Kent Wayne's Blog, page 563

Musings

Epigenetics and behavioral manipulation through the environment don’t disprove the premise of free will, (which IMHO is essential to embrace), but I do believe that they imply we should be compassionate in our regard for others…

Because the bottom line is that we’re still trying to discover what makes us tick.  

Echo: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel

I walk into a fancy clothing store.  The patrons take note of my flip-flops, my comfy jeans and t-shirt, then begin squawking like a pack of terrified ducks.  They immediately gather in a semicircle around me, all of them armed with fire extinguishers.  A second later, multiple streams of frosty CO2 blast my face.  I raise my arms to cover my eyes as they focus their blasts like they were an evil version of the Ghostbusters.  I open my eReader to Echo.  Magic flash.  Giant, smelly Great Danes and St. Bernards crash through the window, shaking muddy water off their bodies and slobbering everybody’s face.  Bright eyes and huge, wagging tongues destroy this fortress of societally endorsed status worship.  I’m laughing my ass off when a pack of these goofuses pulls up in front of me, strapped to a sled.  I climb on and they take off.  I’m rocketing through the streets, a mammoth grin on my face as the air is filled with happy barks.

Attacked by snobbery?  Fight back with wet dogs.  Get Echo Vol. 1 on Kindle here:  Vol. 1 on Kindle.  Vol. 2 on Kindle here:  Vol.2 on Kindle. Links for Vol.1 AND Vol.2 on Smashwords/Nook/iBooks/Kobo are available here:  Echo on other platforms

Echo: Volume 1 Free Starting Tomorrow!!!

Well I tried to make it free starting TODAY, but it didn’t work.  Echo Volume 1 is free starting tomorrow!!!!

Musings

I’m beginning to suspect that the existence of quantum paradox DOES translate to our world, and that the mind can remain functional while embracing opposing perspectives.  

IMHO, however, too many stop at the “Woo-woo” level;  I believe it prudent to go further—to delve into practical application, and accordingly, be able to switch between mindsets.  

I believe this ability can weaponize entire philosophies.

Echo: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel

I’m racing down the highway, engine revving as I shift into fifth.  I throw a terrified glance in the rearview:  An army of Tahoes, Yukons, and Suburbans are chasing me.  A soccer mom had heard me say something non-worshipful about Kate Middleton and immediately started pursuing me.  Apparently they have some kind of hive-mind-pheromonal-comms device, because one SUV quickly turned into a dozen, then a hundred.  I’m weaving through a crowded highway, punching forward, screaming across lanes.  Two SUVs pull up beside me, boxing me in.  I see Botox-ed faces shrieking at me in rage.  Shit, this is the end…I’m sorry for those times I took the last slice of pizza…sorry for those times when I took advantage of the free samples at Whole Foods…my eReader drops out of my pocket, open to Echo.  Magic flash.  A flood of torrid romance novels rains down from the sky, and suddenly the soccer moms brake in the highway, jump out of their cars, and turn on each other, trying to grab as many books as they can.  As they exchange vicious chains of Krav Maga strikes, I make my escape by putting pedal to the metal.

Be careful when you talk shit about Kate Middleton.  You never know who might be watching.  Get Echo Vol. 1 on Kindle here:  Vol. 1 on Kindle.  Vol. 2 on Kindle here:  Vol.2 on Kindle. Links for Vol.1 AND Vol.2 on Smashwords/Nook/iBooks/Kobo are available here:  Echo on other platforms

Echo: 5-Day Giveaway Tomorrow!!!

Echo Volume 1 will be given away for FREE for five days starting tomorrow!!!

Musings

[draft/practice/drill/train] as much as possible without breaking yourself…steadily increasing capacity…and then improvise.  

And then, you’ll access that timeless thing referred to by countless names.

Echo: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel

I’m helping out with a local Easter Egg hunt, when I see one of the kids named Brutus (I know, what were his parents thinking, right?) look to either side, then descend on another kid like a malevolent Batman.  A quick scuffle, then Brutus drags the kid into the bushes in a rear naked choke.  Shortly after, he emerges with a fuller Easter basket.  WTF?  I walk up to Brutus and tap him on the shoulder.  He spins, drops into a horse stance, and punches me in the nuts.  As I fall to the ground, he holds a No. 2 pencil to my carotid artery and hisses, “These eggs are MINE, halfwit.  Nod if you understand.”  I fumble open my eReader to Echo.  Magic flash.  An adolescent Bruce Wayne bursts from the shrubs.  A quick, violent exchange ensues.  Brutus lunges forward with a double jab, then a cross, but Bruce counters—block, trap, chop, punch—and Brutus stumbles away, clutching his throat.  He draws another Faber No.2 but Bruce is on him in a flash, locking his wrist in a compliance hold.  He whispers to Brutus, “I’ve been trained by assassins, champion fighters, and monks from Nanda Parbat.  It’s not that you don’t have a chance; it’s that you NEVER had one.”  He delivers a chain of knees into Brutus’s groin, and the bully falls to the ground, moaning in agony.  Bruce gives me a solid nod, then disappears.

Kids, even the sociopaths, can’t be beaten.  That’s when you call for a tiny Batman.  Get Echo Vol. 1 on Kindle here:  Vol. 1 on Kindle.  Vol. 2 on Kindle here:  Vol.2 on Kindle. Links for Vol.1 AND Vol.2 on Smashwords/Nook/iBooks/Kobo are available here:  Echo on other platforms

Echo Vol.1: Free 5-Day Giveaway This Wednesday!!!

It’s coming!  Free 5-day giveaway this Wednesday!!!

Echo: The Weekly News

Echo, Vol.3 Word Count:  92,184  Thanks to All Who Bought Echo!  And BIG THANKS to Melissa, Barbara, Ian, Lorna, [anonymous], Lisa, Meg, Matt, Bobby, F.T., Alice Smith, Leslie Coop, Richard, Shauna, Sydney, Pam, Jessica, Angela and now Kiesa for posting AMAZING reviews on Amazon!!!  Ashley too for the 5 star on Nook!

News:  Echo Volumes 1 and 2 are back on Kindle Unlimited!  I believe this Wednesday I will have a free 5-day giveaway on Kindle for Echo Vol.1

Damn it’s depressing watching your word count go down!  It’s only balanced by the satisfaction of having a chapter read smoothly along.  Because this volume bounces back between Atriya and Verus, paralleling thematically analogous (roughly) developments in their journey, I have close to SIXTY CHAPTERS!

I was hoping the word count would stay above 90k, and it may still happen, but it’s getting close!  Throwing myself whole-heartedly into editing; once the dust settles, we’ll see what remains.

Anyways, back to work!  If you are a writer, I wish you inspired drafting and insightful editing!!!