ROOMS (The Rooms' Series, Book 1) - Free Kindle Book Offer on Amazon from August 1-5, 2020

Free Kindle eBook Giveaway

From August 1-5, 2020, you can get the latest Kindle version of my SCI-FI novel, ROOMS (The Rooms' Series, Book 1), FREE on Amazon and download it to your Kindle. It doesn't matter where you live in the world. If you have a stand-alone Kindle or a Kindle reader on your phone or computer, you can sign in to your Amazon account, purchase it for FREE, and it will be sent to whatever device you have.

If you don't have a kindle book reader on your phone or computer, simply Google "Kindle Reader App", and you can get one free.

To learn more about ROOMS (The Rooms' Series, Book 1) or any of my other books, you can go to the BOB'S BOOKS tab at the top of this blog.

I hope you enjoy your Kindle copy of ROOMS (The Rooms' Series, Book 1), and after you read it, I would really appreciate it if you wrote a review on your Goodreads account, Amazon account, or both.

New Blog Layout & New THE CHOSEN Update

NEW BLOG LAYOUT

Just recently, I changed the layout of my blog. I've added some tabs near the top that you can click to go to pages with information about My Books, My Website, and how to Contact me. The Home link just takes you back to my Home page. Also, I've put a new Search box at the top of the menu on the right side of the blog page that searches my blog only and a Pageview counter below that.

THE CHOSEN Update - Book II of the Rooms' Series

Cover Art By Greg Opalinski

I just completed chapter 17 of THE CHOSEN today. The novel is now sitting at about 56,789 words, and the tempo of the plot is increasing with each new chapter. I've listed the titles of the first 17 chapters below, with chapter 17 being "The Gathering Storm". Also, a new character has been added in chapter 17 that I'm having fun with. His name is Bodo, which is a German name that means leader.

Here are the titles of the first 17 chapters of THE CHOSEN.

1. The Tower
2. The Reboot Ceremony
3. The Ship
4. Loon's Story
5. The Favor
6. The Club
7. Reunion
8. The Pulse-Signal
9. Stealth
10. M-78
11. Data Mining
12. Espionage
13. Rage and Remembrance
14. Recon
15. The Circle
16. Glide-Trains
17. The Gathering Storm

And...for fun, check out the new counter on the right side of my blog that shows the total Pageviews Since 11/22/2013 and the Popular Posts section that includes the posts that have had the most hits over the past 7 days. ----------------------------------->

THE CHOSEN Update - Book II of the ROOMS Series

Cover Art By Greg Opalinski

I completed the 13th chapter of THE CHOSEN today. The title is "Rage and Remembrance." It wasn't as easy to figure out the title for this chapter as it has been for the other 12, but in the end, I like what I chose.

It's a long chapter, a little over 5,000 words, and it was a very intense one to write. It took a lot out of me. The story and the characters are becoming more and more real to me the further I get into the book, and when their emotions and experiences are strong, mine are as well.

Also, the book is about 45,000 words now. That's almost 15,000 more words in 13 chapters of THE CHOSEN than was in Rooms at the same point. Really all that means, I think, is that I'm putting a lot more detail into the stories that I'm writing and enjoying it more as well.

And...I'd like to mention that as of today, I'm up to 27 countries where my blog is being read. I added two more today - Macau and Ireland. Welcome!



Here are the titles of the first 13 chapters of THE CHOSEN.

1. The Tower
2. The Reboot Ceremony
3. The Ship
4. Loon's Story
5. The Favor
6. The Club
7. Reunion
8. The Pulse-Signal
9. Stealth
10. M-78
11. Data Mining
12. Espionage
13. Rage and Remembrance

And... for fun, check out the Popular Posts section on the right side of my blog to discover the posts that have had the most hits over the past 7 days. -------------------------------------------------->

THE CHOSEN: Sneak Peek At The First 5 Chapters

Cover Art By Greg Opalinski

THE CHOSEN, my new science fiction book is the second book of the Rooms' Series. It's a stand-alone novel with enough background information for readers who haven't read Rooms, yet it's definitely a continuation of the story and the characters that were introduced in Rooms.

It will be a while before THE CHOSEN is finished, but I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak preview by showing you the first paragraph of each of the first five chapters. Let me know what you think.

1 The Tower

“The rounded, transparent covers from the growth capsules radiated a warm bluish-white light in the darkened hall, and inside each, lay a naked body attached to a ghostly face. Affixed to the control panel of every capsule were lines containing air and liquid nourishment, pumping and maintaining the lives within while creating a constant hum that vibrated faintly throughout the room. The scientists shuffled amongst them. They spoke quietly and checked the ever-present dials, blinking lights and graphs, as they constantly monitored the life signs of the valuable occupants inside each chamber.”

