Frank Hofer's Blog, page 9
March 17, 2013
Gunpowder Fantasy Reviews Duck Blood Soup
Duck Blood Soup got another good review, this time at Gunpowder Fantasy: http://gunpowderfantasy.com/2013/03/16/review-duck-blood-soup/
Remember to let your fantasy reading friends know that Duck Blood Soup isn’t just a disgusting sounding first course, it’s a pretty decent fantasy novel as well.
You can get your Kindle copy at http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Blood-Soup-Caldarium-ebook/dp/B00AGOISEU/ for $3.99 (free if you’ve got amazon prime) and at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duck-Blood-Soup-Caldarium-ebook/dp/B00AGOISEU/ for £2.54
Why Writers Need Agents
I would really like to get a contract for Duck Blood Soup, but obviously an agent is a must. There is no way I’d ever sign something from Random House’s Alibi/Hydra if it was like what Scalzi describes. Better to stay independent then to get screwed over.
March 15, 2013
Self Publishing – 2
It’s articles like this that make me think that having Duck Blood Soup self published is the way to go: Kristine Kathryn Rusch on The Business Rusch: The Death of Publishing
March 14, 2013
Ozeanchori National Anthem
“Oh Ozeanchor!
Our ancestral home,
May you forever be
encircled by the smell of glory!
With the Sangre’s gifts,
The S’reph’s sight,
The Human’s skills,
The Giant’s might,
With sword or book,
On wing or foot,
Will protect our homes and rights,
WILL PROTECT OUR HOMES AND RIGHTS.”
The giant’s roaring finale rattled the prison wagon. Petrev shook his head as Private Apso made another futile attempt to silence Din by banging a pan against the bars.
Read more at http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Blood-Soup-Caldarium-ebook/dp/B00AGOISEU/
March 13, 2013
Self Publishing – 1
This article by Kristine Kathryn Rusch gives me some hope that Duck Blood Soup and the sequels (currently being written) can actually make it. The problem we’re having is that we have jobs that pay the bills and can’t just drop them to write, no matter what the potential pay off. The Business Rusch: Binge Reading
March 12, 2013
Chapter 12 start
Chapter 12
“DRAGONFLIES!”
It was the one word that brought dread to heart of every farmer in Eizenfeng. ‘Dragonfly’ would have been bad enough, but his wife Regle had yelled ‘Dragonflies’. She knew the important distinction between the two words.
One of the six-inch creatures might only destroy a few plants, but when their numbers grew they became far more destructive. A couple of dozen could destroy a whole farm — barn, house and all. A swarm could destroy a small town. Garimet looked out of the kitchen window. He couldn’t see how many dragonflies there were, but with his entire family out in the field one was too many. The farmer rushed out the back door of the house without bothering to drop his spatula.
Garimet wasn’t sure what he could do to help his family if there were more than a few dragonflies. The fields aren’t burning; that’s a good sign, the farmer thought. He could see his two youngest boys running toward the barn with Regle urging them along. She would try to protect the barn and its contents. The family’s livelihood depended upon it. A week’s worth of harvested vegetables were loaded onto wagons in the barn. If they lost those, there wouldn’t be enough money to cover the bills.
Regle stopped running once she saw Garimet. The normally strong woman was struggling to hold back her tears. “Teravus fell when we were running from the field. I think he might have broken his leg. Jeunelux was trying to help him, but there are so many dragonflies. Please Garimet, please save them. I can’t lose another child.”
Words alone wouldn’t comfort his wife. He wanted to hold her in his arms and let her cry on his shoulders. “Get the boys to the barn. If things get too bad, make your way to the root cellar. I’ll do what I can for Teravus and Junie.”
The farmer sprinted toward the fields, searching frantically for his children. The dragonflies’ buzz drowned out his shouts.
Garimet understood why his wife sounded so panicked. In his forty years he had never seen this many dragonflies. Hundreds buzzed above the fields, working themselves into a frenzy. Instead of feasting on the plants like they normally would, the insects darted back and forth, high and low. The bugs were most dangerous when they were agitated and he knew it wouldn’t be long before these started breathing fire.
In the middle of the swarm Garimet noticed an area devoid of insects. He ran to that spot, his fatherly instincts telling him that his son and daughter would be there. One of the dragonflies swooped down and with a small puff of fire singed the farmer’s hair. Experience told him that the worst thing he could do was swat at the bug. A crushed insect would give off an acrid scent that would provoke the entire swarm to attack anything and everything.
Read more at http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Blood-Soup-Caldarium-ebook/dp/B00AGOISEU/
March 11, 2013
Bad Publishing Contracts – 2
I’m starting to think self publishing Duck Blood Soup may end up being superior to signing with some publishing houses. You keep more of the cash and more importantly, the rights to your work. John Scalzi has more on slimy contracts: A Contract From Alibi
March 9, 2013
The Care and Feeding of your Author
The care and feeding of your author: http://jenlarsen.net/2013/03/the-care-and-feeding-of-your-author/
You can show your support at http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Blood-Soup-Caldarium-ebook/dp/B00AGOISEU/
askDavid.com Reviews Needed
When a giant steps on someone, there’s going to be a mess. You know that if you’ve read Duck Blood Soup (The Caldarium War) The Brothers Hofer are not giants and we need reviews. Please click on the the link and help us by writing your reviews at askDavid.com. Help us to get the word out about Duck Blood Soup.
And don’t forget to tell your friends that they can buy Duck Blood Soup at amazon.com
March 8, 2013
Bad Publishing Contracts – 1
This is why I would never sign a contract for Duck Blood Soup with any publisher without having an agent. John Scalzi: Note to SF/F Writers: Random House’s Hydra Imprint Has Appallingly Bad Contract Terms
