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Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 45
October 3, 2017
It’s Over!
Spring, Summer and Fall has been an insanely busy time. Both Mental Damnation’s Reality and Dream books were released, followed by signings, conventions, talks and online guest blogging to promote the books. Now… it’s over! If you’ve been keeping up to date on the events page, or the Facebook page, Words in the Park was the last event for the promotion of Dream. There are only two more events for the year, one being a signing in Edmonton’s Strathcona Chapters and the other at Calgary Expo Holiday Market.
After that, it’s over.
Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts
So if I am not going about trying to convince people that my writing is worth them reading, what am I doing? Well, I might actually do some writing. Woah! Promoting can chew up a lot of time that takes away from the actual profession itself. I tweeted an exciting announcement mid September about new work:
Finished the #draft of a new #novel! Currently 76k words. An exciting way to start the #weekend. #authorLife #celebrate #success #amWriting
— Konn Lavery (@konnl) September 16, 2017
Yes, there is a new novel in the works and the first draft is fully done. I’ve actually been through several revisions now. Beyond writing this new novel intensely, I am preparing for next year. This means planning for what conventions I will be at, what projects (writing, my graphic’s business and others) I want to take on and how far I can logistically travel.
Now that the launches and heavy promoting are on the decline for the rest of the year, I also want to take some time to rest… Nah, as the saying goes, no rest of the wicked!
What is this new novel?
Good things come to those who wait. It is still too early to share more info other than it is a lot like an 80s action movie meets Sin City. That’s quite the mashup. A fun hint though, if you followed me during NaNoWriMo in 2015, you’ll have a good idea which story this manuscript is.
For now, it’s over.
The crazy amount of posting I’ve been doing on social media about releases, interviews and events will start to unwind. Now, things will take a shift to be focused on behind the scenes goodies from the upcoming projects. Stay tuned and enjoy October.
Beer Note: Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest – Brauhaus Miltenberger Collaboration | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
I found this beer at one of my common watering holes. Now that October is here, everything is pumpkin flavoured. Thankfully, this one was not. It is an amber lager, limited brew, malty and has a vibrant golden colour. The description sounded pretty intense – having layers of rich malt. Most micro-brewed beers have pretty convincing description. This one does have a good taste, easy to drink. I wouldn’t say multi-layered though. It is also rather expensive.
With that in mind, I’d give this a 3.7/5.
The post It’s Over! appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 25, 2017
Interview of Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation on Jeras Jamboree’s Blog
Check out the interview I had with Shaz on jerasjamboree.co.uk website discussing the new release of Dream. We cover the following topics:
Please summarise Dream in 20 words or less.
What was the idea/inspiration for your novel?
What scene did you enjoy writing the most Konn?
Did you do any research? What resources did you use?
Do you have a theme for your book covers Konn? Who designs them?
What do you think book trailers achieve?
Do you have a favourite book?
What are you reading now Konn?
What has been the worst part of your writing journey so far?
… and the best part?
Finally, Dream is part of a series, what’s in the future?
The post Interview of Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation on Jeras Jamboree’s Blog appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 21, 2017
Heidi Angell – Meet the Author with Konn Lavery
Author Heidi Angell had me on her blog interviewing me regarding the new Dream. We cover the following topics:
What is the current book you are promoting?
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Wow. Malpherities sounds like quite the character. What inspired this book?
What is your next project?
The life of an author, always so many pokers in the fire! If you could never write again, what would you do?
The post Heidi Angell – Meet the Author with Konn Lavery appeared first on Konn Lavery.
Top 7 Tips for Series Writers
Check out the Top 7 Tips for Series Writers on Scribbles, Quibbles, & Scrawlings website. There are 7 authors including my contribution. The authors are:
Rob Boffard
Jenna Greene
Konn Lavery
Rebekah Raymond
Kelly Charron
Tyner Gillies
Pat Flewwelling
Top 7 Tips for Series Writers
The post Top 7 Tips for Series Writers appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 18, 2017
Interview with Simon Rose
Check out the interview I had with Calgary author Simon Rose. We chat about behind the scenes of Mental Damnation
We cover the following in the interview:
You mentioned Reality: Part 1 of Mental Damnation originally being released in 2012, care to elaborate?
