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I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines trilogy was one of the earliest inspirations for Rule of Extinction. Initially, Wayward Pines appears to be a traditional thriller about a Secret Service agent investigating a missing persons case in an idyllic Idaho town. The story spirals into horror when Agent Ethan Burke encounters homicidal townspeople. As things progress, Crouch peels away the layers of the onion to reveal something much, much larger going on. It's difficult to say more about Wayward Pines without spoiling the surprises. Crouch has talked about how Wayward Pines was inspired by Twin Peaks, but to me, it also felt like a mix of two older TV shows: The Fugitive and The Twilight Zone. I was hooked from the start, and felt like I'd discovered a new Stephen King. I loved the way Wayward Pines tells an increasingly-epic story while keeping the emotional focus on the characters. I also loved the dark tone, constant tension, and the pervasive sense that anything could happen. Wayward Pines combines the right mix of science fiction and horror for my taste. All of these aspects were in the back of my mind as I wrote Rule of Extinction (and its sequels). Wayward Pines was also part of the now-defunct Kindle Worlds program, which allowed other authors to publish stories within the world of a particular intellectual property. I thought this was a great idea and developed a scenario that would work well with the program. Although Kindle Worlds was discontinued in 2018, the exercise strengthened my world-building. The Wayward Pines trilogy is the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, science fiction, and horror. Highly recommended! 
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I've done a lousy job with this blog, but I'm making good progress with my writing. Here's the skinny on my next project:
I'm writing a post-apocalyptic sci-fi trilogy about a small group of people who survive the end of the world. It's similar to THE DINOSAUR FOUR in a number of ways: Most of the characters are everyday people, there are some big mysteries to solve (How did this happen? How do we get out of this mess?), some nasty human villains cause trouble along the way, and of course there are lots of monster attacks. It's different from TD4 in that it's much larger in scope. There's a huge cast of characters and the mysteries are much bigger. There are also many more science fiction elements, though it's still a "light sci-fi adventure/thriller" rather than "hard science fiction." Book 1 is essentially finished. It's been through a thousand revisions based on feedback from my critique groups and beta readers. I'm still making tweaks here and there, but it's in good shape and I'm pleased with it. At 109k words, it's longer than TD4, which was about 78k words. I'm currently working on Book 2. One of my critique groups has read through the first two acts and while they have provided some great feedback, the reception has been positive. The final act has given me some trouble, but I think I've nailed it in the past few days. It's currently around 92k words, though that will likely fluctuate. I have an outline, notes, and a few rough chapters written for book 3. I want book 3 to be in solid shape before I publish book 1, for a couple of reasons. For one thing, I've gone back and made changes in Book 1 to solve problems in Book 2, and I want the flexibility to do that for Book 3. This is really one big story, not a series. I also want readers to feel safe buying Book 1, knowing that I won't leave them hanging. You won't find any concrete projections here, but I'm hoping to get Book 3 into decent shape before we get too far into 2021. Fingers crossed. There are times when I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew, but it's going to be worth it. This is shaping up to be an epic ride!  Sabrina Ricci at Digital Pubbing interviewed me recently about my publishing and marketing experiences. Hopefully there is a nugget in there that is useful to someone. Here is a fun quote: When I’m editing, I read everything out loud to make sure it flows well, again and again and again. I recommend this, and I also recommend that you lock the door. It is heart-stopping-ly embarrassing to be in the zone, performing your unfinished work out loud and have someone come up behind you. Click the link below to read the rest, as well as lots of other great info about digital publishing:
The Making of a Successful Ebook: An Interview with Geoff Jones, Author of The Dinosaur Four  THE SHALLOWS is great fun - go see it! Don't expect JAWS. As the title suggests, there isn't a lot of depth to this movie, but it's a nail-biting ride. The shark is completely realistic, except perhaps for the fact that it is rabidly territorial. But who cares? As thrilling b-movie monster flick, THE SHALLOWS delivers. Hats off to director Jaume Collet-Serra and writer Anthony Jaswinski. Thanks for the entertainment! I'll be speaking Wednesday night at "Local Editions" in Longmont, a new bookstore that exclusively stocks books by Colorado Authors.
I'll talk about The Dinosaur Four, my publishing experiences, my writing process, and whatever else I can come up with. If you're free, stop by for a cup of tea or coffee and check it out! An Evening to Meet the Authors September 9th 6:30pm to 8:30pm Local Editions Bookstore 2919 17th Avenue Ste. 110 Longmont, CO Check out the Event on Facebook for more info. The Book Cellar in downtown Louisville, Colorado is now carrying The Dinosaur Four. It's a great bookstore with a terrific selection, including a rack full of books by local authors. Also, Barbara is quick to offer insightful recommendations - she knows her books!  Local Editions Books and Coffee opens today in Longmont, Colorado. Local Editions will only sell books by Colorado authors. The Dinosaur Four, which was written in Colorado and takes place in Denver, will be available in paperback. Be sure to like the Local Editions Facebook page to find out about upcoming author events. Stop by for a cup of coffee and a great read! Local Editions Books and Coffee 2919 17th Ave Suite 110 Longmont, CO 80503  Books to Be Red, on the island of Ocracoke, North Carolina, now has signed copies of The Dinosaur Four available for purchase. Owner Leslie Lanier says the book has been a steady seller. Books to Be Red has a great selection of books, toys, and souvenirs, and Leslie is quick with recommendations. If you are ever on the Outer Banks, Books to Be Red is worth a trip to Ocracoke. Until then, be sure to like them on Facebook!  Amazon Prime members can "Borrow" The Dinosaur Four for free from the Kindle Owners Lending Library. Read it on any tablet or computer using the Free Kindle App. Check it out!
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AuthorGeoff Jones is the author of the sci-fi thriller Archives
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