tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840549651819943882024-03-13T13:57:20.432-07:00Trboturtle's Writing PadCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-33593979260051734592023-05-15T08:35:00.001-07:002023-05-15T08:53:45.776-07:00No More Factbook Volumes and a Rant<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTDEG37UE_lljs9AiAfuLXaeyfCQbcFqPZDOxixmqyBDKmO8xknN4jvFTIqrqV6p5QSNhOkdz87m1VQCECa9d4jcNlS1Giw8ug6Wp4s-oprEdKvSe6MT666L3kQxgpFXwTAkkiwU8C77BH33WUUPzKfTQXswH3LsBdlYQCZwpah45U1TPBvqrfptU/s1032/Amazon%20page.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1032" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTDEG37UE_lljs9AiAfuLXaeyfCQbcFqPZDOxixmqyBDKmO8xknN4jvFTIqrqV6p5QSNhOkdz87m1VQCECa9d4jcNlS1Giw8ug6Wp4s-oprEdKvSe6MT666L3kQxgpFXwTAkkiwU8C77BH33WUUPzKfTQXswH3LsBdlYQCZwpah45U1TPBvqrfptU/s320/Amazon%20page.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>This has not been a good time for me.</p><p>I had a major personal loss in March, one that still makes me want to curl up into a ball and cry until I run out of tears. I won't say anything more, as it's not something I want to burden you with.</p><p>But what I want to write about is about something I swore to myself when I started this blog that I would never do -- politics.</p><p>Politics is personal, and I'm not comfortable waving mine around in public. But what has happened to the <i>Russian-Ukraine War Factbook</i> has made me break that vow. and it's time to vent.</p><p>I mentioned before that the book was supposed to be the first of a continuing series, written to detail the evolving war in near-time. Each volume was to cover a phase of the war, and the fist volume cover the initial invasion up to when the Russians retreated from Kyiv. Well, it has been decided that due to abysmal sales, there will be no more volumes.</p><p>I don't blame Military Miniatures Press. There were problems, yes, with the book not being Kindle-friendly, which killed presales, but that can be chalked up to a learning experience. The entire process was a learning experience, for all parties involved. This was my first non-fiction book I'd ever written and Military Miniatures Press was new at the publishing business. I had nothing but good vibes from the people there, especially Jamie and Samantha Rife, who came to me with the offer to write it, and who did their best to make the book visually appealing.</p><p>But what has really gotten under my skin about the entire experience, they one thing that ensured the book never got off the ground, is the killing of ad campaigns on Social Media. Killed by some idiots in an office somewhere who decided that the book was "propaganda" without reading it. And that makes me angry. </p><p>We tried to counter the blockade by doing podcasts, talking to anyone who would have us. But even the best podcasts don't have the reach of the planned ad campaigns, and the money isn't there to go around the social media companies to other ad choices. In short, the social media companies sank this book quicker than the Ukrainians sank the <i>Moskva</i>.</p><p>It's bad enough when people are censored when they say something other disagree with, but to throttle a book's advertising, a book they couldn't have read before making the decision, on the theory it was propaganda is infuriating. To decide such a thing is arrogance in it's purest form; it's them saying, "We think you're too stupid to make your own decision about the value of this book." Yet these same social media companies will allow posters to say the most outrageous things without blinking an eye. And it's not right.</p><p>My theory of censorship is simple; is the reading material age-appropriate for the reader? Most normal people won't give an eight-year-old a copy of <u><i>Penthouse</i></u>. Why? because it's not something an eight-year-old should ever be aware of, let alone be reading. But if that eight-year-old is now eighteen, it's his decision whether or not he wants to read it. Same with any book. <i style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Mein Kampf</i> is arguably one of the vilest books ever written, yet you can walk into most bookstores in the US and by a copy. (And no, I would not let that eight-year-old read it.) Censorship is for the individual adult to decide, and for parents who care about their children's well-being. When someone else decides for you, you cede power to them, power you will have to fight tooth and nail to get back, if you can at all.</p><p>And that's what these faceless idiots at these social media companies did -- instead of letting you decide whether or not you wanted to read the book, they decided for you by killing the ad campaigns. They took the decision out of your hands, deciding that you wouldn't know the difference between propaganda and factual writing. That says to me they think you are too stupid to know the difference, that you are eight-year-old, and can't make up their own mind. And that is dangerous.</p><p>Now, I'm not claiming the <i>Russian-Ukraine War Factbook</i> is perfect. It was written shortly after the events in the book, using only open source material. I'm sure there are things in it that are inaccurate. But it was never mean to be a deep dive into the war, just a simple look at the war, with enough crunch stuff for wargamers (Military Miniatures Press, after all), but also for the person on the street who wanted to know more without having to slog through a three-hundred page book of dense writing. Its a first look at the war, nothing more than that. The deep analysis of this war comes later, by authors with better and deeper access to materials than we do.</p><p>But you, the reader, never got the chance to decide for yourself if the book was worth reading. Instead, face idiots did it for you, and that should make you angry. What else have they decided you shouldn't see or know about? If they can do this to a small book by blocking the ad campaign (and taking money out of their pocket by doing so -- not a huge sum, but money all the same), what will they do about other, more important subjects?</p><p>That's all for now. Any more and I'll be going around in circles.</p><p>Later</p><p>Craig</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;">Update:<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>If you want a copy, go to <a href="https://militaryminiaturepress.com/">https://militaryminiaturepress.com/</a>, as things are still being hashed out with Castemate Publishing, and Amazon is being a dick about things, in the words of the boss, </span>"their fees were ridiculous and they kept on putting holds on payments for their "reserve" so the above link is your best bet.....</p><p></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><strike>If you want to take a closer look at the Russian-Ukraine War Factbook, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed" style="color: #993300;">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></strike></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><strike>or here:</strike></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" style="color: #993300;" target="_blank"><strike>https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</strike></a></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!</div><div><br /></div><div>All of it created without AI!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><p> </p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-11799837956718203682023-02-22T15:09:00.002-08:002023-02-22T15:09:50.972-08:00AI and Storytelling<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlVitsj3hvoYhV2cda0P5njWk4vyAV-Gf5MdrFIVd6rddSkTt46R5ZApYmNx7LSsBGQrRZzuPpeobmikpfY36kHb2NBkJJziDH0rLZPqBjnVjZJLjXXq0aMOoBrheqNwKr3MbX8iYfFFuleHfB59uf1ykKUgrdqhV1YZIQJd-T_ZtPL6oqBeSIJO1/s74/Document.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="74" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlVitsj3hvoYhV2cda0P5njWk4vyAV-Gf5MdrFIVd6rddSkTt46R5ZApYmNx7LSsBGQrRZzuPpeobmikpfY36kHb2NBkJJziDH0rLZPqBjnVjZJLjXXq0aMOoBrheqNwKr3MbX8iYfFFuleHfB59uf1ykKUgrdqhV1YZIQJd-T_ZtPL6oqBeSIJO1/w269-h176/Document.bmp" width="269" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Yesterday, Clarksworld Magazine, a respected Sci-fi magazine, announced that it was suspending submissions because too many of them were written, not by a human, but by an AI program, most likely suspect being ChatGPT.</p><p>For those of you who have not been keeping up with what's going on, there have been several AI programs that have come onto the market in recent months, the two most troubling are the ART AIs and the writing AIs. These programs, once they have received a set of instructions, create the images.</p><p>As an experiment and to show what I am talking about, I went to a free AI art website (Hotpot) and imputed the following:</p><p>"Sword and Sorcery -- A muscular man is fighting a large six-limb alien that has insect featured. In the background a woman in robes is lying on the rocky ground."<br /><br />This is what the program came up with</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_7Z9NQjCLDuCMBm6AP7fN2L3ODlkQHrp05yFSy8SG-GzuMw5iDmf7eBhfjMpjwK2kukkjkOCmYnJ5rtTssol9F9_JlzzuXRqcXrF6FtVS_n8tadIjIsMjThbhjaT0vmOFjbtMUEkF7NsoKYVIjmkumGxhCcg3cqyK0e_MHoXa8EHVdJFuZtVPU3z/s256/Hotpot2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_7Z9NQjCLDuCMBm6AP7fN2L3ODlkQHrp05yFSy8SG-GzuMw5iDmf7eBhfjMpjwK2kukkjkOCmYnJ5rtTssol9F9_JlzzuXRqcXrF6FtVS_n8tadIjIsMjThbhjaT0vmOFjbtMUEkF7NsoKYVIjmkumGxhCcg3cqyK0e_MHoXa8EHVdJFuZtVPU3z/w254-h257/Hotpot2.png" width="254" /></a></div>As you can see, the images are similar and are not quite what I wanted. Granted, it was a free program, and the ones you have to pay for would produce better results. But there is a problem using such images.<div><br /></div><div>These Art AI do not operate in a vacuum. A human artist draws their art from within themselves, to express how they see the world. They do the work, from start to finish, (Unless they are copying some other artist, which is another discussion.)</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTrXOXp8A78CLfJ_abhvU25cPOwB1ihhYt2N3w5D7JeTQw5X7KRf9F68xBHUWKvwVPIIup8I5c8tmR-BejJ9ENRKdj26fWQ4N-kOBYi3QYmCQ-YxIq0iHabQazyMSC2bO3Ml5YxVj-wrHFoYpidX3o9s1RR9S1ycmQ2JVgCVN_a5sQCe9g1HY0mA-/s256/Hotpot3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTrXOXp8A78CLfJ_abhvU25cPOwB1ihhYt2N3w5D7JeTQw5X7KRf9F68xBHUWKvwVPIIup8I5c8tmR-BejJ9ENRKdj26fWQ4N-kOBYi3QYmCQ-YxIq0iHabQazyMSC2bO3Ml5YxVj-wrHFoYpidX3o9s1RR9S1ycmQ2JVgCVN_a5sQCe9g1HY0mA-/w256-h331/Hotpot3.png" width="256" /></a></div>On the other hand, AI programs have a database of images to draw from. They take the input given them, sorts though it's image database, and chose bits and pieces from those images, based on the description given. It then blends the bits and pieces together to create the images you see here.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's the problem: the image database. Images that belong to the artists that created them. it is using established images, snipping off small pieces of them, blending them with snippets from other images and coming up with a "new" image made up from fragments of old images.</div><div><br /></div><div>This has caused an uproar in the artist community, as artists see their art being cut up and blended with other artists works to produce a new image. A number of tabletop gaming companies have already pledge not to <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6jIoQOxWr-gZij4wiJ___xuP_8NRzvmg0YAT7ILisaAlPSPdf6cpqTtkQmIuVueAotVOyNKiWZKpgQUjJkMYnCD67ulUhl1T1yTgRLAEwe2l_1-BYH_PPd7shNd2CLDqXxNpMCsjn_tidoss906eN6z4TZf-XXXc9J5yxhgJp9XaBztZJ5L-WT3p/s256/Hotpot4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6jIoQOxWr-gZij4wiJ___xuP_8NRzvmg0YAT7ILisaAlPSPdf6cpqTtkQmIuVueAotVOyNKiWZKpgQUjJkMYnCD67ulUhl1T1yTgRLAEwe2l_1-BYH_PPd7shNd2CLDqXxNpMCsjn_tidoss906eN6z4TZf-XXXc9J5yxhgJp9XaBztZJ5L-WT3p/s1600/Hotpot4.png" width="256" /></a></div>use AI generated work for their products. </div><div><br /></div><div>The problem is that the longer these AI programs are around, the more sophisticated they will become. An AI program that has a ten thousand image database today will have a hundred thousand image data base this time next year, and a million image database the year after, making it harder to see where the snippets of the images are from. The AI programs are quicker and overall less expensive than hiring an artist.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBkOomvG80-Am31hhnBNBhJ-ARV9breJHVEQmOGewG-aob40MkZ1xaZ-YJrUEi1Y3i_UGsDSIOAC6-0Lt8Vj-6r51HAtwmwLpLpW7HXTKn9yvnAqgSNgvGlTMfzMoWiK7lSLK0jmMUfWQvP4w-V4m5cQpobj1gmbnPp9zBLy4god0MJ4VOOsfori9/s256/Hotpot5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBkOomvG80-Am31hhnBNBhJ-ARV9breJHVEQmOGewG-aob40MkZ1xaZ-YJrUEi1Y3i_UGsDSIOAC6-0Lt8Vj-6r51HAtwmwLpLpW7HXTKn9yvnAqgSNgvGlTMfzMoWiK7lSLK0jmMUfWQvP4w-V4m5cQpobj1gmbnPp9zBLy4god0MJ4VOOsfori9/s1600/Hotpot5.png" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div>But it isn't just the images that are being chopped up and reused in "new" forms. Writing AIs have suddenly become hot, promising to make your writing tasks quick and easy. Need a blog post? Just feed in a few key words, push a button and wait for a minute or two and there you go -- blog post ready to go. </div><div><br /></div><div>While it might be useful in some cases, it's too easy a crutch. Need a story? Just drop in the elements you want in the story and five minutes <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5SiOi9O-j-UtcUImt7BLRTM76NZwAzauC53z9wJGMpQTK14AME30ItO0RMfzKuy6AuDoEGY7sX71H-QOx6Ad8dLnhuM4vTBu04MaB_SCJWiPP6Smeis_SWaERYoYpSfdbbmP_mvvnSEuVb9NhZwgAk52Uqp4DvGq9vM7ATMgenWOUDcPz4Ue1lfO/s256/Hotpot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5SiOi9O-j-UtcUImt7BLRTM76NZwAzauC53z9wJGMpQTK14AME30ItO0RMfzKuy6AuDoEGY7sX71H-QOx6Ad8dLnhuM4vTBu04MaB_SCJWiPP6Smeis_SWaERYoYpSfdbbmP_mvvnSEuVb9NhZwgAk52Uqp4DvGq9vM7ATMgenWOUDcPz4Ue1lfO/s1600/Hotpot.png" width="256" /></a></div>later, there is the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Only, it isn't that easy. Like art AIs, writing AI have a database they use to create the article or story. And like the Art AI, it takes bits and pieces of articles and stories, blends them together and creates a "New" article. It's plagiarism by a thousand cuts, across a wide number of similar articles or stories. <br /><p>But there is also something else: List most things done by AIs, there are a few things off. As you can see by the images above, it doesn't match what I asked for it to create. No alien insect-like creature, the woman in a couple of the images looks like she's sliding into second base. The woman in the second image has three legs. So, none of the images would match what I wanted. </p><p>The same sort of problem extends to writing AIs. The longer the article/story is, the more likely problems will be worked into. They are not perfect; like any first draft, they need to be carefully edited to eliminate the problems. And that assumes they are salvageable to begin with.