Visitor’s Blood: Book one By Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden

4/6/2019

Debut author, Sahreth Bowden introduces us to his first novel, Visitor’s Blood: When an alien craft lands on planet Earth, Maj. John and Dr. Connie Shinn are eager to learn about its all-too-human passengers. However, when the peaceful aliens are forced into further compliance, the Earthlings are thrown into an unimaginable battle against one of the passengers...a vampire. Unwittingly, the couple find themselves aboard the spaceship with its captain, Malook, and his vampiric companion, Sulru, as they head for Galdelier where they find the beautiful foreign world on the brink of civil war between the ruling humans and the malcontent vampires, strained under decades of subjugation. But amidst struggle, the lines between friend and foe can be easily turned askew. When you begin to question everything you once thought was noble or evil, where will you find your loyalties lie?

I really enjoyed this book! Sci-fi is my favorite genre and this hits my favorites in many ways! You have UFOs landing on earth, human-like occupants, a family, and – a vampire?! What are vampires doing in space? This book answers that question and many more you may not have thought of.
This book is written in first person POV, alternating with each chapter. I happen to enjoy the intimacy of that format a great deal. There is no head hopping, something I quite detest.
Sahreth’s world building is quite good, he delivers just enough for everything to make sense. I like how he incorporates so many different aspects right down to architecture and food. One thing that comes to mind for more interest, personally, is religion. What kind of religion would the vampires have, as well as the ruling class of humans?
I enjoyed the dialogue, inner and outer, throughout. The action was good also.
I give “Visitor’s Blood” a score of 4.3.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/-visitors-blood
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visitors-Blood-Book-One
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-visitor-s-blood

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/Baphy1428
http://baphy1428.com
https://www.facebook.com/VisitorsBloodOfficial
https://www.facebook.com/Baphy1428
https://www.instagram.com/baphy1428

Tags: dystopian fiction, abduction, aliens, first contact, invasion, slavery, rebellion

Copyright © 2019 Mark Schultz except for the author’s introduction

35 Comments

Sahreth 'Baphy' Bowden link

4/7/2019 04:27:44 pm

Many thanks for this review! I'm glad you enjoyed the story and greatly appreciate you taking the time to point out the errors you saw.

The religion aspect was something I actually went back and forth on. Believe it or not, the original version of Visitor's Blood was written a decade ago when I was 17 and was supposed to contrast a world that had never delved into much spiritual thought with Earth, which obviously has had a lot of religious influence.

That particular plot point was inspired by Ted Dekker, an amazing horror/suspense writer who uses Christian symbols and teachings behind most of his work. The story has evolved a great deal since then and in the end, I took different 'political/ethical' focuses :)

Mark

4/7/2019 06:10:01 pm

Very nice. I do recall the name of Ted Dekker from some time ago. He has written a lot of books. I thought I had read one of his books, but I didn't see anything that looked familiar.
Your emphasis on the political and ethical is an interesting twist. Sulru's ethics were as strong as most anyone's religious beliefs.
New question.
Tell us a little about yourself.

4/7/2019 07:05:45 pm

You know, I never really know how to answer that question. I've been married to an incredible and supportive woman for 9 years, only have furry children, and been a rat breeder and worked with animal rescue for about 8 years. However, since I am so engrossed in writing (which is the basis of our business here), I guess the major things to point out would be what influences that.

Throughout my life, I've had an abundance of health issues due to a congenital disorder (DKC), but as I grew, I also developed schizoaffective disorder and PTSD. The latter went untreated because of the negative stigma surrounding mental illness. Needless to say, that caused a lot of avoidable problems which is why I now try to advocate for mental health awareness in whatever way I can.

On a similar note, I am very ethically-minded myself. My personal spiritual beliefs lie in the path of Atheistic Satanism, but I hold a strong conviction that all religions/philosophies can coexist with one another without such hatred and violence that we see today between these groups. All spiritual beliefs are equally valid and it is our diversity of both thought and appearance that grants us endless potential as a people.

