It’s a slow start, but a start nonetheless!

Rounded the 10,000 word mark on A New World: Sanctuary yesterday after staring at the screen endlessly for seeming days.  Not that I stared at an empty screen nor that I didn’t know where the book should head next, it was just like my fingers didn’t want to type it.  But, yesterday it seemed to roll.  I was thinking back and both of the other books seemed to go that way as well so I am hoping the roll and flow is coming.  I don’t know whether to set a deadline of the end of the month to finish the rough draft of this book or not.  It worked for book two but then I felt in a rush to get it out once I finished.  Maybe the bright flash of light will come.

So far, Jack and his group are back home and the new day has dawned – I know, pretty exciting stuff huh?  A couple of twists emerged making it a pretty busy and exciting day – like the alien spaceship landing and taking Jack away.  Okay, totally kidding here and needing more caffeine apparently.  Or perhaps too much!  There are a few crucial scenes coming up and I am still undecided on which way to go on one of them.  Not that it affects the overall story line much, but more in how things are going to happen.  I am rambling on now.

I do want to give a thank you for the great support regarding the first two books.  It has truly been amazing and I hope that those that are reading them are enjoying them.  Feel free to drop by and leave a review on Amazon or message me.

I am not sure whether to keep the name of this third book A New World: Sanctuary or A New World: Haven.  If you have an opinion one way or the other, drop me a line or two and throw your thoughts in.

I wish everyone a happy Sunday and hope the weekend has been good to you!

 

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!

The Time to Write is Here Again!

I have been feeling the itch to put words on paper with the next book in the series; tentatively named A New World: Sanctuary.  The story runs through my mind, shifting and turning about.  I am sitting here enjoying a fresh Hef, to be complete with Nachos here shortly, and hashing through the plot line as we speak.  Or as I write this.  The plot line is mostly complete but the events have to be set in order.  Of course, as with the other books, they tend to write themselves once I get started and I am only the conduit through which they tell themselves.

Earlier, under the effects of a quad shot, I hashed out a bit of the series overall.  I have to tell you that, without really looking in detail at each book, that the overall story may take 9 or 10 books to tell.  Of course, that was the caffeine coursing through.  I am excited to continue with this next book and the ones to follow.  I will be deeply immersed in the next book by this weekend having put the plot line together.  That plot line is subject to change with the first word on the screen.

Okay, nachos are here.  Time to put the pad and keyboard down.  First though, I want to thank all of the readers so much!  You have been wonderful with your comments and support.  I wish everyone a happy Wednesday evening!

A New World: Return Published

The editing for A New World: Return is finally finished.  Yay!  That was a mind numbing week to finish in time.  The book has been submitted to Amazon but the author name came out incorrect so I will have to republish it once it gets out of the review process.  The book will still be available however.  I also submitted to Smashwords and is up and running there.  I expect the approval to come soon for the expanded distribution making it available to Barnes & Noble, Sony, iTunes, and the other eBook distribution sites within the next couple of weeks.

I really enjoyed writing this second book in the series, sans the editing process, and I truly hope you enjoy this next set of adventures for Jack and his group.  Next on the agenda is to format A New World: Chaos and A New World: Return into paperback versions and publish.  I am hoping to have those out by the end of October.  Then it is on to the third book which I am tentatively planning on naming A New World: Sanctuary.

I hope everyone has a tremendous day!

Release Date Set

The date for the second book in the series, A New World is set for 23 September, 2011.  A New World: Return will be available on this date in eBook format for Amazon and Smashwords with the book becoming available at Barnes & Noble, Sony, iTunes, Diesel, and Kobe in the following weeks as it propagates out to them.

The first book, A New World: Chaos will continue to be on sale for $2.99 through the rest of September.  I want to thank everyone for the great reviews and for supporting my Indie endeavor.  The sales for the first book have exceeded any expectations I have had and it is truly my hope that everyone who has read it enjoyed it.

I am really enjoying writing this series and it makes me happy to think that you are enjoying the book.  I hope that you enjoy the second book as much.  Off to finish the editing and I wish everyone a great Friday!

John

Great Day for A New World!

First of all, I hope that everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend!  The sun has finally come around and I want to thank everyone who sent some of their sun out way.

It has been a busy few days.  The first run-through’s on the edits for the second book, ‘A New World: Return,’ have been completed. and it is off to the editor for the red mark annihilation.  I am hoping the final editing will be finished within the week and will be looking for a publication date around the middle of the month which, miraculously, was my target.  I will announce the actual publication date soon.

I also found an amazing cover artist:
SM Reine
smreine (at) gmail (dot) com
http://smreine.deviantart.com/

If you are looking for cover art, she does great work, her response is quick, and her rates are very reasonable.  We have completed a cover art revision for the first book, ‘A New World: Chaos’ which will be uploaded within the next day or so.  I will make sure and put the new cover art on here to share.

