Austin Dragon's Blog, page 17

Featured: Upcoming New Release in Sci-Fi (The After Eden Series)

Hell’s Menagerie (After Eden Series: Tek-Fall, Episode II)

My companion mini-series concludes. In Metal Flesh (Episode I), the focus was on “living” inorganic robots. Now with the concluding Hell’s Menagerie (Episode II), we move to “man-made” organic creatures.

I marvel at the groundbreaking story of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (full title: Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus) which was written in 1818 anonymously and finally released under her name in 1823. Shelley invented science fiction.

Her story talked about reanimating dead bodies or creating “new” life from corpses using the cutting-edge science for the time. It’s no wonder that centuries, major movies are still being made based on her work.

Also there is another visionary classic science fiction writer H.G. Wells with his novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau, in 1896. Here the “mad scientist” is creating animal-human hybrids. The featured picture is from the second movie adaption of his novel starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer (the 1977 version with Burt Lancaster and Michael York is the superior movie). There are scenes in the movie that capture the “freakishness” of Moreau’s created life and Moreau himself.

The Tek-Fall series is closer to what I think likelier to happen: The creating whole “new” life from scratch—horrific hybrids and “new” animals for research, food and food products, security, and war purposes. This human impulse to create can be beautiful or ugly.

These companion books are not essential to the main After Eden Series, but they do, however, give us more back-story, allow us to spend more time with interesting characters, and delve deeper into various themes. The entire series is very much cerebral science fiction. You’ll have a fun read and plenty of action. But it will also make you stop, think and say “Hmm. I didn’t think of it like that.” “I hope that doesn’t happen, but I think you’re right, it will.”

Check back on February 1st for the Cover Reveal

Note: both Metal Flesh (Episode I) and Hell’s Menagerie (Episode II) are combined into one novel titled Tek-Fall. Both new titles will be available for Pre-order on February 1st. Release Day is March 30, 2015.

#AfterEdenSeries #ScienceFiction

The post Featured: Upcoming New Release in Sci-Fi (The After Eden Series) appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Phase I of Austin Dragon’s Writing Universe

I like the word “phase” in my own life, both personally and professionally, when I’m planning big changes and major goals. Marvel Studios also seems to like that word and is giving us a list of every single, solitary marvel super hero movie to 2020. As an avid comic book collector when I was a kid, and a huge fan of the Phase I movies (with the advances of film CGI, we can create anything we can imagine), even I think that’s a bit of overkill.

I have my own phases for my book releases this year. I’m no longer an Apprentice; I’m the full-fledged Jedi now. I began my writing life with my After Eden Series, with the bold fictional undertaking of projecting out our own current times—technology, culture, politics, and religion—to seventy-five years in the future, and culminating with World War III. I released Thy Kingdom Fall (Book #1) that first year. The next year, I released Stars and Scorpions (Book #2) and Rising Leviathan (Book #3), then I was planning on doing a crowd-funding campaign (decided not to) and wrote and released a companion novella, Metal Flesh (After Eden Series: Tek-Fall, Episode I)—so three books in one year. And now we’re in 2015—my third year as an author.

The significant thing about this year is that it will be my first year as a multi-genre author. I love science fiction and that will make up the bulk of my writing, but I love other things too. My Phase I for my book releases this year are as follows:

1) Hell’s Menagerie (After Eden Series: Tek-Fall, Episode II). This is the conclusion of the story that began in the Metal Flesh novella. The search for the ‘Man Made Out of String’ was only the small part of a larger mission by the Faithers.

2) Hollow Blood (Sleepy Hollow Horrors, Book 1). My first published horror novel is based on my own short story I wrote as a child, some thirty years ago. Yes, that long ago.

3) The Devil’s Patch (Sleepy Hollow Horrors, Book 2). The conclusion of the Sleepy Hollow Horrors. Two words: Super Posse!

4) Tek-Fall (The After Eden Series). Metal Flesh and Hell’s Menagerie are only ebooks, so I combined them into one book and added bonus material to offer in both ebook and print versions. And it has a creepy cover.

