S.A. Check's Blog, page 5

Last Zombie Standing Snippet #2

Hi all and welcome to another Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday – the best kind of Saturday’s there are. Last week, SFFSat turned four and had a great turn out of writers and authors displaying their wares. I decided to put a short story I’ve been working on out there, Last Zombie Standing, and I’m continuing with it this week, so if you want to catch the first part, just hit last week’s link on my site. Make sure that you  stop over and visit the main site by clicking here - SciFiFanSatand visit all of the great offerings by some equally great writers. Enjoy the weekend and I hope you enjoy this snippet. Please feel free to leave a comment afterwards, feedback for writers is like tipping your waiter. ______________________________________________________________           “Zulu-2’s already falling apart,” the general barked through Zulu-2’s suit mike.           “Sir?”  Kingston’s voice crackled from Zulu-1’s shoulder mike.  “I think his ear became dislodged while taking off the helmet, otherwise they seem to be withstanding the atmosphere.”           “It ripped its own ear off?  What kind of zombies did you get me for this mission?” the general growled.          “They’re both Z.G.I. rated, sir,” Kingston answered.  “They adhered to all mission specs, no missing parts and an acceptable stage of decay.”          “The blasted things better keep it together.  Lose those suits, soldiers.”           Following their commands, the necronauts stripped away the remaining bulky space gear to reveal a more conforming lunar camouflaged jumpsuit underneath.  Zulu-1’s blond hair had been trimmed into a military style flattop with several clumps missing from his scalp.  Blackened pupils offset his pale flesh as darkened veins strayed haphazardly from the creases around his mouth.  There wasn’t enough hair to give Zulu-2 a proper military cut and his pale head shimmered against the backdrop of space, a scar ran from his missing right ear along his cheek and chin.  They hungrily sniffed the air around them.
And there you have it – this week’s contribution. Nothing like a couple zany necronauts out for a stroll on the moon. But what is this mission and why are we using zombies for space exploration? The answer may surprise you.  Thanks for reading and expect my next novel – Maxx Fragg, V.P.I. out this September from Ink Smith Publishing. See you in seven!

Last Zombie Standing Snippet #1

Happy 4th Anniversary to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. This is a great site with some truly remarkable people that I've been lucky to participate in for the past few years. When I saw the post, I wanted to make sure I contributed this week. Here's a short story WIP I've been tinkering with tentatively titled Last Zombie Standing. Special thanks to Laurel Kriegler for starting and running the site and her continued support of its authors. It's definitely appreciated. Hope you enjoy the snippet and make sure you stop over at the main site - SciFiFanSat - to check out all of the fantastic authors contributing this week.
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          A man’s voice crackled from the tiny speaker bracketed to the ship.

          “Let’s crack this egg.”          Dust flared as the landing ramp touched down into the gray sod surrounding the lunar module and the seal of an outside hatch hissed as foreign atmospheres met.  Two explorers stepped down the ramp to the surface, their over-sized suits plodding away from the landing site.           “Okay cowboys, strip off those helmets.”            A second voice, sounding nervous and lacking the authoritative tone of his counterpart, cut into the transmission and said, “Cease..desist…I mean, disregard that order.”           “This is an authorized only channel,” the first man barked.           “It’s Kingston,sir, with Research and Development.”            “Kingston, get off the mike!”          “But, general, we don’t know if they can withstand the pressure.”          “I want those helmets off…now!”          The two men obediently snapped open the hinges on the necks of their suits, slowly pulling their protective headgear away. The robotic scout following behind captured their movements with a top mounted relay camera. One of the men looked up at the surrounding stars, the decayed flesh pulling away from his cheek bone in the lowered gravity landscape. The other necro-naut watched as his ear floated listlessly in front of his face as he made a clumsy grab for it before it floated out of reach._____________________________________________________________          And there you have it - I hope you enjoyed it. I'll try to follow up with this short and post some more snippets from it. As always, comments are appreciated. I'll have a new novel out this September and will post from it closer to the release. Thanks for reading and have a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Maxx Fragg - SciFiFanSat - 02/07/15

