TEASER: Twisted Sister
At 11:34, Lucifer can send one of his minions to test one or more of us humans. We win the Test of Mettle by facing our demon, but as we have seen …
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Twisted Sister: A New 11:34 Test of Mettle Story
There is a new, VERY DARK Test of Mettle story on the horizon in the 11:34 series. It takes place in a European hamlet where a middle-aged man …
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Tech Terror - Part 2
Last week, I apprised you of a Test of Mettle story titled, "Tech Terror." Well, I have good news. The first story was retitled, "Tech Terror - …
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Tech Terror
Things are moving along with Bloodshed. While working on the second draft of Almost Alone , I also started a new Test of Mettle story, titled Tech …
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ALMOST ALONE
ALMOST ALONE has been written. It occurs fifteen years after "Demon Preserve," a Test of Mettle story from the first novel of the series, …
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Teaser: Almost Alone
This is an unedited passage copied from "Almost Alone," a Test of Mettle story from Bloodshed, the third installment of the 11:34 series. The …
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Karma Update
Whew! Taking a break! The writing bug returned in full force. And, holy crap, my muse has me breaking a sweat! While it is NaNoWriMo (National …
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Knee Surgeries and a Karma Update
First, allow me to apologize for the lack of communication over these past several months. I think transparency here is important because I have …
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Karma: Cinematic Trailer Update
Last night, the official cinematic trailer for Karma was completed! It choked up my wife during the viewing. Work on this project is moving …
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New Year's Update: Karma, Bloodshed
Before we get into the meat and bones of this update, let me first say that this novel will take me out of my comfort zone, something that truly …
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The Bloodshed Contest has 2 Winners!
One winner was not chosen. Instead, I decided to select 2 winners: Martini and Larry. A Test of Mettle story will be written using one of their …
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Bloodshed Contest: See Your Name in My Next Novel!
The rules are pretty simple. If there is an iconic figure (person, place, or thing) you'd like to see in Bloodshed, please send your idea to …
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Anticipating Another Sales Surge in October
Marketing is an expensive but necessary tool if you want to get your name and work out onto the open market. Unable to be one of the fortunate 20% …
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CATACLYSM ON VERGE OF CRACKING AMAZON'S TOP 500 in 2 GENRES
CATACLYSM continues its ascension in the sales rankings on Amazon.com. The support has been wonderful so far. Let's keep it going! Who knows? Maybe …
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CATACLYSM CRACKS AMAZON's TOP 1000 in 2 GENRES
CATACLYSM continues to move up the sales charts and now has broken Amazon's Top 1000 in TWO genres! The support has been wonderful so far. …
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Elimination Releases on August 30, 2022
The long-awaited, highly anticipated sequel to Cataclysm will be available for purchase worldwide on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. Elimination will be …
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Elimination is in New York
All the writing, rewriting, and edits have been completed. The highly anticipated sequel to Cataclysm is in the capable hands of my New York team …
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Spring 2022 Newsletter
Elimination Update During Christmastime, I spent 2.5 weeks of my three-week vacation to write the second act of Elimination . It was …
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Elimination Update
Over the past 2.5 weeks, up to 16 hours a day, I edited/rewrote Elimination ," the second novel in the 11:34 series. 250 pages later, the …
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The Gentle Reminder
It's Monday evening and I am cozied up to my keyboard for what feels like the hundredth day straight working on the Elimination rewrite. It's the …
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Cataclysm: New Sale Prices
NEW SALE PRICES eBooks $9.99 -- NOW $3.99 Paperbacks $16.99 -- NOW $14.99 Amazon (eBook): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091P5SV79/ Amazon …
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NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Find of a Lifetime, Part 3 of 3
Find of a Lifetime is viewable to newsletter subscribers only. 1933: Cairo, Egypt Before we wrap up the last leg of this journey, I wish to thank …
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Elimination Sneak Peek: Tow to Tow with a Demon
What happens when a powerful demon breaks away from its tether to Hell? Here's a snippet: The demon had been one of Lucifer’s lieutenants, but …
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NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Find of a Lifetime, Part 2 of 3
Find of a Lifetime is viewable to newsletter subscribers only. 1933: Cairo, Egypt Plodington and Monroe approached the front edge of the pyramid. …
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Elimination Teaser: Stock Traitor
It's October 29, 1929, the infamous day marking the Stock Market Crash. Things are looking grim for Jeffrey Tammel, who stands on a ledge. Here is …
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Test of Mettle Contest
I'm looking for my fans who read Cataclysm. This contest ends at noon Central Time on September 17, 2021 so you'll have time with this one. …
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Summer 2021 Newsletter
Find of a Lifetime Subscribers to my newsletter receive updates first and, sometimes, perks not extended elsewhere. Find of a Lifetime is the …
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NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS ONLY:
Find of a Lifetime, Part 1 of 3
Find of a Lifetime is viewable to newsletter subscribers only. 1933: Cairo, Egypt Doctor Damien Plodington swished the tea around his mouth before …
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Announcing the First 11:34 Contest Winner
Congratulations to Brendon, our first 11:34 contest winner! Brendon's perfect score earned him a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Way to go! Stay tuned for …