Four releases on March 30, 2015—science fiction and horror.

Unlike Marvel Studios with their movies, I’m not going to lay out every single, solitary book release for the year. There’s value to simply surprising people and building a solid reading audience with that work.

However, with my relatively new website, one already knows the other coming genres: mystery, fantasy, and YA dystopia. More genres and more After Eden to come for 2015!

Enjoy.

My current books are all listed here.

#SciFi #Thriller #Horror #SleepyHollow

The post Phase I of Austin Dragon’s Writing Universe appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Part II – Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips!

Part II of Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips.

#8. “Have The Best Tools, Man!” Use the Best Tools to Help You Achieve Success.

In my last post, I talked about training for a marathon. The “tools of the trade” would be everything from the proper diet to the proper running shoes. As an author, my tools include the best writing software, my author platform (website and social media), etc. If your resolution is to be a world traveler, be that thing. If it’s to be a top cyclist or to learn scuba diving, then learn what tools others, who have gone before you, recommend and use. Doing the research (Tip #2) is so important–and fun. Since I’m an author, this also includes being on the lookout to converse and hang out with fellow writers. It would be the same as runner, cyclist, skydiver, amateur race car driver, amateur boatsman, etc.

#9. “The Team!” (Okay, my father and I ignored this one, but we were bounty hunters. Bounty hunters don’t work well with others. But you aren’t us.) Others Help You Do Your Best.

You have the tools. Now you need the team. Some resolutions you can complete solo with no problem. With others, having a team behind you is essential to success. If it’s getting in shape, why not join a cross-fit team. If it’s to visit all fifty states or start visiting overseas countries, why wouldn’t you want to team up with a group? As an author, only I can write the story, but without others, I would never be able to put out the best product. For me, my editors, book cover designers, network of promoters to get the word out about the book, and so on are all essential.

#10. “Relax!” Make Sure “Nothing” is Also Part of the Plan.

In some religions, like Judaism and Christianity, a day of rest (the Sabbath) is actually obligatory–though most ignore it. God took six days to create the time, the universe, and everything else, but rested on the seventh. Whether religious or not, the concept is critical to success. You are not the Terminator. You actually must stop at some point and rest. To use a bodybuilding example, it isn’t the reps you do on the bench press that builds strength. It’s the time that you rest in between and afterwards.

Go further. Schedule not just rest, but fun! (Two separate things and you schedule them as such).

You have a good plan to start your New Year’s task or adventure. Make sure you don’t overdo it or burn yourself out. Schedule your “zero time” into your plan– your time to do absolutely nothing, but breathe. You don’t have to run every single day to get in shape or go to a meeting everyday for your new gourmet chef beginner classes. Work hard, play hard. And play equals: Rest, reflect, recreate.

#11. “Expect the Unexpected.” Stay Focused.

Tip #4 talked about avoiding the distractions that keep you from starting your resolution strong at the beginning. But once you get over that hurdle, there could be many more distractions to come–or just life in general. Adjust and stay focused on your plan.

It deserves repeating: It takes 30 days for a new task to become a habit. Stick with it and it becomes part of your DNA–the new “you.”

#12. “Why Are You Even Doing This? I’m Sure It’s Not to Read Bobba’s 12 Amazing Resolution Tips.” Motivation Matters.

Why are you doing this? Yes, why? “I want to get in shape because I want to have that beach body to attract the babes.” Hmm. Is that really a motivation worthy of you? “I want to get in shape to have a better quality of life, have more energy, and have an overall healthier life.” That’s better. Know what your own motives are for starting your New Year’s resolutions, because that in itself could lay the foundation for your ultimate failure. Sure, having a beach body is great, I guess, but are you really going to do all this work, so you can drive all the way to the beach, spend half an hour or more to find parking, trek to the beach, hang around trying not to get sunburn, then realize that you’re in a lousy spot (no babes/dudes around), then you have to go all the way home, but this time it takes twice as long. You walk through the door frustrated and tired. How long do you think you’ll stick with your plan to get in shape after a few instances likes those? But how about have a beach body wherever you are, whether on the beach or walking through the supermarket. Which do you think is better? The big picture is always a better motivator than the small and trivial.

