Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 37

GoIndieNow’s Live Panel Discussion Show at When Words Collide

Live at Words Collide Writer’s Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I was on a panel with Mark Watson (left), Joshua Pantalleresco and Joe Compton of GoIndieNow. We discuss the importance of being at book festivals, the do and dont’s for Indies at Cons and Festivals.

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Interview on The Inkhorn Society Podcast

During 2018 PureSpec festival, I was interviewed by The Inkhorn Society Podcast. The Inkhorn Society is an Edmonton-based group of writers. We are all authors at various stages in our careers that come together to help each other produce our very best work. We now open our workshop up to you. We take submissions to workshop your piece and invite you to comment as well.

Listen to the interview on The InkHorn Society Podcast

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Alive After Reading Episode 66 – Konn Lavery Returns

I am pleased to return to the Alive After Reading podcast to discuss YEGman. Listen to it on Tim Niederriter’s site.

Listen to Alive After Reading Episode 66

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Indie Insights with Marnie Cate Episode 12

GoIndieNow Presents the season finale, episode 12 of Indie Insights with Marnie.

In this episode:

(1:56) INTERVIEW WITH KONN LAVERY

(22:03) INTERVIEW WITH SUZY VADORI

(39:27) ROUNDTABLE WITH MARI COLLIER, CHRISTIE STRATOS, AND J. M. NORTHUP

(1:07:23) MUST READ BOOKS

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What A Ride

Summer is over, what a ride! Many exciting things happened over the past two months. Lots of writing took place, met new colleagues and attended When Words Collide. This year was the first time that I participated in presenting and sitting on a panel. Some exciting opportunities came my way as well. Let’s talk about them, shall we?

Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

As with every summer, the blog posts are less frequent There was no writing-related advice post. There was a new flash fiction though. Void Watcher was a fun experiment into representing sleep paralysis. Bits of it come from my own experiences and others I got to explore the bizarre. Next month we will get back to the regular blog programming with a writing-related advice post, interview, Unprocessed Thoughts and new flash fiction.

When Words Collide

Okay, to start, let me say, wow, when Words Collide was motivating. Every year it sparks the fire to write. It is the one time a year you get to connect with so many like-minded people in one area. This year I did attend fewer panels and spent more time networking. The shift in focus changed my perspective on the festival. Much like other conventions, there is a whole additional layer of When Words Collide which involves meeting other industry professionals.

I was also able to present a DIY Graphic Design for Authors talk which was inspired by the latest writing-related advice blog posts. The blog post series will continue and go more in-depth than the presentation did.

Purity: Part III of Mental Damnation

The next installment of Mental Damnation was announced earlier this month. If you follow me or the hashtag #mentalDamnation on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, you’ll see five previews of the novel are being released every week up to the launch at the Edmonton Comic Expo on September 21st.

Rutherford Manor

A big announcement dropped on August 20th. I am pleased to say I am working with the Rutherford Manor crew on the next novel in the franchise. More information will come in the following months. Be sure to check out their site and like them on Facebook to get the latest updates about their other projects and the new novel.

 

Last Quarter of the Year

We have the Edmonton Expo coming up, and after that, I will be bringing signings and conventions to a stop. The absence will allow more time to focus on the new novels and plan for the next few years. Keep watch on the blog and social media. I will keep active online!

Beer Note: Unibroue La Fin Du Monde

Unibroue is a Quebec based brewing company with a wide range of beers. According to their site, this beer has won more medals and awards in major international competitions than any other Canadian beer. It is Unibroue’s international flagship ale. It is a great sipping beer, full of flavour and has 9% alcohol. The beer was on sale, and the box description was intriguing. Usually, the box descriptions aren’t very accurate, but Unibroue described their beer perfectly. Even with my hoppy taste buds in mind; I’d give this a 4.5/5.

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Purity Launch at Edmonton Comic Expo

Edmonton Comic Expo!

Next, I’ll be at the Edmonton Comic Expo with Mental Damnation Vol III along with the other releases. More info to come.

When and Where:

21 – 23 September 2018

Edmonton EXPO Centre

Fri: 4:00PM – 9:00PM

Sat: 10:00AM – 7:00PM

Sun: 10:00AM – 5:00PM

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Void Watcher

Emily has been a talented illustrator, designing unique characters her whole life. Her mother has always been amazed by Emily’s original ideas. For Emily, these ideas aren’t as one-of-a-kind as she’s told everyone.

