New Web Site – New Book Trailer – All Sorts Of Fun Mayhem!

Nothing I do should be considered spontaneous.  Everything is planned, down to the last molecule, of the last burst of electrons that make up the energy we call electricity.  My brain, a chemical battery with one heck of a weird charge, just can’t stop.

A friend of mine with sharp eyes noticed a domain that was available.  She emailed me, and after a few conversations, she made sure nobody else got to use it.  My older web address, http://www.thepassiontrilogy.com – was having a difficult time finding a home.  Server this, server that, I had trouble just firing up a new website and letting that one die.  It’s written in everything I’ve published as a source of information, up until recently, of course.  Now it’s a redirect, pointing to the new domain, the new website.

http://www.daniel-a-roberts.com/

On the web address above is the new book trailer as well.  Hosted locally, you won’t have to wait for Youtube to load, or see one of their advertisements.  Just click to watch and make it full screen.  The rest is pure eye candy.  ^_^

Thank you, Amy (Safeunderdark) for the effort you’ve put into making that website work!

I have to get back to finishing Darya Rising, which is going to be tight on my own deadline.  It’s a roaring action novel, that I can promise.  It’s just a matter of effort to make sure I get it done and have an ending that’s fit to carry over into the next installment I’ve planned on writing, Darya the Pirate.  Yes, I said Pirate, and oh yes, it is still 100% Sci-Fi!

The Cast for Darya Rising

Today, I’m releasing the current cast of characters I’ve developed for Darya Rising.  It’s not unusual to do, no more than knowing who’s going to play in an up-coming movie.  It can generate interest, if not excitement, which is my main goal for today.  I’m going to share their names, a brief description, and let your imagination run away with it.  I will start with, of course, the main character of this new Sci-Fi novel.

• Darya Sanego

Formerly Queen Darya of Central Avernus, she abdicated her throne of luxury for high adventure out among the stars.  As a ‘protected’ primitive species, her people aren’t allowed to be interfered with, much less given an education along with advanced technology.  Tainted with knowledge and running around with her mentor and best friend, Elizabeth Tanner, has them both tagged as outlaws who are to be vaporized on sight by the galactic authorities.

• Elizabeth Tanner

An ex-general in the League of Free Worlds, she closed the chapter on her previous life by interfering with Darya’s people.  Knowing she could never regain her military career, the new goal is to provide services to worlds who remain independent of both galactic super powers.  It doesn’t matter if the goods come from the black market or not, she intends to turn a tidy profit while forging her new life, among new friends.  Before any of that can happen, she must first train Darya for black-ops warfare…

• Frank

Also ex-military from the League of Free Worlds, he’s the un-official leader of Outpost Ninety-Four on the rocky planet known as Vega Three.  He still has contacts with ‘friends’ in the military, so he isn’t out of the loop when it comes to galactic affairs.  Any assistance he gives Darya and Elizabeth always comes with a fee, but in the end, is worth every credit.

• Max and Gerald

Two of the worst bounty hunters in the galaxy, this father and son operation only has one outstanding skill… tracking.  Mistaking Darya and Elizabeth for a pair of colony killing mass murderers, they are re-educated in the field of true overt operations.  All four combine their skills to catch the real targets, allowing Max and Gerald to collect on a hefty bounty.  Splitting the proceeds down the middle with their new partners, they agree to terms of employment, once Elizabeth gains enough credits to buy a larger ship, and a crew to go along with it.

• Kendra

A taxi driver.  An ex-fighter pilot.  Completely off her rocker.

• Davis

One of three old friends from Elizabeth’s early days, he’s a greedy overweight banker who used a portion of Elizabeth’s wealth to invest in scams.  He turned a nice profit, and happily gave Elizabeth her money back.  Of course, that’s after he tried running first.

• Martin

One of Elizabeth’s romantic flings from the old days, they didn’t part on the best of terms.  Still, he owed a considerable amount of credits to his ex-girlfriend, and he throws his entire security force at Elizabeth in an attempt to escape her wrath.  When he realizes he’s not going to be killed, he is persuaded to return what was left in Elizabeth’s old account.

