Steven Neil Moore's Blog, page 2

Why does it always come down to financials?

I read an article regarding contract negotiations between a publishing company and a major book distributor. Not that big of a deal; contract negotiations happen in all facets of daily business. What saddened me was that since neither parties have been able to come to a common agreement, the distributor has decided to pull all titles of the authors, who use said publisher, from their catalogs and website.

Did the distributor screw themselves, or just the author and the readers?

Although they have one of the largest distribution networks globally, it doesn’t mean that they are the only “game in town.” The distributor’s competitors are offering massive sales discounts on the “pulled” titles. I can’t really say that I blame them. Why shouldn’t they profit off someone else’s mistake? Especially since it is a stupid mistake.

Big business can and is affecting artistic freedom and the ability to connect with the audience; in this case, the readers. While these two companies are hashing it out, who is really suffering because of this? The authors and the readers are only trying to continue their romance. We write, you read. That’s our relationship, and it’s been working out fine. Just because mom and dad can’t agree on what’s for dinner, why do the kids have to starve?

Now, I completely understand that this is a business as well. As an author, we tend to profit from what we write. Everybody always gets paid before the artist though. I’m cool with that.

What I’m not cool with, is some person, company, entity, etc., making an arbitrary decision to stop delivering our form of entertainment because they want to increase their profits, and going about it a “screw you” type of way. You don’t take away the books until AFTER the negotiations have failed, not during. That’s just plain wrong and makes them look like bullies.

Where is this going to stop? How is something like this not a form of censorship? This is Slaughterhouse Five and the 1970s all over again. The only difference is that this is not about the “misunderstood content of the author’s imagination”; this is about a schoolyard bully beating up another nerd for his lunch money because they want more.

Think about this… What’s to keep something like this from happening to say, network and television? Consumer products and the buyers? Relief organizations and disaster victims?

“I want more money.”

“Let’s talk about that.”

“No. I’m tired of talking and not getting what I want.”

“What does that mean?”

“If you don’t give me what I want, I’ll make everyone miserable until I get it.”

It sounds like a parent having a discussion with their child, or a super villain preparing to destroy the world. I can’t really tell the difference.

It’s a real shame when greed gets in the middle of something as simple as reading a story. I’m fairly certain that no consideration has been given to the collateral effect of their decision. If they thought with something else other than their wallets, they just might see the damage their reputation is suffering in the eyes of the artist and consumer.

I have an idea. Why don’t the people that care most about their perceived shares, who owns what, and how often they should get it, sit in a cold room somewhere and figure out how their lives became so petty and indifferent. The rest of us will read a book.

Obsession��� Not that bad of a word.

What do you do when something has consumed you? I’m not talking about a rousing game of Uno, or a gripping suspense climax in your favorite detective television show. I mean stalker-level, mind-controlled, binge-eating, binge-watching, song stuck in your head, on the verge of losing your family and day job consumed.

That’s pretty hard up when you get to that level, but I think that means you are an actual writer.

I find myself thinking about my books and characters constantly. Sometimes, it gets to the point where my family is trying to talk to me, and I am “in the zone” with the story line, plotting of a scene, building a bridge between one chapter or section and another, etc. I carry around my iPad faithfully to capture those moments, but I have found lately, that just jotting down a few notes here and there, or writing a couple of lines��� isn’t enough. As I have mentioned before, inspiration can strike at any time. It’s very, VERY hard not to write when it comes knocking. Like now��� I can’t really seem to stop writing down my thoughts about being obsessed. I believe in normal people, this would be an indication of a mental illness. I’m not really sure if there’s any difference between that and a writer.

Here’s a prime example. Between the last paragraph and this one, I had to stop for a few hours to do something else. That entire time, I thought about a character flow for Joshua and a plane trip from England.

I am pretty good at multitasking on certain things, but when it comes to writing, I throw myself into it 100%. The problem is that I don’t always get to focus completely on the writing at hand. That, as of late, has been the most frustrating part for me. I WANT to write. I am not independently wealthy, nor have I been presented with a book-to-screen deal which will allow me to basically just sit and write. Which, as I mentioned��� is all I want to do.

What started out as a hobby, then slowly became a past time, has now turned into an addictive drug. (Not the bad kind either). It’s like that crazed look that guy from Reefer Madness had when he couldn’t get enough. Not the new one, the old black-and-white version. I just can’t seem to make it through a part of my day without thinking or actually writing.

I’ve heard that if you are willing to do something without pay because you love it, then that is the occupation you should have. Well, I’ve known that for a long time.

