Scott McCloskey's Blog: RainHand Books (Goodreads Digest), page 8
March 8, 2013
TGL's paperback status and updates on Book II
Hello all!
I'm happy to announce that TGL is once again available in paperback format! Check it out here!
The sequel is up to chapter six. So far several new characters have been introduced, and one bad situation has led to a few others. Hot water for the heroes! Writing continues...
I'm happy to announce that TGL is once again available in paperback format! Check it out here!
The sequel is up to chapter six. So far several new characters have been introduced, and one bad situation has led to a few others. Hot water for the heroes! Writing continues...
March 1, 2013
TGL Featured on WiLoveBooks
Hello all!
TGL was recently featured on the WiLoveBooks book blog! Read all about it here!
Progress on book II continues. It's right around time to find out just what became of poor Theo after his ordeal in the reflectia woods. More to come!
TGL was recently featured on the WiLoveBooks book blog! Read all about it here!
Progress on book II continues. It's right around time to find out just what became of poor Theo after his ordeal in the reflectia woods. More to come!
February 25, 2013
Ord Progress and Cover Snafu
Hello all who are keeping up!
Wanted to provide a quick status report. Book II of the Traveler of Ord is progressing well. I've just finished chapter three and chapter five is written already...even though I don't have a chapter four yet. I actually decided to shorten the prologue and use the latter half of it as chapter five instead. Prologues should be short in my opinion, and the way I had it setup it was just too long. Marie and company have just run afoul of something nasty -- I'll leave it at that for now :)
Also, for anybody who has been wondering, the paperback version of TGL has been unavailable on Amazon for awhile now. I'm very sorry about that. After the new cover went to print we noticed two very minor errors that needed to be corrected, and ever since Paul has diligently been trying to figure out why the createspace editor won't justify the margin correctly on anything new we upload, no matter what templates are used! I know there are people out there who have asked, and all I can say is I will let you know as soon as it is resolved by posting here. If anybody would like to be individually contacted, just let me know and I will do so. Kudos to Paul Beeley for his diligence!!
The journeys of the traveler continue on!
Wanted to provide a quick status report. Book II of the Traveler of Ord is progressing well. I've just finished chapter three and chapter five is written already...even though I don't have a chapter four yet. I actually decided to shorten the prologue and use the latter half of it as chapter five instead. Prologues should be short in my opinion, and the way I had it setup it was just too long. Marie and company have just run afoul of something nasty -- I'll leave it at that for now :)
Also, for anybody who has been wondering, the paperback version of TGL has been unavailable on Amazon for awhile now. I'm very sorry about that. After the new cover went to print we noticed two very minor errors that needed to be corrected, and ever since Paul has diligently been trying to figure out why the createspace editor won't justify the margin correctly on anything new we upload, no matter what templates are used! I know there are people out there who have asked, and all I can say is I will let you know as soon as it is resolved by posting here. If anybody would like to be individually contacted, just let me know and I will do so. Kudos to Paul Beeley for his diligence!!
The journeys of the traveler continue on!
February 22, 2013
TGL's Sequel Continues On...
9000 words later, and it's on with chapter 2. Already, Tessa and Marie have deviated from what I'd intially planned for them and introduced a whole new character in so doing. They seem to know what to do next better than I do myself, as they created a great scene that I was able to really get back into the story with. Chapter 2 promises some good action, but we'll have to see if the cast agrees with me!
February 20, 2013
Breaking Ground (and leaving dawn alone)
The planning and review stages are complete -- 3000 words in, and The Traveler of Ord Book II is underway!
Originally I thought I would painstakingly mull over book one with a fine-toothed comb to ensure with absolute certainty that everything continues to flow well, but I realized a few things. One, I've already read The Goldenwealth Light a million times (sort of obligatory when you're in the pre-publication polishing stage of your own book), and two, I just don't want to wait anymore. So I plan to continue the saga the same way I started it. I'll set the scene and get them started, but it's on the characters to tell me what they plan to do next.
Sorry that I can't share a title for volume II yet, but titles are usually the last thing I decide on after I've completed a manuscript. For now, it's on the drawing board as "ord_2.doc". Stay tuned for updates!
