WEMF Radio's Citywide Blackout Interview

Last night, after a long day that started at 5:15 in the morning, earlier if you count the numerous times our new puppy woke us in the middle of the night, I traveled to Boston after work for an interview on WEMF Radio's Citywide Blackout show.  The host, Matt Zappa, was simply awesome!  The interview's 30-minute time limit flew as we touched on the evolution of my Overlords Fantasy Book Series, how to organize your thoughts and get them into print, character development and their growth throughout the series, how my life experiences weaved their way into my novels, baseball and my signature pitch, the knuckleball, the 2015 Rhode Island Authors Expo, and so much more.  Matt was totally engaging and had really done his homework, mentioning that being an engineer must be a complete change from writing fantasy -- and it is!  I presented Matt with ten Overlords eBooks via a Dropcard, which comes in the form of a gift card and allows the user to download one eBook of their choice using a unique access code.  Matt was blown away, not realizing that authors as well as musicians as himself have a way to hand out their digital work in the form of a gift card when they are at events.

I'm sure that I'll take advantage of his offer to come on the show again, as well as to meet his co-host Max Bowen, who unfortunately was away on a personal commitment.  Rumor has it he's a cool guy, too.  The podcast will be available next week and I'll be sure to provide a link so that everyone can give it a listen at their convenience.  Once again, thanks Matt and WEMF Radio for having me on your show.  Maybe next time we'll to a Periscope event -- why not!

Meet Jason Sands!

Overlord Enterprises is very lucky to have Paul Abrams, a former artist for DC and Marvel Comics, bringing the Overlords characters to life.  Last year, Paul brought us Harrison Cross and now he has recently provided us with a monochrome sketch of Jason Sands, the 6' 6", bearded warrior that accompanies Harrison and his adventurer friends as they traverse the land and uncover the mysteries of their world.  Paul decided to draw Jason in monochrome in order to create a sharper image of the burly warrior.  We couldn't agree more!  Without further adieu, we present to the world, Jason Sands:

Great, You’re an Author! Are You a Business Too?

Hi, author friends!  I haven’t blogged in awhile so I figured it was time to pass along some more knowledge that I’ve accumulated over the years.  Like you, after I completed my rough manuscript, I needed to start getting my work publish-ready.  That meant hiring a professional editor (a must) and finding the right artist to create a killer cover design (a bigger must) as well as beginning my thought process for the big marketing campaign.  What else did I do?  OK, here it goes!

I needed a website, a newsletter to send to my loyal fans, set up my social networking accounts, yada, yada, yada.  Though some of these things you can do for free, you still need Internet access, which last I looked cost some money per month.  Oh yeah, I needed a device(s) to access Al Gore’s creation, a printer, a smart phone with all those cool apps, and again much, much more.  Are you sensing that a particular word should be added right about here?  That word would be expenses!  And when you have expenses, you my friend, have a business.  With Tax Season nipping at our heels, wouldn’t it be nice to get back a little that you put into the system?

My local bank, and I’m sure many others, allows me to have a free online business account as long as I have a personal account with them.  I use my social security number as my personal identification number for the account and tax purposes.  I even use my business name, Overlord Enterprises, on my account meaning that I can have people sign checks to either that name or myself.

When it comes to Uncle Sam, I write off book purchases, editor and artist fees, mileage to book signings and workshops, devices, Internet access, etc.  I personally use Microsoft Excel but Quicken also has home and business software that is exceptional and easy to use (I use Quicken for my personal business and love it).  Be sure to collect taxes for book sales and pay them to your state.  On your federal return, you can fill in a Schedule C and deduct everything that you do.  And when doing your taxes, be honest.  Don’t overdo it and you will be fine.

I do want to add a disclaimer here.  I hold writer’s workshops, give presentations at libraries and schools, attend writer’s conferences, and travel to all my gigs, which makes what I do a nice side business.  All of these things generate revenue, along with book sales.  If you’re only selling books, and not many at that, you might not be able to really qualify as a business since your losses will be drastically more than your income.  This raises a red flag on your tax return and can increase your chance of being audited.   Furthermore, Uncle Sam may deem you as having a cool little hobby and not a bonafide business.  But if you’re active in your business all will be fine.

