Son of Jack Is Up . . .

Sunday 27th has been and gone.

The 27th saw our book launch and it was an interesting day. All in all it went okay but there are definitely things we can do better next time (June). Seeing as this launch was Starfish Publishing's first one, it was never expected to be a grand day. We never expected to see hoards of people - though it would have been nice - but it gave us experience and a better knowledge of what to expect, how to do things and improve next year.

But the most important thing to some out of Sunday was the knowledge that . . .

I AM NOW A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!!

And so are two of my friends.

Going the Ebook route was never really my intention. To make a sound career out of writing, I still feel the need to be agented. I like the traditional route, and it's the way I still wish to pursue with my fantasy collection. But I'm okay to write other random pieces for ebooks. It gets me through the door, and it can it be a fun venture.

I have to say though, these last few weeks leading up to the launch have been so hectic, it's nice to be able to just sit back and relax for a bit before continuing with other projects, although I know I won't be sitting back for long. My fantasy, Lady of the Seas, the novel Ihad to put on hold for Son of Jack, is calling me once more, and so are a few short ghost stories. There's no rest for the wicked . . . ;)

So, here's the link for Son of Jack on Amazon. Go read the sample chapters and if you like it BUY!!! . . . no pressure . . . honestly :)

Pic of the Week . . . Book Covers

I didn't blog yesterday. I completely forgot! I neglected Pic of the Week and I can't believe I done that! So I'm it doing today instead.

Firstly I'd like say a big WOW to Kelley, who impressed me this morning by saying that not only did she change stories a quarter (or so) into Nano, but that she has written 36,000 words in 8 days!

36,000 words!!!

I'm impressed.

As for Pic of the Week, I thought, because I spent most of yesterday designing front covers for the three books that are being published on the 27th under our Starfish PC, that I'd share what I done.

First is my own cover for Son of Jack, which I'm sure you're all familiar with. I just altered the size to match the others.

The Second is a cover for my colleage Martin Willoughby's work, a Sci-Fi comedy, which looks like it may be titled 'The Good, The Bad, and the Green Gloop'. Because this title has yet to be confirmed, and because I have a limited selection of fonts, the title has been left and will be added later.

This cover is for my other colleage, Susan Maylor who's Justice: Served Cold is the first in her Nathan Turner crime series. She yet to confirm if this will be the final cover yet. Will keep you posted.

All these books will be available to download via Amazon, as well as our website from the 27th November. And, if you purchase on the their launch day, the 27th, you get a signed copy. Yes, a signed eBook. We are clever. . .

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Son of Jack is Ready . . .

. . . almost.

All it needs is some final tweaking and whacking all together to make one long novel. Front cover is done, eBook trailer done but needs tidying and updating, and all-in-all, it's looking good. Roll on November 27th. Amazon launch date.

Another novel being published on the 27th under our Starfish PC is Martin Willoughby's...book. It's a Sci-fi comedy with lots of space travel, lots of time travel, breeding and quantum green goo (my name for it). The book is all ready to go except for the final title. We're still debating that one.

Another is a Crime novel, Justice: Served Cold, the first in a Nathan Turner Crime Series. Hopefully this book will be joining our launch, too. We lost a fourth, The Devil She Is, a compilation of humerous equine tales, due to time issues but it should be reappearing next year, along with another thriller called The Kindred, and, no doubt, something else written by yours truly. It's all happening here on Walton's Mountain.

In the meantime, allow me to remind you of Son of Jack via its original trailer.

Enjoy!

Pic of the Week . . . Something To Remember

Today, 11-11-11, is Remembrance Day. Today represents the official end of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 hostilities finally ended with the German signing of the Armistice.

So whether you go by Remembrance Day, Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day, it's a day where we are reminded of all the people who gave their lives so we could live ours - and all those have fought and are still fighting to do so.

'Lest We Forget . . .'

Pic of the WeeK . . . J Scott Campbell

A friend of mine - the same friend I drew the picture of the X-men for - sent me a text message yesterday, asking if I was familiar with the work by J Scott Campbell. I shrugged at this but was intrigued. Knowing my friend's taste in art and seeing as he said he was currently a favourite artist of his, I had to investigate further.

It was then that I realised I was familiar with his works but not him personally. This opened a whole new door for me.

J Scott Campbell is an American comic artist (no shocker there...lol) and started his carrier working for Wildstorm, DC and eventually Marvel. Looking at his gallery I discovered that not only does he draw the usual comic book heroes, but he also does other stand-alone pieces including as his own takes on Disney characters and fairytale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and the Princess and the Pea. Some of these, I've been told, can fetch up to $300 a piece.

Seeing as I'm still somewhat taken by the comic art style, I thought I'd share his work for this week's Pic of the Week. But I couldn't decide on just one. Instead I thought I'd indulge and share three. See if you can guess who they are WITHOUT looking at the captions on each piece . . .

Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Calling All Writers . . .

I need your help.

We all know that Grammer can be a difficult thing to master, and even the masters make mistakes. There are so many rules for many different things, and for a new writer it can often be overwhelming. Common errors lie with the difference between effect and affect, or lose and loose.

Unfortunately there is no quick way to learn these. Most of us know this through years of slaving away with quill and scroll (or keyboard and screen), and even when you're at a point in your writing career when you're happy and confident that you know enough to get by, something will always come up and bite you on the bum.

This happened to me yesterday. One of my critique buddies pointed out that I had used passed instead of past. Reflecting back on my work, I was under the impression that the option I used was correct. Now I'm truly confused.

So I'm calling upon all my writing buddies out there for help. Tell me, is there an easy rule that you use when it comes to past or passed so that you know the one you write is correct? Has there been a time when you've had to stop and think which is which, and then remembered a little rhyme that maybe you were taught at school or that you come up with yourself to tell you???

How do YOU know which one to use...?