Kalijor Daily

This blog has moved

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:46:00 +0000

This blog is now located at http://kalijor.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://kalijor.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

How long?!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:19:00 +0000

For crying-out-loud!

Why does this blog experience so much neglect?!

I think it is partially due to the fact that I do most of my actual blogging on my deviantart site, and partially due to the fact that I am inherently quite lazy. It's true!

I have to take on additional projects in order to create a sense of constant panic/pressure in my world. This panic/pressure is what keeps me working on things, instead of sitting idly by and watching them roll through my field of vision.

The other day my wife told me I was just like my mother, in that, if there was no emergency, I wasn't happy. I am not (yet) convinced that she is entirely correct about the severity of this condition I have, but I am beginning to understand that she is, at least, correct about it's existence.... *sigh*

Ok then, why not just add another log to the fire then eh? Alright, I think I will!

NaNoWriMo! Why the heck not? So, beginning tomorrow (the 1st of November) I will begin my second year's participation in this wonderful little event that challenges one to create from scratch, a 50,000 word or more novel. Start to finish.

Last year I did 74k words, but I didn't have as much going on in my life. I won't bore you with details, but suffice to say that this year my time is even more accounted for going in. So we'll see what happens. If I pull it off again this year, then next year I will adjust my word count goal.

What will the book be about you ask? I think it will be another Alina Martin novel. I really like her character, and feel she still has a lot to offer story-wise. Left undone from last year is what happened with her parents (is her father really a terrorist? And how could he take all those rifle-blasts to the chest? And how could her mother just turn around and walk away from them like that?), what happened to Niko, how Alina dealt with Daray after the incident in the alley, and much, much more (not even mentioning Turin and Almon... Doh! I just did!).

So I think that will be the subject of this year's novel. If you want to look me up on the NaNoWriMo site, my user name there is *gasp* PaulLell Come on over and say hello!

Kalijor on the iPhone!!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:14:00 +0000

I just received word that 'The Second Key of Kalijor' is now available on the Apple App Store! Now you can enjoy the entire published Kalijor series on Kindle or as a native app on your iPhone or iPod Touch!

I'll be putting the hard-cover book together next week, so stay tuned for that as well. Also, 'The Third Key of Kalijor' is now well over 300 pages and going strong. Hopefully the momentum holds up and I can see this through to the end before NaNoWriMo time.

'Kalijor: The Aegis Protocol' (working title) is currently being looked at by my amazing editor to get it ready for next year's release, then The Third Key should be hot on its heels.

Lastly, for those able to swing it, I will be signing books at Leisure Mountain Studio in Yampa tonight (Saturday the 26th) from 4 to 7pm. We'd love to have you stop by, enjoy some snacks and wine, and chat with the locals and tourists! C'mon, it'll be fun!

Moving forward.

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:55:00 +0000

OK,

'The Second Key of Kalijor' is now available the world around! Go to your nearest book store, and order a copy today. Right now even. It's OK, I'll still be here when you get back, so go ahead!

The price was finally fixed at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel has it, and you can get it from my LuLu store front (via Kalijor.com, then a link right on the front page). Or, if you'd prefer, you can email me, and we can arrange payment and delivery for a personalized/signed copy. I will be getting desktop images of the cover up this week, and believe me folks, this art (by the amazing David Magoun over at Full Spectrum Arts & Services) is totally worth having on your desktop!

This year, I am really going to start pushing Kalijor into the public eye, so expect to see announcements about local conventions, book signings, and hopefully some media coverage here and there.

To start off with, I will be signing copies at the Mile High Karate in Thornton (120th Ave and Colorado Blvd) this Thursday the 17, from 6:30 to 9 pm.

Then I will be signing copies in Yampa, CO on Saturday September 26th, at Leisure Mountain Studios, from 4 until 7pm!

More to follow there, so stay tuned!

Coming up......

OK, since I know you're wondering, here's the scoop on what's happening now that the Second Key is available. First off, we have begun revision/editing on a spin-off novel that takes place between the second and third key books, and involves Riana, Willhelmina, Vincent, Xavier, and more, but centers on a new character who makes his living as a professional, corporate thief!

While that edit/revision is going on, writing continues on The Third Key, and let me tell you, it is coming along quite nicely. I'm about 300 pages in, and going strong. If the story continues as it is going now, this book should be killer (and even bigger than the first two)!

Editing continues on the Kalijor RPG man book. It's over 400 pages now, without any interior art. The Rathalon source book material is being play tested, and as many as 5 more sourcebooks are well into being written. I'm doing what I can to appeal to the publisher I have chosen to support the material, but they have a lot going on in their world just now, so things are going slowly. But fear not, I am confident that we can expect to see a Kalijor RPG in print in future!

