C.E. Martin's Blog, page 23

JOINT INTERIOR-DEFENSE TASK FORCE

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

Book of Stone: JIDTF(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)

Detachment 1039 is tasked with protecting America from the supernatural and the paranormal. But doing so within the borders of the U.S. can be difficult, due to something called posse comitatus.
The Posse Comitatus Act was passed on June 18, 1878, and basically forbade Federal Armed Forces from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States. This Act has been modified over the years, allowing Armed Forces to be used in certain conditions. But overall, it would be questionable for the Army to show up in response to a supernatural serial killer and not the FBI.
The solution for Det. 1039 was to create a Law Enforcement Agency under which the Detachment could covertly work. Enter the JIDTF (“Jid-Tiff”)
Operating as Special Agents for the Department of Defense and Department of the Interior Offices of the Inspector General, Det. members are “assigned” to the Joint Task Force, yet possess Federal Law Enforcement Officer authority anywhere within the United States.
Officially, the JIDTF exists to coordinate DoD resources in support of the Department of the Interior—for example, air support for search and rescue or firefighting missions. Or the use of Bureau of Land Management lands or National Parks for Armed Forces training exercises.
Posing as agents of the Inspector Generals for the two Departments, the Detachment can respond to any portion of the U.S. offering an explanation that they are looking for misappropriated Government property, abuses of Government land or even an investigation of wildlife related matters. For example, in Book 8, Terrorcota, the team tells local authorities they are investigating the impact of a fireworks display on the fish in a river system, when actually they are searching for alchemical weapons concealed within the fireworks.
The JIDTF also has Agents and support personnel assigned from other US Departments, for example Special Agent Pam Keegan of the FBI, who is designated the Department of Justice Liason for the Task Force.
JIDTF is based in Miami, FL, at Argon Tower, on the premise that their primary area of concern is the patrolling of National Lands in the Florida Everglades by military aircraft and the use of the Everglades for training exercises.

Indiegogo!

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. Taking a break from the world of the Stone Soldiers, today's entry deals with crowdfunding.





The STONE SOLDIERS need you!
Ever wish that you could make a difference with something you enjoy? Crowdfunding makes that a reality, giving enthusiasts and fans the chance to choose projects to help succeed--with their wallets.
Kickstarter and Indiegogo are but two of several platforms that let creators virtually panhandle for funds to help their projects along. And Stone Soldiers is no different. The series needs your help.
You could follow the link to find out why, but I'll save you the time and maybe embellish it a little. 
Promotion is one of the hardest parts of indie publishing. Churning out product, even quality product, is not a guarantee of sales. People have to know you're out there to buy your stuff. That means ads. And good ads require good art. There's also print copies. The Luddites are alive and well in the 21st Century, sneering at e-readers and ignoring the 20th Century's plea to save the rain forest. They want print copies. And print copies are expensive.
That's where crowdfunding comes in. Art, Ads and Print. 
Sales where good in January and February, and moderate in March, thanks to Bookbub. But Lady Luck reared her ugly head in March, and all that hard work and royalties were used up. Now sales are falling away and the summer convention circuit is just starting. Stone Soldiers needs your help to get out there, in front of people. 
What am I looking for? $3000. But realistically speaking, even $300 would help. That's 50 hard copies to sell or send out to promote the series. Or 60 art commissions at Fiverr.com--people love art and cool art has a way better chance of being circulated on social networks than buy-my-book links.
Why should you help? Well, if you like the series and want to see it continue, you should help. It eats up nearly all my free time. The children are not happy. Thus far, I've bribed them with a major portion of my royalties. But if sales continue to drop off because I'm not able to push the series, eventually I'll have to stop. 
If you don't like Stone Soldiers, don't help. There are lots more worthy causes. Like Jackie Goehner, for example. 
If you do want to see more Stone Soldiers, there's two ways you can help. 
1. You can spread the word, and the books. That's way better than throwing some virtual pennies my way. 
2. You can pop on over to Indiegogo and pledge something. If you do, you get something in return: For your contribution, you'll receive e-copies of the books and short stories so far released: for less than what it would cost to buy them from normal ebook distributors. All of your money will go to the series, instead of just a percentage I normally would collect as a royalty. Those of you inclined can also purchase print copies of the books, although those will go through regular channels as they'll be printed-on-demand.
I'm also planning on making some unique rewards for supporters, ranging from Ace of Spades Deathcard bookmarks to challenge coins (support allowing). There may also be unique Stone Soldiers t-shirts made available as stretch goals.