Void Watcher is August’s Flash Fiction that explores beyond our reality. Experience the story in written word, audio, artwork and ambient sounds.

Void Watcher

Rediscovery

Goodnight, I love you, was a phrase that Emily heard throughout her childhood. Every time she was going to bed, she would get a kiss on the cheek and a tight hug before being dismissed. The ritual was cute as a kid, as an adult, it made her sheepish.

Even through the embarrassed feeling, Emily wanted to make sure her mother happy. Her mom’s life was not easy since her dad passed. She only wanted to be included in her daughter’s life. The least Emily could do was say goodnight to her. Hugs and kisses were a lot cheaper than rent, even if it made her feel like an adolescent.

Emily’s mother was also too forgiving. She let Emily move back home after college. The offer was a blessing and a curse. Mom’s kindness made it too convenient for Emily not to look for a job. Dinner was made every night and laundry was taken care of. Moving back home was like being at a Bed and Breakfast – there were no more ninety-nine cent mac & cheese meals.

“Tomorrow is a brand-new day,” Mom said with a warm smile.

“Thanks Mom,” Emily said.

“Oh! Before you go to bed…” Mom said while leaning down below her office desk. She lifted an old cardboard box up onto the desk with a heavy thud. “…I was looking through the basement earlier and came across these gems.”

“What’s that?” Emily asked, stepping closer.

Mom flipped the box open and pulled out some sheets of paper. “You know these.”

“No way,” Emily folded her arms. “You kept all of this?”

“You were such an artist, even then!” Mom said, flipping a sheet of paper around.

Emily stared at the paper, looking at the crude crayon figure of a ghost with an upside-down triangle for a head.

“I have no idea where you came up with these ideas,” Mom said, handing the drawing to Emily. She began to sift through the box saying, “there was that tiger in here that I liked too.”

Emily swallowed heavily while staring at the triangle-headed drawing. She shook her head and forced a smile, saying, “this stuff is so bad!”

“Nonsense! You’ve always had talent,” Mom said.

“Talent doesn’t seem to help get you employed,” Emily sighed. She handed the paper back to her mother.

“You’ll find a job, dear,” Emily’s mother said while taking the drawing and placing it back into the box. “You are exceptionally gifted.”

Emily rubbed her own arm. “Thanks Mom,” she said. “I’m going to hit the sack.”

“Of course,” Mom said. “Goodnight, I love you.”

A New Ritual

Emily gave her mom a hug and kiss goodnight before leaving the home office and up the stairs to her childhood room. She flicked the light on and closed the door. The room was exactly the way she left it after moving away to college.

Emily wanted to remove the boy-band posters and the stuffed animal toys, but she purposely avoided changing anything in the room. Keeping the childhood items convinced Emily that she was not going to be here very long. That initial thought came to her nine months ago, when she first stepped into her old room.

The girl turned off the lights and undressed. The blue nightlight automatically turned on, projecting enough brightness for her to find her pajamas and slip into them.

She swiped her smartphone screen to unlock it and navigated through the interface to set an alarm for the next day. After months of bad sleep, Emily finally decided to set a time for her to get up early each day. Her unrestful slumbers forced her to sleep in until early afternoon. By early evening, she’d have a heavy nap, ruining her sleep cycle for the night. Her sleep pattern was pure chaos.

Emily noticed a dating app notification appear at the top right of her smartphone’s screen. The icon indicated there was a match.

“Probably another dick pic,” Emily muttered, placing the phone on her dresser. She told herself she would check the notification tomorrow. Emily wasn’t in a rush to meet a man; she could barely get her own life together. No one decent would want anything to do with an unemployed deadbeat like her.

The girl jumped into her bed and got under the covers, lying flat on her back. She took a deep sigh, trying to brush away the daily pressure of being unemployed. Emily knew that her mother was patient with her situation, but she could not help feeling guilty for not finding a job yet. She was not even able landed an interview.

“Tomorrow’s worries,” Emily said through an exhale.

Her mind began to drift as she took deep breaths in through her nostrils and out through her mouth. Emily’s brain always ran a thousand thoughts a second before she was going to go to sleep. The moment just before sleep was the one time she was not doing something. The downtime gave her brain a chance to play catch-up, reflect upon the day and think about the wishes of tomorrow. This is why she practiced deep breathing. The stillness helped calm her system down.

