Project Threshold: Season 2: Team Talise by Craig Crawford

6/29/2025

Multi-volume, multi-genre author Craig Crawford introduces us to the seventh book in the Project Threshold series, “Team Talise”:
Mourning Milla, Talise keeps her team moving forward. Kali survived but she’s not the same and her growing power scares Kali as much as it does Talise and Bodi. They return to the northeast to take another shot at the unstoppable entity. Bodi gets in over his head and a stranger asks for help from Talise, but nothing is ever as it seems . . .

I love this book and the series! I hope Craig never runs out of inspiration for this series!
This volume expands the Project Threshold universe in a wonderful way. We are getting to know more members in the organization and learning more about other members. Some even show up off-duty.
One of the good things about the series is that each book and each story can stand alone yet they connect in minor ways that enrich the total experience. Sure, you can read them out of order, but there is more pleasure to be had by reading them in sequence.
I don't give spoilers, so I cannot reveal any further details.
Get this book, get all the books and rest assured that more are coming.
4.8 stars from me as I am picky about certain things.

47 Comments

Craig Crawford link

6/30/2025 10:13:16 am

Good morning Mark. It's good to work with you again!

Mark

6/30/2025 10:52:52 am

Thank you, Craig. My sentiments exactly.

We are going to continue this interview from where we left off in the promotion of Season 2: Team Riker. The link is above this interview for our visitors.

First question.

Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

6/30/2025 12:24:43 pm

Good question. Hmmmnn...I hate playing favorites with my characters. I really liked intro-ing Aurora as she tries to find her way back into Project Threshold and Ive got so much more to do with her unfolding story.

BUT--Talise's stories stand out for me. From Talise facing her childhood fears with unique help, to getting to see Bodi on his own I liked them. And then there's Kali: such a strong personality but getting in over her head. Their stories hit me emotionally. And I loved how the story P.R.S. bent the other direction to give readers a breath. And that story was almost accidental in how it showed up to me but it's pivotal.

6/30/2025 12:51:11 pm

I am impressed. I enjoy reading the stories but it's always interesting to learn about some of the inspiration that leads to the published work.

We are not going to spoil the stories for others so we will move on.

New question.

If you could ask every person, who has read one of your books, only one question what would you ask them?

6/30/2025 01:29:36 pm

Which of the stories that youve read stood out most and why?

Because it would help me gauge if the stories that hit me hardest are similar or different than others. See how I managed to slip in a 2nd question there??? 😉

And feel free to answer this or not, Mark 😁

6/30/2025 03:21:45 pm

That is a good question. I use that trickery also, therefore I can't condemn you at all.

I wish I could give you an answer, but I have already read four other books since yours and I am proofing a paranormal urban fantasy. I can say the stories with Harriet moved me quite a bit. I look forward to more about her.

Yes, Kali seems to be over her head, flat on the ground.

New question.

Since a copyright in America lasts for 75 years after the author's passing, do you have a plan for all of your books and the royalties in your will?

6/30/2025 09:09:30 pm

The story with Harriet moved me too. I really liked how it unfolded and when I started writing, I didn't realize she was going to be so polarized by what happened to her and her friends. I did not see that coming. Her fear and then her genuine awe at this complete stranger putting himself in a position where he would probably die to save them just did something to her. It hit me too.

Um yes. I haven't secured everything yet, but I will transfer any copyrights to my son, and I'll do the diligence and see if we need to re-release them before the end of the copyright date with minor edits to start a new copyright :) I'm taking my cues from Disney...

Last year the copyright on a version of Mickey was coming up and what I read was that they altered Mickey enough and started a new copyright on the reenvisioned Mickey as their new flagship in order to preserve Disney's control. I will do the same with the Project Threshold logo--alter it enough to get a new copyright and then rerelease the books with that new logo :)

7/1/2025 09:44:49 am

Harriet followed orders quite well. She showed bravery and was a hero. She was one tough cookie!

I didn't realize Disney was doing that. I am not surprised they found a way to extend protection for their intellectual property.

New questions.

Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

Is there more than one way to do that?

7/1/2025 10:32:14 am

It's all about creating those connections to the reader. When the characters have hardships in their lives and struggle, it's their emotional responses we can all relate to. And if readers relate to the characters and what they're going through, the connection happens and your readers are invested.

