Splashdown Books

News for January 2012

2012-01-14T21:55:00.001+13:00

Kia Ora everyone! I hope you enjoyed the festive season. I for one am glad to be starting a new year that promises to be very different in more ways than one - my day job of translation will be in an office for six months, instead of working from home. But we have a whole lot of exciting stuff planned with Splashdown! There's a Kindle freebie for you today and tomorrow, so keep reading :)

2011 was a huge year for us, publishing 9 books and bringing our total to 16. Yep, it may not seem like much, but for a micro-sized team, I think it's pretty cool - and I'm grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. You can check them all out in our bookshop: www.splashdownbooks.com/bookshop

Fiction Awards Voting Time!

Despite the name, I am not affiliated in any way with the Grace Awards ;) but I'd sure love for you to vote if you enjoyed one of our books. Here's what to include, according to instructions at www.grace-awards.com:

- Link to your Facebook profile (or any other kind of online profile; your page must have existed before November 2011)

- Speculative Fiction: Title/Author

- Why you liked it (at least 25 words)

Send all this to graceawards@aol.com. You may only vote once in each category, so choose carefully!

Our eligible titles for this year's contest are:

Reality's Dawn and Reality's Ascent by R. L. Copple

The Crystal Portal by Travis Perry and Mike Lynch

Winter by Keven Newsome

Finding Angel by Kat Heckenbach (Also eligible for the YA category!)

The Seer by Fred Warren

Caffeine by Ryan Grabow

(Anthologies aren't eligible, so don't vote for those!)

There's also the Family Fiction Readers' Choice Awards, with several categories to vote in, such as best author, best novel, best NEW author, etc. You can leave categories blank if you don't have favourites. There's one for short stories so if you're fond of Aquasynthesis or Odd Little Miracles, you can put them there. And there's even a category for best video trailer (remember Winter, anyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5r8Lb6Er_A).

To vote in this award, go here:

http://www.familyfiction.com/news/vote-in-the-2012-familyfiction-readers-choice-awards/

Preparing for an awesome year!

We have another full year of stupendous stories coming up for you, beginning very shortly with I Am Ocilla by Diane M. Graham. This young adult fantasy novel was a winner of the legendary Marcher Lord Select contest in 2009 - and guess what, she's been making it even better ever since! I bet you're going to love it.

After that comes the grand finale to Caprice Hokstad's Ascendancy Trilogy: Blood and Brine. Return with us to the kingdom of Latoph where Duke Vahn fights for his life and that of his people - in more ways than one.

And much more, of course! Details forthcoming. Science fiction, supernatural, young adult fantasy, and more sequels to books you have loved!

FREE KINDLE STORY

That's right! If you've read this far, you get to join in the fun and grab a retro tale by yours truly. Invasion is one of the first short stories I wrote as an adult, around the time I was finishing work on my first novel. Religious content is fairly strong in this one, so give it a miss if you're sensitive. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006UI73CO

You don't even need a Kindle e-reader - you can view it directly in the Kindle Cloud Reader online, or download Kindle apps for PC, Mac or smartphone.

This free offer is for today and tomorrow only - Saturday and Sunday! Ends Sunday midnight, Pacific time. And - if you like it, leave me some stars!

This is the first in a series I've christened Splashdown Droplets - the bite-sized weirdness of my own short stories, possibly to be joined by other Splashdown authors in the near future. See them all here: http://amzn.to/z0KnAj and watch for new ones coming out.

We'll be back next month with Ocilla, more Kindle goodies, AND something else we've never done before! So stay tuned.

All the best, and happy reading, from the (rather wet) Kiwi summer!

Grace

Thanksgiving Update

2011-11-24T21:00:00.000+13:00

Kia ora everyone! Boy, have we got a lot going on at Splashdown this month! Want one of our paperbacks for less than $3.00? Read on...

But first, our latest release, this time from the realms of science fiction:

Caffeine, by Ryan Grabow

"Supernatural: above, beyond, in excess of nature. If the meaning of life cannot be found in nature, then I must determine if the answer lies beyond it."

In an authoritarian and overstimulated 22nd-century America, all Brandon can do to relieve his pain is indulge in the computer-simulated fantasies of a network called Dynamic Reality...until a virus takes control of the simulation. A philosophical thrill ride like no other - don't miss this one.

Ebook Sale

As of right now through Sunday night, all our ebooks are priced at $2.99 - including our November new releases. That's a saving of at least 50% - Come on in and grab your choice! Kindle books are discounted direct at Amazon and all are collected HERE in our Amazon store; if you'd like a different format, just say the word and we'll send you a voucher.

Fred Warren's Feast

Not only did we release Fred's second novel, The Seer, just a few weeks ago. Now, Amazon is discounting his short story collection in paperback, Odd Little Miracles! At the time of writing the price had fallen to $2.78, and it's even eligible for their 4-for-3 special - which means you can get four copies for under $9.00. The perfect odd little gift for, well, just about anyone! But don't dally - Amazon is notorious for changing prices around at their whim. This discount is not under our control, so get it while the gettin's good!

By the way, the same 4-for-3 promotion also applies to Aquasynthesis, our collection of stories from all Splashdown authors to date. Something for all reading tastes.

That's it for this time - thank you for reading!

Grace and the team at Splashdown

How to get a manuscript accepted at Splashdown

2011-11-08T09:00:00.001+13:00

Here it is, folks - the comprehensive guide with everything you need to know.

1. Write a phenomenally good book. This should be obvious. But don't just have a high opinion of yourself. Have your writing peers look at it, preferably professionals as well, and take their advice.

2. Be nice. If I should suggest your story might need more work, please forego the retaliatory backbite that rises from the hurt. Don't burn Bridges, cause this Bridges has been burned enough. Full, willing and eager cooperation and teamwork is expected from our authors, and anything less at the outset will get you nowhere.

3. On first contact, give a concise summary of your project. Merely sending files gives me nothing to consider in the intervening time until I can get to look at it properly - and that may take a while, because it's just little old me back here.

4. Tell me your relevant marketing experience. Make me believe you're a good investment and that your book will pay out.

5. There better not be any typos in your first-contact material.

6. Respond maturely to criticism and advice, and be committed to continued learning and improvement.

7. If you submit to Splashdown, you should be a fan and friend of Splashdown. Not just the Facebook kind, either. KNOW Splashdown. Read our books and see if this is a family you want to be a part of. Immerse yourself in our histories, anecdotes, modus operandi, authors' blogs, and grasp our unique flavour.

There is one more item; unfortunately, it's rather unquantifiable, and I'm sorry about that, but this is the way it is...

8. Your story must be one that I LOVE. Yes, it all comes down to personal taste. Sorry. If your tale charms me... AND if all the above criteria are fulfilled... then we could very well be good to go.

If this sounds like a rant, that's because it is. I'm sick and tired of people offloading their submissions on me without any regard for how I like to do business. Ignore my feelings at your peril.

November News

2011-10-13T23:29:00.001+13:00

Kia Ora!

November is an exciting month for Splashdown...New releases, new reviews, and new opportunities for you to save on quality speculative fiction. Read on!

Now Available

You loved The Muse. Fred Warren ups the ante with The Seer. Follow Stan Marino and his daughter Hannah as new threats emerge from the world of inspiration.

Stan plopped into the sofa and ran his hands through his hair. He felt so tired, but sleep was the last thing he wanted now. “Okay, let’s put everything on the table. Hannah can see the future. Her new best friend can get into other peoples’ dreams. I may or may not have Leila Starling, the Malevolent Muse of Minneapolis, playing tiddly-winks inside my head. Finally, my not-so-late wife Charity, whose secret identity I have carefully shielded for the past five years, now must be explained to Hannah. Did I leave anything out?”
“You also led an army of comatose nerds against Leila’s devil dogs in the realm of imagination.”
“Not helpful, Jilly.”
“Sorry. You asked for it.”

Available at Amazon in paperback and Amazon for Kindle, as well as the paperback at Barnes & Noble. Other retailers are taking their time to list it, but you can get Epub for Nook at Smashwords along with many other formats.

Reviews:

Looking for that special something to fill a virtual Christmas stocking? Check out these reviews and excerpts for our newest Splashdown offerings:

The Seer:

Barn Door Book Loft

Finding Angel:

Spire Reviews

Magical Ink

Interviews:

Sometimes you want to know more about a book than what's inside the cover.

Fred Warren:

Kat Heckenbach

Caprice Hokstad:

Coming Soon

Ryan Grabow wowed you with his short in Aquasynthesis. Soon he'll thrill you with his full-length debut novel Caffeine. Stay plugged in for the latest updates.

Avenir Eclectia Celebrates 100 Stories!

Can you believe it? Just yesterday we posted Avenir episode #100, a tale by Travis Perry in his ongoing thread. The project has been running since March at three brief stories per week, and is going to pass the milestone of 50,000 words by the time we get to #102. Our awesome designer Mike Rogers has provided a new skin for the website to celebrate, so get on over and check it out: www.avenireclectia.com.

Special Deals

Black Friday approaches and Splashdown wants to join the festive fun.

All Splashdown ebooks will be on sale November 25, 26 and 27 for $2.99.

We'll send a reminder but plan your Christmas budget now to save a little dough for more sugar cookies.

That's all for this time... Thanks for reading!

Grace and the team at Splashdown

September News

2011-08-29T10:43:00.009+12:00

Kia Ora from New Zealand and hello from Splashdown!

Lots of goings-on this month, so let's dive right in...

Now Available

Finding Angel, the first novel by veteran author Kat Heckenbach, is here!

It's aimed at middle-graders and young adults, but fantasy-minded grown-ups will love it too.

Perfect for reading with or without kids!

Angel doesn’t remember her magical heritage…but it remembers her.
Magic and science collide when she embarks on a journey to her true home, and to herself.
Angel lives with a loving foster family, but dreams of a land that exists only in the pages of a fantasy novel. Until she meets Gregor, whose magic Talent saves her life and revives lost memories.
She follows Gregor to her homeland…a world unlike any she has imagined, where she travels a path of self-discovery that leads directly to her role in an ancient Prophecy…and to the madman who set her fate in motion.

Available at Amazon (in Kindle too). Other retailers are taking their time to list it, but you can get Epub for Nook at Smashwords along with many other formats.

New Look

www.SplashdownBooks.com has a new face. Check out the new-and-improved, easier-to-navigate website. Find books faster. See what's new with your favorite authors. Handy drop-downs and a splashy backdrop are just a few of the upgrades. Drop by and dive in!

Splash Hit

Splashdown's first group anthology made a big splash at Amazon, rising to #1 in Bestselling Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthologies shortly after going public! See what all the fuss is about with stories from all the current Splashdown authors - Fred Warren, Caprice Hokstad, P.A. Baines, Adam Graham, R.L. Copple, Travis Perry, Mike Lynch, Keven Newsome, Kat Heckenbach, Grace Bridges and Ryan Grabow, with narration from Walt Staples.

Snag Aquasynthesis at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favourite online location.

$5.98 in print or $2.99 in e!

E-book Sale!

The Crystal Portal e-book by Travis Perry and Mike Lynch is available for $2.99 this month only. Check it out at Kindle and Smashwords!

We're also launching a cool new spin on the cover - up now in ebook formats, and coming soon to the print version:

Award Finalist

Caprice Hokstad's Nor Iron Bars a Cage finaled in the Global eBook Awards! The full list is here - look for the Speculative Fiction: Fantasy category.

Congratulations, Caprice!

In Brief

Keven Newsome's Winter now wears 22 five-star reviews at Amazon!
Next month sees the release of The Seer by Fred Warren - the long-awaited sequel to The Muse. It's a doozy, I can tell you!
Avenir Eclectia has passed a total of 75 mini-stories in its shared world. Why not get on board?

That's it for this time - but watch out in the weeks to come for more exciting developments!

Splashdown News: August 2011

2011-08-12T01:00:00.001+12:00

Aquasynthesis is here!

Welcome at last to the premiere of Splashdown's first group anthology. Delays in retail channels have kept us waiting, but no longer! Stories from all the current Splashdown authors fill the pages - Fred Warren, Caprice Hokstad, P.A. Baines, Adam Graham, R.L. Copple, Travis Perry, Mike Lynch, Keven Newsome, Kat Heckenbach, Grace Bridges and Ryan Grabow, with linking narration from top Avenir Eclectia writer, Walt Staples.

Gizile follows her mysterious teacher, Tok, to contemplate a series of strange and mystical visions that appear upon the ice of an ocean pool: Astonishing tales of technology and transcendence, aliens and elves, space and time, dragons and demons, prophecies and scriptures, humor and horror, the gifted and the enslaved, virtual and supernatural reality, insanity and inspiration. Dive into the creations of the Splashdown wordsmiths. Cross the borders into novel worlds you love already, and taste their delights if you are new to Splashdown's universe.

Grab Aquasynthesis at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favourite online location.

Just $5.98 in print or $2.99 in ebook, for over 200 pages of stories - Beat that!

Party time!

The Launch Party for Aquasynthesis is at: http://tinychat.com/splashdown (no login required, or you can use Facebook or Twitter) at 8pm Central time on Tuesday August 18th. We'll be doing some ebook giveaways as usual, so don't miss it!

Coming Soon

You've loved her short stories. Now you can enjoy her at full length. Finding Angel, the first novel by veteran author Kat Heckenbach premieres October 1.

Angel doesn’t remember her magical heritage…but it remembers her.
Magic and science collide when she embarks on a journey to her true home, and to herself.
Angel lives with a loving foster family, but dreams of a land that exists only in the pages of a fantasy novel. Until she meets Gregor, whose magic Talent saves her life and revives lost memories.
Angel follows Gregor to her homeland…a world unlike any she has imagined, where she travels a path of self-discovery that leads directly to her role in an ancient Prophecy…and to the madman who set her fate in motion.

Fans of Caprice Hokstad

Writing continues on Caprice's Book 3 of the Ascendancy Trilogy, the long-awaited sequel to Nor Iron Bars a Cage. Read what Duke Vahn, kee and all your favorite characters do with war and plague threatening. Check out Caprice's blog post here and sign up to receive the chapters as she writes them!

Now Available!

Have you ordered your copy of Odd Little Miracles? Why not? The price is right and the stories will blow your mind.

Do the impossible…Change the future…Save the world…

All you need is one odd little miracle.

Twenty-two bizarre tales—where odd is commonplace, little things make all the difference, and miracles are everywhere, if you know where to look...

Find it at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Not least...

Splashdown author P.A. Baines received two Finalist medals in the 2011 NextGen Indie Publishing Awards. Congrats, Paul!

And lastly...

Splashdown authors have been busy in a number of books lately - not just our own!

Check out work by Rick, Kat and Fred in While the Morning Stars Sing from ResAliens Press, edited by Lyndon Perry.

Also: Rick's new science fiction novel Mind Game from Ethereal Press. Great stuff!

Splashdown News: July 2011

2011-06-30T14:59:00.007+12:00

New books, new worlds, old favorites...and special offers on ebooks*.

Do the impossible…Change the future…Save the world…

All you need is one odd little miracle.

We’re doing the miraculous at Splashdown Books this month. Or rather, publishing the miraculous stories of our own Fred Warren. Twenty-two bizarre tales—where odd is commonplace, little things make all the difference, and miracles are everywhere, if you know where to look...

Available July 1, 2011 from Splashdown Darkwater.

At Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Ebook versions coming soon.

LAUNCH CHAT WITH FRED WARREN

Tuesday July 5th, 8pm Central

at http://tinychat.com/splashdown

No login required. See you there!

(Don't forget the special offer I mentioned*.)

Avenir Eclectia at Digital Dragon

This month's issue of Digital Dragon magazine is devoted to stories set in the world of Avenir Eclectia. Many of the same characters you've met already can be found in the pages of DDM—in longer stories than you'll find at http://www.avenireclectia.com/.

Check out stories by Kat Heckenbach, Greg Mitchell, Frank Creed, Walt Staples, Grace Bridges, Ed Erdelac, and Holly Heisey. And don't miss the interview with Avenir's artist and song writer, Eleon.

(You haven't forgotten, have you? Special offer* coming up...)

Splashdown's First Group Anthology

Coming soon is Splashdown's first group anthology, Aquasynthesis. Stories from all the current Splashdown authors fill the pages, and are linked together by a special narration from top Avenir Eclectia writer, Walt Staples.

Gizile follows her mysterious teacher, Tok, to contemplate a series of strange and mystical visions that appear upon the ice of an ocean pool: Astonishing tales of technology and transcendence, aliens and elves, space and time, dragons and

demons, prophecies and scriptures, humor and horror, the gifted and the enslaved, virtual and supernatural reality, insanity and inspiration. Dive into the creations of the Splashdown wordsmiths. Cross the borders into novel worlds you love already, and taste their delights if you are new to Splashdown's universe.

Look for it in print and ebook August 1, 2011.

(Almost there*...stick with me, now...)

Congrats to Keven Newsome

Our release of Winter by Keven Newsome couldn't have been better. An instant in-house best-seller, Winter has been met with enthusiastic readers and amazing reviews.

Great job, Keven!

Winter is available from Splashdown Darkwater in print and ebook formats.

Ebook Lovers

Ah, yes....time for that *SPECIAL OFFER* promised at the beginning of this newsletter!

The weekend of July 2-4...

...all Kindle books from Splashdown Books...

...will be 99 cents at AMAZON!

Don't miss your chance to get all the books you've been holding on your wish-list.

This weekend only - at http://amzn.to/splashdownkindle

And if you prefer another ebook format, we won't leave you behind - all formats are available at Smashwords. If you want one of those, EMAIL ME here (or leave a comment

on the blog with your email address) saying which book/s you're after, and I will send you a coupon for 99c.

Splashdown's Soundtracks: ELEON

CONTINUUM on Amazon - includes our theme song SPLASHDOWN!

~Continuum on iTunes~

Splashdown News: WINTER is here!

2011-06-01T17:07:00.001+12:00

Science Fiction and Fantasy from New Zealand

and now: Supernatural!

