Travis Haselton's Blog
December 4, 2010
bibliophilic blather
got a short on there for the week. http://karenwojcikberner.blogspot.com/
November 18, 2010
Official blog!!!
http://haseltonsword.blogspot.com/ Haselton's word. check it out! More than just books will be here.
November 17, 2010
RED ADEPT REVIEW.
O.K. It was only one star. So I am not going to post it on here lol.
I would like to address a couple points she had put out.
There is only one thing I am going to square against her and say it is all wrong. Her comment saying that there "conveniently was a truck near by, and conveniently a gun in the truck, and conveniently a farmer nearby to help him heal." That is not an exact quote however. But pretty close.
Indiana Jones can be against voodoo practicing bad guys and "conveniently" there is a secrete passage the bad guys don't know about (conveniently) in the room they give for him to stay in. Frank Castle of The Punisher can be left for dead and "conveniently" wash up on the Witch Doctor's island who nurses him to health and "conveniently" still has access to his dads guns even months after a massacre has occurred there (logically the authorities would have taken them), but when my main character is attacked and left for dead near his truck in the woods where he had places his firearm under the seat to comfortably enjoy a nice afternoon in a meadow, it is some sort of blasphemy according to her.
The rest makes sense. Maybe my writing style could be better. I will not change that right away because I would not be able to make it any better as of right now. But down the line my writing style will change, evolve, and improve. Then I will make the changes to this story 'cause then I will be able to make it better.
The grammar, I can fix that. I have been lucky enough to acquire a new beta reader that is not a friend or family member and has done a great job with the next installment of the series.
Red has brought a few things to my attention. For example, The fight sequences where boring and complicated. I read them again today and I have realized something. They would be boring to a vast majority of readers. People who are not experienced fighters and Martial Artists such as me and the people who gave me positive feedback on those sequences. In fact, my whole genre is a little obscure. I do not believe that Red would really be my target demographic.
I feel like I need to target the type of person who would appreciate intimate details of seemingly simple fighting maneuvers. People who know that those details to those "simple" moves will make or break effective execution in a real fight. I could see how for most people a long description of only a few strikes would turn out to be boring. Therefore I now know better what my target readers should be and could possibly get more sales when I target them.
Another thing is, predictability. Red Adept is right. Keep in mind I wasn't trying to be the guy who made the sixth sense (M Night whatever.) I was trying to make an entertaining action adventure story. It seems Red is having a contest specifically for stories with a crazy twist at the end. She probably fancies these stories, hence another reason she may not be the target reader for my books. Non the less I could and will work on that, there is nothing wrong with a little suspense. In my defense on that however, Red admits she didn't read the whole story and she is pretty sure she knows the ending. Thing is, it didn't really end so I am not to sure how she figures she could figure it out.
I Will none the less make a few changes, I believe I could have been more clear as to who the truck belonged to and how it got there, I will add to the severity of the main characters condition which will explain why the bad guys just leave him there and are not in the vicinity to continue to hurt him. If anyone has the book now simple pm me if you want a fixed version or want me to tell you the changes I will make.
Have a very nice day and thank you Red Adept. I believe my opinion is pretty UN-objective considering I am the one who received a one star review.
I would like to address a couple points she had put out.
There is only one thing I am going to square against her and say it is all wrong. Her comment saying that there "conveniently was a truck near by, and conveniently a gun in the truck, and conveniently a farmer nearby to help him heal." That is not an exact quote however. But pretty close.
Indiana Jones can be against voodoo practicing bad guys and "conveniently" there is a secrete passage the bad guys don't know about (conveniently) in the room they give for him to stay in. Frank Castle of The Punisher can be left for dead and "conveniently" wash up on the Witch Doctor's island who nurses him to health and "conveniently" still has access to his dads guns even months after a massacre has occurred there (logically the authorities would have taken them), but when my main character is attacked and left for dead near his truck in the woods where he had places his firearm under the seat to comfortably enjoy a nice afternoon in a meadow, it is some sort of blasphemy according to her.