Harriet can be our example. Now most people arent trying to survive against monsters but teenagers face stressful moments and sometimes even life threatening. She gets attached to Bodi, a stranger yes, but he's endangering himself for her welfare. She recognizes that sacrifice and it hits her, really drives home what he's willing to give up for some stranger.

Much like police officers and fire fighters and soldiers.

And if you can connect your readers to those encounters on an emotional level, they get it and are invested in the story.

I think you can achieve that in a variety of ways but all of them come down to relating the story and the struggle of your main characters to your readers.

7/1/2025 12:36:07 pm

Each writer's voice comes into play here by the plot devices and words they use. Harriet is a good example. Her fear was palpable as well as her respect for a person who didn't know her personally. I certainly felt her emotions, I connected with her and the other characters. Sadly, I was unsurprised that the boys didn't measure up to the situation as well as Harriet did. However, they did follow orders pretty well.

New question.

What reality show, current or not, would you like to be on?

7/1/2025 08:01:31 pm

Yes, Harriet was a true hero while Theodore and Nathan I thought of as more typical teens whose fear was in full command. It's why heroes stand out: they're the exception not the norm.

To answer your question, most reality shows are a lot more drama and not nearly as "real" as they want people to think. Still, considering my background and love for cryptozoology, I'd pick a show that investigates cryptids. Preferably water cryptids though I wouldn't go diving into whatever body of water was investigated :)

I'm fascinated by strange creatures living in the water, but I'd prefer to see them at distance and certainly not a face to face...even if it meant not seeing one. I'm curious but my imagination and horror background has given me a healthy fear of being down in the depths and coming face to face with something gliding up to me.

7/2/2025 09:55:42 am

People react in different ways to sudden, stressful situations. There is no doubt about that. There are times when I have risen to the occasion and times when I haven't.

Bravery isn't always wise. Firefighters train to run into a burning building, they have to ignore their base instincts that tell them to run away from the fire. I have a shirt that says, "Every zoo is a petting zoo if you are brave enough." I assure you that I am not brave enough to try and pet a hungry bear.

I certainly agree with you about aquatic cryptids.

New question.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

7/2/2025 02:30:43 pm

For the most part I overwrite. Being a pantser, I throw things down on the page and most times my editing involves cutting. In the first draft I am often throwing down background details and even side conversations which I realize arent necessay in later drafts. I'm editing a YA scifi right now and I realized I got into someone's back story that wasn't necessary to the overall plot.

That is my primary guide in editing: if something in the story isn't pushing the larger story toward "The End" then it doesn't belong in the story. I don't remember who exactly taught me that but I follow it.

7/2/2025 04:34:56 pm

You have a lot of company! Many write as you do. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with that as long as all the little, loose pieces get cleaned up in the end. I think many plotters experience some of the same difficulties at times.

Your headlong trek toward the finish line is a worthy metric. Most readers seem to prefer more direct action and movement in stories rather than wandering through a meadow aimlessly picking pretty flowers. The other few have loads of literary fiction to satisfy them.

New question.

Do you have a new book coming out or is it already published?

7/2/2025 06:58:16 pm

Yes, I do really weigh passages and side tangents before I cut them. I look at them, read through several times and see if there's a way to keep that section on the payroll :) Sometimes, I can condense down a tangent to a couple of lines or an abbreviated side arc along with something else...and sometimes, while I like it, it just has to go.

I haven't run into that with Project Threshold, but the format of those, being short stories anyway, hasn't really lent itself to getting too far off point :)

The 4th book of Project Threshold Season 2 just released--Operation Rogue Weather. It's the finale to this season's tales. I really went off the metaphysical rails with it, but I slipped in some fun things and tied most of the loose ends up...or at least the ends that needed tying.

There will be a compendium and an audio book of Season 2 as well.

I am editing a Young Adult sci-fi trilogy...still looking for that elusive trilogy name, but the first book is called Refuge, and I'm starting to shop it around to presses and publishers. All three books are finished and it's straight science fiction with maybe a skosh of creepy in the first. I'm sending #3 out to my local readers and then more edits. But I'd love to get that picked up and running.

Either way, Project Threshold Season 3 is happening and I'm writing stories for it :)

7/2/2025 07:58:44 pm

Your fans are going to be happy to hear about your season finale and that season three is getting written.
You are doing a good job of building a library of your work quickly. The stories are quite good. Publishing a new book every three or four months is an admirable accomplishment. Happy readers tell other readers.
A new series doesn't hurt also.

