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Friday, August 24, 2007

They're Here...






No, I'm not actually talking about the arrival of malevolent spirits planning to kidnap small children. I'm talking about...drumroll please…



That's right, my new pirate adventure novel, Isle of Swords, has been spotted. Amazon is apparently shipping IoS now, and several bookchains have them in stock!


If you are planning to get yourself a copy of this here pirate tale, first of all, thank you. Secondly some food for thought. The first month of sales for any novel is a critical month. Here's why:

• Prior to the books release, all preorder sales are allocated toward the first month sales numbers, meaning that the potential is there for a book to hit all kinds of Bestseller lists. If presales were good, and nonPreSale purchases continue at a high rate in that first month, good things can happen. And, of course, success begets success. If Isle of Swords appears on bestseller lists, more people find out about it, leading to more sales and a higher place on the bestseller list...of it goes.

• Publishers set marketing budgets well ahead of a book's release, but if the book does well early, publishers will often jump in with both feet to promote the book even more. If sales are low, some initial promotional ideas might not come to fruition.

• Publishers also like to launch books with a promotional bang. Thomas Nelson is doing just that. In some participating bookstores, if you buy Isle of Swords, you can get a free copy of The Door Within Lost Chapters Edition! Call your local store and see if they have the deal. But the deal is only for "While Supplies Last." Hence the call to hit it this month.

• And finally, purchasing a book in the first month of its release is great because authors sometimes like to give away free stuff to people who purchase books early. {Cough} And having said that:

Wayne Thomas Batson's Isle of Swords Promotional Giveaway!

If you, kind reader, purchase a copy of Isle of Swords during August or September, email me your snailmail address, and I will send you very cool piratey bookplate sticker--signed and personalized to you or whomever you are buying for! No limit to number of stickers. If you purchase 4,000 copies of Isle of Swords (Hey, it could happen.), I'll be happy to sign 4,000 stickers. (The last coupla hundred signatures might be a tad messy due to nerve damage in my hand, but I'll do it.)

If you purchase Isle of Swords Aug-Sept, email me at: batguy21784@yahoo.com

**And as a bonus, anyone who posts a review of Isle of Swords on Amazon, CBD, or
Barnes & Noble, I'll send you a sneak preview chapter of the Isle of Swords sequel currently in production. Post a review and email me, and I'll send the chapter right off.

Not sure if Isle of Swords is for you? Did you like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies? Well, Isle of Swords is like that (the first movie, that is) only with more depth. ;-)

Still not sure? Here's a Sneak Peek at one of the opening chapters of Isle of Swords:

Echoes of Cannon Fire

A cannon shot, deep and sudden, trailed off like a peal of thunder. Something cold touched his fingertips. Another shot. Run them all out, boys!

Water trickled over his hand. She’s taking on something awful! Bosun, pitch that leak! Another shot, nearer still. Water surged into his mouth and nose. A wave partially submerged his head and sprayed his back.

He woke, jerked his head up from the surf, and flailed onto his side. His face, his arms, his back—throbbed and burned. “What happened?” he moaned, coughing up seawater and grinding sand between his teeth. He could not see. Has someone cut out my eyes? Hands trembling, he reached up. His eyes were swollen and caked shut . . . but at least they were there.

After several painful attempts, he managed to pry them open. Brilliant white light knifed in, he clutched at his face. His head throbbed, sun blazed mercilessly off the white sand, but slowly his eyes adjusted. He squinted under a cloudless blue sky and saw water. As another wave raced toward him, he rose to one knee. That little bit of movement brought tremendous pain. It felt as if there were shards of glass embedded in his skin.

With another groan, he stood. He reached over his shoulder and, between the tatters of his shirt, he felt ripped flesh, sticky and wet. His fingertips came back glistening with blood, and he became lightheaded. He swayed for a moment, then steadied himself and looked around.

