A Renewal, Of Sorts

I have been thinking for a couple of years, pretty much since I released Ether, that Jaunt required a fresh coat of paint, to spruce up that dusty face I created six long years ago. To put the two JauntWorld books together within a more unified front, I have redesigned the ebook cover, and a tentative wraparound cover for a potential print book, if I so decide (economics playing a bigger part, of course). It was quite an ambitious project six years ago when I first published Jaunt with Lulu; with a more practiced and experienced eye now, that first book looks very much like a rookie endeavor, more flaws than successes. I'm quite proud of it, and I've received many words of kindness and support about it, but a renewed Jaunt for a new season seems well past time. Eventually I suppose I will reformat the text inside—for now, the cover is the lone new element, and a new header here at JauntWorld to reflect the renewed brand.

Hope you enjoy it, I sure do!

Ether Has Arrived! New For 2012

That's right, the second, and long-promised, novel in the JauntWorld series, Ether, is finally here! After much deliberation, I decided to publish Ether as an exclusive ebook for the time being. Financial considerations what they are, it's just more feasible to go strictly epub. Should I figure out a good way to print a trade edition, the formatting and interior layout are complete, allowing me to do so easily. I'll also look into a way to create a downloadable PDF in the future for those interested in a more traditional, one-off print "book".

I have recently joined Scribd (find me under jauntworld) where a three-chapter sample of Ether is currently available there, as is a full, FREE, download of that chestnut, 2 Shorts (+1). I will periodically upload new content to Scribd as it is available. Please look for me there and don't forget to download Ether! Oh, and Jaunt is still available, too!

Reduced Ebook Prices and Et Cetera

I've brought 'em down to 99 cents, less than a buck! The way the trends are going in ebook sales, the lower, the better. Maya continues to trickle a few sales on Amazon, while Jaunt was zilch—to say the least—so I decided to take what pennies I could. And don't forget, 2 Shorts (+1) is free—don't say I never did anything for ya!

I've read recently of the million-ebook sales club on Amazon consisting of the biggest names in publishing right now, and with that name recognition, they can charge more than the price point of a standard mass market. Well, we little guys cannot match that so we have to compete where we can, and that's in these lesser prices. Personally any price point over five dollars is just overreaching it, to be honest. Multimillion-dollar contracted authors really don't require $15 ebooks.

Okay, enough about that. I've been working on comics plots for the better part of two years, with a story arc running for a seven-issue series. I'm enormously private about works in progress, as I have minimal confidence in myself as the work is taking shape, but I can't help but post that I am indeed actually writing, just not in my usual manner and in the familiar sandbox of JauntWorld. Doing this comic work involves an extra degree of confidence that I'm not just fooling myself! I love comics, have since I was old enough to read, and they're my first literary love. But I just don't have anything I'm ready to show for my efforts—yet. When I do, this blog—even though its primary focus is on JauntWorld—will display it, and I hope everyone will see it as the labor of love (and love letter to comics) that it is.

Ebook Update

Here we are again, another late post! Well, I have some Jaunt ebook goodness to share. If you own a Nook, click here:
Jaunt
And for you Kindle readers:
Jaunt

Head on over there! Thanks.

Late-Season Rambling

It's that time of year once more, day is the same as evening is the same as day. Inspiration is hard to come by so I work on gathering my research and plotting out my future tales. The holidays are tough to navigate, as the day job sucks the energy from me and the cold darkness depresses imagination. I have started the first glimmers of an outline for Cloak a bit early as I have found some intriguing research to fuel the trials our protagonists will be put through. And I continue plotting out the comic I have in mind to actually draw one of these years.

I watch and read the precarious situation across the Korean Peninsula with concern and anticipation, or is that anxiety? I can only hope the Kims get what's coming to them, either via more sanctions or their masters in China furtively pulling on that unraveling leash.... Oh and that piece of Wikileaks theater.

It's more and more apparent ebooks are the independent's new modus operandi, so I must get into the mindset for digital content and begin shifting my focus towards them. The Mrs has acquired a NookColor (in addition to her original Nook) and the avenues open to furthering ebook content on the device are astounding. Merging text and visual media will soon be commonplace, leaving big-time publishers in the dust if they don't get on the bandwagon and stop charging ludicrous price points for simple epubs while pooh-poohing multimedia e-reader content.

And one more year piles up under JauntWorld's belt here at Blogger!