Here’s a Recap of Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips:

#1. “Don’t Be a Nerf Herder.” Have a Solid Plan First.

#2. “Fuzzball, the Planning is the Second Step.” The Pre-Plan is Just As Important As the Plan.

#3. “Forget the Force.” Just Do It!

#4. “Don’t Look At the Death Star. Keep Your Eyes on the Goal.” Sidestep the Distractions.

#5. “You See With Your Mind. Not Your Eyes.” Adjust Your Perspective.

#6. “I Dream of Han Solo in Carbonite.” Visualize It!

#7. “I Admire the Cut of Your Jibb, Darth.” Look For Inspiration In Others!

#8. “Have The Best Tools, Man!” Use the Best Tools to Help You Achieve Success.

#9. “The Team!” Others Help You Do Your Best.

#10. “Relax!” Make Sure “Nothing” is Part of the Plan.

#11. “Expect the Unexpected.” Stay Focused.

#12. Why Are You Even Doing This?” Motivation Matters.

 

What do you think of the post? 

Leave a comment below.

 

#NewYearsResolutions #Inspiration #StarWars #BobbaFett

The post Part II – Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips! appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips!

At the beginning of every January is the perennial debate as to whether New Year’s resolutions are good or bad, stupendous or stupid, beneficial or a complete, self-defeating waste of time.  The simple question back should be: What’s wrong with wanting to improve yourself or your quality of life? That’s what we homo sapiens on Earth do. Shouldn’t we all be doing that in some way? While you don’t need a special day or month to do it–get in shape, lose weight, learn a foreign language, get another degree, become involved in a local charity, join a bible-study group, become a gourmet chef, change careers, start your own business, start saving twenty-five percent of every dollar you make, travel the world, write a novel; the list is endless–it does put the topic front-and-center.

I checked around for someone with a good list to share with us. I cleaned up the language, but kept his irreverence. Here’s Part I of Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips.

#1. “Don’t Be a Nerf Herder.” Have a Solid Plan First.

Simply jumping into your resolution may work if you’re a ruthless, Mandalorian bounty hunter and warrior, but he’s an expert.  Eagerness is commendable, but before you start your new resolution, you should have a solid plan first to maximize success and it should be written. (Both broadcast to yourself that you’re serious and you’re not messing around.)

It should:

(1) Be specific in terms of action steps. What to do?

Think of what your main goal is, and then work backwards. Every major step has to move you one step forward towards that goal. To use a financial example, (which was very effective on me as a kid and allowed me to buy my first car oh so many years back) if you saved at least $20 a week, you’d have just over $1000 at the end of the year. It’s all about incrementalism–step-by-step.

(2) Be specific in terms of goals. What should I achieve when I do it?

You don’t have to write an encyclopedia. It could be as simple as a one page bullet-point outline, if you like. The point is whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, you know exactly what you’re supposed to accomplish at the end of each time period.

(3) Track your progress. What are my milestones and set-backs?

You don’t need to accomplish everything in a day. You acknowledge the milestones you reach. Another success! Pat yourself on the back to give yourself that positive reinforcement and keep pushing forward.

You also note the set-backs. But there’s no need to frustrate yourself at the start or burn yourself out at the end. Having the plan allows you to re-adjust as needed. You may need to start over, because you were too over-ambitious in your goals, or vice versa. All of that is fine. Soon you will know exactly what your capabilities are and be able to add accurate benchmarks to chart progress. Keep adjusting, move forward, keep tracking.

Last year, I decided that I was going to run a marathon. Though I was naturally a good runner as a child and teenager, and especially in my three years in the US Army (I remember myself “floating on the wind” as I ran). However, I came to the realization that I didn’t like running at all. Twenty years later, after my own personal declaration that I “hated running,” this decision to run a marathon seemed to come out of the blue. It would be as if someone who was clinically afraid of heights woke up and then decided to go sky-diving. That was my view of running a marathon–or more precisely–me running one.

