Here are the updated covers:
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And here is for the boxset of the complete trilogy.
I also updated the blurb (description) for each one. These are so much better than the first ones. More in line with what the stories are.
Showing posts with label covers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label covers. Show all posts
Friday, July 24, 2026
New Covers for Shadowkill Trilogy / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-July-2026
My Shadowkill Trilogy has been out for a while. But boy oh boy did they need a bit of a makeover.
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Friday, December 7, 2018
Keywords and covers and blurbs, oh my / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Dec-2018
Keywords.
Covers.
Blurbs.
These may be the triad of book publishing and marketing.
Think about it for a moment. You're either at a bookstore or an online venue, perusing the next great read. If a cover intrigues you, and you're in the bookstore, you'll probably pick it up and read the back. Or even read the first page. That covers two of the three. The equivalent to keywords would be the section of the store they're located in. You would never find any epic fantasy novels by Brandon Sanderson in the mystery/thriller section. And you wouldn't find any Agatha Christie mysteries in the travel or self-help section.
It is important covers, blurbs, and keywords are up to date. I am in the process of working through my books, first with my thriller series, and then going through the rest.
I surpassed the 11,000 word mark on my new story. It's an escape room suspenseful mystery on a large scale. I will share more when it's complete.
When will it be? I'm shooing to have it complete by the middle of this month.
Covers.
Blurbs.
These may be the triad of book publishing and marketing.
Think about it for a moment. You're either at a bookstore or an online venue, perusing the next great read. If a cover intrigues you, and you're in the bookstore, you'll probably pick it up and read the back. Or even read the first page. That covers two of the three. The equivalent to keywords would be the section of the store they're located in. You would never find any epic fantasy novels by Brandon Sanderson in the mystery/thriller section. And you wouldn't find any Agatha Christie mysteries in the travel or self-help section.
It is important covers, blurbs, and keywords are up to date. I am in the process of working through my books, first with my thriller series, and then going through the rest.
I surpassed the 11,000 word mark on my new story. It's an escape room suspenseful mystery on a large scale. I will share more when it's complete.
When will it be? I'm shooing to have it complete by the middle of this month.
Friday, September 15, 2017
A life of its own / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-Sept-2017
Last week, I started writing a new novel in a new series. This story has been brewing in my mind for the longest time--it's the reason I chose to write it next, after I completed my technothriller series The Shadowkill Trilogy.
This new story is a superhero story.
I've written a few posts where my story ideas look like Morse Code.
Let me briefly explain again: the dots are where this happens and then this happens and so on. The dashes are scenes where this thing happens. Together, I write to fill in the spaces.
This new story has been brewing for a long time--and I really mean, a long time. I'd walk to and from work (the day job), and I'd envision what this superhero would do.
I won't explain the story nor the powers this superhero has (I briefly told the story to my youngest daughter, who watches a lot of superhero shows on Netflix, and she thought it was very cool!) but I will say that once I sat down to write it . . . the story took on a life of its own. Some of the troubling areas of the story has worked itself out as I write it.
If you're having troubles starting or even continuing a story that you're working on, go back a few hundred words, read, and then write. Keep the words flowing.
Publication update:
I am currently working on the covers for the final two books in The Shadowkill Trilogy, my nonfiction book centered around traveling with diabetes, and a superhero novelette. Once these four are completed, I will share links, etc.
I am also working on putting a box set together for The Shadowkill Trilogy too. Good times!
This new story is a superhero story.
I've written a few posts where my story ideas look like Morse Code.
Let me briefly explain again: the dots are where this happens and then this happens and so on. The dashes are scenes where this thing happens. Together, I write to fill in the spaces.
This new story has been brewing for a long time--and I really mean, a long time. I'd walk to and from work (the day job), and I'd envision what this superhero would do.
I won't explain the story nor the powers this superhero has (I briefly told the story to my youngest daughter, who watches a lot of superhero shows on Netflix, and she thought it was very cool!) but I will say that once I sat down to write it . . . the story took on a life of its own. Some of the troubling areas of the story has worked itself out as I write it.