Across a slope of white sand, there stood a deep copse of trees—mostly tall palms, surrounded by sea grape and divi-divi trees. He stared at the leaning, gnarled trunks. Divi-divi trees always leaned to the southwest. That meant something . . . he felt sure it did, but he could not grasp what. He looked along the tree line, up and down the shore, and again, out to sea. “I don’t know this place,” he whispered.

He grabbed fistfuls of his matted blond hair. His welted face felt foreign . . . like someone else’s. A sharp ringing came to his ears. The world seemed to spin. “My God,” he mouthed,
“I . . . I don’t even know who I am.”


A flash of green racing across the sand drew his attention, and he turned. At his feet, a large iguana sat gnawing at the leather drawstring of a pouch that lay half-buried in the sand.

Brushing aside the lizard, he picked up the fist-sized pouch. It had some weight to it. “Is this mine?” he wondered aloud. He thought it had to be, but nothing about it seemed familiar. Still, when he loosened the drawstring and began to pour out its contents, he couldn’t help but feel a strange gravity weighing upon him.

A sparkling green stone fell into his hands first. It was shaped like an almond, but much larger. The brilliant sun flickered within it as if the stone was alive with fire at its core. Next, a lock of lustrous red hair dropped out and lay in his palm close to the jewel. The hair was a little damp but still very soft. He ran a finger lightly over it, wondering. . . .


The surf raced in and covered his feet, just as the last item—a rusty iron cross—fell into his palm. Ancient it looked—and not just from the tarnish. It bore strange markings and a script of some design, but he could not read it.


He dropped the three tokens into the pouch. He did not recognize any of these things. Nothing made any sense! His head ached. Weak and confused, he watched as an iguana scurried away and disappeared over the slope. Then he froze, for nearby the lizard’s trail was a trail of footprints. They wound away from the trees, down from the slope, almost directly to where he stood. A wave crashed with a sound like a cannon shot . . . or maybe, more like the crack of a whip, and he jumped.


The ringing came back to his ears, and he felt dizzy. As his vision blurred, he looked at the footprints leading up to where he stood. The thought, I am not alone, flashed into his mind before everything around him faded into darkness.


Once again, Isle of Swords, a swashbuckling high-seas adventure, is on sale now online and in all fine stores. A cool piratey tale just in time for back-to-school reading!

107 comments:

Anonymous said...

EEEEEEEP!! *faints from excitment*

Anonymous said...

And, actually, "there here" reminds me of the two towers seen with frodo and the fell beast/ringwraith.

Anonymous said...

pardon me, I meant "they're"

Roheryn said...

That's cool!
I can't WAIT to read the book itself!

((and if this ish soon, then Rome really was built in a day :P))

Unknown said...

I agree with Roh! *hides from Sir Wayne*

I can't wait to get this book!! *thinks* My birthday is in a week - maybe I'll get birthday money! :D

Unknown said...

Hey! quick question, did you ever get my snail mail address! Also, the first chapter is awesome, I am dying to read it! I will be camping out in front of my mail box till the book comes! lol

WayneThomasBatson said...

I sure did, Justin. I just haven't finished designing the Isle of Swords bookplates. lol

I'll get them in the mail soon as they're ready.

-WtB

Anonymous said...

YAYYYYY!!!!!! Finally!!! :) :)

Unknown said...

Thanks!!! yeah you are right lotrgeek, there here reminds me of the two towers also!

Josh said...

Well i can say ... WOOOOOOT ive been waiting for this book a long time .. finaly something good to read instead of chemistry blah .. just wondering ... are u still sending the contest winners copys ??? .. oo and stickers hehe.

everlastingscribe said...

Adding to the lovely reasons to buy the book this month (I've all ready bought 2? :-D) Stores gage the book for reorder on how well the book traffic does upon release. Now, we all ready have it out (propped on the counter actually ;)) and have had some sales, but it could be doing better! There's a really cool piratey display that they sent us too! *ahem* Anyway, I talked directly to our Nelson Rep. and she told me that the release date isn't a 'hard hold' date meaning those foreword thinking stores that have the book, may put it out for sale.

