cryptobyte

November: The Big Thrill

/ catconnor / Leave a comment

Readers,

Exciting news. There is an interview with me about Cryptobyte in the Nov issue of The Big Thrill! [Click on the word Cryptobyte above to read the interview.]

In other news … the launch is less than a week away, and it’s very exciting.

Of course, since returning home from Perth I’ve broken two fingernails – I knew it would happen as they reached a ridiculous length while I was away. Had hoped they’d make it until the launch but nope. Such is life.

The banners I had made for the launch arrived and were not at all like the images I approved on the BannerBuzz website. Disappointing. Won’t be using them again. Especially as I used THEIR software online to create the banners – you’d think they’d print their own backgrounds like the bloody proof! They did not. At all. Not even close. At least my graphics turned out well … just their bit that’s a big fat fail. Live and learn.

The bookmarks I had printed in Christchurch at Print Monday, and they are nobtastically gorgeous, so that’s good.

Sitting on my bedroom floor are a lot of books! The entire series including Snakebyte and Whispers in the Water. All ready for launch day. Turns out I only have five copies of Metabyte left (in total) so once these are close to gone I’ll order more, and they’ll have the new cover etc. Exciting stuff. Metabyte has had no back cover blurb or proper back cover for too long!

cryptograph

Dear Readers,

/ catconnor / Leave a comment

Seemed like a good title for a blog post … not sure if it works but hey, you be the judge.

Since I’ve been away taking very good care of #MyKnight while he recovers from a hip replacement, I’ve actually done a few things. I know, I was surprised too.

For starters, ALL the Byte Series books have been re-released for the American and European market, in paperback. Metabyte got an entirely new format, cover, and ISBN. The others just got a freshly formated guts.

That means, if you’re not a kiwi in NZ and you’re looking for a paperback, you can now buy them from Amazon and other places – but please pay attention and don’t buy anything that lists ‘Rebel ePublishers’ as the publisher because they’re sold by 3rd party sellers and have NOTHING to do with me. I get diddly-squat from those sales, so, don’t be that guy, okay? Cheers.

Also, all the Byte Series novels are back on Amazon as kindle versions, gloriously reformated for 9mm Press. You’re welcome. I listened, I acted.

Cryptobyte launches soon – I’m excited. I can’t wait to see what I say at the launch at Upper Hutt Library on Friday, Nov 8th. Not kidding. 🙂 Maybe. Perhaps. Okay, okay, I wrote a speech because Yvonne would be most disapproving if I didn’t, and Readers, I don’t want that. Come along and have cake!!! It’s a phenomenal cake. Trust me, I’m a fruitcake maker. (Crime writer, same thing, whatever)

But wait there’s more … I’m now about halfway through the first draft (no such beast really) of Vaporbyte, which is the 12th-byte novel. Hold the applause until I finish!

Meanwhile … I also learned how to make moving cover images in GIMP and can’t remember what I learned, guess it’ll come back when I go to do it again?

And yes I have red hair – it’s actually Boho copper or so the box said.

 

1693C38B-5046-478B-9B45-8F363C3ED371

 

 

 

 

 

Everything should sparkle

/ catconnor / Leave a comment

Seriously, it should. Not just because I just saw a glitter helmet on the telly (watching American Pickers with My Knight). I’ve been a sparkle lover my whole life. And you all know the joy when my daughter told me I could have GLITTER on my book covers. 🙂

As it stands now, two of the Byte Series have glitter on the covers. I know, I’m excited too!

You knew about Cryptobyte … and the glory that is gold glitter on the cover.

But, now, Metabyte has a new cover. It had to have a new cover (shit happened with my former now defunct publisher, if you recall) and my daughter knows me rather well (imagine?), so when she re-did the cover she added the joy of green glitter. And I smiled, Readers, I smiled a lot. At some stage (probably November) the new covers will be in the bookshop. November because I need to pay for the Cryptobyte copies that have already arrived at the bookshop in prep for the launch on Nov 8. Yeah, they were early. Which is better than being late, right? And for all of you who thought me having a white cover on Qubyte caused OCD anxiety … I’m pretty sure the Metabyte cover will tweak that OCD again. Deal with it. 🙂

#SorryNotSorry

In other news: I’m in Perth with My Knight – taking care of him as he recovers from major surgery (new hip), and, I’m writing. Yes, I am.

I’m having a love hate relationship with the 12th Byte Novel at the moment, but today was a good writing day and now I know that some characters we met in Qubyte are coming back, so, that’s cool. In particular, Tahoma Whitehorse. And I really enjoyed him as a character. Did you like him and his off-sider, Karen Schneider?

It looks like I best go make us some dinner.

Take care out there. xx

Learning stuff!

/ catconnor / Leave a comment

After spending almost all afternoon trying to animate a book cover and thinking it didn’t work outside of GIMP … my brain kicked back in this morning and of course it works. Doh!

So, back into GIMP I went and messed around with Cryptobyte just to see … this is a first attempt and with some practice I’ll get the animations smoother and more glittery than flashy. The important thing is, I did it. I know how to do it. And I didn’t throw my MacBook across the kitchen working it out. 🙂

Launch date and venue announcement!

/ catconnor / Leave a comment

Today I found out that the launch will be at Upper Hutt Central Library. Woo hoo!

We have a little something special (and fun) planned for this launch but you’ll have to come along to find out what that is.

Wasn’t sure if I’d be able to organize a launch this side of Christmas but our plans changed and I will be here in November, so, we’re launching the paperback version before the digital release (only by a few days but still it counts). Next weekend I’ll bake the cake so we’re ready to roll on Nov 8th.