May 1 , 2006: Book news...

1st Draft Print a Success...

Since January, 2005 the first draft printing of Extra Heroes has been available, only mildly edited after it's creation for the National Novel Writing Month of November, 2005. With lots of editing, slight rewrites and more behind the scenes, we are looking at a January, 2007 official release of the first book, followed shortly by the second book, The King of Ideas. I really appreciate the support and readership the book has enjoyed so far. It was an experiment that went very well, warts and all. We look forward to releasing a wart-free version and continue with our characters in more books and stories for teens in the near future.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

-Dean

March 1, 2006: More on the new book...

Skewed Perspective announcement includes Extra Heroes news!

"So. How have you been?

For nearly six years now Skewed Perspective.com has hummed along in the background for its contributors. We've continued to grow, albiet in a quieter way that I think speaks to the nature of the site as a force and presence for new work, on its own and without glitz or overstatement.

Never one to be content with understatement, I thought I'd pretend the world gives a crap and say something about a project or two that is coming up of my own. A couple of them, actually.

First...

Everything has been slowed by a combination of real life, academic pursuits and fatherhood. With that said, some interesting things have risen to the top. The good news is, plans have started forming and some very concrete realities and outlets will mean more to share.

Second...

There is/will be a sequel to Extra Heroes: Patterns & Choices. It is called The King of Ideas and is more than half written and entirely plotted. Right now I'm looking to make sure I get it right and it will hopefully debut this time next year. Following that, there will be a third book that is about half-plotted at the moment. That gets us to 2007-2008 where I hope to more actively shop the trilogy around for comic adaption..."

More here...

-Dean

October 5, 2005: Oh boy...

November approaches, and that can only mean one thing... National Novel Writing Month!

It is true- a new novel in the Extra Heroes series is being cooked up right now. This book will be the second in what will have to be a series of at least three to get it all out. It promises to be a surprising departure mixed with all the elements people liked from the first in the series.

And it seems as good a time as any to reveal to readers what the working title will be (drum roll please)...

The King of Ideas

See you in November for another update!

-Dean

March 9 , 2005: Franklin News Post

In the the Wednesday, March 9th, 2005 edition of the Franklin News Post there is an article on Patterns & Choices and its author... Click here to read the article! A larger but easier to read version is at this link.

February 20 , 2005: Amazon & more!

We're on Amazon! Full disclosure here, as Amazon's price is higher than just getting it straight through Lulu.com (always the lowest). BUT-- if anyone who is a reader of the book could do me a big favor... If you'd give a thought to leaving a review through Amazon, I'd really appreciate it! Click here for the Amazon listing of Extra Heroes: Patterns and Choices...

January 12, 2005: The Extra Heroes website relaunches to support the new book!

Welcome all visitors to ExtraHeroes.com, the website home of the Extra Heroes series of superhero genre characters by Dean Browell. The big news is that the series has a massive beginning in the form of the first novel, Patterns & Choices, now available at Lulu.com. Check out all corners of the site where you'll find exclusive previews, extras and news for newcomers and readers alike. Also check this main news page for all the latest news, reviews and more. There's also Extra Heroes: Kids for ages four and up, featuring free stories online for the younger set!

Special nod to SkewedPerspective.com, parent of this site and home of tons of great works by great people. I can vouch for them!

Patterns & Choices, the first Extra Heroes novel, takes the super-hero genre out of its typical comic book element and explores themes of heroism and responsibility through surprising realism and a thoughtful, original cast of characters. Extra Heroes: Patterns & Choices is a novel for many ages (13+) by Dean Browell.

Extra Heroes: Patterns & Choices is now published and available for purchase at Lulu.com! There are two ways to get the novel: the print version or an online download in PDF form. You can also download a free preview in PDF form! Once you read it, please email me and let me know what you think, and maybe stop back by Lulu.com to rate it!

Extra Heroes: Patterns & Choices will also be coming to major online retailers and will be available through major distribution channels (although Lulu.com will always be the best price, even for bulk orders). This means an opportunity to review on Amazon.com for any readers!

This whole thing has been an incredible whirlwind for me... Some of these ideas have been brewing for nearly ten years now and finally saw fruition with the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) contest in 2004. A big plug to my friend Angela who lead me to that wonderful month of writing! The ExtraHeroes.com site has been around for a couple of years as a clearinghouse for some small finished ideas and bigger ones I never started. It will continue to be a place where I let ideas fly, but Extra Heroes has officially begun as a full-fledged series for adults and young adults alike and a new era is truly born. Thanks to everyone for their constant support, especially my wife Corri and my daughter Addy.

Not only did author Dean Browell make a winner out of his novel, Extra Heroes: Patterns & Choices by completing 50,000 words in one month, he did it in half the time! (Look, he was really motivated, okay?)