John Boman Author

2013-11-06T19:04:00.000+10:00

To celebrate Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, my first book The Spirit of the Moon will be free on Kindle. Enjoy!

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Moon-Sovereign-Creek-Series-ebook/dp/B00588SJFC/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

2013-11-06T11:20:00.001+10:00

Been away for a while but will rectify that soon with weekly posts starting next week. But in the meanwhile here is the first line in my new book that I'm working on, Whispers of a Chinese Ghost, which is the third part of the Sovereign Creek Series of books. Here we go:

The newly elected mayor of Sovereign Creek, Sylvester Pumblejam, had proven to be a ‘YES’ man.

Cheers,

John

THE SECRET GOAL

2013-02-05T19:12:00.001+10:00

I have a goal for next year. A wonderfully secret goal for 2014. (Well I have other goals as well, like getting THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON and THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT onto more eplatforms and into more hands this year :) I only just spoke to my wife about it two days ago. She listened in wonderment, but mostly she listened in trepidation. It's a goal that's really way out there, especially for a 39 year old...especially one that has a family to provide for and two teenage boys that are facing the last and most important years of their schooling life. (Yes I worry about them. But I also know its all going to turn out in the end for them.). My wife didn't say much at the end of my glorious goal speech, probably because I still haven't worked out the particulars, it's risky and it is entirely dependent on me achieving another impossible goal for this year. This one I can tell you, without going into detail, is a purely financial goal that will enable me at least to go into 2014 comfortable and start the new path. Holy shit.
I can't tell you all this goal, purely for the fact that if it is one lesson I have learnt at this stage of my life is this: It's great to have goals, but don't tell anyone about them unless you actually mean to achieve it. Have you ever had anyone in your life that announced they were going to do something but never, ever come through? What did you think of them, especially if it became a regular occurrence. This goal is not new for me. If you knew me very closely, you would know what the goal is. It's something I wanted to do all my adult life, but for whatever reason never quite reached for it. Maybe I wasn't ready or just plain mature enough. Maybe I had a family to think of (not that family should be the excuse. Family is FAMILY after all). Is now the time? I fell it is. Maybe I'm getting older and I feel time is running out. Who knows. I just know this. That goal, that little bit of light in the distance you always wanted to grab and make yours, gets further away everyday you let it get past. Have I waited to long? I hope not. The secret goal. The impossible goal. What's your Secret Goal? Let's get on with it...

Movies: THE LAST WAVE directed by Peter Weir. Highly recommended, moody, creepy drama ala Picnic at Hanging Rock. Was entranced the whole way through. Look it up at IMDB. Well worth seeking out.

TV: Justified season 4. Good to have that cast back.

Books: Doctor Who and the Daleks with intro by Neil Gaiman. A reissue of the old Target books that adapted serials of the TV show. These books taught me to read and I loved Doctor Who all the more. I have The Three Doctors coming next. I wish I had my originals from the early 80's. Sigh...

Cheers!

John

THE GHOST YEAR

2013-01-14T20:40:00.003+10:00

Well it's a new year, a year that many people influenced by a calendar many thousands of years old, thought would never happen. My second book, THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, came out in September last year, with little fanfare, little marketing and well, little sales. But that's ok, because when you self publish with a giant corporation going up against seven million other contenders, you have little expectations.

I was telling someone today who asked how the books were going, how hard it is to market children's fiction when you go it all alone. This is for two reasons. One: kids aren't out trolling for new books to read. Most likely if they find a book, it's an impulse buy or they are following a series. Secondly, they aren't reading your marketing materials (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc, etc)because they can't find them and they aren't bloody well looking for the comments of a 39 year old man trying to make it in the writing biz. They just aren't. Disheartening isn't it?

I think the two books I have written are good, solid reads of a proposed series, but to be honest, I'm at a cross roads. Do I continue with these books? Do I write something else, maybe for adults? I think about this all the time lately and yes it does stop me from writing, although I have started a new prequel book. Writing a book takes a lot of effort. It's not digging ditches or building houses or even doing night shift driving a truck,but you do have to make a solid commitment that Time to come up with a plan to crack the big boys of publishing. 2013, the ghost year. The year that anything is possible. Enjoy.

Music: Ladyhawke

Books: Doctor Who and the Daleks

Comics: Conan by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan

2012-08-27T20:33:00.001+10:00

WHO

IS...

THE MONSTER
IN THE

BASEMENT?

AVAILABLE NOW!

The MONSTER is available to purchase from Amazon and Amazon Kindle.

www.johnbomanauthor.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/johnboman
www.facebook.com/johnbomanauthor

Read book one of the Sovereign Creek Saga:
THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

2012-08-24T16:55:00.003+10:00

WHO

IS...

THE BURNING

LAMPPOST?

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

The MONSTER is coming to Amazon and all good bookstores.

www.johnbomanauthor.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/johnboman
www.facebook.com/johnbomanauthor

Read book one of the Sovereign Creek Saga:
THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

2012-08-23T21:19:00.000+10:00

WHO

IS...

THE RANGER?

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

The MONSTER is coming to Amazon and all good bookstores.

www.johnbomanauthor.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/johnboman
www.facebook.com/johnbomanauthor

Read book one of the Sovereign Creek Saga:
THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

2012-08-22T12:23:00.001+10:00

WHO

IS...

FIRESTONE

JOHNSON?

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

The MONSTER is coming to Amazon and all good bookstores.

www.johnbomanauthor.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/johnboman
www.facebook.com/johnbomanauthor

Read book one of the Sovereign Creek Saga:
THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

2012-08-21T09:37:00.000+10:00

WHO

IS...

