Vince

In Titan: The Midnight Hour I found one of the biggest responses came from the sibling rivalry of Michael and his older brother, Vince. We already saw Michael have to deal with getting bullied even while finding himself a superhero. We also saw Michael discover some dark truths about his older brother and the criminal activity he is likely involved in. at the end of book 1 we see Titan use some scared straight tactics to get Vince to straighten out, but I think we all knew that would largely be short lived. The good news for Titan 2: City Under siege is that the heat gets cranked up even more in their rivalry. Michael will start to become the aggressor as well. Readers will also get to see a different side to Vince besides the bullying brother role he does so well, he will show some genuine emotion that hopefully adds greater depth to his character. We will also get a little more insight and sorry but a little more mystery as to what Vince is really up to. Over the course of the series Vince actually has one of the most dramatic character arcs of all the principal characters.

Titan 2 Book Signing Event

I will be doing a book signing event at the Coles bookstore in the Cherry Lane Mall Saturday May 31st from 2-6PM! Hope to see you there.

Deciding What Royalty Rate to Publish at

Since I decided to independently publish the Titan series I have done a lot of research as to how to properly and competitively price my books to get attention in the marketplace. When I first published through Amazon I decided for the 70% royalty stream. I know there is opinion out there that the 30% royalty stream is best for new authors to nag sales by listening their books below the $2.99 minimum of the 70% royalty stream, but the way i figured it was that why should I under value my work and that if someone is willing to pay $0.99 for my book then is $2.99 really that much more.

The first Titan book did OK but sales were far from over the moon. I have also been working hard to get my books noticed particularly by my target audience of the teen/pre-teen group I was aiming for. This is hwy I am now targeting getting into some schools with Titan2. I was still always pondering whether I made the right choice, though, in selecting the 70% royalty stream through Amazon. SO, what i decided to try is that while my book are new and in their initial run until the new volumes come out they would be under the 70% royalty. Then, once they have gone through their first run and the new books come out then I will drop them down to the 30% royalty rate and sell them for $1.25. So, now Titan: the Midnight Hour Kindle edition is available for that price through Amazon while Titan 2: City Under Siege is still $2.99 until Titan 3: Shadow Games comes out.

Titan 2 Event

I am very happy to announce that I will be doing a event at Bankhead Elementary School Tuesday May 13th to grades 4-6! I can't wait to get the reactions form the students toward the new book. More on this to come!

Titan 2 Events and Promotion

I am currently working to get the Titan books into the school libraries of my home region in the Okanagan valley in BC Canada. I am in the works of getting a hold of the school district and seeing what I can arrange. I would also like to do presentations to as many schools as possible as well. I would do these much the way I did the school presentation in Alberta for the first book.  I would discuss the Titan series and then go on to explain about writing and publishing to the students. i know that was a bog thing for me in starting writing so late in my life. I had always wanted to write and have had numerous ideas for adult and young reader fiction. Nowhere, though, did there seem to be a full education on how to write fiction and then what to do with it once it was published. That is once thing that is so great about the superhero genre, it is quite easy to inflict conflict into your protagonists life as well as show the protagonist/antagonist relationship. the entire story telling structure is really right at your fingertips. I will update on any events that come up or any libraries that begin to lend the Titan books.

Titan mini vol 2. Into The Fire pt. 1

Here is part one of the lateest Titan mini serial, 'Into the Fire':

 

 

 

 

Titan: Into the Fire pt. 1

 

            “Does either of you understand a single thing I’m saying?” said Douglas Meltzer, the dean of DCU.

            “I think what you’re attempting to articulate is that you are no longer requiring the employment of my sister and I,” said Stephen Beltane, sitting on the little swivel stool in front of the dean.  His sister Patricia sat quietly on a similar stool just behind her brother as the dean blasted through his tirade.

            “That’s exactly what I’m saying. The both of you are to pack up your things and be off campus by the end of the day,” Dean Meltzer finished. He then turned to leave, slamming the lab door as he did.