</p><p>For example, I ask another AI, (Copy.ai) this one a writer AI and give it the following "Warhammer -- A BattleMech, 70 tons, best known for its twin particle projection cannons." It gave me back the following bits:</p><p>"<b><i>The Warhammer is a BattleMech, 70 tons of solid steel and energy weapons that can make short work of your enemies</i></b>."</p><p>"<b><i>The Warhammer is the ideal balance between firepower and mobility. Carrying a pair of large, twin particle projectors, it is arguably the most powerful BattleMech ever developed</i></b>."</p><p>"<b><i>Warhammer is a BattleMech designed to fight in the 3050s. It is built around the massive twin particle cannon that can fire a five megaton blast, the cannon being mounted on each arm. The heavy armor makes it well-suited for long-term missions but leaves its pilots exposed when armed with short-range power rifles</i></b>."</p><p>"<b><i>Warhammer is a powerful BattleMech. It is powered by two powerful particle projectors, one located at the rear of each arm, and capable of tearing through even the toughest armor. The 'Mech also carries two Class-50 medium lasers in its right arm to keep enemy infantry at bay and protect against jump infantry attacks</i></b>."</p><p>"W<i><b>arhammer is a BattleMech, 70 tons in mass, best known for its twin particle projection cannons. It has been noted for its devastating firepower and accurate shooting. Although Warhammer was designed primarily as a ranged weapon platform, it has proven itself to be an effective close-in fighter, with a variety of specializations making it especially suitable for that role</b></i>."</p><p>"<b><i>Warhammer is a BattleMech, 70 tons, best known for its twin particle projection cannons. The turian design team commissioned this model specifically for the Matriarch of Shear</i></b>."</p><p>"<b><i>Warhammer is the largest BattleMech, weighing in at 70 tons and boasting a pair of powerful particle beam cannons. With its signature "claw" arms and high speed, Warhammer can move quickly to engage any opponent. The Warhammer's armament is designed to make short work of infantry, light vehicles and even large machines such as air-tanks</i></b>."</p><p>"<b><i>The Rifleman is an Irian BattleMech of the late 30th century. Like other Irian BattleMechs in this era, it has a case of shell shock and is only suitable for defending other units from enemy attack, as well as destroying enemy units with particle projection cannons.[1] It has a top speed of 134 km/h for being a 55-ton 'Mech. A Rifleman carries a pair of CASE5 accelerators to boost its firepower when in close combat</i></b>."</p><p>If you know anything about Battletech, you would see the last couple of the examples are wildly inaccurate. (A <i>Rifleman</i> weighs 60-tons, and the only way it could reach 134 km/h would be if it was shoved out of an airplane at one hundred thousand feet. Also, CASE is not a weapon, but a system designed to save a 'Mech from a death by ammo explosion.) </p><p>Art of any sort shouldn't be easy to do. There needs to be effort, of heart, mind, and talent. I can't draw worth a damn, but not everyone can be be an artist. AI is cheating of a sort; it lets the computer do what the human can't. And that isn't good. There are legal questions that will go deep into the heart of the use of those databases, but it isn't right. Letting AI create art is not what AI is for.</p><p>AI are not the panacea some think they are, and they are dangerous in that they makes it too easy to create content. No matter how good they get, stories should be a human endeavor, as well as Art. If we concede either one to AI, we are that much less human and that much less creative.</p><p>Oh, so you know, it took me three hours to research and write this blog. With the exception of the image and the Warhammer quotes above, I wrote all of this myself with no AI help.</p><p>Later!!</p><p>Craig</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the Russian-Ukraine War Factbook, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!</div><div><br /></div><div>All of it created without AI!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-23521342170344972502023-01-24T22:13:00.214-08:002023-01-25T07:48:18.268-08:00Will There be More Volumes After This One?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMx8gsSXdZd7b6wJPEqWku5HV1K-15m4Q21DIoutRLmhNMTQOe_a9AQcTusAJUMvzyNhtYZ8SzAXO2XqGDEM68fCa_89A8KcTTlGG7kuvNQHiF05SXlEbynrT0B77n5OYVHIdDGQz3rduCbZqb_h2XQNUBHd9Z7gjM2SlaV2tcZwztY971tf9F5y3/s1032/Amazon%20page.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1032" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMx8gsSXdZd7b6wJPEqWku5HV1K-15m4Q21DIoutRLmhNMTQOe_a9AQcTusAJUMvzyNhtYZ8SzAXO2XqGDEM68fCa_89A8KcTTlGG7kuvNQHiF05SXlEbynrT0B77n5OYVHIdDGQz3rduCbZqb_h2XQNUBHd9Z7gjM2SlaV2tcZwztY971tf9F5y3/s320/Amazon%20page.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the questions I've been asked is, "Will there be more volumes after this one?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a natural question, as this book only covers the first month of the war, and there is still much to write about. I could easily see several more volumes, and I'm willing to write them. Military Miniatures Press, the company that published this book, wants me to write more. There is not reluctance on this end -- except for one small problem....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The book isn't selling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVMFo2DQ5a837QRHnqHoWxQ05TjFNI8eO6NtJ7oI1_TPwai8WX2ft4t8_MyT2UgzC0kXMDI13ZPM5zG7VSBKUaAbDrX08J3aeHXJKVVjOaV-X2aKDxzeBdW8gWtRo-gnXeD-UTdG2ISN04DFgU_FrXgyJ8QwP8JSXne9Y-qmBUzqn6Cvi3sknjSbD/s482/Book%20ranking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="482" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVMFo2DQ5a837QRHnqHoWxQ05TjFNI8eO6NtJ7oI1_TPwai8WX2ft4t8_MyT2UgzC0kXMDI13ZPM5zG7VSBKUaAbDrX08J3aeHXJKVVjOaV-X2aKDxzeBdW8gWtRo-gnXeD-UTdG2ISN04DFgU_FrXgyJ8QwP8JSXne9Y-qmBUzqn6Cvi3sknjSbD/w320-h250/Book%20ranking.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The Ranking of the book, as a few hours ago)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>There were a few problems when it came time to publish the book. First, the Kindle version was unable to handle the number of photos, resulting in no kindle version, which destroyed the pre-sales. That was a learning experience, one that will be taken into account the next time. Second, the ad campaign that was supposed to run on both Twitter and Facebook were shut down before they could start. The book was caught up in something I wanted to avoid talking about on this blog -- Politics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Social Media has been a powerful voice over the last fifteen years, but it has also suffered from an attitude that they know what is best for their subscribers. It was quick to throttle anything that thought smelled of pro-Russian viewpoint, or what they saw as monetizing by Russians. Also, Meta, Facebook's parent company, briefly allowed Ukrainians to call for Putin's death before pulling back after criticism for taking sides and shut down anything that seemed to be taking a strong position for or against the either side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A quartet of articles looking at this activity are here: <a href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/02/26/ukraine-meta-restricts-russia-from-running-facebook-ads-amid-row-over-media-censorship" target="_blank">Ukraine war: Meta restricts Russia from running Facebook ads amid row over media censorship</a>, <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2022/03/meta-facebook-calls-violence-invading-russians.html" target="_blank">Meta Meets the Reality of War</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/28/facebook-takes-down-disinformation-network-targeting-ukraine-meta-instagram." target="_blank">Facebook takes down Ukraine disinformation network and bans Russian-backed media</a>, and <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/03/facebook-is-now-allowing-itself-to-be-weaponized-in-ukraine.html">Facebook Is Now Allowing Itself to Be Weaponized</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the words of my book's editor and the man behind this idea: "The big thing is that we never got any momentum from pre-sales or social media advertising because of the censorship, which was consciously done by Twitter and Facebook to avoid entangling themselves with the war and Russian retaliation. It strangled the baby before it was born." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What is really annoying is that the Social Media's decision to throttle the book's PR was short-sighted and done without actually looking at the book itself. I and the people at Military Miniatures Press are not pro-Russian mouthpieces -- if anything, our sympathies are with the Ukrainians. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another problem has been the political divide that has blinded some people to reality. A few have decided this isn't a fight we should get involved with, seeing Ukraine as nothing more than Russian Light, and this war is a quasi-civil war. They point out the oligarchs and corruption as reasons why we shouldn't be sending them military equipment or supplies. Also, twenty years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq has left the US population with war fatigue. Understandable, and less open to criticism than the blind political blindness a few talk-show hosts and politicians have been touting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My own opinion is this: would you rather support and supply a country who is not only shown a willing to fight Russia, but has been wreaking havoc on what was the number two military in the world, or do you want to wait five or ten years down the road, and have NATO fight the same Russian military, now with combat veteran soldiers and a restocked force in Poland or the Baltic States? So far, Ukraine had devastated the Russian Army, savaged the Russian Navy, and has made the Russian Air Force of not consequence. The right support, with the right safeguards, will help the Ukrainians secure the victory they need and deserve. That's enough of my personal feelings....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In any case, the Social Media's knee-jerk reaction destroyed any momentum the book had, and there is nothing we can do about it. I am frustrated and I've tried to do my best to get the word out, but with Social Media censoring topics they don't agree with, and this has hurt sales. It has only two ratings, and while both are 5-star, it needs more ratings to make it more visible.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to get this book out, to have people read it. I think it's the perfect type of book for someone who wants to know what happened, without getting bogged down in details and politics. But with the easiest route blocked, I don't know what we can do to promote the book. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been on a couple of video podcasts. The first was Blaine Pardoe's show, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.thenexgenusa.com/2022/09/16/the-blaine-pardoe-show-9-15-2022" target="_blank">The Blaine Pardoe Show / 9-15-2022</a>. We just discuss the book and nothing about the recent unpleasantness. Also, I know I spelled my name wrong -- it was a bit of a leaning curve and we were in a time crunch. This podcast, with SOFREP and that is here: <a href=" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEHkLtRu5Uc" target="_blank">Episode 613: James Rife and Craig Reed, Military Historians and Authors</a>. And Michigan Toy Solider Co. posted a video that flips though the book so you can see what it looks inside. That video is here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdPWNZy-2Sk" target="_blank">A MichToy FLIP-THRU: THE RUSSIAN UKRAINE WAR FACTBOOK</a>. Take a look and listen, then please consider buying the book.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's it for now, more later</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Craig</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the Russian-Ukraine War Factbook, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-39856846018289859102023-01-20T16:46:00.003-08:002023-01-20T16:46:28.175-08:00What's in the Book?<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXtfh_InZo-OLRVxzPgeL8vS1FlmpbZkf41f02nALF7wgBCFEOktD_cw3TDjbMokLdjje2UeDV2mdX5TuF7vj6Via5rtZfnF3AHGmpUXiXOk5oB-4f5GJWbzkYw45_EgVEvWvdxiyJc14clitcjUpomfB5QEAavvmIvdxHFLoZafFbI8Y6duDXWuv/s1100/inside%20page%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXtfh_InZo-OLRVxzPgeL8vS1FlmpbZkf41f02nALF7wgBCFEOktD_cw3TDjbMokLdjje2UeDV2mdX5TuF7vj6Via5rtZfnF3AHGmpUXiXOk5oB-4f5GJWbzkYw45_EgVEvWvdxiyJc14clitcjUpomfB5QEAavvmIvdxHFLoZafFbI8Y6duDXWuv/s320/inside%20page%2001.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, what's in the book? This post covers that question.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The introduction covers the basics, and Chapter One is about the history between the Ukraine and Russia. That chapter lays the groundwork for the rest of the book.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chapter Two, the background on the political leaders was also necessary, to understand their motivations. And these are clearly, men with different points of view. Putin is both an Intelligence officer and a political animal who dreams of a Greater Russia in the style of the old Soviet Union. Zelensky is an Actor/Producer playing the role of a lifetime by being the leader Ukraine needs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chapters Three and Four are backgrounds on the armed forces involved. Most people don't know anything about the military, so these chapter are in part designed to give the reader an understanding of the forces and what a brigade is, as well as the Russian Battalion Tactical Group. It's also useful for wargamers to determine forces for their own games.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: right;">Chapter Five is about the weapons of the war. Again, it written so most people, who know nothing about military equipment, can get an idea of what is on the battlefield. It was easier to write than it would have been otherwise, as both sides are using mostly the same equipment at the start of the war.