Thursday, September 25, 2014

Book Sisters Review of The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes

REVIEW!!


So the first for reals review is up for BPG: Prototypes.  The Book Sisters don't post their reviews to their site.  Full disclosure, they do charge and I did pay.  Apparently they do give out shitty reviews and are supposed to let me know before they post it up on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.  They didn't.  Fortunately for me, they gave me 4 out of 5 stars, which is a positive review   I thank them for their honesty, which will affect the second edition that will release later this year.  She is pretty honest, so there's bad with the good.

Kyle was a really fascinating main character. He starts out as a 13-year-old human teenager who is repeatedly bullied, and then killed. Definitely an interesting start to what will undoubtedly be an intriguing series. Three years have passed, and he is now a robot that is created to do the bidding of William, his creator. In exchange, William promises Kyle revenge on the boys that murdered him. Unfortunately, even though Kyle is now a robot, he still has some human tendencies. He doesn’t believe he can go through with his murderous plan. During his training, he comes across another human turned robot named 004. Kyle is ordered to destroy Four but instead befriends him. This book was sort of a Robo-Cop, Short Circuit, Star Wars mash-up with a YA twist (with the language maybe not so YA). I loved seeing the world through Kyle’s human eyes and watching the computer program within him battle with who he is. The plot isn't really original, but the action along with the exciting twists and turns definitely sets it apart from other books in the same genre. The book had such great detailed descriptions, making the few typos and editing errors easy to overlook. Although at times I felt the story was a bit forced - especially Kyle's thinking and dialogue. But other than those few instances, it was fast paced, and I found myself rooting for Kyle all the way.


4 out of 5 stars

End of Review
I see the Robocop (I guess), though the influences are a little more Goku: The Midnight Eye (obscure anime, look it up) and a little Guyver Anime as well.  I hear the Robocop comparison from time to time, but I guess if you use cybernetics to bring someone back to life, you'll get that (DC comics' Cyborg, cyber-ninjas in Mortal Kombat, etc). That's not a dig at the reviewer, she did a good job for an Amazon formatted review.  Short Circuit?  I'm not sure if Number/Johnny 5 was the reference for CP 005.  I came up with that designation in high school, but I think I just went with a number that had several numbers behind it so I could bring other prototypes into the mix down the road (sorta spoilers).  
I honestly thought the violence and language might detract, but it didn't and the criticisms were more technical.  Though the book was edited and I haven't heard this before, I'll give it another read before I release the second edition in a couple of months.  
Thanks to The Book Sisters for the positive review and I'm looking forward to the next review. 



Pick up your Kindle Ebook or Physical Softback copy today!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Updates: BPG: In Spades, Geek Galaxy and Feedback on Prototypes



So, the link on the right for the physical copy has been converted into the Amazon version.  I've given several  copies of Prototypes away to friends, family and co-workers.  The feedback has been really positive.  One of my friends said he didn't know what to expect, but not what was happening in the first chunk of the book.  I guess he expected a normal super hero origin, but I tried to buck a lot of those conventions.  Origin stories are normally a little clunky and I wanted to avoid that.

I'm trying to figure out the marketing side of the self publishing biz, but I'm still stabbing in the dark without the funds I need.  I may end up doing an IndyGoGo in order to afford Geek Galaxy.  I also need more reviews for Amazon.  In order to use the newletter-type promotions, I need more reviews with a 4 star or higher average rating.  BPG Prototypes is at 3.8 due to a goddamned troll giving it a one star rating.

 I suspect it might a some one I knew in college.  His name is Crazy Face, but if you look at his public wishlist it's under the name Davi and it is full of computer and camera equipment.  There is only one person I know/knew that is named David and has those specific interest (he opened up a video service for weddings or something, so that fits even more).  I shouldn't be fretting over this so much, but it's making things hard for me, but I'll overcome.  Haters gonna hate, but it still pisses me off. Once you read the book, please put up review.

