III Crimsonstreak speeds off!

Although it's much later than I intended, III Crimsonstreak is racing (via email) toward Candlemark & Gleam!

I finished the appendices this week, and the book weighs in at a meaty 102,000 words. To put that in perspective, the previous two books were about 95,000 words each (with II Crimsonstreak being slightly longer than I, Crimsonstreak in total length).

In its current, unedited form, III Crimsonstreak's main story is about 85,000 words (similar to II Crimsonstreak, which was about 84,500 words but considerably longer than the original book, which was a much briefer 72,000 words).

As for the appendices, the third book is about 17,000 words. That's more extra material than II Crimsonstreak (11,000 words) and less extra material than I, Crimsonstreak (a whopping 23,000 words). The extra length of the third book's appendices is due to a long-form magazine article and a pair of short stories.

And, just because I like to fiddle with Photoshop, here's a completely unofficial mockup of a promotional banner:

Fanboy Comics interview

I chatted with Fanboy Comics this week about I, Crimsonstreak and II Crimsonstreak.

The interview with managing editor Barbra J. Dillion touches on lightening up the superhero genre, works in progress, and other superhero goodness:

BD: How soon may readers anticipate the final installment of the trilogy, III Crimsonstreak? Have you already begun work on the book?

MA: I’ve finished the first draft of III Crimsonstreak and am working on revisions before I submit it. It’ll be approximately the same length as the second book and tie up the plot. The third book’s in a pretty good place right now as far as first drafts go. I’ve got some character moments to nail down and some third act plot machinations to smooth out. I expect a release late summer/early fall next year as long as I get it submitted early enough.

Be sure to check out the entire interview.

II Crimsonstreak release day!

Oh, yeah!

II Crimsonstreak is out today!

Follow the continuing adventures of the pop culture-loving superhero as he races to save not only the Earth...but the entire multiverse. He'll team up with some of his closest friends--like his girlfriend Jaci and the Crusading Comet--and get "help" from snobbish intergalactic space cops and a noble birdman.

It's all awaiting you in II Crimsonstreak from Candlemark & Gleam!

Here are the links:

Candlemark and Gleam
Amazon

New (micro)review of I, Crimsonstreak and II Crimsonstreak

Nerds of a feather, flock together reviewed both Crimsonstreak novels!

Overall, they liked what they saw.

This is superhero fiction more in the vein of The Incredibles than The Dark Knight....With the end of the first novel and the start of the second (which follows neatly on from the plot of the first), I was becoming a fan of Adams and a fan of Crimsonstreak.

Read the full--well, it's more of a "micro" review, actually--here.

Ready for II Crimsonstreak?

We're off and running on the preorder campaign for II Crimsonstreak!

Candlemark & Gleam runs these through a Kickstarter campaign that provides a tiered structure for anyone interested in getting the book. The tiers range from the most basic (a paperback copy of the book and the digital version) to one that includes a hardcover edition and a bunch of goodies.

My favorite tier is probably the bundle, which gets you both I, Crimsonstreak and II Crimsonstreak.

Rewards include signed copies of the book, posters, and a magical cosmic headband.*

Get your copy at the Kickstarter page.

*magical cosmic headband does not actually grant magical cosmic powers

II Crimsonstreak in Publishers Weekly

I got a pleasant surprise today when I learned Publishers Weekly reviewed II Crimsonstreak. We didn't get a review from them for I, Crimsonstreak, so I wasn't expecting it.

"...the story will nevertheless appeal to superhero fans with its absorbing worldbuilding and its warm, engaging protagonist."

Check out the blurb at the Publishers Weekly website.

The book is due out next month from Candlemark & Gleam.

Cautionary Crimsonstreaking: Don't submit until you're ready

Note: the following is re-posted from a guest post on Candlemark & Gleam's website

Don’t submit your stories before they’re ready… or before you’re ready.

Just… don’t.

I originally wrote I, Crimsonstreak in 2007. Back then, the book had no appendices and consisted of about 50,000 words. The basic framework of the story—an imprisoned superhero busts out of prison to find his father in charge of a fascist world government—was there. From a very basic structural standpoint, many elements of the original draft are recognizable when compared to the published version.

Over a period of four years, from 2007 to 2011, I whipped it into shape, polishing things, adding scenes, tweaking dialogue, etc. I even queried agents. I laugh at that now—Crimsonstreak wasn’t ready. There are no fast tracks to publication, even if you’re the Fastest Man on Earth.

