Thoughts of Steel from Rejections to Publication
Guest Post by Keith Edward English
Two of the characters from the first thing I wrote became the protagonist and the antagonist for my book, Thoughts of Steel. I finished the book as a freshman in college and sent it out to publishers in all its horrible glory. I felt goddamn good for completing the book, but overlooked the whole part where it was supposed to be good.
Rejection after rejection led me to think that maybe something was wrong. I gave up on the book and moved on to other things. In the meantime, I discovered a project called Dargonzine.org. I joined and have published a handful of stories with them thus far. One day, something possessed me to go back to Thoughts of Steel. I found that I liked the story, despite it being poorly written and without much character depth. I must have had a soft spot for it. I sent it to my mentor for Dargonzine.org and he tore it to pieces like he does with everything I write. And it did both the book and me a whole hell of a lot of good.
I spent weeks revising the book, filling my cardboard characters with flesh and bone, restructuring the plot so that it actually worked. Eventually, I had something that I not only liked, but respected as a cohesive work.
I do know that I came up with Phalax and Zeraskyr first, then just needed some kind of conflict, so I found one. It all started with those two, then it morphed into Thoughts of Steel.
I did have a real defining moment for the story though. I was working at Panera, a freshman in college. Dishes, hundreds of them, came back to my sinks dirty then went up to the servers clean… okay, just somewhat clean. I had gotten stuck in a way. I still had more to write, but I didn’t know where I was going. Suddenly, as I was rinsing a bowl, it hit me. I understood why I was writing the book in the direction it was going and what was supposed to happen next. The series was born after that, paving the way for two more books following Thoughts of Steel.
I write in revelations, having that “ah-ha” moment well before I really need it, allowing me to never really get stuck. I think I’m gifted that way, and am sure that gift has paid off in Thoughts of Steel.
Rejection after rejection led me to think that maybe something was wrong. I gave up on the book and moved on to other things. In the meantime, I discovered a project called Dargonzine.org. I joined and have published a handful of stories with them thus far. One day, something possessed me to go back to Thoughts of Steel. I found that I liked the story, despite it being poorly written and without much character depth. I must have had a soft spot for it. I sent it to my mentor for Dargonzine.org and he tore it to pieces like he does with everything I write. And it did both the book and me a whole hell of a lot of good.
I spent weeks revising the book, filling my cardboard characters with flesh and bone, restructuring the plot so that it actually worked. Eventually, I had something that I not only liked, but respected as a cohesive work.
I do know that I came up with Phalax and Zeraskyr first, then just needed some kind of conflict, so I found one. It all started with those two, then it morphed into Thoughts of Steel.
I did have a real defining moment for the story though. I was working at Panera, a freshman in college. Dishes, hundreds of them, came back to my sinks dirty then went up to the servers clean… okay, just somewhat clean. I had gotten stuck in a way. I still had more to write, but I didn’t know where I was going. Suddenly, as I was rinsing a bowl, it hit me. I understood why I was writing the book in the direction it was going and what was supposed to happen next. The series was born after that, paving the way for two more books following Thoughts of Steel.
I write in revelations, having that “ah-ha” moment well before I really need it, allowing me to never really get stuck. I think I’m gifted that way, and am sure that gift has paid off in Thoughts of Steel.
About the Book
TITLE: Thoughts of Steel (The Ruination Gods) Book 1
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2016
AUTHOR: Keith Edward English
PAGE COUNT: 405
ISBN: 978-0692625071
IMPRINT: Chimera
GENRE: Epic Fantasy/Action & Adventure
SYNOPSIS: The world turns cold as steel when it begins to die, and the divine will answer for the plight of man...
Life, as the inhabitants of Zepzier know it, ends as things of myth become a harsh and terrifying reality. Everything that Phalax, a battle-hardened defender of the kingdom of Cavia, has cared for begins to slip through his grasp as nightmares begin to plague his world. When he loses everything, he is left with nothing but a need for revenge, and the road to vengeance will be paved by the blood of both friend and foe.
Phalax once upheld justice. Now, right and wrong have no meaning to him, and morality has no bearing on his actions. He worships no gods, not even those who imbue him with incredible power. He will murder the enemy of his homeland and leave no threat standing. Nothing will stop him--no mortal, no demon, no god.
BOOK PAGE: http://ravenswoodpublishing.com/bookpages/thoughtsofsteel.html
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2016
AUTHOR: Keith Edward English
PAGE COUNT: 405
ISBN: 978-0692625071
IMPRINT: Chimera
GENRE: Epic Fantasy/Action & Adventure
SYNOPSIS: The world turns cold as steel when it begins to die, and the divine will answer for the plight of man...
Life, as the inhabitants of Zepzier know it, ends as things of myth become a harsh and terrifying reality. Everything that Phalax, a battle-hardened defender of the kingdom of Cavia, has cared for begins to slip through his grasp as nightmares begin to plague his world. When he loses everything, he is left with nothing but a need for revenge, and the road to vengeance will be paved by the blood of both friend and foe.
Phalax once upheld justice. Now, right and wrong have no meaning to him, and morality has no bearing on his actions. He worships no gods, not even those who imbue him with incredible power. He will murder the enemy of his homeland and leave no threat standing. Nothing will stop him--no mortal, no demon, no god.
BOOK PAGE: http://ravenswoodpublishing.com/bookpages/thoughtsofsteel.html
About the Author
Keith lives in Stockton, CA, teaching Krav Maga at American Martial Arts Academy. He enjoys a nice cigar on rare occasions but cannot exist long without good beer. He absolutely loves metal and rock, In Flames and Lamb of God his musical bread and butter. Besides teaching Krav and headbanging to metal, Keith also enjoys the outdoors, its furry and feathery inhabitants, drawing, and spending time with his loved ones.
EMAIL: kedwardenglish@gmail.com
AUTHOR LINKS: http://dargonzine.org/author/kenglish/, http://www.twitter.com/kedwardenglish, https://www.facebook.com/keith.english.359, http://keithedwardenglishauthor.com/
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AVZFL4S
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AVZFL4S
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thoughts-of-steel-keith-edward-english/1123296141;jsessionid=1F40E8FE0B2F03BF9F0D24CBA78F5ECA.prodny_store01-atgap07?ean=2940152836561
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/thoughts-of-steel
GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Keith_Edward_English_Thoughts_of_Steel?id=apJrCwAAQBAJ&hl=en
iBOOKS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1077370310
CREATESPACE: https://www.createspace.com/6012283
PAPERBACK: http://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Steel-Ruination-Gods-1/dp/0692625070/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1454729622&sr=8-1&keywords=thoughts+of+steel+keith+edwards
EMAIL: kedwardenglish@gmail.com
AUTHOR LINKS: http://dargonzine.org/author/kenglish/, http://www.twitter.com/kedwardenglish, https://www.facebook.com/keith.english.359, http://keithedwardenglishauthor.com/
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AVZFL4S
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AVZFL4S
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thoughts-of-steel-keith-edward-english/1123296141;jsessionid=1F40E8FE0B2F03BF9F0D24CBA78F5ECA.prodny_store01-atgap07?ean=2940152836561
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/thoughts-of-steel
GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Keith_Edward_English_Thoughts_of_Steel?id=apJrCwAAQBAJ&hl=en
iBOOKS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1077370310
CREATESPACE: https://www.createspace.com/6012283
PAPERBACK: http://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Steel-Ruination-Gods-1/dp/0692625070/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1454729622&sr=8-1&keywords=thoughts+of+steel+keith+edwards
Thoughts of Steel eBook Giveaway
5 Winners - Open Worldwide
