Chris Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "thriller-writer"
DEAR SANTA I NEED SOME ACTION
DAY FOUR: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the fourth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to... well, you'll get the idea:
DEAR SANTA,
I NEED SOME ACTION. SEND ALEX MORGAN.
XX
One for the ladies? Enough said.
You can view a full range of "Dear Santa" Intrepid gear on Zazzle here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #4
Have a drink with us at the Commodore Hotel this Saturday 8 December from 12 - 5pm. It's my birthday, plus we are giving the books an unofficial launch. You can pick up a signed Defender, order your signed Hunter (we'll deliver this for Sydney-ites in time for Christmas) or just order a beer. Hope to see you there.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the fourth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to... well, you'll get the idea:
DEAR SANTA,
I NEED SOME ACTION. SEND ALEX MORGAN.
XX
One for the ladies? Enough said.
You can view a full range of "Dear Santa" Intrepid gear on Zazzle here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #4
Have a drink with us at the Commodore Hotel this Saturday 8 December from 12 - 5pm. It's my birthday, plus we are giving the books an unofficial launch. You can pick up a signed Defender, order your signed Hunter (we'll deliver this for Sydney-ites in time for Christmas) or just order a beer. Hope to see you there.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
SUPER INTREPID STYLE
DAY FIVE: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the fifth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
SUPER INTREPID STYLE
How can anyone go past the infectious enthusiasm and energy of PSY's 884+million viewed video on YouTube, Super Gangnam Style? Released in the middle of July this year, it went 'gangnambusters'!
I must admit, it wasn't me, more my other half Sarah who suggested this painfully hip version. I wasn't going to knock it back though, because these Intrepid designs are all about having some fun. And Super Intrepid Style, if it existed, would be a fun move.
As I write this, Hunter: Intrepid 2 is sitting at #2 on the Crimes and Thriller Best-Seller List on iTunes. I'm elated. Let's just say, if it hits #1, I might just film a quick video of some kind of interpretive Super Intrepid Style version of the Gangnam dance!
You can view Super Intrepid Style gear on Zazzle here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #5
Order an eBook copy of Hunter: Intrepid 1. On iTunes, for your Apple device. Right.... here.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the fifth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
SUPER INTREPID STYLE
How can anyone go past the infectious enthusiasm and energy of PSY's 884+million viewed video on YouTube, Super Gangnam Style? Released in the middle of July this year, it went 'gangnambusters'!
I must admit, it wasn't me, more my other half Sarah who suggested this painfully hip version. I wasn't going to knock it back though, because these Intrepid designs are all about having some fun. And Super Intrepid Style, if it existed, would be a fun move.
As I write this, Hunter: Intrepid 2 is sitting at #2 on the Crimes and Thriller Best-Seller List on iTunes. I'm elated. Let's just say, if it hits #1, I might just film a quick video of some kind of interpretive Super Intrepid Style version of the Gangnam dance!
You can view Super Intrepid Style gear on Zazzle here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #5
Order an eBook copy of Hunter: Intrepid 1. On iTunes, for your Apple device. Right.... here.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
GUNS CHOPPERS ACTION!
DAY SIX: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the sixth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
GUNS CHOPPERS ACTION!
Last night, I wrote to you saying that if I made the #1 Crimes and Thrillers Best-Seller list on iTunes I would allow myself to be filmed doing the Super Intrepid Style dance - a jig I have not envisaged, nor do I care to think too deeply about.
And then, as if by some force majeur, Hunter: Intrepid 2 rose majestically to the top spot on the best-seller list, kicking Lee Child's Jack Reacher squarely in the backside on the way.
All great sport, sure, but as the morning dawned so did the realisation: not only do I need to learn how to move like PSU of Gangnam Style infamy, I will also need to master my own interpretation of the moves, quick smart, by Saturday.
It won't be a full set filming me, sure - more like my bubbly wife Sar with some of her bubbly friends, after a few drinks at the Commodore Hotel this Saturday. But it will undoubtedly go live before the weekend is out.
