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A spring hodgepodge of stuff

March 18, 2014 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Welcome one and all to Spring 2014! Hope the holidays were fabulous to you and yours, and that your new year has started out with a bang — or at the very least, with little if any snow. (What up, fellow east-coasters!)

As I’m sure will come as no surprise to those who know us; 2014 got off to a roaring start in the Malone house. I’m happy to report that my first ever panel at this year’s illogicon in Raleigh went off rather well, despite a few pre-show jitters on my part. We had a nice turnout, and I’d like to thank everyone who stopped by, as well as my partner on the panel — Lynn MacNamee of Red Adept Publishing.

Now it’s off to April when I’ll be part of a similar panel on indie publishing at this year’s ALT*Con in my hometown of Tallahassee. Stay tuned here and on FB/Twitter for date/time specifics as they unfold.

RSD edits continue

The second draft of RED SKY DAWNING (Book Two n THE MAKO SAGA) continues to unfold. Now that I’m back in the swing of things, I’ve had the chance to really dig into the content, and while there’s obviously loads to do, I’m happy to report that much of the story’s content from draft one remains intact. As was certainly the case in book one, I find that the action scenes are always the toughest to write — a point usually reflected in my page count at the end of a given writing day. Give me a setting, a conversation, and a pair of characters, and I’ll bang out 3,000 words in two hours. But exposition, world-building, and tactical design?

… Yep, put on a fresh pot of coffee and bunker in, cuz it’s gonna be a while.

I will say this, however, with regard to story differences: RSD is a more serious piece than MAKO in a lot of respects. Believe me, you’ll pick that up in the prologue, and it’s a theme that carries straight through the entire story. Don’t get me wrong, RSD still has all of the party humor, snarky dialogue, and pop culture references that most of you dug about book one… that’s the Renegades. But this is a story set five years after the events of MAKO, and A LOT has changed in the lives of every member of the team.

MAKO hits actual bookshelves!

I’m also happy to report that MAKO may soon be available for purchase at your neighborhood brick and mortar bookstore! As a lot of folks know (especially other indie authors), many independent shops won’t deal with CreateSpace as it’s owned by Amazon… you know, the 800-lb gorilla that’s presently trying to put them all out of business?

So, for that reason, I’ve expanded my distribution net by opening an account with Ingram Spark, and as such, bookstores can now go online to IS and order MAKO at wholesale by simply using its ISBN (978-0989032704).

FYI to anyone near Tally, I’ll be discussing a lot of this at the ALT*Con panel next month. Trust me, this may seem like a fairly trivial thing at first glance, but it’s really not.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Bucs fans… FINALLY!

As most of you are probably not Bucs fans, I won’t dwell on this. But given the absolute nightmare surrounding my favorite NFL team for much of the last decade (most of which was self-inflected on account of piss-poor leadership from the front office), I can’t tell you just how stoked I am to see Lovie Smith in charge and making changes. Greg Schiano, like Raheem Morris before him, was a joke of a hire — A., because he wasn’t remotely qualified for the head job, and B., because he had no clue how to manage an NFL locker room once he got it.

Smith, by contrast, is the antithesis of this. He’s a great coach with fantastic credentials and strong ties to the Tampa community. Moreover, he’s a man of impeccable character who commands the respect of all who know him. To put it another way: he’s a leader, and a damn good one… something this team has sorely lacked since the Gruden days, and some even question whether we really had it then.

Great hire, Tampa Bay… finally. Now let’s go play some football!

Okay guys, that’s gonna do it for Blog One of 2014. Take care, keep in touch, and as always… Happy Reading!!!

RUAH!

IJM

Season’s Greetings!!!

December 20, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

I love Christmas time, I really do. I love the weather, the lights, the food, the time with friends and family… all of it. Now couple everything I just said with the awesomeness that is New Year’s and college bowl season (which I’ll address shortly), and this really is “the most wonderful time of the year.”

Thus, much like last month’s Thanksgiving edition, we’re gonna keep this one fairly short with some minor house cleaning — then we’re out.

Red Sky Dawning (Draft 1) is done

Yep, it’s finally finished… the first round, anyway. Mako: Book 2 is finally in the can, and while I plan to tinker with it a bit over the holidays, it’s my intention to burn full-steam ahead on it once I return in January.

I won’t spend much time on this, as I’ve already shared quite a bit about RSD’s plot and characters in previous blogs and during my interviewwith Self Publisher’s Showcase. But, suffice it to say, I hope to have a solid manuscript ready for beta reading by the spring, then editing in the early summer.

Ruah!!!

Illogicon 2014 is right around the corner!

For those attending Raleigh’s illogicon science fiction convention Jan. 10, I’ll be partnering with Lynn MacNamee of Red Adept Publishing and others to present iAuthor: Indie Publishing 101, an in-depth panel discussion of all things indie books.

