February start

Wow! Already February! Hopefully, it won’t be as fast (I know, wishful thinking). Anyway, I have a lot of news.

Big one, big one – I have entered the Western Australian State Premier’s Writing Awards. Fingers are crossed that something will come of it.

Also, I have expanded my distribution and all 3 books will be released to other online stores on Wednesday 12 February. There are a few places I wouldn’t mind adding, but they’re emails to the company and I’ll look into that later.

That took me just about all of yesterday (Saturday)! But I got it done!

Kindle Unlimited

I have finished two stories to go into Kindle Unlimited, I’m just waiting for beta readers to have a look at those.

They’re both part of the Clans in Conflict universe and Alex Travis plays a role in those.

Clans in Conflict

I am still waiting on beta readers for The Dark Road. I’ve been promised they’re nearly finished, but I’m getting a little antsy on that.

For that reason, Dark Beginnings is still on hold. And that one I’m actually struggling with because there’s going to be a lot of politics in it and – well, that’s not really my strong point.

Consequences

Still waiting on proof readers to finish with Heart of Deception but it shouldn’t be too much longer.

I’m still editing Legacy of Risks and that’s still plodding along.

New universes

I had a quick look over Malevictus’s story yesterday and, yeah, that will need looking at before it goes out to beta readers.

And I’m still writing Alek’s story. (Don’t worry, I’m a little annoyed that it’s another Alek/Alex, too.) Poor shifter’s been through the ringer, just like his cousin.

Paranormal

I’m looking at a publishing house for the paranormal, but that will be a long way off. Any short stories will probably go under that banner as well.

New writing program

As I said last time, I have discovered Lore Forge and while I love it, I have had a few instances in the past week where it has frozen and blanked all the text. When it came back, all the text was there, but it was a little disconcerting. (Understatement – heart-pounding, sweat pouring – come on! Where are those words????)

I still like using it, though. It’s stripped back and works with my strange brain!

We’ve finally hit some cooler weather, but only until next Friday, then higher temps again. Oh, well, summer will be over soon. Like, 2 more months … then I’ll probably be complaining about the c-c-c-cold! Haha

Anyway, got some more writing to do, so have a great 2 weeks!

Where did January go?

What? It’s nearly the end of January already? Has someone sped time up? Last I knew, it was the week after New Year! Maybe I was snoozing!

So, I have done a very bold thing. I have entered the WA State Premier’s Awards for the first time. All that is left to do is take the books in. I have to take one in for legal deposit, anyway, so may as well make 2 trips.

On a different note, I’ve decided to venture into the world of Kindle Unlimited with some shorter stories related to the books. Well, at the moment, I’ve got one finished and I’m working on a second one – both related to Dark Reign. I do have to produce one related to Dark Dimensions, yet.

As I publish more books, I intend to do the same with them. So, they’re like complementary or supplementary items.

Let’s get down to business.

Clans in Conflict

The Dark Road is still with beta readers and probably will be for a little while longer.

Dark Beginnings – for those interested in the origin of Vlad and the Clan Leaders, I have also started working on this. I have paused it for a while, due to other commitments. Have no fear, I will return to it.

Consequences

Heart of Deception is currently with proof readers and hopefully I’ll get that back soon.

Legacy of Risks – I’m still editing that, but I’m slogging away at it piece by piece.

New universes

I have a few new series up my sleeve – one has a completed book – and some of you know Malevictus from Facebook.

The other one is a story that ground to a halt because Blair Fletcher stopped talking to me. Well, 2 nights ago, he tells me he’s got a cousin – Aleksander. Who starts talking? Aleksander does! So, those are on the go as well.

Paranormal

I haven’t forgotten my paranormal stories, I’m rewriting one of those to hopefully get that onto Kindle Unlimited, too.

New writing program

I have to say – I have discovered a new writing program that I really enjoy using. It’s pretty stripped down, not as complicated as the popular one, but not as text-based as the one created by a Perth Nanowrimoer – both of which I still use.

I love the fact that this one is a straight export to a doc file which I can use in both Word and Libre Office and doesn’t require compiling and holds all my formatting! It is an absolute joy to work with.

Oh, and the character sheets are just the type I need. I still don’t fill them out completely, but I intend to get better at it.

Anyway, that’s about it!

Have a great two weeks and I’ll talk to you soon!

Full Steam Ahead

So, we’re almost half-way through January 2025. Can we all believe it? Where on earth did 2024 go? Did we all fall asleep and miss it (oh, wait, that’s Flash Forward!)?

