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My First Novel, The City of Smoke & Mirrors is now Available!

#1

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

My first novel is now available to buy. On Pro Se Pulp's page, it says:

Pro Se Productions, a company specializing in New Pulp and Genre Fiction, once more walks the cutting edge of storytelling with the debut novel of author Nick C. Piers featuring the first adventure of New Pulp's wildest, weirdest Private Eye ever to don a fedora! THE CITY OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS: AN ARMADILLO MYSTERY!

Dilbert Pinkerton’s not the greatest private detective, but he’s good at sniffing out clues. Of course, it’s hard to take a five-foot-nothing mutant armadillo in a trench coat and fedora seriously. He sticks his snout where it doesn’t belong far too often while digging for the truth.

So when some rich dame asks him to steal – ahem, retrieve – a pearl necklace from her ex-husband, Dill almost reconsiders. Until, that is, she offers him far too much money that he can’t refuse. Now, Dill heads to Nevermore Bay, home of The Buzzard.

Most in Nevermore Bay think The Buzzard is just a myth created by the local police force. Whether that’s true or not, Dill can’t help but be curious by the mystery. When he runs afoul with this fowl, though, things go to hell and fast. Not only are the police after him, but Dill must also contend with some of The Buzzard’s rogues, mobster Don Komodo and his goon squad, and even The Buzzard himself.

With everyone in the city against him, what hope does Dill have just to get out of there with his carapace intact?

"This idea," stated Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions, "is everything New Pulp should be, even though its leading man is a mutant armadillo! It is fun, larger than life, over the top action and adventure, with tips of multiple hats to comic books, hard boiled crime stories, and more! Nick brings a ridiculously vibrant life to Dill and everyone else that walks through these pages! Get your Dillo on now with this first great adventure of many!"

THE CITY OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS by Nick C. Piers featuring Cover Art by Chris Sheehan and Logo and Design by Sean E. Ali is available from Amazon at https://www.createspace.com/4183031 and at Pro Se's Createspace store at https://www.createspace.com/4183031 and for $15.00!

The Ebook formatted by Russ Anderson is also available for $2.99 at Amazon on the Kindle, at Barnes and Noble for the Nook, and in various formats at www.smashwords.com!

Pro Se Productions- www.prosepulp.com!
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I've been told that purchases through Amazon will boost the book up Pro Se's best seller's list, so if you're going to order it, do please order it through there if you can.

Honestly, if I weren't going through some really bad bouts with depression these days, I'd probably be jumping for joy right now.


#2

phil

phil



#3

Cheesy1

Cheesy1

Congrats man!


#4

checkeredhat

checkeredhat

ThatNickGuy said:
My first novel is now available to buy. On Pro Se Pulp's page, it says:





I've been told that purchases through Amazon will boost the book up Pro Se's best seller's list, so if you're going to order it, do please order it through there if you can.

Honestly, if I weren't going through some really bad bouts with depression these days, I'd probably be jumping for joy right now.
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That confused the hell out of me. Added it to cart, then, to take advantage of free shipping went to add in a book from my wish list, and couldn't find my wishlist. Refreshed, tried clicking "Your Wish List" under account, rather than just "Wish List", each time it took me to the create wish list page.

Finally, I realized I was at Amazon.com.

So here is the Amazon.ca link, but its only available in Kindle edition.


I guess I'll have to wait. I'm moving in a week, so if I got it off American Amazon it likely wouldn't get here in time. Amazon.ca usually takes between 1-3 business days.


#5

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Yeah, I asked my publisher about it. It should be available in print and digitally on the Canadian Amazon, but for whatever reason, it's not...yet.


#6

Ravenpoe

Ravenpoe

If I mail my kindle to you, will you sign the screen?


#7

LittleKagsin

LittleKagsin

Ah, that's so exciting! Congratulations! I'll purchase it as soon as I can. :)


#8

figmentPez

figmentPez

Do we want a link like this:
Amazon product


#9

Bowielee

Bowielee

Gratz, Nick. So, when do you leave and delete your account?

Can you tell I'm still bitter from Tin's departure :p

For serious, though, if you pull that crap, we will not be amused.


#10

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Buying the Kindle version for now, and I'll have the first review up shortly, once I find it on my computer.

Also gonna pimp it on my website.


#11

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Bowielee said:
Gratz, Nick. So, when do you leave and delete your account?

Can you tell I'm still bitter from Tin's departure :p

For serious, though, if you pull that crap, we will not be amused.
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Psh. Like you guys could ever get rid of me outside of permabanning.


#12

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

When I read Quotemander Prime's review of my book just now, I honestly almost cried:

Dilbert Pinkerton is a walking, talking, crime-solving man-sized armadillo. A misunderstanding with a mob boss and a six-figure opportunity outside his home convince the private detective and his friend to skip town and head for the city of Nevermore Bay. What should be a place for an easy getaway and an easy job turns troublesome for Dilbert when a local vigilante not only interrupts the job, but tips him off to a bigger and more dangerous venture than the one he's being paid for.

This book is FUN. And that's a big deal for a book of brawls, bike chases, murder, and inter-species prejudice. The magic of mixing all that together and making it an enjoyable read originates in Dilbert's narration. He's gruff, sloppy, disgruntled, and for better or worse, he has a heart of gold. His observations are often hilarious, and in their turn of phrase and negativity you get a laugh, a description, and Dilbert's jaded opinion in humorous little packages. He's a larger than life character, the type who might be familiar to noir buffs, but at the same time he's an armadillo. That makes a difference. He's the kind of hero you want to follow and hope succeeds, especially as he's getting beaten to a pulp.

An assortment of other characters round out the novel, from Dilbert's short list of allies to the bikers, policemen, and Dick Tracy-style henchmen they have to handle under the watchful and suspicious eyes of the Buzzard, a gadget-wielding vigilante with a sense of justice askew from Dilbert's. They help or hinder the detective in fights, foot chases, and bike chases, tearing up Nevermore's streets and reputation while Dilbert uncovers the city's secrets.

City of Smoke and Mirrors is full of energy, and skillfully balances a wide load of humor with some pretty dark details. It's an effective mystery and character story, the kind I had trouble putting down.
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http://www.amazon.com/review/RI5EZC...annel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books


#13

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

I put one on Goodreads as well, but it's more bite-sized and less descriptive because of how that site displays text reviews.


#14

Dave

Dave

Aaaaaaaaand....ORDERED!


#15

Frank

Frank

When Amazon.ca decides to not be the shitty version of Amazon.com and put it up for sale, I will definitely giver a go.


#16

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://allpulp.blogspot.ca/2013/02/looks-like-weve-got-mystery-on-our.html?spref=fb

Well well well. Look who's in second place among all the other pulp titles. Dill's currently sitting pretty at #66,111 in Amazon's list of best sellers. Given that that's out of around 500,000+ books, that's pretty respectable.