Among the topics to be covered:

– The pros and cons of indie vs. traditional publishing

– Indie publishing platforms (KDP, Smashwords, etc.) and which to use

– Book mediums: E-books vs. print vs. audio

– Marketing through social media

– Setting a budget/deadlines

– The need for editing and cover design

Be sure to stick around after the panel and say hi, as I’ll be answering additional questions and giving away swag. Truth be told, though, I just always enjoy meeting you guys. J

IJM’s Bowl Game Predictions

Because I couldn’t resist, the following are my predictions for this year’s slate of BCS bowls, plus a handful of other matchups that struck me as potentially fun: (winners in bold)

– National Title: Florida State vs. Auburn (Totally a homer pick, I know, but I love this matchup for FSU.)

– Rose: Stanfordvs. Michigan State (GO NERDS!)

– Sugar: Alabamavs. Oklahoma (Saban won’t lose again, sorry OU.)

– Fiesta: UCF vs. Baylor (Knights had a nice year, but they’re no match for the Bears’ offense.)

– Orange: Clemson vs. Ohio State (As much as I abhor picking a Meyer-led team, I just don’t trust you in a game that matters, Clemson.)

– Russell Athletic: Miami vs. Louisville (Without Duke Johnson, “The U” falls in Bridgewater’s finale.)

– Chick-fil-A: Texas A&M vs. Duke (Johnny Football puts up stupid numbers in this game. Aggies in a route.)

– Gator: Georgiavs. Nebraska (Also a homer pick, as my sis went to UGA. GO DAWGS!)

– Cotton: Missourivs. Oklahoma State (SEC all the way.)

– Alamo: Oregon vs. Texas (Mack Brown’s team rises up to send him out with a win.)

Okay, folks. That officially puts the wraps on this, the inaugural year of the Mako Manifesto. To everyone who follows this blog, you know I appreciate it, and I sincerely hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I’ve had writing it.

In closing, and on behalf of the entire Malone household, I want to wish each and every one of you a very, Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. As mentioned up front, we celebrate this time of year for a lot of reasons, the most important being the birth of Christ… which according to scholars, probably happened in April, but it’s whatever.

Don’t worry. I’m not gonna beat you over the head with the “reason for the season” speech. A., that’s not the purpose of this bog, and B., because the massive overuse of the phrase makes me want to punch my own nards. Still, if you get a chance, take a moment to ponder why people like us believe in Christmas. Then ask yourself two questions:

1. Can I, at the very least, entertain the remote possibility that Jesus was who he said he was, and if not…

2. Why?

Cheers, gang, and “see you on the other side” for 2014!

IJM

PS- For anyone scrambling to find last-minute, low-prep menu options for the holidays, check out this article in last week’s Raleigh News & Observer on Christmas meals and crock pots. CRAZY helpful stuff!

Turkey Time!!!

November 25, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Ah, Thanksgiving… How I’ve missed you and the gluttonous, calorie-rich glory you represent! Smoked turkey breast, spiral-cut ham, deep-fried venison, sweet potato souffle, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, banana puddin’, chocolate cake… vegetables that I’m sure someone not named Ian will eat! I mean, seriously people! Throw in all of your favorite friends and family with some good, ole fashioned college football rivalry games, and what else to you need in life?

Alas, it’s with a mix of cheer and fear of indigestion that I must digress…

Okay, so in the interests of time management (and because this cold is totally kicking my butt), I’m gonna keep this one short with a few housekeeping notes:

Red Sky Dawning is almost done… the first draft, anyway

Draft one of the Mako Saga’s next chapter is nearly in the books, and I think you guys are really gonna like it. Naturally, there’s still loads of work to be done (as is always the case with opening drafts), but the framework for the story is in place along with most of the key elements that will comprise the next chapter of the saga.

A new editor = Mako 2.0

I’m proud to welcome Raleigh-based Red Adept Publishing (RAP) as my new editor moving forward. I bring this to your attention because A., I know many of you are fellow indie authors in need of a good editor, and B., because I’ve hired Lynn McNamee and her staff for a fresh proof of Mako to buff out some of the final blemishes from the original manuscript which, at the time, had tapped out my budget.

I’m running through the Track Changes now, but hope to have the new files formatted and up for sale by Christmas. FYI, this in no way alters the story you’ve already read. It’s more or less just an extra pass for grammar typos and spelling.

Illogicon 2014 in Raleigh

Speaking of Lynn and RAP, I’ll be partnering with her to conduct a panel on indie publishing at this

year’s illogicon, held Jan. 10-12 at the Embassy Suites in Raleigh. At present, I still don’t have any date/time specifics, but once I do, I’ll bounce them out via social media.

Alright gang, that’s it for this Turkey Day edition of the Manifesto. All the best to you and yours this weekend, travel safe if you’re on the road, and see ya back next month for BCS picks and an in-depth discussion of why non-alcoholic eggnog is useless! 😉

RUAH!!!

