Ben Bequer's Blog, page 3

Blackjack: Dead or Alive is almost done

Almost done, ladies and gents. We're in the edits and I'm giving me another month or two until it's DONE and published.

Just a year late.

I've been pushing it of late, hoping to match the release dates of Villain and Wayward, but it's starting to look like end of May, early June.

The good news is that his sucker is more of the fun Blackjack we all fell in love with in book one, and less of the mopey wuss from book two. Wayward was something he had to go through, and I make no apologies. Dale wouldn't have made it to here without the craziness of book two. In most movies, they fast forward through the part where the anti-hero has to look at himself critically, and admit that he has flaws to overcome. It's usually a quick shot of Matt Damon staring into the horizon dramatically. I wanted the exploration, though, to see where he was going to lead us in the stumbling next steps after a hard fall. As you saw in the initial sequence of Wayward, sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we can gather our feet beneath us, and in Blackjack's case, it took a mind prison where he had few if any inhibitions for him to see how far he had fallen.

The next step is what this book is about. What do we do when we realize that we're flawed humans, and the hard work to seek redemption is ahead of us. I love how Blackjack confronts his fate in this book. I'd love to think that faced with a similar hard path that I'd have his balls, and his courage.

Blackjack is still Blackjack, though, and no journey with our lovable villain is ever without it's twists and turns...

Well...wtf?

IO's turned out to be a blunder and the mistake is totally mine. We're going back to formula with regards to the format and plan to release it as a full novel. The "comic book" format idea was my brainchild and I have to take that one in the chin. I apologize to anyone that's invested in the project so far, but it's stupid to not admit a mistake. I still think the story is good, but the serialized format has to go.

The good news, it's going to be a fat book, planned for release in the Summer of 2015 and full of the good stuff that you've enjoyed so far. We're looking at a 2.99 pricepoint so you get your money's worth.

BUT I CAME HERE ABOUT BLACKJACK!

This is a Blackjack blog, isn't it? It is, and the news on Blackjack is even more promising. I'm 80% done. Yeah, you notice how I haven't made any posts at all in the last few months? That's why (yeah, right). In any case, I'm through to the final act and I should have that ready in the next few weeks. Then my editors turn it to mush and show me how I don't know how to write.

The best part is that I've rediscovered Apogee and she's in it almost as much as Blackjack, and I've found a way to write in alot of the old favorites, including Superdynamic and Battle, Epic and...yes...Atmosphero.

The plan? To get back to my end of Q1 release like the other two books, so March or April. While the edit monkeys do their thing, I'll finish IO (I'm 2/3's finished there), then we pivot away from those two projects for either Heart of the Jungle or a new project called The Seeker. After that, Blackjack 4.

Well, I can dream, can't I?

IO Ep3 is UP!

Episode 3 of Interstellar Overdrive is up and available on Amazon, proving once again that Al Pacino was right (They pull me back IN!). We're actually getting pretty good at putting these out as our editing process gets more and more streamlined. We might even try to pop them out faster.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P1UX6CS

Synopsis: Interstellar Overdrive is an ongoing series set in a new world, a hard-charging romp into the future. 

Alec and Everett arrive on the cast off world of Astrakhan, intent on finding the killer of their former comrade, Pete Boothe, and exacting their form of revenge, but in the process they find that Pete was involved with an insurgency against the KPM/Sekai merger, against the new Ascendancy, and soon they find themselves facing more than even they can handle.
---

Initially, this was supposed to be our idea of doing a serialized story like back in the pulp paper days, and with Amazon as a partner, with their self-publishing system, we've been able to achieve what we might not have been able to just a few years back. Thank you Amazon!

Moving forward, the story has 12 episodes - then goes on. I'm excited to say that a character you meet in this episode has struck our fancy, returns later on in greater glory, and will probably be the subject of IO Series 2 EVEN MORE OVERDRIVERER.