Okay, updates on books.

Clans in Conflict : www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CTHRMJQW

The Dark Road is still with a beta reader, however, I have had verbal feedback that the story fits with Dark Dimensions and Dark Reign, so I’m just waiting for that to come back and then I’ll send that to the editor.

Of course, the other two (three) books can be found at the above link.

Dark Dimensions – sometime in the future I will combine both books and offer them as a special edition.

Consequences

Heart of Deception Edition 2 is currently with proofreaders, so hopefully that will be back soon. The cover will be completely different, but I’ll do a cover reveal when the time comes.

Legacy of Risks Edition 2 – I am still in the throws of editing this. I have decided to do a heavy edit, which means turning as many paragraphs around to see which works best. Of course, being a pantser and an author who sees everything as a big movie (yes, sounds and smells as well), I find this really hard which is why it’s taking a bit longer than I’d hoped.

Dangerous Heart has been rewritten, but I may do a heavy edit of that, also. Just to be sure it’s the best it possibly can be.

Other work.

I have decided to be brave.

I have a paranormal story of about 10,000 words which I’m going to put up on Kindle Unlimited. Just out of curiosity more than anything. Just to see how it goes. Wish me luck!

Website

The website is still progressing. Hopefully I’ll be able to work on it a bit more. I have been distracted by all the Christmas/New Year celebrations!

Other writing stuff

English spelling and meanings

I won’t cover everything here – there’s just too much!

Gotta love the English language – when you can have two words with similar spelling but mean different things and sound completely different – or two words with exactly the same spelling but sound and mean two different things.

Take for instance, the word ‘lead’.

LEAD – to lead someone around – this is pronounced ‘leed’ but basically someone or an animal follows you around – or it could be a group of people or animals.

LEAD – a metal – this is pronounced ‘led’ but relates to an actual physical metal (yeah, don’t quote me – it could be an alloy but I don’t have a scientific bone in me!)

Then you get this as well.

LED – you have led someone around – this is pronounced ‘led’ but is not a metal. It is a past-tense of the ‘lead’ in the first instance, meaning you’ve led someone or an animal or a group of people or animals around.

Have I confused everyone yet? I’m not surprised if I have! As I said, the joys of the English language!

If you’re very unlucky, I might put some more of these gems out in a fortnight!

Until then, have a great fortnight and conquer the world!

New year

Well, it’s almost the end of 2024!

What a year it’s been.

I’ve successfully wrenched control of one of my books from the defunct publisher and managed to publish a second edition of it. So, it’s in 2 parts, but in the future I may put out a single version so both parts are in one book. At over 160,000 words, it’s going to be a huge book.

I have also successfully published its sequel. This was due to be published by the original publisher, but I’m glad it wasn’t because I didn’t have to jump through any hoops to publish it.

So, on with news!

Clans in Conflict

As I said, Dark Dimensions Parts 1 and 2 are available to purchase from Amazon. I have yet to take it to other distributors. I’m still working on that.

Dark Reign, the sequel, is also published through Amazon and will be distributed more widely hopefully some time in the near future.

The Dark Road, the third book in the series, is with beta readers to check for its pacing, etc., and whether it actually works as a story.

Dark Beginnings – the story of Vlad the Supreme – is currently being written, but I still have a lot of other things to do before I can finish that.

Dark Dimensions Parts 1 and 2, and Dark Reign can be found here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CTHRMJQW

Consequences

Heart of Deception Edition 2 has been edited and is with a beta reader to see whether they can pick up any issues with it. Cover artist is already working on the cover art for that.

Legacy of Risks is still being rewritten. It will be an edition 2 when it’s completed. That needs to go to the editor and beta readers, so it will be a while yet.

Dangerous Heart has been edited but needs tweaking, but as it has not been published it is still an edition 1.

Website

I am still working on my website rebuild. With all of the upheaval with Christmas and New Year, I didn’t really get a chance to work on it, but I will get back to it. I have built some of it but I need to really spend some time on it.

General stuff

Aircon is fixed just in time for another heat wave from Tuesday onwards! We’ve had some cooler weather which was a great respite, but now the aircon is fixed it’s much more bearable.

Hopefully, next time I’ll have more news to share with you!

In the meantime, have a safe and great New Year and talk to you in 2025 (oh, that’s scary!)!

Christmas – New Year

So, we’re at the end of the year.

It doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s all about letting off steam and letting go of worries. Of course, it isn’t always like that. Sometimes there’s strife in the holidays.

But that’s part of life. I wish everyone a great two weeks – or three – depends – and be sure to stay safe!