New question.

We were talking about writing and shaping the first draft before. What type of material seems to need the most massaging in your stories: descriptions, dialogue or action?

7/2/2025 10:39:39 pm

Thanks Mark. I think I write well, but I get impostor syndrome like every other writer and I'm never quite confident that I'm telling good stories. I keep getting short stories published and Project Threshold has taken it to the next level, but I still have my days where I wonder if I know what I'm doing.

As to your question, for me, it's action sequences.

I do occasionally go back in and tweak descriptions--it's easy to get wordy and describe every stain on the carpet and why it's there and what led up to it :) Dialogue feels easiest to me. Once I know my characters, I know how they talk, the words they use, and don't, and how each of them would describe the same monster.

I always refer to Kali as feisty but she takes it to a whole new level. She cusses, especially when she's mad, has little patience for most people and she'll go toe to toe with someone twice her size...a pistol behind her back of course ;) I've written lines of dialogue for her before and mentally she's quirked an eyebrow at me. Inside my head I hear her telling me, "I'd never say that. Change it."

And I do. I take my cues from my characters and they know what to say and how.

Action is the dicey one for me. Early in my writing, I would literally block everything out on the page for an action scene: where people were standing, who was doing what, what everyone else was doing while my MC was doing his/her thing and it was very cumbersome reading. My best friend and one of my editors used to laugh and tell me what was necessary and what wasn't.

It took me a lot of years to get the feel of action, seeing it from the reader's side--what they needed to know but only enough to keep the scene running. It's definitely walking a tight rope of how much information to convey without bogging the big climactic scene down.

I still have to go in and clean up some scenes. Occasionally I still block things out, but I'm conscious I'm doing it now and can "see" it on the edits. I'm getting better at assessing just how much of Riker's guns blazing I need to interject to get the scene in the reader's head without reminding them she works that lever action Marlin like a pro.

I think it's another aspect to writing I love though: the challenge of trying to use as much and as many words I need, and in creative ways, without overfilling the bathtub ;)

7/3/2025 07:31:15 am

You're welcome. We all wear many hats in the course of a day as well as our lives. One of my oldest hats is being a reader. I learned to read before the first grade and never looked back. I still love to read.

Imposter syndrome is real and it affects nearly everyone regardless of what they do or their station in life. I call it the inner liar, and it wants you to fail. Of course, a person only fails when they give up trying. I advise everyone to ignore the inner liar. It will likely always be there, but one can take comfort in knowing that the more it lies the better one is doing.

Over describing is a common new writer issue. No one wants to read through a description of every detail a person does to go to work or shopping from the moment they pick up the car keys to arriving at work or the store. As you said, if it doesn't move the story forward it is cut.

Action is hard for many writers. By its very nature it has to be short. The sentences need to be short also or the reader will get bogged down in the details and the action effect is lost.

Not overfilling the bathtub is a good word picture!

New questions.

Have you ever used yourself as a starting point for a character in a story?

Would family or friends recognize you in the story?

7/3/2025 08:20:57 am

I agree with you on all those comments. In some respects a little bit of impostor syndrome keeps you from getting too full of yourself but too much can be a killer.

As for characters, no I've never actively built one around myself or even another friend or family member. I'm sure people who know me will see some of my traits in certain characters (hopefully not the antagonists 😅😅), but character creation is partly a mystery to me.

When I get a story idea, usually the plot shows up first. Some of the plot elements come to the forefront but then characters just start showing up.

For example, in P/T I had Berger's team but I knew I wanted another. I wanted a different angle on that world and job, and that's when Talise showed up. Younger than Berger but very pragmatic--I didn't know a lot about her in the beginning but I knew she cared about her people and was going to be tough in order to keep them surviving. And the rest filled in as we "talked" over a metaphorical coffee and she got the job ;)

7/3/2025 02:36:28 pm

The creative writing process intrigues me to no end. It seems to be unique for every author. Some authors get an inspiration from a name, some from a random conversation heard in a coffee shop or on a bus. Still others have been inspired by a pet or an outdoor walk. The way the story takes shape is different among a group of authors also. Given the same prompt a dozen writers will submit thirteen different stories, there is always an overachiever. ;-)

Your characters show up for work and they deliver well. I am not sure I could do their job.

New question.

Have you ever used other acquaintances as the basis for a character, to the point they have recognized themselves in your book?

