Aaron Bunce's Blog

Here it is, folks. NecroVerse continues in Titan.

My art team really came through again. Mauricio Caballero (artist), Joel Chua (colorist), and Christian Bentulan (Typography). I hope you like this cover as much as I do. The book should answer a lot of the questions that have been piling up since things really started to fall apart in Unleashed. Of course, in typical me fashion, I’ll probably season them with a pile of all-new questions, too. I know, I’m frustrating. :)

Lex is looking tough here, sporting what looks like some new gear. She’s gotta keep that haircut fresh, and that “Blood and Steel” attitude frosty.

What do you think is pictured here? Any theories about what has happened, and what lies ahead for Jacoby and the gang? Who’s getting excited besides me?

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For some people that have followed my writing adventures for a while, this isn't news, but my books have been slowly making their way into audio books. Well, that trend is continuing!

C.J. Grey did an amazing job narrating the first three books in my Overthrown series - The Winter of Swords and Before the Crow. A March of Woe just released on Audible last month and turned out better than I'd ever hoped. I'm just scratching the surface of the audio world, but feel very good about the relationships I've forged so far.

I love audio books - the versatility. Anymore, as my schedule gets more complicated, my reading time continues to dwindle. With audio books, I can listen with headphones while I do chores, or in the car on my commute. But it's deeper than the versatility. I love the dded dimension good narrators can bring. It is a performance more than a narration, the dialects, accents, and personalities of each character coming to life before us. Emotional and thrilling moments gain substance, the sometimes complicated story arcs unraveling while we listen. 

Looking for a book for your commute?

I released The Delving in print and eBook last March, and very incredibly blessed when I discovered narrator Matthew E. Berry. His passion for this story was evident from the start, and I knew right away that I'd found the man to bring Thorben and crew to life. Released in December of '19, The Delving audio book will be features in an Audiobookworm blog tour this February 6th-12th. Check in for author and narrator interviews, exclusive character profiles, reviews, and audio excerpts. I'm already writing the sequel and can't wait to get Matt working on the audio! There are both author and narrator interviews on the blog tour. Matt and I both talk about the audio book’s production (from both sides), as well as the joys and challenges of writing and narration careers.

Check out The Delving's blog tour schedule!

Head over to Audiobookworm for audio excerpts and special content.

The Delving Audio Tour
What is next.

Unleashed (NecroVerse Book 1) is currently in production. It sounds amazing and will be a riveting, fantastic listen. Recording and post production is going smoothly, so plan on picking this one up within the next month or two. Keep an eye peeled right here on my website for updates. I’ll more than likely send out an email when production is done and I’ve got a solid release date.

It’s winter here in Iowa, so it’s cold. I hope you’re staying warm wherever you are. Here’s to the coming Spring!

Hey, everyone, it’s been a while since I wrote a blog post, and since Exodus dropped just before Christmas, I thought it was the perfect time to talk a little science fiction. We’re influenced by so many things, so many different forms of media. But what sticks? What influences our stories? I thought it would be fun to consider this question - as it often isn’t what you would expect. Here are stories print, movie, t.v., or video games that have heavily influenced my approach to science fiction so far.

Do any of these surprise you? Can you spot the their influences?

Here it is, folks. NecroVerse continues in Exodus.

I love this cover. Mauricio Caballero rocked the line art, and Joel Chua (who did the color on Unleashed’s color) returned as the colorist. Christian Bentulan added his fantastic graphic design skills for typography. I hope you like this cover, as the book isn’t that far away!

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Commissioning a book cover is often a fairly streamlined experience for an author. Oftentimes, it only involves a single person: a cover artist, or graphic designer. That is the route I went with most of my previous covers. This time around, I was looking for a very different look. And because using stock images rarely gives you exactly the picture you’re looking for, I decided to tap into the artistic source directly.

I jumped into the world of comic book art, which uses a very different system of art creation. On most projects, a comic book employs an artist, an inker, a colorist, a writer, and a letterer. I found it fascinating, as the comic book world is full of awesome and talented artists, desperate to prove themselves. Thanks for social media, I was able to post my commission needs to this populace, and ended up connecting with the write people. I enjoyed the process of this art commission so much I decided to break it down and share it with you.

Step 1Character and pose mock up.

The artist roughly sketches the characters that will be featured in the artwork, detailing where they will stand and how. There is very little detail here, but it isn’t needed yet. This step is merely to frame the image and confirm the intended visual of the writer is in line with the artist’s vision.

