Welcome so much to my blog =D The things you’ll read here will be quick and dirty, raw and unedited 1st drafts of the things that I think and write about. The thing I want you to know up front is I do not plan to edit or censor anything. Please be forewarned that the contents are mature in nature and oftentimes will be entrenched within the realms of the unsettling. Please feel free to stay awhile, look around & leave a comment or two. Have fun!
The Darkness, Artificial Light, In The Valley of Shadows
How to survive a horror movie tip # 29. Never go out to investigate strange noises.
Todays’s Horrorscope: An underwater research station has many drawbacks – isolation, lack of fresh food, leaky faucets – but then again, it will be the only safe haven after the Earth’s orbit swings dangerously close to the sun. With that in mind, consider taking scuba diving classes now.
I know, I know it! It’s been hella since I last posted but in my defense I am currently working on two full length novels for you guys of course book 3, my anthology …And They All Lived Happily Ever After! just has two more stories before its shipped off to the editor. Oh speaking of anthologies another one of my short stories was picked up by Norgus Press…whoo hoo! Here is the trailer for my anthology and the cover for the one by Norgus Press.
How to survive a horror movie tip # 71 If it's late at night and your dog suddenly perks up his ears and growls lowly in his throat, never EVER say "Whassa matter Boy? Gotta go out?"
Today’s Horrorscope: You would make an excellent librarian, as nothing pleases you more than curling up with a dusty old book that hasn’t see the light of day in centuries. But just as most books open the gateways to the imagination, others open gateways to dark, unspeakable dimensions. When in doubt avoid, avoid reciting cryptic incantations. Beware of: Keys made of finger bone.
So last week I was made aware of two things: 1st that you can not leave a comment on the DVD Archives page (insert explicit language here) and that 2, I haven’t posted a DVD pick of the week since Nov. You guys not being able to comment on the archive page upsets me but it gave rise to a new post idea.
It’s going to be called “Mouth Off Monday’s” and basically its going to be an open forum so that you can post a comment about anything you’ve read here on my blog on my fan page, you can leave comments/reviews about one of my books or short stories or just post a comment to say hello.
As for the DVD pick of the week, yes I am way behind, and the reason I haven’t posted a DVD review in awhile is because I’ve been writing. I’ve started the final book in The Spectrum Trilogy, I’m working on shoring up the last of the stories that will be featured in “…And They All Lived Happily After!” and I’ve started kicking some ideas around for another novel. This will be a stand-alone book that has nothing to do with the trilogy.
Plus my circuits of conventions is coming up real quick so I’m sorry about the movie reviews but I’ll be back at it once things start to slow down. I’m going to try and post again later this week, so until next time, the floor is yours =D
How to survive a horror movie tip #28 Never ask, "Who's there?" It’s a death wish.
Word of the day: Poseur Pronunciation: (poh-ZUHR) Meaning: One who behaves in an affected manner to impress others. (Am I the only one who thought this correct spelling of this word was: poser?)
"On Wednesday the American Booksellers Association's for-profit subsidiary, IndieCommerce, began removing all Amazon titles from its database. The actions followed decisions by Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Indigo to not carry Amazon Publishing titles."
OMFG, I’m not really sure how I feel about this one. It reminds me of the crusade that was lead against Bill Gates in my city a few years ago. Apparently the ABA is up in arms over Amazon’s new launch of a promotion that allows authors to sell their eBooks on Amazon exclusively for 90 days. I opted out of this option only because for me, it wasn’t that practical for two reasons. The 1st being Artificial Light is sequel, so to limit it to just one retailer when The Darkness was purchased from both Amazon and Barnes and Nobles wouldn’t made much sense. The 2nd reason I didn’t go that route is because the #1 device the digital copy of The Darkness was downloaded to was not the Kindle but android smart phones.
Speaking of all this digital downloading and Bill Gates, I live in Seattle and my beloved city is known for more than just the rain, it's coffee snob/junkies, and serial killers. We’re known also as a high-tech city. Out of all the major US cities Popular Science ranked Seattle as #9 giving us a score of 87 out of 100. Guess where Amazon is located…yep right here in the Emerald City.
