Monthly Archives: October 2012

writing

New Project Idea

This one’s WAAAAAY on the back burner, but here’s an idea. I’d like to create a ten to fifteen page book. Each page would have a sentence in English and Spanish, worked into an illustration. Each illustration would be a different artist. It would tell a very short story and would be intended as a reader for students who are ESL and are working on a second or third grade level.

This was born out of a conversation with my wife. She teaches seventh grade language arts. A large percentage of her students aren’t literate in their grade level in either English or Spanish. I think this would be a cool way for kids of any age to learn some vocabulary in the two languages.

The working title would be “The World Is Awesome”. Part of me is tempted to give it the “Go The F*** To Sleep” treatment, but I would want to get this in schools. It needs to be something that would capture older kids, but still be approachable to younger ones. Easy right?

Thoughts?

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Ebook Giveaway – Hearth: Exile and Mom's Place

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Congratulations to Katje van Loon for winning both of last week’s e-books! I’ll get them out to her ASAP. That’s what can happen with these duel giveaways. I do a drawing for each and with only one entrant it’s pretty simple.

If you’ve already won, please feel free to comment, but I really want future e-books to go to folks that haven’t won anything.

This week I’m giving away two books again. I’m changing things up a bit, though. You can only win one of the two. If you win the first one I won’t include your name in the drawing for the other. If you want one book over the other then let me know and I won’t enter you into the drawing for the one you don’t want.

The first is Hearth: Exile by M. R. Jenks:

A man awakens to find himself half-in, half-out of a trashcan in a back alley behind the Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park, New York. He has no idea who he is, where he is, or how he got there. He doesn’t even know his own name, except that it begins with a ‘Br’ sound. In Book One of the Hearth trilogy, this man wanders the streets in search of his identity, his memories, and his name. He is joined along the way by two companions, an orphan girl named Page, and a similarly memory-challenged woman named Lauren. Together they embark on a journey across the Christmas landscape of New York City, seeking answers to an unfolding and ever-growing mystery, watched over by Sister Regina, the head of the Convent where they are staying . . . and as they begin to find answers, as they begin to discover more and more clues to Lauren and Brinn’s identities, something stalks them – an ancient and deadly Evil from before the dawn of recorded history. A clock is ticking now, and they better solve the mystery of their origins and who they are soon. For it is not just they and everyone around them who are threatened; the entire fate of humanity and of two worlds is in peril, unless they find answers, and find answers soon.

The second is The Moms Place by AM Jenner:

Cassi Spencer’s upscale restaurant is in trouble. She needs a loan, fast, not advice to spend money she doesn’t have on advertising. Especially when that advice comes from the distractingly handsome Rhys Morgan. Rhys Morgan likes Cassi’s idea of creating a training ground to get homeless moms out of the shelters. He likes Cassi even better, and he’s willing to help her…under certain conditions.

I plan on giving away a book a week this year, but none of them will be my own. Why? Well, I believe in helping introduce people to new authors and nothing does that like FREE! The contests will be as simple as leaving a comment on the blog, or showing me that you’ve left a review on Amazon or Smashwords of books you’ve picked up in the past. I’ll try and change things up to keep them interesting, but by and large you won’t have to work hard.

If you’re an author and you’d like to pitch your hat into the ring, let me know. I’m not asking you to give me anything for free. I plan on buying your e-book from Amazon/Smashwords as a gift for the winner. So in addition to you getting your name out there, you’ll also get a sale for the contest. The most I can budget per week is $2.99, so if you have a book in the $.99-$2.99 price range let me know. I reserve the right to turn you down, but I will try and do so gently. I’d like to have a variety of genres represented.

If you have a free book and would like me to just get the word out I can do that, but you won’t be part of my contest. If your book is more expensive and you would like to donate a copy, that works too.

Shoot me an e-mail, a DM, or leave me a comment to enter your book.

writing

CAUTION: Work in Progress

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Work in Progress Challenge

Peter Smalley tagged me with this and I’m always one to rise to a challenge.

1. What is the title of your Work In Progress?

I’ll choose the one I’m writing for the Kickstarter I have going on, Lessons of the Gun.

2. Where did the idea for the WIP come from?

Once upon a time there was this great writing prompt challenge called News From Poughkeepsie on Mur Lafferty’s site. It was written by Jared Axelrod. He posted this prompt:

Bobby Joe believed in The Gun. He had met other Marshals, men and women who appeared pious, but who threw aside the Lessons of The Gun as it suited them. To them, wielding the gun was about power. To Bobby Joe, however, it was about salvation. Out here in the Wild, it had to be.

Bobby Joe said a prayer for every bullet as he loaded his weapon. He thought about about the two marauder gangs outside his door, ready for war. He though about the town they were about to tear apart as scratched at each other. And he thought about the Lessons of The Gun.

