Kevin A. Ranson's Blog, page 20
November 6, 2011
$2.99 eBook Sale and Spooky Chronicles Updates
Effective immediately, all individual ebooks for the Spooky Chronicles are $2.99 apiece. This price change is already effective on Smashwords and will trickle down to Kindle, Sony Reader, Nook, and iBooks throughout the next few weeks. Did you know that ebooks make great holiday gifts? No need to thank me.
Click here to download books in the Spooky Chronicles to your favorite reader device!
Also, the "secret" Spooky Chronicles book, Forget Me Nots, is off to the editors for inclusion in the charity anthology "Maelstrom: Tales of Madness and Horror." All proceeds go to help flood victims in the Northeast, so I'll post details on how to get it here (and anywhere else I can) as soon as I have the final details.
In other news, I'm hard at work on the third book, "Schoolhouse Number Five." I originally slated to have this done before the end of Spring 2012 (which means I should have all three books available for con season), but I might get in done sooner and even have a fourth book out by then.
Filed under: Creativity, Paranormal Tagged: 2.99, ebook, sale, Spooky Chronicles
October 29, 2011
First Review: "The Terminal People"
"This is a really well written, really good second book in Kevin's series. Spooky continues to find out more about himself and his kind, as well as learning how to deal with his new powers. Spooky encounters more bizarre goings on in this book. He even ends up thinking he is causing the strange things around him to happen, until he decides to investigate the truth, uncovering new people in his world… I found this book a really good second read in the series. It followed on nicely from the first book, pulling you along with Spooky… an endearing character… cant wait to see what the next installment holds for Spooky."
Still growing up as a dead boy, "Spooky" Spencer Lawson is learning about the strange world he never asked to be a part of (which is a lot more interesting than math). When a mysterious stranger he meets in an alley appears to die after touching Spooky's hand, Spooky begins to wonder how dangerous he really is, especially to the people he cares about.
This is the follow up to the critically acclaimed introductory book, The Spooky Chronicles: The Crooked Man.
Filed under: Creativity, Paranormal Tagged: Spooky Chronicles, Terminal People
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October 16, 2011
VMS, "Victus Mortuus" Syndrome (from The Spooky Chronicles)
From the Desk of Dr. Emil Whittaker, M.D.
To Whom It May Concern,
This is to certify that the patient, Spencer Alexander Lawson, is under the care and treatment of Dr. Emil Whittaker, M.D., practicing at Waterview Mercy Hospital in River City, AL. As a cancer survivor, the patient endures a condition called VMS, or "Victus Mortuus" Syndrome. This unique condition is limited to the patient and represents no danger to others.
Symptoms are categorized as follows:
Faint or seemingly nonexistent heartbeat
Shallow or seemingly nonexistent breath
Little or no bleeding from accidental lacerations
Cloudy eyes
Skin pallor
Severe lack of appetite
Dehydration
It is strongly suggested that the patient be allowed (but not limited to) the following concessions:
Water or fluids whenever requested
Excused from any and all meals
Excused to go to the restroom at any time
Excused from strenuous activity at any time
The patient carries an emergency medical alert and information device (in the form of a pendant) in the event of an episode (such as sudden loss of consciousness). It is suggested to activate the EMA on behalf of the patient if the patient is unable to do so.
Warning: Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should emergency medical personnel make any attempt to revive the patient without express instruction from the treatment specialist as this may cause further harm to the patient up to and including potentially fatal consequences.
Sincerely,
Dr. Emil Whittaker, M.D.
Senior Staff Oncologist
Waterview Mercy Hospital
River City, AL
Note: this form is intended to provide school personnel with information concerning physician-directed mandates for the continued health of an attending student.
Filed under: Cemetery, Creativity Tagged: Spooky Chronicles
October 2, 2011
Author Interview Up Rai29 Book Read N Review
If you're into books, spend time online, and are not familiar with Goodreads.com, I suggest checking it out (my author profile is here).
One of the people I've met on the site is Rachel, a young adult who is not only ravenous for reading but also reviews young adult (YA) books and interviews YA authors. Check out my interview on her site at Rai29 Book Read N Review.
Here's a few of the questions:
3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
It's called The Spooky Chronicles: The Terminal People, about a dead boy dealing with still growing up.
4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
This is the second book in The Spooky Chronicles series. The first arc is planned for six books, although I'm doing a one-shot crossover story between the first couple books for a charity anthology. I'm currently working on the third book in the series, Schoolhouse Number Five.
5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
I've been writing film reviews for almost fifteen years (honing my written "voice"), plus my girlfriend got into self-publishing herself and encouraged me to do it. I've seen a lot of scary movies, and the ones featuring young adults rarely seem to show much of the their point of view. One exception is Harry Potter, which I've always felt is a lot more YA horror than people want to admit.
7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?
I'm pretty handy with the graphic arts and am self-taught, so I created it myself based on a key location in the story from photographs I've taken. Most of the current cover was from a picture taken in Savannah, Georgia's Bonaventure Cemetery. Beautiful statuary there.
10. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?
The series trailer is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjXRVIHdR… I love book trailers, but I think many are too much like movie trailers. In a movie trailer, you expect to see scenes in the movie exactly as they appear in the trailer (and are disappointed when they aren't). So much of what happens in a book is in the imagination, so the less you show, the better. A book trailer, like a book cover, should *feel* like what the book is about, more like those teaser movie trailers that appear before any footage is actually shot.
11. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?
I like them all. I intend to translate each of my stories into all of these mediums as I am able to. If you don't give consumers what they want in the form they want it, someone else will.
Filed under: Acquaintances, Creativity, Internet Tagged: author, interview, Rai29 Book Read N Review
October 1, 2011
"Crypt of the Crystal Lich, Part 2: The Wind Tunnel"
Savage Insider asked me to write them a four-part serial, so I did! Savage Insider is a freely available, all-around eZine with loads of Savage Worlds content with adventure seeds in multiple genres and highlights of licensee companies. The price is free, available in PDF download form via DriveThruRPG.
The second issue is out! Get the free Savage Insider #2 by clicking here.
Check out "Crypt of the Crystal Lich, Part 2: The Wind Tunnel" inside!
Get the free first issue of Savage Insider #1 by clicking here.
Check out "Crypt of the Crystal Lich, Part 1: Birds of a Feather" inside!
Filed under: Cemetery, Creativity, Paranormal Tagged: Crypt of the Crystal Lich, The Wind Tunnel
September 27, 2011
YA Horror: Not the Type of Books That You Would Read?
"Young Adult Horror" is the topic of discussion I would like to raise today. For example:
"After an orphan child endures his formative years being neglected by his foster parents and made to feel powerless, a mysterious stranger arrives with a revelation: the child was born with the blood of sorcerers in his veins.
"Taken to a hidden fortress under the cover of darkness, the child encounters disembodied spirits, nightmarish creatures, and enemies at every turn. Yet it is only when he discovers that his birth parents were murdered by the dark arts that his true path becomes clear."
I wrote that three-sentence description for the express purpose of illustrating a point about YA Horror, but how many of readers would correctly identify this as the synopsis for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone?
In offering to allow reviewers the chance to sample my book series, The Spooky Chronicles, I have repeatedly seen replies such as "(these) aren't the type of books that I would read" or "(YA horror is) not my thing." My question, of course, is "Why didn't you give the Harry Potter books a chance?" To be perfectly honest, I submit that the entire series run of all seven JK Rowling books in the Potter series are not only YA horror but become more horrific with each installment (and, frankly, I loved every bit of it).
My point is this: I'm attempting to be fair in the description of what my books are about. Horror is not the only thing that happens in these stories; there is a fair amount of fantasy as well as drama, humor, adventure, and more, but the main character IS a zombie kid. What is creating this reaction to YA horror? Look at children's nursery rhymes and Grimm fairy tales; the very essence of these stories is unmistakably horror. Hansel and Gretel (and the witch)? Ring Around the Rosie? My guess is that someone at some time has written a truly horrible book where something unspeakable must happen to all the young adult characters; if you happen to know what that book is, please send me the title because I'd like to give it a shot.
In the meantime, what do YOU think? Is a wizard who learns the value of destroying your enemies with sorcery more palpable than a zombie boy who is genuinely fearful he might accidentally start the Apocalypse?
Filed under: Conspiracies, Creativity, Paranormal Tagged: books, Harry Potter, JK Rowling, sorcery, ya horror, young adult horror, zombie
September 24, 2011
The Terminal People Now Available!
Still growing up as a dead boy, "Spooky" Spencer Lawson is learning about the strange world he never asked to be a part of (which is a lot more interesting than math). When a mysterious stranger he meets in an alley appears to die after touching Spooky's hand, Spooky begins to wonder how dangerous he really is, especially to the people he cares about.
This is the follow up to the critically acclaimed introductory book, The Spooky Chronicles: The Crooked Man.
For anyone not on Facebook, I have officially announced the name of the third book: "Schoolhouse Number Five." For a peek at the cover, check out my Thinking Skull page on FB.
Filed under: Creativity Tagged: Spooky Chronicles, Terminal People
September 13, 2011
Happy Birthday, Spooky!
The original idea of this character and the world he inhabits was born in 1999, as in "party like it's." I also kicked around the idea that Spencer was born on Friday the 13th, which seems a little cliche, but I thought it would be fun that occasionally his birthday would fall on a Friday. Today he turns twelve years old.
In any case, it just kind of happened that the series got going in such a way that the main character's timeline is very close to real time, and rather than try to force things into being timeless (which is virtually impossible in a modern setting unless you dislocate your characters to an alien landscape), I decided to just run with it.
If you haven't already, click the image or click here to order or download the book. If you haven't seen it yet, click and watch the series ebook trailer.
And for anyone not on Facebook, I have officially announced the name of the third book: "Schoolhouse Number Five." For a peek at the cover, check out my Thinking Skull page on FB.
Filed under: Creativity, Existentialism Tagged: birthday, schoolhouse number five, spencer, spooky, Spooky Chronicles
September 12, 2011
Writers On Editing: Don't Do It All Yourself
I was recently asked to participate in a poll on Goodreads.com about editing, specifically how authors get it done for their work. Responses to the question "Do you use an editor?" included did it all myself, had a friend or relative do it, hired a cheap or expensive editor, used a free website for authors to help one another, used a volunteer, or used software. Sadly, the most common answer that had floated to the top of the poll was, "No, I just did it all myself."
Here's the best advice I can ever offer a writer: DON'T do it all yourself. Find yourself a "no" person, someone both willing to read your work critically and that you're willing to listen to no matter what they say or how bad it may seem to them (advisers are invaluable, see The Evil Overlord list for details on correct usage). Heck, get a team of volunteer readers. They may be grammar Nazis or just people who like to read, but they will see things you'll miss no matter how many times you read it yourself. Sometimes it won't be grammatical or a missing word but just not explaining things as simply or as thoroughly as needed. A paid professional is wonderful if you trust them and can afford it, but always, always, ALWAYS have another set of eyes go over your work any way you can get it done.
Also, if you can compile your work into a PDF (OpenOffice can do this for you), here's a really cool trick: let Adobe Reader read it to you out loud (it's a built in feature of the free version) and just listen. This will reveal a lot of mistakes you and all of your editors may have glossed over for a final edit.
Filed under: Creativity Tagged: author, books, editing, editor, grammar Nazi
August 28, 2011
New Cover: The Terminal People
Some of you already know the name of the second book in "The Spooky Chronicles" is called "The Terminal People." The first chapter of that book is now also included at the end of the first book.
I've had more than a few people say, "I don't like ebooks. Please kill a tree since it's a renewable resource." Done! Lulu.com is now the official print-on-demand supplier for The Spooky Chronicles and is available now. It's $10.00 for the print version as opposed to $4.00 for the ebook, but it really looks nice. It's available now at Lulu (click "Purchase" on the right side bar) and should appear on Amazon.com by the end of September (and officially on Kindle!)
I have also finished work on the cover for the second book. I previously previewed this on Facebook, but I'm putting it here as well. Enjoy! The second book will be out later this fall, hopefully before Spooky Empire the second week of October in Orlando, Florida.
Filed under: Paranormal Tagged: Spooky Chronicles, Terminal People
