can't be light on criminals."
"Rose, I doubt what you did to him was considered light." he had to pause a moment. "Were you really going to kill him? Were you!?" But she wouldn't answer him, "And if we did get the location, what then? Just walk there, knock on their door and say "Hey, we here to end your criminal career?" They'd likely shoot us to death!"
"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you're not cut out for this." Sofia said as she violently stuffed her bag with her uniform.
"What are you saying?"
"You're a liability, Elliot. I can't trust you unless you have my back."
"I do Sofia! That's why I am here. I have to look out for you! If something happens."
"Well I relieve you of that burden."
"You're being unreasonable. Don't do this."
"I've always been on my own El, Nothing now changes that. I'm sorry." Then she grabbed her book bag and took off, leaving Elliot alone.
January 18, 2012
Removing old Posts for development, Updates for Rising and Captain Force
Some of you follow my serials, Captain Force and Rising, on my blog.
I've currently suspended Vol. 2 of Captain Force as I develop the ebook of Volume 1. I'll also be removing the old posts from Volume 1 sometime in the next couple weeks, having to do with some of the changes/additions I'm making as I prepare to self-publish this online.
Rising is coming into it's home stretch here in the next two months. I project it'll come to a close sometime at the end of February.
As far as future serials, I'll be taking some time off before the next set. And even then, not entirely sure what the next set will be since I've got a novelette project in the works, a couple shorts, and the second book in the Trinity Trilogy.
Suffice to say, a lot is going on.
But we'll see.
The next issue of Rising should be up in the next week or so, so enjoy!
I've currently suspended Vol. 2 of Captain Force as I develop the ebook of Volume 1. I'll also be removing the old posts from Volume 1 sometime in the next couple weeks, having to do with some of the changes/additions I'm making as I prepare to self-publish this online.
Rising is coming into it's home stretch here in the next two months. I project it'll come to a close sometime at the end of February.
As far as future serials, I'll be taking some time off before the next set. And even then, not entirely sure what the next set will be since I've got a novelette project in the works, a couple shorts, and the second book in the Trinity Trilogy.
Suffice to say, a lot is going on.
But we'll see.
The next issue of Rising should be up in the next week or so, so enjoy!
January 16, 2012
Sorry! KDP Event starting Tuesday!
Hello all!
Sorry guys! The free book starts tomorrow on Tuesday and goes to Thursday!
I already changed my previous announcement but I thought I should let you guys know.
Sorry guys! The free book starts tomorrow on Tuesday and goes to Thursday!
I already changed my previous announcement but I thought I should let you guys know.
January 14, 2012
KDP Select: The End Begins: The Nine!
Hello all!
I'm giving KDP Select a try, so I'm temporarily suspending the books presence on Smashwords.com and making the book exclusive to Amazon.
But here's the best part, for Tuesday - Thursday of this week only, it's going to be free. For those three days, not even a dollar stands in the way of you and an expansive, robust Sci-Fi action adventure!
It's starting Monday, so get your fill in then!
I'm giving KDP Select a try, so I'm temporarily suspending the books presence on Smashwords.com and making the book exclusive to Amazon.
But here's the best part, for Tuesday - Thursday of this week only, it's going to be free. For those three days, not even a dollar stands in the way of you and an expansive, robust Sci-Fi action adventure!
It's starting Monday, so get your fill in then!
January 3, 2012
Interviews from the Digital Frontier - K.W. McCabe
Well, to start off the new year, I have a new interview! This time by a fresh writer on Smashwords.com, she is already branching out to expand her name as much as she can while working to get some credentials under her belt.
Keeping busy for sure, K.W. McCabe was kind enough to take a few moments out of her holiday to respond to my questions.
So here we go. Miss. McCabe, first, let's start with you. Tell us about how you came to be a writer and what your goals are at present.
I have pretty much been writing all my life. I started writing at a very young age- I still have all the journals of poetry I wrote from when I was five. The funny thing was that I never considered writing as a career. It just didn't compute when I thought of paying bills lol. I really realized that I should have gone to college for a writing degree when I was halfway through my Masters in Psychology. I was in the middle of writing In Light of Burning. But it wasn't until I read about Amanda Hocking's success at indie writing that I decided to throw myself into whole-heartedly. I finished that book in three weeks after reading her blog. I'd been writing it for ten years.