#17

Azurephoenix

Azurephoenix

Frank said:
When Amazon.ca decides to not be the shitty version of Amazon.com and put it up for sale, I will definitely giver a go.
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Same here Nick, look forward to reading it.


#18

Gryfter

Gryfter

Woot! Gratz, Nick!


#19

Dave

Dave

ThatNickGuy said:
http://allpulp.blogspot.ca/2013/02/looks-like-weve-got-mystery-on-our.html?spref=fb

Well well well. Look who's in second place among all the other pulp titles. Dill's currently sitting pretty at #66,111 in Amazon's list of best sellers. Given that that's out of around 500,000+ books, that's pretty respectable.
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Wow! That's climbing pretty quick!


#20

Cheesy1

Cheesy1

Remember us little people when HBO or Showtime decides to make a gritty animated Dill series.


#21

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Cheesy1 said:
Remember us little people when HBO or Showtime decides to make a gritty animated Dill series.
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Animatronic puppets ala the live action Ninja Turtles movies or GTFO.

EDIT: Especially if it includes a scene where Vanilla Ice starts rapping a Dillo Rap...and Dill shoots him.


#22

Tress

Tress

Someone puts a gun to your head, and tells you that you must choose one of the following:

1) Michael Bay wants to make a movie version with gaudy CGI and lots of 'splosions, where Dill fights a giant space monster and is eventually saved by the US military. Shia Labeouf will play Dill.

2) Uwe Boll wants to make your novel into a film. Except now Dill is a vampire armadillo. And he knows ninjitsu. And he has to fight nazi wizards. And he will be played by Dane Cook, because it's also a comedy.

Which do you choose?

By the way, my copy is ordered (along with Quotemander Prime's book). I look forward to reading it! Congrats!


#23

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Tress, with those options? Fuck it, they can shoot me.


#24

Bowielee

Bowielee

Tress said:
Someone puts a gun to your head, and tells you that you must choose one of the following:

1) Michael Bay wants to make a movie version with gaudy CGI and lots of 'splosions, where Dill fights a giant space monster and is eventually saved by the US military. Shia Labeouf will play Dill.

2) Uwe Boll wants to make your novel into a film. Except now Dill is a vampire armadillo. And he knows ninjitsu. And he has to fight nazi wizards. And he will be played by Dane Cook, because it's also a comedy.

Which do you choose?

By the way, my copy is ordered (along with Quotemander Prime's book). I look forward to reading it! Congrats!
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Giant SPIDER, geez, get it right :p


#25

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Bowielee said:
Giant SPIDER, geez, get it right :p
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No no no, that's if producer Jon Peters is involved.


#26

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Tress said:
By the way, my copy is ordered (along with Quotemander Prime's book). I look forward to reading it! Congrats!
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Thanks man. I hope you enjoy both. Nick's is a blast.


#27

Bowielee

Bowielee

I had ordered QPs first book, but was unable to get it at the time. Havent had a chance to re-order, but I will. Especially because I'm taking some classes focusing on publishing and may want the favor returned someday. :p


#28

checkeredhat

checkeredhat

Cheesy1 said:
Remember us little people when HBO or Showtime decides to make a gritty animated Dill series.
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And remember your old animator pal checkeredhat when that happens.


#29

Bubble181

Bubble181

Hey, neat. Amazon.de actually already has it too. Most books coming out in the US I have to wait a few weeks before they arrive in the German version (probably the container ship crossing the Atlantic or something :p).

Anyway, bought. If it's not good, you can expect a barf ball with little pieces of mouse on your front step soon.


#30

dill616

dill616

Hot damn! I'm still the best Dill in town. Regardless of our squabble about the name, I am SO happy for you! :D


#31

Emrys

Emrys

Ordered! Can't wait to read it.

Do you think it's too mature for doomweasels?


#32

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy



#33

Shannow

Shannow

Pirated.


#34

phil

phil

20130228_073807.jpg


Dill kills Dumbledore


#35

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

Bowielee said:
Gratz, Nick. So, when do you leave and delete your account?

Can you tell I'm still bitter from Tin's departure :p

For serious, though, if you pull that crap, we will not be amused.
Click to expand...
You know, I *do* still read and post occasionally.

Congrats Nick!


#36

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Shannow said:
Pirated.
Click to expand...


#37

Shannow

Shannow

Bring it on, Fatboy!

;)


#38

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave? DAAAAAAVE! Shannow's bugging me!!


#39

Shannow

Shannow

Not touching you!



#40

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

That's it, I'm telling Mom! North_Ranger!!!


#41

Dave

Dave

Very ouch, baby!


#42

North_Ranger

North_Ranger

YOU SIT YOUR ASSES DOWN RIGHT THIS INSTANT OR I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL TURN THIS THREAD AROUND!

AND DON'T EVEN THINK OF WHINING FOR A HAPPY MEAL, YOUNG MAN!


#43

Gusto

Gusto

Boiga King.


#44

Emrys

Emrys

ThatNickGuy said:
That's it, I'm telling Mom! North_Ranger!!!
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I just pictured North_Ranger in a wig, heels, and a gingham dress and spat my drink all over my monitor.
Thank you, ThatNickGuy. Thank you very much.


#45



BErt

Oh hey look what I got today

IMAG0003_BURST004.jpg


Nice job guys! Now which to start first...


#46

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Do Quotemander Prime's first.

Save the best for last. OH SNAP!


#47

Cheesy1

Cheesy1

cm-43589-550ec6bb90f094.png


#48

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

I'd offer an objective suggestion, but the books are so different that it's hard to say. On the one hand, his is shorter by 150 pages, so you might want to read that first. On the other hand, his book is humor and action, while mine's suspense and kind of grim, so you might want to read mine first so his can be more of a pick-me-up.


#49

fade

fade

Heh, he just said his was longer than yours.


#50

Dave

Dave

Hey hey!!

book.jpg[DOUBLEPOST=1362177222][/DOUBLEPOST]Yours hasn't come yet, QMP.


#51

Tress

Tress

I ordered the books on Monday. They were supposed to arrive yesterday but still haven't showed up. I ordered another package on Wednesday, estimated to be delivered March 10th-17th. It arrived today.

I will never understand you, Amazon shipping.


#52

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Tress said:
I will never understand you, Amazon shipping.
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No one can.


#53

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
Hey hey!!
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Me Gusto, er, Gusta. :megusta:


#54

phil

phil

No, you nick. Gusto is the guy with the futurama avatar.

I think it's weird I have to explain this to you.


#55

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

phil said:
No, you nick. Gusto is the guy with the futurama avatar.

I think it's weird I have to explain this to you.
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Me...Grimlock?


