Sumiko Saulson's Blog, page 51

Anne Rice totally answered my question, dude

This is a behind-the-scenes video from The Dinner Party Show. The question is about whether or not the Talamasca will show up in the Wolves of Midwinter.

I won! I won! I won Mousetrapped!

“Mousetrapped” by Catherine Ryan Howard

Usually, when I blog about people winning books, it’s about someone winning one of my books. Today, I am excited to report that I won a book! I won a hardcover copy of Catherine Ryan Howard’s book “Mousetrapped.”

If you have been reading my blog for a while, then you know that I am a big fan of her blog Catherine, Caffeinated and her book Self-Printed for their spot-on, humorously delivered and accurate advice on self-publishing. She is like the Tony Robbins of Self-Publishing to me, so I’m actually really excited to be receiving an autograph copy of “Mousetrapped,” a book about her travels to Florida.

The timing couldn’t have been better.

Lately, I have been having a hard time following her advice about editing, even though I KNOW it’s great advice. I have had a hard time coming up with the $50 a month I pay to the kind lady who is doing a round of proofreading on “Solitude” (my sincerest gratitude to the ever-patient Tracy Elisabeth Marina) – which received content editing (my deepest thanks to Stephen Douglas) but needs better line editing – and the nice lady who is line editing “Warmth” for free experienced the tragic loss of her fiance, who was only 27 years old (my heartfelt condolences to Aurora Martinez)…

So I was going to blog about all the troubles I am having with editing, but fortunately, I have something more fun to blog about. So yay!

I’ll just have to post about the difficulties of editing on a tight budget later.

 

Terrible Advice for Writers

Reblogged from Tammie Painter:

As a writer, I'm constantly seeking tips on how to create better characters, improve my settings, market my work and a billion other things I suck at. Some advice is great and finds its way into my special Writing Tips file folder - okay it's not so much a file folder as it is papers scattered across my desk, Post-Its stuck in books I'm reading and articles torn from magazines left on the kitchen table.

Read more… 1,893 more words

Pretty funny. I love it when someone can combine good writing advice with enough humor to keep me as a reader engaged. Thought you might like it as well...

Balancing this Writing Thing

I… I have the opposite of writer’s block, whatever that is. Writer’s overwhelm? Writer’s unblock? I don’t really know what it is, but between the release of two versions of Agrippa:

(black and white) and (color)

And my school  homework, Camp NaNoWriMo, and my Oakland Art Scene gig at the Examiner.com I have had my hands full. It’s not easy to keep up with my blog over here, or to figure out what to write about when. Do you have this problem? If so please comment below.

Because I am having trouble organizing my thoughts AND my calendar, my calendar is greatly on my mind. Some of the writing support groups I am involved with are meeting locally, and I would like to invite other Bay Area writers to join:

So… here are some upcoming local writer’s meetings I would like you to know about.

WryCrips

WryCrips is a disabled women’s theater art group. The next meeting is on Saturday, April 6th at 4:30 pm. If you would like to attend, you must contact Patty directly by phone:

510.705.8895 Patty Overland  

http://www.wrycrips.blogspot.com/

Wry Crips is a Berkeley-based disabled women’s reader’s theater group. It began in the early 1980′s, has had several performances over the years, was dormant for several years and got revitalized by one of the original founders, Patty Overland, in early 2011. Wry Crips worked on one piece all year to produce a performance in November of 2011 that was attended by almost 100 people on a beautiful afternoon. (You can see youtube clips of the performance and blogsite contains information).

For anyone who’s on facebook, please go to the FAN PAGE for WRY CRIPS and click on LIKE to show your support

Laurel Womens’ Writer’s Group

Meeting on Friday, April 12 at 5:30pm at the World Ground Cafe, 3726 MacArthur Blvd.

Sumiko and Andrea

Oakland California 94619.

At our last meeting:

1) Andrea found a terrific table for us in the back of World Ground Cafe. It seats up to eight. We decided that we will be meeting back there from now on if at all possible, and that we want to keep the group down to six to eight people, due to time constraints. Andrea will be arriving between 4:30pm and 5:00pm to grab us a table. Our next meeting will be April 12 (we meet every second Friday)

2) The group got an official name, “Laurel Women’s Writing Group”. Andrea said we can always change it if any guys ever join.

2) We decided that some meetings we will work on writing based on a prompt, and others we will work on goal-setting (that is, help each other set deadlines for projects we are working on). We spoke briefly about Camp NaNoWriMo in April as a target-setting opportunity.

