Outworld Trilogy – Page 20 – One Thousand And One Parsecs

Still traveling

So I think I’ve clocked in about 1,000 kilometers this past week, mostly between Kutaisi and Tbilisi. Seen some interesting things, met a lot of interesting people, made some good memories, and thought a lot of deep and poignant thoughts.

Unfortunately, all this travel isn’t conducive to blogging. I’ve got five days before I fly back to the States, and updates are probably going to be sparse until then. If you were wondering what happened to the Trope Tuesday posts, don’t worry, I plan to get back to them (and hopefully pulling in some guest bloggers) after this week.

Tomorrow, I’ll head out to Racha, one of the more remote areas in Georgia. It should be interesting. Here’s a video with some photos of the region (and traditional music):

I have no idea what we’ll find there, but it’s definitely going to be an adventure.

As far as the writing goes, I’ll probably finish Star Wanderers somewhere between here and New York City, and publish part I in July after I’m a little more settled. Didn’t finish it this weekend, but I’m only two scenes and an epilogue from the end, so if all else fails I’ll just finish it on the airplane.

As for the next project…you know, I’m not even going to try and look that far ahead. I’ve got plenty of ideas tugging on my brain and I’m sure the next story will more or less write itself, so long as I don’t get in the way. Instead, I’ll leave you with this:

It’s an interesting piece of Soviet-era art on the side of a factory in Zestaponi. When I come back in September, I’ll have to do a post on all the crazy-cool Soviet-era stuff that’s still around. The USA wasn’t the only country that made it into space–or even really the first!

See you on the other side!

Still waiting…

So the finalists for the first quarter Writers of the Future have been announced, but there hasn’t been any word on semi-finalists or silver HMs and probably won’t be until the winners are announced. I can’t really publish part I of Star Wanderers until I hear back, so that means more waiting. Grrr…

In the meantime, I’ve been finishing up the rough draft of the full-length novel. I’m currently on the last chapter, probably about 2k words from the end. Maybe I’ll finish it tonight…who knows? I’m currently in Tbilisi, traveling over the weekend, but I’ll see what I can do.

This will be the seventh novel I’ve completed, including one that I trunked and two that I haven’t published yet. There’s a weird sort of feeling when you get to this stage, like coming to a turning point in your life as one phase ends and another begins…it’s difficult to describe. Since I really am at a turning point like that in my life, perhaps my view is a little bit biased, but I do feel like finishing this novel is having something of an influence.

I could ramble on for a while, but I think this is as good a place as any to stop. Besides, I want to get some writing in. I’ll leave you with this photograph:

This was when I knew I’d fallen in love with Georgia.

Taken today on the train ride from Kutaisi to Tbilisi. These are the Lesser Caucasus Mountains…I’m not sure what the name of the river is here (there are maybe half a dozen of them) but the view is pretty awesome. Seriously, it’s like a thickly forested version of Glenwood Canyon from the States.

Good stuff. More on Georgia later–but first, I have a novel to write.

Blurb and cover for Star Wanderers

So the first quarter finalists for the Writers of the Future contest were finally announced (finally!), and I wasn’t among them. Oh well. But the good news is that I can move ahead now to publish part 1 of Star Wanderers!

First, though, I need to work out a killer blurb. This is what I’ve got so far:

When Jeremiah arrived at Megiddo Station, all he wanted was to make some trades and resupply his starship. He never thought he’d come away from the frontier outpost with a wife.

Before he knows it, he’s back on his ship again, alone with his accidental bride. Since neither of them speak the same language, he has no way to tell her that there’s been a terrible mistake. And because of the deadly famine that has ravaged her home, there’s no going back either. The only way forward lies across a dozen parsecs of cold, empty space.

Jeremiah wasn’t looking for someone to keep him warm on the long voyages, and he certainly isn’t ready to settle down. He’s a star wanderer, roaming the Outworlds in search of his fortune. But there’s a dark side to his wandering–a loneliness that threatens to destroy him. His unexpected passenger may be willing to end that, but how can she when they barely understand each other?

So what do you think? Does it tickle your fancy? Are you intrigued to read more? Or are you thinking it’s kind of “meh”? Any feedback would be much appreciated, even if it’s just “this reminds me of _____.”

By the way, here’s the cover:

I’m experimenting a lot with this next novel. The plan is to release it in a serial format first, then publish the full-length novel once I’ve serialized the sequel (more of a parallax actually. The tentative title for that one is Star Home, and it’s the story from the girl’s perspective).

