Titan Monthly

I always thought of each chapter of Titan as though it were a single comic issue. I wanted to get to 300 chapters by the end of the series. Sadly, even with the mini serials I will not get there (as of what I have panned now it will will just cross 160). However, I do think that once the entire series is complete that it will feel and hopefully have the depth of characters and story as many of the other comic characters that have been around for decades. There are some pretty major plot points and character developments to come which will definitely help. Maybe Titan won't equal one of the great ones but with some luck hopefully it will be a pretty good one all the same.

Regulus

Here is Jena's character sketch for Regulus the 3rd Titan from the mini serial 'Titan: in the Clutches of the Leviathan'. Part 2 of the story will be out this week!

Titan Series Structure

I have been hard at work restructuring the Titan series down form 11 books to 7. I have now completed the plot outline for book 3 after condensing books 3 and 4 together. I am very excited about getting to start this one now as I feel the process has made the story lines much more exciting, fast paced, and engaging. All of the characters and plot lines are still there they are just a little different to accommodate the flow of both stories coming together into one volume. Now, each chapter will feel loaded with action, story, and of course I have been very careful to ensure that the character development remains in tact for the series as well. Book 3 will be titled 'Shadow Games'.

Evolution of a Series

it's interesting how after six years of planning and development the Titan series is still evolving. A couple years ago I never would have thought of going independent with Titan and publishing the way I have. I had planned on a full eleven books and now it's down to seven (condensed with all key parts remaining.). The mini serial's were not even thought of at the time I was first developing it either. I would also love to do some sunday comics styled strips. I still also have plans for two spin off series as well, that will spring from future books. One thing I know for sure and that is the finally of Michael's odyssey. I have had the end of the series planned for Michael for some time and I don't see that changing. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for any of the other characters in the series.

Titan 2's Secret Menace

It's interesting how things change during the writing process from the development stages. the story and character arc for City Under Siege. I had the storyline planned out for years and now that I am in the process of actually writing the story out fully there have been some very suttle yet important changes in not just the story line but also the main villain, Dr. Melodian. he is proving much more dangerous and menacing than I had originally intended, and I couln't be happier about that. perhaps it helped finally seeing him drawn out by Jena for the first time. The clsoer I get to the end of the first draft the more excited I get to see it myself.

Titan Series Shakeup

I am currently working at revising and preparing volumes 3 and 4 of the Titan series so that they can be done into one volume. This will be the first of the combined volumes I spoke of earlier. Once I finish the 1st draft of City Under Siege I will be starting the first draft of volume 3. I am finding I need to get into a proper rhythm and pattern to keep up to a decent pace writing the series and getting t out there. I hope to have 2 out within a year form the 1st and hopefully over time I will be able to shrink that amount considerably as the series progresses. Volume 2 is becoming very fast paced and exciting and I think people will really enjoy all that happens not just with Titan but with Michale also. And now by cominging 3 and 4 together I think will make book 3 that much more exciting to readers.

I will be doing an in store book signing at Coles book store in the Village Green mall in Vernon BC Saturday August 18th. I am looking forward to these next two signing events. The 1st one I did at Mosaic book store was a great experience. Hope to see you there!

TItan Mini Serial pt. 1

The following is part 1 of the Titan mini serial:

Titan:

In the Clutches of the Leviathan pt. 1

                Bullets flew, tires squealed, and sirens wailed as the police cruisers closed in on the old Dodge as it careened through traffic attempting its getaway. The Dodge scraped and bounced off of other cars on the road as it attempted to lose the three police cruisers closing in on them. A passenger from the Dodge hung out the open window as he fired shots at the police which bounced off the hoods, grills and windshields of the cruisers.

                “Okay, let’s wrap this up quickly. I have a date with Carly and don’t want to be late again.” Titan was bounding over rooftops as he joined the pursuit of the old Dodge. “She was so mad last time. Of course I was like three hours late, so I guess I don’t blame her too much.”

                Titan, you must still focus at the job at hand, and not your personal affairs. Do not act too hasty.

                “It’s okay, Azure, I got this.”

