TAU4/HAMMERSPACE : Week 4 UCLA: 4/27: Marketing, Protecting and Publishing

[taufour]

Wow -- last week at UCLA -- I think I have learned at least as much as I was trying to get across! This last talk will encompass how to do a good cover, why its still important, self and print on demand publishing, how to register and protect your work and when its a good idea NOT to join a writer's group. But looking forward to getting back to the writing myself at the end of this week -- hope everyone is having a great Spring and getting lots of work done! 

The Writing workshop I am leading at UCLA continues fun and challenging -- it should please everyone to know how seriously some of these young, emerging authors take their work and study, in light of the changes occurring in the publishing industry. We have soul brothers and sisters coming up right behind us -- mentor one today if you can! I guarantee you will find it satisfying and a great learning experience!  

See you on campus for Week Three where a special workshop will be engaging participants at a very unexpected level -- April 20, at 4 pm in the SAC. Until then -- keep on writing!

Had a truly wonderful time last Wednesday on UCLA campus with the Emerging Writers Workshop -- this week's topics include, SEEING THE SHOTS, Writing between Genres, How to Drive Story with Arcs -- and whatever else I can come up with! Will be citing examples from TAU4 and HAMMERSPACE, as well as films. Hope to see you there if you are in Los Angeles, April 13th at 4 pm!

Well here we go! April 6th, at UCLA from 4-6 pm, SAC building -- the first of the four Workshops will cover basic story elements, why formatting is important across genres, how to storyboard your work and the use of Quiiet Mind -- these Workshops are free to all participants. If you are local in LA won't you stop by and say hello?


Starting April 6, 2011 for four consecutive Wednesdays (4-6 pm) I will be presenting a Writers Workshop at UCLA, for the Writers Success Program, aimed at introducing and focusing some of the techniques I use in my work, exploring writing trends and tips and in the last week, getting into marketing and creating work in the new digital age -- details coming soon! But if you are local in Los Angeles, I invite you to attend, its free! More to come.....[/color]

Back from CONDOR San Diego -- What a thrill to be on panels with Larry Niven and Greg Benford (Guest of Honour, and such a gentleman!) Faith restored in the future of SciFi in novels, in film and yes -- at Conventions like CONDOR.
Now finishing this Fantasy/Horror novella and gearing up for Origins Game Fair in Columbus Ohio, soon approaching in June. Hope everyone is having a great Spring - summer and summer reading is nigh! Get out your Kindles and get some good books!  
 
TAU4 was awarded Honourable Mention (SciFi Division) in the New England Book Festival Awards for last year -- very happy that this book placed in both competitions for the year. T4 Book One, in the series, is available for a song at Kindle!

[MidWest Book Reviews posted a short and sweet review in their Reader's Choice section (Dec 2010) for HAMMERSPACE -- '.... The second book in the Tau4 series, "Hammerspace" is a riveting read that will prove hard to put down.'

I really will have HAMMERSPACE available on Kindle very soon! Hope all of you who liked TAU and enjoy a twisty, passionate and provocative read will sample at my site vjwaks.com.

Meanwhile enjoying the KB community, met some wonderful folks from Russia, no less!

Ahoy all -- here are the latest updates from the world of TAU4 (and V.J. Waks, the Keeper of the Claws) :
First and foremost -- a hearty thanks to all who responded to the first thread, and sent on their words of support!  I promise to update in a more timely fashion.
I should let folks know that TAU4 was RUNNERUP, SCIFI DIVISION, in the San Francisco Book Festival Awards Competition 2010   just a few months back and I neglected to put this on the site.

I had a BLAST at LOSCON this November, the Los Angeles Scifi and Fantasy Convention and I want all writers and fans who are local to consider attending this in November next -- great writers, fans, great seminars and a wonderful experience overall.
Also, I am hard at work on my first bona-fide Fantasy novel -- too soon to talk about it much but am REALLY enjoying this genre and stretching my literary muscles with it. More on this as it develops, may need a few readers to look things over as it goes along.


I'm pleased to share my new scifi series with the KB community. TAU4 is available now, Book Two, HAMMERSPACE will be on Kindle in March.
I was heavily influenced by the classics (Tolkien, LeGuin, Norton, StarWars) but Tau's story is original, and the books are richly written, in tone and imagery. If you like being right there in the story, if you like strong visuals and vivid language, and like your SciFi leaning heavily toward SpecFic, you'll probably find these satisfying reads.

But read carefully -- nothing is as it appears to be! There are conspiracies playing in the backgrounds of both books. This should titillate readers who appreciate a good mystery, and amuse those who enjoy watching authors stand on their heads to connect all the dots.

Check out HAMMERSPACE on Amazon and my site for reviews and full synopses -- Warning! HAMMERSPACE : Spoiler alerts for those who haven't finished TAU4.

TAU4... a superbly crafted work... MIDWEST BOOK REVIEWS
An almost poetic narrative ... a pleasure to read.  scifi.uk.com

Deceit, betrayal, obsession -- TAU4 chronicles the clash between creator and created, the struggle between strength and right, and the conflict of a man who refuses to accept the limits of his own humanity, and a creature who is just beginning to learn her own.

