H. David Blalock's Blog, page 4
March 27, 2014
In Like a Lion...
March 2014. Quite an eventful month. Of course, every year at this time I attend MidSouthCon in Memphis and for the tenth time in sixteen years I received recognition for my writing from the Darrell Award Jury. Although I've only won once (back in 2000 for a short story), it's still nice to be noticed by the readers and have my work featured. As a consolation, the final volume of the Angelkiller books, Doom Angel, finally appeared in March from Seventh Star Press. I am grateful to have this series finished and that it has received favorable reviews so far. The book made its first official appearance at MidSouthCon.
I was very impressed with this cover art by Matthew Perry. Matt has been doing the artwork for many of SSP's releases and I'm very fortunate he was assigned to the Angelkiller books. This cover has been cheered by pretty much everyone and there's no wonder. It is a remarkable piece of work.
Next, we have the release of Southern Haunts 2: Devils in the Darkness, also from Seventh Star Press, which contains my short story "Jack in the Box." It's been described as the kind of story you'd hear around a campfire in a horror film. This second Southern Haunts is also edited by Alexander S. Brown. There is already a story call for a third, for which I have submitted a story called "Granny Wise." Hope to hear whether it has been accepted after the deadline expires in May.To round out the releases for March, the NovoPulp 2013/2014 Anthology became available for sale. Although Hermit Studios Press is a European entity, through the wondrous medium of the Internet I was able to participate as an editor and contributor on that project. The people involved were a wonderful bunch of talented folks and it was great working with them. I look forward to the next anthology.
I've completed my first couple of assignments as editor for Pro Se Press. Editing for others helps me with my own work, which right now consists of working on stories for three story calls as well as clearing out six stories in my backlog. Among those are a series of mystery stories that should appear quarterly beginning in August. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to seeing the upcoming issue of The Martian Wave from Nomadic Delirium Press, which should contain my short story "Object in the Sand". It should appear shortly.
That's about it for now. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!
March 1, 2014
Too much to do, not enough Month
February flashed by. Somewhere last night it slipped away unnoticed. Looking back at it, most of what I see is January. Who thought it a good idea to short a month 2 or 3 days, anyway?
Reviving Classic Pulp Fiction TodayI've sort of joined up with Pro Se Press as an editor. They asked and I've accepted. They have dozens of ambitious projects in queue and it looks like it would be exciting to be a part of that. Time will tell.
March means Midsouthcon in Memphis. I will be appearing there as a guest (schedule below) and my short story "Eclipse over Elmwood" that appeared in Southern Haunts (Seventh Star Press, Alexander S Brown and Jennifer Mulvihill, editors) is a finalist for the Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Short Story. This is the tenth time since 1998 I have been on the Darrell Award list and, although I won only once (2000), I am honored each time to think the jury considers my work of notice.
I have been assured that the third Angelkiller book, Doom Angel, will be available at Midsouthcon. The publisher, Seventh Star Press, has had so many projects ongoing that it slipped from its originally announced release in 2013. SSP has signed quite a few authors in the last year. It is fast growing from its micropress beginnings to something more than a small press. This month they are promoting in several major blogs as well as the print issues of Locus and Fangoria.
So, now I'll be working on stories for the upcoming Dreams of Steam V (Dark Oak Media) and rewrites on stories that have been rejected this year. Sometime this summer I hope to have another novel finished and at least three stories published. I'm also working on developing a series of episodic stories around two original characters. Wish me luck.
Here is the schedule for Midsouthcon as it stands right now. There may be some changes, so check your program when you get there.
03/22/2014 9:00 AM Elements to becoming a successful Author Art and business of writing. Panelists explain how to mix the business with the creative side of writing. There's more to being an author than just writing
03/22/2014 11:00 AM Self Publishing Promotion Debunking the mythos, and the importance of social networking. The importance of social media to an author. How do self published authors promote themselves
03/22/2014 3:00 PM Dark Fantasy / Goth 101 How to effectively write dark fantasy and Goth Elements used in writing and what defines dark fantasy and Goth. What's the difference in the two.
It's going to be a busy Saturday for me. Anyway, back to the salt mines. Til next time, remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!
Reviving Classic Pulp Fiction TodayI've sort of joined up with Pro Se Press as an editor. They asked and I've accepted. They have dozens of ambitious projects in queue and it looks like it would be exciting to be a part of that. Time will tell.March means Midsouthcon in Memphis. I will be appearing there as a guest (schedule below) and my short story "Eclipse over Elmwood" that appeared in Southern Haunts (Seventh Star Press, Alexander S Brown and Jennifer Mulvihill, editors) is a finalist for the Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Short Story. This is the tenth time since 1998 I have been on the Darrell Award list and, although I won only once (2000), I am honored each time to think the jury considers my work of notice.