Now, I'm in the process of editing and formatting Dreams Both Real and Strange 2, it's the second part of an anthology set. My goal is to publish that and complete The Dragon's Call, which is a teen dragon romance.
Looking through your site you are self published – have you tried going the traditional publishing route and what kind of success have you had with both avenues?
I sent out In Light of Burning to agents and it was rejected- then I decided to publish most of my works independently. I'm in the process of writing a paranormal YA short story for a small press as well. It's set in the world of the Sanction Chronicles.
I compare the rise of the indie author in a similar light to the rise of independence in music and film. Indie writers have found an audience by self publishing while circumventing the big publishing houses/hoops of fire to get their work published and have been successful. What are your thoughts on the movement we've seen in the last couple years?
I think it was inevitable with the rise of ereaders. The wonderful thing about technology is that eventually it becomes accessible to everyone. With Amazon's focus on publishing and advertising independent authors- the publishing world will have to take notice. Also, the fact that publishers are so insular when it comes to publishing new authors doesn't help. A couple of my favorite indie authors are David Dalglish and Misty Provencher. They are worthy of being published. But they haven't been because traditional publishers are too close-minded.
On top of your personal site and a review site, you make your own covers and have begun offering your services to others. From what I have seen so far you've had some great results. Mind giving us some insight on how you do it (materials, programs, etc.) and why?
I use Corel Paintshop Photo Pro X3, Paint, and Corel Painter Essentials 4. I started making my own covers because it was just too expensive to purchase a cover from a traditional graphic artist. $100-$300 is too much if you're a beginning indie author. So I decided to make my own covers. When I saw that they looked decent I decided to offer my services to other indie authors. I know how tough it can be as an indie- more often than not you're coming out of pocket to edit, format, and advertise your book. Paying for covers on top of that is just another burden. So, I offer my covers for between $5-$75 depending on what's wanted.
I do book reviews for the same reason- I want to help other indie authors. I'm honest about my reviews though. If I don't feel I can give at least a three star review, I warn the author in advance and give a short summary of areas that might have needed editing.
Okay McCabe, last one. I want to know more about your Dragon's Call project. You're posting your novel chapter by chapter as you write it (at least I assume it's a novel). Can you give us more detail about this ongoing project? Why do it like this and what will you do with it when your finished?
It is a novel lol. I've been posting it in the hopes of getting some feedback. So far I've gotten a couple responses in the forms of messages through email or facebook. They've been positive! It's my first teen novel and I really wanted to see what kind of response it would get because I don't have a problem with scrapping parts of it and rewriting it if I have to. I'm not one of those authors who can't change anything once it's written down. I want to put out the best work possible and if that means learning from my readers- I'll do it!
I'm not going to publish the whole thing on my blog- mainly because it can be stolen. I was thinking of sending it to an agent- we'll see. If I don't, it's because I love getting responses directly from my readers. I'm a reader junkie lol.
Sounds great K.W.! Thank you for your time!
Get your fill of K.W. McCabe today! Check out her web addresses below for her various blogs and social media outlets! I'm looking forward to Dreams both Real and Strange 2, her upcoming anthology!
http://kwmccabe.blogspot.com/
http://cheapbookies.blogspot.com/
http://kwmdigest.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/kw_mccabe
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/In-Light-of-Burning/27736466229621
http://www.facebook.com/#!/kywmccabe
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Keeping busy for sure, K.W. McCabe was kind enough to take a few moments out of her holiday to respond to my questions.
So here we go. Miss. McCabe, first, let's start with you. Tell us about how you came to be a writer and what your goals are at present.
I have pretty much been writing all my life. I started writing at a very young age- I still have all the journals of poetry I wrote from when I was five. The funny thing was that I never considered writing as a career. It just didn't compute when I thought of paying bills lol. I really realized that I should have gone to college for a writing degree when I was halfway through my Masters in Psychology. I was in the middle of writing In Light of Burning. But it wasn't until I read about Amanda Hocking's success at indie writing that I decided to throw myself into whole-heartedly. I finished that book in three weeks after reading her blog. I'd been writing it for ten years.Now, I'm in the process of editing and formatting Dreams Both Real and Strange 2, it's the second part of an anthology set. My goal is to publish that and complete The Dragon's Call, which is a teen dragon romance.