OK< that's about it for me. I'll put up more soon, but for now, I have things to attend to, so I will let you go. THanks for tuning in, and I look forward to seeing you al on the forums, at the signings, and on the streets!

Iiiit'sss Heeerreeeee!!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:34:00 +0000

OK,

Terrible spelling in the title of this entry, I know. But it's been a good day and I am excited, so humor me please!

This is just a brief notice to any fans that are reading this blog that, 'The Second Key of Kalijor' is now in print, and available to the general public!

You can currently find a copy at my Lulu store front, here, or through the Kalijor.com page. In the next couple of days, to a few weeks, it will become available at amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and all other major book stores the world around.

Also in the pipe are all of the electronic versions. The Kindle version is submitted and awaiting the push to the online Kindle store, and the iPhone/iPod Touch version is waiting on a bit of paperwork, but all the files are set and ready to fire off the instant that is covered, so I would expect it to show up in the app store over the next week or so, very possibly much sooner than that.

I updated Kalijor.com with all the new sales/book links, and will be putting in some new desktops to the media section of the page over the next couple days, but I need time to get the files all set up and ready for you lot, so please bear with me.

OK, that is all for now, except to say that the Third Key is already over 300 pages and going strong. I have a fashion gig at the end of this month that I need to fabricate some stuff for, but in September I will hit the Third Key hard, and get it finished up, hopefully before November, so I can let it cool down for a little bit before first revision (although the first 250 pages have already been revised once since I had to reread it all after I nearly lost the file!).

SO, good night all, please stop by the forums and let me know what you think of the new book after you read it! :D

The proof is in the pudding!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:41:00 +0000

The proof copies arrived today and looked amazing, so they have been approved and are off to the printer for final book store approval. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks 'The Second Key of Kalijor' will be available in book stores the world around!

Also, I just updated the writings section over at Kalijor.com with an excerpt from the new book, and another short story about the twins before all the madness began!

The Second Key of Kalijor

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:29:00 +0000

'The Second Key of Kalijor' cover art is mere days away from being delivered. The artist has sent the preliminary piece and it is awesome! He is now finishing up the back cover text, ISBN/bar code, and other odds and ends. I am in awe of his amazing work and I think you will be too!

And then?

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Ok,

Just so everyone knows (I know the both of you have been wondering), I am still here, and still alive!

I have no idea why this blog is so difficult to maintain regularly (maybe it's because it cost me my last job uh? Meh). Anyway, Just an update on all things Kalijor.

To begin with, The Second Key of Kalijor is done and waiting for cover art. My artist assures me that he is making headway, but he has to pay the bills, so a couple other projects have had to be put ahead of the book cover. I trust it will be done as soon as it needs to be, and am hoping it is before the 4th of JUly, since I will be able to get it in front of my fans in Yampa when we are up there for the celebration!

I have gone through what I have of the The Third Key of Kalijor, checked it for continuity and flow, as well as some general editing, and dived back in to the writing (nearly 60 pages in the last three days). So that is coming along nicely again and may be done before the summer is over! Of course, there will then be loads of editing and rewriting to be done, but that could easily put The Third Key of Kalijor on track for a summer 2010 release (no promises of course though!).

Play-testing on the Kalijor RPG is moving along quite nicely, only a few major issues have been turned up, along with a heap of typos and other technical foibles. It should be in second draft soon and ready to really move into the hard pitch with Palladium!

In similar news, the first source book is done (Rathalon) and several more are in various stages of completion. These new source books include, Earth Ring Station, Pandoria, The Moon, and Avian. Currently the Earth Ring Station is the furthest along (around 30 pages), but they are all sort of being built simultaneously so anything can happen!

For those who aren't aware, the Kalijor universe is in multiple formats now. You can buy the soft cover novel in any major book store around the world or online as always, but you can also get the hard cover special edition on Amazon Marketplace! Also, the books (The FIrst Key of Kalijor and Jumah's World) are both available on Amazon's Kindle platform, as well as the iPhone and iPod Touch via the Apple App store!

The electronic versions are quite affordable (all of them under $10US), and all profits from Jumah's World still go to the Children's Hospital no matter the platform you choose to enjoy it on, so dive right in!

OK. I think that's it for now. Hopefully this will not be the last time I update this blog this month!

Thanks for hanging on for an update, and I look forward to seeing you at the next release party!

Layout and Typesetting

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:02:00 +0000

OK, so 'The Second Key of Kalijor' is all but done!