The rest makes sense. Maybe my writing style could be better. I will not change that right away because I would not be able to make it any better as of right now. But down the line my writing style will change, evolve, and improve. Then I will make the changes to this story 'cause then I will be able to make it better.
The grammar, I can fix that. I have been lucky enough to acquire a new beta reader that is not a friend or family member and has done a great job with the next installment of the series.
Red has brought a few things to my attention. For example, The fight sequences where boring and complicated. I read them again today and I have realized something. They would be boring to a vast majority of readers. People who are not experienced fighters and Martial Artists such as me and the people who gave me positive feedback on those sequences. In fact, my whole genre is a little obscure. I do not believe that Red would really be my target demographic.
I feel like I need to target the type of person who would appreciate intimate details of seemingly simple fighting maneuvers. People who know that those details to those "simple" moves will make or break effective execution in a real fight. I could see how for most people a long description of only a few strikes would turn out to be boring. Therefore I now know better what my target readers should be and could possibly get more sales when I target them.
Another thing is, predictability. Red Adept is right. Keep in mind I wasn't trying to be the guy who made the sixth sense (M Night whatever.) I was trying to make an entertaining action adventure story. It seems Red is having a contest specifically for stories with a crazy twist at the end. She probably fancies these stories, hence another reason she may not be the target reader for my books. Non the less I could and will work on that, there is nothing wrong with a little suspense. In my defense on that however, Red admits she didn't read the whole story and she is pretty sure she knows the ending. Thing is, it didn't really end so I am not to sure how she figures she could figure it out.
I Will none the less make a few changes, I believe I could have been more clear as to who the truck belonged to and how it got there, I will add to the severity of the main characters condition which will explain why the bad guys just leave him there and are not in the vicinity to continue to hurt him. If anyone has the book now simple pm me if you want a fixed version or want me to tell you the changes I will make.
Have a very nice day and thank you Red Adept. I believe my opinion is pretty UN-objective considering I am the one who received a one star review.
November 16, 2010
RED ADEPT
I am nervous yet excited. I will have review for the man with no past posted tomarow on red adept's website. Crossing fingers.
November 14, 2010
Blizzard in the Mojave, An Old west Christmas story.
The night was cold. it was the first heavy snow fall anyone had seen in the Mojave desert. He thought he had steered clear of this weather commin here, it was rumored that it was hotter here than in hell itself. Zane Anderson had traveled here to ST. Thomas Nevada about two years after the Mormons left up into Utah on account of Nevada issuing a tax they didn't agree with.
Settlers started claiming the building that had been left behind as soon as they got word. That is exactly what Zane came for. Unfortunately it had all been grabbed up. There wasn't much work this time of year and he had no money so he would pack up and head to Yellowstone. Ulysses S. Grant had declared it a national park the year before and he knew they would have work.
So he packed his saddle bags and checked his Walker colt pistol he had gotten from his father whom was a Texas Ranger. He had heard that there would soon be a better Colt on the market something like a "Piece Maker" but for now he would be on the trail looking for work.
His heart sunk at the thought that he would be spending Christmas on the trail. It was his first year so far from home and he hoped he would at least meet a couple people here to spend the time with.
As he started out of town with his slicker buttoned up real tight to combat the wind, he could see people staring at him. Probably wondering why that nut was out in the "blizzard" when in all reality the ten inches they would get that night is far from a blizzard. Anyone else from anywhere else would be more prepared and accustomed to that weather.
Before he got to far out he noticed a faint, flickering light up into the hills overlooking the muddy river. It was out of his way but none the less he would go check it out. As he rode closer he saw a small beat up shack with a fire inside it. Not much of one though, as he got closer he could see a woman walking into the front door.
He tied off his horse and stepped inside the shack and noticed only a few pieces of creosote was what she had gathered for fire. It wouldn't do. Even in this desert one could die of cold. He also noticed they had but one rabbits worth of meat.
