Martyn Stanley's Blog, page 4

Deathsworn Arc 4: Rise of the Archmage - Cover Reveal!

Well the book is still a way off!

I need to check a few things, re-check them. Polish it a bit and maybe do a few minor re-writes!

I really, really want this to be better than book 3.

Here's the covers though for paperback and ebook!

What do you think? Like?

Deathsworn Arc 4: Rise of the Archmage

Well! I finished my first draft! My editor is having a look over it now and I'm, waiting and working on other projects in the meantime. I'm working on a sequel to my 'Lambton Worm' story called 'Return of the Worm Slayer' also a black comedy novel which I intend to seek representation with. The thing is I feel like I've slowed down, almost into a rut. I'm questioning myself more than before. Two years ago I would have just published DS4 but and Return of the Worm Slayer - now I just worry that they aren't right.

I've taken more risks with DS4 and I don't know quite what the tone should be for TROTWS. I just hope it's the content and I'm not slipping down a slope into over-procrastination. That's an author-killer if ever there was one!

Martyn

Just because I don't tell girls I think they're pretty/good looking/attractive - doesn't mean I don't think it!

It's occurred to me that many of the people I've hooked up with to do with books. (My bookies [Book related friends]) are girls and many are younger than me. In some cases many years younger me. I've noticed lots of people commenting on profile photo changes and suchlike, complimenting them on their clothes, hair, beauty or general prettiness.

I won't do this. I'm not entirely sure why I feel it, but I feel it's not appropriate for a 37A year old (I adopted a new numbering system on the birthday after my 37th) to be describing women or girls as pretty, attractive, or good looking or anything like that.

Partly, I think it would come across as sleazy and sleazy I am not. Partly I'm married, happily for the most part and it would feel a little bit treacherous and partly because I don't think it's relevant.

I really appreciate the contacts I've made to do with books. To a degree it's what makes the effort all worth while. I love all my bookies. It's nothing to do with how they look on a profile pic though. It's the conversations I've had, the jokes we've shared, the merciless, razor sharp wit I've been at receiving end of! I wouldn't change a thing.

So if you're female and you get lots of compliments about your profile pics and have wondered why I haven't joined the band-wagon - It's because I don't think your looks are important. I probably think you're awesome whatever you look like!

:)

Martyn

Oh, I'm over 30,000 words into Deathsworn Arc 4 now!

New Auditions!

Anna Parker-Naples has now auditioned all three books!

What do you think? Like?

http://martynstanley.com/auditions-an...

New Auditions!

I have new auditions in for 'Deathsworn Arc: The Last Dragon Slayer' !

What do you think? Which is your favourite?

http://martynstanley.com/4-auditions-...

My Audbile Versions!

Okay, so I'm looking at getting an audible version done of my Deathsworn Arc books!

I've had an audition, but I just don't know about it. What do you think? Do like it? Does it sound right for The Last Dragon Slayer?

https://www.acx.com/titleview/AN1ARFT...

Help! :(

Martyn

I need your help!

I've lost 'Perma-free' status on my UK 'Deathsworn Arc: The Last Dragon Slayer'

Can you spare a moment to help me regain Perma-free? It's easy to help. Copy one of these URL's:-

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/deat...

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about...

http://prod-uk.nook.com/gb/ebooks/dea...

Then go to this page:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Dragon-S...

And in the 'Product Details' box, click 'Tell us about a lower price' Paste the URL in and put '0' in the other two boxes - then submit feedback.

Thankyou so much for helping me with this. It may seem odd that I want to give book 1 away free, but I just want as many people as possible to read it - if that means going 'free' then so be it!

Many thanks,

Martyn

Authors Behaving Badly

I just wrote a new blog post on the cases of Kathleen Hale and Richard Brittain. In ways Kathleen is more surprising - she's published, I would think she had a lot to lose by doing this - but the sheer violence of Richard's attack - he could have killed her...

Read my full post here:-

http://martynstanley.com/authors-self...

I hope it comes across as fair and balanced. I feel like a bit of a bridge between the author community and the reviewer community - I review and I write. So I've tried to see both points of views. I can't find justification for Hale or Brittains actions though :(

Great Review!

I'm really pleased with my latest review of book 1 on Amazon.com! I think he really 'got' what I was going for.

A True 5 Star

"Well written with imaginative use of standard characters, elves that are more than your standard pretty girl or tiny warrior, dwarf without attitude and with intelligence, heroes with flaws and not every ending is a happy one or every encounter works out for the best. And a dragon that is both morally superior and evil at the same time, reflecting a measure of humanity and the moral ambiguities we face. One has to wonder about the mindset the author comes from." - Ron Kell "RB" "



I think this helps me understand my writing instincts better. I think my instinct is to take convention, and turn it on its head! I think this really explains what I was shooting for with book 1. So happy someone 'got it' :D

Martyn

PS: I've changed my Google+ address! Please update your bookmarks, if you haven't added me, Add me and I will reciprocate:-

https://plus.google.com/+MartynStanle...
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The Blood Queen version 1.2 is close!

I finished my edits in one version, I need to get it across to the others and upload - but that's the bulk of the work done!

To be fair there really weren't actually that many problems -some of the things I'd highlighted as changing - when I looked more closely at the text and the relevant rules - it turned out a lot of what I'd actually put was right!

All in I think there were about a dozen errors that I changed that were important. I know that's kind of bad, very bad compared to most trad-pubbed - but for me, on an 85,000 word story, I think it's okay!

Hope some more people choose to read on to it! So far about 500 people have picked up part 1 free this month - I expect a 50% read-through rate over three months, but that might slow down for book 3 - it's a shame book 3 is defo the best! I'm really, really pleased with it. I'm not surprised Inge and the other reviewers enjoyed it so much!