IJM

PS- Wanna give a quick shout-out to all the seniors on this 10-0 FSU football team. Regardless of all of the legal crap that’s swirling around you right now, you guys were the class that kick-started this program’s climb back to national prominence and you’re to be commended for all that you’ve achieved. Now, how about we roll on down to The Swamp and carve us up some Gator, shall we? Good luck, boys, and GO NOLES!!!

Clash of the Titans

October 16, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hello again, everyone, and welcome to a brisk autumn edition of the Mako Manifesto.

Many of you read this blog because you know I’m a writer, and whether it’s to learn more about my work or the craft in general, you come here looking for indie-related content. As a regular reader, though, you’re also well aware that I’m a total mark for college athletics, particularly where my beloved Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles are concerned. Therefore, given the magnitude of this weekend’s “Clash of the ACC Titans” between third-ranked Clemson and fifth-ranked FSU, I’ve elected to bump the literary stuff to the end of this blog in favor of a good old-fashioned, armchair-QB sports rant.

… Drum roll please!!!

THE matchup

For all the historical flack given the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for its lack of legitimate football contenders (most times, rightfully so), the conference has rebounded nicely of late in the forms of FSU and Clemson, both having returned to national prominence with regular 10-win seasons and impressive victories over top-tier BCS opponents.

This Saturday night, however, these two teams will meet in Death Valley, South Carolina for what will undoubtedly be the biggest game in the history of their budding rivalry. At stake: a clear path to the ACC title, and quite possibly a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.

Make no mistake about it, folks, both teams have a major point to prove with this game.

For Clemson, it’s the chance to shed, once and for all, the “national pretender” status that’s haunted them for years, and avenge 2012’s loss to the Noles in Doak Campbell Stadium.

For FSU, meanwhile, a win here represents a major step toward reclaiming the “dynasty” mantle lost to them in the twilight years of the Bowden regime.

The individual storylines for this game are endless, though here are a few to consider:

– Clemson senior QB, Tajh Boyd vs. FSU redshirt freshman, Jameis Winston

– Clemson’s high-powered offense vs. a young, revamped FSU defense under first-year DC Jeremy Pruitt

– FSU’s running game vs. Clemson’s at-times shaky defensive front

FSU fans, we used to balk at the term “Game of the Century” because we heard it nearly every other week from 1990-2000. Then came the infamous Jeff Bowden experiment on offense, and well… you know the rest. Granted, much has happened since Fisher’s installment to right FSU’s misfortunes (our renewed status as perennial Top-5 recruiters, for starters) but this game still represents our best shot yet to show the world we’re back on top of the mountain.

In other words, win this game and people will begin to take you seriously again.

Clemson fans, the same point applies to your program. As it stands, you deserve major kudos for your successes to-date. You and you alone rose above the mediocrity of this conference to assemble a top-flight football program capable of beating anyone in the nation, and you’re amassed wins over LSU, Georgia, Florida State among others are a testament to that.

Nevertheless, nobody forgets a 70-33 drubbing like the one you took from West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl, particularly when it happens on global TV. Thus, a win Saturday night is every bit as vital to your legitimacy as FSU’s.

So… what’s my prediction, you ask?

Listen, I firmly believe FSU has the talent and the coaching staff to win this game, to say nothing of their superstar QB in Winston, a kid on-pace to torch the record books before leaving Tallahassee. Primetime top-five matchup or not, “Famous Jameis” will show no fear when he marches into that stadium — hostile crowd or not — and his team will do likewise for his leadership. Couple that with FUS’s near-limitless pool of talent at the offensive skill positions, and yeah… this is definitely a winnable game for the Noles.

On the other hand for Clemson, Boyd and Watkins are insanely good, as are most of the role-players around them, the vast majority of whom are seniors craving a national title in their final year of eligibility. Factor in the clear home-field advantage of Death Valley plus FSU’s massive inexperience on defense, and — as much as my brothers and sisters in garnet may hate me for this — I’ve gotta take the Tigers in a barn burner.

So there you have it, Clemson fans. I’m picking your team to beat mine. Enjoy it, live it up, smoke it, do with it what you will. Just know this… you had better beat us while you can. Because starting next season… you won’t get that chance again for a very, VERY long time.

Red Sky Dawning update

Book two of the Mako Saga continues to unfold. At present, I’m about 75% finished with the first draft, and I’m really excited about where the story has gone. As I’ve said all along, RSD is, in many ways, a changing of the guard with regard to main characters. True, everyone is back — Lee and Mac included — but this chapter of the saga really gave me the chance to flesh out some of the other characters and introduce some new ones (one of whom I’ve been dying to write since book one, but couldn’t fit into that part of the mythology).

FYI, I also got to create my own form of MMA (Kachuro) which, as a dude, is just plain awesome! J

My hope is to have the piece ready to go to beta readers by the end of the year, with copyedits and proofing set for early spring followed by a summer 2014 release.