Uh, so GO AND STALK THE BOOKSTORES AND SEE IF OTHER FOREWORD THINKING STORES HAVE IT OUT TOO :-D

I'm going to post picks of it at work at my site on Tuesday of this week I challenge everyone who reads this to beat me to that and say when you saw it out, and where, and then gloat about buying it!

Unknown said...

That's it ES! You've rubbed it in once too often that you have a book that I don't! *wacks her with the flat of her sword*

:)

Congrats, Wayne!

Josh said...

wow ... fighting over a pirate book .. lol

everlastingscribe said...

*OOOooooooowwwww* hey, I am merely provoking to jealousy.

It's not my fault (okay, yeah it is)

Josh said...

lol ... ill hand out the sharp pointy things hehe

everlastingscribe said...

en guard!

Roheryn said...

by sharp pointy things, do you mean swords?!?

and 'course ya have to fight over a pirate book!
it makes more sense than tackling people for a Zodiac Manga... ((which I've done... heh heh))

Josh said...

now violence is not the answer *raises sword* lol

Anonymous said...

*rolls out a cannon*
Mwahaha....

Josh said...

mehh this is not good ... *2 sharp pointy things* mehehehe nope cannon still wins

everlastingscribe said...

Time to whistle me up a Firefish I think *whistles*

Anonymous said...

I'm just gonna stand over here and see who falls first...

Anonymous said...

lol, an all-out melee for a book :)

Anonymous said...

so... entertaining...

Josh said...

nobody said assult rifles were off limits hehe

Unknown said...

*notches arrow to bow, pulls back, aims at Scribe* Unhand ... that ... book.

Anonymous said...

*unsheaths broadsword and holds it to Pais' arms*

Not if I can get it to it first, fair maiden!

Anonymous said...

Now if I was any sort of person, at all, I would remove the temptation.
*sneaks up behind to grab the book*
I only hope I can out run all of you. What with all those sharp pointy things. YIPE!

Unknown said...

*shifts aim at sarmjornn, pulls back, and releases*

*arrow misses, landing squarely in the center of the book*

*blinks* Um...*sheepish grin* Hehe.

*throws down bow, and runs in the other direction*

Anonymous said...

*Dodges the arrow*

*looks at arrow quivering in cover*

*lets out a quick breath* Phew. That was close.

*watches pais retreating and works at pulling out arrow*

Unknown said...

What have I started?! You have been waging pirate war while I've been gone. *shaking her finger*

Now whoever has the book, hand it over and go play!

:)

Anonymous said...

*tackles Sarmjornn*
Gimme gimme gimme!
lol.

Anonymous said...

Yikes! *rolls to the side* Were worse then pirates! LOL

*stands up*

Hold on brett the book still has an arrow in it.

Roheryn said...

*pulls out daggers* Not if I can help it!

Anonymous said...

*still has sword*

*stand to face Roheryn*

It's MINE! Precious...urp. Wrong movie....

Amy Browning said...

YAY!!!! I'm so excited! I feel a little cyber trip to the land of Amazon coming on. Oh yeah, baby!

As soon as it's read, I'll be posting a fully-fledged review on Amazon and my blog.

Oh yes - the signed book plate AND new chapter will be mine. Mwah ah aaaaah!

everlastingscribe said...

Yeah! Go Amy Browning!

Anonymous said...

Fine take the book. I'm going to be buying it at the end of the month anyway.

Without the arrow attatched....

everlastingscribe said...

Uh, I may be alone in this but I do know m'lord is caught between deadlines and demands of work and all those other lovely things he does, I was thinking mayhap we could suggest to him that the writing exercises/contests from the summer be put on hold till his next deadline is met. It would give time for more fans to join in, and make it easier on him. Just a thought *ducks away from sharp pointy things*

Anonymous said...

For the sake of our lord and the next book. I will say aye to that scribe.

Anonymous said...

*Uses book as shield against swords and daggers nearby*

everlastingscribe said...

