Tag: secret supers

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Cover Hints! A New Book is Coming!

Villain's Vacation cover What is it like?

Cover Hints! Wait, what’s the book? Secret Supers in Space. It’s the third book in my Secret Supers series (try saying that ten times fast) that started with:

Cover Hints

Jeremy Gentle fell flat on his face at therapy. That was normal since he had cerebral palsy. But his new superpower wasn’t normal.

Then things got weirder when his best friend, Dan Elanga, got a different superpower. But Dan was still blind.

Kayla Verdera and Aubrey Wilcosky, two girls in their middle-school special ed class, discovered they too had new superpowers. Kayla was mute and needed a walker. Aubrey lost two legs and used crutches. But they were as powerful as the boys.

What should the four friends do? Jeremy knew if the word got out, it’d be a media circus. Then they started fighting crime, as the Secret Supers. Who knew a disability could be a perfect disguise? No one would ever think of disabled kids as superheroes. Then they ran into problems they never expected.

Get your autographed copy by clicking here! Or, get your copy from Amazon and pay more here.

The Book Cover Before the Cover Hints

My second book in the Secret Supers series is:

Villain's Vacation cover What is it like? Cover Hint
Villain’s Vacation. Click to get your autographed copy!

Four disabled seventh-graders with superpowers take a vacation at Coaster World. They need a break from fighting criminals. Ever since the beginning of the school year when they acquired their unusual abilities, they’ve been training and using those powers to fight crime in their town.

Little do they know the arch-villain they recently defeated also loves coasters and is vacationing at Coaster World. Worse, the villain wants revenge. Nothing less than turning these teens to a life of crime will satisfy.

Can Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey withstand the villain’s attacks? Or will they become Super Villains?

You can only find out by reading the adventure ‘Villain’s Vacation’.

You can also get the book at Amazon by clicking here.

This is the same artist who did the third cover, Sean “Fuzzy” Flanagan.

The First of Three Cover Hints — Finally!

Cover Hints

This is the first cover sketch I got. It’s NOT the final cover. Fuzzy did five more sketches and then the final cover.

Click to see other covers by Sean Flanagan.

Do you want more hints?

Of course, you do!

See below.

Or, you can tell me what you think by clicking here.

Or, email me at [email protected]

Another Hint!

Here’s a piece of the background from the real final cover:

Do you want another hint?

Here it comes!

Cover Hints

This is also from the final cover. It’s part of the bottom strip. It shows the Earth in the background.

My cover reveal is coming! Subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here so you’ll be the first to see it.

You’ll also get free audiobooks and ebooks and short stories as a member of my newsletter!

When will the cover come out? My next newsletter will be November 20th. Maybe then. If not, then the next newsletter is December 4th.

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Summertime and the writing is easy – NOT!

Chapter 12 icon for Secret Supers

Summertime and the writing is easy – NOT! In this blog post, I’ll tell you about my writing struggles with Secret Supers in Space and what I’ll do about it.

Plus, I’ll give you some new reviews I’ve written and about my writing.

Plus, plus, I’ll give away some free books.

Let’s get started!

Summertime Book: Secret Supers in Space

This book continues the Secret Supers disabled superheroes series. It started with:

Summertime Interesting Links Summertime
Secret Supers – click to get yours!

Then I followed up with this book:

Summertime Villain's Vacation cover What is it like?
Get a free copy here!

Now I’m working on the third novel in the series: Secret Supers in Space.

What’s it about?

What my next book is all about

Secret Supers in Space covers the Secret Supers trip to Space Camp – and beyond.

Here’s what Space Camp is like:

Space Camp video

Now we come to my first struggle: I have to learn all about Space Camp to write this book. It’s a real camp with a real agenda for real kids. I didn’t want to get anything wrong.

I have no trouble exaggerating or compressing facts but I want to faithfully give the space camp experience.

The problem is, I can research or I can write. I can’t do both. I must research before I write so I have the facts in mind.

