Confession

It has been exactly 1 month since Agent M: Project Mabus has been released and the reception is better than what I could have hoped for. I know many authors would love to shoot for the sky and hit the best seller list within a few days but I am happy knowing that this story is being enjoyed by more people now than it was a month ago. Despite the sales figures, I’m actually more excited to report about the current reviews I’ve been receiving. By my count this morning, we’re at 12 5-star reviews at Amazon.com. Not a bad showing for a first-timer I’d say. I’d love to believe it’s a sign of things to come but it’s also very possible that this could be a peak as well. But, I’m a glass half full kind of guy so I’m just going to bow my head and be thankful for those who put the effort out there to read, review, and enjoy my story.

And that’s actually what I’m here to talk about. I believe there were a couple of reviews that mentioned this point in one way or another so I thought this would be the best forum to address them. The growing consensus about Project Mabus is that this book “reads like a movie”. I’m kind of conflicted as how I’m supposed to take that, certainly not in a negative way though. Rather, I’m speaking of it as a concern of sorts. Though, I can’t say those thoughts aren’t warranted. Which leads me to a confession. A trusted author secret I never thought I would take to the grave but one that I didn’t believe ever needed to be revealed. I don’t believe it’s necessarily groundbreaking but it’s ripe for debate and could very well be a particular point of interest for future authors to consider.

Without further ado…  Here goes.

The Agent M series was not intended to be novels.

There, I said it. But you’ll never take me alive!

…

Whew. That feels good to get that one out there. The truth is, the Agent M series wasn’t exactly my main focus during the creative onslaught known as college. I was working on another set of characters for a comic book series I was hoping to get off the ground one day (if you think plotting out the Agent M series in a movie theater was odd, I can’t wait to tell you about this one). Surprisingly enough, the Agent M series was actually going to be a spinoff on those books. In fact, the main headquarters of these characters was going to be in (SPOILER ALERT) the now defunct headquarters of A.N.K.H. Pharmaceuticals. So, by the process of elimination, if the Agent M series was originally supposed to be a spin-off of a comic book series, then that would mean…

That’s right boys and girls. The Agent M series was originally written for the medium of comic books.

But now you must be thinking “Luis, that still doesn’t explain why people think your book reads like a movie.” Alas my friends, that is yet another bump on the road towards completion. I was still working on this superhero story all throughout college with not too much to show for it other than detailing plots and characters. Finding an artist to share your vision didn’t come easy (or cheap). I didn’t want to put the Agent M series on the sidelines because the more I started to explore it, the more I began to fall in love with it. Suddenly, my comic book superheroes started to see the sidelines. I didn’t want to lose focus on either so I made a unique decision (I only call it unique because any other word to describe it would be derogatory and I’m not one for self-deprecation). Instead of focusing on both as individual comic book series, I would separate the mediums and concentrate my strengths on their individuality instead of merging them together. The superheroes would remain in comic book format because that’s where they would work the best (which might change in the coming months, more on that later).

And for the Agent M series…  Well, I knew a story of this magnitude was destined for something great, I just needed to find the right canvas for it. That’s when it hit me. The silver screen. It seems rather justified seeing as I created the initial concept in a movie theater. My mind had been made up. The superheroes would reign supreme in the world of comics and the Agent M series would breathe the delectable air of Hollywood.

“But, that can’t be all to that story” you might be wondering. And of course, it’s not. But don’t fret my friends, tune in next time for part two of this confessional story and we’ll see how the Agent M series finally came to life.

The Void

Have you ever gotten caught between the space of “what to do next”? Certainly it doesn’t pertain solely to authors but in this case, I am at a crossroads to which I cannot seem to select the next path to travel down. Since the release of Agent M: Project Mabus I’ve been on a promotional rampaging, pegging blogs and podcasts for any time they could offer me. However, while this is going on I feel as if my focus has dwindled from the bigger picture.

