I've had a few readers who bought Heller's Punishment from Smashwords comment on the size of the book - that is they thought it was much smaller than the previous three. I'd just like to correct that thought.
The Smashwords Style Guide advises against numbering pages in an ebook because it's meaningless to do so. Different ereaders provide different reading experiences. Reading a book on an iPhone will be different to reading the same book on a Nook or iPad or Kindle. And with readers able to change the size and type of fonts to suit themselves, this will also obviously affect and personalise the reading experience. Having said all of that, I've noticed that ebooks sold at Barnes & Noble seem to appear longer. Blood Ties, for example, comes in at 403 pages on the EPUB version, but on the Nook version people have said that it's over 1000 pages long!! Heller comes in at 291 pages, but on Nook it seems to be over 700 pages long! Heller's Punishment is 299 pages in EPUB (which I read in Adobe Digital Editions), so I expect it would appear to be about 700 pages on the Nook, judging by what's been said previously. But then, none of these numberings match the page numbering I have for the original manuscripts written in MS Word, the application with which I write and submit my books.
So, page numbering in ebooks? Forget about it!
But anyway, just for the record, here are the word counts for each of my books (this includes front and back matter). HP is slightly smaller than the previous two but longer than the first.
Heller: 104,460 words
Heller's Revenge: 108,130 words
Heller's Girlfriend: 108,440 words
Heller's Punishment: 106,630 words
Blood Ties: 153,020 words
Blood Sport: 133,070 words
Blood Feud: 133,980 words [updated 3 Dec 2012]
I don't worry too much about word counts. I like to write the story and when it's finished, the book ends - whatever the word count :-)
Hey JD, I was just wondering if you had any idea how many books you were planning to have in the Heller series?
ReplyDeleteThis will sound terrible, but I really don't have any idea! I can easily see the series getting to 10 books, but after that, who knows? I have a vague idea of the future, but don't plan it out in any kind of detail. Keeps it fresh for me too if even I don't know how it will end, lol! :-)
DeleteOh my lord you have no idea how excited I just got. I've finished all four Heller's books in two days, and I'm slightly regretting the pace at which I read them because now I don't have any more to read! But please continue your fabulous work. These books took me completely by surprise; I had anticipated a quick, and slightly cheesy teenage flick, but it is so much more than that. The characters have depth. One note however, I think Tilly's character should have a bit more development in terms of her often childish behavior. But I could be completely wrong about it; maybe it's her brutally honest character that makes me love the books. But anyways, PLEASE KEEP WRITING THEM.
DeleteHi there! The next Heller book, Heller's Decision, will be out later this year. I'm making good (if rather slow) progress on Blood Feud, so hope to have that out in a month or so. Then straight onto Heller's Decision. Tilly has some stormy times ahead of her, but they will make her a stronger, more mature woman. I'm really excited about how she develops as a person over the series :-)
DeleteI don't doubt your judgement! Anyways, I want you to know that although I wish Heller's Decision was coming out tomorrow (haha), I want you to be happy when you write your books! Never feel pressured to write, because the creative juices can't flow under immense stress. So, if you feel like you need a break between Blood Feud and Heller's Decision, go for it! We won't be mad, we promise. Also, you won't feel bored writing the books (haha, this is actually a selfish request, since I don't want you to stop writing the Heller's series.) Anyways, good luck!
DeleteIt can be difficult to summon the creative muse when I'm stressed to the max. Doesn't stop me thinking about things though :-)
DeleteHey! I would just like to say that I love your books and I can't wait for Blood Feud. This may seem out of the blue, but I was wondering, who is the chatacter from Blood Ties who makes a cameo in Heller or vice-versa?
ReplyDeleteHey, and thanks! Jakey makes a guest appearance as the Golden Guy in Heller and his two besties, Harry and Two Dogs, are with him at that hotel when Tilly tangles with them. And yes, I know the chronology is a little dodgy, but all this happened when Jakey worked at the city prison before he moved back to Little Town & started going out with Tessie :-D
DeleteAh yes, the slightly tossed guys from the stag party! Good job! Love ALL your books! Keep writing! No pressure, no pressure.....just love your writing stylye and sense of humour! ;-)
DeleteThanks sizwiz! And I promise I'm writing as fast as I can :-)
DeleteGood Grief: Who cares about the word count in Heller's Punishment, If you can write something that great using less words and get the point across all the better especially when you consider the cost. I think we got our money's worth. You rock JD!
