Martyn Stanley's Blog - Posts Tagged "blood-queen"

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

The sequel definitive version is now very close. I'm just waiting for my proof-reader!

Isis Sousa has finished the cover, I just want to run it past another set of eyes or two before I okay it. (Personally I think it looks awesome!)

I don't know when it will go live - if you've read The Last Dragon Slayer and want to start The Verkreath Horror please, please wait! Wait for the version with a cover featuring Votrex and Brael!

I'm still working on book 3, 'The Blood Queen' a 90,000 words it's 50% bigger than the others and it's proving a monster to edit! I will get there, I'm working on it every day, but it's still probably a few weeks off. Book 4 I'm going to edit as I write I think, so I don't get stuck in this situation where I have a mountain of editing, proofing and amending to do.

I am really pleased with 'The Blood Queen' and can't wait to get it done, but I'm not going to release until I'm sure it's 'just right'.

I've got some votes on this list :-

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Best Indie Fantasy Books, I can't argue!

I've also got a few votes on this one:-

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...

'What to read after Harry Potter'

Now I question whether it really is a great post-potter read. I suppose the trouble is, people say 'Harry Potter' and I think Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Now, that was Harry's first year at Hogwarts. When J.K. Rowling wrote Potter she was really writing for kids I think. Part of Potter's success is in that as Rowling's readers grew up, her stories grew up too. By the time she's on 'Deathly Hallows' the plot has become very complex and the themes have become very dark - it's quite a dark book, certainly not one I would say is great for children.

My first book Deathsworn ARC 1: The Last Dragon Slayer is quite adult I think - but not 'that' adult. I'd say it's upper YA, lower NA. I don't think it's as adult a book as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows so maybe it is a good post-potter read? I suspect it's probably a bit of an over-lap read. The Verkreath Horror is a dark book, it's a more adult read than the first one.

For book 3, the soon to be release 'Blood Queen' I don't know. It's bigger, I think the plot becomes more complex and there's more character development, plus some surprising twists. I don't think it has the dark, dark tone of Verkreath though - there's perhaps a little more 'hope' in 'The Blood Queen' even though I still haven't gotten to the stage where all hell breaks loose in Torea.

I can't wait to finish it and get some feedback on it. I'm a little nervous about it, because it's big and it's different - most of it takes place in a city... But I'm really excited too, I feel like I'm really starting to get into the story now! I've more or less written book 4 in my head. I can't wait to start it!

It's drawing closer!

I have an incredible cover, it looks great. Theoretically it just needs lettering - but something seems somehow off with it? I don't know what though! There just seems something isn't quite how it should be?

I love it and in many ways it seems perfect - but there's something I can't put my finger on...

I still need to finish editing and polishing it of course. I need to start thinking about my blurb too. I've never been too happy with my book 1 and 2 blurbs, I don't think they're very enticing - but I don't really know how I could improve them, without spoiling some of the big plot twists.

Book 3 also has the companions facing confrontations with the Isharian Church. I think the atheist aspect of the books is important - yet people don't seem to pick up on it... Part of me thinks I should shout about the atheism, because it's subtle and part of me thinks I should leave it in - but not mention and let people discover for themselves. I am trying to be balanced. The Isharian Church has it's problems, and is responsible for evil in Torea, but I want to portray it as also responsible for good!

I wish I could get it out sooner - I'm really waiting for time to sit down with my editor at the moment, and I need to work out what needs changing about the cover. It's really special though, so I don't want to share it until it's ready.

I will get there! Sorry for the long delay, I just want it to be as good as possible before I release it this time.

Martyn

I have finally given my wonderful cover artist and fellow author Isis Sousa some much needed direction.

I hasten to add that her original art was superb, she captured my vision perfectly. The trouble was, when I presented that vision to my beta-reader team, they thought it looked too modern. I hate admitting I'm wrong, but as a writer, trying to create a better product - it's critical that I can.

On this occasion I was wrong, we talked about some ideas on how to rectify the image, which will mean a little dabbling with some descriptions so the text fits the cover - but I think the result will be stunning.

I'm really excited about this book, I expect the cover to be really exciting and enticing - it will be the first time I release a brand new book with a professional cover off the bat so hopefully it will kick-start the sales machine.

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...

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 :)

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' ?

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!

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