Sci-Fi, fantasy and speculative Indie Authors Review discussion

Want a break from spilling liquid prose onto the page ...er...screen? Fancy discussing your up and coming book or what you're currently working on?

Open up a thread with your project's title as the title and tell us a bit about what you're currently writing. In the interests of discussion throw in a bit about how you go about your creative process.

Or if you have questions only another writer would understand, open up a thread and have at it in this folder.

Off you go ;)

Well at the moment I'm sorting the final details to Justice 4.1. It'll probably be called 'War 2.2' and I'm hoping it'll be out in paperback and e-book in August. But I've done a second major edit of the third book set in that universe and when I'm not frittering my life away on the web,I'm actually writing the fourth :-)

I am very much looking forward to continuing work on my next novel when I've finished my last philosophy exam next Thursday (four years of study will soon be over!) - just haven't had the mental capacity for it, but made a good start a few months ago.

My currently available book is a collection of speculative fiction short stories, the next one is a unified novel, from multiple characters 1st person POV which I would class as meta/speculative fiction.

It's a massive challenge writing in 1st person I find, especially when the key characters meet! But I like it, especially being able to capture stream of consciousness 'inner' language - thinking in metaphor and imagery... it's all fun.

What I can say at this point is that it involves a man who may have swallowed a dead snake, turning him into an unwitting guru - the cure to all modern ills as a social media 'app', social and psychological revolution, folk punk, and a Geordie called 'Boots Man' who looks a little like a rabbit.

Plenty to be getting on with!

Blimey you're both very prolific! Sounds good too.

I am currently working on a series of YA books - retellings of lesser known fairytales, set in a dystopian future - there is an over reaching arc o I won't just keep churning out 'the next book in the series' ;)

Also working on an 'epic' space opera that attempts to define the nature of what is divine and how can redemption be achieved. I have a feeling that one might take me years to finish.

Also book two in my paranormal mystery series - Book one (and the rest of the series) has just been bought by a publisher ;)

I also like to write short stories and flash fiction for fun.

Currently working on what was supposed to have been a short story for a collection of SF works set in my Posthuman Cycle universe.

I say supposed to have been a short story...it's a novelette now and growing. Doubt it'll reach novella length, though.

I've also got another novelette for that collection that I'm editing.

But two of the short stories for this collection are written (and available free here on GR in PDF format only for now).

I also have the second novel in my Merchant Corps Histories universe to edit. I was really hoping to have that done in February but all this Posthuman stuff crowded that out.

I'm not currently working on anything at all; for the first time in years, and for a couple of months now, the writing has completely stopped. It's not writer's block though - I've never suffered from that and am still having ideas now, it's just that I'm not doing anything with any of them. What I'm confronted with, the void I'm staring into, is that most profound (and possibly unanswerable) of all philosophical questions: how to promote your writing without promoting it. Not the true nature of reality, no, not the problem of evil, not the mind-body problem, but how to promote your books while pretending they don't exist - even Plato, Kant, Wittgenstein and Sartre headed for the nearest pub in utter despair over this one.

All the received wisdom of the Goodreads universe, all the stale, conventional and obvious answers are exhausted; this one is going to need, I think, some zen-like superhuman wrench of the mind - a mind, finally, having stared deep into that void, leaping off its own edge...

I'll let you know how I'm getting on.

I'm currently editing book 2 of my fantasy series Arts Reborn, and working on the outline of book 3. It's set in a Republic similar to the Rome of Caesar's time, rather than something medieval or populated by elves and dwarves. Book 1 came out in March.

Looking for reviewers and beta readers too, if that sounds interesting to anyone.

I confess that now I am adopting a cross legged sitting position at Richard's feed and am awaiting the next words from the master on this topic.
The sound of one hand clapping is as child's play to the question the Master asks ;-)

J.A. wrote: "Blimey you're both very prolific! Sounds good too.

I am currently working on a series of YA books - retellings of lesser known fairytales, set in a dystopian future - there is an over reaching arc..."

I think you might be redefining the word prolific there yourself with all those works going on! Good luck with them all.

Richard wrote: "I'm not currently working on anything at all; for the first time in years, and for a couple of months now, the writing has completely stopped. It's not writer's block though - I've never suffered f..."