• Devon

An old friend who is deceased, he made sure what he willed to Elizabeth upon his demise was protected inside a highly booby-trapped vault.  Of course, the traps aren’t going to shut themselves off just because Elizabeth shows up…

• Chief Engineer Philip Jennings, and his wife, Crew Boss Janet Jennings

They lead a contracted engineering team, one previously employed by the deceased best friend, Devon.

• Security Chief ‘Ralph the Rock’

Darya hires Ralph as the Security Chief for their starship.  He is a ‘rocktoid’ stone skinned being; a tough unit in his own right.  He pretends to be slow thinking, just to keep others who doesn’t know him off-guard.  He also likes to brag about several of the craters across his body, as they are battle scars from taking direct blaster hits in previous jobs.

• Fabrini Navigation Expert ‘Cricket’

The Fabrini are an insect-based species.  They are also the main race behind the Fabrini Galactic Empire, who fought a war for thousands of years against the human led League of Free Worlds.  A shaky peace between the major superpowers allows any Fabrini to explore new friendships with their former enemies.

• Science Expert ‘Jitters’

A human who studies all sciences, much like a mad-scientist type who enjoys energy based weapon systems as one of his favorite fields, his nervous ticks and various quirky movements is what earned him his nick name.

• Weapon’s Expert ‘Betty Boom Boom’

She’s a human cyborg, the only part of her that’s flesh is from the neck up.  With large doe-like eyes and shoulder length brown hair, she’s not to be underestimated.

• Erick the Hauler

An attractive human man who owns an interstellar freight hauler, he catches Darya’s interest.  Where this relationship goes is unknown for now, but one mistake, and he’s going to find that Darya isn’t a forgiving woman.

—

There you have it, the current cast of Darya Rising.  In case you’re not familiar with my fiction, in no way did I give away the plot, story or any interesting component in this blog post.  You now know the cast, a brief history on them, and just because Devon is deceased, doesn’t mean he isn’t involved.  No ghosts in this novel, and no real flashbacks.  Let me just say… he placed some really wicked holograms of himself for his best friend to find.

How this is assembled and written for one heck of an adventure, you can find out when the novel releases in June of 2013.  Or sign up for the beta, which is discussed in the blog post just before this one, and you’ll get to enjoy it before everyone else does.  ^_^

30 Days To Beta

On May 31st, 2012 there will be a Beta Release to those who wish to sign up for Beta Reading. I know that Amy is already on board with it, she’s never missed a Beta yet. This is going to be for the whole novel, all at once. So, what does a beta reader do, if you haven’t heard of the concept?

A beta reader is necessary for any author who is interested in writing to entertain their audience. Some writers feel that if you’re not reaching for a dictionary by using rarely used or exotic words, they failed in their job. Other writers tend to forget that not everyone wants to read at a tenth grade level. That middle area, telling a story in such a way as to help the reader visualize it in their mental theater, is a difficult one to locate. So, a beta reader answers a few important questions for authors like me, who want readers of all levels to enjoy my novels. They do not edit. They don’t spell correct. They do give feedback.

Here are some questions that a good beta reader asks themselves when contemplating their feedback: Is the story interesting? Did I feel compelled to keep turning the pages? Are the characters realistic in their roles? Was there a point I felt like not reading anymore, and which area was that? Are there confusing parts? When did I get bored? What characters did I like and connect with? What characters need more development? Did I feel there was too much description, or not enough? Does the flow of text halt, or become a stopping point in the story, and where?

That’s basically what a beta reader does. There’s no money for it, no compensation beyond a free copy of the ebook in the format of their choice when it is published, and a thank you mention in the credits inside the ebook. So, if you’re interested in Beta Reading and don’t mind writing the feedback within 2 weeks after receiving the PDF of the finished novel, comment below with your preferred email, or if you want your email kept private, send me a personal email to daniel_a_roberts1968@yahoo.com (copy and paste what’s bolded into your email) and I will reply the moment I see it. My spam filter is off, I check it daily, so you won’t miss out. After beta is done, I will delete your private email from my address book.

