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Lord of the Flies ends with the boys being rescued and taken off the island, and I've always wondered what the psychological impact would have been for the survivors. To satisfy my own curiosity, I'm writing a short story where two of the boys have a haphazard meeting fifteen years after the conclusion of the novel.
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Kenneth wrote: "Lord of the Flies ends with the boys being rescued and taken off the island, and I've always wondered what the psychological impact would have been for the survivors. To satisfy my own curiosity, ..."
Ann wrote: "Let me know when the sequel is released!!!!!!!!!! Please :) Kayla wrote: "I love how this thread started with what we're working on and ended with hoverboards, only to be brought back to current ..."
Will do! At this stage, I'm hoping to hit April 1st as a release date. It's currently in beta phase, I just have to format it and write a blurb to put on the back cover, which is already designed. BLURBS SUCK.
I am currently working on book 2 in the Hayden Heyer series. Originally, I had it completed, but my editor wanted me to divided it into 2 separate books. Now, I am adding to the storyline and bringing up the page count in both.
I think I've posted elsewhere, but my next book is a departure from my usual caustic noir approach.Sarah Love’s father moved the family from Austin to the tiny town of Pollen Texas to further his career, only he reminds her constantly his career depends on her getting along with the popular kids. The popular kids, however, are the Queen Bee, the mayor's daughter Jana Payne and her hive who mock her endlessly because she doesn't fit in.
Sara can't make friends with anyone except for Mr. Fisher, an odd homeless man who no one else has ever seen. Everyone thinks Sara's crazy, but Mr. Fisher's stories help her embrace her difficult circumstances, save the Christmas pageant and even her father's job.
I will probably market it as YA even though it's not.
Loosely similar to Gaarder's Sophie's world, the novel explores how metaphoric (philosophic) thinking helps readers develop social and problem solving skills but, unlike Gaarder, it doesn't walk the reader through a litany of philosophers and philosophies.
It also explores religious conflict and controversy.
Got the final version of my MS back from the editor and am doing my own final review. Putting the finishing touches on Web Site, Pinterest, and Google + accounts so I can tie them all together in a nice bundle. Saving author FB and Twitter for last. My vision is that three weeks from now I'll have an author page on Goodreads!! Does it get any better than that :)
This is a neat thread. Thanks for starting it. It's nice to see other people who feel under the gun as well. I'm working on a number of projects, but the one I'm currently focused on is titled, "Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast." It's a retelling with POV that is split somewhat evenly between Isa (my Belle character) and Prince Everard. It actually began as a writing exercise that somehow took control of my pen. I'm really excited about it, as I hadn't previously planned to write a book like this.My goal is to get it published within the next five weeks, as my baby girl is due then. My biggest concern right now is getting the edits done. People have been very sweet in agreeing to be my beta readers, but I don't know if they realize how soon Baby is due. Five weeks isn't that many...lol.
J. wrote: "This is great, everyone sounds busy. Good luck to you guys.I just finished my first draft on book 3 of The King's Elite series. I'll let it sit for about 3-4 weeks then I'll get back to work, cut..."
What genre is your series? And do you do all your own editing? Unfortunately, a professional editor is out of the budget for me right now, but I'm blessed to have a mother who teaches English. She's kind, but not afraid to break out the red pen.
Brittany wrote: "J. wrote: "This is great, everyone sounds busy. Good luck to you guys.I just finished my first draft on book 3 of The King's Elite series. I'll let it sit for about 3-4 weeks then I'll get back t..."
That's a nice perk to have, a mom who teaches English. Always great when you have support from your family. Best of luck with your book and the birth of your child. You're right, these next five weeks will fly by for you.
Since self publishing my first young adult fantasy novel, 'Children of Odon' 6 weeks ago, I am still trying to figure out the self marketing that comes with this kind of publishing. It's about a young orphaned woman who finds out through a series of dreams that she belongs to an ancient order of mystically gifted children who are being targeted by an evil spirit guide.