I’m no different than anyone else who happens to be obsessed. I just focus my time and energy on a universe of worlds floating about in my head. My characters and situations are very real when I write. For all of those writers out there, I don’t have to explain any of this.

Brothers and sisters, do you feel me?

Time for the moral���

If you made it this far, then yeah��� you’re probably just as obsessed as I am. That’s not such a bad thing. It is that very obsession that generates amazing stories from nothing. It doesn’t matter what you write about. Keep doing what you’re doing; I know that I will. That tick in your eye (Reefer Madness,) may lead to your life’s masterpiece. How are you ever going to know if you stop being obsessed?

 

PS. I know that I said the graphic would be new for the next book.�� It’s not coming out until May, and I just had to get this obession thing off my chest.�� It will be new for the next blog… unless I obsess about something else that I absolutely have to��rant about.

Obsession… Not that bad of a word.

What do you do when something has consumed you? I’m not talking about a rousing game of Uno, or a gripping suspense climax in your favorite detective television show. I mean stalker-level, mind-controlled, binge-eating, binge-watching, song stuck in your head, on the verge of losing your family and day job consumed.

That’s pretty hard up when you get to that level, but I think that means you are an actual writer.

I find myself thinking about my books and characters constantly. Sometimes, it gets to the point where my family is trying to talk to me, and I am “in the zone” with the story line, plotting of a scene, building a bridge between one chapter or section and another, etc. I carry around my iPad faithfully to capture those moments, but I have found lately, that just jotting down a few notes here and there, or writing a couple of lines… isn’t enough. As I have mentioned before, inspiration can strike at any time. It’s very, VERY hard not to write when it comes knocking. Like now… I can’t really seem to stop writing down my thoughts about being obsessed. I believe in normal people, this would be an indication of a mental illness. I’m not really sure if there’s any difference between that and a writer.

Here’s a prime example. Between the last paragraph and this one, I had to stop for a few hours to do something else. That entire time, I thought about a character flow for Joshua and a plane trip from England.

I am pretty good at multitasking on certain things, but when it comes to writing, I throw myself into it 100%. The problem is that I don’t always get to focus completely on the writing at hand. That, as of late, has been the most frustrating part for me. I WANT to write. I am not independently wealthy, nor have I been presented with a book-to-screen deal which will allow me to basically just sit and write. Which, as I mentioned… is all I want to do.

What started out as a hobby, then slowly became a past time, has now turned into an addictive drug. (Not the bad kind either). It’s like that crazed look that guy from Reefer Madness had when he couldn’t get enough. Not the new one, the old black-and-white version. I just can’t seem to make it through a part of my day without thinking or actually writing.

I’ve heard that if you are willing to do something without pay because you love it, then that is the occupation you should have. Well, I’ve known that for a long time.

I’m no different than anyone else who happens to be obsessed. I just focus my time and energy on a universe of worlds floating about in my head. My characters and situations are very real when I write. For all of those writers out there, I don’t have to explain any of this.

Brothers and sisters, do you feel me?

Time for the moral…

If you made it this far, then yeah… you’re probably just as obsessed as I am. That’s not such a bad thing. It is that very obsession that generates amazing stories from nothing. It doesn’t matter what you write about. Keep doing what you’re doing; I know that I will. That tick in your eye (Reefer Madness,) may lead to your life’s masterpiece. How are you ever going to know if you stop being obsessed?

 

PS. I know that I said the graphic would be new for the next book.  It’s not coming out until May, and I just had to get this obession thing off my chest.  It will be new for the next blog… unless I obsess about something else that I absolutely have to rant about.

On the horizon of awesome!

Okay, so let’s talk about what’s been going on. The span of time between all of these blogs is just a bit ridiculous, but as with everything else in life,… there is a purpose and a reason for the tardiness.

First, let’s talk about the direction of Glorious Incorporated. Look to the right of your screen. Check out that fresh cover art! I found a great new graphic artist to do the design of my second book, (more on that later.) and that work of architectural genius was so wicked; I asked him what he could do to improve on my first. That—> is what he came up with. Full-on cool, baby! Since all my stuff at the moment is specific to a series, he kept with the running theme.

When everything is said and done, this complete series might look pretty good wrapped in a box set.

It also seems that GI is picking up a bit more steam across the pond. To quote Joey Tribbiani, “London, baby!” My book was on display at the LBF 2014 this past week. I got a few more followers out of that, also pretty cool. The best part was some of the reviews. People are saying some really nice things about this book. As a humbled and starving author, I am very grateful for any nugget of affection from all of you glorious readers.