I finished the final revision this afternoon around some other projects, and then went through and did the typesetting and layout. At this point I am waiting for the title page image and the cover art, and then we are ready to go to print!

The cover artist and I had a good long chat the other day and came up with some great ideas and he is working on roughs now (around other projects of course). Hopefully we can get the final piece under way soon!

All in all, I am very happy with the book and the feedback I have received, so I think you will all really enjoy it when we get it to you!

Stay tuned for more, and as always, please email me, or post on the forums if you have questions or comments (or use the comment feature here if you like :) )!

Kalijor on the (internet) radio!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:11:00 +0000

On Friday, March 19th I was interviewed by Sean rima on Castle Rock Radio's "Big Fat Radio Show"! We had a great 20 minute talk and I was invited to come back again, which I will do for sure when the new book comes out (around June 1st), if not sooner.

Anyway, the MP3 recording can be found here: http://www.kalijor.com/Media/CRR_March_19_09.mp3 if you'd like to check it out!

In other news, I have the first test copy of 'The Second Key of Kalijor' back and it looks pretty good! THe cover artist is excited about the art (as am I), and we are all still of the opinion that Jerry Bruckheimer should be calling any moment to option the material!

'The Second Key of Kalijor' Out to test readers!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:32:00 +0000

OK, I finished the first revision of 'The Second Key of Kalijor' yesterday! I will get a couple copies made and out to test readers today and tomorrow and am putting a return date of the end of March on them. This gives me a couple months to get the next revision done, coordinate the cover art, and work on the layout/type-setting.

At this point I would have to say that I am on track for a June release, but remember, nothing is set in stone!

Kalijor on the iPhone!!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:54:00 +0000

Heyas all!

I just wanted to touch base with you and say that, as of 11am February 7th, 2009, both 'The First Key of Kalijor' and 'Jumah's World' are available on the Apple App Store. This means that you and your family and friends, can fire up your iPhone and/or iPod Touch and download a copy to read while you are out-and-about!

They are both stand-alone applications, which makes them easier to access (as opposed to opening up an eBook reader, then browsing for the files). They remember where you left off last, have adjustable font size, reversible colors and are searchable.

Please check them out, and tell your friends and family to have a look as well! :)

On a side-note, all author profits from the sale of 'Jumah's World' are still going to the Denver Children's Hospital, even iPhone/iPod and other digital formats (my books are also available on Amazon's Kindle platform).

OK, I am off to get ready for P&P gaming. I hope you have a great evening/day and I will talk at you later! :)

Paul

News about 'The Second Key of Kalijor'

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Cover artist for The Second Key of Kalijor is in the pipe, and the cover design has been agreed upon for preliminary sketching. The manuscript revision is about 33% done, and could be done this week if all goes well. We'll see.

At that point, I will get a couple copies out to test readers for feedback and then get into another revision. After that, it will likely need another technical editing pass, then we could be ready for publication.

If all goes smoothly, that should all be done before June. No guarantees however, I'd rather miss my date by a bit than rush the product. I rushed Jumah's World a little bit and it shows in the product, I'm sorry to say. It's still an incredible work, don't get me wrong, but there are things I should have done, that I didn't. I don't ever intend to let myself do that again.

So, stay tuned. I'll keep the status of the new novel in the public eye so you all know where things are at.

Only two weeks this time!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Heyas everybody!

It's been almost two weeks since I posted an update here so I just wanted to touch base and let everyone know what is going on.

I am still thinking through my NaNoWriMo project, trying to make sure that I have a good idea of the characters involved and what, generally, I would like the plot to look like. I have decided that it will definitely be set in the world of the future in which Kalijor resides. There may be a few cameos from some major characters, however the focus will be on a new person with some interactions with/from Daray. If you are interested, there is some bio information concerning Daray in the encyclopedia at Kalijor.com although I still haven't posted any of that novel to the site. I should be able to get to that this week, although it won't be much more than the first couple of chapters!

Next up, I think I have finished all of the major additions to the Kalijor RPG manuscript and have spent the last couple of days going through and adding metric equivalents for measurements, looking for spelling and grammatical issues and formatting. My next pass will address some of the ordering of the book's sections to get that into a better/more user friendly arrangement and then it should b down to whatever mechanical tweaks we continue to uncover through play-testing! Now, I just need that call from the publisher and it will be golden!

Other news? Um.... Oh, I beat Crysis Saturday! Very cool game! Although I must admit that the T.A.C. Hammer is the most annoying weapon I have ever used before. The damn thing is useless unless you are pointing it at the one, single, eligible (according to the game engine) target. I died like, ten times before shutting the game off and taking a twenty minute break before I threw something at my new computer. Then I looked up an online level walk-through just to see if there were any notes on how to use the damn gun and realized that it was more of a plot device than a weapon. Once I knew that it was pretty easy to figure out, but I still think it was a bull-shit game mechanic!