Kia Ora everyone!

Welcome to another exciting month with Splashdown. Winter has arrived downunder and we're in the grip of a chill! But Winter can come to those of you in the north as well: Winter, the novel, that is. And with it the launch of our new imprint Splashdown Darkwater, for the supernatural side of fiction - dare to go deeper. We're excited!

"It's been four and a half years since the first words of Winter were written. I started this book as a hack wannabe, but somewhere along the road I learned enough about writing to get Splashdown to notice. And then my editors promptly reminded me that I still had a long way to go! But writing is rewriting, and being an author is a process of growing and learning. I am a better writer today than I was just two months ago. And I will be a better writer still, by the end of the summer.

Winter is the story of a broken and unlovable person being transformed by God into something amazing. It's fun, suspenseful, and heart-breaking. Please join me as we officially begin the journey into Winter's extraordinary life...a journey that will take several years as the series progresses. Writing this book changed me. And it is my hope that you'll close the cover, gently set the book on the table, and sigh...having been changed just a little, too."

--Keven Newsome

AMAZON CAMPAIGN

Amazon updates its bestseller lists every hour, and we'd like to be on one! So, if you plan to order Winter with us on June 1, could you plan to do it between 5-8 pm Central time? And if possible, narrow it further and order in the 7 o'clock hour.Order as many as you want - don't forget shipping is free if you order two copies! Invite your friends and family! Order for birthdays and Christmas! Let's make this a day to remember!

Link: Winter on Amazon

THE MAKING OF...

You've seen the Winter trailer. Now you can see behind the scenes and even see parts that didn't make it into the final version. Meet the cast and crew, find out how to make fake blood, and hear the demon-fighting heroine extol the virtues of her favourite drink!

http://www.facebook.com/v/2055179464390 (no login required)

AUTHOR CHAT

The Launch Party for Winter is in the usual place: http://tinychat.com/splashdown (no login required, or you can use Facebook or Twitter) at 8pm Central time on Thursday June 2nd. Come along, join in the fun, talk with the author and publisher, maybe even some editors, and yes, we'll be doing some ebook giveaways right there in chat as well - starting with the person who brings the most friends!

FANS OF CAPRICE HOKSTAD

Caprice is gearing up to begin writing Book 3 of the Ascendancy Trilogy, the long-awaited follow-on to Nor Iron Bars a Cage. Are you as curious as I am to see what Duke Vahn and Keedrina make of the kingdom? Now's your chance. Check out Caprice's blog post here and sign up to receive the chapters as she writes them! How cool is that!

COMING IN JULY

Odd Little Miracles, a collection of 22 short stories by Fred Warren... You may have read a few of these online, or even quite a lot, but now we gather them together into a book for the first time! From wizards to aliens, funny to pensive, this collection is one you won't want to miss. In print: $5.98 and as an ebook: $2.99.

That's all for today, folks... but be watching for some cool news about the Avenir Eclectia project real soon!

Grace

www.splashdownbooks.com

check out this new Eleon album... http://eleonmusic.virb.com/little-stepping-stones

Splashdown News: May 2011

2011-05-03T14:18:00.001+12:00

Kia ora and welcome to May! Can you believe how fast this year has gone already? This month brings us more exciting developments...

Reality's Ascent by R.L. Copple, out now - Release Party!
Winter by Keven Newsome - Mega Sneak Peek
The Crystal Portal by Travis Perry & Mike Lynch: The Book Trailer

Reality's Ascent by R.L. Copple - The Reality Chronicles, Book Two

In the soul of each person lies a reality clamoring to break free...

When the demon Beltrid demands that Sisko use his supernatural ring for evil, Sisko's refusal turns his world upside down. Trapping Sisko's wife, Gabrielle, inside the "Crystal of Virtues," Beltrid sends Sisko and his two teenage children, Nathan and Kaylee, on a journey to find seven virtues that will free her. Simple? Not when a demon is involved.

...Reality has ascended, and no soul will remain untouched.

Also available as an ebook at the links here: http://www.splashdownbooks.com/reality.html

Release Party Chat for Reality's Ascent
with the author and Splashdown team!
Tuesday May 3, 8pm CST at http://www.tinychat.com/splashdown - yep, that's tomorrow! Or today, depending on when you read this.
See you there?

Winter by Keven Newsome - Coming June 1 from Splashdown Darkwater

Winter Maessen didn't ask for the gift of prophecy. She's happy being a freak - but now everyone thinks she's crazy. Or evil.
Goths aren't all the same, you know. Some are Christians.
...Christians to whom God sends visions.
Students at her university are being attacked, and Winter knows there's more than flesh and blood at work.
Her gift means she's the only one who can stop it - but at what price?

Have you seen Keven's epic book trailer yet? If not, you're missing a major event in videography!
Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It8aP6speuo

Read the Sample! Just this weekend we've launched the sneak peek sample of Winter, an unprecedented 10 whole chapters! We don't normally do such a huge sample, but Keven wanted to make this long excerpt available to you totally free. It begins like this:

The stairs wandered to the right—old wooden stairs. With the first step they groaned, and she hesitated. Small candles sat on the steps, spread out—only one every four or five steps. They oozed lifeless blood that pooled at their base and coagulated into white scabs. She broke a candle free and continued her ascent, tilting it so it bled on the steps.

To read the rest, go here: http://www.splashdownbooks.com/wintersample.html

The Crystal Portal by Travis Perry & Mike Lynch

Also this weekend we've launched the book trailer for our last release, with thanks once again to Eleon for an awesome soundtrack!
Take a look at it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-PAAbOF6nA

And Yeshua said, "His ears will be a sign to you."
A time-travelling warrior elf on a manhunt for an evil genius. A state-of-the-art robot from New Los Angeles. And a carpenter's son from first-century Israel. Entering the Portal, they join forces with a princess of the Sapphire Monarchy to defy their power-mad adversary.

Don't forget you can get all of our titles as ebooks for Kindle and all other formats at Smashwords, with most already available directly for Nook also - keep watching for the latest titles to land at B&N! Check out our new improved Bookshop with links to all your purchasing options.

Thank you for reading - see you around the Web!

Grace
www.splashdownbooks.com

http://eleonmusic.virb.com

Splashdown Darkwater Announcement: Winter by Keven Newsome

2011-04-15T13:53:00.004+12:00

Today it is my great pleasure to announce to you our first title from Splashdown Darkwater. Drumrolls please!

Winter
by Keven Newsome

Winter Maessen didn't ask for the gift of prophecy. She's happy being a freak - but now everyone thinks she's crazy. Or evil.
Goths aren't all the same, you know. Some are Christians.
...Christians to whom God sends visions.

Students at her university are being attacked, and Winter knows there's more than flesh and blood at work.
Her gift means she's the only one who can stop it - but at what price?

... or view it in its natural environment at http://darkwater.splashdownbooks.com

Winter is now available for pre-order at http://www.splashdownbooks.com/winter.html.

Are you ready for the chill?

Facebook Launch: The 1,000 Campaign
Let's make June 1 a day to remember!

April Update

2011-04-06T23:00:00.000+12:00

Sci-Fi and Fantasy from New Zealand

In this issue:
April New Release
Darkwater Countdown
Avenir Eclectia
New SF Author Contracted

April New Release

The Crystal Portal by Travis Perry and Mike Lynch

And Yeshua said, "His ears will be a sign to you."
A time-travelling warrior elf on a manhunt for an evil genius. A state-of-the-art robot from New Los Angeles. And a carpenter's son from first-century Israel. Entering the Portal, they join forces with a princess of the Sapphire Monarchy to defy their power-mad adversary.
Available at http://www.splashdownbooks.com/crystalportal.html

Splashdown Darkwater
Counting down!

Have you seen the Darkwater preview book trailer? If not, be sure to catch it at http://www.youtube.com/user/splashdownbooks. The full length trailer - complete with the big reveal of the title and author to kick off our paranormal line - is due for release in under two weeks! The book itself will appear on June 1.

The Splashdown Darkwater main site with its own teaser is here:
http://darkwater.splashdownbooks.com

Avenir Eclectia
Adventures in Microfiction

The Avenir Eclectia project has gotten off to a great start, with a steady flow of contributors adding to the story. Already there's a great bunch of new characters to follow on the space station and the inhospitable planet it orbits - hunters, smugglers, historians, miners, wizards, children, and more. Sign up to receive these bite-sized stories by email: a minute to read, a day to digest. Head on over to http://www.avenireclectia.com and dive into a new world!

New SF Author Contracted
Ryan Grabow with Caffeine

In 2179, a gamer is trapped by an unusual artificial intelligence, a virus looking for the meaning of its own existence.
We're thrilled to announce that Ryan has joined our team! Science fiction fans, get ready for this mind-blowing tale that will chase you through multiple virtual realities and leave you with a new angle on life. Look out for his book appearing later in the year.
Facebook page for Caffeine: http://on.fb.me/gDtCVL

That's it for this time - watch out for the big Darkwater announcement real soon!

Till next time,

Grace

http://www.splashdownbooks.com
http://darkwater.splashdownbooks.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/splashdownbooks
http://www.facebook.com/splashdownbooks

Splashdown News: March

2011-03-12T16:37:00.000+13:00

Kia ora and welcome to the Splashdown news for March! You'll notice it's coming some time after the beginning of the month, and there's a VERY exciting reason for this which you'll find as you read on...but first comes our new release for this month:

Reality's Dawn by R.L. Copple

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, reality invaded the world...
When the presence of reality emerges from under the façade of perception, lives are changed. Forever. A mystical ring binds Sisko to bless others with miracles and avoid using its power for himself, which would lead to a curse. With his friends Josh the wizard and Seth the leader of a gang of thieves, Sisko explores the emerging reality through his travels and adventures.
Journey with Sisko as reality’s presence confronts and changes the greedy, the killers, the trapped, the demonic, and Sisko himself....Reality has dawned, and no one will be the same.

Reality's Dawn is now available direct from Splashdown, and also other online retailers including Amazon Kindle.

We're running a cool contest on this series: Buy the first book and upload a photo of yourself with it to the Splashdown Facebook page. We'll pick the most interesting shots to win a copy of Reality's Ascent, the second book in the series, just as soon as it comes out in May - so get creative!

SPLASHDOWN DARKWATER

Work continues on our new Supernatural/Paranormal imprint. We've got some amazing reading lined up for you! There'll be more news on that very soon, so keep your eye on our web presence.
In the meantime, don't forget to check out the Splashdown Darkwater website and teaser trailer: darkwater.splashdownbooks.com.

AVENIR ECLECTIA

Avenir Eclectia is a brand-new project from Splashdown Books, officially launching today! We've been working on it behind the scenes for quite some time now, so it's really exciting to present it in public. It's a multi-author microfiction project, based in a world with flavors of science fiction, fantasy and supernatural genres - yes, all at once. A space station with wizards, criminals, children and madmen. Sea-dwelling angels. Underwater cities, ore mines and beetle hunters - something for everyone!
You'll want to sign up for email updates to receive regular small slices of story - most no longer than 200 words! Head on over now and read the first story: "Cool, Smooth Metal." www.avenireclectia.com

All the artwork for Avenir Eclectia has been provided by none other than Eleon a.k.a. Michael L. Rogers, and he's also begun work on a fabulous soundtrack to go along with the stories. You can hear that at his Avenir Eclectia album page: http://eleonmusic.virb.com/avenir-eclectia

That's all the Splashdown news for now, but you've probably heard about the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. While I live quite far away, I'm still impacted by this national tragedy and you can read my thoughts in my post at International Christian Fiction Writers.

Thanks for reading!

Grace Bridges
Splashdown Books

Authors of Superhero Parody Novel Announce Blog Tour

2011-03-10T10:30:00.004+13:00

Authors Adam and Andrea Graham will be available to talk about their novel, Tales of the Dim Knight, on several speculative fiction book review blogs on dates ranging throughout the month of April.

Boise, Idaho—Authors Adam and Andrea Graham announce their Superhero Parody novel, Tales of the Dim Knight, will be touring on several book review blogs from April 1-May 3 of 2011. Released in November of 2010 from Splashdown Books, Tales of the Dim Knight is available at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.Com, and direct from the publisher.

Tales of the Dim Knight is a Superhero Fantasy that pays tribute to the superheroes many adults will remember from childhood while parodying the genre’s tropes and gaffes. Mild-mannered janitor and superhero fanboy Dave Johnson gets all his wishes at once when a symbiotic alien enhances all his strengths, giving him a super-imagination able to mold reality to his vision. Follow his zany adventures as he fights crime and corruption while trying to keep his family together and avoid being sued for copyright infringement.

“A truly original premise, Tales of a Dim Knight is a light-hearted escape into the world of superheroes and villains with a thoughtful twist as to what matters most in life,” says Jill Williamson, the Christy award-winning author of By Darkness Hid.

Adam Graham is a paid political columnist for Pajamasmedia.com. He also has short stories published in the anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness, and in the Laser & Sword e-zine. He is host of the the Old Time Superman Radio Show among several other podcasts, including the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio. Mr. Graham holds a general studies Associate of Arts degree from Flathead Valley Community College with a concentration in Journalism.

Andrea Graham co-authored Adam’s first novel, Tales of the Dim Knight. Her short story “Frozen Generation” also appeared in Light at the Edge of Darkness. She studied creative writing and religion at Ashland University. Adam and Andrea live with their cat, Joybell, in Boise, Idaho. They are members of several writers groups, including Lost Genre Guild and American Christian Fiction Writers. Adam is president of their local ACFW chapter, Idahope.

Tales of the Dim Knight is available at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. The first chapter is available for free at: www.dimknight.com

The Blog tour’s currently scheduled stops are:

3/17/ James Somers http://www.jamessomers.blogspot.com/

3/20 and 3/27 David James http://newauthors.wordpress.com/

4/1/ April Erwin http://www.projectinga.blogspot.com/

4/3/ Phyllis Wheeler www.Christian-Fantasy-Book-Reviews.com

4/4/ Noah Arsenault http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/

4/4/ Sarah Sawyer www.sarahsawyer.com/blog

4/5/ Tammy Shelnut http://www.bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/

4/6/ Timothy Hicks http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com/

4/7 Joan Nienhuis http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com

4/8 Carol E. Keen http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/

4/11 Morgan L. Busse http://morganlbusse.wordpress.com

4/14/ Emily LaVigne http://southernfiberreads.wordpress.com/

4/15 Chawna Schroeder http://chawnaschroeder.com

4/22 Frank Creed http://afrankreview.blogspot.com

4/28/ Beckie Burnham http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com

5/3/ Amy Cruson http://the160acrewoods.com

Please direct all media inquiries to grahams@dimknight.com

Splashdown Books Takes Part In National Read an Ebook Week

2011-03-07T15:37:00.004+13:00

In the United States, it's National Read an Ebook Week from March 6-March 12 and with the help of Smashwords, Splashdown Books will help you celebrate. All of our Ebooks bought off the Smashwords Site are 75% off or 50% off. (Just enter the coupon code: RAE75 or RAE50 at Checkout.)

Our books:

$6.99 Ebooks, currently on sale for $1.75:

Legendary Space Pilgrims by Grace Bridges

Alpha Redemption by P.A. Baines

$5.99 Ebooks, currently on sale for $1.50:

Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges

The Muse by Fred Warren

$4.99 books, currently on sale for $2.50:

The Duke's Handmaid by Caprice Hokstad
Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Caprice Hokstad

$4.95 Ebook currently on sale for $1.24

Tales of the Dim Knight

Also my digital short, "Your Average Ordinary Alien" is available for free using code RAE100. This week is a great opportunity to stock up on your ebook reading material. You can get all 7 of these books for $12.74,

Remember the sale ends March 12th.

Authors Aren't Horses

2011-02-08T12:36:00.000+13:00

As wonderful and graceful a creature as a horse may be, I still object to comparing any of my colleagues to an equine.

I'm referring of course to the common practice of labelling a publisher's authors as their "stable". Well, don't let me catch you calling my people that! They ain't horses.

What are they then?
They're a team.

Never have I been so aware of that as in these past couple of weeks, where we've had so much cooking behind the scenes. We've got our people proofing and editing each other's manuscripts all over the show. We've got a new marketing plan in the works. I've been delegating like mad to get on top of the schedule I've aimed at for the time ahead: four books in four months, and a load of prep to be completed by the end of February.

We've got all kinds in our team. Some are the editing type, while others are more the gungho marketers and salespeople, or artists, or image consultants. Yet we are all writers, no matter what else we put our hand to, and this is what unites us in a common cause.

We've added about five people to the team this month: three authors, an artist and an editor, for a total of twenty or so, with varying levels of contribution, and everything they do is valuable.

Twenty! How the blazes did I get twenty wonderful individuals to throw their lot in with me, even just for a time? I really have no idea, but I'm incredibly grateful for every one of them.

Thanks, guys. Here's to you.

(and of course those not pictured, too!)

Splashdown Newsletter 2

2011-02-02T01:33:00.000+13:00

Kia Ora! Welcome to the February newsletter from Splashdown Books. Boy, have we got a lot of news for you this month! I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

CONTRACT NEWS

I’m very happy to announce that Splashdown has added three more authors to the team in the last month!

R.L. Copple writes classic fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis. Follow the journeys of a ring with healing powers, and the courageous travellers called to wear it.

We’ll be re-releasing two of Rick’s previously published titles in the Reality series: Reality’s Dawn (expanded version of the novella Infinite Realities) and Reality’s Ascent (formerly Transforming Realities). A third book, never before released—Reality's Glory—will be published at a later date.

Travis Perry and co-author Mike Lynch have created a wonderful romp through the genres we all love in The Crystal Portal, where a time-travelling warrior elf together with a robot from the future and a boy from 1st-century Nazareth fight an evil warlord in an alternate world.

Look for Reality’s Dawn to release in March, The Crystal Portal in April, and Reality’s Ascent in May. In June we’ve got another surprise coming...

