The Bad Guy

Book Three in the Belt Loop saga is nearly finished and headed to the editor. In Book Two I introduced the Colonial Navy to the head of the Varson Defense Forces, Bale Phatie. A militaristic madman that almost single-handedly resurrected the Varson Empire from the ash heap of defeat and launched the Orion-Cygnus arm of the Milky Way into another battle of supremacy.

Just what does this madman look like? He struts around the Malguur Domain with his cape and sword, has a propensity to remove heads at even the smallest of infractions, wears a chestful of medals and baubles, and his decorative chains rattle like the sound of breaking glass when he walks.

Given this discription, my cover artist Christopher Jones (my son) developed a visual for me. I was so mesmerized with his depiction of my Book Two baddie I wanted him incorporated into the cover illustration for Book Three.

Here is the first look at the Malguurian Madman, Bale Phatie:

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Bale Phatie illustration courtesy Christopher A. Jones, November 2011

Look for this image to grace the cover of The Belt Loop (Book Three) - End of an Empire sometime during the first week of December. Next post: excerpts from Book Three.

Sometimes I Amaze Myself

Product Details - The Belt Loop (Book One)

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 374 KB
• Publisher: Robert B. Jones (August 16, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005HRNKA8
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

  3 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0) › See all 3 customer reviews...

• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,771 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  #34 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Space Opera
  #43 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Adventure
  #53 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Adventure

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I got up this morning, having totally spaced out setting the clock back, and stumbled into my man cave to check on the overnight stats. Much to my amazement, The Belt Loop (Book One) moved up in the standings quite a bit overnight. I say to myself, this can't be happening, I can't believe my own limited success. But that's why I write, to tell a good story and hope others appreciate it.

Book Three is well along and should hit the editors desk (the right side of my brain) in about two weeks. My editing process works like this: First, I reread the entire manuscript on the screen. I write directly in html so I also can check my coding as I go; Secondly, I look at the file in my browser, and take notes as I read it. Then the original file is corrected and I print out a hard copy. Third, once the hard copy is marked up, it's back to the original and final edits are done. Lastly, once satisfied with the product, I create a mobi file and send it to my Kindle reader on my PC. Final final final editing is done and then it's back to the original html file for those last minute deletes of the word "that" and others I find unnecessary.

So when the book is finished, I have read it four or five times. Yeah, I know, another set of eyes would be helpful, but, really? Trying to find someone to actually read a book these days is problematic. I am so thankful for the many fans I have out there in the e-verse that are willing to take a look at what I have to say and buy my books. Without a strong fan base of interested readers, this whole writing thing goes nowhere.

Just as a side note, Book Two is now solidly in the top 100 in both the science fiction/space opera and the science fiction/adventure rankings. What a grand day this is.