Martyn Stanley's Blog - Posts Tagged "temple-of-the-mad-god"
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...
More Agent Interest!
After another round of submissions inquiries, I've had several more requests for manuscripts!
I'm dabbling with the idea of trying my luck with YA and NA specializing agents. My fear is that 'Deathsworn Arc' is a little bit old for YA. I suppose I perceive YA as being 'teen' novels. Now I don't think my books are very suitable for under thirteen's. I actually think they are probably best suited to fifteen plus, maybe fourteen plus?
Superficially they are fantasy adventure stories. However they deal with some adult themes and they have some graphic violence in them.
They look at attraction, racism, inter-race relationships, senescence, longevity, the meaning of life, purpose, faith, morality, pragmatism, the notion of bravery and honor...
They also have a deeply routed theme of atheism and pragmatism. I can't explain why, but over the last few years I've become ruthlessly logical and rational, perhaps even a little 'cold'. I wonder if it's partly because of the increased presence of religious extremism in the news, and partly because my mother seems to be inclined to believe in anything and everything. I can't believe in anything, unless there is strong observable, repeatable evidence for it. When I rationally consider the existence of a creator god, I find it impossible to find a rational, logical route to one existing. I can find many rational, logical routes for primitive humans inventing a god and then later developing the idea.
When I decided to use my fantasy series to explore atheism and loss of faith, I wasn't sure it was a good idea. I try to keep it subtle, and keep the story about the characters. There's still a risk these themes could put off deeply religious people. That's a risk I'm willing to to take. A wise man once told me, if you want your work to be loved by some, you have to accept it might be hated by others. When you're trying to evoke strong emotions in your readers, you are taking a risk. Nobody likes a flat roller-coaster, or a plot without twists, people get enjoyment from being surprised.
I always like to have story elements cross books too, I want every book to feel both complete in it's own right, but also a part of a bigger story.
I managed to go through about 30 pages with my beta-reader come editor last night and managed to implement about 10 pages of edits! I'm now ready to start editing the chapter called 'The Challenge of Burgess'
Anyone who has read book 2 will know this chapter involves a duel... Or two :)
I'm dabbling with the idea of trying my luck with YA and NA specializing agents. My fear is that 'Deathsworn Arc' is a little bit old for YA. I suppose I perceive YA as being 'teen' novels. Now I don't think my books are very suitable for under thirteen's. I actually think they are probably best suited to fifteen plus, maybe fourteen plus?
Superficially they are fantasy adventure stories. However they deal with some adult themes and they have some graphic violence in them.
They look at attraction, racism, inter-race relationships, senescence, longevity, the meaning of life, purpose, faith, morality, pragmatism, the notion of bravery and honor...
They also have a deeply routed theme of atheism and pragmatism. I can't explain why, but over the last few years I've become ruthlessly logical and rational, perhaps even a little 'cold'. I wonder if it's partly because of the increased presence of religious extremism in the news, and partly because my mother seems to be inclined to believe in anything and everything. I can't believe in anything, unless there is strong observable, repeatable evidence for it. When I rationally consider the existence of a creator god, I find it impossible to find a rational, logical route to one existing. I can find many rational, logical routes for primitive humans inventing a god and then later developing the idea.
When I decided to use my fantasy series to explore atheism and loss of faith, I wasn't sure it was a good idea. I try to keep it subtle, and keep the story about the characters. There's still a risk these themes could put off deeply religious people. That's a risk I'm willing to to take. A wise man once told me, if you want your work to be loved by some, you have to accept it might be hated by others. When you're trying to evoke strong emotions in your readers, you are taking a risk. Nobody likes a flat roller-coaster, or a plot without twists, people get enjoyment from being surprised.
I always like to have story elements cross books too, I want every book to feel both complete in it's own right, but also a part of a bigger story.
I managed to go through about 30 pages with my beta-reader come editor last night and managed to implement about 10 pages of edits! I'm now ready to start editing the chapter called 'The Challenge of Burgess'
Anyone who has read book 2 will know this chapter involves a duel... Or two :)
Cover for 'The Blood Queen' is back on!