GRANDFATHER

TREE?

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

The monster is coming to Amazon and all good bookstores.

www.johnbomanauthor.blogspot.com.au

www.facebook.com/johnbomanauthor

www.twitter.com/johnboman

Read book one of the Sovereign Creek Saga:

THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

2012-08-20T11:13:00.000+10:00

WHO

IS...

SYLVESTER

PUMBLEJAM?

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

The MONSTER is coming to Amazon and all good bookstores.

www.johnbomanauthor.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/johnboman
www.facebook.com/johnbomanauthor

Read book one of the Sovereign Creek Saga:
THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

THE HUNGER GAMES

2012-07-09T17:42:00.002+10:00

I fed a dolphin...and I liked it. I can't remember his name, but he was the 'alpha' male in charge of a pod of freshwater dolphins that have lived in the area for three generations. He weighed about 200 kilograms, was beautiful and ate a right royal tonne of fish. A wonderful experience not to be missed.

The family and I were up in Tin Can Bay, which is in Queensland, Australia, for those who don't know. It's a secluded little hamlet that hasn't succumbed to the decadence of over tourism. Yet. We were staying in the area because my daredevil wife was doing her first skydive, in nearby Rainbow Bay. (So named for it's wonderful rainbow coloured sands. A true natural wonder of the world.). All completed. No splat. No limbs broken. And probably one of the greatest experiences of her life thus far. Lucky her.
But the natural beauty of the area was astounding. We journeyed by foot to an area near the township of Rainbow Beach called THE CARLO SAND BLOW. This area is reached by walking on a bush track for some fifteen minutes until you reach a natural corridor of sand that stretches from the sea right back into the forest. It's long and wide, almost desert like in its configuration. A wind corridor that has been depositing sand for thousands of years, most likely. Look at this sunset photo and tell me it doesn't remind you of Egypt.

This is me and my children sitting on the edge of the forest, contemplating the majesty of it all.

I highly recommend visiting the area, which is still relatively unspoiled. Jumping out of a plane is optional.

While it was nice to get away, if only for a weekend, I'm starting to feel the pressure for the release of THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT. So much editing and prep work to do before September the first and the time is fleeting, like sands blowing in the wind.

Reading at the moment: Half way through SCALPED: DEAD MOTHERS by Jason Aaron. This is my comic book crack. It really is.

THE BRADBURY CHRONICLES by Sam Weller. Bradbury was the man.

And...for research purposes, for a new short children's book that will tie into the Sovereign Creek saga and hopefully come out before the third book in the series, THE PENGUIN BOOK OF NORSE MYTHS: GODS OF THE VIKINGS translated by Kevin Crossley-Holland.

Haven't seen any movies, but still plowing through the second series of Justified.

What are you all reading/watching.

It's going to be a busy two months.

Cheers,

John

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

2012-07-02T14:00:00.001+10:00

Editing a book is a funny thing. On my first novel, THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, I went straight into the editing process when the story was completed. I was burnt and tired after six weeks writing but I persevered and began what was the systematic cutting of my first literary baby. Was it the right decision to do this, so soon after finishing? I remember reading in ON WRITING by Stephen King (every aspiring writer, READ THIS BOOK!) and he states that he waits at least six weeks after the completion of a novel before he edits. Locks it in a draw, forgets it and moves onto the next writing assignment. I thought at the time that 'sure you can wait Mr King. You have millions of dollars to afford that luxury. I don't. I need to get the damn thing done, in between work and family and get it out of the house as soon as possible. Get them readers while you can...'
But you know what? He was right. And you know why? Not looking at your book gives you distance. It gives you a perspective that you wouldn't have had before. My second novel, THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, turned into an actual monster in size and commitment. I was shot when it was done, the birth was painful and I couldn't look at it any more. But now reading it two months later, I can see the story for what it is...what kind of child I gave birth too. And in having spent that time away, I can see with fresh eyes all those little imperfections that are stopping a good story become a great story. Sometimes you have to let your babies go, live there own lives and like any good parent, come back and give the best advice you can.

What I'm reading and watching at the moment:

Raylan by Elmore Leonard (Huge fan of Justified, haven't read Fire in the Hole yet, but want to see Leonard's take on Marshal Givens)

Scalped by Jason Aaron (I'm up to the third trade Dead Mothers. I know, I know, I'm behind but this is consistently so good. This is my comic equivalent of Breaking Bad). Speaking of which...

Finally got around to season 4 of Breaking Bad last week and God damn if this isn't the best show on television. "I'm the guy that does the knocking!" say Walt to Skylar who looks on in sheer terror at what her husband may have become. So, so, good, edge of your seat stuff. Season five debuts in the US mid July and I can't wait to see how it all ends.

Nothing at the movies I'm afraid. The Amazing Spider-man opens in Australia today and I have no desire to see it at all. They better do some more convincing if they want my money. I'll wait for the Avengers Blu Ray thanks...with a dose of Dark Knight around the corner.

