News on ‘Jake and the Dynamo’

I’ve not been too active here lately, I realize. I’m trying to figure out some things on the book promotion front. I’m new to this, and arguably behind, as there were probably more things I should have done before the publication, but this isn’t something I’ve done before.

Anyway, author John C. Wright was nice enough to give Jake and the Dynamo a plug. You can see it here. He also showcases some of the art by Roffles Lowell.

Speaking of Lowell, he informs me that he just finished the book himself, which he didn’t have the chance to read in its final form before publication. He writes:

I’m really blown away, man. I’ve been itching to see what you did in terms of revision, and while I’m only halfway through as of the time of this writing, I want to commend you. The improvement I’m seeing blows me away.

It’s funny, reading it the first time around I never said to myself, oh, this is a problem, or this seems amateurish, etc. But you really brought this to the next level. The pacing is tighter, the characterizations are sharper, the banter flows more naturally. I like how organically you integrated the exposition into each scene, so that all the intricacies of the setting fill themselves in gradually, never making you feel like you’re pausing for a history lesson. I especially like the way you worked up the relationship between Jake and Ralph. Ralph’s family being fleshed out further really gives a good feel for what normality in this world must be like. It gives you a better sense of what goes through Jake’s head when he sets himself up like a surrogate brother to Dana, despite her behavior towards him. …

… I really like how you brought out the Faust elements more explicitly here than in the serialized version. The ambiguity wasn’t fruitful, I think, and now things are much punchier. It’s like you confront postmodern magical girl nihilism head on, and then move right along into subverting it.

So there you have it. If you do read the book, be so kind as to leave an Amazon review. I don’t ask for a good review, of course, but do leave a remark. It helps us newbs get noticed.

Meet the ‘Jake and the Dynamo’ Paperback

Large, luxurious, very readable, and suitable for coffee tables.

I am really pleased and impressed by the paperback release of Jake and the Dynamo. As you can see here, Lee Madison’s cover art transferred beautifully.

Getting the physical copy in my hand, I was able to appreciate some of the art I’d not been able to get a good look at before, such as the spine:

Spine of Jake and the Dynamo with Pretty Dynamo emblem and lightning boltI had assumed the spine would probably be unadorned, so I was pleased to see the title logo accompanied by Pretty Dynamo’s insignia and a lightning bolt. The back is also great:

Continue reading “Meet the ‘Jake and the Dynamo’ Paperback”

Magical girl sidekicks rise up!

I’ll probably get how-do-you-do-fellow-kids’d for this.

Which says a lot about our society.

‘Jake and the Dynamo’ Is Still a 5-Star Novel on Amazon

And remember, only you can change that!

Er, wait …

The latest:

I was grinning throughout. I always like when the potential for an interesting premise is taken advantage of. This is well done here. Lots of room for laughs and an over-the-top running gag added to this. What I really liked was that this novel could be hilarious while also making fighting scenes meaningful. There are consequences and you come to care for the characters. This is something I rarely see. The battles are not just plot points.

‘Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites’ Progress Update

Managed to squeeze in some slight advancement on the book in between other things tonight.

So far I’m 88% complete on the Writing phase. 11 Weeks remain until the deadline.

Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites
Phase:Writing
Due:5 years ago
87.8%

‘Jake and the Dynamo’ Now in Paperback!

THE UNIVERSE IS OUT TO GET HIM … BUT THE UNIVERSE DIDN’T COUNT ON HER!

Have you wanted to hold Jake and the Dynamo: The Wattage of Justice the way I held your mom last night?

Well, now you can!

… Except that’s kind of weird.

But in any case, Jake and the Dynamo is now available in a physical copy!

GET IT HERE

Jake Blatowski can’t wait for high school: basketball, calculus, and a cafeteria that isn’t under investigation by the health department.

Well, he’s going to have to wait: a computer malfunction has assigned him to the fifth grade.

It’s bad enough that he bangs his knees on the desks or that Miss Percy is going over long division … again … but Jake’s sitting next to Dana Volt. She’s a perpetually surly troublemaker who doesn’t even have to exert herself to make his life a living hell.

But no, it gets better: Dana secretly belongs to a coalition of girls protecting humanity from the horde of deadly monsters that plagues the city. But Jake’s no hero; he just wants to get to varsity tryouts!

When the monsters choose a new target, Jake’s not at all surprised that the target is him. Sure, why not? That’s the kind of week he’s having.

Now the impulsive and moody Dana is the only one who can save Jake from certain death—but Jake is the only one who can save Dana from herself.

Jake and the Dynamo back cover

Micro-Update: Facebook

The Facebook Page for Jake and the Dynamo has gone through an overhaul. You can follow us there if you haven’t already, where I’ll be announcing promotions, milestones, and so forth. There’s also a book preview just recently added.

‘Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites’ Progress Update

I just made progress on Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites! So far I’m 87% complete on the Writing phase. 11 Weeks remain until the deadline.

Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites
Phase:Writing
Due:5 years ago
87.4%

‘Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites’ Progress Update

I have this new book progress widget in the sidebar, and it allows me to generate progress posts automatically.

I have arbitrarily set the novel’s “goal” length at 90,000 words, with a deadline in three months. There’s actually no hard deadline from my publisher, and I have freedom on the book’s length.

But in any case, the novel now stands at 77,385 words, which is where I’m stopping for the day, because I have other things to get done. I managed, at last, to unite together some chapters I had written separately, so everything currently in the draft is continuous from one end to the next. I’ve little doubt that everything I wrote today requires substantial editing, but such is life.

I just made progress on Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites! So far I’m 84% complete on the Writing phase. 11 Weeks remain until the deadline.

Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites
Phase:Writing
Due:5 years ago
84.1%

Writing Update

I’m 75,000 words into Jake and the Dynamo: Dead to Rites, the sequel to The Wattage of JusticeIt looks as if the second book is going to be considerably longer than the first one, as there’s still a lot of story to deal with.

Both books are similar in that, at least from the author’s perspective, it’s all about trying to get the characters to a certain place. The writing of the first novel was driven entirely by my desire to get Jake and Dana to a restaurant. The second is driven by my desire to get them to a rock concert.