Had a pretty dismal weekend for sales of The Deathsworn Arc, 'The Last Dragon Slayer' sold one copy in the UK.
Not sure why things have dried up so suddenly.
I'm still hoping the release of 'The Blood Queen' will revitalize sales. The cover is back on, I've given feedback and I'm waiting for a new WIP.
I'm still editing and polishing my first 1000 words of 'Temple Of the Mad God' and I'm waiting for my beta-reader come editor to read the rest of 'The Blood Queen' before I start attacking it with my proof-reader.
I had some rejection from publishers and agents recently too. I may have to accept self-publishing is my only option for Deathsworn Arc and look at traditional publishing for my second series. I really need to understand why 'The Deathsworn Arc' isn't being picked up. I know it's a good story, I get generally good feedback. Readers enjoy it, I think people enjoy book 2 more than one, perhaps because the companions are not so much the bunch of strangers thrown together, as they were in book 1.
I do wonder if it's the atheist, free-thinking themes of the series that puts agents off. I find the topic of faith and religion fascinating though, and I don't know if I can write anything without involving it at some level.
Perhaps my fortune will improve with the release of book 3 'The Blood Queen' ?
Not sure why things have dried up so suddenly.
I'm still hoping the release of 'The Blood Queen' will revitalize sales. The cover is back on, I've given feedback and I'm waiting for a new WIP.
I'm still editing and polishing my first 1000 words of 'Temple Of the Mad God' and I'm waiting for my beta-reader come editor to read the rest of 'The Blood Queen' before I start attacking it with my proof-reader.
I had some rejection from publishers and agents recently too. I may have to accept self-publishing is my only option for Deathsworn Arc and look at traditional publishing for my second series. I really need to understand why 'The Deathsworn Arc' isn't being picked up. I know it's a good story, I get generally good feedback. Readers enjoy it, I think people enjoy book 2 more than one, perhaps because the companions are not so much the bunch of strangers thrown together, as they were in book 1.
I do wonder if it's the atheist, free-thinking themes of the series that puts agents off. I find the topic of faith and religion fascinating though, and I don't know if I can write anything without involving it at some level.
Perhaps my fortune will improve with the release of book 3 'The Blood Queen' ?
I've seen a WIP!
The latest cover WIP by Isis Sousa is very, very close.
It's a really great image. I'm desperate to share it, but I need to get closer to finishing the text. I am going to incorporate the portrait of Saul from the cover into the book 1 profiles. Vashni is looking great.
I feel a little bit scared about releasing book 3. I've had such great feedback for book 2, that I think the change of pace and tone in 3, well - it could go either way. My biggest concern is that not enough people press on to book 2. I get great feedback for book 1, but book 2 is still not really moving. In some respects I think - should I have written one, 2 million word epic? It'd take a long time though - and I don't know if readers would be prepared to invest their time to read so much into a new author - plus I'd lose the chance to allow feedback to shape the series.
Book 4 is well underway at least, and I think the opening is very, very strong.
More rejection from agents and publishers today! I'm not perturbed though! If they won't take me on, then I'll Lightning Source my paperbacks, set them up with a non-sale return policy and send some postcards out to book stores.
I am also planning on de-KDP Selecting the entire series at some point. So Kobo and Barnes and Noble readers should be able enjoy them too!
It's a really great image. I'm desperate to share it, but I need to get closer to finishing the text. I am going to incorporate the portrait of Saul from the cover into the book 1 profiles. Vashni is looking great.
I feel a little bit scared about releasing book 3. I've had such great feedback for book 2, that I think the change of pace and tone in 3, well - it could go either way. My biggest concern is that not enough people press on to book 2. I get great feedback for book 1, but book 2 is still not really moving. In some respects I think - should I have written one, 2 million word epic? It'd take a long time though - and I don't know if readers would be prepared to invest their time to read so much into a new author - plus I'd lose the chance to allow feedback to shape the series.
Book 4 is well underway at least, and I think the opening is very, very strong.
