Matthew Dean Cole's Blog, page 3

Throughts on Abode of The Damned

I have recently been reviewing some reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and I thought now was a good time to address some reviewers points, questions, and ideas in a open discussion. What writing Abode of The Damned has reinforced in me is that genre readers are not overly favorable of the ambiguous ending. Oh sure, in traditional literary fiction some authors can and do pull it off as long as the protagonist’s actions are more meaningful than they appear which evoke an emotional and intellectual response in the reader. Ah, but alas, I do not live in that world. I dwell in the here in the dark where the Knock Out ending rules. The protagonist decisively triumphs or fails. In the end, there are no loose ends – no mystery remains.

So then, how is Abode of the Damned repaired? “What if?” begins the wheels turning.

Does the portal take Cole and Lucy deeper into Hell as one reader/reviewer suggested or is the escape accomplished? Perhaps neither, and Cole and Lucy end up somewhere else – Chaos for example – with no physical form. Can the rebellion in Hell be tied closer to the fate of Lucy and Cole? What if the portal in the Black Mountains is an elaborate decoy and not the true escape route? What if Lucy is not who she appears and was never human?

Your thoughts?

Tagged: Q & A, Reviews

Thoughts on Ghost Drums

I have recently been reviewing some reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and I thought now was a good time to address some reviewers points, questions, and ideas in a open discussion. A couple of things that came up in the reviews of Ghost Drums were (1) some readers wished the work was longer, even a full length novel and (2) there were a couple of questions regarding the fate of the savage girl.

While an expanded edition of Ghost Drums into novella or novel length was never intended, I can’t say I am opposed to the idea and it has gotten some wheels turning deep within the dark creative powers of my cerebrum. Will these wheels bare fruit, I can’t say just yet.

What I can tell you is what has been intended is a collection or ongoing collections of short stories featuring Lazarus and other vampires who occupy the same universe. Characters would know of one another and crossover into each other tales. The series is to be called Immortal Nights. The preview of At The Throat of God, which is experiment in how these tales might look in graphic novel form, introduces a few of these other vampires.

As for the savage girl, the first reviewer below was on the right track. The last few lines of the story:

“The ghost drums then faded under the roar of the flames as the apparitions dissolved into the night and I was left to wonder what would be my inspiration? Who or what would awaken the passion of the Lazarus of old?

The veins of the child’s throat surged against her skin as she tensed in her delirium.”

So, what I meant to insinuate here, is yes, the savage girl does become a companion of Lazarus and through this resurrects his old self. Was this too ambiguous?

There is at least one planned story with Lazarus and the savage girl, who is yet unnamed, to occur in the late 20th century or early 21st century, which would make her approximately 150 year old and a mature vampire who has come into her own.

Some Reviewer’s Comments:

“And what about the savage girl? What happens to her? Is she the key to helping awaken the Lazarus of old or just another meal?”

“I wished the story had been longer and fleshed out even more. Additionally, the ending was a little confusing; I found myself especially wondering about the young savage girl: What every happened to her?’

Your thoughts?

Tagged: Q & A, Reviews

Ghost Drums & The Blood of Cowards Free Oct 6th – 8th

Ghost Drums Free in the Kindle store Oct 6 & 7.

The Blood of Cowards Free in the Kindle store Oct 6th – 8th.

Abode of The Damned FREE this weekend (Sep 29 & 30) in the Kindle store

FREE this weekend (Sep 29 & 30) in the Kindle store

Abode of The Damned is a short story about an executed convict, Cole Sunger, who arrives in Hell amidst an demon uprising. His only chance of escape is a portal hidden in a cave within the Black Mountains. So, together with his new found companions, Clancy and Lucy, Cole attempts a daring escape in quest to reach the portal.

Review of Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti

I first discovered Thomas Ligotti in the pages of Weird Tales and was happy to see this collection available. There is a sense of “Lovecraftianess” to Ligotti’s style of prose, yet unlike lovecraft’s work, you will find no tentacles or tombs here. The strange and quirkiness of these stories lies beneath the ordinary much like Rod Sterling’s Twighlight Zone. Teatro Grottesco is a worthy collection of the dark and weird and a satisfying introduction to Ligotti’s short fiction.

Ghost Drums – Free Download Sep 2nd & 3rd

Ghost Drums – Free Download Sep 2nd & 3rd in the kindle store.

Ghost Drums is short story about a vampire, Lazarus Kalon, intent upon stealing the power of a shape shifter, a shaman of the Kwakiutl people. Yet, there is another supernatural being, one that haunts the Kwakiutl and who has become very aware of Lazarus presence.

Ghost Drums seamlessly blends traditional vampire lore with native mythology.

Abode of The Damned – Free In The Kindle Store Aug 25th & 26th

Now available FREE in the Amazon Kindle store Aug 25th & 26th only.

Abode of The Damned is a short story about an executed convict, Cole Sunger, who arrives in Hell amidst an demon uprising. His only chance of escape is a portal hidden in a cave within the Black Mountains. So, together with his new found companions, Clancy and Lucy, Cole attempts a daring escape in quest to reach the portal.

“Matt Cole’s prose is vividly poetic. The dark has never been so tantalizing.”

Abode of The Damned will be a free download in the Amazon...

Abode of The Damned will be a free download in the Amazon Kindle store on July 21st & 22nd.

http://www.amazon.com/Abode-of-The-Da...

The Blood of Cowards Free Weekend July 7th & 8th

The Blood of Cowards will be a FREE download in the Kindle store July 7th & 8th.

Tagged: Amazon, Free, Kindle, Promotion, Short Fiction

The Blood of Cowards will be a FREE download in the Kind...

The Blood of Cowards will be a FREE download in the Kindle store July 7th & 8th.