By 2009, I came to my senses and stopped querying. I realized the book wasn’t ready. More importantly, I wasn’t ready. You see, young writers tend to think their first book is absolute gold. They think someone should recognize their talent and dispatch a dump truck full of money to their driveway. I was young, I was creative, and I thought that’s how it would work. Looking back, I now know that’s a clear indication of how ready I wasn’t.

Truly, Crimsonstreak didn’t start to take shape in its current form until late 2010. I set fire to the manuscript and made radical changes. More importantly, I sent it to a beta reader, a ruthless colleague who isn’t afraid to use phrases like “this doesn’t work” and “that doesn’t make sense” and “where in the hell is the character arc here, Adams?” and “you realize this whiny Warren Kensington IV character is terrible, don’t you?” We bounced ideas back and forth. I made more changes.

Our conversations were pivotal. Whiny Warren Kensington IV became a stronger character. The legacies of Crimsonstreak, his parents, and the Crusading Comet became intertwined. I found a way to introduce tension among Warren, Morty, and Chris—tension that was far more personal than it was in prior drafts.

I sank four years into Crimsonstreak. After giving it another three months, I felt it was as good as it was going to get.

I sent it to Candlemark & Gleam in the summer of 2011. Make no mistake: this was Crimsonstreak’s last stand. Had there not been a request for the full manuscript, Crimsonstreak and company would likely be sitting on my hard drive as “crimsonstreakcometrevision.doc.” I would’ve moved on.

To my utter delight, Kate Sullivan saw potential and requested the full manuscript. We made more changes—if there’s anything you need to understand about writing, it’s that there are always changes. Overall, though, the published version of I, Crimsonstreak isn’t much different from the version submitted in May 2011.

On the other hand, it’s worlds apart from the 2007 version with the file name “Hero.doc.”

Now here’s the funny thing. While a young writer gets a little full of himself or herself for no reason, an “experienced” writer does, too. When I started writing the sequel, I produced a first draft, showed it to my beta reader, made some revisions, and then sent it off.

II Crimsonstreak was not ready. There’s no way I should’ve sent the book away. I had character arc problems, I had an excess of plot aerobics, I had an “ending” that relied too heavily on shock with no real resolution or reflection.

I know that now. I should’ve known it then. Maybe, deep down, I did, but thought my newly acquired skills as Published Author would override any issues with the book.

It doesn’t work like that.

The development cycle for the sequel was much shorter. This isn’t to say you can’t write a good book in a short amount of time. It’s certainly possible, and some authors can pull it off. I wasn’t that guy yet. I just thought I was.

I concocted this story about multiple realities and rival factions. I forged ahead with an outline that touched upon basic plotting, character arcs, and scenes. Then I went to work. A thousand words a day. Then, 2,000 words a day. Sometimes even 5,000 words a day. First draft. Boom. Done.

Back up the dump truck full of money.

My “outline” was a couple of pages written in my trusty “idea notebook.” It didn’t actually outline anything. I was planning a road trip that marked the start and end points without considering things like road construction, speed limits, rest stops, or scenic routes.

Even worse, I made a major change without re-plotting the story. The result was a muddled mess. Characters’ goals were unclear. The motivation of the villains was unclear. Jaci Graves, a terrific character, got pulled into “token love interest” territory, a role that she would absolutely punch me in the jaw for assigning her.

My beta reader brought up these issues. I “fixed” them. Even though I needed to do more work, I sent II Crimsonstreak to C&G. Part of it was eagerness—I wanted Kate to read the story. Part of it was stubbornness—I didn’t want to miss a self-imposed deadline. Part of it was brashness—I figured the book’s strengths and my strengths as an author would carry it through.

I was partially right about the last part, but not because of the book.

If II Crimsonstreak had been the first thing I’d ever sent to C&G, it would’ve been rejected. However, Kate and I had a good, collaborative relationship from when we polished Crimsonstreak, so she had confidence that I could take that mess and turn it into a good book.

Revisions lasted three more months as I waded through notes and added new touches. I scrapped some self-indulgent passages, streamlined the plot, wrote an actual ending (well… kind of), and developed clearer character arcs.

It all worked out in the end, but I learned some valuable lessons along the way—proving that Published Author doesn’t know anything.