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chapter Six is about the War in Donbas that started in 2014, the precursor to the current war. It can be argued that the current war is a continuation this war on a wider front and there is some truth to that. The fighting in the Donbas is where the groundwork for the success Ukraine has had over the last year in the wider war.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The events leading up to the Russian invasion in February of 2022 are in Chapter Seven. The politics, the meetings and the decision to go ahead as well as the Russian battle plan are covered in this chapter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I broke each of the four Russian attack axis into their own chapter, to make it easier to write and read. Chapter Eight covers the thrust for Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and the fight there. Chapter Nine is about the Kharkiv Axis, the fight for Kharkiv, Sumy, and Izium. Chapter Ten looks at the battle of the Donbas Axis, starting in 2014 and how its gone since February 2022. Chapter Eleven is about the Crimea Axis and how early Russian success turned int a stalemate and failure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chapter Twelve went from being a sidebar to its own chapter, and is about the Public Relation war and how both sides have tried to spin what is going on to their benefit. This war is more that what is is happening on the battlefield; there is a war of words that both sides are using in an attempt to convince the world that are in the right. So far, this is one war the Ukrainians are winning, for a number of reasons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A look at why things went wrong for Russian is covered in Chapter Thirteen. It lists several reasons and briefly explains each one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are a number of sidebars, taking a closer look at facets of this war. Subjects covered are Ukrainians in WWII, Old weapons making a comeback, fWar crimes, the Forty-mile long convoy, Logistical nightmares, Senior Russian officers reportedly killed in combat, and Trying to determine each sides casualties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The books ends with a chronology of events covering the Feb 24 to April 7, maps of Ukraine showing the Russian advances and retreat during that time. There are appendices and sources used, as well as photo credits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are plenty of photos in this book, most from official sources. Photos capture that image of the war that words can't. While these photos are in the Wikipedia Commons or are public domain, there are a stark look at the damage being down to both countries, in terms of men and destruction of cities and equipment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I have said before this book is written to give someone who hasn't been focused on the war to understand why the two countries are at war, and how the first month of the war went. We wanted the reader to finish the book and understand what is going on without going deep into the details.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's it for now, more later</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Craig</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the Russian-Ukraine War Factbook, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div><p></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-22304625109616824402023-01-12T06:27:00.000-08:002023-01-12T06:27:15.284-08:00Writing the Russian Ukraine War Factbook (Part 3: Writing the book)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0iZoVkGauTLl47SCNZmadYnrZP7ElipRrcp4eUGyAagKy5Jy_Nl-tijNO-1NLdIcy5rEKYOR_GGWWcaimQ973jVNYFoPhptt6jUD5bf-B6c_OhgwbYtpwDYfKQFmrOB1o_K2Y3x2x2FSRt8De1FWnlsW0C9V_9iGkk5a1q2VPhUAn3mxobZPOAXt/s1100/Back%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0iZoVkGauTLl47SCNZmadYnrZP7ElipRrcp4eUGyAagKy5Jy_Nl-tijNO-1NLdIcy5rEKYOR_GGWWcaimQ973jVNYFoPhptt6jUD5bf-B6c_OhgwbYtpwDYfKQFmrOB1o_K2Y3x2x2FSRt8De1FWnlsW0C9V_9iGkk5a1q2VPhUAn3mxobZPOAXt/s320/Back%20cover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>So, the research is done and now it's time for the writing...<p></p><p>This book was supposed to be 20,000 words, but during the research, I realized that I needed more words, because I needed to expand on the background between these two countries and explain this is not a new conflict, but one that had roots running back centuries. Most of the background in Chapter One was not in the original outline, but I had to include it. </p><p>As I have said before, this isn't a deep dive into the conflict. Too much is still unknown, and I do not have access to anything outside of public sources. There are other books yet to be written that will have the luxury of both time to reflect on events and access to sources I do not have. Everything in this book is from public sources, with no one source dominating my notes. It's also tricky to separate the facts from the propaganda both sides are putting out in wave after wave. This is a war being fought on many fronts and the fog of war covers more than the battlefield itself.</p><p>I also write sidebars, a tactic I took from the Battletech sourcebooks. Sidebars allowed me to go deeper into a few subjects without sidetracking the main document. It's a way to put more info into the book while keeping it organized.</p><p>The pictures are all from open sources, which in itself was a chore running down which picture could be used under which circumstances. Jamie Rife was the man behind that task, and the pictures are as much a part of this book are are my words.</p><p>I'm still watching the war unfold, making notes on future volumes, but that discussion is for another time. If you want to take a closer look at the book, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>That's all for this post. I'm still proud of the work I've done on this book and I ask you to please buy it.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Later!</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Craig</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the book, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-64621102597136304492023-01-07T15:49:00.001-08:002023-01-07T15:49:41.397-08:00Writing the Russian Ukraine War Factbook (Part 2B: Discovery from the Research)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4js3lRRwfZKowvNk47WZ7Hxo7aWQjxFOvLzAo5YWIqa_pGm8AsqPY_NO_bfAzz_2UFgYlbcCsXFTV2Fd3DfXfw70cyh_jPP8QlLC5yayhNOhv1um9ioX0U3RLBlf5WC8C4KVsjGYxJ-XwDW8VDYwAYP10JXTLy84nkF1rXVLgvi2_60AiNY2LRfN/s1100/Inside%20page%2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4js3lRRwfZKowvNk47WZ7Hxo7aWQjxFOvLzAo5YWIqa_pGm8AsqPY_NO_bfAzz_2UFgYlbcCsXFTV2Fd3DfXfw70cyh_jPP8QlLC5yayhNOhv1um9ioX0U3RLBlf5WC8C4KVsjGYxJ-XwDW8VDYwAYP10JXTLy84nkF1rXVLgvi2_60AiNY2LRfN/s320/Inside%20page%2002.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can only plan so much before you have to start the research, and sometimes research turns up things that change your writing. The research here forced me to write more than I intended, but O felt it was necessary to give a complete picture of the war.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For half of my life, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, Russian in all but name. I knew before I started that they had suffered under Stalin, and was a prime bone of contention between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for a large chunk of WWII. They gained independence in the early 90's, struggled for the next twenty years, and has been accused of being corrupt. their president, Zelensky, had been a TV personality and producer before winning the Presidency of Ukraine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I started researching, and discover that the Ukrainians have been fighting to establish themselves as having their own identity, separated from the Russians and Belorussians, for centuries. Kyiv was an established center of Slavic culture while Moscow was still a fortified village in Russia. They reached their heights around the 111th-12th centuries, before becoming vassal states to different masters before coming under the Tsars of Russia. Not being treated any better than other parts of Russia when WWI rolled around, they tried to fight their way to independence, only to be caught between the White Russians, the Red Russians, the Allies, and the German-Austro-Hungry forces. Unable to break free, the Ukrainians fell under the new Russian government of Vladimir Lenin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The worst was to come, as Stalin used the Ukrainian farmland to feed his new program of industrialization and modernization. this resulted in the <i>Holodomor</i> -- 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 Ukrainian men, women and children dying of starvation in 1931-32. Something like that has a long-term affect on a society, and the Ukrainians have long memories.</div><p></p><p>After doing this research and discovering the deep history between these two countries, I have to include it. This war is not something that has come about in recent years; it is the latest chapter in a simmering conflict that had been under the surface for centuries.</p><p>Another thing that was unexpected was the difference between the doctrine of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) and the Russian Armed Forces (RAF). Up to 2014, the UAF was a mirror of the RAF, as the new country had inherited their military from the former Soviet Union. Even with the war, the Ukrainians are still using mostly Soviet/Russian equipment, which is an advantage when it comes to using captured Russian vehicles.</p><p>But after the Russian seizure of the Crimea and the Donbas uprising, the Ukrainians realized their army, a victim of the country's economical problems, turned to the west for help. What they got was mostly training for their soldiers, resulting in a shift away from Soviet-era doctrine to a NATO-based doctrine. This has allowed the Ukrainians to be more nimble, flexible, and quicker to respond to any situation. That along with the supplied weapons from the west, has been a major reason for Ukraine's ability to blunt the Russian Juggernaut.</p><p>I found out other things that surprised me, but I think I will let the book do the talking. If you want to take a closer look at the book, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>That's all for this post. I am proud of the work I've done on this book and I ask you to please buy it.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Later!</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Craig</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the book, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-64714976380786645992023-01-02T14:19:00.001-08:002023-01-07T15:49:05.948-08:00Writing the Russian Ukraine War Factbook (Part 2A: Research)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X54AbUlwh-t9Rut03yewGW8x2EbCZbWL9azVfegVN-bawI1MWFUz83btJnSz_ZbQkRpQr4TVhesdg0D7yzjEd3LQ7swpgZdzMIHJY0uOt1lU4410EU2MLLqbBCxDzKT3P9Ko3zVLHdQ2MYcx5wtNJ0CgHGtb8DNbobkMwZhPowpBwTcyePpeKqNL/s1100/inside%20page%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X54AbUlwh-t9Rut03yewGW8x2EbCZbWL9azVfegVN-bawI1MWFUz83btJnSz_ZbQkRpQr4TVhesdg0D7yzjEd3LQ7swpgZdzMIHJY0uOt1lU4410EU2MLLqbBCxDzKT3P9Ko3zVLHdQ2MYcx5wtNJ0CgHGtb8DNbobkMwZhPowpBwTcyePpeKqNL/s320/inside%20page%2001.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /> Like all nonfiction projects, I started with research.<p></p><p>This was trickier than if I was writing about a World War II operation because the "Special Military Operation" is still going on. I had to rely on news outfits for most of my research, and I had to take anything directly from both the Ukrainians and the Russians with a grain of salt. Both sides are fighting not only on the battlefield, but in the world opinion. Ukraine has a sizable advantage here, as they are the ones defending their homeland. Zelensky has used his media savvy to keep the world on Ukraine's side, despite the heavy public pressure from the Russians.</p><p>I didn't use just American sources -- I used German, French, English some Polish, and other sources. Most of these are from their English-speaking news channels on YouTube. I also use Websites such as <a href="https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html" target="_blank"> https://www.oryxspioenkop.com</a>, which tracks confirmed Russian vehicle losses. The Institute for the Study of War (<a href="https://www.understandingwar.org/" target="_blank">https://www.understandingwar.org/</a>) is another valuable resource with daily briefing of the latest data from the war. Jomini of the West (<a href="https://twitter.com/JominiW" target="_blank">@JominiW</a>) has posted maps that show the flow of the earlier battles (Up to the beginning of September). <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Henry Schlottman (<a href="https://twitter.com/HN_Schlottman" target="_blank">@HN_Schlottman</a>) has also had some valuable points in his tweets.</span></span><span style="color: #0f1419;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><p>For some things, I went to books. Serhii <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plokhy's </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine and Orest </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Subtelny's </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ukraine: A History</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 4</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Edition</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> were a prime source for the background of the Russian-Ukraine relationship</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I also used a number of books to detail the weapons used -- </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Small Arms, 1945-Present </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">by </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin J. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dougherty, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Modern Tanks and AFVs: 1991-Present</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Russell Hart and Steven Hart, and several others were important to the different weapons.