#56

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Decided that since it's just come out and it's on my mind, and I'd rather read a good book unlike the lameness I've read over the past couple months, I'm reading City of Smoke and Mirrors again.

I want you guys to understand, you're not getting this out of a favor to Nick just because he's one of us. You're getting this because it's a good book. I love it and you should too.


#57

filmfanatic

filmfanatic

Got it on Kindle. It's been a really fun read thus far and I cannot forget to say tha I love seeing someone use the word "vamoose". Shame it's fallen out of the popular vernacular.

Also, I can see movie possibilities from this. If not a film, then an animated series.


#58

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Wait a minute, hang on, hold the phone.

Are you telling me people are actually reading it? I thought everyone was buying it to support me and let it sit on their shelf to collect dust!

...oh God, what have I done?


#59

Tress

Tress

ThatNickGuy said:
Wait a minute, hang on, hold the phone.

Are you telling me people are actually reading it? I thought everyone was buying it to support me and let it sit on their shelf to collect dust!

...oh God, what have I done?
Click to expand...
I just had a table that needed to be balanced, and your book was the perfect width to put under the leg. I use QMP's book for rolling papers.


#60

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Tress said:
I just had a table that needed to be balanced, and your book was the perfect width to put under the leg. I use QMP's book for rolling papers.
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:mad:


#61

Chad Sexington

Chad Sexington

ThatNickGuy said:
:mad:
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Don't worry, he'll use yours for rolling papers when QMP's runs out.


#62

Bubble181

Bubble181

I find Nick's book to have too heavy paper for that. Whatever you smoke, it tastes too much like paper and makes me cough. I've decided to put it in the bathroom for now, as an emergency supply. Just in case.


#63

Fun Size

Fun Size

You people and your shipping. I just ordered both to be delivered to my Kindle when I get home. Instant gratification FTW, beeyotches!


#64

Emrys

Emrys

Fun Size said:
You people and your shipping. I just ordered both to be delivered to my Kindle when I get home. Instant gratification FTW, beeyotches!
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Who do you think you are, the 1%?


#65

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Fun Size said:
You people and your shipping. I just ordered both to be delivered to my Kindle when I get home. Instant gratification FTW, beeyotches!
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Bah! I don't make as much money from a digital sale as I do a print sale. So, screw you and your instant, gratifying frugalness! Screw you AND the Kindle you rode in on!

(But seriously, enjoy it. :))


#66

AshburnerX

AshburnerX

ThatNickGuy said:
Bah! I don't make as much money from a digital sale as I do a print sale. So, screw you and your instant, gratifying frugalness! Screw you AND the Kindle you rode in on!

(But seriously, enjoy it. :))
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You should self-publish next time, if you want to make money from Kindle sales. Publishers are pushing the more for books/less for kindle option right now because it makes them more money and they are trying to take advantage of authors who might not be familiar with the market.


#67

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

AshburnerX said:
You should self-publish next time, if you want to make money from Kindle sales. Publishers are pushing the more for books/less for kindle option right now because it makes them more money and they are trying to take advantage of authors who might not be familiar with the market.
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I still wouldn't make more money for a digital sale than print, either way. It really has nothing to do with being released independently or through a publisher.


#68

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

To increase Kindle revenue would mean jacking up the Kindle price. I'm glad his publisher isn't one of the big six dicks who jack up the Kindle price to the same as the paperback and say "it costs the same to produce an ebook". Um, no it fucking doesn't. There's no paper, no printing--all you had to do was format it for the ebook. And half the time they don't get that right. My ebook of The Hunger Games changes font size at different times. A Stephen King story collection ebook I bought has sudden paragraph breaks in mid-sentence throughout random points in the book, messed up italics that go beyond where the italics should've been, and a myriad of other problems. And it cost the same as the paperback would have. Ridiculous.

In my opinion, it's appropriate for the ebook to cost much less than the paperback.


#69

Yoshimickster

Yoshimickster

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand ordered! Love a good mystery, especially if it has mutant armadillos!


#70

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Yoshimickster said:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand ordered! Love a good mystery, especially if it has mutant armadillos!
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That's some oddly specific tastes, but I'm glad I was able to provide you with such entertainment!


#71

Bubble181

Bubble181

Quotemander Prime said:
To increase Kindle revenue would mean jacking up the Kindle price. I'm glad his publisher isn't one of the big six dicks who jack up the Kindle price to the same as the paperback and say "it costs the same to produce an ebook". Um, no it fucking doesn't. There's no paper, no printing--all you had to do was format it for the ebook. And half the time they don't get that right. My ebook of The Hunger Games changes font size at different times. A Stephen King story collection ebook I bought has sudden paragraph breaks in mid-sentence throughout random points in the book, messed up italics that go beyond where the italics should've been, and a myriad of other problems. And it cost the same as the paperback would have. Ridiculous.

In my opinion, it's appropriate for the ebook to cost much less than the paperback.
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To be fair, I have a 4-book hardcover deluxe edition of Eragon, and the two last books both have the same problem: missing words and parts of sentences. Nothing much, but here and there, suddnely the lasst 2 or 3 words of a paragraph missing. Not important if they're small stuff, but the name of who died in a big clash? Yeah, that's....annoying. It's a weird sort of error; a spell checker or such wouldn't catch it but a human editor would DEFINITELY notice it - maybe not all of the instances, but at least half - it's really quite prevalent throughout. Seems like the book was dictated with some speech-to-writing program, and the person got distracted occasionally. Psht.


#72

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://www.amazon.ca/City-Smoke-Mir...300X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1363128352&sr=8-5

All right, my Canadian friends. Dill's now available on Amazon.ca. You no longer have an excuse. GET IT.


#73

Fun Size

Fun Size

I'm about half way through it Nick. I have to admit big trepidation going in, but so far you've won me over (I'm not a big superhero fan - thus the trepidation). I did want to warn you though that the the Kindle version has a handful of typos. Mostly little things, although some really stand out. I mean seriously, who spells "checks" with a 'qu'? That's just silly.


#74

Dave

Dave

I finished this last night. I have to admit it took me a while to get into. There are some stylistic things with your writing that is not my normal forte. But once I hit about 1/2 way and the story really kicked in I liked it a lot. The end is pretty good and the bad guy isn't what you think it's going to be.

I don't understand some of Dill's actions or reactions, but at least they are consistent. So to sum up...not my normal cup of tea, but I liked it in the end thanks to a great plot!


#75

Azurephoenix

Azurephoenix

I'm going to order this tonight now that it's on Amazon.ca.

Should be fun!


#76

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
I finished this last night. I have to admit it took me a while to get into. There are some stylistic things with your writing that is not my normal forte. But once I hit about 1/2 way and the story really kicked in I liked it a lot. The end is pretty good and the bad guy isn't what you think it's going to be.