More rejection from agents and publishers today! I'm not perturbed though! If they won't take me on, then I'll Lightning Source my paperbacks, set them up with a non-sale return policy and send some postcards out to book stores.
I am also planning on de-KDP Selecting the entire series at some point. So Kobo and Barnes and Noble readers should be able enjoy them too!
Big Cover Reveal! What do you think?
Well, it's here!
The big cover reveal for book 3!
I haven't created the book listing on Goodreads yet, as I don't have the blurb ready. However the cover is I think, READY!
Do you like it?
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Martyn
The big cover reveal for book 3!
I haven't created the book listing on Goodreads yet, as I don't have the blurb ready. However the cover is I think, READY!
Do you like it?
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Martyn
More work!
I'm still looking at the covers.
Isis Sousa has mocked up a bolder cover with bigger text and more emphasis on the author:-
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/h...
Here's the old one:-
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.ne...
I'm still not sure whether to emphasize the series name as the brand or the author name. I do think the book title should be a little bolder.
What do you think? Which cover looks best?
Isis Sousa has mocked up a bolder cover with bigger text and more emphasis on the author:-
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/h...
Here's the old one:-
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.ne...
I'm still not sure whether to emphasize the series name as the brand or the author name. I do think the book title should be a little bolder.
What do you think? Which cover looks best?
Add to Goodreads!
I'm looking at trying to make a widget for the back of my books so you can add them to goodreads with one click.
I'm not sure if this is possible though. If anyone knows it can or can't be done, I'd love to hear from them!
I'm not sure if this is possible though. If anyone knows it can or can't be done, I'd love to hear from them!
The Good and the Bad - where's the Ugly?
Good news, I managed to get about 50 pages edited with my beta-reader/first editor. The end is in sight! There's a few more chapters to go, about 150 pages I think. (It's double-spaced) I think the edits are going well though, I'm waiting for my beta-reader to read ahead now.
I've been itching to get The Blood Queen out for so long!
I'm still writing out the early chapters of book 4 'The Temple of the Mad God'
The bad news, is disappointingly I've had a 1 star rating on The Last Dragon Slayer! It's the first 1 star it's had and there's no explanation. I wonder if the reader has an early version which wasn't as well edited as it should be? I hate it when there's no explanation - you can't learn anything from that. I had a 1 star for book 2, but I think that person had probably read book 1 and enjoyed it, but I hadn't got the edited version of 2 up at the time. Hopefully book 3 will eliminate these problems, I know you can't please everyone as well - but if people really hate the story I'd love to know why.
I've been itching to get The Blood Queen out for so long!
I'm still writing out the early chapters of book 4 'The Temple of the Mad God'
The bad news, is disappointingly I've had a 1 star rating on The Last Dragon Slayer! It's the first 1 star it's had and there's no explanation. I wonder if the reader has an early version which wasn't as well edited as it should be? I hate it when there's no explanation - you can't learn anything from that. I had a 1 star for book 2, but I think that person had probably read book 1 and enjoyed it, but I hadn't got the edited version of 2 up at the time. Hopefully book 3 will eliminate these problems, I know you can't please everyone as well - but if people really hate the story I'd love to know why.
I'm 37, I'm not old!
Always been a python fan. I've been waiting decades to use that as a blog post title!
My Birthday FB Post re-posted here:-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My list of achievements for 36 - 37?
1. I'm still alive
2. I've still never been arrested
3. I've still never been sectioned under the mental health act 1983
4. I still haven't started drinking while at work
5. At least 800 people read Deathsworn Arc : The Last Dragon Slayer and at least 120 people have read Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror across US and UK in the last 12 months - and not a single death-threat or fatwa! That's a pretty good success rate I reckon.
My continued lack of a stylish, fun-to-drive personal motorcar means I'm still considering changing my name to Car-less but at least it's cheap! I've had some great presents, which infer I need new clothes and drink a lot of alcohol - which are both pretty accurate so I can't complain! Here's to being able to provide another, great, positive birthday report in 12 months!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am really, really desperate to get my book 3 out now. It's so close! And Deathsworn 4 is coming along excellently!
