Randy McWilson's Blog, page 3

Radio Interview #2

THE DATE: Tuesday morning, November 4th, 2014

THE TIME: 8:40am

THE STATION: KZIM/KSIM

THE INTERVIEWER: None other than Faune Riggin

I had a wonderful time talking with Morning News Watch (award winning) Radio Journalist, Faune Riggin a few days ago. Click the link below to listen to the audio of the 16 minute discussion of Back to Normal.

http://960kzim.com/a-local-teacher-has-created-a-sci-fi-series-being-shopped-around-in-hollywood/

The Countdown Has Begun

There was something magical that happened irregularly but often in my youth.

No, it wasn't trips to the dentist (irregular--yes, often--yes, but never magical!).

It was rocket launches...and Space Shuttle launches. 

There was a thrill in the air and a sense of wonder and apprehension as the countdown clock inched ever closer to launch.

Three...two...one...zero...LIFT-OFF.

Though not nearly as expensive, and not as Earth-shattering--launching a new book series is a thrilling experience. Just like a rocket launch, you never know just exactly HOW the launch will proceed.

Will it be smooth? Will it be on-time? Delays? Hiccups? Over-budget? Huge success? Massive failure???

I have initiated the official countdown for the launch of Paradigm Rift: Book One of the Back to Normal Series. Last minute preparations are being implemented, final procedures are being executed. Work crews are running to and fro, handling myriads of little details (well, ok, that last one was a bit of a stretch).

The officially unofficial CHECKLIST is in various stages of completion:

1. Cover Design....check
2. Back Cover Design....check
3. Launch Date/Time Set...check
4. Legal Issues....check
5. Local Media Interviews Setup...(mostly) check
6. Info Page for Amazon...check
7. Feeder Websites Updated with Order Links...not done
8. Twitter Countdown Campaign...check
9. Final Final Book Edit...(almost) check
10. eBook Conversion...not done
11. Book Signing Materials/Banners...check
12. Author Excited...check!

My current goal is to have both the paperback and Kindle eBook on Amazon.com about 3 days before the "official" launch (Oct. 15, 2014). It takes time for the servers at Amazon to find and link the Kindle eBook version and the Createspace paperback version together. This is not a huge deal, but it is better when a book search on Amazon shows both eBook and paperback on the same listing.

Hardback copies are a different story. Those will have to come through IngramSpark (Createspace/Amazon does not offer hardbacks for self-published POD---Print On Demand). IngramSpark "pushes" through to Amazon, but it takes time. I will be ordering cases of hardback copies to have on-hand for book signings (starting in November).

I was just told by Mission Control that I have to cut this blog post short--there are too many details and issues to be attended to. I will try to update everyone as we near launch, and hopefully a quick round of follow-up posts to discuss the relative success of the launch.

Visiting Normal...Day Two

There is only one way that my first full day in Normal could have gone any better...

It would've taken a phone call from my manager in Hollywood telling me that JJ Abrams was interested in buying the show.

Well, maybe that was a bit drastic, but honestly--my visit to the geographical setting of my book series was profitable, inspiring, and very satisfying. I had pulled into the University town with a list of objectives, and had pulled away with nearly all of them neatly checked off.

Saturday began not too early (considering a 4.5 hour drive the night before) with a fantastic breakfast at the Fort Jesse Cafe on the east side of town. Service was friendly and the food arrived almost as quick as our drink order. With bellies full and expectations high, my wife and I headed back across the tracks to the very heart of this active yet not hectic community. As we turned down Pine Street we spotted the soon-to-be-renovated remains of Sprague's Super Service Station, a quintessential gas/store combination that was a must-stop for those traveling along Route 66.

We went uptown and walked among the shops of North Street, trying to get a feel for the area and visiting with the locals. At The Garlic Press (an interesting blend of market and merchandise) the staff was extremely receptive as I shared about the Back to Normal book series. They took down my information and offered to contact any locals they knew that grew up in the town during the mid-1950s.