NEW IMPRINT

Splashdown has located a number of fresh new manuscripts that fall on the darker side of speculative fiction. So we’ve decided to give them an imprint all their own: Splashdown Darkwater, the world’s only imprint created solely for supernatural and paranormal tales with a Christian worldview.

We have already signed at least one author and novel for this imprint—but I can’t tell you about that just yet! Watch this space!

Splashdown Darkwater...Dare to go deeper. Launching in June.

Podcast Interview

I recently enjoyed an hour’s discussion with the guys at Flying Island Press, on publishing and many related topics. Have a listen at http://bit.ly/gJTj34.

Come visit...

Pre-orders are now available for Reality’s Dawn. Come on over and make sure you get in on the first opportunity!

Take care...and thank you for coming along for the ride!

Grace

Don't forget to visit our partner in science fiction and fantasy soundtracks:

Why Splashdown?

2011-01-24T13:08:00.000+13:00

The time has come again to speak of my obsession with water as the physical harbinger of inspiration. I may have written something similar in years gone by, but still I am drawn to tell you how it pulls me in.

There's raw power in the splash of cold water. Whether a mountain stream, a backyard pool, or the open sea - all have the potential to realign the pathways of my brain and provoke concepts yet unimagined, but the sea most of all.

I do my best thinking after a good soaking. Perhaps it is the otherness of it, its unbreathability, its infinite vistas from the earthbound perspective, and the ocean has something akin to space. And since I cannot go to space - at least not yet - I content myself with the sea. I use its strange movements and gravity fluctuations to imagine life in space, its dangers to enter into the exhilarations and risks and fears of the void.

It is the nature of the splashdown that by it, you enter another world - whether a new planet, or merely underwater. Perhaps this is the reason for water's effect on me - but only if I dive straight in. There can be no fearful lingering at beachside or slow acclimatising to the cooler temperature if the maximum imagination effect is to be attained.

It is the same in my business. I have set up Splashdown in such a manner that we are able to move fast and decisively when the opportunity arises and appears appropriate. Many have been surprised at the speed in which we act - the reason: it's all about the splashdown.

Splashdown Newsletter 1

2010-12-24T21:59:00.000+13:00

As sent to our subscriber database on 24.12.2010!

If you'd like to sign up for the newsletter, you can do so in the box to the right.

Science Fiction and Fantasy from New Zealand

Welcome! You are at the launch of the Splashdown Books e-newsletter from Grace Bridges! You're reading this because I chose you to receive it. If for any reason you won't want future notices after reading through this one, just opt out by sending "unsubscribe" to this address. I won't be offended at all if you do.

THE LATEST

All our titles are now available in multiple ebook formats. Just visit the Bookshop for all the options!

Tales of the Dim Knight
by Adam and Andrea Graham

A hilarious superhero romp that pulls no punches on tough issues. Yes, this book is so funny that we even issue a Beverage Ban as readers have mentioned spewing drink out their noses.
To read a sample and purchase click here now. Just like the rest of our titles you can also find it as an e-book both on Kindle and at Smashwords.

Nor Iron Bars a Cage
by Caprice Hokstad

What happens when a slave poses as a criminal, and the master as a slave? It's all about love and honour in this sophisticated, gritty fantasy, sequel to The Duke's Handmaid.
Read a sample and purchase: click here now. Ebook versions: Kindle and Smashwords.

Grace Bridges: An Ongoing Story

The life of a publisher never gets boring, especially when juggling a day job (most often at night in my case!) as well as acquisitions, editing, marketing and all that comes in between.
Here's what I'm up to:

I've been placing the remaining titles to be offered online as e-books.
I'm submitting regular installments of my Comet Born serial to Digital Dragon Magazine.
I'm working on two novels. In CyberDublin, the global hyperweb network falls prey to sabotage and society spins towards chaos around an orphan rebel and her housemates facing a reality far less virtual than they're used to.
In Godspeed, the sequel to Faith Awakened, we meet Naomi again - the Belfast biologist forced to flee from her own creation, when all she wanted to do was wipe out world hunger.
I'm also at work on a few top-secret projects that I can't tell you about yet, so keep watching this newsletter for more info!

I've got some great titles for you in the year to come. The future is so exciting!

IndieGalaxy Publishers Association
Watch out for that name!

It's a recently founded coalition of independent publishers, aiming at shared promotion of our books and authors, among other things. Collaboration has even begun of its own volition!

My short story “The Ears Have It” has been accepted for publication in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of Elves from Port Yonder Press

Splashdown author Fred Warren has a story in the first issue of Other Sheep magazine from Written World Communications.

Join the Facebook page
Follow us on Twitter
Look for an official website coming soon!

- Show quoted text -

Feedback

I always love to see what reviewers say about our books. Here are a few of my favourite quotes:

On Tales of the Dim Knight by Adam and Andrea Graham:
"A hilarious read. I nearly spewed my coffee on myself this morning. Thanks a lot."
~Chris Solaas from Novel Teen

On Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Caprice Hokstad:
"Hokstad’s story unfolds like a beautiful ballet of words; elegant descriptions of simple rituals bring Byntar alive. But romance is only a small part of the story; there is plenty of action and a good dose of humor."
~S.M. Kirkland, author of Higher Honor (The Writers Cafe Press)

"In Alpha Redemption, a story both fascinating and unique, P.A. Baines wonderfully marries two of my favorite themes: the danger and isolation of space exploration and the idea of man’s creation giving him greater insight into his own Creator. If you like your science fiction on the introspective side—on the order of Clarke’s 2001 or Pohl’s Gateway—then this is a must read."
~ Kerry Nietz, author of A Star Curiously Singing (Marcher Lord Press)

On The Duke's Handmaid by Caprice Hokstad:
"Something for everyone! If you like adventure and intrigue and danger, this is the book for you. Ms. Hokstad must be commended for the detailed and rich world she has created."
~ Frank Creed, award-winning author of Flashpoint and War of Attrition (The Writers' Cafe Press)

On Legendary Space Pilgrims by Grace Bridges:
"A brilliant allegory, this powerfully imaginative space epic features emotive characters and carefully described new worlds. Legendary Space Pilgrims engaged all aspects of myself: body, mind, and spirit. I couldn’t put it down!"
~ Christina Berry, author of The Familiar Stranger, Christy Award Finalist 2010

On The Muse by Fred Warren:
"What stands out to me is Fred's hidden beautiful. You will be reading along, laughing and then, BAM! It is a straight-up Batman moment. Fred writes something so beautiful and profound that you have to flip the cover and make sure you are reading the same book."
~Diane M. Graham, The New Authors' Fellowship

On Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges:
"Even a month after reading, I still find myself pondering the story. Grace has written a wonderful, unique story and I recommend it to any Christian reader who’s looking for something out of the ordinary."
~ Karina Fabian, sci-fi and fantasy author, Editor of the Infinite Space, Infinite God Anthologies

Reviewers

I'm always looking for reviewers for our titles and I offer free ebooks for all our titles in all major formats in exchange for an honest review on a retail site and/or your blog. Just say the word!

Networking
Are you on Facebook? Connect up with us there.
Splashdown Books Fan Page

Well, that wraps up this newsletter launch! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. I leave you with these words of blessing from the Maori language:

Kia Ora!

Grace Bridges
Auckland, New Zealand

______________________

Please visit our partner for Splashdown's soundtracks: Eleon Music

Would Tales of the Dim Knight Be A Good Book for My Kids?

2010-12-08T11:57:00.003+13:00

By Adam and Andrea Graham

Frankly, the appropriateness of Tales of the Dim Knight for children depends on the individual child as well as the standards of the parent. The intended audience is the young at heart, as the novel pays humorous tribute to superheroes the authors watched and read about when they were children.

In retrospect, we do see the appeal to kids. Dim Knight is a funny story with a lot action and adventure. So, while our book wasn't written for children, it can be read by teens with parental guidance.

For many parents, this disclosure may prove unnecessary. If Tales of the Dim Knight were a movie, I’d rate it PG-13. In fact, in terms of language and sexual content, the book is cleaner than most PG movies. However, others may have different convictions. The movie, Pamela's Prayer extolled the virtues of chastity before marriage to the point that the heroine didn't kiss a man until the day she was married. One would think no one would complain about a movie like that not being clean enough. However, A reviewer wrote on Amazon:

based on the good reviews that I read on Amazon and on what friends

told me, I thought that this movie would be good viewing for my

family. was I wrong! the whole movie is about kissing, about guys

trying to kiss girls, and about girls not sure if they should kiss or

not and on and on. it started fine, but ten minutes in I knew that it

was not appropriate for my family, but my wife said 'no no no' and

made me keep it on, and I hoped that it would get better. but it just

got worse.

what a disaster! wouldn't you know it, as soon as the

movie is over, my kids start asking 'how do you kiss,' 'why do you

kiss' and on and on. pretty soon, they were running around the house

pretending to kiss everything - the animals, the pets, each other.

While I don't think there's any chance of Tales of the Dim Knight prompting your child to kiss your dog, I do want to be sensitive to varying parental standards. My goal is to empower parents with the information they need to make an informed decision for their children based on what they think is best.

First, consider the favorable reasons parents might want to get the book for their teens:

1) It is fun and fast paced

This can be a big selling point, particularly for boys. It can be tough to get teen boys interested in reading. Indeed, boys lag in reading. This can be caused by reading material that doesn't interest boys. This book will.

2) It is Clean

The book is generally clean. There's no profanity or sex in the story. While the violence may be of concern to parents, it is far tamer than much what is out there in young adult fiction.

3)Solid Messages

Dim Knight has a powerful message of grace and redemption. Dave learns what it really takes to be a superhero, the proper use of power, and what justice really means. The story also shows the importance of forgiveness and sacrifice.

All of this, while offering readers laughs throughout.

Second, consider those issues that may concern some parents:

Violence: As in any good superhero story, in Tales of the Dim Knight, evil uses a lot of dangerous weapons, high explosives, and even an atom bomb. While we aimed to avoid being too graphic, there's plenty of punching, kicking, shooting, whipping, and blowing up, with some casualties. If you've seen any of the recent Spider-Man movies, you have an idea of what to expect.

Drugs and Alcohol: Drug dealers are a major feature in the story, and there's a little drinking.

Mature Themes: Trouble brews in the main characters’ marriage, with a man-hating divorce attorney named Leona Campbell pushing Naomi Johnson towards a divorce based on false allegations of adultery. The book also deals with people grappling with grief and loss after the death of a loved one. The damaging effects of spiritual and emotional abuse are also portrayed, and the Dim Knight goes up against a gang involved in human trafficking.

You may feel that your child is not mature enough to deal with some of these issues. On the other hand, your child's world may have already been impacted by some of these issues, and you may feel it'd be good for him or her to read a book addressing them. You may want to consider previewing the book before giving it to your child to see if you think its right for your child.

Whatever you decide, we respect your decision, and pray God will continue to give you wisdom and grace in raising your children.

Top 10 Reasons to Love Tales of the Dim Knight

2010-11-24T15:15:00.004+13:00

10) You're between the ages of 25-45

If you’re in this overly wide demographic, and enjoyed watching Saturday morning cartoons as a child, Tales of the Dim Knight will bring back great memories of shows like Superfriends, Batman: The Animated Series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman (the 1960s series version), Underdog, and Darkwing Duck.

We even had one hopeful marketing conversation with a Mr. Terrance Mann, who said, “People will come, Adam. They'll most definitely come. They'll come to you to ask about the book, as innocent as children, longing for the past. ‘We don't mind if you buy a copy,’ you'll say, ‘it's just $10.95 for paperback, $4.25 on Kindle, and $5.95 for all other e-book readers.’ They'll hand over the money without a second thought. Because it's money they have and wholesome laughter they lack.”Or something like that.

9) We Have a Cool Cover

Payno attention to the old saying, “You can't judge a book by its cover.” Instead, think:

“Cool cover equals really cool book.” And then take a look at this cover by Holly Heisey:

Need I say more? No, but a top ten list that stops with the second item on the list and lists it as 9) is too weird even for me.

8) The Superhero Team Up

If you're a warm-blooded superhero fan, nothing warms your heart like superheroes joining forces to take on really bad dudes. Whether it’s Batman and Superman, Spider-man and Daredevil, or even Darkwing Duck and Gizmoduck, a team up makes the story more exciting. So in Tales of the Dim Knight, Powerhouse joins forces with three other heroes in a battle in which the stakes are (of course), the future of all mankind.

7) Real Christian Characters
The media portrayal of Christians is usually pretty annoying. At one extreme, you have the hypocrites and crazy psychopaths spouting Bible verses that inhabit much of the media. At the other extreme, you have the all-too-perfect characters who act like they memorized Evidence that Demands a Verdict and a dozen other pop Christian books.

With our Christian characters, we seek to introduce you to real, decent-hearted folks who try to do the best they can, but don't always know the right thing to say and don't always come off well. Sound like anyone you know?

6) Great Superhero Gadgets

Consider just a few of the devices featured in Tales of the Dim Knight: a rocket pack, an airship that shrinks down to pocket-sized, a shape-shifting key, force fields, a 50-foot giant robot, shock collars, and a cloaking device that hides all the furniture in the room. To paraphrase one of our characters, we have more hardware than True Value.
5) It’s Serialized Fiction

As my work at Laser and Sword will attest, I'm a huge fan of serial fiction. Reading Tales of the Dim Knight is like watching a season of your favorite superhero show, as he battles for honesty and fair play in his continuous skirmish against evil. While underlying threads weave through out each story, Dave has a wide variety of adventures to please your palette.

4) Multiple Secret Identities

Unlike some poor superheroes who have only one alter ego, Mild-Mannered Janitor Dave Johnson actually has three alter egos in the course of the book: Powerhouse, the Red Flame, and the Emerald Avenger. It's three heroes for the price of one.

3) Great Villains

Great Superhero stories require great villains, and in Tales of the Dim Knight, Powerhouse battles a veritable rogue's gallery of classic villains. Marco Silvano is the father of a mob family who has a soft spot for his kids, Night Lord is a drug lord who refuses to do any hit jobs before evening. The old-fashioned Diablo believes in the tried and true villain methods of tying victims above pools of acid and contends there's no such thing as too much high explosives. Ahmed is an Islamic terrorist threatening to blow up Megalopolis. Leona Campbell is an ice queen divorce attorney and self-help guru who teaches there's way too much loyalty in the world.

2) A Family Story

Tales of the Dim Knight has a serious side. Dave becoming a superhero puts a strain on his family when he doesn't tell his wife his secret and she suspects he's cheating on her. At the same time, she finds herself attracted to Powerhouse. Can the Johnson family survive Dave’s superpowers?

1) It's Lots of Laughs

All seriousness aside, Tales of the Dim Knight parodies countless superhero tropes, supervillain tropes, and even some non-comics stuff, such as a speed-dating scene that features a tactless detective. You'll laugh until you stop laughing. It's guaranteed to be the funniest novel you'll read this year.*
*Legal Disclaimers: This guarantee is not valid, and hence a reason for a cause of action, in foreign countries, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories, commonwealths, or protectorates, or the Continental United States. In addition, the guarantee is valid only for novels which feature both superheroes and speed dating and were published in November 2010. Void where prohibited.

Safety Advisory: Be advised that reading this book while drinking may cause you to laugh so hard your drink spews out your nose. Should not be read while operating heavy machinery.

Feel Free to Share: If you like this post, feel free to repost it on your own website with credit.

What's the Haps 23/11/10

2010-11-23T13:15:00.000+13:00

Hello, blog. Long time no see. Well, I'm sorry about that. How about we try starting over? Really, I think we can make this work. You see, there's lots of cool stuff going on behind the scenes here at Splashdown that I think folks would like to look into. And I've never told anyone about most of it! Well, the team knows bits and pieces of it for sure, but it's not like it's a secret or anything. Most of it, anyway.

There is something that is a secret, and that is the list with the authors and manuscripts I am about to contract for next year! It all came together really quickly in the end - just a few weeks back I had nothing at all in the pipelines, but now there are a total of eight or nine manuscripts from five authors on the table. Three of them are even science fiction, my personal favourite genre, even though I do love a good fantasy as much as anyone else. Can't write one for peanuts though, as you'll know if you read my personal blog yesterday.

In any case you can expect a number of announcements on that front in time to come.

So what else is up? Tales of the Dim Knight by Adam and Andrea Graham started shipping yesterday right on time - phew. It was a little hairy there for a day or two. I am going to be working on its video trailer this week, beginning with the music - I always have to have the music first. This is different from other trailers I've done because I'm trying to create the soundtrack myself. One attempt is already behind me, but it was decided that it wasn't superhero-y enough, even if it might be a passable piece of music. You can hear it here for now if you want to, though it will be shifting when I rename it - because the new piece will then be the "real" Powerhouse theme song.

So, nuff said for now, eh. Back to the "day job" for me...

Ask a Superhero: Superhero Theme Music

2010-10-17T16:10:00.002+13:00

Int.: As a Superhero afficianado, could you tell us what superhero has the coolest theme music?

Dave: That's pretty easy. Superman.

Int.: Any particular version?

Dave: Every version, whether it was a cartoon, a TV show or a movie, Superman had great themes. Very exciting and stirring. I also love the 1960s Batman Theme and fight music. I used to like the Danny Elfman Batman music from Batman with Michael Keaton, but Willy Wonka ruined that.

Int.: Why?

Dave: Well Derrick wanted to See Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which Elfman scored almost the same way as he did Batman. I was expecting the Joker to appear at any moment in that movie. Now, when I see that Batman series, I end up expecting Oompa Loompas to jump out, so I can't even enjoy those.

Int.: You don't like oompa loompas?

Dave: Not in a Batman movie. Maybe if there was an Oompa Loompa Superhero villain.

Int.: Like maybe the riddler as an Oompa Loompa. "Oompa Loompa Dupedy Doo, Batman, I've got another riddle for you."

Dave: Well something like that anyway.

Int: Beyond the music ruined by Danny Elfman, is there any supehero theme you don't like?

Dave: Sure from the 1966-67 Iron Man TV show. That's too cheesy, even for me.

