The Official Site of Juan Rader Bas, Author and Martial Artist.
Well, it's been a while since I updated the my home page and a lot has happened since then.
For one, I've completed what I call a 'polished draft' of my novel. That doesn't mean it's finished but it's at a stage where I feel comfortable sending it to readers and submitting it as part of a query to agents and publishers. I've had an editor start the process of making it better and, while I'm still going to pursue the traditional route of trying to secure an agent and a publisher, I am also investigating the options available to me in independent publishing. After attending Book Expo America this year, it seems that independent publishing is the way to go for new and upcoming authors. With the economy being what it is, traditional publishing houses don't seem to be picking up new titles. Either way, it's nice, rewarding and exciting to be where I am in the development of my first book.
If you've been keeping up with blog, I had a weight loss goal and a goal to get my fifth dan in Tae Kwon Do in October, my Silver Anniversary as a Tae Kwon Do practitioner. The weight goal is back on track, after taking a slight hit since New Year's, but my fifth dan aspirations are on hold. I was training with my original TKD master but his school is an hour away, each way, and there was just too much going on. I've decided to focus on my novel and do workouts closer to home - running and squash and weight training at the gym.
Yes, I did say squash. My wife and I joined at gym close to home and it has squash courts and leagues. I love the sport and I began playing in Hong Kong but I was never one of the great players. My friends David, Ian, Ravi (RIP), Jose, Sal and others were the good ones. I was decent but they also had better technique and fitness. I did play for the Rutgers University Squash Club against Steven's Tech my freshman year and I joined another gym, 15 years back, with squash courts but it was an hour away and getting partners to play with was next to impossible. Anyway, with this gym close to home - just 17 minutes - and with an organised league, I'm back on court and loving it.
Lastly, I've changed the entry in the Books And Such section of this website. I've put up the first chapter of Sage of Heaven. It's a work in progress and what I like to call my Asian-American Buffy The Vampire Slayeresque fantasy action story.
Anyway, that's what's been going on. There'll be more in my blog and, hopefully sooner than later, I'll be able to put a Book Signing/Reading in the Upcoming Events page of this website.
It's summer here in New Jersey and it's hot. Keep cool, keep reading and keep kicking.