I don't understand some of Dill's actions or reactions, but at least they are consistent. So to sum up...not my normal cup of tea, but I liked it in the end thanks to a great plot!
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Could you throw out some examples of Dill's actions/reactions? I don't doubt you, as I'm by no means saying my novel is perfect. I'm just curious.


#77

Dave

Dave

ThatNickGuy said:
Could you throw out some examples of Dill's actions/reactions? I don't doubt you, as I'm by no means saying my novel is perfect. I'm just curious.
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You love to use the "his gaze said 'just try it, Buster' while mine said 'deal with it". It's almost like you are trying too hard to be clever instead of just letting it flow naturally. Again, it's not necessarily your writing, just that your style and mine don't mesh. I did like the book because the plot was solid as hell. You are good with dialogue and your action scenes are well put together.

But Dill seems to get angry over nothing. He overreacts at the drop of a hat. His frequent urges to start shooting seem sometimes out of place and almost forced.


#78

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

I read the second half in one sitting I was so into it. I love the looks that convey messages that couldn't possibly be conveyed by a person's facial expression. It's the kind of stuff that distinguishes writing from visual storytelling and that you can really only get away with in a humor story.

Dave said:
But Dill seems to get angry over nothing. He overreacts at the drop of a hat. His frequent urges to start shooting seem sometimes out of place and almost forced.
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He's neutered.


#79

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Eeee, okay, I'm kind of giddy here. That's the first time someone criticized (solid points, I might add) my work and someone other than me defended it.

So yeah, I'll just be over here being giddy for another author first.


#80

Frank

Frank

2-4 weeks. Fucking Amazon.ca.


#81

Bubble181

Bubble181

Germany got it to Belgium in 4 days. Seriously, what is it with you guys and your endlessly-rolling vastnesses? :p


#82

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Frank said:
2-4 weeks. Fucking Amazon.ca.
Click to expand...


#83

Fun Size

Fun Size

Nick, just finished it. Started out wondering if I had made a mistake (which happens as often as not when I start a book). Finished it wondering when there will be a next one. Can't think of a nicer thing to say.

QP, you're up.


#84

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

At this rate, I'm starting to wonder if I should make QP my agent or PR guy.


#85

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

ThatNickGuy said:
At this rate, I'm starting to wonder if I should make QP my agent or PR guy.
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Apparently I'm better at selling other people's books :p. Should be in New York next weekend where I'll be telling more about it.


#86

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

I've been working on Dill's second adventure lately, but I've hit a brick wall. I've had this problem before with my writing. I'll have a great start, have a great finish in mind, but can't think of how to get from Point A to Point B. I've messaged the Quotester for help, but it's frustrating when I can't think of what to do.


#87

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

ThatNickGuy said:
I'll have a great start, have a great finish in mind, but can't think of how to get from Point A to Point B.
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Shakespeare knew that feel, bro.


#88

Ravenpoe

Ravenpoe

ThatNickGuy said:
I've been working on Dill's second adventure lately, but I've hit a brick wall. I've had this problem before with my writing. I'll have a great start, have a great finish in mind, but can't think of how to get from Point A to Point B. I've messaged the Quotester for help, but it's frustrating when I can't think of what to do.
Click to expand...

He should team up with a wisecracking Raven partner.


#89

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Ravenpoe said:
He should team up with a wisecracking Raven partner.
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An armadillo, a raven, and a dog walk into a bar... in Nevermore Bay.


#90

Azurephoenix

Azurephoenix

Just ordered this Nick. I'm looking forward to giving it a read :)


#91

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

My dad called me last night. My folks are on vacation in South Carolina right now and ordered copies of my book while down there.

Anyway, he'd just finished reading it and wanted to call to say he loved it. This is coming from a man who doesn't really do much reading outside of a newspaper and the occasional book on tennis. He also said there's someone else he plays tennis with that they lent a copy to that's been enjoying it. :)


#92

Dave

Dave

Tell that tennis cheapskate to buy their own damned book.


#93

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Last I heard from my dad reading stuff of mine was "Seems kind of weird."

To which I said, "I learned it from watching YOU, Dad! I LEARNED FROM WATCHING YOU!"


#94

Dave

Dave

If I ever get published it'll go like this:

Me: Dad! Did you read my book?
Dad: ...
Me: Aw come on! At least read it! Even if you don't like it!
Dad: ...
Me: Why, papa, why?!? Why won't you read my book?!?
Dad: ...
Me: Oh yeah. You're dead! My bad!


(This little spate of totally dark humor is brought to you by the letter Y and the number 667, the neighbor of the beast.)


#95

Yoshimickster

Yoshimickster

Just finished it, freakin' awesome! Dil is a great protagonist, and his angry trigger happy nature made me root for him till the end.


#96

Fun Size

Fun Size

Just finished Children of the White Wolf. That was really good. The only part that bothered me ...

At one point, I felt like Alice accepted the monsters and and adapted too quickly. Her lack of awe took me out of the book briefly.

That said, it was quickly overcome by your ability to set a scene and describe action, and I was really captivated for the majority of it. I feel like it covered a lot, and I'm sure I'm going to read it again at some point. Overall, quite a book.

I promise that I will eventually put up glowing Amazon reviews of both (had to read them first, because if I didn't like one, I'd rather skip the review ;) ).


#97

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Fun Size said:
Just finished Children of the White Wolf. That was really good. The only part that bothered me ...

At one point, I felt like Alice accepted the monsters and and adapted too quickly. Her lack of awe took me out of the book briefly.

That said, it was quickly overcome by your ability to set a scene and describe action, and I was really captivated for the majority of it. I feel like it covered a lot, and I'm sure I'm going to read it again at some point. Overall, quite a book.

I promise that I will eventually put up glowing Amazon reviews of both (had to read them first, because if I didn't like one, I'd rather skip the review ;) ).
Click to expand...
You could paste a version of what you typed here :p.

Thanks for the feedback and for reading. I'm really glad you enjoyed the book--I was a little nervous whether the adult guys who were buying it here would like a book with teenage girls as protagonists. Thanks again :D.


#98

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Hey guys, guess what?

The City of Smoke & Mirrors has been optioned for a movie! I can't believe it. I mean, it's only been out for a month and never even broke the top 10,000 on Amazon.

But film auteur Uwe Boll says he's going to adapt the book in exciting and unique ways. Even better, he's already contacted superstar comic book artist Rob Liefeld to do the conceptual art for the movie! Here's a sneak peak!



#99

Cheesy1

Cheesy1

And I've heard rumors that Michael Bay will be choreographing the fight scenes! Oh, blurry goodness!


#100

Ravenpoe

Ravenpoe

Do I smell a transformers/dill/bloodrayne crossover?


