Jack Dixon's Book Blog

Jerusalem Falls - Limited Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:46:00 +0000

As I prepare to publish my second novel, Jerusalem Falls, I'd like to offer a handful of serious readers a limited advance preview of the book in exchange for honest criticism and a short review that I could include in the initial marketing push.

In exchange for your time and your honest and meaningful feedback, I'll send you a free Kindle copy of the final release of Jerusalem Falls, and a signed hard cover edition.

If you're interested in participating, please contact me through my website. I'll send a limited number of respondents Part I of Jerusalem Falls for the Kindle. I only ask that you commit to providing me with honest, meaningful feedback in a timely manner so that I can publish Jerusalem Falls without much further delay.

Thanks in advance!

Free Kindle Version of The Pict (Limited Time)

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:48:00 +0000

The Kindle version of The Pict will be available FREE on Amazon for three days, from Monday, 1/9/2012 through Wednesday, 1/11/2012.

I have also made it available through the new Kindle Owners Lending Library. Amazon Prime members can now check it out and read it without buying it. To borrow The Pict from the Lending Library, navigate to the Amazon store on your Kindle, search for The Pict, and click on the "Borrow for Free" button (just below the "Buy" button). More detailed instructions here.

As always, if you do read The Pict, enjoy!

My Interview on the Historical Fiction e-Book Website

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:25:00 +0000

The Historical Fiction e-Book website publishes author updates, background information, and interviews with the authors whose books are featured on the site. Check out their latest interview (with me), and while you're at it, maybe you'll find another good book or two to add to your e-book collection.

3,000 Copies Sold!

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:57:00 +0000

In August, The Pict exceeded 3,000 copies sold. By far, Kindle sales have eclipsed both paperback and hard cover sales. It seems that a lot of people got Kindles for Christmas last year, because sometime in March the Kindle version bypassed print, and it hasn't looked back since.

I'm glad. Electronic publishing has done a great deal to bring readers and writers together, and opened the floodgates on what kind of books are available, and at what price. Writers are no longer constrained by mainstream publishers on plot lines or character development, and readers can choose for themselves what they prefer to read instead of being told by the publishers what's worth reading.

As I've said before, as the world of book publishing evolves into a more free and independent medium, the success of that development will depend largely on readers' willingness to publicly review what they read. Wherever you buy your e-books, please take a few minutes to post reviews so that others will have a better idea of the quality of what they're buying. I'd far rather have a handful of happy readers than thousands of disappointed ones.

Jerusalem Falls is finished, except for the editing. I can finally, realistically say that it will be published before the holidays. Once again, for all who have been waiting for it, thank you for your patience. I think you will not be disappointed, and that you will consider it worth the wait.

Jerusalem Falls - Coming Soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:31:00 +0000

In August, four years almost to the day after The Pict was published, I finished the last chapter of Jerusalem Falls. Edits are coming along nicely, and as they do, I grow more pleased with how the story has turned out. It's been a long road, and it felt pretty good to type that final paragraph.

I'm debating publishing the e-book edition first, and then doing the typesetting and everything else that's involved in producing the print version. Kindle and other e-book sales seem to have far surpassed the printed formats anyway, and since e-books require no typesetting, the processing time for them is much shorter.

Jerusalem Falls is far from the typical crusading Templar tale. Rather, it's a complex, epic tale of moral struggle, religious conflict, and political intrigue framed in the history and drama of those noble, crusading knights. I have a feeling it will make for an enjoyable holiday read.

Closer Still...

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:23:00 +0000

I have only to polish up the final chapter of Jerusalem Falls before final edits and typesetting. It's immensely gratifying to get to this place after such an arduous journey. It's so close I can almost taste it...

50% off the eBook version of The Pict, at Smashwords! (Until 7/31/2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:43:00 +0000

From now until July 31, 2011, get your e-book version of The Pict for half price ($2.98) at Smashwords. Enter the code SSW50 at checkout to receive your discount.

While you're there, browse around for other great titles priced at a discount for the duration of Smashwords' July Summer/Winter Sale (for half of us, it's winter now). Happy shopping!

June 23rd, 1314 - Bannockburn, Scotland

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:18:00 +0000

Six hundred ninety-seven years ago today, just south of Scotland's Stirling Castle, King Robert the Bruce led roughly 8,000 desperate, war-weary Scots against an English army of nearly 20,000 seasoned, well-equipped soldiers in the most decisive battle of Scotland's War of Independence. All but four of England's nobles joined King Eward II to form the most massive army to ever assemble anywhere on the British island, before or since.

