Writing Process Blog Tour: Alan's Entry

Writing Process Blog Tour: Alan's Entry

   

 

Anyone who keeps up with me knows that I don’t blog much. I’m trying to do better, so as part of this new attempt to talk with readers, I’ve taken The Query Faerie aka Jadah McCoy’s challenge to be a part of her blog tour. If you are not familiar with her, click on her photo and check out her writer (WAIT…. Read the rest of this one first!)

So, a few questions were put to me…

 

 

 

What am I working on?

 

I think the better question is, what am I not working on. Currently, I have 2 stories that I’m working to get out the door…or at least make the deadline. The first is another ‘Black’ Wolfe story for the next installment of Pro Se Publication’s ‘Black Pulp 2’. The second is a story for Pro Se’s High Adventure History, vol. 2.

Aside from those, I’m working on submissions for the next Capes & Clockwork anthology. I’m also planning 2 new steampunk series and hope to have the first of each out by end of the year. One will be a noir-steampunk series about a detective living in a steampunk’d America. The second, still in the planning stages, will be more in the line of Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander series.

 

 

Of course, with all the books and stories I’ve had released in the past few months, marketing and promotions is always on the forefront of my activities. That is more work than actually writing the books.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I like to think that I add a special flavor to my stories. My steampunk novel, The Lightning Bolts of Zeus, is far more action and adventure than most books of its genre. The more I write, the more I tend to add action to my stories. I love keeping the story moving and the reader engaged.

My pulp stories tends to have more twists than much of what is out there. I love having a twist ending that’ll make the reader tilt their heads and say, ‘Oooo, didn’t see that coming.’.

 

Why do I write what I do?

I’ve written a few horror stories because we all want to be scared sometimes. Besides, horror is one of the hardest genres to write and I love a challenge. Speaking of challenges, I love writing stories with strong female voices or, in the case of Black Wolfe, a strong black voice. I enjoy that challenge as well.

Steampunk and alternative history have always been favorites of mine, so it was an easy choice for me to go in that direction and put my own person flair on the genres. I grew up as a fan of alternative history and Victorian era sci-fi, Disney’s ‘20,000 Leagues under the Sea’ is a prime example.

How does your writing process work?

That is a loaded question since most of my works have all come about in different ways. Some ideas strike fast and I figure out the details quick and easy. Others take weeks or months to piece together.

For the more complicated stories, I write an outline to help me keep track of what I’m doing and where I plan on going with the plot/characters/story. However, some stories just flow out as I’m writing, making it up as I go and seeing what happens. Those kinds of stories are fun because as the writer, I’m as surprised by what happens as I hope the readers will be.

Once done, I put them aside for a few weeks and write something else before returning to edit and clean them up. One trick I’ve learned is to read the story out loud. If I stumble over a passage or sentence, then I know the reader will. So that helps to clean up a lot of messes before an editor gets a hold of it. Beat readers get the stories after I’m done and I listen to their comments and recommendations. Once I’m satisfied, then the publisher gets it.

 

Need help?

For anyone trying to break into the writing world, I recommend chatting with other authors and asking advice. I joined the Nashville Writers Meetup Group (NWMG) in 2006, when I decided to really jump into the writing world. The advice I got made my first novel possible. Now-a-days, as an organizer with the NWMG, I try to repay the help I got, forward. So if you have questions or need advice, drop me a line and ask. J  alan@snowflakegarden.com

 

 

So there you have it. While you’re here, check out my books on the Buy Here page. And check out the next group of writers who’ll be blogging next week. Enjoy!!

 

Angela Trumbo:

Angela Trumbo is a writer of paranormal and contemporary fiction. She resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and cats.

www.angelasvisions.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander S. Brown:

 

Alexander S. Brown is a Mississippi author who was published in 2008 with his first book, Traumatized.  Reviews for this short story collection were so favorable that it has been released as a special edition by Pro Se Publishing.  Brown is currently one of the co-editors/coordinators with the Southern Haunts Anthologies published by Seventh Star Press.  His upcoming horror novel, Syrenthia Falls is represented by Dark Oak Press.  He is also the author of multiple young adult steampunk stories found in the Dreams of Steam Anthologies and the anthologies, Clockwork Spells and Magical Bells, and Capes and Clockworks. Some of his more extreme work can be found in the short story anthology, Luna’s Children.

