Progress on Sequel to Stone's Curse

Now that "Stone's Curse" is in the editing and proofreading stage, I'm moving forward on a sequel. The sequel's working title is "Gallagher's Curse". So far, the work-in-progress is 4300 words. Like "Stone's Curse", I expect "Gallagher's Curse" to top out at 20,000 to 30,000 words. ("Stone's Curse" is 29,800.) Eventually, the two novellas will be combined to form a book called "Curses". Will there be additional sequels? A trilogy, perhaps? Maybe. I don't know. I never planned a sequel in the first place. Stay tuned.

Many thanks to my editor, Nikki Busch. Nikki is skilled with Chicago Manual of Style and has an extraordinary command of English grammar. She claims to "devour books" and I know this to be true. Follow her on Twitter at @NikkiBuschEdit.

Download Nook, Get $5 Credit

Last fall, I downloaded Kindle for Android. Honestly, I didn't think I would like it...thought the screen size would be too small on my Galaxy phone. Turns out, I love it! Besides, I like carrying books with me everywhere. You never know when you'll have time on your hands: the doctors office, getting the oil changed, etc. - so you can spend time in a good book and avoid the stale magazines in the doctor's office.

Now Barnes & Nobel is offering a free download of their popular Nook for iPhone, iPad and Android. With that free download, you get a $5 credit toward the purchase of an ebook.

I downloaded Nook to my personal computer a few years ago mainly to check the formatting of my books. The app works great, so give it a try. Go here for the free app:  http://bit.ly/1Ofd0uO

On to Editing - Round 2

Yesterday, Nikki Busch, editor extraordinaire, finished editing the manuscript for my forthcoming novella, Stone's Curse. Here's what she said on Twitter:

Just #edited @JCalvinDean's great new #paranormal. Refreshing to work with an #indieauthor who knows his stuff! #selfpublishing #selfpublish

Thanks, Nikki. Yeah, I'm blushing. 

I'll be going over her markups in the coming days and incorporate them into the story. I gotta tell you, she is one fantastic editor. Catches everything. More info to come.

 

YouTube Interview

My first novel,  The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff, published in 2013, is set in the mythical town of Sycamore Grove, MS. In the linked video below, I introduce the main characters in the book and share a few scenes from the small town (Senatobia, MS) that inspired the story.

I'm often asked about the dilapidated antebellum mansion that is central to the plot. That home doesn't exist. It's is a figment of my imagination. Enjoy the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHvgLMEZJV8

New Novella In Editing Stage

NIKKI BUSCH - EDITOR

This is an exciting week for me. My new novella, Stone's Curse, goes under the knife of famed editor Nikki Busch. Nikki has my full confidence. In fact, I have already pointed out one flaw that we'll have to mend. I'm sure she will find many more. That's what the editing process is all about. It can be hectic and challenging, but in the end, the editing process makes for a more enjoyable read. I'm ready. The manuscript is ready. I know Nikki is more than capable.

While Nikki is busy at work, I'll be revving up the sequel to Stone's Curse...and finishing two short stories about my favorite sport: baseball, which will be coming soon to this blog and WattPad. More about that in late March or early April.

Review: What the Night Knows

After reading Darkness Under the Sun by Dean Koontz, the next logical book is What the Night Knows. In this novel, Koontz picks up where ‘Darkness’ leaves off. It’s been twenty years since 14-year-old John Calvino killed mass murderer Alton Blackwood in self defense. Now Calvino is a detective investigating another 14-year-old who killed his family for no apparent reason, and Calvino cannot ignore the similarities between the two murders, so what if they’re 20 years removed from one another. The real giveaway is the statement the 14-year-old utters during an informal interrogation. How could anyone know what Blackwood said to young Calvino 20 years ago? Calvino revealed these words to no one—kept it locked up inside all these years.

Now Calvino has a family of his own and fears the ghost of Blackwood is coming after his family. After all, he promised he would. It takes over 400 pages to sort it all out, and trust me, the pages fly by…up until the final chapter or two. Oh, don’t get me wrong, they still fly by, but in an effort to bring the story to a crescendo, Koontz delivers too much too fast. Sometimes less is more. At least that’s my impression. The story ends satisfactorily, but perhaps the ride became a little bumpier than necessary. What the Night Knows is still a fantastic read, but the ending prompts me to award 4-Stars instead of the 5 I felt it deserved…right up until that overreaching crescendo.

(I read What the Night Knows on my Kindle for Android during Spring Break 2015.)