Draculas

On the promotional front, people have downloaded almost 700 free teaser copies of Draculas. Also, I heard from the publisher of Blood Lite, and Paul and I should be able to use "A Sound of Blunder" in the extras without being sued.

We're at about 78,000 words, and we've written 70k of them in just five weeks. You guys are rock stars. It's crazy how quick and easy this was to write.

Paul, can you put an excerpt from one of your ebooks into your dropbox folder to use as an extra? Maybe THE KEEP, in sticking to the vampire theme. (and yes, I know Rasalom isn't a vampire.) MIDNIGHT MASS would work, too.

Jeff, you missed a question in the interview section.

The goal is to get this to the proofreader by next Monday, and the formatter before the end of the month.

Joe

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BTW, if we do a sequel, we should call it "DRACULASES"

Joe

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Not to bombard you guys with emails, but I had an idea for extras that's obvious.

I liked Clay's death scene, but I also dug the discussion we had about Clay surviving.

This is an ebook. So why not do both? As an extra, we could have an alternate ending, like they do on DVDs. We could even have more than one. Gimmicky, sure, but it would be fun for each of us to pen a different ending where different, outrageous things happen.

Also, remember Paul's scene where Sha

Joe

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Sha

If we do a sequel, I think it will be far more interesting to have Clay's father turn Sha

Paul

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Nicely done, Paul.

I like it, but I went in a different direction while fleshing out the rooftop scenes, and our scenes don't quite mesh.

I dig the shaped charge concept. For emotional impact though, both Je

I like Sha

Can all of you read the last the last few scenes on the roof, then Paul's scene, so we can discuss? Or can I go in a play around with Paul's version, and show what I'm going for?

This, BTW, is a perfect example of the "extra and deleted scenes" bonus features I mentioned...

Joe

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What is this then?

The roof of the hospital exploded in an incandescent flare. The boom and shockwave stopped her in her tracks and she watched in horror as the windows and walls of the fourth floor belched flame and debris, followed almost immediately by the third and second and first. Every entrance, every exit blew its doors and shot flames like giant blowtorches.

And then the floors began to collapse--first the roof onto the fourth, then the fourth onto the third, pancaking all the way down to ground level in a mini-reenactment of the trade towers' collapse, leaving only a flame-riddled cloud of smoke and dust and debris on the far side of the parking lot.

Paul

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Gotcha. I just reread it more carefully. During the first read, for some reason I thought what Sha

Still, I'm not sure we need the bomb explained, or that Je

Do you mind me reworking it a bit?

Joe

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I'd rather forgo the exposition myself. OTOH, readers are going to wonder how this bomb did what it does. Just saying it sterilized the scene is asking for a leap of faith. Mention plasma jet and 10k degrees, and they can be pretty certain there ain't go

Paul

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I think I see what my issue is. The final six scenes should be rearranged, so Clay's death immediately follows Adam's detonation. Then we can have Sha

Then I can break up Je

Then we can include the bomb explanation, still get the emotional impact of Je

Make sense?

Joe

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Go for it.

Paul

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Almost done. This works much better for me re-arranged.

Do you think it's better to have Dr. Mortenson ask Sha

Also, I've got an epilogue idea that I'm going to write. We can omit it from DRACULAS, but it's where I want to go when the sequel rolls around...

Joe

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I think we can give our readers more credit. "Dr. Mortenson" is a pretty fair clue. And if not, twice she thinks she's met him before. Pairing those with your previous transformation scene pretty much gives it away, no? I don't think we need to hit them over the head. I'd rather have them make the leap on their own - that way they go from passive to participant. Those who don't glom on their own will get smacked in the head with it when the guy in the scrubs starts feeding the baby his blood.

Paul

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It wouldn't be hitting them over the head. It would be subtle.

But I do think we need to spell it out in the last scene. I can see some folks going, "Huh? How did the doctor become a dracula?"

I'm going to tweak it to try it. We can always axe it if it doesn't work.

Joe

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Okay, 4.3 is done, and the book is done.

Let's all read the last twenty pages and discuss if it works for everyone. I'm sure we'll change some stuff. And we might cut my prologue, but I wanted to hint that a follow-up book will have werewolves in it.

Also, we still need a book excerpt from Paul and an interview question answered from Jeff.

Excellent job, everyone!

Joe

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Woo-hoo! Can't wait to read.

Blake

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Guys, I think we have an important decision to make for which cover we go out with on October 19th.

Check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/DRACULAS-Chapters-Upcoming-Release-ebook/dp/B0042ANZBU/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285261706&sr=8-1

I happen to think the cover without our names on it is much more striking, Intriguing, and buzz worthy. It's just plain bad ass. Joe - perhaps we could ask your readers on your blog, continue the involvement of marketing on all levels with the fans?

Blake

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And another point...not having four names on the cover points to the underlying which is to create one, seamless novel. Subconsciously, I think readers will favorably make that co

Blake

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I'm for the names. I want my name on my books.