A Must-See Character? — Derek Barton – 2019

Character Sketch

 

Have you ever wanted to participate in a book’s story creation?  Watched a movie and thought, I wish they would’ve have done this…or wished they would have taken the story in this direction…or This character is so flat, boring… 

Well, I am offering you your chance!

In an upcoming modern horror/crime story I am developing, I want YOU to tell me what would you’d like to see or read — what character you’d write about!

My only limitation for you is that the story will focus on two patrol officers — I am picturing this character as my main character’s partner.

Should I chose your character, I will send you a Signed Paperback copy of the novel in advance of putting it on the market and give you exclusive credit on my dedication/acknowledgment page for that character creation! Also, you will get an exclusive paperback copy of Elude #3 coming out late March or April with an alternate cover…YOU WILL HAVE THE ONLY SIGNED COPY! 

This giveaway will go to the end of March and you must be within the United States to win (sorry, but International Mailing is just impractical at this time).  Also note, if not enough entries are sent or viable characters to choose from, I may not select a winner for the giveaway.

Use my prior Character Sketch blogs to get a better idea of what I am looking for:

Diving into the oceans of your characters!

OR…

New Character Sketch!

CHARACTER SKETCH

Name —

Gender —

Character Strengths & Weaknesses ==

How old?

What does the character look like? 

Where is the character from?

How does your character deal with conflict? 

Where does he/she live?

Does the character have any unique or special abilities? 

Who else is in their life? 

The character’s current status in life?

What is your character’s goal or motivation?

To participate, Copy and Paste the questions to an email and send your responses to Rivyenphx@gmail.com.  Feel free to add images, short summaries or anything else you want that will bring your creation to life!

Good luck and together we can really write something special!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOW ON PATREON! — Derek Barton – 2019

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HEY EVERYONE!  GREAT NEWS!!

I am now on Patreon.com! What is Patreon, you ask?  It is a great way for you and I to connect and for you to get some fantastic and exclusive book and artwork content!

Long ago, painters sought out “patrons” to help them with daily living costs while they worked on contracts.  Patreon is similar to this and offers a direct form of communication and trade between us.

By becoming a Patron, you get to read exclusive blogs, preview chapters, get ebooks ahead of market releases, obtain signed books, custom-designed metal bookmarkers, and even alternate, custom-made book covers of my books JUST FOR YOU!

Here is a preview of MY PAGE:

patreon #1

 

Of course, there is no obligation and pledges can be changed at any time.  With your support, however, I can get you more of what your survey results asked for — More content, current updates, and better giveaway prizes!  Also, I hope to use the support to get out and have book signings and conventions around the United States.

LET’S GET THIS JOURNEY STARTED!

 

What’s your story? — Derek Barton – 2019

nw 2019

With lots of willpower and a dash of good luck, I will be completing the two series, Wyvernshield and Elude, this year. So, with that said, I am deciding on future projects.

Are you ready for a new world to explore?

I have a simple 7 question survey that takes literally 2 minutes to complete.  Can you help me out and share your thoughts?  I am very interested in YOU!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE IT — THANKS!

 

 

From Start to Finish: 2018 — Derek Barton – 2018

NYE

As everyone who happens to read these blogs know, I have been using Bi-Monthly goals to keep me focused, motivated and productive.  Now since November, I have been a little non-plussed, to be honest with you. With very little book sales and only a few friends coming to book shows, it has made me question what to do next or what changes I can make to reach a bigger audience.  I am not planning on giving up, just looking for new steps to take.

While I am still researching the internet and watching YouTube videos on marketing, I don’t have any new answers…yet, but in the meantime, I thought I would look back and see just what I have done this year and if I am happy or not with 2018.

