I'm Floored by Examiner.com

I created a Google Alert because I know that's one of the best ways to see if someone might be pirating your book. I had completely forgotten that it's also used to see if there are any mentions across the web, which means reviews, discussions, etc. So needless to say, I was absolutely floored to see Section 51 posted on the Examiner.com. Check out the article here: http://www.examiner.com/article/v-g-harrison-s-new-approach-to-science-fiction-vampires-and-aliens.

That first line plastered a smile on my face so large that I remembered what it was like to open up a Christmas gift and see that Santa had gotten me exactly what I had asked for.

Fans of supernatural/paranormal literature, of vampire or werewolf stories, and of the science-fiction genre – V. G. Harrison has one novel to satisfy all of you.

A huge thank you to the folks at the Examiner for the kind words. Though I haven't gone through all of the comments yet, thanks to everyone for the support. It's things like this that make me love Project Solstice all the more. I truly feel as though I'm on the right path.

Space 51, Where Are You?

As you might have guessed, now that Unit 51 has been released, I've turned my attention to working on Space 51. Seeing as I had done the unthinkable by ending Unit 51 on a cliffhanger, which I thought was necessary because that base was no longer the focus, I feel the need to get Space 51 out as soon as possible. My goal was no later than the end of the month.

So what's the problem? Space 51 has just taken a turn I didn't see coming. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great turn. In fact, it opened the door for more short stories and/or novellas to come in the Project Solstice series and possibly introduce the world from other perspectives.

Okay, so...what's the problem?  It also means I'm not sure if I'll make the end of the month deadline. Trust me, I want to for marketing's sake. But the choices are to speed up the story and get something out on time for all of those new tablet owners or take however much time is necessary to tell a quality story and show my readers how much I love the world I've created and want them to do the same. I choose quality over speed. But, that doesn't mean I'm throwing in the towel yet. I'll  have to see what happens and keep you guys posted.

In the mean time, keep an eye on my word meter on the sidebar. Oh, and in case you're wondering about TBD, it has to do with a spinoff series I've been thinking about doing.

Release Day for UNIT 51

It's release day for Unit 51 and I couldn't be more excited! Or anxious depending upon how you look at it. I'll be updating this blog after my 5:00pm work day with where it's available and links to get there. The same will go for my website. BUT...if I've done my linking right on my homepage, you should be able to click on any of the retailer links, which will bring you to a page where all of my books are available, including Unit 51.

By the way, I've changed up the blurb a tad. Hopefully, it's better.

The aliens have stepped up their game via a series of pinpointed EMP attacks, starting with the weapons research base Unit 51. Like the base, Ava learns just how vulnerable she is after another EMP strike not only cuts her off from Ian 2, but crashes her plane. Her only hope for rescue is a small, Canadian town where the residents are werewolves.

They know about Project Solstice, and they're not the only ones. Dozens of supernaturals have joined forces to share not only their technological advances, but to prepare for a confrontation with Project Solstice. When an EMP barrage is launched on the supernaturals’ “safe ground”, it’s proof that the real war is with everyone on Earth regardless of their race.

A temporary truce has humans and supernaturals joining forces. But is anyone safe with paranoia, bigotry, and treachery running rampant among the Unit 51 ranks? Will Ava stay off an alien dissection table after mentally connecting with the alien war ship?

Cover Reveal - Unit 51



Here is it! The cover for Project Solstice, book #3. Look for it in e-book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords on Tuesday, December 10th.

 

Now that Ava Frost has found her place with Project Solstice, the aliens have decided to step up their agenda via a series of pinpointed EMP attacks. The first target they choose is the most advanced base on the planet. Unit 51. Like the base, Ava learns just how vulnerable she is after a second EMP strike not only cuts her off from her computerized guardian, Ian 2, but crashes her plane and the cybernetic implant in her brain.

Ava is captured by a werewolf pack who knows more than they should about Project Solstice, and they're not the only ones. Dozens of supernaturals have joined forces to share not only their technological advances, but prepare for a possible confrontation. When an EMP barrage on the supernaturals’ “safe ground” shows the aliens aren't taking sides, it’s proof that the real war is with everyone on Earth.

A temporary truce forces humans and supernaturals to team up. But is anyone safe with paranoia, bigotry, and treachery running rampant among the Unit 51 ranks? Will Ava and Ian 2 be able to find the answers they need to save the base when she can't even save herself from the humans who are finally approved to experiment on her?

A Fantastic Review for Section 51

Here's a fabulous review from Dead Trees Review for Section 51. Thanks for reviewing my book!

