Last week I saw the second build of the site. It looks spectacular. The designer totally took advantage of all the beautiful art and built the site around that.

So what does that mean about the time frame for the site being up? I'm hoping that by the beginning of December it will be. I've sent in a ton of copy and of course, the beginnings of five of the novels (200 pages for you to read first day site opens!), plus a short manga, Skeleton Closet.

For those of you unfamiliar with www. RaytheReign.com, here are the basics:

Again, I cannot state enough how honored and humbled I am that so many of you have contacted me with interest in my site. It makes all the hard work worth it.

I know there's been some confusion, however, when you go to the site and find a weird username/password requirement. That's because the site is still under construction and that is merely a portal for the web designer at this time.

SO WHEN WILL THE SITE BE UP:

Hopefully, in the beginning of December 2009.

Why do I say 'hopefully' and not by a date certain? I'm at the mercy of the web designer, but also I want the site to be as cool and user friendly as it can be so it'll take a bit to make sure the site's solid and as bug free as possible.

I will let you all know in this journal when it is open for business.

HOW MANY NOVELS WILL THERE BE:

I've been working hard on five novels (3 yaoi and 2 het) all in the paranormal, horror and/or scifi genres. Other new novels will be brought online ever 4 to 6 months. So you can see that the library is going to grow pretty quick.

In fact, a new yaoi scifi novel, The Abyss, will be added in January of 2010 far ahead of schedule! You'll be seeing some of the amazing art and animation for that book coming up right here on DA.

HOW CAN I BUY YOUR STUFF:

The site's going to be set up to allow people to purchase works two ways: (1) monthly subscription (I'm thinking $9.95 per month) and (2) individual purchase (variable costs).

In the beginning, there will only be the monthly subscription option available for the novels. Several chapters will be posted for the general public to read and then for a small monthly fee you can see a ton more chapters. Each book should be updated once a month like a soap opera. So that'll be 5 chapters a month, approximately 50 pages of new material to enjoy every month and that's just to start.

Also, there's already a short manga finished, Skeleton Closet, by our own Litter Box to start you off on the comics side of things. So in addition to the written work you'll be getting graphic novels as well periodically.

Once the book is completed, subscribers will be able to download the book for free (and a ton of other stuff as well). Also, once the book is finished, it will then appear in the store and non-subscribers can purchase it.

The graphic novels, however, will probably all be available for individual purchase as soon as they are completed.

WHY SHOULD I PURCHASE A SUBSCRIPTION INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING FOR THE BOOK TO BE SOLD INDIVIDUALLY:

The biggest reason:

If you like more than one book or graphic novel, it may, in fact, be cheaper to buy the subscription. Because with the subscription you get EVERYTHING FOR FREE at the site. Not just the novels will be available to you, but everything else as well. FOR NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. I'm thinking to charge only $9.95 a month (the cost of a couple coffees at Starbucks or 1 paperback novel, if you're lucky).

WHAT ELSE WILL BE ON THE SITE:

I admit, I've got big plans and I hope to make them all happen. But on the first day the site is open, definitely the five novels and one comic will be available. But that's just the start.

Check out what else will be coming down the pike:

GRAPHIC NOVELS:

I already have some wonderful artists from our own DA working on short and full-length graphic novels. Some will literally be translations of the print novels into graphic form while others will explore side stories that aren't fleshed out in the printed works. And finally, there will be fully original works.

New ones will be added as fast as I can make the artists work. So this will be ongoing. Imagine as a subscriber, you'll not only be getting the novels, but new graphic novels as well for your library FOR FREE. It's all included in the small monthly fee you're paying.

As I said above, Litter Box has already crafted Skeleton Closet for the site. His knowledge of the male form just can't be beat and his film noir style is breath-taking.

MUSIC:

I'm working with someone to create music scores for the books. You know how a movie has a score, well, I want to have a similar thing made, but for the books.

As a subscriber, you'll be able to download this music for free. Again, its included.

VOICE ACTING:

Once the novels are completed, I'm going to be hiring voice actors to perform the books, which will be available as well. Imagine how cool it will be to hear voices of those characters you've only imagined? Yeah, I'm psyched, too, for this.

This will be free for the subscribers. It will also be made available for individual purchase, too.

ANIMATION/CARTOONS:

Yes, I'm going there. Eventually, I want to create animation/cartoons for the site. In fact, I already have an artist, DA's own Scott2753, creating an amazing movie trailer for one book, The Abyss.

But my plan is to actually create a full-length animated feature. Again, this, too, will be part of the subscription. It will also be made available for individual purchase, as well.

STILL WANT TO DO THE INDIVIDUAL PURCHASE THING:

Not a problem. There will be a store and eventually everything will be available for individual purchase. But you'll have to wait a bit for this to fill up.

ARTISTS INTERESTED IN WORK:

I'm always looking for fantastic artists to develop illustrations, cover art, comics, animation, etc. If you're interested, please drop me a note here or email me at RaytheReign@gmail.com.

THANK YOU:

Again, I'm thrilled to see the interest this is generating and I really hope to see you guys at the site.

I you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a note here or email me at RaytheReign@gmail.com.