Complete Works

Works In Progress — Status as of January 2017

CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS AUDIOBOOK – This was still in the works, finalizing edits and mastering the audio quality.  The final version was released and published on Audible.com on June 25.  This was a fantastic first experience with audiobook production and I couldn’t be happier with the talent and skill my voice actress, Laura Richcreek-Morrison.  She has been currently working on The Bleeding Crown!  Voice actors like Laura and Charles Pendleton for my horror stories have taken my work to a whole new level!

THE BLEEDING CROWN – Four of my bi-monthly goals for January & February were to complete the 2nd waves of edit for the main body of work, complete the subplots for the manuscript (about 25,000 words), set up a marketing campaign (ads, etc) and start working on the book cover.  All was finalized and the completed book was published on June 26th.  (Side note:  I didn’t realize June had been so full this year! ha).  While sales have not been as plentiful, it has gotten a decent amount of 5 Star Reviews on Amazon.  I personally cherish the book as my favorite child so far (Elude is close second though!).  I have written almost 30,000 so far on the follow-up, Swimming In The Ashes (working title).  That might be out by the end of 2019, but no guarantees.

IN FOUR DAYS AUDIOBOOK – In April, I connected with Charles Pendleton and we agreed to work together on my modern paranormal/horror story.  He did a great job on it and we have seen some success with the sales on Audible.  It was released in August. Charles is also already working with me on the Elude series so stay tuned for that!

ELUDE PT #1 & PT #2 – In January I was still working on the first wave of edits for Part One!  As of August 31, it has been completed and published on Amazon and Kindle.  Part Two was published on October 19th.  I am working through the final Part Three and hope to have it published by February 2019.

THE HIDDEN – Released Chapter 7 on January 2nd.  Just this month released Chapter 23. This series looks to be wrapping up in a couple months as a complete web saga.  We, my father and I, will be working to get this put together and finalized for print within the upcoming year.  I have been developing several book cover ideas to start with.

Now to see some stats on the site’s growth:

BLOG COUNTS:

  • 2016 — 14 Monthly blogs completed
  • 2017 — 37 Monthly blogs completed
  • 2018 — 43 Monthly blogs completed (including this one)

NEW WEB SUBSCRIBERS:

  • 2016 — 7
  • 2017 — 17
  • 2018 — 24

VISITORS & COUNTRIES VIEWED IN:

  • 2016 — 204  & Countries — 8
  • 2017 — 809  & Countries — 31
  • 2018 — 895  & Countries — 39

4,239 Views in the three years!

TOP FIVE MOST VIEWED POSTS:

  1. Elude #1 with 72 views
  2. Steps on a New Path (Chapter One Blog for The Hidden) with 67 views
  3. Elude #2 with 47 views
  4. Audiobook Review of Stephen King’s “The Outsider” with 45 views
  5. Elude #3 with 43 views

New Additions to the Site were my Audible book reviews posts and my book giveaways which has been very successful.

So, overall a lot of work still hadn’t been published until the fall of this year — three books and two audiobook versions.  I hope to have two more audiobook versions out and possibly two more novels.  I have also had ideas percolating in the back of my mind for a new horror web saga for this site and a whole new trio of novels starting in Aberissc this time!  What I am saying is that there is a lot more work to be done and coming. 🙂

I also had a chance to get out and meet a few of you that were local at the book-signings in October, November and December.  That was a lot of fun and I do hope to continue this in the coming year.  On January 19th, come see me at:

1-19-19 SS

While I didn’t get everything done that I wanted to and I am still trying to find the right balance to get writing, work and fitness goals accomplished, I do see that the platform is actually growing.  Also, I should be fully recovered from my back injuries from the accident in August by mid-2019, so that should also help with my fitness.

Thanks especially to all that do support me and have taken an interest in my work.  I hope to keep bringing a smile to your face as you do mine!

December & January 2018 Bi-monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

Goal #1 2018

 

Here are my production goals for December & January and my writing production for September & October.  I know what you are saying, “What happened to November?” Sighhhh.  Yeah, well, I had hoped to “Win” at the National Novel Writing Month Challenge (NaNoWriMo) which was my only big goal, but my health derailed me for over a week.  I am doing better with a chiropractor and physical therapy for my back and knee. However, I did get 26,000+ words written on my new fantasy novel for the Wyvernshield Series.