Let’s use some bullet points to hit my main ideas:

• Don’t submit anything before you’re truly ready; for the most part, you get one shot
• Outlines are good and can focus you; they don’t have to be super-detailed chapter-by-chapter summaries, but they should have some substance
• If you make a major plot or character change, adjust your outline so you have a good idea where that change will take you; you’ll burden yourself with a lot of work otherwise
• In some ways, the second book is harder than the first; development time will be shorter, you may be overconfident, and the resulting novel could very well get messy
• Revisions are a major part of the process; you don’t have to like them, but you sure as heck had better get used to them if you want to put out a good book
• Building a good relationship with an editor and working hard for them will buy you some goodwill when your novel doesn’t quite turn out as well as you’d hoped
• Do not turn Jaci Graves into a token love interest; she will punch you in the jaw

Cover reveal: II Crimsonstreak

And here it is...the cover for II Crimsonstreak!


This is from artist Brooke Stephenson, who also did the cover for I, Crimsonstreak. She really outdid herself this time. I mean that, too.

Check out the back cover:


I love the Silver Age comic panels on the back!

Here's the back cover blurb:

Three years after the climactic battle at the Clermont Institution for the Criminally Insane, Chris Fairborne a.k.a. Crimsonstreak chases down escaped supervillains while working feverishly to reestablish world governments in the wake of collapse of the New World Common Wealth.

His father, Colonel Chaos, sits in front of a Heroic Legion tribunal to answer for crimes against humanity. His mother, Miss Lightspeed, doesn’t seem herself following her unlikely resurrection. To make matters worse, Crimsonstreak encounters a being of pure speed not even he can outrun.

Sounds like the perfect time for an alien invasion, an encounter with a group of snobbish space cops, and the mysterious return of a long-dead friend with an unbelievable secret.

War will strain friendships. A multiversal threat will test loyalties. And you will believe a man-bird can fly in II Crimsonstreak.

All of this comes courtesy, of course, of Candlemark & Gleam.

Cover collaboration and the rise of the multiversal mustache

I made a last-minute adjustment to the "final" revision of II Crimsonstreak on Tuesday night. A character's mirror-world doppelganger ended up getting facial hair, a play on the much loved trope from the "Mirror, Mirror" episode of Star Trek. It's not exactly Spock's goatee, but it's close enough.

I didn't think of this myself, actually. This addition was part of the collaborative process of putting a cover together.

I'm working with my editor Kate Sullivan and talented artist Brooke Stephenson (who did the cover for I, Crimsonstreak) to come up with a cover for the sequel. I had a fairly clear idea of what I wanted. The idea was so clear, in fact, that I created a mockup in Photoshop. I'm decent with Photoshop, but my skills as an illustrator aren't professional grade. Still, I like to think I have a decent idea of how things look.

The cover for the first Crimsonstreak book went through a few different versions. We ended up going with a fantastic design Brooke made based (very, very) loosely on a concept I had for the cover. Trust me, I was as surprised as anyone when the cover concept ended up being something I came up with while fiddling with Photoshop. Brooke added the key touches that made the book come alive, such as the illustration of Crimsonstreak (my mockup used the Flash as a stand-in) and the idea to use newspaper cutaways to fill in the white space. The latter was a nod to the newspaper articles in the appendices and the character's background in journalism.

So, when it came time for II Crimsonstreak to go through the cover design process, I came up with a concept cover that echoed the first one. Seriously. The cover mockup I sent to Candlemark & Gleam utilized the same basic layout as I, Crimsonstreak, ripped pages and all. I even used the Flash again. Crimsonstreak meets a character in the second book named the Bluestreak who can outrun him. I pulled a page out of the Mortal Kombat palette-swap playbook, using a "blue" Flash and a "red" Flash to represent the Bluestreak and Crimsonstreak, respectively. Brooke will use that as a template and make it 800 million times better. I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

I'm really, really excited about the back cover. I mean...super stoked. Brooke plans to draw five comic book panels that echo comic's Silver Age. She'll use scenes from the book as the basis for these illustrations. So while the comic book characters of the Crimsonstreak-verse don't take form in a traditional comic book sense because it's a novel, Brooke will breathe life into several of them. Her rough, proof-of-concept sketches put a big smile on my face.

One of the characters caught my eye because she'd drawn him with a mustache--something I hadn't considered. We're dealing with an alternate universe doppelganger (yes, yes, again), and while I had written a specific physical difference between the character and the "real" version of that character, I hadn't considered giving him a mustache. Brooke's sketch convinced me he needed one, so I made a last-minute change to incorporate that particular feature as a gag.