Looking through your site you are self published – have you tried going the traditional publishing route and what kind of success have you had with both avenues?
I sent out In Light of Burning to agents and it was rejected- then I decided to publish most of my works independently. I'm in the process of writing a paranormal YA short story for a small press as well. It's set in the world of the Sanction Chronicles.
I compare the rise of the indie author in a similar light to the rise of independence in music and film. Indie writers have found an audience by self publishing while circumventing the big publishing houses/hoops of fire to get their work published and have been successful. What are your thoughts on the movement we've seen in the last couple years?
I think it was inevitable with the rise of ereaders. The wonderful thing about technology is that eventually it becomes accessible to everyone. With Amazon's focus on publishing and advertising independent authors- the publishing world will have to take notice. Also, the fact that publishers are so insular when it comes to publishing new authors doesn't help. A couple of my favorite indie authors are David Dalglish and Misty Provencher. They are worthy of being published. But they haven't been because traditional publishers are too close-minded.
On top of your personal site and a review site, you make your own covers and have begun offering your services to others. From what I have seen so far you've had some great results. Mind giving us some insight on how you do it (materials, programs, etc.) and why?
I use Corel Paintshop Photo Pro X3, Paint, and Corel Painter Essentials 4. I started making my own covers because it was just too expensive to purchase a cover from a traditional graphic artist. $100-$300 is too much if you're a beginning indie author. So I decided to make my own covers. When I saw that they looked decent I decided to offer my services to other indie authors. I know how tough it can be as an indie- more often than not you're coming out of pocket to edit, format, and advertise your book. Paying for covers on top of that is just another burden. So, I offer my covers for between $5-$75 depending on what's wanted.
I do book reviews for the same reason- I want to help other indie authors. I'm honest about my reviews though. If I don't feel I can give at least a three star review, I warn the author in advance and give a short summary of areas that might have needed editing.
Okay McCabe, last one. I want to know more about your Dragon's Call project. You're posting your novel chapter by chapter as you write it (at least I assume it's a novel). Can you give us more detail about this ongoing project? Why do it like this and what will you do with it when your finished?
It is a novel lol. I've been posting it in the hopes of getting some feedback. So far I've gotten a couple responses in the forms of messages through email or facebook. They've been positive! It's my first teen novel and I really wanted to see what kind of response it would get because I don't have a problem with scrapping parts of it and rewriting it if I have to. I'm not one of those authors who can't change anything once it's written down. I want to put out the best work possible and if that means learning from my readers- I'll do it!
I'm not going to publish the whole thing on my blog- mainly because it can be stolen. I was thinking of sending it to an agent- we'll see. If I don't, it's because I love getting responses directly from my readers. I'm a reader junkie lol.
Sounds great K.W.! Thank you for your time!
Get your fill of K.W. McCabe today! Check out her web addresses below for her various blogs and social media outlets! I'm looking forward to Dreams both Real and Strange 2, her upcoming anthology! http://kwmccabe.blogspot.com/
http://cheapbookies.blogspot.com/
http://kwmdigest.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/kw_mccabe
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/In-Light-of-Burning/27736466229621
http://www.facebook.com/#!/kywmccabe
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
January 1, 2012
Thought of the Day: Change
Hoping for change in your life is useless. Action is what creates change, even if it's a change you had not intended - at least you say you did it, and not just hung it on a hope.
Good Luck to us all in 2012.
Good Luck to us all in 2012.
December 28, 2011
Thought of the Day: Sticking to your Medium
I had taken the stance from an early age that whatever I chose to do, as a creative person, that I would try to keep out of any direct interaction to avoid being inspired by other's work. What I mean by that is - to avoid any potential plagiarism.
Now I realize just how wrong I was about that point of view. Being engrossed in book after book for the last few months I've been able to see how other people, in positions where I want to be, are able to hone their craft.
I've read Feed, and now reading Deadline, by Mira Grant. I hope I can be as good as she is.
Now I realize just how wrong I was about that point of view. Being engrossed in book after book for the last few months I've been able to see how other people, in positions where I want to be, are able to hone their craft.
I've read Feed, and now reading Deadline, by Mira Grant. I hope I can be as good as she is.
