The Ups and Down of Sales Watching

I still haven't gotten over the urge to look at he sales ranking for African Firestorm a few times a day. And I'm finding the experience humbling and a learning moment which can be summed up as: Do not obsessed over the sales ranking!

African Firestorm has been as high as #51,512 then drop to #153, 437, then back up at #55,450, all in a space of a few days. And as time has gone on, the lows dip and the high peaks has been exactly like a roller coaster. One can get really dizzy watching their book go up and down the chart.

Right now, it's on a down trend. I could be depressed, but after talking to Rick Chesler, I found out that the other two books in the series, Game of Drones and The Poseidon Initiative, have picked up some. We're thinking that people want to start with the first book in the series (Games of Drones), even though the books can be read in any order. It's natural people start with the first book and if they like it, read the second book and so on. I figure that later on, I will see an up-sweep in the rankings for African Firestorm.

So, what do I do now? Simple. Continue working on Red Ice, the next Outcast Ops novel I'm working on. Watching African Firestorm bounce up and down the ratings is wasting time. Will I ignore it? No, I'll check in on it a couple of times a day, and that will fade with one a day, then once every couple of days, until I check on it once in a while. Once Red Ice is written and up on Amazon, then I'll watch that for a while and so on. One novel does not win the war; while it would be great, I never expected African Firestorm to become a mega bestseller. But I did it once, I can do it again and again and again. That's the secret, going for a career of solid novels people want to read instead of trying for a one-hit wonder. That's a mindset that any author must have.

Now I need to get back to outline Red Ice.

Craig

The Kindle version of African Firestorm is here: African Firestorm for the Kindle
For the Nook version, go here: African Firestorm for the Nook.

Outcast Ops Novel Series.

While I am thrilled that African Firestorm has done so well, I have been neglecting the other two Outcast Ops novels that came out before African Firestorm. I will rectify that now. Now, while the novels can be read in any order, some people want to start with the first one and read them in order.

So here they are, along with the description for each book:

Games of Drones

When a highly sophisticated terror cell steals a contingent of deadly Reaper drones from a U.S. military base, no one has to wonder for long what they'll be used for. As America's own top military technology is turned against its homeland, it looks as though, for the first time in history, the president will have no choice but to give in to terrorist demands.

Enter OUTCAST (Operational Undertaking To Counteract Active Stateside Threats)--six ex-operatives from six of America's most powerful organizations. Each has been unceremoniously released by their respective former employer for alleged misdoings that leave their pride wounded but their essential skill-sets untouched. After uniting over their shared bond of dismissal from the nation's most elite outfits, the disgruntled spooks realize that they can work together like never before to take down threats to their beloved country, a country that branded them as outcasts but needs them now more than ever.

As a nauseating wave of drone strikes brings the eastern seaboard to its knees, OUTCAST is hell-bent on showing America that their way isn't the best way--it's the only way.

The Kindle version of Games of Drones is here: Games of Drones for the Kindle

The Poseidon Initiative

During a terrifying break-in at a marine laboratory, a European-North African terror group makes off with a large quantity of deadly nerve agent. Demands are made and large-scale attacks are launched in the United States from coast to coast.

Enter O.U.T.C.A.S.T. (Operational Undertaking To Counteract Active Stateside Threats)--six ex-operatives from six of America's most powerful organizations. Each has been unceremoniously released by their respective former employer for alleged misdoings that leave their pride wounded but their essential skill-sets untouched. After uniting over their shared bond of dismissal from the nation's most elite outfits, the disgruntled spooks can now work together like never before to take down threats to their beloved country, a country that branded them as outcasts but needs them now more than ever.

When the President of the United States becomes a target of the terror group while hosting a party on his yacht, OUTCAST is hell-bent on showing America that their way isn't the best way--it's the only way.

The Kindle Version of the Poseidon Initiative is here: The Poseidon Initiative For the Kindle

The Nook version is here: The Poseidon Initiative for the Nook

African Firestorm

When pirates hijack a container ship off the coast of Somalia, a sinister plan to cripple the U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf and precipitate a war is unleashed. Two North Korean nuclear warheads being smuggled to Iran are the centerpiece of an ISIS plot to distract the world's attention. If they succeed, thousands of people will die in nuclear fire and the world will be at war.

