Buried in Angst is now available for purchase!

I'm very excited to announce that my second fantasy novel Buried in Angst is now available for purchase in print and for your e-reader.  There are a few stragglers who haven't released it quite yet, so I will be updating as it becomes available on the remaining sites.

Below is the definitive list of links where you can purchase Buried in Angst!


Amazon Kindle

Amazon Print

Amazon UK Kindle

Amazon UK Print

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Smashwords


I hope you enjoy it!

ConQuesT Buried in Angst book release weekend!!! (Did someone say party?)

It's hard to believe a year has passed since my first Science Fiction & Fantasy convention! In 2012 I was looking for another way to share Angst beyond the awesomeness of Twitter and Facebook. I wanted to meet and spend time with people who were into the stuff I love and am writing about. I knew that going to conventions was the best way, and I couldn't have been more fortunate to find one of the great cons in my own home town. ConQuesT was the perfect start to my con adventures!

For all the fun I've had this year at other conventions, ConQuesT holds a special place in my heart. It seems only fitting that the release of my second fantasy novel, Buried in Angst, happens at ConQuesT 44! So we are going to celebrate by throwing a party!  Saturday night starting at 6pm in the Monarch room of CoCo Key in Kansas City! (9103 E 39th St S, Kansas City, MO 64133 by the stadium)

• Every 15 minutes we will be giving away a prize - including shirts, books, and posters!
• Cristi will be there looking amazing in costume and signing posters!
• Get your picture taken with Cristi and the giant sword Chryslaenor!
• Cake! (What else can you say, cake is awesome!)
• Dramatic Reading of the chapter that the book cover is based on!
• Be one of the first to purchase a copy of Buried in Angst!

The book release party Saturday night is going to be fun, and I can't even put into words how excited I am! (Sometimes, there just aren't enough explanation marks!) I hope you can stop by, but if you can't we will do our best to share pictures and highlights on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.


But wait, there's more (insert cheesy grin here.) I'm moderating and attending a bunch of panels at ConQuest, and I'm looking forward to all of them. The topics are fun, and the conversation won't get boring so please drop in and have your say:

Panels - Times - Events - Rooms
Friday 4:00pm Star Trek Into Darkness Review (Imperial) - Moderating…hell yeah!
Friday 8:00pm Dark/Funny in SciFi/Fantasy (Monarch) - Moderating

Saturday 10:00am Digital Comics and the Future of Comics (Imperial)
Saturday 3:00pm Books on Tour (Embassy)
Saturday 6:00pm - 8:00ish Angst Party (Monarch)

Sunday 10:00am Theme'd for Your Pleasure Podcast (Monarch)
Sunday 1:00pm Writing Humor (Embassy) - Moderating

My friend, and official Angst artist, Heather Uebel has been creating some amazing, I mean, absolutely insanely incredibly amazing art that I can use for promotional purposes. If you are looking for an artist, you can't go wrong hiring her! (More about Heather in a future post, I promise!) Heather created this incredible image of Chryslaenor, exactly where it was left at the end of Angst, and just as I imagine it in the first chapter of Buried in Angst. What else could I do but throw it on this ultra-cool Angst T-shirt. This T-Shirt was designed for ConQuesT. You could win this shirt at the party. If you don't win, don't fret, because we will also be selling it for $15.

I also need to let everyone know my wife, the lovely Angie Pedersen, will be at ConQuesT promoting her new book The Star Trek Craft Book: Make it So. (She will be in the dealer room, and teaching a class on several of the crafts found in the book. Be sure to stop by and check out her awesome book from Simon and Schuster - she has a limited supply so don't wait!

Finally, a shoutout to everyone who makes ConQuesT happen, especially Kat Donovan! I truly am grateful for the opportunity to promote my novels at this convention, thank you!

Can't wait to see everyone there!

Buried in Angst is done! Demicon was awesome!

I have somehow managed to fit 30 hours into a 24 hour day! I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up this pace, but great stuff has come from it!

My second fantasy novel, Buried in Angst, is done! Last week I approved the final proof of the print version after some tweaking, the ebook versions are almost complete and will be ready in time for the official release date May 25th.  That 'official' release date is a moving target since Amazon and Barnes & Noble won't let me choose a date (both companies have such great programs for distribution I'm really surprised this isn't a button you could just click.) That said, there is the possibility that the Buried in Angst ebook will show up a day early. The print version is available for pre-order on Amazon right now!

Demicon in Des Moines, IA was fantastic, and I'd like to thank those hosting both the con, and the amazing room parties afterwards. I made some great new friends those nights, even if I can't remember everyone's names o.O  It was also great to see our good friends at Chamber of Champions - if you are into hobby games, you have to check out their site! This con included every reason Cristi and I attend - meeting people, having fun, and selling books. If you are even remotely within driving distance of Des Moines, don't miss this one!  Be sure to check out pics from Demicon on Facebook or Google+

Watch for a blog update this weekend, especially if you are attending ConQuesT. I'll be posting about some of the cool stuff I have planned! (They gave me a room for a book release party and you're invited! Oh yeah!)

Book Cover Reveal for Buried in Angst with book blurb!

A little flirting never hurt anyone, right?

It takes more than just a new job and a new mount to resolve a midlife crisis, but will the temptation of a younger woman really make it better?

Angst had found the adventure he was looking for and got to be the hero, but those days are behind him. To save the ones he loves most, he had to sacrifice his bond with the sword that allowed him to be a hero.