As far as poor old, forgotten Blackjack, I'm working on that book too. I'm way ahead of these two other clowns (finished ep7 a few weeks back) and other than the publishing process and writing a few words here, I'm full at work on Blackjack 3: Dead or Alive. The idea is still to have my draft ready for edit by Christmas and the book out by April/May as were 1&2 (except skipping a year). Moving forward, the idea will be to skip a year on Blackjack to make sure I can do other projects, like IO.

After IO and Blackjack? I really want to finish Heart of the Jungle. That book had something to it, didn't it? A kind of a mix between Indiana Jones, Lara Croft and James Bond, with two characters that were a real joy to write.

But for now, enjoy IO3. Things get hot and heavy in this one and I'm sure you'll love it.

IO Ep2 here on Tuesday!

Well, near midnight on Tuesday, so Wednesday. Two days late ain't bad...

http://www.amazon.com/Interstellar-Ov...

I blame everyone.

IO Ep2 coming Monday!

Strange this is, to write one thing, edit another, polish a third, publish a fourth....

AND WHAT ABOUT BLACKJACK???

That's the first thing.

More later

Interstellar Overdrive, Episode 1 is up!

Get it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Interstellar-Ov...

Interstellar Overdrive, Episode One: For What it's Worth coming this Tuesday!

I know, it's not Blackjack, and I know, it's what's kept me from Blackjack, and I know, it's not terribly popular around here...but it's done and it's coming. And it's the best thing I've ever done. Now that this is out, and I've fulfilled my commitment up and until Episode 6 of the series, I can go at Fugitive hardcore. My plan is still to get back on an April/May timetable like books 1-2, and keep them coming as long as I have killer ideas coming.

See, this book was hard. Is hard. I've struggled. Anyone reading this blog for awhile will know this. I didn't want a letdown with this third book, I wanted to do something better than what we had before, and I'd kind of written myself into a corner. There's really only two logical places Blackjack can go from where we left off in book 2.

I wrote a good part of one of those two choices and it didn't feel honest. It felt rushed, and totally unreal based on the world Blackjack inhabits. So I went the other way, and I think it's made all the difference. Blackjack, though, is still fighting. For example:

I had this idea that Apogee takes Blackjack to her personal hiding spot - the home of Mirage. I had this idea that she drops him there, with the person that disapproves the most of their budding relationship and there'd I'd do "wax on, wax off" and what not. My people told me it's cliche, that it's been done to death, but I'm a stubborn old goat, so I went with it. Until I started writing it. That's what Blackjack said no. He didn't want to go. It's weird. It sounded stupid suddenly, what I had until recently been all excited about. It was passive, and my character objected.

So, yeah, Blackjack's got a mind of his own. We're redoing the whole Castle Black sequence and then Blackjack's leading me someplace else. Somewhere that's more fun.

Anyway, this week it's Interstellar Overdrive until I get it uploaded tomorrow (and it should be ready to go by Tuesday)...then the big guy comes up to bat.

Soon.

Blackjack Fugitive Update #6

Blackjack Fugitive continues. I've put IO down for the moment and I'm going full bore on Blackjack's next adventure.
As far as realistic expectations to when it will be ready for publish, it's hard to say. I'd like to think I'll be done by Christmas, and in fact I'm sure I will be. But with the editing and formatting that follows, I don't think we'll see it on Amazon until my usual publishing date of March/April. So I blew a year with this other project, and with a 200 page diversion into what's going to end up as book four. I thank you guys for your patience in letting me find my voice. Blackjack three is turning out to be harder than the previous two combined.
But I'm back at it and Wow, how weird getting back into Blackjack's head after running around with guys like Alec, Everett, Galan and Canino. IO is third person, so it's a transition I'm getting used to.
One of the issues I had with book two was how passive Blackjack was, and I think that it's written in first person has something to do with it. We're inside his head, so I'm tempted to go places I normally wouldn't have access too. Book two was weird, too. I chose to write about something most movies/books/comics do in a quick 1 page narrative, or in a 2 minute montage with a hard-rocking Survivor song blaring in the background. Blackjack took me there, though. He was moving through a strange phase in his life, becoming more and more self-aware. In retrospect, I might've made a mistake in making him mope so damned much in the desert, forgetting to make him a master of his fate.
I had an interesting discussion with my IO writing partner, Len Pimentel the other night about a character problem we're having in Interstellar Overdrive. He said something every interesting that is coloring what I do, moving forward, with Blackjack. The nearest parallel to the IO character we're having a problem with is Conan of Robert Howard's epic stories, and Len said, a normal guy, when facing difficulty, is changed by his environment. A guy like Conan changes his environment as a result of the conflict in the story. I'll admit, it was something I hadn't given much thought to, and in retrospect, it's what I like the most about Blackjack. He's not a guy you can shoehorn into a team like the Avengers and hope Cap can "keep him in line".
Blackjack is now a master of his own fate, leading us (including the writer) as he forges ahead.