7/3/2025 04:23:02 pm

Thanks and same--I would never want to step into their world or do their job either. After what Katie and Harris and Talise and Riker have gone through I dont think I'd hold up as well as any of them.

For your question, I actively try not to model characters on people I know. One, it would limit me against their known personalities instead of making it easier. Id get bogged down trying to decide how "Jeff" would handle a certain situation.

Two--while some friends might take it as a compliment, others could actually take offense if that character didn't behave as the friend hoped or thought. Especially if said character made poor decisions. I think it creates more issues even though I see the appeal to give a nod to your friends.

7/3/2025 07:02:52 pm

I think you made a wise choice. I know of at least one author who chose otherwise and it didn't go well for the precise reason you mentioned. The family member, a beloved aunt, was not pleased with a choice made by her namesake character.

Your first reason makes a lot of sense also. Why make it unnecessarily difficult?

New question.

Your stories are pretty short compared to a novel. What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?

7/3/2025 11:23:01 pm

Actually, for Project Threshold I have a BIO on each character and you can find them all at my Project Threshold website on the "Personnel" page. It's got background, physical traits, skills, how they got into Project Threshold and other tidbit details.

I created one for each of my main characters because I wanted to make them more well rounded but I also wanted to do more world building for readers and give them insights to these people they see on the pages.

It was fun and also something to give back to my readers.

For most of my novels, I keep notes on my main characters. When I first started writing, I learned about a "Character Development Questionnaire" from an online writing class. I took that resource, which was about 26 or so questions and expanded it to over 70. Early on it really helped me fill out my characters and helped me get to the know them to the point I knew how they were going to react in almost any scenario.

If you go to my craiglcrawfordbooks.com website under the page called "Extra Stuff" you'll find a link at the bottom of the page and anyone can download it for free. I love helping other authors, and sharing resources is what I feel necessary to do as an author.

7/4/2025 07:53:45 am

Good on you for sharing all of that information. A brilliant choice, in my opinion. Putting a lot of the world building on your website keeps the stories short.

Expanding the Character Development Questionnaire was a wise move also.

When I was preparing to do interviews, I found a list of questions to ask authors, 80 in number. I have added a lot of questions over the years and there are more than 300 questions now.

New question.

Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?

7/4/2025 11:03:10 am

I think you have to enjoy writing both in order to turn out a great story.

I'm into horror so writing the antagonist is my chance to really create something horrifying, possibly alien in its thinking and add that 3rd dimension to those characters. In Talise's books I went back to her original encounter with the invisible lumbering entity. I spent time deciding where I wanted to go with it, and an even longer time thinking about what IT actually is, what its motivations are and why it's in there in the first place. It's when I realized IT actually has some purpose related to the world and it got me excited to write the second story in that plot line.

The antagonist is fun because you get the opportunity to walk with the dark things, getting into the guts of why they are the way they are and why they do the things they do. Sometimes it's simple predatory behavior, but for what I like calling the "big bad" it can be a whole lot more complex...

For the protagonists, I get attached to mine most of the time and since I love the burdened hero arch type, I get into their inner struggles, rooting for them to overcome and find their way.

I'm off on a tangent now, but I've heard grumblings about the "dark hero" being overdone. I think it can be an easy copout but that's because that theme has been around for a long time and characters like Batman are the pinnacle. But, like everything else, it's what you do with it that makes it stand out.

And, I really think that theme is what drives heroes to go to those extra lengths to rise up. I spent a long time thinking about "heroes" and what makes them do the things they do. Really, they're "normal" people but something has happened in their lives to polarize their thinking and will in order to make them set aside that normal life to achieve something else.

They're driven, and usually, sadly, it's because something awful has happened in their lives to shake them from the "normal" world and pushed them to right the wrongs, save people or work toward a better world.

There are varying degrees of it, of course. Bodi isn't driven the same way Kali is, or even Talise is, but he's working a dangerous job for the sake of the rest of us, and he's willing to die for that cause. If you'd ask Kali about being heroic, she'd scoff and roll her eyes, but before she joined Project Threshold, she was a police officer so something inside her wants to protect other people. Talise, of course, had her own deep scares as a girl and she wants to protect other kids from going through what she had to.

I find the protagonists fascinating for different reasons than the antagonists, but both are a whole lot of fun to get time with on the page.

7/4/2025 12:59:21 pm

Good, concise exposition of heroes and villains. Thank you. Every person or thing has a purpose in life whether we like it or not.

