Month: October 2012

A novel update

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Today, about five hours ago, I wrote and edited the final chapter of my new novel. Since then, I’ve spent many frustrating hours trying to get .mobi conversions to work so that my editor and proofer can read, enjoy and work at the same time. I ended up having to strip out ALL formatting and start from scratch….still, it’s a cleaner ebook now that the step has been taken.

I’m still not entirely sure of the title, but it’s tentatively called ‘CRYO; Rise of the Immortals‘. I have no cover, have done no marketing, have only just revealed a possible name, BUT at least it is done. I’m heading for a mid Nov – early Dec release to provide time for the multitude of work that has to be done between completing a manuscript and actually publishing it. Now, the work starts really starts, and first on the menu is some blurb. I tentatively (that seems to be the word of the day) put together some ideas for blurb, but it’ll obviously need refinement/embellishment.

There are some dreams that never come true, but John Carlody’s just won a ticket to a privately funded cryogenics program and is on a one way ticket to the future. He’s about to escape from a dying world to a place where the troubles of the past have been cured and forgotten, where he can finally find contentment, where, if the worst occurs, he might lay happily and blissfully unaware in stasis forever.

But, leaving loved ones behind isn’t as easy as John originally thought, and lost feelings begin to reawaken. There are many who are determined to see him fail, to see his dream shattered. And, even if John does pass CRYO’s tests and he makes the program, is Earth’s future as bright as he’s hoping for?’

I always feel a beautiful sense of freedom when I tap out those final words of a piece. There’s a natural conclusion to the writing process even if, like CRYO; Rise of the Immortals is, the novel is the start of a series. However, there’s no relaxing or quietening the sounds of keyboard tapping in my house, as I am now headed back to the Inside Evil series, to book three, and to the plight of Ridgewood’s most loveable residents.

10 images ideal for inspiring fantasy writing

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When it comes to writing, I’m pretty much a sit down at my computer and see what happens kinda guy. There’s that first flash of inspiration, whether this is a story idea or a character outline, and then I’m off. I rarely see an image and instantly conjure up a fantastical storyline. However, I do find that images subconsciously work their way into my brain and offer a very subtle inspiration which comes out as I write.

Pinterest is great for pulling together a collage of images and inspiration to help you write. Here are my top ten images, so far, that have helped create the fantasy books of the Inside Evil series.

1. Inside Evil is set in a tiny town, Ridgewood, that lies on the border of England and Scotland. The town itself is circled in pine forests; a beautiful place by day, and a frightening and foreboding setting at night.

 

2. By day, Ridgewood forest quells the fears of many residents. However, as darkness falls and the 10 yearly cycle of the Ammokra begins, strange happenings occur between the trees. With ethereal light and the wolf howling, this picture is ideal for the crossover period between Ridgewood and Gathin.

 

3. Sometimes it only takes a single object to easily define a character. Despite living in the back and beyond, Martha is always immaculate. Her hair is always curled, her clothes always perfect, and there’s almost always a set of pearls in her ears.

 

4. Martha also has a stunning knack for keeping up appearances. Whilst Susan begins to unravel due to the death of her daughter, and Roberta is hounded by a curse which threatens to kill her, Martha still finds time to dress her porch for Christmas.

Source: google.com via Geoffrey on Pinterest

 

5. Karl Frans left Ridgewood a decade ago as he sought answers to why his best friend had died. The cottage that had been his haven was sold, but Karl has the realisation that he might have left a crucial piece of evidence in his old beloved home.

Source: xaxor.com via Geoffrey on Pinterest

 

6. The Tower of Souls sees Roberta fall into the world of Gathin and immediately be in mortal danger. Was there anything more evil than the curse itself? Luguolo, head of Gathin’s giant wolf pack, might just be more dangerous. 

Source: fanpop.com via Geoffrey on Pinterest

 

 

7. Mirrors are an essential tool for the Gatekeepers, who use them to communicate with each other and come to the aid of those in peril. Mrs Peacock has an ancient mirror that she has used to ward off evils for decades. And, with a little help from some unusual individuals, there’s even the chance of stepping through a mirror into the Middlelands.

 

8. Ridgewood is an ancient town, and much of it’s medieval character remains. This photo below  helped me visualise the streets and alleyways that become the backdrop to the Inside Evil story.

Source: google.com via Geoffrey on Pinterest

 

9. Gathin’s Crossover Festival is a time to celebrate and rejoice the success of dominating victims from Earth. At this time, the people of Gathin let their guards, and hair down. These bone earrings are exactly the sort of fashion that residents would wear.

Source: etsy.com via Geoffrey on Pinterest

 

10. The story of Inside Evil takes place as the November weather rolls in, bringing perishing winds and snowy skies. A forest laden in a crystal white sheen is the ideal inspiration for that beautiful yet dangerous landscape.

Correcting my author name

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I’ve learned a lot in the past seven months of self publishing. Oh, how daunting everything seemed way back in April, and now I have two novels on Amazon shelves and another on the way. However, if there’s one thing I haven’t been careful about, it’s my author name. Continuity is key when you’re developing a platform and creating a brand for yourself, so your author name should also be constant. Unfortunately, in my case, this isn’t true, and it’s got me into quite a pickle.

If Joanna Rowling suddenly published a new Harry Potter book, you might think that it was fan fiction. After all, she is known as J.K. Rowling by millions of people around the world, and it always seems a little odd to hear her called Joanna. Likewise, if an S. Myers released a new fantasy novel, it wouldn’t be instantly obvious that it was the same Stephanie Myers who wrote the Twilight Saga.

Having been attempting to upload my books to Kobo, and hence going through the manuscripts again, I realised that there was no continuity with what I called myself. I was Geoffrey Wakeling here, Geoff Wakeling there, and G. Wakeling on the front cover. It might seem like a small issue, but it’s importance has been highlighted with my recent creation of paperbacks via CreateSpace. My kindle books are listed on Amazon as written by Geoffrey Wakeling. However, my CreateSpace novels are Mr. G. Wakeling, and that has led to some confusion over linking.

From now on, I really need to start paying attention to keeping continuity and will be going through all my literature to correct my author name to G. Wakeling. Call me what you like, and I’ll respond as long as I know that it’s me you’re talking too. But, creating a constant author name is vital if you’re to create that all important branding and it seems that I’ve not been nearly careful ensuring in creating my author name platform.