I hope this helps you guys out a bit.  Getting back some money at tax time from doing something that you love is always a good thing, right?  Absolutely!

Here's to a Wonderful Holiday Season!

Hello, Overlord fans.  Another holiday season is upon us and like everyone else, we’re all gearing up for the sales season.  However, I’m not going to give you the big sales pitch this year.  Many of you have already purchased my books and I thank you so much for being a loyal fan and follower of mine.   Instead, I’m hoping that you can help spread the word about my works to your friends, families, co-workers, and acquaintances, especially those that you think would like my books the most.  There’s always someone else out there that hasn't heard of The Overlords but might be interested if they knew.

Speaking of spreading the word, please inform those same people with children that I visit local schools and libraries, holding children’s writing sessions, science fiction and fantasy workshops, and mentor seniors with their senior projects.  I can’t be everywhere all the time and trying to contact these institutions can be a daunting task.  Your help will enable me to someday meet that young, aspiring author and help them get their writing career off the ground.  All of these things help me to pay it forward and little by little these simple acts can bring on greater things.

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season, full of happiness and cheer.  And if the winter becomes long and cold, snuggling up near the fireplace wrapped in a blanket to keep warm while enjoying Harrison’s adventure isn’t such a bad thing, now is it?  J

The Top Three Ways Kids Can Be Better Writers!

Hello Parents, as well as fellow Overlords fans!  Even if you're not an author, I think that you can benefit from these three little tips to get yourself or your child to write more.  Let's face it, writing is not hard and getting your kids to do it is easy, if you know how!  We have a ton of experience with this area via our years of school and library interactions and the tips below can help your child tremendously!  How can we get this done?  Read on!

Tip #1: READ!  One way I stir my creative imagination is not by writing all the time, but by reading.  Let's face it, sometimes we authors simply cannot write any more at a given time.  Many times I have saturated my brain with battle scenes, monsters, and witty dialogue but enough is enough.  When I feel like I can't write another sentence, I put away my work and pick up that book I've been waiting to read.  Reading immerses me in someone else's world, taking me to a place that I have not personally created.

Parents, when your kids tell you that they don't feel like writing take them to the nearest book store and have them buy their favorite book or the next story in the series that they're reading.  You'll be surprised at how this new story will spark their imagination and get them back to that computer and writing to their hearts' content in no time!  Believe me, if it works for me it will work for them!

Tip #2: Organize  I preach this single point over and over in my workshops and seminars.  The easiest way to combat writer's block and fatigue is to organize your thoughts into smaller more manageable chunks.  If you have many thoughts, try story boarding.  This is what directors do for movies and TV shows.  Simply take a sticky note or index card and write one main idea per item.  When you can't think of anything else, take what you have written and organize them into a timeline.  From there, your story should take a major leap forward and your brain can begin filling in the blanks.

Another way is to create a bullet list of ideas in your favorite word processing tool (Microsoft Word or equivalent).  Again, reshape your list in a beginning to end timeline and you should have something concrete to work with.

Tip #3: Writer's Groups  Believe it or not, we authors are not always right! Sometimes the best way to work through problems is to talk it out with fellow-minded individuals.  Be it a fantasy-centric friend or classmate in your history class, bouncing off ideas on other people fosters deeper dialogue and a better understanding of problems or road blocks you might be encountering.  And students, parents and teachers are very good at listening, especially when it comes to helping their children learn.

For the aspiring authors out there, check your local library or community center for writer's group or book club meetings.  As I always say, we're all in this together and sometimes even the best of us need a gentle push in the right direction.

I hope these simple tricks help your child and yourself when you develop a case of writer's block or burn out.  These simple tricks can get you back to the pen and paper -- or computers for you tech savvy folks out there! -- and write that next great novel!

