Lessons With The Revision of Book 1

Learning when to pivot.

These past few days have been exciting and busy all at the same time. The proof copy that I received came in, and I thought it was good.

It wasn't until after that Amazon informed me that some of the text was in the "danger zone," and it needed fixing.

Try as I might, I couldn't get it to work. Not without going back to my graphic designer for help. Which I didn't have the budget or time for, so I needed to make a decision.

What to do?

Well, I went back and used a new template with the front cover art, which you have seen. Now everything works well, and the book officially went live on October 18, 2019.

And I have to say it looks great. The description is formatted better than the first. So pivoting, when necessary, can give superior results than the first effort.

Am I sad that I can't use the full cover? A little bit. But what the book has gained has surpassed anything I had initially expected.

The back cover and side panel are black. It goes with the dark theme of the book. I think it makes it an excellent compromise.

Recently, I received a review from the UK that has validated the revision process:

"Short stories, paranormal or horror are not what I would usually read, but I do enjoy a good mystery, and the book didn't disappoint.
Although It's supposed to be part of a trilogy, another thing that'd usually put me off, as far as I can see it's still the only one being published. And to be honest it reads just fine as a standalone, so if you're a fan of the genre you won't have to wait for the rest of the books to be available for sale.
Lucy and Sam are a paranormal investigator duo, modern ghostbusters you may say, that go from house to house in their hometown Island River removing those spirits and supernatural entities that inhabit them.
Everyone is friendly, there.
And surely everything seems to work just fine until Lucy begins to have the same dream over and over, and will be forced to face her past once again, all the while a mysterious murder takes their investigation to a completely new level.
"Dream, Recurring" is a gripping story with a few twists and turns, perfect for the fans of the genre."

I could not have received such a fantastic review if it weren't for the journey the book and I undertook.

My takeaway is this: Do the work correctly the first time. Having said that, if you didn't know what all is involved, do your best. Keep learning. If you have to do a revision, then it could be the best thing for your story.

Mark

Dracula's Black Cadillac by Bryan Greer - Review

Dracula’s Black Cadillac

By

Bryan Greer

Book description:

DRACULA is BACK! And this time, he's got a COOL CAR!

The Sisters of Discipline are a Goth-themed precision drill team specializing in performing synchronized whip-cracking routines—in other words, they’re strippers. The Sisters are on the brink of hitting the big time in the burlesque world when their leader, Lenore, falls in lust with a new fellah. And he’s threatening to tear them apart.

Literally.

His name is Dracula and he’s a centuries-old vampire passing through Texas on an extended road trip vacation. A random accident leads to an unexpected layover, and he finds himself with time to kill. And this fiend wants only one thing: sex and violence… and blood!

Wait, that’s three things: sex, violence, blood, a new girlfriend… and a good time. After all, what’s the point in living forever if you don’t enjoy life?

Make that five things! Sex, violence, blood, a new girl, good times… and a new taillight lens. Six things! Dracula needs to repair his black Cadillac and get out of town before the villagers arrive with torches and pitchforks. But he won’t leave without Lenore, and she won’t leave without her Sisters—and the other girls aren't going anywhere without some assurance that he’s not going to swallow their souls or fuck up their careers.

The blood hits the fan at the Gothic Prom. Hearts break and heads roll! CAUTION: contains graphic vampire violence, gratuitous nudity, harsh language, dick jokes, fart jokes, and acts of indecency and depravity so profound and disgusting that decorum prohibits listing them here. In other words, there's something for everyone!

Vampires. Strippers. Texas. DRACULA’S BLACK CADILLAC is a supernatural romantic comedy that is Hell on wheels. Bone appetite!

Review:

5 Stars

Whatever you do, don’t touch the car!

This story is a unique spin on Dracula. Set in the present day, it is a memoir as told by the vampire himself.

Expect to read violence, sex, along with the occasional bloody scene here and there. You know, the usual things that Vlady does.

I was hooked from the beginning, hanging on to every word, mesmerized by Vlad’s command of the English language as I moved through this tale. (Of course, that’s not his first language.) There were scenes in the book that had me in tears; I was laughing so hard.

Then I supposed that if one lived as long as he does, wouldn’t it be challenging to make friends that would be willing to hang around for eternity? 

Oh, and then there’s the car. Don’t even get me started! Let’s just say; he really appreciates his automobiles.

All-in-all, this book is worth every penny. This stand-alone story would be excellent as a series. It is splendidly written, easy to read, joy all the way through. My only disappointment was that it ended, as all stories do.

And don’t forget - Don’t touch his car!

Dracula's Black Cadillac

Book 1 Has Arrived... Again

***Dream, Recurring***

This post contains information of the book release and two weeks after...

The description is as follows:

Lucy and Samantha are a two-person team of paranormal investigators, dedicated to discovering the secrets of their home in Island River. Cynical by nature, and after the collapse of her marriage, Lucy doesn’t believe in the stories of ghosts and spirits – despite Samantha’s superstitions.

But when a recurring dream appears in her sleep night after night, Lucy soon finds herself questioning her convictions. As she falls deeper into her dreams, the strange world beyond begins to reveal itself. She uncovers a darkness which is only known by those that have passed on long ago, and the mysterious house at the heart of it all.

With old demons resurfacing to haunt her, Lucy must discover the truth about the world in her dreams – and in the process face the dark entity who is determined to keep it hidden no matter the cost…

If you like a paranormal mystery with a dash of romance, then you won’t want to miss Dream Recurring. Grab your copy today!

This publication is a revision of the first. I made improvements based on some fantastic reviews that came in.

The trouble is, you don’t know me.

Why would you want to buy this book in the first place?

Great question.

Trusting me is a big deal. That’s why I love the fact that Amazon has a sample you can read for free if you’re on the fence.

I listened to my reviewers and always want to improve my storytelling, so you have a better experience.

Even though I first published three years ago, I consider myself a new author. Most importantly, a new series that you can follow from the beginning.

I also want to make it easy for you.

The price of the ebook is $0.99 for a limited time. After that, it will go back to its regular price of $4.99

Here’s what people had to say:

Daniel's review:
 Great read. Next book, please…
You will want to set some time aside to read this book in one sitting. A great fall ghost story with lots of paranormal twists and turns. I have a feeling we’re not done with this house just yet…

Kelly H. review:
 New Author writes an original for this Fall Season.
If you want an excellent read for the fall season. Something spooky, eerie, and full of twists and turns, this is a paranormal story that will make you jump.

A Customer's review:
Great captivating story
I can't wait for Mark's next book. I had a hard time putting it down. Easy, captivating, suspenseful, and a bit of a love story!

These reviews are from the original edition. The basic story is the same, but now with greater depth and much better storytelling.

If you:

Like to read a good ghost story
Discover a new author, but don’t want to spend full price on their ebook
Follow a new series from the beginning
Just make sure you read it with the lights on



Two Weeks Later...


So it has been two weeks since the launch of the revised version of Dream, Recurring and sales are moving along really well.

I would ask that if you have finished reading the book to give an honest review.

I love reading them. It was the reason why I made the improvements,  and I'm glad I did. But mostly, future readers would love to hear your opinion.

If you do give a review, may I also ask that you share it on Amazon and Goodreads please, since fresh reviews help to show current activity. Here are the links:

Goodreads - Dream, Recurring

Amazon - Dream, Recurring

I hope you enjoy.

Mark