 Another weekend – another Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. A place where writers of fantastical places and people come together to share their stories – one snippet at a time. Don’t believe me – well just click on over to the main site SciFiFanSatand find out for yourself. Got a story of your own? Share some of your own writing and get some feedback along the way.  This week, I’m still sharing from Maxx Fragg, V.P.I. as Maxx and Tane set up the final act before their surprise guest arrives. Flip back and visit my previous posts from Maxx Fragg if you want to stay caught up. Thanks and enjoy. ______________________________________________________
“Okay, Tane, set up the call.”
Grabbing a black box from his bag, Tane positioned it on the ground next to the stone fireplace.
They both agreed that attention to detail was crucial to pull off jobs but Tane took it to an O.C.D. level at times. Maxx turned to a set of patio doors and the lights of the city below them. Row after row of neon skyscrapers lined the landscape stretching out to the horizon under a dull purple evening sky. The streets below pulsed with endless lines of traffic, diverting and streaming along paved circuit boards, individual bits of data following personal programs. At times, staring into its expanse, it was easy for Maxx to forget it was all fake, a virtual world built out of memory bytes and data chips. Like the advertisements said, within the world of Other Syde, your only limits were your own imagination.
Maxx realized Tane was still fiddling with the cube and snapped, “Anytime this life?”
Tane adjusted it again and stepped back, only to bend down and move it once more. “Ready.”
Maxx’s pulse quickened. His heart thumped against his chest as he braced the modified water cannon against his shoulder, flipping off the safety. Three blue targeting dots zigzagged across the room.
Maxx leaned into the sights and said, “On your call.”__________________________________________________________________
Who’s got their money on what’s answering that call? Telemarketer? Avon lady? Door to door encyclopedia salesman? Stop back next week and follow along. Thanks for reading and please leave a comment along the way – it’s like tipping your literary waiter. Take care and see you in seven.

Maxx Fragg, V.P.I. SFFSat snippet - 01/31/15

Welcome back to another edition of everyone’s favorite weekend read along episode of Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. It’s a place where writers of sci-fi and fantasy get to share some of their writing snippets and hopefully a few fans of the genres can check out some cool excerpts. Make sure you make your way over to the main site by clicking here – SciFiFanSat – and enjoy all the site has to offer. You’ll be glad you did. This week I’m continuing to share from my work Maxx Fragg, V.P.I. as Maxx and his partner Tane are setting up to perform an exorcism for a young couple who’ve hired them to extricate an unwanted visitor. _________________________________________________________________
Debbie raised her hand and asked, “Would it be okay if I just darted to the lady’s room first?”
“The process has already started,” Maxx said.
“But…” Debbie persisted.
Maxx secured the detecting rod in his bag and withdrew a long barreled shotgun with a plastic cylinder attached to each side. “You can put your hand down now.”
Pumping the stock, a neon gel flowed through the tubing running the length of the barrel. Maxx hit a button and the liquid energized, bubbling as it flowed the course of the weapon. The couple simultaneously pulled their feet off the floor.
It was time for Maxx to set up the final act.
“You’re entirely safe as long as my partner and I are here,” Maxx said. 
“They’re professionals, babe.” Travis reassured her with a half-hearted smile.
Debbie dug her nails into the couch.
They needed to get through the rest of this job without any more hitches. Debbie was on the verge of crying and Maxx knew Tane’s concentration shattered at the sight of a girl’s tears.
Will they get more than they bargained for? Are Maxx and Tane up to the task? Tune in next week for another round of Sci-Fi snippet goodness and find out. As always, comments are not only welcome but truly appreciated. Enjoy the weekend and see you in seven.

SFFSat Snippet - Maxx Fragg - 01/24/15

Welcome back to another Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday – a place where writers share snippets of their ongoing and published works with the internet community at large. Make sure you stop over at the main site by clicking this link SciFiFanSat to check out all the ultra-cool writing happening over there. This week my contribution is from Maxx Fragg, V.P.I., following Maxx and his partner as they set up to perform an “exorcism” for a young couple who’ve called upon their services. Enjoy!________________________________________________________________________________
Maxx pulled a metal rod from his bag. Standing next to the couple, he flipped a switch on the base, holding it high over his head. The staff hummed and vibrated like a radioactive tuning fork sending palpable energy out into the air around the room. Maxx swung it over Travis and Debbie’s heads and they both instinctively ducked. They were like two kids watching their first fireworks display and Maxx was the guy lighting the wicks. There wasn’t much furniture in the apartment, a sign they hadn’t lived there long, and Maxx read the digital display on the club’s handle.
Satisfied, Maxx brushed his hand over his spiked hair, trying to express some concern. “You’ve definitely got a presence here. Readings are off the charts.”
Pulling a notepad from his tactical vest, he scribbled down some notes. Maxx drew a smiley face with a frown and tears streaming down both cheeks. Underneath his sketch he wrote Travis. 
Think the job will go off without any problems. Yeah, me neither. I hope you enjoyed the read and come back next week as things heat up. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. It’s always appreciated. Have a great weekend!

