July 21, 2012  -   "To sequel or not to sequel..."


It seems like many writers these days are confronted with the same conundrum of
continuance. Should I turn my story into a series? At face value, it's a simple enough question. The word "trilogy" can cause a million possibilities to fire inside the depths of our synaptic web, tracing down through dynamic characters and immersive worlds all painted in glorious verbal detail. There are certainly enough success stories of formerly unknown writers finding fame and fortune with a captivating book series: J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga, Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games. Audiences and critics alike enjoy multi-part story arcs, often bringing unparalleled success to their creators.

I have also set out down that same long and layered path, taken by many but finished by few. My debut novel, Yield, is book one of the chillingly intense, shockingly unforgettable, (enter your own superlative here) Armageddia trilogy. The only problem? It's not all written yet.

Marketing a series of ethereal ideas without the concrete parts already in hand is a very real challenge for new writers. How do we know if the first story is going to be well received? What if we haven't been lucky enough to find a publisher with the patience to see our series through? What if there is too long of a gap between releases and all of that hard fought momentum is lost?

The highly competitive book business can be an unforgiving place. Having even one novel pop on the charts as a new writer is hard enough, let alone trying to ride your own coattails years later when all of the intended companion pieces are finally done.

Being new to the industry, I've realized I really don't have a bulletproof answer to the sequel question—not one that applies to everyone. The answer, just like the stories themselves, depends largely on the motivations and commitment of their authors.

My advice, from that place somewhere between hope and disappointment in my gut, is this:

If you are certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will complete your series—even if book one is an abysmal failure, even if the critics hate it, even if everything else in your life crumbles away—if you are that passionate about your story and have a clear vision for what it can be, then I say do it. Commit to it, and don't give up on your idea even if Dante's inferno opens wide and threatens to swallow you whole. It might just take that kind of commitment and sacrifice to make it.

On the other hand, if you are just testing the waters and trying to get a foothold in the writing world any way you can, you might be better off having several weapons in your literary arsenal. A good writer is a good writer, regardless of the specific story. Having a few finished manuscripts in your hip pocket to show your versatility and style to a prospective agent or publisher may just get you that shot. There can be strength in playing the numbers. Not everyone will like a particular series concept. And if you put all of your eggs in that one basket, your writing career may get poached before you've even had a chance to hatch.

For a special sneak peek at my own sequel, CLICK HERE!! I've posted an exclusive excerpt from book two of the Armageddia Series. Book one, Yield, will be available August 14th in paperback and e-book formats.

Happy writing! (...and writing....... and writing..........................)

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June 19, 2012 

Less than two months now until the official release of Yield on August 14th. This has been a project six years in the making, starting while on a flight from Tucson to Bend so long ago.

We had a layover in San Francisco, and the fog was so thick over the bay that it blotted out the sky. As my plane took off again above the cloud bank, everything just disappeared beneath me. Mankind and all our worries seemed to fade into the grey. I wondered what would happen if the world changed at that very moment. What if the life I knew didn't exist when I landed? What if my world died somewhere under those clouds?

I wasn't sure where that thought would take me, but after almost six years, it has finally led to the release of my debut novel and book one of the Armageddia Series. I truly hope that you all enjoy it.

Sincerely,
Bryan K. Johnson

  
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June 12, 2012 

Yield just received 5 out of 5 stars from LAS Reviews, saying that, "If the thought of war on our soil hasn’t touched you yet, this story will make you a believer." Specializing in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres, Long and Short Reviews posted their full review at: http://lasrsff.blogspot.com/2012/06/yield-by-bryan-k-johnson.html  Stay tuned for an interview with me about Yield and the Armageddia Series coming up in August on the LAS Review site.

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June 8, 2012 

Yield received glowing praise from the Senior Reviewer at the MidWest Book Review. She called book one of the Armageddia Series a "scary good read," and went on to say that "This is a remarkable story, one that will touch the very core of your fears." The full review will be posted in the MidWest Book Review this July. 

 

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March 31, 2012

The advance reading copies of Yield are being printed up over the next few weeks and will go out to the various reviewers and distributors across the country. The official release date of Yield will be August 14, 2012. Out of the gate, we will have trade paperback and e-book versions available. All major e-book formats will be supported, Apple iBook, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Google Books will all be available for purchase on the Fourteenth of August. Happy reading!

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January 30, 2012

I submitted the copy-edited manuscript to my publisher, and am just one more hurdle away from actually printing! I'm getting anxious to get Yield out there. To think that I began this whole journey in an airplane taking off out of San Francisco 5 short years ago... To quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." 

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November 2, 2011

Delivered the remaining edits and elements to my publisher in preparation for a mid-2012 release. We'll do the final copy proofing over the next month and call it done. I could probably re-write it until the day I die, so I'm glad someone was able to pry my laptop away!  

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July 6, 2010

I'm currently revising the middle and later chapters to bring several major changes through the rest of the storyline. It's amazing how something little can cause huge ripple effects across the manuscript, like a pebble setting off a psunami a world away.

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July 3, 2010

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the first entry in Armageddia's blog. Yield is fast approaching completion. I'm working with my editor to make a few more changes to the story and characters, and will be entering the mechanical stage of the editing process soon. I'm still hopeful for an end of year publishing date on the book, and will post more details soon.