I didn't have to do that. I could've told Brooke to forget about the mustache. I am, after all, the creator, right? Yet something about her drawing felt right, and I couldn't ignore that feeling. Now, that character has a multiversal mustache, all because of a little collaborative effort among Brooke, Kate, and me.

People will tell you that you lose a few things when you decide to go with a small press. That's true. But for every "take," there's also a "give." I get to help design the cover of my book--something a lot of authors think about but don't usually get to have much input on. The collaborative process of that design, in turn, ended up making a nice little addition to my novel. It's a minor change that amounts to nothing more than a few references, but it adds something memorable.

And for that, I'm grateful.

Another quick update

I plan to turn in "final" revisions on II Crimsonstreak by the end of the week/weekend. My rewrite fixed most of the issues with the book. Obviously, when you rewrite something significantly, you'll always find little bits that need to be tweaked. While reading through the book on my Kindle, I also spotted a few misspellings. I have to correct those and look at a few dozen notes I made while reading the manuscript. We shouldn't be too far off from having a cover reveal.

I'm also rereading III Crimsonstreak and making some notes on it. I want to give it some more polish before sending it to Beta Reader Mike. I need to consolidate a few things that happen in the last third of the book with events from the first third.

After that, I need to figure out which project I want to do next. I have a fantastic idea for another novel (one that's actually not a superhero book). I also have a book that's about 60% finished; I should probably go back and finish that (and re-plot the last act). I'm leaning toward working on the latter. I have a tendency to want to work on something new ("Oooo...ooooo...SHINY!") and leave other projects aside. It's very difficult to finish anything that way.

II Crimsonstreak revisions and notes on III Crimsonstreak

I'm wrapping up the last book in the Crimsonstreak series. I didn't set out to write a trilogy...it just kind of happened. Currently, the end of the book feels a little too much like the end of Peter Jackson's Return of the King. By that, I mean there are several plot threads/character moments to resolve. A few character threads got lost throughout the first draft and will need to be added during revisions.

It's tough saying goodbye to these characters. I'm not saying I'll never revisit them (in fact, I have an idea for a book based solely on Mortimer P. Willoughby that traces the history of Morty and the various Crusading Comets), but I'm going to take a break from this particular group of superheroes. I can't say much about the book (or II Crimsonstreak for that matter), but Christopher Fairborne goes on quite the journey. He has to learn to say goodbye and let go of many of the people close to him. So, as he says his goodbyes, I say my own to those characters. The ending packs an emotional punch...and I hope it translates for readers.

III Crimsonstreak is a long way off, though. That manuscript will have to be revised, I need to come up with some appendices, and my Super Beta Reader will have to Super Beta Read his way through it. Even in the best case scenario, in which I turn it in at the end of summer, we're looking at we're looking at a spring/summer release. But I'm getting waaaaay ahead of myself.

Let's talk about II Crimsonstreak. I received edit notes back from the massive revision I did on the book. Seriously, it was like performing major surgery (or at least my fictional conception of what performing surgery is like). Mastermind Kate at Candlemark & Gleam was very pleased with the edits. I have about two weeks or so to go through the additional markups and make any changes, a process I plan to start this weekend after wrapping up III Crimsonstreak's first draft.

Make no mistake, II Crimsonstreak revisions were a major undertaking. The book had a great concept, but my execution was lacking (I'll do a separate blog post about this soon). I twisted myself up in plot threads, had dodgy character motivations, and underutilized a major character. I some parts, our fair protagonist acted like a jerk simply because it was convenient for the plot.

No more.

I've fixed most of that, meaning that my biggest concern revolves around whether Falcon Gray has a beak or not. I think I can live with that.

We're shooting for an October release.

Getting it covered

As I continue to work on self-imposed revisions to III Crimsonstreak, we're getting closer to the release of II Crimsonstreak. By closer, of course, I mean fall 2013. It'll get here before I know it.

I received an email from the publisher asking if I had any ideas for the cover.

Of course I did. OF COURSE I did.

I spend plenty of time writing and revising, but I also like to play around with Photoshop. So during a period of writing inactivity (shortly after the completion of the first draft of II Crimsonstreak), I started outlining some cover ideas for the sequel.

I did the same thing for I, Crimsonstreak. I mean, even when I wrote the first draft in 2007, I started coming up with cover concepts. They all SUCKED. Every single one of them. Like writing skills, Photoshop skills improve over time with practice. I toyed with the idea of self-publishing I, Crimsonstreak--seriously, it almost happened--before submitting to Candlemark & Gleam. Because of that, I came up with a bunch of cover concepts. I can't draw worth a lick, so I used stand-in heroes like Captain Canuck and the Flash for Crimsonstreak. I just enjoy tinkering with that kind of thing.