Originally I thought I would painstakingly mull over book one with a fine-toothed comb to ensure with absolute certainty that everything continues to flow well, but I realized a few things. One, I've already read The Goldenwealth Light a million times (sort of obligatory when you're in the pre-publication polishing stage of your own book), and two, I just don't want to wait anymore. So I plan to continue the saga the same way I started it. I'll set the scene and get them started, but it's on the characters to tell me what they plan to do next.
Sorry that I can't share a title for volume II yet, but titles are usually the last thing I decide on after I've completed a manuscript. For now, it's on the drawing board as "ord_2.doc". Stay tuned for updates!
February 12, 2013
Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high!
Hello all,
I had a moment of nostalgia recently (as I am wont to do -- I'm a sucker for nostalgia), and I remembered something from my youth that's still with us today, standing strong against the test of time. I speak of none other than Reading Rainbow.
For most of us, our love of reading is something that's developed over time. Those of us who write -- no matter our skill level, our audience, or really any other factor, probably derived this love in turn from a love of reading. And where did that love start? Probably when we were children. It certainly did for me.
I wasn't even old enough to read when Reading Rainbow first aired (back in the days before the GC rendered opening sequence), and when I think back on the fact that it is still very much alive and well in one form or another, I can't help but feel a bit humbled. Programs like Reading Rainbow simply wouldn't survive long if not for support from -- and forgive me for the direct quote -- "viewers like you". No matter what technology has brought forth, no matter how early in our lives we are being exposed to popular entertainment or learning to use computers, I get that warm feeling when I realize that kids out there are still reading, and the rest of us still find enough value in the written word to ensure it remains part of the lives of "the next generation" (yes, yes, I had to include that phrase somewhere).
I also don't think Reading Rainbow would have the legacy it does if not for LeVar Burton. Yes, those of you who know me should be well aware what a huge trekkie I am, and of course that I am a fan of LeVar's work in that series. But before TNG, through it, and after it, Reading Rainbow was always there. I salute LeVar's contributions to society, whether he was teaching me about a new book to get excited over, instilling in me a "Starfleet" sense of personal integrity, or influencing my sense of multicultural equality through the character of Kunta Kinte.
Unless I miss my guess, the original TV series of Reading Rainbow should be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. So take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
But you don't have to take MY word for it...
I had a moment of nostalgia recently (as I am wont to do -- I'm a sucker for nostalgia), and I remembered something from my youth that's still with us today, standing strong against the test of time. I speak of none other than Reading Rainbow.
For most of us, our love of reading is something that's developed over time. Those of us who write -- no matter our skill level, our audience, or really any other factor, probably derived this love in turn from a love of reading. And where did that love start? Probably when we were children. It certainly did for me.
I wasn't even old enough to read when Reading Rainbow first aired (back in the days before the GC rendered opening sequence), and when I think back on the fact that it is still very much alive and well in one form or another, I can't help but feel a bit humbled. Programs like Reading Rainbow simply wouldn't survive long if not for support from -- and forgive me for the direct quote -- "viewers like you". No matter what technology has brought forth, no matter how early in our lives we are being exposed to popular entertainment or learning to use computers, I get that warm feeling when I realize that kids out there are still reading, and the rest of us still find enough value in the written word to ensure it remains part of the lives of "the next generation" (yes, yes, I had to include that phrase somewhere).
I also don't think Reading Rainbow would have the legacy it does if not for LeVar Burton. Yes, those of you who know me should be well aware what a huge trekkie I am, and of course that I am a fan of LeVar's work in that series. But before TNG, through it, and after it, Reading Rainbow was always there. I salute LeVar's contributions to society, whether he was teaching me about a new book to get excited over, instilling in me a "Starfleet" sense of personal integrity, or influencing my sense of multicultural equality through the character of Kunta Kinte.
Unless I miss my guess, the original TV series of Reading Rainbow should be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. So take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
But you don't have to take MY word for it...
February 8, 2013
TGL Feature on Readful Things
The Goldenwealth Light has been featured on Readful Things, Ionia Martin's literary review blog. The feature includes Ionia's review of the book, and an extensive interview with the author.
Check it out here!
Check it out here!
February 5, 2013
TGL's New Cover is Complete!
The Goldenwealth Light's new cover is complete! Many thanks to Paul Beeley of Create Imaginations, without whose talent the exceptional work featured below would not have been possible.
Be sure to thank Paul if you run into him on his website, or on goodreads!
