Novels
Novels by Brian Kittrell. This is a general category containing all novels, and series or standalone titles will have their own categories.
Guest Post and Giveaway on Alaskan Book Cafe
August 22, 2011 | 
Author Just wanted to drop by and mention the guest post and giveaway event on Cristina’s Alaskan Book Cafe! Everyone is able to participate in the Omnibus giveaway (all three books currently out) toward the bottom of the page.
Good luck, and thanks, Cristina, for having me and hosting the event!
The Dying Times Reviewed by Jackson Free Press
How exciting! A favorable review from the Jackson Free Press, a local newspaper in my area. I’m stoked!
To read the full article, click here.
Basically, I was wallowing in my own self-pity for slogging along through The Circle of Sorcerers and worrying over finishing it when I checked my email on my phone. I have Google Alerts for my book titles plus my name, mainly for thanking reviewers or getting involved in conversations about the books when they pop up. I send out so many review copies that it’s hard to keep up with, and it saves me time using Google Alerts instead.
So, I saw the new review posted, then I saw it was Jackson Free Press. My pulse raced as I opened the email, reading every bit and soaking the information in as fast as I could. Then, I ran into the house like a madman, pushing the phone in my wife’s face. She, as always, was obliging and didn’t punch me out of fear, so that was another positive thing this evening.
Thanks for all the support from everyone, everywhere. It means a lot to me.
Posted in Novels, The Survivor Chronicles | 
Tags: bloggers, reviewers, The Dying Times | 
No Comments » 22,000+ words in two weeks?
And I’m still not fried somehow. It’s been a little over 10 days, and I’ve averaged 2,200 words a day, but I’ve only written for four of those days. I got burned out after the first 11,000 in two days, but I’m back at it.
Why, you ask?
There are two books coming out this year, of course. A World Forsaken is due out by the end of September, and Circle of Sorcerers needs to go to editing by August 21st. It’s mid-July now, that’s why!
Why finish so late, you ask?
There was a lull between book 3 and work on these two titles. Frankly, I got depressed. Real depressed. Sales were declining, a string of terrible reviews were cast, and I lost hope and confidence in my ability. Is this what I’m supposed to be doing? I asked myself on a daily basis. Well, the answer I came up with is simple.
No one is perfect, and very few will write a best-seller when they first get started. Even if you write a great book, there are plenty of people who won’t like it. Forge ahead, find the audience, and speak to their hearts. It’s all you can do.
I’ve never been the egotistical type of writer; I have passion and dedication to what I do, but I don’t think of myself as the best thing since sliced bread. I’m a writer – I write stories, and people either love them or hate them.
I’ve already enjoyed a great deal of success with my stories, so I take that as a sign that somebody somewhere is enjoying them. Although readers don’t often share their feelings in reviews, and no matter how much I wish they would when they enjoyed the books, I get encouragement from those who take time to write to me on here, on Facebook, or through email and tell me about it. So, to the fans, I respectfully say, “Thank you!”
In closing, I’ll summarize: we’re on schedule.
Posted in Mages of Bloodmyr, Novels, Self-Publishing Blog, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: self publishing, writing | No Comments » Circle of Sorcerers, Chapter One
Circle of Sorcerers Cover Art
This is Chapter One of the Circle of Sorcerers fantasy novel I’m working on now. I’ve uploaded it to a couple of critique sites to get feedback, but I might as well get some feedback from those who check out the blog. Let me know however you like.
Edit: June 10th, 2011, edit made to the chapter.
d10 Core RC1 and More
I’ve mashed the d10 Core rulebook into a release candidate status, so it can now go through playtesting and beta reading. Hopefully, we’ll get this thing whipped into shape before the end of the year.
Circle of Sorcerers just hit 30,000 words at just under 100 pages. That should be at least tripled when it goes to editing in August. A World Forsaken (Survivor Chronicles #4) is still at 30,000 words, and it should triple or more also by its release at the end of September. My poor vampire story still hasn’t hit page 20 yet due to neglect and other concerns. Order of necessity and all that. 
Just a small update today.
Posted in d10 Core, Mages of Bloodmyr, Novels, Roleplaying Games Blog, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: d10 core | No Comments » The Omnibus Cometh
Survivor Chronicles Omnibus cover
I am in the process of releasing an omnibus edition of The Survivor Chronicles released so far. It is the compilation of the first three books of the series in one eBook. That way, people who haven’t read the books yet have a chance to catch up before the last one is released around the end of September. It also comes with a slightly reduced price tag, making The Dying Times free when all three are purchased at the same time.
Thanks to the readers who have made these books a great success. Raise a cup to the fans!
I will post some more info here when it is available for download.
Note: At the present time, this is an eBook-only edition, but I do plan on combining the paperbacks into a single ISBN so they can be purchased all three at once, also. I’ll be putting a discount on those, also. I just have to get in touch with my distributor to make sure it goes smoothly and find out what all is needed.
Posted in Novels, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: novel, omnibus, Survivor Chronicles, zombie, zombies | 2 Comments » May 2011 Updates
Oh, I’ve been busy lately. Whew! I am presently working on five books, in no specific order:
#1 – Book 4 of The Survivor Chronicles to finish the series.
#2 – Book 1 of Songs of Sorbia, The Circle of Sorcerers, a new fantasy series.
#3 – Book 1 of a vampire book. I haven’t decided on the title yet.
#4 – Non-fiction self-publishing book (instructional)
#5 – The d10 Core Roleplaying Game System core rulebook. (along the lines of D&D, White Wolf pen and paper games, etc.)