“This about salvation,” he said, walking into the streets. “This is about salvation…”

3. What genre would your WIP fall under?

Western, specifically a Bushido or Wasabi Western.

4. Which actors would you choose to play characters in a movie rendition?

I could totally see Liam Neeson playing Barnabas, but that may be because I just watched The Gray.

5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of your WIP?

Barnabas defeats local bandit leaders to save his student only to have to chase his student into the wilderness and hunt him down.

6. Is your WIP published or represented?

It will hopefully be published as part of an anthology.

7. How long did it take you to write?

It will have taken around 3-4 months to write.

8. What other WIP’s in your genre would you compare it to?

I hope I’m striking out on new ground, though this will be similar to a cross between Seven Samurai and Fist Full of Dollars.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this WIP?

I don’t read many westerns so it’s more of a cinematic thing.

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest about this WIP.

If you like Westerns, Samurai movies, or action movies with a hint of philosophy then this is your story!

11. Finally: Tag three other Authors and ask them to complete the above interview.

Zach Ricks
Pip Ballantine
Brand Gamblin

Photo by jrathage

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Other Spooky Books!

Yesterday I linked to some of my works so you’d have something to read for the time of year MADE for haunts. Today I introduce you to some writers that actually have talent.

Sophia (Never Let The Right One Go) by Teel McClanahan –

At age 7, Sophia was struck down with a life-threatening disease. Faced with a choice between an unending life in the body of a child and her otherwise certain death, Sophia’s parents had her turned into a vampire.

Now, after 10 years of Christian home-schooling and near-total isolation, Sophia secretly plans on moving out the very night she turns 18. All her research, her online classes, and her natural curiosity have prepared Sophia mentally for the world she’s about to dive head-first into, but no amount of research could prepare her heart for falling in love with Joshua, the first young man she sees after donating her corneas the next day.

Her faith in God and her desire to heal the sick gives Sophia the strength to persevere through the pain of donation after donation, and her vampirism gives her the ability to grow her organs back again and again, but Sophia finds herself unequipped to face her suddenly-awakened lusts of the flesh and the ache in her heart for a deep, reciprocated love. After a shocking and painful first date with Joshua, it doesn’t take Sophia long to learn just how difficult the search for love can be, especially for a teenage vampire with a child’s body and a strong desire to avoid falling into sin.

Sophia is one of two books in the duology Never Let the Right One Go, which shows two apparently conflicting views of the same supernatural world by looking through the eyes of two very different teenage girls in their pursuit of love. Don’t miss Emily, the other half of the picture, and a completely contrary take on everything you think you know.

The other book in this duology, Emily, is also quite good, but this one is creepier.

Interlopers (Garaaga’s Children) by Paul Elard Cooley –

They fought in his wars. They were the best of his army. But now, Alexander the Great has exiled the last of his scouts to wander the Indus Valley and find their fate. Fighting disease, strange animals, and a hostile climate, the four remaining scouts encounter something as deadly as it is beautiful.

The intersection of historical fiction and creature horror makes this a complex piece. I love what Paul is doing with this series. You’ll see his name here a lot, but that’s got more to do with the strength and complexity of his writing than anything else. Paul GETS what makes good horror.

Dead Mech by Jake Bible

Massive robotic battle machines. But what happens when a mech pilot dies in his mech and becomes a zombie? Hell on earth is unleashed… Prepare for a high action, fast paced, hell ride through a futuristic wasteland as Mech Base Commander James Capreze and his crew of mech pilots battle zombies, cannibals, religious cults and worst of all, the Dead Mechs, all to try and save the human race one last time. Jake Bible’s Dead Mech: The future may not be completely dead, but it’s on its way…

This is the first in the Apex Trilogy. Jake meshes horror and sci-fi in some unique and interesting ways. I’ve read this and the third book in the trilogy (yeah I know I read crap out of order all the time. Weird, huh?) and highly recommend it.

Closet Treats by Paul Elard Cooley –

Reality is a slippery slope for Trey Leger, but he’s managed to carve out a somewhat normal existence in spite of his mental illness. But when an ice cream truck starts making the rounds of his neighborhood, Trey can no longer tell reality from his delusions.

Included is the essay, “The Death Of Childhood”, that inspired the novel and launched Shadowpublications.com.

I love a good unreliable narrator. Books that make me ask “Is this guy crazy? Is this stuff ‘real’? Or is it both?” go in a special place on my shelf.

 

Summer Rental by Phil Rossi –

Mike and his daughter make their annual trip to the Outer Banks. It’s just not the same without Susanna’s mother. This year, there is someone new in town.

This one’s pretty short, but I’m from the area that this is set in and Phil NAILS it. It’s super-duper creepy.