Here’s how I plan to publish it:

Release Part I for $2.99.
Give newsletter subscribers a two week coupon code on Smashwords to download Part I for free.
Release Part II for $2.99 and drop Part I to free.
Give newsletter subscribers a two week coupon code on Smashwords to download Part II for free.
Release Part III for $2.99 and drop Part II to $.99. Keep Part I at free.
Give newsletter subscribers a two week coupon code on Smashwords to download Part III for free.
Release Part IV for $2.99 and drop Part III to $.99. Keep Part II at $.99 and Part I at free.
Give newsletter subscribers a two week coupon code on Smashwords to download Part IV for free.
Publish the full-length novel at $4.95.

This way, no one has to pay more than five bucks for the whole thing, and people who subscribe to the newsletter get a really sweet deal. There shouldn’t be more than a month or two between release dates–Part II is almost ready to go, and I plan on finishing the complete first draft in the next couple of days.

So yeah, that’s the plan. I’m excited to finally get this story out to you! I really had a blast writing it, and I think you’ll enjoy reading it, especially if (like me!) you’re a fan of science fiction romance.

More to come!

Quick update (yes, I’m still alive)

I just had an awesome weekend. Saw the most amazing cave complex of my life, toured Kakheti o a TLG excursion, met a bunch of really cool people, and hung out with them in Tbilisi for a while. I’ll have to save all that for another blog post, though, probably in a couple of days.

Rumor has it that the judging was finished for the first quarter Writers of the Future contest over the weekend, and all the finalists were contacted. I didn’t get a call or an email, so I’m probably not a finalist this time around. Oh well.

In any case, I’m very much looking forward to getting the results so that I can finally publish this dang story! It’s been way too long since I published anything, and while there have been reasons for that (moving to another country, starting a second career), I really need to be publishing new stuff more regularly.

Here’s what I want to publish before the end of the year:

First and second parts of Star Wanderers (my Writers of the Future story). This is a novel I plan to publish in four parts, with each part being its own self-contained story. I blogged about it a while ago…more on that later.
A companion novella to Desert Stars. This is still just in the planning stages, but there’s plenty of backstory to draw from, and I really would like to revisit that corner of the Gaia Nova universe.
Either Heart of the Nebula or Stars of Blood and Glory.

That last one is going to be an ambitious undertaking, since both of them are still in the alpha-reading phases right now. Also, I don’t now whether I’ll have regular access to a reliable source of electricity in the fall, which will further complicate things. However, I do believe it’s possible to put out one or the other before the end of the year, though probably not both.

All of this is still up in the air, though, and I can’t promise anything except to get Star Wanderers: Part I up as soon as the results come in for the Writers of the Future contest. It’s already formatted and ready to go, just need to fine tune the blurb and hit “publish.”

And of course, before I move on to any of these other projects, I have to finish the one I’m currently working on. So so long! I’m off to the library to write.

Summer To Do list

They say that the three main perks to being a teacher are June, July, and August, and that’s as true for TEFL teachers as it is for any other kind. I’m spending June in Georgia, but for July and August, I’ll be back in the States. Instead of vacationing, though, I plan to be working hard at my main career, which is writing.

Here’s what I hope to accomplish:

Set up a separate business checking account.
Release POD editions of Genesis Earth, Bringing Stella Home, and Desert Stars.
Set up an online bookstore to sell direct.
~~Redo cover art for~~ ~~Bringing Stella Home.~~ Completed 2 June 2012.
Redo blurbs for all titles.
Identify and submit Genesis Earth, Bringing Stella Home, and Desert Stars to prominent sf&f book bloggers.
Organize a summer blog tour.
Research translation options for all titles.
Put proper copyright pages in all titles.
Track down all invoices and royalty statements.
Switch to the new Kobo publishing platform.
Fill out all sections in business plan.

The list might seem a little daunting, but two months should be enough to do most of it, especially considering that I don’t really have any other obligations. Basically, I want to get everything done that needs to be done in the States, then get back out and spend the rest of the year abroad.

As for writing, don’t worry! I plan to do that too, as always. Here’s what my project list currently looks like:

Finish the unnamed WOTF project and start publishing it serially.
Finish the 3.0 draft of Heart of the Nebula.
Send out Stars of Blood and Glory to first readers.
Get ready to start Edenfall in the fall.

That last one might be of interest to fans of Genesis Earth. The reason I haven’t finished Edenfall yet is because…well, this might sound kind of wishy-washy, but it’s because the story hasn’t really called out to me. For that reason, I decided to put it off and work on other projects that have.

Recently, however, I’ve started to feel the whispering of an intimation that it’s time–that the story is almost ready to come onto the page. Once it does, I have a feeling that it’s going to be quick–much like the first draft of Genesis Earth.