#101

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Christian Slater was Alone in the Dark.

Well now, Dilbert Pinkerton will be Alone in the Dark, Too!


#102

Dave

Dave

Adam Sandler as...The Armadillo!


#103

Yoshimickster

Yoshimickster

Dave said:
Adam Sandler as...The Armadillo!
Click to expand...
And Rob Schneider as Tony!


#104

Dave

Dave

Yoshimickster said:
And Rob Schneider as Tony!
Click to expand...
You and I think a lot alike. I was going to put that but thought it might be going too far. We should totally miscast the rest, too!


#105

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Adam Sandler? Are you mad? There's no way we would go that low.

No, I've got word that PAULY MOTHERFUCKING SHORE is playing Dill.

Yoshi called it on Rob Schneider, though.


#106

Dave

Dave

Paris Hilton as the rich chick married to the old dude?[DOUBLEPOST=1364836928][/DOUBLEPOST](I don't have the book with me so I don't remember their names.)


#107

blotsfan

blotsfan

Rob Schneider can be in movies without Adam Sandler?


#108

Fun Size

Fun Size

ThatNickGuy said:
Even better, he's already contacted superstar comic book artist Rob Liefeld to do the conceptual art for the movie! Here's a sneak peak!
Click to expand...
Nice try, but that guy clearly has feet.


#109

Yoshimickster

Yoshimickster

The Rock as Bison.
Megan Fox as the Socialite
George Clooney as Mickey
and Jemery Irons as the rapping talking Daymaker because movie.


#110

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Well lookie what the postman just delivered!



#111

fade

fade

I'm not buying that as a Liefield. It has feet and no man boobs.[DOUBLEPOST=1364930215][/DOUBLEPOST]
Fun Size said:
Nice try, but that guy clearly has feet.
Click to expand...
D'oh missed that one.


#112

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

ThatNickGuy said:
Well lookie what the postman just delivered!

Click to expand...
Snazzy!


#113

Frank

Frank

Amazon still ain't shipped my copy.

My Prime trial will be over before the damn thing ships.


#114

Azurephoenix

Azurephoenix

Frank said:
Amazon still ain't shipped my copy.

My Prime trial will be over before the damn thing ships.
Click to expand...

They havne't shipped mine either. Morons.


#115

Bubble181

Bubble181

Finished it a few days ago, let it sink in before commenting.
First off, since I'm horrible at giving positive reviews, let me say that I thought it was a GREAT debut novel, and a VERY GOOD book overall. I'm just too negative a person to give a lot of positive feedback and nitpicking is much easier. Any and all things I mention are details or personal preferences.

A) your protagonist sucks.
B) your antagonist sucks.
C) The story's not creative at all.
D) The characters are flat and uniteresting.
E) Your writing style sucks.

See, that would be my review if it actually sucked, which it doesn't. All of the above are false.

Onward to actual things I thought weren't perfect.
A) Not at all your fault, but my copy was less-than-professionaly glued together. There's a bit of a gloop on one end, so the spine isn't straight. Dunno how that happened.
B) While there are relatively few spelling errors in the book, I spotted at least a dozen places where sentences had clearly been turned around and some artifacts remained. I don't have the book besides me so I can't give an exact example but things such as "Nowadays, people are always in a rush these days". Seem like last-minute decisions to change the word order in a sentence to make it flow slightly better, but then having forgotten to confirm the rest of the sentence was still OK.
C) There's a disparity in speaking/writing style between Dill-the-narrator and Dill-the-detective. I'm not sure whether this is intentional (he's smart and actually intellectual but hides behind a veneer of noir detectivism) or it's the style you want to adopt for Dill and your own writing style sometimes peaking through. You know, one moment he's spouting '50s colloquialisms, the next he's throwing around seven-syllable-words. Either way, it's not always entirely consistent, and it sort-of broke my immersion a few times.
D) You are, of course, aware that it's annoying when certain turns-of-phrase or words are repeated too often. It can often be seen as repetitive. While sometimes it's necessary to repeat something, often you can do without. Often, authors use it as a stopgap solution. (yes, I'm doing it on purpose and I chose a bad word to do it with :p). Luckily, you don't fall in that trap, nor do you go the opposite way and have every word be replaced with some weird semi-synonym as some authors are wont to do. However, there are a few turns-of-phrase that you re-use maybe three or four times in the whole book, but are such eye-catchers that it's still noticeable. I'm not talking about a few that are clearly conscious decisions (at least, I hope using "copacetic" seventy-six times was a conscious choice :p), but more...comparisons in descriptions that I'd guess you were proud of and therefore wanted to re-use, given the chance. May be less noticeable if you don't read the whole book in two days, of course.
E) There are a number of things about Dill that are special about him because he's an armadillo. Overall, I thought you managed to find a pretty good balance between giving him a couple of specials that made it feel like there was a point to him being a 'dillo, while on the other hand not making him so gimmicky as to it being annoying or a cop-out. I did think a few of his eccentricities were introduced a bit bluntly. I don't know, not really "too fast" or "inappropriately" or whatever, just...I noticed "oh, he's saying this to drive home the point that this is one of his special strong sides because of the dillo-ness". Mind you, I have that same feeling with most, if not all, superhero stories and such. It may just be that i'm a b it oversensitive to that sort of thing.
F) If you want a huge big following, you really need sexier animals. How about a cat-girl and a wolf-man or such in the sequel? (please don't introduce a catgirl unless you either kill her off or give her all of the wrong attributes of humans and cats to be sexy :p). In other words, I'm out of actual criticisms.
G) Story wise, like a lot of other people here, I only really got interested when the story started going. The story's good, but it starts off relatively slowly. I think the book might've been better with some tighter pacing in the earlier chapters.

All in all, as a debut, I'd give it a 9.2/10. As a book in general, 8.4/10. Or, to make another comparison, it's not as good as the best Discworld novel, it's better than some of them, and it's definitely better than the first few of them. So, make another 40 or so books in this world, make about 20 spin-off works, try to avoid the whole Alzheimer thing, and I think you'll be right up there with Pratchett in 20 years or so.


#116

fade

fade

I think E is hard in superhero, fantasy, and sci-fi novels. You have to explain some things, but you want to avoid the dreaded infodump. That's not an easy task to tackle. You know who did it particularly well? del Toro in the Hellboy movie. He never explicitly gives you Hellboy's abilities. They're clear enough from the story.


#117

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

I hate when E is taken to the other bad side from the infodump, where the supernatural/sci-fi element is irrelevant. I read a book about telepathic people who never used their powers--it was just a label to get the book a paranormal sub-genre (because it's popular these days). The telepathic people could've been an oppressed race, ethnicity, or sexuality, and it would've made zero difference to the story.

