Tao Wong

This is getting expensive...

So, this might get expensive. *sighs*

Trying to get a cover art done for the comic. Obviously, this varies. I contacted one person to do it, the art is okay, but it's... well, I'm not sure I'm happy with it. Luckily, he's cheap so at worse, I have more random art to add.

So, I went and made a post for more artists. I found a couple of really interesting work,.

Contacted one gu...

Comic nearly done.

Just need to get the updated, colored versions of page 18-22 and then the comic book cover.

Then I need to look into what the hell I am missing. ISBN obviously and probably a back cover? Or something for the back I guess. It doesn't have to be too elaborate but the design needs to be done. 

I'll need to figure out who / where to get the PoD set-up, though I assume being online ...

Page 14 of the comic

Because I REALLY wanted to show it to you 'cause this is SOOO cool. 

Buy books online!

So. I updated the website to make it possible for people to buy books on each of the series pages (at least for the books I have on hand).

If any of you are interested, as patrons, do drop me a line (I think there's a part where you can state the dedication). But you should also let me know just in case. As I slowly get more stuff, random things might show up for patrons. :P

Also, I...

World Unbound question...

Did I accidentally write a romantic subplot into the book with John & Ingrid that I didn't intend? I just went over a bunch of reviews and a lot mention the fact that I teased them with a romantic subplot between John & Ingrid. Which... what?

I mean, did I write that in and miss it entirely? Or are people just reading into things that I never meant to put in. Because to me, John &...

Welcome new patrons!

Good timing for all of you who arrived. I just got my Thousand Li books and a restock of my Life in the North paperbacks. Being the idiot that I am (and not having any requests for it luckily), I forgot to get myself the World's Unbound paperback. I'll have to order that up if there are requests.

So. Anyway.

Books. Anyone want one? I'm thinking of just giving one copy of the Thousan...

Quick update

A few quick updates.

- still writing the First Stop (yeah, that has to change. Huh). It's at 20k so averaging about 2k a day right now.

- I'll try to get chapters 2 & 3 up soon, but I'm on...

- holiday down with family who are taking up all my time since I haven't seen them in a bit. I should be free by Sunday/Monday and will get the chapters up then. In the meantime, I'm ...

A Thousand Li: The First Step Audiobook Contract Signed With Tantor!

Woot! Signed with Tantor.

I didn't want to talk about this till now because until the contract is signed and in hand, it's hard to say what will happen. There are still 'escape' clauses (like Travis not being signed) in the contract, but overall, this contract should be good to go.

So. I did the public post. Here's a little on the backend (within the constraints that I can't actuall...

Business Decisions & Writing Update

I'm nearly done with Stars Awoken. I've literally got the last chapter to do and that's mostly just writing in information about Mikito's Class change and John's level increases. And making sure I set up the next book properly and end this one.

All that is being hampered by the fact that I have strep throat. Have had it for 2 weeks and only got a diagnosis yesterday. So... yay me?

-...

Book Release Schedule (Or Why Tao is Insane)

This is a very tentative schedule. Anything in green is the stuff that hasn't happened yet (for the release) and might or might not happen. The numbers indicate what book number it would be as well as the writing schedule for it.

For those curious, here's how it breaks down since I sta...

Contest!

Alright. So, I've got a bunch of audiobook promo codes for book 5. Since that's the case, I thought it'd be fun to see if any of you guys could figure out why Pratma speaks like he does

- https://www.patreon.com/posts/book-5-sample-my-24999720

I've written him using a specific style, firs...

Impostor Syndrome Part 2

*Sighs* I did something silly. I wondered into Reddit r/fantasy to be exact.

So, interestingly enough, Reddit Fantasy is doing this year's reading bingo again. For those not in the know, it's basically a 'bingo box' of categories to read in. So things like 'Published in 2019' or 'Last book in a series' or, in this case and most directly 'LitRPG'.

You'd think that'd be a good thing? ...

Recent / Current Reads

Hmmm... I was asked, so here's al ist of what I'm reading or finished reading.

On-Going Webnovels & Translations:

- the Kings Avatar (Chinese Novel)

- Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God (CN)

- Library of Heaven's Path (CN)

- the Mech Touch (English novel on Webnovel)

- the Wandering Inn (Directly via Patreon & RR)

- Reborn...

Disappearing Content

Some of you might notice a lot of the older posts about books have disappeared. That's because I was told of a rather nasty clause in Patreon's TOC. So, rather than leavei t up, I'm dealing that. Since most of those are books that are out, I don't think it's an issue. 

On that note, I am also going to do something like Pirateaba. All new content is going to be posted on my own websit...

Writing update

Not a huge amount to update. I fell ill this week and still have a linger cough from the flu. Which was all kinds of fun on Tuesday when I released the book.