Lots of work load. Of course, the Survivor Chronicles takes precedence because it actually has a due date of end of September. I want to get Circle of Sorcerers to the editor in August. #3 and #4 can wait a bit, and I really want to get #5 to final playtesting before the end of the year. I would love to finish it in 2011, but I don’t know if it will be possible. Designing roleplaying systems, although the system for this is basically finished, is not an easy process to outline on paper so others can understand it.
The self-publishing book was slated for this year, but I may wait on it until Q1 of 2012. I don’t want to release it in 2011 if the standards change right after Christmas like they sometimes do. I want the “2012 Edition” to be valid for at least 2012, if not for a year or two afterward.
Just wanted to let you guys know what’s been going on. Some people do read my little blogs. 
Prisoner and Survivor Released and Relaxing on the Midlist
Book #3 entitled Prisoner and Survivor is hitting Amazon and Barnes & Noble this week. The eBook version is already out, and I’m ready to relax for a few days before continuing the final book, A World Forsaken. So far, book 3 has sold about 80 copies since it’s been out. Very cool.
Sales have slowed, but I’m in the process of hunkering down on the ‘indie midlist’ for a while. Though it is subjective to say so, I’m a mid-lister with my books – meaning I’m somewhere comfortably in the middle. Being in the middle is not a bad spot, really; the income runs anywhere between $500 and $1,200 per month, and I don’t have to run myself to death doing promotional work and advertising on a constant basis. I actually have time to do some writing, and people are still picking up the books and taking the journey with Nadene, Andy, and (now) William.
Some say that $1,000 per month as an indie is “outlier”, or on the extremely successful end, but I don’t agree. The same rules don’t apply. The outliers these days are making 10x that per month or more. Of course, most of those people have considerably more books in circulation and the number of titles they have produced are normally at least double the number I’ve written so far.
I’m liking it. I think Joe Konrath is right when he talks negatively about advertising and promotion. They’re usually worth alot less in the end for the effect that they have, and readers are becoming much more proactive about finding new authors that they enjoy than they could in the past. I hope you had a wonderful Easter and thanks for reading!
Posted in Novels, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: Prisoner and Survivor, self publishing | 2 Comments » Giveaway Finished!
I’ve finished the giveaway, and everyone has their prizes. Congrats to Ann for winning the Kindle 3G! Congrats to the others who walked away with some cool Survival Chronicles books and eBooks! Congrats to everyone who won, and a big thanks for everyone who participated.
I was scared to host a giveaway of such a size and scale at first, but it really paid off. Most important of all, it felt good to give something back to the readers. I’ve started another giveaway which I call the Benchmark 200. Basically, when I hit 200 facebook “likes” on my fan page, I’ll give away a $25 Amazon gift card. You can spend it how you like, no questions asked.
Book #3 comes out soon. The eBook always precedes my print releases, and the print release is scheduled for May 1st. So, the eBook should be out in about a week from now. So stoked.
Book #4 is coming along nicely, and I have in mind how the series is going to end. Well, I’ve had the general idea in mind since the inception of book #1 two years ago, but it’s been changed and altered as the storyline has flowed forward. Since I write character-driven stories, sometimes the characters throw something in the mix that I have to account for in the plotline.
As always, I want to thank those who have believed in me and my little zombie series. Several thousand readers so far and still creeping along.
Posted in Novels, Site News, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: giveaway, Kindle, zombie, zombies | No Comments » Last day to enter!
It’s the last 24 hours (or so) to enter the contest for the free Kindle 3G + Wifi (and other goodies)! Check out the Contests + Giveaways tab at the top on how to enter!
Whew! The Dying Times is Back
The Dying Times has returned to Amazon. It lost its sales rank, but the tags and reviews stayed attached to it. So, it’s a hit, but it wasn’t a total loss. (Thank goodness!)
Posted in Novels, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: amazon, Kindle, novel, The Dying Times, zombie, zombies | No Comments » Falling Off the Shelf
Due to some sort of Amazon glitch, The Dying Times has “fallen off” the virtual shelf at that retailer. I can only say that saying it has been a stressful time since this happened is an understatement.
I’ve been working with Amazon’s KDP service to get the title reinstated, but it’s not back yet. The paperback editions of both books are still available, and the Kindle version of the second book is still up. Hopefully, it will be resolved quickly and soon.
Posted in Novels, Self-Publishing Blog, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: amazon, Kindle, novel, The Dying Times, zombie, zombies | No Comments » The Next Big Thing
The Circle of Sorcerers cover first draft
I’ve been writing zombie stories for most of this year. Well, I’ve been writing zombie stories since 2009, but have only recently published them. I have one more in the series to write, and the currently finished book and the one to be written to release. I’ve enjoyed writing the zombie stories, and I appreciate all the positive feedback and encouragement that the series has received so far. It was my first adventure in writing and publishing at novel length, and I have been generally successful with them.
What’s in store next? Now that I have my “sea legs” as far as publishing is concerned, it’s time to move into a wider, more expansive market and audience. Epic fantasy will be my next great experiment in the world of writing.
Posted in Mages of Bloodmyr, Novels | Tags: fantasy, novel, The Cirlcle of Sorcerers | No Comments » February Report, 120 days later
It’s been four months since The Dying Times hit the scene, and about 23 days since The War of the Dead was released. I’m here to report on sales rankings, sales numbers, and so forth. People ask me about this all the time, and I promise, as always, to include some shiny graphs and stuff. I will include sales from all channels as of 02/25, and they shouldn’t change a huge amount until the end of the month.
Posted in Novels, Self-Publishing Blog, Site News, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: novels, sales report, self publishing | No Comments » Book #3 finished, going to editing
Posted in Novels, The Survivor Chronicles | Tags: books, novel, Prisoner and Survivor, The Survivor Chronicles, William, zombies | 2 Comments »Welcome!
This is the official home page of the Late Nite Books imprint and author Brian Kittrell.Connect with me:
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