I have been assured that the third Angelkiller book, Doom Angel, will be available at Midsouthcon. The publisher, Seventh Star Press, has had so many projects ongoing that it slipped from its originally announced release in 2013. SSP has signed quite a few authors in the last year. It is fast growing from its micropress beginnings to something more than a small press. This month they are promoting in several major blogs as well as the print issues of Locus and Fangoria.So, now I'll be working on stories for the upcoming Dreams of Steam V (Dark Oak Media) and rewrites on stories that have been rejected this year. Sometime this summer I hope to have another novel finished and at least three stories published. I'm also working on developing a series of episodic stories around two original characters. Wish me luck.
Here is the schedule for Midsouthcon as it stands right now. There may be some changes, so check your program when you get there.
03/22/2014 9:00 AM Elements to becoming a successful Author Art and business of writing. Panelists explain how to mix the business with the creative side of writing. There's more to being an author than just writing
03/22/2014 11:00 AM Self Publishing Promotion Debunking the mythos, and the importance of social networking. The importance of social media to an author. How do self published authors promote themselves
03/22/2014 3:00 PM Dark Fantasy / Goth 101 How to effectively write dark fantasy and Goth Elements used in writing and what defines dark fantasy and Goth. What's the difference in the two.
It's going to be a busy Saturday for me. Anyway, back to the salt mines. Til next time, remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!
January 24, 2014
Yeah, It's Cold Enough for Me, Thanks!
This year is coming in with a vengeance. I've lived in the southern US all my life, so forgive me if I complain about the cold. If I wanted single digit temperatures, I'd live in Canada, for Pete's sake.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great holiday season and weren't rash enough to make any New Year's resolutions. I gave up doing that long ago. To paraphrase a wise man - I'm in shape; round's a shape!
My year opened up with the release of a short story in The New Adventures of Foster Fade, Crime Spectacularist from Pro Se Press and I couldn't be more delighted. Working with managing editor Tommy Hancock is actually a great experience. Between him, Stephen Zimmer of Seventh Star Press, and Allan Gilbreath of Dark Oak Press and Media, my experience with small to medium press has been nothing but positive. I look forward to working with them and many more this year.
Although I have already had a couple of rejections this month, I'm continuing to work on rewrites and other submissions. There is one particular piece I am determined to place if it takes all year, a kind of nemesis piece that's been rejected by five markets so far. It's been rewritten several times, gone through a couple of serious changes, but still retains its original idea. I often tell people who ask about becoming a writer that, no matter what you write, there is a market for anything you do. I believe this piece will prove me right or wrong on that assertion.
This year I believe I will be able to make a couple of conventions I originally thought I would have to miss. Besides Midsouthcon in Memphis (March), I am attending Hypericon in Nashville (June) and Imaginarium 2014 in Louisville, KY (September). I hadn't intended to continue convention-hopping this year, but my personal situation changed and I was happy to find out I could at least attend those three.
Still no word on the release of the last Angelkiller book (Doom Angel) though I do expect it to appear before March. There are still three of my stories slated to appear in various publications, although their exact release dates are still TBA. Will keep you advised.
I don't want to close without congratulating my friend Stephen Baird on his being picked up by Dark Oak Press. I look forward to the re-release of his first novel Creiton's Sword and his future works, which I have been privileged to beta-read and critique. Much success, Steve!
That's it for now. Til next time, remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great holiday season and weren't rash enough to make any New Year's resolutions. I gave up doing that long ago. To paraphrase a wise man - I'm in shape; round's a shape!
My year opened up with the release of a short story in The New Adventures of Foster Fade, Crime Spectacularist from Pro Se Press and I couldn't be more delighted. Working with managing editor Tommy Hancock is actually a great experience. Between him, Stephen Zimmer of Seventh Star Press, and Allan Gilbreath of Dark Oak Press and Media, my experience with small to medium press has been nothing but positive. I look forward to working with them and many more this year.Although I have already had a couple of rejections this month, I'm continuing to work on rewrites and other submissions. There is one particular piece I am determined to place if it takes all year, a kind of nemesis piece that's been rejected by five markets so far. It's been rewritten several times, gone through a couple of serious changes, but still retains its original idea. I often tell people who ask about becoming a writer that, no matter what you write, there is a market for anything you do. I believe this piece will prove me right or wrong on that assertion.
This year I believe I will be able to make a couple of conventions I originally thought I would have to miss. Besides Midsouthcon in Memphis (March), I am attending Hypericon in Nashville (June) and Imaginarium 2014 in Louisville, KY (September). I hadn't intended to continue convention-hopping this year, but my personal situation changed and I was happy to find out I could at least attend those three. Still no word on the release of the last Angelkiller book (Doom Angel) though I do expect it to appear before March. There are still three of my stories slated to appear in various publications, although their exact release dates are still TBA. Will keep you advised.