Interruptions, interruptions, interruptions (Blackjack Fugitive Update #5)

Interstellar Overdrive is in progress and for six days straight it's taken the wind out of Blackjack's sails. Wait til Blackjack gets his hands on those bastards for interrupting.

But to update, I've reached the end of Act 2b of Blackjack 3, 200+ pages or so. All that's left is a massive 30 page battle with the evil forces of <REDACTED> in a Transylvanian castle on the Carpathian mountains. Yeah, that's all going into the book. It's a big set piece, and I feel like Michael Bay the morning before he gets to blow up something. In a way, I'm glad for the brief break from Blackjack so I can come into this scene fresh and full of juice.

With Interstellar Overdrive, we're going to put together 5-6-7 episodes, each 50+ pages before coming out with the first one. This will give us enough lead time to make sure we can stay monthly. That's the idea anyway. I'm very excited about the project for a ton of reasons, but primarily because it's a vast departure from Blackjack. Hell, it's 3rd person, with multiple point of view characters and it sprawls a galaxy filled with different and interesting planets.

But what is it? At it's core, it's a buddy cop movie. But they're not cops. Nor is it a movie. It's an old-style shoot-em-up, as inspired by Peckinpaw's Wild Bunch and Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia as it is by Whedon's Serenity. It's a story about uncompromising men in an uncompromising universe, where everyone is strapped and deadly. I've had a blast putting it together, and I have two partners that are not only amazing people to work with, but have show the talent to make my original drafts shine and the story truly stand out.

What does it mean to Blackjack? I've already written the first six episodes, so Blackjack is now - with the occasional interruption. I've got enough time to finish the third book before I have to tack back to Interstellar. I can edit it as I return to work on IO. Editing requires a different mental muscle.

My plan is to have IO Episode 1: For What It's Worth available by August and Blackjack 3 out by the end of the year. I'm also going to put together a Blackjack 1-3 omnibus (out at the same time as 3) for people that haven't read it, or just want it all consolidated. At the same time as Blackjack 3 so you don't have to blow 3 bucks on 3, then more on an omnibus if you want it. I hate it when they nickle and dime you like cheap bastards.

What is Blackjack 3 about? Well, we've talked about it a little on this blog, but basically it's a continuation of what happened in 2, almost without pause. Blackjack is recovering from injuries that would have killed Epic, and even though he showed great courage and selflessness during the events of Washington D.C., he's still a convicted felon, he still owes a debt to society.

And forgiveness comes hard...

A sample from the opening of Blackjack 3. It's a very rough, first draft - don't get your panties in a bunch if there's spelling/grammar/logic errors.


