R.M. Ridley's Blog, page 27

A New Steampunk Anthology

Coming soon!


Official release May 31, 2014

In an alternative past with an unrealized future, trek around the world and beyond in nine separate adventures, in the ships, locomotives, and flying machines that power the Steampunk universe.

DOTS, DASHES, AND DECEIT by Jay Barnson: A telegraph operator finds herself displaced by advancing technology but discovers a genius inventor and a young savant with secrets too dangerous to ignore.

THE PROMISE by Michael Cross: In a world ravaged by the unspeakable horrors of war, one soldier moves heaven and earth to keep a promise to his son, and alters the lives of every stranger who helps him along the way

THE VOYAGE OF VALERIE MCGRATH by Pete Ford: Sent on a desperate mission only she can fulfil, a brilliant scientist discovers the war her government wages against its own people, and the planet they rely upon for survival..

RIPPER BOUND by TC Phillips: With nothing but a brain implant and the force of his will, a talented bounty hunter returns far-flung criminals to justice, but what price will the technology ultimately demand of him?

DR. PAX’S GREAT UNSINKABLE BIRD by J.R. Potter: When a brilliant scientist falls prey to sky pirates who are after his flying machine, he must rely on his greatest achievement: a teenage girl whom he rescued from certain death.

SEVEN-YEAR ITCH by Rie Sheridan Rose: Toby Kincaid knew his clothes would grow filthy when he made a deal with the Devil, but he didn’t count on the wear to his spirit. He may win the wager but still lose his soul.

THE JOURNEY OF INSPECTOR ROUX by C. R. Simper: A legendary investigator goes down in flames and believes his life is over, until an eager young recruit drags him around the world in pursuit of a kidnapper.

PRIORITY PASSAGE by S. D. Simper: Marina will not allow the death of her father stand in the way of their dreams, but when her airship is boarded by sky pirates, she must decide what she values most: Nikita’s inventions or his daughter.

GANESH by Scott E. Tarbet: A farm boy abducted by a traveling-show huckster finds his calling as an airship pilot, never suspecting the transformative adventure awaiting him halfway around the world. An A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk expansion.

Read reviews and/or buy the book on Amazon (coming soon)
Read reviews and/or buy the Kindle book (coming soon)


Reviews of Shades and Shadows on Library Thing (coming soon)
Reviews of Shades and Shadows on Goodreads

Filed under: Book Release Tagged: short story, Steampunk, Terra Mechanica, writing, Xchyler Publishing

What Me Worry?

So today is one of a landmark in this continuing saga of ‘Getting Published’. My ARC’s go out today.

A bunch of people will be getting their hands on an e-version of ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ weeks before it goes live to the general public. These advanced readers will be the first to generate reviews. Their comments, thoughts, and critiques will start popping up on various sites designed for such things.

These early reviews will either help sell the novel, or damn it to obscurity. More important than sales, these comments will tell me what readers think about my characters, world, plot, and writing. This is were the rubber meets the road and things get real.

I hope it is well received – obviously. Not just because if it sells, I get a chance to continue getting the books published, but because I can’t seem to stop writing this characters adventures. It would be sad writing them, with the knowledge that no one will read them, or care.

I admit, I want people to get sucked in to my character’s life.  I want fans who desperately seek out every novel, and short story, featuring Jonathan Alvey. I want the grouchy bastard to be loved by others as I love him. I want people to care what happens to him. I want readers.

So it is I’ll be sending out the ARC’s with mixed reactions, glee meets dread meets hope. I don’t think I’ll be ‘relaxing’ for several weeks yet.

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: ARC's. Advanced Readers, characters, Jonathan Alvey, muse, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, plot, publish, readers, reviews, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, world building, writing, Xchyler Publishing

Back Away Slowly

I have been neck deep with marketing for ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ these last few days. Getting blog posts ready and approved was fun and taught me a couple new blogging tricks. I’ve been scouring the web, looking for suitable reviewers, or just book release sites, and contacting them. I’ve been in strategy discussions with my publisher and keeping those who have signed on to help me updated.

~Whew~

Today is supposed to be a nice one, so I think I might just step away from the computer for a few hours. I could go outside and work on things that aren’t connected to the novel. I’m sure there has to be things in the world not connected to the novel – can’t think of them right now but maybe something will come to me.

