Jake Bible Fiction

  • The Next Way To Publish- Big Box Blood Bath and Instinct

    Is it Wednesday already? Then it must be time for another set of two pitches!

    You can find the audio of me reading the pitches right here Big Box Blood Bath and Instinct

    Or just read them below. This makes six down and only four to go then voting starts on Monday. Holy schmokes!

    Cheers!

    Big Box Blood Bath-
    The world outside BigMart is gone.
    No more.
    Adios.
    Kaput.
    Those left inside cannot leave.
    Ever.
    Naturally, real estate is divided and factions are formed upon the concrete and between the massive shelves of foodstuffs and durable goods.
    It’s men versus women, children versus the aged.
    And every aisle for itself!
    A gore-filled romp of Thunderdome meets The Mist all set in a Sam’s Club-style hell.

    Instinct-
    Peter Bremer is a man thrust into a world of brutal violence as he tries to help a friend escape the clutches of organized crime. Peter has never fired a gun, never held a knife outside of his kitchen, never been in a fight.
    Never killed anyone.
    But the man quickly finds out he’s good at all if it. Some might say he has an instinct for it.
    Especially the killing.
    Instinct is a non-stop thriller that puts Peter in harm’s way on every page. A race to the death, Instinct pulls zero punches and will leave you breathless as Peter Bremer discovers, and must come to terms with, his true nature.

  • The Next Way To Publish- PAIN and Stone Cold Bastards

    Hello again!

    Today I am posting my reading of  the next two pitches from the list of ten. If you haven’t read the pitches then have a listen. If you don’t want to listen then have a read below. Either way I’M IN YOUR HEAD! Or something like that.

    Cheers!

    Direct link to audio of PAIN and Stone Cold Bastards

    PAIN-
    Day is for the Unseen. Night is for everyone else if they want to stay alive.
    But that is about to change…
    In an alien landscape, humanity is forced to live at night and only the Coffin Men travel from settlement to settlement, bringing needed supplies, information, and entertainment. Pulling their massive iron Coffins behind them –their homes, their armories, their sanctuaries- these men brave the dangers of the night and fear only the Unseen of the day. But Coffin Men are never allies. They work for themselves and protect their routes with brutal finality, many times entertaining settlements with a no-holds barred fight to the death to see which Coffin Man will keep their territory or lose it to a new challenger.
    Trained by his father, but left orphaned, Pain is known as one of the most ruthless of the Coffin Men, having raised himself from a young boy, pulling his Coffin on his own, developing the skills of a killer, trader, fighter, ambassador without help from anyone. When Pain hears whispers in his mind during his fretful daytime sleep, he realizes that the Unseen may no longer be willing to keep only to the day as they have for millennia. Something has changed. And Pain knows that if he doesn’t unite the settlements, and the Coffin Men, then humanity’s tenuous grasp on survival is over.

    Stone Cold Bastards-
    What if the Dirty Dozen were a crack team of gargoyles that must defend their Sanctuary against a raving horde of demon-possessed humans that want nothing more than the destruction of the entire human race and all that is good?
    Yeah. That.
    Stone Cold Bastards is set in a world where Hell has released every last demon and most of humanity is now a puke-spewing, blue-skinned, head-spinning mess. The last hope humanity has are a rag-tag team of gargoyles, come to life and ready for battle now that the End of Days is at hand. Do the gargoyles care that humanity is being wiped out? Not really. Do they intend to go defend those that are being brutally murdered and tortured? Not so much. Will they fight to their last carved claw to keep their Sanctuary, and everyone in it, from harm? Oh, hell yes they will!
    Will they open their Sanctuary to a wandering gargoyle and the small child it says is the last hope for all? They haven’t decided yet. They’re thinking about it over bottles of whiskey. Come back tomorrow.
    Action, violence, pulpy good fun is what Stone Cold Bastards is all about!

  • The Next Way To Publish- Natural Born Cyborgs and Chrome

    Howdy Folks!