Then I added another seemingly insurmountable obstacle: I was going to run before work which meant getting up at 5:30 am. I am not a morning person.

Well… I did it. I wrote out my plan in broad strokes, since I had no idea what my capabilities were. I viewed my course not a one long stretch, but six different legs of the run. The only major goal was to make progress monthly toward my overall goal of being able to enroll, run, and finish my first marathon. I checked off being able to run, at least, from one end of the block to another, then being able to run two of the six legs without stopping, then three out of six, running my first mile straight, then two, and so on.

When I started running, it was a huge struggle. My internal voice buzzed in my brain to quit. Now, I don’t even think about the run anymore; I just do it.

#2. “Fuzzball, the Planning is the Second Step.” The Pre-Plan is Just As Important As the Plan.

No need to start cold. Do a trial run. And depending on what it is, research everything about it.

In my case, it was looking at running schedules online of other marathoners. Learning about the foods they ate, drinking lots of water throughout the day, supplements they took, the kinds of running shoes they wore, etc. How long did it take to build up to the real marathon?

#3. “Forget the Force. Just Do It!”

The pre-planning and the planning is over. Don’t overthink or get stuck in planning paralysis. You have to pull the trigger and get started!

So how did I start my marathon training? Simple. By not running at all. Yep, I walked. For about a month, all I did was walk the course I mapped out. Why? I had to get into a routine. Just getting my butt out the bed, every morning at 5:30 am, was a major mission by itself. Once I had that down, then it was simply to walk my path. Ease into the plan. Incidentally, walking alone is great exercise and if you were to do just that for two miles a day, you’d be in good health.

The next obstacle was me. I couldn’t run worth a damn. I remember my days in high school and in the US Army right afterwards of “floating on the air” running ahead of everyone. Now I couldn’t even run half the block. That’s when I was able to adjust my plan as I was starting to learn what my capabilities were. Then I could create realistic micro-goals or benchmarks.

And so it began. Step-by-step. When I started I only walked my course. Now, thirty pounds lighter, I run the entire course. At the beginning, when I finished (not even running the whole thing) I was a mass of sweat and collapsed on the floor out-of-breath. Now, I come back home and I look like I never went running at all. My body automatically gets up at 5:30 am even without the alarm clock. If I don’t run, I feel like my day is out of alignment somehow.

They say it takes 30 days for a new task to become a habit. It is absolutely true. The longer you stick to it, the more it becomes part of your DNA.

#4. “Don’t Look At the Death Star. Keep Your Eyes on the Goal.” Sidestep the Distractions.

Distractions. They are more plentiful than Storm Troopers in the Empire. They’re everywhere. In fact, many people sabotage themselves–consciously or subconsciously. Externally and internally, distractions have but one goal: to make you fail.

Notice I didn’t say “avoid” distractions. That takes you out of your zone, disrupts your focus and off-mission. Don’t try to prevent random distractions. Let them come. You can even acknowledge their existence. Accept them as a natural–and welcome–fact of life. But you sidestep them and stay on plan.

If you have to gawk at the Death Star or any other distraction, come back to it on your down time–after you do your resolution work.

#5. “You See With Your Mind. Not Your Eyes.” Adjust Your Perspective.

People always think to prepare themselves physically and mentally, but there are levels of our existence more fundamental than that. Success is also about changing your mental perspective on a thing. I’ve always been a Glass-Is-Half-Full person rather than a Glass-Is-Half-Empty person. Both facts are true and valid. It’s the reason why the Democratic Party and Republican Party can look at the same set of problems and come up with completely different solutions. It’s comes down to your worldview or your perspective—how you see yourself, your goals, the world. If you ultimately feel you’re a failure or you will never accomplish something, no amount of planning or focus is going to change that. But the good thing is your mental view can be changed. You can Jedi mind-trick yourself to change that perspective.

The simple reason why I’m successfully moving forward to running my marathon is I changed my thinking. I changed “I can’t run,” “I can’t get up at 5:30 am,” and “there’s no way I can run a marathon,” to running everyday, early in the morning, and now planning which marathons I’ll be running.

