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Rain of the Ghosts Book Two - Spirits of Ash and Foam
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Diversity
Diversity in pop culture has always been an issue that concerns me greatly. I've tried to do my share to increase diversity on series like Gargoyles, W.I.T.C.H., The Spectacular Spider-Man and Young Justice.
Now, that I've entered the world of publishing, my sister Robyn brought this article to my attention:
The article asks valid questions, and - yes, to toot my own horn - I'm going to provide at least a piece of the answer with my new books, Rain of the Ghosts and Spirits of Ash and Foam. Both feature protagonists of color. Rain Cacique is Native American, as is her grandfather Sebastian Bohique. Her best friends are Charlie Dauphin, who's African American and Miranda Guerrero, who is Hispanic-American. Many - if not most - of the other characters are also of color. This reflects the Caribbean setting of the novels, i.e. the fictional Ghost Keys and the actual mythology of that region.
The books are available here:
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Ghosts-Greg-Weisman/dp/1250029791
and here:
I urge you to check them out, and to suggest them at schools and libraries.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS signings
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS signings
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Had two great signings for RAIN OF THE GHOSTS over the last few days.
On Saturday, at Gallifrey One, I coerced a roomful of Young Justice panel attendees to buy my new novel. And I sold out!
Then last night, had a reading, discussion and signing at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena. We had a full house, and again, we SOLD OUT!
I want to thank all the friends, family, fans and strangers who attended either or both and bought books and generally put a smile on my face.
But there are still books out there to buy, so...
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is the first book in a nine-book series of adventure, intrigue, mythology and mystery with a touch of horror. Rain Cacique is a thirteen-year-old girl, who lives on the tropical island of San Próspero - one of the eight Ghost Keys - where she goes to school and works for her parents in the tourist service industry. She feels trapped. But she's soon going to discover that she has a special ability - she can talk to the dead - and a destiny to fulfill. The second book in the series, SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM, is already written and will come out on July 8th, 2014. The other seven books are in limbo, dependent - frankly - on sales of the first book.
If you've enjoyed my work on W.I.T.C.H., Gargoyles, Spectacular Spider-Man or Young Justice, I can guarantee you'll like Rain!
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS can be purchased here:
SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM can be pre-ordered here:
http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Ash-Foam-Ghosts-Novel/dp/1250029821/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y
Thanks...
Philip Anderson writes...
Greg, congratulations on [i]Rain of the Ghosts[/i] and [i]Spirits of Ash and Stone[/i]! I'm looking forward to reading them and hoping to see the rest of the series, too.
As a writer myself (search [i]Pirate Journey[/i] on Amazon) I know that writing the manuscript is only part of the challenge. I've found that finding a publisher can be just as hard, in different ways. So here are my questions:
1. How did you get connected with St. Martin's?
2. If you have a publishing agent/agency, how did you connect with them?
If you have time, either here or in future rambles, I'd like to read your thoughts on your publishing experience (aside from your writing experience which you've chronicled pretty well with your chapter updates). Any information or advice or encouragement for aspiring and struggling novelists would be appreciated.
Thanks, and congratulations again!
Phil Anderson
Greg responds...
1. My situation may be unusual. My editor at St. Martin's was already a friend. He and I would have breakfast at San Diego ComicCon once a year to talk geek stuff. He knew that I had written Rain and that I had stalled out on a rewrite, and he would urge me every year to finish. So when I finally did in February of 2012, I sent it to him. Personally, I'm lousy at networking usually, but there's no doubt it can pay off. And this time I got very lucky.
2. I have an agent. Their main expertise is in animation, but they handle books, as well. When I originally wrote Rain, twelve or so years ago, they sent the book out to various publishers, who all rejected it.
I'm still figuring stuff out. For example, now that the book is out, I need to teach myself how to get the word out about it. That's the main reason I'm on Twitter, but clearly that's not going to be enough. I'm learning this stuff in fits and starts myself. Feel free to ask other questions, but following my progress will probably be equally instructive. (If anything is.)
Todd Jensen writes...
I noticed that in the blurb for "Rain of the Ghosts" a) there are a few names borrowed from "The Tempest" (such as the Ghost Keys also being called the Prospero Keys, and your protagonist has a friend named Miranda), and b) the story is set in the area of the Bermuda Triangle. Was this influenced by the theory that one of the inspirations for "The Tempest" was a shipwreck in the Bermudas in 1609?
Greg responds...
I don't think it'll surprise anyone to learn that "The Tempest" will play a role in the Rain series as a whole, though not so much in the first two books. Beyond that, I'm not going to spoil.
Steel_Goliath writes...
Hi Mr Weisman
i was wondering do you feel any anger towards the shows you work on get canceled before you can finish all the plot lines
also what do you plan to do now that young justice is cancelled
Greg responds...
Anger isn't the right word. Frustration, certainly. Sadness. Melancholy. Resignation. It's not a happy feeling, but there's nothing and no one to be angry about.
By now, you probably know that I'm one of the Executive Producers of the new STAR WARS REBELS animated series, which premieres in 2014 and that I've written two novels: RAIN OF THE GHOSTS and SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM.
TODAY'S THE DAY!
TODAY IS THE DAY!
Nope, this isn't a reference to Young Justice.
This is another shameless plug for RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, which was released today as a paperback and e-book.
I'm hopeful all of you have or will buy a copy. But PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, help me spread the word about the book! I'd hate for it to do badly simply because people hadn't heard about it.