Cheers,

John

THE AVENGERS

2012-04-16T11:40:00.000+10:00

It was only last week that I made the following declaration: after my next book is published, I was going to lay off the children's writing for a while. No more fantasy, paranormal boogaloo. No more witches, ghosts and goblins taking up my every waking hour. Even though I have committed myself to a six book series, I have been feeling burnt out on those particular genres. Is it time to do something a bit more adult? A bit more literary?
I don't know where my book, THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, came from. I never had any intention of writing a fantasy novel or even a book. It was always going to be about screenplays for me, a format I feel more comfortable inhabiting. But fate has a way of intervening and there you go, a book was born. But it has been doing my research that I have been astounded by how many new writers today (specifically the $0.99 pot boilers on Kindle and Smashwords...don't worry, I'm one of 'em!) are writing supernatural, paranormal themes into their work particularly populated with vampires and zombies. I wonder, are these people after the big bucks in the wake of Twilight, or do they generally have an interest in these genres? Do they read outside these genres and find more comfort in the styles of more traditional writers? I barely read any fantasy or paranormal fiction which I guess is strange for someone writing in those genres. It never has interested me particularly, other than reading a few comics in my lifetime. Good god, I had to put Lord of the Rings down half way through and just go "No, no, I don't think I have time for this. Get to the mountain already. Enough with the names and introduction and...well, you get the picture." Does an over saturation of paranormal fantasy represent the human condition in any viable way? Novels should reflect the human condition after all, so with the proliferation of these genres....what does that say about us now? I would love to hear from other authors who feel the same way. Or if they don't. I love process stories either way.
So this brings my ranting into the present moment, as I finish edits and readying publication on THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, the second book in my series. I'm proud of the story. It's bigger and grander in it's theme and written a little better than it's predecessor. But I'm quite happy to lock the door on that world for a while. But soon I have to start writing again. Plenty of non fantasy ideas, to be sure, so now may be the time to start. The itch of the daily grind is starting to crawl up my back and infect my musing thoughts. But no goblins working their foul magic on me. Time to start...yes, time to start.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on the subjects raised.

Reading at the moment: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. As a writer you could do no wrong in studying McCarthy, particularly The Road with it's spartan dialogue. What a master class right there...after reading Child of God, my brain nearly melted and Blood Meridian is sublime!

Watching: Justified Season 1. Up to episode 7 and I get my Deadwood fix with Timothy Olyphant (also noticed a couple of Deadwood actors scattered in there as well.Give me Ian McShane in Justified and we are in Heaven).

Have a great week and see you soon!

Cheers,

John

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

2012-03-27T09:50:00.000+10:00

As I become older (I'm only a young 38), I find that I am becoming more interested in how the universe works, what is reality and the state of the mind (Currently reading HYPERSPACE by Michio Kaku. A little out of date but a good primer on the state of physics, string theory, wormholes, parallel dimensions...you get the picture. Also have biographies of Einstein and Oppenheimer waiting for me too. This is why I should have listened in Physics class in high school). I guess this all goes along with being a believer since I was a little boy, in all things fantastic. I devoured comics and cartoons, read fantasy and scifi books, checked out guides on ghosts and all sorts of paranormal goodies from the library. What was not normal or perhaps what most people saw as unbelievable, always seemed to have some truth to me. I could never explain why, but I felt all those weird and unexplained mysteries where somehow true. Did I have an over active imagination? Sure. And most forward thinking people do. It was Einstein who said after all that it's not intelligence that served him well during his life but his IMAGINATION. The ability to dream and believe that the impossible is actually the probable. Yep, I was one of those kids.
I guess that's why in THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, we have boy named Maximus Walker who lives in a town that has a reputation for weird, paranormal events to happen, but no one really believes or remembers them. But he does. He always believed, so much so he investigates every little rumour or innuendo about the ghosts and goblins of his town Sovereign Creek, becoming what he calls 'a detective of the weird.' I never thought before, until now, that maybe Max and I share very similar traits. maybe MAx is a younger me, although certainly not intentional and I never had a magical sword. Sigh. I don't like the mundane. I want to believe there is more out there. I want to use my imagination every day. I crave for my over active imagination. And that suits me just fine. It's all out there, trust me. You just have to believe. And have imagination. Then comes the discoveries of a lifetime. How is you imagination? Have you listened to it lately?

New Doctor Who!!!!!!!

And currently enjoying with the kids, Young Justice!

Have fun everyone!

Cheers,

John

PROMETHEUS

2012-03-19T09:48:00.000+10:00

Let's make this short and sweet, as business calls and I have much to do. I'm currently at the moment editing THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, the sequel to last years little baby, THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, and I started noticing a few peculiarities. I started the book, I think, in September last year and as I have stated on many occasions, it was a terribly difficult conception. I never believed in the curse of the second book, but it was true and I was living in its torturous nightmare. The first three chapters were conceived and written during that time, before I had the break to regroup and come back full of gusto and vinegar.
Now, what I've noticed in the editing process, going over those three chapters, is how hard I was trying to write at the time. What do I mean by this? As you write each successive book, I think you have to up your game from the last. You have to learn from your mistakes, learn from your structure, your composition and the story itself and start to get a sense of what you're good at and ultimately what you are poor at. Now take this with a grain of salt. I'm no expert, certainly no best seller, but I have a sense of what works for me. By the time I started that second story, I wanted the book to be so much better that I committed a sin, the big no-no in writing...I OVERWROTE! I found the prose to be flowery, cumbersome and pretentious. It was as if I was using each word, each sentence, each paragraph to build a wall around my unconscious to stop the story downloading from brain to page. It was horrible, frustrating, but it wasn't writers block. I don't believe in writers block. I believe in doing the job and gaining perspective. Which is what I did.
That break from the story was what I needed. I re-evaluated what I was doing and ceased being the writer I thought I ought to be, and became the writer I originally was. And that made all the difference. Except now I find editing those frist three chapters a pain in the arse, but live and learn. It's all we can do, people.

Fun stuff:
Saw John Carter at the movies and enjoyed it (no 3D for me. Fool me once Hollywood but never again, unless it's shot using actual 3D cameras!) It was a wonderful mix of whimsy, old style sci-fi with a certain European sensibility. I would love to see where the story goes in a sequel but alas I doubt that will see the light of day. Perhaps I shall buy the books... ( I have a wonderful idea for the Green Lantern movie franchise, let me tell you one day. It would have been Star wars on steroids, only with Green magic rings...)

