Thea Isis Gregory's Blog, page 10

Locked Out released!

It was a long, drawn out battle. Lines were drawn, in blood-red ink. Edits were made, and the piece was put through the most rigorous scrutiny I could manage.

Now that you're all done laughing at me, let me present some links where you can buy it, because I'm helpful like that. You know you want to it.

Amazon

Smashwords

I greatly hope you enjoy the second installment of the Zombie Bedtime Stories series. The saga continues with Deadlocked, anticipated late October 2011.

Sneak peek: Chapter one of Locked Out

Locked Out will be coming to an internet near you Monday. So, why not show off chapter one, just to whet the appetite a little.

And now, I give you chapter one of Zombie Bedtime Stories, part two. I recommend reading Locked In first, but there are no real spoilers and the stories are pretty much interchangeable as far as series chronology goes. You might even recognize some people.

—

Zombie Bedtime Stories: Locked Out

Doctor Anna Lewis sighed. Her blond hair was bound in a too-tight bun that made her scalp ache, and freckles sparkled on her pale skin below her hazel eyes. She was closer to forty than she'd like to admit, but she maintained the boundless, youthful energy needed to do her job. She administrated a small, underfunded and understaffed infectious disease research center had been ordered to take on an important, top priority project. She waited in her small, utilitarian office for the courier who would bring the samples and briefing. The morning sun peeked through the window behind her, illuminating the room and the specs of dust floating in the air. Anna was annoyed at the request and the strain it would put on her staff. She wondered if they would have to work double shifts and overtime. Anna didn't know why they couldn't handle the problem at the much newer facility in the capital. She'd heard there was a riot there, but it was doubtful that a riot would affect the efficiency of a world-class laboratory.

She busied herself with endless paperwork, signing off on purchases, reviewing grant applications and various proposals concerned with expanding the facility. She had been in charge of the facility for just under a year. It had been a significant career advancement for Anna not only because it was a prestigious posting, but because Anna was early into her career as a researcher. She attributed most of her success to the brain drain—many capable scientists had already left the country for greener pastures and bigger research grants. Willful ignorance and resentment towards the scientific community didn't do much to encourage the remaining scientists to stay. She was anxious to find out what this mysterious new project was, and if her labs were up to the challenge.

The sound of a phone cut through her concentration. It was the receptionist's extension.

"Hello Lucy, are they here?"

"Yes, Dr. Lewis. They're setting up in the conference room," the girl answered with a hint of tension in her voice. The formal language she used was strange and uncomfortable.

"I'm on my way, thanks Lucy." She got up from the simple wooden desk and locked her computer. A bookshelf dominated the other side of the room—a relic from the past. Anna filled her bookshelf with obsolete text books. She liked to imagine what the golden age of Western science was like, and having a bookshelf laden with reference books seemed like a quintessential part of capturing the experience. For actual reference she used a body heat powered reader that could fold into her pocket. Some paintings decorated the walls, and notes were stuck to every available surface close to her desk. She checked her hair on the way out, making sure her tight blonde bun hadn't frayed and straightened her black framed glasses. She regretted her decision to forego wearing make-up. Freckles stood out along the bridge of her nose. She snatched her notepad and pen from the bookshelf and headed for the conference room. Unfamiliar voices trickled down the hallway, and she heard the buzz and whine of hand-held radios.

Turning the corner, she missed a step as she took in the group of uniformed men. She recognized their green army uniforms, and was taken aback by the crates of equipment, sealed samples and the glare of sunlight that shone through the usually sealed outer doors. Lucy was overwhelmed by the volume of equipment and personnel coming in. Her attempts to keep up with the requisitions and signing off on new equipment were frantic and rushed. A few researchers had ventured out of their offices and simply watched the spectacle, mouths agape. A tall, solidly built man with a powerful jawline and a graying crew cut approached her and extended a hand. Deep lines ran down his face and crow's feet framed his deep blue eyes.

"Doctor Lewis? I'm Major Cartwright. I apologize for commandeering your facility, but time is of the essence and I think you'll agree about the urgency after I brief you." The words were spoken with a trained confidence, but his rapid presentation belied his anxiety.