And before you get the idea that I'm all selflessness sweetness and light ;) this has nothing, utterly nothing, to do with the fact that I want him to finish the sequel to Isle of Swords. *ahem*

everlastingscribe said...

lol sarmjornn! I've got your back, if you'll watch mine! *twirls bo staff*

Anonymous said...

You bet scribe!

Anonymous said...

It looks like there's a divide in our ranks.
One group wants the contest results :)

The other wants to wait patiently.

I suggest mutiny! MWAHAHA!

*flings daggers around the room*

Anonymous said...

Hey scribe here's three things involved in a good fight. Skill, a good weapon and depending on the first two--someone to watch your back. *knocks flying dagger to ground*

Shame on you brett I was going to give the mutual party the shadow of the doubt, but now.... :)

everlastingscribe said...

For the love of the author! All those that value the story-teller more than their own gratification, to us!

Swings staff and takes brett's legs out from underneath him

Anonymous said...

*weilds sword and holds it to breets neck*

Are you with us or against us?

Anonymous said...

Shot I meant benifit of the doubt.

Amy Browning said...

Hey Scribe, Brett, Eve, and the rest of the gang! I've been absent for a few weeks and when I return it is to a scene of clashing metal and many sharp-pointy things. What has happened?!

I suggest a diplomatic comprimise: Our expectations shall allow Sir Wayne ample time to finish his sequal, while occasionally throwing his adoring subjects a proverbial "bone" when he has the opportunity.

Do we have an accord?

Anonymous said...

So far,at least 2 references from awesome movies.

everlastingscribe said...

I believe he's all ready bone-throwing ;)

So there would be no gain in an accord.

There are only so many hours in the day for m'lord (or should that now be th' capt'n?) to do things. With school starting and more hungry young minds needing his help, and his family things and then the deadline for the sequel I just don't want this lovely contest to become one more weight on his shoulders. I don't want to see him lose the joy of it. I don't think any here do. If he agrees that a delay would help then huzzah! Let us relish the delay. If he wants to press ahead, then I will certainly join up and follow. I just want to give him the option to delay so more of his students could join in, and also so he can have less to worry about.

Anonymous said...

Awwww, that's so nice :)

Amy Browning said...

Okay Scribe - you've sold me - I agree.

Capt'n gets the option of a delay. I shall agree no matter what he so chooses.

(I suppose though that it's a little easier for you and I considering we've already reaped the joyous fruit of the contest results. Can a person win more than once?)

If we swear fealty to the Capt'n - then we shall abide by his decisions. No chance of mutiny here. :)

Anonymous said...

Hear! Hear! If a delay is needed then I'm all for it. Gives me more time to work on a few more entries. :)

*looks at sword*

Guess I won't need this now.

Quick Q. With the new pirate book will we be upgrading bows and catapults for guns and canons then?

Anonymous said...

You can't just replace a bow or catapult! It's, it's...unheard of!!!

Anonymous said...

By the way, has any one read a book called Inkheart? My friend wants me to read it, but I thought I would get an opinion from other fantasy readers.

Anonymous said...

True. I'm better with a bow than a gun anyway.

Anonymous said...

Nope never read it before. My cousin liked it though.

Anonymous said...

The cover looks interesting.

everlastingscribe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
everlastingscribe said...

Ah me hearties! I knew you were a dangerously talented group, now I now I know you have hearts large enough to hide a sun within!

So Capt'n, what shall it be? Ahead full or hold hard and lay anchor?

Anonymous said...

Hoist the colors!!!
Just felt like saying that.

Josh said...

"drink up me heartys yo ho" .. i had to

Anonymous said...

Well, well. Walk the plank.
Jk I never been able to say that before. :) That and I'm not educated on pirate sayings.

Anonymous said...

You know I think Capt'n is off having fun well we're here keeping his blog running. ;) Well not exactly running....

WayneThomasBatson said...

Mannn, I leave you guys alone for a bit, and what do I find? Bloodshed? Cannonfire? Sharp pointy things flung this way and that?

Well done, I say! Bravo.

Of course, finding my email inbox stuffed with 47 new messages threw me for a bit of a loop.

