Backstage Pass! New cover revealed for “Neverqueen”

AuthorAppleton on September 15, 2014

After the negative feedback I received on the original cover for Neverqueen, it was time to start from scratch. Give Neverqueen a look as classy and other-worldly as the covers for The Sword of the Dragon series. Ready for the full reveal?

Thanks to all of you who voted on the 99Designs poll to help me choose the final design. Your feedback was critical in helping me make the final decision. The next step is to get this version into print. For the time-being the other edition will be set as out-of-print until the new files can be uploaded to the distribution channels. In the meantime, I am planning the artwork for Neverqueen 2. It is my hope that this sequel will be ready for release in time for Christmas.

Question: Which of my upcoming releases are you most excited about? The Sword of the Dragon-book 4-In Search of Dragons, or Neverqueen 2: The Suffering Chalice?

 

 

What defibrillators have in common with a Writing Career

AuthorAppleton on September 8, 2014

A powerful jolt of electricity can get a dead engine running again. A defibrillator can make the human heart beat again. Everything needs a “jumpstarter” every now and then. My writing career took a few blows these last few years and sometimes it feels like I’m down for the count. But I’m not.

Urgo in Stargate SG-1

Remember that episode of SG-1 when Urgo is influencing the team’s decisions. “Try the paddles,” he says to Teal’c. So Teal’c grabs the defibrillator paddles and moves to use them before he is stopped. Really it was a funny episode!

My agent recently gave me the news that my publisher backed out of publishing the fourth book in my series The Sword of the Dragon. I can’t say this shocked me. I know that the publishing market has been struggling. But it still comes as a disappointment and I have to reassess some things. Before I get all of you worried, the rights for In Search of Dragons have reverted to me and I will be publishing it next year. Only difference is it will release from my company, Flaming Pen Press. Neverqueen sequels will also be released under FPP (more and exciting updates coming on this soon).

I have been eager to get back onto the road with book tours. I especially miss visiting middle schools. The interaction with fans was unparalleled and the excitement and interest it generated in my books was a constant source of strength and inspiration for my writing and my writing career.

On the upside I still have my literary agent. She has all the connections necessary to sell my manuscripts to publishers. On the downside working full-time in sales combined with family life leaves very little time to get my writing done. I have plenty of projects in-the-works, but I need to get them finished.

Take it from me there is nothing like pressing onward toward living your dream. I’ve lived it a couple of times. Right now I’m on sabbatical until I can work the kinks out so that I’m back out there nonstop writing, promoting, and selling. God will open the right doors as long as I keep working at it! (-:

Question: What discouragements have made you feel like ‘throwing in the towel’ on your dreams? 

Backstage Pass: The Author-Reader connection

AuthorAppleton on September 1, 2014

Recently I was informed that a young reader of mine who’d been struggling with cancer passed away. The moment I found that out really hit hard and reminded me of how precious life is, and how blessed I am to be able to bless some people in a small way. When I have had the opportunity to visit middle schools I have found the interaction with the kids to be unparalleled in inspiration and encouragement.

There is more to writing books than simply putting stories out there. Most writers don’t do it for the money (because it is sparse and hard to come by in this profession). Most do it for the love of telling the stories and sharing them with people who will care about those stories.

A best selling author once told me that he would not continue to write if no one was reading his stories. At the time I did not understand what he meant. I felt that no matter what happened I would always want to write stories, if only for the fun of it. But now that I have this personal connection to readers across the US and in even some in Canada and other countries, I understand what he meant. Writing has become a ministry of sorts. The stories I create have the ability to touch lives, encourage people, entertain them, and sometimes to pull their minds away from their own troubles.

That is the connection that an author has to their readers. And it often leads to a strong emotional link so that we care about one another.

Question: Do you feel personally connected to the authors you read?

New book announcement!

AuthorAppleton on August 18, 2014

Nope, it’s not a new fantasy novel (although I am working hard to finish one of those, too). Originally I was not going to publish this but only get copies for my own kids. I’ve been working on this story for my kids for two years. But my wife has convinced me that I should share it with you all, so here it is.

This is my first attempt at writing and illustrating a children’s book.

This simple story shows how a small act of kindness can bring contentment and happiness. The little table is bought from a used furniture shop, but on the drive home he falls off the car and lands in the dump. His owner discovers him and brings him home to fix him up and place him in front of a window.

sample illustration

If you have little ones in your life who might enjoy this story, you can purchase off Amazon or direct from me. Please send me an email with your request.

What should excite you about Enclave Publishing

AuthorAppleton on August 4, 2014

As Christian readers of fantasy and science fiction we were taken by shock when Marcher Lord Press owner Jeff Gerke sold to Steve Laube. Personally, I was one of the many skeptics… When it was announced the company would change its name I thought “This straw may break the dragon’s back.” I was wrong.

Steve Laube has vowed to eliminate content that does not meet Enclave’s Christian market audiences. While this means it may lose some of the gritty flavor we came to appreciate in Marcher Lord Press, in the end I believe we will see more focus on classy storytelling especially high fantasy and original science fiction. The focus in narrowed, the writing standard is high, and the number of titles released each year is very few. Due to the excitement around Enclave Publishing’s readership this will lead to many submissions for Enclave editors to choose from, which means (I presume) we will only get the best.

Of the first titles announced, Orphan’s Song really catches my eye. I will be purchasing a copy for my personal library as I did read some of Miss Adams’ writing a few years ago and she is quite the gifted writer.

It looks like Enclave Publishing is going to be strong moving forward and I am excited to watch for new titles from them. We need more selections out there and too many small Christian publishers are producing second-rate covers and generic stories. These covers look awesome!

Question: What books are you looking forward to this year? Are you excited about Enclave Publishing?