This time last year, I was approximately 30 pages into the first draft of Project Mabus. Today I stand 38 pages into the sequel yet the last time I wrote anything was 2 months ago. I know in order to get it published in due time, I need to have it completed as soon as I can yet I feel as if any time spent away from promotion could be detrimental to the success of Project Mabus. A part of me just wants to leave it alone and let the word of mouth press carry it forward. The other part fears that this route would only carry it into obscurity.

As a self-published author, it feels like gaining attention on Amazon.com is nothing more than a shouting match. The only thing I can do then write a good description and hope that the cover is unique enough to steal a few moments of someone’s time. Seeking other venues for advertisement is a much but those can be exhausted fairly quickly as well and if I focus all of my energy towards that route it may end up in vain.

Then again, if I focus my efforts solely towards writing the sequel I will be missing out on some golden opportunities. There exist some prime resources that will help establish the Agent M series as a household name. I’d welcome any and all opportunities that come my way (at this point I’d like to personally thank all of the wonderful people at GoodReads.com for their continuous support). But if I don’t shift my focus somehow to working on the next step in the series then all of my effort may be wasted on a veritable one hit wonder.

Alas, I am stuck in an endless cycle of could-bes and should-haves. I know within me lies the knowledge of which path to take. Debating it further would only seem to compromise my judgment. The only other option I have is to give up. After coming this far, I’ve only got two words to say.

Screw that.

The End Starts Here

Victory! Horribly sweet victory!

You’d think after taking the time to plot, draft, write, and revise an entire novel that you’d be a little excited. Try doing that through the span of 8 years. I never felt a greater sense of accomplishment in my entire life. Bigger than graduating college. Bigger than landing a phenomenal career. Bigger than earning my MBA. Bigger than proposing to my fiancé…

Well, maybe not that last one.

But here it is! In all its tremendous glory!

There are just so many people I’d like to thank for this tremendous effort and even though they have been acknowledged and immortalized within the pages of this script, not recognizing their efforts and contributions on my blog would be a grave injustice.

First off, my beloved parents. Although they will never read nor comprehend what it is that I’ve created, they will always support me as long as I’m happy with what I’m doing.

To my darling brother who (usually) never has anything nice to say about my work. I can remember a time where I had him acting in our parent’s garage for 5 hours trying to work through this scene for a YouTube video. Even to this day he still refers to that video and a great majority of the ones I put months into filming and editing as complete and utter crap. To have his seal of approval on this one means the world to me.

Of course, how could I leave out my wonderful fiancé Lisha. A woman who spent countless nights hoping I’d stop writing for just a few moments to simply acknowledge her presence. Her review and criticisms of this book gave me confidence that it can and will appeal to all types of demographics willing to give it a chance by cracking open the first page. For that, I am forever thankful.

Special and particular thanks goes out to a Mr. David Sondered at Studio Colrouphobia. If you are looking for a man that embodies the very definition of patience then look no further. I constantly and consistently badgered him with requests and changes to embody the cover to what I wanted. And yet… He made a couple of simple suggestions and I have been humbled. You sir, are a professional and a man of class.

And finally, to all of my friends and family members. I know I had kept this a secret from most of you only because when I first started “bragging” about my novel, I became swallowed in hype. That was 8 years ago. Humbling experience aside, I couldn’t be happier with the support you’ve offered and I hope that you enjoy the ride I’ll be taking you on.

Just like the tag-line to Agent M: Project Mabus…  We’ve only just begun.

Religion vs Science – The Epic Struggle of Stubbornness

I’ve balked about discussing this issue purely because I didn’t want people to think I was sparking up a controversial debate for pure entertainments sake. As the release of Agent M: Project Mabus draws closer, I wanted to discuss one of the major underlying issues covered in the first book. As a devout believer in God, this was surprisingly easy process to undertake. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a tolerant and diverse household. However, today’s entry is not about picking sides or determining who’s “right” or “wrong”. This is about discussing the proponents and why their reasoning causes strife amongst the masses. Sometimes it’s not about the argument but about the one presenting it.