2 The Reboot Ceremony

“The lifeglobe on M-78 was resplendently decorated for the day’s events. Huge sparkling streamers hung from the plastishield dome and four of the tallest buildings literally oozed waves of color from their energized zed-glass exteriors. The largest and most impressive of these, of course, was the Visionaries’ Tower, which also projected an image of Harlequin onto the dome of the lifeglobe for all to see.”

3 The Ship

  

“Gwen was the only human on board 'The Ship.' She had volunteered to be put into sleep mode and travel the huge distances required to find another Earth-like planet. Her bodily functions had been slowed, the aging process diminished, and she would remain unconscious during the entire trip. This new and advanced warp-drive space vehicle had the ability to travel at the speed of light and faster. If it worked as the Visionaries had hoped, it could travel vast distances in a much shorter period of time in search of a new home for the Chosen.”

4 Loon’s Story

“How many times had they walked this beach together? How many sunrises and sunsets had they seen? They would meet the others from 'The Circle' later at the 'Womb' to discuss tomorrow’s events, but these next two or three hours belonged to them. They were both fond of spending time together, talking, teasing each other, debating…whatever they felt at the moment.”

5 The Favor

  

“No! No! Rad! No…”

Rad was awakened by Zeers screams. Her skin was damp, and she thrashed and rolled next to him. He held her close and spoke softly, “Zeer. It’s okay. They’re not here. You’re with me. It’s okay. Sh…” She was quieting now, and he kissed her temple and brushed back the yellowish-brown hair from her forehead. Her eyes were beginning to open, searching for Rad. He asked, “Are you okay?”

“I…I am… It was just that damn dream again.”

Quotes from BEATRICE & Descriptive Paragraphs from THE CHOSEN

Below I've placed three quotes from Beatrice for you to enjoy. Each of them is from a different chapter in the book.

Chapter 3 Quote

“It had been at least two months since I’d seen Mother and spoken to her, and I knew that it wouldn’t be easy to talk with her about that last year we’d lived in our mansion. Just as with me, I knew that her memories were fragmented, and whenever Fiona or I would try to talk to her about it, a dark cloud seemed to surround us. Mother would simply refuse to discuss it. But this time…this time it had to be different. This was something that needed to come out. I knew none of us could ever be happy or content in our lives until we’d faced it. We had to discover together what had happened, and if we could, maybe then we could finally put it all behind us.”

Chapter 7 Quote

“The time had flown by. She had written and scribbled note after note, and more and more pieces had clicked into place. Her eyes were red and tired, and the clock in the room had just struck 4:00 in the morning. Desperately needing sleep, she blew out the candle and reached for the blanket that Kirsty had left for her before going to bed. She then put down her pen, stretched out on the crumpled, leather couch and turned out the light on the end table. She slept, surrounded by papers, old tomes of history and the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock against the wall behind her.”

Chapter 24 Quote

“I attempted to reach out and touch something solid that I could push against. I had no sense of up or down or movement. I couldn’t feel or hear or smell, but I could see, not in the usual way, but in insignificant bursts that came sporadically as my eyelids opened and closed and opened and closed.  Within those small, fractured moments, I could see that I was surrounded and trapped in a dense, cinnamon-stained vapor that swirled into oblivion. I couldn’t remember how I’d entered that hell, and I had no memory of it ending.”

Cover Art By Greg Opalinski

I've started working on the difficult chapter 4. I think I have the title finalized now and have planned more for chapter 5.

• The Tower
• The Reboot Ceremony
• The Ship
• Loon's Story

Here are two descriptive paragraphs from two different chapters of THE CHOSEN.

Chapter 3 Description

"Months and months had passed. She was deeper than normal in her dream cycle, with small red, blue and yellow lights blinking on the console and her slow breath clouding the transparent cover of the sleep chamber. A cap covered her shaved head and was designed to keep her brain functioning optimally during stasis. She was clothed in a breathable skin-tight suit that maintained her body temperature at the correct level, pulsed to stimulate her muscles and carried the fluids and food into her bloodstream necessary for being inactive for such a long period of time. Her light brown eyebrows and lashes lay quietly on her pale, frosted skin. The only noticeable movement was her slow heartbeat bumping up against her chest – the only sound was her monitor, constantly checking and recording her life signs. Out...In…Out…In… Slow and steady. Her breath kept pace with her moderated heartbeat. Out…In…Out…In… Her life hung on a thread in the dark, ready to awake and start anew."

