<![CDATA[The Unique World and Writings of Andrew Buckley - BLOGOCITY]]>Sat, 18 May 2013 14:18:53 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Writing, Marketing, Ninjas, and Nudity]]>Wed, 15 May 2013 22:31:41 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/05/writing-marketing-ninjas-and-nudity.htmlPicture
BWAHAHAHA! (all blog posts should start with mischievous laughter) 

Writing a book is like starting a journey. Finishing one is like fighting an uphill battle through a 100 ninjas who are all on fire. And when you emerge victorious at the top of the hill with a completed, slightly charred, manuscript clutched to your naked chest (having lost most of your clothing to flaming ninjas) you can breathe a momentary sigh of relief. 

I say momentary because after that you have to get it published which is like realizing that you're at the top of the wrong hill and you need to actually climb that cliff over there. Yes, the one covered with ice, lots of jagged bits, and, if you can believe it, another 100 ninjas, also on fire. If you make it to the top of that particular cliff, your manuscript now soggy thanks to the melting effect that a fiery ninja has upon ice, you scream 'I've made it!'

No, no you haven't. Because after all that you still have to make people read it. That is the trick. You may be sitting on the best piece of literary gold the world has ever seen but unless you're willing to put yourself out there they're never actually going to see it. How do you make people read your work?

It's called Marketing. And it's a pain in the ass. The reason for the pain is the absolute consistency you must maintain. You have to be on social media, everyone's on social media, so if you're not on it then you can barely be classed as human. Get yourself a Facebook account, a Twitter account, get on Google+, join Goodreads (and try not to be insulted when someone gives you only 1 star for no reason) figure out Linkedin, and now there's something called 'Vine' that I don't entirely get. After you've mastered social media you can move onto blog tours. That's where you hijack other people's blogs with your own content (usually better if you ask first). You can run campaigns, giveaways, give interviews, do book signings, public readings, strip naked and film yourself reading your book... the possibilities are endless.  

So what's my point here? My point is, you have to try. You never know until you try and if you don't try then fighting all those ninjas was pointless. I recently interviewed best selling fantasy author, Michael J. Sullivan, and his advice was simple yet effective. Take it one book at a time (or something like that). So get yourself down off that cliff (careful not to trip on the dead smoldering ninjas) and start selling your book to the people. It's not going to sell itself. . .  

. . . you have to make your own magic. 

Speaking of which...abracadabra!
]]><![CDATA[There's Good News, and then there's Bad News...]]>Mon, 06 May 2013 15:46:40 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/05/theres-good-news-and-then-theres-bad-news.htmlI suppose I shouldn't complain. I am in the news after all...
]]><![CDATA[Books You Should Be Reading - Redeye by Michael Shean]]>Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:33:07 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/04/books-you-should-be-reading-redeye-by-michael-shean.htmlPicture
And no, it's not just a sexy cover. Last Friday Michael Shean released book 2 in The Wonderland Cycle: REDEYE. What's it about? Glad you asked...


Two years have passed since Agent Thomas Walken and Bobbi January found themselves at the heart of a conspiracy of unimaginable greed and cruelty. The Genefex Corporation remains shrouded in mystery, and Bobbi faces a life of unanswered questions and mounting disillusionment to look forward to. But when she receives a mysterious message from one of Walken’s former comrades, she is drawn back onto the trail. Now, Bobbi will find herself newly equipped to discover the truth – about Walken, about Genefex and the Yathi race – and the key to unlocking those secrets rests in the hands of a cyborg terrorist known only as Redeye.

But the road to truth will be a dangerous one, from the glamour of Seattle’s ultramodern core to the sprawling wastelands of the Old City and beyond. Alongside a band of lethal comrades, Bobbi will face death and worse amidst urban rot, abandoned subway tunnels, and ultimately the nightmarish halls of the Yathi themselves in a race to stave off what may prove to be the death of humanity itself. Drenched in blood and neon, Redeye is a tale of humanity on the edge of a new and terrible reality. 


