Nick Jones's Blog, page 2

July 20, 2018

Now, it feels like a Downstream book

For the last three weeks, I’ve been hard at work, editing Joseph Bridgeman and the Silver Hunter. It’s been a slog, but I am really happy with how the book is shaping up. It went out to beta readers and also my editor yesterday. Once I incorporate their feedback, it will go for proofreading and […]
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Published on July 20, 2018 07:31

June 5, 2018

Downstream Book 2 will be called…

The first draft of Downstream Book 2 has finally gone out to my Alpha readers this week. It’s rough, the roughest I’ve ever let out of my clutches but I’m excited to try out this new process of sharing early. The launch is still scheduled for the end of September/early October. I will keep you […]
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Published on June 05, 2018 04:43

May 5, 2018

First draft is done

There was much celebration in the Jones household last month. Finally, after months of planning, dictation and finger tapping, Downstream book 2 is finally done. Yay! There were tears. So we opened another bottle of champagne and were smiling again. Simple. Of course, when I say the book is done, I mean the first draft. […]
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Published on May 05, 2018 09:13

March 31, 2018

What happened again?

I keep waffling on about Joseph Bridgeman Book 2, how it will be out this summer… blah de blah… A few of you emailed me recently and in your kind, considerate way (that’s not sarcasm, I mean it, you guys are awesome) pointed out, that it’s been a long time since Book 1. In fact, […]
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Published on March 31, 2018 09:50

March 13, 2018

The end is in sight

Well, I was finally hitting a healthy and consistent 3,000 words per day. THEN. Disaster struck…. I say disaster. Basically, I went down (under) with Aussie Flu…. Goodness me… Didn’t sleep for 4 days… Coughing every 4 minutes… Which is good research for insomnia… Not so good for getting a book finished. All in all, about […]
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Published on March 13, 2018 05:10

January 25, 2018

The halfway point…

I know it’s way too late to say it… but I will anyway. Happy New Year everyone : ) Personal update New year. Time to reflect and plan. The Writing Team (me and Alfie) had a ‘strategy session’. Tea was drunk, treats were chewed and there were many, heated disagreements. (Should the heating go up […]
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Published on January 25, 2018 05:12

December 24, 2017

Is he a police dog?

I may be a planner in my writing but Xmas stuff… I always leave till the last minute! Writing Update DS 2, 38,000 words, about a third of the way through! I mean, it’s the first draft – and as Hemingway said, the first draft of anything is shi* – but, it feels good to […]
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Published on December 24, 2017 03:44

November 25, 2017

Time-travel and getting nicked go hand in hand

Hi Lovely People, Well, it’s been a fantastic month (so far) on Downstream Book 2. 22,000 words and I’m starting to really lose myself in the characters and the plot – in a good way. Stephen King said a novel should take no longer than three months to write, so you don’t get bored and […]
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Published on November 25, 2017 01:43

October 26, 2017

Be sure to enjoy the scenery along the way…

Hi All, There’s talk of doing ‘No-vember’ again this year (as in, no booze) but it’s just talk at the moment, and talk is cheap. Almost as cheap as the Gin and Cognac in Aldi, which isn’t bad actually. We will see. After the U.K. opted out of the European Union I felt I needed to ‘do […]
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Published on October 26, 2017 06:37

January 2, 2015

JANUARY 2015 - Resolutions and excuses...

Happy new year. Its what you’re supposed to say and of course, it’s a good thing to wish for. Actually ‘being’ happy though, that takes effort and commitment. Once upon a time it seemed to come easily, these days I have to try much harder.


I will do my best.


So, onto my New Year’s resolutions. This is like a trap, it means I can look back on it this time next year and see how I did…


Finish Downstream Season 1 Grow my reader list Sell more books Read more books.


On the last one, a good way of doing this is to track the books you read via good reads. It really helps to remind you of what you have read and what’s next. Also, a lot of people have said to me this year, ‘I don’t really have time to read.’ It’s not like I was trying to persuade them to read mine or anything : ) I can sympathise. I read a lot in my twenties and then fiction kind of took a back seat as work took over. Now, haven taken Stephen King’s advice I have it all figured out. 



Mine was a three step approach based on my excuses.


 


Excuse 1: I’m too busy!


Countered with: Audiobooks.


I am busy. A lot. But when I thought about it there was actually a lot of ‘down time’ in my life (Thanks to Murray Bruton for teaching me this first in a karate sense)


By that, I mean periods of time when I might not be actively engaged, but doing something. For example, walking the dogs, driving, working out etc. So, I signed up to audible and haven’t looked back. Audio books hadn’t interested me before but now, I can’t stop. For me, the experience is different to reading but the end result is very similar. The story, the characters, the craft is all there and when I look back it ‘feels’ like I’ve read a book, and that’s all that matters right?


 


Excuse 2: I’m too tired at night to read.


Countered with: hit the stairs earlier.


Sound familiar? I was going to bed late after fighting tiredness and basically collapsing! Now, I go to bed a little earlier and look forward to getting some pages done.


 


Excuse 3: There’s nothing that grabs me…


Countered with : A kindle.


With the kindle (and oh my goodness the new voyage is lovely) I can try lots of different books and see what does hook me in. Also, as a writer I am interested as to why those books work and how they draw me to them and make me turn the pages. I love books, real ones I mean, but with the kindle I have found I am definitely reading more, often I will have two books on the go PLUS an audio book!


It means that I am immersing myself in fiction. Input and output, and it seems to be working.


 


Talking of reading more… the first episode of ‘DOWNSTREAM’ my kick-ass, time-travel series with extra attitude is OUT NOW! and the best bit? It’s FREE!


 


AMAZON


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00R6XFVPS


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6XFVPS


 


It’s also available for nook and kobo too.


 


NOOK


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/downstream-nick-jones/1120961157


 


KOBO


http://store.kobobooks.com/en-UK/ebook/downstream-episode-1



And also – in the next few days – it should be out on ibooks for any iPhone and iPad readers.


Happy reading and happy 2015.
 

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Published on January 02, 2015 05:18