Were those attempts fantastic? Of course not. While I'm not terrible with Photoshop, I'm also not an expert. In addition, I've never been "trained" in publication design; I always go with my gut. I'm the kind of person who can tell you that I like or dislike something, but I often struggle with telling you why. Perhaps that's the essence of design.

When Candlemark & Gleam accepted I, Crimsonstreak for publication, Mastermind Kate asked me if I had any ideas for the cover. It was like asking a person who'd just returned from vacation if they had any pictures ("I just happen to have the slideshow ready, folks! Here we are booking the hotel online..."). I had probably six or seven concepts and emailed them.

The artist's original conception (the back cover picture of Crimsonstreak in a straitjacket) didn't quite give the right "feel" for the cover. When I saw the proofs of two new concepts, I was pretty darn surprised to discover that one of them was based on one of my ideas. We ended up getting a GREAT cover from artist Brooke Stephenson.

That's one of the cool things about going with a small press or self-publishing; you get a little more control over things like that. I've talked to other authors who've recounted stories of being shown their cover and told, "There it is. Enjoy!" While I'm sure it's not like that in every case, it's nice to have some input.

Update on projects

I really don't have a ton going on right now. I just wrapped up rather intensive revisions on II Crimsonstreak for Candlemark & Gleam. I still have a few things to shake out, but it's much stronger than it was before. That's the great thing about having an editor: they really help you stand outside your work and see how other people view it. I know there are writers out there who don't think they need help like that...but I think a good editor is essential for a great book. There's no way II Crimsonstreak was ready to go in the form I submitted. Part of that was my eagerness to get it out there. I should've worked on it for another month before submitting. Then again, sometimes you get so close to your work that you stop being able to actually "see" it, so sending it off and getting feedback was probably for the best.

I used a very light outline for II Crimsonstreak. Since that book needed so much reworking and lacked focus in many respects, I'm attempting a tighter plot for III Crimsonstreak. You see, the second book ends on a cliffhanger that I have to resolve. I was already about 70,000 words into III Crimsonstreak, but the revision on book two helped me see some real problems with the third book. I sat down and wrote a five page outline based on some of the stuff I'd already written for the book. I immediately deleted four chapters (about 10,000 words) and started revising what I'd written. What about the other approximately 60,000 words? Some of that will remain, some it will be modified, some of it will be merged with other parts of the book, and some of it will be scrapped altogether.

Once I get III Crimsonstreak into better form, I have another novel that I'm about 50,000 words into. Before I continue with this book--a kind of Three Amigos/Galaxy Quest/Redshirts mash-up--I want to check my character beats and get a tighter focus on how I resolve the plot. My outline isn't very detailed. After rereading the book two weekends ago, I think it's a great concept and the writing is very strong in points. I want to change around some character traits (one character is very whiny at first and then isn't so whiny later in the book...and I like the latter version) and get some specific notes on plot points I want to resolve.

I don't define myself as a plotter or a pantser, although reading the above probably makes you think I'm closer to the latter than the former. I outline my stories and write character bios/sketches, but as the book develops, things change. I see nothing wrong with "going with the flow," but it's clear to me that I struggle to resolve those changes with the existing progression of the book.

I've written about 9,000 words on another project that's heavily inspired by Les Misérables with a little Revolutionary War and masked avenger flavor thrown in for good measure. If I can pull this one off--I have ten page outline for it--it would be somewhat more literary than any of my other books. I'll just have to see what happens.

Revisions away!

I've sent my revisions to Candlemark & Gleam.

I delivered II Crimsonstreak a couple days before deadline. Seriously, it always feels good to beat a deadline. The book is much stronger now. I'll still have some tweaking to do before its projected Fall 2013 release, but most of the heavy lifting is done.

I'm looking forward to another book launch!

Update on revisions

I'm going to the Indiana Horror Writers retreat this weekend. Tonight (Friday) is a socialization night, which means...well...pizza and debates about writing and such. I doubt I'll get much done tonight in terms of revisions. I'm currently about 33% of the way finished with revisions, not bad for one week of work. A couple of those nights were abbreviated (I say that to make me feel better about my progress).

