C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 220

Happy Holiday to All

I keep thinking of what I want to say today, but nothing springs to mind except to wish you all the best for the holidays and to hope your break is restful, joyful and safe, no matter what occasion you are celebrating.

Blogs that Made me Stop 17-21 December 2012

Markets
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/childrens-books-trends-for-2013_b62306#more-62306
Craft and Business
http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/honor-thy-fiction.htmlhttp://kriswrites.com/2012/12/05/the-business-rusch-ghosts-of-writers-future/http://kriswrites.com/2012/12/12/the-business-rusch-writing-like-its-2009/http://www.davidfarland.net/writing_tips/?a=158http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=8318
Charity Pose-OffWarning: This could scar.
http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/poses-round-two/http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/wait-what-were-we-laughing-at/http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/poses-round-one/http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/a-challenge-to-scalzi/http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/cover-posing-for-a-good-cause/http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/pose-off-with-john-scalzi/
Fodderhttp://crimefictioncollective.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/when-cops-are-crazy.html

Progress Report: Week 4 December 2012

In spite of not having any download (or upload) capability early this week, the following was achieved:Current Projects:
ShortStory24: Edit1/4, formatDarkFantasyNovel1A—Shadow’s Rise: Continued Edit /4;ShortStory23: Developed ending and outlineDarkFantasyNovel1B—Shadow Trap:
Backburner ProjectsAs part of developing next year’s publishing schedule, the following work was undertaken on the backburner projects:
Developed RPGAdventure12 into sections, resulting in RPGAdventures12A-E.
Publishing Tasks:
Worked on release schedules for 2013, trying to balance publishing and writing tasks with work commitments Still working on it.Read industry blogsUpdated blog
New ArrivalsThe following ideas arrived this week:
RomanceNovels12A-B and RomanceNovel12D:inspired from the title of RomanceNovel12C, below.DarkFantasy10A: spin-off from ShortStory23, probable series.ParanormalNovel1A: tigers, thuggees, historical India.

The following idea was already recorded but had not yet been assigned a reference term:
RomanceNovel12C: Inspired by the 2012 Harlequin Mills & Boon Aviator Contest; title from an old saying.

Book Recommendations: God Save the Queen and The Janus Affair

So, I’ve been doing a bit of reading to get a better idea of what the term ‘steampunk’ encompasses. I have two that I really enjoyed: God Save the Queen by Kate LockeTo be honest, I thought this was going to be one of those clichéd vampire-werewolf-zombie-virus things. It was not. God Save the Queen was one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had in a long while. The world-building and history-bending was well done, and the characters believable, in spite of their origins. The use of underground movements, political machinations and the genetic stratification of society made for an interesting interpretation of a Victorian England that had survived past what our world recognizes as the Victorian era. The steampunk element was present, but more a part of the background than a main feature, which allowed the intrigue and the characters take center stage. I liked the way goblins were explained and treated and the way this complemented an underlying theme of the commonality of man. This was an adventurous romp of unexpected depth, and I have added Kate Locke to that list of authors whose work I buy and keep.The Janus Affair (A Ministry of Peculiar OccurrencesNovel) by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris If you like your steampunk without vampires and werewolves and with more Victoriana, gaslight, London and steam, then I recommend The Janus Affair . While this novel has a local (London) focus and uses the development of the suffragette movement in steampunk England, it also has a ‘Great Game’ feel. I enjoyed the contrast of ‘colonial’ and ‘homeland’ personas and attitudes as well as the contrast of classes. I liked the clever way steampunk ‘gadgets’ and inventions were woven through the story, and the way they were portrayed as both a part of everyday life and a novelty. This is a story with a strong sense of place, a well-developed mystery, and clearly drawn characters. It also contains a splash of mystery, a dash of intrigue and just a touch of romance. Even though this was not the first in the series, I was able to get into the story without feeling I’d missed something vital by not reading the preceding novels. I will be looking for more Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris novels in future, especially those belonging to the ‘Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences’ or featuring Agents Books and Braun.

Progress Report: Week 3 December 2012

Some progress was made this week, but not as much as I’d like.
 
Current ProjectsThe following progress was made on the current projects:
DarkFantasyNovel1A—Shadow’s Rise: Final edit on first 8 chapters complete.
Backburner ProjectI took a look at some of my backburner projects this week as part of planning next year’s publishing schedule:
RPGAdventure12 plot advanced for arc.
Publishing Tasks
Began development of 2013 release schedule and work load.
Craft Tasks
Background reading for steampunk genre.
New ArrivalsThe following ideas arrived this week:
RPGAdventure12: pre-existing setting.RPGSupplement6A: beasts with a theme.RPGSupplement7A: more bugs.RPGSupplement8A: some classesRPGAdventure13: paranormal urban adventure centring around a morning walk.
The following titles are being considered as part of next year’s publishing program. They already existed, at least in draft, but had not been assigned a reference name:
YANovel9A-B: science fiction colonisation novel.TweenNovel1A: a fantasy quest novel that takes its young heroine from this world to another.TweenNovel2A: a paranormal urban tween novel where the heroine must save creatures only she can see.TweenNovel3A: a fantasy novel with a hero and his pet.TweenNovel4A: a science fiction novel set in a post-war city, where rival factions clash and the truth is waiting to be uncovered and avenged.DarkFantasy8A-D: A family flees a country falling to an undead king and his forces.DarkFantasy9A: An assassin must seek out his daughter.