Step 2Character detail

The second step is the detail phase, where the artist fleshes out the characters, filling in details and giving them form. For me, this is the coolest step in the process, as you get to watch undefined stick characters come to life, as if they materialize from your imagination.

Step 3Depth, shade, and ink

The third phase allows the artist to make small adjustments to the characters designs, and start to add depth to the image by adding shadow, shade, and darken previously undefined areas. This step is really cool, because it looks like the characters are starting to pull off the page, gaining substance.

Step 4Final Pencil

Step 4 affords a finished pencil drawing. All characters and details are finished, lines are darkened or inked, and shading, and shadow is completed. Additional texture is added and the background is filled out. I could see why some would choose to stop at this step, as for a black and white book, this would make some kick butt artwork!

Step 5Initial Colorization

Step 5 sees the pencil art go to the colorist. This is where you send comps and ideas for clothing color, background theme, tone, lighting, etc. The image on the left is the first draft of the colored image. I sent back some edits, specifically Lex (the gal on the right with the awesome rifle) and requested that her hair be more red. You can see the slight variations in the art, as color is refined and changed. Lighting is modified and the background starts to come to life.

Step 6Typography and Graphic Design

Once you’ve approved the final colored version of the art, it is sent to a graphic designer for typography. My designer’s initial concern was the amount of artwork on page, and how to place title and author name without covering up too much. Our compromise was isolating Jacoby’s (my main character) head, and using layers to have the title appear behind him. This works nicely, as the font and color used appear to glow, working nicely with the light sourcing used in the artwork. As you can see, from idea, to concept, and from draft to draft, cover art can be process of adaptation, compromise, and discovery. I put my vision in the hands of multiple artists, and in the end, received more than I ever hoped.

Unleashed is finished. The manuscript is now handed off to my advanced/Beta readers. I am awaiting their feedback and will make edits accordingly. The book will then go through edits/proofing, and formatting, before finally being approved for release.

Ta Da!

Here it is, folks. This one was a blast to work on. I couldn’t have done it without the fantastic pencil art of Eder Messias, (Colorist) Joel Chua, and (Graphic Designer) Christian Bentulan. This book will be equal a thrilling science fiction adventure full of badass ladies, a complicated MC, and some freaky, freaky alien monsters!

What makes one author successful, while another struggles? And I’m not talking about book sales, but just the nuts and bolts of what authors do - write. It’s a strange question for me, because before 2013 ish, I would have simply quantified “success” as: finishing a book. Makes sense, right? Coming up with an idea, starting a manuscript, presenting a semi-coherent overall arc, and then writing enough words to make it something that resembles a finished novel. That was the mountain before, but once you finish that, you realize that you cleared one peak only to realize that there is an entire sprawling mountain range standing before you. The adventure has only begun, the battle has just started….yada yada, you’ve undoubtedly heard all the cliches.

But what makes an author successful? In a nutshell, it’s part “perseverance”, part “stubbornness”, part “intellectual curiosity”, but also a butt-load of “atmosphere”. Most of us don’t write to get rich. Sure, I’d love it if I could suddenly support myself wholly as a writer, but that day hasn’t come yet. We write because we have a story to tell, or two, three, four and right on down the line. They say the name of the game these days is volume. So the authors who stick with it and continue to produce have a greater chance of being successful. It’s not a guarantee (by the way - guarantee is the word I misspell every single time - ugh), but it helps. So how does one set them self up to produce well?

For me, it is about atmosphere. I’ve found that it is critically important to have a space to write, and I don’t just mean a little desk shoved in the corner of a busy thoroughfare or family room in your house. If writing is important enough to you, you need to dedicate some real estate to your creative space. I’ve had offices in my house since I started writing. They’ve moved around, shrunk in size, grown, become joint work spaces, and disappeared entirely, but there was always one constant - atmosphere. I could control the flow of people in and out of the space, close it oft to control distracting noise, and always…always had the means to fill it with the right kind of sound. I always keep my desk within view of at least one window. Why? because as much as we are products of our upbringing and inspiration, we are also sponges to the stimulus around us. A character’s walk through the woods could be inspired by the changing colors of a sugar maple framed by your office window, or a scented candle might just evoke the right emotions while you’re detailing another character’s entry into a bakery or a tavern. Music is huge as well. Orchestral music is especially good at evoking emotion without distracting with lyrics or harsh audio. If you control what you see, smell, and hear in your writing space, you can go a long ways towards blocking out distractions and maximizing your time writing.

