Stephen Drivick's Blog, page 9
April 2, 2014
Baseball Bats
This is my second entry for the Blogging from A to Z April 2014 challenge. Today we look at the letter B-Baseball Bat
When I was writing Sometimes We Ran, I wanted to give my female main character, Claire, a signature weapon to dispatch the bad guy zombies. It would be her go-to way to carve through a crowd of walking corpses.
Claire is small in stature, and she needed something that anyone could use. I thought of a knife, but that brought the zombies in too close. A small gun was a possibility, but my other main character used a firearm and I wanted something different. I tossed out machetes and other assorted blades because I couldn't picture Claire swinging a sword, and it had been done: See Walking Dead and other zombie movies.
My mind drifted. I started looking around the room. My eyes fell on a wooden baseball bat in the corner. Claire had her weapon.
I changed it to aluminum. Claire has now been wielding the mighty baseball bat in two novels.
Come to think of it, a baseball bat would be a very effective zombie deterrent. It's simple to use, you can probably find a bat everywhere you look, and it makes you look like a total zombie-killing badass.:) It also gives Claire a neat character trait. I have to confess, I don't know if a baseball bat would cave in a skull. I don't know if someone of Claire's diminutive size could even use a bat effectively. Still, I think it works in the story and no one has called me on it yet.:)
So if a real zombie apocalypse happens, the first thing I'm doing is finding the nearest sporting goods store. I'm adding a bat to my arsenal. Claire would approve.:)
When I was writing Sometimes We Ran, I wanted to give my female main character, Claire, a signature weapon to dispatch the bad guy zombies. It would be her go-to way to carve through a crowd of walking corpses.
Claire is small in stature, and she needed something that anyone could use. I thought of a knife, but that brought the zombies in too close. A small gun was a possibility, but my other main character used a firearm and I wanted something different. I tossed out machetes and other assorted blades because I couldn't picture Claire swinging a sword, and it had been done: See Walking Dead and other zombie movies.
My mind drifted. I started looking around the room. My eyes fell on a wooden baseball bat in the corner. Claire had her weapon.
I changed it to aluminum. Claire has now been wielding the mighty baseball bat in two novels.
Come to think of it, a baseball bat would be a very effective zombie deterrent. It's simple to use, you can probably find a bat everywhere you look, and it makes you look like a total zombie-killing badass.:) It also gives Claire a neat character trait. I have to confess, I don't know if a baseball bat would cave in a skull. I don't know if someone of Claire's diminutive size could even use a bat effectively. Still, I think it works in the story and no one has called me on it yet.:)
So if a real zombie apocalypse happens, the first thing I'm doing is finding the nearest sporting goods store. I'm adding a bat to my arsenal. Claire would approve.:)
April 1, 2014
Anthology
This is my first entry for the Blogging from A to Z April 2014 challenge. Today we look at the letter A-Anthology
Short stories are a lot of fun. They don't sell very well unless your Stephen King, but they are still a lot of fun.
Last Halloween, I wrote a short story about giant bugs taking over the Earth. Twelve (12) brave souls ponied up .99 to read it. I was stoked! If you want to check it out bugs is available where all ebooks are sold. Be kind if you review it!
A few months later, a call came out from KBoards.com for short story submissions. The stories would be collected and put in an anthology (there's your A), and published. The money from the sales would go to charity.
Feeling flush with excitement, I penned off a silly story about a woman who turned into a snow monster and ate her boyfriend. I didn't think it had a chance of making the final cut, but to my surprise it made it into the book.
Well, now there's another anthology of short stories and again it's going to charity. Since they didn't stop me on my first story, I wrote another. It was a fairly simple tale about the President of the United States at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. Thinking it couldn't happen twice, I was surprised again when it made the cut despite being 1000 words over the limit! Awesome and cool.
So like I said, short stories can be fun both to write and to read. I think I'm going to do both - read some and write a few.
If you would like to pick up a few short stories to read. here are the links to the anthologies on Amazon:
Something to Read on the Ride - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9I8K5E
Something for the Journey - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HGF827K
Something to Take on the Trip - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JD41Z3K
And just for the heck of it, here's bugs - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IBRL666
Short stories are a lot of fun. They don't sell very well unless your Stephen King, but they are still a lot of fun.
Last Halloween, I wrote a short story about giant bugs taking over the Earth. Twelve (12) brave souls ponied up .99 to read it. I was stoked! If you want to check it out bugs is available where all ebooks are sold. Be kind if you review it!
A few months later, a call came out from KBoards.com for short story submissions. The stories would be collected and put in an anthology (there's your A), and published. The money from the sales would go to charity.
