Websites Jim Often Visits 1

I’ll likely put this info in some place a bit more formal in the compendium tab at some point, but for now I thought I’d share some places on the web that I enjoy over the course of the next few entries:

Screenrant:  My brother turned me on to this site.  It kinda reminds me of the defunct Premiere magazine by way of geek press.  They are an excellent source of all news of geek entertainment, without being over the top about it.

PBS Newshour: Sick of too much opinion and not enough fact with the news corporations?  Try out PBS.  They are largely objective and refreshingly free of the clutter of crawl lines and excessive graphics.  Straight news.  I always look forward to Shields and Brooks’s analysis on Fridays.

Gotta fly.  I’ll put up more later.

Cover is a comin’

Fiction Works approved my brother Tony’s design and logo.  I still need to wait to share it.  However, here’s a quick description.  The Repenter logo is sans serif in sleek-looking all caps.  It kind of reminds me of molten metal.  The cover image is a 3-D rendering of Ashe’s bronze, demon mask, sitting on dark ground.  Once I get the ok, I’ll definitely share it. I’ve mentioned this in the past, but I’m hoping to be better about content updates.  In the meantime, I’m kicking bass and taking games on the Bloody Empress.  Repenter is 100,000 words (415 pages).  The sequel will likely clock in a bit longer at 110,000, or a bit longer.  Of course, it’s still in the rough draft phase, so I’ll need to “kill my darlings” on some parts.  Happy 5th of July!

Maps and Cover update

The maps for the novel are now extremely cool looking.  The logo looks awesome, as does the sketch of the cover.  I’ll be able to share them down the road, but for now I’m most happy with how the book’s visual elements are coming together.

Map of the Worlds

There’s a 30 Seconds to Mars song called “Map of the World”.  I always think of that when I’m in cartographer mode for my novels.  My brother is assisting me in sprucing up my world maps and is working on the cover right now. It’s due by the end of June, so nose to the grind stone.  Also still making progress in the second novel’s section entitled, “The Battle of the Two Cities.” More to come.

Repenter is getting published!

Hey, party people.  Great news!  Repenter is getting published through the Fiction Works as an ebook.  And for those who like their novels in molecule form, I’m hoping to get physical print on demand books down the road.  My brother, Tony, might also be able to supply the cover design and artwork, which is awesome!  Repenter still needs to be edited, so it’s still a few months out.  However, prepare for considerably more updates.  As a reminder, you can also follow me on Twitter as @Stelfire or become a fan on my Facebook author page.  I’ll be jumping on Good Reads in the near future, so stay tuned for more updates there as well.  So to summarize: Getting published plus Jim equals YAY!!

Bad News / Good News

Bad news: Got a rejection from the Nelson Agency.  Good News: Submitted the whole Repenter manuscript to an ebook publisher.  When a door closes, screw the window, you grab a flaming axe and chop a hole through the wall.  More as it develops.

Avenging

When people ask my to tell them about my books I often go with the “this meets that” description of popular culture references.  I used to say it was Star Wars meets Lord of the Rings for the sci-fi and fantasy elements.  However, after this weekend, I can now go with the far more accurate description of Avengers meets Lord of the Rings for the sci-fi, super human, and fantasy elements.  Everyone will now know to what I’m referring.  I’ve loved the Avengers since I was teenager, more than any other super hero team.  They’re mighty, yes.  But they’re also unstable, and dangerous, and awesome.  It’s very nice to see them get their time in the sun.

It’s submitted!

I pulled the trigger on my submission to the Nelson Literary Agency.  Now begins the waiting.  And honestly, I don’t mind.  There’s something liberating about it being out your hands.  Back to the writing the fun stuff!

I also have a horror lesson I’m presenting to the Nebraska Writers Workshop on Wednesday.  I won’t be using a white board this time, but I think it’ll be well-received.

Editing. So much Editing

I spent a great deal of time editing the first 30 pages of Repenter in advance of sending them to the Nelson Literary Agency.  I made use of family and friends as proof readers.  The pages are about where I need them.  I think they pop.  Let’s hope our good friends in Denver agree.

Pitch Session was a success!

I was invited to submit a query letter and the first 30 pages of Repenter!  Awesome news!  I also learned some invaluable lessons on pitching: Always, always have causality reasoned all the way through when presenting it.  And have a very firm grasp on what compels your main character.  Anita Mumm was very gracious in asking probing questions to arrive at the answers these important pieces of story elements.  So to reiterate: The foot is officially in the door true believers!