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CATACLYSM On Sale Now
On sale May 25, 2021 Digital copies of Cataclysm are on sale across several major platforms: Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, …
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COMING THIS SUMMER: Find of a Lifetime
This summer, newsletter subscribers will be treated to a multi-part story, "Find of a Lifetime: The Story of Damien 'Duke' Plodington and James …
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An 11:34 Contest
FIRST GIVEAWAY CONTEST All participants must be signed up for my newsletter before Tuesday, May 18, when the contest details and rules will be …
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Looking Ahead
In this blog, I will briefly touch on some of the hottest items on my plate starting with the latest with the contract offer from Pegasus …
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Surprise! Cataclysm Caught the Eye of Pegasus Publishers
It has been nearly a whole month since my last Cataclysm update. There is good reason for that. While I juggled a thousand tasks preparing for a …
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New (Updated) WebSite
Welcome to the new (well, updated) website. Over the past few weeks, I worked on updating the site, preparing for new features like the newsletter, …
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Cataclysm Update - January 17, 2021
It's the MLK holiday weekend. Earlier in the week, I experienced a brain fart. During my final week of vacation, I heard or read the word …
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Cataclysm Update - January 7, 2021
I suspect updates will occur with a little more frequency going forward. There is so much going on. I apologize if my previous blog kind of sounded …
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Cataclysm Will Be Published Between March and May
I worked tirelessly to contact 40 agents last year. Months later I received 11 or 12 rejections and almost 30 no-responses. This year, pandemic and …
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Cataclysm: The Journey
In the Beginning Writing for me truly started 15 years ago. I’ll not bore you with the infinite details from yon to now. It did, however, begin …
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Cataclysm is Ready for Publication
Cataclysm: An 11:34 Novel has been through the ringer in recent months. After 3 major rewrites, a professional critique, proofing, and editing, it …
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What Happened in 2020?
I submitted this into a micro-fiction prompt. Using fifty words or fewer, write a short story or scene as if you were telling the tale to someone …
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Cataclysm Q & A
Q: What inspired you to write Cataclysm , the first novel of your 11:34 series? A: A nightmare. Nightmares are a keyhole into the psyche. They …
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Advice for Burnout: Unplug Yourself
Sometimes the saying “everything in moderation” finds applicability, and I think it applies here. While I aspire to be an author one day, my …
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Writing a Novel is a Marathon - Not a Sprint
Let me tell you about writing a novel. It is long, arduous, and full of pain-staking decisions and lip-biting. And if that weren't daunting enough, …
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I Wrote Till My Heart Broke
I submitted this into a micro-fiction prompt. Using fifty words or fewer, write a short story or scene that includes the line: I Wrote Till My …
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2020 Summer Newsletter
Much is happening right now, so where to begin. Last year, I peddled my novel to 40 agents. This is about to double. I am working with a …
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11:34 Draws Closer to Publication
Today is a day for celebration. I completed the third major edit/rewrite of Cataclysm . 344 pages. 94,000 words. Today, I had a meeting with …
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Title Changed for Book 1 to "Cataclysm"
After much deliberation, I have altered the title of the first 11:34 novel from "Halfway to the Apocalypse" to "Cataclysm." I felt the title …
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What Happens in Vegas
Have you ever awakened to feel that maybe, just maybe, something inside you is on ready to break out of its prison and run wild? We get so caught …
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First Lines
A writing contest sought an imaginary first line you might write for your novel. Here was my entry: It was not an ideal time to cut through the …
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A Double 11:34 Update
Book 1 Update I cannot say the "P" word. Not yet. Everyone has patiently waited for the arrival of the first novel, me most of all. I have …
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2019 Summer Newsletter
Book 1 Update It is time for some outside-the-box thinking. Time to change course. After nary a single whiff from 40 literary agents, I decided to …
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2019 Spring Newsletter
Book 2 Update While spending a wicked number of hours trying to peddle the first novel, I spent my any remaining free time working on the next …
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The Whitechapel Demon
On September 25, 1888, a news agency received a mysterious letter taunting police that he will never be caught. It was a defining moment in time …
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The Waiting Game
As the final seconds ticked bringing an end to 2018, I was already anxiously awaiting to hear back from any of the 19 literary agencies I submitted …
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The Agency Search Continues
I have been busy working on the second book in the 11:34 series while I patiently waited to hear back from the 19 agencies I queried. I received 8 …
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Lucky Number 7
Today, I received my 7th rejection letter for 11:34. I took a moment to reflect on that. Until now, I've been pretty upbeat about this whole …
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2019 New Year Newsletter
HAPPY NEW YEAR Happy New Year! This is the year. I feel it in my bones. My first novel is destined for publication. BRICK AND MORTAR UPDATE I am …
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Won Equals One
To aspire is to yearn to climb until a plateau is reached, We take a deep breath and gaze out into the distance. In those surreal moments that …
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Calling All Agents! Be on the Lookout for 11:34!
