Jess Steven Hughes's Blog, page 28
June 23, 2013
Evaluation I Received from Book Doctor/Editor of my Latest Historical, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA
I realize this is a very long passage, but for those of you who know about my efforts to get my next historical novel published, you might appreciate what I am going through by reading this. Some of you may remembered I submitted my manuscript THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA to my book doctor/editor for review. I just received a four page evaluation (down from twenty-three pages last time) along with a partially line edit copy of my manuscript. The biggest issues she found that need to be fixed are dialogue and individual thoughts. The following is a partial from the evaluation:
"Voice: You know exactly what you want everyone to say, but I still think you need to work on writing dialogue and thoughts (see the next section for more on thoughts) in each character's unique voice. So really go through your lines of dialogue and add some "oomph" to reflect each character's personality. Almost everyone sounds the same, so now that you know what you want to say, and have done so much work on the story, go back and tweak that dialogue so that each character is distinctive. Most of your characters' voices show promise in certain scenes, but their dialogue is not consistent in reflecting each individual's personality (and in most cases, you must still decide what that personality is). You don't have to do an overhaul of all of your dialogue--your characters are saying what you need them to say to advance the story--but you should recraft the lines so that they are stronger for your characters..."
As to length this is what she had to say: "Length: I think that the length of the story (160,000 words) is doable for a historical novel. I definitely don't think that you can divide this into two parts, or should. If you need to get it down, it would require a line edit, as I don't see any huge chunks that can be taken out without sacrificing the story. I suppose you could completely cut out Porcius (he is the Roman adversary and only other POV I use other than Caratacus) if needed to get it down to size for cost reasons or because your publisher wants it shorter. Caratacus is the main character and the story could technically be told solely from his POV."
In all honesty to delete Porcius's POV would reduce the story's effectiveness as far I am concern. I would still like to submit the entire novel to Sunbury Press, publisher of THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE, once I have completed the rewrite and get there opinion as to whether it can work as a duology or not. It will probably take me six months just to complete the rewrite. If I had to delete Porcius's POV, it will take me a lot longer.
"Voice: You know exactly what you want everyone to say, but I still think you need to work on writing dialogue and thoughts (see the next section for more on thoughts) in each character's unique voice. So really go through your lines of dialogue and add some "oomph" to reflect each character's personality. Almost everyone sounds the same, so now that you know what you want to say, and have done so much work on the story, go back and tweak that dialogue so that each character is distinctive. Most of your characters' voices show promise in certain scenes, but their dialogue is not consistent in reflecting each individual's personality (and in most cases, you must still decide what that personality is). You don't have to do an overhaul of all of your dialogue--your characters are saying what you need them to say to advance the story--but you should recraft the lines so that they are stronger for your characters..."
As to length this is what she had to say: "Length: I think that the length of the story (160,000 words) is doable for a historical novel. I definitely don't think that you can divide this into two parts, or should. If you need to get it down, it would require a line edit, as I don't see any huge chunks that can be taken out without sacrificing the story. I suppose you could completely cut out Porcius (he is the Roman adversary and only other POV I use other than Caratacus) if needed to get it down to size for cost reasons or because your publisher wants it shorter. Caratacus is the main character and the story could technically be told solely from his POV."
In all honesty to delete Porcius's POV would reduce the story's effectiveness as far I am concern. I would still like to submit the entire novel to Sunbury Press, publisher of THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE, once I have completed the rewrite and get there opinion as to whether it can work as a duology or not. It will probably take me six months just to complete the rewrite. If I had to delete Porcius's POV, it will take me a lot longer.
June 18, 2013
New Blog on my Website
My latest blog about THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE and my other two historical novels in progress is now available. Please check it out.
http://www.jessstevenhughes.com/blog....
http://www.jessstevenhughes.com/blog....
June 13, 2013
Excerpt from THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE
An exerpt from THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE:
She would never forget the stench, the darkness, the freezing cold, and above all else the boil-infested rats that stole her meager food. Those terrible conditions combined with the horrors of agonizing torture were enough to make anyone confess, lies though they might be.
Falco glanced beyond the bridge of his long nose toward the Senator's direction. "I assure you we took every precaution to see nothing of that sort happened. Torture is reserved for slaves, not Roman officers and citizens."
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-...
She would never forget the stench, the darkness, the freezing cold, and above all else the boil-infested rats that stole her meager food. Those terrible conditions combined with the horrors of agonizing torture were enough to make anyone confess, lies though they might be.