Chapter 4 Description

"They walked further in silence. Their bare feet compacting the grains of sand and slapping against the damp surface; their senses taking in the warm air flowing over their skin, and the salt breeze and sea aromas floating up and surrounding them. The sounds of Sholar joined in as well, playing music in their ears, while the mighty ocean’s surf ebbed in and out, and the seabirds floated and soared in the magical sky with songs and shouts to each other. The day was glorious, and each of them was lost in their own musings…"

THE CHOSEN: Writing Descriptions

Cover Art By Greg Opalinski

I've finished the first three chapters and have edited and cleaned them up.  Also, I've spent time preparing the details that I'd like to see in chapter four and five. Below are the titles of the first three chapters and a possible title for chapter 4.

• The Tower
• The Reboot Ceremony
• The Ship
• Loon - possible title

Descriptions

When and how to write descriptions is always an important question. I love writing them, and I think that I'm beginning to learn when its best to use them and different ways that they can be approached. I like to visualize the scene in my mind and then describe it in a unique way.

From THE CHOSEN, I chose one description that I'll share with you. It describes a woman named Gwen who is in sleep mode on a light-speed ship. She is the only human on board. The description sets the mood and provides the visual backdrop for a portion of chapter 3.

"Months and months had passed. She was deeper than normal in her dream cycle, with small red, blue and yellow lights blinking on the console and her slow breath clouding the transparent cover of the sleep chamber. A cap covered her shaved head and was designed to keep her brain functioning optimally during stasis. She was clothed in a breathable skin-tight suit that maintained her body temperature at the correct level, pulsed to stimulate her muscles and carried the fluids and food into her bloodstream necessary for being inactive for such a long period of time. Her light brown eyebrows and lashes lay quietly on her pale, frosted skin. The only noticeable movement was her slow heartbeat bumping up against her chest – the only sound was her monitor, constantly checking and recording her life signs. Out...In…Out…In… Slow and steady. Her breath kept pace with her moderated heartbeat. Out…In…Out…In… Her life hung on a thread in the dark, ready to awake and start anew."

New Novel Update: THE CHOSEN

Writing THE CHOSEN - Book II of the Rooms' Series

Cover Art By Greg Opalinski

Writing! Writing! Writing!

Wow! What a different experience this is. As I am working on THE CHOSEN, I'm remembering and thinking about Rooms and what I should include and expand on in this new book. It's a new and interesting puzzle.

One thing I do see happening is that I seem to be able to understand more clearly what types of details to include and which to leave out. I think I'm getting better at that. The reason this is so important is that by only including the details that are the most important, I can say more about them and not lose the excitement of the story or the interest of the reader.

Also, the chapters are taking me more time to write. I'm trying to make each one special and very focused on adding to the story. I'm learning. I rewrote chapter 3 four times. I was having trouble finding an angle to present what was happening in as interesting a way for the reader as possible. Finally, I had a dream and came up with the approach that I wanted to use. I like it...

In addition, I think I'm doing a better job of choosing the words that say exactly what I want to say, and I'm cutting out extraneous phrasing that doesn't add to the prose or to the story.

I just finished chapter 3 today, so the titles of the first three chapters are:

• The Tower
• The Reboot Ceremony
• The Ship

I'm very pleased with the first three chapters, and I've already written over 9000 words. I believe the reason for that is that I'm putting in more detail. So far, as I mentioned in my last post, I believe this is going to be my longest novel to date.

So... stay tuned, I'll share more as I progress. I'm excited about THE CHOSEN and the direction that it's headed.

Updated Beatrice and Rooms Review

I've just updated my new Fantasy/Mystery/Thriller Beatrice on Amazon. I've changed the cover slightly and made some small changes in the text. I've also included a short description and a quote below.

Description of Beatrice

Magic, mystery and historical events combine in this unique, modern day fantasy written about a family in Scotland. Ewan Bauman was about to have his eighteenth birthday party on his family’s old and venerable estate outside of Edinburgh. On the night of the party, however, a traumatic event occurred that caused his mother, sister and he to lose fragments of their memories, including everything that had happened that night. It haunted them and pushed them apart, but after twenty years, the tug and pull of that night could no longer be ignored. They had to find out what happened. Their search brought them closer together, but it also took them to a very dark and sinister place - one that they could never have imagined - a place from which they might never return.

“I attempted to reach out and touch something solid that I could push against. I had no sense of up or down or movement. I couldn’t feel or hear or smell, but I could see, not in the usual way, but in insignificant bursts that came sporadically as my eyelids opened and closed and opened and closed.  Within those small, fractured moments, I could see that I was surrounded and trapped in a dense, cinnamon-stained vapor that swirled into oblivion. I couldn’t remember how I’d entered that hell, and I had no memory of it ending.”

