Scott Bryan's Blog, page 29
January 28, 2013
Good Advice about Goodreads
Check out this great article from Novel Publicity for great advice to authors on how to use Goodreads.
Now if I could just find the time to do these things!
Now if I could just find the time to do these things!
January 27, 2013
I'm on local TV!
Check out this cool interview Doug Radunich of TooeleTV did with me during the children's Book Festival!
TooeleTV: "Night Children" by Scott Bryan:
TooeleTV: "Night Children" by Scott Bryan:
Coming in March: Two more cool blog hops!
In the month of March I'll be participating in he Lunar Love Giveaway Hop and the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!
Both hops will give me the opportunity to giveaway Night Children: Dark Threats.
Keep watching this space!
Both hops will give me the opportunity to giveaway Night Children: Dark Threats.
Keep watching this space!
January 25, 2013
Interview with Terry Brooks by Sword and Laser
Some great advice here from a great author!
January 24, 2013
Bite of Story Thursday
Night Children: Dark Birth
Chapter Thirteen: The Shopkeeper
The firmness in Eliza’s voice grabbed their attention. “Roland, next time control your temper and focus. He cannot harm us. He has no wooden stake or any other weapon. To properly mesmerize someone you must push your thoughts over theirs. Push your will. Now try it.”
“Mister Shopkeeper, it’s not nice to bully others. You should be more polite.”
The man mumbled the word, “Polite.”
“Now please go fetch that red ball. Yes. Thank you.” Roland placed the money on the counter and continued with his practice. “Now forget you ever saw us and... leave. Yes! Leave town.”
“Roland, wait. You can’t just tell him to--”
Annabelle’s voice must’ve broken the trance because the shopkeeper’s eyes opened wide with terror. Eliza spoke up quickly. “The trance I put him under has completely broken. He can see us for what we truly--”
“You’re vampires!” His face white with fear, he shouted, “Vampires are in my shop! I’m going to die! Help!”
Eliza blocked his exit and tried to mesmerize him. “He’s too upset. We must flee.”
“Can we mesmerize him while he’s unconscious?” Annabelle asked quickly.
“What?”
“Can we mesmerize him when he’s unconscious?” A frantic fear turned her stomach upside down as the shopkeeper’s voice got louder and louder. She rapidly glanced out the shop windows. Someone had to hear him.
“Yes!”
“Good.” Annabelle sped around the shop so fast the shopkeeper blinked. She picked up the wooden stool and hit him over the head with it. He dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.
“Is he dead?” Roland asked while looking over his body.
---------------
For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Birth on Amazon.
Chapter Thirteen: The Shopkeeper
The firmness in Eliza’s voice grabbed their attention. “Roland, next time control your temper and focus. He cannot harm us. He has no wooden stake or any other weapon. To properly mesmerize someone you must push your thoughts over theirs. Push your will. Now try it.”
“Mister Shopkeeper, it’s not nice to bully others. You should be more polite.”
The man mumbled the word, “Polite.”
“Now please go fetch that red ball. Yes. Thank you.” Roland placed the money on the counter and continued with his practice. “Now forget you ever saw us and... leave. Yes! Leave town.”
“Roland, wait. You can’t just tell him to--”
Annabelle’s voice must’ve broken the trance because the shopkeeper’s eyes opened wide with terror. Eliza spoke up quickly. “The trance I put him under has completely broken. He can see us for what we truly--”
“You’re vampires!” His face white with fear, he shouted, “Vampires are in my shop! I’m going to die! Help!”
Eliza blocked his exit and tried to mesmerize him. “He’s too upset. We must flee.”
“Can we mesmerize him while he’s unconscious?” Annabelle asked quickly.
“What?”
“Can we mesmerize him when he’s unconscious?” A frantic fear turned her stomach upside down as the shopkeeper’s voice got louder and louder. She rapidly glanced out the shop windows. Someone had to hear him.
“Yes!”
“Good.” Annabelle sped around the shop so fast the shopkeeper blinked. She picked up the wooden stool and hit him over the head with it. He dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.
“Is he dead?” Roland asked while looking over his body.
---------------
For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Birth on Amazon.
January 23, 2013
How Many Times Has the World Ended?
Here is a fun graphic put together by Allison Morris and the good people at OnlinePsychologyDegree.net
I realise we're all chillin' in out hot tubs, sippin' hot chocolate and just being grateful those crazy Mayans in their togas were wrong. I know it's all old news. But I thought I'd share this cause frankly it's just so darn cute. ;)
I realise we're all chillin' in out hot tubs, sippin' hot chocolate and just being grateful those crazy Mayans in their togas were wrong. I know it's all old news. But I thought I'd share this cause frankly it's just so darn cute. ;)
January 22, 2013
Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Hawke
HAWKE
No picture at this time. Hopefully that will change someday.
Full Name: Ethan Hawke but he goes by his last name.
Physical characteristics:
He wears a trench coat loaded with specialized weapons as well as a belt and straps loaded with more weapons and ammunition. He has a long scar across his right eye thanks to the vampire Roland. Several other scars cover his body from many battles. He is missing two fingers on his left hand.
Personality:
Hawke is gruff, vengeful, and angry. He is also very careful and calculating. To stay alive as long as he has, Hawke is always careful to watch his back and never stay in the same place twice. He has no scruples and is not above killing other humans to get at his prey.
Known History:
Ethan Hawke had a brother named Aaron. Aaron became obsessed with mythical and supernatural creatures after an incident when he was a child. He traveled the world researching the strange and unknown and then compiled all this information complete with sketches into his book; Aaron Hawke’s Guide to Mythical Beasts.
Enraged at this, the Vampire Lord Dominic slaughtered Aaron and his parents. Ethan arrived home late and caught Dominic in the act. He hid himself and was able to escape Dominic's attack. From that moment on Ethan dedicated himself to the eradication of every creature in his brother's book.