Then the plane banked violently without warning, hard right to almost forty-five degrees to starboard. A repetitive popping rang out along the rear fuselage that I figured was the auto-chaff firing off. Obliterate stood almost immediately, somehow ignoring the effects of the sudden maneuver and keeping his balance. Warspite rose from his slumber as his body pressed hard against the seat. The four guards’ eyes opened wide, staring forward as if for guidance, but the men up front were thrown about, some to the floor, shouting and screaming.The big C-17 nimbly soared back, the chaff firing without pause, the maneuver now reversed just as aggressively to port, with the nose pulled back hard.“What the fuck-“ The warden shouted, grasping onto a wall harness to keep from flying across the deck like some of his men. One man slid down the floor towards the rear of the plane, saved from slamming to the back by Obliterate, who stepped forward – still unaffected – and barred his path, stopping the man.“What the hell’s he doing?” Warspite asked of the pilot’s maneuvers to no one in particular. “We’re under attack,” I said, knowing of no other reason to explain the violent flying.“What?” he said, but it was Obliterate who turned to me, staring intently. He could tell the manacles weren’t working on me. His red eyes flashed down to my wrists, then back to my smiling face.“Don’t move,” he said, his voice an ashen whisper, a mailed finger jutting in my direction.Again the pilot banked defensively, firing off more flares. Obliterate helped the guard at his feet reach one of the chairs along the sides of the craft and Warspite struggled to hold in his lunch.“Oh, man,” he said, belching. “This isn’t good.”A moment later, something streaked by, audible to us inside the plane, exploding so close that it shook the Globemaster like a depth charge rocking a submarine in one of those old World War Two movies. The explosion was to starboard, and aft, peppering the tail with shrapnel and shaking the plane with such violence it slipped in its track, almost losing attitude. The pilot was skilled, though, yawing the tail in the direction of the explosion to keep the C-17 from going into a flat spin. He overcorrected once, then again before getting full control of the plane. There were small windows the sides of the ship, but hard as I could try to catch a peek, there was nothing visible outside save for the passing clouds.“What is it?” the warden said, looking at me, then running to the window himself and looking. Angling back, he saw something that blanched his face. When he faced me again, he was filled with fear and shock.“It’s you,” he said, shaking his head in confusion. “It’s you.”I laughed, “You’re mad.”But Obliterate ran up to the warden, shoving him aside to see. He stared back at me.“How are you doing this?” he roared with his rasp of a voice, drawing for his sword and making towards me, but the warden looked out the window and interrupted him.“Incoming,” he shouted, diving away from the edge of the fuselage.A moment later, a shower of pebbles rained on the body of the ship.“That’s it?” Warspite said, taking off his seatbelt, expecting another explosion.The pebbles were stuck to the C-17’s outside, rolling across the metal frame and increasing in speed with a loud grind. They rolled faster and faster, staying tight against the plane despite popping off rivets and edges, scraping against the sides. Soon the effect of each of the metal pellets tearing around the ship was visible, leaving long burning streaks around the midsection.Without warning, the Globemaster split amidships with a howling gust wind blasting into our faces. The warden, Warspite, Obliterate and several of the guards flew out of the gaping maw, screaming for their lives. The four guards strapped to the rear of the C-17 with me also screamed as the nose dipped and the forward part of the plane was lost to us forever. Without the aft section, the nose, wings and engines would spiral out of control, foundering and falling apart. Not like we were going to fare much better. Freed of the rest of the plane, the tail caught the wind and began rolling back.It was at that moment that I saw him. Or me, actually, if I could actually believe my eyes. I had never built nor used the flying device this version of me was using. It was as if a cross between a Harley and an F-22, winged and fast, but with handlebars and a leather seat, making the pilot of the thing fly it like a motorcycle. This guy was letting the flying bike soar without him at the controls, because he was spraying the nose section of the plane with explosive arrows, drawing and firing them with a motion that was almost exactly like mine. He fired his arrows by feel, not aim, never bothering to look down “the sights.” His hair was black and short, like I liked it, with a long, hooded cape that fluttered back from his shoulders. He also had my old facemask and goggles, in the exact old configuration I had kept before joining the Impossibles. His bow was a hand-made English bow, not an easier to find compound one that you could buy from any store, and even his quivers were the exact types I had used in the past.Everything down to his clothing, musculature, hell, even his boots were a perfect match.
He was Blackjack.