In the mean time I am about a third of the way into writing my second young adult magic/fantasy novel.
In the mean time I am about a third of the way into writing my second young adult magic/fantasy novel.
I have "June and Justin", sequel to prize-winning "Ruby, Between the Cracks" out for final edits. "Cynthia Has a Secret", a contemporary YA suspense out to beta readers right now (though I need a few more; if you're looking for something to read, I'll send you more details!)
And I'm on first draft of "Mito, a Medical Kidnap Thriller".
About a third of the way through right now, should be done around Feb 23.
Tasha wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm always working on multiple projects so... I'm editing a completed novella, titled Brianna and the Three, the story of a kidnapping set in the far distant future.
I'm also working on the fir..."
Your books sound intriguing!"
Sorry it took so long to reply. Lost track of time between all the projects and real life...
Glad you like the projects.
Chapter 17 of my 3rd novel and the final book in The Heart Trilogy. It started life as a standalone until readers started asking me what happened next so I carried on writing. They are chick-lit style romance but with some realism in places, I'm not an all hearts and flowers type of girl as I know life is not like that!! I have also started a few other novels which I will continue once I have finished the trilogy. These include a paranormal story, another set in the world of Formula 1 and a dark comedy about tribute bands. So a bit eclectic!!
Working on about five stories at once right now...Dark-Boy, Vol. 3, the continuing adventures of the narcissistic anti-heroic teenage Dehue/former child soldier (what a mouthful, lol) Damian Warkowski, as he struggles against a rogue anarchist with a sick sense of ironic humour who forces him to commit various acts of terrorism and murder (or else he'll kill his girlfriend)--tasks which effectively turn the entire city-state against him.
Donut Shop Brothers: A New York cop goes to a Texas town to avenge the murder of his partner, only to find himself caught in the middle of a street war between the town's corrupt police department and an underground gang of bitter, murderous thieves.
I Keep My True Love in the Basement: Short story for an indie publishing company anthology where an angry engineer creates the perfect killing machine--a copy of his ex-wife. Unfortunately, it follows in his ex's footsteps and becomes bent on killing him.
For Your Convenience: A Chinese convenience store owner finds himself under fire by the mob when he defends his longtime friend with a gambling problem against a trio of loan sharks.
High School Bizarre: A teenager deliberately gets himself sent to a 'correctional facility for those who don't deserve their gifts,' which is full of super-powered teenage inmates and run by a psychotic warden with a mysterious plan to cause global chaos. (more or less a spin-off of Dark-Boy, though not a spin-off... just takes place in the same timeline, about fifteen years before that story begins)
I'm also really busy with developing these. I just need to get them finished!
V.M. wrote: "Sounds cool Alex! I gotta admit, the synopsis for the Basement story sounds both hilarious and awesome."LOL thank you.
Just finished my first novel about a minor league baseball player, who is a bit of prodigal. It is entitled "Paint the Black" and I am in the process of editing it. I am going to try to beta test before publishing. Super pumped!!
Completed the outline and in the process of writing my sixth novel. Tentatively titled Drug Wars and set in Savannah, Georgia, Drug Wars will be the first novel in my new series. A DEA agent is about to come forward with allegations of theft, extortion, and 'padded' drug busts within the DEA. The agents are skimming drug money and seed money in order to enrich themselves and others within the judicial system. Before the agent can make the allegations public, he is assassinated very publically at an outdoor news conference. My protagonist, Peden Savage, owns a private consulting company which sells spy gadgetry to law enforcement agencies. He is a former FBI agent who was forced from the agency when he had planned to expose the illegal and unethical activities of management at the FBI. Savage is drawn into the investigation of the DEA Agent's murder by his former partner at the FBI, Megan Moore. There is high drama, action, suspense, mystery, sexual tension, and murder. My goal is to write a story that you'll not want to put down, even when called to sit down to your favorite meal.
