Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

Writing Update – February 23, 2017

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It has been a crazy week here in the basement. Lots of things going on so let’s get this writing update started!

Writing

You might not know this but:

Tales from Portents is on sale now at the following:

               

Grab your copy today!

writing updateI keep hoping to enjoy the moment a little more but I’ve been in full edit mode with The Medusa Coin. Where Tales from Portents was a dream project from start to finish, the next installment in the Greystone series has had more than a few challenges.

It has been a long time since I tackled a manuscript of this length so the learning curve has been steep in cleaning it up, shredding extraneous plotlines, and following through on the major arcs of every character. This novel also has the unfortunate distinction of being the midpoint of the first cycle of the series, giving it the responsibility of not only carrying the seeds from Signs of Portents but also propelling our characters to the eventual conclusion of this initial journey in next year’s installments.

Lots to keep in mind when working through the book, which I am hoping to button up next week to pass off to some first readers! September might seem a long way off but it will be here quicker than you think.

Pathways in the Dark

The fourth book in the series is progressing nicely. All seven stories in the collection due out next February are outlined and scripted. It will be a nice change of pace to put together some smaller stories after the behemoth of The Medusa Coin. I’m hoping to start the drafting phase next month!

Reading

I had planned to discuss a number of the books I’ve been digging lately but alas, The Medusa Coin has owned my life from top to bottom. Next time.

Thanks for reading.

Celebrate (But Keep Working…)

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It’s hard to imagine a better feeling than the accomplishment of publishing a book. It’s an incredible process, time consuming, labor intensive. A process mired with self-doubt and full of struggle to reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Who wouldn’t want to celebrate a little after all that?

Take the win.

Instead of clicking refresh on your sales figures every hour for the next few weeks, take the time to celebrate your victory over that 90,000 word manuscript that has haunted you every night for the past year.

  1. Host a Launch Party – I have yet to do this but hope to with one of my upcoming releases. What better way to put your accomplishment to bed than a rip-roaring hootenanny of a shindig? Hand out copies, sign a few and celebrate the win.
  2. Go on vacation – Can’t stop yourself from worrying about your precious baby out there in the world? Can’t help but check to make sure poor reviews don’t slip onto your sales page and destroy any chance of bringing in new readers? Go west, my friend. Hell, go ANYWHERE. Schedule a trip to keep your head away from the worries and allow yourself to savor the accomplishment in style.

Use the win

It is all well and good to celebrate your achievement but resting on your laurels is like taking all of that progress and slamming on the writing brakes. Using that book as a stepping stone or a launching point can help make the next challenge seem less insurmountable. (Still a bitch of a thing though. Always will be. Damn, I love writing.)

  1. Motivation – Knowing you’ve already put a book together and the thrill of that feeling as you hold it in your hands is the greatest motivator in the world to DO IT AGAIN. If you ever feel any doubt about that, pick up your last masterpiece and thumb through every page.
  2. Enthusiasm – Publishing brings with it a jolt of excitement and enthusiasm you can use to recharge your batteries and plot out that next project.

Keep Working

That’s what it all boils down to in the end. Taking that win, celebrating with friends and family at the end of a long journey is great. And a requirement before you completely burn out from the workload.

Sitting back down at the desk and putting words on a new page? That’s where the challenge comes in. And it is one that needs to be met each and every day. Take the win, use the win, but keep writing.

I’ll do the same.

Thanks for reading.

Tales from Portents – Available Now!

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It’s been a long road since April 2016 but the day has finally arrived. Tales from Portents is on sale NOW!

Witness the prequel to Signs of Portents that also serves as a bridge to future installments of the series. Learn the backstory of your favorite characters in the series and the history shared.

Tales from Portents is on sale now at the following:

               

Reflecting on the project:

Most of my work has its ups and downs over the course of outlining, scripting, drafting and editing. Lots of trials and so many errors along the way.

on sale now

Tales was a dream come true right from the start. I’ve been reticent about delving into shorter fiction, preferring the wide scope of a full-length novel. It was that hesitation that made me want to put this collection together. To force myself into a strict format and find a way to make each story shine among the others.

I am incredibly proud of Tales from Portents and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed finding new ways to scare the crap out of myself.