Tomorrow afternoon will give me some time to kick back and get some revisions done. My cohorts have a couple events that I plan to skip out on in order to log some revision hours. I'm one of those people who doesn't work well with a lot of noise and extra activity in the background...which is exactly what happens during a writing retreat. Things will quiet down a bit tomorrow, giving me a chance to work on II Crimsonstreak. The retreat ends Sunday morning.

And how are revisions going? Well, I dreaded them at first. I didn't turn in a bad book, but I also didn't turn in a book that was nearly as good as it could be. Since the plot takes a lot of narrative turns--I took some major chances--I also have a lot of things that fell short of my goal. What that means is that I have a lot of developmental editing to do. It's going pretty well, to be honest. I sent a very detailed revision plan to my publisher...and I'm putting that plan into action. The prevailing theme is streamlining...streamlining characters, streamlining plot points, streamlining pretty much everything.

II Crimsonstreak is go!

I'm working on revisions for II Crimsonstreak right now. The book actually does exist.

Need proof?

Candlemark & Gleam made the announcement today.

Here's the quasi-official synopsis:

Three years after the climactic battle at the Clermont Institution for the Criminally Insane, Chris Fairborne a.k.a. Crimsonstreak chases down escaped supervillains while working feverishly to reestablish world governments in the wake of collapse of the New World Common Wealth.

His father, Colonel Chaos, sits in front of a Heroic Legion tribunal to answer for crimes against humanity. His mother, Miss Lightspeed, doesn’t seem herself following her unlikely resurrection. To make matters worse, Crimsonstreak encounters a being of pure speed not even he can outrun.

Sounds like the perfect time for an alien invasion, an encounter with a group of snobbish space cops, and the mysterious return of a long-dead friend with an unbelievable secret.

War will strain friendships. A multiversal threat will test loyalties. And you will believe a man-bird can fly in II Crimsonstreak.

We're looking at a release date of fall 2013.

The New Species of Rogue with Anne E. Johnson

A special guest joins me on the blog today. Let's welcome Anne E. Johnson, fellow Candlemark & Gleamer and author of the wacky sci-fi adventure Green Light Delivery.

Take it away, Anne!

“A romance in the picaresque style offers a good deal that is not a little amusing.”

When the British literary critic John Ballantyne wrote that in 1810, he invented a very useful term. “Picaresque” refers to any novel in a style dating back to sixteenth-century Spanish fiction, featuring a picaro, or rogue. Henry Fielding’s The History of Tom Jones - A Foundling and Hunter S. Thomson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are seminal English-language examples, although they were written more than two centuries apart.

I should hasten to add that, in 1810, “romance” did not mean love story. It meant adventure story. So a picaresque novel is an adventure about a rogue or rascal or trickster. These stories also normally have a main character who travels around a lot, allowing him to have far-flung adventures and play the rogue to many different people.

Which brings us to Green Light Delivery. I’ve been mulling over whether my novel can be considered picaresque.

Green Light Delivery offers plenty of adventure. There are intriguing and dangerous techno-gadgets. There’s reckless driving on water, land, and air (or in vacuum, as the case may be). There’s gang warfare and a mysterious lunch buffet. Everything an adventure-seeking reader could want.

The main character certainly does his share of traveling. Webrid, a carter who delivers goods for a living, has a laser implanted in his skull at the beginning of the story. Turns out it’s a delivery job, and he spends the whole novel wandering around, even planet-hopping, in search of the client who ordered the stupid thing.

So far, so picaresque. The big question, though, is whether Webrid can be considered a picaro. Unlike most classic rogues and tricksters, Webrid is not terribly cunning, although he does get himself out of a few scrapes. Fortunately for him, he has the good sense to surround himself with very smart friends to help with the heavy thinking.

But Webrid does have a biting tongue on him. Two tongues, actually. And his sarcastic quips in every situation and against every species he meets are enough to make him seem a pwetty wascally alien.

And there’s no denying his roguish eye for the ladies, even the ones with suction cups. So I say, yes. Webrid qualifies as a picaro.

And what about Ballantyne’s claim that a picaresque novel should be “not a little amusing”? As Webrid’s grandfather used to say to him, “People will laugh when you tell ’em you’re a carter, boy-o.” I sincerely hope he was right.

Green Light Delivery is available from the following retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Webrid is a carter, like his mother and grandfather before him. It's not glamorous work, but it pays the bills, and it gives him time to ogle the sexy women on the streets of Bexilla's capital. Mostly, he buys and sells small goods and does the occasional transport run for a client.