After what seemed like a good three dozen breathing cycles, Emily’s thoughts turned fuzzy and her body began to relax. The worries of today and the uncertainty of tomorrow began to fade. The guilt of staying with her mother and not paying rent began to wash away. The stress of being single and making no use of her college degree had little concern to her now. There was only Emily, the bed and the blue glow.

With another exhale, the walls faded. Her eyes were locked onto the blue-tinted speckles of the ceiling. Her limbs went numb and her breathing pattern went into autopilot.

At some point in the process, the room went dark. Her body lightened as if she had left this reality. Her thoughts faded into the abyss, leaving her to observe the dreamworld. She began to drift through the empty, black, space. She was weightless and free. The physical constraints that bound her during the day ceased to exist.

“Welcome to the other side,” a raspy voice reverbed in her mind.

The Void

A loud thud came from the bedroom door.

Emily’s eyes twitched open and she attempted to move them to where the sound was coming from. They didn’t budge from their sockets. She could only see the upper half of the door frame from her peripheral view, due to the angle of her head.  Emily tried to move her eyes again with no success. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to adjust the position of her eyes in her skull.

What the…? she thought. The words in her mind were supposed to project out through her mouth, but she could only express caveman groans from her throat. Her jaw and lips did not respond. Some saliva began to ooze out from her lip and onto her chin. Emily attempted to use her tongue to grab the liquid. No luck.  Her tongue was as useless as her eyes.

The door to her bedroom creaked open, revealing a pitch-black hallway beyond the frame. The blue glow from her nightlight shined abnormally bright, increasing the contrast of light and dark.

An immense invisible force pushed onto Emily’s chest and limbs, sinking her deeper into the bed. She attempted to scream, only to be met with silence.

I can’t breathe! Emily cried out, feeling a lack of air entering her burning lungs. Her voice was nothing but gurgling gibberish, despite the clarity of thought. The force on her body continued to press into her being, pushing her deeper into the bedframe. The mattress morphed into a tar-like substance, absorbing her slightly into it.

A white shape entered the room from the hallway. Despite being unable to control the movement of her eyes, Emily could see a being glide closer to her. The being appeared humanoid, draped in a white robe. The head, on the other hand, was an upside-down triangle with glowing blue balls resembling eyes that sat at the two higher points of the geometric shape.

Someone help! Emily attempted to talk again, resulting in more gurgles. Her limbs failed to respond as she tried to spring from the mattress. She was stuck in an unresponsive body.

The being glided towards Emily’s bedside. The triangular head floated on top of the being where a neck should be. A jaw appeared from the lower point of the triangle up to the blue eyes. The elongated mouth revealed razor-sharp teeth and a red snake-like tongue.

“We have watched you from the Void since your childhood, Emily,” the being said. The white skin on the being’s face moved like rubber.

Help! Emily cried out again.

The being leaned closer, causing the invisible force to drastically increase. There was no air was entering her lungs as she helplessly stared at the triangular head.

“Your mind remains intact with this world and the next. You are attuned. You are awake. This is why we remain in contact throughout your realm’s years. The Void has waited for you to grow mature.”

An arm-length bulge appeared from underneath the being’s robe followed by three sharp claws. “Your time is up. I have come to take you to the Void,” the being said in a cold tone.

“No!” Emily screamed as the mattress returned to its normal state. Her body went into a hypersensitive state as she sprung from the bed, her eyes closed. She opened her eyes to see that the blue nightlight returned to its normal value. The pressure on her body ceased to exist.

Emily felt all of her body’s motor functions return to her as she kicked the white sheets away. She looked over to her bedside to see that the triangle-headed being was gone. She glanced at the door, no one was there either.

Emily rubbed her forehead, feeling an intense headache pulsate throughout her skull.

Some things never change, she thought while exhaling hard.

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Christie Stratos, award-winning psychological suspense author and host of the Writer’s Edge.

This month’s guest is Christie Stratos, who is an award-winning author. She also holds a degree in English Literature. Her work ranges from Psychological Suspense to short stories and poetry. She also hosts the Writer’s Edge on YouTube, a twice monthly panel discussion on writing and publishing.

Let’s welcome her to the blog!

Thank you, Christie Stratos, for joining us, can you give a brief introduction of yourself?