Anyhow, onto my work.

Clans in Conflict

As you’re aware, Dark Reign has been out for a while. This is a sequel to Dark Dimensions and you can find all of the books for Clans in Conflict here.

www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CTHRMJQW

I am still working on a new website, but unfortunately, the above link is where they are available.

The Dark Road

The Dark Road is a follow-on to Dark Reign and it is currently with beta readers who are picking through it to see if it’ll work. They’re probably already pulling their hair out regarding what I subject Alex and Fernid to.

Consequences

As you all know, I have also rewritten the first two books of the Consequences series and I have got Heart of Deception back from the editor and am currently working my way through the changes she has suggested (and her comments that are amazing, by the way). Some of the comments mean I have to go back and look at what I’ve written and look at new ways of writing it. Which is part of the process every writer goes through. She did tell me, however, that the additions I’ve included have really rounded Marek’s character and given you all a deeper look into his history as well as his character.

I am still editing Legacy of Risks, which has also been rewritten. This follows-on directly to Heart of Deception and again has inclusions there much like the first book has. I will finish it, I promise.

The third book of the series, Dangerous Heart has been rewritten as well and is waiting in the queue.

Now, new stuff.

I have put my other stuff, like paranormal and my synergist books on hold at the moment, but their characters are still niggling at me, so I will get to them. I promise.

I have slowed down over the last week, but that’s because of Perth’s weather and the fact that the fan motor for our air conditioner decided it was too old and refused to help keep me cool over the last week. The motor is currently with the installer and he has promised us he will install it on Monday. Which is just as well because there is more hot weather coming. I made great use of a spray water bottle and the spa in the last week since the motor went.

So, I should be back to full throttle in my writing and editing from tomorrow. Thankfully, the weather has cooled today and tomorrow – just in time for the motor to be installed, because, let’s face it – who wants someone on their roof on a 39C day? (For those with imperial temps, that’s 102.2F and that was one of the cooler days – we got up to about 42C – 107.6F – I think.)

Okay, more real life stuff to do! Catch you next time!

It’s finally here!

Dark Reign has been released – well, it will on 2 December 2024.

This is the first time this book has been published and I’m really proud of it.

Dark Reign is the sequel to Dark Dimensions and although Troy plays a strong role in it, most of the story is from the viewpoint of Alex Travis.

Whilst there are science fiction elements in this story, such as dimensional travel, multiple versions of the same people, a lot of this story is how a detective, namely Alex Travis, goes through life learning about how to cope with a world that constantly changes around him.

In Dark Reign, Troy has mostly taken control of his city, but, as I said, this story is from Alex’s point of view and Alex has a strong idea of what his world is about.

Through this book, Alex has to come to terms about his place in the world and what that actually means.

While you don’t have to read Dark Dimensions to understand Dark Reign, Dark Dimensions is the first in the Clans In Conflict Series and Dark Reign is the second.

On a different note altogether, Heart of Deception, the first in the Consequences series, is currently with the editor. This will be coming out early 2025 if all goes well.

This, like Dark Dimensions, is a second edition as there are many changes to the storyline as sometimes happens when an author looks back over previously published works. Already, the editor is saying that the book is much more tightly packed with the pacing much better and the storyline tighter.

Having said all that, I will probably experience the same issue with Heart of Deception (and with Legacy of Risks, the sequel) that I did with Dark Dimensions, so I intend the release date to be two or more months’ in length to give that process time to be resolved.

I am currently editing Legacy of Risks currently before that goes to the editor.

Also, The Dark Road, the third in the Clans in Conflict series, is currently with a beta reader for analysis before anything further goes through with that.

I still have other stories on the go and hopefully an updated website will be up and running soon whereby I can add things like maps, character backgrounds and stuff like that for the published books – along with small snippets of their lives.

Mal’s story is currently on hold, only because I am trying to concentrate on these other stories, but there are currently two books in that series – not one on Mal and one on Alloric, but two books, nevertheless.

Of course, with the heat we have just experienced, I’m heading for the spa to cool down!

Talk to you all later!

Julz.

PS. You can find all my books here

So much news!

First of all, Dark Reign is available for pre-order for the ebooks and pre-release for the paperback.

This is the sequel to Clans in Conflict and would normally be the second in the series if I hadn’t split Dark Dimensions into two parts.

It’s currently on Amazon, but I am considering draft2digital and going to other areas.

It’s also that month and I’m almost at 35,000 words.