In my early days of hanging around authors, someone mentioned that every antagonist would be complaining about the buffoon who was repeatedly interrupting his plans if the antagonist was writing the story instead of the protagonist. While most of that doesn't need to be dwelled upon from the hero's POV, it does provide the underlying foundation for the villain.

The time spent cogitating about heroes and their motivations was time well-spent. Your main characters are fully human and come across quite real. Your antagonists work well also, even though they are not as well developed. They don't need to be as intricate as the protagonists because they are a foil for the protagonists.

We can tell you are having fun, almost too much fun. ;-)

New question.

What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist? You don't have to answer for more than one of each if you like.

7/4/2025 01:18:07 pm

Thanks Mark. I have always been a fan of villains. I think they fascinate me from a psychological perspective. They've got motivations like everyone else but theirs usually go against society's narrative.

At the end of the day protagonists and antagonists all want the same things: a comfy life, people who care about them, and fulfillment. I think with the "villains" they get obsessed with whatever's driving them to the point they lose track of what they really wanted in the first place.

Well, except for maybe Shattiq. He was created for one purpose and he just wasn't quitting :)

But it leads into your question and I'll start with Hannah Riker. Her parents were killed when she was young and she has been on a blood vendetta ever since. Ironically, like Shattiq, she will not quit, will not deviate and anyone who gets in the way of that gets left behind. I feel bad for her but if I had a friend like that I would be shaking her, telling her, "You've got a sister who's still alive. You almost never see her or spend time with her, except to update her on your quest. You love Kurt but you won't even meet him halfway. You're missing out of what's really important in life. I know you lost your parents but things happen. You can't let it eat your whole life."

Followed by Riker rolling into a rage and out the door she'd stomp. She doesn't listen to me either. And in Season 3 this is all coming to a head...

As for antagonists, let's talk about Magellan Cossfeld in Season 2. I don't give him a lot of page time and unfortunately, I'm kind of hemmed in by my own format. For him to get more page time I need interactions and I couldn't find an easy way to insert him into a path cross with Riker's team. Berger's focus this go around was getting Aurora into the mix, and the thrust of Talise was Kali's ever growing power.

Still, Magellan is one of those people who was born into money, was intelligent enough to keep it growing and discovered he had some psychic talent of his own. With his wealth he was able to delve deeply into that. I love that about him--really he's an intense truth seeker. He's savvy, capable and because of his wealth and status, doesn't take "no" for an answer when he wants things.

I do admire his ability to see beyond the "normal" world and search for more. On the other hand, somewhere along the way, he lost his connection with humanity, seeing them as tools and possibly obstacles. Whether that's personality or upbringing, who knows, but he doesn't understand the innate worth of other people, and that we're all just trying to get through life.

It's that arrogance and megalomania which slides him into the antagonist side of the story. I still love his tenacity and his inborn strength to go looking for larger truths, though.

7/4/2025 08:27:42 pm

No doubt that Hannah Riker is driven. The comparison with Shattiq is spot on. They almost seem related but of course not.

Magellan is such a mysterious figure. I was very pleased when he showed up. I didn't expect how that turned out because Riker and her team seemed so well prepared. I am anxious to learn more about him.

New questions.

Which is more important to a story: pace or flow?

How do you control it?

7/4/2025 08:45:28 pm

Pacing vs. flow....hmmmnn...

Pacing definitely is necessary because it guides your reader through the story, providing the adrenalin and the breaks, the roller coaster moments..

Flow though...that keeps your reader hooked into the story. If the sentences dont flow, it potentially breaks the connection between the reader and the story and then you risk losing your reader if it happens too often.

As for control, you write down the words but later while editing is when you gauge both. Editing with a reader's eye is key but it's easier said than done.

Which is why we need editors 😁😁

Writing and editing are too completely different skill sets.

7/5/2025 12:55:51 pm

Some writers see pace and flow as nearly identical concepts, thank you for sharing how you see them differently. Good writing, like any other aspect of life, is a result of learning more about the process and fine tuning those skills for individual purposes. For most writers, their third, fourth or whatever number of book is better than their first book. I think most readers are willing to let an author mature their skills when the first book is pretty good.

Not just editors but alpha and beta readers, critique partners can all help a writer make a book as good as it can be in the early stages of a writing career, in particular. I recommend that writers have their book edited before sending it to a proofreader, such as myself. I know that there are editing things I am not good at, particularly the big picture. I excel at polishing a good book into a great book. Yes, writing and editing are distinct skill sets.