If you're having troubles starting or even continuing a story that you're working on, go back a few hundred words, read, and then write. Keep the words flowing.
Publication update:
I am currently working on the covers for the final two books in The Shadowkill Trilogy, my nonfiction book centered around traveling with diabetes, and a superhero novelette. Once these four are completed, I will share links, etc.
I am also working on putting a box set together for The Shadowkill Trilogy too. Good times!
Friday, June 2, 2017
Remember To Keep Learning / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-June-2017
Last week, I mentioned that our son graduated from high school. I also mentioned that his choir teacher had gave him some valuable advice, in front of his classmates, their parents, and other members of our town.
"Remember to keep learning."
One should never stop learning.
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and their team at WMG Publishing have created a very affordable set of courses for writers. I'll tell you this right now, I will be starting my way through these courses.
Based on an article Dean did in April, I am also going to try my hand at learning how to do covers myself.
Back in my college years, while I was involved with the Tae Kwon Do school at both Bemidji and on campus, the late Grandmaster Spencer Brandt and his wife Cindy taught a weekend seminar to a small group of students who were interested in running their own school in the future. I attended this seminar (there was less than 10 students present, if memory serves correctly) although I never did start a school. One of the instructors was a tax accountant. I learned more from him than most other "money" books I've read since.
My Mom, since I was a very young age, ran her own business: she was a daycare provider. And a successful one to boot. Anyway, around tax time, my parents always got hit with a massive tax bill. They never talked about money much with me, but I knew this was a strain on their finances. When I advised them what I had learned from the seminar, they couldn't believe it.
So, they called their accountant.
They discovered there were deductions they could've taken. All they had to do was tell her (the accountant).
But how can one know what to ask if you didn't know it existed?
Needless to say, my parents got a new accountant, who taught them much more about taxes. They were flabbergasted at the amount of deductions they could've taken, if only they were taught.
Remember: always keep learning.
It's the way I run my indie writing business: I keep learning.
Always.
"Remember to keep learning."
One should never stop learning.
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and their team at WMG Publishing have created a very affordable set of courses for writers. I'll tell you this right now, I will be starting my way through these courses.
Based on an article Dean did in April, I am also going to try my hand at learning how to do covers myself.
Back in my college years, while I was involved with the Tae Kwon Do school at both Bemidji and on campus, the late Grandmaster Spencer Brandt and his wife Cindy taught a weekend seminar to a small group of students who were interested in running their own school in the future. I attended this seminar (there was less than 10 students present, if memory serves correctly) although I never did start a school. One of the instructors was a tax accountant. I learned more from him than most other "money" books I've read since.
My Mom, since I was a very young age, ran her own business: she was a daycare provider. And a successful one to boot. Anyway, around tax time, my parents always got hit with a massive tax bill. They never talked about money much with me, but I knew this was a strain on their finances. When I advised them what I had learned from the seminar, they couldn't believe it.
So, they called their accountant.
They discovered there were deductions they could've taken. All they had to do was tell her (the accountant).
But how can one know what to ask if you didn't know it existed?
Needless to say, my parents got a new accountant, who taught them much more about taxes. They were flabbergasted at the amount of deductions they could've taken, if only they were taught.
Remember: always keep learning.
It's the way I run my indie writing business: I keep learning.
Always.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Cover for Shades Of Darkness / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-July-2016
Keeping it short today. Still editing Shades of Darkness, and I'm roughly 9-10 chapters into it. Still aiming for a mid-August release, but it may change depending on how long the editing takes me.
In the meantime, here is the cover for Shades of Darkness. Please let me know what you think:
In the meantime, here is the cover for Shades of Darkness. Please let me know what you think:
Friday, November 21, 2014
New cover for Guest Of Honor / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-Nov-2014
My novelette, Guest of Honor, just got a face-lift.
Here it is:
Pretty cool, huh?
