Book Signing Pics

Some pics from the book signing last weekend at Mosaic Books

the Development of a Bad Guy

I have just finsihed a chapter in Titan 2: City Under Siege focusing on Michael's older brother Vince. I have spent so much time making Vince the bad bully of an older brother now I am trying to shed a little compassion on his character as well but still make you hate or at least dislike him. There were some moments in this chapter that I have been waiting do write since I first outlined the entire series back in 2006. Book 2 is definitely turning into much more of a action packed and emotional roller coaster for Michael/Titan than the first book could ever have hoped to be. The Midnight Hour has its special place as the origin story and setting the foundation blocks for the whole series, but the next instalments will be one wild ride.

Getting Exposure

Marketing, exposure, and maintained momentum are the key factors for me in getting the Titan series off the ground. So far things have gone at a fairly steady climb in getting Titan out to the world at large. I am in book stores, I have done a book signing, I have a website (titansadventures.com), sales have been marching along. Now I am looking for ways to push things further as well as keep the momentum building until the next book comes out. One of the things I am working doing over the next month or two is to post a mini Titan serial adventure either on the blog or to Titansadventures.com so that they will be entirely free to readers. They will be only a page or two per instalment and being about 6-12 instalments long roughly. These mini serials will bridge the gaps between the books as well as continue and build to the story of Michael Novak and Co. Book 2 I am still hoping will be out in the spring of 2013. I hope the1st mini serial to begin sometime this summer. I will post as to when and where they will be coming as soon as I can.

1st Book Signing Event

The book signing at Mosaic Books went fantastic yesterday. I want to thank everyone that came out in support of me and the book, and to those who helped me prepare for the event. Also I would like to thank those that could not make but sent their well wishes. The staff at Mosaic said it was one if the better selling events that they have had in some time. I can't wait until I am able to hold another signing which will hopefully be soon. I will keep everyone posted for any future events.

2nd Tier Villains

As I have mentioned in previous posts, starting with Titan2 every book will start with a  mini villain battle leading into the new major villain that Titan will have to face off against in the book. I want these villain battles to lend to the sense that life in Delta City does not stop in between books and how things are constantly moving forward for Titan/Michael, and that there wil be things for readers to catch up on. The more I plan and develop these new sub-villains the more fun I am having in creating and adding them into the Titan universe. These battles will be easily won by Titan (generally) and also allow me to have a little more 'fun' with the rogues and have them be a little more light than many of the main rogues will turn out to be. Some of the name of these sub-villains, as I prefer to refer to them, are:

Shock & Awe
the Ice Queen
 Shockwave
 the Claw
Reaper
The Executioner
Fang

Through partnership with Red Apple Publishing I will be trying to further my book reach expanding into other e-pub formats. I feel am only just beginning to find what avenues are available to me as an independently published author and what I need to do to expand my books reach and get it out there to the masses. This, so far, has been the biggest hurdle. Although i feel my plan to start with local marketing and branching out from there is the best way to go and with Titan: The Midnight Hour now at Mosaic Books and the book signing next week I am well on my way. I am trying to build as much momentum as I can so that when the next book comes out I can continue to build from this.



http://www.red-apple-publishing.com/

I will be doing my first in store book signinig at Mosaic Books on May 26th from 12-2pm in Kelowna.

Titan: The Midnight Hour is now officially for sale at Mosaic Books in Kelowna Downtown on Bernard Ave. You can also see their website for more details. I am hoping that I can contact other Bookstores and get them to carry the book as well. I have reached out to Chapters in Kelowna and hope to contact some stores in Vancouver as well. It is also in the school of my hometown of Magrath Alberta as well and may be in some schools in the Okanagan soon as well. Marketing and spreading the word about Titan has been slow and steady going and is now starting to see some very positive results.

Titan Website

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.titansadventures.com%2F&h=4AQE6VgjS

Here is the link to the new Titan website, big thanks to Jim Henry. Here you can find information on the first Titan book, The Midnight Hour, as well as some general information about the entire series, an author page, and much more.

I am now well past the 1/4 of the way through Titan 2 City Under Siege. It is moving very briskly, especially when compared to The Midnight Hour. When I first started The Midnight Hour I was learning much more than how to get the book out to the public (something I'm still learning) but I was also learning how to write. The ideas were far from the problem. The real difficulty was the craft itself which proved much more complicated to get a handle on then first anticipated. I have learned such a great deal over the last few years that the process feels much more natural now. My plan is to finish the first draft of Titan 2 and then move right in to the first draft of Titan 3: Mezmerized. After that I will go right back and complete any re-writes, revisions and corrections to Titan 2 and prepare it for release. My plan is to get a jump on thing so that I am able to keep some kind o f Schedule with the release of the series and limit and lag time. Titan 2 may take a little longer than the 1 year had had hoped but by the time I get to 3 and beyond I should be able to maintain a better release schedule. It is rather hard though as I balance this with a full time job and a family as well.

There will be a new artist for Titan: City Under Siege, and that artist will be Jena Stillwell. This is Jena's character design for the prime baddie for the book, mad scientist, Dr. Melodian.

Mosaic Book Signing

Titan: The Midnight Hour will be available shortly in Mosaic Books in Kelowna. I was in to see the management there a couple weeks ago and they had a copy of the book to review and agreed to carry the book in their store. They also agreed to have me there to do a book signing in store which should be booked within the week I hope. This is all the first part of my local marketing plan. I hope to gain some momentum locally with the book and for the series before taking out to bigger markets such as Vancouver and then beyond.

Learning Curve

I find I am still learning so much about marketing a book independently. The industry has changed so much in the last five to ten years with the advent of the Internet and social medias. It is still tricky to figure out how to spread the word, but the potential is there and it is inspiring. Some of the older principals still apply as well. I have contacted some local book stores about carrying Titan: The Midnight Hour on a consignment basis as well I am trying to set up some book signings. I figure if it is going to work you have to start local and then build outward from there.