He needed the food but not as much as them so he dropped some of his venison he had gotten crossing Arizona. The woman had two young children, one boy and girl. Couldn't be more than two years between them, and the oldest couldn't be six.
Zane hadn't the time but he could see that the woman was at the last of her energy. She had said her husband had gone up state in hopes of getting cattle to start their settlement from. Without a man in the house they would not make it through the night.
He knew that where the Muddy river met the Colorado there would be some cottonwood so he rode hard to get there. It took some coaxing but he was able to get three good arm full of decent burning wood. There wasn't much for animals out but he was able to pick up some of the nourishing "Mormon Tea" plant. dipping his canteen and his coffee pot into the river he got plenty of water for the boil.
About ten inches of snow and many stories of the trail and some of his fathers stories of being a Ranger, He said goodbye to the family. He left to a brighter future for him knowing that even though he would be alone on the trail, he would be in the hearts of that family for the Christmas season.
Settlers started claiming the building that had been left behind as soon as they got word. That is exactly what Zane came for. Unfortunately it had all been grabbed up. There wasn't much work this time of year and he had no money so he would pack up and head to Yellowstone. Ulysses S. Grant had declared it a national park the year before and he knew they would have work.
So he packed his saddle bags and checked his Walker colt pistol he had gotten from his father whom was a Texas Ranger. He had heard that there would soon be a better Colt on the market something like a "Piece Maker" but for now he would be on the trail looking for work.
His heart sunk at the thought that he would be spending Christmas on the trail. It was his first year so far from home and he hoped he would at least meet a couple people here to spend the time with.
As he started out of town with his slicker buttoned up real tight to combat the wind, he could see people staring at him. Probably wondering why that nut was out in the "blizzard" when in all reality the ten inches they would get that night is far from a blizzard. Anyone else from anywhere else would be more prepared and accustomed to that weather.
Before he got to far out he noticed a faint, flickering light up into the hills overlooking the muddy river. It was out of his way but none the less he would go check it out. As he rode closer he saw a small beat up shack with a fire inside it. Not much of one though, as he got closer he could see a woman walking into the front door.
He tied off his horse and stepped inside the shack and noticed only a few pieces of creosote was what she had gathered for fire. It wouldn't do. Even in this desert one could die of cold. He also noticed they had but one rabbits worth of meat.
He needed the food but not as much as them so he dropped some of his venison he had gotten crossing Arizona. The woman had two young children, one boy and girl. Couldn't be more than two years between them, and the oldest couldn't be six.
Zane hadn't the time but he could see that the woman was at the last of her energy. She had said her husband had gone up state in hopes of getting cattle to start their settlement from. Without a man in the house they would not make it through the night.
He knew that where the Muddy river met the Colorado there would be some cottonwood so he rode hard to get there. It took some coaxing but he was able to get three good arm full of decent burning wood. There wasn't much for animals out but he was able to pick up some of the nourishing "Mormon Tea" plant. dipping his canteen and his coffee pot into the river he got plenty of water for the boil.
About ten inches of snow and many stories of the trail and some of his fathers stories of being a Ranger, He said goodbye to the family. He left to a brighter future for him knowing that even though he would be alone on the trail, he would be in the hearts of that family for the Christmas season.
November 7, 2010
short story for a blogsite
O.K. so I want to do a short story for a blog site. It needs to be surrounding the holidays and under 500 words. I want to base it at a city that is now under lake meade (st. thomas nv) in 1873. Any ideas anybody?
October 30, 2010
October 26, 2010
book page
http://www.kindleboards.com/book/?asi... Go to this URL check it out.
October 20, 2010
Kipoe blog!
http://kippoe.blogspot.com/2010/10/tr... check it out I got a small interview on it.
October 13, 2010
Pursuit through the mojave
I just got the cover art and it is now in beta phase. It should be up and available soon. P.S. I may be interested in sending a copy out for beta reading let me know if oyu interested.
