Writer Peggy Bechko Discusses What's Coming Next

Seems like a Writer's work is never done!  But that's a good thing!  

Onward. 

This week I'm talking a bit about what's coming next for me -- 

There are a number of irons in the fire as usual. I have a romance novel that needs finishing - I'm about 3/4 of the way there. 

Work continues at a slow pace for the conversion of one of my movie scripts, Bloodlines, into a novel companion. It's a vampire western full of the paranormal. I hope to have that complete by late fall or early winter. No promises though!

Why is progress on Bloodlines script to novel slow? Because Planet Of The Eggs, the comic book series I partner in with Charlene Brash Sorensen, is taking priority - we have four books in the comic series out now with the fifth to be released later this summer.  The fifth is nearly finished in first draft form. Here's the first page from that new adventure - tentatively titled Saving Dot. We'll let you know of any changes in title and the release date. Check it out here or visit our Facebook page. 

And, in addition to the new book, the fifth of six in the first volume, there are big changes coming to our series as our characters evolve and mature. And Volume Two is already an evolving idea. 

But as to the next adventure, Saving Dot, what do you think?  Do we save Dot? She's hanging on to a dragon and the flight is bumpy.  Her egg friend, Sala is in the dragon's clutches and the rest of the gang, Cyrus, Nightfist, Twilight, Smudge and Skink along with Dot's human companions, Smith and Dave are laying plans to get them back! The girls are strong, it may not be them who need rescuing!

There's mayhem and tragedy ahead - stay tuned, keep reading, and let us know who's your favorite character and where you might like to see them go next in space and time.

Interview With Writer M Pax 's Friends from Settler Oregon - The Rifters

Today I'm turning this blog over to a great writer, M Pax. 

M. Pax is author of the space adventure series The Backworlds, plus other novels and short stories. Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons  to her, and she blames Oregon, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers as a star guide and has a cat with a crush on Mr. Spock. Learn more at mpaxauthor.com.

  

So what's on tap next for Pax?  There's the release of her third in the Rifters Series, and here's what folks are already saying about this fantastic series:

“The world Pax creates here is like the Wild West meets Ghostbusters with some Stargate and a bit of Steampunk thrown in. Even though everything seems a bit familiar, it’s not, which is what makes it compelling.”

Got it? Good! Now let's check in with a couple of the folks who're hip deep in the goings on at Settler Oregon where the Rift has settled in for the long haul, Darli Dae Long and Earl Blacke. 

So, tell our readers a little about yourselves. Daelin, ladies first.

Please call me Daelin. I can’t stand my full name (Darlin Dae Long). I had a great job in New York City as an editorial assistant at a publisher. I loved it. Then I was laid off, and on my way home I was robbed on the subway. Lost my last paycheck and the jerk even took my stapler. My sister invited me to stay with her and helped me get a job as county librarian in the dinky town of Settler, OR. Not only do I guard books, I guard the town from monsters.

over to you Earl...

My name wasn’t always Earl Blacke, but that’s what I want to be called in this century. I was plucked out of 1888 after I was released from San Quentin. I went through some rift in Oregon and ended up in this modern century. I own a resort ranch and I fight monsters.

All righty!  Can you tell us what it is about Settler that holds you there and would you remain if the Rift closed for good?

Daelin: My sister is missing. She went through that rift and warns of brewing evil on the other side. Once she’s safe, I might move on with my life. Maybe. Settler is growing on me a bit, and I kind of like battling monsters. It makes me feel powerful, which is better than a sniveling victim on a subway platform. I swore I would never be a victim again, and I mean it.

Earl: If the rift went away, Settler would be quiet. That’s just fine with me. It’d be best if the world didn’t find out who I really am.

Sounds like Settler has a lot to offer other than the Rift, but that's pretty hairy.

Can the two of you tell us a little about the dangers of the rift?

Daelin: So far I’ve defeated a head-stealing phantom and a swarm of volcanic killer ash bees. I haven’t met anything from the rift yet not out to kill us all.

Earl: Hey, there’s me. I’m from the rift. I’m not trying to kill you.

Daelin: Maybe not, but I don’t fully trust you either.

Earl: I’m harmless. It’s my supposed ‘friend’ from the rift that can’t be trusted. He’s hiding something.

Daelin: Yeah, something big. We better find out what it is before we’re all dead.

Hmmm, thank you both. The rest of us will have to ponder just how far this Rift and it's denizens might spread. I urge my readers to read on and keep tabs on what might be coming next. 

To help us all out M Pas has a great offer. If you need to catch up on the Rifters you can read books 1 & 2 in the Rifter series for free by becoming an M. Pax Reader. ENTER MY DIMENSION

Don't pass that up. 