I just wish, wish I could get my readership up. I'd like to add a zero to those figures by this time next year - but currently I haven't come up with anything like a plan for how to achieve that. Anyone who said - if you build it, they will come - was wrong. They should have said, 'If you build it, edit and polish to perfection, scream about it, promote it everywhere and do everything in your power to let people know about it, they still won't come unless you're very lucky.'
I still have a few ideas to try. I hope having book 3 out will help - I've never put out a new release with a great cover straight off the bat. I even wonder about doing a double Kindle Countdown at the point where I release book 3? good idea? My book 3 image got a lot of FB likes and raised awareness of the series.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
I really wish I'd got my book 3 out earlier - but I had to re-work and perfect books 1 and 2, I'm only sorry I didn't sort them out earlier.
From now on, nothing goes out unless I'm 90% sure it's error-free and good.
Yes it's slowing down the process, but it's providing a better reader-experience and it's giving me more confidence to promote the 'Deathsworn Arc' I will take this new approach when I actually start putting out my second series - my angels and demons urban fantasy with a theistic twist.
My Birthday FB Post re-posted here:-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My list of achievements for 36 - 37?
1. I'm still alive
2. I've still never been arrested
3. I've still never been sectioned under the mental health act 1983
4. I still haven't started drinking while at work
5. At least 800 people read Deathsworn Arc : The Last Dragon Slayer and at least 120 people have read Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror across US and UK in the last 12 months - and not a single death-threat or fatwa! That's a pretty good success rate I reckon.
My continued lack of a stylish, fun-to-drive personal motorcar means I'm still considering changing my name to Car-less but at least it's cheap! I've had some great presents, which infer I need new clothes and drink a lot of alcohol - which are both pretty accurate so I can't complain! Here's to being able to provide another, great, positive birthday report in 12 months!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am really, really desperate to get my book 3 out now. It's so close! And Deathsworn 4 is coming along excellently!
I just wish, wish I could get my readership up. I'd like to add a zero to those figures by this time next year - but currently I haven't come up with anything like a plan for how to achieve that. Anyone who said - if you build it, they will come - was wrong. They should have said, 'If you build it, edit and polish to perfection, scream about it, promote it everywhere and do everything in your power to let people know about it, they still won't come unless you're very lucky.'
I still have a few ideas to try. I hope having book 3 out will help - I've never put out a new release with a great cover straight off the bat. I even wonder about doing a double Kindle Countdown at the point where I release book 3? good idea? My book 3 image got a lot of FB likes and raised awareness of the series.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
I really wish I'd got my book 3 out earlier - but I had to re-work and perfect books 1 and 2, I'm only sorry I didn't sort them out earlier.
From now on, nothing goes out unless I'm 90% sure it's error-free and good.
Yes it's slowing down the process, but it's providing a better reader-experience and it's giving me more confidence to promote the 'Deathsworn Arc' I will take this new approach when I actually start putting out my second series - my angels and demons urban fantasy with a theistic twist.
New Reviews and a reflection on feeling rotten.
I've been very, VERY ill for the last two days. I spent most of yesterday asleep, or desperately wanting to feel better. Doing simple tasks, like fetching a glass of water, or changing a toddler's nappy seemed like gargantuan, painfully difficult tasks.
Even getting up after lying down to go for a pee seemed like too much effort for how I felt. I couldn't even think about my stories - didn't write a thing, didn't edit a thing - progress = zero.
Now this got me thinking, in all the fantasy stories I've read, the heroes never got a sick bug. I know this sounds a benign and silly topic - but what if just prior to a big battle the hero starts throwing up and feeling giddy? I can't get the idea out of my head now - I don't know where to work it in or how it will work, but I think I want to explore it. It even leads me on to the thought - what if the heroes are thrown into battle, with massive hang-overs or while they're blind drunk having spent the night in an alehouse drinking?
Haha! I feel sorry for my characters, I'm so mean to them!
I'm also proper chuffed about the last two reviews I got for Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror.