Falco glanced beyond the bridge of his long nose toward the Senator's direction. "I assure you we took every precaution to see nothing of that sort happened. Torture is reserved for slaves, not Roman officers and citizens."
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-...
June 9, 2013
5 Minute Fiction Contest
A 5 minute fiction contest will be held tuesday, June 11 on Author Wendy Strain's website.
If you are interested check her site for details. http://www.writeonwendy.com/5minutefi...
I will be the judge, and the winner will receive an autographed copy of my historical novel, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE.
If you are interested check her site for details. http://www.writeonwendy.com/5minutefi...
I will be the judge, and the winner will receive an autographed copy of my historical novel, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE.
June 7, 2013
THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE now a returnable book through Barnes & Noble
For sometime my publisher, Sunbury Press, has attempted to get my novel, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE, into the Barnes & Noble System as a returnable book or what they define as a "whole volume." Finally, at long last, my book is now classified as such. This means I can now sign books in their stores because any unsold copies can be returned. One store, Spokane Valley (Eastide), WA Barnes & Noble wants me to conduct a signing at their store. I notified their community relations manager of the change and he will arrange for a signing, probably this Fall. I will let you the specific date and time and if other stores are to follow.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-s...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-s...
May 24, 2013
New FaceBook Author's Page - The Sign of the Eagle
Hi everyone. Just an FYI. I just want everyone to know that I have a new author page, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE. It is still a work in progress with more information forthcoming, but I could use all the "likes" I can get. Thank you for your support.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Si...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Si...
May 19, 2013
New Ebook outlet for THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE.
Just as an FYI, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE is now available as an ebook from the Sony ebookstore for only $4.74. Check it out!
https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/jes...
https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/jes...
May 14, 2013
Blog update - Book Signing and update on my latest novel in progress, The Wolf of Britannia
Book Signing Follow-up
I have to be blunt, the book signing I held at Hastings Books, Music & Videos, 2512 E. 29th Ave., Spokane, WA, was a dud. I signed only one copy of The Sign of the Eagle. The weather was in the mid-80's, and it was too beautiful to be inside buying books. Not only did book sales suffer (mine wasn't the only book), but so did sales of music and videos--the store was dead. I have to admit the "season" for book signings is over (for the most part) by the end of April. I know I have become very spoiled because my signings up to this point have been very successful--I should have known it could not last. Despite a down book signing, the book manager asked me to return in November for an encore signing. I have received this request from most other managers as well. I will conduct a limited number of signings in October and November as I transition from this novel to my next historical, The Wolf of Britannia. See below for more details.
The Wolf of Britannia
I have sent a copy of the manuscript of my historical, The Wolf of Britannia, to my book doctor/editor for review. Because it is more than 160,000 words, I have asked her to check to see if it is viable as a duo-logy. If not, to make specific suggestions as to what I should slash from the manuscript. For a one volume work, the maximum most publishers will accept is 120,000 words. In that case, I would have to cut twenty-five percent of my work. I hope that can be avoided. The publisher at Sunbury Press said they would hate to see that happened and will try and work with me to make a duo-logy a viable solution. I am hoping for the best. It will be approximately one month before I receive her evaluation.
The Broken Lance (ongoing)
I completed the rewrite of chapter 48 of The Broken Lance and gave it to my mentor, Patricia DeMars Pfeiffer for review. In this chapter the main character, Marcellus, who has returned from exile to take command of Rome's City Guard, along with his patron, Titus Flavius Sabinus, are attending one of the many extravagant dinner parties hosted by the Emperor Nero. I will only say Marcellus is confronted by the Emperor and by his old enemy, Gallus the Younger. Tension abounds in this chapter. This novel may well become a triology.
Notes on the Ancient World (encore)
Check my page, Notes on the Ancient World. You will find an encore of a previous article, Roman Graffiti. If you have not previously read it, you will find that graffiti was just as common in Ancient Rome as it is today. In other words, nothing is new under the sun.
Book Sale Reminder
For those of you who have Ereaders, The Sign of the Eagle is available on Kindle and Nook for only $4.99. Check it out!
That is all until next time. Thank you for your support.
