E.J. Robinson's Blog, page 3

Mexican Vacay, Valentine’s Day, Book 3, and other stuff

So the Mrs. and I took a little vacation to Mexico with 700 of her closest coworkers. It was actually an

award for her kicking butt at work, but other than the half-dozen or so people we hung out with, we mostly did our own thing. It’s always tough to gauge how much relaxing to do vs. how much of the tourist stuff you take in. As much as we liked the idea of laying by the pool and drinking Miami Vices without the tempest de la ninos around, we did a lot of excursions.

We started off doing an excursion called “Maya Jungle Explorer,” which seems to be a favorite of people traveling to the all-inclusive resorts near Playa Del Carmen (an hour south of Cancun). This one starts with a 4X4 with no freaking shocks driving 100 mph through a narrow stretch of jungle while your ass breaks and you try to remember if you filled out your will. Eventually we let off in the deep jungle (3 or 4 miles in) where we showered with ten other people outside at 7am. The water was COLD, but thankfully I’d forgotten to pack my speedo. Anywho, we soon moved on to rappelling down a cenote into an underground river. The drop wasn’t very deep and those on top did most of the work, but it makes for a good picture (if too much chaffing).

Part two featured some back and forth between zip-lining and cave diving, snorkeling. There was even a fusion of the two in the form of a zip-line that crashes into the water. Our guide Jose (who comes from a LONG line of Joses) was insistent that someone would lose their bottoms, but I actually gained something. My first enema. Word of advice, should you ever happen to do the same exercise, turn your legs at the bottom.

Moving on.

I’ve long been an adrenaline junkie and my wife is flat-out fearless, so leaping off things is not merely a rite of passage in our household, it’s grounds for who does the dishes. Despite this, our favorite part of this adventure wasn’t the athletic stuff, but snorkeling in the underground river system. It’s crazy when you’re up close to something that hasn’t been touched by human hands for a few hundred thousand years. Well, except for the last twenty or so. But Jose was very reverential about limiting our potential impact on a water system that is not only drinkable (7ph), but sustains a ton of wildlife now. Not only fish, but bats, snakes, and some marsupials. Because the water’s so clear and clean, we were able to watch him dive deeper and point out the channels that lead a byzantine trail all the way back to the Atlantic. If we come back here when our kids are older, we’ll probably do a scuba trip that covers it.

Following more zip-lining and another 4X4 ride where I genuinely thought my spine was going to snap, we took a short ride to Tulum, the oldest Mayan runs on the Atlantic. Prime real estate can’t even hint how beautiful this area is — especially with its private beach that was created by a meteorite some unknown eons back. Thankfully, Mexico’s tourism department has done a great job keeping the place up without making “upgrades.”

The next day we took a long ride to Chichen Itza. It seems like the majority of the people in our group wanted to stay and bake in the sun, but I can’t imagine traveling somewhere where one of the seven modern wonders of the world is located and not seeing it. Yes, it was a 2 1/2 drive there, but we had excellent company and some light reading in Stephen King’s The Long Run (a friend’s recommendation — I had no idea what I was getting into). Eventually, we arrived at a small, but beautiful hotel cut right from the jungle. I would have loved to stayed there, but we took a short viewing in a planetarium that gave a 20 minute rundown on the Mayan civilization and its mythology. Afterward, we walked through the jungle to the ruins themselves.

The most fascinating part of the ruins for me was learning that at one time some 250,000 people lived there. It must have been wall-to-wall people. And yet somehow the civilization died out and the people left. It wasn’t rediscovered until the mid 19th century when a Brit and American archeologists stumbled upon it. I couldn’t imagine how that must have felt at that moment to discover something so massive and profound. About the only downside was learning that people could climb the pyramid until 2007. Our guide made a comment about someone falling and suing, but I doubt that was the cause.

Afterward, we took a brief swim in another giant cenote. This one had a waterfall and was blissful. We could have spent hours there.

Alas, eventually all things come to an end. Five days in Mexico isn’t long enough to do everything, but when you’re looking to recharge your batteries (and enjoy a nice valentine’s day with someone special), it was perfect. Now, that we’re back home, it’s fine tuning some chapters of book 3 before it’s off to the editor. I’m really excited to see how people respond to it. It has the action and adventure most people seem to enjoy, as well as some familiar characters, but the biggest change is the addition of one section that gets a little more sci-fi. Really curious to see if people like it.