While the Scots were outnumbered and far outmatched, a dramatic prelude to the battle illustrated differences between the opposing armies that would prove critical to its ultimate outcome.

Well-placed Scottish forces and strategically staged ambushes maneuvered the English into a dangerously cramped position: cavalry, pike men, bowmen, and infantry crowded awkwardly onto a rough carse pockmarked by steel traps and three-foot pits filled with stakes and covered by brush. The English were surrounded on three sides by the River Forth, the Bannock Burn, and treacherous marshy swamps, and on the fourth by an unusually enthusiastic Scottish Army.

Before the battle began, as the English moved into position on the carse, an English noble and long-time nemesis of Robert the Bruce spotted the king astride a small palfrey. King Robert was inspecting his troops, and not yet armored for battle. The Englishman, Henry de Bohun, was impulsive and hungry for glory, and caught up in the bickering among the English commanders for leadership positions on the field. De Bohun's ambition and his contempt for the Bruce overtook him. He broke formation and siezed the opportunity to kill the Scottish king himself. He intended to win the battle single-handedly before it even began, and earn his immortal place in the annals of English history.

Henry de Bohun couched his lance, lowered his visor, and spurred his mighty war horse toward King Robert. As he bore down on Robert, gaining speed, the king sat calmly astride his little palfrey holding only the battle axe that he had taken from its sheath. As de Bohun charged, the Scottish army froze in the horror of impending disaster.

The Englishman leveled his lance at the Bruce's chest and drove toward him. Just before the lance made contact with the Bruce's jacketed chest, the king turned his palfrey deftly aside, twisted his torso to avoid the blow, and lifted his battle axe high above his head. He brought the axe down with all of his considerable might, splitting de Bohun's helmeted head in two. De Bohun died instantly, to the ecstatic roar of the Scots.

The Scots were buoyed, and the English aghast. King Robert's calm defiance of superior power, and his stunning victory over it, set the tone for the rest of the battle.

This prelude to the battle of Bannockburn illustrates fundamental differences between the Scottish and English armies of the day. The English had always relied upon the heavy charge, superior weaponry, and brute force; the Scots had of necessity practiced patience, cunning, and agility. The English who arrived at Bannockburn that day were confident, fractious, and reckless. The Scots demonstrated patient resolve, and the keen awareness that this battle was crucial to their desperate bid for an elusive, cherished treasure: their freedom, too long gone.

The battle raged for two long days, and it won the Scots their freedom. Brilliant planning and battlefield tactics propelled them to decisive victory. The battered remnants of the English army retreated and fled to England, leaving behind them a proud new nation, bloodied, war-weary, and free.

Happy Anniversary, Scotland.

NOTE: Estimates of the sizes of the Scottish and English armies at Bannockburn vary widely, from as many as 100,000 English vs. 30,000 Scots (In Freedom's Cause: a Story of Wallace and Bruce, by George Alfred Henty), to the numbers I've used here (20,000 English vs. 5,500 Scots - from If Freedom Fail, by Moray McLaren.) In any event, by all accounts, the Scots were outnumbered by three or four to one.

2,000 Copies Sold

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:27:00 +0000

Sometime in April, The Pict officially sold its 2,000th copy. While that doesn't exactly make it a bestseller, The Pict has far exceeded my initial expectations. I remember thinking that if one person read (and liked) The Pict, I'd be pleased, and I'd continue to write. So obviously, I'm very pleased, and I'm still writing.

I want to thank everyone who has read The Pict, and especially those who took the time to let other potential readers know what they thought of it in online reviews. Those reviews are priceless in both the encouragement and the advice they offer to receptive writers. Mostly, they're priceless in helping potential readers determine whether or not a book is worth their money.

I'm encouraged by readers' reception of The Pict. I'm also certain that Jerusalem Falls is a much better book. To those of you who've been waiting to read it, thanks again for your patience...it won't be long now!

Book Review: The 'Templar of Tyre'

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:15:00 +0000

The Templar of Tyre: Part III of the 'Deeds of the Cypriots by Paul Crawford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is possibly the most valuable book I have ever purchased. I've done endless research into the history of the Crusades between 1270 and 1291, and of the Templars until their dissolution in 1314. Nothing I have read matches this first hand account written by a close confidant and scribe of the Templar Grand Master, William de Beaujeu. The author witnessed some of the most significant events of the last decades of the Outremer crusader states, including the disastrous fall of Acre in 1291. His account makes clear the deteriorating conditions and the internal conflict that led to the final collapse of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem.

