Darin Kennedy's Blog, page 9
October 27, 2014
Mussorgsky Mondays – A Call to Arms
January 12th is eleven weeks from today. The release of my debut novel, The Mussorgsky Riddle, is coming faster than I can fully comprehend and there is a lot to do. This blog may be a bit quiet for the next few weeks (big change, right?) as I work on lining up reviews, signings, launch parties, and the like. It’s a whole new world – I’ve never launched a book before.
Putting a request out there as sort of an opening volley: Is anyone out there interested in being part of the Mussorgsky Street Team?
Oh… What’s a street team? Just learned this myself in the last few months. A street team is a group of people working with the author and publisher to get the word out on the street (clever name, eh?) about a book so that it has a successful launch. These individuals help to turn up the volume on the buzz of the book. They might talk it up on Facebook and Twitter, post the cover on Pinterest, create artwork or graphics to circulate on social media, or any of a thousand other things. They are the lieutenants, and lieutenants get swag. Not sure what the swag is yet, but there will be swag…
So, feel free to contact me in the comments section, on Facebook or Twitter, or send me a telepathic message if being a member of my street team sounds right up your alley!
Thanks!
Darin
Quick addendum: As I was posting this blog, I think I may have had the first volunteer for my street team, as this was left on my front porch.
That’s right, a Mussorgsky Riddle Jack-O-Lantern.
Sometimes, life is good…
October 20, 2014
Mussorgsky Mondays – Cover Reveal
Two big things happened yesterday.
First, we revealed the cover for The Mussorgsky Riddle. I’ve been dying to get it out there for months so you all could see it, but I’ve been waiting for the right time. Apparently, that was yesterday.
Why, you ask?
Because of thing #2.
The Mussorgsky Riddle is now available for preorder on Amazon. Currently, for Kindle only, but in the next few days, my publisher thinks the book will be available for preorder in paperback as well as ebook. The novel comes out 12 Jan 2015 from Curiosity Quills Press, so we all still have just under 3 months to wait, but it’s getting close and it’s getting real. Very real and more exciting than I can relate.
I wrote no less than four pages of acknowledgements for this book as I so much to be thankful for. To all of you out there who have supported me in one way or another as I’ve poured hour after hour into this labor of love, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. (Which I suppose would be my… right ventricle?)
Would love to hear from any or all of you. Thoughts on the cover. Thoughts about the book. Thoughts in general…
Finally, here is the link in case you’d like to preorder – currently for Kindle only. Rest assured, I will put out another blog post, Facebook announcement, Tweet, and send smoke signals and carrier pigeons when the paperback is up on Amazon.
All best! Happy reading and writing to all!
Darin
October 13, 2014
Mussorgsky Mondays – The new phone book is here!
So, what does Steve Martin have to do with anything? Well, I’ll tell you.
Yesterday, I received from Curiosity Quills Press the galley for The Mussorgsky Riddle. Just the e-galley (a PDF of the entire book so I can look through it for any last minute errors or changes) but a galley nonetheless. The hard copy galleys should be available soon.
Did my reaction resemble Navin Johnson’s to finding his name in the phone book? Did I run up and down the hall? Did I jump up and down? Did I, perhaps, shed a few tears and ugly cry like Andrew Lincoln on a particularly poignant episode of The Walking Dead? I’ll leave the answers to these quasi-rhetorical questions to your imagination.
Needless to say, yesterday was a very good day, and today… just three months to publication!
Things are going to start happening to me now…
October 12, 2014
October Update
So, September was a pretty busy month and my poor little blog has been neglected for another month. I hope everyone enjoyed my little pun themed celebration of my 100th post two days ago. I’ve been hard at work, both saving lives and stamping out disease at the day job and pounding away at Operation: Ghost Story by night. So today, in lieu of Mussorgsky Mondays tomorrow, an update post, as lots of stuff is going down in the next few months.
