C.C. Cortland's Blog: Bits n' Bobs

The current free April promotion has ended and went off reasonably well. All three of the Trader series saw an uptake across the globe, for which I am most delighted. Hopefully, some will actually read and perhaps enjoy the tale, rather than leaving it languishing on the shelf. America and Australia have been and continue to be the best market for sales and reads, for which I am immensely grateful. Looking at the download reports, we may even potentially see improvements in Britain and Germany, sadly cursed by people who encountered the original Prelude in a woeful state. I would suggest it is worth the gamble, but then I would say that of course.

A one point on the 2nd of April, checking the progress, we noted we were briefly in the top ten for our category, indeed there were two in the top twenty, #5 and #18. Given the subsequent numbers, I think this may have happened for all three at some point, which is kind of rewarding. Freebies, but still nice to see. One day for real is the earnest hope. ;)

We have also dropped the price of the E-Book, world-wide by a dollar, for Prelude. This may happen later in the year with the other two. I would love to do this for the paperbacks, but the availability in Expanded Distribution makes this nigh impossible. Any less would actually incur a cost. Though, please feel free to plague any book-store or Library for a copy.

As usual when checking and re-checking the content, we discovered errors and silly mistakes, which had gone previously unnoticed. Before the commencement, we caught and corrected several in both Prelude and War. I am by no means alone in this. After the conclusion of the promotion, we discovered a couple more in Prelude, which have now been fixed. I misspelt “Starve” as “Stave” and one of the Italicised entries was not as it was supposed to be.

Please ensure, if you have downloaded before the promotion, or since, you are up to date, certainly with Prelude and War. I can only apologise they we not discovered sooner. When I get the chance I will re-check Rebellion.

Progress on the first of the new trilogy is coming along, slowly. We have reached the 40K mark, Chapter 15, though anticipate being over 50% by Easter. Ultimate length could 100K or higher, just depends upon tale. Once completed, the long slog will begin correcting the grammar and making adjustments. Eventual release should be prior to Christmas.

Morwold, Chronicles of Ashland, (Working Title) is in the vein of Lord of the Rings, Song of Ice and Fire. Set in the fantasy, historical genre. Our take on this is both more magical yet realistic and occurs earlier, say twelfth century or slightly later. Though since none of these are set in actual historic times, it is something of a misnomer.

Will there be Dragons, Elves and other magical woodland creatures? Unlikely, but potentially in some form or guise. Like the maps of old, people, adventurers tend to exaggerate and report on seeing things like mermaids, centaurs and other bizarre constructs.

We are running currently 5 separate POV, however, this could diminish or increase as the story progresses and character converge or separate. We are running two tales, on two continents, in parallel, each with two presently independent groups. Though three in one case are due to converge over the next couple of chapters.

At long last the trilogy is complete with the publication of Trader - Rebellion.

I took the time during the edit to also redo Prelude and War. Editing is a nightmare and it is frightening to discover just how many mistakes slip through unnoticed. Writing the story almost seems the easiest part. The 2nd book really just needed some minor tweaks. Possibly Grammarly has undergone some revisions or I used different settings. Regardless all three are now edited to the same common standard. The book covers were also updated and I am pleased with the new War version. People have been buying, reading all three and I am delighted, honoured such is the case both in America and Australia.

Prelude required quite a bit of alteration to bring it up to spec. If more had read the original version I suspect there would have been a good deal more complaints. Fundamentally the story has not changed, rightly or wrongly. We have added extra details and it is now a few thousand words longer. Nearly every paragraph saw adjustments, but more importantly the readability has improved and the silly mistakes hopefully erased. Cut out the partial sentences and removed reductant commas, etc...

All three books are different in style and intent. Prelude is an adventure filled with intrigues and mishaps. War is a personal account during an ongoing conflict. While Rebellion is more political. The third book also references and resolves many of outstanding questions and puzzles from the first two. Hopefully while there are a number of bombastic speeches it is still entertaining and enjoyable.

What happens next, delightfully I do not know. :) Doubtless I shall at some point write my Lord of the Rings epic, Ashland. Or we may indulge a sequel or prequel series for Trader. I have in mind a few spin-offs, stand-alones for certain characters and might yet complete the Lost Tales short stories anthology.

A small update.

Trader - Rebellion is plodding onward to a resolution at a slower pace than I had first hoped. 30K so far and tying up the loose threads while peaking with an appropriate climax is exacting its toll. There is a good deal more dialogue, perhaps too much and historic information to flesh out the worlds. We are still targeting June/July for the release though this may get pushed back.

The ideas are in constant flux since I choose to write these novels without benefit of a safety net. I write, put them in peril and see where it leads us next, escalating the dangers with each subsequent encounter. Introducing and discarding characters as we go. I no more know how this all pans out or who survives than anyone reading these for the first time. None of this was plotted out beforehand. Though a careful scrutiny of the original Prologue may provide a clue, insight.

After Rebellion we will revisit Prelude to address some of the criticisms regarding the original use of informal grammar and partial sentences. Will it have an impact I do not know. The story will not change, the ups, the downs, the intrigues, the dangers. I firmly believe the tale holds up, I could of course be wrong. Then either it will be a collection of short stories to add to the worlds or a gruesome detective noir set in the same universe. Both are underway and partially complete.