Other than that however, the game was amazing. Very well written, amazing game-play, loads of different styles of play, some unique mechanics that I've never seen done before, and generally very fun to work through. Plus, it had customizable weapons, which always scores points with me. I love playing with the options/functions o weapons in my games!

Coming along!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:52:00 +0000

OK, so Kalijor.com is basically up and running well enough that I am alright with saying I am done tweaking it for the time being.

I hope to get some more content going in now. Most of it to the encyclopedia area as I continue to flesh out the universe. Bear in mind that most of the stuff there is already in use in one form or another, much of it in the RPG book I am building and play-testing with the help of my amazing group of friends.

So don't expect a lot of cosmetic changes to the site, or even functionality changes. But there will be some content additions/updates coming in here and there. I still need to get the meta tags running, but that is a short job that will probably be done before anyone actually reads this blog! :D

In other news, I finished the Darren/Daray story and am now giving a name for the book some thought. It ended up being 410 6X9 pages in a 12pt Garamond font (smaller size but same font as the Harry Potter books). Which is WAY more than I was ever planning to write on the thing. As it happens I think I have more to add, so my NaNoWriMo project will likely be a companion book, detailing a parallel story that fills in a few gaps and then carries the story on a little further beyond where it left off.

It will be a while before the Darren/Daray book(s) see print however as I want to focus my print efforts on the 'Keys' books as that is the primary story arc. Fear not however, as there will be print copies coming, down the road a ways. In the mean time, I will post the first couple of chapters at kalijor.com here in the next couple of days.

I am still awaiting publisher approval on Jumah's World, but it hasn't been kicked back in a couple weeks so I hold out high hopes that it will be hitting book store websites very soon. Expect an announcement, followed by a flurry of press activity once that happens as I will be trying to get a signing put together at the Denver Children's Hospital!

OK, I think that's about it for this round. Trying to keep up this blog now that things are moving along so hopefully more will be coming along soon!

Have a great weekend and I'll see you next time! :D

Catching up

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:32:00 +0000

OK, so the largest portion of the Kalijor.com update is finished. Everything is transitioned into the new look/style and for the most part, is functioning. I am trying to figure out the web-ring code to A) Make it work properly and B) Make it look a little less gaudy. We'll see what happens there. I may just end up putting a links page back in and put that there.

Next up, I need to sweep through and pick up the minor things, such as the links to the books not working on the front page and so forth, should be just a little while to get that sorted out. I also have a bunch of character art that I have commissioned for the site and am trying to figure out where/how to best place it so stay tuned for those tweaks in the very near future as well!

In other news, the Darren/Daray story is coming together, possibly winding down to a climax/finale, but you never know. I'd just like to be able to check it off before NaNoWriMo comes around so I can stay focused on that.

All-in-all I think that's about it for updates. Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing you back again soon!

Have a great weekend! :)

Three MONTHS?!?!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Um. Ok....

Wow. I didn't realize that I had been SO busy as to have neglected this blog for three months. My bad...

Alrighty then. No drivel about not doing that any more or how sorry I am. Just to the point!

The Jumah's World charity book project is well under way. I have received the first proof and had to make a couple changes so we are still a couple of weeks out on that project, but I may have been able to sneak a few rare copies out before the changes went up. If so, I will have 26 extremely rare copies with unique covers that will never be printed again!

Here's hoping they got out the door before the changes were made.

In other news, I have piled up a pretty substantial pile of prose about a new character in the Kalijor universe. His name is Darren, or was rather, but that's all explained in the text. I plan to get it up onto the Kalijor Writings page in the next few days, although work and a trip up to Yampa, CO may put that off for a couple of days. Soon though!

Also, I have been able to finagle a few commissioned drawings of some of the cast of the books/stories! They are coming together and should be done in the next few weeks (art takes time folks! Be patient, I am just as excited as you are!). With my next update to the site, again, in the next few days barring any life intrusions, I will put up the one or two completed pieces I have and some of the rough sketches I have for the others that are still very much in the works.

The RPG book continues to be refined as play-testing progresses, and there has even been a little work done on the first two supplements. Here's hoping that the folks at my favorite RPG publishing house are up to the challenge of making Kalijor a little more alive than it is today! As Kevin Siembieda is often heard saying, I think I suffer from an overactive imagination. Not that it hurts these projects any, but damn if some stuff doesn't just get lost in the sauce from time to time!

Ok,I think that's about it for now. See below for a list of what the heck I am working on around my job, family, and whatever else is going on these days!