Back to Business!!!

Overlords fans, now that April Fool's Day has passed and we didn't make it onto the New York Times Best Seller list, it's time to get back to business.  Look for new reciprocal blog postings, an interesting author visit to the Tiverton Middle School, and much more!  And to those people who we folled yesterday -- Bazinga!!!

Happy April Fool's Day, Everybody!

 HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY! 

 

Yes, if you read our newsletter article, Mike, Jon, Paul, and everyone else at Overlord Enterprises certainly do have a sense of humor!  Though we all want nothing more than to have one of The Overlords novels to hit the New York Times Best Seller's list, it has not happened just yet.  However, in the spirit of April Fool's Day, we encourage you to go to our Overlords Book Series Facebook page and enter your favorite April Fool's joke and/or share April Fool's articles/stories.  OK, now back to our original programming!  Thanks for being good sports, Overlords fans!

Meet Draegon Grey

A couple of months ago, I made Draegon Grey's virtual acquaintance via a LinkedIn group discussion.  Draegon conducts author and character interviews for those in the literary world.  What intrigued me the most were Draegon's character interviews.  After being featured in one of his interviews I asked if he would like to provide a blog posting on this topic on my blog, especially on how and why he started doing them.   He happily obliged!  Here's what he has to say:

"How did I begin?  I started conducting interviews after I had one done.  I realized how helpful it is for the author.  It supports the author and his/her audience in a couple of ways.

One - you learn not only more about the author's journey, beginning in writing, but also how a particular book was developed and, 

Two - it allows the author to become more connected to his/her audience.  They become more human so to speak.  Additionally, for the author, they in retrospect may be helpful in future projects, making modifications or adjustments that maybe wouldn't have been considered without looking back at the process. 

As far as character interviews, this was my idea.  Although there are a few out there, none are like mine (he says smiling).  From a writer's perspective, these interviews actually help the writer/author flesh the character out a bit more.  This may be especially helpful for future projects, especially if there is a series. 

From a 'reader's' perspective, it allows and encourages connection not only with the writer, but the characters.  It also provides a perspective of the character they would not normally get from reading the novel themselves.  I also like the fact that it can provide information about character development. 

From my perspective, I like the opportunity to flesh out the ideas and foundation behind the character.  I enjoy asking probing questions that provide insight to the character and the author.  This residually helps me with the writing of my books, Lorenz Traveling Diaries, E.O.T.W. and my comic Spectrum.  I utilize the same questions for my work.  It challenges me.  So it is a win/win for me and the authors.

Lastly, with the literary world changing so much, I feel this exercise gives this world variety that it needs."

Thanks, Draegon for your unique insight into your interview process.  You can read more author and character interviews on his website, draegongrey.com.  Best of luck with your continuing adventures, Draegon!

The Evolution of Character Art -- From Sketch to Final Product

Ever wonder how an artist creates a character drawing?  Overlord Enterprises' Lead Artist, Paul Abrams, has done just that.  The following panels are the initial sketches for Harrison Cross, the righteous young warrior who is the protagonist in The Overlords series.

Paul provided us with the following preliminary sketch, but we felt that Harrison was a little too "buff" for what we were looking for.  Also, he appeared a bit older than the 20 year-old hero in our story.

Next came a toned down version of our lead man.  As you can see, he is leaner and younger looking, just what we wanted. 

The next step Paul took was to make a formal drawing, which is what you see below.  We're almost there!

Lastly, Paul added color to the drawing, and there you have it, Harrison Cross!

Let us know what you think about the process, Harrison, and Paul's work.  Feel free to leave a comment below or send a message directly to Mike.

How the Hell Did I Become A Writer?

In an effort to expand his virtual reach, Mike will be guest blogging on fellow author sites. Following his previous guest blog with Draegon Grey (you can read that interview here), Mike has a new posting on Samantha Comb's "Samantha Combs Writes!" blog.  In this article, Mike describes what it was like to begin his literary journey, as well as to inspire others that have followed a similar path.  Check out that posting here and be sure to leave a comment or two!

