Michael C. Bailey's Blog, page 65

Weekly Update – August 7, 2018

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: I had another kick-ass week last week. Draft one of book three is past the 39,000-word mark, so it’s past the halfway point.

The Going Rate for Penance – The second round of edits is done — and I think my work on this story may be completely finished!

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written, and it’s gone out to some test-readers for scrutiny. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

Station Identification Time

Who Am I?

I’m a writer originally from Falmouth, MA who now lives in Worcester (pronounced like the name of Hugh Laurie’s dim-witted socialite) with my awesomely talented wife Veronica, who runs a business called Storied Threads.

After 15 years with the Falmouth Enterprise, where I worked as a general and political reporter, blogger, and editor, I left the news industry to focus on my creative writing.

In addition to my novels (more on that in a minute) I’m a freelance writer, and I’ve produced scripts for Pastimes Entertainment of Revere, MA and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.

What Do I Write?

[image error]Action Figures is a YA superhero adventure series featuring a team of young superhumans who set out to make a name for themselves in the superhero world and quickly find themselves in over their heads. Fun, full of humor and action, populated with likable characters (including some of the villains), and suitable for teen readers and adults who still love superheroes. Oh, and no love triangles. Ever. The first book, Secret Origins, reached the #1 spot on two Amazon best-seller lists.

[image error]The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot is my response to all the overly serious fantasy novels out there that have forgotten how to have fun. The series follows two hard-luck adventurers for hire with a knack for biting off more than they can chew and their friends as they explore ancient ruins, fight deadly monsters, go on epic prophecy-driven quests for artifacts of great power hidden in highly inconvenient locations, and cross a lot of rickety rope bridges along the way. The first book, Scratching a Lich, received a gold medal for fantasy fiction from BellaOnline, a resource for women in writing, which also recognizes feminist writers and their work.

[image error]Cheap Thrills Digest is a short story collection featuring introductions to my two series, plus an original novelette-length horror story, Lost Souls, which is exclusive to CTD. If you’re curious about my writing, you can grab this for just $6 in print or 99 cents in e-book format.

[image error] Copyright 2018 Tessa Beatrice/Underdog Comics

Freedom Winds Underdog Comics is a mini-comic I wrote for , and you can read it for free at any time here, here, or here.

Well Behaved Women is a planned urban fantasy trilogy now in the early stages. Book one, Awakening, is scheduled for a late summer/early fall 2018 release. Book two, Transition, is set for 2019. The release date for book three, Endgame, is TBA.

What Will I See Here?

I post weekly updates that include progress reports on various projects, cover art reveals, new release announcements, a schedule of appearances and book-signings, the occasion essay on writing, and whatever random bits and pieces capture my attention.

Where Can You Find Me Online?

Official website

Weekly newsletter

Amazon author page

Facebook

Twitter

BookBub

Instagram

Goodreads

Google +

LinkedIn

Weekly Update – July 31, 2018

Woo-hoo! It’s almost cover art reveal time! Tricia has been busy working her magic, and you may have noticed the swanky new banner at the top of this webesite, the one that looks like this…

[image error]

Tricia came up with the cameo portraits to add to the spines of the print editions, and I decided they were begging to be turned into some teaser promo images. I’m thrilled with how they came out, and I expect to slap these babies all over the internet in the coming weeks and months.

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: Slow week last week, but I’m applying the “any progress is good progress” theory. Book three is close to the halfway mark.

The Going Rate for Penance – Current draft with editor for second review.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written, and it’s gone out to some test-readers for scrutiny. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

Weekly Update – July 24, 2018

[image error]I did another superhero box set-related interview last week, this time with fellow author and box set co-coordinator Trish Heinrich. It was a lot of fun and we’ve both promised to do it again soon. Here’s the link to the Facebook Live playback, but be warned, the feed is a little glitchy in spots.

The e-book set includes Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins and will be available through September. This collection also includes Hero Status by Kristen Brand, Super by Karen Diem, Morning Sun by Jeremy Flagg, Supervillain High by Gerhard Gehrke, Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon, Serpent’s Sacrifice by Trish Heinrich, Fuse – Origin by David Neth, The Kota by Sunshine Somerville, and Sidekick – The Red Raptor Files Part One by Christopher J. Valin.

Buy it now for just $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo!

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: I got another awesome week of writing in on book three last week, blasting through another 5,000 words. Let’s see if I can keep the trend going this week!

The Going Rate for Penance – Current draft with editor for second review.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written, and it’s gone out to some test-readers for scrutiny. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

Weekly Update – July 17, 2018

[image error]Last week I did an interview with Gerhard Gehrke, one of my fellow authors in the new Heroes & Villains superhero novel box set. You can go read it here, then go snag the box set and check out Gerhard’s work.

The e-book set includes Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins and will be available through September. This collection also includes Hero Status by Kristen Brand, Super by Karen Diem, Morning Sun by Jeremy Flagg, Supervillain High by Gerhard Gehrke, Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon, Serpent’s Sacrifice by Trish Heinrich, Fuse – Origin by David Neth, The Kota by Sunshine Somerville, and Sidekick – The Red Raptor Files Part One by Christopher J. Valin.

Buy it now for just $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo!