He began to only go by his last name with the hope that it would strike fear and terror into the creatures' hearts. He trained himself in every way to battle and kill the monsters that inhabited his world.
He has two katanna swords, a gift from a Samurai vampire hunter. Rumored to be folded so tightly that they can cut through any form of magic or magical beast. He also has throwing stars, a long knife, a grappling hook, a crossbow and a quiver full of silver tipped wooden arrows as well as plenty of silver shot for his arsenal of guns. Every weapon has been soaked in holy water. He can set expert traps, track monsters from nation to nation and has set up safe houses in ever country. His favorite weapon is his small sword Hell-Slayer. It has a thick tip that tapers down to it’s hilt. A flick of a latch and two smaller blades sprung out from either side. The weapon resembled a warped cross.
After his death Hawke's arsenal, safe houses, journals and maps of various creatures’ lairs were found by the man called Talin. Talin dedicated his life to following in Hawke's footsteps and called himself a "Hawke". Through the following centuries the Hawkes became the biggest threat against vampires, werewolves and any creatures of the unseen world.
No picture at this time. Hopefully that will change someday.
Full Name: Ethan Hawke but he goes by his last name.
Physical characteristics:
He wears a trench coat loaded with specialized weapons as well as a belt and straps loaded with more weapons and ammunition. He has a long scar across his right eye thanks to the vampire Roland. Several other scars cover his body from many battles. He is missing two fingers on his left hand.
Personality:
Hawke is gruff, vengeful, and angry. He is also very careful and calculating. To stay alive as long as he has, Hawke is always careful to watch his back and never stay in the same place twice. He has no scruples and is not above killing other humans to get at his prey.
Known History:
Ethan Hawke had a brother named Aaron. Aaron became obsessed with mythical and supernatural creatures after an incident when he was a child. He traveled the world researching the strange and unknown and then compiled all this information complete with sketches into his book; Aaron Hawke’s Guide to Mythical Beasts.
Enraged at this, the Vampire Lord Dominic slaughtered Aaron and his parents. Ethan arrived home late and caught Dominic in the act. He hid himself and was able to escape Dominic's attack. From that moment on Ethan dedicated himself to the eradication of every creature in his brother's book.
He began to only go by his last name with the hope that it would strike fear and terror into the creatures' hearts. He trained himself in every way to battle and kill the monsters that inhabited his world.
He has two katanna swords, a gift from a Samurai vampire hunter. Rumored to be folded so tightly that they can cut through any form of magic or magical beast. He also has throwing stars, a long knife, a grappling hook, a crossbow and a quiver full of silver tipped wooden arrows as well as plenty of silver shot for his arsenal of guns. Every weapon has been soaked in holy water. He can set expert traps, track monsters from nation to nation and has set up safe houses in ever country. His favorite weapon is his small sword Hell-Slayer. It has a thick tip that tapers down to it’s hilt. A flick of a latch and two smaller blades sprung out from either side. The weapon resembled a warped cross.
After his death Hawke's arsenal, safe houses, journals and maps of various creatures’ lairs were found by the man called Talin. Talin dedicated his life to following in Hawke's footsteps and called himself a "Hawke". Through the following centuries the Hawkes became the biggest threat against vampires, werewolves and any creatures of the unseen world.
January 21, 2013
Self Publishing Thoughts
Interesting thoughts on independent publishing. Check out this link from Write NonFiction Now.
I like publishing the Night Children series myself for many of the reasons shown in this article. I might still resubmit it, but this time a rejection won't bug me because I personally like the control I have over it.
So why do I even consider resubmitting with agents and publishers? The marketing. It's hard for me with a full time job and family, to have the time to properly get it out there. Also I don't have the funds to really push it out.
So having the money and resources of a publisher would help.
It's a toss up but I'm enjoying the journey either way.
January 19, 2013
Movie Review: The Hobbit -Spoilers-
I saw the Hobbit last week. Earlier in the year I reread the book. I read it when I was 12 but that was a long time ago. So I felt that if I was going to see the movie. I'd better have an understanding of the original story.
I've spoken to some who have seen the film and heard their reviews. They felt the additions to the story were not needed and detracted from the film. I do not agree. I really liked how they added more depth to the back story. I felt that have a stronger depth to Thorin Oakenshield.
I didn't ind the addition of the white orc or how he was substituted for the goblins during the forest battle. I enjoyed the action and the fun and appreciated the dramatic moments of the film. The goblins eagles, and wargs were just as I expected. I also liked the White Consul. I think it makes sense that there would be a small gathering of leaders to plan and watch for bigger threats. I got a kick out of the scene with old Bilbo and Frodo. It was taken from the beginning of the Fellowship book so it was good finally seeing that scene.
It was good to see Sir Ian McKellen again as Gandalf. While Sherlock star Martin Freeman did a perfect job as Bilbo. Andy Serkis gave me chills as Golum. Very inspirational for my writing.
So all in all I loved the film. Can't wait for the blue ray.
Of course some think it could have ended differently...
January 18, 2013
Movie Review: Frankenweenie
I finally saw Frankenweenie. I really enjoyed it. I purposely stayed away from spoilers because I'd already seen the live action from several years ago. I knew the story. I liked the story but I didn't understand why we needed a claymation treatment of it.
Now I understand.
Tim Burton was able to throw in all sorts of treats into this film. Of course the whole thing is a tribute to Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein but what I didn't know was all the many other tributes to classic horror.
I mean we see Boris Karloff and Vincent Price immortalised in clay. We get tributes to werewolves and vampires and mummies and gremlins and even Godzilla.
Excellent. I love the classics and this film served it up in spades. A must own for me.