I'm absolutely certain that my personal beliefs could at any time be proven false which is why I think it's so important to keep an open mind, lest we be broken and resort to hate when and if something we currently know to be true, crumbles. While spiritual paths come and go without being definitively evident as true, what is continuously shown is how easily we can cause damage by not attempting to comprehend others and ourselves and work together toward common goals.

These two things are prevailing aspects of nearly all my stories, extended to include any differences that we have allowed to separate us, such as the tension between race/species that you see in Visitor's Blood. I feel that what is most important is that everyone learns to take a step back and look at the big picture, to consider another's feelings, thoughts, and beliefs in a respectful and compassionate manner. While 'World Peace' seems an unattainable goal even to me, I do fervently believe as a species, we have the potential to reach a point of understanding that greatly reduces suffering and vastly improves our way of living.

4/7/2019 08:13:30 pm

Congratulations on 9 years of marriage. A lot of people don't make it that far. You must be working at the relationship all the time. I have found that is what it takes. You can't take your partner for granted.
It's obvious to me that you have given this great thought. I agree with you on many of those points. It would be nice if these ideas could coexist without the violence and hatred. It's interesting to see your philosophy work out in your books.
We love our fur babies without a doubt.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What inspired you to write this book?

4/7/2019 09:33:16 pm

Thank you! And yes, it takes a lot of work, but it's been worth every minute of it. You are quite right about not taking them for granted. It's so easy to get into the routine of being with someone that complacency sets in, which is a quick path to growing apart.

I was always told that a person should write what they feel and know so it's my hope that my writing properly reflects the passion I have for these matters without coming across as preachy. I definitely don't want to be someone who is viewed as one who thinks they have all the answers because I certainly don't by any stretch of the imagination.

Absolutely a full-time writer. Like I mentioned, I have a lot of health problems both physical and mental. These have unfortunately left me incapable of maintaining a job outside of the home so most of my time is spent taking care of fur babies, writing, and cleaning the house when I'm not nursing my health. My wife supports us financially, a responsibility that I dream to be able to relieve one day by becoming a successful author.

Outside of Ted Dekker's initial influence on the first version of 'Visitor's Blood,' the story was actually inspired by the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still." I've told people this before to have them say they don't see much correlation other than having to do with aliens, but how it inspired me was that I loved Klaatu's character and wished that I could learn more about his home planet.

The thought behind 'Visitor's Blood' was the seeming lack of stories where Earthlings went to inhabited planets compared to the abundance of ones where aliens come to us. I wanted a story where yes, extra-terrestrials made contact with Earth, but instead of being set here, was on their planet and focused on Earthlings learning about their culture. Just like Klaatu is forced to navigate our world as an unwanted visitor in “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” John and Connie have to do the same on Galdelier in my story. The only difference is that John and Connie's status as aliens is largely unknown by those who would seek to harm them.

4/7/2019 10:13:21 pm

Thank you for your candor and your passion.
You are building a business based on writing books. We will get into that more later.
I love that you were inspired by that old movie. I think most books start with a question, "what if... " just like your book did.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book?
What do the elements on the cover represent? It might seem obvious, but I am interested in your vision for the cover as a small part of your book.

4/7/2019 11:11:57 pm

Thank you :)

I actually designed the cover myself. I'm a Photoshop hobbyist and typically do all my own graphics. I digitally painted and edited the cover for 'Visitor's Blood' which is based upon the image of Sulru, the main vampire from the series.

You commented on the intimacy of the rotating first person POV; this is the reasoning behind not only this cover, but future books in the series. Each image shows half of a main character's face, centered largely on the eye in order to relay a personal connection with that character. The eyes are said to be the gateway into the soul, after all.

I felt by only showing part of the face, the reader would be drawn into that character's mind over their physical appearance, much like the rotating POV is supppsed to do. Or at least that was the theory xD

I started the series with Sulru, even though the actual text begins in Connie and John's POV and she isn't introduced until several chapters in, because as far as looks go, I believed she was the most intriguing.