I am currently working on a cookbook. It's been a long process of writing original recipes and testing them out on my co-workers. Of course my co-workers have been enjoying the treats!
Pete wrote: "Completed the outline and in the process of writing my sixth novel. Tentatively titled Drug Wars and set in Savannah, Georgia, Drug Wars will be the first novel in my new series. A DEA agent is..."
Good luck with your new series.
I've just completed the first draft, cover, and blurb for my next book, so until my first round of proofreading comes back, I'm actually on vacation. Except I'm not. There are five more books in this particular series and I've got another one on the back burner, and I just came up with another bright idea for a serial, oh, and then there's a short story collection I have been meaning to compile...:)
Glad to see I'm not the only one plagued with splitting my time and brain with multiple projects. I just released my first book in a series, and have the second book undergoing edits right now and plan to release it this coming summer. The series tackles the subject of substance abuse, the cycle of recovery, and all through a paranormal lens. I also have an urban/paranormal fantasy about a witch standing trial and exorcism in a modern day outlawing of witchcraft. That's done and slated for editing. Not sure when I want to release that yet. In addition I have other paranormal fantasies that I'm flip flopping around with; a tricksy faerie tale, a story about a necromancer, a story about an empath, an apocalyptic story, and 3 other stories I haven't quite qualified as if yet. So many stories, so little time. Good luck everyone!
LOL. That's why I really need (and have) a written production schedule. I have six books to get out this year, four (well, three and a half) to write, a backlist of dozens, a story idea file that currently has 340 items in it... And then there's the unexpected stuff that happens.A production schedule keeps me on track. Even though I am behind on getting one of my books out (beta readers took much longer to read it than expected), I am simultaneously moving forward on the next one to be published so I don't get behind, like I did last year (when in order to I ended up having to put books out in each of August, September, October, and December!)
And I have plenty of checklists and a big todo list...
I am working on the last draft of my second novel Blood Across the Pond. Hoping to have the sequel released by the end of March. I am reading the 2014 Guide to Self Publishing - so I have a better game plan for marketing. My first book is doing ok- it's in local books stores, at my local library, on Amazon---- etc but I still don't know what all I could be doing to get my books out there.
Does anyone have a target time frame between book releases? Has anyone notice a "sweet spot" so to speak?
That's an interesting question J.C. When I released my first book, I put in the back jacket that I would be releasing the second in the series in the Fall because it was already written just not edited for a final. Anyway- I found I didn't have the time to finish it for release because my husband was working out of the country for a month.
The point is I think putting a due out date is great- it makes people push and get things done. I wish I would have been more realistic with myself and not put such an early release date into my actual finished first novel.
JC - it may depend on what genre you are writing in. Thriller and epic fantasy readers probably don't expect tomes more than once a year. Romance readers are ravenous and would be happier with a new book every month. My impression is that the most successful indie authors are putting out 2-4 books per year, but I don't have stats to back that up.
P.D. wrote: "JC - it may depend on what genre you are writing in. Thriller and epic fantasy readers probably don't expect tomes more than once a year. Romance readers are ravenous and would be happier with a ne..."I would love to put 2 to 4 books out a year. :)Not sure if I have that in me yet... but I am going to try.
I hate to say it- but if they made "prolific writer" in pill form I would take it. :)
Every author is going to be different. If you can put out one fantastic novel every fifty years, readers will love you. :-)You don't want to lose quality because you are pushing yourself too hard and releasing stuff that isn't ready. But the more products you have, the easier it will be to get a good income stream. High visibility, conversion of readers from one book to the next, etc.
P.D. wrote: "Every author is going to be different. If you can put out one fantastic novel every fifty years, readers will love you. :-)You don't want to lose quality because you are pushing yourself too hard..."
I agree I would love to have just one "To Kill a Mockingbird," under my belt. But since I don't yet- I would like to be prolific.
