Long Time Amiga User Gets A Break

[DrStrange]

Hi.  Some of you might remember me as a former chief editor of AIO.  Now this is sorta Amiga related in that I am a long time Amiga User and what I'm announcing was done entirely on my Ami (and such credit was given too).

Let's be honest, this is something I just had to share with my extended Amiga Family...  I have a book, it's now published, and about to hit the shelves!

Yes, my first book!  The first book in a fantasy epic called Maldene, you can read about at http://www.maldene.com

Also find info on how to obtain there.

Oh, and the Amiga related part?  The "About the Author" from the back cover of the book (plain for ALL to see):

"Mark Anthony Tierno lives in his hometown of Monrovia, California, the recipient of a master's in physics and a second degree in math.  A lifelong reader of fantasy and sci-fi, he finally set his own imagination to paper with the help of his trusty old Amiga computer.  His most joyful hobby is writing books like this."

The book is available from Publish America, soon to bookstores near you, and right now already on Amazon.  The site has both a link to the publisher's site to order directly, or the ISBN numbers that you can take to any bookstore and have them start stocking it.

I've been about 10 years trying to get this published; I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

-DrStrange,
AKA,
Mark Anthony Tierno (now an author).

[jarrody2k]

As long as I can promote my unrelated Amiga commercial venture in the future on Amiga.org, I am totally okay with this post.

Jarrod

[amigadave]

Well Mark,

I had a little look at your site and found this quote, "The world is not only far larger and far more stranger than they or anyone else had ever thought".....

I think I will save my book buying dollars for authors that can write proper English grammar in their sentences.

I also do not think it proper to advertise your "books" (Publish America looks like some kind of internet scam publishing house) here in this way, but mine is only one opinion of many. :roll:

[DrStrange]

First, while the web page undoubtedly has numerous typos, that is because I am more concerned with typos in the book than the web site (which is currently undergoing some redesign off-site right now anyway).  How the book reads and the quality of its wording is an entirely different matter.

Second, Publish America is a legit publishing house, albeit a relatively recent one.  There are actual books shipping as we speak.

And third, the reason for the post is two-fold.  First, YOU spend a decade to finally get your first book published and see how many of your friends YOU want to go and tell; I'd always felt the Amiga community to be my friends (If I was wrong, then I do appologize).

And second, if you'd read what I'd quoted in the About the Author then you'll see, that on the back of my very first book, I quite proudly told the entire world (or that of it that will end up reading it) that I did it all on an Amiga; how many times do you see something like that mentioned in the back of anything?  Just thought the free advertising worth mentioning.

If I have offended anyone or stepped over some line then I am truly sorry and urge the moderator to delete the article immediately.

[ottomobiehl]

@ DrStrange,

Congratz on the book and I hope the best from it.  Your book being a fantasy epic I may have to purchase it and give it a good read.  I'm impressed it was written on your Ami! :-)

BTW, a good way to self publish and get an ISBN number is via lulu.com.

Anyway, good luck with it.

[Minuous]

Hey, where is the CompuGraphic version of the font at your site?

I thought you were an Amigan? I don't see any evidence of it at your site.

[nOw2]

Well done Mark.
Ignore any who say this article doesn't belong here: people actually using the Amiga and pushing it forward make better news than a discontinued motherboard.

[Argo]

What did you use to write your book?
Like what model and spec, not to mention the software?

[DrStrange]

First on the font: the Compugraphic version of the Maldene font is actually on my harddrive  

Now, as for what I did the whole thing on, my setup:
A4000 with Cyberstorm Mk II 060, 132MB RAM, 9GB HD.  Everything written up on Wordworth version 6 (version 7 has too many excuses to crash to use regularily), along with two database programs (Twist2, and Final Data) to keep track of native dictionary and character descriptions respectively.

With this the first of a 13 book series (totalling about 5.2 million words in all), plus another 7 book series, assorted novellas and whatnot, I'm on my third or fourth keyboard, second monitor, and third motherboard (now with a fourth in reserve, just in case), though the original motherboard didn't give up the ghost until about mid last year (and still may be fixable, just haven't traced it down yet).  I guess I left a few things smoking with all the writing I've done.

I wonder if a PC would have lasted through all that?

[Quixote]

;-) Kudos to you, sir.  Getting published is quite a breakthrough.  And to do it all on your Amiga is cool, too.