As per my last post, the project right now is to reread The Axiom-man Saga thus far. It took a few days to get going, but now I’m in the midst of reading the first book. It’s strange reading it as just a reader versus going over it for edits. I admit that the editor side of my brain is looking at ways to tweak this or change that, but then I remember that I’m reading it for the joy of reading it and also to take notes, no other reason. A writer’s work is never done, it seems. The book was also written by a different guy some eight years ago. I was a different man back then with a different writing style.
It is cool, however, to see the character in his infancy, to see him stumble along as he tries to figure out this whole superhero thing. At the time the story takes place, he’s only been at it four months, a time frame that isn’t long enough for someone to be truly adept at being a hero. It’s also neat considering I know where the story goes and is going, and I’m looking at Axiom-man thinking, Man, you have no idea of the scope of things ahead of you, how your universe and the reason for your existence is this huge thing and here you are still getting used to wearing a costume beneath your clothes.
Like the picture shows, I’ve been taking notes, little things that I want to mention in the upcoming four-book arc or things simply for me to keep in mind while writing it. The main points I’m after are mythology-related and certain items that foreshadow where I’m ultimately leading everybody. I want to make sure I don’t leave anything out because the upcoming storyline is meant to wrap up everything that’s come before.
After reading this first book, it’s onto First Night Out, which takes place between the “Four months earlier . . .” segments of Axiom-man and the novel’s main story.
Like last entry, I’m asking for those who’ve read the series to come forward and write reviews. Reviews help spread the word and I’m hoping to grow The Axiom-man Saga in the coming year into something more prominent in the superhero fiction market.
On a side note, I’m tabling at the Winnipeg Comic and Toy Expo this Sunday at the Viscount Gort Hotel in Winnipeg. Hope those in town can come out, say hi, and talk superheroes with me.
They will make up the first-ever prequel and trilogy in the series. They will still follow the main feature/episode/main feature/episode reading format established thus far, with the prequel to be an episode novella and the trilogy–name to be revealed later–to be one main feature book, an episode, then finishing in a main feature book.
I have these all blocked out in my head and what each one is going to be about. The plan is to tie up all loose storylines from the first seven books.
The cool part, too, is these will all be written marathon-style as I’ve found with my past few books that I write really well just going whole hog and typing 6-10k a day (sometimes more). For this series I plan on writing all four books first then releasing them so fans can get the whole story in one shot instead of waiting between each installment.
The titles for each of the books will be revealed after they are written. I found a word count widget–I think it was yesterday–that I’m going to use for each one and post them on the side of the blog so you can check in and see the progress of each book as I go along. The goal word count will be an estimate as I really don’t know the final word count until a book is finished, but the widget requires I put something as my end game.
This week is Spring Break so my boys are home thus working is tricky as I juggle Dad duty and book stuff, so my first step is to re-read The Axiom-man Saga to date and make sure I remember all loose threads so they can be addressed when I go to town writing the new series. I also have some cool plans for the cover art so I’ll be getting in touch with the artists soon to share with them my vision.
I’m really excited for this next set of books as they’ve been in my head for years but only now is Axiom-man at a point in his superhero career where he is able to take things to the next level.
In the meantime, I’m asking readers who’ve read the first Axiom-man book–or any of the others–if they’d be willing to put up a review on Amazon. Reviews go a long way in selling books and I’d really like Axiom-man to have his day in the sun, so if you’ve enjoyed any of the books in the series, would you be willing to help out and take a few minutes to post a review? The first book in the series can be found on Amazon here. Thank you to those who are able to write something. It means a lot.
I have more things planned as we lead up to the release of this new story arc, but in the meantime . . . I got some reading to do.
One night Gabriel Garrison was visited by a nameless messenger who bestowed upon him great power, a power intended for good. Once discovering what this power was and what it enabled him to do, Gabriel became Axiom-man, a symbol of hope in a city that had none.
One night after a routine patrol, a mysterious black cloud appears over the city. Flying over to investigate it, Axiom-man is stopped short when the cloud’s presence shakes him to the core. An electrifying fear emanates from the cloud and he can barely get near it. Quickly, the cloud takes flight and leads him on a wild goose chase throughout the city, only to flee from him in the end. Almost immediately after the cloud’s appearance, a new hero arises, Redsaw, clad in a black cape and cowl. The people, now enamored with this new super-powered marvel, seem to have forgotten about Axiom-man and all he’s done for them.
Except something’s wrong. That same fear that emanated from the cloud drips off Redsaw like a foul smell and Axiom-man can barely get close to him without feeling ill.
