What do I mean, Exposure nears completion? I’ve decided on the title ‘Exposure’ for the next book in the Consortium Series. If you read the epilogue to book four, you know I teased you with the story’s premise in the next chapter of Avril’s story.
I like how the book is turning out, and I only have to write a couple of chapters left before I can turn it over for editing. If all goes well, I hope to publish the book by the end of September. Wish me luck.
The Crash
This next segment in Avril’s story deals with the crash of a cargo plane. Over one hundred of the Consortium victims were on their way to the training and auction center for sale to their membership. The two pilots died in the crash, and the Consortium lost all of its cargo.
It’s the 7th Inning Stretch, and I need it. What does that mean, you may ask? It’s a baseball term. It means to stop, rest and reset, and then finish the game. Fans and players take advantage of this tradition. It’s also a chance to hit the concession stands and buy a last round of beer and snacks—any way to make money. Yes, I’m being cynical, but that’s okay too. I’m allowed to have an opinion.
If you don’t follow baseball, that’s okay. I only follow it during the playoffs, although I’ll occasionally go to a game now and then. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve gone.
Why the 7th inning stretch?
Now, you may ask why I am bringing up this? It’s because I’ve been on a marathon of writing during my vacation. I had eight straight days to apply myself to book five of the Consortium Series. As I reported in my last post, I made excellent progress. I hoped to finish out the time with three more chapters. more “7th Inning Stretch”…
It seems I am very prolific this week. I took time off from work to burn some vacation time. You know the saying, ‘use it or lose it.’ Since I don’t want to lose it, I’m using it too great success in working on Book 5 in the Consortium series.
You, my readers, will be happy to know that so far this week, I’ve written several chapters totalling twenty thousand, four hundred twenty-four words. That’s 20,424 in case you need the numerals. And I still have four days to go until I must return to work. I wonder just what I can accomplish in that time.
Definition
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of the word prolific is:
pro·lif·ic | \ prə-ˈli-fik \ adjective.
1: producing young or fruit especially freely: FRUITFUL
2: archaic: causing abundant growth, generation, or reproduction
3: marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity, a prolific composer.
Prolific Time of my Life
Working on this book over the past six days has been fun. I go to bed the night before, and I wake up knowing exactly what the next chapter or two will entail. Then, it’s just writing… writing… and more writing fleshing out the scenes and incorporating the dialogue and injecting the emotions appropriate to the moment.
I’ve gotta say I’m having fun with this book. The action is getting intriguing. Of course, it’s as hot as ever, incorporating a couple of sexual scenes that will make you blush. But isn’t that what all my books incorporate.
The story picks up with Sir and the Consortium forced to deal the crash of their cargo plane full of new prey to auction off and the exposure of their cabal. Sir discovers he cannot contain the media and lost control of the situation. Never in his life has he not been in control of something important to him, and it frustrates and tortures him. I say, ‘Good!’ Serves him right.
The media, discovering the crashed plane’s cargo of naked humans spread across the crash site, sensationalizes the public. National and global media outlets pick up the story, tantalizing their viewers, and awaking powerful people world-wide not affiliated with the Consortium into action.
Can you imagine how the world would react if this happened for real? A violent riot stays fresh in the media for weeks and months. What would you do if you knew that your missing cousin, son, or daughter were among the victims? Would you sit back and say, “Oh well.” Of course not.
I know you’re eager to read this next installment. Rest assured, it’s coming and at a faster pace than the last book. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Okay, I’ve got to get back to writing the story. I’m too excited to leave it alone for longer than necessary.
Finally
I want to thank everyone who wrote me, in response to my post, ‘Quite the Ride.’ You shared stories dealing with medical issues and trauma similar to what I experienced over the past month or so. I appreciate you sharing your heartaches, and I strove hard to write to everyone thanking them for their well wishes. Some of those that wrote me had it even harder than I did. I feel for you; I do and I’m sorry, and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
It’s official. I finished Infiltration, book 4 in my Consortium Series last week. I think the draft turned out pretty well. It’s now in editing. I’ll talk more about that and more later in this blog. I know many of you are anxiously waiting for it. I get it. Avril is in a deep world of trouble, and despite her secret plans, no one knows whether she can extricate herself from the clutches of the cabal known as The Consortium.