I always write with music going and candles lit. I use indirect light, eat candy, and if the weather allows, wear slippers. I don’t need to, but those things facilitate better writing, for me. Coffee shops are cool, and sometimes they offer the right kind of distractions, but I wouldn’t be able to write day after day in that setting. For starters my coffee bill would be egregious by the end. Yes, I drink lots of coffee. Coffee + writing = major steps towards not falling asleep at the keyboard.

Carefully consider what you hang on the walls in this creative space as well. Posters and busy artwork might not be the best choice, as they can distract as much as inspire. Props and tokens help me - I hang my recurve bow, quiver full of arrows, forearm guard, and glove on my wall. Why? I picked up archery to learn the skill, so that while I wrote Roman as a character in my Overthrown series, his archery skills would feel believable. We can B.S. a lot in books, but some things just feel more organic when the author has actually done it. I see that bow now and it brings back the right kind of memories. It can jog the right kind of thoughts.

What else goes along way towards helping you feel like “you’ve made it”? I say, flexibility. This is learned, for sure. As a first time author you believe that your manuscript is the best one out there, that your vision for your cover art is going to set the world on fire, and despite all the cautionary tales you’ve read, you won’t possibly fall into any of the pitfalls that befall other writers. Except, we usually do. We hit every, single, pothole on that first road. Either you skip hiring an editor, and every reader points it out, or your choice for cover art ends up being the completely wrong one. Seek advice, ask questions, and second guess yourself before making the big decisions. Be flexible and teach yourself basic marketing principles, basic graphic design, and open yourself up to critique and feedback. All of it hurts at first, but if you can get past the initial sting, you’ll usually find that they’re right. Refine blurbs over and over, practice your elevator pitch, and research what author branding is. Find a good graphic designer and have them help you build your brand, then take a look at what successful authors’ websites look like. Take it all in. Never stop looking, and never stop writing. Read and avoid the trap of believing you are better than someone else because they approach their craft differently than you. Accept mistakes, don’t judge others by theirs, and learn from all of them. Experiment with your writing style, perspective, and tone, but in an effort to find what is most comfortable for you. Don’t let people tell you that your voice is “wrong” or that stylistic choices you make are “unprofessional”. Take the criticism, learn from it if it can make you better, and toss the rest away. Not every writer is for every reader, and if you can accept that, you’re well on your way. Be flexible and learn it all, even if it is just in bits and pieces. Rely on those people you trust to do the things they excel at, and count on yourself to do the rest.

If you can build the right atmosphere around you, and stay flexible, this crazy industry just might not break you in half. Happy writing!

Author and blogger Erin Casey wanted to do a little sit down, so we chatter about writing, my jumbled process, and books and stuff. Check it out!

Coming Soon

Here is a look at some books coming your way in 2018!

Sisyphean by Dempow Torishima.

Simply put, "sisyphean" means a task that can never be completed. Based off the synopsis, Sisyphean sounds like a horrifying story that many people will find eerily familiar. I am very much looking forward to giving this one a read!

“A strange journey into the far future of genetic engineering, and working life. After centuries of tinkering, many human bodies only have a casual similarity to what we now know, but both work and school continue apace. Will the enigmatic sad sack known only as “the worker” survive the day? Will the young student Hanishibe get his questions about the biological future of humanity answered, or will he have to transfer to the department of theology? Will Umari and her master ever comprehend the secrets of nanodust?”

Check it out
The Armored Saint by Myke Cole.

I haven't read anything by Myke Cole...yet, but I am eager to give The Armored Saint a read. The book popped up as an advanced recommendation, and the cover grabbed me. I gave the synopsis a read and you could say that my interest is officially peaked! This book drops February 20th!

“In a world where any act of magic could open a portal to hell, the Order insures that no wizard will live to summon devils, and will kill as many innocent people as they must to prevent that greater horror. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, the village girl Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village.”

Check it out
The Atrocities by Jeremy C. Shipp

Shipp is one of those authors I have heard a lot about, but never read. The Atrocities tells the story of a young ghost's education - post death. Any story that starts after a person's death has my attention.

“When Isabella died, her parents were determined to ensure her education wouldn’t suffer.