I had high hopes of contacting the management personally at the famous Normal Theater (built in 1937 as a "talkie" movie house). Unfortunately, they only open after 6:30pm, but I put in a voice mail with the manager for a nice phone call early next week. I peered through the glass into a foyer that was short on size but long on character. With its eye-catching sign filled with running lights, and at least four large outdoor movie posters mounted along the busy sidewalk, I feel that this building (listed in the national registry of historical landmarks) would be ideal for launching my book series. Just to step inside the vintage doors is a trip back in time, just like the first few pages of my book.

I snapped an album-full of photos, and we moseyed around the ecological-friendly round-a-bout known as the Uptown Circle, and perused the stores and diners along East Beaufort Street. The city planners have done a wonderful job of preserving a yesteryear-feel to this progressive town. There was truly something for everyone going on--from a well-attended bike race, to a family-day celebration at the University, and off in the distance we could clearly hear the sounds of an outdoor music festival of sorts.

We hopped back in the car and took the scenic tour, visiting the site of the first Steak-n-Shake at the corner of Main and (West) Virginia.

A pizza place now sits on that hallowed ground, but I could still almost picture my group of time-jumpers gathered there for their irregular celebrations.

We then traversed to see the famous neighborhoods of historic homes in the Old North District of Normal. There are entire streets full of houses that reflect a wide variety of vintage home styles from the late 19th to the mid 20th century.

If the Back to Normal Television series is ever produced, I found the perfect, turn-key set and backdrop.

A few turns and a few streets later, we ran across the Normal Public Library, and the courteous staff there quickly helped me find the local history section.

 I discovered the book, The Legacy: A survey of the historical architecture of the Town of Normal, published by the city of Normal in 1990. I need to find a copy of it on Amazon as soon as I get back FROM Normal.

We went from library TO library, as we then walked the floors of Milner Library on the campus of Illinois State University (formerly Illinois State Normal University). The town of Normal actually received its name from the college many decades ago. (A "normal school" is a college that trains teachers to teach.) We spent about 45 minutes looking over old maps and plats of the area, and I accumulated several good digital images for later reference.

It was now well into the afternoon, and I wanted to visit the famous McLean County Historical Museum located in downtown Bloomington...only minutes away. A 100-year old courthouse at the center of town has been converted into a first-class trip down memory lane. We jogged up to the second floor--and that's where the trip went from picture-perfect to unforgettable in several seconds.

We walked into an archive room that smelled of history and housed one man and two ladies. I introduced myself, and shared a little about my book and my need for research. From that moment on--the show was ON. They treated me to a wide range of amazing historical pieces, from maps, to vintage Normal High School yearbooks, and even 16mm and 8mm color films from back in the day.

But the highlight of their help was my visit with Mrs. Wills. This delightful history enthusiast actually grew up in the Bloomington-Normal area in the mid-1950s and was a treasure-trove of information about life, culture, and events in the area.

I took a page full of notes as I hung on her every descriptive word. She easily recalled her teenage years in the early days of the Cold War, and we talked politics, race, business, and night life for nearly two hours. I wish we could have stayed for at least two more, but the museum was closing soon, and we needed to get on the road for any chance of getting home before midnight brought us a new day.

We were a bit famished after our whirlwind tour, and one of the locals recommended Lucca's Italian Bar and Grill just a few blocks over. We entered the narrow and festive joint and plopped down at the bar, since the tables had been reserved for the steady stream of larger, Saturday night patrons. I never order pizza, but upon the recommendations of the staff, I (with much trepidation) asked for a 10-inch supreme, thin crust. Minutes later an amazing delight was slid in front of me, and I devoured it (along with two glasses of RC Cola). My wife thoroughly enjoyed her bacon-burger, and we spent our dining minutes visiting with some of the locals and shared about the book.

For the second time that day, we took off down the road with bellies full. A breakfast in Normal, and dinner in Bloomington, and an incredible day stuffed in-between. As my wife drove the first leg of the return journey home, I grabbed my laptop and began feverishly typing notes about my recollections and other musings. I sat back and thought about all of the changes, both subtle and not-so-subtle that I would need to make to the book series. Even though Back to Normal is historical fiction, I have set out to keep my history as authentic as I can.

True history is the rich tapestry upon which I seek to weave my tales of time-travel, espionage, betrayal, and friendship. As we drove away, I couldn't help but wonder how soon I will be able to get Back to Normal.