_________Project List__________

-The Second Key of Kalijor (First major edit/revision)
-The Third Key of Kalijor (about 150 pages into writing)
-Jumah's World (Proof reordered)
-Darren (Still writing. Also, I need a name for this book...)
-The Kalijor RPG Book (Play-testing/revising and still adding a few odds and ends here and there)
-Kalijor RPG Suppliments (Very early stages, but starting to ramp up)
-Requiem (Comic with a friend)
-AI (Comic with a friend)
-Short Film (Screenplay for a short, CGI piece my brother intends to make)
-Feature Film (Screenplay for a pretty amazing movie idea, can't really say any more than that at this point)
-Mysterious Ghost Writing novel project (Still simmering)

Contest deadling extended!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:30:00 +0000

In order to accommodate more people getting their entries in order around the rest of their lives, the deadline for the contest has been pushed out to the end of June. Everything else is still the same with the exception that the events described as following the contest's judging will, of course, be pushed out as well.

Contest rules/specifics can be found here.

Sorry for the lack of updates. This whole looking for work thing tends to take up some time. Hopefully soon things will be back to a more normal schedule.

Book Art Contest, proceeds to benefit children's hospital

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:18:00 +0000

May 1st 2008!
I know I have been promising this for a long time now, but a great many things have happened in the interim to slow this project down a bit. However, I am now ready to proceed and the text is entering its final stages of revising for publication. So now, I want to pass on a couple of details and get this contest rolling!

To begin with, I want to share with you the intent of this contest. Here in Denver there is a local radio station that does an annual fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital and I am always so tight on my budget that I am never able to contribute anything. However, I always force myself to listen to the telethon for its entire 36 hours because I know that facility has been there for me when I was young, and more recently for my own children as well.

So, I would like to start off this contest by saying that ALL proceeds (that’s 100% of the profit from all books sold) will be donated to the Denver, Colorado Children’s Hospital. It may amount to $25, or it could be $1,000,000 (wouldn’t THAT be cool?), but either way, all proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the hospital, so please, participate with the knowledge that we are helping kids and their families through some potentially trying times.

Alright, that having been said, here’s the deal. Beginning today, May 1st 2008, I am accepting art submissions for one full color cover and nine (9) black and white chapter header images for the Jumah’s World: A Tale From Kalijor novella. Submissions will be accepted through the month of May with the final submission deadline being 11:59:59pm MDT, May 31st, 2008.

I am afraid that, unless any interested parties wish to sign on as prize contributors, the best I am offering in the way of prizes is a free copy of the finished book, and the knowledge that your artwork is not only in a published book, but going to help children in need!

Judging will be performed in two rounds beginning on June 1st. The first round will be myself and a panel of others that know my writing and will be able to identify which pieces are in keeping with the theme/spirit of each chapter or the whole work. Together we will select the five (5) pieces that best represent the chapter they are submitted for, or the book as a whole. After that, the selected finalists will be displayed here and on my website at WWW.KALIJOR.COM where you, the community will vote for the winning pieces. The first round of judging will be finished, and the finalists posted by Wednesday, June 4th. Community judging of finalists will be closed at 11:59:59pm MDT, Saturday, June 14th. Winners will be notified on Sunday, June 15th.

After winners are selected and notified, the art will be laid out, added to the book and submitted for publishing at my expense. The process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks for proofs to be made, sent out, approved and then accepted as final so the publishing date should be around mid July somewhere.

Submit as often as you like and in as many areas as you like, but in order to involve the entire community I must insist that any single individual can only be featured in one place in (or on) the book, so keep your submissions to the area you most want to see your work appear. All work must be rated PG-13 in order to stand any chance of being published with this piece. All submissions shall be submitted to me via posting in your own deviantArt gallery and sending me a note so that I can add a link to the contest update page (If you do not have a dA gallery/account then email the image to me and I will post it there for community voting). Finalists will need to forward high-resolution digital files to me via email so that they can be compiled and displayed in my gallery and on my web page at WWW.KALIJOR.COM for final community voting.

Ok, that’s the basic run-down of the rules. Please see the bottom of this post for more detailed information on sizes/specifications for submitted images. Here you will find links to the individual chapters of the story (bear in mind that these are not the final, edited, copies, but the story is complete and cohesive enough that we can proceed without fear of any severe changes). I have intentionally been vague with details about settings, people, and things in order to allow you, the community, to express the world as you see it in your mind’s eye. This is a community project so I want it to be reflective of the community more than my own personal vision.