            “What do we do now, Brother?” Patricia asked.

            “Well, isn’t it obvious, Sister?” Stephen replied, still facing the door. He swivelled to look directly at his sister. “We need to teach Dean Meltzer a very valuable lesson.”

            Stephen and Patricia Beltane were identical twins that had been truly inseparable since birth. They rarely socialized with anyone save for each other. They were both quite diminutive and each barely reached five feet in height and each had short black hair and thick framed glasses. They were currently in their white lab coats and black pants, which was often the case. They found science and lab work came naturally to them both. They had been doing theoretical physics experiments that were somewhat frowned upon and not necessarily approved of by the university when the accident took place. They had burned down half of the physics lab over a day ago.

            “How will we do that, brother?” Patricia asked.

            “Well, dear sister, we simply burn down the rest of the physics building.” A smile began to spread over Stephen’s thin lips. “Then, he’ll see what tragedy could have transpired had we not been there to act quickly.”

            “Excellent idea, Brother,” Patricia answered.

            The pair waited until dark, and the building largely empty. They cleaned out their belongings and removed them to their car, so as not to arouse suspicions. Then, when the coast was clear, they began to set incendiary devices all over the physics building. After about an hour they both met up at the entrance to the now deserted building.

            Stephen stood at the front of the building holding several fuses and ignitions as his sister joined him. Stephen set the fuses and hit the ignition button. As the two turned and walked calmly out of the building, fire instantly began consuming the building from within. By the time they reached the security of the bushes at the far end of the parking lot the flames engulfed the massive three storey structure. The twins were entranced as the flames shot out of the windows and blew out the walls.  

            Their concentration was broken, however, when they heard the sirens of the fire trucks approach. At first they felt pangs in their hearts and assumed their blaze would be extinguished too soon. The firemen jumped into the blaze and began to put it out. It was threatening to move from the physics building to the library, which had been Stephen’s hope. The fire had started at the back of the building facing the library, so it was its fiercest there. A team of three firemen stood in between the two buildings trying to hold the flames back. It seemed they were about to do it too. Then, a small explosion rocked the physics building just behind what remained of the outer wall the firemen were battling.  A giant burst of flames shot out and just over their heads and ignited the library building behind them.

            Stephen watched with twisted delight as he felt his point had now been sufficiently made.  He and his sister were not people to be crossed or taken lightly. As they both sat in the distance watching from the shadows, Stephen was about to suggest to his sister they leave when the noticed something streaking toward the blaze from the sky. The streak stopped at the roof of the library and seemed to have come from a figure clad from head to toe in yellow and blue. Stephen did not pay much attention to the outside world, but he would have been hard pressed to not recognize Titan when he was standing in front of him.

            Stephen and Patricia continued to watch in silence as Titan jumped down to rescue the trapped firemen. Then, suddenly, Titan was leading the charge in putting out the massive blaze. First, Titan approached the wall of flame that blocked in the firemen. He quickly pulled out his staff and spun it so fast and with such force much of the wall of flame either went out or was pushed back enough for the crew to escape to safety.

            Then, the rest of the firemen, equipped and ready to battle the blaze, stepped up behind Titan quickly moving in as Titan fanned out the flame enough with his staff that the crew could gain the upper hand on the raging inferno. Before long the fire was well under control by the DCFD and Titan, wasting no time, leaped high off and away.

            “What now, Brother?” Patricia asked, still standing silently, her gaze fixed on what remained of the carnage the two had created.

            “What now? Well, Titan has embarrassed us dear sister. You know what we do to those who would make fools of us.” Stephen slowly craned his neck from the burning building to his sister. “We will destroy what he holds dear.”

            Patricia slowly nodded. “You mean Delta City?” Patricia asked.

             “Yes, we will wreak havoc upon this city until all Titan is able to do is look on in a complete Shock and Awe!” Stephen declared.

To Be Continued…