Now you have Dream, Part 2 of Mental Damnation. What makes this release different from the original edition?
With the re-telling of the story, will it still attract the same fanbase?
What is the age range for the Mental Damnation series?
There is also a third book in the original series, will that see a second edition?
Do you have anything else in the works?
Do you have anything else in the works?
The post Interview with Simon Rose appeared first on Konn Lavery.
Simon Rose’s New Series: Shadowzone
Today we welcome back Calgary author Simon Rose, who has published fourteen novels for children and young adults, seven guides for writers, almost 100 nonfiction books, and many articles on a wide variety of topics. Earlier this year he released Twisted Fate, the second installment of the paranormal Flashback series. Today, we’re looking at Simon Rose’s New Series: Shadowzone.
So what’s the Shadowzone series all about?
Simon Rose’s New Series: Shadowzone
The series involves the discovery of a grim dystopian version of Earth that’s ruled by a totalitarian dictatorship, the threat of a deadly virus, and a race against time to save the lives of millions. Without giving too much away, here’s a synopsis for each of the novels.
While watching intense flashes of lightning during a violent storm, Ben experiences mysterious and disturbing visions of another world, one very different from his own. In the chain of events that follow, Ben encounters Charlie, a girl from a dark version of Earth, a planet doomed by the effects of environmental catastrophe, where the leaders will stop at nothing to complete their deadly mission.
On a doomed version of Earth, the sinister schemes of the Ministry are moving ever closer to completion, with dire consequences for the inhabitants of two worlds. For Ben and Charlie, an unlikely alliance, unexpected reunions, and the mysterious prophecy of the Chosen One offer a glimmer of hope, with the ever-present prospect of betrayal, as they embark on an unpredictable journey into the unknown.
In a dark parallel world, following attacks by its most determined opponents, the Ministry has been forced to change its plans. Yet the ruthless Director-General is prepared to sacrifice anyone to achieve an entirely new beginning, no matter what the cost. In a deadly race against time, as events spiral out of control, Ben and Charlie must risk their lives in a desperate attempt to save two worlds from destruction.
What inspired you to write these three books? What’s the story behind the story?
The original idea was about someone capturing mysterious images on a video camera of a person that no one else could see. It was around the time that a local hospital was about to be demolished. I imagined that my character was filming the event and captured the image of the person stepping seemingly unharmed from the rubble as the building came down. The idea of capturing unexplained images on film was something that I’ve continued working on and it also inspired me to write The Time Camera, which was published in 2011.
For a while, that’s all I had and it was one of those ideas that I was never sure would come to anything. It was early in my writing career and I put it aside and worked on other stories, but I’d periodically add another element to the story about the camera and the mysterious individual. At one point, I decided that the person that the boy caught on film wasn’t a ghost but from another dimension or perhaps a parallel universe and they were attempting to contact him for some reason. I then began to add details of this other Earth and the reasons for the connection to our world, and it went from there. An initial concept involving kidnappings from hospitals didn’t quite work, so instead I developed the idea of a deadly virus, which was a good fit with the type of government running the other Earth. Once that was all in place, I was able to get to work.
Was it always going to be a series?
Shadowzone was originally only one novel, but once I’d finished it I immediately realized that the story wasn’t over and that I need to write more. The final installment was written very quickly and in the process I knew that I needed to expand the earlier sections too, so in the end I had a trilogy.
So of course, people need to read all three?
You could certainly just read Shadowzone, but there’s a cliffhanger ending and hopefully most people will feel utterly compelled to be read on and learn what happens next. Into The Web and Black Dawn also don’t make sense if you haven’t read the first book in the series. Taken together, it’s an exciting, fast paced adventure that I hope everyone will really enjoy.
