Tag: Blogging

July update on The Leopard Apocalypse

On By tuvan74In AnnouncementsLeave a comment

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As most of you know, I’ve been working on the third book of my flagship Historical Fantasy series, The Leopard Apocalypse. Well I wanted to give everyone out there an update on what I’ve been doing for the past few weeks.

Well, in a nutshell, I’ve been writing up a storm for the past month. Almost every single writing session has yielded at least 1,000+ words per day. I even managed 2,500+ words written down for two days straight.

I hope to be done writing the first draft by late August to early September. This has been the most ambitious work I’ve ever undertaken, and I’ve already set a new personal record for word count. I’m closing in on 150K words and that’s with only 80% of the manuscript written.

Stay tuned for the next update, and I hope everyone’s having a great summer!

Summer Writing Advice for Writers

On By tuvan74In Self-ImprovementLeave a comment

Just came back from my Summer Trip to Ocean City, MD and it did a world of good. Why? Because taking a trip from home to a different locale is always good for your writing.

Why?

See Below.

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Ale is proven to help writing. Just make sure you drink responsibly.

Ok the ale tasted great but that’s not what I meant. Taking trips to recharge the battery we call the brain is helpful. It helps release clogged up creativity which otherwise would not make it into our manuscripts.

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While at the pier, I thought about becoming a pirate. No seriously! There was a huge sea battle I was working on before I decided to take my summer trip.

It also helps if you can find a writing spot at the hotel you stay at. Someplace where you won’t get bothered much. It’s alright if there is some noise. It helps train your mind to block out noises when you’re writing and focus on the task at hand.

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As I looked out from my writing spot, I dreamed of words to come.

Where do you like to go write? And if so, why do you like going there. Chances are you don’t have to take a 3 hour drive like I did to find one. But, if you do, make the most of it.

 

 

What are your summer beach reading plans?

On By tuvan74In Special EventsLeave a comment

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Summer is nearly here, and with that, the heightened expectation of the summer beach read. Let me ask you this: do you manage to get more reading time in during summer? Or not? Also, is there a specific book you’ve been looking forward to read in Summer 2017? If so, I’d like to hear about it.

I’m currently reading some historical fiction to prep myself for the onslaught of my summer reading list.

What are you reading this summer?

Photo by: Mirza Salman & Hossain Beg

More fantasy, or more history?

On By tuvan74In Epic FantasyLeave a comment

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As most of you already know, for the past six months I’ve been writing the 1st Draft of the 3rd Book of my Leopard King Saga series, to be called The Leopard Apocalypse. This book has already cemented its place as the longest I’ve ever written. At the time of this article, I’ve got 120K words down, with eleven more chapters left to write. This will easily eclipse my previous word count high of 124K words which belonged to the previous Leopard King saga book, The Leopard Stratagem.

As with all books in this series, the genre is Historical Fantasy. But I would like to know from my audience out there which elements would you like to see more of in The Leopard Apocalypse? More fantasy, or more history?

Thanks for your time and help, and I look forward to your comments.

Feedback needed

On By tuvan74In Self-Improvement4 Comments

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I’ve been contemplating this idea in my head for quite some time now, so I thought I’d share it with everyone. I’m considering writing a self-help book for aspiring writers. It would also double as a self-improvement book on life as well, drawn from my past experiences in writing and personal life.

I’d appreciate any comments from anyone out there.

Thanks!

What is May Magic?

On By tuvan74In AnnouncementsLeave a comment

What is May Magic you ask? I’ll tell ya, but first, let me update everyone on what the hell I’ve been up to lately(sorry for the ‘hell’ but I’m trying to be dramatic here). Been busy looking for a new day job and I found one. Really excited to get a chance to work for a new company, and continue sharing my writing with the world.

The Leopard Apocalypse, the third entry into my Flagship Leopard King Saga series, is moving along at a steady pace. Support from friends and family has been uplifting as always.

So that’s enough about me. May 2017 is here, and I wanted to share the Magic with you. May is the month that is the precursor to Summer, and Summer means blockbuster movie releases, end of school(for most), and hopefully, the start of something new and special.