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what did I learn about this war during my writing of this book? This war wasn't one that blew up this century, but one that has roots deep in history. And this war is not going to be over quickly or </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">amicably. I will be going over what I learned ion more detail in another blog post.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Later!</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Craig</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;">**********</span></p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the book, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>For my other non-Battletech writing, all four of the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-7335611274007730652022-12-31T06:16:00.000-08:002022-12-31T06:16:16.293-08:00Writing the Russian Ukraine War Factbook (Part 1: Background)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5UsulVuFKw0yB2sbcKbtTGN7SRc6zGNeum7SPlNid6EpOO6TeqzZw0ZMZwJAvjtujugvE7K-cduBgq0J4_AHmDpqhl9zqaY_a9lQVPQs_cpVl1QsTSQxflzAbXdtMyYyhCqo5mj74SiWGvek7AGV6PD1dYscao6IxrhMaPtk32-LJNRzoum1EAFr/s499/Russian_Ukraine%20factboook%20cver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5UsulVuFKw0yB2sbcKbtTGN7SRc6zGNeum7SPlNid6EpOO6TeqzZw0ZMZwJAvjtujugvE7K-cduBgq0J4_AHmDpqhl9zqaY_a9lQVPQs_cpVl1QsTSQxflzAbXdtMyYyhCqo5mj74SiWGvek7AGV6PD1dYscao6IxrhMaPtk32-LJNRzoum1EAFr/s320/Russian_Ukraine%20factboook%20cver.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Wow! Two posts in a week!</p><p>Anyway, post is going to be about writing the <i>Russian Ukraine War Factbook</i> (vol 1), hopefully the first of several volumes on the war. Writing non-fiction has its own challenges and its own pitfalls and I hope to write about some of those challenges</p><p>This book came out of the mind of Jamie Rife of SJR Research. A fan of Battletech, he had contacted me a while back, and asked of I would be interested in writing for him. SJR was expanding into the world of miniature war games, and they needed writers. From this contact and conversation, we collaborated on a article that was published in the US Naval Institute's <i>Proceedings</i> Magazine (January 2022, "<i><u>New Wrinkles to Drone Warfare</u></i>", pg 50-54.)</p><p>When the Russians invaded Ukraine, I and everyone else thought it would be a quick and complete victory for the Russians. But after a week, it became clear the Ukrainians were NOT going to fold, and the Russians were not steamrolling what was supposed to be a weak and disorganized Ukrainian armed forces. After the Russians retreated from Kyiv in early April, it raised a few questions, questions that Jamie and I discussed via instant messaging and video call.</p><p>Back during the Gulf War, (Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm) Game Designers' Workshop (GDW, not to be confused with Games' Workshop, who have the <i>Warhammer</i> games.) put out a couple of books covering the units and equipment being used by both the Allies and Iraq. The books was geared toward the tabletop wargamer, giving them the basic data to create their own scenarios for whatever games system they were using. But the public, who wanted to know more, started buying the books for their own understanding. It was this idea to write a simple, overhead view of the war which led to this book. Jamie asked if I wanted to write this. I agreed and were worked together to develop exactly what as going to be covered. Since the war was still going on, we decided that this would be a series of books on the war, the first volume covering the background of the invasion, a look at the leaders of each country, the equipment they were using and an overview of the first phase of the war (February 28 -- April 7)</p><p>The book is designed to be a layman's look at the war. It's not a deep look with background sources and detailed behind the scenes documents. it is not a scholar's look at this war. It's written so as to be a resource that someone who isn't up to date on what's happening in Ukraine can pick it up, read it and say afterwards, "I understand what is happening in the war." It's also written for any wargamer to gleam enough data to recreate scenarios for their table top.</p><p>If you want to take a closer look at the book, or to buy it, you can go here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p>or here:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a></p><p>Next post, I hope to talk about the research and writing to bring this book together.</p><p>Later,</p><p>Craig</p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: large;">**********</span></div><p><br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p><br /> <p></p>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-57068534712399490172022-12-26T13:20:00.000-08:002022-12-26T13:20:57.230-08:00Double Blast it!!!!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR6o9tB6XeRPKommHKeQCNvHmkGeNXLK05duJPpx4RthoamWGlDu4EuqCcVuj3_D4x-4LjCfcqSHFO49oFyUPKPk1QRYPMEio21KCDzF2Fyn66xo2jrr9EmDtvCKkqnmaOoOtxC8nnvu3L1nt--WMdfyFK4xY6j_VvSiM0B2Nq-b2OZkNGUdc63l6/s900/273638108_685278122606350_7819683683460704263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="627" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR6o9tB6XeRPKommHKeQCNvHmkGeNXLK05duJPpx4RthoamWGlDu4EuqCcVuj3_D4x-4LjCfcqSHFO49oFyUPKPk1QRYPMEio21KCDzF2Fyn66xo2jrr9EmDtvCKkqnmaOoOtxC8nnvu3L1nt--WMdfyFK4xY6j_VvSiM0B2Nq-b2OZkNGUdc63l6/s320/273638108_685278122606350_7819683683460704263_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>I am really out of it......<p></p><p>I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted it to the blog and I am kicking myself for failing to do anything about it until now. I said in my last post, "Expect an update sooner than eleven and a half months from now..." Hah! I then proceed to neglect this blog for nearly three times longer! AUG!<br /><br />What's worse that since I posted last time, I have been gaining traction with my writing. I won't go into much detail with my writing on Battletech on this blog (Need something for my Battletech State blog after all) what I have written but I will list what I have written and where to find it. </p><p>I'll start with the big thing I've done since my last post: <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;">The Russia-Ukraine War Factbook.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">**********</span></span></h1><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGilviy-agQuPQcrDIMNlLTw_I7TEhEjoi40nJeTYKuaCWIHo5Lka97X0IzzhSXTHPjMzSlb-7RNqXZpMUUV2CANt7NOJKBN_8TrsIoON0ZyHpB108XP5GV6oMCEif81Yty2E3dTnoJMEcS4nju9ogygYXiKILY4C5QtBvjU43g1yPP__LikVxKHXu/s499/Russian_Ukraine%20factboook%20cver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGilviy-agQuPQcrDIMNlLTw_I7TEhEjoi40nJeTYKuaCWIHo5Lka97X0IzzhSXTHPjMzSlb-7RNqXZpMUUV2CANt7NOJKBN_8TrsIoON0ZyHpB108XP5GV6oMCEif81Yty2E3dTnoJMEcS4nju9ogygYXiKILY4C5QtBvjU43g1yPP__LikVxKHXu/s320/Russian_Ukraine%20factboook%20cver.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p><b>96 Fact-Filled Pages on the First Phase of the Russia-Ukraine War</b></p><p></p><p>The Russia-Ukraine War erupted on February 24, 2022, when Russian military forces took much of the world by surprise by launching a massive, multi-front land, air, and sea attack against Ukraine. The Russians targeted Kyiv in the north and other key cities in the east and south, expecting a quick victory. However, the Ukrainians mounted a fierce defense of their country, deploying old and new technology combined with creative tactics and information warfare. Backed by covert NATO assistance, Ukraine repelled the initial onslaught and, by April 26, had stalled Russia's advance and pushed it out of the northern front, effectively bringing the first phase to a close.</p><p><br /></p><p>Military Miniature Press takes an objective look at this conflict and cuts through the fog of war to present the facts from the first six weeks of the largest European conflict since World War II. Compiled with the most up-to-date information available on the war, this guide is designed to help lay readers understand the conflict's historical roots and the military technologies and developments of that first phase. It's also intended to serve as a useful handbook for journalists, military members, teachers and students, wargamers, and other interested readers.</p><p>This compilation on the Russia-Ukraine War includes:</p><p>•The Historical Background Behind the Conflict</p><p>•A Concise Narrative with Full-Color Maps Covering the Course of the War in its First Phase</p><p>•A Chronology of Events from February 24 to April 6, 2022</p><p>•Orders of Battle for Both Russian and Ukrainian Forces</p><p>•Illustrated Descriptions of the Weapons, Vehicles, Aircraft, and Equipment Fielded by Both Sides.</p><p>•This handbook is the first of a series of publications focused on this conflict and others across the globe. A second volume is planned for Fall 2022.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed">https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-War-Factbook-Craig-Reed/dp/B0BL5CRLLK/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1672081631&refinements=p_27%3ACraig+A.+Reed&s=books&sr=1-18&text=Craig+A.+Reed</a></p><p><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w" target="_blank">https://www.casematepublishers.com/distributed-publishers/military-miniature-press/the-russia-ukraine-war-factbook.html#.Y6oA4H3MJ0w</a><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">**********</span></b></p><p>I will talk about this book more in future posts, and talk about the differences between writing nonfiction and fiction books. There are also other subjects involving this book I will write about in future posts, to give you a look behind the scenes so to speak. It was an interesting experience, and one I hope to write about more in the coming months.</p><p>Most of my published writing has been in the Battletech IP. As I said before, most of that will be over on my Battletech State blog, but here is a rundown of what's been published since last time I wrote on this blog:</p><p>Regular contributor to the Shrapnel Magazine. Started in June of 2020, this quarterly magazine (Your choice of E-format or hard copy), replaces the old Battlecorps subscription website and I think does a better job of delivering constant and solid short stories from old hands and new writers. Issue #11 has just come out this month. The following is the stories I have published in Shrapnel:</p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tales of the Cracked Canopy: Blind Arrogance</i> (Issue #1)<br /><i>Laws are Silent</i> (Issue #3)<br /><i>Tales of the Cracked Canopy: Shadows of the Past</i> (Issue #5)<br /><i>Vengeance Games</i> (4-part Serial Novella, Issues #6-#9)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've also had a number of gaming articles in several issues of the magazine and hope to have a story in the Issue #12</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, several of my Battlecorps stories saw print in anthologies.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hikagemono</i> (Front Lines: Battlecorps Anthology vol 6)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Reap What You Sow</i> (Kill Zone: Battlecorps Anthology vol 7)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><i>Murphy's Method</i> (Gray Markets: A BattleTech Anthology) </div><div><i>Shadow Angels</i> (Slack Tide: A BattleCorps Anthology) </div><div><br /></div><div>But my big step in my Battletech career was being given a chance to write novels for the Battletech line. These are short novels (@45,000) words are the next step up for me. I have three out at the moment and three more in the process of being written.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Icons of War </i>(<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">September 25, 2020)</span></div><div><div><i>Elements of Treason: Opportunity</i> (September 1, 2022)</div><div><i>Elements of Treason: Duty</i> (March 28, 2022)<br /><br />So, that's it for now. I will stay on this blog more often... I hope....</div><div><br /></div><div>Craig </div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">**********</span></div></div><p><br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: </p><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h1 class="a-spacing-none a-text-normal" id="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1><h1 class="a-spacing-none a-text-normal" id="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-10375605522262267152020-06-10T20:52:00.001-07:002020-06-10T20:52:52.213-07:00Oh, Blast it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZp8ziV1MB_BH1cyEueUkVXe9xXyylaqbo2bcnb4NmVuL9uwuF9w6Uzu7Hq6-As7xnVXwG8h75yRZxrNdxswgb6dOK-NW9NMYUtb0W_5Fbytu_QCkMrecGKbNx_WjRqqZKMvPJcOKdj0/s1600/Head+bang+2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="123" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZp8ziV1MB_BH1cyEueUkVXe9xXyylaqbo2bcnb4NmVuL9uwuF9w6Uzu7Hq6-As7xnVXwG8h75yRZxrNdxswgb6dOK-NW9NMYUtb0W_5Fbytu_QCkMrecGKbNx_WjRqqZKMvPJcOKdj0/s1600/Head+bang+2.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's been a entire BLOODY year since I posted to this blog??!! Where did the year go??<br />
<br />
Seriously, I did not realize it had been that long since I had added a blog entry to this blog. I haven't been as active as I should have been, but I have been writing. So, what have I done in this year of no contact? Well....<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Went through and refined the first two novels in my Urban Fantasy novel series.</li>
<li>Continued to work on the next three in the same series, and partially written two stories set in the same universe.</li>
<li>Did freelance work for a gaming company, and should be seeing some of those efforts soon.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
And of course, the recent events have not been helping any. I will not say anything more than that, because this is a blog about my writing, not my political views, which do not belong here There have been a few minor changes in my life due to COVID-19, but otherwise it's business as normal.<br />
<br />
There is somethings moving in the OUTCAST Ops series. More of that in a future post.<br />
<br />
So, what else? Not much to say. My other blog, the Battletech State, has been more active than this one. If you want to take a look at that one, go here: <a href="http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Battletech State</a>.<br />
<br />
So, this is post is just to let you know I'm still around and still writing. Expect an update sooner than eleven and a half months from now...<br />
<br />