http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-S.-Brown/e/B002UN7ZHQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1402391992&sr=8-1

 

 A.G. Porter:

 

A.G. Porter is the author of The Darkness Trilogy, a YA Paranormal Thriller. She is an Independent Author (Indie Author) who enjoys writing scary stories as much as she loves reading them. Currently, AG is working on the last book in the trilogy. When she isn’t writing, she’s either taking pictures, reading, watching movies or spending much needed time with her family. A.G. loves in New Hope, Alabama with her husband, Billy, stepson, Brenton, and their 4 dogs.

 http://agporter.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

M. B. Weston:

M. B. Weston is an award-winning fantasy, young adult, steampunk, and paranormal author. The Elysian Chronicles, , her fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, has been referred to as, “…filling a big part of the void that will be left by the final Harry Potter,” by award-winning author, Vincent O’Neil. Weston’s writing attracts both fantasy and non-fantasy readers, and her audience ranges from upper-elementary students to adults. Weston’s first paranormal thriller, Unleashed (working title), is slated for release in Summer 2014. Also in Winter 2013, two of her short stories were featured in both a paranormal and a Steam Punk anthology.
Weston is also a radio talk show host for The Final Cut in Movies, which airs on tmvcafe.com. A gifted orator, Weston has been invited as a guest speaker to numerous writing and science fiction/fantasy panels at conventions across the US, including DragonCon, BabelCon, NecronomiCon, and ImagiCon. She has served on panels with such authors as Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. F. Lewis, Todd McCaffrey, and Jonathan Maberry. Weston has spoken to thousands of students and adults about the craft of writing and has been invited as the keynote speaker at youth camps and at several schools throughout the US.

Bishop and Hancock’s Pulse Fiction (Volume 1) is here!

Bishop and Hancock’s Pulse Fiction (Volume 1)

Now available!

 

My latest story is out and here is what the publisher says about the books:

A two fisted, gun toting Private Eye! A Member of the French Foreign Legion waist deep in Intrigue! A Lady with a taste for Diamonds and Danger! Heroes many have thought lost to yesterday now blast their way into today in BISHOP AND HANCOCK’S PULSE FICTION! A Concept conceived by noted author Paul Bishop and contributed to by author and publisher Tommy Hancock, PULSE FICTION takes the best of the past and shakes and stirs it with today’s finest Genre Fiction writers! Encounter a cast of characters created by Bishop and Hancock and written into four color, over the top life by Eric Beetner, Barry Reese, D. Alan Lewis, Brian Drake, James Hopwood, and Hancock. Just like the bygone magazines of the past, PULSE FICTION brings rich, vibrant characters embroiled in death defying adventure to readers, characters that will return in later volumes crafted by these and a whole myriad of other authors! Want stories that will get your heart racing, your blood pumping? You’ll find them here in BISHOP AND HANCOCK’S PULSE FICTION VOLUME ONE!

 

I’m proud to say that my story ‘Cry Blood’ is included in this great collection, written by some of the best names in the New Pulp genre. The story follows the adventures of Thomas Gunn, yes… Tommy Gunn. The character was the brain child of Pro Se’s Tommy Hancock. Usually, I’m reluctant about writing a story with someone else’s characters. I like creating my own, giving them some dark background or fatal flaws. But, Hancock gave me a very basic plot idea (A girl shows up at Gunn’s door, and everyone around her dies) and a very… very basic description of the character. Still, I was reluctant. I pushed the story off until the last minute and finally broke down and started thinking of what to do with this guy.

Having said that, ‘Cry Blood’ is in my humble opinion, one of my best stories. Once the idea came, the words flowed out quickly and the character took a life that I was very happy with. He may have been created in the mind of someone else, but I enjoyed giving him life.

So… buy the book, read the story and tell me what you think. I’d love to know if folks want to see more of ‘Tommy Gunn’.

Lots of stuff coming up.

Lots of stuff coming up.

So this year has been hell for me, personally.  But writing-wise, things have been good. I’m not going to go into the personal crap, but I wanted to give folks a heads-up about what’s coming down the road.

Within the next couple of weeks, I have two stories being released.  The first is a pirate tale, a fictional account of the lady pirate, Anne Bonny’s last great adventure.