I decided it was time for a small update regarding Trader - War, all going well, we are targeting mid to late November for the publication. (Just in time for Christmas). One of the things to annoy me regarding the first book 'Prelude' was the absence of the chapter titles in the TOC. With the revised layout used in 'War', I am looking to transfer this to 'Prelude' and republish.
Beyond finalizing the edit, I intend to redesign the covers for a more unified look to the series. I took time off after completing the first draft of 'War' to study some of the intricacies of Blender a most wonderful 3d package. I watched countless hours of YouTubers and began several projects, one of which is to be the foundation for the new design. A challenging, though rewarding struggle after years of 3D Studio, Maya and Lightwave, each package has its own pros and cons. Blender has moved ahead in leaps and bounds in the intervening years. 2.9 is well worth a download for those interested, and it can only improve going forward. I have little confidence I will do the package much justice, but it is enormous fun to try.
One of the bugbears, complaints of others was the style of prose in the original novel. Grammatically it is correct, I assure you. Though for effect I have on occasion indulged the odd partial or incomplete sentence and perhaps an overabundance of commas. We adhered to an informal rather than formal dogmatic approach regarding grammar. For those concerned, they are correctly used, following the Chicago style regarding placement. Though, I do not choose to indulge the Oxford comma. I may, before the release of the third novel of this trilogy, re-edit the manuscript of 'Prelude' and bring it in line with 'War' and doubtless 'Rebellion' (Working title).
The story of 'War', as indicated previously, picks up immediately after the conclusion of 'Prelude'. Reluctantly I have included a digest of the first book for those disinclined or too busy to read the first. At just over a couple of pages it is hardly exhaustive or definitive but should hopefully cover the basics. I would, of course, prefer you to read the novel.
With the Karsten arrival, we follow the adventures of Keira and Ella in this time of war and mayhem. The highs, the lows and the struggle to stay alive while countless lives are lost. We encounter beauty, bravery and pain as they battle and are betrayed, by both friends and enemies alike. No one book can ever hope to encompass an entire war, and in this tale, we are only at the very beginning.
The new book is perhaps even less child friendly than the first. Late teens possibly this is a book primarily intended for Adults. Both the use of colorful language and the level of violence has markedly increased. There is no deliberate attempt to shock though those of a sensitive disposition, may be put off.

This week I was taken to write the Prologue to the third installment of the Trader trilogy. How does it all end, one wonders? The following is whilst spelt correctly is neither the final draft or been fixed for grammar. I thought to share this only because I felt it was important to show I do actually know where I am going.

“Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light." - John Milton

This could be considered a spoiler and if you do not wish to know, read no further.

Prologue

First Empress of Gehenna, rested her weary bones on the throne one last time. The hall deserted, no guard or attendant in sight to tend the needs or offer company. Only the distant light of the twin stars illuminated the cavernous chamber. Reflecting off the pristine polished surfaces, the colour shifted with each glancing contact. Floating, drifting in the void the vast warship was home of sorts to thousands. For days they had journeyed to reach her origin, her birthplace. She urged them on, to hasten, but would not tell them why.
Fashioned of black marble, inlaid with gold filigree, the throne was a fitting tribute upon which a monarch’s ass could reside. Raised up on three broad plinths, thirty feet tall. Carved with an exaggerated likeness from her youth. Indomitable, she stood to gaze down, with inlaid emerald eyes upon the breadth of her domain. Cushions soften the numbness of long hours, listening to the endless chatter of advisors, courtiers and subjects. If she squinted, she could see the familiar heavens, but they held little comfort now. Seventy-two years, three months and some odd days she had endured the title. Bestowed, not because her people loved her, though a few still did. She occupied the throne despite the better claims of others because she was not them.
When she perished, a few final breaths remained, it would be with the hope to reunite with the love of her life. Decades, she had borne the loss and mourned every second since. Having no faith to speak of, it was the last foolish desire of an old woman. Childless, there would be no dynasty to follow. She had named no successor for she deemed none worthy to ascend. Chaos and destruction of the years, decades to come would be her abiding legacy.
A thousand titles they had bestowed upon her over the years. Supreme Commander of Gehenna, First Lord of the Heavens. Slayer of the Dark, Crusher of Souls, the list was superfluous and no more worthy of attention than those her enemies afforded.
Sealed in a vault far below, in the belly of the ship was a small box. Atop a light blinked, slowed to a crawl, in harmony with the beat of her failing heart. Within the box, dwelt an intelligence which had been her constant companion for much of her nigh century span. When she died, and die she must, so too it would pass. In her hand, the last shred of a stuffed toy, reduced to no more than a gossamer rag. A lover’s gift, precious beyond measure. Released from her grasp the fragment fluttered to the floor. Death of a Queen, an Empress, mighty warrior. A hero to some, a murderess to others. The histories and the tales would never tell the truth, but she was gone and did not care.

“Down to Gehenna, or up to the Throne, He travels the fastest who travels alone.” - Rudyard Kipling.

The second book, Trader - War will pick up the story from the end of the first novel.
As the war progresses, we follow the trials and tribulations of Keira, Ella and the others on their journey. No novel can possibly hope to encompass the full horrors of war and the toll it exacts. The challenges Keira faces are therefore of a personal nature, supplemented with items of News or details of pertinent events which have bearing.
A friend commented he viewed Keira as psychotic. I regard this as unfair, this is not earth and the morals and ethics we hold are not directly comparable. Impulsive, headstrong, foolhardy even, yes. The world she inhabits is neither just or fair. She lives by her own moral code and standards.
"Do every act of your life as if it were your last." - Marcus Aurelius

We only recently joined Goodreads at the end of May 2020. I sad, I know, we have no friends or followers on the site as yet. Perhaps one day.
We are not vain enough to think we are insightful, unique or even worthy to stand comparison to the many literary giants who have gone before.
I write what I write because I have a love of characters and worlds they inhabit. Good or bad they have their own tale to tell.


The first effort is up on Amazon. Currently available on Kindle Unlimited, Ebook and Paperback. The second part is progressing well and will hopefully be out later this year.