Monday, December 19, 2011

Steampunk & "The Ghost Box"


My new book "The Ghost Box" is ready for print layout and cover design, for a release date early next spring.  I don't know how many books a year the rest of you write, but two or three is quite enough for me, I think!  James Patterson produces an average of 230 books per year, but I believe in all honesty that he is not a human being, but an organized work farm of alien laborers from the planet Profit.

I'd love to hear from the rest of you what your average yearly word count is.

The  covers a mixture of three genres- Steampunk, Paranormal and Science Fiction.  Maybe we should call it "Dark Urban Fantasy" and leave it at that.

"The White Death" is well underway, and is a mixture of Steampunk, Lovecraft, and Science Fiction.  A seatbelt is required when reading the book.

Next year, though, I'm sticking with one genre category per book.  How about you?

19 comments:

Travis Cody said...

Well, I wish that some of my favorites would put out more in a year. But I'm usually satisfied with quality over quantity.

Congrats on getting this one ready!

Rick said...

Thanks, Travis. I have to admit that between finishing two novels, starting the online magazine and now going into book publishing that it's been a busy year.

Steve Buchheit said...

Congrats. As for not mixing the genres, I believe I'm constitutionally restricted from taking my genre straight.

Rick said...

I believe I'm wired the same way, Steve. I blame you.

Charles Gramlich said...

Mine goes way up and down depending on work related stuff and personal issues. I'd guess no more than 50,000 words a year of published material from me. On average at least.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Crap, I'd be happy with one a year! I am not a fast writer. And Patterson isn't human - I'd bet money on it.

Rick said...

50,000 is respectable considering the high quality of your work. I'm still rooting for you to get another novel out, though.

Rick said...

Patterson isn't human, Alex. I'd bet on it.

ivan said...

Like Charles, it is about 50,000 words for me as well.
And lately, most of those words are free, except for some journalism.

Migod, I could have been rich!

Rick said...

You still might get rich, Ivan. If you get your own reality TV show, everything you've ever written will be worth a fortune. The Kardashians could ask the two of us to write their biographies... maybe not.

Kathryn Magendie said...

I am LOVING your new look, Rick! *smiling*

Need to take a look around at all you are up to - just makes me smile.

And CONGRATS on your book release soon to come - I'll be purchasing my own copy.

As for how much - My publishers only 'expect' one book a year, but one year I had two novels released and another year I had a novel and a novella - lawd! Won't do that again!

(sent you an email, by the way, in response to your comment over at my place)

Rick said...

Love the look at your place, too, Kathryn! Nice to be back and now I have to contact you about an interview. So an email coming your way :)

Green Monkey said...

for me its one book per lifetime but writing everyday. I don't care about the word count its the content I focus on. but this is because I write nonfiction? or I'm a slacker

Rick said...

Slacker! (Just kidding)

You're right, content rules, Green Monkey.

laughingwolf said...

grats, rick!

as for patterson, he's like that clown who published the hardy boys/nancy drew series, and more: he wrote the germ of the story he wanted to publish, then farmed the writing out to wannabes, who could not get published on their own... at least at the outset...

yup, if you look close, patterson no longer writes much...

why should he?

he gives SOME of the money to his hirees, banks the rest; all cuz of name recognition from the years he did write....

Vesper said...

What an awesome picture, Rick!

Congratulations on your new book!

I would be ashamed to say what my word count is... Too far from what I would like it to be. :-(

Merry Christmas and all the best to you and all your loved ones.

JR's Thumbprints said...

Rick, As I enter the New Year I'm hoping to clear all debt. I'm almost at the top of the hill and can see the horizon; I can see The Writer and The White Cat off in the distance.

Tyhitia Green said...

I don't have an average because so many variables are always involved.

James Patterson has help so he can do that.

I agree with Travis about quality over quantity.

Congratulations, by the way! ;-)

Lisa said...

Happy New Year Rick.