Reading at he moment:
The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie which is occult techniques used as psychology. Intersting stuff.

And still plowing through The Kamandi Omnibus by Jack Kirby. 'Nuff said.

Have a great week!

Cheers,

John

DRIVE

2012-03-09T11:01:00.002+10:00

It was a wonderful feeling today. I drove down to the printers to pick up this:

My second novel, THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, was a reality. Not just letters on a computer screen, not just endless hours of imaginings and plottings and connivings and characters whispering in my ear, telling me the story should go north and not south...
Holding that bound first draft is magic. That's all I can call it: MAGIC.
I had read many times, by authors more experienced than myself, that the second book was always the hardest to write. Maybe that first book came bursting out in furious righteousness, demanding to be born and before you knew it, the book was there. You don't know how you did it or where it came from, but it arrived safe and sound; your first literary child.
My first book, THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, was published in June 2011, an accidental birth of glorious proportions. It was in September 2011, that I decided to write the sequel. I had a vague idea of what the story was about, who some of the characters where (new and old) and what I wanted to achieve. I knew it would be bigger in scale in some regards, expanding the microcosm of the town featured in my adventures, SOVEREIGN CREEK. But the themes also had to be relevant, to where I was in that moment. And so a vague outline was born. I knew how the novel would start and end, a crucial scene was written first that plays into the overall story arc of the six planned books of the series. But then everything went dead, I wrote the first chapter and after that nothing was coming. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stand facing that page, day after day. I was a frustrated, emotional train wreck. I felt like a con artist, a bad stage magician. I read the prophesies and they came true.
It was in December that I contemplated stopping the book, shunting it into that little corner on the laptop, never to be seen again. Maybe it was a break I needed, get away from it all, and come back fresh in the new year...which is what I DID. And what a difference it made.
I guess what I want to say is, when then manuscript is getting you down, when nothing seems to work and you feel like a fraud, a failure, a wanna be writer playing in the big pond...don't give up. Don't ever give up. And if you absolutely feel that your story is dead, then give it a funeral fit for a king and move on.
I finally understand that the difference between good and bad writers is this: Good writers DO and BAD writers amble around, procrastinating and moaning. Don't worry, just DO! If you're a writer, sitting in the empty space, all alone inside your head, staring at the blank screen, then decide right now... what type of writer are you?

Going to see JOHN CARTER at the movies tomorrow so hopefully I can do a mini review in the next couple of days. I have high hopes for this so fingers and whatever other extremities you have, crossed.

Cheers,

John

MISERY

2012-03-05T08:59:00.000+10:00

Just a short one today...

I was heartened to read a blog by author Neil Gaiman on the weekend (you can access here)which dove a little into the writing process. He's in the middle of another book and he describes how someday's it's like going through fog, where you can't see where you going but just gradually...gradually you get there. What a terrific feeling that is! I guess other days it's like shooting down the autobahn in a Ferrari doing 150 kph, with no brakes and no way of stopping. The story pours out of you, coming from God knows where. The key board is smoking, your fingers are sore to the bone... He also said that on those foggy days, when you only do 1500 words (half his usual output!), but you end up with something...you have it! Your there! It's on paper (or the screen as may be the case)! You've done it! Oh, what a grand feeling that is...
But what made this beginner happy is that an experienced author such as Gaiman has THOSE DAYS that every writer, be they beginner or pro I guess, has where the words come easy or other days you fight hard for every consonant and vowel, every paragraph, page and chapter. At the moment I average 2500 words a day and to have a master such as Gaiman acknowledge an output of 3000 words is heartening. I'm constantly fighting a battle as to whether I've done enough, is this what normal writers do, etc. I've learnt to appreciate my inversion of an old motto: 'quality over quantity.' Being an author I think is not just about learning, but about DOING. That's the big secret to becoming an author, not whether you can or not, it's about whether you can DO IT. Make a start, finish it. Learn the process along the way. Now we know. Still, writing is a lonely process and I can understand why artists go mad. Living in your mind, day in and day out. Our poor husbands and wives. But you know what, it's better than digging ditches...

***

In case you didn't see, I released the cover for my new book, THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, the second book in my Sovereign Creek saga.

I'm as pleased as punch that my cover artist, Juha Veltti has come up with another stunning piece of art. I've formed a relationship with this Finnish master that I hope will last for many, many years to come.

***

With the release of MONSTER in June, I've decided to offer the first book in the series, THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, for free as an Ebook from SMASHWORDS here. Why have I done this? Am I crazy? Well, no. I want as many people to enjoy SPIRIT before reading its bigger, newer sister and enjoy the ride in old scary SOVEREIGN CREEK. But I hope that if you like the story so much, maybe you can buy the paperback edition from all good online and local bookstores, so my family and I don't starve entirely :)

***

Lastly, I'm taking my boys to see JOHN CARTER at the movies this weekend. Watch this fan made trailer here as Disney have woefully mismanaged all marketing for this movie. I think it will be fun and visually entertaining.

Have fun and see you all next week.

Cheers,

John

WAG THE DOG

2012-02-23T09:58:00.000+10:00

I'm feeling very pessimistic this week so I hope I don't bring anyone down too much. My goal for the end of the week was to have the first draft of THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT finished. A huge task to be sure, but one that was achievable. That was, until I became sick with the flu, suffering all the stings and bile that come with that, coupled with the fact my neck on the right side decided to swell up and become extremely sore for no particular reason. The bloody joys of getting old, yes?