I've just received a new review of ROOMS that I've placed below.

Beautiful Story With A Timely Message

This book offers a timely view into a future brought on by the consequences of corporate greed and war. As I journeyed with Rad through the Old One's Room, I was not only entertained. I felt Rad's joy and reverence for the Earth and it's people. I felt his growing desolation as he witnessed the slow destruction of the Earth within each successive level of the Room. I struggled with him as he worked with Sparks and Zeer to bring health and hope to the demoralized Terran population.

Since the author left this story open to a sequel, I will be excited to see how his writing style evolves and how he ties the planet Loon (where The Old One and Zeer reside) to Earth and the other human outposts scattered throughout the universe.

FIRST REVIEWS ARE IN FOR ROOMS & Progress On New Book

Cover Illustration and Design by Greg Opalinski

Rooms has been published on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback form for a little over a week now. It's selling in both formats and the ratings and reviews have started coming in on both GoodReads and on Amazon. Here are three of them.

*****
I started Rooms one evening and found the story line engaging and the characters interesting. The next day I picked it up again planning to read for a bit. A third of the way in I couldn't stop--reading all day until finished. The characters became more and more real. The diversity and fullness of the plot held me.

Stegner touches on many issues--environmental, political, social, moral & spiritual. In the process he has also created just a darn good story. It engaged me in ways I did not expect and left me wanting a sequel!

*****
The story line/plot found in this novel grabs you from the very beginning and holds your attention to the point you cannot put it down. It has twists and turns that will take a reader by surprise. The book highlights many important social and cultural concerns that really need to be addressed today as our world moves forward through time to an uncertain future. This novel is destined to become a movie - Order it now --- you are in for a very interesting ride through time and space.

*****
Beautiful, deep story that captures your imagination. As you read the book, more and more elements of the plot come into play. The unique feature of the book is that it is not only a story written to entertain a reader but is also a deep, wise and touching story that will make you think about the world that we live in, what it is and what should be really important in our lives.

To find the book on Amazon, you can click the links below.

Paperback on Amazon
Kindle eBook on Amazon

New Book

I've completed 23 chapters of Beatrice and am well into chapter 24. It's looking more and more like there will need to be at least 26 chapters to finish the book as the climax is more complex and lengthy than I had first planned.

The going is very slow right now. I'm writing and rewriting continually doing my best to create the images and emotions that I want. It's fascinating but also difficult.

I find myself very caught up in the scenes as they unfold, and I'm experiencing the emotions and feelings of the characters as they encounter them. It's a very intense section of the book.

I should be done with the first draft in about a week.

ROOMS Published & My New Book BEATRICE & Thoughts on Self-Publishing

Cover Illustration and Design by Greg Opalinski

It's exciting to have Rooms published on Amazon in both the Kindle and paperback versions. It's selling, now I have to wait for the first reviews to begin to come in. I know it will take a while, as people need time for the book to arrive and time to read it. Honestly, though, it's not easy waiting, but I'll summon the patience!

To find it on Amazon, you can click the links below.

Paperback on Amazon
Kindle eBook on Amazon

New Book

I think I have about three chapters of Beatrice left to write. I'm writing the climax now, which will take about two chapters to complete. It's a challenge to do justice to this part of the book, but it's also a lot of fun. So many plot elements are coming together at this point; it's like weaving a tapestry and finally seeing the threads and patterns take form and shape.

Self-Publishing

Today I read an article in Forbes Magazine about self-publishing, and I like what it says. I'm not an expert by any means, but I think it makes sense.

I've thought for a long time that promotion is important but that getting reviews from people and publishing more than one quality work would do the most to help build interest in my writing. I've focused on writing more than promotion since I've started, and that's what this article is about - write, write, write... Take a look and see what you think.

Click here to go to the article.

Rooms Book Cover & Publishing Update / New Book / Next Book / Poem: "60 Years"

ROOMS Book Cover

Well, here is the cover of Rooms! If you click on the image of the cover above, you can see a larger version of it. 

Greg Opalinski did an outstanding job and truly captured the feeling of Rooms for the reader. He was wonderful to work with and is obviously a real talent. The book will be sold on Amazon in both the U. S. and many other parts of the world. You will be able to purchase it in both paperback and the Kindle eBook version. I'll let you know as soon as it's available. It may be a week or so yet, but it will be out soon!

New Book: "Beatrice"

(Forest)

My new book, Beatrice, is now over 51,000 words, and I just completed chapter 20. Each chapter now gets more and more fun to write as I near the end of the book. It looks like the final chapter will be chapter 23 or 24.