Well the same rings true for me as well, so let me tell you that everything is possible. Whether you’re an artist or an engineer, every day brings its challenges, but with that comes the opportunity to live in the moment and release the unhealthy weight of the past and/or future.

Be yourself, and, make May Magical!

What is the secret to eternal happiness?

On By tuvan74In Self-Improvement2 Comments

It’s been ages since I posted. But believe me, I’ve been working on myself and my writing, and, etc., etc.

Let me share a bit of wisdom with you. Something that I hope resonates within your soul and takes you to a whole new level.

Stay in the moment. Yep. That’s what I said. It’s a universal law that when you focus on yourself and the moment of time that you’re in, that life will reveal itself to you.

This goes for anything you want to accomplish. Try this. The next time you think about something bad that’s happened to you, return to the moment in time that you’re currently in. Close your eyes, breathe and focus on the here and now.

It’s alright if you don’t get it right the first time. This thing we call “time” is a tricky business. But, as you practice, what I am saying will start to make sense.

You’ll see that events in life that you thought were “bad” were really blessings in disguise. This is a power that has existed since the dawn of time, and the way to feed this positive vibe machine is to make sure that at least 90% of the thoughts in your head are positive ones.

Still not convinced? Alright. That’s ok, but if you’re looking for the Holy Grail of Happiness, it’s in the present. Not in the future, not in the past. Now.

Advice like this can make a difference in your life, and turn mediocrity, into excellence. Does this mean perfection is possible? Never. But guess what, I’ve got news for you, it doesn’t matter so long as you’re in the moment. Seeking perfection only leads to more stress and unhappiness. Here’s a prime example: there were these fictional mechanical creatures in Star Trek called the Borg. Their one and only purpose was to achieve perfection, but all it did was turn them into monsters, and create havoc across the universe. I’m not saying perfection will turn you into a monster, but it will take you away from the present moment which is your friend.

Look. The only time you should be thinking about the past is to use the experience gained from the “negative” experience to make the right decision in the present. Then, the future will play itself out.

Make time your friend, and live the life you deserve.

The Road of life

On By tuvan74In Writing AdviceLeave a comment

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As many of you know I recently signed a 2-book deal with Kensington Gore, a publisher in the UK. But what was my writing life like before that? How did I arrive there?

Well it started back in 5th grade. 1985 was the year. It began with a story about a character named Jet-thrust. He was a robot that traveled the universe looking for adventures and fighting all kinds of evil doers. I then added a brother for Jet-thrust, calling him Fighter, and then we had a duo of do-gooders.

Then. For whatever reason. I stopped writing. I went through life without writing another word, that is until 2003 rolled along. I was looking for a hobby that would take up a lot of time and was relatively inexpensive. At first I didn’t know what to write about so I wrote a bunch of novels as a learning experience. None of those got published. But I learned a lot about myself and my writing. I read more books, and read books about writing. Then I wrote some more.

Finally I decided to self-publish. That was in 2013. I learned the value of having a good cover, and hiring a good editor. And I always made sure that each book was the best I could make it. Editing was a thankless job so I settled on a great editor named Amanda Horan. Later she recommended my writing to a publisher in UK called Kensington Gore. After waiting a few months they decided to acquire the publishing rights to two of my books.

So that’s been the road map to my writing life. And I’m sure there’s still more to come.

What about you? Think about your life in perspective. Your journey, wherever you are right now. Where do you want to go? And what great things do you want to achieve?

What’s in my future with Kensington Gore?

On By tuvan74In AnnouncementsLeave a comment

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Now that Kensington Gore has acquired the publishing rights for my two novellas Kill Zombies and The Bloody Ripper, what does this mean for the future of these two books?

Well for starters, they’ll both need to be expanded into full-length novels. The publisher has made this a requirement. So I’ll probably be copiously studying the notes and suggestions sent to me by their editor-in-chief. That’s not a bad thing really, it will give me a chance to expand the stories further, and add some more depth to both books. Maybe even throw in a few new chapters.

Second, another round of editing will be necessary after each book is expanded. This is a given. But that also is a great thing, I mean, who doesn’t like finely-edited books?

Overall I think the reader will benefit from this. Both books will be refurbished, and hopefully enjoyed by a new wave of readers. Stay tuned for more Kensington Gore information when it becomes available.