Running Black eBook

[Dentatus]

It was time to clean it up, kick it out the door, and move on.

My novel, "Running Black" is available as a eBook at Smashwords, and will be available in print soon.

Fair warning: It's not a "christian' book as such. There's Christians and non-Christians in it, each acting and speaking appropriately, so be prepared.

First 50% is available as a Preview.

Thanks all.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/21337

[Dentatus]

Just received notice it was selected for their "Premium Catalog", so that was cool.

Here's a 10% off coupon good through this weekend: YX28G

Enter it when you check out. Thanks.

[Dentatus]

And thanks for Lee for the opportunity to post here. Much appreciated.

[Dentatus]

Rough for the cover of the print version. Some minor changes, title and name coming but I'm pleased.

http://ccglazier.wordpress.com/

Thanks.

[Dentatus]

UPDATE:
Print version slated for November release. Been blessed with my first two reviews. Info here: http://ccglazier.wordpress.com/

Thanks.

[Logan]

Awesome progress man. I read your sample chapter(s) and enjoyed what I read. I think you've got a really interesting world.

At some point I'll remember in the evening and order a copy. Cause right now I'm not being much help :)

[Dentatus]

Thanks, man. Glad you enjoyed it so far.

Only Lulu has the print version now, or there's the ebook at Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. Distribution for hardcopies takes 8-10 weeks. (cutting it close - I wanted it available at Amazon for Christmas)

[Dentatus]

http://ccglazier.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/option3.jpg?w=200&h=300

Picture by the talented Alejandro Martinez in Madrid. Went with the fade bar and subtitle ’cause it just seemed right. I’m waiting on the final mechanical edit that hunts down typos and backwards apostrophes, then the manuscript will be formatted, uploaded and released. Like I mentioned it takes weeks to wend it’s way thru distribution channels to Amazon and B&N, so I’ll be working furiously towards a pre-Christmas release. The final, final version will also include a teaser chapter from the sequel “Shift Tense.”
Thanks to everyone for their support.

[Dentatus]

*yikes*
sorry for the HUGE image.

edit

Fixed.

[Logan]

Diggin the new cover. Looks sweet!

[Dentatus]

Another (thankfully) good review: http://slothjockey.com/index.shtml

Thanks all.

[Logan]

Ah, finally ordered a copy of Running Black. Took me long enough.

I'll let you know what I think once I get my copy in. Thanks for writing and posting the info out here!

[Dentatus]

Hey,
Thank you very much. I truely hope you enjoy it. Please do let me know your thoughts once you've finished.

[Dentatus]

Another Review, this time at SFBook.com

http://sfbook.com/running-black.htm

[Dentatus]

Javier Garcia has finished the latest batch of illustrations. You can see them and read along here: http://ccglazier.wordpress.com/running-black-illustrated-excerpts/

It looks like Running Black won't wend its way through the Distribution channels to Amazon, B&N, etc in time for Christmas. So much for that idea… Lots of people have contacted me regarding a hard copy, so here's the link to the printed version at Lulu.

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/running-black/13581348

Use the code STOCKING305 and get 15% off until Dec 15. I'm also pleased to say RB made Lulu's top ten best sellers last week for Sci-Fi books. So that was cool.

For those of you with eReaders, it's available at Smashwords in a variety of formats and here's a 15% off code: KK65B – good until the same date.

Smashwords link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/21337

Thanks everyone for all their interest and support. Sequel's a coming.

[Logan]

Finally found some time and finished Running Black.

I enjoyed it very much. It covers a lot of subjects I thoroughly enjoy and it covers them well. I'm a big fan of espionage, covert actions, black ops type things, and I think you did a good job of creating a world where these missions are possible.

I like the corporate world you've created, the thick history that really roots the characters in place, and the way you handle both combat (fast and efficient) and setting (descriptive but not overbearing).

The Triplets are a great creation, kudos to your creativity for thinking them up. I liked Hester as well. The other characters were well-defined and added to the story in appropriate ways. Overall, I've got nothing bad to say.

