Just a heads-up to tell you that I’ve posted the KINDRED SPIRIT back cover text (to whet your purchasing appetite, I hope) on my website’s Kindred Spirit Page. Don’t everybody rush out and pre-order all at once…on second thought, go right ahead. Do that. But no pushing and shoving. I’ll wait here for your return. Dum…dum…dum…dee–dum…. Oh! Welcome back. And thanks! 🙂
Also, I sent out a full newsletter (rather than a simple news bulletin) a few days ago. If you don’t subscribe, you can get it HERE. However, only registered subscribers are eligible for prize drawings. If you’re thinking about subscribing, know that I will not sell, disclose, release or repurpose your e-mail address. I only use the e-mail addresses for newsletter distribution, special bulletins, prize announcements (and eligibility), special offers, etc. all related to my books and stories.
Finally, I’m getting excited about the no-complications-attached aspect of this new book. KINDRED SPIRIT is not part of the Wendy Ward/Wither stories. With WITHER, I had to explain that it was co-authored but only had one “pen” name on the cover. With WITHER’S RAIN and WITHER’S LEGACY I had to explain that they were sequels, stand-alone sequels, but sequels nonetheless. With BUFFY: GHOUL TROUBLE and the ANGEL books (AVATAR & MONOLITH), I had to explain that they were original novels BASED ON the TV shows. Not novelized episodes, but new stories, what I liked to call “lost episodes” so people could get the concept. And no matter what I said, some people assumed I was actually Joss Whedon or that he got the idea for Buffy from “my” book.
Anyway, with KINDRED SPIRIT, there is no attachment to a lost (but loved) TV series, no co-author involved, there is no sequel or prequel or series involved. It’s a book that will stand or fall on its own. But I know when I’m at the table and someone asks which ONE book of mine they should try, it will be a no-brainer. Try KINDRED SPIRIT. If you like that, then you can try the Wendy Ward/Wither books.
KINDRED SPIRIT is also the most mainstream book I’ve ever had published. There are genre elements: ghosts, possession. But they are not as in-your-face-genre as monsters and magic. The characters in KINDRED are several years older than the main characters in the Wendy/Wither books. And the vast majority of the research for this book came from experts in their respective fields. I interviewed TV news station personnel, including a couple reporters, producers and office staff. I interviewed people from an exhibit building company, our chief of police, and I exchanged e-mails with a ghost researcher. Usually my research involves libraries and Internet searches. But for KINDRED SPIRIT, I spent most of my research time in the field, so to speak.
I hope my readers are pleased with the results.
Until the next one,
-Jack