In reality, Bonny, after being captured along with her husband, Calico Jack Rackham and Mary Reed, was imprisoned in the Royal prison in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Rackham was executed for piracy, while Bonny and Reed were spared a death sentence after ‘pleading the belly’ (being pregnant). Reed later died from an illness and fever. Bonny, however, seems to have disappeared from recorded history.  Some speculate that her father bought her freedom and returned her to Charlestown, South Carolina. Others say she died in prison.

While the true history of Bonny’s fate is unknown, I decided that she should have one last, great adventure. ‘Anne Bonny’s Revenge’ will be featured in Pro Se Production’s ‘Tall Pulp’.

 

 

The second story is a pulp adventure called, ‘Cry Blood’. It’ll be featured in Pro Se Production’s ‘Pulse Fiction’. The story centers on Thomas ‘Tommy’ Gunn, P.I. and all around scoundrel.

When a young woman in trouble shows up at his door, Tommy takes the case. What he doesn’t count on is that everyone around her end up dying in horrible ways. Can Tommy figure out what is happening before he becomes another victim?

 

Beyond this, Capes & Clockwork 2 is in the works, bringing back many of the authors from the first and a few new ones. Also, an unnamed short story collection is in the works. An untitled Steampunk project is in the works. The planned serialized Port Victoria books are on temporary hold, but hopefully will be out sometime soon.

Stay tuned for more news!!!

Big News for fans of Port Victoria!!!

 

Big News for fans of Port Victoria!!!

3 serialized Port Victoria stories are coming, later in 2014.

 

Coming up from Pro Se Productions is a new era in short Pulp Fiction and I'm fortunate to be a part. Below is the press release from Pro Se, announcing a new monthly program.

Starting this summer, I’ll have 3 serialized stories featuring characters from the Port Victoria universe. Each story will consist of 4 parts that’ll be released 2 to 4 weeks apart. Each will be available on eBook from Amazon. The first, starting sometime in June, will center on Angelina Wolfe, followed by Dexter ‘Black’ Wolfe and lastly Lady Victoria.

I’m looking forward to seeing this in action.

 

 

 

PRO SE PRODUCTIONS TAKES SHORT FICTION TO THE NEXT LEVEL

A leading independent publisher of Genre Fiction, Pro Se Productions announces an innovative new Fiction line today.

In 2010, Pro Se Productions debuted as a small press focused on ‘Puttin’ The Monthly Back into Pulp!’ The company originally produced a line of three magazines that featured ‘New Pulp’ short stories, that is stories written by modern writers very much in the style and feel of tales featured in classic Pulp magazines in the early 20th Century. When Pro Se made the move into publishing novels and short story anthologies, it closed the magazine line, only to restart the concept as a single magazine title due to popular demand. PRO SE PRESENTS grew into an award winning magazine that ran for 20 issues, its final installment released in February 2014. With the end of the magazine, Pro Se Productions closes one era to enter another, one that readers got a taste of in December of 2013.

“We are always,” says Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor-in-Chief of Pro Se, “focused on producing the very best in New Pulp and Genre Fiction in all aspects, including the format which we present it in. It’s no secret that Publishing in the last five years, particularly for independent presses such as Pro Se, has moved more and more into the digital realm. Not only can readers carry more books around on their Ereaders or their phones, but the price point is tremendously better in most cases over print books. Digital publishing also affords writers and publishers to produce any size work they wish, including single short stories that can be offered for less than a dollar each. Pro Se Productions decided to dip its foot in that pool and in December we held a grand opening of sorts for our new imprint- Pro Se Single Shots.

“The success we had,” continues Hancock, “with the first volley of Single Shots was quite amazing. No one’s getting rich on them, but the interest readers showed in being able to drop 99 cents and get a good, solid short story that they could read in a single sitting was staggering to us right out of the gate. This combined with the fact that our second magazine line had run its course we felt in its current format, gave us a few ideas. Chief among them was the fact that we could take each story that would have appeared in a PRO SE PRESENTS and offer it individually to readers in a digital format. That way a mystery fan could pick up the mystery stories he or she wanted for a reasonable price without having to feel like they were buying other stories they may not enjoy. But an even more intriguing idea presented itself rather quickly.