I don't want to close without congratulating my friend Stephen Baird on his being picked up by Dark Oak Press. I look forward to the re-release of his first novel Creiton's Sword and his future works, which I have been privileged to beta-read and critique. Much success, Steve!
That's it for now. Til next time, remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!
December 19, 2013
Wrapping Up 2013, A Summary
One more year done. What a year it has been. A personal milestone of 40 years of marriage to my lovely Maria. A writer's milestone of 10,000 likes on my facebook page. Joy, sorrow, amazement, satisfaction, and discovery. It has been remarkable.
I won't go into all the political and social changes. There are more than enough bloggers to talk about that, and my opinions don't really mean enough to make that much difference in the long run. Perhaps if more people realized that, there would be more meaning to blogs in general. Nevertheless, I did want to express my dismay at the growing lack of respect for free speech in general and the expanding lack of tolerance for differing opinions. In a nation that was supposedly founded on the concept of freedom in diversity of belief, I see a growing division between people originating from that very diversity. Once this country prided itself on the concept of being a "melting pot" of many cultures, the sum of its parts being a greater "American culture", unique in itself. Not so any longer. The fire under the melting pot has gone out and the brew is separating. I grieve for that loss of identity that used to be called simply "American".
Enough of that. It is fast becoming an exercise in futility to remind people of what has been lost in the vague hope it can be regained.
I was glad to have finished the last volume of the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel. Many thanks to the people at Seventh Star Press. With that project out of the way, I am entertaining several others, one of which has long sat unrealized and whose time, I believe, has come. Although it has only a working title, I believe it will be a worthy addition to a time-honored genre.
To sum up 2013's accomplishments, I have these:
Broken -- Minds, like dolls, can be broken. Appeared in the final issue of Midnight Screaming Magazine (Kara Myrick Ferguson, editor).
Eclipse over Elmwood -- Was it a natural eclipse, or something else? Appearing in the
Southern Haunts
anthology from Seventh Star Press (Alexander S. Brown and J. L. Mulvihill, editors, 2013).
Guardian -- A soldier of the establishment or rebel? Appearing in the Perfect Flaw anthology from Seventh Star Press (Robin Blankenship, editor, 2013).
Identity Crisis -- A man discovers his true identity. Appearing in the Big Bad Anthology from Dark Oak Press (John Hartness and Emily Lavin Leverett, editors, 2013).
The Last Frontier -- James Mayberry finds himself the unwilling subject of an ambitious black project. Appearing in
Dreams of Steam III: Gadgets
from Kerlak Publishing (Kimberly Richardson, editor, 2013)
Manners Lives -- Death in deep space. What does it mean? Appears in
The Fifth Di
December 2013 magazine.
Yet to appear, hopefully soon:
Doom Angel - Book Three of the Angelkiller Triad from Seventh Star Press
Ninjabot -- What is a ninjabot? Appearing in the upcoming Blink! anthology from Ink Monkey Press (Mandi M. Lynch, editor).
An Object in the Sand -- To appear in the 2014 issue of The Martian Wave (J Alan Erwine, editor)
On the Edge -- Once encountered, some things are unstoppable. To appear in the upcoming anthology from NovoPulp.
Two stories with Pro Se Press which I am not allowed to discuss in detail due to contract restrictions.
With any luck, those are just the beginning. I'm looking forward to a fruitful 2014 and an even more prosperous 2015. I am excited to be expanding my writing frontiers into different avenues, from genre to mainstream, however I will never abandon genre writing. It is my first and most precious of literary loves.
Oh, by the way, for those of you who might have missed my interview on BlogTalkRadio's The Star Chamber Show, you can catch it here. Thanks again to the SCS folks for the chance to connect with the audience.
I guess that's it for now. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! Til next time, remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!
I won't go into all the political and social changes. There are more than enough bloggers to talk about that, and my opinions don't really mean enough to make that much difference in the long run. Perhaps if more people realized that, there would be more meaning to blogs in general. Nevertheless, I did want to express my dismay at the growing lack of respect for free speech in general and the expanding lack of tolerance for differing opinions. In a nation that was supposedly founded on the concept of freedom in diversity of belief, I see a growing division between people originating from that very diversity. Once this country prided itself on the concept of being a "melting pot" of many cultures, the sum of its parts being a greater "American culture", unique in itself. Not so any longer. The fire under the melting pot has gone out and the brew is separating. I grieve for that loss of identity that used to be called simply "American".
Enough of that. It is fast becoming an exercise in futility to remind people of what has been lost in the vague hope it can be regained.
I was glad to have finished the last volume of the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel. Many thanks to the people at Seventh Star Press. With that project out of the way, I am entertaining several others, one of which has long sat unrealized and whose time, I believe, has come. Although it has only a working title, I believe it will be a worthy addition to a time-honored genre.