Why I think you should listen to the Dinner Party Sunday at 5pm PST

In a novel turn of events, the Dinner Party Show, which is my favorite sketch comedy show these days, has decided to host a sort of Listener Appreciation Party tomorrow, where instead of interviewing famous guests (they usually have one or two per show) they will be interacting with the viewers, highlighting the activities of their loyal following (no, not THE FOLLOWING, so far Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn haven’t asked us to murder anyone) and answering viewer questions.

The show – which is sketch comedy at it’s best – features a recurring cast of fictional characters, and hilarious make-believe commercials for pretend product sponsors. As a nearly life-long fan of sketch comedy, dating back to childhood (and no doubt I can blame my parents for this) I started watching Saturday Night Live and Monty Python and listening to the Dr. Demento Show on the radio when I was still a preteen in rollerskates and extension braids drooling over Chachi and hanging out at the roller disco (and yes – as you can see – I am Generation X). As a veteran of sketch comedy shows, I have a natural affinity for the type of humor on this show.

They say “Everyone will is served” and they market the show as an equal-opportunity sort of punking where diverse types of people will be mocked, in a display of poking politically incorrectness that is never actually mean-spirited. I would say the show hearkens back to a gentler time before shows like South Park made politically incorrect humor go to the dark side. The Dinner Party Show is funny, but it’s not really harsh. And because it pokes fun at all of us, without really putting anyone on the defensive, it has developed a loyal following of regular listeners.

Justin Simpon’s illustration of the Dinner Party Show characters (above)

And the show’s listeners ARE loyal. Another regular listener, Justin Simpson has regularly illustrated characters from the sketches. His collage of skit characters above includes: : We’re up to eight finished pieces for my “Dinner Party Show Collection.” (15 if you include all the drawings from the “Hot Prostitute” video). Here is a collage of as many characters that I have covered for “The Dinner Party Show.” (Included In This Collage: Jordan Ampersand and Eric Shaw Quinn [Bottom Right Hand Corner], Buzz Kilton [Top Right Hand Corner], Breck Artery [Right Center], Brock and Bastian [Middle], Twan – Queen of the Stars [Bottom Left Hand Corner], Justin and Jake [Left Center], Actress from “Hot Prostitute” [Left Top Hand Corner])

But you don’t have to take my word for it… you can find out how funny they are for yourself, by listening to some of the skits on Soundcloud here:

https://soundcloud.com/the-dinner-party-show

I actually would like to recommend one: Find-A-Troll, my personal favorite.

https://soundcloud.com/the-dinner-party-show/find-a-troll-the-1-product-for

And of course, there is ME…

I also want you to tune in because I, as a “regular” interactor over on the DinnerPartyShow Facebook Page here:

https://www.facebook.com/TheDinnerPartyShow

And on the Dinner Party Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/DinnerPartyShow

Am not really the star, but am one of the many regular visitors and interactors on their page who will be the topic of this Listener Appreciation Show, and for me that is a really big deal. I spend a lot of time on my blog here, interviewing other horror writers, and trying to highlight things I find important such as Women in Horror Month back in February (where I did an interview series that came to include 24 ladies of horror, here:

http://sumikosaulson.com/women-in-horror-month-2013/

But I often don’t really talk about myself. I hate self promotion. I know I am supposed to do it – goodness knows I have no real staff to speak of, no public relations team except for my mother, and a factor of insecurity that makes me feel like pushing my own products is the douchebaggiest thing on planet Earth. But this at least gives me an excuse to pretend I’m being plugged by someone else.. even if I am the one making all of the graphics. Speaking of plugs and graphics, the Dinner Party Show usually has product tie-ins, so I decided to give away two eBooks for free on Sunday…

I’m not feeling very inventive, so I guess I’ll just steal the Marcia Clark product graphic and hit my Photoshop.. and wah-lah!

In other news….

Happy Easter

Steve Grilliot, Author of “Immolation Finale”

The Author
Steve Grilliot is an author who has a particular affinity for macabre horror, touches of gore, and stories to remind you of the atmospheric terror in the tales of Edgar Allan Poe. He is a native of southern Ohio and grew up on mainstream horror movies since a young age. When he was old enough (although not old enough for most households), he started reading Stephen King and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. He has many more horror tales coming, and plans to add science-fiction to his oeuvre. His paramount aspirations in his writing consist of dynamic, concise storytelling, vivid imagery, and engaging characters with whom the reader can develop a sincere bond. He has spent his life developing his voice and fine-tuning his skills. When he isn’t writing he enjoys spending time with his blonde boxador Mr. Picklefeather.
 