We’re going to kick it into high gear at the end of May for the NYC BF 2014. I’m hoping to garner a bit more attention from that awesome event.

Okay, so what else have I been doing? Oh yeah, it looks like GI is going to be released in an audio book around November 2014. I found another amazing artist who is going to lend his multi-talented voices to the characters of my book. That right there is about 20° to the right of cool! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about the new format.

Another incredible event… I just did a radio interview about three weeks ago, and was remarkably, not as nervous as I thought I would be. Nobody wants to sound like a goof on the air.

If you ask any author that has a book that is beginning to trend in a positive direction, it’s seriously hard not to blow the proverbial horn of accomplishments. I enjoy seeing the excitement of those who worked really diligently at something they love, to finally see an impossible dream begin to take flight. It is a big old bucket of awesome sauce when it finally happens to you.

Secondly, let’s chat a bit about the new book. “Theft: Chaos Rising” will be available the first week of May 2014. New book cover to the right – >will change up for the next blog.

What a great segue!

The next book is a story arc that begins the first part of the second trilogy in the Joshua Chronicles. I’m going to be releasing all the parts of the second trilogy individually as I complete them. When everything is said and done, I will bundle everything from this trilogy into an omnibus. We’ll talk a little more about my methodology and thinking behind this whole strategy in future blogs.

Now it’s time for the moral of this blog. (I always seem to have one to justify all the blah, blah, blah stuff that I just wrote)

I used a lot of “positive” descriptors to outline how great and genuinely appreciative I am of the trajectory of this first book, and all the pending books of the series. The response that I am getting from everyone is truly humbling. Those are the things that I do not want to lose sight of, or never take advantage of receiving. Every author wants to be successful; I’m not quite there, but as with everything positive in my life, I am hopeful. All the cool stuff that is happening, is right on the “edge” of something truly awesome. Small victories are the key, and I am grateful for each and every one.

Many thanks to my readers. I write these stories for all. I hope you continue to enjoy them as I take you on this journey.

An assortment of ideas��� what am I supposed to do with that?

Have you ever been in a position where you’ve had multiple ideas come out of you in a flood? Where there are so many that you can’t possibly remember or capture them all? How about when you’re desperately trying to conceive of an idea, and you’ve got nothing, nada, zippo, zilch, and any other ridiculous metaphor or euphemism that you can come up with? Both events can be very trying, and extremely difficult to handle when they happen arbitrarily with no conceivable reason, trigger, or command.

Marketing people look for the next-best sales pitch; they sit in a room, either with other like-minded people, or alone, trying to come up with the next-best Coca-Cola or Doritos ad. You know the ones that I’m talking about. The advertisements that will win them accolades for the creative genius behind making people want to purchase something that they probably don’t even like, which will ultimately result in increased sales. As a separate disclaimer, I LOVE Coca-Cola and Doritos!

All of that stuff starts with an idea.

Writers and authors aren’t that far from the same process. Harry Potter started off as an idea with JK Rowling; look how that turned out? It’s all got to start somewhere.

“Outstanding rant, Steven. What’s your point?”

I went to a book-to-screen pitch fest in late 2012, and heard one of the best single-line phrases ever in my writing career.

The idea is the king.

Not much if you look at it as just a bunch of words, but if you think about the concept, it defines EVERYTHING. Every great thing that has ever been brought into this world, comes from a single thought, which turns into an idea. On the flipside, every bad thing that has ever been brought into the world also comes from a thought or an idea. We could talk for days on the differences between good and bad, but the common denominator is that it all starts with an idea.

I’m not here to give a philosophy lesson, but to share a further point.

Even if you don’t think it’s worth much, capture all of your ideas; squirrel them away for a rainy day, even if they don’t fit your current writing project. I had some amazing concepts when developing my first book. Some were like 180�� from each other, but that was okay. Each of my ideas has spawned into additional books within a series; some holding themes for other books. My writing cache is full. I have enough material for nine books! It may not be a big whoop for some people, but that’s a pretty big deal for me.

“Is this ever going to end?”

I’m almost done��� One last point. Don’t ever discount an idea no matter how crazy or unrelated you think it may be. It could turn out to be your very own Harry Potter.

An assortment of ideas… what am I supposed to do with that?