As well, since the reader isn't shown her thoughts until further into the book, a lot of my aforementioned message of considering another's feelings/viewpoint is portrayed by making her the central image of the story. Prior to the first chapter told by Sulru, our reader has only the perceptions of the other characters to judge Sulru on.

4/8/2019 03:52:45 pm

Very interesting. I knew it was Sulru after reading the first few chapters. The others described her pretty well. The inimitable Bard is credited with the phrase about eyes.
I like your cover and reasoning, even more so knowing what was going through your mind.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

4/8/2019 04:55:15 pm

Thank you. I never knew who originally said that; I've just heard it a lot ever since I was growing up :) I'm glad that she was recognizable through their descriptions.

I've entered a few short story contests on Wattpad, but they were hosted by individuals, not the company itself. I did win some. However, due to the small scale, I don't really attribute that as winning an award. Moreover, I entered them for coverage and to get feedback on what I'd written.

I would like to enter official contests, but keep finding myself to busy to write on these new prompts that most I have seen seem to be based around. Maybe when things slow down a bit, I will attempt to enter some.

4/8/2019 07:30:36 pm

Small though they were, winning had to feel good. I hope you posted the certificates or the announcement letter where you can see them as often as you need. Congratulations. I think contests like that are good, they help you grow as a writer.
New questions.
Did you go through the query process for VB or did you go straight to self-publishing, and why?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

4/9/2019 11:48:34 pm

It was nice :) To me it meant that even if the audience was small, my work stood out as the best so someone thought it had merit. A good start, I think, because it seems that a major thing most creators (not just writers) have to overcome in the beginning is fear that what they've done isn't good enough. So I agree with you about how much contests can help writers in regards to getting us to venture out as well as find people who can offer constructive criticism and unbias opinions.

In the first incarnation of Visitor's Blood back in 2015, I did send queries to multiple publishers without luck. Although it was upsetting, I stepped back and took a few years to improve my style, expand the story line, and better develop the characters. It was last year when I finally finished a version of the book that I was mostly confident in.

This time around, I went straight to self-publishing. I did a lot of research between this route and traditional publishing and felt it was the best option for me. I would like to be hired by a traditional publisher at some point to ease much of the scheduling and financial burdern associated with self-publishing. However, it's no longer a must since I feel confident in the possibilities of self-publishing.

As an indie author with many friends and acquaintances in indie music, acting, etc, the worst sin is idea theft. Claiming someone's intellectual property, including unfinished ideas, without explicit permission from the source is never excusable.

A physical item can be replaced or repaired, but stealing things such as a story or a song and putting your name on it is stealing a piece of someone's spirit and hard work.

4/10/2019 11:49:08 am

Your publishing journey matches that of a lot of other authors. Many of those authors self publish the first several books, then they seek a contract or an agent. Easing the financial burden is a plus for the author, the downside can be the loss of creative control, intellectual property rights such as movies, plays, audio books and foreign sales. If you look at a contract I hope you have a good lawyer looking over your shoulder. Contracts aren't easy reading for many reasons.
New questions.
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Do you have a favorite book by another author or authors?
Do you ever read a book more than once?

4/10/2019 07:09:00 pm

Thank you! I'd definitely not venture into contracts without legal help. And yes, that's one of my biggest fears is loss of creative rights.

I was a huge reader when I was growing up. So much, in fact, that when I got into trouble, I was grounded from books. I grew up almost exclusively on 'classics,' my favorites being Winnie the Pooh and Curious George.

My mom, however, hated reading and since she was strict about controlling the content we viewed (movies, music, books, etc), I began having issues as I got old enough to venture into finding my own stories, ones she could not easily monitor. It led to me doing a lot of reading in secret, even if the stories were entirely harmless. Otherwise, I was given the 3rd degree or punishment.