In the event I don't reach the fundraising goal, what I do collect will be used as best as possible. I place greatest importance on ads, to expose the series to more readers, but those can be pricier than editing. Cover design is also a way to improve the series as could be commissioned art of the series' characters, for release as cards or mini posters. Bottom line, whatever I can collect, I'm adding to the royalties I'm already generating to make this series bigger and better.

So there you go, or rather gogo. Help an Indie, get an ebook or three. Or just pass along the word. Either is greatly appreciated.


(Stone Soldiers encyclopedia entries will return tomorrow--I couldn't think of anything from the series that starts with an "I")

Hercules

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.





Book of Stone: Hercules(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)


Imagine if you were immortal--that your body never aged, and you always seemed to recover from any wound. Imagine you were the son of petty monsters who portrayed themselves as Gods and tormented mankind for their pleasure. Imagine if you became a Christian...
The legendary character of Hercules has existed in many forms in fiction for well over a thousand years. A mythical man, the bastard son of Zeus, the "king of the gods". A mighty warrior able to defeat supernatural beasts such as the Hydra. 
Kevin Sorbo played the Son of Zeus for four seasons, showing us a Hercules who was not at all pleased with how the Olympian "gods" tormented mankind. His Hercules fought for humanity, using his prodigious strength to defend the weak. All in a pre-Roman era.
But what if Hercules had been immortal? What if he lived on, well past the lifespans of his closest human friends? What would such an immortal do. 
In Black Knight Down , we get the answer. Hercules became a Priest.
No matter where he wandered in the world, the Son of Zeus would have heard of the miracles of Christ. He could have seen firsthand the hope and help this new religion offered those who had been tormented by demons and the offspring of fallen angels. And as the Church liked to convert the most hideous of heathens, and convert pagan sites and holidays, it isn't too much of a stretch to see Earth's mightiest mortal become a man of the cloth.
Working quietly for the Church, moving from parish to parish, changing his name every few decades, Hercules did just that, finally encountering the Stone Soldiers in 2013, in a little town called Salem, in the heart of Oklahoma. Father Lee Schuler had come there to investigate the Black Knight satellite's crashing to earth, bringing with him dire warnings that the satellite must never be opened. For Hercules knew what it contained: the Titans of pre-history, evil First Born off spring of Fallen Angels and the progenitors of Zeus and his malicious Olympians. 
With Father Schuler's help, the Stone Soldiers traveled to Mount Olympus, entering a secret Temple within the mountain, where a magic portal to the true home of the Olympians was hidden away. Together, Son of Zeus and Stone Soldiers defeated the Titans and destroyed the portal, hopefully preventing the return of the last Titan.
Parting ways, Father Schuler returned to the Vatican, more than likely to assume yet another identity and continue the Church's work. But given the dark forces at work in the modern world, it may well be only a matter of time before demigod and supersoldiers cross paths once more...

Ghost Walkers

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.





Book of Stone: Ghost Walkers(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)

In a world with psychics and sorcerers, it is inevitable that the military aren't the only ones using the supernatural and the paranormal for spying. In Stone Soldiers the ultimate spies are the NSA's Ghost Walkers, astrally projecting operatives able to leave their bodies behind and travel unseen around the globe.
Leaving behind their physical bodies, Ghost Walkers exist on two planes of existence at once--the physical world and the astral plane. Lacking a physical body, Ghost Walkers rely on psychic senses to see the world around them. A world that looks very different from our own. No sunlight penetrates the astral plane of the Ghost Walkers. Instead, what they sense as light is energy--either the lifeforce of the living or the etheric energy of magical people, places or things. 
Ghost Walkers travel at the speed of thought, limited only by their self-control or willpower. Most prefer to employ a kind of flight, soaring as high as they dare. Navigation is tricky on the Astral plane. Walkers must rely on landmarks to steer them to their destinations. Returning to their bodies is far easier, taking place nearly instantaneously. 
Rather than wait for a Walker to return to their flesh-and-blood body to report on what they've seen, they are paired with telepathic handlers--agents who monitor the Walkers in real time, reading their physical minds, to which they somehow remain tethered. Some telepaths are even able to link a third person to the Walker, so that they experience what the Walker senses.
Walkers can penetrate any physical obstacle, passing through walls and fortifications with ease. They remain invisible to most, but can be seen as faint, ghost-like outlines to those with even the slightest of psychic ability. Walkers remain immaterial to most, but can be interacted with when sufficient etheric energy is present.
To protect their identity, Walkers are given code-names upon entry into the Ghost Walker program. Women are typically named for flowers, such as Daisy or Iris. Men are given other plant-like designations, such as Forrest.
When a Walker works in tandem with troops on the ground, they rely on sign language to communicate--those on the astral plane cannot interact telepathically, or speak, as their physical bodies are often thousands of miles away.
While Ghost Walkers remain immaterial to most, there have been fatalities. In 2013, Ghost Walker Daisy was killed while scouting a location in Mexico ( Blood and Stone ). A powerful magic-user there was able to physically restrain Daisy, and choked her astral form until her physical body, suffering some kind of negative feedback, or perhaps suffering from shock, died.
While the series has only revealed United States Ghost Walkers thus far, it is safe to assume that astral projection is not a uniquely American ability. Other nations or organizations may possess the same abilities. 