Jumah’s World Volume I
Jumah’s World Volume II
Jumah’s World Volume III
Jumah’s World Volume IV
Jumah’s World Volume V
Jumah’s World Volume VI
Jumah’s World Volume VII
Jumah’s World Volume VIII
Jumah’s World Epilogue

Cover Image:
The final cover image size is 12.4” X 9.25” (31.47cm X 23.49cm) and the focus of the image (the cover of the book) will be on the RIGHTMOST 6.125” X 9.25” (15.6cm X 23.49cm). The background or ancillary image area will wrap around the spine and the back cover of the book. This image will be in full, high-gloss color and you should allow for an area approximately 3” X 3” (7.62cm X 7.62cm) to be partially covered by the book’s title within the cover area. The cover art should be in keeping with the spirit of the story and characters within and must be rated PG-13 in order to be considered for publication.

Interior/Chapter Heading Images:
Interior art shall be black and white and shall not exceed 4” X 4” (10.16cm X 10.16cm) in area (or can be submitted in any square size above that with the understanding that it will be reduced to approximately 4X4 which may result in the loss of detail). Each piece must be in keeping with the spirit of the contents of the individual chapter for which it is submitted, and must be rated PG-13 in order to be considered for publication.

Legal stuff. By submitting art to this contest you are affirming that A) the art is your original work and not legally spoken for by any other party or entity and that it is legally available for publication and B) that you are forfeiting your own right to any form of compensation, monetary or otherwise, for this piece of art as it relates to the publication of this piece of written fiction. You the artist still retain the full, legal copyright to the piece of art but are hereby releasing myself (Paul Lell) and my organization (Kalijor Press) from any legal responsibility to compensate you monetarily, or in any other way, for any sales of this book or any other media (whether printed, digital, or in any other form heretofore known or unknown) related to or derived from this book or its sales. I the author am hereby bound to release all profits generated directly through sales of this work to the Children’s Hospital in Aurora, Colorado on a quarterly basis, in perpetuity. I the author also reserve the right to use this book and all associated works of art in the promotion of my other books and am not legally obligated to compensate any of the participating artists in any way for any monetary or other gains that result from said promotions.

And then.....

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:51:00 +0000

Hello again!

Well, the signing/reception up in Yampa went smashingly! We had a packed house for over three hours and met a lot of great folks. I sold a bunch of books and my wife sold a ton of art to boot! We really enjoyed ourselves and owe a debt of gratitude to all of the people who made it happen, my mom, Debbie at Leisure Mountain studio, and all the folks in attendance from Yampa, Steamboat Springs and everywhere in between.

Also a special thanks to the folks at the Steamboat Pilot & Today for an amazing article (and follow-up articles) that, I am sure, brought in a bunch of folks.

Now on to other matters. My new business venture is now up and running! So if you or anyone you know needs any footage of trains, or any high definition interval clips to use as stock in any projects, broadcasts, or what have you, please come check out our new site!

The major revision on Jumah's World is done and it is in the hands of a reader now. As soon as I get it back and make any final adjustments I will be announcing a contest to have cover and interior art made for the book. My hope is to get that going on or very close to May 1st so I can get the publishing process rolling by early June.

That's about it for now. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again in the near future.

Have a great day!

Paul

Signing! And more news...

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:10:00 +0000

Ok all, I hope this message find you well.

As or myself, I am still looking for work. I am trying to break into something involving writing, preferably creatively, although I am not really about to complain if something else comes along. I am accepting writing commissions as well if you need anything done. Rates are as follows:

I am very open to feedback and negotiation so don't let these figures stop you from PMing me with questions!

Creative writing: $10 per typed page
Creative writing with 'world building' services: $15 per typed page

Technical writing (all information provided, outline, specs, etc...): $10 per typed page
Technical writing (including research): $30 per typed page

Editing (in the form of a 'marked-up' Word doc with comments/annotations): $15 per typed page
Rewriting/Editing (in the form of a 'marked-up' Word doc with comments/annotations and accompanied by a separate Word file with the altered text): $30 per typed page

The technical writing section will include reports, white papers, methods and procedures, instructional materials, job aids and the like.

All writing will be in the form of a Word document, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in a 12 point Times New Roman font with single line spacing. Rates are based on these numbers so any requested change may result in a cost adjustment (so writing in a novel size formate of 6x9 would cost less since the pages are smaller).

On another note, I have a book signing set up at an awesome little place in Yampa, Colorado called Leisure Mountain Studio. My wife has been accepted as the artist of the month there (she sold one piece before it was hung up on the wall, and several since) and the proprietor was gracious enough to put up a few copies of my book as well.