Int: I didn't know that was possible. What about your own theme music?

Dave: My theme music? I'd have to have a TV show first.

Int: You know like when some basebally players come to the plate, they have music playing, like We Will Rock You.

Dave: You expect me to fly into battle, playing, We Will Rock You.

Int: You mean you've not thought of it?

Dave: Not that specifically, I did ask about a theme for the website. The lawyers say I can't have theme music that's been published because the artists can sue. They said I could use public domain music for a theme, but the only thing I've come up with is World War I fight music. Imagine flying into battle with that.

Int.: I see the challenge. Maybe, you should consider some giveaways.

Dave: That's a thought.

Int: Let's talk about it next week. E-mail your questions for Dave to askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release November 22nd, but you can sample the first four chapters for free in our ebook.

Ask a Superhero: Superpower Envy

2010-10-04T18:39:00.000+13:00

Interviewer: Is there any superpower you'd like to have? You know, a little superpower envy.

Dave Johnson: I don't even know all the powers I have, but I'd like to have the ability to talk to animals. That would have come in handy in at least one adventure when I met up with the Loch Ness monster.

Int: In Loch Ness?

Dave: No, in a mysterious zoo.

Int.: The Loch Ness monster in a zoo? Could you tell us more?

Dave: No.

Int.: Why not?

Dave: Haven't you heard of teasing the book?

Int: You know that's an annoying answer.

Dave: But I bet you'll buy the book.

Int: Well, I'll show you, not only won't I buy your book. I'll tell ten of my friends not to buy your book.

Dave: You know you get paid off the royalties.

Int: As I was saying, be sure to buy five copies, make it six, so you can give one to each of your friends.

Dave: What if they don't have six friends?

Int: This is a great present to make peace by bringing a smile to the face of your worst enemy.

*Dave grabs a pencil.”

Dave: I hope Marco will like it.

Int: E-mail your questions for Dave to askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release November 22nd, but you can sample the first four chapters for free in our ebook.

Ask a Superhero: Picking a Costume

2010-09-27T17:32:00.002+13:00

Welcome to our continuing weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.

Interview: Our next question comes from Abner Hollaran in Lewisville, Texas. Abner thinks your custome looks great, but it doesn't look comfortable.

Dave Johnson: It's not really.

Int: If it's not comfortable, why do you wear it?

Dave: There are three priorities in Superhero costumes. The top priority is a cool looking design. The second is safety.

Int.: Wait a second. You're saying its more important that your custome look cool than be safe.

Dave: What good is it to be safe if people laugh at you when you come to rescue them. Safety is a close second, though. Then, there's comfort. Unfortunately, looking good and being safe can make you kind of stiff. That's why when I get home from work, I change into something more relaxing.

Int.: Have you ever thought of doing a Casual Friday?

Dave: Casual Friday?

Int.: You know instead of your Superhero costume, you fly into town with a Superhero t-shirt, a light mask, and a pair of shorts.

Dave: If I were to fly into town on a rocket pack wearing a pair of shorts, there would be a barbeque on Casual Friday.

Int: What would be cooked?

Dave: My legs. Second, office workers can have casual Fridays because their work is over. But not superheroes. We fight a continuous skirmish-

Int.: You mean never ending-

Dave: No, the lawyers said I had to use continuous skirmish. As I was saying, we fight a continuous skirmish against the forces of larceny, drug dealing, and murder. Evil doesn't take the weekends off, so our resolve can never weaken, and neither can our clothes.

Int.: How do you keep your costume clean.

Dave: Easy, I imagine my costume into existence, so its clean when I put it on. I also dust off my already clean costume.

*Dave stands and dusts off his already clean costume.*

Int.: But it was already cleaned.

Dave: Of course, it's clean because I dusted it off.

Int (sighs): Ookay. E-mail your questions for Dave to askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release November 22nd, but you can sample the first four chapters for free in our ebook.

Ask a Superhero: Picking a Name

2010-09-20T16:42:00.004+12:00

Welcome to our continuing weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.

Interviewer: Our next question comes Kit Tyler in Tyler, Texas. Kit wants to know if he became a superhero, how would he pick out his name?

Dave: This is a great question for a potential superhero to think of and I racked my brain until one of my kids gave me a name. As you may not have a kid to name you, I actually have come up with some great supehero names that I'll let anyone takes who wants to use them:

The Human Itch
Expendable Man
The Fool
The Rope Burn Kid
Amoeba Dude
The Amazing Ordinary Man
Flea Bag
Flag Football Commando
Used Car Man

Int: And if people don't want the villains to laugh.

Dave: Well, there's a reason these names haven't been taken yet. Otherwise, you just need to make sure the name's not taken. Perhaps, the best thing to do is to use a Thesaurus. For example if you want to strike fear in the hearts of criminals use a synonym for fear and put a "the"before it. Anyone will do.

Int: Like The Terror?

Dave: No, The Terror's been taken. However, you could be, The Consternation.

Int: So, 'Stand back villains, I'm the Costernation.'

Dave: You got it.

Int: That doesn't sound quite right.

Dave: Well, you take it out for a test drive, use it on a mission and see how it works. If the name doesn't work out, try another one.

Ask a Superhero: What Do You Think You Were Doing?

2010-09-13T13:51:00.003+12:00

Welcome to our continuing weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.
Interviewer: Well, fancy meeting you.

Dave Johnson: You in a bad mood?

Int.: You were supposed to be here every week for the past two months! And I've been here and where have you been? Do you think I've got nothing better to do.

Dave: Really, I'm sorry.

Int.: You could have called, you could have written-

Dave: Would you like to know why I was gone?

Int.: I don't care! I have no interest in knowing what you were doing. I just have one question.

Dave: And that is?

Int.: What were you doing all these months?

*Dave blinks*

Dave: Okay, well, the writers were doing a rewrite. They wanted to fill in some blanks.

Int.: It took them two months.

Dave: Well, they interviewed Naomi and her friend Carmela, and they needed to get some more information from me. Apparently, I'd been a little vague on a few details.

Int.: Is there anything else to come out of this?

Dave: Well, the authors felt the door was open to a sequel.

Int.: So that's what this was all about. A sequel! You get more royalties, they get more royalties and I spend two months of you not showing up. I didn't go to interviewer school for this!

Dave: It really wasn't-

Int.: This is all about the plush toys.

Dave: What?

Int.: The writers have got all kinds of rights, and they've spent these two months sprucing up your story so that you can sell plush toys and a hundred sequels.

Dave: I wouldn't do 100 sequels. If I do a sequel, I'm only doing one.

Int.: Why only one?

Dave: Well, think about this Superman II was better than Superman the Movie, Spiderman II was better than Spiderman, The Dark Knight was better than Batman Begins.

Int: Okay, and your point?

Dave: Superheroes can only make a good story and then a good sequel. After that, it's all downhill. Think Superman III, Spiderman III, Teenant Mutant Ninja Turtles III. No, I'd only consent to one sequel.

Int.: As long as you get to sell your plush toys.

Dave: You're bitter about that. No one has signed a plush toy contract.

Int.: Not yet. But you will.

Dave: Do you think you'll be in a better mood next week. How about we come back then with a reader question.

Int.: I'll decide when to end this interview, and I think now's a good time. E-mail your questions for Dave to askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. He may decide to grace us with his presence.

Dave: Oh come on, I'll be here.

Int: We'll see. You can also follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release November 22nd. A free ebook containing the first four chapters is available for download. You can also become a fan of the book on Facebook.
He's also set up a Twitter account @dimknight.

Sample Ebook for Tales of the Dim Knight Released

2010-09-04T00:57:00.004+12:00

We've been working very hard this Summer on revisions to Tales of the Dim Knight. You can take a look and see a little of what we've been working on, as our free Ebook has been released.

You can read it online or download it for your Kindle, Ipad, or Sony Reader. We hope to soon have this free book available in the Ipad or Sony stores. Unfortunately to make it available on the Kindle store, we'd have to charge at least 99 cents, which wouldn't work with our free preview cover.

Here's our blurb:

What happens when the World's biggest superhero fan gets superpowers? When Mild Mannered Janitor Dave Johnson discovers an alien symbiot that gives him untold powers, there's only one thing to do. Put on a pair of tights and save the world. In this special free preview, see how Dave's adventures begin as he faces down drug dealers, car thieves, and the dreaded petty criminals

Alpha Redemption Press Release

2010-09-02T11:31:00.001+12:00

Debut SF Novel Delves Into Science and Spirituality

September 1st 2010 sees the release of P.A. Baines’ debut novel Alpha Redemption, a story about a man who rediscovers his faith in God through the friendship of a sentient computer.

Auckland, New Zealand – Splashdown Books is pleased to announce the release of an exciting debut novel from a talented new author. It is a tale of lightspeed travel, and also of an inner journey from pain to peace.

Brett Denton is unemployed and has lost his will to live, as well as everything else – his faith, his family, his career. When offered the chance to leave his old life behind in an experimental mission to Alpha Centauri, he gladly accepts, knowing that he may not survive the hazardous journey.

With only the ship’s intelligent on-board computer, Jay, for company, he crosses the depths of space in an epic voyage of discovery. At first he just wants to enjoy his solitude and finds Jay’s quest for knowledge an annoyance. Over time, however, they become friends as Brett slowly begins to heal from a life of heartache.

On arriving at Alpha Centauri they find a planet very similar to Earth, now deserted but showing signs of a once-powerful civilization. When an emergency situation arises, it soon becomes clear that Brett may not be able to make it back alive. And Jay discovers that Brett is not alone on the ship.

Alpha Redemption is 2001: A Space Odyssey meets Robinson Crusoe, with soul. “My idea for Alpha came from wondering what a purely logical being would make of faith and God. If such an entity were to learn about God, what would it make of this knowledge, and would it be able to sway the opinion of an atheist?” said Baines.

For more information on Alpha Redemption, visit www.splashdownbooks.com or the author’s website at www.pabaines.com. The book is available from Amazon.com and other online retailers, and discounted direct from the publisher.

About Splashdown Books:

Begun in 2009 as an independent publisher of inspirational science fiction and fantasy, Splashdown Books has a vision to provide a connection between authors and fans of a genre with the capability to transport the reader to other worlds in their mind.

P.A.Baines was born in England and currently does contract work in Europe where he lives with his wife and two children. He writes computer programs by day and speculative fiction by night, although his dream is to swap those two around. His aim as a writer is to create science-fiction where God is not just present but at the very core of the story. He hopes one day to get a proper night’s sleep.

One month and counting. . .

2010-08-06T23:09:00.001+12:00

When you are writing, do you ever take the easy route? By that I mean do you come to a scene and, instead of sweating over how to make it as good as it can be, you rush through it? Or maybe you sneak a little bit of “telling” in when you should really be “showing”? Maybe you whitewash over it when you ought to be getting the easel out and experimenting with the full palette at your disposal. Perhaps you use flat language when you really need to reach for that perfect metaphor. Or you ignore pacing and tension just because you want to get to the intense action scene in the next chapter where you get to describe the battle between the robots and the mole-people.

I’m guilty of doing all these things because there are times when I simply don’t feel like doing more than the basics. Sometimes I’m tired or bored and just want to move on to a more interesting bit of the plot. I do it hoping that noboody will notice. I stand there whistling a nonchalant tune, with my hands in my pockets and my freshly-waxed halo tilted at a jaunty angle, and I push a dull, half-baked, uninspired piece of prose under the carpet. After all, who is going to care if the rest of the writing is to a reasonable standard? Who is going to care if I skip a little polishing and sweep a little dust under the rug? Everyone, that’s who is going to notice.

Some years ago, a colleague asked me to read his completed novel. It was an epic science fiction fantasy in the vein of Star Wars. He had spent many years working on it, and he was rightly quite proud of his achievement. He had previously shown me a few extracts and I was impressed. The writing was rich and flowing. The scenes were captivating. I couldn’t wait to see the finished product. Then one day he announced that it was finished and I volunteered to have a read. I was so disappointed. It contained scene after scene written in the style I had encountered in my earlier glimpses, and yet the novel did not work. The problem was not with the exciting scenes, but with the bits in between. It was as if he couldn’t be bothered to worry about the “boring” parts because he wanted to get to the interesting stuff. The end result was disastrous. It was like looking at a diamond mounted on a soda can pull. The diamond was still beautiful, but all you could see was the piece of scrap-metal it was mounted on. He sent it off to be edited. I don’t know what they told him, but he was not happy. He moved on and I’m not sure if he ever revised the manuscript. I hope he did. I hope he listened to what the editor had to say and applied it because I’m sure he would have found a publisher one day if he would just go back and do some more work.

The reason I mention this is because my story is currently at the end of the editing process. The person responible for this daunting task is Cathi-Lyn Dyck (or Cat for short). Cat works as a freelance editor and also for Splashdown Books. And, boy, she is thorough! When I received my first set of comments from Cat, I realized that not only had she lifted the carpets to check for dust, she had also pulled out a magnifying glass and done a full forensic CSI thing on it. Looking through her comments, I soon realized that all of of my moments of laziness had been spotted and dragged, dazed and blinking, out into the open. Luckily, there weren’t that many, but she spotted them all. I remember thinking while I was writing those parts: “that’ll do.” Let me tell you, they won’t do. I’m currently listening to a best-selling science fiction author. This morning I heard something that dragged me right out of a particularly interesting part of the story simply because he told me something rather than showing me, and in such a blatant way as well. By the time I got back into the plot I had lost a few seconds of dialogue and had to rewind and try again.

I’m still learning the craft and I’m aware how much I don’t know, and I think that’s important. Problems start when you think you know enough. Cat has taught me an awful lot through this process. There were things I didn’t really understand and she was happy to explain them to me until I did understand. Best of all, she “got” my story. She understood what I wanted to achieve and then helped me to get there. And she spotted things that I would never have seen in a million years.

So with a month left to go, Alpha Redemption is almost ready with just a few more bits and pieces to sort out. I’ve learned from experience not to count my chickens until they’re running around the yard in a squawking flurry of feathers, but everything is currently on track for September 1st.

And if you are looking for an editor, I can’t recommend Cat enough. She is professional, thorough, patient, and supportive in equal measure. Details of her services can be found on http://scitascienda.com/scienda-editorial/. In Cat’s words: “My inbox is always open for general questions or hellos, and people are welcome to contact me through ScitaScienda.com, Facebook, or email (on the sidebar at the blog’s mainpage).”

Ask a Superhero:Superhero Gadgets

2010-07-19T17:35:00.002+12:00

Welcome to our continuing weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.

Interviewer: Our next question comes from Clive Staples nominated Author Fred Warren.
"There are a lot of wannabe superheroes these days, so I want to make sure you're the real deal...every superhero has his own supply of super-cool super-high-tech gadgets. Do you?"

Dave: I don't need superhero gadgets on hand. I can create them with my mind.

Int: So you have a super imagination?

Dave: Yes, I can imagine anything I want and it'll appear. This is great for me. Bruce Wayne may have the batcave to put all of his stuff in, but I'm not a billionaire, and my garage is already full. This way, I can imagine a device to be there for me when I need it and then just imagine it out of existence later. And no chance the kids might find my rocket pack and take off with it.

Int: So tell us what are some of the high tech gadgets you imagine yourself having that we'll see in Tales of the Dim Knight?

Dave: There's my rocket pack, a 50 foot giant robot, and a flying stealth aircraft with retractable whips and machine guns that fire rubber bullets.

Int: Pretty impressive. What do you use the 50 foot giant robot for?

Dave: You have to read the book to find out.

Int: E-mail your questions for Dave to askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release November 1st.

Ask a Superhero: Pet Peeves and Politics

2010-07-12T15:54:00.002+12:00

Welcome to our continuing weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.

Interviewer: Kat had a few more questions.

Dave Johnson: She gets more than one?

Int: Well, it's not like we're brimming with questions.

Dave: Okay, go ahead.

Int: She wants to know if you have any pet peeves about superheroes.

Dave: Not about the real ones.

Int: What about in the comic books?

Dave: Well, I do have one big pet peeve and that's Superheroes getting involved in politics. I want to see heroes fighting the bad guys, not mouthing off about Dole v. Clinton or whoever is running for President. Or bashing tea parties or having political talk show hosts as Cyborg heroes. Superheroes have no place in politics.

Int: I'm curious. Do you vote at all?

Dave: I believe it's every citizen's obligation to vote. However, you should never vote in a specific race where you don't know what's going on.

Int: So how do you vote?

Dave: I go and get a ballot and then put it in the envelope with all the races I know something about filled out.

Int: How many is that usually?

Dave; Um-uh-zero. They always say that I'm the quickest voter they've ever seen. But I get the "I voted" sticker. That's what counts.

Int: So you really aren't political at all. I don't know how you'll deal with this next question. She wants to know, If you could choose one superhero to run for President who would it be?

Dave: I don't know why a Superhero would want to run for President. Being a superhero is far better, and you don't have to be dishonest like in politics. But I think the only logical choice would be Iron Man, Tony Stark. First, it takes a lot of money to run for President, and Stark has even more money than Bruce Wayne. Secondly, if you run for office, it's always those you love that get hurt most. Most superheroes have secret identities to protect their families and would never do anything like run for office. However, Tony Stark would be a good candidate for office as he's a narcissist who wouldn't be as bothered by his friends getting some unfavorable press, and being emotionally wounded. They'll get over it.

Int: Well that makes sense in a cynical sort of way. We'd love to answer your questions. E-mail your questions for Dave to askasuperhero@laserandsword.com.

Dave: I will hold my breath until I get an e-mail.

(Dave inhales deeply and holds breath.)

Int: That's not a good idea, you could pass out.

Dave (through clinched teeth): Nonshense, I'm a shuperhero.

Int: Want to read more about the wild and varied adventures of Dave Johnson? Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release November 1st.

(Dave collapses.)

(Interviewer runs over to Dave and slaps him.)

Int: Come on. Get up. Anyone got any smelling salt?

Cars, brick walls, and learning to drive.

