Update

Good afternoon everyone,

I figured it was time to give an update.  Dissension was released last month and I want to thank everyone for the great response.  I truly enjoy the great posts, messages, and reviews.  If you happen have read it and enjoyed it, I would definitely appreciate it if you could head over and leave a review.  And if you wouldn’t mind leaving a review for each of the books, that would be awesome.  Reviews are helpful for all authors for a variety of reasons:  Yes, they help sales, they give the author feedback so they know how it is being received – that only helps improve the writing and story line – and they give readers a perspective to help them decide.

Mark Tufo and I have started on our collaboration effort in getting Mike Talbot and Jack Walker together.  Mark is a great guy and the story is a blast to write.  I hope you enjoy the final product.  Mark has been gracious enough to host me and I’ll be heading there this weekend so we can further the story.  I’m sure there might be a beverage or two consumed, which will only enhance to story… haha.  I’m not sure of the time line for the publication of “A Shrouded World” but I’m thinking sometime toward the end of February.

I’ve started a forum on the web site – https://john-obrien.com/forum/  Feel free to drop by and comment or start your own topic.  I’ve put up a few discussion topics which include survival prep and planning, a place to write fan fiction, and, of course, discussions about the books.  Swing by when you get a chance and put in your two cents.  Well, that’s how much my thoughts are going for – I’m sure yours are worth a lot more.

That’s about it.  I’ll be starting on the seventh book following the publication of “A Shrouded World” and tentatively naming it “A New World: Rampage”.  I hope you enjoy your upcoming weekend!

John

Taking the Slow Road

So, as you most likely know by now, I’m not the best nor most consistent of bloggers. However, I am now being held here at the keyboard by gunpoint to give an update on the next book. As much as the following information is written under duress, I can attest that it is nonetheless true.

I have been been mercilessly glued to the keyboard writing on the sixth book, tentatively titled “A New World: Dissension”. *gun butt to the head* “Ouch.” Okay, so mercilessly glued may not be the correct terminology. I have been trying to write as much as possible but the story is coming along slowly. I am, however, just over a third of the way through the draft and hoping to have it finished or close to finished by the end of the month. Keep in mind that it is a “hopefully”.

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful messages. Your kind words make my day and I am quite humbled by your responses to the series. I also want to thank you for all of your reviews. I read each and every one of them whether positive or negative as I feel they help me become a better writer.

Jack and crew are heading off on their latest adventure and, without throwing spoilers out, the night runners are becoming more active. I’ll keep this short as the story is calling. Remember, watch your asses when entering darkened buildings.

John

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

It’s Alive

Okay, perhaps not alive but awakening.  Like that segue.  The fifth book in the series is out.  It took a little longer to write this one.  There is a little more character development and thus transitional scenes which take me a little longer to muddle through.  I am both happy and worried although a lot less worried now with all of the great responses so far.  The worry stems from a little departure from the action.  I guess not though.  As my son says, “You have worried about every book.  This is no different.”  He generally keeps me grounded like that.

Here’s the Amazon link for the book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NFNN5S

I’ll just keep this short and wanted to get the word out that the book was released.  Thank you so much for all of your support and great responses.  That really means a lot to me.  I hope you have an awesome day.

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!

A New World: Taken

Well, the draft and first lengthy edit is complete.  I am sending out the draft to the editing group tomorrow to get their take on it.  Then it’s just a few more quick run-through’s and the fourth book will be out.  Tomorrow will encompass writing the back cover description and coming up with a catchy tagline.  The cover still has to be designed but SM Reine is working her magic on that one.  I am hoping to have a publication date set shortly and looking to have it out within the next couple of weeks.  We’ll see how that pans out.  I wanted to have the draft and editing finished by now but my fingers would only operate at their own speed.

Seeing the story that was supposed to be told in this book didn’t seem to make it in, I will be starting on the next right away as the story is still fresh in my mind.  Yes, I’m throwing a small spoiler out.  I’m only the conduit for the story to be told through and this one took off on a tangent I hadn’t imagined.  What was only supposed to be a small part of the book ended up being most of it but I’m pleased with the result and hoping everyone else will be as well.

Okay, my mind is fried but I wanted to get this out.  I hope everyone’s evening was a pleasant one and I’m off to silence the incessant calling of my pillows.  Have a fun and enjoyable day wherever you may find yourself!

 

John

An Interesting Ride

Well, as the title states, writing this fourth book is and has been an interesting ride.  Once again, the story has taken off on its own and I’m just along for the ride.  What was supposed to be just a small part of the beginning has now turned out to be over half of the book.  And that part isn’t finished as yet.  I’m guessing, and yes, I can only guess at this point, that it will encompass about a two-thirds of the book.  I am thinking about re-titling the book A New World: Taken.  Awakening will have to be the next one.