As a result of all this impending joy, I haven't been able to write, let alone look at a computer screen (looking at this now makes me nauseous and my neck hurts), but this is not a woe is me blog. Just stating the facts, bub. My wife seems to think that I am again being plagued by the, well, plague, because of the pressures of a) writing the new book THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT and b) stressing about the sales of my books. As I said last week I have no job, taking a volutary redundancy package from my previous employer. It will tide me over for a few more weeks but the hour of searching for a job is looming fast, unless a miracle happens. And maybe the thought of working for someone else will drive me crazy and make me sick. God knows I hate being stuck in a cubicle or doing some ridiculous menial task just to bring home the bacon, but that's what you have to do right? But I found my mind slipping back to those dark days of bad thoughts, of self loathing that seems to beguile creative people in the modern world. I found myself after a karate class last Friday having a mini breakdown, having to rush home, for no particular reason. What was the cause? Hell if I know. But it wasn't pleasant and not a space I want to be in. I try to pride my self in being positive most of the time, I mean, how else do you get the job done? But by God it's hard and hats of to all of you who have to struggle day in and day out doing what you hate just to survive. That's what being a real hero is about in the modern world.

Wow, that is a pessimistic assessment, reading back over it. But it's true and I hate not telling the truth. It gets you nowhere. We all have coping mechanisms (mine are probably reading good stories) and whenever your feeling blue or lack the energy to go on, put them into overdrive. At least that's what I plan to do. So I hear by pledge to do nothing for the rest of the week except for this:

THINK ABOUT WHAT I CAN CHANGE TO GET THAT POSITIVE MINDSET BACK. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT CAN FURTHER MY WRITING CAREER? TRY AND BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT I'VE GOT. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TREASURE THOSE THAT MEAN THE MOST.

Yes, well, not too much to ask is it?

I'll do a better post next time, I promise ;)

What I am reading:

Kirby: The King of Comics by Mark Evanier....A mini biography of one of the most influential artists ever to grace the medium, small on talk but packed with oversized art. A man full of imagination that was taken for granted by all that employed him. Heartbreaking yet inspiring stuff. Read a short bio here.

Have a great week and cheers!

John

The Muppets

2012-02-14T21:10:00.000+10:00

I finished working my day job about six weeks ago. It wasn't because I'd suddenly sold one million books and fell into the life of the leisurely writer. My former place of employment was downsizing, a product of the age we live in; increase in corporate profiteering followed by a shift in the determinants of where and how the work force actually, well, works. I won't name the company I was formerly employed for except to say to them good luck delivering all those letters whose volumes are currently in free fall. I received a payout. Not as big as I would have liked, but enough for me not to work for a couple of months to finish my next book, THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, the sequel to my little book that could (I never get sick of saying that !) THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON. I am absolutely surprised how much not working in a deadend job that I loathed so much, improved the quality and output of my writing. I've doubled my daily word count (had a blitz last Friday of 4000 words which was astonishing!). Is it because I'm not meandering in said job that I'm doing so well or the pressure to get these books finished, selling more, and thus keeping me further and further away from the man? Who knows... I've also had the great pleasure over the last few months to working on a short comic book story called ENIGMA AND THE GAS STATION OF HORRORS.

ENIGMA Page 1.

For those who know me well, I don't have to tell you how much I have loved the medium of comic books, graphic novels and sequential art all my life. I remember it was about 20 years ago, at the age of 19, that I first came up with the concept of the story. I had just moved away from home, after finishing year 12. I had moved from the country to live in the 'big smoke' with my sister. This was after an absolutely horrendous year of teenage angst, self doubt and general misery. I had no direction, no job, no life. I remember writing these two stories for an Australian anthology magazine called (appropriately enough as we will see) NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS. The first story was called NO MERCY and it was a short mafioso story about a made man who has to kill his cousin, because he's a general stuff up to the family. The twist at the end was that the mafia family are actually monsters. His cousin turns into a vampire at the end and bam, he kills him. Highly original. The second story was called ENIGMA and has the basic premise of the lone stranger walking into a diner and horror ensues.

ENIGMA Page 2.

I sent them off but never heard off them again. Meanwhile I was going through my personal horror at the time of having a real life nervous breakdown, losing my mind, thinking of dying and generally in a sad, sad state. I was sent home with my tail between my legs, with everyone thinking I was stupid and lazy. I guess my point is that ENIGMA stayed with me all these years, I had my ups and downs mentally, but here I am today, ENIGMA drawn and about to published. That's how the world turns baby. Never give up!

Watching at the moment: Downton Abbey which was charming and well produced. Dodgy plots points redeemed by supurb acting and set pieces. Dame Maggie Smith as the Countess was my favorite. What a legend.

Reading: Casanova volume one by Matt Fraction and Gabriel Ba is James Bond on LSD. And a few other bloody books I can't be bothered remembering at the moment...

Haven't seen any movies for a while as I'm too busy writing! Still waiting for DRIVE to come out on DVD.

See ya next time pilgrim.

Cheers,
John

Hasta La Vista, Baby!

2011-11-08T14:03:00.000+10:00

*It's been a hectic year with the publication of my first novel, THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON. When I first decided to publish a story that I initially wrote to submit in a competition, I never dreamed that I would publish an actual book. There have been ups and downs, hardships and steep learning curves, but I wouldn't take it all back for anything in the world. The process has been an absolute joy and I am well into my second novel, THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT, which is due early 2012.