ReplyDeleteOh well, I suppose if readers are used to a book appearing as if it's 700 pages long, it seems strange that it's only 290 in a different format. And my books do seem to be a lot longer than many other novels, so I think they're pretty good value too, lol! :-)
DeleteHi JD,
ReplyDeleteIs Heller's Punishment headed to iBooks soon?
Thanks!
Merry
Hi Merry!
DeleteHeller's Punishment was sent to Apple on 21 March, but for some reason (which I don't know) they haven't released it. Unfortunately, this is completely out of my control - it's all up to Apple. Obviously, I'm hoping that they put it up very soon!! :-)
When will hellers decision be out and whats it about
ReplyDeleteHi smkmv! I'm not really thinking about Heller at the moment, busy writing the third Tessie adventure. I'll make sure I put up a synopsis for Heller's Decision when I start writing it. As for due date - sometime late July? :-)
DeleteI love all your books i just dont like nook books right now they dont have heller's punishment out yet
ReplyDeleteHi Esther! Yeah, there's something weird going on with HP being sent to B&N. My info on Smashwords was saying it had been sent to them, now it's saying it hasn't been sent yet. I have an enquiry in with Smashwords about it, so hopefully they'll get back to me soon and we can sort it all out and get HP up at B&N :-)
DeleteYou can buy Hellers Punishment directly from smashwordswith a nook. Use ur nook to go to the site, buy the book and download itto the nook. It will go to ur download file. You can read it from that file.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that advice. Smashwords is certainly the place to buy my books first. They're available at SW about five minutes after I publish them :-)
DeleteHey...just wanted to say I have loved reading the entire Hellers series! I cannot wait for Hellers Decision to come out! In my waiting I will begin the Blood series!
ReplyDeleteU ROCK JD NIXON!!! Keep the books comin!
Aw gee (blush), thank you. I really hope you enjoy Tessie's adventures as well. It's different, but I love them equally :-)
DeleteHey just wanted to say that I love both the Heller series and the little town series but I'm dying for more... any idea on how soon they will be out?
ReplyDeleteOh geez - I only wish I knew. As soon as I can is all I can say. And believe me, no one wants them out sooner than me :-)
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ReplyDeleteLike eveyone else, I just found the series and could not stop reading! You have done a wonderful job with these characters. I love them all... okay almost all. I almost love Heller. I hate him hurting Tilly all the time. That being said, I can hardly wait for the next book. After reading your post about Tilly going through some tough times and really turning into a woman, I'm hopeful that she'll find some real ground for which she and Heller can mutally stand on. Though I must say that I wouldn't mind if Tilly gave Heller a "run for his money"and made a relationship with Huge or Bik. Thanks for writing a story with strong female who doesn't just blindly and willingly follow the male lead like some love starved puppy and for writing stories that are not so very predictable. I've no doubt your next book will have me running the gamet of my emotions again, and I can hardly wait! Thank you again for sharing these amazing characters with all of us!
ReplyDeleteHi - sorry, I deleted one of your double comments. I'm a neat freak like that, lol!
DeleteBelieve me when I say that Tilly will have real growth as a person over the course of the series. And love will prove rocky for her, so her story with Heller is certainly not a happy ever after at this point.
I hate books with passive female characters. I think after I read one too many books with either passive useless females or perfect females (you know the ones: became a neurosurgeon after giving up a modelling career and also helps out at the soup kitchen every Saturday), I decided to write my own female characters. They're flawed and human and are tough most of the time, but there's always room for a strong male to step in and help. Nothing wrong with that!!
And thank you for reading my books :-)
I stumbled across the Heller series randomly one day ..but could not be any happier that I did! One of the best series that I have read in quite a long time. Like everyone else, I am anxiously awaiting Heller's Decision. I think you are a truly talented writer and have recommended your books to anyone and everyone who crosses paths with me, haha. Keep up the excellent work!!!
ReplyDeleteHi there. Thanks! And thanks so much for recommending my books - that's really nice of you. Heller's Decision will be out later this year (I hope!).