To sum up 2013's accomplishments, I have these:
Broken -- Minds, like dolls, can be broken. Appeared in the final issue of Midnight Screaming Magazine (Kara Myrick Ferguson, editor).
Eclipse over Elmwood -- Was it a natural eclipse, or something else? Appearing in the
Southern Haunts
anthology from Seventh Star Press (Alexander S. Brown and J. L. Mulvihill, editors, 2013).Guardian -- A soldier of the establishment or rebel? Appearing in the Perfect Flaw anthology from Seventh Star Press (Robin Blankenship, editor, 2013).
Identity Crisis -- A man discovers his true identity. Appearing in the Big Bad Anthology from Dark Oak Press (John Hartness and Emily Lavin Leverett, editors, 2013).
The Last Frontier -- James Mayberry finds himself the unwilling subject of an ambitious black project. Appearing in
Dreams of Steam III: Gadgets
from Kerlak Publishing (Kimberly Richardson, editor, 2013)
Manners Lives -- Death in deep space. What does it mean? Appears in
The Fifth Di
December 2013 magazine. Yet to appear, hopefully soon:
Doom Angel - Book Three of the Angelkiller Triad from Seventh Star Press
Ninjabot -- What is a ninjabot? Appearing in the upcoming Blink! anthology from Ink Monkey Press (Mandi M. Lynch, editor).
An Object in the Sand -- To appear in the 2014 issue of The Martian Wave (J Alan Erwine, editor)
On the Edge -- Once encountered, some things are unstoppable. To appear in the upcoming anthology from NovoPulp.
Two stories with Pro Se Press which I am not allowed to discuss in detail due to contract restrictions.
With any luck, those are just the beginning. I'm looking forward to a fruitful 2014 and an even more prosperous 2015. I am excited to be expanding my writing frontiers into different avenues, from genre to mainstream, however I will never abandon genre writing. It is my first and most precious of literary loves.
Oh, by the way, for those of you who might have missed my interview on BlogTalkRadio's The Star Chamber Show, you can catch it here. Thanks again to the SCS folks for the chance to connect with the audience.
I guess that's it for now. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! Til next time, remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!
November 23, 2013
For November - Looking Back
As 2013 comes to a close, I have mixed feelings about the last several months.
Personally, the year has been an emotional roller coaster. For those closest to me, it has been much worse both emotionally and physically. I nearly lost my mother (she went on dialysis and then, wonderfully, was taken off) and did lose my grandmother (she was nearly 100 years old). My daughters have both had their own problems. My wife and I celebrated 40 years of marriage quietly, and my own 60th birthday slipped by with a whisper.
Writing-wise, the year has been fair to me. Besides the publication of my short stories in Southern Haunts, Dreams of Steam: Gadgets, The Big Bad: An Anthology of Evil, and Perfect Flaw, I have signed contracts for publication of short stories in the upcoming issue of The Fifth Di and NovoPulp: the Google+ Speculative Fiction Anthology. The last Angelkiller Triad volume, Doom Angel, is due for release in December. This means I reached exactly half of what I want to do each year. I will have to literally double my efforts for 2014.
Close friends had physical and emotional challenges, and many are still going through them. The wife and I do what we can to help, but that usually means little more than moral support. Although our personal problems are tiny in view of the larger ones facing the world at large, that is little comfort. So it is that finding things to be thankful for on the 28th is more difficult this year than ever before.
Not to be cynical, but Thanksgiving seems to be becoming more irrelevant as the years pass. Nevertheless, I will do my best to keep it going, if only for the sake of my grandchildren, who deserve to have at least that one day of the year to look back and take stock of all their own successes and to thank the one who makes them all possible.
Cause that's what grandpas do.
Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.
Personally, the year has been an emotional roller coaster. For those closest to me, it has been much worse both emotionally and physically. I nearly lost my mother (she went on dialysis and then, wonderfully, was taken off) and did lose my grandmother (she was nearly 100 years old). My daughters have both had their own problems. My wife and I celebrated 40 years of marriage quietly, and my own 60th birthday slipped by with a whisper.
Writing-wise, the year has been fair to me. Besides the publication of my short stories in Southern Haunts, Dreams of Steam: Gadgets, The Big Bad: An Anthology of Evil, and Perfect Flaw, I have signed contracts for publication of short stories in the upcoming issue of The Fifth Di and NovoPulp: the Google+ Speculative Fiction Anthology. The last Angelkiller Triad volume, Doom Angel, is due for release in December. This means I reached exactly half of what I want to do each year. I will have to literally double my efforts for 2014.
Close friends had physical and emotional challenges, and many are still going through them. The wife and I do what we can to help, but that usually means little more than moral support. Although our personal problems are tiny in view of the larger ones facing the world at large, that is little comfort. So it is that finding things to be thankful for on the 28th is more difficult this year than ever before.