Over the past week and a half I have submitted my novel to literary agents. It's a particularly confounding experience because the submission …
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Author Seeks Agent to Publish Novel
Peddling 11:34 This is it. This is the moment we have been waiting for. This week, I will submit 11:34 for publication to a dozen or more literary …
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FALL 2018 NEWSLETTER
It's been a while since my last 11:34 update, so I'm going to make this one count. What's going on with Book 1 of 11:34? I hear this question a …
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2018 New Year Newsletter
HAPPY NEW YEAR Happy New Year one and all. This will be a year of change, dedication, and discipline. I committed these past few months to these …
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11:34 Receives 2nd Rejection
I just received my 2nd rejection letter. I'm flattered over the fact that someone has taken the time from their busy schedule for me. I'm sure …
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2017 Fall Newsletter
::::: CURRENTLY 11:34 The 2nd book in the 11:34 series has unofficially reached 201 pages, about 60,000 words. I have been writing this book for …
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Canadian Hunters
11:34 - All Hell Breaks Loose (Book 2) A bloody scene greeted the lead officer of the RCMP as he arrived on the scene. He watched one of his boys …
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Celebrating the First Rejection
Plenty of writers receive rejection letters. Rejection is a ubiquitous part of the craft. It is a reminder that someone, somewhere, is not …
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New Look for MJDelConte.com
Out with the old. In with the new. It has been 2 years (July 4, 2015) since I last redeveloped my web site. I like to freshen things up every …
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11:34 - All Hell Breaks Loose (Book 2)
All Hell Breaks Loose is the second book planned for the 11:34 series. I finished writing the 2nd of the 2 cornerstone Test of Mettle stories …
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June 2017 Newsletter
Book Title Announcements With 11:34 outlined to be a series, each book will require its own individual title. The titles are tentative and may …
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The Strawberry
CLIFFHANGER One day while walking through the wilderness a man stumbled upon a vicious tiger. He ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. …
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2017 New Year Newsletter
HAPPY NEW YEAR Happy New Year one and all. 2017 promises to be an exciting year. To kick things off on the right foot, this is a feel-good …
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2016 Halloween Edition
11:34 UPDATE 25. That was how many versions my query letter had undergone. That said, I am now compiling an updated list of literary agents for …
Read More11:34 - Halfway to the Apocalypse (Trailer 2)
View on YouTube The Apocalypse will commence in 600 years, but you did not know that, did you? Not many do. 400 years ago, an ancient …
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2016 FALL NEWSLETTER
::::: CINEMATIC TRAILER As promised, there will be a cinematic book trailer for 11:34. Production of the cinematic trailer completed on Sunday, …
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SPRING 2016 NEWSLETTER
::::: 11:34, COPYRIGHT 2015, MJ DELCONTE It took a little over 2 years to write. After I put the pen down, I submitted my work to the US …
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Cinematic Book Trailer Planned for First Book of 11:34 Series
Over the past few weeks, a lot of my free time was spent self-training in cinematic techniques and amateur/professional film making. I watched more …
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Copyright Submitted for First Book of 11:34 Series
I completed the final edits at 3:25 a.m. this morning - to be exact. After that, I researched copyrighting literary works. I've had a plethora of …
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November 2015 Newsletter
First, I am writing this while sipping my second great cup of coffee, listening to Paul Oakenfold cranked as loud as my 5.1 surround sound speakers …
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What's Next After Writing First Book of 11:34 Series?
I printed 2 copies of the manuscript to perform a reading. The book is read aloud with others. I or they read a chapter at a time. While reading, I …
Read More11:34 - Cataclysm (Trailer 1)
Cataclysm is the first book in the 11:34 series. The Apocalypse will commence in 600 years, but you did not know that, did you? Not many …
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Writer's Serenity
There is something magical about a great cup of hot coffee, biscotti, and writing. It relaxes the mind's gatekeeper allowing entry to deeper more …
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