Mark Brandon Powell's Blog, page 2

New Edition for The Zero Class

I have just finished an extensive editing process with The Zero Class. It was something that needed to be done awhile ago, but I have just now gotten to it. BUT. I think it's better that I have waited, because it is now better than it would have been. Everything is now in one voice, no tense skipping, and the few places that I do change narrative voice, it is a clear break.

So there is all of that, and I now have Whisper and Fury out, and it is looking good. So lots of good things in the future. 

Dragon Fire

It's up and available for pre-order now. 

Promotion Event

March 18th through the 22nd I am putting my two books on sale for 0.99 cents!

I am going to track things like return on investment and stuff for other people, but for any readers I have, if you haven't already picked up either book, or want to give it out to other people, then you have you chance.

I know this might make some people not want to purchase until then, but if you happen to be reading this, it probable means your are one of my readers, and you get a discount for it.

Ok, trying something even newer

That's just the way things go sometimes. I really haven't seen any increase in anything by going with Amazon only. What I have noticed is that I cant seem to get any traction anywhere. So new plan. I have been looking into keywords, and marketing, basically thinking that Amazon is a search engine, which it is, and do some SEO on my books. 

This hasn't been going very well just yet, I have no idea how to truly categorize my books without slapping them into the larger categories. So this is where I'm at, waiting for the 90 days to be up, and then I am off to the races with everywhere else again, like I was before. 

The new book is coming along well. I have well over three fourths written, and I would have had more by now but my daughter, who I love more than anything, got her first sickness. It was hard on Christine and I, but I know it was hard on Vivian too. 

I really want anyone who likes my books, my writing, or my works to tell me what they think it is. You can email what you think, or just put it in the comments. Share it with others, and see what they think too. 

Till my next update, 

Happy reading,

Mark

Trying out something new

There's always a fear to trying out something new, and if money is involved it only worsens that fear. I do it all the time with games and books. I don't want to spend what little entertainment money on something that isn't going to deliver, or worse not be something I know I'm going to like. I started to research things more about the time that happened. Watched videos of the gameplay, or read samples. So I really understand that fear, and I'm glad there are already things out there that can alleviate some of that.

So here's what I'm going to do. I am going to give anyone who signs up for my mailing list, Shadow Moon, for free. This is because I want to give to my readers, and I want to start a conversation with people. It just won't be a conversation about me, it will be about what I'm currently reading (if you're into that kind of thing), what others told me about (like games and books), and if there's something cool I think you might like.

That's it, something I should have done in the first place, but hey, we can't all get it right on the first go. Right?

If you want to tell me about something you've read or played and loved, just email me. I would love to hear about it.

Kindle Exclusive

I know there are authors out there that say that having everything on Kindle only is a mistake, and it might be, but what I need to do right now is grow my readers. Most of which are on Kindle only. So I'm going to go with the whole 80/20 rule right now, and work with Kindle only.

There may or may not be any positive to this, but I'm just trying to see what works best for me right now, and the only way to do that is to try things out. 

Wish me luck.

Books

So I've tracked my reading this year through goodreads, which is awesome to be able to do. I've hit 21 books, and I started tracking in June. Most of those are the Dresden files, which are also awesome. Like awesome awesome. Like holy s**t that rocks b***s awesome. 

Its just weird to find an author that I myself live to read. Which is becoming more and more.  

I have easily read more books this last year than the last ten combined. Which makes sense, as I start my heavy writing as I have this year.  

So here's to a new year coming up, and more books to read.  

MOBAs

I've been playing this multi-player online battle arena game (MOBA) called Vain Glory. It's for the iPhone and iPad, and is a glorious game for the phone. 

I don't play phone games much, because most weren't fun to me. This on the other hand. AMAZING! 

I've also been playing a lot of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Which would be one reason I have been here much. It is another game that has blown my socks off. The story is amazing, which a lot of reviews have bashed for one reason or another, but I've really enjoyed it. Just seeing the evolution of the world, and the growth is insipiring. 

As far as the writing goes, Dragon's Fire is making headway, as is the outlining of the next unnamed series for Cypher Theorem. Whisper & Fury is still on the first draft as I wait to hear back from the first round of beta readers.  

If you want to play some Vain Glory with me, my name is holtzcat, if not catch you later. 

Shadow Moon

So I have spent a lot of time with the honeymoon. I really enjoy telling the story, and the more I read it and reread it, I felt like there was something missing. That lead me down a road with Vargas. He wasn't in the story at all, which made him the perfect character to join in. It also helped me fill in a few places of intrigue, and weave them into the story better as a whole. It also let me follow Vargas around more. With my short story Shadows just finished, I wanted to dive more into what he was doing. Then with the new story came a new title, and the old cover needed to go. 

It's all finally finished, and preorders are a go! I am going to have this be a special pre-order deal of .99¢ (the full price being $2.99 after the promotion). This is a great day for me, my second full novel being released, and I am setting things up to have an awesome launch.

The release date is 12-13-14.

Hope you enjoy!

Saw this, wanted to share.

Essays are like skirts. They should be long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to keep it interesting.

 

That is all.