You can follow him on Twitter: @SteveGrilliot
 
The Book

  Immolation Finale
 
The news reports in New Orleans have been quite grim for the past two weeks with stories of what have become known as The Red Lake Murders, a series of killings taking place in the heart of the city. Rumors have spread throughout the city that the victims were all disposed of in a particularly gruesome fashion and that a witch is behind the killings, more specifically, a practitioner of Voodoo.
Whether he likes it or not, a paranormal investigator named Dirk is about to be dragged into a daunting series of events that may very well bring him face to face with a killer who abducts his victims off of the streets and murders them in the most horrible ways.
Dirk’s best friend Susan is an apprentice investigator on the case who is sure that his expertise in the paranormal will lend a hand to the lead Detective Maxwell Simms. Begrudgingly, Dirk agrees to accompany Susan if an when the next corpse shows up, setting himself up for events more dramatic than he had anticipated. Along the way, he meets his fair share of fortune-tellers, Voodoo priestesses, self-proclaimed werewolves, and similar denizens of New Orleans. He also meets back up with Sabrina, an old love, who left New Orleans years ago and seems to disfavor her current return to her home city. What secrets does she hold, and why does she seem so ready to avoid Dirk?
 
The Interview
 

Q. This is your first novel, an exciting time for any writer. What inspired you to write it?
 

A. The inspiration for this novel may seem strange at first, but it soon becomes clear after a brief explanation. I was always a comic book kid, and the initial interest I had that led to writing this book was Gambit from the X-men. I have been working on Immolation Finale since I was young, about thirteen or so I would say. In that time, I was busy finding my voice, and I evolved from writing what was clearly written by a child to writing the finalized, mature story that I have to share today. Gambit was always the most intriguing of all the X-men to me, and when he introduced me to New Orleans, I was hooked. From there, I was introduced to the Voodoo of the city, and I found myself watching every movie or TV show that was set in New Orleans. I was inspired to write a book that showed off every beautiful aspect of New Orleans that I loved, and I was determined to do the city justice. I was also determined to do Voodoo justice. I didn’t want to write the typical story that makes Voodoo the bad guy or disregards the tenets of the religion. I wanted to write a compelling murder story that had one foot in the supernatural. I wanted to tell an entertaining story that also spoke of humanity to anyone who was interested in something more than simple entertainment, without getting in the way of those who simply wanted a fun ride. As a nod to my original inspiration, my main character Dirk wears a long, brown coat and has disheveled, reddish-brown hair. It reminds me that it has been a long, wonderful road in the evolution of this novel, and it makes me feel satisfied with the results in a way that is empowering.

 
Q.  Your novel includes paranormal and psychological horror elements in that you have both ritualistic murders and a paranormal investigator involved – not to mention voodoo. How much of the horror comes from otherworldly things and how much from the evil that humans do?
 

A. Most of the horror in this work comes purely from the human element. I have a sociopath that enjoys tearing other people apart and has managed to find a way to get followers to help him with this endeavor. The actions he takes against other living creatures are what really spell out the terror for anyone who is compassionate. With his extreme, frightening agenda in place, it creates a new fear in just what kind of people are willing to help him act so heinously. The idea of condoning his behavior for one’s own selfish needs raises the question of just how responsible someone can be for something they didn’t physically do. The spiritual world here acts as a zero on the scale. It is neither good nor evil, but is used by characters to perform acts for either cause. At first, the supernatural is unfamiliar and frightening, but when given a closer look it becomes a comfort and even a tool for good in the fight against a madman. The question of evil is then shown as with a litmus paper. How heroically or horrifically this magic is used shows just what kind of horror a sentient being can be capable of.

 
Q. Do you think that supernatural terrors are more frightening, or the type that follow themes of realism such as serial killing or psychological dramas?
 