So it’s a good idea for authors to write a series of books?
It can be, but only if you have enough material for multiple books. If readers are sufficiently interested in the story and the characters after completing the first installment, they’d usually like to read more. However, the story or theme has to be strong enough to warrant more adventures. It’s important to remember that the reader won’t appreciate any novel that’s overloaded with filler, just for the sake of creating a series, and might easily avoid any books by the same author in the future.
So where can people buy all three books in the Shadowzone series?
The books can be purchased at most of the usual places, as follows:
Shadowzone
Ebook: Amazon Canada, Amazon USA, Kobo, iBooks, and Smashwords
Paperback: Amazon, Createspace
Into The Web
Ebook: Amazon Canada, Amazon USA, Kobo, iBooks, and Smashwords
Paperback:
Black Dawn
Ebook: Amazon Canada, Amazon USA, Kobo, iBooks, and Smashwords
Paperback: Amazon, Createspace
You published these yourself, whereas most of your earlier work was traditionally published, correct?
The first eight novels were published by Tradewind Books, while Flashback, Future Imperfect, and Twisted Fate were published by Tyche Books, but my seven books featuring tips and advice for writers were self-published as paperbacks and as ebooks. I hadn’t self-published fiction before and thought it was time that I did. The Shadowzone books were finished and I believed that they were as good, if not better, than my other work. I also asked some people to read them to confirm this and then decided to go ahead with publication. A lot of traditionally published authors also self publish as well now, so it’s quite common practice these days.
Will you self publish again in the future?
Yes, I think so. The third part of the Flashback series will be published by Tyche Books next spring, but I do have several other projects that I’ll most likely publish myself as well soon.
What are you currently working on?
I always have a current project or two and right now I’m working on a historical fiction novel for young adults set in the turbulent era of the English Civil War in the 1640s. The novel’s about half finished, but I still have a lot of work to do. I’m also working on sequels to Future Imperfect and The Sphere of Septimus.
Are your other books in this similar dystopian genre?
No, although my novels are all in the science fiction and fantasy genre. The Sorcerer’s Letterbox and The Heretic’s Tomb are historical fiction adventures set in medieval England, The Alchemist’s Portrait is a time travel story, The Emerald Curse is all about superheroes and comic books, The Doomsday Mask is all about the legend of Atlantis, and The Sphere of Septimus involves the characters traveling into another world and is in the same vein as the Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia, or Lord of the Rings. Future Imperfect is a technology-driven story featuring mysterious messages from the future, and Flashback and Twisted Fate are in the paranormal genre. I’ve also written nonfiction guides for writers, including The Children’s Writer’s Guide and The Time Traveler’s Guide.
You also work with other authors, don’t you?
Yes, I do quite a lot of that these days. I’ve edited books in all kinds of genres for a wide range of writers in the last few years, offering both substantive and copy editing. I also work as a writing coach and consultant for people with works in progress or those that are struggling with writer’s block. You can learn more about some of the projects I’ve worked on that have subsequently been published are here on my website. I also offer online courses for adults and workshops on a variety of themes for aspiring young writers.
Thanks Simon, for being my guest here today and the very best of luck with the Shadowzone series. I hope the books sell thousands of copies in the coming weeks and months.
You can learn more about Simon and his work on his website at www.simon-rose.com or online at the following social media sites:
YouTube
Google +
The post Simon Rose’s New Series: Shadowzone appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 14, 2017
Keeping Organized when Writing
Let’s face it, when writing there is a lot of stuff to keep track of. You have to fact-check, keep consistency with places, times, descriptions and events. This becomes even more complex when you are working on genre fiction like fantasy or science fiction because you introduce world building, new creatures, history and more. Managing all of this can become overwhelming quite quickly. So how does keeping organized when writing work?
