Martyn Stanley's Blog - Posts Tagged "literary-agent"
Author Interview!
My author interview got posted on the 'cult of me' blog:-
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...
My revised version of book 2 is coming along nicely. The cover is looking great, it's going to be in the same style as the new cover for book 1 but will feature Brael and Votrex as they play bigger parts in the second installment.
I an toning down the dark tone of the second book ever so slightly. Mainly to make it appeal to a broader audience and to be more sure of falling within what constitutes 'good taste' I wanted 2 to be edgy and challenging, but in certain aspects I think I went too far. The new version which will feature the Brael and Votrex Cover should rectify this.
I'm also working hard on the editing and polishing of book 3! The cover for three I think will feature Vashni and Saul. When I have all the cover for one two and three, I am going to crop the images for new portraits to insert into book 1.
Is the series concluded in book 3? No, it really gets started I think towards the end of book 4, thats when things will start to make sense and the main villain of the series will be introduced.
Sorry about the long wait for book 3 and the revision of book 2 - I really want to get them out, but I want the next version of 2 to be definitive and I don't want to continue the bad habit of releasing things too early. So hopefully book 3 will be worth the wait!
I can't wait to see it up there and get some feedback on it. I'm really excited about book 3, and I can't wait to start book 4!
Plus I have some interest from literary agents and publishers! Only really 'interest' at the moment, but interest is good!
Please bear with me, the revised book 2 and book 3 are on the way!
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...
My revised version of book 2 is coming along nicely. The cover is looking great, it's going to be in the same style as the new cover for book 1 but will feature Brael and Votrex as they play bigger parts in the second installment.
I an toning down the dark tone of the second book ever so slightly. Mainly to make it appeal to a broader audience and to be more sure of falling within what constitutes 'good taste' I wanted 2 to be edgy and challenging, but in certain aspects I think I went too far. The new version which will feature the Brael and Votrex Cover should rectify this.
I'm also working hard on the editing and polishing of book 3! The cover for three I think will feature Vashni and Saul. When I have all the cover for one two and three, I am going to crop the images for new portraits to insert into book 1.
Is the series concluded in book 3? No, it really gets started I think towards the end of book 4, thats when things will start to make sense and the main villain of the series will be introduced.
Sorry about the long wait for book 3 and the revision of book 2 - I really want to get them out, but I want the next version of 2 to be definitive and I don't want to continue the bad habit of releasing things too early. So hopefully book 3 will be worth the wait!
I can't wait to see it up there and get some feedback on it. I'm really excited about book 3, and I can't wait to start book 4!
Plus I have some interest from literary agents and publishers! Only really 'interest' at the moment, but interest is good!
Please bear with me, the revised book 2 and book 3 are on the way!
More progress!
I've been through the second edit of the chapter with the big fight scenes of 'The Blood Queen'.
It's been tough - but I'm through it and happier with the text. I think it's tough to write an action scene without overdoing the long sentences. One thing I try to keep telling myself is 'short, sharp, punchy sentences' of course the best writing has an ebb and flow of long and short sentences and this keeps the text interesting. My sin is to use too many, too long sentences - but I think my editing is working well to correct it.
Isis Sousa has more or less finished the image for book 2! I have a new blurb, I'm just waiting for my proofer to go through book 2 with me. The new book 2 should be the definitive version.
I didn't want to make editorial changes, but some of the material in book 2 is very strong and has the potential to put sensitive people off the series. The new version will be a much more rounded story, with less outright sadistic treatment by the villains.
The main thing early readers need to know, that they missed if they read the first edition - is that the Verkreath has a human helping them. He's a main character, you haven't missed much though. All book 2 tells you is that he exists and that he was assisting the Verkreath. We learn little more about him in book 3 : The Blood Queen. Book 3 is more focused on Cormaroth, the Empress, the Heart Stones and the Isharian Church. Of course you can image 'The Truth' has a part to play in the story, a big part to play.
I really can't wait to get the definitive book 2 out and the definitive book 3 out, but I can't rush it. I will not repeat my early mistake of releasing books before they're ready. I know it seems I've slowed down a lot, but when I write book 4 I will be proofing and editing as I write, so the finished article won't be such a monster to edit. Book 3 is longer than I originally said too! It's now 90,000 words, 50% longer than the first two books. I hope that doesn't put you off though, it needs to be that long - because a lot happens in book 3.