Covers Complete for the Shadow Series Trilogy

So, I spent most of last week, sourcing photographs for the concepts I wanted on the covers for my first dark fantasy trilogy and then composing the covers. I finished them Saturday night. Here they are:

Book 1: Shadow's Rise
EBook format                                                       AND                                 print format



















Book 2: Shadow Trap
EBook format                                                    AND                                      print format




















Book 3: Shadow's Rise 
EBook format                                               AND                                          print format
 

Progress Report: Week 2 December 2012

Progress for the second week of December was good.Current Projects
DarkFantasy1A: Revised Ch. 27-30; added 10,000 words. Completed at 86,000 words. Revised twice. Covers for print and e-versions created and formatted.
Backburner Projects
Nil, this week. I have been good, and focussed.
Publishing Tasks
Updated this blog thrice.Revised cover art for Eleanor Maine’s erotic time-travel romance, Hunters of the Nile . Cover is now more indicative of genre. See the post on the C.M. Simpson Publishing blog.Updated C.M. Simpson Publishing blog with two entries.Sourced photography for DarkFantasy1A-C covers.Designed covers for DarkFantasy1A-C.Created covers for DarkFantasy1A-C.Updated my blog and publishing blog pages with links to sale sites.Enrolled in Kobo Writing Life and began uploading titles.Uploaded DarkFantasy1A—Shadow’s Rise small print version to CreateSpace for final check.
Craft Tasks
Nil, this week, unless you count editing and using craft extensively in practical application. Bought how-to art books to start improving illustrating skills.Began background reading and research for a better understanding of the steampunk genre.
New Arrivals
Chapbooks 13A-D: zoo animals anthropomorphised. Novella9A: contemporary fantasy.

Cover Update - Shadow's Rise and Hunters of the Nile

Today, I got into a bit more cover design.

Actually, I've spent all week doing cover design for my dark fantasy trilogy, and edits for DarkFantasyNovel1A. Today, I completed the cover design and second edit for DarkFantasy1A and uploaded the first print version to CreateSpace, where it is being processed prior to one final edit and then release. The large print and e-book releases will shortly follow, and probably be out early next week... and then I'll complete the cover for, and start edits on, DarkFantasy1B.

In the meantime, let me share the cover joy for DarkFantasy1A-Shadow's Rise:

EBook Cover                                                AND                       Print Cover




















My other cover update is for Hunters of the Nile, Eleanor Maine's erotic timetravel romance set in Egypt. We decided the cover needed to be a bit more indicative of the genre, so we added some abs, and now it looks like this:

Blogs that made me stop: 5 December 2012

Are you ready? Here they are. Enjoy.Craft
Chuck Wendig on a different way of thinking of, and representing, characters in story: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/12/03/in-which-my-toddler-helps-me-think-of-character-in-a-new-way/Katharine Britton on the line between fiction and non-fiction: http://authorsoundrelations.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/katharine-britton-buttercup-principle.html
 Publishing
Dean Wesley Smith on the six routes to publishing and why there is no ‘right’ way any more: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=8272Alex Mutter on a new mobile independent publishing platform launching in Russia: http://publishingperspectives.com/2012/12/mobile-self-publishing-platform-xinxii-launches-in-russia/Andrii Degeler on self-publishing platform launched in Russia: http://thenextweb.com/2012/12/04/self-publishing-platform-xinxii-enters-russian-market/
 Fodder
Paul Sawers on John McAfee in Guatemala: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/04/john-mcafee-confirms-he-is-in-guatemala-after-all-and-is-planning-a-press-conference-tomorrow/Dinosaurs: http://www.geekosystem.com/earliest-known-dinosaur-discovered/Spider: http://www.geekosystem.com/nefertiti-the-spidernaut-dies/Reclassification of mental disorder: http://www.geekosystem.com/aspergers-declassified-as-mental-disorder/

Progress Report Week 1 December 2012

So, yesterday was the first day of December, but because it falls on a Saturday, it counts as the end of the first week of December—there’s logic in there somewhere; I’m sure I’ll see it someday. Anyway, I got no writing done at all for four days this week. Progress was still made, but this reduction in writing time is looking like it could become permanent. I guess it’s okay, though. Progress will still be made, and projects will still be finished, just not as quickly as I’d like. Life goes on.Current Projects
DarkFantasy1A: Revised Ch.21-26; added 18,000 words. I am now 2,000 words ahead of where I was at this point in the original novel—and that is with the large bleeding chunks I’ve torn completely out of it. The good news is that I’m have just on 11,000 words to revise and should have this draft completed this weekend, meaning I can get started on the editing, with a view to cover design and upload within the next fortnight. Yay. The bad news is that I now have 29 days to completely revise, edit, design covers for and upload DarkFantasy1B-C, although, admittedly, those should not require the level of editing and revision this book did. Now, I’m starting to understand why most first novels never see the light of day.
Backburner Projects
Nil progress, which hurts because I really want to set up a release schedule for next year for the roleplaying adventures… provided I am granted the licensing agreement, which, of course, is not guaranteed.
Publishing Tasks
Selected cover elements for DarkFantasy1A, and partly selected cover elements for DarkFantasy1B-C.Investigated Kobo’s Writing Life.Investigated the costs involved with self-sourcing ISBNs—doable.Updated this blog twice.
Craft-Building Tasks
Completed blog skim/reading.
New Arrivals
ParanormalNovels1A-G: I probably should have put these down in November Week 4’s progress report, except that I didn’t get to jot them down until this week. A series of books to do with psychics, ghosts and fairytales, inspired by a song – I’ll reveal which one when I release the first novel. I have a theme, some elements, titles and vague ideas. These novels could take me a while.DarkFantasy7A-C: inspired from backstory discovered in Chapters21-22 of DarkFantasy1A.ShortStory52: inspired by a phrase that popped into my head, and linked to Anthology5 (not the fifth Simpson anthology; that’s Anthology7 on the ideas list. I hope I haven’t muddled them up.)RPGAdventure11A: Bugs! And treasure… and stuff. I am itching to get this thing written… not literally, though.