In the next few months, Mike is going to embark on having reciprocal postings with other authors and people in the publishing world.  We'll let you know when a new posting is available.  Please share these links with friends and acquaintances that you know would enjoy the articles.  And as always, thank you!!!

Enter Overlord Enterprises' Holiday Contest

This holiday season Overlord Enterprises is offering the chance to win free prizes!  This includes Skype time with our author for you or your school/library (great for budding author consultations!).  Also, most intriguingly, you will get to name your own character in the upcoming Overlords fantasy adventure book four!  Of course there is more; such as a free autographed copy of The Overlords: Legend of the Treasure, as well as an eBook version of the book. 

Entering the contest is so simple:

1.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, connect with us on LinkedIn, add us to your Google+ circles, track our blog posts and subscribe to our newsletter (above).  Each action gets you one entry into the contest.

2. Already doing all of the above?  No problem, you can gain even more entries by forwarding the newsletter onto others and promoting us to your social circles.  The person who does this the most wins a special prize!  Just let us know your total - its the honor system, people!  Email Mike with your tally and he will take it from there.

3.  All entries must be received before midnight, December 16, 2012.  The winner(s) will be announced the following day via our social networks, blog and an email to that lucky person.

Best of luck to you in the contest!

~ Team Overlords

Conquer the Holidays with The Overlords!

You can now save up to 30% when purchasing any Overlords books in a bundle.  We've crafted these bundles to maximize your buying power.  You can combine eBooks with print or use the discount to get more then one of the books in the series.  We even have high volume discounts for those special inquiries! The books are great for all ages and you and/or your child will become enthralled as The Overlords adventure saga unfolds like a holiday treat!  For bundle options click here to make a selection and place your order; for individual books/eBooks click here.  If your bundle option is not displayed in the list, email Mike with your specific order and he will give you instructions on how to complete your transaction.  Also, if you wish to have your paperback signed or personalized to that special someone, again email Mike for more instructions.

  

  
Don't let this great opportunity pass you by!  Place your order today to ensure delivery before Christmas!

Meet Overlord Enterprises' New Lead Artist!

We're always looking for great, innovative people to work with and we found that in Paul Abrams!  We loved Paul's art the moment we saw it.  Paul brings a wealth of experience to Overlord Enterprises, having created works for comic books, games, fine art galleries and private commissions.  His artwork has appeared in Marvel Comics, DC Comics, TSR, Heavy Metal, Lightning Entertainment and numerous other publications.   Here's what Paul has to say about joining Overlord Enterprises:

"I've always enjoyed creating fantasy art (as well as looking at it), so when Mike and Jon asked me to be a part of their project I was eager about the opportunity!  The Overlords is an exciting, well developed epic adventure series and provides lots of characters to be brought to life visually.  I look forward to it!"

Here are some links to see samples of Paul's work:

                          

For Paul's Comic Book Art, click here.

For Paul's Portfolio, click here.

  

For Paul's Concept Art, click here.

To say we're excited to work with Paul is an understatement!  One of his first tasks with us will be to create The Overlords character set and bring them all to life, as well as to provide insight in Overlord Enterprises' ongoing projects.  We'll definitely keep you posted when we're ready to release Paul's creations to the world.

Book Launch Party for The Overlords: Journey to Salvation

Join author Mike Squatrito to celebrate the launch of his third fantasy novel;  The Overlords: Journey to Salvation.  The festivities commence Saturday, February 18th, from 2:30 - 4:30 at the Middletown Public Library, 700 West Main Road, Middletown, RI.  There will be a short talk by Mike, Q & A, Overlords memorabilia, information on how to get free eBooks for our "12 in 12" campaign, and the unveiling of hero Harrison Cross!  Mike will have copies of all his novels, which he can even sign for you!  This event is free and open to the public.  Food and drink will be provided.  