One from Tiffany :-
And one from Ionia:-
I was a bit nervous about the one star review I had the other day for the same book. It just goes to show, what I've always believed - if you want anyone to love it - be prepared for some to hate it.
It's a dark book, it's a gritty book. The thing is, the hell the companions go through in book 2 really pulls them together. In book 1 they were a bunch of strangers, getting to know each other and being a bit nervous. The truth is Vashni behaves the way she does in book 1 because she's... Hmmmm, she's kind of a loner - something of a misfit. She doesn't fit in well with most Toreans because she's an elf, but she doesn't fit in well with elves because she's spent so much time around Torea.
I think this can happen in our world, when immigrants struggle to find their place both in their old communities and in their new ones. They describe some ex-pats who spend a lot of time in America as 'Mid-Atlantic' and I think this is the same sort of thing. The Film East meets west covered this well too I think.
When she suggests Brael disappears with her - it's a genuine offer. She sees him at that point as the one she's most likely to be able to form something of a companionship with.
By the time they get to Cormaroth the companions are much closer and her defences drop a little - though she still maintains her lofty opinion of her abilities, sometimes expecting to succeed with confidence, bust still failing.
When you read book 3 you might be surprised who Vashni seems to enjoy the most companionship with. There are a lot of big reveals for Vashni, her age is finally revealed in book 3, some of her past is revealed. One of the interesting points that is revealed is exactly why she was present in Trest, attired as an assassin when the companions first encountered her.
I wish I could reveal more. The story is finally beginning to get going. I'm still intending to introduce the main villain in book 4 and I'm still intending to uphold my policy of killing off one character per book (Don't worry, it won't always be a main one ;) )
Even getting up after lying down to go for a pee seemed like too much effort for how I felt. I couldn't even think about my stories - didn't write a thing, didn't edit a thing - progress = zero.
Now this got me thinking, in all the fantasy stories I've read, the heroes never got a sick bug. I know this sounds a benign and silly topic - but what if just prior to a big battle the hero starts throwing up and feeling giddy? I can't get the idea out of my head now - I don't know where to work it in or how it will work, but I think I want to explore it. It even leads me on to the thought - what if the heroes are thrown into battle, with massive hang-overs or while they're blind drunk having spent the night in an alehouse drinking?
Haha! I feel sorry for my characters, I'm so mean to them!
I'm also proper chuffed about the last two reviews I got for Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror.
One from Tiffany :-
And one from Ionia:-
I was a bit nervous about the one star review I had the other day for the same book. It just goes to show, what I've always believed - if you want anyone to love it - be prepared for some to hate it.
It's a dark book, it's a gritty book. The thing is, the hell the companions go through in book 2 really pulls them together. In book 1 they were a bunch of strangers, getting to know each other and being a bit nervous. The truth is Vashni behaves the way she does in book 1 because she's... Hmmmm, she's kind of a loner - something of a misfit. She doesn't fit in well with most Toreans because she's an elf, but she doesn't fit in well with elves because she's spent so much time around Torea.
I think this can happen in our world, when immigrants struggle to find their place both in their old communities and in their new ones. They describe some ex-pats who spend a lot of time in America as 'Mid-Atlantic' and I think this is the same sort of thing. The Film East meets west covered this well too I think.
When she suggests Brael disappears with her - it's a genuine offer. She sees him at that point as the one she's most likely to be able to form something of a companionship with.
By the time they get to Cormaroth the companions are much closer and her defences drop a little - though she still maintains her lofty opinion of her abilities, sometimes expecting to succeed with confidence, bust still failing.
When you read book 3 you might be surprised who Vashni seems to enjoy the most companionship with. There are a lot of big reveals for Vashni, her age is finally revealed in book 3, some of her past is revealed. One of the interesting points that is revealed is exactly why she was present in Trest, attired as an assassin when the companions first encountered her.
I wish I could reveal more. The story is finally beginning to get going. I'm still intending to introduce the main villain in book 4 and I'm still intending to uphold my policy of killing off one character per book (Don't worry, it won't always be a main one ;) )