You can view the sixth day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #6
Give the gift of Intrepid this Christmas by giving an eCopy version of Defender, Hunter or both to a friend. On Amazon Defender is here, and Hunter... is here.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the sixth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
GUNS CHOPPERS ACTION!
Last night, I wrote to you saying that if I made the #1 Crimes and Thrillers Best-Seller list on iTunes I would allow myself to be filmed doing the Super Intrepid Style dance - a jig I have not envisaged, nor do I care to think too deeply about.
And then, as if by some force majeur, Hunter: Intrepid 2 rose majestically to the top spot on the best-seller list, kicking Lee Child's Jack Reacher squarely in the backside on the way.
All great sport, sure, but as the morning dawned so did the realisation: not only do I need to learn how to move like PSU of Gangnam Style infamy, I will also need to master my own interpretation of the moves, quick smart, by Saturday.
It won't be a full set filming me, sure - more like my bubbly wife Sar with some of her bubbly friends, after a few drinks at the Commodore Hotel this Saturday. But it will undoubtedly go live before the weekend is out.
You can view the sixth day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #6
Give the gift of Intrepid this Christmas by giving an eCopy version of Defender, Hunter or both to a friend. On Amazon Defender is here, and Hunter... is here.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
GET IN SIT DOWN SHUT UP HANG ON
DAY SEVEN: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the seventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
What a fantastic birthday present to see that on Amazon, Defender has been made free for a few days, and is rocketing up the charts. At the time of writing it's #1 Kindle Spy Stories, #7 Kindle Action & Adventure and #257 in the overall Kindle free lists, and #28 Top-rated Spy Stories.
But really, this is what a secret agent once said to me:
GET IN SIT DOWN SHUT UP HANG ON
Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying a birthday dinner tonight with someone who is ten feet tall and bulletproof - the guy who inspired 'The Key' in Hunter - and this will be (SPOLER ALERT!) a feature of tomorrow's design. You can read about The Key's character more on www.intrepidallen.com.
You can view the seventh day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #7
Live in Sydney? Ask the good folk at your local library or bookstore to have me in to do an Author Chat or book signing. I love to go and meet readers and fellow writers and would be only too happy to make an appearance.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the seventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
What a fantastic birthday present to see that on Amazon, Defender has been made free for a few days, and is rocketing up the charts. At the time of writing it's #1 Kindle Spy Stories, #7 Kindle Action & Adventure and #257 in the overall Kindle free lists, and #28 Top-rated Spy Stories.
But really, this is what a secret agent once said to me:
GET IN SIT DOWN SHUT UP HANG ON
Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying a birthday dinner tonight with someone who is ten feet tall and bulletproof - the guy who inspired 'The Key' in Hunter - and this will be (SPOLER ALERT!) a feature of tomorrow's design. You can read about The Key's character more on www.intrepidallen.com.
You can view the seventh day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #7
Live in Sydney? Ask the good folk at your local library or bookstore to have me in to do an Author Chat or book signing. I love to go and meet readers and fellow writers and would be only too happy to make an appearance.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
TEN FEET TALL AND BULLETPROOF
DAY NINE: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the ninth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: TEN FEET TALL & BULLETPROOF.
As I said in Friday's post, this design is inspired by one of the newest characters in the book, Hermann Braunschweiger.
You can view the full range of Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Maybe you're thinking, what happened to the eighth day of Hunter? Seeing as we hit the Commodore Hotel for an afternoon celebrating the Defender / Hunter launch with friends and fans, I gave myself the afternoon off.