*I did get a good 4 star review from a stranger that picked up the book.  This pleases my Kinetic Blade!

The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades is coming along nicely.  I have the Prologue and part of the first chapter finished.  I have a lot of scenes in mind, but I'm tempted to write them out of order.  That's not a good idea... but I may do it anyway.  I'm going to try to complete a preview in the next few weeks, since I don't have to work at my job-job next weekend like I thought I might.

Once the preview is done, I'll post it up on here.  I'm also thinking about making a 2nd Edition of Prototypes with a preview to In Spades in the back.  This would be great for Geek Galaxy.

Speaking of, Geek Galaxy has my profile up.  I'm working on a few swag designs.  I'll have pics up on the twitter and instagram.  I'm looking forward to the convention on November 15 and 16, but being the  only straight up author there is going to be a little awkward.

I'll post more updates as they come.  Thanks for the support so far!

-Jake dh

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Vote for BPG: Prototypes' Cover!!

Author Shout is holding a contest called 'Cover Wars' and The BulletProof Ghost is in the running.  I joined Author Shout about a month ago, which put BPG: Prototypes in the running!  Vote for BPG and help the series get a little recognition!     Vote for BPG now!

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Jake's Author Central Page and Physical version is ready for sale!

If you want all of the blog updates, tweets, BPG event listings and everything else BPG (and Jake dh) related all in one place.  Check out my Author Central Page.  Everything from those source updates on there instantly, so it's a really great resource to stay up to date on everything.  I may try to link my Twitter and Blog to the website to cut down on time this weekend, if I can figure out the technicalities.

The Physical version of The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes is officially up on Amazon.  All of the formatting problems have been fixed and it is now available for $6.30.  If you buy either version, please put up a review on Amazon.  Be honest, but don't be a troll.

The website has been updated with this blog as its main source for updates.  This will make things easier in the future.  Editing Wix is a little bit of a pain, so now I just have to post on here.  Hooray!

Things are moving pretty quickly.  I'm working on the second book, The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades.  Geek Galaxy is on November 15th and 16th.  I'm going to shoot for getting In Spades out by then if not release on that very day, but no promises.  I'll put updates here and on twitter on how that's coming along.  I should have a preview up in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the continued interest and support.

-Jake dh

All of the Website Updates for TheBulletProofGhost.com

This post is going to contain all of the updates from the beginning of the website.  The box on the bottom left part of the page goes back to November of 2011.  2011.  These posts go back to the Kickstarter campaign and when BPG was going to be a comic.  

I'm going to try to update the site to where the updates section is this blog.  That's right.  I'll put up another post to confirm this, but for now the box is getting cleared out and all of it is going here.  Enjoy.


August 25, 2014  - The physical version is down for the moment.  The good news is that the Smashwords version is up.  The link to the right leads to both the Kindle and the Smashwords version.

August 18, 2014 - The Physical version is available at CreateSpace now (the Want a Hold in your Hand Copy? link to the right) and will be available on Amazon in 3 days.  BPG is going to be at Geek Galaxy Comic Con!  More info on that on the blog.  Exciting times!

August 17, 2014 - The website has been reshuffled around with the international Kindle links.  The physical copy of BPG: Prototypes should release next week, but I'll throw up a final date soon.  Bigger news is that BPG is going to be at  Geek Galaxy Comic Con.  We should have  a booth after GGCC answers a few of my questions.  We'll have copies of Prototypes, button pins, shirts and other goodies.  Maybe even something really big releasing on the first day, but no promises. http://www.geekgalaxycomiccon.com/

August 9, 2014 - The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes is out now for $.99!  This sale is only for two weeks, so get your copy today.  More updates on the various social networking sites at the bottom as well as the blog >>  Thanks for the support and Stay Tunes for more updates -Jake dh

August 4, 2014 - The release date for The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes will be Saturday, August 9, 2014.  The digitial version for sure will be available, but confirmation on the physicial later in the week.  More info up on the blog>> Thanks for the support and interest.  Tme to push on to BPG: In Spades (volume 2)!

