tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11930145461556083122024-03-14T09:38:45.266-07:00Daniel Arenson, Fantasy BlogAuthor of Song of Dragons, Dragonlore, The Dragon War, and MothDanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-26022398936719736512015-10-15T15:53:00.002-07:002015-10-15T15:54:25.319-07:00Requiem -- five trilogies and countingWell... that makes five. There are now FIVE completed Requiem trilogies. Fifteen novels in this crazy world where people can become dragons.<br />
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Five years ago, on a cold Sunday morning, I stepped into a bookstore in downtown Toronto. I had a notebook, a pen, and an MP3 player with Mozart's Requiem playing. I sat at a little coffeeshop inside the bookstore, listened to the music, and began to write whatever came to mind. That turned into <i>Blood of Requiem</i>, the first novel in the series. I had no idea it would even get ONE sequel, let alone grow into this massive world spanning fifteen books and counting.<br />
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Requiem now includes the following trilogies: <i>Dawn of Dragons, Song of Dragons, Dragonlore, The Dragon War</i>, and <i>Requiem for Dragons</i>. So far, you've all downloaded half a million copies of these books. Wow.<br />
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Between these trilogies, we got to explore some other worlds together. We spent six novels in Moth, and we spent three novels with the Alien Hunters. But we keep coming back to these old dragon friends.<br />
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I'm honored that, five years into this, you're still reading. I really do have the best job--and the best readers--in the world.<br />
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<i>Dragons Rising</i>, which was released today, is not the last Requiem novel. This world will continue to grow. l can't wait to see where we'll fly together next.DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-37782888485761750672015-09-05T08:11:00.002-07:002015-09-05T08:11:58.058-07:00Some thoughts about writing.<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Sometimes the muse strikes, and it's wonderful. Sometimes you're just in the zone, and it's like the spirits of creation are controlling your fingers, weaving the words for you.</span></div>
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But that doesn't always happen. It can't, or you'd go insane and burn up. Part of being a professional writer is writing even without muse. It's waking up every morning, sitting down, and getting to work. And it's like any other work--like writing code, like laying down as<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">phalt, like driving a truck. You do the work because you're a professional, even when you're not in the mood, even when you're preoccupied with daily worries unrelated to writing. Most successful writers aren't free spirits, wrapped in grace, transcribing the words of the heavens. Most are just hardworking professionals who show up and put down one word at a time, day by day.</span></div>
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If you're stuck and have writer's block, that's because you're waiting for the muse to knock. If it knocks, great. I love when that happens; it's one of the best feelings in the world. But if it doesn't, too bad--write anyway. Don't be afraid to write badly. Just put down words, even if you feel things aren't working. It's harder this way, yes, but so what? Odds are, once those words are revised and polished, you'll find some good material in there, often just as good as those pages written while "inspired."</div>
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-11929212877718247062014-10-27T15:47:00.000-07:002014-10-27T15:47:01.643-07:00What's next?<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;">Hi all!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;">First of all, a HUGE thanks to everyone who bought copies of my recent releases: Shadows of Moth: Moth V (released last month) and Requiem's Prayer: Dawn of Dragons III (released a couple weeks ago). I hope you've been enjoying these new books!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;">I wanted to update you about what's next. Legacy of Moth: Moth VI will be released on December 2nd! The book will conclude the Moth saga, bringin</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 20px;">g all the characters' storylines to an epic climax. Expect something BIG and EPIC, Pelennor Fields style. We're ending this series with a bang.<br /><br />I also have some fun stuff planned for you for 2015. We'll have a NEW REQUIEM TRILOGY tentatively titled Requiem for Dragons, which will be set in an era following The Dragon War. In 2015, I'll also be releasing my first science fiction series (titled Alien Hunters), a work inspired by SF franchises like Firefly and Star Wars.<br /><br />Remember that you can always see a full list of the books and their reading order on my website: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.DanielArenson.com%2F&h=0AQHrDxkY&enc=AZP1qwdd0Ckl_pJ0kIeqznoqfeGdFuNR9lscy2kLCrCFzleAZVj3QGUEOQ6E1BxhOdU-azEVDs_ELvvNHeoFf60N5jRtBhfaB--etbhaQgrGkRCKO1VattjXd79qoG9x26Y-hOwU5X2voXzU53z4ORRw&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.DanielArenson.com/</a><br /><br />Thank you everyone for reading!<br /><br />Daniel</span>DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-45895296002664729442014-10-15T06:43:00.000-07:002014-10-15T14:46:37.848-07:00Requiem's PrayerAbout four years ago, after moving between several cities, I found myself working and living in Toronto. The apartment I rented was quite small, only about 450 square feet--too small for a desk. I was right in the heart of the big city.<br />
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On weekend mornings, I'd wake up early. Most of the city still slept. I'd walk along the streets as convenience stores, pubs, clubs, restaurants, and other businesses were still closed. I'd make my way over to a big, two-story bookshop that rose over a major intersection. On the second floor of the bookshop, a little cafe nestled by floor-to-ceiling windows. Without room at home for a table, I'd come here to write. I was usually the first person in. I'd order a coffee, sit by the windows, stare out at the sun rising over the city, and write. I had no computer, no keyboard. I wrote in longhand into notebooks.</div>
