Tag: writing

Welcome… For Real This Time

Posted on by joepowersauthor

Well, this is embarassing.

For some of you – a great number of you, in fact – this will be the first emailed notification from me. Some of you subscribed recently; others, a… little longer ago.

I end nearly every post with a version of ‘like and subscribe’, and quite a few of you actually did do that. But here’s the thing: a lot of you never heard from me again. And I blame WordPress entirely for this travesty!

As it turns out, somewhere along the way this particular platform chose to alter the settings to me having to manually accept and input new subscribers. I was unaware of this, obviously. But I was recently perusing my stats and wondering why there were fewer of you than I thought there should be. And then a few days ago someone I know very well signed on, but didn’t show up in my subscription list. So, I did a little digging, and to my dismay, discovered what the problem was.

All of this to say, I have figured out the system (this part of it, at least) and will be much more dilligent moving forward. You know… now that I know it’s required of me. So, thank you to all who have subscribed. Welcome, to those of you who are now officially on the list as of a few minutes ago. I don’t have a lot of actual news, notes or updates, mostly because I added a post with all of that just prior to this one. You can find that here, if you’re so inclined. This is more or less just a test to see if a bunch of people are suddenly discovering me in their inboxes. If you do, whether you’re new to the list or have been receiving them all along, it would be great if you could leave a comment or something on this post, just to let me know my efforts have actually succeeded.

Oh, and I should mention that some of the names I added were very likely marketing spam or other such accounts that probably aren’t interested in what I have going on at any given time. For those who came here looking to sell me stuff and don’t want unwanted emails in your inobx, I guess the best I can tell you is now we’re even.

That’s all for today. As always, thanks for dropping by. I hope you enjoyed your stay, and if you want to receive news and updates delivered right to your inbox, you can sign up at my contact page here. The irony of adding this to the end of this particular post is not lost on me! Until next time,

Stay safe, talk soon.

-JP

Dark Canadiana, and Other News

Posted on by joepowersauthor

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks! And happy Tuesday to all of you from elsewhere! Just a few quick notes and updates today, since it’s been a few days since I last dropped in with any sort of news.

First off, in honour of Canada Day, allow me to introduce you to Dark Canadiana. Brought to you by Iron Fang Press, it’s a horror anthology (naturally), written about Canada, by Canadians. It’s loaded with great stories, by a wide array of authors spanning the nation – including yours truly.

Check out this cover art!

From the back cover:

Canada.
A land packed full of beautiful landscapes, wildlife, diverse people, and poutine.
A land overflowing with a dark history, local legends, cryptids, serial killers, and so much more.
Explore the dark side of Canada in this anthology of short stories by these truly Canadian authors:
John Adam Gosham, Steve Stred, Joe Powers, K.A. Mielke, Konn Lavery, Leonard George, Dana Gricken, Anthony Michael Murphy, Stephen Coghlan, Robert Dawson, Kristal Stittle, Jon Gauthier, Alix Kampen, Debbie Powers, Dwain Campbell, Eva Roslin, Daniel Fox, Dean Italiano, Angelique Fawns, Spencer Keene, Carson Fredriksen, C. K. DeLeskie, Justin Allec, Nadia Steven Rysing, Kevin Cull, James Seamone, and a special Foreword by MJ Preston

Also, a reminder that my new novel, Putting Down Roots, is available on Amazon and KDP. Despite no reviews and little promo, it’s holding its own in the sales rankings a month after release. Thank you to all who have picked up a copy already, it means a lot. And thanks in advance to those who plan to get a copy but haven’t yet. Looking forward to your feedback!

And speaking of Putting Down Roots: for those in the area, we’re having the official launch party in a couple of weeks. The Write Cup Bookstore Cafe is a wonderful place that offers a ton of excellent books with a focus on Atlantic Canadian authors, and they have graciously agreed to host this event. There’ll be drinks and snacks, I’ll be signing copies and telling stories, a good time will be had by all! So, on Saturday, July 12th, come on down and help celebrate with us.