That was my first delay.

Wait! Why am I writing this book?

Because I like to get nice reviews like this:

Secret Supers Chapter icon

4.0 out of 5 stars 

A fun story!

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2022

Jeremy has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around. He is in a special education class with Dan, who is blind, Kayla, who was mute and used a walker, and Audrey, who lost her legs and uses crutches. One afternoon, when conducting experiments in his laboratory, Jeremy accidentally gives himself superpowers. Specifically, he gains the ability of telekinesis, which he can use to help himself walk, cause his wheelchair to travel at much higher speeds, and even fly.

Not wanting to keep this discovery to himself, Jeremy tells his 3 friends about it and gives each of them superpowers as well. But now that they have superpowers, what should they do? Following the words of Uncle Ben of Spiderman, they decide they must use their powers for good, beginning by trying to solve a case of a stolen car, and keep their identities a secret, modeling their costumes on the Incredibles.

This book was a fun story that placed individuals with disabilities front and center in the story. While the superpowers allow them to do things they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise, it is what they choose to do with their powers that makes all the difference. Also, even with their superpowers, their initial disabilities aren’t erased, which I think is important. I liked to development of the characters and how they interacted and supported each other; I only wish the book had been longer so I could have spent more time with them. I am glad that there’s a sequel already published, and I look forward to reading/listening to it.

As for the audiobook edition of this book, the narrator, Luke Castle, did a fair job. Some of the voices he chose for a few characters I did not care for, but that comes down to personal preference more than anything else. His pacing was good, and the energy he put into the narration was evident. Despite disliking a few of the voices, I would still listen to the sequel given the opportunity.

Jennifer C.

Summertime Reading

What do you like to read in the summer? Let me know and get a free book. Here’s one of the 60+ books I’ve read so far this year:

Summertime
Two Necromancers, et. al.
Review ofTwo Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf (The Unconventional Heroes #1)
Rating[ 4 of 5 stars ]
Shelvesaction-adventure, fantasy, humor, read 
FormatKindle Edition 
StatusJune 8, 2022 – Shelved as: action-adventure
ReviewThis was my first exposure to L.G. Estrella and I definitely want more! The author creates humorous and ironic juxtapositions of characters and roles: Timmy, the dread, dark necromancer, who’s reluctant to kill. Katie, the whiz-bang apprentice who’s 10 and cute as a button and hates being called a kid, and is protected by invisible ninja rats.

Then we meet the bureaucrat who’s 6′ 6″ (two meters) skinny, and loves paperwork. But he can magically retrieve any paperwork at any time. As well as other things.

Finally, there’s the woodland elf who’s a pyromaniac because her magical power is creating fire.

I assure you, you will enjoy this romp

“So what?” you ask. Reading, which I do a lot of, distracts me from writing. Another struggle.

The Final Answer to My Writing Struggles

Write. Write every day.

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What Is Novel Writing Like? My Experience

What is novel Writing Like

What is Novel Writing Like? Since I’ve written seven of them and I’m busy writing an eighth, it’s high time for me to share my experience with you.

In case you’ve forgotten, here are four of my novels:

Life After Life Chronicles March Fourth What Is Novel Writing Like
Enjoy all four novels in audiobook, paperback, or Kindle format! Click to get yours.

But the one I’m working on is the third one in my disabled superhero series:

What Is Novel Writing Like
Secret Supers cover. Click to get.
Villain's Vacation cover What Is Novel Writing Like
Villain’s Vacation cover. Click to get.

Villain’s Vacation ended on July 4th at a coaster park. What could I possibly do for a third novel? Go to summer camp. But what would make it more interesting? Make it a space camp. The Space Camp.

You’ve never heard of Space Camp? Watch the video.

That’s my first step for any novel. Have a premise, a theme. Here are three examples:

Zombie turkeys: the book writes itself.

My Undead Mother-in-law: what’s it like to have zombies in your family.