WRITING PROJECTS

[image error]Well-Behaved Women: LOGO REVEAL! If you missed it on social media last week, here it is again, and I love it more every time I look at it. Next come the covers, and I can’t wait to see what Tricia has in store! In other WBW news, I had an awesome writing week last week and knocked out more than 5,000 words on draft one of book three. That’s a nice change of pace from the lengthy slog of book two.

The Going Rate for Penance – I received my first round of editor’s notes for my submission for The Final Summons, the New England Speculative Writers‘ upcoming anthology, made the changes, and sent it back for the next review. Things are progressing nicely!

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written, and it’s gone out to some test-readers for scrutiny. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

Weekly Update – July 10, 2018

[image error]The new Heroes & Villains superhero novel box set, which includes Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins, is still available, and will be through September — which isn’t too early to do some holiday shopping, hint hint.

This collection of e-books also includes Hero Status by Kristen Brand, Super by Karen Diem, Morning Sun by Jeremy Flagg, Supervillain High by Gerhard Gehrke, Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon, Serpent’s Sacrifice by Trish Heinrich, Fuse – Origin by David Neth, The Kota by Sunshine Somerville, and Sidekick – The Red Raptor Files Part One by Christopher J. Valin.

Buy it now for just $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo!

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: Awakening is done and waiting for its cover art. Progress on draft one of book three is coming along and I expect to get a lot of work done on it this week.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

Weekly Update – July 3, 2018

[image error]In case you missed it last week, the new Heroes & Villains superhero novel box set, which includes Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins, has dropped!

This collection of e-books also includes Hero Status by Kristen Brand, Super by Karen Diem, Morning Sun by Jeremy Flagg, Supervillain High by Gerhard Gehrke, Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon, Serpent’s Sacrifice by Trish Heinrich, Fuse – Origin by David Neth, The Kota by Sunshine Somerville, and Sidekick – The Red Raptor Files Part One by Christopher J. Valin.

Buy it now for just $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo!

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: The final draft of book one, Awakening, is done! Now I can focus on book three while I wait for my cover artist to work her magic.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

Weekly Update – June 27, 2018

[image error]Thank you everyone who contributed to the New England Speculative Writers Kickstarter campaign for The Final Summons anthology!

The campaign officially ended Wednesday evening with a grand total of $1,937, $82 over our third stretch goal and $812 over our base goal! Now it’s time to play the waiting game until February 2019 when we unleash the book to the public!

The book will feature my short story The Going Rate for Penance and 13 other fantasy, horror, and science fiction tales from New England-area authors.

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: Past the 15,000 word mark on book three, and I received my edits back on book one, so this week I’ll be focusing on working up my final draft of Awakening!

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury: First draft in progress, and as you can see, I have a working subtitle. This story is going to focus on Dr. Enigma and the return of her nemesis Black Betty. Expect another game-changer!

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.

The Heroes & Villains Box Set – Now Available!

[image error]Which will it be: save the world, or watch it burn?

In this ten novel boxed set, indie publishing’s greatest superhero authors will introduce you to the heroes that save the world and the villains scheming to destroy it. Whether you like dystopian heroes, modern capes and cowls, champions of a bygone era, or guardians past their prime, you’ll love the high-octane adventure in this boxed set.

Buy Heroes & Villains today and suit up for the ride of a lifetime!

This collection of e-books includes Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins by Michael C. Bailey, Hero Status by Kristen Brand, Super by Karen Diem, Morning Sun by Jeremy Flagg, Supervillain High by Gerhard Gehrke, Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon, Serpent’s Sacrifice by Trish Heinrich, Fuse – Origin by David Neth, The Kota by Sunshine Somerville, and Sidekick – The Red Raptor Files Part One by Christopher J. Valin.

Buy it now for just $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo!

Weekly Update – June 19, 2018

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers Kickstarter campaign for The Final Summons anthology is about to officially wrap up!

You have ONE DAY left to make a pledge and help us meet our third and final stretch goal, which will put a copy of the book in EVERY backer’s local public library! Even just two dollars earns you this perk, so go make a pledge before it’s too late!

The book will feature my short story The Going Rate for Penance and 13 other fantasy, horror, and science fiction tales from New England-area authors. Our editor, Trish Woolridge, is already picking apart the individual stories, and as you can see we have the cover ready to go, so we should easily hit our February 2019 release date.

WRITING PROJECTS

Well-Behaved Women: Past the 13,000 word mark. Still laying the foundation for the story.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress. I got a little bit of work in on this while I was letting my brain cool down from WBW.

Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Fourth draft written. Tentatively scheduled for a February/March 2019 release.

Action Figures – Issue Nine: The first draft has begun! I have about two and a half chapters down already, and I’ll keep picking at this in-between other projects so I can have it ready for a winter/spring 2020 release.

Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire – Saturday, September 15, 1 to 3 PM. I’ll be returning for the annual Meet the Author series.

MISC.

[image error]The New England Speculative Writers group if offering not one but two free books to new newsletter subscribers. Simply click on this link and sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll receive e-book versions of the two collections pictured here, featuring novel samples from NESW members. The fantasy collection includes the first two chapters of The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Scratching a Lich.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.