ReplyDeleteDear J.d. Nixon
ReplyDeleteI'm i very big fan of you Heller's series. I'm simply in love with all the characters in the books. Once i started the series which was just 3 days ago i couldn't put your book down. It was a marvelous read which exceed my expectations. :)
I was wondering if there will be any more books in the Heller series and when they would be coming out?
Hey there! Thanks - glad you enjoyed the Heller books so far. Yep, there will definitely be more books in that series. Tilly & Heller's story isn't over yet!! Heller's Decision will hopefully be out later this year and then more books to come next year :-)
DeleteHello. JD Nixon I absolutely love ur books and read them the whole day and stayed up till six the next morning!!! When is heller's decision due on iBooks because I don't want to move on and forget it. I love the relationship between Heller and Tilly just hope they have a bit more sex :P haha and develope a relationship. I can't wait for heller's decision so excited I check iBooks everyday. I am a massive fan and please may I sugeest tht hopefully there aren't TOO many books as it begins to bore some ppl but I won't get bored :) thanks again and please put heller's decision on iBooks soon!!!
ReplyDeleteGosh, that was quite a reading marathon!! I haven't started writing Heller's Decision yet - still working on a book in my other series, which I hope will be out soon. Then I'll start writing HD. It should be out later this year. And there won't be too many books. The series will eventually end - maybe after 7 or 8 books? Depends on the story really :-)
DeleteU are an absolutely amazing author and I love ur books, especially the Heller's series! When's Heller's Decision out on iBooks? I think it would be interesting in the books to find thim from both Heller and Tilly's point of view if u get what I mean. Like one chapter from Heller's point of view then from Tilly's. Is the book meant to be sexual? Sorry if tht seems crude or offensive. I enjoy the sex aspects of the book and I think there should more between Tilly and Heller and perhaps more vivid? Thanks for taking this into consideration, ur books r fantastic and I will try the blood ties series :)
ReplyDeleteThe Heller books aren't erotica, so I don't want the sex scenes to be too explicit or the focus of the story. I already have enough people complaining that there's too much sex in the books, lol!!! I'm aiming for a balance between helping the reader imagine what's happening in bed, but leaving something to their own imagination :-)
DeleteI kind of want work in security now... Although I'm sure my career would be somewhat boring and uneventful compared to Tillys' job. Thank you so much for your hard work! After I take care of my daughter Piper all day, I really look forward to relaxing and reading more of your writing. I'm very much looking forward to starting the Little Town series. Thanks again, and remember to take breaks from your computer screen when you write! :) Kitty~
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm pretty sure that working in a security firm isn't as exciting as I make it out to be. Probably lots of boring standing around to do! I hope you enjoy Tessie's adventures too :-)
DeleteI just finished Heller's Punishment and cannot wait to read Heller's Decision!! Please tell me it is coming out soon! I love the story and can't wait to see what happens nextin the life of Tilly!! Thanks foran amazing read!
ReplyDeleteHi Jessie - I hope to have Heller's Decision out at the end of the year (have a book in my other series to get out first!!) :-)
DeleteI got a new nook for xmas 2011 and searched for books. I downloaded the book "Heller". I loved it so much that I then bought the other Heller series books. I hope that there will be another Heller book. I also have read the Blood series book and will buy that also even though the Heller series is my favorite. It took a moment to realize that many of the books and authors I am enjoying are my Aussie friends. Passing the word about you to my friends here. Thanks for the entertainment and enjoyment of your books. A friend in Georgia (USA) -yes Southern accent!
ReplyDeleteWell, hello friend from Georgia! There will be more Heller books (eventually). Next book due is one in the Tessie series, Blood Feud. When that's out, I'll start on Heller's Decision. And thanks for recommending my books to your friends - that's really nice of you :-)
DeleteI love, love, love the Heller series. Super fun. I can't wait for next one!! I have told so many of my friends about the series! I wish you the best of luck with your writing endeavors! (PS Being 6'2" makes me love the series more, hard to find heroines as tall as me!! Love it!)
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa. Thanks and glad you're enjoying the Heller series so far. And also thanks for recommending them to your friends - that's really nice of you!
