Martyn Stanley's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-release"

Well, part 3 is progressing nicely! My volunteer editor is now going through the first half of part 3, and I'm now over 51,000 words. There's still a long way to go though! It is going to be bigger, in fact it's going to be huge. I can't see it being less than 100,000 at the moment, but after careful deliberation I've decided not to break up the books again. I did think book 3 could have become, 'Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Blood Trials' but it's starting to get ridiculous! So I'm going to press on and release a late, but double the expected size. 'Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Temple of the Mad God'

It's coming, I know it's late, but it will be worth the wait!

Martyn

I have to say, given the vastly increase in size of book 3 and the fact that I'm approaching a logical point to end a book. (Which is still miles away from the Temple of the Mad God) I am seriously looking at changing book 3 into 'The Blood Queen'

When will it be out? Early 2014 I think, and I think it will be longer than 1 and 2, but not double or triple the size as it would have been if I kept it as 'The Temple of the Mad God'

Mad God will follow, eventually... But for now, start looking forward to 'The Blood Queen'

The Blood Queen is coming! It's going to be long and different. We're going to learn what 'Deathsworn' means and we're going to have a much better feel for who Vashni really is. I can't wait to get it finished and out there!

Martyn

I'm getting closer! I have worked out a rescue plan for a difficult scenario, where several of the companions are incapacitated. By January the 1st I will be on the editing, proofing, tweaking and polishing things!

I really hope this goes down well and people enjoy it as much as they enjoyed the first two books.

Martyn

I'm over 78,000 words! I've titled what I think will be the penultimate chapter! The last chapter should be epic if I can get it write, I'm really excited about it, I've been looking forward to writing this bit for weeks! Really excited! I will be releasing all three parts along with an anthology of all three, all freshly edited and proofed, with brand new covers, by the excellent artist, and my very good friend Isis Sousa. I also have agent interest and am working on a book proposal for a print deal with a publisher! 2014 could be a very exciting year for The Deathsworn Arc !

The Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Blood Queen ! First rough draft is officially finished!

It's come in at around 85,000 words! After a bit of editing and tweaking that might go up a bit or down a bit, or maybe both before it's settled! But it's done! I'm so relieved, it's been a slog at times, finishing 'The Blood Queen' seemed harder than the other books, but I'm really happy with the content! I can't wait to get it edited, proofed, polished and tweaked!

It'll still be a while before it's ready to live, I want to get it 'right' first time this time!

I just received a 3 Star rating on Goodreads. I always feel a little bit disappointed when I get 3 Stars. However when looked through the person's list, they also gave 'The Hobbit' 3 stars, so maybe I'm in good company?

I also have to admit, going through a very arduous edit, to improve books 1,2 and 3 before my big re-release with new covers and a combined trilogy edition... There are flaws in my writing, somethings I over use, my grammar is NOT perfect. I'm hoping to resolve most of these problems and make the next release definitive and unchanging and to not edit and re-upload future books.

I suppose I should take heart that so many people enjoy my story and my characters enough to ignore the flaws in the writing, the flaws which hopefully my next edit will eliminate.

So to everyone who saw through the minor issues, enjoyed the story and was prepared to stand up and say so - thank you!

I have a great new cover, a freshly edited and revised version and I am really pleased with it! I think Isis Sousa has done an incredible job with the cover and the text is much, much tighter.

Going through and trying to improve the book has really taught me two lessons.

1:Don't rush to publish.
2:Get at least 3 people to read, edit and correct before release.

I'm still not certain it's 100% perfect, but I'm 100% certain it's a lot closer. Without going to a professional editor and losing out financially I don't know what more I can do!

I've been busy lately, but I finally got my human genetics assignment out of the way this weekend! So what have I got in the pipeline?

1. I'm about halfway through a second edit of 'Deathsworn Arc 3: The Blood Queen'.

2. I am waiting for my cover artist Isis Sousafor the new book 2 'The Verkreath Horror' Cover. I'm also waiting for my wife to proof-read book 2. I am working on a definitive improved 'blurb' for the back cover too!

3. I have a manuscript out with a publisher! Just book 1, but they sounded genuinely interested.

4. Another publishing contact has asked me for a series synopsis, manuscripts and proposal packages for books 1 and 2 ! I have a series synopsis, but it isn't exact or concise - I need something punchier.

So I have an incredible amount of work up in the air at the moment. I'm hoping the definitive book 2 will be uploaded and available within a fortnight, I expect Book will be May at this point. I can only apologise for the long wait, but I don't want to repeat my early mistake of releasing books before they're truly finished. So bear with me, it'll be worth it!

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