Gotta thank both Fun Size and Nick; Fun Size for the review of my book (and I saw he did for Nick's too--I assume it was his) and Nick because his book shows mine as frequently viewed. Free coattail rides, woo! :p


#118

checkeredhat

checkeredhat

Frank said:
2-4 weeks. Fucking Amazon.ca.
Click to expand...
Free shipping, estimated time of 5-8 days. I expect it will probably be here Tuesday though. It usually only takes two-three days unless there's a backorder. THe benefit of living so close to Concord.[DOUBLEPOST=1365302236][/DOUBLEPOST]Sorry Nick, was waiting until

A) I had moved in to my new apartment
B) I had got back from my business trip to Germany and Saudi Arabia, and perhaps most importantly,
C) We got internet installed in the new place.


So not sure when your book finally went up on amazon.ca, but I just ordered it now.


#119

checkeredhat

checkeredhat

I was kind of right. It shipped yesterday and the estimated delivery day was today. I have to work, y'know, so I put my currently unemployed roommate on high-alert. After 5:30pm rolled around, he gave up and went to get his passport photos taken (I told him to. Figured after 5pm it's safe to say they aren't coming). He came back to find a notice that the UPS guy had tried to deliver the package and now I have to pick it up at their store.
Luckily the store is not far from here at all; it's only one stop over on the subway. But I don't know when the heck I'm going to have time to get over there during store hours, due to the aforementioned job and all.

Also their delivery thing says delivered at "12:00pm Saturday", then has today's date on it.

I hate couriers. Send me my stuff regular mail and I'm happier.


#120

HCGLNS

HCGLNS

It's on my to do list, other books have priority right now though. I'll get around to it, eventually.


#121

Azurephoenix

Azurephoenix

Mine should be arriving tomorrow. Can't wait!


#122

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Quotemander Prime said:
Free coattail rides, woo! :p
Click to expand...
I'm suddenly picturing a gentlemen Charmander rollerblading behind Dill, holding onto his trench coat. :D


#123

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

I was delirious with fever last night and thanks to either Bubble for pointing it out or Nick for writing it, everything in my house was copacetic. I just kept saying it over and over. "The couch is here and it's copacetic." "What's that light out there? Must be copacetic." It was weird. Not as bad as the time I thought my dorm room was full of medieval people screaming at me every time I turned out the light, but still annoying.


#124

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Okay, I just did a word search of the manuscript and "copacetic" only comes up four times.

I'm gonna have to go with the old classic of "Fuck you, it's funny." :p


#125

Bubble181

Bubble181

ThatNickGuy said:
Okay, I just did a word search of the manuscript and "copacetic" only comes up four times.

I'm gonna have to go with the old classic of "Fuck you, it's funny." :p
Click to expand...
Four? Seriously? Either I'm oddly sensitive to it, or maybe it's in there a hunderd times but with a typo each time? :p

No, but seriously, I'm going to look again... I believe you, but it's really weird to me that it'd be so few. Must be that I read so quickly because it's scuh a good book that it all seemed to be close together? ;)


#126

Dave

Dave

I know a guy who uses the word a lot in normal conversation. So I guess I didn't notice it like others might. It bothered me not at all.


#127

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

I'm not getting on your case exactly, Nick; I just hate that I turn into a crazy person when I have a high fever and because I'd been reading your book at length the other day, I saw probably three of those four times. I didn't notice the first time I read, except that it was the first time I'd ever encountered that word.


#128

Fun Size

Fun Size

That's funny. I didn't notice the usage either, though it isn't used often in casual conversation. I think it probably blended as one of those expressions one person cycles regularly into conversation. As an example, I tend to intentionally throw the word "vaguely" into conversation where it's not appropriate, like telling the physical therapist that the stretch left me feeling "vaguely awful".


#129

checkeredhat

checkeredhat

Picked it up from the UPS Store last night. Had to leave work two hours early to do so.
Did I mention I hate courier services?


#130

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

checkeredhat said:
Picked it up from the UPS Store last night. Had to leave work two hours early to do so.
Did I mention I hate courier services?
Click to expand...
I know what you mean. When I order something, I'm never sure if it's going to arrive when we're home, be left at the door to hopefully still be there when we get home, or be at the UPS office where we have a scant few days to claim it before it returns from whence it came.


#131

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1drtsb/shameless_selfpromotion_my_first_published_novel/

In my growing desperation to get word out about my book, I joined Reddit. I've never even used it before aside from skimming through some AMAs others have linked, but as I said, I'm growing desperate. I just don't know how to promote the book. I've tweeted a couple of my favourite writers. Greg Rucka was kind enough to re-tweet, but that's it. I've sent free digital copies out to a few websites or blogs, like Comics Alliance, but again, never heard back from them again after saying they'll look at the book. Not that I expected Dill to be a household name overnight, but the vast majority of people that have read or bought the book have been friends and family.

The first reply to the thread I created certainly didn't fill me with hope, either. But that's the internet for you, I guess.

"Fedora and trench coat mentioned in first paragraph. Had a laugh and stopped reading, partly because of that and partly because it wasn't engaging."

Dammit, I like that cliche. Asshole. :(


#132

Tress

Tress

ThatNickGuy said:
http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1drtsb/shameless_selfpromotion_my_first_published_novel/

In my growing desperation to get word out about my book, I joined Reddit. I've never even used it before aside from skimming through some AMAs others have linked, but as I said, I'm growing desperate. I just don't know how to promote the book. I've tweeted a couple of my favourite writers. Greg Rucka was kind enough to re-tweet, but that's it. I've sent free digital copies out to a few websites or blogs, like Comics Alliance, but again, never heard back from them again after saying they'll look at the book. Not that I expected Dill to be a household name overnight, but the vast majority of people that have read or bought the book have been friends and family.

The first reply to the thread I created certainly didn't fill me with hope, either. But that's the internet for you, I guess.

"Fedora and trench coat mentioned in first paragraph. Had a laugh and stopped reading, partly because of that and partly because it wasn't engaging."

Dammit, I like that cliche. Asshole. :(
Click to expand...
Reddit is shit. Don't let them get you down.

You must be patient and let it grow organically. Desperate attempts at promotion will come off as just that. Just keep up the good work and it will come.


#133

Bubble181

Bubble181

Reddit can be useful for marketing, but you have to bear in mind that if Shakespeare had tried promoting Romeo and Juliet on there, he'd have been spammed with negative critiques about how boring it is, unrealistic, badly written, with unrealistic phrasing and an ending that isn't good but isn't properly bad either. Half of those will be from people who didn't read the book and wouldn't care to if they could.