"You're turning my facility upside-down, I hope it's for a good cause," she said, to keep the interaction cordial and maintain control over the situation. He motioned her into the conference room.

She sank into a high-backed chair while the major fiddled with his laptop, connecting it to their often-difficult projector. There was a pile of adapters next to him. That projector was almost 20 years old, but she hadn't been able to acquire the funding to replace it, or the rest of their decaying computer equipment. Her lead researchers, balding and white-haired Dr. Grant and the spindly Dr. Evans filed into the room, taking seats on the opposite side of the oval table. The old projector finally flickered on, revealing a paused slideshow.

"I imagine you're wondering why we've taken over your labs. Well, we have a situation on our hands. If you've been listening to the news, no doubt you've heard about the riots in the capital." He straightened, pressing a key on the keyboard. A grisly scene played on the screen. Hordes of bloody, battered forms fought with police and soldiers, shaking off any blows and injuries while continuing to advance. "Truth is, this is no political rally. These people are out of control, and we need to determine the cause. The capital has been shut down and is being evacuated, but the surrounding cities are beginning to report incidents of random, yet intense violence." Major Cartwright stood silent as the disturbing scene looped endlessly on the wall. Anna stared and struggled to process the gruesome, visceral visuals.

"So why us? Where do we come into this?" Anna felt obligated to speak. She needed answers, to glean sense from that scene cut straight from a horror movie. "You have negotiators, police and guns. We research diseases and catalog new microbes."

"Good question. The answer is, we can't negotiate. Every single person we've managed to capture has been violent and completely uncommunicative." The major's brow furrowed as he drew in a deep breath. Dr. Grant fidgeted in his high-backed chair; audible squeaks broke the long pause. "What's more, is that every time we've taken somebody into custody, we've lost control of the facility within twenty-four hours. This suggests to my superiors that this is more than a sudden wave of intense political indoctrination."

Anna stood up and glared at the man. "So you're saying we're looking for an evil bug that makes people go crazy?" The idea was absurd. Anna knew there had to be some kind of logical explanation.

Major Cartwright pushed a button on his remote, and the video loop transitioned into a grotesque photograph. Limbs were strewn across the ground, flesh flayed from the bones. A torso contained by a green fully-intact Kevlar vest lay nearby, head still connected. The right side of the man's throat was torn open, strips of skin pulled from his face, giving the appearance of a grotesque mask. Burned bodies littered the background.  Anna sank into her chair, and fought down the bile in her throat. Dr. Evans spun her chair to the garbage, and threw up. Dr. Grant sat, mute and transfixed. "What happened there?" the old man asked.

"This was the capital late yesterday afternoon, taken from an evacuation point at an elementary school. This man's injuries were caused by unarmed civilians; some of them children," he paused. "I will remind you that tearing off limbs is a feat of strength beyond the abilities of most people."

"Why do the news reports say that there are riots going on, if this is the reality of the situation?" Something didn't add up, and she wanted to know why.

"To prevent panic, we've limited information about the situation. We don't have all the facts. We needed to clear out the downtown core in a hurry, but everyone in the suburbs are being asked to stay indoors. The phone lines are down and fires are breaking out. We don't know what we're up against."

"Something doesn't seem right about all of this. When did it start? Where's the first case?"

"The first reported cases were two days ago. They were isolated incidents, random violent attacks. The subjects were very difficult to apprehended and control. From the few first responders we were able to interview, we learned the subjects were completely irrational and even attacked those close to them. They also appeared to be immune to non-lethal defense methods. One man claimed that he saw one of them get hit by a Taser with no reaction at all." Major Grant flipped off the projector. Anna could still see the grisly image in the back of her mind. She realized that if it was biological, it would make her career. If it wasn't, this would all be for nothing.

"We'll go with that. So, what goodies did you bring for us?" Anna asked with an irreverent smile. Prim Dr. Evans shook her head in disapproval.