Not to be cynical, but Thanksgiving seems to be becoming more irrelevant as the years pass. Nevertheless, I will do my best to keep it going, if only for the sake of my grandchildren, who deserve to have at least that one day of the year to look back and take stock of all their own successes and to thank the one who makes them all possible.
Cause that's what grandpas do.
Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.
November 13, 2013
Celebrating a Personal Milestone
One of the loneliest professions is that of a writer. Most of us spend our time isolated from others while we internalize and create stories from personal experience and observation. We become an amalgam of who we are and how we perceive the myriad others around us. Too often we lose ourselves in the process, and this is what makes writing so difficult. Good writing requires commitment to the craft above self-identification. We have to be the characters, the situations, the problems and the solutions.
It isn't often in the world of small press publishing that an author gets the kind of attention I have been privileged to receive on Facebook. I am delighted to know that my work reaches a wide audience, with fans in the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, and 40 other countries. To celebrate my Facebook page reaching 10,000 likes, Seventh Star Press is sponsoring a giveaway of my last two novels, Angelkiller and Traitor Angel for US and Canadian fans. Ebooks will be awarded to overseas giveaway winners. Here are the details:
The last in the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel, will appear shortly to bring the story to its conclusion. The characters in the books are Jonah Mason, John Tripp, Steven Overguard, Janice Meeker, Harold Martin, Andrew Nicholson, and the Knights Jaelon, Malthusan, and Populus. Casualties are inevitable in all wars, and the Conflict between the Army and the Enemy is not exempt. In the final volume, not all survive the deadly encounter with Dorian Azrael.
Three characters do not survive, two become Knights, and one retires. It's up to you to make your best guess as to the identities of these six.
As I understand it, two contestants who make the most accurate guess will be chosen at random to receive softcover copies of Angelkiller, Traitor Angel and Doom Angel upon its release. If more than two of the contestants guess all six correctly, one chosen at random will receive a $100.00 Amazon gift card and up to three others will receive $25.00 Amazon gift cards in addition to e-book copies of the series. Please see the Seventh Star Press blog at the link below for the full details.
Entries should be addressed to Angelkillercontest (at) seventhstarpress.com with “Angelkiller Giveaway” in the Subject line. Contest ends December 11th. Winners will be announced December 18th.
I want to thank Seventh Star Press and everyone who has supported my work; family, publishers, and readers. Thanks for indulging me and I hope you enjoy the stories.
- See more up-to-date details on the contest at the Seventh Star Press blogsite.
It isn't often in the world of small press publishing that an author gets the kind of attention I have been privileged to receive on Facebook. I am delighted to know that my work reaches a wide audience, with fans in the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, and 40 other countries. To celebrate my Facebook page reaching 10,000 likes, Seventh Star Press is sponsoring a giveaway of my last two novels, Angelkiller and Traitor Angel for US and Canadian fans. Ebooks will be awarded to overseas giveaway winners. Here are the details:
The last in the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel, will appear shortly to bring the story to its conclusion. The characters in the books are Jonah Mason, John Tripp, Steven Overguard, Janice Meeker, Harold Martin, Andrew Nicholson, and the Knights Jaelon, Malthusan, and Populus. Casualties are inevitable in all wars, and the Conflict between the Army and the Enemy is not exempt. In the final volume, not all survive the deadly encounter with Dorian Azrael.
Three characters do not survive, two become Knights, and one retires. It's up to you to make your best guess as to the identities of these six.
Two contestants who make the most accurate guess will be chosen at random to receive softcover copies of Angelkiller, Traitor Angel and Doom Angel upon its release. If more than two of the contestants guess all six correctly, one chosen at random will receive a $100.00 Amazon gift card and up to three others will receive $25.00 Amazon gift cards in addition to e-book copies of the series.
Entries should be addressed to Angelkillercontest (at) seventhstarpress.com with “Angelkiller Giveaway” in the Subject line. Contest ends December 11th. Winners will be announced December 18th."
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/... isn't often in the world of small press publishing that an author gets the kind of attention I have been privileged to receive on Facebook. I am delighted to know that my work reaches a wide audience, with fans in the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, and 40 other countries. To celebrate my Facebook page reaching 10,000 likes, Seventh Star Press is sponsoring a giveaway of my last two novels, Angelkiller and Traitor Angel for US and Canadian fans. Ebooks will be awarded to overseas giveaway winners. Here are the details:
The last in the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel, will appear shortly to bring the story to its conclusion. The characters in the books are Jonah Mason, John Tripp, Steven Overguard, Janice Meeker, Harold Martin, Andrew Nicholson, and the Knights Jaelon, Malthusan, and Populus. Casualties are inevitable in all wars, and the Conflict between the Army and the Enemy is not exempt. In the final volume, not all survive the deadly encounter with Dorian Azrael.
