The manuscript is back from the editor and in the final reading.  The overall plan is to have it ready to go by this weekend, but it depends on how quickly I can get it done.  I really like the premise for this book’s beginning and the creatures that are created on account of it.  I have to admit that this was a difficult book to write.  Not so much because it didn’t flow, but I actually had to fight the story as it wanted to take off into a series and I didn’t want to go in that direction.  I think this is the first time that I’ve shut down that kind of thing.  The reason for doing so is that the direction it wanted to take was beginning to sound very much like another’s story and that just wasn’t going to do.  That’s one reason that I don’t generally read in the same genre.  I don’t want to subconsciously project someone else’s ideas into mine.

The overarching story is from three different perspectives during the downfall – battling creatures and surviving in three differing arenas of the world.  In the pages when its published, you’ll meet Sam and his daughter Erin, Sgt. Reynolds, and Commander Lawrence.

In other writings, I’m a third of the way through with the first book in a new series with Jack Walker, titled Red Team: Strigoi for now. Mark Tufo and I are half way through the third book in A Shrouded World which we are thinking of naming A Shrouded World: Convergence. I’m setting Red Team aside for the moment as I have ASW back from Mark and will be working on that one once The Third Wave is published.  I don’t know when ASW will be finished, but we are shooting for a September time frame.

I hope all is well with everyone and that your week is going well!

John

Well, with the three books of ARES Virus completed and my next book The Third Wave: Eidolon at the editor, I had to decide on which direction to go with regards to writing.  I heard whispers of Jack’s voice in my ear, so I began the third episode of his journey through A Shrouded World.  I’m nearing a quarter of the way finished and about ready to turn it over for Talbot’s turn to tell a part.  I have to admit that it’s nice talking with Jack again…I definitely missed him and hear the occasional whisper of Red Team from time to time.

While Mike and Trip are telling their stories, I may start on a short story that’s been threading its way through my head.  I’m not sure what I’ll begin working on once A Shrouded World and the short story are finished.  I may begin a new series with Jack and possibly Red Team or finally begin the 11th book of A New World.  Or, something new may pop up.

I expect The Third Wave: Eidolon to be ready in about a month to five weeks and am hoping to have A Shrouded World ready for the editor by then as well.  I know a few have been patiently waiting for the audio books of ARES Virus to be completed.  I apologize for the length of time that it has taken and hope to get it started soon.

I hope everyone’s week treats them well.

John

Well, the next book has started the lovely editing process.  This one is a standalone book with a new set of creatures and adventure.  And, as with all of the others I’ve written, the story went a complete different direction than I originally intended.  No surprise there.  I wanted to create this world and story similar to the book and movie, The Road, but damn if the tale didn’t have ideas of its own.  I mean, after all, it is the story and therefore in control of what occurs.  I haven’t decided on a title for this one as yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know when I settle on one.  As of yet, I’m contemplating, The Third Wave: Eidolon.

This was an interesting book to write and I struggled with it throughout the writing.  We fought, we argued, we had discussions that left us panting and bleeding on the floor.  As I was drawing to an end, the story wanted an inclusion of an additional character I had been toying with.  Then, there was to be this struggle of light and dark that would go on for at least another book.  I, however, didn’t want that as I felt it would become too similar to The Stand.  I didn’t want the book to turn in that direction so, for one of the first times, I forced my wish into the story and turned it back to somewhat its original course.  Sitting here now with it in editing, I admit it would have been a fun story to go along with.  On the other hand, there was this nagging in my head that just didn’t feel right.  It could also have been a tumor growing, who knows.  Having finished the rough draft and written it the way I did, I’m fairly satisfied with how it came out.  Now, having said that, I’m never satisfied of any book and personally worry over each one, this one included.

With a lot of the books and series, I didn’t have an ending worked out until past the halfway point, then one slowly emerged.  I just sat and typed the story, at times wondering where it was going.  With this one, I had so many endings that I wasn’t sure how to proceed and spent many sleepless nights working through it.  All of a sudden, after one of our many bouts, the ending arrived with the singing of angels, trumpets, and an infusion of white light.  Or, perhaps that was just me coming back to consciousness.  Whatever.

One of the compromises reached during the story and my “conversations” was that the story would be extended, but not become a series.  In that light, the book in editing is a little longer than my usual ones, which means that the editing will take longer.  There’s more blood to bleed out.  I’m not sure when it will be ready to publish, but I’m guessing perhaps a month or so.  So, what’s next?  I currently have the third book of A Shrouded World with the first paragraph and some notes written, so that is in the works.  I’m also contemplating a short story that has been running through my head for some time that I may work on while Mark works on his end.  I know there have been a few calls for an 11th book in A New World, but I want to clear these other stories out before tackling that.

