Friday, April 4, 2008

Picking up the pieces

It's Day seven or so of post-Rain, and I still find myself depressed over it. I had gotten more used to the idea of being a published novelist with active books on the table than I had realized. Now I feel as if I'm starting from scratch, which I guess I am.

Still, I'm in better shape than many. My agent has agreed to begin resubmissions, despite having had nothing to do with my signing with Rain. So in the long run, I might well end up with a larger house, anyway. But in publishing parlance, "long run" means 12-36 months ... or more. Sigh.

I started Book One of my six-book series in September 2003 and finished Book Six (including revisions) in January 2008. All those months in between, I wrote virtually seven days a week. It became a very large part of how I defined myself. Since the Rain collapse, I find myself unable to write. So I guess that for a time, at least, I am redefining myself.

During the time period that I wrote the series, I was not working, except to play the role of house-husband with three young children. But as of April 14, I am rejoining the workforce as multimedia editor of the Greenville (S.C.) News. It's going to be an exciting but demanding job that will require a huge portion of my creative juices, if I'm to do it justice. Will I have any juices left to write another novel? I have a great idea for a very scary ghost story. So we'll see.

In the living vicariously department, my good friend Dave Scheiber's co-written book entitled Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob is doing extremely well. Bob Delaney, the undercover police officer turned NBA ref who is the subject of the book, hit a grand slam today on the Jim Rome show. You can hear this amazing interview here.

Covert is a big-time book that is close enough to best-seller status to taste. Maybe the appearance on Rome's show, which attracts more than 2-million listeners per week, will push Covert over the top. I certainly hope so.

Synopsis

The Death Wizard Chronicles is a sexy, action-packed six-book epic fantasy series: Book One (Forged by Death), Book Two (Chained by Fear), Book Three (Eve of War), Book Four (World on Fire), Book Five (Sun God), Book Six (Death-Know).

The DW Chronicles is not for children and teenagers -- or the faint of heart. But if you like graphic fantasy that is bursting with excitement yet still has a lot going on between the lines, I think you'll love my series.

In a groundbreaking paradox, the Death Wizard, a champion of good, derives his power from a source traditionally seen as negative -- death. His nemesis, an evil sorcerer, derives his power from the sun, the benevolent source of all life. Their struggle to control the fate of the planet Triken will take your breath away.

In an original twist never before seen in this genre, the Death Wizard is able to enter the realm of death during a "temporary suicide." Through intense concentration, he stops his heartbeat and feeds on death energy, which provides him with an array of magical powers.

The series also is a love triangle involving two desperate characters attempting to come together despite the machinations of an all-powerful psychopath with incestuous cravings.

Graphic and action-packed, spanning a millennium of turmoil, The DW Chronicles carries readers on a journey they will never forget.

Do you fear death? The Death Wizard does not. Find out why.

-- Please go to www.jim-melvin.com for more details.

About Me

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Clemson, SC, United States
I was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla. I graduated from the University of South Florida (Tampa) in 1979 with a B.A. in Journalism. I now live in South Carolina near the Blue Ridge Mountains, a pleasant setting for writing, to say the least. I was an award-winning journalist at the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years and I currently work at the Charlotte Observer. I am married with five daughters.

The author

The author
Jim Melvin, a veteran journalist, debuts as novelist.