#6. “I Dream of Han Solo in Carbonite.” Visualize It!

Human beings are visual. A single frame of a movie can be more indelible and longer lasting than thousand pages of the greatest novel. If we know this about our basic psychology and physiology, then use it to your advantage. Visualize yourself fulfilling your resolution. Again, the resolution plan has to be solid and realistic.

#7. “I Admire the Cut of Your Jibb, Darth.” Look for Inspiration in Others!

“100-year Old Marathoner Finishes Toronto Race”

How am I supposed to process that story headline? I was lollygagging about starting my marathon training and this man, at age 100, runs a marathon. It’s like that car insurance commercial where the couple is sitting in a coffee shop and the woman asks him, “you believe men are better drivers than women?” and the man enthusiastically nods his head “yes.” She then proceeds to show him her Good Driving Discount Check. “Then how do you explain this?” The man doesn’t know what to say. He tries mumbling something when she holds up her hand, and says, “Silence!” There’s nothing to be said.

So Mr. Fauja Singh, a British Indian Sikh, became my inspiration for my marathon training. If he–more than half a century older than me–can stick to his plan, then I can surely stick to mine.

In next blog post: Part II of Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips.

What do you think of the post? 

Leave a comment below.

 

#NewYearsResolutions #Inspiration #StarWars #BobbaFett

The post Bobba Fett’s Top 12 New Year’s Resolution Tips! appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Hello 2015!

Happy New Year!

I’m back and I hope you had a great Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Holiday.

2015. Amazing. Like I said this same day last year, when I was a child, the prospect of simply reaching the year 2000 seemed to be a significant milestone in itself that would usher in “the future.” Well, no flying cars, personal robots, or civilian space flights to lunar colonies for us. But as a “the glass is always half-full rather than half-empty” kind of guy, there so much more in the world that should be more worthy of our fascination.

Looking back at 2014, only my second year as a published author, I am very happy with my progress—four books released-to-date in my After Eden Series: Thy Kingdom Fall (Book #1), Stars Scorpions (Book #2), Rising Leviathan (Book #3) and a companion novella, Metal Flesh (After Eden Tek-Fall: Episode I). I said I would release three books at the start of that year and I did.

This year is going to be even more exciting as I, not only continue to release my books in my debut After Eden Series, but release brand new series and in new genres. Last fall, I upgraded my website to reflect that. I hesitate to tell you how many books I’m releasing this year because you might think I am an android or am paying others to write my books like James Patterson, but it’s all me. And I almost can’t believe it myself.

Let me say this. You have the following to look forward to in 2015:

1) Science Fiction. My After Series novels continue with Book #4 in the series and at least three companion novellas. I’ll also debut two completely new series—one is a mystery/cyberpunk hybrid and the other is straight, hard sci-fi.

2) Horror. Two horror novels will be released at the beginning of spring and another released later in the year.

3) Others. I’m also scheduled to release one fantasy novel and one YA dystopian novel this year.

I love science fiction, but I like other things too.

This year is my third year as an author and it will be my busiest year ever. But it is by no means an ordeal. What is that saying? “Find the thing you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” How true. There will be new book releases, but lots more too—from contests to free ebooks (exclusively for website subscribers) to online events. I’ll share it all as the month’s progress.

So what is my New Year’s resolution? To release several amazing books this year, continue my growth as an author, and provide value to you the reader/fan. It’s a short list, but an important one.

Quick Feedback Survey

Let me hear from you.

1) I’m also a blogger now, with weekly posts and an online newsletter published no more than twice a month. What can I do better as a blogger?

2) It’s the start of the New Year and I’m going to one busy author! What advice or suggestions do you have for me as an author?

Feel free to comment right on this post.

Thanks. And I hope you enjoy reading my books as much I enjoy writing them.

The post Hello 2015! appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Happy Holidays!

Everyone please Have a Happy Thanksgiving! And since this will be my last post for 2014, please also have a happy Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Day in advance. See you back in 2015!