#SFFS - Maxx Fragg - 01/17/15

Hi and welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday - a place where authors of their respective genres get together to share snippets of their work and exchange a few comments along the way. Make sure that you stop at the home page and check out the links to all the great writing contributed by a group of really great writers.

Way back when, okay September, I started sharing snippets from my work, Maxx Fragg, V.P.I., and kind of left off after the first one. I'm picking up from there and this week we find Maxx and his partner in the apartment of a young couple who called on them for their unique services.
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          “Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea?” Debbie’s hand twitched against her boyfriend’s knee.

Travis brushed his hand through her hair. “We contacted him, honey. They say he’s the best.”
She sighed. “It’s just not what I expected. It’s all so…clinical. They didn’t even draw a pentagram.”
Everyone had their own pre-conceived notions of how to get rid of a ghost. Maxx heard them all, séances, sprinkle salt along the door, burn sage, hire a bunch of meddling kids, craft some pottery together. He’d probably find it all funnier if he actually believed in any of it.
Travis and Debbie wanted to leave as soon as Maxx and his partner arrived at the apartment but Maxx convinced them to stay. There was no showmanship in coming back to a ghost free home based just on his word and some lines arching across a digital readout. No, they needed the full hands on experience and Maxx made sure they had front row seats.______________________________________________Well - that's this week's snippet - I hope you enjoyed it. As always, comments are not only welcome but eagerly awaited. Have a great weekend and thanks for reading. 

Maxx Fragg, V.P.I. SFFSat Snippet - between the shadows and the night...

Hey! I missed the memo! It’s the last weekend of summer and Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday is back and running strong and NO LIMIT SNIPPETS! This week only! What is SciFiFanSat you ask? Well it’s a group of writers and authors who share their ongoing and published works one snippet of ten to fifteen sentences at a time over at the main site – SciFiFanSat.blogspot.com. Make sure you stop on over and check out all the great writing posted there! I haven’t posted in a quite some time and I’m looking forward to sharing from my work – Maxx Fragg, V.P.I.  Plagued by the guilt of his brother’s death, Maxx escapes into the ground breaking virtual world known as Other Syde only to find real ghosts haunting that digital plane. Here’s the opening page…or so – enjoy!      _____________________________________________________________
          Tucked between the shadows and the night, in a darkened corner of the room, Maxx Fragg watched the young couple huddled on the couch. They had no idea what he had in store for them.  He almost felt sorry. Almost. He watched as Travis stroked Debbie’s hand, whispering something in her ear. Maxx locked eyes with Debbie as he moved across the apartment. He saw the desperation mixed with fear in her eyes and grinned. He liked it that way. Pulling a pair of black gloves from his belt, Maxx cinched them tight around his wrists. The rush of adrenaline rose up from his chest. This was far from his first job but he still got a thrill. He clicked the lamp off and the room went black.
          Debbie gasped. “Can’t we leave a few lights on?”
          “I prefer to work in the dark. It helps me concentrate,” Maxx said. It really didn’t matter but he felt it intensified the experience.
          “I think I’d rather see what’s coming.” Travis pulled a cushion on his lap, clutching the fabric.
          “Why? You expecting a pillow fight?” Maxx dropped the equipment bag slung over his shoulder. It crashed to the floor next to the couch. 
          Debbie jumped. “What are you going to do with that?”
          “What I’m being paid to do. My job.” Maxx looked across the room at his partner, who shook his head in disapproval. Bending down next to the couch, Maxx slowly unzipped the duffel bag. He was close enough to Debbie to see the goose bumps on her arm rise with each click.
          “I don’t care what it takes. Just get that thing out of my house,” Travis said.
          “Don’t worry. You’ll be ghost free in no time.” Maxx knew his clients needed to believe he could make it better, take away their fears. If only it was that simple. Everyone wanted to name the night, put a label on their fears. He wished someone could shut the door to the monsters in his own closet.  _________________________________________________________ 
And there you have it! I hoped you enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to hearing your feedback since this is the first time I’ve posted from this work. As always comments are welcome and appreciated.  Enjoy the weekend and see you in seven! (Man, I kinda missed saying that.)

Feedback for Welcome to GreenGrass

One of the greatest rewards that an author receives from writing truly is feedback, both from fans and from the community at large.  The feedback that I've received from Welcome to GreenGrass has been tremendously positive and extremely appreciated.  So, thank you to everyone who has commented on the book, stopped by to see me at conventions and signings, sent me an email, or in any other way supported the book.  The writing community really is a tremendous place to hang your hat and I'm glad to be a part of it.