In many ways the book release is rushing towards me – on the other hand the days are creeping by. Part of me wants this to be ‘done’ – sit back and let the book do its thing (which, of course, never truly happens). But another part realizes if that were to happen one third of summer would all ready be over.

This is going to be an odd summer for sure. With the book being released June 28th – all the stuff orbiting that date, it is going to affect my day to day routine.

There are so many weird little tings about getting published that no one tells you about and I haven’t even started into the obsessively checking for new reviews yet.

Yup – it’s going to be the longest, shortest summer ever.

 

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing Tagged: Jonathan Alvey, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, publish, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, writer, Xchyler Publishing

Book Release – Protecting Portia

http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Portia-Sugar-House-Novella/dp/1622532899/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protecting-portia-pavarti-k-tyler/1119120002

Protecting Portia

Jackson Grady met the love of his life. Unfortunately, he was running drugs for a pimp named Sasha at the time, who asked him to keep an eye on their new acquisition from Russia, the bedraggled beauty named Portia. She touched his heart and forced him to confront the kind of man he’d become.

Now, Portia and Jackson both work at The Sugar House. He continuously looks out for her, and longs for her with his every breath, but knows he is unworthy of such an angel. What will Portia do to win not only the heart, but also the body, of the man she loves?

Welcome to the world of The Sugar House, and the men and women who will fulfill your every fantasy. But can they find a way to fulfill their own?

Pavarti K Tyler

www.PavartiKTyler.com

Harmony~Tranquility~Simplicity~Respect

 
Filed under: Book Release Tagged: muse, novel, Pavarti K Tyler, Protecting Portia, publish, readers, Romance, steamy, The Sugar House, writing

I’m Begging

Yes – there is the truth of it…I am Begging.

I would still LOVE to have one or two more bloggers willing to host a ‘novel release’ blog about my debut novel, ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ . It’s a simple copy/paste format including cover art, blurb , very short excerpt, and bio.

In addition … I’m sorely in need of blogs willing to do a ‘cover release’ post a few days earlier. Just posting the incredible art work that is the cover of my debut novel. It’s a bold, and exciting cover , that I’m delighted to have representing my story.

If you can help with either or both – Please let me know.

Thanks for putting up with the pleading

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing Tagged: art, blog host, blog post, cover, cover reveal, Jonathan Alvey, novel, novel release, paranormal private investigator, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, Xchyler Publishing

Uncommon Worry

I believe that I might be a bit different in my thought process, than other people…

All right – stop laughing. Yes, I know, I AM differetent in a myriad of ways. That’s why I’m on disability – my inability to think, cope , and react to things the way the majority of the population does. I wasn’t talking about that.

I’m getting closer, and closer, to the time when the Advanced Reader Copy reviewers (of which their is still time for you to be one – ask me how?) Sorry, I diverged there didn’t I? Any who… so soon the ARC’s will go out, and from there reviews will begin to come in.

So in what way am I different? I am afraid that I don’t have enough reviewers . . . not so I have a flood of praise but – well, the opposite. I’m afraid that without a pelethora of reviewers, I won’t have enough critizism. See – told you it was a bit left of normal.

I’m also the guy who didn’t bat an eyelash when my short stories were rejected. I have tried to emphasize, over and over, that I want honest reviews – but it’s not just rhetoric. I like hearing about the things in my writing and tales that people don’t like. Will that information hurt sales? Maybe, but I’m selfish. I am more concerned about how readers interact with my story. I am more interested in why they didn’t like something.

From criticism come growth and betterment. I know you can”t please all the people all the time – nor do I want to. But if I only get reviews that praise the novel, what can I draw from that? I’m perfect (again – I hear that laughter). That my writing is the pinnacle of the literary world? Even if it were true (and don’t for a moment think I believe that) How boring that would be?

I guess, I just wait and worry like every other author since stick was put to clay.

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: ARC, Bi-polar, crazy, debut novel, Jonathan Alvey, muse, novel, paranormal private investigator, plot, readers, review, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, wierd thoughts, writer, Xchyler Publishing

Of Arc’s and Covenants

So it’s happening — The Arc’s are expected to go out next Wednesday.

EEK!