    So on Friday I droped some pitches on ya. Nice, tasty pitches. I also read the pitches and will be dropping them into my podcast feed all week. Today’s are Natural Born Cyborgs and Chrome.

    You can listen here Natural Born Cyborgs and Chrome

    Or you can read them again below! Be sure to spread the word and feel free to ask questions or comment.

    Cheers!

    Natural Born Cyborgs-
    The techno-virus used by the Three hundreds of years ago has mutated and combined with BC (biochrome) to create a generation of natural born cyborgs- part biorganic metal, part human. Society decides these Splicers, as they are called, are too dangerous to let live and rounds them up for extermination. Those not found must hide their true natures and fight for their lives. And the lives of those yet born.
    Set in the same universe as DEAD MECH, but hundreds of years after the events in the Apex Trilogy, Natural Born Cyborgs is the first in the Splicer Wars series of novels that introduce the world to the new MechPunk style of science fiction- raw, unrelenting, brutal, and shiny.

    Chrome-
    Stone and Reginald are back. The two bioborgs (organic metal cyborgs with human consciousnesses) from the Apex Trilogy are now in the Mexican Empire and refusing to get along with anyone or play nice. Sucked into a world of drugs, violence, greed, and corruption, the partners, and former operatives for the Three, are pushed to their limits. Unfortunately for those pushing, Stone and Reginald have no limits. A high-action techno-thriller, Chrome continues the brutal, unrelentingly violent saga of two killers trained in the art of chaos and destruction.

  • Jake On Jake: Tighten The Timing Belt

    Jake: So, Jake, I’m guessing you’ve been busy.

    Jake: Why do you say that?

    Jake: Because we have missed the past two Wednesdays and are releasing this chat on Thursday.

    Jake: Oh, right, that.

    Jake: Yes, that. So what’s up?

    Jake: Just busy, like you said. And honestly? Between the writing, the podcast, Friday Night Drabble Party, and this post, I’m swamped.

    Jake: And you have that pesky day job thingy.

    Jake: Yep. Got that. Oh, and a family. They eat up some time too.

    Jake: They do at that. But this discussion isn’t about how little time you have, is it?

    Jake: No, it’s about timing. Not time.

    Jake: ‘Splain.

    Jake: There are lots of different timings. I could go into story structure and timing within a narrative.

    Jake: But you won’t?

    Jake: I shan’t.

    Jake: You’ve been watching too much Downton Abbey.

    Jake: Too much? I beg to differ, sir!

    Jake: Get on with it.

    Jake: Right, timing. No, the timing I want to talk about is the timing of what novel to work on when and when to release those novels. Or in that ballpark.

    Jake: You have insight into this?

    Jake: That’s the thing- I don’t know if I do. I have experience since I’ve published four novels and two collections. Not to mention the countless titles under my pen names.

    Jake: Okay, what have you learned from this experience?

    Jake: Strike while the fire’s hot. That’s one thing. If there is a trend and you want to be part of that trend then get to it ASAP. Don’t hang back and wait. Why? Because the trend will be over soon. Or other forces may be out there to end the relevance of that trend.

    Jake: Example?

    Jake: YA zombie lit. I just released Little Dead Man last November. But I wrote it almost two years earlier. I was responding to a hot trend of YA zombie novels being picked up and published. I had the novel banged out and done and sent out to agents in just two months. Bam!

    Jake: But…?

    Jake: But by the time I landed an agent (in just a month after sending submissions) many editors had moved on from the YA zombie genre. They liked the novel, loved the writing, but didn’t feel it was timed right for them. They were already looking for the next big thing.

    Jake: So you released it on your own?

    Jake: Only after a year of rejections and then letting it sit. I kept thinking someone would pick it up. Finally I realized I had a finished novel in hand and needed to get it out there.

    Jake: How has it gone?