The major smiled for the first time, revealing straight, white teeth. His sharp blue eyes locked with hers. "Right to the fun stuff? I can deal with that. We've brought samples straight from the front lines, and some refrigeration units for said samples. I hope you weren't attached to your cafeteria, my technicians are overhauling it as we speak."

"My lunch was in there. What kind of samples are we talking about?" she suspected she knew the answer, but wanted to be sure.

The smile melted from Major Cartwright's face, his jaw settled into a practiced hardness. "Bodies."

 

—

You'll get the rest on September 5, 2011.

A new Bite Sized Zombie Story, Zombie Pride is here!

Today was either objectively terrible and great. Terrible because of circumstances entirely out of my control. Great because I had a very productive day with respect to writing.

To cheer myself up, I've decided to polish up my latest zombie flash fiction. (with a little help from my friends, of course – get a blog or something so I can properly credit/praise you!) My logic is, if I make somebody smile, I'll feel good, and to quote the late (and great) Jack Layton:

"My friends: Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair." – Jack Layton

I have to say, those words really inspired me. While I may have no aspirations towards political life, I find these are words to live by. So, even though it feels like my life is falling apart, I know there is hope and I need to stay away from the trap of despair.

But you're not here to listen to me wax poetic about Jack Layton's philosophies, or my life. You want some zombies.

Don't worry, I deliver. This will eventually make its way to Smashwords and Amazon, but I have no cover art as of yet.

Content Warnings: Violence (zombies), mature situations (zombies), may not be suitable for the comedically impaired.

Zombie Pride:

The steering wheel was slick with Rex Parson's sweat. He was a stout, rotund little man. He wore oversized sunglasses that dominated the upper-half of his face. He was sweating profusely under the hot sun. He was anxious, and excited to do God's work. He was a preacher in a small town church, and he was known for his strength of faith and conviction that homosexuality could be cured through prayer. As he drove to the city's first annual Gay Pride parade, he felt a quiver of trepidation in his gut. The blatant immorality had to be stopped, and he was the one who was going to show those vile homosexuals that God was to be feared!

He reflected on the hours he'd spent alone at his computer, researching the complete moral degradation that was present at any Pride event. The images of the men's perfectly toned, oiled bodies made his heart race, and he'd had trouble looking away from them. He knew the lifestyle was sin, and that it was his place to show the wrongdoers the errors of their ways before they tempted weaker souls. He'd decided to undertake this trip alone. He didn't want to expose his congregation to this blasphemy. This was his trial, his war against the sordid abyss.

He expected the worst–a celebration of blatant carnality in defiance of God and all his laws. He knew he was the last thing that stood between the average person and acceptance of this abomination. He knew the weak-minded women and children would be easily swayed by the display of rippling, masculine perfection, and they would spread the disease of tolerance and appeasement to the rest of their population. Just as they lead Adam to sin, they would lead society to its secular downfall.

He pulled into an available parking spot about a block from the parade route. He seized his well-worn Bible from the passenger's seat. He would don the armor of God spiritually, but physically, all he had was the Good Book. He would smite any and all who tried to force temptation upon him! He was the last pure soul.

The harsh sun glistened on his balding head. He saw a woman, her exotic costume's wings torn and dragging behind her, running from the parade. She didn't turn to look back. It was a clear sign from God–he was needed here to quell the rampant immortality before more minds fell under the sway of the devil.

He charged to the street corner and looked towards the awesome chaos. Bodies lay trampled in the middle of the streets, and shop windows had been smashed. The bright colors of the parade's decor were strewn across the ground. Rex stepped over a barely-clothed man's battered and bloody body. The man grasped at Rex's leg and Rex kicked his arm away in revulsion as he continued towards the epicenter of the strife. He held his Bible tight against his chest, secure in the belief that God would protect him from evil.

A cacophony of terrorized screams echoed around the buildings, the sounds twisting together to become one harmonic, agonized voice. The symphony of horror was punctuated by ghoulish shrieks and howls. A bloody man wearing only black leather chaps leapt from an alleyway and raced towards Rex. "They're coming! Run!" the man cried out breathlessly. Rex found himself distracted by the man's powerful, intimidating physique.