Three characters do not survive, two become Knights, and one retires. It's up to you to make your best guess as to the identities of these six.
Two contestants who make the most accurate guess will be chosen at random to receive softcover copies of Angelkiller, Traitor Angel and Doom Angel upon its release. If more than two of the contestants guess all six correctly, one chosen at random will receive a $100.00 Amazon gift card and up to three others will receive $25.00 Amazon gift cards in addition to e-book copies of the series.
Entries should be addressed to Angelkillercontest (at) seventhstarpress.com with “Angelkiller Giveaway” in the Subject line. Contest ends December 11th. Winners will be announced December 18th."
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/... isn't often in the world of small press publishing that an author gets the kind of attention I have been privileged to receive on Facebook. I am delighted to know that my work reaches a wide audience, with fans in the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, and 40 other countries. To celebrate my Facebook page reaching 10,000 likes, Seventh Star Press is sponsoring a giveaway of my last two novels, Angelkiller and Traitor Angel for US and Canadian fans. Ebooks will be awarded to overseas giveaway winners. Here are the details:
The last in the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel, will appear shortly to bring the story to its conclusion. The characters in the books are Jonah Mason, John Tripp, Steven Overguard, Janice Meeker, Harold Martin, Andrew Nicholson, and the Knights Jaelon, Malthusan, and Populus. Casualties are inevitable in all wars, and the Conflict between the Army and the Enemy is not exempt. In the final volume, not all survive the deadly encounter with Dorian Azrael.
Three characters do not survive, two become Knights, and one retires. It's up to you to make your best guess as to the identities of these six.
Two contestants who make the most accurate guess will be chosen at random to receive softcover copies of Angelkiller, Traitor Angel and Doom Angel upon its release. If more than two of the contestants guess all six correctly, one chosen at random will receive a $100.00 Amazon gift card and up to three others will receive $25.00 Amazon gift cards in addition to e-book copies of the series.
Entries should be addressed to Angelkillercontest (at) seventhstarpress.com with “Angelkiller Giveaway” in the Subject line. Contest ends December 11th. Winners will be announced December 18th."
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/...
October 10, 2013
Updating? Not Really
There are a couple of reasons I haven't been keeping up with this blog. The first is, I am a lousy blogger. That pretty much takes up 90% of the reason. The rest is that a lot has been happening in the background that was a whole lot more interesting than anything happening in my life. All I do is write and look for inspiration in the world around me. That's pretty boring compared to the war in Syria, the government shutdown, the Mexican cartels, Snooki having a break down, the revelation that cats can be stressed by too much attention... the list goes on. As a result, I find I am a bit down.
Soooooo... I have decided that I will concentrate on what I do and let the rest of the world take care of itself without my attention. This is what children do, and it seems to work very well for them. In fact, their happiness seems to fade in direct proportion to how much attention they pay to the world around them. It appears that maturity is connected to concern and worry. I find this unsatisfactory, therefore I reject it.
Enough philosophy.
I have finished the last of the Angelkiller books, Doom Angel, and sent the manuscript to Seventh Star Press. They tell me to expect it to be released around Christmas. I find this satisfactory.
My flash fiction Ninjabot will be appearing shortly in the Blink! anthology from Ink Monkey Press (Mandi M. Lynch, editor) and my short story Jack in the Box will be coming out in the Southern Haunts II anthology (Alexander S. Brown and J.L. Mulvihill, editors) from Seventh Star Press. The NovoPulp anthology (Niamh Brown and Micha Fire, editors) will feature my short story On The Edge. Also, satisfactory.
Interestingly, my facebook page is approaching 10,000 LIKES. I have asked SSP Managing Editor Stephen Zimmer if we can do something to commemorate this "milestone". Yes, I know it's a silly thing to celebrate, but, hey, you take the joy where you can get it or you get none. Skate on over there to find out the details as they develop.
Working on projects for two other publishers, a couple of folks I really enjoy working with. Will reveal those projects when allowed.
::Sigh:: Feeling better already. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.
Soooooo... I have decided that I will concentrate on what I do and let the rest of the world take care of itself without my attention. This is what children do, and it seems to work very well for them. In fact, their happiness seems to fade in direct proportion to how much attention they pay to the world around them. It appears that maturity is connected to concern and worry. I find this unsatisfactory, therefore I reject it.
Enough philosophy.
I have finished the last of the Angelkiller books, Doom Angel, and sent the manuscript to Seventh Star Press. They tell me to expect it to be released around Christmas. I find this satisfactory.
My flash fiction Ninjabot will be appearing shortly in the Blink! anthology from Ink Monkey Press (Mandi M. Lynch, editor) and my short story Jack in the Box will be coming out in the Southern Haunts II anthology (Alexander S. Brown and J.L. Mulvihill, editors) from Seventh Star Press. The NovoPulp anthology (Niamh Brown and Micha Fire, editors) will feature my short story On The Edge. Also, satisfactory.