Come and join the fun!

 ~ Saturday, February 18th, 2:30 - 4:30, at the Middletwon Public Library ~  

www.The-Overlords.com
mike@The-Overlords.com

12 in 12: 12,012 Free Young Adult Fantasy Adventures in 2012

12 in 12 gives schools, students and libraries free Overlords eBooks

Tiverton, Rhode Island, United States (PR Buzz) January 24, 2012: 12 in 12, a new campaign from The Overlords fantasy adventure book series, will immediately start giving away 12,012 free eBooks to schools, libraries and students throughout the 12 months of 2012. The goal of 12 in 12 is to provide students between the ages of 10 and 16 with free fiction reading material that will hold their interest and expand their minds.

The Overlords, written by Michael Squatrito, is a fantasy adventure tale set in the times of warriors and magic. Seven men and a special dog embark on a journey to find the coveted Treasure of the Land, the bounty left behind by the ancient Four Kings. Schools, libraries and students can obtain the free eBook (the first in the four book series) by accessing the 12 in 12 web page or emailing support@the-ovelords.com. Our company will track the eBook download numbers and post updates on our social pages and blog. In conjunction with the campaign, special contests will be announced and held throughout the year – most having to do with enhancing reading and creative writing for children. Additionally, The Overlords are currently researching aligning with like-minded charitable organization(s) that will directly benefit from both the short and long term success of 12 in 12.

Author Mike Squatrito had this to say about 12 in 12: "Reading and writing go hand in hand. By offering free eBooks, we hope to strengthen the children's reading skills and, in the process, spark the creative juices that will lead to them writing their own stories and creating fantastic novels!"

Overlord Enterprises is the umbrella for The Overlords and Self Publishing Insight. The Overlords, is a four book fantasy adventure series with books 1, 2 & 3 in publication. Self Publishing Insight offers school and library presentations, writing workshops, one-on-one author consulting, editing, illustration, eBooks, publishing services and more. Our company is currently staffed in southern California, Oregon, Rhode Island and (soon) The Philippines.

Website: http://www.the-overlords.com/

Blog: http://theoverlords.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Overlords-Book-Series/154801801190

Twitter: http://twitter.com/overlords

Email: mike@the-overlords.com and/or jon@the-overlords.com

Phone: 401-862-9810 (Michael Squatrito, Author and Founder)

Place Your Order Today!

The books have arrived and Overlord Enterprises is busy at work fulfilling Christmas orders!  What makes a perfect, unique gift for that special someone?  A personalized copy of the much anticipated third installment to The Overlords series, Journey to Salvation, that's what!  The 544-page novel's list price is $19.99 and you can secure your copy for on-time Christmas delivery by emailing mike@the-overlords.com.  Also, there are special discounts being offered now for the first two books ($34.99) and all three books ($49.99).  Again, contact mike@the-overlords.com to place an order, but hurry the holidays are coming fast!

The Overlords: Journey to Salvation Has Arrived!

As a special treat to our loyal bloggers, I present to you the cover design to The Overlords: Journey to Salvation!

Overlords fans, your patience has paid off!  The much anticipated third book in The Overlords series is finally here!  And, since you're part of the Overlords family, you have the chance to secure your copy before the general public!  Read on for more interesting facts about Mike's latest novel!

The Overlords: Journey to Salvation - A Preview

Journey to Salvation begins with Harrison Cross and his band of adventurers continuing their journey right where The Talisman of Unification leaves off.  Our heroes embark on a noble quest with the goal of reuniting humanity, but there are many obstacles blocking their path.  Lord Nigel Hammer, the ruthless of Governor of Concur, wishes nothing more than to put an end to Harrison's righteous quest, the Scynthians are intent to eradicate human existence altogether, and an underlying evil lurks throughout the land.  With all these obstacles to overcome, can Harrison and his friends succeed?   Buy the book and find out!

A note from the Author

Mike has worked on Journey to Salvation for the better part of four years, with the result being a 544-page novel.

