It’s time! Time for you to see the most impressive cover of the Steam Empire Chronicles series. Without further ado, here it is!
Let me know what you think! What are you most looking forward to?
Laurel Emperor Cover Reveal!
15 Sunday Apr 2018
Army of Brass Launch Announcement!
14 Saturday Apr 2018
Posted in Self-Publishing, Steam Empire Chronicles, SteamLit, steampunk
Tags
airship, Army of Brass, automaton, Book, brass, captain, collaboration, collaborative, conspiracy, crossover, Fantasy, gaslamp, king, launch, lord, mashup, Novel, pilot, release, science, science fiction, Steam punk, steampunk, tinkerer
Greetings Romanpunk and Steampunk Aficionados! Steampunk celebrates its 31st birthday on April 27, so join in the festivities with the high-flying adventure, Army of Brass.
In case you DIDN’T KNOW…
“Steampunk” began as a literary genre, but has expanded to include fashion, music, art, and live events all over the world. During 2017, in honor of author K.W. Jeter coining the term in 1987, Steampunk Journal editor Phoebe Darqueling and the Collaborative Writing Challenge joined forces to create an amazing work that blurs the line between science and magic. Twenty international authors contributed chapters to this story full of gadgets, romance, and political intrigue set against the backdrop of a fantasy world informed by the culture of the 19th century. I hope to join up with this fantabulous group next year, since my series, the Steam Empire Chronicles, is now complete!
Project 27 – Grown Up
24 Saturday Mar 2018
Posted in poetry, Self-Publishing
Tags
Greetings! Another Project 27 poem for you here. Been thinking a lot about how many of my students are faced with so many choices at a young age and don’t realize how easily others can influence them. It’s a bit terrifying how social media and the like can worm their way into a child’s mind, regardless of the efforts of well meaning parents. Anywho, onto the poem, make of it what you will, as usual!
Project 27 – Eight Dollars
21 Wednesday Mar 2018
Posted in poetry, Self-Publishing
Tags
Salve! Happy snow day to all of you on the American Eastern Seaboard discovering that spring does not yet equal warm weather, as Mother Nature decides “I haven’t really thrown a good snowball this season.”
Regardless, I found some time to do a ton of spring cleaning (Oh hi, dining room table, haven’t seen you in ages!), and this poem struck me mid clean. Another one to add to Project 27, so hope you enjoy.
Project 27 – Medic
05 Monday Mar 2018
Posted in poetry, Self-Publishing
Tags
Greetings! It’s been a while since I added to Project 27 – definitely been a bit slammed with finishing Laurel Emperor. But here’s the latest entry. As always, constructive criticisms or questions are always welcome. This isn’t really for anyone else, rather just for me.
Laurel Emperor Off to the Editors!
28 Wednesday Feb 2018
Posted in Kickstarter, Laurel Emperor, Self-Publishing
Tags
Laurel Emperor is off to the editors, culminating an eight year journey with the Steam Empire Chronicles. I won’t lie, I was exhausted finishing this book. It’s topped out around 94,000 words, with two brief epilogues. Beta readers were generally excited to see what was happening, although my readers will probably want to brush up on the events of the fourth novel – Steel Praetorian – to ensure they understand what’s going on!
Now begins the preparations for Cover Art (already under way!) and Kickstarter goals to get illustrations added to the novel! I’ll have more on that in a few weeks. In the meantime, here’s to the (temporary) end of the road!
– Daniel
Written Word Media Promotion Review
09 Friday Feb 2018
Posted in Self-Publishing, Steam Empire Chronicles, SteamLit, World of Romanpunk
Salve!
As many of you know, I’ve been documenting how difficult it can be for a self-published author to promote their books consistently when you’ve also got a day-job. There are many tools on the web that can help the self-published man or woman, but many require a fair amount of time up front.
Laurel Emperor First Draft Finished
07 Wednesday Feb 2018
Posted in Beta Readers, Laurel Emperor, Self-Publishing, Steam Empire Chronicles
One last hurrah with the recruitment poster!
Salve!
It’s come to this, the end of the five book arc of the Steam Empire Chronicles. Laurel Emperor is done, and now awaits the tender (or not so tender) mercies of the beta readers.
All that’s left to do is get it to the editor’s this month (as soon as possible!) so that I can get the novel published! Once it gets to the editor, I’m anticipating running a kickstarter to once again add illustrations to the last novel. I wasn’t really happy with how I could only get two illustrations into Steel Praetorian, and I’d love to add some more to Laurel Emperor, considering it is the final novel of the series!
So what’s the estimated timeline? I’m hoping for an April/May Publishing date, right before the summer break, where everyone needs a good book (or five, I’ve got five novels now!) I’m anticipating trying to get the ebook version out first, followed by a print version later.
So what do you think? Would you be more inclined to get an ebook version over a print version if it came out first? Or would you be willing to wait for a print version? Let me know your thoughts!
– Daniel
How To Write Ten Thousand Words in a Weekend
22 Monday Jan 2018
Posted in How to, Self-Publishing, Steam Empire Chronicles
Tags
Salve!
If he had a watch, he’d be making sure to stay on schedule
I’ve been super busy this weekend because, don’t you know, Laurel Emperor is due to the editor in less than a month! Eek!
So how did I do it?
Simply put – patience, focus, an outline and nourishment.
How to End Your Novel or Series
20 Saturday Jan 2018
Posted in Designing a Story, How to, Self-Publishing, Steam Empire Chronicles, SteamLit
Salve!
So I’m busy writing the end of the Steam Empire Chronicles, and it hit me.
I’m writing the end. Gasp! It’s the END of the story I’ve spent the last six years writing. EEK! What to do! I wrote out several possible endings, even as far back as book two, but I’ve compiled this blog post to help other people who may be struggling with how to end their own novel or series. As far as I see it, there are several standard ways to end a story. What matters is the twist.