Feeling flush with excitement, I penned off a silly story about a woman who turned into a snow monster and ate her boyfriend. I didn't think it had a chance of making the final cut, but to my surprise it made it into the book.
Well, now there's another anthology of short stories and again it's going to charity. Since they didn't stop me on my first story, I wrote another. It was a fairly simple tale about the President of the United States at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. Thinking it couldn't happen twice, I was surprised again when it made the cut despite being 1000 words over the limit! Awesome and cool.
So like I said, short stories can be fun both to write and to read. I think I'm going to do both - read some and write a few.
If you would like to pick up a few short stories to read. here are the links to the anthologies on Amazon:
Something to Read on the Ride - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9I8K5E
Something for the Journey - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HGF827K
Something to Take on the Trip - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JD41Z3K
And just for the heck of it, here's bugs - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IBRL666
March 30, 2014
eBookSoda Promotion
Sometimes We Ran being featured on Tuesday April 1st 2014 at eBookSoda, a new readers' site where they'll send you ebook recommendations tailored to your taste. www.ebooksoda.com.
eBookSoda is a new promotion game in town, so we'll see how it goes. Go check it out if you can.:)
eBookSoda is a new promotion game in town, so we'll see how it goes. Go check it out if you can.:)
March 24, 2014
Another Milestone for Sometimes We Ran
Sometimes We Ran (Vol 1) has reached another (small) milestone - 200 copies sold!
I'm considering it a (again, small) success. It is by no means a bestseller, but the fact that anyone is reading it at all pleases me to no end.
So, thanks zombie fiction fans. Sometimes We Ran 2: Community is on sale beside the first volume, and Sometimes We Ran 3 is on the way!
I'm considering it a (again, small) success. It is by no means a bestseller, but the fact that anyone is reading it at all pleases me to no end.
So, thanks zombie fiction fans. Sometimes We Ran 2: Community is on sale beside the first volume, and Sometimes We Ran 3 is on the way!
March 15, 2014
Amtrack Residency - What I Wanted to Submit
“Here it comes,” my Dad said, as he stood up from the wooden bench.
A fuzzy yellow headlight came into view through the fog. The unmistakable noise of hard-working, diesel machinery filled the hazy Atlanta air. The walkway over the old tracks started to vibrate as the train approached. The headlight turned from fuzzy yellow to a bright white as the train got closer. Dust and other debris flew out as it hustled down the line.
My Dad and I were waiting on the Crescent from New York. On board, were my grandparents on one of their visits to Georgia. Usually they flew in, but this time decided to take the train. When my Dad asked if I wanted to go, I jumped into the front seat of Plymouth Volare station wagon with the fake wood paneling and squeak from somewhere under the orange-tan dashboard. It was a chance to see a train up close and personal. My young self couldn't pass that up. I liked trains, but had only seen them from a distance. Most of my experience was with toy train sets or movies on television. This was a great chance to be near one of the giant beasts of the rails.
The train reached the station, and started to ring its bell. The people standing and waiting on the platforms below took a step backward to let the train do its work. My Dad and I moved towards the stairs to greet our visitors from New York.
The train didn't stop. It was a freight headed south through the city.
It blew through the station, stirring up gravel dust, paper, and other assorted debris. Sixty assorted cars from all over the United States trailed behind the grimy, black engines. The horn sounded as it passed by, echoing across the landscape. The last car, a big hopper, came past and quiet returned to the station. The people on the platform went back to waiting. The Crescent was delayed.
My father sat down again. “Just a freight. I guess that wasn't them,” he said.
I stayed at the rail of the walkway. Trains had become a passion.
Some thirty years later, writing has become a passion as well. It is a new one. I've managed to string together a few words, and produce two novels. Some short stories as well. None of them are best-sellers, but with each project I try to produce the passion grows. I want to write more. Those two novels will become a series. I want to perfect my voice, and try to entertain people from all over the world.
So when a chance came to combine a love of trains and writing, I couldn't pass that up. It's a chance to write while America (or a least a portion of America) passes by the window. It's a chance to work out a critical plot point while seeing some spectacular scenery. It's a chance to meet new people, and experience a new way to travel.
It's a chance that comes once in a lifetime, and I have to take it.
This is what I wanted to submit, but Amtrack had a thousand word limit. I seem to have a hard time with thousand word limits.:)
The Amtrack Residency is a chance to write aboard a long-distance train. As a lover of all things railroad, I couldn't pass it up. It sounds like a load of fun. If you're an author you should give it a try. But be warned...there's only 24(!) spots. I have read 7000+ people have signed up for those 24 spots.