Austin

 

The post Happy Holidays! appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Final Freebie For 2014

I love contests as much as everyone else and we had three big giveaway contests in 2014. The holidays are fast approaching so to end the year I’m giving away free my sci-fi novella Metal Flesh (After Eden Tek-Fall, Episode I) on the music and author fan website NoiseTrade. Metal Flesh is a quick, fun read at only 100 pages and hope you enjoy it.

You can get it here: http://bit.ly/1texDZO  Share the link with all your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or your social media of choice.

And if you do like my novella, consider writing a book review on Amazon!

#NoiseTrade #MetalFlesh

The post Final Freebie For 2014 appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Dear US Veterans, I’m Sorry

Last week right after our American mid-term elections, the President decided to send 1,500 American troops to Iraq. I was not alone in wondering aloud why an individual who has been steadfast in removing the American ground presence from Iraq as quickly as possible despite the counter-recommendations from his own military advisors.

This is not a political blog post. For this article, I am completely disinterested in any one’s personal political party or political leanings. My sole focus is on the treatment of our men and women in the military. For the record, I was in favor of sending military forces into for the Iraq…back in 1990. There has been much revisionist history regarding Iraq. Our American war in Iraq against Saddam Hussein began back then under President Bush Sr. (Operation Desert Storm), escalated under President Clinton (America’s bombing campaign of Iraq included 500 plus bombs!), and increased again under President Bush. That’s both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations determined to remove the terrorist-supporting, nuke-seeking thug known as Saddam Hussein.  There were, of course, many Democrats and Republicans against escalating the war under President Bush and I found (and find) none of those reasons illegitimate.

However, the fact is we, America, sent those men and women into Afghanistan and Iraq, post-911 to do a job. I was angry with President Bush Sr. back then because he was so fixated with keeping his 34-nation coalition against Saddam to kick him out of Kuwait but refused to take the war to Bagdad to oust him. I said then (I think I will make a list of all the predictions I have made in life that have unfortunately come true) that if we didn’t “take Saddam out” that we would be back as a nation in war and it would be bloodier and costlier than we could ever imagine. Well twelve years later that is exactly what happened. Under President Bush Sr., America told anti-Saddam forces to rise up against him and when they did, we abandoned them. America had seized many of Saddam’s tanks and weapons and we returned them to him. He used those very same weapons to kill many of the anti-Saddam resistance that we (America) encouraged to topple him.

The big flaw with America is that we truly don’t understand that region of the world and it is to our detriment. There are tribes, factions and peoples fighting and killing over events that took place decades, centuries and millennia ago. We have the greatest armed forces in the history of the world but if you are going to be involved in the world know how other peoples think or our strengths are nullified.

However, nothing tops my anger at the blatant politics being played with our American soldiers. We lost 4,500 troops in Iraq with over 32,000 wounded—I believe this number is much lower than the true number; over 2,234 in Afghanistan with a “reported” 1,989 wounded. When we say wounded it is not a simple scratch or sprained finger—massive brain injuries, blown off limbs, third-degree burns, paralysis, severe PSTD. Many of these soldiers will need care for decades, for their entire lives. If you are a twenty-something, we are talking about intensive care for forty, fifty, maybe sixty years!

Imagine how you would feel after nine years of fighting in Iraq and thirteen in Afghanistan (America’s longest-running official war) being grievously wounded, seeing your fellow soldiers grievously wounded or killed to then see the very same cities on TV you liberated taken over by a terrorist group (ISIS) like nothing. To learn that we knew they were coming for almost two years, to learn we could have killed them all with airstrikes but chose not to, to learn that this terrorist group controls a significant part of the country now and vows to, of course, destroy America and all the other infidels of the world. Why the hell did we fight there if we were going to leave and give it all away to a terrorist group worse than the Al Qaeda responsible for 9-11? Why am sitting in this wheelchair? Why are my fellow soldiers dead? Yes, I am angry. I am veteran myself but I am thinking of them.

Politics in war is nothing new but President Obama has broken a pact with the servicemen of this country. I am a political animal but this has nothing to do with political parties. Again, I was just as turned off by President Bush Sr. for the same reasons, though to a much lesser intensity. With Bush Sr. it was for a future inevitable. With Obama it is for a hard, offensive reality. Our soldiers died for and were wounded for nothing. The Iraq War was for nothing. There is no other way to spin it.