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On one of these mornings, I was listening to Mozart's Requiem on my MP3 player, and as an exercise, I began to write whatever I heard in the music. I found myself writing a story about people who can turn into dragons, people hunted to near extinction, people fighting against vicious enemies determined to destroy them. The characters had names taken from the Requiem--Benedictus, Lacrimosa, Agnus Dei, Kyrie Eleison, Gloriae--and their story to me felt as tragic, heartbreaking, yet uplifting as the music.</div>
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What I didn't know at the time: This story, just a little exercise, would turn into a series. This story would end up selling hundreds of thousands of copies, letting me become a full time writer. </div>
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Today I released the twelfth novel in this series.</div>
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<i>Requiem's Prayer</i> is the third volume of the <i>Dawn of Dragons</i> trilogy, a "prequel" trilogy telling of Requiem's earliest days. The events we read about in <i>Song of Dragons</i>, <i>Dragonlore</i>, and <i>The Dragon War</i> all trace their origin to here.</div>
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I'm deeply grateful to all those readers who've been exploring Requiem with me. Without you all, this would still be only a few scribbles in a notebook. Thanks to you, this has become a world.</div>
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And Requiem's story is not done. Twelve novels have been released, but more are to come. Next year, we'll be seeing three new Requiem books, continuing the story that began four years ago in that little old coffeeshop.</div>
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As always, thank you for reading.</div>
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-23349024451145247762014-06-14T14:01:00.003-07:002014-06-14T14:08:30.992-07:00Huge $0.99 Book Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hey everyone. <i>Moth </i>is part of a huge sale with 16 fantasy novels, all discounted to $0.99 today.</div>
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Drop by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/668633266542543">here</a> to grab a book and chat with the authors!DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-64109718786362368932014-04-24T04:50:00.000-07:002014-04-24T04:50:12.069-07:00Guest Feature -- The Novum TrilogyAuthor Moira Katson is releasing the first book in <i>The Novum Trilogy</i> today . . . and it features new music by Ekterina! You might remember the music Ekaterina composed for Moth (you can listen to it <a href="http://danielarenson.com/MothMusic.aspx">here</a>).<div>
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Ekaterina's new music for Moira's <i>Novum Trilogy</i>:</div>
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You can find Moira's trilogy on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crucible-Novum-Trilogy-Moira-Katson-ebook/dp/B00JW70C32">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J4omb0r9fi3e3jb3wsussvtTxCq7Ktc7dR9SnphwjPsOhY12G2i9YSKvdCuXeNZAQoyjulb9tcUqg8eUCqjIpRgQdU8saAvp7hh1ndle9Hx_pcOPwpu2ObfPeTihCniu4IoT7oH_bKs/s1600/novum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J4omb0r9fi3e3jb3wsussvtTxCq7Ktc7dR9SnphwjPsOhY12G2i9YSKvdCuXeNZAQoyjulb9tcUqg8eUCqjIpRgQdU8saAvp7hh1ndle9Hx_pcOPwpu2ObfPeTihCniu4IoT7oH_bKs/s1600/novum.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-67896557548463753452014-04-05T07:06:00.000-07:002014-04-05T07:07:37.436-07:00How it all began...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Requiem began one morning with some Mozart, a sleepy city, and strong coffee.</div>
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One early Sunday morning four years ago, I left my downtown Toronto apartment, walked to the nearby bookshop, and entered the coffee shop on the second floor. Toronto apartments are often too small for desks; they force a writer to become something of a hipster, writing in coffee shops. I sat by the window with a hot drink, watching the city wake up outside. The coffee was steaming, and Mozart's entire Requiem was playing on my MP3 player. I had a notebook but forgot my pen; I had to borrow one from the barista (oh god, I said "barista"... this city really does force you to become a hipster). I didn't know what I'd write that day. I listened to the music, hearing old Latin words like Benedictus, Lacrimosa, Kyrie Eleison, Dies Irae, Agnus Dei... and I just wrote what I imagined while listening. The story took form as I scribbled away--a story about people in a mythical world who could become dragons. Benedictus became the exiled king, Lacrimosa the wise queen, Kyrie the hot-headed youth, Dies Irae a wrathful villain, Agnus Dei a fiery maiden . . . all fighting for a kingdom called Requiem.</div>
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Four years later, there are ten Requiem novels and more to come.</div>
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The music that started it all:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ29_gztR1QgsaCKXrwqH5zkH5V4bYiXaUQUyYHEAHdtlY4LRD_oMzcL-15a6_LFa9Z7q6NCxDlk1uLq0AqBtr-mvKwrhVN4zK3DebMNkM4YQJQfaWk5182CToegd-cO0E3yqzWD1xHQ/s1600/DragonsHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ29_gztR1QgsaCKXrwqH5zkH5V4bYiXaUQUyYHEAHdtlY4LRD_oMzcL-15a6_LFa9Z7q6NCxDlk1uLq0AqBtr-mvKwrhVN4zK3DebMNkM4YQJQfaWk5182CToegd-cO0E3yqzWD1xHQ/s1600/DragonsHeader.jpg" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-87096536539283553372014-04-01T07:50:00.004-07:002014-04-01T07:53:30.379-07:00Requiem's SongThe dragons are flying again. The new Requiem novel is here.<br />
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In 2011, I released my novel <i>Blood of Requiem</i>. I never imagined that the novel would kick-start a franchise: ten Requiem novels and counting, a quarter-million book sales, three novels on Amazon's Top 100 list, and many more adventures to come. Today we return to Requiem with a new story of wings, claws, and dragonfire.</div>