It’s hard to tell, though, and it may still be too early to know for sure. The unnamed WOTF project has something to do with it, as well as living here in Georgia. I have a feeling that rereading Genesis Earth is going to make everything fall into place, but it’s impossible to say. I’ll try doing it at the end of the summer, after I’ve cleaned up my plate a bit, and see what happens from there.

Gah, this sounds so wishy-washy! I’m a professional writer, after all–why can’t I just pound words out on demand? But as a creative-type, I’ve learned that that just isn’t the way I work. There’s such a thing as starting a book too early, and for Edenfall to really shine, I feel like I need to give it a little more time–just a little.

I’m sorry for those of you who have been waiting, but don’t worry! I definitely haven’t forgotten about it. And once Edenfall comes to me, I have a feeling that the final book in the trilogy, The Stars of Redemption, won’t be far behind.

That’s the plan for now, anyway. It’s definitely going to be a busy summer!

Some quick news

So I figured I should post something here and give you guys an update before the next Tuesday rolls around. I’ve been neglecting this blog, but that will soon change, inshallah.

Last night, I was on pins and needles waiting to hear back from Writers of the Future. We’re almost overdue for the winners / finalists announcement, and my story has been “on hold” for about a month. What that means, I don’t know exactly, but I haven’t been rejected yet and it looks like…

…no, I’m not going to jinx it. In any case, they told us the results would be out before the end of the month, so whatever happens, it’s going to come soon. I hope. GAH!!!

In other news, I read an amazing novel this week, quite possibly the most perfect novel I have read so far all year (and that includes War and Peace, at least the first two thirds of it). It’s called Ali and Nino, and it is basically Romeo and Juliet of the Caucasus. Except…it’s so much more than that. So much more. Expect to see a glowing review in the next couple of days.

In other news, I have decided to put Into the Heart of the Nebula on hold for a while, and to focus instead on a new project…which I can’t really talk about because it’s connected to that writers of the future story. GAH!!! But it’s really, really awesome–seriously, one of the better stories I’ve come up with–and I’m really loving it so far. Except writing has been slow the last couple of days, for stupid reasons that would only bore you. Point is, things are finally heading in the right direction.

Speaking of which, I’ve earned enough money through my ebook sales to commission a new cover for Bringing Stella Home. I got in touch with Hideyoshi, the illustrator who did the cover for Genesis Earth and Desert Stars, and he’s really excited about this one. After seeing the first sketch, so am I! Not much else I can tell you, but you can expect to see some really cool artwork in the next few weeks.

Tomorrow is Georgian Independence Day, which means a giant military parade about fifteen minutes from where I live. And the opening of the new Parliament in Kutaisi. It’s going to be big. But it’s late right now, and my host family is about to hit the sack, so I’d better cut things short and get back to writing. With luck, I’ll put in another thousand words on the awesome unnamed project before going to bed.

Good night! Or, as they say in Georgia, ghame mshvidobis!

Yesterday’s Gone: Episode One by Sean Platt & David Wright

Imagine you wake up tomorrow, and find out that everyone around you has vanished. Well…not everyone. But the ones who are still around claim to see strange things that you can’t see. And then, you get an eerie feeling of a presence…something dangerous, something coming at you right now. And then, things get really weird…

Yesterday’s Gone is a post-apocalyptic serial thriller: basically, a novel divided into six parts or “episodes,” the first of which is free. Since I’m interested in doing something similar with my next project, I decided to check it out.

From the very start, I was hooked. The conflict was intriguing, the pace was fast and gripping, and the characters were interesting, with reactions that were spot on. I wasn’t intending to finish the whole thing in one sitting, but once I’d started, there was no way I could put it down.

A couple of things jolted me out of the story, though. The first was the sheer immensity of the cast of characters. Literally, the first half of the episode was just introducing new ones, and none of them got more than two viewpoint scenes in the whole ebook. I was on board for the first three or four of them, but around number six or seven, I just wanted to skip them and get back to the first guy.

Two of the later characters were just painful to read–not only did I not care about them, I vehemently hated who they were and wanted them to die or get out of the way so I didn’t have to read their viewpoints anymore. The first was an eight year-old boy who had some mystical connection with animals…I just couldn’t sympathize with him at all. The other one was a serial rapist and/or murderer who saw the apocalypse as just an opportunity to run around raping and killing the other survivors. I skipped his scenes, but then had to go back because there were some clues hidden there and I didn’t want to miss them…ugh.

The other thing that really bothered me was the very last scene in the episode, where the authors made the mistake of showing the monster. I won’t spoil it for you, but the image on the page clashed so strongly with the image in my mind, it deflated almost all the tension for me. What was supposed to be a cliffhanger instead turned out to be a big “huh?”

