And Onto the Next

Good afternoon all,

I have figured out that I am at best, an errant blogger. I apologize for not keeping the site current or putting out news here in a more timely fashion. The good news, well hopefully it is, is that I’ve started pecking away at the keyboard on the sixth book. There are a little over 8,000 words in the bag and I’ll be devoting a little more time to upping that number. We are having our late summer here so it’s hard to keep glued to the chair. There’s only one reason I’m looking forward to the rains coming, it will more than not keep me at the keyboard. The next book is tentatively named “A New World: Dissension”. I won’t give any spoilers out at this point as, well, I don’t know any. I’m just as interested to see what happens. However, I will say and promise this, I won’t end it with a sub calling.

A tentative date you ask? I’m hoping to have a majority of it completed by the end of the month with a possible release time frame of early November. No promises though. I want to thank each and every one of you that have written and for your encouraging words. It’s so humbling to see your letters and know that the story is being enjoyed. I’m glad the writing can take you into another world for brief moments and relax.

Well, I’ll keep this short as Jack and crew are waiting to see what their next adventure will be. They’re calling for the story to continue. Before I go, I want to thank you for your reviews on each book. Those mean a lot to me. I hope this day finds everyone well!

John

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour

 

I was asked by Armand Rosamilia, a fantastic author is the horror/zombie genre, to join in an event he and Mark Tufo came up with.  I thought it was a fantastic idea and was only too happy, and humbled I might add to be a part.  I do have to give thanks to Mark for suggesting me – again humbling.  There are a total of six authors that will be a part of this event – Ian Woodhead, Dave Jeffery, Mark Tufo, TW Brown, Armand Rosamilia, and myself.

The idea is to be on a different blog page answering questions, doing interviews and guest blogs, and giving away free goodies through the months of June and July.  There is an event on Facebook that will be updated as to where the appearances will be.  I’ve heard talk of some sort of gladiator battles but that is only hearsay.  You might have to talk with Armand about that one 🙂

At any rate, I am hoping to you there.  The event page on Facebook is:
http://www.facebook.com/events/365308606862030/
or you can click on the  event poster and it should take you there.  I do hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Keep tuned for a grand zombie summer!

It Has Started Again!

Well, after a long break, I have begun the next book in the series.  I actually began a few days ago and am about 7,000 words into it.  The usual flow of 5k to 8k a day hasn’t materialized as yet but that will come.  Most of the last few days have been spent with the plot line and the direction I want this book to flow in.  The reason for the long delay in writing has been due to the fact that I didn’t really know how to begin this book with the way the last book, A New World: Taken, ended.  I wracked my limited brain cell space to come up with a way to head back into the plot line, meaning back to a semblance of normalcy and furthering of the plot, with the last ending.  I felt I wrote myself into a corner and found myself saying, “now what.”  But happily the keyboard is in use once again.

I have to say that the gorgeous weather and sunny days have been calling as well.  I ventured out with my laptop in hand the other day to soak in the scarce rays and write.  I have to admit it was hard to stay focused and not just take a nap in the warmth.  I eventually picked myself up and found a little more focus.  It’s hard being inside now with the sun and warmth out again today but the story is starting calling louder than the sun at this moment in time.  Hopefully this means that the usual flow will follow.  Tomorrow, however, is another day.  🙂

The fact that the last book encompassed a story that was only supposed to be part of that book has thrown me off a little on each envisioned book story line so I’ve had to pick up the pieces and reformulate each subsequent book.  I think I have accomplished that and am actually pretty happy with what I’ve come up with.  I hope that transpires to the book though.  I feel a lot of it is filler getting to the next twist in the story.  I told my son and mother that on separate occasions and they both laughed saying I’ve said that with each book.  Here’s hoping they’re correct with this one.

I want to wish every mom out there a very Happy Mother’s Day and hope everyone is having a fantastically fun weekend!

A New World: Sanctuary Finished!

At last!  It’s finished, scrambling my mind in the process.  I have literally spent all of my waking hours on trying to finish it and get it out by Christmas – which I managed only by an hour or two.  I had only hours to spare.  For the moment, It is on Amazon and Smashwords in eBook format which should propagate out to the other sites within the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, I will be getting it ready for print which should be available sometime in the first part of January.

Thank you all for your patience!  I know it was supposed to be out a few days ago but, well, that just didn’t happen.  I hope everyone enjoy this next phase of the story!  Now to get some sleep!

Happy Holidays!

John

Not quite there yet!

I apologize that the book isn’t through the editing phase as yet.  It will be just a couple more days before it’s ready for publication.  I just received some looks for the cover from SM Reine and she has done her magic once again.  I am working through the last bit of editing for the book and striving to have it out by Christmas.  Once again, I apologize to all who were looking for the book to be out by now but I want to make sure it’s ready.