From its name, I think anyone who’s read my earlier books, I think you can tell the overall theme of this segment in Avril’s life. It took me about eight months to write, which is longer than I had hoped. However, I like the way it turned out, and now, it’s on to editing, cover creation, and a host of other details that need to managing before publication. more “I finished Infiltration, Consortium Book 4”…
In the British show ‘The Avengers’ of the 1960s, Mrs. Emma Peel #EmmaPeel, played by Diana Rigg #DianaRigg, passed away this past week. While Morticia Addams was my very first love, Emma Peel was undoubtedly my second. Of course, I was barely over ten years old, but I appreciated the woman’s beauty even then. I eagerly looked forward to the next episode, just so that I could watch her flit about England, leading the charge to save her country and countrymen from one crisis after another.
When I heard the news of Diana’s passing, I immediately thought back to those days when I’d faithfully watch the show. I watched every episode I could. Maybe it was this series that ultimately left me enjoying British dramas, and especially crime and intrigue dramas to this day, all these decades later. more “Emma Peel, My Second Love”…
For the last three weeks, I’ve been writing up a storm. One thing you don’t know is that I am back from a vacation in the sun, mild warm temperatures, and dips in the pool. It sure is nice to get away from the brutal snow and frigid temperatures.
I wrote while enjoying the blue skies in my shorts and t-shirt. Writing up a storm, I got a lot done. I’m working in the third book in the Consortium Series. I only have a few more chapters to write to finish the draft. It’s time to build up to the exciting climax, and of course the hook to bring you back for the next installment.
I haven’t given book 3 a title yet, but it will come. Right now, I’m using the working title of ‘Consortia,’ but I very much doubt I will use that. Working diligently, writing up a storm, I hope to have it out by early summer.
The ‘Perfect Prey’ first draft is done! Whoo Hoo! I’ve also completed reading it for continuity and fundamental grammar mistakes, etc. Now I’m on to preliminary editing before I turn it over to my editor for in-depth review and corrections.
It’s been a long and weary battle, trying to get this book from concept to reality. I released the first book in the series last summer. I hadn’t intended to write a sequel, but honestly, my readers overwhelmed me with the feedback I received from my readers and followers, asking for more.
Please accept my apologies for not writing for almost two weeks. These past days have been quite hectic as a result of my PCS (post concussion syndrome) and the release of my latest novel, ‘The Trafficking Consortium.’
Let me tell you; there is good news on both fronts.
First, let me tell you about my book. Avril’s story about being kidnapped and sold into the underworld of human trafficking is doing quite well. In the first two weeks, more readers than I can imagine are reading it, and I received my first review yesterday.
Five stars! Can you imagine? I am ecstatic. You can find the review on Amazon’s website. Click any of the book titles and it will bring you right to it.
The reader/reviewer, Bibs wrote:
Another Winner, Another Panty Melter
“You did it again Richard. I couldn’t put it down. A very fast paced read. If you have not read a book from this author, you’re missing out. Every book I read of Richard Verry’s has been excellent. Please pick one up today, and you will be hooked. Thank you, Richard!!”
Wow! What an endorsement.
Bibs has reviewed many of my books, but by far and large, I believe that this one is by far the best for my career as a writer. Personally, I agree with the reviewer, but then again, I’m biased. Thank you Bibs.
If you haven’t yet read ‘The Trafficking Consortium,’ I suggest that you do. I’d be interested if you concur with the review or not.
There is more good news regarding my PCS. Over the past two months, I’ve been miserable. I was suffering near unbearable pain, at times moaning and screaming in a poor effort to deal with my headaches. They reached new highs during that time, and if you have read my recent posts, you already know this. Last week, I hooked up with yet another new doctor, this time, a chiropractor. He did a full assessment on my issue, concentrating on my neck and skull. Using a CBCT (a type of 3D cat scanner), he found that my C1 and C4 vertebrae were out of position, and not just on one side but both. The doc reported that discovering both sides out of position is rare. My C1 (also called Axis) was both skewed and rotated out of whack, making the opening for my spinal column smaller, pinching nerves.
After getting my first adjustment to pop them back into the correct position, I felt better almost immediately. Within hours, my headache dropped to low levels. On my second adjustment appointment, he reported that both C1 and C4 were still in the correct position and no adjustment was necessary. I was both ecstatic and disappointed. The later because he denied me the opportunity to be adjusted again. How dumb is that? That’s what expectations can do. Yet, I was happy that his prior adjustment held. After all, the vertebrae had gotten used to being out of alignment and may very well want to get back to its old position. He tells me that this is very possible. On my third adjustment appointment, he needed to adjust me once more, which he took care immediately. The funny thing, over the past two days, I knew that I was out of adjustment, my headaches were growing worse and a bad fatigue had set in.