Record Everything
There are primary two types of writers, there’s the ones that work with outlines and are quite systematic with their writing and then there are those that write based on impulse and intuition. Regardless of the type that you are, keeping a secondary document open (or a piece of paper nearby) while writing can become a major life saver.
What do you do with this second document?
As you are outlining or writing, write down every subplot, terminology, places, times and characters that you come up with. Specifically with fantasy and science fiction, you will want to write down items, weapons, creatures and races.
This list will be rough live document that you can reference as time goes on. It will only be complete once the novel is done.
Stylesheets
The document mentioned above can be refined and turned into a stylesheet. Stylesheets are internal documents used during your writing sessions to organize all of your stylistic choices in the book.
These can be created in spreadsheets (like Excel) or in word documents, or in a binder, whatever works best for your writing preferences. For the spreadsheet approach, you will want to have multiple spreadsheets for each category. These can be made with tabs in Excel. The tabs will be for the different types of styles to keep trach of, like characters, terms, subplots, etc.
Each of the spreadsheet tabs should have at least four columns in them:
The word
First appearance
Description
Internal Notes
Software
There are a number of mobile apps, web apps and software tools you can use to help keep organized with your novel. Googling terms like “Writing Organizer App” or “Novel Planner Software” will give some results on what you can find.
Personally I found learning a new tool to be more of a headache and it slows down my writing process. I lose focus on the writing and spend too much time fidgeting around with the tool to try and figure out how to do something. Again, this is a personal opinion, I’d rather stick to keeping notes in a document (paper or digital) just like the tool you use for writing your book.
Some people swear by organizational apps and say it drastically increases their productivity, each to their own though.
Review and Self-Editing
The points mentioned above can also disrupt the creative flow that you have when working on the earlier drafts of your novel. I for one do not like to be burdened with technicalities when producing creative work and prefer to save that for the later edits of the book.
Implement the method of recording your terms, events and characters into your writing based on what works for you. If you find it is too difficult to introduce in the earlier phases, do it later. If going back and recording everything from a completed draft is too daunting, try recording a stylesheet in the beginning phases of your writing.
Do you have any techniques for keeping organized when writing?
I’d love to hear them, share your thoughts in the comments.
The post Keeping Organized when Writing appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 8, 2017
When is your book series done?
As a follow up from the “When is your book done?” blog post, I wanted to expand on writing series. When you are writing a single novel it is can be a bit easier to define a beginning, middle and ending. Knowing the answers to these questions is more challenging when your storyline is completed over several to a dozen books. So when is your book series done?
Defining the scope
Writing a series, it is very easy to go on a writing spree and not knowing when to stop. The plot can have a grand climax and conclusion in book one but you have some loose ends that weren’t tied up – makes for a great sequel. However as you work on book two you introduce a new character which opens a new sub plot and perhaps the book gets too long and it needs to be split into two; now you have a trilogy. This is just an example of how easily you can lose control of your series.
I’ve met a number of writers who have fallen into this trap, I too have made the mistake of doing this. If you catch yourself in this type of scenario, it is good to put on the brakes and figure out the scope of the story.
Do you have the ending figured out?
I mention this a number of times in blog posts, but it is quite critical to have some basic idea of where your story is going to go. If you don’t you may end up with writers block and have no sense of direction – you become lost at sea.
If you don’t have the ending figured out, take a step back from your series and think about it from a 5,000 foot view. Where is your protagonist going to end up? How are they going to solve their problem? What will happen to the supporting characters? Any sub plots left behind?
Stay organized
Keep track of what you are doing with stylesheets, story and chapter outlines. This will help answer some of these challenging questions. Plus writing a series isn’t done in one sitting or a couple of days, they take time to develop and keeping notes will help combat the thought gaps between writing sessions.