 

Goodnight, My Love by Dave Sobkowiak

Bedtime is often a struggle for parents of small children. Little Daphne is no different in that regard. What makes Daphne’s case so noteworthy? She’s going to bed while the sun is just peeking out over the horizon.

Daphne’s family belongs to a special group. They keep different hours but they still try to make the world a better place for their children. In that way they’re just like you and me. In other ways, they’re like no one you’ve ever seen.

I love the Twilight Zone feel of this one and that’s all I’ll say about that!

My Teacher is a Zombie by J.R. Murdock –

Stanley’s teacher is getting up there in years, but her demeanor is just a little more than off and her smell is even worse. When she attacks the students in his 8th grade class, Stanley and his friends take action.

This is the only one on the list suitable for kids. It was a lot of fun for this adult too!

Well what are you waiting for? Go get these and any other books by these guys.

fiction

Suitable For Spooky Reading!

You want some tales suitable for Halloween reading, I know you do! Here are the ones that meet that criteria. Click the links, get the tales, and relax with a mulled beverage, but don’t blame your nightmares on me!

Tales of the Grim Reader vol. 1 – This trio of macabre tales takes place in the weird little town of Lumiere and features a book store I came up with called “The Grim Reader”. It’s heavily influenced by my love of EC Comics and all of the weird, twisted children they spawned. I hope you enjoy them and if you do there will be more to come in this world.
Smashwords

Bitter Release – A young soldier finds himself trapped in a cave in with only a case of absinthe and his memories to keep him company. Will he escape or find his only release in the embrace of the green fairy?
Smashwords
Amazon
Old Friends – Dmitri and Piotr have a gentleman’s agreement to meet four times a year. Well it’s a gentleman’s agreement if a vampire and a werewolf can be called gentlemen. Piotr has missed it and it’s up to Dmitri to rescue him at the risk of exposing their secrets.
Smashwords
Amazon


Through A Glass, Darkly – This combines the following short stories:
“Fetch” – A parish priest investigates the death of his parishioner, only to be faced by the reality of supernatural evil.
“Power in the Blood” – Reggie is tired of getting beaten down everywhere he turns. He finds a new strength, but at what cost?
“A Good Samaritan” – Trudi and her friend stop on the road to help a stranded motorist and confront the walking dead.
“The Good Doctor” – Selling potions and trinkets to protect people from the all to real supernatural perils that surround them provided the Doctor with a good living, but it may lead to his death.In one volume you’ve got demons, zombies, blood suckers, and werewolves. That’s a recipe for a good night’s reading, if not a good night’s sleep.
Smashwords
Amazon

Let Go – Faced with the atrocities he’s committed to keep his wife and son safe and provided for, Chris is forced into a bitter decision. He must find a way to let go of his family and move on. But in a world gone to hell, is there any other choice?
Smashwords
Amazon

 

 

Powerful Spirits – Dr. Emil Lazarus, town drunk and physician to the unserved Chinese in 1906 San Francisco, is able to see and speak to the town’s deceased population. Long time companion and ghostly philosopher Chin Lao brings him dire news of a creature that is consuming the local spirits and may eventually jeopardize the living. Defeating it may require Doc to join his only friends prematurely.
Smashwords
Amazon

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The Way of the Gun – Kickstarter

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Some of you may remember my experiment on something called The Lessons of the Gun. I am writing a novelette and I am giving away the first six thousand words to whet your appetite. So far there haven’t been too many takers. That’s okay. That kind of thing happens in experimentation. I’ll continue to let it ride.

There’s been an addition though, a sort of “LEVEL UP”, to the mix. I approached five authors about writing a story in this world and we’re doing a Kickstarter. There will be six stories total in this world, including mine. If you’ve already chipped in for the story I’m writing you’ll still get it. If the Kickstarter succeeds you’ll get the edited version.

So what’s all this about?

The short stories in this anthology will have all of the action and adventure that you’d expect from a Sunday matinee shoot’em up with a dash of philosophy and tension as ancient codes deal with an increasingly modern world.

In addition to my own story, this anthology will contain works by some of my favorite authors. Jake Bible, the mind behind Dead Mech and The Americans, Justin Macumber, author of the military sci fi novel Haywire, Zach Ricks, editor of Flagship magazine and author of his own Weird Western series, Jared Axelrod, creator of the rich world behind Fables of the Flying City and Doc Coleman podcaster and author of the steampunk series Crackle and Bang.

The goal is five thousand samolians, which will go towards paying this fine people, as well as an editor and cover artist. As of the writing of this post we’ve hit $640, which amazes me. Even more amazing is that three people pledged at the $100 level. For that they get a character named after them in their choice of author’s story, the e-book, and the printed book signed by all authors. Pretty sweet deal.

So go have a look, let me know what you think, and help us make this happen!