See if the malicious demon will help... After all, he/it may well be responsible for the illusion of reality anyway, so I reckon he/it is good at marketing.

The piece I'm giving most attention to isn't speculative so doesn't belog here, but I'm also working, in a less focussed way, on the sequel to Daedalus and the Deep. This is set in the 1850s, during the search operation for Sir John Franklin's missing expedition to conquer the Northwest Passage. It has the same main character and some of the secondary characters from the first book, and involves strange things happening in the Arctic. I've got about 16,000 words done so far.

And it isn't as if there is a group of loyal fans waiting with baited breath for that one or anything... ;) It's fine to talk about historical fiction or other types btw. I know it's a spec group but a bit of the other less spec genres often informs spec writing anyway.

Garry wrote: "...so I reckon he/it is good at marketing..."

A marketing executive as the Godhead? That's the most appalling invented universe I've ever heard of.

Richard wrote: "Garry wrote: "...so I reckon he/it is good at marketing..."

A marketing executive as the Godhead? That's the most appalling invented universe I've ever heard of."

That is pretty terrible - but I would say probably a pretty accurate analogy for the world as it currently stands! (who else is able to plaster the streets and houses with idols - beam them into our houses and minds 24/7 and have free reign to manipulate our behaviours?!)

... pretty much the theme of many of my stories!

Just putting the finishing touches on Doc Vandal: Against the Eldest Flame.

After that I need to start work on the outline for the next adventure, currently titled "Air Pirates of Krakatoa."

J.A. wrote: "And it isn't as if there is a group of loyal fans waiting with baited breath for that one or anything... ;) It's fine to talk about historical fiction or other types btw. I know it's a spec group b..."

I think 'group' might be a touch optimistic... Depends how small constitutes 'group' I suppose. Found out yesterday my boss is reading DATD! Bit worrying.

Good to know I can mention other things as well. You never know, I might get bored with a straight WW2 scenario and throw some aliens in there.

That would be different lol

Oh gods if my boss read my book... Mind you he really isn't the target audience. His daughter probably is though...

Not sure who the target audience is for DATD. I don't think I've found them yet.

My target audience is me.




Probably explains why I sell so few books. {:S

Just finished the first full draft of Doc Vandal: Against the Eldest Flame! I write very clean firsts so I should have the pre-beta edits done by the weekend.

Over 12,000 words into Air Pirates of Krakatoa!

:)

Still working on my second novel, now with 16 finished chapters. About 62,000 words. Working toward 90 to 100 thousand.

That's great, Dave :) er if you need a beta reader...

Nice going, Ken :)

I am stalled a bit at present - 40,000 words into one book and 12,000 into another. Mind you I have had a full pass to do for my publisher and have just changed jobs so been a bit busy. Should have a few weeks to just write now though!

J.A. wrote: "That's great, Dave :) er if you need a beta reader...

Nice going, Ken :)

I am stalled a bit at present - 40,000 words into one book and 12,000 into another. Mind you I have had a full pass to do..."

I think I know where I can find one... :)

I am writing Book 2 of The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth series. Due out end of this year. Followed by Book 3 in 2015.

Sneak Peek Art for Book 2 at www.e7prophecy.com Let me know what you think!

Book 1 is currently on sale (until Jul 6 US and Jul 7 UK) 5 Star reviews

http://www.amazon.com/Prophecy-Sevent...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prophecy-Seve...

I am currently about 60,000 words into The Winter Garden, which I am thinking will be between 90,000-100,000 words by the end.

The Winter Garden is actually fun for me to write than my first book, The Earl of Brass.

My other activity is trying to market The Earl of Brass, which I don't think I'm very good at.

working several sequels & a couple of new novels. i dont have a word count i aspire to. i tend to write doorstoppers so it's not uncommon for me to write books over 300 pages.

Your website www.e7prophecy.com is looking spectacular Jarrod - slick and eye catching.

After my first science fiction novel Orbital Kin was published last year, though I have a couple of different books also in the works, I am quite far into writing my next SF novel. It currently is set much more in space and in the further future than Orbital Kin, and it explores and looks at how mankind will move through space, leave Earth, and the dangers and challenges that will offer and much more.
It is influnced by a few authors such as Asimov, K Dick, movies like Terminator, 2001 possibly but there is still a lot to do but I hope to have it finished before the winter. I will have to see how the characters and narrative change and open out.