Which brings me to the next point. You may know that both Defender & Hunter have been doing extremely well on iTunes and Amazon and, when Hunter was heading to the #1 spot on iTunes Crime & Thrillers last week, I made a promise that I'd dance 'Gangnam Syle' at the book launch if it did make it to #1. Needless to say, Alex Morgan did in fact kick Jack Reacher off the top spot! So, I was committed to doing the dance (and, therein, the humiliation that goes with it!) True to my word, during the launch, and after much researching the PSY Gangnam Style dance, I was directed by my Sarah to take the floor and perform - in accordance with my promise. Well, I did it, much to enjoyment of our guests and the entire pub and much to the chagrin of the two friends I pulled into the dance line-up. Now, the whole episode was filmed, however the camera failed to work. Seriously. So, here we are without any footage or proof to show you. Don't despair, if any other footage or photos ever do surface I'll be sure to post them on the blog!
You can view a photo album from the book launch on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/intrepidallen.
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #8
Post a review of my newest Alex Morgan adventure, Hunter: Intrepid 2 on Amazon, iTunes or Goodreads. Reviews hold amazing cachet with new readers.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the ninth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: TEN FEET TALL & BULLETPROOF.
As I said in Friday's post, this design is inspired by one of the newest characters in the book, Hermann Braunschweiger.
You can view the full range of Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Maybe you're thinking, what happened to the eighth day of Hunter? Seeing as we hit the Commodore Hotel for an afternoon celebrating the Defender / Hunter launch with friends and fans, I gave myself the afternoon off.
Which brings me to the next point. You may know that both Defender & Hunter have been doing extremely well on iTunes and Amazon and, when Hunter was heading to the #1 spot on iTunes Crime & Thrillers last week, I made a promise that I'd dance 'Gangnam Syle' at the book launch if it did make it to #1. Needless to say, Alex Morgan did in fact kick Jack Reacher off the top spot! So, I was committed to doing the dance (and, therein, the humiliation that goes with it!) True to my word, during the launch, and after much researching the PSY Gangnam Style dance, I was directed by my Sarah to take the floor and perform - in accordance with my promise. Well, I did it, much to enjoyment of our guests and the entire pub and much to the chagrin of the two friends I pulled into the dance line-up. Now, the whole episode was filmed, however the camera failed to work. Seriously. So, here we are without any footage or proof to show you. Don't despair, if any other footage or photos ever do surface I'll be sure to post them on the blog!
You can view a photo album from the book launch on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/intrepidallen.
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #8
Post a review of my newest Alex Morgan adventure, Hunter: Intrepid 2 on Amazon, iTunes or Goodreads. Reviews hold amazing cachet with new readers.
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
MORGAN ALEX MORGAN
DAY TEN: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the tenth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: MORGAN, ALEX MORGAN.
This one should be no surprise seeing as I'm out and proud that Ian Fleming's novels - basically - inspired my own aspirations to write. See my recent Skyfall review on Momentum's blog and a Bondcast on the December Podmentum. www.momentumbooks.com.au/blog
You can view the full range of Morgan Alex Morgan gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #10
Maybe you are part of a book club or a reading group that meets in person or online. If you're looking for something to add to your reading curriculum in 2013, please suggest Defender or Hunter. I'd love to do a Skype or video chat and hear how people found the Intrepid series featuring star agent Alex Morgan!
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the tenth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: MORGAN, ALEX MORGAN.
This one should be no surprise seeing as I'm out and proud that Ian Fleming's novels - basically - inspired my own aspirations to write. See my recent Skyfall review on Momentum's blog and a Bondcast on the December Podmentum. www.momentumbooks.com.au/blog
You can view the full range of Morgan Alex Morgan gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #10
Maybe you are part of a book club or a reading group that meets in person or online. If you're looking for something to add to your reading curriculum in 2013, please suggest Defender or Hunter. I'd love to do a Skype or video chat and hear how people found the Intrepid series featuring star agent Alex Morgan!
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
IMMA SECRET AGENT
DAY ELEVEN: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the eleventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
IMMA SECRET AGENT
And the award for the most inept display of manners goes to... Kanye West, whose 'Imma let you finish' take-down during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards made the pop culture wall of fame and in doing so, inspired this design. Kind of.
Still though, the 'Imma Secret Agent' tagline was topical and on-trend enough to run with it.