                Titan then launched himself into the air and over the busy street below. The Dodge was moving as fast it could through the dense downtown traffic. Titan was really only guessing when he leaped after the getaway car, but his guess was accurate as he landed hard on the hood of the Dodge. The nose of the Dodge drove into the pavement sending up big chunks of asphalt like a snowplough clearing the roads. The back end instantly began to come off the ground from the force of Titan’s landing. Then the car began to flip completely over sending it flying end for end through the packed street.

                Titan had been tossed aside as the Dodge became airborne, but was able to look back over his shoulder and see the car crash to a grinding halt into a parked SUV. He scrambled to his feet, panicked, and made his way to the cars which were now practically melded as one.  Glass crunched under his feet as he walked toward the crashed cars. He checked the SUV first and was relieved to see that it was empty. The passengers in the Dodge were banged up, but they would live. With police moving in, Titan was not going to stick around to see how things turned out.

                Titan, take us from here so we may speak.

                “Azure, I’m sorry I didn’t think…” Titan began before Azure could interject. He was already to the nearest rooftop and looking where to go next.

                Please, take us from here now.

                Without another word, Titan moved east over the rooftops of downtown Delta City. Finally, when he was twenty stories above the city and a good two dozen blocks from the crash he rested on a heating duct and waited for Azure to scold him.

                Titan, your performance tonight was hasty and dangerous. Many could have been hurt by such quick and poorly thought out methods.

                “I know it was bad. I just didn’t think that would happen.”

                You also were too preoccupied with your own personal plans. I want to show you something, Titan. It is the story of the third Titan, Regulus. His story from so many centuries ago may help you now.

                “What do you mean, show me? Don’t you mean tell me his story?”

                No, I will show you. I want to you to look closely into the jewel at the end of your staff and there you will see his story played out to you as I saw it.

                Titan pulled out his staff and looked inside its jewelled end. At first he only saw the same swirling sparkling blue light. Then, an image suddenly came into view.  He saw a small city sitting on a harbour with rolling green hills as its backdrop.

                “This is amazing. I had no idea it could do this,” Titan said, with the staff’s jewel less than an inch from his face.

                There is much you still do not know about the powers you possess, young Titan. Now, watch and hopefully you will learn a valuable lesson here tonight.

                Titan, watched as the scene moved inland and through the city. Suddenly his view was filled with a giant Cyclops. The Cyclops had to be ten feet tall at least. He wore only a fur loin cloth. His massive body was weathered and covered with multiple scars. Of course, one would hardly notice as it was hard to look away from his bald head and single eye in the middle of his forehead. The Cyclops carried a double bladed axe and was swinging it wildly about. The axe crashed into a two wheeled cart that was loaded with hay and the cart instantly exploded into bits of wooden shrapnel. The town’s people scattered and ran for cover. His axe came down again and took out a massive chunk from the corner of a nearby building.

                “That is enough, creature!” came a commanding voice. Titan could not see who the voice belonged to.

                Then, coming into view was a person who could only have been Regulus. He wore a sandals and blue shin and knee armour. He had blue forearm armour that had yellow bands. He wore a gladiator helmet left only his eyes and mouth and chin exposed, and there were two long yellow strands of fabric that hung down his back. He was armed with a small round shield in his left arm and a short sword in his right. Most distinctive of all was the chest armour which had the same lightning bolt T that Titan now wore on his own chest.

“You have terrorized these people enough, now face me!”

TO BE CONTINUED…

In The Clutches of the Leviathan

Part 1 of the first Titan mini serial, In the Clutches of the Leviathan, is finished and will be posted soon. There will be six parts total. Part one is about two and a half pages long. I am really excited about this little story and think people will really enjoy a look into one of the Titans of the past, Regulus the 3rd Titan, as this one mainly focuses on, but don't worry Michael will be there as well.

Titan: The Midnight Hour Breaks 1,000

Titan: the Midnight Hour reached a major sales milestone this weekend as it reached over 1,000 units sold. That is more than I had anticipated for the first volume of the series. i knew it would take some time to build an audience and spread the word about the series, but this has been fantastic and I feel that with more book signing events and the mini serial to come that things are just getting warmed up.

