Change to My Last Update

A Change to the Last Update:

My story is still under contract; or rather, under a different contract.

I'm still getting my novel "Hell's Beginning" published. Thing is, due to a bit of incompatibility, I was inclined to cancel the previous contract with Azoth Khem. I will not go into specifics.

I am now contracted with Hellbound Books. As of  February 27, 2018, "Hell's Beginning" is in their slush pile. I am still awaiting the request for edits and once that's done, I expect it will be put in their queue to hit the digital shelves. I hope, anyway.

While I'm at it,  also want to say that I've submitted another couple of stories to some more anthologies. I'll make that announcement, probably on my website, if and when they are accepted/published.

I realize I've mentioned "Hell's Beginning" several times in various places, but have not given any kind of descriptions. So, here's the tag line:

A killer strikes in a small Utah town.

When he is killed, they think it's over; They couldn't be more wrong.

Now for the blurb:

When a stranger arrives in Charity Falls, Utah, he has one intent: get a drink and some rest before hitting the road again. An altercation with a lush brings back dark memories, and the woman's final taunt tips him over the edge. He abducts and drags her off to an abandoned farm.

There, he introduces her to pain and suffering on a journey into her darkest nightmares—and his bloodthirsty fantasy. However, the farm isn't as secluded as he hoped. He is forced to deal with several others who have wandered too close to their location.

When only two innocents remain, only a battle of survival will decide who will walk away.

But the killer strikes again and only one who has been close to the horrors will know what to do.

Someone must put an end to the reign of terror that has begun.

Maybe next time I'll post an excerpt for someones enjoyment. I have to issue a warning, though; this story contains scenes and language of an adult nature. Nudity, abduction, torture, murder, and, worst of all, multiple expletives.

(Okay, so maybe the bad language isn't worse than the other triggers. I just wanted to keep it lighthearted- though the story is anything but.)

So, in conclusion, I guess it hasn't been too poor a year thus far. I am getting a little more exposure than just having my writings on my website and blogs. I do need to get one or both of my big stories done so I can get them out to the world, too. It just takes time and a bit of discipline...

Until next time!

#WriteOn!

John T. M. Herres 

Overdue Update

So, I noticed my last post here is dated December of 2014, and now it's January 2017. I guess I should make a new post, just to let anyone know I'm still alive.
So, what new update will I share?

I have finished a novel that I am under contract to have published!

That's right: I have signed a contract with Azoth Khem Publishing to have one of my stories published. 

I have just put the final words down in the file

Now, I just have to go through and make sure I left no holes and match the happenings from one chapter to the next. Originally, I submitted the story with 18,500 words, plus or minus, and left it with a cliffhanger ending. I had thoughts of writing a series.

As per their guidelines, a novella needed to be at least 30,000 words, so when I found the Editor, Kasey Dawn Hill needed a little time to get to it. I decided to try to get some more words down to get closer to what they wanted.

Now, I have just under 60,000 words and have made what I consider a satisfying (to me, anyway) ending for it.

So, when I get done scanning through it, I'll send the updated file in and we'll see how it goes. If nothing else, I have given them up to 20,000-word leeway to slice and dice the heck out of it.

I'll try to post a followup here when I get a decision, or a final Publish date and links when I have them available.

Until then,

Thanks for reading!