This book is pricey, but its contents are priceless.

View all my reviews

The Trial of the Templars, by Malcolm Barber

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:44:00 +0000

The Trial of the Templars 2ed by Malcolm Barber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an excellent historical analysis of the arrest and trial of the Templar Knights from 1307 to 1314. Malcolm Barber's meticulous research, vast knowledge, and clear analysis make this book well worth reading. Barber offers a lucid, detailed explanation of the reasons, the methods, and the machinations that brought about the persecution and defeat of the most powerful, influential, and respected medieval military order the world has known.

This book is essential to anyone who has more than a passing interest in the true history of the Templars, those Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon.

View all my reviews

Long Overdue Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:40:00 +0000

It's been three years now since The Pict was published, and it's been a long while since I last updated this blog. The Pict has been doing very well, for the most part on its own, since I've done very little marketing for it lately.

I've focused entirely on my next novel, Jerusalem Falls. It's coming along nicely. The writing is flowing better than it has since Karen was first diagnosed in January, 2007. The depth of the impact of Karen's illness and passing is almost indescribable. It has taken me this long to really feel like I'm back on track, and for most of the last three years I wondered if I'd ever again care about writing at all. But I care very deeply about writing, and I'm definitely back on track.

Jerusalem Falls is a good story. It's blown up to more than 620 pages and counting, which is good; there's a lot to cut out, and a lot of very good material that will make the final cut. I'm only more pleased as I continue to make progress.

I won't promise a release date. I've learned over the last two years that the pressure of artificial deadlines interferes with creativity. One of the bosses I admired most in my prior career once told me that if I wanted something really bad, I'd get it bad, but if I wanted it good, I needed to just take the time to do it right. I've reminded myself of that wisdom often this last year, and it's helped me to focus on making the next novel better. So, while I know there are many out there waiting for Jerusalem Falls, and who have for the most part stopped asking when it would be published, I appreciate your interest and your patience, and I feel safe in assuring you that when it's out, you will get it better rather than sooner, and you will not be disappointed. It's really coming along very well.

The best to all, and thanks for your support and good wishes.

Jack

Medieval Inquisition

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:04:00 +0000

Studying the Medieval Inquisition can be a sobering, disturbing experience. The extent to which men will go to consolidate and preserve their power over others appears to be nearly limitless. Estimates vary as to the numbers of the Inquisition's victims, but one thing is clear: the Papal Inquisition has touched every life on earth since its inception in 1234.

It's interesting to note that one of the two primary tortures institutionalized by the Inquisition - the methods of which were described in painstaking detail by the authors of the inquisitors' manuals - was waterboarding. The Ordeal by Water was carried out precisely as it still is today. It was defined as acceptable, sanctioned torture by the Inquisition. It's also interesting to note the inquisitors' eventual acceptance that the Ordeal by Water and the Ordeal by Fire produced no valuable information or legitimate confessions, but rather were effective for one solitary purpose: terrorizing their victims.

Another interesting note is that the Inquisition executed its last victim in 1826 - almost thirty-seven years after the new American government declared the separation of church and state. The Inquisition was contemporary to the lives of the Founding Fathers; it raged as they sought to prevent its influence from extending to the United States. The Inquisiton officially ended in 1834, just prior to our nation's descent into civil war. We would do well to recognize that the ideas and the passions that can inspire such things as inquisition and genocide are not distant, archaic history, but contemporary dangers worthy of our active vigilance. Their rise requires the demonization and isolation of distinct groups; their avoidance requires that we reject such things in the progress of our daily lives, and that we maintain with due resolve the separation of the powers that can - and will - conspire to bring them into being.

My second novel, which takes place in 13th century France and the Holy Land, will be available in the summer of this year.

Resources: The Grand Inquisitor's Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God, by Jonathan Kirsch; The Cathars: The Most Successful Heresy of the Middle Ages, by Sean Martin; The Yellow Cross: the Story of the Last Cathars' Rebellion Against the Inquisition, by René Weis.

Carla Nayland Historical Fiction: Pictish female names

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:46:00 +0000

An excellent post on Pictish history:

Carla Nayland Historical Fiction: Pictish female names

Thank you for that, Carla!