Thanks for writing it!

[Dentatus]

Logan - thanks for reading it, let alone taking the time to post here. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've started drafting the sequel, hammering out a complete, cohesive outline, and commissioned the artist to work up the next cover.

Oddly enough, both the Kindle and trade paperback version finally appeared on Amazon on Monday, Jan 10th.

For better or worse, it's out of the house now.

[Dentatus]

And everybody likes the Triplets.

[31Bravo.Mike]

Hey Dentatus, I'm going to be ordering a copy of your book very soon! Once I get it in the mail, I'll let you know because that will be when I start reading it, haha. I got to admit, the information that I have read about this book is really impressive. I like it. I'm a pretty big fan of espionage and covert ops type books, so I will be definitely purchasing myself a copy of your novel mate. :)

Believe it or not, I'm working on a book series of my own, but currently focusing on the first novel, and I was wondering if there are any words of advice that you might have for a fellow writer?

Ttyl mate!

[Dentatus]

Sorry bro for this being so late.

Advice?

Three parts to writing: Imagining - Writing - Editing. Don't try and do all three at once. They are three different phases, so spend separate time on each.

KEEP WRITING! Don't give up - esp in the first draft. Press through, go around, what ever - just keep writing.

GET AN EDITOR - after you've written the first draft - let it sit for a month, then go back and clean it up. Then, hire a professional editor with a trustworthy reputation to spot what you missed. (You will miss things)
Then write the revision. Repeat process until polished. A good editor is worth their weight in gold.

Remember- a good book isn't so much written as it is RE-written.

There's plenty more to say, but it's up to you to push through.

Best of Luck. Seriously.

[Dentatus]

Clarifying on the above, I'd recommend starting with a short story. That's easier because you can keep it all in your mind as you work. A novel is a different creature altogether - a Capt. Nemo Giant Squid sized project you can't tackle in one go.

The image of sitting down at the computer/blank sheet of paper and creating poignant, powerful, perfect prose off the top of your head is a Hollywood fantasy. Writing is like mining for gems. It's not pretty and polished the instant you pull it out of the dirt. There's a multi-stage process to get it to its final state.

Write out everything about your characters, conflicts, settings, motives, weapons, whatever, in one place. You're strip mining your imagination here. No holds barred.

On a second sheet, write out a clear, concise outline that has a beginning, middle, and end with a clear story arc. (Characters - Conflict - Resolution)

Then start your first draft, REMEMBERING you only include the details that pertain to the story. You might have written a ton of cool things in the Strip Mining part, but not all of them apply to the story. Write the entire first draft all the way to the end. Resist the temptation to double back and edit.

Once you have finished, let it sit. Go back after a day, pencil in hand, and start to READ IT OUT LOUD in your mind as if you were telling the story to a friend/acquaintance. That way you'll catch most of the clumsy phrases. Fix them and write the next draft.

I could ramble on and on, but I'll stop here. Hope that helps a bit. Again, good luck. I mean it because writing is hard work.

[Reinhardt]

Funny thing is I met up with Lee randomly again after many years and he's like 'oh yeah.. I wrote some books.. you should read them' And now seeing what he's done I've got the bug again too.

Thanks for your tips on getting started. Right now I'm in total research mode. I don't know if it will amount to anything, but I'm fleshing out my characters and their back-stories at the moment. The goal would be to try and bring them together and point them to the ultimate and goal of my idea.

The benefit of this, of course... is sometimes the back-stories push your characters and story in a completely unexpected yet awesome direction you never thought of when you started.

Just recently I was trying to figure out how to get one of my characters to be in the right place at the right time, and it just didn't work.. so I had a total 'eureka' and ended up getting his father involved. I just needed to create a new character, and now based on what I create I can help shape what my other character's values are. It seems like a big, huge tangent.. but I think it will be worthwhile when deciding how my initial character will act in certain situations, based on the values his father has.