The only way to get this sort of thing any positive mileage on Reddit or the likes is to coordinate with friends/family/Halforumites to get some good reviews/replies going and to have people who "obviously" have nothing to do with you give positive feedback. That will/may draw some other useful people to look into it and maybe pass on the message. Just a single thread with no replies is pretty much food for trolls.

Your book most certainly isn't bad - believe me, I'm honest and assholeish enough to say so if it was (I might sugarcoat it a bit, but I'd say it :p). There's a lot of fiction/science fiction/fantasy/steampunk out there, much of it self-published - the fact that you aren't is already a big step up (to some people) credibility-wise. Yes, it'll be hard to stand out - but noir animalism isn't a genre I've seen much, so that's another good point ;-)

Don't worry, and as Tress has said: desperation will not breed success, as it can be sensed a mile away - just like when trying to woo women. Now you're wooing the audience. Don't look to me for more info on how to do that, as I suck at both of those ;-)


#134

Dave

Dave

Yeah, seriously, Nick, I have two issues with you on Reddit.
  1. I'm not sure you have the temperament for Reddit. Take the worst day ever here and that's the norm there. I'm worried about you enough as it is.
  2. Your comment about the dude's face didn't come across as funny. It looks unprofessional and may turn people off. I'd edit it were I use.
You can't wrap your self-worth up in how well Dill does in his first book, dude. First books are seldom big hits. My friend Mark hardly did crap with his first and then his second and third starting making headway and the first started selling more. So instead of torturing yourself with the sales on this one, push that energy into writing book #2.


#135

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

Tress said:
Reddit is shit. Don't let them get you down.

You must be patient and let it grow organically. Desperate attempts at promotion will come off as just that. Just keep up the good work and it will come.
Click to expand...
I agree...I've learned the hard way that Reddit is an awful place to promote your book. Almost all of my 3-star reviews on Amazon came from Redditors


#136

AshburnerX

AshburnerX

Dave said:
You can't wrap your self-worth up in how well Dill does in his first book, dude. First books are seldom big hits. My friend Mark hardly did crap with his first and then his second and third starting making headway and the first started selling more. So instead of torturing yourself with the sales on this one, push that energy into writing book #2.
Click to expand...
Basically this. First books seldom sell big unless they are backed/related to another big author. You need to build up your fan base with more work before you'll start bringing in the cash.


#137

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Well, the guy was pretty civil with me (and vice versa), so I thought a little joke would be okay. I won't edit it, but if he doesn't take it as the joke it was meant to be, I'll just not bother responding again.


#138

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://thelotteryparty.com/the-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors/

So here's a funny little thing. I'm somewhat active on Bleeding Cool, a British nerd news-site. On one news topic discussing work-for-hires, I talked about how hard it is to get your name out there as a new writer and that I'd kill for the opportunity to have my name on a DC comic.

Anyway, someone on there saw it and offered to review the book and interview me on their blog. I'm still in the middle of the interview (e-mailing each other back and forth for the Q&A), but he put up the review. And by god, is it ever gushing. I almost blush when I read all the positive things he has to say.


#139

Dave

Dave

Link?


#140

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
Link?
Click to expand...
http://thelotteryparty.com/the-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors/

Which was also at the top of my last comment.


#141

Ravenpoe

Ravenpoe

ThatNickGuy said:
http://thelotteryparty.com/the-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors/

Which was also at the top of my last comment.
Click to expand...
Dave's old.


#142

Dave

Dave

ThatNickGuy said:
http://thelotteryparty.com/the-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors/

Which was also at the top of my last comment.
Click to expand...
Damn. I missed that. That's what I get for surfing on a tiny iPod screen.


#143

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://thelotteryparty.com/interviews-nick-c-piers/

Interviewed, bitches!


#144

Dave

Dave

Link?

(Just kidding!!)


#145

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
Link?

(Just kidding!!)
Click to expand...


#146

fade

fade

Well, that escalated quickly.


#147

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

fade said:
Well, that escalated quickly.
Click to expand...
And that's saying something coming from the guy whose daughter keeps shooting her clone.


#148

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Today, a friend of mine attended Phoenix ComicCon. She told me in advance that Kevin Eastman was going and that she planned on meeting him. I immediately asked if she would mind delivering a copy of my book to him. She was ecstatic to do so, since she loves Dill and has drawn him a couple of times. She gave him a copy, explained that it was free, and said that the Turtles were a big influence on the work. He said, "Oh neat!" and was visibly thrilled to get a copy.

And now...I have photographic proof that he has a copy....



Holy shit.

HOLY SHIT.

Kevin "Co-Creator of the Ninja Turtles" Eastman has a copy of my book.

KEVIN FLIPPING EASTMAN HAS A COPY OF MY BOOK.

...

:aaah:


#149

Cheesy1

Cheesy1

EPIC_BROFIST_by_Stack23.gif


#150

Dave

Dave

Nice, dude!


#151

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Right? RIGHT?


#152

Dave

Dave

What about Laird? :devil:


#153

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Well lookie what the postman delivered to me earlier today.



#154

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Sorry to necro the thread again, but this is relevant enough.

When my book first came out, many of mine friends shared the Amazon link to help me promote it. A friend of a friend of mine, on the recommendation, ordered it and loved it.

She loved it so much, in fact, that she's decided to use The City of Smoke & Mirrors...in her high school classroom!

She'll be using it to talk about the progression of plot, character development, and all the other good stuff that comes with writing a story.

Check out this board she put together. She'll send me more pictures soon because I want to know what the "best part" card says. :D



#155

Dave

Dave

Now you need Part 2....


#156

Emrys

Emrys

Damn straight! Get writing! Write now!


#157

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
Now you need Part 2....
Click to expand...
Yeah...that's...not going very well. :(


#158

Dave

Dave

ThatNickGuy said:
Yeah...that's...not going very well. :(
Click to expand...
I hear ya. Just the fact you got the first one out was amazing. Writing books is a lot harder than most people think. But you know what? You've DONE IT! And that means you can do it again.


#159

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://twistedsense.com/2014/01/har...e-the-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors-by-nickpiers/

Well, this was unexpected. Someone reviewed my book recently. I'm pretty certain I didn't give this one out to them for a review, either.


#160

Dave

Dave

You know, have you ever thought about the sequel actually being a prequel? You could tell the story of how Dil and Don Kimodo met and why they are at odds...


#161

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
You know, have you ever thought about the sequel actually being a prequel? You could tell the story of how Dil and Don Kimodo met and why they are at odds...
Click to expand...
Who's Dil and Kimodo? Unless you mean DILL (two L's :)) and KOMODO (like a Komodo dragon). :p

But honestly? Nah, I'm not really one for prequels. Part of how I wanted to write this series was as a series of mostly self-contained adventures like the old pulps. Moving forward, rather than looking back.