New York Times Best-selling, Author Lewis Perdue says:
“My biggest point is that ABA and B&N need to compete with Amazon, rather than whine and obstruct. I'd love for them to provide competitive opportunities, tools, and other incentives that only Amazon offers. ABA and others complain (not without some justification) that Amazon locks them out... well, B&N, ABA and other chains have provided almost nothing and thus have effectively locked authors out of their operations, leaving indie authors with only Amazon to work with.”
What an interesting concept…competion. Which was the very same agurgement that was offered when the those on the fringes demanded that Bill Gates be hung from the SpaceNeedle.
Compete. If you refuse to sell a product that I want you’re not going to win me over as a customer because I am not going to settle for whatever you it is your offering as an alternative. If you don’t have what I want, I’m simple go to where I can get it. Even if that means I have to go through hell to do so.
Compete. Because I’m not the one your hurting if you don’t…and no one states more elquently that Mr. Perdue himself.
Word of the day: Babel Pronunciation(BAB-uhl, BAY-bunl) noun: A confused mixture of noises or voices A scense of noise or confusion
How to survive a horror movie tip # 49 If an item has "evil"/"demonic"/"cursed"/etc in its name/description, this is NOT your cue to start playing with it.
So this upcoming Saturday I’ve been invited to a private book signing! The book club hosting the signing also invited another local book club and I’m really excited about this event.
It’s still kinda jarring that people want my autograph and book events with me as the main event, and it still feels like having the wind knocked out of me every time someone I don’t know walks up to me and starts talking about something I wrote.
I used to be that person, that crazed fan who would send emails authors, stalk my favorites on Facebook, and run around conventions like a kid in a candy store with $100.00 to spend. I know how awesome it feels when to have a book signed or having my picture taken with mega superstars like George A Ramero and Malcolm McDowell
It feels just as awesome as taking a picture with locally famous people like horror model Jeanmarie Peck and renowned make up artist Dana Young or zombie novelist Eloise Knapp.
On Saturday I am taking my copy of The Darkness to the signing and I’m going to ask everyone find a blank section in the book, write a quick note about what they thought of The Darkness and then sign it because I know how awesome it feels when to have a book signed =D
So almost a month ago I recv’d an email from a blogger who said she saw the book trailer for The Darkness and wanted to know if she could request a paperback copy to review and use as a giveaway on her blog. Sure, I send it off.
About an hour ago I got the most hateful email I have ever gotten from anyone. It was the blogger who requested the book and she out of her mind saying that she does not review books that goes against the grain of her faith. I got to her blog and the 1st thing I see is a copy of The Darkness with pages ripped out burning in her fireplace. Her post was an uncensored version of the email she sent. She has over two thousand followers and there were a lot of comments to her post…
A lot of hateful, racially and religiously derogatory comments. I can not even begin to tell you how upset I am, I feel like I’ve been spit on my stomach hurts and I have been reduced to tears. I tried self-medicating by eating some chocolate cake but its not working because it doesn’t even taste good. I can’t write anymore because I can’t stop shaking
January 22nd 2012 Today’s Horrorscope: Snakes, scorpions, and spiders – these things are just a few of the dangerous things in life you need not worry about. Deranged surgeons soliciting for a few unsuspecting patients to perform experiments on, however…
Dark days: Wednesday, Thursday
How to survive a horror movie tip # 44: Stay on the fucking trail!
Happy News Years and sorry for the absence. I’ve been busy, a lot has happened since the last time I touched base with you guys, the 1st this in Artificial Light is now available for purchase! It was released Friday the 13th January 2012…14 days later than the projected December deadline. There are a few little things that I wished I had done differnenty but as a whole I am really happy with the way it turned out.
Remember when I lost my mind and accepted a writing challenge in the middle of the rework of Artificial? Well my story “The Christmas Wish” was accepted and the anthology by NorGus press is now available for purchase as well.