**********<br /><br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. In the US: <div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon</a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon</a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom,<div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK</a> </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK</a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).<br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels:</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a> </div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br /><br />Craig</div>
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Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-15478379800286316982019-06-24T17:08:00.000-07:002019-06-24T17:08:05.469-07:00My Rules of Writing #1 -- You MUST write!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzgV4MpGOnOZkSH_2GHIjXu9BcK4qEg8NoL1TrbfzNA3ouGOaMtM_Xj8QYXRcYZKHfqOL5SnIcpXW9XxNjdasaN1VGiFF0YzdXrNc0Z5rm33KZ_txN9Q6mr3pt8lXpJkQI0CIwjK633k/s1600/Doctor+writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzgV4MpGOnOZkSH_2GHIjXu9BcK4qEg8NoL1TrbfzNA3ouGOaMtM_Xj8QYXRcYZKHfqOL5SnIcpXW9XxNjdasaN1VGiFF0YzdXrNc0Z5rm33KZ_txN9Q6mr3pt8lXpJkQI0CIwjK633k/s1600/Doctor+writing.jpg" /></a></div>
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Been busy with a bunch of things -- Completed the first draft of my second novel in my Urban fantasy series, did a novelette-length story sent in the same universe, started the forth book in the same series and I'm currently working on books three and five. I was nominated for a Scribe award for a story I wrote for an anthology, and worked on a couple of projects for a gaming company I freelance for. What I haven't been doing to writing blog posts. So an experiment, if you will.<br />
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I have seen "rules for this" and "rules for that" And that includes writing. So, I'm going to try and my hand at MY rules -- these work for me and may not for you.<br />
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My First rule is "You must write." Simple, clear and on the face of it, makes sense. After all, how can you be a writer if you don't write?<br />
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But for a lot of people who want to write, writing is <i>hard</i>, it's <i>scary</i>, it's <i>time-consuming, I don't feel like writing, I don't know how to create characters and plots.....</i><br />
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Yes to all that. Writing can be all those things. That's why it can be tough. But until you overcome all those objections, nothing's ever going to happen. That story you feel is inside you will never come out.<br />
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The first thing you need, if you want to write, is the passion to write. If you don't have that, nothing else I write here will do you any good. You must have the fire inside to write. That's is from inside of you. A teacher or mentor can ignite that passion, but the desire has to be there to start with.<br />
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If the desire is there, other objections can be worked around. With time, get up fifteen minutes early and spend that time writing, or fifteen minutes before you go to bed. Lunch can be a time to brainstorm, or makes notes about a scene that comes to you. Use a recorder to make notes on anything related to your story (Just don't do while driving or other activities that require your attention). SOme people use their phones to write when they ride the subway to their job. You don't need to carve out three hours every day to write -- ten or fifteen minutes is better than nothing.<br />
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You have to write, even if you don't feel like it, your stuck in a scene. It's so easy to say, "F**K it! I'm too (insert excuse here) and skip a day. and that day becomes two and two days becomes a week and a month goes by without a single word being written. You must get into the habit of writing every day, for ten minutes, for twenty minutes, for an hour, whatever you decide and what time you can squeeze in. Every word that you write is one more brick in your story, one more step on the highway.<br />
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You have to accept that your writing, at the beginning, will suck. That's because writing is like many activities; no one if perfect from day one. There will be days you will look at what you wrote the day<br />
before and wonder what idiot broke into your home and wrote it. But the more you write, the better you will get. You will see flaws easier, make corrections and eliminate problems. It's also vital that as an author, you develop a thick skin.<br />
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If you don't know where to start, write fanfiction. Take you favorite TV, Movie, anime, or any other things and write a story based on the characters and premises of that series. Fanfiction allows the writer to worry about the story itself instead of world-building from scratch. There's nothing stopping you from expanding and adding to the world you're writing it, but when just starting out, it's best to "Stay within the lines" so to speak -- write a story that might have been a part of official universe. Once you're comfortable, the sky's the limit.<br />
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You can't sell the fanfic you write of course, as that would bring down the IP (Intellectual Property) holders on you with a cease and desist letter. But there are plenty of on-line fanfic communities out there that will read and review your stories. Yes, there will be assholes out there who will trash your story (Hense, the thick skin mentioned above), but those who review your story are generally are helpful with the comments and criticisms. I would suggest reading fanfiction from other authors in the fanfiction series and see how they handle the characters and situation. I have written Fanfictions based on both <i>Sailor Moon</i> and <i>Bubblegum Crisis OVA</i> Anime series and a few Battletech fanfics. (I'm now a freelancer with the company who produces Battletech, so I've stopped reading and wring Battletech fanfiction.)<br />
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While you're writing, you must read too, read in the same genera as you want to write, in related genera and in genera that is totally different from the one you want to write in. Look for themes you can use in your story, a character archetype, the way the writer expresses ideas. You have to know what else is being written and look for things you can "borrow" for your own story. (There is no such thing as a "anything new" in fiction -- what's new is how the writer uses them in his story.)<br />
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This is a lot longer blog post that I expected to write, but it boils down to this: whether or not the passion to write is there inside of you. If the passion is there, the excuses can be overcome. If the passion isn't there, it doesn't matter if you have all the time in the world, a headfull of stories ready to go, and you can crack out sparkling stories in minutes. The passion comes first -- it will be that to sustain you as you build your skills.<br />
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I have a couple of more rules in mind that I'll write about in the future. Right now, it's clearing the dust off this blog and getting my blogging time in.<br />
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<b>Word Count Update:</b><br />
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<b>I'm a bit behind on this, so here's what I've done in the last three months.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>March</b><br />
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<b>Monthly Goal:</b> 46,500 words (31 days x 1,500 words)<br /><b>Actual Words Written: </b>48,898 words<br /><b>+/- Difference:</b> + 2,398 words<br /><b>Average Words/Day:</b> 1,746.36 Words/Day<br /><b>Number of Days of More Than 1,500 Words Written:</b> 18 Days (58.0%)<br /><br /><b>April</b><div>
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<div>
<b>Monthly Goal:</b> 45,000 words (30 days x 1,500 words)<br /><b>Actual Words Written: </b>19,328 words<br /><b>+/- Difference:</b> - 25,672 words<br /><b>Average Words/Day:</b> 644.27 Words/Day<br /><b>Number of Days of More Than 1,500 Words Written:</b> 5 Days (16.6%)</div>
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<b>May</b></div>
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<b>Monthly Goal:</b> 46,500 words (31 days x 1,500 words)<br /><b>Actual Words Written: </b>54,706 words<br /><b>+/- Difference:</b> + 8,206 words<br /><b>Average Words/Day:</b> 1,764.71 Words/Day<br /><b>Number of Days of More Than 1,500 Words Written:</b> 24 Days (77.4%)<br /><br /><b>Year To Date </b><br /><b>Word count Goal for the Year (Jan - May)</b>: 226,500 words<br /><b>Actual Words Written: </b>203,347 Words<br /><b>+/- Difference:</b> - 23,153 words<br />
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April was poor because I spent most of the month revision and rewriting a novel, but I'm on a streak of 40 days in a row of hitting my daily word count from the middle of May through yesterday. So not perfect, but I'm on a good run at the moment.....<br />
<br />
<b>**********</b><br /><br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> Red Ice is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a>. Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a> and the brand new Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!</div>
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Craig</div>
Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-65339326145569939052019-03-01T00:38:00.000-08:002019-03-01T00:38:33.108-08:00February Word Count Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Well, February was much better than January in regards to word count. Maybe it was because there were only 28 days in the month, or maybe because I wrote more. Here are the stats:<br />
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<b>Monthly Goal:</b> 42,000 words (28 days x 1,500 words)<br /><b>Actual Words Written: </b>43,829 words<br /><b>+/- Difference:</b> + 1,829 words<br /><b>Average Words/Day: </b>1,565.132 Words/Day<br /><b>Number of Days of More Than 1,500 Words Written:</b> 17 Days (60.7%)<br style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;" /><br />
<b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Year To Date</b> <br />
<b>Word count Goal for the Year (Jan&Feb)</b>: 88,500 words<br />
<b>Actual Words written:</b> 80,415 Words<br />
<b>+/- Difference:</b> - 8,085 words<br />
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What did I lean this month? That sitting the old butt down in the chair works! Looking back over the month, I spent maybe an extra fifteen hours writing in February. Average for January was about 2.75 hours/day, while the average for February was almost an hour more -- 3.64 hours.<br />
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Looking at the word count, that is spread out over four different projects, but 80K is a novel-length work. Assuming I could do that in month in and month out, that would be 6 80K novels a year -- that isn't bad.<br />
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Well, short entry tonight, hope 2019 is being good to you all.<br />
<br />
Later!<br />
<br />
Craig<br />
<br />
**********<br /><br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> Red Ice is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a>. Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a> and the brand new Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-46805148214109524192019-02-01T18:44:00.000-08:002019-02-01T18:44:07.404-08:00Word Count Challenge -- January 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJSjTx9p9vK82Sxhj9OgPttkDrZPULx0hfjNoewFV2wUgc5af9vSkxsP-O_1yzYMOahYHad1SvNe7AdJjezjsi_7r__IbCIbXNad4JXFSXa4tUl18-CguoDwj0x3hoH960iE6wEmDF2M/s1600/owyjosqbrm-alexey-topolyanskiy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJSjTx9p9vK82Sxhj9OgPttkDrZPULx0hfjNoewFV2wUgc5af9vSkxsP-O_1yzYMOahYHad1SvNe7AdJjezjsi_7r__IbCIbXNad4JXFSXa4tUl18-CguoDwj0x3hoH960iE6wEmDF2M/s320/owyjosqbrm-alexey-topolyanskiy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
At the beginning of the year, I decided I would keep actual track of the words I wrote, just to see how I was doing. So starting on January 1st I started recording my words count. To give me a goal, I decided on 1500 word/day as the target.<br />
<br />
Well, January has passed and I have the totals for the month and here are the results:<br />
<br />
<b>Monthly Goal: </b>46,500 words (31 days x 1,500 words)<br />
<b>Actual Words Written:</b> 36,586 words<br />
<b>Difference:</b> - 9,914 words<br />
<b>Average Words/Day</b>: 1,180.19 Words/Day<br />
<b>Number of Days of More Than 1,500 Words Written</b>: 14 Days (45.1%)<br />
<br />
I had multiple projects I was working on in January: a short story, three novels and some writing for another project that isn't quite a fiction piece in the normal sense. The novella I posted the WC for outgrew the novella status and became what I hope will be a short novel.<br />
<br />
Now, what did I learn in January? That 1,500 words isn't that hard to reach, but it means putting my butt in the chair and writing. What I did write is one-third of a novel during the month, but if I hat the average every day, I would be near halfway through writing a novel. My goal in February is to write more than 1,500 words every day. When I can average 1,500 words a day for three months straight, then I'll increase it to an average of 2,000 words a day.<br />
<br />
By posting word counts, I should be able to have an excuse to blog more often (I don't include the Blog post word counts in my totals). I also have a few other topic in mind, so we'll see what they go....<br />
<br />
Later!<br />
<br />
Craig<br />
<br />
**********<br />
<br />
All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> Red Ice is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a>. Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a> and the brand new Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-68229784824660322432019-01-16T22:40:00.000-08:002019-01-16T22:40:03.079-08:00New thing: Word Count Tracking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR_D-82ahkzOs-P8jQRouA-OCYtJpDrPW1waY56FuSRkTV7Q5uaxFYSjeaIpKOoah1-M_0zGmANYSbycXqOWydCJfa5XFEJxqZC-c2jm5lsjs29tOcpM1ytHWbxwntfjoKgj7JAbTOdU/s1600/san-francisco-400929_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR_D-82ahkzOs-P8jQRouA-OCYtJpDrPW1waY56FuSRkTV7Q5uaxFYSjeaIpKOoah1-M_0zGmANYSbycXqOWydCJfa5XFEJxqZC-c2jm5lsjs29tOcpM1ytHWbxwntfjoKgj7JAbTOdU/s320/san-francisco-400929_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since the beginning of the year, I've been fighting a cold. During that time, I came up with an idea to set a word count per day and try to match or exceed that. I decided on 1500 words a day.<br />