Thanks for having me, Konn! I’ve always been a writer, but not always in the genres I currently write. I actually started out with poetry, and it was a far cry from the dark suspense books I write now! I also never thought I could write historical fiction, but my books are rooted in historical accuracy. It just goes to show you can accomplish anything if you want to. And that is my motto.

Tell us about your latest novel, Locke and Keye, which was released in September, 2017.

Locke and Keye (now called Brotherhood of Secrets) is the second book in the Dark Victoriana Collection, but it can be read as a standalone novel. It’s a fast-paced suspense book that moves so fast, most readers say they finish it in one or two days! Cult mentality is at the center of this book, and the question of how far you would go to have—and keep—a family is at the heart of it. There are lots of parallels, connections, and a few cameos between book one, Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, and book two. Brotherhood of Secrets is strongly character driven, so if you like books that go deeply into characters’ psyches and are unpredictable, you’ll enjoy it!

This is book 2 of the Dark Victoriana Collection, how many more books do you plan on writing within the series?

Originally I thought this would be a collection with two novels and three novellas. Well, that has expanded dramatically, so feel free to get addicted—there’s much more to come! As of now, the plan is six books and a number of short stories. It’s an ever-expanding historical universe, so I expect it to grow even more than this.

Did you start writing in short stories before working on novel-length literature?

I started with poetry, then moved straight into novel-length fiction when I was in middle school (7th grade). I wrote another novel in high school, then moved back into poetry, and finally, after college, started writing short stories. They were actually the last form I wrote!

Tell us more about The Writer’s Edge? What made you want to host a live steam YouTube Channel?

By the time I took over The Writer’s Edge from fantasy author Joshua Robertson who started it, I already had a well-established author YouTube channel that I truly enjoyed making videos for. I had hosted a couple of livestream panel discussions before and found that I took to it quickly and wanted to do more. When Josh asked if I’d like to take over The Writer’s Edge, it was like a dream come true!

Since that time, I’ve expanded it from once a month to twice monthly: the second Thursday of each month is a panel discussion on a chosen writing topic, and the fourth Thursday we do a one-on-one interview with an author or publishing industry expert. I’ve also partnered with Mickey Mikkelson recently, so now I have a wonderful co-host who helps bring fantastic people to our show!

What’s next in your writing career after the Dark Victoriana Collection?

It’s so hard to say. I have so many ideas, so many things I want to write. One is a medieval duology, another is a fantasy book, still another is a noir book or series, and there’s also a business-themed drama… It’s too hard to decide! But while I write the Dark Victoriana Collection, I do write short stories and poetry in a variety of genres that get published in anthologies and journals. Watch my social media, follow my blog, and/or sub to my newsletter to find out when something new is coming out!

For aspiring writers, what would be one piece of advice you would give them?

Identify what’s difficult for you—the blank page, writer’s block, making time to write—and go after fixing that problem head-on. We all have things that get in our way, and it’s writers who strive to solve their problems and move on who achieve their dreams.

Let’s thank Christie Stratos for joining us to talk about her writing!

You can find Christie Stratos’s work at the links below:

christiestratos.com

Amazon

Kobo

You can also follow her online at:

Facebook

Instagram

The Writer’s Edge – YouTube

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Purity This Fall

Following the re-release of Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation in 2017 fall, Fusion is also being re-released. Originally the third Mental Damnation novel was hinted on June 26th through social media. Now the second edition’s manuscript is complete, renamed, and being prepared for release.

Purity: Part Three of Mental Damnation will be out Fall 2018.

Reality’s second edition had a massive overhaul from the first edition with lore adjustments, deleted chapters and characters and re-written chapters. The feedback from readers who read both editions was insightful and encouraging. Dream went through a large change as well to help improve the story. The third Mental Damnation novel, Fusion, pushes the dark fantasy series forward.

The majority of the original 73,000 words within Fusion are left as is. Another 53,000 has been added to elaborate on scenes, characters and subplots within the series. This totals to approximately 126,000 words for the new edition.

Eight new chapters have been added.

Fusion had ended on a cliffhanger. Originally there were eight additional chapters that were cut out of the first edition. These chapters were being saved for the fourth book. With the overhaul of the series, the eight chapters fit seamlessly into Purity. The new chapters are the primary reason for the renaming of book three.