That’s enough for one day, I guess. Thank you for taking the time to drop in and visit my little corner of the online world, and for your continued support. As always, if you’d like to have updates and info delivered right to your inbox, click over to my contact page and sign up there. Which reminds me, I’ll have another post in the next couple of days regarding my contacts… but I won’t get into that just now. Until next time,

Stay safe, talk soon!

-JP

Putting Down Roots Is Live!

Posted on by joepowersauthor

The long-awaited, and hotly-anticipated, day has arrived! My latest novel, Putting Down Roots, has been unleashed on the world and is now available.

In a nice, quiet part of town, way at the back end of the neighbourhood, there’s a lovely old Victorian house on a corner lot. It’s got a spacious back yard, with a terrifying secret. Most of the older folks around here know about it, but nobody talks about it. When that nice, new, unsuspecting family moves in, though, maybe we should warn them. Shouldn’t we? Would they believe us if we did?

I know I’ve had a lot to say lately – well, a lot for me, anyway – and it’s been a steady stream of messages and updates about the new book. It’s a fine line between bombarding people and not doing enough to get the word out there, and it’s an art form I’m still very much in the early stages of learning. You would think a guy who’s been involved with writing and publishing for as long as I have would have a better grasp on proper, effective marketing. I have tried a few different strategies over the years with varying degrees of success. Whatever else social media is, it can be an effective tool for reaching your audience and helping you connect with your people.

It seems the best I can do is keep tossing out gentle reminders about this, along with all the other irons I have in the fire. So, for the next while you may see and hear more about this book, but I promise to talk about other stuff here too. My writing classes, for example. And an interview/feature piece with the South Branch Scribbler a little later in the summer. Oh, and a very cool new anthology coming just in time for Canada Day, which I’m pleased to be a part of. And then, there’s the official book launch for Putting Down Roots in July, which I will share more about very soon.

For now, thank you all for coming along with me for the ride. I can’t tell you how much your continued support means to me. My list of subscribers is growing, and there’s always room for more around here. So if you’re so inclined, you can sign up on my contact page to have these updates sent directly to your inbox (you’ll have this one within minutes!)

Remember to leave a review, or rating, or both, for the books you read and enjoy, not just mine but for all authors who pour their heart and soul onto the page and will really benefit from the exposure a review adds. It’s one of the nicest things you can do to support the artists you like. That’s all for today. Until next time,

Stay safe, talk soon.

-JP

An Ancient Evil is Coming…

Posted on by joepowersauthor

Just four short days until Putting Down Roots goes live!

As a reminder to those who haven’t heard, here’s what’s coming this way:

“Matt and Rachel Bailey have uprooted their family and moved across the country to a quiet college town in New Brunswick. Their new house is a beautiful old Victorian with a sprawling yard on a corner lot in a nice suburban neighbourhood. Rachel’s got a great job at the university, the kids are making new friends, and everything’s coming together.

There’s just one problem.

Huddled in the far corner of the lot, just inside the high board fence that surrounds the yard, stands an old, massive tree. The moss-covered branches hang low to the ground, like skeletal hands reaching for those who wander too close. The thick, gnarled roots ripple just below the surface of the ground like probing tentacles. Matt finds it creepy and unsettling and plans to remove it as soon as possible. But it won’t be that easy.

Before long, unease turns to terror as the true nature of the tree slowly begins to unravel. This is no mere tree, but an ancient evil presence that has preyed on unsuspecting animals and people for centuries.

And getting rid of it won’t be as easy as he thinks.

With the safety of his wife, two curious children, and the family dog at risk, Matt does everything he can to protect his family from the rooted predator that lurks mere feet away from their back door. One false move, a step too close, is all it takes for tragedy to strike. And just how close to the house do the roots reach? Is anywhere safe?

After a close call that he narrowly escapes, and with the number of victims on the rise, Matt must devise a plan to destroy the menacing evil before it destroys everything he loves.“

This book has been a very long time coming, has gone through a long and winding evolution, and there was a time when I wasn’t sure it would ever see the light of day. But like the horrifying menace that threatens the Bailey family, this story just woudn’t be held back or pushed aside. It’s almost as if it willed itself into existence while I watched, powerless to resist.