Oh, and here’s a teaser for you.  I have been wanting to bring Jack back in a new series…actually, more of a serial.  And, perhaps with Red Team.  I have to line up a few stories first, but the overall direction is taking shape.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.  Stay safe.

John

It’s alive, I tell you…It’s alive.  Okay, and that’s what a lack of caffeine does.  I hit the publish button yesterday afternoon and it was ready almost before I could turn around.  This was an interesting series to write. At times it flowed and felt like I could finish the books in a day, and at others, I was creating dents in my forehead from the keyboard.  It started off as a short story in an anthology with a bunch of great writers, and after that was published, the tale wouldn’t leave my head and blossomed.  I had to sit down and finish it.  Along the way, the emphasis of the story changed, becoming story-concentric as opposed to character-based.  This made so many moving parts that I was on the edge of becoming lost.  I had calendars, time lines, flow charts with arrows pointing everywhere, star charts, and a magic 8-ball.  If I altered one little thing, the ramifications were huge and I spend entire days tracking down everywhere something was mentioned with small changes.  I really hope that I caught all of them.

So, this is the final book in the ARES Virus trilogy…yes, I was able to keep it to three.  Overall, it was a joy to write, although I did bitch about it often.  Emily is just awesome.  I feel that I could have devoted an entire book to her.  I hope that you enjoy this final installment and I appreciate all of your support.  Next up is a stand-alone book I’m almost four-fifths of the way through.  I love the creatures in this one.  Once I figure out a couple of transitions, it will be sent off to the editor.  And then, I’ll probably start on the third Shrouded World book with Mark Tufo.  No, I haven’t forgotten the 11th book in A New World.  I will eventually get to it once I clear these other stories out of my head.

I hope this year is treating you well so far and is a prosperous one!

John

Well, the third book in the ARES series, ARES Virus: Phoenix Rising, was shuffled off to the editor late last night.  However, it takes them three weeks to a month to put their bloodied marks on my chicken scratches as they attempt to turn it into something readable.  Once it returns, I have the last round of editing before I can hit the publish buttons.  So, we’re looking at sometime in the middle of next month if everything goes well.

This book was an interesting one to write.  Bruises mar my forehead where I repeatedly hit it on the keyboard.  However much I tried to pull the story line back into something character-driven, it wanted to be a story-driven adventure.  It ended up a series of stories involving a multitude of characters.  Yes, Emily and Brown are still a part of it, but the focus is on the story as compared to the characters.  Overall, I’m happy with how the book went, which is worrisome as I haven’t been a fan of how any book has turned out so far.  Well, let’s just say I worry over how each new book.

So, as I wait for the bleeding manuscript to return, I’ll be heading off to write on the next book.  This one will be a stand-alone one with a whole new set of creatures.  I’m actually kind of excited to get to it as I love these new ones.  I’m currently a little over a quarter of the way finished with it, so hopefully it will be ready before too long.  At some point, Mark Tufo and I will take a look at the third book in A Shrouded World.

I hope everyone’s new year is off to a great start and thank you all for your wonderful support.

John

Well, I hit the publish button on the second book of ARES Virus this morning and it’s live as of 5:00 pm Pacific.  As I mentioned earlier, it was an interesting book to write.  I tried to keep the plot moving and interesting, all the while getting people to where they needed to be for the third book.  The story was originally meant to finish a short story I wrote, but one book turned to two, and now three.  I don’t see a fourth one as everyone dies at the end of the third one.  Wait, I shouldn’t have put that in.  Forget what you just read, everyone is fine.  Whew!  Covered that one well.  So, I think the third one will finish the story, and I’m about half way through writing the draft of that one.

At any rate, I hope that you enjoy the second act of the ARES Virus.  When you finish it, would you please head back and drop a review.  I truly appreciate each and every one, and I hope everyone is having a fantastic evening.