Some of the new additions within the novel are:

Eight new chapters expanding on Krista’s journey, Darkwing’s quest to find her and Dr. Alsroc’s attempt to cure Krista’s disease.
New and updated illustrations.
An encyclopedia detailing every character, place, and race to-date within the series.

Purity Cover Art

The new art follows the occult theme from the new Reality with glowing line work pressed into a dark leather cover.

The simple line art represents the concept of the novel a little more than the brain-pentagram seen in the first edition.

Purity: Part Two of Mental Damnation Synopsis

Just under a week has passed since Krista has been diagnosed with the nightmare-enhancing brain disease Mental Damnation; the symptoms are more self-evident than ever to Dr. Alsroc who continues to pursue a cure.

Krista is now burdened with protecting her friend Marilyn’s dark secret and Paladin’s pressing offer. He promises her safekeeping at the price of exposing her people’s history to him – what will he use that knowledge for?

In the underworld, Darkwing’s quest to find Krista grows more complex. His morals are challenged, threatening any hope of seeing her again.

Malpherities, Krista’s ghostly companion, urges her to keep her mind focused on Dreadweave Pass and ignore her issues at the High Barracks of Zingalg. The two are forced to partner with an immoral paladin who has a personal interest in helping Krista escape from hell. Meanwhile the corrupt god, the Weaver, strains his army to find the young girl. They send a fallen angel who is determined to bring her to the Weaver so he can use her blood in his necromantic ritual that will set him free!

Release Date

Purity: Part Three of Mental Damnation will be out September 21st at the Edmonton Comic Expo.

Spread the damnation!

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Professional Juggler

Another late Unprocessed Thoughts! Shame… shame on missing the mark. This post is technically for July’s edition but it is being released in August. This is an improvement from last year, during the summer of 2017, the blog was a sitting duck. This year I am making sure posts happen, even through prepping for When Words Collide and attending this year’s Terminus Festival. I suppose that makes me a professional juggler?

Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

Like last year, Terminus Festival and When Words Collide are only two weeks apart. Two trips to Calgary. One filled with loud electronic noise, late nights and a lot of shouting and the other is informative, inspiring and a key place for authors to network. Pleasure and Business.

In addition to my new professional juggler career, another ball was added to the mix with more contract work – exciting! The constant hustle is nothing new if you really look back at the Unprocessed Thoughts series. Each one consists of mentioning work-balance-to-fun ratio. Let’s not go there again.

Terminus Festival

Before we go further, let me get this off my chest… wow! Terminus 2018 was a blast. I’ve gone since 2014 and every year has been a lot of fun. I enjoy the fact that the bands are intermixed with the attendees during the event, which gives them a human element vs large concerts or festivals where you are unlikely to meet the performers.

2018’s Terminus introduced a pre-party as well, making it a total of four days of chaos. If you ever want to be inspired to make industrial music, this festival will make it happen.

Outside of catching up with friends I only see once a year at the festival, there were a number of highlights such as Unter Null, Author & Punisher, Android Lust and Street Sects. The festival had some heavy hitters like Mesh Trst and Leather Strip as well. It was a great escape for four days. Now, it’s time to get the game face on and get back on track.

When Words Collide

I am very pleased to say I am participating in presenting at When Words Collide! Check out their full program list to see all of the great programs available. Every year When Words Collide ignites a fire in my writing. The craft is such an isolating experience. When you get together with a bunch of other authors you realize you are not in it alone. The struggles and joys you experience are shared amongst many others.

This year I am only at When Words Collide for the Friday and Saturday. The Saturday I will be presenting DIY Graphic Design for Authors and on a panel with Beth Wagner about Indie Publishing. I will also be participating in a signing session.

For Sunday, I am signing at Indigo Signal Hill then driving back home to get back to writing and working through the pile of projects that need to be wrapped up by the end of the month.

September, I’ll have more news on Mental Damnation Vol III. Who knows? maybe a teaser will sneak in this month if I get a handle on my life.

Beer Note: Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company’s Devil’s Elbow IPA

During the Terminus fiasco, one night I consumed the Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company’s Devil’s Elbow IPA that came in a liter bottle. Truthfully it was the name and label design that drew me in. It was also a liter and $12 at the liquor store. Seemed like a good deal. It was not nearly as hoppy as I was expecting considering the name. Maybe other parts of the Devil taste hoppier. Regardless, with my hoppy taste buds in mind, I’d give this a 4/5.

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