So now, this Sunday it will be available on Amazon in paperback and ebook, and Kindle Unlimited. I’m very excited about this book, and I can’t wait for everyone to check it out.

But wait… for those in my region, I have a special announcement: we’ll be having an official launch party for Putting Down Roots! I’ll fill you in on all the details very soon, but I can confidently say it’s going to be an awesome event with all the bells and whistles, and of course I’ll be there signing books and telling stories. More to come soon!

In addition, as a reminder: all my previous titles – Seventeen Skulls, Terror in High Water, and Old Bones – have been re-issued with all new cover art, and are now available in paperback and ebook on Amazon, and also on Kindle Unlimited. I’m proud of these books, so when I re-acquired the publishing rights and re-issued them under my own banner, I felt a new look was in order. I think they turned out exceptionally well, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with them.

That’s all I’ve got for now, you’re all up to date. Thanks as always for your continued support. If you’re here for the first time, welcome to my little slice of the writing world. I hope you enjoy your stay, and you’ll come back to visit soon. If you haven’t already, you can sign up at my contact page to have news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. More to come soon. Until then,

Stay safe, talk soon.

-JP

8 Days to Launch

Posted on by joepowersauthor

June 1st is rapidly approaching – that means there are just eight more days until the official launch of my latest novel, Putting Down Roots. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m really excited to share it with you.

It’s the story of the Bailey family, formerly of British Columbia and now in the cozy little town of Beaverbrook, New Brunswick. They love the area, but especially the house. Everything’s off to a great start with their new life. There’s just one small problem – they’re all in mortal danger, and the threat is right in their back yard.

Here’s a short excerpt:

He awoke with a start, disoriented and immersed in darkness. The nightstand said 2:19, but it felt wrong. Matt would have sworn it should be closer to dawn than that. He sat up in bed, suddenly aware of another presence in the room with him. He held his breath and listened. A soft rustle in the bed next to him. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out Rachel’s sleeping form, softly rising and falling as she slept. Bewildered, he stared at her and tried to grasp what was going on. Why was Rachel there? She must have flown home early. Maybe I slept longer than I realized? He reached over and gently touched the form to be sure it was really her. It was Rachel. She stirred in her sleep, mumbled something incomprehensible, and went back to sleep.

Matt smiled, then shivered. The room was colder than it should have been. He became aware of the sound of rain and glanced toward the window. The curtains billowed gently in the breeze. Matt didn’t remember leaving the window open or opening it in the first place, for that matter. He got out of bed and gasped at the chill of the floor. He went to the window and realized his feet were wet. He reached to close it, but it wasn’t open. The lower pane had been broken, and small shards of glass were scattered across the floor.

“What’s going on? Why’s it so cold in here?” Rachel was awake and propped up on one elbow.

“The window’s broken. I’ll go get the broom.”

“No.” There was urgency in her voice, almost a panic. “Don’t leave us.”

He paused in the doorway and looked back at her with confusion. Don’t leave?

Us?

“Rachel, what-” her scream interrupted him. He flipped on the light. At first, he thought a huge snake was in their bed, draped over his wife and wrapping itself around her. Then he realized it wasn’t a snake. It was a tree branch. The tree was attacking them inside their own house.

Matt launched himself at the branch and tried to pry it from around Rachel. She thrashed and twisted, but it held fast and squeezed harder. Two more branches crept through the window like wet, gnarled tentacles and grabbed her. She tried to scream again but couldn’t draw a breath. She looked to Matt, who fought with renewed desperation.

One of the branches let Rachel go and wrapped itself around his neck. He tried to pry it off, but it had him in a vice-like grip. It dragged him backwards off the bed to the floor, where he landed hard on his back and head. His vision blurred, and he struggled to remain conscious. In the distance, he heard faint cries of terror and realized it was the boys. They sounded terrified and in pain. There was no way to reach them, nor any way to save any of them. In a moment, he’d be dead himself. There was nothing he could do.

