Sinister Roots is finished!

Posted on July 19, 2016 (Subscribe to Blog)

Last night I wrote the final chapter of Sinister Roots. And this morning I wrote a short epilogue. So the book is now finished! I want to re-read and polish the last five chapters, but that won't take long at all, and then I plan to read the entire book in Kindle form to see how it flows and to pick up more typos.

This means that the book will be ready for beta readers sometime this weekend. Who's interested? There are a few requirements for those who want to offer up their services:

You must be able to read the book in two weeks and get back to me with feedback. Obviously I want an overall opinion and comments about anything that doesn't work or could be improved, but I'm also looking for simple typos. That said, I'm not expecting you to find things for the sake of finding things.
Assuming you like the book, you must be able and willing to offer a nice review on Amazon on launch day. This is essential to me. Reviews definitely sell books, and I would go so far as to say that a nice review and rating on launch day is actually more important than beta-reading feedback and typos. (Naturally the same review can be added to Goodreads as well, if you're a Goodreads member.)

That's it. Two simple but important rules beta readers. Apply now by email please to keith@unearthlytales.com using the email address that I should reply to you at.

Sinister Roots is full of weirdness. The title is apt in so many ways, and I want to thank my author buddy Brian Clopper for coming up with it. I'd tried other titles beforehand, and they just didn't work. Right now, I need to think of a title for Book 3, because I want to include an excerpt in the back of Book 2. I already know that Travis will be going on a new mission with Melinda, the daughter of Robbie and Lauren. She's going to be a shapeshifter for the first time, and she'll need help.

I had a lot of fun with the creepier aspects of this book. What with the Grim Reaper and other deadly specters, and then the forest itself... Yes, it's been a blast. I pushed the boat out a little, exploring the origins of the white-tentacled plants like the one at the Prison of Despair, and other things. Even so, I feel like there's more to say on the subject. Maybe a future book? We'll see.

Sinister Roots will be published in August, exact date to be announced. Before then, I'll be putting out a few teaser ads. :-)

Comment by MARY SMITH on Tuesday, July 19, 2016...

I love all of your books that I have been able to read sometimes I just can't. Would love to beta read for you again. l will try to do better this time.

Comment by KEITH ROBINSON on Sunday, July 31, 2016...

Thanks, Mary. You beta-read SLEEP WRITER previously, and you made one comment that was helpful, but an author needs more than that from beta readers. It's not just about reading it; it's about offering valuable and substantive critique as well as picking up errors, etc. Hopefully, the very small team I selected for SINISTER ROOTS will be all I need. Thank you though, I do appreciate your offer.

Comment by TROUBLE-HELIX on Monday, August 8, 2016...

Hey-o, got a hot new book suggestion! First off, Rez should change his mind and become a griffin, however he will get stuck and fly away, feeling that he's a freak show, and the others need to track him down and show him how to transform back. The title should be: Wings of Fury. My reason for this is that he'll go mad after weeks of evading discovery. He'll partially play Tomas' part as the wild one, only he should only be insane for one book. By the way, I have yet to read Sinister Roots.

Comment by KEITH ROBINSON on Monday, August 8, 2016...

Thanks, Trouble-Helix! I appreciate your enthusiasm and ideas, but I already have a slew of ideas begging to be written. Yours would make a fine short story, but without Rez, because he's pretty stubborn in his desire to stay human and not be a shapeshifter. Although... it would make more sense if he were FORCED to be a shapeshifter, in which case it would also make more sense for him to go crazy. See, now that works. But as I said, I have too many ideas for novels at the moment. :-)

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