11:34, COPYRIGHT 2015, MJ DELCONTE
My first novel took a little over two years to write. I submitted my work to the US Copyright Office, which is under the jurisdiction of the Library of Congress, and waited patiently for 7 months. I am happy to announce that I received the long-awaited reply. 11:34 is now recognized by the Library of Congress as an original work and is protected under copyright law. Champagne corks are ricocheting off my ceiling!
Cinematic Trailer
Try, fail. Try, fail. Try, fail. Try, success.
After hours and hours and hours of editing video, I managed to put something together that, quite figuratively, set my skin crawling in a good way. I still get goosebumps watching the mini Test of Mettle in the second book trailer. It received praise when I presented it to a small audience.
The trailer is not a finished product, but I believe the hard part is behind me. Exciting stuff!
Book 1 Update
Everyone is asking when they can expect to read my debut novel. I'd love to point them to Amazon, but there is a process to follow. Trust me, I found out the hard way, and these things can't be rushed.
The Dreaded Query Letter
Remember that pesky query letter? Anyone around me has heard me mutter that it is easier to write a 300-page novel than it is to write a 300-word, single-page query letter. The QL has to be diamond-perfect. Mine, however, is not. I'm on version 21. My eyes eventually glazed over like a deer in the headlights, so it was time to put the QL down for a short spell, reboot my thinking cap, and revisit it again sometime soon. Or never. Whichever comes first.
Book 2 Update
What tasks am I tackling when not working on the trailer or the query letter? That's easy! I'm working on the 2nd installment of the 11:34 series. The second novel is a quarter of the way complete. Presently, I am writing a new Test of Mettle story titled Leprechauns and Demons. As with all my work, I do a lot of research because it ultimately gives the story a sense of place, people, and time. After researching, I immediately start writing the story while the information is fresh.
Leprechauns and Demons takes place in County Cork, Ireland, in the mid-eighties. Two brothers visit a pub to drink and spin tales. This night, they indulge in a particular fascination with the lore of mythical creatures with their fellow pub-goers. On the way home, the clock strikes 11:34, and they are next in line for the Test of Mettle. A demon visits the two brothers, hell-bent on sending them to their doom. However, the brothers are convinced a leprechaun is among them and are determined to catch the mythical creature.
Delay of Game
It is 2016, and I've so many writing tasks sitting on my plate, but I'm in the process of selling my home, purchasing a new home 1,500 miles away, and finding employment all at the same time. It's stressful, exhausting, and time consuming. To maintain some semblance of sanity, I find working on any of my 11:34 projects a welcome respite. I can't wait to settle back into my crazy little world after moving into my new digs this summer.