*As the year is winding up, it got me thinking and reassesses my goals. The publication of my first book has really spurred me on to make some changes in my life and just go all out to reach my goals and live a happy life. For too long I was a misery guts, starting projects and never finishing them, never achieving anything...but I want that to change. And it will change. I just completed a list of goals I want to achieve from now until the end of 2012. It's extensive but doable. Not only is it about creative/work goals, but financial and personal as well. I've listed into categories what WILL happen in this time frame and I urge everyone to do the same. Nothing better than to have something to reach for.

* For anybody who has read THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON I can't urge enough the importance of leaving reviews if you purchased from Amazon or anywhere that you can review books. Good reviews help people make decisions and in turn help people buy books. Just a thought and a big help if you can do it.

* Can you believe an asteroid is about to pass between the Earth and the Moon that's 400m long:
Asteroid to pass close to Earth Why the hell is this not major news????

* Books I'm reading at the moment:

The Tree of Life by Israel Regardie
Eye of Cat by Roger Zelaznie

*Movies and TV:

Breaking Bad series 2 (Just surpassed Deadwood as my favourite TV show)
Kill Bill Volume 2
Seven Samurai Criterion Edition (To be reviewed on At the Movies this week 9/11/11)
Terminator 2: Judgement Day 2 Disc Edition

As ever comments are welcome!

Cheers,

John

Modern Times

2011-08-30T11:39:00.000+10:00

It's been a while since I've done a proper blog post, so I thought it high time I did one. The push to get THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON into the hands of, well, the world continues at a slow pace. Marketing a product is hard at the best of times, but when it's a book, it's especially hard. The publishing industry is going through a lot of change, like most entertainment mediums. There have been various reports that the EBOOK is going to overrun print in the near future. I wonder sometimes, who does that serve when corporations are pushing a product so hard that will inevitably save them a lot of money and cost the jobs of many people within the publishing industry? From my short experience in selling my first book, people and children in particular, want REAL books...books you can hold, and cherish and put on your shelf and dog ear if you want. I personally hate reading books on screens. I loose that tactile connectivity with the story. An EReader doesn't give me that sensation. It never will. Buy books in the medium you want to read them in, from where ever you want to buy them. If you buy most of your books online, occasionally go to a book store and purchase one from there. Shops have supported the book trade for years. Why should the future change that now?

* The Book Launch went exceedingly well. We had newspaper and television coverage which was a good thing. I never got the chance to talk to everyone. The two hours went so quick and being pulled this way and that there was no chance to see everyone. I want to personally thank all who attended and special shout out to my wife Wendy and our friends for the organisation. I couldn't have done it without you all. Pictures of the event will be arriving soon.

* The sequel to THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON called THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT (originally it was 'my' not 'the') will be released 30/01/12 about 11 months before the Mayan calendar ends and we all proceed to oblivion. I will be bunkered down for the next few months finishing the draft and looking a little something like this:

But that's OK. Writing is a crazy game.

* Books! Books! and more Books!

What I'm reading at the moment or have read recently:

Supergods by Grant Morrison

The Autobiography of Charlie Chaplin by funnily enough, Charlie Chaplin

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

Starman Omnibus Volume 1 by James Robinson and Tony Harris

and other stuff to numerous to mention!

Have a good time always!

Cheers,

John

INTERVIEW: MRS WELLINGTON FROM 'THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON'

2011-08-16T13:01:00.000+10:00

...After I concluded my interview with Mr Wellington, I found his wife tending to her rose garden outside their small, cosy, cottage. Her rose bushes were in full bloom...I had never seen so many different colours of flowers before, so I started off by asking her about the garden...

JOHN: You obviously enjoy gardening Mrs Wellington. How did you manage to grow so many different varieties of roses? I’ve never seen some of the colours you have here. They seem almost impossible...

MRS WELLINGTON: Other than my husband, magic and my patron, the Moon Goddess, gardening is the number one joy of my life. I have cultivated and grown these roses for a number of decades now. I use the petals in many magic potions, depending on which ones I need. I have hybrids and varieties of roses that have never been seen by the world at large. Some of my plants do not even come from this world, or so I am told.

JOHN: Did you always want a life of adventure? You seem quite content to stay at home...(Mrs Wellington contemplates her answer for a moment. She seems lost in a sad world until her reply...)

MRS WELLINGTON: If I am to answer truthfully, I must so no, I did not. But two events changed the course of my life and for that I am grateful.

JOHN: And what were those events?

MRS WELLINGTON: I would tell you John, but you seem to be more interested in Facebook at the moment. Shall we continue at another time of your convenience? (...I was talking to a friend on Facebook. I see Mrs Wellington doesn’t miss anything...)

JOHN: Sorry, Mrs Wellington. Modern conveniences can be annoying sometimes (I say, blushing). You were saying?

MRS WELLINGTON: Firstly, when I was a young girl many years ago and the Moon Goddess chose me to become her magical ward on Earth. I could not refuse her call to magic and the patronage she was willing to convey on me. When the call comes and your life must change forever, you mustn’t refuse. And of course, the day I laid eyes on my husband. He was so young and dashing and full of magic. How could I refuse? Thus, my life of adventure began.

JOHN: What’s the scariest monster you’ve ever faced?

MRS WELLINGTON: You have to be careful with any monster you face. I do, however, have a particular loathing for any creature that has any connection to snakes and spiders. The undead weary me as well. I nearly gave up my life of adventure after our honeymoon.

JOHN: That would be the Haitian adventure Mr Wellington told me about?

MRS WELLINGTON: Yes, zombies on your honeymoon is not the most pleasant experience, I can tell you.

JOHN: But you survived, obviously...Did your life change after that experience?

