Smart stories, epic ideas
Author J.B. Simmons blogs on creative writing, editing, publishing, and music. He is the bestselling author of twelve books that bring hope to dystopia. Readers can't put them down.
November 2018 marks the release of The Blue Tower, the first book of a YA series about a boy who wakes up in a mysterious tower with no memories of his former life. He must learn who he was before he can figure out why he's here...and how to get out.
The Unbound trilogy tells the story of a teen from Manhattan with nightmares of a dragon and the world ending in 2066. It has been acclaimed as "The Da Vinci Code meets Hunger Games meets Left Behind... An imagining epic." (Hugh Hewitt)
It's more true than ever: nothing grabs a reader like a book's cover. No resources should be spared in finding a great one. But what if $300 was all you needed? What if that was enough to bring fantastic designers to compete for your cover?
Well, it is. Here's my inside story.
Read MoreIt seems like popular websites recently got the same memo. Compare these articles on grantland.com and thedailybeast.com. Notice anything similar? The fonts! They have style that pops.
How can the text on a page pop?
Read MoreIn my first post on music, I wrote about tracks that inspire flow while writing. Just as priceless are songs that weave tales that themselves inspire writing. It's hard to pick among singer-songwriters, but I'll start with my unabashed ode to The Decemberists.
Lead singer Colin Meloy can WRITE.
Read MoreI'm no marketing pro. I'm just a guy who loves to write. Yet, as I've said here, the adventure of artisanal publishing requires hand-crafting a unique book AND getting it to readers.
A few weeks ago, I watched in amazement as thousands of readers downloaded my debut novel.
Read MoreEditing is important. But did you know it's magic?
It starts with the power of the written word, connecting the minds of writers and readers across space and time. Steven King said it's like telepathy -- I write something. You read it. I never opened my mouth, and you never opened yours. We're not in the same time together, let alone the same room . . . except we are together. We're close. We're having a meeting of the minds. -- I agree with King, and if you're looking for a metaphysical or spiritual source for this special power, google: "In the beginning was the word."
Read MoreAmazon Bestselling Author. Smart stories, epic ideas.