"God will protect me!" Rex uttered with contempt. Clearly, this fear and chaos was divine retribution from God. There was no other explanation.

Rex began walking down the alley. He saw three figures crouched over somebody. Their backs were turned to him and they moved frantically over the fallen man. He knew this was his time. "Sinners! Repent and open your hearts to our Lord, Jesus Christ!" he shouted, speaking with a familiarity gleaned from performing so many prayer sessions for homosexual deviants. He knew exactly what they needed to hear.

The forms stirred in the distance. They turned to face him. They were all women, hair cropped short and dressed in simple jeans and white t-shirts. Under normal circumstances, Rex would have admonished them for abandoning the femininity that was demanded of them, but not this time. As they stood, they revealed the still-twitching body of a man, and they turned their faces, smeared in blood, towards him. They were coated in crimson essence from the neck-down, and it soaked through their t-shirts, which clung to their swaying breasts.

Rex took a step back; his hands trembling as they grasped his heavy Bible. He didn't know what these demon women were, but he knew it wasn't of God. "Jesus said:  I am the way, the –" he said, but he was cut off by their infernal howls. He froze. The sound wasn't natural.

The women ran towards him, leaping over gruesomely disfigured bodies. He raised his Bible; it was the only object he had to defend himself with. One of them pulled ahead of the others. He swung the hefty book, hitting her in the face. She shrieked as she careened into the wall. The others were gaining ground, close behind her. Rex braced himself and readied his Bible for another smite. It had a bloody imprint on it where it hit the first woman's face.

He swung the book with all his strength, grazing a stocky blonde-haired woman. She leapt for him and her weight knocked them both to the ground. Rex felt his head slam painfully against the pavement, and the impact knocked the wind from his lungs. As he flailed against the formidable strength of his ungodly assailant, his Bible dropped from his left hand. He felt vulnerable and unprotected for the first time in his life.

The second woman, a brunette with large brown eyes dove onto him, immediately sinking her teeth into his exposed throat. Rex tried to scream despite his painfully empty lungs, but he could not. His arms shook, but would not respond to his will. Fear overcame him as the blonde woman shoved her face into his exposed jowls as she tore the flesh from his face. He couldn't breathe, and the taste of his own blood crept into his mouth through his ruined face. His world turned red with pain, he couldn't help but ponder: Why has God forsaken me?

 

 

The cycle completes itself – Locked Out is done

But, it's not here yet. I said Sept 5, and that gives me plenty of time to ruminate on its "doneness." Plus, I want to read it out loud to myself. It's a great way to catch stupid typos. I am of the opinion that I need to read everything I want taken seriously aloud, simply because of the proportional relationship between work importance and stupid typos.

In layman's terms: The more important a document is, the more likely I am to, for instance, write dick instead of disk. I almost turned in a paper with that one. Glad I caught it.

Now that it's in an almost finished condition, I'm let with the challenge of promoting it. I have some awesome friends who will be thrilled to assist, but I'd love to get some new eyes.

Some of my ideas:

With the monetization of my youtube account, make a video of myself reading Chapter 1. (Yes, it's long enough to have chapters!)
Post excerpts anywhere that will take them. (This is probably also going to be chapter 1, or part of chapter 2. More would give away parts of the plot.)
Try to get more publicity for both Locked In and Locked Out at once. Build on momentum, or something.
Make more friends. (I'm a likeable girl, this is easy to do.)

It's hard to call Locked Out a sequel to Locked In, because they have vastly different premises. They share a universe, and the realities are the same. I think they can be read in any order. Right now, I'm telling stories about people who are completely unprepared for the horror that awaits them.

At this time, I have a total of 15 stories planned for Zombie Bedtime Stories. The first two are written, and the third is nearing completion of its first draft. This does not count the Bite Sized Zombies stories I put out occasionally for comic relief.

Trust me, it's going to be a wild ride. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my list, what you think of the overall premise. I'd even love to hear if you think I'll finish the series before zombies lose their popularity. (Never!)

Weekend updates!

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

I recorded myself reading The Zombie's Bride on YouTube. It's hopefully the first of many readings.