    Jake: Slow, but good. Great responses from everyone that have read it. Enough good responses that I’ll write a sequel at least. I have a feeling that the timing may not be right for the first one, but get a couple more in the series out there and the timing could work out. Many YA series don’t see success until there are at least three books in the series. That’s when readers know it is there to stay.

    Jake: Sounds good. What about this “other forces” thing?

    Jake: Ah, yes, that. I have a couple pen names. One writes in a genre that was quite hot for self-publishers for several months. It was a gold rush in the true sense.

    Jake: How do you mean?

    Jake: Well, sales started going through the roof for a couple of us and then there were tons of writers that tried to get in on it. Good for them. The problem? The sales dried up. Why? Because readers moved on? No, not at all. It’s because Amazon changed the rules. They changed how titles were ranked and listed. They pushed out the self-publishers and gave top billing to traditional publishers. My sales went from through the roof to bottom of the basement overnight.

    Jake: That’s an exaggeration.

    Jake: No, actually it isn’t. Overnight my titles went from selling thousands of copies to selling only dozens. Literally the change happened overnight. Why? Because one day my titles were all over the Amazon best seller’s lists and the next they weren’t.

    Jake: Bummer. How does that relate to timing?

    Jake: Well, I was so wrapped up in the current trend that I didn’t look ahead to the next trend. Which was novels. Not short stories, but novels.

    Jake: And your pen name didn’t have novels?

    Jake: Nope. Just shorts. And once I saw the sales plummet I went back to focusing on my Jake Bible stuff. I figured I could build that up.

    Jake: Did you?

    Jake: To a certain extent. But the timing wasn’t quite there.

    Jake: How about now?

    Jake: With the release of Metal and Ash, and the subsequent podcast, the timing is back. I finished up the Apex Trilogy and can now promote that as a complete set. I can also use my podcast to promote all of my work.

    Jake: But not your pen name stuff.

    Jake: Maybe. If the timing is right I may hint at what some of those pen names are.

    Jake: Okay. What else can you say about timing?

    Jake: You have to not only look at the timing of trends, but at the timing of the constants.

    Jake: Need more ‘splaining.

    Jake: I am working on some romance novels at the moment.

    Jake: Gasp!

    Jake: No, it’s true. Why? Because there is one genre that is trend and recession proof: romance. And really, you can write romance in any genre. From scifi to horror to thriller.

    Jake: To BDSM.

    Jake: Exactly.

    Jake: But isn’t the success of romance just a trend now? Like the whole 50 Shades thing?

    Jake: The trends in romance are up and then back down to level. They don’t dip down below a certain threshold.

    Jake: So what are you getting at?

    Jake: That by diving into romance I can write all kinds of novels in many styles, but still have success.

    Jake: And possibly strike gold when a new trend produces an upswing in sales for romance?

    Jake: Precisely.

    Jake: Sounds like you are mastering timing.

    Jake: I am learning. The trick is to be prepared. By keeping at it in a proven successful genre such as romance I am bound to be a part of a major upswing in sales when the timing is right.

    Jake: Kinda an opportunity knocks thing.

    Jake: More of making sure you have a house built behind the door that gets knocked on.

    Jake: Otherwise even if opportunity does knock you’ll have nothing to show for it?

    Jake: Exactly.

    Jake: Have you noticed that this discussion has gone from timing to being prepared for the right time?

    Jake: I see them as the same thing. If you aren’t prepared then what success you do have with timing is just luck. If you are prepared then the success you have is not luck, but just hard work paying off.

    Jake: An are you prepared?

    Jake: Getting there. I plan to have three romance novels completed by the end of March. One is done and with my agent. If she doesn’t sell it then I will publish it myself.

    Jake: So you don’t miss out on the timing.

    Jake: Yep. The other novel I am in the middle of and will follow the same process of showing to my agent and if she can’t sell it then I publish it. The third novel is started, but on the shelf right now. As soon as I finish that one I think it’ll go straight to published. Maybe. Depends.