First, The Mussorgsky Riddle has an official release date: 12 Jan 2015. Just three short months. I couldn’t be more excited and can’t wait for all of you to be able to check out my debut novel. Sometime in the next month or so I’ll let you all have a look at the cover designed by the lovely and talented Polina Sapershteyn, but that must remain a secret for the moment, so here’s another shot of Baba Yaga’s hut to whet your appetite in the meantime…
Second, as stated above, Operation: Ghost Story (not the real title, I’m being clever) is done. My critique group is finishing up with it and my awesome agent, Stacey Donaghy, has already given it the green light (after I rewrite the last 10K words or so… 
– what can I say, when she’s right, she’s right… Hope to start shopping this one around in November. Can’t wait to let you all know a little more info on this sekrit projekt of mine! Here’s a little hint, though…
Third, I love ellipses…
Next, a quick review of upcoming short story publications to be on the lookout for:
“Flight of the Pegasus” – my first steampunk story, due out in November 2014 in the Curiosity Quills Press Annual Anthology called Primetime: Chronology. Here is the interior cover for my story done by the amazing Ricky Gunawan:
From Emby Press in the next few months look for “Middle Ground” in The Dark Monocle, “Midnight Screening” in Reconstructing the Monster, and “None So Blind” in Deep Sea Monster Hunter – Leviathan. I’m also about to start my next Gabriel O’Connor, Immortal Monster Hunter story for the sequel to Blood Trails called Revolver. Really enjoy working with Miles Boothe over there. Check out his website by clicking on his logo below.
Lastly, the answer to my mysterious Facebook status update from a few days ago. In an effort to promote The Mussorgsky Riddle, I am working to hit a few of the east coast sci-fi/fantasy conventions and as of this moment, I’ve been accepted as a guest at two thus far. Come find me at:
27 Feb – 1 Mar 2015 in Roanoke, VA
and
29 -31 May 2015
with hopefully more to follow.
A good friend of mine predicted that 2014 was going to be a good year for me and so far her prediction has been on target. Be on the lookout here for announcements about the Mussorgsky launch party as well as book signings in NC, SC, GA, and VA for 2015.
That’s all for now! Have a great week everyone!
Darin
P.S. Lest I fail to mention the best thing that has happened to me in the last couple months, allow me to post this cryptic picture…
October 11, 2014
My 100th post – A pun-fest! (This surprises you why???)
My new plan? I’m going to open a restaurant…
In a little town in southern Georgia…
Where the dress code is…
And all the waiters wear…
And we serve the best…
Rumor has it this guy is giving the news report…
Whose favorite scene from Star Wars is…
And who just covered the news story of a race between these two guys…
What do you think? I can’t decide which of these puns is my favorite, but right now it’s a several way tie!
September 11, 2014
Dragon*Con, Book Fairs, and Editing… Oh, the Editing
So, it’s rare that I take more than a few days off at a time, so when I had a 10 1/2 day break from 28 Aug at 4 pm until 8 Sep at 8 am, I took full advantage of it.
For starters, I and several of my closest friends made our annual pilgrimage to Atlanta on Labor Day Weekend for Geek Mardi Gras. That’s right… Dragon*Con, AKA 70-80,000 people, most in costume from your favorite movie / tv show / comic book / video game / anime / lunch box / etc. for the whole weekend.
Selfie with Jay and Margo at Soby’s
Started on Thursday night with a nice dinner in Greenville, SC at Soby’s followed by a delicious dessert at Underground Coffee.
Soby’s
Peanut Butter Pie at Underground Coffee
Friday morning, we drove in from our hotel in northern Georgia to begin the festivities. Just the people watching is worth the trip.
Baby Ghostbuster, right up there with baby R2D2 from last year
MINION!