Anyway, the reception for the art show is on Saturday April 26th from 4pm to 7pm MDT and I have been invited to do a signing at the same time. So, if you want to come by and say hello, get a book signed, or see my wife's awesome art, the happening is in Yampa on the 26th. For those that don't know, Yampa is a nice little railroad town on Highway 131 about 20 minutes outside of Steamboat Springs. So come on up, make a weekend of it, I hear Steamboat has received more than 50 feet of fresh snow this season so the skiing is likely very good, and the weather is warm enough to really enjoy it.

Also, 'Jumah's World' is back from the editor and has been revised! I have passed it off to a couple people for review and as soon as I get it back and have a talk with them, I will make any final adjustments and get the cover art contest rolling. My plan is to have it in full swing by the end of next week!

Also in the works:
-My Palladium Books 'Rifter' subscription is about 80% done and should be getting much closer through next week, if not finished.
-My new business should be getting off the ground next week some time as well. Stay tuned for more on that, but if you are in to High Definition video, interval photography, or even trains, you may want to watch this space for that announcement.
-The Kalijor RPG book is being tightened up nicely, although I still want to add a lot of content yet. The test group has been on sabbatical for over a month now due to scheduling issues but we are on again as of this Saturday!
-It's Spring time!

Ok, I think that's about it for now. Sorry for the infrequent updates, but I have been swamped with stuff, and in the middle of looking for a job too...

Anyway, I hope this message finds you all well and I look forward to seeing you all in Yampa on the 26th!

Ciao

Paul

Still here!!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:23:00 +0000

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am still about. I am pretty deep into looking for a new job as well as writing up a pile of submissions material for Palladium Books' quarterly publication called 'The Rifter'. I can't really discuss it much as I can't have the material showing up or being discussed online at all or it will greatly reduce my odds of publication. So, suffice to say that I AM here and I AM working on something pretty big.

Hopefully I can get 'Jumah's World' back from my editor soon so I can get it all set up and formatted for publication. Once that is done then I WILL be holding a contest for cover, and possibly interior, art for the book. When that is all said and done, the book will be available for purchase online and through local book stores for somewhere under $10US. Those individuals that get art in the book will receive free copies for their portfolios. Not a huge prize but at this point it is all I can really afford to do.

Also, I am still open for writing commissions, information here:

I am very open to feedback and negotiation so don't let these figures stop you from PMing me with questions!

Creative writing: $10 per typed page
Creative writing with 'world building' services: $15 per typed page

Technical writing (all information provided, outline, specs, etc...): $10 per typed page
Technical writing (including research): $30 per typed page

Editing (in the form of a 'marked-up' Word doc with comments/annotations): $15 per typed page
Rewriting/Editing (in the form of a 'marked-up' Word doc with comments/annotations and accompanied by a separate Word file with the altered text): $30 per typed page

The technical writing section will include reports, white papers, methods and procedures, instructional materials, job aids and the like.

All writing will be in the form of a Word document, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in a 12 point Times New Roman font with single line spacing. Rates are based on these numbers so any requested change may result in a cost adjustment (so writing in a novel size formate of 6x9 would cost less since the pages are smaller).

On that note, I am off to work on these submissions a bit more. I hope everyone is having a great day and I will speak at you all later!

Commissions!!!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:51:00 +0000

Hello there!!

Well in an interesting turn of events I find myself giving serious effort to reevaluating my career and goals. It may seem a little late in life but the fact of the matter is that until just recently, maybe as much as two years ago, I didn't really understand what it was that I wanted to be when I grew up. Now I make no claims to have actually grown up as yet, but I do know now that what I want to do is write. I want to pay the bills through my writing and the only way to do that is to get a body of work out there to support my skills when I go talk to employers about what it is exactly that I can bring to them.

As such, I am going to offer my services to you, the community at large. I will take commissions for writing whatever it is that you want, although I do reserve the right to decline a job at my own discretion and for my own reasons. At this point I have not ever been asked to write anything that I didn't like in some way so I can't imagine what would make me decline an offer, however I DO reserve the right to do so.

My usual method of writing for others is to have them give me a prompt. Something about what it is they want to see. The more detailed the better, although I am more than willing to 'world build' if that is your wish, although it may cost a bit more depending upon the complexity of what it is that you would like done. I am also perfectly willing to do fanfic, although that will cost a bit more as well since I will likely have to familiarize myself with the subject matter in question, characters, worlds, interactions and so forth (if I am going to turn work down it will likely be in this category since it is going to be by far the most labor/time intensive).

I do not limit myself to creative writing either. If you need/want a resume or technical document written up, I am more than happy to oblige. If all necessary information is provided then rates would be pretty low, but again, if I have to start doing research then I am going to have to ramp up the costs a little bit.