New question.

What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?

7/5/2025 02:56:29 pm

I do think both are necessary to make a great story. They often work in tandem and one leads into the other. There is no sacrifice of one.

And editing is key. The cleaner your book, the less excuses a publisher or agent has to reject it. Beta and Alpha readers can be great for pointing out pacing and lack of flow.

Editors do exactly as you said--they polish the book so that it glows.

I do most of my writing at night, so it's after my work day is done, I've had dinner, probably gone for a walk and I am deciding what to work on before I ever sit down at the keyboard. Usually, I'll have a soda or glass or water nearby, and I'll start by pulling up my file.

A lot of times I'll turn on music to set a mood or a tempo, or just to get me in the right frame of mind. Other times, I don't need those fillers and just go to work.

For new stories, it's something that's been buzzing in my head all day, and I will plop down into my chair and just go. If I get tapping and then suddenly look up and see two or more hours have gone by, I know I'm in the "Zone" and I'll work until I reach that natural breath between ideas or scenes.

Sometimes it means I have stayed up too late on a weeknight but it's a small price to pay when I'm zinging out a good story...

7/5/2025 05:41:25 pm

Your system or habit seems to work well for you. Working in the technology industry probably allows your muse to whisper softly in the background while you help people solve those issues (Did you try unplugging it and plugging it back in?).

New question.

Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

7/5/2025 08:58:00 pm

Being a "pantser" I tend to write in a straight line. I sit over my characters' shoulders and just ride along taking notes and writing things down.

I will make notes for scenes and ideas that pop up along the way. Like in the first season of P/T, Talise and her team had their encounter with "IT" in the woods and I knew I wanted them to have another run at it, but I didn't want to write it until I got to Season Two. I had strong ideas about what IT represented but it had to wait for it's turn.

Sometimes I will get those pinnacle scenes in my head. Especially for full length novels, I'll get a scene in my mind, and usually a climactic moment but I won't allow myself to write it until I get there. I'll take notes for the layout but it becomes like a carrot to keep me writing to get to that point.

In the first season of P/T I had most of Riker's story leading into the finale in my head, and I knew it was going to be an intense hunt leading into a literal cliffhanger. I didn't write that story, however, until I was churning through Riker's stories and I was ready to progress to the finale.

7/6/2025 07:21:49 am

I think that is brilliant! Keeping the scene or story in reserve until you get to the particular point. With your format it works really well. I wouldn't be surprised if other people start writing in a report-style format like you do. So far, you are the only one writing in that fashion that I am aware of.

New question.

Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?

7/6/2025 03:48:06 pm

I like the serial format. I grew up on Jonny Quest and I still love the format of loosely connected vignettes. It stuck with me and I appreiate the approach.

My process has refined over the years. I have a lot more discipline and have stream lined my processes. I used to meander through the story telling process and during editing had do a lot more cleanup. Over the years and after each story it gets easier.

7/6/2025 06:36:27 pm

Johnny Quest sure brings back memories, I loved that show as a kid. He didn't have any superpowers, but he had gadgets his father made and a lot of luck!

Long before Johnny quest there were serial radio dramas of all kinds. Televisions didn't become affordable until the late fifties, I think. I still remember The Shadow, frightful fun.

That makes sense, finding a groove and working it makes the process flow much smoother.

New question.

Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?

7/6/2025 06:59:05 pm

Yes. I've watched old serials like Flash Gordon and listened to the radio plays of The Shadow and I do like that layout and setup.

As to your question, kind of like we talked, I wish I had the ability to have interwoven more on Magellan in order to build up more depth for him but it's the way it goes.

Still, there's more to that antagonist that we think, and who knows?

7/6/2025 07:48:37 pm

Magellan seems pretty forceful and has thought out his plans quite well so far. I think he is going to be a formidable opponent for Project Threshold. If only he was interested in having a tea party for IT and Shatiqq! That would sell tickets!

I grew up on a non-working farm in southwest Washington state. We had 35 acres on the side of a small mountain. I had a crystal radio that I could listen to Wolfman Jack, broadcasting from Los Angeles, late at night. Enough reminiscing for now.

New questions.

What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?

How long is the period of time for launching a book in your mind?