You can view the full range of Imma Secret Agent gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #11
Give the gift of Hunter to someone you love this Christmas. For Kris Kingle, an eBook can be gifted for Kindle via Amazon. For the action lover in your life, a personally inscribed, signed and wrapped copy should put a smile on their dial. Email us gday@intrepidallen.com and we'll send you an order form. Too easy!
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the eleventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
IMMA SECRET AGENT
And the award for the most inept display of manners goes to... Kanye West, whose 'Imma let you finish' take-down during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards made the pop culture wall of fame and in doing so, inspired this design. Kind of.
Still though, the 'Imma Secret Agent' tagline was topical and on-trend enough to run with it.
You can view the full range of Imma Secret Agent gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #11
Give the gift of Hunter to someone you love this Christmas. For Kris Kingle, an eBook can be gifted for Kindle via Amazon. For the action lover in your life, a personally inscribed, signed and wrapped copy should put a smile on their dial. Email us gday@intrepidallen.com and we'll send you an order form. Too easy!
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
TO THE BRAVE BELONG ALL THINGS
DAY TWELVE: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the last day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
TO THE BRAVE BELONG ALL THINGS
In my days as a Paratrooper, I remember this exact phrase would flash across my consciousness whenever we’d force ourselves to depart from a perfectly good aircraft into black, starless skies… Not surprisingly, sometimes we needed encouragement to launch out into the unknown, and when it came to me, it worked every time.
The stoic Celtic adage applies equally to those of us part of the current publishing revolution – blazing a trail into the world of eBooks, online communities, and technologies that allow readers to find and enjoy stories from a diverse new range of voices.
This is what I wrote in a guest-post on The Creative Penn just over a year ago, and now, partnering with Digital publishing supremos Momentum, seeing overwhelmingly good news coming in about Intrepid books 1 and two (such as today's review on That Book You Like), and now a third book underway, as well as a film and franchise deal in the pipeline, as each day passes it couldn't ring any truer.
It's been a fantastic twelve days since Hunter has been launched - it hit #1 Best-Seller status on the iBookstore (take THAT Jack Reacher!); jumped up the charts on Amazon; had fantastic reviews on blogs like Fair Dinkum Crime; I signed books and drank beer at my Hunter drinks last Saturday; and had the chance to release these Intrepid-inspired designs.
You can view the range of 'To The Brave Belong All Things' gear here. I particularly like the dummy for the Intrepid agent-in-nappies.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Here's the full range of Intrepid designs, including some featuring the Defender and Hunter book covers on Zazzle.
http://www.zazzle.com.au/intrepidallen
Thank you for coming along for the ride. I'm grateful for your efforts to help spread the word: every new reader who enjoyed the book - whether they couldn't get anything done on the weekend for reading it, or missing their train station because they didn't realise their destination had come and been - is a true thrill. This is the stuff that propels me into the next book, Avenger, to be released in 2013!
As a final round up, here's what happened in the first eleven days of Hunter ...
The first day of Hunter: There's a New Agent in Town | The second day of Hunter: Intrepid Agents Kick Ass | The third day of Hunter: Alex Morgan is Back | The fourth day of Hunter: Dear Santa | The fifth day of Hunter: Super Intrepid Style | The sixth day of Hunter: Guns Choppers Action | The seventh day of Hunter: Get In Sit Down Shut Up Hang On | The eighth day of Hunter: Get Some Action | The ninth day of Hunter: Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof | The tenth day of Hunter: Morgan, Alex Morgan | The eleventh day of Hunter: Imma Secret Agent |
This has been a whole lotta fun. I hope you've enjoyed it too.
Cheers, Chris
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The IntrepidAllen range is available exclusively from Zazzle online. I'll be donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the last day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
TO THE BRAVE BELONG ALL THINGS
In my days as a Paratrooper, I remember this exact phrase would flash across my consciousness whenever we’d force ourselves to depart from a perfectly good aircraft into black, starless skies… Not surprisingly, sometimes we needed encouragement to launch out into the unknown, and when it came to me, it worked every time.