<br />
And halfway through the month.... I'm behind. Behind by about 7,600 words. I've written 16, 383, as of midnight, but I should have 24,000 words written. Out of the 16 days so far, I'm met or exceeded the goal on six days, and fallen short on the other days (Which is why I'm 7,617 words behind.)<br />
<br />
The writing is spread out between a short story, a novella and a novel. It allows me to shift when I'm running out of steam on one, and to a third if I need to. It may not work for you, but it works for me.<br />
<br />
The goal for the month is a total of 46,500 words -- half a novel. Let's see how close I can get to that total. Wish me luck!<br />
<br />
******<br /><br />Words written up to now (1/16/2019)<br /><br />Short Stories: 2,441 words<br /><br />Novellas: 7,165 words<br /><br />Novels: 6,777 words<br /><br />Total: 16,383 words<br /><br />******<div>
<br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> Red Ice is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a>. Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><br /><br />In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a> and the brand new Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a><br /><br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!<br /><br />Craig</div>
Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-49162760016841949492019-01-02T11:20:00.000-08:002019-01-02T11:20:16.438-08:00Failure to Communicate and New New Year's Resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl_mHak1_8EvGaPQRa9RqeHXUplMEcd5J1Tq4G5ICJr5cvMLVZioHU1wjzM57K6zOEGp1-ySPqw1MGZxNpt1hpdw2BmzL_DPus973hyphenhyphen6iwkrSvMWLf8kbzMtMKXUDAMLbisrH8nxeZ8g/s1600/Outcast+ops+Shadow+gov+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl_mHak1_8EvGaPQRa9RqeHXUplMEcd5J1Tq4G5ICJr5cvMLVZioHU1wjzM57K6zOEGp1-ySPqw1MGZxNpt1hpdw2BmzL_DPus973hyphenhyphen6iwkrSvMWLf8kbzMtMKXUDAMLbisrH8nxeZ8g/s320/Outcast+ops+Shadow+gov+cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
I really REALLY wish I had a good excuse for not keeping up with this blog and my other blog, but that's wishful thinking, My resolution to keep this blog up to date fell out of my mind faster than it should have and I have no excuses for it.<br />
<br />
But an entire fricking YEAR?!?!?!! My god, have I been that lazy? Right, that's going to change! I will be writing more blog entries this year, come hell or high water (And the way things are going, that may be coming sooner than later.).<br />
<br />
Right, first thing up: My new years resolutions, related to writing:<br />
<ol>
<li>Finish rewriting the first draft of my first Urban Fantasy Novel and finish first drafts of the next three in the same series (that are already partially written)</li>
<li>Plot and first Drafts at least two more novels not connected to the series above.</li>
<li>A dozen short stories written.</li>
<li>Blog more consistently. </li>
<li>Lose 50lbs. (yes, this is a writing resolution)</li>
</ol>
That first goal is my main goal for this year. The series is the Merlin Chronicles, a urban fantasy series. I have one completed first draft, and it needs to be revised. The next three novels in the series are between 50-75% completed first drafts. I want to have all four completed this year.<br />
<br />
The second goal is a little more open-ended. I have three partially-plotted novels that fit that description, so they are the ones that I will look at first. But if something else pops up, we'll see.<br />
<br />
The third is again open-ended as to subjects. Some will be Military sci-fi, but in which universe, I don't know yet.<br />
<br />
The fourth is keeping my blogs from gathering dust like they did in 2018. I don't have a set schedule, but there will be new entries here in 2019 and more than this one.<br />
<br />
The fifth? Writing is done by sitting in the chair and writing -- exercising isn't exactly conducive to writing. Diet and exercise will have to be factored into my writing schedule and We'll see about it.<br />
<br />
Still, 2018 wasn't a total waste. As you can see from the above image, a new <i>Outcast Ops</i> novel is out. Rick and I wrote this and it's doing well. The back blurb reads like this:<br />
<br /><i>NOT ALL ENEMIES ARE FOREIGN<br /><br />When a ruthless and ambitious government official puts a plan in motion to topple the sitting president, the OUTCAST team finds themselves fighting not a foreign threat, but one from inside the US government itself.<br /><br />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 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</i>.<br /><br />Also, I did the NaWriNoMo again and won by writing 53K+ of a new novel in the Merlin Chronicles series, Merlin's Staff. This story will became the new number two book in the series, and is one of the three I need to complete the first draft.<br /><br />So, that's it. A heartfelt apology is in order for not keeping up with this like I should have. One of my goals is to keep the dust off of my blogs, and this is the start I hope of a productive 2019!<br /><br />******<br /><br />Words written up to now (1/2/2019)<br /><br />Short Stories: 183 words<br /><br />Novellas: 0 words<br /><br />Novels: 406 words<br /><br />Total: 589 words<br /><br />******<br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> Red Ice is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a>. Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!</a><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a> and the brand new Shadow Gov is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Shadow-Rick-Chesler-ebook/dp/B07G2S56PJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546455386&sr=1-2&keywords=Outcast+ops" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible)</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible)</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Ops-Shadow-Gov/dp/B07KBG7LK6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546453694&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)</a></div>
<div>
<br />The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!<br /><br />Craig</div>
Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-83943965238427618522017-11-01T22:10:00.000-07:002017-11-01T22:10:41.965-07:00Life, the Universe and NaNoWriMo.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnsOOGZIVrrUowwRihIwKivzB6IrLpyjAPtAnomjMbOMSKb2VkhQzAm_FTxHZ7WL3WyRj7UzhVtOWLX6NTOrLV6mqtaV9wbfZhDkOxk39CT_jRCbJhLQwGVpX6SnFPCn2m4DS0GF7NqE/s1600/Death_to_stock_above_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnsOOGZIVrrUowwRihIwKivzB6IrLpyjAPtAnomjMbOMSKb2VkhQzAm_FTxHZ7WL3WyRj7UzhVtOWLX6NTOrLV6mqtaV9wbfZhDkOxk39CT_jRCbJhLQwGVpX6SnFPCn2m4DS0GF7NqE/s320/Death_to_stock_above_6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Been a while, hasn't it?<br />
<br />
Not much of an excuse, been plotting and working on some things. A short story I wrote for the <i>Battletech: Legend</i> anthology was in print at Gencon back in August, but right now, that line of storytelling is on hold until a few thing above my level get worked out.<br />
<br />
So, what have I been doing with myself? Well, I and Rick have been working on the next Outcast Ops novel. We started putting it to outline a couple of months back and we started on it ---- only to have a small problem.....<br />
<br />
Called Hurricane Irma.<br />
<br />
Having been through Hurricane Charlie back in '04, and not wanting to repeat that experience, and realizing we were in the cone, we got out of Dodge and headed up to my sister's place in Virginia. A trip that normally takes us 17-18 hours took us 26 hours (Mostly getting out of the state --- it took us twice as long as it usually does.) So, we spent a week imposing on my dear sweet sister, watching the coverage and wondering if we had a home to go back to.<br />
<br />
The good news is we did. By the time Irma blew though Marco Island, Naples and Ft Myers, Irma was maybe a Cat 1 storm by the time it reach out area, and after Charlie, most of the area laughed at what Irma brought in the way of rain and wind. We didn't even lose power this time (We lost it for 13 days after Charlie because they had to rebuild the power grid before restoring power.)<br />
<br />
And Rick? Well he lives in the Keys...... On the plus side, his still has an intact home, but there was some damage to his property.<br />
<br />
But the hurricane disrupted both our writing schedules and it took us a while to get back to work, The New Outcast Ops novel, called <i>Shadow Government</i> has been meandering along to about 25K to this point. it's taken a while to get back into the groove.<br />
<br />
Then we decided that the best way to get this puppy really rolling was to use NaNoWriMo to push the story onto a fast track 50K in 30 days? Why not? I have an account and away we go!<br />
<br />
As of this moment, 2,115 words have been written since NaNoWriMo started --- that's only 47,885 words to go! so buckle up and get ready for a speed run!<br />
<br />
******<br /><br />The writing update:<br /><br />The Assassin Prince (Fantasy) --- Outline (through Chapter 34) *ON HOLD*<br />The Darkness of Shadows (Science Fiction) --- Outline (through Chapter 16) *ON HOLD*<br />Operation: Broken Chains (Thriller) --- Outline (through Chapter 20) *ON HOLD!*<br /><br />When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br /><br />*******<br /><br />All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. <i>African Firestorm</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> <i>Red Ice</i> is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6">Outcast ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> Watchlist is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a>. In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Watchlist-Rick-Chesler/dp/1544083289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1509598350&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback</a><br /><br />For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> And the new novel is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a><br /><br />For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br /><br />Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a> by Rick Chesler.<br /><br />In addition, <i>Watchlist</i>, <i>Red Ice</i> and <i>African Firestorm</i> are audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> and<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">African Firestorm (Audible)</a> <i>Watchlist</i> is the newest and is here: <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Watchlist-Audiobook/B072J5PB2T/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Watchlist (Audible)</a><div>
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The audios for Game of Drones <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-of-Drones-Book-1-Audiobook/B012HJRRWK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Games of Drones (Audible)</a> and The Poseidon Initiative <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OUTCAST-Ops-The-Poseidon-Initiative-Audiobook/B0155VX19U/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1509598679&sr=1-3" target="_blank">The Poseidon Initiative</a> are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!<br /></div>
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Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!<br /><br />Craig</div>
Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-77116046452216240322017-03-04T12:29:00.002-08:002017-03-04T12:31:25.062-08:00OUTCAST Ops: Watchlist is out!<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Kindle format, at any rate....... It went live today, so you can buy it in Kindle format right now!<br />
<br />
But we're doing more than that. Sometime soon (with the next could of weeks, I think), you will be able to buy <i><u>Watchlist</u></i> in an physical book form! What you see above is the cover for the paperback book version of the cover. Yes!<br />
<br />
I've leaned something from each one of these novels I've co-authored, and <i><u>Watchlist</u></i> is no different. There's a lot more action and cutting-edge technology in this novel. It's also the longest of the three I've co-authored, a tale that spans two continents and several countries.<br />
<br />
Here is the black cover blurb:<br />
<blockquote>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY...BLEEDING EDGE TERROR</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A biotechnology conference in Prague is the target of a terrorist attack, and in its aftermath a renowned geneticist lay dying. His last act is to inject a man he has never before met with an experimental substance--artificial DNA that has been encoded with the details of a plot to unleash mass terror on the United States.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">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 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.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As international authorities hunt for the fugitive whose blood carries some of the most sensitive intelligence data on the planet, they get close enough to learn his identity, but the truth rocks the White House to its core. The most wanted individual in the world is none other than OUTCAST leader, Tanner Wilson. One of the only people capable of stopping the looming threat to millions of innocent Americans, Wilson is placed on the terror watchlist, and once again, OUTCAST is hell-bent on showing America that their way isn't the best way--it's the only way.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Watchlist is Book 5 in the OUTCAST Ops series. They can be read in any order. Game of Drones is Book 1. The Poseidon Initiative is Book 2. African Firestorm is Book 3. Red Ice is book 4.</span></blockquote>
It's $3.99 for the Kindle version, and as soon as we have more news on the paperback, we'll let you know all the details!<br />
<br />
As for my other writing, I'm working on another project for the Battletech universe, which has slowed up my work on my novels. I just have to find the right balance, and it helps that Watchlist is now out in the world, so that's one less thing I need to worry about. Managed to get a couple of more chapters outlined on The Assassin Prince before the Battletech project came up.<br />
