Dorth's Cunning Plan

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Thu Oct 08, 2015 6:37 pm

Book 3 is being proofread and tweaked at present. Entitled 'Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla', this one introduces a lot of new characters, new locations and gives more background information on the world I have created. It is over 460,000 words plus maps and table of how Imperial military units are structured.
And you also get to meet Rolani and Tayani again

And Her Majesty - she is not what you might expect.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2015 8:56 pm

93 chapters done, only 27 to go and some maps to finish off. But those are long chapters....

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:39 pm

The main proofreading is done - I discovered I had missed a chapter heading at one point near the end but that is fixed. Still some map work to finish off but I might just be able to have the book ready for Halloween.
The problem with the maps is that I have to shrink them and reduce detail for the sake of the overall file size for the book, making life a bit complicated when your story encompasses an awful lot of territory...
I am also including the structure charts for Imperial military units. That will become MUCH more important in books 4 & 5

Ukfreddybear · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:00 pm

It is an impressive feat to write novels, let alone flush them out with detailed maps. You must be quite chuffed with your achievements. Are they popular?

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:46 pm

Not yet....
But everything has to start somewhere

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:01 pm

I am on the final (!) proofread of book 3 (Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla). Almost half a million words... 10 maps...

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sat Oct 31, 2015 6:42 pm

As fireworks explode all around and hordes of hideous little monsters (I believe the other word for them is children) roam the streets demanding sweets, I labour on at the final read through. I had hoped to be finished tonight but that ain't gonna happen.
But there is a chance I will have it done late tomorrow

Definitely sometime this week.

a Hobbit · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2015 1:41 am

Its late tomorrow. Is it done?

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:43 pm

Hi 'a Hobbit'.
Proofreading has taken a little longer than hoped - I am about to start tonight's session - I am currently in the midst of Chapter 113 (out of 121!)
Updates on progress and some of my other activities are here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JC-Ramsa ... e_internal
I hope to have the book published by this weekend.

a Hobbit · **Posted:** Wed Nov 04, 2015 11:14 pm

How much did it cost to make the ebook?

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2015 4:42 pm

It's an e-book only at the moment: I know from experience that getting published in physical print is a nightmare, even if you have a good book. So I went for indie e-publishing from the start.
As for cost - I am working non-stop at these stories using up essentially all the 'free' time I have available. That adds up to a lot of hours over the last few years, so putting even a low pay rate on it for myself would still run into a substantial sum. I do the artwork, maps, proofreading, all of it.
I have 2 more big books more or less written though the second of those needs a lot of work - it is the conclusion to the storyline I began with 'Instrument of the Empire'.
Then I have 4 more stories featuring Master Omari, at least 2 on Hedar, the Spear Point Invasion tale, the last Narrowlands War, what happens after the current lot and more. I think that takes care of the next 10 years for me

a Hobbit · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:37 pm

So that means that it costs nothing to make an ebook? Me and a friend are making one.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2015 11:03 pm

Only if you regard the many hours it will require as being financially worthless - there is no guarantee that any book will sell or will sell in sufficient numbers to make a living out of it.
'Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla' has just been published. I am crawling off to bed now, tired but happy. Good night all

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2015 10:59 am

Just to give you a better idea of the scale of the stories, here are a couple of the maps:
First the Narrowlands province.

Second, the City States, Principalities, Sheylon and Rectoria. The Narrowlands is that tiny wee thing up in the top left corner.

A lot of thought has gone into these, and frankly you are seeing very much downsized versions - my working maps are 15000x10000 pixels and upwards.

a Hobbit · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2015 3:24 pm

Dorthonion wrote:

there is no guarantee that any book will sell or will sell in sufficient numbers to make a living out of it.

We're not planning to make a living off it, it's just for fun :-D

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sun Nov 08, 2015 11:12 am

I do want to make a living out of it - eventually. There comes a point in life when you just get fed up doing things for other people who basically don't give a damn. So I am laying the foundations for my own little enterprise.
I enjoy the writing and associated artwork and research. I get annoyed at how often my time is usurped by others, but I keep going nevertheless. If you want to do it for fun - go ahead. Why not? That's what life is about - trying something new.
If people mock you for doing it, ask what they are doing with their lives. Don't be a monotonous drone conforming to everyone else's ideals and preferences.
Don't remain a respectable hobbit! Go chase that dragon

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:38 am

692 pages into first pass read/edit on next book - 'Journeys Through The Fog of War'. The strange thing is that since I had been away from this part of the overall tale for a few months, it is like reading something written by someone else. I had forgotten a lot of one-liners and little vignette scenes but not the general threads (yes, multiple threads to the storyline). It is hard work but satisfying for me.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:10 pm

After several bad days I had hoped to get more done this weekend but after one unexpected bit of bad karma, it has all gone downhill a bit. Not a happy or productive weekend.
(Sighs) And tomorrow is Monday. Oh great...

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:08 pm

It is windy and raining outside but I do not care.
I am reading and tweaking the dialogue and action on a siege at present. Catapults, trebuchets, heavy bolt throwers - the lot.
Just for variety I have been working on another set of naval engagements and other skullduggery.
Spies, plots, arcane devices of unknown provenance and a spot of simple honest affection thrown in for good measure (note: not romance. Read Mills & Boon if that is your thing.)
And the fantasy elements? Well in books 4 and 5 you do get to meet at least one demon, and then there are the Great Sabres. Big cats but uncannily clever in ways that defy explanation.

Hodush · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:52 pm

Love the map

Dorth's Cunning Plan

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