Harry Carton: Blog

In an act of tremendous hubris, bravery, and undisciplined 'why-the-hell-not', I am going to attempt to self-publish (on the 'net') Book 1 of Zeus & Io.

In order to do that, I figure I'll need 2 good editors -- one of whom I already have. They will be tasked with reading over my first draft (which is what you've all been reading here at SOL), and making style and content suggestions. Like: in the opening 'graphs of Chapter 1, there are 6 sentences in a row that start: "I (verb)" -- that has to go.

Some have said that I change POV too much, some didn't like the shift to 3d person on the "non central characters" chapters. Some like the POV fine, but it should be shorter, or fewer flashbacks, or more flashbacks, more characterization like I did early on with less action and more 'side trips' (like Carmella's Cantina, or the manageress of the apartment), less exposition, more exposition. Etc., Etc. This I will hope to get from my editors, and will lead to rewriting by me, maybe. Make that almost surely.

I'll also need a very picky proofreader. To go over the (almost) final drafts as they come out of the mill.

I do expect this to be a lengthy process. To make it better (ahem!), I can't pay you for the effort. So, if you fit one of these jobs, and are satisfied with a payment of "the editing team was ...", drop me a line.

Many thanks to my sharp eyed readers who noticed the gender slip in my use of Spanish in Chapter 12 (Book 2).

So much for the online spanish-english dictionary. 'La vida es muy Bien" is a direct quote from there.

Oh well. All's Bien that ends Bien.

No, Martinez has not contacted me.

Some time back, I asked for ideas for a 2nd (or subsequent) book Thanks for all the feedback. Keep it coming. Herewith is my feedback to all your feedback.

Superpowers I do not think anybody is going to develop any superpowers (invisibility, mind control, etc). Io is trying to become more human, and I think that's an admirable goal for all our heroes.

Religion I'm not going to have our guys/gals get involved with any organized religion. Although, hypocrisy is always a possibility for investigaton.

Politics We'll definitely -- no probably -- well, possibly -- have some interaction with the politicos. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about the politicians in other countries to make them world citizens, so it'll mostly be US.

Downloading Or..."How can Martinez talk to Io only in the car." No comment on having our heroes and heroines download into each others' brains. And I DO have it worked out already how Martinez can do that. No, it's not witchcraft, or Navajo magic.

5225 Well now. That storyline is not going to be resolved in this book. So we'll definitely see more of Melody A. and friends.

--------I'll stop here for now, 'cause this is too long already --------

Oh, a request. I need one or more of you who can sensibly advise me on how the internet backbone really works. Unfortunately, I can't contact Io on this point.

Io is getting more fan mail than Zeus.

Or maybe it just seems that way... She could be intercepting the pro-Zeus mail, thus tilting the scales.

I never was a SEAL (or any other Special Forces member) and I'm not a gun-ophile. So, I'll just say thank you to those who have sent corrections on what is/isn't right on any of these issues. I'll make some corrections -- as for the rest, well it's fiction... Maybe Zeus lives in an alternate universe where things are a little different. Hope suspension of belief in this particular facet of the story doesn't ruin it for you.

Maybe I should change the disclaimer at the start... you know: "Any mention of any weapon is purely a figment of my imagination, and should not be taken seriously."

But seriously, thanks for writing to tell me about it.