Have you ever been in a position where you’ve had multiple ideas come out of you in a flood? Where there are so many that you can’t possibly remember or capture them all? How about when you’re desperately trying to conceive of an idea, and you’ve got nothing, nada, zippo, zilch, and any other ridiculous metaphor or euphemism that you can come up with? Both events can be very trying, and extremely difficult to handle when they happen arbitrarily with no conceivable reason, trigger, or command.

Marketing people look for the next-best sales pitch; they sit in a room, either with other like-minded people, or alone, trying to come up with the next-best Coca-Cola or Doritos ad. You know the ones that I’m talking about. The advertisements that will win them accolades for the creative genius behind making people want to purchase something that they probably don’t even like, which will ultimately result in increased sales. As a separate disclaimer, I LOVE Coca-Cola and Doritos!

All of that stuff starts with an idea.

Writers and authors aren’t that far from the same process. Harry Potter started off as an idea with JK Rowling; look how that turned out? It’s all got to start somewhere.

“Outstanding rant, Steven. What’s your point?”

I went to a book-to-screen pitch fest in late 2012, and heard one of the best single-line phrases ever in my writing career.

The idea is the king.

Not much if you look at it as just a bunch of words, but if you think about the concept, it defines EVERYTHING. Every great thing that has ever been brought into this world, comes from a single thought, which turns into an idea. On the flipside, every bad thing that has ever been brought into the world also comes from a thought or an idea. We could talk for days on the differences between good and bad, but the common denominator is that it all starts with an idea.

I’m not here to give a philosophy lesson, but to share a further point.

Even if you don’t think it’s worth much, capture all of your ideas; squirrel them away for a rainy day, even if they don’t fit your current writing project. I had some amazing concepts when developing my first book. Some were like 180° from each other, but that was okay. Each of my ideas has spawned into additional books within a series; some holding themes for other books. My writing cache is full. I have enough material for nine books! It may not be a big whoop for some people, but that’s a pretty big deal for me.

“Is this ever going to end?”

I’m almost done… One last point. Don’t ever discount an idea no matter how crazy or unrelated you think it may be. It could turn out to be your very own Harry Potter.

You think your work is good… but…

Just like every other aspiring, wanna-be author, I’m trying to find a literary agent. The process may seem easy, but don’t believe the hype. It sounds as simple as contacting someone in the industry to seek representation because “my stuff is the best thing ever written.” Why in the world wouldn’t they snatch me up like a two-for-one sale at Walmart? The answer is very simple; the agent to author ratio is dramatically lopsided. As a result, my book may not be given the appropriate amount of time for consideration.

Literary agents are a sought-after commodity in the writing world. They receive hundreds if not thousands of submissions on a weekly/monthly basis. My little bitty, peon book is a small fish in an infinite ocean. Relative to my peers in the same genre, the competition is fierce. Chances of signing a contract with an agent are, at best, slim to none.

So, Steven … Now that you have presented absolutely no hope of turning your dream into a reality, what’s the use of continuing on?

What a great question! I’m glad that you asked.

I have passion and belief about my stories and what they can offer the world. I also love to write; that part helps a lot.

Discouragement is probably one of a writer’s worst enemies. It’s not bad enough that people like me agonize over every single sentence in our stories, but we have to live with the fact that some people just plain aren’t going to like it no matter how much polish we put on it. That includes literary agents, and that’s ONLY if they have truly looked at it.

It’s their job to suss out all the wheat from the chafe. They have to decide whether or not that, not just this particular book, but the author and the possibility of the brand itself, is sustainable for an already over-saturated market.

What makes my stuff different from every other manuscript they review? This is the part where I sing and dance accolades about how “my world-class stories are the greatest ever written!” Well,… I’m not going to do that. Mainly, because I don’t believe it. I’m not in the same league as Tolstoy, Hemingway, Victor Hugo or any of the other literary giants over the last few centuries, but I do think I have something substantial to offer. Now, of course, I think my books are good; it would be stupid for me not to have a belief in my own work. I also think they’re special enough to create something much-needed in the literary world; decent storytelling! The only people that can decide whether or not my stuff is great, or even good, is my readers. It is their opinion that will cause a change for my stories in this marketplace. Literary agents are readers too. I just have to get the right “reader” to discover my stories and see their potential.

Discouragement… It’s a crappy word that cannot only bring a halt to a dream, but can prevent stories from ever seen the light of day.

The Joshua Chronicles started out as a mere thought. Because I believed the story wasn’t half bad, I let some other people read it. Their opinion led me to where I am today. They saw the potential; that something special my storytelling represented. I’m in the middle of the second book, which has just as much potential as the first. That part is my opinion as no one else has read it yet.