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P.D. wrote: "Every author is going to be different. If you can put out one fantastic novel every fifty years, readers will love you. :-)
You don't want to lose quality because you are pushing yourself too hard..."
Holy moley - 6 books per year?!?!? It took me 10 months just to do the first draft manuscript for "Bullseye Breach." Maybe the next one will go faster.
Thanks PD. I think I'm going to focus on when the book feels ready to release rather than try to fit someone else's schedule. That's the beauty of indie authoring, right?
I've been writing for a lot of years. First draft takes a month. I'll write four this year, which gives me eight months for edits/rewrites/prep for publishing for each of the six I am publishing this year. Last year I put out seven, because I had fallen behind. But the one that ended up taking longer than expecting ended up winning an award, so I'm not complaining!
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How many words long are your manuscripts most times? I tend to write a lot in a day, though I average just over 2500 words. Part of the problem might be I'm still learning true organization for novel writing. While similar to what I used to do as a Dungeon Master, there are some intricacies that seem to be different even still, so it's a learning process. I guess part of it might be my typical genre also. A true fantasy epic tends to run 125-150,000 words before it's an epic. Hell, some of the wheel of times books run in the half million range! That's some word smithing right there, though even they could drag on towards the middle of the series.
P.D. wrote: "But the one that ended up taking longer than expecting ended up winning an award, so I'm not complaining! "This is cool. What was the reward and how did your book get nominated?
Thank you for asking! "Ruby, Between the Cracks" won In the Margins Best Books for Teens 2015. In the Margins Book Award and Selection Committee, (ITM) is a committee under the umbrella of Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC). ITM strives to find the best books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, in custody – or a cycle of all three. They identify quality, age-appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in urban, lockdown, homeless shelters and other non-traditional venues for teens living in the margins.
Ruby was nominated by a teacher-librarian at a juvenile facility who had read it with his class. The first I heard was when they e-mailed me asking for copies to distribute to the committee for review. It was published in February last year, and i was contacted by the committee in May. The award was just given at the beginning of this February (and ended up bumping things around in my production schedule!) The book that has been delayed this year is the sequel to Ruby, and I want to make sure it is 100% ready to go, as readers will be waiting for it.
To answer the length question by Riley, my novels average around 100,000 words. I have one short one out with only 55,000 words, and Ruby and the others in that series are around 125,000 words each. But I find 100,000 a pretty comfortable length for a story. The one I'm working on this month is about 55,000 words right now, and I think may fall under 100,000 in the end. But then, that's what I usually think...
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Happy to help! My mom always told me when I was going to school that if I had a question, others in the class probably did too, and I found that to be true. People would be afraid to ask, but when I did, all of the heads would start nodding...
Christina wrote: "I've just completed the first draft, cover, and blurb for my next book, so until my first round of proofreading comes back, I'm actually on vacation. Except I'm not. There are five more books in th..."Good luck, having a writing list is a perfect way to stay sharp. I keep filling my notebooks with ideas and dialogue.
I'm editing the next in the series of The Selkie Pact. This is called The Selkie Mist. Finn has arrived back in Ballintoy where a summer storm has caused havoc. The mists of time have moved along and things are where they don't belong. Things from the past are appearing in the present, and Finn's father has disappeared. Though he's determined to get him back, Finn's newfound ability is the power of foresight, and Finn fears this could be his last adventure.
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Wow, just think about how happy and relieved you will feel to have it off of your desk at the end of the day, and in someone else's hands. Go for it! You can do it! Set your timer and buckle down.
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P.D. wrote: "Wow, just think about how happy and relieved you will feel to have it off of your desk at the end of the day, and in someone else's hands. Go for it! You can do it! Set your timer and buckle down."
Support for Indie Authors
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I'm editing a completed novella, titled Brianna and the Three, the story of a kidnapping set in the far distant future.
I'm also working on the fir..."
You have some pretty engaging ideas developing here, Michael. Good luck with these.