Many thanks, Jack.

Couldn't have done it without you, Janet T-P, and all of the other great TNBW members who provided insight and guidance along the way.

Hi Everyone,

I'm pleased to announce my debut novel, The Kurdish Connection, is now available through amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. It will shortly be available through Barnes and Noble for those using NOOK vice Kindle. Many thanks to all TNBWers who helped me along my journey.

paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Kurdish-Connecti … 1945181060
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kurdish-Connec … 1945181060

Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2AN1KO
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N2AN1KO

If you'd like a paperback copy, send a check for $16 US to Randall Krzak, 7560 Lakeshore Rd N, Palms, MI  48465. I'll sign it and send it back. I'll cover the shipping costs (US only at this time).

Regards to all, Randy

653

(5 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Way to go, Janet!

Completed an inline review of NJC's The Sorcerer's Progress, Book Two, Earth By Fire, chapters six and seven.

njc wrote:

The URL ends with April-Chastain-Ingrigue/dp/1537186833/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475459745&sr=8-2&keywords=wilted+magnolias

From 'ref=' onward you have info about where the link came from, etc.  Some of it may tell Amazon if it came from a link that earns a commission.  The query part (including, I think, the alphabet-encoding spec utf8, tells Amazon what the original lookup was.  They can use that if the book is not found, or to provide additional items for display.

Just checked how Bitly created my shortcut and it does show all of the information when it is used. If Amazon keys on this, then it's probably better to use a longer link but stop after the ASIN. Dropping the information after the ASIN still takes me to where I want to go.

I looked at your responses to my review of chapter six. I pointed things out that caught my attention as I read. Since these comments don't seem to help, I'm not sure if further reading will be of benefit to you and will just waste my time.

Completed an inline review of Suin's 'Being Fifteen', chapter 18.

658

(5 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Go, Janet, go!

Completed a review of alkemi's 'The Souring Seas' Chapters 17.

660

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Sent my edits back Monday night and received the Initial Proof a few minutes ago. Will break off from reviews until I go through this and get it back.

Publication date for The Kurdish Connection is now set for February 7th!

Completed a review of alkemi's 'The Souring Seas' Chapters 16.

662

(60 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Many congratulations to Jack and Janet!!!!!!

Any good finish for TNBW, too!!!!!

663

(60 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Wish I could have voted more!

664

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

C J Driftwood wrote:

Congratulations Randy!

Thanks CJ!

665

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

njc wrote:

More than interesting, it is valuable.  If I read your publisher's web page correctly, you'll be doing publicity yourself.  I think everybody here will be interested in your experience with that!

This is becoming the standard from what I've been reading. Sandra Beckwith, from Beckwith Communitcations, sent me her comments on this subject: "Even if you had a large publisher like Penguin or Random House, you'd still have to do your own marketing. Publishers tend to do a minimal amount and support the author only during launch mode -- 3 months at the most. They send review copies and try to get media interviews, but often not much more than that (if they even do that much). It's not because they don't believe in the book - it's more because they just don't have the staff."

Moonshine Cove does provide promotion/marketing recommendations (about a dozen pages of information and suggested templates) and does answer questions. If someone finds a publisher willing to edit the manuscript, provide a cover, get the book released, AND provides all of the promotion, then people should jump for joy.

I've spoken with several of their authors and they're all very happy with the company. One in particular, released his fourth and final book of a mystery series in November '16, all published by MSC. He's now signed a three-book deal with them for a new series, this time in historical fiction. 

As a couple of TNBW authors told me before I signed with MSC, do you want to get your foot in the door, making it easier to move to different publishers, or hold out for something which might never happen? My foot's in the door.:)

666

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Many thanks, Suin. I'm glad people are interested in the process. While things might vary from publisher to publisher, there'll still be a common thread. Needless to say, it's definitely a learning process.:)

667

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Hi Jube. Will do!

668

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Many thanks, NJC.  Good idea to mention the dialog tag point in a larger forum. Will do that once we're finished editing in case they make any other reference. Semicolons--not something I would fall on my sword for. I'll save that if they want to cut something I think really belongs.

669

(12 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let you know my participation in Alpha to Omega will be a bit sporadic over the next 3-4 weeks.

Yesterday, I received a critique and Edit01 from my publisher regarding The Kurdish Connection.  The first paragraph of the critique began with: "This critique is considerably shorter than our usual because the manuscript is in unusually good shape, as you will see when you compare our Edit 01 version to your original. There are not a lot of changes. We will specifically mention only three areas, then end with some questions and specific comments."

So what were the three areas? Too many frivolous dialogue tags. They said keep it simple, using said and asked with anything else in moderation. I had too many of the 'anything else'. The second area was semi-colons. Great for non-fiction/expository work but not used much in fiction. Since I came from writing expository stuff, not a surprise they crept in. The final area was two characters (both from Canada) using 'eh'. They want me to keep this with the first character using this and change the other one.

They made most of the changes for the first two but now I'm checking for typos, misspellings, incorrect words, repetitions, grammar slips, inconsistencies in the story or formatting or any other changes that need to be made that they might have missed. Once I send this back (due by the 18th of January), an Initial Proof (in PDF) will be prepared, which will include dedication, acknowledgements, blurbs, etc. We'll go through the same process as above. If needed, an Interim Proof might be done (or several if we keep making changes).  Once we agree, the Final Proof is initiated, which also involves the printer. Once everyone is onboard, we're good to go.

I was asked to provide the first chapter of my next novel, Dangerous Alliance, which will be included at the end of the book. To my surprise, the page leading to this chapter begins with:

COMING FROM MOONSHINE COVE IN 2018

THE NEXT MIDDLE EAST THRILLER FROM  RANDALL KRZAK

DANGEROUS ALLIANCE

So it appears they're interested in publishing the next one.  Assuming everything goes according to their plan, The Kurdish Connection will be released around February 7th. Once it's released, I'll be back full steam on reading/reviewing everyone's work in the group.  Thanks for your patience.:)
Regards, Randy

670

(1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Snow, wind, rain, 33 degrees--another day in Michigan!

Completed an inline review of Jube's 'The World Of Phyries" chapter 21.

672

(60 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

If you haven't voted yet, get connected and do so. You can only vote once per category (any additional voting in the same category overrides your earlier votes). Mine are in, are yours?

Suin wrote:

actually, the time stamps were necessary at the beginning for a part of the plot which i removed, so i can actually delete all of the time stamps.

for info, that's how we write time in Ireland/UK. It's not military, just how we do it. i hadn't realised how different US English & UK English are before joining this site, so interesting!

Yes, countries divided by a common language.:)  I've run into the same issue when I wrote The Kurdish Connection as the 24-hour clock is used there as well.

674

(18 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Right now I'm paying the $35 per year (in my second year) and use it regularly. It works out to about $.067 a week. Of course, I probably should be using it more than I am. I agree with Jack's assessment--dealer's choice.

675

(8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Many congrats, Ann!  Well done!!