TKO Creations

… I told TOR publishing just what they could use and where they could use it sideways.

There are times where I think I made completely the wrong decision, like on the day I told them to take a hike.

But then there are others where I realize that this is my creation.  This is my world.  I made this; and I certainly didn’t make it to sell it to some board of stuffed shirt millionaires to make more money off of and surrender all control to.

And that’s why I’ve told every publisher I’ve talked to the same thing.  This is mine. You want to be a part of that, I’ll talk.  But don’t assume that just because you wave a meager check in my face that I’ll let you have it all.

That’s never going to happen.

To perhaps my greater peril; the “About the Author” page now has an e-mail in which readers can contact me.

I don’t usually bite.

Okay, so this isn’t exactly a new development, but over on the Blogroll you will see a link to Facebook.  It’s simply another way to spread the word and inform readers about updates and such.  And since everyone and their mother is on Facebook nowadays, it seems like a simple way to inform people.

It’s not exactly a long, long time ago (I have actually intentionally avoided even unconsciously attaching it to anything relative to our present time).

It’s not exactly a galaxy far, far away either (the galaxy that hosts all these happenings is actually inspired by the sight of M31 in the night sky over Fremont, Michigan… more commonly known as the Andromeda galaxy).

But it is a science-fiction fantasy hybrid story akin to that very famous universe crafted (for good or for ill) by George Lucas, and I can’t deny the influence it had… an influence that will probably be rather obvious.  I’m not sure you really can make such a hybrid genre without touching on the themes and the feel it created and shaped.

Anyway, if that hasn’t scared you away yet… the first novel of this series The Second Gate, will be posted on a chapter by chapter basis, hopefully every Monday.  I don’t foresee any delays in that score once it actually starts posting, but there are still some small details that need to hammered out before they start appearing (like where the chapters will be hosted, what formats they will be in, and the like).

However, as those things are straightened out, I will post a group of short stories that serve as setting the table for the novel itself, in the near future.  Stay tuned.

I’m sure you’re wondering… why should I care about this?

Surely, if this fellow was any good, he’d already be published and I’d be buying his works off the bookshelves.

To an extent, you’d be right.

Truth is… I probably could have been a published author already.  It wasn’t from lack of interest… but for one reason or another, it never fully manifested.

Either my work was too risky to invest on a new author (Tor)… or the manuscripts were too long for their press (EDGE)… or it didn’t have enough “mass appeal”; aka sex and drugs and rock and roll (Baen).  Another common sticking point was that I refused to sell the copyright to them outright (pretty much all of them).

I insisted it wasn’t about the money, and that I simply wanted to maintain creative control.  Finally, a good friend of mine told me if that was the case, to put my money where my mouth is.  She’s probably right; a lot of people helped me put together the works I’ve written… they deserve more than my thanks, and while I probably can’t pay them for their time, at least I should put forth what they helped me write.

It should be read… whether you like it or not is entirely your prerogative.

Let’s see what happens from here, shall we?