Once it’s off to the editor, I’ll start working on the cover and hopefully get it on here soon. Still, on targets for an early spring release. Keep checking in here for more information.

Until then…buenos dias, amigos!

Giveaway Winners Announced!

Here’s why I’d never make a good star for the Bachelor:

1.) I’m married;

2.) I want everyone to win!

So I’m surprised to feel a little bad about everyone not winning something (although I suspect I’d feel a lot worse turning down twenty-four beautiful women). Oh, to find out…

The giveaway ran for a little over a week. In that time, we had fifty-six entrants vying for five signed copy sets. This morning I looked online and sure enough, there was a contest/giveaway generator for sale that I could use to do this technologically legit. I could’ve entered names that way and made it truly random. But there’s something fun about cutting up little pieces of paper and pulling them out of a hat. 

I’m old school like that.

Plus, it’s a fedora. Excluding Frosty’s chapeau, magic comes from fedoras.

But I digress.

I have a number of readers that have been with me for a while. Some since the first book came out. I would have loved to seen all of you win copies, but if you didn’t win, just know I’ll be doing this again in two months when book 3 is released. So keep trying.

As for the winners, here they are:

 

Edward Schellinger

Ronald Brumit

Lizzie Silver

Shah Jehan Ashrafi

Michael Alonso

 

That’s it. Congrats if you won! I’ll be contacting you each by Facebook if you entered that way or through WordPress if you entered through my website. Remember to note how you want them to be signed, inscribed, etc. If you want to send me a photo of you holding the books once they arrive, I’ll post them on my site as well.

Until next time, good reading and thanks for participating!

E.J.

 

 

The Post Promotion Post

Hey, all,

Last weekend turned out to be an awesome one. Typically promotions are feast or famine and after Tuesday I felt like I’d gorged at the Golden Corral buffet for a month. On filet mignon. With a river of cabernet flowingith to my chalice. And chocolate mousse parading down in 24 karat cups from heaven.  And a hostess from Victoria Secrets. Err…sorry. Got carried away there. Less my head gets too big, the wife’s always present to remind me to “take out the trash.”

Having booked free promos on Freebooksy, The Fussy Librarian, Booksends, Bookbub and Ereader News Today, Robinson Crusoe 2244 rocketed up the charts from day one until it reached the very top. #1 on Amazon’s top 100 free. As Mel Brooks said in history of the world, “It’s good to be the king.”

But all things must come to an end. After over 50,000 downloads, the series has settled nicely into the top 1,000 paid. RC 2444 in the 900’s and RC 2245 in the 700’s. That’s a pretty good sign that readers are digging the first book and buying the second. They’ve also been leaving some great reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads. Does me heart good to read them.

With many of the readers signing up for the newsletter, it’s very clear you’re hungry for book 3, so I’m working hard to get it right and get it done soon. I’ve set a goal for the beginning of spring and we’re still on schedule. Early feedback has been phenomenal and I feel like it’s the best book yet. It keeps the same energy, the same intensity in action and adventure with a few more sci-fi elements thrown in. Can’t wait for everyone to read it.



In additional news, there’s been a cursory knock from Hollywood about optioning the series for a potential movie/TV series. I think either one would be great, but I’ve danced with that industry long enough to keep my enthusiasm tempered. As AC/DC says, “it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll.”

The wife and I will be taking a long needed trip to the Mexican Riviera next week, but after that it’ll be back for the home stretch.

I’ll announce the winners of the book giveaway here this coming Monday. Best of luck to everyone and if you don’t win, keep tuning in for more giveaways in the future.

Cheers!

Robinson Crusoe Signed Paperback Giveaway!

Hey, folks,

I just finished the second draft of Robinson Crusoe 2246 (Book 3) and have sent it out to three of my best beta readers for feedback. To celebrate, I’ve decided to host a giveaway. Just “like” my author Facebook page or leave a comment on this post or on my website and you’ll automatically be entered to win one of five signed sets of Robinson Crusoe 2244 (Book 1) and Robinson Crusoe 2245 (Book 2). I can sign them, inscribe them or leave them blank. You’re choice. Shipping and handling is also covered. I’ll announce the winners in another post.

The giveaway only runs through Sunday, February 7th, so don’t delay!

I’m also running a promotion this weekend (Friday the 29th through Tuesday, February 2nd) where anyone can pick up a digital copy of RC 2244 (Book 1) on Amazon for free. So if any of your friends or family are looking for something good to read, please pass this post along.