Spinoffs vs Sequels
Has the plot evolved so greatly that the sequels aren’t even about the protagonist anymore? Or do you have new ideas that are strong enough to work as their own novel? It might be worth taking these ideas and putting them into their own novel. Spinoff novels that are related to the series can keep your work within the same universe as your series but gives you more flexibility.
Marketing a Series
Are you up to book five, six or even ten? Have you published anything else? Something to consider is taking a break from your series so you are not pigeonholed into a single storyline that you spend years working on. Ultimately if you want to get new readers they still have to go back and start with book one.
Having stand-alone novels will help bring diversity into your writing and give your readers some selection.
Separate Yourself
Series are a large investment and often you can become quite attached to them. It is difficult to let it go because of the emotional attachment. Taking some months away from the series can help you return to it with a clearer sense of direction and make some of the big discussions, like ending the series, that have to be made.
Additional thoughts?
Do you have experience in writing a series? Have any advice that you’d like to share with the readers? Feel free to share in the comments.
The post When is your book series done? appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 5, 2017
Descending into Fall
Summer is over, another sunny time has come and gone. School will be going in and vacations are over. It is most people’s favourite time of the year. Honestly, for me, I find summer makes me lazy due to the heat and I struggle to keep focused. Patio beers or road trips sound like a lot more fun than sitting inside, working on a computer, like I do most days of the year. Thankfully I was able to capitalize a bit of the nice weather during the second half of August. Now summer is over and we begin descending into the fall.
Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts
As I mentioned, summer was quite busy. All of August has been focused on book signings and the promotion leading to the launch of Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation come September 13th. July was spent working on the third installment of Mental Damnation and preparing the overall story arch of the series. I’ll have more to share about the future of Mental Damnation come next year. At the moment, the writing focus has been put into the new mystery novel I hinted at last week on Instagram:
A post shared by Konn Lavery (@_konnartist) on Aug 30, 2017 at 8:28pm PDT
In between the writing, I had some big website projects that were wrapped up at the end of August. Plus the yearly Terminus Festival in Calgary and of course, When Words Collide 2017.
As it is with every year, fall ramps up to pure chaos, deadlines and events that keep me swamped until Christmas and New Year’s. This is to be expected now that I am into my third year of full time contract graphic design and web development. With each year I get a better handle of things and manage to improve from the previous year. Who knows, perhaps I will be able to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, unlike in 2016.
Descending into the fall of dreams and reality
With fall right around the corner also comes the launch of Dream. As mentioned in a previous posts, Dream has had a massive overhaul and I am beyond excited to get the new edition out to everyone. If you haven’t checked out the events page on Facebook or on the site, all of the dates for book signings and conventions for the remainder of the year have been added. This includes some highlights like the launch of Dream, the Edmonton Comic Expo, Words in the Park and Calgary Expo Holiday Market. Check out the dates I’ll be in Edmonton and Calgary during the fall and winter.
British Columbia, I’ll be back again next year. For now it’s time to buckle up and prepare for the Fall.
Beer Note: BEAU’s Tyrannosaurus Gruit
Stepping out of my comfort zone I decided to go for a non-hoppy beer. BEAU’s Tyrannosaurus Gruit is made of berries, Quebec-grown beets and hibiscus flowers. Not normally something I’d drink, it’s got a 5.8% alcohol level which makes it not very potent and easy for sipping. Suitable for summer time. Coolest thing about it is the bright red colouring of the liquid.
My personal tastes being for hoppy beers, I’d give this a 3.5/5
The post Descending into Fall appeared first on Konn Lavery.
September 3, 2017
The Writer’s Edge: Networking for Authors Featuring Creative Edge
Networking is one of the trickiest things for authors, especially with so many in person and online options. What are the best practices and what’s most worth your time? We’re joined by Creative Edge authors and the owner himself to share their unique experiences and tips!
Visit The Writer’s Edge YouTube Channel
The post The Writer’s Edge: Networking for Authors Featuring Creative Edge appeared first on Konn Lavery.
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