<br />
******<br />
<br />
<b>The writing update:</b><br />
<br />
<i><u>The Assassin Prince</u></i> (Fantasy) --- Outline (through Chapter 34)<br />
<i><u>The Darkness of Shadows</u></i> (Science Fiction) --- Outline (through Chapter 16) *ON HOLD*<br />
<u><i>Operation: Broken Chains</i></u> (Thriller) --- Outline (through Chapter 20) *ON HOLD!*<br />
<br />
When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br />
<br />
*******<br />
<br />
All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> Red Ice is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice-Book-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017V27ZHK&pd_rd_r=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6&pd_rd_w=rpIcc&pd_rd_wg=2mdFR&psc=1&refRID=VJWPVQPZ4JJMGRXY85V6" target="_blank">Outcast ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a> And for the new novel you can find it here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1488648027&sr=1-3&keywords=watchlist" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon</a><br />
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For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> And the new novel is here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XF3CZYT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488658247&sr=8-2&keywords=outcast+ops" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK!</a><br />
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For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). <br />
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Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a>.<br />
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In addition, Both <i><u>Red Ice</u></i> and <i><u>African Firestorm</u></i> are audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> and<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">African Firestorm (Audible)</a> <i><u>Watchlist</u></i> is not yet available in an audiobook format, but we hope to start moving in that direction soon.<br />
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Please read or listen and leave a review!</div>
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Later!</div>
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Craig</div>
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Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-76993787845337382222017-01-30T12:02:00.000-08:002017-01-30T12:02:04.834-08:00Back to Work!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Pj0XobWW16NQHD0mVKeeFGqTYKiGdLPXbx265N5IpvdMOiXQjlg4wX3-Svbk6zRyOcPYnpUKrYstx_VtI5Hdng-grpqVbVPLCH1jjl1JXoUtyF4V2R2pEYw_VwN3F5CJWZ9-X0ubVk4/s1600/816KPMNUS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Pj0XobWW16NQHD0mVKeeFGqTYKiGdLPXbx265N5IpvdMOiXQjlg4wX3-Svbk6zRyOcPYnpUKrYstx_VtI5Hdng-grpqVbVPLCH1jjl1JXoUtyF4V2R2pEYw_VwN3F5CJWZ9-X0ubVk4/s320/816KPMNUS2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yep....</div>
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I know two post within a few days isn't normal for me, but it's back to working on my own novels while waiting for Outcast Ops: Watchlist to get through the editing pass. I spent the weekend preparing and pitching for a project related to a gaming company. (My other blog covers that side of my writing). So, I'm back to working on outlining my stories....</div>
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... If I can find where I stored them.....</div>
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I found the outline for <i><u>The Assassin Prince</u></i>, but the other two are eluding me at the moment. I'll find them, but for the time being, I'm back to outlining <i><u>The Assassin Prince</u></i>.</div>
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Its odd, rereading your outline and seeing what threads you need to pick back up and get back into the flow of the story you were telling. I find it gratifying that after not looking at the outline in a few months, how well the story still holds together. In rereading it, I've only had to make a few spelling corrections so far and starting a new chapter to outline. We'll see how it goes....</div>
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As I sit here, I'm going to propose a question: what do you want to know about my writing? Comment below and let me know someone is reading this blog! </div>
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******<br /><br />The writing update<br /><br /><i>The Assassin Prince</i> (Fantasy) --- Outline (through Chapter 32)<br /><i>The Darkness of Shadows</i> (Science Fiction) --- Outline (through Chapter 16)<b> *ON HOLD*</b><br /><i>Operation: Broken Chains</i> (Thriller) --- Outline (through Chapter 20)<b> *ON HOLD!*</b><br /><br />When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br /><br />*******<br /><br />Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). Also check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a>. Watchlist should be up soon!<br /><br />In addition, Both <i>Red Ice</i> and <i>African Firestorm</i> are audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> and<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">African Firestorm (Audible)</a> <br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-16983871385495910992017-01-26T22:07:00.001-08:002017-01-26T22:07:54.543-08:00Unwilful Neglect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ej9sA_UhxzVgeMZUsmtKVF6m-3Wrrgu41I0w-nAS_FEURasQsh2mApKm4xzGcM4UsTyEEcZnLCJOC5DWBo2a8wfWieh6zSYR6g2G_92-kNipQ2-gSf2lGItgfDaAYsN-UrfBQyT_Z5k/s1600/SWRREC0K3A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ej9sA_UhxzVgeMZUsmtKVF6m-3Wrrgu41I0w-nAS_FEURasQsh2mApKm4xzGcM4UsTyEEcZnLCJOC5DWBo2a8wfWieh6zSYR6g2G_92-kNipQ2-gSf2lGItgfDaAYsN-UrfBQyT_Z5k/s320/SWRREC0K3A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's the best way to describe it --- It's not that I have been ignoring this on purpose, it's that I really haven't nothing to really say in the last four months.....<br />
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What I can say now is the first draft of <i><u>Outcast Ops: Watchlist</u></i> has been completed and we (Rick Chesler and myself) are into the editing stage, taking the first draft and making it better. This is the most ambitious one that I've co-written to day --- the action take place across a large section of Europe and the US, as our heroes have to dodge not only the Bad Guys, but the Authorities of several nations.<br />
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I finished my part over the past weekend, and have spent the week doing one last polish of that novella and pitching for a couple of gaming projects while I ease my back into outlining those novels.. I haven't looked at them in a while, so, I need to let myself flow back into the swing of things.<br />
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Still, it's great that the newest Outcast Ops novel is moving along and should be up on Amazon soon. In fact, here's the cover:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERBQA3nh9blzE8gbDk7VEUJCs3v0lJt7ZD2fz5prYjPAoeeQIqjVu_bcKatc4ycpQoAXoMQ0AYnSzWJKKZJqU8vaTbK2XDSvcoQRXNcJItSTFOBTN019UMeqgP4Spd_XxfGRo4hNdJHQ/s1600/15409930_853167644786021_1842431651_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERBQA3nh9blzE8gbDk7VEUJCs3v0lJt7ZD2fz5prYjPAoeeQIqjVu_bcKatc4ycpQoAXoMQ0AYnSzWJKKZJqU8vaTbK2XDSvcoQRXNcJItSTFOBTN019UMeqgP4Spd_XxfGRo4hNdJHQ/s320/15409930_853167644786021_1842431651_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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So, what do you think? It's a little different than the others, to see if it's more appealing. Why don't you let us know either way?<br />
<br />Well, back to the grindstone.....<br /><br />******<br /><br />The writing update (Unchanged from the last time, but I'd thought I'd post them so everyone [including me] will be reminded of where I am). In addition, starting with this update, I'm included the genre of each novel:<br /><br /><i><u>The Assassin Prince</u></i> (Fantasy) --- Outline (through Chapter 32)<br /><i><u>The Darkness of Shadows</u></i> (Science Fiction) --- Outline (through Chapter 16)<br /><u><i>Operation: Broken Chains</i></u> (Thriller) --- Outline (through Chapter 20)<br /><br />When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br /><br />*******<br /><br />Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. <i><u>African Firestorm</u></i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! <i><u>Red Ice</u></i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). Also check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a>. <i><u>Watchlist</u></i> should be up soon!<br /><br />In addition, Both <i>Red Ice</i> and <i>African Firestorm</i> are audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> and<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">African Firestorm (Audible)</a> <br /><br />Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!<br /><br />CraigCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-28766399948476522352016-08-14T23:35:00.000-07:002016-08-14T23:35:23.717-07:00No Excuses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPNcN4vTYHitKSRWuDVcj9XRv9xtJs-UVMWqeQGL3Wp-vg0z-WPv0IjmdXsnNtdll1aMzucS8WMK-wy1HQ6sdTOSw-X5ytegGk88s24W6juJ5Qt54QlperiWsYZtO4HP4VikoLkzVaFw/s1600/0EFDQKW84D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPNcN4vTYHitKSRWuDVcj9XRv9xtJs-UVMWqeQGL3Wp-vg0z-WPv0IjmdXsnNtdll1aMzucS8WMK-wy1HQ6sdTOSw-X5ytegGk88s24W6juJ5Qt54QlperiWsYZtO4HP4VikoLkzVaFw/s320/0EFDQKW84D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As the title said, I have no excuses for the complete lack of blogging posts in the last four months. (I was even more neglectful of my other blog -- six months there....)</div>
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So what have I been doing instead of blogging up a storm? Well, the new <i>Outcasts Ops</i> novel. Over the last four months, Rick Chesler and I discussed the concept, through together an outline, tossed most of that story line out and revised it and came to a general agreement on the second outline. As of this moment, <i>Outcast ops: Watchlist</i> stand at about 20,000 words and nine and a third chapters completed. It's a neat concept, and draws on an idea sparked by a news item we both saw. What is it and how it's woven into the story will remain a secret for now.</div>
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What that means is that my outlining on my novels has been sidetracked for the time being as I work on this Outcast Ops novel. A bit disappointing, but I plan to change that with some changes in my writing routine. We'll see how it goes.....</div>
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<br />The writing update:<br /><br /><i>The Assassin Prince </i>--- Outline (through Chapter 32)<br /><i>The Darkness of Shadows</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 16)<br /><i>Operation: Broken Chains</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 20)<br /><br />Everything's at a standstill at the moment.....<br /><br />When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br /><br />*******<br /><br />Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one). Also check out the other Outcast ops novels. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Game-Drones-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=pd_sim_351_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510O9ouOyFL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=2RSNBRNFGMTR0EFQX6B4" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Game of Drones</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Poseidon-Initiative-Book-ebook/dp/B00MR4DWDO/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=614D8IVzZML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v7%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-50_OU01__BG0%2C0%2C0%2C0_FMpng_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H92XXH0BAK13RCS83RGK" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative</a>.<br /><br />In addition, Both Red Ice and African Firestorm are now audios! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a> and<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">African Firestorm (Audible)</a> <div>
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Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!<br /><br />Craig</div>
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Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-89713227715452581472016-04-24T21:29:00.001-07:002016-04-24T21:29:56.095-07:00A Change in Plans....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a freelance writer, I am open to taking on other writing projects as I work on my own projects. Two such projects have come up and they will be the ones that get the lion's share of my attention for the near future. MY work on my own novels has not been stopped, but these new projects take the first two slots. It happens sometime, and I will try to work on my novels whenever I can.<br />
<br />
The first project is a new <i>Outcast Ops</i> novel! The sales of the four other novels in the series have been strong over the last couple of months, and Rick and I have agreed to start creating a new <i>Outcast Ops</i> novel. The title at this time is <i>Outcast Ops: Watchlist</i>, and while there is no target date, we hope to have it out by the fall.<br />
<br />
The second project is a story in a new Battletech Anthology. As I've said before, I've written for several Battletech anthologies, but this one has a new twist on the concept. I won't say more than that for now, but those of you who read these stories will like them.<br />
<br />
But that will take most of my attention away from my novels. It can't be helped, but now is the time to get down to work. The OO novel is more plotting then writing, while the anthology story is pure writing, limited in time and word count. So, the best of both worlds.....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br /><br />The writing update:<br /><br /><i>The Assassin Prince</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 32)<br /><i>The Darkness of Shadows</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 16)<br /><i>Operation: Broken Chains</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 20)<br /><br />It still progress.....<br /><br />When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br /><br />Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. <i>African Firestorm</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! <i>Red Ice</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one)<br /><br />In addition, <i>Red Ice</i> is now an audio book! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to it free! The audio version can be found here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <i>African Firestorm</i> is being recorded and hopefully will be released sometime soon. Please read or listen and leave a review!<br /><br />Later!<br /><br />CraigCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-1079507730542618912016-04-04T23:21:00.000-07:002016-04-04T23:21:18.786-07:00Why Three Novels at the Same Time?<br />
