Behind the Scenes - Phases

I thought I'd do a little info dump on some interesting things I found during research for Phases (Free Chapters Here)

First, a map of the city during the time of the story (circa 1873).  Click for a larger image.  Algiers is at the bottom of the map, and the forest would be beyond that.

Next up is a pic of Canal Street, circa 1890.  Again, click the image for a (very) high resolution pic.

Pic of Chartres Street.

And the Cotton Club.

Some info on the real Sheridan (Here as well), the original Fast and Furious bureaucrat (Admitted to supplying Juárez's forces with arms in his memoirs).  Andrew Johnson called him an "Absolute Tyrant", and he was.  The South hated him for his misdeeds during Reconstruction.  Further Reading: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0306820277, his personal memoirs (Free on kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084A847O.

And the Olde Absinthe House.

And the veritable musketoon.  

Here's a Colt 1860.  Beautiful weapon.

Pulse Chaser Update + New Chapter

New Chapter available now on the Pulse Chaser page.

This will probably be the last chapter I link here.  I'm currently at 41,000 words and will probably finish off somewhere around 50,000, so the book shouldn't be but another week or so before it's available.  I had intended for this to be an anthology of sorts with a collection of a bunch of different adventures, but the trip over the Atlantic led to Monaco, and then Paris, and then beyond, so the story has become more like1 continuous section of the journal, with a few exceptions. 

Once Pulse Chaser is complete, I will give it time to grow some wings (and sales) before continuing the series.  In the meantime, I will probably write another short story in the Freehold (Flashback) universe - I've had the general theme of this story in my head for quite a while.  After that, I will probably jump back to the Western Front universe and write the Border Marches (Jake/Hayden/Clay on the border).  I am considering writing the Border Marches from a 1st-person perspective, and letting Clay tell the story, but we'll see.

Pulse Chaser - New Chapter + Update

New Chapter up on the Pulse Chaser Page. 

Pulse Chaser, New Chapters

Some updates to the Pulse Chaser Page.  A chapter or 2 has been added, and I've made some minor revisions throughout. 

Pulse Chaser is odd in that it is my most unplotted story yet.  In the Western Front series, I always had a very vague general outline drafted (usually in bullet form).  Even in NotN where I spent the least time plotting and though I may have had a an overall idea of how the story "should" end, I had no idea what would happen in between and how that ending would actually look. 

The Blighted had even less plotting (In a deserted area, forced out and into New Orleans, escape - that was basically all I knew from the start.  I filled the details in as I went.).

With Pulse Chaser, however, I have NO idea where this story is going to go at all.  All I know is the chapter I'm writing and maybe the following chapter.  It is a frustrating (I like having SOME sort of plan), but it is a fun way to write since I get to enjoy the story as I create it, rather than regurgitating notes.

Anyway, I think I am becoming an anti-plotter, which could be interesting.

I'm currently at 26,000 words.  I don't know how long the book will be (usually I am able to give a pretty accurate % complete, but not this time...), but I'm guessing it should come in between 40 and 50,000 words. 

Pulse Chaser - Update

A new chapter has been added to the Pulse Chaser page.  It's short, but depending on my progress, I may add another chapter before next Thursday/Friday.  Enjoy.

Behind the Scenes: the Blighted - Lakeshore, MS

I thought I'd resurrect what I'm now calling Behind the Scenes, where I share some aerials, images or research information regarding a portion of one of my books.I think it's a cool idea, and gives you a feel for what I was seeing as I wrote the story.

This post is in reference to the Blighted.

The aerial is of Lakeshore, MS - the location where Blaine and Taylor started out.  "The Refuge" marker on the aerial is where I envisioned their camp to be.  Situated up on piers, at the end of a long peninsula, Blaine would've had a good view of any zombies headed his way, but would've been at a disadvantage against any intruders (which we saw). 

The small fishing village was mostly deserted when the story began, but there would've been forageable supplies in all of the other camphouses, so they would've been able to make it for a while.

The developed area to the east is a casino.  If the zombie virus moved quick enough, this may have been a source for the walkers that kept trickling into the area.

The red line heading west is the beginning of the route they took to New Orleans.

The Center Cannot Hold

No. It certainly cannot.

http://www.arcticpilgrim.com/2013/05/the-liberal-center-cannot-hold.html?m=1

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Pulse Chaser on Deck

Templar has been temporarily shelved, so that means Pulse Chaser is on deck.  That means I am crafting the world of Terra as we speak.  As you can see in the sample chapters HERE, it is a place full of solar storms, steamships and even a kraken or two.  It's a fun setting to write in, I hope it is just as enjoyable to read. 

I'm 10,000 words in, and will probably write this first book to 40,000 words. 

Is there any preference as to whether i release this as 2 - 20,000 novellas (2.99 each), or 1 - 40,000 word novel (4.99)?  20,000 words gets you a book in probably 2 weeks.  40,000 will take closer to 6 weeks.

Flashback and Kratocracy Paperback Cover Updates

Flashback and Kratocracy paperback covers now more closely reflect their ebook counterparts.  The old covers will not be produced anymore.  If there is a such thing as an Archer Garrett collector's item, then I guess they are it. 

The reason the editions were different in the first place was that Amazon will not allow text to carry out to the edge of a book's cover.  Ebooks don't have the same restriction.  Now, having gone through the iteration a few times, I am more mindful to make my ebook covers more paperback friendly.

Next Project and some Updates

Templar (Working Title and partial cover) is the current project.  It's historical fiction with a heavy emphasis on faith.  It's a departure for me in more than one way, so we'll see how it goes.  Sample Chapters in the next few weeks probably.

After that, I'll probably turn Pulse Chaser into a full-length work.  I am very excited about this project.  In fact, I've been wanting to write Pulse Chaser since I started it.

Blighted sales are very slow (sold 6 copies this month), so that definitely factors into when a sequel will be written.  If there is not much interest in a series, I am not very inclined to prioritize its sequels.  Phases is similar in that it was not met with much interest, so a sequel has been shelved for the time being.  As a side note, I find this odd, since both of these books' pages hold the top 2 spots for views on the blog.

Flashback will, however, see a return to its setting - probably after Pulse Chaser is complete.  Its sales are light as well, but I believe there is enough interest there to warrant another work, especially since stories in its setting are meant to be short, and do not require an extended commitment to write. 

Once all of these side projects are completed, I will probably return to tWF universe and write the Border Marches, which will merge the Jake/Clay and Hayden (From Crescent City) story lines.

Anyway - that is where I'm at.  Hope everybody has enjoyed NotN. 

Staying Home, by Alex Smith

Alex Smith has released the second book in his survival manual Home series yesterday.

Staying Home: (Currently on sale for 99 cents $3.99)

Getting Home was his first Book:

I did the cover art for both books.  Congrats Alex.