MRS WELLINGTON: Well, yes. That was the moment I realised there are a great more strangeness in the world, than I had anticipated. Under the beds of children, in the black forests of many nations, lie dark things that want to come out at night and hurt innocent people. I knew it was the mission Mr Wellington and I were given; to help those in most need.

JOHN: That would seem like a burden to most people?

MRS WELLINGTON: It is in a way, John, but one I happily accept.

JOHN: Thank you for your time Mrs Wellington. (..Before I left the cottage, Mrs Wellington presented me with the bluest roses I had ever seen in my life. She told me they never die and were created to help those in most need ( I didn’t really understand what she meant by that, but I gladly accepted the gift). She wished me luck in my writing career and said she would cast a spell of good fortune for me and my family. I thanked her and hoped to see them both again one day...)

INTERVIEW: MR WELLINGTON from THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON

2011-08-15T13:53:00.000+10:00

...Recently I sat down with the cast of my new book ‘THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON.’ First to be interviewed was the ever charming and amiable, Mr Wellington. I flew to Great Britain and visited him and his wife in their cottage at an undisclosed location in the English countryside. This interview takes place in his study...

JOHN: Thanks for taking the time to speak to me, Mr Wellington.

MR WELLINGTON: My pleasure, old boy. Did you have a safe journey?

JOHN: Yes, although the flight from Australia takes too long. But not to worry.

(Mr Wellington takes out a pipe and lights the tobacco. He takes a puff and the smoke has a sweet, alluring smell.)

MR WELLINGTON: Hmmph, well, that’s the problem with machines. They are too slow compared with magic. My wife and I have definitely learnt the art of ‘disappearing’ from venue to venue very well.

JOHN: And that leads me onto my first question...when did you first learn to use magic?

MR WELLINGTON: Interesting question, that one. My family come from a long line of ‘Magical’ people...warlocks, wizards, shamans and such. When I became of age at about thirteen...

JOHN: What year was this?

MR WELLINGTON: Good lord! We’re talking late eighteenth century? Hard to remember dates when you’ve lived for this long. Time becomes irrelevant. As I was saying at the age of thirteen, you are put through an initiation of sort, a trial you might say, that puts you on the path from becoming a Master to a fully fledged Mr Magician.

JOHN: Do you remember what happened?

MR WELLINGTON: Like it was yesterday. My Father, a stern, old Magician, sent me into a cave. I walked and walked through the cave, pitch black until I came to an opening on the other side. I didn’t realise at the time, but I was in the Northlands of the old gods. I had a rollicking good adventure and earned my magical stripes, that’s for sure. Maybe there is a book in it for you John? What do you say? Up for a commission?

JOHN: Sounds like an interesting story. How about ‘Mr Wellington and the Gods of the North’ as a title?

(At this point, Mrs Wellington brings in a pot of raspberry tea. Mr Wellington kisses her on the hand as he thanks her. She leaves the room.)

JOHN: You and Mrs Wellington have been married for quite some time and shared many adventures. Can you relate your first adventure together?

MR WELLINGTON: Certainly. I will say it was absolutely extraordinary! We were on our honeymoon in Haiti. I wanted to take my new wife somewhere exotic, somewhere beautiful. Which it all was, of course. But what I forgot to mention to Mrs Wellington was the trouble the islanders were having with the Scorpion God and his Voodoo Queen. Imagine trying to outwit a scorpion god and a horde of hungry zombies whilst fighting the dark incantations of the Voodoo Queen. It was quite a thrill, I assure you. We learnt a great deal from that first adventure and cemented our futures together as Magical adventures.

JOHN: You certainly have had many adventures in your life. What advice would you give to any child who wanted to follow in your footsteps and have their own magical adventures?

MR WELLINGTON: I would certainly caution against rushing into magic. It is certainly not an art that you can rush into willy nilly. There are things to consider on the magical path. It can be dangerous and exhausting and it’s not for everyone. I will say however it has changed my life for the better. I have seen and done things never thought possible. Talking with Gods and Devils, other worlds...extraordinary! If you must follow my path, do it with caution. And have a jolly good time with it too.

JOHN: Thank you for your time Mr Wellington. It’s been an honour.

MR WELLINGTON: Any excuse to talk, old boy. Thank you.

The Start of Something New

2011-07-10T16:18:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone and welcome to my new blog. The transition to the new website johnbomanauthor.com has been smooth so far and we've had some great traffic and comments. A few people have signed up to the website via the CONTACT US link, which is great. If you do so, you'll receive updates on all things John Boman related, including news, release dates and a whole lot more. So what's stopping you! And if you join between now and 1 August, you automatically go into the draw for a signed copy of THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON and an official T-shirt to go along with it. Outstanding!

News Item: We will be releasing details soon of the launch party for THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, so keep your news feed open and your eyes peeled.

For my first blog today, I thought I'd do something special and present an interview I did with my Finnish cover artist, Juha Veltti. So without further ado....

JOHN: Tell me about your upbringing in Finland and where you live now? Has it influenced your art?

JUHA: I lived near on in Tampere, in one of the biggest cities in Finland (which isn't that big) the first 25 years of my life. I grew in a working-class home with no cultural leanings, and it was my love for comics that sent me on the art path. The last eight years we've lived in Riihimäki with my spouse Katja, our daughter, a dog and two cats. I'm sure that growing up in Finland has influenced me and my art very strongly. You are the sum of of your experiences, to good or bad. Maybe what I value the most is the Finnish nature. Also the changes four seasons in Finland are very drastic, from the current 30 °C of hotness to - 25 °C in the winter. Getting through the dark winter can be rough sometimes. Politically Finland was in a tough spot in my childhood between Soviet Union and Western countries, I'm sure it has had some effect in the way I view the world politically.