Then he gets mugged by a robot.

Now, with a strange green laser implanted in his skull and a small fortune deposited in his bank account, Webrid has to make the most difficult delivery of his life. He doesn't know who his client is, or what he's carrying, but he knows that a whole lot of very dangerous people are extremely interested in what's in his head. Literally. And they'll do whatever it takes to get it.

With the help of some truly alien friends, a simple carter will journey across worlds to deliver his cargo. And hopefully keep his head in the process.

Drawing on an eclectic background that includes degrees in classical languages and musicology, Anne E. Johnson has published in a wide variety of topics and genres. She's written feature articles about music in serials such as The New York Times and Stagebill Magazine, and seven non-fiction books for kids with the Rosen Group. She has published nearly thirty short stories, both for adults and kids.

Greenlight Delivery (Candlemark & Gleam) is her first science fiction novel. She is also a children’s author. Ebenezer's Locker, a tween paranormal mystery novel, was recently published by MuseItUp. Her tween medieval mystery, Trouble at the Scriptorium will be released by Royal Fireworks Press in August.

You can learn more about Anne E. Johnson on her website.

For updates on publications and appearances, like her Facebook Author Page.

Comic Attack Review

Andrew Hudson at Comic Attack reviewed I, Crimsonstreak, and it seems he liked it. His favorite thing about the book? I'll let him take it from here.

Speaking of characters, Matt Adams’s greatest strength here is the characters’ chemistries and dialog, with many of the lines being used for well done humor. One of my favorite chemistries is between Crimsonstreak and Mortimer. Mortimer is Crusading Comet’s butler, essentially what Alfred is to Batman. Mortimer’s dry, backhanded remarks which drive Crimsonstreak insane always make for good comedic relief.

Check out the full review here.

Take 5 with Warren Kensington IV

Matt: Another Take 5 to share with you today. Joining me on the blog, Warren Kensington IV. Thanks for being here.

Warren IV: Whatever.

Matt: You're sometimes referred to as the "Once and Future Crusading Comet." What does that mean?

Warren IV: You tell me. It's a stupid epithet. What does it mean...that I'm King Arthur? It doesn't make any sense.

Matt: I hear you're quite the technological marvel. Show me something that will wow me.

Warren IV: (takes phone from pocket, makes a series of quick button presses) Check out your Twitter stream.

Matt: (pulls out phone, checks Twitter) "I'm a Nancy boy who loves the Patriots and that one Selena Gomez song." That's very mature.

Note: The following Twitter mini-war then erupted:

Matt: You promise you'll stop with the Twitter hacking?

Warren IV: If you'll stop calling me the "Once and Future Crusading Comet."

Matt: You haven't read the sequel, have you? (Warren shakes his head) Sure. I'll stop calling you that.

Warren IV: Next question.

Matt: When did this turn into a Drew Rosenhaus press conference?

Warren IV: What?

Matt: Never mind. Third question. What can you tell me about Mortimer P. Willoughby?

Warren IV: Mortimer's been like a second father to me. Well, maybe a first father; it's hard to say. Dad says Mortimer's been with me since the day I was born. It certainly feels like it, anyway. He's a great teacher and mentor, although sometimes I can't stand to be around him. He gets all...uptight sometimes. He's always talking about rules and etiquette and protocol. Like a living Threepio...with sarcasm.

Matt: You just compared your father figure to a droid from Star Wars. What are you, kid? Like fifteen?

Warren IV: I'm seventeen years old.

Matt: That's pretty young.

Warren IV: You keep up this interview style, I'll outlive you.

Matt: Point...taken. We've touched on Morty and your knack for computer wizardry. Let's talk a little bit about Crimsonstreak. You guys didn't get off to a good start, did you?

Warren IV: Hmmmm...let's see. The guy left my father at the Clermont Institution for the Criminally Insane. His father took over the world and started a war on superheroes. My father never thought too highly of him and neither did Mortimer. I was skeptical of his motives and his methods, but a funny thing happened on the way to saving the world. It turned out he was one of the good guys after all.

Matt: It seems like you guys eventually became friends, which is pretty cool. Last question. What was it like going through the Comet Accelerator?

Warren IV: (Smiles...yes, actually smiles) Oh, man. That was one wild, righteous ride. It was like being squeezed through a tube while simultaneously being wrapped in a warm blanket of your memories. I saw kids I hadn't seen since kindergarten, communed with cartoon characters, and re-watched every movie I'd ever seen. The experience lasted an eternity, but it was no more than a blink of an eye.

