Updating my internet profile!

The last week has been a whirlwind of activity.  Mostly to improve my internet profile :).

To start with, I am now officially registered on LinkedIn as an Author.  I have also taken the time to register with a few groups on LinkedIn as well which is already bearing fruit.  A lot of very good bloggers are on the network site, so I’m already learning a lot from fellow writers.

www.linkedin.com

Next update, the good people at Goodreads.com have registered me as an official author!  This fantastic website lists thousands of books and details on the authors, as well as customer reviews.  As such I have made sure that Alyssa and Kalla are both listed, along with info about myself.  As with LinkedIn I have registered with a few groups and blogs.  You can find Goodreads at the link below.

www.goodreads.com

Finally, I made sure to update my author central pages on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.  They now have proper Bio’s and links set up.  You can find them at the links below.

Amazon.co.uk = http://www.amazon.co.uk/JG-Cully/e/B00AJ3LPA2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1380285886&sr=8-1

Amazon.com = http://www.amazon.com/JG-Cully/e/B00AJ3LPA2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1380285984&sr=8-1

I’ve been active on a lot of other sites and forums too but I’m taking my time with things, getting used to interactions and posting.

I also hope to blog a bit more often in the next while, and not just with book updates.  Should hopefully offer a more varied reading experience!  We'll see how it goes.

Till the next update everyone.

Plans within plans...

It’s been over twenty days since the release of the second book in my fantasy detective series ‘Haldred Chronicles’.  I am very happy with the response.

So far, I have two five-star reviews on Amazon for ‘Haldred Chronicles: Kalla’, which is just fantastic.  As well as this lots of people are now reading the second book and thoroughly enjoying.  Likewise, I have seen a further uptake on book one so the ‘cascade’ effect is taking shape.  I hope this continues.

Here’s the link on Amazon for book two, if anyone is feeling very kind and wishes to purchase or even better, review!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haldred-Chronicles-Kalla-ebook/dp/B00EW8T8PO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1379752302&sr=8-5&keywords=kalla

Looking to the future now, I hope to start ‘official’ work on ‘Tales of Larrick City’ very soon.  My original intention was to leave Haldred Chronicles writing for about a month, then start into it again, but I have found myself already writing little scenes here and there.  That and I’ve been writing other stories as well.

One of which you can catch over at the Aeronautica ‘Airspace’ forum (http://z8.invisionfree.com/Airspace/index.php?showtopic=963). 

I warn you, this one is written in haste and not as well polished as my published work but I hope you enjoy.  As before (from last year), it is a companion to the wargaming campaign currently ongoing over at the forum, and is of a different style to that found in Haldred Chronicles.

Other plans afoot are more work on the various websites and networks that I am now part of.  The likes of Authonomy (http://authonomy.com/), The Indie Writers Network (http://indiewritenet.com) and the Kindle Boards (http://www.kboards.com).  I hope to take a more active part in these internet sites over the next while, as well as many others.  This should increase exposure for the books (and the insanity of them of course!)

The ultimate objective is to be published by an official company.  As such, my other big project for the next few months is to prepare a basic synopsis and detailed synopsis for submission to publishers.  The intention is to write them up for both books and so I have a good variety to send on.

So I’ve lots going on and I hope you will all continue to enjoy the fruits of my labour.  Thanks again to everyone for there fantastic support and encouragement over the last while.  Thank you all of you.

Until next time, lots more to come!

Lots of updates!

Well it has been a whirlwind of activity here so I have lots to update you all on!

First, those who have been visiting the blog should notice a bit of a facelift.  With the assistance of the fantastic photography of Ricky Parker I now have proper background images and a better layout.  I hope people will find the blog more interesting and easier to read now.  For those viewing this update on one of the other blog sites (http://badcompanyredux.com or www.createspace.com ) the link for the main site is below.

http://jgswritinganovel.blogspot.co.uk/

Secondly, the Facebook page has had a massive update, namely the photographs from the launch party of the 31^st August 2013! 

It took place at the ‘Cabin’ Hall at Windsor Baptist Church, Belfast, and was very well attended.  There, I had an author interview with the fantastic Vic and then a dramatic reading from the Haldred Chronicles: Kalla performed by Vic (playing Victoria), Joanne (playing Gretna), Carson (playing Malak) and Hayley (playing Katy).  All of whom did an exception job of bringing the Haldred Chronicles to life.  The night was rounded off with a free raffle that included a signed copy of a Haldred Chronicles poster!  Everyone had a fantastic time.