Friends in indie places

As any author knows, one of the toughest aspects of the indie biz comes with balancing one’s time between writing books and promoting them. Therefore, it’s always nice to find others who can help you with the latter, thus freeing you up for more time with the former.

Paul and the crew from Self Publisher’s Showcase (SPS)want to do just that.

As implied by their name, SPS is a new service devoted to helping indie authors promote their work. What sets them apart from their competitors, however, are their rates ($3 a month, respectively) and the expansiveness with which they do so (author profiles, interviews, book reviews, blogs, extensive social media coverage, easy-to-access sales links, etc.).

Ordinarily, I’m not a big fan of paying for grass-roots marketing services like these. Even still, that’s a lot of bang for a little buck, and if you’re like me (full time job with a family at home) you need all of the writing time you can get.

SPS can help you facilitate that.

Alright folks, that’s gonna do it for now. I’m off for an afternoon walk with my pooches then it’s back to the apartment for another round of laundry and RSD edits.

Everyone take care, have a great week, and remember… GO NOLES!!!

Cheers,

IJM

PS- I’m totally in the market for a good potato soup and or corn chowder recipe for the game this weekend. If you’ve got one handy (especially if it involves a crock pot) hit me up with an email, tweet, or Facebook post. Thanks!!! J

Dragons, Pigskins, and Murders… OH MY!!!

September 4, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Wheeeeewwww, so thathappened!!! Of course, by “that” I mean Dragon Con 2013.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, allow me to defer to the always lovely and ever-talented Jewel Staite (Firefly) for a quick explanation.

“If San Diego Comic Con is your handsome older brother with a Ph.D., wearing a fancy suit and driving a Prius, Dragon Con is your loud-mouthed sister who’s dressed just a tad inappropriately and most likely coming off a bender in Vegas.” (Quote courtesy of Staite’s blog at Blastr.com)

Simply put, Dragon Con(held annually each Labor Day) is a four-day party in downtown Atlanta whereby 50,000+ of your closest geek family and friends commandeer five of the city’s biggest hotels for a weekend-long extravaganza of pop culture and art. Concerts, venders, celebrity panels, autograph sessions, author workshops, world-class cosplay exhibitions — you name it, and it’s at D-Con!

Obviously as an author, this is a prime opportunity to meet fans of my book and spread the word to others who may want to check it out (hence, the IJM free ebook weekcoinciding with the event). Still, whether you’re an author, cosplayer, musician, or just a fan in jeans and a Skynet t-shirt, Dragon Con is a fantastic good-time, period.

Among this year’s attendees:

· James Marsters (Buffy/Angel)

· Timothy Zhan (NY Times bestselling author)

· Stephen Amell (The CW’s Arrow)

· Michael Dorn (Star Trek: TNG)

· Neil Gaiman (NY Times bestselling author)

· Brent Spiner (Star Trek: TNG)

· Peter Davison (Doctor Who)

… in addition to all-star panels for:

· Battlestar Galactica

· Smallville

· Doctor Who

· The Walking Dead

· Stargate SG1

For aspiring authors, meanwhile, the Writing a Knock-Out Novel and Writing Careers in the Post-Paper Era workshops offered some outstanding insight on not only how to craft a story, but what to do with it once you’ve finished the project.

As always, pics of all above and more are up on my Facebook page, plus stay tuned for additional photos from next month’s Escapist Expo in Durham, NC.

Pigskin Pick’em

This month also marks the glorious return of real FOOTBALL! We’ve slaved away for the last five weeks with the garbage imitation that is the pre-season (aka the NFL’s methadone) and now it’s time for the real-deal Holyfield! So, for any last minute fantasy footballers out there still sifting through draft intel, here are a few thoughts to consider.

IJM’s Fantasy Bust: Wes Welker (WR, Denver Broncos)-I hate saying this because I love Denver this year, and while this should in no way be interpreted as a slight against Welker, it’s simply a recognition of the talent around him. The fact is, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker are great receivers, and both bring a pre-established rapport with QB-great Peyton Manning to the passing game. Will Welker get his fair share of looks? Sure, particularly from the slot. However, given the players around him, it’s a safe bet he won’t see the 100+ balls a year that he saw in New England.

Welker is still a great pick in 2013, just not for the 2012 price tag. If he falls down the board, then by all means take him. If not, spare yourself the reach and grab an upstart back like Cinci’s Gio Bernard.

IJM’s Fantasy Sleeper: Brandon Weeden (QB, Cleveland Browns)– Do I think Weeden is a top 10 QB? No, but I think he’s got the potential to be on account of the system he’ll be playing in and the coaches conducting it, namely his offensive coordinator.

