Maintenance & Restoration

BOBSMITH · 05-08-2006, 06:56 PM

My editor just sent me the cover art for my first novel. (It's a kind of science-fiction adventure tale). Also, the book is now listed at Amazon.com (and probably Barnes & Noble, but I haven't checked there, yet.) No art up for the book at Amazon, yet. Official release date is August 2.

THE FLOCK, by James Robert Smith

Cam A · 05-08-2006, 07:08 PM

Congratulations, writing a book and getting published it quite an achievement.

jdtrotter · 05-08-2006, 07:36 PM

Congrats! That is really exciting.

Diane

Deb in MN · 05-08-2006, 07:53 PM

I'm impressed!!! I REALLY enjoy sci-fi and some good fantasy! So, give me a synopsis of your book!

Some of my fav authors are CJ Cherryh, Lois McMaster Bujold... oh a lot of others you can guess. I love to get the "years best" short stories and novellas, too.

The book I am currently reading is "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson- WHEW, I'm thouroughly enjoying it, it's a wild wild ride.

BOBSMITH · 05-08-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

I'm impressed!!! I REALLY enjoy sci-fi and some good fantasy! So, give me a synopsis of your book!

Thanks all!

Here's the synopsis:

[b] SALUTATIONS USA is the ideal town built by Berg Brothers, the studio that produced family films for generations of families. Constructed on a parcel of the decommissioned site of what was the Edmunds Bombing Range, it is the great Studio's intention to create a place that is what America once was, with room to expand.
But the land beyond Salutations is wilderness--450, 000 acres protected from development because of its former military status. Other forces struggle against the company for control of those acres. Vance Holcomb, billionaire ecologist wishes to construct a research center, saving the rare habitats. Winston Grisham, retired Marine colonel, wants all parties away, capitalist exploiters and meddlesome tree-huggers alike; he and his militia wish to be left alone. Ron Riggs, Fish & Wildlife officer wants to know what is lurking at the edges of Salutations. And the lawyers slug it out in the Florida courts.
Unknown to most, this backcountry is home to the last population of a creature believed extinct: Titanis walleri, a predatory ground bird of saurian form. The creatures, possessed of near-human intelligence, have hidden since the first Native Americans came from the north. With humans on the doorstep, knocking to come in, the Flock does not wish to be disturbed.
THE FLOCK is the story of the conflicts between developers and protectors, between warriors and thinkers, between Mankind and a creature not unlike the theropod predators they so resemble in body and spirit; an adventure and suspense novel of epic proportion.

Mike Watters · 05-08-2006, 09:05 PM

Sounds a little like "The Lost World" (the original, not the blatant rip-off by Michael Crichton) with Terror Birds instead of dinosaurs.

mkw

DaveK · 05-08-2006, 11:11 PM

Well done, that Author.

Congrats! May you have a long run.

RJordanX2 · 05-09-2006, 06:24 AM

Wow!! Once again....On this very website, we find yet another talanted person!
It is great to be in the presence of such talent. We have artists, writers,musicians,storytellers,inventors,fix-er-up-ers,woodworkers, winemakers,scalemasters,fenderites,gibsonetts,acco rdianists,singers songwriters,egg-specialists,eggheads,eggpainters,eggplanners,eggsp resionists,eggzasperators, maybe even an egghead or two!!!
I Love this fine group
Super congrats on your book!!!

Now all you have to do is bring a copy to the Oregon Gathering! And read it to us around the campfire!!

Via Con Dios
Randy and Renee
P.S, Don't forget the Egginteriourdecorators!!

Maggie O. · 05-09-2006, 06:31 AM

Congratulations!

Gigi · 05-09-2006, 07:34 AM

Bravo!!!

Well done, Bob! Just to write a book is an awesome feat but to get it published is remarkable.
Congratulations and I hope to see it on the NY Times best seller list soon!

BTW, is this your first novel? Are you a professional, full time writer?

Best wishes!
Gigi

Nancy in Oregon · 05-09-2006, 08:57 AM

Wow, Bob! Many, many congratulations! That is some awesome feat to write a novel AND get it published.

Nancy

BOBSMITH · 05-09-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

BTW, is this your first novel? Are you a professional, full time writer?

Thanks everyone!

Yes, this is the first novel that I've sold. I've sold well over fifty short stories and I've written lots of comic scripts (some for Marvel Comics). But it took me over twenty years of trying to sell a novel. And, yes, I've written other novels (five of them), but I only sold one last year.

You have to keep on plugging.

CharlynnT · 05-17-2006, 08:54 PM

"Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book."

After I search the book, I often order it from my local independent bookseller.

And congrats! My kid LOVES Marvel comics, please tell us some of your recent titles. (We can likely order them, we have a close relationship with our local Comic Book Guy. He looks a lot like the Simpson's Comic Book Guy, and he is well aware of this, stocking his likeness.)

BOBSMITH · 05-18-2006, 06:15 AM

Quote:

"Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book."

After I search the book, I often order it from my local independent bookseller.

And congrats! My kid LOVES Marvel comics, please tell us some of your recent titles. (We can likely order them, we have a close relationship with our local Comic Book Guy. He looks a lot like the Simpson's Comic Book Guy, and he is well aware of this, stocking his likeness.)

I haven't written for Marvel in many years. All of my work for them was for their horror title, CLIVE BARKER'S HELLRAISER,a movie spinoff.

CharlynnT · 05-18-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

I haven't written for Marvel in many years. All of my work for them was for their horror title, CLIVE BARKER'S HELLRAISER,a movie spinoff.

Oh! That sounds too dark for the kidling. What was it like, writing for a comic book publisher?

BOBSMITH · 05-18-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Oh! That sounds too dark for the kidling. What was it like, writing for a comic book publisher?

Oh, yeah. Far too dark for a child. The HELLRAISER comics were written for adults. Like the stories and the movie, it was horror.

It was great writing for a major comic book publisher. The money was wonderful. I came close to selling them a superhero series, but the editor who was pushing my work left Marvel before he could get an offer and a contract to me. So it goes.

BOBSMITH · 06-13-2006, 05:35 PM

Just a few more weeks befor the novel officially hits the stores (August 2).

My editor emailed me today to tell me that Publishers Weekly is going to print a glowing positive review of my book. So they've jacked up the initial print run. I haven't seen the review, yet, but I've been assured it's a really good one. It'll be in the June 19 edition of Publishers Weekly.