A warrior woman with very ineffective battle armor…
The hotels are magnificent, and none moreso than the Marriott. Though, for sanity’s sake, stay at the Westin…
Looking up at the Marriott
Looking down at the Marriott. Yes, that’s Gandalf the White… Funny, he wouldn’t let anyone pass…
I got to hang out with my good friend, Scully, who writes for The Backstage Beat, joined me for most of Friday afternoon and evening. Always great to see her when I hit Atlanta. We toured a couple host hotels (this thing fills 5 hotels, plus rooms in many others for guests), checked out the shops, toured the famous peeps a bit, and as above, did a ton of people watching. Her article is available here at The Backstage Beat – called “7 Tips on How to be Successful at Dragon*Con with photos by yours truly!
DK and Scully
Friday night was dinner with all my peeps and Scully got to join us before rejoining her family. Good pub food before our resident writers who actually are convention guests, namely John Hartness and A.J. Hartley, had to run off to do panels. The rest of us? General merriment!
Awesome people
I can’t stress enough. The main thing is hanging out with your people. Got to see Nicole, Robyne, Aaron, Jay, Margo, John, A.J. Scully, Ernie, Kathleen, Terry, Asher, Anna (no de la Torre pics, darn it…) Kevin, and made lots of new friends. That’s what this is all about.
DK and Kev
Aaron, Jay, and DK
Saturday morning, you might run into the Doctor at Starbucks….
6, one of the best costumes I saw…
Then, there’s the parade. Literally tens of thousands of people along a few blocks of Atlanta. Spartans, the Batmobile, female KISS, they’re all there…
Lined up several stories up for the show
This costume is where it’s at… at.
Holy 1960’s, Batman!
This… Is… Sparta!
Crowd of thousands as the Parade disperses
Give me a KISS…
And a bit more people watching…
I totally wanted this outfit when I was six.
Hey! Who turned out the lights?
Some freaking awesome Kabuki??? costumes
Yes… That’s BatManuel.
Some Duck Tales cosplayers…
Somewhere in there I saw Lou Ferrigno, Gil Gerard that played Buck Rogers back in the 70’s, and sang the theme song to Land of the Lost with Will from Land of the Lost, 40 years after the fact. Shopped till I dropped. Went to tons of cool panels where I learned way more than I wanted to about Sasquatch genitalia. Checked out tons of cool art and even bought a couple of neat prints I really need to get framed and hung. But most importantly, as I said, this was a great weekend with good friends.
My tribe
Mr. Burns daughter
Jean Simmons
Dimples
I have no idea
Blue Steel
The Thinker
Sooooooo, after the awesomeness of Dragon*Con, what in the world did I do next?
Well, while in Atlanta, I managed to edit around 12,000 words of Operation: Ghost Story, my current Work In Progress. Over Monday through Friday of last week, I managed to edit the other 30,000 words, and have the WIP pretty much done except the Epilogue. I know, I know, Epilogues… but when you see this one, you’ll understand. We’re getting close on this one. Here it comes, Stacey!!!
So, caught up on rest and editing for the first time in many moons, I headed up to Winston-Salem for the Bookmarks Book Fair and got to meet three of my compatriots from Curiosity Quills and purchased their books as they were melting in the NC heat. Great to meet Ryan Hill, Krystal Wade, and Elsie Elmore. Maybe we can all hang out in Winston-Salem next year for the event! Also, I got to take my nieces, Katelyn and Olivia out as well as meet Matthew, Lara, Madeline (Rose) and Luke (Captain Jack) for lunch after the event. Great times, and good call on the Mellow Mushroom, Olivia!
Ryan Hill, Krystal Wade, Elsie Elmore
Curiosity Quills! Represent!
The rest of the weekend was spent hanging with family. Got to take dad out for a great steak at Texas Roadhouse Saturday night and see all the extended family on Sunday evening for our annual summer get together. Great to see everyone. Feel free to send me pictures you might have and I’ll add to this blog.