The stoic Celtic adage applies equally to those of us part of the current publishing revolution – blazing a trail into the world of eBooks, online communities, and technologies that allow readers to find and enjoy stories from a diverse new range of voices.
This is what I wrote in a guest-post on The Creative Penn just over a year ago, and now, partnering with Digital publishing supremos Momentum, seeing overwhelmingly good news coming in about Intrepid books 1 and two (such as today's review on That Book You Like), and now a third book underway, as well as a film and franchise deal in the pipeline, as each day passes it couldn't ring any truer.
It's been a fantastic twelve days since Hunter has been launched - it hit #1 Best-Seller status on the iBookstore (take THAT Jack Reacher!); jumped up the charts on Amazon; had fantastic reviews on blogs like Fair Dinkum Crime; I signed books and drank beer at my Hunter drinks last Saturday; and had the chance to release these Intrepid-inspired designs.
You can view the range of 'To The Brave Belong All Things' gear here. I particularly like the dummy for the Intrepid agent-in-nappies.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Here's the full range of Intrepid designs, including some featuring the Defender and Hunter book covers on Zazzle.
http://www.zazzle.com.au/intrepidallen
Thank you for coming along for the ride. I'm grateful for your efforts to help spread the word: every new reader who enjoyed the book - whether they couldn't get anything done on the weekend for reading it, or missing their train station because they didn't realise their destination had come and been - is a true thrill. This is the stuff that propels me into the next book, Avenger, to be released in 2013!
As a final round up, here's what happened in the first eleven days of Hunter ...
The first day of Hunter: There's a New Agent in Town | The second day of Hunter: Intrepid Agents Kick Ass | The third day of Hunter: Alex Morgan is Back | The fourth day of Hunter: Dear Santa | The fifth day of Hunter: Super Intrepid Style | The sixth day of Hunter: Guns Choppers Action | The seventh day of Hunter: Get In Sit Down Shut Up Hang On | The eighth day of Hunter: Get Some Action | The ninth day of Hunter: Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof | The tenth day of Hunter: Morgan, Alex Morgan | The eleventh day of Hunter: Imma Secret Agent |
This has been a whole lotta fun. I hope you've enjoyed it too.
Cheers, Chris
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The IntrepidAllen range is available exclusively from Zazzle online. I'll be donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
INTERVIEW WITH THRILLER WRITER DOUGLAS DOROW
AUTHOR OF THE NINTH DISTRICT
A crucial part of the business of publishing books these days is finding an appreciative audience to connect with. It used to be that the traditional publisher would find those people for you through marketing and media, but now the top-down pyramid has inverted and we authors gotta get out and connect with readers and get to know them a little bit, before they get to know our stories and hopefully become fans of our work.
Through that process I've been privileged to meet a range of fantastic authors around the world as well as book bloggers who play a crucial role in supporting the brave new world of book publishing, marketing and building an author platform from the ground up. Take Mandi from That Book You Like who has reviewed all my books and collaborated on new ways of cross promoting her wares through guest posts, wordsmith Stephanie from Read in a Single Sitting who always posts the most insightful commentary, plus Josh as @oznoir on Fair Dinkum Crime and the lovely Karen from AustCrime Fiction who take considerable time to read, review and post about my books, and a very fun Paratrooping-themed guest post on The Creative Penn where I met readers and authors from across the world that I'm still in touch with today.
So, thanks to the real-time web, it's been fulfilling as all get out to find all these like-minded, thriller readin' and writin' souls to build relationships with.
Another one of these recent finds is a chap called Douglas Dorow, a thriller writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of many thriller/suspense writers. He wonders whether it is something in the water or the long, cold winters that has spawned a veritable amount of Minnesotan authors - but I reckon if the stories are in your head, they'll be in residence no matter where you are. I know Douglas likes the idea of my great sunny land and it's endless schooners of beer - so here's the invitation to come and write a book Down Under!