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<br />
Because I'm a sucker for punishment?<br />
<br />
I don't know. I've worked on multiple Batteletech stories at the same time, writing in several in a single session. I guess it might because being able to switch between projects allows me to stay fresh. I'm not sure it's going to work for novels, but I want to have all three outlined, researched and ready to go to should I need to.<br />
<br />
For me, outlining is the hard part --- it's giving the story a rough form --- who did what, and what happened next. The finished outline is a slab of rock -- the writing is the forming of the story details, so it goes from rock slab to completed sculpture. Hard because I am so use to hammering the keys and having only a vague idea of how the story is going to go.<br />
<br />
I was told by a fellow writer I should concentrate on one novel at a time. Maybe I will, But I like having that option to have something else I can work on should I become bogged down on the current one.<br />
<br />
Am I finding any surprises in the outlining stage? Yes. <i>Darkness of Shadows</i> was only a vague idea when I started outlining, yet that one is forming faster than the other two, background-wise. I may have that one as the go-to should my writing of <i>The Assassin Prince</i> bog down for some reason. (Which is why I'm outlining all three, to keep the writing on-track.)<br />
<br />
My plan to have a couple of three novels in the outline stage at any one, ready to be slotted in should I finish a novel or get bogged down on it. Different genres should help separate them, forcing me to think about it as I write.<br />
<br />
That's all for tonight. I see you in another week or so.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br />
<br />
The writing update:<br />
<br />
<i>The Assassin Prince</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 29)<br />
<i>The Darkness of Shadows </i>--- Outline (through Chapter 14)<br />
<i>Operation: Broken Chains</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 18)<br />
<br />
Not as much as I hope, but I was invited to pitch for an anthology, so I was working on that. Still, I did make progress on all three.<br />
<br />
When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br />
Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. <i>African Firestorm</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! <i>Red Ice</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one)<br />
<br />
In addition, <i>Red Ice</i> is now an audio book! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to it free! The audio version can be found here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Red-Ice/dp/B01CT7CG30/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible)</a><span id="goog_728596490"></span><span id="goog_728596491"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <i>African Firestorm</i> is being recorded and hopefully will be released sometime soon. Please read or listen and leave a review!<br />
<br />
CraigCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-12112278288600798412016-03-27T23:32:00.000-07:002016-03-27T23:32:09.455-07:00Outlining, My Way.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Here I am again. It's been a good week, and I hope those of you who celebrated Easter had a good, safe Holiday. For everyone else, I hope you had a good weekend.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br />
I have been for years a guy who writes stories on the fly. I haven't been a plotter, at least not until the <i>Outcast Ops</i> novels that had to be outlined so both Rick and myself knew where the story was going.<br />
<br />
I have tried a few ways in the past to outline novels,but when it comes down to it, the way I think is working for me best is what I call "Chapter Summery" Method.<br />
<br />
That means sitting down and start with Chapter 1. I summarize what happens in that chapter. Depending on how much thought I put into it, the summery may be a single sentence, a paragraph, or several paragraphs. But now I know what happens in Chapter 1. I move onto Chapter 2 and repeat and continuing, summarizing what happens in that chapter. If I suddenly have an idea for a subplot, it's just a matter of going back to earlier chapters and adding the foreshadowing or the subplot threads. Once I'm through the whole story, I go back and look at each chapter. I expand the summery, adding plot points, characters, and changing things to improve the story's flow.<br />
<br />
I'm not bothering with a lot of detail at this point. I'll generally describe the action (A shoots B and C, C goes out the window), but don't go into detail about what B and C are wearing or what they look like. Locations are the same way -- I give it a name, and don't bother describing it beyond that unless there's a reason to. Also, I use a mix of character names and placeholder names when writing these summaries. Once I have chosen a name that fits the character better than the placeholder name, I use the WP's Search and Replace function. But that usually happens after the first outline draft.<br />
<br />
In addition, each outline file has notes at the bottom --- bit and pieces of background, things I need to research, questions I need to find the answers to, ect. Things that don't fit directly into the story, but are part of the story. For <i>Darkness of Shadows</i>, I already have about a page worth of notes about this planet, it's technology, and the society on it. The other two have a half-page of notes. If I have a thought or question white outlining --- it goes under notes.<br />
<br />
So, that's how I'm doing it --- summarizing chapters and using them to build the story. It's bringing free writing and putting into a usable structure. It may not work for you, but it works for me.....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the writing update:</div>
<br /><i>The Assassin Prince</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 26)<br /><i>The Darkness of Shadows</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 11)<br /><i>Operation: Broken Chains</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 16)<br /><br />When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br />Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. <i>African Firestorm</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! <i>Red Ice</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one) Both novels have been on the upswing on the sale charts this week, so they are still being read. Please read and please leave a review!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Craig</div>
Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-6323518478346299162016-03-20T22:02:00.000-07:002016-03-20T22:02:28.077-07:00Letting Go of A Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Here we go again......<br />
<br />
Progress is continuing on <i>The Assassin Prince</i>, but more about that later in the post.....<br />
<br />
The tile of this post comes from what I have been doing lately. I was asked to submit a story to show I could write a longer story. So I did --- A Novella.<br />
<br />
A novella is a story between 17,500 --- 40,000 words, and this particular novella is on the upper end of the word count. Now, I have no promise this story will be accepted, or published. I stepped out of my comfort zone somewhere, but I feel the story is solid.<br />
<br />
And in that lies a danger that is an insidious one for a writer --- seeking perfection in a story. "Perfection is the enemy of Good" is the quote that fits my mindset at the time. Writers work and work on a story, looking for those imperfections that scream "Change me!" A writer wants every word to be perfect, every sentence to grip the reader, every minor character to be vivid and clear as the main characters, and the story to be spell-binding to any reader who reads it. A perfect story.<br />
<br />
There is no such thing as a perfect story.<br />
<br />
All story has flaws --- minor ones, hidden ones, the wrong word here, a sentence too long there. Most are either too small or camouflaged by what's around it to be noticed. Other flaws that reader accepts as part of the suspension of belief all readers bring to reading fiction. As long as the flaw doesn't overwhelm the story, they are invisible, spotted only by those who look for them.<br />
<br />
In my case, I found myself going through the story several times, tweaking and trimming lines, adding a scene here, a chapter there, and pushing the limits of a novella word count. I had a friend read through it, make his notes and I made changes here and there, moved chapters around like a magician doing a card trick, and did a few other things. After the fourth pass through the story, I said to myself, "I have to let go of this or I will never do so," So, I sent it and I now wait.<br />
<br />
There are parts of the story I'm not certain about, and if it accepted, there may be changes needed. I hope the changes, should they be required, are minor ones. We shall see, and I will let you know if and when I hear back.<br />
<br />
There comes a time in every completed story that all a writer is doing to it is cosmetic polishing. It comes down to confidence --- is the story, for all it's perceived flaws, a good one? If it is, it's time to send it and get to work on the next one.<br />
<br />
“<i>Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.</i>” ― Salvador Dalí<br />
<br />
“<i>If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.</i>” ― Leo Tolstoy, <i>Anna Karenina</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<i>The Assassin Prince</i> is now outlined through Chapter 23 and into Chapter 24. But my Muse, being the perverse type (and lazy -- she lays on the couch with a bag of potato chips , yelling every so often, "Keep writing!") has decided that one novel is not enough, so I'm now outlying <i>three</i> novels.<br />
<br />
In addition to <i>The Assassin Prince</i> (Fantasy), I am outlining <i>The Darkness of Shadows</i> (Science-fiction), and <i>Operation: Broken Chains</i> (Action/thriller). Three different genres, all designed to keep me working with whichever one is speaking to me at the moment. As a way to force myself to keep on track with this, I'll give you an update on the process of all three. So, starting tonight, a progress report on all three to keep you updated.<br />
<br />
<i>The Assassin Prince</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 23)<br />
<i>The Darkness of Shadows</i> --- Outline (through Chapter 7)<br />
<i>Operation: Broken Chains </i>--- Outline (through Chapter 12)<br />
<br />
Lets see how this goes. Any feedback will be welcomed.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*******</div>
<br />
Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. <i>African Firestorm</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! <i>Red Ice</i> is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> For anoyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one) Read and please leave a review!<br /><br />CraigCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184054965181994388.post-7582257644934996192016-02-08T23:32:00.000-08:002016-02-08T23:32:06.099-08:00Murphy was a Writer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
I really have to stop saying things.......<br />
<br />
I've been sick most of the week. First, a 24-hour stomach virus, follow right on its heels by a cold, which I am still suffering through, sucking on a cough drop right this minute so I can write this entry up without hacking up all over the place.<br />
<br />
It wasn't a completely forgotten week. I did manage to outline two move chapters in <i>The Assassin Prince</i>. That puts me at Chapter 17, and it's an action chapter, which mean blocking out the action. I have the traces of the plot-lines for the next several chapters after that, so that will get done once I can stop coughing long enough to write them out.<br />
<br />
I've also have the basics of the setting --- the type of society the heroes running around in, and one of its neighbor empires. Bits and pieces of the political situation are beginning to fall into place, as is the type of magic used in each society. Characters are falling into place, and new one are beginning to form. I don't have the technology level quite nailed down --- I am flirting with the idea of having weapons like matchlocks/flintlocks, but the idea isn't in stone yet. I have to see how the story flows first before I can decide one way or the other.<br />
<br />
So, not much on the page, but much more in the mind. Other ideas for different series are popping up, but they're on index cards for a later time. <i>The Assassin Prince</i> is what I need to work on before looking at the other ideas.<br />
<br />
That's all for tonight. I'm off to bed!<br />
<br />*****<br /><br />Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Firestorm-Craig-Reed-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428437556&sr=1-3&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon!</a> For those in the United Kingdom, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-African-Firestorm-Book-ebook/dp/B00VS61JTG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1439872739&sr=1-2&keywords=outcast+ops">Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!</a>! Red Ice is here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=61wpNVudq8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=05FATHF2KC5QXY0TMZQ4">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!</a>. and for those in the UK, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTCAST-Ops-Craig-Reed-Jr-ebook/dp/B017V27ZHK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447743601&sr=8-4&keywords=outcast+Ops">Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!</a> Read and if you like them, leave a review!<br /><br />CraigCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931466556564141251noreply@blogger.com0