I also have a story in Static Movement’s anthology “Sowing The Seeds of Horror.”
I am gearing up to go on another book tour and well as attending two conventions in the next few months. In March I will be in Salt Lake City with Tori Titus as we make it rain at World Horror Con and then I will be at Crypticon in May with Yvette Montoya for some more weather working in the Pacific North West.
As far as writing goes I have already begun working on Shadows but I think I am going to take the rest of January of so that I can recenter myself and let the 3rd story open itself up to me.
I'll talk you guys all later, have a safe week ahead!
Word of the Day: Quisling PRONUNCIATION: (KWIZ-ling) noun: A traitor, especially one who aids in invading enemy.
How to Survive a Horror Movie tip # 50 The full moon is not a good time to go out and "watch the stars in the country".
In his 30-year career with the FVZA, Dr. Hugo Pecos rose from fledgling scientist on the Zozobra Project to directorship of the entire Southwest Region. Dr. Pecos has his done his fair share to rid the country of vampires and zombies. Dr. Pecos agreed to take time out of his very busy schedule to grant me this interview.
Notes From The Author: Thank you Dr. Pecos for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us today. There is a plethora of information on your website explaining the purpose of the FZVA and the type of research that is being conduct at the Santa Rosa Institute. Was there one thing that prompted such an aggressive warning and public awareness campaign or was it a series of smaller events that forewarns of an ominous bigger picture?
Dr. Pecos: The main impetus for my site was the relaxing of regulations governing research of vampire and zombie blood and tissue. There was a stricter level of vigilance in the years after the FVZA was disbanded. Now that we’re 35 years away from that, restrictions have been relaxed and I’m concerned that we could have a problem.
NFTA: While you were employed by SRI you developed a vaccine that brought the vampire population down to acceptable levels. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the populations of both vampire and zombie communities are on the rise. With that being the case do you feel that the FZVA academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, along with FZVA offices around the country should be reopened?
Dr. Pecos: Yes, I do believe there should be, at the very least, one training and recruitment center for the FVZA. There are very unique challenges in combating vampires and zombies, and neither the military special forces or law enforcement are trained for it.
NFTA: Speaking of your tenure at SRI, Dr. Edward Westhead the current director of SRI was one of your students. Did you feel a sense of betrayal when he ended your employment?
Dr. Pecos: There’s no denying it hurts to get replaced, especially when you believe that you are in the right. Dr. Westhead was a good scientist at one time, but I think he got caught up in the politics of SRI. He put personal ambition above all else.
NFTA: I’m currently working on a story called The Lazarus Antidote, which is base wholly on the information from your websites srigenetics.com & fvza.org. Who was the first author or graphic novelist who contacted you in regards to requesting permission to use the information from your websites and how does it feel to know that your work has inspired so many other craftsmen in the genre?
Dr. Pecos: It’s great, I’m very happy to hear about these projects because they build awareness and that’s all I ever wanted with the site. I originally was approached by a movie company called Contrafilm about developing something based on the FVZA. They had partnered with a comic book company called Radical Comics and were looking for a project to team up on. Rather than pitch a story to a studio, they thought it would be better to have a tangible work—in this case a graphic novel—to show the executives. I hope to see more and I’m looking forward to your story. I love the title!
NFTA: Oh my gosh, thank you. I’m really excited (and a little nervous) for you to read my story as well. I was just really inspired when I found your website and just knew that there was a story there. Speaking of which there really is a ton of information on your two websites, how long did it take for you to have enough content to launch the sites?
Dr. Pecos: I believe there were only six pages of material when I launched the site back in April 2001. Over the next six months I kept adding to it and adding to it. I’ve slowed down in recent years, but I could probably keep adding to it for the next 50 years, if I can come up with an antidote to aging.