But Isabella’s parents had not informed her new governess of Isabella’s... condition, and when Ms Valdez arrives at the estate, having forced herself through a surreal nightmare maze of twisted human-like statues, she discovers that there is no girl to tutor.

Or is there...?”

Check it out
Serpent in the Heather by Kay Kenyon.

Kay Kenyon is another author I haven't read before, but 2018 is the year I branch out both into new genres and to new authors. I am a huge fan of WWII, post, and Cold War era stories, especially when they introduce some paranormal and fantasy elements into the mix. Serpent in the Heather looks to be a worthy read for anyone who enjoys The Man in the High Castle, or Quentin Tarentino's Inglorious Bastards.

“Now officially working for the Secret Intelligence Service, Kim Tavistock is back to solve another mystery—this time a serial killer with deep Nazi ties—in the sequel to At the Table of Wolves.

Summer, 1936. In England, an assassin is loose. Someone is killing young people who possess Talents. As terror overtakes Britain, Kim Tavistock, now officially employed by England’s Secret Intelligence Service, is sent on her first mission: to the remote Sulcliffe Castle in Wales, to use her cover as a journalist to infiltrate a spiritualist cult that may have ties to the murders. Meanwhile, Kim’s father, trained spy Julian Tavistock runs his own parallel investigation—and discovers the terrifying Nazi plot behind the serial killings.

Cut off from civilization, Sulcliffe Castle is perched on a forbidding headland above a circle of standing stones only visible at low tide. There, Kim shadows a ruthless baroness and her enigmatic son, plying her skills of deception and hearing the truths people most wish to hide. But as her cover disguise unravels, Kim learns that the serial killer is closing in on a person she has grown to love. Now, Kim must race against the clock not just to prevent the final ritual killing—but to turn the tide of the looming war.”

Check it out
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay.

I really enjoyed A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Cabin at the End of the World sounds no less gripping and suspenseful! Tremblay masterfully sets theme and tone, building suspense organically, and thus, pulling you fully into the story and conflict. I can't wait for this one!

“The Bram Stoker Award-winning author of A Head Full of Ghosts adds an inventive twist to the home invasion horror story in a heart-palpitating novel of psychological suspense that recalls Stephen King’s Misery, Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood, and Jack Ketchum’s cult hit The Girl Next Door.

Seven-year-old Wen and her parents, Eric and Andrew, are vacationing at a remote cabin on a quiet New Hampshire lake. Their closest neighbors are more than two miles in either direction along a rutted dirt road.

One afternoon, as Wen catches grasshoppers in the front yard, a stranger unexpectedly appears in the driveway. Leonard is the largest man Wen has ever seen but he is young, friendly, and he wins her over almost instantly. Leonard and Wen talk and play until Leonard abruptly apologizes and tells Wen, “None of what’s going to happen is your fault”. Three more strangers then arrive at the cabin carrying unidentifiable, menacing objects. As Wen sprints inside to warn her parents, Leonard calls out: “Your dads won’t want to let us in, Wen. But they have to. We need your help to save the world.”

Thus begins an unbearably tense, gripping tale of paranoia, sacrifice, apocalypse, and survival that escalates to a shattering conclusion, one in which the fate of a loving family and quite possibly all of humanity are entwined. The Cabin at the End of the World is a masterpiece of terror and suspense from the fantastically fertile imagination of Paul Tremblay.”

Check it out
Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey.

I am a huge fan of Corey's Expanse series. These books have become regular adds through Audible and make the commute that much easier to tolerate. The Expanse novels are one of those series that allow its characters to really drive the story. James Holden and his crew aboard the "acquired" frigate Rocinante are more than capable of carrying the entire series on their own, but as the universe expands and the conflicts grows, the series just gets that much more compelling. The show on Syfy is a very well made adaptation, and stays faithful to the books, but for my money, I will devour every book in this series as soon as they come out!

“The seventh novel in James S. A. Corey’s New York Times best-selling Expanse series - now a major television series.”

Check it out

I read, and listened, to some fantastic books in 2017. I fell short of my challenge goal of 50 - fail! But I still devoured some great reads in the attempt. You can consider all that follow highly recommended books. :)

Alien: Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon

Out of the Shadows is a book that should be listened to, and not read. The audio book produced by Audible studios features an ensemble cast that includes Rutger Hauer no less, and listens more like an old fashioned radio show, than an audio book - which is just freaking cool. The story is good, and deepens the Alien universe better than schlock like Alien 3 or Alien Resurrection ever did, and is a must-listen for any fan of the series. Consider it well-worth the Audible credit!