Visiting Normal---Walking Where Time-Jumpers Have Trod

My wife and I drove 261 miles, north by northeast, more or less.
Including a quick stop for dinner, it took us just over 4 hours.

But we actually traveled about 58 years...into the past.

We had come to walk where time-jumpers had trod...we had come to visit Normal.
Unlike Denver Collins, lightning had nothing to do with our arrival, and we were thankful that the first person we met was a hotel night clerk, and not the Chief of Police.

This is a trip that had been on, then off, then on, off, rinse, repeat. But now, just about three weeks before the official release of Back to Normal: Paradigm Rift--I am here.

I have several objectives for this mission. First, I am planning to spend Saturday morning visiting with local businesses in the uptown district of this college town. I want to let them know about the book and TV project, and to get a feel for the local culture.

Next, I am scouting for possible book release locations---right now the Normal Theater (photo on the left) is my first choice. There is also an uptown book store.

But now that I am here, I am sensing another opportunity. The integration of the University is positively pervasive, with wifi-filled coffee shops, tattoo parlors, and sidewalks jammed with nationals and internationals in groups of two to twenty-two. I am thinking that maybe a popular collegiate hotspot or campus locale may bode better for this endeavor.

My third goal is to try and spend time with locals who lived here in the mid to late 1950s. I would be thrilled to hear the tales, to get a real sense of daily life in a place that would have been a quintessential Midwest town during the rise of the Cold War.

Finally, I want to walk the streets, and to see the buildings, and to get a feel for the layout and scale of this town, or at least, the Normal that once was.

Rest assured, the Normal that witnessed the arrival of Phil Nelson in 1946, and Denver Collins in 1956 is still here. Like an old stone wall in the forest, covered in moss and mostly hidden by brambles, the Normal of yesteryear still peeks out. Though masked by the emergence of growth and technology, glimmers and glints of her past are still present, and will be noted for stories yet future.

As I tour the town, as I study, photograph, interview, and share--I am not merely researching for books 2,3, and 4 in this series. I am a detective on the trail, an investigator seeking to walk in the footsteps of that brave and desperate alliance of time-jumpers whose tale has been wonderful to craft and a pleasure to share.

Corner of Main and West Virginia. Important spot for the seriesWho knows--perhaps tomorrow I will catch a glimpse of waitress Katie Long as she leaves the diner, or Howard Ross as he mercilessly pursues his prey.

Wait--did I just see Darkstar down that alley?

Novels Aren't Released--They ESCAPE!

I am one of those odd people who actually enjoy the behind-the-scenes, "making of" sections of a Blu-ray or DVD as much as the actual movie.

And, of course, I am also a Star Wars nut, nerd, freak, and obsessed fan. On one particular clip of "Disc Extras" there was a fascinating interview involving Ben Burtt (the audio guru of the Star Wars sound Universe). Ben was talking about the many iterations of edits and endless finishing touches that are applied to films before they hit the silver screen.

He noted that THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING ELSE that can be done to improve ANY movie. Better color correction, tighter edits, more audio finessing---and the list goes on and on. But, he said, there is a deadline. A magical calendar day that arrives like the Grim Reaper and takes the project out of your tired hands, and away from your tired, red eyes.

With that in mind, he said, "Movies aren't released---they escape!"

There comes a day, a point, a moment---a time when you have to, you must, you WILL let go.

And the same is true of stories, of books, of novels.

Well, today was such a day. After months of edits and re-edits, I sent the manuscript off to my CONTENT EDITOR (Janet Cannon). She will indeed prove that the pen is mightier than the sword. She will hack and slash it to little red pieces, and then hand it back to me as a quivering mass of merciless changes, corrections, deletions, and realignments.

Today my ego is intact.

I am not sure about later.

Once her painful (but necessary) stage is complete, the manuscript comes back to me for final edits, and then--- RELEASE ! I am sure that the hundreds of RED marks scattered throughout my novel will indeed make it better, stronger, and more marketable. Maybe red is the new GREEN.

We are still aiming for mid-October online release (Amazon), with a mid-November plan for a big book launch and signing up in downtown Normal, Illinois.