Your mileage may vary, however, so if you’re into post-apocalyptic fiction, I think it’s definitely worth checking out. Just like the happy pills in the empty lot behind the school, the first one is free: you can pick it up on Amazon or Smashwords. And in spite of its problems, there was a lot in this story that I really liked. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did.

In terms of the serial format, I think it worked very well, except for those two problems: too many characters to keep track of, and an ending that booted me out of the story. Otherwise, I think it’s a great way to publish, and I’ll probably experiment with something similar in the future.

“On hold” with WOTF

I have some interesting news. My first quarter submission to the Writers of the Future contest has been put “on hold,” following the untimely passing of the contest’s coordinating judge, K.D. Wentworth. Here’s the email I received this morning:

Dear Entrant,

I wanted to let you know that we have a delay in the handling of the 1st quarter due to the loss of our coordinating judge, K.D. Wentworth to cancer last week. Please bare with us while we get over this difficult time and organize the continuance of the contest. We do have another judge that is taking over and will make that annoucement soon.

Your story was placed in the hold category while K.D. was reading the hard copy submissions. You will be notified in the next month where you stand.

I’m sure you can understand the delay and thank you for being patient.

Best,

Joni Labaqui- Contest Director

From what I understand, this means that K.D. read my story and didn’t assign it a rejection or honorable mention, but put it in a pile of stories to read leader. It’s possible, of course, that the story could still receive a flat rejection, but it appears that most of the rejections have already gone out, so that’s probably unlikely.

The story I submitted is the first part of a novel which I hope to publish as soon as I hear back from the contest. If it wins or makes published finalist, however, those plans might be put on hold. I’ll let you know more as it happens.

If I do win, I’ll probably end up spending all the prize money just to come back to the States to accept the award. My Georgian co-teachers think that’s hilarious.

Trope Tuesday postponed again

Sorry, but no Trope Tuesday post this week. Long story short, more internet problems–I’m blogging right now from the McDonald’s on Tch’avtch’avadze Street. Since my battery’s running out, this is going to have to be a quick post.

I suppose I should ask, though: what tropes do you want me to cover in the future? I’m open to pretty much anything, as long as it’s got a tvtropes page. Together, we can ~~enable our addictions~~ have some productive story research.

In other news, I finished part III of Star Wanderers, and I’m putting that project on hold for a while. Writing a novel in serial parts is proving to be a lot more difficult than writing it straight. Not only do I hit a wall at the 2/3rds mark, but I have difficulty moving on to the next part until the part before it is free of major problems. Because I have to take a break and distance myself before I can really address those problems, I think it will be better to move on to something else.

On the upside, it only takes two or three weeks to knock out each draft, so I’m not too concerned about finishing this project before the end of the year. Part I is already set to go, and Part II just needs some vetting before I feel it’s ready. If you’re one of my first readers and you’re up for a quick novella-sized work, let me know.

That’s about all for now. I also signed up to do a couple of blog interviews, so those should be up in a couple of weeks. And I’ve also got some more posts coming about Georgia and Turkey, so that should be interesting. Stay tuned!

Still here

Sorry about missing the Trope Tuesday post yesterday. My internet was sporadic, and I didn’t think it was worth it to keep refreshing every time I wanted to access tvtropes. I’ll make it up next week with a good one.

The rest of the week is going to be pretty busy. We have a make-up class on Saturday and I’m going to Tbilisi on Sunday for church, so things might be a little sporadic on this blog. However, I’m making good progress on Star Wanderers, even if it is a bit slower than I would like. I should finish up Part III this week and Part IV sometime in early May.

I haven’t heard anything from Writers of the Future yet, but judging from the forums, neither have most of the others who submitted this quarter. The official results should come out in May, though, and as soon as they do, I’ll publish the first part of Star Wanderers (provided it doesn’t win).

I’m really excited about this one; it’s one of those stories that came when I least expected it, and practically wrote itself. The first part, which stands completely on its own, is about 17k words, or 60 print pages–basically, a very short novella. It’s a science fiction romance set within the same universe as my other Gaia Nova novels; in the next few days, I’ll post a blurb and the first couple chapters for you guys to check out.

So that’s what’s going on out here. In other news, my Georgian host family just got a washing machine, and the excitement it generated reminded me of that scene in Fiddler on the Roof when the village gets its first sewing machine. Here’s the youngest son watching it go round and round:

Between this, internet TV, and the hot water heater they installed a few months ago, they seem to be moving steadily up in the world. Hopefully I’m not putting too much of a burden on them. I buy fruit from time to time and got the host mom a piece of silverware from Turkey. From what I could tell, she was really happy with it.

Anyhow, it’s getting late and I’d better go. ღამე მშვიდობის!