His first thriller, The Ninth District, is a kindle best seller. He is working on the second in the series featuring FBI Agent, Jack Miller. He has also started a spin-off novella series and another action/adventure series.
In the spirit of continuing to meet new people and do something a little different, we came up with the idea of a double interview - his on my blog, and mine over on his blog. You can find Douglas's blog here.
So here's what we talked about, author-to-author.
SO TELL ME DOUG, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ALONG THE WAY? CARE TO SHARE YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS AND/OR OPPORTUNITIES?
I've learned so much. May 2010, I was working on query letters for my first book to send to agents, when I read about Amazon starting a program where I could self publish my book as an ebook and get 70% royalties. I could publish as soon as I was ready and make more. It was at that point I became an Authorpreneur - an author and a publisher. I'd been concentrating on learning how to tell & write a story and had to learn how to publish and market my book too.
I had to look at my goals and skills and put together a team. I hired an editor and a cover designer and learned how to create an eBook myself. And then I took on the marketing tasks as well.
Biggest opportunities? I made 2012 the year of THE NINTH DISTRICT. I'd published it as an eBook in 2011. But readers want it their way. So, while I worked on the next books I published THE NINTH DISTRICT as a paperbook, hired a narrator and published an audiobook and a translator and published a Spanish version. I also spent a lot of time with social media and other strategies to market my story.
A couple of my biggest pleasant surprises are that I reached the Kindle Top Ten Thriller rank a couple of times in the past year, and that I was able to connect with so many readers via email, twitter and Facebook.
My biggest disappointment is that I don't have more time to write. I don't write full time. I have a day job and find time to write as I can. I have so many stories I want to tell and my readers are looking for the next book in the series. I wish I could've published it already. I'm planning to release book two in the series sometime around July and I also have a novella series I'm spinning off of the first book that I plan to publish this year.
I’M ALWAYS VERY KEEN TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS OF OTHERS AND THE ORIGINS OF THEIR DESIRE TO BECOME A WRITER. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? WHAT DOES WRITING REPRESENT TO YOU? AND, WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH YOUR WRITING?
I've always been a big reader since my mom taught me to read. And when I was young, some of the first television shows my dad would let me stay up and watch with him were private detective shows. I think these two things merged together into being a reader of thrillers, mysteries and spy novels.
In college, I took a couple of creative writing classes while I was studying engineering. I got some good feedback on my writing and enjoyed the creative process. I think that planted the seed to write. When I got married and we had our first child, I decided to take a couple of writing classes. That was probably eighteen years ago. Minneapolis, Minnesota (where I live) is the home of The Loft Literary Center, as great resource for people wanting to learn to write. A critique group formed out of one of my classes there and we've been meeting every few weeks for the last fifteen years supporting each other in our writing.
I see myself as a storyteller. I enjoy coming up with story ideas, researching and learning about things that I can bring into the story and telling a story that I enjoy writing. I hope I can bring all of these things together into something the reader will enjoy as they look for a fiction story to escape into.
OF YOUR LARGE SUPPORT NETWORK, BOTH CLOSE TO YOU AND ACROSS THE WORLD, HOW DO YOUR SUPPORTERS HELP YOU IN GAINING GLOBAL REACH IN UNEXPECTED WAYS?
It's weird to think I have readers around the globe reading my book. I've received emails and Facebook comments from readers around the world.
Over the past couple of years I have built a Twitter following of writers and readers and I've joined a few groups of Independent Writers (BestSellingReads.com IndependentAuthorNetwork.com and WorldLiteraryCafe.com). As authors we aren't in a competition, we support each other. I've partnered with authors in supporting each other with tweets, promoting each other for new book releases or discounts on our books. These authors are from so many different countries and we have fans around the world.
HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED YOU GET YOUR WORK ‘OUT THERE’ IN THE BIG BAD WORLD?