Finally, I have begun formatting both books for print publication in paperback versions.  I plan to test the waters on Amazon first and then expand out to others depending on the response.  The response for ‘A New World: Chaos’ have been great in the last couple of weeks and I want to thank everyone who had a chance to read it and those that submitted reviews.  I wish I could thank everyone in person.

Here are the links for the first book:
Amazon kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W0CL2Y

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57851

Barnes &Noble Nook:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/New-World/John-OBrien/e/2940011299674?itm=1&usri=a+new+world+chaos

 

Sony:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/john-o-brien-jr/a-new-world-chaos/_/R-400000000000000387087

iTunes/iBooks:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-new-world-chaos/id440693135?mt=11
It has been a busy one and still continues to be.  Once I get the second book published, it will be onto the third book.

Again, thank you and I hope the rest of your day treats you well!

John

Winding Down

I haven’t written much on the ‘ol blog lately as my writing has been concentrated on the book the second book in the New World series.  This one will be titled ‘A New World: Return’.  The story has been pouring out of me and onto the screen to the point where I should finish the rough draft today provided I don’t procrastinate too much.  That does have a high likelihood of happening.

There is only about 5,000 words remaining to the end and I am quite happy with the story and flow.  I didn’t think it would be as good as the first in the series – ‘A New World: Chaos’ – but as the story went on, I am just as, if not more, happy with the result so far.  A few stuck moments but I am ahead of the time line I set for myself to be done by the end of the month; much to my surprise.  I am hoping to do the rewrite and editing quickly in order to have it out and published by the middle of September.  Then, it is a possible very short break plotting the ideas for the third book and back to the keyboard once again.

If anyone does happen to get any of the eBooks most places eBooks are sold, feel free to leave a comment or review.  Your support is very much appreciated.

I hope this day treats everyone well!

Lazy Sunday!

Well, made it to the two-thirds point yesterday evening.  The frenzy of words flying across the screen has slowed down somewhat.  I am coming up on having to plot the next series and not really wanting to as there is a tremendous amount of information to impart and not quite sure of the format I present it with.  Once I do get it down, the words should flow once again until the ending of this part in the series.  I am still on track to finish the rough draft by the end of the month which is a surprise to me.  I would like to get the finished book out by the middle of September.

I spent the morning updating the product description for the first book in the series – A New World: Chaos – on Amazon and Smashwords as well as updating this web site.  Writing shall commence shortly but I think I will find a nice coffee house to hole up in for the day with the laptop.  Or maybe I will just leave the laptop there and the story will can write itself.  Maybe not as I do like seeing the story come together but am very much looking forward to the rewrite, meaning, the draft will be done.

Okay, the caffeine has had no effect this morning and strongly suspecting that my coffee beans have been secretly replaced with decaf.  So not cool!  Enjoy your Sunday everyone!  I’m off do to that writing thing.

A New World: Chaos Premise

The basic premise for the New World series is really not that far-fetched.  We have seen several pandemic scares come along in the recent past that could have threatened our survival as a species or at least brought about death on a large scale.  As the virus’ mutate and adapt, it is really only a matter of time before one comes along that does just that very thing – creates a pandemic that mows through the world’s population.

As for the vaccine creating changes, well, that is not that far-fetched either.  Just look at the ads for the drugs on the market now.  They create more problems than they supposedly fix.  I mean, who wants to be bleeding from various orifices just to relieve a headache.  I can say for one that I don’t.  And the pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing illnesses to match what new drugs they create can fix.  The plausibility of a vaccine rushed to market in the event of a quick spreading virus is real.

So basically, today is just speculating on the basic premise of the series before I dive back into the story for the day.  The survivors of the apocalypse await as they are poised on possibly finding some information they need to survive in the long term.  I don’t know where today’s part of the story will lead, but I am excited to find out.

Enjoy this gorgeous day all!

Midway and Rolling!

I reached the half way point yesterday after a few days or furious writing.  Some of it the ‘bang your head against the wall’ writing but, for the most part, it flowed along.  I started last Monday with 20,000 words and finished last night with just over 50,000.  And, that was taking two plays days so I am extremely pleased with both the progress and story.

I really enjoy writing because the story is created right before me.  Sure I have a story line and a general direction, but when I get into that trance of hammering away on the keys, the story just takes off on its own to some degree.  I just let the action and event happen right before me and sometimes it’s just as new to me as to you first reading it.  I have the start and end result in mind and then let the story take shape between those two points.  Living the moment of the book.  It is a living entity to me.

I will be at it again today but perhaps not as furious as in previous days, but, you never know.  I am on pace to finish my goal of having the rough draft completed by the end of the month, hopefully releasing it by the middle of September.

I with everyone a great day and hope it’s an enjoyable one for you!