I’ll make this short as there’s a lot to get finished.  I wish everyone a very happy Tuesday!

John

A New World: Sanctuary Finished!

Okay, it’s only the draft that is finished and now begins the process of editing.  Oh, fun times in store with that.  I’m pretty excited to be finished with this part of the story of Jack and the group.  It was a little harder to write as the arena opened up somewhat with them landing and having to find and build a place of haven.  It was still fun to write although there were times I had to pound my head on the keyboard.

The plan is to have the editing finished and the cover finished by the 18th of this month and publish it that night.  That means is should show up on Amazon by midnight of the 19th/20th.  I also released the first two books in print to Amazon and they should be showing up within the next few days.  I received the proof copies and I have to admit they look pretty good.

I have received a few nice reviews lately and I want to thank each and every one of you for making this series a success.  Like I’ve said in previous posts, the series has far exceeded any expectations I had.  I enjoy writing the books and it thrills me that they are being enjoyed.  Thank you everyone!

Enjoy your day!

John

It’s Been A Little While!

I haven’t posted in a little while and I apologize to everyone for that.  Had a bit of a bug come visit for a while and am glad to see it out of the door.  It truly overstayed its welcome.    And so, with that now on its way elsewhere, the writing is picking up once again.  I have been able to put a word here and there throughout and even string a sentence together from time to time.  The third book is coming along although quite slowly but I’m getting pretty close to finishing the draft.

When I first started the book, I didn’t think I would have enough with the story and plot continuation to fill the book.  Now I’m finding that I have had to move a part of the story to the fourth book.  That’s a good thing I think.  I would say this third book is about 80% complete.  I was hoping to have it finished by the end of the month but, unless the words just pour out today, that’s just not going to happen.  I do hope to have it finished by this coming weekend.

As a side note, the print proof of the second book, A New World: Return, came in the mail yesterday and I’m hoping the Chaos book shows up today.  The proof looks good so far and, if the same is true with the other, then both books should be out in print within the next week.  They look pretty sharp and I want to thank SM Reine once again for the fantastic covers.

The flow of writing with this third book hasn’t been the 5,000 to 8,000 words a day that the first books had.  There have been a lot of things that have had to happen in different areas and it was a little slow pulling them together into a cohesive fashion.  With the first two, the track was fairly linear – go here and this happens, then continue – but with this third book, the scope has broadened to an extent.  Plus the aspect of trying to build a sanctuary and keep it exciting without making it seem like watching paint dry.

Well, off to the story!  I wish everyone a wonderful and fun day!

Progress – Slow but progress nonetheless!

Haven’t posted here is a little while and my apologies for that.  I have been immersing myself in the writing of the third book “A New World: Sanctuary.”  Had a more difficult time organizing and progressing with this one, mainly due to the expansion of the characters and events.  Jack and the merry band of survivors have arrived back and are in the process of setting up shop – finding and building a haven from the night runners.  Hit the 40,000 word mark last night meaning the draft is almost half way there.  I hope to hit that point sometime today – we’ll see how far I get with that goal.

I am looking to have the draft finished and the editing to begin by the end of the month.  That may be pushing it but the story has started to flow somewhat.  Today, another rescue attempt.

I just want to give a hearty thank you for all of the nice messages, reviews, and for those that have made the series so successful so far – far beyond my wildest dreams or any expectations I had.  Thank you!!!!  You truly rock!

John

A New World: Sanctuary is Underway!

I don’t know why I even create a plot line for these books.  I spent a bit of the weekend and a lot of yesterday creating the plot line for Sanctuary.  Again, I don’t even know why I do that as the book seems to speed away without my control once I start.  I sat the past few days and plotted out the this and then that thing.  As with the previous books in the series, those items I come up with disappear or happen entirely different than when I sit and go through the book outline from a mind perspective.  It’s like someone else is writing and I am only the conduit for them.

Okay, maybe it is just me and amazed at the flow the books take as I begin writing them.  I have to have those outlines before I become comfortable sitting down at they keyboard but, once I do start pounding away, the story leaps out.  I am taking a small break in the writing to type out this blog.  The story sits waiting patiently, well, perhaps not so patiently, on a tab at the bottom of my screen.  This last hour since starting the third book in the series has seen the first 1,200 words flow onto the paper/screen.  it is calling and begging for more.

Yikes, maybe I need either more or less caffeine.  I am still startled and amazed by the response for the first two books.  I want to thank you so much for the wonderful support you have given.  It has taken off beyond my wildest dreams.  I could never have imagined such a favorable nor large response.  This may sound like a huge cliche, but, it is for you, the readers, that I am writing.  I want to share this story running through my head.  Feel free to drop by and leave a message or say hi, either on here, the amazon pages, or FB.

I wish everyone a happy Tuesday and hope all is well!