Twitter has allowed me to connect with other writers and readers around the world. I've also connected with some groups of authors built to support each other and help readers find those authors they might not run across otherwise.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT WITH THE CHANGES TO THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN THE USA?
I like the control I have as an independent published writer and I like the challenge of trying to figure out the business side of the game and how to connect with or be discovered by readers. I'm sad to see some of the book stores struggle to stay open. The new model is good for writers and for eReaders in that the book shelf is limitless, books don't go out of print, you want a book? you can find it and books that may have a smaller share of the market can be published in the new model where in the old model a publisher would pass on it.
The writer who simply wants to write will struggle in the old model if they aren't a best seller and get the backing of the publisher to advertise, and in the new model where you have to find ways to improve the visibility of your book to readers.
Douglas Dorow
Thanks Douglas, and you can read my half of this thrilling interview tete-a-tete over at Mr Dorow's blog - including what it's like writing a series, opportunities for authors publishing Down Under, all infused with Aussie / Pommy slang for greatest cultural effect.
I've just downloaded The Ninth District and am looking forward to a fresh read by my new Minnesotan pal! Check out Douglas's website and my own interview on his blog over at www.DouglasDorow.com.
Cheers,
Chris
View this post at intrepidallen.com: http://intrepidallen.com/blog/2013/3/...
A crucial part of the business of publishing books these days is finding an appreciative audience to connect with. It used to be that the traditional publisher would find those people for you through marketing and media, but now the top-down pyramid has inverted and we authors gotta get out and connect with readers and get to know them a little bit, before they get to know our stories and hopefully become fans of our work.
Through that process I've been privileged to meet a range of fantastic authors around the world as well as book bloggers who play a crucial role in supporting the brave new world of book publishing, marketing and building an author platform from the ground up. Take Mandi from That Book You Like who has reviewed all my books and collaborated on new ways of cross promoting her wares through guest posts, wordsmith Stephanie from Read in a Single Sitting who always posts the most insightful commentary, plus Josh as @oznoir on Fair Dinkum Crime and the lovely Karen from AustCrime Fiction who take considerable time to read, review and post about my books, and a very fun Paratrooping-themed guest post on The Creative Penn where I met readers and authors from across the world that I'm still in touch with today.
So, thanks to the real-time web, it's been fulfilling as all get out to find all these like-minded, thriller readin' and writin' souls to build relationships with.
Another one of these recent finds is a chap called Douglas Dorow, a thriller writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of many thriller/suspense writers. He wonders whether it is something in the water or the long, cold winters that has spawned a veritable amount of Minnesotan authors - but I reckon if the stories are in your head, they'll be in residence no matter where you are. I know Douglas likes the idea of my great sunny land and it's endless schooners of beer - so here's the invitation to come and write a book Down Under!
His first thriller, The Ninth District, is a kindle best seller. He is working on the second in the series featuring FBI Agent, Jack Miller. He has also started a spin-off novella series and another action/adventure series.
In the spirit of continuing to meet new people and do something a little different, we came up with the idea of a double interview - his on my blog, and mine over on his blog. You can find Douglas's blog here.
So here's what we talked about, author-to-author.
SO TELL ME DOUG, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ALONG THE WAY? CARE TO SHARE YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS AND/OR OPPORTUNITIES?
I've learned so much. May 2010, I was working on query letters for my first book to send to agents, when I read about Amazon starting a program where I could self publish my book as an ebook and get 70% royalties. I could publish as soon as I was ready and make more. It was at that point I became an Authorpreneur - an author and a publisher. I'd been concentrating on learning how to tell & write a story and had to learn how to publish and market my book too.
I had to look at my goals and skills and put together a team. I hired an editor and a cover designer and learned how to create an eBook myself. And then I took on the marketing tasks as well.
Biggest opportunities? I made 2012 the year of THE NINTH DISTRICT. I'd published it as an eBook in 2011. But readers want it their way. So, while I worked on the next books I published THE NINTH DISTRICT as a paperbook, hired a narrator and published an audiobook and a translator and published a Spanish version. I also spent a lot of time with social media and other strategies to market my story.