The bi-monthly goals for September & October:

  • Complete the editing of Elude #2. — Finished
  • Publish Elude #2 by the end of October.  — Published on October 19th, 2018!!
  • Complete the writing for Elude #3 (about 30,000 to 40,000 words). — postponed this goal.
  • Start my outline for Book #3 for the Wyvernshield Fantasy series. — Accomplished but as I found out during NaNoWriMo, it is far too skimpy in details and needs fleshing out for me to get through. As I have said before, I am not a “pantser” or a writer who writes by the seat of his pants.  I need a clear picture of where I am heading and this outline had too many holes that I need to plug!
  • Write up and prepare for writing in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge in November — Book #3 will be my focus for NaNoWriMo! (50,000-word count goal!) –Partially successful.  26,000 words written…
  • Do a book-signing event in Arizona — Did 2 so far and prepping for my 3rd on December 8th @ the Half-Priced Bookstore in Paradise Valley.  COME SEE ME IF YOU ARE LOCAL!!
  • Craft a video book trailer for Consequences Within Chaos and The Bleeding Crown — Yeah… this may not happen for quite some time.
  • Work up my booth design for comic-cons and book festivals. — Used my old setup for the book-signings which looks pretty amateurish. I definitely will have to invest to improve this if I am going to get back to the comic-cons/festivals.
  • Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month. — Done
  • Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks. — Done (roughly every two weeks! 🙂 )

Score = 6.5 out of 10  Hmmmm that’s pretty ugly.  Hopefully, the end of this year and the start of next year will be more successful.

 

Goal #2 2018

 

December & January Goals:

  • Complete Elude #3 book (30,000 to 40,000 words)
  • Have Elude #3 self-edited by the end of January 2019.
  • Professionally edited and published by the end of February 2019.
  • Set up another couple book-signing events for 2019.
  • Sign up for at least two comic-con/book festivals for 2019.
  • Complete the last chapters for The Hidden web saga — we have started on Chapter 23, but then by mid-February we are scheduled to have our last Chapter 27 – The Path Again published on the website!  That’s right! The entire novel is out on the site…but not forever!
  • Start another web saga?  May have to have a survey for which genre to pursue — fantasy or horror.
  • Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month.
  • Look into the options for booth setups for my book showings.
  • Thinking about setting up a service to other authors for possible book cover design.  Maybe…

And while I have decided to keep my personal goals of weight loss and such out of this, I do hope that I make some headway there.  I am sure some of the issues with my back and knee is from the weight and not necessarily all due to the car accident from August.

One last thing — If any of you have had the chance to read any of my works, but have not had the opportunity to write a review, it would mean a great deal to me if you could.  Reviews really are critical to getting people’s notice online, especially on Amazon.  Thank you in advance if you already have!

Thank you all for your support and keeping my spirits up! Everyone have a safe and wondrous holiday season!

More Book-Signings in November & December 2018!! — Derek Barton – 2018

On November 3rd @ 1:00 PM, I will be doing another book-signing event.  I would really love to see everyone and if you want to bring your books by, I will gladly sign them!

This unique Gaming/Book Store is located down the road from Thunderbird School of Global Management at:

4920 W Thunderbird Rd
Glendale, AZ 85306

 

 

 

On December 8th @ 12:00 PM, I will be at this more traditional bookstore.  This store is directly west of the Paradise Valley Mall next to the Target Store.

4322 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032
(602) 482-4100

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!  HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Great Day @ Bookmans Exchange! — Derek Barton – 2018

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First, I would like to thank everyone who made it out and showed me some lovin’!  Second, I do have good news for those that weren’t able to come by… I have another possible showing in November and a confirmed book-signing on December 8th!  More details will be announced once those are finalized.