Enter OUTCAST (Operational Undertaking To Counteract Active Stateside Threats)--six ex-operatives from six of America’s most powerful organizations. Each has been unceremoniously released by their respective former employer for alleged misdoings that leave their pride wounded but their essential skill-sets untouched. After uniting over their shared bond of dismissal from the nation’s most elite outfits, the disgruntled spooks realize that they can work together like never before to take down threats to their beloved country, a country that branded them as outcasts but needs them now more than ever.

As a quiet investigation in South Africa suddenly goes hot, leading to a Somalian pirate base and a night-time assault on the high seas, OUTCAST is hell-bent on showing America that their way isn't the best way--it's the only way.

The Kindle version of African Firestorm is here: African Firestorm for the Kindle

For the Nook version, go here: African Firestorm for the Nook.

As for the current status of Outcast Ops: Red Ice, I have it outlined out to Chapter 33. Now it's to the point when I see where the characters take me.

Later!

Craig

The Weapons of African Firestorm --- Pt 2: Pistols

Pistols have a role in African Firestorm --- easy to conceal, better in tight quarters and easier to use in short ranges. Below are some of the weapons used in the novel.

TT-33 Tokarev

By Michael Tsay (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons 

Country of origin: Russia
Caliber: 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Magazine: 8-round detachable box magazine

The Tokarev has been around since the 1930's, and like most Soviet-era arms, the pistol isn't pretty but is tough and does the job. It was replaced in the Soviet military by the Makarov pistol in the early 1950s, but is still manufactured in a number of countries under different designations, and is a common sidearm in Russian-supplied militaries, terrorists, and insurgent groups.

Heckler and Koch SOCOM

By Joe Loong (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Country of origin: Germany
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine: 12- round detachable box magazine

Officially known as the Heckler and Kock Mk 23, the pistol was adopted by SOCOM ( United States Special Operations Command) as the main pistol for the US Special forces in the 1990s. It is tough, reliable and the .45 caliber round is a heavy round. The .45 was originally chosen back in the early 1900s as a replacement for the .38 caliber round when the .38 proved unable to stop frenzied Moro tribesmen in the Philippines. The .45 caliber  M1911 was the US Army's main sidearm for most of the Twentieth Century.

The SOOCOM version is designed to be used with a silencer and a laser aiming module,

APB Machine Pistol

By Vitaly V. Kuzmin (Vitalykuzmin.net) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Country of origin: Russia

Caliber: 9x18mm Makarov
Rate of fire: 750 rounds/min
Magazine: 20-round detachable box magazine

The APB (Avtomaticheskij Pistolet Besshumnyj, Russian for "automatic silenced pistol") is a variant of the Stechkin automatic pistol (pictured above), It was used by the Soviet special forces in Afghanistan, and by Radio operators and heavy gun crews. The APB version comes with a silencer and a detectable steel-wire stock.

The most unusual thing about the APB and the Stechkin is that unlike most automatic pistols, the pistol has a full auto feature, allowing the user to fire bursts with one pull of the trigger, making it more like a submachine gun than a normal pistol.

So, that's the pistols in African Firestorm. What do you think?

If you want the E-book, the Kindle version is here: African Firestorm For the Nook version, go here: African Firestorm for the Nook.

Craig

The Weapons of African Firestorm --- Pt 1: Assault Rifles and Machine Guns

I decided that it would be a good thing if I gave some background on some of the weapons the characters used in Africa Firestorm, which will make it easier for you the reader to visualize when you read the novel. Today, it'll be the assault rifles and submachine guns. Before we start, a quick explanation of the difference between assault rifles and submachine guns.

The US Army Army intelligence document FSTC-CW-07-03-70 (November 1970) states: "Assault rifles are short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachinegun and rifle cartridges." (page 67)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a submachine gun as : "A portable automatic firearm that uses pistol-type ammunition and is fired from the shoulder or hip."

Assault rifles generally have larger bullets and longer range than a submachine gun, while submachines use pistol-caliber ammo.

Now, to the weapons:

Heckler and Koch MP5


"Heckler Koch MP5" by Daviddegelin at Dutch Wikipedia - Transferred from nl.wikipedia to Commons.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heckler_Koch_MP5.jpg#/media/File:Heckler_Koch_MP5.jpg
Country of origin: Germany
Caliber: 9x19mm Parabellum
Rate of fire: 700 rounds/min (MP5SD series)
Magazine: 15- or 30- round detachable box magazine

The Heckler and Koch MP5 series of machine guns are used by a large number of special forces and police SWAT units. First designed and built in the mid 1960's, the MP5 has nearly thirty variants, depending on the stock type (fixed stock, retractable stock, no stock), barrel length, type of trigger setting (allowing the shooter to shoot either short bursts or go full auto), and caliber (there are a couple of models that are chambered for rounds other than 9mm. The MP5/10 is chambered for the 10mm rounds, while the MP5/40 is chambered for .40 S&W round).