“The concept of digital singles affords Pro Se the ability to really bring the concept of Pulp storytelling and even, in a indirect way, the idea of recurring tales from a consistent stable of authors on a regular schedule –much like classic Pulps did- into the 21st Century. This kernel of an idea took root with us rather quickly and brings us now to possibly the most exciting announcement Pro Se has made in a long time. Pro Se Single Shot Signatures.”

The Pro Se Single Shot Signature line brings together 38 writers from across the spectrum of Genre Fiction. Each of these authors will be producing either an original series of his/her creation featuring recurring characters and concepts or writing an imprint of individual stand alone stories entitled ‘From The Pen of…’ and the author’s name. Multiple genres are represented, from jungle tales to horror stories to some that defy description.

Regardless if an author is doing a series or imprint, they will all be working on a regular production schedule established based on their own ability to produce quality work. Some will produce stories on a bi weekly, monthly, bi monthly, quarterly, or bi annual schedule. Each story will range in length from 3,000 to 15,000 words. Also, debuts of the individual series and/or imprints will be spread out over the remaining months of 2014, with at least three titles debuting in April.

Pro Se Productions proudly announces the inaugural cast of authors in the Pro Se Single Shot Signatures line. They include:

David Foster

 PJ Lozito

 Russ Anderson

 Sean Taylor

 Teel James Glenn

 Fuller Bumpers

 Tommy Hancock

 Morgan Minor

 Mark Bousquet

 Philip Athans

 Jim Beard

 I. A. Watson

 Joshua Reynolds

 Bobby Nash

 Greg Norgaard

 Mark Gelineau

 J. Walt Layne

 Nikki Nelson-Hicks

 D. Alan Lewis

 H. David Blalock

 Gary Phillips

 Sean E. Ali

 Barry Reese

 Percival Constantine

 Jeremy Hicks

 Logan L. Masterson

 Chuck Miller

 Alexander S. Brown

 Adam Lance Garcia

 David White

 Kevin Rodgers

 Derrick Ferguson

 Aaron Smith

 Frank Schildiner

 Brad Mengel

 Richard White

 Terry Alexander

 Terrence McCauley

Each Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series and Imprint will feature cover art by Artist Jeffrey Hayes.

If the author of a series or imprint chooses to, print collections of his or her stories will be produced at later dates as agreed upon by Pro Se and the individual creator. Hancock also stated that Pro Se will continue to produce stand alone Single Shots as they did in December and again in March.

“The Signature line,” Hancock says, “is a very exciting prospect for Pro Se, the authors and artist involved, and the readers I believe. It puts these fantastic New Pulp tales in a quick, easy to digest format, makes them inexpensive, and opens readers up to a whole host of ideas and authors that they may never have been exposed to otherwise for whatever reason. It may not be the same feel as having a paper magazine to fold up in your hand, but the Pro Se Single Shot Signatures line definitely makes Puttin’ The Monthly Back into Pulp something Pro Se can do in a big way.”

In coming days, news concerning the individual authors and the series and/or imprints they are working on as well as production schedules will be released from Pro Se Productions.

For More information on Pro Se Single Shot Signatures, to be placed on a review list for upcoming releases, or for interviews with the authors involved, please contact Morgan Minor, Director of Corporate Operations for Pro Se, at directorofcorporateoperations@prose-press.com.

To learn more about Pro Se Productions, go to www.prose-press.com and like Pro Se on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProSeProductions.

Pulpology is here, along with Black Wolfe

Pulpology is here, along with Black Wolfe

The latest Black Wolfe story is here! The Snake and the Black Wolfe is featured in Pulpology from Pro Se Press.

The concept behind Pulpology is taking a mythological creature or story and add 'Pulp' elements to it. Phillip Drayer Duncan, Joel Jenkins and myself were picked to contribute. My friend, Logan L. Masterson and Morgan Minor were tasked with the job of editing.

Dexter 'Black' Wolfe is back!

I first came up with the character, Dexter 'Black' Wolfe for a short story in Black Pulp. He was tough, smart and slightly super-powered. What drew me to creating him was the challenge of writing him. After all, I'm a white man living in the 21st century trying to capture the voice and struggle of a black man, living in a Depression Era 1930's.