So, all in all, a fantastic 10.5 days off. Back to Mussorgsky Mondays next week! We’re getting closer every week to the release The Mussorgsky Riddle. Cover reveal coming soon! Four more short stories coming out in the next 6-12 months. Gala coming up in October. 2014 is shaping up to be a banner year.
And with that, it’s well past midnight! See you all on the flip side!
All best, Darin
August 13, 2014
A day long awaited…
Came home tonight to a beautiful thing: the final version of the cover for The Mussorgsky Riddle. Thanks to Polina Sapershteyn for the fantastic job she did. I cannot, unfortunately, reveal the cover as yet, but I wanted to share my excitement with all of you. One step closer!
Plan to reveal the cover soon, but for now, Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks by Modest Mussorgsky as illustrated by Natasha Turovsky to celebrate this incredible milestone.
All best, Darin
August 4, 2014
Pictures at an Exhibition at The Brevard Music Center Summer Music Festival
Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina, the Brevard Music Center is an out of the way gem. Located down a residential road with houses on either side with signs filled with musical jokes and puns placed in their yards and with parking that was less then optimal, this quasi-outdoor venue is quaint in all the right ways, and definitely made our trip yesterday worthwhile. And it was only by strangest of coincidences I even knew the Brevard Symphony was playing my song…
A good friend of mine was taking his girlfriend to the Asheville area for the weekend and was checking for things to do in the area. Not only was the Brevard Music Center completing their Summer Music Festival, but they were closing it out with — shock of shocks on this particular blog — Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. I had already seen a performance in Raleigh earlier in the year, but when you get the chance to hear this particular piece of music live, you go.
My mother and father had never had the opportunity to hear this particular piece of music, at least not live, though my dad was the one who originally turned me on to Scheherazade. I wanted to share with them the inspiration for this book I had written. I called my mom who was, not surprisingly, out mending fences (literally) and invited them to come. My mother retired from teaching this year, so this little road trip was my gift to her for her “School’s Out Forever” party which followed a couple weeks later. It was a great time, not only with them, but with Mark and Lara as well as the de la Torres who just happen to live in Brevard and were gracious enough to have us all over for dinner that evening after the show.
The performance of Pictures was beautiful, as were the two pieces from the first half. An outdoor arena on a particularly hot and muggy made some particular challenges. The guest pianist, a phenomenal musician, left the stage before intermission with his red silk shirt literally stuck to his torso from the sweat. All in all, an excellent day with friends, family, and Mussorgsky. I look forward to visiting the Brevard Music Center again in the future.
July 31, 2014
An unexpected review…
So… I awoke to a pleasant surprise today: an excellent review of a story that I first wrote and published four years ago.
Back in 2010, the second short story I ever published was “Cold Hands, Warm Heart” in the Fem-Fangs female vampire anthology from the now-defunct Pill Hill Press. It was a fun story, but buried in an anthology that resembled a small phone book, it kind of got lost. Then Pill Hill went under and the book went out of print. End of story? No.
Earlier this year, editors Ty Schwamberger (the original editor of Fem-Fangs) and Adam Lewis decided to open their own small press called Neophyte Press and decided to quite literally “revamp” the old Fem-Fangs anthology into something new. Thus, Re-Vamped – Blood, Lust, Revenge was born. Taking 19 of the stories from the original anthology and bringing them forward into a Kindle book, they poured new blood into some old stories. And that brings us to the present.
This morning on my Facebook feed, there was a friend request from Jeremy Price, a reviewer at Up All Night Horror Fiction Review and a link on my timeline to the review below. I just wanted to say thanks to Jeremy for his kind words. Glad you enjoyed the story.
Here’s a link back to the original review.
And here is the review: After reading this review, if you’re interested in buying this anthology of 19 stories for your Kindle or Kindle-app device, look here.
“Re-Vamped: Blood Lust Revenge (2014) is an anthology of short horror fiction stories all about female vampires. As the title suggests, these are not your average vampire stories. These stories are full of heart-pounding twists that will make you crave more down to the last drop.