What really excites me is that someone finally found a physiological cause to my perpetual headaches. With the vertebrae out of alignment, they were pinching the nerves of the brainstem and spinal cord. The nerves have to transgress a very snug opening, so to have the vertebrae shrink their pathways even smaller, well, I could have been suffering from a host of issues. The brain, after all, controls the entire body.
I’m in good spirits and anxious to see whether this is the right treatment for me. If so, I can drop seeing the voluminous doctor and therapy appointments I attend each week. Better yet, I hope I can wean myself off the pills I’ve been taking to manage the pain. Wish me luck!
Well, that’s it for the time being. I look forward to today and tomorrow, getting back to writing and the like. Have fun.
These last several weeks have been hard, but I have some good news. I completed the final steps in order to submit for publication my latest book, ‘The Trafficking Consortium.’ I uploaded it to Amazon last Wednesday. Sales for the first three days are off to a great start, selling numerous copies in the U.S., Great Britain, and Germany in only three days. This without any real marketing.
I’m ecstatic.
Oh yes, I have been talking about it for months now, but now it is a reality. Now begins the daunting task of marketing the book. Seeing the early results, I’m trying something new. I’ll let you all know in the months ahead how it goes. All that is left to do is the prepare the paperback version and upload it to the printers. If you get a chance, check the book out. It is available for free on Kindle Unlimited or just $2.99 to purchase it outright for your Kindle or your favorite eBook reader.
It’s a brutal erotic suspense thriller about Avril Gillios, a young woman in her mid-twenties, who get’s caught up in an international organized crime ring specializing in human trafficking. The thousand-year old organization call themselves ‘The Consortium.’ Their affluent and influential members can order or acquire anyone, men and women alike, to satisfy their unique needs and desires. From organ acquisition; to perverse sexual satisfaction; or feasting upon their prey, they seemingly operate above the law all across the globe.
Told from Avril’s point of view, the story describes how this criminal organization targets her, kidnaps her right off the streets of NYC and sells her to the highest bidder; marking the beginning of a new life, forever barred from returning to the only life she ever knew.
She must navigate the perilous events that threaten her life to survive her ordeal and attempt escape. Sold to a sadistic monster, her captivity is relatively comfortable. Locked in a luxurious suite with all the trimmings included in the most elegant high-end luxury apartments enjoyed by the upper one-percenters, a cage is still a cage.
She endures brutal beatings and violent ravishments as her new owner trains her to be compliant to his demands and needs. Along the way, she discovers that her sadistic owner loves her, in his own way.
Confused and bewildered, she must figure out how to navigate the ever narrowing serpentine path to escape the growing threat to her life. Her captor eventually gives her an impossible choice, one that takes away all doubt of what he intends to do with her. However, he requires that she select the path that her life will take. Failing to choose is the same as choosing a horrific, slow, and painful death.
Will she choose life or death? I encourage you to find out for yourself.
Apologies all. I know I have been quiet lately. I had a relapse with my post concussion shit and my headaches reached new heights over the last three weeks. For the first time in my life, I truly feel like I am suffering.
I have been working hard over the past couple of months to increase the level of stimuli to my brain, in order to force it to repair the damaged nerve connections. It’s been working and I am progressing. I just think that my brain finally said ‘enough is enough. Give me a break already’ in the only way it knew how. By beating the shit out of me and intensive my headaches to new levels.
A nerve block into the back of my skull and plenty of rest (i.e., doing nothing but sleeping and parking myself in my recliner) seems to be helping. BTW, two needles into the back of my head was not my first choice. The burning and shooting pain that came with it almost took me down all together.
Add into the mix the numerous emotions as a result, and I was barely able to do much beyond my mandatory responsibilities. Yes, I’m not going to list all of the emotions I had to deal with over the past two weeks. I’ve made my girlfriend suffer enough as it was.
So while I have a few moments of clarity, I’m writing to you to let you know that I am thinking of all of you. I plan on continuing my regime of rest today, hoping that by tomorrow, I can start the work week off and not crash by mid-afternoon.
I’ll write when I can. And, I am oh so close to releasing my latest book, ‘The Trafficking Consortium.’ That’s first on my agenda when I can spend quality time on it. Stay tuned. Thanks for your understanding.