    Jake: On?

    Jake: The timing.

    Jake: Smart ass.

    Jake: I do try.

    Jake: So how does all of this fit with the title of this discussion? Tighten the timing belt? How do you do that?

    Jake: You write. And be ready. I’m not saying just write what you think will be a trend. You have to write what the muse tells you. My muse tends to have dollar signs tattooed on her, so I actively look for the trends and what I guess could be future trends. But if your muse isn’t a moneygrubbing whore then write what you want. But keep writing. Make sure you have a body of work ready to go when needed.

    Jake: Isn’t that what all writers do?

    Jake: Sadly, no. Too many writers finish their novel and then focus on that. And they wait for it to be successful. In my opinion that is not a strategy for success. Finish that bitch and move on to the next project. Do not rest. I learned that the hard way. You want to be a successful writer? The only way to do that is to write!

    Jake: So that when the timing is right you have something waiting.

    Jake: Exactly.

    Jake: Good talk, as always.

    Jake: Yep.

    Jake: Cheers!

    Jake: Have a good one, my friend.

    Jake Bible hasn’t stopped writing for two straight years. He will chill out and relax at some point. When the timing is right.

  • Jake On Jake: Word Of Mouth

    Jake: Well, hello there, Jake.

    Jake: Howdy.

    Jake: So what’s up? Anything new going on?

    Jake: Tons, man, tons.

    Jake: Care to expand on that?

    Jake: Released two new novels. One finishes up my Apex Trilogy which started with DEAD MECH. The other is my YA zombie novel that helped get me a literary agent.

    Jake: Cool! And the names of these novels?

    Jake: Metal and Ash and Little Dead Man.

    Jake: And where could readers find these novels?

    Jake: Okay, this is getting cheesy.

    Jake: What is?

    Jake: The whole interview myself to shill some books. Not why I wanted to start this series of posts.

    Jake: Then why did you want to start this series of posts? Do tell!

    Jake: Don’t say things like “Do tell!”. Please.

    Jake: Ok… Uh…

    Jake: I wanted to start this series of posts because this way I could express my opinions on subjects without having to be nailed down to one point of view or one answer. In this internet age everything you say is saved and analyzed and taken as THE WORD. If you change your mind you get lynched.

    Jake: Do you change your mind often?

    Jake: I’m talking to myself right now and have already contradicted myself a couple of times. I change my mind all the time. I’m a natural contrarian. I tend to see the flip side of every opinion. I don’t always agree with the flip side, but I can easily see the argument that side presents. Sometimes, especially as I grow and mature and gain more wisdom/experience, I see that my earlier opinions and thoughts were just plain immature. Or stupid. I do say a lot of stupid things.

    Jake: You know the old adage: “Better to stay silent and play the fool than to open your mouth and prove it.”

    Jake: Yeah, I know, I know. But I’m a talker. I have opinions. I like to explore theories and concepts by communicating. It’s part of my process. I don’t always believe everything that comes out of my own mouth, but I say it anyway to try it on and see how the thoughts feel out there in the world.

    Jake: Interesting way to live.

    Jake: To say the least.

    Jake: Anything you want to talk about today? Maybe publishing wise?

    Jake: Maybe. I have been thinking about the whole “free model” thing. You know I started by giving my writing away for free as a podcast, right?

    Jake: I’m you, dumbass. I know that.

    Jake: Don’t get snippy. I’m trying to build a narrative here.

    Jake: You’re talking to yourself. All you’re doing is building a case against your sanity.

    Jake: Are you done?

    Jake: Probably not.

    Jake: Who’s the good cop and who’s the bad cop in this interview anyway?

    Jake: Does it matter?

    Jake: Not really.

    Jake: Then get on with it.

    Jake: Soooooooo, I gave away my first novel as a free podcast. Why? Because at that time it was a great way to get exposure for my writing. It reached a large audience and built some serious buzz. Back then it was the only way for independent writers to put their work out there without a publisher. Some also blogged their writing or just gave away free PDFs, but I come from a theatre background and love to read and perform.