I apologize to those that were expecting the Awakening story – I know I was.  I’m hoping to have this current one finished and published close to the middle of March.  Hopefully earlier but who knows.  Not to worry though, the awakening story will be told.  Oh please let that be so.

I want to thank all everyone who has written.  Your kind words make my day.  As a side note, if anyone knows or reads this who has the Amazon username pineapple67, I have a question I would like to ask.  I hope everyone has a fantastic day and upcoming weekend!

 

John

Slowly But Surely

Hello everyone,

I apologize for once again taking so long to post anything.  I will endeavor to correct this behavior.  I have been focused to a large extent on the fourth book in the series.  I started on a companion novel dealing with Jack’s past but have shelved that for the moment to continue on with the main story.  It would be very cruel and unsportsmanlike to leave the last book with that ending and not endeavor to continue on.

As always, this book seems to have taken a life of its own.  What was going to be a relatively short part has grown into half of the book.  I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not but it’s what it is.  I have no control over it apparently.  Sometimes I don’t even know why I bother with a story line at all.  The good news is that I am about half of the way through the draft/story having reached 42,000 words tonight.  That’s not too bad considering I was only at 17,000 at the beginning of the week.  I guess the good news would really be that I was finished so perhaps it’s only half good news.  Which, on second thought, would just make this news.

I have to say I’m a little perturbed at the Underworld movies stealing my title.  I had this book title planned for quite some time in the sequence of things and here I see my title displayed on the movie theaters.  I’ll have to see if I stick with the title A New World: Awakening.  I certainly don’t want to seem to be a copycat or riding a coat tail.  We’ll see.

Another bright note has been to see A New World: Return sit at #6 in Amazon’s top rated horror list (the kindle version) for a little while with A New World: Sanctuary climbing to #9 as of today.  Thank you so much for all of your great reviews.  I appreciate each and every one of them.  As I appreciate everyone who writes and lets me know they are enjoying the story and books.  Thank you!!!  I also want to send a thank you out to each and every reader.  You are absolutely the best.  There are so many great authors out there and I feel so privileged and humbled to see my name even remotely close to theirs.

I’m taking a few days off to rest my weary fingers and then I’ll be back at it with gusto.  I am hoping to finish the draft by the  end of the month – yeah, we’ll see about that one – and then that editing thing.  I am having a tremendous amount of fun writing this one, yes, I did the others as well, and hope it can match the others.

I hope everyone has a very pleasant day/evening and enjoy your weekend!

John

At it again!

Well, it’s been a while since I posted last and my apologies for staying in the dark so long.  I’ve recently changed the direction of the next book.  Whereas I was going to write about Jack’s early beginnings before the dreaded flu and subsequent vaccine, I decided to continue on with the story.  I had written a bit into the beginnings and will continue along with it but at a later point.  I had a friend write that part of the fun is the mystique and mystery of what Jack did before which adds to the story.  I realized that if I defined Jack, then that would lock him down.  Plus, we all have out vision of Jack and to define him might ruin that image.  I will write that companion novel but now it will more than likely come out after the story is told.

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful messages and reviews!  And, for sharing your thoughts and ideas.  They are all great and I enjoy getting and reading them.  Please keep that up!

For now, it’s on with the story.  I have the plot line figured out, but like the previous books, that goes out of the window when I actually start down the path.  I like to have it handy though.  I started the fourth book, A New World: Awakening, last night after carefully tucking Jack’s story away and managed to get a little more than 1,500 words into it.  More today.  I am hoping that I can be finished by the end of February but we’ll see how that goes.  Starting a whole new  part of the story is daunting.  But once started, the story takes over and it just flows – well, mostly.

I wish everyone a very happy and wonderful day!

 

John

Question for A New World?

I am looking ahead past the new year to begin the process of beginning the next writing session, creating the plot line, warming up the fingers, and so on, but have a question with what everyone would like to see.  I am contemplating a companion novel to the series depicting Jack’s early years focusing primarily around his military career.  I am thinking this would be the ideal time to introduce that or would you prefer to have the next book out be a continuation of the series.  Feel free to post on FB or on the web site if you have an opinion.  I mean on the next book 🙂

I have several interesting ideas on some of the story line.  My son and I have been up late the last couple of nights hashing over various plot lines – some good laughs were had in several of them.  One of the larger plot lines that was running through this vacuum between my ears took a missile on the wing and went down in a flaming wreck – or so he thinks.  Bwahaha.  The phoenix may raise its head again.  On the whole, I think it should be an interesting series of events and such coming up.  Of course, once I begin typing on the story, it takes a mind of its own and so I’ll be interested as well to see what happens.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year!  Please, stay safe, make the right choices, and I’ll see you in 2012!

John