Category: Behind the Writing

Writing for the One Fan that Matters

Aug 11 2017 Behind the Writing, Comic Geekery

Hi. I’m Jeremy Flagg. People call me Remy (my mom hates this) partly because Remy LeBeau is an amazing member of the X-Men and partly because it sounds classier than being called Jer. I’m known as the sarcastic guy. It’s a mantle I uphold with pride. But this post is less about me the author, and it’s about my fans.

I’m incredibly uncomfortable saying I have fans.

The first time I signed a book for a fan, I signed my name wrong. I shit you not, I forgot my name. I get incredibly anxious when I discuss my fans, because rock stars have fans. Actors have fans. Angry Birds has fans. Me? I have people who read my books and like them. Fans? Right? While this seems like a no-brainer for some, it’s humbling to say somebody other than me enjoys my work. Tonight I received an email stating that somebody used the word “favorite” when discussing my book. Favorite? I think of that word and I think chocolate lava cake…my book is on the same playing field as cake? I’m humbled.

Let me talk about my fans for a few minutes, they’re some of the coolest people I’ve ever met. Geeks. I love you. Selling my books at conventions, my fans are the ones who come to my table dressed as Rorschach from Watchmen one day and show up in their finest Kylo Ren costume the next. My fans are not only a geek, but they wear it with pride. They also know I have duct tape and I’m the first to mend breaking costumes. I wish I remembered to photograph more of their geeky awesomeness.

My fans are parents who have young kids who love to write. I had a young boy stop and talk to me about his “stories.” He told me epic tales of the adventures him and a friend from grade school craft. I believe they were the Adventures of Taco Man, what I believe will someday be a best seller. He spent a solid half hour telling me how he prefers to write than play outside. I listened, because someday I will be standing in line to have him sign my copy.

Tonight I opened my blog to write a post. I thought I’d write about my latest movie lists and I took a moment to check for any emails from fans. I found myself reading.

I am so incredibly humbled by this I found myself blushing. A real person took time from their life to compliment something I created. They felt strongly enough to leave encouragement to move forward. Reviews can be flattering (or devastating) but this was a human reaching out to another human. While I say I often write for myself, truth be told, I am writing for the kid I used to be. I’m writing for that geek who hid in the closet afraid to admit he was passionate about things other people remarked as silly or childish.

I write for this fan.

My fans have a sense of humor. They laugh in an awkward way that makes us all laugh. My fans are fierce masters of their fandoms. My fans get excited when new superhero trailers are leaked online. My fans know random obscure sci-fi books nobody has read before. My fans argue if Alien is a better movie than Aliens. My fans recognize at my core, I am a big kid. My fans. If I say it enough maybe I’ll get comfortable? My fans, they’re the reason I open my computer and write when I’m not in the mood.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is, thanks for being a fan. Everything I write is for you.

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Children of Nostradamus Book 3 Receives its Title

Jul 22 2017 Behind the Writing, News

Last night I returned to the Children of Nostradamus. It’s like greeting old friends and commiserating over a beer. I’ve missed them and am excited to be knee-deep in a world gone mad. The story has been plotted and I know where the adventure goes. Nobody walks away the same. There’s a darkness on the horizon and difficult choices must be made. Not all of them will right. Be ready, Night Legions will show the worst of our heroes and best of our villains. In Night Legions, the darkness wears many faces. 2018.

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A Decade Later the Trilogy Closes

Jul 21 2017 Behind the Writing, News

For the last few weeks, I’ve spent hours each day sitting behind a screen, mashing away at keys. I’ve been racing against a deadline and wanted to build in a buffer in case the unthinkable happened (like my laptop dying again.) It may sound tedious, but it’s like partying with some seriously awesome people. We went on adventures, we killed some zombies, hell, we even blew up a chemistry lab together (no, not in real life you crazy folks.) But now it’s over.

I started writing Suburban Zombie High In 2006 while I was working at a very prestigious high school. It became quickly apparent that the school and I weren’t the best of fits. To cope with the demands of the job, I started writing. Many of the quotes in the book are directly taken from students in my class. Often crude, outlandish, and hysterical, this is what teens say. To up the drama, I decided to write about a zombie apocalypse taking place within the walls of the schools. The characters are based on real people from my own high school experience or from my teaching days. Of the many teachers I knew, my favorite had been the librarian I worked with. Only Renee V. kept her name, and believe me, I didn’t embellish her kick butt nature.

Of course, I’m releasing the final book of the trilogy now. They’ve been reworked, new covers, a whole overhaul. I should be dancing in my seat to publish the final tale, but as always, it comes with a bit of melancholy. This is the series that started me on my writing path. These are the characters who got me through a pretty rough period of my life. Now, both them and myself are onto bigger and better things. It’s like saying goodbye to a good friend you haven’t seen in ages.

I’m turning my eye forward again. There are three more books on the roster to be written. I plan on finishing the final two books of the Children of Nostradamus series and writing a stand alone spy/humor novel. Depending on the direction I decide to take, I have a notebook filled with ideas that will keep me writing until 2020. The first 11 books have been completed, now it’s time to get cracking on the next 11.

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Topped with Rainbow Colored Sprinkles

Jul 03 2017 Behind the Writing, New Release, News

It’s 1:30AM when I wrote this and I’m still awake. Truth be told, I’m currently angry at myself for not buying ice cream earlier. I hate my logical past self. 1:30AM demands ice cream. We’re going to need to have a long talk about the necessity of having chocolate swirls available at all time.

I just clicked “submit” on the Nighthawks audio book. My past self is kind of a dink. I remember him thinking, “Oh, I can edit an audio book easy peasy.” Not only did he skip out on peanut butter cup Ben & Jerry’s, he also had absolutely no idea how difficult it is to edit an audio book. My wonderful narrator, Robin J. Sitten did such a great job that the editing process was easy enough, but active listening is apparently not a skill I easily command. The button has been pushed and now the Amazon gremlins will perform whatever devious acts they must and soon it’ll be available for sale.

Oh yeah, Suburban Zombie High: The Reunion is available for sale too. Grab a copy, leave a review, I think by now we all know the drill. The third installment is getting ready to see the light of day for the first time. The third book in this series has defeated me three times before. This time, I’m kicking it in the butt so hard its teeth are rattling. Huge shout out to my editor for this series, Suzanne Lahna over at Word Vagabond, without her cheering me on from the corner, I’d probably be a crying mess. Nobody wants to see a large man weeping over his iPad. It’s not pretty.

By the time you read this, there’s a good chance I’ll have the curtains drawn and be elbow deep in popcorn while I watch the latest Power Rangers movie. Yes, the curtains will be drawn so my neighbors won’t catch me indulging in my secret shame. What can I say? I grew up on Power Rangers and with an injection of teen angst, there’s a chance I’ll be buying it on Blu-Ray before the end credits appear. Stop shaking your head, it’s not that bad. I can quit anytime I want. I swear.

Now that you’re judging me, leave me your guilty pleasure movie in the comments. I’ll reveal the single movie I can’t help but stop and watch every time it’s on TV. You think you’re judging me now, just wait.

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Review Me Like I’m Hot

Apr 15 2017 Behind the Writing, News

I’ll let you in on a secret, your reviews matter. Right now, we decide what we’re going to buy on our need and social proof. If you want to read superhero sci-fi, I’m your go to guy. But I can always use more social proof. I mean, who wouldn’t want fans to inform the world know about awesome books they’ve discovered. They don’t need to be lengthy. Some of the best reviews are short, to the point and rant and rave in a few sentences. So if you want to help, take a minute or two and leave a review for the above books. You’ll be doing me a solid!

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