Just received the first print copies of my first book, Brush With Darkness. So happy with how they turned out. http://www.jamiemaltman.com/2014/06/1...

Midway through post editor revisions on book 2, Blood of the Water.

4000 words into book 3, title not finalized yet, but the book fully outlined.

Detailed outline ready for a short story for an upcoming anthology in the world of The Dream Machine by Platt and Truant, an open world I watched them develop live through Fiction Umboxed. I'll be writing it after I get book 2 ready for more beta readers.

Ooh did you watch fiction inboxes? It was at a really bad time for me but it sounded fascinating. Love Platt and Truant. Great books.

I watched that as my fun reading for the first three weeks of the month. I watched all the initial story meetings, which were awesome, read their early beats, and read Johnny's daily rough drafts. I fell behind with the story meetings late in the process, but will watch them before I start writing my short. All in all, it was great.

Nearing the end of first revisions on a novelette in my Posthuman Cycle (11,000 words) and have another novelette and a full novel still to go through all that.

:(

The hard work is definitely after the first draft is done.

I'm working on a alternate history story set in the thirties, a sci fi with mystery elements. I have no idea how long it is going to be. I'm just following the narrator as he moves towards some kind of end. :-)

What I should be working on are my flash fiction collection (almost finished) or perhaps my space opera parody (pretty much finished), but that is another story.

Nothing wrong with alternate history set in the 30s - I'm working on my second one of those. (Well, you could call my retro-pulp stuff alt. history couldn't you Jules?)

BTW, www.travelfilmarchive.com is REALLY useful for getting a feel for different cities in that era. I've found a ton of useful stuff about 1930's Batavia for my current story there.

Dave wrote: "Nothing wrong with alternate history set in the 30s - I'm working on my second one of those. (Well, you could call my retro-pulp stuff alt. history couldn't you Jules?)

BTW, www.travelfilmarchive...."

My story can also be categorized as dieselpunk, which is steampunks lesser known relative.

Dave, what is your first 30s alt. history story called? Thanks for the link. The travel film archive seems to have a lot of useful footage. It's going to be fun to look at some of these films.

The first one (currently with Betas) is Doc Vandal Against the Eldest Flame - I like the term retro-pulp but dieselpunk works too. It's a Doc Savage homage with zombies, Zeppelins, and talking Nazi gorillas.

Sounds interesting. I'd like to read it when it comes out. My story has also got a few Zeppelins, but is inspired by film noir, Metropolis and other things.

I can recommend it, Hakon. Lots of fun and a good read :) I now want the second one.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Jules.

Check your PMs...

:)

I just did :/

#where'stherest

;)

I'm working on it as fast as I can - just have to devote time to the writing that pays the bills, too.

(Especially as they went up when stepdaughter moved in along with her 25 stone boyfriend).

Crikey!

Note, he's 5 foot 4.

Dave wrote: "Note, he's spherical."

Fixed that for you.

holy crapola batman! that's a big dude. O_o homie needs to lay off the purp so he won't get mad munchies, yo.

8:27 PM - 20,009 words on Air Pirates of Krakatoa! Now for a Glenlivet to celebrate half way.

And that's where I throw my hands up, Shanna, as to be perfectly honest I haven't got a clue!

I'm probably not the best one to explain any of this, but as far as I know dieselpunk is an alternative hitory genre, much like steampunk. When steampunk takes from the Victorian time period, dieselpunk is influenced by technology, arts, history, etc. from 1920 to 1950.

For example what I am doing in my story could be boiled down to film noir meets Metropolis with a modern twist, or something like that.

I have never heard of Khempunk. What is that?

Shanna wrote: "Dave wrote: "8:27 PM - 20,009 words on Air Pirates of Krakatoa! Now for a Glenlivet to celebrate half way."

Great title. I love airship stories!"

Glad to hear it, it's the second one in a series of retro-pulp novellas I'm doing. The first's with betas and should be out by August/September, and I'm hoping to get this one out a little before Christmas.

:)