A couple of my biggest pleasant surprises are that I reached the Kindle Top Ten Thriller rank a couple of times in the past year, and that I was able to connect with so many readers via email, twitter and Facebook.
My biggest disappointment is that I don't have more time to write. I don't write full time. I have a day job and find time to write as I can. I have so many stories I want to tell and my readers are looking for the next book in the series. I wish I could've published it already. I'm planning to release book two in the series sometime around July and I also have a novella series I'm spinning off of the first book that I plan to publish this year.
I’M ALWAYS VERY KEEN TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS OF OTHERS AND THE ORIGINS OF THEIR DESIRE TO BECOME A WRITER. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? WHAT DOES WRITING REPRESENT TO YOU? AND, WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH YOUR WRITING?
I've always been a big reader since my mom taught me to read. And when I was young, some of the first television shows my dad would let me stay up and watch with him were private detective shows. I think these two things merged together into being a reader of thrillers, mysteries and spy novels.
In college, I took a couple of creative writing classes while I was studying engineering. I got some good feedback on my writing and enjoyed the creative process. I think that planted the seed to write. When I got married and we had our first child, I decided to take a couple of writing classes. That was probably eighteen years ago. Minneapolis, Minnesota (where I live) is the home of The Loft Literary Center, as great resource for people wanting to learn to write. A critique group formed out of one of my classes there and we've been meeting every few weeks for the last fifteen years supporting each other in our writing.
I see myself as a storyteller. I enjoy coming up with story ideas, researching and learning about things that I can bring into the story and telling a story that I enjoy writing. I hope I can bring all of these things together into something the reader will enjoy as they look for a fiction story to escape into.
OF YOUR LARGE SUPPORT NETWORK, BOTH CLOSE TO YOU AND ACROSS THE WORLD, HOW DO YOUR SUPPORTERS HELP YOU IN GAINING GLOBAL REACH IN UNEXPECTED WAYS?
It's weird to think I have readers around the globe reading my book. I've received emails and Facebook comments from readers around the world.
Over the past couple of years I have built a Twitter following of writers and readers and I've joined a few groups of Independent Writers (BestSellingReads.com IndependentAuthorNetwork.com and WorldLiteraryCafe.com). As authors we aren't in a competition, we support each other. I've partnered with authors in supporting each other with tweets, promoting each other for new book releases or discounts on our books. These authors are from so many different countries and we have fans around the world.
HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED YOU GET YOUR WORK ‘OUT THERE’ IN THE BIG BAD WORLD?
Twitter has allowed me to connect with other writers and readers around the world. I've also connected with some groups of authors built to support each other and help readers find those authors they might not run across otherwise.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT WITH THE CHANGES TO THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN THE USA?
I like the control I have as an independent published writer and I like the challenge of trying to figure out the business side of the game and how to connect with or be discovered by readers. I'm sad to see some of the book stores struggle to stay open. The new model is good for writers and for eReaders in that the book shelf is limitless, books don't go out of print, you want a book? you can find it and books that may have a smaller share of the market can be published in the new model where in the old model a publisher would pass on it.
The writer who simply wants to write will struggle in the old model if they aren't a best seller and get the backing of the publisher to advertise, and in the new model where you have to find ways to improve the visibility of your book to readers.
Douglas Dorow
Thanks Douglas, and you can read my half of this thrilling interview tete-a-tete over at Mr Dorow's blog - including what it's like writing a series, opportunities for authors publishing Down Under, all infused with Aussie / Pommy slang for greatest cultural effect.
I've just downloaded The Ninth District and am looking forward to a fresh read by my new Minnesotan pal! Check out Douglas's website and my own interview on his blog over at www.DouglasDorow.com.
Cheers,
Chris
View this post at intrepidallen.com: http://intrepidallen.com/blog/2013/3/...