A. I think that both can be equally as frightening. When you look at a human being who takes pleasure in robbing others of their right to life it creates a fear of what can happen in society to create this killer. Are we responsible? Is it a fluke and unavoidable? This level of terror is also clearly evident as being entirely possible. It’s a universal fear to imagine someone creeping into your home when you are asleep and robbing you of your life while you are defenseless. No one wants to die in a brutal way, and when confronted with the idea, everyone feels fear for at least an instant. On the other hand, the supernatural can illicit fear in a way that is inexplicable. When confronted with something terrifying that a person doesn’t understand, the fear of the unknown immediately strikes. In its place, most people will attempt to fill this fear with something they do understand, which can make the experience all the more frightening. Ultimately, displacing this fear in such a way will distract someone from the real fear itself, and it will never be confronted and, hence, abolished. Only in confronting fear itself can one dispel this fear, and that can be the most daunting task of all. People like to be scared because it speaks to a primal part of them and gives them a chance to become brave. I enjoy creating a situation that both makes people shiver and tempers their will in the long run.

 
Q. What are some of your personal favorite horror writers?
 

A. Anyone who knows me knows that my absolute favorite horror writer (and favorite any-kind-of writer) is Edgar Allan Poe. He created such beautiful images with his words, and his style inspires me to attempt to create an oil painting with my own prose. Poe was capable of creating pure terror and salvation in the same piece. The truer meanings of his works are what are most remarkable to me. To create horror that is also symbolic has become a paramount task of mine. He was also quite capable of writing hilarious works, and I encourage everyone to read The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether. It is one of the funniest things I have ever read. Thomas Harris–who created Hannibal Lecter–is also a favorite of mine. His blunt delivery of horrific words and concision in his work have inspired me to attempt to write the perfect sentence every time, to titillate the reader without becoming overly verbose. Also on my list is possibly my favorite living artist: Guillermo del Toro. He tries to create a deep, artistic meaning to his work that is also meant to be utterly terrifying and disgusting. If you haven’t read The Strain books, which he co-authored with Chuck Hogan, I highly recommend the trilogy. It’s a different, creepy take on vampires, and it is highly satisfying.

 
Q. What types of writing were you involved in before the novel?

 
A. As I have been involved in writing Immolation Finale since I was quite young, I’m sure plenty of people can imagine the types of stories I was writing beforehand. My seventh grade teacher introduced me to creative writing in a new, fresh way that I had never considered before. As such, my sense of humor was my first medium for this creation. I was writing stories that I should have gotten in trouble for, but the lack of censorship allowed me to want to keep writing. One of the few stories I can recall involved a group of school kids who found a treasure map. I’m sure there were plenty of scenes along their journey that wouldn’t have been allowed in most classes, and in the end they learned that the X marked a broken condom machine that was constantly giving out free wares. Being able to write stories like this was more than important to my life as a writer. If I had been in a class with a teacher who was constantly telling me I couldn’t do that, it would have potentially made me dislike the craft itself. It was only when I was older, and I had found old hand-drawn books that I had created as a child, that I realized I had been a writer as soon as I could write. The reintroduction I had to writing in seventh grade made me realize that writing could be both fun AND professional. That’s what made me the writer I am today. It’s also worthy to note that my sense of humor has managed to sneak its way into my adult works exactly where it is needed.

 
Q. Immolation Finale is subtitled (Volume 1) – does this mean we can be expecting a sequel in the future? Is it part of a longer series?
 

A. Yes, there will be a sequel. I have been writing it for the past year or so, although it has been cooking in my head for almost as long as Immolation Finale. There will be almost an entirely new cast of characters, with one exception. The returning character is a secret, for all potential readers out there, but the sequel will delve into the supernatural matters happening behind the scenes of the first book that were only hinted at and kept mysterious. I hope that readers will be excited to learn more, while still not quite learning everything. I do plan to write a third in the series, but it will not be set until thirteen years or so after the first two, and I plan to write other books while those years transpire in the real world. If readers like my work, I’m sure that will be a giant tease, but rest assured, it will be worth it.

 
Q. Do you think the horror is of a more brutal and gory in your face sort in Immolation Finale, or a creepy, sneak up behind you shivers down your spine type, or some combination of the two? 
 

A. There is no doubt that the horror in Immolation Finale is in your face at times. As stated before, I try to create an oil painting with my words, and that goes for the gore as well. I grew up with Mortal Kombat, and gore has always been a wicked thrill for me. I enjoy making people cringe, or making them smile gleefully as I do. Certain images were an attempt for me to emulate the ghastliest scenes ever to be described of Hell, sights straight from your worst nightmares. That being said, I do at times try to create the feeling that there is some dark shadow standing over your shoulder, watching you as you read, coming ever so close to placing its twisted fingers on your frame. I enjoy creating a scene that sends shivers down a reader’s spine, and I try to do it whenever possible.