DeleteAnd I love tall people, as is probably obvious from my books :-)
Hi, JD, just another American wanting to add my love of the Heller series here. Can't wait for more. Seriously, hurry would ya? Ha! Just kidding - sort of ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi there! Glad you're liking the series so far and I love my US readers!! :-)
DeleteHi J.D. I was looking on the web for Heller's Decision and ran across Corwells site that listed District of Columbia vs Heller. I found it very amusing to see it had to do with gun control and made me think of when Heller and Clive went to rescue Tilly from kidnappers with guns. I looked at Cornwells site out out of curiosity and laughed so hard thinking I could so see the Heller character going to court to keep his gun. I have to admit since finding that i have started reading the series over again. I read it so fast the first time that this time i am taking it slower and savoring every book. I'm also surprized at some of yhe little things i didn't catch the first time around. I enjoy both Tilly and Tess stories and look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteHa - I never thought that title would come up in relation to a court case, but I guess it makes sense. Enjoy the series the second time around :-)
Deleteaw not fair ... been waitin for d heller's next book on d series.. its kept on being postponed.. dying out f curiosity plz plz .publish it soon
ReplyDeleteSorry, but real life keeps getting in my way. Will have it out as soon as I can :-)
DeleteDear JD,
ReplyDeleteI came across your Heller and Little Big Town series a few months ago and read each one that was available to me in a matter of days. All I can say is I LOVE YOUR BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!! I am anxiously awaiting Hellers Decision... you are an amazing author! Thank you for providing me with such wonderful reading entertainment.
Hi there! Thanks for your lovely comment! And I'll have Heller's Decision out as soon as I can :-)
DeleteAny idea when the release date is for Heller's Decision????? I love your writing style and about died with laughter in a few parts of the series far... can't wait for the next book!!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Not sure about the release date of Heller's Decision because I'm still writing it. I'll be sure to announce it here on my blog the second it's released :-)
DeleteHi! Ive read both the Heller series, and the Blood Ties series, and love them both!!!! Two questions though: 1- when will Hellers Decision be available on Amazon Kindle? 2- Is there going to be a fourth book in the Little Big Town Series? I would love to see what happens with Tess and Sarge...
ReplyDeleteHi prina girl! Thanks for your lovely comments :-)
DeleteHeller's Decision will be available at Amazon very soon after I publish it. I'll announce it's release here on my blog as soon as it happens. And there will be 5 books in total in the Little Town series :-)
Hi JD I've just read the HELLER SERIES and I LOVEEEEEEEED it so much now when will the HELLERS DECISION will be out. On the Heller's Punishment last page it says look out for book 5 coming in 2012 and its now 2013 of Feb. I've searched AMAZON, BARNES N NOBLE, AND GOODREADS. I'm dying to find out what's happening... Also I will definitely look into the LITTLE TOWN SERIES....
ReplyDeleteHi Paula! I'm glad you're enjoying the Heller series so far. I'm rather delayed with writing Heller's Decision and am still writing it. I'll be sure to announce its release here on my blog the second it's published :-) Hope you enjoy the Little Town series if you decide to read it.
DeleteHi JD, like all the above comments I have smashed through the Heller series in record time, have done next to no housework, stayed up way too late reading & gone to work looking a wreck! I cannot tell you just how much I love the series: I'm SO cross with myself for devouring the four books in one week! And so disappointed I can't move immediately onto book five. Please keep writing Heller's Decision! Whilst I wait with anticipation, I'll move onto the Little Town series. So glad I discovered you: just a fabulous author! Thank you :-) Sonia
ReplyDeleteHi Sonia! Great - I'm glad you've enjoyed the Heller books so far. I'm making good progress on Heller's Decision, but I hope you enjoy Tessie's adventures in the meantime. And thank you for reading my books! :-)
DeleteHi I have just finish 3rd book of blood series and the end states Barry Clive will be Tess boss. who is he?
ReplyDeleteHe's a new character for the next book who will take Finn's place while he's away :-)
DeleteHi JD! Huge fan of the Heller series and I can honestly say that it is now my favorite book series! Eagerly awaiting Heller's Decision but in the mean time I'm very excited to start reading Blood Ties, which I just downloaded on my Nook this morning! You're a phenomenal author and I'm so glad I'm hooked :D
ReplyDeleteHi there! Thanks so much for your lovely comments and I hope you also enjoy Blood Ties :-)
Delete