To be fair, I might as well lay all my cards on the table. I’ve got nothing to hide. I was raised in a very religious upbringing; my father a Catholic and my mother an Eastern Orthodox. Despite their religious “differences”, they seemed to have no issues debating religious topics. My mother was especially tolerant in this retrospect. When I became confused as a child after hearing about the different types of religious organizations, my mother eased my worries by telling me that all religions are essentially the same and that I didn’t need to worry about defining them either way. As long as you believe in God and lead a good life, there’s nothing else to worry about. I love that way of thinking. It really speaks to heart concerning my own personal beliefs. I never tell anyone that I am of a specific religious faith but when they press the issue I simply tell them that I was raised Catholic and everyone seems to be pleased with that explanation. To me, organized religion is nothing more than having a different set of rules to achieve the same goal.

However, I do consider myself a creature of logic. There is always a rational and believable explanation that exists in any situation. I don’t make decisions based on emotions and I don’t advise others to as well yet I am plagued to see so many illogical beings make hasty choices in life with excuses that range from “It’s my life, I’ll live it as I see fit” all the way to “Oops”. Personal beliefs aside, some would argue that I should be torn between my religious beliefs and my logical outlook on life. I am here to fire back and ask you, why? Why should I be debating religion and science? I’ve already found a nice middle ground and have worked inside of it for the better part of 28 years. Do I really have to pick a side? Why are we picking sides anyways?

In Agent M: Project Mabus, the project developer Donald Viseman suffers through an internal conflict of this nature but in a more endearing way. He’s caught between his personal beliefs and the job assigned to him. I’m sure there are many moments in our lives when we are faced with similar decisions. One man in Atlanta was fired over an incident where his religious beliefs interfered with his work.

The point I’m trying to raise is, would either side give up their beliefs for the greater good? I can honestly say that the majority of them wouldn’t. This is entrenched in a mask of stubbornness. Religious faithful do not want to budge because doing so would be backing away from the very beliefs they hold so dearly. Children of science won’t let up an inch because they are trying to put up equal force in order to prove their point. But, when you really look at it, all we’ve got is the irresistible force meeting the immovable object. Neither side is going to budge or concede. That’s just not the way it works. So instead of engaging in a fruitless battle, I decided to pull myself away from it. I don’t necessarily think all Atheists are dumb or all religious people are nut-jobs. They’re perpetuating that stereotype fine on their own without any help from yours truly.

One of my goals in writing Agent M: Project Mabus was certainly not to usher controversy over the issue at hand but to rather use it as a medium of conflict. Particularly in Dr. Viseman’s case. I knew when I began the path of plotting the Agent M series that I would be faced with many similar types of debate between religion and science. And not just in the first book either. There is an underlying tone that is present throughout the entire series that predicates the battle between religion and science. Just like the headline for Project Mabus, the end has truly begun. This is only the beginning in a series that will be the fictional battleground between these two belief superpowers.

And all out war will be the least of mankind’s concerns when the prophecy draws near.

The Moment of Truth Draws Near

This is it. The Day of Judgment is upon us. Believers rejoice. Sinners and the damned will finally face reckoning for their blasphemous deeds. Let those who worship evil’s might…

Wait a second. I think I better stop myself before I get in too deep.

I’m excited! What more is there to say? I just found out that Mr. David Sondered is nearing completion on my cover and once I have that beautiful piece of art in my hands, physical and digital publication will be imminent.  It’s an indescribably good feeling.

As I patiently await the glorious moment when Agent M: Project Mabus graces the digital shelves of Amazon.com I have been keeping myself tied into all things Agent M at the moment. For starters, I have been making some good connections on GoodReads.com. All of the people I’ve met on that site have been nothing short of friendly and enthusiastic. It’s a great community of readers and writers alike. With that in mind, developing a marketing plan has been on my mind for the past few weeks. I’ve got some websites and blogs saved that are willing to do author interviews and book reviews, however, I’ve been hesitating to initiate contact until I’ve got a book that’s ready to be purchased. Somehow, the idea of marketing a book that doesn’t technically exist would be a hard sell for a first-time author.