Now, Unsel faces a new threat. With the mysterious destruction of a large coastal city, Angst sets out to discover the cause. He soon learns that a war between the Elements is coming, and humans are in the way. It’s hard to fight back when Angst is dying, the removal of his bond to the great sword Chryslaenor slowly killing him.

Angst needs a sword to live, but Chryslaenor has been stolen! His friends reluctantly join him on another quest, but where do they start? Rose is missing, Angst’s focus and spirit is broken, he has somehow upset the Elements of Ehrde, and a newcomer wants to overtake the throne. What could make things worse? Perhaps a kiss from Princess Victoria’s younger cousin, Alloria?

Buried in Angst is David J. Pedersen’s long awaited sequel to his first fantasy novel, Angst. Join Angst and his friends as they continue…

A Midlife Crisis in Medieval Times

Release date 5/25/13

Cover art by Joshua Calloway

April Update: Cons and a Book Teaser

First of all, I have to say thanks to everyone involved in putting Nerd-Kon together, as well as those attending. It was a great sci-fi / fantasy convention held annually in Omaha, NE - be sure to go in 2014! If you haven't seen the pictures, check them out on Facebook or Google+ . I also want to throw a quick shout-out to visitors from the Convergence con in Minneapolis, they hosted a great room party! I definitely have to put that one on the list for next year.

Our Con addiction continues in May!  We will be attending DemiCon24 for the first time, May 3rd - 5th in Des Moines, IA.  May 24th - 26th we will be returning to ConQuesT in Kansas City, MO!  Looking forward to catching up with some friends at both conventions, and I have some cool surprises for ConQuesT - I can't wait to share!

Buried in Angst is coming along great! I'm still on target to release the book at the end of May. Danielle Fine is about halfway done editing, and doing a fantastic job of cleaning up my mess. I also received the final cover art from Joshua Calloway and it's pretty awesome. I've included a tiny bit below, anyone wanna see the rest? ;)

Nerd-Kon Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention – April 12th-14th in Omaha, NE

Next weekend Cristi and I will be attending Nerd-Kon to promote my first fantasy novel, Angst. This is my second convention of 2013 and I'm really excited!  Not only is this a fun opportunity to meet everyone, here is what I have planned:

• Cristi will be there as my Angst spokesmodel - and she looks awesome! 
• Win a copy of Angst and the soon to be released Buried in Angst!
• Wield the full size replica fantasy sword of Chryslaenor, the giant sword from Angst!
• Purchase a signed copy of Angst!
• Free poster for everyone who purchases a copy of Angst!

Be sure to visit www.nerd-kon.com to learn more about the convention, and stop by the booth to say hi!  Can't wait to see you there!

It's Coming Together! New Cover Artist and New Editor

There are some people out there who have more talent and ability in their pinky than I will ever have in my entire body.  Writers, artists, surgeons, musicians – it can come in many forms.  People who are good at what they do and obviously have a passion for it.  I’m not jealous…just the opposite, I always find it a joy to come across someone like this, and I also find it inspiring.

I’m working with the amazing and talented editor Danielle Fine, who is, quite frankly, running me through the ringer.  I’m now convinced that I may be a decent storyteller, but I’m an awful writer.  Thankfully Dani is there to write my wrongs.  (Heh)  Not only is she cleaning my mess to make Buried in Angst an easier read, she is pushing me (one could say beating me) to be a better writer.

After only a handful of chapters I can tell you she is already worth it.  Dani not only edits, she does some amazingly creative cover work as well as book trailers.  If you are a storyteller like me, hire her to be better.  Check out her web site here: http://www.daniellefine.com/  Needless to say, I gratefully welcome her to the team.

Last week I had to seek out a new artist to work on the cover of Buried in Angst.  It was one of those paniced moments that was really my own fault.  I had an artist, and even a backup, but I simply waited too long to tell them I was ready.  Blame it on procrastination, being too busy, or me, their schedules were just too full by the time I asked.

I sent out a request on deviantart with a link to my book and a description of what I was looking for. Within 24 hours I had 40 replies.  Some were awful, (by the way, for future reference, if your specialty is drawing bad pictures of naked people tied up, this immediately removes you from my selection of serious contenders) some were amazing.

I have a hard time making these decisions on my own.  I blame it on being colorblind, but really, I have no taste.  So, I sought out my team of alpha-readers and friends to help.  I had narrowed it down to 2, and shared their work with my team.  It was fascinating, the men on my team liked one artist, most of the women on my team liked the second artist – but my wife didn’t want either of them.  I was torn, until Josh Calloway introduced himself.

Communion sold me.  I’m not an art critic, but this gorgeous image had depth, color, character, and the sexiness that I wanted.  While I love all of his work, Future Utopia also caught my eye.  An image like this makes me want to write about it.  Be stunned, and check out his gallery here:

http://ninjacart.darkfolio.com/gallery/641161
https://www.facebook.com/joshua.calloway1
http://joshcalloway.blogspot.com/ 

It’s a little painful to think that the cover will be better than my actual book, but I’ll embrace the fact that I like everything that Josh has put out there.  Not only is he a consummate professional to work with, but creative to a fault.  I sent him my chapter, my idea for a cover, a bunch of really bad mock-up pictures, and he quickly replied with several ideas far better than my own.

I’ve been saying this on twitter for months, but can’t wait to share, now more than ever!  Buried in Angst has become far more than a gathering of words, it’s a production – and I hope that everyone who reads it enjoys the work put into it.