THE NEXT BIG THING (Blog Hop)

What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors new to them. I hope you'll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy. On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information on me and my upcoming book and links to another author you can explore! Many thanks to fellow sci-fi writer, Peter Lukes, http://peterlukes.blogspot.com/ for inviting me to this event!

1: What is the working title of your book?

My next book is titled Dark Space (and this is the official title).

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

Well, in a way the idea didn't come to me. I started out writing something completely different, but then I didn't like it at all, and I went back to the drawing board to write this story. The idea came from a desire to create characters rather than a story. In this way the story became character-driven rather than plot-driven, and the result was much more impressive. Some influences were Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Atlantis, The Heir to the Empire Trilogy from Star Wars, and Independence War II Edge of Chaos, an old sci-fi video game.

3. What genre does your book come under?

Dark Space is a space opera, but it could also be considered science fiction adventure.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

A perfect fit for Ethan Ortane (the hero) would be Colin Farrell (Total Recall). His younger counterpart, Adan Reese, could be played by Chris Evans (Captain America). Alara Vastra would be Kate Beckinsale. Alec "Big Brainy" Brondi would be played by Jerry Ferrara or Elijah Wood, and Supreme Overlord Dominic Altaris would be played by Christopher Lee or Max Von Sydow.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The human race is all but wiped out by an alien invasion, and the survivors are left fighting over the scraps of their once galaxy-spanning civilization.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

Self-published.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Three weeks.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

The Star Wars X-wing Series, The Heir to the Empire Trilogy (also from Star Wars), Battlestar Galactica (TV novelizations), Forever Gate, and one of my own, Escape.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My wife inspired me. Being a starving artist inspired me. My surprising success with a previous book of mine, which I published on a whim with very little polish and no marketing, inspired me. . . . an abiding love of science fiction inspired me. And you inspired me, all of you--the readers, my fans.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This book is fast-paced and doesn't stall or drag on; it's sheer entertainment, and there's a couple of twists at the end which you'll never see coming. Read it, and I promise you'll be left wanting more from the story. This is the kind of book I would love to read in my spare time (if I didn't already know how it ends), and it's the first book that I as the writer actually enjoyed reading back through after I finished writing it. Dark Space is due out on Kindle for .99c--don't miss the free promotion over that first weekend!--and in paperback for $7.99 on April 23rd. Be sure to look for it on Amazon!

Who’s next on the NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP?

I'm so glad you asked!

Below you will find a link to Dani J. Caile's blog, a friend and fellow author who will be joining me by blog, next Wednesday, April 10th. Be sure to bookmark and add him to your calendars for updates on Works in Progress and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!

Dani J. Caile's blog: http://danijcaile.blogspot.com/

The Updated Cover for Dark Space!

Coming soon in April!

(If you'd like to read an advance reader copy, drop me a line at my facebook page and don't forget to like!)

Review: At the Walls by Alon Shalev - A Great Read!

This was a great, easy read! The characters were well-rounded and lively. The story has some of the typical elements of classical fantasy, but with fresh twists which keep things interesting. The action is fast-paced, and the author's imagery and descriptive writing is very good! Unlike so many fantasy novels these days, Alon Shalev was able to keep his story brief and to the point. And as a side note I was surprised to find that his book is also very well edited. Good job, Alon!

Without giving too much away, At the Walls is the story of a young elf's rise to power and his struggle with his destiny. There's plenty of action, unexpected plot twists, and even a romance to keep things interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the genre!

Check out the book here: At The Walls of Galbrieth

Sneak Peak at the Cover Art for Dark Space

Coming soon in early April!

Still accepting ARC readers to give me feedback on an early version of the story! If you're interested, send me an e-mail to JasperTscott@gmail.com!

Review: The Forever Gate 2 was Brilliant!

The Forever Gate 2 by +Isaac Hooke was a great follow-up to the first book in the series. Here the mystery of the "Outside" continues, but now we are given a glimpse of just what that outside looks like. The characters are more fully developed in this book, now with the focus shifting to Hoodwinks' daughter.

Every chapter has something suspenseful happening, making the book was very hard to put down, and Isaac's writing style flows like few others. To top it all off, the editing was superb.

As a fellow Science Fiction and Fantasy author, I was able to honestly say upon finishing Isaac's first two novels that there's a lot to admire about his books. And as a reader, I was able to honestly say that I was never bored and never disappointed. Forever Gate 1&2 were both a very entertaining read! These books are a must-have for any Sci-Fi and Fantasy fan. The only negative thing I have to say, is that we still have to wait for Forever Gate 3!

Check the books out on Amazon here

Shorter Novels Trending?

With Kindle books on amazon routinely selling for 99c, I've noticed a new trend among indie authors. We tend to publish shorter and shorter stories, with the sweet spot being around 80-100 pages. My own novels are a far cry from this length, sitting at 500-600 pages each, but these trends have definitely made me consider writing shorter books.

With shorter books you have the option to string them together in a series (even when together they'd technically make a standalone novel), effectively making one book into two to four episodes. In this way books begin to resemble TV series, and we can get our reading fix in just a few hours. I had this idea a long time ago, but for a different reason. People don't have the time to read long books. We're used to getting our entertainment packaged into a few hours, not days. TV, the internet, movies, and most of all cell phones, have trained us to have short attention spans. Between that and the obvious economic benefits to the writer, I suspect that the era of long books is now passing us by. In the future it's going to be hard to find long, epic novels. Instead we're going to see novellas strung together in series, with each installment sold for 99c, and each of them conveniently ending on a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.

A great example of this is a series I've recently been reading by a fellow indie writer, Isaac Hooke. He  wrote the first book in the Forever Gate series at just 86 pages. At first, when I saw this, I thought it seemed like a cheap shot to the readers. I thought no one would pay 99c for a short novel, but when I read Isaac's debut, I realized just how effective that length was. It was a great, fast read--never boring, never slow. Forever Gate had my attention from the first page straight through to the last, and whatever depth I felt was missing, I later found in the sequel. If anything, the shorter length only left me wanting more and made me more willing to buy the sequel. Overall, this was a brilliant business strategy, but also in my opinion, a better way to write a book.

Check it out for yourself: Forever Gate (Part One) Kindle Edition, by Isaac Hooke

Escape Pushes Past 1000 Sales!

Actually I passed this mark a while ago. In the past two months I've sold more than 1200 copies of Escape, and during my 5 days' free promotion people downloaded another 1200 copies. That's 2400 copies in readers' hands! Thanks to all the readers who read and enjoyed my book!