Interestingly, my facebook page is approaching 10,000 LIKES. I have asked SSP Managing Editor Stephen Zimmer if we can do something to commemorate this "milestone". Yes, I know it's a silly thing to celebrate, but, hey, you take the joy where you can get it or you get none. Skate on over there to find out the details as they develop.
Working on projects for two other publishers, a couple of folks I really enjoy working with. Will reveal those projects when allowed.
::Sigh:: Feeling better already. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.
June 1, 2013
May Recounted
May of 2013 is one of those months that happens once in a lifetime (obviously) and thank God for that.
We had some significant changes to our physical and metaphorical households which I will not go into. Suffice it to say things are different now than this time last year in ways that will leave their imprints on more than just our lives.
I had one story appear during the month, Identity Crisis, in the Big Bad Anthology (John Hartness and Emily Leverette, editors; Dark Oak Press). I had to step outside my comfort zone to write this particular story, as the villain is the protagonist and there is really no hero in the story. As a writer of mostly pulp where the good guy/bad guy motif is a given, this was a real challenge. I was frankly surprised and delighted the story was accepted.
I was unable to attend the Alabama Phoenix Festival, but heard it was a great success. I hope to be able to attend next year.
I had set a personal goal of May 31st to finish the manuscript on Doom Angel, the last of the Angelkiller Triad, but it looks like it will be July before I can finish anyway. There is simply too much real life going on to think otherwise. I have been concurrently working on some other stories, but they may have to be dropped to finish this project on time.
Anyone who believes writing is easy has never been inside a writer's head with a deadline looming.
Okay, back to the notebooks. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!
We had some significant changes to our physical and metaphorical households which I will not go into. Suffice it to say things are different now than this time last year in ways that will leave their imprints on more than just our lives.
I had one story appear during the month, Identity Crisis, in the Big Bad Anthology (John Hartness and Emily Leverette, editors; Dark Oak Press). I had to step outside my comfort zone to write this particular story, as the villain is the protagonist and there is really no hero in the story. As a writer of mostly pulp where the good guy/bad guy motif is a given, this was a real challenge. I was frankly surprised and delighted the story was accepted.I was unable to attend the Alabama Phoenix Festival, but heard it was a great success. I hope to be able to attend next year.
I had set a personal goal of May 31st to finish the manuscript on Doom Angel, the last of the Angelkiller Triad, but it looks like it will be July before I can finish anyway. There is simply too much real life going on to think otherwise. I have been concurrently working on some other stories, but they may have to be dropped to finish this project on time.
Anyone who believes writing is easy has never been inside a writer's head with a deadline looming.
Okay, back to the notebooks. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!
April 30, 2013
Oh April Rain!
Well, the shadow which was April is past, and I can't say I'm sorry. Except for two or three bright spots, the month in general has been physically and emotionally hard. But enough said about that.
I am still shooting for May 31st to finish Doom Angel. The feedback I got from reviewers on the first two books has molded this one into something a bit different that I first intended, but I believe it still retains the original impact. I hope the ending is something unexpected by the reader yet, upon reflection, inevitable. The Angelkiller Triad has been a statement of my philosophy on life as much as an urban fantasy story. It has been cathartic to write, and I hope it is a series the readers will be able to savor for years to come.
I promised another Thran Chronicles book to Sams Dot before the management change. I don't think I will be finishing that one anytime soon, at least not until White Cat shows it is capable of handling the titles it has already adopted. I may just take Deity elsewhere for publication, depending on when the manuscript gets finished.
I was disappointed I missed PulpArk 2013, but glad to hear it was such a success. I spent that weekend with my younger daughter and her family for her birthday. Hopefully next year the two will not coincide and I can attend both.
My laptop gave up the ghost a week or so ago, and the cost to fix it was much the same as the cost of a new one. So it is, I have parted the ways with my old friend (whose acquisition is a story in itself) and will be moving on to another shortly. I have been using a notebook computer, which is the same as a real computer only hit by the shrink ray from Despicable Me. I honestly don't see how anyone can use one of those for an extended period of time without developing some very nasty finger cramps.
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Sometime in May I will he headed to Birmingham for the Alabama Phoenix Festival. This will be my first time there, so I'm looking forward to finding out all about it.
Anyway, I need to get back to the notebooks. Happy spring, everyone! And, til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!
I am still shooting for May 31st to finish Doom Angel. The feedback I got from reviewers on the first two books has molded this one into something a bit different that I first intended, but I believe it still retains the original impact. I hope the ending is something unexpected by the reader yet, upon reflection, inevitable. The Angelkiller Triad has been a statement of my philosophy on life as much as an urban fantasy story. It has been cathartic to write, and I hope it is a series the readers will be able to savor for years to come.
