Month: November 2023

We Wrote a Book in a Day. Now what?

Posted on by Tony McFadden

Months ago, five very talented writers and a kick-ass artist and I wrote a book in a day for the Kid’s Cancer Project. It was a blast getting together with writers I’ve worked with before and meeting new faces.

We wrote “Queen Ruby’s Lottery”, a C.S. Lewis-styled story set in Manly, NSW, featuring Ruby, Queen of an alternate reality community.

The whole project was to get sponsorship to help fund the Kids Cancer Project. If you’re interested in the Write-a-Book-in-a-Day concept, you can read more about it here. Very generous sponsors of our team helped us raise of $3,300 this year. All told, over the years that we’ve done this, we’ve raised over $15,000.

And this year, we’re doing something different.

We’ve had the book published. On December 16th at the Manly Village Public School, a bunch of the co-authors will be at the Manly Lions stall from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm with copies of the books for sale. Signing is optional (and at no extra charge). ALL proceeds go to the Kid’s Cancer Project.

(Stay tuned for links to order the book online. Maybe no signatures, but profits for the first year — ALL profits) go to Kids’ Cancer Project.)

If you’re in the area (and I know many of you aren’t — I’ve got readers from all over the world and am grateful for that), pop by, say hi, and maybe pick up a copy.

The book is available on Kindle if you can’t make it but still want to support the Kid’s Cancer Project.

Nick Harding’s 4th Case

Posted on by Tony McFadden

I’m halfway through the first draft of this story. Nick’s in a rough place and while he will inevitably prevail, I’m a bit stumped how he’s going to get out of it. But he has to before the next chapter, because that chapter started with him out of rough place.

Plotting versus Pantsing is a facile argument. I’ve got the first two Acts plotted out very well. But the plot isn’t by any means the final story. This is how I’ve described this chapter in Scrivener:

I’ll find my way to the end. I’ll use dialogue to exposition some stuff that needs expositing (are these even words? Who knows?), including what information I need to get out of the antagonist at this point of the story.

This is also a good opportunity to close out any minor inconsistencies that might have popped up so far. You’ll have to tie them up at some point.

This chapter is almost like a bottle episode in a long-running TV show. It’s in one location, has minimal characters and a very tightly constrained information flow.

And, as a plotter, I’m not ashamed to say it is almost 100% pantsed. Going in, I have no idea how I’m coming out.

I just know where I’ll be when I do.

Anyway. It’s still a work in progress. I have no idea what the title will be yet. Cover art is still a daydream. But I know it will be available June 1, 2024

A Podcast, Maybe?

Posted on by Tony McFadden
black headset on condenser microphone

I’ve been bouncing around this idea for the past month or so and would like to hear your thoughts.

While the first draft of my next Nick Harding is percolating (a few months away — I’m only halfway through writing it), I was considering starting a podcast called “First Chapters”.

Each episode would focus on one of my books. I’d start with a brief story about the inspiration for the book, then read the first chapter. If it takes off, I’ve got local writer friends I’d invite as guests to read their first chapter.

I’d publish an episode a week, and with my current library, that would be twenty episodes.

Is this something you’d listen to? Let me know in the comments.