    Jake: And this has all changed?

    Jake: Yeah, it’s changed! There’s freakin’ ebooks now! I don’t have to spend 30 hours recording a podcast and another 30 hours editing and another 30 hours uploading and promoting. I can now spend 30 hours writing a novel, another 30 editing it, and then the last 30 promoting it. And make money! In theory, at least.

    Jake: So you’re down on podcasting?

    Jake: No, that’s the thing. I like podcasting. I just hate the time suck that it is. Putting out a weekly episode is a great way to promote my writing. But it takes so much time to get that episode together that I have to wonder if it is worth it.

    Jake: Is it?

    Jake: That’s the question.

    Jake: So, are you going to quit podcasting?

    Jake: Not yet, no. I will be releasing Metal and Ash as a free podcast in the next couple of weeks. Because of the length of the novel, even with a weekly release, it will take up most of 2013. So I don’t really have to revisit the podcasting thing until 2014.

    Jake: Then you’ll quit?

    Jake: I’m not saying that. Again, I like podcasting, just hate the time suck. If the time was profitable then I’d look at it differently.

    Jake: Maybe Audible.com?

    Jake: Not viable. I’d have to yank all free content from my feed. Audible doesn’t allow free duplicate podcasts to be out there.

    Jake: Subscriptions? Charge for the podcast?

    Jake: How the hell do I even do that? And I don’t want to have to worry about the podcast being perfect quality. If I were to charge money for it then I’d have to up my game. I don’t want to be a professional podcaster. I’m a writer. That’s where I want to make my money.

    Jake: How about that donate button on your site?

    Jake: Dear God, did we just go there?

    Jake: Well, you put it up for a reason.

    Jake: Yeah, true. If people want to donate they can. But I’m not going to push it. I’ll mention it in the upcoming podcast, but probably only in the first episode. I’d rather folks bought my novels.

    Jake: Or helped spread the word?

    Jake: Yes! Word of mouth! That is the best payment a reader can offer! Bestsellers don’t become bestsellers because they have a ton of marketing and promotion. When was the last time you bought a book because you saw the floor stand in Barnes & Noble? Or because Amazon sent you a suggestion email?

    Jake: Never.

    Jake: No, you buy books because you either like the author or have heard good things about the book FROM SOMEONE YOU TRUST!

    Jake: I do like some book reviews. If I read a good review that may make me buy the book.

    Jake: True. But that goes back to time. It takes a shit ton of time to promote a book and get it in the hands of reviewers. And guess what?

    Jake: What?

    Jake: Reviewers aren’t too keen on reviewing self-published novels.

    Jake: They aren’t?

    Jake: Nope.

    Jake: Huh. Who’d a thunk it?

    Jake: Really?

    Jake: No, not really. There is a ton of awful crap out there. I don’t blame them for not wanting to sift through it all.

    Jake: Which leaves word of mouth.

    Jake: You’re on the Twitter and the Facebook, right?

    Jake: I am, but that’s just the echo chamber. I’m talking to the same audience over and over. I can only say “buy my book” so many ways before I get tuned out.

    Jake: You need the echo chamber to make their own echoes.

    Jake: Exactly. Word of mouth.

    Jake: Huh. How do you do that?

    Jake: Not a clue. Guess that’s why I’m talking to myself.

    Jake: Guess so. Good luck with that.

    Jake: Thanks. You too.

    Jake is a writer that has published four novels, has two out for submission with his agent, and is currently writing a new novel that will be released under a pen name. Which means he’ll have to figure out word of mouth for a whole other person that doesn’t actually exist. He’s excited about this. No, really, he is. Check out his novels, his podcast, his free weekly drabble release, or anything else by clicking on the links to the side. Oh, and spread the word if you’d like. He wouldn’t mind at all.