Review of Portal to Adventure, Part Eight

When I had initially conceived of writing the John Smith stories, I had planned to write them as a frequent and regular serial, with new installments every week or two on the outside. Having a full time job and family has made that a bit more problematic than I had expected, but now I have strong evidence that the month or three between parts is or most likely is effecting readership.

Mr. Stephen Fitzgerald of Canada had this to say in his review of part eight on Nov. 27, 2009: "Great story, but the episodes take way too long to come out. I wouldn't buy this until the story is finished."

I think that says it all. Thanks for the feedback Stephen and while I'm glad you liked the story, I will endeavor to get the chapters out more frequently. In any case, Book One should be wrapping up by chapter/part twelve or so, only four parts left. I'm going to make it my goal to get it out in a month, even before Christmas which is less than a month.

Thanks for the push!

Portal to Adventure on Barnes & Noble!

The compilation of parts 1-7 showed up finally at bn.com. I'm going to have to see if it downloads tomorrow.

Portal to Adventure, Part Eight

OK, after taking the summer, plus basically two extra months, I realized that it's probably hard to keep people interested in a serial story with that big of a gap. What should it be? A week to ten days I heard somewhere.

The other problem is that when I stop writing on a story, every once in a while it pops into my head as if on pause, right where I left of. It's almost as if it's telling me to get going, that the characters are kind of pissed off to be left in limbo. Strange?

Well, I've got two other stories in the same boat, more on that later.

I do PROMISE not be so late with the next installment. I still want to wrap up Portal to Adventure so that I can publish it as a complete book, then work on book two.

Thanks for reading.

Portal to Adventure Review

The part one through seven compilation of "Portal to Adventure" just received a really awesome comment by "Coyote Osborne." Just when I begin to think no one is paying attention to the story, this pops up.

Well, guess I'll have to dust off those old records and do some more transcribing, OOPS, I mean write the next part of the story.


"Review by: Coyote Osborne on Oct. 01, 2009 : I've always been a fan of the pulp adventure style of books, though preferably those with a fantasy or sci-fi bent. I downloaded a free copy of part one of this serial adventure, and within minutes I was hooked, and had to have the compilation.The series carries the spirit of such favorites as Wylie's "Gladiator", the "Doc Savage"stories, and Burrough's Barsoom novels, told with a modern and talented voice.The main character is good-hearted, practical, and more believable than the average superman, and the cliffhanger endings to each chapter left me panting for more."

Thanks Coyote! Just because of that review today traffic has really takn off, and also had a bunch of sample downloads.

Audio Version coming soon to Podiobooks

I just got directed to a site that posts and promotes serial audio stories. This is the next step I wanted to take for this series, and it seems like a good fit. Now all I have to do is practice reading aloud.

Not there yet, but www.podiobooks.com is where I'll be posting.

Things

No links today, because I haven't done anything. Life intrudes. On a positive note, Part One of Portal to Adventure continues to be the most downloaded story in Science Fiction and Adventure. It is close to the top in the overall category, topped only by two guides by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords and several stories in the erotica category. Maybe a John Smith, Bone Jumper story should be in the works. OK, bad taste, I know it.. But dang, those erotica stories are being posted, and apparently downloaded like hotcakes.

The story also, surprisingly, continues to sell. Seems like some people are liking it enough to give it a try.

Still working on getting my reading up to the level where I feel comfortable posting a podcast or audio version of the story, but with the serial format, maybe that will alow more people to enjoy the story.

Part Eight

Sorry, no link or coupon yet, still finishing up the story. I think a month between parts is a little too long, but I have been trying to get a little more done on "Eagles in the Sand," my non-serialized adventure novel. I've had the idea for ten years, but besides a highly detailed outline have only a pathetic 110+ pages to show. The really sad part is I write fast when I do sit down to do it. I am easily "but first..ed"

Paid

I just got my first (hopefully not last) check for writing. Not much to write home about, but an accomplishment nonetheless. I think I'll frame the check, or a copy of it at least..

Now I am officially a paid author.

Autographs available for a small renumeration. Kidding, but get them free while you can.