I'll do my best to get more contest winners posted. I like juggling. He says as large bowling ball lands on big toe. {DOH!}

Josh said...

why did we stop fighting ... ??? um good job no more fighting lol

everlastingscribe said...

Aye-aye capt'n! So hoist the mainsail and and secure all cargo, we go on ahead!

everlastingscribe said...

For anyone who wants to talk like a briny bilge rat, I recommend

http://www.yacht-volant.org/SailorTalk/seaterms.html

http://www.schoonerman.com/

http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Etymology/English/Mountaine(1756)_pi.html

Watch where you click though, salty dogs are somewhat salty in their language. ;)

Amy Browning said...

Super cool, Scribe! I'm going to brush up on my pirate-speak.

Avast ye scurvy dogs!

(I already knew that one.) ;)

Capt'n - my hat is off to you and your juggling! I'll have to replace that cannon ball with a rubber one when you aren't looking. We can't have you thumping around on a peg leg, now can we?

Anonymous said...

People would think he's taken his book to seriously.

everlastingscribe said...

Oh, most definitely! I mean he's known to do things for his fans ie. brittish accents and the donning of capes and the waving of long sharp metal pointy things. What would our intrepid capt'n try for his piratical fans?

Unknown said...

Lotrgeek, (I am a LOTR geek also lol) Inkheart is an excellent book!

everlastingscribe said...

Oh yes, Inkheart is a wonderful book. And so is Inkspell, a really rare treat. You'll love them both! Now, if she'd only write the third. . ..

Anonymous said...

I think she already has, It's just not released yet(My friend likes to update me on these things).

Anonymous said...

What no more war??? *pouts*
I act much better in 'attack' mode!!
Ye scallywags....

Roheryn said...

Pais, and my younger sister (who doesn't post) are both fans of Inkspell and Inkheart.

and now, ye scall'wags don't forget September 19. Tis national Talk like a Pirate day!

And with that, we'll continue waiting for the Cap'n to post the next winner... *surreptitiously tiptoes near with a rubber cannonball*

Amy Browning said...

Yes! I have a co-conspirator in Roheryn. Operation Leg Guardian is in progress. I shall distract our Capt'n with a duel that I shall unfortunately lose. All sacrifice for the greater good.

*reaches for sword and scans the deck for the juggling pirate Capt'n*

Anonymous said...

lol Amy.

Amy Browning said...

Long time - no "see" Brett.

Did you catch any good musicals lately? Let's say..... HSM2?

I've seen it a few times already. My daughter is the biggest HSM fan. Well - I believe you two would be pretty close for the title. :)

Anonymous said...

LOL yes I caught it...and I'm already learning moves to All For One, Work This Out, and I already taught What Time Is It to the teens at my church.

I'm actually thinking about taking singing lessons. I want very badly to sing at least decently.

Amy Browning said...

I've always wanted to know if I could sing. I think I do okay and my steering wheel never complains, but you just never know if you're one of those American Idol contestants that think they're great when the rest of the world knows they suck. I've recently considered lessons as well. You go first and then you can tell me all about it.

BTW - I was actually a dancer for 13 years, from 3-16. I was going to go on tour at age 16 when I hurt my knee - end of career. Ah - I do still enjoy watching it though. Can we say... So You Think You Can Dance?

Anonymous said...

I'm going to start off with my friends on Wife Swap, they all are musically inclined, so singing with them will be a good start, getting used to singing with/in front of people.
My friend knows a voice instructor in our homeschool classes, so after I'm comfortable, I'll move into that area.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

(evil typos)

Inkheart is AMAZING!! I love it!! Scribe, she's already written the third book, but it's now in translation process, being translated from German to English.

Now ... if only they'd hurry up with the Inkheart movie - I wanna see it!! *cries*

Aye aye, Capt'! We shall wait...although it may be difficult for some (such as I), we shall wait.

Amy Browning said...

Okay - so you must explain the phrase, "my friends on Wife Swap." You lost me on that one.