The Outcast team uses the MP5SD3 version at the novel's climax, with a retractable buttstock, a "SEF" trigger group (Safe, semi-automatic and full automatic), and an integrated suppressor.


FN P90


"P90--" by dtic.mil - http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007smallarms/5_9_07/Armstrong_12pm.pdfhttp://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007smallarms/2007smallarms.htmlhttp://www.dtic.mil/ndia/. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:P90--.png#/media/File:P90--.png

Country of origin: Belgium
Caliber: 5.7x28mm
Rate of fire: 900 rounds/min
Magazine: 50- round detachable box magazine

Any fan of the TV show Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis will recognize this weapon as the one used by the main characters in their adventures. Originally designated as a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) for use by NATO crew-served weapons operators, support personnel, vehicle crews, special forces and counter-terrorist groups.It is now in use with over 40 countries, including the USA.

Considered a "Bullpup" design (The magazine is located behind the trigger housing), I chose this weapon for the team when three of them have to sneak into a warehouse to access a computer system. It's compact and easier to conceal than and MP5.


AK-47


"АК-47" by Allatur. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%90%D0%9A-47.jpg#/media/File:%D0%90%D0%9A-47.jpg

Country of origin: Russia
Caliber: 7.62x39mm
Rate of fire: 600 rounds/min
Magazine: 30- round detachable box magazine

Anyone who has watched a movie with a lot of gunfire has seen this weapon, usually in the hands of a bad guy. Created by Mikhail Kalashnikov, this weapon, also known as a Kalashnikov, is in use in over a hundred countries and by countless terrorist and rebel groups. In addition,over thirty countries manufacture their own version of this rifle, including China (Type 56) Bulgaria (Multiple variants) Finland ( Valmet M76), and Israel (Galil). Despite being superseded by more advanced Russian rifles (AK-74, AK-101/103), the AK-47's ruggedness has made it a staple all over the world.

One of the Places AK-47s can be found in abundance is in Africa. Somali pirates are usually armed with them.


CIS SAR-21


"SAR 21 RCF module" by Dave1185 at en.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAR_21_RCF_module.jpg#/media/File:SAR_21_RCF_module.jpg

Country of origin: Singapore
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Rate of fire: 450-650 rounds/min
Magazine: 30- round detachable box magazine

This is African Firestorm's main bad guy's weapon. He doesn't actually use it, but he is carrying it through the novel as a symbol as his authority. Designed and built in Singapore for it's military, the SAR-21 is a bullpup design. In addition to Singapore, the SAR is being used by several other countries, mostly East Asian countries.


VEKTOR R-4


"VektorR4" by User:Katangais - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VektorR4.png#/media/File:VektorR4.png

Country of origin: South Africa
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Rate of fire: 600-750 rounds/min
Magazine: 35- round detachable box magazine

There are few things new under the sun. The R-4 is a licensed copy of the Israeli Galil Assault Rifle, which itself is a variant of the AK-47. the R-4 is the main long arm of the South African Defense Force, while the R-5 (carbine version of the R-4) is popular with police and special response units.

This was the weapon of a minor bad guy group in the novel.


Well, I hope you enjoyed reading abut these weapons and hope the pictures help give you the right mental image of them when you read the novel. Next week, a look at the pistols in Africa Firestorm. If you want the E-book, the Kindle version is here: African Firestorm For the Nook version, go here: African Firestorm for the Nook.


Craig

What goes into a Novel?

Here are a couple more early cover designs (again done by the talented J. Kent Holloway).

African Firestorm started off as one story, but changed as I write the outline and when I actually started writing. Rick Chesler supplied the basic idea, that of Somali pirates. But as I researched, I saw that for the most part, Somali pirates problem was over. I like the idea of using piracy in that part of the world, so I used it as a base of the story.

For the rest, I looked at what was going on in the world. The Iran nuclear situation, ISIS, and North Korea became pieces of the puzzle from the start, but as I wrote it, the original back half of the book wasn't working. I sat back, talked to Rick and we rethought the back half of the book. The original climax was a raid on a ship, followed by a second raid on a second ship. While it looked great in the outline, when it came to write it, it didn't jell. So, one ship boarding done away with. Then the original terrorist target also stopped working, so that was tossed and a new target found, one that made more sense and added a level of tension that wasn't there before.