Jess Hughes
I have to be blunt, the book signing I held at Hastings Books, Music & Videos, 2512 E. 29th Ave., Spokane, WA, was a dud. I signed only one copy of The Sign of the Eagle. The weather was in the mid-80's, and it was too beautiful to be inside buying books. Not only did book sales suffer (mine wasn't the only book), but so did sales of music and videos--the store was dead. I have to admit the "season" for book signings is over (for the most part) by the end of April. I know I have become very spoiled because my signings up to this point have been very successful--I should have known it could not last. Despite a down book signing, the book manager asked me to return in November for an encore signing. I have received this request from most other managers as well. I will conduct a limited number of signings in October and November as I transition from this novel to my next historical, The Wolf of Britannia. See below for more details.
The Wolf of Britannia
I have sent a copy of the manuscript of my historical, The Wolf of Britannia, to my book doctor/editor for review. Because it is more than 160,000 words, I have asked her to check to see if it is viable as a duo-logy. If not, to make specific suggestions as to what I should slash from the manuscript. For a one volume work, the maximum most publishers will accept is 120,000 words. In that case, I would have to cut twenty-five percent of my work. I hope that can be avoided. The publisher at Sunbury Press said they would hate to see that happened and will try and work with me to make a duo-logy a viable solution. I am hoping for the best. It will be approximately one month before I receive her evaluation.
The Broken Lance (ongoing)
I completed the rewrite of chapter 48 of The Broken Lance and gave it to my mentor, Patricia DeMars Pfeiffer for review. In this chapter the main character, Marcellus, who has returned from exile to take command of Rome's City Guard, along with his patron, Titus Flavius Sabinus, are attending one of the many extravagant dinner parties hosted by the Emperor Nero. I will only say Marcellus is confronted by the Emperor and by his old enemy, Gallus the Younger. Tension abounds in this chapter. This novel may well become a triology.
Notes on the Ancient World (encore)
Check my page, Notes on the Ancient World. You will find an encore of a previous article, Roman Graffiti. If you have not previously read it, you will find that graffiti was just as common in Ancient Rome as it is today. In other words, nothing is new under the sun.
Book Sale Reminder
For those of you who have Ereaders, The Sign of the Eagle is available on Kindle and Nook for only $4.99. Check it out!
That is all until next time. Thank you for your support.
Jess Hughes
May 8, 2013
Book Signing Reminder
BOOK SIGNING - FRIDAY. I will be signing copies of my historical, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE, @ Hastings Books, Music & Videos (Lincoln Heights), 2512 E. 29th Ave., Spokane, Washington, Friday, May 10, 3-8 p.m. This will be the last signing of the "season" so you won't be pestered by any more of my announcements until the Fall when I will conduct a very limited number as I transition to my next novel, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA, which was mailed to my book doctor/editor for another review. From there, I will send it to Sunbury Press for consideration as a possible duology. www.jessstevenhughes.com
May 5, 2013
Book Signing Follow-up, Hastings, Spokane Valley, WA & Missoula, MT
Book Signing No.1 Friday.
I hosted a signing @ Hastings Books, Music & Videos, Spokane Valley, WA. Unfortunately, this was the first disappointment I encountered on my "tour" this Spring. It was a success by management's standards but not mine. I did not sign nearly as many as I would have liked. Regardless, I want to thank all those people who did show up and Store Manager, Omar, and Associate, Mary, who did all they could to accomadate me. They are good people.
Book Signing No.2
Saturday I signed at Hastings in Missoula, MT and that by far and way made up for the disappointing showing in Spokane Valley. Signed lots of copies of THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE. Book Manager John Gross said, "I can't remember when anyone has signed as many books as you have." I will take that as a compliment anytime. This is a very busy store. Management would like me to return in the Fall.
I want to thank Books Manager, John Gross, and Associates Clay and Allison for all their assiastance.
I hosted a signing @ Hastings Books, Music & Videos, Spokane Valley, WA. Unfortunately, this was the first disappointment I encountered on my "tour" this Spring. It was a success by management's standards but not mine. I did not sign nearly as many as I would have liked. Regardless, I want to thank all those people who did show up and Store Manager, Omar, and Associate, Mary, who did all they could to accomadate me. They are good people.
Book Signing No.2
Saturday I signed at Hastings in Missoula, MT and that by far and way made up for the disappointing showing in Spokane Valley. Signed lots of copies of THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE. Book Manager John Gross said, "I can't remember when anyone has signed as many books as you have." I will take that as a compliment anytime. This is a very busy store. Management would like me to return in the Fall.
I want to thank Books Manager, John Gross, and Associates Clay and Allison for all their assiastance.
