Michael C. Bailey's Blog, page 72
November 1, 2017
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.
Well Behaved Women is a planned urban fantasy trilogy now in the early stages. Book one is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2018 release.
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?
October 31, 2017
Weekly Update – October 31, 2017
Happy Halloween!
Before we get into the shameless self-promotion, let’s flash back to 2015 when I asked folks to contribute a two-sentence horror story. I got a lot of cool submissions, so go check them out and, once you’ve had your fast and cheap scare, come on back.
Today is your LAST DAY to take advantage of the superhero fiction giveaway! Jump over to our group page on Instafreebie and choose from several titles for all ages and tastes. Sign up for their newsletters and get a free e-book as a thank-you. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll get a copy of Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins! If you know anyone who might be interested in this promotion, please spread the word.
WRITING PROJECTS
Well Behaved Women: I wrapped up a second draft of book one and am trying to focus on book two, but I have some plot work yet to do before this will really get rolling. In the meantime, I’m continuing to lay out the groundwork for a cool cover photo shoot early next year. I’ll share details as they come.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War: Fourth draft finished, in the editing process.
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Third draft written.
Action Figures – Issue Nine: Rough plotting in progress.
Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.
APPEARANCES and EVENTS
Friday, January 12 through Monday, January 15, 2018: Arisia at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. I’ll be back selling books and, hopefully, speaking on several panels.
Friday, February 16 through Sunday, February 18: Boskone at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel (tentative).
MISC.
Last week the staff of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire got together for a postmortem on the fall 2017 season, and the consensus was that it rocked pretty damn hard. I’m proud I could be part of making that happen.
And I’m already looking forward to the spring show, Robin Hood’s Faire, which is relocating to Lancaster, MA. For once, I’ll have a short drive to the show! Woo-hoo!
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.
October 24, 2017
Weekly Update – October 24, 2017
I’ve teamed up with more than 20 other superhero fiction writers for a special month-long giveaway promotion. Jump over to our group page on Instafreebie and choose from several titles for all ages and tastes. Sign up for their newsletters and get a free e-book as a thank-you. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll get a copy of Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins! If you know anyone who might be interested in this promotion, please spread the word.
WRITING PROJECTS
Well Behaved Women: I’ve been jumping back and forth between the first draft of book two — which is at 6,000 pages or so now — and a second draft of book one. I’m also in the early planning stages for the covers, and I have what I think is a really cool concept in mind.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War: Fourth draft finished, and it’s off to my editor! She should have her work finished by the end of the year.
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Third draft written.
Action Figures – Issue Nine: Rough plotting in progress.
Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.
APPEARANCES and EVENTS
Friday, January 12 through Monday, January 15, 2018: Arisia at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. I’ll be back selling books and, hopefully, speaking on several panels.
MISC.
[image error]On a completely frivolous note, I finally indulged in a new banner for shows. I used the artwork from The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory and spent a little extra to get a more portable style of banner to make transportation and setup easier. As you can see, my dog Beatrix likes it. So do I!
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.
October 17, 2017
Weekly Update – October 17, 2017
I’ve teamed up with more than 20 other superhero fiction writers for a special month-long giveaway promotion. Jump over to our group page on Instafreebie and choose from several titles for all ages and tastes. Sign up for their newsletters and get a free e-book as a thank-you. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll get a copy of Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins! If you know anyone who might be interested in this promotion, please spread the word.
WRITING PROJECTS
Well Behaved Women: Draft one of book one is finished! I had a big surge of productivity last week and wrapped up the first book in the trilogy, took a few hours to recharge the creative batteries, and got started on book two. The first book currently comes in at a hair over 78,000 words.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War: Fourth draft finished, ready for editing. I’ve also begun discussing cover art with Tricia, and I might have something to unveil before the end of the year!
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Third draft written.
Action Figures – Issue Nine: Rough plotting in progress.
Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.
APPEARANCES and EVENTS
Friday, January 12 through Monday, January 15, 2018: Arisia at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. I’ll be back selling books and, hopefully, speaking on several panels.
MISC.
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.
October 11, 2017
Action Figures – A Series Overview
What’s it About?
The series focuses on Carrie Hauser, a 15-year-old girl who one summer experiences two life-changing events: her parents announce they’re getting divorced, and she gains superhuman abilities after encountering a dying extraterrestrial after he falls to Earth.
Her adventure begins after Carrie and her mother Christina move back to Christina’s childhood home town of Kingsport, Massachusetts, and Carrie meets four teens with powers of their own: superhero fanboy Matt Steiger, who owns a pair of magic gloves that can produce any object he can envision out of thin air, like a living cartoon character; Sara Danvers, a telepath and telekinetic who is afraid of her own abilities; the easygoing Stuart Lumley, who possesses superhuman strength; and Missy Hamill, an adorable motormouth with enhanced strength and reflexes.
The teens form a superhero team almost on a whim, but soon find themselves fighting for their lives against very real super-villains – much to the dismay of Kingsport’s hometown hero Concorde, leader of the super-team The Protectorate.
Who is this Series For?
Fans of superhero comics, TV shows, and movies in general, but particularly of titles featuring teen heroes such as Young Justice, Teen Titans, Young Avengers, and Champions.
The tone is generally lighter than a lot of YA books out there now. While there is drama and conflict, and some later stories deal with darker issues, I try to keep the series fun, upbeat, and optimistic.
Is it Suitable for Young Readers?
Action Figures is a PG-13 series that contains mild to moderate profanity, non-graphic violence, some mature themes, and later on in the series mild sexual content.