February 16, 2014 - The Preview to The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes is up on the blog.
This consists of the Prologue and the first chapter. 100% free.  I hope you enjoy and I'll try to keep all of you updated. Thanks. -Jake dh

February 9, 2014 - The final draft of BPG: Prototypes is currently being edited.  The process is taking longer than I originallly thought it would.  This isn't a bad thing, but this means that Prototypes won't be out until the end of March.  Sorry for the delay.  Check out the Twitter, it has been really active lately.  Thanks fro the interest and support. -Jake dh

February 3, 2014 - Sorry for the lack of updates on the site.  For more up to date info, please click on the Facbook and Twitter links below. As you may have noticed, the new cover photo is up on the front page.  New photos are also in the image section.  The first novel should be out by the end of the month.  I'll update the site with an offer to get a free copy of The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes within a couple of weeks.  Thanks for the interest and support.  Stay Tuned. -Jake dh

December 29, 2013 - As a new year draws near, the current status of The BulletProof Ghost is changing once again.  The comic is one hold for the moment (I like to say 'for the moment', but it may be for good). I'm going back to the roots of BPG and writing a book series.  I'll independently publish the stories through Amazon Kindle.  The book is currently being written and is based off of the first arc of the comic.  There are more details on the twitter and the blog (both links on this very page). Stay Tuned. -Jake dh

September 10, 2013 - After several delays, the new Kickstarter is up and running.  The link is above and more info is up on the blog, which now exists on Blogger instead of Wix.  Get the Physical comic for only $10 and get a free sweet ass button pin.

July 28, 2013 - New Blog format with all scripts.  Click on the link above the pic.

June 4, 2013 - Many new updates on the Blog.  This includes the original Non Linear Scripts.. all six of them and some more general updates.

May 13, 2013 - Saying that it's been a while since I updated the page would be an understatement.  The Blog has all of the new information you'll need, including the Script for Issue 1.  The Facebook and Twitter pages are updated as well.  Like and follow!


August 15, 2012 - It's been a while since we updated the site.  There have been facebook  updates, but nothing here, because there was nothing serious to report.  Scott and I started to talk about where to take BPG from here. I was laid off (but I have an interview tomorrow, fingers crossed) and moved last month. With the kickstarter failing, I in all honesty needed a break from trying so damn hard all of the time to no avail. Now, we're ready to start again. We're exploring the possibility of Scott doing the interior art, then either having him color it or having Octagraphics color the pencils/pens. Either way, we're doing something again. I started to go over the Issue #1 script and started making changes on the new design. The design all of you see only came about after I had written the First Arc, and revamped the first issue for a single issue format. I'll keep you updated, but there may be drawings and plot related updates in the next couple of weeks, so keep an eye out. -Jake dh

May 11, 2012 - I've been updating things through Facebook mostly, but I thought I'd put an update here and by the end of the weekend, a more in depth desciption of what went down with our funding.  Our Kickstarter did not get the funding we needed.  We are looking at other options and I promise to update the page on everything major, but keep an eye on the Facebook and Twitter to get updates the quickest (like the page).  Thanks for the support in either case.  BPG will see the light of day, I can't accept anything else. -Jake dh

March 26, 2012 - Our Kickstarter is LIVE!  Pledge and help make our dream reality. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thebulletproofghost/the-bulletproof-ghost-issue-1


March 22, 2012 - Color Illustration is in!!  It's on the front page, but if you look at this down the road and it's not, it's in the images section.  this is promo for the kickstarter campaign.  Stay tuned for more info on that and check out The BulletProof Blog to your right.

March 12, 2012 - We have the final penciled version of the promotional  image.  Check it out in the images section under Covers/Promotional.  the kickstarter program will get underway as soon as the colored version is sent to us.  Stay Tuned.

March 4, 2012 - We have gotten the first layout sketch for our Kickstarter Campaign's promotional illustration.  It's in the images section under Covers/Promotional.