NFTA: Well I heard that the Santa Rosa Institute is working on that right now, lol just kidding! You have thousands of facebook friends and fans, and your youtube videos are reaching 30, 000 views, and I see at least one FVZA t-shirt or ball cap at every convention I go to. Did you ever image that the FVZA would be so significant in terms of Internet vampire and zombie research?
Dr. Pecos: Initially I wondered if anyone would ever visit the site, but the number of visitors grew steadily over the first year. The Internet has proven to be a great resource for information. Of course, you have to be savvy to separate the wheat from the chaff. It’s amazing to think how far zombie and vampire awareness has spread in just the last 10 years. I like to think I’ve had something to do with that, but there are a lot of people out there who are very thoughtful and diligent in their research.
NFTA: Speaking of conventions do you do the con circuit and if so what horror or zombie conventions do you or will be attending?
Dr. Pecos: I don’t like to travel anymore so I haven’t been to any conventions. I was asked to attend the New York and San Diego conventions. Maybe I will make one in the next year or two. They look like fun!
NFTA: They are! Dr. Pecos I cannot begin to thank you enough for your time today and with all the help you’ve provided me in writing The Lazarus Antidote. Before I let you go is there anything else you would like to add, or say to your fans, your opponents, or to Dr. Westhead?
Dr. Pecos: Thank you for helping to spread the word.
Find Dr. Pecos on Facebook! For more information on the FVZA please visit: www.fvza.org
For more information on the Santa Rosa Institute please visit: www.srigenetics.com
For more information on Radical Comics please visit http://radicalpublishing.com/
For more of Zombie Girl reviews please visit: www.youtube.com/user/joyce3187
Top 10 Books Lists, Tattoo Conventions, Book Trailers, Author Interviews and Comic-Con =D
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Unleash the Book Inside You
TRUTH: GETTING PUBLISHED DOESN’T EQUAL END OF RAINBOW
It’s extraordinarily hard to get published. It’s just as difficult to STAY PUBLISHED. Most writers do not live a Stephen King life. They hold other jobs or find other avenues to make money.
Aspiring-to-be-published authors often burn the candle at both ends. They work hard to continue to EXIST in the world, and they make the time to write and submit and pray and hope that their literary dreams will come to fruition. Once they reach the pinnacle of their success, GETTING A DEAL, some – as Niles states – find their writing careers killed as quickly as they began. The reasons? Burnout and what Niles calls “The Vacuum”.
Many published authors have careers outside of writing; once they get that initial deal, they now have TWO careers. It’s easy to get tired. To avoid that, Niles suggests that writers remember to HAVE A LIFE, which to her means “read, talk with friends, go places (near and far), do things, feel things, and sometimes…just…put the writing away for awhile.” Don’t forget that writing is not your WHOLE life; it’s merely a facet. If you lose yourself, you will lose the inspiration to write.
In regards to “The Vacuum,” Niles states that “In vacuum-afflicted writers, this is the emptiness that follows a first sale. Some call it the curse of the three-book deal. Many writers focus on their project exclusively for so many years that once it is out, there is nothing left.”
Unfortunately, most of us can think of that one debut novel we loved and then the emptiness that followed when the author didn’t have any more books come out. It’s important to KEEP WRITING, even while trying to publish the current “love of your life.” Focusing on that one Great American Novel will deflect from your creativity and keep you from writing. Niles suggests that writers should always keep creative files full of story ideas, interesting characters, and snippets of dialogue. If necessary, consider a co-writer. But first and foremost, keep writing…start on the next project while wishing and praying for publication of the one before it.
Shon Bacon is an author, editor, and educator, whose biggest joys are writing and helping others develop their craft. She has published both creatively and academically and interviews women writers on her popular blog
It feels just as awesome as taking a picture with locally famous people like horror model Jeanmarie Peck and renowned make up artist Dana Young or zombie novelist Eloise Knapp.
On Saturday I am taking my copy of The Darkness to the signing and I’m going to ask everyone find a blank section in the book, write a quick note about what they thought of The Darkness and then sign it because I know how awesome it feels when to have a book signed =D