Listen, there are two things we know about Norv Turner: 1.) He’s a crap head coach, and 2.) he’s one helluva friend to quarterbacks as an assistant. Troy Aikman, Phillip Rivers, Jeff Garcia, Brad frickin’ Johnson, for crying out loud! Turner knows how to coach an offense — and if the job he did with Cam Newton in Carolina is any indication, so does his boss, Cleveland HC Rob Chudzinski.

Let’s be clear: Weeden is not a QB1 starter. He could, however, be prime trade-bait by the end of the year which is why you grab him in the later rounds and sit on him to see what happens.

‘Gone, baby, gone’

So, I started Gone Girl from Gillian Flynn and I’ve gotta admit, it almost lost me in the early going. There is A LOT of marital drama in the first third of this book, so much so that it felt less like a crime thriller and more like a Lifetime movie.

… I’m a dude, people. We don’t do Lifetime movies…

Anyway, somewhere towards the end of Part 1, I was teetering on the verge of returning this one to Audible when it happened… the opening paragraph of Part 2, and the proverbial “HOOOOOOLY $#%T!!!!!” moment that occurs with every good murder mystery.

Folks, never in all of my years of reading have I ever seen villains become victims and victims become villains like I did in Gone Girl. It was downright schizophrenic, I kid you not.

Great read if you like psychologically twisted thrillers, but don’t mind a fair amount of raunchiness.

Alright gang, that’s it for another edition of the Mako Manifesto. Thanks as always for dropping in, and to those attending the Expo in Durham next month, do stop by, say hello, and grab some swag.

RUAH!!!

IJM

PS- You didn’t honestly think I’d wrap this without at least uttering the name, “Jameis Winston,” did you? *deep breath followed by long exhale* Nole fans… buckle up! 😉

‘The night is always darkest before the Con’

August 10, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hey folks! First and foremost, let me start by apologizing for missing last month’s blog. As it turns out, July proved to be quite the busy month around the Malone house, and honestly it was all I could do to find time for Red Sky Dawning (otherwise known as RSD or Mako: Book 2) much less a blog. Nevertheless, excuses are like… well, you know the drill.

On the upside, though, next month’s blog will most likely be penned from my ATL-hotel room between panels at DRAGON CON!!!

RUAAAAHHHHH!!!

Alrighty, and away we go!

The Mako Audiobook continues to rock

I want to give a major shout-out to anyone and everyone who has supported the Mako audiobook. As I’ve said before, while seeing Mako go live as an ebookwas quite the thrill, it paled in comparison for me personally to that of the audiobook. As someone who has been legally blind since the first grade, audio has been, and always will be, mymedium—now more than ever in the age of mp3 players and smartphones where one can quite literally carry a library in his or her pocket. Thus, it goes without saying that seeing my little contribution to the sci-fi community perform as well as it has on Audible, iTunes, Amazon, etc. has been pretty awesome.

Seriously gang, thanks for that.

Summer movie surprise

Hats off to Director Extraordinaire Guillermo del Toro for delivering what was—for my money—the best surprise of the 2013 Summer Movie Season: Pacific Rim. As I told my cover designer in a recent email, It’s ginormous sci-fi fun with an interesting take on the classic monster movie premise, but with all the heart, humor, and quirky charm of del Toro movies like Hellboy. Plus, as Sons of Anarchy fan will attest, having Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman on the same cast is just never a bad thing.

Listen, did I enjoy Man of Steel? Absolutely (see my June blog post). The Wolverine? Yep, possibly the best X-Men movie since X2. Oblivion, World War Z, Iron Man 3, Star Trek: Into Darkn—

**coughs and gags profusely**

Sorry guys. The old-school Treker in me just can’t abide the last one, but it’s whatever.

Anyway, the point is there were lots of great movies this summer, but as has been pointed out on a myriad blogs, commentaries, editorials, and social media feeds, the vast majority of them are sequels and or reboots. Rim offered something fresh and exciting, with new characters and a new universe, that audiences could sit back in their theater-chairs, drenched in popcorn butter and Diet Coke, to be dazzled by.

For the record, del Toro was the only guy in filmmaking who could’ve pulled this off, too. Anyone else would’ve spiked it straight in the jock strap, but GDT understands this brand of entertainment. It’s not a franchise like Transformers or Marvel, nor is it a political statement like District 9 or the aforementioned Into Darkness. It’s just good, old-fashioned, fanboy fun on a scale that’s often botched and rarely seen well in today’s movie marketplace.

As summer movie season ends, Con season begins

As noted earlier, Atlanta’s Dragon Con is right around the corner on Labor Day weekend, and Smalls (my wife) and I are stoked! To date, we’re up to two cosplay themes for the weekend: Mako, of course, and Chuck, one of our all-time favorite TV shows. So, if you happen to spot a bald head in tigerstripe camo and a garnet FSU football jersey floating through the crowd near the Sheraton… well, know that’s probably me, so do stop by and say hi.

Besides, one never knows what kind of swag the author might have in his pack. Just sayin’! 😉

After that, it’s back home to the Triangle where the good folks at The Escapist Magazinewill be hosting their annual Escapist Expo in downtown Durham Oct. 4-6.