What is Redsaw’s agenda and who is he? And why is it every time Axiom-man gets close to him it feels as if his powers are being sucked away?
As if that wasn’t enough, Gabriel’s day job hasn’t gotten any easier. His co-worker and the woman he adores, Valerie Vaughan, has little interest in him, and his boss has made it clear that one more day late to work will be the day he cleans out his desk. Then there’s the new trainee, Gene Nemek. What is his fascination with Redsaw and why is he never around when Redsaw appears?
From flying over city streets and soaring at dizzying heights, to balancing a secret identity with destiny, Axiom-man must discover what Redsaw’s presence means and how it ties into the messenger’s life-altering visit before the city—and the world—are enamored with an evil that has haunted the cosmos since the dawn of Time.
Welcome to Axiom-man (The Axiom-man Saga, Book 1).
First Night Out (The Axiom-man Saga, Episode No. 0)
The messenger has fled, leaving Gabriel alone with mysterious abilities he knows little about.
The things he can do, the powers–the options are limitless.
But only if he knows how to use them.
As he embarks on the path of discovery, Gabriel must try to understand why he was chosen to receive the most powerful of all gifts and, with the help from no other, come to a decision as to what to do with them.
Even if it takes the death of an innocent to convince him.
Welcome to First Night Out (The Axiom-man Saga, Episode No. 0).
Gabriel Garrison’s secret identity has been compromised.
A mysterious anonymous letter promises to reveal he is Axiom-man unless he bows down to the sender’s demands.
And the timing cannot have been worse.
Redsaw has become more powerful than when Axiom-man battled him on what has become known as Black Saturday, and he has determined to attain unstoppable power through the only means he knows how: murder.
Chaos ensues and as the air is saturated with the stench of blood, Axiom-man must find the means to stop Redsaw before the whole world is swallowed in a web of death.
Complicating matters, something strange is happening to Axiom-man’s powers. The abilities he has put his faith in have changed.
As time runs out and city streets are overrun with carnage and fear, Axiom-man is pushed to his breaking point as he tries to stop the madman’s reign of terror, while also trying to discover what is happening to his powers and how they tie into a supernatural event that took place over five hundred years before.
Welcome to the Doorway of Darkness in The Axiom-man Saga.
If only relationships were simple. While debating whether to reveal his secret identity to Valerie, Gabriel’s personal plans are put on hold when darkness descends upon the city, each building, street and alley covered in a strange black cloud akin to those from the Doorway of Darkness. Only these clouds didn’t descend from the sky. They came from a mysterious shadowy being known as Bleaken.
With the city under the tyrant’s control, pandemonium ensues and violence erupts on the streets. Screams, gunshots and sirens fill the air; fires are lit, blood is shed and people begin to die.
Axiom-man must navigate the darkness and put an end to Bleaken’s reign of terror before the entire city is destroyed under a veil of black clouds and violence.
Meanwhile, having grown closer as friends, Valerie races into the dark, trying to find Gabriel to make sure he’s safe, only to succumb to a band of madmen on the way that take her down a tunnel of torture and despair that threatens her sanity and soul. If she doesn’t escape, her fate will be sealed and she will meet an end worse than death.
With all hope lost and the city covered in a sea of black clouds, Axiom-man must learn what it takes to truly shine as a light in a dismal place and stand strong against the tides of darkness emanating from all sides.
Underground Crusade (The Axiom-man Saga, Episode No. 2)
After exploring the city’s underground in order to get a better feel for the criminal fraternity, Gabriel—under the guise of “Mike”—meets a young woman—Katie—who is more than what she seems. What first starts out as a night of mere surveillance and intelligence-gathering soon forces Gabriel to re-examine his approach to crime fighting, discover his strengths and shortcomings, all while trying to keep up with Katie, who is bent on seeing through her own private crusade.
With danger lurking at every turn and Gabriel being forced to keep his identity—and abilities—as Axiom-man a secret, he soon discovers he isn’t the only one hiding something. There are other players at work in the city, those who would soon misuse a secret weapon for their own purposes.
As the clock ticks down and the violence escalates, Gabriel must try and recover the weapon while also keeping Katie safe.
The city is under siege and people are dying. Brutal murders are being conducted from the shadows, with always one survivor deliberately left to tell the tale.
And all are saying the same thing: Axiom-man has gone rogue.
Now wanted by the law, Axiom-man must find out who is masquerading as him and destroying the reputation and trust he has strived so hard to build, while at the same time flying beneath the radar in a city where everyone is looking for him.
Soon the city is locked down and death stalks Axiom-man at every turn as the Special Force Unit and the Winnipeg Police try and bring him to justice while he fights to clear his name against an enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy him.