A Writer's Blog

The Morning News from #Vegas - #CyberMonday Sale, NEW #Fiction and Book News

11/29/2015

Good morning from Vegas,

First I want to update readers on my ongoing Black Friday to Cyber Monday book sale. You can still get a signed Special Edition Ella Paperback with a handwritten short story in the blank back pages - for FIFTEEN DOLLARS! To sweeten that deal, I'm giving each person that purchases a Special Edition an e-book copy of the latest release from Moran Publishing, Colossus, by Jette Harris - FREE!

That's right - until tomorrow night - get a Special Edition for the discounted rate of 15 Dollars and get an e-book free.

On to other news - Today there *will* be new #Fiction posted on the website. I have a few stories ready to go and over the next few days will post all of them. I do hope you enjoy the entertainment today.

Finally, book news. I've read over the draft I wrote for #NaNoWriMo a few times and will soon begin working on the next stage - turning this isn't some kind of manuscript to ready it for publication. This process will take a few months, but publishing Preface is of the highest priority. It *will* be published sometime early next year. You can hold me to that promise!

I hope you enjoy the fiction and football today.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

Early Black Friday Through Cyber Monday Sale Extravaganza from @MoranPublishing

11/25/2015

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY SALE EXTRAVAGANZA

THE BIG SALE - Purchase an Signed Ella paperback for TEN DOLLARS (Plus Tax, Shipping Included) and I'll gift you an e-book copy of the *NEW* novel, COLOSSUS, by Jette Harris FREE!!!

Also - Until Midnight on Cyber Monday (11/30) - Get a SPECIAL EDITION ELLA PAPERBACK (with an Ella installment hand written in the blank back pages) for FIFTEEN DOLLARS (Plus Tax, Shipping Included) and get an e-book copy of the *NEW* novel, COLOSSUS by Jette Harris FREE!!!

Men's and Women's Ella shirts are available in my Marketplace and you can purchase the merchandise displayed below through the Vista Print Links. If you wish, I can sign the poster and ship it to your address.

Pens by Vistaprint

11" X 17" Posters by Vistaprint

Wraparound Mugs by Vistaprint

The First Review for Colossus by Jette Harris (@JettimusMaximus) - Prepare for Nightmares

11/25/2015

The first review for the debut novel from Jette Harris, COLOSSUS, is in - and I thought you all need to read it. This will give you a great idea what you're in for when you buy this e-book! Without any more carrying on from me, here is the review!! To view the book at Amazon.com, simply click on the book cover picture below or click HERE.

WARNING: THIS BOOK HAS SEXUALLY VIOLENT CONTENT.

Jette Harris will capture the attention of readers in Colossus. However, it is not a book for the faint of heart. It is full of torture – both physical and psychological. The characters invoke sympathy, irritation and frustration. The reader develops a love/hate relationship with the antagonist. His actions are repulsive but the reader desires the man’s redemption.

This book is not normally one that this reviewer would choose. However, I was thoroughly engaged; it is well written and captivating. I caution all readers about the graphic and sexually violent nature of the content of the book. Personally, I find it disturbing and label it for Adults only.

Moran Publishing Presents - Colossus by Jette Harris - @JettimusMaximus @MoranPublishing

11/20/2015

MORAN PUBLISHING is pleased to present the first novel from author Jette Harris - COLOSSUS.

Here is the description from the Amazon page for the book.

Colossus introduces the quick-witted and selfless Heather Stokes, and narrates the abduction and exploitation of Heather and three of her high-school classmates by the perverse yet enthralling Avery Rhodes. In fewer than 48 hours, the lives of Z, Witt, Monica, and Heather are shattered when they find themselves locked in closets and used as entertainment for Rhodes’s month-long “sabbatical.” The genius, the bully, the queen, and the martyr must navigate Rhodes’s appetites and temper in their own unique ways: submission, indulgence, subversion, and aggression.