Putting Down Roots is available for pre-order on Amazon, and will release on June 1st in paperback and ebook on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Head on over to my contact page and subscribe for all the latest news and updates delivered right to your inbox. Thanks as always for visiting, I hope you drop in regularly. Until next time,

Stay safe, talk soon.

-JP

I’m a Free Agent

Posted on by joepowersauthor

Today marks a fairly significant change in my little corner of the publishing world. As of today, my previous publisher and I have mutually agreed to terminate our working relationship. Which is a fancy way of saying I asked to be released from my contract, and they obliged. But it amounts to the same thing – an amicable parting of ways. For better or worse I am officially a free agent, unattached and unbeholden.

What does this mean for me? Well, the process began last night, and continues today, as my novels begin to be delisted from all major platforms. By day’s end or shortly thereafter, none of my three titles originally released under that publisher’s umbrella will be commercially available.

But… that doesn’t mean they’re gone forever. On the contrary, I have decided to re-issue all three under my own banner. Over the coming days each will be relaunched, complete with amazing new cover art, on Kindle and Amazon. While I did retain the rights to the original covers, in the spirit of a fresh start I decided to give them a new and improved look moving forward.

But why, you might ask, would you do such a thing? You had a publisher, a good setup, everything taken care of, and you made the conscious decision to pull the plug. All reasonable points. There’s a method to my madness, I assure you.

I’ll post updates as the process unfolds, including sneak peeks at the new covers. I’ve got a few other items to touch on at the same time, so the activity around here might be a little more extensive than you’re used to. If you haven’t already, make sure you pop over to the contact page on my website and sign up to receive all the latest news and updates from my little corner of the writing world. As always, thank you for stopping by and for all your support. It means a lot. Until next time,

Stay safe, talk soon.

-JP

Another One (Almost) In the Books

Posted on by joepowersauthor

As I wrote about last month, NaNoWriMo has come and gone for another year. Did you participate? How did it go? The goal is 50,000 words, but even if you wrote fewer than that – far fewer, even – if you took part, congratulations. It’s simultaneously overwhelming and exciting. Some people feel a lot of pressure to complete the task. Some treat it like a New Year’s resolution – which is to say, they sign up, maybe write for a day or two, tail off, and never pick it up again.

My personal experience with NaNo is one of mixed results. Last year I dove in with gusto, then petered out quickly and checked in at around five thousand words. This year, despite illness and various distractions, I wrote a three thousand word short story, around a thousand toward another one, and am currently staring at a novel manuscript just shy of 45,000 words. It’s a total mess, and will have to be almost entirely rewritten. But it’s a start.

A pedantic observer might note that only adds up to about 49,000 words, and they would be correct. The thing is, I didn’t use NaNo as a goal, but rather, a spark to kickstart something I needed to do anyway. I’m not finished, obviously. But the good news is, here in the early days of December and beyond, I can still work on it. I have no idea how long it will end up being; I’ll know when I get there. It probably won’t wrap up before Christmas, but at some point in the New Year, I will put the finishing touches on the first draft. And because some of the writing coincided with NaNo, I will be happy that I participated this year.

Just in case this is my last post of the year, let me take a minute to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season. A heartfelt thank you to all who have visited me here. For those who purchased or read any of my books, thank you so much, I hope you enjoyed them. To those with whom I interacted with at any of the conventions and signings I attended, thank you for taking the time to come out and spend a few minutes chatting with me. I very much enjoyed that. To all of you who took any of my classes in the past year, I had a great time meeting and getting to know you and was blown away by the skills and talent level I got to see on display.

Here’s to a great 2024 for everyone. Drop in here any time, pop on over to my contact page for updates and all the latest news. Support local authors, leave reviews and help them spread the word about their books. Be safe, talk soon!

-JP

A Necessary Detour

Posted on by joepowersauthor

This week I had to take a short break from working on my novel. I didn’t want to, necessarily, it just worked out that way. Something I hadn’t seen much of in a while wandered across my path and drew my attention.