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You can learn all about Requiem here: <a href="http://danielarenson.com/Requiem">DanielArenson.com/Requiem</a></div>
<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-29437484214782526252014-03-16T12:06:00.001-07:002014-03-16T12:06:26.351-07:00New Moth musicSome new tracks of Moth music by Ekaterina, capturing scenes from the books...<br />
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<i>The Journey Home:</i></div>
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<i>Eloria's Lament</i>:</div>
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Listen to all the Moth tracks <a href="http://danielarenson.com/MothMusic.aspx">here</a>.DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-15441375815104896642014-02-25T13:45:00.000-08:002014-02-25T13:45:13.328-08:00Milestones and books to come<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">A nice little milestone this week: 300,000 total books sold! THANK YOU, dear readers, for reading. You guys rock!<br /><br />Meanwhile, it's still a baby compared to Requiem, but The Moth Saga (all three books) sold its 10,000th copy today. Thanks so much for trying this new series too! Moth (the first book) is also at 47 Amazon reviews and getting close to the all-important 50 reviews milestone; when we hit 50, we'll have a little party (I'll bring snacks... virtual ones at least). There is a fourth Moth book planned fo</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">r this summer, and I think the series will keep going to interesting places. Thank you to everyone who's been exploring this new world with me.<br /><br />In Requiem news, I'm getting close to finishing Requiem's Song, the first book in a new dragon trilogy. I hope to have this one completed in April, so keep an eye open for updates. I'm really excited about us returning to Requiem after a little hiatus. As always, this will be a crazy book full of monsters, epic battles, and of course -- lots of dragons.</span>DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-87847200159290195622014-01-25T07:14:00.002-08:002014-01-25T07:14:27.547-08:00In the workshop...It's been quiet lately, but I've got LOTS of stuff in the works for you. Currently in the workshop:<br />
<br />
* The third Moth book (to be released next month) + a lovely paperback omnibus of Moth 1-3<br />
* New Moth artwork (we'll finally see what Cam and Linee look like)<br />
* A new Requiem book to kick-start a new dragon trilogy (to be released this spring)<br />
* A Moth audio book (also this spring)<br />
* Even MORE new music<br />
* And finally, this summer, a fourth Moth book<br />
<br />
I'll be a busy few months!DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-45428815454265009042014-01-23T13:28:00.001-08:002014-01-23T13:29:11.176-08:00The Journey Home"Our home lies in shadow... to the night we return."<br />
<br />
In preparation for <i>Secrets of Moth</i> (<i>The Moth Saga</i>, Book Three), we have a new, beautiful track from musician Ekaterina. This one is titled "The Journey Home," and it might be my favorite piece of Moth music yet.<br />
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Visit <a href="http://danielarenson.com/MothMusic.aspx">The Music of Moth</a> to hear more tracks.DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-26684262194584696532013-12-23T08:03:00.003-08:002013-12-23T08:21:31.335-08:00The year in the review... and the year ahead.Hi everyone,<br />
<br />
I'd like to reflect a little about the year that was... and talk about the year ahead (spoiler: I have some Requiem news!).<br />
<br />
But first, I want to thank you, my readers. You kept reading in 2013, allowing me to keep the gas on, the heat pumping, and the water flowing as I sat here every day, writing more books. THANK YOU.<br />
<br />
A few big things happened in 2013.<br />
<br />
The year began with the release of <i>A Night of Dragon Wings</i>, the third <i>Dragonlore </i>novel. This is still the longest, most complex novel set in Requiem. I wrote the <i>Dragonlore </i>trilogy during a crazy time in my life. Many chapters were written in trains, plains, and yes -- automobiles (really... automobiles too. Don't ask.) While writing <i>Dragonlore</i>, I was often traveling, I left my old job, I landed in the ER at one point, and went through a bunch of big life changes. When you see all the nutty stuff in <i>Dragonlore </i>(those crazy nephilim...) that probably reflects the craziness my life was going through while writing these books. Hopefully that at least resulted in an interesting read. ;)<br />
<br />
But the CRAZIEST thing with the <i>Dragonlore </i>trilogy happened in the summer. All three <i>Dragonlore </i>novels hit the Amazon Top 100 bestsellers list. <i>A Dawn of Dragonfire</i> (the first book) even cracked the Top 20, hitting #18 in the Kindle store. This resulted in a very nice offer from Random House, which bought the books for publication in Germany. I never imagined so many eyeballs would see these books. It was scary, exciting, fun, and terrifying, and you--the readers--made it possible. You made me very happy but also almost gave me a heart attack! ;)<br />
<br />
Soon after the third <i>Dragonlore </i>trilogy was released, I sat down and wrote<i> The Dragon War</i>, the third trilogy set in Requiem. <i>The Dragon War</i> is probably my favorite of the dragon trilogies. I think this trilogy -- telling the story of a civil war in Requiem -- is my best writing in this world. I'm glad that you chose to keep exploring Requiem with this new series.<br />
<br />
In late 2013, after nine novels set in Requiem, it was time for something new. After years of planning and imagining it, I finally sat down and wrote <i>Moth</i>.<br />
<br />
I think that, among all my books, <i>Moth </i>might be my favorite. <i>Moth </i>is about a world torn in two--one half always in sunlight, the other always dark. It explores themes that are important to me: the dangers of blind faith, the conflict between east and west, and the heroism found not only in warriors but in those who strive to stop war. <i>Moth </i>is different from the Requiem books. It's slower, focusing more on world building and exploration than action (though of course there's plenty of action too). I'm proud of it and hope you enjoy this series too. Amazingly, <i>Moth </i>did what <i>Dragonlore </i>achieved in the summer, hitting Amazon's Top 100 bestsellers list -- something I never imagined I'd be able to repeat. <i>Empires of Moth</i>, the sequel, was just released two weeks ago. I can't wait to hear what you all think about it.<br />
<br />
That's 2013. Crazy year. What's planned for 2014?<br />
<br />
Well, in a couple months, I plan to release <i>Secrets of Moth</i>, the third <i>Moth </i>book. That will conclude one story arc set in this world. If you like that one, I'd love to someday write even more <i>Moth </i>books. I have a bunch of ideas for a fourth, fifth, and even sixth book set in this world.<br />
<br />
In 2014, we'll also have... * drumroll * a NEW REQUIEM BOOK!<br />
<br />
<i>Requiem's Song</i> will kick-start a brand new trilogy (titled <i>Dawn of Dragons</i>). This time around, we'll get to see Requiem's ancient history. The book will be set thousands of years before the events in <i>Song of Dragons</i>. We'll see the Vir Requis before they had a kingdom of their own, when they were outcast and misunderstood and wandering the wilderness. The new trilogy will be set in a world just leaving the stone age, a place of wide open spaces, herds of mammoths (yes, mammoths!), roaming tribes of hunter-gatherers, and the rise of the world's first dragons.<br />
<br />
I hope you keep reading in 2014. These books are a long and winding road of exploration and discovery. Thank you for walking this road with me. Every time you buy a book, review a book, talk about the books online, or simply hang around my Facebook page, you help create these stories.<br />
<br />
Happy Holidays, everyone. Find the sky and be the night. ;)<br />
<br />
Daniel<br />
December 23, 2013DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-7738605168946943762013-10-17T07:54:00.005-07:002013-10-17T07:54:50.918-07:00Moth Music<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">Moth, my new fantasy series, will feature an original soundtrack by musician Ekaterina</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">. Here's the first track, titled "Legends": </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rfYmVWtN7AU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">You can learn more about Moth (and hear more music) at: </span><a href="http://danielarenson.com/Moth">http://DanielArenson.com/Moth</a>DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-1935414419346781972013-10-07T15:10:00.000-07:002013-10-07T15:12:39.415-07:00The Unfinished SongTonight a guest is visiting my blog to tell us about her book. Welcome Tara Maya, author of <i>The Unfinished Song</i>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCozR1ITg6uG6y3UrjGtv33sjg0VL__WGyMcpENWUpZSWqCtees5c6rQhIbGCpqrxEyNm_cltxrs1yfGiqkZOxr9t0fobVc0teyrRivPX8gZVK_rGSDGpthsIz8W5Wk2anYrAGKeXkR5A/s1600/Initiate_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCozR1ITg6uG6y3UrjGtv33sjg0VL__WGyMcpENWUpZSWqCtees5c6rQhIbGCpqrxEyNm_cltxrs1yfGiqkZOxr9t0fobVc0teyrRivPX8gZVK_rGSDGpthsIz8W5Wk2anYrAGKeXkR5A/s1600/Initiate_cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>ABOUT THE BOOK:</b></div>
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DEADLY INITIATION</div>
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A DETERMINED GIRL...</div>
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Dindi can't do anything right, maybe
because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her
chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she
dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers
whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious
Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's
clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi
has a plan.</div>
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AN EXILED WARRIOR...</div>
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Kavio is the most powerful
warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold
for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If
roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance
to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But
when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as
deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk
away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of
an exile.</div>
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<b>EXCERPT:</b></div>
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Blue-skinned rusalki grappled Dindi
under the churning surface of the river. She could feel their claws
dig into her arms. Their riverweed-like hair entangled her legs when
she tried to kick back to the surface. She only managed to gulp a few
breaths of air before they pulled her under again.
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She hadn't appreciated how fast and
deep the river was. On her second gasp for air, she saw that the
current was already dragging her out of sight of the screaming girls
on the bank. A whirlpool of froth and fae roiled between two large
rocks in the middle of the river. The rusalka and her sisters tugged
Dindi toward it. Other water fae joined the rusalki. Long snouted
pookas, turtle-like kappas and hairy-armed gwyllions all swam around
her, leading her to the whirlpool, where even more fae swirled in the
whitewater.
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"Join our circle, Dindi!" the
fae voices gurgled under the water. "Dance with us forever!"
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"No!" She kicked and swam and
stole another gasp for air before they snagged her again. There were
so many of them now, all pulling her down, all singing to the tune of
the rushing river. She tried to shout, "Dispel!" but
swallowed water instead. Her head hit a rock, disorienting her. She
sank, this time sure she wouldn't be coming up again.
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"Dispel!" It was a man's
voice.
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Strong arms encircled her and lifted
her until her arms and head broke the surface. Her rescuer swam with
her toward the shore. He overpowered the current, he shrugged aside
the hands of the water faeries stroking his hair and arms. When he
reached the shallows, he scooped Dindi into his arms and carried her
the rest of the way to the grassy bank. He set her down gently.
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She coughed out some water while he
supported her back.
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"Better?" he asked.
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She nodded. He was young--only a few
years older than she. The aura of confidence and competence he
radiated made him seem older. Without knowing quite why, she was
certain he was a Tavaedi.
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<br /></div>
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"Good." He had a gorgeous
smile. A wisp of his dark bangs dangled over one eye. He brushed his
dripping hair back over his head.
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dindi's hand touched skin--he was not
wearing any shirt. Both of them were sopping wet. On him, that meant
trickles of water coursed over a bedrock of muscle. As for her, the
thin white wrap clung transparently to her body like a wet leaf. She
blushed.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
"It might have been easier to swim
if you had let go of that," he teased. He touched her hand,
which was closed around something. "What were you holding onto
so tightly that it mattered more than drowning?"</div>
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<b>LINKS</b></div>
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Tara’s blog <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/12dFdNy">http://bit.ly/12dFdNy</a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tara’s Twitter <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/162sCtE">http://bit.ly/162sCtE</a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Unfinished Song on Facebook <a href="http://on.fb.me/1400mMq">http://on.fb.me/1400mMq</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Amazon <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://amzn.to/15ciwYc">http://amzn.to/15ciwYc</a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Barnes and Noble <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/13yM5Dr">http://bit.ly/13yM5Dr</a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kobo <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/1aFhg1P">http://bit.ly/1aFhg1P</a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
iTunes <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/1baddhN">http://bit.ly/1baddhN</a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Smashwords <span style="color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/17zK8Xn">http://bit.ly/17zK8Xn</a></u></span></div>
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<i>Initiate is free everywhere except
on Barnes and Noble (where it’s $0.99). You can download a free
.epub version via Smashwords.</i></div>
<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-73146968501225466492013-10-05T18:30:00.000-07:002013-10-05T18:30:10.813-07:00Moth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">My upcoming fantasy series will be set in Moth, a world torn in two -- its one half always in sunlight, the other always dark. The first Moth novel will be released on October 22. In the meanwhile, I invite you to visit the Moth website, </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">where you can find Moth artwork, original music, maps, and more. You can even pre-order the book now! </span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br />Begin to explore the world of Moth here:<a href="http://danielarenson.com/Moth" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://DanielArenson.com/Moth</a><br /><br />Pre-order your copy (Kindle) here:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00FI4BYEE&h=SAQFy4hIx&enc=AZMgu4VgpD9FU10zrOKhUQaEZemu_2x3T1z18a4_cItJQhUYpwZKgzua1AbHXw2vNpNHf52bJaabaHhHsIyGmFY38JxgrR4wOb8PQbFShKq1XgA_UPo9fGZw6T717b0hc0jiOLRKdI70YU05Kva_E6qs&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FI4BYEE</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1baWuODM8dzk2yX9O6lUtplle9SnNA718j_nMhv6-iUAtGPTJcwe6mcT2rK3f5GV8WuwdsUAb4U6cqrR1Dw4cR1Va2umBdjqQgdvF5RdvKrrzUp0RwiC_JuCJvxVIXjwtM0H2uLEzKM/s1600/Blurb500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1baWuODM8dzk2yX9O6lUtplle9SnNA718j_nMhv6-iUAtGPTJcwe6mcT2rK3f5GV8WuwdsUAb4U6cqrR1Dw4cR1Va2umBdjqQgdvF5RdvKrrzUp0RwiC_JuCJvxVIXjwtM0H2uLEzKM/s1600/Blurb500.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-29100789046995999392013-09-09T06:19:00.001-07:002013-09-09T06:19:37.175-07:00The precious...I was looking everywhere for my wedding ring, and... damn. Somebody stole it.<br />
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<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-78078452348246969682013-09-09T06:18:00.001-07:002013-09-09T06:18:37.780-07:00Dragons...Some dragons keeping me company while I write the books...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmnKqfOq5Oqfaic2_fO8q1laBalXeYSgMrT_J9k6h9FZ11BnJsURF7EQiWSrbcZ2ffU7Fe8ZxymxV10oaUWE80OPnQ2JatmSToniMb0Fv_-OSXEMcmgX3izP4BFET6SH1tscSFZLEhPA/s1600/dragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmnKqfOq5Oqfaic2_fO8q1laBalXeYSgMrT_J9k6h9FZ11BnJsURF7EQiWSrbcZ2ffU7Fe8ZxymxV10oaUWE80OPnQ2JatmSToniMb0Fv_-OSXEMcmgX3izP4BFET6SH1tscSFZLEhPA/s400/dragons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-32638921037719648372013-05-24T07:31:00.004-07:002013-05-24T07:31:53.146-07:00200,000<br />
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Today I sold my 200,000th book. What a
crazy milestone.
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Thank you everyone who bought a copy!</div>
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-41947310595441625042013-03-12T17:16:00.000-07:002013-03-12T17:16:24.721-07:00So... what's next?<br />
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I recently released <i>A Night of Dragon
Wings</i>, the third and final <i>Dragonlore </i>novel. This completes the
second trilogy set in Requiem, following 2011's <i>Song of Dragons</i>.</div>
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Wow. Two Requiem trilogies. Six
novels about this troubled kingdom of dragons.</div>
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The question now is: What's next?</div>
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The answer: <i>The Dragon War</i>, a third
Requiem trilogy.</div>
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This one is about an uprising in Requiem.
It's about a terrible, bloody civil war that's tearing the kingdom
apart. It's about a cruel tyrant and a scattered, almost hopeless
rebellion. Requiem has defeated enemies from across its borders; its
never had to fight itself.</div>
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<i>The Dragon War </i>is set seven hundred years after
the events in <i>Dragonlore</i>. New readers can leap into the saga here.
For fans of the older books, this continues Requiem's story.</div>
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The first <i>Dragon War</i> novel, <i>A Legacy of
Light</i>, will be released this spring. I can't wait for you all to
read it.</div>
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Thank you everyone who's supported
these books!
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Daniel</div>
DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-19684232778864493002013-02-26T07:19:00.000-08:002013-02-26T07:19:04.167-08:00Behind the scenes...<br />
For those curious about such things, here's a "behind the scenes" look at where the Requiem novels are created.<br />
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Here is the Writing Corner. This is where the books are written! Items of interest: a Chinese sword, a TARDIS and Dalek, a Tim Hortons mug, and a good luck cat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjWtV10SKiPjQ4towDE-wB3J2pt2sgIsNKzfWRQYSrTzLf_O9-x3DCEKlkPLHwwithdPHV-YvZ0ukniax0QIp2vnl6QbIBVdfpPM_ZbWQYa0ihz5vXKjIjeTX8OZg93JZdyhn6e3tHSQ/s1600/MCOffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjWtV10SKiPjQ4towDE-wB3J2pt2sgIsNKzfWRQYSrTzLf_O9-x3DCEKlkPLHwwithdPHV-YvZ0ukniax0QIp2vnl6QbIBVdfpPM_ZbWQYa0ihz5vXKjIjeTX8OZg93JZdyhn6e3tHSQ/s400/MCOffice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here's the Editing Corner. This is where my editor, Anne Victory, edits the books! Items of interest: Battlestar Galactica clock, a plush griffin (on top of the printer), and a hand-crocheted cat mat.<br />
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-762608422506967282013-02-07T10:07:00.001-08:002013-02-07T10:07:41.223-08:00Guest Blog -- Editing a Manuscript<div>
Hello everyone. Today we have a guest blog post from Meghan Ivarsson from <a href="http://www.scholaradvisor.com/">Scholar Advisor</a>. Meghan talks a little about editing a manuscript. Thanks, Meghan!</div>
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<b>How to edit a manuscript</b></div>
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There are several options available to a writer if he wishes to edit his manuscript. Editing may need to be done a certain way if you wish to submit your text to a publisher. Having your text printed by a publisher means you not having to pay the costs of publishing and printing a book that you want to offer and sell to the public. In order to do this you should contact several publishers and ascertain their editing, formatting and submission guidelines.</div>
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If you do manage to have your text accepted by a publisher then the publishing costs will be borne by the publisher. In addition, when a writer manages to enter into a contract with a publisher, the writer is normally paid by the latter, who determines the amount of the fee according to pre-established contractual agreements between the two parties. In other cases, you may personally edit the manuscript, but before you do it is a good idea to contact a printer, whom will advise you upon your best options for layout, coverage, format and other parameters, but in this case, publishing costs remain the responsibility of the writer.</div>
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<b>Proofread repeatedly until your eyes weep</b></div>
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Hunt for misspellings and typos. A typo can create a perfectly spelt word and plonk it in the wrong place. The transition from reading to writing to reading is an important step. When we write we are encased in writing bubble, and we lose the ability to judge the true quality of our text. The confusion comes from the balance between the pleasure he took in writing and the pleasure that comes from reading it. This is why it is a good idea to proofread your text again in a week so that you can look at it with a colder and more analytical eye.</div>
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<b>Don’t trust your friends and family</b></div>
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You can try to hand your manuscript to those with whom you have real confidence, but their input will be faulty for a number of reasons, and you risk your relationship with them. The important thing is not just to rely on their continued support, because they have no vested interest in your success or failure. They may be useful for ideas and encouraging phrases, but you cannot rely on their judgement being sincere or accurate.</div>
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Writing is more than just content creation</div>
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The value of writing is often much more than the end result. It may be used to experience free thought or make a personal confession, maybe even to engage in a confrontation with oneself. Literary value however is another matter.</div>
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<b>Targeting the editor is paramount</b></div>
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Even if you edit your work yourself, if you wish to have your work accepted then it will need to be edited again. Nothing is more exasperating for a publisher to receive a manuscript that does not correspond at all to the spirit of his house. Many aspirants indeed commit the blunder of sending their texts haphazardly. If you want a publisher to become interested in your text, make the effort to get interested in his.</div>
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Learn about the specific publishing houses and take the time to browse their books in book stores and libraries. Fairs are also a great way to become familiar with the production of smaller publishers. You can make contact with a publisher and figure out what sort of introduction they prefer, so you can send your manuscript a few days later. But above all, do not make the mistake of soliciting an editor at a trade fair, because they do not come to collect the prose of aspiring writers, they are there to publicize and sell their books.</div>
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<b>Follow the guidelines of the publishers</b></div>
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Doing this will also include following certain unspoken guidelines, which you should have discerned from your research to target the editor. For example, some publishers will ask that you edit out any foul language, but your research into their current publications will show you how far to go. Some publishers will accept words such as “Bastard” even if it is used in the expletive sense. Others however will not even accept the word “Hell”, even if it is literally describing the pit of fire. Your research will show you if using the word “Bitch” in the expletive is okay, or if it is completely out of bounds even for describing a female dog.</div>
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<b>Edit for the spirit of the publishing house</b></div>
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Again, your research should give you an idea of the spirit of the publishing house. Do they prefer gritty and convoluted text, or do all of their narratives have a happy ending? Are most of their publications filled with some kind of Ork or sword bearing hero? Or do most of their texts aim for exciting the usually inhibited woman? How much fantasy will your publisher accept? And would it help you to edit out some of the more unbelievable aspects of your manuscript? Are there texts mostly negative or positive? Do they seem to have an agenda? Do most of their books push a Green angle or a Republican angle? Could you edit your text so that it leans more heavily in the direction your chosen publisher prefers? E.g. more Green, more republican...</div>
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<b>Learn from your editing mistakes</b></div>
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You are bound to make some, and poor editing may be the reason for your repeated rejections. However, you should be aware that publishers retain only 1% of the texts they receive (and they receive a lot). If the refusal is served upon you via a letter or email then it may hold some clues as to any editorial mistakes you made (overly long descriptions, slow pacing, etc). However, publishers do not want any comebacks from their rejection letters, and will know that giving explanations often results in you getting back in touch to dispute their claims.</div>
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You can try to get some additional explanations by sending a letter of request. This is your chance to get a professional critique of your work, and despite barrage of mortifying criticism it may evoke, it will nonetheless be useful and constructive for you. Most publishers will ignore you or give you a boilerplate excuse. If, however, the letter indicates that your text has been read carefully, and gives reasons why it has not been successful, stay in there and try your luck with another publisher.</div>
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The article was written by Meghan Ivarsson, a Scholar Advisor writer. Scholar Advisor is and educational portal for students by student. If you need help with your college assignment there you can find a lot of <a href="http://www.scholaradvisor.com/">essay writing tips</a>.</div>
DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-28132872265117200162013-01-30T10:01:00.000-08:002013-01-30T10:01:06.968-08:00A Night of Dragon Wings<i style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dragonlore</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, the bestselling fantasy series beginning with </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A Dawn of Dragonfire</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, concludes with a tale of blood, steel, and flame. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">BOOK THREE: A NIGHT OF DRAGON WINGS </b><br />
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<img src="http://danielarenson.com/images/ANightOfDragonWings380.jpg" /><b><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /></b><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Requiem burns. Her marble columns lie shattered. Queen Solina's army sweeps across the land, searching to kill every last dragon. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Among the ruins, Requiem's dragons plan a desperate attack. To survive, they must strike Solina at the heart of her desert empire. Yet as Requiem rallies, Solina raises her cruelest champions yet. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The nephilim, the spawn of demons and their mortal brides, have languished underground for epochs. Giants of rotted flesh, razor fangs, and clawed wings, they crave to crush the world that imprisoned them. When Queen Solina frees this unholy legion, the nephilim marshal under her banners... and swarm into Requiem. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Requiem's light dims. Her hope is but a flicker in an endless night. As ancient evil engulfs the world, Requiem's dragons roar, blow their fire, and fly to their last stand</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span><br />
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Kindle: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7NBGMA">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7NBGMA</a></div>
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Nook: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/aokuj6u">http://tinyurl.com/aokuj6u</a></div>
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Learn more: <a href="http://www.danielarenson.com/ANightOfDragonWings.aspx">http://www.DanielArenson.com/ANightOfDragonWings.aspx</a></div>
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-45087913062951651702012-12-28T07:54:00.003-08:002012-12-28T08:48:42.393-08:002012 in Review<br />
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The year is winding to a close, and I see many authors posting their yearly retrospections. Who am I to resist peer pressure? So I'd like to talk a little about writing books in 2012.<br />
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I've been writing since the 1990s, and 2012 has been a banner year. You bought over 100,000 copies of my books this year, bringing me to a lifetime total of 150,000 sales. I'm still amazed -- and probably somewhat smug -- that you bought so many of these silly dragon books.<br />
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2012 began with some questions. At Christmas of 2011, I released my novel <i>Light of Requiem</i>, and third volume of my <i>Song of Dragons</i> trilogy. After a few years of writing obscure standalone novels, <i>Song of Dragons</i> became rather successful, selling over 100,000 copies. When 2012 began, I found myself wondering: What next?<br />
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Briefly, I debated whether I should write a fourth <i>Song of Dragons</i> novel, stretching the trilogy out into a longer series. I decided against it; I generally dislike series that ramble on for too long. I felt that wouldn't be fair to my readers.<br />
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And so, I decided to write <i>Dragonlore</i> -- a new fantasy trilogy set in Requiem, the same world as <i>Song of Dragons</i>. To keep things fresh, I fast-forwarded three hundred years and created a new cast of heroes and villains.<br />
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On hindsight, this was the right choice. So far, the first two <i>Dragonlore </i>novels -- <i>A Dawn of Dragonfire</i> and <i>A Day of Dragon Blood </i>-- are doing well. While the earlier trilogy had a strong action-adventure feel, this time around, the books are darker -- less <i>A New Hope</i> and more <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i>. This allows me to keep expanding Requiem and also, I hope, evolve as an author.<br />
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One fun moment in 2012 came when <i>A Dawn of Dragonfire</i> (the first <i>Dragonlore </i>novel) reached Amazon's Top 100 bestsellers list. This made it the #1 bestselling epic fantasy on Amazon, just ahead of George R. R. Martin's latest novel. Now, this ranking only lasted for a day (and George is again running way ahead), but what a day it was!<br />
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But my favorite thing about 2012 was meeting great new people. I loved hearing from all the readers who emailed me, liked my Facebook page, or followed me on Twitter. I try to reply to everyone who contacts me. If you messaged me in 2012, and I failed to answer, please try again. Your message might have gotten lost in my inbox, but I definitely want to reply to everyone.<br />
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So what's next? What will happen in 2013?<br />
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First of all, I'm working on <i>A Night of Dragon Wings</i>, the third and final <i>Dragonlore </i>novel. This one will be the longest, darkest, most complex Requiem novel yet. I hope to release it in February or March of 2013. I can't wait to hear what you think about it.<br />
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After that, I'd like to continue expanding the world of Requiem. I hope to write a third trilogy set in this world. The way <i>Dragonlore </i>begins three hundred years after <i>Song of Dragons</i>, this third trilogy will also skip forward to a new generation. It will tell a story for both new readers and old fans. I hope that, in 2013, I can release the first of these new novels.<br />
<br />As a final thought, I'd like to thank everyone who helped spread the word -- whether by telling a friend, posting an Amazon review, or simply sharing a Facebook post. These books could not exist without your support. <br /><br />
Thank you, dear readers, for making 2012 a success. I hope you keep reading in 2013. I look forward to another year full of dragons.<br />
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Daniel<br />
<br />DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1193014546155608312.post-50359752207064882112012-11-03T07:43:00.000-07:002012-11-03T07:54:34.263-07:00Eye of the Wizard -- Popular Highlights!<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When reading on a Kindle, you can highlight a passage to save a quote you like. When three or more people highlight the same passage, Amazon saves it as a "Popular Highlight".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finding these Popular Highlights can be tricky. Amazon will sometimes display them on a book's product page--but just sometimes, and just a few of them. Other times, you can view them on your Kindle by clicking "View Popular Highlights" (but only, it seems, the top ten highlights--some books with a hundred highlights on Amazon show only ten on Kindles). It gets even trickier. Some Kindle devices show highlights on a book, while another Kindle might not--even for the same book! For example, my novel <i>The Gods of Dream</i> shows three Popular Highlights on Amazon, zero on my Kindle 2, and ten on a friend's Kindle Paperwhite. Confusing and seemingly arbitrary. Author Moses Siregar recently blogged about the issue <a href="http://sciencefictionfantasybooks.net/popular-highlights-on-the-black-gods-war/">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Curious to see what my readers are highlighting, I checked a few of my books on Amazon, found a scattering of Popular Highlights there, and managed to view more by purchasing the novels and viewing Popular Highlights on my Kindle. Since Kindles display ten popular highlights at most (and this is inconsistent between devices and accounts), I'm sure I'm missing a bunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />However, even those Popular Highlights I discovered quite amused me. In this blog post, I'd like to share the Top Ten Popular Highlights for my fantasy novel <i>Eye of the Wizard</i>! Here they are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />"He tried to trip me!" Jamie said, wiping suds off her mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "He twied to k-kidnap me!" Cobweb said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Romy suddenly raised her head from the table. "I like turtles!" she announced, then passed out again, banging her head against the tabletop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"And Neev and I can put on a magic show!" Romy said, leaping to her feet, a smile spreading across her face. "Neev, you'll be the magician, and I'll be your sexy assistant." She sketched an elaborate bow. "I am, you know, an artiste."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Our prices are so low," Romy added cheerily, leaning against him, "you'll think we're mentally challenged."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">His face was like chiseled stone, but his eyes were haunted windows, shattered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"I don't want to hurt you," Jamie called, "but if you keep firing arrows, I'm going to cut off your head. Okay?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">__________ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />Ignorant humans,</i> Romy thought, <i>sure that anyone with fiery hair, horns, and fangs is evil.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">__________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Suddenly, as Dry Bones prattled on, and as everyone was getting rather bored with his speech, a flow of lava burst into the room. The lava slammed into Dry Bones, knocking him against the wall, sizzling against him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "Will you villains never learn?" Neev said, stepping into the room on goat hoofs, shaking drops of lava off his hands. "Never spend so much time explaining your plans."</span><br />
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<i>Awww... they gave me the third bed, all for me. They do love me. </i> It made her feel all warm and ticklish inside. <i>Oh wait, that's not warmth and tickliness.</i> She stumbled toward the window and threw up some more. <i>Blech. I am never drinking again.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">__________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />She was so beautiful, that if Dry Bones had lungs, his breath would die. She stood not a hundred yards away, shooting arrows from her bow into targets. She could as well have been cupid, shooting arrows of love into Dry Bones' heart--or at least, into his ribcage where his heart would once beat. Cobweb's hair seemed woven of gossamer, cascading down her back, not a strand out of place. With his hawklike vision, Dry Bones could see that her eyes were blue as sapphires, her ears were pointy, and golden freckles covered her small nose. It had been years since Dry Bones had loved a woman, but Cobweb stirred all those memories in him, raising fire in their ashes. She looked like an angel, he thought, an angel sent from heaven to cure his weary heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>Nice boobs</i>, too, he thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">__________<br /><br /><br />My god, you guys highlight the silliest things.</span></div>
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DanielArensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.com0