Paranormal Privateers: Zombie pirates.

What Is Novel Writing Like? My next step to writing a novel.

My next step is from many years ago: high school English 101: write an outline.

Here’s my outline format. I do this in Excel.

Secret Supers in Space outline What Is Novel Writing Like
Secret Supers in Space outline

I plan out the whole novel, scene by scene. I’m pretty comfortable starting any book. I always introduce my characters. I don’t assume anyone knows anything. My goal is to make any novel readable without the previous novels.

Here’s the opening page:

“What are you doing, Jeremy?”

Startled, Jeremy looked up from his computer. His best friend, Dan Elanga, had slipped silently into their clubhouse, his laboratory, and office, in the basement of his home. His round, brown face smiled from behind him. Dan’s tall, wide frame formed a wall behind Jeremy’s chair. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.

“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”

“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”

“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”

Secret Supers in Space, by Andy Zach

First Page Continued

“What are you doing, Jeremy?”

Startled, Jeremy looked up from his computer. His best friend, Dan Elanga, had slipped silently into their clubhouse, his laboratory, and office, in the basement of his home. His round, brown face smiled from behind him. Dan’s tall, wide frame formed a wall behind Jeremy’s chair. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.

“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”

“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”

“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”

And your’s and your dad’s. You were all excited, so I couldn’t help myself from taking a sniff from your mom’s nose. I didn’t snoop any farther than that.”

“I know you respect everyone’s privacy with your mindreading power.”

“Except maybe yours. You did give me permission to read you anytime. But I haven’t read your mind about what you’re concentrating on. C’mon, tell your old friend Dan.”

“Don’t tell anyone. This is a secret. I want to surprise the Secret Supers.”

“Of course not. Now I’m dying to know!”

“I’m applying to Space Camp.”

“What’s Space Camp? I can hear the capital letters in your voice.”

“What’s Space Camp? It’s the greatest camp there is! We’re all bored out of our minds this August and we want to do something. Space Camp teaches you all about our space program. You learn about astronauts and rockets. You go on a centrifuge, and experience zero-G and moon gravity.

Secret Supers in Space, by Andy Zach

“I’ve got an outline; now what’s next?”

Jeremy Gentle What Is Novel Writing Like
Jeremy, seventh-grade superhero

The first scene, the first page is most important. You must capture the reader’s interest or go home. I assumed most people didn’t know about space camp, so they’d be curious about it.

I also revealed the Secret Supers’ powers in the first chapter. That’s always fun. In case you don’t know:

  • Jeremy Erickson – Telekenesis
  • Dan Elanga – Mind reading
  • Kayla Verdera – Thought and sensory projection into other minds
  • Aubrey Wilcosky – Super Strength

What do I do next?

Write each scene. I try to get as clear of a picture of it as possible. That includes:

  • Location
  • Characters
  • Point of view character
  • Desired effect upon reader

The last is most important. You need a reason for the scene and something you’re going to accomplish. Try to always reveal more about the characters and more about the plot and the conflict. Increase tension and excitement.

You need this clarity so you can concentrate on the important features of the scene.

But there’s more.

What Is Novel Writing Like? What My Biggest Distraction?

First, try to guess. Let me know your guess and win a free ebook from me. Click here to give feedback.

My biggest distraction is also an essential part of the process.

It’s research. I don’t know everything I need to know. I knew very little about space camp. Before I could write, I had to learn a lot. I know more now. And as you learn, you must research more.

I learned about SpaceX, NASA, Cape Canaveral, and details about the ISS, the International Space Station.

Part of my research

We’re Not Done! Look out, Villains Ahead!

What is novel Writing Like
Jeremy is captured by a robot in Villain’s Vacation

I had so much fun creating and writing about my villains in Villain’s Vacation, I decided to use them again in Secret Supers in Space. They’re up to no good and they’re worse than ever.

To be notified when Secret Supers In Space comes out, subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here. Or you can follow me on Amazon.