Okay guy, that’s it for now. I’m off to wrap another chapter of RSDand get some odds and ends done around the house before the fam gets here for a cookout this afternoon. As always, thanks for checking in, stay tuned to my Facebook and Twitter feeds for pics from Dragon Con this Labor Day, and talk soon.

RUAH!!!

IJM

PS- Had time to check out Stephen King’s Joyland while on the road last month… a good read for those who like King, but don’t want an 1100-page marathon like Under the Dome.

‘Blog of Steel’

June 22, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Greetings and salutations, gang! I do hope your summer is rolling along swimmingly… you know, with the swimming! 😉

As is typically the case this time of year, the Malone household is quite abuzz with activity. Cookouts, pool parties, church stuff, summer movie season… pretty much anything is fair game right now for entertainment. We shall begin this month’s edition of the Manifesto, however, with the latter.

Man of Steel

As a lifelong nerd and child of the 80s, I was practically raised on Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie and Superman II. Truth be told, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve uttered the phrase, “kneel before Zod,” it’s probable Id’ have jettisoned my day-job years ago in favor of full-time novelizing on a beach. Alas, a guy can dream, right?

In the years since Sups II, we’ve waited long and hard for this character to rise from the ashes of “Nuclear Man” (to this day, I still want to punch that dork in his loin cloth) and return to the prominence he deserves as the undisputed King Daddy of the superhero-verse. To his credit, I thought Bryan Singer (X-Men/X2) made a fair go of it with 2006’s Superman Returns. But, most agree that, wonderfully nostalgic as it was, SR was still little more than a Donner knockoff.

… and then, this dude named Christopher Nolan came along and forever changed the landscape of DC movies with a little film called Batman Begins, a triumph of cinematic storytelling which was only eclipsed by Nolan’s magnum opus, The Dark Knight.

Now fast-forward to 2013, and here we are yet again—wanting once more to believe “that a man can fly.” Well folks, I’ve got news for you: Sups does a helluva lot more than that in Man of Steel…

The script that writer David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) has crafted, combined with the stunning visuals of director Zack Snyder (300/Watchmen), makes for a Superman origin story unlike anything you’ve seen before with regard to depth. Rather than sounding the trumpets as our beloved hero flies in to save the day, this story seeks to answer the question “what would it do to a person to grow up being THAT different from EVERYONE else?” It was a major gamble on the part of Warner Brothers, the likes of which can kill a tent-pole franchise if it fails (see the stink bomb that was Star Trek: Into Darkness). But it paid off, and Superman as a character is all the better for it.

Listen, MOSisn’t a perfect film. Great as it is, the plot does have a few holes, it drags in places, and the size of some of the action sequences teeters on excessive. But for die-hard Sups fans like myself who have waited years to see our favorite “Big Blue Boy Scout” return to glory, this was the movie we needed.

Great story, phenomenal cast (led by Henry Cavil), and fantastic direction. That, friends… is my take on Man of Steel.

Red Sky Dawningupdate

The second book in the Mako saga took a pretty major step forward this week in that, despite my already being a third of the way through the first draft, I still had no real clue how to open the story. I got so many compliments on the prologue from Mako, and trying to replicate that was driving me nuts!

As always, though, the writing process has a funny way of working these things out when and if stubborn, impatient, pig-headed, Type-A authors like me will just shut up and let it. It happened before with Jon Reiser’s log entry in Mako, and thankfully, it’s happened again here with RSD.

“So what is it, already?” you ask…

Well, let’s just say that part of the fun of writing a series is that you get to climb back into your old sandbox and start fleshing out certain aspects of the story that only warranted a brushstroke before—only now they get to explode into pivotal portions of the saga mythology.

Too cryptic? Go back and re-read Chapter 16 of Mako… that’s all I’ll say for now. 😉

Parting Shots…

Ever since the Star Wars Episode VII news starting flying across the net, I’ve really had an itch to delve back into the expanded universe. That continued last week with Darth Plagueisfrom James Luceno (Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader). In essence, this is the story of Palpatine’s rise to power among the Sith, a tale which parallels the rise and fall of the Muun who mastered him, Darth Plagueis. I’m about halfway through it now, but so far it’s classic Luceno… very dark, very political, and very much the story of an anti-hero.

Translation: I dig the bejeezus out of it!

Okay folks, that’s gonna do it for this edition. Enjoy your weekend, have a wonderful Fourth of July, and catch ya next month!!!

RUAH!!!

IJM

PS- For those of you who wanted to give my book a read but weren’t sure you wanted to shell out the $5, you’ll be happy to hear that my good friends at the World Literary Café have honored me by making Makothe book of the week via their “Free E-book Friday” promotion. That’ll drop next week (Friday, June 28), so stay tuned to Facebook and Twitter the day of for the coupon code.

A Renegade’s Paradise

May 18, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Welcome to summertime, folks, and the latest edition of the Manifesto. Man oh man, how much do I love this time of year? Beaches, barbeques, buddies, and beers… pretty much my mantra for the next four months. Throw in the summer movie season, the summer concert series (Dropkick Murphys and John Mayer this year… BAM!), plus the start of NFL training camps in late-July, and it’s no wonder why guys love this time of year.

Suffice it to say, lots happening right now in the Malone house, not the least of which is official release of the Mako audiobook (now available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes) and the ongoing development of Book 2 in the series: Red Sky Dawning. That means this month’s blog is of the shorter variety. That said, I did want to take a moment to answer a handful of questions I’ve received in recent weeks. So, here goes…

Question: What inspired you to use video gaming as a launching off point for Mako?

Answer: I grew up on films like “Tron” and “The Last Starfighter,” and while I always thought the whole “video game to reality” thing was a neat plot device, that really began to hit me as I got older and video gaming evolved from titles like “Contra” and “After Burner” into what it is now with “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft.” Add to that the fact that various branches of the military are actually using gaming as a training tool in present day, and it seemed like the time was right to tell a story like this one. Enter: Mako Assault.

Question: What character from Mako was the hardest to write?

Answer: That’s sort of a toss-up between Link and Masterson. On one hand, Link was a challenge because I wanted him to be crass, but not so much that he wasn’t likable in his own right. On the other hand, villains are a tough lot to crack. I really wanted the commandant to be ruthless, but with purpose and meaning — not just “okay Reader Smith; here’s my cookie-cutter bad guy! Go hate him now!” Hence, the epilogue.

Question: What’s the biggest challenge about being a writer?

Answer: Time, without a doubt. As much as I love writing fiction, I do have a day job and a family, both of which are major priorities in my life. Thus, finding an hour of uninterrupted writing time can occasionally be tough. But, you set a deadline, you carve out your schedule, and you stick to it… even if it means getting up at 4 o’clock in the morning to write. Side Note: Coffee is your friend…

Question: Do you have any advice for beginning writers?

Answer: Two points:

· Manage your time: Set a writing schedule as best you can and stick to it, otherwise nothing ever gets done.

· Read as much as humanly possible: I minored in creative writing in college, and while I learned a lot, nothing teaches me how to be a writer like reading (fiction, non-fiction, and every genre in between for both), then practicing the craft myself.

Question: What books have most influenced your writing?

Answer: Hard to go wrong with Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” for SF, or Jonathan Maberry’s “Patient Zero” for pure, hard-charging action. When it comes to characters, though, nobody does it like Stephen King. His are so rich, and so textured, and you just can’t help but fall head-over-heels in love with them, or hate them with every fiber of your being depending on whichever the author wants you to feel.

I don’t care if you like horror or not, that guy’s a master.

Question: What have you read lately?

Answer: I’m reading Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series right now, but prior to that I picked up Lisa Gardner’s latest crime thriller, Touch and Go… probably the best book I’ve read so far this year, if you like that genre. Even if you don’t, I dare you to put it down after the opening chapter. Really, really well done.

Alright gang, that’s gonna do it for this time. Everyone take care, have a great Memorial Day weekend, and please take a moment to remember why we have this holiday — the brave men and women of the American Armed Forces who keep us safe so we can enjoy it!

Until next time…. RUAH!!!!

IJM

Gym socks, dogwoods, and the NFL Draft: Smells like… springtime!!!

April 17, 2013 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hello again, everyone, and welcome back for another edition of the Mako Manifesto!

As I sit here in front of my computer, lacing up my sneakers for yet another agonizing trot through the land of sweat, shin splints, and pollen, it occurs to me that perhaps I should stop being so selfish with my ever-pressing desire for pre-summer weight-loss, and instead devote that time to keeping you informed on all things Makoverse! (HAAA… I do love it when I can rationalize procrastination!)

So, here goes…

Book Two Update

With my vacation to Florida now in the rearview, I’m back in NC and officially off to the races with the second book in the Mako trilogy. Presently under the working title of Red Sky Dawning, (Stormfront was just too blah), the story will pick up some years after the events of Mako, and delve heavily into the stories of some of the other characters, as well as the real nuts and bolts of the war. Fear not, though… everyone is back, as are a handful of new characters, one of whom just so happens to be named Summerston. 😉

Makotakes to audio

As an avid reader/listener of audiobooks, this is something I’m REALLY stoked about. I’ve partnered with the good folks at Audiobook Creative Exchange (a branch of Amazon) and ABW Voiceoversto have Mako produced into an audiobook. To date, we’re about halfway through the production process, and if all goes well, Mako should hit Audible, Amazon, and the iTunes Store sometime in May/June respectively.

Stay tuned!

Makoin the news

It’s always fun to see one’s name in lights, though that’s particularly true when those lights are powered by the school paper of one’s alma mater. As it turns out, the good folks at the FSView (my college paper from Florida State) took enough of an interest in me and my quirky little sci-fi project to pen a story on us. Contents covered include a brief bio on my time at the school, a few blurbs about the book, some post-graduation advice to students, and finally some really nice tidbits on the charitiesI support.

You can find the article in the Press Roomon my website, or by simply clicking here.

Random musings: 2013 NFL Draft

Say what you will about Geno Smith, this year’s crop of quarterbacks is pretty weak, especially given the strength of last year’s. That said, I’m gonna step out on a limb here and say my boy E.J. Manuel would look pretty snazzy in a Jaguars uniform if he’s still on the board at the top of the second round. I know, I know, I bagged on the Jags pretty hard in my book (what do you expect from a lifelong Buccaneer?) but all jokes aside, Manuel was incredibly underutilized in his senior season at FSU, and while there are definite holes in his game, I firmly believe he could excel in a read-option system like the one Gus Bradley saw in Seattle with Russell Wilson. Add to that the bargain price he’ll go for outside of the first round—not to mention the fact that Blaine Gabbert is total crap—and Jax would be stupid not to give E.J. a hard look at pick 33.

On the other hand, Jacksonville could just as easily go the route of Matt Barkley from USC, in which case expect the jokes to continue flying, both around the league and in my books. Just sayin.’

Alright folks, this 80-degree heat ain’t gettin’ any cooler, and I’ve gotta squeeze in a run before the fam gets home; so let me jet! Thanks as always for checking in, hope all is well wherever you are, and don’t forget to throw up an extra prayer tonight for the good people of Boston, and everyone else touched by the horrific events at this year’s marathon.

God bless, Beantown.

IJM

“… and so I’m back, from outer space…”

March 8, 2013 by robmcclel 1 Comment

Greetings, one and all, to the official re-launch of The Mako Manifesto. We’ve waited a while for this one, have we not?

Well, it’s finally here… the story that took me three and a half years to finish…

***deep pensive sigh*** Yeah, that was a thing!

So, now that the cat named “Mako” is officially out of the bag, I realize some folks have questions, be it about me, or the series, or where both go from here. Thus, in the days, weeks, and months ahead, I’ll use a good chunk of the space here to keep people abreast of all things Renegades — with the occasional rant about sports, music, movies, food, and books, of course! 😉

The little story with a mighty kick

Before I go any further, I have to give a MAJORshout-out to anyone and everyone who has sprung for a copy of Mako so far. To say that the book’s success has exceeded my expectations is… well, quite possible the greatest understatement of my life, and that’s all because of YOU!

Every writer hopes their work finds an audience when it hits the market — and I was no different — but a top-five ranking on Kindle’s military sci-fi best seller’s list? Seriously?

Listen, it goes without saying that I love this story, for more reasons than could ever be summed up on a blog post. I wrote Makoat a time in my life when not much was going right. I was unemployed, my career was in the toilet, and to be blunt — I was miserable. I needed an escape, plain and simple, and this quirky little story became that escape. Had it never sold a copy, I’d have forever been grateful to it for that.

Now, however, I have something else to be grateful for… you guys, the ones who quite literally made Mako“fly.”

Soooooo… now what?

Trying to stay as spoiler-free as possible, I think most would agree that it’d be pretty frickin’ cruel of me to leave things the way that I did in Book 1 without having a plan for what comes next, right? (That, and the whole “Book 1” thing is kind of a giveaway, but I digress.)

So is there more?

***flashes wry smile*** Oh yeah, there’s more.

While Mako was originally environed as a one-off piece about Lee Summerston and his friends, it picked up steam during the drafting process and continued to grow… and grow, and grow, and grow some more, until finally I had the mythological makings of, what else? A trilogy!!!

Right now, I’m staying pretty busy with the press push for Mako, but in the weeks to come, I’ll head back to my desk — coffee cup and sunflower seeds in-hand — to begin work on Book 2 in the series… a story which, at present, is tentatively being called Stormfront. (I’ll let you draw your own conclusions as to which character steps up in this one!)

The clock is ticking

Will this book take three friggin’ years, you ask? No, not at all.

Bear in mind, from the day I began Mako to the time it hit Amazon, I changed jobs twice (sadly, fiction writing is not all I do for a living), moved three times in two states, got married, became a parent, learned to write for sighted readers (I’m legally blind, so I live on audio), plus there was also the matter of finding beta readers, editors, ebook producers, etc. Now that all of that is done and in place, the rest of the series should come relatively unimpeded. So stay tuned…

Okay gang, that’s gonna do it for this installment of the Manifesto. This chicken isn’t gonna cook itself for dinner, and I’ve got a new spice rub I’ve been itching to test out; so let me jet. Everyone take care, have a great weekend, and I’ll see you around Twitter!!!

RUAH!!!

IJM