They always say that if you love someone, let 'em go. Well today, I let go of a project that I love.

(Let's see if what comes back looks familiar.)

Proof, Proof, and more Proof

Sometimes I'm an Analog man adrift in a Digital world.
Sometimes we just want to hold something physical, instead of reading it on a screen.
Today, my dream of publishing my own novel series became one step (giant leap) closer.

I received my first printed copy of Back to Normal: Book One-Paradigm Rift TODAY!


As I opened the box from Amazon, it was Amazin (read it again). It was like Christmas morning at age 5, only better.

I still have content editing ahead of me, and final edit and proofing, but (God willing) that will wrap up around the end of September. It still looks like a mid-October book release, with a formal launch party in Normal, Illinois in early to mid-November.

I have had a phone call and emails with the president of the Bloomington-Normal Chamber of Commerce and with the head of the Normal Theater. Next week should lead to more detailed plans for that big event.

Stay tuned, this baby's getting closer every day. This book is a proof and more proof of what is to come.

Paradigm Rift--Book Cover Animation Preview

Last night I finished the first draft of the full dust jacket cover (with both flaps). I took the image into After Effects and applied a little digital magic and created a short 3D animation with music illustrating how the book could look.

Enjoy:

Paradigm Rift-Full Dust Jacket Image

Here is a sample of the first draft of the full dust jacket for Paradigm Rift:

Book One Nears Publishing--and Book Two is Underway

There is always a certain degree of nervous trepidation associated with the unveiling of any offering to the public. It is that awkward pause after singing before a crowd, or the intense pressure awaiting the judge's scores after an athletic performance.
I mean, you love it, you are proud of it, but that doesn't guarantee that anyone else will even begin to appreciate it.

And so you wait.

This has been my lot of late. Over the past two weeks, I have released Back to Normal-Book One: Paradigm Rift to the discerning eyes and minds of a select batch of Beta Readers. Men, women, from various walks of life and various professional backgrounds.

And then I waited.

The reports and critiques trickled in. Now, with over 90% of them reporting, the verdict is clear:

Back to Normal appears to have a fighting chance.

Here are some quotes from these early reviewers:

"I absolutely LOVED it."

"My only complaint is that it ended, I was downright angry..."

"Allow me to begin by congratulating you on writing one of the most engrossing and well-crafted story lines I’ve encountered in years. The book is sensational, and very well-written."

"Just finished. Awesome! You can't leave me hanging. I need to know what happens next!"

"Great read. Easy to follow. Well written."

"I'm sure this will be an Amazon best seller."


The manuscript is being grammar and syntax proofed as we speak, and is due to get into the hands of my content editor by late next week. After that there will be another revision, then final proofreading, and then...

PUBLISHING ! (Mid-October???)

But trust me, I'm not sitting idly by while this process occurs. I have recently completed a detailed outline of Book Two: TRADECRAFT, and I have already written a tentative first-draft of the last chapter of the final book---Book Four: CROSSOVER.

 (No, that was not a misprint or a misspeak, yes, I did say Book Four .)

In every spare minute, I have been meticulously researching material to be used as the backdrop for the international espionage elements that will dominate Book Two.

 If you love spies, intrigue, and mystery, then Back to Normal: TRADECRAFT will scratch that literary itch.

Book One: Paradigm Rift Update

It is an exciting time!

The second draft of Back to Normal: Book One: Paradigm Rift is in the hands of a small group of early Beta Readers as we speak. Content editing will follow this phase, and should begin around Sept. 1st. This will be followed by a round of final edits, then final proofreading, then...

PUBLISHING! 

Right now it looks like early to mid October for the official book release. We are still planning to have a special book release in downtown NORMAL. That could be amazing.

I am already working on Book Two: Tradecraft, which will focus more on the international espionage surrounding our time travelers, and Denver will find himself on an investigation that will turn the series upside down, As book two comes to a climax, newspaper editor Betty Larson uncovers the world's most dangerous secret, just as the KGB closes in.Get ready for Back to Normal: Paradigm Rift---our past is their future.FREE Newsletter Sign Up. Puts you on the fast-track for Back to Normal Info