I wish to extend my congratulations to Jette Harris on the publication of her first novel and do hope my readers and followers of this site download this work. To view the E-Book at Amazon.com - simply click the book cover pictured below.

The News from @MoranPublishing - The E-Book Release of Colossus by Jette Harris @JettimusMaximus

11/20/2015

Good Morning from Vegas,

I am pleased to announce book news this morning. Soon the first E-Book from Jette Harris - Colossus - will go live at Amazon.

Readers of my first book, Ella, and followers of this website are sure to love the *NEW* Killer character that will be introduced in Colossus - code name The Phoenix.

This sadistic tale of torture, murder, and ultimately - struggle of the will - is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. It's a thrill ride of a book and one I can definitely call a 'page turner.'

I read this book cover to cover in the span of a few hours and simply couldn't put it down.

Following the release I will be giving away an e-book copy of Colossus to a reader of my blog. Comment on this post if you want to be considered.

Moran Publishing focuses on fiction and writing that will push the comfort zone of readers and force you to re-examine the world around you. I believe Colossus to be this kind of book, one that will remain in your mind after the final page.

Watch for news of the moment the E-Book goes live at Amazon. Thank you.

From Vegas,

Stephen John Moran
Moran Publishing

The Writing News from #Vegas - Draft One of Preface to a Suicide is Complete #NaNoWriMo

11/17/2015

Good Afternoon,

I have great news to share with my readers and fellow writers taking part in National Novel Writing Month - or NaNoWriMo - I have reached 50k words and completed the first draft of the *NEW* Preface to a Suicide.

To finish the first draft in only 17 days is an accomplishment I will savor. Yes, there is a lot of work to be done to transform this draft into a published novel - but, it all start with this, the first draft. You can't publish a book without this step being completed.

This novel is a complete revision of the novel I wrote during my 20's. There are truly almost no scenes the two drafts have in common - and other than the basic framework of time and place - very few details appear in both books. Faced with the problem of publishing Ella 'out of turn' when it's not first chronologically presented a lot of obstacles. Re-writing Preface to match the 'facts' of Ella now realigns the 'fictional world' and readies the rest of the books for a similar re-write and revision.

The next books to be written in no particular order will be:

Dissident
The Butcher of Vegas
Fortune

I thank my readers for patience in waiting for the next book after Ella. I know it's been a year now and can finally say - SOON there will be another book.

That book will be Preface to a Suicide.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

#Paris in Pictures

11/14/2015

The Morning News from #Vegas - #NaNoWriMo and the #GOPDebate and #Amazon Sale

11/11/2015

Good Morning from Vegas,

This is day eleven of National Novel Writing Month. Yesterday was a solid day - I wrote 4k new words on my novel 'Preface to a Suicide', bringing the 10 day total to 32K. It might seem I'm far ahead of the pace, but I get most of my work done in the two days Maggie has off work - now we have the work week stretch of days and my revised goals are to hit 1k per day. According to the NaNo calculator, I only need 900 words a day to complete the novel 'on time' and win, which seems like a very reachable goal.

A few notes and comments about Preface. I'm 32k words into the manuscript, so I have a better idea of what readers can expect. I'll say this - Preface in this form is far more incendiary than the first version I wrote many (many) years ago. To those that have read that draft and may think - how is that possible, just know that it's true and I agree - I wouldn't have thought before I started this 'refresh' that the novel could possibly top the first draft in terms of shock value.

However, something happened in the intervening years to one of the minor characters from that book - a minor character turned out to not be a minor character, but rather - Ella emerged from the rubble of that early draft. The entirety of my early novels will be re-written and a complete re-imaging of my fictional world began with tearing up the old draft of Preface. I'm about 20k words from finishing draft one of that massive undertaking.

Speaking of the Ella paperback - Amazon has reduced the price by 28% from the list of $11.99 to $8.60.