Other than that, I’m just getting over the holiday rush like everyone else. My Thanksgiving was fantastic. I got to spend time with my brother who I haven’t seen in almost a year as well as my parents and Godmother. The mayhem known as Black Friday passed through quickly. I’m normally a BF junkie but this year I did all of my shopping online and didn’t miss a thing. To all of those rookies who went out for their first time this year, my only word of advice is to make a list of all of the stuff you would want to buy on Black Friday 30 days before they go on sale. If you still want those items after Black Friday then dive right in but I think you’ll find, like most of us do afterwards, that the stuff on sale isn’t really necessary or wanted. You’ll end up stowing those products in the garage after a month or two and go back next year, like an Alzheimer’s patient, and do it all over again.

Becoming a published author was always a dream that seemed just out of reach. After 28+ years of existence, it’s no longer an issue. We’re approaching the beginning of my greatest literary work (technically my only literary work but that’s a minor detail). I’m looking forward to this more than any birthday, holiday, vacation or even Christmas morning.

Well…  Not every Christmas morning. The year I got a Super Nintendo was beyond incredible.

With all that has happened in my life, I couldn’t have asked for a greater outcome. If I ever had a chance to use a time machine, I’d only leave my younger self a little note.

“Everything is going to be alright.”

The journey is finally coming to an end. And yet, this is only the beginning.

The Official Logo Revealed!

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been working my ass off trying to come up with a logo to grace the front cover of my book .  Inspiration seemed few and far between.  None of my original ideas could convey the sheer EPICNESS of what I was going for.  All hope had slowly faded away…

Until suddenly, an epiphany struck.  I furiously poured my mouse clicks and key taps over this idea and watched it grow from good to outstanding in only a few short hours.  So, I present to all of you, the official Agent M: Project Mabus logo.  And I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. 

With that, I’m spent.

FTAQs

Writing a novel is much more than putting words on a page (as any and every writer can attest to).  There is an inherent subtlety to the craft that we sometimes overlook, especially in the early parts of our careers.  Once you’ve got a rhythm going, it’s hard to change gear let alone derail.  However, in the great journey that is the review and revision process, there is one thing we cannot afford to miss.  And that is Forgetting to Answer Questions.

The Agent M series as a whole was created to have a constant and continually intrigue.  I wanted to keep the reader’s on their toes while leaving certain elements hidden and others hidden in plain sight.  Along that path I had to keep reminding myself that Agent M: Project Mabus has to be a standalone story in and of itself.  There were some questions my test readers asked that I could easily answer and realized that they belonged in the context of the story.  Of course, there were a few others that I left out for the sole purpose of driving the series forward.  And therein lies the challenge.

Thankfully, in the eight years it took to get Project Mabus on paper, I had plenty of time to develop and shape the world of the Agent M series.  With that in mind, I could easily look at the story and determine which questions I needed to answer and which ones could be answered later.  I firmly believe that readers are more likely to give a series a chance that has a conclusive ending to the first story then to end on a cliffhanger.

Sure, some of you may be thinking that a cliffhanger ending will result in quick/easy sales of the sequel.  As much as I’d love to believe it, I know that isn’t the case.  Giving the readers your best efforts in a single story should be your primary goal.  Think about it like this.  Would you rather enjoy a 3-course meal or just the appetizer?  The answer of course depends on how hungry you are at any given point in time but logic is still the same.

A question you might pose to challenge me would be “but what if my story is too long? It’ll need a sequel or two in order to wrap everything up.”  Going back to the food analogy, is it better to spread out the meal in longer segments or give the diner everything they want in a single seating?  Sometimes it works.  My brother nearly flipped his shit when he found out how Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring ended but it still made sense.  As a self-published, and therefore un-tested author, it is harder to sell a big, drawn out meal than it is a quick fulfilling one.  The key here is not just to whet the appetite of your readers but to also get them to come back and dine again.

Nothing’s worse than having to pay for an unappetizing and unfulfilling appetizer only to be told the main course and desert will make up for it.  Do yourself a favor and give it your all with one story.  At least that way you will easily find the issues with your work rather than hiding behind the excuse of “but the sequel will make the story as a whole better!”

This little nugget of insight is brought to you by the letters FTAQ.