You can see some of the photographs of the event at the below link:

https://www.facebook.com/HaldredChronicles

Thirdly, my twitter account has had a facelift as well, again due to Ricky’s excellent photos.  To keep up with my random musings, check out the link below.  Of particular note is the new photo of me!

https://twitter.com/jgwritesnovels

For anyone interested in Ricky the photographer, please visit his site below.  He does exceptional work, I hope you’ll agree.

http://rickyparkerphotography.co.uk/

All that remains is to remind people that all of the above crazy-ness is due to the release of my latest book, Haldred Chronicles: Kalla.  Available for both the Kindle and Kobo books!  Check out the links below for the UK edition

Amazon.co.uk = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haldred-Chronicles-Kalla-ebook/dp/B00EW8T8PO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378547686&sr=8-1&keywords=haldred+chronicles

Kobo books = http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/haldred-chronicles-kalla

US Edition Amazon.com = http://www.amazon.com/Haldred-Chronicles-Kalla-ebook/dp/B00EW8T8PO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378547694&sr=8-1&keywords=haldred+chronicles

Thanks again everyone, hope you all enjoy

The wait is over...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For your reading pleasure, ‘Haldred Chronicles: Kalla’

Now available at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haldred-Chronicles-Kalla-ebook/dp/B00EW8T8PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377942743&sr=8-2&keywords=haldred

Amazon.com = http://www.amazon.com/Haldred-Chronicles-Kalla-ebook/dp/B00EW8T8PO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377942724&sr=8-1&keywords=haldred

Also, my first novel ‘Haldred Chronicles: Alyssa’ is available now at Amazon and on Kobo books as well!

Amazon.co.uk = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haldred-Chronicles-Alyssa-ebook/dp/B00AEF7LR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377942743&sr=8-1&keywords=haldred

Amazon.com = http://www.amazon.com/Haldred-Chronicles-Alyssa-ebook/dp/B00AEF7LR6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377942724&sr=8-2&keywords=haldred

Kobo books (e-readers and app) = http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/haldred-chronicles-alyssa

The time of publishing approaches...

The time of publication is fast approaching.  After months on months of drafting, rewrites and proofing the final product is pretty much ready.

Haldred Chronicles: Kalla will be released on schedule on the 31^st August 2013.

As a final precaution I am having the “final” draft looked over by a fresh proof reader, as well as two other people who hadn’t read the first book; just to check coherency and if the book sits well as a stand alone story.  I have written it with the idea that you don’t need to have read the first book, but if you have you’ll get that little bit extra out of it.  I hope, depending on what comments come back to me, that I have succeeded.

A launch party is also confirmed, but it has become a more low-key affair than originally intended.  It’s a social meet up for a load of friends and a few guests to come and enjoy some banter, an interview with myself and a reading of part of the book.  It will be good fun but won’t be over the top.

The next update to this blog will be literally the ‘it’s out!’ post with a link to purchase the book.

After book 2, what are my plans?

Well, I hope to continue work on the short story compendium “Tales of Larrick City.”  This, once complete, will be a freely downloadable book of short stories, as well as a glossary for the Haldred Chronicles universe.  Release date is still to be confirmed; I need to finish it first!  I hope people will enjoy as it fills out the story and background of the world.  That and it’s a good excuse to keep writing before starting work on book 3.

Speaking of book 3, the plan is to start it off in November 2013.  I will write it as part of the November writing completion run as the National Novel Writing Month at www.nanowrimo.org.  Hopefully I will finish a complete first draft by the end of that month. 

So that’s the plans anyways.  Next blog update will be the release of the book.  I hope you all enjoy!

Take care.

Launch date is closing in!

Just a quick update to indicate that I’m still here!

The draft is sitting with a select few proofreaders for review and comment, as well as checking over the all important grammar and spelling.  Everything is on schedule.

Added to this, I have been making preparations for a possible launch party on the 31st August 2013.  All being well this launch party will take place on the evening of the 31st with some food and drink, an interview with me as well as a raffle and the reading of an extract from the new book.  It should be a fun night once all is organised.

In preparing for this night, I have placed an order for some business cards with some rather nice custom graphics, as provided by Mat my illustrator.  They look the business and I hope to get them sometime this week.

I also put in an order for a couple of small posters to the ‘Zip Posters’ web company.  They too should be with me this week.

So its all go and I’m thoroughly looking forward to finally releasing the new book for you all.  Till launch day!

31st August; the countdown begins!

As I said in my last blog post, I have designated the 31^st August 2013 as my launch day.  Now it’s a race to finish up everything and get it all prepared before then!

I have been busy working my way through a print out of the novel, making corrections, adding detail and basically tidying everything up.  It’s a very good experience, particularly the elimination of repeating words.  Proof readers of my previous novel will remember the original drafts that were packed full of constant uses of the word ‘quiet’ instead of ‘quite’, as well as the evitable overuse of the word ‘said’.  Fortunate then that the original novel was proofed so well, good job everyone!

Another idea has also come to mind.  Several people have suggested the idea of a launch day and I must say, I’m very interested in having one.  The basic idea is to hold a launch event at a functional room somewhere, probably in my hometown Newtownards, on the evening of the 31^st August.  I will of course post up more details nearer the time.  I definite think it would be a fun thing to try, even just the once.

So it’s at last all coming together.  The book is almost done and if I organize it right, there will be an official launch event for it too! 

I shall keep everyone informed on the blog and my Facebook page.  Stay tuned!