While you have 30 days to decide if this is something you want to do, from the time of this post that is, don’t procrastinate, as I’m limiting the number of participants for this Beta.  Ideally, I need a minimum of four, but no more than ten.  If I am graced with enough interested parties to fill all ten spots, I’ll make a post closing the Beta entry period.

So, what type of book is Darya Rising?  It’s straight up Sci-Fi without any fantasy.  No swords or magic in this one!  It’s also an action novel, and at times, quite humorous.  While it’s a spin-off story from the Passion Trilogy, it’s not a Romance novel, and you don’t have to read the Passion Trilogy to follow the plot or enjoy the story… though I won’t stop you if you feel like reading the Passion Trilogy to learn of Darya’s early origin!  ^_^

This beta invite is open to all who read this blog and feel interested.  From close personal friends to complete strangers, all are welcome, you just need to let me know.  Everything is copyright protected, so I’m not concerned with the process.  From here on out, it’s all about having fun and enjoying a good novel… in 30 days from the time of this post.  If I haven’t posted a closure to the beta reading process, you can email me about doing it all the way up to the 30th of May, and you’ll be accepted. 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

This Blog Is Turning Two

It’s hard to believe. In a few days, this blog will hit the two-year old mark. It’s been a long road since I started writing Defenders of Valinthia. Next came Rulers of Valinthia and finally, Heroes of Valinthia.

I’ve blogged about many things. I’ve shared my thoughts, my work, even some of my dreams. This isn’t a place where I generate thousands of hits a week that allows me to sell advertising, oh no, nothing at all like that. I don’t blog for dollars in the ad-world campaigns many people run across. Every thought is genuine. What I write is an extension of my imagination, coupled with reality and as much story-telling as I can muster.

All of this craziness started well before there was a Valinthia series. On November 19th, 2010 – I published Passion of the Different via Smashwords. In six months, that project will be three years old, the start of my very first trilogy. It didn’t end there, far from it.

The world is filled with dark things. Truly evil people walk our planet, opposed by those who want to do the right thing. Fiction is a means to get away from that, to escape into a place where we can laugh, play and dare to hope that someday, such a future might actually exist. Such escaping isn’t a form of denial of the world we really live in, but a form of hope that is born from the visualization inside your own mind, that we can overcome the odds that we face, much as the characters in a novel can overcome their own issues.

I’m keeping this one short on purpose. Enjoy life, folks. We only get one. All you need to do, really, is set your imagination free. The rest will feed your soul.

Looking To Do A Passion Trilogy Relaunch…But…

Launching a novel twice within five years of its original date might be considered too soon by some. Then again, it might not be soon enough, with all that is intended. The Passion Trilogy is made up of three titles. Passion of the Different, Passion of the Same and Passion of the Unknown. It was my first trilogy from start to finish. This foray was supposed to be into the realm of Romance, and a touch of everything else. For some readers, it worked as intended. A few others thought the formula was too action packed after a slow, leisurely start. However, the story is usually well received by those who love Humor, Adventure and Heartfelt Feelings all in the same series.

The chapters need to be re-organized. Like the last chapter in Passion of the Different, it shouldn’t be numbered. It should read Epilogue as the story was resolved with a happy ending, in the second to the last chapter. The very short, last few pages were designed as a lead-in into the next novel, not as a cliff hanger, which is how some readers are taking it.  Romance novels that end in a cliff-hanger is a deal breaker for some on what makes a story romantic.  Or I could go a different route on the re-launch.  I could transfer the last chapter from Passion of the Different as the first chapter in Passion of the Same, and leave the happy ending part as the actual last pages of the story, with no lead-in to the next novel.  If you’re reading this, let me know what you think on that idea.  Remember, the story isn’t changing, just the format.

