With my book officially out and into the hands of the public not quite a week I am beginning to get some feedback from readers. I knew this day would come and to be honest its been a bit nerve racking, to say the least, waiting for this feedback.
So far, however, I am pleased to say that the feedback has been better than expected! One reader, a small business owner in Michigan, wrote in the guest book of my website the following:
"What a read! I could not put it down. The story is MAGNETIC!! I felt as if I were right there. A great combination of STARGATE, BATTLESTAR GALLATICA and STAR TREK! Looking forward to more from this author. Keep it up. The Universe awaits you."
Another reader, a junior attending high school in San Antonio, wrote the following on my wife's Facebook page.
"YOUR HUSBAND'S BOOK IS AMAZING!!!"
A third review of my book comes from a young reader whose mother had purchased a copy. Her mother reported to me that her daughter read the book from front to back in one sitting as she could not put the book down. The mother said she walked into her daughter's room in the middle of the night to find her daughter up in bed reading. The girl said, "Mom, this book is so good. I can't put it down. I have to keep reading."
Now I know that this feedback is not from the New York Times or USA Today, but for me it doesn't matter. Sure I would love a critic from the Times to review the book. But for me it means more when a reader comes up to me and tells me that they love the book and can't wait for the sequel. That's what I love. That's what is important to me. That's when I truly feel like a writer.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Book Updates and Where to Purchase
Just a few more days until the official release of Seventh Earth. We are already planning several events. There will be a book release party in College Station on December 4th and on the following day a release party in Utah on December 5th. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the party in Utah as I will be at the one in College Station. However, I will most likely be doing a book signing near Christmas in Utah. I will post the location and date on my website as we get closer.
Many have asked where they will be able to purchase Seventh Earth. The best answer to that right now is on Amazon.com as at first the release to bookstores will be somewhat limited geographically. However, feel free to ask your local bookstore if they have it in stock. But again, the best place at least for now will be to purchase it online at www.amazon.com.
Many have asked where they will be able to purchase Seventh Earth. The best answer to that right now is on Amazon.com as at first the release to bookstores will be somewhat limited geographically. However, feel free to ask your local bookstore if they have it in stock. But again, the best place at least for now will be to purchase it online at www.amazon.com.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Advance Copies Now Available
There are advance copies of my book now available. You can purchase one by going to www.seventhearthseries.com and clicking the amazon.com link. Because the official release is not until November 24th the only way you can find the book on amazon.com is through the link on my website. So in other words. if you try to go straight to amazon.com to purchase my book you are not going to find it. And yes, if you do purchase the advance copy it will ship right away. Its not like going to Walmart and purchasing an advance copy of a movie only to find out you have to wait for two months before you actually get the movie. This you will actually get within a few days after you purchase it.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Book Release Party!!!
With the overwhelming support that I have received from so many of you I have decided to host a book release party. Although the book will be available for purchase on November 24th, because of the holiday schedule I have decided to hold the party on the evening of December 4th. That should give people enough time to get over the turkey overload and be ready for some good reading.
The party will be in College Station, Texas. I am however thinking of scheduling a book signing event in Utah in late December. I will be in Salt Lake over the Christmas holiday and figure I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.
So, if you are in the Salt Lake or surrounding area and would like for me to do a book signing please send an email to seventhearth@ymail.com. If I can get some interest I will see what we can do about finding a venue. Heck, I would be willing to do it out of some body's home if needed.
The party will be in College Station, Texas. I am however thinking of scheduling a book signing event in Utah in late December. I will be in Salt Lake over the Christmas holiday and figure I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.
So, if you are in the Salt Lake or surrounding area and would like for me to do a book signing please send an email to seventhearth@ymail.com. If I can get some interest I will see what we can do about finding a venue. Heck, I would be willing to do it out of some body's home if needed.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
In Honor of Halloween
I heard the scream again and this time I was sure it wasn't a dream. I looked over to my wife whose black silhouette lay motionless and undisturbed. Confused, I thought about the scream and wondered if maybe it wasn't real. Maybe I was stuck in some quasi dream state where the images and noises were a mix match of reality and fiction from an exhausted mind on a desperate search for sleep. I blinked my eyes several times trying to bring clarity to my vision and head.
I heard a noise again. Not a scream this time but a low, painful groan. The sound was muffled and distorted, as if its source didn't want the sound to escape. But it did, I heard it and instantly wished I hadn't. Someone, or something, had entered my home.
The soft sounds of footsteps falling against the carpet broke into the silence and grabbed sharply at my attention. The air grew thick and heavy as the feeling like I was being watched crept silently into the room. I could sense a pair of eyes staring at me through the blackness as I searched in vain into void. The shadows seemed to enjoy my discomfort and confusion as they toyed with my mind hiding the evil that was before me.
Without warning a voice scraped forth from the darkness and called to me. The voice pierced my soul with an icy finger sending a wave of chills up my spine. My blood pounded as my heart raced at an unnatural pace. Again the voice called through the icy darkness beckoning me. How does it know me? I thought. What is this evil that befalls me? I pulled the comforter up to my eyes, not daring to look away. Then, through the darkness a shadow moved. At first it seemed to shift slightly from right to left. I soon realized it was not shifting at all but instead moving right toward me. I could hear the footsteps growing closer. The shadow grew in the blackness and my heart pounded through my flesh. And as I stood on the doorstep of a terrifying and violent death, the voice called to me again. But this time its clarity rose above the pounding in my ears. This time I clearly understood. And this time I knew it was no dream. "Dad, I'm thirsty!"
I heard a noise again. Not a scream this time but a low, painful groan. The sound was muffled and distorted, as if its source didn't want the sound to escape. But it did, I heard it and instantly wished I hadn't. Someone, or something, had entered my home.