John

So, I lied.  In the last post, I said that I was going to concentrate on a stand-alone book that I was a quarter of the way finished with.  I spent a day writing on that one afterward, but it just didn’t feel right.  I couldn’t get into the flow of the story.  The reason, I still had the ARES Virus story strong in my mind.  So, I saved that one and opened a fresh document.  I can’t tell you how daunting it is to stare at a the utter blankness of the “paper,” knowing that there are nearly 100,000 words that will need to be typed.  The number of words aside, there’s a story that needs to be formulated and put into sequence, all the while making sure that all of the parts fit.  Well, the story began flowing from the outset, letting me know that the correct decision was made.  Last night, I closed on the quarter mark on the third book of ARES Virus.  At the moment, I’m planning in titling this one ARES Virus: Phoenix Rising.

What about the second book, you ask?  It is still at the editors and should be back in my hands by the end of next week.  Then, a few more eyes to look at it.  I also had a good friend who is a high-ranking member of the Navy take a look at the naval operations.  I have a few things to change with regards to that part of the story, and then I hit the publish button.  So, two weeks…hopefully.  Within the next couple of days, I’ll be posting a cover reveal on Facebook.  I have to say that Dean Samed has done his magic once again with this one.

Well, that’s about it for the time being.  ARES Virus: White Horse in about two weeks, then ARES Virus: Phoenix Rising perhaps around Christmas time – no promises.  I hope you are having a fantastic week!

John

The second book of the ARES Virus series is at the editor.  It has a couple of editing rounds which I’m hoping will be complete near the end of October.  A Halloween release would be awesome, but I don’t think it will be ready by then.  Oh well.  While it’s in editing, I’m working on a stand alone book that I’ve been working on for some time.  This one has super cool creatures, much different than those I have created in the two other series.  I want to get this one finished before moving on to Book 3 in the ARES Virus.  Yes, yes, I know…Book 11 of A New World.  That one may follow once these two are published.  I’ve also been tossing around the fantasy book that has been rattling around my skull for years.  And then there’s the military/horror fiction series I want to begin – perhaps bringing Jack and Red Team back to head up that series.  We’ll see.

Well, that’s my update.  I hope everyone is having the best of days!

John

The second book of ARES Virus is moving along, although I’ve taken the last couple of days off.  The next time I sit at the keyboard, the story will have reached the 2/3 mark, or something close.  Dean Samed has already designed the cover for it, which will be revealed once I send the draft off for the final editing.  And yes, the cover is another masterpiece and I can’t wait to unveil it.

As I found with the New World series, some characters emerge that weren’t originally supposed to be a thing.  As I’ve mentioned before, Gonzalez was a placeholder for the one of the Red Team members.  I found that I enjoyed writing about her for some reason and became fascinated with her story. Thus, she turned into a major character, becoming Jack’s confidant.  I am finding the same in ARES Virus.  The character that is filling my mind and emerging is Emily.  She was just a thought for a situation that Brown and the cadets would find themselves up against.  At first, my mind was blank, the notion of a rescue filtering in.  Then, the rescue of a little girl.  I found myself written into a corner, though.  Brown and the cadets were supposed to integrate back in, but that couldn’t happen with Emily in tow.  I tried killing her off with an emotionally-charged scene.  Tears would flow, the loss of a little girl weighing on hearts, but the story line would be back on track.  She wouldn’t die.  The more she hung around, the more she became more than a placeholder.  I liked her.  The bitten part, well, that came about as I was writing the scene.  I stared at the screen, and stared some more.  What had I done?  But, once written, it’s part of the story.  And now, Emily is off on her own adventure. Because of her, the ending I had in mind has altered.  That’s the joy of writing in this manner.  I get to be surprised and am dragged along with the story, intrigued as to what will happen next.

I’m not sure when the second book will be ready, but if I tie myself to the keyboard, it could be around the end of the month or the beginning of October.  I again want to thank everyone for all of your support and hope your week is treating you well!

John

Well, ARES Virus: Arctic Storm has been released for the most part.  Early this coming week, I’ll get that out on paperback with the audio most likely following later this year.  At the moment, I’m writing on the next book in the series, most likely the last one.  I had intended for the tale to be a single issue, but it ran away from me.  The story will probably only be two books, but we’ll see.  As it stands now, the first draft is nearly a quarter of the way finished.

Following the completion of this series, I have another book a quarter of the way finished that I’ll dive back into.  That will probably be a stand alone book and I’m interested in getting back to it because of the creatures involved.  Then, I’ll have to see what direction I go.  I could begin the 11th book in A New World, or I have a prologue completed detailing Jack’s earlier life.  I’m not sure which one I’ll do first, but I’ll try to remain busy at the keyboard.

I want to thank everyone for sticking with me through this past dry spell and I hope life is treating you well.

John

ARES Virus: Arctic Storm on Amazon