Martyn
It's been tough - but I'm through it and happier with the text. I think it's tough to write an action scene without overdoing the long sentences. One thing I try to keep telling myself is 'short, sharp, punchy sentences' of course the best writing has an ebb and flow of long and short sentences and this keeps the text interesting. My sin is to use too many, too long sentences - but I think my editing is working well to correct it.
Isis Sousa has more or less finished the image for book 2! I have a new blurb, I'm just waiting for my proofer to go through book 2 with me. The new book 2 should be the definitive version.
I didn't want to make editorial changes, but some of the material in book 2 is very strong and has the potential to put sensitive people off the series. The new version will be a much more rounded story, with less outright sadistic treatment by the villains.
The main thing early readers need to know, that they missed if they read the first edition - is that the Verkreath has a human helping them. He's a main character, you haven't missed much though. All book 2 tells you is that he exists and that he was assisting the Verkreath. We learn little more about him in book 3 : The Blood Queen. Book 3 is more focused on Cormaroth, the Empress, the Heart Stones and the Isharian Church. Of course you can image 'The Truth' has a part to play in the story, a big part to play.
I really can't wait to get the definitive book 2 out and the definitive book 3 out, but I can't rush it. I will not repeat my early mistake of releasing books before they're ready. I know it seems I've slowed down a lot, but when I write book 4 I will be proofing and editing as I write, so the finished article won't be such a monster to edit. Book 3 is longer than I originally said too! It's now 90,000 words, 50% longer than the first two books. I hope that doesn't put you off though, it needs to be that long - because a lot happens in book 3.
Martyn
The Temple of the Mad God
First of all, I've entered a Goodreads book giveaway!
For this:-
I really enjoyed Isis's 'Duskland' and I'm really excited about this illustrated version! So why not enter yourself? It's for a signed copy!
Yes I'm biased, Isis Sousa is my illustrator for Deathsworn Arc and is also becoming something like an estranged friend. Her writing is interesting though. Duskland has a very surreal feel to it. It reminds me a little of 'Una Pura Formalita' in it's style and pace.
Secondly I've actually started 'Deathsworn Arc 4: The Temple of the Mad God'. I know, I know, 'Deathsworn Arc 3: The Blood Queen' isn't out yet, the cover is still being perfected, the editing and proofing is still churning away. In my defence it's nearly 50% bigger than the first two books, it's over 80,000 words. It's also more complex, the plot is more complex, more backstory is revealed with some major twists, more characters... And more exploration of the theme : 'Criticism of religion' namely the Isharian Church. I need to handle this sensitively, it needs to be subtle and thought provoking, I don't want to preach, I just want to question.
I know it's turning out to be the longest wait ever, but it will be worth it, 'The Blood Queen' is going to be really, really special.
I also want to write book 4 more slowly, so editing and proofing isn't such a complete nightmare. So I'm going to take my time and perfect it as I go along. I know what happens, it's going to be another big book, time will get stretched out more in this one too.
Oh, I am going to release an anthology of the first three parts soon too! But my first priority is my book proposal for a publisher who is showing some interest, then finishing book 3.
Busy, busy!
Martyn
For this:-
I really enjoyed Isis's 'Duskland' and I'm really excited about this illustrated version! So why not enter yourself? It's for a signed copy!
Yes I'm biased, Isis Sousa is my illustrator for Deathsworn Arc and is also becoming something like an estranged friend. Her writing is interesting though. Duskland has a very surreal feel to it. It reminds me a little of 'Una Pura Formalita' in it's style and pace.
Secondly I've actually started 'Deathsworn Arc 4: The Temple of the Mad God'. I know, I know, 'Deathsworn Arc 3: The Blood Queen' isn't out yet, the cover is still being perfected, the editing and proofing is still churning away. In my defence it's nearly 50% bigger than the first two books, it's over 80,000 words. It's also more complex, the plot is more complex, more backstory is revealed with some major twists, more characters... And more exploration of the theme : 'Criticism of religion' namely the Isharian Church. I need to handle this sensitively, it needs to be subtle and thought provoking, I don't want to preach, I just want to question.
I know it's turning out to be the longest wait ever, but it will be worth it, 'The Blood Queen' is going to be really, really special.
I also want to write book 4 more slowly, so editing and proofing isn't such a complete nightmare. So I'm going to take my time and perfect it as I go along. I know what happens, it's going to be another big book, time will get stretched out more in this one too.