The Fallen

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.




Book of Stone: The Fallen(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. -Genesis 6:1-2
Super powers have to come from somewhere. And in the Stone Soldiers, that source is a very surprising one: the Nephilim. 
The Fallen are those Angels cast out from Heaven. Formerly divine beings who spent the remainder of their existence living alongside mankind. And taking mortal women as brides. This produced the Nephilim, or as the US Military of Stone Soldiers calls them, the First Born. 
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown -Genesis 6:4
Not just possessing superhuman strength like that of the legendary Samson, these half-mortal creatures were endowed with supernatural abilities ranging from shapeshifting, to weather control to even the transmutation of other objects. Many hated their mortal origins, and many posed as gods themselves. Some, like the Titans of Black Knight Down, bred amongst themselves, producing creatures mortal, yet immortal. They themselves took human brides as well, passing along their DNA and their supernatural powers to generation after generation. These successive generations are classified as Fellish.
By the 20th Century, Fellish DNA is widely circulated around the world, but in most cases recessive. It is in the Great Melting Pot of America that ancient bloodlines mix with greater frequency, unlocking ancient abilities. 
In 2013, Project Medusa successfully activated dormant Fellish DNA in a young woman named Josie Winters--unlocking her potential psychic abilities--by using a form of gene therapy to mix the DNA of a prehistoric Fellish shapeshifter with one of his descendants ( Brothers in Stone ). 
Not all paranormal abilities come from Fellish bloodlines. Colonel Mark Kenslir, the Commander of Detachment 1039, is the seventh son of a seventh son, and has been thrice-cursed, granting him a unique blend of abilities. Similarly, the Stone Soldiers themselves are, for the most part, ordinary humans subjected t a supernatural process to turn them to living stone. Other creatures also exist, transformed from human to something else by dark magic. 
America is not the only nation to possess descendants of the Fallen, but a country where cultures and peoples from around the world intermingle does produce far more parahumans--those with extraordinary abilities--than those nations with xenophobic tendencies and a dislike for foreigners.
To date a number of Fallen and Fellish beings have been identified. Elementals, Titans, Demigods, Shapeshifters and Nature Spirits. Many more no doubt exist, clinging to the shadows and plotting their next attempt to wage their never-ending war on humanity. 

Etheric Energy

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.