2010-07-07T20:43:00.000+12:00

I was fifteen years old when I first sat behind the wheel of a car with the intention of driving it. My mum suggested I park her prized VW Golf in the garage. I’m not sure how the subject came up. I don’t remember asking her or even discussing driving. Maybe she figured I was just getting to that age. All I know is that I ended up sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in my hand and with my mum in the passenger seat. A few seconds later, we would be sitting in exactly the same positions, but with the nose of the car pressed firmly against the back wall of the garage and a thin pall of dust drifting slowly to the ground.
As with all of the traumatic events in my life, the whole thing is indelibly etched into the region of my brain that holds onto things that it deems so important for my survival that, if it were capable of clutching a permanent marker, it would scribble them on my forehead. I remember my mum explaining the functions of the different pedals. I remember nodding and possibly smiling with that “don’t worry, I know what I’m doing” grin that usually precedes a disaster. I recall pushing down the clutch pedal and placing the car in gear. I then recall that I pushed down on the accelerator and slowly released the clutch. With testosterone rushing through my pimple-strewn body, I clearly remember propelling us towards the open garage door and the wall beyond.
Now I’m not someone who learns by watching or listening. I prefer to try things for myself. More often than not I will fail but eventually the neurons start firing in the right sequence and things begin to make sense. Was it Edison who said that, in the process of inventing the light-bulb, he discovered a thousand ways how not to make a light-bulb? That has always inspired me because it proves the old adage that discovery is ninety percent perspiration and ten percent inspiration. So what on Earth possessed me to think that I was going to be able to park the car on my first attempt?
So, back at the soon-to-be disaster: I had the car in first gear and we were drifting at a slow but steady pace towards the waiting garage. I felt cool and confident. I felt in control and in charge. I was the master of a finely tuned piece of machinery. I was also hopelessly deluded. At some point between the entrance to the garage and the wall, I forgot where the brake pedal was. I know that sounds dumb because, let’s face it, there are only three possible choices in a manual-shift vehicle and they were all right at my feet. But the neurons were not firing in sequence yet and I suspect the brain-cell that was holding the key to speed-reduction success was sending its message to my elbow or my ear, instead of where it should have been sending it: my right foot.
There was a moment of panic as my elbow, or maybe my eyebrow, tried to figure out how to stop a ton of metal from slamming into a brick wall. I turned to look at my mum and she turned to look at me with a wide-eyed expression of surprise and mild alarm that I can only assume I was also wearing. Time slowed to a crawl. If either of us had spoken I am sure it would have come out in a deep drawl that you hear when the film reel has jammed and is about to snap. And then we hit the wall.
The damage was minimal with just a small dent on the front bumper, but my confidence was splattered all over the brickwork so finely that I was going to need DNA sampling to confirm the identity. My mum said something about horses and getting back into the saddle but I was too shaken to get behind the wheel so soon. A few days later I did try again but this time I practiced braking outside the garage where there wasn’t a brick wall to punish my mistakes. Later I successfully parked the car inside the garage. Soon my mum would be leaving the car out every evening so that I could practice the simple act of starting a car, driving it a few feet, and stopping it without the aid of a wall.
So what did I learn from all of this that can be applied to writing? Well I already knew that I’m the kind of person who learns from making mistakes. And I already had a pretty good idea of the importance of having someone supportive by my side to get me back on track when things go wrong. And I knew that sometimes you can sit and stare at what should be obvious but still have no idea how to continue because your brain cells are trying to figure out that your right foot is not attached to your elbow.
No, if I learned anything from that experience, it is that sometimes God can put brick walls in your way for a reason. It could be that you need to smash through and learn perseverance, because sticking with things is not easy and you will almost certainly end up with dents and scratches. Or perhaps you need to stop and take a different route because the one you are on is a dead-end. Or maybe He is trying to tell you that you’ve reached where He wants you to be and it’s time to turn off the engine and just rest in Him until He says it’s time to get moving again.
These days, if I see a brick wall, I still get nervous and I have times when I panic, but I try to remember to figure out if and why God might have put it there and, more importantly, what He wants me to do about it.

Ask a Superhero: Origins of the Superfan

2010-07-06T00:01:00.002+12:00

Welcome to our weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.

Interviewer: Our question this week comes from Kat Heckenbach.

Dave Johnson: Cat? Is she any relation to Catwoman?

Int: I don't think so. Anyway, her question is based on the fact that you are not only a Super Hero, but one of the top Super Hero fans in all of Western Washington. She asks, "I'd like to know how Dave first discovered comic books/superheroes. How old was he?"

Dave: When I was four, my father died in a car wreck, and then my paternal grandfather came to live with us. Grandfather introduced me to superheroes, and we spent all of our spare time together reading comic books, watching reruns of Superman and Batman on TV along with some of the new cartoons that came out in the 1980s, watching the Fleischer Cartoons on VHS tapes, listening to old radio episodes of the Shadow, The Green Hornet, The Blue Beetle, and of course, Superman. He took me to see Superman III and Superman IV in theaters. Grandpa died when I was ten, and left me his collection of super hero stuff. Mom thought I ought to sell it go to college. No way. I got a GED even and I still have the collection.

Int.: Got a question for Dave? E-mail askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. Want to read more about the wild and varied adventures of Dave Johnson? Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release September 1st.

Ask a Superhero: Book Title

2010-06-29T00:00:00.001+12:00

Welcome to our weekly feature where we ask a question of a Superhero, Dave Johnson, aka Powerhouse and the Emerald Avenger.

Interviewer: Our first question comes from Ms. Verity Callaghan*, she asks, "What do you think of the title of your book?"

Mild Mannered Dave Johnson: "The Adventures of the Amazing Powerhouse"?

Int.: Um-that's not the title. That was only a working title, but now we've chosen a new title.

Dave: You laid off the title?

Int.: In a matter of speaking. The title is, Tales of the Dim Knight.

Dave: Dim! I'll have you know that I got a 91 on the IQ test, and that's still an A! And I have a GED, and it took me years of study to get that degree. Dim? I don't think so. I'm as bright as the Northern Lights of Alaska.

Int.: And humble too.

Dave: Yes, I'm a mild-mannered janitor by evening, Superhero by late nights. And when I leave work at about 7, it's kind of dark out, but not really. It's more dim. Hey, that's it! That's why they called it, The Dim Knight because when I leave and it's fall, it is dim. Well, I thought you were insulting me. I'm sorry for all the horrible things I thought of doing to you that would violate the Super Hero code.

Int.: Quite all right.

Dave: Why are you snickering like that?

Int: Got a question for Dave. E-mail askasuperhero@laserandsword.com. Want to read more about the wild and varied adventures of Dave Johnson? Then follow his story every Tuesday at Laser and Sword Magazine. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for release September 1st.

*Verity Callaghan is a character in Andrea's Graham's Purple Earth saga.

Yet more excuses not to write

2010-06-18T21:30:00.000+12:00

I’ve been trying my best to think of something interesting to tell you in the lead up to Alpha (sorry, Alpha Redemption) being let loose on an unsuspecting world. I was hoping to have some fascinating snippets of esoteric information to share with you regarding the arcane inner workings of the publication business. The only interesting thing I’ve done (no, really) is to sign up with the Chicago Manual of Style Online in the hope that I could, hopefully, pick up some tips on how to improve, where possible, my use of and application of, commas, because, apparently, too many commas, can make, your, text, virtually, unreadable. Or so they say.

I suppose I could tell you about the re-reading, and re-checking, and re-re-reading. Or I could tell you about the gnawing feeling that you’ve missed something somewhere in the manuscript that you’ll only spot when the thing hits the shelves. Or maybe I could mention the glaring error I spotted this weekend in a rather important plot point that required a quick rethink and some hasty alterations but which, ultimately, actually turned out for the best. Or I could tell you about the anxiety that comes with suspecting that this is really all just a weird but wonderful dream and that any moment now you are going to wake up. I could tell you about all these things but, to be honest, all that has happened is that I have found yet more excuses not to write.

Does editing count as writing? I’m not sure. Certainly I’m thinking about writing but that’s not the same as tapping away at those keys as if your life depended on it. I’m making corrections but that’s nothing close to hammering out a brand new, fresh-out-of-the-box story complete with that wonderful new-plot smell. Does fretting about character and development and pace count as writing? In my dream-world it does, but this is not that world (I know this because donuts do not grow on trees), and so I have to log those hours in the “Time Wasted” or “Not Really Doing Anything Constructive” columns of my swanky new time-management system that basically consists of my desk disguised as a post-it note.

Sometime over the next few days I have to stop tweaking the manuscript and hand it over so that Splashdown Books’ editor, Cat, can have a good laugh. This, too, makes me nervous but then I bet that doesn’t surprise you. I enjoy writing but I also take it a little too seriously and so always want to improve on it. And I always think it could be much better. I’m told this is a common trait among the artistically inclined. Normal people look at what we’ve done and see a story that they like or don’t like. We look at it and see dodgy dialogue, problematic punctuation, clumsy characterisation, and annoying alliteration. To be honest, at this point I can’t see anything anymore, never mind a story. So maybe this is a good time to hand it on to someone who knows what they’re doing and trust their judgement. Between Grace and me, we should have found most of the errors, so hopefully Cat won’t laugh too hard.

Alpha Renamed and My New Personal Website

2010-06-12T20:33:00.002+12:00

One of the things I'm doing in the run up to September 1st is building a personal website to help promote myself and my writing. Please drop by and have a look, and tell me what you think. It can be found at:

www.pabaines.com

The planet on the front page is the work of Zoë Demaré (http://newauthors.wordpress.com/author/bubblegumninja/).

Also, my novel has been given a new name. Since I began writing it I have always referred to it as 'Alpha' and the name stuck but really needed to be given some thought. Some ideas were thrown into the pot by the Splashdown authors and we have settled on 'Alpha Redemption'. The theme of redemption is at the very heart of the story, so the name suits very well.

This Year's Lineup

2010-05-22T11:09:00.005+12:00

I have been assembling publicity blurbs for all the books due out from Splashdown in the coming months. So here they are all in one place for your perusal! These texts may change before final publication, but this should give you some idea...

The Duke's Handmaid by Caprice Hokstad
Slavery...loyalty. Torture...honor. Betrayal...selflessness. All the young orphan wanted was security in a world that destroyed her family and left her despised and rejected. Can the simple farmgirl find a new family through voluntary enslavement to the duke's household? Crafted in a highly precise writing style so smooth it slips right from the page into your imagination, this fantastical storyworld examines timeless social issues that inform global justice today.

Legendary Space Pilgrims by Grace Bridges
On a planet that has never seen the sun, a harvester hears a Voice from beyond. It's time to leave the oatfield. Mario and Caitlin escape the mind control of Planet Monday, following the Voice to unknown worlds where wonders and challenges await. Have you got what it takes...to be a legend?

Tales of the Dim Knight by Adam and Andrea Graham
Mild-mannered janitor and superhero fanboy Dave Johnson gets all his wishes at once when an alien symbiot gives him supernatural powers. But what's he to do with them? Follow his laugh-a-minute progress as he fights crime and corruption while trying to keep his family together and avoid being sued for copyright infringement.

Alpha Redemption by P.A. Baines
When Brett loses everything in a tragic accident, he gladly accepts an invitation to take part in a prototype speed-of-light trip to Alpha Centauri, knowing that he may not survive. His only companion is the ship's on-board computer, Jay. At first he finds Jay an annoyance but, as time passes, the two become friends. With the voyage drawing to a close, Jay develops a sense of self-awareness and a belief in God. When it becomes clear that they cannot both survive the return trip, one of them must make the ultimate sacrifice.

Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Caprice Hokstad (Sequel to The Duke's Handmaid)
In a last-ditch effort to find his missing son, Duke Vahn sends his most trusted servant to pose as a runaway slave in the hostile country of Ganluc. Meanwhile, the challenge he faces at home is no less daunting. This beautiful story is full of images: leadership by serving, ungrudging chivalry, and faithful romance.

Also in November, provided I can get it ready in time, is my pet project CyberDublin, in which Oodles rules the world. But when its global hyperweb network falls prey to sabotage, society spins towards chaos. In Dublin, the heart of the fallen cyberworld, an orphan rebel and her housemates face a reality far less virtual than they're used to.

How the Sith Slipped Into a Novel

2010-05-13T17:50:00.003+12:00

This is my first post on the Splashdown blog. In Tales of the Dim Knight, there are many quite intentional inferences of great superheroes past. From the well-known Superman and Batman to the less appreciated Darkwing Duck and Underdog. In fact the only superhero fav I can think of that we didn't make reference to was Super Chicken. I've really got to figure out a way to get that in, even if causes me to sprain a mental muscle.

Well, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it.

In addition to the above named superheroes, we have fun with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Crocodile Hunter among others. Of course, sometimes pop culture pops up unexpectedly. In 2002, I worked on a novel and I thought I'd written such a cool line. "We always had three roommates. No more, no less."

I sent my brother a draft and in his own (not so) gentle way, he reminded me that had been in Star Wars: Episode 1. ("There are always two Sith, no more, no less.") I sheepishly removed the line. It was not in this particular novel, but an unpublished work about a dying minister hospice called, Two Sides of the Hill. If that line had made publication, some people would have wondered how the Sith got into the novel.

Please Welcome...Adam and Andrea Graham!

2010-05-03T17:54:00.000+12:00

Andrea and Adam Graham have signed a contract with Splashdown Books to publish their first novel, Tales of the Dim Knight, a superhero spoof. The book is tentatively set for release late this summer.

“I’m excited to acquire this laugh-a-minute adventure by a phenomenal husband-and-wife team,” says Grace Bridges, Publisher of Splashdown Books.

In Tales of the Dim Knight, Dave Johnson is a mild mannered janitor by night, ultimate superhero fanboy by day until an alien symbiot enhances all his human abilities, including his imagination, giving him the power to create anything he envisions. The opportunities for comedy are plentiful and the authors pay humorous tribute to every superhero known to man, from Batman to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The story is currently being serialized Laser and Sword Magazine and on the Laser and Sword website.

Adam Graham is a regular political columnist for Pajamas Media whose commentaries also appear at http://adamsweb.us/blog. He has short stories included in the anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness, and in Laser & Sword, of which he is editor in chief. He is also host of the Truth and Hope Report podcast, as well as the Old Time Dragnet Radio Show, The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, and the Old Time Superman Radio Show. He holds a general studies Associate of Arts degree from Flathead Valley Community College with a concentration in Journalism.

Andrea Graham has two short stories featured in Light at the Edge of Darkness (2007, the Writer’s Cafe Press.)“Chosen of God” (co-authored with Adam Graham) and her solo “Frozen Generation.” Andrea studied creative writing and religion for three years at Ashland University. She is Assistant Editor of her husband’s magazine, an active member of her local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter, and a founding member of the Lost Genre Guild.

Adam and Andrea live in Boise, ID with their cat, Joybell, and enjoy Frisbee golf, walks in the park, and of course, superheroes.

The Duke's Handmaid gets a New Cover!

2010-04-30T13:50:00.008+12:00

I recently signed a contract with Splashdown Books to re-release my previously self-published novels in the Ascendancy Trilogy, The Duke's Handmaid and its sequel, Nor Iron Bars a Cage. The new cover for book one appears above.

The twin suns picture was part of the package I paid for when I self-published with Xulon Press, so you will see that on all the old covers. But we wanted something that made the new cover standout as different as well as a way to tie-in the first book with the second. (If you go to my website, you can see the older versions, which will probably continue to be available until the new ones come out.) So Grace framed the suns-set picture with a burlap background [which will also frame something in the sequel] and then we discussed adding an extra item of visual interest which would capture a plot element.

The plot of the first book includes a magical key (as well as a character named "Kee") so we settled on adding a key. But deciding we wanted a key and finding one that would look like it belonged in my fantasy world of Byntar was a much more daunting task than we had ever imagined. After both of us scoured the internet to no avail, Grace decided to appeal to the Lost Genre Guild for a lead on an artist to create something suitable. Kat Heckenbach stepped up to the plate and drew us the key of our dreams.

So the new cover features Kat's key and I couldn't be happier with it. Look for second edition (newly edited and revised!) of The Duke's Handmaid sometime this summer. Watch this blog for news on the exact release date.

The Muse: Making Movies

2010-04-10T05:00:00.003+12:00

Despite my limited technical skills and computer gear, I've always been fascinated with the idea of making movies. So I set out once again to make a movie for a book advertisement, using only a point-and-shoot camera (albeit a slightly better one bought for the occasion) and a five-year-old editing program with a tendency to crash.

As you know from yesterday's post, I already had the main actor, Andrew. He turned out to have out of this world skills in an area he'd previously done nothing in! Great for us :) So I just needed to find a couple more people. Another housemate, Steph, stood in for Jilly the vampire author, and I was able to recruit Phil on the Internet (don't worry, we go way back!) to be the sci-fi author. He recorded his own scenes to send me by email.

The perfect finishing touch was the fairy princess, also an inhabitant of the house where I lived last year, which also happened to be very handy to a beautiful big forest.

Here's the finished trailer, followed by the credits reel:

Check out these member blogs this week for more info.

The Muse: Cover Design

2010-04-09T05:00:00.000+12:00

I used to be a great artist. Not in the sense of being great, no way, but in the sense that I loved it and used to doodle all the time - in my schoolbooks, when I was supposed to be writing essays or doing sums or whatever, I peopled the margins of my pages with fanciful images and also spent a good deal of time putting paintbrush to paper. That has carried over to graphic design and photography, and hopefully my results will continue to improve.

Anyway. Once it was settled that I was going to publish Fred's book, we began to cast about for a suitable cover idea. I wanted something striking and unique, and for that purpose a black background is always pretty good.

I messed around until I had a suitably spooky glowy text and spirally thing which I somehow got out of one of the effects in my ten year old graphics program. Yep, 10 years old and counting, and it still does everything I want it to.