Be sure to thank Paul if you run into him on his website, or on goodreads!
January 30, 2013
Cover Update!
It's confirmed -- The Goldenwealth Light will indeed be receiving a totally new cover design, by noted designer Paul Beeley. Paul has created art for such covers as Radiance: Love After Death, by Debra Jayne East, which as of this post has been voted #1 best illustrated book cover on Goodreads!
I'm very excited to be working with Paul on this project. The new cover is still in its initial stages at this point, but plans are to include actual images of Theo and Marie to give readers an image of what they look like past just the descriptions in the text, as well as a beautiful view of the Gossamer City in all its prismastone glory. When the new cover is complete, the design will be updated to the paperback and kindle versions of the book (which also presents me with a handy opportunity to correct a few minor typographical errors in the text that several diligent readers were kind enough to point out).
Stay tuned for possible teaser images!
I'm very excited to be working with Paul on this project. The new cover is still in its initial stages at this point, but plans are to include actual images of Theo and Marie to give readers an image of what they look like past just the descriptions in the text, as well as a beautiful view of the Gossamer City in all its prismastone glory. When the new cover is complete, the design will be updated to the paperback and kindle versions of the book (which also presents me with a handy opportunity to correct a few minor typographical errors in the text that several diligent readers were kind enough to point out).
Stay tuned for possible teaser images!
January 27, 2013
From Moleskine to Microsoft
I think I've discovered the trickiest part of writing. It's not the character development. It's not smoothing out the plot inconsistencies. It's not even editing and proofreading (though I am a firm believer in the fact that you can only achieve 99% on this -- even professionally edited books from the big six will always have a few small problems).
What is it?
Microsoft.
Your opinion may differ from mine and that's just fine, but I find that the only part of the writing process that leaves me arguing with my computer screen and wanting to just walk away is making programs like Word, Libreoffice, and all the other assorted clones out there (I've tried a few) that have become the namesake of modern word processing do what I ask of them. And I'm not computer illiterate, either. I've been opening up CPUs and rooting around in them since I received my first 100mhz Pentium back in 1995 for $1400. I can build a working system from a pile of parts, and though I am not exceptionally proficient with software, I can follow directions with enough competence to create my own basic programs.
Yet despite that, I find battling with modern word processing to be exceptionally tedious. Even with the exceptional help of Gregory Mahan, it took me three solid days to get the paperback version of The Goldenwealth Light up to the point of proper polish for something you might find on a shelf at your local bookstore. And don't even get me started on translating that back into a workable Kindle version!
Well, things are a bit easier now that I've figured it all out, but at some point I think I'm going to have to write notes just so I can remember what I did. Once upon a time when I was young, I wrote down story ideas in a notebook. I doubt Hemingway would have had much use for filling papers with Word formatting reminders, and though modern convenience is a wonderful thing...I can't help but have a bit of envy for the way he probably did it.
What are your thoughts?
What is it?
Microsoft.
Your opinion may differ from mine and that's just fine, but I find that the only part of the writing process that leaves me arguing with my computer screen and wanting to just walk away is making programs like Word, Libreoffice, and all the other assorted clones out there (I've tried a few) that have become the namesake of modern word processing do what I ask of them. And I'm not computer illiterate, either. I've been opening up CPUs and rooting around in them since I received my first 100mhz Pentium back in 1995 for $1400. I can build a working system from a pile of parts, and though I am not exceptionally proficient with software, I can follow directions with enough competence to create my own basic programs.
Yet despite that, I find battling with modern word processing to be exceptionally tedious. Even with the exceptional help of Gregory Mahan, it took me three solid days to get the paperback version of The Goldenwealth Light up to the point of proper polish for something you might find on a shelf at your local bookstore. And don't even get me started on translating that back into a workable Kindle version!
Well, things are a bit easier now that I've figured it all out, but at some point I think I'm going to have to write notes just so I can remember what I did. Once upon a time when I was young, I wrote down story ideas in a notebook. I doubt Hemingway would have had much use for filling papers with Word formatting reminders, and though modern convenience is a wonderful thing...I can't help but have a bit of envy for the way he probably did it.
What are your thoughts?
RainHand Books (Goodreads Digest)
A digest of posts from my writing and review blog, RainHand Books. Check out rainhandbooks.com for more!
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