tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50539927028431005272024-03-13T04:49:03.774-07:00Mark O. ChapmanMark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-50442797222229561402021-02-15T07:07:00.000-08:002021-02-15T07:07:05.313-08:00<p> Hello everyone, it's been a long time since i wrote a blog post, so here goes. I have continued to stay busy writing since my last post. I am currently trying to find a publisher for a new series of books that I have completed. As i am working on the editing of the 2nd and 3rd books, I have been submitting book one. Also, i have recently been working on a Novella and another trilogy that i am in the middle of book two. I know this isn't much information, but I will be starting to post more here on this blog. More coming soon!</p>Mark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-71941679207019674002011-02-04T18:34:00.000-08:002011-02-04T18:56:07.757-08:00The Making of a NovelSo I just started a new fantasy novel and I am 4,000 words into so I thought I would blog my progress. I am aiming for a new audience as this novel is targeting young teens. I want to make certain that I am not just targeting boys too, I need to make certain to have a strong girl in it as well. I have had a story brewing in my head for a couple of months and I have been busy with work and the holidays and hunting. Now with some free time and a new desktop computer I have started writing again. So far I found a way to start the novel off with a bang to capture readers...i might have to shave off a little looking back and start right at the action. I am still formulating the full scope of the novel and I am looking at having it be a 2 or 3 part book, depending on how much material I end up with. I have to let the story come to life at its own pace. I will keep you informed, if any of you are actually out there reading this, of my progress. Feel free to chime in with questions. Thanks for stopping by.Mark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-66143414282726824662010-06-24T18:33:00.001-07:002010-06-25T02:04:13.985-07:00Waiting for the Blue Knight<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pbAjIaNpVmE/TCQL93mIqMI/AAAAAAAAAAc/QnMkLamFEY8/s1600/SKU-000140760_COVER8x12-web.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 208px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486523403567933634" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pbAjIaNpVmE/TCQL93mIqMI/AAAAAAAAAAc/QnMkLamFEY8/s320/SKU-000140760_COVER8x12-web.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The proofs are in, changes are made, now we wait for <em><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Tales of the Blue Knight: Becoming a Knight</strong></span></em>. I am waiting for my book to be set at the printer and it will be published. They will send me a copy of each to proof and make certain that the printer setup didn't mess up formatting. I am now moving on to marketing. I am working on printing the materials i will need (business card, bookmarks and postcards). I was told about a great site that prints them for cheap called gotprint.com (thank you Robin). </div><div><br /></div><div>I am very proud of this book, it was the first novel that I ever wrote and I have a draft of the sequel written and the third book mapped out. I actually started writing this book back on college and my last teacher encouraged me to keep writing after I graduated. I remember sitting in his office and being blown away when he told me to take a menial job after school to give myself time to write. That was Wayne Ude, he is a great teacher. </div>Mark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-79151999193562496272010-06-12T17:37:00.000-07:002010-06-12T18:52:45.868-07:00Proofs and EditingWell, the good news is that I have sent the final changes out to the proofs for Tales of the Blue Knight: Becoming a Knight. The cover art has been approved and is much better than I was hoping for at the outset. The initial reaction of the cover is good and everyone is intrigued to read the book that have seen the cover.<br /><br />The bad news is that I paid for a professional edit, and unfortunately I paid way too much for the professional edit, but I was very disappointed with the results. We had 29 changes to the book in the final proofs. Now, take away the 4 changes I wanted to make, that still leaves 25 changes, misspellings, missed quotation marks. There were a couple of instances of the wrong word. I had lighting instead of lightning and singing instead of swinging. I plan to go back to see if the issues were there from the intial manuscript of if they were introduced at some point. I also plan on complaining; not that it will make a difference, but it will make me feel better.<br /><br />I also have my current novel, Scout Squad: Going Native out with a book club. When they are ready to discuss, I am going to go to speak to them and answer questions. I told my friend, who is in the book club, that I would offer up the books for free to read and if they wanted the books after reading them, I would sign and sell the books to them. I am excited about it...my friend already told me one of the readers said he likes the book and wants to buy it.Mark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-28430254024081590592010-05-26T19:50:00.000-07:002010-05-26T20:02:04.955-07:00Design Phase and ProofsToday, I recieved an email from the publishing company with my interior proofs of my book and the cover proofs for both the paperback and hardback books. I have some minor tweaks I would like to make on the cover, but overall, I am very happy with the graphics. I think the cover reflects the book much better than the cover of my first book.<br /><br />Now starts the process of changing the back cover copy of the book to be stronger and then I have to proof the interior of the book. I can make up to fifty changes free, but I feel strongly that I will not have that many changes. This book has been edited much better than my first one to date. I am happy with the package, although, I feel that the price is still too high. I cannot wait to post the graphics, but not until I have the final copy.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by...<br /><br />Mark O. ChapmanMark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-2249828264082578912010-04-29T19:34:00.000-07:002010-04-29T19:41:35.810-07:00Final Edits Complete!Today I got the final review sent back from my publishing company on Tales of the Blue Knight: Becoming a Knight, and I had to brush up a few more items. The edit is complete. I sent the file back to them and now I can focus on the next items. I have to get the cover worked on and the copy materials for the cover worked on as well. Stay tuned.Mark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053992702843100527.post-68341531737211095012010-04-28T18:29:00.000-07:002010-04-29T19:05:05.093-07:00My First Book in Kindle formatToday marked the first time I have a book in Kindle format for Amazon. Scout Squad: Going Native is in Kindle format and selling. My brother was the first person to download it. I don'thave a Kindle, but I think it is an exciting way to read books. The same problem stands now as before: getting out the word. I am learning many new things about publishing and promotion. I hope to be coming up with a new plan to get the word out about my book.<br /><br />This is my first post on my new blog, welcome and feel free to leave comments.<br /><br />Mark ChapmanMark O. Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14771254033640551733noreply@blogger.com0