"First of a series, this science fiction/paranormal novel is about Ava Frost, part of a set of triplets. She has always had a strong empathic connection with her brother, Ian, until the day that he "disappears." She heads for the small town of Willow Falls to get some answers.

It all has to do with a bit of Native American folklore about people called skinwalkers, who can turn into animals, and back again. Ava knows, almost on arrival, that something is really wrong. She meets Ian at a local restaurant, but she knows that this is not her brother. The usual empathic connection is gone. She soon learns that Ian was killed two months previously, and his death was covered up.

Ava suddenly finds herself in the middle of a super-secret government program called Section 51 (yes, it's an offshoot of Area 51). It involves using genetic engineering to intentionally turn people into skinwalkers. She also runs into Colonel Briggs, the megalomaniac who runs the program. His intention is to create an army of such soldiers. Ian was working on a sort of skinwalker GPS system, and it's up to Ava to re-create his steps and bring it online. Briggs wants it very much, and there isn't anything he won't do to get total control over the skinwalkers.

This story is surprisingly good. It's very easy to read, it moves very quickly, and it will certainly keep the reader, whether science fiction or paranormal fan, very interested."

I've Been Interviewed

Hey, everyone! Check out my first interview at Author Hour. I'm talking about writing, Project Solstice and a few other things.

In other news, I'm hoping to have an update of Unit 51 and Space 51 soon. I just need to get through the usual promo stuff that I'm lining up in the weeks to come.

Pricing Disclaimer

I just finished reading an article about book prices. It seems that tis the season for pricing books cheaply a few weeks down the road or the closer we get to the holidays, thus screwing over customer who might have bought books at a higher price when it first came out. That's like me pricing my books at $2.99 and lowering the price to $0.99 as we get closer to Christmas.

So here's my disclaimer...

First, I'm trying to make a living out of my writing. So, I'm not a fan in the $0.99 price point. Sure, it might be good to let Section 51 be a lost-leader--and I thought about it right before I published it. But, that just doesn't make sense to me or my financial goals. I certainly have a hard time wrapping my brain around authors who box up ten books and sell the whole kitchen sink at $0.99. I think it has something to do with hitting the NYT Bestseller list or some other prestigious list and reaching more readers. I've also notice that many authors who hit those lists use that to accolade to acquire an agent who normally wouldn't touch them. To each is own. Honestly, I don't care about lists or agents. I care more about making a profit.

Second, it seems like--and I could be wrong--$0.99 has been considered the bottom of the barrel. I don't see in that way. Despite what I said above, I don't see it that was. There is a logical strategy behind it, even if I don't agree with it. In fact, the same has also been said about $2.99 being the upper bound of the barrel's bottom. Even though the purpose behind my price point was to make my books somewhat affordable in an economy that's coughing its way to recovery, it won't last forever. As I look at how well each book in the series sells, there's a chance I might raise the prices to $3.99, except for the new releases. Those will always start at $2.99 and stay that way for a period of time before joining the older books. Also, and as crazy as this might sound, I like to keep an eye on the economy overall. That will always play a part in my pricing decisions. I already know I'll isolate some buyers with my decisions, but I don't want to discourage everyone who's looking for a good read. This is my business, and like many retailers, I'll treat it as such. I'd like to make a profit, too.

Third, I hope you're having a great weekend. I know I sure am. :-)

Post-Release Day

First, I have to thank everyone again for purchasing a copy of Section 51, Department 51, or both. I had set my expectations extremely low in terms of selling any copies. I'm proud to say that my expectations have been amazingly surpassed. :-)

So what does this mean for Unit 51? It means that I'll be working on the edits this weekend and hopefully getting it off to my beta readers to go through. Plus, I still have to contend with the cover art and blurb. There's also the issue of getting Space 51 completed. Again, I'm only about halfway through that book.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about some advice a friend had given me. By the ways, she's an incredibly successful YA author who's been down this road. Anyway, she said I should have a second series in mind as I'm writing this one even before it finishes. I think I've decided on that second series already, which will take about fifty years into the future where the planet is more "alien" than ever. Drastic changes will lead to drastic decisions, and our new heroine will be lucky if she can live long enough to find the right answers.

Okay, so that's my sorry attempt at trying to sound mysterious. Honestly, I'm still working out the plot in my head and hoping to have at least three books out of it.

So that's where things stand right now.

It's Alive! It's Alive!

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: Both Barnes & Noble and Kobo are online! It's officially release day. Now, to go work on my newsletter.

