NEW READERS AND MILESTONES
Posted on November 9, 2019
It's been a while since I've posted. Being back in the classroom for nine weeks does that to my posting schedule. I'm now tracked out for four weeks and I'm excited by what's on my plate.
What I'm Working On
I'm doing the final read-through of Arcana Creek, and that book should see print at the end of November. I'm really pleased with the feedback I've received and can't wait for readers to sample a book that bridges YA/MG with a more grown-up fantasy. I'm also going to write the last 20,000 words of With a Side of Universal Destruction in the next two weeks and then use two weeks to start work on my next project, Ty Wallace Versus the Hereafter. I predict a March release of With a Side of Universal Destruction.
The Move Toward a More Adult Readership
With Arcana Creek and the projects coming up after, I'm finding my writing is shifting toward a grown-up readership. Not to say my works going forward can't be read by a younger audience, but my novels have always attracted the very accomplished younger readers because of how I don't write down to my younger readers.
With the next couple projects featuring adult protagonists, much like The God Wheel and Bring On the Magic, it feels like a natural evolution of where I want to take my writing. It allows me to exploit a zestier array of vocabulary and mine more sophisticated sentence structures and plot delivery. I'm hoping this will attract new readers to my work as I think writing MG novels is aiming for a smaller audience.
Great Review of Ghost Coast
I've always felt Ghost Coast is a book that demonstrates I can write outside of MG. While it does feature a young lead, it digs into some deep issues like loss and addiction. A recent five-star review on Goodreads made me smile. Thank's so much, Jaime Skelton, for really appreciating the depth and nuance I pour into my work.
"Ghost Coast is a delightful, easy read with some deeper undercurrents. At first pass, the book comes off as a light-hearted YA (Young Adult) novel about a young man discovering his paranormal powers while solving a crime with the aid of family and friends. Yet there's plenty to leave you thinking, and even crying, by the end.
Our young protagonist, Reece, discovers that he has a special role: he is capable of not only seeing ghosts, but guiding them in their journey. Rushed into a situation in which a crime is being committed against these spirits, Reece must quickly learn to understand his power and the spirit world he's just met in order to save them. All while this is happening, Reece is struggling to build a relationship with his older teenage cousin, cope with his mother's terminal illness, and wonder about a father he never knew.
The author does a fabulous job of handling these difficult topics, balancing the desire for levity with the need for respect. Specific religion, such as 'heaven and hell,' is set aside for a 'good place and a bad place', and spirits are allowed to 'move on' to their final place when they are ready, allowing them the chance to address their actions from life at their own pace. This makes the spirit world not a place of punishment or entrapment, but a place of healing, one that respects all walks of life and treats each spirit as an individual. Even the living antagonists are painted in a light that sees them not simply as evil, but as people suffering from their own internalized problems.
Quite honestly, my only major complaint with the book was that I would have eagerly devoured the same story with twice the depth. It isn't that the author's writing is shallow, or that the plot is too short; but rather that the characters are all so well told and developed, I only want to spend a longer time with each of them.
If you enjoy YA, the paranormal, or even just want a quick but meaningful read, this book is for you."
More Ghost Coast Love
A student in another fifth grade class read Ghost Coast and chose it to enter in this year's Reading Fair. I took a picture of his tri-fold. it was a real thrill to see my work appreciated like this.
Looking For More Reviews
I would like to increase my reviews of my non-Irving Wishbutton books. Here's the offer. Email me a title you'd like to read and review, and I will send you a free mobi file. The one stipulation is that it would be nice to have the review up by December 15th in the hopes that it will boost my holiday sales, which have always been solid.
info@brianclopper.com
Speaking of Sales
The fall promos I ran yielded an amazing amount of downloads of Irving Wishbutton and the Questing Academy. And a lot of readers snatched up the rest of the four-book series. I very much appreciate that so many came back for more of Irving.
I'm reading the first book to my class right now, and they are really loving the large cast and the struggles Irving experiences at the academy. They are really responding strongly to the discrimination Irving experiences at being a smudge and have a love/hate relationship with Gared and Raggleswamp already. I can't wait to see them get more attached to Roon and Sarya.
For those who've read all four books and liked them, please consider leaving a quick review at goodreads and amazon of the books. The first book is getting many reviews, but I'd love to see more reviews of the books in the rest of the series.
Thank You
Thanks so much for taking a chance on this indy writer. I'm very driven to getting my books out to a wider audience and I want you to know that I appreciate every sale and review.