Haldred Chronicles BIG news

At long last, the third book in my Haldred Chronicles series is out on Amazon Kindle.  Haldred Chronicles: Shade.

You can purchase the new book HERE on Amazon.co.uk, and HERE on Amazon.com

But I’ve been keeping secret an additional update on the series, which I can at last share.

From the 1^st September to the 4^th September, Haldred Chronicles: Alyssa (book one) and Haldred Chronicles: Kalla (book two) are FREE on Amazon Kindle!  

Search for Haldred Chronicles on Amazon.co.uk (click HERE) or Amazon.com (click HERE) to find them.  It’s a perfect opportunity for those who have not yet read the previous two instalments, so please spread the word!

And stay tuned.  I’ve more good news coming in the next few days regards Haldred Chronicles: Alyssa.  Those visiting Amazon, might already see what’s coming next...

Shade is coming: 31st August 2015

Well the date is almost upon us, and I’m glad to say we are on schedule.

After my last blog update the novel completion process went into overdrive.  I have been working at updating and tightening the story structure, adding detail and descriptions where necessary, filling in plot holes and strengthening the story.  My proof readers have done an exceptional job and have helped me get to this latest draft.

The final phase is upon us.

On monday 24^th I spent the day finishing my final draft.  This draft has now been passed to my family for a final check over.  After they read through and give it the ok, I’ll make my final modifications and release the book on the 31^st.

Two years of work will at last be unleashed onto the general public.

My next blog post will be to confirm the release and provide those all important advertisement links! 

Whilst it has definitely proven to be ‘that difficult third book’, in the final assessment I have really enjoying bringing it’s many characters to life.  I hope all you readers out there will enjoy.

Till the next and final blog post about Haldred Chronicles: Shade!

It's almost ready!

It has been a long road, and will be exactly 2 years on the 31^st August 2015.  But from my perspective it has been worth it, and I hope for my readers, it will likewise be worth it.

Over the past couple of months since my last update I have been adding and editing Haldred Chronicles: Shade.  At last, as of the weekend of the 3^rd July 2015, I have completed my latest draft of the story in its entirety.

Haldred Chronicles: Shade is over 73,000 words long, making it over 10,000 words more than my previous book, Kalla.

Now, after my wife’s mum Jenny did such a excellent job of proofing earlier chapters, Deborah is going to proof the remainder of the draft, checking grammar, spelling etc.  After which I will hand the completed manuscript over to a couple of proof readers to check the story.  Then, on the 31^st August 2015, I will at last release Haldred Chronicles: Shade for purchase on Amazon Kindle!

Shade will not only be the longest book I have so far written, but I hope as well the most intriguing.  My previous books followed a dual narrative structure, where the story was primarily told through the actions of the protagonist (Victoria Haldred) and the secondary protagonist (Alyssa or Kalla).  However, Shade is different.  Not because it isn’t dual narrative; it is, as I hope most my future books will be.  It is different because there are now two primary protagonists.  Shade and Victoria Haldred.

Readers will follow these two completing characters through a maze of politics and intrigue, of lies and deception, misdirection and misadventure, mystery and madness.  I hope readers will enjoy reading about the characters, as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

Your favourite characters have returned from the previous books, as well as a host of new characters.  Shade, in particular, has become prehapes one of the most mysterious characters I have ever written; 

I hope you enjoy reading his story.

I will say no more.  Instead, I hope to update this blog again at the end of August announcing the release of the book.  The end of this particular challenge is almost upon us.

Take care.

2015 update!

I seem to be continuing the trend of blog updates at random times!  As usual life has been very busy but I’m glad to report, in all the right ways.

Deborah and I enjoyed a wonderful time away in the great city of Boston for a week in April.  Having returned, we now hope to be moving into our new house in May and are making preparations for this.

Before leaving for Boston, I printed out all 250 pages of ‘Haldred Chronicles: Shade’.  Those 250 pages are the official, 96% completed 1st draft.  The first 6 chapters have been proofed by many of my proof readers, and then passed to my family for a final check over and story suggestions.  Once armed with these completed and checked over 6 chapters, I will then modify and update the rest of the book to 2^nd draft standard, taking on board any comments on structure, flow etc. 

After that, it will just be a case of finalizing and the book will be finished!

At the same time, my fantastic illustrator Mat has once again really delivered the goods on the book’s cover art.  I hope to post up some of the fantastic prep-work he’s been doing for this latest project and I’m really looking forward to premiering the book cover art once the time comes.

As regards a final publication date, that I don’t know.  Whilst a huge amount of work has been done over the last few months, the book it still not finished and with a house move coming out, I don’t want to set a definite date.  Instead, I’m going to grab whatever free time I can to complete things and only publish once it’s done.  Rest assured, once I’m in the ‘definitely finalized’ stage I will be shouting such news from the rooftops!