JOHN:Tell us about your art influences; where did you go to school, who influenced you the most, where does your inspiration come from etc.

JUHA: I think it all boils down to imagination - when I was a child, most of my activities dealt with creating and participating in imaginary worlds: when we played in the woods with friends, the books and comics I was most excited about and the comics I drew myself for hours on end. Imagining and participating in imaginary stories is a natural high, and gives tools to see the real world with fresh eyes. My passion for comics and drawing led me to study art in the Tampere University of Applied Arts. By that point, I was into painting and fine art, but also started my experiments with digital image-making. Dave McKean was my art hero at the time, I studied his Sandman covers and Cages comics with piety. At the same time, I learned the modern art history through making art, and my painting teachers in effect were Picasso, Matisse and Edvard Munch. I've never been a good imitator though, the varied influences filter through my own style, for better or worse. Hopefully all of my interests in the visual culture, history, myths, religion etc. enrich the stuff I do. I think what keeps the passion alive is learning new aspects of the world and challenging yourself constantly.

JOHN: I think what drew me to your art was a it’s primal, occult like nature. It’s interesting to see myth and religion as an influence. It definitely layers your work and relegates it too another level. So tell me, when I asked you to do the cover for THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON, what were your first impressions? I only gave you the first chapter (mainly out of fear!) so you didn’t really have much towork with other than my vague ramblings.

JUHA:Thanks. I guess it would have been easier to picture your fictional world if I had read the whole book, but the first chapter of the book creates a unique atmosphere and a feeling that you can't predict what'll come next. I started sketching some images after reading the text, and then proceeded to think about what the image needed - to communicate the feel of the text. I felt my role was to open a small window into the vast realm of stories that is Sovereign Creek.

JOHN: Take us through the process of creating the cover, step by step. The first rough sketch you sent me blew me away. I was happy to use that as the cover I was so impressed It was like you entered my head and ripped the image right out. Did you sketch first, add digital inks and colouring? Was it all done on computer? How did you achieve it all?

JUHA:That is great to hear. Usually there is a visual idea that I start developing from the get-go, I sent a rough color sketch for you first, where I tried to establish the color scheme and mood. After hearing you liked the approach, I started on the finished version. I was actually planning to make a watercolor and gouache painting, but when I had drawn the outlines in the right proportions, I decided to scan those in and try coloring it digitally in the same way I work with my comics, but at some point I decided to get rid of the ink outlines and do a more "painterly" color work. It is actually my first digital painting of this kind. As I mentioned, l always try and give myself new challenges to make things more interesting. I always draw on paper, but for the coloring computer is a great tool. I use Photoshop with a Wacom tablet, it gives the flexibility and possibility to try different solutions that is isn't possible with watercolors, for example. For me, it isn't that different from traditional painting in the sense that I work from layer to layer, refining the image as I get further along. It's composition, color, form and light - the basic principles of art, but always exciting to work with!

JOHN: Tell us about the future. Other than continuing to do the covers for my books what else are you doing artwise now, what’s coming in the futre and what are your ultimate goals?

JUHA: Sure, I'll be glad to continue doing the Sovereign Creek covers (if that's the name of the book series?). I'm currently working on a few comics projects to U.S. and doing paintings for two art exhibitions in Finland - one solo, one group exhibition, both in October. What I want is to be able to do comics, painting and illustration side by side during the year. That's really what I do now, but building a financially viable career takes time and struggle. Getting better in the art of making pictures, being a better person, and understanding the world more wholly.

JOHN: Thanks for everything, Juha. Can't wait to see more of your upcoming work. Especially the covers for my books!

Why I write or why I haven't written anything before...

2011-06-23T13:21:00.000+10:00

When I was fourteen, I wanted to write. I wanted to write badly. I loved english at school and revelled in any assignments that were to do with creative writing (or any English assignments really!) It gave me great pleasure to 'world build'; to create characters and stories that were so far removed from everyday life...what a feeling. But you know what, I didn't continue. i didn't go on with it and here's why.

When I was fourteen, Mum, Dad and I were driving out of the town were Dad was staying for his work; a little mining town called Clermont in central Queensland. I only ever saw Dad every school holidays which was OK but I hated travelling by bus out there every school holidays when my friends in the city were doing fun things like going out and meeting girls. I didn't get to do any of that so all I had were books and comics. I read and that was my world. Anyway my Dad asked me on this day, as we drove in the F100 ute back to the mining compound, what i wanted to be when I grew up. The answer came to me in a flash. I didn't even have to think about it. And I was pleased with the answer. Why? Because I knew Dad wouldn't like it. I said to him:
"I'm going to be a writer."
I turned my head over to him to see his reaction. He said nothing. He only shook his head in, not so much disgust, but disappointment. I got the reaction I wanted and i felt terrible. My passion started to wain.

Over the years I tried to take it up again. I wrote a screenplay, whilst a good little story, was badly written and I didn't have the maturity to deal with the themes I wanted to portray. There were many drunken nights alone on the type writer, were I pinched out little essays on life in the style of Hunter S Thompson. I wish i had of kept these (there were all in a folder for many years but probably got purged in one of our cross country moves) as they would have been a good window into my thinking at the time. One thing i never lost over the years was my imagination. I treasure that more than anything in the world. And here we are now, I've written a book and planning the continuing series and thinking of projects beyond that. I don't want to write exclusively for children but have some more books for adults in mind.

Will I be successful at writing? I don't know. The odds are stacked against anyone going into the arts, especially in the digital age. But at least now I can say I'm a writer and I'm having a blast. The fourteen year old boy would be pleased...