[M.S. Verish]

Hiya, Victoria! So glad you joined Kindleboards! Another familair face. We're even happier to see Hammerspace. Yay for you! Hope all is well. We miss you and the rest of the "Undead Authors' Society".

 

[Ann in Arlington]

Welcome to KindleBoards, V.J., and congratulations on your book.

(If you've gotten this welcome before, it's just as a matter of housekeeping. We like to put a copy of the "welcome letter" in each book thread.  It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, it just helps us know that you know the rules.)

A brief recap of our rules follows:

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[Archer]

Hey, VJ! You made it!

(Guys...I recommend Tau 4. If you like really neat, organic scifi with strong characters and wonderful, descriptive prose, you'll enjoy this.)

Then, on to HAMMERSPACE! 

[taufour]

Thanks to Archer and Steph and Matt -- wishing you all the best for the New Year!
Victoria

[taufour]

Ahoy all -- here are the latest updates from the world of TAU4 (and V.J. Waks, the Keeper of the Claws) :
First and foremost -- a hearty thanks to all who responded to the first thread, and sent on their words of support!  I promise to update in a more timely fashion.
I should let folks know that TAU4 was RUNNERUP, SCIFI DIVISION, in the San Francisco Book Festival Awards Competition 2010   just a few months back and I neglected to put this on the site.
I had a BLAST at LOSCON this November, the Los Angeles Scifi and Fantasy Convention and I want all writers and fans who are local to consider attending this in November next -- great writers, fans, great seminars and a wonderful experience overall.
Also, I am hard at work on my first bona-fide Fantasy novel -- too soon to talk about it much but am REALLY enjoying this genre and stretching my literary muscles with it. More on this as it develops, may need a few readers to look things over as it goes along.
That’s it for now! See you here, same time, same station in about a week, and until then, keep on reading and keep on writing!
V.J. WAKS

[M.S. Verish]

When does Hammerspace come out on Kindle? We're eagerly waiting.

[taufour]

HAMMERSPACE in its goliath original form is in the hands of KINDLE minions in the forests of Indiana (Poland, Indiana to be precise!)

There, it will be carefully and cagily reworked until hey-presto! It will appear in a Kindle format that even the most discerning and particular tastes would approve.

In other words -- soon! Miss you two!

much love
Victoria
 

[Archer]

So...you're suggesting I should get off my tush and get Hammerspace up and running? 

[taufour]

I would never dream of doing so! Your tush is very important and needs its rest! The minions will get to it when they do -- and in the meantime, the forests of Poland, Indiana, remain safe for all mankind.
And for a few horses, and maybe even a few black and white hero dogs....
 
Get better soon or I will have to send chicken soup, or worse -- the last of the girl scout cookies!
much love
Vic

[taufour]

http://
Greetings from Altair and Sephis and a few of the Outworlds!

Just found that MidWest Book Reviews posted a short and sweet review in their Reader's Choice section (Dec 2010) for HAMMERSPACE -- '.... The second book in the Tau4 series, "Hammerspace" is a riveting read that will prove hard to put down.'

I will have HAMMERSPACE available on Kindle very soon! Hope all of you who liked TAU and enjoy a twisty, passionate and provocative read will sample at my site vjwaks.com.

Meanwhile enjoying the KB community, met some wonderful folks from Russia, no less!

And making progress on the new FANTASY HORROR novel now in the works. ...

Stay tuned here for more news on the upcoming CONDOR CONVENTION in San Diego, the SciFi and Fantasy event of our area that has a great attendance, and a huge SteamPunk following! 

[taufour]

Hope that some of the KB community travel to conventions and hope to see you San Diego at CONDOR
Ahoy all -- here are the latest updates from the world of TAU4 (and V.J. Waks, the Keeper of the Claws) :
First and foremost -- a hearty thanks to all who responded to the first thread, and sent on their words of support!  I promise to update in a more timely fashion.
I should let folks know that TAU4 was RUNNERUP, SCIFI DIVISION, in the San Francisco Book Festival Awards Competition 2010   just a few months back and I neglected to put this on the site.
I had a BLAST at LOSCON this November, the Los Angeles Scifi and Fantasy Convention and I want all writers and fans who are local to consider attending this in November next -- great writers, fans, great seminars and a wonderful experience overall.
Also, I am hard at work on my first bona-fide Fantasy novel -- too soon to talk about it much but am REALLY enjoying this genre and stretching my literary muscles with it. More on this as it develops, may need a few readers to look things over as it goes along.

[taufour]

So many books... so little time!

[taufour]

And here we go again!

[taufour]

Very excited about presenting this Workshop this April!

[Archer]

We all want a full report! 

And now, in the news: Jeff has promised to get Hammerspace up this week. Keep your eyes on the prize...

[taufour]

Many thanks! A full debriefing will be posted -- if I survive the series!

[taufour]

Really looking forward to this!

[taufour]

Such a great group of participants!

[taufour]

And here we go into Week Three....

[taufour]

Nearly done and so ready to power forward with the new novel!