7/6/2025 10:52:09 pm

Ah, the "good old days" :)

I'm still learning the entire marketing game. The more I read leads me to believe that yes, while it is important to get the word out when a book releases, it's the long game as well. If you're well known, then I believe launches for new releases are more important--you're keeping an existing fan base up to date on new material and they want to read it.

For my situation, I think release is one aspect of marketing and advertising but after that date, it's continued work--shout outs, ads, blurbs, interviews, anything you can do to keep pushing your book to put it in front of those who would be your audience.

My plans from here on out are a series of ads in various magazines and podcasts aimed at horror readers. I plan to keep at this all fall as the compendium for Season 2 releases and the audio book as well.

My next phase is adding ads on Facebook and YouTube. Only time will tell if I make any headway :) I've got my plan though, and I'll tweak it as I go. Going to be a pantser on this front too--a little riskier considering it's costing me money, but at the same time, I'm also reading and researching methods and attack plans as best I can.

We'll see how it goes. In the mean time I'll also be working on Project Threshold Season 3.

7/7/2025 09:23:16 am

I think your fans just gave a collective sigh of relief knowing that season 3 is in progress.

The long game is crucial as the experience of many others proves. The more books you write the more you will sell. It is one of the hard facts of being an author. Finding a niche and working it is the long-term plan for success. You are doing well in that regard with so many books published and more on the way.

Expanding into audio books is a great idea also. There are many who prefer to take in a story in that format.

New question.

Do you know if any of your books are popular outside of the USA?

If so, what are the top three markets where your books are selling?

7/7/2025 11:44:02 am

I don't have any solid data yet on who my overseas readers are at this point which is what this marketing stint is all about. The publishing of Season 1 led to a lot of research on my part. A lot of reading, talking to resources I have and looking into all the avenues I could go down for marketing.

It hasn't been until the release of Season 2 that I've been in a position to really start advertising and marketing. It's the sad reality of an Indie author who is working a full-time job with a family and being the only one to do everything.

If I had actual time, I could fill it with all kinds of efforts but here we are. I'm hoping in the next 6 months I'll get more real data to use and see where to point my ads with more clarity and focus my efforts more efficiently.

For now, I'm trying lots of different things to see what works and what doesn't.

7/7/2025 01:50:32 pm

If you know anyone who lives in a foreign country, ask them to read and review your book. I have noti8ced that reviews from other countries show up on Amazon USA.

It all takes time, no doubt about that. Going slow at first seems like a good idea. When you find something that works you can give it a little gas. But you will need to check metrics often because Amazon changes their algorithms frequently. What worked last month may fizzle this month. I have no doubt that other large platforms, such as Facebook, do the same. If nothing else, it keeps the ad dollars flowing in.

New question.

Have you ever participated in a book blog tour, why or why not?

7/7/2025 03:41:08 pm

Metrics will become important once I get going. I've heard things can change, and fairly quickly.

With RedCape being in the UK, I know they're offering my books at conventions they attend, and I have had a few UK reviews. I'm very happy to become known on more than one continent and am going to approach the Asian horror crowd as well.

As to your question, I've been looking into it but haven't done it yet. It's another path to getting the word out.

7/7/2025 03:49:10 pm

You have good plans going forward. Having your publisher in the UK has worked out pretty well in terms of exposure for you. Exposure is the name of the game. Without it, few books will be sold.

Last question.

What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Craig Crawford

7/7/2025 04:20:14 pm

Time will tell, and it's a true learning experience for me which I am excited for.

I write pretty dark stories, and my characters confront some awful things. Having said that I hope my readers finish these stories with hope too. Even all the hell Berger and Katie and Kali have gone through and are confronting, they get thrown life preservers to see them through.

I think or at least always want that theme present in my stories. Real life is not for the faint of heart. Some days it's rough and downright scary. With my stories, you are hopefully cringing at what the characters endure and walk away sighing or even smiling because if they get their victories readers can too.

7/7/2025 04:27:26 pm

Project Threshold continues to serve and protect, whether citizens know it or not. That is one of the great things about this series. I do love the series.

Our time in this promotion has come to an end. The week flew by!
Thank you again for hiring me to promote your books. It has been my honor to provide the critical exposure every author needs.

Until next time, keep on writing.

7/7/2025 04:47:29 pm

Happy to get another chance to talk about this crazy business called writing.

Thanks and take care...until next time

Project Threshold: Season 2: Team Talise by Craig Crawford

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