Anyway, whining aside, I started editing Stars Awoken on Wednesday (I got like 1,000 words written on Tuesday and that was it. Yay launch day and old business stuff lingering around). 

I'm currently on chapter 7. Thus far,...

Stars Awoken (Book 7)

Oops. Here you go. I REALLY like this cover.

Rebel Star Cover

Hi guys;

Cover for Rebel Star - book 8. 

I did show you guys book 7 cover right?

A Thousand Li: The First Step Launch Marketing

Alright, I promised to write a note for the authors in the FB group, and since I was going to write it, I figured I might as well post it here for your reading. Those who aren't interested in how the sausage is made / marketing talk, you can skip this entire post.

The First Step launched yesterday and did really well.

Now, one of the things I did that is not always recommended for t...

Comments on Stars Awoken (SPOILERS!!!)

DO NOT READ THIS THREAD IF YOU WANT TO AVOID SPOILERS


Alright that should be it. I've probably started the editing process on Monday but I don't think there's much I need to worry about for the first few chapters. However, I do think there are a few pacing issues in the book. So...

Comments:

- anything felt off? 

- any plot holes?

- do you want me to expa...

Next project

Alright, what's my next project? Time to vote.

I have a rough idea for AoB Book 6 and Thousnad Li including rough plotlines. I'll probably try something new and get a little more direction before I start writing.

Right now, I know book 3 of the Hidden Wishes series is about Lily. I have no idea for a plot. So, while it's shorter in words (normally), I expect it'll take a bit to figu...

And done

Typed the End on Book 8. I think it's okay. I am too deep in the weeds to really tell. I'll read it over in a few days or a week and start the editing process. 

I'm scheduling the release of one chapter a day from now till Tuesday (Tuesday gets the final 2). 18 chapters in total. 82k words so it's shorter than my usual 90k words. Especially compared to World Unbound at 110k.

Po...

Life in the North Comic - Page 1

I am not sure if I should post each page or just preview the first one and post the rest once it's ready. But I'm quite happy with the art, especially the background. 

Help! Audiobook Narrator - Thousand Li

Thanks to Dawn, we managed to get 2 different Audiobook narrators.

1) Travis Baldree (https://www.dropbox.com/s/cr9mcmkg91m1fo6/TravisBaldree_ThousandLi_Audition.mp3?dl=0)

He's quite a decent pronunciation (for the names) and I love the fight scene that he di...

Active vs Reactive protagonists

Was half-joking in another thread on FB about how my protagonists all go off and write my books for me. And then I later on kept thinking of it and realised that the difficulty in writing some of my series is based off how active / reactive my protagnists are.

If had to to scale them, the protagonists from active to leas active are John, Daniel, Wu Ying and Henry. And I'm not sure of Wu Y...

Nearly there... (Writing Update)

So. Good news. Bad news.

Good news.

- I'm at around 75k words. The big fight scene at the end is my next 'big' scene. Then the after effects (which will be important) is another chapter and scene.

- there might be one more epoilogue scene after that.

So... maybe another 7-8k words. Maybe 10. Not a huge book which surprised me. But I know I'll likely want...

Audiobook narration

I have a new thing I hate the most about writing. Finding a narrator.

*sighs* 

My brain / ears are having the hardest time finding a narrator. This time around, I am going with FindAway voices in an attempt to try something new. So unlike ACX where you put your book up, invite people you like and generally see who sends what in, I'm stuck with Findaway finding people for me and...

Artwork for public release?

Obviously the comic artwork (which I just got back page 1) is going on hold till it's ready.

But there's a little bit of artwork created for the various characters done till I decided to go on this other route.  Thus far, you guys (and the author group) are the only ones who've seen it. Are you all okay with me sharing the art?

Do you not care and just want the next chapter? 2019-03-20 17:57:41 +0000 UTC View Post

First Look - Ali & John from the Comic

This is John as he starts out before the gene wash. Much more ethnic Chinese, much thinner.  And yes, a giant geek...

Next up is Ali. He's a little more realistic and less cartoonish than in the other image and looks more like an overweight linebacker as described in the books. I kind of lik...

Writing, writing speed and burnout

Let's start with a very important note. Not burntout. Not even close.

But...

There was an interesting discussion between myself and a few other authors about writing speed. Now, I'm a 'slow' writer. I get between 1-5k done, with an average of 3k each day. That works out to (roughly) one new book a month; not including editing and proofreading time. It's why most books release every ...

Slow Updating on Stars Awaken

Nothing to update yet. I had to rewrite / add a little to Chapter 6 so I'm going to do that today.

Chapter 7 is half-done and needs more content then I'll add more. 

Been struggling with a little cold and visiting family, so that's been distracting. Spent most of the weekend editing Thousand Steps which is now out with proofreaders. I also tossed the book up for pre-orders so o...