After writing several non-fiction books, I made the decision to help make the leap to writing fiction in November 2009. I used to be held back by my very own brain for several years however i finally dedicated to finishing a manuscript.

These posts represent my journey in chronological order, and so i hope they assist for your own road to writing the first novel. Inside them, I share my progress in addition to training learned on the way.

March 21, 2009: Creativeness bubbling, awaiting NaNoWriMo to blow up. Plenty of ideas, prepared to start! Working title is ‘Mandala’.

November 1, 2009: First Day NaNoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month). I haven’t planned enough, my mood song for writing

November 6, 2009: Day 5 NaNoWriMo and training learned. my heroine is kick-butt, I’m writing fast but badly, I’ve bought the novel URL!

November 12, 2009: Day 11 NaNoWriMo , writing around the train, and meta-docs

November 19, 2009: Day 18 Nanowrimo: relocating wiped out my number of words, you are able to’t edit an empty page, dialogue helps to work through an issue &#8211 obtain the figures to speak about it

November 27, 2009: Day 26 NaNoWriMo. I made the error of printing and beginning to edit (ouch), began using ‘Write or Die’ which helped number of words, began writing fight scenes (so hard Used to do a podcast with fight scene guru Alan Baxter later)

12 , 9, 2009: NaNoWriMo roundup. I’m learning a great deal, I’m an outliner, I wish to model success within the thriller genre

Mind map for any scene in Arizona

The month of january, 2010: My goals in 2010 include finishing the novel by finish of 2010. I start gaining knowledge from the experts starting with James Rollins on thriller writing.

I additionally uncover Outlining also it makes an impact towards the plot.

April, 2010. I’m able to’t choose whether to utilize a Prologue, and so i research When and how to make use of Prologues. I additionally update yourself on the novel progress at 40,000 words. Mind-mapping, hearing rain, joining a writing course and learning a great deal.

May, 2010: My dialogue sucks. and so i share tips about how to improve it!

June, 2010. I update my goals at mid-year. I’ll now finish the novel, have it edited and come in into Amazon . com Breakthrough Novel Award in Jan 2011. I additionally study from Scott Sigler how to be a NY Occasions bestselling novelist. Here’s my video update including breakthroughs in plotting.

This summer 2010: I determine what I would like inside a thriller novel and just how it informs my writing, and that i finish my first draft. Yippee! Within this video, I say to you the way it feels!

September 2010: Included in the rewrites I use a field visit to research shooting guns. I additionally uncover and explain why you’ll need a professional editor before your book Before you decide to send it in to anybody (specifically for the initial novelist)

October 2010: I’m going to submit my book to my editor, and uncover it’s vital that you read your book aloud before you decide to submit i t. I suffer an emergency of confidence and discuss how to proceed whenever you think your writing is terrible. I’m also prepared to begin a marketing strategy and that i require the book cover to obtain this moving, as visuals are extremely important.

Sometimes through cover design options with Joel Friedlander, TheBookDesigner.com so we develop a number of options which over 500 people election on as well as leave 135 comments on. It’s an audience-sourced event!

November 2010: The votes have been in and also the cover Pentecost is finalized. I really like it also it wouldn’t have happened with no blog audience, so thanks! I perform a video interview with Joel Friedlander, my Book Designer so we feel the options and discuss why a great cover.

December 2010: An individual publish on copy-editing and beta-readers. oh the discomfort of editing!

February 7 2011: Pentecost is launched and obtainable in print or being an ebook. Used to do an entire load of interviews and guest posts all right here. I additionally designed a book trailer as below which really got a great deal of attention. During launch week, I acquired to #1 on Amazon . com.com movers and shakers in addition to ranking:

# Amazon . com Bestsellers Rank: #370 Compensated in Kindle Store (See Best Players Compensated in Kindle Store)
* #4 in magazines Religion Spirituality Fiction
* #5 in Kindle Store Kindle e-books Fiction Religious Fiction
* #62 in magazines Literature Fiction Genre Fiction
#96 in Thrillers on Amazon . com.co.united kingdom.

Throughout the launch week I had been pretty overwhelmed and tired in addition to excited and happy, and so i published this video about how exactly it feels to finally have your book available. It’s a genuine view!

Now you can buy Pentecost in publications or ebook format &#8211 get more information at every detail.

May 2011 &#8211 I get the first royalty cheque for Pentecost and on the day that, it shoots as much as #277 overall around the Kindle store. 3 several weeks in also it’s still within the bestseller lists for Religious Fiction Action-Adventure. Exciting occasions!

The ARKANE action adventure series

The ARKANE series presently has 7 books, obtainable in ebook, print and audiobook formats. It’s offered over 200,000 copies.