A fuzzy yellow headlight came into view through the fog. The unmistakable noise of hard-working, diesel machinery filled the hazy Atlanta air. The walkway over the old tracks started to vibrate as the train approached. The headlight turned from fuzzy yellow to a bright white as the train got closer. Dust and other debris flew out as it hustled down the line.
My Dad and I were waiting on the Crescent from New York. On board, were my grandparents on one of their visits to Georgia. Usually they flew in, but this time decided to take the train. When my Dad asked if I wanted to go, I jumped into the front seat of Plymouth Volare station wagon with the fake wood paneling and squeak from somewhere under the orange-tan dashboard. It was a chance to see a train up close and personal. My young self couldn't pass that up. I liked trains, but had only seen them from a distance. Most of my experience was with toy train sets or movies on television. This was a great chance to be near one of the giant beasts of the rails.
The train reached the station, and started to ring its bell. The people standing and waiting on the platforms below took a step backward to let the train do its work. My Dad and I moved towards the stairs to greet our visitors from New York.
The train didn't stop. It was a freight headed south through the city.
It blew through the station, stirring up gravel dust, paper, and other assorted debris. Sixty assorted cars from all over the United States trailed behind the grimy, black engines. The horn sounded as it passed by, echoing across the landscape. The last car, a big hopper, came past and quiet returned to the station. The people on the platform went back to waiting. The Crescent was delayed.
My father sat down again. “Just a freight. I guess that wasn't them,” he said.
I stayed at the rail of the walkway. Trains had become a passion.
Some thirty years later, writing has become a passion as well. It is a new one. I've managed to string together a few words, and produce two novels. Some short stories as well. None of them are best-sellers, but with each project I try to produce the passion grows. I want to write more. Those two novels will become a series. I want to perfect my voice, and try to entertain people from all over the world.
So when a chance came to combine a love of trains and writing, I couldn't pass that up. It's a chance to write while America (or a least a portion of America) passes by the window. It's a chance to work out a critical plot point while seeing some spectacular scenery. It's a chance to meet new people, and experience a new way to travel.
It's a chance that comes once in a lifetime, and I have to take it.
This is what I wanted to submit, but Amtrack had a thousand word limit. I seem to have a hard time with thousand word limits.:)
The Amtrack Residency is a chance to write aboard a long-distance train. As a lover of all things railroad, I couldn't pass it up. It sounds like a load of fun. If you're an author you should give it a try. But be warned...there's only 24(!) spots. I have read 7000+ people have signed up for those 24 spots.
March 9, 2014
It Begins Again.
"I stopped for a moment on the slushy road to take a drink from my water bottle. Hunting zombies is thirsty work." - First line from Sometimes We Ran 3.
Finally got some time to write.:)
Finally got some time to write.:)
March 4, 2014
30 Copies Sold - :Sometimes We Ran 2
Sometimes We Ran 2: Community just hit its first small milestone - 30 copies sold.
Thank you, zombie fans. Actually, thanks to all the zombie sequel fans out there.:)
Thank you, zombie fans. Actually, thanks to all the zombie sequel fans out there.:)
February 21, 2014
Don't Mind Me...Just Trying Something.
For a limited time, Sometimes We Ran will be on sale for the low, low price of....
99 cents !
It's a GET-AQUAINTED-WITH-THE-SOMETIMES WE RAN-ZOMBIE-SERIES-SALE! :)
Hurry though. It ends on Feb. 28th.
I think I've used up my allotment of bold letters and CAPS for this post.:)
99 cents !
It's a GET-AQUAINTED-WITH-THE-SOMETIMES WE RAN-ZOMBIE-SERIES-SALE! :)
Hurry though. It ends on Feb. 28th.
I think I've used up my allotment of bold letters and CAPS for this post.:)
February 19, 2014
Signing Ebooks
http://www.authorgraph.com/widgets/au...
I can sign your ebook using this link from Authorgraph. Is that not cool?
I can sign your ebook using this link from Authorgraph. Is that not cool?
February 15, 2014
Another Review for "Sometimes We Ran"
Another review was posted for Sometimes We Ran. Not 5 stars, but not bad.:)
Read about it here: http://utterlyundead.webs.com/apps/blog/
Check out the rest of the blog for some more great zombie reads, and thanks "Utterly Undead for the review.
Read about it here: http://utterlyundead.webs.com/apps/blog/
Check out the rest of the blog for some more great zombie reads, and thanks "Utterly Undead for the review.