That's the cheapest the paperback has ever been offered at Amazon. For anyone that's been waiting to get the book or purchase additional copies as Christmas gifts, now is the time. Grab it while it's hot.

I have reduced the price of the Ella Paperback in my store to ten dollars to reflect the lowered price at Amazon. I guess I have to keep up with their crazy price wars too!

Finally, I will touch very briefly on the #GOP Debate. There is no point in a long winded discussion as I believe it's clear to anyone that follows politics closely, the Republican Nominee is going to be Marco Rubio. The crowd received him well and demographically he's the strongest candidate the GOP can put up against Hillary. All that said, I want to focus on one general financial point from the debate last night.

When asked about the minimum wage increase to 15 dollars proposed by striking fast food workers across the country - I didn't expect much support from GOP candidates. However, I was stunned to listen to almost every one of them say 'Wages are too HIGH' in America. Donald Trump actually PROMISED to lower wages. I felt like I was watching a debate that could have been ripped from the pages of 1984. Don't forget the truth, fellow Americans. If you don't like how the Democrats are handling 2015 (and who does) - hold hands with the GOP and that party will walk you back to 1815. Happy choice indeed.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

25,000 Words for #NaNoWriMo - Day Seven - Observations, Tips, and the Plan from here

11/7/2015

Good afternoon (or evening depending on where you live),

I've reached an important (or not very important as I'll touch on later) goal in this month long sprint that is National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo as participants call it. I hit the 25,000 word level - or half way to winning - on day seven of the month. This sets me up in great position to finish and I don't need to worry about feeling rushed as the end of month nears as can happen if you fall behind on the word count average needed per day (1667 words average per day needed to reach 50k in 30 days).

Pausing for a moment (and not much more) at this milestone, I'll make a few short observations and suggest tips to writers new to this sprint

First - don't look back, think about where you are, or stop for long to celebrate the small successes. The best advice I can give is to keep moving forward. Stopping to edit your words, fret over plot-holes, or even to celebrate hitting 25k word can hurt your chances at finishing in 30 days. The only thing that matters is to keep the story moving, run-away freight train style - for the entire month.

A second piece of advice - stop making plans for the novel. This can be the death of inspiration and is almost as big a problem as editing as you go. Stop the dreams of publication or the trilogy that may or may not spring from this NaNo effort. Again, this advice is for beginners. You want to make the writing process streamlined and simple. Think only of the current spot in *this* WIP, not the future, other books, or how you're going to sell it.

As for my NaNo novel - Preface to a Suicide - I'm about half way through the manuscript. There are some plot-holes and inconsistencies, but I'm not stopping. All those issues can be fixed in revision. The dramatic finish looms in my mind and I simply need to cross the 20k word bridge that gets me there - 1 day and 1667 words at a time.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

The Morning News - #NaNoWriMo - Day Six

11/6/2015

Good Morning from Vegas,

I'm getting a late start today - pushed too hard on the novel last night and ran myself into a wall mentally. That's always a danger of pounding out 50k words in 30 days - one that if you only listen to people trumpeting their word count successes - you might miss the danger.

I know today will be a challenge. I reached 20k words on the novel and feel drained. 4k word average over a five day stretch is more than I usually write on one novel (I work on several WIPs at one time) - so, I'm fighting the urge to check in on the latest ELLA installment and must keep my focus on Preface to a Suicide. the NaNoWriMo way doesn't 'exactly' match my writing routine.

Today I'll focus on making notes and gearing myself up for the push of the next 10k. Based on my notes, this novel will be approximately 50-55k words, so the NaNoWriMo target of 50k will likely yield a 'complete' first draft. I'm ahead on the pace, so a slow day won't hurt me. I need to recharge my batteries and prepare for next week.

I hope all the writers out there are making progress on their novels. Remember - don't edit, don't think, don't share it (unless you have reached the point where you do not care about feedback on a first draft at all) - just plow forward and keep the momentum going. That's the way to finish drafts.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran