bosArt | Print: Announcing A Novel With A One Shoed Main Female Character

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-10-2014 at21:19:

Ko,

The novel will be available as a paperback shortly. I'm going to be receiving the proof to review and if it looks good, it will go into production. I'm looking at perhaps by the end of next week if all is well. I'd really like to see how you do Laura. This girl has been living in my head for the past 24 years now. In that time I've drawn several sketches of her. Most are lost to time and just drawing a better picture of her. I do have some in storage in my basement. My wife has always called her my fantasy chick! At least she has a sense of humor.

Nigel,

Glad you really like the book. You have the distinction of being my first sale! Thank you!

Posted by Powell on 02-10-2014 at21:38:

Am I the first one? Incredible! You are very welcome!

I'm a mechanical engineer with an experience of working in the manufacturing industry, and I really like the setting. I just love all these greasy noisy heavy metal things. Your characters are real - gruff men with dry humour, many swear words, but sincere and very friendly if you convince them you're one of their kind. I met a lot of such people at the factories. I also enjoy the technical details.

The fact Laura applied the bandage to her foot a little bit spoiled it for me, but at the same time I realise that to leave her foot just bare at the rail yard would be unrealistic. Just maybe in the future edition you make her lose that bandage for good some time into the story?

Also, I enjoy your occasional dark humour. And that Russian word (won't mention, don't want to spoil it for the others) made me laugh... sorry, chuckle. Smile

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-10-2014 at22:59:

Nigel,

Keep reading. I think you'll like what you come to as the story unfolds. But yes, you have to agree she had to put something on that foot. Otherwise, the whole subplot fails. And it IS just an ace bandage. Her toes are still completely exposed.

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-11-2014 at21:33:

Ko962

One more major feature I forgot to mention about Laura: Her eyes. They're a piercing crystal Blue. And of course the lips are the pouty kind. You know the look. I had a brilliant idea that I might want to put to you. I had this idea of making up a series of small promotional "posters" that I could put on my website. Each poster would depict a major character in the story, along with a tag line associated with it. Do you think you might want to tackle such a job? Remember, the pictures would have to be done to my specs and would need to be up loadable to a web page. What say you?

Posted by Powell on 02-12-2014 at05:45:

I insert my five cents here. If we look at the promotional posters for the movies, the characters are often depicted in slightly different manner or situations than in actual scenes. For instance, the promotional posters for the Romancing the Stone showed Kathleen Turner (one of the most beautiful women ever born) losing her shoe completely - what never happens in the movie. So if I were John I'd order to draw Laura with one foot compeletely bare - no bangade. Wink

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-12-2014 at22:48:

Well, like I said, the pics would need to be done to my specs. And the one I have in mine for Laura would be before she has the bandage applied! Unfortunately the other pics would be of the three main male characters, and a second female character who never loses her boots. And the fifth panel would be just a kind of mood shot similar to the cover of my novel. again, the details would have to be given in a PM or via E-Mail to Ko.

Posted by Powell on 02-13-2014 at22:10:

Just finished reading The Railroad Man. Truly awesome book!
John did an amazing job amalgamating accurate technical setting with the very tense thriller.
A cliche - "I couldn't put it down"... But I really could not.
All I want now is more railroad-placed novels from this great author.
Smile

Posted by Powell on 02-13-2014 at22:18:

Posting this separately on purpose. Although one-shoe element is very fine in this novel, it's not this aspect that makes me speak so high of the book. It's the quality of the plot itself. Closer to the end of the novel, when chain of event went absolutely climatic, I caught myself constantly forgetting about Laura's one-shoed state. Well done, John!

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-14-2014 at02:21:

Thanks, Nigel. Your praise speaks volumes. Now let's hope it can transcend into the general fiction crowd who don't care about one shoed heroines or trains at all.

Posted by ko962 on 02-20-2014 at18:08:

Here is a scene from the book, it is when she gets away from the bad guys and one of her shoes are pulled off by one of the guys as she escapes under the fence.

Posted by Powell on 02-20-2014 at18:41:

That facial expression! Smile

Posted by Mandrake on 02-22-2014 at04:40:

nice work

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-23-2014 at04:02:

Hey guys,

While I'm glad about the interest shown about my novel and the visualizations of the main female character, I'm wondering if any of you (Save for one, and you know who you are) have actually bought my novel on Kindle. well, here comes your chance. Starting midnight, February 28 until 11:59 PM on March 1, I'm going to be offering my novel on Kindle Direct for FREE. Yes free. So now there's no excuse to not get and read it. All I'm asking for is, if you do get and read it, and really like it like I know you guys will, please leave me a good review on Kindle. I need all the positive buzz I can get to promote this book in the wider "mainstream" thriller market. Thanks guys, and please like my Facebook page at The Railroad Man and visit my blog on my website at www.therailroadman.com

Posted by Mandrake on 02-23-2014 at08:13:

I don't have a kindle and I don't really have much time to read a novel right now. I'm already reading a book and I've got too many projects going on as it is (including starting a new job). But your book is on my to do list and I will definitely try to get to it in the future.

Posted by Powell on 02-23-2014 at09:25:

Not having a Kindle is no excuse, because you don't need one. Wink

You may downlowad a free software version of Kindle and in will work on your PC just right.

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 02-25-2014 at02:13:

It should be made available as a soft cover through Create Space once I approve the final proof. It should be arriving here any day, so I'd say it'll be at least another week or so before the book hits the shelves at Amazon Create Space. I'll notify all when it is available. Oh yeah, Ko 962, nice work on the pic!

Posted by fantomaZ on 02-28-2014 at15:49:

@grizzletoad1: thanks. got it for free today. will read it as soon as I find some time ...

@Mandrake: congratulations on your new job

Posted by Mandrake on 03-01-2014 at07:49:

Hey thanks. It's a temporary job, but will pay the bills for awhile. I'm looking forward to your new comic fantomaz!

Posted by grizzletoad1 on 06-18-2014 at02:46:

Guys,

My novel, The Railroad Man, is now finally available as a soft cover through Create Space! Just go to my website:

www.therailroadman.com

Click the link, buy, and enjoy. All I ask is that if you do buy, please leave a review on Kindle or Create Space (Whichever version you buy). Word of mouth is the greatest advertising one can ask for. Thanks, guys, and enjoy!