It can be purchased here:
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Ghosts-Greg-Weisman/dp/1250029791
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rain-of-the-Ghosts/23564294
Also, please think about pre-ordering the second book in the RAIN series, SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM:
http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Ash-Foam-Ghosts-Novel/dp/1250029821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379977280&sr=8-1&keywords=spirits+of+ash+and+foam+a+rain+of+the+ghosts+novel+by+greg+weisman
http://www.walmart.com/ip/29091756
And finally, check out:
https://twitter.com/RainoftheGhosts
http://rainoftheghosts.wikia.com/wiki/Rain_of_the_Ghosts_Wiki
Thanks,
gdw
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS is out TOMORROW!
Some of you have already received word that your copy of my first novel, RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, has shipped. I'm even informed that the book is on the shelves of some bookstores (like Barnes and Noble) now.
For those of you who haven't pre-ordered or purchased, this is just a reminder that the book officially becomes available tomorrow, December 3rd, 2013. You can order on sites like Amazon:
Or you can go into any brick and mortar bookstore and either buy it there - or if they don't have a copy - order it from them.
I hope all regular and casual readers of this website will consider purchasing either a hard copy or an e-copy. (Or more than one. They make great stocking stuffers. Plus they're arriving just in time for the end of Chanukah!) If you've liked my work on GARGOYLES, W.I.T.C.H., THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and/or YOUNG JUSTICE, I truly believe you'll like RAIN, as well. I've done my best to stuff it with world-building, mythology, action, comedy, drama, MYSTERY and just a little bit of horror.
[SPOILER WARNING: Speaking of mystery, I've been privy to a few advanced reviews. Most are positive. Some are more lukewarm. One was scathing. (The phrase "graceless grammar" will stick with me for awhile.) But nearly every single one reveals/spoils some or all of the story's mysteries. (The scathing review seemed to have so much contempt for the book that the reviewer had no compuction about revealing EVERY mystery possible.) This is not to say you shouldn't read reviews, but I thought I should offer fair warning. The tradition of not spoiling in a review seems to have fallen by the wayside.]
In any case, my fervent hope is that you will all help me out by using every means necessary - but particularly social media like Twitter, Facebook, etc. - to SPREAD THE WORD about the book. The second book in the RAIN series, SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM, is written and will come out on May 13th, 2014. But it's a nine book series, and there's currently no commitment to publish the other seven. That will depend on sales. And sales, of course, depends on folks KNOWING ABOUT THE BOOK IN THE FIRST PLACE. So, please, please, please, help me by letting every one you know in on our little secret. Because really, I don't want it to be a secret, but it still feels mostly like it is one.
Thanks!
gdw
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS and SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM covers!!!
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS and SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM covers!!!
That's right! You can now see both the front and back covers of my new novel RAIN OF THE GHOSTS (with its new correct coloring) here:
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Ghosts-Greg-Weisman/dp/1250029791
AND you can now see the front cover of the second book in the RAIN series, SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM, here:
http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Ash-Foam-Ghosts-Novel/dp/1250029821
The first book comes out on December 3rd, 2013. The second on May 13, 2014. But both are available for pre-order now at the above websites!!!
Thanks to Phoenician for pointing out that the SPIRITS cover was up! (I'm always the last to know.)
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS BOOK TWO: SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM Progress Report
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS BOOK TWO: SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM Progress Report
And here's another of my shameless attempts to maintain buzz about my new novel, RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, due out in stores and on-line on December 3rd, 2013 (but available for pre-order NOW on Amazon, etc.):
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Ghosts-Greg-Weisman/dp/1250029791
There's not too much to report about the first book right now - though as stated in an earlier ramble, you can now see the book's front and back covers up on the above website.
And in the meantime, I'm happy to announce that earlier today, I e-mailed off the SECOND BOOK in the RAIN OF THE GHOST series, SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM, to Michael Homler, my editor at St. Martin's Press. As you can imagine, hitting send was a pretty momentous moment for me. It took me just two weeks shy of a year to research, outline, write and proofread the entire novel. Fifty weeks. Of course, if I had stayed unemployed, I would have been done sooner, but I can't say I'm unhappy that I got the job on STAR WARS REBELS. I'm thrilled about that. But it did make finishing the book more of a challenge.
But it's done. They'll be some editing and maybe a bit of tinkering, but we're on track for SPIRITS to come out on May 13th, 2014. It can also be pre-ordered at:
Of course, I'm really hoping that you guys not only buy copies of these books, but that you help me SPREAD THE WORD about them. It's a nine book series, but if these first two don't sell, you won't see the other seven any time soon. And even if everyone who ever stops by ASK GREG bought two copies, I'm not sure that'd be enough. So, please, if you've ever liked my animation work, trust that you'll like this book, and in any case, again, help SPREAD THE WORD!
Thank you.
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS: NEW FRONT AND BACK COVERS!
RAIN OF THE GHOSTS: NEW FRONT AND BACK COVERS!
Back with another shameless attempt to maintain buzz about my new novel, RAIN OF THE GHOSTS, due out in stores and on-line on December 3rd, 2013 (but available for pre-order NOW on Amazon, etc.):
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Ghosts-Greg-Weisman/dp/1250029791
Even if you've already pre-ordered, go check out the above website to get a gander at the newly recolored updated front cover AND the never before seen BACK cover of my first novel.
And if you haven't pre-ordered, please think about doing it now. Hey, you can even save a little money by purchasing both the first and second books in the RAIN series. That's right. The SECOND BOOK in the RAIN OF THE GHOST series, SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM, which is due out on May 13th, 2014 and can also be pre-ordered both at the above website and here:
If you've liked any of my previous work, with influences from mythology and Shakespeare, an exciting story full of surprises and characters that matter, I think you'll like Rain.
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