For anyone new to reading my blog, Beatrice is a very different book from Rooms. It's a Fantasy/Mystery/Thriller with lots of twists and turns and questions that will make you wonder as you move deeper into the plot. It's interesting because even though the general direction of the story can be seen early on, those questions will keep you wondering until their finally answered.

I have a lot of rewriting and editing ahead, but I am enjoying seeing the story come together. This book is really fun to write!

Next Book: Sequel to Rooms
I've begun planning my next novel. I've known for a while that I'd like to work on a sequel to Rooms, and I have a plan  started and will begin work on it when I've finished Beatrice. It will be a while, but I thought I'd let you know. I even think I have the title for it, but I won't let that out for a while.

Poem
As I near the publishing of my first adult novel, my mind goes to my mom and dad. They have traveled on to brighter lights and a place of harmony and balance that goes beyond earthly understanding, but I still feel them most days and hear them as they talk to me and help me along my path. I know they're proud of what I've accomplished, so I wanted to share a poem that I wrote for them on their 60th wedding anniversary.

60 Years

Seasons play our lives
Like a fine ballad

Weaving melody and harmony

Between laughter and thought

The first note came forth

Played in glorious celebration

As a birthday begun

With song and love

Motherhood

Protects, provides, nourishes

Fatherhood

Protects, provides, nourishes

I, a note in life’s pop-ballad

Mother, coaxing the song from my lungs

Father, showing me honesty, laughter, and work

Family, singing of home

60 years of laughter, worry, and music

60 years together

60 years as one

60 years bringing each other love

My Mom

My Dad

No one knows me better

No one loves me more

Mom and Dad

I love you!

Copyright © Bob Stegner 2006

Tree/Moon Image from: 
Forest Blue Moonlight Wallpapers.. Digital image. Travelization. N.p., 30 June 2012, Web. 16 Mar. 2014. <www.travelization.net>.

Novel Update & Poem: "The Lake"

ROOMS

by Bob Stegner

(Trish Steele)

Wow! I just received the latest update of the cover of Rooms from Greg Opalinski. It's really going to be good! He is a real talent, and the cover will create an image for the reader that will also set the right mood for reading the book. I'm excited!

New Book: "Beatrice"

(Forest)

My new book, Beatrice, is now about 42,000 words long. I don't think it will be as long as Rooms, but it should be between 60,000 and 70,000 words. I'm into the heart of the plot now where more and more is being divulged as it moves towards the climax. It is a blast to write it!

Poem
I like this poem. I wrote it after walking around Green Lake in Seattle, Washington on a brilliant day of sun and color. It made me think of Monet's works.

(Monet)

The Lake

A malleable portrait of dots and scraps of color

On a canvas shifting the world from focus

Step back

Those same brush strokes become lucid

We see

A tree, a running creek, a bridge

A world recognizable, yet nonetheless new

Monet dared us to see

The painter of impression’s journey

From mind to canvas to eye

Giving form,

As the canvas took shape

Around lives, beliefs and memories

Monet taught us to look

Even so,

We recognized these things
From the beginning

As a child turning its head

Staring in that strange way,

Until a slight smile revealed

Awareness

And as we go through time

The earth brings us wonders

Pushing us beyond plain sight

We gaze at sunsets, storms and evenings of light

Mornings of bright, brisk awakenings

We focus

And reach deep

To catch a glimpse
Of it all

Monet remembers

One day, I saw a lake

It embraced me in vegetative abundance

And shades of color beyond knowing

It lay surrounded by mounds of earth and trees

Wild fowl traveled its surface
And set upon it as dots on a dream of light

People gathered
Paid homage

And dared not leave its magnificent shore

For fear of losing
The moment

The vision
Was as if we could perceive

Monet’s painting
Of a perfect Lake

We stepped back and viewed its splendor

Becoming part of it

The people, the plants, the animals, the ground, the sky,

The liquid shimmering ripples of radiance

I sat on a bench, mesmerized

Partially closing my eyes
And caught sight of

The light from the evening
Sparkling and changing shape

Transforming perception

The jewel in my eye

Taught me

How to live

How to love

How to see beauty

Monet smiled

Copyright © Bob Stegner 2006

Image of Door:

Trish Steel [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Tree/Moon Image from:

Forest Blue Moonlight Wallpapers.. Digital image. Travelization. N.p., 30 June 2012, Web. 16 Mar. 2014. <www.travelization.net>.
"Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge" by Claude Monet - In U. S. works published before 1923 are in the public domain