Oh, I am going to release an anthology of the first three parts soon too! But my first priority is my book proposal for a publisher who is showing some interest, then finishing book 3.
Busy, busy!
Martyn
1000 words of 'Mad God'
Well, I've had a busy weekend. I spent all day outside on Saturday, digging, mixing concrete, barrow-ing concrete, filling skips, driving the dumper and the digger (until the digger burst a hydraulic hose - guess we over-worked it?)
I suppose it's a sacrifice from having a large plot of land, living semi-rurally and developing as you go. It rained heavily all day, but strangely I wasn't miserable about it, I actually found it quite cathartic. We put an 8 foot wooden gatepost in, I put a stone one in last weekend - that was actually harder.
I've pushed on with my edits of 'The Blood Queen' and discussed some interesting plot tweaks with my primary beta-reader, so I can get a bit more character in now, and tie some loose ends up better later.
I've also written over 1000 words of 'Deathsworn Arc 4: The Temple of the Mad God' my main gripe is that I haven't finished my book proposal! I really want to get this done. A publishing deal might not increase my revenue - it might make it go down. However it will strengthen my 'brand' and lend my stories credibility.
I'm really excited about part 4, I changed perspective and started writing from the point of view of the condemned girl who is to be burned at the stake as explained in book 3. It's a great, fresh way to start the book. I think it's going to be really exciting. I can't wait to explore her emotions and fears. I've really enjoyed writing this scene so far.
On a lighter note, I also actually tried to begin tackling my 7 year old daughter's 'Lego Hell' literally for a long time her floor has been 70% covered in bits of Lego, with just a narrow path to her bed. It doesn't help that her 3 year old brother loves to break up her models and spread the bits around, before pinching key components and hiding them in his 'hoarding drawer'. So I spent a couple of hours scouring the floor for bits and re-building models with her, and we cleared most of the floor, built the castle, built several vehicle and generally made a massive impact. There's still LOTS to do. I could spend a week building Lego's with her and we'd still be in a mess. I used to love Lego as a child, I'm learning to hate it and fear it as an adult... Building the castle was fun, but actually pretty tricky when all the bits are mixed, together, mixed with other bits and in some cases built into other random creations she or her brother has thrown up.
I almost feel the best advice to anyone who wants their child to enjoy Lego is not to buy models, but buy sets with no instructions and just let them be creative - although it could mean the sea of painful Lego bricks carpeting the floor ends up even greater and intimidating...
I suppose it's a sacrifice from having a large plot of land, living semi-rurally and developing as you go. It rained heavily all day, but strangely I wasn't miserable about it, I actually found it quite cathartic. We put an 8 foot wooden gatepost in, I put a stone one in last weekend - that was actually harder.
I've pushed on with my edits of 'The Blood Queen' and discussed some interesting plot tweaks with my primary beta-reader, so I can get a bit more character in now, and tie some loose ends up better later.
I've also written over 1000 words of 'Deathsworn Arc 4: The Temple of the Mad God' my main gripe is that I haven't finished my book proposal! I really want to get this done. A publishing deal might not increase my revenue - it might make it go down. However it will strengthen my 'brand' and lend my stories credibility.
I'm really excited about part 4, I changed perspective and started writing from the point of view of the condemned girl who is to be burned at the stake as explained in book 3. It's a great, fresh way to start the book. I think it's going to be really exciting. I can't wait to explore her emotions and fears. I've really enjoyed writing this scene so far.
On a lighter note, I also actually tried to begin tackling my 7 year old daughter's 'Lego Hell' literally for a long time her floor has been 70% covered in bits of Lego, with just a narrow path to her bed. It doesn't help that her 3 year old brother loves to break up her models and spread the bits around, before pinching key components and hiding them in his 'hoarding drawer'. So I spent a couple of hours scouring the floor for bits and re-building models with her, and we cleared most of the floor, built the castle, built several vehicle and generally made a massive impact. There's still LOTS to do. I could spend a week building Lego's with her and we'd still be in a mess. I used to love Lego as a child, I'm learning to hate it and fear it as an adult... Building the castle was fun, but actually pretty tricky when all the bits are mixed, together, mixed with other bits and in some cases built into other random creations she or her brother has thrown up.
I almost feel the best advice to anyone who wants their child to enjoy Lego is not to buy models, but buy sets with no instructions and just let them be creative - although it could mean the sea of painful Lego bricks carpeting the floor ends up even greater and intimidating...