One step closer…

There is a dark light hiding in the city of Portents. And a circle is slowly closing on our heroes. Tales from Portents is a test for Loren and Soriya, but their trials have barely begun.

Be good. Or the Greystone will find you…

Signs of Portents Promotion Ending

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A short one today. Lots on the schedule (there’s a book that needs finalizing before Friday, people) but I didn’t want this little nugget to slip through the cracks. The Signs of Portents 99-cent sale ends this week!

Signs of Portents is available at:

Amazon  Nook  Kobo  iBooks  Smashwords

Specials thanks:

A big thank you to all of my promotional partners during this fun little exercise. I have a lot to learn about the book-selling game and was grateful each site and newsletter willing to shower Signs of Portents with some love made the trains keep rolling on time.

If you haven’t signed up for their newsletters I’ve included their links below. Each and every one offers some great discounted and free books. Who doesn’t need MORE BOOK, right?

Reading Deals

Just Kindle Books

Digital Book Spot

Bookscream

Awesome Gang

The Fussy Librarian

Lessons learned.

99-cent sale ends this week!Too many to process right now. A lot of humility learned to say the least. Maybe the timing wasn’t right or maybe it was too long a stretch to sustain but sales were not as kick-assery as I had envisioned a month ago.

Do I regret this? No way. There was always going to be a learning curve with this.

Should I have done more to get the word out about the sale? Definitely. And I will. Next time.

There are a ton of ways to handle things next time around. Possibly a free promotion? Maybe going exclusive with Kindle Direct Publishing and using their system for visibility? Lots of questions that I look forward to pondering… AFTER I finish more BOOKS.

But for those still on the fence about picking up your copy I highly recommend you do before the end of the week. Not only do you get Signs of Portents at a bargain basement price of 99-cents, but you’ll also be ready for the release of Tales from Portents. (THIS FRIDAY!)

Here come those pesky links again:

Amazon  Nook  Kobo  iBooks  Smashwords

Thanks for reading.

Tales from Portents Sneak Peek Preview

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Tales from Portents hits shelves NEXT WEEK! To drum up even more excitement about the upcoming release (and add a few more pre-orders in the process) I figured why not delve into the contents of the collection with a sneak peek preview:

From the back cover:

sneak peek previewSix tales of monsters, the dead rising, and the terrors of Portents.

The beasts Detective Loren and Soriya Greystone battled in Lou Paduano’s debut book Signs of Portents were just a hint of what lurks in the city. Tales from Portents explores the city’s immersive history, including stories of Loren’s descent after his wife’s death—and his opportunity to have her rise from the grave. Among the pages, Soriya battles gremlins, navigates lessons with Mentor, and meets the werewolf Luchik. Follow new characters with expansive histories as they come face to face with the horrors of Portents—both human and otherwise.

From the Greystone Collection, Tales from Portents navigates the cases that make even Detective Loren lie awake at night.

Six tales. Six threats to Portents.

Tales from Portents focuses on the past of the city and the characters introduced in Signs of Portents. I thought it was important for more backstory on the events prior to Signs that would not only offer more depth to the players in the drama but also give clues both thematically and plot-wise for where the series is heading for the rest of the first cycle.

Resurrectionists

You’ve probably already read this one. If not, snag your copy today! It’s FREE. Resurrectionists is the linchpin for the collection, showcasing the fall of Loren. It answers the question of why Loren left the city and gives insight into the incident mentioned several times in Signs involving Detective Standish.

Lots of thematic nods that are picked up in The Medusa Coin as well.

The Great Divide

A spotlight on Captain Alejo Ruiz. As the story for Signs came into focus I realized the importance of Ruiz and his role in The Medusa Coin is crucial. Spotlighting him here ended up working perfectly to shore up his history in Portents and lay the groundwork for his arc in this fall’s release.

A kid is dead. Seemingly dropped from a great height and surrounding by hundreds of black feathers. Ruiz is called to the scene by Detective Julian Harvey to investigate the bizarre circumstance as he learns the truth about the city he has called home his entire life.

Gremlins

A tale from the start of Soriya and Loren’s partnership, before either one considered the term. It was a ton of fun coming up with the lore in this one as well as playing off the beginning of the Soriya/Loren dynamic. A nice counterpoint from where they are in Signs. And a precursor to some changes coming down the line.