I promised another Thran Chronicles book to Sams Dot before the management change. I don't think I will be finishing that one anytime soon, at least not until White Cat shows it is capable of handling the titles it has already adopted. I may just take Deity elsewhere for publication, depending on when the manuscript gets finished.
I was disappointed I missed PulpArk 2013, but glad to hear it was such a success. I spent that weekend with my younger daughter and her family for her birthday. Hopefully next year the two will not coincide and I can attend both.
My laptop gave up the ghost a week or so ago, and the cost to fix it was much the same as the cost of a new one. So it is, I have parted the ways with my old friend (whose acquisition is a story in itself) and will be moving on to another shortly. I have been using a notebook computer, which is the same as a real computer only hit by the shrink ray from Despicable Me. I honestly don't see how anyone can use one of those for an extended period of time without developing some very nasty finger cramps.
[image error]
Sometime in May I will he headed to Birmingham for the Alabama Phoenix Festival. This will be my first time there, so I'm looking forward to finding out all about it.
Anyway, I need to get back to the notebooks. Happy spring, everyone! And, til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!
March 31, 2013
Marching On...
So, March is over and quite a lot happened.Of course, the highlight of the month was Midsouthcon 31 in Memphis, Tennessee. I received an education in steampunk, cyberpunk, and dieselpunk all at once while sitting on a panel. That, plus fighting a bout of the aggravating gout, made for an interesting three days. Nevertheless, I did get the chance to touch base with several publishers and fellow writers.
Many congratulations to Robert Krog for his winning the Best Novela Darrell Award for A Bagful of Eyes (Sams Dot Publishing) and to A. Christopher Drown for his first runner-up for Best Short Story, The Milkshake Story (Sky-Tinted Waters anthology, Sams Dot Publishing, John F. Montagne editor). Both awards are well deserved.
Three anthologies were debuted at Midsouthcon that contained my short stories.
First was the latest in the Kerlak/Dark Oak Press steampunk series, Dreams of Steam III: Gadgets (Kimberly Richardson, editor). It features The Last Frontier, a James Mayberry story. Mayberry is fast becoming my steampunk adventurer character. I may continue to develop him, as I understand there is likely to be another Dreams of Steam call sometime soon.
Second was the Seventh Star Press anthology Perfect Flaw (Robin Blankenship, editor). My story Guardian appears in that one.
Lastly, also from Seventh Star Press, was Southern Haunts (Alexander S. Brown and J.L. Mulvihill, editors), in which An Eclipse over Elmwood resides.
There are still a few more stories to come out yet from Pro Se Press (Grudge Match), Dark Oak Press (Identity Crisis), and Ink Monkey Press (Ninjabot and possibly He Who Hesitates). I did have my share of story rejections as well, but that's to be expected, I guess. Not every story will find a home the first time. The rejected stories have been rewritten and sent on their way again. Those and the others I have in the notebooks will, I hope, fill out the year with new publications.
Have set a personal goal of May 31st to finish the manuscript for the last of the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel. After that, it's back to the novels and short stories running up against short deadlines in June. Wish me luck.
Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.
Many congratulations to Robert Krog for his winning the Best Novela Darrell Award for A Bagful of Eyes (Sams Dot Publishing) and to A. Christopher Drown for his first runner-up for Best Short Story, The Milkshake Story (Sky-Tinted Waters anthology, Sams Dot Publishing, John F. Montagne editor). Both awards are well deserved.
Three anthologies were debuted at Midsouthcon that contained my short stories.
First was the latest in the Kerlak/Dark Oak Press steampunk series, Dreams of Steam III: Gadgets (Kimberly Richardson, editor). It features The Last Frontier, a James Mayberry story. Mayberry is fast becoming my steampunk adventurer character. I may continue to develop him, as I understand there is likely to be another Dreams of Steam call sometime soon.
Second was the Seventh Star Press anthology Perfect Flaw (Robin Blankenship, editor). My story Guardian appears in that one.
Lastly, also from Seventh Star Press, was Southern Haunts (Alexander S. Brown and J.L. Mulvihill, editors), in which An Eclipse over Elmwood resides.
There are still a few more stories to come out yet from Pro Se Press (Grudge Match), Dark Oak Press (Identity Crisis), and Ink Monkey Press (Ninjabot and possibly He Who Hesitates). I did have my share of story rejections as well, but that's to be expected, I guess. Not every story will find a home the first time. The rejected stories have been rewritten and sent on their way again. Those and the others I have in the notebooks will, I hope, fill out the year with new publications.
Have set a personal goal of May 31st to finish the manuscript for the last of the Angelkiller Triad, Doom Angel. After that, it's back to the novels and short stories running up against short deadlines in June. Wish me luck.
Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.