Some definite details about the latest book I can confirm now.  It will be my biggest work to date.  The 1^st draft is already 62,000 words and set to grow as I update and edit chapters and scenes.  In turn, it is also my most complex and detailed plot.  I hope this serves as an encouragement as apposed to a discouragement to my readers; I have thoroughly enjoyed writing so many twists and turns; I hope this comes through in the story.

So I’ll keep writing and all being well, the next update to this blog will be to confirm the book is ready! 

Until next time

* * * * *

Happy belated New Year!

Yes it’s been a while; again!  However, we’re getting there.

Proofing by my proof readers has begun on the latest book.  The way it’s going to work is I’ll first being sending the book chapters, one by one, to one specific proof reader for spelling and grammar check.  Then, I’ll be passing those same chapters on to other proof readers to double check but also for comment on story structure, characters, dialogue etc.

It feels good to know that at last, things are really moving forward and will do so at a brisk pace.

I have chapters one to ten of Haldred Chronicles: Shade done and dusted.  Chapters eleven to fifteen still need to be completed.  For those who have read my previous two books, this will come as a shock; my previous books were only twelve chapters long.  Book three, put simply, needs more space for the story to be told.

The story is more complex, more detailed and involves more characters.  I hope, also, it will be more enjoyable for you, the reader.  It just means I’ve needed more time to get my head around the plot and the exceedingly tough and intelligence secondary Protagonist. 

As with all my books, this book will be ‘Dual Narrative’ so you’ll have not one but two points of view to follow.

Around the writing, Debs and I are doing well.  We’re now married seven months and enjoying this new routine of ours.  We’ve just had our first Christmas together as a married couple and now we’re in the process of putting our house up for sale.  We hope to move sometime in the summer.

So that’s the update!  I wish all of you a somewhat late Happy New Year, and once this book is done, expect another update.

Till next time!

I'm keeping at it

It’s been a long time since my last blog update but readers will be used to that now I think.

The good news is that, still, I have been writing and immensely enjoying.

Haldred Chronicles: Shade now stands at a healthy 45,000 words and I have set myself the goal of finishing the book by the end of December.  At least from a 1^st Draft perspective. I had hoped to finish by the end of November but looking at what else I have on, I think there just isn’t enough time.

I would love to be taking part officially in the November writing competition over at www.nanowrimo.org but I’m not writing a brand new novel, so I’m just using the event as inspiration to get my own current novel finished, as well as encouraging others. Those who follow my twitter account and Facebook page will have seen numerous references and encouragements regards Nanowrimo 2014.  To those taking part officially, good luck and enjoy!

But what are the other ‘things’ that are taking up ones time?  They are good things I can assure you.

Being married rocks, and I’m immensely enjoying.  Deborah and I have been making extensive plans for the future, including moving house next year.  She has continued to be an immense encouragement to me in my writing.  As well as this, I’ve continued to help in developing a wargames background material.

For the last 7 weeks I’ve been sending ideas to Rick over at Hairy Studios, who are in the process of developing the skirmish game ‘Wrathborn’.  Rick has given me the ideas in his head and I in turn have fleshed them out.  Races, history, important events, and even right down to the culture and economics of the system have all been developing via this collaboration.

So plenty is happening, lots to keep me occupied.  Hopefully next time I am posting an update I’ll have the 1^st draft completed but we’ll see.  I must concede that Shade is definitely the very definition of ‘that difficult 3^rd book’.  But it’s getting done!  Till next time.

Keep on writing!

Another long wait between blog posts I know, but things have been proceeding ‘apace’ as they say.  I am immensely enjoying married life and Debs and I have been making plans on moving house in the spring of 2015.

Writing wise, I have written over 40,000 words for Haldred Chronicles: Shade.  That’s a good, proper milestone achieved and the count is still growing at a respectable pace.  Major scenes are fully written and what’s needed now is the branching scenes and some extra descriptions here and there.  I’m happy with the way things have been coming together.

I’ve also been inspired recently with a few more ideas for further Haldred Chronicles books.  These did distract me a bit from my work on Shade but I’ve successfully taken note of them for future reference so not so bad.

The ideas bring the total number of Haldred Chronicles sequel stories to 23.  Yeah, didn’t see that coming.  Am pleased though as it shows that my subconscious is taking an active interest in the idea; it will keep me encouraged.

As well as this I’ve been having additional random story ideas.  These have ranged from 4 ideas I’ve had for additional Horus Heresy novels (a series of books based on the Warhammer 40k game by Games-Workshop and published by Black Library), 2 more Haldred Chronicles spin-offs, as well as a completely random idea spawned from a dream I had.  That particular dream consisted of giant bugs attacking the earth; unoriginal perhaps but still cool.

So the writing is going well, and I’m hoping to be sending my proof readers something soon.  If I can just knuckle down and finish things then Shade will be released November 2014 as planned.  Until next time!