On the flip side of all of this, I will also offer editing services for works that are already written, and rewriting services as well. These will be handled case-by-case but rates will be generally similar to writing since there is still much to be done in the editing process.

Anyway, here is a quick rundown of rates, bearing in mind that this is the first time I have done this, so at this point everything is subject to change and I am very open to feedback and negotiation so don't let these figures stop you from emailing me with questions! :)

Creative writing: $10 per typed page
Creative writing with 'world building' services: $15 per typed page

Technical writing (all information provided, outline, specs, etc...): $10 per typed page
Technical writing (including research): $30 per typed page

Editing (in the form of a 'marked-up' Word doc with comments/annotations): $15 per typed page
Rewriting/Editing (in the form of a 'marked-up' Word doc with comments/annotations and accompanied by a separate Word file with the altered text): $30 per typed page

The technical writing section will include reports, white papers, methods and procedures, instructional materials, job aids and the like.

All writing will be in the form of a Word document, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in a 12 point Times New Roman font with single line spacing. Rates are based on these numbers so any requested change may result in a cost adjustment (so writing in a novel size formate of 6x9 would cost less since the pages are smaller).

I thank that's about it, so if you have any questions, please post them, and if you have any requests, please email me me! Oh and tell your friends, tell your family!!

Going on February...

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:00:00 +0000

SO. All seems to be going along fairly well here. I just pushed a pretty big story update to the Kalijor main page. A bunch of new stories were added along with some final touches on a couple of the series I had going there.

I am still writing daily. Right now I am working on a submission for The Rifter, which is a quarterly publication from Palladium Books. Along with that short story I will be statting out some of the characters, classes, races, and a town from that story for use with the Palladium Books system. Hopefully they will be interested in picking it up for an issue or two *crosses fingers*.

As soon as I am done with that Then I am going to finish a book I began before Chrsitmas. It is a book concerning my own personal experiences in management. Sort of an autobiographical do's and don'ts of management if you will. I have no idea how well received it will be but it is something I feel I need to write, so I will!

In other news, I have applied with a couple of game developers her ein Denver for some content building positions! That would be the ultimate job for me!! I can't even tell you how exciting it would be to go to work every day and create stuff for other people to play with!! Simply amazing! I will keep you informed.

Did some basic work around the house today. Regrouted a bunch of tiles in my shower stall. Next up is the drain in the kid's bath tub. It's leaking so I need to get it all sealed up and squared away, then I can move on to patching up the cieling in the kitchen where the kid's tub leaked through! After that... I have no idea... but I am quite sure that something will present itself in due time.

Alright. I am off to get some more writing done. I will gab at you all later! Here's hoping you all have a great day, and a wonderful however many dayes it takes before I post again!

2008!

paul_lell@kalijor.com (Paul) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:47:00 +0000

That's pretty much all I have to say about that. By this stage the whole 'new year' thing has pretty much been done to death. So at this stage I will simply say that I hope each of you has an incredible new year that is filled with all of the things you bring about for yourselves!

For my part at least I have a lot going on. I have finished up my Novella about Jumah and it is in my lovely editor's hands. As soon as we get it cleaned up I will be hosting a competition on Deviant Art and the Kalijor web site. The contest will be asking for all interested artists/fans to compose a full color, cover image for the book. The finalists will be chosen by myself and then the winning piece will be selected via popular vote, most likely on dA just to keep things easily accessible and totally impartial on my part. Once the image is selected, I will composite the cover together (adding titles, text and so forth) and then assemble it for publication. I will also purchase an ISBN for the novella so that it can be purchased online and in local book stores the world around.

The winning artist will receive not just the by-line, but also a signed copy of the book.

At this point I am also kicking around the idea of taking submissions in black & white for interior art at the head of each chapter (which would be nine pieces I think). Judging would take place in a similar fashion and prizes would be the same for everyone since I am still not exactly rolling in the dough.

In other news, I have just begun work on a story submission for "The Rifter" Which is Palladium Books' quarterly gaming publication! I have outlined all of the characters and the plot and am now refreshing my knowledge of places, names and equipment (damns, it's been a long time since I was in the main Rifts book!!). The first page is written and immediately took on a life of its own, so I have high hopes that the project will move along pretty quickly. That having been said, if it does move as quickly as I think it will, then I will likely also pound out a new O.C.C. and two new alien races for submission as well. If that is well received then I may have a better shot at getting my source book into their hands as well. Here's hoping!

Anyway, I hope this finds you all well and I intend to keep better track of this blog during 2008. My goal is at least weekly posts. Shouldn't be too difficult..... should it?