Thanks!

Chuck Palahniuk

Got a chance to finally meet the man, Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club and other urban classics. Great author and even greater-er guy. Down to earth, smart, funny, irreverent and prone to muscling folks around. I don’t know what resistance level he’s got on his keyboard, but it’s working for him.

Dare I say Tyler Durden infomercial?? 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

It’s official. I have successfully written 50,000 words in November for Nanowrimo 2015! I want to thank the academy, my personal trainer, and my lovable, but masochistic manicurist for keeping me going. There were some rough patches. Some heavy procrastinations in which I didn’t think I would make it (and sadly turned to alcohol and bad reality TV), but in the end, I took that word processing program down and made it my %*&@! What? What?! Still have a third to go to have the completed first draft of Robinson Crusoe 2246 (Book 3), but should be good by the end of the year. Even better, this story rocks. All hail the writing deities!

Kirkus Review for Book 2!

Kirkus is one of the publishing industry giants for book reviews and they’re notoriously tough on books, so it’s great to see for the second time they enjoyed the work.

 

Nanowrimo 2015

For those of you that haven’t heard of Nanowrimo, the National Novel Writing Month happens every November with writers from all over the world getting together online (and many in person) to crank out at least 50,000 words of a new novel in 30 days.

Back in 2013, I wrote the first draft of Robinson Crusoe 2244 for Nano and I hit my mark every day for the entire month. Of course, it actually took me 31 days to finish despite writing 2,500 words a day rather than the average of 1,666. But in the end I had a 75,000+ novel that vaguely resembles the first in the series that is available today. It was an awesome learning experience and proved to me – like so many others – I could actually write a book.

Last year, I had too much stuff going on to do Nano and secretly thought I didn’t need that kind of structure as I’d already done it once before. I wasn’t necessarily wrong as I did finish the first draft of 2245, but nowhere close to 30 days. Since then, I’ve come to see the benefits of a deadline imposed by others, and as the times have aligned accordingly, I dove in to writing RC 2246 today with 2,512 words. 

With continued support from my peers, friends, and loyal readers, I hope to again hit my 2,500 word count every single day in November and have a first draft ready for rewrites come December. I’m much more confident with this one that I’ve been in the past as I know the characters, the world and the process. That being said, readers that have enjoyed the first two are going to love what I have in store for book 3. The action will still be intense, the world building will continue to grow stronger, and the characters will be tested in new and unforeseen ways.

For anyone that has wanted to write a novel of their own, but has struggled to find a means of support, I encourage you to check out

and see if it’s for you. You’ll never know unless you give it a try. 

Robinson Crusoe 2245 – Paperback Now Available!

Hey, all,

I’m so thankful for everyone running picking up a copy of Robinson Crusoe 2245 (Book #2) in its first week of availability. Readers continue to respond with great feedback, reviews and recommendations to others.

Today I received the news that the paperback version of the novel is now available for purchase on Amazon. I got my copy on Monday and – not to gloat – but it looks awe-some. For those of you old school readers that prefer the crisp feel of pages turning in your fingers, you can grab a copy by clicking the link HERE.

There’s still an audiobook version to produce and hopefully we’ll get the uber-talented Malk Williams back to continue the excellent work he did with 2244 (Book 1). Check in here at the website or on my Twitter page for updates.

I’m three weeks away from starting 2246 (Book 3), which I hope to have a first draft of by the end of the year. As always, it will be bigger, badder, and dig deeper into the hearts of the characters we’ve come to love.

Cheers!

Robinson Crusoe 2245 – Now Available!

Exciting news! I’m thrilled to announce Robinson Crusoe 2245 is finally available for download on Amazon!

Book 2 has been a long time coming and I appreciate the support of all the readers that have waited patiently (and some not so patiently) for its arrival. After I wrote 2244, I expected the writing of a second book to be easier. After all, you’ve done the hard part. You’ve created characters and the world. You just have to toss them back in the mix, right? Wrong! Every story presents its own challenges and one of the great things about 2245 is I’ve taken the characters (and myself) out of their comfort zone. The world is bigger, with more dangers, and the stakes have never been higher.

As of today, the book is only available for download, but the paperback version should be available a week from now with the audiobook to follow.

Thanks again for your support. I really hope you enjoy Robinson Crusoe 2245. Please consider leaving a review or spreading the good word if you do. Happy reading!

P.S. If you have a buy a copy, click the above links or just click HERE.