My calendar has been jam-packed this last month. With a book launch, writers conference, interviews, and contests, not to mention wrapping up the school year for my daughter which adds on musical reviews and contests, concerts, track and field competitions, and a Revolutionary Ball (ask me about it later), it’s been nigh impossible getting any real writing done with so much going on.
I shouldn’t complain. A full calendar is a blessing. It’s hard to waste time you don’t have. With that in mind, here are some highlights I’d like to share and, in some cases, ask for your participation.
Exceptionals is everywhere!
Exceptionals follows lone wolf federal protection agent Larry Lawson, who must join forces with his jilted, black belt ex-fiancé and a crew of college campus oddballs to save a young woman with extraordinary abilities from a cabal of clandestine kidnappers. It launched April 18th and is now available everywhere books are sold. In honor of Memorial Day, the ebook is on sale on Kobo and elsewhere for nearly half off. The deal runs May 26th-29th. So snap up a copy of what some nice reviewer called “a perfect summer read.”
Exceptionals is also on track to win the AllAuthor.com Cover of the Month contest for May. It’s survived to the final round, which ends this week. The top three covers win some nice promo deals. So check me out on AllAuthor, follow me there, and cast your vote. You’ll be making the cover artist and me very happy. As the cover artist is also my sister-in-law, you’ll also be making my wife very happy, which makes me happy. Because, as everyone knows, nobody’s happy if the wife’s not happy.
The latest Pikes Peak Writers anthology Journeys Into Possibility is out now as well. Inside is one of my stories, Bound Hounds where the dunderring duo Rom and Drood are deep in it again, this time under the spell of a lust goddess who has less than savory intentions for our heroes. If you haven’t grabbed a copy, please do. Proceeds support PPW which is a wonderful non-profit dedicated to supporting writers.
I’m everywhere
Last month I was both staff and faculty at the 30th annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference. While there I connected with fantasy author and YouTuber Carly Stevens. She decided she wanted to talk more about writing fight scenes after attending my workshop And…ACTION! Fighting and Fight Scenes 101. Carly interviewed me for her channel and that video is now available. Check out CarlyStevensBooks not just for my video, but also for the great library of writing videos she’s compiled there.
This month I gave a presentation to the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum Lunchtime Lecture series on Charles Elliott Perkins, a great man whose family gave the world the Garden of the Gods Park and whose idea of business as a balance of value given as well as value received is a mission statement for the world.
My books and author profile are now part of the Pikes Peak Library District Local Authors listings. If you’re in Co Springs and visit any one of the branch libraries, please request one of my books. The more requests they get, the more likely they are to keep a copy on the shelves.
Next month I’m joining the ladies of the GLASS literary group to discuss, you guessed it, my book. I’ve never done a book club, so I have no idea what to expect. But I’m flattered and eager.
Speaking of flattered and eager, I’ve been invited as faculty to the 40th annual Colorado Gold Writers Conference in Denver this September. There I’ll facilitate a workshop on converting a short story into a novel (the autobiography of Exceptionals) and an extended version of my fight scene program. This I’m really looking forward to because more time means roleplaying, writing exercises, and hitting stuff! Coming to CO Gold? Take my workshops or join me at BarCon. Never been to a conference but want to? Come to Denver with me. You won’t regret it.
Still lots to do
Lucky for me I have critique partners. They keep me on track, forcing me to write so that I have something to give them each month. They keep my current work in progress moving forward. Speaking of WiP, I have a contest running on that, too! I need a title for this new story. Details on the contest and the WiP can be found on last week’s blog entry. Hurry! I’m tired of calling this manuscript Fantasy Journey Novel.
I also have short stories floating around in the periodical/anthology submissions pool. I’m trying to set up promotional events with other authors. Oh, and it’s summer break for my kiddo, so that means camps and trips and watergun fights. The garden is coming in. There’s the lawn to mow. The dog’s gotta get walked. So much going on. So much to do…