 

And. Dec. 1, the third in the series releases. The Reader, releases!  Grab it quick!  Don't get blind-sided by the denizens of the Rift.  

Buy links for The Reader:

 Amazon

AmazonUK / AUS / CA / DE / FR / ES / IT / NL / JP / BR / MX / IN

Bookcessories

iBook / Nook / GooglePlay / Kobo / Smashwords / inktera / Scribd

With the rift closed for the season and no more monsters to fight, Daelin Long gets bored as librarian in the podunk town of Settler, Oregon. A job interview and her brother’s arrival present a tempting opportunity to escape, until her brother and her best friend, a ghost, disappear.

While Daelin searches for them, more mysteries pile up: dead people coming back to life, portraits of the town founders replaced with strange white trees, and people on the other side of the rift returning. It’s impossible. The portal that allows monsters from other universes to come to Earth is sealed until next summer.

The Rifters, a secret group protecting our world, believe the troubles are nothing more than the tantrums of an offended ghost. Daelin disagrees. If she’s right, the evil hell-bent on destroying Earth has new technology making the rift more deadly.

Before the monster summons the next apocalypse, Daelin must find it and destroy it.

Thanks for the interview Daelin and Earl, and for introducing us to them M Pax. Looking forward to the next adventure and whatever might crawl, sling, fly or splat out of the rift!

Planet Of The Eggs - Book and T Shirt Giveaway Sept. 22 to 25

Work is progressing quickly on Planet of The Eggs comic series' newest title, Grimoire: Book of Spells! The new Kindle Comic will release in October, 2015.

Meanwhile we're hosting a giveaway of the first in the comic series, Cracked Open, a Kindle edition comic with accompanying cool T Shirt pictured above! 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The giveaway runs from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25.

All you have to do is go to the Facebook page, like it, and click on the giveaway tab to find easy ways to enter - again and again if you like! Be sure to tell your friends and enter.

There are lots of other cool T Shirts at skreened.  Check 'em out and comment on your favorite or give suggestions as to what character you'd like to see on a shirt next!

Why are you still reading?  Go, go!  

The Twisting Path

For myself, as a writer, I’ve never really known what direction my career might take. I loved writing novels and I enjoyed creating scripts from the movies in my head.

Yes, I’ve written and published novels; sixteen of them at last count, mostly traditionally published with houses such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Five Star and others, but additionally as an Indie writer.

I’ve also written and optioned a number of screenplays, written blogs (this one included along with being a regular Contributing Editor at TVwriter.net). Be sure to visit. I talk about writing and will be doing a longer, 'how this all started' article there.

But this latest incarnation/twist in my writer’s journey I didn’t see coming. Or, at least it came low on my list. 

Technology certainly has had an impact on what I decided to do. I’ve always thought in pictures. Created my novels from the movie in my head and the same for the screen scripts, but this is a whole new ball game.

NIGHTFIST

Recently I released, with a writing and illustrating partner, Charlene Brash-Sorensen, a new comic series, Planet Of The Eggs. First issue, volume one; Cracked Open.

It’s a true labor of love with a learning curve about as steep as can be imagined. I would have said as steep as Everest or maybe the Empire State building, but I think leaving it to your imagination is probably better.

And yes, technology is a big player. I have ideas, lots of them, and I write, lots of stuff, but putting together a comic series? It seemed impossible only a short time ago unless I wanted to approach a comic house and try to sell my ideas. Since this is a blast and not to be trampled (as can many times happen in a development cycle) in my humble opinion, I wanted to do it Indie. 

SKINK

Then I discovered the software. Yep, lots of software. I’m learning a lot about Photoshop, the ins and outs of Power Point and a comic creator software that is great. Learning, learning, learning. That’s Where I’m at. Still learning, but it’s coming together nicely (again in my own humble opinion) and we were very excited to launch Volume 1, Issue 1 just this past week.

It truly is amazing how technology is leaping forward. Yeah, I know, I kind of give away my age saying that, but it’s the truth. From an era to typewriters to this ever-changing, opportunity-generating time, it is, simply amazing. One whole heckuva lot of fun too!

So, now that I’ve shifted gears into this arena will I still be writing books such as Science Fiction, Romance, Horror or Western?  You bet I will! Screen scripts? Yep! I’ve been accused of being too scattered, but I’m having such a good time I really don’t care. For me it’s always been explore, have fun, and see where it takes you.

Grab a copy of the first adventure in Planet Of The Eggs and be sure to watch for the next installment! And don't forget to stop by and like our Planet Of The Eggs Facebook page. We're going to have discussions, giveaways, and more there.