Soriya has been arrested and Loren is forced to bail her out only to learn the threat is already in the precinct. As is the potential victim he is now forced to protect from… gremlins.

View from Above

A Vlad story. I felt bad killing the poor guy off in the first chapter of Signs. (SPOILERS.) His character offered a unique glimpse of Soriya and her role in the city so that is where this story starts.

Thefts plaguing the coves north of the city bring Soriya on the hunt for a wild creature. Is Vlad the thief or is something more going on in the background?

Eyes in the Storm

A Loren solo tale. When Signs opens Loren has just returned from Chicago. I thought it was important to spotlight his time in the Windy City and the struggles of adjusting to a big move like that. The connection to Portents came naturally from there.

A murder brings Loren into the middle of an antiquities theft, the artifacts stolen somehow connected with the unending rains plaguing Chicago. Loren, torn between his new life with his family and his place back in Portents, must face a centuries old god before the world drowns.

The Consultant

First one written. Last one included. My favorite piece from the collection. And so important to what comes next. A Soriya solo tale that runs concurrently with Eyes in the Storm. There is even a subtle connection in the background for observant readers to catch.

A vicious killer is on the loose and Soriya finds someone new to help with the case. But is this new consultant all he seems or is he hiding a dangerous secret?

Excited? Thrilled? Can’t wait for the new collection? Don’t! Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

Tales from Portents is on sale February 17th!

Minor Characters – Asset or Distraction

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There is a balancing act when it comes to writing. It comes in many forms and can be handled in numerous ways. One of the main issues I have found while working on The Medusa Coin relates to minor characters vs their major counterparts and the juggling act therein.

The need for minor characters

Minor characters inhabit the world surrounding your principal players. From the man handing over a cup of coffee to Officer John Pratchett in the Greystone series they are a vitally integral component in fleshing out the world of your main characters.

They act as counterpoints for character arcs, offering opposing viewpoints or giving an outsider perspective to issues going on in the background of your story. They bring color to the black and white principles of the main character’s world. Their roles include love interests and foils put in place as obstacles to keep them from their goals.

Whatever the role they are necessary to the end result; a fully formed world for your reader to lose themselves in.

Where minor characters distract:

When minor characters become principal players in the novel it can be jarring for the reader. Unless the transition is gradual and accepted by the reading public, more often than not there will be fan outcry at the loss of visibility for their favorite hero or heroine.

There is an old Superman tale I always come back to when it comes to this issue. The story is called Panic in the Sky and deals with Brainiac invading Earth with his Warworld fortress. Superman leads the charge, commanding a cadre of heroes, against the forces of Brainiac.

The story is amazing. Well thought out with high stakes. Superman is put through a real test during the course of the piece. Then at the climax Superman DOESN’T save the day. Someone else does. A woman named Maxima.

MAXIMA? WTH?

Now, being a comic nerd I understood what the author, Dan Jurgens was doing here. He was setting up Maxima and Superman’s entrance into a new incarnation of the Justice League. However, for a Superman story to lose sight of the man of steel so completely at the finale of a long arc was a tragedy of the worst kind. It pulled me right out of the story and is painful to read even now. (Pretty to look at though.)

This would be akin to the Lone Gunmen showing up in The X-Files finale and ending the threat of the Cigarette Smoking Man once and for all. (If they had survived until the finale – stupid Season 9…)

Or Dean Thomas saving Hogwarts while Harry Potter slept one off at Hagrid’s. (WHO THE HELL IS DEAN THOMAS?!)

In the words of the Earl of Lemongrab from Adventure Time – UNACCEPTABLE.

How minor characters best serve a story:

Much of what I spoke about above are the ways a minor character best serves a story. A foil for the protagonist. A love interest. An obstacle. A counterpoint. Someone that brings humor to a dreary situation or brings conflict with an opposing perspective on a situation.

Someone that adds a layer that wasn’t there without them in the room.

The very best way to use a minor character is to give them A moment not EVERY moment. Maybe it is a one-off joke. That’s how Pratchett started off for me in Signs of Portents. Now I try to work him into the story more often in order to showcase that differing perspective.

The story remains centered around your principal players. Stay true to that, while allowing the minor roles to add depth to the plot and conflict to your character arcs.

Thanks for reading.

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