Next I really wanted a picture of Stan, the main character. But who could it be? The answer turned out to be quite close to home, as I ended up photographing none other than my own brother when he came to town for a visit. My housemate at that time happens to own a wonderful fantasy sword, and things just came together after that. Over there you see one pic of many taken during that photo shoot. I was up on the veranda with the camera, and Andrew was down on the driveway so I could get that oblique angle. The black sheet was an aid to later pasting "Stan" onto my mostly black background.

All this of course in consultation with Fred. It's his book and he ought to like the cover, right? :)

Here's the final result a little larger:

Check out these member blogs this week for more info.

Inside Publishing: The Soundtrack for The Muse

2010-04-08T05:00:00.000+12:00

There's a wonderful story behind the soundtrack of this novel. I have always loved books with songs that belong to them, and it's an idea which has not been exploited to its fullest potential - I feel. Anyway, as soon as Fred was contracted to publish The Muse with Splashdown, I went on the hunt for a suitable musical accompaniment.

It didn't take much thinking to go straight to Shoutlife. I already knew Clank a.k.a. Brian from England, whose sounds I first heard on Frank Creed's book trailer - and later I commissioned a couple of tracks from him myself, but that's off topic :) So back I went to the instrumental category. Just a few clicks later I stumbled upon Eleon a.k.a. Mike from Texas and I knew we'd found our man. I proposed the idea to him and explained the purpose.

Mike was enthusiastic - always a good sign - and very promptly delivered exactly what we needed. The soundtrack for The Muse provided an inspirational backdrop for much of the work needing done on the book.

What's that you say? I can hardly hear you over the music! Oh! Of course you want to hear it! Here ya go:

You can also go to http://virb.com/eleonmusic for more of Mike's great music. I admit, I've become quite the fan!

In time things came together to create the book trailer using this very piece of music, but there'll be more on that another day. Watch this space!

Check out these member blogs this week for more info.

The Muse - Bloopers

2010-04-07T05:00:00.002+12:00

I have a blog of a more personal nature today over at www.gracebridges.blogspot.com - come on over and see :) In the meantime, here's the single most successful video from the campaign for The Muse:

The CFRB tours The Muse by Fred Warren

2010-04-06T05:00:00.001+12:00

I am the publisher of this book, and therefore in an interesting position as regards writing a review. I can't really, not in the usual sense of the word. I'm not unbiased. But I was once, way-back-when I first got to read it. It was supposedly just for a critique swap, and Fred had one of my novels in return.

But for some months already the idea had been simmering away to start a publishing company, and this was the story that forced the decision. Why? Because it would be nothing other than tragedy if this amazing book never saw publication due to the author being a first-timer on the novel scene. "First novels never get published," says common wisdom, "put it in a drawer and write a better one." Never mind all the difficulties of getting anywhere with the Christian Fantasy genre.

I don't think I even had a name for my gig when I first got hold of The Muse. Soon after, Splashdown Books was born and I began to crawl up the learning curve. The rest, as they say, is history.

Check out these member blogs this week for more info.

CFRB Blog Tour for The Muse

2010-04-05T05:00:00.001+12:00

Hey Fred! They're touring your book! Yeah, I know you know :)

In any case, look for lots of review action at these sites this week. Let's make it even more fun - the best commenter from all the CFRB posts for The Muse will win a free copy, how's that?

I'll have more to say over at my personal blog, and do a roundup of all the reviews here at the end of the week.

Check out these member blogs this week for more info.

2010-04-04T20:52:00.001+12:00

Interview at Where The Map Ends and My Latest Writing Gig

2010-02-06T14:03:00.000+13:00

This has been an exciting week! I was very honoured to be invited for an interview at WhereTheMapEnds.com, the brainchild of Jeff Gerke who went on to found Marcher Lord Press, a unique independent publisher of science fiction and fantasy and all things weird. Anyway, we had an awesome discussion and I think you'll enjoy the read. Exciting things are happening in the world of publishing, so come on over and have a look! Here's the address: http://wherethemapends.com/Interviews/current_interview.htm

Another cool thing I've been doing for several weeks now is a new travel column for the Colorado City News in Texas, complete with photography. Yeah, random, I know. But I've been wanting a writing outlet that's more than a blog, and this is the perfect way to start! You can read my articles at the address below, where I talk about New Zealand, and starting this week, also about some of the other wonderful places I've been able to visit.
http://www.ccitynews.net/society/travel

I still have a huge amount of work to do for the release of Caprice's books, plus my own Legendary Space Pilgrims - never mind all the reading and critiquing that's due in my (ahem) acquisitions department, the marketing for existing titles, and a goodly amount of time on my paid freelance work. Please pray for me that I can use every moment to the full and do what needs to be done, while retaining the inner and outer peace so necessary to living. And if anyone's interested in helping me out, just say the word. Who knows, maybe Splashdown might get some extra staff in the future!

Welcome to Caprice Hokstad!

2010-01-07T15:59:00.002+13:00

Yes, the portentous envelope arrived in my mailbox in recent days, bearing the signed contract. So now I can announce to you the identity of Splashdown's second author, and I'm very excited to do so.

Caprice is first and foremost a wonderful writer, but also a longtime stalwart of the Lost Genre Guild and the Christian Fiction Review Blog. She's a homeschooling mother, expert seamstress, and very helpful whenever I need something edited.

Now in this case we have the unusual circumstance that I will be republishing Caprice's two books: The Duke's Handmaid and Nor Iron Bars A Cage. Both have been out for a number of years, but have tragically not received the success of which I believe they are utterly worthy. So I'm going to throw all of my marketing power at them and see if we can't get a better result for these marvellous stories.

The two books are fantasy, set on a world of two races, with two suns and two moons and encircling the romance between the Duke Vahn and the peasant Keedrina who seeks to be his servant. The style is very allegorical in places, and every word is a carefully-cut diamond - every reason for me to back these books.

Of course, I also hope that their success will in turn lead to Caprice completing the third book in the trilogy. And she also writes sci-fi, a fact to make my geekish heart glow.

I'm giving her free rein to post on this blog, the same as Fred, so look out for her here soon!

Round One: Up to Speed

2009-12-19T12:32:00.000+13:00

As we close out the year in which Splashdown Books was conceived and came into being, I am reminded of the proverb that says: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step." That step has been taken this year, and a few more besides, for which I am grateful. Fred Warren, the first author to come on board, has been great to work with as we prepared and released his first novel, The Muse. We had great fun discussing back and forth on the cover design and promotional materials, as well as the video trailers. The release went as smoothly as we could hope for - and everything came out right!

Losing my Dad in mid-year was a hard blow and took a good three months out of my time. One of my day jobs was reduced from fixed hours to (occasional) contract basis. Being turned out by my landlord has eaten up several weeks, too. But that's life I guess. Let's hope for better in the future.

What's next for Splashdown? I've got a number of great manuscripts in serious consideration, and have begun discussing publication with their authors. There' everything from superheroes to high fantasy in the possibilities. Fred is also hard at work on various new projects. And then, at long last, there's finally time to work at my own novels - you might see one or two of those during the year to come.

And so it has begun. Everything is set up and running; it's only a question of my time and how many books I can prepare and publish. The sky's the limit!

Come Party with Splashdown Books!

2009-11-11T20:14:00.000+13:00

Splashdown Books announces its second title, The Muse by Fred Warren. Meet Stan, a wannabe fantasy author struggling with writer's block - until an uncanny solution sweeps him to the head of a ragtag army in an alternate world. Find out more at www.splashdownbooks.com/themuse.

The Muse is now available at all the usual locations. There's going to be a launch party chat with the author and publisher on Sunday November 15th from 7-9pm US Central time - come along to http://tinychat.com/splashdown and join in the fun!

Delightful from start to finish. A story of three friends with writer’s block soon turns into a tale of everyday magic and real danger. Fast-paced chapters, great dialog, a fantastically magical climax, and a soulful inner journey—Warren does a bang-up job of keeping these themes consistent and tight...the result is a heart-warming ending that will have you reminiscing about it for days. A truly impressive debut novel.
~ Kirk Outerbridge, author of Eternity Falls, a Rick Macey Cyberthriller

A breath of fresh air: crisp, sharp and to the point, as creativity becomes a two-edged sword. The Muse is definitely a good first novel—a book to muse about—and a sign that Mr. Warren is an author to watch.
~ Walt Staples, Radio Playwright and author of Crossways comics

The Muse is great fun. Engaging, quirky characters, snappy dialog, unexpected twists, and the thrills and woes of every writer—a story that is quite possibly in itself a cure for writer’s block. A very true-to-spirit yet atypical Christian fantasy.
~ Kasey L. Heinly, Book Reviewer

An excellent read that keeps the focus throughout, with colorful descriptions and smooth dialog to open the imagination. Warren has outdone the norm...definitely a good read for any fantasy buff.
~ “Jesus Puppy,” Book Reviewer

What would you do to fulfill your artistic dreams? The Muse is unique and imaginative, a humorous yet mysterious twist on the journey to success that warns: if the deal is too good to be true, it likely is. I got caught up in the story of love and Divine inspiration, which totally took me by surprise. I loved the idea that you shouldn’t rush creativity, that it takes time to build art that entertains and gets people to think. A well-written delight, The Muse will inspire readers to enjoy their own artistic gifts and the time it takes to create them.
~ Jill Williamson, author of By Darkness Hid

A light-hearted, family-friendly page-turner, my only complaint is that I now have to start the wait for Fred Warren’s next book. The Muse does for writers what Superman did for men wearing tights.
~ T.W. Ambrose, Editor, Digital Dragon Magazine

The Muse is a heart-warming tale of friendship and family that takes an unexpected twist into an otherworldly adventure. This is a story every aspiring novelist can relate to—the struggle for inspiration.
~ Steve Rzasa, author of The Word Reclaimed

This is an engaging, slightly twisted tale of a trio of aspiring speculative fiction authors who do battle with that most dreaded foe—writer’s block. Although this may sound like something to appeal only to authors, that is far from the truth. Fred Warren’s deftly-designed characters and well-developed scenes will draw in a variety of readers and carry them along for the ride. I laughed and cried out loud and found myself wishing for certain denouements, most of which were different than the actual outcomes. Reality and fantasy blur then clear in this kaleidoscope of action.
~ Cathi Hassan, Book Reviewer, Editor at TeenAge Magazine

The Muse is Online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

2009-11-06T11:22:00.002+13:00

For your shopping convenience, The Muse is now available for purchase through both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. The fastest way to find the listing online is to do an “advanced search” by ISBN number 9780986451713.

Or, you can click on the handy links I’ve provided here:

Order The Muse from Amazon.com

Order The Muse from Barnes & Noble

Right now, Amazon is listing the book for $9.95, plus free shipping if your order totals $25 or more. Barnes & Noble is selling it for $8.95 plus shipping.

As always, you can find more information about the book and order directly from the Splashdown Books main webpage.

The Muse is Here!

2009-11-02T05:43:00.002+13:00

Finally, after about a year of work from conception to publication, the official release date for my novel, The Muse, has arrived!

It will be listed on Amazon.com soon, but in the meantime, there are three ways to get a copy:

1. Order from the Splashdown Books website.

2. Find a local bookstore that has access to the Ingram ipage database (most do), and search for ISBN 978-0-9864517-1-3. They’ll be able to order you a copy.

3. I think this is pretty cool–If you happen to have an Espresso book machine in your neighborhood, you can watch as it manufactures your book in a few minutes. You get the same quality as any other commerical paperback, and you’re on the cutting edge of publishing technology!

So, check it out! Order a copy, and if you enjoy it, tell your friends. We’ll be posting news about the book, interviews, signings, etc, so watch this space for more!

Stories to be Featured in Digital Dragon and Every Day Fiction Anthology

2009-10-28T12:20:00.001+13:00

If bad news comes in threes, good news for me lately seems to come in twos. I received two nice e-mails last night, the first notifying me that one of my stories (title TBD) will be featured in the December issue of Digital Dragon Magazine. Digital Dragon will also present a review of my novel, The Muse, on November 15, plus an interview with yours truly about the book. Digital Dragon is a new-ish e-zine featuring family-friendly and faith-based fantasy and speculative fiction. It’s also got one of the coolest logos ever.

The second e-mail, from the editors of Every Day Fiction, informed me that one of my flash stories published there in December 2008, “Little Piece of Cloth,” was selected for inclusion in their annual print anthology, due out in January of next year. You can check out (and still order) last year’s here. They’re having a roll-out event for the anthology in Vancouver, BC–I’m not sure if I can muster the shekels necessary to attend, but it gives me an excuse to think about taking a trip to British Columbia.

--Fred--

Interview Online at Building a Novel

2009-10-26T02:57:00.003+13:00

Wow, my first interview…Lisa G at Building a Novel grilled me about my writing in general and my upcoming novel, The Muse, in particular. She even tossed me an impromptu writing challenge at the end. Talk about pressure! Anyhow, you can see a picture of my ugly mug and read my semi-coherent answers here.

Only one more week until the official release of The Muse! If you pre-order before November 1st, you’ll get an exclusive bonus e-story thrown in for good measure. Such a deal.

--Fred--

Sticky Situations Unresolved

2009-10-10T03:16:00.005+13:00

I believe it was in primary school I was taught that a story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. This is sadly not always true these days. I've had the bad luck to run into many novels that cannot claim to fulfil the requirements of an ending. They left me stuck in a difficult situation right along with the protagonist, with no hope of getting out unless the author publishes another book someday - which I am however now unlikely to buy.

It seems to me that a lot of publishers are staking their bets on first-time authors who will need at least another book out to get their stories finished. But what happens if that author turns out to be a one-book wonder? What if the publisher goes under or cuts a genre in our world of uncertainties?

I do understand the writer's dilemma. It's happened to me too: plan a novel carefully, with its climax and resolution, then write and write and write until you realise you've written enough words but only reached a mid-point in your plot. When I realised this was the case, I went back and re-did the planning, so that a significant subplot could be introduced and woven in earlier on, finding its resolution at the end of Book One without leaving the reader hanging - even though the story goes on. It seems to me that many authors are not bothering with any attempt at a conclusion. The story just stops, suspended in mid-air, and I feel like throwing it across the room.

The end of a novel, in my humble opinion, is required to provide mainly one thing to its readers: Satisfaction. If it doesn't do that, what's the point?

That's why I always ask for opinions on reader satisfaction when I send out manuscripts for critique. After plot continuity and correct grammar, this is my most important criterion for technical quality as an aspect of planning. It has nothing to do with more inspirational aspects such as description, character, and emotional impact. Your writing style may be amazing, but if you don't resolve at least one of the book's major issues by the time it wraps up, you risk leaving your reader with a sensation of emptiness and unrest. Please, please, please don't do that.

NZ SpecFic Blogging Week - Ooh La La!

2009-09-15T14:43:00.005+12:00

I have to write something here, because, well, I can't NOT, can I? Even though I only just heard about this a couple of days ago and just today became aware of SpecFicNZ, I'm certain that this is a place where I belong.

It's a long road, this writing of science fiction, and it's been a lonely one - at least in physical terms. The international online community has been my salvation on many occasions - my support network, my reviewers, my fans.

And now, where I'm almost ready to take the leap and begin release of other authors' titles under my imprint, things are starting to get exciting. Just today I had a meeting regarding a nationwide radio advertising campaign for the runup to Christmas. I just have to decide whether to create the 30-second spot myself or leave it to the professionals.

Anyway, this post is mainly for the SpecFicNZ folks who might wander in. Be sure and check out the Splashdown Books homepage now open for pre-orders on our first two books, and the Splashdown Reviews site for sci-fi and fantasy books that have caught my attention. Don't forget you can connect with me on Twitter @gracebridges, and look me up on Facebook and Youtube.

I'm also planning to hold a seminar in late November on the basics of novel structure. So get in touch if you're interested in that. It'll be real cheap and probably held in Glenfield. Fun!

In the meantime, I'm headed off to France in a couple of days, so wish me luck!

Pre-orders open for The Muse

2009-09-11T20:20:00.004+12:00

Well, here we are. Today I've set up the pre-order facility over at the Splashdown Books homepage, (preview at left) along with a dedicated page for each new release. The addition of shopping cart buttons drives in the fact that this is for real - and very soon, there's going to be real books to show for it. To reward those who buy before release date, we're going to offer a special electronic bonus as incentive. Fred's working on that right now.

In fact, Fred has been nothing but patient as I've gotten more and more frantic this week. Maybe he can't tell from halfway around the world. You see, I'm headed away on another two-month trek (blame that travelbug) and there's been a lot of stuff we needed to get done before that. I'm glad to say it's pretty much all done and in the can. What remains can be done from underway, or rather, en route in the back country of France.

It's been a busy week, all right - but I've loved every minute of it. Seriously, there's nothing I like better than to publish books and sink my teeth into marketing projects. Says she, the career-hopper. Heh.

Here's a video blog I just recorded today, including a bunch of stuff on Splashdown and upcoming projects. Talk to you later!

Best-Laid Plans

2009-09-09T02:59:00.003+12:00

Had a nice weekend visiting with my middle son, who is at college in Chicago. Didn’t get any writing done, as is usually the case on these trips, but I put in a lot of think time regarding my writing plans for this fall.

‘Tis the season for NaNoWriMo, the novel-writing extravaganza that launched my first novel, The Muse, and which I intended to devote this year to another book-length project. It’s held annually during November, but that coincides with the release of The Muse, and I’ll be busy then with interviews, blog tours, and other promotional activities.

I discussed this problem with Grace, and she suggested bumping the NaNo writing up a month or two, which sounded like a good idea. The main benefit of doing it at the customary time is the mass networking/cheerleading/commiserating with the many other participants, but I didn’t participate in much of that last time, so I don’t think it’s a huge downside, though connecting with more local writers is one of my objectives for this year. I’ll just have to do that another way.

So, Plan B is now to write on the NaNo schedule (around 2000 words/day, every day) from 13 September to 13 October, which coincides with a work trip to Florida. I’m working day shift this time, so evenings will be free, leaving me little else to do but sit in my hotel room (or Starbuck’s, or on the beach) and write–an ideal situation.

