Tag: reading

Middle of the month

Where is the year going? Did I blink and miss half of March? Just kidding.

So, our weather has calmed down – nowhere near as hot, but having said that, we’ve got our first very local bushfire for about 10 years or so. We are expecting 38 Celsius, and I know they’ve jumped on the fire pretty quick, but I’ve got my aircon on to stop smoke coming in. The joys of being asthmatic. Them’s the breaks as we used to say. Other than that, I’ll keep monitoring it.

Onto news.

Stuff your Kindle

So, my books are currently available for 99c at Stuff your Kindle. So, if you want them cheap, feel free to grab them. They’ll be cheap for a few days’ more.

Kindle Unlimited

One of the stories is with the editor now. The other one will take a little longer, but that’s okay. I don’t mind that one taking a bit longer. My cover artist is champing at the bit to get his hands on this one!

The Dark Road

Still with the beta readers, so still waiting on that.

Dark Beginnings

Still on hold, but I hope to get back into it really soon.

Consequences

Heart of Deception

Again, with beta readers. Hopefully will have that back very soon. The new cover is extremely different to the other cover it had.

Legacy of Risks

Still with my friend, but early indications are that I’ve done it justice, so that’s a bonus.

Dangerous Heart

Almost done tweaking it, then it’ll go to beta readers before being sent to the publisher for a final once-over.

New universes

I have been visiting Malevictus again and toying with ideas from that. Will get into that once we get the other books published.

Paranormal

Still looking into the anthology for this one and hopefully, get more of that published as well.

I don’t have any words of wisdom regarding the English language this fortnight, but what I do want to share is something I think is important.

Most of the so-called “writing rules” are not rules. They’re conventions and conventions can be broken and go out of style.

This is why I always follow the Macquarie Dictionary (and so does my editor, so if I miss something, she usually picks it up) and the Australian Government Style Manual. There is an Australian Style Guide, however, when I started out on this journey, that wasn’t available and I’m not about to change.

For those who are not Australian, you will find my grammar and punctuation may be somewhat different to what you are used to. Please, don’t let that put you off the story or the characters. It’s all about the book, not the mechanics. (oh, dear. Yes, I did say that, even though I notice typos in what I read. Never mind. Move along. Nothing to see here.)

Anyway, must go, have lots to do and I’ll talk to you in a couple of weeks!

Take it easy and remember to breathe. That’s the most important thing you can do.

Two steps forward, one step back

Well, I seem to have found an obstacle with Amazon, but I am looking into things. Having said that, there are alternatives, including looking for a traditional publisher. I am waiting to hear back from Amazon and hopefully it will all be good.

Otherwise, I might have to hunt up alternatives.

But onto more things. I do have a few things in the mix, including the Consequences series and I hope to have that ready to go soon. Although the rewritten books, Heart of Deception and Legacy of Risks still have to go to beta readers and the editor along with Dangerous Heart which is the third book.

I’ve also got a companion book about Marek from age sixteen right up until Heart of Deception, which was fun to write. It establishes his reputation as a highly successful acquirer of items, etc., and that’s all I’ll say. Not too many spoilers for those who haven’t read the series.

For those who have, I have removed that very detailed scene at the beginning of Heart of Deception. It took me a while to see that that wasn’t really what people wanted to read. I have also included references to those earlier years of his life that weren’t in the first book.

Speaking of those references, one raises its head in Legacy of Risks, but, again, I don’t want to give too much away because I think, in the long run, the companion book will be an enjoyable read – albeit rather dramatic.

I am still working on the other two new books and along with those I am writing a follow-up to Dark Reign. I have already written the third book, The Dark Road, but there are a few years between and that book may be a companion book, too.

Dark Beginnings is coming along nicely, but still only in the first stages.

Going back to Amazon, I had thought of doing the 90 days KU exclusive, but I have decided against that – I know there’s a market out there and I’ll find it. I am determined!

Hopefully, in one of the next few posts I will have pre-order info for everyone, along with the new covers for both parts of Dark Dimensions.

In the meantime, happy writing and reading and be safe!