Kindle Versions

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:40:00 +0000

The Pict on Amazon

I've finally gotten the Kindle versions of The Pict straight. The poorly formatted version is no longer available at Amazon. I'm hoping that some time soon iUniverse will make good on their agreement to remove the first edition paperback from print, and make it unavailable, as I doubt they ever resolved the problem of the erroneous cover graphics. Barnes & Noble also has an eBook version of The Pict available.

Progress on Number Two

I've continued to make good progress on Number Two. I've done some heavy editing, practically rewriting several chapters in their entirity. I've found that while I tried to make good use of the time Karen and I spent at the chemo clinic and various other medical facilities, my head wasn't in it the way I thought it was. It's mildly frustrating, but I'm happy that I'm making significant improvements to what I've got, and filling in the blanks as well. My "editors" have told me that what I had is much better now, and what I'm adding is top notch. I trust their judgment, and I appreciate my readers' patience as I look to a Spring 2010 release date.

More to come.

Kindle, and New Edition of The Pict

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Well, it's taking some time to get the various editions of The Pict straight on Amazon. There are two Kindle versions, one for $3.84, and one for $6.00. The $6.00 edition should be $4.80, and the $3.84 version (which should also be $4.80) is flowing through from an affiliated website (http://www.mobipocket.com/).

The latest paperback edition is priced lower than the original edition, but the original edition still shows up when the title is searched. The new edition shows up in the "Also Available in" box below the main title area. It will apparently take some time to get this all worked out. So far, I'm very happy with Amazon's responsiveness in dealing with it.

If nothing else, I'm learning a lot about publishing my own books and editions. By the time Number Two rolls around, I'll have it straight.

New Kindle Version of The Pict

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:18:00 +0000

I've re-published The Pict for Kindle, but it'll take a couple of days while Amazon processes the new version. I fixed the formatting errors in the original version, so it should be easier to read on the Kindle.

If you don't have a Kindle, I strongly recommend it. I think e-readers are the future of book reading. The e-ink technology makes reading from the device easy on the eyes, the books are cheaper and easier to get, and they save trees. It's a lot easier (and cheaper) for authors to publish, so books can be priced much lower. The Kindle will pay for itself as you pay less for your books and download them instantaneously via Amazon's 3G Whispernet connection. There's no charge or subscription for the Whispernet connection; it's part of the Kindle.

I'm not getting a Kindle commission from Amazon. I just love my Kindle. :)

Latest News

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:35:00 +0000

I'm in the process of publishing the 2nd edition of The Pict through Standing Stone Press, an imprint of Ridley Park Books. The 2nd edition will be available on Amazon within a few days. I like the new (slightly smaller) format much better than the first. It might not seem like there's much of a difference between (5.5" x 8.5") and (6" x 9"), but I think there is. The smaller size is closer to the size of a Kindle, and it just feels better.

I'm also publishing a 2nd edition for the Kindle, to fix formatting problems with the 1st edition. I've eliminated the graphic at the head of each chapter, because that only got in the way, and I want the text to flow more smoothly. I've learned from reading my own Kindle that simple, clean, and straightforward is best. The new Kindle edition should be available in a couple of weeks.

I'll publish my second novel, also historical fiction, shortly after the holidays, in early 2010. It's a much more substantial book than The Pict, pushing 500 pages, set in medieval Europe and Jerusalem. I like the way it's going. I think the story will be a good read.

Happy holidays to all!

Jack

Operation Ebook Drop

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:47:00 +0000

The Pict is now available as an ebook (on Smashwords, for Kindle, Sony eReader, Mobi, and other ebook readers), FREE to deployed military personnel, through Operation Ebook Drop.

Operation Ebook Drop provides free ebooks to deployed military personnel by e-mailing them coupons, upon request, for free ebooks from Smashwords. The service member then "purchases" the book at Smashwords, enters the coupon for 100% off, and downloads the book for use on the ereader of their choice.

Operation Ebook Drop was started by Ed C. Patterson, a prolific independent author, who partnered with Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, to build this effort into a resounding success. With close to 300 independently published authors participating, the program offers a wide variety of reading material.

Please help spread the word to deployed soldiers who would like to take advantage of this valuable program. For details on how to contact Operation Ebook Drop, go here, and scroll down to the How to Participate heading.

My many thanks to Ed and Mark for providing a way for independent authors to do a little something to support our troops, who are working so very hard, and so courageously to serve their country.