But yeah, as I said in the Rant thread (or was it the Whine thread? Can't remember), I'm struggling even with a brand new adventure that I started from scratch, putting the other sequel on the back burner for now.


#162

Dave

Dave

Sorry, I was going from memory. And at my age that's hit or miss.


#163

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

Dave might have the right idea. Not that the next book must be a prequel, but maybe the reason book 2 is giving such trouble is because it's not a story ready to be told yet. Maybe come up with a different Dillo mystery/story to tell next and then come back to the one you're trying to do later on.[DOUBLEPOST=1388934123,1388933967][/DOUBLEPOST]
ThatNickGuy said:
http://twistedsense.com/2014/01/har...e-the-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors-by-nickpiers/

Well, this was unexpected. Someone reviewed my book recently. I'm pretty certain I didn't give this one out to them for a review, either.
Click to expand...
If you'd just fixed the ones I told you to, those typos wouldn't have been there :p.


#164

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Zero Esc said:
Dave might have the right idea. Not that the next book must be a prequel, but maybe the reason book 2 is giving such trouble is because it's not a story ready to be told yet. Maybe come up with a different Dillo mystery/story to tell next and then come back to the one you're trying to do later on.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I did...and now I'm struggling with THAT book, instead.[DOUBLEPOST=1388934189,1388934131][/DOUBLEPOST]
Zero Esc said:
If you'd just fixed the ones I told you to, those typos wouldn't have been there :p.
Click to expand...
I thought I got them all. :(


#165

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

ThatNickGuy said:
That's exactly what I did...and now I'm struggling with THAT book, instead.
Click to expand...
If your fingers and eyes and computer work, you can write. Put words down. It doesn't have to make sense, it doesn't have to fit with the rest, because even if you write something shitty, you've then eliminated one possible route, and maybe discovered something that could work in the long run. Make sure to get to the end of the story, even if the last third of it doesn't match up with the previous two, even if a character's personality has changed entirely, even if you've written it in a way that makes you have to change or scrap a bunch of other stuff. Then go through the whole thing and fix it. It's much easier to fix a broken story once it exists than to try to fix something in your head that doesn't exist.

The important thing is to get something out. So what if you have to re-write a lot of it? At least that's getting something done, which is not the case when you second guess yourself into writer's block.


#166

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

It's funny how one review and a little bit of social networking makes all the difference. Today, when the review went up, several people passed along the link, tagging me in the process. I gained about half a dozen new Twitter followers in the process.

One follower shared a link for a free consultation with a gentlemen by the name of Dan L. Hays. I was hesitant, of course, because it was only for a 20 minute consultation on getting more publicity for your work. But I'm honestly glad I did because he turned out to be a really great fellow. He had a lot of helpful ideas, like buying a domain name for both nickpiers.com and nickcpiers.com, then having said domain names automatically redirect to my blog. At least for now, until I decide to do a full-sized website. He also gave me some great suggestions to spruce up my blog a little to really emphasize my book, like more links to its Amazon page and such.

The big thing he suggested in focusing on the Amazon page, though, is something I can't believe I hadn't considered. And this is where you guys come in:

For anyone here that has read my book, even if you don't think it was a full monty, 5-star gig, could you please write a review (however long you want) on Amazon? @Dave, I know you had some issues with it and you're welcome to voice those. Not everyone is going to think it's the ZOMG GRETIST BUK EVAH and I think the reviews should show that.

Do so for @Zero Esc's book while you're at it, too!


#167

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

ThatNickGuy said:
For anyone here that has read my book, even if you don't think it was a full monty, 5-star gig, could you please write a review (however long you want) on Amazon? @Dave, I know you had some issues with it and you're welcome to voice those. Not everyone is going to think it's the ZOMG GRETIST BUK EVAH and I think the reviews should show that.

Do so for @Zero Esc's book while you're at it, too!
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I'm ahead of the game--wrote my review when it first came out!

And thanks for plugging, Nick, but I think the only person who read mine already reviewed it.[DOUBLEPOST=1388956838,1388956307][/DOUBLEPOST]No need for hugs :p. I don't think the self-publishing game is for me and I'm gonna look for an agent for the book.


#168

Dave

Dave

I loved DILL, Nick! I thought some of the phrases were a tad forced and Dill's temper was kind of erratically written, but I think the same thing of the Dresden books and I love them as well. Hell, I've read your book at least three times and my daughter has read it as well.


#169

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Dave said:
I loved DILL, Nick! I thought some of the phrases were a tad forced and Dill's temper was kind of erratically written, but I think the same thing of the Dresden books and I love them as well. Hell, I've read your book at least three times and my daughter has read it as well.
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Whoa, you hadn't said your daughter read it, too. That's awesome. :D

But yeah, if you could put some of those thoughts together and write up a short review on its Amazon page? I'd highly appreciate it!


#170

Dave

Dave

Done. Be aware that my reviews show up under my wife's name since we share an Amazon account.


#171

Chad Sexington

Chad Sexington

ThatNickGuy said:
Whoa, you hadn't said your daughter read it, too. That's awesome. :D

But yeah, if you could put some of those thoughts together and write up a short review on its Amazon page? I'd highly appreciate it!
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Hey, I think this has been asked but I can't remember: is it better for you if I buy a physical copy vs on the Kindle?


#172

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Chad Sexington said:
Hey, I think this has been asked but I can't remember: is it better for you if I buy a physical copy vs on the Kindle?
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I get a little bit more residuals from a physical copy purchase. But it's only a couple of bucks, so if you prefer Kindle, go nuts.


#173

Chad Sexington

Chad Sexington

ThatNickGuy said:
I get a little bit more residuals from a physical copy purchase. But it's only a couple of bucks, so if you prefer Kindle, go nuts.
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Nah, I'm only just getting used to the Kindle as it is, and physical books still hold a special place in my heart.


#174

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

http://superheronovels.com/2014/01/06/pinkerton-by-name-armadillo-by-nature/

And the hits just keep on coming. Another review up, this time at Superhero Novels.

I love the fact that he was hesitant at first, thinking it was some low-rent fanfiction parody. But Dill won him over. :D


#175

Tiger Tsang

Tiger Tsang

Finally got around to start reading this, one chapter in and so far good! :thumbsup:


#176

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

One year later and the shameless self-promotion continues!

But don't worry. This one's a good one. My publisher, Tommy Hancock, does a podcast interviewing different authors. He interviewed me a few weeks ago, but hasn't been until now due to technical issues with the website. Have a listen and let me know how you think it turned out.

http://prosepodcast.libsyn.com/pro-...r-of-city-of-smoke-and-mirrors-a-dill-mystery

EDIT: I'm listening to it for myself right now. A word of caution: do not play a drinking game for every time I say "y'know" or "um." Gah. Interviews and me don't go well together.


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