Mark Tullius's Blog, page 11

Episode 173: Detox, Duolingo, and Defensiveness

A recent yoga detox program helped me kick a bad habit which has given me time to dive back into Duolingo and focus even more on my fiction.

A reminder that Try Not to Die: In the Wizard's Tower is free Aug 4-Aug 8 on Kindle - https://geni.us/FeAfAJ4

Thank you to everyone for last week's supportive emails. Those and a conversation with my wife helped me realize how defensive I'd been with the whole religion issue.

Midsummer Scream was a lot of fun but the best part was talking with other HWA authors. I'm excited a TNTD: Abducted by Aliens is being developed because of it.

(16:10) The next 3 chapters of Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic narrated by A.J. Carter

Episode 172: Regret, Religion, and Respect

I'm excited that J. Campbell is creating three new book covers for me. He is the artist who did Ain't No Messiah, several other book covers, along with building Derek the Demon and multiple animated projects. I love collaborating with friends.

Untold Mayhem is on sale for $0.99 Kindle UK/US - https://geni.us/Untold

(5:15) How much regret do you feel you'll have on your deathbed?

(12:15) How I view religion and why it shouldn't matter to anyone else.

(18:10) Listen to the next 3 chapters of Try Not to Die: in the Pandemic narrated by A.J. Carter

Episode 171: Loving the Library

A quick episode so I can rush off and enjoy my weekend.

I made good progress on TNTD: In the Wild West and hope to have the cover for that and Dethfest created next week.

Stopped by my hometown library to drop off some books and remember what it was like going there as a kid.

A reminder that Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic is free on Kindle through July 25

Free on Kindle https://geni.us/PandemicBook$2.99 audio at Chirp - https://geni.us/PandemicAudio (7:10) Listen to the next 3 sections of Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic narrated by A.J. Carter.

Episode 170: How to Handle Summer

I'm back in California and excited to be working on TNTD: In the Wild West. Five hours of writing on the flight home was enough to have me map out the book.

While trying to figure out the best way to handle summer with my son, I put him through the first 4 scenes from the Wild West using his action figures as our characters.

Keeping this short so I can return to writing and work on some Amazon ads.

The next three sections of Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic narrated by A.J. Carter

 

Episode 169: Hanging in Hawaii and Sucking at Surfing

Today's episode's a short one as I'm on vacation in Maui.

On the plane ride over I made a lot of progress on Try Not to Die: In the Wild West and I've enjoyed reading Duncan Ralston's In Every Dark Corner.

We've had a nice blend of relaxing along with early morning yoga sessions, snorkeling and surf lessons as a family.

(11:15) I share the next two sections from Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic narrated by A.J. Carter.

Episode 168:John Palisano on Trying Not to Die

This week's special guest is John Palisano, a Bram Stoker Award® winning author, the coauthor of Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic and TNTD: In the Wild West, and the president of the Horror Writers Association.

We discuss the collaboration process, how hard it can be writing death scenes, his rereleased novel Dust of the Dead and how being sick growing up played a part in it. 

John also shares his writing routine and advice on social media, answers questions from Kevin Anderson, and talks about the Horror Writers Association.

At the end of the interview we play three chapters from our Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic which is narrated by A.J. Carter

Check out John's work at his website

Check out the Horror Writers Association

Episode 167: Mareike Schröder Visiting From Germany

My special guest is Mareike Schröder, the host of Child of the Library podcast, which is full of full of bookish stories, news and recommendations. Although we had been on each other’s podcast before, and we meet at the Frankfurt Buchmesse, it was such a fun experience to have her and her husband Micha spend the day with us.

(2:15) Had fun helping them develop their book idea.

(4:20) We talk about Mareike’s Child of the Library podcast and why she records it in English. but mostly reading literature in English. Here is her podcast on Apple

(12:10) If there are any authors she prefers to read in German

(13:10) Americans versus Germans.

(15:30) What a cool trip they just completed around the western US.

(21:40) How they like to capture their vacations.

(25:20) I share the short story "31 Others" taken from Morsels of Mayhem which is narrated by Gabriel Michael.

TBI Tuesday: Part 3 (Chapters 5 & 6 of TBI or CTE: What the Hell is Wrong with Me?)

This is the third installment of the special TBI Tuesday series. Every Tuesday for 6 weeks, I'm sharing chapters from my book TBI or CTE: What the Hell is Wrong with Me? and discuss them afterward.

This week I play Chapters 5 and 6, narrated by Derek Dysart.

Afterward I discuss how much I appreciated my time with Michael Poorman and Scott McQuary, the importance of a support system, and why I won't allow my children to have any repeated blows to the head.

Episode 166: Brian Asman (Writer, Actor, Producer)

Brian Asman is a writer, actor, and producer from San Diego, CA. He’s the author of the hit indie novella Man, Fuck this House (recently optioned by a major streaming service).

I've had the pleasure of working a few conventions and panels with him and wanted to talk to him about:

The amount of work he has put into his career and why he says yes to opportunity.

The importance of swag and confidence.

Grappling with depression, insecurity, and other struggles while staying positive and productive.

How writing helps him, and much more

I usually add one of my short stories at the end of the episode but instead will direct you to Brian's recent reading at Ghoulish - Here's that video

Here is Brian's website - Brian Asman Books

TBI Tuesday Part 2 (Chapters 3 and 4 of TBI or CTE: What the Hell is Wrong with Me?)

This is the second installment of the special TBI Tuesday series. Every Tuesday for 6 weeks, I'm sharing chapters from my book TBI or CTE: What the Hell is Wrong with Me? and discuss them afterward.

This week I play Chapters 3 and 4, narrated by Derek Dysart.

Afterward I discuss what a mess I had been living in Vegas, what my initial conversation with Dr. Alison Gordon revealed, and the importance of seeking out therapy and taking an honest assessment of our mental health.

Here is the website for the Dr. Mark Gordon’s TBI Help Now - https://tbihelpnow.org/