How The New World: A Step Backward was Born
Four years ago, if someone had told me I was going to write a book, I would have declared them "looney tunes" — no ifs, ands, or buts about it! Well, as it turned out, I decided to take the financial knowledge crammed in my noggin since I started investing in 1980 and stuff it into an investment book for my daughters. Certainly, it would make little sense to let such accumulated experiences evaporate when my ashes were finally tossed to the winds.
So, I set out on a journey into a world of which I knew little. Once I started writing and realized the research and effort required to complete the task, I decided I might as well shape it into a formal book form and publish it. I had no earthly clue whatsoever what it would entail to accomplish such a feat.
Over 300 pages and 17 excruciatingly long chapters later, a friend suggested attending a writers group presentation at our local library. "Why not?" I thought. The two hours spent were very enlightening, and that's where I discovered the value of such groups.
After completing the first draft, I participated in my first "Read & Critique" session with a small writers group, followed by a few more. I must be sadistic! As it turns out, I loved the torturous sessions so much, I began attending four to five sessions monthly, conducted by three different writers groups. Obviously I was obsessed to facilitate the maximum dose of torment possible in a given year. I've got thousands of scars to prove it!
Anyway, after a few months, it was painfully apparent that my dry financial book would be too boring for younger minds and needed a bit of "spice." That's when the fictional character, Belluk Katarri, of the village of Ukkiville was born. The poor sucker hadn't a clue what I was about to put him through! I swirled Belluk's very existence in a mix of detailed financial teachings and a fantasy world only my dreams could fathom.
Weaving exciting fiction with the drier technical material was well received by the reviewers. There was just one problem: my brain had flipped a switch, concocting exciting fictional ideas at the cost of financial thoughts. Going with the flow in June of 2014, the financial book was temporarily retired, and The New World: A Step Backward was born.
Ideas for the new book gushed from my cranium and in one week, I had written eight chapters. Thoruk, Mercivil, Stormulka, and I were well along the trail to Ukkiville to battle vicious beasts and put a halt to the maniac, Zolokt. There was no turning back! A "New World" had emerged with fascinating characters, villages, naming conventions, and, yes, a whole new class of monsters called "muclones" (mutant clones).
During all those Read & Critique sessions, I feverishly learned the art of writing, and I revised the manuscript accordingly. Within a few months, I invited Beta Readers to review and critique the tale. Not knowing if even one person would sign up, I was shocked that within an hour of posting the request, 15 wonderful people offered to help! While the start was glorious, the reviews coming in were a punch in the gut. It was obvious to most involved, my writing stunk!
Undeterred and passionate to do it right, I reviewed everybody's feedback and feverishly rewrote the story. By January of 2015, I had rewritten the manuscript and was ready to begin a second Beta Reader phase. Within a few days, 20 readers signed up and it grew week by week until more than 50 readers had the manuscript in hand. In the end 64 glorious people joined the beta team. As the reviews flowed in, the results were much better! Not satisfied, I focused on the negative portions of the critiques and continued to rewrite and hone each chapter. Taking it a step beyond the beta readers, each of the 43 chapters was presented at Read & Critique sessions in an effort to further improve the tale and writing techniques.
Finally, on June 28, 2015, my first novel was published as a paperback and shortly afterward in Kindle eBook form. I am convinced that the majority of readers who take a break from their worldly worries to read The New World: A Step Backward will fall in love with the characters and become thoroughly engaged in the fast-paced action. Beyond that, readers will occasionally shriek from the horror, be moved by the emotional scenes, and get thrown for a loop from time to time — just to keep you on your toes!
So, I set out on a journey into a world of which I knew little. Once I started writing and realized the research and effort required to complete the task, I decided I might as well shape it into a formal book form and publish it. I had no earthly clue whatsoever what it would entail to accomplish such a feat.
Over 300 pages and 17 excruciatingly long chapters later, a friend suggested attending a writers group presentation at our local library. "Why not?" I thought. The two hours spent were very enlightening, and that's where I discovered the value of such groups.
After completing the first draft, I participated in my first "Read & Critique" session with a small writers group, followed by a few more. I must be sadistic! As it turns out, I loved the torturous sessions so much, I began attending four to five sessions monthly, conducted by three different writers groups. Obviously I was obsessed to facilitate the maximum dose of torment possible in a given year. I've got thousands of scars to prove it!
Anyway, after a few months, it was painfully apparent that my dry financial book would be too boring for younger minds and needed a bit of "spice." That's when the fictional character, Belluk Katarri, of the village of Ukkiville was born. The poor sucker hadn't a clue what I was about to put him through! I swirled Belluk's very existence in a mix of detailed financial teachings and a fantasy world only my dreams could fathom.
Weaving exciting fiction with the drier technical material was well received by the reviewers. There was just one problem: my brain had flipped a switch, concocting exciting fictional ideas at the cost of financial thoughts. Going with the flow in June of 2014, the financial book was temporarily retired, and The New World: A Step Backward was born.
Ideas for the new book gushed from my cranium and in one week, I had written eight chapters. Thoruk, Mercivil, Stormulka, and I were well along the trail to Ukkiville to battle vicious beasts and put a halt to the maniac, Zolokt. There was no turning back! A "New World" had emerged with fascinating characters, villages, naming conventions, and, yes, a whole new class of monsters called "muclones" (mutant clones).
During all those Read & Critique sessions, I feverishly learned the art of writing, and I revised the manuscript accordingly. Within a few months, I invited Beta Readers to review and critique the tale. Not knowing if even one person would sign up, I was shocked that within an hour of posting the request, 15 wonderful people offered to help! While the start was glorious, the reviews coming in were a punch in the gut. It was obvious to most involved, my writing stunk!
Undeterred and passionate to do it right, I reviewed everybody's feedback and feverishly rewrote the story. By January of 2015, I had rewritten the manuscript and was ready to begin a second Beta Reader phase. Within a few days, 20 readers signed up and it grew week by week until more than 50 readers had the manuscript in hand. In the end 64 glorious people joined the beta team. As the reviews flowed in, the results were much better! Not satisfied, I focused on the negative portions of the critiques and continued to rewrite and hone each chapter. Taking it a step beyond the beta readers, each of the 43 chapters was presented at Read & Critique sessions in an effort to further improve the tale and writing techniques.
Finally, on June 28, 2015, my first novel was published as a paperback and shortly afterward in Kindle eBook form. I am convinced that the majority of readers who take a break from their worldly worries to read The New World: A Step Backward will fall in love with the characters and become thoroughly engaged in the fast-paced action. Beyond that, readers will occasionally shriek from the horror, be moved by the emotional scenes, and get thrown for a loop from time to time — just to keep you on your toes!