How long have you been homeschooled? This'll be my second year with my daughter. We're heading into 4th grade. Yay!

Anonymous said...

I'm graduated! :) Been homeschooled since the 5th grade. I have awesome friends now :)
Wife Swap. My best friends applied here and they were chosen by ABC (the company)
They've been in filming here for quite a while, and the new mom is here.
Check out my site www.xanga.com/musikmaniac for updates.
I'm going over for dinner there tomorrow actually.

Amy Browning said...

It's your 15 minutes then! :)

You'll have to keep us updated when you find out when you make your television debut.

So - as a student, what is your opinion of homeschooling?

Anonymous said...

lol. Sure. It should air sometime next month or early Oct. I'll let you all know. It's weird when I director and camera crew comes in to film a church service or two!

Homeschooling's been great. For one, the bond between teacher and student grows greatly, and you have more flexibility. I've met incredible friends through the local homeschool group and classes, and they've stuck with me through a lot.

I think the only things I miss about public school are the chance to be in theatre (never been on a big stage), and the cafeteria food! More choices than at home :) But at home, you have the luxury of eating out :P

Anonymous said...

Can't say I miss public school a ton I was only in for K and first. (not that I remember a ton) Homeschooling is so much fun. :)
And unlike Brett I've still got a few more years to go.

You get to eat out for lunch??!! :O

Anonymous said...

Either that or sit in our bathrobes and wave at the kids outside at the bus stop while it's snowing and drink hot cocoa :) Oh the life...
But seriously, we do have our trials. Every homeschool group is bound to have it's cliques, the jocks, the popular girls, the bookworms, etc.

Anonymous said...

I hear yah.
It's a little sad though because I'm the only lotr geek, bookworm and hopeful writer in my homeschool group. So I have my own little clique.

Unknown said...

At my school I hang around with the anime nerds since that is one of the things I love! I start school next week. *grunts* Maybe this year will be better!

Anonymous said...

I would much rather be a bookworm than anything else, of course, no one even does that at my school.

Amy Browning said...

Sarmjornn - my daughter only went from K-2nd grade. She never went to public school though. She was in a Christian school, a very expensive one (we were willing to make sacrifices for her education), and they still couldn't keep her interested. There was way too much repetition and she had to wait for all the kids to catch up, so there was literally no challenge for her.

Did Brett or Sarmjornn skip any grades or finish early?

My dd went from hating school to asking me if we could start early this year. :) That's success to me.

Unknown said...

lotrgeek, I'm lucky to know one person that reads what I like to read! Still trying to get her to read Door Within!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, know what you mean. I'm Still trying to get my friend to catch up and read the DW AND LotR, though I suppose she should start with the door within because it's a wee bit shorter.

Amy Browning said...

Okay Wayne and friends - you'll have to pardon me as I indulge in a little self-promotion. I just added a cool new feature to my blog: a weekly poll. Check it out. I'd love to hear from you guys.

Amy's blog: http://pagesofdiscovery.blogspot.com

...And now back to your regularly scheduled programming. :P

Anonymous said...

I didn't skip any grades...graduated this year. I'm 18...if that helps any lol.

Unknown said...

100 comments... I think this is a record, Wayne.

Anonymous said...

Acctualy Pais the last record was 164.

Unknown said...

Ah, I see. That's what I get for being a new fan :P

Anonymous said...

Well you should feel proud you're only the second person to post #100. I believe amy was the first or was it brett?

Oh and amy if you check up on this. I could graduate in some areas because I'm so far ahead. But other areas are harder for my brain to handle. I'm 16 and a junior kinda.

Amy Browning said...

Yep! Sarmjornn is correct - I was the only other #100 and honored to be so.

And Sar - I think everyone's brains are like that. Mine is, at least.

Brett - cool. Thanks for all the homeschool info. It's great to hear the other side of it.

Did you guys check out the poll on my blog? Capt'n did.

Unknown said...

I did, and voted. :)

Unknown said...

My stickers came today!! I can't wait for the book ... *camps out by mail box, waiting for Isle of Swords*