Then it was figuring out what was the missiles range was, and how close the bad guys had to be to fire it. The range of F-18s as well as their speed at different altitudes. There was a neat scene about a pair of F-18s shattering a ship's windows with a point-blank sonic boom, only to find the Mythbusters beat me to it (and busted it), as well as realizing that such a stunt was stupid on a ship with AA missiles onboard. So, their role changed. I made sure the F-18 squadron was a real one based on a real aircraft carrier. I used Wikipedia extensively on a number of novel-related subjects.

I tried to make it realistic as I could, which is why I worried about missile ranges, F-18 capabilities, what ships were where, real locations for scenes, and the weapons the characters used. I watched videos on container ships, trying to get a look and feel what it would be like for the action on-board ship. Somali culture became part of the story, the use of Khat and the plight of the Somali people. Where I couldn't get a clear answer, I made one up. Where I won't say, but I hope it doesn't distract from your enjoyment of the novel. I know I have been rather vague, but I don't want to spoil the surprise!

The next Outcast Ops novel I'm working on, Red Ice, has the first thirty chapters outlined. A different style of story, it still have plenty of action. Hopefully, it will be out in the summer.

Later!

Craig

Write What you Love to Read

One of the reason why I signed on to write an Outcast Ops novel is because it is the type of novel I love to read. Action thrillers are a large part of my personal library. Which leads me to the point of this blog post: Write the type of book you want to read.

Too many authors want to write the Great American Novel. Which is fine, but most people don't read great American novels. Instead, they read Tom Clancy because they love techno-thrillers, Clive Cussler because they love his roller-coaster rides of adventure, Jim Butcher for his urban paranormal and fantasy stories, and David Weber for his Space Opera. None of these successful authors are writing Great American Novels; instead, they write novels that are great.

I started writing via fanfiction. Fanfiction, done right, is a great proving ground for aspiring writers, because these authors write stories about series they love. It doesn't matter what sort of series --- I've written anime, Doctor Who, and Battletech fanfiction, and cut my teeth on writing Star Wars fanfiction (Never completed any of the early stories). Most writers are readers who read fanfiction and decided to see if they could either write something as good or better than the story they read.

Some fanfiction writers stick close to the canon style and aura, while others strip away most of the show's aura, change most of the details and take the characters off in a completely different direction. Personally, I always tried to wrote as close to the series as possible and always in series I like and knew well enough to write in. Authors learn and sharpen their skills as they write about characters they know and love (Yes love -- I don't know of anyone who writes fanfiction seriously who writes in series they hate.)

When a person takes the step beyond fanfiction, when they create their own 100%-theirs universe, it isn't hard for them to continue writing in a genre they love to read. I took the step from fanfiction to writing for Catalyst Games Labs through my Battlecorps stories. And from there, I decided to answer Rick Chesler's FB post when he was looking for co-authors for a new series he was developing, and that is where Outcast Ops: African Firestorm came from. I loved action thrillers, so the chance to co-write one was something I couldn't resist.

So, if you don't like the type of story you are writing, stop writing it and start writing the type of stories you want to read. It'll be easier on you in the long run.

Craig

Outcast Ops: African Firestorm Lessons

Here are a couple of early cover designs (done by the talented J. Kent Holloway), and like the cover, African Firestorm went through a few revisions along the way.

I think it's safe to say that I didn't fully realize what I was getting into when I signed up to write this. While I had written novel length fanfiction before, and have the majority of three paranormal novels written, this was my first challenge.

The first step was actually outlining what would happened in the novel, and I learned my first lesson: Don't over-complicate the plot. The first three-quarters of the novel went as we outlined it, but the second half was truncated from the original outline. I also removed a group of bad guys I had in the outline and plan to use the characters from that in Red Ice. Second lesson: nothing  -- plot points, characters, groups -- is wasted to a writer. All they need is the right venue.

Third lesson; make sure you and your co-author are on the same page from the start. Rick Chesler is an easy guy to work with and we had no major problems with working out the outline or the actual writing. But I had to remember that Outcast Ops is Rick's group and he has final say on what happens. We were in agreement with all the major points and there was never any friction between us, but Rick had the final say, and I easily accepted that.

The fourth lesson I leaned is nothing beats research. The research for this novel was extensive, as it covered several counties, events, political situations, nuclear subjects, container ships, South African and Somali language, Arab customs, and military forces. I probably over researched it, but like the second lesson, little of it will be wasted.