If you've never heard of Michael Shean then you've obviously never lived and need to start looking for purpose in your life. Michael is a Cyberpunk/Sci-fi author with a twist (a dark twist). He's the author of Bone Wires and Shadow of a Dead Star (Book 1 in the Wonderland Cycle) and lives on the east coast where he continually fights the forces of evil (or dances with them, it varies).

You can find more about Michael and his work at http://michael-shean.com/ 

You can purchase his books on Amazon:
Bone Wires
Shadow of a Dead Star
Redeye
Picture
Two short months ago I had the opportunity to interview Michael about his work, his writing style, likes, dislikes, and his journey to publication. You can find his interview on the Write Out Loud podcast page here on Planet Kibi. Right click HERE and select 'save target as', or some other such nonsense, to download the episode directly or listen in the player below.
]]><![CDATA[This week only! Buy my book for just 99 cents and become a character...]]>Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:19:42 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/03/this-week-only-buy-my-book-for-just-99-cents-and-become-a-character.htmlPicture
My wonderful publisher, Curiosity Quills Press, is running a promotion this week for a selection of the CQ catalogue.  You can get a number of awesome books for just 99 cents from Amazon for the Kindle app unitl March 23rd!

Included in that esteemed list is my satirical/british humor/urban fantasy/adventure debut novel Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish.

As a special deal for anyone that purchases between now (right now) and the end of the promotion I'll add you to the sequel to Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish as a brand new character. If you've read the book you'll know that I like an impossibly massive cast of characters. Maybe you'll be a mythical creature, possibly a bird, an aztec warrior/lawyter, maybe the focus of an anecdotal aside...who knows?! 

So, want to become a character in the tentatively titled The Search for the Sacred Goldfish? Go to Amazon right now and buy the book for just 99 cents and then leave a comment below. It's that simple.

Happy reading!
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Introducing 'The Prince of Earth', the latest novel from Mike Robinson]]>Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:33:10 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/02/introducing-the-prince-of-earth-the-latest-novel-from-mike-robinson.htmlPicture
Once again Mike Robinson brings the chills with his latest entry into the literary world, The Prince of Earth. Lovers of a good supernatural thriller and anyone that enjoyed Mike's first novel, The Green Eyed Monster, should check this out. So, what's it all about? Let me tell you:


In 1988, young American traveler Quincy Redding is trekking across the misty terrain of the Scottish Highlands. She is destined for the infamous peak Ben MacDui, the summit of which soon finds her inexplicably debilitated and at the mercy of a malevolent entity.

The book spans twenty years, alternately following Quincy in her 1988 ordeal in Scotland as well as Quincy in 2008, when, as an adult, she begins experiencing abnormalities that threaten her family and her life – phenomena that may be related to what happened all those years ago.

As both older and younger Quincy learn more of their situation, and as their worlds further entwine, she becomes increasingly uncertain of the perceived temporality or reality of each period.

You can purchase The Prince of Earth on Amazon in E-Book and Paperback formats. You can even read an excerpt before buying over at the Curiosity Quills Press website.

You can read more of Mike's work in his first novel Skunk Ape Semester and over at his Blog.

Not enough?! Alright, how about this kick-ass trailer for The Prince of Earth!
What are you waiting for? Go and buy The Prince of Earth immediately... failure to do so will result in me sending a malevolent Scottish entity after you... you've been warned.
]]><![CDATA[Listen to Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish Today!]]>Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:13:13 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/02/listen-to-death-the-devil-and-the-goldfish-today.htmlPicture
It's finally here! The audio book for Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish voiced by the multi-talented and creepily British, Jon Cross! Jon adds a completely different level to my quirky little novel by giving the characters not only a voice but an amazing personality that resonates throughout the entire story.  

You can buy the audio book on Audible.com and iTunes today and on Amazon later this week!