I will be doing an in store book signing at Coles book store in the Cherry Tree mall in Penticton BC August 8th from 2pm-6pm.

Titan: The Midnight Hour e-book will be under limited time promotion on Amazon.com starting July 13th to the 17th.

So far it seems I should be able to stay on track to release City Under Siege by early next spring. At first that seemed daunting, but I think it will be manageable. Of course I am only finishing my first draft and still need to edit and do re-writes so who really knows. As far as the book goes I think it is a much more exciting volume even than the last. It is funny though how Mr. Midnight was always supposed be this shadowy figure yet Dr. Melodian has yet to even be seen himself until well over half way through the book. All we get are his minions (any great villain should have some minions to so their bidding.): Sonic, Hawk, and Hammerhead.

Influences of the TItan Series

I have learned a lot about story pacing over the last few years. Where I have learned the most is from the stories and writers who I enjoy reading the most. I look at what is it that make these stories fun and enjoyable to read and make me want more. Some of the biggest influences in that regard that I have is Robert Kirkman (who's walking dead has some of the best dialogue going and Invincible which has some of the greatest balance and flow to its characters and story), Harry Potter (Rowling has a way of keeping the story progressing even when it is a slower part of the book.), Neil Gaiman (the master of the anti-climax), Grant Morrison (never afraid to try anything), Stephen King (the master of all). Not that I think my writing is yet on par with these writers, but I have to have something to aspire to. Hopefully wit their influence Titan will will flow and move seamlessly until its conclusion.

Balancing Act

Michael's two best friends were Little more than window dressing for The Midnight Hour. What they brought to the first book was balance to Michael's life while he went through some incredible life changing events in the first book. They kept him grounded in the real world while his world was going out of this world. In City Under Siege both Perminder and Dave will be taking vastly different and much bigger roles. They will also be taking paths that go into very opposite directions. Their new roles will have a major impact on Michael's life and decision in the books and stories to come.

The Original Titan Artwork Sample

Here is the second sample art page for The Midnight Hour from artist Dan Szigyali. As you can see the direction for the art changed quite a bit by the time I was able to find a new artist and get the book out.

Finding My Process

I am finding the writing process is much smoother as I am well into the second book. I find I have a much better grasp of grammatical structure. I am also having a much better time balancing the plot and the character development. When I first began The Midnight Hour I was shocked at different that first draft was to the story that was in my head. I had always thought of stories and characters but rarely put them to paper. My first draft of Midnight Hour was a measly 90 pages. I had a hard time returning to it for several months. If it wasn't for my wife I would have deleted it all. At the second draft it ballooned to 300 pages typed. Then I just became a student of writing and am still learning so much about the craft to this day. Now for book 2 I am weaving a much more complicated plot and going deeper with all of the characters. I greatly look forward to bringing more and more to this series. I also have several spin off series I hope to get to as well. Who knows what will happen by then.

Titan Series Revision

I am right now working at slimming down the Titan series as previously mentioned from 11 volumes to now 7. All the characters and story lines will pretty much remain in tact. I think what this will do however is make the series move faster more like a comic series rather than a bunch of movies. So essentially the combined volumes will now have two main plot lines and the character development is what is become the MAIN focal point of the books. I am not sure what the titles of the now combined volumes will be either as of yet. All I can say for sure right now is that once I am done with the writing of volume 2, I will be working on adjusting 3 & 4 and combing them into one volume. It;s funny how slimming the number of volumes down might actually make the series better, more action packed, and more developed.

Series Changes

I a currently thinking about taking the entire Titan series and shrinking the total number of volumes form 11 to about 7 or 8. I am not going to take out any of the plot lines or characters out but simply am thinking about combining some volumes from 2 volumes to 1. I think in the end it will be easier for me to handle and may just make certain volumes stronger overall rather than trying to drag out certain volumes to be bigger if they don't need to be. I am not certain that I will do this but I am strongly considering it. I just want to do whatever will make the series strongest.


The inset picture is a concept sketch from the first artist I approached for Midnight Hour, Dan.