Operation Ebook Drop

The Pict is now available as an ebook (on Smashwords, for Kindle, Sony eReader, Mobi, and other ebook readers), FREE to deployed military personnel, through Operation Ebook Drop.

Operation Ebook Drop provides free ebooks to deployed military personnel by e-mailing them coupons, upon request, for free ebooks from Smashwords. The service member then "purchases" the book at Smashwords, enters the coupon for 100% off, and downloads the book for use on the ereader of their choice.

Operation Ebook Drop was started by Ed C. Patterson, a prolific independent author, who partnered with Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, to build this effort into a resounding success. With close to 300 independently published authors participating, the program offers a wide variety of reading material.

Please help spread the word to deployed soldiers who would like to take advantage of this valuable program. For details on how to contact Operation Ebook Drop, go here, and scroll down to the How to Participate heading.

My many thanks to Ed and Mark for providing a way for independent authors to do a little something to support our troops, who are working so very hard, and so courageously to serve their country.

Progress on Number Two

I've been picking up steam on Number Two, pulling it all together, writing more all the time, and editing along the way. I deleted about 30,000 words with which I was no longer happy (thought it was crap, really), and I've gotten 102,000 words completed so far, in 33 chapters, with which I'm mostly happy. The story line's coming together even better than it was before - that's really inspired me, too.

I'm hoping to publish around Christmas.

Self-Publishing

I've joined the ranks of the truly self-published. I've set up my own publishing company, and I'm ready to publish the second edition of The Pict, improved and re-formatted. I'll also self-publish Number Two, and the expanded Pict later this year.

In a later post, I'll go into the advantages of self-publishing, and the process. There's a lot of good information already out there, so I'll also provide an ample list of links. There are pros and cons, as in everything, but I think the pros far outweigh the cons. If anyone's interested, I'd be happy to discuss self-publishing.

I hope all is well with everyone.

Cheers.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Happy Saint Patty's Day to all! Spring's coming, and words are flowing, and the Harley's calling me to blow out the cobwebs and get some miles on its bones. I hope all is well with everyone, and that all my fellow writers are feeling inspired and productive.

I set up my publishers' account with Lightning Source, so I've officially become a "publisher." I can really claim the title when I re-release The Pict under my own banner, Ridley Park Books, later this year. I'll also publish Novel Number Two later this year, and the expanded version of The Pict in early 2010.

I'll get more into the mechanics of that process soon, in case anyone's thinking of going truly independent to publish their work.

Jack

http://www.jdixon.net/

(website newly refurbished)

Working the Web Site

I'm reworking my website (http://www.jdixon.net/). I've had to switch web hosting companies, and I found what appears to be a good, solid web host. The problem is that their free online web development tool really sucks, so I'm teaching myself GoLive CS2 in the process. Nothing like diving into the deep end to learn how to swim.

I'll be building a second site, too, called Ridley Park Books (http://www.ridleyparkbooks.com/). I'll be publishing my second novel completely independently. It's a bold new venture - my favorite kind. I'll also help other authors who are interested in truly self-publishing rather than going with an "assisted self-publishing" company, to publish their work.

Things still look good for a Fall 2009 release of Novel Number Two, and then early Spring 2010 for the expanded version of The Pict. I'm most looking forward to the expanded Pict, as it's the story that's closest to my heart, and there's so much more to tell than I was able to get into the first release.

It seems someone beat me to the title for Number Two, the working title I've had at the head of the mauscript for about seven years. The Templar, by Paul Doherty, was published in April 2008. I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to that when I have the time. Fair play to you, Paul! I wish you good fortune on your Templar series. Ah, well...this is the sort of thing that keeps us creative, now, isn't it, trying to come up with yet one more title that's just right for the story? Have to come up with something catchy for Number Two.

Number Two, Moving Along

Picking up the pace on Number Two, the tale of the tortured Templar. I'm anticipating a Fall 2009 release of my 2nd historical novel, followed closely by the amplification of The Pict. I continue to be pleased with the acceptance of The Pict, and I'm looking forward to meeting the requests I've received for more.

Novel Number Two: Progress Update

Novel Number Two is progressing fairly well. I've been doing a lot of renewed research into the culture and the history of the medieval county of Toulouse, the birthplace of the novel's main character. I've found in my research that there existed a degree of political and religious betrayal, intrigue, plotting, and subterfuge far greater than what I had imagined. It's mind-boggling to contemplate what it must have been like to live in those treacherous times. The experience brings to mind some of the freedoms we've come to expect that simply did not exist in the past repression of political and religious authorities. We scoff openly - and most often rightly - at our contemporary politicians and their drive to manipulate and control us. We blithely ignore the edicts and admonitions of the religious leaders who in times past inspired the deepest and most abject fears in the hearts of their congregants. In Novel Number Two, the starkness of medieval religious and political domination will come to life and frame the story of one man's journey through the gauntlet of its driving force. One of the great challenges of writing historical fiction is to escape our contemporary attitudes and try to accurately capture those of the people of the time. I'm sure I failed to do that as well as I could have in the story of The Pict, and that will be improved in the expanded version of that novel. For now I'm immersing myself in the mores and the mindset that reigned in the days of our tormented but undaunted protagonist. I'd welcome discussion of medieval society, culture, and politics on this blog.