 
Q. Where can our readers find you, and your writings on the internet?
 

A. Immolation Finale is an independently published book available from my Createspace e-Store, Amazon.com, Kindle, and Barnes and Noble. If anyone would like to read a brief preview of Immolation Finale, you can find it at this address:https://www.createspace.com/pub/community/give.review.do?id=1121882&rewrite=true Interested readers can find my page on Facebook and can follow me on Titter: @SteveGrilliot . I may start a blog in the future, but I currently don’t have one. If I start a blog I will direct readers to it through my Facebook page and Twitter. I hope that I have piqued interests here today, and I hope that I see some new followers online.

 
Q. Is there anything you’d like our readers to know that we haven’t covered yet?
 

A. If you are a reader who is interested in subjects of horror such as witchcraft, werewolves, vampires, and ghosts, I think you will like my work. Take a shot with my first book; I’m sure you will be satisfied with the time spent reading, and I hope you will end up longing for more. I plan to write some sci-fi works in the future as well, so if you are a fan of that genre, you may be interested in taking a look at my horror works as they come out. And if you are interested in what I have said here today, feel free to stop by on Facebook or on Twitter. If you have any questions, I’ll try to keep up with answering them. I hope to create some future fans, and I will enjoy seeing each new one I get. Thank you all for reading my words this far.

 

Independent Publishing up for discussion on the Dinner Party Show

Starring me! And Justin Simpson, and Michael Varrati, Buffie Peterson, Ran Valerhon and some other people… but mostly me. ME ME ME! DANG IT!

As a part a special edition of The Dinner Party Show where hosts Eric Shaw Quinn and Christopher Rice will be highlighting the questions, interests and lives of their regular and loyal listeners – this blogger included – the two prominent authors will be discussing self-publishing with the viewers.

From the Dinner Party Show Facebook page:

This should prove a fascinating discussion. Eric published his novel SAY UNCLE as an e-book entirely on his own, and Christopher is in the process of doing the same with A DENSITY OF SOULS, now that he has the rights back. I’m sure they’d love to discuss the ins and outs of this side of the business.

This discussion was prompted by a question by Justin Simpson, who just finished writing his first novel manuscript back in January.  What are the challenges and benefits of self-publishing? Tune in Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 5pm Pacific Time to join the discussion.

Dinner Party Show Promo – Two Free Books Sunday!

In honor of this special edition of the Dinner Party Show staring its guests (including me) I am for the first time, making both of my Kindle Select titles available FOR FREE all day on Sunday, March 31, 2013.

THE MOON CRIED BLOOD

ISBN-10: 147510510X
ISBN-13: 978-1475105100

It is said that the Wolf may howl at the Moon, but the Moon never howls at the Wolf. In the gritty urban streets of Los Angeles in 1975, Leticia Gordon is forced to come to terms with many things: the tragic death of her stepmother and baby sister in a car accident, fear she’ll wind up in foster care, and the sudden revelation she belongs to a long line of powerful witches known as Luna – who exhibit first power upon reaching womanhood. Running from foes natural and supernatural, will her new found powers be the turning point that elevates her position of honor, or will it destroy her like the dark forces that consumed her father? In a world turned upside down where time itself seems in flux, in whom can she trust?

REVIEWS:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very powerful imagery September 29, 2012

By M. E. Valenzuela
Format:Paperback

Cycles of the moon, Generations of women, a young woman unaware of her incredible gift. A delicate weaving of history, character development and esoteric overlay that makes for an interesting saga. I read it twice, I missed a lot in the first round with all the symbolism. A lot of work went into the background and technical aspects of the writing itself and it shows.

 WARMTH

ISBN-10: 1475105142
ISBN-13: 978-1475105148

“I hate the dead. They have no self-control” – Sera. She is ghula – one of the extremely long-lived though not immortal flesh eaters whose lives can end in only one way – in resurrection as a hungry, ambulatory corpse who will spend the short days of its unlife rotting, eating, and infecting as many as possible. Sera compares her life to a dark comedy – trapped with an unwanted pregnancy for the past 600 years, constantly afraid that the fetus will die and go zombie in-utero, always cold and constantly running a fever like every other ghoul on the planet. Luckily, two things in life sustain her: her joy in hunting and destroying the Dead, and the constant seeking of comfort in warmth.

