Announcing 2 new freebies this week…
The Avenger and the Destroyer: Free on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The Godless Land: Free on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Upcoming Free Days
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Category Archives: Announcement
Hag Hollow: a New Story and a New Series
Today, I released “Hag Hollow,” (Amazon; Kobo and B&N) the first installment of “Enchanted Forest,” a new short story series. Kobo and BN are priced at $1.99, while Amazon is $2.99 until they decide to price match.
Beginning with the first story’s publication today, August 5, I will release a new episode every month. I will do my best to make each episode stand-alone, so that you can start anywhere and end anywhere — and yet give a sort of overarching plot for those who read them in order. For me, it’s also an exercise in crafting compelling plots in each episode.
The blurb reads:
Enchanted Forest: A New Short Story Series
In the Kalamar Forest, the line between the material world and the Otherworld is thin. Here, will o’ wisps draw unwary travelers into quicksand; the lupine Firvalg hunt in packs; giant spiders trap victims in sticky webs; and the vicious Mandragora coils through the western swamps in her never-ending search for food.
One warrior stands against the forces of darkness and decay, and the encroaching human threat: Pirosha Shortsprout–heir to the throne of Bayne yet smallest of all his people–who will be called the greatest norg that ever lived.
Episode 1: Hag Hollow
In the Kalamar Forest, norgs disappear every day. A “Gray Ghost” haunts the wood, speaking of the birth of a male to the west. It becomes increasingly clear to Pirosha Shortsprout that he must ignore his childhood warnings and do the unthinkable: cross into the deadly western swamps and visit Hag Hollow.
Add to your books on Goodreads:
In Which Our Hero Returns from His “Never Ending Odyssey”: News, New Plans and Old
I returned from an eight-day workshop in Manchester, New Hampshire. I had a terrific, awesome time, learned about writing and met new friends. In the process, I (your likeable protagonist) have changed some goals at the end of Act Two and kept some old ones. After talking with Jeanne Cavelos, overlord extraordinaire, I decided not to publish Fell Winter on e-readers. I plan on seeking out a trade publisher who can help me with marketing (a skill I sorely lack). It’s hard to stand out in such a saturated marketplace.
I will, however, publish a serial story for Kindle, Kobo, and Nook. I plan to sell each 3000-5000 word episode for $1.99. I will publish a new episode every month.
In the meantime, I plan to write short stories and submit them to magazines. Eventually, I hope to join SFWA. Watch this space for the serial, and, if the winds of fortune carry me alack, some new publications.
New novel and more Varda material
I added three new articles to the Varda profile: one national profile (Badelgard); one regional profile (Westwood); and a profile of Badelgard’s ancient inhabitants.
All of these are to give the reader background for my new novel. August 2012 is the tentative release date for Fell Winter. It’s finished, written, edited, and sent to a few reviewers. I think it’s my best novel yet, and I hope you agree.
Newsletter
To hear about new stories, new novels, new publications and everything else author-related, you can now sign up for my e-mail newsletter.
New Release: Four From Varda
This collection of four short stories – three of which have appeared in fantasy magazines – is available for Amazon Kindle at the price of $2.99. The collection includes THE GODLESS LAND, THE AVENGER AND THE DESTROYER, and a story exclusive to the collection (previously published in Mindflights, and my first paid magazine sale), THE CITY ON THE ROCK. That would normally cost $3.99, but you can get it for $1 cheaper.
I apologize to Nook fans, but my B&N sales don’t justify staying out of Amazon Select. There are no promotional opportunities there, as far as I know, even for previously published authors. If you are a Nook fan, buy this novel, if you want to justify it.
Free Day extended
The free day on “The Avenger and the Destroyer” is being extended through tomorrow, May 8 thanks to good sailing.
Free Day — The Avenger and the Destroyer — starting May 7
This two-story collection previously appeared in magazines Residential Aliens and Fear and Trembling.
It will be free starting Monday, May 7. Pick up a copy and, most important of all, tell all your friends!
From the description:
Angrok, a great warrior, is called many things: a terrible destroyer by his many enemies, and a powerful avenger by those he chooses to save.
This collection brings together two of Angrok’s adventures as told from the perspective of his assistant Marcellus.
In ANGROK THE AVENGER, Marcellus and his master take revenge upon a dangerous city of spider worshippers.
In ANGROK THE DESTROYER, they come to Bezakirah, a desert city controlled by two fanatical and increasingly warlike houses.
Whether he is a destroyer or an avenger, you decide.
Two short stories totaling approximately 5,100 words.
From the first review:
“In the great tradition of Conan and Elric, the barbarian named Angrok is both destroyer and avenger – depending on what side of the sword you fall. These two stories are great companion pieces that will have you sending emails to the author asking for more to be written.”
Free E-book April 14-15
“The Godless Land” will be free on Kindle tomorrow (April 14 at 3 a.m. EST) until the next day (April 15). Please download, and most importantly, leave a review. Every review helps out a huge amount, and so far I have no reviews on that story.
“The land of Molkoro once had a god, a mighty panther god,” the sailor said. “At the time the ettins arrived from beyond the sea in their black-sailed ships, the people of the jungle worshiped the great Jhub-El. He was a mighty god, but he had one weakness: Trust.”
Pietro, a young man, has never killed: something rare for the corrupt city of Peregoth and totally alien to the tropics of Molkoro, where circumstances will soon take him. In the sweltering jungle, his purity has become a commodity to the ettin invaders and their lord, the dark Vexor.
But how long can his innocence last in a godless land?
If you share this on your blog, I’ll give you a free copy of any short story you wish in .mobi format. Browse on https://aj-cooper.com/e-book-store/.
Thanks, and I hope you take advantage of the Free Day.
Update
I am at the end of a major life stage. I’m graduating from college in April and plan on (A) finding a job and (B) writing many more stories. For the moment, though, independent projects are on hold as I evaluate where I stand in the digital reader revolution.
I’m currently focused on submitting short stories to magazines, but also plan on doing some independent projects. Case in point: I am in the process of uploading previously published short stories to the Kindle and Nook stores.
Notably, I plan on adding more material to the Varda world portrait which you can see just below the header. Although Varda is a huge world, most of it is in my head and needs to be written down and codified.
In the meantime, please take a look at my “e-book store” and consider purchasing a story or a novel. Each time someone purchases something, I grow closer to my dream of writing for a living.
Due to the nature of writing stories for magazines and the uncertainty of publication, there might be a bit of silence on this blog for a while. However, keep checking it as I add more and more material to my Varda portrait and return certain previously published short stories to print.
Amo Scribere / AJ Cooper 