She wouldn't even let me read books assigned to me by my high school for class by myself, insisting on reading them to me so she could censor them. She also blamed a minor fall in my grades (I say minor because my lowest score in a class overall ever, was a 79 C- a failing grade in her eyes despite being just 1 point below a B).

Nonetheless, I decided to work at the school library and read what I wanted to regardless. My favorites as a teen were 'A Painted House' by John Grisham, 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry and the 'Maximum Ride' series by James Patterson, in addition to several Ted Dekker novels.

I've had a lot of health issues regarding my sight since being an adult and unfortunately am just now finding options for reading again that aren't painful or frustrating. I actually just finished 'Into the Fire' by Tim Miller and it has claimed position of my current top-favorite book.

I have read a book more than once when I was in school, in order to properly do the work for it, but I do not generally re-read a book unless for personal study (such as language and religious text). There are so many books to explore and time is limited, so I try to gather as many experiences as I can rather than repeat the same one.

4/10/2019 07:51:59 pm

I was luckier than you in one way, my mom did not censor my reading. She was happy that I was reading. In fact, I grew up on a small non-working farm. I had a few chores, but they didn't take long. We were very isolated, there were no playmates anywhere near me my age. I read to keep boredom at bay.
You are not the first author I have encountered with vision issues. My friend uses Dragon dictating software to write her books, she is mostly blind, practically speaking.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a character as a starting point in a story? Would they recognize themselves in the story?

4/10/2019 09:00:58 pm

I didn't grow up on a farm, but the town was really small. Fortunately, my family was financially comfortable and we could afford to travel a couple of hours frequently to go to the theatre or bowling and such. I'm glad you were allowed to read as you wished, especially with so few options for entertainment.

That is inspiring to me ❤ My wife is a tech nerd and assures that she will get me software (like Dragon) and teach me how to use everything should my vision continue to worsen to a point that I need it. Right now, I'm blind in one eye, but with a contact, I can see well enough out of the other :)

Writing does help me, both spiritually and mentally. It's easier for me to explore my emotions in such a setting rather than try to talk on them directly. My therapist will read what I've written (often stories that she is the only one who will ever see) and approach the subject in regard to written characters, getting me to think on them and draw the parallels to my own experiences. So it's definitely helped my mind to heal, which is important for a healthy spirit as well :)

Outside of therapy-exclusive stories, when I use attributes of real persons, the basis is generally loose. The character may have only a single trait that is shared with the real life inspiration. Therefore, I don't think it would be easy for anyone to determine that they're the source unless I told them. Moreover, I tend to write myself into my characters, but not limited to one.

For instance, in 'Visitor's Blood,' Sulru was originally based on me. I believe I mentioned that I first began writing the story when I was in high school. She was actually originally used as an outlet for my somewhat nihilistic and incredibly depressive thoughts.

These, as a teen, were never displayed because outwardly, I was quite stoic. It's a long story, but suffice it to say I was groomed to feel that was the only acceptable way to act. However today, I see much less of myself in her while also seeing parts of my personality goth present and past in Connie, John, and even Malook.

On a similar note, John Shinn was named after my great uncle who had recently died when I formulated the character. He was a sergeant in the US military during two wars, nicknamed 'Sarge.' Unfortunately, during my most recent drafts, I had to change John's rank to Major for the sake of realism which negated the nickname.

4/10/2019 09:12:25 pm

It sounds to me like you have made some very good progress. I like the sound of the way your therapist works.
That is a good way to handle the recognition problem. It makes for no problem at all. Complete deniability.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?

4/11/2019 12:14:02 am

Thank you! I like to think I have, though I know I still have a long ways to go. She's a wonderful therapist. I have gone through 15 within the past 9 years and none did me any good until I met her 2 years ago.

LOL I never thought about it that way, but you're right. I never use anyone's story without permission, but it does sometime happen that characters will have a trait that I first saw in someone from the real world. My first stand-alone book actually contains a character (and much of their back-story) that was written by a friend.