Yes, I had planned to work on Jordy and Rafe, my twins who were separated as babies, but they haven’t been very forthcoming with info. I may have to look deeper into that.

Instead I have been working on an experimental character that some of you now of. Yes, I’m talking about Brad. He’s been very vocal of late and I am enjoying exploring different sides of him.

Future

The next book I hope to have out will be The Dark Road, which is the 3rd in the Clans in Conflict stories.

I do have a prequel that I have started working on, Dark Beginnings, which tells of the conversion of Vlad and the other 9 Clan Leaders and then goes on to concentrate on Vlad, ending with the accidental first shift into inter-dimensional travel.

The Consequences series will be going back online as Heart of Deception and Legacy of Risks have both been rewritten – well, I’m still working on Legacy of Risks, but I’ve been a little distracted of late. Just waiting in line at the editor’s for Heart of Deception to be edited.

Change

Okay, so not many realise that I was on not-twitter, however, like most other writers, when we found out what that platform was doing with regard to AI, we’ve all jumped ship. I am on Bluesky, now, under JADuxbury.

I remain on Facebook and Discord and I hope to have a new website up and running very soon.

That’s about all for the moment. I will get back to you in two weeks!

What an experience

And yes, these are available now! https://www.amazon.com/author/jaduxbury

So, it’s been really fun the last few weeks. I’ve run some advertising and have some advertising ready to go. I am looking for anyone who can review the books for me – and who are willing to do so!

I have also read a few books and have absolutely enjoyed them. Steve McHugh’s King of Amazon is a really complex read and his No Gods Only Monsters is one that wrenches at where your heart lies. Both great reads.

Thoroughly enjoyed Charles Phipps’s Lords of Dragon Keep and am about to start on his Agent G Infiltrator. Usually my reviews are on Goodreads if you’re interested. I try not to provide spoilers for those who haven’t read these books.

I am currently working on the Consequences series and am about to finalise Dark Reign to go up for pre-order. Just tweaking size and cover.

From there, I intend to either introduce my paranormal book or a different book entirely. Yeah, I know. I’ll keep everyone guessing!

November

As we know, there have been some hiccups with that particular novel writing saga, of which I’ve been a proud supporter for over 10 years. With these latest hiccups, I have to say that I am unable to participate again this year.

However, in Perth we have decided we will go with a writing project in November only we’ve called it 30-days-downunder. This way we can still support the writers of Perth and Western Australia. And next yeah, maybe everything will work out and we’ll be back to normal.

That’s it for now! Talk to you all next time!

They’re available now!

Where to buy

They’re out! After all the ups and downs, ins and outs, these are now available to buy, both e-book and paperback.

Dark Reign is ready to go but I am taking my time with that. I want to give people a chance to read Dark Dimensions before they learn how Troy begins to manage his own city and the intricacies involved in taking control of a major metropolitan area, especially with threats both in-dimension and inter-dimensional.

The Dark Road is currently with beta readers before it goes to the editor. This will finish off the trilogy of Clans in Conflict, however, there is an origin book in the works for both Troy and his father.

The Consequences series is also undergoing a revamp and will be out after Dark Reign. Heart of Deception has yet to go to the publisher and Legacy of Risks is currently being rewritten. Big changes in both of these books.

There is a third book, Dangerous Heart, in this trilogy and, for anyone following Marek, I have another book of the nine years prior to Heart of Deception.

And, if all goes well, I have started work on a fifth book – this one is about his kids, especially his youngest, Jhet.

I also have my paranormal story that I need to edit, along with a quantum energies book – or two. Stay tuned for those, however!

One week

Only a week until these are available!

This is the link that will take you to Clans in Conflict where you’ll find both books.

I am so excited by this!

I have also been through Dark Reign and that should be just about ready. Just working through bits and pieces.

I have a beta reader going through The Dark Road, so hopefully that will be up in a few months.

In between working on those, I am also working through the two Consequences books to get them both published. There is also a third book to that series and that is waiting in the wings for its turn!

After Consequences and Clans in Conflict are complete, I may go down the road of paranormal or a completely different dimensional tale. But that is for the future.

In all the misunderstandings with NaNoWriMo and AI as well as the controversy that went through last year, I am not participating in the organisational side of November.

I am still going to be writing this year and I have my project almost ready to go.

I am also considering writing some posts about my experience with an indie publisher who falls off the planet leaving books on Amazon and the challenge that faces people in that situation in getting their books back. I have not written them yet because I believe I will have a similar situation with the two Consequences books that have already been published under the previous publisher.

But that is for the future. Talk to you all, soon!