Book of Stone: Etheric Energy(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
Beyond the range of the scientifically-observable energies of the universe, there are energies identified by various peoples from around the world, which are related to the lifeforce of the living and of the universe. Called chi by the Chinese, pranaby the Indians, these energies remain elusive and often only theoretical in existence.
In the Stone Soldiers universe, there are two primary supernatural energies: etheric energy and chi (also referred to as ki, or qui). Chi is the lifeforce of living things, which flows through the body and which can affect the body or be affected. Etheric energy is that energy, tied to the lifeforce, which powers the supernatural and paranormal effects seen in the series. It is, in effect, the energy of magic.
In the 19th Century, Baron Carl von Reichenbach coined the term Odic Energy, God Odin of Norse mythology, to describe the vital energy or lifeforce found in all living things. Reichenbach believed that Odic energy possessed observable, electromagnetic properties. In his Researches on Magnetism, Electricity, Heat and Light in their relations to Vital Forces,Von Reichenbach further claimed that Odic energy had both a positive and negative flux--a light and dark side. He proclaimed that individuals could issue the energy from their bodies.
In Stone Soldiers, U.S. researchers have branded the energy etheric energy, owing to its ethereal, supernatural properties. They discovered that the energy could be created from chi, or used to create chi. They discovered that the element silver absorbs etheric energy, slowly releasing it over time in the same manner as radiation is released from natural materials such as uranium or plutonium. They further discovered that etheric energy is unable to pass through gold, and that other materials affected it differently, in the same manner that electrical conductivity and resistance vary by element. Amethyst crystals, combined with gold and silver have been shown in the series as capable of storing huge amounts of etheric energy for witches to use later.
Colonel Mark Kenslir, the commander of the stone soldiers, possesses the rare ability to cancel out etheric energy—weakening any spell or psychic power directed at him. A side effect of this natural ability is the emanation of a green light when etheric energy touches him, the intensity of the light matching that of the etheric force.
Jason Trumball, a ward of Dr. William King, possesses an even rarer ability—being able to draw etheric energy from people or things, then channeling that energy into his own abilities. In this fashion, Trumball is able to break curses or even reverse the effects of a curse in some instances.
Vampires in the Stone Soldiers universe do not affect etheric energy. Instead, they drain chi from living victims, then convert it into etheric energy to power their supernatural abilities, such as enhanced strength and regeneration.
And while etheric energy is often very limited, the Stone Soldiers have encountered subjects who appear to be able to tap into nearly limitless amounts—such as the First Born offspring of Fallen Angels, the Titans of Black Knight Down , or the First Born Elemental Decklaa, of Armageddon Z . But even these powerful entities reached their limits, expending more energy than they could absorb. Those limitations proved to be that of their physical bodies, which had finite storage capacities for the energy which they often expended at rates exceeding that at which they absorbed it, from whatever unknown source they were tied to.
In any event, for the Stone Soldiersseries, quantifying and identifying the energy of magic puts a limitation on the supernatural. While its uses often are fantastical, they are seldom limitless and often come with repercussions. 

Demons

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

Book of Stone: DEMONS(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)

In a book series focused on the supernatural, where the interbreeding of man and Fallen Angel is the source of most things paranormal, it may seem odd that the subject of Demons hasn’t come up before now. But just what is a demon, and where would such a creature fit in the Stone Soldiersuniverse?
In some religions, a demon is the classification for an unclean spirit, possibly a Fallen Angel, or a deceased human. The unknown nature of the demon may be what lends to their scariness: they are an unidentified, often unseen threat. Classifying a demon, quantifying it, and even imposing set limits on it makes the entity less terrifying.
In popular fiction, demons range from leathery-skinned, bat-winged monsters with lots of extra teeth and a set of ridiculous goat horns, to shadowy figures that leap in and out of bodies and stomp around haunted homes like angry ghosts. Many a ghost hunter program claims that spirits at homes are actually demons in disguise. Other accounts have demons as the overseers of Hell, tormenting the souls of the wicked for eternity. 
The likely origin for demon is the Greek word daimon, meaning a spirit of divine power. Plato described daimons in his works, inspired by Socrates. In this original context, there’s no connotation of evil. Experts claim Christianity is often accused of making the negative brand on demons, classifying them as minions of Satan. The Bible features such spirits, most notably in Christ's famous casting of unclean spirits into swine (Matthew 8:28-34). 
What then are Demons? Minions of Satan? Angry spirits with a penchant for possession? Alien-looking monsters with a burning hatred for mankind?
In Stone Soldiers, Fallen Angels are real. Their offspring, the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4), are responsible for the DNA in modern man leading to paranormal abilities--the sons of God interbreeding with humanity. Most monsters in the series, including the beings identified by the Greeks as Titans, have been revealed as nothing more than Nephilim with a hatred for mankind. For that matter, nearly all Nephilim encountered seem to have a deep hatred of humans, necessitating the creation of units like Detachment 1039 to protect mankind. 
Demons might seem to fit that category. Or are they something else?
For Stone Soldiers #9, Pale Horseman, the team will encounter a very ancient demon—one with a penchant for possession and murder, that imbues in its host an insatiable blood thirst. Possessed for centuries, the Pale Horseman has wandered the Earth, killing for the sake of killing. If this dual-natured monster can be defeated, it will open a new chapter in the series, as the men and women of Detachment 1039 begin to encounter more and more demonic beings in upcoming novels and in a new spin-off trilogy, Kingdoms of Perdition, debuting in Summer, 2014.
Spirit or Fallen, one thing remains certain, the Demons of Stone Soldiers are just as dangerous and murderous as any other monster in the series. 