February 23, 2012 -
The Official BPG page has moved to www.thebulletproofghost.com - things are going to start moving quickly now.  pro illustration will be ordered next week.  We are considering running the kickstarter campaign for 60 days insead of 30. Stay tuned.

February 22, 2012 - New cover designs are up in the images section.

February 20, 2012 - Two new concept photos of Four and a Synth are up in the images section.  New cover concepts will be up tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

February 13, 2012 - New Photo added in Images section (High Detail Color BPG).  The Pro Illustration will be ordered this week (if the funding is on time).  The black and white version should be done early next week and the full color by late next week.  Stay Tuned -Jake dh

February 7, 2012 - We hit a milestone of 100 likes on our Facebook page.  If you've like the website, but not the FB page, click on the facebook icon below (the two are no one in the same).  Also we are more than likely a couple weeks from ordering the pro illustration from Octographics.net.  Once that is completed, we'll give it about a week before starting the Kickstarter campaign.  Stay Tuned.

January 25, 2012 - New image of BPG landing.  Check it out.

January 22, 2012 - We are going ahead with the plan of doing Issue #1 in comic book format rather than the entire Graphic Novel.  It will be cheaper, easier to gain funding and we can promote it at Chicago Comic Con this year... not 2013... this year.  The site has been updated to reflect this.  The rewards section has been altered also, so if you are interested in pledging, check that out to see what you can get.  Also Scott and I are going to try to go to the local comic creation group at Comic Quest, connections always help.  Stay tuned. -Jake dh

January 20, 2012 - I'm about 90% sure we're going to go with the one issue route from the get go now.  I've thought about it and it will get the gears moving faster and we could have at least one issue out by Chicago Comic Con, maybe two.  I'll alter the rewards and other aspects of the website to reflect this (more than likely during the weekend).  More info as it comes... 82 likes on facebook, keep it up and thanks for the support.

January 19, 2012 - Scott and I had a discussion about the scope of the first kickstarter campaign.  Right now as it stands if we did the entire arc with 6 issues, it would take $17,000 and a whole year to finish.  If we focused on doing one issue (which would be a modified version of the current issue #3), then we could have it out by May or June.  It would cost about $3,000 to create in this instance.  The only problem would be that then we would need another $3,000 for Issue #2, which means either selling around 3,000 books or doing another kickstarter campaign in June or July.   I'll keep you posted.  If this is the direction we're going to go, I need to alter the rewards.  This also may mean we promote at Comic Con this year.  Stay Tuned -Jake

January 17, 2012 - The High Detail Finalized Concept is up, the scanner cut the bottom of the feet off, but not a big deal.  If you are seeing this pretty soon after this update, it should be on this page.  If not, it's in the Images section and is labeled as such.  Drawn by the talented Scott Loesch.  A couple normal detailed action poses and we'll be on the way to getting the pro illustration done and then the kickstarter campaign!!

January 3, 2012 - Happy New Year from the BPG crew.  Jake and Scott got together (at Jake's New Year's party oddly enough) and reviewed the current progress of the concept art.  Cybernetic Prototype 004 initial concepts are shaping up as well as the final concept of The BulletProof Ghost himself nearing completion.  Stay tuned.

December 23, 2011 - Happy Holidays from the BPG team and we hope everyone has a great weekend.  New Major Updates will be coming your way... stay tuned.

December 19, 2011 - The funding for the Professional Octagraphics illustration is locked up and in Jake's possession.  As soon as the high detail sketch that Scott is completing is finished it will be posted and the process of getting the pro drawing done will begin.

November 2011 - Currently the script is written for the first arc (other than a few finishing touches pertaining to the new designs).  Scott Loesch is working on the final concept for The BulletProof Ghost, which will be the  design that will be used in the graphic novel.  Once that's complete, we will use that as a basis for Octographics to do a professional version/promo image.  After that we will begin our Kickstarter.com campaign.