UPDATE: Section 51 and Department 51 are currently available at Amazon and Smashwords. I'm still waiting on Kobo and B&N. Hopefully, it'll be soon. Although, I had to start from scratch with Kobo because I couldn't find my books. That one might take a little longer.

Happy Release Day for Section 51 and Department 51! They should be available to the general public in e-book sometime today. I uploaded both books last night to the various places where I knew it would take anywhere from 12 to 48 hours to post on each website. I'll return to this blog throughout the day to keep you updated as they become available among the usual suspects like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

I don't know what's going to happen to them in terms of sales, and I'm not about to speculate either. All I can do is hope for the best and see what happens. There have been so many stories about indie publishing that I don't follow them anymore because it's really anyone's game these days.

In the mean time, I'm going to busy myself with trying to finish Space 51, which is book number four. Unit 51 has had its first pass-through with my editor, but I haven't mustered up the courage to see the damage yet. Hopefully, it's not too much and I've learned some lessons along the way with book one and two.

In the meantime, happy reading and a HUGE thank-you in advance to anyone who purchases a copy.

Cover Reveals - Section 51 and Department 51

I know it's been a while since my last post, but this is what I've been up to over the last few weeks. Well...other than Halloween. Release Date: November 12th for Section 51 and Department 51.

 

Empath Ava Frost is searching for her triplet brother, Ian, who’s disappeared without a trace. When she learns he’s been murdered and his death covered up, she also discovers a terrifying secret that could endanger billions of people across the planet…

 

Skinwalkers, vampires, and werewolves – the entire supernatural world, in fact – are the result of breeding between humans and aliens who crash-landed on earth thousands of years ago. Now, Section 51 is a super top-secret facility dedicated to splicing alien genes with human ones to create an unstoppable army of soldiers.

 

Determined to hunt down her brother’s killer, Ava inadvertently becomes the target of Colonel Briggs, the megalomaniac in charge of Section 51. He has plans for Ava’s unique abilities…plans that would give him the key to world domination. And if she doesn’t unravel the mystery Ian left behind, Briggs will splice it out of her as well as her last surviving brother.

 

 

 

 

Ava Frost has spent the past three months mourning the death of her brother, Ian, but now she’s facing criminal charges from Department 51 – charges that could put her in federal prison for the rest of her life unless she accepts their "work-release" deal.

She can hardly stand working for the organization she blames for the death of her brother, yet while on the Department 51 base, she makes a chilling discovery… a sentient, complex computer program called Ian 2 has been imprinted with her brother's anagrams. More shocking, the computer is linked to her brain, sharing the same organic metal as her cybernetic implant.

Department 51 wants her to disable Ian 2, but when an alien craft threatens the Earth, Ava discovers her brother’s computer program may be the only key to deciphering the invaders’ intentions. Can she use Ian 2 to stop the alien invasion? Or will she be forced to save herself when a band of supernaturals try to remove her implant and Ian 2 can't reach her?

 

 

 

What I've Been Up To

I've been working on Section 51 edits from y editor. There's something else I've been thinking about doing with it, but I'm not sure yet. Anyway, once those are complete, I'll move onto Department 51's edits. Unit 51 is as done as it's going to be and I'm tired of looking it. That means it's time to drop that one in my editor's hands, too. I'll do that at some point--just not now.

I'm still lining up promo around the books and figuring out the release day schedule. I have a firmer grip on both Section 51 and Department 51 because I'll be releasing them together. Unit 51 will come about 2-3weeks later. The biggest hold up for that one is the cover art. I know what the covers will look like for Section 51 and Department 51 and I think they're great! But, it's Unit 51's that sucks. I've seen some sample designs, but haven't liked any of them. *sigh*

In the mean time, I've been getting some advice--whether or not it's good remains to be seen--from other writers to see what's worked for them when it comes to promo. Basically, nobody can dispute writing a good book and working on your next. So in a way, I'm glad my last efforts fell through and I had to start all over again. I'm devoting more time where it should be and that's toward writing.

My New Favorite Show: Sleepy Hollow

I didn't have high hopes for Sleepy Hollow on the Fox Channel, Monday nights. Let's face it. The whole Sleepy Hollow thing sounded a little too over-the-top for me. At most, it would last about ten episodes before getting its plug pulled.

