Book 2 Info

So, as I continue through the final third of the first draft of Book 2 of Korin's Journal, I'd like to start posting more information about it.  To start, here's the titles of the first 19 chapters comprising the first major story arc in which Korin  makes his way to Tahron with some little(read: catastrophically major) hiccups including being kidnapped, hunted down by a tattooed Contract Holder, enslaved, and confronted with disturbing revelations about his father and the war in Gualain.

Remnants of the Past

(Because sometimes we hang out with peacocks and emus)

It's been a little while since I posted a blog.  Seems life has a funny way of getting in the way.

Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to post the prologue to an abandoned book I started back in high school over ten years ago now(hm...does that mean I'm getting old?).  The book was going to be called Secret of the Kolari: Book One of the Broken Cycle Saga.  Ten chapters in, I shelved it, but I found myself looking back at it tonight and decided to share a bit of it.

If you have read The Dragon Gem, you  probably noticed from the name alone that I carried over ideas from Secret of the Kolari to it.  Mainly, I just recycled a bunch of names.  Korin, Menar, Geeron, Kolarin, Ingran, and Kipp are just a few names that made the transfer.  Korin was the name of the protagonist for Secret of the Kolari, though he had a twin brother named Kris.   

Next time, I'll post some information on Book 2 of Korin's Journal.  I'm still a few months away from finishing the first draft, but I'm ready to post some longer excerpts, chapter names, and maybe even a title reveal in the near future. I'm also hoping to find some beta readers to check out the first story arc of it soon to get some feedback, so if you have any interest in participating, drop me a line here, www.facebook.com/brianbeamauthor, or at bbeams32@gmail.com.

I'll end by reminding everyone that I have posted a giveaway for a signed copy of The Dragon Gem on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/31584-the-dragon-gem.  It runs until the end of September.

So, without further ado, and no guarantees on grammar,  here's the prologue to the abandoned Secret of the Kolari.

Best wishes to all,

Brian Beam

Moving On

Well, got all moved into our house in North Carolina(if huge stacks of packed boxes counts as moved in).  Looking forward to getting back to writing on my book over the next few days.  With all the unpacking ahead of us, watching the little guy when my wife's at work, and looking for work myself, my free time will be few and far between, but as any writer will testify, you've just got to make it work.

Anyway, we've moved to Granite Quarry, NC which is strange in that many yards randomly have huge chunks of rock just jutting out of the ground.  It's a beautiful area, though, and I appreciate being a little closer to the ocean(4+ hours, but it sure beats the 10-12 hours from where we lived before).  

I'm just going to keep this brief since I have a good million priorities I should be seeing to over writing posts!  Everyone have a wonderful weekend!

Brian Beam

Feet Back on the Road

So, went for my first run since my appendectomy three weeks ago.  If any reading this are joggers, then you know how frustrating it can be when something keeps you from running.  Runners are of a special stubbornness-the kind where even after surgery, you think "Maybe if I just go for a mile or so, my intestines won't spill onto the pavement..."

Anyway, being a licensed nurse(which brings about a whole other special breed of stubbornness), I tried to be good and wait until at least after my follow-up MD visit before setting back out for a run.  My follow-up went well and with my move to NC coming up this week, this was my last chance to get out there and test the waters, so to speak.

I set out for a slow one-miler in an effort to take things slowly and ended up with two just over my pre-surgery pace!  

For me, this is not just a huge thing for just getting back into the joy of running, but also because running plays a major role in my writing(and writers have yet another unique stubbornness).  When I feel like my plot has run into a wall(or down into a deep, dark hole for that matter), that I'm in a rut, that my creativity has run dry, or I have good ol' fashioned writer's block, a good run is all I need to dig myself out.  Most of my plots points originated during a good run.

So, hopefully this will help keep me a little more focused on my book.  Thirty minutes to an hour of running may take away that much time from writing, but more than makes up for it in inspiration.

Have a great week, everyone!

Brian Beam

The Dragon Gem Book Trailer

Thanks to a handy-dandy(that's right, I said handy-dandy) Animoto tutorial on Indies Unlimited( www.indiesunlimited.com ), The Dragon Gem: Book One of Korin's Journal now has a nifty(yep, nifty) book trailer.  Check it out at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW1qAgbS2Bo

Special thanks to Pluto Revolts for allowing me to use their song, Suffer No Delusions for the trailer.  Pluto Revolts is a great band from the Cincinnati, OH area.  Check them out at http://www.plutorevolts.com/ and show them some love!

Hope you enjoy the trailer!  

Brian Beam