 

Today’s winners for:

TWO PAPERBACKS OF THEIR CHOICE IS… Monica L.

IN FOUR DAYS AUDIOBOOK WINNER IS… Shaunna Arenas

CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS AUDIOBOOK WINNER IS… Brian Shurlow Jr

CONGRATS TO ALL WINNERS!

 

Tweet 2018

 

 

OH! And guess what? I WON TODAY TOO!

The management at Bookmans liked what they saw and have agreed to start stocking my books on their shelves!!  HOW AWESOME IS THAT??

 

 

2018 Indie Book Giveaway Winners!!! — Derek Barton – 2018

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FIRST, each of us would like to thank everyone for their interests and their participation.  

SECOND, I wanted to also give back a little and give a “Runner’s Up” prize to a third winner.  So I have a FREE COPY OF MY AUDIOBOOK, Consequences Within Chaos, for one more person who entered the giveaway.

HERE ARE THE WINNERS:

 

2018 Winners!

Book Winners will receive an email with the Ebook copies.  Audiobook Winner will get a direct email from me.  🙂

Feel free to still check out all these great books on AMAZON AND KINDLE!!

 

September & October 2018 Bi-monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

Goal Pic

It’s that time again to hold my production record up to the spotlight and see how I did…

  • Complete the Audiobook for In Four Days.   DONE!  Now available for sale on Amazon & Audible.com for $4.86 (membership pricing)!!
  • Create/organize this year’s 2018 Indie Fantasy Book Giveaway with several other independent authors.  DONE!  I will be sending out another blog on this shortly, but I will be hosting the 2018 Indie Giveaway for the month of September.
  • Add a new page to the site showcasing associates and people I have worked with and what they can do for other writers.  DONE — sort of.  I did a blog shout-out as my show of appreciation for their help and efforts.
  • Find at least two places to do a book-signing appearance.  PARTIAL FAIL.  Got a book-signing with Bookmans in Phoenix for Oct 6th.  Still looking for another location.
  • Schedule one or two more comic-cons or book festivals by the end of the year.  FAIL.  I just don’t have the finances yet for the extra costs to do the comic-cons yet, but this is a major goal of mine to accomplish for next year.  I hope to have at least two or three appearances booked for 2019.
  • Finish editing for Elude #1 & #2.  DONE — sort of… I have finished Elude #1 but Elude #2 is still being worked through.  Elude #1’s editing took a bit longer than I hoped but at least I was still able to get the book produced by the end of August.  🙂
  • Design the book cover for Elude #1 & #2.  DONE!  Very happy with the book cover — decided to just use one cover for all three parts.  Now if I could get a better handle on doing book blurbs.
  • Write the end of Elude #3.  FAIL.  Just too much to get fully written on top of all the editing.
  • Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month.  DONE
  • Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks.  DONE

 

70% GOAL COMPLETION!!!  Highest scoring yet.  I didn’t accomplish 80% to actually consider this a “WIN”, but I feel the two months were still very successful and productive.

  • Complete the editing of Elude #2.
  • Publish Elude #2 by the end of October.
  • Complete the writing for Elude #3 (about 30,000 to 40,000 words).
  • Start my outline for Book #3 for the Wyvernshield Fantasy series.
  • Write up and prepare for writing in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge in November — Book #3 will be my focus for NaNoWriMo! (50,000 word count goal!)
  • Do a book-signing event in Arizona.
  • Craft a video book trailer for Consequences Within Chaos and The Bleeding Crown.  (Can you say strettcccchhhhh gooooaaalll???)
  • Work up my booth design for comic-cons and book festivals.
  • Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month.
  • Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks.

 

2018 THE INDIE FANTASY BOOK GIVEAWAY!! — Derek Barton – 2018

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For the month of September, we are offering a great book giveaway package of all eight of these indie fantasy novels for TWO WINNERS!!

To enter the giveaway for the eight ebooks, click HERE for quick entry!!

