A Writer's Week #81: Vacation!!!

Yes, that's right, I'm finally taking a vacation! We do something every year at this time, but this year it's been a long time coming. Next week, I won't be posting as I've decided to take a little writing vacation as well as a work one. Of course I don't think I'll be able to take a vacation from thinking about my latest work in progress.

I think vacation mode kicked in earlier this week, because I only wrote a little less than 500 words That puts The Deliverers 3: The Golden Dragon of Ang at just under 54,000. The end is taking a little longer to write than I had hoped. I did come up with a little twist for an earlier section of the book. I'll go back and re-write it after the first draft is finished. I keep coming back to the fact that I'm really liking this book. It's going to take the series to the next level and tie in things from the second book with events in thee fourth and fifth books.

I met today with illustrator Daniel Vogel and presented him with a copy of book 2. He's just about finished the first map for book 3 and is starting on the second. He's also going to work on a group shot of the four Deliverers in a slightly anime style that I'll use as the header for the blog and perhaps turn into a banner for shows. So, things are moving right along with book 3.

Publicity is still in the works for Order of the Crystal Lion. Once vacation is over, you should start to hear and see some buzz about it. I'm looking around for some shows at which to set up shop this fall. When I get some dates set, I'll let you all know.

So, things are headed in the right direction, but I think I need to take a little break and come out re-energized for the rest of the year. Have a great week everyone. Be well!

What's Abigail Reading? Anne of Green Gables

Abby has really been enjoying the adventures of Anne Shirley this summer. She likes the book, but then she discovered my wife's VHS tapes of the three movies and she absolutely fell in love with it. Here's her take on Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maude Montgomery.

Here's what Abigail says the book is about.

This story is about a girl named Anne who is an orphan and gets adopted by two old people named Marilla and Matthew. Anne finally got to live in a real home. Anne made a new friend named Diana Berry. Then Diana’s mom and dad had a school picnic and it was Anne’s first chance to taste ice cream. Anne loved the ice cream and had a great time at the party. One day Anne invited Diana to have tea. Anne accidentally picked out Marilla’s special wine instead of Raspberry Cordial and got Diana drunk.

Then one winter Diana came over to Anne’s house crying because her little sister was sick and both her parents were at the rally to meet the Prime Minister. Matthew got the doctor and Anne and Diana went to Diana’s house with a bottle of ipecac. Soon they got to the house and Anne asked Mary Joe to boil some water and Diana to bring a change of clothes. Before the doctor came Anne gave every single drop of ipecac. When the doctor came he said that if Anne didn’t give the medicine to the little girl it would have been too late. I am not going to tell you any more.

Here's what Abigail liked best about the book.

I liked the part when Anne helped the little girl because that was kind and if Anne didn’t help, then the little girl would die.

Was there anything that Abigail did nlt like about the book?

I don’t like the part where Anne’s an orphan because then you don’t have parents and you don’t have a real home.

So, how did Abigail rate Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maude Montgomery?

She gave it five out of five dolphins.

Character Interviews: Eric & Stig

In celebration of the release of The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion, I thought it would be nice to check in with Eric and Stig to get their thoughts on their latest Assignment.

Greg:  Hey guys. I've been paging through the latest book, and it looks to me like you've had quite an exciting time of things on this Assignment.

Eric:  Yeah, it was really tough. In a lot of ways, I think it was even more difficult than our first Assignment together.

Stig:  I quite agree. Each adventure is challenging in its own way, but I think this one was particularly challenging for myself, personally.

Greg:  Wow, that's saying something, considering you have been on a bunch of missions. Stig.

Stig:  Yes, this was only Eric's second, but it was my 13th. It proved to be very unlucky for me at times. I shudder to think of what might have happened.

Eric:  I don't like to think of it either. This one was an eye-opener for me. I learned that anything

can happen. i always thought, you know, that these Assignments could be dangerous, but that we were sort of, like, protected. But after this one, I realized that the danger is real.

Stig:  It was especially harrowing for me. Although I have always been well aware of the dangers, I'll admit that I may have become a trifle nonchalant about the whole thing over the years. I suppose that what happened to me was inevitable.

Greg:  Why? What happened to you?

Stig:  Hmmm? Oh, well I would not want to spoil anything for your readers--or yourself. You'll just have to read the book.