They were the first person to read the initial draft (which did not contain said character). After suggesting how their character was both inspired by my story and their own biography and would fit into it well, I agreed and obtained full permission to write her into the book (which acknowledges the character's origins). Like I've stated before, I find known plagiarism to any degree atrocious.

I would have to say I enjoy writing the protagonist more, simply because the driving purpose of the majority of my work is to show both the validity of varying mindsets and the major gray areas surrounding morale. Therefore, my stories are most often written in first person to achieve a level of intimacy with the central character(s), focusing on their thoughts/emotions. I don't view anyone in my stories as the "good" or "bad" guy. Everyone is simply doing what their individual personality and experience dictates while I pick out my favorites from the scenario to tell the story from. This isn't to say that I don't believe there are things the characters do/have done that are good or evil.

Although there are multiple individuals and groups working against the main four characters (some of which are yet to be revealed) the largest adversary in this first book is the Galdelierian government. Being totalitarian and racist, there's little to be said in kindness. However, while it is looked down upon for there to be no working members within a household, serving the community is not required for a non-criminal citizen's basic needs (food, shelter, medical care) to be met.

In other words, as long as you don't cause any trouble, you'll never go hungry, sick, or without protection as long as you're a citizen. It is through work that one finds both the funds to buy anything extra to this, and the respect of their fellow men. It is my personal belief that there is no excuse for citizens of countries as advanced as Galdelier (or the US, where I live) to go hungry or be denied medical services. In that minor part, I can say I agree with this 'antagonist.'

On the protagonists' side, since there are four, I will give one thing each that I hate: Sulru's stoicism, Connie's impatience, John's blind loyalty, and Malook's selfishness. Mind that these are not static characters so said traits may or may not be continuous throughout the series. Reverting to earlier in this conversation, these things are funnily enough, something I see of myself in the characters, whether the past or present version of myself.

Truthfully, I don't have a routine or even much of a schedule in general, but certainly not when it comes to writing. If I feel restricted to a routine, I can't make any good progress. It agitates my creative process because it makes me feel forced to create something. That's why I love writing on my phone; it allows me to work at any time, anywhere. Last night, I laid next to a bonfire and wrote on the final chapters of 'Visitor's Blood' Book Two.

4/12/2019 10:27:22 am

That is very interesting, your friend felt like a part of the story you were writing. I have never heard of that before.
Everyone has good and bad sides to them. Every antagonist is the hero in their story. They believe they are doing the right thing.
We are all like Maloof and the other characters at different times. We are human and act in our personal best interests most of the time, unless we make a conscious choice to do otherwise.
Glad you are making progress on book two.
New questions.
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Sahreth 'Baphy' Bpwden link

4/13/2019 04:55:19 am

Well said :)

And yes, it made me happy that she liked it enough to want a character based on herself in the story. It really was a good fit too.

Thank you!

To be honest, I keep thinking I wish I could add a little more detail about the natural aspects and appearance of Galdelier as well as the vampire culture even though I delve a bit more into it in the coming novels. I also feel that there are several places where the descriptions are too wordy.

I think Visitor's Blood relates more to life in general rather than our current society in particular. A large point is that no manner of rule is going to ve without corruption nor is it going to please everyone. However, I do believe that the elements regarding race are something to be focused on specifically even today, regardless of how 'equal' people wish to think our culture is.

If readers remember my book at all, I see that as a step in the right direction. However, if anything positive and helpful can be taken, I hope that it is to try understanding others fully before casting judgement, certainly when no I'll actions have been made.

4/13/2019 05:07:56 pm

I have to agree, every human institution is subject to corruption and unless watchfulness is constant, it will happen. We are all human and act in our self-interest first always, unless great thought is taken.
You are dealing with an impulse common to writers, to deliver every bit of information as quickly as possible. When too much info is given, it slows the pace of the story down, sometimes to great detriment to the story and readers get bored, closing the book. You have done well resisting the urge, it's a fine line between too much and not enough.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?
Are you a plotter, a pantster, or a hybrid?