The soft sounds of footsteps falling against the carpet broke into the silence and grabbed sharply at my attention. The air grew thick and heavy as the feeling like I was being watched crept silently into the room. I could sense a pair of eyes staring at me through the blackness as I searched in vain into void. The shadows seemed to enjoy my discomfort and confusion as they toyed with my mind hiding the evil that was before me.
Without warning a voice scraped forth from the darkness and called to me. The voice pierced my soul with an icy finger sending a wave of chills up my spine. My blood pounded as my heart raced at an unnatural pace. Again the voice called through the icy darkness beckoning me. How does it know me? I thought. What is this evil that befalls me? I pulled the comforter up to my eyes, not daring to look away. Then, through the darkness a shadow moved. At first it seemed to shift slightly from right to left. I soon realized it was not shifting at all but instead moving right toward me. I could hear the footsteps growing closer. The shadow grew in the blackness and my heart pounded through my flesh. And as I stood on the doorstep of a terrifying and violent death, the voice called to me again. But this time its clarity rose above the pounding in my ears. This time I clearly understood. And this time I knew it was no dream. "Dad, I'm thirsty!"
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Cover Design
Lately I have had several inquiries concerning the design of the cover of Seventh Earth. So, to answer the questions the following is the story behind the cover.
After writing the book I wanted to make sure that I had a cover that would not only provide a touch of insight into the book, but give it enough intrigue to capture the eyes of readers wandering through the book stores. If you haven't noticed, there is fierce competition out there in the young adult genre and I didn't want my book to be the one on the shelf collecting dust.
While working on the book my mother had informed me that my niece, Madeline, was becoming quite an artist and suggested that I might use her to do the artwork for the cover. Each time my mother made this suggestion I would thank her politely for the idea but decline. I wanted my book to have a professional polished look and I was not convinced that my fifteen-year-old niece would be able to deliver. However, my mother was quite persistent and insisted that I at least let my niece draw something I could look at.
In the book I use the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco as a setting for one of my scenes. I love this building with its intricate architecture set among a beautifully crafted landscape. I decided to have my niece take a crack at sketching this building as something I might want to incorporate in the cover. The result was a beautiful charcoal rendition of the Palace. I knew I had found my artist. The only problem was that I wasn't convinced that the Palace, although stunning, would be enough to capture attention. My wife came up with the idea of having my niece recreate a portion of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam. But instead of using the hand of God reaching out to touch Adam we used the hand of a Reficul--an alien being in the book.
With these two drawings in hand I incorporated the skills of a wonderfully gifted graphics design artist, Melissa Lewis, who just happened to be a good friend. She was able to take the sketches, along with a few ideas jumping out of my head and create what I see as a masterpiece.
Only time will tell if the cover holds enough mystique to grasp attention, but at least for now I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.
After writing the book I wanted to make sure that I had a cover that would not only provide a touch of insight into the book, but give it enough intrigue to capture the eyes of readers wandering through the book stores. If you haven't noticed, there is fierce competition out there in the young adult genre and I didn't want my book to be the one on the shelf collecting dust.
While working on the book my mother had informed me that my niece, Madeline, was becoming quite an artist and suggested that I might use her to do the artwork for the cover. Each time my mother made this suggestion I would thank her politely for the idea but decline. I wanted my book to have a professional polished look and I was not convinced that my fifteen-year-old niece would be able to deliver. However, my mother was quite persistent and insisted that I at least let my niece draw something I could look at.
In the book I use the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco as a setting for one of my scenes. I love this building with its intricate architecture set among a beautifully crafted landscape. I decided to have my niece take a crack at sketching this building as something I might want to incorporate in the cover. The result was a beautiful charcoal rendition of the Palace. I knew I had found my artist. The only problem was that I wasn't convinced that the Palace, although stunning, would be enough to capture attention. My wife came up with the idea of having my niece recreate a portion of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam. But instead of using the hand of God reaching out to touch Adam we used the hand of a Reficul--an alien being in the book.
With these two drawings in hand I incorporated the skills of a wonderfully gifted graphics design artist, Melissa Lewis, who just happened to be a good friend. She was able to take the sketches, along with a few ideas jumping out of my head and create what I see as a masterpiece.
Only time will tell if the cover holds enough mystique to grasp attention, but at least for now I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Story
One thing I tried to do in writing Seventh Earth was infuse a sense of symbolism throughout the story. I wanted the book to be a fun read, but I also wanted it to be understood on multiple levels. I imagine it to be something that one could read multiple times and get an entirely new appreciation and understanding of it and its message each time.
Adding to the sense of depth is the fact that writing Seventh Earth was almost a religious experience for me, as at times the story seemed to write itself as if I was only there as a medium, a tool to transcribe the words onto the pages. I remember one day sitting down in the Texas A&M library and typing vigorously away as the story flowed smoothly onto the screen seeming to come from somewhere else. I remember reading the words I had just typed not knowing what was coming next as if I was the reader and not the writer.
So as you read Seventh Earth understand that there is a depth within the pages waiting to be discovered. Understand that the story goes far beyond the words on the pages, far beyond good versus evil, and far beyond boy meets girl.
Adding to the sense of depth is the fact that writing Seventh Earth was almost a religious experience for me, as at times the story seemed to write itself as if I was only there as a medium, a tool to transcribe the words onto the pages. I remember one day sitting down in the Texas A&M library and typing vigorously away as the story flowed smoothly onto the screen seeming to come from somewhere else. I remember reading the words I had just typed not knowing what was coming next as if I was the reader and not the writer.
So as you read Seventh Earth understand that there is a depth within the pages waiting to be discovered. Understand that the story goes far beyond the words on the pages, far beyond good versus evil, and far beyond boy meets girl.
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