I just have to get a literary agent to see that potential as well. I will keep trying; I will not give up. Each no that I receive means that I am one step closer to a yes. When the right agent says yes, that means we were destined to work together because they see that something special too.

I do know this… When the right agent appears, we will create a partnership that will change the world.

Discouragement… Don’t believe all the hype.

You used what?

First, happy holidays, Merry Ho ho, and a happy new year to all. My apologies for the lengthy absence. It’s been a busy time all around, and quite frankly, I wanted to take a bit of time off to get back to the essence of what I live and breathe; writing. I know this is considered writing, but I’m talking about my truest passion, my artistic baby, my Rachmaninoff, my Beethoven’s fifth. . . eh, who am by trying to kid? My regular life got in my way, and I just haven’t had the time to work on the blog. But, the writing part is true. I am in the tumultuous throes of the second novel, and it’s coming along quite nicely.

This is a very cool segue into this particular diatribe.

I made a statement in a previous blog about what I used to write my first novel. It wasn’t necessarily application-specific, but more so what I wrote it on.

I used my iPad.

For the whole thing?

Yes… for the whole thing.

Someone asked me how something like that was possible. My reply was that it was easy, and it made the most sense. If you think about it from a practical standpoint, it was the only thing that made sense, for someone like me.

In this day and age, with conveniences such as e-mail, video messaging, GPS, and my all- time favorite- media streaming, traditional ways of accomplishing business and everyday tasks are shifting. Let’s face it, even the creative arts such as recording music on 4- track players, although a lot of fun to do, is falling by the wayside. With all the amazing advancements in digital recording, it’s more equitable to the bottom line and just plain easier to do.

The same could be said for writing. Long ago, authors could sit down in a quiet room and put pen to paper and create magnificent stories with the only working machine being their mind. I believe with some, that still holds true. Me?… That’s not my thing.

After spending so many years in the professional world, I’ve learned to use technology to my advantage.

Rule of thumb #42, work smarter, not harder.

Even if I didn’t have the thumb rule, my life is just as chaotic as everyone else’s. I need all the help I can get; just ask my wife.

Writing, in any form, cannot be compared to things such as doing laundry or taking out the garbage. Unless you are a professional or creative chef, there’s no inspiration when you make a pancake; all you have to do is follow a simple recipe. Writing, on the other hand, is a little more involved.

I don’t have the time that it takes to just sit behind a desk with a computer and pound out some words. It’s simply not convenient, and in most cases, is not conducive for the imagination. You can’t force creativity. Sometimes, the environment or the setting can affect where and how my stories evolved. Some of the most creative sections in my first novel came when I was rocking my children to sleep in the nursery at night. A thought or an idea on a bridge or arc in the story hit me, and I had to get it down. Even if I couldn’t do full-on writing, I had my iPad to jot down the notes, so I wouldn’t forget.

It worked so well for me in the beginning as I developed the story content, that I just continued using it. It’s soon evolved into an indispensable convenience. Being stuck in a snowstorm in Chicago produced some of my best ideas. I pulled out my trusty iPad and wrote them down. You just don’t know when a ground-breaking epiphany will hit you like a train.

Rule of thumb #56, capture the moment, it may pass and never return.

Moral of this story? Old-school ways are still important. Embracing the new ways are not so bad. Find your groove, and let the writing magic happen.

The important things…

I know this guy. Super nice; not an unfriendly part about him. My wife and I became friends with him and his wife. Over the years, our family grew; as did theirs.

Let’s recap- He started out as an acquaintance, who became a friend. A happily married man; who loves his wife, and adores his children. A man in his prime, content with his life and happy to be alive.

He was diagnosed with cancer.

What a crappy beginning to a story. That’s just it though… It’s not a story to him.

I wrote about cancer and its nasty effects in my book. It was a byproduct of a secondary storyline, but very relevant to the overall theme for the protagonist… my hero. I made it sound like this horrible beast (which it is), was conquered by one, but consumed another close to my hero.

As a writer, I, along with countless others, have the ability to create a fantasy world out of nothing. Sometimes we use real-life events and expand on those to create a brilliant idea or an amazing story arc. We can turn simple things such stopping to smell the flowers at a corner florist, into a missed traffic light sending a car careening into the patrons at that very flower shop. Often, we forget about story ideas such as cancer being very real, and not just part of a fictionalized tale. It never really hits home until someone close to you experiences it. Now, being as near to middle age as I care to get, this is not my first real-life exposure to a person with this terrible and unholy disease. Yes, I use the word “unholy” in its true form. There is nothing remotely positive about this blight on human suffering.