4/13/2019 08:19:30 pm

I agree with you most definitely; it's why I'm so adamant about thinking on others. None of us are immune to personal interest and desire, but just as you said with a watchful eye on government, the same will help to decrease in harming others in lieu of our own wants. That's not say it's wrong of us to want things for ourselves and to work for our goals, but mindfulness is also important.

Thank you :) I'm glad you think so. I'm going to do my best to continue to analyze all my work so I can find the best balance of the two.

When I'm on the computer, I use Apache Open Office simply because my wife built my computer and I've never gotten around to buying Microsoft Word. Since I do a lot of writing on my phone though, I first write to a draft on Wattpad so that I can access it easily from both devices. As I go along, I copy/paste into Apache and format there, then convert the files into PDF or .doc (whichever the publisher site needs).

Amazon uses .doc and Ingram uses PDF files. I'm only just getting started with Ingram because it is a massive database that most publishers use for buying books, such as Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. I started with Amazon (and will continue to use it in tandem with IngramSpark) because it's the most popular option for indie authors at this time and is easy to use.

I write an outline of each book's events, editing it as I go to reflect any changes I've made along the way. Any details that I know I may reference later, including character descriptions and the like, I also have a list of. Sometimes I do miss things and have to go back and search my documents to find.

That being said, I think I'm more of a panster than anything. When I first sit down to write a story, I just write however it comes out. I'll eventually get to a point where uncertainty to what all is going to happen sets in and that is when I'll write the aforementioned outline. However, these outlines always seem to change many times at the whim of my mood as I actually work on the story. And if during any further drafts and final edits, something doesn't feel/sound right, I'll alter it again.

4/13/2019 08:44:40 pm

That is an interesting process. Almost every author has a process unique for them, one way or another. You have found something works for you and that's all the matters, until it doesn't work for you.
Post-plotting is a new one for me. Writing down the points after they are written sounds like a creative idea.
New questions.
You said you write mostly on your phone. You must have a pretty big phone or do you use a Bluetooth keyboard?
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

4/15/2019 04:51:14 am

Thank you :) And yes, I was actually raised on the mindset that we should always try many different things because we never know when we'll find even just one small change from the norm that works so much better for us. Like you said, we're all different and receptive to various things and processes.

Actually, my phone is pretty small. I can't stand large devices; they feel awkward to me. To be honest, I don't really favor technology much in the first place. I like things to be as simple as possible. I didn't even have a phone until late last year. I would borrow my wife's phone when she came home in order to write or what have you.

I can't do any sort of work with other people around lol, my wife being the only exception. I've always been like that. If I was assigned to a team project in school, I'd just do it by myself or sit out of it altogether if they didn't want me to. People distract me so I only write at home, usually sitting on the couch or at my computer. Occasionally I'll go outside or sit in my car at the laundromat.

We don't have TV or any streaming service, but if my wife is home, she'll put a video game streamer (or her music) on my computer which sits right next to hers.

When I'm by myself, I opt for ambient fireplace sounds or screamo music playing very softly because if I play music I can sing along to, I'll get distracted. But it's never quiet at my house because silence makes me anxious and paranoid lol. It's kind of hard to not have any noise when there are a colony of (pet) rats living with you and six cats constantly wanting in and out xD

4/15/2019 11:06:36 am

I have so much trouble writing on my phone that I dictate as much as I can, then I have to go back and correct the weird and sometimes humorous autocorrect errors! I do as much work on my laptop as possible.
I am like you, I prefer to work alone and in quiet. Although I will listen to the radio while I work.
It sounds like your house is quite busy with all those critters.
New questions.
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever done any theater, written a play or any screenwriting?

4/15/2019 12:25:55 pm

I can completely understand that! My wife prefers using the computer as well and I have to admit that autocorrect likes to give me more editing to do when I'm done.