The folder on my computer with African Firestorm background material is multiple GB in size, including saved multiple webpages on Somali pirates, ship anti-pirate defenses, Arab and South African names, different military systems, all the way down to what type of cars are driven in South Africa. While all that didn't make it into the book, the information allowed me to write with the knowledge that if I need it, I had it.

Google maps was the next best thing to getting on a plane and going to South Africa. I was able to chose several locations for the novel, and while the people and businesses aren't real, being able to see the location where they lived and worked made the job of describing the location so much easier. The use of the street level feature helps so much to get a feel for the location -- the colors, the building heights, the neighborhood surrounding the location, and the roads. It was so much better being able to write with certainty about a location I've never been to.

The fifth lesson I am still learning is to sit back and let the book go. I'm still publicizing it, through this blog and on both twitter and Facebook, but like a new parent, I keep checking to see how it's doing on Amazon. Over the last eleven days, I've watched it shoot up, then slide down slowly, then shoot up again, rinse and repeat. Right now, it's sitting at #88,368 Paid in Kindle Store with two reviews and a 5-star overall rating. It'll take some time to stop the urge to renew the webpage and see how it's doing.

Which leads to lesson six; you did it once, do it again. I've outlined the first twenty chapters of the next Outcast Ops novel I'm co-authoring. It's called Red Ice, and take place in San Francisco. Which means more research and more Google Maps......

Write on!

Craig

Who am I?

On urging from Rick Chesler, I established both an Amazon and Smashword Author's page. But when it came to writing a bio for both sites, I stopped dead. A Bio? Of me?

That honestly threw me. Who am I?

That isn't an easy question to answer. I have had a quiet life where nothing big has happened to me. I was never in the military, never worked for any government, never been in a place where people were trying to kill me. In short, if you're looking for a life to emulate, look elsewhere.

A quick Bio: Born in Philadelphia, spent several years living in England, where I learned about Tea, Doctor Who, and soccer. Lived in Maryland, where I graduated from high school and community college. I've lived in Florida for the last fifteen years. I was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. I took matial arts when I was younger, but missed becoming a black belt. I don't drink, take drugs and my politics are my own, though I do hold strong views on political matters. Not much to write about is it?

I'm on safer footing with my writing. Like a lot of writers, I started with fanfiction, then went from there. I'm currently a freelancer writer for Catalyst Game Labs, where I've written for both the Battletech Gaming line (Both short stories and gaming projects) and the Valiant Comics RPG line. I've had twenty-three stories published on the Battlecorps site, and have acted as a fact-checker and proofreader on different Catalyst projects. I've  nearly written three other novels, but Outcast Ops: African Firestorm is my first complete novel.

I love reading, else I wouldn't want to be a writer. I have over a thousand books in my personal fiction library, ranging from science fiction, to mysteries, to action-adventures and thrillers. My favorite authors are Jim Butcher, Clive Cussler, David Weber, David Drake, and Rex Stout. I also have a collection of non-fiction, in subjects like Chess, Martial arts, military history and biographies, weapons, and science. I like anime and manga.

I like old radio and other audio plays. My music likes are soundtracks, with a few "best of" albums thrown in. My DVDs generally run the gambit through anime, Sci-Fi TV series, movies I like, and a few Kung-Fu movies.

I'm an introvert, which explains why I can say all this here, because I wouldn't say any of this to anyone in person. Large crowds make me uncomfortable. I can cook well enough to function in the kitchen. In short, I'm a normal person.

So, that's me. Not much to work with for a bio, huh?

Craig

African Firestorm is a Go!

I apologize for ignoring this blog for so long, but the main reason is right above --- Outcast Ops: African Firestorm is now published!

You can find it here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm And there are two other books in the series -- they can be found here: Outcast Ops series.

I must thank Rick Chesler for this opportunity. When I responded to his Facebook post asking for co-authors for this new series of his, I had no idea where this road would take me. He guided me, but let me take the story where it wanted to go, and it went in a couple of unexpected places. Thanks again, Rick.

It has been an eye-opening experience in writing this novel. I spent a lot of time pouring over Google maps, calculating speeds and locations, learning about khat, container ships, Somalia and missiles. I also learned something about writing, outlining, and how no writing plan survives contact with reality. This is my first novel and I am damn proud of it!

I'll be getting back to blogging regularly again and maybe give you a glimpse at the next Outcasts Ops novel I'm working on --- Outcast Ops: Red Ice. It's in the outline stage, but it's already looking like an action-packed story!

That's all for now!

Craig