Demon Lord sequel "Dark God" to be published as an e-book

The idea of publishing Dark God as a POD publication was a good one, I still feel, but as it turns out, not so easily achieved. Truth be told, I have been warned not to do this, since it may spoil the book’s chances of ever being published as a paperback. In view of this, I am now considering another Internet option - an e-book. This is by far the cheapest option for people who want to buy the book, and the easiest to organise, since it only requires a bit of software and a little time. It’s probably the quickest and simplest solution, and I only hope that those who have written to me asking about Dark God’s publication will be happy to read it in an e-book format. For those who don’t enjoy reading a great deal on the screen, there is the option to print it out.

It’s not ideal, but in the circumstances, it will help to solve the problem until the book is published, which will happen in the near future, I hope. As soon as I have compiled Dark God into an e-book, I will notify all the people who have emailed me to ask about it. I will also publish the first few chapters here on the blog. My agent has recommended that I use this option, and I always listen to her advice. So, for those who are patiently waiting for Dark God, your wait will soon be over.

Dark God Will Be Published As Print On Demand

I'm pleased to announce that, due to the number of emails I have received requesting a copy of the sequel to Demon Lord, Dark God, I have decided to make the book available as a POD (Print On Demand). I haven't yet chosen a POD publisher, but I'm looking for the right one. Dark God is now in final proofing, and will be submitted for publication shortly - I hope within the next month or so.

Once it's available on the POD site, I shall publish the URL where it can be ordered, and you'll be able to order it here too. POD publishing does entail somewhat of a delay, since the book will only be printed once your order has been received, so unfortunately you can expect to wait for up to six weeks. I will, however, be ordering a number of copies for my own reselling purposes, and these will be sent out more quickly. Signed copies will also be available.

I shall post progress reports here as the publication process unfolds. Pre-publication reviews will be published in several sites and online magazines whose names and URLs I shall also post here when the review has been accepted, along with the date that it will be available.

Writing Tips

A lot of writers have this misconception that writing fiction must be 'artsy' or 'different'. Sure, you need to be clear and use evocative descriptive prose, but the writing should be normal and easy to read, in my opinion. You should write your stories in a ‘normal’ writing style - with some more evocative descriptive prose.

I've never tried to use 'another voice', so I guess my fiction writing style is boring or whatever, but I think it's more important to paint a clear picture in your reader's mind so that they enjoy the story. That is, after all, the whole point, if you want to be published, isn't it? I use a larger vocabulary for fiction writing, that's all, and only because using evocative words will make my descriptions as vivid as possible.

The more vivid the image you can instil in your reader's mind, the better. If you muddy your descriptions with strange grammar and odd words, it lessens your reader's enjoyment of the story, and the story is what you're trying to get across.

If your reader has to read a sentence 2 or 3 times before they can figure out what it means, they're not enjoying the story as much. Sure, it's crystal clear to you, because you wrote it, but even my writing, which is as simple and straightforward as I can make it, is sometimes misunderstood. Leave the weird stuff to the poets.

Demon Lord Sequel Publication Postponed

A letter from T C Southwell

It is with deep regret that I must announce the indefinite postponement of the publication of the “Demon Lord” sequel, “Dark God”. Unfortunately, due to the poor sales of “Demon Lord”, it now seems highly unlikely that the sequel will be published. There was an amazing lack of publicity for “Demon Lord”, since all the magazines and most of the newspapers to whom the book was sent for review declined to review it or even read it, but dismissed it either as a ‘demonic handbook’, or ‘local rubbish’. The fact that it was written and published locally caused an intense bias towards it, believe it or not.

Not only were the local press disinclined to review it, but major South African bookshops would not even order it from the publisher, despite public demand. Against these kinds of odds, the book was doomed from the outset. I am now seeking an overseas publisher, and will, hopefully, find more support in other countries. It is a sad state of affairs, and I would like to apologise to all my fans. I am considering sending the book to a Print On Demand (POD) publisher for the sake of my readers while I endeavour to find an overseas publisher for "Dark God". This is now somewhat complicated by the fact that “Demon Lord” has already been published in South Africa, and therefore the only option might be to combine the two books for the overseas market.

I have been deeply touched by all those of you who have written to me, and extremely sad that this has come about. I hope that you will find it in your hearts to be patient, and I will do my best to find a way to have the sequel published, either on POD or as an e-book, for the sake of my fans.

Only a young healer stands between a dark god and the destruction of the Overworld...

When the dark god Arkonen, imprisoned in the Underworld for a millennia, learns the secret of his release, he steals a mortal woman, heavy with child, from the Overworld, and rips the infant from her womb. Thus Bane, the Demon Lord, is born. Two years later, a girl child who possesses the power of light is born among the healers.

After eighteen years of torturous training, Bane emerges through the World Gate. A dark army gathers to serve him, and he sets forth to conquer the Overworld and break the seven blue wards that bind Arkonen below.

When Mirra, innocent of her destiny, is placed in Bane’s path, he takes her with him on his bloody rampage, defying Arkonen’s order to slay her.

Bane has never known kindness, and Mirra has not known cruelty until now. He spurns her attempts to ease his suffering, unaware that the dark power that he wields is killing him. If Mirra cannot turn Bane from his dark purpose, the Overworld is doomed, and Bane is not what he seems …

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Demon Lord is now available in all the major book shops in South Africa. The author particularly wishes to support Reader's Paradise Bookshop in Cape Town. Signed copies of Demon Lord can be purchased there.

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