Yes, we've done a lot of animal rescue work since we've been together, mostly focused on getting cats fixed and taking care of rodents. I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't surrounded by them all the time.

Narration is easiest to write for me personally. In fact, I tend to narrate too much. I have to remind myself to tell enough of the story through action and dialogue.

Taste definitely is the most difficult sense for me to describe. I'm not even sure why either, now that I think about it.

Sight seems to be the easiest though and I think that is because of how many ways you can relate it. Colors, talking, what action...by comparison, the other senses seem so limited in means of what words can be used describe them.

When I was in elementary, I did a little bit of musical theatre at the local college. Outside of that, I have no experience in the realm of theatre or acting and the like. My best friend, however, is actually an actor. He's written some short screenplays as well.

4/15/2019 04:50:46 pm

A lot of authors struggle with balancing action with narration. Too much of the latter will cause some readers to lose interest and close the book. Too little and the reader may be confused resulting in the same result.
You are not the first to pick taste. Most authors give little space to food and eating in their book unless it is a plot point. I am assuming to avoid slowing the story down. Sight is another non-surprise, we get so much information from our eyes.
New questions.
How do you know when a book is finished?
Did anything in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?

4/15/2019 05:08:46 pm

It makes me feel better to know other writers struggle with the same things. And that makes sense. I can only think of a few reasons that the taste of something could be integral to a story, though I'm sure other authors could probably come up with several more than me.

Well, I know I need to think about wrapping up the story when I get to 90-100k words. I don't like writing things much longer than that, but I also don't like putting out ones that are too short.

Visitor's Blood is 132k which is much longer than intended, but I didn't feel there was an appropriate cut-off time before then. So mostly, I go on what feels right as far as knowing where to end a book, but I do also try to keep it within a certain length.

You know, nothing really did come as a surprise, but that's likely to do with having been working on it for so long. I think this particular book has been hashed out too many times in my head for anything to stand out to me personally like that.

4/15/2019 05:22:19 pm

Length is fairly important, especially in certain genres. But an outstanding story can break those barriers without suffering much, in my opinion.
I always ask that question now, because many authors report having moments of surprise.
New questions.
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
How many drafts do you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

4/15/2019 05:53:32 pm

I completely agree with you on that. I have read novellas that were amazing reads while many long books I felt were dry in comparison.

For me, it goes back to what we had discussed about giving too much or too little in description; it's something I have trouble with. I know absolutely though, that I need to cut myself off around 100k words even if it means rewording and taking less interesting parts out of the story in order to keep it within that frame.

It's a good question. I have had ideas pop into my writing that I never expected to write or that came to me last minute that I thought were perfect details I didn't know the story needed lol

Oh dear. Um, let's see. I finished the first draft right before I graduated high school, so it took about a year or maybe a little less. Then I had my laptop stolen and didn't have access to a copy since I'd left home on bad terms. I didn't try working on it again for a while and when I did, it took a few years to get the second draft done.

At first, I was happy that I'd finished it, but then realized that the plot had holes, the setting was lacking, and the characters were poorly developed. It took another couple of years to start on it once more. I wrote a third and fourth draft, then made a final edit within two years and set the date to release it for April 3, 2019 (which is the day I turned 27).

I don't regret any of that journey at all though because I can tell how much it's helped me grow as a writer. Within all that, I even took the time to write fanfiction in order to practice writing techniques and took pointers from various authors as well. Everything I've picked up since finally finishing Visitor's Blood Book One has been much easier to get out taking far less time and editing.

4/15/2019 07:20:19 pm

That was a long journey, or rather an often-interrupted journey. Those things happen. You did well, the book is quite good, all those drafts were necessary. I bet your next book won't take nearly as long. It's likely to be much better also, because you have learned so much.
New questions.
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?
If you do, how did you find them?

4/15/2019 07:54:31 pm

Thank you :) I'm glad you think so. I still doubt that quite a lot (I'm sure most creators do if only in the beginning of their journey), but I feel positive that the only way to go from here is up so try to just keep moving forward.