Boy, was I wrong. If this show gets canned, I'll be picketing all over Fox's network. This show is phenomenal! First, we don't have the stereotypical, militant African American woman. She's completely down to earth and nicely balanced with some skepticism and a healthy level of open-mindedness. As for Ichabod, I think he's awesome. Last night's episode with the post-it notes around his motel room to guide him were priceless. His reactions to certain things are right on point, given that he lived well over two centuries years ago. Oh, and did I mention how much I liked how they wove the Headless Horseman into the whole Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Now there's all of this freaky stuff that seems to be awakening in town and scaring the crap out of the residents. The only drawback that I find to the series is that they all know they live in Sleepy Hollow and they're very familiar with the whole Headless Horseman thing. Now, granted there are some discrepancies between the story and the way Ichabod tells it and he even admits to this. But even if I were living in that town and heard stories about people getting their heads cut off, I might be inclined to leave. Just a thought. But at the same time, there's so much good stuff going on here that I've found the perfect substitute while waiting for all of my other shows to start back up their new seasons. Next stop American Horror Story: Coven.

Rating: A-

Schedule Change? Already?!

Yeah. I should've known that I'd jinx myself as soon as I put up the schedule on Wednesday. Anyway, my promotion plans have fallen into a deep dark abyss, and I've spent this past weekend trying to come up with an alternative while refining a few things at the same time.

At this point, let's just say that my new schedule is going to look something like this until I can nail down specific dates. Worse case scenario, if I have to push everything out by a month, I still want to get the series out by the end of the year.

So for now, here you go. Again, the same rule applies. This is subject to change, but I'm hopeful it won't.

Section 51 - October 2013
Department 51 - November 2013
Unit 51 - December 2013
Station 51 - After Christmas 2013*

*That last date is iffy. If I can get it out sooner rather than later, I will. I hate letting projects linger over the holidays.

R.I.P. Ann Crispin

I've never read any Ann Crispin books or met her in person. Nevertheless, I still feel like a friend die today.

I love what io9 wrote about her because it captures her influence throughout the sci-fi world and beyond, including the start of Writer Beware. Anything and everything wrong with the publishing business, she and Victoria Strauss brought it to light, and they did it all for the sake of writers everywhere. No matter where you are in your career, you can't afford not to know about Ann Crispin. In fact, any blog or book or sticky-note should be required reading for those who are looking at a career in writing. Her lessons are invaluable.

As for her fans, I envy that you got to know her and her writing. The good news is I can change that starting with Starbridge. The bad news is, it'll be short lived for an author who's life was cut way too short.

Rest in peace, Ms. Crispin.

Release Dates

I've been mulling this around for a while now in my head and I think I've come up with a release plan for my Project Solstice series. But before I say anything, let me put up the usual disclaimer.

These dates are subject to change.

There. I said it. So without further ado, here we go...

Section 51 - October 1st
Department 51 - November 1st
Unit 51 - December 1st
Station 51 - January 1st*

*That last date is iffy. If I can get it out sooner rather than later, I will. I hate letting projects linger over the holidays.

What would make the dates change, I don't know. Honestly, it might simply be me being scared to death about what people will think or wondering if I might have wasted my time writing this series like I have with other things I've written. Although, you'd think with the number of beta readers and critique partners I've had over the years, I'd be use to the scrutiny by now. It could also be the fact that the editor I have lined up might get busy with other work before I can get the next book to him. Anything is possible.

I guess this means I should put up a cover soon for Section 51, which I will. I've also discovered somewhere along the way that a series bible might come in handy so I can keep things straight. Sadly, I've been in denial about creating more work for myself since the end of the second book. *sigh*

Progress

So, there was this plan to write only three novels in my series: Section 51, Department 51, and Unit 51. Well, there's been some major news and progress going on in the last few weeks, which is why my blog has been so stagnant. I'll explain.

For some strange reason, getting through Unit 51 had turned into a slog-fest. But, I finally made a breakthrough when I completely rewrote the first five chapters and went into an entirely different direction. Things sailed smoothly from there, taking directions that I never thought about until it came to that point in the story. I'm thoroughly proud of how Unit 51 turned out...until the ending came. I had broken one of my cardinal rules of writing. I ended the book on a cliffhanger. *hand slap*

Honestly, that was not my intension. I want to keep each book in the series around 65K words. When I looked at how this was going to end, there was no way I could shove the rest of the story into another 5K words to stay within my limits. Perhaps a smaller novella or a short story to wrap things up? Maybe 20K more words to end on a high note? Or how about a spin-off?

None of those were an option.

So as result, there will now be a Station 51. That makes four books total. I'm glad I chose this option because all of the open ends are being neatly closed instead jamming everything into one book and rushing the ending. I'm officially 15K words into it and there are so many ideas flooding through the gates that there might even be room for another book. But in order for that to happen, I need to see how these first couple of books will sell. Even though I'm writing for myself first, I'd really like to make a living wage off this, too.