The next problem is deciding which project to write, since I now have two–a science-fiction action/adventure story I’ve been outlining on-and-off all summer, and a sequel to The Muse, for which the idea just hit me a few weeks ago. I’m probably more prepared to start writing the sci-fi story, but a follow-up to my first novel, particularly if it gets a good response, needs to follow quickly, while the characters and their “universe” are fresh in the readers’ minds and in my own.

What to do? Both stories will be fun to write, and I have good reasons for writing either one. I could also try to do both of them. I’ve got another work trip from about 16 October to 7 November, so there’s room for another big push. The only problem with that is I don’t know how much juice I’ll have left in my batteries after putting out a max effort on one novel-length story. There’s also the possibility that whichever story I write first may turn out to be significantly longer than I expect. I may need the extra time to complete it.

Okay, decision time. I’ll plan to work on both stories in the two big blocks of writing time coming up. I’ll start with the sci-fi story, since I’ve laid most of the groundwork already, and that will also give me some more time to get initial feedback on The Muse before starting a sequel that might not happen.

As I did last year, I’ll blog a diary of my experience writing the stories as I go along. I’ll be returning last year’s diary to public access after The Muse debuts in November.

(crossposted from http://frederation.wordpress.com)

Reality Check

2009-09-04T15:30:00.003+12:00

I got my proof copy of The Muse in the mail a couple of days ago, and the impact of actually having the book in my hands, in very nearly its final form, was remarkable. Suddenly, this nebulous concept of "my book" had mass, and color, and texture.

Even re-reading the story was a different experience. There were still a couple of annoying typos to correct, but what really struck me was a few passages that seemed fine in the electronic copy felt like they needed adjustment in the printed copy. Some words didn't seem to resonate the way they should. Something about leafing through the story page-by-page was different from scrolling through it on a monitor.

The physicality of the book also ended all the comfortable convenience of treating it as something abstract. There it was, and from that point on, I was responsible for marketing it and answerable for what was between the covers. It's one thing to say, "Oh, I'm writing a book," or even, "I wrote a book that's going to be published one of these days," and quite another to have the thing sitting on your coffee table, demanding attention from everyone who passes by, with your name emblazoned across it in big, spooky letters forever identifying you as the one who made it happen.

It's daunting. It's like bringing a child into the world, hoping on the one hand that it will thrive and prosper, while at the same time praying it doesn't become a delinquent and wreak havoc on everyone and everything it touches.

Anyhow, The Muse is still on track to arrive in November. Get ready, world, here it comes!

The Muse video trailer

2009-08-19T14:56:00.001+12:00

Hey! This is the day I've been waiting for...the unveiling of the trailer movie for The Muse, by Fred Warren.

We are also taking pre-press reviewers right now, so get in touch with me if you're keen to read and help us promote it!

Anatomy of a Book Blurb

2009-08-17T14:39:00.004+12:00

Today we worked on the book blurb for the back cover of The Muse. As I chatted to Fred, my friend Connie came online, and because I know she's always got an idea or three up her sleeve, I dragged her into helping us out. Here is what ensued - edited for length and to avoid spoilers.

It's wonderful what an hour and three authors can do!

13:08

Grace has joined
Fred has joined

Connie has joined

Fred: Hi, Connie!

Connie: Hey Fred :)

Grace: Thanks for coming!

Connie: I love a party

13:09

Grace: Current blurb in need of pep:

Stan Marino is a writer with a problem–he can’t find the creative push he needs to fulfill his vision.
One day, the inspiration he’s been seeking finds him, and he thinks his problems are over–but they’re just beginning.
Somebody else is pulling his strings now.
Stan discovers that reality is stranger than he ever imagined, and he, his friends,
and a host of people he’s never met are locked in a life-or-death battle with a vast enemy.

Grace: So far we've agreed that the last line should be:

13:12 Stan has found his muse, but will he survive it?

13:13 I want us to see this as a piece of poetry. Not with rhyme, but with a rhythm that draws the reader in.

Connie: I like that last line :)

Connie:

13:16 Okay, I don't like the first line.

Fred: Stan Marino needs a muse. He's written himself into a corner again.

Connie: Better

Grace:Good tie in to the title.

Connie: He's written himself into a corner. Again.

13:17 Grace: Yeah!

Fred: Nice.

Connie: Better cadence

13:18 Fred: Or we could use ellipses: He's written himself into a corner...again.

Grace: Now the part about inspiration finding him.

13:19

Suddenly seized by an inspiration that invades his life (...)

Connie: What is the inspiration?

Grace: lol that is the question

13:20 Fred?

Connie: The better to help you write my dear...

(snicker)

Fred: Well, there's the inspiration he needs, and the inspiration he thinks he needs, which is the crux of the story.

13:21 Grace: We don't need to delineate those in the blurb though eh?

Fred: No

Connie: No-- but it matters with the direction you point folks in.

So they get thirsty for more.

Fred: A shot of inspiration is all he needs to finish his story.

13:22

Connie: Okay-- that's a great second line.

Grace: Aha!

13:23 Fred: Connie, where have you been these past six months??

Connie: lol

Fred: Oh, great, now I've found a muse. uh oh.

Connie: Ha!

Grace: Ditto.

Lol, etc.

Connie: Promise-- no evil personality :)

13:24 Fred: That's a relief.

Connie: Here's where a question would work well---

For line #3

Grace: As well as the question at the end? Sure, let's try it.

13:25 Connie: If you're going backcover copy.

Grace: Yep.

Connie: You'll have what-- 5? 7 lines?

Grace: Something like that. I'm flexible :)

Connie: So try a question. Then another couple of statements, then your line at the end.

13:27 Fred: A shot of inspiration is all he needs to finish his story...where is he going to find it?

Grace: Finally, it comes. But why is it taking over his life?

Fred: What Stan doesn't know is that his inspiration has found him, and it's about to take over his life.

Grace:

What Stan doesn't know: Inspiration has found him, and it's about to take over his life.

Fred: Yeah that's what I was going for.

13:33 Grace: Now something about the life or death battle

13:35 Grace: Ripped from reality, he must band with friends and strangers in a life-or-death battle with a (insert adjective) enemy.

Unpredictable maybe.

Connie: I like the ripped from reality

13:36 Grace: Does that give away too much?

Connie: Not at all-- I think you need it.

13:37 Grace: "stand" is better than "band"

13:38 Connie: Not knowing the story, I want the 'ripped from reality' to keep reading.

Fred: or, He's been ripped from his reality, thrown into a life-and-death battle with a lethal enemy.

13:39 Grace: Ripped from reality, he must stand with friends and strangers in a life-or-death battle with a powerful and unpredictable enemy.

Fred: eh, not sure if I like "lethal"

Connie: Ripped from reality is a good start to that sentence.

Brings the focus to a shift in the story

Grace: Exactly.Fred: Yeah, that grabs the imagination.

13:40

Connie: Merciless enemy

powerful enemy

Grace: Merciless. That's pretty good. What says Fred?

Fred: ooh, merciless. I like.

13:41 Grace: Ripped from reality, he must stand with friends and strangers in a life-or-death battle with a merciless enemy.

Connie: Okay-- good flow on that one.

Fred: friends and strangers is accurate, but it's bugging meGrace: Me too, a little. I could live with it.

13:42 Connie: Another phrase that's more descriptive?

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must stand in a life-or-death battle with a merciless enemy.

Grace: A motley crew?

Connie: Just drop the phrase

13:43 Fred: I think Connie's close there.

Grace: Yeah. But I think the idea of teamwork is a very powerful one. a la Lord of the Rings book 1

Connie: strangers doesn't imply friends

or teamwork

Grace: ok so strangers is out.

13:44 Connie: Maybe that's why I don't like the phrase.

Grace: they sort of appoint him the leader. Not sure if that's any use.

Connie: AHA!

Grace: (I love it when she does that)Fred: was that a light bulb?Connie: Yes :)

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must lead...

13:45

Fred: aha!Grace: Ooo!

lead a motley crew

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must lead a (something something something) in life or death struggle with a merciless enemy.

Grace: That's it...

13:46 Fred: ragtag army? sounds like Battlestar Galactica

Connie: Motley crew is great- but may have rock group connotations here in the USA

Grace: Ok, if you say so

Fred: She's right

13:47 Grace: Ragtag army's not bad.

Connie: I like ragtag.

Fred: though they're not quite an army

Grace: But are they really ragtag? lol

Fred: ragtag band of lost souls?

13:48 Connie: Band of lost souls-- like the sound of that.

Fred: kill the ragtag

Connie: Ripped from reality, he must lead a band of lost souls in a life or death struggle against a merciless enemy.

Against is two syllables.

13:49 I think one might be better.

Fred: fight with, rather than struggle against?

13:50 Grace: how about a confrontation?

Fred: battle with

Connie: I like battle or struggle-- whichever's most accurate.

Fred: battle is more active

13:51 Grace: Okay, battle it is.

Grace: I think we're done! Thanks so much Connie!

Fred: Thanks for the help, Connie. Wonderful!

Connie: You're welcome--

That was fun!

Grace: Awesome! We'll hire you again

Connie: Lol

later taters.Fred: bye

Connie has left

13:52 Grace: So the complete masterpiece, ta da:

Stan Marino needs a muse. He’s written himself into a corner...again.

A shot of inspiration is all he needs to finish his story...where is he going to find it?

What Stan doesn't know:
Inspiration has found him, and it's about to take over his life.

Ripped from reality, he must lead a band of lost souls in a life-or-death battle with a merciless enemy.

Stan has found his muse, but will he survive it?

13:53 Fred: Ok, that's a lot more gripping than where we began.

Grace: It's the true essence of the tale.

13:54 Fred: I think it works. What do you think?

13:55 Grace: It's awesomeness!

Fred: Or, Awesome Sauce, as I heard somewhere a few days ago.

13:56 Grace: Ha!

Down to the Wire

2009-08-11T04:47:00.003+12:00

Autumn is just around the corner, and the production schedule for The Muse is accelerating. That's a good thing. I'd probably fiddle interminably with the story if allowed to do so, but we've agreed on the final draft and the front cover design, and can now proceed to sending an electronic pre-production copy to reviewers. If all goes well, we'll gather positive comments for the back-cover blurb and/or flyleaf and generate some good buzz.

The entire editing and review process has been cordial. Grace has been very patient with me when I've dithered on some small detail or other (cover fonts, for example), and her inputs on the writing have been insightful. She catches problems that I miss, which is, of course, a very good trait in an editor.

At the moment, Grace is finishing up a nifty video trailer for the book, accompanied by Michael Rogers' haunting music. I'm experimenting with some e-book translations of the manuscript--looks like an Adobe pdf version will be a snap, and I'd like to have a Kindle version available as well, but that will take a little more work. I'm also planning blog tours and online interviews for November. Once we have hard copies available, I can start making the rounds of the local independent bookstores to see if they'll be willing to stock the book or maybe even host a signing. There are also the regional SF&F conventions to consider, but I'm thinking it might be better to work in concert with some other Lost Genre Guild writers to provide some larger-scale representation there.

Marketing..brrr. This will be a big stretch for me.

I also need to provide Grace a slightly less-scruffy picture of my ugly mug. That may require a minor miracle.

My Favourite Words #3 - Vicariously

2009-07-11T12:14:00.001+12:00

Vicariously
Yes, I know it's an adverb. Yup, I know those are bad news. Writers ain't supposed to use them, like, ever. But it does describe one of my aims in reading, writing and publishing. "Living vicariously" is what we do when we enter into an experience not our own. That's what I want to do when I read a book; that's what I want my readers to do. Many people are unable to travel far, and a well-written book can open up entirely new experiences even for those who have seen a lot of the world. Windows to new places, unfamiliar lifestyles, cultures, characters - all of this can have an amazing influence on the life of the beholder.

My Favourite Words #2 - High-falutin'

2009-07-09T12:07:00.001+12:00

High-falutin'
Fancy, snobbish, expensive, refined. Normally used in a derogatory or sarcastic sense. It's a rather American term, perhaps from the South? I'm not sure. I know I always like it when I come across it, as it serves to pinpoint the character who uses it and their attitude. Usually the speaker is a good-humoured, down-to-earth person.

Fact: In New Zealand we would say "poncy" (pronounced pon-see) which is derived from Ponsonby, a coastal suburb in central Auckland, nationally known for its upmarket character and slightly snobbish inhabitants. Apologies to anyone who happens to live there - I have never been able to verify these traits, but that's how we use the word.

My Favourite Words #1

2009-07-07T12:03:00.003+12:00

I have seen a lot of lists circulating around the Web - lists of beautiful, or funny, or plain incredible words. But I've yet to see a list that matched even a fraction of my own favourite words so I thought I'd start compiling a collection of my own. Here's a start:

Belligerent.
Aggressive, warlike, argumentative, ready to fight. From Latin "bello" = war. Unfortunately this word is so darn descriptive that it breaks all the writing rules of show-don't-tell by its very existence. But I'll try and get it into a dialogue someday, just you wait.

Final Draft

2009-07-03T08:05:00.005+12:00

Well, so much for weekly posting. If I'd kept a running diary of my last couple of months of activity on The Muse, it would have looked something like this:

Week 1: Editing.
Week 2: Editing.
Week 3: Family Crisis.
Week 4: Work Crisis.
...and repeat. Not terribly interesting.

That's not to say the time hasn't been productive. I fixed a lot of annoying little problems, and with the help of my reviewers, identified areas of ambiguity in the story line, inconsistencies in some of the characters, and a couple of spots that didn't do much more than slow the story's pace and needed to be cut down and tightened up.

My biggest fear at this point was running into something that was so screwed up that I would have to do a major rewrite. Fortunately, that didn't happen. There was some clunky dialogue, and a few scenes that weren't focused well enough, and a little-girl character who needed to do a better job of acting her age, but nothing that required extensive meddling with the structure of the story. So, after all the dust has settled, I've got something close to a final draft of the manuscript, though I know we'll be tweaking it all the way to publication.

Now it's back over to Grace, and I'm sure she'll identify some opportunities to tighten up and polish the story even more. In her early feedback, she had some recommendations about strengthening the spiritual element within the story and handling the climactic scene near the end, and I hope I've answered the mail on both those issues.

On cover design

2009-05-05T17:23:00.009+12:00

Today I rearranged some of my books on the shelves, and as I did so, I looked over their covers - since I'm working on cover drafts for Fred's book, I want to keep learning what makes a good design. And what makes a bad one, so I can avoid that!

I thought I'd pick a few from my genre collection that I really like, and see if there's anything in common.

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck - I love the textures you can see here in the sky and earth, the realism of the figure, the spooky tower silhouette.

League of Superheroes by Stephen Leon Rice - Nice and dramatic, bold colours on black, a comic-book feel.

Flashpoint by Frank Creed - The print book looks a lot better than this. It's got depth and layers and effects, very atmospheric.

Merlin by Stephen
Lawhead - Going back in time a bit here. Perhaps the most unusual cover concept I've ever seen, used on all the first editions of the Pendragon Cycle. Look at that chiselled face, those misty hills...Mmm.

The Shadow and Night by Chris Walley - Now I'm not convinced about that diagonal cut line, but it does serve to hold the series together. But check out that cityscape, and what's going on in the sky! Very impressive.

Arena by Karen Hancock - An accurate picture of the story inside: a girl going on a journey through a strange world. Clean and bright.

The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka - Awesome textures all over, and incidentally also throughout the interior.

A Lever Long Enough by Amy Deardon - Yep, you guessed it, this is time travel. The image of the folks in robes with their laser guns is just too cool.

Now let's look at some of my current attempts for Fred's book.

Here's the font and effects we decided on several weeks ago. That was a whole other story!

Here are the spooky eyes I liked a lot at the beginning of this process.

Now here's the complete concept with our wonderful model on board. It looks okay, but I got to thinking we could do better.

I took one of the glowing eyes, enlarged it, and made it into a spiral. Interesting effect. I quite like it, as long as it doesn't come across as being too simplistic. What do you say?

Seeing as I'm so fond of texture in the examples above, I thought I'd include it in one of the design concepts.

And how about a little bit of colour?

So what do you think? Which cover appeals to you the most, and which would you be most likely to pick up if you saw it somewhere? This is only the first round of designs so it will likely end up a bit different again, but it may develop from one of these.

It Never Rains...

2009-04-24T21:43:00.004+12:00

...but it pours. Everything happens at once. After a long lull, waiting for things to come together, it's all happening right about now.

Here you can see my day's work - the new cover for Legendary Space Pilgrims. I also made the back cover, but I'll show you that another time as this one is tooled for the ARC or advance review copy, which makes it a little less spectacular than it will eventually become. Note: I didn't draw the lovely rocketship - that's a contribution by Brian "Clank" Bennett from Shoutlife.

All day I wrestled with the the pixels and paintbrushes, the spraycans and soft edges, the layers and the lettering. When I first got into graphic design, I became aware of the condition I've named "Pixelitis" for lack of a better term. It's something that happens to your eyes when you spend an extended time period staring at grossly-enlarged sections of images in order to edit them in detail. After a few hours, you look up (well, I do!) and discover that you're seeing the real world as it would be in pixels - your eyes are vectoring in on the square building-blocks that would make up the scene around you if it were part of a grainy zoomed-in JPEG of the type you've been staring at so intensely.

In any case I'm still staring at the pixels to write this, so it hasn't hit me just quite yet.

Other than this cover - which I'm very glad is done! - I've prepared the interior for printing, and I'm just waiting for one more ad-swap page for it to be ready. This is a continuing partnership with The Writer's Café Press, in which advertisements for the other company's books appear in the rear pages of each release, among other things. It provides everyone with more exposure, and above all, is just very, very cool.

Oh, and a few more endorsements still need to trickle in before Pilgrims can be released - but I have four in hand and four or five more on the way. In about another month everything will be on hand.

I've also done almost all the work to get my first novel Faith Awakened ready for its second edition. The two books should release around the same time, both in mid-June.