If America, through its leaders, is going to be so capricious with our military men and women, then do not send them anywhere! I already have it in my science fiction novels, build the damn humanoid robot soldiers and send them and drones instead. If we do send our military men and women anywhere then Republicans and Democrats must be required to get in a room together and sign in blood that one party will not undo the work of the other over petty politics. Obama seems to have forgotten that he is not a senator or a candidate on the campaign trail making all kinds of wild promises like so many candidates before and after him. He is the Commander-in-Chief and that supersedes any politics of the Democratic Party. In the foxhole, there is no race or ethnicity, no gender or political party; there is only American. That is the spirit that I’m writing this post in.

So my fellow veterans, I must apologize to you sincerely and deeply. I can’t shake the feeling that we don’t have the political framework worthy of you. If we did, your war sacrifices would not have been in vain and domestically things such as the VA scandal would never have been allowed to happen–medical care withheld and veterans died due to bureaucratic incompetence and, worse, willful manipulation of the numbers to hide those in need. In terms of our political leaders, where have all the grown-ups gone?

It is Veteran’s Day today and I salute all of you from WWII to the Korean War, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. Again, we volunteered to serve our country; we didn’t volunteer where our Commanders-in-Chief would send us. We have nothing to do with the politics. We go where we’re told and should be respected without hesitation. I salute you–always.

What do you think about all this?

 

#Veterans #Vets #Military #VeteransDay #America #Iraq #Afghanistan

The post Dear US Veterans, I’m Sorry appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Masters of Horror

My first horror novel as a published author will be released in five months (Hollow Blood: Sleepy Hollow Horrors, Book One) and someone asked me why? After reading my rather meaty and provocative, futuristic After Eden thriller series, they wondered aloud how I could possibly dish out something in the schlocky horror genre. Well, I might have said the exact same thing, but there are two points.

I readily admit, from my point of view, that most horror entertainment is downright awful. Whether written or filmed, it is always of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hostel, Saw, or Friday the 13th variety. My tastes movie-wise are The Exorcist and The Shining; and on the more fun side, Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield; and I do like Japanese horror movies (though not most of their American remakes). My literary tastes are definitely with the classics, early Stephen King, and the like. The horror genre, as a whole, rightly deserves its not-so-prestigious reputation because for every Exorcist or Alien (its more horror than sci-fi), there are a thousand crappy horror movies made that last a mere week in the theaters, go straight to DVD, or end up on the SyFy channel. But when you have a good one, book or movie, it’s well worth the wait.

As any who have read my second After Eden book, Stars and Scorpions, I have already delved into the horror genre already. A lot of science fiction is now science fact. Genetic engineering, cloning, bio-warfare moved from the imaginations of fiction writers and into the realm of reality decades ago.  Shelley’s Frankenstein explored the world of man creating life and its horror in her novel 196 years ago in 1818 as I explore it too (among many other things) in my own After Eden novels set in the 2090s and beyond. But you don’t need to have the creative mind of a fiction writer to know that at some point in the near-future we are going to be facing a lot moral decisions that we should never have been in the position to have to resolve in the first place.

That is why I have both Edgar Allen Poe and Mary Shelley’s pictures featured. There are a lot of great mystery novels, series, heroes and villains out there, but it was the horror writer Edgar Allen Poe who was the first to introduce the modern mystery detective genre. Mary Shelley, from her Victorian-era upbringing which instilled conformity, convention, class, and honor, saw beyond to give us the horror landmark Frankenstein that also happened to introduce us to the genre of science fiction. Poe too contributed to this emerging genre with his work. One genre gave both to two others.

I like a good horror story when it can truly scare and creep you out. That’s what I enjoyed about it as a child and that’s what I look for as an adult. Most of it today grosses you out (that’s not said as a compliment) or, more likely, makes you close the book or turn off the movie because it’s so stupid, but that doesn’t mean the collective genre should be given up on. I will be do my best to add some quality to its ranks starting next year.