Ideas for stories come to me – to most writers, I suspect – in the oddest ways, unannounced and when least expected. In this case I was taking my dog, Daphne, for a late-night stroll around the property. I often talk to her as we walk, and on this occasion something I said sparked a little idea in my head. Just an innocent little phrase, but my mind took it and ran with it into darker places. By the time we came up the stairs and back inside for the night, the basis for a short story had been born.

I came inside, and once everyone else in the house was bedded down for the night I sat down at the computer and decided I needed to get the basic idea down before it got away. I sent a message to a friend that outlined the story in a few lines. I wanted an outside opinion – sometimes ideas that sound cool at first, in my head, make less sense once they go from concept to execution. In this case I got the thumbs up and forged ahead.

It isn’t finished yet, but it’s outlined. In my own vernacular, the skeleton has been assembled, now it just needs meat on the bones. I’ll pick and putter with it for a while until I’m happy with it, put it through my usual routine, and call it done. It’s nice, because after hammering away at novels almost exclusively for the last three-plus years, writing a short story is a recent rarity for me.

So, why was it a “necessary detour”, as the title implies? While I often stress the need to finish projects and not leave them lying around in various stages of disarray and disassembly, sometimes when something you’re working on feels like a struggle a step back can be a blessing. It’s not a long term thing – I’ll go back to the grindstone soon enough. I feel I may have needed a little pause, without pausing. In this case it came in the form of a new project. Just a brief side road to renew my enthusiasm, and maybe a little reminder that I’m still capable of pulling out a short story once in a while.

On a related note, Crafting the Short Story  kicked off this week. I always look forward to working with a new group, and so far this one has a fun dynamic. It should be a good run.

Time to get back to it. Stay safe, talk soon!

-JP

Friday Tidbits

Posted on by joepowersauthor

As another week winds down I wanted to send out another reminder that the next session of Crafting the Short Story kicks off this Monday, May 4th. For me, it’s the first online edition of the class – although I have done online sessions with individuals in the past. So it should be an interesting experience.

I was pleased to learn the platform we’ll be using is Zoom, as opposed to the far inferior option that was initially floated. This allows for everyone to appear on screen simultaneously instead of just a few at a time. My classes tend to be interactive with a lot of class participation so it’s important for everyone to be as involved as possible.

I’m looking forward to the experience, though I’d be lying if I said I’m not eager to get back into the actual classroom. However, until such time as that’s an option it’s great to have an alternative such as this.

In other writing news, my novel is slowly but surely approaching completion. I had initially planned to wrap it up by the end of April, which obviously didn’t happen, but I’m optimistic I’ll be finished a draft that satisfies me sometime in May. I’ll discuss it further in a later post, this is just a little note to let everyone know I’m still plugging away at producing the finished product. Until then, stay safe, talk soon!

-JP

The Launch of the Virtual Classroom

Posted on by joepowersauthor

At various times over the last few posts I’ve alluded to the imminent switch to online learning. As of today everything has begun to fall into place and the inaugural online classes will begin next month.

It’s exciting new territory for all of us at the CEL, a whole different approach from the classroom experience. As I understand it we’ll be going with the Zoom platform, a free download that costs attendees nothing to use. Obviously a microphone and speakers are needed, and a headset is ideal.

The coolest part of this is that it opens the door, for the first time, to those who don’t live close to the campus. As an added bonus, given the circumstances surrounding this entire process the spring sessions are being offered at discounted prices.

Here are the links to my two classes:

Crafting the Short Story

An Introduction to Publishing

The new session of Crafting the Short Story is a six week course that begins on May 4th. An Introduction to Publishing is a one day workshop that runs on Saturday, June 20th.

Of course, mine are not the only courses running this spring. There are a number of other excellent classes on a variety of topics. Here’s the link to the complete list so far. Have a look, maybe there’s something here that might pique your interest. Let me know if you have any questions, or you can contact the CEL office directly. I hope to see some of you joining me (from a safe distance!) in a couple of weeks.

-JP