Yesterday morning, I hit the 30K mark on Straight Razor. My publication goal of January 2015 is looking grim, but never fear, miracles could still happen.
Here it is:
Pretty cool, huh?
Yesterday morning, I hit the 30K mark on Straight Razor. My publication goal of January 2015 is looking grim, but never fear, miracles could still happen.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Happenings In The Outhouse 28-Mar-2014 / Who's Carl Panzram?
Most have never heard of Carl Panzram. I know I didn't, but last year while researching the town of Warren, Minnesota, for my novella Guest of Honor, I ran across a few notable residents.
One was a serial killer named Carl Panzram.
For many, you won't care. But Warren is a town of 1500-plus residents. Here's a link to Warren's Wikipedia page if you don't believe me.
Back in 1979, the town also became famous for a certain UFO incident. No kidding!
I recently watched a show on Netflix about Carl Panzram and the trail of terror he created. It's worth watching, and although it doesn't mention the town Warren by name, it does say he was from a small farming community in northwestern Minnesota.
It also says he is born south of Warren. You know something? The farm where Guest of Honor takes place is . . . south of Warren.
Coincidence?
Guest of Honor also has a one-year birthday coming up. Now, in reviewing covers over the past few weeks, I concluded that I still didn't quite like Guest of Honor. So, I had it changed.
Thoughts on the cover?
One was a serial killer named Carl Panzram.
For many, you won't care. But Warren is a town of 1500-plus residents. Here's a link to Warren's Wikipedia page if you don't believe me.
Back in 1979, the town also became famous for a certain UFO incident. No kidding!
I recently watched a show on Netflix about Carl Panzram and the trail of terror he created. It's worth watching, and although it doesn't mention the town Warren by name, it does say he was from a small farming community in northwestern Minnesota.
It also says he is born south of Warren. You know something? The farm where Guest of Honor takes place is . . . south of Warren.
Coincidence?
Guest of Honor also has a one-year birthday coming up. Now, in reviewing covers over the past few weeks, I concluded that I still didn't quite like Guest of Honor. So, I had it changed.
Thoughts on the cover?
Friday, May 3, 2013
Happenings In The Outhouse 03-May-2013 / "Guest of Honor" gets a facelift
Earlier this week, my novelette "Guest of Honor" got a facelift. Click on this link to view it (and purchase, if you already haven't--heck, it's only $.99)
Why did I decide to change covers?
Let me be honest, I liked the first design with the sexy girl on the cover. But it didn't portrait the essence of what the book was about. So, I changed it.
As I march closer and closer to the publication of my thriller Beholder's Eye, I've been thinking a lot about covers lately. For my two published works so far, I've created them myself--I know, I know, they're still not up to the highest standards, but they're better than the boilerplate Amazon puts on their books. In my research, I found two companies I've been considering to design the cover for Beholder's Eye.
Graphicz X Designs
SelfPubBookCovers.com
I'm sure there are others out there, but right now these are two interesting ones I found. If you know of any others out there, or if you are a book cover designer, please feel free to add yourself to the comments section below.
I have a lot cooking on the writing stove. For the first draft of my alternative military history novel, I am currently on chapter 37 with close to 44K words.
Why did I decide to change covers?
Let me be honest, I liked the first design with the sexy girl on the cover. But it didn't portrait the essence of what the book was about. So, I changed it.
As I march closer and closer to the publication of my thriller Beholder's Eye, I've been thinking a lot about covers lately. For my two published works so far, I've created them myself--I know, I know, they're still not up to the highest standards, but they're better than the boilerplate Amazon puts on their books. In my research, I found two companies I've been considering to design the cover for Beholder's Eye.
Graphicz X Designs
SelfPubBookCovers.com
I'm sure there are others out there, but right now these are two interesting ones I found. If you know of any others out there, or if you are a book cover designer, please feel free to add yourself to the comments section below.
I have a lot cooking on the writing stove. For the first draft of my alternative military history novel, I am currently on chapter 37 with close to 44K words.
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