An added word about the violent content: while the violence is not graphic, the consequences are not downplayed. This isn’t sanitized Hollywood violence. People get hurt just as they would in real life and do not easily shrug off injuries, and in some cases the characters have to deal with the emotional trauma of their experiences.
What are the Books in the Series?
[image error]Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins – Carrie and her new friends in the Hero Squad (yes, they know their team name is awful) find themselves caught in the crossfire as the deadly mercenary Manticore comes to Kingsport, on the hunt for the rogue artificial intelligence known as Archimedes.
[image error]Action Figures – Issue Two: Black Magic Women – The sorceress Black Betty threatens to raise hell – maybe literally – as she pursues her vendetta against the Protectorate’s resident paranormal expert Dr. Enigma.
[image error]Action Figures – Issue Three: Pasts Imperfect – Missy’s life is turned upside-down when she learns the truth about the source of her powers, and her connection to the bloodthirsty killer Buzzkill Joy.
[image error]Action Figures – Issue Four: Cruel Summer – Sara finds herself in the crosshairs of the mysterious hero killer the King of Pain, but to save herself, she might have to sacrifice everything she holds dear.
[image error]Action Figures – Issue Five: Team-Ups – The Hero Squad, still reeling from their devastating encounter with the King of Pain, get a little help picking up the pieces from their friends in the Protectorate and the Quantum Quintet.
[image error]Action Figures – Issue Six: Power Play – The Squad finds itself outnumbered and under-powered after one of their members goes missing – and at the worst possible time as foes from their past reappear, more dangerous than ever and ready to exact revenge.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War (spring 2018)
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage (spring 2019)
How Long Will the Series Run?
The series is plotted out to ten books but might run one or two books longer. In any event, it will come to a firm end at some point and not run on indefinitely.
Where Can I Learn More?
Read can read sample chapters from Secret Origins, short stories set in the Action Figures world, buy signed copies, connect with me through social media, and get regular updates at my website: innsmouthlook.com
October 10, 2017
Weekly Update – October 10, 2017
The 2017 Connecticut Renaissance Faire is done! It was a great run, one of the best ever at that show, but I’m glad it’s over because I’m kind of exhausted — and ready to get back to writing on the weekends. I’m just happy I found time to get The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory prepped so people weren’t waiting around for that release.
[image error]Speaking of which, book three in the Strongarm & Lightfoot series is now available in paperback at Amazon! I will be adding it to the website’s online store soon, and you can now grab the e-book version by clicking on the Buy Now link.
Before you order a print copy, you have a chance to win one of five signed print copies. Want to know how? Well, if you’re a newsletter subscriber you already know how. If you’re not a subscriber, click the link at the bottom of the page and join the fun!
And on the subject of free books…
I’ve teamed up with more than 20 other superhero fiction writers for a special month-long giveaway promotion. Jump over to our group page on Instafreebie and choose from several titles for all ages and tastes. Sign up for their newsletters and get a free e-book as a thank-you. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll get a copy of Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins! If you know anyone who might be interested in this promotion, please spread the word.
WRITING PROJECTS
Well Behaved Women: No progress since last week. Bah.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War: Fourth draft finished, ready for editing.
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Third draft written.
Action Figures – Issue Nine: Rough plotting in progress.
Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.
APPEARANCES and EVENTS
Friday, January 12 through Monday, January 15, 2018: Arisia at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. I’ll be back selling books and, hopefully, speaking on several panels.
MISC.
In case you missed the announcement last week, I’m the Sharon Public Library’s author of the month for October. Pop on over to read my interview, as well as past interviews with other local authors.
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.
October 4, 2017
Shameless Plug Time
I’ll keep this quick, I promise.
A couple of months ago, I was contacted by Hilary Umbreit of the Sharon Public Library if I’d like to be their featured author of the month for October. I of course said yes, and that interview is now live. You can read it, and past interviews, right here.
Thanks, Hilary!
October 3, 2017
Weekly Update – October 3, 2017
Woo-hoo! It’s Halloween season! Time to start my annual tradition of marathoning all my favorite horror movies! It’ll be a nice capper to what was a busy September — a month that culminated in the release of the third book in the Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot series: Blades of Glory!
The Kindle edition is available on Amazon today for just $3.99. The print edition will be coming later this month, as will direct sales of the print and e-book editions on this site.
Now that this is in the can, I can really focus on other projects and maybe get the first draft of my new urban fantasy trilogy, Well Behaved Women, done.
Also of note this week…
I’ve teamed up (ha) with more than 20 other superhero fiction writers for a special month-long giveaway promotion. Jump over to our group page on Instafreebie and choose from several titles for all ages and tastes. Sign up for their newsletters and get a free e-book as a thank-you. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll get a copy of Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins!
WRITING PROJECTS
Well Behaved Women: I inched past the 72,000 word mark last week but didn’t get much done due to a busy work schedule. This will be my main focus through the rest of the year.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – book four: First draft in progress.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War: Fourth draft finished, ready for editing.
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage: Third draft written.
Action Figures – Issue Nine: Rough plotting in progress.
Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins (audiobook): Review completed, final editing in progress.
APPEARANCES and EVENTS
Friday, January 12 through Monday, January 15, 2018: Arisia at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. I’ll be back selling books and, hopefully, speaking on several panels.
MISC
Finally, 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.
October 1, 2017
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.
Well Behaved Women is a planned urban fantasy trilogy now in the early stages. Book one is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2018 release.
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?
September 30, 2017
Blades of Glory — Available for Pre-order!
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot: Blades of Glory[image error]for the Kindle is now available for pre-order on Amazon!
The third book in the Strongarm & Lightfoot series will go on general sale Tuesday, October 3, with the print edition to follow later in the month. Both print and e-book versions will be available through this website by the end of the month.
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