In other news, I get the draft of Locked Out back tomorrow. Double yay! It's much improved, and apparently it is darkly hilarious. Possibly in ways I didn't intend, but that's even better.

Still here, still working!

It's hard to update when it feels like you're standing still. I've been managing about 400 words/day on Deadlocked. I think it should pick up soon, because it's approaching what I do best: a bloodbath (or 3, I don't want to leave my audience unfulfilled.) I'll just say I have a vivid imagination.

Deadlocked is challenging to write. The character is so jaded, cynical and introspective it's like writing a villain. I'd compare him to an anti-hero. He's challenging, complicated and deeply hurt. He wants the world to improve, but knows (even before surprise! zombies!) that it will only get worse.

I think I'll have the draft done this week. I'm hoping for an early-October release.

I'm also working on another flash-zombie short called Zombie Pride. It continues along the theme of people who deserve to get themselves eaten by zombies in situations that are entirely their fault.

Rolling along again – some new developments

Now that I've cleared a backlog of projects, and become considerably more underemployed, I'm free to resume work on what really matters: my writing.

I managed to crank out 800 words on my work in progress, Deadlocked, and I like how the universe is starting to feel. The pre-apocalypse world of Zombie Bedtime Stories is already grim, and each installment adds another shade of grey to the already dark atmosphere. I've decided to establish that the series takes place in the not-too-distant future. It begins in June 2035. I wanted technology to be a little more advanced to make some parts of Locked Out and future story arcs more plausible, and I wanted to examine what the world would be like if it were the worst of most worlds. Admittedly, today's world is already a pretty grim place, but not the worst case scenario by any stretch of the imagination. We also don't have zombies, which is probably for the best.

I've been playing with some horror/bizarre ideas that are not zombie-based. I'm pretty excited with them. I'm contemplating a run of stories that's based on monsters dredged out of the depths of my subconscious. I want to write something that will make the reader question not only my sanity, but their own, as well.

Cheers, friends!

The Zombie's Bride – Now on Smashwords!

I got around to cleaning up The Zombie's Bride, and uploaded it to Smashwords. I'm very fortunate to have a creative and dedicated cover artist. Like my covers? He's willing to take on work.

Let's have a look at the picture, both because I really like it, and I want a picture in here.

The Zombie's Bride cover

Isn't it great?

So, I know you want to read it, you know you want to read it. So read it. It's free!

I have a few more of these cooking, all featuring protagonists who deserve a zombie apocalypse on their doorstep.

Another day, another draft.

I put in about 7 hours today planning how to implement my mom's suggestions and edits into my manuscript for Locked Out. Tomorrow I get to spend several more hours inputting it all, but I think the story is that much deeper and more enjoyable because of it.It's also going to gain at least 1000 words, perhaps closer to 2000.

My struggle against writer's block met with a small victory. I managed 300 words before burning out, completing the first chapter of Deadlocked. I hope I can feel more inspired tomorrow. Being behind on my arbitrary and made-up deadlines really gets on my nerves.

One thing I've noticed is that for every hour of writing, I spend about 3-4 hours editing. In addition to this, contrary to almost anything I've read is that I gain words when editing rather than paring a manuscript down. Maybe I'm just really bad at remembering what readers want to know? Locked In went from 4.1k to 6.2k, which is a huge gain.

I'm simultaneously fired and awesome, so that's all for tonight.

Zombie Bedtime Stories: Locked Out description and (tentative) release date!

After receiving a thoughtful edit, I've decided to get around to making a little blurb, and setting a release date.

Zombie Bedtime Stories: Locked Out description:

Following a wave of brutal and unexplained violence, Doctor Anna Lewis is charged with leading a team of scientists to find an explanation. What they discover shakes them to the core and causes them to question everything about their work and personal ethics. As their world descends into chaos, they struggle to continue their research in the face of a vicious, insatiable enemy.

Anticipated release date: September 5. I decided the late-August release was too optimistic to be feasible, I don't want to rush my final edits and revisions.

I have much more up my sleeve waiting for you, just you wait. It's a surprise. A good surprise.