Eric:  Yeah, I still can't talk about it. Even thinking about it gives me the shivers.

Greg:  Oh fine, have it your way. I'll read the book and then we'll talk. Would it be too much to ask what, aside from this big mystery, was the most scary moment for you?

Eric:  For me it was definitely when Trelango took us all prisoner and wanted to zap me with that machine that added animal genes to your DNA. I'm afraid I can't tell you what happened, though.

Greg:  Of course you can't. How about you, Stig?

Stig:  Oh, well I suppose it was the time when I was flying through the virtual tunnel. It was starting to collapse and the sparkling mist--

Greg:  Sparkling mist?

Eric:  It's this, well, sparkling mist. Selango, the rebel leader--who's Trelango's brother in case you didn't know--built a virtual tunnel underneath Vynistra City. It wasn't real. It was made from this sparkling mist. The mist is really powerful--we don't really know exactly everything it can do.

Stig:  Yes, frightfully dangerous stuff, I'd guess. Selango ought never to have messed about with it. Still, I think that we were able to wrap things up sufficiently so that we shan't hear anything more about it.

Greg:  Let's hope so. If it's as powerful as you say, things could take a turn for the worse if it were to crop up again.

Eric:  You're right. I don't think the universe could stand too much of that stuff floating around.

Stig:  Perish the thought!

Greg:  Well, on that note, I think it's time to say goodnight. Thanks so much for sharing what little you could about your latest adventure. Despite all the mystery, it sounds like an exciting time.

A Writer's Week #80: Planting Seeds

This week has been kind of quiet. I was busy on the writing and marketing fronts planting seeds, but nothing is ready to blossom just yet. I spent a lot of time putting in requests for reviews and interviews. A couple of my blogging friends will be posting reviews and/or interviews over the course of the next month or so.

I also contacted a couple of the local papers and they will be running articles in support of the book sometime this month. The weekly paper in the town I live will bee running an article in their back to school issue later in August. I'm really looking forward to that. My company's newsletter will be running an article on me this month, too. I always see a jump in sales when these outlets feature me.

So far, the release of The Deliverers 2 has been a mild success. Even with what I call a "soft release" i.e. relatively no publicity, I'm managing to sell a book-either paperback or Kindle-just about every other day. My goal for now is to sell at least one book on Amazon every day, and sell a bunch of books locally at various events for the rest of the year. I'll be happy with that modest success. If I can get a few reviews on Amazon (well, okay 20 or more) then I'll consider this book a success.

Once the publicity I've planned kicks in, I think I have a good shot at reaching my goals. Then, the plan is to finish up book 3 and release it this February. Speaking of book 3, The Golden Dragon of Ang is progressing very nicely.

I'm right at the climax of the book. Eric and the rest of the Deliverers are finding out something very important right now. It's pretty exciting. I wrote 2,000 words this week, putting the word count at 53,500 over 233 pages and 54 chapters. Daniel Vogel is working on the third (and hopefully, final) version of the map of the Dragon Islands. I'll keep you updated on my progress next week. Until then, enjoy!

What's Abigail Reading?: Smile

Summer has been very exciting for the children, what with camp and bowling and swimming. As a result, no one had a book to present yesterday. Apologies for the delay. However, today was a rainy one, so Abigail was able to find the time to write about a book that she's been reading. So, without further ado, I leave you to Abby who will tell you all about Smile, by Raina Telgemeier. It's a book that made an impression on her, having just had her braces taken off.

Here's what Abigail says the book is about.

This story is about a girl named Raina who knocked out her two front teeth. Raina had to go to the orthodontist to get braces. It took months to get her teeth straightened. One day there was an earthquake and the power went off for about four hours. They said that the Bay Bridge had collapsed. Soon they had their Valentine's party at school. Later, Raina tried out for the basketball team, but  she found out that she did not make the team.

Soon Raina stepped up to high school. She made new friends in high school and finally took her braces off. Raina went to the sophomore hop and danced with her friends. Then when she and her friends were having their picture taken, the photographer said smile and Raina's smile was finally straight.

What did Abigail like best about the book?

I really liked the part where the Bay Bridge collapsed, because that was cool.

Was there anything about the book that Abigail didn't like?

I didn't like the part where Raina knocks out her teeth, because that was bad.

So, how did Abigail rate Smile by Raina Telgemeier?

She gave it five out of five dolphins.