It’s the week so Happy Halloween!

 

#EdgarAllenPoe #MaryShelley #Horror

The post Masters of Horror appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.

Top Five Reasons Why The Walking Dead Is Great Drama!

Is the Walking Dead Our Modern-Day Shakespeare?

 

Okay, after this blog post I will impose a one year ban on myself for using Shakespeare in any blog, but I had to. Today the reading of the works of Shakespeare is no longer a requirement in most American high schools anymore and in the original Elizabethan English of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries it is too remote for most people, especially youth, to connect with. However, this playwright who died almost four hundred years ago is still considered the greatest writer in the English language by many literary scholars, movies adaptations are still made of his plays, books of his work still sell, actors still revere the dramatic challenge of his work, and he is still talked about.

There was a time in the West when there were books that everyone had read. That is no longer the case. Television and movies have replaced that collective consciousness when it comes to pop culture and that brings me to my subject.

Last week began the fifth season of AMC’s wildly popular television show The Walking Dead. And I have been a fan from its very first episode back in 2010 and especially so over the past two years. The original characters (those that have survived) have grown and evolved; and we’ve been introduced to new ones along the way in this story of human survival in a zombie apocalyptic world.

People have a right to be suspicious of manufactured media hype. I would point to a True Blood on television (I watched 30 minutes of the very first episode and never watched another one ever again) or the Amazing Spider Man II or either one of the Hunger Games in movies theaters. Every show or movie is great, amazing, and a “must-see” when the reality is that most of it is garbage. The Walking Dead is a notable, and significant, exception. The hype is real and its the fans that created the hype, not the other way around.

Top Five Reasons Why The Walking Dead Is Great Drama
1. It’s Really Not About Zombies.

Zombies are the special effects, not the story. Yes, there are scores of fans obsessed with everything zombie. They love watching the many varieties of these “walkers.” They love to watch zombies be “put down.” But honestly, if that is all there was could you sustain a show for five years and have such a devoted fan base? No. The reality is, and this is what makes the show so great, is that it is not about zombies. The show is about people, the human condition, survival, loss, and the effects of a horrific event on normal, average, everyday people.

2.  It’s Makes You Wonder How You’d Handle the Zombie Apocalypse.

It’s all about the human condition. The characters are real, compelling, and evolving. We see two main characters grow from people timid as mice to strong leaders (Glenn and Carol), we see strong leaders fall and doubt themselves, even go a bit crazy at times (Rick). The Walking Dead is also not about the Zombie Apocalypse. It could be the aftermath of Katrina, the Nazi bombing of London in World War Two, fighting in the trenches in World War One, any of the massive disasters from around the world or throughout history. How does the average person react to this, how do they cope, how do they go on and live a “normal” life?

3.  Even the Secondary Characters Are Awesome.

When The Walking Dead first started, it had to establish its “universe” and its characters. Obviously, secondary characters could not get much play. All of that foundation has been done so now the writers can give us much more developed ancillary characters and they have done so brilliantly. Some will die. Some move on. Some become key leaders themselves, but they all are interesting. “Michonne, my that’s a really nice samurai sword!”

4.  Great Stories.

It goes without saying. Every season has a main focus. Every season has a main threat. All our characters want is a place to call home. A sanctuary that can be defended from the zombies but allow them to create some semblance of hope and life in a zombie apocalyptic world. We care about that quest as much as they do. We want them to survive even though we know most won’t. We root for them to triumph over all enemies; both zombies and, their most dangerous threat, other human beings.

5.  Great writing!

The stories have gotten better, especially these past two years and the series started out strong to begin with. The writers haven’t gotten full of themselves despite their increased popularity and their growing fame. When all that is out of sight and out of mind, they buckle down and continue to write damn good stories over and over again. When the writing of so many series starts to decline, they are truly getting better as they go along. Love live zombies!

 

#WalkingDead #TheWalkingDead #TWD

The post Top Five Reasons Why The Walking Dead Is Great Drama! appeared first on Official Website of Author Austin Dragon.