"Journey to Salvation bridges the gap between the first two Overlords novels and the final installment.  I knew that the story needed to show the leadership qualities of Harrison Cross and I really think this book does just that.  However, a great fantasy story needs its fair share of adventure, battles, new characters, and engaging scenes, all of which I put into this storyline.  I really believe Overlords fans are going to be very happy with this book."

Purchase Your Copy Today!

The Overlords: Journey to Salvation is available for purchase in a number of ways and, for a limited time, all purchases come with a free autograph from Mike!  Also, all books ordered now will be delivered by Christmas.

• To preorder your copy, contact mike@the-overlords.com.  Please provide him with contact information and who to sign the book to.
• To order your copy via our website, click here.
• To purchase all three books at a discount, contact mike@the-overlords.com.  Please provide him with contact information and who to sign the book to.

The Overlords: Journey to Salvation sells for $19.99 or purchase all three novels at a special discount price of $49.99!  Remember, personalized Overlords novels make a perfect unique gift for that special someone this holiday season!

Overlord Enterprises Announces Their New Artist

After an extensive international search that included hundreds of applicants, Overlord Enterprises is happy to announce that Patrick Thompson has joined the ever-growing company!  Patrick's cutting edge artwork, forward thinking, and enthusiasm toward making Overlord Enterprises a globally recognizable name put him over the top!

When asked how Overlord Enterprises would benefit by having him on board, Patrick responded:

"I believe that I can bring the story of The Overlords to life with my unique vision, artistic talent, skills, and imagination, bringing to the series an extra oomph that will draw in readers."

His signature file also caught our attention, "I don't paint things.  I only paint the difference between things."

Patrick's responsibilities will include creating the cover design for Book Three, caricatures of the main characters, webisodes, book cover artwork for our SelfPublishingInsight.com clients, and much, much more.  As you can see, Patrick is going to be quite busy!

One Page a Day ...

Being a part-time author can be trying at times.  Everyday life tends to come first most of the time, leaving my characters and story line waiting for me to sit in front of the computer again to continue their journey.  And don't get me started about the family!  A spouse and children can easily fill every minute of "free" time.

Knowing that many of you are in the same boat as me, I am often asked "How do you find time to write?"  The answer: whenever I can!  When I was younger, I'd write after 9:00 PM, when the kids and wife were in bed.  Now, the last thing I want to do before I doze off is continue a novel!  I find time after work, just before dinner, to be an ideal time.  My children are older and can fend for themselves, and my wife doesn't get home until 6:30.  Weekends are always a time to make up some ground, even though the lawn still needs to be cut, the driveway shoveled, the leaves raked, etc.  I can usually squeeze a couple of hours in between chores to continue my stories, but it's not easy.

One thing I do preach is writing one page a day.  A typical novel is 250-500 pages long, and with there being 365 days in a year, if you take this approach you'll have a novel done in a year's time (let's not get into editing right now, we're on a roll!)  I don't write every day, but the times I do I usual write more than one page.  The "one page a day" rule is an average, so work it how you see fit.

I hope this helps a little bit; at least you can feel some solace in knowing that even someone who has written three, 400+ page novels often finds it hard to write "all the time."

A Service to help Fellow Authors

To further help our fans and customers, Overlord Enterprises has created an offshoot company, SelfPublishingInsight.com (SPI).  Where Overlord Enterprises encompasses everything in the Overlords portfolio, including Overlords books and merchandise, Educational Services, Partnerships, and SPI, SPI was formed to handle writing services.  Under SPI, writers can benefit from expert one-on-one consultations with Mike and other SPI experts, editorial services, website design, newsletter creation and delivery, graphical artwork, self-publishing, eBooks, and much more!  Our hope at SPI is to help those soon-to-be authors reach their goal of publishing a novel, and with the wealth of experience and services offered by SPI, they can achieve that dream!  If you have further questions, visit our website www.selfpublishinginsight.com, or contact jon@the-overlords.com.