Matt: Thanks for joining me today, Warren. Do you want to wrap up with the book plug?

Warren IV: Why would I want to do that?

Matt: Mortimer did it. So did Colonel Chaos.

Warren IV: I'm not them.

Matt: All righty, then. I, Crimsonstreak is available in a variety of formats from these fine retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

BACK TO CRIMSONSTREAK CENTRAL!

Take 5 with Crimsonstreak

Matt: Thanks for joining me on the blog today.

Crimsonstreak: Sure. A question, though. Haven't you written enough about me by now?

Matt: I'm asking the questions here, pal.

Crimsonstreak: (smirks) We'll see about that.

Matt: What's your favorite movie?

Crimsonstreak: You're really going in-depth, Katie Couric-rabid-reporter for this one, aren't you?

Matt: We're trying to help people get a character snapshot of you.

Crimsonstreak: Sounds more like you're trying to sell some books to me. Anyway, what do I know?

Matt: I said I'm asking the questions here.

Crimsonstreak: Whatever you say, buddy.

Matt: This is supposed to be a five-question interview.

Crimsonstreak: Can I help it if you're a crappy interviewer?

Matt: You're right. I can't help it if you're a crappy interviewee.

Crimsonstreak: All right, now you're playing ball. Favorite movie of all time...gotta say Return of the Jedi.

Matt: Interesting choice. Most people consider that the most inferior of the Original Trilogy.

Crimsonstreak: I'm not most people.

Matt: I'm getting that impression. Second question here: how fast can you run?

Crimsonstreak: (looks around the room) Who let this guy in? Man, I've gotta get a publicist. I'm fast. Faster than fast. Fastest man on earth. (now seated with food) I just ran to New York for shwarama. You didn't even know I was gone. So, dude, fast.

Matt: You can't pull out a shwarama reference. You haven't even seen The Avengers. Your book's set in like 2010. The sequel isn't even finished yet. I haven't decided if the Marvel Studios movies happened in your timeline.

Crimsonstreak: Sounds like somebody enjoys playing God.

Matt: This is intolerable.

Crimsonstreak: Yes, yes you are.

Matt: (sighs) Let's just try to get through this. Third question: what's with you and Jaci Graves?

Crimsonstreak: That topic is off limits.

Matt: That's right. You only answer "softball" questions.

Crimsonstreak: You're awful, you know that? We used to be a thing, then we weren't. Now...maybe we are again.

Matt: Does she know that?

Crimsonstreak: I don't know. Ask her.

Matt: We do have her scheduled for an upcoming Take 5.

Crimsonstreak: (waves hands) Don't ask her.

Matt: Of course. I'll respect your wishes.

Crimsonstreak: You could at least pretend to sound like you meant that.

Matt: We're rounding third here on this interview.

Crimsonstreak: If this were a four-question interview, that might make sense.

Matt: I'm going to ignore that. Fourth question: from a political standpoint, how will the Heroic Legion help the country recover from the New World Common Wealth? Keep it as spoiler-free as possible.

Crimsonstreak: You are the world's worst interviewer.

Matt: Thank you.

Crimsonstreak: (shrugs) I guess they'll redraw state borders and establish a provisional government or something. Find some lawmakers to help everything get back in balance. Work on the different levels of local government to bring everything back to the way it was. Then there will be elections...and something about the Constitution.

Matt: Don't ever run for office. Please. Okay, last question: who's your least favorite superhero?

Crimsonstreak: In comic books or real people?

Matt: By "real people," you mean people you know, right?

Crimsonstreak: You're a genius.

Matt: Just answer the question.

Crimsonstreak: Did you even read the book you wrote? Don't answer that. My least favorite superhero is Scarlet DashBoy. That little...

Matt: This is a family blog.

Crimsonstreak: (grumbles)...pipsqueak...is very off-putting. Wears red, runs fast...does that sound familiar?

Matt: Actually, it does sound familiar.

Crimsonstreak: (points emphatically) Thank you.

Matt: I mean...it kind of sounds like the Flash.

Crimsonstreak: (leans forward in chair) You know where you can stick your book?

Matt: At one of the fine retailers listed below?

Crimsonstreak: Well played, Adams. Well played.

I, Crimsonstreak is available at these fine retailers in a variety of formats:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

BACK TO CRIMSONSTREAK CENTRAL!