 

Want to know more about these books?

 

AUTHORS’ BOOKS & BIOS:

Nesa Miller — 

ALAMIR

Torn from a life of childish innocence, fourteen-year-old Etain Rhys witnesses the brutal murder of her family. Running for her life, she inadvertently lands in the mystical realm of the Alamir, humans infused with powerful magic. No longer a child, she’s taken in by a small clan and learns their warrior ways. Moving up the ranks, the day comes when her chieftain tells her it’s time to move on.

DREAMREAPER

After the death of his dark brother, Dar and Etain return to Laugharne, looking forward to a fresh start together. As the days pass, Dar’s mind seems to unravel, the past twisting into the present, nightmarish visions threatening to rip his sanity apart.

Unable to help in Dar’s recovery, Etain discovers her own brother she thought dead is alive. Her immediate reaction is to find him, visions of a happy reunion filling her head. Except, the boy she remembers has been under the tutelage of Dar’s dark brother for the past several years.

Despite warnings from close friends, she throws caution aside and goes in search of him. In doing so, she puts in motion a series of events from which they might not ever recover.

~~~

I’m just a girl in the world – of writing. Originally I hail from Texas and lived most of my life there, fell in love a few times, raised my kids, and generally had a great time. But, there was always something missing, well, I should say, someone. Who’d have thought he lived way across that big ole pond in a little place called England? Now I live in the motherland with my incredible dream man. It has been an adventure and has helped in the development of my Blood of Kaos series. Living in another country, even if it is English, gives you a new perspective on everything. I have learned that my family means a whole lot more to me than I thought. I miss my family – horribly – but – I have learned – I have seen – I have experienced – so much more by taking a chance and leaving the comfort of home. It’s been almost 4 years now and I’m still in an adjustment period. Don’t know if I’ll ever truly adjust to English ways. I think I’m just too Texan.

Susanne Lambdin

BLOODLINES:  EXORDIUM 

Legends are always based on some form of the truth.
Bloodlines: Exordium, Vol. 1, follows the saga of Logan Bennet left behind by the Earth Corps in the 13th century. By forming the Blood Knights—an organization of vampires sworn to defend the human race during a time England and Scotland are at war—Logan’s rash decisions lead to a chain of events that threaten the future.
With the Earth Corps’ defeat of Odin and Aries, the Blood Syndicate, led by Chancellor Logan, assumes the task of rebuilding international cities. His ‘Tolerance Act’ allows all Supernatural creatures to live together in harmony, but this is far from the truth.
The Dark Angels, forced to join the Syndicate, discover an army of the undead frozen in the hell dimension of Caceri. Meanwhile, Agent Parish and the Blood Knights, now employed as Syndicate time travel agents, use the Babylonian Stones to travel to the past to retrieve influential historical figures. Unless the Dark Angels and Agent Parish unravel the mystery behind the Syndicate’s darker purpose, the human race, which includes zombies cured by the Earth Corps, may once more be on the brink of total annihilation.

BLOODLINES:  MEDIUS 

‘First comes the Dark, then Fire, Fang, and Flood.’

Bloodlines: Medius, book 2, finds Logan Bennet and his mother, Lenora, in Miami with the remnants of the Dark Angels. Shirkas—a species of super-zombies—are harassing the coastline. The Blood Syndicate and U.S. military defend the Wall of Liberty that surrounds the city, the only thing standing between the inhabitants and the horde. However, the Centauro rebels may have a solution—kill the High Council members, whom they believe control the zombies, and destroy the Babylonian Stones to prevent TTD agents from time-traveling. And they want the Dark Angels to help.

Dark mysteries and demonic rituals threaten the survivors of a war-torn world. Cadence and the Earth Corps are needed to prevent a hellish uprising, but where are they? And if Picasso, Logan, or Parish can find them, will they be able to stop the demons, or is this the beginning of Armageddon?

