Dark Arts Is Finished!

Some people waited since late 2009 for this book to arrive, and I'm proud to announce that it will be available on October 31 in EBook form at the most popular online retailers (Amazon, iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and a few others).

You can already get your hands on a printed copy here:
Createspace
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

The process of developing this book alone was a massive learning experience. The research took a lot of time because it's set in the real world, in a real (but fictionalised) place, during a real time in our history.

Many of the rules of the real world have big influences on the occult content too, which required even more research into law enforcement and medicine.

I couldn't start writing until I had finished five different outlines, and I had to online again three times while work was underway. This is a process that shortens the whole process of writing a book by doing drafts in point form that encompass all but the finer points of the work. It really tightens up the story, but it's one of those processes that really works well if you stick to it all the way though.

Writing the book involved taking a journey that was sometimes ill-fated for characters that became favourites of mine, but there was no room for favouritism. I also used a style of writing and storytelling overall that I started developing as a teen, but didn't continue into my thirties, so the book doesn't resemble anything I've ever written. I didn't feel out of place writing in that style either, and I learned a lot by changing things up.

I enjoy dipping into other genres, I learn a great deal every time I do, and that makes me a better writer regardless of what genre I'm working in. I'm pleased with the story that's delivered in this book, and hope you enjoy it.

The test readers who took this journey with me were a massive help as well, there is one plot hole in particular that I didn't see, and they reported back with its exact location and measurements so I could plug it up. I have to thank them for taking this ride with me, it was a good experience.

Watch for this to appear at your favourite EBook retailer, I think it'll be a good read for Halloween!

RL

The Spinward Fringe Test Readers

Lately I've gotten a few emails from people who are very interested in becoming test readers. Sadly, I had to turn them all down and it's not because they were unqualified.

Typically the interested parties are well educated (engineers, teachers, other writers and more), but sadly, I still can't take them on. I wish I could, but there are a lot of reasons why I just can't include them.

So everyone understands why, I thought I would enlighten people on how I put a test group together.

The first thing I do is watch for people who I've met personally and have known for a while. I don't tell anyone that I'm looking for test readers. At least a month before I'm ready I take account of who has read all the books preceding the one I'm finishing and then choose people who don't know each other, aren't prone to posting spoilers on the Internet, are trust worthy, I've known for a while, are educated or well read and I get along with.

When I finish my drafts and my first editorial pass I send copies of secure files out to each test reader. They don't get to know who the other readers are, how many there are or where they are. My editor gets her copy at the same time and she doesn't know any of the test readers either. I have test readers in three countries right now, and the select group are all fantastic people. They'd probably get along famously if they ever got to know each other actually, but sadly, it's a blind reading.

So that's how it works. How are the results from this kind of group? Well, I'm always surprised at what people notice, of their very unique opinions and what they commonly mention. They help me improve as a writer and story teller and with a book as complex and as large as Frontline, they also make good watchdogs, pointing out problems with continuity, characterization and even turning points in the plot.

I'd love to take on more test readers, but as you can see it's hard to find people who fit just right into a blind reading.

The first quarter of Spinward Fringe Frontline has been sent out to the Editor and all the test readers, and I'm eagerly awaiting their comments as I continue to edit the rest of the book. I'll be posting their general impressions as they come in, so check back!

RL