There are several issues I need to resolve before doing a re-launch. One, the cover art will need to be updated. Not necessarily changed, as I do harbor a heavy amount of loyalty for those artists who competed with each other to make unique covers for those novels. At that time, the best format to use was 600×900 in size. When Apple changed the submission requirements to a much larger size, all of the previous books in the system were grandfathered in. But… if I change the interior format for any reason, the cover must be updated to the new standards. Making the images I already have into the newer sizes distorts it slightly, and I didn’t just try it on my own. I went to a local, very talented photo manipulation specialist. He couldn’t make the new size change without minor distortions either.

So what could I do? I started with contacting the artist of the first novel, to ask for a re-make into the new size. Sounds simple enough. A few months back, I got in touch with her and explained what I needed, via a Private Message over at the Daz 3D forums.  The update request was well received. I had lost her direct email to a previous re-install of windows, and she shared her direct email address again. I sent her a direct email after a very nice phone conversation, and didn’t hear back. I’ve sent an email about once every month since then. I don’t know what happened, but I don’t think it is intentional. Something tells me that between point A and Point B, the messages are being lost or sent directly into a spam folder… or something along those lines, because her final words to me was about not having any problems with re-processing the cover art.

I didn’t proceed any further, because in order to re-launch it in June, I would have to change the cover. If she (not using her real name here out of respect for privacy) is reading this, please know that I want your Myra on my re-launch, and that I am keeping my promise not to change cover art on a whim, like other authors have been known to do. I’ve sent emails to your gmail address and I’ve only called you a second time, and you might not have been home as your phone rang without being answered. I’m an optimist, I don’t think I’ve upset you in any way, but if I did, let me know so I can properly apologize. My email is daniel_a_roberts1968@yahoo.com as my old email address, the one I used for the contest, is now defunct. Somebody told me not too long ago that any Yahoo email sent to a Google account can get sent to the Spam folder by default. If that’s the case, you might find my emails hiding there. Send me an email from the account you use just in case my typoese messed up on your own email address somehow. Pretty please?  (Goodness, I hope you read this, and you’re healthy, and nothing bad happened to you.)

Because she has done two out of three covers for the trilogy, I haven’t updated Safeunderdark, the Cover Artist for the middle book, Passion of the Same, on my re-launch project. I know she reads my blog, I’m sure I’ll be seeing a comment from her about it. ^_^  Safeunderdark also did the cover for Heroes of Valinthia, and the Valinthia series is starting to rise in popularity as well.

Besides the re-sizing of the cover art for the Passion Trilogy, I might need to change the title work. I don’t dare change the main title, but I might be adding a sub-heading, and repositioning the frame-work. Consider this: Passion of the Different – Myra’s Heart / Passion of the Same – Ryan’s Legacy / Passion of the Unknown – Heirs to the Kingdom – The old titles placed larger than the sub-titles isn’t the only viable option. I could turn it around, make the new title the main one, and the subtitle from the old version. In order to know what’s visually best, I’ll have to place both versions side by side when and if I can get the re-done covers.

Placing the subheading with the main title will be significantly decided on the cover art itself, which would eliminate the borders and the shaded areas, leaving more room for the actual artwork to co-exist with the title work.  Then I would have to update the ebooks first, and the paperback versions last.  Why?  If I do both at the same time, they will delist at the same time on most retail sites as the new content is uploaded and approved by retail sites like Apple and Amazon… and every review posted there will vanish with it.  Once one half updates, then the next half, all the reviews are retained as it’s never completely delisted for the updated material.

Sounds like a lot of work?  Of course it is.  While writing Darya Rising, which is a spin-off from the Passion Trilogy and will be straight up action packed Sci-Fi, it is getting ready to pass the 30,000 word mark. I need to have it finished by the last week of May for a June release.  My cup is certainly full.

Of course, the motivation and want in doing such a thing comes from the only place that writers like me find valuable – You.  My readers.  The recent blossoming interest in my Passion Trilogy along with the other worlds I write about is important to me.  I don’t want to be one of those writers who will post a book for sale just to vanish until a new series is started years down the road.