If all goes well, I'll be touching base with the editor I've chosen tonight, and be ready to put out Section 51 by October. From that point on, I'll be working toward one a week. If all goes really well, I'll continue the series. We'll see.

Me, Myself, and I are having a conversation

And as fate would have it, I'm talking to myself. But that's okay, seeing as I've been to busy doing other things to really write a blog on a schedule. I sure hope if I end up with fans someday that they'll forgive me for not paying this thing too much attention. It's not that I don't care, but let's face it. I'd rather be writing.

Speaking of which--and since I enjoy talking to myself--book #3 is done. Sadly, I'm at a spot where I don't want to be. I'm talking cliffhanger territory. I HATE it when a book ends in a cliffhanger, but there was no avoiding it in this case. But, keep in mind that #3 is a first draft, so that could always change.
So where am I at in the whole series? Well, if all goes well, it'll be more than a trilogy like I had first planned. If all doesn't go well, then the few folks who bought my book might hate that I canceled the series the way I did. But only time will tell.

More important, I'm in the process of finding an editor for book #1. I need to do one more read through, especially of the first few chapters because I went from third person to first person through the first third of the book and I'm not sure if I cleaned up all of the POV switches.

Okay, dinner is done, so it's time to eat. We're eating a little late tonight, which is one of those things I hate as much as I do cliffhangers. Go figure.

Traffic

Does anyone know how to generate blog traffic? I've heard that you need to blog everyday. Well...that's not going to happen. Sorry guys, but I have a day job, too. And given the choice, I'd rather be writing than blogging.

I've heard so many stories about writers who have all of these ideas and ways to generate traffic to their blogs. I've also heard that what works for one person doesn't always work for someone else. So why chase a moving target?

So, if it's okay with everyone (or whoever's out there), I'll try to blog at least once a week. I can't promise anything, but I'm pretty sure my blogs won't be too much longer than this one. Oh, and you can bet some of this stuff will probably be scheduled to stretch out my time and make it seem like I'm sticking to my guns about blogging once a week.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, I do have a Twitter account. It's https://twitter.com/AuthorVGH. I have Facebook, too, but I'm not so sure if I'm ready to share it. Whenever I think about all of the latest and greatest networking tools and whether or not I should do them, it's like a slow-entry bullet to the brain. But if you're really inclined, check out my website for my FB address. I just can't promise I'll always be posting anything there. The only reason why I'm sharing my Twitter account is because it likes posts that are short and sweet.

Thanks for stopping by!

My First Post

The title says it all, I guess. And like most bloggers I have no idea what to put here that might attract millions of followers and boost my ratings into the stratosphere. But I guess I can talk a little bit about myself and go from there.

My name is VG Harrison and you can find my website at www.vgharrison.com. I'm an author who likes to combine science fiction and fantasy and come up with hopefully some good books to read.

My series The Solstice Project is about how things like vampires and werewolves evolved from ancient alien races that crash-landed on the planet and eventually inbred with the humans of the time to become the creatures that they are today. One problem. Their ancestors are coming back and their plans are to bring their galactic war to Earth. Nobody knows who these aliens are, but by the third book they will. Either way, it's going to be one hell of a fight. Oh, and one more thing. Humans don't know that preternatural creatures exist, but the government does and has long before the Roswell Incident. After all, they've been cannibalizing the technology from crash-landed UFOs for decades and using it to create secret communities and military bases that look like they're from the 25th century. The heroine's name is Ava Frost and reluctantly, she's at the center of it all because of the alien microchip that's evolving her brain.

So where am I right now? My beta reader has been reading the first book in the series, Section 51, and has only gotten a few pages into it with her interest peeked. That's a good thing because I've been stressing like a madman. In terms of writing, I'm halfway through the first draft of the third book. So wish me luck that I can complete the thing by the end of next month. That's the goal, anyway.

There are three books in the series. Section 51, Department 51, and Unit 51. I'd like to continue with Space 51 and perhaps a few more, but if the first three books don't sell well, I'm not going to bother with a fourth. I have no idea when I'll release the books. I just know that they will be released on after the other. I'm thinking a week apart, but we'll see. I'm hopeful for no later than Labor Day weekend.

Anyway, that's all I have for now. Don't be surprised if I'm short-winded on these things going forward, since this is my first blog. I just don't know what to say, but introducing myself and my books seemed like the logical thing to do.

Thanks for stopping by!