With that, I thought I'd share another review for my book from the folks over at SFReader, one of the Internet's most popular websites for speculative fiction fans.  What a great feeling to see Welcome to GreenGrass on the home page with the likes of Terry Pratchett. It's truly a rush.

Here's the link to the review - check it out! And thanks for reading!!

Welcome to GreenGrass / SFReader Review

STEIN #21 - 07/12/14

Hi, All!  Glad to be back here on Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday after a few weeks’ hiatus.  Summer is in full swing.  The days are running long and yet time seems to run even shorter.  This week I’m sharing the last snippet in my WIP – STEIN.  It’s been fun while it lasted but I think it’s time to move on.  I hope you’ve enjoyed all the snippets I’ve shared from this ongoing project.  To read all of the posts from STEIN, I have links attached to the last snippet I posted a few weeks back.  Be sure to check out all the fantastic writing over at the main site – SciFiFanSat.blogspot.com and enjoy the rest of your weekend!  ______________________________________________________________
          “Now, why did you go and break my favorite rifle?”
          The man pushed through the small crowd that had formed around Stein, who still held the carcass of the broken firearm in his hands.  In his early sixties with a long gray beard and glasses, the man stood in front of Stein grinning and waiting for an answer.
          By the attention this man drew, Stein figured him for their leader.  Experience had taught him to deal with these situations delicately or he’d find himself on the wrong end of a mob’s pitchfork.  He knew he should choose his words carefully.
          “Maybe next time I’ll break your lackey’s ne-”
           “Never mind about the gun,” Annie cut in and grabbed the rifle out of Stein’s hand while simultaneously shooting him a dirty look.  “Maybe we can fix it, Cliff.”
          “I take it this is the friend you were talking about.”  Mr. Cliff accepted the broken gun from Annie.
          “This is him, in all his grumpy glory,” Annie said.
          “Well, Mr. Stein, if Annie vouches for you then I guess you’ve found yourself a new home,” Mr. Cliff said as he extended his arm towards the garage.
          Home.  That was a word Stein hadn’t heard in a long time and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to hear again. _______________________________________________________
And there you have it!  I’d love some comments on how you felt about the story as it’s progressed so far.  I hope you’ve enjoyed it and I’ll be sharing some new material soon.  Seeya in Seven!

Welcome to GreenGrass - Sil

Welcome back to another edition of Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday!  Thanks for stopping by.  What is Sci-Fi-Fan-Sat?  Well, it’s a group of authors and writers who love sharing their writing snippets for general consumption.  You can find all the talented contributions this week over at the main site – SciFiFanSat.blogspot.com .  Stop over and check them out.  This week, I decided to take a break from the WIP I’ve been sharing from – Stein, and share another character snippet from my novel Welcome to GreenGrass.  This week we take a closer look at Sil – the near-telepath stuck in a house with a grumpy human, a demon pacifist, and a misplaced demi-god with attitude to spare.  Enjoy!________________________________________
          “I have no idea how you’re fitting all that in your mouth,” Sil said as she removed a steaming pot from the grill and poured a ladle full of thick stew into a bowl in front of Thyme.  The boy shoveled his spoon from the bowl to his mouth as quickly as his wrist allowed, splashing it all over his face and the blue jersey shirt Sil found in Traveller’s bedroom.
          “I have never eaten this large of a portion and may I have some more of the secondsthat you mentioned before?”  The boy’s words came between spoonfuls of broth.
          “Ha, you’ve already had seconds and thirds.  This is what I guess you would call fourths.  I think this should be your last of it for now though.  You can actually get sick eating too much too fast.”  Sil picked up an empty plate from the table and placed it in a large wash bowl by the window.  “I hope John won’t mind, but I think we may need to borrow another shirt until we can pick some up for you.”
          Sil stared at the wide-eyed boy hovering over the bowl, wiping the edges with his fingers.  On her world, children were taken from their mothers directly after birth to be raised and educated in a communal group atmosphere until they were old enough to become productive members in society.  The males and females were separated so the females could learn the fine arts, political sciences, and mathematics and the males were taught the manual skills, mechanical and agricultural.  She never had the chance to contribute to her own society by endowing herself with a child before being brought to GreenGrass and never spent any time around children.  She was raised to believe the male species was subservient in all ways to females but her time in GreenGrass, specifically with Traveller, Talyn, and Bonz, had made her aware of some of the merits they possessed, ones that she was unaware of before. 
Hopefully you got your fifteen sentences worth!  If you want to check out more of Sil and the gang, you can pick up a copy of Welcome to GreenGrass over at my publisher’s – Necro Publications / Bedlam Press, Amazon, and all other major e-book retailers.  Thanks again – comments are welcome – and see you in seven!