5.0 out of 5 stars  Suspenseful, campy gore!  September 29, 2012
By M. E. Valenzuela


Another book I had trouble putting down, I stayed up until dawn totally blown away by all the interesting twists in the story. The characters are compelling, well thought out and unique. Not everything is what it seems and no matter how much you try to hide it, reality has a way of catching up with you in sometimes thoroughly gruesome ways. It was one hell of a ride, sad to see it end. If you have a sick sense of humor, add this to your must read list!


 

 5.0 out of 5 stars  PAGE TURNER….  February 2, 2013




By MELODY TAYLOR


A great book with a good balance of grotesque and intellect. It’s realistic & unbelievably well-thought-out. Sumiko not only indulges our present intrigue of zombies and vampires, but brings to life the possibilities & disasters that would come from an actual virus outbreak. These pages involve multiple spooky stories that almost kept me up at night. The one thing that really drew me in was all the micro climax or suspense scenes, but here are surely a few twists & turns.

This book also shows that Sumiko has a great grasp on many global cultures, predicting in intensely realistic detail every country’s reaction to an outbreak. This book is as much about the world’s economic breakdown as it is blood & guts. It reminds us the importance of surpassing petty differences & coming together as one. Whether you’re a zombie freak or not, this book gives you something to think about.

Gosh.. what am I doing again?

I photograph art, like this awesome mural by CRP Bay Area

So – I got a job working at the Examiner.com, first of all, and if you happen to be in Oakland, I write about the Oakland Art Scene. Oakland, California, USA that is. So check me out:

I write about local visual, performing, musical and literary arts. I get to go to art galleries, coffee houses, bookstores, and other cool places, take photos, and write about them. Yes, kind of like my dream job, right? It is fun.

You can subscribe there if you’d like to follow me. Here is a link to the index:

http://www.examiner.com/art-scene-in-oakland/sumiko-saulson

These articles are all on the many wonderful creative activities in my neighborhood.

So.. that’s one thing I am doing.

Another thing is, this thing:

They said:

“WE WANT YOU. This Sunday, YOU’RE THE GUEST, and that means YOU get to decide what news stories Christopher and Eric will cover during The hor d’Oeuvres segment at the top of the LiveCast! Troll the headlines, post your stories here on the page, and I shall be monitoring how they’re received by the other “Dinner Partiers”. By week’s end, I, Shea Butters, manservant to Christopher and Eric, shall cull the nominees. Help us make this show as listener-generated as possible.

Cordially,

Shea Butters”

So I made this:

So that on Sunday, you would listen to this:

http://thedinnerpartyshow.com/

Another thing I am supposed to be doing is interviewing this guy:

Stephane A. Grilliot, author of

Immolation Finale

Steve Grilliot

The news reports in New Orleans have been quite grim for the past two weeks with stories of what have become known as The Red Lake Murders, a series of killings taking place in the heart of the city. Rumors have spread throughout the city that the victims were all disposed of in a particularly gruesome fashion and that a witch is behind the killings, more specifically, a practitioner of Voodoo. Whether he likes it or not, a paranormal investigator named Dirk is about to be dragged into a daunting series of events that may very well bring him face to face with a killer who abducts his victims off of the streets and murders them in the most horrible ways.

I am also having this contest:

http://sumikosaulson.com/2013/03/04/seasons-of-screaming-the-scary-spring-faerie-contest/

NO ONE IS ENTERING MY CONTEST.

THAT BUMS ME OUT.

That is all.

Happy Spring EquinamyBirthday

Today is my birthday. It’s also the first day of spring.

I’m giving you a present for my birthday. “Warmth” is free all day today…

Get it right here:
http://www.amazon.com/Warmth-ebook/dp/B007PGLGJ6/

“I hate the dead. They have no self-control” – Sera. She is ghula – one of the extremely long-lived though not immortal flesh eaters whose lives can end in only one way – in resurrection as a hungry, ambulatory corpse who will spend the short days of its unlife rotting, eating, and infecting as many as possible. Sera compares her life to a dark comedy – trapped with an unwanted pregnancy for the past 600 years, constantly afraid that the fetus will die and go zombie in-utero, always cold and constantly running a fever like every other ghoul on the planet. Luckily, two things in life sustain her: her joy in hunting and destroying the Dead, and the constant seeking of comfort in warmth.

And you can have a virtual slice of me (and Greg’s) birthday cakes.

It’s Here! Agrippa (the comic) on paper!

I am pretty excited! The full-color paper proof versions of the Agrippa comic came in today. They’re in two different sizes, and it seems that the 8 x 10 version looks best (most like a comic book). Here’s some pictures of me excitedly waving them around: