Author: Richard Parry

2018: A Retrospective

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Of the emails I send, I get the most responses from readers on “the author biz.” I initially figured few people would like to hear about the inner clockwork mechanism of indie publishing, but in hindsight it’s not crazy so many readers want to hear about it. I mean, you’re readers, and have a special relationship with writers. 2018 hasn’t been kind to indie authors. I know quite a few friends and colleagues who’ve noped out of the profession, and also a number who’ve made it rain C-notes from the sky. With this kind of duality going on, shit’s confusing. The reasons are, in business parlance, “nuanced.” Let’s dig in, shall we? Hugging it Out Some author friends (…who are actually just friends who also write) and I Skype’d in December. We talked about a lot of things, but the Read More …

15-Day Story Challenge: FINISH! 🐉

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This is one of my world-famous emails, originally sent Friday, 21 December 2018. Want these straight away? Get on the list! 2019 looms. Over this side of the planet, we’re winding down. If we’re swapping truth, I think many people’s clocks just up and stopped last week: there was a Quiet Earth vibe walking the dog this morning. This week: My annual reader survey! The close-out of the 15-Day Story Challenge. How’d we do? A live-reading from Tyche Forever; and A new excerpt from Tyche Forever. Let’s tuck in. Reader Survey I like doing these annually to see how people are feeling. I usually put something on the site afterwards, you can see what everyone else thinks (not that they’re as important as you). If you want to give me a piece of your mind, head on over to this Read More …

Peppermint

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I almost missed this one. Peppermint‘s a story about a soccer-mom-turns-vigilante. It’s a rags-to-ruins story, no punches pulled. Corrupt judiciary, dirty cops, ganglords controlling the city, and a family caught in the mincer and spat out. Where things get interesting is how vicious Garner’s Riley North character becomes. She’s powered by the burning fires of revenge, and leaves nothing on the table when the credits roll. North has a not-ideal but still serviceable regular life. Money’s tight, but they have food; social cliques ostracise her kid, but the immediate family rallies around. Her husband Chris, possibly not the brightest bulb, hatches a plan to steal cash from the cartels. He nopes out on the ‘opportunity,’ but not before Raba’s Diego Garcia (nicknamed The Guillotine, which should give you the right kind of vibes) gets wind of it, and executes them Read More …

You, Me, and the Holiday Break

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FYI, I’ll be entering low-power mode around 12pm Friday 21 December, NZT, and keeping this state until at least Monday, 7 January 2019 (also NZT). If you contact me during that time, responses will be like treacle: slow, and possibly not very tasty. The drives will warm back up early January, with a flurry of activity after two or three weeks of sitting on my hands. Rae and I plan to take a break from everything, and my eyeballs look forward to not staring at a screen for ten hours a day. Have an excellent seasonal break, if that’s your thing, and see you next year 🎊

15-Day Story Challenge: Live Reading 📣

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Following a Facebook poll, you wanted me to give you a live reading. Here it is: a scene from Admiral Karkoski’s perspective, as she and Kohl walk the halls of the ghost ship Immortal. If you want the original Facebook Live edition, [go here]) A few of you wanted a picture of me, full of roguish charm, so I’ve included one of those too:

Tyche Forever First Draft is Code Complete

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I the-ended Tyche Forever this afternoon: I thought I might do this when we did last week’s recap video. Turns out it happened that way after all, although it’s a little longer than I figured it might be (7.5k words today! And I’m still at the keyboard). October Kohl gives a speech at the end of this. It’s a growth moment for him. What’s in the rest of this week? Editing this sucker. Also editing The Empire’s Rogues, which received some positive feedback post beta reading and subsequent editing. You’ve not heard of the Empire’s Rogues? More soon, I promise. Responding to my withering storm of email, because I’ve been hiding under a rock while finishing Tyche Forever. Wish me luck.

15-Day Story Challenge Week Two… 🐉

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This is one of my world-famous emails, originally sent Saturday 15 December. If you want on this crazy ride, sign up here. Progress is … progressing. We’re crushing the 15-Day challenge. By “crushing,” it means in some instances we’re being crushed by it. This week: A new release! Story samples from the Challenge; Our updated: a video of week two; Speaking of videos, an author interview with O.E. Tearmann; and What I’ve found time to read this close to Christmas. Let’s get ready to rumble. It’s out! Chromed: Rogue hit the shelves. I’m kind of nervous; this is actually the dark middle chapter of a bleak trilogy. The more I watch the news, the less like fiction it seems. If you pick it up, I’d love to hear what you think of it 🧐 I’m nervously awaiting early reviews. Everyone Read More …

Richard Parry vs. the 15-Day Story Challenge

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I thought it might be fun to share the intro of my 15-Day story. I’ve no idea if this first chapter is a keeper, but it starts with Kohl hungover so that’s a step in the right direction. October heads to a church in San Francisco, recently the site of a major Ezeroc battle against humanity’s defenders. The city’s a ruin, but you can still get liquor. Dead Men Walking “October Kohl, I need your help.” Six words Kohl never wanted to wake up to. Especially not in the arms of two of San Francisco’s finest working girls, with the beginning of a three-day-binge hangover forming right behind his eyes. These things were related, Kohl’s focus on shore leave second to none. “Kohl? Can you hear me?” Male voice. A little reedy. Shaky with fear, talking too fast. Been a Read More …