Tag: writing

Novel update

Okay, I have got Guardian of the Sky Realms out of the way, and am very happy indeed.

(Not novels, but what the heck:) My short story anthology set in my world of Evyntyde is coming along nicely. Of my target 19 stories, I have written 16 – so it is a matter of getting inspired and writing them, refining them, and submitting them for publication. I believe that I can get this pretty much finalized by about March next year.

My first novel, the mammoth 220k The Scepter and the Orb, needs to be revised  – not madly, but the simple fact is that I am a much better writer now than when I wrote it. It is a huge investment, of time and spirit, and also represents the core of my Evyntyde mythos – it just has to be published. So… I will be working hard over the next 6 months to revise it. Target: June 2011.

My second novel, also set in Evyntyde, called Crystal Peak, is about two thirds finished. As much as I want to hit it hard I need to finish The Scepter and the Orb first. Patience grasshopper. So I suspect my target for that novel is December 2011.

Then there is this scifi/adventure/set now novel (Crichton style). It has been bubbling in my head for years. I would be happy to writer a good outline by June 2011. Project code name: Bitter Creek.

I am just sure that a sequel to Guardian fo the Sky Realms will pop out some time soon 🙂

That’s the roundup for now. Will regularly report on how it goes, and possibly throw in teasers, maps etc.

Steampunk happiness!

I have just been advised that my short story, My Best Friend Julian (my second effort at steampunk), has now been published in Sonar4 Publication’s Anthology of Steampunk.

This comes hot off the news that my first effort, Halo in the Sky, was taken up by Hydra Publications, for their sci fi anthology (to be named).

So… I suppose that makes me, among other things, a steampunk writer.
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A precious story

One of my more precious stories, Halo In The Sky (a steampunk story), has finally been committed to a publisher – Hydra Publications. They had a steampunk anthology going but didn’t think my story was ‘steampunk enough’ – I know what they mean – I didn’t have the ‘classic’ steampunk elements in it, but they loved my story and wanted it to be in a science fiction anthology that will open for submissions in March next year, and then get published around October 2011. They don’t have a name for the anthology as yet. I umm’d and ahhh’d for a while, and after they categorically stated they will publish my story, I agreed today.

This was, to some extent, a hard decision. I don’t mind publishing my ‘lesser’ stories in almost any reputable publication, but my ‘precious’ stories – I count about half a dozen at this time (out of 39 that are ‘publishable’, or are published), I really want to publish with commensurately better publishers. Forgive me Hydra for saying it, but you guys aren’t ‘up there’, but on the other hand I thought that it was important to get my story out, and a commitment is a commitment – if I submit, I have to be willing to accept the offers. For what it’s worth, I think this will end up good, and I certainly will offer the story to the Aurealis Awards for 2011.

Well, this is my twelfth submission that has been accepted… it is worth celebrating.
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Novel nearing publication

At last – Guardian of the Sky Realms is nearing completion. I am happy with the cover – it contains the painting that inspired me to write the story, and it has a wonderful frame with wings as engraved decoration at its corners. A beautiful blue sky is in the background. Simple, but effective. Thanks Randy 🙂

Here is the latest draft of the front cover:

Cover of Guardian of the Sky Realms by Gerry Huntman (IFWG Publishing, 2010)

My bio page with draft of the blurb: http://ifwgpublishing.weebly.com/bio-gerry-huntman.html

Click Here for the prologue and first 3 chapters

Penina Gal is the artist of the painting.

I am, in Australian terms, a happy little vegemite.
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A few wins…

Alright folks, just bursting and needing to share good news. While not publishing short stories in Analog and Clarkesworld (yet) I scored a double hit with Planet Magazine – Three Destinies and also Last – fantasy and science fiction. They are both already published (once they made the decision, it was literally a few hours to publication – they can be found here: Three Destinies and Last.

Here is the breakdown of my attempts at getting published or obtaining awards since 1 January 2010:

                    Mags Anthologies Awards Agent/Publisher (novels)    Total
Rejected:    20             4                 1                        1                               26
Accepted:     5              2                 0                        0                                 7
In train:       8               0                5                        0                               13
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Total:          33             6                6                         1                               46

Note that this does not include IFWG Publications (shouldn’t count – 3 short stories published and a YA Novel, but I do submit them for awards, which are reflected here).

I probably sound like a parrot, but I genuinely believe if you like writing short stories submit them to different markets, and try to get into the SFWA group. Get exposure. Same with awards. Don’t feel shy, you can only try. Use Ralan.com if you are into specfic, and http://www.duotrope.com for any genre.

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Good Break

Had a great week in Fiji as well as a restful five days in the Gold Coast (southern Queensland, Australia). The Fiji wing was much better than expected as it was idyllic, the weather was perfect, and the resort was uber-family friendly (Erin was assigned a nanny from 8am to 9pm each day – which we didn’t fully utilize of course). The journey there was interesting, as was the return journey – another story to tell.

Tomorrow we fly to Melbourne, take another day off, and I am off back to work on Friday. I can honestly say that I couldn’t have recharged my batteries better in a fortnight break.

Oh, and I wrote two short stories that I’m very happy with.

Writing/Publishing Update: Wings to Success

I finalized with Penina the contract for her painting Wings, which was the inspiration of my new novel, Guardian of the Sky Realms. She will sign in the next few days, and once the niceties are over, I will be able to use the painting for my novel’s cover. Brilliant! Thank you very much Penina for your kind assistance.

The proofing of Guardian will be completed this weekend. All that will be left is the block formatting with InDesign. My novel was planned to be published in October – still on track, and perhaps can even be released earlier.

I have some commitments in the publishing game, but once the pressure is a little over, I look very much forward to returning to my first novel, The Scepter and the Orb, and think long and hard what I want to do with it. I love it and it is the introductory book to a vast world I created (Evyntyde). The real area of interest is whether I split it or not, to make the production more economically viable. I think it is likely I will go that way. I think, because I have learned much over the last year or so, that I may also do a serious revision. Oh well.

I have four short stories to go, set in the world of Evyntyde, which will complete my anthology. This is likely to be my second Title that will come out, both courtesy of IFWG Publishing.

My second Evyntyde novel, Crystal Peak, will have to wait a while. A bit of a shame, since it is two-thirds completed.

Regarding publishing, I recently finished editing and proofing Biola Olatunde‘s wonderful adventure novel, Blood Contract. This should be come out next month – I look forward to it. Another edit job I did – The Devil Came East (crime thriller) by Geri Fitzsimmons and Andy Stephenson, was held back from publishing a few months to allow synchronization with some marketing activity. I think it will also be published next month – and I have a very good feeling about that one. It is so very good in its genre. I also have had some luck getting Paul Goat Allen to review it (shortly). My next edit job is an inspirational novel, by Linda Lenehan, called They Never Gave Up. I look forward to that job.

All in all, a pretty busy time for me. (I love it).

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Great Result

The painting, Wings, by Penina Gal, was the original inspiration for my YA Novel, Guardian of the sky Realms. Well guess what – the artist has agreed to allow me to purchase rights to have it used as the cover of my novel. Incredible result – not only is it (obviously) highly pertinent to my novel, but it now has a very powerful connection to it as well.

I am expecting, based on how close to finalised all this is, that the novel will be out in October. Very excited indeed.

You can find the painting on her website (look for the purple coloured thumbnail, called Wings).

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