Columbus Day: Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson.

The military sci-fi genre has exploded over the last few years, and I am just starting to dip my toe into the proverbial waters. A friend recommended this series, so I thought I would check it out. The story starts out on a fairly cliche track for the genre - unsuspecting earth is pulled into a larger, galactic conflict. I admit that I almost gave up on the book, until Alanson played his Ace in the hole, Skippy. The ancient alien artificial intelligence - that just happens to resemble a shiny beer can more than makes up for any of Alanson's shortcomings as a writer. I have never had so many laugh-out-loud moments while listening to an audio books, which is just as much due to narrator R.C Bray's outstanding performance as Alanson's writing. There are some times where I wish that Alanson would tighten his writing, perhaps employ a better editor, but so far, the series has me hooked!

Hell Divers and Hell Divers II by Nicholas Sansbury Smith.

More narrator R.C. Bray gold. Nicholas Sansbury Smith really captures the apocalypse in all of its desperate grittiness. These books feel like equal parts Fallout, I am Legend, and Tom Clancy. The stories flow well, feature characters that you must care about, and cram enough intrigue into their pages to kill a herd of adult elephants. No, really, they do. Earth is an uninhabitable wasteland, and the very small remnant of humanity is plummeting head-first towards extinction, and all we want to know is, how in the hell are they gonna survive? Ahhh. Yes, you guessed it. These books keep you reading, and wondering, and waiting, and wondering. Book 3 please, Nicholas. I expect a new book every month, so get on it! That is a joke, or is it?

The Bobiverse Series by Dennis E. Taylor.

Gahhh. Dennis Taylor's Bobiverse series is so freakin' good, I don't even know where to start. First, the story is awesome. Robert Johanson is killed while walking across the street, headed to a science fiction convention - starts out like an "a nun walks into a bar" joke, and only gets stupendously better from there. Taylor knows how to blend hard science with engaging story, and then you mix Ray Porter into the mix, and its like throwing gasoline on an already raging fire. Ray Porter is without a doubt one of my favorite narrators, and in conjunction with Taylor's story equates to a fundamental, must-read series for any science fiction, and non-science fiction fan. I am really hoping he writes a ton of these books - like at least a metric ton, maybe 2. I'll look into freight shipping rates and just have them dump them into my front yard, where I will set up a lawn chair and umbrella. In that event, if you don't hear from me, it's probably because I have become trapped under a cave-in of books and require rescue. If I am still alive, just drop a sandwich and some water down to me and I'll be good.

Redemption and Retaliation by Jarod Meyer.

I met Jarod at a convention in 2016, where he sold me on Redemption. I'm a sucker for science fiction and fantasy, so a series that blends both is obviously going to garner my attention. I read the second edition version of his first book last year and can say that I am very impressed with him as a storyteller. The series puts a cool, new spin on the afterlife, and promises tons of adventure for future volumes. Retaliation came out at the end of the year and definitely built on the themes and momentum he'd already established. I am excited about Jarod's future as a writer and look forward to reading more of his single-word titled releases! 

Artemis by Andy Weir

I never read The Martian, but really enjoyed Ridley Scott's theatrical adaptation, and when I saw the recommendation appear on Audible, I didn't hesitate. I have to admit, after the fact, Rosario Dawson's narration might have been my favorite part. Weir's story is good, the science is solid and lends to great world building, but Dawson gives Jazz a believable voice. Some of her accents sound similar and kind of blend together, but that is just a nitpick critique. If you're a fan of science fiction, heist stories, or adventure, give Artemis a read. And I'm sure someone will adapt it to a movie at some point, if they aren't already in the process.

Morgan's Run by Tamara Jones.

It's no secret that I am a Tamara Jones fan. Spore is one of my all-time favorite books, and I firmly believe that her Dubric Byerly series deserves accolades and conversation in the fantasy, mystery, and horror, genre - especially after watching the schlock MTV and Spike are stamping the Shannara Chronicles label on. Sorry, off topic. Morgan's Run is a women's fiction title, so a little out of my usual hunting grounds, but wow. This book packs enough twists and turns, emotional jabs - good and bad, and genuine heartfelt moments to appeal to any reader. It is unabashedly honest, straight to its point, and fantastic. Morgan's Run tears down some of the delusions we all hold to regarding the idea of personal and emotional safety, health, and healing.