Now go forth and tickle your inner ear canal!
]]><![CDATA[Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish Book Trailer #2]]>Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:51:35 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/01/death-the-devil-and-the-goldfish-book-trailer-2.htmlAnd here it is! Book trailer #2 for Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish. This one was created by filmmaker Ivan Sampson and it's almost entirely animated using the book cover art that was designed and created by Ricky Gunawan!  Apparently he had a helluva time making the goldfish wiggle his tail :) 
If you haven't seen trailer #1 yet you can find it right HERE.
]]><![CDATA[Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish Book Trailer #1]]>Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:16:08 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/01/death-the-devil-and-the-goldfish-book-trailer-1.htmlWhat a lucky little author I am! I don't just have one book trailer...I have THREE!  And I'll be releasing each one over the next week.  I'm fortunate to have some very talented friends who were more than happy (after I bribed/black mailed/threatened them) to create a book trailer for my debut novel 'Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish'.  

Trailer #1 (below) was originally a teaser trailer for the book to be released before December 5th but I never got it out on time so while it says 'coming soon' that's not actually accurate as the book is available right now in print and e-book formats from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. 

I wrote the trailer voice over which was voiced by podcaster, voice actor, and bearded gentleman Jon Cross. Jon also voiced the audio book which is stuck somewhere in limbo awaiting distribution. If you want to listen to more from Jon check out his awesome podcasts over at the After Movie Diner.

The trailer was shot, produced, and edited by filmmaker, aspiring comic book creator, and host of the Trilogy podcast; the very talented Chris Morris!

Watch and enjoy! 
Trailer #2 by Ivan Sampson, coming soon...
]]><![CDATA[The Charge by Sharon Bayliss - Cover Reveal!]]>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 01:19:43 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/01/the-charge-by-sharon-bayliss-cover-reveal.htmlPicture
Check out this awesome cover for 'The Charge' by Sharon Bayliss coming 

What if Texas never joined the United States, and instead became it's own nation? 

In The Charge that's exactly what happened. In the 1830s, the Republic of Texas was taken over by a dictator with superhuman powers who named himself the first King of Texas. Eighty years later, the Texas Empire has fallen into ruin, but the story of the Texas royal dynasty is far from over.

College freshman Warren King wants nothing more than to enjoy a beer by the pool on his summer break...but that's not what fate has in store for him. When Texas soldiers kidnap his little brother, he embarks into a still-wild West to save him.  While fumbling through a search attempt in the lawless Texas Empire, he makes a discovery that changes his life forever. He and his brother are estranged members of the Texas royal family and the King wants them both dead.  Now Warren must save his brother and choose whether or not to be King, follow a King, or die before he can retire his fake ID.

The Charge was a quarterfinalist for the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and won a Publisher's Weekly review:

"A solid cast of well-developed characters, including a “super-tall” royal Texan family, stars in this thrill ride of a novel teetering between sci-fi adventure and alternate historical epic...Easily shifting between characters’ perspectives, and relentless in its action, well-placed humor, and suspense, this manuscript is a delight."

The Charge will be available in digital and print formats from Curiosity Quills Press on Texas Independence Day, 3/2/13. Go to www.facebook.com/thechargebook for updates.

Remind me!
Email *
]]><![CDATA[Exclusive 24 Hour Goodreads Giveaway!]]>Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:49:31 GMThttp://www.planetkibi.com/1/post/2013/01/exclusive-24-hour-goodreads-giveaway.htmlPicture
Maybe it's the insanity of the holidays, maybe it's an extended version of the giving spirit, or maybe it's because I was just released from a Turkish prison and feel the need to share myself with the world...

For the next 24 hours only I'm giving away free e-copies of Death, the Devil, the Goldfish exclusively to Goodreads users. How do you get your hands on one of these copies I hear you cry (could just be the voices in my head). Easy! All you have to do is like my author Facebook page HERE and once I verify you're a real person and not a cyborg from the future and that you are indeed on Goodreads, then I'll send you a copy :)


Here are some of the latest reviews:


"Not only does the British vocabulary and setting reminded me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the complex story and hilarious vignettes just scream Douglas Adams reincarnated." - James Wymore (Author)
 

"A prophetic goldfish, the Angel of Death and the devil...sounds like the beginning of a great bar joke but in this case it's a creative, funny, fantastic story that will have you laughing from beginning to end." - Eileen Dilbeck (Goodreads)


"Funny, creative, inventive, interesting, different, imaginative, well written, well crafted and an overall joy to behold." - Jon Cross (Podcaster)

]]>