Tomorrow Wendell is a paranormal P.I. novel – the twist… magic is a drug.

If you are a reviewer – a serious poster on Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing, (ect) or have a blog  and want to participate in this let me know.

Go to my Facebook page and leave me a message with the e-mail you’d like the ARC sent to, and a few of the places you will be posting the review. That’s it – free e-book coming your way.

Oh – yeah, all right, not free. Free in exchange for an HONEST review. I don’t care if you love, or hate it – post that review! (like you should for every author’s book)

 

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: ARC, Free e-book, Jonathan Alvey, novel, paranormal private investigator, publish, readers, reveiws, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, Xchyler Publishing

Begging, Betting, and Batting

Ah – The Insanity Of It All!

Yes, we are getting to the crazy marketing schemes, pretty promo packages, and ARC reader gathering.

My list of those blogs willing to help promote my novel release isn’t as large as I could hope. I knew I wasn’t going to flood the web with my cover art, book blurb, and bio, but I could wish for a few more sites willing to post it.

Still, I have some doing the kindness of helping out a new author and I appreciate it.

What I really need is more reviewers who have blogs to post their honest opinion of the novel.

Actually more honest ARC reviewers period would be good , as long as they could post reviews in the usual places like Amazon and Goodreads (does it count to list them separately, now that Goodreads is owned by Amazon?).

I only have so many contacts to beg and bat my eyelashes at (it’s hard to see when I’m doing it because they are so pale) and I’m betting I’ve probably tapped them all but there is still time. ..

Though when I think of it in weeks – the ARC’s go out terrifyingly soon and the actual release is zooming closer.

Things I didn’t anticipate when I sat down to write ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ – maybe it will be easier the second time around. I hope there is a second time around but that means the first one has to get into as many hands as possible … better get back to the begging.

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: Arc's, Blogs, Book Release, Jonathan Alvey, novel, paranormal private investigator, publish, readers, reveiwers, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, writer, writing, Xchyler Publishing

Fear Mongering Exposed!

This is a link which itself contains links – it is about two separate studies that show e-cigs are NOT gateways to analog smoking, and that they are being used to stop/reduce the amount of regular cigarettes smoked.

It is two separate studied which show what we already know – all the hype about e-cigs making smoking have a come back or leading people to become smokers is nothing more than scare-mongering with no facts to back it up.

Check it out HERE

Filed under: Vaping Tagged: E-cig, quitting, Reality of e-cigs, smoke free, smoke reduction, vaping

Other Side of the Fence

I have always helped any author who asked, to promote their books on here. Usually the format is a copy paste, sometimes as a full unit, sometimes as individual parts like, bio, pictures, and blurb and I get to arrange them as I like. I enjoy doing this for a number of reasons.

I get to help out another author is the first and foremost reason. I know it isn’t easy to get your book noticed in the sea of releases, and if I can help get word of mouth going, or any interest at all, for the book, than I’m glad to do so. It takes little effort on my part, and may make all the difference in the world to that author (granted my following isn’t grand but it only takes one person to decide to read the book, and tell their friends, to get a swell going).

The other reason I like to do these posts is that is exposes you, my readers, to new material you might not otherwise have found on your own. Again, in the sea of releases how do you spot a new species of fish?

And of course – they are easy. They take little time to put up and post, and give variety to my blog so it’s not always about my work or my water problems (which I know you all are fascinated to hear about).

Now I find myself on the other side of the fence. It is my turn to put together a cool package that will make another’s blogging post easy, hopefully spread the word about my book, and maybe reach one or two people I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Deciding what goes in, getting the blurb ready, making sure the bio reads right, choosing just the right excerpt, making the header work… all of this is being hammered out, so I can suck up to as many bloggers as I can to let people know about my debut novel.

It’s is both exciting and, I admit, intimidating. The one thing it has done is confirm for me that I will continue to help those who ask me – I will, having seen this side of the experience,always help other authors to promote their work.

If you are interested in hosting a blog post about the upcoming release of my novel ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ – or would like to do an honest review – please, let me know.

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: ARC, authors, bio, blog host, blogging, blurb, Book Release, cover art, excerpt, Jonathan Alvey, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, water, White Dragon Black Series, writer, writing, Xchyler Publishing