Tuesday promises to be a big day as I've received word that my starring actor for Fred's book trailer is going to be in town. It better not rain - we have to do scenes in the forest, and mud wouldn't be a good look. In any case I have to finalise the costuming and props for both the cover photo shoot and the video department.

Mud, however, may be inevitable. The southern autumn is gaining force and chill. We'll have to take it as it comes...

Inspiration

2009-04-11T12:35:00.002+12:00

When one of my stories is published, one of the first questions I get, often from people who know me well, is, "What inspired you to write that?" My first response is to wonder if they really mean, "What possessed you to write that?" but it's a good question, and I don't always have a good answer.

The Muse is all about inspiration--what it means, where it comes from, how it gets lost and found again, and whether it's always a positive thing. The story plays with a lot of my ponderings about inspiration over the past few years.

It started out very simply. I'd been writing a bunch of short stories and wanted to write something longer and more complex. The challenge of doing that was inspiration enough, at the beginning. I had the seed of a story--writers are always talking about "finding their muse," or "listening to their muse." What if muses were more than a metaphor for inspiration, and a struggling writer actually found a muse, but it wasn't benevolent?

That question opened the door for a horde of other questions--who was this writer, why was he struggling, what sort of friends and family did he have, who or what is this evil muse, why is it evil, and what does it want? I had to come up with answers, preferably creative answers, for all these questions and dozens more. Every answer led to more questions. I discovered that the act of asking and answering questions was very inspiring and motivating. It took me to a lot of unexpected places.

As I began filling in details, I found myself drawing from life experiences. The story is in no way autobiographical, but bits and pieces of people, places, and situations from my life from childhood through the present day found their way into the story and provided inspiration, in a broad sense, for characters and settings and conversations.

There was also an aspect of inspiration that was less about ideas and more about simple raw energy--the drive to create. Some of it came from within, but there were many times my batteries were spent and needed recharging. Encouragement and support from friends and family were very important. Sometimes I just needed a change of pace or scenery. Sometimes I had to set the writing aside and do something completely unrelated to writing.

The common element in this constant search for inspiration is that I never had to go far to find it. It was always nearby, whether just around the corner or right in front of my face, and it was often both surprising and embarrassing to find a needed insight in a familiar place that I'd failed to recognize because its familiarity made it seem commonplace and unimportant.

There are muses all around us, if we take the time to look, and listen, and feel, and remember.

Don't Give Up Your Day Job

2009-04-03T14:21:00.002+13:00

Writing gets me jazzed, but the "day job" buys the groceries, so I find myself constantly making shifts, adjustments, and compromises to deconflict between the two. You'd think it would be as simple as work daytime, write nighttime, but my job involves both odd hours and travel, so it's hard to get into the steady rhythm that all the writing books advocate. So, it's more catch-as-catch-can. I try to do some kind of writing every day, but I usually have to seize the opportunity as it arises.

For example, I'm in Florida this week (which sounds really fun until you factor in non-stop thundershowers and tornado warnings), and I'm working 12-hour shifts, 8am to 8pm. I take a steno pad with me and write on breaks or when things are slow. I transfer what I have to the computer at night, plus check e-mail, blog, etc. It works out.

It's not so bad for writing short stories, but it's harder to map out an extended period of time to do something that takes more intense focus, like editing/rewrite on The Muse. Fortunately, I'm in a lull right now between feedback from my readers, so I can let that rest for a few days, then attack it again with fresh eyes once I get back home.

The good news is that I think I'm pretty close to a final product. There are a couple of minor tweaks I need to make yet, but barring some catastrophic revelation via my last reader, I think I'm about finished, subject to any adjustments Grace requests.

Moving Right Along

2009-03-27T17:31:00.003+13:00

It's been a fun week! Mike came back to us super-quick with his brand-new original track for Fred's video trailer. I've had it playing on repeat a good deal over the last few days and I'm sure this is the perfect soundtrack for what we want to do. In case you haven't heard it yet, go to http://virb.com/michaellrogers and look for "The Muse". My new flatmate Steph (http://www.myspace.com/stephdickinson) has agreed to play the part of Jilly, so all we need now is for Fred to find a Davos lookalike. Oh yes, and I have to procure a princessy cone-hat and sparkly-star wand. Shouldn't be too hard.

After a lot of to and fro I've finally gotten an account open at Lightning Source. This means that I can upload book content as soon as I have it ready, and be publishing it very soon after. How exciting! The first one out is going to be Legendary Space Pilgrims, and many thanks to JesusPuppy for his help with the cover. I'll be redoing the book trailer for that, but you can head over to http://www.shoutlife.com/aloftstudios-clank and have a listen to "Dawnlight" - this is the soundtrack for the Space Pilgrims.

In New Zealand the weekend is almost upon us. I'm taking some time out with my parents in a place far from here (well, not that far, I can see it from my window - but it will take an hour on a car ferry to get there) and I'm taking my writing kit to get moving on Godspeed at last - the sequel to Faith Awakened, which many of you have asked me about. It's coming! I last worked on it in a motel in upstate New York, and that was in early October. A long time ago. I'm looking forward to getting it moving again. I'm really excited about it because it's a storyworld I'm so familiar with I could tell it in my sleep - yet now it unfolds new opportunities and new characters as Naomi ventures from Ireland to America and runs for her life. *rubs hands together* This is going to be good!

If You Like the Book, You'll Love the Movie

2009-03-22T08:33:00.003+13:00

I didn't think about marketing when I was writing The Muse. I was mostly worried about getting my daily quota of words into electrons and having it all make sense in a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Even after Grace decided to publish it, I wasn't thinking much past a card table at the local Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Comic convention or the corner bookstore.

I quickly found myself in a world where books are advertised like movies, with interactive websites and theatrical trailers, and one of the first questions Grace asked me was, "How do you want to do the video trailer?"

I had no idea. How do you condense a 50000-or-so-word novel into a two-minute video that will intrigue potential readers without giving away too many details?

Fortunately, Grace had done this before with her own books, so she was able to point me in the right direction, and we're working out the script right now. So far, so good, I'm thinking. I can do this.

Then, she asks me what sort of music I think would be appropriate for the video.

Music? I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer...er, I'm a writer, not a composer! How should I know what music would work for this thing?

As it's turned out, I needn't have worried. Grace found a musician on ShoutLife she thought might be able to do the job, in exchange for some advertising in the book. I listened to a couple of his tracks, and I was hooked. There were themes and motifs in his music that perfectly captured the mood of several scenes in my story, and he was clearly the right man for the job. Even better, today he sent me a preliminary clip of his music for the trailer, and again, it fit perfectly.

Our musician's name is Michael L. Rogers, and you can find samples of his music at http://www.shoutlife.com/mlr and http://virb.com/michaellrogers. You can also purchase some of his older music on iTunes, listed under the name 'Eleon'.

A Blast from the Past

2009-03-16T14:10:00.005+13:00

Today I found myself thinking back to when I self-published my first book Faith Awakened.

Now a first book will always be a first book, that is, there will always be things I could have done better. However, all things considered, I'm still pretty happy with the result - especially since, as the book of my heart that had been chasing me for 14 years, it was told in a somewhat eclectic manner: alternating first-person narrative from two different characters who initially have nothing to do with each other.

I reckon I only just pulled it off, and I wouldn't do it like that again in a hurry, but it did work for most readers. For many it did more than "just work" - I felt that it connected with people in precisely the way that I had hoped. So it was a very positive experience. My only regret is the one typo I missed.

That book is still in print and available at all the usual online locations - and do check out the Amazon reviews while you're there! The PDF e-book is downloadable for free on my Author/Reader forum, which you can sign up for here.

Anyway, I recalled making a list of actual tasks involved in the process of publishing. Some of these tasks are not immediately obvious, but I believe this list covers most everything that is necessary for publishing a book. So I want to remind myself of these things to make sure they're all included in the Splashdown Books process. They range from the very basic building blocks to the top level of marketing strategy - so here goes:

As a young child, I often wondered if people in Heaven could return to an Earth-like life.
As a teenager, I played with the idea of making this into a story, but didn't get all that far.
At 22 I began to write, first plotting out the chapters.
The plot changed a fair bit in the course of writing.
I finished the manuscript about five years after beginning. Most of it was completed in the fifth year.
After doing my own preliminary edits, I submitted the manuscript to critique groups - one major secular website for sci-fi and fantasy (critters.org) and one smallish Christian fantasy group known as Dan's Killer Crit Group, which later morphed into the Lost Genre Guild. I also sent the file to individual writer friends who'd agreed to look at it.
I received around ten complete critiques, where people inserted their comments in the manuscript file. The folk from the secular group were less merciful, but they did help me find some plot holes and fix them, which was very significant to the end result.
I printed out the original and all the critiques in very small print and took them to North Africa for a week, where I read them all and scribbled changes into the margins of the original where they needed to be made. I also proofread for spelling errors, went swimming and sightseeing, and read nine books at the beach. One of them was "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" by Browne and King, and I applied its principles immediately.
I made a movie of the whole process http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nxz5ZFnVzfw
I did not accept all the advice I was given. Half is probably realistic. [Definite mark of a newbie, in my now-hopefully-wiser opinion!]
I came home and made the changes to the file.
I met a graphic designer from Spain on Shoutlife. She offered to do my cover image. It was brilliant, and after a little tweaking, we got the proportions and placement right.
Using the image, I created front and back covers to the measurements stated by Lulu, and added text using a graphic program - title and author on the front, and a blurb on the back.
I used the new image to create a book website at www.faithawakened.com and included a place for reviewers to sign up. I made noise about the new site at Shoutlife, Myspace and various other places.
I printed the current manuscript and proofread it again. Sent it to one or two friends who did the same.
I formatted the manuscript to 6x9" page size with 1" margins and added page numbers. The text is Garamond 12pt with a line width of 16pt to loosen it up. Each chapter began on the 10th line of a new page.
I created 24 chapter head images with the text "Chapter 1" etc, because I wanted to use the same font as on the front cover and Lulu doesn't recognise it (would have changed it to Courier!)
I uploaded the cover graphics and the manuscript to Lulu.
I ordered around 40 copies and had them sent directly from Lulu to the people who'd agreed to review my book. Most were beginning authors like me, but a few had a larger claim to fame. Being an adoring fan got me a couple of good contacts. A large number of people also received an e-book copy on request.
I took a break for a month or two and watched review comments come in. It felt real good. I collected thousands of friends at Shoutlife and tried out all kinds of Internet social networks to meet potential fans. I read POD People by Jeremy Robinson and tightened up some of my strategies as a result.
I began to do film book trailers. Not just one. Ten. One serious, nine funny. Look for them at my youtube page.
I added 3 pages of the best short comments, an author bio, a title page and a copyright page to the beginning of my manuscript file. At the end I put in a thanks page, website info, and ads received from swap partners who will also put my ads in their books. And of course an ad for my amazing graphic designer!
I stuck a great comment from my most famous bestselling reviewer on my front cover, and a handful of others on the back. I changed the author photo to a better one and formatted the back cover to leave room for the barcode Lulu then added.
I ordered a copy for me and one for a friend in another country, and we both searched again for typos. We found two or three.
I purchased Global Distribution on Lulu. [sigh! If only it were that easy now!]
I made final changes, uploaded new files, and approved the book to appear on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and a few other places.

Of course, some things will be different now, since there will be other authors involved, and I'm using a different printer. Does anyone have anything to add to this?

Editing is Job One

2009-03-14T04:17:00.003+13:00

Once Grace and I got the contract hashed out (which required a little research from both of us, but happily, no involvement of dueling lawyers/barristers), I set to work polishing my manuscript of The Muse in detail. I began by making several complete passes through the story myself, looking for any holes or logical disconnects in the plot, inconsistencies in the characters, and mechanical errors--typos, grammar, punctuation, etc.

I also farmed out the manuscript to several outside readers for input. I was fortunate to gather a nice cross-section of folks--young, old, male, female, writers, non-writers, and both fans and non-fans of the genre. Some of the critiques are still in progress, but the feedback they've provided so far has been very helpful. You might think that after going through this story a couple dozen times, I'd be intimately familiar with every letter and be able to recite the entire thing in my sleep, but this process has shown me how easy it is to develop blind spots and how important a fresh set of eyes can be to turning out a quality product.

At the same time, Grace and I discussed concepts for the cover art and a promotional video clip. I hadn't anticipated how tricky the choice of font and color can be. There are so many subconscious flags associated with the shape, size, and color of letters that it's very easy to inadvertently communicate a misleading message about the story. Some fonts are indelibly linked to famous works of literature or particular kinds of stories. For example, there's a font called "Agatha" that was used for a long time on the cover of all the Agatha Christie mysteries. The font is so distinctive, it's almost a trademark for that author.

There are also land mines buried in the video development process. How do you pique a reader's curiosity in under two minutes and summarize the book's theme without giving too much away? Are there actors available to stand in for the book's characters, and do they look and sound right? Will there be background music, and if so, what sort? How can you stage a professional-looking video despite a tight budget?

It's challenging, but it's also a lot of fun. Grace has been very easy to work with, and her creativity, writing experience, and skills in graphic design have kept things moving along briskly.

I plan to post updates about once a week, but I'm hoping this blog will be very interactive, so if you have any questions for Grace or me, fire away, and we'll do our best to answer them.

Total Freedom

2009-03-11T13:57:00.002+13:00

This work-at-home deal is certainly liberating after all those years in an office. However, I'm finding that I have to give some structure to my days, even though I'm not a structured person at all. Mostly.

Yesterday and today it's worked out quite well as follows:

9am deal with email, check Shoutlife and other networks.
10.30am go bush (there's a lovely forest park just across the road)
11.30am clean pool and swim
12pm lunch
1pm start work: admin, crit, write, design, video, and possibly more networking.

This takes advantage of the afternoon as my best working time, while ensuring I get my exercise in. Days when I go out for errands will be different. Also, right now I'm not pumping out wordcount on any of my own WIPs at present, so when I take that up again I'll be sitting down to that in the mornings as I like to get 3000 words by lunchtime. Other stuff in the afternoon as necessary, and another 2000 in the evening if I'm free.

Anyway, things are churning along at a fine old pace. I've figured out the Lightning Source applications and will be sending off the final forms as soon as I hear back about a returns address for UK bookstores. My thanks to Cynthia of the Writers' Café Press for giving her address to receive my US returns. Returnable books are an advantage for all dealings with brick 'n' mortar stores, so this is something I really want to have. Whether books are ever returned or not, I'm still glad to have returnable books.

After much to-ing and fro-ing (because I'm picky!) I have approved the cover design for Legendary Space Pilgrims, with an awesome rocket drawn by Clank of aloftstudios.co.uk. It's a wonder to see my characters peering out of the screen at me, just how I imagined they'd look!

Fred's contract arrived in the mail from America, and his book cover for "The Muse" is taking shape - after much fruitless searching for a suitable cover model, I found one right under my nose, as it were. We'll be making video trailers with the same actor and I for one can't wait to see the bloopers reel...More on that later, I'm sure!

Taking the Plunge

2009-03-04T04:00:00.003+13:00

The contract's signed and in the mail, and Grace has put my ugly mug up on the authors page, so I'm now officially a member of the Splashdown Books team. I'm excited to be here, and honored that Grace has chosen to publish my novel.

A little personal information to start. My name's Fred Warren, and I hail from a little town in eastern Kansas, just south of Fort Leavenworth, where I work for a government contractor that provides computer simulation support for Army training exercises. I've been happily married for nearly 25 years to the world's most enchanting woman, and have three kids--two boys in college, and a teenage girl.

My faith background is Protestant Christian. I grew up in the Foursquare Gospel Church (pentecostal), have spent time in Southern Baptist and Nazarene congregations, and am currently a member of a Nazarene church in Olathe, Kansas.

I've been writing on and off since my college days, and decided a few years ago to get serious about it and start putting stuff out for publication. I've sold several short stories to a variety of online and print magazines, but this is my first novel sale.

You can find a list of my published stories, with links to them, on my writing website, http://frederation.wordpress.com/. If you want to know a little more about my writing style and philosophy, that's a good place to start.

Grace lists me as a writer of "fantasy and spiritual thrillers," and I suppose that's as good a label as any for my novel, The Muse. I think it's got something for everybody--mystery, suspense, humor, adventure, action, horror, romance, and underlying values that affirm faith, family, and loyalty. It's the story of a frustrated author who finds his muse, but the inspiration she provides is nothing like what he expected, and it just might kill him--before he knows it, he's fighting for his soul, against forces beyond imagination.

I encourage you to follow this blog. It's a unique opportunity to observe the progress of a new publisher and a first-time novelist from inception to final product. Grace and I will be providing regular updates on our experiences and will be glad to answer any questions you may have. There will be side-splitting comedy, moments of sheer terror, heart-wrenching despair, and soaring triumphs! Hey, this could be a novel all by itself.

The Daily Grind

2009-02-26T17:55:00.004+13:00

There's been a lot to do over the last few days, especially setting up these blogs and the website. At times I've been so excited I can hardly sleep at night. Strange dreams pursue me when I finally doze off, but do you think I can remember any of them when I wake?

Yesterday we had a cool meeting in Second Life with members and guests at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Centre. Chat was compact but intense as we debated the reasons why major publishing houses don't go for inspirational science fiction. One idea was that they shy away from anything that might seem prophetic in nature - and as sci-fi mostly deals with the future, that applies to just about everything in the genre.

Yet none of the classic mainstream SF writers claimed to be foretelling the future. Heinlein, Niven, Wyndham, Asimov. So far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong!) they all wrote of futures born from their vivid imaginations. The same as sci-fi writers do today.

I'm not discounting the effects of suggestion by any means. Last night I pulled up an old episode of Star Trek from the 80's and laughed when I saw the digital photo frame. That was fiction back then. Not any more.

Today I waded through various print and distribution contracts which will need to be faxed to the UK before we can really get going. Also sorted out some office administration stuff. I'm waiting to hear back from the New Zealand National Library about my application for ISBN's. And an author I greatly respect mentioned a manuscript he recommends I take a look at.

So yeah, plenty going on...