~~~

Susanne L. Lambdin (born 1962, Wichita, Kansas) is better known for her ‘based in part’ writing credit for Star Trek: The Next Generation Eps. 76 “Family” – remember when Wesley Crusher met his father on the holodeck when he turned 18 years of age? This was Susanne’s story sold to Star Trek in 1990. Since then she’s dedicated herself to writing fiction.

Having worked for Paramount Pictures from 1986 thru 1994, she beamed home to spend time with her family and to write fiction. Her genres include horror, supernatural, action/adventure, high fantasy, Gothic and historical romance, steampunk, and sci-fi (of course).

L.S. O’Dea

RISE OF THE RIVER-MAN

In a world filled with human-animal hybrids, Guards are bred to serve the Almightys until they’re no longer wanted.

Mutter waits for his execution. It’s inevitable. He was a fighter and he lost. No one wants an ex-fighter. He’s too big, mean and ugly. Death will be the only way he gets out of this cell, but then the unthinkable happens. An Almighty visits in the dead of night and offers him a chance to leave. A chance to live.

All he has to do is obey and Guards were bred to obey.

When Mutter is taken to his new home, something isn’t right. There’s food and a bed but there are sounds and smells from the other cages. Things that move like nothing he’s ever encountered.

For the first time in his life, he’s afraid. Afraid of the creatures that lurk nearby. Afraid of the shots his new master is giving him.

He knows he’s supposed to obey, to always follow their rules but if he doesn’t escape, he’ll become food for one of those things in the other cages. Or worse… turn into one of them.

FEEDING FERSIA

The only way to leave Level Five is inside the belly of a beast.

McBrid understands the dangers of working on Level Five in Professor Conguise’s laboratory. Even the smallest mistake—a miscalculation, a momentary loss of focus or unsatisfactory results—can mean the end. Not the end of a job or a career but the end of his life.

The problem is he didn’t make a minor mistake. He killed the most important creature in the lab. Now, he must scramble to create a new Aranea.

He’s done it before and he can do it again. Only this time he must choose the right host because the new giant spider mutation must be smart, fast, deadly and willing to obey—if that’s even possible. He’ll soon find out if there is anything left of the person once the parasitic DNA takes over and if there’s not, he may just end up her dinner.

All the books in this series are standalone and may be read in any order.

~~~

L. S. O’Dea grew up the youngest of seven. She always wanted to do what her older siblings were doing, especially reading stories.

At a young age, she immersed herself in books. Her life changed when she read a short story written by her older brother and realized that normal (somewhat anyway, since her brother was a bit weird in her opinion) people created these amazing stories. From that day forward, she wanted to write.

However, as with all good stories, obstacles rose in her path (mostly self-created obstacles) and it took her many years to put finger to keyboard and write/type her first book.

Derek Barton

CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS

With a devastating war looming on the horizon for Wyvernshield, can its people place their faith and fate in the hands of a ruler who cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy?

How far into the depths of insanity would you go to prove your sanity?

THE BLEEDING CROWN

Abducted by her family’s bitter rivals, spirited Princess Letandra finds herself stranded in a foreign land. Alone but confident a rescue will come at the hands of her brother, King Taihven, she focuses all her energy on surviving the unexpected trials she now faces.

But before he can save Leandra, she is captured by the sadistic Ebon Queen of the Quietus Dominion. Now, the princess must risk everything to escape and warn Taihven. War is coming not only for him, but the future of all hangs in the balance.

~~~

Derek Barton was born in northeast Indiana in 1970. The typical introvert kid; closer to books than people, but grew up with a fascination for horror novels (Stephen King, Dean Koontz) and medieval fantasy (Piers Anthony, R.A Salvatore).

In April of 1996, he moved out to Phoenix, Arizona to find his own path.

He has been married to his wonderful wife, Erika since October 5th, 2012. They have three children, Jenna, Johnny and a three-year-old baby girl, Jessiena!

 

Don’t miss your opportunity to step into the unique and amazing worlds today!!