Pure Escapism, Volume Two

Mr. Warwick has published the second installment of his short stories, and been so gracious as to provide a coupon code for any of my readers to use. Using code QT34S at checkout gives you this story for free. Please return the favor by writing an honest review of the stories, because one of the ways people find new stories to read on Smashwords is due to reviews.

John Smith, World Jumper Book One: Portal to Adventure, Part Seven

Part seven is posted. Portal to Adventure wrapping up in another three parts, and moving onto Portal to Peril.

Pure Escapism, Vol One

I didn't start this blog with the intention of promoting other authors, but I when I ran across Pure Escapism, Vol. One on Smashwords I knew I had to. Mr. Warwick hails from Australia, and has started an impressive series of short stories. If his first effort is any indication, this is an author to follow. Read as much as you can now, while it's free. Before too long, Mr. Warwick will realize the value of his work and charge $.

As I have attempted to do with the John Smith, World Jumper series, Mr. Warwick seems to write in a fast paced, action oriented style while presenting characters that aren't overly angsy and flawed like so many of today's heroes. His stories are just the type of thing to get men reading again. No offense meant ladies, as you may find his stories enjoyable as well, but with the continued sucess of Romance novels, we need something to read that gives us just as much guilty pleasure.

Mr. Warwick delivers. Check him out, you won't regret it.

John Smith World Jumper, coupons

Ok.. Since I haven't posted part seven yet, here are coupons for anyone adventurous enough to look at this little blog. The code for parts 1-5 is cq64w, and the code for part 6 is yd78e.

They are good until the fifteenth! So get in for free while you can. I'm only going to have a small "inner circle" of people who get to read my stories for free, as a reward for support, encouragement, and of course reviews...early on.

Thanks to everyone so far, and have a happy mothers day..

E.P. Dorris

Portal to Adventure, Part Six posted at Smashwords

Part Six is up...e-mail me at minder457@yahoo.com for a coupon.. And I think there are a few days left on the voucher for the compilation 1-5, let me know if you need that too..

E. Patrick Dorris

Coupon for Part 1-5 compilation

I will send a coupon code for $.51 off to anyone who signs up to follow my blog. That makes the compilation only 99 cents, and cheaper than each of the parts separately. Then, if you want, and only if you request, I will send you notice when a new part of the series is published.

Thanks

P.S. I'm thinking of giving coupons for the next part free for people who write reviews of the stories....and making them stack so that anyone who wanted to do me the favor of reviewing each part wouldn't have to pay for any of them. What do you think?

Portal to Adventure, Parts 1-5 Compilation

I posted this for anyone not caught up, and in anticipation of the "read and e-book week" event. Dilligently at work on part 6+, and it should be up in a few days.

Portal to Adventure, Part Five

Part Five is posted! I know it was too long, but it is also a bit longer than parts two, three, and four.

Enjoy

Readership

Now that over 800 people have downloaded the first part of the John Smith story, and more than 200 of them are continuing on to other parts as of this writing, I suppose some kind of milestone has been reached. Well for me it has anyway. Two hundred (not to mention eight hundred) is far more people than have been reached by word of mouth, at least not by either my wife or I, and probably not my friends who have read the story either.

I am excited!

Of course this also means I have to get going on part V which is already late.

I kind of wish some of the people reading the story would join here so they could give me more direct feedback on how they like/dislike parts of it. Maybe I will put a suggestion at the end of part five.

Portal to Adventure, Part Four

Finally! After a lengthy delay I will continue to blame on the holidays, part four is published. My goal is to have the remaining parts of Portal to Adventure, and the following Portal to.. books up every week to ten days.

When I have wrapped up Portal to Adventure, I am going to consolidate the parts into one novel form, and look into publishing it through Amazon as well as Smashwords so that hard copies will at least be available, and maybe Kindle users will take a look.

Wish me luck.

EP

Plumbing and other woes

OK, Part IV will be up soon, I promise, and worth the wait. We are days away from closing on our other house and will finallybe rid of that financial drain. Unfortunatly, the repair remaining is a plumbing one, replete with brass fittings and CPVC. Did I mention, I hate plumbing! I'd much rather be writing.

Anyway, I have been working on the next part of the story, and it's over halfway done.

E.