Centaurs

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

BOOK OF STONE: Centaurs(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
When you think mythological creature, one of the first legendary monsters you might think of is the Centaur. Something many wouldn't even think of as a monster. Human from the hips up, with the body of a horse instead of just two legs, Centaurs have existed in literature and legend for well over a thousand years. Many accounts depict the equine beings as noble--teachers of humanity, rather than killers of the innocent. 
Greek legends have that Centaurs were the offspring of Ixion and Nephele or children of Centaurus, a cursed offspring of the Gods who mated with mares to produce the centaur race. Legends further put the Centaurs in the region of Mount Pelion in Thessaly, the Foloi forest in Ellis and the Malean peninsula in southern Laconia. 
In a universe with werewolves, vampires, witches and shapeshifters, it would seem odd if the Centaur were absent. But centaurs are indeed alive and well in the Stone Soldiers universe, but they are not the noble beings so often portrayed in fiction.
In Black Knight Down, a servant of the witches coven responsible for bringing a prehistoric satellite crashing to earth is revealed as a were-creature, able to shift back and forth from human to centaur form. Identified as "Thor", this half-man, half-horse creature served the leader of the witches, acting as her valet, chauffeur and personal body guard. The were-creature's strength and speed were superhuman, as were his abilities with a bow and arrow, but in the end, he was just as mortal as so many of the monsters in Stone Soldiers. 
In Pale Horseman (Stone Soldiers #9), the team will encounter an even more sinister Centaur--an ancient creature cursed to roam the earth for centuries, murdering the innocent to feed his addiction for death. Armed with a reaper's scythe, the Pale Horseman may well be the deadliest of foes the Stone Soldiers have yet met, as within his shapeshifting body lingers a darker, more ancient secret and an enemy that cannot be killed....
Look for a preview of Pale Horseman later this month, after the release of Stone Soldiers #8, Terrorcota

Nominate an Indie!

Here's a plea to those of you who've read Stone Soldiers, or any indie, self-published work: Nominate an Indie Author Today!

Indie AuthorLand is running a contest where readers can nominate favorite indie works. Heck, that's better than a review--it lets an Indie Author know their work is REALLY appreciated. Click on over and check it out!

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The Black Knight Satellite

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

BOOK OF STONE: Black Knight Satellite(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)

Among conspiracy followers and UFO enthusiasts, the Black Knight is an enigmatic object hanging over our planet, ignored by official agencies and having a variety of possible explanations for its origins.
Discovered during the heady days of the space race, the Black Knight appeared to be a large, artificial object in a polar orbit, in place before the U.S. or U.S.S.R. had begun launching their own artificial satellites. Even the San Francisco Examiner commented on the satellite's existence on May 14, 1954.
Amateur astronomers and conspiracy theorists continue to ponder the secret of the Black Knight over the next five decades, some claiming it to be an ancient, pre-historic construct while others claimed it to be of alien origin. 
However, in 2013, the Black Knight came down. 
Crashing near Salem, OK, the satellite, measuring nearly nine feet in diameter and thirty feet long, was covered in a crystalline black material, in which unknown symbols were etched over the entire surface. The satellite was quickly secured by the United States Air Force before a government contractor responded to the scene and the downed construct was concealed from any aerial view and examined. Within days, and after a reported attempt to steal the downed satellite, all traces of the Black Knight vanished from Oklahoma, with the government denying its existence.
Again, conspiracy theorists banded together, trying to formulate complicated explanations as to the Black Knight's existence.
But the truth was far more sinister.
An antediluvian vessel, the Black Knight had been launched into Earth's orbit millennia before, by the race known in legend as the Titans. Entombed within the satellite's interior, in a state of suspended animation, five Titans slumbered until their craft was returned to earth. Awakening, they immediately encountered the men and women of Detachment 1039. After a brief altercation that left at least one Titan dead, the remainder fled in the Black Knight to Greece, and Mount Olympus. There they hoped to activate transport to the fourth planet in the solar system, but were stopped by the Stone Soldiers.
In the aftermath, the Black Knight was moved to an undisclosed location where it and the ancient Fallen technology behind it are presumably being studied.