Just when I was growing weary of reviewing the same old anthology over and over (you know the one with a few great stories, a number of mediocre pieces, and one or two unmentionables that somehow slip through the cracks), I found this one. The tales in Re-Vamped feature a full cast of dominant female vampires who know how to use their beauty and charm to seduce even the most determined victims to their doom. These deadly vixens have a desire for blood that is insatiable.
The talent of this group of authors is outstanding. Martha J Allard adorns the pages of Re-Vamped with the complex and intriguing storyline of Getting Fixed. In this work of short horror, Allard recounts a terrifying tale of a vampire named Casey who has taken up selling hits of her tainted blood to a unique group of junkies with a hunger for the flowing crimson of the damned. In High Stakes, Kelly Metz continues to carve her niche in the world of horror fiction with an action packed narrative about a vamp who has never made her first kill who hires a hunter to help rescue her younger sister from the clutches a full-fledged bloodsucker known as Madam Death. High Stakes is a well-developed, original story with multifaceted characters. At last, my favorite piece in this book is Darin Kennedy’s Cold Hands, Warm Heart. In this one, Robert enjoys all of the fruits of a lengthy marriage to a much older woman, e.g., unconditional love, money, and a nice home. However, there is one downfall to this arrangement, and we all know what that is. This is where Daphne enters the picture. Daphne is young, sexy, and sophisticated with a pleasantly seductive demeanor and remarkably cold hands. Robert is her own toy as much as she is his. Nevertheless, when Daphne has an unexpected encounter with Robert’s wife Elizabeth, Daphne cannot take her mind off her. Cold Hands, Warm heart is a passionately creepy story with a shocking ending. Re-Vamped is definitely the best vampire themed anthology that I have ever read.
I give Re-Vamped: Blood Lust Revenge 5 / 5 stars!
Re-Vamped: Blood Lust Revenge is now available from Neophyte Press for Kindle at Amazon.”
July 21, 2014
Mussorgsky Mondays – Hear ye, Hear ye
So, it’s been another three weeks. Still catching up and enjoying the summer, but wanted to keep everyone up to speed on all the goings on in my little world.
#1 – We have a date! Well, sort of. Curiosity Quills has named 12 Jan 2015 as a “proposed” release date for The Mussorgsky Riddle. This is a Monday, which seems quite appropriate, don’t you think? All the edits and proof reading are in and the big thing we are waiting on (that I am waiting on, especially, with bated breath, even) is the cover. This is currently in the very capable hands of Polina Sapershteyn, a graphic designer in New York City who went so far as to read the manuscript to ensure she captured the right flavor of the book. Her design is intriguing and I can’t wait to see a more finished version of her idea. Till we have a cover, however, all dates will remain in the “proposed” category.
#2 – My story, “Midnight Screening,” was officially accepted into Emby Press’s anthology, Reconstructing the Monster tonight. I will have four stories in Emby Anthologies hopefully by the end of the year, if they are all out before January 1st. Pretty exciting time to be a monster hunter.
#3 – I also have a short story coming out in CQ’s annual anthology. “Flight of the Pegasus” is my first foray into steampunk, but hopefully won’t be my last.
#4 – Work continues on my new project, code named “Operation: Ghost Story.” All but the last chapter is done and I am going through the critiques of my alpha readers/critique group finally after being busy with edits on MR for several months. This story is shaping up quite nicely. I had promised it to my agent by my birthday, but that ship has sailed, so now I’m aiming to have it in before Labor Day. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers…
#5 – Lastly, trying to get something together for Dark Hall Press’s Techno Horror Anthology. Just started tonight. It’s got a little bit of a 2001: A Space Odyssey vibe. We’ll see how it turns out…
And now, a little something from my man Modest. Here is Mussorgsky’s, A Tear, for your listening pleasure.
All best, Darin