Writing a character is easy. Making that character believable and capturing the ways that he deals with the world around him, is another thing. When the first Black Wolfe story was accepted, the publisher along with my beta readers, wanted more. I have to admit, nothing made me happier then seeing how well received Wolfe was by the readers. They wanted more, so I gave them more.

Dexter Wolfe's latest adventure matches him up with a monster/nightmare/titan from the Greek myths. They didn't call it Pulpology for nothing. But while many will recognize the myth, I put my own twist on it.

As for Dexter Wolfe, he has returned also in 'The Bishop of Port Victoria'. Here is a fun fact... BPV is written in several short stories that tell the life of a criminal king pin. Dexter Wolfe shows up in the third story, 'The Bishop and the Wolfe'. But in Wolfe's Universe, this story takes place the day after the story in 'Black Pulp'. So if you read 'Black Pulp' and the read BPV... it'll open your eyes a little more to Wolfe's background and story. :)

Read and enjoy... and let me know what you think.

High Adventure History hits the stands

High Adventure History hits the stands

The latest story is ‘To Catch a Copperhead’ in Pro Se Press’ High Adventure History anthology. The story was originally released as a ‘SingleShot’ story by Pro Se but now is in the collection it was written for.

Here is what Pro Se has to say about the book:

Pulp Happens…Throughout History! Pro Se Productions, a publisher of Genre Fiction, proudly presents HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY, an anthology that puts the fast pacing and over the top action of Pulp Fiction in the History books! Setting tales in the past and telling them with a predominantly Pulp flavor, these stories find action and adventure in the annals of yesterday for readers today! Take a trip to the past with authors D. Alan Lewis, Teel James Glenn, and Mark Gelineau as they redefine High Adventure and History! Action, Adventure, Espionage, Mystery, and Horror abound in tales of days gone by in this thrilling collection. With a stunning cover by David L. Russell, design and formatting by Jeff Hayes, David Foster, and Russ Anderson, this volume will definitely prove to be historic. Relive the Past with Extra Pulp in Pro Se Production’s HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY.

My story features a young woman named Jessica but is better known as ‘Assassin Anne’.  She is guardian and protector of the working girls in an 1860’s era New York. She may be showing up in a future Hawke Girls’ Adventure.

I hope you enjoy it.

Steampunked Superheroes are on the scene.

Capes & Clockwork arrives.

 

 

 

When it comes to entertainment, we live for all things new and exciting. And should a new fad come along that excites us, then we find ourselves mixing everything else we love with it. So it wasn’t a surprise that many artists have been combining their love of comic books with the growing popularity of Steampunk.

That was the real inspiration behind this collection of stories. For years now, drawings and paintings of some of the most beloved comic heroes, such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, the X-Men, and so many more have been ‘Steampunked’. A simple online search will bring up hundreds of images of our heroes, re-imagined with steam and clockwork.

What makes a Superhero? At their core, they are just regular folks who want to do something good for their community. What makes them ‘super’ can be anything the author thinks up and the reader accepts.

Centuries ago, mankind needed gods and heroes, partly to explain the mysteries of how our world works, but also as a way to inspire and entertain the youth. Stories of heroes that fought terrible monsters and saved humanity were passed from one generation to the next. There is a reason those myths are still known to us, they worked and still do. Each year, more movies, books, and such are made about the gods of old.

But in our modern world, we’ve moved away from the ideas of gods and myths. They’re old fashion now-a-days and have been replaced by fictional people with superhuman powers, skills, or in some cases, other-worldly origins. They were first brought to us in the pulp novels of the early 20^th century, then drawn out in the comic books and eventually turned into blockbuster movies.

So the question is, why ‘Steampunk’ them? The answer is simple: Why not?

With the growing popularity of the Steampunk genre, there is plenty of room for stories of all types. Steampunk doesn’t have to be all about airships, corsets, and romance. The more the genre grows, the more diverse people will expect their tales to be within it. With the number of comic book fans growing every year, this book will hopefully give them a new source for ‘Super’ entertainment outside of the traditional comic books formats.

 

I have to admit that I loved working on this book. When I pitched the idea, I thought it'd go over, but wasn't expecting the way it'd be received. Allan Gilbreath mentioned the project at Dragoncon. This was during the editing stage and the crowd's excited reactions sealed the deal. So, get it, read it and let me know what you think. :)

 

Buy here at Amazon.com