I grew up in an environment that was pretty verbally derogatory. I can't give an age, but I was fairly young when I realized how important what a person says and writes can be. Books frequently gave me an escape to kinder or more liberating worlds while simple words of affirmation have always meant a great deal to me.

Sometimes, I think we focus too much on words. However, the power they hold remains which is why I think it's vital to evaluate how we use them.

I've had a handful of people help me by beta-reading the first two books in Visitor's Blood and during my fanfiction ventures, have had numerous people give me feedback. The few who read Visitor's Blood books in their entirety are friends of mine who I know well enough to trust them to be impartial because they're not afraid of needing to spare my feelings.

I did have a few strangers read drafts of Visitor's Blood Book One as well which was where I picked up (from a veteran) the details concerning John's rank and some other military information. With the fanfiction, many short stories, and the beginnings of projects, I have also had strangers read them after posting pieces publicly to Wattpad. Once I've gotten enough critique to work on, I removed them to private view again and figured out the rest from there by myself.

4/15/2019 08:13:55 pm

Now you are talking about what some writers call the imposter syndrome. An author feels like all they write is trash and people are going to reject the writing. Pretty much every writer experiences this, I do also. Anytime we put ourselves out there we feel like we are going to be found out that we are a fraud. I call it the inner liar.
A lot of people have found it hard to trust family and friends because the reader is afraid of hurting the writer's feelings. A stranger seems to be a better choice due to the lack of emotional involvement. If your friends are not afraid to tell you the truth, you are a lucky man. It does take a lot of eyes to write well.
Last questions.
At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the alpha and beta readers?
What kind of questions do you ask them to get the feedback you want?
Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?

4/15/2019 08:43:04 pm

Ah. I hadn't heard of that before, but it makes sense. Once again, that makes me feel better that I'm not alone in feeling like this. I like your "inner liar" description. As a schizophrenia patient, I've had a lot of therapy to help me learn not to listen to nasty voices which have been equated to malicious liars inside my head lol.

I have to agree with that. I do tend to put more stock into what strangers say than people I know. I wouldn't trust just any friend to give an impartial opinion, but the couple that I do are also creators of some sort and understand preferring to know these things before going widely public with them and looking bad.

I usually wait until I'm done or close to done with the first draft to ask for help from beta-readers and such. That way I've gotten most of the details to the general story sorted out and they have the whole thing to judge on. If it's just a few chapters, I feel like the advice might be skewed. Mostly because I know when I read, it takes me that long to get used to the style and see where the writer is going.

My biggest questions are "Does it feel like I'm droning on and not enough is actually happening to keep the reader's interest?"
"How hard was it/how long did it take to get into the story? and does the story seem believable?"
"Do my sentences seem choppy or wordy? Am I giving too much narration or dialogue?"
"Does the story flow or does it feel like things are missing at any point?"
and "Are the characters interesting or cliche? Is the plot predictable?"

I've met a few writers through a book club on Wattpad designed to give indie authors feedback and will ask their advice. But my wife is actually a brilliant writer herself and I often take writing advice from her.

4/15/2019 09:09:31 pm

Hang on to those friends. They understand what you need, that kind of candid advice is very hard to come by.
Those are great questions. Many writers don't ask questions of the beta readers, they just listen to whatever they have to say. I think you are ahead of that game, probing for the weak spots in your writing.
Sahreth, I have a new week of promotion to prepare for, starting tomorrow morning. I want to thank you so much for joining me in this conversation. I am looking forward to your next book. I hope a lot of people buy this book.

4/15/2019 09:18:16 pm

I most certainly will :) and thank you so much for your kindness! I deeply enjoyed this opportunity and appreciate your review. It was a privilege to work with you. I hope your next promotion goes well; I will be looking forward to future books you review and authors you interview as well. Take care of yourself and little Grizz :)

Visitor’s Blood: Book one By Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden

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