As a true testament to those who have survived it, they are the heroes, and they should be well recognized as such. Most of us who have never experienced it, do not understand the tough road of suffering it takes to get on the other side of it. Even so, sometimes we write about it as if it will add a complex layer of depth to the suffering of someone in our stories.

It may make for a good storyline,… but it sucks for those who are actually living with it.

I gave my friend a copy of my book. I wanted him to have something to read; to help take his mind off everything that is happening. It wasn’t until later when I realized that I had painted, not one example, but two, very realistic portraits of his new existence. My heart sank. I fretted for days over the mistake that I had made in handing him a new owner’s manual of something that nobody wants. His family had said that it was not a big deal. It was, and still is to me. He has become one of my biggest fans. For that, I am truly grateful and completely undeserving. Nevertheless, he is living out the true story of something most of us writers can only conceptualize. He has become just another number for the disease, but so much more to those around him.

He will overcome this. Of that, I have no doubt.

Although thoughtless in nature, my intentions were pure, from the heart, and full of love. I know, deep down; he knows and understands this. The compassion I have for my friend’s feelings would never allow me to willfully hurt him or anyone in this situation.

Simply put, yes, he is a hero. A man holding his head up and hitting this face on. He is more of a hero than Joshua could ever be.

For my friend,… this too shall pass , and one day we will dance on the grave of this disease, victorious with the sun shining down on us.

You are my hero.

These amazing people will enjoy this book the most.

As an avid reader, I enjoy books that make me think. A good story line, a large breath and depth of characters, and storytelling that offer visualization of the action, suspense, romance, intrigue, mystery — whatever mood I’m in at the time. It has to be decent right out of the gate. Something has to catch me in the first 10 to 15 pages that makes me want to continue. That’s what I tried to do with this book. I created a suspenseful element in the first few pages that makes the reader want to know what happens next. As the reader continues, their questions will be answered, but the deeper questions follow.

I take the reader down the rabbit hole.

In the beginning, I thought that could only be done with action or suspense books. You know, the type where the hero or heroine is in a life-or-death situation with no way out… But wait! In the 11th hour, they figure out a solution and save the world. It turns out, that can pretty much be done with any type of book as long as the story board has the basic elements: rich characters, the situation, the journey, and… a conclusion that doesn’t leave you hanging. I can’t tell you how many times I have read a book or watched a movie or television show where the characters are great, the situation of peril or intrigue is exciting and suspenseful, and then the ending just absolutely sucks. It’s almost as if the writer got tired towards the end and just wrote something to finish it off. I have a ton of specific examples, but will most likely get in trouble for mentioning them. Just close your eyes and think back over the many stories that you have watched or read over the years. I’ll bet you can come up with one or two that missed the boat in wrapping up the ending.

That being said, the ending of my book is spectacular. (Well… In my mind at least). But the readers need to know that this is the first part of an epic trilogy. I don’t hit a lot of detail regarding why the religious relics in this book are important. That all plays out in the second and third book. That doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the ending, though. Good company versus bad company, big storyline throughout the middle, one of them loses at the end. Supernatural stuff all throughout.

My book has a beginning, a good middle, and a nice conclusion. There will be no hanging chads, dangling metaphors, or “where’s the beef?” questions at the end. In fact, for those of you that still have questions, I will be more than happy to answer them with the understanding that it may be a “spoiler alert” for the next few books. If you want to take that gamble, I’ll be more than happy to abide.

After that long-winded explanation of what I like in a book or anything with a storyline, let’s talk about what all of you amazing people will get.

Detailed description of characters to the point of where you know them like your mother or your best friend.
A plot right out of the first few pages that only gets more suspenseful and complex throughout the book.
Morals… enough said.
A world full of religious Artifacts that aren’t preachy, but add to the overall storyline.
Advanced technology like you’ve never seen. (With the exception of possibly Ironman. He has some pretty cool stuff.)
Unexplainable situations. That’s all part of the whole supernatural bit.
Epic confrontations. What else would you expect between angels and demons? Least we not forget the humans involved in all that as well.
Young love just trying to find a place in this world.
The evils of a corporation and the damage they can do. (Not pointing fingers, but everyone has experienced the dark side of big corporate money.)
Explosions, spy-action scenes, best friends having a good time — the list goes on and on.

And, the most important part… A good and fun read. What more could anyone ask for?