Progress on Number Two

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:52:00 +0000

I've been picking up steam on Number Two, pulling it all together, writing more all the time, and editing along the way. I deleted about 30,000 words with which I was no longer happy (thought it was crap, really), and I've gotten 102,000 words completed so far, in 33 chapters, with which I'm mostly happy. The story line's coming together even better than it was before - that's really inspired me, too.

I'm hoping to publish around Christmas.

Self-Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:31:00 +0000

I've joined the ranks of the truly self-published. I've set up my own publishing company, and I'm ready to publish the second edition of The Pict, improved and re-formatted. I'll also self-publish Number Two, and the expanded Pict later this year.

In a later post, I'll go into the advantages of self-publishing, and the process. There's a lot of good information already out there, so I'll also provide an ample list of links. There are pros and cons, as in everything, but I think the pros far outweigh the cons. If anyone's interested, I'd be happy to discuss self-publishing.

I hope all is well with everyone.

Cheers.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Happy Saint Patty's Day to all! Spring's coming, and words are flowing, and the Harley's calling me to blow out the cobwebs and get some miles on its bones. I hope all is well with everyone, and that all my fellow writers are feeling inspired and productive.

I set up my publishers' account with Lightning Source, so I've officially become a "publisher." I can really claim the title when I re-release The Pict under my own banner, Ridley Park Books, later this year. I'll also publish Novel Number Two later this year, and the expanded version of The Pict in early 2010.

I'll get more into the mechanics of that process soon, in case anyone's thinking of going truly independent to publish their work.

Jack

http://www.jdixon.net/

(website newly refurbished)

Working the Web Site

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:26:00 +0000

I'm reworking my website (http://www.jdixon.net/). I've had to switch web hosting companies, and I found what appears to be a good, solid web host. The problem is that their free online web development tool really sucks, so I'm teaching myself GoLive CS2 in the process. Nothing like diving into the deep end to learn how to swim.

I'll be building a second site, too, called Ridley Park Books (http://www.ridleyparkbooks.com/). I'll be publishing my second novel completely independently. It's a bold new venture - my favorite kind. I'll also help other authors who are interested in truly self-publishing rather than going with an "assisted self-publishing" company, to publish their work.

Things still look good for a Fall 2009 release of Novel Number Two, and then early Spring 2010 for the expanded version of The Pict. I'm most looking forward to the expanded Pict, as it's the story that's closest to my heart, and there's so much more to tell than I was able to get into the first release.

It seems someone beat me to the title for Number Two, the working title I've had at the head of the mauscript for about seven years. The Templar, by Paul Doherty, was published in April 2008. I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to that when I have the time. Fair play to you, Paul! I wish you good fortune on your Templar series. Ah, well...this is the sort of thing that keeps us creative, now, isn't it, trying to come up with yet one more title that's just right for the story? Have to come up with something catchy for Number Two.

Number Two, Moving Along

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Picking up the pace on Number Two, the tale of the tortured Templar. I'm anticipating a Fall 2009 release of my 2nd historical novel, followed closely by the amplification of The Pict. I continue to be pleased with the acceptance of The Pict, and I'm looking forward to meeting the requests I've received for more.

Novel Number Two: Progress Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Dixon) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Novel Number Two is progressing fairly well. I've been doing a lot of renewed research into the culture and the history of the medieval county of Toulouse, the birthplace of the novel's main character. I've found in my research that there existed a degree of political and religious betrayal, intrigue, plotting, and subterfuge far greater than what I had imagined. It's mind-boggling to contemplate what it must have been like to live in those treacherous times.

The experience brings to mind some of the freedoms we've come to expect that simply did not exist in the past repression of political and religious authorities. We scoff openly - and most often rightly - at our contemporary politicians and their drive to manipulate and control us. We blithely ignore the edicts and admonitions of the religious leaders who in times past inspired the deepest and most abject fears in the hearts of their congregants. In Novel Number Two, the starkness of medieval religious and political domination will come to life and frame the story of one man's journey through the gauntlet of its driving force.

One of the great challenges of writing historical fiction is to escape our contemporary attitudes and try to accurately capture those of the people of the time. I'm sure I failed to do that as well as I could have in the story of The Pict, and that will be improved in the expanded version of that novel. For now I'm immersing myself in the mores and the mindset that reigned in the days of our tormented but undaunted protagonist.

I'd welcome discussion of medieval society, culture, and politics on this blog.