Besides, all of this is rather fun!  What could be better than sharing my fun with all of you?  ^_^

 

Losing A Size

While writing Darya Rising, eating Vegan stuff, drinking low-calorie juices (40 Calories per 8 ounces that’s not sweetened) and good old-fashioned water is paying off.  I went from 3X down to 2X.  Like most things, this trend didn’t start with a diet plan.  It started with a lifestyle change.  The differences are huge.

It started when I was talking with an employee at sporting goods store here in Oklahoma City.  I was sitting at her desk, our business concluded, when I noticed a picture of a large woman on her desk.  I asked if that was a relative, as they looked similar.  Boy, did she ever shock the electrons out of me.  “That’s me, four years ago, just before I went Vegan.  I keep it there to remind me how my old lifestyle was killing me.”  Today, she is a slender woman who appeared to be very happy.

The secret to going Vegan is about what you eat, of course.  No dairy.  No meat.  No fish.  No milk.  Nothing that doesn’t grow from the ground.  If it grows from the Earth, it’s on my plate.  If it goes through any chemical processing, it never gets off the grocery store shelf and into the cart.

Eat the rainbow.  If it has a different color in the fruit or vegetable, make it a part of the meal.  You need to eat fruits and vegetables both.  Strawberries are red.  Grapes are green and blue.  Bananas and rice are white.  Citrus fruits are yellow.  Carrots are orange.  Etc.  That became my new meal plan, and while pricey at times, cutting out the costs of meat for myself has more than balanced out the food bill.

Results are more than just a reduction in one size.  I’ve only been doing this a month and a week or so.  The changes gave me more energy.  I wake up easier.  I don’t have a half filled drug-like stupor that can only be banished by coffee.  I’m starting to feel better and I fart like a gas factory.  I don’t feel starved, I feel full with less and less each week.

Going from a 3x to a 2x in one month is quite encouraging.  I’m still sitting at my desk often, writing my novel, working to bring fiction that will entertain to readers everywhere, and losing weight.  If four years from now, I’m my old slender self once again, I’ll be a very happy man.  I can only hope.  ^_^

The Most Disturbing Thing About Going Vegan

Vegan as in 100% vegetarian.  Yes, for health reasons I decided to adopt and stick with a Vegan lifestyle.  A true one at that, which meant no dairy products as much as no meat.  Everything I was to consume would be grown from the ground only.  Nothing processed, no chemical-pretend-foods, not even processed sugar or salt.  If I was to use sweetener, it would be honey.  You know, bug vomit.  We call it honey so it’s edible, but I’m a huge believer in truth.  A bee, which is an insect, eats pollen and vomits it back up.

That’s not the most disturbing thing about going Vegan.  Far from it.

Between day five or six of my new healthy foods, something starting happening to excess.  I’m sorry that I have to go there, because if I’m writing Darya Rising or not, this seemingly TMI (Too Much Information) moment must be revealed to the world for those who might want to consider going Vegan too.  Nobody warned me, no literature or anything, told me this would happen.  In fact, I think I need to change my name, adopt something from ancient Rome and use it, so people will understand that I have no choice but to accept my new lifestyle… and the consequences.  If I was to change my name, I would call myself Fartus Maximus.

Calling this flatulence would be wrong.  It’s more like flatuegeddon.  I’ve become a living resource of Natural Gas.  It’s loud, long-lived and traumatizing to other mortals who are standing within twenty feet of me.

My house has natural gas for the hot water tank, and the heater.  If I owned NASA underwear that had the two hoses coming out of the back-end, I could hook it up and save myself some serious money.  If you think I’m making that up, or exaggerating, consider this: I bent over yesterday to pick up a towel I dropped on the hallway floor.  The ass gas attack from that motion set off the gas detector, and I needed to push the reset button to get it to stop.

It doesn’t hurt.  In fact, it feels good to rip out the fabric of space and time right behind my body.  I think the only thing that has saved my life so far, is the fact that nobody in my house smokes.  An open flame anywhere would be a disaster right about now.

I don’t know how long this new super-power is going to last.  It’s also contradicting to my daily philosophy for life.  I used to always say, “Why fart and waste it when you can belch and taste it?”  Now I’m going to need a new catch phrase, which I will have to invent sooner rather than later.